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A MEMORIAL VOLUME
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FREDERICK L. FAUx^EY
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Congregational Library
http://www.archive.org/details/memorialvolumeofOOdavi
The Author Rev. David Jones, D. D.
Memorial Volume
of
Welsh Congregationalists
in
Pennsylvania, U. S. A.
Their Churches, Periodical Convocations, Clergy and Prominent Lay Members.
Affectionately dedicated to the denomination.
By Rev. DAVID JONES, D. D. Scranton, Pa.
1934
PRESS OF UTICA PRINTING COMPANY UTICA, N. Y.
Foreword
IT is fitting that wc should modestly state at once how this volume came to be written. For a number of years, in the first part of the last century, Welsh churches were the only Congregational Churches in Pennsylvania, save one or two English. They continued to be so for at least fifty years when groups from several of our churches branched out one after another to form English churches, but for some years these off- shoots continued to meet with the Welsh in perfect harmony until they felt the need of an Association of their own. For forty years or more the two branches, Welsh and English, held their separate district meetings, but the reason that justified two associations of the same denomination covering the same area forty and more years ago, was now rapidly vanishing; there was a time when it was better and wiser for them to be in separ- ate camps, marching under distinctive banners, but they were approaching conditions when they could do better united than divided so they wisely decided in favor of progress and ex- pansion.
Desirous of being more united and efficient as Congregation- alists, to do the will of the Master in building His church and extending the Kingdom of God, the English and Welsh churches of Eastern Pennsylvania made overtures to each other for a year or more with the view of amalgamation. This was consum- mated at Edwards Memorial, Edwardsville, in the autumn of 1931. The Welsh Gymanfa, by vote of the churches, recorded October, 1930, decided to merge with the Wyoming Association of English churches to form a larger and a more influential one, under a new name, governed by a new constitution and by- laws; and it was unanimously agreed by vote of all present in the last meeting of the Gymanfa, held at the Hill Side Congre- gational Church April 25 and 26, 1931, to write and publish its history from its inception to the present time, as a memorial of its service to the churches, the denomination and the King- dom of God for the entire period of its existence. In pursuance of this, the writer was delegated by the Gymanfa to write and compile the story which was attempted several times before dur- ing its history; even as far back as 1873 our dear late friend. Rev. T. C. Edwards, D. D., was asked to read a paper on the subject at the meeting held at Blossburg, Tioga County, the following year. This was nobly done, and he was asked to pur- sue his labors for another year, when Rev. R. S. Jones, D. D., Scranton, and Rev. D. A. Evans, Drifton, were asked to co-
in.
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
operate with him, which they did, but their united efforts did not materiaHze, except as far as we have profited by their en- deavors in securing data of the earlier churches and their minis- ters. We have had the pleasure of reading and using the in- formation they were able to glean, until they gave up the search, and the purpose of publishing the history, because of a lack of interest in furnishing facts and funds to undertake the enter- prise, which was abandoned in 1877. Besides having the use of what was gathered and written by the above brethren, we have been fortunate in having several brochures of churches, which were prepared for certain events in their history, and a number of friends willing to give us what they knew of persons and organizations to weave our story as fully as possible: for such help we sincerely honor the dead! and extend our gratitude to the living. We have purposely used the word 'Cymanfa' adding 'oedd' to form the plural, instead of association or con- ference, to preserve it as an heirloom to people of Welsh descent, to whom it will be as euphonious as its equivalent in English; to economize space preambles and resolutions expressing grati- tude to entertaining churches and condolence with bereaved families are omitted; to avoid redundacy names of delegates and ministers, except in rare cases, are also left out, except those of new members, dismissals and visiting friends.
IV.
Introduction
WE are happy to take in hand the task of gathering to- gether the history of the Welsh Congregationahsts of Pennsylvania, including their churches, ministers, annual meetings and a portion of their activities for the past hundred years, as a memorial of the task attempted and the work done. The suggestion to do this was prompted by the passing into history of the Welsh speaking religious services, when the members in a legitimate, peaceful, unanimous manner decided to merge with the English Congregational Churches and association covering the same territory. This happy merger no doubt would have been realized much earlier, were it not for the love of our forefathers for their native tongue, and the fear that the prevailing language, English, would handicap them in their joy and desire to take part in the religious ordin- ances of the sanctuary. The Welsh people of the past were delighted to speak and voice their testimonies in the forum, the class meeting, and pour their incense on the altar rather than delegate every function of the temple to the pastor. Even now, after the desired union has been consummated, we should not forget the sacrifices made by the pioneers of our denomin- ation, nor should we depreciate the self-denial of a sprinkling of the present generation, in giving up the use of the vernacular in their praise and devotion at religious services, for it means much to them to give up their familiar speech in the sanctuary and be silent members for the rest of their life, because of in- competency in the use of English to give vent to their pro- foundest Biblical thoughts and spiritual emotions.
We may frankly admit that the Welsh language is not a good medium for business, science and art, but it is the speech of the soul; like Hebrew, it is the language of praise, poetry, religion and worship. Groups of Welsh people can interpret the Jewish feeling by the rivers of Babylon, after periods of English speaking services in any country or district. They can join the captives in their doleful strains, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange tongue." "If I forget thee, my native speech, let my right hand forget her cunning." Love of country, nation, language, ordinances and forms of worship are tender sacred ties to bind people to the past. The services of our associations and conferences, though the best speakers be en- gaged, and the choicest subjects be discussed, are not and never can be unto them like the old preaching services of the Welsh Gymanfa; many have expressed to us their longing with sighs
V.
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
for the old typical services of former days. Take for instance one stanza of a poem read by Mr. Anthony Jones of Edwards- ville, in the last session of our Gymanfa; judge it not for its poetic beauty but rather as an expression of a soul longing for what it has lost: —
"Farewell, Farewell Welsh Gymanfa, With sad heart I say good bye, I have cherished thee from childhood Like the apple of mine eye."
We are writing thus, not to find fault, nor mourn, but to foster compassion for the people that have lost some things that can- not be defined nor valued in terms of earthly currency. Some time ago we heard a brother minister praise our country, and the welcome and the kindness shown him by people he had never seen before, but ended his address by saying that there was something in Wales that could not be described, that had a magnetic, charming influence over him, and to the Welsh monoglot yea. duoglot there is something in the cadence of his native tongue, that gives him a superior delight in divine worship than he can have in any other speech, yet he is ready and willing to forsake this pleasure for the benefit of others, according to the teachings of Holy Writ.
Our unbiased conviction after a careful study of our churches is that Congregationalism would be unknown in one of the finest states of the union, were it not for the Welsh people, who came to work and develop its coal mines, build blast furnaces and iron industries: they brought their Bibles, Songs, Religion and Church polity with them from Wales: which had more of the Independent traits of the Pilgrim Fathers than was to he found in New England when they arrived here in great num- bers, but they gradually came to adopt the practices and usage of American Congregationalism. Even as early as the Gymanfa of 1843, we find them expressing their desire of becoming fam- iliar with Congregationalism in this country, so that they could cooperate with the English branch of the denomination in matters of importance, to this end they authorized their scribe to v/rite to the leading representatives at Boston, Mass., that they might receive the necessary instruction for this purpose. Since then and until now, we have been drawing closer each year so that by this time there is hardly any distinction between Welsh and American churches.
We rejoice over some pleasant coincidences that come to pass in the year that we decided to make an effort to perpetuate our
VI.
INTRODUCTION
history. In the first place it is the same year in which the Welsh Congregationalists of our native land made extensive arrange- ments throughout the principality, and in England, where Welsh churches exist, to hold services to commemorate and celebrate the centennary of the birth of Rev. Griffith John, D. D., of China, one of the outstanding Welsh Missionaries of the century, who spent sixty years of his long busy life in the land of Sinnim, in the cities of Shanghai and Hankow. He was born in Swansea, Glamorganshire, South Wales, commenced to preach at Ebenezer Congregational Church in the same town, educated at Brecon College, married one of the daughters of Rev. David Griffiths, the first missioner that went to Mada- gascar. When in failing health, brought on by hard labor and old age, he was brought home to London, placed in a nursing home, where he died shortly afterwards, and was buried at Sketty, near Sv/ansea, where he began to preach and was or- dained to be a missioner. The same year, 1931, was used by the Congregationalists of England and Wales to celebrate the hundredth year of their "Union of forces," having their annual meeting in the month of May in London, and the semi- annual in some city in the Province; Manchester was the select- ed city for the great meetings in 1931. Welsh people were prominent as speakers and officers in uniting the great forces of our denomination, which gave momentum to great movements that v.'^ere set on foot in the Providence of God, and which, we confidently believe have proved to be of a wonderful blessing to the human race, the church and Kingdom of God on both sides oi the Atlantic, and with some legitimate pride we undertake to trace in a modest way some lines of activities we have fol- lowed in the past century in the Keystone State. In the autumnal meetings of the above Union, there was one service held in v/hich two of the most distinguished servants of the denomination in London took part. The first was Rev. J. Morgan Gibbon having spent a long life serving an English church, though ordained in a Welsh church in Wales; the other being the Rev. H. El vet Lewis, M. A., who has ministered to English and Welsh churches for over fifty years, he selected as his theme "Welsh Congregationalism of the past century." He has been given the distinguished honor of being the Moderator of the Congregational Union of England and Wales for this year 1933. Our task in this volume is to relate the story of Welsh Congregationalism in Pennsylvania for the past century.
In one of the meetings Rev. R. P. Horton, D. D., spoke on "The things that remain," referring to Christ, Bible and Prayer.
vn,
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
During the past hundred years, men, manners and customs have changed many times over, and some are so thoroughly forgotten that their place know them no more, but these triads are more stable than the Druidical triads of old; they remain in the Christian church, and if there be anything more chracteristic in Welsh churches than others, we venture the statement, that these three will be acknowledged as the forces that have built the church and extended the kingdom more than any other among the Welsh people. The Bible and the Sabbath school, which has been pre-eminently a Bible School among the Welsh in the past, and the prayer meeting were the means whereby know- ledge, influence and experience were diffused in Welsh circles, — these united, were used to magnify Christ, the Son of the living God as the Savior among the people, and still remain as the leading traits of Religion in the nation; we think it is fitting to close this paragraph by quoting the pregnant words and senti- ments used by Doctor Miall Edwards in his introduction to a recent volume of sermons he has given to our people, "May the Welsh nation never be without a church, a pulpit and an altar as an anchorage for her life and conduct, and may Christ and the Bible dwell in her heart forever."
▼ui.
I.
The Congregationalists in Pennsylvania
THE first group of Congregationalists who arrived in this country, came over in the Mayflower from Plymouth, England, landing at Plymouth Rock on the bleak shores of Massachusetts December 11, 1620. They left their home land because of intolerance and persecution practised on all, who would not comply with the mandates of the Episcopacy of England, and were known at that time by several names such as Separatists, Brownists, Nonconformists, but the familiar name in Wales was Independents; later the denomination adopt- ed the suggestive title "Congregationalists." Judging from the names of the passengers, sailors and officers of the Mayflower, it is easy for us to conclude that there were sprinkling of Welsh among them, even, the Captain was a Jones, but we arc inter- ested in the Welsh that came here and made their homes in Pennsylvania almost forty years later than the arrival of the Mayflower.
Pennsylvania is one of the largest industrial and most cosmopolitan of the 48 states forming what is known all over the world as the United States of America. It has an area of 44,832 square miles, divided into 65 counties, and a population of 872,017, but our story has to do with the Welsh people in about ten counties, which are identified with churches and a denomination known as Congregational, prev- iously called Independents, the direct descendants of the Chris- tian church of Pilgrims, who landed at Plymouth Rock, Massa- chusetts. Though the Congregational Church polity is that of the first group of Christians that came over in the Mayflower, and later became the underlying polity of our great and prosper- ous country, it has not taken possession of its inhabitants as rapidly as several others. This is particularly true of Penn- sylvania, the Keystone State of the Union. The oldest Welsh Congregational church in our state is only 134 years, and it was the only one for many years, but it ought not to be, for Congregationalism was strong in Pennsylvania even in the seventeenth century. Before the Revolutionary War Congregational churches were numerous and flourishing in the Middle Colonies, but were scattered and closely allied v/ith the Presbyterians, in fact, many of the pastors were Pres- byterian ministers, and feeling the need of fellowship and hav- ing no general plan of organization, they joined the Prcsbyter-
1
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
ies. Presbyterians had both, and year by year that plan de- veloped itself and the Congregational Churches found them- selves a part of it. For the most part they accepted it without reluctance; but some rebelled and formed Congregational bod- ies, which however they called Presbyteries. The majority of those who formed the Presbytery in Philadelphia in 1706 were of this class.
The tide of emigration, after the Revolutionary War, that poured into New York and Pennsylvania was followed by the evangelizing efforts of New England missionaries. Congre- gational churches were planted everywhere; and in some in- stances were gathered into local societies. But these associations sustained friendly relations with the neighboring Presbyteries, and interchanged delegates under a system of fellowship that gave the delegates standing as honorary members of the body visited. Closer relations were gradually established until the associations were converted into Presbyteries. The issue be- tween these denominations seems to have been decided on the principle of the survival of the strongest. In the New England States where Congregationalism was thoroughly organized and was working out a definite plan of its own, it grew stronger and stronger; but where it was in a formative and dependent state, it yielded to the most positive ecclesiastical force in its neighborhood. In the Wyoming Valley and many other parts of the State, Puritan settlements abounded and Puritan institu- tions, including a large number of Congregational churches, were to be found. The old charter of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre seems to be a Congregational charter, as do many other churches that could be mentioned. To the early Congregationalists, evangelization was everything; the propagation of polity was nothing. With the Presbyterians, evangelization was to be done, but propagation of polity was not to be left undone. The Presbyterian took care of his polity; the Congregationalist left its polity to take care of itself; hence, under the plan of union, it became the privilege of Congrega- tional ministers to build up Presbyterianism. So that in Penn- sylvania outside of the Welsh churches, in the early part of the nineteenth century Congregationalism was hardly known or recognized.
II. The First Welsh Church in Pennsylvania
"EBENSBURG." THE FIRST AND OLDEST WELSH CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA
WE find that a Congregational church was organized at Hart- ford, Susquehanna Co., in 1800, and one in LeRaysville. Bradford Co., in 1803, but neither of the two has done anything toward establishing Churches of its own polity, but hac been satisfied to hold its own. Ebensburg Congregational church was the first and only Welsh church established in the Eighteenth Century having been organized April 29, 1797, and is not only the first Welsh church in Pennsylvania but in America in which all the people were Welsh, and all the services were in the vernacular, and with this church our interesting task begins. In order that we may lay hold intelligently on the threads with which we are going to weave our story, we must go back in our study to Philadelphia, the port at which Welsh and other nationalities landed in goodly numbers towards the end of the Seventeenth Century, to take part in the formation of this country in Colonial days; to watch the direction into which chance or providence led them. The Welsh people played a prominent and important part in the early history of Pennsylvania. A number of them came over with William Penn, and for the first fifteen or twenty years after the founding of Pennsylvania in 1682, the Welsh were the most numerous class of immigrants, and they have left many traces of them- selves for many miles around Philadelphia in the names of places. As descendants of the Ancient Britons, who had been driven into a corner of England by the Saxon and Norman invaders, they felt that they were still a separate people, and, like the Germans, they hoped to have a country of their own in Pennsylvania. Several attempts of this kind have been made since by sincere enthusiastic Welshmen in various parts of this new world, but every endeavor has proved a failure. In the time of William Penn they were assisted in retaining their language and customs by an agreement they made with him before they emigrated. He had promised them a tract of forty thousand acres, where they could have a little government of their ov/n, and live by themselves. When they began to arrive in 1682 the tract was surveyed for them West of Schuylkill River, and it included that beautiful stretch of country, which has now become very familiar to Philadelphians for its suburban
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
homes, along the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. This dis- trict was known as the Welsh Barony.
The first mayor of Philadelphia, Anthony Morris, was a Welshman, so was Thomas Lloyd (the son of Great Dolobran in the Parish of Meifod, Montgomeryshire, North Wales) the first Governor of the Colony from 1684 to 1689, and David Lloyd, the leader of the popular party in the Assembly, and afterwards Chief Justice. The first Welsh Book published in America was printed in Philadelphia in 1721, and was written by a Quaker preacher, Ellis Pugh. In 1730 a large folio Welsh Concordance of the Bible was published in Philadelphia, ten years after the death of its author, Abel Morgan, a Baptist clergyman. In the Revolution and more recent times, Welsh names such as Cadwalader, Meredith, Morris, Price, Jenkins, Lloyd, Williams, Mills, Jones, Morgan, are met in reading extracts from "Making of Pennsylvania" by Sydney George Fisher, B. A., the history of these periods. Townships such as Meiron, Haverford, Radnor, Newtown, Uwchland (higher ground) , Bala, Bryn Mawr, and other places could not be named but by Welsh people. Eli K. Price, Esquire, in writing of his ancestors, said that Phillip Price and his first wife settled in the Haverford township near where the Buck Tavern stood, and in 1697 (afterwards) resided on the old road of Lancaster, six miles from the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Samuel Jenkins, Esquire, states that his father, and others preached Welsh in the Old Welsh Baptist Church in the big valley, fifteen miles from Philadelphia, near the Great Western Road that went from Philadelphia to Pittsburg; and also in Penypeck or Penypark (the end of the park) ten miles to the North. Other historians state that two small congregations were existing at that time as early as 1710, one in the Welsh Tract, and the other in the Big Valley. Though the first tract of land given the Welsh around Philadelphia was attractive, rich and productive, it was not of sufficient area to meet the need of the Welsh; they were not content nor satisfied to remain within the narrow confines of their first Colony. Besides in the years 1794, 1795 and 1796 a large number of families emigrated from Wales to America, for the purpose of establishing a Welsh Colony similar to the one already built up, in some suitable, convenient place. They landed in Philadelphia, and among them were several clergymen of different denominations — Rev. Morgan Rees, a worthy educated Baptist minister, was one of the first to come over at this time, and as their leader he petitioned Congress to grant them a tract of land for this purpose, but failed to have
THE FIRST WELSH CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA
any favorable reply though he tried several times. All doors seemed to be closed against them, excepting those on the top of the Allegheny Mountains. They tarried for a year in and aiound Philadelphia, waiting for an opportunity to offer itself to them; while expecting from day to day some avenue to open for them. Mr. Rees gathered the Christians together in groups representing Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists and Congregation- alists, and conducted services and administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper unto them in July, 1796, for the first time, and in August of the same year Rev. Rees Lloyd, an ordained Congregational minister, did the same for them. Finally they decided to leave, though many of them remained and established homes for themselves in and around Philadelphia, some went North West to Utica and Steuben, others went to the Welsh Hills in Licking County in the vicinity of Newark and Gran- ville, and to the Banks of Miami and Paddy's Run, Ohio, and the group we are to follow, went to the places known as Ebens- burgh and Beulah, Pennsylvania; all these settlements were founded between 1796 and 1802.
Our group started West, and went from camp to camp as the Israelites did of old, until they reached the top of the Allc- ghenies and settled on the summit, as if Providence had planned that they should not rest until they would climb to the apex. It is strange to think that the opening up of the country west- v/ard and the making of the highways to the West was a con- tribution of the Welsh to the development of this country. The historian Fisher, in speaking of what is known as the Lancaster Turnpike says: "Begun by the footsteps of the first wandering Welshman, for a time, a trail in the woods, then a rough road leading to clearings, then a better road, improved here and there with logs, and afterwards with cobblestones, al- ways pointed westward to the Pacific, it grew and grew until it reached the Susquehanna, crossed it, and wound through the Alleghenies to Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), its terminus for many years. When the Pennsylvania Railroad was built, the engin- eer found they could make but little improvement on the Welsh- man's skill and they laid their tracks alongside of the roads already existing."
The group led by Rev. Rees Lloyd having finally reached the summit, 2300 feet above sea level, near the close of 1796, they decided to settle in and around where the town is now situated, while another group led by Rev. Morgan John Rhees, settled at Beulah, three miles from Ebensburgh, about the same time, and shortly afterwards founded a Baptist church there.
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
The tov/n Ebensburg was named so, on account of one or two reasons; the one and most likely to be the correct one is that the leader decided that it should be called after the name of the church (Ebenezer) at Pontypool, Monmouthsire, South Wales, in which he was ordained to the Christian ministry, we have seen it also suggested that the town was named after one of his children, but it seems quite natural to think that the son and the town were named in honor of Ebenezer church, and it may have probably some reference to that passage of Scripture, "Here I raise mine Ebenezer" (1 Sam. 7:12).
In April, 1797, the Congregational Church was organized v/ith a membership of twenty-four, eleven of whom had form- erly belonged to the Welsh Presbyterians, one by confession of faith, and the others were Congregationalists. Rev. Rees Lloyd having been ordained in Wales, was unanimously chosen to be the pastor of the newly formed church, and Mr. George Roberts, a brother of the older Rev. John Roberts of Llanbrynmair, North Wales, was chosen deacon. The church steadily increased in spite of all hindrances surrounding a new colony, and a new church. Those days were days of hardship and toil, but the ezirly pioneers struggled successfully with the difficulties of the situation, and as a result, the wilderness became to blossom as the rose. Their spiritual progress was commensurate with the material. The church covenant was not forgotten by its mem- bers, and the assembling of themselves together was not neg- lected. Though scattered over a wide area, without any roads, some at considerable distances from the place of meeting yet these sturdy Christian people, not forgetting the religious cus- toms of the land of their fathers, were faithful and regular in their attendance at the services of worship. The Lord's supper was administered once every four weeks, but on several occasions had to be postponed because no wine could be obtained. On every alternate Wednesday a 'Gyfeillach' (church meeting) was held, when they would gather together for praise and prayer, at which, members would speak of their religious experiences or expound and illustrate some Christian doctrine.
Mr. Lloyd usually preached twice on the Sabbath, and ac- cording to the best statistics obtainable, ten persons were re- ceived into the church by letter in 1801, and from that time to the end of the year 1 809, nineteen were received by letter, and tv^eny-nine by the right hand of fellowship. In the year 1 804 the Lord visited the Colony with a gracious revival, and the majority of those mentioned above as received by right hand of
THE FIRST WELSH CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA
fellowship were the fruits of that revival, and they, with few exceptions, were faithful to the end.
In 1805 George Roberts, the first deacon was invited to com- mence to preach, and in June, 1808, he and William Tibbott were ordained by their pastor, Rev. Rees Lloyd, and soon afterwards the church extended an invitation to the two to be- come his co-pastors. In the year 1822 Mr. Morris Jones came to Ebensburg from Wales, and joined the church by letter, and not long afterwards he was asked to preach for them, which he did. Then he went in 1823 for some time to a college in Pittsburg to qualify himself for this high calling. On the third of February, 1827, he was ordained to the ministry by Rev. George Roberts, and on April 7th in the same year, the church gave him a call to be co-pastor with Mr. Roberts, the Rev. Rees Lloyd having left them in the meantime to take charge of the Congregational church at Paddy's Run, Ohio. Between the years 1826 and 1834 the church experienced a general awaken- ing until they had a membership of over 200, all of them living within four or five miles to the town. At this time they built a fine brick edifice, forty feet square with a gallery on three sides of it, after the pattern of the churches in the home land, which cost them $1,400.00, and was paid for without any hardship, according to the agreements made with the builders.
We think our readers will cheerfully give us more liberty and space to enter into more details re this church than probably any other, because of it being the first church in the history of our denomination in our state.
The first meeting house was erected in 1797, where the Lloyd Cemetery now is, about one-half of a mile from the center of the town. It was built of logs, one story in height, and about twenty feet square. The roof was built of clapboards, which was also the ceiling, and in its entire construction, not a single nail was used. And we have no doubt that Ebenezer chapel was erected in the course of a day or two by those early settlers, gathering together in a body, and putting their united strength to the grand work. Here in this plain structure the earliest settlers met from Sabbath to Sabbath to worship God and tender thanksgiving. The second meeting house was also con- structed of logs in 1804, on the rear end of the present parson- age lot. For pews it had forms and benches with no backs; it had a box-like kind of a pulpit, and its appearance, as measured by modern standards, was in every respect extremely crude, but it was in spite of all, a place where many souls were blessed of God. After it had ceased to be used for purposes of worship,
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
it was removed about a square distance towards Center Street,
and was afterwards used as a stable.
The third building was erected on Sample Street in 1832, opposite the second meeting house. It was a brick building, two storied, with two doors in the center. The men entered on the right and the women on the left, and occupied respectively the east and west sides of the church. The pulpit was half round in shape, very high from the floor, with a door on the east side of it. If the preacher happened to be tall, one third of his body would be seen, but if he was short, his head only would be visible. A plain communion table was in front of the pulpit, made by D. H. Roberts, and is now in the possession of his family. The communion set consisted of two tin plates, two cups of the same metal, and a round bottle with a very long neck. There were galleries on three sides of the building, and it was lit with candles from the chandelier in the center of the church, and from two candlesticks on the pulpit, and from holders on the walls and posts. It was heated at first by a large ten plate wood stove, placed in the center of the church. Un- der this stove was a large square brick hearth. When coal be- gan to be used for fuel, the old stove had to give way, the brick hearth was taken out, and replaced with flooring and a new coal stove was placed on each side of the church, performing good service until the end came. At this time the old candle- sticks were dispensed with, and oil lamps were introduced, making what was considered at that time, a grand improvement in the lighting of the old church. This building is now re- ferred to as the Old Brick church. After removing into a new church in 1869, the old one was sold at auction to deacon Isaac Evans for $800.00, who erected out of the material a residence for himself, and a brick dwelling house on the yard in front of where the old church stood.
The fourth church building was erected in 1869. A sub- stantial brick building 50 by 80 feet, with a gallery in front over the vestibule. Pews were made of ash and walnut, win- dows of Gothic style; lit with lamps and a Bailey reflector, heated by two furnaces in the cellars. It was a large and com- fortable room, and was at the time of its erection, one of the finest churches in the county. It cost, including lot, fixtures and all appurtenances, $16,037.76.
The present church is the fourth remodelled; the walls are all that remain of the old. An organ recess is built in the rear, and a tower 86 feet high on the west front corner. The old gnllery is torn down, and a lecture room is made out of the old
8
THE FIRST WELSH CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA
vestibule, and above it a room for special meetings. The win- dows are all of opalescent glass and are memorial. The walls arc frescoed in olive and green tints, the pews are of the best quartered oak, and are cushioned with electric felt, with brown plush covering. The church throughout is lit by electricity. Besides this, a handsome pipe organ with about 800 speaking pipes, was donated to the church by Mr. D. E. Park and his sisters of Allegheny City. It was opened June, 1896, almost one hundred years since the first was built, and the difference between the two shows the progressive improvement of the material and social conditions of the Parish as well as the devel- opment of art and science in building structures.
The Sabbath School in this church was organized in 1819 during the ministry of Rev. S. George Roberts and William Tibbott. It has always been a useful and important adjunct of the church and men and women mighty in knowledge of Scriptures have been trained in it. Many profitable theological discussions have been carried on in its classes, and much helpful inspiration given to its scholars. It used to boast of a fair library. It has on its roll two hundred scholars, and holds its sessions every Sabbath afternoon. Two churches that of North and South Ebensburg were organized by members who belonged to the mother church, the former in 1830 and the latter in 1865.
The minister of the town church used to preach at the North every Sunday afternoon, and for years after the South church was organized it was taken care of by the pastor of the mother church, but later the two formed a distinct and independent pastorate. They have had for pastors, Rev. Daniel D. Thomas, J. Cadwallader, J. Gethin Thomas, R. P. Roberts, J. T. Griffiths, A. L. Rowe, James Jenkins, and many others at later dates. Both churches were at periods in flourishing conditions and doing good work, but the North church disbanded several years ago, and the members joined the Calvinistic Methodist Church. The church has also a handsome parsonage built in 1893 on a lot adjoining that of the church.
The South church still functions, and Rev. J. R. Thomas, M. A., pastor of the town church, is preaching for them every Sunday afternoon.
About 1857 there was erected about three miles and a half from town, on the farm of Hugh Tudor, a little church called Zoar, as a chapel-of-ease for the members who lived in that neighborhood. Prayer meetings were held there regularly and
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
preaching services occasionally. It was also used for day school purposes. As was customary in those days the pulpit was high, and the final punishment for all the incorrigibles was to put them in the pulpit and lock them in there. No threat brought so much terror into young mischievous breasts in that school as when the school master said: "Boy, if you don't behave yourself, I'll put you in the pulpit."
The church at Ebensburg has also sent out a number of their young men to preach the Word in various parts of the country, among them were Rev. Thomas Roberts, son of Rev. George Roberts, also Rev. Thomas Roberts, a grandson of his; Rev. Thomas Brookbank of Arizona; Rev. Richard J. Evans, who in company with his young wife, left Ebensburg after gradua- ting at Canonsburg, Penna., and being ordained to be a mission- ary to Washington Territory in 1859. He was very earnest and an eloquent speaker. In a short time after residing there he died of pulmonary trouble, and his remains are at rest at Olympia, the capital of that state.
Rev. Jesse Hill (son of Rev. George Hill) began to preach during the pastorate of his father. He was educated at Oberlin, and ordained at Rootsdown, Ohio, then moved to the Congre- gational Church at Waketown, Ohio; and afterwards succeeded Rev. Dr. Francis Clark, father of the Christian Endeavor Society of Portland, Maine. He was an eloquent preacher and died a comparatively young man. The church has been served by the following worthy ministers consecutively from the first in 1797 to the present time: Revs. Rces Lloyd, George Roberts, William Tibbott, Morris Jones, William D. Williams, John Howes, Llewellyn R. Powell, Thomas R. Jones, George Hill, R. Sir- howy Jones, J. Twyson Jones, and John R. Thomas, the present pastor, under whose leadership the church now is in a prosperous condition.
The church at Ebensburg has had a remarkable history for the permanency and length of its pastorate having had only twelve pastors in 134 years, an average of over eleven years for each pastorate. Since its organization streams of Evangelical Congregationalism have flowed from it, not only to Pennsyl- vania but to other States, and still the stream flows on, not in the Welsh language any longer but in English. English services began in a very imperfect way about 1850. From this time on services in the English tongue became more and more a necessity, by the Americanizing of the children through the lack of emi- gration from Wales, and during the pastorate of Rev. George Hill the church agreed harmoniously to have all the services
10
THE FIRST WELSH CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA
conducted in English. Since then, the church at Ebensburg to all intent and purposes has been and will be an English church, though hallowed recollections of the early God-fearing pioneers still cling to the minds of their descendants from generation to generation, and while the county, and the county seat and the homes of the neighborhood bear the names they have, the Welsh people will not be forgotten, and may the Book they read, the Gospel they preached, and the God they served and worshipped be held in reverence forever.
11
III. The Other Churches
In Alphabetical Order
ANTRIM, TIOGA COUNTY
This town is situated twenty miles north west of Bloss- burg and Morris Run, and about six or seven miles from Charleston. The Welsh came here to mine coal early in the seventies, and in November, 1874, they decided to organize a Congregational Church. Rev. Fred Teilo Evans, minister of the neighboring churches, assisted by Rev. John W. Pugh, who happened to be in the vicinity were the minsters that conducted the proceedings. Messrs. Morgan W. Jenkins and Evan Wil- liams, members of the group, were appointed and installed deacons of the new church. Its activities the following years are very uncertain. We failed to find its name in the records but once or twice. It must be one of the short lived churches of our order, it passed out without making a pronounced mark anywhere.
ARNOT, TIOGA COUNTY
A number of Welsh miners and their families came here in the beginning of 1877. They soon arranged to have re- ligious services in the neighborhood. Having had permission of the School Directors they met in the school house for several Sundays for Bible Study and Prayer Meetings, later they or- ganized a Congregational Church on the 25th day of February, 1877. Representatives from the churches at Blossburg and Morris Run were present to witness 22 people entering into a covenant with God and with one another to serve and worship Him, and to hold forth the Word of Truth in the vicinity. Mr. Thomas R. Jenkins, who had been a deacon in Wales and later at Morris Run, was chosen deacon of the new church, and Mr. Thomas T. Howells, Secretary.
In the afternoon of the Sabbath, Rev. David Talog Wil- liams, Oberlin Seminary, preached in English, and in the even- ing Rev. Fred Teilo Evans preached in Welsh. The progress and permanency of churches in this district depended on em- ployment offered the men at the mines; the seams of coal being thin and limited were exhausted in a few years, then the people had to move to other districts and churches then would natur- ally die out. This was the destiny of several churches in this county. We know of only one minister that was pastor here,
12
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
Rev. R. J. Rees, who came later to Puritan Church, Providence, and retired after serving another English Church, Bethesda, Edwardsville, for a number of years; but the church at Arnot had become English when Mr. Rees ministered unto them.
ASHLAND. SCHUYKILL CO.
This is a mining town some two miles North West of Tamaqua on the Reading Railroad. It entirely depends on the coal industry, the Welsh came here in the fifties, and a Congre- gational Church was organized on June 3, 1855. The ministers who officiated on the occasion were Revs. R. R. Wil- liams, J. E. Jones, both from Minersville; J. Edv/ards, Monu- ment Savige, and Evan Davies, a recent arrival from Onllwyn, Glamorganshire, South Wales. They met in a school house, the first service was held at ten in the morning. Rev. J. E. Jones leading in the devotions; Rev. Evan Davies preached an appropriate sermon for the occasion, and Rev. R. R. Williams spoke on the New Testament Church and its principles. Then 37 letters of recommendation were read from different churches, localities, and countries, who entered into a covenant with their God and one another to serve and worship Him according to the light given them. Rev. J. Edwards implored the blessing of Almighty God on the Union formed. In the afternoon an address was given on the diaconate, and three brethren were chosen to serve in the office, namely, Rees Davies, Phillip Peregrine and William Thomas. In the evening at 6 P. M., a charge was delivered the deacons; two persons were added to their number by confession of faith, and all joined in the celebration of the Lord's Supper to close the day. In the fol- lowing years, several ministers labored, among them to wit, John Edwards, who moved to Johnstown in 1857; William Rees and Rev. Thomas Pugh of Pottsville, preached here for some time. Rev. W. B. Williams, trained at Yale, accepted a call, came here in June and was ordained August 14, 15, 1869. Officiating ministers were T. D. Davies, David Roberts (Dewi Ogwen) Wales; J. B. Cook, Tafalaw, and others taking minor parts. Though respected and well spoken of, he left for the West in 1870. The last we have any record of his service was Rev. David Weeks, who came to this country from Rhondda Valley, South Wales. The condition of the coal mines caused many to move away which interfered with its progress, and it gradually grew weaker and passed into history many years ago.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
AUDENRIED
This town is in the County of Carbon and has large coal mines surrounding it. It lies between Mahanoy and Hazelton. Mines were opened here early in the sixties, but in 1858 the first religious service was held in the neighborhood. Welsh people came here, when the mines were started, but only a few v/ere religiously inclined. Prayer meetings and a Sabbath School were held in the homes of the people from time to time, before a church was organized. Many of them walked from Dutchtown and the vicinity through all kinds of weather, and under very unfavorable circumstances. The population gradu- ally increased, and with them the Welsh people, so that they felt in 1864 that the time had arrived when they should have regular services, though there were only nine church members among them, yet with the cooperation of the people that desired religious privileges and the ministers of the district, they suc- ceeded on the 4th of June, 1865, to organize a church with the help of Rev. M. D. Morgan, Beaver Meadow. The communi- cants at the time were only ten, but soon after the formation of the church they felt they should have a minister, and they agreed to call Rev. M. D. Morgan in November, 1865; he ac- cepted the invitation but was not allowed to labor long with the young church at Audenried, because on the 20th of March, 1866, he was called to his eternal home. The handful per- severed to keep the little church open, and they had evident signs of God's favor in blessing their sacrifices and sincere efforts. In justice to this church and other denominations we should state that the membership v/as made of many besides Congregation- alists. In the beginning of 1868 the Baptist friends who were afliliated with them felt that they were numerically strong enough to branch out to organize a church of their own order, so they did, which diminished the membership of the original church. During the year 1866 several united with the church by letters and on profession of faith. In September, 1866, ten Of the members left to start a new church in Jeansville. All of this happened while the church at Audenried had no regular minister. On the 7th of April, 1867, they invited Rev. H. C. Karris, Shenandoah, to take charge of them as a minister, and he commenced his ministry soon afterwards, when the membership was only 18. During the year the church prospered, many were admitted by letters and on profession of faith. Some of the members were living in Silver Brook, a small place between Summit Station and Audenried, on the road between Audenried and Tamaqua. Sometime during 1867 a branch of this church
14
HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
was organized at Silver Brook, but her existence was brief, be- cause of industrial conditions, the majority of the Welsh moved avray from the district that the Silver Brook branch became ex- tinct. March 29, 1868, Rev. H. C. Harris gave notice that he would sever his connection with the church as their pastor on the 24th of May, 1868, to take charge of the church at Charleston, Tioga County. The church since its organization until now had been worshipping in a school house owned by the township and in a building known as "The Army House." The School Board decided to erect a new School House, and to sell the old one, which was purchased by the Congregational Church for $450.00. In order to make it comfortable and pleasant to worship in, they went at it to repair, renovate, and equip it with the necessary furniture which cost them $1,000. On the 8th of August, 1869, the old renovated school house was opened and dedicated to the worship of God by the Con- gregational church of Audenried. The preacher on the occasion was Rev. D. T. Davies, Minersville. About this time an attempt was made to unite the three churches of Beaver Mead- ows, Jeansville, and Audendried under one pastorate in order to secure a minister to look after them and preach in the three churches, but the attempt proved futile. It is not within our province to seek the reason why, but we may be tolerated to express our sorrow that such a worthy attempt came to naught as many other noble endeavors of the kind before and after.
The church at Audenried decided to call the Rev. D. T. Davies, Minersville, which he was led to answer in the negative. Soon after, the Rev. D. A. Evans, who was then a student at Yale, was asked to visit the neighborhood and preach for them in December, 1869, and on the 3rd of January, 1870, he was invited to become their pastor. Mr. Evans accepted and com- menced his labors in May, 1870. He was ordained on the 19th of June, 1870, when the following ministers took part in the service: Morris Roberts, Remsen, New York; D. T. Davies, Minersville; E. B. Evans, Hyde Park; W. B. Williams, Ash- land; W. G. Harrison, Beaver Meadow, and A. D. Darnelle (Pres.). The membership then was 49. In February, 1874, Mr. Evans gave notice that he would leave May, 1874, to be- come pastor of the church at Drifton, and later went to Ashton known as Lansford. During the four years he was here, no great excitement v/as felt, but his efforts were marked by con- siderable success. Thirty-nine people were received during his ministry. The church numbered 75 when he left, eight hun- dred dollars of debt paid besides paying for other necessary im-
15
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
provements, A j&ne parsonage was built for the minister on the same lot as the church. The organization suffered considerably because of the unsettled condition of the inhabitants; they could not buy land to build homes for themselves in the neigh- borhood; consequently they moved to somewhere else so that the population was frequently changing. The mines and wages earned were as good as any place in the county, but because of the fluctuations referred to, and the morals and conduct of undesirable elements Audenried gained a reputation of being a dangerous and an unwholesome place to live in; this kept good and religious people from the town, but in spite of these un- favorable conditions the church for many years held its own and its fellowship was pleasant and inspiring. During the past forty years a number of fine families have been interested in the welfare of the church and community, but with all their efforts and sacrifices they have been unable to make any positive en- during progress. It has been a kind of a tug of war game, sometimes gaining and sometimes slipping. All through the years they have been as loyal as could be expected to the Gymanfa and denomination considering their number and isol- ated position. Many brethren have been ministering to them during the past twenty years, the last that remained with them for a reasonable season was Rev. James Jenkins, which was his last charge before he retired from active ministerial duties.
On April 9, 1876, Rev. John E. Jones, from Oak Hill, Ohio, commenced his ministry here, and tarried with them until 1882, when he left for Long Creek, Iowa.
BANGOR
Bangor and Wind Gap, Northampton County, are two towns, situated in the slate quarries district of our state. There have been periods when there was a lively market for slate for various purposes, and the Welsh people employed fairly regular in preparing such to meet the demand, then these two towns would be prosperous, and the various churches in a flourishing condition, for as a rule the inhabitants are such that have a desire for the sanctuary and religious services. The former have as many as thirteen edifices for public worship, three of them Welsh, representing Congregationalists, Welsh Pres- byterians, and one of the few Welsh Wcsleyan churches that are in the country.
The Congregationalists commenced to hold services in 1872 in a school house where now stands the lumber yard. The ser- vices consisted of a Bible school, prayer and class or testimony
16
HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
meetings, and an occasional preaching service when Rev. J. R. Jenkins, Dover, New Jersey, would come to visit them. The Rev. John Williams, West Bangor, was invited to spend several Sundays with them, and was finally called to be their first pastor. He came to them and was installed towards the end of 1872. In 1873 they built a place of worship and called it Bethel. The temple was dedicated with fitting services when the leading pastors of the denomination took part. Rev. John Williams, after sixteen years of faithful service, retired, honored and respected by all the church and townspeople, having ad- vanced in years he remained a resident of Bangor until he was called to his reward February 4, 1897. After him came Rev. E. R. Hughes from Nanticoke, who left for New York State in about a year's time. In rotation came Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, 1893-1895; Rev. J. Jeffrey Evans, 1895-1898; Rev. Ifor Thomas was called in 1900, and labored here for sixteen years. Notice will be made of him and his labors elsewhere. In 1919 Rev. Abram Jones was called from Plainfield, New York State, and served till he died in 1926. The two churches, Ban- gor and Wind Gap, did all they could for him and his family while he was sick, and respected him in his death and placed a very creditable tombstone over his grave in Bangor. His widow and boys are still residing in Bangor. The present minister is Rev. J. S. Ellis; he came to them in response to a call extended him on the recommendation of some of the Welsh Congrega- tional leaders in Wales. He came to Bangor and Wind Gap in 1927, and is still faithful to his charge. Further details will be found among the biographical notes.
WIND GAP
Wind Gap is a small town situated as Bangor is in a slate quarry zone of Pennsylvania, and the Congregational church here is attended and maintained by quarry men, their families and dependents. The members here were originally connected with the church at Bethel, Bangor, and attended services there, but in 1890 and 1891 they felt that they should have a church at Wind Gap for their convenience, and for the extension of the Kingdom of God. The church was named Salem and organized on October 4th, 1891, by the Rev. E. R. Hughes, pastor of Bethel, Bangor, assisted by Hugh W. Thomas and David Roberts of the same church with about 60 Welsh people of Wind Gap.
Morris M. Thomas and Richard H. Williams were elected deacons; Humphrey Davies, Sr., secretary; Mrs. Catherine
17
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Hughes, treasurer, and Thomas J. Peters, chorister. The church building erected during 1897-1898, was dedicated in April of 1898 with proper services, in which the following took part: Rev. and Mrs. J. Jeffrey Evans, Bangor; Rev. D. P. Jones, and R. S. Jones, D. D., of Scranton, and Rev. W. Davies of Slatington. At 2 P. M. Sunday afternoon the corner-stone was laid; this pleasing task was given to Mrs. J. Jeffrey Evans, in which she was assisted by Contractor Mill Hone, and was followed by Scripture reading, and addresses delivered by Mrs. Evans, Revs. D. P. Jones and Dr. R. S. Jones. Leading to the ceremony of laying the stone Scripture was read and prayer offered by Rev. J. J. Evans, a sermon preached in Welsh by Rev. W. Davies, and Thomas J. Peters gave the history of the church from its beginning in 1891 up to that time when its membership numbered 46. Whilst singing and praising God, a great many came forward and placed an offering on the stone, which when counted amounted to a goodly sum. The even- ing devotions were conducted by Mrs. Evans; the messages were dehvered by Revs. D. P. Jones and Dr. R. S. Jones, after which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed.
In 1922 the church building was raised, remodelled and made much more convenient and pleasant than the original; it was rededicated in February, 1923. This church since its or- ganization has been ministered unto by the same pastors as that of Bethel, Bangor, and for some years past they have enjoyed equal share of their labors, so that it is unnecessary to repeat names and dates.
BANGOR (WEST)
In the history of the Welsh people, this place has had sev- eral names besides the above, among them it was known as Delta and Peach Bottom. It lies on the southerly side of Susquehanna, close to the border line of Maryland, 50 miles from Baltimore and 70 from Philadelphia. The district around for the most part is agricultural, having rich productive soil, is noted even this day for its peach trees, which accounts for one of its names. Later in its history slate was discovered in the hills, and quarries were opened by Welsh people, so that it became a strong Welsh settlement numbering about 600. Three Welsh churches were organized in the town, but the Wesleyan church, that is the M. E. lasted but for a short period. Several preachers labored among them from time to time. In the Congregational fold we find Rev. John Williams, who stayed here for a short period, then later moved to Bangor, North-
18
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
ampton County, Penna., when Rev. John Cadwalader came here in 1893, and remained several year*, others followed him, but in 1901 the minister, Rev. H. W. Jones, and the church were given, at their own request, transfer letters to join the "Washington Association of Congregational churches for conven- ience sake. But because of the unstable condition of the Slate industry, the Welsh moved away to other districts, which de- veloped a serious problem to maintain two churches, the Cal- vinistic and Congregational ones. The Congregational
church had built a fine convenient structure on the Main Street, but the loyal faithful supporters and attendants became fewer year after year that the remnant decided it best to answer all purposes to discontinue their services, and unite with the Cal- vinistic Methodist Church so the residue of the Congregational Church found themselves there, and were sincerely welcomed. The property was sold to the Federal authorities, and is now used as the Post Office of the district.
BEAVER MEADOW
The church building known by this name stood half-way between Beaver Meadows and Jeansville near the railroad. The common name for this district is Colerain, and here for the most part the Welsh have been accustomed to live since they came to this part of the country. It appears that the first Welsh people that settled here were Benjamin Daniel (who was later the foreman in the coal mines) , John Eynon, Morgan Price, Edward Herbert, and several others in 1837. Though we have no dates to go by, we are led to believe according to the custom of the Welsh in every place, that a Sunday School was organized on their arrival, and was kept in the house of Benjamin Daniel, and about the same time they commenced to worship in the old school house, which after this was converted into a dwelling. In 1838 the first church was organized according to the order of the Presbyterians by Rev. Jenkin Jen- kins, Dundaff, but soon after Rev. Lewis Williams, Carbondale, came to work here, and at the same time a number of Welsh families, who were religiously inclmed, came to live here, and all had a very happy flourishing period under his ministry, but when the mines at Carbondale were started anew, he returned there to his own and to his people. In 1 841 Rev. R. R. Williams, Virginia, was called to the charge, which he accepted, and soon settled in their midst. Everything went well in the church and in the mines, until the summer of 1843, when there appeared signs of a storm brewing, and in the fall of the same year it
19
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
broke out in great fury in the mines. In the first place, it meant dismissing the old bosses and the placing of others, of another nationality, in their stead. These changes went directly against the Welsh; in the second place, it meant a reduction of ten cents on each car of coal, and the miners were commanded . to sign an agreement that no one was to ask for his wages, but were to leave all to the mercy of the operators. These arbitrary conditions caused a stampede among the Welsh — they went here and there to the neighboring settlements to look for work, and in the crises the church died. About three months prior to this juncture the Rev. R. R. Williams had resigned to go to Yale University for a course of learning. This situation did not last long, because we find that the owners of the mines in the Spring of 1844 sent for the Welsh to return to the mines and their homes. Many of them accepted the invitation and returned, but there was not one church member among them. This was a great disappointment to the owners, because they counted on having the best religious men to return, and sent especially for Jonah Rees and Jenkin Reynolds to come back, and they were the first two to come there the second time.
In 1844, they reorganized the Sunday School and fifty were present on the first Sunday, and it functioned for many years. The following Sabbath they kept a prayer and praise service, and the church members in two or three months totaled thirty. When the Welsh were scattered in 1843 the Presbyterian church died; the second church formed was Congregational, though some of the members struggled hard to resurrect the Presbyterian one. Rev. Lewis Williams, Carbondale, was the person that organized the second church, and it appears that he arranged that Jonah Rees should be the deacon. When this church was formed it had a membership of from thirty-five to forty.
They continued just about the same, until the fall of 1845, when Mr. Daniel Daniels from Carbondale came to them, he had been a local preacher for some years previous, and in 1847 he was ordained to the ministry as their pastor, and remained with them for four years. During his time the first edifice was built, and the church increased to 100 members, his labors proved a wonderful blessing to the church and community. After Mr. Daniels left for Dundafi^, a Mr. Daniel Rees from Ystalyfera, Glamorganshire, South Wales, was ordained, and worked diligently with them for four years, and died in the midst of his usefulness. Then followed him, Rev. Griffith Samuel sharing his services between this church and Slatington.
20
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
His stay was short, when Rev. Phillip Peregrine came and soon left; his successor was Rev. W. H. Harrison, who came here from Bethel Church, Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales, and after spending some months at Yale, Conn., he was ordained November 20 and 21, 1869, pastor of Jeansyille, and this church. Ministers that took part in his ordination were D. E. Evans, Plymouth; E. B. Evans, Scranton; T. G. Jones, Lans- ford, and J. B. Cook, Danville.
Since 1875 Rev. D. A. Evans of Lansford, and Rev. D. Todd Jones of Shenandoah, preached alternately for them every other Sunday. The services were conducted half Welsh and half English, which materially increased the attendance, but in spite of all efforts made by clergy and laity of the district and period, this old church past eventually into history.
BLOSSBURG, TIOGA COUNTY
Blossburg is a small town situated about forty miles south- west of Corning in Tioga County.
A Congregational Church was organized here in the year 1840 by the P.ev. E. B. Evans, Pottsville. The first preacher to be ordained here was Rev. David Lewis, who also had charge of the church at Charleston. We are unable to give any details of his ordination nor the length and character of his ministry. His successors were: Rev. John Davies, Rev. Parry, Rev. Evan Davies, originally from Onllwyn, South Wales, who stayed here for two years, and then went to Tynrhos, Ohio, in 1857, and Rev. Phillip Peregrine. The latter remained here for a number of years, and was very successful. During his time a Congregational Church was formed at Morris Run. Eventually he deemed it wise to seek a milder climate for the sake of Mrs. Peregrine's health, so he left for Minnesota with the best wishes of the people following him. Some friends who knew Rev. Fred Teilo Evans, Adulam, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, suggested his name to the church, and they soon unanimously decided to send him an invitation to become the pastor of Blossburg and Morris Run churches. He accepted and reached Blossburg October 18th, 1869. Early under his ministry a new church building was dedicated October, 1870. Pastors officiating were Rev. E. B. Evans, Hyde Park; Rev. Harvey Tomkins, M. E., and Rev. Reynolds, Baptist.
BRADY'S BEND Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, is situated on the banks
21
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
of the Alleghenny river, sixty miles north of Pittsburg, not far from Venango County, a great oil region.
A Congregational Church was organized here in the year 1841. The pastors that served on the occasion were the Revs. Thomas Edwards (Congregational) and William Morgan (C. M.) Pittsburg. Though the church was Independent and Congregational in its form, it was understood that Calvinistic Methodists were welcomed to all its privileges until they would build an edifice of their own. The membership was 29 when incorporated, three were added to them at the close of the ser- vices and eight joined them the following week. Rev, David Jones, who later became the pastor of the church at Arena, Wisconsin, was their's at this time. He was gentle and kind, but for some reasons his stay at Brady's Bend was very brief. They soon erected a fine sanctuary, and invited Mr. David R. Davies to be their minister, he accepted, and was ordained their pastor June 18th, 1843. The ministers that officiated in his ordination service were Revs. Thomas Edwards, J. Williams, Indiana County, assisted by Revs. D. Probert (B.) , George Venable (W.), H. Powell (C. M.), and T. Thomas. The report given by the church clerk of the meetings was to the effect, that the congregations were large, manifesting a deep feeling, indicating that God's Spirit was blessing the messages; that eleven were added to the church at the close of the services. Rev. D. R. Davies continued with them for many years, loved and highly respected to the end. Owing to the Welsh leaving for other centers where they secured better work and wages, the settlement as Welsh, did not last very long, though in its thriv- ing period many pastors of the several denominations labored successfully in the district.
BROAD TOP, HUNTINGTON COUNTY
A number of Welsh people were here at one time, they had a small building and a church, and Rev. Daniel D. Thomas, a Congregationalist, ministered unto them from December, 1862, till he left for St. Clair in 1864. Many Welsh were working and trading here, but on account of strikes, the industries were closed and the people moved away, and several years later we find Rev. Mr. Thomas, the pastor, having charge of the two churches at North and South Ebensburg, Cambria County.
CARBONDALE, TIOGA COUNTY The first Welsh Sermon preached in this place was in the home of Mr. D. R. Williams, by the Rev. John Irlwyn
22
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
Hughes in June, 1873. Mr. William W. Williams, a brother of D. R. Williams, who was an official of the com- pany that had opened coal mines here October 16th, 1872, was given permission to favor religious people, when they came to seek employment, so that they were able, commencing in June of the following year, to hold religious services every Sunday throughout the year. Rev. William Benger of the Methodist Episcopal Church preached for them, and a bilingual Sunciay School was also held in the woods during the summer, which was continued in the school house as soon as it was built. In the early days of 1874, a number of Welsh religious families came to the place, when Welsh services were regularly held there, and on the 28th of June in the same year a church was organized, when the following ministers officiated: — Revs. Fred Teilo Evans, Blossburg, and Samuel A. Williams, Brad- ford. The membership at the end of 1874 was 34 and at the close of 1878 it was 75, but the existence of this church con- tinued but for a brief period, because the supply of coal was exhausted and miners had to leave for other places.
CARBONDALE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The meaning of Carbondale is the valley of coal or carbon, and it's a very appropriate name for this town, because it suggests its wealth and distinctive feature. A gentleman from Philadelphia bought this coal land and gave it its name. In 1824 a man by the name of Maurice Wurtz came here to mine coal. He had to have material and tools to make a home, as well as tools to work with, so he sent a wagon load ahead of him, with instructions printed in bold letters on it, "Carbon- dale, 143 miles from Philadelphia, on the Lackawanna River, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. After the driver and his load had traveled several days he began to enquire about the place, he found no one who could tell him anything about it, but when within four miles of it, a man by the name of Yarrington, told him that some men had been searching for coal by the river-side somewhere about four miles from his place. Although almost discouraged, the driver went along and discovered the spot and unloaded his cargo of tools and material under some hemlock trees, and from that day until now the place has been known as Carbondale, the dale of carbon or coal. Coal gave birth to this city and to many others in the Anthracite region. This pretty spot was once a forest of spruce and hemlock, with no roads of any description. The people had to forge their way through a forest from place to place. The only means of send-
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
ing coal to market in those days was to haul it sixteen miles over a mountain one thousand feet above sea level to Hones- dale, then by canal one hundred and eight miles to the Hudson River, and this was the only way for emigrants to reach this rich dale. We remember some of the old pioneers relating the way they came from Wales to this spot; it was by sailing vessel from Liverpool to New York, spending six weeks on the voy- age, then six days by canal boat, ending the journey in coal c?rs from Honesdale to Carbondale. At present the voyage can be accomplished with comfort in six days and less, and in less than six hours from New York to Carbondale. Even as late as 1856, the only means of travel between cities in these valleys was by stage or coach. In those days there were great pedestrians in the country. The Rev. Lewis Williams in a letter written by him in July, 1877, referred to the former days and said there were but few advantages to travel in those days, no railroad, steam nor electric. The feet of them that brought good tidings that published peace and salvation to the people were veritably seen on the mountains in those days, whether they were beautiful or not. To proclaim their messages they were obliged to travel on foot over mountains and valleys and through woods and forests wild. Rev. E. B. Evans, of Hyde Park and Pottsville, and Rev. Lewis Williams, of Carbondale, travelled many times together over the mountains between Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Pottsville. All ministers of that period were good walkers, but according to the general opinion, Mr. Evans eclipsed them all. It is said of him that he walked fifteen and twenty miles on Sunday to preach to three, four and even five congregations: once, to return home from one of the association meetings, he walked through the vast unbroken for- ests between Pittsburg and Pottsville, a distance of about 350 m.iles, leaving Pittsburg Monday morning, and arriving home in Pottsville by supper time Friday evening. Carbondale at that time was a small, insignificant village. The houses were cheaply constructed, and, having no cellars, in dense woods, were often troubled with reptiles of all descriptions. In 1830 about twenty Welsh families came here. Soon after, the own- ers of the land and the coal authorities sent a man by the name of John Thomas, a local preacher, representing the Congrega- tionalists, back to his native land, Godre'rhos, Glamorganshire, South Wales, to advise and encourage miners to come and work for them. A certain Benjamin Davies, also a local preacher, hed a desire to visit Wales, and the coal operators authorized him also to persuade miners to come over. The result of
24
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
these visits, their mission, and influence, and letters to friends and relatives, was that a large influx of Welsh emigrated here. In 1831 the population was between two and three hundred, composed of Irish, Scotch, German, Americans and Welsh. The first religious service held by the Welsh in Carbon- dale was at the home of John Bowen. It can be truthfully said to the credit of the Welsh people of former days that when a number of them would gather together in a strange land and country, the first thing that would suggest itself to them would be the organizing of a Sunday School and a prayer meeting. Then they would invite preachers to pay them visits, and would select one of their number to take the part of a preacher for them. Thus the handful of Welsh people came together to the house of Shon Bowen to start their religious services in Carbondale, and it was in this house that the Rev. Lewis Wil- liams preached his first sermon in America. The people who met here were Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Independ- ents (as the Congregationalists were then known) . This was in the year 1831. After organizing, they hired a room for their meeting house, but this room very soon became too small for them, so they decided to build a church. Representatives were asked to visit the officials of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company to ask for a lot on which to build a church. They were awarded a desirable lot for $1.00, to be the property of the Congregationalists, and on it they erected a building 20x26 ft. It was a crude structure, it was not plastered, it had no pulpit, and the seats were merely plain benches with no backs, and the ceiling was of a curved style. This took place in 1833, and two years later it was plastered and more comfortable pews were installed and a high pulpit was added to it. It was en- larged some time later, but the second one became too small, and in 1847 they built the church as it stands today, which has since been improved and painted several times. It seemed a very large edifice in those days, but it was well filled until the Welsh began to move and settle in other centers of the valley. The pastor and his people labored hard and travelled far to solicit funds to pay the debt. This worthy minister of the first church of our order in this valley will be referred to when we come to his biography.
We will take a little more space regarding this church, be- cause of its having been the first and oldest in this district. To mention briefly the co-workers of the ministers: The first deacons were Daniel Price and Thomas Evans; then came Thomas Richards, John Lewis, Samuel Jones and William
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Williams. Interested in the Sabbath School were Thomas and John Rees, William Jones (Gwilym o Fon) and Henry Lawr- ence, the father of the late Mrs. William Connell, who was the mother of the large family of Connells in the city of Scranton. The leader of the singing was the aforesaid deacon, Thomas Evans. This brother, it appears, was the handy man of the church. He was ready to do almost everything in and around the church. He was a deacon, would lead the singing, and act the part of a janitor and lamplighter, or rather, the trimmer of candles; a sister still living told me that in her childhood days she used to watch the men going around the church to revive the candles that were stuck in candlesticks around the wall, and brother Evans was an expert at this, as well as being a good precentor. After Thomas Evans had grown too old to lead the singing, Thomas Richards was selected, then followed Thomas Eynon and William Hughes, working together as harmonious- ly as we could expect two rivals in this part of the Lord's vine- yard to be; sometimes they disagreed, and were tempted by what is known among the Welsh as the evil spirit of singing to foster the disagreement for a season, but would finally come together and peace would reign supreme.
In the earlier days of this church there were as many as six local preachers members at the same time. The first, and prob- ably the greatest among them, was Daniel Daniels; afterwards, the able minister of Dundaff; then B. Bowen, John Davies, E. Jones, J. Powell and R. Williams. Besides these there were mighty men and women in this church who had a knowledge of Scripture, filled with religious fervor and enthusiasm, burst- ing out in praise and response in preaching and prayer services. Their faces aglow was a sure indication of their inward joy, and listening to their ejaculations, fervent Amens and Hosannas was enough to inspire any preacher to have the power of Peter at the Pentecost. Of such was John Jenkins (Shon Siencyn) the father of Mrs. E. R. Lewis, Scranton, and Mrs. Roberts, of Pittston. He was well versed in Scripture, and had a very clear conception of the theology of his age. Some of his acquain- tances considered him an authority on all religious and theo- logical doctrines. Another pillar of that period was Thomas Richards, the father-in-law of the late Hon. Judge H. M. Edwards, of Scranton. He was a strong man in all essentials pertaining to religious services, shrewd critic and one of the keenest listeners in the congregation. A stranger looking at him sitting in the corner of the seat in a stooped manner would imagine that he was not interested in what was going on, which
26
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
was a serious mistake. In his quiet way he watched and listened intently, and in his own mind weighed and measured and com- pared the statements the preacher made with the teaching of the Bible, and in due time would make proper use of all he heard. All were delighted to hear him oft-times relating the history of former years.
One of the most eccentric characters of this church in its early history was William Maxey. Everyone who knew something of this church knew about William Maxey. He was always fervent in spirit serving the Lord. He electrified pastor and people many times in the service, and while not possessing a great amount of knowledge, he was endowed with an abun- dance of common sense, and stood alone in his readiness to respond to what appealed to him in the sermons of ministers and the testimony and prayers of his brethren and sisters. He approved heartily of the truth that was spoken, as he under- stood it, and could, by silence and gestures, disapprove of what he thought was not important nor correct. He was one of the brethren who was zealous, and even jealous of the orthodoxy of the pulpit. If a prayer or sermon touched him, he could not refrain from expressing his approval by his spontaneous, fer- vent "Amen," and "Diolch Iddo," and if he were not pleased, he could be as dumb as a clam.
Another of the pioneers worthy of mention is David Lewis. He came to Carbondale in 1833, and died in 1854. A short biographical note is made of him in the "American Messenger," a Welsh periodical of power, published and edited by Dr. Everett for many years. The writer says that there were in David Lewis many noble traits; he was powerful in prayer, a defender and advocate of all that was good and virtuous. He made a special study of theology. His delight was to study God's word, and matters pertaining to His Spiritual Kingdom. He was a faithful worker in the vineyard, and devoted himself, after his conversion, body and soul to the service of the Mas- ter. He burned with zeal for the glory of God. He died in peace and his soul entered into joy.
The church held preaching service at 10 o'clock A. M. and at 6 o'clock P. M., and Bible study at 2 P. M. Prayer meet- ings and Society (a meeting for testimonies) on Thursdays and Tuesdays in the evening. Prayer meetings were frequent be- cause the pastor had such a large parish, and was allowed to go to minister unto the saints in many places. The number of strong men and women who were members of the church made the services interesting and profitable, though the minister was
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
absent for a week at a time. They had glorious services in very inferior temples, while we feel that it is almost "Gilboa" with us even with the most beautiful temples and the most perfect machinery.
It is no wonder that the people were adepts in Biblical know- ledge when we read the printed records of the Sabbath School. We find frequent notices in the "Messenger" of the work of this School in the forties and fifties. Thomas Rees and William Jones (Gwilym o Fon) contributed interesting accounts per- iodically to this magazine. Take the following as an example ot many other similar reports: — In the issue of June, 1842, Thomas Rees writes and gives this account: "Superintendent 1, Secretary 1, Teachers 11, Scholars from 70 to 80." From June, 1841, to June, 1842, 1623 chapters and 15,246 verses were recited. The ten commandments were repeated orally every Sunday, each class doing it in its turn. Scholars at that time knew the Scriptures and could quote and apply them with aptitude in their prayers and testimonies. Between the years of 1870 and 1874, during the ministry of Rev. B. I. Evans the school adopted the plan in vogue in the agricultural dis- tricts of Wales, that is, of selecting a chapter and reciting it in consort, or dividing it in so many parts as there would be classes in the school willing to take part: then the minister would ex- amine them by asking questions publicly, and some one would venture to give a reply to every query. This was done once a month, or once in three months. This practice increased the interest of the scholars and certainly added to their knowledge of Scripture.
During the past hundred years the history of this church has been like the history of many a human life. It has had its sunshine and shadows, its weal and woe, its flowing and ebb- ing tides. It had its mounts of joy and transfiguration, and its valleys of trials and agony. Like the handful of corn that the prophet saw in the earth on top of the mountain, growing and increasing until its fruit was like that of Lebanon (Psalm 72, verse 16) so the handful of people cast into the forest in the upper end of Lackawanna valley became a mighty force. The hills were covered with the shadow of this church, and her members were like the boughs of the goodly cedars, or the cedars of God. "She sent out her boughs unto the sea and her branches unto the river," though she has been since then but a smoking flax. In proof of this it is stated by the Rev. Lewis Williams that at one time the church numbered 320, and about the same number of scholars were attending the Sabbath School.
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
The church was in a flourishing condition for a period during the ministry of Mr. Evans, yet in 1877 it fell into a low con- dition financially and socially, when it only numbered 36 and the school only 20, and, according to a statement made by the late Dr. R. S. Jones in his address at the centennary of Ebens- burg church, there were only 20 members in the church in 1882, and in 1897 our friend said that when Rev. D. L. Davies left another turn for the worse took place, and that he was afraid conditions were beyond recovery.
We are not certain of the order in which several ministers followed each other into this parish. Rev. B. I. Evans was called here to follow Rev. Lewis Williams in 1869, and was ordained in January, 1870. The ministers who took part in the services were Rev. E. B. Evans, Hyde Park; Daniel Daniels, Dundaff, and J. W. Davies, Pittston. During his ministry one of the Erie breakers was completely destroyed by fire, and a cave occurred in one of the mines, which caused quite a num- ber of people to move down the valley to Mill Creek and Parsons. In 1874 Mr. Evans left the church to take charge of one at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Rev. Benjamin Williams was here about this time, and died in a few years afterwards at Waterville, N. Y. Rev. Anthony Howells came here and de- parted— the time, we cannot be certain of. Rev. D. T. Jenkins came to America after having his college training at Bala, North Wales, and in a month after his arrival he was called to this church, and was ordained pastor by the Rev. C. C. Greegan, Superintendent of Home Missions in New York State and Pennsylvania; Revs. R. S. Jones, Providence; William Jenkins, Dundaff; Jonathan Edwards, Hyde Park, and E. P. Hughes, Llanberis, on May 22, 1884. He probably was followed by Rev. D. L. Davies, who left for Nanticoke, and was called suddenly home while attending a banquet of the Cymrodorion Society a few years later. Rev. Abram Jones came and stayed here a few years in the nineties; then in succession came M. C. Elliott, Thomas F. May, Arthur M. Wood, J. C. Luke, William Pierce and others. Floods, fires and strikes, and the exodus of people to other centers in this valley caused these dis- couraging effects in the history of this church, and, above all, the transition period from Welsh to English. Many of our churches have become extinct in this period. It is the most trying epoch in the history of our denomination. It has been difiicult for ministers and officers to steer clear of the danger, and requires more than an ordinary measure of wisdom to overcome the harrassing problems. The greatest danger to our existence is our apathy, before yielding, to adapt ourselves to
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the change. In most cases the church is allowed almost to die before the proper remedies are applied. Many good men and women are willing to do their utmost to save the situation after the church is dead, while they were culpably indifferent to its existence when signs of its vitality were daily ebbing away. During the last thirty years the doors of this old church have been closed and then opened a dozen times, when a meteor would make its appearance with a promise of some wonderful consecration that would create all things anew on the old camp ground of the popular preacher Lewis Williams and others of his type, but the enthusiasm was like the foam of the sea, carried away in a short while, and each relapse would leave the church weaker than before. The writer was asked to visit them about four months ago, when a fair congregation greeted him, but since then the doors have been closed because of some unpleasantness, and the association which has authority over the property is negotiating to sell it to another group for re- ligious purposes. "How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed?"
CATASAUQUA, LEHIGH COUNTY The Congregational Church in this town was organized on the 26th of November, 1882. The ministers who took part in the services were Revs. D. Todd Jones, Shenandoah; E. T. Griffiths, Lansford, and D. R. Griffiths, Catasauqua.
The land was donated to them by Mr. David Thomas, who is known in history as the pioneer of blast furnaces in America and a successful iron master. The ground was given them under the following conditions: "That should the services be discontinued by the Congregationalists, the property should re- vert to the estate of David Thomas, or heirs, and that the land should not be used for any purpose which was not reli- ious." Thus it came to pass that when the Congregational church ceased to conduct services, the property returned to the estate, and was used to build a splendid Memorial Church, so that today there stands a very substantial structure on the grounds formerly occupied by Bethel Welsh Congregational Church. During its existence of 30 or more years it had four pastors; the first being Rev. David R. Griffiths, who was a pattern maker by trade and worked for the Thomas Iron Com- pany during the week and preached for the Welsh people on Sunday; he did this for several years before he resigned. Then Rev. W. C. Davies followed him for the space of five years, when Rev. D. F. Davies took up the work and remained with them until the end of March, 1910. The last pastor having
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
charge of it was Rev. Isaac T. Williams, who was also the pastor of Slatington Congregational Church at the time. It had been a bilingual church for several years before passing out of existence. There were in this church a few loyal true fam- ilies to the services, who did all they could to continue them, but when they were called to their reward, their continuance v/as impossible.
CENTRALIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY
This town is on the Lehigh Valley railroad, about two miles from Ashland, and seven from Shenandoah. The Con- gregational church was started here by a few brothers and sisters from Ashland and Mount Carmel. It was organized in a school house on the Eastern side of the town on April 28th, 1867. They used this school for several months, when they moved to the upstairs of another school on the Western side that they might meet to worship three times on the Sab- bath; and they continued to do so in spite of adverse circum- stances. Their unanimous testimony in 1870 was, that they had enjoyed the rich comforts of religion in those years though they had no tent, tabernacle nor temple of their own. About a score of members, who had been in covenant together since they had organized the church, thought it now expedient to ordain the brother William W. Davies, formerly of Mount Carmel, to be their new pastor, so that they might enjoy the blessings of religion in a completer and fuller measure, and they did so on March 13th and 14th, 1869. The brethren that officiated at the ordination service were Rev. R. D. Thomas, Mahanoy City; Rev. T. Griffith Jones, Summit Hill, and Rev. John R. Williams, Chapmansville, who also were the same three that officiated when the church was organized, but in a few years the church became to naught, because labor conditions were such as to force the Welsh people from the neighborhood.
ST. CLAIR, SCHUYLKILL CO.
This place is a small town three miles north of Pottsville, and was once noted for its mines. Three churches and three church buildings were organized and erected here, one to re- present each of the largest denominations in Wales, but its glory soon faded away, because the mines were worked out and the people had to move to other places to seek employ- ment. Mr. Richard Richards came from Pittsburg to preach to the Welsh Congregationalists, and was ordained as their
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
pastor August 1, 1852. Revs. Jonathan J. Jones of New York City; R. R. Williams, Minersville; W. J. Jones, Potts- ville; E. B. Evans, Pittston Ferry, and John Jones (B.), Minersville, took part in the ordination services. How long he remained we cannot tell, but from reliable sources we find that the church was at its best from this date to 1862; others min- istered to them for short and indefinite periods.
CHAMPMANSVILLE. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
This place was named after the gentleman who opened the first and the largest slate quarry in the neighborhood. — Mr. William Champman; this was done about the year 1860. He was a native of Cornwall, England, but had been working in the slate quarry of Braich-y-Cafn, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, where he not only learnt the art of digging and making slates but also the Welsh language. He came over to this coun- try of opportunities, bought the above quarry, and became eminently successful and retired to live at Bethlehem, Penna. A Welsh Congregational Church was organized there at one time in a school house, over which Rev. J. R. Williams had charge, who went West about the year 1870. Mr. Champman and the people were kind and considerate of him, and there should have been a prosperous church in the district, were it not for some undefineable influences, because the slate industry had only commenced in this country at that period.
DANVILLE, MONTOUR COUNTY Previously known as Columbia County. The following information was given Rev. T. C. Edwards, D. D., when he was asked as far back as 1873 to prepare the history of the Welsh churches of Pennsylvania. Some of the replies came to him now and again for a number of years, up to April 5th, 1877. We are very fortunate to have these stray notes of long ago, or else we would be at a loss to have the his- tory of the early churches of the state and denomination. A Congregational church was organized in Danville on October 13, 1840. Rev. John B. Cook was the first minister. He had served the church from time to time from 1 840 to 1 844, when they ordained him October 13, 1844, in a new church that was built that year and dedicated on December 15, 1844. Mr. Cook continued to serve them faithfully until his death, which occurred March 6, 1873. The report given in 1877 stated "that the church was as prosperous as could be expected under
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
the circumstances, and had been able to maintain its own throughout its history, even some times under unfavorable con- ditions. There are three young men here preaching, but the re- port frankly states that there is nothing strange nor remarkable about either of them. All the members are peculiar, the church is noted and known by its number of poets and literary men who could write a doggerel as good as anybody in that age." This reporter seems to be a humorous and jocular individual, and no doubt was as peculiar and as prominent as any of the poets and literary men of Danville in the fifties and later. Moreover, there were a group of talented men in Danville working in the iron works at that period. Here we find musi- cal geniuses considering their advantages. The Welsh discovered Joseph Parry here working in the Iron Mill, who developed to be one of the greatest Welsh composers of music of the latter part of the last century. From Danville he sent his productions to the National Eisteddfod in Wales for two or three consecu- tive years that brought him not merely the prizes, but into prominence, that led him from step to step to be the Doctor Joseph Parry, whom the Welsh people honored and loved as a prolific writer of music; and English and Welsh throngs have joined heartily on hundreds of occasions to sing "Jesus Lover of My Soul" on his hymn tune Aberystwyth. In Danville Joseph Parry found his first teachers, this alone leads the his- torian to think that it was a rendezvous of Welsh celebrities in those early days.
On August 1st, 1873, Rev. John P. Davies was called to the charge, and was there when this report was given in 1877. Later history of this old church we cannot find, neither do we know when it utterly failed to function. The nearest Congre- gational Church to Danville was Shamokin, but in those days some of the members were living in Northumberland, and Rev. Mr. Davies went there every month for three years to minister unto them. There was also a Welsh church at Blcx)msburg in those days, and Rev. J. B. Cook went occasionally there to preach, but as early as the seventies in the last century it had past into history.
DRIFTON, LUZERNE COUNTY
Our knowledge of the very beginning of our church in this town is very meagre, though we know that it was organized in 1870, and was received member of the Gymanfa in 1872, but it seems that it became a very active church during its ex- istence. A live local preacher was here in 1873, and preached
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
for them and the church at Shenandoah in later years, and Mr. J. W. Lewis was faithful in his attendance on the quarterly and annual meetings of our denomination, and his services were valued and appreciated by our pastorlcss churches. The j&rst pastor was Rev. Daniel A. Evans, who became useful and active in all branches of the Gymanfa. He was here from 1873 to 1875 inclusive. During his ministry the membership num- bered 50. He was followed by Rev. George Hill, when the membership increased to 107, and the Sunday School had on its roll 150 names; he continued with them to 1879. For several years following they had no pastor, then they invited Rev. John F. Humphreys to them in 1886, and remained with them until 1893, and he was the last servant that we have record of in this field.
DUNDAFF, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY Bethel Congregational Church, Welsh Hill, Susquehanna County, was known previous to 1890 as the Welsh Church of DundafF. This was the name the older folks used, and the minister that spent almost his entire life to watch over the people in this district, and who made it known throughout the whole state, was affectionately called "Daniels DundafF." Ehin- daff is about five miles south of where the church is situated, but it is the place where the people got their mail in the earlier days of the settlement, hence it was known and called by that name.
The first groups of Welsh that came here to live were of the best kind of the Cymric stock. They were strong, sturdy and healthy, noted for their endurance and perseverance, else they would not have been able to succeed and prosper in spite of numerous handicaps. They had to clear their claims of brush and trees to have ground to build their homes, and land to cultivate. For years after settling many of them would do their best of their land in spring and summer, and would go to Cdrbondale and other mining centers to work during the winter months, walking through a dense forest to reach their destin- ation, thus they were able to take possession of their claims, and gradually increased in riches and influence. They were not only physically strong and industrious in relation to the mater- ial side of life, but were also mentally, morally and religiously worthy of their nation and the country whence they came from. They were people who would naturally make good and better their environments, and to all appearance they built better than they planned and anticipated in this their new and
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
adopted country. They were of such that deserve to be kept in remembrance, and the only barrier in our way to do justice to them according to our ability is lack of space. Names are barren standing alone, but to honor their noble, enter- prising, frugal spirit we will quote some of the pioneers: According to a previous historian. Rev. R. D. Thomas (1872) the first Welshman that settled in Dundaff or Clifford was Mr. Thomas Watkins, a miner from Carbondale, who bought on May 10th, 1833, fifty acres of lumber land at $3.00 per acre, Benjamin Daniels, Henry Davies, David Thomas, David and Thomas Reese, Thomas and John Reynolds, William Leak, David Tobias, David Edwards, Robert Ellis, Daniel Davis, Samuel Owens, John and Enos Owens, Isaac Breese, David Richards, Jonah Evans, Evan Jones, John and Owen Morgans, William Davies, Jenkin Leyshon, David Jones, John Michael, John James, Evan Jenkins and Owen Davies. Many of their descendants are filling important positions in our country and other countries of the world. The Honorable George W. Maxey, Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl- vania, is a great grandson of one of the first settlers in Dun- daff, that of Mr. Benjamin Daniels, and he was elected by such a large majority over the other candidates. His opinion in some cases of law has attracted wide attention, particularly so, his minority opinion in a certain case, which was quoted and extensively referred to in our leading newspapers and magazines, and his name has been mentioned in important circles as a worthy candidate for the Vice-Piesidency of the United States. But if his turn does not come now he is comparatively young and capable in every respect to have a chance later, that we may see what this "George" will do in our country, as another "George" has done in his country across the sea. John G. Jenkins, a son of Mr. Evan Jenkins, another early settler of Dundaff, was at one time Prime Minister of Australia, so that some sons and grandsons of the noble sires of this agricultural zone have done well in the past and will do so in the future.
The first Congregational Church organized in Susquehanna on Welsh Hill in 1834 was by Rev. Thomas Edwards, who became after this, a leader in the history of the Welsh Congre- gational churches of Pittsburg and vicinity — he remained in charge of the church for two years. The leading people co- operating in the formation of the church were Zacharias Jen- kins, Evan Jenkins, William Davies and Thomas Watkins. The first church building was erected in 1839, and the second one in 1850, and some alterations were made in 1864. Both
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
buildings were built on the hill close to the house wherein the first services were held, and the edifice they have now is sub- stantial and convenient, and the description of the Psalmist of the temple at Jerusalem can be applied with great propriety to this house of God on Welsh Hill, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole country" is this Bethel on this elevation in Susquehanna County.
The second minister that served them was Rev. Jenkin Jen- kins, a very eccentric person. He served the English Presbyter- ian church as well as the Welsh Congregational at the same time. He published an autobiography, and refers with delight to this period in his ministry. Further particulars of his history will be found under his name in the biographical sketches. He came here from New York City, and remained their pastor for seven years, during which he traveled exten- sively, and was faithful to the Gymanfa and other public meetings of the denomination. He left for Newark and Gran- ville, Ohio, in 1844. He was followed by Rev. Samuel A. Williams, who came from Mount Zion Congregational Church, Oneida County, New York State, and tarried here for two years, when he left to take charge of the Congregational Church at Neath, Bradford County, in 1850, and remained with them until he retired because of infirmities brought on by old age in 1870. In 1850 Rev. Daniel Daniels came to them from Beaver Meadows, and was their pastor for 43 years. Further inform- ation of this strong, talented pastor and preacher will be found elsewhere. Some time after Mr. Daniels retired, the church called a young man by the name of James Alexander Jenkins to be their pastor. In due time he Vv^as ordained, and became a member of the Welsh Gymanfa, later he moved to Mount Carmel, and joined the Wyoming English Association. This church, no doubt, felt justly proud of being privileged to call and ordain this dear brother to the Gospel ministry. He is the son of a Congregational minister, and his mother was a sister of one of the most respected ministers of Wales in his day and generation, the Rev. Josiah Jones, pastor of the Congre- gational Church at Graig, Machynlleth, North Wales. Places and churches have become known, because they were privileged to be the starting points of certain individuals who have by their talent, study and perseverance, become famous in certain directions, and this church in an agricultural center in Susque- hanna County in our state, is justified in feeling elated that a young man that was ordained by them, after having occupied strong important churches in several of our largest cities in our
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
country, was appointed first to be the Dean of Union Theo- logical College of Chicago, Illinois, then was made President of the same Institution, and has filled both positions for many- years with great credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the directors and trustees. We are glad to be able to give a summary of his movements and achievements in another section of this history.
Then in rotation the following ministers served the church: Rev. Noah Bevan came from Wales, and remained for a few years; Rev. R. N. Harris for five years, then Rev. Noah Bevan returned for three years; Rev. Mr. Hiekman for four years; Rev. Thomas S. Lewis for four years; Rev. Mr. Thomson for four years; now they have Rev. Mr. Hickok, M. E. from South Gibson, to preach to them once every Sunday at 9 a. m. The stalwart men and women of former years have passed on to their eternal home, and their children have left the country for the cities and many of the homesteads of the Welsh settlers are occupied by various nationalities, hence the history of Bethel on Welsh Hill is not what it used to be fifty years ago.
EDWARDS MEMORIAL CHURCH, EDWARDSVILLE In the early spring of 1867, the few Welsh people who lived in the adjacent neighborhoods of East Boston and Mor- gantown, began to hold prayer meetings and a Sunday School from house to house, where they would be invited and find welcome. In the spring of 1868, by the kindness of Superin- tendent David Morgan, a house belonging to the company was secured for the purpose of holding Sunday services and week night prayer meetings. This gave new impetus to the move- ment and the rooms were filled with worshippers of many nationalities and various creeds. By the month of August this house proved too small, and in response to another appeal to the Company, a block of two houses was set apart for their use Sundays and week days.
On Saturday evening, November 28, 1868, commenced formally the meetings for the organization of a church. Twenty-one persons, who were members in good and regular standing in their respective churches at their previous homes, met together to form and organize a Congregational Church, which was to be called "The Welsh Congregational Church of Kingston." Ministers officiating at the organizing of the church and election of officers were: — Reverends David Davies, Pittston, and John Pentyrch Evans, Plymouth. Officers elect- ed were: Isaac Jones and William L. Roberts, deacons, and
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
David Isaac, secretary. The services were continued for many months on the "Block on the Patch," and happy recollections remain of the blessed time enjoyed there under the unction of the Holy Spirit. But again this place became too small and the Good Shepherd provided a larger room for his young ilock. The Kingston Township directors erected a school house at the foot of Pringle Hill, and they very generously granted its use to the church for religious services. But the little flock were molested at this place; on a Sabbath evening in October, 1869, when Reverend David Davies of Pittston, was preaching, and an exceptionally fine spiritual atmosphere per- vading the service, in the quiet worshipful moments of the holy evening, there rushed into the building a crowd of unruly men, boisterous and threatening, claiming that they had a better right to the building than the people that worshipped there, and insisted immediately that they should leave. This was an outburst of religious bigotry on the part of ignorant Roman Catholics in that region. They were disturbed several times before, but on this evening the climax was reached and they yielded to go out to the darkness, but not in despair. A committee was appointed to wait on the Coal Company for further relief. This was readily granted. The Company pre- sented the school district of Plymouth Township with a lot, upon which to build a school house, on the condition that the Welsh people were to be allowed to have the use of the building for divine worship. The building was speedily erected, and was the home of the Church until they secured their own church building.
In May, 1872, the church made an arrangement with Rev. T. C. Edwards, then at Wilkes-Barre, to supply the pulpit one Sunday each month on Communion Sunday. This con- tinued until August, when the church decided to call a minister. The minister they selected was Reverend D. Dyfri Davies that had recently come from Llanybri, Carmarthenshire, Wales. His ministry was crowned with success. During his ministry the first church building was erected in 1873. The dedication services were held on Sunday, March 30, 1873. In December, 1874, Reverend Mr. Davies resigned the pastorate to accept a call to the 11th Street Congregational Church of New York City. In September, 1875, a unanimous call was extended to Reverend J. Gwawrfryn Evans, who had recently graduated from Bangor, Maine. Mr. Evans was well qualified for the office, and his work was exceptionally prosperous, until his health failed, and he resigned in June, 1877, on account of
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
poor health. During his ministry the first Band of Hope was organized, with W. S. Williams and Thomas J. Evans in charge of the singing. The first organ was purchased in November, 1877, and though it was small, created much joy and interest in the congregation. Owing to a serious industrial depression in this period, an arrangement was made to have one pastor for the two churches of Edwardsville and Wilkes- Barre, dividing his time equally between the two charges. On January 1, 1878, Reverend T. C. Edwards assumed the charge of the two churches, and the joint pastorate continued until the close of 1879, when a general desire for the entire service of a pastor, resulted in securing Reverend T. C. Edwards to devote his whole time to this church, beginning January 1, 1880. The membership had increased by 1881 to 250, and in January, 1882, it was 300, and by January, 1883, it was 373. The year 1885 opened auspiciously in the history and the rich Christian experience of the church. The usual week of prayer was extended to the last week of February. About the middle of the third week of January, a wave of religious revival swept over the congregation, a deep spiritual experience was evident among the people, and the unconverted became anxious inquirers for salvation. Young lads and lasses from 12 to 1 6 years of age confessed experiences which seemed more like adults than children. Men and women came to God, weeping and penitent, confessing and praying, and all were full of the life, and the glorious light of people who were living in the conscious presence of the Son of God. The result of this awak- ening was seen at the Holy Communion of February 22, 1885, when the right hand of fellowship was extended to 155 per- sons, ranging in age from 13 to 60 years of age, and in March at the next Communion Sabbath 35 more were received, and at each succeeding Communion during the following months, new members were added, making a total of over 200, as a direct result of the revival.
The year 1888 is also a memorable one in the history of this church, for on it they experienced their first fiery ordeal. About 10 o'clock on Friday morning, November 9th, a fire broke out in the basement of the church, and rapidly spread and reduced the handsome commodious building to a total wreck, incurring a loss of about $10,000.00, but partly covered by insurance. At a regular meeting with full attendance, Sunday evening, November 11th, in Hoover's Hall, it was unanimously and enthusiastically resolved to rebuild on the old site. The con- tract price was $17,031.00. The dedication services were held
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
August 24-26, 1889. There was no offering taken up at any of these meetings, but an opportunity was given for voluntary contributions at a table where the Secretary and Treasurer sat in the intervals between the meetings, yet by the close of the afternoon meeting on Monday, the pastor announced that the whole amount of the indebtedness had been paid, with a few dollars in hand. When this was made known, the whole audience joined heartily, with sincerely grateful hearts, and with hot tears of thankfulness to God in singing the Doxology.
Important improvements were made in the church building in 1897. An organ was built and the choir gallery enlarged. In 1898 a new concrete floor was placed in the Sunday School and class rooms. The year 1905 is written in indelible im- pression upon the memory of all who were connected with the church. On the 6th of May, early in the morning of that Saturday, only a few minutes after 3 o'clock, the neighborhood was awakened by a severe shock, like the report of a huge cannon. The church was dynamited and partly destroyed, by a number of people who were hired to do the dastardly act in a spirit of revenge, because the pastor, Dr. Edwards, had been interested in the filing of remonstrances against several saloons in the town. The guilty were found, and sentenced to the penitentiary for three years, pay a fine of $500, and cost of prosecution. The repairs to the church promptly begun, and by the end of October were completed. The rededicatory ser- vices were held October 29, 1903, and all debts were paid. After the people were permitted to reoccupy their church, a series of special meetings were held and a mighty awakening experienced. The week of prayer, 1906, was extended to a month of prayer, and by the end of April, over 100 conversions was the result. Thus the Lord gave them a blessed sunshine after the storm and revived them according to His word.
In the month of May, 1906, Dr. Edwards was afflicted with an illness, which disabled him to attend to his ministerial duties for the greater part of the year. During October and part of November, the Reverend Richard Powell, Connellsville. supplied for him, taking full charge for five weeks, and other ministers filling the Sabbath supplies frequently during the year. In December, 1906, the church decided to invite the Rev. O. Lloyd Morris of West Bromwich, England, to become asso- ciate pastor. He accepted the invitation and resigned in Eng- land, a charge he had faithfully served for over 12 years. Sun- day, April 14, 1907, was the first appearance of Reverend O. Lloyd Morris before the congregation as associate pastor. He
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
preached morning and evening to large congregations, and the impression was very favorable. On Tuesday evening, April 16, a public reception was tendered him, when a large number of ministers v/ere present to greet him, and the arrangement w^as successful beyond the dreams of either party. Reverend O. Lloyd Morris served the church very satisfactorily while he remained, but he closed his ministry on December 29, 1909, to take charge of the First Congregational Church at Lima, Ohio. The approval of his work was attested by the hearty demon- stration of the church and congregation in a public testimonial tendered him on the eve of his departure December 28th, con- sisting of a gold watch, gold fob, and valuable gifts to Mrs. Morris and the two children. Miss Margaret and Master Mor- gan Morris. After Mr. Morris and his family left for Ohio, Dr. Edwards took up the whole duties of preacher and pastor as in former years, and we are glad that his vigor and strength had been restored so as to be able to meet the requirements of this large and important field, and continued in a remarkable degree to within two days of the close of his life, verifying the promises of Scripture: "But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.
During the year 1918 he extensively prepared for the Jubilee of the church, in writing an interesting summary of its history from 1868 to 1918; in which he aptly dwelt on the many changes and developments that took place in all branches of the church, making mention of all the officers, men and women, who had helped to lead the host for the fifty years past. We deem it very proper today to make reference, as he did, to the Kingston Coal Company as a vital factor in the life and growth of Edwardsville, and we venture to add, to the prosperity, suc- cess and ease of the Congregational Church. We deem it fitting to refer in this volume to the first President and Manager of the Company, Honorable Daniel Edwards, and the present General Manager, Mr. F. E. Zerbey, and three of the Company's efficient Superintendents, viz. : Mr. Morgan Rosser, Mr. Gwilym Ed- wards and Mr. Thomas H. Williams, three who have made a commendable record for good services in the church, and for the Company.
If space permitted it, we would be pleased to mention others who rendered faithful service in many avenues of usefulness in the church, but the way Dr. Edwards refers to the changes in the music of the sanctuary leads us to quote his words: "For
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
three years, only seldom it was felt necessary to have an Instru- mental accompaniment to the music, when we held services in the Red School House, we had no instrument. When the new church building was erected, a small Mason ^ Hamlin organ was purchased. If occasion demanded a piano, it had to be borrowed and carried from a neighbor's home, or hired from Wilkes-Barre. Then another organ for the Sunday School was bought, and a piano. When the present building was erected, a larger Mason ^ Hamlin was bought, and after that a two manual vocalion with pedals and electric motor was installed. It was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Edwards. It served well until this year. Now, in 1918, through the kind generosity of the three daughters of the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Edwards: Mrs. Newell, Mrs. Teter and Mrs. Cobleigh, a magnificent pipe organ adorns the sanctuary, which helps the congregation to lift their hearts to God in praise and worship — this is a long step in advance of the old fashion pitch fork and pitch pipe that were used by our faithful precentors in years gone by. The ladies aid, literary and debating meetings and the Cynonfardd Literary Society Eisteddfod have been useful and profitable adjuncts to the church for many years. The dedicatory service of the nev/ organ took place on April 6th, with a special pro- gram of music. On April 13th, the pastor was requested by a vote of the church to convey to the donors their sincere thanks and appreciation, and their expression of gratitude be extended to T. H. Williams and F. E. Zerbey for their devoted service in supervising the work of installation.
January 1, 1921, the church celebrated the half century of service of Dr. Edwards as a minister; he being ordained at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, January 1st, 1871.
On May 22-24, 1923, the 37th annual State Conference of Congregational Churches was entertained by the church.
On August 24, 1924, the 35th Anniversary of the dedication of the church was observed with appropriate services. During March, 1927, Mr. George T. Stephens conducted an evangel- sitic campaign in a tabernacle built for the purpose on the flats between Edwardsville and Wilkes-Barre, in which a large num- ber of Protestant churches were interested, among them was this church and pastor. For the sake of assisting and coopera- ting, the evening services on Sundays were dispensed with throughout the month. Eh*. Edwards was a faithful attendant on all the services, and on Friday evening he was in his seat on the platform as usual, though at 12:30 on the Sunday follow- ing, March 13th, the radio station announced throughout the
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
valley that Dr. Edwards had ceased to suffer and had entered his rest. Details of his sickness, death, burial and meetings held to honor his memory will be given in connection with his biography, suffice to say here, that the church he served so faithfully for almost half a century did all they could to respect him and comfort his wife and children in their sudden and sad bereavement. The Sabbaths following his demise, the pulpit was occupied by his friends, neighboring ministers, and on April 1 7th the first communion service after his burial, the faithful officers wisely arranged that the class of candidates pre- pared partly by their departed lamented pastor, should be taken care of and received into full membership; for the service they secured Reverend David Jones, D. D., of Scranton. It was a memorable occasion, the large auditorium filled with wor- shippers on an Easter Sunday morning to witness 40 new members received by the right hand of fellowship, two added by letters from Wales, twelve children and five adults baptized, exceptional conditions added to the sacredness and solemnity of the hour, when all present were conscious that the ingathering was the fruits of the pastor's labor, who maybe, was privileged to witness the proceedings from on high. The evening service of the day was a memorial one, over which Mr. T. H. Wil- liams presided, when four ministers spoke of Df. Edwards in four different aspects: —
(a) As a Counsellor — Rev. C. A. Metz.
(b) As Bard and hymn writer — Dr. J. Glannant Morgan.
(c) As a church leader — Rev. W. Glyn Williams.
(d) As a national character — Dr. David Jones.
The day was one that will not be easily forgotten by the members of the church for many years to come, if ever. The pulpit was supplied regularly under the supervision of the officers and pulpit committee, until the end of May, 1928. On Sunday evening, March 18, 1928, the Reverend Enoch Hughes, pastor of the Dr. Jones' Memorial Church of North Scranton, was named as the successor of Dr. Edwards, and commenced his labors in this important field June 1, 1928, so that he is in his fifth year in this charge, and enjoys a very generous meas- ure of good will, friendliness and cooperation from his people; the promise of hearty support made him when entering upon his duties has been fulfilled to a large degree to the end of 1933, and may it hold good as long, at least, as their relation as pastor and people continue. On the same date as Mr. Hughes was elected pastor, the congregation unanimously approved the action of the official board in changing the name of the church
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
from the Welsh Congregational Church to the "Edwards Memorial Congregational Church" in memory of the late pastor. This action closed one period in the church history (from 1868 to 1928), a period of sixty years, and begins a new epoch in the onward march of the church.
FIVE POINTS OR BELMONT, SCHUYKILL COUNTY
When a few Welsh people came to this place to live they occasionally invited a minister to preach to them, holding the services from house to house, and the same arrangements were made for Sabbath School and prayer meetings. In the Spring of 1833 they formed a church organization in the house of Mr. William Williams. He was a splendid character, by trade a blacksmith, and his generous, liberal spirit almost maintained the church which met at his home. In the Fall of the same year they undertook to build a structure to be their permanent place of worship. It was a log-house, and they built it them- selves and bore all the expense. William Thomas was chosen deacon, and William Williams, scribe. Sixteen people com- prised the total membership. Mr. Lewis Thomas, father of Rev. L. J. Thomas, Trinitarian Church, Castine, Md., lived here, and occasionally preached for them. In this church the Rev. John E. Jones, later of Audenried, was ordained to the Gospel ministry. They struggled heroically to maintain this church for about eight years, but had to yield to discontinue because the Welsh people were moving to other places. On account of industrial conditions, they were forced to do so. It is very true that several churches became extinct because of neg- lect to provide means to continue the services when Welsh could not be used; it is also true that three churches could not thrive where one would be large enough to meet the demands what- ever language was used.
FOREST CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY This is a mining town in the extreme north end of Lacka- wanna County, near the border line of Susquehanna. In the last decade of the past century some coal mines were opened in the district, and miners gathered here to seek employment, and among them were some God-fearing people who had been ac- customed to congregate together for worship. Soon after their arrival, they felt the need of a place of meeting, so they went at it with a vim to secure one, which when completed was use- ful, neat and commodious, big enough to answer their require- ments. They made good use of it for twenty-five to thirty
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
years. At one time there gathered into it a lively flourishing organization, but as in the case of many other Welsh churches the main-stays — the miners — were crowded out of the mines by the influx of various nationalities who came from their home land, who maybe were more patient and tolerant under existing conditions, and the Welsh would leave for other dis- tricts and other occupations, so that the churches would grow weaker from season to season until they would fail to exist, and the few who remained to see the dissolution would join other churches, the property being sold or given to other worthy organizations and societies to hold services.
This is briefly the history of Forest City and many other churches of Welsh origin in the Anthracite coal fields.
The first minister was Rev. Rees Morgan, who served them for about two years; then Rev. Gwion Evans, who served them for four years. In 1897 the church asked Mr. Jonathan R. Davies, a member of the church and congregation, and one of the officers, to preach for them, which he did so acceptably, that they decided, with the permission of the quarterly meeting of the valley, to ordain him for their pastor, which they did, and he continued to do so to the satisfaction of all until he was compelled, on account of ill health and weakness, to resign. Further notice of this brother will be found elsewhere. Then in rotation. Revs. Owen Owens, W. S. Jones, William Pierce in connection with Carbondale, and Charles Fretz, who served the congregation for indefinite periods until the end came, when they were forced to dissolve about the year 1925. The prop- erty was given over to some worthy organization.
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN CO.
A few Welsh people were attracted here by the Iron Mills that were built between Harrisburg and Lochiel. Preaching services, prayer meetings and a Sabbath School were held at the people's homes, but no church was at any time formed here, though the proprietors of the Iron Works built for the Welsh people an edifice in which union services were held for some time; but when the Welsh moved away they were auto- matically discontinued.
HOMESTEAD
Homestead is a suburb of Pittsburg, and a Congregational Church was organized here in September, 1888, for the conven- ience of the people that were living in the neighborhood.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Twenty-six members of the vSouth Side Congregational Church brought their church letters with them to form this one, and their pastor, Rev. D. M. George, was one of the pastors who officiated at the formation of it, and Rev. H. E. Thomas, D. D., of Ross Street, Pittsburg, was the other. The young church depended largely for some time on supplies for their pulpit, but were later served by several pastors from time to time, among them Rev. D. Derwenydd Morgan, M. P. S., who served as a chemist in one of the local industries during the week, and preached for them on Sundays. We are not certain of the length of time he served them, our impression is that his stay was brief in the country, we remember he came to Scranton when one of the large Eisteddfods was held in the city, he seemed to be taking everything in as if he were hungry for something that he was accustomed with when in Wales, and he decided he would return to the land of poetry and music. He hailed from Esgairdawe Congregational Church, which is in the same ministry as Faldybrenin. He was of a literary turn of mind, and wrote some Welsh books, one of which was a tem- perance story called the "Welsh Doctor." After his return to Wales he settled down as a Druggist at Pencader, Carmarthen- shire, and is still there according to our Welsh Congregational Diary. Rev. Benjamin Harries was here also for a while, then went to Radnor, Ohio, for several years, and is at present with the Welsh Presbyterians at Oak Hill, Ohio. Rev. Illtyd James served them for some time as well as Palmyra, Ohio, and Olyphant, Penna. ; later. Rev. Benjamin James was there. Dates, rotation and time these brethren labored at Homestead are not certain, and it is of not great importance as far as we know.
JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY It seems strange that the first Congregational Church organ- ized here was an English one, and that later a Welsh church was established, the reverse is true in the history of Welsh and English churches in our state. In 1 820 an English church was organized by the Reverend George Roberts, pastor of the Con- gregational Church of Ebensburg at that time.
Mr. Roberts was revered as a faithful, godly man. He labored incessantly for his Savior, church and denomination. He travelled on foot through large, dense forests, that were to the south of Ebensburg in the direction of Johnstown, to preach to this English church for some time, but when he confined his labors entirely to Ebensburg, the English church he planted
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
there fell into the hands of the Presbyterians, because there were no English Congregationalists convenient to take care of it.
However, towards the end of May, 1854, a Welsh Congre- gational Church was organized here. The Reverend R. R. Edwards, who was travelling through the state in behalf of the American Bible Society, came in contact with some Welsh people that were religiously inclined and stirred them to their duty, and when he heard there were some Iron Works to be started in Johnstown, he sought the Welsh that were in the neighborhood, because he thought they were indispensable for coal and iron works alike, and gathered them together to the home of David Rees, a godly man connected with the Calvin- istic Methodists, now known as Welsh Presbyterian. He arranged a service and preached for them, and called an after meeting, inviting all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ to re- main. Nine people in this meeting agreed to live a godly life and to form a Congregational Church. It was not convenient for Mr. David Rees to loan his house for religious services, so they decided to appeal to the school directors to give them the use of a school house for their place of meeting, and when they w^ere satisfied that their teachings were not heterodox, they were given the use. of a brick school house near the upper end of Market Street. The meetings were successful and the people who convened there decided that they would formally incor- porate as a Congregational Church, and this was done in 1854. A public meeting was announced for this purpose to commence Saturday evening, September 9, 1854. The devotions were conducted by Reverend L. R. Powell, Ebensburg, and Reverend J. M. Thomas, of Pittsburg, preached on the "Safety of the Believer in Christ." After the sermon, the ceremony of organ- izing the church was completed by appointing Mr. Evan S. Davies to be the deacon. The charter members were twenty- one in all, twelve were received by letters, and the nine that started the church were members of churches in Wales.
On the morrow, the Sabbath, the following took part in the services: Reverends, J. L. Jeffrey, C. M. ; J. M. Thomas, LI. R. Powell, Morris M. Jones and R. R. Edwards. On the Monday evening, a temperance meeting was held when addresses were delivered by Reverends LI. R. Powell and J. M. Thomas, when 16 persons signed the temperance pledge. Reverend R. R. Edwards served the young church and con- tinued to be the representative of the American Bible Society for some time, until he was invited to become their pastor. Thirty-three persons signed the "call" which was accepted.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
The installation took place on the 21st and 22nd of October, 1854. The brethren that took part in the services were Reverends J. L. Jeffreys, C. M.; R. Richards, Sharon; J. M. Thomas, Pittsburg, and LI. R. Powell. During the first year of its existence, business was very unsatisfactory, the company that ov/ned the works failed, and the workmen and trades people had to suffer. The salary of the minister for the first year was only $147.72. After this depression, conditions im- proved, and in the summer of 1856 they built a little church at the expense of $1,300.00, while they paid $275.00 for the lot. Soon after, trade revived, a large number of Welsh came to the town, and the church increased rapidly. In this juncture Reverend R. R. Edwards resigned his charge, and the church delegated Mr. Evan S. Davies to solicit funds to pay the debt of the new building, and was fortunate to collect $825.56. Towards the end of 1857 the church invited Reverend John Edwards of Ashland, Pa., to become their pastor, and he con- sented, and was successful and respected for a period of time. While pastor he worked also with his hands to support him- self, but in his later years he left the manual labor to give him- self wholly to the work of the ministry, and great success fol- lowed his efforts. The Gymanfa that was held in Johnstown during his ministry will be remembered forever, on account of a powerful revival that broke out, when a large number joined the church. Mr. Edwards labored in this field for seven years, and left 1864, in peace with the good will of his people, to take charge of the church at Crab Creek. He was followed by Reverend John Price Jones, supplying them for a period, when in October, 1864, Reverend Thomas Jenkins, formerly of Salem, Merthyr Tydvil, Wales, came to be their minister. He commenced his labors with favorable prospects, and his ministry proved to be of great spiritual comfort to them, while many were added to the church roll. In the year 1868 they pur- chased another lot, situated on Walnut Street, and erected on it a costly brick building, which they occupied early in 1869. In 1870 Mr. Jenkins resigned to take up the pastorate of Radnor, Ohio. Two facts worthy of note in the history of this church at this time are, first, the large debt on the church building being entirely wiped out, and the second being the strong Band of Hope that was identified with it.
The Reverend E. W. Jones, formerly of Talysarn, North Wales, began his ministry here on October 8th, 1871. Rev. R. Trogwy Evans, a fellow student of Rev. E. W. Jones, was called from Remsen, N. Y., to take part in his installation.
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
His labors were appreciated and very acceptable. Were it not for the industrial conditions he and the church would have en- joyed a very prosperous and happy epoch, but the strike of 1874 sent many of his parishioners away and dampened their ardor in temporal and spiritual affairs. A young man, John Sylvanus, left the church to consecrate his talents to the preach- ing of the gospel, and attained honorable position in education- al lines, and became a faithful missioner in the service of the American Missionary Society.
Previous to the strike afore-mentioned, the church numbered 180 and the Sabbath School 160, and the Band of Hope had a membership of 350, which placed it in an enviable position among the churches of the land at that time. All went well till the city was visited with the great historic flood of May 25, 1889, when most of it was swept away, and their church building was totally destroyed. In this catastrophe this faith- ful band suffered greatly, losing not only their house of wor- ship, but also fifty-seven of their adherents, including their beloved pastor. Reverend E. W. Jones, D. D., and his wife. The body of Dr. Jones was not discovered. On the hill near the town, there is a plot in the cemetery, in which 800 un- identified bodies were buried with so many marble slabs mark- ing each grave.
Although scattered and disheartened, the remaining members held religious services in various parts of the city, moving from one place to another, as circumstances compelled them. But by the grace of God and the sympathy of a generous public, and the Congregational Churches in the various states, they were enabled, in October of 1891, to occupy a commodious, though unfinished brick building, erected on the site of the former structure on Walnut Street. This edifice was completed a year or so afterwards, and is still used by the Congregational Church up to the present time. The pastor now is Reverend Benjamin D. Evans, who has been with them for the past eighteen years.
The complete list of pastors that have served them is as follows:
Reverend R. R. Edwards — 1854 to 1856. Reverend John Edwards — 1857-1863. Reverend John Price Jones — supplied for a period. Reverend Thomas Jenkins — 1864-1870. Reverend E. W. Jones, D. D. — 1871-1889. Reverend T. A. Humphreys — 1891-1895. Reverend John Davies — 1897-1900.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Reverend Howell Davies — 1901-1903. Reverend W. D. Lewis — 1905-1909. Reverend E. Mansel Jones — 1909-1912. Reverend B. D. Evans — 1913, still there. Historical sketches of the above, see elsewhere.
JEANSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY This village is situated about a mile and a half from Beaver Meadows and Audenried. The Welsh people were not numerous when the Congregational Church was organized in 1866, but owing to the zeal and efforts of Mr. Jonah Rees and Mr. W. W. Hughes and a few others this was accomplished, and a substantial structure was built in 1869. There were twenty- eight charter members present when the services were held on the 17th of September; the two mother churches, that of Beaver Meadows and New Pottsville, who gave letters and their con- sent to form the new church cooperated in the services. The pastor. Rev. John R. Williams, of Beaver Meadows, was the officiating minister, and his services were afterwards divided equally between the old and the new. After Mr. Williams's de- parture, Mr. W. G. Harrison, who had been a student at Yale for some time, was ordained pastor of both churches November 20 and 21, 1869. After a short stay he went to Coalburgh, Ohio. Jeansville is functioning still, but all the services for many years have been conducted in the English language.
JERMYN, GIBSONBURG, or RUSHDALE The above are names which have been used to designate the place known in Lackawanna County as Jermyn for the last several years. Religious services were commenced here by the Welsh people in June, 1866. The church was organized under the direction of Rev. E. B. Evans, of Hyde Park, and Thomas Davies was the name of the first deacon. In January, 1867, the Rev. David E. Evans (Trelech) was ordained pastor of the church; the ministers who took part were E. B. Evans, Daniel Daniels and Lewis Williams, from whence he moved to Hub- bard, Ohio. The church was without a pastor and without the ordinance of the Lord's Supper for nearly two years after the departure of its first pastor. At the first communion service in two years, the Rev. William Jenkins, who had newly arrived from Wales, preached and officiated on May 15, 1870. That wonderful service on that Sunday morning will never be for- gotten by the people who were present. Circumstances had caused some changes to take place in the church, and the church
50
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
at Rushdale had decided to become a branch of the Congrega- tional Church of Carbondale, and elected Rev. William Jenkins, Thomas Lloyd and Roger Griffiths to be the officers, but in July, 1870, they thought it wiser to install Rev. William Jen- kms a pastor of the church, which was done, and he continued to faithfully serve them until debility caused by advanced age led him to give his charge up, but he had passed his four score years when he did this, and was soon afterwards called to his reward. After his demise the church built a new edifice or renovated the old and rededicated it, and called it the Jenkins Memorial Church in his honor. In the Spring of 1891, Rev. J. Twyson Jones, who had recently arrived from Wales, was called and installed to be its pastor; during his ministry the church was revived and many members were added to the roll. Soon after Mr. Jones commenced his ministry, it was amiably agreed that all the public services should be conducted in Eng- lish, which increased the vim and interest of all, inasmuch as seats were at a premium in both morning and evening services on the Sabbath, and all the services of the week, including the young people, were well attended. Mr. Jones was of a pleasant personality, an able preacher, a good musician, a fine soloist, and could make the piano and organ sing. The church con- tinued to be prosperous and influential until he left for a wider sphere, which he found at the Fifth Avenue Congregational Church, Pittsburgh.
To follow him, the Rev. William Surdival was called to take charge of the church; previous he had been serving our churches throughout the valley, but when the invitation came from Jermyn, he accepted, and in due time was fully ordained to the Christian ministry. The church continued to make pro- gress, and the young minister by dint of hard work and perseverance, though deprived of the ordinary course of prepar- ation for this high calling, pleased the congregation with his preaching, and made them a creditable pastor, until he again was called to South Side Congregational Church, Pittsburg; he was followed by Revs. Richard Powell, D. D., and William T. Holmes, Ph. D. Both were successful for brief periods until industrial conditions led the faithful ones to move away to seek employment in other districts, v/hich caused the church to get weaker from month to month, until the remnant deemed it wise to transfer the property to the Gymanfa to make the best use of it, when it was finally disposed of, and the proceeds were added to the treasury of the Gymanfa to help weak and struggling churches, by giving them loans at a modest interest.
51
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
In closing the story of this church, we are led to say that we can recall with delight a number of faithful families who were attendants on its services in our earlier days iij the valley, full of zeal and enthusiasm for the church and Kingdom of God.
MINER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
This Church was organized at Mill Creek, Luzerne County in 1869. The officiating ministers were Revs. David Davies, Pittston, and David Parry, Providence, Scran- ton. The first edifice was built in 1870, and answered their purpose for seven years, when during a strike among the miners, they unanimously decided to move the building to a more con- venient location to suit the majority of the congregation. They secured a lot on Abbott Street, Miners Mills, and while idle be- cause of the strike they brought it step by step from Mill Creek to its present position. They also agreed that the building should be known as the Miner Congregational Church, in honor of the donor of the lot, the Honorable Charles A. Miner. The original edifice was enlarged in 1883, by adding twelve feet to its length; in this period the church was in a flourishing condition, having men of influence, talent and religious ten- dencies interested in its services. They were leaders in social and business enterprises of the locality, and were of great help to give prominence to the church and its activities. In 1895 an additional lot equal to the first was secured from Mr. Miner, and the present temple is built in the center of both lots, which being on an elevation, gives a commanding position to it, and a fine view of the valley to the South as far as Wilkes-Barre. The corner stone was laid by Mr. Miner, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Elizabeth Miner, July 18, 1895, followed by an appropriate religious service. Several ministers have serveci this church from its inception to the present time, namely:
Rev. David Davies, 1869-1871.
Rev. John Williams. 1874-1882.
Rev. Theophilus Davies. D. D., 1883-1918.
Rev. David Jones, D. D., 1920-1924, inclusive.
Rev. J. M. Pritchard, 1925-1926.
The present pastor. Rev. D. Lorenzo Thomas, commenced his labors there in 1930; was installed by a Congregational Council, followed by a pulpit service in the evening.
During the years of 1922 and 1923 several necessary and important improvements were made in the church building, namely, a larger and more convenient entrance to the main
52
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
auditorium, an addition to the pulpit to make it useful for public entertainments of the Sunday School and Choir, better, more modern facilities to meet the requirements of the church and the Ladies Aid Society in the church parlors, and the heat- ing system was improved throughout, so that now the church has property worthy of themselves and their position in the community. Three young men connected with this church in their younger days, commenced their careers as ministers of the Gospel, namely. Rev. William Pierce, who is still active in the Congregational ministry; Rev. William D. Jones, who joined the Welsh Presbyterians years ago, and Rev. Isaac Davies, who became a Primitive Methodist minister in his student days.
MAHANOY CITY. SCHUYKILL COUNTY
Welsh residents were among the first settlers of Mahanoy City, and true to their customs and traditions, soon met for religious worship at the homes of three or four families who formed a nucleus of a Congregational Church that was organ- ized on December 20th, 1863, in the same year as the town was incorporated. Several of the members in the early days of the church had been previously allied with the Congregational Church at Minersville. Prior to the erection of the church building in 1864, much of the work was done by the men of the congregation. Services were held in the Spruce Street School Building; this courtesy was later returned when the School Board needed room during the erection of the Pine Street School, for the primary and secondary grades, which was found in the basement of the old Congregational Church in the eastern part of the town. The organization was char- tered as the First Congregational Church, but was known as Bethel Welsh Congregational by the old residents, and they clung to it for many years. The dedication of the first build- ing took place November 19th, 1863. The officiating minis- ters were Revs. T. D. Rees, Ashland, and Mr. Morgans, Potts- viJle, on Saturday evening. On Sunday, at 10 a. m.. Rev. J. E. Jones, Minersville, and Rev. Mr. Davies, M. E., Mahanoy City, at 6 p. m. Devotions were led by Rev. Mr. Price of Tamaqua, and Rev. Thomas Pugh, Summit Hill, and Theo- philus Jones, Minersville, preached. Monday evening. Rev. Mr. Thomas, St. Clair, opened the meeting by reading Scrip- ture and prayer, and Rev. Thomas Jenkins preached.
In the earlier years of the city, Welsh people came here in large numbers, and many were added to the membership of
53
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
the church. A new church building was erected in 1897, and was remodelled during 1924 and 1925, when a fine organ was also installed. The first pastor was Rev. Robert D. Thomas, a fine poet and prose writer known as "lorthyn Gwynedd," He published some Welsh Historical Books, and his ministry was quite successful. He came from New York City to Mahanoy City, and remained with the church from April, 1865 to 1870. The church experienced a blessed awakening in the beginning of 1866. Then in rotation came the follow- ing:—
Rev. D. Todd Jones— 1870-1874.
Rev. Lot Lake— 1875-1877.
Rev. Robert Matthews — 1878-1882.
Rev. F. Teilo Evans— 1883-189 1.
Rev. T. Henry Jones — 1892-1894.
Rev. Lot Lake— 1895-1899.
Rev. Peter Roberts — 1900-1905.
Rev. John B. Davies — 1906-1910.
Rev. David W. Fletcher— 191 1-1915.
Rev. J. Myrddin Jones — 1916-1919.
Rev. James A. Henry — 1921-1924.
Rev. George N. Callaway — 1926-1927.
Rev. Howard E. Mather — 1928-1930.
Rev. John H. MacMillan came to the church in 1931. We are not in a position to give a complete history of this group of ministers, but we will in another section furnish a brief outline of each one as far as we are able to glean the facts, but it is our privilege to quote the words of a member of the church "that the list above will show that they have had some of the outstanding pulpiteers of this district as their pastors."
From its early days the church and its pastors were active in the Gymanfa and continued to be so until the church, when ministered unto by the Rev. James A. Henry, applied for its letter of dismissal from the Gymanfa to join the Wyoming Association of Congregational churches.
With the advent of Rev. Peter Roberts, Ph. D., to the pas- torate of the church, under whose guidance the congregation was greatly blest, the church discontinued holding the services in the Welsh language as it was found that many of the young- er people were being lost to the church, however, Welsh ser- mons were preached once a month, until the end of the ministry of Rev. John B. Davies, now pastor of the Hill Side Congrega- tional Church, Wilkes-Barre.
Within the walls of this church the Central Pennsylvania
54
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
Congregational Young People's Association was organized in October, 1929, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. MacMillan, then Associate Superintendent of the Home Mission of our State, now pastor of the church.
Space will not permit us to include the long list of names given as founders and promoters of this church at its inception, but we are glad in closing the history to quote an excerpt from the History of Schuykill County, published by the State His- torical Association 1907 — "The choir of this church became quite noted in musical contests throughout the county, and usually secured most of the prizes." This was only natural v/hen Mahanoy City was a center for the Welsh coming from their native country in those years.
MOUNT CARMEL, NORTHUMBERLAND CO.
This town as its name suggests is on an elevation not far from Shamokin, amidst the coal mines. At one time, there were here a large number of Welsh people, but were rather un- stable. They organized a Welsh Congregational Church here in 1870, numbering about forty members. Thomas T. Wil- liams, one of the faithful deacons, was a familiar figure in our annual meetings thirty-five and forty years ago. Literary and competitive meetings such as are popular among the Welsh wherever a goodly number are gathered together, were held under the direction of Mesach Watkins and Mr. Phillips, who were fine musicians. Several ministers of our Gymanfa were pastors here for indefinite periods; though early in its history, because of the mixed nature of the population, English services were arranged, and soon it became and now is a strong English church. The autumnal meeting of the Association of 1932 was entertained royally by this church and congregation.
MORRIS RUN, TIOGA COUNTY
In the year 1863 a number of people from Wales and other sections of this country came to reside here, many of them true to the instincts of the Welsh, desired to establish religious ser- vices in the neighborhood. They represented several of the larger denominations prevalent among the Welsh, so they held prayer meetings and Sabbath schools for a period, until the Congregationalists deemed it wise to form a church, and ex- tended a hearty welcome to friends of other denominations to join in with them, insomuch, as there were four miles to the nearest church in the district. A number of Wesleyan and
55
WELSH CCWGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Calvinistic persuasions joined in the formation of a Congrega- tional Church in April, 1864, under the leadership of Rev. Phillip Peregrine, who was at the time pastor of the neighbor- ing churches of Blossburg and Charleston. They held their services from house to house for some time, but in 1866 they bought property from the Coal Company, which they convert- ed into a modest place of worship at the cost of $1,600.00, of which they received $500.00 from the Congregational Build- ing Society, through Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, Elmira, N. Y. In 1872 they decided to enlarge and renovate their temple at the expense of $1,500.00, which was secured by the church and local friends and was rededicated in the same year, services being conducted by Revs. Thomas K. Beecher, R. Gwesyn Jones,
D. D., Utica, New York; E. J. Morris, Bradford, and John
E. Jones, Mahanoy City. Two members of this church went into the ministry, namely. Rev. David D. Jones, who became pastor at Blue Earth County, Minn., and Rev. David Talog Williams, after a course of training at Oberlin, Ohio, went into the English pulpit of our order. Rev. D. P. Jones was or- dained here before he accepted a call from Tabernacle Church, Scranton.
MINERSVILLE
In 1832 the few Welsh people that were in the district decided to join together to hold religious services, and for that purpose they met in the carpenter's shop of Mr. McPherson. Revs. E. B. Evans and William Owen (B.) both of Pottsville, visited them occasionally, as the two were solicitous of their religious welfare. They dwelt harmoniously together until some time in 1833, when the Baptists deemed it wise to leave this united band, to organize a church of their own order. The Congregationalists and Calvinistic Methodists continued for a period to worship together, and unanimously agreed to invite Rev. E. B. Evans to become their pastor, but soon after this, the Calvinistic Methodists decided to leave, to organize a church of their order. Following this departure, the Congregational- ists resolved to build a church for themselves on the corner of North and Second Street. It measured 12 by 14 feet, and to build such a structure was quite a wonder in those days, every- one spoke with surprise of the enterprising spirit of the young church. In 1839 the churches, under the care of Rev. E. B. Evans in Schuykill County, decided to hold a series of meetings according to the custom of Welsh people in former days, which they termed Cymanfa, and it proved to be a won-
56
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
derful success, a great blessing to the neighborhood and scores were added to the churches. The church at Minersville felt that the family had outgrown its accommodations, so they decided to obey the injunctions of the prophet when he said "enlarge the place of thy tent, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes," so they bought a piece of land on Sun- bury Street, and built on it a structure that measured 30 by 30 and 16 teet high, at the cost of $700.00, and the new temple was dedicated Christmas day 1840. The prosperous condition of the town, and the evident success of the church led this en- terprising body of Christians to extend a call to Rev. E. B. Evans to become their pastor only, and sever his connections with the others under his charge; but Mr. Evans thought it was better for him to refuse their kind offer, and this he did. The church looked at once in other directions, and searched prayer- fully and diligently for a servant that would please the Master, and be acceptable to the people. They were soon charmed and satisfied in the Rev. Roderick R. Williams, so they offered him the call in June 16, 1845. He accepted and labored with signal success until December 29, 1860, when he left for Pitts- burg. On the last Sabbath evening in February, 1847, the church agreed that their place of worship again was inadequate to seat their members and adherents, and voted to build a larger one. This one was to be 38 by 55 and 19 feet high, with rooms in the basement to hold week night services and other necessary meetings. The new church cost them $4,000.00, and was opened Sunday, February 9, 1848. Rev. Mr. Williams resigned, and was succeeded by Revs. John E. Jones, W. Wat- kins, Daniel T. Davies, then Rev. Roderick R. Williams re- turned to them. This church has had many sore trials, on March 15, 1873, their commodious church was burnt, and it cost them $2,000.00 to make the necessary repairs, but they received so liberally of the sympathy and practical help of the churches and community that they were able to pay all their debts in a short time. Since the last period of Roderick Wil- liams' ministry they have had a number of pastors among them: Revs. George Recs, William C. Davies, Mansel Jones and others. This church and several of its pastors have proved to be powerful moral and religious factors in the town. It was blessed with several revivals, which added many to its mem- bership. Owing to industrial conditions in times past it had to battle and pass through severe struggles to exist.
Though Minersville was considered at one period of its his- tory the Welsh Athens of America on account of its numerous
57
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
poets, singers and literary men, its glory in these respects has faded and passed away many years ago. Very little Welsh has been used in the services of the churches for the past thirty years and none for the past twenty years.
NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY
This town is situated in the lower end of the Wyoming "Valley. A Welsh Church was organized here in 1874. Its first pastor was Rev. George Hill, who afterwards went to Ebensburg, Cambria County, and was followed by Revs. John Edwards and E. R. Hughes. Bethel, an English church branched out of this original church, and has become a strong influential one in the valley. In 1885 or thereabout, another group left the old church, and organized a new one, known as Moriah Congregational Church, and built a large commodious structure on quite an elevation at a reasonable distance from the mother church, and for a few years the two Welsh churches functioned, the old being ministered unto by Rev. E. R. Hughes, and the new by Rev. T. Cynfelyn Benjamin, but we are happy to report that the two groups decided to amalgamate, the members remaining in the old building came in a body to Moriah, and were given a hearty welcome to the new, the pastor leaving for another field of labor, while Mr. Benjamin ministered to the reunited church for a few years, then he left to take charge of the church at South Side, Pittsburg. Since then a number of brethren served the church for indefinite per- iods, among them were Revs. J. P. Thomas, A. L. Rowe, Meiros Williams, Griffith Evans, Ellis Lloyd and others; re- cently the church has called a licentiate, Mr. Carlston Jones, to supply them. For some years there were a number of strong literary men, such as are often found in Welsh communities, identified with this church, singers, poets, essayists of no mean order, who were delighted to hold an annual Eisteddfod; the Olympic of the Welsh, which increased the interest and the joy of the young people, and brought many shekels to the treasury to meet the demands of the organization. Moriah then was in a much better condition financially and spiritually than at the present time. We heartily wish and pray that the Lord may be pleased to restore unto her speedily, the joy and success of former days.
NEATH, BRADFORD
According to the facts gathered by the late Rev. T. C. Ed- wards, D. D., of Edwardsville, as early as 1873, when Rev.
58
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
Samuel A. Williams, the second pastor of the church, was still living, we find that Welsh religious services were commenced in Bradford County in the year 1829 by David Thomas, Thomas Thomas, Joseph Jenkins (the father-in-law of the eccentric Rev. Jenkin Jenkins) and others. They had no settled place of worship at this time, but for the most part they met at the home of Mr. Jenkins. In the year 1831 a large number of Welsh came to the neighborhood, many of them professed Christians, bringing their transfer letters with them from their home chuches in Wales. In this group of immi- grants there was a Rev. Daniel D. Jones, who became their first minister. After they had settled down, and became acquainted with one another, they decided they would build a small chapel for themselves, in which they worshipped God for many years. This building in this time became too small for them, because a large number of the increased population were religiously in- clined; so they agreed to have one that was larger. This second one met the need of the settlement for many years. To this one the Rev. Samuel A. Williams came to minister to them and continued very faithfully and successfully while his physical strength endured; but this temple became gradually old and not equal to the claims of the age, so they erected another, larger and better, which was one of the prettiest, and most con- venient churches in the whole country; this was the third church building in the history of the neighborhood, and was dedicated March 1 and 2, 1873; the brethren officiating were Revs. Morris Roberts, Remsen, N. Y. ; Daniel Daniels, Dundaff, and T. Cynonfardd Edwards, Wilkes-Barre.
The first church building was erected in 1833, serving the purpose of a place of worship and school house.
The second was built in 1848, which is now called the Old Church.
The third was erected in 1872, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire, December 19, 1927.
The fourth church building, the present one, was erected on the foundation of the third, at the expense of ten thousand dollars, and was dedicated June 15, 16, 17, 1929, free of debt. The dedication sermon was given by Rev. E. J. Morris, D. D., of Wilkes-Barre; he being the third pastor of the church.
When the organization of the church was effected, their number was 25, made up of several denominations, but they laid aside their religious opinions and creeds, and united in a band of Christian brotherhood, adopting the name of the Welsh Congregational Church of Bradford, without subscrib-
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
ing to any creed, but adopting the word of God as their only guide and rule of conduct, which is the regular custom of the Congregational Church. Welsh was the original language of worship of the church when organized, but gradually English was introduced, and Welsh preaching dwindled down to one sermon a month in course of time, and eventually ceased alto- gether, about 1895, though occasional Welsh services were held in some of the homes after this date. In 1874 the church united with the Susquehanna Association of Congregational Churches.
We are fortunate to have Rev. Hugh Jones, B. D., supply us with names of ministers that served this old church from its formation to the present time: —
1. Rev. Daniel D. Jones was born at Llangiwc, Glamor- ganshire, Wales, in 1807. He attended school at Nantymoel in the county, and was ordained by Revs. Powell, Cross Inn; Rowlands, Cwmllynfell, and R. Howells, Nantymoel. He came to Bradford County in 1831, and commenced to preach to the people in his own barn, in which the first church was organized in 1832, and became their first minister. In 1833 he went back to Wales for a trip, and while there he married a Miss Mary Williams, and returned to Bradford, and labored with them for 18 years. He died of apoplexy on April 12, 1850, in his 43rd year, and was buried on the 14th. He was well spoken of and revered as a man of fervent zeal and piety.
2. Rev. Samuel Williams, 1850-1870. Further notice else- where.
3. Rev. E. J. Morris. 1871-1884. Elsewhere.
4. Rev. John D. Jones, B. D., 1885-1892. Educated at Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, Wales, and Yale University. He was a native of Gwernogle, and as "Jones Gwernogle" he was known in College. He was ordained in 1885. At the close of his ministry here in 1898, he went West to the State of Washington and died there some years ago.
5. Rev. David Marthen Davies, 1892-1896. He was educated at the University of Cardiff, Wales, and the Memor- ial College of Brecon; at present he lives retired at Hay ward, California.
6. Rev. Hugh Jones, 1896-1907. Further notice elsewhere.
7. Rev. A. W. Seiple, 1908-1912. His history not known.
8. Rev. James Williams, 1912-1919. See his biography.
9. Rev. D. Glyn Lewis, 1921-1924. Self-trained.
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
10. Rev. David Harris, 1925, and is still in charge. See elsewhere.
In the early years of this settlement the Welsh people exper- ienced several religious revivals, and the impress of the ministry of the Holy Spirit was stamped very pronounced on the morals of the Welsh throughout the whole community.
During the ministry of Rev. E. J. Morris, an English Church was organized at Potterstown, and he ministered to the Welsh and English churches while he remained with them.
In point of age this church is one of the oldest congrega- tional churches in the State: Ebensburg and Pittsburgh usually claim the seniority; in the Eastern part there is a rivalry between Bradford, Carbondale and Pottsville. Five of the yearly meet- ings of our denomination, called Gymanfa, were to their credit held here, that of 1845, 1854, 1862, 1867 and 1876, when the churches were as a rule represented by their ministers and sometimes by lay delegates, coming from as far as Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Ebensburg, Pottsville, Minersville, Danville and Beaver Meadows.
NEW CASTLE, MERCER COUNTY. PENNA.
One of the results of President William McKinley's tariff bill on tin was the erecting of tin plate works in many parts of our country. That was an inducement for tin plate workers in Wales to emigrate here, and New Castle was one of the centers that attracted the Welsh people.
True to their history and custom in religious matters, as soon as they settled in the town, they looked around for a place to hold religious services, and decided to hire the Red Men's Elall, and used it until they secured a lot and built a suitable church to meet their requirements.
Rev. George Henshaw, pastor of Sharon Congregational Church, interested himself in the spiritual welfare of the new arrivals, and called on them in their homes until he had twenty- four persons, who had brought their church letters with them from Wales. They all agreed to meet the evening of April 10th, 1894, on which date the Welsh Congregational Church was organized, and Rev. George Henshaw was the officiating minister. Their first deacons were Messrs. William E. Jones, J. D. Williams and David W. Thomas, and their trustees were Messrs. John Beynon, Thomas Jenkins and John Thomas. Mr. David W. Thomas, a man full of energy and enthusiasm was appointed their secretary. The young church prospered and rapidly increased in number.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
A lot was purchased in 1894, and a building was erected on it in 1895, but it soon grew too small for the growing con- gregation, and in 1899 they bought a new lot and built a large handsome church on it. The people unitedly worked with such vim and ardent zeal that both buildings were paid for in a comparatively short time. They furnished the new temple with a fine large pipe organ, and with such an influx of people coming steadily from the "land of song," the praise was fine and inspiring, the church also grew in number and influence in that part of the city.
The first pastor was Rev. John B. Jones. He was ordained by the Rev. George Henshaw, and continued with them until he decided to go to college to further qualify himself for the important work of the ministry. The appended list are the names of ministers and time of service each one rendered the church up to the present tme.
Rev. William R. Evans — July, 1896, to April, 1898.
Rev. Thomas Henry Jones — September, 1898, to May, 1899.
Rev. J. Volander Jones — August, 1901, to September, 1902.
Rev. J. P. Thomas — January, 1904, to June, 1910.
Rev. J. T. Llewelyn Williams — July, 1912, to December, 1913.
Rev. George T. Richards — January, 1916, to March, 1917.
Rev. William Glyn Williams — May, 1918, to March 1923.
Rev. Frank Jones — September, 1923, to December, 1924.
Rev. Samuel Whilding — May, 1926, to May, 1929.
The present minister, Rev. Rees T. Williams, was called to be their pastor in October, 1929, and is up to the present doing v/tll. He hails from Llwyngwril, Merionethshire, North Wales, .nnd was brought up in the Wesleyan church and com- menced to preach with that denomination, and came over to Bangor, Northampton County, and served the Welsh Meth- odist Episcopal Church in the town for a few years, until he was called to New Castle, where he was ordaineci to be a Con- gregational minister. He is a young man, a fluent speaker in English and Welsh, and the buoyancy of youth characterizes all his movements. We wish him well in this important field,
NEW YORK CITY Welsh Congregationalism in New York City, because of its geographical position and the friendly, social, religious affini-
62
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
ties existing between it and that of Pennsylvania, clainis a brief space in our story, though our object is to relate the history of our denomination in our state. The frequent presence of their • ministers and the active part they took in the proceedings of our Gymanfa we believe justifies this digression. The refer- ences made by Rev. R. D. Thomas (lorthyn Gwynedd) , who was pastor of our Welsh church in New York City in 1857, who afterwards became the pastor of our church at Mahanoy City, in a book he wrote in 1872 on the Welsh in America, are the bases of our information, relative to our church and its ministers in the Metropolis. It is well known to all who are convers.^nt with the activities of the Eastern and Southern States to secure their independence from Great Britain, that Philadelphia was the centre of the agitation in Colonial days, the leaders met to discuss and plan in this city which was looked upon then as the leading city of the country. Into her port came the immigrants from the various countries of the world, among them the Welsh people, and out of this city, the Welsh left in groups in 1795 and 1796 to Oneida County, New York, the Western part of Pennsylvania and the agricultural districts of Ohio; but soon after New York City became the possession of the government, it soon also became the leading seaport of the country, into which the Welsh as well as other nationalities flocked in large numbers. We find that a few Welsh were living in New York City as early as 1795; and that Welsh preaching was soon commenced here by Rev. John Williams (B.), the father of Rev. W. R. Williams, D. D., pastor of Amity Street, and Rev. Howell Powell, who was known in later years as Powell Palmyra, Ohio. It seems that Rev. Mr. Powell gath- ered the Welsh together in 1801 to hold religious services, and was the means of organizing a church made up of the three leading denominations in Wales in that period namely: Bap- tists, Calvinistic Methodists and Congregationalists. Mr. Powell was originally a Congregationalist, a brother of Rev. LI. R. Powell of Ebensburg, Penna., but had severed his connections with his former denomination, because of some theological dis- cussions that were rife in the Principality, and among the Welsh people at that time, though evidently never entirely lost his love for his Alma Mater, because he was on hand in the first Gymanfa held at Pittsburg, and was elected one of its officers and attended its annual gatherings for many years. These lead- ing denominations worshipped together in several districts be- fore they would select and build their own edifices. In the year 1822 Rev. James Davies, Llanfaircaereinion, originally from
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Aberhavesp, Montgomeryshire, Wales, came to this city and labored successfully for nine years; their place of worship then v/as on Mulberry Street, and in 1825 Rev. Shadrach Davies of Maendy, Glamorganshire, South Wales, came to be co-pastor with Rev. James Davies for some time, but soon after this, the mixed church was divided, when the Calvinistic Methodists de- cided to have a church of their own, though Shadrach Davies, a Congregationalist, continued to serve them as a minister for some time; this was the beginning of the C. M. church in New York City, following as their pastor came Rev. William Row- lands, D. D., a well-known popular preacher among the denom- ination to the end of his days.
The Congregationalists continued to worship in a school house on Mulberry Street under the direction and leadership of Rev. James Davies, until he left in the year 1831, when Rev. J. B. Cook, later of Danville, Penna., came to them, and served them for one year. In 1832, Rev. Jenkin Jenkins came and remained with them for three or four years. In 1836 came Rev. Jonathan J. Jones, and stayed till 1847. Rev. Mr. Jones was active in the annual meetings of our Gymanfa in its earlier stages, and was officer on several occasions. Rev. J. Morgan Thomas spent the year 1849 with them, then returned to Wales. In 1853 a young man, Griffith Griffiths of Festiniog, North Wales, who had been a student at Hackney College, London, came over to take charge of the church, and remained v^ith them until the beginning of 1857, when in the fall of the same year, Rev. R. D. Thomas (lorthyn Gwynedd) com- menced his labors here and tarried, doing his best with them until he moved in 1864 to take charge of our church at Mahanoy City — these latter names link our Gymanfa with New York City, and in our opinion justifies this deviation.
OLYPHANT, LACKAWANNA COUNTY
Olyphant is a flourishing town in the Lackawanna Valley, mid-way between Scranton and Carbondale. Welsh people came to reside here in the fifties, and, as is the rule with the Welsh, they very soon sought a place where they could gather together to worship. The Congregationalists and Calvinistic Methodists joined together to organize a union church in June 15, 1859. They met in a school-house to worship. John W. Evans, Con- gregationalist, and Thomas Jenkins, Methodist, were elected deacons, and William J. Hughes, Secretary, and at the beginning they elected two treasurers, but after further thought it was decided that only one was necessary, and they agreed to appoint
64
HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
John W. Evans to be the custodian of the purse. He was in- structed to pay Revs. John Davies and E. B. Evans $3.00 a Sunday for their services, and Revs. Thomas R. Jones and Lewis Williams $3.70 each for their services. We suppose that the distance decided the difference in the renumeration. However, they very soon saw that they could not afford to pay that much and pay it often, so they made some change in the arrangements, and on March 21st, 1860, they agreed to have one minister every other month, and pay him $2.50 for a full Sunday service. They agreed to have Rev. John Davies, Meth- odist, from Blakely, one month, and Rev. Lewis Williams, Congregationalist, the other. This arrangement was carried out until the school-house became too small for them. In the year 1867 they resolved to build a new church. The resolution is as follows: "At a special meeting held May 21, 1867, after a public notice being given Sunday last, it was unanimously agreed by the parties present to build a meeting house in this place, Olyphant, to preach the Gospel of Christ, to be called the Welsh Congregational Church, 40 feet by 31 and 16 feet high between the floor and the ceiling, and we do hereby nomin- ate and appoint the following persons to be the building com- mittee of the said church: — Rev. Lewis Williams, Thomas Jenkins, Benjamin Daniels, John W. Evans and Griffith A. Williams. Also, we, the parties present, do authorize the afore- said committee to erect and build the said church in the best manner and form, according to their judgment and ability to answer the situation of the members; and we further promise to assist the said committee to the uttermost of our ability to pay for the building of the said church.
Benjamin Daniels, Secretary."
The Delaware ^ Hudson Coal Company sold them a lot for $1.00, on the condition that it would revert unto them when religious services ceased to be conducted on it. The church was built and the cost amounted to $2,320.60, which was paid in a reasonable time. The building was dedicated February 16, 1868, and the following ministers took part in the services: Revs. E. R. Lewis, M. A. Ellis, Joseph E. Davies, D. Parry and E. B. Evans. In a few years after this the Calvinistic Methodists withdrew, leaving the Congregationalists to them- selves, and they at once reorganized as a Congregational Church and called Rev. Lewis Williams, Carbondale, to be their pastor. He accepted the call and served them faithfully until circum- stances took him elsewhere to live, and from that time to the present the following served them consecutively: —
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Rev. B. H. Williams— 1873 to 1875 Rev. Edmund Probert— 1880 to 1890 Rev. Peter Roberts— 1892 to 1900 Rev. Illtyd James — 1901 to 1902 Rev. Ceredig Davies — 1904 to 1906 Rev. Richard Powell —1906 to 1911 Rev. W. T. Holmes —1912 to 1916 Rev. J. Lewis Evans — 1920 to 1921 Rev. George Richards — 1923 to 1924 Rev. Chester H. Evans — 1930 (present pastor) The church has not been very strong numerically at any time; the period that Dr. Peter Roberts served was the most flourish- ing. The congregations then were large, filling the church edi- fice, many of whom were young, brimful of enthusiasm, co- operating with the ministers, and among the membership were good men of authority and influence in the mines. At later periods, under the direction of other leaders, seasons of activity have been realized, for people of talent and desire to work have been and are still members of this church. May the present young minister experience the truth of this statement now and in future years.
PARSONS, LUZERNE COUNTY The church was founded in 1871, but we have failed to find any particulars of the organization. The first minister that took charge of it was Mr. J. W. Williams, who came to them from West Austintown. Ohio, in answer to a call given him and was ordained on May 25, 1873. The ministers who officiated on the occasion were Revs. T. C. Edwards, Wilkes- Barre, and D. T. Davies, Taylorville, assisted by Mr. W. T. Walters, student, who was member of the church. This brother left Parsons to organize a church at Mill Creek, which is the origin of the church at Miners Mills. Following Mr. Williams came a number of other brethren, who ministered unto them for short periods, among them were E. R. Lewis, William Tudwal Williams, who was ordained there soon after his arrival from Wales, John F. Davies, Roderick Davies, J. J. Jenkins, William T. Holmes and others. The church never grew to be numerically strong, but they built a neat edifice on one of the Main Streets of the town, and struggled hard to pay for it, and to maintain services in it until they grew so weak, that the burden was too heavy for them to bear, that they decided to disband to join other churches in the neighborhood, and the property was turned over to the Trustees of the Gym- anfa for the use of the same.
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
PHOENIXVILLE, CHESTER COUNTY
This place is near Morristown near the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad that runs from Pottsville to Philadelphia. Al one time there were a few Welsh people worshipping God in their mother tongue in this place. They came here to work in the Iron Mills, but were not at any period sufficiently numer- ous to organize a church and build a place of worship. They held services for some years in their homes, also a Sunday School to read and study the word of God in the vernacular, but when the Welsh of religious inclinations moved away these services became extinct.
PITTSTON The Welsh Congregational Church at Pittston was organ- ized in 1847, and for nearly two years conducted services in the houses of members, most of whom lived in that section known as Welsh Hill, in the lower end of the city. Its first house of worship was erected on Pine Street in 1849, and the ground at the rear of the church building was used as a burial place. In 1860 the Pine Street property was sold to the Pittston school district, and the church building was transformed into a school house. The building still stands and is used as a residence. The bodies of the persons buried in the Pine Street burial ground were removed at the same time to Pittston Cemetery, and those not claimed and cared for by relatives, were buried in a plot of ground in the same cemetery, purchased by the church, which placed a monument on the plot recording the fact and date of removal. In 1860, when the Pine Street prop- erty was sold, land was purchased on La Grange Street, and a new church building erected at a cost of $3,000.00, a house for the pastor was also built at the rear of the church. This church building was remodeled in 1894. On Sunday, March 18, 1900, the church was destroyed by fire. Insurance amounting to $3,000.00 was used as a nucleus of a fund for the erection of a new house of worship, and the present modern church building was completed in 1901 ; the first service being held in the basement Sunday, February 10th, 1901. In the meantime services and Sunday School were held in the Y. M. C. A. build- ing.
David R. Lewis was the first settled pastor of the church. Other ministers who served in succession were E. B. Evans, Cadwalader Jones, E. R. Lewis, John R. Williams, Owen Owens, David Davies, Evan R. Jones, John Williams, J. G. Evans, William Joseph, Henry Whitby, D. M. George, J.
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
Vinson Stephens, D. Parry Jones, Morien Mon Hughes, Gwynedd Jones, Emrys Thomas. At present Rev. David Jones, D. D., of Scranton, is pastor in charge, waiting developments or a vision as to what is best to be done. Many of the staunch families, who were pillars of the church, have been removed by death, and others that were younger have moved across the river to West Pittston and other places, so that the few faithful ones still remaining, are hesitating as to what is their duty at the present time. It means a great sacrifice to the few to main- tain and carry on the services. The location where the church stands was known in the fifties as Welsh Hill; every house on the hill was occupied by Welsh people, who were members of the three Protestant churches built on the same street, viz.: Baptist, Congregational and Calvinistic Methodist, today it would be as proper to call it Italian Hill, as it was then to call it Welsh Hill. The people are entirely different, the houses and homes inhabited then by Welsh people are almost invariably occupied now by Italians. The C. M. church at the foot of the hill has disbanded more than forty years ago, and their church building converted into dwellings, the Baptist church decided within the last year to join another church of their denomin- ation in a more central part of the city, and have rented their church to an Italian Mission. The Congregational Church is the only one left on the hill, and they are in a quandary as to what to do. Their church building is a modern substantial one, built about thirty years ago, and the parsonage by its side is a well built up-to-date home, and they have also the old parsonage in the rear of the church, which is now occupied by the church caretaker. Our faithful, loyal friends are certainly in a dilemma as to what they should do; we have no vision, we hesitate to make any suggestions, because we feel it is not our province to do so.
We feel that we cannot justly nor graciously close the sketch of this church without making brief references to some people that have been particularly prominent in its history and the town for upwards of sixty years.
This was the first Welsh speaking church in the town, and it has kept this position during all these years, and it seems destined to be the last to close its doors for religious worship on this Welsh Hill. It has been leading, at all times through- out the years, in religious, moral, temperance, music and liter- ature. Literary meetings after the fashion of the Penny Read- ings in Wales, were arranged, conducted, fostered and nourished by the leaders of this church, assisted by members of the two
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
Other Welsh churches that were organized on this hill. These meetings grew in numbers and popularity until they were able to hold "Eisteddfodau" of no mean size and character, so that it is a matter of doubt whether the honor of holding the first Eisteddfod belongs to Pittston, Penna., or Utica, New York. The Evans families, who came here early in 1864, were of a literary turn of mind, and played a prominent part in all these matters. The records of these literary functions bear witness to the activity of Henry W. Evans, Plainsville, and David W. Evans of Oregon, as promoters and officers of these gatherings. Henry W., as he was known, was one of diversified talents, popular fifty years and more as a great entertainer up and down the valley. He was a writer, author, and recognized by the Gymanfa as a preacher of our order, and one of the first advo- cates of temperance and prohibition legislation in the valley, an anti-smoker, who did his best in a kind way to convince others of the injurious and bad influence of the habit. Henry W. and David W. and their wives had the interest of this church at heart all through the years, and were blessed with large families of children, who, to a great extent, are saturated with the spirit of their parents. William D. Owens in a later period became identified with this church. He was a man of great influence because of his mental abilities and position in the industrial affairs of the town, being a high official in the coal mines, he used both distinctions in favor of all that was noble and true in church and civic affairs. He was particularly interested in advancing the praise of the sanctuary, and gave valuable service to the Gymanfa, serving as editor of the music of the bilingual hymnal published for the use of our denomination. In co- operation with others of the committee he did his work well in the selection of tunes, in giving some of his own, and in harmonizing some melodies that were almost forgotten. The book was well received, and became popular in its use, and would result in a financial gain to the Gymanfa, if he were spared to us some time longer to look after the monetary end of the enterprise as the treasurer. Many other fine members have been connected with this church, but lack of space prohibits us to extend our remarks.
PITTSBURG ^
FIFTH AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
We are fortunate in having the early records of this church given us by a faithful scribe of this organization, Mr. Evan Davies, which he had prepared for the Jubilee celebration
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
held September 29th and 30th and October 1st, 1894. The church under its later charter was organized in 1 844, but the real original Welsh Congregational church in Pittsburg was established by Rev. George Roberts of Ebensburg in 1824, who was a brother to the leader Rev. John Roberts of Llanbrynmair, North Wales, and the first edifice was built in the section known in those days as Pipetown. By the year 1828 the building was too small to accommodate the adherents; just at this time a kind, generous offer came to them from the Presbyterians, to help them financially; the majority decided to join that de- nomination, but a minority that were staunch Congregational- ists refused to sacrifice their principles in order to unite, further- more, they refused to give up their place of worship to the Presbyterian group. They locked the door and kept the original deed and charter until they would be called for by a congrega- tional church, and it was unoccupied until the church which was formed under a new charter took possession of it in 1 844. Rev. Thomas Edwards commenced his ministry in 1836. He promised to labor among them for what they were able to give him not as Presbyterians but as Congregationalists. In the mean- time one, John Stephens, who was one of the trustees of the original church, went to Ohio, but before he left, he transferred to Rev. Thomas Edwards the deed and all the valuable docu- ments that pertained to the first church, which were in his charge from 1836 to 1844, when a day school was kept in it for several years.
In the reminiscences of Rev. Mr. Edwards, who came to Pittsburg in 1836, we have the following written by him to our dear lamented friend. Dr. T. C. Edwards, in response to a re- quest made in 1877. "The church was a mixture of Calvinistic Methodists (now called Welsh Presbyterians) and Independents (Congregationalists) numbering forty. The building was on the side of a hill near the place called Pipetown. It was a wooden structure, built in the shape of a cave, perhaps it was built after the pattern of the church Elijah had when the ravens contributed towards his maintenance. Three or four preachers had been 2xperimenting and practising their eloquence in this church of cave form building, and had been successful in driving almost, if not all the people away. Only a part of the building was used and only a part of it was swept and dusted when I came to fhem, and the part that was kept clean was that which was nearest the pulpit, so when the audience increased in num- ber the^ would be saluted in this manner, "Friends come on, come oa here, these pews are cleaner than those in the rear," — - and I had to be careful in the pulpit lest my black frock coat
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
would become like a miller's coat before I was through with my service, and oft times in spite of my cautious movements I would descend with my coat resembling that of a miller's, but my friendly invitation to the people to come to the front re- sulted in giving more attention to the sweeping and dusting of pulpit and pews, and the pastor and people were happier and more at ease to wear good clothes, being not afraid of coming, in contact with an accumulation of dust. As the result of hearty co-operation and the blessing of God on our combined efforts^ the church was revived and many were added to its number sO' that the cave formed structure became too small and consequently was enlarged.
Many Welsh people brought their letters from other churches, others were received on confession of faith, at one communion service, fifteen were added to its membership. "The dew was falling heavily on Israel in those days, that the church grew and prospered." During his ministry Mr. Edwards preached three times every Sunday, and the church increased to be two hundred strong. That period was a happy one in the history of the church, and a delightful one in the life and experience of the minister. Some time in that period, Mr. John Edwards, a preacher with the C. M., became a member of our fold, and the result was that many of the brethren made it known, that they were going to leave us, to form a church of their own denomin- ation, and in stating the matter before the church, they said they had nothing against the minister nor the church: "Then why," they were asked, "do you wish to leave us?" When Mr. John. Edwards, the recent recruit of the C. M. stood up and said, "I have no doubt, but that many wives are as good as Annie, my wife, but I prefer Annie to any other, and I rather be in her company than in the company of any other woman. I am a Methodist and with the Methodists I would rather be;" so a number of them left our church to organize a C. M. Church, yet some of them remained with us. The separation and de- parture were arranged harmoniously and in good order.
A misunderstanding arose between Mr. Edwards and the Presbyterian church, that he announced from the pulpit that he would preach in the old Congregational church the following Sunday and 120 went with him from the Presbyterian church, and the new church was organized under a new charter July 4, 1844. Inasmuch as the old building could not seat the con- gregation they built another church on the corner of Watson and Shingiss Streets, Pitts Township, and it was dedicated in December, 1844. They worshipped in it until 1849 when
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
they bought the Second Ward school house on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Ross Street, and made of it a fine church edifice. Rev. Thomas Edwards resigned the pastorate in 1853 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a striving, energetic pastor and left with the best wishes of the church following him, and according to his own written testimony the eight years he ministered unto them previous to the division was the happiest and most successful period in a religious sense of all his ministry.
In June, 1853, the church extended a call to Rev. John Morgan Thomas, and he was installed in October. The Rev. John Howes was ministering to the other church, and when Mr. Thomas came to be their pastor, both consulted each other in relation to the situation, as to the propriety of uniting the two churches. Committees were appointed by the two factions, and after several meetings they agreed to unite under their present charter. It is due to the memory of Rev. John Howes to state that he most willingly gave up his charge for the sake of peace, harmony and union. The united church worshipped in the building on Ross Street until they were forced to move by order of the city authorities, that they might have the space to build a new prison. The old building was sold to the County Commissioners for $25,000.00, and they erected a handsome temple on Fifth Avenue in 1883. To meet the convenience of the members that were living on the South side of the city, a new Congregational church was organized on Twentieth Street in 1868. Another church was organized at Lawrenceville in 1868, where services were held every Sunday and a prayer ser- vice on a week night. Another group of the church that lived in the neighborhood of Wood's Run joined with members of the Baptists and C. M. churches to hold their services in that dis- trict, and a number of them were encouraged to preach and exhort from time to time, among them were Daniel Phillips, William Watkins, Charles Owens, T. R. Jones, J. Pierce Thomas, Hugh W. Jones, Richard Owens and George James.
The ministers that served this church from the beginning are:
Rev. Thomas Edwards — left 1853.
Rev. John Morgan Thomas — resigned 1857.
Rev. Cadwalader D. Jones — left in 1859 and went to Pitts- ton.
Rev. Roderick R. Williams.
Rev. H. E. Thomas, who came over from Birkenhead, England, to minister unto them in July, 1869, and labored diligently in this field for twenty years. The church numbered
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
190 when Mr. Thomas arrived, but soon it took on a new life, and increased during his ministry and continued to flourish to the end of his days. This great man died December 9, 1889.
From April, 1891, to April, 1893, Rev. John Edwards, D. D., served as their pastor jointly with his own charge at the English Congregational on the South Side. On August 20th, 1893, Rev. J. Twyson Jones was called, and he began his labors on September 24th, and was very successful during his whole period with them. Sixty-four were added to the mem- bership in the first year of his ministry, and a fine organ was installed to help swell the volume of praise in the sanctuary. The Jubilee celebration was the high water mark in the history of the church. Throngs gathered together representing the Welsh people of the city, of all denominations for three days. This occurred while Mr. Jones was pastor. Soon after this, because of the Welsh speaking people getting fewer from year tc year, and the need of moving once more their place of wor- ship, because the old location was becoming crowded by the business and the traffic of the city, the glory of this splendid church began to fade and though valiant efforts were put forth to revive the interest, we regret to record that all the sacrifices made by the remnant of the Welsh Congregationalists to per- petuate its service were in vain. In a few years the organization was abandoned and the property sold long ago to another denomination.
PITTSBURG SOUTH SIDE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The original name of this part of the great city of Pittsburg was Birmingham, and by that name it was known when the Welsh people began to hold religious services in the district. The people interested in organizing this church were members of the Fifth Avenue or Ross Street Congregational church. When the Christian people in this neighborhood felt it their duty to arrange services for themselves and others in this part of the city, they held meetings from house to house as conven- iences were offered them, and would arrange preaching services every other Sunday in some place that was convenient. They continued this plan for seven years when they secured a church building for themselves. A church was organized here in 1868, and their first pastor was Rev. Thomas M. Davies, who was ordained for this church in 1869. The pastors that took part in forming the church were Rev. R. R. Williams, Rev. McFar- land and Thomas Edwards. Their number at the time was 42
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
all of them, except two, had their letters of dismissal from the church of Pittsburg. The church building was erected and dedicated November 15th, 1868, in less than five months after organizing the church. The debt was $7,500.00. They co- operated most wonderfully to pay for it, and all the indebted- ness was paid in a few years without going outside of Pittsburg to solicit. The memberhip in 1874 was 114, at that time the church enjoyed liberally and graciously of God's favors. The pastors that served them from time to time are the following. The list was kindly furnished us by Mr. A. J. Lloyd, who has been an officer and clerk of the church for forty years or more. The first pastor left for Bangor, Maine, after serving them up to January, 1870. The second pastor was Rev. Owen Owens of Bryn-Menyn, who came from Wales on September 4th, 1871, and continued with them until June 24th, 1877.
Rev. J. Gwawrfryn Evans, 1882-1884 — further details else- where.
Rev. D. M. George, 1888-1890 — further details elsewhere.
Rev. T. C. Benjamin, 1891-1896 — further details elsewhere.
Rev. William Surdival, 1898-1905 — further details else- where.
Rev. Howell M. Evans, 1906-1907 — details not known.
Rev. J. Vincent Jones, 1907-1909 — further notice else- where.
Rev. E. E. Clark, 1911-1913 — further notice elsewhere.
Rev. E. T. Thomas, 1914-1916 — further notice elsewhere.
Rev. William J. Richards, 1917-1924 — further notice else- where.
And several others up to the present day.
Mr. Lloyd must have been a good clerk to keep such a minute account of names and dates for such a long period. We would be glad to write a short paragraph about each one of these ser- vants if we had knowledge of them. In September, 1888, a group of 26 members took their letters from this church to form a Congregational church at Homestead. Rev. D. M. George, thtir pastor at the time, and Rev. A. E. Thomas, D. D., Pitts- burg, officiated at the organization of the new church. The Welsh language as the medium of worship in this sanctuary was discontinued many years ago.
PLYMOUTH, PA. Prayer meetings were held from house to house in Plymouth about the year 1853 by David Levi, David Morris, Enoch Powell and William Charles. When two or
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HISTORY OF CHURCHES — Continued
three other families came to the town, they arranged to conduct services in the old school-house on Welsh Hill. In 1864 another group of Welsh families came to Plymouth, and among them was Rev. T. J. Phillips, C. M., who was superintendent of the coal mines. This minister was the father of Colonel Rees Phillips, who became vice president of the Glen Alden Coal Company, and held that position until his health failed him. Some time later he died at Scranton.
The coming of Mr. Phillips to Plymouth led others who were religiously inclined to come here also, so that they soon grew sufficiently strong to organize a church, which they did in another school known as the Academy, in the lower part of the town, in 1864. Rev. David Jones, the first pastor of the First Welsh Church in Scranton, organized this church, and soon afterwards emigrated to Australia. The Welsh population in- creased very rapidly, which compelled them to seek a larger place to congregate. This they did in deciding to build a church, and in August, 1865, they had completed one that was considered at that time a large and beautiful edifice, ranked as one of the best of Welsh churches in the valley, at the cost of $2,000.00. The land was donated by an old gentleman by the name of Anderson Gaylord. The property was paid for in a short time by the diligent fraternity, without seeking help from anyone outside.
At this time the Congregationalists, Baptists and Welsh Pres- byterians congregated together to worhip in perfect harmony. They were ministered unto by Revs. T. J. Phillips, C. M., W. J. Lewis, C. M., and E. B. Evans; D. E. Evans and Mr, Daniel Hughes, Congregationalists.
But at the close of 1 866 the Baptists formed a church of their own under the auspices of the Welsh Baptist Gymanfa of the State, and in the end of 1867 the Welsh Presbyterians did the same under the direction of their denomination, so that the Congregationalists were left alone in the building. Their number was 45, and the Sunday School was 50. In the be- ginning of 1868 they extended a call of Mr. J. Pentyrch Evans to become their pastor. He came, and was ordained during the services of the Gymanfa of 1868. While here he was the means of adding a large number to the church, and was much loved by the members. One remarkable period in his ministry was the one in which they held three weeks of prayer meetings in February, 1869, and at the communion service held in March, 1869, twenty-five (25) young people were received into the church on confession of faith. The jubilant note caused by
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WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
this scene was evident in all the services until the following August. Then the Avondale disaster took place, when 108 men were closed in the mines, most of them Welsh, with no hopes of reaching them alive. The Congregational Church lost seven members, besides many faithful adherents.
In June. 1870. Rev. J. P. Evans resigned and moved away, and for 15 months the church was without a regular pastor. Rev. D. E. Evans, M. D. (Trelech) commenced his ministry here in September, 1871. He came to Plymouth from Hub- bard, Ohio. Dr. Evans began his ministry in earnest. He formed a Band of Hope for the children, and a Reading and Grammar Class for the young people. The fruits of these efforts soon became evident in selecting Jonathan Edwards (Nathan) and James Jones for the ministry. The two went to Bangor, Maine, to qualify themselves for this high calling, and others followed them.
The church continued to grow in grace, number and influ- ence. The old building became too small to accommodate the people, though they had added a gallery to the original struc- ture. The cry of the people was that of old. "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cord." This they did, and the new building cost them $7,000.00. The church was 200 strong, with 250 adherents, and the Sabbath School numbered on an average of 210 in attendance when the new church was dedicated in the Autumn of 1874.
Dr. Evans continued his service with the church until the year 1880. In 1881. Rev. J. W. Morris came from Severn Road Congregational Church, Canton, Cardiff, to be their pastor, and remained here for about eight years. While in this country and in Plymouth, he took active part in the activities of the church and town, as well as in the quarterly and annual meetings of the denomination, but for reasons unknown to us he decided to return to Wales, and was pastor of the church at Glyn-neath. Glamorganshire, until his health failed him. Fur- ther notice will be made of Mr. Morris in another section.
In 1893. Rev. B. Gwernydd Newton, a very promising and eloquent preacher came to the valley from Waterville. New York, where he had been pastor for a short period after his arrival from Wales. The chuch at this time was strong and flourishing, and enthusiastically invited him to become their minister, and in due time he was installed. He tarried with them for the space of two years. Then Rev. William John Jones was called and installed in 1897. After about three
76
HISTORY OF CHURCHES— Continued
years service he decided he would go westward, and accepted a call to Jones Road Congregational Church, Newburg, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, 1890.
Rev. Henry R. Hughes visited this church and preached for them the Sunday our late lamented President William McKinley died at Buffalo, New York, when all the country was cast into a dense gloom and great sorrow. Shortly after this he was called to become the pastor, and he commenced his minisrty the first Sunday in March, 1901. The installation took place when Rev. David Jones, D. D., and Rev. R. S. Jones, D. D., both of Scranton took part in the service. The former gave a charge to the church, and the latter a charge to the minister. Only one service was held because the epidemic of smallpox was prevalent in the town at the time. Rev. Hughes remained there for seventeen (17) years, probably the longest pastorate in the his- tory of the church up to the time of writing. He labored very acceptably to the church and the town. When he came, there was a heavy debt on the church building, but it was soon paid off, and the mortgages burned by Mrs. Picton and Mr. David Thomas, two of the oldest members of the church, in a public service held for the purpose.
Soon after this was done, they decided to have a pipe-organ for the church, and it was secured by writing to several parties who had influence, until finally the pastor, Rev. Hughes, was called to appear at the office of the late great philanthropist, Mr. Andrew Carnegie in New York City. He was accompanied to the off^ice there by the late Mr. John Lloyd Thomas, manager of the Mills Hotels, the son of the late Rev. Isaac Thomas. The result of the visit and the interview was a promise of an organ worth $3,000.00, Mr. Carnegie donating one-half the price, and the church to pay the other half. Without delay the in- strument was bought, brought to Plymouth and installed, and has been a great help to the praise of God in the sanctuary ever since.
Following this movement they thought it necessary to make some repairs to their church building, especially of having a new entrance to the main auditorium, and the securing of a number of rooms in the lower floor for week-night services and other needed functions of the church. These renovations cost the church many thousands of dollars, but the debt was paid in a short time, because the people had a heart to work and sacri- fice for the improvement of God's House.
Rev. Hughes received a call in December, 1917, to Youngs-
WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM IN PENNSYLVANIA
town, Ohio, and left Plymouth March 1, 1918, and is still there at the time of writing.
In 1919 Rev. D. L. Jones came to Plymouth from Wales, and tarried with them for just one year.
Following Rev. Jones came Rev. Samuel Whilding in 1921, also from Wales, who left for Gomer, Ohio, in 1922.
The present pastor, Rev. William Glyn Williams, came here in 1923 from Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and is doing well up to the present time. However, the foreign element has sup- planted the Welsh people in the mines, consequently this church as all other Protestant churches, especially Welsh, are not so prosperous and strong as they were in years gone by.
The Pilgrim Congregational Church is a direct off-shoot of this noble church, and indirectly other churches have had their support from it.
Five young men started out of this church to enter the ministry; four have done well, viz.: Rev. James Jones and Jonathan Edwards in 1873, Revs. D. R. Davies and Thomas P. Williams in 1876. The four have finished their earthly course, and William Lloyd Williams, son of the present pastor, was accepted as a candidate for the ministry in the last meeting of the Gymanfa in April, 1931, and is at present at Marietta College, Ohio.
POTTSVILLE Pottsville is the chief city of Schuylkill County, it is built on a low narrow space between the hills on the banks of the Schuylkill river, ninety-three miles North West of Phila- delphia, and around it there are many coal mines and iron works. Welsh religious services were commenced here in 1830, the three leading denominations in Wales — Baptists, Congrega- tionalists and Calvinistic Methodists were united in conducting the earlier services, but very soon they separated to have church- es of their own. Rev. E. B. Evans was the first minister of the Congregationalists; he was ordained on Christmas day in 1833 by the Rev. Lewis Williams of Carbondale and the Rev. Mc- Coll, Presbyterian. It seems that there were only two Congre- gational ministers in the state of Pennsylvania at that time namely, Revs. Daniel D. Jones of Bradford and Lewis Williams, Carbondale. During the year of his ordination Mr. Evans