Page 3
History embalms the past, it collects the prominent events, customs, characters and valuable experiences of its times, carefully wraps them in suitable drapery and lays them away, as it were, in a store-house, to which we may go for examples that will influence and guide us in the accomplishment of greater achievements, since example is more powerful than precept.
The early history of many churches is very defective, on the account of the scarcity of records. It is gratifying to observe that there is a spirit of historical research awakening, and the effort is now being made to rescue from oblivion what little information remains relative to the origin and work of our early churches. Those who preceded us have realized the duty of preserving for the benefit and satisfaction of coming generations the history of this church. The records have been kept with care and precision. We are, therefore, not forced to rely upon tradition, or resort to the imaginative for the outline of the past.
ORIGIN AND LOCATION
The of history of DEER CREEK HARMONY CHURCH takes us back sixty-eight years, to a meeting held at Prospect School House on Wednesday, January 18 th, 1837, at which the nine following persons were present: Samuel Harper, Benjamin Silver, Sr.; Zephaniah Bayless, William Wilson, David Silver, Thomas C. Stump, Wm. F. Bayless and John Whitelock.
Benjamin Silver Sen. Was called to the chair, and Wm. F. Bayless appointed secretary.
The following resolutions were offered and adopted:
1. “That in the opinion of this meeting it is necessary and expedient that a house should be erected for the purpose of public worship, and to be occupied for a Sunday School.”
2. “That measures be immediately taken to collect funds for that purpose, and that David Silver, John H. Price and Samuel Harper be a committee to superintend the building of said house.”
At an adjourned meeting, held January 30 th, it was resolved, “That the church be located at or near the junction of the roads leading from Wm. Wilson’s mill and Dr. Thomas Worthington’s” (now Glenville).
At a meeting of the building committee on February 27 th Wm. F. Bayless was appointed treasurer and Zephaniah Bayless and Wm. Wilson were named as agents to enter into contracts with builders, etc.
The original building was located about twenty yards north from the present church. It was built of stone, thirty by forty feet, sixteen and a-half feet to the square, with a gallery across one end, and was covered with shingles. It had three doors, one in the end next to the road and in each side near the pulpit. There were two aisles lengthwise of the church. The mason work was done by Joshua Stephens.
The house was completed during the summer of 1837. The entire cost of the building, exclusive of the hauling, was $694.25.
The first religious services in the new church was the dedication on October 13 th, 1837. Rev. Wm. Finney preached the sermon. The meeting were continued four days. Rev. Finney was assisted by Sam’l Martin, D.D., of Slate Ridge, and Rev. John M. Dickey, of Oxford, PA.
Page | Title | Picture | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | >>