|
Page 56
CHURCHES
CHAPTER XII
THE first known religious services held in Brady Township took place
in the bar room of the tavern of Lebbeus Luther, at Luthersburg,
probably about 1825. To now speak of a religious meeting being held
in a bar room is somewhat shocking, but it must be remembered at
that time the manufacturing and dealing in liquor had not become an
unethical occupation. Beer in this locality was not known, and the
sale of hard liquor was limited. It was a great disgrace to become
drunk, and throughout Brady Township there were but two known
"topers", who were looked upon with contempt and pity in not being
able to control their appetite. Again, the bar room was a public
institution for all kinds of meetings.
At this time, hymn books were unknown, and Bibles were very scarce.
The minister had to be able to lead the singing, and he used the
"lining system" for hymns, that is, he would read two lines, or
maybe a verse of four lines of the hymn, which would be sung by the
congregation, and then another "lining" until the hymn was
completed. This was before the age of clocks and lights. All evening
meetings were announced for "early candlelight", and when a meeting
was held in the evening, the patrons usually carried tallow candles
with them for lighting purposes.
As before stated, the first building for public purposes was a log
building erected in the cemetery at Luthersburg.
The Sunday School is usually the forerunner of churches. The first
Sunday School held in the Beightol School House, or "sheep pen", was
organized in the spring or summer of about 1860, and Samuel
Postlethwait was the superintendent. A Sunday School did not exist
in winter. The school building would be cold, and it required the
wading through the snow long distances for the children to get
there.
After John Rumbarger became the purchaser of the David Heberling
farm, in 1865, a Sunday School was opened in the old school house at
the south side of the city.
It was related that in the whole neighborhood, no one was found
capable of making an audible prayer. The people of the time were
deeply religious, and a leader of a Sunday School must be able to
pray. They searched the community, and finally discovered Mr. A. J.
King, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Luthersburg, who
lived about three miles from the school house, who was interviewed,
and agreed to take charge of the Sunday School. Mr. King could
neither read nor write, but he was a fervent member of the church,
and all he was asked to do was to do the praying. This Sun-
|
