USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 10
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"Resolved, That this Synod hereby extend to Mr. S. G. Cummings, its treasurer, a vote of appreciation for his faith- ful and successful efforts in increasing the benevolent con- tributions of the Synod."
Thirteen more years of service, in all 23 years, Mr. Cummings gave to the Synod as its Treasurer, and when in 1902 he declined re-election on account of impaired health, Synod passed the following :
"Resolved, That a vote of thanks and appreciation be extended to Hon. S. G. Cummings for his twenty-three years of service as Treasurer of Synod."
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This was adopted by a rising vote. It was the longest period of service rendered by any officer in the history of Wittenberg Synod. The Synod in noting his departure spoke of his official relations with this Synod as follows :
29 "S. G. Cummings, Esq., departed this life July 20, 1913. He was born October 31, 1839. He was treasurer of this Synod from 1890 to 1912, performing well and faithfully the onerous duties of that office. Four times he was elected delegate to the General Synod by this body. In 1896 he was chosen to represent this Synod in the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College and was re-elected to succeed him- self from time to time, holding this Directorship at the time of his death. We recognize in Brother Cummings a good Christian man, and a faithful and willing servant of the Church."
20 Minutes, 1913, pp. 29 and 30.
CHAPTER VIII
Church Organizations
I T WAS noted in the first Chapter that in the pioneer period our pastors served many churches at the same time, going long distances and often in different directions and conducting services at long intervals. It was necessarily so. Six or seven of the first years of the Synod's history elapsed before any pastorates were organized. Congregations were grouped in districts, many of which covered wide areas of country, and here in the West, as it was then, the boundary lines of states were often crossed in the making up of these various groups.
There were no forms of agreement to co-operate in any distinct association as one pastorate, and there were frequent changes of re-districting the various sections of territory as new organizations were ef- fected. Much of the time of the first conventions of the Synod was therefore taken up in reports and correspondence between the synods so widely scat- tered, ten or more of them in the time of one con- vention.
Dr. Joshua Crouse, in his auto-biography, says of this period, that,* "It was, I think, in 1854, that our churches on the territory of Wittenberg Synod were, by synodical authority, arranged into pastoral charges. Prior to this there was no fixedness about our fields
*Autobiog., p. 199.
(158)
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of labor, and no pastor could know, certainly, what would be the nature and form of his pastorate one year hence.
Changes were liable to be made almost any time, not so much through ministerial interference, perhaps, as because of a restlessness and dissatisfied propensity on the part of the local churches themselves.
The lines of Southey, written of individuals. might have been applied to local churches in those days, with equal fitness :
"Man hath a weary pilgrimage As through the world he wends; On every stage from youth to age Still discontent attends."
Moreover, the people did not seem to care, then, where their pastor lived provided he met his en- gagements regularly and promptly. But the new order of things tended to reduce to a system the relation of pastor and people with all their mutual interests and labors, with reference to the securing of definite ends."
It becomes necessary even after the formation of pastoral charges, to make changes now and then, as will fully appear in the succeeding pages of this chapter. This will come about, naturally enough through the numerical and financial growth of the churches themselves, and because of the new organi- zations being formed from time to time.
The remainder of this chapter will consist of sketches of congregations and pastorates, furnished by the Local Historians.
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Crouse Memorial Lutheran Church, Tiro, Ohio
The Oakland, (now Crouse Memorial) Lutheran congregation was organized in the summer of 1842 by Rev. F. J. Ruth, from the converts made in a revival held in a school-house in which Joshua Crouse was teaching. We quote a few sentences from Rev. Ruth's Autobiography.
*"In the month of February, A. D. 1842, a most remarkable awakening occurred among the young people in the school which was then being taught by Brother Joshua Crouse, in his own district. That work of grace permeated the entire community, and prepared the way, and furnished the material for the permanent organization of a Lutheran Church in that community ; and such an organization was effected during the summer of 1842. The organization was called the "Oakland English Evangelical Lutheran Church." This congregation prospered greatly from the very day of its organization. A sabbath-school and prayermeeting had been maintained in this com- munity for some time, both of these forms of Christian work and worship being due largely to the religious zeal, energy, and enterprise, of Joshua Crouse. Among the first members of the Oakland Lutheran church were the Crouses, the Eckises, the Handleys, the Cahills and others.
It was served from the first in connection with other pastorates,-from 1851 to 1856, by the pastor of the Plymouth Charge; from 1856 to 1859, by the pastor of the Shelby Charge. In 1859 it formed a union with the Sulphur Springs congregation, and was served successively by Revs. A. R. Howbert,
*Autobiog., p. 74.
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J. B. Helwig, and I. J. Delo, with two or more years of vacancy. From 1868 to 1890 the Holmes con- gregation formed a part of this charge. In May, 1869, Rev. J. Crouse took charge and served until Aug., 1874. Soon after his resignation the charge accepted the services of Rev. A. J. Kissell, then a student at the Seminary, with the view of a settlement as pastor, which was effected in October following. After four years of faithful service he resigned in 1878.
Rev. J. N. Morris succeeded him and resigned in October, 1879. Rev. W. H. Dolbeer followed, re- maining but two years. Feb'y 1, 1882. Rev. M. L. Smith took charge and resigned Dec. 31, 1884.
These were all years of faithful service during which the strength of the churches was fully main- tained and the work of the Lord made to prosper. In June, 1885, the "Oakland" congregation changed to the "Crouse Memorial" congregation, withdrew from the Sulphur Springs pastorate, and extended a unanimous call to Rev. Dr. Crouse, who most faithfully and acceptably served the church until the time of his death, which occurred June 17, 1888. It is eminently proper to notice just here, that Doctor Crouse was present at the organization of Wittenberg Synod at Washingtonville, Ohio, in 1847,-that he suggested its name, "Wittenberg,"-that he formally united with this synod on June 17, 1848,-that he was a continuous member, active and honored, for that period,-that he died on the fortieth anniversary of his reception into our body, viz. : June 17, 1888.
Dr. Crouse, though he never enjoyed the ad- vantages of a collegiate education, was a diligent
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student, and his attainments so generally recognized that the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and at a later date the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Dr. Crouse was succeeded by the Rev. J. W. Goodlin in Oct., 1888, who rendered efficient service for two and a-half years, resigning April 30, 1891.
In its session in Oct., 1891, Wittenberg Synod constituted Crouse Memorial and Sulphur Springs congregations one pastorate to be known as the "Tiro Pastorate."
Of this new pastorate Rev. A. E. Gaff took charge in Oct., 1891. It was during this pastorate that, through the will of the late Dr. and Mrs. Crouse this congregation came into legal possession of a fine par- sonage property, also $700.00 in cash. The parsonage is valued at $4,000.00.
Rev. Gaff resigned the work of the charge in Nov., 1895.
Rev. G. M. Grau, D. D., accepted the pastorate in Dec., 1895, and after 21/2 years diligent service resigned, April, 1898.
He was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Grove, who very acceptably served the pastorate for a period of more than five years. During his administration the church property was substantially improved. He resigned Oct., 1903. Following him came the Rev. C. E. Berkey, who with great diligence in all the concerns of the church's interests served the pastorate until Oct., 1906.
April 1, 1907, Rev. C. S. Ernsberger, D. D., was called and entered upon the work. Just at this time, a congregation of United Presbyterians, located in the
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village, having disbanded, a number of most excellent families from that denomination came, of their own choice, to strengthen the hands of the church in the doing of the Lord's work. Their coming was a matter of great encouragement. At the close of his ministry the congregation placed a new furnace in the parsonage, greatly adding to the comfort of the pastor's home. He resigned January 1, 1910 to accept the work of Field Secretary of Wittenberg College.
January 1, 1910, Rev. J. W. Bressler, the new pastor, came and was on the ground the day before the departing pastor left.
Wittenberg Synod in its session at Plymouth, O., Oct., 1911, received a request from the Crouse Me- morial that it be permitted to withdraw from the Sul- phur Springs congregation. The request was granted.
Crouse Memorial called the Rev. Bressler, who had resigned the Tiro Charge but had not yet left the field. Rev. Bressler accepted the work, but left one year later, resigning Dec. 2, 1912.
On the 7th of Feb'y, 1913, Crouse Memorial con- gregation extended a call to Arthur J. Hall, then a Senior in Wittenberg Divinity School at Springfield, O. On May II, 1914, after graduation. Rev. A. J. Hall was regularly installed as pastor by Rev. J. A. Hall, D. D., and Rev. Paul W. Koller, both of Mans- field, O. Manifest improvements have appeared along all lines since Rev. Hall has taken up the work. In 1916 the church was refrescoed, recarpeted, furnished with new pews, and a pipe organ installed at a cost of $2,300.00.
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St. Paul's Lutheran Church, McClure, Ohio
Missionary work was done by Rev. F. A. Matthis during winter of 1900 and services were held at the Methodist church. For a while it seemed as if the work was abandoned by the General Council or at least only carried on spasmodically by transient preachers, some of whom had no synodical connection. Sunday-school, however, was kept up and held in a hall over Mr. Henry Seekamp's bakery.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mc- Clure, Ohio, was organized by Rev. R. E. M. Engers on the 16th of May, 1895.
The charter members were : Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Ballmer, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Miller, Mr. and Mrs. John Armbruster, Wm. Wiedeman, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nelson, John Olson, John Miller, Frank An- derson, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Seekamp, Mrs. Charles Mollet, Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnson, and Mina Johnson.
The church was at first a mission of the General Council.
The church grew up in a revivalistic community which it has to a great extent influenced toward more churchly practices. A debt of $1,300.00 has been over- come.
Besides the regular church organization there are the Sunday school, and the W. H. and F. M. S.
The buildings are church and parsonage. The character and arrangement are Lutheran. Capacity 350. The equipment consists of auditorium seats, furnace, organ, piano, lecturn, pulpit, altar, and bap- tismal font.
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The pastors were : Rev. R. E. M. Engers and Rev. Peters from Toledo, who served the congrega- tion till Rev. E. J. E. Kuhlman was called and took charge in September, 1896. He remained till April, 1898.
Rev. C. E. Schweikert from July, 1898, till Oc- tober, 1900. During the year 1901 it was transferred to the General Synod and because it seemed to have been entirely abandoned Rev. J. N. Barnett was called as pastor June 1, 1901, and served till June 1, 1905. Student J. W. Bressler of Wittenberg Seminary sup- plied from July 2, 1905, till September 10th of the same year. Rev. S. D. Steffey served as pastor from September 18, 1905, till July, 1907. Rev .. G. M. Grau, D. D., from September 1, 1907, till October 31, 1914. Rev. Richard Rasmussen took charge May 1, 1915. Recent improvements and interior decorations were made at an expense of $750.
Since the transfer from the General Council to the General Synod, it was constituted a pastorate together with the Trinity Church of Malinta and Christ's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Continental, the pastor's residence being at McClure.
Christ's English Lutheran Church, Continental, Ohio
When Mrs. E. Casteel long years ago came to Continental she found no Lutheran church and scarcely any Lutheran people. She tried to help in a struggling Methodist church, but when they spurned her assistance she still more keenly felt the need of a Lutheran house of worship. So she and a few others, viz. : Mr. Frank Konst and wife, Mr. Charles
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Konst and wife, planned and sacrificed and made the present church possible.
Christ's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Con- tinental was organized by Rev. Frank C. Longaker, August 2, 1896.
There were 18 charter members as follows : Mrs. E. Casteel, Flora Casteel, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Konst, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Konst, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Holla- baugh, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Ludwig, Mr. J. Walgen- baugh, Mr. and Mrs. F. Bader, Della Bader, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Yockey, Mrs. Emma Wolske, and Mrs. Sarah Engle. It became a mission of General Synod.
At first the worshippers met in store rooms. When they built they incurred a debt of $1,200.00 plus $500.00 which they received from the Synod. All of this has been paid back but $100.00.
Besides the regular church organization there are the Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society, and an or- ganized Bible Class.
There is one building for the church, and a smaller adjoining wing for S. S. room. There is a belfry crowned with a cross. The character and arrangement of the interior is nearly Lutheran. Seat- ing capacity 300. The equipment consists of pews, chairs, reed organ, pipe organ, pulpit, stoves, and electric light. During Rev. F. C. Longaker's admin- istration the corner stone was laid in August of 1897. In November of the same year the building was dedicated.
Rev. F. C. Longaker was the pastor from the date of organization for a period of less than two years. He was followed by Rev. H. B. Schroeder.
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Rev. J. N. Barnett from June 1, 1901, till March, 1906. Supplies. Rev. J. W. Bressler, April 1, 1908, till January 1, 1910. Rev. G. M. Grau from January, IQII till October 31, 1914. Rev. Richard Rasmussen took charge May 1, 1915. The last of the indebtedness has been paid and the congregation is much encour- aged.
English Lutheran Church, Malinta, Ohio
Just when the Trinity English Lutheran congre- gation at Malinta, O., was organized or by whom, the records do not show, but on page 26 of the minutes of 1888 we find the following :
"At a regularly called meeting of the English Lutheran Church of Malinta, O., on the 27th of November, 1887, the congregation by unanimous vote, expressed a desire to be received into the care of this Synod, having complied with the requirements of the Constitution of this Synod. We recommend that it be received, and its name placed on the roll of churches."
In the minutes of 1887, the President, in his re- port of official acts, notes the bare fact that the cor- nerstone of the church was laid July 2, 1887.
One year later the President says again : "A new frame church, 34 x 50 feet with tower 10 x 10 feet was dedicated at Malinta, ()." No date is given. "This church is under the pastoral care of the Rev. J. W. Ryder. The liberality and devotion of the pastor and people were manifest to a very consider- able degree at the feast of Dedication, where it was our privilege to be present."
In 1891 he was succeeded by Rev. F. A. Matthis, who gave Malinta one-half of his time, together with promoting the organization at McClure, O., Rev. Mat- this resigned in 1893 and the charge was supplied for
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a time by Mr. D. P. Heltzel, then a student at the Seminary at Springfield, O. After a vacancy of sev- eral years except occasional supplies, it was served for a short time by Rev. M. F. Rinker, from McComb, O.
After the organization of the congregation at Continental it was served together with that church for a time by Rev. H. B. Schroeder. After a two years' vacancy, Rev. J. N. Barnett took charge in 1901, serving also the McClure congregation in con- nection with Malinta and Continental. The entire charge prospered during this pastorate which con- tinued for a period of five years. In 1907 Rev. Dr. G. M. Grau became pastor, continuing as pastor for seven years, succeeded in 1914 by Rev. Richard Ras- mussen. He has taken up the work with great vigor and is pushing out in every direction in a leadership that will doubtless bring very excellent results in the near future.
St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, Marion, Ohio
Incidental to the removal of a good number of Lutheran families from Galion, O., to Marion, O., occasioned by the transfer of the Chicago division terminal of the Erie Railway from Galion to Marion, steps were taken looking toward the organization of a Lutheran Mission at the latter city. During the sun- mer of 1913 the Board of Home Missions sent Mr. Raymond A. Houk, then a student at Hamma Divinity School at Springfield, O., to canvass the city. Faithful work was done, and on the 22nd of June, forty people gathered for the organization of a Sunday-school. The organization was effected by the election of L. H. Craner, Supt; W. E. Klopp, Assistant Supt .; Sarah
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Bell, Sec'y ; Leona Bell, Organist ; Geneva Bell, Chor- ister ; Glen Sherer and Paul Converse, Librarians ; and it was decided that on the following Sunday preaching services should follow the Sunday-school hour.
On the next Sunday the same number was present and the study of the lesson was succeeded by an excellent service. conducted by Mr. Houk. Thus Sunday after Sunday the same faithful number met for study and worship. Sunday, July 29th, Rev. Mc- Dowell, Sec'y of the Board of Home Missions, was present and gave substantial encouragement.
Different ministers of the Synod supplied with preaching services during the latter part of the sum- mer, until October 26th, when under the direction of the President of the Synod, Dr. V. G. A. Tressler, the organization in regular form, of St. Paul's Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of Marion, Ohio, was made a matter of history. The officers elected were :
Elders : W. E. Klopp and H. L. Robinson.
Deacons : L. H. Craner, Carl Maynard and W. H. Bruce.
Following are the names of charter members : Mrs. M. G. Almendinger, the Misses Leona and Geneva Bell, Miss Ida Alice Bergener, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Craner, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Heinman, and Ethel Heinman, Mr. and Mrs. William Klopp, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Maynard, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. A. Miller, Mrs. Ethel M. Welch, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. McClure, Mrs. Carrie McQuiston, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Robinson, Ione Robinson, and Joe Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rudolph, Mr. and Mrs. George Stabner, Mrs. Jennie Stevens, Mrs.
1
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Bertha Swartz, Mrs. Clara Seaman, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Sweger, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Wahl.
The services had been conducted in the Mooney Hall on West Center St., but it was desired to select
REV. M. I. POWELL. 1
a more suitable location, and the rooms of the School of Commerce, in the heart of the city, were secured. On the second of December, 1913, with the as- sistance of the President of the Synod, at a regular
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service, a call was extended to the Rev. M. I. Powell, of Convoy, O., to become the first pastor. The con- gregation voted unanimously and the call was ac- cepted.
On January II, 1914, he was regularly installed by the President of Synod, assisted by the Rev. Dr. S. G. Dornblaser, of Bucyrus, O.
April 26, 1914, another change was made in the location of the mission on account of the wearisome- ness of the climbing of several flights of stairs, and the Hall of the Druid Fraternal Society was chosen, in every respect a much more desirable location, on the corner of Columbia and Pearl Sts.
During the first year of the organization a Ladies' Aid Society was organized, and a little later a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary also, both of which are active and efficient in the work of the church.
St. Paul's has made a splendid beginning in every respect, and with the fine outlook and the kindly recognition it has already secured among the estab- lished churches of that city, and the excellent shepherd care it receives at the hands of its pastor, Rev. M. I. Powell, it will soon be able to secure a church home and move on toward a prominent place among the churches of the city. A location has been secured at a cost of $2,500 and a new building is in prospect.
THE ARLINGTON-ZION PASTORATE Zion Lutheran Church
The beginnings of the Zion Lutheran congregation of Eagle Township, Hancock Co., Ohio, were made as far back as 1848, when services were first held
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at the home of Mr. Jacob Zoll, seven miles south- west of Findlay, and six miles north-west of Arling- ton.
No account is given of the time of the organiza- tion of this congregation, but the minutes of Synod show that Jacob Zoll represented the Findlay Charge in its Fourth Annual Convention at Woodbury, Mor- row Co., Ohio, in 1850. It was then known as the Zoll's Church and was connected with Findlay congre- gation in one pastorate from the time of its organiza- tion until in 1874, when, by action of Synod it was united with Cairo and Bluffton as part of the Cairo Pastorate.
Rev. E. K. Baker was its first pastor after this union was formed.
The first House of Worship was built in 1852, when Rev. J. Livengood was pastor at Findlay, and was of brick, and stood one mile north of the location of the present church.
The Bluffton congregation secured a parsonage and the pastors, beginning with Rev. Baker, resided at Bluffton and the Pastorate was named the Bluffton Charge. Rev. Geo. E. Harsh succeeded him in 1879. and in 1880 the second church was built. This is also of brick, with tower and bell and stained glass windows, and very neatly furnished.
The Charge remained the same until the church at Arlington was organized in 1891, when West Cairo was joined to Lima, and Bluffton, Arlington and Zion formed one pastorate. The withdrawal of Bluffton in 1911 leaves Arlington and Zion to form a pastorate alone.
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Some of the charter members of the Zion Church are the following: E. E. Crist, Eli Hartman, Jacob Zoll, David Zoll, Aaron Fellers, Jacob Kibler, La- fayette McClelland, Moses Lott, A. Decker, Cornelius Browneller, Abraham Spangler, John Knight, Eliza- beth Collinwood.
This Congregation was served during its connec- tion with the Findlay congregation by Revs. J. Liven- good, and Morris Officer, Rev. Drs. S. A. Ort, A. J. Imhoff, H. B. Belmer, Revs. D. W. Kinsel, P. S. Hooper and G. W. Miller. During its connection with W. Cairo and Bluffton, by Revs. E. K. Baker, G. E. Harsh, G. M. Grau, E. C. Jessup, and J. M. Dustman. After the close of Rev. Dustman's pastorate, Cairo was united with Lima Mission, Rev. Bair was called to Bluffton and the congregation at Arlington or- ganized.
Arlington Lutheran Church
The first steps toward the organization of an English Lutheran Church in Arlington, Ohio, were taken when, in 1891, a canvass of the village and com- munity was made by the Rev. C. S. Ernsberger, of Galion, Ohio, then Missionary Secretary of Witten- berg Synod, in connection with the Rev. D. U. Bair, Pastor at Bluffton, and a hall rented in which to hold regular services. Concerning the first service the pastor wrote the Secretary,-"Held the first service yesterday in the new room. Sittings for 70 people. One-third of my congregation had to stand. $20.00 collected on rent. Outlook good."
Regular services were continued throughout the summer and on November 22nd the pastor and Sec- retary effected an organization.
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The following were among the charter members : Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Craw- ford, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Steinman, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Powell, Mrs. Elizabeth Schlaak, Miss Eliz- abeth Fischer, Miss Hattie Fisher, Miss Bertha Powell and Mrs. Peter Young.
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