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Democratic Watchman January 11 1867, page 3
BELLEFONTE AND ITS CHURCHES
"If the morals of Bellefonte are not to be boasted of, it is not on account of the scarcity of churches. Perhaps no town of equal size in the State is better provided with houses for public worship, and yet we do not suppose there is any place where churches amount to less or are of less benefit to the community generally. To accommodate a population of from three four thousand, we have eight churches, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, German Reformed and Lutheran, United Brethern, Quaker and African, Of the protestant churches,
THE PRESBYTERIAN
is perhaps the largest and best attended. Although in place of increasing in membership and general usefulness, it has since the beginning of our political troubles, been rather retrograding. Politics, the bane of all churches crept into it through its members - chilling the little arder - for very little it had - creating distrust, suspicion, bitter feelings and doing the work of he devil generally. During the past five years, its minister - the Rev. Mr. Barnard, labored earnestly, but with little effect. The influence of a majority of his congregation, who looked upon the teachings of abolitionism, as of more importance than those of Christ, overcome him at times, and he would preach war, and bloodshed, just enough to show them that he was sound on that question, and sufficient to that while the terms of religion were closely observed, yet public opinion commanded more influence than christian zeal. However, if the members of that church had been as intent on doing good as was the minister it would to day occupy a different position before the world. In consequence of some difficulty, about four or five months since. Mr. Barnard resigned his position as pastor and removed west, since which time up until within about two weeks, that church has been without a minister. It has now secured the Rev. Mr. Yeoman, who we fear will have rather up hill work, in getting instilled into his members that christian spirit and into the Church that life, t hat alone will give it the prominence and influence, that a church should possess. As it is now, it in a matter of form and fashion. Its members dress in their silks and broad cloth, and attend more to see and be seen, than from any particular devotion they may have to the cause of christianity and religion, or else their actions in and out of the church belie them awfully. AS an edifice the Presbyterian church is substantial in pretty good condition, roomy but not attractive. It has a pretty good choir, which could be improved considerably, and a tolerable good organ.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
situated no the hill back of the court House, is an ungainly rickety old thing, difficult to get to, and we should think dismal to worship in. It numbers among its members some of the most wealthy men in town, and we have often thought that it was no credit to them, in a moral point of view, to permit their house of worship to remain in the dilapidated condition that it has been for years. It would speak better for them as professing christians, to give of the abundance of this world's goods, with which they are blessed, to repair their old church or erect a new one, than to hug it with the greed that so many of then do. Like the Presbyterian church, "loyalty" has affected this one - not to the same extent however, in consequence of the prayers and general forms of worship having been written, long before abolitionism became a cardinal doctrine of modern christianity. The Rev. Mr. Laverty, its present minister, has filled that position for several years, we believe to the general satisfaction of his congregation. Its members are regular in attendance, and some of them boast of belonging to the most aristocratic church in town. Some of the Presbyterians claim that their church, is the "upper ten" one which makes a difference of opinion, to be settled in the mind of the many, who attend the church that is most fashionable. But be it as it may, if catering to fashion and love of display would save souls, there would not be much danger of either the Episcopalians or Presbyterians, of this place being lost. The membership of this church is about the same that it has been for years. It has a large organ and a common choir.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
as it exists in this place, at present, can hardly be called a church. The present minister, the Rev. Mr. Swanger, we believe tries to do his duty, but the minister can't make the church, when there is no religion, in the members. Some five years ago, christianty was abolished and "loyalty" set up as the only essential to salvation in the methodist church here. The Rev. Mr. Bowman, an able divine, and a true follow-lover of the redeemer, was at that time, driven from the appointment, because he would not prostitute his calling by preach-in g war and abolitionism, and make a political hot house of his church, by denouncing democarts as traitors. He went, and with him seemed to go the little life that had kept the church alive in this place. An egotistical, puffed up being by the name of Hicks, whose only recommendation was his wind and his loud mouthed "loyalty" and these were all that were wanted by the few who were permitted t o enter the church without being insulted - was sent in Mr. Bowman's place, to take charge of the Congregation, and during the year he was here all the energy the church possessed, was used to stir up strife and dissension among those who pretended to be its friends. Down, down it went into the filthy pool of abolitionism, until there was not a barroom in the place, but presented more signs of christianity than did that church. Its members had fallen off until it could scarcely muster a corporal's guard - its spirit had departed and everything that tends to make a church useful or honorable had deserted it. Is this condition the Rev. Mr. Swangar, who has been filling its pulpit for the past two years, found it. At the time he came, "loyalty" was the rule and christianity the exception, and for a while he went with the current until he lost much of his influence for good. He has however for some time past been laboring assiduously to build, up the church, but without apparent success. The fact of the business is before he will be enabled to get up a revival, he will have to get the professing members converted. Like elsewhere throughout the North, the Methodist church here has lost its religion. It is influential only in politics - and has but little there. Politicians have used it, to attain there ends, and they now set it aside. Alas how has the mighty fallen. Efforts to revive it may be made, but it will not revive until the fountain is until faith in the ever-living doctrines of Christ, again take the place, of faith in the everlasting nigger. Like the Episcopal, the Methodist church is situated on the hill back of the Court House, and during the winter is very difficult of access. It is a neat good sized, and well finished building - presenting a much better appearance, than either of its more aristocratic neighbors. It is furnished with a good Meledeon, and has a very indifferent choir. Its members are direlect in duty, and seem to take no interest its advancement, as is fully proven by the indifference they show to the result of the meeting that has been in progress there during the past week. It has probably half as many members, as it had prior to the war - and if with other churches, that dabbled in politics will have to live a long, long time, to get rid of the odium, that is attached to their cause during the war.
We shall pay our respects to the other churches in town, in next week's Watchman."
Democratic Watchman January 18 1867, page 3
BELLEFONTE AND ITS CHURCHES - CONCLUDED
"From the Methodist, we will step into the
LUTHERAN & GERMAN REFORMED
church. It is a neat, though cheap unpretending building, considerably smaller than either the Presbyterian, Episcopal or Methodist, and has a most miserable bell, that sounds as if it was cracked into forty pieces, and as if each piece was of a different sort of metal. It is situated in one of the most pleasant parts of town, has a fine yard, and better accommodations surrounding it for persons attending, in carriages or sleighs, than any other. It is owned jointly by the Lutheran and German Reformed, and the greater proportion of its members reside out-side of the borough. Like a majority of ether churches, during the early part of the war, it had its fanatics, who dragged politics into it. The Rev. Mr. Schoff, Lutheran, at that time presided. He was troubled more about the "disloyalty" of those who would'nt bow to the baal of Abolitionism, than about the sins of the world. "Old Nick" laid but little trouble to hold his own within that church, during his stay. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. line. German Reformed, who must credit, with leaving politics on the outside of the church. He too was effected considerably with the prevailing disorder, "loyalty" or "war and nigger," but the spells came on him when in the pulpit at this place, although they effected him seriously in churches at other points. His stay was short however, and to fill his place came the Rev. Mr. Shelp, another German Reformed. Of him we believe, no one can say aught but good. He tried to do his duty, both in and out of the church - teaching as well by example, as by precept. He was truly a devoted christian, and during his pastorship no political or partisan intolerance desecrated its sacred precincts. An accident, during the latter part of last summer, terminated his life and labors, since which time that church has been without a minister. It has a congregation that can afford to pay well, and why its pulpit has been empty so long we cannot imagine. If its members were as devoted to christianity as most of them are to making money, and as some are to puritan abolitionism, they would have had a minister long since. Next on our list comes the
UNITED BRETHERAN CHIRCH
situated on cheapside. It is but a small building, and favors more a country school house than a church. It has but a small congregation and a membership amounting to not over thirty or forty. Services are held in it two Sundays in succession, and then there are two that the minister, the Rev. Mr. Grant, is absent on other parts of the circuit. This church we are told meddled but little in polities during the excitement the past five years. Its members are generally poor, and can ill afford to pay much to-wards keeping up their church, but it is in much better condition, than some of the other churches, whose members boast their hundreds of thousands. It has neither choir nor instrument. Some of its members are very derilect in duty, and in the end, we fear will find themselves in the condition of Jonah, "spewed out" because of being "neither cold nor hot."
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
located on Bishop street, a few doors above Allegany, is a good sized substantial, stone edifice, rather gloomy looking, but kept in good repair. It has a large congregation, that appears to be very regular in attendance. This church has been effected by the fanaticism of the times, less than any other. Its minister, the Rev. Thomas McGovern, during all of our sectional troubles, acting as a consistent Christian, and a devoted disciple of Christ, excluded entirely from his pulpit everything of a political nature, and devoted his time and talents, all, to the spiritual well being of his hearers and his, perhaps, is the only church in this place, whose membership has been increased to any extent during the past five years, and this can be accounted for on the ground that he attended to matters pertaining to the church, and left those pertaining to the State, to be cared for by persons whose business it was. Like other churches, it numbers good men and woman among its members, and like others to, it has Judges within its pale, who not only disgrace themselves, but bring their religion and church into disrepute, by the course they pursue. Christians should teach as well by example as by precept, and the mere fact of pbserving the forms of the Catholic or any other religion, will have no one. It seems to be the belief of quite a number who adhere to the Catholic faith, in this place that all that is necessary to secure their future happiness, is the strict observance of their peculiar forms of worship. Outside of the church they do not appear to have a particle more religion, than persons who have never heard of such a thing as christianity. We are not going to give advice, because we know they will spurn it, as they do the advice given them by their pastor, but we most say that it would be better for their church if these "professing" members - hypocrites - withdraw from it entirely and thus save it the dishonor their actions will heap upon it. While churches, cannot properly be held responsible for the actions of those adhering to them, yet they generally are, by the worldly minded, and one hypocrite, can do them more injury than a doze n righteous men can good. In the Catholic, as in the principal protestant churches, services are held every Sabbath. It has a large organ, a tolerable choir, and very regular attendants. From it, we will visit the
QUAKER OR FRIEND'S CHURCH
It is situated in an out of the way place, on the side of the hill near the Academy and if one were to judge of its surroundings, he would conclude that it was scarcely, if ever opened. Like the society that built it, it is fast crumbling to pieces. Its old pillars in this place are nearly all gone, and the "spirit" does not appear to be "moving" those they have left behind, to preserve to any degree, their organization as a society. The Church is a little old stone building, a type of the times in which it was erected. It has but few strict members, and they are bending with age ready for the grave. When they depart, the church we suppose will go down, or be maintained more out of respect to their memory, than for any other reasons. With the
"AFRICAN METHODIST" CHURCH
we close our notices, of the placed of worship in Bellefonte. It is close by the United Brethern, at the foot of the hill on cheapside. It has on regular preacher and has a very irregular attendance, except on the part of about a half dozen members, whose example of christian devotion, might be followed, by many of the members of other churches, to considerable benefit. The church edifice is small, but sufficiently large to accommodate all who attend at it. There are plenty of negroes in Bellefonte to make up a good sized congregation, but they are not troubled with religious zeal. "De music ob de fiddle, wid a place to shake de shin," is more enticing to them than the worship of the most High. As we have said before however, there are a few members of this church who keep it up, and whose actions lead own to believe that they are truly zealous. The building is in comparatively good condition, but has neither choir nor instrument.
Such are the churches and such their condition and standing, so far as can be observed by an outsider. What we have written about them, have written for their good. We are not prejudiced, against any religious sect, and we have simply spoken plainly as it becomes an honest journalist to do. If we have tread harshly upon the toes of any, we hope they will hereafter keep their toes where they will not be to easily tread upon."
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