River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-06-18
Seventy-Fiye Years Methodist
Preacher.

D
Smiling faces and frequent glances to-
ward the door by the large company as
sembled in Trinity NJ. Z. 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 half.past ten the venerable guest en-.
tered the church edifice leaning on the
arm of his son-in-law, Mr. s. S. Finley,
and proceeded with tottering steps up
the centre aisle to the pulpit, where he
was received by the Chairman, the Rev.
R. Van Horne. The exercises began with
singing and prayer by the Rev. Bartholo.
NEW Weed. After another hymn, Father
Boehm arose, and with his long white
hair stream ing over his shoulders, and his
time-scarred face aglow with smiles, said:
VI rejoice to Eceet 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 was no houses but the ferry house,
| think. Blessed be God for his wonder.
full work throughout the land. | cannot
say much, but l commit the rest to my
venerable brother Atkinson"
The Rev. John Atkinson, on rising 10
deliver the sketch OF the life Of the ven-
cradle patriarch, said that this being a fes-
tive occasion, Father Boehm was inclined
to be festive also Father Boehm
was born in Lancaster county, Pa,
June 8, IT'S. The noise Of the battles of
Concord and Lexington 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 1895. He distinctly re.
members the time when steamboats, were
unknown. In 1909, when he first came
to New York, the city extended only TO
Canal street; Brooklyn was a small town;
Cincinnati was just sprouting, and Chi
cago was yet to be. He was born
nine years before the introduction Of
Mcthodism in New York, and nine
years before the organization of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church and election of
the frs bishops, Coke and Asbury
When he began to preach there were only
nineteen travelling preachers. He joined
the church at the age of twenty-five, and
was licensed to preach January 0, 1900.
The address then related the progress Of
the church, his companonship with
Bishop Asbury from 1908 to 1913, and
accounts Of his travels, lie knew the
South when there was but one Method
ism in America. lie 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 Fa-
Their Boehm, and presented him with q
purse containing $500. Letters we're
read from several bishops; and the
exercises concluded with touching and
eloquent tributes to the venerable guest,
by the Rev. Prof. Henry A. Butts, the
Rev. Jacob Todd, the Rev. G.. L. Taylor,
and the Rev. David 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 to
greet, and that was Mrs. Jesse Grant, the
mother of Gen. Grant, who journe,ed
from Washington for this occasion.
Father Boehm pronounced the bcno.
diclion, and the audience dispersed. A
reception was held by Father Boehn in
the evening.