USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 22
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Rev. Chas. R. Trowbridge, of Trenton, N. J., was elected pastor on May 18, 1888, and assumed charge of the work on August 22, 1888. During his pastorate, seventy-four were added to the membership of the church. On October 25, 1891, a brick addition, sixteen by twenty-two, to the Sunday- school room, for the use of the infant school, was thrown open and dedicated, free of debt. The total cost was $450.00. Rev. R. W. Hufford, D. D., and Rev. T. C. Pritchard, assisted
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in the dedicatory services. Two young men of this congregation have entered the ministry. They are Rev. Chas. M. Sandt, formerly pastor at Gordon, Pa., temporarily residing at Easton, and Rev. C. E. Walter, who is now the assistant pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Germantown, Pa.
The ladies of the congregation deserve much credit for their activity in efforts to assist in meeting the financial obligations of the congregation. At various times Aid or Mite Societies have done good work, and have raised a great deal of money by their labor. On November 1, 1891, a Society of Christian Endeavor was formed, with some twenty or more active members. A Cir- cle of King's Daughters is also in existence among the young ladies of the congregation. During the winter of 1890-1891, a Circle of King's Sons maintained semi-monthly prayer-meetings among the young men of the congregation with some success.
The salary paid to the pastor at present is $650.00, with par- sonage, a total of perhaps $750.00 or $800.00.
The Sunday-school consists of two departments-the primary, with three officers and teachers and eighty-five scholars ; and the intermediate, with twenty-three officers and teachers and one hundred and four scholars.
The present indebtedness on the parsonage is $1,250.00, and on a house and lot adjoining the parsonage, also owned by the congregation, $950.00, making a total indebtedness of $2,300.00.
LIX. ST. JOHN'S, STEELTON, DAUPHIN COUNTY.
BY REV. M. P. HOCKER.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Steelton, Pa., dates its history from January 31, 1875, when, in the old brick school-house until recently standing on South Second street, a congregation was organized by Rev. E. Daron, who was then serving what was known as the Shoop's pastorate, and who had preached in the school-house at stated periods before this date. A Sunday-school had been organized as early as November 22, 1874, with about twenty pupils. The first officers of the school were : Superintendent, F. C. Earnest ; Secretary, John A. Mc-
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Clure ; Librarians, C. A. Dobson and Martin Sharlock ; Managers, Jacob Felty, Henry Lenhart, Mrs. Dobson, and Mrs. Sharlock ; Treasurer, Jonas Books.
When the congregation was organized a few months later the following Church Council was chosen : Trustees, Jacob Lenhart, David Sloop, and Henry Miller ; Elders, Christian Harm and F. C. Earnest ; Deacons, J. A. McClure and Martin Hocker ; Treas- urer, Jonas Books.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, STEELTON, PA.
The congregation was united with the Shoop's pastorate, and Rev. Daron became the first pastor. From its beginning the congregation gave evidences of intense activity, and, though few in numbers, arrangements were very soon made to build for them -. selves a chapel on Locust street, near Second, which building, though several times enlarged, still serves the congregation as a place of worship. The corner-stone was laid on August 15, 1875, and the completed building was dedicated on December 19 of the same year.
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Too much praise cannot be given to the few devoted, zeal- ous members who gave themselves so earnestly to this new enter- prise. They laid the foundations of that which, under the bless- ing of Providence, developed into what we now so greatly enjoy. Some of the charter members are still with us, and have the rare satisfaction of working amid abundant fruitage in the garden of their own planting. The debt of gratitude on our part is not limited to members of the Lutheran church. There were those of other denominations who labored with and for this struggling congregation. The names of Mr. and Mrs. Dobson, especially, are most gratefully mentioned by the pio- neers in this work whenever reference is made to those days of small things.
Rev. Daron, after serving the congregation a little less than three years, resigned January 1, 1878, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Yingling, who took charge June 1, 1878. The latter served the congregation until September 6, 1880, or about two years and three months. About this time the congregation be- came a distinct pastoral charge, having separated from the Shoop's pastorate.
Rev. Wm. S. Porr became the third pastor, and entered upon his duties October 1, 1880. After serving the church with com- mendable zeal and remarkable activity for two years and two months, he resigned November 30, 1882. During his ministry, and by his personal efforts largely, the chapel was beautified and rendered much more cheerful. At the close of his administra- tion, and nearly eight years from the date of the organization, the congregation numbered about seventy-five members, with a Sunday-school of about one hundred and fifty.
From the last of November, 1882, until the middle of July, 1883, the congregation suffered from the demoralizing condition of being without a pastor ; for, although the present pastor ac- cepted a call February I, he could not, prior to the above date, exercise any pastoral care, being still a member of the Senior class in our Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, from which in- stitution he was graduated in the latter part of June, 1883, having in the interval, however, served the congregation as a supply. En- tering upon his duties in July, 1883, and making a house to-house
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visitation, in company with our beloved and now sainted brother, D. B. Lupfer, about fifty adherents to the church were found, a number of members having recently removed.
Thus began the second half of the congregation's history up to date. Under the very special blessing and favor of God, during the last nine years the congregation has had a prosperous career. Although we have lost many members by removal and for other reasons, some of which will be referred to later, yet we number over four hundred members to-day, with a Sunday-school of nearly six hundred.
The following marks of prosperity may be noted : net growth of membership, from 50 to 405 ; of Sunday-school, from 150 to 580. The church building has been twice enlarged, and the main body of the church has been beautified. A site for a new church edifice has been bought and paid for at a cost of $5,100.00, not including interest on borrowed money.
The congregation has always responded to worthy appeals for contributions to the various operations of the church at large. We have always met our apportionment, and, with one or two ex- ceptions, have exceeded it every year. We have not been un- mindful of the poor. The pastor's salary has been regularly increased, from $500.00 the first year, to $1,000.00 several years ago, and is promptly paid every month.
By the aid of our council, especially that of our deacons, who seem to realize the responsibility of their stewardship and try to keep the church free from debt, the financial condition of our congregation is excellent.
We have also built and already partly paid for a chapel on South Second street, where the mother congregation has organized a mission church, and for several years prior had maintained a Sunday-school, for one year supporting a missionary on the ground.
We have never aimed merely at numerical growth, for, while we believe that the church is the divinely ordained institution in which, by the faithful use of the means of grace, men are to be saved and prepared for heaven, yet our council has regularly stricken from the roll the names of those who have given unmis- takable evidence that they were not striving to walk in the faith,
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and who have persisted in a wilful dereliction of duty in the face of patient forbearance and sincere efforts to reclaim them.
We have sustained heavy numerical losses during the past sev- eral years, by the death of prominent members and the removal of others from the locality. We dismissed a number to assist in organizing St. Paul's mission. By the organizing of the Ger- man Lutheran congregation several years ago we lost some mem- bers, and when St. Mark's congregation was organized we gave letters of dismissal to six male and fifteen female members.
Our Church Record reveals the gratifying fact that we have received into church fellowship in the last eight and a half years 575 members, an average of nearly 68 each year. Of these, 163 were received by letter, 132 by profession of faith, 86 by bap- tism, 192 by confirmation, and 2 by restoration. During this time 315 infants were consecrated to God in holy baptism, 123 marriages solemnized, and the pastor officiated at 169 funerals.
The congregation has entered upon the eighteenth year of its existence under most encouraging circumstances. The past year was, in many particulars, the most prosperous. Perfect harmony prevails. There seems to be a disposition on the part of most of our members to respect each other's opinions and regard each other's feelings, a disposition that must characterize the true Christian and the congregation that would expect the blessing of heaven upon their work.
The initiatory steps have been taken to build a large and hand- some church edifice for the comfort and increased facilities of the congregation. It is not considered wise to hasten this important work unduly ; but by careful, deliberate counsel, accompanied by harmonious, concerted action, we confidently hope to realize, in the near future, what we so ardently desire and so greatly need, viz .: a commodious and attractive house of worship. With grati- tude and extreme delight we note that one year ago the congre- gation gave their first candidate for the holy ministry, Webster C. Spayde, whom they supported one year in the preparatory de- partment at Gettysburg.
May the rich blessing of God continue to abide with us !
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LX. CENTRAL CHURCH, PHOENIXVILLE, CHESTER COUNTY.
BY REV. JOHN KLING.
The Central Lutheran church of Phoenixville, Pa., was organized by Rev. S. S. Palmer, pastor of the Pikeland church, on December 5, 1875, with eleven members. The following is the list of names : Mrs. Elizabeth Tustin, Mrs. Sarah Auld, Miss Jane Auld, Miss Annie Rixstine, Miss Sarah Wells, Mrs. Mattie Caveny, William E. Caveny, Mrs. Emma C. Gregg, Mrs. Sophia King, Henry Rixstine and Thomas King.
The following-named brethren constituted the first official board of the church : Thomas King, William E. Caveny, Harmon Kanouse, Henry Rixstine, Jonas Tustin, William C. Dettra, Ben- jamin F. Auld, Davault Beaver.
The first sermon looking toward the organization was preached by the aforesaid minister in May, 1875, in the Mennonite church, corner of Main and Church Streets, permission having been granted through the earnest efforts of Thomas King, a member of the Pikeland congregation.
At a regularly-called meeting held on December 25, 1875, the Mennonite congregation (being about to abandon their work in the town) unanimously agreed to convey their church property to the Lutherans upon the following conditions, viz. : That the latter should assume the indebtedness upon the property, and that they should hold the property for divine worship. These conditions were unanimously accepted by the Lutherans. In ac- cordance with an act of the State Legislature, passed in 1873, and by action of the courts of Chester county, on May 17, 1878, the church became an incorporate body. The circumstances which led to the organization were such as are common in nearly all growing towns, viz .: Lutherans were coming in from the sur - rounding country, locating in the town, and going into churches of other denominations.
The congregation has been served by the following-named pastors : Rev. S. S. Palmer, from December 5, 1875, to August, 1880 ; Rev. W. M. Baum, Jr., from October 1, 1880, to January 29,
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1883 ; Rev. Philip S. Hooper, from March 1, 1883, to August I, 1886; Rev. H. C. Grossman, from November 1, 1886, to No- vember 1, 1890.
The present pastor, Rev. John Kling, commenced his labors February 19, 1891. The church has not been associated with any other in pastoral relation.
The building is of stone, and was erected by the Mennonites in 1789. It was repaired by them in 1873, and again repaired by the Lutherans in 1890.
The congregation has no parsonage. Present indebtedness is $320.00. The amount of salary paid the present pastor is $800.00, and $15.00 monthly toward the rental of the pastor's house.
The Sunday-school, previous to the organization of the church, was known as a Union school ; but after the organization it im- mediately became Lutheran, with about fifty members. The first superintendent of this newly-organized school was Wm. E. Caveny.
A Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organ- ized in 1885, during Rev. Hooper's pastorate, which continues its work.
In May, 1890, a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized, which is, indeed, a source of great and efficient help in the work of the church. We also have what is called a "Good Will Society," which is not only of a social character, but of financial aid.
About forty copies of the Lutheran Observer are taken by the congregation, thirty copies of the Missionary Journal, and one hundred copies of the Lutheran Sunday-School Herald.
The present membership of the church is 164, and the present condition and outlook are quite encouraging to both pastor and people.
LXI. ST. PAUL'S, GORDON, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
BY REV. A. R. GLAZE.
Gordon is situated in the west-central part of Butler township, Schuylkill county, Pa. It bears its name in honor of Judge Gor-
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don, of Reading. The first congregation for religious worship was assembled in a school-house in the outskirts of the village (now a borough), about 1854, by Rev. Joseph Adams, who was located in Northumberland county and was a member of the Northumberland Presbytery. He preached at Gordon every two weeks for several years. There were a few Methodist families in the village ; and, during the ministrations of Rev. Adams, a union Sunday-school, composed of Presbyterians and Methodists, was organized in the same school-house and conducted very success- fully.
The first Methodist preaching at Gordon was in the year 1857, by Rev. J. A. DeMoyer, who was stationed on what was then the Catawissa circuit of the Baltimore Conference.
Rev. Robert C. Bryson, of Ashland, became the successor of Rev. Adams, serving also the Presbyterian congregation at Gor- don.
It was not long until the school-house became too small to ac- commodate the children for the public school. Then a new school-house was built nearer the centre of the village.
In the year 1859 a Methodist society was organized. Wor- ship was held every two weeks alternately in the new school- house by the Presbyterians and Methodists for about a year. The various preachers supplying the Methodist society from time to time came from the surrounding towns. Rev. Bryson continued to serve the Presbyterians, whose church outnumbered the Metho- dists. When it was thought expedient to erect a church edifice, a vote was taken by the citizens to decide which denomination should have the choice of building. It was decided in favor of the Presbyterians, who, in 1860, built the church beside the pub- lic school-house, on the lot presented by the McKnights of Read- ing, and secured a clear title for the same. The edifice cost about $2,500.00. The Northumberland Presbytery donated $ 1,000.00 towards the enterprise. This edifice remained in pos- session of the Presbyterians until December 2, 1872, when, on account of their decrease in membership, caused by many re- movals, it was sold to the Methodists, who had by this time in- creased in membership, for the sum of $1,300.00.
In the meanwhile several Lutheran families appeared in the
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place. These, with the surviving Presbyterians, were served suc- cessively by Revs. Sikes, Curtis, and Hackenberg, pastors of the Lutheran church at Ashland. An Episcopalian minister of Ashland, by the name of Washburne, also served them for a while. In 1876 the church, being involved in debt, was sold, and pur- chased by the Lutherans for $600.00, the Methodist Society being compelled to seek a shelter elsewhere.
The Lutheran church at Gordon was organized by Rev. O. D. S. Marcley, September 3, 1876, with thirty-three members. The following were the officers elected at the time of its organization : Elders, Thomas Rasbridge and W. H. Anthony ; Deacons, George F. Rick, Charles F. Hoffman, Joseph L. Harper, Edward G. Eb- ling, Boaz Dreher, and Frederick Rice. Rev. O. D. S. Marcley was elected its first pastor. From the time of its organization until February 3, 1886, it formed a part of the Ashland pastor- ate, and Rev. Marcley was succeeded as pastor May 16, 1878, by Rev. D. E. Rupley, and he, November 1, 1879, by Rev. J. H. Weber.
During the ministry of the last-mentioned pastor, a revival, in February of 1880, resulted in general good and thirty-four addi- tions to the church. An organ was purchased in June, 1880, for $250.00. In December, 1880, another great revival was experi- enced in this church. In December, 1881, a church fair was held, from which $565.00 were realized. In August, 1882, began the work of remodeling the church edifice. This consisted in removing the gallery, putting in stained windows, painting the exterior and papering the interior, securing new pulpit and altar furniture and a new chandelier, at a total cost of $1,000.00. The church was re-dedicated October 29, 1882, free from debt, Rev. F. W. Conrad, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon.
October 11, 1885, it was resolved at a joint council meeting that this church separate from the Ashland church and become an independent pastorate no later than July 1, 1886. Accord- ingly, Rev. J. H. Weber tendered his resignation, to take effect on the date named. He, however, closed his successful services for this people, February 28, 1886, with a morning communion service and the addition of seven members. He found the con- gregation with 42 members, and left it with 106, and in a pros- perous condition.
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A bell was purchased in 1878, at a cost of $160.00, and a par- sonage was bought, December, 1885, of Mr. George Hudson, for $1,400.00. On the latter, $1,000.00 remain unpaid.
Rev. W. G. Thrall, of South Valley, N. Y., became the first pas- tor belonging exclusively to the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church of Gordon, and began his labors March 1, 1886, under the most flattering prospects. -
A union Sabbath-school had been organized April 2, 1876, with sixty-eight scholars and seven teachers. W. H. Anthony was elected its first superintendent, and held the position many years. Rev. Thrall, while pastor, contended for a separate Lutheran organization. The school is to-day thoroughly Luth- eran in name and character, and, under the superintendency of Mr. Thomas Rasbridge, is in a prosperous condition, with one hundred and fifty scholars and twenty-nine officers and teachers. Rev. Thrall ended his labors for this people in December, 1887. Rev. C. W. Sandt was elected as his successor, and served from July 1, 1888 to December 1, 1891.
On the night of March 28, 1890, the church building, along with the school-house, was destroyed by fire, the fire originating in the latter. Then, by the painstaking effort of pastor Sandt, his estimable wife, and a devoted people, a new church edifice was erected where the old building stood, at a cost of $10,000.00. This new house of worship, built of brick, having a large audi- ence-room, with a seating capacity of 350, and a convenient Sunday-school room in the basement, unique in design, magnifi- cent in style of architecture, beautiful in finish, stands as a monument to the zeal and loyalty of a little band of devout fol- lowers of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, Sunday, September 27, 1891. Rev. Wm. M. B. Glanding, of Ashland, Rev. J. H. Menges, of Philadelphia, and Rev. J. H. Weber, D. D., of Sunbury, conducted the dedica- tion services.
Rev. A. R. Glaze became the first pastor of the new church, entering upon his work January 1, 1892. The success of his first year's work may be seen in the parochial report to Synod. The synodical apportionment was met, and nineteen new mem- bers have been added to the church.
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The Presbyterian society at Gordon ended with the disposal of their church property to the Methodists in the year 1876 ; the Methodist society has a fine church edifice and a beautiful and well furnished parsonage standing side by side in the centre of the borough ; but the Lutherans have the most beautiful, sub- stantial and commodious church building in the place, with a suitable lot at the side, donated to the church by Mr. Thomas Rasbridge, one of its original members, for a parsonage.
From September, 1891, to September, 1892, this congregation was, in the Providence of God, enabled to cancel orders to the amount of $5246.19. Its present indebtedness amounts (Novem- ber, 1892) to $4287.28. The estimated value of its church property is $12,000.00, and its communicant membership is 130. This, with a flourishing Sunday-school, brightens the hope for its future.
LXII. MT. EDEN CHURCH, LANCASTER COUNTY.
BY REV. J. V. ECKERT.
Mount Eden Evangelical Lutheran church is located about thirteen miles south-east of Lancaster, Pa. The church building was erected in the year 1878, and was the result of services held, at intervals of several weeks, in Bowery school-house, Eden town- ship, Lancaster county, by Rev. J. V. Eckert, during the period of about one year. The people began to feel the need of a church, and in the month of March, 1878, a meeting was held to consider the matter, and it was decided to build a Lutheran church, in which, when not used by the Lutherans, other evangel- ical denominations should have the privilege of holding religious services.
Rev. J. V. Eckert, Benjamin B. Myers, Joseph Wimer, Jacob Eckman, and Samuel A. Keen were appointed the building com- mittee. The corner-stone was laid in the month of May, 1878, and the church building was completed in October of the same year ; but in consequence of a severe equinoctial rain-storm, which did considerable damage to the building, it was not dedicated until May, 1879.
The ministers present at the laying of the corner-stone were
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Rev. J. V. Eckert, Lutheran, Rev. J. A. Cooper, Methodist, and Rev. W. G. Cairnes, Presbyterian. Those present at the dedica- tion were Rev. J. V. Eckert, Lutheran, Rev. S. E. Herring, Luth- eran, and Rev. W. G. Cairnes, Presbyterian.
The building is of brick, covered with slate, and is thirty-five by forty-three feet in dimensions, with a cemetery of one-half acre connected with it, and hitching-ground enclosed with suitable fencing. The cost of the building was about $2,000.00, and the entire ground was donated by Levi Rhoads, of Bird-in-Hand, Lan- caster county, who owns the farm from which the ground was taken. The church building is beautifully located in the country, and the burying-ground is of a sandy, barren soil, and free of stones.
After the dedication of the building a congregation was organ- ized by the election of James Creswell and Joseph Wimer, elders ; David Haverstick, Jr., and George Gaul, deacons ; Benjamin B. Myers, Jacob Eckman and Samuel A. Keen, trustees.
The original members at the organization were James Cres- well, Elizabeth Creswell, David Haverstick, Sr., Elizabeth Haver- stick, Joseph Wimer, Elizabeth Wimer, Abraham Myers, Ann Herr, John Carnathan, Levinia Carnathan, David Haverstick, Jr., Elizabeth Haverstick. Rev. J. V. Eckert was elected pastor, and has remained such up to the present time.
The people of the community in which the church is located were previously rather destitute of church privileges, and there- fore unaccustomed to attend any services regularly. They have, since the erection of the building and organization, manifested an awakened interest in religious services.
The congregation at present consists of about forty-five mem- bers, and is an incorporated body, the charter having been granted by the court February 14, 1887. The field of religious work is limited. Material advancement is difficult, as the locality is not wealthy. The church is now only thirteen years old. It has had no basis of traditional Lutheranism, and therefore will require time to engraft itself well in the community.
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