USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Northampton > A history of Grace Reformed Church Northampton, Pennsylvania > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Gc 974.802 N81s 1381513
M. L.
1
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02232 3155
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofgracere00stou_0
A HISTORY
OF GRACE REFORMED CHURCH
NORTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA
Arranged and Prepared by REV. JOHN BEAR STOUDT PRESTON D. BORGER JAMES W. SMITH HERBERT T. WERNER
Together with an account of the Dry Run and Stemton Union Sunday Schools, a complete record of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Deaths, the Officers and Members of the Congregation and Sunday School
In commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone
October 18, 1897-October 20, 1912
NORTHAMPTON, PENNA. 1912
Edition limited to one hundred and
twenty-five copies, of which this is No ... 77 =
38-
-
CEMENT NEWS PRINT NORTHAMPTON, PA.
1381513
CONTENTS
Page
Forward
The Dry Run Sunday School
7-12
History of Congregation
13-17
Sketches of Pastors
18-20
Auxilliary Organizations
21-23
Officers
24-26
Donations
27-28
Retrospect
29
List of Members
30-33
Grace Sunday School
34-40
Baptisms
41-56
Confirmations
57-60
Marriages
61-62
Deaths
63-65
Inteniate Bookshop $ 1.00 7-20-66 P.O. 2549
Forward
To add to the interest of the celebration of the 15th anniver- sary of Grace Reformed Congregation, it was deemed fitting by the consistory to publish a history of the congregation, together with its archieves; which contain baptism, cofirmation, marriage and death records. To this end, the pastor; elders, Preston D. Borger and James W. Smith; and secretary Herbert T. Werner were appointed a committee to gather and arrange the material and proceed with its publication.
We present the result of our labor to the congregation under the title of "Fifteen Years of Grace in Grace Reformed Church," in the hope that these annals of the early years of the congrega- tion may be a source of inspiration for the present and promise for the future, as well as an expression of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and guidance. "To forget the past is to forget our mercies and to forget our mercies is to forget God. The tree must ever draw life from its roots; the strength of a stream must ever be replenished from its fountains; so is the na- tion and the church in the divine order, ever dependant for vital- ity and vigor on its past history. The trials and triumphs of the past are as promises to stimulate us in the present, and as pledges to give us hope and courage for the future." (Rev. H. Hau- baugh.)
0- 76
Remember now thy Creator In the days of thy youth.
This Certifies Celestino a. that
teno
is a member of the
Day
Sundan School por tem Supt $1.78
T Sinclair's lith Phila
Ameman Sunday
School Union
٢٠
7
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
The Dry Run Sunday School
Grace Reformed Congregation and its sister congregation, Trinity Lutheran, are the outgrowth of the Stemton Union Sun- day School. The Sunday School was originally known as the Dry Run Sunday School, and held its sessions in the Dry Run Public school house. The first Sunday School there, was organized in the spring of 1864. Samuel Beil,acted as Superintendent and Milton George as Secretary and Treasurer. The school was con- tinued during the summer but closed in the fall as was the custom for all rural Sunday Schools. The school was not re-organized the following spring because the boys insited upon coming early to the school house to enjoy a game of ball before the opening of the Sunday School just as they were accustomed when attending the public school; to this the officers objected but not receiving the moral support of the parents in their opposition they made no effort to re-organize the school the following spring.
THE STEMTON UNION SUNDAY SCHOOL
In the spring of 1867, William Stem again organized a Sun- day School at Dry Run under the name of the Dry Run Sunday School. At the first meeting there were only three scholars pre- sent, but on the following Sunday the school was well filled. At the close of the school in the fall a certificate of membership was given to each scholar. Through the courtesy of Mr. A. D. Borger a facsimile of one of the certificates adorns this book. On Dec. 5, 1869, the Dry Run School was reorganized under the name of the Stemton Union Sunday School. The school met in the old depot until the completion of the Stemton public school when it was re-
8
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
moved to it. The cash and account book of the Stemton Union Sunday School opens thus : Dec. 5, 1869, Cash on hand from old school, $7.00; collection, 71 cents. The minute book of the offi- cers and teachers meeting under the date of January 5, 1870, con- tains an account of the election of officers. Those elected were: Superintendent, E. H. Laubach; Assistant Superintendent, A. D. Laubach ; Secretary, S. E. Stem; Assistant Secretary, D. H. Noth- stein ; Librarian, P. D. Borger; Assistant Librarian, Frank Med- ler; Treasurer, Peter Nicholas. At the meeting held June 12, 1870, a committee of five were appointed to remove the library from the office into one of the other rooms. At this same meeting there was also a resolution adopted that "The Sunday School con- tinue to meet here for the present until a better place can be found." On July 3, 1870, W. H. Daily was appointed "teacher of the singing," and the teachers were requested to meet monthly and the scholars semi-monthly "to take exercise in singing." Upon the completion of the Stemton public school house the Sunday School began to hold its sessions in it. John Ruhe, the school teacher, was chosen Superintendent. The following year P. N. Remmel, Ruhe's successor, was chosen superintendent. The fol- lowing year, 1873, William Nagle succeeded Mr. Remmel as Superintendent and continued until the spring of 1896 when for lack of support the school was discontinued. Its last session was held May 22, 1896. The collection for the day was 27 cents.
EXTRACTS FROM MINUTE BOOK
In the archives of Grace Sunday School, there has recently been discovered the Record book of the Sunday School of the year 1869.
The following are a few of the entries found in this interest- ing little book :-
Dry Run, April 18, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
Meeting and formation of the school. Teachers present, male 10, female 6; scholars, male 22, fe- male 28.
Dry Run, May 2, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
Heavy rain throughout the day. No attendance. Dry Run, June 6, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
The weather very fine. The largest attendance of the season. Teachers present, male 10, female 8; scholars present, male 44, female 34; teachers ab- sent, male 7, female 4; scholars absent, male 4, female, 6.
9
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
Dry Run, June 27, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
Weather very warm. Visitors very few. Pres- ent, teachers, male 9, female 11; scholars, male 40, female, 30.
Dry Run, July 4, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
School opened by August Cressman and closed by the Secretary. Both Superintendents absent. School well filled.
Dry Run, July 18, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
Smallest attendance of the season. Weather ex- tremely hot. Soldiers gone to camp. Teachers pres- ent, male 3, female 4; scholars present, male 19, female 36.
Note :- The State militia had encamped on the hill across the river where the old Atlas Cement Mill is located.
Dry Run, Oct. 3, 1869, 2:00 P. M.
No school. High water in the Lehigh on the night of Oct. 3rd. Dry Run, Oct. 31, 1869, 2:00 P. M. School opened by Wm. Stem. Weather cool. House well filled. Closed the school for the year of 1869.
In 1872 every member of the school was given a cer- tificate of membership in the form of a blue card which con- tained on its back a complete list of the officers, teachers and scholars for the year. It cannot be uninteresting to strangers and surely not to those who in that year, just forty years ago, at- tended the school, to have this list reproduced. It is as follows :
ROLL OF '72
PETER N. REMEL, Superintendent. W. G. NAGLE, Asst. Superintendent. JOSEPH KOCH, JR., Secretary. PETER NICHOLAS, Treasurer. JOHN HESS, PRESTON E. STEM, Librarians.
CLASS NO. 1. G. W. KIND, Teacher. Peter J. Laubach Thomas A. Beil
Simon Lerch Preston D. Borger Jacob A. Beil Henry D. Moyer Oliver F. Heilman
10
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
CLASS NO. 2.
P. NICHOLAS, Teacher.
Austin E. Bush
Oscar J. Lobach
George D. Kemerer Alfred Koch L. E. Nicholas Geo. Coleman John Moyer
CLASS NO. 3.
S. RESH, Teacher. 04 George P. Stem Oliver E. Daily Jacob Y. Eberly Thad. P. Levan Richard A. F. Smith
CLASS NO. 4.
A. D. BORGER, Teacher.
George B. Stem
Thomas F. Harper
Sefellen E. Smith Samuel Laubach
Sylvester Young
James S. Daily
Henry A. Kemerer
Abraham D. Miller Moses Smith James Weaver
CLASS NO. 5.
0. MOYER, Teacher.
Daniel P. Kuehner
Andrew Eckhart Wm. Newhart George Bernd Myron Beil
Peter J. Fretz
Emanuel Lerch
Geo. H. Smith
CLASS NO. 6. M. ANEWALT, Teacher,
Samuel A. Kromer Thomas Fey David Steinmetz Francis Engel Alfred E. Kromer
CLASS NO. 7.
WM. STEM, Teacher.
Thomas F. Fretz John Kromer
Charles Shuman
Ferd. Steinmetz
James W. Smith
Allen Mertz
CLASS NO. 8. P. B. ROGERS, Teacher.
Wm. H. Kern
Franklin D. Boyer
A. Joseph Rogers
Oliver E. Newhart
Wm. R. J. Smith
CLASS NO. 1.
MISS L. PURSEL, Teacher.
Lizzie A. Stewart
Ida A. Stem
Emma J. Koch
Laura L. Kemerer
Anna Koch
Emma E. Beil
Ellen J. Laubach
Almira H. Levan
Sarah J. Washburn
Lizzie Biery
Julia Lichtenwalner
CLASS NO. 2.
MRS. A. ROGERS, Teacher.
Ellen C. Stem.
Clara R. Koch
Alice A. Smith
Emma Fretz
Mary A. Laubach
Clara A. Fretz
Anna M. Laubach
Vesta Smith
Sarah Mary Silfies
CLASS NO. 3. MISS. M. J. FRETZ, Teacher.
Sarah J. Smith Ida S. Lerch Malinda S. Heilman
Lizzie Lobach Sarah E. Moyer
Jane Moyer
11
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
CLASS NO. 4.
MISS E. B. DIETER, Teacher.
Alice S. Fretz
Laura S. Rogers
Lilly J. Dieter
Ellen L. Young
Mary A. Beil
Mary R. Boyer
CLASS NO. 5.
MISS C. A. STEM, Teacher.
Ellen J. Nicholas
Mary J. Heilman
Commilla Kern
Alice C. Kern
Rebecca Silfies
Amanda Washburn
CLASS NO. 6.
MISS R. A. KOCH, Teacher.
Rosa A. Moyer
Minnie A. Stem
Lilly Q. Young
Clara M. Koch
Alice J. Boyer
Mary E. D. Butz
CLASS NO. 7.
CLASS NO. 10.
MISS E. SILFIES, Teacher.
MRS. A. NAGLEE, Teacher.
Marietta Moyer
Ellen J. Voght
Annie R. Boyer
Annie A. Nagel
Mary A. Washburn
Ellen Koch
Mary H. George
Emma Daily
1
Mary A. Harper
Emma R. Moyer
Clara M. Koch
Vestilla F. Metzger
Annie R. E. Miller
CLASS NO. 8.
MRS. ANNA HESS, Teacher.
Louisa J. Heilman
Ellen Smith
Mary A. J. Voght
Dianna Silfies
Catherine Rice
S. C. A. Shonkweiler
Sarah Steinmetz
Ellen Rice
CLASS NO. 9.
MISS V. C. SPENGLER, Teacher. .
Laura Seyfried
Laura A. Marsh
Cassie J. A. Boyer
Minnie Daily
Lily A. Kuehner
Sarah Beil
Sarah E. Miller
M. J. C. Moyer
Etta A. Smith
Annie Dieter
Julia Lichtenwalter
Emma Frantz
Alice M. Heilman
DIVINE SERVICES IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
As the population of the village of Stemton increased there arose a desire to have religious services in their midst. Most of the people held membership in the neighboring congregations of Howerton, Schoenersville, Mickley's, Egypt and Kriedersville. Members of these several congregations prevailed upon their re-
12
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
spective pastors to hold occasional services in the village school house. Rev. C. J. Becker, pastor of the Reformed Congregation of Howerton and Schoenersville had recently resigned (1870) the Catasauqua Congregation, formerly a part of his charge and since these two congregations required no evening services he cheerfully consented to come here and conduct services in the eve- ning. He preached most frequently and became the recognized leader of the movement. The other pastors who preached occa- sionally were: Reverends Wm. R. Hofford, D. D., Tilghman O. Stem, Tilghman Seiple, J. D. Schindel, D. D., and Augustus Fox. To enrich the services a choir was organized of which William H. Daily was the leader. Among the members of the choir were : Celestia Stem, Martha Lerch, Mary Fretz, Elamanda Silfies, Rosa R. Koch, Lizzie Stewart, Ida Stem, Mary DeLong, Peter Nicholas, A. D. Borger, John Mertz, Monroe Anewalt, Joseph Koch, Jr., Emanuel Lerch, Peter Fretz, P. D. Borger and Samuel Resh.
1
DRY RUN SCHOOL HOUSE.
DRY RUN SCHOOL HOUSE-Drawn from description by W. J. Troxell
13
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
History of Congregation
As the population of the village of Northampton, then called Stemton, increased, due to the rapid development of the cement industry, the desire among the residents to have a church in their midst became stronger and was the frequent topic of con- versation. Several meetings of those interested in the project were held in the public school. It was proposed to build a union church (Lutheran and Reformed) to which there was, however, some objection. It was suggested then that one party should build the church and the other party assist. That both parties should worship in it alternately and that in case of separation, the party assisting to have returned to them by the other party all moneys contributed toward its erection. Sentiment, however, rapidly crystallized against any form of union. At a meeting held in the school house July 5, 1897, at which E. J. Bernhard presided and Jacob Grey acted as Secretary, the question of union was again discussed. After some discussion the motion of George H. Stem, seconded by Samuel Smith, that a Reformed Church be built, pre- vailed by a vote of ten to one. Two committees were immediately appointed, the first committee consisting of George H. Stem, Joseph Koch and Thomas George, to prepare a constitution for the proposed congregation ; and the second committee consisting of Wm. Newhard, James W. Smith, George H. Stem, Thomas George, Samuel Smith, Charles Muth and Peter Nicholas to se- cure an option on a suitable grounds and obtain plans for a church building.
The committee on building site reported at a meeting held in the School house July 14 that they had secured an option from Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher on a corner lot at Stem and Third Streets, now Ninth Street and Lincoln Avenue, for two hundred dollars. The site proposed by the committee was accepted and the com- mittee instructed to procure it immediately. The following committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for a church building: Charles G. Moyer, George H. Stem, Mrs. Willoughby Newhard, Mrs. William Albright, Clara Koch, Samuel Smith, Joseph Koch, M. W. Knauss, Jacob S. Grey, Olivia Stem, Alvin Hess and Clara Newhard. The committee, together with Rev. C. J. Becker, chairman of the Supply Committee, succeeded in raising about Two Thousand Dollars.
A petition, requesting East Pennsylvania Classis to organize them into a regular congregation, was circulated to which sev-
14
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
enty-three attached their names. At a meeting held July 19, Thomas George was delegated to present the petition to the authorities of Classis. The Classis met in special session in the Salem Reformed Church, Catasauqua, Pa., August 9, 1897, at 2:00 P. M. Among the items of business of the call of the meet- ing was the following :
"To hear and act on a petition of members of our church resi- dent at and in the vicinity of Stemton, Northampton Co., Pennsylva- nia, for permission to organize a congregation at said place and for such other action as may be necessary to assist them in effecting the proper organization."
ACTION OF CLASSIS.
"The petition containing the names of seventy-three persons was read, on motion the item was adopted and :-
RESOLVED: That the request of the petitioners be granted and that organization of a congregation at Stemton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, be and is hereby author- ized."
RESOLVED: That a committee of three ministers, of which the President of Classis shall be chairman, be appoint- ed to assist the petitioners in effecting the proper organiza- tion."
The Chair (Rev. W. F. More) named Reverends F. H. Moyer and C. J. Becker as the other members of the committee, and sbusequent- ly also appointed Reverends C. J. Becker, John Wohlbach and J. G. Rupp as a committee to supply the congregation when organized.
In the evening of the same day of the special meeting of Classis, the committee met the petitioners in the school house and constituted then a regular congregation of the Reformed Church in the United States under the name of Grace Reformed Congregation of Stemton, Pa. The draft, presented by the committee on Constitution was unanimously adopted and the following consistory elected: Elders, Thomas George, William Newhard; Deacons, P D. Borger, Thomas Fluck, J. W. Smith, and C. G. Moyer; Trustees, Samuel Smith, Joseph Koch and Charles Muth. Of the seventy-three persons who signed the pe- tition to Classis, to be organized into a congregation, fifty-nine became members of the congregation, and they constitute the Charter Members of Grace Reformed Congregation.
They are :-
Albright, Mary A.
Coleman, Hannah
Borger, Preston D.
Coleman, Monroe
Borger, Minnie A. Coleman, Mary
15
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
Coleman, Milton
Newhard, Rosa A.
Coleman, Ella Fluck, Thomas A.
Newhard, Stella
Newhard, Alfred
Fluck, Elmina
Newhard, Caroline
George, Thomas
Newhard, Oliver R.
Grey, Jacob S.
Newhard, Oscar
Grey, Annie M.
Newhard, Clinton H.
Hartman, Wm. B.
Newhard, John M.
Hartman, Amanda
Newhard, Mamie
Haldeman, Edwin
Newhard, Michael
Hess, Alvin
Newhard, Sarah
Hess, Carrie Hess, John
Reinert, Wm. H.
Hoffman, Benjamin
Reinert, Abiah C.
Koch, Clara R.
Reinert, Eva P.
Kuehner, Sallie
Smith, James W.
Kiechel, H. D.
Sheiry, Harvey
Kiechel, Mary
Sheiry, Ida
Koons, Sarah Anna
Sheiry, Reuben
Lerch, Wm. P.
Sheiry, Lydia
Muth, Chas.
Searfas, George
Muth, Amanda
Searfas, Amanda
Moyer, Charles G.
Wright, Albert E.
Moyer, Sarah
Wright, Ida M.
Musselman, Elizabeth
Young, Elizabeth
Newhard, William
Reinert, Henrietta
Koch, Emma J.
Rice, Jennie
At a congregational meeting held on March 14, 1898, George H. Stem, Samuel Smith and Thomas George were appointed a committee to secure a charter from the Civil Court for the con- gregation, the petition to the court asking for a charter was signed by the members of the consistory and trustees and was filed in the office of the prothonotary March 28, 1898 and the charter was granted by Judge W. D. Schuyler April 25, 1898.
At a meeting held August 17, 1897, it was decided to pro- ceed with the erection of a church. Joseph Koch, Thomas George, Samuel Smith and Charles Muth were appointed a building committee and were given full power to act. The plans prepared by Architect Jacoby were accepted and the contract awarded to Amandus Young and Son. Work on the building was immediately begun. The corner stone was laid on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 1897. The services were conducted by Rev. C. J. Becker, assisted by Reverends W. F. More and T. J. Hacker. At the evening service Reverends J. G. Rupp and F. H. Moyer preached. The offerings of the day amounted to seventy- five ($75.00) Dollars. The basement was dedicated on January 2, 1898, the offering was Thirty-six ($36.00) Dollars. Divine services were from this date held in the basement instead of the
16
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
school house. Rev. C. J. Becker conducted services most fre- quently and labored zealously in behalf of the new congregation. Other ministers and theological students preached occasionally.
When Classis met in annual session in St. Jacob's Church, Weissport, Pa., Rev. Thomas Krick, pastor, the Committee of Supply reported to Classis as follows :-
DEAR BRETHREN :-
Your Committee of Supply for the Stemton Congregation beg leave to report: That the congregation has been regularly supplied with the preaching of the Gospel once each Sunday and most of the time two services a day, one in English and the other in German. The community has been thoroughly canvassed, from house to house, re- sulting in the accession of seventy-nine communicant members to the sixty-four members received at the organization of the congregation. A class of twenty-six catechumens has been organized and regularly instructed. Of this class sixteen are expected to be confirmed after the dedication of the new church. A desirable lot was secured in a desirable location. On this a church edifice 70 ft by 40 ft. has been erected with a fine basement for the Sunday School and other pur- poses. The building which is expected to be ready for dedication to the Triune God on the coming Whit Sunday. The committee is grati- fied to add that a spirit of unanimity and harmony is prevailing among the membership of the new congregation, and that it is especially not- ed for its sympathy and co-operation in the work of building the church and promoting the Kingdom of God in the community.
Respectfully submitted,
REV. C. J. BECKER, REV. J. WOHLBACH, REV. J. G. RUPP.
At this same meeting of Classis the congregation was con- stituted a regular charge.
On Memorial Day 1898 the building committee reported at a congregational meeting that the church was completed, that they had accepted it and turned it over to the congregation. It was dedicated with impressive ceremonies June 19, 1898. The clergymen who took part in the services were Cyrus J. Becker, James W. Mabry, Henry T. Spengler, D. D., George H. Stem, John C. Bowman, D. D., George W. Richards, D. D., Frank H. Moyer and J. G. Rupp. The offering and special subcriptions of the day amounted to ($776.53) Seven Hundred Seventy-Six Dol- lars and fifty-three cents.
Having been constituted a charge by itself the congregation, at a meeting held June 15, 1898, instructed its consistory to issue a call to Rev. Jacob G. Rupp of Parryville, Pa., to become their pastor. Rev. Rupp accepted the call and was installed August 14, 1898.
.
17
1
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
The Committee of Installation consisted of Reverends T. O. Stem, F. H. Moyer and C. J. Becker, the latter, however, was unable to be present. The sermon was preached by Rev. T. O. Stem, Text, II Timothy 4:1-5. Rev. F. H. Moyer conducted the installation services. Under the leadership of their pastor the congregation increased rapidly. At the end of the Classical year, May, 1899, the enrollment was three hundred and one. The congregation rallied around the pastor and at the third anniver- sary of the pastorate, June 23, 1901, the mortgage of Two Thous- and Seven Hundred and Thirty ($2730.00), Dollars, which had been resting upon the building was burned. The congregation in less than four years had built and paid for a beautiful edifice.
During the fall of 1905 and the spring of 1906 a beautiful and spacious parsonage was erected at the corner of Ninth Street and Dewey Avenue, at a cost of almost five thousand dollars. The Building Committee was composed of the following: George H. Stem, Wm. Koon s, David Farber, Thomas George, Jacob S. Grey, Reuben Scheiry and Charles Moyer.
18
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
Sketches of the Pastors
REV. CYRUS J. BECKER.
Rev. Cyrus J. Becker was a grandson of the Rev. Christian L. Becker, who came from Bremen, Germany, to Pennsylvania, in 1793, and assumed the pastorate of the Easton, Mount Bethel, Plainfield and Dryland congregations. He died at Baltimore in 1818. His son, Jacob Christian Becker, the father of Cyrus J., was born in Bremen January 14, 1790. He was ordained in 1808 and in 1812 became the pastor of the Allen, Moore, Han- over, Lehigh, Towanencin and Ross congregations. In 1850 he organized the Bethlehem and Catasauqua congregations. In ad- dition to preaching and practicing medicine he also tutored young men, fifteen of whom he prepared for the Christian ministry. He died at Bethlehem August 15, 1858.
Cyrus J. Becker was born at Kreidersville, Pa., April 18, 1827. He was a graduate of Lafayette College and the Seminary at Mercersburg. He was ordained in 1848 and assisted his father until 1850 when he became pastor of the Towanencin and Big Moore charge. In 1854 he resigned on account of ill health and engaged in teaching. In 1858 he succeeded his father as pastor of the Howertown, Shoenersville and Catasauqua congre- gations. He preached for many years to the people of Stem- ton in the public school house. Upon the organization of Grace congregation he was appointed Chairman of Supply and labored zeaolusly in behalf of the congregation until it was made a charge and called a pastor. He confirmed the first catechetical class. Through his death, which occurred August 22, 1907, there was brought to an end an active ministry in the Reforemd faith of three generations, covering a period of one hundred and thirty- three years.
REV. CYRUS J. BECKER
19
FIFTEEN YEARS OF GRACE
REV. JACOB G. RUPP.
Rev. Jacob G. Rupp, son of Benjamin and Lydia Laros Rupp, was born at Ruppsville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1869. He attended the public school at Kuhnsville, Lehigh County. He was confirmed by Rev. Eli Keller, D. D., as a member of the Zionsville Reformed congregation in the fall of 1884. At the Emaus High School, under the tutorship of Rev. J. V. George, and at the preparatory department of Muh- lenberg College, he prepared himself for college entrance. In the fall of 1889 he matriculated at Franklin and Marshall College, from which he was graduated in 1893. In the fall of the same year he entered the Eastern Theological Seminary at Lancaster and was graduated in the spring of 1896. He was ordained to the holy ministry and installed as pastor of the Towamensing charge, consisting of the Towamensing, Big Creek and Parryville congregations, June 10, 1896, in the Towamensing Church, Car- bon Co., Pa. The Committee were: Reverends James Mabry, Robert C. Weaver and Irvin Bachman. He assumed the pas- torate of Grace congregation August 1, 1898, and continued until December 1, 1910, when he resigned to become the field secre- tary of the Foreign Mission Board. As a pastor Rev. Rupp was untiring in his labors for the welfare of the congregation, how- ever never losing sight of the interests of the church at large. He was Stated Clerk of East Pennsylvania Classis from 1900 to 1911 and frequently represented it in the higher judicatory bodics of the church. He is married to Mary Ida Bachman, a daughter ot Stephen and Caroline Fetterolf Bachman.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.