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 29
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prosperous condition, but the subsequent changes which have come over it have greatly depleted it until a very few names remain upon its roll. The largest number that at any one time united with the church on pro- fession of their faith were received on November 21, 1874, and at the same time another member was added to the Session in the person of James Ross. The pastoral relation, after continuing about three years, was dissolved, and Rev. E. P. Foresman became stated supply in 1875. In the mean time a chapel had been erected at Waterside for the conven- ience of members living in that vicinity. Mr. Foresman continued to supply the church until 1878. During his term of service the Session was further reinforced by the election of W. S. Davis and J. B. Butts.
Rev. James H. Baird, D.D., became the stated supply in the fall of 1878, and continued in that relation for about a year, when Rev. J. C. Wilhelm took charge of the churches of Saxton and Yellow Creek, retaining it until his withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the Presbytery. In the mean time an organization had been effected at Waterside. The name of the Waterside Church appears on the minutes of the General Assembly for the first time in 1881, so that the organization was proba- bly effected in the preceding year.
For a season the Rev. Harvey Shaw, at one time a missionary in Mexico, and who recently departed this life, ministered to the people of Yellow Creek with great fidelity. He was followed by the Rev. W. H. Schuyler, Ph.D., in 1887, who, residing in Everett, preached to the churches of Saxton, Yellow Creek, and Waterside until 1891, when he surrendered the care of this church. Since that time it has had no stated preaching, and is dependent upon occasional supplies. James Piper, Esq., is now the only member of the Session, and a little company gathers at long intervals to celebrate the Lord's Supper, and cherishes the old traditions to keep alive the enfeebled organization.
THE following churches were dissolved: Mount Olive, changed to Morris Dale Mines, and dissolved April 10, 1888; St. Clairsville, organ- ized June 10, 1873, dissolved June 8, 1880; Prospect, Mount Pleasant, Unity, Spruce Creek Second, Du Boise Second.
Synod transferred Du Boise Church and its pastor, J. Vernon Bell, October, 1888, and Pennfield and Winterburn Churches and their pastor, J. J. Rankin, to Clarion Presbytery, October, 1892.
J. H. MATHERS.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES.
HISTORY OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOLS OF THE PRESBYTERY.
REV. DAVID H. CAMPBELL.
THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the year 1826, recognizing the fact that "in all parts of the church Sunday-schools were established, and that there was but one sentiment respecting them, declared them as among the most useful and blessed institutions of that day," and the Assembly took the following action,-viz. :
" Resolved, That the General Assembly do cordially approve of the design and operations of the American Sunday-School Union; and they do earnestly recommend to all ministers and churches under their care to employ their vigorous and continued exertions in the establish- ment and support of Sabbath-schools."
In 1830 the Assembly recommended
" That the system of Sabbath-school instruction, now in prevalent and cheering operation, be and hereby is most earnestly recommended to the attention of the pastors and Sessions of all our churches ; that Presbyteries be and are hereby enjoined to make the progress of the Sabbath-school cause within their bounds the subject of special inquiry, and annually to trans- mit the results of such inquiry to the General Assembly."
And further,
" That it be and is hereby recommended to the pastors and Sessions of our churches to make themselves acquainted with the system of infant school instruction, and, if practicable, to establish such schools in their congregations."
The beginning of the Sabbath-school work within the bounds of this Presbytery does not probably go much beyond this date, when it was recognized by the General Assembly as one of the good things that had come to stay. The earlier settlers in this part of the State were mostly
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Scotch-Irish, who believed in home-training, and, therefore, at first did not look with favor upon Sabbath-schools. But as the country began to fill up, and the importance of instructing all the young in the word of God was impressed upon their minds, they were led to receive it with favor. Many of our Sabbath-schools came into existence as union schools. This was true of the Sabbath-school of Little Valley. In the spring of 1828 a small company of good people assembled together in the house of Moses Kelly for the purpose of organizing a Sabbath- school. The organization was effected by the election of John Bell superintendent, and Abraham Rothrock, late Dr. Rothrock, long an effi- cient elder in the McVeytown Church, as assistant superintendent. Mr. Bell faithfully served the school for ten years, or until his death in 1838. He was succeded by Henry Long, who rendered efficient service for five years, when death ended his labors. It was in the last year of his super- intendency that the Methodist families withdrew and organized a school of their own. Then it became a Presbyterian school. Samuel Sharp suc- ceeded Mr. Long, and upon his removal from the community, two years later, James H. Alexander became superintendent, and filled the office until his death in 1893, a period of forty-seven years. Of him his pastor writes, saying, " he was a model superintendent, deeply pious, intelligent, affable, punctual, and thoroughly devoted to his work. On his death- bed he said, 'the only reason he cared to live was for the sake of his Sabbath-school.'" The present superintendent is Joseph Brown. Mrs. Martha Mitchell has charge of the primary class, and the school has thirteen officers and teachers and seventy-five scholars, with an average attendance of fifty.
The Williamsburg Sabbath-school, according to the recollection of the older people, dates its existence from the year 1830. In that year a union school was organized in the old Presbyterian church which stood in the cemetery. A Mr. Crotzer, who built the twenty-eighth section of the Pennsylvania Canal, was the first superintendent. He was suc- ceeded by Daniel Lower. The school was held at different times in each of the four churches. Other superintendents were Abram Eberle, a Baptist, and G. W. Smith, a Lutheran. A distinctively Presbyterian school was organized in February, 1842, on the completion of the base- ment of the present church. Joshua Roller was chosen superintendent and Mrs. Maria Wilson assistant. Mr. Roller filled the office until his death in 1870. Other superintendents have been James Roller, with Mrs. James Roller as assistant, Joseph H. Blackburn, and William A.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
McCormick, who now well fills the office. The primary department has been in charge of Mrs. Joshua Roller, Mrs. J. F. Ellsworth, Mrs. Hen- rietta Clarke, Mrs. Ida Roller, and Mrs. Mary J. Kelly. The school numbers one hundred and thirty, and has an average attendance of seventy, and is in an encouraging condition.
The earlier records of the Lick Run Sabbath-school cannot be found. The record now extant is that of a lot of Sabbath-school books bought in 1837, and that David Smyth was superintendent in 1842, at which time a constitution was made and signed by thirty-eight of the most prominent men then in that congregation. Other superintendents have been John Howder, James Harbison, John McCalmont, James L. Neil, Jacob Zellery, Nathan Beck, William Smyth, William Lamb, John W. Wilson, Samuel Aley, Robert F. Holmes, and Frank Thompson, who is the present one. Other active workers have been William Irwin, Allison Irwin, Ira C. Johnson, William Orndorff, and William Orr, with a number of faithful women. This school has suffered much from removals and deaths, and still has a membership of sixty-two.
In regard to the Hollidaysburg Sabbath-school, no record of dates can be obtained beyond the year 1837. But there was evidently a Sabbath-school there prior to that date. Since that time the Presbyterian Sabbath-school has been kept up without interruption. Among the prominent workers have been William McCormick, Joseph Smith, James D. Rea, John Penn Jones, Mrs. Charlotte Irwin, Mrs. Lucretia King, and Miss Annie Irwin. The superintendent is Professor J. A. Stewart, and the primary teacher Mrs. Rebecca Smith. It numbers two hundred and twenty, and has an average attendance of one hundred and thirty-five.
Hon. S. S. Blair was an active worker until his death; and Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Landis are now active workers in this school. It contributes liberally to the mission boards of the church, contributing last year one hundred and thirty dollars to this purpose.
The Huntingdon Presbyterian Sabbath-school was the outgrowth of a union Sabbath-school that was held in the old court-house, and was organized about 1822 or 1823, under the supervision of Mrs. Letitia Smith, widow of Richard Smith, a son of the proprietor of the town, assisted by a number of female teachers. When the Methodist Episco- pal Sabbath-school was organized in 1828, this school assumed the Presbyterian name. For several years Mrs. Jane Dorland, John Bracken, Dr. William Yeager, Robert Williams, and others acted as superintendents without a formal election. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Pee-
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bles, having two charges, could only give it partial supervision. On April 16, 1843, a constitution was adopted, which provided that " This society shall be called the Sabbath-school Association of the Presbyterian Church in the borough of Huntingdon." Under this constitution John G. Miles was chosen superintendent and David Blair assistant superin- tendent on June 25, 1843, and continued in office five years. Other superintendents were N. W. Benedict and J. Smyth Reed for two years, Jacob Miller for thirteen years, Hon. John Scott for six years, William P. Orbison for seventeen years, or until 1886. Since that time the school has been in charge of the pastor, Rev. D. K. Freeman, D.D., and Elders J. R. Simpson and W. B. McCarthy. Colonel William Dorris served as assistant superintendent from 1869 until 1886. Since 1873 the infant department has been under the efficient care of Mrs. David Blair, Miss Whittaker, and others until 1882, when Mrs. D. K. Freeman, who is still doing good work in that department, took charge of it. The school has an enrolled membership of twenty-seven officers and teachers, and one hundred and eighty scholars. W. B. McCarthy is superintendent, with Clyde E. Hooper assistant. It contributes liberally to the mission boards of the church. Robert E. Speer, a secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions, was a member of this school. Misses Mary Speer and Anna Fisher with other valuable help have been conducting a mission school near Huntingdon, under control of the Session.
The West Huntingdon Sabbath-school, a mission of the church, was organized May 24, 1874, with sixty-five members, and James A. Brown was chosen superintendent. The sessions were held in a private build- ing for ten years, or until the present chapel was completed in 1884. It at present has an enrolled membership of twenty-six officers and teachers and two hundred and seventy scholars. James S. Woods is superin- tendent, and Hugh Lindsay assistant. It has a growing infant class, under the efficient help of Mrs. M. E. Thomas.
The Sabbath-school of Alexandria was organized about the year 1824 by Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, who continued in control of it for five years. In 1829 John Porter, an elder of the church, was chosen super- intendent, and he continued to fill the office with ability for fifty-two years, or until his death in March, 1881. In honor of him the John Porter Memorial Band was formed soon after his death, which has raised considerable money for the mission boards of the church. Mr. Porter was very successful among the young, and was the means of leading many to give their hearts to Christ. Rev. Thomas Porter, D.D.,
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a professor in Lafayette College, and a son of the above, Rev. T. Calvin Stewart, pastor of the South Easton Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Allie Barr were members of this school, and Walter Harnish, a member of the school, is preparing for the gospel ministry.
Other superintendents have been James H. Dysart, W. S. Livingston, W. S. Stryker, C. P. Hatfield, and John Philips. Elder W. S. Stryker is at present in charge. This school is in a flourishing condition, and has eleven classes and a membership of over one hundred.
The Sabbath-school of the Birmingham Presbyterian Church was organized about 1835, with John Owens, Esq., superintendent. It has always been a Presbyterian school. Until 1869 the school was only kept open during the summer, but since that time it has been continued throughout the year. Much attention was given in the earlier years to the study of the Shorter Catechism and the memorizing of Bible verses. Mr. S. C. Stewart is and has been for many years superintendent. Miss Helen Grier has charge of the primary department. This school has the honor of giving all its contributions to the mission work of the church at large.
The Mountain Female Seminary, located at Birmingham, has from the first maintained Bible-classes on Sabbath afternoon, where the young people have been instructed by the principal, Miss Davis. After the revival at Eden Valley, about two miles from Birmingham, in 1881, a Sabbath-school was started there by Elders L. G. Grier and S. C. Stewart, known as a union school, but it is largely maintained by Pres- byterian workers and means.
About 1882 a Sabbath-school was opened at Tyrone Forges. This while union in name has been principally supported by Presbyterian teachers and money, and it has used Presbyterian Lesson Helps. The pastor, Rev. H. H. Henry, writes, saying, "On the whole, our schools are in a more prosperous condition than ever before."
The Warrior's Mark Sabbath-school, in connection with the above church, was organized in the old Baptist church by J. Roberts Lowrie in 1864. It was distinctly a Presbyterian school, and yet the Baptists met with them. Mr. Lowrie kindly furnished the books, papers, and helps. In 1866 it was removed to the new church, where it has been well sustained ever since. Dr. T. C. Petereson has been superintendent for some years. Mrs. Lowrie and her daughter Sarah have been most helpful in promoting the interests of this school. Miss Lizzie McCoy
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has been active in the primary department. The school has given lib- erally to missions.
The membership of the schools is as follows,-viz., Birmingham, ten officers and teachers and one hundred and fifteen scholars; Warrior's Mark, eight officers and teachers and sixty-three scholars; Tyrone Forges, seven officers and teachers and eighty scholars; and Eden Valley, five officers and teachers and forty scholars, or a total of three hundred and twenty-eight.
The Presbyterian Sabbath-school of Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of the union school organized there in 1835, with William McWilliams as president, and David Mitchell and Thomas Patton super- intendents, all Presbyterian. In 1839 the same officers are mentioned, with the following teachers: Margaret and Mary Patton, Elizabeth Jackson, Mrs. Nancy Thomas, and John B. Mitchell. The Methodists, were the first to withdraw, and in 1858 they were followed by the Lutherans, when the school became Presbyterian. During all these years a Presbyterian had charge of the school, and active workers in it were such Presbyterian families as the Pattons, Mitchells, Barrons, Murrays, McGonigles, Samples, and Laurimores. Since 1858 the superintendents have been T. F. Patton, Professor J. E. Thomas, Hugh McGonigal, J. B. Mitchell, D. H. Miller, and Dr. G. H. Woods, now in office. Mr. T. F. Patton served as superintendent or assistant for fifty years. Those who have been or are now active workers are Miss H. A. Campbell, Mrs. A. P. Mitchell, Mrs. S. Ralston, Mrs. Bryson, Mrs. D. H. Miller, Mrs. W. H. Fry, Mrs. K. M. Woods, Mrs. Maggie Gates, Mrs. Jennie Tate, and Misses Mary Thomas and Sallie Barr, and Messrs. William Roush and John and Cooper Miller. The school has an enrolled membership of fifty, and has annually contributed to the mission boards of the church. Rev. D. H. Barron, D.D., pastor at Hollidays- burg, was a member of this school.
The Sabbath-school known as the Westminster of Mifflintown was an outgrowth of a union Sabbath-school and colonized in 1838. It has had in all nine superintendents, in the following succession : John McKennan, and then Edmund S. Doty, Esq., Jacob A. Christy, and W. C. Laird. These four served for a period of thirty-seven years. Then came Dr. Thomas A. Elder, for four years, Alfred J. Patterson, Esq., for eight years, George W. Wilson, for two years, R. Frank Elliott, for one year, and William H. Rodgers, from 1890 to the present time. Revs. William M. Burchfield, Joseph H. Mathers, D.D., and Andrew H. Parker
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
were members of this school. Mrs. Ada Lyons has had charge of the primary department for years past, and has done efficient service there. This school has an enrolled membership of seventeen officers and teachers and one hundred and six scholars.
The Beulah Sabbath-school is an outgrowth of the "Wheatland Sabbath-school," which was organized in May, 1840. This was the name given at that time to that region of country. Prominent in the organiza- tion were Elder Mccullough, William Mullen, and G. W. McCully, and it numbered about twenty-five. The sessions were held in an old log school-house until 1859, when the Beulah Church was built and moved into. In that year the name was changed to "The Beulah Presbyte- rian Sabbath-school," and the school was reorganized by the above- named persons, who were still the active members of it. Its sessions were not continued throughout the year until 1872. This was about the time Rev. William Gemmill began his labors there. The first super- intendent was William Mullen, and other superintendents were Elder Mccullough, J. H. Morgan, G. W. McCully, W. B. Whiteside, and Ben- jamin N. McCully, who is now in charge. The school numbers thirteen officers and teachers and one hundred and thirty-three scholars. Miss Mary Mullen is in charge of the primary class.
The Madera Sabbath-school, which is an outgrowth of the Beulah Church and Sabbath-school, was organized in 1872. Isaac Hegarty, S. B. Woodring, and W. B. Cornely have been superintendents of this school. Isaac Hegarty is the present one. Mrs. James Cornely has been an active worker in it. Miss Ida Wilson is in charge of the primary class. The school has an enrolled membership of thirteen officers and teachers and one hundred and twenty-eight scholars, and has done a good work.
A Sabbath-school had been maintained at Janesville, within the bounds of the Beulah Church, by Thomas Prideaux, an elder of that church, for a number of years. He was ably assisted by his wife and family. This is now closed.
The Arch Spring Sabbath-school was organized about the year 1840, with Samuel Houser as superintendent and James Wilson assistant. It was continued during the summer months, with a membership of from forty to fifty, until about 1859, when for some reason the school closed. Other superintendents during this time were Richard Bathgate and John Tussey, an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
Through the instrumentality of Mr. John Neff, of Philadelphia, who
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was visiting in the neighborhood, the school was revived in the year 1866. The sessions were held in the Presbyterian Church, and the superintendent and assistant were elders in the same, and yet it did not become distinctively a Presbyterian school until 1873. The superin- tendents since its revival have been Thomas M. Fleck, Samuel Isett, and John A. Crawford, who, with Alexander Templeton as assistant, were elected in 1868, and still fill the same offices. About one hundred and forty members of the school have become members of the church, and six have become ruling elders. The school has increased from forty to one hundred and forty, and is in a prosperous condition. Since 1873 it has been open throughout the year. Other active workers during the past ten years have been J. D. Mentzer, C. O. Templeton, W. M. Morrow, J. M. Tussey, Joseph H. Morrow, Mrs. J. J. Coale, Misses M. Ella Mor- row, Alice Morrow, Emma J. Crawford, Grace Burkett, Lavinia Crawford, Ella K. Crawford, and Mary Tussey, Foster Crawford, D. A. Morrow, Robert Morrow, Jr., John Rosenberry, and others.
The Shirleysburg Sabbath-school was organized in the early history of the church, and has continued its existence for many years. Among its superintendents have been Judge John Brewster, Jessie Hollingsworth, Henry Brewster, William H. Brewster, David Douglas, Samuel Douglas, John Jacobs, John Douglas, and Daniel Brandt, who now fills the office. Miss Kate Douglas was in charge of the primary class some years since. For a number of years Mrs. Bell Kerr has been successfully caring for this class. Among those who have been active workers in this school were Dr. W. P. McNite, Mrs. W. H. Brewster, Miss Julia Leas (now Mrs. George P. Speer, of Denver, Colorado), Mrs. Martha Douglas, Mrs. T H. Adams, Miss Lucy Stewart, Dr. F. L. Schum, and Charles Brewster. Among the active members now are Misses Annie Brandt, Etta Whipp, and Sadie Smiley, Frank Brewster, and W. Scott Miller. This school has suffered much from removals and deaths, which have greatly reduced the roll from what it was years ago. Its present membership is fifty- seven.
In regard to the date of organization and name of the first superin- tendent of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school of Lewistown there is no record. A Sabbath-school was organized and held in the court-house. D. W. Woods, Esq., who gives this information, says " the only teacher I remember to have heard of at this time was Mrs. Hannah Doty." "The first superintendent I have ever heard of was Hon. Ephraim Banks, who was appointed after my father became pastor in 1824." After
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him John H. Hickok was appointed, who continued as such for about two years, when he resigned, and Mr. Banks was again selected, and continued as such until he was elected auditor-general of Pennsylvania in 1850.
Then William Russell was chosen, and served until January, 1855, nearly forty-one years ago, when D. W. Woods, Esq., was selected, and has filled the office up to the present time. As superintendent he has given to scholars who have recited the Shorter Catechism over three hundred and fifty Bibles. The school has twenty-eight officers and teachers and two hundred and thirty scholars. There are four teachers in the primary department. Miss Mary Shaw has for years been in charge of this department, and with her assistants has rendered efficient service. The school has an average attendance of two hundred. It contributed last year thirty-eight dollars on Children's Day, and one hundred and ninety-five dollars to the mission boards of the church and one hundred and ten dollars towards its own support.
The Spring Mills Sabbath-school was organized as a union school in an old log school-house on the 9th of September, 1828. This school has never been a distinctively Presbyterian school, and yet since the year 1842 its sessions have been held in the Presbyterian church. Its first superintendent was Charles Pauling. David Duncan was chosen secretary and Peter Wilson treasurer. Other superintendents have been Samuel Hanna, Robert McClellan, Thomas Hutchison, a Presbyterian, David Allison, a Presbyterian, and Peter Wilson, a Presbyterian elder. Peter Wilson served as superintendent from 1853 to 1861, and from 1869 to his death in 1886. He was prominently connected with the school from its organization. Among those who have labored longest as teachers in the school have been Miss Mary E. Duncan, Miss Nancy Wilson, Mrs. Margaret Woods. The Sabbath-schools of the Methodist, Reformed, and Evangelical churches are some of the fruit of this school. The Presbyterians and Lutherans are still in union, and the school is well attended and the work carried on in harmony and good will.
The present superintendent is William Goodhart, an elder of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. William Allison has charge of the primary class. This school simply reports to the Presbytery the number of Presbyterian officers, teachers, and scholars. The number last reported is forty, nine of whom are officers and teachers.
The Sabbath-school work in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, begun with a union school, organized about 1830 by Frederick Gulick, and carried on
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