VI. 



THE CHURCHES. 



The first religious denomination to be represented by 

 an organized church in the settlement of Ithaca was the 

 Presbyterian. The First Presbyterian church of Ithaca 

 was organized in 1804, with a membership of seven 

 persons. The Rev. G. Mandeville was the first pastor, 

 and continued to preach here and at Trumansburg on 

 alternate Sundays for twelve years, when he became 

 discouraged, and gave up, so little spiritual activity 

 was manifested by the settlers. In 18 16 Dr. Wisner 

 began his labors by excommunicating six of the twenty 

 members ; and his zeal and earnestness were rewarded 

 by the rapid growth of the society until in 1820 it num- 

 bered one hundred and thirteen members. At that time 

 horse racing and intemperance were not held by public 

 opinion to be at all incompatible with the exercise of 

 the Christian graces, and Dr. Wisner, who held a 

 different view, had no little trouble with his congrega- 

 tion. The first church building was erected in 1818. 

 In 1825 this was altered and enlarged, and so remained 

 till 1853, when it was torn down, and the present com- 

 modious building erected. The church stands on the 

 north-west corner of DeWitt Park, is an imposing edi- 

 fice viewed from the outside, and the inside is finished 

 with, good taste and elegance. A neat brick building 

 for lecture-room and chapel, adjoins the church on the 

 east. 





