CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS
A HISTORY OF THE
LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS IN
PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by
REV. D. H. FOCHT, A.M.
CHAPTER III
THE BLAIN CHARGE
The territory embraced in the Blain charge was until lately connected with the Loysville pastorate. As the Loysville charge was too large for one minister to serve, Rev. P. Willard requested that provision should be made for the employment of an assistant. Zion congregation at Blain, and St. Paul's in Madison Township, proposed such an assistant, and were willing to do their part towards supporting him; but for reasons not known by us, the congregation at Loysville was opposed to the employment of an assistant, and unwilling to aid in his support. As the Loysville charge required more labor than one minister could perform, and as the two congregations above named considered themselves fully able to support a pastor, they united in the formation of a new charge. For this purpose a meeting was called. On the 26th of October, 1858, the church-councils of Zion and St. Paul's congregations met, and passed the following preamble and resolutions:
"Whereas the Loysville charge is too large and laborious for one minister, and whereas the Loysville congregation refuses to employ the assistant named by the other part of the charge--- therefore---
"Resolved, That we hereby separate ourselves from the other part of the Loysville charge, and from ourselves into a new one, to be known by the name of the Blain charge.
"Resolved, That a copy of the above preamble and resolution be sent to the balance of the Loysville charge, and to the President of Synod of Central Pennsylvania, with the request that he publish the same in the Lutheran Observer.
Signed, "WILLIAM BRICKLEY, President.
"GEORGE STROUP, Secretary."
The Loysville pastorate being now divided into two separate charges, Rev. Willard resigned in November, 1858, and thus opened the way for each charge to call its own pastor.
