USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 50
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 50
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With the beginning of the new pastorate the work on the church building was resumed and actively carried forward. The services of desation took place on the first Sunday of the new year, Jan. 3, 1869. There were three services on that day, the one in the afternoon being the children's service, with services also on Saturday afternoon and evening before, all interesting and well attended. The pastor was assisted by the Rev. Dr. J. W. Nevin, of Lan- caster ; Rev. Dr. D. Gans, Rev. Dr. C. Z. Weiser, and Rev. Dr. D. Y. Heisler, all of the Reformed Church. The congregation had now occasion to congratulate itself on the possession of a neat and comfortable church; and it took courage and went forward until to-day it oceupies a position of re- spectability and influence in the community.
The consistory at that time was composed of George Ilagenbuch, Tobias Kessler, and Samuel Engelman, elders ; and the following deacons : George Kuhl, R. HI. Kramm, John S. Kessler, L. P. Hecker, C. H. Ruhe, and H. C. Wagner, the last gentleman having been elected to fill the vacaney created by the with - drawal of C. Lewis Huber from the congregation. During the last fifteen years the following additional members have faithfully served terms in the consis- tory : A. A. Huber, Jacob A. Blumer, William H. Deshler, Esq., H. M. Lch, William F. Ilecker, John E. Lentz, H. A. Stellwagen, Reuben II. Shuman
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THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
(now residing in Southern Kansas), David R. Kline (now of Western Pennsylvania), A. L. Clauser, L. F. Knecht, L. H. Lenhart, William H. Diehl, William A. Berkemyer, R. D. Butz, and M. J. Meixsell; as trustees, Thomas Mohr, Levi Line, Charles W. Cooper, Sr., Tilghman H. Good, Aaron Troxell, Samuel A. Butz, Esq., Reuben P. Steckel, and Hiram M. Leh. The following choristers and organists have been in the service of the congregation since its or- ganization : S. P. Newhard, J. S. Whitney, J. F. Olil, M. S. Gabriel, F. Wolf, and the present efficient organist, Alfred H. Ettinger. Among the active treasurers appear the names of T. H. Good and S. A. Butz, Esq., of the board of trustees; and J. A. Blumer, H. M. Leh, and H. A. Stellwagen, of the consistory. The following have served the congre- gation in the capacity of Sunday-school superin- tendents : Tobias Kessler, Benjamin Lochman, Lewis P. Hecker, Henry C. Wagner, Milton H. Derr, Reu- ben H. Kramm, Edmund C. Huber, Daniel Z. Walker, J. Henry Lawyer, Mrs. W. R. Hofford, Miss Anna B. Steckel, Miss Carrie Guth, and Miss Anna Lind. William H. Deshler, Esq., has been for years the president of the Sunday School Association; John C. Nagle lias served as secretary ; R. H. Kramm, Dr. S. S. Apple, and William F. Hecker as treasurers ; and George Kuthl, Theodore D. Reninger, and William J. Huber have served for years in the office of librarian ; Miss Anna C. Lind, Miss M. Alice Breder, and Miss Maggie Sykes have presided at the organ in the infant department of the Sunday-school.
The Sunday-school has had its faithful teachers, and God will reward each one for the work of love so cheerfully rendered.
The present pastorate, covering now upwards of fifteen years, has been a pleasant one. The following record will show its measure of success : Infant bap- tisms, 247; additions, by confirmation, 258; by adult baptism, 7; by certificate, 168; by reprofession, 31 : total, 464. Marriages, 130; funerals, 221; present membership of the congregation, 424 : Sunday-school scholars, 327; main school, 242; infant school, 85; teachers and officers, 45. An important event during the present pastorate was the purchase, in the sun- mer of 1876, of the sweet-voiced organ now in use. This was the praiseworthy deed of those active and liberal members, who have always been forward in every similar work. The efficient committee through whose efforts the means for the purchase of the instru- ment were seenred, consisted of Messrs. Levi Line, Reuben P. Steckel, Alfred H. Ettinger, Jacob A. Blumer, and Theodore D. Reninger. The organ is from the celebrated manufactory of Hook & Hastings, Boston, Mass.
This congregation is without debt. Its expenses have been heavy, but generous hearts and willing hands have always supplied the necessary means. The contributions towards the various objects of Christian benevolence have been liberal.
Salem's Reformed Church.1-The need of a third Reformed Church in the city of Allentown was felt several years before Salem's Reformed Congregation was organized. The Classis of East Pennsylvania, at a special meeting held at Coplay on the 17th day of November, 1874, appointed a committee of three min- isters, composed of the Revs. N. S. Strassberger, S. G. Wagner, and A. J. G. Dubbs, to consider the feasibility of organizing a Reformed Congregation in the north- western part of the city.
At a special meeting of the Classis, held in St. John's Reformed Church in Allentown on the 2d day of April, 1875, this committee submitted the fol- lowing report :
" Your committee reports that efforts were made by conferring with the consistory of Zion's Reformed Congregation and others, to prepare the way for the organization of a Reformed Congregation in the Fourth Ward in Allentown, Pa. In two weeks a public meeting will be held in the lecture-room of said church for the purpose, and all who are in favor of the enterprise will be invited to attend."
This report was received by Classis, and the com- mittee was continued.
At the annual meeting of Classis, held at Lenharts- ville, Berks Co., Pa., on the 5th day of May, 1875, the committee reported the following :
"We have not yet fully accomplished the object of onr appointment. Since the report submitted we held two public meetings in the lecture-room of Zion's Re- formed Church, which were well attended by mem- bers of both congregations. The result of these meet- ings is, that a Sunday-school shall forthwith be organized in the northwestern seetion of the city by a committee consisting of members of both our Re- formed Congregations. Publie services shall be held on Sabbath evenings by the Reformed pastor- of Al- lentown. A committee is appointed to procure a suitable room in which a Sunday-school and the public services shall be held. Fifty-two persons have signified their willingness to identify themselves with the enterprise, providing it is carried out successfully and a proper lot is seenred for the location of a church. The new congregation when organized shall be al- lowed to select a lot for itself, and then settle the question of location. Each Reformed Congregation of Allentown shall appoint a committee of three of its members, who shall co-operate in an effort to pro- cure funds for building purposes.
" A beginning has thus been made for the organiza- tion of a third Reformed Congregation in the city of Allentown, with fair prospects of success, which we hope may soon be reached, to the welfare of man, the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the glory of God."
This report was received by Classis, and the Revs. W. R. Hofford and Jared Fritzinger were added to the committee.
1 By Rev. A. J. G. Dubbie.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The joint committee, composed of members of Zion's and St. John's Congregations, now beeame active, collected some meaus, and leased a lot of ground situated on the corner of Eighth and Chew Streets, on which they erected a temporary frame chapel, which was dedicated to the service of almighty God on the 12th day of September, 1875. It was named Salem's Reformed Church of Allentown, Pa. A Sunday-sehool was at once organized, of which George W. Hartzel was elected superintendent.
The committee of Classis drew up a constitution and by-laws for the government of the congregation according to the form recommended by Synod. After sixty-four members of different Reformed Congrega- tions had presented regular certificates of dismissions and had been received by the committee as members of Salem's Reformed Congregation of Allentown, Pa., they united in electing two elders and four deacons, one treasurer and one trustee. The congregation was formally organized on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1875, in the chapel, by the ordination and installation of their newly-elected elders and deacons. The consistory thus elected and installed was composed of the fol- lowing-named persons,-viz., Elders, Aaron Butz and Elias Troxel ; Deacons, John Bartholomew, James Hunsicker, Henry Hilegas, and William B. Schaffer ; Treasurer, A. L. Newhart ; Trustee, Owen W. Fanst.
Public services, condueted by the Reformed pastors residing in Allentown, were held regularly in the chapel every Sunday evening since its consecration. The Sunday-school, which had been organized and conducted by the joint committee of Zion's and St. John's Congregations, was now formally turned over, and was officered by the members of the new congre- gation.
At a special meeting of Classis held in Salem's Re- formed Chapel on the 30th day of November, 1875, the committee appointed by Classis reported that its work was accomplished, and that Allentown now counted a third Reformed Congregation.
The congregation now became conscious of its wants and at once saw the need of a regular pastor to further its growth and give it a respectable position among ! the churches of Allentown.
A call, dated Jau. 3, 1876, was extended to the Rev. A. J. G. Dubbs, who was at that time pastor of the Salisbury charge, to which he was very much attached, and from which he felt loth to sever his connection. After being earnestly urged by the ministry of the Reformed Church, and due deliberation on his part, he accepted the call with the proviso that Salem's Re- formed Congregation build a church during the en- suing year. This seemed at the time a heavy demand on a small and comparatively poor congregation, with a debt of four hundred and fifty dollars still resting on the chapel standing on leased ground. But en- couraged by the advanced step it had made, the most influential members aided the consistory and the newly-elected pastor in soliciting subscriptions to-
wards the erection of a more inviting and substantial church edifice. By the 1st of April, 1876, when the pastor entered formally upon his duties in the charge, they had secured over thirteen thousand dollars, and purchased a lot one hundred and ten by seventy-two fect, located on the north side of Chew Street, near Seventh, and were busily at work in preparing a foundation for a new church edifice. The building committee elected by the congregation consisted of A. J. G. Dubbs, Solomon Boyer, Thomas Steckel, Elias Lentz, Conrad Paff, Jesse Mareks, Aaron Butz, and Elias Troxel.
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The formal laying of the corner-stone took place on Whitsuntide, June. 4, 1876. The Rev. Aaron S. Leinbach, of Reading, preached the opening sermon to a large audience, assisted by the Rev. Joseph S. Dubbs, D. D., after which the ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone was attended to by the pastor. Services were held in the afternoon and evening by the Revs. A. B. Kaplin and S. A. Leinbach.
The dimensions of the ground-work of the build- ing are ninety-one by fifty-two feet, and the super- structure is built of brick.
In nine months from the breaking of the ground for the foundation the church was finished, and on Sunday the 24th day of December, the day before Christmas, it was dedicated to the service of the triune God. The entire week in which the dedica- tion took place was set apart by the pastor and con- gregation for religious worship and thanksgiving.
On the morning of the dedieation the church was well filled, and there were present, besides the pastor, Revs. Joseph S. Dubbs, D.D., Joseph H. Dubbs, D.D., and C. Z. Weiser, D.D. After the opening services by the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Dubbs, father of the pastor, initiated the solemn service in an address, pathetic, apt, earnest, clear, and well suited to set the whole audience on the right pitch. The Rev. Dr. Weiser now stepped forward on the pulpit platform, and formally presented the pulpit from Hon. Joseph Leinbach, of Bethlehem ; the read- ing-desk from Moses Schneck and family, of Phila- delphia; the baptismal font from the catechetical class of the congregation ; the altar from the Sunday- school; a Bible cushion from Miss Jane Weiler; a reading-desk Bible from the Miller's church of North Whitehall ; a German pulpit Bible from Mrs. Hettie Pflueger; an English Bible from Solomon Boyer and wife, in memory of his father (John Boyer, deceased) ; mottoes from the Misses Marks and Walbert. The younger Pastor Dubbs then gave the work of his and his people's hands to God. The youngest Pastor Dubbs, Professor Joseph HI., of Lancaster, but origi- nally of this region, and once pastor in Allentown, preached the dedicatory sermon in the German tongue, taking for his text the xlviii. P'salm, verses 13 to 15.
During the afternoon the religious services were conducted in the English language by the Rev. Dr.
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203
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Weiser, who preached on the first and second com- mandments,
During the evening the Christmas festival of the Sunday-school took place. The church was crowded to overflowing, and the serviees were beautiful and impressive.
On Christmas day morning the Rev. Abraham Bartholomew preached in the German language from 1 Peter ii. 5.
The afternoon serviees were conducted by the Rev. Joseph H. Dubbs, D.D., brother of the pastor, who preached in the English language from Isaiah liv. 11- 13. The Rev. S. A. Leimbach, of Coplay, preached in the evening in the German language from 1 Peter ii. 7. The pastors, W. R. Hofford, A. H. Keyser, and John Maddern of the Lutheran Church, aided the pastor loci during the services of the entire week.
Salem's Reformed Church now ocenpies an elevated loeality, and is beautifully situated on Chew Street, in the northwestern part of Allentown. The church edifice compares well, as regards beauty and size, with any other Protestant Church in the city. Its doors and windows are Gothie in form. The steeple is high and symmetrical, and standing as it does on high ground, the church is a conspicuous landmark to all approaching the city from the north and the west. An open grassy space intervenes between it and the street on which it fronts. The andience-room, with its pulpit, altar, chancel, and pews, is finished with hard wood, and has a seating capacity of about eight hundred. The ceiling is arched, the walls beautifully frescoed, and the floor neatly carpeted. The pews are covered with costly cushions donated to the church by Mr. Jeremiah Roth, a member of the congrega- tion.
The steeple is furnished with a large, sweet-sounding bell, weighing over eighteen hundred pounds, east by Edward Gaugh of this city, and bears the following inscription : " Presented to Salem's Reformed Church by Nathan Weiler," who placed it there at his own expense.
Several years ago two young machinists, Knauss and Grammes, made a very excellent town clock. Jacob Deshler at first conceived the idea of having it placed in the steeple of the church. After several efforts, which failed, it was taken up by Mr. Charles Wannemaker, who succeeded in collecting the necessary amount, and the clock was placed in the steeple, where it is now an ornament to the church and a convenience to the people living within sight.
The congregation now numbers over five hundred members, and has wiped out its entire indebtedness.
There is a basement under the entire building, which is fitted up with pulpit, pews, and organs for Sunday-school purposes. The Sunday-school num- bers six hundred and fifty scholars, and is superin- tended by William B. Schaffer, assisted by Charles Wannemaker, and is in a promising condition for the future welfare of the congregation.
After the completion of the church the older mem- bers organized a mite society for the purpose of as- sisting to defray the current expenses and reducing the debt which was still resting on the church. This society is still in existence, and has been eminently useful to the congregation in aiding the sick, the poor, and the needy. On the 24th day of Novem- ber, 1880, the young members, at the suggestion of the pastor, organized the Young People's Society, which has ever since been very active and useful in developing the social life of the young members, and besides have raised through their own efforts the round sum of twenty-four hundred dollars toward the erec- tion of a pipe-organ, which is now ordered, and is to be placed in a recess made for that purpose to the right of the pulpit. The congregation is legally chartered, and has its constitution and by-laws, which harmonize with the constitution of the Reformed Church of the United States, and binds it and its pastor to the faith of the church as laid down in the Heidelberg Catechism.
Christ Reformed Church is situated in East Al- lentown, on Second Street near Hamilton. It was built in 1876, and has a seating capacity of four hun- dred and fifty. Rev. Jarions Fritzinger was the founder of the then Christ Mission, and under his supervision it grew until 1880, when he was com- pelled to resign on account of his health. Rev. W. J. Kershner was then called to the pastorship, when the church was made self-sustaining and taken out of the Mission Board. It has now a membership of one hundred and seventy, with a Sunday-school of two hundred and thirty. Services are regularly conducted every Sunday morning in the German language, and the Sunday-school in the afternoon, and evening ser- vices in English. Catechetical instruction is given once a year, and the holy communion celebrated four times a year,
First Presbyterian Church.1-The first Presby- terian Church in the Lehigh Valley was organized in what was called the " Irish settlement" about the time it was founded, in 1728, This colony of Scotch- Irish pioneers was then in the bounds of Bucks County, but now in Allen township, Northampton Co. The first Presbyterian Church at Easton was an offshoot of the " Irish settlement church," and the Allentown church was brought into being and fos- tered by these two outposts of Presbyterianism. The early churches of Allentown used the German lan- guage exclusively in worship, and it was not until the organization of the Sunday-school (which will be more particularly spoken of at the close of this sketch), in 1820, that the English tongue was made the medium of religious expression. During the early progress of the Sunday-school the English- speaking part of the population was occasionally --
1 Condensed from a history of the church by its pastor, Rev. J. W. Wood, D.D., and published in pamphlet form in 1881.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
supplied by neighboring elergymen, particularly by the ministers of the Presbyterian Church at the " Irish settlement." The first written record of efforts to obtain English preaching is in the minutes of a i became justly unacceptable to the people, and after public meeting, held for that purpose on the 10th of the dedication of the church, Mr. Heberton advised him to leave, and he did. Of the religious influence of his excellent wife every one speaks in terms of praise. April, 1820, of which Peter Rhoads was chairman and Charles Davis secretary. At that meeting an in- vitation was extended to Rev. Mr. Seidel, of Bethle- hem, to preach in the English language in this bor- The first subscription for a Presbyterian house of worship is dated August, 1829, and has upon it three hundred and thirty dollars, subseribed by twenty individuals. The following is a copy of that sub- seription : ough, once in two months for the ensuing year, for eight dollars for every sermon ; also to the Rev. Mr. Rodney, of Easton, to preach once in two months, for ten dollars for every sermon. These arrangements were only in part complied with by the parties, as it " Considering the number of families and individuals resident in the borough of Northampton and its vicinity, who are either not at all ac- quainted with the German language or not sufficiently so to be in the least degree benefited by preaching in that language, and considering also that the inducements to the settlement of English families among us are annually increasing, it is therefore highly desirable that a house of worship be erected within the borough of Northampton in which the gospel may be preached and the ordinances of the Christian religion administered in the English language on a permanent footing. Moved by these considerations, and believing that a majority of the English people residing here are attached to or prefer the Presbyterian Church and its mode of worship; believing also that, aided by the kind co-oper- ation of friends abroad, nmong whom the Rev. Mr. Strale is now en- gaged in furtherance of this object, and at whose solicitation many have contributed, and will yet, we hope, contribute, we shall succeed, with the blessing of heaven, in attaining our object, which is the erection of a Presbyterian house of worship, in which the services shall be con- ducted in the English language : We, the subscribers, severally agree to pay the sums of money set opposite to our respective names, lowards erecting an English Presbyterian house of worship in the borough of Northampton, and county of Lehigh, to be paid when demanded of us by such person or persons as shall be authorized to demand the same by the congregation to be organized for worship in said church : was difficult for the ministers to travel, and also for the people to raise the money that was promised. Mr. Seidel preached here three times and Mr. Rodney twice during the year. In the following three years, 1821 to 1824, Rev. Robert Russel, of the Presbyterian Chureh at "The Settlement," preached quite fre- quently on Sunday afternoon, and received whatever was taken up by a collection on each occasion. On the 17th of October, 1825, a meeting was again held to obtain English preaching in the court-house (where the Sunday-school was held), and the Rev. Samuel Bowman, of the Episcopal Church in Easton, was invited " to preach every other Sunday evening during the term of one year, if Mr. Bowman will be satisfied with the sum subseribed." That sum is now not known, nor is it known that Mr. Bowman preached more than twice under the above invita- tion. The Rev. J. A. Hicks, of Easton, preached " Charles Davis, $30; Samuel Runk, $20; Christian Protz, $20; G. Pretz, $10; Abram Houpt, Jr., $10; George Yeakel, $5; Edward Wurtz, $5; George Wurtz, $15; William Wurtz, $10; Robert May Brooke, $20; Jolm Vogel, $5; Thomas Cinig, SI0; Maria Il. Strate, $10; W. C. Liv- ingstone, $50; Mary C. Livingstone, $50; Charles Sauger, 85; John D. Roney, $10; John More, $5 ; Jolm Rice, $15. Total, $330. " BOROUGH DE NORTHAMPTON, Angust, 1829." here a few times in 1827. In 1828 matters began to assume a more permanent shape. " At a meeting of the patrons of English preaching, July 21, 1828, Messrs. Samuel Runk and Charles Davis were ap- pointed a committee to provide a boarding-place for Rev. L. F. Leake during the time that he shall reside among us." He was the first English-speaking clergy- man that resided in Allentown. Mr. Leake was a missionary under the " Domestie Missionary Society of New Jersey," and preached in Oxford and Har- mouy, N. J., from April 29, 1818, to Oct. 19, 1825. when his relation to Oxford was dissolved. By an arrangement with the missionary society, Mr. Leake was to preach every other Sabbath in Allentown for six months, and seventy-five dollars were pledged by the people for his support. A most important service by Mr. Leake was the encouragement he gave to the Sabbath-school. Mr. Leake left in December, 1828. lle died between May, 1866, and May, 1867.
F. A. Strale was sent to this place to preach abont May, 1829, by the " Domestic Missionary Society of New Jersey." He interested himself mainly in the secular affairs of the project to obtain funds to erect a new house of worship, for which he seems to have had some adaptation. There was no church organiza- tion using the English language while he was here. But he busied himself in raising money, and con-
sequently was mueh absent from the place. Mean- while Mr. Heberton nursed the infant enterprise, preaching here every fourth Sabbath. Mr. Strale
At a later meeting Mr. Strale reported twelve hun- dred and forty dollars subscribed, six hundred and fifty-eight dollars of which were collected in the city of New York, and deposited there with the firm of Lowell & Holbrook. The lirst meeting of the sub- seribers to eleet trustees was held May 21, 1830, when Charles Davis, Samuel Runk, F. A. Strale, Silas H. Hickox, and John D. Roney were elected. Mr. Runk was made the treasurer of the board. On May 31, 1830, Mrs. Aun P. Greenleaf presented and conveyed to the trustees lot No. 121, in the borough of North- ampton, bounded on the north by the jail, and on the west by Margaret Street (now Fifth). On June 4th six hundred and fifty-eight dollars were received by draft from New York. On June 5, 1830, the ground was broken for the foundation, and on Thursday, June 24th, at two o'clock P.M., the corner-stone was laid. The elergy of all the churches in the borough and vicinity had been invited to attend, and the teachers and scholars of the several day-schools. A large audienee assembled, and the elergymen present were Revs. Seidel, of Bethlehem; Heberton, of Bath ; J.
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