The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-06-12

ed more fully, that though God re-
moves the workers the work goes on.
"1he fathers where are they? and
the prophets do they live forever"
Many tear dimmed eyes told how
pleasure and pain mingled together
in bidding farewell to the "Old Sanct-
uary."
AS a brief historical sketch will not
be out Of place at this time, we print
the following from the "History of
Columbia County"
"The Presbyterian element of the
population of Bloomsbury and vicinity
was originally connected with the old
Fishingcreek church, the organization
of which is still sustained in Centre
township. This church is mentioned
in 1850 in the records of Carlisle Pres
bytery. Reverends Henry, Bryson,
Porter, Judd, Condit, Andrews and
Gray, were successfully sent to mis-
sionate in the valley of the Suscuehan-
ma, and undoubtedly numbered among
their hearers, at the Fishing creek
church, the McClures, Kinneys, Sloans,
Pursels, and others, who afterward
formed the membership ofthe Blooms
burg church. Reverend Asa Dunham, a
native Of Middlesex county, N. J., and
revolutionary soldier, became a resi-
dent Of the Fishing creek valley in
1898, and preached in the barn of Elias
Furman, between Bloomsburg and
Espy. The fact that public worship
was thus held in tRe vicinity of the
incipient village of Bloomsburg, and
also at the Briarcreek church, would
seem to indicate an increasing number
of Preshyterians at the former place.
Their religious privileges were conven-
lent only through the courtesy of the
German people or the Episcopalians,
while their growing numbers empha-
sized the importance of separate or
ganization, and the building of a house
Of worship for their own use. Accord
ingly the Presbyterian church of
Bloomsburg was organized in 1917,
with James Mcclure, Paul Leidy and
Peter Pursel, as elders. The congre-
cation united with the Briarcreek and
Shamokin churches, in extending call
to the Reverend Samuel Henderson,
whose services should be divided equal
ly among them. This call was made
December E. 1877, but the Blooms
burg organization had already taken
measures to provide their quota for his
support. His energy was further mani
tested in the purchase of lot at the
west end of Third street for a Gene
terry and building site. 1t was decid-
ed that the church building should be
two stories high, with galleries on three
sides, and that its dimensions should
be thirty-six and forty feet. After the
foundation had been laid, contro-
versy arose as to whether the entrance
should be from the rear, agreeably to
the custom of the nelghborhood, or
from that end of the building next the
street. The more modern ideas pre-
vailed, although change was requir-
ed in the work already done. While
this structure was in course of erection
the trustees united in an agreement
wi.a the officers of the Episcopal
church for the use of their church
building. An instance in which the
announcements of the two clergymen
conhicted has thus been described :
"When a communion service had
been appointed, and the Rev. J. B.
Patterson had been published to
preach on Saturday preceding, the
Rev. Caleb Hopkins, the founder anu
rector Of the church, wrote note to
Mr.. Henderson, announcing that he
wished to occupy the pulpit on that
afternoon. The notice reached Mr.
Henderson, on his coming to town, to
meet his congregation, who were
already gathering. Finding Mr.. Hop
kins in the little pulpit, which would
hold but one, he assembled the steps