USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 10
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3. ST. PETER'S CHURCH, PINE GROVE.
This church is owned in connection with the German Re- formed. The building is of stone and is very substantial. This and St. John's are built of the sandstone found in the Swobes mountain near by. This church was put up in 1816. It has stood now for seventy-six years, but neither this building nor the St. John's, which was built almost fifty years ago, shows any yield- ing to the ravages of time. They look as if they could last for many centuries. Rev. George Mennig was the first pastor. He served the congregation until 1833. After his resignation there was discord in the church. Some members showed much zeal, but it was not according to knowledge. They were very much afraid of what was called, at times, "New Measures." They
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would not allow even a Sunday-school to be held in the church building. The books of the Sunday-school were carried out into the middle of the street. For a number of years men that were not connected with the Synod preached for the Lutherans. The following members of Synod preached at various times within the periods indicated, viz. : J. F. Haesbert, 1834 ; M. Harpel, be- tween 1835 and 1838; W. G. Mennig, 1838 and 1839; A. B. Gockelen, between 1839 and 1845 ; J. M. Deitzler, 1846-1847; and Julius Erhart, 1854-1855. In the early part of 1855 Rev. Elias S. Henry was elected pastor. He has served in this capac- ity for almost thirty-eight years. There are almost two hundred members in this congregation. They live mostly in the country, whilst the members of St. John's live mostly in the town. There is peace and harmony between the two Lutheran congregations in the same village, having both the same pastor, and many attend services at both places. The church building was very much changed internally a few years ago. It is furnished with an organ and a very fine-toned bell. The present church council are : James Clemens, Daniel Lehman, trustees ; James Hummel, Aaron Rehrer, elders ; Lyman Croll and Jacob Lengel, deacons.
4. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, PINE GROVE.
The St. Peter's church, of Pine Grove, having informally called and admitted to their church a minister, acting under an ad in- terim license from the President of the Pennsylvania Synod, a number of the members, not approving of this action, resolved to secede from their connection, erect a new congregation, and build a new house of worship. Accordingly, they met on the evening of April 10, 1845, and formed themselves into a congregation under the name of "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Pine Grove, Pa." The number of communicants was about thirty. Rev. B. Sadtler was its first pastor. He served the con- gregation, in connection with several others, until 1849. His successor was Rev. E. Breidenbaugh, who served until the year 1852. Rev. Elias S. Henry took charge September 21, 1852, and is, after forty years, still the pastor.
This congregation, in connection with Jacob's congregation, two miles west of Pine Grove, owns a very comfortable parsonage, on a
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lot fifty by two hundred feet deep. There have been improve- ments made during the last few years about the church which cost about $1500. The church has no debts. It has some hundreds of dollars in the treasury. The Sunday-school has also some money on interest. The congregation owns a cemetery of nearly ten acres of ground, in which many of the members of the other con- gregations in the town and vicinity own lots and bury their dead. The Sunday-school was organized in 1836-fifty-six years ago. There are still two connected with the school who were charter members, viz., Mr. William Forrer, the librarian of the school, and Miss Esther Conrad, the superintendent of the infant department.
A number of ministers went forth from this church and Sunday- school. Drs. F. W. Conrad and V. L. Conrad were formerly members of the church and superintendents of the school. Mr. John E. Graeff was a member, and superintendent of the school. He entered the ministry from here. Rev. James T. Kendall was a child of this church and the superintendent of its school. Rev. George C. Henry, of Des Moines, Iowa, was from his childhood a member of this congregation and Sunday-school. His sainted mother, Sarah Conrad Henry, had been superintendent of the infant department for twenty years, up to the time of her death. Her last request was, "Don't give up the church and Sunday- school in which I labored so long." Revs. Eli Huber and H. B. Wile were also raised in this Sunday-school.
The preaching was originally English and German, and it is so still. There is a German sermon every two weeks, and in the same time five sermons in English. There is a Society of Chris- tian Endeavor connected with this congregation, of over one hun- dred members. This society has been supporting a native preacher in our mission in India for some years by paying $30 yearly. The English-speaking families take the Lutheran Obser- ver. A number of Missionary Journals are also taken. There are about two hundred and forty members. A weekly German and a weekly English prayer-meeting are held. A prayer-meet- ing before preaching on Sunday morning has been kept up since 1858. The present church council are: M. H. Boyer, T. B. Hughes, P. F. Seidel, trustees ; M. Richter, P. Haug, elders ; and H. H. Christ, W. M. Druckmiller, deacons. John A. Richter and M. M. Dieffenbach superintend the Sunday-school.
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XIX. SHOOP'S CHARGE, DAUPHIN COUNTY-SHOOP'S AND SALEM.
BY REV. W. L. HEISLER. I. SHOOP'S CHURCH.
Shoop's church is situated in Lower Paxton township, Dauphin County, Pa., on the road leading from Harrisburg to Jonestown, about four miles east of Harrisburg. It is said that the first settlers in this community were Presbyterians. The Germans came here a little later. Few, if any, came directly from Ger- many. It is supposed that all the first of the German settlers were Lutheran and German Reformed, and that they came from what is now called Lebanon county. "These two denominations were at that time the only sects known here among the German settlers." " In the year of our Lord, A. D. 1783, these people united with each other in the erection of a house of worship-a union church building, which was finished and occupied in the year of our Lord, A. D. 1784." The church was built of logs, logged up, chinked, and covered with clap-boards.
On the first page of a very old book was written in German : " This book presented to the church by David Epler."
" Church Book, Register of Births, Baptisms, Confirmations, and Deaths, began by Frederick Theodore Melsheimer, Evangel- ical Lutheran Preacher, Beckstein (Paxtang), the 26th day of April, A. D. 1783."
" Soli Deo Gloria." " To God alone the glory."
This book was used by both congregations for the purposes in- dicated. The following was also written in this book : "Anno Domini 1794, February 22, the church was closed for repairs, and Stoffle Shoop and John Parthemore were appointed for the purpose of repairing the church." Parthemore charged for board- ing shingle-makers, 25 days, £2 7s. and 5d. Shoop had the shingle-makers in board and received £2. After deducting charges for boarding shingle-makers, there was left in his hands April 13, 1794, a balance of 17s. There is also a receipt of June 23, from John Bim, for £26, for work done on the church.
In 1797 we also find a credit claimed by Christian Walborn
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for £7, paid Peter Bobb for 2,800 feet of boards ; also for £7 5s. 5d. for work at building.
We find on record a deed from Christopher Shoop and wife, of Lower Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pa., dated March 20, 1797, to Peter Bobb, Henry Myer, John Parthemore, and Jacob Milleisen, trustees for the United German Lutheran and German Reformed church in the township of Paxton aforesaid, for one acre and fifty perches, being the lot of ground on which the said church now stands, acknowledged August 12, 1797, at which date it was no doubt delivered ; this showing that, although erected and occupied some time in the year 1784, it was not com- pleted until 1797.
The building was large and substantial, built of logs, weather- boarded, and painted white, with comfortable pews, end and side galleries, the seating capacity being about eight hundred persons. It answered the purpose of the congregation, and was used by them until May 28, 1829, when the present church was erected as it stood before the late alterations were made, at a cost of $2,100. The building committee were John Elser, David Mumma, Frederick Shoop, George Hain, Jacob Shell, and Fred- erick Parthemore, treasurer.
The present building was enlarged and improved in 1883, and dedicated January 13, 1884. The building committee were Joseph Rudy, Daniel Metz, John Ebersole, John E. Horstick, Luther K. Lingle. The cost of improvement $5,224.68. Min- isters present at the dedication were : Lutheran, Revs. J. H. Menges, J. G. Martz, an ex-pastor, E. Daron, an ex-pastor, and S. Dasher, pastor ; German Reformed, Revs. A. S. Stouffer, pas- tor, D. Y. Heisler, an ex-pastor, and M. A. Smith, an ex-pastor. The address of welcome was made by Rev. A. S. Stouffer, and the historical address was delivered by Hon. David Mumma.
It is difficult to give a correct history of the pastors who served the Lutheran congregation from time to time, inasmuch as only a few of the pastors kept correct records. It is evident, says Mr. Mumma, that there was some service in this locality before the " Church Book," already referred to, was opened in 1783. There are some baptisms recorded as early as 1774, and one in every year (but one) down to 1782. The first one after the
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opening of the book was in May, 1783. But who performed the service of all but the last one we are unable to say .. It is fair and reasonable to presume that it was done by visiting clergymen. After April 26, 1783, the Rev. Frederick Theodore Melsheimer was the regular Lutheran pastor, who subscribes himself as " Evangelical Lutheran Preacher, Beckstein," the latter being the name by which the church was then known. In fact the name Shoop's is not found in any record until we find it in the next church register, opened May 23, 1830. It is not so named in the deed. That is to " The United German Lutheran and Reformed Church, in township of Paxton." It is evident that at the date of the opening of the church register aforesaid, April 26, 1783, the church edifice was not yet commenced, and that it was finished in 1785.
It is a matter of tradition that the congregation for some time worshiped in Stoffle Shoop's house, until the church was finished and used for worship, and that before any regular organization existed traveling preachers frequently visited here and were en- tertained by Stoffle Shoop at his house, and held service there. Rev. F. T. Melsheimer officiated here as Lutheran pastor from April 26, 1783, to 1788. He recorded but one communion list, April 18, 1784, containing fifty-one names.
From 1788 to 1790 Rev. F. D. Schaeffer was pastor. From May 1, 1796, Henry Muehler (Moeller) was pastor. He subscribed himself " Pastor at Harrisburg, East Pennsboro and Beckstein" (Shoop's), and continued at Paxton (Shoop's) until 1803. In 1803 Rev. George Lochman held communion services here. He was then pastor at Lebanon. In 1804, November 24, Rev. J. F. Ernst officiated at communion services. At this time the congre- gation was evidently without a regular pastor. In 1805 Rev. John Paul Ferdinand Kramer held confirmation and communion services here. He subscribed himself as "der zeit pradiger"-preacher for the time being- " Berufen Lehrer, in Maytown, Lancaster county, St. Paul's." He officiated as pastor from 1807 to October 2, 1808. Here we are left without any record of services for four years. On Whit-Monday, 1813, Rev. F. C. Schaeffer records a service held by him as pastor of the church. From the fact that he was pastor at Harrisburg from November 22, 1812, to May,
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1815, it may be inferred that he ministered here also during that time. On May 17, 1816, Rev. George Lochman became pastor, and continued until his death, which occurred in July, 1826. In 1826 Rev. Augustus H. Lochman succeeded his father as pastor, and continued until November 29, 1835, when he resigned.
Then followed : Rev. H. G. Stecher, from 1836 to April 2, 1847; Rev. L. Gerhard, May, 1848, to September 8, 1850 ; Rev. Charles F. Stoever, October 1, 1850, to October 28, 1854 ; Rev. George J. Martz, December 1, 1855, to December, 1868; Rev. H. D. Kutz, 1869 to May 28, 1871 ; Rev. E. Daron, April I, 1872, to June 1, 1878 ; Rev. S. Yingling, June 9, 1878, to July, 1881 ; Rev. S. Dasher, September 18, 1881, to 1885; Rev. M. V. Shatto, November 10, 1885, to November 1, 1887 ; Rev. T. J. Frederick, January 2, 1888, to December 1, 1890 ; Rev. W. L. Heisler, April 1, 1890, to the present time.
It is said the first person that was buried in this graveyard was a woman who was killed by Indians, after being scalped by them.
There is no debt on this church. There is no parsonage be- longing to the charge. The amount paid towards the pastor's salary is $408.00. It is supposed that English preaching was commenced in this church during the pastorate of Rev. Charles F. Stoever, about 1850. A Sunday-school was organized in this church at an early day.
The present officers of the church are as follows :
Elders-William Gerberich, Amos Fisler ; Deacons-Morris Eshenour, George Machen ; Trustees-Daniel Metz, Martin Kahler.
The Sunday-school numbers, at present, 100 scholars, 15 teachers, and the following officers :
Superintendents-G. S. Machen, G. Hetrick ; Secretaries- L. B. Nye, David Hetrick ; Librarians-William Saul, G. Hain ; Treasurer-Alfred Crum ; Organists-Miss Mary Horstick, Miss M. Gertie Fisher ; Chorister-John A. Ebersole ; Artist-Daniel Fisher.
During Rev. Mr. Kutz's pastorate a gracious revival of religion was enjoyed by this congregation. Many souls were happily converted during this revival, of whom many are still alive and are active members of the church. During Rev. Mr. Shatto's
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pastorate there was also a revival meeting held, and quite a · goodly number of souls were converted to God.
2. SALEM'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, OBERLIN.
This church was organized in 1844, service being held in a school-house in the neighborhood until the church building was erected in 1846. September 12, 1846, a deed was made by Peter Brenner, Jr., and Rebecca, his wife, to Jacob Baker, Peter Bren- ner, Sr., George Hocker, Jacob Eshenour, Sr., and Conrad Peck, for the consideration of one dollar. The date on the corner-stone is September 12, 1846. There is no date on record when the church was dedicated. The church is a frame building, one story high, with an end gallery, a vestibule and a steeple. In 1877 the church was enlarged and improved at a cost of about one thou- sand dollars. There is no record of re-dedication.
The pastors have been as follows : Rev. J. Vogelbach, 1845 to September 22, 1847 ; Rev. L. Gerhardt, November 4, 1847, to October 1, 1850 ; Rev. J. Vogelbach, October 13, 1850, to April II, 1852 ; Rev. D. Maier, April, 1852 ; Rev. George J. Martz, December 1, 1855, to October 27, 1868 ; Rev. H. D. Kutz, 1869 to August 18, 1871 ; Rev. E. Daron, April 1, 1872, to January 1, 1878, when he resigned and left ; Rev. Samuel Yingling, June 1, 1878, to July 1881 ; Rev. S. Dasher, September 18, 1881, to 1885 ; Rev. M. V. Shatto, December 1, 1885, to November 1, 1887; Rev. T. J. Frederick, January 2, 1888, to December 1, 1890 ; Rev. W. L. Heisler, April 1, 1891, to the present time.
This congregation has always been in connection with Shoop's church. English preaching was introduced in this church when Rev. George J. Martz was pastor. There is no debt remaining on the church property. There is no parsonage belonging to the charge. This congregation pays $264 towards the pastor's salary. Five families take the Lutheran Observer. There is a Christian Endeavor Society in connection with the church, which is con- ducted by the young people.
The Sunday-school was organized March 29, 1874, at which time the following officers were elected : Superintendent, Frank C. Earnest ; Assistant Superintendent, Christian Hess ; Secretary, A. B. Dunkle ; Treasurer, Henry Becker; Librarian, Jacob Rei- gert ; Assistant Librarian, Mrs. Dobson.
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The first session was held the following Sunday, April 5, 1874, at 1 : 30 p. m. The present officers are : Superintendent, Samuel A. Brehm ; Assistant Superintendent, Jacob Reigert ; Secretary, Elmore Handshaw ; Librarian, Jacob E. Bishop ; Assistant Li- brarian, Miss Maggie Hocker ; Treasurer, George Hocker. There are at present twenty-one officers and teachers and two hundred and nineteen scholars.
The present officers of this church are as follows : Elders- Joseph Brehm, John Pifer ; Deacons-Benjamin C. Hoover, John W. Shakespere, Jr. ; Trustees-Michael Barnhardt, John B. Reed.
XX. ZION CHURCH, HARRISBURG.
BY REV. D. M. GILBERT, D. D.
Prior to the year 1787 the Christian people of all denomina- tions in Harrisburg, then a town of about one hundred houses, worshiped together in a small log school-house which stood on the north corner of Third and Walnut streets, at the foot of what is now Capitol Hill. They enjoyed only such irregular and occa- sional services as might be obtained from visiting ministers.
On March 12, 1787, a subscription was opened to procure funds for the erection of the first church edifice of the town. The sub- scribers were largely Germans, members of the Lutheran and Reformed churches, and although others were granted certain privileges in it, the building was jointly owned and statedly occu- pied by the people of these two communions. The first church in Harrisburg, built of logs, was erected in the year above named, on lot No. 187 (corner Third and Chestnut streets), which was donated for the purpose, under certain reservations, by John Harris, the founder of the town. The building was 35 feet 5 inches by 30 feet 5 inches in dimensions, an . was used jointly by the two congregations for about 27 years. After the death of John Harris, in 1791, his heirs released all their interest in the church lot to the Trustees of the Reformed and Lutheran churches for the sum of five shillings. Rev. A. Hautz became the first pas- tor of the Reformed church (and first resident minister of the town), while the Lutheran congregation was served, more or less
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regularly, by Rev. F. D. Schaeffer, of Carlisle. These two con- gregations appear to have been united in their temporal affairs and all church regulations from 1787 to 1795. In the latter year Rev. Henry Moeller became the first regular resident pastor of our church in Harrisburg, and with his ministry its Protocol, or Regis- ter, begins. The first entry in the record of baptisms reads : " Benjamin, born 20th Feb'y, baptized 29th March (1795). Parents, Benjamin Kurtz and wife Elizabeth."
In 1814, under the pastorship of Rev. Frederick Christian Schaeffer, the congregation, feeling that the time had come for them to build a church for their own exclusive use, purchased a desirable lot on Fourth street, between Market and Chestnut streets, which has continued to be the site of their church home to this day. On January 26, in the year named, a Building Com- mittee was appointed, consisting of Christian Kunkel, Geo. Youse, Geo. Ziegler and Christian Stahl, who, on the 14th of the month following, contracted with Stephen Hills for the building of a handsome brick church. The corner-stone was laid June 22, 1814, the following ministers being present : Revs. George Schmucker, of Yorktown, Geo. Lochman, of Lebanon, H. Van- hoff, of Jonestown, W. G. Ernst, of Marietta, and J. P. Hecht, of Carlisle. The church was dedicated October 1, 1815, Revs. Schmucker, Vanhoff and Hecht taking part in the services of the occasion. The afternoons of October 16 and 17 were set apart for the renting of the pews, when, in the words of the original re- cord, " to the complete surprise of everybody every pew was taken the first day." In 1816 the congregation sold their interest in the old church and lot to their Reformed brethren for one thou- sand dollars. In the year 1822 a large two-story brick school- house was built on the lot at the side of the church, particularly for the accommodation of the Sunday school. In 1829 the church was improved by the building of a steeple upon it, in which a bell was placed, and on October 21, 1.838, the entire edi- fice and the adjoining school-house were destroyed by fire. On the following day, in compliance with the request of the vestry and the pastor, Rev. Samuel Sprecher, the congregation assembled at the ruins, and promptly resolved that the church should be re- built. A committee was at once appointed to take general over-
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sight of the enterprise, and so vigorously was the work prosecuted that on November 10 (Luther Day), 1839, the new Zion was dedicated. It was 64 feet front and 84 feet deep, with basement, lecture room and Sunday-school rooms. It was built of brick, covered with composition,painted white, and in the cupola hung two bells. It was in this new and spacious building, before its dedi- cation, that the convention was held which nominated General W. H. Harrison for President and John Tyler for Vice-President of the United States. The edifice was remodeled and enlarged in 1867-68 at an expense of nearly forty thousand dollars, includ- ing the organ and a chime of eleven bells. It is now 104 feet deep by 64 front, and its tower and spire 175 feet high. At this time (September, 1892) a chapel extension is being added to the Sunday-school rooms and other improvements under way, at an estimated cost of six thousand dollars.
ZION'S PASTORS.
Between 1795 and the present time our congregation has been served by twelve regular pastors, as follows : Henry Moeller, from 1795 to 1803 ; John Dietrich Peterson, from April, 1803, to 1812 ; Fred'k Christian Schaeffer, from November, 1812, to June, 1815 ; George Lochman, from August 30, 1815, to the day of his death, July 10, 1826 ; Augustus H. Lochman, from April 2, 1827, to February 17, 1836 ; Samuel Sprecher, from June 6, 1836, to November, 1840 ; Charles W. Schaeffer, from January, 1841, to June, 1849 ; Charles A. Hay, from July 8, 1849, to Sep- tember 4, 1865 ; George F. Stelling, from December 21, 1865, to July 1, 1875; Joel Swartz, from September, 1875, to 1880; Albert H. Studebaker, from February, 1881, to November, 1886 ; D. M. Gilbert, from December 1, 1887, to the present time.
ZION'S CHILDREN.
Our congregation has not only an extended, but a very credit- able history. Ever zealous for the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, she has been a faithful mother of churches. The first two pastors officiated at public service in the German language alone ; but about the year 1812, yielding to the demand of many members for a change, the use of the English tongue was intro-
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duced. The English services steadily increased in number up to 1842, when scarcely one sermon a month was given in German. This state of things was far from satisfactory to the Germans, and both the English and the German portions of the membership hav- ing sufficiently increased in numbers, a friendly separation was effected, and on January 8, 1843, St. Michael's German Lutheran church was organized, with Rev. G. J. Martz as its first pastor. From that time forward the services in Zion have been, of course, altogether in the English language.
In 1863 a second German church (Zion) was organized sev- eral squares north of the Capitol, St. Michael's being on South Second street, in the lower part of the city.
Messiah Church, corner of Sixth & Forster streets, grew out of a Mission Sunday-school, founded on East State street, January II, 1858, by the Sunday-school Association of Zion church. In March of that year a lot was leased and a small chapel built, in which, during the following winter, Dr. Hay preached on alternate Sunday afternoons. The congregation was regularly organized September 13, 1860, with Rev. E. S. Johnston as first pastor. On June 1, 1890, Messiah congregation established Augsburg Mission Sunday-school in the north part of the city, and within a year past dismissed about 100 members to form a church at that point, which, under the pastoral care of Rev. Dixon H. Geiser, is rapidly developing into a flourishing congregation.
Memorial Church, in East Harrisburg, had its origin in a like enterprise started by Zion Sunday-school Association in 1871, at 15th & Shoop streets. The congregation was regularly organized February 25, 1872, under Rev. S. Dasher, who is faithfully serv- ing it to this day. Sixty-two members of Memorial church dis- missed for that purpose organized Christ church, on South 13th street, March 23, 1890. Rev. T. L. Crouse is its pastor, and the congregation is going forward steadily and prosperously. Christ church, in turn, has under its care a Mission School at Brook- wood, or East End, which it is hoped will, in due time, develop into the Third Lutheran church of East Harrisburg.
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