L | “ATW TW avd VOL. LXXI1V. HISTORICAL NOTES. .. . . . By MR. J.D. MURRAY. Mr. Rothrufl was now fully instailed pastor of the Centre Hall Lutheran charge, which had just been reconstructed. The Bellefonte congregation was tuken from this charge in 1852, at which time there was no church here of any kind, Rev, P. 8. Fisher, the Reformed minister, who lived in Boalsburg, preached in the Loop, now called Tusseyville, in the union church. It was customary at that time for all chureh veople of Reformed belief in this sec- tion to attend services in the Loop church. The same is true of the Lutherans of that day. Each denomination had their duy for services. Half of the preaching by both Reformed and Lutheran ministers was in the German lan- guage, or rather Pennsylvania Dutch. This would seem very strange to-day, but at that time there were many dutch people living in the neighborhood, which made preaching necessary in that language, It is surprising bow very rapidly this dutch run out once it began to de- cline in popularity. It disappeared so rapidly that in some instances it di- vided families, The writer has knowledge of several families where two or three of the first born children were pretty well grown up before they pretend- ed to speak a word of Euglish, and the younger children, or second crop, as the parents saw fit to call them, never Jearned to talk in that dialect. When the writer carne among these people in 1851, he found them to be an honest, hardworking, frugal and prosperous people ; much inelined to hospitality and religion. The proof of this can be seen by the number of fine churches that have been erected in this place at a great expense. In addition to these pres- eut churches, three other churches have been built—oune Reformed and two Lutheran. The Lutherans during 1862 and 1863 built their first chureh on the lot now owned by the McClenahan family, on Church street. The structure stood well back in the lot. The foundation proved faulty—sandy and soft, and soon the brick walls began to crack near the roof. The building was then pro- nounced unsafe, and the people grew afraid to meat ! ! About 1873, the first Lutheran church wus ind the available material used in the construction of a larger and finer edince scross the street to the rear of the bank building, on the site now occupied by the dwelling house of Miller Goodhart. The dedication took place, November 16,1875, This chureh only stood a short time. October 13, 1884, the church took fire and was totally destroyed from the burning of two stables nearby. June 20, 1886, the present Lutheran church was dedicated, When the year 1894 came around the Reformed people, with perhaps a little more pride than piety, conceived the idea that their church was in a tumble-down condition, The old structure was accordingly razed and the very pretty brown stone church, dedicated Nov, 29 | 15806, is the result. It is fifty-five years since this town was started, and to-day there are five very good churches standing, and three were rebuilt—an average of one in less than every seventh year, An old gentleman from New York, who used to visit this place frequent- ly remarked that he could see no more thrifty enterprise going on in Centre Hall than church building. Well, remarked one, it is all right to build churches, even if the men and women get a little too enthusiastic and get to believe that a great effort on their part to bring the job to completion and liquidate the debt will cover a multitude of sinus. A lady of our acquaintance was much attached to a large pet dog possessed of a vindictive spirit—a per- gistent fighter. He would fight at home and go away to punish some poor cur. One pight when Msjor, for that was the dog's name, came home from a fighting expedition on three legs his mistress exclaimed: “Msjor, you didn’t get that by building churches.” The lady honestly thought that if it were possible for her dog to have been engaged in the meritorious work of Lelping to build churches, he would be standing on four legs in place of three, Now this lady evidently looked upon church building as a righteous act and a shield from danger. Going back to the early history in church building in Centre Hall let me say that in 1551 and 1852 the few Reformed and Lutheraus who lived on the north side of Penns Valley began to contemplate the erection of a place of worship, as all were tiring of going te the Loop to church. Mr. Witmer was at that time the bone and sinew of the town as well as of the Reformed church, Mr. Witmer was well prepared to go five miles every Sunday. He was a great horse fancier ; he had a pair of carriage horses, also a very fine saddle horse, called Perry ; he was almost as fleet as an antelope, The writer at that time was a boarder at the hotel and he soon learned the rule in the Witmer family was to go over to the Loop five miles to the union church to hear Rev. Fisher or Rev. Rothrufl' preach either Duteh or Kuglish., Neither of them could speak anything like good English, but were evidently good German scholars, Atl times it was difficult to know which lavguage they were using. The priocipal part of the hearers were hardwork- iug people, and on a warm day alter driving from one to five miles they could sleep no matter how the preaching was done. One member accused another of sleeping all the time, Ob, well, he replied, I feel our preacher will make it right ; I don’t need to stay awake to wateh him, At this time the Reformed people were the strongest, both numerically and financially, on this side the valley, and when it came to building a church the most difficult question that arose was to decide whether to build a Re formed, a Lutherau of a union church. Rev, Fisher claimed it would not be best to build a union church and have it dedicated as such. He proposed to have it built a Reformed church aud vot a union church. But as he was feel- ing very kindly towards the Lutheran brethren he wauted them to be sccom- modatiog to them, yet he was opposed to a union, or as he called it, a comma steftiich a Kerich. It was finally settled to build it a Reformed church, be dedicated as such and owned by that congregation. But how were the Luth- erans to be treated? A subscription was circulated among the members of both churches for the purpose of building a $3000 church, and each member subscribed as much as they feit able to pay. It was counted that the Reformed people would subscribe largely in excess of the Lutherans, but there was then an agreement made between the two covgregations so that each congregation would enjoy all the rights and privileges of the other as far as the use of the church was concerned. In summing up it was found the Lutherans had paid avout ove-third of the cost of the structure. It was then agreed that the Luth- eraus should pay a rental of $5.00 a year and one-half the sexton’s fee, each one to find their own light and fuel. Things turned out just as Rev. Fisher pre- dicted—after they had a place to worship both congregations increased and later the Lutherans built their own church as stated above. Bo far as the writer knows there was never any trouble between these congregations. Shortly after the writer made his appearance among these good people they called him the Irishman or that Irishman, because he could not speak the Pennsylvania Dutch. The appellation was accepted without a murmur, Oue lady remarked, well, he is Irish ; I knew his mother and his two sisters; the mother can’t speak a half dozen words until you can notice the Irish brogue, and besides he was born and raised in an irish settlement. There was no use denying his nationality with this array of evidence- circumstantial, primafacis and direct—agaiost him. The young Hibernian concluded that the best thing to do was to acquaint himself with the Pennsylvania Dutch, and thus become more like the people of the plains. When the writer thought he had mastered the language fairly well he was humiliated to hear a lady remark that she liked to hear him talk because it sounded so funny. There seemed to be a little prejudice against the Irish and their descendants, When any thing was done that did not show skill or good workmanship, the Dutch said it was Irish ; when a horse showed the marks of a poor groom, that was Irish; a farmer who kept his fences in poor repair was designated an Irish farmer. When a woman was found to be a little negligent in her domestic affairs, talk English and read something outside of the Reformed Messenger or the Luth- eran Observer, she was a Yankee. There was, however, no real antipathy ex- insted between the Irish and the Dutch, the expression was only used to show disapproval of methods, ete, When the writer came to Centre Hall he found the young people court- ing in Dutch, getting married in Duteb, and living happy together in Dutch, There was soon a great effort made on the part of the young people to learn to speak English plainly, Parents avoided speaking Uuich: within the hearing of their children. The schools were English and Dutch talk among school children soon disappeared. It was not many years until the younger tion began to find fault with the two old preachers—Rothrufl and Fisher. Old Mr, Fisher was a very long headed man, and saw the sigos of the times very Well, witidls ennt gaat he must ges su of Lhe + shar He laaly concluded most opportune time to leave wou uring the u inciden to the building of the church just cited. ee fneidant all LUTHERAN SYNOD, Cleric nnd Lay Delegates from All Parts of the Couutry Convene at Des Moines, Au event of more than ordinary in- terest to the Lutheran Church is the meeting of its general synod in session at Des Moines, Iowa, for about one week beginning Weduesday evening, May 20, when the opening sermon will be delivered by the president, Rev. B. ¥. Breckenridge, Be. D., D. D., of Springfield, Ohio, The synod is composed of delegates from tweunty- four districts covering virtually the whole United States. The pumber of delegates will be about 250, half of the number being laymen, . The officers of the synod are: Presi- dent, Rev. 8. F. Breckenridge, D. D., of Bpringtield, O.; secretary, Rev. W. E. Fisher, D. D., of Shamokin, Pa.; treasurer, Mr. Louis Mauss, of Cin- cinuati, O., These officers will prob- ubly be reelected with the exception of the president, the custom being ww elect a new president for each couven- tion, There is always great luterest in this election and uno little corres pondence is involved in the matter be fore any ballot is held. Amoug the persons new mentioned for the houor are lev, Dre. Li. E. Albert, Philadel- phia; 8. W, Owen, Hagerstown; W. 8. Freas, Baltimore; (G. W. Enders, York, Pa., aud D. H. Bausliu, Spriug- field, O, While no one can certainly predict the result, the indication now that Dr. Albert will I'he strength of the synod is in Peou- sylvauia, and the Lhe delegates from this State make up one-third of the convention. Dr. Albert will there- fore have Lhe hearty support of the large part of these delegates, and will have support of the entire delegation from the East Pennsylvania Synod. He has been in the ministry more than half a century, his single pastor- ate being Trinity Lutheran Church of Germantown, The delegates to represent the Bynod of Central Pa. at the above convention are, clerical: Revs, M. 8B. Cressman, Lewistown; W. H. Fahs, Mifflintown; J. M. Rearick, Centre Hall; J. B. Law, Bisive; G. W. Leisher, Boals- burg. Lay delegates: Messrs. Charles A. Widle, Loysville; T. K. Beaver, Academia; W. P. Kubo, Bellefonte; John Fleisher, Newport; Hon, BSam- vel Killian, Lewistown, is be chosen, LAWS TO BE REVISED, Guvernor Stone Signs a Bil to Crente =» Commission, Governor Stone signed Senator Fox's bill constitutiog a board of three commissioners for the promotion of uniformity of legislation iu the Unit- ed States, to be appointed thirty days after the Lill becomes a law, The commission shall organize in Harrisburg and exist as a board for uot more than four years, It shall be the duty of the board to examive the subjects of marriage, divorce, insolv- eucy, probate of wills, notarial certif- ieates, commercial law and such other subjects as said board may deem DECessary. The commissioners will receive no compensation other than their actual eX penses. Governor Sigoe Hille, The following. bills were signed by Governor Btoue: Authorizing policeman of boroug he to perform the duties of Ligh cousta- bles, Requiring notice to build or repair sidewalks in boroughs to be served upon the owners of property. Empowering borough authorities to lay foot walks, pavements, gutters, cul- verts and drains over and upon lands abutting on and along the side or sides of public roads entirely within the bor- ough limits and to assess the paving, curbing and guttering on the owners of adjoining lands, AMI MS AAAI Where the United States Began, Some of the marvelous changes wrought by time in the appearance of four of the earliest settlements on our Atlantic coast are strikingly illus trated in a series of views which will shortly appear in The Ladies’ Home Journal. The places are Bt. Augus- tine, Jamestown, Plymouth and New York. The forlorn indications of Jamestown’s decay and death as a a settlement offer a most interesting contrast to the varied evidences of the gradual development of 8t. Augustine and Plymouth and the gigantic growth of modern New York, Luther's Diet, The program sent out by the Cen- tral Distriet Luther League, a con- vention of which body will be held in Lock Haven next week, announced that Prof. C. L. Gramley will talk on “Luther and the Diet of Worms.’ This is an entirely new subject, and one which Prof. Gramley no doubt will radically revise before he ventures to dilate upon it. Luther might have been a gastronome, but it may safely be said that “worms'’ pever were found on his bill o’ fare, SERMON TO VETERANS. Dr. Schuyler Shows Veterans the Relation of the Civil War to the Kingdom of Christ, Bunday morning members of Samuel Shannon Post listened to a sermon in the Presbyterian church by Dr, Schuyler that will never be eradicited from their memory, The theme of the sermon was the relation of the civil war to the kingdom of Chris’, from the text found in Rev. 11:15: “The kingdoms of this world are be- come the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ ; and He shall reign ever and ever.” This was for the purpose of showing that out of this relation grows a reason for hon- oring the memory of the dead soldiers of the civil war mueh beyond the honor that belongs to the ordinary soldier, The happiest nation is the one most in harmony with the great for dixcussed and most enduring movements by which the Lord is slowly but surely wresting the world from grasp banding it over to Christ. America’s Satan's the peculiar character of her people, drawn from all parts of the earth, yet rapidly becoming homogeneous ; political and social institutions with appointed God himself for his chosen people ; and her past history | indicates that Providence } her an opportunity to share largely in by ms given | 1 1 ! the glorious work of waking the king- | doms of this world 1 our Lord and of his C! God does not approve of war, Kingdoms of | ie ris, i men io the exercise of their persist iu war God may overrule their action to his own glory. Muny of the results of the war to suppress bellion mark decided advance 1 ward the when Christ reign in peace over all lands, viz, the ying of freedom | the re on Om time shall abolition of slavery, the dignif honest toil of the hand, the legalizing of political equality, and the union of the nation in the bonds of a common brotherhood. These mark progress in the right direction and make our example more iofluential because more consistent with our professions. Thus it happens that in addition to] the usual reasons for honoring our dead and living heroes, their patient | endurance of hardships, and their! unselfish devotion, we have the ever! enduring reason that they made a very large contribution to the very | ends the Church has in view, ! This honor should cousist not only of | talk, which is cheap, but of a deter | mined guarding of what they purchas- | ed at so great a cost against the insid- ious foes of national welfare which | are most active in times of pesce. This | thought was dwelt on to some extent. The sermon closed with an appeal to | the veterans to accept service in the | army of Christ that their last days | may be quiet and peaceful, and that | Citmer when the great Commander summons | them into his présence they may say: “Come ye blessed of My Father, in- herit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” A Surprise Party, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Zottles, of Penn Hall, gave a surprise party for their son Archibald on hid eighteehth birthday, Saturday night. He receiv- ed many useful presents. The follow | ing young folks were present: The | Misses Jennie Moyer, Annie Waite, Theresa Rachau, Clam Condo, Verna Zettle, Ella Condo, Mary Bartges, Lillie Ulrich and Mar tha Burrell. The Messers. Franklin Richardson, Clarence Miller, Charles Heonich, Clyde Hoover, Kryder Frank, Harry McManaway, Hayes Zettle, Samuel Whitticer and William Smith. All enjoyed themselves finely. Refreshments were served at 8380. Music furnished by Mrs. Al bright and Miss Rachau. Narrowly Escaped Drowning. A three year-old girl of Luther Rote, residing in Penn township slong the creek, narrowly escaped from drown- ing one day last week, says the Journal, A small stream runs near Mr. Rote's house and a plank laid across it served as a foot bridge. The family were at supper and thought that the little one was out with another child at the barn. A four year-old child of George Bower came over to Mr. Rote's and saw the dress of the little girl in the water near the plank. At first he thought it was a doll baby, but soon saw it was the little girl. He pulled her out of the water and told her parents, They found ber to be almost dead, and immediate- ly sent for Dr. Frank. Oaly by the greatest effort was her life saved. A Ministerial Association, The Evangelical Ministerial Associa tion will convene in Rebersburg next week, About three of ministers and lay delegates ard expected to be in attendance, DEATHS MRS, CLARA WITMER. Clara, wife of John Witmer, of Pine Grove Mills, died Baturday morniog at 6 o'clock at her home at Pine Grove Mills after a ten blood poisoning. Bhe Spring township and years of age, Bhe illness from was born about 42 mother of 13 children, 10 of whom are living. days’ in was was the Bhie had a large cirels of friends ang relatives and ber sad death bas cast a gloom over the community in which she lived. The funeral took place Tuesday after- at < not Interment in the uew cemnelery at Pine Grove Mills, Va BAMUEL # ac Bamuel 8. Wagner, sou of Mr. and | Mrs, Jacob Waguer, died at the home o'clock. {of his parents south of Tusseyville | 3 {early Tuesday morpiog. The young f man, whose age was sixteen years and | four months, had been wiling for some {months, ana for tea days | his life was confived 10 that 3 | i it Lite fast Of 21) Alscess fbrain, i The funeral will take m., at the house, the Zion cemetery. Shultz, the United | church, will officiate. ba srised on his place Friday, {0 o'clock a. inter- in 7 of Evangelical Apt a Rebersburg. ol tover and daugh Bellefonte, briuging bis Cornelius 8B ter spet them, Mrs. Bamuel Miller, of Lochliel, has HAPPENINGS OF LOCAL INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS. Bee Giant Hoover before you insure, D. R. Wilson, wife and daughter, of Howard, were the g of Thos (i. Wilson in this place, J. E. ter, of Linden Hall, Centre Hall last Send your laundry to the uesls . Mra Irs Campbell, and daugh- spent a day in week, wporter office any time prior to Wednesday a. m.; deliveries made Friday and Batur- day. D. A, buggies lo his added i iV Jonzer two new already well equipped livery at this place. The buggies were made at the Con lo carriage Penn Hall. Mrs, sTROe shops, Richare Lee, of thi Baturday Altoona they will pend some time with friends and rel- and Miss { place, went to where ative *. Mise Florence Love, a compositor in this office who for speed and correct ness is among the best in the to be the county, Friday morning Watsontown guest of Mrs, . K. Foster for went will Foster, wife of Re a week, where she © last week in refer- ade ical chureh observ- ing children’s day at Tusseyville. The item been visitiug at the home of J. R.| Brungart. Norman Stover, of Dushore, spent Thursday night in town. De, J. Bright and daughter, | Mary, visited his brothers at Suubur Pa., | ws vy. ¥ i Beven horses were brought to our valley after the horse sale at Millheim on Monday. : Sheridl Brungart was in attendance atl the horse sale at Millheim and toc Litne Lo visit soe of his friends in this vicinity ing home, i W. Gaylor Morrison, of Bellefonte, | agent for school supplies, was seen io is J reialives and | before ret Albi=} The bridge builders been de- | have layed on sccount of the almost Oessabl rains during the last week. H. I. Brungart, bustling in-| surance agent of Wilkesbarre, is here | to spend a fortnight under the parental | § the i i sc A ————— - { i Millheim, i Mr. and Mrs, McClellan of Cedar Bpriugs, visited friends in town over Sunday. Mr. aud Mrs. Al. Gummo and] daughter, of Mackeyville, spent Sun- day and Monday at the home of J. CC, Smith, on Penn street, Miss Maud Woomer, of Bellefonte, was the guest of Miss Bessie Noll last week, i C. W. Freeby and family, of Woll"s | I Mover, 4 Store, were in town on Sunday. Li. E. Kerstetter and family, who had been living at Poe Mills for sev-| eral years, moved to town last Thurs- | day and are occupying part of the | Hockman property on Mill street, i J. C. Condo and wife, of Peun Hall, were in town on Monday attending | the horse sale and visiting their daugh- Meyer. J. P. Condo and J. H. Maize made a business trip to Bellefonte Tuesday. 1 A S————— Linden Hall. Memorial services were observed at this place this (Thursday) forenoon. I'he orator of the day was Rev. Bhultz, of Centre Hall, who delivered au ex- celient address, William Raymond thinks of buying a bull dog to keep the boys away siuce the arrival of that new girl at his place, Ward Shultz and sister, Jean, of Centre Hall, visited st the home of Adam Zeigler, of this place, spent a few days al Getlysburg last week as delegate from the Boalsburg 1. 0, 0. F. lodge. Mrs. Bummenrs and family, of Gates- burg, spent a few days very pleasantly with the ludy’s sister, Mrs. F. E Wieland, of this place, George Weaver, who spent last sum- wer at this place, but who is now em- ployed ut Scotia, spent a few days in town recently visiting his friends, A little boy came to the home of Charlie Dagle last week and Charlie says he will make apother saw mill boss out of him. 8B. D. Gettig, of Bellefonte, speut a few days with his mother iu this place, He is just recovering from a severe at- tack of tonsilitis. Robert McClellan has finished the foundation for his pew barn and is now engaged in hauling the lumber for the same from Colyer, Mrs. John BShreck has moved to Brisbin, where ber husbaud is engaged in blacksmithing. Philip Bradford and son, Carl, who are confined to bed with typhoid fever, are both convalescing. I. W. Zeigler spent part of last week in Lewistown as a delegate from the United Ev. Bunday school of this place to the district Sunday school convention. Al Blumip, the efficient and oblig- ing milk man, is at present housed up and Arthur Comings hiss chagge of his milk route, = that it Evauvgelical church, <} 1 x 1 should have designated i tia ¥4 I'be time June J. {las nited 14 Kline, of Aaronsburg, of atlended a Oil ting the Piney Coal and Saturday, and eslled at the ] Mr. tel epore ter office, Kline reports crop is in the lower section of Penns } OR pec 4 lavorabile, Dr. C. B. Musser, of Millheim, who enviable reputation as a geon, spent Friday Yearick, of latter gentleman left for his home Saturday after spend- the a most sur iysician and with The "last week (ross hila delphia, friends in Centre Hall, Lewis Furey, of Lock Haven, who has been with the Tenth regiment in Cuba for two years and a balf, arrived home last wetk. I.ewis had been on He had but re- brough ty for some time, to detached du several months yet serve the influence of Senator Heinle, A dopted in Lewisburg, is about to be which mezns that at a signal given at nine o'clock curfew ordinance are pronibited on the streets. The idea is a good one, but why should not his or her own car- few bell in every town oreity ? Try the experiment, and note the result. Mise Helen Hosterman, daughter of Dr. G. W. Hosterman, of this place, in Lancaster, having gone there Tuesday, Miss Helen will attend the commencement exercises of Franklin and Marshall College next week, and later will visit other points. While in Lancaster, she will be the guest of ber brothers, Sumner V., an atiorney, and John 8., who is just closing his freshman year at F. & M. iw several Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Murray Friday drove to Fairbrook, where Mrs. Geo. Keichline, a niece of Mrs. Murray, lives, who has been ill for some time. The lady's condition is such that her recovery is doubtful. Mrs, Keichline within the last year had a large tumor removed, which for a time greatly relieved her. Later cancer of the bowels set in which the best hos- pital physicians refused to operate on, B. D. Brisbin, while attending the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows at Gettys- burg last week, visited Jacob B. Boit, formerly a resident of this place. Mr. Bolt is living on a government farm near Gettysburg, and is getting along splendidly, The farm referred to ie one of a number of farms purchased by the government with a view of keep- ing the buildings and surroundings as nearly as possible in the same cone dition as they were after the battle of Gettysburg. Calvin Solt, a son of Jacob 1. 221t, is a merchant tailor and lives in Gettysburg, The establish. ment he is conducting employs a half dozen tailors, Mr.and Mrs. J. Nevin Meyer and little daughter, Miss Winifred Wolf and Prof. Edward M. Brungart, of Re- versburg, and John K. Moyer, of Free burg, were the guests of D. J. Meyer Friday night and Saturday morning proceeded to Bellefonte, their objective point, Mr. Moyer is a retired gentle man and takes life easy, and at present is spendiag the time with his many Centre county friends and relatives. Messrs, Meyer and Brungart are school teachers, each of whom-are held in the highest esteem in Madisonburg and Cross Forks, Potter county, respective ly, where they taught school. And the ladies—well, neither of the gentle. men would think life worth living without them.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers