USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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ART. 10. The pastors shall be elected by their respective con- gregations. The Lutherans shall elect their pastor, and the Re- formed theirs, and the Lutherans shall support their pastor and the Reformed theirs.
ART. 11. It shall be the duty of the church-council of each congregation to exercise diligent care that during the time of di- vine worship and school-term good order be maintained.
ART. 12. The church-council shall see to it that as regards ap- pointments for preaching, one minister does not interfere with the other. When one minister has announced an appointment for divine worship, the other shall then make his appointment eight days later, so that all things may be done in peace and order.
ART. 13. The church-council shall take care that, if two deaths occur near the same time, the one that died first be buried first. If, however, the friends of the one that died first be not ready to bury, they shall then notify the friends of the one that died last, and these shall then proceed to bury their dead. If in this matter any one should be negligent and cause strife at or in the church, men shall then be chosen from each congregation, and these men shall settle the case and severely reprimand the guilty.
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ART. 14. In this church the church-council shall permit no person to preach, who has not been examined, found qualified, and been licensed by one of the Evangelical Lutheran or Reformed Ministeriums to perform the duties of the office of teacher or preacher.
That we will be governed by the above rules, we obligate our- selves by affixing our signatures :
Henry Wentz,
John Zimmerman,
Elders.
Jacob Wentz, John Berkir, Jacob Shuman,
Deacons.
Solomon Bower,
Hen. Zimmerman,
Jacob Kroemer,
John Garber, Building
Jonathan Faust,
Henry Wentz, Committee.
Jacob Arnold,
George Faust,
George Leiby,
Jonathan Sieger,
Daniel Wentz, Daniel Gutshall,
George Stroup, David Kern.
The above " Church-rules" have long since become a dead letter. Each congregation now manages its ecclesiastical affairs according to the Synod or General Synod of its own Church.
According to the church-record, "the corner-stone was laid on the 23d of May, 1816, being Ascension Day, when Pastor Heim, Lutheran minister, preached a suitable discourse from 1 Pet. 2 : 6-8, which reads as follows : 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious : and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe, he is pre- cious : but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.'"*
The church was consecrated in July, 1817, by the name of
* In his journal, Rev. Heim says : "On the 23d of May, 1816, laid the corner-stone of Zion Church in Sherman's Valley. Preached in the forenoon from 1 Pet. 2 : 6-8. Hymn : Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht, &c. In the after- noon I preached from Rom. 10 : 17. Hymn : Versuchet euch doch selbst, &c. Baptized five infants."
!
Trustees.
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Zion Church. On this occasion Rev. Heim and Rev. Conrad Walter of the Lutheran Church, Rev. Mr. Helffenstein of the Re- formed Church, and Rev. John Linn of the Presbyterian Church, were present and took part in the exercises.
The church-edifice is of stone, a substantial structure, forty-five by fifty feet in size. It has inside a high gallery on three sides. The pulpit is high and ascended by a flight of steps, and over it is suspended a sounding-board. The altar, in front of the pulpit, is circular, elevated one step from the floor, and wholly surrounded by a balustrade. A cupola and bell surmount the church. We should suppose the church has capacity to accommodate from six to eight hundred persons, and judging from the work expended on it, it must have cost from four to five thousand dollars. Withal, the internal arrangement is not good. At the time the church was erected, it was, however, considered a great church as to size and felicitous as to arrangement.
From 1815 to 1849, Rev. Heim preached here regularly once every four weeks, exclusively in the German language. On the 27th of December, 1849, in his 68th year, the Lord called him from his labors in the church militant to his reward in the church triumphant. For want of a church-record, we are unable to learn who or how many were from time to time admitted to membership whilst Rev. Heim was pastor of this congregation. The number must have been large, as at present upwards of two hundred and fifty members belong, at least nominally, to the Blain congrega- tion. The Lord crowned the labors of his servant, here as else- where, with great success. After the decease of Father Heim, the congregation was vacant about ten months. In November, 1850, in connection with the Loysville pastorate, the
Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff
commenced his ministerial labors here. He introduced the use of the English language in preaching, a measure for a long time much needed among this people. His pastoral labors were crowned with marked success, and under his ministry many were added to the Church. Soon after he commenced preaching here, he formed
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a class of catechumens, whom he instructed in the doctrines of religion. Though he has since joined the ransomed in glory, he did a good work here, and long hereafter many will dwell on his name with delight, filial affection, and sincere gratitude to God. He labored diligently ; the words he spoke were those of a father, who desires the good of his children ; and in all he did and said he pointed to Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the soul. His words of love will not be forgotten by those who heard them. The large number whom he inducted into the Church will ever be a witness to his faithfulness and success as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On the 18th of April, 1851, the following per- sons were confirmed :
Joseph Wentz,
Jane Gutshall,
Andrew S. Loy,
Magdalene Briner,
John Shuman,
Lydia A. Wentz,
George Wentz,
John Ebert,
Jane Shoemaker, Mary Gutshall, Catharine Phillips,
Joseph B. Garber,
William Stambaugh,
Margaret Stroup,
Peter Stahl,
Margaret Loy,
David McCartel,
Mary A. Gutshall,
George Ernst,
Mary Kissler,
Sylvester K. Baltoser, David Kissler, Henry Gibbons, John Shoemaker, Samuel Klaus,
Margaret Kissler,
Catharine Klaus,
Maria A. Henry,
James McCartel,
Rebecca Henry,
John Sheibley,
Elizabeth C. Saltzberg,
Margaret Garber,
Eliza Ewing,
Sarah J. Wentz,
Lucinda Baltoser, Elizabeth Baker, Caroline Loy,
Michael Loy,
by certifi-
Mary Loy,
Elizabeth Chestnut. S cate.
Susanna Bower,
Eliz. Jane Baker,
Sarah Ernst, Mary Schambach,
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
This year the congregations at Blain obtained another parcel of land, as the following extracts from the deed of conveyance show :
" This Indenture, made the 1st day of November, 1851, be- tween Arnold R. Fahs and Julia E. his wife, of Jackson Town- ship, Perry County, and State of Pennsylvania, of the one part, and Solomon Bower, Jacob Kremer, David Snyder, and George Souder of Jackson and Toboyne Townships, County and State aforosaid, Trustees of the congregations at Zion's Church, in Jack- son Township, County and State aforesaid, of the other part, Wit- nesseth, that the said Arnold R. Fahs and Julia E. his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of five dollars to them in hand paid by the party of the second part, ... have granted, bar- gained, sold, &c., ... one acre neat measure ... to Solomon Bower, Jacob Kremer, David Snyder, and George Souder," &c. See Deed-Book, Letter O., p. 498.
In order to render honor to whom honor is due, it is proper to state, respecting this one acre of land, that Alexander F. Toply donated three-fourths of an acre of it to the congregations. But before making a deed of conveyance, he sold his tract of land adjoining the church property to Mr. Fahs, with the understand- ing that these three-fourths of an acre were to belong to the con- gregations. Mr. Fahs afterwards sold to the congregations one- fourth of an acre in addition to the three-fouths Mr. Toply had previously donated, and then gave the congregation a deed for one acre. The congregations paid Mr. Fahs five dollars for the one- fourth acre he sold to them.
A year had now passed away, and others were found willing to attend a series of lectures on the Catechism. The Lord smiled ap- provingly on the faithful labors of the pastor. The congregation was reviving and prospering. A deep interest on the subject of religion was awakened in many hcarts. On the 9th of April, 1852, the following persons were confirmed :
Samuel Bloom, Jacob Briner, John Beistlein,
Elizabeth Beistlein,
Mary E. Brickley,
Sarah E. Cless,
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Benjamin Beistlein,
Eliza J. Ernst,
George Hohenshilt,
Mary Gutshall,
Daniel Shoemaker,
Elizabeth Garber,
Peter Yohn,
Sarah Hohenshilt,
Thomas Stump,
Alexander Stump,
Sarah Yohn, Sarah Seager,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Catharine E. Seager,
George McCartel,
Susanna Reinsmith,
George Holtz,
Rebecca Zimmerman,
Sarah Beistlein,
Hannah Zimmerman.
Having served the congregation as pastor for two years, to the great regret of all, Rev. Ruthrauff resigned in November, 1852. The charge was then vacant about four months. Having accepted a call, the
Rev. Reuben Weiser
commenced his pastoral labors in the Loysville charge on the 1st of April, 1853. Whilst he was pastor of this congregation some twenty persons were confirmed; but as their names were not re- corded, we cannot give them now. Rev. Weiser preached here once every three weeks. About one-half of the preaching was now required in the English language. Having been pastor of the congregation about two years and a half, Rev. Weiser resigned in September, 1855. The charge was then vacant about seven months. Having received and accepted a call, on the 25th of May, 1856, the
Rev. Philip Willard
entered on the discharge of his pastoral labors here. Rev. Wil- lard toiled incessantly in this part of the Lord's vineyard, and here, as elsewhere in the charge, uncommon success attended his min- istry. Through his instrumentality many were led to Jesus Christ, and now give full proof by their life that they are in the way to glory. He catechized almost constantly. No sooner was one class of catechumens confirmed than he formed and instructed another. Much, very much, of his success was owing to his faithfulness in the lecture-room. Here it was that the revivals under his minis-
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CHURCHIES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
try commenced. Here he was at home. Not by any labored effort, not by anything peculiarly eloquent in his sermons (though these were always instructive), not by vapid appeals to the feelings of his hearers,-no, in none of these ways did he accomplish what he did ; but he catechized as one who feels deeply that he must appear before God and answer for the manner he dealt with the souls committed to his charge. With him, catechization was not a dead formality. Truth, the truth as it is in Jesus, with all its life and saving energy, its fulness and glory, was clearly set forth, illustrated, and enforced with unction from on high and amid ardent tears and fervent prayers. The result of such labors-la- bors continued from day to day-we have in the large access of members to the Church under his ministry. The mystery of his success is easily solved. Would that, in this respect, his example were more generally followed ! In catechizing, as in preaching, a man may be slothful and inefficient, and with all his formal and heartless, spiritless and Christless catechizing, both he and his catechumens may sink to hell ; but, on the contrary, in catechiz- ing, as in preaching, a man filled with a due sense of his respon- sibility to God and to souls, speaking from the heart to the heart, holding forth the whole counsel of God, and directing the sinner to Jesus Christ as the only Savior, will be successful in leading sinners to Christ, and catechizing will evince itself to be a glorious means of good. Much, very much, depends on the manner and spirit, the zeal and deep earnestness, the longing of soul and deep desire of heart for the conversion and salvation of the catechu- mens, in order to success in catechizing. The life and spirit of Christ must give life and spirit to the instruction imparted, and then the truth will be the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. But to proceed with our narrative. In October, 1856, the following were confirmed :
Joseph Beistlein, Samuel Smith,
Jonathan Beistlein, Jacob Seager,
David H. Smith, Elizabeth Wentz, Catharine Wentz, Margaret Wentz,
Jane Bower, Sarah Gutshall,
Caroline Gutshall,
Sarah B. Smith,
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William Anderson, Solomon Gutshall, Mary A. Ebert,
Wm. B. Gutshall,
Arabella Beistlein, Eliza Seager,
Samuel Gibbons, Leah Beistlein,
Malinda J. Seager,
George Beistlein, Sarah Bower,
Naney Gibbons.
It may with great propriety be said that this congregation, as well as the whole Loysville charge, enjoyed a continual revival whilst Rev. Willard was pastor of it. God poured out his Spirit on the people, and their hearts were opened to the truth as it is in Jesus, and made them willing to receive it in the love of it. The lectures on the Catechism were continued and well attended. Everywhere the inquiry was, " What shall I do to be saved ?"- and the answer always was, "Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ." On the 7th of June, 1857, the following persons were confirmed :
John Brickley, Esther Philips,
Matilda Wentz,
Thomas Reeder, Margaret Gutshall, Sarah Gutshall,
Daniel Anderson, Elizabeth Loy,
Rebecca Shoemaker,
Samuel Kuney, Mary C. Trostle, Caroline Baltozer,
Henry Baker, Julia A. Bower, Caroline Faust,
Abraham Trostle, Mary M. Brickley, Margaret Kuney,
Catharine Shuman, Susan E. Smith, Elizabeth Shuler.
During the early part of 1858, it pleased the Lord to pour out his Spirit copiously upon this congregation. A large number pro- fessed to have experienced a change of heart, and the members were greatly revived. The lectures on the Catechism were con- tinued, and the converts were still more fully instructed. The pastor met them for several months once or twice every week, and under his teaching their views of the doetrines of our holy religion were enlarged, their experience was confirmed, and their duties, positive and relative, were made clear. Found willing to unite themselves with God's people, on the 25th of April, 1858, the following persons were confirmed :
Christian Streiker, Samuel P. Gutshall, Susanna Shuman,
Samuel Weibly, Cornelius Baker, Mary Reeder,
Mary A. Shearer, Susanna Shatto,
Marg. Hollenbaugh,
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Henry Wolf,
George Stahl,
Hannah Stump,
Conrad Comp,
Samuel Ebert,
Simon Gutshall,
Henry Allison,
Susan Gutshall, Ann Stump,
Andrew Kessler,
Mary A. Shoemaker,
Susanna Weibly,
David Stahl,
Susan Bernheisel,
Sarah A. Stump.
Andrew Schreffler,
George Briner,
Cath. E. Shoemaker, Hannah Gutshall,
During the summer of 1858, the matter relating to a division of the Loysville charge was agitated. The charge was too large and laborious for one minister, and Rev. Willard's health began to fail in consequence of incessant and severe application to supply the wants of the members. On the 26th of October, 1858, a di- vision of the Loysville charge was effected, and he concluded to resign and thus open the way for each charge to call its own pas- tor. As he had, however, for some time been instructing a class of catechumens, he continued to meet them a few weeks longer, and on the 6th of November, 1848, the following persons were confirmed :
Jacob Guttshall, Catharine Baltozer, Mary E. Bower,
Daniel Leiby, Lydia A. Gutshall, Susan Schreffler,
William H. Leiby, Clara Stambaugh, Flora A. Stambaugh.
Emeline Schreffler, Mary A. Gutshall,
The confirmation of these persons, and the administration of the Lord's Supper on the day following, closed the ministerial labors of Rev. Willard at this place. He had with great acceptance served this congregation about two years and a half.
The new charge, consisting of the Zion and St. Paul's congre- gations, and now known as the Blain charge, was then vacant about four months. Having received and accepted a call, the
Rev. John T. Williams,
as the first pastor of the Blain charge, commenced his ministerial labors on the 1st of April, 1859. He located at Blain, and preaches here once every two weeks.
Early in the spring of 1860, the charge erected a fine parson-
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age at Blain for the pastor. This was highly necessary, and the congregation deserve great credit for the manner in which they accomplished this needful work. Every charge ought to have a parsonage. It saves expense, and is a great convenience to pas- tor and people.
Having been carefully instructed, in the spring of 1860 the following persons were confirmed :
John Baker,
Miss Adaline Stroup,
Andrew Shearer,
Eliza Jane Shearer,
Baltzer Beistlein,
" Malinda J. Boltosser,
Mr. - Beistlein,
- Ebert.
This congregation requires about one-half of the preaching in the German language. But as there are no German schools in this community, the use of the English language will gradually supersede that of the German, and will finally supplant it altoge- ther here, as it has done in nearly all the other Lutheran congre- gations in the county.
As the old Church-rules or Constitution had long ago become obsolete, and the congregation was in a manner without any rules for government and discipline, in November, 1860, the Formula appended to the Lutheran Hymn-Book was adopted, not without opposition, as the Constitution of the congregation. At the same time a move was made towards having the congregation incorpo- rated. We may well ask, how can a congregation manage its affairs properly, and administer discipline fairly without a Consti- tution ? The pastor did well in urging the adoption of a Consti- tution. To have the congregation incorporated was also a move in the right direction. From the charter of incorporation, dated Ja- nuary, 1861, we make the following extracts, exhibiting the posi- tion of the congregation as to doctrine and government :
"That whereas they (the members) have associated themselves together for the purpose of worshipping Almighty God according to the faith and discipline of the Lutheran Church in the United States of America, and for said purpose, &c .- Art. 2. This church acknowledges itself to be a member of and belonging to
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central Pennsylvania, and as such recognizes the Augsburg Confession of Faith as a sub- stantially correct symbol of its faith, and the Constitution and Discipline adopted by the congregation as its rule of government and discipline .- Art. 3. The pastor, or pastors, of said church shall be elected as the Constitution of the church prescribes, and must be a member of an acknowledged Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the United States, or if not a member of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Synod of Central Pennsylvania when elected, he or they must unite with it at its first meeting thereafter, and a refu- sal to do so shall be regarded and taken as a resignation," &c.
Having been carefully instructed for some time in the Cate- chism, on the 3d of May, 1862, the following persons were con- firmed :
George Stum, Lydia Gutshall, Mary A. Stahl,
George Fry, Catharine Shuman, Mary A. Kessler.
Elizabeth C. Briner,
Much labor is required to make all the members of this con- gregation efficient. Many of them, living a considerable distance from the house of God, are very indifferent and do not attend the ordinances of the sanctuary, nor concern themselves about the in- terests of the church and their souls, as it is their duty to do. As the charge is reduced, and as the pastor resides among the members, it is to be hoped that the large Lutheran population in that region will be gradually brought into a state of progress and activity. There are in the congregation many most excellent men, whose hearts are alive to every good cause and who are willing to do their utmost to elevate the congregation in piety, intelligence, and Christian benevolence ; but there are also many who care but little about these things, and whose hearts are not lighted with wisdom from on high. The present pastor has already accom- plished much in the way of general reform, and the hope is en- tertained that in future still more will be accomplished by him. To this end may God bless his labors, and stir up the hearts of all the members to prayer and every good work !
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" Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still ! And never act our parts ? Come, holy Dove, from the heav'nly hill, Renew and warm our hearts.
" Then shall our active spirits move, Upward our souls shall rise ; With hands of faith and wings of love We'll fly and take the prize."
SECTION II.
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH IN MADISON TOWNSHIP.
Most of the members of St. Paul's Church belonged formerly to Zion Church at Blain, some few to the congregation at Loys- ville, and other places. As they had a considerable distance to the nearest church, they concluded, in 1855, to organize them- selves into a congregation and erect a church in their midst. The members united heartily in this good work. The congre- gation was regularly organized early in the spring of 1855, by the
Rev. Reuben Weiser,
when the following brethren were elected and installed as the first board of officers of the congregation :
Jacob Arnold, Elders. Samuel Arnold,
Jacob Kunkel,
J. B. Zimmerman, Deacons.
George Hohenshilt, Henry Wolf, S Trustees.
The corner-stone of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was laid on the 27th day of May, 1855, when the Rev. Daniel Sell, the only minister present on the occasion, preached a suitable sermon from Isa. 28 : 16. At this time, Rev. R. Weiser, the pastor, was absent on a visit to Texas. The church-edifice was reared speedily and successfully. In September, 1855, Rev.
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Weiser resigned the Loysville pastorate. The charge was then vacant about eight months.
Consecration of St. Paul's Church.
The church was dedicated to the service of the Most High on Sunday, the 22d of December, 1855. Rev. Messrs. J. Evans, M. J. Alleman and P. P. Lane, were present on this occasion and conducted the exercises. The meeting commenced on Friday evening previous and closed on Sunday evening. The Sunday morning exercises were introduced with a prayer-meeting, after which Rev. Alleman preached in the German language from Rom. 5 : 1, and was followed in the English language by Rev. Evans, who preached from Psalm 42 : 1, 2. The Rev. Lane attended then to the liturgical exercises, and consecrated the church by the distinctive title of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The church-edifice is of brick, neat and substantial, forty by fifty feet in size. It has a vestibule, and is surmounted by a steeple and sweet-sounding bell. The internal arrangement is tasty and judicious. The entire cost of erecting the building was about seventeen hundred dollars. The church is located in Madi- son Township, about five miles west of Loysville, and on the main road leading from Loysville to Blain, on a tract of land originally located by John Crawford in 1766, but now owned by the Messrs. Clarks. The site is eligible and in every way convenient.
Rev. Philip Willard
commenced his pastoral labors here, in connection with the Loys- ville charge, on the 25th of May, 1856. Soon after he had entered on the discharge of his ministerial duties, he commenced instructing a class of catechumens, and here, as well as in the other congregations of the charge, the Lord blessed his labors to the edification of Christians and the conversion of sinners. On the 25th of October, 1856, the following persons were admitted to full communion by the rite of confirmation :
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Jacob Clausert,
Catharine Baldozer,
George A. Shuman,
Mary Ernst,
Andrew Hohenshilt,
Amanda Reed,
Catharine Loy,
Elizabeth Seager,
Mary A. Loy,
Lydia A. Seager,
Ellen Loy,
Mary Stahl.
Mary J. Beaston,
During the early part of 1857, the Lord poured out graciously his Spirit upon the congregation. A number professed to have realized a change of heart during this season of refreshing from on high. These were carefully instructed for a few months, and on the 23d of May, 1857, the following were confirmed :
John A. Garber, Franklin D. Baldoser,
Susanna Burrel,
Mary M. Ewing,
John Bergstresser,
Sarah A. Garland,
Sarah J. Seager,
Elizabeth Shatto,
Amanda H. Bergstresser,
Mary A. Moyer,
Mary A. Zimmerman,
Sarah Koon.
Elizabeth Beistlein,
In the charter of incorporation, dated August 7th, 1857, among other matters not necessary to state, we find the following item of general interest :
" Article 5. Whatsoever is not otherwise specially provided for in this Constitution shall be regulated according to the Constitu- tion, form of government, discipline, rules and usages of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Central Pennsylvania and of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church in the United States," &c. Trustees : Daniel Ernst, Samuel Shope and Michael J. Loy.
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