USA > Indiana > Our church, a history of the synod of Northern Indiana of the Evangelical Lutheran Church > Part 12
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in college and no encouraging surroundings, but was prevailed upon by the ministers who best knew him to submit to an examination and accept the result. He was at this time a young married man, having completed a course in a high school and exhibited some marks of native ability. The exam- ining committee thought they saw in this man the germ of what might, under proper care, be a useful man, and with the great demand for ministers at the time, license was issued. During the winter of 1871-'72 he accepted the charge until the fall of the same year. His services giving good satisfac- tion, he was again employed as pastor for another year, and so on until the fall of 1880, when he resigned the pastorate, his health having been bad during the summer.
The pastorate then called Rev. W. D. Trover, who came to our Synod from the east, a man of intellect and of energy. Ilis work among us was successful. After three years of faith- ful service, Rev. Trover also resigned and was followed by Key. A. J. Douglas, whose labors here began in October, 1583, and continued until the fall of 1887, when by reason of age and failing health, Rev. Douglas resigned the charge, the work being entirely too burdensome for a man of hisage. The peo- ple regretted very much to have him withdraw from their midst, but consented for his good, and he is kindly remem- bered on account of his genial friendship by the old and young.
Immediately upon the resignation of Rev. Douglas, Rev. O. W. Bowen was invited to visit the charge, and as a result was called as its pastor. Ilis services continned until the fall of 1892, when he resigned. Rev. Bowen was well received by the pastorate and he was successful in more than one way. It
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was during his pastorate here that the beautiful church house at Massillon was erected, costing abont $6,000. The Antioch church house was also repaired and likewise the Monroeville church building. After the resignation of Rev. Bowen, a call was extended to Rev. D. F. Kain, inviting him to his second pastorate on this field. The churches having grown stronger and also more numerous, the salary was increased $200. Rev. Kain accepted the call and took charge December 1, 1892, and is the present pastor.
Of three of the churches, composing this charge, nothing has been said, viz., Flat Rock, Monroeville and Marquartds. Flat Rock is located four miles south-east of Monroeville in the corner of this county. Of its carly history we have but little knowledge. It was organized quite early in the history of Lutheranism in this section of the country. Most of the first members have gone to the church triumphant. If we are correctly informed, there are but two of the charter members living, viz., Heury Misser and Mrs. Jacob Bower. This con- gregation was not directly connected with the Massillon pastor- ate until the fall of 1874. Before this date it was a part of the Monroeville charge. Two of the congregations composing the original Monroeville charge were located in Ohio, known as the Conway and Sugar Ridge congregations, and by the action of the Synod of Northern Indiana, taken at Constan- tine, Michigan, these two congregations were left under the care of Wittenberg Synod. The Monroeville congregation asked the Synod to recognize it as a station, feeling able to support a pastor alone. This being granted, the Flat Rock congre- gation was left without pastorate relations, and being located convenient to the Massillon pastorate, which at that time con-
IVIO WHIA HOHHHINI
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tained but three congregations, it made application and was admitted as an integral part thereof. I think this was done in the fall of 1874, and from that time until the present she has been served by the same pastor, and has a parallel history with the other congregations. Under the ministry of Rev. W. D. Trover the congregation exchanged the old log church house for a handsome new brick one and are to-day doing a good work for the community. This congregation is somewhat unfortunate in its invironments. It nestles in among a num- ber of other churches, there being four within two and one- half miles of them, and on two sides they are flanked by a dense German settlement. But with all this they live and labor and are a good people.
Monroeville Congregation- Has a history separate from the other Massillon pastorate. It was organized by Rev. E. W. Erick about 1867 or 1868. Rev. Erick at this time was pa-tor of a part of the Massillon charge, while Rev. F. Biddle was serving the Cocord congregation of said charge. Some misunderstanding, or perhaps difference of opinion on the part of the congregation, brought these two good brethren on the field at the same time. Rev. Eriek's services were accepted by the Antioch and Massillon congregations and Rev. Biddle's by the Concord. His labors at Monroeville were highly sue- cessful and soon a large membership was gathered and a promis- ing organization effected. Two lots were seenred and a parson- age built, and the following year a beautiful church house erected, which remains as an evidence of the enterprise of the pastor and people. The town of Monroeville, at the time referred to, was a growing one and had the promise of a city in the then near future. Large manufacturing establishments
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were here, timber was plenty, and in fact the whole country hereabouts was burdened with a dense forest of desirable timber, but the town soon reached its noon-tide. The timber was exhausted, factories moved away, and laboring men went with them, and the prospective city settled back to the natural business its surroundings afforded. But the Lutheran church remained, and with Flat Rock, Sugar Ridge and Convoy was served by Rev. Erick a number of years. The pastors, serving this charge during its history, came in the following order: Revs. E. W. Erick, M. S. Morrison, A. J. Douglas, A. W. Burns, and J. B. Miller. The latter two brethren served the Monroeville congregation alone. At the close of the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Miller, which was in the fall of 1879, the con- gregation was put under the care of Rev. D. F. Kain, who was at that time pastor of the Massillion charge, and Rev. Hubler, who was at the same time serving a mission point at Decatur, fourteen miles south and the county seat of Adams County, this state. These two brethren visited and held services for the congregation, alternately, once in two weeks, until the fall of 1880, when Rev. Kain resigned the Massillon pastorate and was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Trover who moved to Monroe- ville, there being a pastorate at that place. The parsonage of the original Massillion charge was located at Monmouth in Adams county. During the stay of Rev. Trover, this con- gregation was connected with the Massillon pastorate and remains a part of said pastorate. There is one other congrega- tion which is a member of this pastorate which will complete our list.
The " Marquardt" Congregation. --- This congregation was organized by Rev. W. D. Trover some time in the year 1882,
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and is located three and one-half miles north-west of Monroe- ville, in a well settled and enterprising neighborhood. They now have a membership of about seventy-five, with a good Sunday School and a Y. P. S. C. E. They have a beautiful brick church building, every thing connected therewith be- tokens a prosperous and successful future.
Summary .- This pastorate at present represents six congre- gations, six Sunday Schools, four Y. P. S. C. E's. Three brick and three frame church buildings, all in good repair, two parsonage buildings, one of which is a modern and beautiful home. Everything is paid for, and to complete the outfit, one preacher.
MIDDLEBURY PASTORATE.
The Middlebury charge consists of four congregations- St. Paul's ( Middlebury ), Griner's, St. John's ( Fish Lake), and Vistula.
Prior to the year 1869, the charge was known as the " Millersburg charge, " because of the fact, that the church in that place was served in connection with the Griner, Fish Lake and Vistula congregations, and further, because that village was the residence of the pastors. At a joint council meeting of the charge in the summer of 1869, it was resolved to petition Synod, to take off the Millersburg church from the charge of which it had been a member, and add it to the Salem charge. At its meeting in the fall of the same year, Synod ratified the action of the council, and the remaining four churches received the name of " Middlebury charge,"
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and from that time, Middlebury became the place of residence for pastors.
About 1878, the charge purchased a property for parson- age, which is admirably adapted to that end. It comprises two acres of land at the west side of the village, and is located on a commanding hill-side, which gives a beautiful view of the town, and the distant country beyond. A good house, barn, shed, crib, well, cistern and many large and bearing fruit trees, and the appartenances thereto belonging. It is a roomy, clean and healthy home for a pastor. The parsonage, as well as all the churches of the charge, are free of all (neumbrance, and the properties are in excellent condition. Herewith follows a brief synopsis of the history of each church composing the charge, as we could best gather the facts.
St. Paul's Church, Middlebury .-- In the year 1874, Rev. C. Caskey, who, at that time, was pastor of what was then known as the " Millersburg Charge," composed of the Mil- lorsburg. Fish Lake, Griner and Vistula congregations, began holding regular services in the Baptist church, in the village of Middlebury. He continued to preach regularly for about two years, his congregations continuing to grow in muubers and in interest. At the end of that time, he resolved that the favorable condition of affairs justified an attempt to organize his interested hearers into an organic body. On the 16th day of April, 1876, the organization was affected in the Baptist church, with thirty-five charter members. After the adoption of a constitution conformable to the recommendation of the General Synod. the following officers of the new organization were elected: Deacons, I. J. Woodworth and William Cole. elders, Amos Stauffer and Jacob Mehl; and trustees, J. H.
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Meyers, Eli Clingersmith and S. J. Woodworth. Two of the original board of officers, Amos Stauffer and J. H. Meyers are still in the church, the others having died or moved away. Of the original thirty-five charter members, at the organiza- tion of the church, eighteen years ago, twelve are still doing service for Christ, and are devoted to the church for whose snecess they so ardently toiled and prayed; twenty-three hav- ing died, or were dismissed to other churches. The infant church was baptised in faith, and prayer and courage, and received the name of " St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church."
During the same year, the congregation purchased of the Baptist people their church property, including three lots of ground, upon which the church was located, a most eligible site. The old church soon proving itself too small to accom- modate the constantly growing congregations, it was resolved, early the next year, 1877, to erect upon the newly acquired site a more commodious house. The old frame house was moved away, and the present commodious and substantial brick structure was made to take its place. The building was erected in the summer of 1877, and was dedicated to the Triune God, as St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Middlebury, Indiana, on the 13th day of January, 1878, Rev. J. B. Helwig, D. D., of Springfield, Ohio, preaching the dedi- catory sermon, assisted by Rev. R. F. Delo, and neighboring pastors. The church has recently been papered, painted and varnished, and is now a beautiful and comfortable church home. Rev. C. Caskey, having resigned the charge in the autumm of 1877, Rev. Jabez Shaffer was called to the pas- torate in October of the same year and served St. Paul's Church one year.
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On the 28th day of February, 1879, Rev. E. W. Erick assumed the pastoral relation to the church, which was highly pleasant and profitable, and continued till the 14th day of March, 1885, when his resignation took effect.
On the same day that Rev. Erick's resignation took effect, Rev. B. F. Stultz was extended a call to the pastorate, which he accepted, and assumed the duties of the charge April 1, 1885, and continued as pastor till sometime in 1890.
Rev. W. J. Funkey became pastor of the church, and assumed his duties as such, November 1, 1890, but owing to a unanimons call, supported by an impressive appeal from the church at Elkhart, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted by St. Paul's church, July 1, 1891, after a pastorate of eight months.
Rev. C. W. Pattee, a clergyman of the Radical United Brethren church then served the church as a supply one year.
In JJuly, 1892, Rev. J. M. Dustman, the present inenm- bent, a member of Wittenberg Synod, received and accepted a call to to the Middlebury charge, and assumed his duties as pastor, September 1, 1892. The congregation for a country village is large, and steadily growing in numbers and effi- ciency. The Sabbath school numbers about one hundred, and is in a state of development. The mid-week services are healthy in their attendance and interest. The Woman's Home and Foreign Mission Society hold regular monthly meetings which are attended with interest in that line of work.
The Y. P. S. C. E. hold regular and interesting meetings. Mr. W. H. Schrock, one of the most faithful sons of St. Paul's church, is now in his senior year in the seminary, and will enter the ministry in 1895.
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The present board of the church is composed of the fol- lowing officers: Deacons, J. F. Nusbaum and G. W. Leh- man; elder, F. Pfeffer and J. W. Balycat; and trustees, D. C. Hostetter, J. Nusbaum, and G. W. Gresso.
Griner Church .- About the year 1860, Rev. J. G. Biddle, who was at that time pastor of the La Grange charge, and residing at La Grange Center, commenced making week-day visits, and preaching in the evenings in what was then and is still known, as the " Griner neighborhood," two miles south of the village of Middlebury. The school house in which he began preaching soon became too small to accommodate the ever- increasing congregations, and as a matter of convenience, the preaching place was changed to the larger school house in the " Raysnyder neighborhood," about three miles northwest of the former place of meeting. Here the congregation wor- shiped till the completion of the church in the " Griner neigh- borhood." The church was organized in May, 186], by Rev. .I. C. Biddle, in a barn at the residence of Bro. Philip Griner ( now deceased ). The farm and barn is now owned by Mr. David Nusbaum, and are near the church. The church, because of its close proximity to the town, and there being no Lutheran church in the village, received the name of the " Middlebury Evangelical Lutheran Church."
The organization was effected with 17 charter members, many of whom were Lutherans from Pennsylvania and Ohio. The form of constitution prescribed by the General Synod became the fundamental law of the church.
The present neat and substantial frame church was erected in 1873, under the efficient pastoral care of Rev. C. Caskey. Rev. II. Wells, the pioneer pastor of the Synod of Northern
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Indiana, preached the dedieatory sermon, and was assisted in the services by the pastor and neighboring clergymen. Since its erection the church has undergone improvements from time to time, until at the present it is the neatest and most cozy house of worship in the immediate community.
The most sensational event occurring within the bounds of the congregation, and for that matter, within the bounds of the entire charge, was the celebrated debate upon the mode of Baptism between Rev. Quinter, representing the Dunkard church, and Rev. IL. Wells, representing the Lutheran church. The discussion was held in a beautiful grove, just south of where the Griner church now stands. The challenge was made by the Dunkard people, and the proposition was:
" Resolved, That immersion is the only valid Christian Bapt- ism."
Rev. Quinter affirmed and Rev. Wells .denied. It was beautiful weather in the autumn of 1867. The opening of the contest was in the presence of an immense throng of people. which increased rather than diminished as the great contest went on. Two days the battle lasted and waged more and more interesting to its very close. Every hearer was left to his own judgment as to the result, and as usual, every one held about the same opinion after, as before the debate, only that he was more confirmed in his faith. Though this was 18 years ago, there has been no challenge given nor received to discuss Baptism in this community since. The event still lives in the memory of the older people in all its freshness and fra- grance.
The congregation is now large and in a prosperous condi- tion. An interesting and progressive Sabbath school is sus-
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tained winter and summer, and a vigorous Y. P. S. C. E. with 40 members is doing effective work in its line of operations. A large majority of the membership of the church being active young people, the outlook for the future church is very bright.
The pastors of the church have been-Rev. J. G. Biddle, Rev. E. S. Rees, Rev. C. Caskey, Rev. J. Shaffer, Rev. E. W. Erick, Rev. B. F. Stultz, Rev. W. J. Funkey, and Rev. C. W. Pattee, ( supply ) Rev. J. M. Dustman.
The present officers of the church are: Deacons-D. S. Schrock and C. W. Work; Elders- W. F. Pence and J. Luke; and Trustees-S. Haines, P. Philips and J. Schwin.
St. John's Church, Fish Lake .--- The early settlers of the Fish Lake country were largely Virginians and Ohio people. Those from Virginia were from the famous Shenandoah Val- ley, and were by birth and education Lutherans.
Early in the history of the community the Methodist people planted a church here, and for want of any prospect of a church of their fathers, the Lutheran clement in the neigh- borhood found a home with their Methodist friends. All went well, and the church prospered till the summer of 1861, when the civil war became the all-absorbing theme of thought and discussion. The pastor of the church, like many others of that day, abandoned preaching the gospel for preaching politics. Ilis public utterances were of the most radical and incendiary type. Such expressions as "all democrats are rebels," and " Southern people are traitors, and deserve to be shot on sight," were not such expressions as met an hearty approval from a community largely democratie, and a majority of whom were from the State of Virginia.
The church expostulated with the pastor, and asked for
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the gospel and not polities, but all to no purpose, his arraign- ment of democrats and Southern people, without any distinc- tion or qualification, still went on.
The congregation called a meeting and invited the pastor to meet with them and make some explanation of his radical statements, as the whole community desired peace and good- will. This he refused to do. At the same meeting 44 persons affixed the word " Withdrawn " to their names, and went out.
The little band of unorganized people, by mutual consent, secured the pastoral labors of Rev. J. J. Schultz, a Presbyter- ian minister, who after preaching one year, left the little band without an attempt at an organization.
In 1862, the next year after the exodus from the Metho- dist church, Rev. J. G. Biddle, a Lutheran minister, then residing at La Grange, and serving the newly organized con- gregations at Griners and Millersburg, was invited to preach for them in their destitution. The people, especially those old Lutherans of the Shenandoah Valley, hailed the advent of a General Synod Lutheran minister with great enthusiasm.
Under the wise and prudent and conservative policy of Rev. Biddle, the influence of the political cyclone soon passed away, and under the clear, blue skies of the summer of 1862, and in the same log church in which the exodus from the Methodist church had occurred the year previous, St. Jolm's Evangelical Lutheran church was organized by Rev. J. G. Biddle, with 44 charter members. Among the most conse- erated, devoted, and self-sacrificing, and church-loving people of St. John's church, from the day of its organization down to this writing, we can number these same Virginia people and their descendants.
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After the organization of the church, Rev. Biddle preached regularly at this place in connection with the Griner and Mil- lersburg churches, till he resigned the charge some nine or ten years later.
Rev. Biddle was followed by Rev. E. S. Rees, who re- mained only about seven months. Rev. Rees was followed by Rev. C. Caskey. In 1876-7, during the last years of Rev. Caskey's pastorate, differences and complications would arise between the two churches worshiping in the same house. Then it was that the Lutheran people resolved to build a church- home of their own, and late in the fall of 1877 the structure was completed. Early in 1878, under the pastoral care of Rev. Jabez Shaffer, the church was dedicated to the service of the Trinne God, as St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Fish Lake. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. S. A. Ort, of Springfield, Ohio, assisted by Rev. R. F. Delo and a number of neighboring pastors.
This church is the largest and the finest in the charge. Built of brick, with high and massive walls, domed ceilings, stained glass memorial windows, and furnished with an extra- ordinary bell and organ. The church has just been thoroughly and most beautifully papered, with the trimmings and pews varnished, which gives it an enlivening and cheerful appear- ance. The church, as it now stands, is superior to any in the country about it, and many in the surrounding towns.
Rev. Shaffer resigned the church after serving one year, and was followed by Rev. E. W. Erick, who took charge in February, 1879, and remained till in March, 1885.
Rev. B. F. Stultz assumed the duties of the pastorate April 1, 1885, and continued in its service till some time in 1890.
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Rev. W. J. Funkey took charge of the church November 1, 1890, and resigned after a pastorate of eight months.
Rev. C. W. Pattce, a minister of the Radical United Brethren church, took charge of the church as a supply, fol- lowing Rev. Funkey, and remained six months.
Rev. J. M. Dustman, the present incumbent, a member of Wittenberg Synod, received and accepted a call to the Middle- bury charge, and assumed the duties of pastor of St. John's church September 1, 1892.
The membership of the church has, in recent years, been greatly impaired through removals of old and young out of the community. There is still a fair active membership, with many friends and adherents. An interesting Sabbath school is well sustained. The present officers of the church are: Deacons-H. Swinchart and A. E. Prough; Elders-John Lutz and Samuel Showalter; Trustees-JJ. C. Carlston, II. Swinchart and M. Goodyear.
Vistula Church. The church at Vistula had its incip- iency in occasional preaching in a school house, three miles cast of the village, where a few families of Intherans had located. Revs. Bartholomew and JJ. N. Barnett, when serving the White Pigeon charge as pastors, frequently visited the .community and preached to the people.
Previous to the year 1869, Rev. J. G. Biddle commenced preaching regularly in Vistula, in connection with the Griner, Fish Lake and Millersburg churches, already organized. On the eighth day of March, 1869, Rev. Biddle organized the church in the village school house, in Vistula, with twenty-six charter members.
Immediately after the organization of the church, the
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heroic little band, stimulated by the courage of their faithful pastor, went to work in earnest to build a home in which to worship. Though poor in this world's goods, yet rich in faith, they worked with zeal and in harmony, and they soon found themselves in possession of a neat and comfortable frame building, free of encumberance. The date of the dedication of the church could not be learned, but it occurred in a rea- sonable time after the organization of the church. Rev. R. F. Delo, preached the dedicatory sermon, being assisted by the pastor and neighboring ministers. In 1893-'4, improve- ments in the way of rescating, refurnishing, papering and and painting the house to the value of $200, has made it one of the most charming and cozy churches of the community.
The congregation is not large in the sense of numbers, but in the sense of a working church, faithfulness to duty, and a consciousness of its obligations, it stands in the front ranks with much more imposing congregations,
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