USA > Ohio > Stark County > Canton > History of the First Reformed Church, Canton, Ohio > Part 10
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When the church was enlarged and remodelled in 1899, a new front was put on the entire building. The corner stone was thus completely hidden behind the new brickwork. Al- though scores of members were still living who had walked by the corner stone countless times, not one could be found who was willing to assert with absolute assurance whether the stone was on the southwest or southeast corner of the old part of the building. Opinion however, seemed to incline towards the
MISSIONARY
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THE CONTENTS OF THE CORNERSTONE
History of Church by Rev. Herbruck Hymn Book Bible
History by Dr. Danziger and Coins Catechism
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THE CORNERSTONE AND THE DEDICATION
southeast corner. Accordingly Elder Godfrey Snyder and the pastor attacked the job of getting out the coveted documents on Wednesday afternoon, September 9, 1914. It proved to be a laborious undertaking owing to the new brickwork which had been built entirely around the corner, making it extremely difficult to get to the desired point. About ten bricks were removed from the face of the old wall which made it possible to dig behind the new portion without disturbing it. Elder Snyder did practically all of the work, the pastor being obliged to content himself with furnishing the necessary encourage- ment. The inside bricks and plaster were found in perfect condition and extremely solid. After about two hours labor the iron lid of the corner stone receptacle was struck. That was a glad moment for the workers; but much hard digging was required before the copper box could finally be cut open and the contents removed.
In the meantime several more people had assembled and were waiting for the moment when the contents buried for more than half a century should be brought forth. Among these were Elder Adam Thomas, Karl Raber, Karl Snyder, Mrs. Elizabeth Bolliger, and several small children.
Sunk into the corner stone was a strong iron box eleven by eight by six inches in size, covered by a close fitting lid. With- in this was a heavy copper box soldered shut so as to be per- fectly air and water-tight. Within this box the following ob- jects were found : a large German Bible 734 by 5 by 2 inches in dimensions; a German union hymnal prepared for Re- formed and Lutheran congregations, published by Wilhelm Radde of New York, and still extensively used by union con- gregations ; a Heidelberg Catechism; copies of four newspa- pers, namely, "Der Deutsche in Ohio" dated June 19, 1861, published in Canton; "Der Evangelist," Cleveland, Ohio, of June 15, 1861; "Die Reformierte Kirchenzeitung," Chambers- burg, Pa., of June 1, 1861, and "The Western Missionary," Dayton, Ohio, of May 2, 1861; two historical documents, one written by Rev. Peter Herbruck, and the other by Dr. Danzi- ger ; eleven coins, namely, four Indian-head cents, two eagle
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
cents, three old style cents bigger and heavier than a quarter, one half-dime and one three-cent piece. Two of the big cent pieces had portions punched out of them. The donor of these probably desired these bits as souvenirs. In addition to these articles the tinners who did the tinwork and the painter wrote their names on a card and threw it in so that their name and fame might not be lost to the coming generations. The tin- ners were Lewis M. Slusser, John J. Clark, H. V. Russell. The painter was E. Stover.
The document written by Rev. Herbruck in which he gives a sketch of the history of the congregation is of so much value that it alone would have abundantly repaid the labor of open- ing the corner stone. The translation of this interesting ac- count is here given, with two corrections which are placed in brackets :
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
"The corner stone of this church was laid in the year of our Lord, 1861, on Sunday, the 23d day of June; during the time that Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States, and William Dennison was Governor of the State of Ohio; and at the time when the secession of several states from the Union had brought about a civil war.
"The church was built by the First Reformed congregation of this community, and is to have the name The Reformed Je- rusalem's Church. The congregation was gathered by Rev. J. P. Mahnenschmidt, who, however, as he was not stationed here, visited the congregation only from time to time; until in the year 1820 [The date is not given correctly. It should be 1818.] a regular pastor was obtained in the person of Rev. B. Faust. In the year 1823, the Reformed congregation united with the Lutheran congregation of this place in buying a piece of ground for a burial place, because the two congregations at that time were still weak and without means.
"However, there never existed that peace and harmony that should have been present. Frictions and dissensions unfor- tunately came up frequently. But regardless of this, and in
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THE CORNERSTONE AND THE DEDICATION
spite of the fact that the growth of the Reformed Church was deliberately hindered, the membership during the last twenty- eight years increased more than sevenfold, and it is plainly to be seen that the Lord has been with us. The congregation now numbers almost 300 members. [The figures given do not agree with the facts and conclusions presented in Chapter V. The most probable explanation is that Rev. Herbruck's mem- ory led him to confuse individual members and families at the moment of writing this document. Canton had almost 300 in- dividual members in 1861. One-seventh of this number would be about forty. The records still extant prove that this num- ber if taken as individuals is far too small; but if it represents families the result would be about 130 to 150 individuals, which agrees with the conclusions of the fifth chapter. The "frictions and dissensions" spoken of did not begin until about 1840.] In the year 1859, the Reformed congregation decided to build a church for their own use. They immediately began the build- ing on the same piece of ground which, as has already been said, had been bought by the two congregations together. But when the foundation was barely half finished, the Lutheran congregation brought suit against the Reformed congregation, and building had to be postponed. Every proposition of the Reformed congregation for a peaceable solution of the matter was rejected by the Lutheran congregation. Yea, even when the Court of Common Pleas had rendered its decision and had ordered a division of the joint property, the Lutherans appealed to the State Supreme Court. Although there were no pros- pects that the Supreme Court would render a different verdict than the one already given by the Court of Common Pleas, they nevertheless sought to hinder the building as long as possible.
"In the spring of 1861, a citizen of our town took up the matter ; although no member of the church, he was neverthe- less a true friend of the Reformed congregation. This citizen whose name was Louis Gibbs, visited the leaders of the Luth- eran congregation in their homes and with his suave, gentle, and persuasive speech succeeded in removing the existing difficulties by means of two committees appointed by the two
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
congregations. The joint property was divided. The Luthe- ran congregation took the eastern half, and the Reformed con- gregation took the western half. The project was then taken up anew by the congregation, subscriptions were gathered, and all necessary arrangements were made to bring the building to its completion.
"The long-drawn suit, as well as the interruption in the building, caused the Reformed church a loss of at least one thousand dollars. Mr. C. Schweitzer was elected treasurer of the building fund by the congregation, and the brethren Ludwig Bauereis, Heinrich Schack, and George Deuble con- stituted the building committee. All these brethren are very enthusiastic in the good work, and are assisting it with great self-denial and sacrifice.
"Rev. P. Herbruck has been the minister of the congrega- tion for twenty-nine years. The present consistory consists of the brethren Jacob Liphart and Ludwig Bauereis as elders ; and Heinrich Schack, Johannes Weber, Michael Miller, and Daniel Schmidt as deacons.
"To assist in the building, two woman's sewing societies were also formed, namely, a Woman's Society, and a Maiden's Society.
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"The Woman's Society consists of the following sisters :
Mrs. Langhaus, President.
Caroline Deuble, Treasurer. Katherine Paar,
Sophie Harshold,
Mary Glass,
Elizabeth Schilling,
Barbara Schmidt,
Caroline Dewies,
Elizabeth Blum,
Marie Ohliger,
Rosina Hexamer,
Katherine Leiter,
Louise Stahler,
Mary Herbruck,
Barbara Kuhr,
Christine Grofmiller,
Rosina Mack,
Caroline Blum,
Katherine Vogelgesang,
Frau Bauman,
Anna Bauereis, Caroline Gibbs,
Susanne Deuble,
Charlotta Glass,
Magdalena Schack, S. Herbruck,
Katherine Schmidt,
Maria Baemer,
Elizabeth Vogelgesang,
Katherine Weber, Frau Merz,
Katherine Delb.
Nanetta Schweitzer,
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THE CORNERSTONE AND THE DEDICATION
"The Maiden's Society consists of the sisters :
Caroline Schuff, President. .
Catherine Einnerich,
Lorena Schuff,
Lorena Rank,
Aurelia Bauhof,
Elizabeth Heingartner,
Elizabeth Schuff,
Mary Miller,
Sarah Smith,
Catherine Kaufman,
Louise Rank,
Elizabeth Ulrich,
Louise Stahler,
Elizabeth Schack,
Louise Glass,
Mary Boas,
Anna Ulrich,
Amelia Herbruck,
Susanna Schack,
Helena Koehler,
Amelia Stuerhoff,
Blandina Miller.
"The following preachers were present at the laying of the corner stone : R. Koehler, Rev. Buckingham, and the local pas- tor, P. Herbruck.
"Rev. R. Koehler preached from the words of Ezra 3: 10- 11 in the German language, and Rev. Buckingham on the words found in I Chron. 22: 19.
"When the building of this edifice was begun two years ago, the building committee consisted of the brethren Ludwig Ohliger, Peter Preyer, Heinrich Bergman, Joseph Herschy, Johannes Glass, Christian Vogelgesang and Father Koenig.
"These men were all very enthusiastic for the good work, especially did Ludwig Gluger distinguish himself in the work."
P. HERBRUCK, Preacher of the congregation.
"Mr. F. Dressel built the foundation of the church.
"Mr. McGregor furnished the foundation stones.
"Mr. John Schuff laid the foundation stones.
"Mr. H. Biemendoerfer did the carpenter work."
In addition to the above document, there was also a second written by Dr. Danziger in which another brief historical sketch is given. As this is a mere repetition of the facts pre- sented by Rev. Herbruck, it is omitted, with the exception of the close, which contains some interesting information on the price of the "means of living," which is given in part. Wheat was selling at $1.00 a bushel, oats for 25 cents, rye for 50 cents, corn for 35 cents, potatoes for 25 cents. Butter was eight
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
cents a pound, and eggs were seven cents a dozen. "Provisions have fallen in price owing to the war with the southern states."
Although the breaking out of the Civil War, and the con- sequent demoralization of business and industrial conditions, added to the difficulty of raising the needed funds, the members of the congregation worked on undismayed. During the sum- mer, the walls went up, and the roof was put on without in- curring any debts. Then during the fall and winter a new campaign for subscriptions was carried on. The wood for finishing the inside was given by members of the country con- gregations. In the spring (1862) the carpenters and plasterers could be started to work again. The Women's Societies were working and collecting to secure money enough for a bell, and finally in the fall all things were ready for the dedication.
The dimensions of the new church were 80 by 48 feet with a height of 28 feet. The steeple was 145 feet high and could be plainly seen over the entire town that did not boast of many high buildings at that time. Two bells had been installed in the tower; the one had been secured by the diligence of the women, the other had been presented by Conrad Schweitzer. The windows contained only plain glass, and were protected without by huge shutters. The organ was placed in the center of the gallery, and the pulpit stood in the center where the choir loft now is .* The pews were perfectly straight. with square ends and were arranged so as to give a wide central aisle, and a narrower aisle on each side. The necessary heat was furnished by a giant stove placed in the center of the building, with about forty-five feet of stove-pipe leading to the chimney near the northwest corner. The church was seldom used in the evening, though provisions were made for lighting the auditorium by means of lamps fastened to the walls and provided with reflectors.
Sunday, October 5, was selected for the day of dedica- tion. A great multitude of people assembled. The five coun-
* The recess, where the pipe organ now stands was not built until Rev. Rust's pastorate; at which time also the window west of the organ recess was walled shut.
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THE CORNERSTONE AND THE DEDICATION
try congregations still served by Rev. Herbruck sent large del- egations. "The new house of God could not contain them all. In the church at least 800 persons had assembled." Rev. Rob- ert Kohler, pastor of the Reformed Church in Akron, preached at the German service in the morning on the subject "The Great Significance of the House of God." The text was taken from Gen. 28: 17, "How dreadful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." After the sermon, the building was dedicated by the pastor to the service of the Triune God. In the afternoon an English serv- ice was held. Rev. Buckingham of the Presbyterian Church, Canton, preached. By a peculiar coincidence he had selected the same text that had been used by Rev. Kohler in the morn- ing. In the evening Rev. David Kaemmerer, pastor of the Reformed Church at Wooster, preached on the text, Psalm 26: 8, "Jehovah, I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth." At each service the building was crowded with attentive hearers.
An offering of $150 was brought during the day. A debt of several hundred dollars still rested upon the new building.
The Canton congregation had now grown to such a mem- bership that the people demanded one service each Sunday. This necessitated the giving up of several of the country con- gregations belonging to the charge, leaving only the Canton, Osnaburg, Paris, and St. Jacob's (Cairo) congregations to be served by Rev. Herbruck. The pastor's salary also was cor- respondingly increased. During the first twenty years, the Canton congregation paid Rev. Herbruck less than $100 a year as salary ; during the next ten years, he received $150; as one after another of the country congregations had to be dropped because Canton demanded more of the minister's time, the sal- ary was increased until in 1870 it amounted to $750 without parsonage.
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CHAPTER XV THE INEVITABLE ENGLISH AND A FEW OTHER THINGS
W HEN the new church was dedicated, all the regular services of the Canton congregations were still con- ducted in German. Already during the pastorate of Rev. Ben- jamin Faust some English had been necessary and was willing- ly granted. When Rev. Peter Herbruck became pastor of the charge he was unable to officiate in the English language; and in later years, although he became quite proficient in English, he steadily refused to use it for public discourse or sermon. As early as 1837 a small group of members left the Canton congregation and united with the English speaking Lutherans in the organization of the Trinity Lutheran Church. During the next fifteen years, the controversies that raged over the questions of temperance, change of language and the new- measure movement caused the loss of scores of members in Canton.
The coming of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1851 started a boom in population and industries. Manufactories for the production of harvesting machinery, farm implements, tools and other necessities were erected. A large influx of popula- tion followed. The town grew from 2000 in 1850 to 4000 in 1860, and had reached 9000 in 1870. Many of the new-com- ers were Germans and Swiss, for these were the years of a phenomenal German immigration. The Reformed congrega- tion therefore grew rapidly and actually contained a larger number of German adult members than ever before. Under these circumstances Rev. Herbruck became the more deter- mined not to permit any English to be used at the regular serv- ices, even though the American born members and their chil- dren might ask for it.
After the new church was built the demand for some Eng-
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TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH North Market Street and Sixth
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THE INEVITABLE ENGLISH
lish became insistent. Rev. J. H. Good, D.D.,* in 1871 de- scribes the situation in Canton in these words, "The organiza- tion (of an English congregation) was delayed much too long. Twenty years ago (that is about 1850) we should have had such a congregation. We have lost immensely by the delay. If the families that were once members of the Reformed Church, but are now scattered among other English organiza- tions in Canton, were gathered together, they would make by far the wealthiest and strongest congregation in the place." **
Though Rev. Herbruck was absolutely opposed to the in- troduction of English into his German congregation, he grad- ually became convinced that an English congregation ought to be organized to prevent the constant loss of Reformed mem- bers to other denominations on account of the language. He also offered to assist an English organization to the extent of his ability. The development of this new attitude will be given in his own words:
"Several years after our church had been built, the Ohio Synod of the Reformed Church held its annual session in the new building (1864). A number of the English brethren did not seem to like it very well that the congregation was still all German. I received many a broad hint that English ought to be introduced speedily. Not very long after the Synod meet- ing I got a letter from one of the prominent English brethren in which he said, "Brother Herbruck, there must be English preaching in your congregation." I answered, "No, in my con- gregation there will be no regular English preaching. The con- gregation is German and shall remain German." Soon another letter came reminding me that unless English was introduced, our young people would soon be lost to the congregation. My answer was, "Canton lies before you. If the English brethren desire an English congregation, let them come and organize
* Dr. Good had been a professor in the college and the theological seminary, Tiffin, Ohio for a score of years, and was intimately acquaint- ed with the conditions in the congregation.
** Christian World, Oct. 19, 1871.
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
one." I offered to assist them to the extent of my ability ; but refused to permit regular English preaching in my congre- gation.
"When it was finally discovered that Brother Herbruck could not easily be persuaded to do something which he did not consider to be good, the decision was reached to organize a new congregation in the city of Canton."t
On November 24, 1870, the consistory unanimously au- thorized the pastor to call a congregational meeting to vote on the question of allowing an English congregation about to be organized, the use of the church. This congregational meeting was held January 22, 1871. One hundred and two votes were cast. Of these only sixteen were opposed to the granting of the request. It was also resolved, that, "The church may be occupied by the Second Reformed congregation when not used by the German congregation; the Second congregation paying half for heating, cleaning, and lighting the church."
On April 6, the consistory of the mother-church and the consistory of the Second congregation "when regularly organ- ized" met and drew up rather elaborate and legally phrased "Articles of Agreement" which were signed by all the mem- bers of the two consistories. In these articles it was stipulated that, "The congregation, when regularly organized, styled the Second Reformed Congregation, may have the use, for divine service, of the German Reformed Jerusalem's Church, at such seasons or hours when not occupied by the German congrega- tion, their minister being umpire as to time, from April 1, 1871 to April 1, 1872 ; provided they will agree . . . to pay expenses according to the number of times occupied by their congrega- tion during the year, for cleaning, warming, and lighting the church ... for the payment of which money the said consis- tory of the Second part, do individually and collectively bind themselves and their successors in office."
Rev. J. B. Schumacher became the first pastor of the new congregation, which he organized with eighteen charter mem-
+ Herbruck Reminiscences.
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THE INEVITABLE ENGLISH
bers. In a few months the number had increased to thirty and the desire arose to acquire their own church property.
Rev. Herbruck heartily sympathized with this plan and offered to support it handsomely. His experiences in this con- nection are graphically described by himself :
"About this time the Baptist church offered their building for sale, intending to build a larger church on a new location. It was a brick building, almost as good as new, near the center of the town, and of about the same size as the building later erected by the English Reformed Church. I went to the offi- cial board of the Baptist church and inquired concerning the price. The church and lots were offered me for $4000. Then I made the English Reformed congregation the proposition to buy this church; offering personally to give $200, and one of my sons promised $500. In this way the congregation itself would have had to raise only $3300. My well-intended propo- sition was at once refused. The $200 from me and the $500 from my son were indeed fondly desired, but the English church must remain close to the German. A lot was there- fore bought near the German church and about $3300 was paid for it. Then a frame church was built for about $3500. If my advice had been accepted, the English congregation would have had a church almost in the center of town, and would have saved $3500, besides a considerable number of splendid members."*
The Second 'congregation received some missionary aid at the beginning, and Rev. Herbruck believed that some of the leaders in the Ohio Synod had deliberately directed the Sec- ond congregation to choose the East Tuscarawas Street loca- tion almost opposite the mother-church, because it had been determined that "Brother Herbruck must be made to pay some- thing for his stubbornness,"* in not introducing English serv- ices into his congregation. "The church to be built will there- fore be put just as near as possible to the German church of Bro. Herbruck. The reason for this can easily be imagined."*
* Herbruck Reminiscences.
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FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, CANTON, O.
On Sunday, September 1, 1871, the corner stone was laid, and in a few months a neat frame church 40 by 36 feet with a bell-tower had been erected.
The purpose of the location opposite the old church soon revealed itself. Strenuous efforts were made to get members of the mother-church to go over. These efforts were contin- ued for several years. Perhaps the methods used were not always discreet nor in accord with congregational courtesy ; the inevitable result was a feeling of estrangement between the two congregations. It is certain that the development of the Reformed Church in Canton was thrown back for a quarter of a century by the short-sighted policy which dictated the loca- tion of the Second Church. The kindest judgment that the present generation can pass upon it, is that it was a strategic error.
The first frame building gave way to a commodious brick edifice in 1890, and this in turn was abandoned when the Trin- ity Congregation moved into the "fine, Greek Classic structure which stands so majestically on the slope of North Market Street Hill," in 1914. The membership now numbers 1554, with a Sunday school enrollment of 1700. The total annual offerings for all benevolent purposes are about $6000.
The minutes of the consistory during this period reveal some striking little pictures from the shifting congregational life, which give an insight into some of the problems which had to be faced. Numerous cases of discipline occurred. Among the causes which were counted as sufficient for exclusion from church membership we find the following: refusal to pay the subscription for the building of the new church, berating the pastor without cause or reason, being general stumbling blocks, disturbing the congregational harmony, etc. One man was promptly and properly disciplined, "Because he declared at an election that if Herbruck would resign he would furnish a keg of beer to be drunk at the church."
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