Chapter VI- Churches

 Millville - The First 200 Years

Chapter VI

Churches

With that devotion for which Quakers have long been noted, the early settlers gathered in one another's homes for worship almost from the time of their arrival.

Under the guiding hand of the Exter Meeting in Berks County, Indulged Meetings were held at Catawissa, Roaring Creek, and Fishing Creek (Millville) as well as Muncy. An Indulged Meeting is one not fully established and is held by permission of an established one.

In 1796, Exter and the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting endorsed the establishment of the "Cotowesey Monthly Meeting." This was to be composed of residents "residing within the verge or belonging to the several meetings of Roaring Creek, Cotowessey, Fishing Creek, and Muncy." The Monthly Meeting is the business organization of the Society of Friends.

All early Meeting Houses had a dividing center partition with shutters that could be closed. The women sat on one side, the men on the other. During the worship service, the shutters remained open, but during the business meeting, they were closed. Each sex had its own problems, conducted its own business meetings, had its own secretary and kept detailed accounts of the Meeting as a whole as well as incidents in the lives of individual members.

The first Meeting Houses were of logs and that at Catawissa still stands and is being restored. That at Millville was built in 1795. The Indulged Meeting had grown so large that by 1845 it needed more room. Early minutes show that subscriptions were raised and the building was completed in 1846. Through the concern of George Masters, this was of brick. In his will dated the eleventh month, 1845, Samuel Eves left $50 to the building fund should the Meeting House be completed by a fixed date. It was, and the amount was paid.

John Legget was the bricklayer and his sons, William and John, were the plasterers. Carpenters were John W., Wilson M., John K. Eves, and Uriah Mills. The larger posts were turned by Amos Heacock at the Eves Wagon Works. The lumber was dried in the little schoolhouse that had been built at the western end of the lot. This wood has grown more beautiful with the passing years.

The benches with the two panels in the back are original benches from the log Meeting House, as is the latch on the middle door. The west porch was added in 1905. The grandfather clock, the original John Eves clock, was loaned to the Meeting by members of the Henrie family.

In the old burying ground along the left side of the upper path, are the graves of John and Edith Eves. Nearby are the graves of several Indians who lived with members of the Society in the early days.

The Fishing Creek Monthly Meeting was established in 1856 and the name was changed to Millville in 1893.

Greenwood Meeting House, about a mile out of Millville on the Rohrsburg Road, was erected in 1846 after the split between the Orthodox and Hicksite Friends. The Orthodox group worshipped in Greenwood and clung to traditional Quaker garb until the early part of this century. This schism ended in 1951. The differences were deep but often treated lightly. When asked to explain them, one member said that as far as she knew, the only difference was that one group cut their pickles lengthwise and the other crosswise.

In 1832, Roaring Creek Friends suggested to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting the establishment of a half-yearly Meeting at Millville. Roaring Creek and Muncy were included, and the first session convened on October 18, 1834. Thomas G. Rich was appointed clerk. William Watson, James Millard, James Stokes, and Benjamin Kester were elected delegates to the ensuing Yearly Meeting in Philadelphia.

The Millville Meeting House has changed little in the last hundred years. Only the heating system, the interior paint, and the carpet on the floor have made any difference in this place of worship since the first decoration was done. The heating system originally consisted of two wood-burning stoves located on either side of the center wall. They were replaced by two oil-burning heaters a score years ago. The floor, which originally was bare board, had later been covered with a thin carpet, more to protect the floor than adorn the hall. In 1970 this covering was removed and a layer of chipboard was installed to level the rough boards. Over this, a heavy wool carpet was laid.

Some structural work has been necessary over the years to renew the floor stringers that slowly decayed with dry rot. No records have been maintained of early repairs. Recently the joists were replaced under several sections.

What at first served as the women’s side has changed more markedly. The pews have been removed, the raised front platform lowered to floor level, and the area converted to serve as a classroom for the First Day School sessions. Even a small kitchen is partitioned for use at those oft-held dinner meetings

    The membership of the meeting continues to decrease with the passing of the years. A total membership of 43 now is recorded for the Monthly Meeting. This is down from 185 in 1881 when the Meeting was at its peak. Even the present membership does not accurately reflect the condition of the Society. Many of the members were former residents of the community who have continued in membership after leaving the area. Normally, eight or ten now worship in this building which stands as a reminder that the community was settled by a member of this faith.

The Quakers held a monopoly on religious worship in the community for only a few years. Methodism had adherents among the early settlers of the Greenwood Valley. The first service was held in 1809 in Thomas Eves' mill. A class of eleven was formed, among whom were William, Lydia, John and Mary Robbins, Elizabeth Richie, Mary Richie, and Jacob Evans- who was appointed the leader.

John Robbins, a member of the original class, offered the use of his barn at Iola for religious services and continued as the meeting place of the Methodists for sixteen years. However, nearly seventy-five years were to pass before a church building would be erected in the town of Millville.

The first Methodist church to be built in the area was on or very near the site of the present Greenwood church. It was a two-story structure, built in 1825, and was used until about 1857 when it was declared unsafe.

Millville was a preaching appointment as early as 1888. At least some of the services in these years were held in the Free Church, which now is the Christian Church. In 1896 the Methodists accepted the offer of John Christian to use for one year the opera hall on the second floor of the building he had just finished and which is now the State and Walnut Street building. A Sunday School of a hundred persons met weekly.

That same year an intensive canvas for funds was made for a church. The cornerstone for the brick church on South State Street was laid on June 6, 1897, and the church was dedicated on November 14, 1897. The total cost was $3,500. In 1902 a large bell was placed in the belfry as a gift from L. P. Kline, a devoted layman of the church.

The church basement was excavated, cemented, and equipped in 1913 for use as a social room and kitchen. New pews and carpets were installed in 1928. An education unit was added to the back of the church for the children's classes in 1942.

No known record exists which would reveal how long William Pegg's home near Jerseytown continued as an appointment. It could be possible that a Methodist society had its origin there and continued without interruption all through the years. In a class book dated 1839, we find the following family names as members: Funston, Thomas, Sproul, Johnston, Smith, Barber, Whipple, Welliver, Armstrong, Crawford, Haslet, Woodruff, Kitchen, Hendershot, Stout, Eves and Robins, Amos Yeager and John Smith are listed as the class leaders.

The first church at Jerseytown was built about 1835 at the top of the hill on the north side of the road leading to White Hall.  The one-story frame structure was painted white and had green shutters when abandoned in 1900. A boardwalk extended from the railroad station to the church.

A new church was erected of native limestone in the village and dedicated on January 6, 1901, the cost being more than $5,000. At the time of dedication, it was considered the finest rural Methodist church in the district.

Pine Summit was a preaching appointment known as Lyons for some years before a subscription list was circulated in January 1847, to secure contributions for a church. Joseph Lyons gave the land, which is just across the county line from Columbia County in Lycoming County. A small one-room frame structure was dedicated on October 31, 1847. In 1953‑ 54 the church was moved on to a new foundation and now included a basement and an additional room at the back of the building.

The first church in Iola was built in 1850 on land donated by Woodrow Robbins and replaced by the present structure erected in 1882. The latter building was patterned after the Methodist church at Stillwater. An addition was made in 1953 to the rear of the one-room frame building.

Eyers Grove was a preaching appointment as early as 1860. In 1868 construction was begun for a church in the village on land provided by Jacob Eyer, founder of the community, for a consideration of one dollar. The one-room frame building was dedicated on June 3, 1869. The church was extensively repaired and a bell was installed in the church tower in 1891.

    In 1899, the church was thoroughly remodeled. Revival services followed which resulted in the erection of a church at Ikelers in Mt. Pleasant township. A social hall was added in 1922 and a new kitchen was added at the rear of the hall in 1943.

    After the first Methodist Church located at Greenwood was abandoned about 1857, twenty-five years passed before the cornerstone was laid for a new church. The one-room frame building was dedicated on December 9, 1883, having cost $1100. Thirty years ago the former schoolhouse across the road was purchased and used as a social hall. In 1960 an addition for use of Sunday School classes and social functions was made on the east side of the church.

    The Chestnut Ridge appointment, northeast of Millville, was formed in 1881 and a church was completed there the following year. The church was abandoned many years ago.

    The Ikelers church was dedicated on September 30, 1900. This one-room frame building cost $1500. In 1919, the church was closed due to the very few people supporting it. It was reopened in 1946 and merged with the Eyers Grove church in 1955.

    Pine Center Methodist church was originally a Lutheran Church the one-room frame building having been dedicated on May 4, 1880. After some years the Lutheran congregation was disbanded. The Evangelical Association then had a congregation here for some years. In 1946, the Methodists bought the building and organized a church which has continued through these years. A basement was added in 1965‑ 66.

    The hamlet of Sereno never had a church but was a Methodist preaching appointment as early as 1863. At various times through these years, Methodist ministers have conducted services there, usually in the school house. There has also been a Sunday School and at one time a Christian Endeavor Society.

    Mordansville was also a preaching appointment for some years around the turn of the century but a church was never built there.

    The churches have been assigned to different charges or circuits since their beginnings as preaching appointments. The present alignment of these churches and the names of the charges are as follows:

    Millville- which includes Greenwood, served by The Reverend Roger Q. Burtner.

    Jerseytown‑Eyers Grove, which includes Iola and Pine Summit, was served by The Reverend Carmer P. Shelhamer.

    Pine Center is a part of Unityville Charge.

    A cemetery adjoins each of these church buildings: Eyers Grove, Greenwood, Pine Summit, Pine Center, and Ikelers.

    All the Methodist churches in this history were a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church from their beginnings. In 1939, three branches of Methodism, including the M. E. Church, became The Methodist Church. The merger of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church in 1968 resulted in the present name‑ The United Methodist Church.

    The congregation of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Millville was organized on April 9, 1893, by Rev. P.A. Heilman of Bloomsburg. However, the Lutheran-minded people of the community of Millville had been worshipping together for several years prior to this date of organization in the Free Church of Millville. This was actually a community church and was used for worship on a planned schedule by the forerunners of the Christian, Methodist, and Lutheran congregations. This church building has since become the house of the Christian congregation.

    The Lutheran services of worship in the Free Church were conducted by clergymen coming in from neighboring towns where there was a Lutheran Church. On December 16, 1892, John Brunner and Richard Johnson, who were leaders of the group which organized into St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, purchased a lot from Susan Heller, on the corner of Center and Walnut Streets where the present Lutheran Church now stands.

    The original building has had several renovations and some extensive additions. In 1937, two Sunday School rooms were added to the facility. The basement was excavated in 1948 and 49 to provide room for an extensive kitchen and additional Sunday school rooms. A major remodeling of the complete first floor was made in 1953 and a redecorating of the sanctuary that year.

    The Reverend C.W. Sechrist of the Espy charge was the first pastor called to supply the congregation after its organization. Before a year had expired, on May 1, 1894, the Espy charge was divided and the St. Paul congregation was placed with Buckhorn and New Columbia to form the Buckhorn charge. St. Pains remained a part of the Buckhorn charge until the meeting of the Susquehanna Synod on May 7, 1897, when it was decided that Millville should withdraw and form a separate charge.

    The Millville Lutheran church continued to function alone until 1920 when Synod took action forming the Millville Pastoral Charge, composed of St. Paul’s, Immanuel, and St. Johns. (the latter two better known as Katy's and Gordner's.) In 1951 the Lairdsville Lutheran church was added to the Parish on a temporary basis.

    The following is a list of the Pastors and their approximate years of service, who were regularly called and served as Pastors during these seventy-five years.

 

Rev. C. W. Sechrist                 1893‑ 94                       

 Rev. P.B. Fasold                     1894‑ 96

Rev. M. M. Albeck                  1896‑ 99                        

Rev. George Easterday            1904‑ 05

Rev. J. E. Zerger                      1907‑ 08                        

Rev. Frank Manhart                1908‑ 16

Rev. B. A. Peters                     1916‑ 18 

Rev. Herbert Messner             1919‑ 21

Rev. Charles Held                   1922‑ 23                        

Rev. Pierce M. Willard           1928‑ 42

Rev. George M. Walborn        1943‑ 45                        

Rev. Norman Bortner              1945‑ 50

Rev. Robert M. Arentz             1951‑ 54                        

Rev. R. Eugene Smith              1954‑ 59

Rev. Gerald Foose                    1961‑ 64                        

Rev. James A. DeLong             1966‑ 68

 

    During the intervals in which there was no regular pastor, students from Susquehanna University and Gettysburg Theological Seminary supplied the church.

    In 1970, the Millville Lutheran Parish entered into a program of Intern training and Pastoral care which is unique in the life of the Lutheran Church in America. Students of Theological Seminaries spend a year in the Parish, learning what a pastor's role will be to do the job. They are supervised by an ordained Minister and work together as a team to provide Pastoral care. The student serving in this capacity for 1970‑ 71 was David Ritterpusch and for 1971‑ 72 Gary Mahood with the Supervising Pastor, Charles L. Lady.

    A number of citizens of Millville met together on February 21, 1880, to discuss the advisability of erecting a church building in Millville for the use of all religious bodies. At this meeting, it was decided to build a church building for community use. Samuel Kisner, Richard Johnson, and Josiah Heacock were elected to serve as the financial and construction committees. The building was completed that same year and was dedicated in November 1880.

    For many years it was used as a Union Church and was called "The Free Church". People from all walks of life came and worshipped together, and the religious needs of many people throughout Millville were met and fulfilled. The "Free Church" certainly was a deciding factor in community life. Sometime later the Lutheran and Methodist churches were built‑ and those who remained at the Free Church formed what is known today as The Millville Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

    The Christian Church was incorporated on September 8, 1908. The following were charter members: Josiah Heacock, Hannah Heacock, William Dugan, Mrs. William Dugan, H. W. Kisner, Mrs. H. W. Kisner, Harry Buck, Myra Buck, H. T. Parker, Edith Parker, Tillman Stadler, Elmira Stadler, Grace Montague, Myra Reese, Mrs. John Lee, Emma Watts, Mrs. Lydia Watts, Mary Brunstetter, and Mrs. Sarah Holdren.

    The first Trustees were: H. W. Kisner, William Dugan, and H. T. Parker.

    We know that many anxious moments were spent as to the "Doctrine" of that early church. They taught that God is our Father in heaven‑ that Jesus Christ is His Son and the Saviour of Sinners; that the Holy Spirit is the comforter, revealer, and interpreter of God's word and God's way, given to all who obey God and ask for him; that man in his natural state does not know God and must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of heaven; and that man will live forever and be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body. They believed that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life. They believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save sinners. They believed in the church and in the Kingdom of God . . .

    Yet the Christian Church had no written authoritative statement of doctrine. Why? Because they believed that the New Testament was a sufficiently simple and clear statement of the contents of a Christian's privilege and duty.

    With this simple doctrine, the Millville Christian Church grew in membership, and in 1926 the church building was remodeled and redecorated at a cost of Five Thousand Dollars and was rededicated on September 26, 1926. The remodeling provided five Bible School classrooms in addition to the auditorium.

    For many years baptism had been a storm center for the church and it was still the occasion of much thought. But with the New Testament in their hands, they knew it shouldn't be too hard to decide its place in spiritual experience. They said it should be thought of, and received, in the same spirit in which we approach prayer. We should neither overemphasize nor undervalue it.. for they believed that it had a place in the organization and spirituality of the church. Finally, they agreed on the mode, immersion. So in 1926 along with the remodeling and redecorating they installed a baptistery.

    Later new pews, a pulpit, and a Hammond Electric Organ were purchased and installed. In 1943 an addition was built to the rear of the church to provide for social activities and additional classrooms.

Again in 1948 a basement to the church was made which provided for a modern kitchen and dining room. Then in October 1955, a congregational meeting was called to consider needed repairs to the church building. After much discussion, it was decided that as the building needed so many repairs‑ it would be advisable to put on an extensive remodeling and redecorating program to meet present and future needs.

A building committee of five was selected to secure a working architect and proceed with the plans. The following were members of that committee: Maus Eyer, Raymond Zarr, Eudelle Kline, Ralph Titman, and Mrs. Ryland Lawton. At the same time, a finance committee was established consisting of the following: Raymond Zarr, Ryland Lawton, Mrs. Maus Eyer, Rea Lawton, Mrs. Edna Brooks, Lee Poust, Mrs. D. W. Woolcock, and G. Lee Lunger.

After much work in preparation, the bids from the contractors were received and the church authorized the committee to proceed with the work. During the remodeling program, the services of the Church and the Bible School were held at Millville High School.

Sunday, May 5, 1957‑ the Millville Christian Church was re­ dedicated. And on that same day‑ Rev. G. Lee Lunger completed his thirty-fourth year as a minister. His ministry began Sunday, May 13, 1923. He would be called again when the Church was with­ out the service of a pastor to help this group. He eventually served this church for thirty‑ seven years and was revered throughout the area.

Since 1957, the membership has grown to 265 members‑ and many improvements have been made to the buildings and grounds that surround this structure.

The following is a list of ministers that have served the church: M. S. Lair, H. J. Lunger, H. C. Maltman, E. C. Lunger, Calvin Diehl, M. S. Kitchen, G. Lee Lunger, Cyril Huston served approximately one year before G. Lee Lunger returned until 1961. Kermit Clickner came in 1961 and in 1966 Richard Ryder who completed his studies while serving the charge relieved him.

Rev. Ryder's contributions to this collection have filled in the details and his conviction to "lift the heritage that we have in the community of Millville" is commendable.

The Presbyterian Church at Rohrsburg dates to 1843. Philip Sipley, Elias Smith, James Wilson, and Charles Fortner were a­mong the original members. Services were held in William Mather's barn until 1850 when a church was built.

The Christian Church in Rohrsburg was organized on August 4, 1870, with a congregation of 31. Services were held in Appleman's shop until the following year when a house of worship was completed.

This denomination also was represented in Millville and occasional services were held in a school room of Greenwood Seminary. On February 21, 1880, a number of citizens met there to consider the feasibility of erecting a church building for the use of all denominations. In November of the same year the "Free Church" was dedicated.

Greenwood Evangelical church, embraced in the Waller Circuit, was established on April 22, 1880. The first services were at the home of Eli Welliver, and the following year a church was constructed.

Four churches, each serving a segment of the town's population, continue today much as they did since the Lutherans erected their own building and left the Free Church to the Christian Church. Few would attempt to predict the status of these institutions of worship either singly or jointly over a like period into the future. Most would desire to see a revival of religious fervor that would burst the walls of the small structures and carry them to a new period of growth like that of the 1800s.

 

Additions and corrections made for this Second Edition. DBG

Second Edition- Copyright Dean B. Girton Dec. 30, 2022