USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 18
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Rev. B. B. Collins received and accepted a call from St. James' church December 30, 1877. After three years and nine months
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of faithful labor among these people, he resigned the charge on October 2, 1881.
Rey. Wm. S. Delp supplied the church with the means of grace for some months after Rev. Collins resigned and vacated the charge.
Rev. J. A. Hackenberg accepted a call July, 1882, and served till March, 1883.
Rev. E. S. Morell commenced his labors here in 1883, which continued until July 30, 1888, when he resigned the charge.
Shortly after Rev. Morell vacated the church, Rev. Jno. R. Wil- liams served as a supply for some months, the exact time not be- ing recorded. On his departure, the Philadelphia Conference of the East Pennsylvania Synod made arrangement with Rev. H. M. Bickel to supply the charge until such time as they could see their way clear to call a pastor. May 11, 1890, a call was ex- tended to and accepted by Rev. George Sill, who is still serving as pastor.
One of its members has gone out of this church into the minis- try, Rev. William S. Delp.
The church building is a very substantial one of stone. There remains upon it a debt of four hundred dollars. The pastor's sal- ary is three hundred dollars per annum.
The number of members is variously estimated, from forty to sixty. They are widely scattered, some very remote from the place of worship, so that it is not possible for them to attend ser- vices. Thus isolated, they lose interest in and love for the church and her institutions, and their influence and beneficence are in a great measure lost to the cause of Christ. The number of ac- tive, communicant, and contributing members may be put down at from thirty to thirty-five.
XLIII. ST. JAMES' CHURCH, ASHLAND, SCHUYL- KILL COUNTY.
BY REV. W. M. B. GLANDING.
This congregation was organized by Rev. W. L. Heisler. He had been engaged in business at Minersville, Pa. The Lebanon Conference, at its meeting in Harrisburg in March, 1858, re-
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quested him to visit Ashland, Pa., look after some English Luth- eran families which had moved there, and hold prayer-meetings among them. He arrived April 11 of that year, and conducted religious services in a frame school-house on the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. A Lutheran Sunday-school was organized May 2, with twenty-seven scholars and nine teachers, at the home of Abel G. Swift, who was the first superintendent.
ST. JAMES' EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ASHLAND, PA.
The congregation itself was organized with fourteen members June 16. The first Church Council consisted of Geo. H. Helfrich, elder, and J. Logan, deacon. On December 6, 1859, the court granted the petition for a charter of incorporation with the legal name of " English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ashland." This church from its beginning has held all its services in the English language.
Rev. Heisler, having received " ad interim " license from Rev. A. C. Wedekind, D. D., President of East Pennsylvania Synod, and having prosecuted his theological studies privately, was licensed by the Synod in the fall of 1858. He also visited
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Ringtown and Miller's school-house in Catawissa Valley, Gordon, Mt. Carmel and Locust Dale, respectively from three to twelve miles distant. From these services held in school- houses several flourishing congregations have resulted. The membership of the Ashland congregation increased to 67.
In June, 1859, three lots were purchased for $550.00 on the corner of Ninth and Market streets. Here was erected a frame church building of one room at the cost of $1500.00, which was dedicated November 6, 1859. Rev. Heisler resigned December 29, 1861, having served about three and one-half years.
The second pastor was Rev. F. A. Barnitz, who labored just two years, from February 1, 1862, to February 1, 1864. The steeple was built and the bell was bought. The debt on the church lot was paid. Mt. Carmel and Ringtown were then con- nected with this pastorate.
The third pastor was Rev. James R. Sikes. His services lasted from May 1, 1864 to November 1, 1867. On September 25, 1864, the council resolved that it would be better for the pastor not to supply the Mt. Carmel church. A Sunday-school was sustained at Locust Dale. On December 25, 1864, the council passed a motion that the pastor recommend to the con- gregation at the next congregational meeting the propriety of adopting semi-monthly experience meetings. This action was ratified.
One of the marked features of this pastorate was the exercise of the right of discipline. Thirteen members were excommuni- cated and a number were suspended. A committee was appointed to admonish the " lukewarm members." Excessive use of intoxi- cating liquors, dancing, and attendance at a circus, were specially prohibited. Very positive action was taken towards those mem- bers who indulged in these offences.
The fourth pastor was Rev. S. Curtis. He came about February 15, 1868, and remained two and a half years. The basement of the church was built. The infant Sunday-school was started by Mrs. Curtis in a carpenter shop on Middle street above Eighth.
The fifth pastor was Rev. J. A. Hackenberg, who began his ministrations April 1, 1871, and ended them May 1, 1875. Dur- ing the summer of 1871 the parsonage was erected, at a cost of
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$4,000.00, and was occupied in December of the same year. Religious services were held in Gordon, where a Lutheran con- gregation soon afterwards was organized.
The sixth pastor was Rev. O. D. S. Marcley. His pastorate began August 15, 1875, and terminated March 1, 1878.
During the year 1876, $2,700.00 of the debt was paid. In the winter of the same year the Lutheran congregation of Gordon was organized with 33 members. These two churches then formed the English Ashland pastorate. The Mt. Carmel congregation was served only the one year before the departure of Rev. Marcley.
The seventh pastor was Rev. D. E. Rupley, who had just been ordained by the Susquehanna Synod. He began his labors about July 1878, and remained until May 1, 1879.
The eighth pastor was Rev. J. H. Weber, from Schoharie Co., N. Y. He served from November 1, 1879, to September 1, 1887.
In June 1881, a successful effort was made to remove a debt of $1,200.00 on the parsonage. The Young People's Christian Association was organized March 9, 1883. This has been very helpful to the material and benevolent interests of the church. It will soon celebrate its tenth anniversary.
On June 10, 1883, it was resolved to build a new church. On Sabbath, June 17, at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the congregation, this movement was inaugurated, when the sum of $3,5 19.00 was promised. The corner-stone was laid on June 22, 1884. The basement was occupied on November 2. The church was dedicated January 18, 1885. The cost of the build- ing, with windows, organ and furniture, was $10,133.93. On No- vember 4, 1883, the council instructed that the proper legal action be taken for changing the charter name to " St. James' Lutheran Church."
On March 1, 1886, the Gordon congregation, which had so grown in membership and ability that it could support a minister, withdrew from this pastorate. The Ashland congregation at once increased the salary to the amount before the division.
The ninth pastor was Rev. E. Felton. He served from Octo- ber 16, 1887, to September 1, 1889. The basement of the church was repaired and re-seated in the early part of 1889.
The tenth pastor is Rev. W. M. B. Glanding, who had lately
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been Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science in Midland College, Atchison, Kansas. He began his labors on October I, 1889, and is still serving the congregation.
On February 10, 1890, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formed as an adjunct of the Young People's Chris- tian Association. This Society was reorganized on October 13, 1892, as a separate association.
The Woman's Missionary Society, after a silence of ten years, was revived on February 14, 1890.
A debt of $1,250.00 has been removed. On September II, 1892, the pastor burnt, in the presence of the congregation, all the bonds, mortgages and notes against the church.
This congregation has been built up under the influence of the evangelistic system. The "revival service " has been employed in connection with the Lutheran method of catechisation.
The special organizations have proven very serviceable to this church. The Ladies' Aid Society began in Rev. Heisler's pastor- ate. It has contributed to the material interests of the church about $4,400.00.
Two young men of the church are at the institutions of learning in preparation for the Gospel ministry. The Young People's Christian Association is educating a native at Guntur, India.
The approximate amount of money contributed in all for gen- eral expenses, real estate and buildings, is $51,000.00. The esti- mated value of the property at present is $20,000.00. The mem- bership increased from 14 in 1858 to 228 in 1892.
The accessions have been 749, and the losses 521.
The benevolent contributions have increased from $30.66 in 1870 to $284.32 in 1892.
The Sunday-school has advanced from 34 to 250 members. The superintendents of the Sunday-school were the following : Abel G. Swift, Jeremiah Logan, Isaac I. Wagner, Henry S. Boner, Theo. F. Barron and Charles F. Russell, the latter still serving.
The Home Missionary Board gave this church aid for a few years in the early part of its existence.
This history closes November 1, 1892, covering a period of thirty-four years and four and a half months.
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XLIV. ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. BY REVS. P. C. CROLL AND J. A. SINGMASTER.
The mother of St. Matthew's Lutheran church is the Jerusalem church on the turnpike, known for many years as the old " White Church," a name no longer applicable to the present modern brick edifice. This church was one of the very oldest in the county. Its early pastors were Revs. George Mennig, 1821- 1836 ; Wm. G. Mennig, 1836-1851 ; Frederick Waltz, 1852- 1854 ; Julius Erhart, 1854-1865. The original St. Matthew's congregation, however, did not emanate directly from the " White Church." On account of inconvenience of location and insufficient accommodations, together with other reasons, a union congregation of Lutherans and Reformed determined to leave the old church and found another in town. They accomplished their design in the erection of St. Paul's church, now St. Ambrose Roman Catholic church. Before 1851 there had been but little English preaching in the Lutheran church, but then Rev. Daniel Steck, the English Lutheran pastor at Pottsville, began to hold services in St. Paul's every two or four weeks in the afternoon. The adherents of Mr. Steck had and claimed no right to the possession or use of the church building, enjoying the privilege of its use only with the consent of the regular pastor, Rev. W. G. Mennig, and his people. During Rev. Steck's ministry here there was no regular or permanent organization of the English congregation. There were, however, about a score of persons who considered themselves identified with this movement.
St. Paul's church, after the departure of Revs. Mennig and Steck, began to decline. Coldness and discord finally issued in dismemberment and the enforced sale of the edifice, at one-third its cost and about one-fourth its value, to the Schuylkill Haven School Board. The Board, finding it ill-adapted for school pur- poses, finally disposed of it at an advance to the Roman Catholics.
During Dr. Steck's pastorate there were several extensive re- vivals of religion. His ministry closed here in 1857. For a year following there was no regular English preaching. In the minutes of the East Pennsylvania Synod, of 1858, we find :
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" Resolved, That we recommend Bro. Eli Huber to the promis- ing field of Schuylkill Haven."
Accordingly, on October 17, 1858, Rev. Eli Huber took charge as the first pastor. He found twenty-nine persons ready to enter into a permanent organization. After several futile efforts to re- unite the German and English interests by preaching in both languages, the English members withdrew from St. Paul's, leaving it to its impending fate. Of the twenty-nine, whose names are not all remembered now, Andrew Keefer was most prominent. Dr. Steck said of him : " He, more than any other, was the father
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ST. MATTHEW'S ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, PA.
of the English movement." His varied ability, extensive experi- ence, and ardent love for the church, fitted him for leadership and success. During the summer of 1859, the lot upon which the church stands was purchased for $500.00. The contract was signed on June 20 by Messrs. A. Keefer, Samuel Haak, John Worts and C. H. Dengler. The corner-stone was laid, August 17, by the pastor and Dr. Wedekind, of Lebanon; and the church was dedicated in February, 1860, the sermon being preached by Rev. E. W. Hutter, of Philadelphia.
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The congregation passed through great straits in paying for the property. Weak and poor, they labored against odds. Several hundred dollars were contributed by churches at Easton and Greencastle. Finally, the Board of Church Extension came to the rescue with a loan of $500.00, which, after several years, was repaid in full.
At the close of the first year, there were 50 members, 62 Sunday- school scholars, and $300.00 paid as pastor's salary. At the close of the second year there were 100 members, 102 Sunday-school scholars, and $500.00 paid as salary.
Rev. Huber's ministry closed December 4, 1860, he having accepted a call to Danville. Rev. P. Willard succeeded, taking charge April 27, 1861. At the close of his third year there were 94 members and 150 scholars. The salary was probably $600.00, of which the Home Mission Board contributed $100.00 in 1863, and $58.50 in 1864. Rev. Huber resigned in March, 1864.
On April 25, 1864, Rev. J. B. Keller, of the Theological Sem- inary, received a call, which he subsequently declined.
Rev. G. P. Weaver took charge August 1, 1864. He repre- sented the church before Synod as small, composed principally of females, and unable to support a pastor without missionary aid, the membership being 80, and school numbering 140. He re- ceived about $100.00 per annum from the Home Mission Board. He left abruptly in April, 1866.
The fourth pastor, Rev. A. Yeiser, was elected May 14, 1866. He accepted the call, but completed his studies at Gettysburg be- fore assuming full charge. He entered upon his work August 19. From his sixth anniversary sermon we learn that $10,390.00 were contributed during that time for all purposes, including the re-modeling of the church at an expense of $3,250.00. From other sources we learn that during the four subsequent years of his ministry about $4,000.00 were raised, making a total of about $14,000.00 in ten years. He reported 64 members the first year, added 232 new members, and reported 240 members at the close of his ministry. The salary was never large, being $600.00 the greater part of the time and $720.00 the remainder.
Under Rev. Yeiser's administration the church became thor- oughly established and made great progress in various ways.
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" He died in the city of Philadelphia while under medical treat- ment, February 29, 1876, in the full triumph of that same faith in which he had lived." For several months preceding Rev. Yeiser's death, Rev. J. B. Anthony acted as his assistant. He entered upon his duties December 1, 1875, and supplied the pulpit for six months, to June, 1876. After Rev. Yeiser's decease the con- gregation elected Rev. J. A. Singmaster, still at the Seminary, April 19, 1876. From July I to September 1, Mr. F. W. Staley, a theological student, acted as supply.
Rev. J. A. Singmaster took charge September 1, 1876. During his ministry the church enjoyed several refreshing revivals. In spite of a great financial crisis, the material prosperity of the congregation advanced considerably. A commodious and elegant parsonage was erected, and gas was introduced into the church, as well as minor improvements made, during his administration. After a pastorate of six years, two and a half months, he accepted a call from the Lyons charge, his resignation going into effect November 13, 1882.
The following statistics cover the term of this administration, and represent the numerical strength at its close :
Infant baptisms, 110; additions to membership, 103 ; losses, 70 ; number of communicants, 201 ; strength of Sunday-school, 236 ; contributions by Sunday-school, $1,367.86 ; all charitable and benevolent contributions, $1,846.00 ; local expenses, $11,- 311.00 ; total, $13, 157.00.
Rev. P. C. Croll took charge December 1, 1882. During his pastorate the church grew steadily in numerical and financial strength. Over two hundred souls were added to the member- ship, and the period was marked by great activity and general peace. A remaining debt on the parsonage was liquidated, con- siderable improvement made to the grounds, and the church wholly re-built. The grand total of over $26,000.00 of money was collected in this period for all purp ses. This pastoral rela- tion was severed, after nearly ten years of successful work, Octo- ber 1, 1892. The pastor removed to Lebanon, Pa., whither he was called by the Seventh Street Lutheran church. Statistics at close of administration, and covering its term, are as follows :
Infant baptisms, 170; additions to membership, 209 ; losses,
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by death and removal, 186; number of communicants, 224 ; strength of Sunday-school, 218 ; contributions by Sunday-school, $2,728.35 ; all charitable and benevolent contributions, $3,129.43 ; local expenses, $23,038.39 ; total, $26,167.82.
XLV. MESSIAH (FORSTER STREET) CHURCH, HARRISBURG.
BY PROF. L. O. FOOSE.
Messiah Lutheran church, of Harrisburg, Pa., formerly the Second English Evangelical Lutheran church, grew out of a mis- sion Sunday-school, and its origin can best be reached by tracing the rise and development of this school.
On January 11, 1858, the project of establishing a mission Sunday-school in the upper end of (the then borough of ) Harris- burg was brought before the Sunday-school association of Zion church by Mr. Wm. Parkhill, and a committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency of the movement, with instructions to organize a school immediately if found to be advisable. On Feb- ruary 1, following, the matter was brought to the notice of the vestry of the church. This body regarded the movement with much favor, and the hope was expressed that the school could be so located, if possible, as to attract the population from both sides of Capitol Hill. The hope was also expressed that it would serve as a nucleus for another church, the need of which was becoming more and more apparent. On February 8, 1859, one week later, the Association of Zion School was informed by the committee that a school had been opened in a rented building at the corner of State and Cowden streets. The following persons were then elected as officers and teachers of the new school for the ensuing year : Superintendent, Mr. E. Byers ; assistant superintendent, Mr. John Heim ; treasurer, Mr. Wm. Duncan ; librarian, Mr. Wm. A. Parkhill ; assistant librarian, Mr. D. L. Duncan ; teachers, Mr. George Garberich, Mr. Wm. D. Martin, Mr. Geo. T. Murray, Mr. Chas. Ossman, sr., Mr. Wm. Parkhill, Miss Mary Landis, Miss Mary J. Ossman, Mrs. Mary Eyster and Mrs. Wm. Sayford. Others were added as necessity required, but their names have
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not been left on record. The school grew so rapidly that on the fourth Sunday the rooms on the first and second floors of the building were filled. It became evident at once that larger ac- commodations must be secured in the near future.
At the next meeting of the joint Sunday-school Association steps were taken to secure a lot on which to build a chapel for the use of the school. In March, 1859, the lot at the Corner of State and Fourth streets, on which the Baptist church now stands, was leased for five years.
The undertaking met with the favor of the vestry and member- ship of Zion church, a loan was secured, and steps were at once taken to erect a cheap wooden chapel on the lot leased. This building was completed during the early summer, and dedicated and occupied by the school in July. For some time thereafter services were held in the chapel on Sunday afternoon and Thurs- day evening by Rev. C. A. Hay, D. D., pastor of Zion church. A mite society was organized by the teachers of the school to raise funds to pay for the building. By mutual agreement, it was thought best that a pastor should be secured to take charge of the work of the mission, and accordingly the vestry of Zion church extended a call to Rev. Joshua Evans for this purpose. The call was accepted, but before entering upon his labors here Rev. Evans re-considered his action and declined. Rev. E. S. Johnston was then called, who entered upon his duties June 24, 1860. A congregation of 64 members was organized September 13, 1860, sixty-one of whom brought letters of honorable dismission from Zion church. .
The new church thus began its independent existence, and Rev. Johnston became its pastor, devoting his whole time and energy to its welfare. A Sunday evening prayer-meeting was organized, which has been kept up, except for short intervals, ever since. A constitution was adopted the following January, and the necessary steps were taken to unite with the East Pennsyl- vania Synod.
About this time a lot was purchased for a permanent church home, on Elder street, and partly paid for. Not long afterward, however, it was rendered unavailable for church purposes by the opening and grading of Forster street, which passed through it
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at the intersection with Elder street. The chapel had been paid for, but the lot on which it stood had been sold, and a few months afterwards the chapel was sold. Another lot was bought, on Forster street near Sixth, and steps were at once taken to erect a two-story stone edifice as the future home of the congregation.
By April, 1864, more than a year after the ground was broken, the building was so far completed as to enable the congregation to use the basement, but it was not finished until 1867, when on July 12, it was dedicated. In the meantime Rev. E. S. Johnston resigned, November 1, 1866, and Rev. G. W. Halderman became pastor January 13, 1867. The congregation at this time num- bered about 150 members, and in the erection of this church had passed through one of the severest ordeals of its existence. It had a church home, but this was heavily mortgaged with debt. Three years later, January 24, 1870, Rev. Halderman resigned. The congregation was without a pastor until September 28, 1870, when Rev. F. P. Tompkins was elected pastor, who served in this capacity until April, 1873, when he resigned. The pulpit was supplied until September, when Rev. L. M. Heilman was elected pastor, who entered upon the duties of his office November, 1873.
During this pastorate, which lasted for ten years, new life and zeal were infused into the congregation. Nearly all of the debt on the church building, which had become very burdensome, was paid. The building was enlarged, to make room for the increased membership. It was also thoroughly overhauled at very consid- erable expense. The children and young people of the congre- gation were regularly instructed in the catechism and the doc- trines of the church, missionary societies were organized, the people grew in piety and spiritual power, the Sunday-school increased greatly in numbers and in efficiency, many of the young people from time to time united with the church and identified themselves with its work, and the blessing of the Lord was every- where manifest. At the close of this time the membership had increased to over 400, and the Sunday-school to nearly 500. Rev. Heilman resigned June, 1883.
In October of the same year Rev. H. S. Cook became pastor, and served the congregation in this capacity until January, 1888, when he resigned. During this time the remainder of the debt
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was paid, and the lot on which the present church building stands was purchased. The temporal and spiritual work of the church was carried along very much as during previous years. April I of the same year Rev. T. T. Everett, D. D., became pastor. The church building soon proved too small for the audiences that at- tended the public worship, and it was evident to all that a larger audience room was a matter of necessity. For some time the congregation was in a quandary, whether to endeavor to remain in this building until the lot recently purchased had been paid for, and a fund sufficiently large to erect a new building had been secured, or to build at once. The latter course was adopted, at the risk of incurring a heavy debt, and a two-story brick chapel, 100 feet by nearly 60 feet, was erected. It was dedicated April 13, 1890. The building has been well furnished and well equipped for church work, and will answer the needs of the con- gregation until the entire structure, of which this is only a part, is completed. In March, 1890, the name of the congregation was changed from "The Second English Evangelical Lutheran church " to " Messiah Lutheran church." In June of the same year the Augsburg Lutheran Sunday-school was organized in the northern part of the city as a missionary enterprise of the con- gregation. At the time of Dr. Everett's resignation, December 18, 1890, the congregation numbered about 600 members, and the Sunday-school had an enrollment of over 800.
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