USA > North Carolina > Historic sketch of the Reformed Church in North Carolina > Part 18
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and it was ordered that they be allowed a reasonable sum for the services they may render in attending to the necessary business respecting the building. The church was finished and dedicated in 1849 to the use of the Lutheran and German Reformed Churches, Rev. David Crooks preaching the dedication sermon. The whole amount expended in the construction and furnishing of the building was $628.39. In addition to money subscriptions, the following Reformed mem- bers contributed services and materials: John Coulter assisted John Heedick in making part of the brick; Jacob Ramsaur (M. W.) furnished some pine trees and David Ramsaur sawed them into lumber; Andrew L. Ramsaur furnished the doorsills. The church is a substantial brick building situated in Lincoln County, on an eminence about two miles west of Clark's Creek on the public road leading from Lincolnton to Newton, and is set about forty feet north of the old building, with doors in the south end of the building.
On July 10, 1875, some of the members met and decided to put a new roof on the church of good pine- land shingles and to make the roof project so as to conform to the modern style of buildings. The shut- ters, windows and doors were to be repaired and painted on the outside. And the boxing to the roof was to be painted. A committee of four was appointed, consist- ing of Noah Summerrow and William Ramsaur of the Reformed and Abel Seagle and Hosea Yount of the Lutherans. The amount of $284.37 was collected and expended on the repairs.
On the 18th day of July, 1896, the Lutheran and
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Reformed congregations met at Salem to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the building of the original church, it having been built, re-built and again re-built as a union church. The following ministers were present: Rev. Prof. R. A. Yoder, pastor of the Lutheran congregation in said church; Rev. Prof. J. C. Clapp, D.D., pastor of the Reformed congregation in said church; Rev. Prof. J. C. Moser, Rev. Prof. W. P. Cline, Lutheran, and Rev. Prof. J. L. Murphy, Re- formed. The pastors with all the visiting brethren made interesting addresses on the subjects of church work, education and all similar topics. Ambrose Cost- ner, Esq., Lutheran, was the historian appointed for the occasion and proved to the satisfaction of all pres- ent that Salem Church had been used as a place of public worship for more than one hundred years. At the conclusion of the services the people repaired to the grove and enjoyed a bountiful picnic dinner, the best feature of which was the kind, brotherly and social feeling which pervaded the entire multitude.
So far as known no Reformed minister preached at Salem regularly until after the building of the new church in 1849. During the pastorate of Rev. D. Crooks at Matthew's he preached occasionally at Sa- lem. From his time up to the present the pastors who have served Matthew's have served Salem. The Re- formed congregation was regularly organized in 1874 with 21 members who were transferred from St. Mat- thew's. Revs. J. C. Clapp and J. A. Foil were jointly serving this and other churches at the time. The present membership numbers fifty, a small band, but
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always loyal and faithful, prompt to meet all their obligations, and regular in their attendance upon the services of the sanctuary. The present members of the Consistory are: Elders, Theodore J. Ramsaur, John C. Warlick and Charles E. Ramsaur; Deacons, George W. Ramsaur and Jacob C. Ramsaur. Charles E. Ramsaur represents the Reformed as Trustee. North Carolina Classis met in this church in 1881, Rev. M. L. Hedrick, President.
6. St. John's Reformed Church, Catawba County.
About 1812, when the first house of worship at St. Paul's gave place to the one still standing, that part of the Reformed and Lutheran congregations which lived in the bend of the Catawba River, and at an inconveni- ent distance, erected for themselves a commodious log building about six miles northeast of the mother church. The logs were quite large and were hauled a long distance. Hitherto many of the worshipers walked nine miles to preaching at St. Paul's. As this is the date of the death of Loretz, there doubtless were only occasional services at St. John's until 1828, when Rev. John G. Fritchey became pastor of all the Re- formed congregations west of the Catawba. A copy of the record of baptisms and confirmations and other official acts by Father Fritchey indicates that St. John's was in a growing and prosperous condition during the twelve years of his pastorate. He was succeeded in 1840 by Rev. John H. Crawford, who served the congregation about twelve years. Then Rev. Albert, first President of Catawba College, had
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charge for about one year, about 1853. Rev. John Lantz then began a pastorate that lasted about thirteen years, when Rev. J. C. Clapp began to supply the Catawba Charge, consisting of Grace church in New- ton, St. John's and Smyrna, St. Paul's being reorgan- ized and added in 1874. In the service of these con- gregations he continued more than thirty years. During this period new houses of worship were built at Smyrna, Newton, St. John's and Conover. And also the Reformed congregation at Salem was organized in 1874. In the meanwhile Rev. J. A. Foil, a student at Catawba College, finished his course at Ursinus College and Seminary, and in conjunction with Rev. J. C. Clapp for a few years served all the churches west of the Catawba River, and several in Rowan County. But to return to St. John's, Rev. H. A. M. Holshouser was installed pastor of the Catawba Charge in 1894. Rev. C. H. Riedesel in 1897. Rev. Henry Sechler in 1901. Rev. Samuel W. Beck in 1903. Rev. Milton Whitener in 1906. These were all young men, and with the exception of Riedesel, this was their first charge. During the first sixteen years of the existence of the congregation at St. John's there must have been very little service by Reformed ministers. But doubtless the children were baptized, and possibly catechized and confirmed by ministers of the North Carolina Synod of the Lutheran Church, for the two denominations were on terms of delightful fellowship. They communed together, frequently intermarried and scarcely recognized any difference.
The Hunsicker family has contributed more to the
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membership of St. John's than any other. Theobold Hunsicker brought his certificate of baptism from the Reformed Church in Germany, settled on Lile's Creek in (now) Catawba County, and reared fifteen children. These have, with their offspring, increased to a multi- tude. By the diligent research of Jonas Hunsicker, Esq., a great-grandson of Theobold, the genealogy of the family is being traced to the present time. O, that all these now living may be loyal to the faith of their great ancestor!
Peter Rowe (Rauch) was an Elder in the early his- tory of the congregation. He reared a large family. These and their children have been officers and sub- stantial members. One, Rev. W. W. Rowe, is a promi- nent young minister in the Classis of North Carolina. Others have risen to distinction in civil and military life. The Hermans have been prominent members of this congregation. Caleb Herman, Esq., and Elder Noah Rowe with their families have been for years leading spirits and most devoted and constant workers. Limited space precludes the mention of many other worthy names.
7. Smyrna Reformed Church, Catawba County.
This congregation was organized in 1832 by Rev. John G. Fritchey, and was partly an offshoot of St. Paul's. The first Elders were John J. Shuford, Nathan- iel Edwards and Jacob Lantz. J. J. Shuford and Isaac Douglas jointly donated eleven acres for the church. A commodious log house was erected. It was weather- boarded but was never ceiled. It is still standing but
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is superseded by a comfortable frame building that was erected during the pastorate of Dr. J. C. Clapp. The congregation was moved to undertake the work by Mrs. Catharine Hartman, a daughter of Jacob Lantz, who, after the service one Sabbath and unso- licited, came forward and laid $50.00 upon the altar, saying, "this is for a new church." This inspired the congregation. Trees were felled, logs were hauled to the mill near by; neighbors of the Methodist Church helped, and in a few months a neat and comfortable building was completed and ready for dedication, clear of debt. The congregation has never been large and is thirteen miles from the nearest Reformed Church, but it has been a faithful fold with many of the purest and noblest characters to be found any- where. Of late years the Edwards family have con- stituted the larger part of the membership. Rev. Fritchey was pastor until 1840. Then Crawford, Crooks, Middlekauff and Lantz served in turn until 1866. Here Dr. J. C. Clapp began his ministry, and for these forty years has made monthly pilgrimages to these dear homes and this beloved Zion, interrupted only by the short pastorates of Holshouser, Riedesel, Sechler and Beck, each of which continued only one or a few years.
9. St. Matthew's Reformed Church, Lincoln County.
St. Matthew's Reformed Church is situated in Lin- coln County, on the Island Ford Road, six miles north- east of Lincolnton and two miles southeast of Maiden in Catawba County. It was organized May 3, 1837,
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by Rev. John G. Fritchey from members of the "Old White Church" in Lincolnton. The time for the or- ganization was opportune. The place was suitable, because it was at least six miles distant from any other Reformed congregation, and was surrounded by many confirmed members of the Reformed Church. The persons who were the original members were men and women of influence.
On May 22, 1836, a meeting of the citizens and members of the German Reformed Church in the neighborhood was held at the dwelling house of Michael Finger, for the purpose of consulting upon the pro- priety of building a "Meeting House." A sermon was preached by Rev. John G. Fritchey; John Coulter was called to the chair and Benjamin Norris appointed Secretary. After mature deliberation it was agreed to build a church on the road leading from Lincolnton to the "Island Ford" on land which John Ramsaur (Tanner) agreed to give "for the purpose of erecting a house thereon for the worship of Almighty God." It was resolved to build a house thereon one story high, forty feet long and thirty feet wide. John Ramsaur and John Coulter were appointed Trustees, and in addition, Joseph Finger, John Blackburn and Jacob Summerrow were selected as a committee to take sub- scriptions, collect and disburse the money. David R. Bennick was also appointed Secretary for the congre- gation.
On July 23, 1836, a meeting was held at the house of Mr. Joseph Finger by the building committee. It was unanimously agreed that the building of the church
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be advertised and let to the lowest bidder, on the thirteenth of August, 1836, at the six-mile post above Daniel Shrum's on the "Island Ford Road." Mr. Joseph Finger gave the lowest bid and entered into a contract to build the church for $265.00. The total amount subscribed was $232.00. Additional funds were afterwards raised to finish paying Joseph Finger and to plaster the building. The church was lathed and plastered in 1838. John Ramsaur, for a nominal consideration (perhaps fifty cents), made on the third day of June, 1836, to the Trustees a deed for five acres of land. On the next day he made to them a lease for 199 years for the spring near the church. At a later period Daniel Finger bought this spring and deeded it to the church. The following were elected the first Elders: John Carpenter, Jacob Ramsaur (M. W.), John Ramsaur and Daniel Finger. They were ordained and installed May 20, 1837, Revs. Fritchey, Crawford and Rankin being present. This was a meeting of three days beginning on the 19th. On the 21st the church was dedicated. The Rev. J. H. Crawford preached the sermon from 1st Kings, 8th chapter, latter clause of the 63d verse: "So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord."
May 3, 1837, a sermon was preached by the Rev. . John G. Fritchey. After the sermon the names of those members wishing to become members were en- rolled as follows: John Ramsaur (Tanner), John Car- penter, Daniel Finger (Tanner), Anthony Icherd Daniel Summerrow, Jr., Daniel Shrum, Michael Finger
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Peter Summerrow, Michael Summerrow, Nancy Finger, Rachel Finger, Susan Ramsaur, Mary Shrum, Susan Finger, Margaret Summerrow, Rebecca K. Summerrow, Sarah Finger (Hinson), Sarah Summerrow, Rebecca Bolick, David R. Bennick, Wiley Hallman, Jacob Summerrow, Joseph Finger, Henry Summerrow, James N. Summerrow, Jacob Ramsaur (M. W.), Am- brose Bolick, Elisha Saunders, Mary Ann Bennick, Elizabeth Carpenter, Mary Carpenter, Widow Eliza- beth Finger, Catharine Shrum, Barbara Hallman, Ann Icherd, Barbara Summerrow, Elizabeth Finger (Rein- hardt), Elizabeth Carpenter, Elmira Summerrow, Mrs. Mary Rudisill, Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Louisa Goodson, Mrs. Nancy Boyd, Mrs. Nancy Murphy, Rev. David Crooks, Mrs. Catharine Crooks, Solomon Rudisill. Of these members, the latter lived farthest from the church, a distance of nine miles. Notwithstanding this for more than fifty-eight years he was faithful in regular attendance upon the preached word. On June 3, 1838, one year after the organization, Rev. Fritchey con- firmed the following: John Shrum, Peter Shrum, Sarah Summerrow, Mary Ann Summerrow, Sarah Carpenter, Susan Summerrow, Levi Shrum, Levi Carpenter, Frances Hallman, Lavina Carpenter, Sarah Finger, Mary Summerrow, Nancy Shrum. Of this first class only one, Levi Shrum, is living at this date, April 5, 1907. He lives within sight of the church and is its oldest member.
The first funeral at St. Matthew's was that of a little daughter of John and Mary Carpenter. The church was not yet weather-boarded nor the floor laid,
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so that the minister, Rev. Fritchey, was obliged to stand on one of the sills to preach.
On the 9th of September, 1838, John Ramsaur con- veyed to the Trustees 25 acres, consideration fifty dol- lars, for the purpose of a cemetery and camp-meeting ground, including Matthew's Church.
An institution of great interest to the community and surrounding country for many miles was the camp- meeting held annually at St. Matthew's for a period of thirty-five years, now called "protracted meet- ings." These meetings were held under a brush arbor until 1845, when a large frame arbor with hip- roof was constructed, James Summerrow and Joseph Finger doing the work of construction, and Henry Whitener being the architect. Every year there came great numbers of Reformed people from Catawba and Lincoln Counties to this place. With these an- nual gatherings there are associated many hallowed memories. There under the spacious arbor were heard the voices of many of God's faithful ministers preach- ing the acceptable year of the Lord. There, too, many were brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and made profession of their faith. The blessed mem- ories of those faithful ones living and dead bind many to the arbor at St. Matthew's with ties that naught but death can sever. Not only all the churches in this section closed their doors on the Sunday over which the camp-meeting was held, but the faculty and students of Catawba College attended, and we have been told that the sainted F. D. Reinhardt used to
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take his four-horse wagon and convey the students to this place.
In 1840 the Classis of North Carolina passed this resolution: "That a camp-meeting shall be held at Matthew's Church, commencing on Friday previous to the third Sabbath in August next, and it shall be the duty of all ministerial brethren to attend said camp-meeting." This arrangement served to develop an "esprit du corps" in ministers and people and bound them more closely together in love and service for the Master. The camp-meeting services here held were remarkable for good order and religious devotion. When the signal was given for public services, every one went to the arbor without stopping to enquire who was to preach.
Not only were the people who habitually worshiped in the church and the crowds that assembled under this arbor noted for their orderly worship and conduct during public service and while on these grounds, but the whole neighborhood was one celebrated for its obedience to the civil law. Since the camp-meetings were discontinued, protracted meetings are held an- nually, embracing the first Sunday in September. These are reminders to the old people of the camp- meetings. A few extracts from the records of the camp-meetings may be read with interest: "The first camp-meeting held at Matthew's Church was on Au- gust 15, 1839. Present, Messrs. Leopold, Fritchey, Crawford, Crooks and J. Lantz. Sunday the Lord's Supper was administered. Collection, $28.75; fifteen dollars was taken to defray the expenses of the meet-
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ing; the balance was paid Mr. Leopold for the educa- tion of young men for the ministry. Meeting closed on Monday. Two persons received as members, Eliza- beth Carpenter and David Ramsaur."
"The second camp-meeting commenced on Friday, August 28, 1840, by Crooks, Crawford, Lantz and Rev. Crowell, a Methodist minister. On Sunday the Lord's Supper was administered to about two hundred com- municants. Collection, $21.75. Twenty-one dollars was paid to John Ramsaur (T.) for land purchased of him for the use of the camp, and seventy-five cents to Daniel Finger for communion wine. Closed on Mon- day. Martin Carpenter and Frances Shuford received as members."
"The fourth camp-meeting commenced on Friday, July 29, 1842, by Messrs. Crawford, Lantz, Welker and Middlekauff. The number joining the church was seventeen."
"The fifth camp-meeting commenced Friday, the 28th July, 1843, by Messrs. Crawford, Lantz and Middlekauff. On the Sabbath the Lord's Supper was administered to a great number of communicants. Collection on Saturday, $15.70; 37} cents was paid Daniel Finger for communion expenses; $4.50 paid to Rev. S. S. Middlekauff towards his travelling expenses to this place. Six persons joined the church. Meeting closed Monday at 12 o'clock."
It was at Matthew's camp-meeting ground in 1850 in John Coulter's tent during a meeting of the "Loretz Beneficiary Society" that the establishment of a liter- ary institution was suggested. While the members of
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the Society were discussing the subject, M. L. Mc- Corkle, Esq., afterwards Judge McCorkle, proposed that we take steps to establish in our midst an institu- tion to educate our young people as far as possible. It was not long after this that Catawba College was founded as a result of this meeting, which has done so much for our people and church. And still further, the Sunday School was established here at an early day, which was attended by almost all of the members, old and young, as well as by the children. It was a strong support of the church.
Nearby stood a rude log school house built the year before the church was erected, in which John Killian, Harvey Robinson, Valentine Mauney, Jacob Lantz, John H. Roberts, David R. Whitener and John H. Robinson exercised the office of teacher before the: public school was removed to Piney Grove. In this: school house the ministers who attended camp-meetings. were lodged. It is worthy of note that this church was the mother of both Salem and Maiden congrega- tions. Quite a number of its members have gone to the Newton congregation, two of the most prominent being Major Sidney M. Finger, for several terms one of the best Superintendents of Public Instruction the State of North Carolina ever had, and Col. H. A. Forney, for many years the efficient Treasurer of North Carolina Classis, and a descendant of the For- neys of the Eastern part of Lincoln County who are given prominent mention by Wheeler in his History of North Carolina.
Colored people were admitted to membership in St.
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Matthew's Church. How many of these there were we have no means of knowing. There is a minute in the old church book dated June 24, 1837, which reads as follows: "Resolved, that the colored people occupy the two back seats at the end of the house, one on each side of the entrance as often or as long as the Consistory may think proper." During slave times a small arbor was constructed near the one occupied by the white people in which the colored people sat at the camp- meetings.
Rev. John G. Fritchey organized St. Matthew's and was pastor from 1837 to 1840. To his ministration is due much of the steadfastness of the fathers and moth- ers of our church in this section. Verily he did "strengthen the things that remain." Rev. Fritchey was a most devoted defender of the doctrines of the Reformed Church as taught in the Heidelberg Cate- chism. At the time, 1828, when he came to this section there was a great need of just such a man as he was. The members of the Reformed Church having been sixteen years without a pastor, or any person of their faith to preach to them except an occasional sermon by some one sent by Synod on a short mission, strong efforts were made to get them to join other denominations. Rev. Fritchey was so devoted to the doctrines of the Reformed Church and so well informed on these as well as the doctrines of other denomina- tions, that he could easily defend them. This he de- lighted to do and did in season and out of season. Rev. Fritchey lived in Lincolnton and while there con- ducted an Academy for some time during his pastorate.
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Rev. G. A. Leopold supplied the congregation for a short time in 1840. He was a native of Lincoln County and served an apprenticeship to a tailor in Lincolnton. Rev. Fritchey writes: "He studied under David Henkel, a Lutheran minister; preached a ser- mon of Fiske's on Universalism on a week night in our church soon after .I came to Lincolnton. I was present and expressed my disapprobation to some of our people who were present. He heard of it and came to my room one night after I had vetoed his doctrine from the pulpit, and pretended to call me to account. In the interview and discussion he was completely foiled, and before he left I knelt down with him and prayed for him. He appeared to be very penitent, and in a few days came to my room and made application to join our church with a view of studying for the min- istry. The brethren thought we ought to encourage him and furnished him with a horse and means to go to our Seminary at Carlisle, Pa. Dr. Mayer had con- siderable trouble with him while he was under his care which was, I think, three years. He was licensed and ordained by the Classis of Maryland and labored for several years as a missionary in that State, when I invited him to Carolina and divided my charge with him."
There is no record that Rev. John H. Crawford preached regularly at St. Matthew's, but he admin- istered the rite of baptism from January, 1841, to August, 1842. He frequently preached here during this time. He was a strong, broad-minded man. always heartily welcomed at St. Matthew's.
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Rev. S. S. Middlekauff was pastor from August, 1842, to May 21, 1845. In his short ministry he did much to unify and build up his congregations. When his remains were brought home to be interred at Lin- colnton, in the midst of his people, the large concourse which gathered weeping around his grave bore testi- mony to his faithfulness to them and of their love for him. He was much esteemed by the ministers of the Classis among whom his brief ministerial life had been spent ; had he lived, we have no doubt he would have preserved and strengthened the Reformed congrega- tion in Lincolnton. His ministration did much to strengthen St. Matthew's congregation, every member of which loved him.
July 13, 1845, a call was extended to Rev. David Crooks as follows: "We the undersigned, representa- tives of the Lincolnton Charge of the German Re- formed congregations in the counties of Lincoln and Catawba, composed of the congregations at Daniel's, Smyrna, Lincolnton and Matthew's, having confidence in your qualifications as a minister of the Cross, and believing that you by the grace of God are capable of taking charge of said congregations as pastor, we, therefore, by these presents call you to take charge of said congregations as pastor. And that you may be free from the cares of the world, and that you may be enabled to devote your time and attention to the ministry, we promise to give you annually the sum of three hundred and sixty dollars in current money, twenty bushels of wheat, fifty bushels of corn, hay and fodder for one horse and cow; also a house rent free
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