USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Allentown > Brief history, Salem Reformed Church, Allentown, Pa. : 1875-1900 > Part 7
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" With this anniversary, the Sunday School of Salem Reformed Church rounds out the first quarter of a century of its history. A review of the records of the past year reveal many things of interest, but in a brief report like this, we can only give the bare facts. There has been a steady gain along all lines of our work. The enrollment, the average attendance, and the amount of the offerings show large increase. It seems the time was here for reaping the fruit of the seed sown by loving hands in former years. What we are, we owe to the grace of God, and to his holy name we ascribe all the praise."
G. W. HARTZELL.
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" The school enters upon the Twentieth Century with a membership of over two thousand. It has been a source of constant joy to us to enroll the 237 members during the year. Our average attendance has been 1265, an increase of, at least, one hundred over the preceding years. On January 14th, the largest number was present, 1690, and on September 2nd, the smallest number, 779. At the service on Christmas Eve the attendance, by actual count, was 2081. The members who at- tend regularly deserve great credit, and we trust their noble example will stimulate many others to help swell the Roll of Honor."
"The present officers are : Pastor, Rev. A. R. Bar- tholomew, D. D .; Superintendent, James F. Hunsicker ; As- sistant Superintendents, J. M. Grimley and Harrison E. Ruhe ; Secretary, John H. Danner ; Assistant Secretary, E. O. Schaf- fer ; Treasurer, Frank A. Arner ; Librarian, Israel J. Ritter ; Assistant Librarians, Alfred M. Schraden, William C. Landis, Thomas Keim and James Seagreaves."
"On June 3rd, 1900, the new constitution went into effect, which, among other changes, provides for the manage- ment of the school by a Board of Control, composed of fifteen members, including the pastor and superintendent, three elders to be chosen of and by the Consistory, and ten members to be chosen of and by the officers and teachers."
" There are four main departments in the school: primary, junior, intermediate and senior. The primary department has three sections, including the children from two to ten years of age. The junior department is composed of three Bible classes. The intermediate department consists of thirty-seven classes. The senior department embraces the five large Bible classes.
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Besides, there is also a Normal Class for the training of teach- ers, whose members serve as substitutes in the absence of the regular teachers." 1
" The school has made commendable progress in its be- nevolent offerings, and we are happy to note liberal con- tributions towards the following worthy objects: Allentown Hospital, $89.04; Bethany Orphans' Home, $213.48 ; Sunday School Board for Missions, $74.27 ; classical apportionment, $171.98 ; total, $648.75. In addition to this amount the Young Ladies' Bible Class gave the pastor last Christmas $50 to be applied to missions and the poor." 1
" The Salem and English Bible Classes have secured at their own expense, two fine rolling partitions for their rooms, which add greatly to the comfort of the teachers. The three Junior Bible Classes have procured handsome name registers, and paid for them. The primary department will also be pro- vided with three of these registers. The new Sunday School Hymnal was introduced into this department with great accept- ance to the teachers and scholars. A new feature in the school is the Cradle Roll which promises good results. Mrs. J. George Snyder is its superintendent, and we express the wish that by the end of the present year the names of all our infant children may adorn this pretty roll. It is worthy of special note that the school through its several classes has promised $3180.50 towards the payment of the remainder of the chapel debt."
" Whilst we have been busy in advancing the best inter- ests of the school, the reaper Death has not been idle. Thirteen of our members have been cut down by his sickle, and we mourn their loss. All ages and ranks have fallen a prey at his feet, and we do well to heed the solemn admonition, " Watch
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and Pray." The Lord grant that their departure has been a real promotion to them, a graduation from the school on earth into the school in heaven, and that as they are happier, so we may be richer for their entrance into the spirit world. The names of those who have fallen asleep are as follows : Annie Diehl, William E. Knerr, Estelle I. Scheirer, Lucetta A. Sam- uels, David B. Weaver, Jacob Bantz, Diana T. Blose, Florence E. Fink, Alice M. Rattler, Barbara Bantz, Mamie Diefenderfer, Lilian Helfrich and Florence Moyer. May their memory be kept alive by us, for their works do follow them."
" On account of their old age, their strong attachment to the church, and their faithful attendance at school, a sense of duty prompts us to make special reference to the death of Jacob and Barbara Bantz, who left no near kindred to mourn their loss, but whose mortal remains were accompanied to their last resting place by many members of the German Bible Class who took the place of mourners. The school will hold these aged servants of God in grateful remembrance for their interest in its welfare."
Fully one-half of the membership in our school is made up of adults. This is one of its special features. It is a great joy to look into the faces of many scholars who have grown gray in the service of their Master. We feel it is due the five large Bible classes that they should, each one, relate the story of their progress, and the same to form a part of this history. That the strength of the school depends very largely upon these classes no one will dispute who is at all familiar with the valu- able help they are ever rendering in the onward march of our growth.
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GERMAN BIBLE CLASS
REV. A. R. BARTHOLOMEW, D. D., Teacher
T THE German Bible Class is the oldest of the five large Bible Classes in the Sunday School. Its membership is com- posed, mainly, of the older people, the fathers and mothers, of the congregation. The origin of the class is collateral to that of the church itself. Its history dates back a quarter of a cen- tury, and divides itself into two grand epochs, or periods, viz: the unorganized period, from 1876 to 1891 ; and the organized period, from 1891 to the present time.
Immediately after the occupancy of the lecture-room of the church, the class was informally organized, under the lead- ership of the first pastor, the devoted Dr. Dubbs. At first, the class was but small, consisting of about 40 persons, who met from Sunday to Sunday, and were taught at different times by the regular teacher, and by William B. Schaffer and Benjamin K. Hamm as assistants. After several years of toil, the class became so large that it was found necessary to provide a record of its members, and a Roll Book was procured, and John H. Danner kept a record of the attendance. Later on Edwin H. Huffort had charge of it. Oscar M. Scheirer acted as Treas- urer, and Oscar S. Bogert as Librarian and Usher. The latter still retains the same position, and is one of the most earnest workers in the school.
By January 25th, 1891, the class numbered 125, and that day became memorable in its history as the time of its or- ganization as a distinct branch of the school. At the same meet- ing an election was held for the first officers, who served for one year. The result was as follows: President, Edwin H. Huffort ; Vice President, Jacob A. Lawfer ; Secretary, Mrs.
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Kate Lester ; Librarian, Oscar S. Bogert. From this time on the secretary kept the proceedings of the class, and the mem- bership steadily increased until its present enrollment is 301. There has been an attendance of over 200 on different occasions. The members manifest a great interest in the class, and a num- ber of them are regular attendants, which is a rare occurrence in view of the fact that they are advanced in years.
The class enjoys the distinction of having as its teachers, the pastors of the church, and they have shown their apprecia- tion of this privilege by liberal contributions to all the Christian activities of the school. During the struggle to raise the debt of $12,400, the special offerings of the members, exclusive of their individual subscriptions, amounted to $ 1031. The contri- butions of the class towards the chapel, and other worthy causes, would aggregate several thousand dollars.
Many of the faithful workers of the class have gone to their eternal home, whilst others are waiting in their old age for the final summons. Thanks be to God, a noble army remains in active service, ready to do and to give for the greater glory of God and the wider spread of the Gospel.
The officers are : President, Joshua E. Leaser : Vice President, George W. Hartzell ; Secretary, C. J. Dilcher ; As- sistant Secretary, Mrs. S. J. Minninger ; Treasurer, Oscar E. Butz ; Librarian, Oscar S. Bogert.
C. J. DILCHER, Secretary.
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ENGLISH BIBLE CLASS PROF. HARRISON E. RUHE, Teacher
TV
WENTY YEARS, with all their joys and sorrows, have
passed away since the organization of the English Bible Class, and with great pleasure do we take a retrospect of our labors, thanking God for what He has done for us, and through us, as a class. In the Fall of the year 1880, the necessity was felt for the continued welfare of our beloved Sunday School, that an English Bible Class should be organized, where. the young people might further be instructed in the way of right- eousness and holiness. A class was begun with a membership of eight, with the lamented P. A. Fenstermacher as teacher. They were stationed in a small corner of the main department in the lecture-room of the church. In the beginning of the year 1881, their teacher, who has since gone to his eternal reward, removed West, and the present teacher, at that time already the organist of the church, was urged by the pastor to take charge of the class until a suitable person could be appointed. In a short time the class doubled in size and continued to grow so rapidly, that Prof. Ruhe was persuaded to serve as regular teacher. He brought to his work the loving zeal and devotion which have characterized all his labors in the congregation, and the growth of the class was so remarkable, that in a short time it became necessary to fit up the room under the vestibule of the church (now the Reading Room) in which the class found accommodations for over a hundred scholars. Finally the class was compelled to seek larger quarters, and then assembled in the main audience room of the church. In a few years, by the grace of God and under the faithful care and guidance of the teacher, the class roll increased until it numbered 412 members,
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and attained an average attendance for the year 1894 of 323 members.
Upon the completion of the fine Sunday School Chapel, the class was taken into the new building, and to facilitate the proper teaching of the members, was divided practically into three sections : one section retaining the original name, The English Bible Class, which is still taught by the same teacher. At present there is a membership of 165, with an average at- tendance last year of 103. Since the organization of the class, it has lost by death 37 members. Out of this class have also come many recruits to the teaching force of the school, and they have proven very faithful workers in the vineyard of the Master.
From September 1895 to November Ist, 1900, the class contributed to the Building Fund almost $1600. During the last year they contributed to the General Fund of the school, $83.20 ; to Missions, $26.30 ; to the Allentown Hospital, $ 32, and $ 100 for the handsome windows in the chapel. Not unto us, but unto Thee, O God ! do we give the glory.
Among its members, the class has organized a Guild, known as the Social Circle of the English Bible Class, which meets semi-monthly at their homes. This society has been the means of promoting a very friendly and social feeling among the members, and very successful in all its undertakings. They also subscribed a neat sum towards the Chapel Fund. The of- ficers of the Circle are : President, Miss Stella Bogert; Vice President, Mrs. Laura Longendorfer ; Secretary, Miss Jennie Wisser ; Assistant Secretary, Miss Alice Diehl ; Treasurer, Miss Ella E. Nonnemacher. The roll numbers thirty members.
The Bible Class has a Social Committee, who look after its social interests ; a Sick Committee, who visit the sick ; a
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Flower Committee, who supply flowers when needed ; a Look- out Committee, whose duty it is to encourage the tardy and add new members.
The officers are : President, Miss Alice H. Ziegler ; Vice President, Miss Sallie Fetzer ; Secretary, Miss Stella Bogert ; Assistant Secretary, Miss Jennie Wisser ; Treasurer, Miss Emma E. Dech; Librarians, Horace Oberly, W. J. Koons, Preston Lobach and Theodore F. Slamp.
Thus we close this brief history of the class, and pray that with the help of God we may continue in the good work, and that the future may be still more fruitful than the past.
STELLA BOGERT, Teacher.
YOUNG LADIES' BIBLE CLASS
MR. ALVIN W. LAWFER, Teacher
IN the Spring of 1886, the main department of the Sunday
School was increased by eight new members from the in- fant department. The names were as follows : Hattie E. Har- ing, Hattie L. Hartzell, Gertrude L. and Helen A. Ruhe, Flor- rence S. Scheetz, Minnie R: Snyder, Sallie Warmkessel and Sadie T. Grimley. We were promptly organized as a class, under the direction of our ever worthy teacher, Mr. Alvin W. Lawfer. The class, then known as No. 29, was stationed di- rectly in front of the superintendent's desk, thus giving us various opportunities for good behaviour. We were immedi- ately given lesson leaves and allowed to read. From this time forward we began to distinguish ourselves, and all became very enthusiastic and vied with each other as to which one could read the best. No sooner had we been organized when our number was increased by little tots from the same school, and other girls, who were not as yet interested in any Sunday School work.
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During the early stages of the class nothing of particular importance occurred ; but we shall never forget the time when the banners were first introduced. This caused the members to be so regular that the banner for the best attendance was in- variably presented to the girls of No. 29. The class gradually grew until our allotted seats were filled, and the aisles blocked with a large number of extra chairs. Our teacher often en- couraged us by saying, that if the class should continue to in- crease so rapidly, he would be compelled to build a balcony for the better accommodation of his little girls. Shortly thereafter we were transferred to the rear part of the room, a place for- merly occupied by the English Bible Class. Many pleasant and profitable hours were spent during the first five year's stay in this room.
On October 28th, 1894, a permanent organization of the class was formed, and several committees appointed to more thoroughly systematize the work to be undertaken in the near future. This room again, like all other departments of the school, was overcrowded ; and a serious question confronted all as to what should be done to secure more room. After many feasible plans had been formulated and submitted, it at last cul- minated in the erection of the present beautiful chapel. Upon its completion we were assigned the northern side of the bal- cony, and our name was changed to " The Young Ladies' Bible Class." Thus, like the oak tree from the acorn grows, this class has increased from eight little girls to one hundred and sixty-eight young ladies, all working in the vineyard of the Lord, preparing for our Heavenly Home when we shall be called hence. Miss Katie L. Diefenderfer, Miss Minnie Leah Snyder,
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Mrs. George W. Hunsicker, Miss Estella Irene Scheirer, Mrs. Mary Scherer Sterner and Miss Katie L. Fulmer have already been called to the abode beyond.
It is with pleasure that we narrate a few of our many successful entertainments. At the first Open Social, held in the large new Sunday School Chapel, March 10th, 1896, a splendid program was rendered and a silver collection lifted. The proceeds amounted to $75.24, and were devoted to the Piano Fund. Of the Butterfly Social we exclaim with the poet, " A thing of beauty is a joy forever !" The class cleared $202.33 for the Building Fund. The second Annual Social was given April 27th, 1897. The net receipts were $427.30. The fruits of the above entertainments, with several liberal private sub- scriptions, were transformed into a beautiful Chickering Baby Grand Piano, which was donated to the Sunday School. April 14th, 1898, was the banner night of the class. Then it was that the brave sons of Franklin and Marshall College enter- tained an audience of 1400. The net sum realized was $513.45, of which $220 (class apportionment) were given towards the Building Fund. One of the most beneficial improvements added to the class in 1899 was the rolling partition, which cost $ 180.69, May 20th, 1900, the young ladies subscribed $ 1009.00 towards the payment of the chapel debt, which amount was paid by check on November 25th, 1900. It has been an annual priv- ilege of ours to present a check of $ 50 and over to the pastor ; one-half of the amount to be applied to the cause of Missions, and the balance to our friends in need.
We indeed take great pleasure in making mention of our honorary members, Rev. Prof. George W. Richards, Dr. C. D. Schaeffer and Mr. Milton T. J. Ochs, all of whom have very
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kindly remembered us financially on different occasions ; and our medical friend, not even satisfied with his liberal contribu- tions, presented the three beautiful imported palms which adorn the class room. Mrs. Kate Balliet, who has enjoyed the dis- tinction of being an honorary member for years, has joined the class as a regular attendant. Her presence is appreciated by all. There have occurred from time to time a number of other very agreeable incidents which the writer would be delighted to men- tion, but limited space forbids.
The young ladies are thankful to the Giver of all good gifts, for His great goodness, in permitting us to enjoy, every Sab- bath, the wise counsel and good example of our model teacher. To his constant skill and unwearying efforts is due, under the divine benediction, the great achievements and flourishing con- dition of the class.
The present officers are : President, Miss Elsie C. Erd- man ; Vice Presidents, Miss Sallie E. Warmkessel, Mrs. Estella G. Fatzinger ; Secretary, Miss Katie S. Ochs; Treasurer, Miss Ella J. Schneck.
SADIE T. GRIMLEY, Historian.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S BIBLE CLASS MR. B. FRANK MOHR, Teacher
IN the sphere of religion as well as in the domain of nature, everything that exists, and has its being, is the result of development. The old and trite saying, "Large trees from lit- tle acorns grow," embodies a principle which is as applicable to systems and institutions as it is to animate nature. By succes- sive steps we expand until our destiny is fulfilled. The forces at work in our lives are ever active, and whether they work for good or ill depends, to a great extent, on how we use them. And
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where have the great moral forces their inception ? Is not the place in the heart of the Sunday School, the nursery of God, where the plants of grace grow from the seeds of truth, and stand for righteousness and justice in the kingdom of God ? Here is that precious corner-stone, the Bible, the inculcation of whose truths produces the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. These thoughts came to my mind in writing the history of the Young People's Bible Class, by the work it has done, by its glorious past, and, as we hope, by its still more fruitful future.
Its start was humble, as nearly all great enterprises are, but by hard and patient labor, on the part of teacher and schol- ars, an eminence has been won of which the class can be justly proud. The Young People's Bible Class was born, we may say, on the first Sunday in September, 1889, when eight girls were promoted from the infant department to the main school, and were given in charge of the present teacher, the class Number being 40. Probably no one ever dreamt of the work before the class, of the future that awaited it, or of the good that might be accomplished. Great changes have taken place since that Sunday in September. Many in the congrega- tion and school have obeyed the summons of their Master and have gone to those mansions, not built with hands, eternal in the heavens, where they now rest from their labors.
The class increased in membership and interest. Sunday after Sunday, found us in our places, all alike interested in the work, and each unceasing in its efforts to increase and strengthen the class, not only numerically, but spiritually, and we have been successful beyond our fondest hopes.
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ยท On December 6th, 1895, the Young People's Bible Class was organized with fifty-five members. The first officers were: President, George W. Hunsicker; Secretary, Miss Mamie Koons; Treasurer, Elmer A. Guth; Librarian, H. F. Lehr. This was simply the stamp, the worth was intrinsic in the arti- cle. To-day the class numbers one hundred and fifty. Truly a great increase, and we find ample cause for rejoicing. Of the eight original members five are still with us. Does that not speak well for their steadfastness ? The other three, equally worthy, have found in married life a different sphere of work and usefulness. This is a record of which we can feel proud. Only one death occurred in the class since its organization, for which we are deeply grateful. The one to obey that summons was Mrs. Agnes Kern, who died on March 20th, 1899.
In closing this brief history, we do not in any way de- sire to exalt ourselves. All of us have striven humbly and prayerfully according to the light with which God has endued us, to advance the cause of the church and school, which is His cause, and if our work and that of the class has brought forth good fruit, to Him, who is the Giver of all good and per- fect gifts, be all honor and praise. Of what we have done as a class in the cause of charity, it becometh us not to speak, for "Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth." This is the motto of our class. Still we feel happy in reporting that we have paid in extra offerings, towards the improvement of our room, including the rolling partition, and the general building fund, the sum of at least $ 1100.
The present officers are : President, W. C. Hoats ; Vice President, W. J. Thomas; Secretary, Miss Daisy Schlosser ; Assistant Secretary, Miss Emma Peters ; Treasurer, E. H. Weth-
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erhold ; Librarians, H. F. Lehr, Geo. E. Wetzell ; Ushers, Oli- ver Schlosser, Elwood Davis, Herbert Keller.
May the record of the past be the inspiration for the fu- ture; and may the Young People's Bible Class continue to be an honor to the church and the school, and finding in the work of the Master its greatest consolation.
DAISY SCHLOSSER, Secretary.
SALEM BIBLE CLASS DR. N. C. E. GUTH, Teacher
T
THE Salem Bible Class is an outgrowth of the English Bible
Class, which had grown to such large proportions as to make it difficult for the teacher to instruct all with ease to him- self, or profit to the scholars. On the first day of November, 1895, the class was organized, and the present teacher, Dr. Guth, took charge of the same. There were 65 members pres- ent. All were strangers to the teacher, but by his kind ways he soon won their love and esteem, and up to this time he has been highly successful in his labors. The first officers were : President, Victor M. Fry : Secretary, Samuel A. Moyer ; Treas- urer, W. F. Neff. The class has had a steady growth, and this is remarkable, in view of the fact that the membership is com- posed of men and women, and of varied ages. The present enrollment is 160. A delightful feature of the class has been its anniversaries, which have been regularly held with appro- priate services, and which always attract large audiences. The last anniversary was especially interesting, inasmuch as Dr. Guth had secured four young ladies from the Overbrook Asylum for the Blind in Philadelphia, who gave a most charming con- cert. They were the recipients of $66 for their kind services. . The collections for the five years aggregate about $ 1500. Of
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this amount the regular offerings were $352, the benevolent offerings $291, and the chapel debt and improvements, $843. The class has been loyal to the best interests of the school, and the apt teacher, on account of professional duties, had to sacri- fice much of his time in building up the members in the doctrines and duties of our holy religion. There have been six deaths in the class : Clifford Serfass, Arthur Newhard, Charles Hamm, George Schwartz, Charles Heft and Katie E. Freeman. Mr. Schwartz was a soldier in the late American-Spanish war, and he died in the service of his country.
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