The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-02

Jog needful clerical work wherever he
found cali for 1t. He seems to have
supplied Briar Greek, In part at least,
for several years. In the fall of 1916
he preached his farewell sermon to
these people, and when he died. nine
wears later, his remains we're deposited
in thei, burying ground, where they lie,
it is said, without monument or mem
orial stone, awaiting the resurrection
Of the just. He was about IS years
old when he died.
This church, though organized st q
date beyond the memory of all the
living, never attained to sufficient
ability for independent self-support
1t has always had feeble existence
and does not seem to possess much en-.
couragihg hope for the future. Doubt
less memorial of it is laid up with
the Lord, and It's name is written in
in the book of His remembrance,
"Apd they shall be mine, saith the
Lord of hosts, in that day when /
make mp my jewels
BLoospBuEa oHuRCu.
This is one of the younger among
the sisterhood of churches under the
care of ths Presbytery, and yet, if It's
years be measured by the age of an in.
dividual, it would be called venerable.
The Rev. ID. J. Waller, Sr.. who had
been its pastor from 1889 to 1879,
says, in his centennial sermon, in 1876,
this church was "organized in 1917,
with James Mcclure, Paul Leidy and
Peter Pursell as elders, and at the
same time steps were taken for the
erection of a church edifice." No
mention is made of its organization in
the minutes of the Presbytery of that
date, nor of an application to that in
tent. At the April meeting of Presby-
terry, in 1918, we find this minute:
A call, directed to the Rev. Samuel
Henderson, was presented to Presby-
terry from the united congregations OF
Shamokin, Bloomsbury and Briar Creek,
in which said congregations promise
to pay 10 Mr., Henderson five hundred
dollars, in regular half yearly pay.
ments, in manner following, viz: Sha.
mokin to pay one hundred aud seventy
dollars; Bloomsbury one hundred and
sixty dollars, aud Briar Creek, on.
hundred and seventy dollars. ~
The installment of Mr.. Henderson
was appointed to take place at the
"Briar Creek Church, on the first Tuee-
day of October, next ensuing, if the
way be clear" This is the first men.
ton of the existence of congregation
at Bloomsburg in the Presbyterial rec
ords, and from this time onward it is
spoken of as the Bloomsbury church.
As this is within the epoch Of authen-
tic history in respect TO Presbyterisl
transactions in this part of Pennsy'.
vsnia, it must be accepted as reliable.
1t does not prove that the Bloomsbury
Church was not organized in 1917, but
it indicates that there was either some
irregularity about it, or an unusual
neglect on the part of Pre-bytery to
record the act AT the time of the
organization of the church a lot for a
church site and burying-ground wac
purcnased, and steps taken for the
erection of church edifce, to be Of
the dimensions of SO 40 feet and two
stories high, with deep gallery or
three sides. During the erection oi
this building the congregation wor
shipped in the Episcopal church build
ing, for the use of which, for one-thirG
of the time, they paid rent of 81 pei
year. This was small sum for &C
great privilege, as it must have been
in the eyes OF Episcopaliaos, of using
their consecrated house for worship
by sect not recognized by them ss {
church. 1t was a very uuchurchly
transaction.
In 1922 Mr.. Henderson was arraign
ed at the bar of Presbytery on charge
of improper conduct, preferred agsins
him by some of his Briar Creek con
gregation, was found guilty and sus
pended from the functions of the gos
pei ministry. A few months after, OF
the petition of the people. he was re
stored to full standing, and continued
to preach in Bloomsbury until 1924
This was the second time MIR. Hender
sou was suspended from the Office o
the ministry for conduct unbecomins
his official character and position. HI
was succeeded by the Rev. John Nib
lock, who at the same time preached
at Berwick, for two years, sustaining
an excellent reputation as man, ant
leaving behind him q cherished mem
ory. The next pastor was the Rev
James Levers. He was native o
Ireland, a brother to the wife of tn,
late Rev. John Gray. d. D., of Eastun
Pa; typical Irishman, Of quick an'
strong impulses, who could as readil,
-trike blow with his fist, under pro
vocation, as utter Hibernicism will
mis- tongue. He possessed much of tn
sprlghtliness ano poetic faculty of hi
| gifted sister, and was an attractive ant
popular preacher, though not man o
high spiritual tone. Mr.. Levers wa
followed by Mr.. Crosby, an Easter
man, who was largely devoted 10 Sab
bath School work Then followed tn
Rev, Matthew B. Patterson, VIII
wrought as a missionary At Bloom.
burg and in the valley OF Fishing cre.l
tor short time. He was a son of tn
Rev. John b. Patterson, one of tn
fathers of the Presbyt'ry. He wa
followed by the Rev R,bert Bryson
who seems To have been a young MAJ
of much promise, but was soon over
taken by disease, of which he died
He was a son of the Rev. John Bry
son, who is known to the present gen
GRAFTON as the venerable pastor of tn
Warrior Run congregation, and one o
the original five constituent member
of the Presby,ery. In 1882 John p
Hudson entered upon an engagesnen
az stated supply To Bloomsburg. Bris
Creek and New Columbia, and as
missionary in the valley Of Fishin,
Greek. Mr.. Hudson is a native o
Staun,on in the valley of Virginia,
graduate of the Theological Seminar,
at Princeton, N. j., and had devote'
some time to giving classical instruct
ion before he entered upon the worl
above mentioned. He is far typ,
of the Virginia style of q gentleman