USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Frackville > History of Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa. > Part 5
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
parsonage, and thus save the rent they were paying for a house. But to do all this would incur an expense of about five thousand dollars. And with a heroism that rarely finds an equal they set about raising the necessary funds. Sunday, May 26th, 1901, stands out prominently as the "Red Letter Day" in the history of this congregation. This is due to the fact that on this day the pastor, Rev. David Lord, assisted by the Rev. James Sampson and J. W. Powell, raised three thousand, seven hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents. This was accomplished by the issuing of bonds of the value of thirty-six dollars each, which were to be redeemed, with interest, within three years from date of sale. These bonds were sold to indi- viduals, Sunday School classes, Ladies Aid Society, Epworth League, &c., to the above amount. And the work of remodeling and enlarging the church was at once begun. In the meantime the services of the congregation were held in the Park Theatre. On the 13th day of October, 1901, the cornerstone was laid. The pastor was assisted in these services by the Revs. J. Swindells. H. H. Kinney and O. E. Stogden. The work having been com- pleted, the church was rededicated January 12th, 1902. This re- modeling and enlarging of the church was done at a cost of up- wards of four thousand dollars. Immediately upon the comple- tion of the church, work was begun on the parsonage. But be- fore its completion a change of pastors took place, the Rev. David Lord being succeeded by the Rev. H. J. Illick. The par- sonage was, however, ready to be occupied in the early part of the summer of 1902. This beautiful and comfortable building was erected at a cost of about one thousand, five hundred dol- lars. This congregation, therefore, owns property that is to- day worth about eight thousand, five hundred dollars. The pres- ent board of trustees is composed of the following members: C. B. Philips, Thomas T. Vaughn, C. E. Harris, Henry Dingle, Edward Hinks, Samuel Berrett, Charles Lawrence, C. C. Reick and Daniel Philips. But during all these years the congregation had a healthful and steady growth, so that its membership to- day numbers one hundred and thirty, with a Sunday School of one hundred and sixty-nine.
5-THE CHURCH OF GOD.
We next come to consider what is known as "The Church of God." This denomination had its beginning in a movement inaugurated by Rev. John Winebrenner, a German Reformed
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minister, in the year 1820. Hence these people are sometimes called Winebrennerians. Rev. Winebrenner was at this time pastor of four Reformed congregations, one of which was locat- ed in Harrisburg, Pa. A series of revivals were, at this time, inaugurated in his congregations, which excited considerable opposition on the part of the church to which he was amenable. In 1825 he and his followers separated from the Reformed Church. But it was not until the year 1829 that the first congre- gation called "The Church of God" was organized. The first Conference, or Annual Eldership, was held the following year, 1830, at which the distinguishing tenets of this newly formed denomination were clearly set forth. As the church grew, there finally came into existence a General, or Triennal, Eldership, which meets every three years. This body, as the name implies, represents the entire church, and is the highest judicial and legislative authority. It has control of the denominational ac- tivities and benevolences of the church. Its ministers are desig- nated as Elders. The doctrines to which "The Church of God" adheres are those which are popularly known as purely evan- gelical. They emphasize the three ordinances, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and feet-washing, as being perpetual and essenti il to the Christian life. Although "The Church of God" is one among the smaller denominations, yet it is steadily growing, and its influence for good is felt in every community in which it is located. In not a few of our cities do we find large and imposing churches.
The first service held in Frackville by this Christian people was in the month of December, 1897. This service was held by Rev. J. M. Fahl, of Auburn, in Kehler's hall. On the 2nd day of April, 1898, the congregation was organized with eleven members. The first officers were: Rev. J. M. Fahl, pastor; Franklin Jones, Elder; Charles Fetherolf and Franklin Mengel, Deacons; Frank- lin Fetherolf, Francis Mengel, and Franklin Jones, Trustees; George Stein, Secretary; Francis Mengel, Treasurer. Having purchased a lot, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, from the Frack estate, on South Balliet Street, they first broke ground on Labor Day, 1901. The corner stone was laid on October 8th, 1901, when the Rev. M. A. Zyner preached the sermon. Having about completed the new building, the furniture was moved from Kehler's hall into the church, December 5th, 1901. Three days later, or on the 8th, the dedication took place, when the sermon
ONOA
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was preached by Rev. J. M. Fahl. This church was built at a cost of about one thousand seven hundred dollars.
The Sunday School was organized February 28th, 1898, with twenty-six members. The first officers were: John Mengel, Su- perintendent; Charles Mengel, Secretary; and Francis Mengel, Treasurer. There are at present thirty-five members in the school with the following as its officers: Robert H. Mengel, Superintendent; Riley Hopple, Secretary; Daniel Mengel, Treas- urer; Ivy Mengel, Librarian; and Oscar Christ, Organist.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was or- ganized April 2nd, 1898, with the following officers: Robert H. Mengel, President; Charles Fetherolf, Vice President; Mrs. Al- fred Behney, Secretary; Mrs. Frances Mengel, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Franklin Fetherolf, Treasurer; and Lizzie Beh- ney, Organist. At the time of organization there were thirteen members, while at present there are seventeen, with the follow- ing 'as its officers: Oscar Christ, President; Richard Kaup, Vice President; Robert H. Mengel, Secretary; Mrs. Franklin Fether- olf, Treasurer; and Robert H. Mengel, Organist.
This congregation has at present a membership of twenty, with the following as its officers: Rev. J. M. Fahl, of Auburn; and Rev. William Gangloff, of McKeansburg, Pastors; Robert H. Mengel and David Christ, Elders; Oscar Christ and Daniel Mengel, Deacons; Robert H. Mengel, Secretary; David Christ, Treasurer; and David Christ, Robert Mengel, Francis Mengel, Franklin Fetherolf, Samuel Morgan, Trustees.
6-ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Roman Catholic Church, popularly so called, is a branch of the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church, that can trace its lineage back to the days of the Apostles. The correct and full title of this Christian body is "The Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church." Its most distinguishing characterstic is its recognition of the Pope of Rome as the divinely appointed head of the church on earth. Her history is rich, most interesting and remarkable. She stretches in unbroken succession back to, and beyond the palmy days of heathen Rome, has outlived all the governments of Europe and will live when Macaulay's New Zealander, "in the midst of a vast solitude, shall take his stand on a broken arch of London Bridge to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's." Nor has any other church ever exercised greater in- fluence over the masses than Romanism. No sooner had the
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mass of emigration turned toward America, than the Dioceses of Seville and Rouen were enlarged, so as to bring within their jurisdiction this newly discovered continent. All the Spanish Colonial settlements were placed under the spiritual supervision of the Archbishops of Seville, and continued so until 1513 and
The Rev. Father J. A. Hogan
1519, when the suffragan Sees of Santo Domingo and Tlascala were respectively created. A little later Florida, and Spanish Louisiana, came under the control of the Bishop of Santiago de Cuba, where they remained until the creation of the See of Havana in 1787. And from the year 1674 until 1789 all the
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French settlements from Maine on the north, to Louisiana on the south, were under the supervision of Bishop Laval of Quebec. While the British colonies were subject to the English Vicars until 1784, when Dr. Carrol was made Prefect Apostolic of the United States. In 1789 the See of Baltimore was created, when its jurisdiction extended to the whole of the Republic.
During the year 1793 a subdivision of jurisdiction in the church in the United States began by the placing of Louisiana and Florida under a separate Bishop. The important Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, Kentucky, were all erected in the year 1808. And thus Romanism continued ex- panding, by natural growth as well as by immigration, until to-day there is not a community, however small, in the United States, but that is under the jurisdiction of this church.
This Christian body is represented in Frackville by St. Jo- seph's Church, located on the east side of Broad Mountain Ave- nue. St. Joseph's Mission was at first started only as a Sunday School, and was constituted a part of the parish at Mahanoy Plane. But as the Sunday School grew the church membership increased until finally it was felt that it would be greatly to the advantage of the people of Frackville to have the services of the church in their own town. And with this end in view, the first mass was celebrated in Frackville on the Feast of the As- sumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15th, 1893. A short time after this a meeting of the parishioners was held at which a committee of five, consisting of J. C. McGinnis, R. F. Fennesy, D. J. Kiefer, Charles Hillenbrand, and John D. Lawlor, were appointed to wait upon the Archbishop and secure, if pos- sible, the regular services of the church in Frackville. In the spring of 1894 the east side school house, having been put up for sale by the school board, was purchased by the committee for three hundred and ninety dollars. This building was at once remodeled and converted into a comfortable church, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. It was not, however, until in January, 1896, that the untiring efforts of this committee were crowned with success. At this time the Archbishop appointed the Rev. Charles Prendergast, just ordained and commissioned as Curate, to the Rev. John Loughran, at Mahanoy Plane, in charge of the work at Frackville. From this time forth, St. Joseph's Mission was regularly supplied with the services of the church. In June, 1897, there was a change of Priests at Mahanoy Plane,the Rev. James A. Hogan succeeding the Rev.
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John Loughran. The Rev. Prendergast continued as Curate for a time under Father Hogan, but was afterwards succeeded by
the Rev. James Dooley, who, like his predecessor, ministered to the spiritual interests of the people of Frackville. Under Father
"The Grove " recently purchased by the Roman Catholic Church, and occupied by R. F. Fennessy, upon which a fine church will soon be erected
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ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Hogan the building, originally purchased and remodeled by the committee, became too small to accommodate the ever increasing membership, therefore an addition of thirty feet in length and twenty-six in width was erected to the building, with a gallery for the use of the choir. Hence the church at present is ninety feet deep by twenty-six in width, standing upon a lot fifty by one hundred and fifty feet.
The Sunday School was organized in the old public school house the first Sunday in Advent, 1870. Here they continued their sessions until a number of years later, when Houghton's Hall was rented and used for a tinie. The first superintendent was James Cowan. In September, 1883, John C. McGinnis was appointed to that office, and has continued to serve in that ca- pacity to the present time. The school numbers to-day one hundred and twenty-one children and sixteen officers and teach- ers.
The Rosary and Altar Society was organized during the month of January, 1896, with Bernard Leddy, Prefect, and John D. Lawlor, Secretary, and had a membership of forty-five. This society has grown so that at the present time it has a member- ship of one hundred and fifty-six, with Miss Mary Huth as Pre- fect, and John C. McGinnis, Secretary.
Thus St. Joseph's Mission, under the spiritual supervision of Father Hogan, ably assisted by Father Dooley, has increased so that to-day it has a church membership of over six hundred souls, with a Sunday School of one hundred and thirty-seven, a Rosary and Altar Society numbering one hundred and fifty-six members.
7-CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The next, and last, Christian body to claim our attention is Christ Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church in the United States is a branch of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, being able to trace her history back through England, in unbroken succession, to the days of Christ and His Apostles. It is a well authenticated historical fact that Christianity was introduced into Britian either by St. Paul himself, or one of his disciples --- Pudens, Linus and Claudia, all of whom were Britons. We find the British Bishops not only present, but taking a very prominent and active part, in the great Church Councils of Arles, A. D. 314, Nice, A. D. 325, Arimnum, A. D. 359. Therefore the Christian Church, with its Apostolic Ministry, Scriptures, Sacraments, and .
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Creed, existed in Britain long before the coming of St. Augus- tine, with his Monks, into the British Isles. But the Church of England, being a branch of the Holy Catholic Church, never suf- fered any foreign influence to completely deprive her of that rich inheritance bequeathed her by Christ Himself through His Apostles. One of her chief characteristics has ever been, that when error presents itself she has never yet failed to become, sooner or later, a protesting church. From this comes the mis- nomer in the title Protestant Episcopal. Thus the history of the Church of England rolled on for centuries, in varied sunlight and darkness, until the ascension of King Henry VIII. to the throne, when simony, bribery, false teaching, luxurious living, and greed of temporal power, had become so cumulative that the Godly and more spiritual element, including Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Laity, arose as one body in protestation against these inroads of evil. Hence the Reformation was not brought about, as some suppose, by King Henry VIII. The move- ment of the Reformation was so strong that it carried him along with it, at first evidently against his will. The church, like the human body when diseased, can best be restored to its normal condition by curative processes from within. This left the church of England the same after the Reformation that it was before, save that it was now purified of the evils that had been accumu- lating for centuries. Thus under the reign of Kings Henry VIII. and Edward VI., and finally Queen Elizabeth the Church of Eng- land was restored to her ancient Catholic usages.
The first clergyman of the Church of England known to visit America was the Rev. Albert de Prato, who arrived at St. John's, New Foundland, August, 1527. In the year 1578 the Rev. Woolfall landed in the county of Warwick's Sound and celebrated the first English Communion on American soil. The first Baptism administered in the New World was by a Church of English clergyman to Manteo, an Indian chief, in the colony of Virginia, in the year 1587. And as early as August, 1607, the services of the Church of England were regularly celebrated by the Rev. Richard Seymour on the southern coast of Maine. In 1640 the first Episcopal church, in the United States, was or- ganized and built at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by the Rev. Richard Gibson. While in 1682 King's Chapel, Boston, and in 1693 Trinity Church, New York City, were duly organized. Thus the church continued to spread until May, 1784, when the first meeting for organization was held at New Brunswick, N. J. In
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the meantime the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Connecticut, was recommended for the office of Bishop, and was consecrated at Aberdeen, Scotland, November 4th, 1784, by Bishops Kilgour, Petrie, and Skinners. At the convention held in Philadelphia during the month of September, 1785, the "Proposed Book" was drawn up, and a constitution framed and adopted for the church henceforth to be known as "The Protestant Episcopal Church." On the 4th day of February, 1787, the Revs. William White, D. D., of Pennsylvania, and Samuel Provost, D. D., of New York, and on September 14th, 1790, the Rev. James Madison, D. D., of Vir- ginia, were consecrated Bishops, by the Archbishop of Canter- bury, assisted by the Archbishop of York, and the Bishops of Bath, Wells, and Peterborough, in the Chapel of Lambeth Palace, London. At the triennial convention held in September, 1789, the present Book of Common Prayer was adopted, and the church entered fully upon her career, under: the leadership of Bishop White, who stood the acknowledged head of the church for a period of forty years.
This is the church of which Christ Episcopal Mission, Frackville, is an integral part. The first services were held here by George Rogers, a Lay Reader, from the Holy Apostles, St. Clair, in the early part of the year 1876. ; These services were held in a small building standing on the lot now owned by Cor- nelius Caulf, North Nice Street. In the meantime the small school house on North Nice Street was rented, and the first regular service celebrated, by the Rev. Daniel Washburn, of Ashland, December 25th, 1876. It was through the influence of Rev. Washburn that the present lot, on the east side of South Balliet Street, was donated to the Mission by Daniel Frack, Sr., some time during the year 1877. During this same year the Mission moved into the school building where the present High School now stands. Here they worshipped for a short time, when the Rev. Mr. Washburn resigned. The small building on North Nice Street, now occupied by Davis' drug store, was then rented in which the services were held for about ten years. The first service was held in this building the latter part of the year 1877, by the Rev. H. P. Chapman, of St. Clair, who was then placed in charge of the work here. On the 16th day of May, 1878, this Mission elected John Bateman and William Jones its first Wardens, and adopted the name of "Christ Church Mission. ' This Mission, at that time, numbered about six communicants and about the same number of baptized members. In the early
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part of the summer of 1882, the Rev. Mr. Chapman resigned. In November, of this same year, the Rev. Charles A. Marks, also of St. Clair, was placed in charge. At this time the members of the mission began feeling the necessity of having a home of their own. Hence in the month of December, 1886, they began 1
the erection of a small church building, twenty by forty feet, on the lot secured by Rev. . Washburn, at a cost of about one thous- and dollars. This building was completed the latter part of February, 1887. While this church was being built, services were held in the home of Robert C. Hunt, and Mrs. W. S. Sanner. The opening services were held March 6th, 1887, when the Bishop
" Rectory " owned and occupied by the Rev. Jonathan W. Miller
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of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Nelson S. Rulison, D. D., and the Rev. James F. Powers, D. D., of Trinity, Pottsville, and the Rector, the Rev. Marks, were present. The sermon was preach- ed by the Bishop. Henry Moyer had charge of the work as con- tractor. In June, 1896, the Rev. Mr. Marks resigned, and the Rev. Paris B. Stauffer, his successor, took charge July of the same year. The Mission had by this time grown to such an extent that an enlargement of the building became necessary. It was decided that the addition should be a chancel and sanctuary, twenty by thirty-two feet, with a vestry ten feet square. The contract for this work was awarded to Henry Haupt. Work was begun in the month of January, 1897, and completed the latter part of the following summer, at a total cost of nine hundred dollars, including various donations to the amount of three hun- dred dollars. The first services were held in the newly enlarged church, June 27th, 1897, at which services the Missionary, the Rev. Stauffer, was assisted by the Rev. James F. Powers, D. D., the Rev. James B. May, and the Rev. Otho Brant, D. D. In March, 1890, the Rev. Paris B. Stauffer resigned as Missionary whereupon the Bishop of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Ethel- bert Talbot, D. D., L. L. D., appointed Richard Whitehouse, a student in the Theological Seminary, New York City, in charge. Mr. Whitehouse began his work June, 1899, and continued for three months, when he again returned to his studies. Upon Mr. Whitehouse's leaving, the Rev. Otho Brant, D. D., of Mahanoy City, supplied this people with services until the present incum- bent, the Rev. Jonathan W. Miller, assumed charge, by appoint- ment of the Bishop, November 1st, 1899. The Rev. Miller was the first Rector loci Christ Church had.
The Sunday School was organized about the year 1876, with twelve members, John Bateman being the first Superin- tendent. A society of "The King's Daughters" was organized in the early history of this Mission, which was very active. It was this society that purchased the present church organ. But as "The King's Daughters" is not an integral part of the Epis- copal church, it was on the 3rd day of April, 1891, reorganized into a Woman's Auxiliary. The first officers were: Mrs. W. S. Sanner, President; and Mrs. Louise Nice, Secretary. On January 8th, 1900, the Rector appointed the first Vestry Christ Church ever had, which was composed of the following persons: Norman L. Ranck, Senior Warden; Robert C. Haupt, Junior Warden; Clever M. Tiley, Secretary; George Fertig, Treasurer; John
P
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Haupt, Samuel Williams, Owen Lawrence, John Eckersley, and Albert H. Berdanier, Vestrymen. The Parish Guild was organ- ized January 6th, 1902, with the following officers: President, John Richards; Secretary, Mrs. John Richards; and Treasurer, Mrs. John Haupt.
During these years Christ Church Mission has grown from six communicants, and the same number of baptized members, to seventy-eight communicants, with sixty-eight baptized mem- bers, notwithstanding the many removals which the church has suffered. The present officers are: Jonathan W. Miller, Rector; Norman L. Ranck, Senior Warden; John E. Beddow, Junior Warden; Daniel H. Frack, Secretary; and Miss Elizabeth Scott, Treasurer. There is an Altar Guild composed of Misses Eliza- beth Scott, Edna P. Miller, and Katharine Sanner. The Cross- bearer is Walter H. Pierce. While the Sunday School officers are: Norman L. Ranck, Superintendent; Miss Elizabeth Scott, Secretary; and Mrs. Thomas Beddow, Treasurer.
CHAPTER VII.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Among all the institutions of this great Republic of ours, the Free Public School System stands next to the Christian Church in value and importance. In an enlightened age like ours it is unnecessary to argue the fact, so universally acknowledged. that the very nature of man makes him susceptible to the slight- est impressions. These impressions are constantly made upon him from a three-fold standpoint, physical, intellectual, and ethi- cal. And as this threefold nature in man is at no time so sensi- tive, and the impressions made so lasting, as in infancy and childhood, therefore the importance of an education, during this formative period of life, that grows out of the True, the Beauti- ful, and the Good. The education that fails to recognize and supply, the demand of this threefold nature of human life will but end in the most disastrous failure. Hence what the nature of all the accumulated forces of matured life is, depends upon the kind of education each particular person received. An edu- cation, in the highest sense, is not, therefore, a cramming of the human intellect with the greatest possible number of facts. A walking encyclopedia may be the very acme of a fool, the
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worst devil in the community, a being of the basest type. While a true education ever holds before itself, as the crowning glory of all its attainments, the unfolding of the highest manhood and womanhood in its threefold aspect of body, mind, and spirit. That this is the underlying principle of the entire public school system is evident from the fact that not only the laws of physical health are studied, but in many schools practiced, while at the same time the intellect is being filled with useful knowledge, and along with this the ethical side of human life is also re-
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