USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 5
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
As the membership had greatly increased, and the charge was so large and laborious, and as Rev. Willard's health and strength began to fail, he desired the charge to be divided, or an assistant to be employed. As no assistant was employed, Rev. Willard deemed it his duty to resign, and the charge was divided. The Blain and St. Paul's congregations, considering themselves able to support a pastor, united in forming the Blain charge. By this secession the Loysville charge was somewhat weakened, and there- fore application was made to the Bloomfield charge for Emanuel congregation near Ickesburg. The Bloomfield charge, not wish- ing to express any opinion on the subject, allowed said congrega- tion, on certain conditions, to unite with the Loysville charge if it chose to do so. The congregation did so unite on the 1st of June, 1859.
We may here remark, that many of those persons who were added to the churches of the Loysville charge by Rev. Messrs. Ruthrauff, Weiser, and Willard, would have been lost to the Lutheran Church, had it not been for the timely introduction of the use of the English language in divine worship. A deeper tone of piety, also, began to prevail ; prayer meetings were established in all the congregations; church government was recognized and discipline was enforced; catechization, instead of being a formality, was made an instrument of great good to many souls ; and the Gospel was preached with power and unction from on high, the necessity of repentance, faith, and a change of heart wrought by the Holy Ghost, were clearly set forth and earnestly enforced, all of which, with God's blessing, resulted in extensive awakenings and revivals of religion. The congregations most evidently passed over into a new life, and now occupy a position far higher and very much better than they did before; they dis- play more energy, exhibit more piety, and manifest more respect for themselves as Lutherans. They have learned to appreciate their own Church, her soundness of doctrine, her excellency of
63
CHAPTER I.
government, her invaluable system of catechization, and her scrip- tural simplicity and correctness in practice. Some there may be, who see in every one else, something that pleases them better than their own; but this is surely not the case with the intel- ligent, the pious, the leading men of the congregations.
After the resignation of Rev. Willard, the charge was vacant about six months, and consisted now of the following congrega- tions, viz., Loysville, Mount Zion (formerly St. Peter's), Ludolph's (Germany, near Elliottsburg), and Emanuel Church near Ickes- burg.
Rev. G. M. Settlemoyer,
of Wittenberg College, Ohio, having accepted a call from the charge, entered on his pastoral labors in April, 1859. He preached regularly once every two weeks to each congregation. Having for a length of time instructed a class of catechumens at Loysville, on the 10th of March, 1860, he confirmed the following persons :
Joseph Stuber,
John Loy,
Jacob Culler,
Miss Mary E. Loy,
Samuel Comp,
" Caroline Minich,
Josiah Comp,
" Hannah Stuber,
William W. Witmer,
" Sarah E. Low,
Alexander Chesnut,
" Sarah Copenhaver.
At the same time, or shortly before, the following were received by certificate, viz., George Snyder, Henry Kiner, and Miss Sarah A. Murphy.
In May, 1859, as delegate of the charge, Jacob Crist, Esq., attended Synod at Mifflinburg, Union County, Pa., and in May, 1860, Mr. Benj. Rice at Petersburg, Perry County.
After having instructed another class for more than six months in the Catechism, on the 2d of March, 1861, the following persons were admitted to full communion by confirmation :
Benjamin Weaver, Henry Weaver,
Henry Sosseman,
Miss Sophia Rempfer.
64
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
At the same time, Michael Null and Mrs. Rebecca Weibly were received by certificate.
Having served the charge two years, Rev. Settlemoyer resigned it in April, 1861, and immediately after this, the Emanuel Church, near Ickesburg, seceded from the Loysville charge, and united with the Blain charge. The Loysville charge consists, therefore, at this time of only three congregations, viz., Loysville, Mount Zion, and Ludolph's. Having been vacant about four months, the
Rev. Peter Sahm,
of Somerset County, accepted a call, and commenced his pastoral labors in the charge on about the 1st of September, 1861, and has since labored in it with great acceptance and success. On the 15th of September, he preached his introductory sermon here, in the German language, in the forenoon, from 2 Cor. 5 : 20, and in the afternoon of the same day in the English language from Heb. 13 : 17.
In October, 1861, Mrs. Kepner and Miss Priscilla Kepner were received by certificate as members of this congregation.
Having been for several months carefully instructed in the fundamental doctrines of our holy religion, and being found pos- sessed of the requisite qualifications, on the 15th of March, 1862, the following twenty-five persons were admitted to membership by the solemn rite of confirmation :
John H. Arnold,
Mary Shoemaker, Sophia Bear,
Henry Rice,
Martin Luther Tressler, Henry Sahm, George W. Heim,
Rebecca Wagner,
Matilda Ann Minich,
Matilda E. Tressler,
Mary Ann Sunday,
Martin Bernheisel, Luther Bernheisel, Jacob Schwab, Daniel Zug,
Josephine M. Kepner, Mary A. Rice,
William Rhodes,
Isabella Rice, Leah Schaeffer,
65
CHAPTER I.
David Kleckner, Emanuel Wagner, Leah Ellen Rhodes,
Louisa Kiner, Rebecca Grow.
" Salvation, O the joyful sound ! 'Tis music to our ears ; A sov'reign balm for ev'ry wound, A cordial for our fears.
" Buried in sorrow and in sin, At hell's dark door we lay ; But we arise by grace divine, To see a heav'nly day.
"Salvation ! let the echo fly The spacious earth around ; While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound."
In May, 1862, Mr. S. Dunkelberger represented the charge in Synod at Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pa.
SECTION II.
ST. PETER'S, NOW MOUNT ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, IN SPRING TOWNSHIP.
This church is located about five miles east of Loysville, in Spring Township, and the old Union church was commonly known as St. Peter's, but the new Lutheran church, about a mile nortlı of St. Peter's, received the distinctive name Mount Zion.
The early history of St. Peter's Church is involved in much obscurity, as there are no authentic documents at hand from which information might be gathered. As early as 1790, and probably a few years before that, the congregation at Loysville was already organized, and it is very likely that the other congre- gations in the Valley were at that time only preaching stations, whilst on occasions of communion all the members went to Loys- ville. We are led to this conclusion by the fact, that among the names of catechumens and communicants of Loysville, in 1798 and 1804, we discover those of persons from the vicinity of St. Peter's and of Blain. No doubt Rev. Kühl preached here occa-
6*
66
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
sionally in school-houses, private dwellings, and barns. After him, Rev. Messrs. Herbst and Sanno preached frequently in this neighborhood, as it lay on their direct way between Carlisle and Loysville. In the year 1809,
Rev. John Frederick Osterloh
took charge of the Lutheran congregations in Sherman's Valley, and there is no doubt but that when he came into the Valley the St. Peter's congregation was first regularly organized, though we have nothing to show the particular time.
THE OLD UNION ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
The following Constitution shows that at the time it was drawn up, the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations were regularly organized, and that they had hitherto worshipped in a school-house, located on the site afterwards occupied by St. Peter's Union Church.
CHURCH-CONSTITUTION.
Constitution of St. Peter's Church, drawn up December 23d, A.D., 1815, between the Evangelical Lutheran and German Re- formed congregations, [then] in Tyrone Township, Cumberland County [now in Spring Township, Perry County], Pa.
Whereas, in our vicinity the Germans are increasing in number, both by emigration from other sections of our country and by the natural growth of our families, and Whereas, from these causes our congregations and membership are growing in number, and we have reason to believe that our increase in future will still be greater, and Whereas, the school-house, in which we have hitherto been worshipping, has already become too small,- Therefore, we, the undersigned, after mature deliberation, have concluded to build a new church edifice, for the public worship of Almighty God, on the following conditions :
1. The church edifice shall be erected on land given as a dona-
67
CHAPTER I.
tion to the joint congregations, viz., the Lutheran and Reformed, by John Gamber, on which land the school-house now stands.
2. It shall be a Union church for the use of the German Re- formed and Evangelical Lutheran congregations, and in it these congregations shall have equal rights and privileges.
3. No other religious denomination shall be permitted to wor- ship in this church edifice; nor shall a minister, who is not in regular connection with the Synod or Classis of one of the above- named congregations, be allowed to preach in this church without the consent of the united Councils of said congregations.
4. The communion and baptismal service, the altar-cloth and church-key, shall be the joint property of these two congrega- tions at all times and on all occasions, both on Sundays and week- days.
5. This church shall be the undisturbed property of our children and children's children ; should circumstances, however, make it necessary for the congregations to separate, then one congrega- tion may become the sole owner of the church by paying to the other, upon amicable agreement, a just equivalent for the right which the latter transfers.
As testimony that these articles have been adopted and sanc- tioned as our future bond of union and government, we hereunto subscribe our names as the united council and building committee of the above-named congregations :
Lutherans.
Henry Swarner, - Elders.
Jona. Dunkelberger, $ Deacons.
German Reformed.
Chris. Heckendorn, 2 Elders. John Miller,
Conrad Carl,
Henry Kell, 1 Deacons.
John Snyder, S
John Miller, - Henry Kell,
Building Committee.
The corner-stone of this church was laid on the 15th of April, 1816. The ministers who were present, and took part in the exercises of the occasion, were Rev. Messrs. Jonathan and Albert
68
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Helffenstein of the Reformed Church, and Rev. Messrs. Osterloh and Heim of the Lutheran Church. In the spring of 1817, the church was dedicated to the service of God, and was called St. Peter's Church. The ministers present at the dedication were Rev. Heim, pastor, and Rev. Benjamin Keller, Lutherans, and Rev. Jonathan and Albert Helffenstein, German Reformed.
It was a log church edifice, about thirty-five by forty feet in size. Inside there was a gallery on three sides; the pulpit was cup- shaped and mounted on a high post ; the seats were high and unpainted. In many respects the internal arrangement was a bad one. The edifice stood till 1857, when it was torn down and a briek church edifice was erected in its stead.
Rev. Osterloh ceased to preach here in the spring of 1816, and according to a resolution of Synod, passed in June of the same year,
Rev. John W. Heim
took charge of the congregation, and served it as pastor about thirty-three years and a half, i. e., till he was called from earth to heaven in December, 1849. The congregation was then vacant about ten months. Who and how many were here admitted to full communion, whilst Rev. Heim was pastor, we have no means of knowing, as no church-record has yet been found, and probably none was kept.
Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff
commenced his pastoral labors here, in connection with the Loys- ville charge, in October, 1850. He at once introduced the use of the English language in divine worship, a measure much needed, and for want of which the congregation had been suffer- ing for some time. He labored here with great acceptance and success. A church-book was now bought, and records were here- after made. Soon after he became pastor of the congregation he commenced instructing a class of catechumens in the Catechism, and on the 24th of May, 1851, the following persons were ad- mitted to full communion by the rite of confirmation :
69
CHAPTER I.
Abraham Bower, Henry Kiner,
John Minich, Elizabeth Low,
Mary Ann Dunkelberger,
Margaret Dunkelberger,
Priscilla Nunemacher,
Lydia Nunemacher,
Jane Schaeffer,
Catharine Weingartner.
Having preached a year, Rev. Ruthrauff commenced to in- struct another class of catechumens, and, on the 5th of June, 1852, the following persons were confirmed :
Christian Bohr, Martin Burkhart,
Joseph Weingartner,
Hannalı J. Robison (baptized),
Priscilla Dunkelberger,
Barbara Weingartner, Mary Jane Comp,
Elizabeth Comp,
Sarah Nunemacher, Mary Magd. Rhodes.
Rev. Ruthrauff served the congregation about two years, and resigned in November, 1852. The congregation was then vacant about five months. Having accepted a call from the Loysville charge, the
Rev. Reuben Weiser,
of Chambersburg, Pa., entered on the discharge of his pastoral duties here on the 1st of April, 1853. During the winter of '54, he catechized a small class, and on the 30th of April, 1854, the following persons were admitted to communion by confirmation :
John Burkhart, Elizabeth Burkhart, Matilda Fleckenberger.
Having served the congregation as pastor for about two years and a half, Rev. Weiser resigned in September, 1855, and ac- cepted the Presidency of Central College of Iowa. The congre- gation was then vacant about six months. A call was extended by the Loysville charge to the
Rev. Philip Willard,
which he accepted, and commenced his labors as pastor on the 25th of May, 1856. He labored among the people of St Peter's
70
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Church with great diligence and consequent success. At the close of the year '56 and the beginning of '57, in connection with catechizing, it pleased the Lord to pour out his Spirit on the congregation, and whilst many were revived and refreshed as with the dew of heaven, a number were hopefully converted to God, and after being more fully instructed, on the 7th of February, 1857, the following persons were admitted to full communion by confirmation :
John Dunkelberger,
Mrs. Mary Gibson,
David Dunkelberger,
Elias Dunkelberger,
Catharine Dunkelberger, Mary A. Dunkelberger,
Jacob Nunemacher,
Mary McBride,
Daniel Nunemacher,
Sarah E. Bower,
John McBride,
Anna Bella Schaeffer,
John B. Swarner,
Sarah J. Shoemaker,
Wm. H. Shoemaker,
William Duncan,
Margaret Comp, Mary Angeline Ziegler,
Samuel Duncan,
Sarah Ellen Rhodes,
Henry B. Swarner,
Mary Jane Stambach,
Robert C. Gibson (baptized),
Elizabeth Bear.
Under the efficient labors of Rev. Willard, the congregation was greatly encouraged and built up, prayer-meetings were esta- blished, the Sunday-school increased, and a new life and energy were manifested by the membership. The Lutheran congregation became fully conscious that they were a Lutheran congregation, and of this they gave full proof in the course they pursued in the erection of a new house of worship.
MOUNT ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Lutheran congregation had for some time felt the want of a new and more convenient church. The old Union (St. Peter's) Church had not only become too small, but was also badly ar- ranged and very uncomfortable in cold weather. The first move towards building a new church was made in 1855. It was then
71
CHAPTER I.
contemplated to erect another so-called Union church. Subscrip- tions for this purpose were secured to the amount of sixteen hun- dred dollars, and a contract was made to have the brick furnished for this intended new Union (alias, disunion) church ; but, on account of sickness on the part of the contractor, the brick were not made according to the contract, and thus the putting up of the building was providentially deferred. After the enjoyment of an extensive revival of religion, and the accession of a number of new members on the part of the Lutheran congregation, the want of a new and more suitable house of worship was not only felt more deeply than ever before, but the necessity and advantage of each denomination having its own house of worship, and of managing its own affairs, were also more clearly seen. Hence the subject of building a new Lutheran church was discussed, and after consultation it was mutually agreed by some of the leading men of both denominations to divide the brick, for which they had contracted, equally between the two denominations.
A meeting was then called at the house of Mr. Jeremiah Dun- kelberger, on the 7th of January, 1857, when and where "it was unanimously resolved to erect a new church edifice for the use of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation." A parcel of ground, offered by Mr. Jeremiah Dunkelberger, was selected as the site of the new church and burial-ground. Messrs. George Schaeffer, Jeremiah Dunkelberger, and Joseph Dunkelberger were appointed the building committee. Subscriptions were now taken for an entirely Lutheran church. As to the old church property, the Lutheran congregation retained its right to all the property held jointly by the two denominations, except the old Union church edifice and a small lot of ground directly fronting said Union church, which, for the sake of convenience, they sold to the Ger- man Reformed congregation for one hundred dollars. As to the old Union graveyard, " it was resolved that the Lutherans reserve their right to all the remaining Union property and burial-ground for free burial, as heretofore, to any member of the Lutheran church who may prefer to bury in said ground to the end of time." At the same meeting it was "resolved to build of brick,
:
72
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
forty feet wide by fifty-five feet long, with an end gallery; and that as the German Reformed retain the name of St. Peter's, the new edifice be called Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church." Messrs. Benjamin Reiber, Daniel Dunkelberger, and Daniel Schaeffer were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the future government of the congregation. Though Rev. Wil- lard was not named as a member of the committee, we have per- sonal knowledge that he wrote this Constitution, which is in the main very good, and is at every point a fair exhibition of Rev. Willard's views on church government and discipline. Let credit be given to whom credit is due! The draft of the Constitution was afterwards presented, duly considered and revised, and then unanimously adopted as the rule of government for the congrega- tion, and reads as follows :
CONSTITUTION OF MOUNT ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
As God is a God of order, and as it is indispensably necessary to have laws and regulations for the purpose of promoting order and harmony in society, enforce Christian discipline, extend the Redeemer's kingdom, and honor and glorify God; Therefore, we, the subscribers, hitherto members of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation at St. Peter's Church, Spring Township, Perry County, Pa., having made a profession of our faith according to the doctrines, government, and discipline of "the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Central Pennsylvania," and of "the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States" of America, do, this 7th day of February, A.D. 1857, adopt for our future government the following Constitution :
ARTICLE I.
NAME AND OBJECT OF THIS CHURCH.
SECTION 1. This association shall be known by the name of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Spring Township, Perry County, Pa.
73
CHAPTER I.
SEC. 2. The object of this association shall be to have the Word of God preached and the Sacraments administered in their purity, to promote vital piety, peace and concord among the members, and to extend the Redeemer's kingdom in general.
ARTICLE II.
OF THE CHURCH PROPERTY.
SEC. 1. The church edifice, graveyard, and all property belong- ing to the congregation, shall be under the exclusive control of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.
SEC. 2. The burial-ground shall be free for interment to all individuals and families, who annually contribute to the support of the pastor and the defrayment of the necessary expenses of the congregation. And the old graveyard and the property pur- chased and held by the two congregations conjointly, excepting what has been sold for the accommodation of the brethren of the Reformed Church, shall still, to the end of time, be free to any member or members of both congregations wishing to bury there.
SEC. 3. Those who refuse to contribute to the objects specified in the preceding section, unless they are in indigent circumstances, shall pay $- for a grown person, and for the privilege of burying here.
SEC. 4. Ministers in good standing of other sister orthodox de- nominations may have permission to preach an occasional sermon in this church edifice when unoccupied by the Lutheran congre- gation, and by the concurrence of two-thirds of the existing Council.
ARTICLE III.
OF THE PASTOR.
SEC. 1. No minister shall be permitted to officiate to this con- gregation in the capacity of a pastor, who is not a member in good standing of some Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and is unwilling
7
74
CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
to teach the doctrines and conform strictly to the rules of govern- ment and discipline prescribed by the General Synod of the Lu- theran Church in the United States.
SEC. 2. No minister, who is not considered orthodox by his own denomination, shall be permitted to officiate or minister in this church on any occasion.
SEC. 3. The pastor shall not administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to any member or members of the congregation, who are known wilfully to live in open violation of the duties re- quired of them in the Scriptures.
SEC. 4. As the Holy Scriptures enjoin upon those who are called to preach the Gospel that they shall live of the Gospel, therefore no minister shall officiate as pastor of this congregation, who at the same time follows any other secular employment for the alone sake of filthy lucre.
SEC. 5. Should the pastor, officiating to this congregation, in any way disgrace his office by an unholy life, he shall be subject to the discipline of the Church as laid down in the Formula of the General Synod, Chap. 3, Sec. 5.
ARTICLE IV.
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
SEC. 1. The officers of this congregation shall consist of two Trustees, two Elders, and two Deacons, one-half of whom shall be elected annually in turn on the -, each of whom shall, after the first year, serve two years; and should a vacancy occur by death, removal, or any other cause, it shall as soon as convenient be filled by an especial election.
SEC. 2. The duties of these officers shall be to manage the af- fairs of the church or congregation. They shall exert themselves that the kingdom of Christ, and peace and harmony, be promoted in the congregation, and they shall attend to the various duties enjoined upon the officers in the above-named Formula, Chap. 3, Sec. 6.
75
CHAPTER I.
SEC. 3. These officers, in connection with the Pastor, shall constitute the Church Council, of which the Pastor shall be ex officio chairman. See Formula, Chap. 4, Sec. 3. The duties of the Church Council are prescribed in the Formula, Chap. 4.
SEC. 4. No one shall be elected a member of the Church Council who is not a regular communing member, exemplary in his conduct as a Christian, and does not attend regularly to the ordinances of God's house.
SEC. 5. Should any member of the Council, whether he be a Trustee, Elder, or Deacon, act unworthy of his office or neglect his duty in any respect, the remaining members of the Council, or of the church, shall admonish him, and if admonition fail, they shall then proceed against him according to the rules laid down in the Formula of the Church, Chap. 4, Sec. 7.
SEC. '6. It shall be the duty of the Council to elect a Secretary and Treasurer, either from their own number or from the members of the church, who shall attend to the duties usually devolving on such officers and make a report to the congregation when called for by the Council.
SEC. 7. The Council shall meet at least once every three months, or oftener if necessary, to consult on the spiritual inte- rests of the congregation.
SEC. 8. The Council shall examine the names of the commu- nicants given in on sacramental occasions, and if they discover the name of any member who would be an unworthy communi- cant, it shall be their duty to inform such a member privately, and to admonish him or her not to come to the table of the Lord until he or she has given satisfactory evidence of true repentance.
SEC. 9. The Trustees shall always be the building committee when building is going on, and it shall be their duty to take charge of the church property and burial-ground, to keep them in repair, to solicit and collect money for the purposes here indicated, and to attend to such other duties as naturally devolve upon their office.
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.