VOL. LXXIIL _
EARLY CHURCH HISTORY.
THE SALE OF CENTRE HILL
CHURCH RECALLS INCIDENTS.
Presbyterianism io this Section ls not on
the Decline.—Early History and Tri-
als of the Chareh,
§
At a congregational meeting of the
Binking Creek Presbyterian church
held recently, and in view of the fact
that services were abandoned at the
Old Brick church at Centre Hill, they
decided to dispose of the church and
lot. It being oneof the old land marks
in our valley, an organization haviug
been established there over a century
ago, it may be of some interest to your
many readers to recall some of the in-
eidents connected with this church, as
well as the early history of Presbyte-
rianism in Penn's valley, as gleaned
from the records of the church, and of
those who were all their lives associat-
ed with the organization.
The first settlers of Penns valley
were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians.
(Linn’s history gives that as far back
as 1775.) At that date there were only
twenty-eight families in the valley, of
whom twenty-two were subscribers to
the fund to pay supplies sent here by
the Presbyterian church.
Rev. William Linn was the first sup-
ply who ever penetrated Penos valley.
He found these people had voluntarily
united in congregations, without any
formal organization. They were god-
ly men, and had brought with them
their Bibles, Confession of Faith and
psalm book, and with the love of the
church of their fatheis, they gathered
about for social worship, without the
formality of a church organization.
The first church building in Penns
valley was erected in the year 1785, by
the East Penns valley congregation
It was a plain log structure, with seat-
ing capacity for about two hundred,
This building was on the Musser farm,
north east of Penn Hall.
The Huntingdon Presbytery was or-
ganized in this church on April 14th,
1795. Rev. James Martin was Pastor
of this church at this time. He died
June 20th, 1795, and was buried in the
grave yard of the East Penns valley
church, where his remains lie beneath
a slate or limestone slab.
Id the year 1783 a building of the
same style but somewhat larger than
the oué above mentioned, was erected
at Centre Hill, by the Binking Creek
congregation, on the lot of grou nd
now occupied by the cemetery. This,
after having been remodeled, served
the congregation until 1842, when it
was superseded by a handsome brick
building, at a cost of about eight thous-
and dollars, which was entered in 15843.
This edifice, after being occupied for
seventeen years, was thoroughly re
paired, being remodeled, repainted,
papered, cushioned, and carpeted, at a
eost of about two thousand dollars, and
thus remains until this day. With
the exception of the roof, the building
is well preserved for having stood fifty-
seven years, which goes to prove that
it was a well constructed building, and
the best of material having been used.
The Rev. William Adams was the
Pastor at this time. The building
committee consisted of Messrs. James
Potter, Wm. Hewes, Esq., Bamuel W.
Wilson, Samuel Davis, and Thomas
Mayes, Eaq.
Shortly after the completion of this
church the Rev. Adams resigned, and
in the year 1846 a call was made out
for Rev. Robert Hamill, and he con-
tinued Pastor of this church for twen
ty-nine years,
In those days families who were
members of this church would come a
distance of five and even up to ten
miles to attend services. In former
years this building was at times too
small for the congregation, there -be-
ing more people than there Were pews
to sccommodate them. The con-
gregation diminished by death and by
emigration and other churches being
built in close proximity to it, and the
members saw the congregation dwin-
dle, until the regular services ceased,
The village of Centre Hall springing
up (n these latter years, and being in
the bounds of this congregation, they
saw the necessity of having a place of
worship there, if they desired to hold
the membership and perpetuate Pres-
byterianism in this part of Penns val-
ley. TheBSinking Creek congregation
decided and did erect a neat church
edifice there in 1888, at a cost of over
four thousand dollars, for the better
accommodation of the members and
families residing in that vicinity.
It was by no means a new organize-
* ton, but a branch of the old plant and
is recognized by the higher courts of
the church as part of the Old“Binkng
Creek church. The abandoning of the
old therefore does not mean
that Presbyterianism is dying out in
our valley, but reminds us of the
anges and growth of our valley,
y making many changes io the
yn of our churches as well as our
trade and business.
Wp: So py
wa
associated with the old church.
we look back to the time when our
fathers and mothers worshiped there,
and on the list of membership we find
the names of many of the most promi-
nent citizens of our valley, devout
men and women who were members of
this church have all passed away, and
recently, the demise of Rev. Robert
Hamill, D. D., who was the Pastor of
this church for twenty-nine years, and
who had survived all the old mem-
bers of this church, and had attained
to the great age of eighty-five years—
was called away, he being the last one
on the records of the church, as a
member at the time of the erection of
the church as it now stands.
The cemetery connected with this
chureh is the oldest burial ground in
the valley. The remains of Rev. Will
liam Stuart lies entombed in this cem-
etery; he was installed in the year 1501
and continued Pastor of this church
for thirty-three years, and many of the
oldest residents of the valley are bur
fed here. After the church is remov-
ed the marble slabs will remain and
will remind us of the hallowed spot
where our fathers worshiped in the
Old Binking Creek Presvyterian church
as well as marking the graves of our
loved ones. G. L. GoODHART,
Funeral of Rev, Hamill, DD,
The Rev. Robert Hamill D. D, pass
ed to his Eternal reward, on the even-
ing of February 15th, from his home
in Philadelphia. A brief iliness pre
ceeded his translation, in which there
was but little suffering. So sudden
was the summons, that it came buta
few hours after he had written a letter.
His departure brings sorrow and great
comfort. To his children, it is the loss
of a most kind and deeply beloved fa-
ther. He held a large place in their
respect and affection. Wise, kind, ju-
dicious, considerate, loving, his remov-
al has created a deep chasm. A void
which none but the loving Savior can
fill. Bat there is comfort for them.
His memory will be a perpetual bene-
diction to the writer of these lines
for many years he was the tried and
trusted friend, and had more influence
in shaping his life and character than
any other man. He is most glad to
lay this tribute at his feet, His namgp
has been mentioned many, many times
by hundreds in your beautifal valley,
with that respect and reverence which
the true sense of his word has prompt-
ed. His diguity of character, correct-
ness in life, and affectionate manner
will long be remembered by those who
were privileged to greet him in their
homes. His pulpit ministrations will
be treasured for their reverence, their
instruction, their ability, and the deep
and lasting impressions prodaced by
them. The great day alone will tell of
the number that have been brought to
the Savior through the ministry of
that faithful messenger of his grace.
The funeral services took place at his
late residence in Philadelphia, and
were conducted by the Rev. M. A.
Bronson, D. D., Rev. Jas. W. Boal,
D. D., and Rev. 8. T. Lowery, D. D.
A number of ministerial brethren of
the oity were present to show their re
spect to an honored and faithful wser-
vant of Christ, who had doubtless
heard from the lips of his Master the
welcome—*Good and faithful servants
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,’
Jas. W. Boar.
Port Carbon, Pa, Feb, 22.
oI A A AA SA
Death of a Son of the Revelation,
John Evans, the oldest citizen of
Lewistown, died last Friday, aged 08,
His father was a soldier in the Revo-
lutionary War, and his wifes grand-
*
ant in the same
CRONJE SURRENDERS,
Hemmed In an Army of 4000 Boers Is
Captured by General Roberts
After one of the most heroic defenses
in history, General Cronje, comman®
der-in-chief of the Boer forces, surren-
dered unconditionally to the British
forces on Tuesday, with 4000 men, to
Lord Roberts who had 60,000 men.
A large number of women and chil-
dren formed part of the Boer camp.
The decision of Cronje to surrender
was due to the fact becoming known
to the Boer leader that Lord Roberts
had prepared to commemorate Msjuba
Day by making a desperate assault on
the Boer position.
Without ammunition, his artillery
disabled, most of his force wounded or
utterly worn out by the ten days’
fighting, since the retreat from Mag-
ersfontein, General Cronje preferred
capitulation to what would certainly
have amounted to a massacre of his
men.
Roberts, in his report of the surren-
der says : “Cronje asked for kind treat-
ment at our hands and also that his
wife, grandson, private secretary, ad-
jutant and servants might accompany
him to Cape Town, whither he was to
be sent. I assured him his request
would be granted.”
Only some of the light artillery was
captured, Cronje having sent his
heavy guns to a safe place for service
in other operations.
conn fs A SHASTA
Foster's Weather Forecast.
My last bulletin gave forecasts of the
storm wave to cross the continent from
March 1 to 5, and the next will reach
the Pacific coast about 6, cross the
west of Rockies country by close of 7,
great central valleys, 8 to 10, eastern
states 11,
Warm wave will cross the west of
Rockies country abont March 6, great
central valleys 8, eastern states 10.
Cool wave will cross the west of Rock-
jes country about March 8, great cen-
tral valleys 11, eastern states 13.
Temperature of the week ending 8 a.
m. Mareh 5, will average below nor
mal in the great central valleys, below
in the eastern states, above on the Pa-
cific slope. Rainfall for the same pe
riod will be above on the Pacific slope,
below in the great central valleys, and
below in the Atlantic states,
About the date of this bulletin a
moderately high temperature wave
will be on the Rockies and will cross
to the Atlantic States in two or three
days.
March temperature is expected to av-
erage about normal. First and last
weeks will be cold end middle part of
the month will be cold.
A severe cold wave will cross the
enst of Rockies country about 4to9,
after which temperature will rise till
18 to 20, From 20 to April 4 a great
fall in temperature may be expected,
the greatest change being about 20 to
24 in the great central valleys, a little
later in the eastern states.
Conditions will be favorable to tor-
nadoes not far from March 3, in great
central valleys, between parallels 356
and 40,
Texas Cattle Syndicate,
A big cattle syndicate is about belong
organized. The results of expert ap-
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE MINORITY WIN A POINT ON
THE TARIFF BILL
The Republicans Forced to an Amend.
ment to Secure Votes —The Gold Stand.
ard Bill in Bad Shape.
WasHINGTON, Feb, 26.—The Demo-
erats of the House have a right to
claim the amendment of the Porto Ri-
can tariff bill, which the Republicans
were compelled to make at the elev-
enth hour in order to get the Repub-
lican votes needed to pass the bill,
as a party triumph. The firm and
united attitude of the Democrats was
what enabled the Republican object
ors to force the amendment of the bill
As predicted, the gold standard bill,
reported from the conference commit
tee is a little bit worse than was either
the House or the Senate bill. It con-
tains every objectionable feature that
was in both, and has made most of
them more objectionable. As ihe Re
publicans have the votes, the Confer
ence bill will probably be rushed
through this week, It has already
been agreed that the Senate shall vote
upon it Thursday. .
Quay is in sight of success. A test
vote has made it sure that he will
get the seat when the final vole is tak-
en. A number of Democrats will vote
to seat him as a matter of principle.
Senator Butler, Chairman of the
Populist National Committee, ex press-
ex the opinion that the attempt to cre-
ate friction between the Democrats
and Populists, will fail. Speaking of
the nomination of Col. Bryan, Senator
Butlersaid: “Bryan will be the choice
of three elements, the Democrats, the
Populists and the silver Republicans.
I'he two latter will meet on the same
day, if present arrangements are oar
ried out, and will, in all probability
unite upon the same candidate for
Vice President.”
Representative Richardson, the
Democratic leader in the House, has,
by a new resolution, added the steel
trust to the sugar trust, the paper
trust, the tin trust and the oil trust,
the products of which previous resolu-
tions authorize the Iuterstate
Commerce Commission to prohibit
the transportation of an Interstate
Transportation lines whenever they
have knowledge that the prices asked
for the goods produce profit in excess
of 4 per cent, on the actual capital in-
vested in the trust which controls
them.
Mr. McKinley hax tendered places on
the new Philippine Commission, to
two gold Democrats—Gen, Luke E.
Wright, of Tenn., and Mr, Henry C.
Ide, of Vermont. Inasmuch as both
of these gentlemen are supposed to en-
dorse the financial as well as the for-
eign policy of the Republican admin-
istration, it is farcical for Mr. MeKin-
ley to expect the Democratic party to
recognize them as its representatives
on the Commission, It is equally far-
cleal to label the new Commission,
non-partisan, when everybody knows
it to be thoroughly imperialistic.
Although the Wisconsin Democrats
made a g and almost a winning
fight for Milwaukee, none of them
have shown the slightest disgruntie-
ment over the choice of Kansas City
for the National Convention, by the
Democratic National Committee. Like
all other good Democrats, they believe
in majority rule, and accepted the vote
of the Committee as ending the con-
It is the samie with those
it is that the party which stands for
the true American construction of the
Declaration of Independence, and of
the Constitution, should hold its Na-
tional Convention on Independance
day.
Indianapolis has been named as the
place and Sept. 5 as the time for hold-
ing the National Convention of the
Association of Democratic Clubs, by
the Executive Committee of the Asso- |
ciation. At the same meeting the res-
ignation of Hon. Chauncey F. Black,
of Pa., as President of the Association,
and of Representative Sibley, of Pa.
as a member of the executive commit-
tee were accepted. The new President
will not be announced until April 13,
Jeflerson Day, when the Association
will give a big banquet in Washing-
ton. Gov. Benton MeMillin, of Tenn.,
Chairman of the Executive Commit-
tee, will act as President until then,
The clique of real estate speculators,
who are after a big wad of Uncle Sam's
money, in exchange for the south side |
of Pennsylvania Avenue, which, not- |
withstanding its being a quagmire in |
which no solid foundation fora large |
building can be had without driving |
piles through thirty or forty feet of)
mud, they have been talking up as
just the place to locate future public
buildings, received an unexpected
check when the Washington Centen-
nial Committee came out strong for
the projected Federal Avenue, from
the Capitol to the proposed Memorial
bridge to Arlington, over the Mall, up-
on which all future Federal buildings
shall be located. The Mall is owned
by the government and there would
be no pickings in the erection of build-
ings by the government upon its own
ground.
Senator Vest thus sized up the Re-
publican policy, in a short speech:
“The proposition that the U.B. can
hold territory as & colonial possession
and its people as vassals, is the most
preposterous and dangerous that has
ever been advanced in the course of my
publie life.”
———— — i ————
LATE NEWS NOTES,
The Quay managers claim he will
get his seat by the aid of a few Demo-
| erats. Some doubt it, others fear it is
true.
Colonel Guffey, who was in Wash-
ington a few days ago, says there is no
indication yet that Quay will succeed.
Says a prominent Boer authority :
“Even if General Cronje wanted tosur-
render his men would not let him do
80. Every one is determined to fight
to the bitter end. And even if Gen-
eral Cronje's forces should surrender,
that would not end the war. We have
done the British no wrong, and we
have never deserved the underhanded
tricks they have employed upon us
since the first.”
Killed 15 Cows,
George Belles, a Lycoming county
dairyman, killed 15 of bis best cows
last Friday by shooting them. A state
veterinary surgeon had examined the
cattle, and decided they were suffering
from tuberculosis.
A. R. De Fluent, editor of the Jour
nal, Doyelstown, Ohio, suffered for a
number of years from rheumatism in
his right shoulder and side. He says:
“My right arm at times was entirely
useless. I tried Chamberlain's Pain
Balm, and was surprised to receive re-
lief almost immediately. The Pain
Balm has been a constant companion
since and it never falls.”
LOCAL ITEMS,
Cullings of More than Ordinary Inreiest
from Everywhere.
A Day Well Spent,
If we sit down at set of sun,
And count the things that we have
done,
And counting find
One self-denying sect, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard;
One glance most kind,
That fell like sunshine where it went,
Then we may count the day well spent.
But if through all the livelong day
We've eased no heart by yea or nay ;
If through it all
We've nothing done that we can trace
That brought the sunshine to a face ;
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing
cost,
Then count that day as worse than
lost.
Don’t be a sneak,
Don’t be a tool,
Nor overwise,
As the fool.
Don’t be a meedler,
Nor gossip peddler,
Nor seek deceive,
Nor neighbor grieve,
Be free but fair,
Your own needs all your care.
~ nse,
Daniel Hess, the founder of Linden
Hall, now 82, reads and writes without
glasses,
George W. Reber, once of Miles twp.,
has left Wisconsin and movedrto Har-
rison, Ill
A broken arm resulted to the wife of
Henry SBnavely, west of Coburn, from
falling on the ice last week.
The town council of Shamokin are
under arrest for wrong-doing which
they attempted to conceal.
Nature's windworks were put to se-
and proved in best working order.
Rev. Rearick’s appointments, San-
day, March 4: Centre Hall, 7p. m. ;
Soring Mills, 2 p. m. ; Tusseyville, 10
a. m.
Not fifty miles from this town, a
Miss Cold married a Mr. Slaugh. They
have a little youngster and named him
Cold Slasugh.
The shingle mill, edgers and trim-
mers, for the Linden Hall Lumber
Co's new sawmill, are now in position,
ready for operations.
A horse of Wm, Throssel, of Wood-
ward, was shot one day last week, sus-
pected of being mad, and bitten by =
mad dog while lumbering in Brush
valley.
Robert N. Ellenberger, of State Col-
lege, traveling salesman for the Os-
borne Manufacturing Company, died
very suddenly in Jefferson county,
aged 45 years.
Clark Gramley, of Rebersburg, pur-
chased machinery and patterns of the
Agar foundry at Lock Haven and will
make his shops at Rebersburg hum
with greater music.
Rev. Warden's revival services in
the Lutheran church draw a large at-
tendance. His remarks make deep im-
pressions upon his hearers, and lasting
ones for good upon many.
John T. Lee having served upon the
school board very creditably for a num-
ber of years, leaving an impress for
harmony and good upon the board and
schools, ends his last term with the
current year.
Judge Frazer, of Pittsburg, has ren-
dered a decision that a man need not
support his wife's mother. Ian the
case on trial the court points out that
the daughter is married and has no
property and that her husband cannot
be compelled to support his mother-in-
law,
George Emerick’s teams for a num-
ber of weeks have been busy hauling
fine logs from his chopping on the
mountain a little east of town. The
MeNitt teams, with immense wagon
loads of staves, also pass through here
daily to the station. “
Queer : Carloads of horses are being
bought up in this valley and shipped
east, whilst carloads are brought in
from the west and sold to our farmers,
Perhaps the ones shipped out are the
$5, $10 and $15 plugs, to be ground in-
to boulougna ssusages in the cities,
lively interest in the sale of the farni-
ture, &c., March 10, so as to secure ar-
ticles as mementos of that old and
to the depth of 1 inch covered
face. The storm howled all