During the year 1858 occurred the great revival, when a mighty wind from Heaven filled every house where the people of God were sitting, and the glorious work of that revival kept many of us busy for six months, night and day.
Early in the year 1860 a signal was made to me from this side of the East River.

It came from a brave little band then known as the Park Presbyterian Church, who had never had any installed pastor.

The signal at first was unheeded; but a higher than human hand seemed to be behind it, and I had only to obey.

That little flock stood like the man of Macedonia, saying, "Come over and help us," and after I had seen the vision immediately I decided to come, assuredly concluding that God had called me to preach the Gospel unto them.
This morning my memory goes back to that chilly, stormy April Sunday when my labors began as your first pastor.

About two hundred and fifty people, full of grace and grit, gathered on that Easter morning to see how God could roll away stones that for two years had blocked their path with discouragement.