Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-23
A Preachers One Hundredth Birth
day.
r-0m lie New YorK sun. June O.

From the New YORK sun. June9I
Smiling faces and frequent glances
toward the door by the large company as
sembled in Trinity NJ. E. Church, Jersey
City, yesterday morning, indicated that
some happy event was TO be celebrated.
The programme indicated that it was the
centennial birthday of the Rev Father
Henry Boehm, of the Newark Conference.
At 1890 the venerable guest entered the
church editice, leaning on the arm of his
son-in-law, Mr.. 5. 5. Emley, and proceeded
with tottering steps up the center aisle to
the pulpit, where he was received by the
chairman. the Rev. K. Van Horne. The
exercises began with singing and prayer By
the Rev. Bartholomew Weed. After an
other hymn, Father Boehm arose, and
with his long white hair streaming over his
shoulders, and his time-scarred face aglow
with smiles, said
rejoice TO meet you, my brethren in
the Lord, and that | am permitted to see
the wonderful progress of the Gospel of
Christ in the land. There was no town
here in 1909, when l passed through.
There were no houses but the ferry house
think. Blessed be God for his wonderful
work throughout the land. l can not say
much, but l commit the rest to my vener-
able brother Atkinson
The Rev. John Atkinson, in rising to
deliver the sketch of the life of the vanera-
BILE patriarch, said this being festive occa-
sion, Father Boehm was inclined to be
festive also. Father Boehm was born in
Lancaster county, Pa, June s, 1875. The
noise of the battles of Concord and Lexing-
ton had scarcely died away when he drew
his first breath. He has lived under the
administration of all the Presidents, and
cast his first vote for John Adams in 1896.
He distinctly remembers the time when
steamboats, were unknown. In 1909, when
he first came to New York, the city ex-
tended only to Canal street: Brooklyn was
a small town: Cincinnati was just sprout-
ing, and Chicago was yet to be. He was
born nine years before the introduction of
hethodsm in New York, and nine years
before the organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and election Of the first
bishops, Coke and Asbury. When be
began to preach there were only nineteen
travelling preachers. He join ed the Church
at the age of twenty-five, and was licensed
TO preach January 6, 1900. The address then
related to progress of the Church, his COM
partnership with Bishop Asbury from 1906
to 1913, and accounts of his travels. He
knew the South when there was but only
Methodism in America. He remembered
when, in 1874, it was rent asunder, and as
he stood there he prayed to God that Meth.
odism North and South. might become one
| again.
The Rev DR.. Porter then greeted Father
| BOehm, and presented him with a purse
containing $500. Letters were read from
several Bishops, and the exercises con,
cluded with touching and eloquent tributes
to the venerable guest by the Rev. Prof
Henry A. Buttz, the Rev. Jacob Todd, tn,
Rev. G. l.. Taylor and the Rev David w
Bartine. The Chairman said that Father
Boehm was in too feeble health to shak,
hands with all, but there was one presen
he did wish to greet, aud that was Mrs
Jesse Grant, the mother Of General Grant
who journeyed from Washington especially
for this occasion.
Father Boehm pronounced the benedic
ton, and the audience dispersed A re
ception was held by Father Boehm in tn
| evening