The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-06-24
YEAR
BEECHWoODS PRESBYTERIANS
CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY.
Many of the Pioneer Members Attended
the Exercises Wednesday and Had
aPleasant Reunion.

Perfect weather favored the Presby-
terian congregation of the Beechwoods
for their three quarter centennial ceie-
bration Wednesday, June II, aud this
occasion was attended by large crowd
OF people from the entire surrounding
neighborhood.
1t was an interesting occasion for ev-
eryone and there was general feeling
of good fellowship manifested on every
hand Tie open-hearted generosity and
hospitality, for which the people of the
Beechwoods are famous, was In evidence
at all times and everyone felt better for
having been present.
The church was entirely too small to
accommodate the crowd in attendance
and many people listened to the address
as the words Of the speaker came out
through the open windows. The church
building was pr, ttily decorated for the
occasion aud large fringed sign Of
welcome was suspended across the
altar. On the rear wall WAS a sign,
"lS32- -Greetings-l90S."
Rev. Robert A. Hunter, a former
pastor, acted as chairman of the meet
ing aud he was very happy in his intro
duction Of the various speakers.
The opening session in the morning
was given over entirely to review of
the church history from 1871 TO 1908.
Reys. G. II. Hill, X. A. Hunter and
j. H. Hill, giving the various periods.
The facts presented were of Il most in
teresting character and make most
readable history.
Following adjournment at II o'clock
the good ladies Of the Beechwoods con-
gregation served dinner under the
trees Ia the orchard Of the parsonage
grounds. Much care and forethought
had been given to this part of the days
entertainment and the result was most
gratifying. There was an abundance
Of eatables and the large assembly was
given royal feast
At 80 the church was again filed
and following the singing OF hymn,
Chairman Hunter called upon Niuian
Cooper, Of Rey uoldsville, q patriarch Of
the church, who spoke briefly, then
called upon Rev. Hill to read his paper
on the early history OF the congrega-
tion. Mr.. Cooper has remarkable
memory and the facts presented by him
we're Of intense interest, especially to
the younger generations, who little
realized the early struggles Of the pio-
neers OF the Reechw woods congregation.
Mr.. Cooper was the third child born In
the Beechwoods settlement. He and
one other Of the original congregation
we're present Wednesday.
Mr.. Cooper's paper took up the his.
tory OF the congregation from It's ear.
lest inception and traced 1t with the
utmost fidelity to details down to 1871,
giving names and dates of interesting
events, the persons composing the orig
inal congregation, the officers and all
da'a. The predominant figure in his
paper was the Rev. John Wray, who
took up the work in the Beechwoods
and built it up by his in.
domitable energy aud christian spirit.
In this great work he was ably seconded
BY his wife, Mrs. Georgianna Wray.
Following an excellent anthem by the
choir, greetings were had from other
churches in the vicinity, Rev. J. B.
Hill, OF Brookville, Rev. A. D. Mckay,
Of Reynoldsville, Rev. F. B. Bonner,
Hazen and Sugar Hill, Rev. J. v. Bell,
Rev. McIllvaine. Ridgway, and
others, spoke.
A pleasing and interesting feature OF
the afternoon exercises was a demon.
stration Of the manner In which the
Psalms we're formerly sung. Archie