Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-13
until destroyed by fire, last October, then in
tha ,oooo,,lou of VIM Cover

until DESTROYED by fire, last October, then in
the possession of VIM. Cover.
In course of time this building became too
small to accommodate the worshippers and
again Mr.. Weller, ST., came forward to open
! the way. He donated plat OF ground or
a fine, elevated part Of his land, for church
building and graveyard, and his SON.
named Jacob, also, with the addition Of b.
s. (blacksmith) to his name, to designate
him from his father, q man OF influence and
considerable wealth. here took up the work
and by bis large contribution of money, az
we'll as labor, erected the substantial stone
church at the head of AltamOnt ave. The
corner stone was laid October 31st, 1880, and
the church was finished the following year,
and was generally known as "Weller's
Church"
But the noble old patriarch, Jacob Weller,
Sr., did not see the completion Of his hearts
desire. When the walls were up and under
root, he died. His body was laid near the
church, the first TO consecrate the soil to its
intended use, and in the unfinished building
with its earlhcn floor, and boards for ben.
ches, the solemn funeral rites were held.
Additions were made to the burving ground
at later periods and it is now known as
"Cemetery Hill"
The first minister in charge after the
church was completed, is in doubt, the early
church record being lost; but those OF our
citizens who have imperfect recollectlons OF
that time, think it was Rev Darcas
Two children of Jacob Weller, B. s., are
vet living, residents of Thurmont; Mrs
Andrew Seton, IN her 83rd year, and Jacob
Weller, Jr, in his 10th year.
The church continues in fourishing
condition and the sunday school, which was
organized under the head of Union Sunday
School, has never ceased its work, although
the name was changed to United Brethren
Sunday School, some years later. The
societies connected with the church are. The
Women's Missionary Society; Mite Society;
Young Peoples Union. Present pastor in
charge, Rev f. G. b. Castle.
The second church built was the Mctho-
dist Episcopal. Its early ministers held ser
vices in brick school house, which stood
opposite the present church building. A
church organization was formed in 1910 and
in 1851, the neat brick building which stands
at the north end of church street, was built;
the first pastors in charge were Revs. Geo.
Brooke and J r. DebrOw. A few OF the
early members are yet living and they have
had the pleasure of seeing parsonage add
ed in an adjoining lot, the interior OF the
church remodelcd aud improved and the
membership steadily growing in number and
influence. A sunday school has always been
successfully conducted, and the organiza-
tons are, Epworth League and Mite Socie-
ty: the pastor in charge 10 Rev Henry Mann,
and II. C. Hall, assistant In the meantime
the descendants of the German fathers. who
had planted their standard of faith Mt Apples
Church, had grown in number and wealth
in and around the village, and the propriety
Of building church home in their midst be-
gan to possess their minds The first to
take active steps was the Evangelical Luth-
eran church. Rev William Hunt had been
called to the charge a man cminentlv quail
flied in every respect to meet the wants OF
his people, saw their ability and willingness
to give, and assumed leadership; the result
was the erection of St. Johns Lutheran, a
handsome brick building situated midway on
Church street; the corner stone was laid in
1857, and the church dedicated in the spring
Of 1863, when they severed their connection
with Apples church The congregation has
steadily made advances, and it now stands,
numerically. the first in Thurmont. The
interior has been remodeled and improved
and a fine pipe organ added. The sunday
school which was organized Immediately
after the completion of the church, contains
$50 names on its roll The Societies are:
Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary
Society; Young Ladies Mission Band
Chldrcn's Amy Sadtler Band; Mite Society;
and Christian Endeayor Association.
The last named society, while held in the
lecture room of the Lutheran church is union
in its nature, and is composed mostly Of
Methodsts and Lutherans, and is one Of the
most tlOurshlng organizations here. But
the oldest devotional gathering is the
Mothers Prayer Meeting, organized by Mrs
Hunt, wife of the founder Of the church.
This prayer meeting was begun the same
year the church was dedicated, and has
never failed in its weekly gathering since.
The congregation is now without pastor.
Rev ]. H. Barb who served it so faithfully
for the past eight years, spoke his farewell
words on the 9th, inst, and on the l4lh will
take up a new field Of labor in Pennsylvania.
On the same street and little beyond the
Methodist church, stands the Roman Catho-
lie church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. 1t
is a small handsome building of stone stu
atcd on an elevation about one hundred
wards from the street, with an avenue of
cedars leading up to it 1t was built by Rev
William George McCloskey in 1859, who
was for several years af.crward president OF
the American college, Rome and Is now
Bishop of the Diocese of Louisville, KY
Father John McCloskey, brother of the
|OunueT. UtCalnc us nlsl Cit' ~ hi"h, anu Al'
genial, atfable manner won him many friends
among all denominations. The early choir
of this church was exceptionally good. 1t
was under the leadership of DR.. Deiman of
Mount St. Mary's and among its sweet and
attractive singers was Miss Gennie Brawner,
now Mrs. DR.. Foreman of Littlestown, Pa.
Its present pastor is Rev. John 7. White.
The church, though small in number Is IN
prosperous condition.
In the first part of these church notes, ref
erence is made to the Moravian brethren AZ
Graceham. This body which had grown
strong and influential gained membership
in this community sufficiently large to JUS
tify the establishment Of branch Morayian
church here Rev. l.. p. Clewell, pastor IN
charge at Graceham, undertook the work
A lot was secured on Water street and July
4, 1874, the corner stone Of this neat and
pretty building was lsid and the church was
ready to occupy before the md OF the year.
Rev Clewell served it as long as he was IN
charge at Graceham, and the ministers IN
turn that OBLIGATED there have filled this pull
pit. The present pastor is Rev. M. r.: DER
ter. The church numerically IS small, but
its influence for good reaches far. 1t has
good sunday school and growing Mite Soci-
| ETY..
Trinity Reformed church when planted in
Thurmont, almost closed the doors OF old
Apples church, the parent of two strong re-
ligous bodies. But the child had outgroWn
the parent and the step was inevitable IN
der the pastorate of Rev. ii. w Wlssler,
action was taken to secure church building
here, not without opposition, for many were
old oh