William M. Landis
In September of 1883 Rev. William Landis became our Pastor. On May 31, 1897, the consistory and Pastor Landis refused to go along with the suggestion of West Susquehanna Classes to realign one of its charges to include Middleburg, Beavertown, Troxelville and Zeibers Churches. They did not wish to see Beavertown and Troxelville removed from the charge.
His report to his congregation at the end of his first year's work is very commendable. Membership In 1884, 475: Salem, 110; Grace, 96; St. John's, 140; Samuel's, 80; and St. Paul's, 45. Thirty-two children and one adult were baptized. Sixty-two attended three confirmation classes in 1883 and 42 of them were confirmed. Six others were received by certificate. He conducted 8 funerals. What he said about his visits shows that he was a man of vision. He said:
" About 120 families have been visited and called upon during the year. I am aware that these visits are not what they are desired to be, but the fact is, where the families are so many and so far scattered, nothing better can be expected; and the sooner the members learn to know this the better it will be for them and for the pastor. One man cannot do the work of two. The size of the field composing Beaver Springs Charge Is sufficiently large for two pastors. It is too large for one to do his work well. Hope the time is not too far distant that the people will see that it Is for their spiritual benefit to make a division and effect a new organization where it Is necessary, and thus strengthen the charge."
Pastor Landis would be pleased to know that this separation took place, but he most certainly would not understand why seventy-five years passed by before it happened. During his pastorate the new Reformed hymnals were adopted by all the churches but St. Paul's.
Rev. William Landis must have had a full and active pastorate in the 15 years he served the Beaver Springs Charge. The newspaper article about his death says:
" In 1883, he was called to his late charge and during the 15 years of his pastorate here he has erected five new churches .... a brick edifice at Beaver Springs, costing $6000.00; a brick one at Troxelville, costing the same amount and a frame one in Decatur, Mifflin County (Samuel's). He has also built a fine parsonage at Beaver Springs which is second to none in the county. Here he attended the spiritual needs of five groups."
His wife, Amelia R. Bassler, was a daughter of Rev. H. S. Bassler, who was one of the ministers of our charge before St. Paul's was built. Pastor Landis continued his work in the charge until October of 1898 and died about a year after leaving. He was sixty-three years old.