USA > North Carolina > Rowan County > Salisbury > History and 200th anniversary of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salisbury, North Carolina, 1774-1974 > Part 4
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Pastor N. D. Bodie
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It was in 1903 that the Synod observed its 100th Anniversary. A me- morial volume for this anniversary was published in 1902, written by G. D. Bernheim, D.D. and George H. Cox, D.D. It was entitled THE HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD AND MINISTERIUM OF NORTH CAROLINA and contains sketches of congregations. Of the first parsonage it says, "The congregation own a nice parso- nage, two-stories high, with an L, containing six rooms. There are also necessary out- buildings, and several acres of land."
Pastor L. B. Spracher
Perhaps the best words to close this section are found in Record Book No. Il: "Rev. L. B. Spracher, being regularly called to the pastorate of Union and Christiana congregations, took charge March 11, 1908, and served the two congregations until July 31, 1909, when the pastorate was divided."
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UNION SCHOOL
There is so much which cannot be dated in the history of our congre- gation. This is also true of the school building, "Union School" or "Union Academy." Certainly it was thought of many years before it came into ex- istence. Pastor Rothrock refers to it in his diary in 1839, but sometimes it takes an idea a long time to become an actuality.
And perhaps we can understand the delay when we remember that some of the earliest educators in the schools were pastors. There was no pastor who lived at the "Union Church" until the parsonage was built while Pastor Richard Brown was here. The building of the new church thus opened the door to the building of a parsonage and a school house.
Some of our older members tell us that the first school building was built from logs of the Old Pine Church, and that this building was later called the "Little Room." The two story part which is pictured was built later, and was in front of the "Little Room." The downstairs of this part was called the "Big Room." This two story structure was standing in 1892.
The earliest remembered teachers are Pastor Wertz and his wife. (Pas- tor Wertz served Union from 1890 until January of 1894.) Pastor C. A. Brown, who followed Pastor Wertz, is also remembered as a teacher. No doubt in these earlier times, the congregation not only supplied the build- ing but was expected to provide the teachers for the community as well.
The "Little Room" was used for the lower grades and the "Big Room" was used for the higher graders. And the reason behind the two story structure being built in front of the "Little Room" was that one day the upstairs might be used for a High School!
Water was carried to school from the frame parsonage across the road. Men in the congregation cut wood for the stoves in the school. A school year was roughly thought to be from the time when all the crops were in, in the Fall, until it was time to put crops in again, in the Spring (a period of four months).
Marbles and baseball were the favorite games, and the ball would often rattle one of the two front doors. On rainy days, the older children would play upstairs. Being neither partitioned nor finished, it made a good play area. One of the favorite indoor games was "Big Ring Round." We under- stand dancing was very much frowned upon, but it sounds pretty much like dancing: "Big ring round, right and left - Johnson girl."
As county schools came into being, "Union School" entered a new phase. The county used the building, but it was no longer up to the church
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and the community to supply the teachers. During the years, many chil-
dren came to the school.
The building was also used for other things. In 1906 the Junior Order of United American Mechanics was organized and met upstairs in the school building. The Junior Order ceiled the upstairs and leased it from the congregation for one dollar a year. In later years the Grange met up- stairs.
With the consolidation of schools in the county, the building was no longer used for its original purpose. The top floor was removed, and the building was used as a Community Building until the present Fellowship Building was built. It was a building which housed many memories, and it spanned different periods of time in the life of the congregation and the
community.
In the School Picture on the opposite page, the following were identified by Miss Mary Barringer:
Left to Right: Lonnie Mahaley, Joe Kluttz (Rev. M. J.), Frank Kluttz, Bachman Barringer, ? , Francis Goodman, Charles Lyerly, Jess Mahaley, Oscar Mahaley, George M. E. Lyerly, John Goodman, Alex Agner, Robert Waller, Jake Walton, John Barrin- ger, Lizzie Mahaley, J. V. Goodman, Lillian Waller, Mamie Boger, Roxie Wyatte, Martha Boger, Mary Barringer, ? Mahaley, Car- rie Walton, Grace Walton, Etta Brady, Josie Brady, Eva Anne Blackwell.
Standing on Porch, Right to Left: Roxie Eller, Carrie Lentz, Ellen Barringer, Lillie Goodman, Mary Boger, Roxie Wise, Grace Wyatte, Sarah Wise, Charles Walton, Charles Waller, Hilbert Eller, M. J. Peeler (Teacher), Joe Wise, ? Canupp.
Standing in Front of Window, Right to Left: M. A. Goodman, Cicero Lyerly, Albert Earnhardt.
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SCHOOL YEAR 1896 - 97
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UNION CHURCH WITHOUT TOWER - 1909
UNION CHURCH WITH TOWER - 1910
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UNION PARSONAGE BEFORE 1900 (C. A. Brown Family)
UNION PARSONAGE IN 1909 (Pastor and Mrs. Spracher)
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BASICS
There were certain "basic" requirements that a healthy congregation felt the need for having: (1) a church building, (2) a parsonage, (3) a school house, and of course (4) a pastor. Sixty to seventy years prior to this time, two of those needs were apparent, at least to some of the people at Union: the need for a parsonage and the need for a school house. From time to time they were aware of the need for a pastor - when there was a vacancy. And over the years, as the Pine Church became older and less serviceable, they had become aware of the need for a new church building. With the building of the new brick building, the door was opened for the building of a parsonage and a school house. Yet there was something miss- ing: the fulfillment of one of the "basics." There were still the four basic walls which were built thirty years before, with the addition of the chancel twenty years later, but the church building was basically the same. A pas- tor lived in the parsonage which had been built during the same period, and children still went to "Union Academy." The fact remained that the pastor who lived in the parsonage divided his time between Union and Christiana Congregations.
Perhaps the talk had been there for a good while, springing from a de- sire to "go it alone." The 1910 Minutes of Synod tell the story of it reach- ing the point of fruition: "Representatives of Union, Christiana, St. James, Wittenberg, and St. Matthew's met in Salisbury on July 10, 1909 with re- gard to the rearrangement of certain pastorates." One of the results of this was the separation of Union and Christiana, and Pastor Spracher continued to serve Union.
At this time Union was reporting 448 Baptized Members, and 252 Active Members. There were 15 teachers and 190 scholars in the Sunday School. The church building was valued at $3,500, the parsonage at $2,500, and other property at $560. (This other property would have in- cluded the school house and the land!) The local expenses for 1909 had been $450, and $70 for Sunday School, with a total of $244 given to Benevolence.
There were two things which seemed to have been happening over the Synod during these years following the turn of the century. One was the appearance of towers, being added to buildings which had already been built. And another was the use of duplex envelopes in congregations. These two things marked this period of time at Union also.
We do not know the date, nor the cost, but it was in the Spring of 1910 that a tower which was known as the "David Eller Memorial" was added to the building. The addition of towers changed the looks of
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buildings from the outside, but they also made them more functional. These open towers, as they were at the time, were something of an open funnel to pick up people from three directions and channel them through a central door. The tower was the forerunner in serviceability to the nar- thex. It was a place to come in out of the weather and discard umbrellas and raincoats. But the tower served another function. It made it possible to have a place to house a church bell, and each church wanted a bell to send out its call to worship over the hills.
The 1913 Minutes of Synod have a recommendation by the President of Synod: "that duplex envelopes be used in connection with the weekly offerings." It was in 1912 that Union adopted the duplex envelope sys- tem. One of the reasons for this move was to encourage congregations to think of their mission beyond parish boundaries. These were also the years which were pointing to the great merger. There were signs of growth in numbers and in mission. At this time there were 75 congregations in the Synod, and 60 of those congregations had Sunday Schools.
On July 31, 1914 Pastor Spracher resigned from Union and was trans- ferred to the Lutheran Holston Synod as pastor of the English Lutheran Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., a mission of the United Synod. Pastor Spracher's service was not long for he contacted smallpox and died on January 15, 1915. In speaking of Pastor Spracher's death in the 1915 Minutes of Synod, it is reported that "Services were held January 24, 1915 at Union Church in which his former associates in the ministry par- ticipated. His former parishioners manifested their deep love for him, joining reverently in the services, and mingling their songs with tears."
The Rev. R. L. Patterson, D.D. was called to Union following Pastor Spracher's resignation. He took charge of the work on October 14, 1914 and resigned on October 10 of the following year.
Pastor R. L. Patterson
Pastor C. R. Pless
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Union was fortunate during this period of time. Vacancies were not of many months in duration. On January 1, 1916 the Rev. C. R. Pless became pastor of Union. Pastor Pless resigned on April 6, 1919, and his resignation was effective on May 31 of that year. Something was happe- ning in the church. Churches of the Lutheran Confession celebrated the 450th Anniversary of the Reformation in 1917. In 1918 the General Synod, the General Council, and the United Synod of the South (of which the N. C. Synod, and therefore Union was a member) merged to form the United Lutheran Church in America.
A historic happening was taking place at Union also. The 1919 Meeting of the N. C. Synod was at Union. It was held in May, and it is quite ap- parent why it was held at Union, and why Pastor Pless was remaining un- til the end of May as the pastor of Union. A service was held at 12 o'clock on Sunday, May 18, at which the Rev. Prof. R. A. Goodman preached the Ordination Sermon. Those ordained were George S. Bowden, M. Joseph Kluttz, and Charles E. Ridenhour. Union congregation was 145 years old when she gave her first son to the ministry - Miles Joseph Kluttz!
Pastor J. B. Haigler
On September 1 of that year, the Rev. J. B. Haigler entered upon his work at Union and was installed April 25, 1920. At that time Union had 562 Baptized Members, 376 Confirmed Members, with 14 teachers and 200 scholars in Sunday School. There was still the basic building with the corners and balcony for Sunday School classes. The church was now valued at $7,000 and the Parsonage at $2,500. Current expenses for 1919 had been $1,119 and $60 of unusual expenses, with $544 being given towards Be- nevolence.
Pastor Haigler closed his work on the sec- ond Sunday in November, 1922. The Rev. J. C. Dietz received a call to be- come pastor of Union and took charge of the work on April 8, 1923. And that opens the door for another story.
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NEWNESS AT AN OLD CHURCH
It is just one sentence which appears in "Record Book No. Il," but a great deal is in it: "Rev. J. C. Dietz, having received a call to become pastor of Union E. L. Church, took charge April 8, 1923 and resigned the same Oct. 31, 1925." A great deal happened during that period of time, and much of it laid the foundation not only for that which followed during this period but in the next fifty years.
Two important things happened in 1923 which must have added emphasis to an a- Pastor J. C. Dietz wareness of a need. We learn from the "Bar- ringer - Lyerly History" that shortly after Pastor Dietz' arrival, teacher training classes were begun. In the Summer of 1923, the first Vacation Bible School was organized with six teachers and 100 pupils. Something began then which was still continuing in 1929: Vacation Bible School was being held for 20 days during the Summers! Certainly that awareness of the educational responsibility within the con- gregation was to lead to other things.
In the Spring of 1924, there was another newness. A carbide lighting system was installed in the church and the parsonage. The cost was $355.47.
But the newest of the new had to wait for the Spring of 1925. Some- thing was happening at Union which had not taken place in the 150 years of her being! There had been buildings - the Old Pine Church, and the present brick structure. There had been additions - the chancel area and the tower. These additions had been largely for worship. Throughout the 150 year history, the educational facilities had been virtually the same in both the pine church and the brick church - four corners of a sanctuary and a balcony! Little wonder that the Minutes of Synod that Fall speak in glowing terms of what had happened: "Union Church, Rev. J. C. Dietz, pastor, has built a modern Sunday School building, which is provided with classrooms for splendid work in that line. Both the Sunday School build- ing and the church will be heated by a furnace which was installed this summer."
The installation of the furnace spoke of a major improvement, and no doubt a great deal of work. The basement had to be dug before there could be a furnace. It must have seemed strange and quite roomy to have those two stoves removed from the sanctuary.
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The educational addition was what now appears as the left transcept and the old portion of the educational building. A few years later it is de- scribed in the following way in the "Barringer - Lyerly History": "In the Spring of 1925 a Sunday School building was erected, containing a pri- mary department, men's Bible classroom, 10 smaller classrooms, and also an office for superintendent and secretary and treasurer. At the same time the chancel of the church was remodeled, and a heating system was instal- ied. The total cost of these improvements was $7,070.59."
Following Pastor Dietz' resignation, the Rev. N. D. Bodie was called to be pastor and tock charge of the work on July 1, 1926. Pastor Bodie had served the congregation years before while it was still in a parish with Christiana, from 1903 to 1907. Pastor Bodie's health was not good, and due to a prolonged illness, he resigned the work on January 31, 1927.
Once again Union looked to a former pastor, and issued a call to the Rev. J. C. Dietz. Less than two years since leaving Union, Pastor Dietz returned and took up the work on May 25, 1927. He moved back to the parsonage which he had lived in before, but he was soon to move again. In the late Winter and early Spring of 1928 a new parsonage was built.
Synod met in February of 1928, and this is the report in the Minutes: "Union Church, of which Rev. J. C. Dietz is pastor, is building a new mod- ern eight room brick parsonage, which they hope to have ready for use by the early part of the coming Spring. The new parsonage is located further from the church and graveyard than the old one is, and will be quite a credit to both pastor and congregation as a mark of advancement. It is planned also to recover the church as soon as the parsonage is finished. These improvements will represent a cost of around $6,000. Also the bal- ance of $1,250 on the Sunday School building and heating plant was paid."
The old bell which was placed in the tower when built had cracked over the years. Somewhere around this time a new bell was presented to the church to replace it by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Earnhardt. This bell is still in use.
The Parochial Report for 1927 shows that G. L. Lyerly was secretary of the council, and W. A. Agner was treasurer. W. C. Eller was Sunday School Superintendent. There were 486 Baptized members, 304 Confirm- ed Members, and 199 Communing Members. There was a staff of 20 in Sunday School with 242 pupils and 36 on the Cradle Roll. There was one men's group with 26 members, 1 women's group with 55 members, and 2 young peoples' groups with 55 members. The church was valued at $7,000, the parsonage at $6,000, the School and Parish House at $7,000, and an endowment of $10,000. The Current Expenses for the year were $1,685, with $965 for unusual expenses, and a total of $957 given to Benevolence.
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THE PARSONAGE
THE CEMETERY
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In speaking of the work which was done over these years, the "Barrin- ger - Lyerly History" reports: "In August, 1928, the church was recovered with a composition shingle. The total cost of this building program cover- ing a period of six years was $13,064. On the fourth Sunday in October, 1929, a special offering was taken in the Sunday School to pay off the re- mainder of the debt on this building program. The offering amounted to $2,994, which was sufficient to clear all the church property of debts. On the first Sunday in November, 1929, an all day service was held for the purpose of dedicating the new Sunday School building. Rev. J. L. Morgan, D.D., president of the North Carolina Synod, preached the dedicatory ser- mon at the 11 o'clock hour. In the afternoon, after the Rev. N. D. Bodie, a former pastor, delivered an address appropriate to the occasion, Rev. J. C. Dietz, the pastor, performed the act of dedication."
Pastor Dietz served the congregation un- til his resignation on March 31, 1932. The Rev. Brunner E. Petrea, who was serving at Hardin, was called as pastor and began his work on July 1, 1932. During that year, G. L. Lyerly was serving as secretary, W. R. Trexler as treasurer, and H. B. Lyerly as Sunday School Superintendent. There were 515 Baptized and 314 Confirmed Members, and 187 Communing Members. Sunday School showed a staff of 19, with 343 pu- pils on roll, and 32 on the Cradle Roll. There Pastor B. E. Petrea was 1 men's group with 15 members, 1 wom- an's group with 21 members, and 3 young peoples' groups with 100 members. The valuation of the property was re- ported the same as it had been. Current expenses were $1,580 and Benev- olence giving was $674.
During the years of Pastor Petrea's pastorate, many improvements were made. The Minutes of Synod in 1938 carry a listing of some extensive im- provements: "Union Church, near Salisbury, Rev. B. E. Petrea pastor, has put down a hardwood floor in their auditorium, refinished the side walls, built new composition ceiling, installed art memorial windows, purchased new lights, repaired their heating system, and covered the chancel and aisle floors with new carpet, all at an approximate cost of $1,800, which is paid in full." On June 26 a special service of re-dedication was held with Dr. J. L. Morgan, President of Synod, delivering the Sermon. Dinner was served in the grove afterwards.
In the 1940 Minutes of Synod, it was reported that "Union has within
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the past year landscaped and beautified their church grounds and planted shrubbery." In 1939 F. W. Bankett was both secretary of the Council and Sunday School Superintendent. Robert Lyerly was treasurer. There were 524 Baptized Members, 315 Confirmed Members, and 208 Communing Members. The Sunday School staff showed 21, with 300 pupils on roll, and 18 on the Cradle Roll. The Church was valued at $8,000, the parso- nage at $6,000, and the School and Parish House at $7,000, with other property listed at $4,000. Current expenses were $1,408, unusual ex- penses, $442, and Benevolence giving, $1,067.
With the 1941 Minutes of Synod we are able to place a date on the end- ing that we cannot on its beginning, the school house. Union "has torn down their old school building and has put up a new church community house in its place, which will serve a needed purpose for church gatherings on other than preaching occasions. The work was done by members them- selves at off hours."
With Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941, an increased number of young men and boys of Union were being called into Military Service. Over the next several years, things would change. During these times it must have seemed good to those boys who were in service to return home and find the life of the local congregation continuing. In the midst of it, Pastor Petrea had been at Union 10 years, and this occasion was observed as we read in the 1943 Minutes of Synod: "The 10th Anniversary of Rev. B. E. Petrea as pastor of Union Church was appreciatively observed by that congregation August 16, 1942. A beautiful tribute from the congregation was given by Mr. Leroy Trexler who is a ministerial student from that church, and the sermon was preached by your President. Rev. M. J. Kluttz read the Scriptures and offered prayer. At this service, Pastor Petrea con- secrated their new and beautiful Gethsemane window over the chancel, the reredos for the altar, a set of candlesticks, altar desk, a set of vases, and paraments for the chancel. In closing of the services, Pastor Petrea expres- sed grateful appreciation for himself and his family for the manifestations of hearty good will and cooperation on the part of the congregation."
The war continued and made for shortages in a number of things. One thing which the congregation had wanted, they had to wait for because of the war, but it was fulfilled as the 1946 Minutes of Synod testify: "Union . .. has recently installed a new Hammond Organ, which they paid for in full, at a cost of $2,000. It was placed in their services for the first time on Sunday, November 11, 1945 which was 'Armistice Day.' "
As Pastor Petrea summarized his pastorate in "Record Book No. II," he closed by saying,"1945 Hammond Organ installed, choir loft (memorial to Jane Boger) by W. C. and Mrs. Eller, new (crescent) drive built in front
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yard. Shrubbery set at cemetery yard. Yard graded and cement walks laid. Curb stones removed from cemetery, ground prepared and grassed. Water and light fixtures placed in parsonage. Several acres reset in pines. Drink- ing fount (Memorial Agner Efird) placed in 1948."
Pastor Petrea resigned January 15, 1949. His parochial report for 1948 showed that Herman Frick was secretary of the Council, C. Lee Kluttz was treasurer, and F. W. Bankett was Sunday School Superintendent. There were 526 Baptized Members, 388 Confirmed Members, and 256 Commu- ning Members. 21 were on the Sunday School Staff and 315 on the Sun- day School Roll. There was 1 men's group with 15 members, 1 women's group with 80 members, and 1 young peoples' group with 30 members. The value of the church property was still listed the same. Current ex- penses for 1948 were $2,210, unusual expenses $1,156, and total Benevo- lence given was $4,602.
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THE LAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
With the resignation of Pastor Petrea, Union was in for a few changes. The next four pastors were to come directly from the Seminary. The long- est pastorate was to be followed by some relatively short pastorates.
After the call of Seminarian W. Baxter Weant, and prior to his coming, Minutes of a Council Meeting tell that Mr. Herman Frick was elected Treasurer of the Building Fund. So it must have been that there was some- thing on the mind of the congregation at that time. In August, 1949 the Council ac- tion was that the chairman appoint a Build- ing Committee to work with the pastor. This was followed by Council action in Sep- tember that plans be drawn up for an addi- tion to the church building. In December, Pastor W. Baxter Weant J. H. Barringer, Jr. was elected chairman of the Building Committee. It had been twen- ty years since any building had been done, and now it looked as if Union were readying herself again for such an undertaking.
During this time there was other activity going on, and a clipping from the "Post" tells the story as Mr. W. R. Trexler is shown presenting keys to a new 1950 Chevrolet to Pastor Weant as his Christmas present from the congregation!
in January, 1950 the Council voted to have a congregational meeting the fourth Sunday of the month for the purpose of presenting the Building Program. The committee expected the costs to be around $20,000. There is no record of that meeting being held in the book of min- utes. Nothing more appears concerning the building program during the balance of the year. At the end of August, Pastor Weant announces his resignation to the Council to be effective on September 29.
Pastor T. C. Plexico
Once again Union is without a pastor, and finds it necessary to have a pulpit committee. This time the vacancy will be for a longer time. Again the congregation calls a semi- narian - T. C. Plexico. Pastor Plexico en- ters the work on June 1, 1951.
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