Smithfield Church

(1917-)

The Gospel Messenger Sept. 7, 1918 page 571 Vol. 67 No. 36

SMITHFIELD CHURCH, PENNSYLVANIA

Our church is just in its infancy. It formerly belonged to Clover Creek, Fairview and Martinsburg. The members here thought they could do better service by becoming self-supporting. Hence we organized in May, 1917, with Bro. Win. Ritchey, of Snake Spring, and Bro. W. H. Holsinger, of Williamsburg, presiding. The latter was elected as minister and presiding elder for one year. He is still with us, and we appreciate his efficient work. We held love feasts both in the spring and in the fall. The meetings were largely attended and were very inspiring. Our deacons elected were: Brethren Clarence Smith, Eli Hoover, Heister Smith and Calvin Baker; trustees: Brethren Fred Oaks and John Furry. We elected Bro. Heister Smith as Sunday-school superintendent, and he is making the school what it ought to be. We hope to be rated as a Front-line school at the time of the Convention, to be held in Altoona the latter part of this month.

  No report was given of our series of meetings, held last winter by Bro. S. I. Brumbaugh, of Riddlesburg, Pa. Through his efforts nine Sunday-school pupils were baptized.

  Our last quarterly council was held Saturday, Aug. 3, our elder, Bro. W. H. Holsinger, presiding. We decided to hold our love feast on Sunday evening, Oct. 20, at 6 o'clock. Brethren D. T. Detwiller and James Sell will assist our elder.

  Our church held an all-day Harvest meeting last Sunday, conducted by Bro. Fred Zook, of Martinsburg, who spoke in the morning. The program in the afternoon consisted of recitations and songs. Bro. Littleton, of the Martinsburg Methodist church, conducted the devotional service, and then spoke on the subject of "Service." Bro. Zook then spoke to the mothers on the subject: "Take This Child and Raise It for Me." An offering was then lifted, amounting to $28, which was given to the Old Folks' Home, Martinsburg.

  Sister Replogle, of New Enterprise, will come to our church in the near future, to tell of her intended work in the mission field. Bro. T. T. Myers, of Juniata College, will be with us some time next month, to serve in a Bible

Institute. John Perrin. Barbara, Pa.