USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 6
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Trustees-Charles Houpt, Edwin H. Faust, Theodore Fleck ; Elders-John M. Rex, Frederick Pfitzenmeyer, Peter Weaver ; Deacons-Alvin B. Faust, Rudolph Dilthey, Thomas S. Gillin.
Among former members and officers may be named John B. Rittenhouse, Daniel Rynear, William Webster, Daniel Gilbert, Henry Houpt, Adam W. Fleck, John Kuhler, Jacob Smith, Alvin
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D. Faust, Jacob W. Lenhart, William Beck, Charles Dilthey, James Doran, and others.
The Sunday-school was organized September 30, 1858. It has generally been zealously conducted, and has produced effective results. In 1883, its 25th anniversary was celebrated with great interest, when a history of the school was written by Mrs. Dr. Hannah E. Wilson. The following have been superintendents : William Webster, Alvin D. Faust, Jacob W. Lenhart, Thomas S. Gillin, James Doran, and Samuel A. Faust.
A helpful Ladies' Aid Society has been maintained in the church for several years past. On the decease of a late member of the congregation, the example of a handsome bequest to her church came to light.
In both congregations, catechisation has been steadily main- tained as a preparation for full membership.
Within these congregations, there are taken thirty copies of the Lutheran Observer, two hundred copies of the Lutheran Sunday- School Herald, twenty-five copies of the Augsburg Teacher, etc.
At the pleasant village of Fort Washington, half-way between the two churches of this charge, a very promising Sunday-School was commenced in a Hall, December 21, 1890. It bears the designation Lutheran, and is under the superintendency of Mr. Howard S. Jones; formerly of Philadelphia. The school is not organically connected with the parish, but it is expected to se- cure, at an early day, the consent of the two congregations to the organizing of a church.
VII. ZION'S CHURCH, HUMMELSTOWN, DAUPHIN CO.
BY REV. H. G. SNYDER.
There is no account, in the existing records of the church, of the organization of this congregation, but fortunately we can fix the date very closely from an old deed, bearing date June 24, 1756. On that day Frederick and Rosina Hummel granted two lots of ground to the congregation. That it was regularly organ- ized prior to that date, is evident from the fact that the deed mentions a " church erected on a part of said lots," and the con-
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veyance is made to " Theophilus England, then pastor," and the " representatives " of the congregation, Andrew Schrötle, Fred- erick Forster, Leonard Witmeyer, and Daniel Wunderlich. The centennial " History of Dauphin County," claimed to be " a safe reference," is perhaps correct in the statement that the Lutheran church had " begun an enterprise in Hummelstown as early as I753."
PASTORS.
Theophilus Engelland was pastor in 1756. The next name that appears (only in the auditing of accounts) is that of Michael Enderlein, first mentioned in 1771, and running until 1778. William Kurtz was pastor from 1781-1795. Then occurs an in- terval when the congregation "was without divine service and religious instruction " ; and there was great rejoicing and pros- perity, when, in 1804, John Frederick Ernst came among them. He was succeeded in 1807 by John Paul Ferdinand Kramer. John Henry Vanhoff followed on June 23, 1811. Here the congregation was probably without a pastor again for several years, or supplied from some other place. C. R. Demme took charge in June, 1819. On October 6, 1822, he was succeeded by Peter Scheurer. Henry G. Stecher became pastor December 5, 1830, and continued for 24 years, when he was compelled to resign on account of the infirmities of age. George Haines was his successor, October 27, 1854. J. F. Probst followed Novem- ber 1, 1856. A. S. Link was elected to succeed him on Decem- ber 1, 1858, and remained until April 27, 1861. The next pastor was E. Huber, June 15, 1861. Peter Rizer was elected to fill the vacancy caused by Rev. Huber's resignation, October 27, 1866, and served until January 1, 1873. P. S. Mack succeeded him on June 2, 1873. Then followed in order, J. H. Leeser, July 1, 1877, to April 1, 1885 ; I. B. Crist, June 1, 1885, to Janu- ary 1, 1890 ; H. G. Snyder, June 1, 1890, to the present time.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER CHURCHES.
There is no mention of any connection with other churches until the pastorate of Henry G. Stecher at Hummelstown, Shoop's, Sand Hill and Union Deposit. Shoop's church separated from
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the charge about 1850, the other three remaining longer. Since 1873 Hummelstown has supported its own pastor.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
The first church was a log structure, said to have been com- pleted May 16, 1766. Having become too small, it was replaced, in 1815, by a beautiful blue limestone building. After the new church was built, the old one was used as a school-house, but, owing to the carelessness of the teacher, it was destroyed by fire in December, 1817. This second building was enlarged and re- modeled in 1855, at a cost of over $4,000, the church being con- verted into an audience room above and a Sunday-school room below. Drs. Krotel and Hay preached the dedication sermons. The Sunday-school rooms were again remodeled and the church renovated at a cost of $306.35, and re-opened for divine service May 25.
On June 18, 1891, the congregation decided to erect a new church. Plans and specifications were secured from J. A. Demp- wolf, architect, York, Pa., and the work was begun in October. The corner-stone was laid November 29, Dr. McKnight preach- ing the sermon. The entire building is of Hummelstown brown- stone, contains main auditorium, Sunday-school, infant class, Bible class and library rooms all on one floor, main auditorium carpeted throughout, cathedral glass windows, heated with steam and lighted by electricity. It will be dedicated January 22, 1893.
Prior to 1857, the pastors lived either in their own or in rented homes, but in this year a handsome, commodious brick parsonage was erected on the lot of ground owned by the congregation, on Main street. This was removed in October, 1891, to the rear of the same lot, fronting on Rosina street, in order to make room for the new church building, which now occupies one of the most eligible sites in the town.
ORGANIZATIONS AND BRANCHES OF CHURCH WORK.
The church council consists of the pastor, who is ex officio chairman, three trustees, four elders and four deacons. The congregation is divided into three «istricts, with representation in the council in proportion to size. Council meets quarterly in regular session, but very frequently for special work.
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The Sunday-school existed as far back as 1830, but it was a union school, conducted in the German language, on the order of the week-day school. It met with violent opposition, the country members strongly objecting to its being held in the church, on which account it was disbanded after a few years. It was re- organized in a school-house in 1837. In 1842 it was again taken into the church and conducted in a more modern way.
The remodeling of the church in 1855 created the desire and furnished the opportunity for a distinctively Lutheran school, which was accordingly organized. Henry L. Hummel was its first superintendent, and continued in office until 1872. His suc- cessors and their terms were as follows : Frank C. Earnest, from 1872-1874 ; Geo. I. Hummel, 1874-1875 ; Dr. Jacob Shope, 1875- 1880 ; H. J. Hummel, 1880-1882 ; Dr. Charles H. Clark, 1882- 1888; C. P. Haehnlen, 1888-1892; and L. W. Ebersole, the present incumbent. It has an Officers' and Teachers' Associ- ation, which holds monthly meetings for business and discussion of Sunday-school work, and a weekly teachers' Bible class, con- ducted by the pastor.
The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in 1875, and pledged to work " for the good of the church at home and abroad." In January, 1881, the "Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society " was organized. In 1882 it reported 45 active and 5 honorary members, and contributed $25. In the course of time the society was disbanded, but on September 18, 1889, it was re- organized with its original title and object.
On September 5, 1890, a Society of Christian Endeavor was organized, and now numbers 40 active and 22 associate members. The society contributes $25 annually to Foreign Missions, raised by the " two cents a week " plan.
So far as the writer has been able to learn, but one minister has gone out from this congregation, the Rev. John A. Earnest, D. D.
The congregation now numbers about 200 communicant mem- bers, and is well organized and equipped for efficient service.
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VIII. UNION DEPOSIT CHARGE, DAUPHIN CO .- SAND HILL, SANDY HOLLOW, UNION DEPOSIT, HOERNERSTOWN.
BY REV. J. M. DEITZLER, ASSISTED BY REV. W. H. LEWARS AND REV. A. WIETING.
I. SAND HILL CHURCH.
As early as 1756, this congregation possessed a house of wor- ship, known as the " Berg Kirche," in Derry township. It stood upon the Sand Hills, two miles southeast of Hummelstown, near the present location of the brownstone quarries. It was sur- rounded by a fine grove of chestnut and oak trees, on an un- frequented public road, and stood until 1875, a period of one hundred and nineteen years. The present building is of red sandstone, with a small belfry. The old communion-set, pre- sented by Ulrich Hubscher and Wendel Poh, has been in use for one hundred and seventeen years. Articles of incorporation were drawn in 1891, the following being trustees at that time : Jacob Books, Michael Hall, John Bender, John Walty, John Fuhrman, Anthony Beersley, Philip Beersley, Henry States, Thomas Smith.
Eleven persons communed at Easter in 1812. There are now thirty-five communicant members. The congregation owns some fifteen acres of land adjoining the church, and a good sexton's house.
The church was generally served by the pastors who ministered at Hummelstown, until the formation, in 1873, of the Union De- posit charge, with which it has since been connected.
2. SANDY HOLLOW CHURCH.
-
In the year 1844, Mr. John Diller, a tanner, residing at Sandy Hollow, extended an invitation to Rev. A. Wieting, of Middle- town, to preach in the school-house at the former place. The invitation was accepted, and services conducted every two weeks for two years, beginning with August, 1844. In 1846 a neat little church, 35x50 feet, was erected, the location being on the Jones- town road, nine miles east of Harrisburg, in West Hanover town-
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ship. After holding a protracted meeting in the new building, the pastor organized a congregation with 33 members. After preaching for about eight years longer, Rev. Wieting was suc- ceeded by Rev. Wm. G. Laitzle, who served as supply from 1852- 1854. The succeeding pastors have been : G. J. Martz, 1855- 1868; H. D. Kutz, 1869-1871; E. Daron, 1872-1875 ; E. S. Brownmiller, 1875-1881; G. J. Martz, 1882-1883 ; A. K. Zim- merman, 1885-1887 ; J. A. Danner, 1887 ; J. M. Deitzler, 1890 to the present time.
A new tin roof was put upon the building last year, and the in- terior neatly papered and carpeted. The congregation now numbers about forty members.
3. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, UNION DEPOSIT.
This is a union church. Its constitution was adopted Novem- ber 29, 1847, and is signed by the following persons representing the Lutheran congregation : Geo. Keplinger, David Ramler, Conrad Wagner, Jacob Hocker, David Berst. The corner-stone was laid in the same year. The congregation has been served by the following pastors : Lewis G. Eggers, 1847-1852 ; Wm. G. Laitzle, 1852-1854 ; George Haines, 1854-1856 ; A. S. Link, 1858-1861; Eli Huber, 1861-1866 ; Peter Rizer, 1866-1873. Up to this time the congregation was a part of the Hummelstown pastorate. Since then, the following pastors have served : E. S. Brownmiller, 1874-1881 ; Geo. J. Martz, (supply) 1882-1883 ; A. K. Zimmerman, 1885-1887. After the resignation of the last- named pastor, the charge was served for a brief period by Rev. John A. Danner, who was conditionally received into the East Pennsylvania Synod from the Reformed Church, but has since gone back to his first love. Rev. J. M. Deitzler became pastor in June, 1890. The congregation is now, after a long period of discouragement, in a hopeful condition, numbering 63 communi- cant members.
4. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, HOERNERSTOWN.
This congregation, organized in August, 1891, was admitted to Synod at its session in September of the same year, and added to
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the Union Deposit Charge. It has a substantial and energetic membership, forty in number, a fine new church, and a growing Sunday-school.
IX. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, ALLENTOWN.
BY REV. J. A. SINGMASTER.
The oldest Lutheran congregation in the vicinity of Allentown, and probably in Lehigh county, is known as the Salzburg (Salis- bury) church. Its first edifice, presumably of logs, was built as early as 1741.
In 1762 Allentown, then called Northampton, is said to have been laid out by James Allen. In the same year the Lutherans and Reformed erected a building of 1 gs to serve as a church and probably also as a school-house. This building stood in the rear of the lot where Zion's Reformed church now stands.
The first Lutheran pastor was John Joseph Roth, who had been a Roman Catholic Studiosus and was from Siegen in Germany. In December, 1761, pastor Roth was in charge of the Indian field and Old Goschenhoppen congregation. December 8th he visited Mühlenberg and stated that he had tendered his resignation at Indianfield and accepted charge of Upper Milford, and desired to be received into the Ministerium. At the meeting of the Min- isterium June 28, 1762, at Philadelphia, delegates from Indian- field appeared, bringing with them their pastor Roth, and applied for his examination in order to his being received into the Min- isterium. He was examined as to doctrine, earnestly admon- ished, and asked to await a future decision as to his admission into the Ministerium after a fuller acquaintance. The decision was received by him with tears and deep emotion. December 15, 1762, Upper Milford wrote to Mühlenberg that they desired to have Mr. Roth as their pastor ; that he now for some time had preached to them, that they had knowledge of his doctrine and life, and that they desired him to unite with the Ministerium. In his answer dated January 3, 1763, Mühlenberg urges them to unite with the little congregation at the School-house, and as Upper Saucon had become vacant by the removal of Friederici
Gresscup= & West
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ALLENTOWN, PA.
(79)
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beyond the Blue Mountains, they should unite and make provi- sion for the support of a pastor, who should reside among them.
So John Joseph Roth became pastor of the Upper Milford, Saucon and Allentown Congregations, retaining also Indianfield.
At the meeting of the Ministerium in Philadelphia, October 16, 1763, delegates were present from Saucon and Indianfield. It is said that none came from Allentown and Upper Milford through fear of attacks by the Indians. A letter was read from Upper Milford, commending Mr. Roth for his purity of life and his zeal in official duty, and one from the inhabitants of Allenstown in Hamton county, who desire that Mr. Roth may be recognized and approved as their pastor. The question of receiving Dia- conus Roth into full membership with the Ministerium was care- fully considered, Monday, October 17, 1763 ; the delegates were examined as to the desire of the congregations, to which they testified. He was then received, after needful admonition, into full membership, each minister giving him his hand and hearty wish for God's blessings upon him. This is the first mention of Allentown and its Lutheran congregration by name in the Hal- lesche Nachrichten, in October, 1763.
Unfortunately, the services of Roth as pastor did not continue long, as he died, and was buried May 13, 1764, at Upper Saucon church.
From 1764, after the death of pastor Roth, until the close of 1769, the four congregations of the charge to which Allentown be- longed were vacant and dependent on occasional visits from neighboring clergymen.
In 1769, towards the close of the year, these congregations, with the addition of Macungie, obtained the services of Rev. Jacob Van Buskerk, the great-grandfather of the present pastor. Dr. Van Buskerk was born at Hackensack, N. J., in 1739. At the age of twenty he became a member of Mühlenberg's family in order to be prepared for the ministry. He became Mühlenberg's assistant, was ordained in 1763, and became pastor of the above-named churches in 1769. He remained pastor until 1778. He served the Macungie church, with a short intermission, until near his de- cease, which occurred in 1801 at Upper Dublin, where his re- mains lie buried.
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In 1773 the Reformed withdrew from the union church, having built a church of their own. The Lutherans occupied the log church until 1794.
After the resignation of Rev. Van Buskerk, the congregation was apparently without a pastor for several years.
In the Protocol of the Ministerium for 1781, Allentown has become connected with Dry Lands, Irish Settlement and Indian- land. These congregations then applied to the Synod for a pas- tor. The answer was that the Ministerium regrets the want of pastors and requests neighboring pastors to visit them as often as possible, preaching and administering the sacraments, and ad- vises the congregations to select lay-readers capable of conduct- ing the kinderlehre and leading the singing.
In 1783 John Christian Leps attended the meeting of the Min- isterium as pastor at Allentown, and the place is mentioned as giving name to a pastorate. It is probable therefore that he re- sided here. Mr. Leps was a native of Denmark, and had resided in the Danish West India islands. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1773. He was a man of scholarly attainments, and was engaged by Dr. Kunze as teacher of a Seminary which he endeavored to establish. The Seminary failed, and Mr. Leps was ordained upon a call from Loonenburg, now Athens, New York, and in July, 1774, he removed thither. In 1778 he was still in New York, but longed to return to Pennsylvania. It is not known how long he remained at Allentown-not over seven years at most.
In one of the venerable church records occurs the name of Rev. Carl Christoph Goetz, "a native of Worms." His first entry bears the date of November, 1785 ; the last June 8, 1788. This is all that is known of him.
In the list of ministers present at the Synod in 1793 is the name of Joseph Wichterman, among the licensed candidates ; his resi- dence is given as Allen township. The congregations of each charge are given, and he has charge of Allentown and the church in Hanover township, with 123 communicants. He was received into the Ministerium in 1791, upon an application from Bedmin- ster, New Jersey. He left Allentown at the time of the meeting of the Synod.
In 1793 George Frederick Ellisen, a candidate from Germany,
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was examined and licensed as a candidate to have charge of Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Salisbury and Allentown. In 1795 Steiner's church is added to this charge. In 1796 his name was on the roll but he was not at Synod; in 1797 it disappears from the roll, and his license, not having been renewed, expired.
In 1794, during the pastorate of Licentiate Ellisen, the old log church was abandoned and the erection of a larger stone structure begun on the site of the present St. Paul's. From the accounts kept by the treasurer, Leonard Nagle, we glean the fol- lowing interesting particulars. For the first time the record is made in English and that quite readable. The trustees were John Horn, John Roth, Peter Hartz and Henry Shantz. The corner-stone was laid June 24, 1794. The consecration took place September 4, 1795. The cost was nearly 1300 pounds sterling. Building was expensive at that time. Day laborers re- ceived from five to six shillings a day. Pine boards were $22 per thousand feet. Nails cost II pence (22 cents) per pound. About $230 were expended for this item alone. " The old church was sold to Valentine Fatzinger at vendue for 17 pounds." The treasurer credits himself with six shillings and nine pence "for Rum at Raising " ! ! £99 were collected toward the new church by Philip Klotz and Andrew Young, at Philadelphia. The indebt- edness in March, 1797, was about £300.
In the year 1800 Rev. John Conrad Jaeger became pastor of St. Paul's. His charge consisted of Christ church, Hanover, where he lived, Dry Lands, Friedens in Saucon, and Allentown.
In each of his four churches Mr. Jaeger preached once in four weeks on Sunday morning, and while he was pastor there was never any service at night in Allentown. The salary paid Mr. Jaeger by the Allentown church was $100. Mr. Jaeger retained charge of these four churches until 1831, but his son, Joshua, was licensed to preach in 1827, and assisted his father in his whole charge until 1831, when the father resigned charge of Allentown and Friedens church, of which his son became pastor.
Allentown in 1830 was a town of 1500 inhabitants, but the opening of navigation on the Lehigh and the supply of water to the town gave a fresh impulse to its growth, and it was felt by pastors and congregation that there must be a resident pastor and
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more frequent services. When, therefore, Rev. Joshua Jaeger was elected as pastor, he settled in town, and soon offered to preach every other Sunday morning. His call only required ser- vices once in four weeks and offered $100 as salary. His proposal was accepted and the salary increased to $150. In 1832, how- ever, the father died and the son was elected in the other two churches ; he could, therefore, no longer preach oftener than once in four weeks in the morning, but he proposed to preach on two Sunday evenings in each four weeks. This arrangement was made and remained unaltered throughout the whole time of his ministry, and the salary, $175, also remained unaltered.
In 1834 a Sunday-school was established by members of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations. In its establishment Mr. Jaeger took a very active part, going around from house to house, and urging his members to send their children. The school met in the Lutheran church until the completion of the Reformed church, in the erection of which a room was provided for the school, when, in 1839, the school was removed to its new quarters. In September, 1856, the school separated, each organizing anew in their respective churches.
The rapid growth of the town made it apparent to Mr. Jaeger that St. Paul's must have a pastor for itself and one who could preach in English as well as in German. Therefore, on Easter, April 11, 1852, at the close of the morning service, he presented his resignation, to take effect immediately.
Upon the resignation of Rev. Jaeger, the congregation, by the advice of the 'Synod, called two pastors, one for the German por- tion, the other for the English. The former secured the services of Rev. Jacob Vogelbach ; the latter those of Rev. Beale M. Schmucker. They both came in October, 1852. Rev. Vogel- bach took charge also of the congregations which nearly a cent- ury before had been connected with Allentown. Hence he could preach only every other Sunday morning, but oftener at night, at St. Paul's. The English pastor thus occupied the pulpit at about half the regular services. "The contrast however between the audiences was very great," says Schmucker in an "Historical Discourse " delivered at the twenty-fifth anniversary of St. John's. " The earnestness and pulpit power of Mr. Vogelbach, then in
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the vigor of his best days, attracted crowded audiences. The English audiences were very small." But the work grew, so that early in 1854 measures were taken for the erection of a church, the corner-stone of which was laid June 25. The consecration of the new St. John's English Lutheran church took place May 6, 1855.
While St. John's was in process of erection, plans for building a new St. Paul's were maturing. By the 21st of May, 1854, a committee reported that $7100 had been subscribed. The final service was held in the old church on Easter, 1855. The name St. Paul's was adopted for the new church May 27, 1855, the former name having been "the German Evangelical Lutheran church." The cost of the edifice was about $15,000. It was consecrated September 21, 1856, Drs. Mann and Hutter of Phila- delphia, the Moravian bishop Wolle, of Bethlehem, and Rev. Dubs, of the Reformed Church, assisting the pastor, Rev. Vogel- bach. The latter terminated a popular and successful pastorate in February, 1857. His salary had been $300 from St. Paul's.
Immediately after the resignation of Mr. Vogelbach, the con- gregation determined to separate from the country churches and, for the first time in its history, support a pastor alone. Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer became pastor at a salary of $800, in the spring of 1857, and terminated his pastorate in August, 1858.
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