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Democratic Watchman March 28 1902, page 2
The Story of Methodism in Centre County
One Hundred Years of Church Work - The Early Day Struggles of the Church that is Now Entertaining the Central Pennsylvania Methodist Conference
"At this, the third conference held in Bellefonte within a little more than. a decade, the question is frequently heard "Why has Bellefonte had three conferences in such a short time while such large cities as Altoona, Harrisburg and Williamsport have entertained it less?" It is a most natural question too, but we need not look far for a satisfactory answer. Aside from Bellefonte's noted hospitality and pleasantness as a convention place there is another and greater reason. Only two years after the Methodist Episcopal church became a separate and distinct denomination in this country the pioneer circuit riders found a warm welcome among the settlers of Centre. As early as 1787 their missions began and from that day to this the work of Methodism has progressed. And that is the primary reason that the great executive body of the church finds an atmosphere here that has been permeated with Wesleyism almost since the first white man lived in it and for that reason we take this opportunity to make you better acquainted with the history of the church in Centre county, as compiled by the late John Blair Linn, historian.
The growth and spread of the Methodist Episcopal church is wonderful, and should be contemplated with devoid thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church. Using the exact language of Rev. John Wesley: "The first Methodist society came together in England in the latter end to the year 1739," we add that twenty-seven years afterward (1766), the first Methodist society was formed in New York and within the half century its primitive forms of worship were responded to and the never dying hymns of Charles and John Wesley rang up from the foot hills of the Allegheny mountains.
In the United States, in July, 1787, the answer to the question "what numbers are there in the society ?" was twenty-five thousand eight hundred and forty-two, and one hundred and thirty-three preachers. There were not then many more than sixty chapels, nearly all of them exceedingly small and plain. In this year of grace, 1902, the number of communications belonging to the branches of this old vine is, four millions, five hundred and thirty-two thousand, six hundred and fifty-eight.; the number of preachers twenty-nine thousand four hundred and ninety-three, (four thousand six hundred and fifty one more preachers now than there were actual members a century ago), and the number of churches is forty-seven thousand, three hundred and two. Just think of it ! The sub-divisions of the Methodist church in the United States embrace, as members and adherents, undoubtedly more than one-tenth of the population of this great Republic.
Rev John Wesley's letter announcing the appointment of Dr. Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, to be joint Superintendents "over our brethren in , America," is dated at Bristol, England, September 10th 1784 and in the year 1785, in the United States, the preachers who had assembled annually for Conference since the year 1773, resolved unanimously that circumstances made it expedient for them to be come a separate body under the denomination of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Two years afterward, in the first week of July, 1787, Philip Antes moved into Bald Eagle Valley, to the site of the present iron works of the Messrs. Curtin, and there made a home and a preaching place for the pioneer Episcopal church. I have the authority of a grand-daughter of Philip Antes, the wife of my venerable friend, Rev. Alem Brittain, for the statement that the old pioneer of the church moved his family and effects in two canoes, lashed together, up the river to the mouth of the Bald Eagle Creek, and thence up the Creek to his early home.
The "home-makers" of that day were too busy to keep records; but it is uncontradicted tradition that the first class was formed there as soon as Mr. Antes had a roof on his cabin. The first mill was erected in the summer of 1787, and preaching was held there regularly, on the arrival of a preacher, until the year 1806, when the first chapel was erected at that place.
And who was Philip Antes? The earnest, self-sacrificing, pious pioneer, who laid the foundation of the Methodist Episcopal church in Central Pennsylvania ! Here comes in a story of the priceless value of the legacy of a pious ancestry. He was a grandson of Henry Antes, well-known in the annals of Pennsylvania church history as the pious German Reformed layman of Frederick township."
Philip Antes was born at Falckner Swamp, now Frederick township, (Montgomery county), the hive of the German Reformed church in Pennsylvania. 26th, 1759. His father, Henry Antes, removed to Nippenose Creek (near Jersey Shore Station, P. & E. railroad) as early as 1776, where he built a fort and erected a mill. His name is prominent to the history of the West Branch Valley, and he was Sheriff of Northumberland county in 1782. But the pious benediction of the "old layman" when Henry was born, "the dear Saviour preserve him to eternal life" - and his missionary spirit seems to have in after years fluttered down upon the grandchild of Philip.
Philip Antes was married Feb. 21st, 1780, in what is now Dauphin county, to Susanna Williams, who proved a noble helpmate to the pioneer Methodist. Four children were born to them before their removal to Bald Eagle, of whom the oldest, Frederick, lived and died on the farm near Eagle (Curtin's) Works. Four children were born in Bald Eagle Valley; of the latter, Susan, widow of John Patton, senior, and mother of General John Patton, reached her ninety-second year, with mind and memory uninpaired. Of the Antes family, it can with be said, there was a heart in them that they would fear God and keep all His commandments, always that it might be well with them and their children forever."
The coming of Philip Antes into Bald Eagle Valley was followed forthwith by the organization of a class or society. There were Methodists in the valley before he came. Richard Johnston came in 1784, Rachael Gunsalus and Christopher Helford in 1755. Lawrence Bathurst came in the same year with Mr. Antes, and these with their families formed the nucleus of the first Methodist Episcopal church in Bald Eagle Valley. Colonel John Holt, who came into the valley before the Revolution, belonged to the Church of England, but joined the Society of Antes. The territory of 1787 was within the Little York and Juniata circuit and Rev. David Combs was the circuit rider of that year. In 1788, Huntingdon became the name of the circuit, with Rev. Samuel Breeze and Rev. Daniel Combs as preachers. In 1789 Rev. Michael Leard and Rev. Thomas Workman were the preachers. The number of members increasing from 59 to 189 in one year, within the circuit. In 1790, Huntingdon circuit was supplied by Rev. John Rowen. Thus until 1791, the circuit riders penetrated our territory from the South.
According to Captain A. H. McHenry's Summary History of the Methodist Episcopal church in the West Branch Valley at the Conference held in Baltimore, May 6th, 1791, a new circuit called Northumberland was formed, and Richard Parriott and Lewis Browning were appointed preachers therefor. This circuit, from the time of its formation until 1806, extended from Wilkes-barre down the North Branch to Northumberland, and thence up the West Branch and Bald Eagle Creek to about four miles above Milesburg then back the same distance up Spring Creek, thence to Penns valley, near and south of Potter's Fort, thence by the old Horse Paths to Buffalo Valley and Northumberland. Each preacher went around the circuit in four weeks, preaching every day, except when the distance was too great, as from Penns to Buffalo Valley.
Of these early pioneer preachers, speaking in reference to biographical records, after a somewhat extended research, nothing but "the shadow of a name" remains. They were young in itinerancy, the oldest, Samuel Breeze, admitted on trial in 1783; David Combs, in 1787; Daniel Combs the same year; Michael Leard in 1786, Thomas, Workman in 1789, John Rowen in 1788, and Richard Parriott in 1790.
In Potter township the pioneer Methodists were Robert Pennington, John Frederick Ream and Henry Benn, Robert Pennington came into Penns Valley from Maryland in 1786; Henry Benn and J. Ream from Eastern Pennsylvania in 1787. Soon afterward a class was formed and Robert Pennington's house became a station upon the circuit. The station of the Antes Family is, that Robert Pennington, when in deep despondency about his soul's salvations visited Philip Antes, and that the issue of that visit was "the Sun of Righteousness with healing of H is wings" dispirited his gloom, and he went on his way rejoicing.
Among the early members of the Pennington class were Jeremiah Sankey and Thomas Sankey - the latter the grandfather of Ira P. Sankey, the melody of whose sacred music now encircles the globe.
In the territory of now Patton township the first settlers were members of the Methodist society; they came also from Maryland; foreside and altar were synonym with them, and Methodism has prevailed since the pioneer era as the popular creed in Half-moon Valley. Peter Gray, Sr., came into that valley from the neighbor few years the people attended worship at Warriors-mark, some twelve miles distant, but as soon as Gray's cabin was under cover it became a stopping place for the circuit rider, and worship was held once a month, sometimes oftener, to his house, for nearly thirty years until his death in 1817. Tradition fixes the date of the formation of the Gray class in 1790. It was no doubt earlier, for the patriarch, when he emigrated brought with him his four sons and two sons-in-laws, John Hearhart and David Runk, both heads of families. At Mr. Gray's cabin the preacher coming in the evening, would stay all night, content with a bundle of straw for a bed on the floor; not because his host slighted him in accommodations, but of dire necessity; a bundle of straw and a blanket composed what could be afforded.
For all this God prospered Peter Gray. It was but a few years until the circuit rider's weary limbs reposed in the well furnished "prophet chamber," and broad fertile acres surrounded the home of this pioneer Methodist. Prosperity has attended his children, and his children's children to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth generation. The Gray family is represented in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church by preachers of great ability and culture; it was represented in the medical profession by the lamented Dr. John Purdus Gray, of Utica, N. Y., who stood in the very front rank of the profession as a scientist, and was, and is represented at the bar by lawyers of undoubted integrity, and in all the honorable pursuits of life by men and women who have never disgraced their ancestry.
The pioneer of Methodism in Ferguson township was Captain George Meek, who had been a Revolutionary soldier and settled within the present boundaries of Ferguson township it century ago. He left four sons, Robert, David, William and John, each of whom left many descendants who were and are members of the church. The central portion of the map of Ferguson township is thickly dotted with their names, and their enduring monuments is Meek's Methodist Episcopal church and Meek's school house, planted in the centre of the township, which will carry the name of these life-long Methodists dawn to the latest generation. In the ministry the name was represented by Rev. John B. Meek, the recollection of whose ability and great zeal has not yet faded from the memory of many of my hearers, and by his son, Rev. John Minor Meek, also deceased. This church was also represented in the ministry by Rev. Robert P. Campbell, who united with the Society at Meek's church, Feb. 9th, 1886, and who died January 21st, 1880.
As stated, the Northumberland circuit extended four miles above Milesburg, and the house of George Sensor was the preaching place. He is represented in the church by a grandson, Rev. George G. Sensor. After Mr. Sensor's time, meetings were held at Joseph Alexander's, on the farm adjoining Mr. Sensor's, near Unionville. Abraham Parson's house, three miles above, also became a preaching place. John Hutton, who lived at the foot of the Allegheny, was a class leader and meetings were held at his home.
The preaching place called for four miles up Spring Creek was no doubt on Logan's Branch of Spring Creek, in the neighborhood of the Old Forge, on Robert Valentine's farm. The McCartney's, an old Methodist family of the last century lived near there and prior to 1793 James Kinnear lived at Boiling Springs, and Joseph Allender on the Roush farm, next below. Death broke up these families and scattered them - William Kinnear and Mary (Allender) Kinnear removed to Frankin, Venango county, and as early, as 1804 formed the first Society there.
Recurring to the pioneer Methodist preachers of the Valley. In 1791 Northumberland circuit was traversed by Rev. Richard Parriott and Rev. Lewis Browning. Of the latter we have no traditions, and the name of Richard Parriott drops out of Conference roll in 1795. We can find no record of the date of his death, nor place of burial.
The first presiding elder who visited the territory of Centre county was Nelson Reed, in 1791. He lived to be eighty-nine years old served sixty-five years in the ministry, and died in Baltimore, October 20th, 1840, according to the authority of Bishop Simpson, the oldest Methodist preacher in Europe or America. It is worthy of record that Rev. James Campbell, who rode our circuit in 1792, and his companion of 1763, Rev. James Paynter, survived until the same year, 1840.
The year 1808 is the era of church erection. On the 21st of January, 1806, Philip Antes and Susanna, his wife, for the sum of one shilling, conveyed to Richard Gunsalus, John Miller, Frederick Antes, Wm. Foster, Lawrence Bathhurst, Abe Dougherty and Philip Antes the ground on which the first church at Curtin's Works was erected in that year, the first Methodist Episcopal church ever erected within the bounds of Centre county. It is well to mark the stipulations of the trust ''to erect and build and cause to be built, a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States, according to the rules and discipline which from time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the minister and preachers of the said church, at the General Conference in the United States of America; and in further trust and confidence that they shall at all times forever hereafter, permit such ministers and preachers belonging to the said church as shall from time to time be duly authorized by the said General Conference of the ministers and preachers of the said Methodist Episcopal church, or by the yearly conference, authorized by said General Conference, and none other, to preach and expound God's Holy Word therein."
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