USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Lower Heidelberg > History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna > Part 44
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He was highly esteemed and loved by the congregation, and in honor of his memory the members erected a fine tombstone. A memorial tablet was placed on the organ in his honor, he being the first and only organist to die while in the services of the church.
Mrs. Calvin Ruth, daughter of John H. Haag and Emma E., nee Becker, was born at Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1884. Her musical education began at the early age of nine years, taking lessons on the piano under the instruction of Miss Ida Wagner, of Mahanoy City, Pa. At an early age she showed marked ability both in instrumental and vocal music. At the age of fifteen years she began her musical education under the instruction of Prof. O. H. Unger, of Reading. Her favorite in- strument was the piano, on which she became one of Reading's foremost players. She also showed marked ability on the organ, viola and harp, and in singing. She took a thorough course in harmony. Possessing a fine alto voice and being an expert on the piano, she appeared on many public occasions. In August, 1908, she became the organist of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed Church, in which capacity she served until 1911, when she re- signed to be married to Mr. Calvin Ruth, of Wyomissing, where she now resides. The memory of her talents as an organist still lingers in the minds of the members of the congregation.
Prof. Charles George Specht, of Sinking Spring, the present or- ganist and choirmaster of the congregation since 1911, was born
PROF. CHAS. G. SPECHT.
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ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
in Spring township, near Montello, Berks county, June 27, 1860, the son of two German immigrants, John George Specht and his wife Hannah R., nee Sifferman. From musical German an- cestry and parentage, in addition to developing his inborn mu- sical talents, Charles G., after matriculating in the public schools and learning his trades of Potter and cigarmaking, has become a prominent musical figure of this community.
At the early age of ten years Prof. Specht manifested consid- erable talent for both vocal and instrumental music, so that at fifteen years of age as a pupil of Prof. Charles Rothenberger he was able to master several brass and reed instruments and, specializing on clarionet, he became a member of various bands. Continuing his musical study in Reading, Pa., under Prof. E. A. Berg, in theoretical music. vocal and organ, he later completed a special course in theory of music and composition under the late Prof. Theodore Kolb. Meanwhile his musical attainments spread throughout the state and he was called to assist the Altoona City Band and the Mountain City Band.
Returning home in 1882, he started to follow the musical pro- fession exclusively and to teach music in all its branches. Two years later he married Esther Elizabeth Reber, daughter of Levi and Sophia (nee Heckman) Reber, and later, in 1886, became or- ganist of St. John's Reformed Church, Sinking Spring, in which capacity he is still serving. In the years following he became an expert clarionet and saxophone soloist and since then has taught more than eighty musical organizations, such as bands, orchestras and choral societies. Hundreds of pupils have had Prof. Specht's tutelage on piano, organ and string, reed and brass instruments. His endeavors along this line have been very successful and he numbers many prominent and successful musicians. Prof. Specht was clarionetist for sixteen years in the Ringgold Band, upon which he was elected to its directorship in the spring of 1894.
Prof. Specht is also well known as a composer and arranger of piano, band and orchestra music, having several successes to his credit. His versatility, combined with energetic methods and thoroughness, have made his reputation and character a worthy asset to the Reformed Church, which he joined at an early age.
In his family. besides his wife, are: Minnie E., married to Herbert Hornberger; George R., a vocalist of considerable repute in this locality, and Paul L., a violinist, composer and versatile musical performer in concert work touring throughout this coun- try. Frederick E., another son talented with music, died when nineteen years old.
It will not be amiss or out of place to mention a few other persons in connection with the organists. Prior to the time that the congregation had erected the belfry and had a bell on the church, it appeared the organist was without a regular attendant to draw the ropes of the bellows of the organ. In 1851, when
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the belfry was erected and the bell placed therein, the congrega- tion adopted a code or rules as to how and when the bell was to be rung, as follows: First, the bell shall be rung daily five min- utes at eleven o'clock before noon. Second, when church servi- ces were to be held on Sunday forenoon, the bell was to be rung five minutes at sunset on Saturday evening. If services were in the afternoon, the bell was rung five minutes on Sunday morning at sunrise; and always one hour before the beginning of services the bell was to be rung five minutes. At the beginning of the services the bell was to be rung again a short period only. Upon the death of a member of the congregation or person to be buried here the bell shall be rung five minutes, and after a pause the age of the deceased was tolled on the bell, one strike of the tolling hammer for each year. If the funeral was in the forenoon, the bell was rung five minutes at sunset of the day before the funeral. If the funeral was in the afternoon, the bell was to be rung five minutes at sunrise of the same day. And always at the time fixed for the funeral to leave the house, the bell was to be rung five minutes. After the funeral cortege was nearing the church, the bell was tolled by single strokes of the tolling hammer, in- termission pauses to be observed until the corpse was deposited in the grave.
It then became necessary that a person who was near to the church and not employed or engaged in work that would inter- fere with fixed times when his service was required, had to be sought. Michael Schaeffer, by trade a tailor and incapacitated to perform heavy labor, assumed the duty as sexton and also as regular attendant at the organ to draw the bellow ropes. He col- lected his salary from the members of the congregation and re- ceived perquisites for services at funerals. He continued in said service until near the end of his life. He died August 22, 1866, aged 69 years, 2 months and 13 days.
After Mr. Schaeffer became enfeebled by reason of age and infirmities, he had Stephen L. Fiant to assist him, and after the death of Mr. Schaeffer, Mr. Fiant assumed the duties of sexton and rang the bell regularly until 1869.
John Schaeffer, a brother of Michael, assumed the duties of drawing the organ bellow ropes and continued until he could no longer perform his duty.
After John W. Ernst became the organist, he rang the bell and selected Charles L. Fiant as an assistant, to act in his ab- sence. Later Mr. Fiant also assumed the duty of drawing the bellow ropes until April, 1878. In later years he remarked that he never knew that the position was such an important one until he missed to draw the rope, when the organ failed to respond to the organist's manipulations.
Amongst others was also Charles L. Zeller, who attended to the bellow ropes, later operated by a lever. His son, John R. Zeller, rang the bell quite frequently, acting as assistant.
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At the time that John S. Yocom became the organist, the old organ had been remodeled. The bellows no longer reposed in the loft of the church, but instead of the ropes a lever at the side of the organ was used to work the bellows. Mr. Yocom always had arranged to have some one, at times a member of his choir, to operate the bellow lever.
After Aaron R. Rollman became the organist, his father-in- law, William Strunk, or some other member of his family, at- tended to the bellow lever. After Mr. Rollman had retired as the organist, Levi R. Beecher operated the bellows until the in- stallation of an electric motor.
Organ Dedication, May 23, 1904.
The dedication of the new organ of Hain's Reformed Church on Sunday, May 23, 1904, Rev. W. J. Kershner, pastor, was one of the largest events of the kind held in Berks county for some years. All day services were held and great interest was mani- fested.
Members of the congregation and friends from near and far gathered at the remodeled church and participated in the exer- cises. They began to arrive as early as 8 a. m. and came in ve- hicles of every description. Some walked, many came on their wheels, and the trolley cars on the Womelsdorf branch handled an immense throng of visitors without a single mishap. Begin- ning at 8 o'clock cars were run every twenty minutes. Ample provision was made for the teams and lunch was served on the lawn adjoining the church.
The estimated attendance for the entire day, or the three ser- vices, is given at between 5,000 and 6,000. Those in charge of the teams declared that fully 1,000 teams were there during the entire day. Such an outpouring of people was never heretofore witnessed at Hain's Church. Coaches were kept busy taking people from the trolley car to the edifice, a distance of half a mile. Hundreds walked, and the road leading to the place was constantly full of teams and pedestrians. The splendid weather had much to do with the attendance, and the pastor and the members of the congregation were delighted with the beautiful day. Outside of the church on the lawn plenty of benches were erected, and many rested under the cool shade and enjoyed the superb scenery.
Long before the morning services many people passed into the church and made a thorough inspection. They were more than pleased with the improvements, and were loud in their praises of the work of the members of the congregation and the pastor .- Reading Eagle.
IMPROVEMENTS AND THE NEW ORGAN.
The interior of the edifice has been beautifully remodeled and frescoed, making it one of the prettiest houses of worship in the
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county. On the ceiling are painted the pictures of the four evangelists, one in each corner. In the centre of the ceiling is painted a lamb. The gallery railing has been cut off and a brass railing extending the entire length of the church takes its place. The organ stands behind the pulpit. There are places on each side of the instrument for the members of the choir. The front of the pulpit platform is finished in brass grill work. The inte- rior of the church is painted so as to correspond with the fresco- ing. The latter was done by Berthold Imhoff, of Reading, who is an artist in this line. The doors, chancel and the organ are of oak. The pews have been renovated and made to correspond with the other fixtures.
THE FIRST ORGAN.
The first organ was placed in the church in 1789. It was built by Tonnaberger and was secured from the Moravian Semi- nary at Lancaster for $800. It was considered a fine instrument in those days. This organ was remodeled in 1878 by Thomas Diefenbach, of Millersburg, Pa., and was re-dedicated on August 10 of the same year. It was in use up to a short time ago, a pe- riod of 115 years.
THE NEW ORGAN.
In the building of the new organ, the old was incorporated, as the pipes of the old organ were of a very fine quality. The or- gan was built by E. E. Palm, of Mt. Penn, Pa. It is a fine piece of workmanship. It is 17 feet 3 inches wide, 24 feet high and 52 feet deep, and of solid quartered oak. The organist sits with his back towards the instrument and faces the congregation.
There are three parts to the instrument-the great organ, swell organ and pedal organ. The former consists of the open diapason, gamba, dulciana, trumpet and melodium, each 8 feet in length and each containing 61 pipes; the flute traverse and principal, each 4 feet in length and each having 61 pipes; and the 15th, being 2 feet long, with the same number of pipes. The swell organ is made up of the violin, diapason, stopped diapason, salicional, oboe and bassoon, each S feet in length and each hav- ing 61 pipes; the bourdon, 16 feet long, with 61 pipes; flute, harmonia and fugara, each 4 feet in length, with 61 pipes each; the piccolo of flantina, 2 feet long, and 61 pipes and the tremu- lant. The pedal organ consists of a pedal double open diapason, 16 feet in length, with 27 pipes, and a pedal bourdon 16 feet in length, with the same number of pipes. It is complete in every detail. It has a clear, distinct and splendid tone, and is up to date in every particular. It has two manuals, 18 speaking stops, 1,030 speaking pipes, 3 couplers, 4 combination buttons, balance swell and crescendoand decrescendo, and cost $2,300. (See p. 475)
PROVISION MADE FOR THE PEOPLE.
Ample provision was made for the people. A large stand was erected on the lot in the rear of the church building. The lum-
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ber was furnished by Adam P. Spatz free of charge. Ham and cheese sandwiches, pretzels, ice cream, cakes, hot coffee, soft drinks, fruits, etc., were disposed of for a nominal sum. The women of the congregation had baked over 60 cakes for the event and furnished all the flowers for the church decorations from their own gardens. The following was disposed of: 2,500 sandwiches, 300 quarts of ice cream, 60 cakes, 10 large hams, 1,500 pretzels, 90 pounds of cheese, 10 dozen of lemons, 75 pounds of sugar, 5 gallons of milk and cream, 25 pounds of coffee, and other arti- cles in proportion. Nearly all were donated.
THE COMMITTEE.
The committee was composed of the following: J. Ulysses Hain, chairman; Albert Gerhard, secretary and treasurer; as- sistants, Aaron L. Staudt, Darius Bohn, Grace Hain, Lucy Ger- hard, Bessie Tice, Gertie Bickel, Mrs. Amelia Moyer, Mrs. Anna Becker, Mrs. John Schaeffer, Mrs. Eugene Hetrich, Mrs. Henry Reber, John Troop and Dalla Gerhard.
The teams were taken care of by a committee consisting of George Barnett, Charles Gerhard and Howard Bucks. Ten bush- els of oats were required to feed the horses.
The improvements to the church were in charge of the follow- ing: Painting, Darius H. Bohn; slate roofing, Isaac Boltz; tin work, Harry Werner; carpentering, Adam P. Spatz; masonry, Albert Dunkelberger; plastering, Samuel Wolfskill; frescoing, Berthold Imhoff.
The work was done under the supervision of the consistory : Rev. W. J. Kershner, Jacob Ruth, William C. Feather, Darius H. Bohn, Adam G. Lerch, Eugene Hetrich, Howard H. Hain, Morris Reber and George W. Lamm. The terms of Darius H. Bohn, Adam G. Lerch, Morris Reber and George W. Lamm hav- ing expired, the newly elected officers to the consistory were Adam P. Spatz, George Kintzer, Abraham Shonauer and Isaac Greth.
DEDICATORY SERVICES.
Dr. Richard C. Schiedt preached the dedicatory sermon from the words, 2 Chronicles 5: 12-14. His theme was "The History and Function of the Organ in the Christian Church." In his remarks he spoke of the unity of the soul of the church members, comparing that to a drop of water. He said that alone a drop of water will evaporate, but many together make the mighty ocean and carry the burdens of the sea. So the harmony of the soul carries the burdens of life's struggles. The organ is like the soul to the body. In it are many different stops, but they all form one life. So the soul has in the emotions of the highest life, forming one harmonious whole. Rev. W. J. Kershner pro- nounced the benediction.
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THE CHOIR.
Harvey Artz is the organist. The members of the choir are: Florence Ludwig, Lizzie Gerhart, Lizzie Hain and Alice Lamm, sopranos; Mary Hain, Nora Lamm and Ella Lamm, altos; Chas. Hain, tenor; Charles Gerhart and Edwin Ruth, bass.
The afternoon was largely devoted to music, and the dedica- tory services were by the pastor of the church, Rev. W. J. Kersh- ner. The Shillington choir rendered the music; Prof. Martin L. Fritch, organist.
The Wernersville Sanatarium.
Naturally coincident with the settling and cultivating of the rich valley (rich in giant forest trees, rich in limestone soil, rich in iron ore), settlers also looked to the mountains on the south bounding the valley, to ascertain what value and desirable quality was in them, and how best they could be utilized and made pro . ductive, and found them equally valuable with the valley below them. In consequence, prior to 1760, the Roxboro furnace, soon after named the Berkshire, was built. For a period of forty years this furnace stood almost in the shadow of the old historic church. At this furnace shot and shell were made for the Revo- lutionary War, as well as stoves for domestic use. For fuel for this furnace the mountains so richly covered by forest trees were denuded of their trees and the wood burned to charcoal for fuel. The iron ore for its use was secured from mines close by. Relics of this old furnace have to a very late date been found here in the form of shells. About 1792 this furnace was abandoned and an - other furnace (the Reading) was built about three miles west of the old site and one mile south of Robesonia. This furnace (now Robesonia furnace, very much enlarged) is today actively engaged in the manufacture of iron. This furnace long ago, owing to the scarcity of wood, was converted into an anthracite furnace, and still later coke was used as fuel. The mountains becoming de- nuded of timber soon opened the way for many, at first small and humble, homes of cleared land, followed by larger clearings, until today they are studded with homes and farms, both small and large, from Reading to Harrisburg, always and all supplied with never failing, living spring water of the purest and best quality. The beautiful valley known as the Lebanon Valley, and the mountains skirting it its entire length, were not to be left long to the agriculturist and iron manufacturer alone, for soon the traveler, the tourist and those in search for opportunity and investments came along and realized how exceedingly beauti- ful and healthful these mountains were and what incomparable views of the country for many miles around they commanded
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ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
The climatic conditions of these mountains were-also early recog- nized, and thus as early as 1847 attracted a German physician, Dr. Charles Frederic Argus Leisering, to these parts, who at once established a water cure, which, though at first very modest and primitive, soon found advocates, adherents and supporters for his then new system for treatment of disease. Many came from far and near to avail themselves of its virtues. So successful was this pioneer that rapidly his establishment commenced to increase and grow in popularity until today the successor, "The Grand View," still on the identical original spot, stands as a monument on these mountains. So attractive and popular did these moun- tains become that soon others were drawn to them, so that today we have not one, but a number of Sanitariums, all well equipped for modern methods of treatment and kept open summer and win- ter. In addition to this, hotels, summer resorts and boarding houses, equal to those to be found anywhere, are dotted thick over these mountains. Private homes of the finest type, as well as many of smaller proportions, are also in ample evidence, and in fact so much so that looking at the mountains from the old church it appears more like a good sized town than here and there a stray house.
Of the scenery a gentleman of wide experience as a traveler wrote : "I have traveled far and in many lands, but the view from the Observatory on Cushing Peak still lives in my memory as one of the most wonderful combinations of the beautiful and the grand, of the perfect pastoral culture and the unfettered wil- derness of nature, of far-reaching valley landscape and vast stretch of mountain ranges, that my eyes have looked upon." The scenery is simply indescribable, being extensive and majestic, and must be seen to be realized and appreciated. Fine climatic con- ditions, not in name only, but in reality, are much in evidence here on these mountains, and so healthful is the climate that it has been compared to that of Colorado. One very eminent writer even declared it to be the finest in the world. These mountains also abound in many of the very earliest geological formations. Taking a retrospective view of the valley and the mountains, did not our forebears choose wisely for the location of their place of worship ?
The Elders and Deacons.
The early records are indefinite, and it is difficult to obtain the names of the elders with any certainty, hence the omission of elders until the time when the records were more complete.
By the old records it appears that only one deacon was elected annually, who served two or more years. The elders are rarely mentioned, and mostly as a class, not as incumbent members of the consistory.
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ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
The names were obtained from the annual settlements of their accounts, where seldom more than one deacon is named. In most all cases where two were mentioned, it followed that it was a retiring incumbent and a successor in office.
The first records that give any light as to who served as dea- cons fail to particularly mention the names of elders.
1748 Philip Fitzmeier, 1749 Frederick Miller, 1750 Michael Graul, 1751 Michael Schmoel, 1752 Wilhelm Fisher, 1753 John Eckert, 1754
1755 1756 Ludwig Mohn, 1757 Adam Spohn, 1758 1759
1760 Wilhelm Fisher, 1761 Michael Obenhauzer, 1762 Nicholas Schaeffer, 1763 John Heckert, 1764 Peter Fisher, 1765 1766 1767 1768 John Eckert, 1769 Peter Reedy, 1770 Frederick Weitzel, 1771 John Roesher, 1772 1773 1774 1775 Nicholas Lerch, 1776 Antoni Lambrecht, 1777 Philip Heckert, 1778 Henry Fisher, 1779 John Hain, 1780 George Hain, 1781 John Eckert, 1782 Frantz Ruth, 1783 Peter Kuhl, 1784 Peter Gerhart, 1785 Nicholas Eckert, 1786 George Eirich, 1787 Henry Werner, 1788 Frederick Hain, 1789 John Ermold, 1790 John Adam Ruth, 1791 Peter Mengel, 1792 Christian Ruth, 1793 John Fisher, 1794 John Jacob Klopp, 1795 Nicholas Schaeffer, 1796 Adam Hain, 1797 David Hain, 1798 John Lerch, 1799 John Miller, 1800 John Richard, 1801 Adam Ruth, 1802 Michael Ruth, 1803 Joseph Hain, 1804 Michael Schaeffer, 1805 John Fisher, 1806 Peter Fisher, John Ruth; 1807 Philip Stiely, Philip Fisher; 1808 Christian Weitzel, Philip Fisher; 1809 Henry Werheim, Daniel Fisher; 1810 William Werner, John Bollman, 1811 Mi- chael Fisher, Jacob Ruth; 1812 John Fisher, Adam Spohn; 1813 Benjamin Hain, Anthony Spengler; 1814 William Hain, Peter Gerhart; 1915 Chris- tian Seibert, Michael Fisher; 1816 John Eirich, Frederick Fisher; 1817 Da- vid Reifsnyder, Michael Schaeffer; 1818 Michael Fisher (of Henry) John Gerhart; 1819 Michael Fisher (of John), Daniel Bechtel; 1820 Isaac Hain, Henry Miller; 1821 Jacob Daudrich, Michael Miller; 1822 Philip Bensing, John Hain; 1823 Jacob Riegel, Adam Ruth; 1824 Michael Hain, Henry Knorr; 1825 Sebastian Gerhart, Daniel Weitzel; 1826 Benjamin Hain, Leon- hard Ruth; 1827 Willian Faust, Peter Hain; 1828 Frantz Stiely, George Heckler; 1829 Daniel Hain, Samuel Fisher; 1830 John Gerhart, Henry Binkley: 1831 William Eckert, Daniel Bucks; 1832 William Eckert, Daniel Bucks; 1833 George Wolfensberger, George Hain; 1834 Adam , John Lerch; 1835 David Eirich, Peter Horn; 1836 ; 1837 ; 1838 ......; 1839 William Stichler, Henry Werner; 1940 Benjamin Gerhart, John Ruth; 1841 William Fisher, Jacob Stoudt; 1842 Abraham Fisher, Peter Weitzel; 1843 Abraham Miller, Isaae Maurer; 1844 John Saylor, Joseph Faust; 1845 Isaac Klopp, Joseph Hain; 1846 Richard Klopp, John Krick; 1847 Thomas B. Reber, Thomas Werner; 1848 John Maurer, Daniel Gerhart; 1849 John Miller, Frederick Hain; 1850 Michael Kintzer, Adam Gerhart; 1851 Elijah Fisher, John Hiester; 1852 Daniel B. Bucks, Joseph Stiely; 1853 Richard S. Ludwig, Adam Bohn; 1854 Samuel Reifsnyder, Moses Gockley; 1855 Samuel Staudt, David B. Bucks; 1856 Reuben Hain, Isaac Bohn.
No entries of the deacons or elders appear in the available rec- ords until 1868.
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ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
Consistory.
The election for elders and deacons is held annually in Jan- uary, when two elders and two deacons are elected to serve for a term of two years. Records at hand show that the following were elected :
Elders
Deacons
1868 Richard Ludwig
John Weitzel
Reily Fisher
Edward K. Bohn
1869 Reuben Hain
Adam Ruth
Elijah Stiely
Israel Kintzer
Daniel Lerch
1870 Jacob Noll Isaac Stoudt
Levi Hain John H. Eirich
1871
Amos Yoder
John S. Dundore
1872 Daniel B. Bucks
George Wolfensberger
Charles Horn
1873 Joseph Stiely Isaac Bohn
Levi Werner
1874.
Adam Hain Augustus Harner
Henry Gerhart
1875
Adam Fry
Isaac Hain
Jacob Wengert
Israel Greth
David Hain
Adam Lerch
1877 Samuel Gerhart
Ruben Strunk
Benjamin Bender
William Yoh
1880 John A. Weitzel William Stoudt
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