USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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THE HISTORY
an electric shock during a severe storm, from the effects of which he died at Albim, July 9. His mortal remains were brought by his son to the cemetery at Catasauqua and laid to rest beside those of his beloved wife.
Rev. David Harbison succeeded Mr. Fulton and was installed pastor on May 2, 1876. This pastorate continued uninterruptedly, until the close of November, 1901-a period of twenty-five years-when Mr. Harbison moved with his family to College Ilill, Easton, having retired from the active ministry, "Willing and ready to retire to the calm repose of the coming hours of a long life and a long pastorate and there await the solemn and the joyful call 'enter into the joys of your Lord.' "
Rev. B. Hammond was called 10 the pastorate at a congregational meeting held Friday evening, May 23. 1902, and was duly installed Thursday evening, July 17, 1902. Mr. Hammond served the congrega- tion seven years, when, after a short illness, he died February 11, 1909. During his pastorate over one hun- dred fifty persons were added to the membership of the Church. The property was greatly improved and an Estey pipe organ was in- stalled in the church. At the time of his death the membership was two hundred thirty: and the total indebtedness, two hundred dollars.
The present pastor, Rev. H. W. Ewig, was called by the congrega- tion on Friday evening, September REV. H. W. EWIG 3, 1909, at which service Rev. C. H. Miller of the First Presbyterian Church presided. Rev. Dr. A. J. Weisley of Trenton preached the sermon. £ Rev. Plato T. Jones of
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Easton delivered the charge to the pastor and Rey. L. B. Crane of Easton delivered the charge to the people. During the present pastorate seventy-five persons have been received into the Church membership, and the benevolent contributions have increased about sixteen per cent. over the preceding five years. The comfort of the congregation has been greatly added to by the installation of a steam heating plant, and the Church grounds and parsonage are in first class condition. In secular education a good record has been made by the members. Almost, if not altogether, twenty-five of them have taught school and the per- centage of Normal School graduates is the highest in the Borough.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
During the winter of 1851 and '52, it became apparent that there was a sufficient number of Entherans ready to found a congregation; whereupon, in union with their German Reformed brethren, they resolved to build a church. The Lutheran members of the committee charged with the work consisted of Messrs. George Breinig. Samuel Koehler and Charles Wolf.
The site on which the Union Church was erected is the one still occupied by St. Paul's Church. It contains one acre of ground, purchased May 18, 1852. by Samuel Colver (Lutheran) and William Biery (Reformed) trustees, of St. Paul's Union Church, from Mr. Henry Kurtz and wife Lydia, for the sum of three hundred dollars. The document was witnessed by George Frederick. Sr .. and George Breinig.
The corner stone of the new Church was laid July 4, 1852, by the pastors, the Rev. Jeremiah Schindel and the Rev. Dr. Jacob Becker and son Rev. Cyrus Becker. The mason in charge was Mr. Charles Siegly.
The new church was solemnly consecrated on Christmas Day. 1852. The first vestry was composed of Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, President ; Messrs. George Breinig and George Frederick, Elders; and Messrs. JJonathan Snyder and Reuben Patterson, Deacons.
In the fall of 1853 Pastor Schindel resigned this Church in order to devote more of his time to the other congregations of his large parish, and the Rev. Wil- liam Rath, his assistant, succeeded him.
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The first commmion record, made by Rev. Rath, contains sixty-eight names. Pastor Rath preached his farewell sermon, July 7, 1861? The Rev. Dr. F. JJ. F. Schantz was elected June 13, 1861, and began his labors on July 21, and now introduced services also in the English language. The congregation also observed all festival days of the Church year.
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ST. PAUL'S EV. LUTHERAN OLD CHURCH
On August 13, 1865, a pipe organ, built by Mr. Hanzleman of Allentown, Pa., at a cost of eleven hundred dollars, was consecrated with appropriate services. Having received a unanimous call to Myerstown, Pa., Dr. Schantz resigned, August 11, 1866.
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During the interim, the Rev. Carl Schlenker supplied the congregation with German services, and Rev. Prof. E. F. Koons of Muhlenberg College, with English preaching.
The Rev. Jacob D. Schindel, D. D., was elected March 10, 1867, and entered the service of the congregation. June Ist. The new pastor was greeted by certain contentions at the very threshold of his pastorate. Although there was a definite understanding between the two congregations as to the part ownership and use of the Union Church, services conflicting with each other's rights were frequently arranged for. Sectarian elements also crept into the Union Sunday School. This naturally caused contentions that ultimately led to a separation. The Lutherans retained possession of the Church property, paid the Reformed three thousand six hundred dollars for their half-interest, and assumed the debt resting on the Church, amounting March 1, 1868, to four thousand dollars, not counting the in- terest.
A constitution, placing the congregation on a proper doctrinal basis. and bringing the same into correct synodical relations, was adopted May 14, 1868; and on January 1, 1871, a resolution to incorporate the Church was passed. Legal proceedings were instituted against this, but objections were finally withdrawn in open court and the charter granted.
In the spring of 1872, efforts were made to remove the dead buried on the lot adjoining the Church building. No burials had been allowed there since the property came entirely into the possession of the Lutheran congregation. The last bodies were exhumed in the fall of 1873. In view of the congregation having stopped burials on the church lot, Mr. James W. Fuller. Sr .. and wife, Clarissa, presented the congregation with four full lots in Fairview cemetery for the burial of unclaimed bodies, and the remains of the deceased poor whom the congregation interred.
According to a unanimons resolution, morning and evening services were required of the pastor on each Lord's Day, which interfered seriously with Pastor Schindel's services in his country congregations. On this account, but chiefly because of a bitter factional strife between the German and certain English elements in the Church. the pastor presented his resignation to the Council, Nov. 12, 1872.
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The language contention resulted in the withdrawal of about twenty-five persons from the Church. These people founded the Holy Trinity English Evan- gelical Lutheran Church in the spring of 1873.
ST. PAUL'S EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH
The people still remaining in St. Paul's Church now strongly urged Pastor Sehindel to withdraw his resignation, which he promptly did, with the promise, that he would remain until the congregation was able to support its own pastor.
In the spring of 1879 Mr. William Roesch, through the solicitude of Philip Storm, whose liberality to his Church was proverbial, purchased a bell to take
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the place of the broken one in the tower. After having been in use for about eighteen months, the new bell broke, whereupon Mr. Roesch bought another which is still in use.
For nearly a decade, the congregation had no debts nor any new enterprise to engage its energy and occupy its attention. It was very clear however that for better Sunday School accommodations some building operations must be begum. On May 24, 1887. a resolution to build a new church was adopted. and the following building committee appointed : Messrs. Simon Breinig, Frederick Eber- hard, John L. Witt, Cain Semmel. Samuel M. Snyder. Uriah F. Koehler and Tilghman F. Frederick.
The last service in the old church was held on June 12, the mason work of the new church was begun July 2, and on the 7th of August the corner stone laid. The old corner stone, laid in the old church, July 4, 1852, was now planted into the north-eastern corner of the new building. The pastor who laid the new stone was a son of the pastor who laid the first corner stone.
The cost of the new church was a trifle over fourteen thousand dollars.
The Second Conference of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, predecessor of the Allentown Conference, added to Mickley's and Coplay congregations of Pastor Schindel the Egypt and Lanry's Churches, to form a parish. The latter two congregations issued a unaimons eall to Pastor Schindel. February 7. 1888. Rev. Schindel accepted this eall, and so resigned St. Paul's Church February 8. On April 1, 1888, his labors in St. Paul's Church ceased.
Through the zeal of Mr. F. F. Frederick the flag-stone pavements along Howertown Avenue and around the church were laid, and the iron fence erected during 1888.
The Rev. Joseph W. Mayne was unanimously elected pastor on June 8. 1888. and having accepted the call, entered upon his labors here during July. The new church having now been completed, consecration services were held August 5,1888. .
Donations to the new church were made as follows: The pulpit by Mrs. C. Breinig and son : four chancel chairs by Mrs. Mary Alice Steward : a table by Mrs. Jeanette Frederick; Baptismal Font by S. S. Class No. 14, taught by Miss
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Mary L. Beitel; and the Lecturn by Mrs. Mary J. Frederick in memory of her departed children, Edith L. and George T.
A special meeting of the congregation was held Sept. 15, 1890, at which Pastor Mayne proposed, "That in order to secure a permanent home, the congre- gation borrow the necessary money and build a parsonage, and he will obligate himself to pay the interest until such time as the congregation shall see fit to pay for the building."
The proposition was adopted unanimously, and the price of the building limited to thirty-five hundred dollars. The building committee consisted of Messrs. William A. Heckenberger, James Dilcher and James C. Beitel. It was finished by the spring of 1891 at a eost of four thousand two hundred sixteen dollars. Pastor Mayne resigned on March 27, 1892, and preached his farewell sermon May 8, 1892.
Rev. James F. Lambert preached for the congregation on the 22nd of May, 1892, and was elected pastor on the 29th of May. The call was extended on June 9 and installation services held July 10. After a thorough revision of the roll, 524 names were found in good standing.
On November 13, 1894, the congregation received a bequest from the late Mrs. Amelia Faust of two hundred fifty dollars which, minus the inheritance tax, netted two hundred thirty-eight dollars. Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Broadbeck pre- sented the congregation December. 1895, with two beautiful white and gold hymn boards in memory of their deceased children, Ralph C. and Minnie L., who fol- lowed each other closely in death by scarlet fever, June 24, and July 11, 1894. The boards were replaced later by marble tablets beautifully wrought.
The Kirchen-Buch, published by authority of the General Council, was adopt- ed Jan. 1, 1896. The monthly system of envelopes, as a means of raising funds, was adopted Jan. 1, 1901.
At the congregational meeting Jan. 1, 1902, it was resolved unanimously to observe the Golden Jubilee of the congregation with appropriate services during the week beginning June 29, 1902. An interesting history of the Church, Sunday School, and all of the Church Societies was written by the pastor as a memorial of the occasion.
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The congregation resolved, Aug. 9, 1902, to remove the four turrets on the tower of the church and build a spire erowned with a gilt eross. January 1. 1903, the pastor's salary was inereased and the request made that he discontinue his services in St. John's Church at Fullerton, Pa., where he preached for over nine years.
After extensive improvements reconsceration services were held February 7. 1904. The unveiling of an oilpainting portraying the Ascension of Christ, by the Misses Marie and Helen Kostenbader, in memory of Carl Immanuel, the youngest child of the family, was an impressive feature. The painting is the gift of Mr. Il. Kostenbader and family. This picture was remounted in the enlarged church by Messrs. August F. and Herman A. Kostenbader. Other memorials and gifts are : Altar Crossby Mrs. Sarah C. Steitz in memory of her husband Henry G. and her children ; a Missel Stand and Bible by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Heckenberger in memory of their sons Clarence Dech and Ralph Heller; Vases by Mr. and Mrs. F. Goldsmith's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Dieter. A number of ladies furnished altar vestments, and the F. W. Wint Lumber Co. presented solid wahnit pedestals.
In July, 1905, the congregation was declared free of debt and a mortgage of fifteen years' standing was burned. On Jan. 1, 1909, on motion of Mr. T. F. Frederick, the congregation resolved to provide larger accommodations for her fully graded Sunday School. Plans prepared by Mr. A. H. Leh of So. Bethlehem were adopted April 15. and a building committee consisted of Messrs. H. Kosten- bader. W. J. Smith, F. Goldsmith, R. Frank Kratzer, J. J. Seyfried. J. H. Witt and C. S. Wonderly. The building committee served as contractor and Mr. F. Goldsmith as foreman in the work.
The corner stone was laid August 15. 1909, by the pastor, assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, the grandson of Pastor Schindel, the founder of the Church. A four thousand dollar pipe organ, built by Mr. C. F. Durner and Son at Quaker- town, Pa., was placed into the added part of the church.
The dimensions of the original church were seventy-two by forty-five feet and of the addition seventy by thirty-eight feet, giving the edifice a erneiform shape. The total cost of the improvements amounted to twenty-five thousand dollars.
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THE HISTORY
nearly half of which is paid. The terazza floor and steps in the chancel were the munificent gift of the late Mr. Il. Kostenbader. An eagle leeturn, and a marble tablet properly inscribed are the gift of Mr. William H. Glace, Esq., in memory of his father, Mr. Samuel Glace, a devont elder of the Church. Windows were pre- sented : "('linging to the Cross" by Mr. J. C. Beitel and family ; "I am the Vine" by Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Laubach in memory of Mrs. Sarah Deily ; "Knocking at the Door" by Mrs. Flora A. E. Heckenberger, wife and children ; "Gathering into the Fold" by Mrs. Mary J. Frederick and family in memory of Mr. T. F. Frederick ; "Virgin Mother and Child" by Mr. II. Seltmann and family; and "Christ in Gethsemane" by Mr. Franklin Goldsmith and family. The pastor's stalls are the gift of Mrs. Mary A. Steward and family in memory of Mr. Henry A. Steward. The baptismal font is the gift of the Misses Charlotte and Cecilia Kostenbader. The Vestry resolved unanimously, April 27, 1910: "That the pastor be authorized to wear the Clerical Robe" and Mrs. Sarah C. Broadbeck and Mr. Charles T. Dileher procured a beautiful garment.
Consecration services were held July 17-22, 1910, in which a number of Lutheran pastors, and all the Clergy of town took part.
Through the liberality of Mrs. Matilda Kostenbader and the handiwork of Mrs. Ida S. Solt, choir vestments were procured during the summer of 1911. The Choir Stalls are the gift of the Choir.
St. Paul's congregation now numbers nine hundred forty-two members in good standing.
SALEM REFORMED CHURCH.
The Reformed people of Catasauqua, who lived at the time when the place was known as Biery's-Port, worshipped either at Schoenersville or Hower- town. Feeling that to attend divine service nearer home would afford much com- fort and ease, yet loving the Church of their fathers, they were granted the use of the Presbyterian chapel, on such days or hours when the Presbyterians had no service ; and thus they held periodie services here from 1848 to 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Jacob C. Becker, their pastor at Sehoenersville and Howertown Churches. We must not omit to notice here that much credit is due Mr. Nicholas
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Balliet for bringing the Church interest of the Reformed people into such definite shape. He was a zealous laborer in the cause of the Christian religion, and a de- voted member of the Reformed Church.
After some time an organization was effected by the pastor. Rev. JJ. C. Becker, and a movement set on foot to build a church, but its membership being only about one hundred, he covenanted with the Lutheran people, who started about the same time under the pastoral charge of Rev. JJeremiah Schindel, and they agreed to buy a lot and built on it jointly ; consequently. a committee was appointed by the two congregations. con- sisting of Messrs. George Breinig. Samuel Koehler, Charles Nolf (Lutheran), and Mr. Solomon Biery (Reformed). The site on which the union church was erected is the one still occupied by the St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Howertown Avenue. The corner stone of the new church was laid on the 4th of July. 1852. at ten A. M. by Rev. Jeremiah Schindel and Rev. J. C. Becker and son Cyrus J. Beeker. Rev. Schindel preached the ser- SALEM REFORMED CHURCH mon. On Christmas Day. 1852, the new church was dedicated to the service of the Trinne God. The ministers taking part in the services were Rev. Jeremiah Schindel. Rev. J. C. Beeker. Dr. Hoffenditz. Rev. Apple, Rev. JJos. Yeager and Rev. William Rath.
The union of the Reformed and the Lutheran congregations lasted till the year 1868, when the Reformed congregation made an overture to the Lutherans to buy or sell. The Lutherans accepted the offer and bought out the Reformed in March of the same year, the consideration having been thirty-six hundred dollars. The Reformed people then built a church for themselves on a lot donated by Mr. Joseph Laubach on the corner of Third and Walnut Streets. The corner-
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THE HISTORY
stone was laid in April, 1869, and the church was dedicated in the fall of the same year. This congregation was known as the First Reformed Church of Catasauqua. Meanwhile the Reformed congregation, under the pastorate of Rev. Cyrus J. Beeker, who had succeeded his father, the Rev. JJ. C. Becker, wor- shipped in the Bridge Street Presbyterian Church and also conducted a Sunday School in the same place. Dissensions arose very soon in the congregation, Rev. Becker, who also was the pastor of the Sehoenersville and Howertown congregations, having been requested to resign those congregations and become the pastor of the congregation in Catasauqua alone. Rev. Becker refused the proposition and resigned as pastor of the First Reformed Church in 1870. This resignation was confirmed by the East Pennsylvania Classis at their annual meeting at Kutztown, Pa., May 16, 1871. leaving the congregation without a pastor, which resulted in weakening the congregation and reducing it to a small membership. The congregation, now being without a pastor, was occasionally supplied by Rev. T. O. Stem of Hellertown, and other ministers sent here by the East Pennsylvania Classis. During those unfortunate days the church building had been rented to three different denominations, each of which had received accessions to its membership through disintegration of this congregation, so that there was seareely anything worthy of the name of a Reformed congregation existing at the time. The Sunday School was entirely scattered and teachers and scholars had been absorbed by other denominations to which also a number of the Church members had gone over. The organization (two elders, three deacons and three trustees) still existed, but the congregation. as it once was, was no more.
In the fall of 1873, Rev. A. B. Koplin was called by the East Pennsylvania Classis to look after the Reformed interests, and he succeeded in effeeting a new organization under the former title. During his pastorate the Sunday School was reorganized and the congregation again placed on a good foundation. Its membership was over one hundred; but the property being burdened with a heavy debt, its growth was retarded. After serving the congregation four years, he resigned in the spring of 1877. His resignation was accepted, and on May 7, 1877, East Pennsylvania Classis dismissed him to Tohickon Classis. After the
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resignation of Rev. Koplin, a call was extended to Rev. JJ. JJ. Crist, a graduate of the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pa., who became the pastor and was ordained and installed on May 31, 1877, by Revs. S. A. Leinbach, A. G. Dubbs and J. E. Freeman.
When Rev. Christ began his pastorate, the debt was still a heavy burden on the congregation, and. to make matters still worse, the steeple of the church, which was one hundred and sixty feet high, was damaged by a heavy storm on the afternoon of October 23, 1878, when sixty feet of it was blown down, and lay a shapeless mass upon the ground. The consistory met on the following evening and immediately took action on the repairing of the same. A committee was ap- pointed consisting of Owen Romich, Ellen Fehnel, Priseilla Fehnel. Cecilia Troxell and Amanda Johnson to collect funds to make temporary repairs. Ou September 10, 1879, a Young Peoples' Association was organized. The object was to promote a social, moral and intellectual improvement among its members. and aid in the liquidation of the church debt. It has done good work during its thirty-three years of existence.
The debt being still a heavy burden, the church was finally sold by the sheriff in 1880, and the organization under the title of the First Reformed Church disbanded, but in April of the same year, at a public meeting called for the purpose of organizing a Reformed Church, a new organization was effected under the title of Salem Reformed Church of Catasauqua, Pa. The organization bought the property from the sheriff, and efforts were at once put forth to pay the debt on the property, which amounted to about thirty-three hundred dollars. During all this time there was little progress in the increase of membership, so that in 1884 the membership was only about one hundred eighty. But the debt. which had been the chief hindranee, now being reduced, there was a prospeet for a more rapid increase of membership.
On January 5, 1885, the Mite Society was organized. This organization con- sisted of married women of the congregation, and the noble work and self sacri- fice of these mothers during all these years ean not be estimated. The large sums of money placed in the Church treasury, and the beautiful Altar railing which bears the Society's inscription will stand as a lasting monument to their memory.
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During the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Crist, great progress was made in all the various branches of the Church. The Sunday School. Mite Society, Young People's Association, and congregation made strong efforts, and finally the debt was paid in 1886: but the saddest part of all this was that the health of the pastor, Rev. JJ. J. Crist, failed, and he was compelled to resign, after serving the congregation faithfully for nine years. His resignation was accepted in the spring of 1886.
Having been without a pastor for some time. the congregation was supplied by Revs. Jared Fritzinger and T. N. Reber of Allen- town. On June 3, 1886, Rev. W. F. More, a graduate of Lehigh University and the Theo- logical Seminary at Lancaster. Pa., was or- dained and installed as pastor, and on Sunday. Jnne 6. 1886. he preached his introductory sermons. From now on the congregation took a forward step. In 1887 it became self sup- porting and in 1888 the annex was built. In 1890 the church was painted and the steeple erected, which was blown down by a heavy storm on October 23, 1878.
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REV. A. P. FRANTZ
The new Church hymnal was introduced in 1891, and in 1893 a centennial celebration took place, when the church was beautifully decorated with historie decorations. The year 1894 may be noted as the banner year for its Sunday School work, more of the older members of the congregation having attended during this than during any of the former years. There was a good supply of teachers and all took part in the work. Under the pastorate of Rev. More the congregation increased in membership. The Sunday School becoming in need of better accommodations. it was finally decided to erect a Sunday School building. The building was erected in 1902.
After Rev. More had served the congregation faithfully during eighteen years, he resigned to become the superintendent of Bethany Orphans Home at Womelsdorf. Pa. He preached his farewell sermon June 5, 1904.
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The congregation extended a call to Rev. A. P. Frantz, B. D., of Springforge. Pa. He preached his first sermon on Sunday, August 21, 1904 ; and December 4, 1904, he was installed as pastor by Rev. W. H. Wotring. D. D., Rev. H. A. Frantz and Rey. J. G. Rupp.
The debt which was inenered by remodeling the church and in rebuilding the Sunday School room during Rev. More's pastorate was finally paid. A steam heating plant was installed, and the duplex envelope system was introduced and proves successful. The congregation at present has five hundred two members. and the Sunday School is the second largest in town.
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