Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-10-08
INSTALLATION
OF PASTOR

services, which began at 30 and con
tinued for nearly two hours, being in
tcnsely interesting
The Rev yelling +. Thomas, ID. D.,
Moderator of the Northumberland
Presbytery presided at the installa-
tion
The sermon was preached by the
Rev DR. G. H. Bruce Of Jersey Shore.
The text was from Matthew, 1I:4:
Go show John those things which
you do hear and see John was in
Iprison. He was troubled with doubts
as to the Master. He was unjustly
imprisoned and ne could not reconcile
his unhappy condition with divine
oversight and justice. 1t was to quiet
his doubts that Christ, addressing the
disciples, made use of the words of
the text. The speaker very happily
applied them to the conditions of
every day life. There are many doubt
ers in the world today-sincere men
who like John Of old are much troubl-
ed Charity should be exercised in deal
ing with these and every Christian,
secure in his own faith, should en-
brace as one of the objects of his life
a desire to dlspeI doubt in others.
Rev Dr. William H. Roberts of
Williamsport delivered the charge to
the congregation. The Rev. DR.. G.
W. Gilland of Shamokin charged the
pastor Boch addresses were practical
aud to the point
Miss Margaret Ammerman rendered
solo: "The Lord is my Light"
The installation of the Rev Hutchi-
son naturally suggests the long line of
predecessors who have officiated at the
Mahoning Presbyterian chnreh along
| with many other points of interest
connected with this and the Grove
Presbyterian church The history of
the two congregations are very cur
iously dovetailod together. The Ma
! honing congregation, however, is the
old and original one, worshiping for
nearly seventy-fve years on the site
of the present Grove church. Ac-
cording to early records still extant
the congregation is at least l18 years
old.
During the ministry of DR.. Yeo-
mans, in 1882, the congregation uni
ted in building the present commodious
church on Ferry street About this
time the congregation numbered 325
communicates, Keeping pace with the
development OF the iron industries the
town grew rapidly and the church in
the grove was becoming too small.
After long and careful deliberation a
majority of the congregation decided
that it would be for the best interest
Of the church to abandon the old site
and select a central location within
the limits Of the town The new
church was erected and dedicated on
the 10Th day Of November 1851.
For one year, loss fifteen days, the
congregation as a whole worshiped in
the new church The congregation as
whole, it is true, approved of the re-
moval and assisted in the erection OF
the new church, but there was a large
and respectful minority Of members
and adherents on the North side who
preferred the old site, which was en-
deared to them by many associations.
Thus an application was made to Pres
bytery for a new organization, which
was granted.
The pastorate of Dr. Yeomans at the
new church extended for over period
of eighteen years He died at his
home in this place in 1868 aged GA
years. After a vacancy OF about two
years the Rev. William E. Ijams was
chosen to succeed Dr.. Yeomans, being
installed May ,, 1868 Rev. Ijams in
turn was succeeded by the Rev. Alex
ander h. Jack, who entered upon his
duties A. pastor-elcct in January ,,
1869. He was installed April 21 and
continued in this relation until the
2sth of. June. 1874 His rare gifts and
eloquent speech attracted large audi
ences. During his pastorate the manse
was built at cost Of over $4,000.
Mr.. Jack successor was the Rev,
Thomas K. Beebcr, who was called in
June. 1919, assumed charge Of the con
gregariou July and was installed Oc-
tober p