The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-10
REPORT OF 0UART0 CENTENNIAL.

min anniversary OF tne paStOrate OF
Rev. A. Houtz was observed on the
goth and a7tt Of July.
This social and religious festival
was held in two sessions of one day
each. The first session was held in
the beautiful grove Of Mr.. Philip
Greasy in Centre township and was
we'll attended by the members and
friends of the church. The second
session was held in the grove of Mr..
F.. M Laubach. near Forks, and was
so well attended that every available
space was occupied by the vast as.
sembly Of men, women, children and
conveyances. The services were open
ed with the invocation, hymn, scrip
tue reading, repetition of the Apostles
Creed, the singing of the Gloria Patri
and Gloria in Excelsis with responses,
and a prayer. A number OF addresses
were delivered in connection with the
occasion.
Rev. ID. f. Schroeder, Of Turbot-
vile delivered an excellent address up
on the topic "The Reformed Church
and Civil Liberty" This was ac-
knowledgei by competent persons to
be mastery production of scholar
ship. In his address the speaker
proved that the Reformed churches
were the forerunner of civil liberty,
and that Professionalism was necessary
to Democracy. DR.. J. c. Bowman,
professor in the Theological Seminary
at Lancaster, delivered an address at
both sessions. 1t is needless to com.
ment upon the eloquent and graceful
bearing of this speaker as he address
ed in his happy manner the uplifted
faces and attentive minds of the vast
audience. His first topic was "The
need of an Educated Ministry" After
congratulating i'll a very becoming
manner, the pastor and people on the
event of the day, he proceeded to de-
liver his address on the designated
subject. AS the want of space will
not allow us to give even a synopsis
of this highly appreciated address, we
will simply say that from beginning to
the end it was decidedly clear, logical
and iorcible. His second topic was
'The Marriage Relation of the Pastor
and People," Love finds its consum-
nation in the marriage relation. Con-
nubial love is progressive, and its diff
ferent stages of development are In
dica.ed by the terms applied to we'd
ding anniversaries as cotton, paper,
wooden, tin, crystal, china and silver
wedding. As this was the twenty-ffth
anniversary of this pastoral relation,
he very clearly proved that this occa-
sion was the silver wedding of Rev. A.
Houtz and his charge.
The Rev. William Goodrich, for
mer much beloved pastor, delivered a
highly appreciated address on the
topic "The "reminiscences of my Ia
bors in this charge. He may be justly
regarded as one of the pioneer pastors
of the Reformed church in Columbia
and Montour counties. His labors at
one time were numerous and was scat
tered over a. large part of these coun-
ties. Being man of high religious
culture and thoroughly grounded in
the doctrines of the Bible as held by
the church, he was we'll qualified to
lay the foundation of those primitive
congregations. The fact that five
charges have been developed out OF
the former field of labor is proof that
he labored hard and that his labors
were blessed. Brother Goodrich has
many warm friends in this country and
his visit to these parts are highly ap-
preciated by his old parishioners.
Rev. A. Houtz, the pastor, in his ad.
dress spoke of his invitation and call
TO this charge twenty-five years ago;
of his first journey from Bloomsburg
to Orangeville; of the first impress
sion the country and people made on
his mind, and the apparent impression
he made on the people. He spoke OF
the condition in which he found the
charge and the progress it has made
under his pastorate. He feels that
the long pastorate has intensified the
mutual attachment of pastor and peo-
pie, and that a change of pastoral re-
iation would result in leaving his heart
behind with his first love. During his
pastorate of twenty-five years ne bap-
tised $50, received into the church by
confirmation 800, and by certificate
IIs oficiated at 3aI funerals and at
100 weddings raised for benevolence
$1,000, and for home purposes Sac.
500 preached 4,a25 times; travelled
by private conveyance a6,a5o miles,
and by railroad in the interest OF the
church, 5000 miles.
Rev. A. Noll, of Hazleton, presi-
dent of Wyoming Chassis, read the ac-
ton of that body in reference to the
Quarto Centennial and bore its greet
ings to. the pastor and his people.
r. NJ. colo than occ,tr,aH