USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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Miss Amanda Jane Kissinger, Miss Cath. Elizabeth Roth,
" Harriet Fritz,
Marg. Rebecca Eckert,
" Maria Roth, " Matilda A. Huss.
" May we, a little band of love, We sinners, sav'd by grace, From glory unto glory chang'd, Behold thee face to face."
In May, 1858, the Synod of Central Pennsylvania held its fourth annual convention in this church. Mr. Samuel Shuman, as delegate of the charge, attended the sessions of this convention.
On the 1st of October, 1858, Mr. William Ferguson and Isabella his wife were received as members by certificate, and on the 16th of the same month, the following brethren were confirmed:
David Holmes (baptized), William C. Stahl.
Henry M. Sweger,
" Onward, now, to glory move ; More than conqu'rors ye shall prove ; Though oppos'd by many a foe, Christian soldiers, onward go !"
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CHAPTER II.
In February, 1859, during a protracted meeting, in which the pastor was assisted by the Rev. I. J. Stine, it pleased the Lord to pour out his spirit on the congregation, and a number of persons professed to have found peace by faith in Jesus Christ. Some of these, after having been still more fully instructed, were confirmed on the 12th of March, 1859, viz. :
George W. Black (baptized), Mrs. Angeline Shade,
Mrs. Sarah E. Rice (baptized), Miss Lydia Sweger.
" Catharine R. Weaver,
" Thy pard'ning love so free, so sweet, Dear Savior, I adore ; O keep me at thy sacred feet, And let me rove no more."
In May, 1859, Mr. Samuel Comp, as delegate of the charge, attended Synod at Mifflinburg, Union County, Pa.
On the 12th of November, 1859, Mrs. Lucinda Peck was re- ceived as a member by certificate, and the following persons were confirmed :
John Comp, Andrew P. Comp,
Miss Ann Eliza Holmes,
" Mary Eliz. Stoufer,
Joseph Hair,
" Sarah Ann Stoufer.
" Religion should our thoughts engage, Amidst our youthful bloom ; 'Twill fit us for declining age, And for the awful tomb."
In May, 1860, Mr. Darius J. Long, as delegate of the charge, attended Synod at Petersburg, Perry County, Pa.
On the 4th of August, 1860, Mrs. Mary C. Tressler was re- ceived by certificate as a member, and on the 3d of November of the same year, the following were confirmed :
George Tressler, William Il. Shade, Miss Margaretta Rice.
" But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe ; Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do."
132
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
In May, 1861, as delegate, Mr. Samuel Comp represented the charge in Synod at Belleville, Mifflin County, Pa.
On the 26th of October, 1861, Mr. George Rempfer and his wife Nancy Ann were received by certificate as members of this church, and Miss Sophia Swartz and Miss Catharine Ann Eckert by confirmation. And on the 12th of April, 1862, Mr. Peter S. Albert, and Mr. Joseph Abrams and his wife Amanda, were also received by certificate. May these friends be richly blessed in their present church-relation !
" Kindred in Christ, for his dear sake, A hearty welcome here receive : May we together now partake The joys which only he can give.
" Thus, as the moments pass away, We'll love and wonder and adore ; And hasten on the glorious day When we shall meet to part no more."
In May, 1862, Mr. Christian Long, Sen., of Newport, as dele- gate of the charge, attended Synod at Selinsgrove, Pa.
The basement story of Christ's Church, hitherto unfinished, was completed in May, this spring, at an expense of about two hundred dollars. Mr. Isaiah Kitner did the plastering and Mr. . Joseph Fredericks the carpenter work. The room is forty feet square, and well adapted for Sunday-school, weekly lectures, &c.
For a few general remarks in regard to the Bloomfield pasto- rate, the reader is referred to the end of this chapter. May heaven smile graciously upon all the dear people of this charge!
The following brethren have at different times served as officers since the organization of the English Lutheran congregation in June, 1844:
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CHAPTER II.
Elders.
Jacob Crist, .
from 1844 to 1850.
David Deardorff,
1844 to 1846.
John Rice, .
" 1846 to 1850.
David Tressler,
.
1850 to 1853.
William Erb,
1850 to 1854.
John Beaver,
" 1855 to 1858.
William Lenig,
1855 to 1858.
Samuel Comp,
1858 yet in office.
Henry Rice,
·
1858
Deacons.
Henry C. Hickok, Esq., .
from 1844 to 1846.
George Attig,
1844 to 1846.
Alex. C. Klink,
.
1846 to 1850.
William Erb,
1846 to 1850.
Dr. Jonas Ickes,
1850 to 1855.
John Roth, .
1850 to 1855.
Andrew Hensel,
1850 to 1855.
Samuel Comp,
1855 to 1858.
David Tressler,
1855 to 1858.
Jacob Stoufer,
1855 to 1858.
John Roth,
1858 to 1861.
John Rice,
1858 to 1861.
Jacob Fritz, .
1858 yet in office.
George Tressler,
1861 66
William Titzel,
.
1861
Trustees.
Jacob Crist, . from 1844 to 1850. ·
David Tressler,
.
1850 to 1853.
John Rice, .
·
1850 to 1855.
Samuel Comp,
.
1855 yet in office.
John Beaver,
. 1855
.
·
12
134
CHURCHES BETWEEN THIE MOUNTAINS.
SECTION II.
ST. ANDREW'S ( Shuman's) CHURCH IN SAVILLE TOWNSHIP.
At the close of the last century and the beginning of the present, a large number of Lutherans settled at and east of where Ickes- burg was afterwards located, in Juniata, now Saville, Township. Of these, the Ickes, Lyons, Shuman, Long, Anders, and a number of others, were among the earliest Lutheran families that settled here. They had however no church nearer than Loysville or Bloomfield, to either of which places they had to go a distance from eight to twelve miles. Occasionally they were visited by a minister of their own Church, who preached in private dwellings and school-houses. Some time in 1812, the
Rev. Frederick Oberhauser,
a native of Holland and a man of great literary attainments, but lamentably deficient in other respects, located somewhere in To- boyne Township, in the vicinity of Blain, and for a number of years regularly visited and preached for the scattered members of the Lutheran Church in the neighborhood of Ickesburg and some other places in that part of Sherman's Valley. About two miles east of Ickesburg, at the house of Mr. Andrew Shuman, and at Mr. Crist's, he preached once every four weeks for about two years. He instructed a class of catechumens in the Catechism in this neighborhood, and in 1815, at the house now occupied by Mr. Andrew Shuman, near his mill and St. Andrew's Church, he had communion, and confirmed the following twelve persons :
Peter Long,
Daniel Hall,
Henry Long,
Miss Elizabeth Long,
Daniel Sunday,
" Rebecca Hall,
Isaac Frantz,
" Elizabeth Beistlein,
Nicholas Lyons,
" Margaret Long,
John Crist,
" Sarah Hartman.
A number of the above persons are still with us, and are among the most useful aged members of the Church. They are all
135
CHAPTER II.
venerable for age. Forty-seven years ago they united with the Church; six of them have gone to the grave, and six of them still linger on its verge. They formed the nucleus of the congre- gation organized about fifteen years after the time of their con- firmation. A few years hence, and they will be among us no more. Most of them were useful in their day, and their names are intimately associated with the history of St. Andrew's Church. Besides these, and still older than these, we may mention the name of Andrew Shuman, who put the roof on the old log (Christ's) church at Bloomfield in 1798, donated the land on which St. Andrew's Church was erected, and died in peace and a bright hope in 1852, aged 78 years,-also Adam and John Lyons, and the Anders,-all of whom took a deep interest in having the Gospel regularly preached in their midst. These have all gone to their rest.
Rev. Oberhauser preached and administered the sacraments in the houses of the members, and deserves the credit of having col- lected the members and laid the foundation of a future and pros- perous congregation. At a time when the country was distracted by the English war he did what he could for Christ. He was learned, but unable to make his learning of much avail. As he was not supported by preaching, he also practised medicine. Thus he endeavored to do good to the bodies and souls of his people. On account of the increasing infirmities of age, soon after he had confirmed the above persons, he ceased to preach in this vicinity. He died on the 12th of April, 1821, aged 75 years. His large library, consisting of books chiefly in the Dutch and Latin languages, was afterwards sold at half its real value. Some forty volumes of it are now in the writer's library .*
After Rev. Oberhauser ceased to preach here, as the members were not regularly organized into a congregation, they scattered like sheep without a shepherd. When in 1815, the
Rev. John William Heim
commenced to preach at Loysville, in passing from Juniata to
* See note on p. 95.
136
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Perry County, he preached occasionally in private dwellings at Ickesburg and the surrounding neighborhood. Still, if the mem- bers wished to attend preaching regularly, they had to go to Loys- ville or Bloomfield, and to the one or the other of these places the young people also went to attend catechetical instruction. At that time people did not deem it hard to go on foot from eight to twelve miles to preaching and catechizing. Then they could en- dure more than they now can, or they had more religion than they now have, or, probably, they then endured and possessed what is now by many only looked at and professed. "The tree is known by his fruit."
In the spring of 1828, Rev. Heim moved to Loysville, and after this he preached in this neighborhood on week-days about once every four weeks. Thus the members were collected and encouraged, and soon the want of a suitable house wherein to wor- ship God was felt, and measures taken to erect such a house. The following heading of a subscription was circulated with encourag- ing success.
"We, the subscribers, consider ourselves bound to pay the sum opposite to our names to such place as subscribed for,* for the purpose of erecting a German church in Saville Township, Perry County, near Andrew Shuman's lower mill, or near Ickesburg. The 16th day of September, 1829."
The amount obtained by subscriptions justified the members in proceeding to erect the proposed house of worship. A site near Shuman's lower mill, and about two miles east of Ickesburg, was selected for the location of the church. In the meantime Rev. Heim continued to preach in private dwellings. The congregation was also regularly organized, and a congregational constitution was drawn up. The following brethren constituted the first Lutheran church-council here :
Frederick Anders, Elder. Peter Long, - Trustees.
John Beistlein, Deacon. John Swartz,
* i. e. either near Shuman's mill or Ickesburg, both places being proposed as proper locations.
137
CHAPTER II.
Rev. Heim wrote the following constitution in the German lan- guage. This instrument of writing is substantially the same as the constitution adopted at Loysville in 1827, and we will there- fore introduce here only that part of it which differs from the Loysville constitution. It makes no mention of the Augsburg Confession or any other specific rule, except the Bible, according to which the Gospel is to be preached. It reads as follows :
CONSTITUTION OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
God is a God of order, and, therefore, every undertaking that is to meet with His approbation and redound to His glory, must be carried on in the spirit of order, of love, and of peace. As we have concluded to erect a house, which we intend to consecrate to the service of God, and in which we, our children and their pos- terity, will conduct our public worship of God, therefore, We, the Church-Council and members of the congregation, do, on this day, -, 1830, pledge ourselves to observe most conscientiously, and as far as lieth in the power of man the following constitution :
CHAPTER I.
OF THE CHURCH, THE LAND THERETO BELONGING, AND THE GRAVEYARD.
Our church, called St. Andrew's, built on one acre of land, which Andrew Shuman gives for the purpose by a deed of con- veyance, situate in Saville Township, Perry County, and State of Pennsylvania, is and shall always continue to be a Union church in the use of the two religious denominations, namely, the Evan- gelical Lutheran and the Evangelical Reformed, and so it shall remain until, by mutual agreement of both denominations, the one congregation shall purchase the right of the other; and it shall at no time be allowed that any other doctrine than the Ev- angelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed be preached in this church, but the doctrines held by these two religious denomina-
12%
138
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
tions shall be preached in purity according to the Bible without any admixture of error. [The remaining portion of the Constitu- tion is word for word the same as the Loysville constitution, and need not be repeated here. See pp. 37-41.]
To ratify the above Constitution, we, the Church-Council and members, subscribe our names :
Lutheran members.
Henry Swartz,
Frederick Anders, Elder,
Jacob Comp,
John Beistlein, Deacon,
George Markel,
Peter Long,
Trustees,
Henry Pickard.
John Swartz, ~
Henry Long, Andrew Shuman,
German Reformed members.
John Bealor,
Nicholas Lyons,
Adam Stutzman,
Adam Lyons,
Daniel Bealor,
Jacob Anders,
George Keyser,
Daniel Long, John Anders,
Joseph Bealor.
The above Constitution has long since become in a great measure obsolete. For after the resignation of Rev. Heim in the spring of 1849, each denomination elected its own church-officers, had its own treasury, and administered discipline and church affairs according to the constitution of its own Synod or General Synod, so that the congregations, after that time, had nothing in common, except that they worshipped in the same church-edifice.
On the third of April, 1830, Mr. Andrew Shuman and his wife Elizabeth made a deed " for one acre of land for one dollar, in trust of Peter Long, John Miller, and John Swartz, of Juniata (now Saville) Township, appointed for the Buffalo German Lu- theran and Reformed Church," &c.
Andrew Shuman and John Bealor were elected the building committee. The church-edifice was erected in the summer of 1831, is a log building, thirty-four feet long by twenty-eight feet wide. In the fall of 1831, the word of life was first preached in the new church, though the gallery on three sides, the pulpit and
139
CHAPTER II.
pews were not constructed till 1833. We have been informed that no corner-stone was laid, and the time of the consecration of the church, if it ever was formally consecrated, we have not been able to learn.
Rev. Heim preached here regularly once every four weeks, ex- clusively in the German language. Having been faithfully in- structed in the doctrines of our holy religion, a large class of catechumens was confirmed in April, 1833, of which class the following persons were the majority :
Henry Kleckner,
Mrs. Catharine Jacobs,
William Yohn,
" Elizabeth Reisinger,
Jacob Reisinger,
" Margaret Flickinger,
George Kochenderfer,
" Sarah Smith,
David Crist,
Barbara Orris (baptized),
Isaac Long,
" Elizabeth Long
Samuel Orris,
Miss Catharine Long,
Isaac Flickinger,
" Mary Kochenderfer,
" Elizabeth Shuman,
Mrs. Sarah Lyons,
" Mary Anders,
" Elizabeth Frantz.
It is to be regretted that no church-record was kept whilst Father Heim was pastor of the congregation. We are wholly de- pendent for names and dates on the frail memory of some mem- bers. But as might be expected, the names of many of those who were confirmed by Rev. Heim can not be remembered.
In 1836, the following, and a number of others not now re- membered, were confirmed :
David Swartz,
George Markel,
Daniel Smith, Jacob Utly, Jonathan Hall,
John Hall,
. Miss Elizabeth Hall,
Simon Yeager,
" Mary Hall,
Jacob Yeager, George Jacobs,
" Mary Yeager,
Henry Flickinger,
" Catharine Reisinger,
" Margaret Yohn,
140
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Jacob Kleckner, Joseph Flickinger, Jacob Barrick,
Miss Elizabeth Kleckner,
" Elizabeth Zimmerman.
In 1840, a large class of catechumens was confirmed. The fol- lowing persons are a few of this class :
George Wallet,
Mrs. Margaret Comp,
David Long, " Elizabeth Beistlein,
George Utly,
Miss Susan Comp,
Mrs. Christiana Berkley, " Mary Utly.
" Sarah Anders,
In April, 1842, Rev. Heim confirmed a class, the last he con- firmed here, consisting of the following persons :
John Peck,
Eliza Flickinger,
George Long,
Margaret Maul,
Henry Long,
Ann Long,
Christian Wagoner,
Diana Kretzing,
George Kretzing,
Catharine Kretzing,
John Flickinger,
Rebecca Hall, and some others,
Joanna Wagoner, whose names are not re-
Christiana Wagoner,
· membercd.
Whilst pastor of this congregation, Father Heim preached re- gularly once in four weeks in the German language. The want of preaching in the English language began to be deeply felt. Hence the members proposed to Rev. Heim that they would sup- port him as they had always done, and that he should continue to preach in German, but that he should allow them to associate with him a minister who could preach in the English language. To this reasonable proposition he objected, and after holding commu- nion in May, 1849, he resigned; and on the 27th of December following, he departed this life in peace. In June of the same year, he was at this place succeeded as pastor by the
Rev. Jacob Martin,
who was then pastor of the Bloomfield charge. Rev. Martin preached for this congregation once every three weeks, alternately
141
CHAPTER II.
in the German and English languages. A church-record was now secured, and hereafter baptisms, confirmations, &c., were regularly recorded. During the summer of 1849, the church was rough- cast outside, and other repairs were made, as the following head- ing of a subscription shows :
"We, the subscribers, promise to pay to the Trustees of St. Andrew's Church the several sums annexed to our names, to be applied by them to repairing the said church by plastering, paint- ing, and whatever else may be by them and the other members thought necessary, and also to make all suitable repairs to the graveyard in fencing the same. 1849."
After being duly instructed and found properly qualified, on Saturday, the 8th of June, 1850, the following persons were con- firmed :
Robert Survell (baptized),
James Campbell
Joseph Flickinger,
Miss Elizabeth Long,
John Lyons,
" Sarah Lyons,
" Catharine Shuman,
" Margaret Long,
Margaret Long.
On the 3d of January, 1851, the following persons were re- ceived by confirmation :
David Barrick, Hugh Campbell, David Frey.
Having served the congregation about two years and ten months, Rev. Martin resigned the Bloomfield charge on the 1st of April, 1852, and was succeeded on the 1st of June following by the
Rev. William Gerhardt,
who preached here once every three weeks, alternately in the Ger- man and English languages. Having been faithfully instructed in the Catechism of the Church, on Saturday, the 18th of June,
Henry Long,
Darius J. Long,
Mrs. Catharine Frey,
" Susan Reisinger,
Mrs. Nancy Flickinger,
" Lydia Ann Hench,
142
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
1853, the following persons were admitted to full communion by the rite of confirmation :
Andrew J. Shuman,
Miss Julian Lyons,
" Susan Shuman,
" Catharine Swartz,
" Maria Spriggle (baptized),
" Catharine Kleckner,
" Mary A. Reisinger,
" Mary Ellen Long,
Margaret Barrick.
On Sunday, the 19th of June, Rev. Gerhardt, at one and the same time, preached a sacramental sermon, a funeral sermon, and his farewell sermon, from 2 Cor. 13 : 14, having served the con- gregation about one year. The Bloomfield charge was then va- cant about eight months. On the 1st of March, 1854, the
Rev. Adam Height,
having accepted a call from the charge, commenced his pastoral labors here. He preached to this congregation once every three weeks. The use of the German language in the pulpit was scarcely needed at this time.
On Saturday, the 19th of March, Henry Reisinger was admitted to full membership by confirmation, and John Shuman and Mary A. Reisinger were received by certificate. Having preached here about seven months, in September, 1854, Rev. Height ceased his ministry. The Bloomfield charge was again vacant about eight months. Having accepted a unanimous call from the Bloomfield charge, on the Ist of June, 1855, the
Rev. David H. Focht
entered on the discharge of his ministerial labors here. He preached his introductory sermon at St. Andrew's Church on Sunday, the 3d of June, from Exod. 33 : 14, to a large and at- tentive congregation. At this time the German language in the pulpit is required no more. What a change a short time has wrought ! Not longer than six or seven years ago all the preach- ing in this church was in the German language, and Father Heim thought' the request of the members to have English preaching,
Frederick Barrick,
Henry Alexander Long,
Miss Joanna Long,
" Cath. Ellen Long,
" Rebecca Long,
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CHAPTER II.
unreasonable and wholly unnecessary. He meant it well, but was clearly behind the wants of the congregation, and the people in general in Perry County, on the subject of English preaching.
Having been faithfully instructed, the following persons were confirmed on the 27th of October, 1855 :
William Hench, Miss Rheuamma Long,
Daniel Lyons,
Mary Ann Swartz,
Henry F. Long,
" Matilda Steinberg,
Miss Sarah Berkley (baptized), " Mary Catharine Shuman,
" Elizabeth Long,
" Sarah Ann Shuman,
" Caroline Long,
" Lydia Ann Smith.
" Ellen Lyons,
" Jesus! we come at thy command, With faith, and hope, and humble zeal-
Resign our spirits to thy hand, To mould and guide us at thy will."
On the 12th of April, 1856, George Jacobs was confirmed, and on the 7th of September following, Mrs. Margaret A. Crist was received by certificate. On the 18th of October, the same year, Mr. Andrew Shuman was received by certificate, and the follow- ing persons were confirmed :
Jeremiah Lyons, Miss Mary Kleckner,
William Trostle, Mrs. Agnes Shuman (baptized).
Miss Rebecca Lyons,
"Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine, For thy bright courts on high ; Then bid our spirits rise and join The chorus of the sky."
On the 25th of April, 1857, the following persons were admitted to full communion by confirmation :
John K. Shuman, Oliver Reisinger, Mrs. Mary Ann Reisinger,
Samuel Markel,
" How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word ! What more can he say than to you he has said ? You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled."
144
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
On the 10th of October, 1857, the following two persons were received to full communion by confirmation :
Daniel Kleckner, Miss Rebecca Jane Kleckner.
" O watch, and fight, and pray ; The battle ne'er give o'er ; Renew it boldly every day, And help divine implore."
On the 5th of November, 1859, Mr. John M. McKee and Mrs. Catharine Glock, and on the 22d of April, 1860, Mr. Sam- uel Clouser, were received as members by certificate. The Lord bless these dear friends !
Having been instructed in the Catechism every week for more than four months, on the 8th of December, 1860, Mr. Job Shinn was received by certificate, and the following persons were con- firmed :
Jacob B. Shuman,
Miss Charity Long,
Peter Long,
" Susan Long,
Jacob H. Kleckner,
" Catharine Long,
John T. Baker (baptized),
" Elizabeth Ann Long,
Robert Paden,
" Sarah Long,
Mrs. Maria Paden, "
" Mary Ann Klinepeter,
Miss Mary Eliz. Blain (baptized),
" Rebecca Shuman,
" Cath. Angeline Barrick,
"O ! to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrain'd to be ! Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, Bind my wand'ring heart to thee !
" Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it ; Prone to leave the God I love- Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it from thy courts above."
This congregation, now numbering about one hundred mem- bers, has a weekly prayer-meeting and a Sunday-school, both of which are well attended. Piety and intelligence are advancing
CHAPTER II.
145
among the members, and benevolence and every good cause meet a hearty response at their hands.
Since 1849, when Rev. Heim resigned, the following brethren have at different times served as officers of this congregation :
Elders.
Andrew Shuman, Sen., .
from 1849 to 1852.
Nicholas Lyons,
1849 to 1856.
Henry Long,
1852 to 1856.
Jeremiah Burkepile,
·
1856 to 1857.
Samuel Shuman,
·
66 1856 to 1858.
Isaac Long, .
.
" 1857 yet in office.
Andrew Shuman, .
.
1858
Deacons.
George Kochenderfer,
from 1849 to 1851.
Isaac Long, .
1849 to 1853.
Samuel Shuman,
.
1851 to 1856.
Daniel Long,
1853 to 1857.
David Barrick,
.
1856 to 1858.
John K. Shuman, . ·
1858 to 1860.
Darius J. Long,
.
66 1857 to 1861.
John Lyons, .
.
" 1860 to 1861.
Daniel Lyons,
.
1861 now in office.
Henry Long,
.
.
1861
Trustees.
Christopher Wagner, · from 1849 to 1856.
Peter Long, . ·
. 1856 to 1861.
13
146
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
SECTION III.
ST. JOHN'S (Bealor's) CHURCH NEAR MARKELVILLE, JUNIATA TOWNSHIP.
In the beginning of the present century a number of Lutheran families settled in Juniata Township, as the Beistleins, Smiths, Lenigs, Swartzs, Crists, Burrels, and others. Most of these attended preaching at Bloomfield, and some few at Loysville, the distance of six to twelve miles. After the erection of St. An- drew's (Shuman's) Church in 1831, most of them worshipped there, and the rest at Bloomfield. All however were deeply ini- pressed with the urgent necessity of having the Gospel preached in their midst. Hence, in 1839,
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