In our past we find the seeds of our future

We've begun a series of presentations and discussions of our history, which inspire us to continue the great unfinished work of our church. It's fitting we began at midday September 9, 2007, the day that Trinity United Methodist Church of Auburn walked articles of the church to its temporary new home at First United Methodist Church, and Calvary Presbyterian Church voted to dissolve the congregation.

We took as our text the centennial address of Rev. William H. Hubbard, pastor from 1886 to 1911. Rev. Hubbard delivered this sermon to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of our church on July 14, 1911. His text was Psalm 122-3, "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together." First Presbyterian Church was in 1911 and remains today "compact together" in devotion to Christ and service to all. Key passages from Rev. Hubbard's address follow, with updates and commentary by our church historian.

Our church has extraordinary accomplishments, and we tend to attribute those to the pastors, of whom Rev. Hubbard is perhaps the best known and most accomplished. He addressed this head-on: "This is no occasion for the glorifying of individuals...It is not for us to try to give individuality...to the pastors of this Church...What individuals have done becomes part of the Church itself. Individuals live for a day and quickly pass away, but the Church of which we are the embodiment this hour continues on throughout the ages."

Rev. Hubbard continued: "Let us then give simply an outline, sort of a view of the life of the Church that through these hundred (now 199) years has brought things to pass and is continuing to do so. Organized on July 14, 1811 in the long room of the Center House by three men and six women, it began a work so inspired that its effect was immediately felt throughout the community...from the activities of that early Church, influences proceeded that have been continuous in their blessings...It gave the land upon which the first Academy was erected, and determined by that gift the location of [the] High School.

Two years had not passed before the Church had organized a Female Charitable Society...Not quite two years later a Young People's Missionary Society was formed, and then [the Cayuga County] Bible Society. When only four years old, with few in number, but with faith in the tomorrow, it undertook...erection of a church." That was the Old First Church at Franklin and North Streets, later removed and rebuilt for Calvary Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Hubbard continued: "These early founders never lost sight of the purpose and the object for which the church was erected...[and] nearly five thousand men, women, boys, and girls, have stood...in this consecrated spot and given themselves in dedication to God as members of the First Presbyterian Church.

This magnificent Church had hardly been dedicated before its members, not satisfied with the work already done, but in the spirit of their Master, only eager for more to do, attempted to better the condition of the neglected children of the community...[and] the Sunday School was organized, also a Sewing Society for the making of the children's garments... Then a boys' (Sunday) school was organized [and a] school for girls [and] later a third for colored children... We note...the color line was drawn in these early days--colored children being refused admittance to the schools. But this Church took an active part in establishing the fundamental rights of the one child equal to that of the other.

...Due to the agitation of this Church...the need of more men being prepared for the ministry was presented to the Synod at Geneva, and a plea made that a Theological Seminary should be located in this vicinity. The Synod was very willing...provided ten acres of ground and $35,000 could be secured in Cayuga County. The young church got under the load. The land and half the amount was promised, so that Auburn Theological Seminary came into existence because of the First Presbyterian Church...First Church stood back of its pastor in those early days as he [worked to secure] $100,000 for the proper establishment of the Seminary.

It is impossible in the brief time allotted...to go into the details of what a Church, left to its duties and responsibilities, cannot do in a community...Pastors came, contributed their lives and passed on, but the work continued and the First Church could always be counted on to face all problems. Its influence...was not limited to those...gathered within these walls, for, in all its varied interests, it touched the whole community.

[In the Civil War] it stood for one country, and the first regiment to go to war...at the very outset in 1861...gathered in this Sanctuary to receive the parting words of blessing and inspiration from the pastor, Dr. Hawley.

...This Church...organized the Cayuga County Historical Society...[and] laid the foundation of the Seymour library...so that from out of the life and inspiration of this Church was the beginning of [the] public school system and public library.

...Between 1860 and 1870 the Church of 1817 [became] too small...[but it could] not be taken down and thrown away as junk. Accordingly (the trustees gave the building to the Lansing Street Presbyterian Mission School and) it was moved further up Franklin Street as a Mission of the old First and stands today as Calvary Church."

At this time the Trustees turned their attention to building the Gothic church that stood at Franklin and North Streets from 1870 to 1973, when the steeple fell. We have old photos of the Gothic church, and two different etchings showing the building around 1890. This one has been published many times.

The Calvary congregation "got under the load" of paying the $20,000 debt for moving and rebuilding the Old First Church. Theodore P. Case, benefactor of First Presbyterian Church, paid $6,700 and the balance was raised five dollars at a time.

Rev. Hubbard continues: "The (First Presbyterian) Church has been prospered above measure...but it has not...been all pleasant sailing. There have been storms... In 1830...a large constituency went out from the First Church to organize the Second Presbyterian, [and] the question was asked, 'What will become of the First Presbyterian Church?'

It went on...recognizing the right of differences in judgment and opinion, and within two years received larger accessions...than the number...who had left.

Twelve years ago (in 1899), there were again differences of judgment (when key leaders wanted to dismiss Rev. Hubbard but other leaders and the congregation backed him and he stayed on. The issue was Rev. Hubbard's extensive work for the national Presbyterian Church, which he left First Church to pursue full time in 1911). Strong men and women...went out...[and] immediately their worth was recognized in (their new) Churches, for they were at once accorded positions of honor in their various societies and organizations.

This Church's strength and inspiration have been...that...it has always had large and important unfinished work to do.

...A single instance...illustrate(s) how unfinished things sometimes have in them a future," for Dr. Sylvester Willard relocated to Sennett from Chicago to practice medicine and while returning home one day passed a large unfinished house, which Mrs. Willard declared she would like to have. They purchased and finished the home, today the Cayuga Museum. Thus Dr. Willard, elder in First Presbyterian Church for 38 years, came to Auburn and so did Mrs. Case's brother, the Church's great benefactor Theodore P. Case. When Dr. Willard's daughters died, their cousin inherited Dr. Willard's fortune and ultimately his son invented sound-on-film and built the Case Mansion which today stands on the Church grounds. In the mansion is Unity House, one of the largest-ever missions of the Church. This story is detailed on another page of this site.

This mission came about after the steeple on the Gothic church fell in 1973, and the Church relocated to 112 South Street in late winter 1976. These pictures were made then.

We focus on Dr. Willard's coming for the same reason Rev. Hubbard did, "to emphasize the fact that, if a Church is to grow and to have a future, it must always have a large unfinished work upon its hands--something that is worth while to claim the energies and activities of the strongest men (and women), mentally as well as financially."

Therefore with "that same old spirit which...permeated the life of this Church for (its first) hundred years," we seek new missions while sustaining those we have, closing with Rev. Hubbard's centennial anniversary prayer: "May our Heavenly Father grant unto us His presence and blessing even as in the days gone by, unto those who toiled and were faithful."