USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > The history of St. Stephen's reformed church, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1884-1909; by the Rev. Thomas W. Dickert > Part 12
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On the first of November, 1883, he removed to Reading, Pa., to take charge of a new inter- est to be known as St. Stephen's Reformed Church. The new church building which was being erected was nearing completion when he arrived upon the scene, and was dedicated on
214
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
November 30, 1883. During the winter he conducted services in the church and did mis- sionary work among the residents of the com- munity, and the following spring, on March 16, 1884, he organized St. Stephen's Reformed con- gregation with fifty-seven charter members. The Sunday School had sixty members, when, on December 23, 1883, it was reorganized as St. Stephen's Reformed Sunday School. At the end of the first year the congregation numbered one hundred and sixteen members, and the Sun- day School had three hundred and seven mem- bers enrolled. The new interest grew steadily under the leadership of the energetic pastor, and developed into a large and flourishing con- gregation.
Dr. Gerhard was an able leader, an interest- ing preacher and a faithful pastor, and succeed- ed in gathering around him a band of people, whom he molded into a homogeneous and har- monious congregation.
When he organized St. Stephen's, the con- gregation worshipped in a neat brick building "which had been erected by the Reformed peo- ple of Reading. There was a mortgage of $3,- 000 resting upon the lot on which the building
215
THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
stood, and the Board of Home Missions made an annual appropriation toward the pastor's sal- ary. In 1885 it was necessary to enlarge the building, and a vestibule, with steeple, and a class room, were added. In 1889 an annex was built to the church at a cost of over $1,600. On April 1, 1890, the congregation became self- sustaining. The debt on the property was paid in 1892, and the mortgage was burned July 10, 1892. In 1898 the old church was torn down and a new one erected, the corner-stone being laid July 3, 1898, and the completed building dedicated November 19, 1899.
Both the Sunday School and the congrega- tion grew rapidly. By the time of the ninth anniversary the membership of the congrega- tion had passed the 500 mark, and that of the Sunday School was 658. At the time of Dr. Gerhard's death the congregation numbered 750 members and the Sunday School had an enroll- ment of 860.
Dr. Gerhard took an active interest in local affairs, and served as a member of the Reading School Board from December, 1885, to Febru- ary, 1888. He was an ardent supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association, and en-
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
couraged every effort for the moral improvement of the city.
In 1885 he spent five months in Europe and the Holy Land, and, after his return, delivered a number of sermons, addresses and lectures, which commanded wide attention.
He was always deeply interested in every- thing that pertained to the welfare of his de- nomination and of Christianity in general. He took an active part in all the deliberations of the judicatories of the Church from the Classis to the General Synod. He was elected presi- dent of East Susquehanna Classis in 1875; of Schuylkill Classis in 1891; of Reading Classis in 1899; of the Eastern Synod in 1891; and of the General Synod in 1899. One of his last public acts was to preach the opening sermon at the meeting of the General Synod at Balti- more, May 20, 1902.
He served as a member of the Board of Home Missions from December, 1877, to De- cember, 1881, and from November, 1889, to the time of his death in 1902, and was on its Ex- ecutive Council during the whole of the latter period.
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
He took an active interest in Sunday School affairs, and was instrumental in creating the Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States. He was a member of the Board from the time of its organization to the end of his life, and served as its first president from 1887 to 1893, when he was relieved of the office at his own request. He was chairman of the Editorial Committee of the Sunday School Board, under whose auspices the Sunday School Hymnal was prepared.
In 1891 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Franklin and Marshall College.
He was a frequent contributor to the Church papers, in spite of his manifold duties in his growing congregation. From December 19, 1883, to October 31, 1888, he was Synodical Editor of the "Reformed Church Messenger," during which period he contributed many im- portant articles. He also contributed a number of able articles to the "Reformed Quarterly Re- view," afterward known as the "Reformed Church Review," the titles and dates of which are, "The New Birth," January, 1891; "Dr. Titzel on Death and the Resurrection," Janu-
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
ary, 1896; "The Ever-Living Christ," Janu- ary, 1897 ; " The Bible and the Word of God," January, 1898.
In 1895 he published a volume of 240 pa- ges on "Death and the Resurrection," and in 1901 a small volume entitled " Bible Studies, in the Form of Questions and Answers, for Child- ren," an excellent book of supplemental lessons for the Junior grade in the Sunday school.
Dr. and Mrs. Gerhard were blessed with four sons. Two of these, giving promise of most successful careers in their respective callings, were taken home in the prime of their young manhood. Rev. W. Glase Gerhard went to his eternal reward July 22, 1901, and his brother, John M. Gerhard, followed September 10, 1901. The family was thus doubly afflicted in the loss of their two noble sons, and received the sincere sympathy of the whole community, as well as of the Church at large.
The father, who had undermined his health in the strenuous labors incident to the erection of the new church, was not long to survive his sons. He was called home October 29, 1902, at the age of 57 years and 26 days. Largely at- tended funeral services were held on Monday
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
afternoon, November 3, 1902, and the remains were laid to rest in Charles Evans Cemetery. The survivors of the family are the widow, Mrs. Emma E. Gerhard, and two sons, Charles Her- bert Gerhard and Frederick Bruce Gerhard.
We close this brief sketch by quoting the words of Dr. John S. Stahr, President of Frank- lin and Marshall College, from his introduction* to " The Life of the Rev. Calvin S. Gerhard, D. D.," where he says : "Dr. Gerhard was a well-rounded man, and the tendrils of his na- ture reached out in many different directions. This was felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. There are, however, two special traits or characteristics of the man to which it may be proper to call attention in this connec- tion. The first is a high order of intellectual strength, keenness of mind, eagerness for knowl- edge and a desire to know the truth; the other we may characterize by the general term loy- alty-loyalty to his friends, loyalty to the truth, loyalty to the faith which he professed."
REV. THOMAS WILSON DICKERT, A. M.
Rev. Thomas Wilson Dickert, son of Thom- as R. and Levina (Mininger) Dickert, was born
* Page 12.
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
at Zion Hill, Bucks county, Pa., March 9, 1869. His parents and grandparents were faithful members of the Reformed Church at Zion Hill, and the home of his grandfather, Joseph Min- inger, was the usual stopping place of the pas- tors who preached in the charge.
His mother was a descendant of Christopher Heller (1688-1778), who lived at Petersheim, two and a half miles from Bingen-on-the-Rhine, and came to America in 1738. He was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch. His descendants in this country, leading down to Mr. Dickert, were Ludwig Heller (1728-1807), John Heller, Adam Heller, Mrs. Mary Magdalene (Heller) Mininger (1813-1890), and Mrs. Levina (Min- inger) Dickert (1844-1896).
In his infancy Mr. Dickert was somewhat puny and sickly, and suffered from most of the diseases to which children are subject, but after he was seven years old his health began to im- prove, and he has not suffered much sickness since then. He received very little schooling during the first ten years of his life, but his mother was an intelligent woman, with a poetic turn of mind, and she gave him such an intel-
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
lectual and spiritual training that when his school days began he was able to enter the grades attended by other children of his age.
In 1879 the family removed to the country, about a mile from Zion Hill, and in 1880 they went to Quakertown, about three miles distant. This growing borough had excellent schools, and Mr. Dickert passed through all the grades in six years, graduating from the High School on June 25, 1886.
He was confirmed as a member of St. John's Reformed Church (now the First Reformed Church), Quakertown, Pa., April 17, 1886, by the pastor, Rev. Franklin J. Mohr.
The subject of this sketch was the fourth of eight children. In the summer of 1886, short- ly before his graduation, his baby sister, Ella Nora, was called to the
" Home for little children Above the bright blue sky."
The young brother had been very fond of his little sister, and had taught her to say "God bless baby," when her little lips could only lisp " Dod bess baby." While she lay in her crib, suffering from a fatal disease, she folded her lit- tle hands and said, " Dod bess baby," and the
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
Savior came and took her in His arms and car- ried her in His bosom to the bright home above. This made such an impression on the brother that he wrote a poem entitled " God bless baby," which was published in the local paper, and which was the first published verse that Mr. Dickert wrote. In this poem he refers to the incident cited above, as follows :
As her little head, crowned with gold, On the pillow she lays, She attempts her little hands to fold And to the Lord she prays : "Dod bess baby." * * *
As the appeal goes from that bed To the glorious throne above, As she gently rests her little head, God looks down in love And blesses baby.
Since then Mr. Dickert has written a large number of poems, some of which have elicited very favorable comment.
In the summer of 1886 Mr. Dickert received a provisional certificate from the Superintendent of Bucks County, and in the fall he began to teach the public school at California, Richland township, Bucks county, Pa. This school was three miles from his home, and the young
-
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
teacher had splendid exercise by walking six miles daily through a picturesque section of country, which cultivated a love of nature which has characterized him ever since. He taught this school for four successive years-five months in the winter and four months in the summer. During the winter months he had as high as sixty-three pupils of all grades, some of whom were as old as the teacher.
During this period he organized and con- ducted the California union Sunday School, serving as the superintendent for four years. He was also assistant superintendent of St. John's Reformed Sunday School in Quaker- town, taught a Bible class in the latter Sunday School, sang in the choir of the church, served as deacon of the congregation, and took an ac- tive part in the work of the various church organizations. He contributed a number of ar- ticles to his home paper, "The Quakertown Free Press," among which were some of the poems he composed on his way to and from school. He also contributed several articles to the "Re- formed Church Messenger."
During the summer of 1890 Mr. Dickert attended Ulrich's Preparatory School at Beth-
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
lehem, Pa., to prepare for entrance into College. He became a member of the Freshman class at Franklin and Marshall College, September 4, 1890, and at the end of the first term stood at the head of his class. During the whole of his College course he took an active part in the Goethean Literary Society, of which he was a member, and filled nearly all the offices in the gift of the society. He was also a member of the College Young Men's Christian Association, by whom he was sent as a delegate to the Moody Conference at Northfield, Mass., in 1892. He was a frequent contributor to "The College Student," the monthly publication of the Col- lege, on whose staff he served respectively as Assistant Business Manager, Business Manager, and Editor-in-chief. He was also Editor-in- chief of "The Oriflamme," the College annual published by the Junior class. He graduated with first honor, which he shared with J. Frank Meyer, and delivered the Marshall Oration in German on the subject, "Was Sich der Wald Erzaehlt" (A Plea for the Forest), June 21, 1894.
On September 13, 1894, he entered the The- ological Seminary of the Reformed Church in
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
the United States at Lancaster, Pa., to prepare for the Christian ministry. From his very childhood he cherished the purpose of becom- ing a minister of the Gospel, and, although many difficulties presented themselves, he clung to his purpose, often saying to himself, "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel !"
During his seminary course he taught His- tory and German at Franklin and Marshall Academy, and spent part of the summer vaca- tion in 1895 and 1896 in canvassing for stu- dents for the Academy. He did considerable preaching during his seminary course, preach- ing regularly every other Sunday evening from December 8, 1895, to January 3, 1897, at the Presbyterian Chapel at Pomeroy, Pa. On Jan- uary 17, 1897, he began to supply Solomon's Reformed Church, Macungie, Pa., and preached regularly every Sunday, except four, until his graduation from the seminary.
His mother was called to her eternal home on July 2, 1896, at the age of 52 years, after suffering for more than three years from cancer.
During the year 1896 he prepared and pub- lished two volumes for use in schools, entitled, "Two Hundred Questions on Ancient History"
15
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
and " Two Hundred Questions on United States History."
He graduated with honors from the Theo- logical Seminary, May 13, 1897, representing the department of Practical Theology taught by Prof. William Rupp, D. D., and delivered an essay at the commencement exercises on "The New Preacher." He was examined and licensed by Tohickon Classis, at a meeting held in South Bethlehem, Pa., June 2, 1897, and dismissed to Lehigh Classis, where his call from Solomon's Reformed Church, Macungie, Pa., was con- firmed, and a committee appointed for his ordi- nation and installation.
He was united in holy matrimony with Miss Rebecca Bettiger, at the home of the bride in Trumbauersville, Pa., June 8, 1897, by Rev. F. J. Mohr, assisted by Rev. B. F. Luckenbill.
He was ordained and installed as pastor of Solomon's Reformed Church on Saturday even- ing, June 12, 1897, by Revs. T. J. Hacker, M. H. Diefenderfer and W. R. Hufford, D. D. The congregation at Macungie had just [been sep- arated from the Salisbury charge and consti- tuted a separate charge. It had a membership of about 205, and a debt of $1,350, and received
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
an appropriation from Lehigh Classis to help pay the pastor's salary. During Mr. Dickert's pastorate the debt was wiped out, the church was beautifully frescoed, the congregation be- came self-supporting, a handsome new parson- age was built, and the membership increased to 336.
The sixtieth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated with special services on Whit- sunday, May 26, 1901.
Mr. Dickert resigned the pastorate of the congregation, to accept a call extended to him by the consistory of St. Stephen's Reformed Church, Reading, Pa., on October 5, 1902. He was reluctant to leave his first field of labor, where his relations had been very pleasant, but felt that the Lord had called him to a larger work, which he could not refuse to undertake.
The following are the statistics of his pastor- ate at Macungie from June 12, 1897, to October 31, 1902: Marriages, 38; baptisms, 146; fun- erals, 74; members added, 175-by confirma- tion, 83; by certificate, 37 ; by reprofession, 55 ; communions, 22; number communed, 4,218, an average of 192 at each communion ; contribu-
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
tions for benevolence, $1,151; for congrega- tional purposes, $7,253; total $8,404.
Mr. Dickert was installed as pastor of St. Stephen's Reformed Church on Sunday morn- ing, November 23, 1902, by a committee of Read- ing Classis, consisting of Revs. C. E. Schaeffer, C. E. Creitz and H. Y. Stoner.
During his pastorate of six years and four months, to the time of the twenty-fifth anniver- sary, a new pipe organ was installed, the church auditorium was handsomely frescoed, a new bell was secured, a debt of $13,000 was paid, and the membership increased from 750 to 1,152.
During the twelve years of his ministry Mr. Dickert has contributed a number of articles and poems to the "Reformed Church Messen- ger," and two articles to the " Reformed Church Review"-" The Church and Educational Prob- lems" (October, 1900), and " Essential Charac- teristics of Twentieth Century Christianity" (Oc- tober, 1907). In 1904 he edited and published "The Life of the Rev. Calvin S. Gerhard, D. D.," in a volume of 256 pages.
During his pastorate at Macungie Mr. Dick- ert lectured on Church History at the Allentown College for Women, and has been a member of
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THE PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION
the Board of Trustees of that institution since 1906.
Mr. Dickert was elected President of Lehigh Classis, May 14, 1900, and of Reading Classis, May 4, 1908. He has attended almost every meeting of the Eastern Synod since he is in the ministry, and was a delegate to the General Synod at York, Pa., in 1908. He has been Treasurer of the Spiritual Conference of Minis- ters and Laymen of the Reformed Church since 1899.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickert have two daughters- Mary Rebecca Dickert, born January 1, 1903, and Martha Isabel Dickert, born February 18, 1907.
Mr. Dickert has always honored the memory of his predecessor, and has endeavored to be a worthy successor of the departed pastor of the congregation. At the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation, March 16, 1909, a memo- rial tablet was placed on the wall back of the pulpit to perpetuate the memory of the first pastor of the congregation, and in his anniver- sary sermon the present pastor paid a beautiful tribute to the life and work of his predecessor.
H. S. Bernhart.
Dr. W. D. DeLong.
Elders.
Dr. J. K. Seaman,
A. J. Shartle.
Deacons.
A. M. Weyandt.
T. Z. Bright.
S. P. Faust.
C. L. Kantner.
M. L. Haag.
John D. Heck.
CHAPTER XII THE CONSISTORY
S T. STEPHEN'S Reformed congre- gation has been fortunate in the men who have served as members of its consistory. As a rule they have been men of noble Christian character, loyal to the pastors, and deeply concerned about the wel- fare of the congregation. The first consistory was composed of the pastor, two eld- ers and two deacons. The elders and deacons were elected at a congregational meeting held on the day of the organization of the congrega- tion, March 16, 1884, as follows : Elders, Dan- iel Bucher and Daniel S. Klein ; Deacons, Mil- ton J. Coller and G. Frank Bard.
The first meeting of the consistory was held March 24, 1884, when Daniel S. Klein was elected secretary and Milton J. Coller treasurer.
On July 13, 1884, Samuel Palm was elected as an additional deacon.
The following is a complete list of the eld- ers and deacons who have served in that capacity
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
during the first twenty-five years of our history, together with the dates of their election :
DATES. 1
ELDERS.
DEACONS.
Mar. 16, 1884. Daniel Bucher
Milton J. Coller
Daniel S. Klein G. Frank Bard
July 13, 1884.
Samuel Palm
Jan. 14, 1885. 66
Daniel Bucher Milton J. Coller
Daniel S. Klein Samuel Palm
Jan. 13, 1886.
Daniel Bucher Milton J. Coller
Daniel S. Klein Samuel Palm
Jan. 5, 1887.
Daniel S. Klein Milton J. Coller
Henry Y. Stoner Samuel Palm
Daniel Bucher Charles W. Wanner
Jan. 4, 1888.
Daniel Bucher Charles W. Wanner
Jan. 2, 1889. Henry Y. Stoner Samuel Palm
60 66
J. Fred. Schoenberger
June 9, 1890.
Daniel S. Klein.
Isaac R. Bechtel Charles W. Wanner
Joseph R. Roth Thomas J. Eckert
66
Daniel S. Klein
Jan. 6, 1892.
Daniel S. Klein Samuel Palm
66 60 Aaron R. Bucks
Jan. 4, 1893. Aaron R. Bucks Milton J. Coller
Jan. 3, 1894. Joseph R. Roth. Charles W. Wanner
66 Isaac R. Bechtel Lemon H. Hertz
Mar. 5, 1894. Hiram K. Ritter
Jan. 2, 1895. Daniel S. Klein Samuel Palm
Hiram K. Ritter
Jan. 8, 1896. Hiram K. Ritter . Cuvier G. Grube
Milton J. Coller
May 4, 1896. Dr. W. D. DeLong
Jan. 6, 1897. Joseph R. Roth Lemon H. Hertz
Milton J. Coller Dr. W. D. DeLong
Jan. 5, 1898.
Daniel S. Klein Samuel Palm
Jan. 4, 1899. Hiram K. Ritter Cuvier G. Grube
Jan. 8, 1890.
J. Fred. Schoenberger Milton J. Coller
Jan. 7, 1891.
66
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THE CONSISTORY
DATES.
ELDERS. DEACONS.
Jan. 4, 1899.
Samuel P. Faust
Albert M. Weyandt
Charles W. Logan
Apr. 3, 1899. J. Frederick Gerhard.
Jan. 17, 1900.
J. Frederick Gerhard
Joseph R. Roth Dr. W. D. DeLong
66 Milton J. Coller Lemon H. Hertz
J. Frederick Gerhard ... Albert M. Weyandt Thomas Z. Bright
Jan. 8, 1902. Hiram K. Ritter Cuvier G. Grube
Samuel P. Faust
Jan. 14, 1903. Joseph R. Roth Dr. W. D. DeLong
Milton J. Coller Lemon H. Hertz
Jan. 13, 1904. Dr. J. K. Seaman Albert M. Weyandt 66 Thomas Z. Bright
Jan. 11, 1905. Henry S. Bernhart Cuvier G. Grube Samuel P. Faust
Jan. 10, 1906.
Dr. W. D. DeLong John D. Heck
Milton J. Coller G. B. Trechsel
Jan. 16, 1907. 60
Dr. J. K. Seaman Albert M. Weyandt Thomas Z. Bright
66 60
Charles L. Kantner
Jan. 8, 1908. Henry S. Bernhart. Cuvier G. Grube
66
Samuel P. Faust
June 3, 1908.
Alvin J. Shartle
Jan. 13, 1909. Dr. W. D. DeLong John D. Heck
66
Alvin J. Shartle. Charles L. Kantner
66 Milton L. Haag
The following have served as officers of the consistory during this time :
The pastor has always served as president of the consistory and of the congregational meet- ings ex-officio. Hiram K. Ritter served as pres- ident during the absence of the pastor from
Jan. 16, 1901. 66
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
July 3, 1900, to September 5, 1900, and Milton J. Coller was president after the death of Dr. C. S. Gerhard from October 30, 1902, to No- vember 23, 1902.
The office of vice-president was created Feb- ruary 4, 1903, when Milton J. Coller was elect- ed to the office. On February 3, 1904, Hiram K. Ritter was elected. Milton J. Coller was again elected February 1, 1905, and served un- til the time of his death, May 26, 1908. Dr. W. D. DeLong was elected to the office July 2, 1908, and has filled it since then.
The first secretary of the consistory was Daniel S. Klein, who was elected March 24, 1884. Henry Y. Stoner was elected to the of- fice February 7, 1887, and served until July 6, 1890, when Daniel S. Klein was again elected. Joseph R. Roth was elected as secretary Feb- ruary 2, 1891, and held the office for fifteen years. He was succeeded by Albert M. Wey- andt, who was elected February 7, 1906, and is the present incumbent.
Milton J. Coller was the first treasurer of the congregation, serving in that capacity from March 24, 1884, to July 6, 1890, when Daniel S. Klein was elected to the office. Mr. Klein served for almost nine years, to the time of his
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THE CONSISTORY
death, March 31, 1899. J. Frederick Gerhard was elected treasurer April 3, 1899. He was succeeded by Dr. John K. Seaman, who was elected February 3, 1904, and has held the of- fice since then.
The office of financial secretary of the con- sistory was created February 7, 1887, when Daniel S. Klein was elected as its first incum- bent. He was succeeded by Samuel Palm, who was elected September 9, 1888, and held the of- fice for more than ten years. Cuvier G. Grube was elected February 6, 1899, and served in that capacity for ten years, until February 3, 1909, when the present incumbent, Charles L. Kantner, was elected.
The whole consistory has been elected at each annual congregational meeting to serve as trustees for the current year.
The following elders of the congregation were elected delegates to the annual meetings of Classis during these twenty-five years :
TO LEBANON CLASSIS.
DATES. PRIMARIUS. SECUNDUS. May 28, 1884. Daniel Bucher Daniel S. Klein
TO SCHUYLKILL CLASSIS.
May 4, 1885. Daniel S. Klein Daniel Bucher
June 7, 1886. Daniel S. Klein Daniel Bucher
May 2, 1887. Henry Y. Stoner Daniel Bucher
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ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
DATES. PRIMARIUS.
SECUNDUS.
Apr. 1, 1888. Henry Y. Stoner
Daniel S. Klein
June 5, 1889. Henry Y. Stoner J. Fred. Schoenberger
Apr. 9, 1890.
Henry Y. Stoner Daniel Bucher
May 4, 1891.
Isaac M. Bechtel Joseph R. Roth
May 29, 1892.
Daniel S. Klein Joseph R. Roth
Apr. 4, 1893.
Joseph R. Roth. Isaac M. Bechtel
Apr. 4, 1894.
Daniel S. Klein
Joseph R. Roth
May 6, 1895. Hiram K. Ritter Joseph R. Roth
TO READING CLASSIS.
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