USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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Henry Fleisher,
Mrs. Susan Rhodes,
Jacob Smith,
" Hannah Smith,
Jonas J. Smith,
" Hannah Hassinger,
John Shearer,
" Catharine Lenig,
George Shearer,
" Catharine Miller,
David Miller,
" Mary Smith,
Benjamin Reiber,
Miss Magdalene Comp,
Jacob Burrel,
Mary Clark, ^
Daniel Comp,
" Frances Shearer.
John Rhodes (baptized),
The congregation was evidently in a prosperous condition at this time. Many confirmed in this class are still members of the Church here and elsewhere, adorning their Christian profession by a godly life and extensive usefulness in the Church. Well might Father Heim rejoice in the hope of seeing his instruction, his prayers, and his tears yield an abundant harvest. May the
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CHURCHIES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
truths he taught them be in their hearts as good seed, bearing fruit unto eternal life !
" Let those that sow in sadness wait Till the fair harvest come; They shall confess their sheaves a great, And bring rich blessings home."
In August, 1835, the following persons, and some others, were confirmed : .
Daniel Reider,
Miss Ann Smeigh,
John Tressler,
" Sarah Comp,
Henry Reider,
" Sarah Sweger,
Jacob Crist,
" Catharine Brown,
Jacob Fleisher,
" Catharine Troup,
Jacob Smith,
" Catharine Tressler,
Samuel Smith,
" Lydia Smith,
John Brown,
" Catharine Smith,
Benjamin Smeigh,
" Barbara Lenig,
Jacob Smeigh,
Mary Jumper,
Mrs. Mary Sweger,
Mary Troup,
" Elizabeth Smith,
" Mary Halbach,
Miss Catharine Reider,
" Elizabeth Reisdorff.
Of those who were this time admitted to full communion in the Church, many still remain among us, bearing witness to the ex- cellency of the Gospel of Christ by their consistent walk and con- versation ; some few of them to the hurt of their souls have gone out from among us, and some have gone to try an unseen world. May all now living, prepare to meet their God !
" Draw us, O Savior, with thy grace, And lift our thoughts on high, That we may end this mortal race, And see salvation nigh."
In May, 1839, a large class of catechumens was confirmed. The following persons were some of this class :
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CHAPTER II.
Jacob Super, Henry Titzel,
Miss Mary Lenig,
" Rebecca Tressler,
John Titzel,
" Barbara Lenig,
Samuel Tressler,
" Elizabeth Smith,
Thomas Lenig,
" Elizabeth Smith,
Beneval Shade,
" Catharine Shearer,
John Brown,
" Mary Shearer,
John Burrel,
" Elizabeth Comp,
William Hassinger,
" Frances Comp,
John Earhart,
" Mary Earhart,
George Eckert,
" Nancy Leppert,
John Lenig,
" Barbara Super,
Jacob Long,
" Mary Doren,
John Leppert,
" Catharine Doren,
Daniel Smith,
" Barbara Lesch,
John Super,
" Catharine Frey,
Mrs. Elizabeth Long,
" Mary Frey.
Many of these are now among the most active members of our Church. Some of them are no more among the living. May those who survive, strive to obtain the crown of life! Soon will all our labors end, and
" With joy shall we stand, when escaped to the shore ; With harps in our hands, we'll praise Him the more ; We'll range the sweet plains on the bank of the river, And sing of salvation for ever and ever."
In May, 1841, a large number of persons were confirmed, of whom the following were some :
Andrew Titzel,
Miss Susan Tressler,
Solomon Tressler,
" Sarah Carl,
" Sarah Shearer,
David Shearer, John Swartz, George W. Swartz,
" Elizabeth Titzel,
" Elizabeth Frey,
" Ann Wax,
Henry Burkepile, Samuel Carl,
" Mary Smith,
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
David Long,
Miss Mary Reisdorrff,
Samuel Smith,
Jeremiah Burkepile,
" Susan Bender,
- Smith,
" Elizabeth Foulk,
" Eve Foulk.
Most of those confirmed this time are still among us, and ac- tively engaged in the glorious cause they then espoused. The race of life is before them, may they run it with patience, and press forward to the heavenly Jerusalem !
"O Lord of hosts, thou God of grace, How blest, divinely blest, is he Who trusts Thy love, and seeks Thy face, And fixes all his hopes on Thee !"
On the 23d of September, 1842, the West Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church convened in this house, and remained in session a number of days.
Though Father Heim had now attained that age when most men seek rest in retirement, he nevertheless prosecuted his call- ing, and was actively and zealously engaged in the cause of his divine Master. In September, 1845, he here confirmed the fol- lowing class of catechumens :
John Sweger,
Miss Ann Eliza Clark,
Peter Stone,
" Margaret Clark,
George Stone,
" Sophia Comp,
John Stone,
" Nancy Baker,
Samuel Stone,
" Ann Foulk,
John Cless,
" Barbara Foulk,
" Christiana Doren,
Frederick Cless, Peter Hair,
" Jane Hair,
Jacob Jumper,
" Mary Ann Hair,
Frederick Jumper,
" Sarah Cornman,
" Margaret Kleckner,
Miss Elizabeth Sweger, " Mary Ann Sweger,
" Sarah Ann Kleckner.
Mrs. Hannah Burkepile, Miss Elizabeth 'Tressler,
" Barbara Lenig,
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CHAPTER II.
This was the last class of catechumens Father Heim confirmed here. Before the time had come to meet another class, the Lord said to him, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Thus he fell asleep in the Lord, on the 27th of December, 1849.
-" And now has come his rest, His triumph day. Illustrious like a sun, In that assembly, he, shining from far, Most excellent in glory, stands assured, Waiting the promised crown, the promised throne, The welcome and approval of his Lord, and round him gathered, clad In white, the vouchers of his ministry- The flock his care had nourished, fed, and saved." POLLOK.
Father Heim continued to preach here to the end of his life, having served the congregation about thirty-three years and a half. He preached exclusively in the German language, and was the honored instrument of adding many to the Church, and of di- recting them to Christ. Under his pastoral care the congregation was firmly established and built up. His charge was an extended and laborious one ; but being possessed of a remarkably strong physical constitution, he bore up amid all his labors, and prose- cuted his calling with energy and untiring zeal to the end. In dangers often, he was undaunted; in labors constant, he finished his work in a good old age, departed in peace, and now reaps an ample reward in a world of surprising glory. Many of those he confirmed are gems in the crown of his rejoicing ; many of them are here to-day, who will soon follow him and their brethren. But as we do not intend to preach Father Heim's funeral sermon, we will follow the thread of our narrative.
THE ENGLISH LUTHERAN CONGREGATION AT BLOOMFIELD.
We must now go back about six years. During the sessions of the West Pennsylvania Synod, held at Bloomfield in Sep- tember, 1842, some of the ministers present preached in the English language. Soon after that, some of the members, who
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
understood that language best and saw the necessity of introduc- ing its use in the pulpit, desired Father Heim to associate with himself some minister who could preach in English. But, unable to preach in the English language himself, Father Heim was also averse to having any one associated with him for the purpose of preaching in that language. It is to be regretted that Father Heim, like many others at that time, set his face against the in- troduction of the English language, when its use in preaching was so much required ; he conceived it to be an unwarranted in- novation, and opposed it. Such a course was, and could not but be, detrimental to the interests of the congregation. Father Heim meant it well, however injudicious his policy was on this subject. As he was unyielding, the President of Synod interfered, and in an indirect way accomplished the desired end. In a letter to the writer, the
Rev. Levi T. Williams,
who was then stationed at Petersburg, this county, gives the following account of the rise, organization, and progress of the English Lutheran congregation :
" According to the directions of Rev. A. H. Lochman, D.D., . then President of the West Pennsylvania Synod, I preached a trial sermon at Bloomfield some time in January, 1844. I was also to preach in the German language; but as I found the Ger- man speaking members considerably opposed to that, I deemed it best to get Rev. Jacob Shull, a German Reformed minister, to fill that appointment for me. In order to reconcile the German speaking members to English preaching, and to prevent a division of the congregation, no further appointment was made until every means had been used to induce the opposing party to countenance the enterprise. When every effort had been made in vain, it was finally resolved to organize an English Lutheran congregation, wholly separate from the German. This was effected on Friday, June 14th, 1844, when the following brethren were elected as officers, viz. :
Jacob Crist, Sen., Elders.
H. C. Hickok, Esq.,
George Attig, Deacons. David Deardorff,
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CHAPTER II.
" A call was then extended to me. This call I accepted. My introductory sermon I preached on Sunday, the 14th of July, the same year, in the brick school-house near the old Union church. Soon after this our Presbyterian brethren relieved us of the necessity of worshipping in a filthy school-house, by kindly tender- ing us the use of their church, which I then occupied till I re- signed. I have no account of the number of members who joined in the organization, but there could not have been more than eight or ten. I preached for them every third Sabbath. The first communion was held on Sunday, Dec. 8th, 1844. On Saturday previous (the 7th), the following persons were confirmed, viz. :
Alex. C. Klink,
Mrs. Rebecca Attig,
" Frances Shaeffer,
Mrs. Eliza Eby,
" Mary Ickes,
Miss Charlotte Attig.
" The second communion was held on the 25th of May, 1845. On Saturday previous (the 24th), the following persons were ad- mitted to full communion by the rite of confirmation :
Richard Fritz, Miss Harriet Crist,
John Waggoner,
Joseph Bender,
Mrs. Eliz. Waggoner,
" Elizabeth Holmes,
" Rebecca Bender,
" Mary Cormichal,
Margaret Smith, baptized, and
Cath. Cormichal, by certificate.
"I preached my farewell sermon on the 7th of September, 1845."
So far the statement of Rev. Williams.
Rev. Williams resided at Petersburg, and preached there, at Bloomfield, Newport, Mount Pisgah, and some other places. After he had resigned here, he accepted a call from Franklin County, and was succeeded by
Rev. Lloyd Knight,
late of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. Whilst pastor of the charge Rev. Knight resided at Bloomfield. In a letter he gives the following account of his labors here :
10
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CHURCHIES BETWEEN TIIE MOUNTAINS.
" I took charge of the English Lutheran congregation at Bloom- field on the 1st of October, 1845. In the winter following, we were blessed with an outpouring of God's Spirit. Many old mem- bers renewed their covenant and some new ones were added to the Church .* Our first communion was held on the 1st of February, 1846. Thirty-six members reported themselves as communicants on Saturday previous, and as some of the fruits of the revival, the following persons were admitted to full com- munion by confirmation :
Dr. Jonas Ickes,
William Erb,
Mrs. Cath. Ann Gallatin, Miss Margaret Holman,
Thompson Graham,
" Eliz. Arford,
George Henzel,
" Mary Shade,
Samuel Hassinger,
Sophia Bidelman.
George W. Brown,
" At this time the whole number of communicant members was forty-seven. Soon after this I commenced instructing another class of catechumens, and on the 7th of June, 1846, the follow- ing persons were admitted to full communion by confirmation, viz. :
John Roth, Mrs. Elizabeth Hall,
Miss Nancy Bear,
Isabella Everhart,
" Elizabeth Bidelman,
" Susan Boden,
" Sarah Lamar, by certi- ficate."
* In the Lutheran Observer, February 20, 1846, we find the following notice of this work of grace :- " Revival .- An extensive work of grace has been in progress at Bloomfield, Perry County, Pa., in the congregation under the care of Brother Knight. Our correspondent remarks: 'We have had a glorious state of things in our midst. God be praised ! For the last six weeks much interest has been felt on the subject of religion. About six weeks ago, assisted by Rev. Babb and a student from Gettysburg, we commenced a pro- tracted meeting, and it was not long until the Lord commenced a precious work in our midst, the result of which, I trust, will never be forgotten by many souls. Some of the most wicked and abandoned are now clothed and in their right mind. Last Sabbath we communed, when there was an acces- sion to our little congregation of eleven or twelve new members. To God belongs all the praise.' "
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CHAPTER II.
The following is a document well worthy our attention now, as it is illustrative of the spirit of the charge then :
" At the annual meeting of the vestries under the charge of Rev. L. Knight, held at Bloomfield, Perry County, Pa., on the 29th of August, 1846, the following resolutions, among others, were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to the Lutheran Observer for publication, viz. :
" Resolved, That we have abundant reason to thank Almighty God for the prosperous condition of our congregations, and for the spirit of unanimity which prevails in our Councils.
" Resolved, That the labors, zeal, and piety of our beloved pastor meet our entire approbation, and that the means employed for the advancement of Christ's kingdom give general satisfaction.
" Resolved, That Sabbath-schools are of primary importance as channels through which the waters of life may freely flow into the hearts of the rising generation, and as efficient instrumental- ities by which the children of the Church, and at large, may be- come thoroughly imbued with the principles and spirit of genuine Christianity, have their minds and hearts fortified against evil influences, and especially against the wily assaults of the infidel and Jesuit; and we believe it to be the imperative duty of the members of each congregation, to encourage and aid the establish- ment and support of these schools with their influence, their personal exertions, and the pecuniary means with which God has blessed them.
" Resolved, That we recognize the solemn truth that
' Prayer was appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give;'
and we believe the social prayer-meeting to be eminently calcu- lated to secure the influenees of divine grace,-to call down the blessings of Heaven,-to impress and awaken sinners,-to build up Christ's followers,-to strengthen the hands of the pastor,-to further the best interests of the Church militant,-and to pro- mote the honor and glory of God, and should therefore be regularly maintained, in a flourishing condition, in every congregation.
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
" Resolved, That the preaching of the Gospel is the most prominent agency established by the Lord Jesus Christ for the building up of his kingdom, and churches should therefore be established, pastors appointed over them, and the public worship of Almighty God be faithfully maintained ; and while we expect the faithful performance of his whole duty 'on the part of the pastor, we on our part know that the 'laborer is worthy of his hire,' and regard it as an indispensable requisite to the welfare of the Church, that he be provided with a liberal salary, punctually paid at stated periods.
" Resolved, That it is the duty of every denomination to sup- port its religious newspaper, and we therefore respectfully urge it on our brethren to subscribe for the Lutheran Observer them- selves, and to induce others to do the same.
" PHILIP EBERT,
" Chairman.
" HENRY C. HICKOK, "Secretary."*
In September, 1846, H. C. Hickok, Esq., attended Synod at Chambersburg, Pa., as the lay representative of the Bloomfield charge.
On the 18th of April, 1847, Mrs. Sarah Power was received as a member by certificate, and on the 4th of December, the same year, the following were admitted to full communion by confirma- tion :
John H. Shade,
Miss Mary Boyles,
Mrs. Sarah Shoemaker,
" Isabella Ickes,
" Eliza Lupfer,
" Sarah A. Huss,
Miss Ann Boyles,
" Rebecca W. Huss.
In September, 1847, Mr. Christian Long of Newport, as dele- gate of the charge, attended Synod at Mifflinburg, Union County, Pa.
See Lutheran Observer, September 11, 1846.
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CHAPTER II.
On the 12th of November, 1848, after having been duly in- structed, the following persons were confirmed :
David Tressler, Mrs. Charity Marshall (baptized),
Conrad Weary,
" Margaret Sweger,
Andrew Hansel,
Miss Sarah A. Roth,
Mrs. Tamer Miller,
" Mary A. Cless.
In September, 1848, Mr. A. Billow, as lay representative of the charge, attended Synod at Berlin, Adams County, Pa.
In the fall of 1848, the English Lutheran congregation was, on certain conditions, permitted to worship in the old Union church. Hitherto it had the use of the Presbyterian church.
On the 27th of May, 1849, Mrs. Susan Smeigh was admitted to full communion by the rite of confirmation.
Rev. Knight gives the following summary of his labors at Bloomfield : "I received thirty-four persons into the church, baptized thirty-five infants, and attended fifteen funerals. Having served the charge three years and a half, I resigned in June, 1849. I labored under great disadvantages. At Bloomfield we had no house of worship of our own, and had to contend with the preju- dices against English preaching, &c. At that time the whole charge was composed of Bloomfield, Newport, Petersburg, Buffalo on the Susquehanna, St. David's or Billow's, Mount Pisgah, and on the 12th of June, 1847, the seventh congregation was added to the charge, namely, the Buffalo or Stone church above Ickes- burg, making an area of twenty-seven miles. During the three years and a half I was pastor of the charge, there were added to the various congregations, 158 members by confirmation and about 25 by certificate. Had three revivals of religion,-one at Bloom- field, one at Newport, and one at Mount Pisgah. I attended 49 funerals, and celebrated 49 marriages. I left the charge in a flourishing and prosperous condition, and much against the will of the people. I found the charge in October, 1845, with 166 communicants, and left it with 396,-an increase of 230 members. I shall ever recur to the time I spent among that dear people as a green spot on life's dreary way through this world of difficulties
10*
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
and sorrows. It was my first charge, the charge of my youth and of my love; and though the ties which united us together as pastor and people have long since been broken and buried in the past, they are nevertheless engraven on the heart, never to be forgotten. And when our labor is done on earth and our heavenly Master finds us worthy of admission into his rest above, may we not hope to meet there the dear people to whom we ministered here, and whom we, under God, brought into the Church of Jesus Christ. God grant it ! Amen." To this we also add our sincere -Amen.
When Rev. Knight resigned, the English Lutheran congrega- tion at Bloomfield numbered about seventy members, as many already as the German, if not more, and all these were brought into the Church in about four years. How strikingly this shows that there was great necessity of preaching in this place in the English language ! Rev. Knight accepted a call from the Lutheran congregation at Hollidaysburg, Pá., and the
Rev. Jacob Martin
of Hollidaysburg, Pa., succeeded him at Bloomfield in July of the same year. In a letter, Rev. Martin says :
"I commenced my pastoral labors in the Bloomfield charge on the first Sabbath in July, 1849. The charge was then composed of Bloomfield, Petersburg, Billow's or St. David's, Mt. Pisgah, Newport, Buffalo near Ickesburg, and New Buffalo on the Sus- quehanna. After the death of Father Heim, a convention of the Church-Councils of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County was held at Bloomfield in Feb., 1850, and the congregations which Rev. Heim had served, together with those under my pas- toral care, were so divided and arranged as to form three pastor- ates, namely, the Loysville, the Bloomfield, and the Petersburg. My charge (the Bloomfield) was then composed of five congrega- tions, namely, Bloomfield, Newport, Shuman's or St. Andrew's, St. John's near Markelville, and Buffalo west of Ickesburg .*
For the division of the charges, see pp. 52-54.
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CHAPTER II.
Whilst pastor of the charge I confirmed between 125 and 150 persons. I cannot give the names of those who were confirmed by me, nor the time when they were confirmed. About one- fourth of the preaching was required in the German language."
In September, 1850, Mr. Christian Long of Newport, as dele- gate of the charge, attended Synod at Berlin, Union County, Pa.
In the fall of 1848, the English Lutheran congregation at Bloomfield was, on certain conditions, allowed to worship in the old Union church. At the close of 1849, Father Heim departed this life, and thus the German part of the congregation was left without a pastor. As Rev. Martin could preach so well in both languages, he was able to give full satisfaction to both congrega- tions and to meet all their wants. The Convention referred to above, so divided the congregations as to throw the Germans at Bloomfield into Rev. Martin's charge. And in this way he be- came the regular successor of Rev. Heim, and thus the German and English congregations were united into one congregation. This was the best and only way the matter could be arranged. Some of the Germans, it seems, were however for some time dis- satisfied, being influenced by persons not of our Church and not friendly disposed towards her. The matter was brought before Synod in September, 1850, when and where the following action was taken on the subject :
"The committee appointed to draft resolutions in reference to the division of the Bloomfield and Loysville charges, respectfully report :
" Resolved, That whilst we approve of the steps taken and the action had by the Convention regularly assembled for the division of said charges, we regret the spirit manifested by the delegates of the German congregation at Bloomfield, led astray and beguiled by unbecoming foreign influence.
" Resolved, That we recommend to said German congregation entire acquiescence in the arrangements made in the formation of said charges."
A copy of the foregoing action of Synod was sent to the parties concerned, and all acquiesced in the decision pronounced. After
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
that the united congregation went forward in harmony and peace. Rev. Martin preached once every three weeks, alternately in the German and English languages.
Having been faithfully instructed, on the 17th of November, 1850, the following persons were confirmed :
Mrs. Barbara Burkepile, Miss Mary Eliz. Fritz,
" Catharine Eckert,
" Sarah Wax,
" Mary Bumbaugh,
" Mary Ann Clouser.
Miss Mary Jane Comp, .
On the 22d of June, 1851, the following persons were admitted to full communion by confirmation :
David L. Beaver, Miss Caroline Roth,
Miss Margaret Jane Martin,
" Maria S. Ickes.
" Margaret Roth,
In September, 1851, Mr. David Tressler, Sen., as delegate of the charge, attended Synod at Newville, Cumberland County, Pa.
Having served the charge about two years and nine months, Rev. Martin resigned, and at Bloomfield preached his farewell sermon on the 28th of March, 1852. He accepted a call from the Berrysburg charge, Dauphin County, Pa., and in June of the same year, he was succeeded by the
Rev. William Gerhardt,
who, in a letter, gives the following brief account of his labors here :
" Being called from Elizabethtown, I entered on my duties as pastor of the Bloomfield charge on the 13th of June, 1852, when I preached my introductory sermon at Bloomfield from Heb. 13 : 17. I served five congregations, viz., Bloomfield, Newport, Bealor's, Shuman's, and Buffalo above Ickesburg. During the year, I preached 144 sermons, besides funeral sermons, lectures, &c. I instructed and confirmed the following forty-seven persons [the names of these persons are given at the proper place]. I labored in the charge until the 20th of June, 1853, when I ac-
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CHAPTER II.
cepted a call to Mount Bethel, Northampton County, Pa. At Bloomfield I preached my farewell sermon on the 12th of June.
" I labored hard, and have reason to believe that God blessed my labors. I saw the necessity of a more churchly spirit among our people, and therefore introduced the liturgy, and endeavored by combining the form and the life, to accomplish this end. I would not have left the Bloomfield charge, but it was too laborious for me. My health failed and I was obliged, though reluctantly, to leave Perry County for an easier charge. The people were very kind to me. Simple and unaffected in their manners, kind and generous in their disposition, I always felt myself at home in their families, and their hearts were always accessible to the pastor to extend advice and instruction. I always look back with plea- sure to my one year's stay in Perry County, as in many respects the most agreeable since I have been in the ministry. God bless the dear people ! I preached my farewell sermon from 2 Cor. 13 : 14, which sermon, from the nature of the circumstances at Shuman's Church on the 19th of June, had the peculiarity of being a sacramental sermon, a funeral sermon, and a farewell sermon at one and the same time."
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