USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > The Historical memorial of the centennial anniversary of the Presbytery of Huntingdon : held in Huntingdon, Pa., April 9, 1895 : 1795-1895 > Part 17
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The Rev. D. K. Freeman, D.D., became pastor in 1882. His pas- torate has continued over thirteen years and is still unfinished.
REVIVALS.
The spiritual life of this church through its entire history has been characterized by revivals. These outpourings of the spirit of God-like showers in summer-have been frequent and sometimes very powerful.
In 1828, Mr. Peebles pastor, the church was revived and sixty-five added.
In 1832 there was another revival and a large accession.
In 1843 occurred a revival of great power, and eighty-six were added.
In 1858, Dr. McClean pastor, a revival, and a large accession.
In 1873, Mr. Zahniser pastor, a work of grace, and many admitted.
In 1876, the church being without a pastor, a revival began under the preaching of Dr. Wallace and Dr. Wilson, a committee from Pres- bytery, and was continued under the ministry of Mr. Hollifield. This was a powerful revival. The whole community was stirred. More than two hundred and fifty were received into this church.
In 1885 a work of grace, and forty-eight were admitted.
In 1888 a deep religious interest, and thirty professed Christ.
In 1892, after union services held by the Rev. F. E. Smiley, forty- seven new members were received into our communion.
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING OF HUNTINGDON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. OCCUPIED FROM 1830 TO 1845. STILL STANDING AT FOURTH AND MIFFLIN STS.
SECOND CHURCH BUILDING STOOD ON THE CORNER OF SIXTH AND PENN STREETS. OCCUPIED FROM 1845 TO 1873.
I73
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
CHURCHES.
For many years after the church was organized the congregation was without a house of worship, and religious services were held in the court-house. In 1817 the Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians united to build a church, which they jointly occupied for some years. But the union was not a happy one through some incompatibility of disposition, and the interest of each in the church was finally sold at sheriff's sale.
On August 13, 1828, the corner-stone was laid of the First Presby- terian Church in Huntingdon, on Fourth Street. It was finished in 1830, and had a seating capacity of two hundred and eighty.
The second church edifice was dedicated August 13, 1845. It was a comfortable house of worship, and would seat about four hundred. It now forms part of Mr. J. C. Blair's large manufactory.
The third edifice erected by this congregation is the fine, substantial building now occupied as a house of worship. It was dedicated to the worship of God September 15, 1873. The original cost was thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars, and previous to the centennial celebration on July 6, 1889, extensive improvements were made amounting to over ten thousand dollars. A note also of two thousand four hundred dollars was cancelled by the liberality of Mr. David McMurtrie. The audience- room will seat comfortably seven hundred, and has been made to accom- modate nearly twice that number. It is both commodious and beautiful.
The chapel attached to the main building is an attractive room, seat- ing about two hundred and fifty. It is adorned with fine stained-glass windows, the gift of Mr. William Dorris. The Bible-class room was tastefully decorated with Scripture texts at large expense by Mr. John G. Miles.
A chapel has also been erected during the present pastorate in West Huntingdon. The lot on which it stands was donated by Mr. William Dorris, and the building erected at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars. It will seat two hundred and fifty persons, and a flour- ishing Sabbath-school is conducted there by members of the church.
MANSE.
The congregation has also a parsonage erected during the pastorate of Dr. McClean. Having been improved from time to time at large outlay, it is now an attractive and comfortable residence.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
CONCLUSION.
The church at the present time has seven elders, three deacons, four hundred and forty members, and four hundred and fifty on the rolls of the Sabbath-schools. It contributed last year eleven hundred and twenty- four dollars to the boards and three thousand five hundred and eleven dollars for current expenses.
It has its Ladies' Aid Society and Woman's Home and Foreign Mis- sionary Societies, its Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, and its Young People's Mission Bands. The church is well equipped for the Master's service.
D. K. FREEMAN.
HYNDMAN.
THIS church was organized June 8, 1893; enrolled by Presbytery June 13, 1893; consisted of six members. James A. Sill and William C. Miller, M.D., were elected elders; the latter was ordained, the former had been ordained; both were installed. Committee to organize was Drs. J. H. Mathers, D. K. Freeman, William H. Schuyler, and Elder G. M. Brisbin. The town soon after suffered financially. The congrega- tion has no building, and but an occasional service.
R. F. WILSON.
IRVONA.
THIS church was organized October 29, 1885. The committee ap- pointed by Presbytery to effect the organization consisted of Rev. J. H. Mathers, D.D., J. L. Russel, William Gemmill, and D. H. Barron, D.D. ministers, and G. W. McCully and Colonel E. A. Irvin, elders.
The following persons united in the organization : Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. McKean, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Haupt, Mr. and Mrs. David Kline, Mrs. William Bartley, Miss Mary Bartley, Mrs. Ella Mckean, James K. Patterson and wife, Robert Lossie, and Robert Stephens. Charles B. McKean and Daniel Kline were ordained elders, and Herman Haupt, R. Stephens, and R. Lossee, deacons.
The new organization was effected, and continued to hold services
IRVONA. CHURCH AND MANSE.
H.D. PEARCE
E.MCEWEN
JAMES HALEY
J. H. MOSS
ROBERT M.JOHNSTON, FRUIT HILL.
REV.WILLIAM GIBB
IRVONA. PASTOR AND ELDERS.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
for some time in the depot of the P. & N. W. R. R., kindly granted for the purpose by Superintendent Ford.
The present church and parsonage occupy adjoining lots, donated by the Witmer Land and Coal Co. The church is seated for four hundred, and in addition has a lecture-room seated for eighty. The church cost four thousand five hundred dollars, the parsonage nineteen hundred dol- lars. The church was dedicated November 27, 1890. The present membership of the church is one hundred and five, of the Sabbath- school one hundred and thirty-four, Christian Endeavor fifty-five, Ladies' Aid Society thirty-three. This was the first church organization in Irvona.
MINISTERS.
Rev. J. J. Wolf, 1887 to 1889.
Rev. F. T. Wheeler (educated at Washington and Jefferson College, graduate of Princeton Seminary), 1889 to 1893.
Rev. William Gibb (graduate of Edinburgh University, graduate and Clark scholar of U. P. Divinity College, Edinburgh, P. G. McCormick Seminary, Chicago), installed April 24, 1895.
ELDERS.
C. B. Mckean, D. Kline, and J. Patterson (1885).
J. C. McGaughey, A. Pollock, J. H. Moss, and W. W. Helman (1888).
H. D. Pierce, James Haley, E. McEwen, and W. B. McNeal (1890).
WILLIAM GIBB.
JUNIATA.
THE Juniata Presbyterian Church, located at the outskirts of Altoona, was organized by a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Hunting- don, on July 22, 1892, with a membership of twenty-six. Holding their services in a hall belonging to Mr. J. M. Hutchison, one of their mem- bers, the people were supplied with preaching by members of Presbytery until Rev. Emil Lewy, the first pastor, assumed his pastorate on January 8, 1893. On the 10th of that month the installation of the pastor took place ; Rev. A. W. Spooner, then of the Second Church of Altoona, presiding, preaching the sermon, and charging the people, and Rev. J. E. Irvine, of the Third Church of Altoona, charging the pastor. On the following night a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized, and one week later, January 18, a Junior Christian Endeavor Society. The church was then in a well-organized condition; a Sabbath-
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
school, with Mr. T. R. Browne as superintendent, and a Ladies' Aid So- ciety, with Mrs. Ella Brunebaker as president, having been in existence from the beginning of the organization.
The pastor, seeing the need of a house of worship, with the help of his church officers secured a lot for the purpose, which was donated by Mr. William Louden, of Juniata. At a congregational meeting, the gift of Mr. Louden was accepted, and a building committee, consisting of T. R. Browne as chairman, W. Y. Anderson, and W. B. McNeel, appointed to proceed with the erecting of a building at a cost of about three thou- sand dollars.
On August 20, 1893, the corner-stone of the new building was laid with fitting exercises, and on Thanksgiving-Day of that year the first services were held in the new house of worship. For a description of the building and the prospective work of the church, the account in the Presbyterian Messenger of February 22, 1894, might be quoted. "The house is situated on the corner of John Street and Seventh Avenue, on a lot fifty by one hundred and twenty feet, and is forty-three by forty- ยท five feet. It is intended as a chapel, and is so constructed as to be har- moniously connected with the final church they expect to erect later, and can be veneered with stone when desired. The seating capacity is three hundred and fifty; the first floor contains the audience-room and two small rooms to the right and left of the pulpit. Above is a small gallery, generally used for the pastor's Bible class. There is also a neat tower with a bell. The seating at present is of the ordinary chapel benches or settees. The inner wood-work is of pine finished in natural colors, and presents a very neat and tasteful appearance. The Ladies' Aid Society did not a little towards the furnishing of the pulpit and carpets, etc., and the Junior Christian Endeavor Society procured part of the pulpit furniture.
" The lot is valued at eight hundred dollars, the building and furnish- ings cost in all about three thousand five hundred dollars, so that the whole cost is about four thousand three hundred dollars.
"The construction plan of this chapel is unique. The audience-room is open to the roof, there are trussess but no cross-ties, and the whole is counterbalanced so as to make a very strong and substantial building. It is modelled after Westminster Hall, London, England, and is, it is be- lieved, the only one of its kind in this section of our country. T. R. Browne, Esq., an elder of the church, an architect of recognized ability, drew the plans and superintended the erection of this fine structure.
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON. 177
The style is Gothic, the design chaste, and the results pleasing to the eye, as well as substantial and satisfactory as to its intended use.
" The population of Juniata is about two thousand ; it is a suburb of Altoona, and the result of the establishment of the Pennsylvania Rail- road shops at this point. The growth has been and continues to be conservative and healthy. It is a good place for the new church, and, as can be seen, the work is flourishing. The Sabbath-school is large for the advancement of the church, being now about one hundred and forty. Much credit is due to Rev. Mr. Lewy for the success attending his efforts in this place. He is also an active worker in the Christian Endeavor movement, and furnishes a column or so to each issue of the Keystone Herald, the State organ of the association.
" The new church, or chapel rather, was dedicated Sabbath, February 25, 1894, Rev. H. G. Furbay, of Tyrone, preaching the dedication ser- mon, and Rev. J. H. Mathers, D.D., of Bellwood, and Altoona ministers assisting. Owing to the financial depression, the amount needed to wipe out the debt was not realized, and the church is now making efforts to raise a sufficient fund to reach an appropriation made by the Board of Church Erection of one thousand dollars."
The present membership of the church is one hundred and five ; that of the Sabbath-school one hundred and fifty.
The following members constitute the present official boards :
Elders, W. B. McNeel, William Cline, C. E. Kinch, S. B. Council, and H. C. Currie.
Deacons, J. W. Lees, W. Y. Anderson, Isaac McNeel, John Hall, Robert Hutchison, Charles A. Anderson.
Trustees, W. Y. Anderson, Blair N. Boyles, Samuel Haldeman.
EMIL LEWY.
KERMOOR.
THE Kermoor congregation was organized October 27, 1887, by a committee appointed by Presbytery, consisting of Rev. E. P. Foresman and Elder R. M. Johnston, Dr. R. A. Mckinley not being able to be present. After stating the purpose of the meeting, the committee re- ceived eighteen members by certificate, after which John C. Ferguson and J. S. McCrury were elected ruling elders, and were duly installed by the aforesaid committee.
12
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
The present number of members is fifty-three; value of church property, two thousand five hundred dollars ; present pastor, Rev. R. G. Williams, who was called April 24, 1894.
The original organization was made up largely from former U. P. members, both elders having been elders in that church.
J. S. McCRURY.
KYLERTOWN.
THE immediate preparatory work towards the organization of a Presbyterian church in this town was carried on by a much-loved sol- dier of the Cross, the Rev. James Linn, pastor in Bellefonte for fifty- eight years, the memory of whose kindly deeds, genial disposition, and earnest work for the Master still lingers like the fragrance of a wreath of sweet forget-me-nots.
The church of Kylertown was organized September 13, 1851. During the three years from 1852 to 1854 Kylertown Church wor- shipped at Morrisdale, a small mining town five miles from here.
In the fall of 1854 six or seven families joined together, and through their exertions and influence a small church was built in Kylertown. Those taking the most prominent part, and whose descendants have been faithful to the church of their fathers, were Leonard, John B., Thomas, and Conrad W. Kyler, J. W. Irvin, Jonas Mons, John Rayhorn, James M. Leonard, and George Hoover. The new church was dedi- cated December 27, 1854, with a membership of about twenty, Dr. Gibson preaching the dedication sermon. The minister who supplied the pulpit was the Rev. Cooper, from Clearfield, the elders being John W. Irvin and Conrad W. Kyler.
Kylertown and Clearfield were joined together for four or five years. Afterwards Snow Shoe and Kylertown were grouped together, Rev. Collins supplying the pulpit, with John Rayhorn and Dr. Campbell as elders. Revs. Clarke and Wright succeeded Collins. This arrangement lasted about ten years, when Bigler and Kylertown joined hands, the pastors being Revs. Prideaux, Sargent, Kuhn, Foresman, and Chappel, with Jonas Mons and George Hoover as elders.
Soon after Rev. Chappel entered upon his duties here Winburne Church was organized and joined with Kylertown. This arrangement still exists, under the pastorate of Rev. T. McClatchy, which began in
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
June, 1893, the elders being Jackson Hoover and Peter Mons, Sr. The present membership is about sixty. The field now includes Kylertown, Winburne, Bigler, and Peale. The pastor conducts three services every Sunday, preaching at Kylertown, Winburne, and Peale. Including the outlying families, there are over one hundred square miles of territory to cover in pastoral work. As yet we have no organization at Peale. In all we have flourishing Sunday-schools and young people's societies, doing a good work.
THOMAS MCCLATCHY.
LEWISTOWN.
THE probability is that the church at Lewistown is over one hun- dred years old. Of the age of organization and of the original officers and members, however, records cannot be found. As early as 1785, Rev. Matthew Stephens supplied Lewistown and Waynesburg, preaching also at intermediate points. He probably continued in this service until 1796 or 1797. In the latter year he accepted a call from the church at Shaver's Creek, and was installed. Mr. Stephens was present at the organization and first meeting of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, in 1795.
From the beginning of preaching services here until 1810 the people were dependent upon supplies. Among these several references are made to Rev. James Simpson, who was received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon in the year 1800.
In 1810, Rev. William Kennedy became pastor of the churches at Lewistown and West Kishacoquillas, two-thirds of his time being devoted to the former and one-third to the latter. In October of this year he was ordained and installed pastor of these churches. Mr. Ken- nedy seems to have been the first installed pastor of the Lewistown Church. He continued to serve it for twelve years. During this pastor- ate the Session consisted of Messrs. William McCay, Anthony Young, Jacob Walters, Daniel Robb, and Robert Robison.
Until this time the congregation had no regular place of worship. The old court-house, standing in the public square, had been used by them. In April, 1820, however, the lot on the corner of Third and Brown Streets was purchased, and the stone church, the "old stone church," as it is familiarly called, was erected. For thirty-five years this was the Presbyterian church of Lewistown.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
It was in the spring of 1823 that Rev. James S. Woods became iden- tified with this church. Mr. Woods was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in October, 1818; received by the Presbytery of Hunt- ingdon on the 24th of November, 1819, and at the same time accepted a call to Waynesburg for one-half his time, being ordained and installed there on April 5, 1820. On April 1, 1823, he became stated supply of the Lewistown Church for one-half his time, serving as such until April 7, 1824, when a call for one-half his time was placed in his hands. On April 28, 1824, he was duly installed as pastor. For about thirteen years he served these two churches. In the mean time the church at Lewis- town had developed sufficient strength to call Mr. Woods for his whole time. Consequently he was released from Waynesburg, which had also extended him a call for his whole time, to become pastor at Lewistown alone on the 5th of April, 1837. His pastorate here continued until the 29th of June, 1862, the date of his death.
During this pastorate, extending as it did over a period of thirty-nine years and three months, Hon. Ephraim Banks, Dr. Samuel McClay, Messrs. William Shaw, John Snyder, James Parker, Hugh McFadden, Samuel Barr, Joseph Strode, James Stewart, and probably some others, were elected elders; also most of the members of the present Session.
The old stone church no longer meeting the needs of the growing congregation, steps were taken for the erection of a new edifice in 1854- 55 to occupy the old site. This work was completed and the church for- mally dedicated on June 12, 1856. It was a substantial brick structure, with audience-room accommodating about six hundred, and large and well-lighted basement. The construction was by Mr. H. R. Noll, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and the cost ten thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars. The church was dedicated free from debt.
This pastorate covered a period of general prosperity. The closing year showed a church with excellent property, with a membership of two hundred and sixty-eight, contributing fifteen hundred dollars for the Lord's work at home and abroad, and a Sabbath-school with two hundred and fifty members. A very remarkable revival, by which the church was greatly strengthened, occurred in the winter of 1842-43.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon this faithful pastor and able preacher in the year 1850 by Princeton College. He was held in highest respect and honor by all. Large congregations at- tended his ministry, and his funeral is reported as being the largest ever held in this county. His influence is still felt in this church.
-
LEWISTOWN.
18I
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
The work thus laid down by Dr. Woods was taken up a few weeks later by Rev. Oliver O. McClean. He was formally received by the Presbytery on October 7, 1862, and soon afterwards installed as pastor. In June, 1869, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg. This was another of those long, prosperous and influential pastorates, rounding out a term of . twenty-two years.
Several remarkable revivals occurred during Dr. McClean's ministry here, and large numbers were gathered into the church. That attended with the most powerful manifestation of the Spirit's presence was in 1875.
There was also a steady increase in the benevolent and .congrega- tional offerings during this period. Three thousand one hundred and eighty-eight dollars is the sum reported for the work at home and abroad for the year 1884, the last year of Dr. McClean's pastorate, against fifteen hundred dollars twenty-two years before.
A large and excellent pipe organ was put into the church, the present parsonage and lot were purchased, and some improvements made to the church building under him.
Dr. McClean resigned on the 7th of October, 1884, and has since lived quietly with his daughters among the people he served so long and well, beloved by all.
After a vacancy of one year, Rev. John Gourley, now of Lancaster, Ohio, became pastor of the church, remaining as such for six years and eight months. He was formally received by Huntingdon Presbytery on October 7, 1885, and installed October 14; his resignation took effect June I, 1892. There was a good degree of prosperity during this time. The accessions to the membership of the church were constant and many, while the benevolent and congregational offerings rose above the mark of former years, reaching three thousand four hundred and twenty-seven dollars for the year ending March 31, 1892. Improvements were made in the lecture and Sabbath-school rooms during this pastorate. The people still give testimony to Mr. Gourley's fidelity to the truth and to his service of sympathy to the afflicted.
The fifth ordained pastor of the Lewistown Church is Rev. William Harrison Decker. Mr. Decker was licensed by the Presbytery of New- ton, April 14, 1887, and ordained by the Presbytery of Albany, June 20, 1888. Graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary in May, 1888, he was called to the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church of Albany,
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
New York, which he served until the last of April, 1893. The Lewis- town call was made on the 8th of March, 1893; his reception by the Presbytery of Huntingdon in June, and his installation June 21 of the same year.
The audience- and lecture-rooms of the church were thoroughly renovated during the fall and winter of 1893-94. These improvements consisted of frescoed walls and ceilings in both rooms; the removal of . the organ to the recess behind the pulpit; organ and pulpit platforms and furniture in oak ; oak pews, arranged in semicircular form ; cushions and drapery ; together with electric light and steam-heating plant. The cost of the whole was about six thousand dollars.
The present Session of the church consists of D. W. Woods, Esq., Mr. W. R. Graham, General T. F. McCoy, and Major R. W. Patton. All, with the exception of the last-named elder, were elected and or- dained under Rev. James S. Woods, D.D. Mr. F. G. Franciscus, an elder for twenty-four years, died on June 7, 1895.
The annual average of the benevolent and congregational offerings of the church during the last three years is as follows : home missions, six hundred and fifty-five dollars ; foreign missions, five hundred and eighty- seven dollars; other church boards and miscellaneous purposes, five hun- dred and twenty-one dollars; congregational, four thousand and forty dollars. The present membership is three hundred and seventy-six.
A Sabbath-school was organized in the early history of this church. Hon. Ephraim Banks was among the first, if not the first superintendent. He was followed by John H. Hickok, in 1831 or 1832, who continued in office for a year or two. Then the Hon. Ephraim Banks was re-elected, and served several years, being succeeded by Mr. William Russell. In 1855, D. W. Woods, Esq., was elected to this position, and has continued to the present time. In the mean time he has given away over three hun- dred handsome Bibles to scholars for reciting the Shorter Catechism.
The church has a flourishing Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, a Woman's Home Missionary Society, and a Young Ladies' Missionary Society.
WILLIAM HARRISON DECKER.
LICK RUN.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
LICK RUN.
IN the year 1796 a small number of pioneers of Scotch and Irish descent, from Cumberland Valley, having settled in Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys, made application to the Presbytery of Huntingdon to establish a church within their bounds.
Rev. Isaac Greer and Rev. James Johnston, of Huntingdon Presby- tery, were appointed a committee for the purpose.
A congregation was regularly organized by said committee in the month of October, 1798. At the same time a Session was also elected and ordained, consisting of William Swansey, Thomas Wilson, David Lamb, John Mitchell, and James McClure.
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