USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 22
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On the 2d of October, 1814, the Lord's Supper was dispensed to forty-five communicants by Rev. C. Walter. In this list of communicants the following names appear for the first time : George Heilman, Eve Fisher, Elizabeth Schneider, Susan Her- man, Margaret Herman, Elizabeth Herman, Catharine Herman, Rachel Heilman, Catharine Heilman, Hannah Heilman. In June of this year (1814), Rev. George Heim having ceased to preach at this place in connection with Rev. Walter, his brother, the
Rev. John William Heim,
took charge of the congregation, and after having held commu- nion on the 2d of October, 1814, Rev. C. Walter also ceased to exercise pastoral care over the congregation.
On the 10th of October, 1815, the Rev. J. William Heim ad- ministered the Lord's Supper to twenty-nine communicants. This time the following names first appear in the list of members : Philip Shrock, John Heim, Jacob Herman, John Heilman, Magdalene Leckron, Elizabeth Stechly.
On the 2d of June, 1816, twenty catechumens were confirmed and the Lord's Supper was administered by Rev. J. W. Heim. The whole number of communicants was sixty-eight. As this is the last list of members on record, we will give the names of all who communed this time, viz. :
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Catechumens who were confirmed :
Samuel Hoffman,
Catharine Shuman,
Jacob Marx,
Catharine Wilt,
Jacob Long,
Mary Saur (Sour),
John Ulsh,
Magdalene Marx,
Abraham Wilt,
Sabina Mitschel,
Joseph Meyer,
Susanna Wagner,
George Schneider,
Elizabeth Long,
Fronica Ulsh,
Elizabeth Ulsh,
Catharine Harter,
Lydia Marx,
Elizabeth Frey,
Barbara Wilt.
The following communed with the above catechumens :
John Kepner and wife,
Margaret Wilt,
Henry Bragunner,
Catharine Eberst,
Joseph Frey and wife,
Barbara Zwilling,
George Weyond,
Magdalene Leckron,
William Saur (Sour) and wife,
Elizabeth Wilt,
Jacob Marx,
Elizabethı Herman,
Jacob Marx and wife,
Margaret Wilt,
Michael Wilt,
Margaret Herman,
Andrew Fogel,
Fanny Scholl,
Jacob Herman and wife,
Catharine Schrock,
Henry Hildebrecht and wife,
Barbara Potter,
Hannah Saur, Mary Ulsh, Catharine Herman,
Elizabeth Marx,
Jacob Long and wife,
Susanna Herman,
John Steiner and wife,
Catharine Hoffman,
Henry Frey and wife,
Catharine Marx,
Henry Long and wife,
Christiana Fessler,
Elizabeth Schneider, Margaret Reding,
Magdalene Stollenberger.
It is said that Rev. J. W. Heim catechized at St. Michael's about once every three or four years, and that large classes of cate- chumens were confirmed in 1819, '22, and '25. In May, 1828,
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CHAPTER V.
between twenty and twenty-five persons were confirmed, of whom the names of the following were furnished us from memory :
Henry Harman,
Miss Catharine Kleffman,
Joel Huggins,
Elizabeth Kleffman,
George Cline,
Catharine Cline,
Peter Boose,
Catharine Cline,
Mr. Schaeffer,
" - Schaeffer,
Miss Catharine Harman,
Fogel (Bird or Burd).
" Hannah Miller,
So far as we can learn anything to the contrary, the above class of catechumens was the last Rev. Heim confirmed here, and since then but few, if any, were added to the membership at St. Mi- chael's Church.
The names of fathers who had infants baptized, but whose names do not appear anywhere else than in the baptismal record, we will now give when they occur first, viz. : In 1804, Henry Lehman, Conrad Klein, Peter Wolf; in 1805, John Bacher, Capt. John Jones, Michael Rau (Rowe) ; in 1806, John Baeshor, David Blocher, Leonard Klein, David Rambach ; in 1807, Abraham Orner, Mr. Dewor, Mathias Schwesy, Adam Elmacher, John Huggins, Michael Umholtz, Nicholas Heterick, Charles Frank ; in 1808, Joseph Egly, Fred. Kless, Jacob Rotpautg; in 1809, Henry Bär (Bear), Benj. Bender, Jacob Gesett; in 1810, Jacob Spahr, Jefferson Gowet, Christian Beasom, John Buchter ; in 1811, Joseph Morris, Mr. Lutz, Abraham Silks ; in 1812, Chris- tian Grubb; in 1814, Jacob Harman, John Grubb; in 1815, Philip Evers, Henry Grubb, John Scholl ; in 1817, Robert Kil- patrick; in 1818, Gabriel Geiger, Abraham Grubb, George Til- man ; in 1819, Adam Heterick, Henry Straub ; in 1820, Samuel Weaver, Peter Straub; in 1824, Solomon Keiser, Adam Hort, Jacob Esuh, George Seller, Adam Hollman ; in 1825, George Manly, John Gensel, Adam Costeter, John Burd (Fogel, Bird) ; in 1826, Henry Miller, Michael Shetterly ; in 1827, Jo- seph Pontius ; in 1828, Henry Stoler, Joel Fonestock, Daniel
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Keim ; and by Rev. Erlenmeyer one child, in 1839,-father's name, Augustus Kirchner. Here ends the baptismal record.
From the record of deaths we will present a few extracts of in- terest :
On the 31st of January, 1800, Rev. Ludwig Koch, Evangelical Lutheran minister, aged thirty-nine years, was buried in this grave- yard. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. John Grabil (a Mennonite minister), from John 14 : 6.
On the 21st October, 1804, there was buried here Jacob Wag- gener, Sen., otherwise known as Indian Jockel (Indian Jack), a man aged seventy-five years. Mr. Waggener was noted for his successful conflicts with the Indians.
On the 30th of April, 1807, Dr. Christopher Keiner was buried, aged seventy years. Rev. Walter preached the funeral sermon from Isa. 38 : 19.
On the 17th of August, 1807, Jonathan Foutz, a son of Mi- chael Foutz, was buried here, aged fifteen years. He was shot by David Spar, a son of Christian Spar.
On the 26th of April, 1812, Frederick Harter, Esq. (the first elder of St. Michael's Church) was buried here, aged fifty-five years. Rev. Peter Bieber preached the funeral sermon. The re- cord of deaths ends in 1820.
"'The names of the men who served as Church-Council of the church in Pfautz's Valley, called St. Michael's, namely :
" In the year of Christ 1797, on the 8th of October, Frederick Harter, Esq., as Elder, and Frederick Wendt, as Deacon, were elected and installed, and served to June 8th, 1806.
" On the 8th of June, 1806, Joseph Frey, as Elder, and Henry Bragunner, as Deacon, were elected and installed.
"On the 23d of October, 1808, Joseph Frey and Frederick Harter, Esq., as Elders, and Henry Bragunner and Frederick Wendt, as Deacons, were elected and installed as Church-Council.
" On the 25th of December, 1813, Henry Bragunner, as Elder, and Henry Dimm, as Deacon, were elected and installed as Church- Council.
"On the 10th of August, 1817, Joseph Frey, as Elder, and Jonathan Long, were installed as Church-Council.
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" In the year 1825, Adam Wilt, Elder, and Daniel Frey, Dea- con, were installed as Church-Council.
" In the year 1827, Samuel Keim, Elder, and Daniel Frey, Deacon, were elected and installed as the Church-Council." Here the record of installation of Church-Councils ends.
To about 1828 the congregation was large and in a prosperous condition ; but soon after this, from various causes, it began to de- cline. A number of members moved out of Pfoutz's Valley. Some located in Turkey Valley, where they afterwards aided in establishing a congregation and building St. James's Church ; some settled in Wild Cat Valley and helped to form a congrega- tion and erect Christ's Church ; and others united in organizing a congregation at Millerstown. Thus, as but few or none were in the meantime added to the membership at St. Michael's, the con- gregation was by removals much reduced in strength. About this time, also, different sects of the wildest stamp found their way into Pfoutz's Valley, and, as their manner is, did their utmost to alie- nate from the Church all they could, and as Father Heim resided at Loysville, some twenty miles off, and was overwhelmed with constant labors nearer at home, the weight of his influence was not brought to bear down these aggressions from without, and con- sequently from this cause the congregation sustained a great loss and may not soon recover from its effects. In 1831, Father Heim still served the following congregations, viz., Mifflintown, Tusca- rora (near Perryville), Zion's at Blain, Loysville, St. Peter's, Bloomfield, Mount Zion on Fishing Creek, Liverpool, and St. Mi- chael's in Pfoutz's Valley. How it was possible for Father Heim to serve so many and remote congregations, without in a great measure neglecting some of them, is beyond our ability to under- stand. Of course some of them were neglected, or, to say the least, did not receive that attention and pastoral oversight which their interests demanded, and we are sure St. Michael's was one of them, as will appear clearly from the sequel. This want of pas- toral care was a third cause of the rapid decline of the congrega- tion. Rev. Heim continued to preach occasionally at St. Mi- chael's until October, 1833, when by action of Synod
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Rev. C. G. Erlenmeyer
was acknowledged as the regularly constituted pastor of the con- gregation. At this time the membership was already very much reduced, and seeing that but little could be accomplished, Rev. Erlenmeyer was inclined, two years afterward, to cease preaching here. For in October, 1835, the congregation sent a letter to Synod, recommending him as to his Christian walk and soundness in doctrine, and desiring at the same time that he might remain among them as their pastor. We have no means of knowing what success attended his labors here ; but we have reason to be- lieve that he met with but little encouragement, for early in 1836 he dissolved his pastoral relation to the congregation, though he may have preached an occasional sermon for the few remaining members for a few years after. Hence, in the minutes of Synod, September, 1836, we find the following action in relation to " a petition from St. Michael's Church in Pfoutz's Valley, formerly under the care of Rev. Erlenmeyer"-
" Resolved, That the congregation be recommended to Candi- date Boyer of Mifflintown, that he take charge of it, and in case he cannot do so, then to visit it occasionally." This is the last notice of the congregation we find in the minutes of Synod, until about ten years after. We do not think Rev. Boyer visited the congregation often or for any length of time. Need we wonder that the members were scattered as sheep without a shepherd, and that the congregation was reduced to the point of extinction. For five or six years the house of worship stood unvisited by a minis- ter or by the members.
Rev. Andrew Berg,
who took charge at Liverpool in November, 1842, if we are not misinformed, for about six months visited and occasionally preached for the few scattered members still attached to St. Mi- chael's. But Rev. Berg resigned in June, 1843, and the men- bers were again without preaching for about four years. Early in the beginning of 1847, the
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CHAPTER V.
Rev. William Weaver
located at Millerstown and took charge of this large and then desti- tute field. He found but three members belonging to the congre- gation of St. Michael's Church. Thus this congregation, once so large and flourishing, had now dwindled down to the very verge of extinction. Under the efficient ministry of Rev. Weaver, the few remaining members took courage, and some who had strayed off now returned, and all rallied around the standard of the Cross with new energy. In order to permanent success, the necessity of a new house of worship was obvious to the pastor, as the old church, neglected and dilapidated, was wholly unfit for use. Hence, in the first instance, the chief effort of the pastor was put forth to secure a new church-edifice. In March, 1847, a congre- gational meeting was held in old St. Michael's Church, when Messrs. David Kepner, Joseph Ulsh, Frederick Reinhard, John Ulsh and George Beaver were appointed the building committee and instructed to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of erecting the proposed new church. A sufficient amount was subscribed to justify the committee in prosecuting the enterprise. Messrs. Al- bright and Sweinford contracted for the carpenter work for six hundred and eighty dollars. The mason work was not included in this contract. Mr. George Beaver was appointed treasurer by the building committee. The old church was taken down and re- moved, and some time in June, 1847, the corner-stone was laid on the very site of the old church. The building was pushed rapidly on towards completion, and some time in the fall of the same year was consecrated the new St. Michael's Church, a substantial and well-arranged church-edifice. The congregation revived and the prospects were truly encouraging. As no records were made, we cannot say what the strength of the congregation was at this time, nor do we know how many, if any, were admitted to the member- ship whilst Rev. Weaver was pastor of the congregation. In the beginning of 1851, Rev. Weaver resigned, having served the con- gregation about four years. The members were then again with- out preaching for more than five years. During this time, except-
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
ing the new church, as much was lost as Rev. Weaver had gained. No wonder that the members became discouraged. Some, how- ever, remained steadfast, hoping almost against hope. On the 1st of October, 1856,
Rev. Josiah Zimmerman,
as a home missionary for this destitute field, located at Millers- town and preached at St. Michael's regularly for one year ; but after that, giving up all as almost hopelessly lost, he preached here only occasionally. On the 1st of April, 1859, he resigned this field of labor, and was succeeded in August of the same year by the
Rev. Jacob A. Hackenberger,
who preached here occasionally. In a letter, dated December, 1860, he says : "This congregation is at present in a sad condi- tion. The members are but few; and as the people are generally connected with the different denominations and sects with which the Valley abounds, there is but a faint hope that the congregation will soon, if ever, regain what it lost in membership. It was once a flourishing congregation ; but it gave being to the congregation in Wild Cat Valley and the one in Turkey Valley. These two migrations so weakened St. Michael's congregation that I fear it can not be restored for some time and without much labor. It has, however, still an existence. None have been added to the membership for many years. I can find no congregational Con- stitution." The congregation had a Constitution, but we regret, that notwithstanding the many efforts made to find it, it has not yet been brought to light. In August, 1861, Rev. Hackenberger resigned, and then the
Rev. William O. Wilson,
who had located at Millerstown in July previous, preached at St. Michael's about eight months, but without much encouragement. Some preaching in the German language is required by the mem- bers ; but as he could not supply them in that language, and also because the congregation belongs properly to the Liverpool charge,
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CHAPTER V.
he resigned it in March, 1862, and on the 1st of April following, the
Rev. John H. Davidson,
having taken charge of the Liverpool pastorate, commenced his ministerial labors here. The present energetic pastor can so well supply the members by preaching in both languages, and though the congregation is weak now, may we not cherish the pleasing hope that by perseverance and God's blessing on the faithful preaching of the word, St. Michael's congregation will at no dis- tant day revive, and rise, and shine in all its pristine glory !
" Savior, visit thy plantation, Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain ! All will come to desolation, Unless thou return again : Lord, revive us, All our help must come from thee "'
SECTION IV.
ST. JAMES'S CHURCH IN TURKEY VALLEY, GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP, JUNIATA COUNTY.
This church stands on the Juniata side and near the line di- viding Juniata and Perry Counties, and as it belongs to the Liver- pool charge we will make a few passing remarks respecting it. So far as we can learn it was erected in 1852, is a frame structure, and not large or conveniently located. Most of the members in Turkey Valley had formerly belonged to St. Michael's in Pfoutz's Valley. The congregation was small and for some years had only occasional preaching. On the 1st of October, 1856, the
Rev. Josiah Zimmerman
took charge of it. He then found here only six members of the Lutheran Church, constituting the congregation. He met, how-
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
ever, with encouraging success. In a communication to us he says : "In Turkey Valley I instructed an interesting class of cate- chumens, and on the 19th of April, 1857, the following persons were confirmed :
Samuel Dimm, Adamı Wilt, Mary Dimm,
Jacob Dimm, Joseph Wilt, Sarah A. Dimm,
John Minnium, Frederick Wilt,
Lydia Minnium.
Samuel Rambaugh, Catharine Wilt,
Daniel Ziegler, Hannah Bostwick,
"Six of these persons were heads of families, and this accession to the congregation, which was very weak before, was of great im- portance. Afterwards I instructed another class, and on the 21st of March, 1858, the following six persons were confirmed :
Henry Dimm, Nancy Jane Dimm, Susan Dimm,
Reuben Reed, Elmira Jane Cox, Eve Eliz. Ziegler."
Thus the congregation was revived and gathered strength, and much good was accomplished by Rev. Zimmerman. He resigned in April, 1859, having served the congregation in the Gospel for two years and a half, and was succeeded in August of the same year by the
Rev. Jacob A. Hackenberger,
who preached here once every two weeks. Whether any were or were not added to the membership whilst he was pastor, we are not informed. Having preached to the congregation for two years, he resigned in 1861. Immediately after this, the
Rev. William O. Wilson
preached here occasionally, as a supply, until the Liverpool charge should have a pastor. On the 1st of April, 1862, the
Rev. John H. Davidson
accepted a call from the Liverpool pastorate, and has since been preaching here regularly once every two weeks. May we not hope that, enjoying the stated ministrations of the sanctuary, the con-
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gregation will now take courage and go forward in the work of the blessed Master.
" Dearest Savior, help thy servant To proclaim thy wondrous love ! Pour thy grace upon this people, That they may thy love approve : Bless, O bless them, From thy shining courts above."
SECTION V.
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH AT MCKEE'S HALF-FALLS, IN SNYDER COUNTY.
This church is located about six miles above Liverpool, on the Susquehanna, and near the village known as " McKee's Half- Falls," in Snyder County. The subscription for the erection of the church was drawn up in February, 1859, and was circulated with encouraging success. The following persons were elected as the building-committee, viz., Jonathan Weiser, President, Jere- miah B. Hall, Secretary, John M. Reise, Walter App, and George Snyder. The corner-stone was laid on the 29th of July, 1861, when Rev. Messrs. S. Domer, P. Born, and G. C. Erlenmeyer officiated, and the church was consecrated to the service of God on the 6th of October, 1861. Rev. Messrs. Lloyd Knight, G. C. Erlenmeyer, and C. H. Leinbach officiated on this occasion. This is an elegant brick structure, large and of imposing external ap- pearance, with a basement story below and surmounted by a cu- pola and bell. On the 1st of April, 1862,
Rev. John H. Davidson,
as its first pastor, took charge of the congregation. The congre- gation was regularly organized by him on the 10th of May follow- ing, when the first Church-Council was installed, and when the following persons were admitted to membership by confirmation,
27
1
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
viz., F. W. Wallace, Jeremiah Hains, and Annie Hains. Rev. Davidson says: "This is the best congregation I have." The congregation consists of about eighty members.
HUNTER'S VALLEY PREACHING-STATION.
This is a beautiful valley southeast of Liverpool, stretching away from the west bank of the Susquehanna, in Perry County. In this valley a number of members reside, who usually attend preaching at Liverpool and constitute a large portion of the congregation there. But as they have a considerable distance to Liverpool, from 1847 to '51 Rev. W. Weaver preached for them occasionally in a school-house in the valley, and so did Rev. J. H. Hackenberger, and Rev. J. H. Davidson does the same at present. As the number of members is increasing here, a suitable house of worship will be required. May the kingdom of Christ come and extend from shore to shore !
" Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run ; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no.more."
-
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
THE MILLERSTOWN CHARGE.
FOR many years all the congregations between the Susque- hanna and Juniata Rivers constituted one charge,-a charge so large that no one man could serve with profit to the people or pleasure to himself. Seeing that it was labor lost to travel so large a field, in August, 1860, Rev. Hackenberger resigned Mil- lerstown and the stations on the Juniata, and confined his labors afterwards to Liverpool and the congregations more contiguous thereto on the Susquehanna. Thus a vacancy was made on the Juniata, which Synod supplied by the appointment of a missionary on the 6th of July, 1861, when it may be said that the Millers- town charge was properly constituted.
.
SECTION I.
ST. SAMUEL'S CHURCH AT MILLERSTOWN.
Millerstown, laid out in 1800, is on the northwest bank of the Juniata, where an Indian village stood in olden times. This is probably the oldest town in Perry County, and considerable busi- ness used to be done here, being located at the east end of a long range of mountain passes. At present it is in statu quo. Mem- bers of the Church resided here fifty years ago. They attended preaching at St. Michael's Church in Pfoutz's Valley, and so far as we know anything to the contrary, had no preaching by a minister of their own Church in town, till the beginning of 1847, when the
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Rev. William Weaver
located here. Some of the members had hitherto belonged to St. Michael's Church, and some, living in town, and its vicinity, were as sheep without a shepherd. Rev. Weaver preached for them in a school-house in the borough of Millerstown, and, perhaps, had also the use of one of the churches for some time. His labors were successful, and the prospects were truly promising. In March, 1850, a congregation was organized, and it is said that " upwards of forty persons united themselves in that organization." See page 275. On Saturday the 4th of January, 1851, six per- sons were admitted to membership by vote and certificate, and the following ten persons were confirmed :
Lewis Acker,
Lewis Grubb,
- Grubb,
John Harman,
Mrs. Mary Harman,
Miss Lydia Harman,
" Elizabeth Harman,
" Ann Eliza Harman,
" Hannah Puntius,
" Sarah Jane Puntius.
On Sunday, the 5th, the Lord's Supper was administered. In a few weeks after this, Rev. Weaver resigned. He had accom- plished a good work, and it is to be regretted that he did not stay longer among this people. The members labored under the disadvantage of not having a church-edifice of their own ; but at the very time they were agitating the subject of erecting a house of worship, their pastor resigned and no church was built.
After Rev. Weaver had resigned, the Rev. J. Martin, then pastor of the Bloomfield charge, preached an occasional sermon for the members at Millerstown till the spring of 1852. After this, the members had no preaching till the spring of 1854, when Rev. A. Height of Bloomfield visited them occasionally and preached for them in a school-house. At this time the prospects of building a church were flattering. A kind friend of the good cause offered to donate a desirable lot of ground for the purpose. But, then, Rev. Height ceased to preach in September of the same year, and thus the members were again destitute, and the
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CHAPTER VI.
prospects of building a church vanished. On the 1st of October, 1856, the
Rev. Josiah Zimmerman
located at Millerstown, as a missionary for the whole field extend- ing from river to river. He preached at this place regularly in a school-house, and had for some time also the use of one of the churches in town. On the 20th of February, 1857, he reorgan- ized the congregation with seven members, to which, soon after, fifteen more were added, so that the congregation then consisted of twenty-two members. Rev. Zimmerman says : "Soon after I came to Millerstown I organized a class of catechumens. I in- structed them in my study, and on the 12th of April, 1857, the following persons were confirmed :
Ephraim Acker,
Elizabeth Hall,
Peter Hall,
Sarah E. Hall,
Samuel Rice,
Elizabeth Jones,
David Richabaugh,
Sarah R. Jones,
John Slutterbach,
Susan Marlatt,
Mrs. Mary Ann Lyons,
Sarah A. Richabaugh,
Rambach,
Mary A. Slutterbach."
Sophia Rice,
Rev. Zimmerman accomplished a good work. When he re- signed, on the 1st of April, 1859, the congregation numbered about forty members. In August, 1859, the
Rev. J. A. Hackenberger
commenced to preach here, also in a school-house. But finding his field of labor too large to accomplish much good, he resigned, in August, 1860, all the preaching-places on the Juniata, and thus opened the way for the formation of the Millerstown charge. For nearly a year the members here had then no preaching. In May, 1861, Synod requested the pastor of the newly-formed Thompsontown charge to supply the congregation at Millerstown ; but the pastor of that charge found himself unable to comply with this request. Synod's Committee on Home Missions then secured
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