Earliest Reformed Church in Lancaster County. The early history of Lancaster county gathers around its ancient churches. In colonial days, far more than at pre- sent, the church was the centre of so- cial life; and those who would study that life in its more recent develop- ments should not fail to

of a peculiar �people. I shall not venture to tell a "thrice told tale," though it may be found desirable to present an intro- ductory account of the origin and early history of a strange religious and social organization. From an ar title, entitled "Early German Hymno- logy of Pennsylvania," which I

be certainly determined. It has, indeed, been confidently stated in several his- torical works that the township was named in honor of Sir William Keith, who was Governor of the province from 1717 to 1726, and that the name "Bart" is simply the usual contraction of his title of Baronet. This, however

interesting labels, bearing the names of Anthony E. Roberts, George M. Steinman, E. B. Gardette, Jacob Stauffer, E. M. Allen and other prominent citizens. About the year 1880 there was a great revival in the use of book-plates in Lancaster. This was due in great measure to the artistic taste and skill of Dr