Many of those present bore the names of their Scottish ancestors who founded the church society here 188 years ago and two decades later erected the sturdy, four-square edifice that has since been the Presbyterian house of worship here. Many more of those same Scottish names are engraved upon stone slabs in the old cemetery beside the church. One stone bears the name of Joseph Bonaparte’s daughter, Caroline, born at Natural Bridge, who married Howell Benten, son of Dr. Abner Benton, physician here for 25 years after 1818.

The church service was conducted by Rev. William S. Bishop of Theresa, pastor. Speakers were Rev. Cuthbert C. Frost of Adams and Rev. Joseph A. Schofield, jr., of Gouverneur, moderator of the St. Lawrence Presbytery. Miss Caroline Pickert played a piano solo and accompanied Charles Storie in a baritone solo. The 14-voice choir sang an anthem, with accompaniment by Mrs. Hazel B. Bell, church pianist.

Rev. Mr. Frost, in his sermon, urged these descendants of pioneer settlers to hold to the good things of faith and of character that their ancestors possessed.

“What was good once,” he said, “is not entirely without value in this changed, modern day. The privilege of your heritage handed down to you from those sturdy men and women imposes an obligation upon you to keep their faith and their strength.”

Rev. Mr. Schofield, representing the Presbytery, explained the set-up of the Presbyterian church and pointed out how closely this church was coordinated with every one of the other 9,662 Presbyterian churches in the country.

Rev. M. Bishop read portions from a history of the Oxbow Presbyterian church which was prepared by James D. Tait for the centennial of the church society in 1921.

The church was organized with 40 members not long after the first Scottish settlers came here in 1817. For nearly 20 years the place of worship was a brick schoolhouse which stood on the site of the present church, at the western edge of the community and facing a large park of tall elms.

Since 1839 the church as continued in use, with but few changes. In 1861 a wooden addition was built at the rear to house a session room, and long ago the balcony that extended from the rear of the auditorium was removed. Even without the balcony the auditorium seats about 400. The old, high pulpit has been replaced by a more modern platform pulpit. With these exceptions the old structure remains as it was a century ago.

Elders of the church in the first year the stone house of worship was used were Thomas B. Rutherford, Evan Davis, Earnest C. Graves, James Judge and William Bell. Elders 100 years later are Walter T. Chisholm, Dean Storie, Charles S. Wicks, William Rutherford and Dean Chisholm. Every one of those surnames can be found in lists of the pioneer settlers here nearly a century and a quarter ago.

Mrs. Ianthia Storie Laidlaw of Gouverneur, who was baptised in this church 78 years ago and became a member 15 years later, was among those attending Sunday afternoon’s service. With her was Miss Jennie Dickson of Gouverneur, who was baptised here 85 years ago and has been a member 70 years.

Mrs. Charles Beenfield, granddaughter of William Marcus Brown, who was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were on their way here from Scotland in 1818, was another descendant of pioneers present. So also were Dr. DeWitt C. Rodenhurst of Philadelphia and William A. Dickson of Antwerp, and William Camidge of Antwerp.

Photos: The scrapbook page displayed two photographs not shown here:

1) Legend follows: Among the 200 persons attending centennial services at the Old Stone church of Oxbow Sunday afternoon were these five descendants of pioneer Scottish settlers who founded the church in 1820 and built the present stone church building in 1839.

From left to right they are: Miss Jennie Dickson of Gouverneur, member of the church 70 years; Mrs. Ianthia Storie Laidlaw of Gouverneur, member 63 years; Mrs. Charles Beenfield of Oxbow; Dr. DeWitt C. Rodenhurst of Philadelphia, and William A. Dickson of Antwerp.

2) Speakers at Old Stone Church Centennial: Rev. William S. Bishop, pastor of the Oxbow Presbyterian church, is shown on the steps of his century-old church with guest speakers following a service Sunday afternoon celebrating the 100th anniversary of the erection of the old stone church building.

Rev. Mr. Bishop is at the left of the picture. Beside him is Rev. Joseph A. Schofield, jr., of Gouverneur, moderator of the St. Lawrence Presbytery. Rev. Cuthbert C. Frost of Adams, principal speaker, is at the right.