The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-06-02
And when the evening shadows fall
Among the pines and hemlocks tall
Then TO the silent hamlet tell
The message OF ST. Grahrleln p

And when the evening shadows fall
Among the pines and hemlocks tall
Then to the silent hamlet tell
The message OF st. Grabrlel."
A pencilled memorandum on a fly
leaf of the Oldest existing record OF
St. Paurs Church says: "Mr. Hop
kins was here in 1894 or 1905, then
left and was recalled in 1906" He
seems to have remained in charge un-
til 1913. 1t is recorded of him that
he was man of vigorous intellect and
Of stalvart frame. He had been a
lieutenant in the patriot army of the
Revolution. Descendants OF this dis
tinguished man are now connected
with this parish, and one of them is a
member Of our present choir.
am indebted to our venerable
townsman, Mr.. John X. Grotz, and to
our late lamented Warden, Mr.. B. F.
Hartman, who died at very advanced
age, for "reminiscences of the earlier
days. A statement in one of our church
papers, some years ago, also furnish
es interesting items. The first Church
building was of logs and its internal
arrangements were very plain. There
was no vestry room, nor were there
any stoves to heat the building. The
plan for heating is reported to have
been large square hole in the floor
in front Of the chancel, opening down
to the ground, and fire Of logs made
early and burned to living Goals, kept
the room warm during service and it
is also said there was no chimney to
lead off the smoke from the glowing
and cracking fire. TO this log church
the people used to come on horseback
from all parts Of the surrounding coun-
Try those living on the other side Of
the Susquehanna would gather together
at the rivers bank and all come over
in a at-boat, leaving their horses un-
til their return; men and women
coming to the church in the plainest
garments which had been woven and
made by themselves. In 1897, the
log church gave place to a frame
structure which renamed for about
ten years. In 1887, brick church
was erected on the spot where the
Rectory now stands. And in that was
placed in the following year the first
church bell ever heard in the town.
The bell is of much less weight than the
smallest in our present peal, but of
sweet sound bell with SO many sa-
cred and endearing associations, that
it is retained in yonder corridor as
precious relic, though its voice has
been hushed before the three-fold call
which we ncw hear:
"Bells are the voice OF the church,
They have tones that touch and search
The hearts OF young and old
One sound to ALL yet each
Lends meaning to their speech,
And the meaning is manifold"
The brick building of 1897 con
tinued in use until 1868, when the
people resolved to begin the construc-
ton of new edifce. The corner
stone of this, the fourth building was
laid on September nth, 1868, and
the church was finished, with the ex-
ception OF the tower, early in 1870.
1t was begun apd completed while the
Rev. Thomas Fl. Cullen was Rector,
and was consecrated on June 28th,
1881 by the Rt Rev. DIR. Howe, Bishop
of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
during the rectorship of the Rev. DIR.
Zahncr.
Returning to the succession of Rec
tors, we find that after the Rev. Mr..
Hopkins left the parish in 1913, Lay
Readers maintained the services until
in December, 1894, Mr.. VIM. Eldred,
from England, who had been acting
as Lay Reader here from the 2oth
of May, 1898, was ordained Deacon
by Bishop White, and continued in
charge of the parish for a year or
more. In 1913, the Rev. lanes DePui
was Rector of St. Pauls, St Gabriels,