Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-11-09
MORTGAGE BURNED
AT CHURCH

Sunday eve was a season of rejoio-
ing at the United Evangelical church.
After an appropriate sermon by the
pastor, Rev. f. B. Dunn, from the
text, 1st Samuel, 7-l2, "Hitherto hath
the Lord helped US" the Trustees of
the church, standing in the altar hold
ing the platter, the pastor set fire to a
mortgage that had for years encumb-
cred the congregation, and as the
flames asconded, the assemblage sang
with zeal, "Praise God from Whom
all blessings flow"
Then in a few brief and we'll chosen
remarks the pastor declared the Unit
ed Evangelical church, of Danville,
free from debt
A brief synopsis of the church in
Danvllle will be of interest to many
readers.
The ministers of the Evangelical As
sociation of North America. for num-
Der of years preached in the vicinity
of Danvllle, and at certain times had
regular appointments in the town they
were however discontinued. until the
year 1867, when Danville was taken
up as mission and Rev. H. A. Stoke
was stationed here as pastor in charge.
He labored here for two years, during
which time a splendid revival was
held, class or society was formed,
and subscription circulated TO Sc
cure funds to build a church. The
building however was delayed, and
many of the class wandered away and
united with other churches. In the
spring of 1869 Rev. W. H. Davis, was
stationed here MS pastor; he immedi-
ately set about building the church,
and was successful. the church being
| dedicated to the worship of God the
same year, 1869. The building, however
was heavily encumbered with debt
for many years.
Up to this time no regular Quarter
| ly Conference had been established for
reasons not necessary to mention here
at this time, however,a "a regular Quart.
erly Conference was held by the Pre-.
siding Elder of the District. In the
spring of 1870 Rev. w H. Davis was
returned as pastor and during that
year perfected the organization and
the regular Quarterly Conferences
have been held quarterly ever since.
Gradually the debt was wiped out. and
for several years the charge was self
supporting.
In March 1888, Rev. H. A. Stoke
was reappointed pastor, an in April
| 1889 a movement was started to build
parsonage. The effort was success
ful and the parsonage was built This
again encumbere1 th5 congregation
with debt. from which it was not free
! until last evening. 1t is more than
probable the debt would have been
paid long ago but for the fact, that in
1894 there came a division in the en-.
tire church both in this and other
countries, the two factions at the time
were known as the Esher and Dubs
| factions. The supreme court Of this
state in deciding property rights be-
! tween the two factions, gave all the
property to the Esher Faction. but de-
clared in the same decision, that the
"Dubs faction was morally in the
right and placed the cost of proceed
ings on Esher. Congregations as a re-
suit, here as everywhere else, found
it necessary to repurchsse the property
which they had once built and paid
for Many became discouraged and for
years nothing was done toward wip-
ing out the old debt. Since the divis-
ion, the church is no longer known as
the Evangelical Association of North
America, but as the United EvanRelic.
al Church, and is now an incorporat-
ed BODY.
The pastors that have served the
Danville congregation since its origin
in 1867. are as follows: Revs II A.
Stoke, H. W. Davis, W. +. DetwIler,
H. W. Buck, P. S. Orwig,P. W. Raida
baugh, J. NJ. Brader, A. S. Baumgard-
ner, II. A. Stoke, (second term j. +.
DunIap,S S. Mumey,J. q. Whitmire,
J. F. Hover aud f. B. Dunn, the pres
ent pastor.
Rev. j. f. Hover during his past
crate did most excellent work. and
succeeded in cancelling 1915 of the
old debt. Rev. Dunn succeeded him
in the spring of 1902, when there still
remained $50. 600 on the old debt,
which amount has now been paid in
full and the property valued at 81 800,
is uniucumbered.
Notwithstanding the many draw
backs and struggles of this little con-
gregation. it has prospered, and its
prosperity has been shared by nearly
all the chrches of the community, as
in nearly all the congregations are
those who ca ne through this mission.
The congregation now numbers
about $50 members, and while they re-
joice in the fact that they are free
from the burden of the old debt, they
feel that they need new, larger and
more modern church built in better
location, and they are hoping that in
the near future they will see their
needs fulfilled Their untiring, un-
tied zeal and faith. their determined
courage. will surely crown their eff.
forts with success and give them in
few more years better place worship.
Struck Vein of Coal.
Men digging for coal at Mt. Patrick,