Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/399

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES order, have been as follow s: R ev. J. S. M il­ ler. 1843 to 18 4 7; Rev. William F. Bunker, 1847 lo 18 4 8; Rev. J. H, W orrell, 1840 to 18 5 0; Rev. D. A. Nichols, 18 5 1 to 18 5 2; Kev. Ira Foster. 1854 to 18 5^ : R^^'* 0. L. Hall, 1858 to 18 50; Rev. A. B. Still, i860 to 1 8 6 1; Rev. Thcophilus Jones, 18 6 2; Rev. G. W. Scott, 1863 to 18 6 5; Rev. J. S. M iller, 1867 to 18 7 0 : Rev. John Mostyn, 18 7 1 to 18 7 3 : Rev. W. W. W illis. 1873 to 18 7 5 : Rev. Joel E. Bradley, 1876 to R ev. G. T. Street, 1880 t o 18 8 3; Rev. J. Green Miles. 1883 (0 18 8 7; K ev. Philip Berry, 1888 to 18S9 (died while M s t o r ) : Rev. J . A . Aldrcd, 1890 to 18 9 2; R e v . A . B . Bowser, 1892 to 1 9 0 1; Rev. U B. T w ichcll, 1901 to 19 0 3 : Rev. John Sherman, 1904 to 1908. In Ju ly. 1909. Rev. A . J . Irey, D . IX. the present pastor, entered upon his ■work. W'^atkins E van s is church treasurer, W. G. R ccse is superintendent o f finance, and David J . Rccse is superintendent of the Sunday school. Fran k M . Herrington has held the position o f chorister for more than twenty y e ars with much acceptance. T he trustees are D avid J . Reese, John M . Vastinc. Charles O. M eyers and W . W . Davis. Charles M . John­ son w as clerk of the congregation for nfteen and a h alf years and w as succeeded by Charles V. Gross. In 1 9 13 steam heat w as introduced into the church and in 1902 electric lights were in­ stalled. A t this time new pews o f circular fo rm replaced the straight back benches of the old time, and a steel ceiling w-as built about ten feet below the old celling. The old gallery in the rear of the auditorium w as also tom out and the audience chamber much beautified. Trinity M ethodist Episcopal Church P rio r to 1868 the St. Paul Methodist Epis­ cop al Church had so increased in numbers th at it w as difficult to scat the congregation. In 1867 Rev, J. H. McCord was assistant pas­ t o r to Rev. I. M cKendrcc Reiley, D. D. Mr. M cC ord took charge o f a mission work on W elsh H ill, in North Danville, which was carried on in a little chapel called the "M cCord Chapel.” T h is was a little frame building used fo r Sunday school purposes by a number o f devoted St. Paul people. R ev. M r. McCord held revival services in th is chapel and the result w as a large ingather­ ing. This great increase o f membership, and th e fact that the new members were mostly fro m the north side o f town, led to the organ:s

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iaation in 1868 o f a new congregation called the T rinity Methodist Episcopal Church. A lot w as purchased from Michael Wallize, at the com er o f Center and F erry streets, di­ rectly ORJOsitc St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic church; and the cornerstone of the new build­ ing w as laid by Bishop Simpson Ju ly 4, 1 8 ^ On Dec. 19, 1869. (he completed basement of the church was dedicatetl with appropriate ceremonies. Bishop E . K. Am cs presided in the morning, Chaplain C, C . McCabe in the afternoon, and S. W. Thom as at night Rev. H . McCord was pastor of the new church m 1868 and 1869. Rev. A . M . Creigh­ ton followed Rev. M r. McCord in 1870, and K ev. George W. van Fosscn followed him io 18 7 1 and 1872. In 1872 the church building w as completed. It is a brick structure with a targe and com­ modious Sunday school and lecture room on the first fioor, a fine and roomy audience chamber on the second floor. The cost of the new edifice was $30,000. T he congregation was made up mostly o f laboring men and their families. Ila rd times came on and a heavy debt rested upon the new congregation. M r. Thomas Beaver had been a lilKral contributor in financing the church, but still the debt pressed heavily upon the people. At length, in the year 1874, ll w as .sold by the sheriff for a debt o f $S,ooo. Thomas Beaver bought it at that figure and subsequently sold a half in­ terest to Rev. I. H. Torrence, donating the other h alf to the congregation. Indebtedness still pressed hard upon the people and again (he sheriff, in the year 1877, sold (he interest of the congregation, Thom as Beaver again buying it. T o the credit of these noble people be it said that they beat down this indebtedness until in the course of time it w as entirely ex­ tinguished. Rev. A. W. G uyer was pastor during 1873 and 1874. and he was followed, in 1875 and 1876. by Rev. J. P. Moore. In 1877 Rev. B. F. Stevens w as pastor. In 1878 the pastorate was vacant and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Ir 1n H. Torrence. The pastors since have been: 1879 to 1882, Rev. P. P. Slraw in sk i; 1882 and 1883. Rev. D. H. Shields; 1884 and 1885, Rev. B. P. K in g : 1886. (887 and 1888, Rev. Joseph H un­ te r; 1889, Rev. Joseph Hunter w as succeeded by Rev. George W. Stevens. H e in turn was succeeded by Rev. G . M . K lcp fcr, who re­ mained in charge from 1890 to 1895. V. P. Eveland was pastor In i8t)5 and 1896. l i e w as followed hy Rev. 0. D. Heck, from 1 ^