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

notice, which being courteously grant
ed, he announced that those who wish
ed to hear the Rev. Mr.. Patterson,
would repair to the German church
on the hill. The whole congregation
left. AS the last were passing out Mr..
Hopkins said, depressingly, We'll, if
ye will 60, ye may"
Mr.. Henderson continued to preach
at Bloomsburg until 1874, when he
was succeeded by the Reverend John
Niblock. Reverends James Levers,
- Crosby, Mathew B. Patterson,
Robert Bryson, and - Irwin success
sively assumed the pastorate, but found
no encouragement to remain any
length Of time. The Reverend John
p. Hudson's connection with the
Bloomsburg congregation began in
December, 1882, when he became
stated supply, and subsequently regu-
lar pastor, until his resignation in 1888.
I he vacancy that ensued was tempor-
arly supplied by Reverends-- Tobey
and Daniel NJ Barber, but the latter
had established a hourishing boarding
school for young ladies at Washington
vile and declined to rein0uish 1t al
though importuned to do so. 1t the
instance of Reverend ID. NJ. Halliday,
Of Danville, ID. J. Waller, a licentiate
of New Castle Presbytery, had preach
ed once in Bloomsbury, in the summer
of 1887; he was now invited TO make
his residence in town, and take charge
of pastorate embracing the whole of
Columbia county, with several preach
ing points beyond its limits. The call
was rendered and accepted in the aut-
umn of 1883, and May I, 1889, the
pastor was ordained and installed. The
pastoral relations thus established con-
tinued through thirty-three years.
What was then included in one pastor
ate has now been formed into five or
SIX Mr.. Walters "reminiscences would
fill volume. His house was the re-
cognized stopping place for travelling
clergymen, book agents, agents of be-
nevolent societies, and other travellers
of miscellaneous character. He re-
lates that that hospitality attained such
proportions that occasionally more
guests and conveyances left his house
in the morning than left the hotel and
when the village landlord erected a
new sign-board in hopes Of thus en-
phasizing his claims upon the travelling
public, some wags procured the old
one and elevated it in conspicuous
place before the pastors dwelling.
Upon the removal of the seat OF
justice to Bloomsburg in IS45, the
future prospects of the town were sup
posed to be improved to such an ex-
tent as to require the erection of a
new church building The question
of location was one ofimportance, and
the different views entertained were
widely different, and, unfortunately,
equally pronounced. That the ener-
gies of the congregation might be con
centrated on the erection of the church
and thus diverted from the considera-
ton of this delicate subject. the pastor
secured financial aid from friends
abroad and purchased the lot on
Market street which is the present
location of the church edifice. The
plans for its erection were prepared by
Napoleon lie Brun. Its cost was
about three thousand dollars. The
last sermon in the Third street church
building was delivered on the last Sab
bath of August, IS4S. The new
structure was dedicated on the follow
ing Wednesday, on which occasion the
pastor was assisted by the Reverend
w. R. Smith.
Mr.. Waller rendered his resignation
in 1871 it was accepted and the re-
lation terminated by the Presbytery.
After an interval of one year, the
Reverend Stuart Mitchell, d. D., was
installed as his successor, October II,
1872. A parsonage was erected in
1850 on the lot formerly occupied by
the old church. DR.. Mitchell resigned
in 1883 and Rev. |. M. Patterson was
chosen pastor, and is still in charge.
THE NEW CHURCH.
The new church, of which the cut
on this page gives an idea as to- out
line, cost complete $4,000. 1t is
built of Hummelstown brown stone,
and its dimensions are 76 feet wide
and S4 feet long. The spire is of slate
and is 1870 feet high. The first floor
is divided into several parts. The
church proper is finished and furnished
in antique oak, and handsomely fres-
coed. The ceiling at the highest point
is S feet. There are two entrances;
one from the street and one from the
porte cochere. At the south end OF
the room are two freplaces. The floor
is covered with Brussels carpet. The
chandeliers are large aud handsome,
and they are arranged for both gas and
electric light. The organ is fine in
strument, located over the pulpit. l,
is operated by water power, and has