The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-15
APREACHER,s TOOTH BIRTHDAY
The Rev. Father Boehm's Lie an"
Labor-A Pioneer of MethOdism'

Smiling faces and frequent chances TO-
ward the door by the large company as
sembled in Trinity N. E. Church, Jersey
CITY, Tuesday morning, indicated that
some happy event was to DC celebrated.
The programme indicated that 1t was the
centennial birthday of the Rev Father
Henry Boehm cfthe Newark Conference.
AthaIf past ten the veu erable guest enter
ed the church edifice leaning on the arm Of
his son in-law, Mr. 5. 5. Emley, and pro-
ceeded with totterlng steps up the center
aisle to the pulpit, where he was received
by the chairman, the Rev, r Van Horne.
The exercises began with singing and
praying by the Rev Bartholomew Weed.
After another hymn, Father Boehm arose,
and with his long white hair streaming
over his shoulders, and his time SCARED
face aslow with smiles, said:
II 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 passed through.
There were no houses but the ferry house,
think. Blessed Ue God for his wonder
fu. work throughout the land. | cannot
say much, but commit the rest to my
venerable brother Atkinson.
The Rev. John Atkinson, on rising to
deliver the sketch Of the life Of the vener-
able patriarch said that, this being ates-
tive occasion, Father Bochm was inclined
to be festive also. Father Boehm was
born in Lancaster county, Pa, June s,
l775. The noise of the battles of Con-
cord and Lexington had scarcely died
away when he drew his frstbreath. He
has lived under the administration of all
| the presidents, and cast his first vote for
/ John Adams in 1896. He distinctly re-
members the time when steamboats, were
unknown. In 1909, when he first came
| 70 New York. the city extended only to
/ Canal street; Brooklyn was u small town;
| Cincinnati was just sprouung, and Chica-
30 was vet to be. He was born nine
wears be ore the introduction of Method
| ism in New York, and nine years before
the organization of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church and election of the first Blsh-
ops. Coke and Asbury. When he began
to preach there were only nineteen tray
cling preachers. He joined the church
at the are oftwentv-two, and was liensed
10 preach Jan 1900. The address then
related the progrcS of the church, his
companionship with Bishop Asbury
from 1908 to 1873 and accounts Of his
travels. He knew the south when there
was but only Methodism in America. lie
] = =,
aSundcr. and as he stood there he prayed
| 10 God that MethodiSm North and South
might become one again.
The Rev. DR.. Porter then greeted
Father Boehm, and presented him with
/ purse containing $500. Letters were
read from several bishops; and the cXer-
cises concluded with touching and elo-
1 qucnt tributes to the venerable guest, by
I the Rev. Prof Henry A Buttz, and the
Rev. Jacob Todd, the Rev. G.. l.. Taylor,
and the Rev. Davis w. Bartine. The
| Chairman said that Father Boehm was in
/ too feeble health to shake hands with all,
! but there was one present he did wish 10
| greet. and that was Mrs. Jesse Grant, the
mother of Gen. Grant, who journeyed
from WASN'T gtOn especially for this occa-
sion. At this point there was u move
mcnt among the audience, and for a while
the proceedings were suspended. Mrs.
Grant, low-sizcd, pleasant looking lady,
E-attired in back, her grey curlS forming a
strong contrast to her mourning costume,
arose and the meeting between her and
the patriarch of Methodism was most af-
tecting. The exercises were concluded
by the singing of Doxology, composed
expressly for the occasion. Mr.. Boehm
then raised his hands and pronounced the
bcnediction. This was the most affecting
scene of the exercises, after which the au-
dicncc slowly dispersed.