As we now generally have preaching every Sabbath, our reading meetings have been discontinued. The exercises of those meetings were prayer by one of the communicant members, and singing before and after reading a sermon from a book of sermons.
The greatest supporters of those meetings were Benjamin Depuy, Esq., within his time of action, and afterwards Joel Whitlock. In the early part of Depuy's life he, and sometimes Jacob K. Dewitt, performed the reading in Dutch, but in the latter part of his life and afterwards it was done in the English language and continued to be done in that tongue.
Since the construction of the Delaware and Hudson canal and the New York and Erie railroad this town has received an additional population, who have built up the large and flourishing village of Port Jervis. These are from different parts of our country and from different countries in Europe and are of different religious denominations.
The greatest proportion of these are of English origin, and some of them are the most opulent in it. This village, commenced about the year 1828, now contains six churches, all of which are generally occupied every Sunday for religious worship, to wit: A Dutch Reformed as mentioned, and a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and a Roman Catholic, (and now in 1890 a German Lutheran). The different opinions of men in religion and politics have always had a tendency to create enmity; but as men have become enlightened, those causes have gradually ceased to have such violent effects as in former times, especially in religion. The members' of the different denominations in our town now harmonize in their business transactions, and their different opinions in religion do not effect their social intercourse in other respects. But in politics we must always expect to have times of great contention, if we continue to have the liberty of speaking our respective sentiments, for people will always disagree, both honestly and dishonestly in respect to certain matters which will, from time to time be introduced for legislative action and determination; and our inability to judge correctly in relation to all the numerous matters which will continually occur for such decision, together with many selfish views, will always cause strife in our political affairs, and these will continue to have a great effect in opening the eyes of the people in relation to our political matters.
In religion it is probable that the different denominations will generally continue to become freed from that enmity which formerly existed in consequence of their religious opinions, the folly of which is now apparent to the best informed part of mankind. The use of force and arms in former times to compel men to unite or keep united with certain religious sects, had a tendency to produce hypocrisy, for self preservation, but not to alter men's opinions. Convincing proofs are the only means to alter erroneous opinions, but the great evil of ancient times consisted in organizing men to answer selfish purposes by religious and political subjugation; the most numerous and powerful of each of these becoming united, created a power to tyrannize over their opposers.
The acts of men which have emanated from the influence of serving God have been directed in many different ways, some of which have been very erroneous and contrary to the spirit of Christianity, although transacted by its professors. Such have been all the instigators of wars for selfish purposes, without a just cause, and all unjust impositions for whatever objects.
Within the present century much has been done to enlighten mankind and improve their condition, and we are under great obligations of gratitude to all the scientific men of our country for the vast improvement and discoveries they have made within my own time of life, most of which has been done by descendants of English origin, whose ancestors generally came into this country poor, to enjoy liberty in the wilds of the Eastern states, where they had to suffer the hardships of procuring a livelihood in a wilderness country, among the hazards of being exterminated by the numerous Indians who inhabited it. Now, notwithstanding their privations and all the hazards which attended their situations, they persevered, improved the country wherever they settled, defended themselves against Indian hostilities, and, as soon as practicable, introduced religious worship, literature and the study of the arts, and sciences, and became the most enlightened people in our country.
Many of their descendants have emigrated into the different States of the Union, and, wherever they have located, they have generally introduced religion, literature, and the study of the arts and sciences. They occupy the greatest part of the most important stations of life in our country, and we are indebted to them for a vast amount of improvements, and for many manufacturing establishments in different parts of our country. In religion they do not all unite. Their spirit of liberty generally dictates the individuals to join such Christian denomination as they respectively prefer, in consequence of which they have become divided generally among the different Christian denominations in our country. These different opinions in religious sentiments generally create no enmity between the most enlightened professors, who so differ in opinion where no apprehensions of evil consequences exist, but indications of these have not become wholly extinguished, and may or may not prove an injury to the welfare of our country.