St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church
I have consulted the authentic records of the Methodist Episcopal church and also drawn largely on the memory of those who watched its progress with prayerful solicitude ; but I am chiefly indebted to Mr. Duncan C. Hartman for the names and dates in the earlier days of the church. How vividly the subject recalls the scenes of my own childhood and all the I I fond recollections that cluster around the memory of home.” Well do I remember old “Father Gruber,” and “Father Hunter” in the missionary days of Methodism, when the devoted preachers of the old school were the bold and fearless soldiers of the cross and heroes of God, who sacrificed homes of ease without regret, and braved a weary life of toil without complaint. They were men whose lives demonstrated the doctrine they preached, and whose death was the triumph of a living faith. The humble piety and simplicity of manners that marked the personal character of Methodists in the olden time, was also exhibited in their dwellings and in the unpretending “house,” where they gathered to worship. With once accord they ignored the frivolities of society, enforced the doctrine of humility and labored earnestly for the world’s redemption. The fervent zeal, impassioned eloquence, and earnest solicitude for the welfare of others, readily explains their wonderful success.
The precise period when the first Methodist preacher arrived at this place, is not now known; but they were the second religious body organized here. The first regular conference appointment for Danville was in r Mgr. This place was then included in Northumberland circuit, which extended from Northumberland up the North Branch of the Susquehanna to Wyoming Valley, and up the West Branch to Great Island. The distance traveled by the circuit rider in making his round was three hundred miles, which was accomplished in six weeks. When the nature of the country and the roads are considered the hardships of the preachers of that day may be imagined, and it required something more than the pittance allowed them, to cheer them onward in their arduous labors. This territory for many years was supplied by only two or three ministers, and it included present circuits and stations of Williamsport, Newbury, Muncy, Milton circuit and station, Northumberland, Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Catawissa, Bloomsburg, Berwick, Bloomingdale, Orangeville, Sunbury and parts of Bellefonte district. Some thirty or forty Methodist preachers are now employed on the same territory.
Previous to 1804 Danville and the circuit in which it was located belonged to the Philadelphia conference. In that year it was transferred to the Baltimore conference. In 1807 it was returned to the Philadelphia conference. In 1810 it was included in the new Genesee conference and in 1820 it was re-assigned to the Baltimore conference, of which it still continues to be an appointment.
The following is a list of the preachers who successively, and we might add successfully, labored in Danville and vicinity by appointment of conference:
1791, Richard Parrott, Lewis Browning.
1792, James Campbell, William Colbert.
1793, James Campbell, James Paynter.
1794, Robert Manly, John Broadhead.
1795, James Ward, Stephen Timmons.
1796, John Seward, Richard Sneath.
1797, John Lackey, John Higby.
1798, John Lackey, John Lead.
1799, James Moore, Benjamin Bidlack, D. Stephens.
1800, Ephraim Chambers, Edward Larkin, Asa Smith.
1801, Johnston Dunham, Gilbert Carpenter.
1802, Arming Owen, James Aikins.
1803, Daniel Ryan, James Ridgeway.
1804, Thomas Adams, Gideon Draper.
1805, Christopher Frey, James Saunders.
1806, Robert Burch, John Swartzwelder.
1807, Nicholas Willis, Joel Smith.
1808, Thomas Curren, John Rhodes.
1809, Timothy Lee, Loring Grant.
1810, Abraham Dawson, Isaac Puffer.
1811, B. G. Paddock, H. Baker, R. Lanning.
1812, George Thomas, Ebenezer Doolittle.
1813, Joseph Kincaid, Joseph Chamberlayne.
1814, John Haggard, A. Dawson.
1815, Reynolds M. Everts, I. B. Cook.
1816, John Thomas, Alpheus Davis.
1817, Benjamin Bidlack, Peter Baker.
1818, Gideon Lanning, Abraham Dawson.
1819, John Rhodes, Darius Williams.
1820, John Rhodes, Israel B. Cook.
1821, Marmaduke Pearce, John Thomas.
1822, John Thomas, Mordecai Barry.
1823. Jacob B. Shephard, M. Barry.
1824, Robert Cadden, F. McCartney.
1825, Robert Cadden, Richard Bond.
1826, John Thomas, George Hildt.
1827, John Thomas, David Shaver.
1828, Charles Kalbfus, William James.
1829, James W. Donahay, Josiah Forrest.
1830, James W. Donahay, A. A. Eskridge.
Berwick circuit was formed in1831 from that portion of Northumberland circuit, which made the labor of the preachers a little less. Danville was still included in the old circuit of Northumberland and was supplied by the following preachers:
1831, David Shaw.
1832, Marmaduke Pearce, James Forest.
1833, Josiah Forrest, James Reed, Jr.
1834, Henry Tarring, Oliver Ege.
1835, Henry Tarring, John Guyer, R. Beers, Thomas Myers.
Danville circuit was organized in 1836, and also embraced the territory of the present Montour, Bloomsburg, and part of Orangeville circuits. The circuit of Danville has been supplied by the following laborers:
1836, Joseph S. Lee, R. W. H. Brent.
1837, Samuel Ellis, Stephen Hildebrand.
1838, Robert T. Nixon, William Hirst.
1839, Robert 1′. Nixon, J. W. Houghewent.
1840, George Bergstresser, Joseph A. Ross.
1841, George Bergstresser, G. Guyer.
1842, John Ball, James Guyer.
1843, John Ball, S. G. Hake.
1844, James Ewing, George A. Coffey.
1845, James Ewing, B. F. Brooks.
In the year 1846, Danville was erected into a station. Since that time the following conference appointments have been made for this place :
1846, John Guyer.
1847, Philip B. Reese.
1849, Thomas Mitchell.
1850, Joseph France.
1853, James Brads.
1855, Thomas M. Reese.
1856, J. Wilson.
1857-8, William Harden.
1859-6o, B. B. Hamlin.
1861-3, J. H. C. Dosh.
1864-5, A. M. Barnitz.
1866-7, J. McK. Reiley, D. D.
1868-71, F. Hodgson, D. D.
1872-3, S. Creighton.
1874-5, F. B. Riddle, A. M.
1876-8, W. A. Houck.
1879-8o, J. Max Lantz.
This brings up the succession to the present date. The present pastor, J. Max Lantz, is an eloquent preacher highly esteemed by his people.
Rev. Wilson was the most unpopular of any preacher stationed here during my time.
Rev. William Harden was a noble worker in the cause, and has gone to his reward.
Rev. Riddle was an enigma. He was a man you could readily imagine would come in with a rush, rattle about four hundred words in a minute, close up suddenly, pop out at the back door, jump over the fence and push for home three laps ahead of every body else. He was a good scholar and said some excellent things; but before you could grip them, he would jam in something else and the result was a muddle.
Rev. Barnitz was a solid thinker and a plain, earnest, effective preacher. He was highly esteemed.
Rev. J. McKendree Reiley, D. D., was perhaps the most popular of all the Methodist preachers, stationed here in recent years. He was in high favor with the community and was the chosen orator on public occasions.
Rev. Dr. Hodgson was a finished scholar and was in the front rank as a controversialist. He wrote several books of great merit. He also has firiished his work and gone to his rest.
Rev. Dosh was an earnest and pleasant speaker and served his mission well.
Revs. Creighton, Reese, Hamlin and Brads, all made an honorable record here, and could not fail in accomplishing much good.
Rev. Houck, now in Lock Haven, is a splendid logician, remarkable for the clearness and force of his conclusions. As a pastor he is equally felicitous, kind in his sympathies, but stern and exacting where christian duty is involved.
Rev. Lantz the present pastor in charge, is regarded as one of the best speakers with which conference has favored Danville. He is highly esteemed by his people and cannot fail to make a good and lasting impression on his charge.
In looking over the list of preachers away back to the beginning of the century, how many delightful associations and stirring scenes are called to mind, by the octogenarians, as they peruse the names of the laborers who have broken the bread of life to the people of Danville. The introduction of one and the solemn farewell of another-the glowing eloquence of the young-the powerful logic of the learned-the kind persuasion of the compassionate-the fervent appeals of the enthusiastic-and the solemn warning of the aged, are brought from the store-house of memory, as the thoughts go back to the time when their living voices were heard in our midst. Many of these marshals in the camp of God, after performing deeds of heroism more glorious than the taking of.a strong city, or conquering a world, have long since fought their last battle and gone to their reward; and other sentinels on the towers are on their last watch, and soon will lay their armor by, “having fought the good fight, kept the faith, and finished their course,” one by one will follow the van guard to that bourne from whence no traveler returns, to join the faithful of all ages and wear the starry crown of everlasting life.
The first class in Danville was formed in 1815, and was originally composed of George Lott and wife, Mrs. Donaldson, William Hartman and wife, and Samuel Steele.
Public service, as well as class and prayer meetings were alternately held at private dwellings for a number of years, afterwards in the school-house that formerly stood on Church street, where also the first sabbath-school was organized in 1831. Public worship, on particular occasions, was also frequently held in the court-house. There Bishop Asbury preached on his visit to Danville, as did also the eccentric Lorenzo Dow. A brick church was erected in 1839 for the use of the Methodist congregation, after having liberally contributed to the building of other churches; but in 1848 it was found to be insufficient to accommodate the membership, so they set about building the present church edifice, having sold the former house.
The present Methodist church building is on Mahoning street. The size is fifty by eighty feet and with its galleries will seat eight or nine hundred. The basement is used for class-room, Sunday-school and similar purposes. The material is brick, surmounted by a modest cupola containing one of the finest toned bells in this region of country.
SOURCE: Page(s) 77-83; Danville, Montour County Pennsylvania; D.H.B. Brower, Harrisburg; 1881
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