USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 11
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Before Mr. Weiss arrived in America, however, Rev. John Boehm, a native of the Palatinate, had preached in the vicinity of the present Boehm's church, in Montgomery County. It appears he was not at first licensed to preach the Gospel, but the necessities of the times were such, that his action, thongh irregular, was approved of by the proper authorities. He afterwards labored very successfully in different congregations in the vicinity of Phila- delphia.
In 1746, Rev. Michael Schlatter was sent to America by the Synod of Holland, for the purpose of organizing the Reformed people here into con- gregations, place pastors over them, and in a general way superintend the affairs of the German Reformed church in this country.
In September, 1749, the first Synod of our church, er Coetus, as it was thea called, assembled in Philadelphia. There were present at that meeting five ministers and twenty-six elders, representing forty-six congregations, and a communicant membership of abont eight thousand souls.
Through the instrumentality of Mr. Schlatter, a number of Reformed clergymen were subsequently induced to come over from Europe to take charge of the congregations in Pennsylvania, and the ranks of our ministry continued to be supplied from that souree for many years.
In 1751, we had twelve ministers, forty-six congregations, and a communi- cant membership of ten thousand. In 1776, one hundred years ago, twenty- three ministers, sixty-five congregations, and thirteen thousand members. In 1801, thirty ministers, one hundred congregations, and a membership of twenty thousand. In 1826, one hundred ministers, four hundred congrega- tions, and thirty-five thousand members. In 1851, two hundred and 6ve ministers, seven hundred and ten congregations, and a membership of sixty- six thousand; and at the present time, 1876, six hundred and 6fty ministers, one thousand three hundred and fifty congregations, and a communicant membership of one hundred and forty-five thousand. In 1776, twenty-three ministers; in 1876, six hundred and fifty! In 1776, sixty-five congregations; to-day, one thousand three hundred and fifty! During the past twenty-five years, our ministry has increased from two hundred and eighty-five to six hundred and fifty, and our membership from sixty-six thousand to one hun- dred and forty-five thousand, notwithstanding the unhappy controversy that has been waged in onr midst during this time.
Our first theological school was organized in 1825, at Carlisle, in this State. It was removed to York, in 1829; to Mercersburg, in 1835; and to Lancaster, in 1871. The Thealogieal Seminary, ut 'Tiffin, Ohio, was estab- lished in 1850. A few years later, another divinity school was founded at Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Ursinus College and Theological School, at Col- legeville, near Philadelphia, were established in 1869.
32
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Our first church paper was a German one, established in 1827. The first English paper was published in 1828; and the first church periodical pub- lisbed in the west, was established in 1848.
To-day, we have ten academie and collegiate institutions ; five theological schools; five missionary societies; three educational societies, to aid indigent young men in preparing for the ministry ; two orphans' honica; sixteen church periodicals, in the English and German languages; one thousand five huo- dred consistories; forty-four classes; six District Synods; and one General Synod.
Until 1825, our ministers conducted all religious services in the Germso language. And much opposition was waged against the introduction of the English language into our church services; and it was attended, moreover, with great disturbances. To this fact must, doubtless, be attributed our slow growth, in this country, for a long time, as compared with other churches around us. We were on the ground earlier than many of the denominations Dow existing here, but we elung too tenaciously to the German language, and so failed to reach the English-speaking people, and, unfortunately, we awoke to the faet a little too late.
Our forefathers brought with them from Europe, and used in connection with their baptismal, confirmation and communion services, and on all special occasions, the Liturgy of the Palatinate. A new Liturgy was prepared by Rev. Dr. Mayer, and adopted in 1840. In 1847, another book of worship, knowo as the "Provisional Liturgy," was prepared and recommended to the churches for trial. That book was again referred to a committee for revis- ion, which reported in 1866, what is now known as the "Order of Worship," or Easteru Liturgy. In 1868, the westero portion of the church prepared another Order of Worship, known as the Western Liturgy, for the use of those who were opposed to the doctriual system, and responsive service of the Eastern Order of Worship.
From this hasty sketch, it will appenr that our growth as a church, espec- ially during the last twenty-five years, has been remarkably rapid, and the out- look for our future is full of hope aud promise. The Heidelberg Catechism, which the Roman Catholic Church sought so strenuously to crush out of existence iu the Palatinate, in 1689, was brought by our fathers to these western wilds, and here, as at home hy the Rhine, they taught it to their children, and have bequeathed it to us, their descendauts, as a precious legacy.
I now turn to the history of this congregation, and ask you with me to "remember the days of old," of the Reformed church in Milton.
The few Reformed families living in and around Milton, were, as nearly as can now be ascertained, occasionally supplied with preaching by Reformed clergymen who came this way, as early as 1805, in a log school-house on lower Market street, built in 1796. That school-house was occupied about the same time by the Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian people of this place. About the year 1807, the Germans residing here, being desirous of having their children taught in their own language, bought of Mr. David Bridge, a small log building, which he had previously erected for himself as a private dwelling-house, situated on Mahoning street, on a small space of ground now lying between the residences of Mr. Bower aud Mr. Critzer. lu that small building, then used by the Germans as a school-house during the winter season, the Reformed people continued to be more or less frequently supplied with preaching until 1812, in which year the Rev. Justus Heury Fries, becoming pastor of the Paradise congregation, commenced supplying them with divine services as often as his other labors permitted. Father Fries preached in that log house on Mahoning street until 1817. In this year, the Reformed people united with the Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations of Milton, in erecting a church edifice on the bill, at the east end of Maho- niog street, known as the "Harmony Church." It was through the instru- mentality of Mr. Daniel Bright, a store-keeper, aud a member of the Re- formed party, that the services of Conrad Henry, a muster builder, residing in Reading, and quite celebrated in his day as a workmau, were secured in erecting the proposed church building. I have been told that great extrava- gaoce characterized the building of that church-that as much material was consumed in its construction as would have been required to erect almost two such houses. It must be remembered, however, that buddings of all kinds were more substantially constructed fifty years ago than at the present time.
On Sunday, October 5th, 1817, the corner-stone of the new church was laid, in which various documents, as is usual, were deposited, aod the build-
ing afterwards progressed more or less rapidly, until its completion in 1819. On the 25th of April, 1819, an election was held by the Reformed people for two church officers, which resulted in the choice of Christian Markle, as elder, and Joseph Rhoads as deacou. These two persons were properly or- dained and installed iuto office by the Rev. Father Fries. Previous to this time, it appears, there did not exist auy regularly established consistory, and heuce April 25th, 1819, must be regarded as the time of the organization proper of this congregation.
On Sunday and Monday, the 23d and 24th of May, 1819, the new church edifice being completed was solemnly dedicated to the service of the Triune God, in the midst of appropriate German and English services. The Reformed pastor, Father Fries, was assisted ou that occasion by the Rev. Martin Bruder, of Suubury.
Three years later, in 1822, the harmony previously existing between the congregations worshipping in the hill church, became seriously disturbed, and it is said, the state of feeling soon became such, that Discord would have been a far more appropriate name for the church than Harmony. In this same year, 1822, a lottery, known as the Harmony Lottery, was established by the congregrations occupying that building, for the purpose of raising funds to liquidate a debt resting upon their church. The price of a ticket was three dollars. There was a drawing on the 10th of June, another on the 18th of July, and ten succeeding ones. During the month of June or July, of the same year, a stroke of lightning from an almost cloudless sky, only a small black cloud being visible in the heavens, passed down the steeple of the church, and entering the building behind the pulpit, passed out at the door. This was regarded by many persons as a clear token of God's sore displeasure at the method that was employed to secure funds for the church.
Great dissensions existed from this time forward in the Hill church. In 1827, the two German congregations, the Reformed and Lutheran, instituted a law-suit against the Presbyterian people, and obtained judgment against them in the sum of $1262.00, and the Sheriff of this Couoty on the 27th of January 1831, sold out the interest of that congregation in the church build- ing for the sum of 8800.00. The Germau congregations afterwards offered to re-convey to the Presbyterians the half of the church property for $1000.00, or to rent the building to them for $40.00 per annum. Neither of these proposals, however, were necepted by them, and in 1832, they abandoned that church. The Reformed and Lutheran congregations now continued to occupy the building conjointly untd 1850, when the Lutherans sold out their interest to the Reformed, who were now left in sole possession of the Harmony church property.
I have not allowed myself in this sketch to omit or suppress any fact that has come to my knowledge in reference to the history of the Hill church. It is the duty of the historian to record truthfully alike both the evil aud the good-the good that we may imitate and follow it-the evil that we may avail and shun it. We all rejoice to-day at the friendly and harmo- nious feeling existing between the different churches of our town. But I am certain no such feeling would exist among us if we all worshipped in one house, aud owned it in common. The Reformed church has learned the lesson, from frequeut sad experiences in the past, and that lesson is con- firmned by the history of the so-called "Harmony Church," that it is not a very easy matter, for two or more different congregatioas to owu and occupy the same house of worship conjointly, and get along harmoniously very long. It is much better, in all cases, where it is possible for every denomination to have its own church building, and carry on its work in its own way, whilst yet, in a general way, all can labor harmoniously together for the advancement of the common cause of our common Lord.
The Reformed people remained in the Hill church uutil that building was removed in 1856. This congregation then worshipped in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, on Walnut street, until the lecture room of this build- ing was ready for occupancy.
I have already spoken of the pastorate of the Rev. Father Fries. He is to be regarded as the founder of this congregation, on the 25th of April, 1819, at which time he may also be said properly to have become its pastor. His pastoral labors ceased here in 1823, in which year he closed his labora in all the congregations he had served east of the Susquehanna River. Father Fries, is said to have been favored with a strong physical constitution, aud have possessed a very retentive memory. He generally rode on horseback, was never knowu to miss an engagement, and was invari- ably punctual almost to the minute.
33
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
At the time when he resigned the congregations on this side of the river, Father Fries had under his instruction, two young men who were preparing themselves for the work of the ministry, viz .: Daniel Weiser, who died re- cently, and Samuel Gutelins, the latter of whom Father Fries recommended to this, and the other congregations he had served, as his successor. Accord- ingly, Mr. Gutelius was elected and installed pastor in 1824. During his pastorate, Rev. Martin Bruner frequently came up from Sunbury, and preached for him, and in that way helped to further the interests of this congregation. Mr. Gutelius retired from the pastorate in 1817.
His successor was the Rev. Henry Wagner, who was installed pastor in 1827, and resigned in 1835, after having served this charge for a period of eight years.
The next pastor was the Rev. Daniel Gring, who was installed in 1835. In 1840, Rev. Ephraim Kieffer, of Mifflinburg, became Mr. Gring's col- league, to preach for him in the English language. This arrangement with Mr. Kieffer ceased in 1844. In December of the same year, Rev. Henry Harbaugh, of Lewisburg, associated himself with Mr. Gring, to preach ex- clusively in the English language, and Mr. Gring having resigned in 1846, Mr. Harbaugh, in 1847, accepted a call from this congregation to preach in both languages. He resigned in 1849.
After Mr. Harbaugh's resignation, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. E. N. Long, which he accepted. He was installed pastor in 1849, and resigned in 1852.
His successor was the Rev. A. G. Dole, now. located at Huntingdon, Pa. Nr. Dole was installed and entered upon his labors in April, 1854, and re- signed the pastornte in October, 1865, after having faithfully served the con- gregation twelve-and-a-half years.
The Rev. Samuel H. Reid was the next minister in charge. He was elected pastor on the 6th of January, 1866, and resigned and retired from the duties of the pastorate on the 1st of April, 1873, after having done the congregation good service for seven years.
My own election as your pastor took place on the 13th of July, 1873. I preached here as a Licentiate in July, and again in August. On the 1st of September, I permanently located in your midst, preaching afterwards regu- larly, and discharging all duties pertaining to the pastoral office, with the exception of the administration of the Holy Sacrament. On the 27th of October, I was publicly ordained to the ministry, and formally installed as your pastor, by East Susquehanna Classis, at a special meeting held in this church for that purpose.
The foregoing is a correct list of all the ministers who have served this congregation since its organization. The whole number is ten, of which number, only four are at present living. The rest have fallen asleep.
The corner-stone of the building in which we worship to-day, was laid on the 17th of May, 1866. The Rev. John W. Steinmetz, then of Duuville, preached the sermon on that occasion. On the 18th of November of the same year, this house was consecrated to the worship of God under the name of St. John's Reformed Church of Milton. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. W. C. Cremer, then of Sunbury.
From what has now been said, it will appear that this congregation has a history extending over a period of fifty-seven years. It would have been exceedingly interesting to me, and doubtless to you also, if I could have as- certained and iuserted in this sketch the names of all the persons who have served this congregation as elders and deacons since the first church officers were elected in 1819. Unfortunately, however, either no record of the church was kept during the greater part of this time, or if kept has been lost; so that I have been obliged to spend several weeks in gathering the material for this sketch. I have gone from place to place in search of facts and dates, and have sought out aged persons whom I supposed might possess such in- formation as I needed, and yet it was not until a few days ago that I saw my way clear to preparo the latter part of this discourse. The thought that in the absence, to a great extent, of the original records, I have succeeded in prepariog an accurate history of this congregation as I believe this to be, is indeed a sufficient reward for what time and labor I may have expended in gathering the facts of which it consists. But 1 desire bere to urge upon you the importance of promptly recording, and carefully preserving iu permanent form, such facts connected with your history as a church as you may think of interest to those who shall come after you. It is a very easy matter for you who are now in the congregation, and conversant with its history, to place on record, events as they transpire, and have them handed down to
your children and children's children. But if you fail to do this it will, as I now know,from experience, be a very difficult task for those who may con- stitute the congregation one hundred years hence, to acquaint themselves with its history during your life time. "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask thy Father and He wal shew thec; thy Elders and they will tell thee."
From a mere handful of men, women and children, residing here as early as 1805, this congregation has increased to its present membership of two hundred and twenty-five souls. From worshipping first in a Jog school-house on lower Market street, and later in a log building on Mahoning street, this congregation to-day vecupies a house of worship, second to no other Reformed church in this County. From being supplied with preaching at first, probably only every six months, then every three months, and later every four weeks, and from being connected with other neighboring congregations in a pastoral charge, you now are a separate charge, and are provided with religious ser- vices generally twice every Lord's day, with frequent additional services during the week.
Let the goodness of God displayed in His dealings with this church in the past, move you to a faithful discharge of all the duties devolving upon you, as those who now have its affairs in hand. Let the fathers who have fallen asleep, and are now surrounding you as a great cloud of witnesses, looking down upon yon from the heavenly world, animate you with new energy and zeal in your efforts to carry forward the good work they inaugurated when they established this congregation. Be faithful to your church, and labor for its prosperity, so that when you shall rest with your Father, the genera- tions who shall rise up and take your places, may have as much occasion for rejoicing in tracing the history of this church in your time, as we have had abundant cause for encouragement and devout thanksgiving to-day, in calling to remembrance its days of old.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The German Reformed and Lutheran societies embrace a large proportion of the church-going people of Northumberland County. The membership is made up largely of Germans, who predominate in the lower townships, and whose zeal and taste have supplied numberless places of worship, neat, commodious, and attractive, in all parts of the County. Probably in no other part of the United States, of equal population, can there be found 80 great a number of beautiful country churches, as the enterprise of the mem- bers of these two societies have provided in the precincts of our County. The German Reformed, because the most numerous, bas doubtless the most. The Lutherans rank next. Elsewhere will be found a carefully prepared history of the first of these societies, and it seems fitting that some account of the origin and purposes of the Lutheran church he furnished in these pages. The cardinal principles of the church are supposed to be based upon the creed promulgated by the great reformer, Luther, about three hundred and seventy years ago, who commenced life at Eisleben, November 10th, 1483, four years before the birth of Ulrich Zwingle, the father of the German Reformed church. The earnest zeal and simplicity that characterized Luther's every word and act, seems to have become incorporated in the church that bears his name. Earnest opposition to the Church of Rome, was the strong propelling power that urged him irresistably onward, with a force that the whole power of the Pope could not stay. Kings and poten- tates were arrayed against him, only to be brushed aside by the logic of the simple monk. Well might the poet ask: "What was Luther's power ? What was the rock on which he stood, that seemed of adamant?" Reauti- fully, as if by the pen of inspiration, has this interrogatory been answered :
""Twas simple 'filth In God.' He lind expoused The cause of truth-eternal, holy truth; And He, whose attributes are Infinite, Vouchsafed hle blessing."
"Twas simple faith that enabled Luther to wrest the sceptre from the hauds of the power at Rome, bring nobility to his feet, and plunge the whole of Europe into a condition of excitement that, for a time, bade fair to dis- member the church. Luther was a preacher, and here are his ideas of a good preacher : "He should preach orderly. He should have a ready wit. He should be eloquent. He should have a gaod rein. He should have a gaod memory. He should know when to make and end. He should be sure of what he advances." He also gives his ideas of the requirements of a preacher who would please the world: "He must be learned. He must
34
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
have a fine delivery. He must have neat and quaint words. He must be a proper person, whom the women fancy. He must not take, hut give money. He must preach such things as the people willingly hear." There is nothing in the creed of Lutberanism, as taught by Martin Luther, to distinguish one branch of the Christian church of to-day, that may have adopted his name, from all others of orthodox faith ; hence a treatise on the peculiar tenets of the Lutheran church would be as unprofitable as uninteresting to the gen- eral reader. The great reformer directed the labors of his life towards a dissemination of the truths of the Gospel, as they emanated from the hearts of the inspired writers, in all their simple and original purity, untrammeled, himself, by any particular creed. Scores of different denominations have been organized, all based upon the same principles, all lahoring for a com- mon purpose, none of which, however, can lay any particular claim to being the original Lutheran church. The one which has perpetuated the name of Luther, was first establisbed in this country about 1621, at New York.
The Rev. Jacob Fabricius, was the first preacher in America. After 1860, the German emigration to the Province of Penasylvania became very great ; cach year thousands were added, and the churches representing their peculiar faith were soon established. The first churches built in this County, were by the Lutheran Society, the membership of which increased very rapidly, and soon became strong in numbers and wealth. Latterly, this church appears to have been loosing ground; as the English language was more generally introduced, the great similarity of this to the Methodist, and other denominations, was discovered, and the distinctive features of the Lutheran church were lost, or hecame merged into others. There are, however, a goodly number of those who still cling to the good old Lutheran doctrine, as it was in its primitive purity, and houses of worship are found in every town of consequence, and throughout the County, in those rural districts mostly peopled by the descendants of those from Luther's bome, and the field of his early labors.
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PLATE VII .
H. C. HAITH COX, PASTOR.
TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, SUNBURY ST. SHAMOKIN, NORTH'D CO., PA. REV. H. C. HAITH DOX , PASTOR , ERECTED 1866.
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWNSHIPS, BOROUGHS AND VILLAGES, OF
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
EARLY HISTORY OF SUNBURY.
Before the discovery of America by Columbus, an Indian town existed wbere Sunbury now stonds. It was the oldest and most important of all the towns in this region, inhabited by the Six Nations. It was called, in the Indian language, Sha-ho-mo-king. This name was subsequently written Shaumokin, and now it is Shamokin, and is the name of a town in the enstern part of Northumberland County.
Shamokin (Sunbury) was written Schamoki by the Delawares. In very early times, the place was called Schachamoki, the place of eels, and the creek Schachamekhan, eel stream. It was next ealled Schackhenamendi, signifying the place where gun-barrels arc straightened, in allusion to the smithy built at Sunbury, in July, 1747, by Joseph Powell and John Hagen, of Bethlehem, where the blacksmiths, Schmid, Wesa and Keffer, wrought in iron, until October, 1755.
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