Front Cover:
The sanctuary at Grace UMC at 216 State Street, Harrisburg PA, while being used by the House of Representatives
following the February 1897 fire that destroyed the capitol building. See the article beginning on page 20.

THE CHRONICLE is published by the Historical Society of the Susquehanna Conference

of the United Methodist Church, 303 Mulberry Drive, Mechanicsburg PA 17050-3179.

THE CHRONICLE

Journal of the Historical Society

of the

Susquehanna Conference

of the

United Methodist Church

Milton W. Loyer

editor

.

Volume XXXII spring 2021

Editor's Preface .......................................................................................................2

Unprecedented?……………………………………………………………………4

Harrisburg PA in the Methodist Episcopal Church……………..........…………..20

Centreville PA in the Methodist Protestant Church………………………….…..38

Rev. Thomas S. McNeil………………………...………………….……….……55

Thomas S. McNeil: An Enterprising Pastor…………….…….56

by Noah I. Alcodray and George S. Bause

Thomas S. McNeil: The Rest of the Story……………..…..…..60

Women and Ministry. …….…........………………………………………………72

Mrs. Esther (Weidner) Reber………………...................…….73

Mrs. Grace (Snyder) Martin………………....................…….83

Working Wives………………..........................................…….94

by John F. Piper, Jr.

Editor’s Epilogue…………………………………..........…………..........……...100