USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > The history of St. Stephen's reformed church, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1884-1909; by the Rev. Thomas W. Dickert > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
172
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
creased to $30.00 per month, beginning with January 1, 1905.
At the annual congregational meeting, Jan- uary 11, 1905, Henry S. Bernhart was elected elder in place of Hiram K. Ritter, who declined to serve any longer.
It was decided by the consistory, February 1, 1905, to purchase a two thousand pound bell, with a suitable inscription, from Meneely and Company, of West Troy, New York. The bell fund had been started a number of years before, and was in charge of Charles W. Wanner. At the regular consistory meeting, March 1, 1905, Thomas Z. Bright was elected treasurer of the bell fund. By action of the consistory, April 2, 1905, the bell fund, amounting to $755.70, was transferred to the congregational treasury. Thirty-eight dollars of unpaid subscriptions for the bell were collected, making the total amount in the bell fund $793.70. The original cost of the bell was $526.35, and $9.17 were paid for freight, $5.00 for drayage and $135 for erect- ing the bell in the tower, making the total cost $675.52.
On March 19, 1905, the twenty-first anni- versary of the congregation was observed with
-
r
1
THE BELL.
173
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
a special service in the morning. The sermon was preached by Rev. D. W. Gerhard, D. D., brother of the departed pastor of the church. His theme was, "The Work of the Church is to Save Sinners," based on Luke 15: 2. The pastor reviewed the work of the congregation during the twenty-one years of its history, and made a plea for the cancellation of the balance of the debt during the next four years.
Easter Sunday, April 23, 1905, was another joyous occasion for our congregation. The number communed was 732, the largest com- munion in the history of the congregation. Eighty-five new members were received-forty- five by confirmation, and forty by certificate and reprofession of faith. The Easter offering amounted to $3,138, of which the congregation contributed $1,451.29 and the Sunday School $1,686.71. The treasurer paid $2,500 on the mortgage, the interest, and the balance of the classical apportionment.
At a special meeting of the consistory held at the home of Dr. John K. Seaman, on Easter Monday evening, April 24, 1905, without the knowledge of the pastor, it was decided to pay the pastor's house rent beginning with April 1, 1905.
174
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
The new bell was dedicated with special ser- vices on Sunday, May 28, 1905. In the morn- ing Rev. J. I. Good, D. D., pastor of Calvary Reformed Church, preached on "The Use of Bells." His text was Exodus 39: 25, "And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about, between the pomegran- ates." In the evening the pastor preached on "The Message of the Bell." His texts were Luke 2 : 10 and Psalm 96: 9. The inscription on the bell is as follows : "Behold, I bring you good tidings. Luke 2: 10. Easter, 1905." Af- ter giving a brief history of the use of bells, and referring to bells in literature and in daily life, the pastor spoke of the message of the bell as a message of declaration, "Behold, I bring you good tidings," and a message of invitation, "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." The bell has a sweet and mellow tone, and adds a great deal to the completeness of our church plant.
The pastor read the following resolutions at the dedication services :
WHEREAS, Charles W. Wanner undertook the task of raising funds for the purchase of a bell for St. Stephen's
175
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
Reformed Church, and succeeded beyond the expectation of all to collect a sum sufficient to pay for the bell and for placing it in the tower of the church, so that it can now be dedicated to the service of God,
Resolved, That we, the consistory of St. Stephen's Re- formed Church, in behalf of the congregation, express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Wanner for the faithful and suc- cessful performance of this self-imposed duty, enabling us to enjoy the notes of a sweet-toned bell calling us to wor- ship.
Resolvcd, That this resolution be read from the pulpit on dedication Sunday, that it be spread upon the minutes of the consistory, and that a copy thereof be sent to Mr. Wanner.
W. D. DELONG, M. J. COLLER, THOMAS W. DICKERT, Committee.
The twenty-second annual congregational meeting was held January 10, 1906. Elder Jo- seph R. Roth, after serving fifteen years in that capacity, and Lemon H. Hertz, after having been a deacon for twelve years, declined re- election. On motion a vote of thanks was ten- dered them for the faithful services they had rendered as members of the consistory. Dr. W. D. DeLong, after having been a deacon for ten years, was elected to take Elder Roth's place. M. J. Coller was reelected as elder for three years. John D. Heck and G. B. Trechsel were elected as deacons for three years, to take the
176
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
places of Dr. W. D. DeLong and Lemon H. Hertz respectively.
The consistory reorganized at the regular meeting on February 7, 1906, by reelecting all the former officers, except Secretary, to which office Albert M. Weyandt was elected.
On Easter Sunday, April 15, 1906, eighty- five new members were received-sixty-eight by confirmation and seventeen by certificate and reprofession of faith. This was the largest class of catechumens confirmed in the history of the congregation. Seven hundred and fifty-seven members partook of the holy communion. The Easter offering amounted to $2,709.25, of which the congregation contributed $1,344.47 and the Sunday School $1,364.78. Two thousand dol- lars was paid on the mortgage, reducing it to $6,000.
At the regular consistory meeting, June 6, 1906, it was decided that we secure individual communion cups for use in our church. The following committee was appointed to solicit contributions to purchase the communion ser- vice : A. M. Weyandt, John D. Heck, S. P. Faust, G. B. Trechsel and H. S. Bernhart.
177
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
At a business meeting held in Mineral Springs Park, July 10, 1906, the Ushers' Asso- ciation appointed a committee to issue an intro- ductory number of a congregational paper to be known as "St. Stephen's Bulletin." . This num- ber was distributed among the members of the congregation early in the fall, and was favor- ably received. Beginning with October, 1906, "St. Stephen's Bulletin" was issued regularly every month, giving the members of the con- gregation interesting information concerning the activities of the congregation and all its or- ganizations. The paper was a neat publication, 6 by 9 inches in size, having four pages of read- ing matter without any advertisements.
The sexton of the church having resigned, the janitor committee attended to the duties of the office during the summer months. At the consistory meeting held at the pastor's house, August 1, 1906, Alfred I. Derr was elected to the position at a salary of $25.00 per month.
During the summer of 1906 the Christian Endeavor room was beautifully frescoed, newly carpeted, and furnished with chairs in place of the pews which had been in use since the church was built. A committee, composed of repre-
12
178
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
sentatives of the Christian Endeavor Society, the Sunday School, the Mission Band, the Ju- nior Christian Endeavor Society and the Ush- ers' Association, had charge of the work. The emblems of these organizations were painted on the walls of the room.
On September 9, 1906, the consistory de- cided to make an effort to pay the balance of the church debt by the time of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation. The members of the congregation were apportioned among the members of the consistory, who were to solicit pledges toward the debt, payable in installments on or before the following dates, March 31 and October 1, 1907, and April 19 and October 15, 1908. Henry S. Bernhart was elected treasurer of the fund to be raised for this purpose.
The individual communion service was used for the first time at the communion on Sunday, October 14, 1906, and everybody was greatly pleased with the change. The outfit was secured from the Thomas Communion Service Com- pany, of Lima, Ohio. It consists of 16 alumi- num trays, 704 glass cups, 4 aluminum covers and 1 instantaneous filler, and the total cost, including expressage, was $83.15.
179
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
On January 2, 1907, the consistory accepted the resignation of Deacon G. B. Trechsel, who had temporarily removed from the city.
The twenty-third annual congregational meeting was held January 16, 1907. Interest- ing and encouraging reports were presented by all the organizations of the church. Dr. J. K. Seaman was reelected elder for three years, Al- bert M. Weyandt and Thomas Z. Bright were reelected deacons for three years each, and Charles L. Kantner was elected deacon for two years to complete the unexpired term of G. B. Trechsel.
The need of a new department in the Sun- day School for children from three to six years of age had been felt for some time, but there was no room to accommodate such a depart- ment. By action of the consistory, taken at a special meeting held December 23, 1906, the north portion of the assembly room was parti- tioned off and made into a suitable room to be used for this purpose. The room was occupied the beginning of March, 1907, by the newly- organized department of the Sunday School called the Beginners' Department, or Kinder- garten, under the superintendency of Miss Lil-
180
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
lian Peter, assisted by Miss Mabel DeLong. By the time "The Year Book" for 1907 was published, less than four months after the or- ganization of this department, there were one hundred and eleven scholars on its roll.
At the Easter service, March 31, 1907, sixty- five new members were added to the congrega- tion-fifty-one by confirmation and fourteen by certificate and reprofession of faith. The num- ber of those who communed was 748. The Easter offering reached the high-water mark, amount- ing to $3,481.03, of which the congregation con- tributed $2,370.98 and the Sunday School $1,- 110.05. At the next meeting of the consistory, April 3, 1907, it was decided to pay $3,000 on the church debt, reducing it to $3,000.
The twelfth annual sessions of Reading Clas- sis were held in our church, April 15 to 19, 1907. The Woman's Missionary Society of Reading Classis also met there on Thursday, May 18, 1907. The following evening pro- grams were rendered :
MONDAY. OPENING SESSION.
Preparatory service in charge of Rev. S. R. Briden- baugh, D. D., and Rev. Thomas H. Leinbach. Sermon by the retiring President, Rev. Jno. Phil. Stein, D. D.
181
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
Holy communion in charge of Rev. C. E. Creitz and Rev. J. F. Moyer.
TUESDAY.
"EDUCATION."
Rev. James R. Brown presiding. Devotional services, Rev. Elam J. Snyder. "The Sunday School as an Edu- cational Factor," Rev. R. W. Miller, D. D., Philadelphia. "The College and Seminary at Lancaster," Rev. C. E. Creitz.
WEDNESDAY.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S RALLY.
Rev. Charles E. Schaeffer presiding. Devotional ser- vices, Rev. H. H. Ranck. "The Young People at Work," Mr. A. J. Shartle. "The Young People and the Church," Rev. A. V. Casselman. "The Young People and Mis- sions," Rev. A. R. Bartholomew, D. D., Philadelphia.
THURSDAY.
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Mrs. Ella R. Hahn presiding. Devotional services, Rev. George W. Gerhard, Hamburg, Pa. Address, Miss Sadie Lea Weidner, returned missionary from Japan.
FRIDAY.
MEN'S MASS MEETING.
(For men only.) Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., presiding. Devotional services, Rev. William E. Harr. "Men and the Church," Mr. Charles H. Leinbach. "Men and the Sabbath," Rev. H. Y. Stoner. "Men and Church Fi- nance," Mr. Jacob B. Fricker.
At a special meeting of the consistory held May 15, 1907, the pastor's salary was increased $200 per year, beginning June 1, 1907, and
182
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
thereafter he was to receive the contributions of the catechumens at the confirmation service.
At the regular meeting of the consistory, June 6, 1907, the resignation of A. J. Shartle as financial secretary of the congregation was re- ceived and on motion accepted.
At a subsequent meeting, on June 9, 1907, the consistory decided to combine the offices of janitor and financial secretary, at a salary of $35.00 a month and a commission of eight per cent. on all church dues received.
On Sunday morning, July 28, 1907, a fare- well service was held in our church for Dr. D. B. Schneder, President of North Japan College, who was about to depart for Japan to resume his important work there. The pastor preached a special sermon on "Going Forth in the Name of Christ," based on Matthew 28: 19, 20. He presented Dr. Schneder with a check for $25.00 in the name of the congregation, for the pur- chase of books for his personal use. Dr. Schne- der delivered an address, in which he expressed his gratitude to the pastor and members of the congregation for their kindness to him and his family. Mrs. Schneder is a member of our con- gregation. She and the children remained in
183
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
this country after Dr. Schneder's departure, but she and the youngest daughter followed him in the spring of 1908, while the oldest two daugh- ters remained in this country to complete their education. Dr. and Mrs. Schneder were mar- ried in our church in 1887, and have been la- boring in Japan ever since. They came home on furlough in 1896, and to attend the General Synod in 1905, and on furlough in 1906.
The resignation of Alfred I. Derr as janitor was received July 21, 1909, and after a com- mittee had seen Mr. Derr, the resignation was accepted at the regular meeting of the consis- tory on July 31, 1907. Mr. Henry Bloch was elected as janitor and financial secretary of the congregation at a special meeting of the consis- tory held September 1, 1907, at the salary above mentioned.
The pastor celebrated the fifth anniversary of his pastorate at St. Stephen's on Sunday morning, November 3, 1907, by preaching a special sermon on "The Power of the Gospel," based on Romans 1: 14-17. He read the fol- lowing statistics of his five years' work : Bap- tisms, 320 ; marriages, 118; funerals, 131 ; mem- bers added to the congregation, 532-by con-
184
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
firmation 268 and by certificate and renewal of faith 264; communions, 20; communed, 10,- 771; visits, 5,000; money raised, $35,400-for benevolence $4,400 and for congregational pur- poses $31,000.
At the consistory meeting of February 17, 1908, the following committees were created, and the pastor appointed the following persons to serve on them for the current year :
Janitor Committee-S. P. Faust, A. M. Weyandt, John D. Heck.
Music Committee-Dr. W. D. DeLong, M. J. Coller, Thomas Z. Bright.
Repair Committee-C. G. Grube, C. L. Kantner, S. P. Faust.
Coal Committee-Dr. J. K. Seaman, H. S. Bernhart, A. M. Weyandt.
Delinquent Committee-A. M. Weyandt, C. G. Grube, S. P. Faust, John D. Heck, Thomas Z. Bright, C. L. Kantner.
Fellowship Committee-M. J. Coller, Dr. J. K. Seaman, H. S. Bernhart, Dr. W. D. DeLong.
At the Easter communion services, April 19, 1908, fifty-five members were added to the con- gregation-forty-two by confirmation and thir- teen by certificate and reprofession of faith.
185
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
The number communed was 779. The Easter offering amounted to $2,541.99, of which the congregation contributed $1,687.89 and the Sun- day School $854.10.
The treasurer paid $1500 on the church debt, which was reduced to $1,500.
Elder Milton J. Coller, who had been a member of the consistory ever since the organi- zation of the congregation, serving as deacon for almost twelve years and as elder for more than twelve years, was suddenly called to his eternal home on Tuesday night, May 26, 1908, at the age of 55 years, 6 months and 23 days.
At a special meeting of the consistory on May 27, 1908, a committee was appointed to draw up suitable resolutions on the death of Mr. Coller. The committee reported at the regular meeting of the consistory, June 3, 1908, when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, We recognize the overruling hand of an all- wise Providence in all the affairs of life and submit un- complainingly to His beneficent laws, whether they bring sorrow or joy.
WHEREAS, St. Stephen's congregation and this body have suffered a great loss in the death of Brother Milton J. Coller, the senior elder of this congregation, and,
186
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
WHEREAS, Brother Coller was a charter member of this church and an officer since its organization, therefore be it
Resolved. That by his devotion, loyalty and faithfulness to and love and service for the church in all its depart- ments he manifested a beautiful Christian spirit.
Resolved, That the removal of such a life leaves a va- cancy and casts a gloom that will be realized by all the members of this congregation and will prove a serious loss to all who have come under his influence.
Resolved, That we express our heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved family of the deceased and commend them to our heavenly Father, who so rules that even our losses are for our eternal good.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be inscribed on our minutes, a copy sent to the family, and that they be published in the church papers.
SAMUEL P. FAUST, DR. W. D. DELONG, JOHN D. HECK, Committee.
At the same meeting the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Coller was filled by the elec- tion of Alvin J. Shartle as elder of the congre- gation, and at the subsequent meeting, on July 2, 1908, Dr. W. D. DeLong was elected vice- president of the consistory.
The janitor and financial secretary sent his resignation to the consistory on November 4, 1908. The resignation was accepted at a spe- cial meeting of the consistory held on Novem-
187
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
ber 11, 1908, to take effect November 30, 1908, and Lemon H. Hertz was elected to the double position at a salary of $35.00 per month and eight per cent. of the church dues received, his term of office to begin December 1, 1908.
At the same meeting the consistory decided to publish five hundred copies of the history of our congregation, to be prepared by the pastor sometime after the twenty-fifth anniversary.
At the consistory meeting held Jauary 5, 1909, C. G. Grube resigned as deacon, because of his removal from the city. The consistory conveyed to him their regret to lose him, and also their appreciation for the faithful service rendered during the thirteen years in which he held the office. He had also served for almost ten years as financial secretary of the consistory.
The twenty-fifth annual congregational meet- ing was held January 13, 1909. Interesting and encouraging reports were read by all the organizations connected with the congregation. The following officers were elected : Elders, Dr. W. D. DeLong and A. J. Shartle, each for three years ; Deacons, John D. Heck and Charles L. Kantner, each for three years; and Milton L.
188
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
Haag for two years, to fill the unexpired term of C. G. Grube.
At a special meeting of the consistory on January 19, 1909, a committee was appointed to secure a memorial tablet to be placed in the church during the twenty-fifth anniversary ser- vices in memory of Rev. Calvin S. Gerhard, D. D., the departed pastor.
At the regular meeting held February 3, 1909, the consistory reelected all the former of- ficers, with the exception of financial secretary of the consistory, which office was vacant be- cause of the removal of Mr. Grube, in whose place Charles L. Kantner was elected to fill the office.
The so-called anniversary offering, for the payment of the church debt, was given at the church services on Sunday, March 7, 1909. This offering, together with the subscriptions which had been paid, enabled the treasurer of the building fund to pay into the church treas- ury $2,424.42. This amount would no doubt have been larger if it had not been for the finan- cial depression of more than a year past.
At a special meeting of the consistory held on Sunday evening, March 7, 1909, the treas-
189
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
urer was instructed to pay the balance due on the mortgage, $1,500. This was the final meet- ing of the consistory before the twenty-fifth an- niversary.
During this period our congregation received two legacies. One of these was $200 from Mo- ses Graeff, less $10.00 for inheritance tax, which was paid as follows : August 3, 1906, $115.73, and July 31, 1907, $74.27. The other was from William Hinnershitz, amounting to $1,000, free from tax, which was paid November 4, 1908.
When we review the work of these five years, we may well call them an era of prosperity. It was a busy period for both pastor and people, but they rejoiced in the privilege of having been permitted to labor together in love as the co-workers of God for the upbuilding of His kingdom.
1884|
6061
INTERIOR VIEW OF CHURCH ON TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
CHAPTER X THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
T HE twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated with special services, beginning Sun- day morning, March 14, 1909, and closing Sunday evening, March 21, 1909. A beautiful sixteen-page souvenir program had been pre- pared for the occasion, and was presented to every one attending the jubilee ser- vices. It contained portraits of Rev. Calvin S. Gerhard, D. D., who organized the congrega- tion, March 16, 1884, and of Rev. Thomas W. Dickert, the present pastor, who preached the anniversary sermon, March 16, 1909, and cuts of the church buildings in which the congrega- tion was organized and in which the jubilee ser- vices were held.
The following order of service was used at the morning service, March 14, 1909, beginning at ten o'clock :
Prelude, "Priere," T. Hassard ; invocation, by the pastor ; Kyrie (congregation kneeling); Confession and Declaration of Pardon; hymn, No. 406, " Oh, Worship the King, All-glorious Above" (congregation standing) ; Psalm
192
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
145; anthem, "Jubilate Deo," Wiske; Scripture Lessons, St. Luke 11: 14-28, Eph. 5: 1-9; Gloria Patri ; Creed ; prayer, by the pastor; announcements; hymn, No. 443, "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken;" sermon, Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., pastor St. Paul's Memorial Reformed Church; prayer, Dr. Bausman; offertory, "Pastorale in F," Joan Williams; offering; offertory hymn, No. 617, "Praise to God, Immortal Praise ;" closing hymn, No. 293, "Jesus, the Shepherd of the Sheep;" benediction, Dr. Bausman ; postlude, "Postlude in E Flat," E. Batiste.
It was fitting that Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., should preach the opening sermon of jubilee week. He was, in a sense, the father of St. Stephen's Reformed Church. As already in- dicated,* Emanuel's Reformed Sunday School, which was organized in 1864, was taken under the fostering care of St. Paul's Memorial Re- formed Church in 1879, and was reorganized as St. Stephen's Reformed Sunday School in 1883. Dr. Bausman exercised a fatherly oversight over this school, which was destined to evolve into St. Stephen's Reformed congregation.
Dr. Bausman preached an eloquent sermon of a historical and reminiscent character on the text, Psalm 126 : 3, " The Lord hath done great things for us ; whereof we are glad." His theme was, " The Hand of God in the History of this Congregation." He dwelt on the early history
* See pages 18-23.
193
THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
of the congregation and its marvelous growth and development in twenty-five years. He spoke of the church extension policy of the Re- formed Church in Reading, saying that they were always in advance of the population, but that future developments justified their policy. He paid a beautiful tribute to Dr. C. S. Ger- hard, the first pastor of the congregation.
The Sunday School held a special service in the afternoon, beginning at two o'clock, in the church auditorium, which was filled to over- flowing with an enthusiastic audience of child- ren and young people. The superintendent, Dr. W. D. DeLong, presided, and the following special service was rendered :
Invocation, by the pastor; hymn, No. 61, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" ("Hymns for His Praise" used at this service); Scripture Lesson, Acts 9: 32-43, Dr. W. D. DeLong; prayer, by the pastor; hymn, No. 77, "My Jesus, I Love Thee;" hymn, by Beginners' Department; responsive reading, Psalm 19, A. J. Shartle; hymn, by Primary Department; address, Chas. H. Leinbach, pres- dent Berks County Sabbath School Association and su- perintendent St. Andrew's Reformed Sunday School; hymn, by Junior Department ; piano solo, Miss Alice Hoffman; announcements; offering; closing hymn, No. 48, "When All My Labors and Trials Are O'er;" Lord's Prayer; doxology; benediction.
The address was delivered by Mr. Charles H. Leinbach, president of Berks County Sab- 13
194
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
bath School Association and superintendent of St. Andrew's Reformed Sunday School. He spoke in his usually enthusiastic way and praised the work that is being done by St. Stephen's Reformed Sunday School.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.