USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > The centennial anniversary of the dedication of Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Church at Grindstone Hill, Chambersburg, Pa > 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.
The Centennial Anniversary of the Deniratim
of
Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Church at
Grindstone Hill, Chambersburg, Ha. R. R. 5
Reus. Haruey Bickel and John C. Sanders, Pastors
November Nineteenth - Twenty-sixth Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Three
The Centennial Anniversary of the Dedication
of
Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Church at
Grindstone Hill, Chambersburg, Pa. R. R. 5
REVS. HARVEY BICKEL and JOHN C. SANDERS, Pastors
November Nineteenth - Twenty-sixth Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Three
EXTERIOR-BEFORE REMODELING
INTERIOR-BEFORE REMODELING
THE REMODELED CHURCH, EXTERIOR
THE REMODELED CHURCH, INTERIOR
Top Row, reading left to right: S. M. Garvin, C. Reed Wertz, J. R. Wildeson, G. Ralph Reichard. Middle Row: O. J. Cramer, M. D. Ryder, Howard Spangler, R. F. Daugherty, Harry Dessem. Lower Row: W. P. Clugston, Rev. Harvey Bickel, C. L. Biesecker, C. F. Sheets.
Top Row, reading left to right : Ralph K. Small, F. S. Upperman, Luther D. Hovis, Roy Seilhamer, C. W. Kiser. Middle Row: Joe D. Wingert, S. C. Rotz, C. F. Heck- man, G. W. Hassler, H. B. Shetler. Lower Row: Charles I. Small, Rev. John C. Sanders, John A. Hafer, Geo. M. Branthaver.
:
REV. HARVEY BICKEL, Lutheran Pastor
REV. JOHN C. SANDERS, Reformed Pastor
Order of Service Sunday November Nineteenth
Morning Service - 10:30 A. A.
Opening Service Page 9
Scripture Lesson
Hymn (Lutheran No. 68, Reformed No. 8)
Prayer
Anthem Choir
Announcements and Offering
Hymn (Lutheran No. 314, Reformed No. 240)
Sermon-The Theme "GRATITUDE" By the REV. JOHN ABERLY, D.D. President of Gettysburg Theological Seminary
Hymn (Lutheran No. 292, Reformed No. 419)
Benediction
Euening Service - 7:00 0. A.
Invocation
Hymn (Reformed No. 31, Lutheran No. 21)
Scripture Lesson
Gloria Patri and Prayer
Hymn (Reformed No. 641, Lutheran 529)
Offering and Announcements
Anthem Choir
Sermon "THE CHURCH-WHY I OUGHT TO GO" By the REV. I. M. BEAVER Editor "Reformed Church Record," Reading, Pa.
Prayer
Hymn (Reformed No. 420, Lutheran No. 284) Benediction
Page Six
Week Night Seruires
+ +
Tuesday, November 21
Sermon .. "NEVERTHELESS, HE WENT TO CHURCH" By the REV. PIERCE E. SWOPE Pastor St. Stephen's Reformed Church, Lebanon, Pa.
Wednesday, November 22
Sermon-The Theme. . "AN ANNIVERSARY OUTLOOK" By the REV. WM. A. KUMP, D.D. Chambersburg, Pa.
Thursday, November 23
Sermon
By the REV. F. F. BAHNER, D.D. Pastor Emeritus, Trinity Reformed Church, Waynesboro, Pa.
Friday, November 24
Sermon-the Theme "THE FOUNDATION AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE" By the REV. H. B. STOCK, D.D. Pastor St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Pa.
Special Music Has Been Arranged for Each of These Services
Page Seven
Sunday, November 26, 1933
Morning Service - 10:30 A. A.
Invocation Hymn (Reformed No. 234, Lutheran No. 177)
Scripture Lesson and Gloria Patri
Apostles' Creed and Prayer
Hymn (Reformed No. 417, Lutheran No. 294)
Offering and Announcements
Anthem Choir
Sermon "OUR HERITAGE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY" By the REV. GEORGE W. RICHARDS, D.D., LL.D. Professor of Church History and President Reformed Theological Seminary, Lancaster, Pa.
Prayer Hymn (Reformed No. 512, Lutheran No. 344)
Benediction
Eurning Service
- 7:00 0. 4H.
Opening Service Scripture Lesson
Page 14
Hymn (Lutheran No. 198, Reformed No. 642)
Prayer
Anthem Choir
Announcements and Offering
Hymn (Lutheran No. 202, Reformed No. 295)
Sermon, The Theme "BEFORE THIS CENTURY OF PROGRESS" By the REV. H. D. HOOVER, D.D. Gettysburg Theological Seminary Hymn (Lutheran No. 62, Reformed No. 42) Benediction
Page Eight
Lutheran Organizations
Church Council REV. HARVEY BICKEL, Ex-officio Chairman
Elders
Trustees
S. N. GARVIN
M. D. RYDER
C. L. BIESECKER
HOWARD SPANGLER J. R. WILDESON
WV. P. CLUGSTON
Dearons
G. RALPH REICHARD HARRY DESSEM
C. F. SHEETS
C. REED WERTZ O. J. CRAMER
R. F. DAUGHERTY
HOWARD SPANGLER President
C. REED WERTZ Treasurer
O. J. CRAMER Secretary
G. RALPH REICHARD Financial Secretary
MRS. ARTHUR MEISTER Organist
MRS. J. MILTON METZ Assistant Organist
Sunday School Officers
J. MILTON METZ
Superintendent
C. FRANK SHEETS Assistant Superintendent
JAYE A. METZ Secretary
EDGAR WILDESON Assistant Secretary
JOHN C. CLUGSTON Treasurer
RUTH E. METZ Pianist
LOUISE BURKHOLDER Assistant Pianist
Librarians
TRESSIE M. REICHARD HELEN CLUGSTON GEO. F. DEARDORFF
GEO. W. MEISTER GLENN METZ LEROY SEILHAMMER
Ladies' Ain Sortety
MRS. DR. A. B. GROVE President
MRS. S. N. GARVIN
Vice-President
MARY DESSEM .
Treasurer
MRS. C. REED WERTZ
Secretary
Women's Missionary Society
MRS. H. J. WERTZ President
MRS. S. N. GARVIN Vice-President
MRS. MARGARETTA REICHARD Treasurer
MRS. J. MILTON METZ Secretary
Page Nine
Reformed Organizations
The Consistory
REV. JOHN C. SANDERS JOHN A. HAFER
Pastor and President Vice-President
CHARLES I. SMALL
Treasurer
GEO. M. BRANTHAVER Financial and Recording Secretary
Elders
LUTHER D. HOVIS
SAMUEL C. ROTZ
CHARLES I. SMALL
C. F. HECKMAN JOHN A. HAFER JOE D. WINGERT
Dearons
G. W. HASSLER
C. W. KISER
HARRY B. SHETLER RALPH K. SMALL ROY SEILHAMER F. S. UPPERMAN
Trustees
LUTHER D. HOVIS CHARLES I. SMALL
The Sunday School
S. C. ROTZ Superintendent
H. B. SHETLER
Assistant Superintendent
WARREN ROTZ Secretary
MARTHA HECKMAN Assistant Secretary
JOE D. WINGERT
Treasurer
HELEN L. HOVIS,
CATHARINE ROTZ,
Librarians
MARY ELLEN SHETLER,
JUNE UPPERMAN,
MRS. C. F. HECKMAN Superintendent Home Department
MRS. MARY HOVIS Superintendent Cradle Roll
MRS. G. W. HASSLER
Superintendent Temperance
MRS. C. F. HECKMAN Superintendent Missions
MRS. MARGARET SEILHAMER Pianist
GLADYS SNIDER Assistant Pianist
The Ladies' Ain Society
MRS. L. D. HOVIS President
MRS. H. B. SHETLER Vice-President
MRS. CHAS. I. SMALL
Secretary
THELMA E. SMALL
Treasurer
Page Ten
1833 -
1933
+ +
One hundred years ago this Church building which has afforded a place of worship to multitudes was dedicated to the service of the Triune God. It displaced a far more modest log structure, situated on the opposite side of the road which had been built in 1766 although not completed until 1778. The corner stone of this present church was laid in May 1833. The dedication service was held on Sunday, November 24, of the same year. Religious ser- vices were held from Friday evening the 22d to Monday evening the 25th. Rev. R. Weiser preached the first sermon in the new church. On Monday morning the Lord's Supper was administered in which the ministers and people of both congregations united. The attending and officiating ministers were: Revs. Rahauser, Sr., Ra- hauser, Jr., Rabaugh, Meyer, Glessner, Reily, Aurandt and the pastor, Scholl, German Reformed and Revs. Ruthrauff, Sr., Weiser, Reck and the pastor, Hoffman, Evangelical Lutheran. This building costing about $3000 was con- sidered very fine in its day. During the 1928 improve- ment program abundant proofs of the strength and dur- ability of the materials used were brought to light. As we compare dollar values that project doubtless required more courage and sacrifice to carry it to completion than the outlay of more than twice that amount involved in the improvements of 1928.
THE IMPROVED CHURCH OF 1928
Following the action of both congregations authorizing it the task of improvement was started on August 20, 1928. As is usually the case in building operations there were unforseen delays and the church was not ready for use until December 23. There were large attendances at both services on that day. The people were happy because the enforced and prolonged vacation had finally come to an end. The rededication service was held on March 17, 1929. It was a joyous occasion. More than 700 people crowded into the church. The pastors, Revs. Harvey Bickel and John C. Sanders were assisted by Dr. Henry Anstadt of Chambersburg, President of the West Penn-
Page Eleven
sylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church and Rev. Pierce E. Swope of Lebanon, former pastor of the Reformed Church, both of whom preached sermons. Dr. Wm. A. Kump of Chambersburg offered prayer and Rev. R. R. Ziegler of the Fetterhoff's Chapel brought the greetings of his people.
THE IMPROVEMENTS
The main items entering into the 1928 program and supplemented later on, by far the most extensive improve- ments made since the brick church was built were: An addition to the front, 10x38 feet was built, to be used for rest or class room purposes; the brick wall partition at the front of the church was torn out; the two side doors gave place to a wide central entrance; new oak pews were placed in the main body of the church with a three aisle arrangement instead of two; a hard wood floor was laid; the pulpit was lowered one step; the church was painted both inside and outside; the furnace was extensively re- paired and moved from the north side to the centre of the church; the church was wired for electricity and the fixtures placed; (later on the light line was built and the lights were used for the first time on September 1, 1929) a painting of Hoffman's Christ in Gethsemane was put back to the pulpit; two open stairways to the gallery dis- placed the former closed ones; concrete was laid con- necting the two walks leading to the former entrances; the gallery pews were repaired, grained and varnished and all the interior wood work painted; cork was laid in the aisles and carpet at the pulpit end of the church and other minor improvements made. In the summer of 1930 a Winters Bulletin Board was placed in the front of the church. In 1932 two electric light standards were placed thus assuring plenty of illumination to all parts of the church grounds. As a climax, in the same year a con- crete block retaining wall, necessitated by the cut made here in the construction of the new Chambersburg- Waynesboro road, was built and considerable shrubbery was planted. In the late sumer of 1933 screens were pro- vided for the windows and double screen doors for the vestibule, convertible into storm doors for the winter season. The cost of these changes was met by the Ladies' Aid Societies of the two congregations. The total cost of all these changes and improvements was more than $7000.
Page Twelve
SPECIAL MENTION
Credit for the pews, the floor covering and the window shades belongs to the Ladies' Aid Societies of the two con- gregations each organization meeting one half of the cost. These ladies deserve special mention because of their foresight, interest and untiring efforts in gathering funds over a period of years. The hard wood floor costing about $500 was paid by the Lutheran congregation, this being additional to the plans adopted by both groups. The Always Ready Class of young ladies furnished the paint- ing back of the pulpit. They also paid for the Winters Bulletin Board and the two electric light standards. The Young Men's Bible Class was responsible for moving the furnace. The lighting fixtures were paid by the following Sunday School classes and one individual: The two large lights by the Sunbeam Class; the seven lights under the galleries, the two in the small rooms, and the two in the closets by the Golden Link Class; the five gallery lights upstairs by the Loyal Workers' Class; the outside lights at the front and rear doors and all the bulbs by the Willing Workers' Class; the pulpit light by Helen L. Hovis. The building committee were responsible for many of the de- tails which could not be taken before the larger groups and they deserve no little credit for their efforts to make Solomon's church a more beautiful place. Theirs was no easy task. They acted in good faith and the result of their efforts will be increasingly appreciated in the years to come.
FINALLY
In connection with this Centennial Anniversary we look back with deep gratitude to the labors of the pioneers- those in pulpit and pew who were here 100 years ago; also to those who carried on the work through the inter- vening years. We have entered into their labors. We have many advantages they lacked. On this account our responsibility is not less but far greater. As we start the use of this church for a second century may souls con- tinue to find their Saviour and be built up in Him in this sacred place! May Solomon's Church be indeed a light that shall shine more and more brightly in this com- munity in the years to come!
Page Thirteen
Lutheran Pastors
+ +
Rev. John Bager 1765-1770
Rev. John George Young 1772-1783
Rev. John Michael Steck 1784-1788
Rev. Anthony U. Ludgen 1789-1794
Rev. John Ruthrauff 1795-1815
Rev. John Fred Moeller 1816-1829
Rev. Benj. Kurtz, D.D. 1831-1833
Rev. John N. Hoffman
1833-1835
Rev. Jeremiah Harpel 1835-1837
Rev. Jacob Martin 1839-1840
Rev. Peter Sahm 1840-1845
Rev. Michael Eyster
1846-1847
Rev. Levi T. Williams
1847-1849
Rev. A. C. Wedekind
1849-1850
Rev. David H. Focht
1850-1854
Rev. George Sill
1855-1859
Rev. S. McHenry
1859-1865
Rev. J. R. Miller
1866-1869
Rev. A. C. Felker
1869-1871
Rev. A. H. Shertz
1872-1886
Rev. D. S. Lentz
1887-1894
Rev. M. S. Roming 1894-1898
Rev. D. R. Becker
1898-1906
Rev. A. B. Miller
1906-1908
Rev. J. J. Minemier 1909-1910
Rev. A. D. Potts
1911-1919
Rev. William Hesse
1920-1922
Rev. Harvey Bickel
1922-
Page Fourteen
Reformen Pastors
+ +
Rev. Jacob Weymer 1785-1790
Rev. J. Philip Stock 1791-1802 or 1803
Rev. James Hoffman 1807-1823
Rev. Frederick A. Scholl 1823-1834
Rev. Benj. S. Schneck 1836-1841
Rev. John C. Guldin 1841-1842
Rev. Emanuel V. Gerhart 1842-1843
Rev. John R. Kooken
1843-1845
Rev. Franklin W. Kremer
1845-1851
Rev. John C. Bucher
1851-1852
Rev. John S. Ermentrout
1852-
Rev. Samuel Miller
1854-1856
Rev. W. D. C. Rodrock
1856-1859
Rev. Aaron Wanner
1859-
Rev. David Hefelfinger
1859-1860
Rev. Wm. R. H. Deatrick
1860-1864
Rev. Elijah B. Wilson 1865-1866
Rev. Chas. G. Fisher 1866-1868
Rev. Moses Kieffer, D.D. 1870-1871
Rev. Samuel Z. Beam
1871-1872
Rev. Henry I. Comfort 1872-1880
Rev. Wm. H. Herbert 1880-1885
Rev. P. A. Long 1885-1891
Rev. I. M. Beaver
1891-1901
Rev. G. P. Fisher
1901-1910
Rev. Pierce E. Swope
1910-1913
Rev. John S. Heffner
1913-1916
Rev. John W. Keener
1917-1918
Rev. Henry N. Smith
1918-1925
Rev. John C. Sanders 1926-
Page Fifteen
PRE86 OF THE KERR PRINTING CO. CHAMBERSBURG PA.
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.