The Following Information Has Been Taken from "The Parish Dial" Edited

The following information has been taken from The Parish Dial edited by The Rev. T. F. Caskey and dated 1876. These excerpts are in two parts. The first part covers Parish Dial issues from January to December 1876 and the pages number from 1 to 388. The second part covers Parish Dial issues from January to September 1877 and the pages number from 1 to 258. “ „Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, and ask them what report they bore to heaven, and how they might have borne more welcome news.” From the January 1876 Issue We begin the publication of The Parish Dial in an auspicious time. Our parish has just entered the tenth year of its corporate life. This is our Decennial Jubilee. Historical Sketch of Trinity Parish Those present at a meeting 28 December, 1865 concerned with "the project of an Episcopal church for the West End" were Messrs. Peter Herdic, John A. Wilson, W. Dwight, A .L. Tyler, George Hoppes and Henry F. Snyder. Mr. Herdic, chairman and Mr. Wilson, secretary. The secretary had prepared a charter, which was read, adopted and ordered sent to the proper court of the county for confirmation, and to the bishop and standing committee of the diocese for ecclesiastical sanction. $15,000 had been subscribed toward a building fund. On motion of Mr. Tyler, The Rev. Henry S. Spackman of Philadelphia was elected the first rector at a salary of $1,500 and a house rent free. Rev. Spackman accepted in a letter dated 1 January 1866. The first service was held the following Sunday in the Price Methodist Episcopal Chapel. The congregation continued to worship in the Methodist Church until the Chapel on Vine Street was finished. The first service held in the new chapel was on Trinity Sunday, 1866. The Reverend Spackman resigned 21 September 1868. The history of this first rectorate is unwritten. Second rector was the Rev. Charles T. Steck, January 1869 to January 1870. There are no records of his ministerial work. An interval of 5 months followed with the Rev. J. H. Black temporarily officiating. The third rector was The Rev. Arthur Brooks who entered at once upon the work of building up the parish. It was thought that the time had come for the building of the new church. Messrs. Herdic, Snyder and Wilson reported in favor of a stone church, to seat about 500 persons and to cost not less than $20,000. Mr. Fred G. Thorn, architect, made a set of drawings, and these were adopted at a Vestry meeting 1 July, 1871. Building committee then elected included Messrs. J. W. Maynard, P. Herdic, John A. Wilson, H. F. Snyder and Charles Hebard. Mr. Herdic deeded the land for the new church, on the corner of Fourth and then Herdic streets (now Trinity Place), and was formerly accepted at a Vestry meeting 14 July 1871. The cornerstone was laid 6 P.M., Saturday, 15 July 1871. At that time The Right Rev. Bishop William Bacon Stevens, The Rev. Arthur Brooks, The Rev. Dr. Paret, of Christ Church; A. P. Brush of St. James', Muncy, H. M. Jarvis, of The Church of Our Saviour., Montoursville; other visiting clergy and the wardens and Vestry of the parish assembled in the Lumberman's National Bank and proceeded in procession to the northeast corner of the foundation of the new building, singing the 122nd psalm. The Rev. Brooks addressed the people. After a prayer by the bishop and the singing of a hymn, the inscription upon the stone was read and the following articles deposited therein: a copy of the Bible and Book of Common Prayer, copies of church and city papers, journal of the last general convocation, a short history of the organization and progress of Trinity Church, list of the then officers and copies of the pamphlets and cards published by the parish during the preceding year. The cornerstone being then laid in its place, the Bishop struck it 3 times with a hammer and said; “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I lay the cornerstone of an edifice to be here erected, by the name of Trinity Church, Williamsport, and to be devoted to the services of Almighty God, agreeably to the principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its doctrines, ministry, liturgy, rites and usages. Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, even Jesus Christ, who is God over all, blessed for evermore: and in whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Amen." The 79th selection from the Psalms of David in metre was then sung, after which Bishop Stevens offered prayers for the divine guidance, protection and blessing. The Rev. Dr. Paret congratulated the officers and other members upon the near prospect of a commodious house of worship. Bishop Stevens made the closing address. After the laying of the cornerstone it was found necessary to change somewhat the ground plan of the church. This caused a delay of several months and, Winter coming on, work was suspended. The Rev. Mr. Brooks resigned 18 February 1872 to be effective the first Sunday in April. (The Rev. Mr. Brooks was going to St. James', Chicago) the fourth rector was the Rev. Toliver F. Caskey of New York, called 5 may 1872. Here follows an article entitled "Trinity Free Reading Room" - pages 10 - 13 and pages 14 - 16 contains an article on the Maynard Chime. The Fair (pg. 27) When it became evident to the ladies of the parish that the penny collection fund would be inadequate to furnish the new church, it was proposed to raise additional funds by holding a fair and festival, and to use these funds for the purchase of a carpet. Elected managers were the Mrs. H. Merriman, R. M. Forsman, H. L. Beck, H. C. Beard, G. B. Moore and Jaudon Smith. Weekly meetings were held. "Needles and hours ran races." The Fair and Festival opened Thursday, December 9th at 92 Market Street and continued every day (except Sunday) until December 14th. Profit was $600.00 plus $350.00 from the penny fund. The carpet was expected to cost $1,350. The thanks of the parishioners of Trinity Church, and of all who enjoy the music of the bells, are due to B. S. Bentley, Jr., Esq., who so kindly volunteered to ring the chimes until a regular chimer could be obtained. He plays with admirable taste and skill, and, though inexperienced in bell music, rarely, if ever, misses a note. He has consented to preside at the levers on Consecration Day. A Noble Gift (pg. 28) Mr. Peter Herdic intends to present to Trinity Parish the beautiful stone church on the corner of Fourth and Herdic streets. At the request of Mr. Herdic, Bishop Howe has appointed Tuesday, February 22nd for the consecration. The Order of Services for Consecration Day: 10 A.M. Chimes 10:30 A.M. Consecration Service by the Rt. Rev. M. A. DeWolfe Howe, D.D. assisted by the Rt. Rev. William Bacon Stevens, D.D., L.L.D., of Pennsylvania 11 A.M. Morning Prayer and Holy Communion: Sermon by The Rev. Arthur Brooks of New York City 3:30 P.M. Children's Service and Baptism 6:30 P.M. Chimes 7 P.M. Evening Prayer: Sermon by The Rt. Rev. Bishop Stevens Some facts about The Parish Dial are found on page 30 This issue ends with a poem entitled "The Clay and The Potter" author unknown and also a poem entitled "The Song" by Goethe. From the February 1876 issue Historical sketch of Trinity Parish - continued The Story of the Building and Its Exterior Appearance In August 1872 Mr. Herdic retired from the building committee and offered to construct the building for $25,000. The offer was accepted. The second building committee included: Messrs. J. W. Maynard, H .F. Snyder, J. H. Gulick and G. B. Moore. The foundation wall had already been constructed as high as the water table, included 580 perch of stone and being done by Mr. D. P. Guise. Contract awarded to Mr. D. Steumpfle for building the walls of the superstructure. The Vestry had wisely determined to build the church of stone. It is durable and lasts for ages. The further fitness of stone appears in the fact that it is not of man's manufacture. It was the divine hand that lifted up the great mountains and stayed them with ribs of stone. Out of these ribs we fitly quarry the material for our sacred buildings, and so fulfill the scripture: "all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house, for thy holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own." The stone for Trinity Church is a product of the neighborhood, being quarried from the sides of Bald Eagle Mountain, at Stone Switch, near Muncy. An appropriate material being obtained, the next step is its appropriate use. What style of architecture shall be adopted? The gothic style was chosen with its pointed arch, the acute pitch of the roof, the soaring pinnacles -- all directing attention upwards. It seems like some aspiring psalm of David, or some rapt passage of St. John done into stone. This is especially true of the chaste and lovely early English, in the spirit of which Trinity Church was designed. The drawings were prepared by Fred G. Thorn, formerly of Williamsport, then of Philadelphia. He was assisted in the preparation of the ground plan by the practical suggestions and churchly taste of John A.

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