The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-06-02

missionary addresses by Arcddeacon
Graf, and Revs. Foley and Snyder.
Alter the service an informal recep-
tion was held in the Parish House.
CENTENNIAL DAY.
The prominent feature of the week
was the service on Wednesday morn
ing. The choir and clergy and Bishop
formed an imposing procession as they
entered the chancel from the Parish
House. The Te Deum, Nicene Creed
and Gloria i'll Excelsls were Tours in
F. The Holy Communion was ad-
ministered, and the sermon was preach
ed by Rev. Thomas Fl. Cullen. 1t
was an able effort; and the tones Of
his voice in the church once more
aroused many pleasant recollections in
the minds of many Of the congrega-
ton.
Just before the sermon the follow
ing historical sketch was read by the
Rector, Rev. w. c. Leverett.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Services of the church were held in
this vicinity more than hundred years
ago. This very parish was organized,
probably, as early as the year 1890,
and was known as St. PauPs, Fishing
Creek. On the nth of Sept. 1875,
Mr.. Joseph Long, for the considera-
ton of five shillings, agreed to convey
to the parish the acre of land which
is now occupied by the church property,
and in the agreement for the same it
is described as "the ground on which
the church now stands" SO that in
1905 and before that time an Episco-
pal Church building stood in the. en-
closure where the present one is erect
ed.
In 1893 Mr.. Elisha Barton was the
deputy from this parish the ninth
Diocesan Convention as 'from St.
Pauls Church, Fishing Creek town.
ship"
In that convention held in Christ
Church, Philadelphia, on May aSth,
1893, the parish was admitted into
union with the Convention of the
Diocese of Pennsylvania.
To-day, therefore, we commemor-
ate the one hundredth anniversary Of
this fact the admission of St. PauPs
Parish into union with the Convention
being positive evidence of its exis-
tence as recognized body in May,
1898.
1t is one of the Oldest parishes in
the Diocese of Central Penna. St.
James, Lancaster, St. Johns, York,
and St. Gabriels, Douglassville, were
admitted into union with the Conven-
ton of Pennsylvania, in 1885, and St.
Pauls, Bloomsburg, comes next to
them in the order OF time.
The Rev. Caleb Hopkins was the
first Rector of this parish. He also
had charge of St Gabriel's, Sugarloaf,
and Christ Church, Derry. The last
named, which in 1898 was Christ
Church, Derry township, and which in
later years became Christ Church,
Jerseytown, can be followed to about
the year 1874, but since then it has
ceased to be. In the other places
where the Rev. Mr.. Hopkins ofiicia-
ted, viz: Milton and Muncy, Church
buildings and congregations of the
faithful exist to-day, and St. James
Church, Exchange, in charge OF the
Rector of Muncy, is now the nearest
to the site OF the old Derry Church.
St. Gabriel's, Sugarloaf, is known to
many of you. The old building was
burned not very many years ago when,
under wise direction, the present
chapel sprang up speedily from the
ashes. You have seen that little church
among the trees, of which one of our
own poets has sung:
"Fling to the air the echoing chime
or thy sweet bell, at morning prime,
While DER the mountains sleepy height
The rising sun pours glowing light;