USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 25
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The Young People's Christian Endeavor Society, recently or- ganized, is active and doing a good work. The women of the congregation have organized and are working in various ways for the mission under the name of " The Ladies' Benevolent Society."
The salary paid by our congregation is $300.00 per year, $200.00 being given by the Board of Home Missions, making in all $500.00.
Comparatively few church papers are taken, but this part of the work is improving and will no doubt be satisfactory in the near future.
The progress of our organization has been very much impeded by the want of a proper place of worship. We are yet, owing to adverse circumstances, without a church home, but we have utmost confidence in the future. It would be exceedingly diffi . cult for us at present to secure, even at an exorbitant price, a lot suitable for our location. This disheartening fact has become generally known, but we are earnestly and zealously working, knowing that duty is ours and results are God's.
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LXXIII. CHRIST'S CHURCH, BRIDGETON, CUMBER- LAND COUNTY, N. J.
BY REV. J. EUGENE DIETTERICH.
Bridgeton, N. J., has a population of about twelve thousand. Until recently there was but one Lutheran church in the city, and that was German. But there were not many Germans in Bridge- ton, and the young people were growing up in the use of the English language and desired English preaching, which was de- nied them in their own church. Hence they lost interest and many withdrew to other churches or neglected all church duties. Then, too, quite a good many English Lutherans were continu- ally moving to Bridgeton from other places, and especially from Friesburg, ten miles distant.
These conditions suggested the idea of planting a new English Lutheran congregation in the city. Arrangements were made to have Rev. J. Eugene Dietterich, pastor at Friesburg, preach in the hall of the Cohansey Lodge, I. O. O. F., near the court house, on February 1, 1891. The service was held at 4 o'clock p. m., and about one hundred persons were present. The Odd Fellows kindly allowed the free use of the hall until a permanent place of worship could be secured. Grosscup's Hall, in the centre of the city, was then sub-leased from the W. C. T. U. for ten dollars per month, and the first sermon was preached there on February 22, 1891. Mr. J. N. Spence and Mr. Geo. Miller assisted in a can- vass of the city, and on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1891, in the evening, in Grosscup's Hall, the new congregation was regularly organized by Rev. J. Eugene Dietterich, with the following mem- bers : Mr. and Mrs. John G. Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. C. Meyers, Miss Linnie Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Spence, John D. Fisher, Wm. A. Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Lutz, Mrs. Kate Maier, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Christopher, Mrs. Mary Maier, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sparks, Miss Minnie L. Miller, Miss Emma Bauer, Chas. W. Richards, Miss Susie Cramer.
A constitution was adopted, and the following council elected : Elders, John G. Bauer and F. W. C. Meyers ; Deacons, J. N. Spence, John D. Fisher, Wm. A. Bauer and Chas. W. Richards.
The first communion was held the following (Easter) Sunday,
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at which time Miss Alice Maier, Mrs. Henry Seibert, George Maier, Jr., and Geo. W. Finlaw were admitted to membership by confirmation.
Rev. J. Eugene Dietterich, pastor of the Friesburg church, was asked to supply the new congregation with preaching until a regular pastor could be secured. He consented to do so, and until October I preached every Sunday in the morning and even- ing at Friesburg, and in the afternoon at Bridgeton.
The second communion was held May 24, 1891, at which time four persons were confirmed.
In June, 1891, the Philadelphia Conference of the Synod of East Pennsylvania was entertained by the new congregation, and passed resolutions endorsing the work and pledging assistance.
Application was now made to the Home Mission Board of the General Synod for help, and that Board made an appropriation toward the support of a pastor and commissioned Rev. J. Eugene Dietterich as missionary, the commission bearing date October I, 1891. The congregation unanimously accepted this arrange- ment. Rev. Dietterich resigned his charge at Friesburg and moved with his family to Bridgeton.
Mr. Wm. A. Bauer was sent as a commissioner to the meeting of the East Pennsylvania Synod held at Middletown, Pa., Septem- ber 16-22, 1891, to ask that the new congregation be received as an integral part of that body. It was so accepted, and Mr. Bauer enrolled as delegate.
Because of the interest shown by Rev. G. W. Enders, D. D., a former pastor of the German Lutheran church of Bridgeton, and because of the assistance which he and his congregation gave to the new organization, the congregation voted that he should select the name by which it should be known, and he named it "Christ's," in honor of the congregation which he is serving in York, Pa.
The next communion was held January 3, 1892, at which time eight persons were admitted to membership, and since that time six others have been added.
The winter's work was greatly hindered by the uncomfortable and uninviting condition of the hall, and it was found to be ab- solutely necessary that a church be built as soon as possible. At an Orphans' Court sale on April 29, 1892, a lot was bought on
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Bank street, near Commerce street, a very favorable location. The price paid was $1600.00. A successful effort was now made to secure the money to pay for the lot, and application was made to the Church Extension Board for help to build the church. The Board in reply made a proposition, which the congregation ventured to accept, and a plan was at once adopted for the new building, bids called for, and the contract placed.
The corner-stone was laid on Sunday afternoon, October 9, 1892. Rev. S. G. Shannon, of Philadelphia, preached the ser- mon, and was assisted in the exercises by Rev. S. J. McDowell and Rev. H. Lisse, of the Lutheran church, and by some of the pastors of other congregations in the city. At this service over five hundred dollars were secured in cash and subscriptions.
The work has been pushed rapidly, and the new church will be dedicated about January 15, 1893. The building is of frame, with slate roof, is Gothic in style, will cost five thousand dollars, and will seat three hundred and fifty persons. Quite a number of people have signified their intention to become members of the congregation as soon as it worships in the new church. There is a Young People's Society connected with the congregation, hav- ing over fifty members.
The outlook for the development and growth of the congrega- tion is excellent. The church will probably be dedicated free of debt, with the exception of the amount borrowed from the Church Extension Board, and it is hoped and expected by pastor and people to make the congregation self-sustaining by October 1, 1893, when it will have been on the funds of the Board just two years.
LXXIV. HARRISBURG AND STEELTON CHARGE- TRINITY AND ST. PAUL'S.
BY REV. M. L. DEITZLER.
On November 11, 1888, Rev. D. M. Gilbert, D. D., pastor of Zion Lutheran church of Harrisburg, with a few of his workers, organized a mission Sabbath-school at 1038 South Ninth street, with Jos. F. Young as superintendent. The school grew rapidly.
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Within two years three necessary additions were made to the resi- dence in which the school was held. The average attendance for the first year was 105, for the second 205, and for the third 218. The Board of Home Missions appointed Rev. M. L. Deitzler, July 1, 1890, to take charge of this work as pastor, in connection with St. Paul's mission school at Steelton. On May 17, 1891, seven members from Zion's congregation, with thirty-nine others, nearly all non-church-members, were regularly organized into a congregation. At the end of the first year the congregation numbered seventy, reducing the appropriation of the Board of Home Missions for pastor's salary from $300.00 to $200.00.
Trinity congregation was regularly admitted to the East Penn- sylvania Synod at its annual meeting in Middletown, September, 1891.
The congregation was chartered September, 1892, and wor- ships in the chapel where the work was begun. A lot of ground, 60x100 feet, with the chapel, is the generous gift of Mr. Joseph F. Young and wife to the congregation. The mission is now, and has been from the beginning, generously supported by Zion Luth- eran congregation.
2. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, EAST STEELTON, PA.
On January 1, 1890, Rev. M. P. Hocker, pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, with others of his congregation, organized a mission Sabbath-school in a private residence in East Steelton, which promised then, and has since proved, to be a true and hopeful home mission field.
November 30, 1890, was dedicated a neat and commodious chapel, erected by St. John's congregation for the work, at a cost of about $2,000.00.
Rev. M. L. Deitzler was appointed by the Board of Home Missions, July 1, 1890, to take charge of this work as pastor, in connection with Trinity Mission, Harrisburg, Pa.
May 17, 1891, a church organization was effected, with eleven members, nearly all from St. John's congregation. St. Paul's congregation was regularly admitted to the East Pennsylvania Synod at its annual session held at Middletown, September, 1891
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uniting with Trinity Lutheran congregation of Harrisburg, Pa., to form the Harrisburg and Steelton Mission. The congregation numbers at present fifteen, while the school has grown from twenty to an average attendance of eighty.
Substantial building improvements, constantly and rapidly made on the territory of this mission, present a hopeful prospect for the congregation in the near future.
LXXV. AUGSBURG CHURCH, HARRISBURG.
BY REV. D. H. GEISER.
Augsburg Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Pa., had its origin in a mission Sunday-school planted in West Harrisburg by zealous members of Messiah Lutheran church (Forster street) in June, 1890, with W. L. Gardner as superintendent. In less than two years the school enrolled 455 pupils, officers and teachers. Its sessions were held in Kelker Street Hall. The demand for a new Lutheran church in this part of the city was irresistible. Accord- ingly the Augsburg congregation was organized January 10, 1892, with 98 members, 92 of whom were dismissed for that purpose from Messiah Lutheran church, with cordial good wishes. Those prominently interested in the new organization had already, through Mr. W. W. Davidson, secured from a generous lady the spacious lot on the corner of Fifth and Muench streets for $8,500.00.
The corner-stone of the new church-building on this lot was laid June 19, 1892. The first pastor, Rev. Dixon H. Geiser, was called from the seminary at Gettysburg, and took charge July I, 1892. The church was dedicated November 20, 1892. The building is of frame, 90 by 45 feet, and with furniture, gas fixtures, steam heat, fencing, etc., cost $6,600.00. It occupies nearly the central portion of the ground, leaving a large space on either side for further use. The congregation was self-sustaining in every respect from the beginning. Its present membership is one hun- dred and forty-nine.
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LXXVI. EBENEZER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, BERBICE, BRITISH-GUIANA, S. A .*
BY REV. J. R. MITTELHOLZER.
Mission work in the past two centuries has received its im- pulse largely from colonization. The Lord has stirred up in the minds of mankind enterprises of this character, by which the word of truth was to be disseminated, and reach the most distant parts of the earth. Early geographical discovery brought to light lands and people unknown to the apostles and their immediate
* NOTE .- In response to an earnest request from the synodical historian, the pastor of our church at New Amsterdam has kindly furnished the following brief autobiographical details :
I am a native of British Guiana, born in June, 1840. My father, Jan Vin- cent Mittelholzer, was born in the colony, but of German parentage. His father, C. M. Mittelholzer, came to this colony at an early time from Switzer- land. Both my father and grandfather were planters. Nor am I aware of any of my elder male relatives ever having entered the Christian ministry.
My own choice of a profession, at first, was that of engineering, which I pursued with great zeal for a time. I was then a boy of 14 years. My course, however, was providentially diverted. An English missionary, the Rev. H. B. Ingram, having seen a small engine of wood constructed by me, took me under his personal care and tuition, with the view of educating me in the higher mathematics, so as to fit me more thoroughly for a professional engineer. After conducting some examinations in the mathematics, the good English minister was taken away from the colony. But I was provided for. Another minister, the late Rev. John Dalgliesh (a Scotchman) took me, but he thought it best for me to study literature, as well as the sciences, and teach in the schools. I now became a teacher of the young, and taught for many years, having suc- cessfully passed examinations under the Government Inspector of Schools. It was whilst so engaged, in connection with the London Missionary Society, that, favorable reports reaching the Directors of said Society, I was by them directed to study classics, theology, etc., etc., in preparation for the work of the Christian ministry. Thus it will be seen that at the first my education was directed for specific objects, and by an all-wise Providence then became blended into the work of the Christian ministry, thus qualifying me to work in a country like this, where a minister must be " made all things to all men," that he may " by all means save some."
Another incident which I consider most providential in my life is that my father and his brother were both of them "postholders " (high military offi- cers) under the Dutch colonial government, having command of the Indian militia, etc. Thus becoming at an early age acquainted with the ways of
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successors. The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus incited the European nations to move westward and southward in quest of new fields of industry. As the Christians traveled to these newly-discovered regions, they carried with them the banner of the Cross, and, planting it on heathen soil, signalized to the great foe of mankind that the holy war had reached thus far.
South America as well as North America has seen Jehovah's banner unfurled, and the bold armies of the prince of darkness gradually retiring before the advancing arms of Jesus of Naza- reth ; and, if not entirely, yet to some extent evil is mitigated and many souls are saved.
In the early part of the sixteenth century, Guiana was visited by the Europeans. Foremost among them were the Spaniards. "Pope Alexander the Sixth, the illustrious 'Borgia,' had, on May 2, 1493, issued a bull granting to King Ferdinand of Spain possession of all lands which had been then, or might be thereafter, discovered to the west of the ideal line drawn from the North to the South Pole, starting a hundred leagues west of the Azores-discoveries west of this line to be held as belonging to Spain, and those in the opposite direction to Portugal.
" The explanation of the issue of such an edict from Rome is to be found in the circumstance, recorded by Washington Irv- ing, that 'During the crusades, a doctrine had been established among the Christian princes, according to which the Pope, from his supreme authority over all temporal things as Christ's Vicar on earth, was considered as empowered to dispose of all heathen lands to such Christian potentates as would undertake to reduce
the Indians, and aided by the influence which my father and uncle wielded over them, I have been enabled after the lapse of so many years to do suc- cessful missionary work among these people. Truly
" God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."
I have worked hard, and am still working hard every day, to recover for our Church the ground which had been lost. May the Lord spare me to see Luth- eranism take a firm hold of the country, all the obloquy which our adversaries had heaped upon us completely wiped off, and the glory of the Lord fully re- stored in his Zion here and in the colony of British Guiana .- J. R. M.
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them to the dominion of the Church, and to introduce into them the light of religion.' "-Rodway & Watt's Annals of Guiana.
According to the same authority quoted above, Alonzo de Ojeda, who " sailed from Port S. Mary, May 20, 1499," was the first who reached the north-east coast of South America, some- where about Surinam (Dutch Guiana), and sailed along the coast up to the Orinoco and thence to the Island of Trinidad. But the great bell, whose stirring tone really inspired European nations to make exploration voyages to Guiana and trade along the coasts, was the gilded story told by dying Juan Martinez of his journey inland, in which he was conducted by Guianians (who had rescued him from perishing in the river Orinoco) into the famous city, "the houses of which were covered with shining gold, stretching as far as his eyes could reach. The place was situ- ated on a great lake or inland sea, called Parima, the sands of which were golden ; from which circumstance, together with the abundance of precious metal he saw in and on the dwellings of the people, he named it ' El Dorado.' "
Whether this visionary city was a mirage or the invention of Martinez, his story got abroad into the northern countries, and the result was the outfitting of a number of expeditions in search of this El Dorado. Guiana became an attractive country. The famous Sir Walter Raleigh also made voyages to this region, in hope of discovering a supposed remarkable and prolific gold mine. Sir Walter really believed in the gold-fields of Guiana. Nor was his notion chimerical. Strange to say, nearly three cen- turies after Sir Walter Raleigh's first expedition to this land, gold is now turning up somewhat plentifully in Guiana, both Dutch and British ; and in the latter colony there is a river known as the " Barima " (no doubt the ' Parima' of Martinez). If the city El Dorado do not turn up, it is evidently showing its golden sands. But alas for the thousands who are fast becoming buried in that "sordid dust !" Our gold fields are crowded with peo- ple from the cities and villages. Again and again the sad tid- ings are announced in our papers of the upsetting of boat-loads of human freight, and thus precious souls in quest of "gold that perisheth "-souls who for gold have long neglected divine wor- ship-are being hurried into eternity to meet their God. But
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what is still more sad, is the fact that there is so much demoraliz- ing influence amongst the gold-diggers.
Guiana, however, did not become a real colony, it appears, be- fore the year 1624.
"By a Grant of the States General in 1602 the Merchants of Zeeland, Van Peere, Van Rhee, De Moor, Lampsius, De Vries and Van Hoorn were allowed freedom of convoy to their ves- sels which were trading to Guiana and the West Indies."
The first man who is said to have taken firm footing on Guiana soil was Captain Gromweagle in 1616. He died in 1664, “ having governed the country for 48 years." The settlement of Berbice, however, was under Abraham Van Peere, the son of Jan Van Peere, in 1627.
Guiana occasionally changed hands, sometimes taken by the English, the French, and again restored to the Dutch. It was in 1803 that the English took final possession of the entire colony.
Guiana is divided into British, Dutch and French. British Guiana consisted of three colonies, Berbice, Demerara and Esse- quibo. These were united into one colony in 1831. Now it is entitled the Counties of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo.
FOUNDING OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
"It being ascertained in the year 1743 that there were then residing in the colony a number of individuals professing the un- altered Augsburg Confession of Faith, it began to be considered by them that, although they lived in peace and harmony with each other, they nevertheless were like so many scattered sheep without a shepherd."
The colony, now British Guiana, was at that time under the Netherlandic government, and the colonists were Dutch as well as German. The established church in those early days was the "Dutch Reformed."
These Lutherans felt it desirable to make application to "their High Mightinesses, the States General of the Netherlands," for permission to exercise religion after the Augsburg Confession. They were encouraged in their good desire by the fact that in that same year the Lutherans in Surinam (Dutch Guiana, S. A.) had succeeded in obtaining from the Netherlands a similar privi- lege.
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The most energetic spirit in this Lutheran movement was Mr. Ludewyk Abbensetts "who, from his unremitting exertions and persevering zeal in the cause, may with strict justice be looked upon as the founder of the Lutheran congregation in Berbice." This gentleman called a meeting of his co-religionists for the purpose of considering and adopting measures that might be deemed most conducive to the attainment of their object. This meeting was convened at his own house on October 15, 1743, when it was resolved, "that petitions should be forwarded to the Honorable the Court of Policy (the colonial legislature), and to the Most Honourable the Directors of the Colony, and their High
EBENEZER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, BERBICE, BRITISH-GUIANA, S. A.
Mightinesses the States General of the Netherlands, praying for the privilege of the free exercise of their religion ; and that at the same time applications should be made by letter to the Reverend Consistory, of Amsterdam, soliciting their aid and co-operation in this urgent matter, and also their good services in procuring a clergyman for the community."
Respecting the last request, the Consistory advised that the ap- pointment of a clergyman should be deferred until the Berbice brethren had secured sufficient funds and property for the support and maintenance of their establishment. This was, be- yond all doubt, a wholesome advice, as matters afterwards amply proved. Meanwhile, however, "the Hon'bles, the Directors of
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the Colony," were pleased to grant their application under the proviso-"that the clergyman to be chosen and engaged by them should, previous to his departure to the Colony, be presented to them (the Directors) for their approbation and confirmation ; that the expenses of the salary of said minister, and also of the church or building to be erected or used for the purpose of divine worship, should be defrayed by the members of the con- gregation themselves, and not at the charge of the Directors ; that they should, moreover, contribute to the ordinary church (the Dutch-Reformed) fund equally and in the same proportion as all other inhabitants." The collecting of these rates was urged rigorously upon the Lutherans in the year 1790, when "the Colonial Receiver-General was instructed to proceed summarily against them for arrears of acre-money."
Notwithstanding these hard stipulations, the Lutherans were only too much rejoiced at the permission to exercise their re- ligion. Their next business was to raise the necessary funds for the support of their church establishment. Having obtained per- mission of His Excellency, the then Governor of the Colony, to convene a regular financial meeting of their body, it was agreed upon amongst them that each individual should contribute a sum of money at once or annually towards what was required. This resolution was so energetically carried out that eight years after- wards their favorable report to the Consistory in Amsterdam pro- cured the services of the Rev. J. H. Taerkenius. Their first pastor arrived in the colony in October, 1752.
One difficulty was now settled. The next immediately pre- sented itself. So connected are the several events of human life. In this case there was the lamb, there was the priest, but where was the altar on which to celebrate the service? Funds were at hand to meet the minister's salary, the minister was now amongst the flock, but where was the CHURCH? They wanted to build one, but where were the means? In vain did they apply to the local authorities for assistance in this urgent matter. The Lu- theran community was, once for all, fully convinced that the colonial authorities were determined not to countenance Luth- eranism in the colony if they could help it ; hence, if the former were to succeed, they must depend instrumentally on their own
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hands, with the help of God. But ever, as the emergency de- mands in all great and good movements, the proper man for its promotion appears. In this trying situation one of the members of their body, Mr. John Reynhout Reymers, willingly offered his spacious mansion for the performance of divine service.
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