USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > The history of St. Stephen's reformed church, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1884-1909; by the Rev. Thomas W. Dickert > Part 20
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The following year, 1905-1906, was a very active one in the history of the association. A male chorus was organized under the leader- ship of Dr. W. D. DeLong. Physical culture classes were conducted by John M. Folmer. A base ball team was organized and played a num-
380
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
ber of successful games. A picnic was held at Kirbyville, near Blandon, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1906, which was a most successful and delightful social affair. A monogram was adopted, and " green and gold" were selected as the colors of the association. At this time the association numbered 81 members. Several musical and literary programs were rendered at the regular meetings, and two public entertain- ments were given on October 24, 1905, and No- vember 21, 1905, which were well attended and greatly enjoyed.
The election for officers on December 19, 1905, resulted as follows : President, William J. Lowe; Vice-President, Edwin H. Mabry ; Sec- retary, Charles A. Frederick ; Treasurer, John D. Heck. The following were elected chairmen of the standing committees : Music, Charles A. Frederick ; athletic, John M. Folmer ; program, Walter C. Clark ; lookout, John D. Heck ; so- cial, Leon E. Altenderfer.
At a meeting of the association held at Min- eral Springs Park, July 10, 1906, it was re- solved to publish a monthly paper to be known as " St. Stephen's Bulletin." The first number was called "Introductory Number." Beginning
381
THE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
with October, 1906, the paper was regularly is- sued every month until September, 1908. The October number was omitted, after which the paper was continued regularly until February, 1909, when it was discontinued for want of financial support. It was a neat and newsy four-page paper, and was greatly appreciated by some of the members of the congregation, and there are many who regret its discontinuance.
At the annual election for officers, Septem- ber 25, 1906, the following were chosen : Presi- dent, William J. Lowe ; Vice-President, Ralph S. Dunkleberger ; Secretary, Leon E. Alten- derfer ; Treasurer, Lawrence C. Bright. The following chairmen of committees were elected : Male chorus, Charles A. Frederick ; athletic, John M. Folmer ; program, Edwin H. Mabry ; lookout, Harry F. Sonen; social, Wilmert Evans ; editor of " Bulletin," John D. Heck ; sub-editor, Lawrence C. Bright.
A prayer circle was organized by the asso- ciation to engage in prayer for fifteen minutes every Sunday morning before church services. On October 23, 1906, John D. Heck was elected chairman of the prayer circle.
382
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
The association held a reunion and banquet on October 19, 1906, which was a most delight- ful affair. The male chorus and an orchestra, which had recently been organized under the leadership of Herbert DeTurk, furnished the music. A number of interesting toasts were given, and a most enjoyable evening was spent.
On November 19, 1906, A. A. Simon, jr., was elected leader of the male chorus and Leon C. Darrah chairman of the subscription com- mittee.
An interesting musical and literary program was rendered on November 19, 1906, and an- other on January 15, 1907. An in-door picnic was held February 2, 1907. On February 12, 1907, the association gave an entertainment for the Ladies' Aid Society in connection with their Fastnacht Supper, for which the association re- ceived $5.00. On April 6, 1907, a variety sup- per was held for the benefit of the base ball team. The team secured new uniforms, to be used during the summer season.
The fourth anniversary of the association was observed by attending church services in a body on Sunday evening, April 14, 1907, when the pastor preached a special sermon on "The
383
THE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
Church and Young Men." The text was 1 John 2: 14, " I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong and the word of God abid- eth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one." At this time the association had 120 members.
On May 7, 1907, Henry M. Folmer was elected chairman of the subscription committee in place of Leon C. Darrah, who had resigned, and Rayman W. Reeser was elected chairman of the umbrella-checking committee. After long deliberation and negotiation with the con- sistory an umbrella-checking system was in- stalled in the closet in the rear of the church. Pockets were put up for the reception of the umbrellas which are checked by the committee appointed for the purpose and returned to the worshippers at the close of the church services. This system meets a long-felt want and is highly appreciated by all who have used it.
Another successful picnic was held at Kir- byville, May 30, 1907, attended by about 80 persons. ·
At the meeting on June 4, 1907, the asso- ciation adopted as its motto " For the Welfare of St. Stephen's."
384
. ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
At the annual election held September 24, 1907, the following officers and chairmen of committees were elected : President, Ralph S. Dunkleberger; Vice - President, Clarence H. Beck ; Secretary, William J. Lowe ; Treasurer, Rayman W. Reeser ; leader of Prayer Circle, Milton J. Coller ; leader of Male Chorus, A. A. Simon, jr. ; director of Male Chorus, J. Wilson Klein ; editor of " Bulletin," William J. Lowe ; sub-editor, Ralph S. Dunkleberger ; lookout committee, A. A. Simon, jr .; social, Harry F. Sonen ; program, Charles A. Frederick ; ath- letic, John M. Folmer ; " Bulletin" subscrip- tion, Clarence H. Beck ; umbrella-checking, Rayman W. Reeser.
The second reunion and banquet of the as- sociation was held on Friday evening, October 25, 1907, in which about fifty members partici- pated. On this occasion William J. Lowe was presented with a silver loving-cup in recogni- tion of his services as President for more than four years. Several appropriate toasts were. given, which were well received.
On March 10, 1908, Lawrence Bright was elected chairman of the music committee and Leon Darrah chairman of the lookout commit-
385
THE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
tee, both positions having become vacant by the resignation of A. A. Simon, jr., from the soci- ety. On June 2, 1908, Charles B. F. Deppen was elected chairman of the Prayer Circle, to take the place of Milton J. Coller, who departed this life May 26, 1908. On June 30, 1908, John D. Heck was elected chairman of the " Bulletin" subscription committee, in place of Clarence H. Beck.
On May 3, 1908, the fifth anniversary of the association was observed by attending the evening church services in a body, when the pastor preached a special sermon on "The Visions of Young Men," based on Acts 2: 17, " Your young men shall see visions." The Male Chorus took the place of the choir and rendered an excellent selection entitled "On- ward, Christian Soldiers."
The third annual banquet of the association was held on Thursday evening, October 29, 1908.
At the election of officers in the fall of 1908 the following were chosen : President, Ralph S. Dunkleberger ; Vice-President, John M. Fol- mer ; Secretary, William J. Lowe ; Treasurer, John D. Heck ; editor of " Bulletin," William
386 ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
J. Lowe ; sub-editor, Ralph S. Dunkleberger ; chairman Prayer Circle, Charles B. F. Deppen ; lookout committee, Harvey Fassnacht; mu- sic, Lawrence Bright ; " Bulletin" subscription, Harvey Fassnacht; umbrella-checking, Henry M. Folmer; social, Clarence H. Beck ; pro- gram, S. P. Faust ; athletic, John M. Folmer.
The association has rendered valuable ser- vice to the congregation by faithfully attend- ing to the ushering at all the services, has pre- sented a number of hymn books and fans, has conducted the umbrella-checking system, has contributed to the Easter offerings, and has helped to add to the sociability and enjoyment of the members and friends of the congregation.
The following is a list of the officers and members at the time of the twenty-fifth anni- versary of the congregation :
OFFICERS .- President, Ralph S. Dunkleberger; Vice- President, John M. Folmer; Secretary, Wm. J. Lowe; Treasurer, John D. Heck; Editor of "Bulletin," Wm. J. Lowe; Sub-editor of "Bulletin," Ralph S. Dunkleberger.
ACTIVE MEMBERS .- John Hiester, Wm. Clouser, Law- rence Bright, Charles Stitzer, Wilmert Evans, Ralph Dun- kleberger, John Heck, John Folmer, William Hiester, Milton Matten, Herman Zimmerman, Charles Haag, Al- bert Schoenberger, Luther Wrentzel, Dr. W. D. DeLong, Dr. J. K. Seaman, Frank Sassaman, Harvey Fassnacht, Harvey Bush, Earl Jackson, Clarence Beck, Rayman
1
387
THE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
Reeser, Chas. F. Mohrbach, Arthur Reeser, Herbert Moll, Raymond Herflicker, Howard Geist, Evan Jackson, Al- bert Kreitz, Harry Sonen, Charles Frederick, Warren Bar- to, Henry Folmer, Edwin Mabry, Leon Altenderfer, Wm. J. Lowe, Ralph Tragle, John Frederick, Chester Hertz, Herbert DeTurk, Samuel P. Faust, Harry Reifsnyder, Al- vin J. Shartle, Rev. T. W. Dickert, Henry Bernhart, Charles Kantner, Raymond Fassnacht, Walter Noll, J. Grim Derr, Wm. C. Barto, Chester Matten, C. B. F. Dep- pen, Clarence Moodhart, Wm. Grieshaber, James Knabb, Stanley Saylor, Vernon Friday, Herman Hough.
HONORARY ACTIVE .- Bright R. Sonen, Clarence De- Long, A. Cameron Lance, Harvey Zimmerman, Stewart Printz, Charles Matten, Nevin H. Carl, W. Percy Kersh- ner, Benjamin Zweitzig, Fred. Krauss, Walter Clark, Leon Darrah.
HONORARY .- J. Wilson Klein, Lemon Hertz, Wm. K. Bridegam, A. M. Weyandt, Thomas Z. Bright.
ASSOCIATE .- Howard Stepp, Joseph Leber, Charles Monk, Samuel Haller, Harry Harbach, Wilford Schappell, Diller Haller, Charles Snell.
CHAPTER XVII STATISTICS
A GREAT many statistics of the con- gregation and its various organi- zations are found in the body of the book, and it will not be neces- sary to repeat them here. It will, however, be of interest and value to have before us in tabulated form those statistics which show the nu- merical growth of the congregation and Sunday School, as well as the losses sustained, and an account of the financial affairs of the congrega- tion.
The following table furnishes the congrega- tional statistics for the first twenty-five years of our history. They show that the congregation grew from a mission with fifty-seven charter members to one of the foremost congregations in our city with a membership of almost twelve hundred.
During these twenty-five years almost two thousand persons have been identified with the congregation, while the losses sustained during this period aggregate almost nine hundred.
390
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
These congregational statistics are taken from the official reports submitted annually to the Classes with which the congregation has been identified.
Year
Members
Baptisms
Confirmed
By Certificate and Reprofession
Dismissals
Names Erased
Deaths
Members of
Sunday School
Contributions
for Benevolence
Contributions
for Congrega-
tional Purposes
1884
93
6
16
77
0
0
1
230
$
® 9
$
1885
124
14
6
28
3
0
0
311
31
675
1886
183
27
18
52
4
6
2
350
67
1,175
1887
234
37
29
28
1
5
4
400
99
1,008
1888
292
34
30
47
3
12
6
518
289
2,326
1889
321
24
28
39
14
15
3
575
322
1,276
1890
401
46
50
48
7
8
7
663
207
2,773
1891
451
33
35
45
19
10
8
623
210
2,278
1892
492
35
39
20
9
8
8
671
240
2,600
1893
528
42
29
37
13
13
3
682
658
1,750
1894
574
32
26
45
8
10
7
643
900
1,860
1895
573
27
25
35
12
47
9
650
400
1,800
1896
600
29
40
21
11
20
3
700
400
2,216
1897
652
33
33
62
18
20
7
738
475
2,525
1898
665
28
31
21
15
18
10
769
460
6,641
1899
679
32
26
16
3
19
9
770
400
9,306
1900
702
32
36
45
16
37
11
800
425
11,517
1901
723
31
27
34
15
9
13
838
430
6,500
1902
752
24
44
32
15
17
16
860
996
5,383
1903
835
32
48
50
8
0
12
866
678
3,597
1904
914
54
52
53
7
9
13
965
618
6,113
1905|1012
58
45
80
5
18
17 1110
775
6,969
1906 1078
84
69
38
6
23
26 1249
916
5,872
1907
1128
67
52
33
16
10
16 1254
1,310
7,099
1908|1152
61
43
34
7
33
21 1262
1,493
5,859
1909 1192
70
29
43
4
14
24 1231
1,173
5,793
Totals
1192
992
900 1063
239
381
256 1231
$13,981
$104,851
391
STATISTICS
These Sunday School statistics are as com- plete as they could be made from the records that were available. A striking feature of the financial statement is the small proportion of the funds used by the school for its own support.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Date
Officers and Teachers
Scholars
Totals
For Support
of School
For other
Objects
Total
1883
60
$
A
$
1884
286
1885
347
1886
447
1887
507
1888
592
1889
41
575
616
1890
54
609
663
1891
49
574
623
1892
50
621
671
1893
50
632
682
1894
50
593
643
1895
50
600
650
1896
50
650
700
1897
52
686
738
1898
52
717
769
1899
50
620
670
1900
64
730
794
1901
63
775
838
1902
60
800
860
1903
55
811
866
1904
54
911
965
266
1267
1533
1905
76
1034
1110
277
2022
2299
1906
86
1163
1249
402
1555
1957
1907
111
1143
1254
514
1415
1929
1908
106
1156
1262
132
1246
1378
1909
101
1130
1231
392
1097
1489
392
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
In 1888 a special Easter offering was taken by the congregation for the debt fund. This offering became one of the annual features of the congregational life, and developed to im- mense proportions in the course of time. The following table shows these offerings in detail :
Year
Congregation
Sunday School
Ladies' Aid
Society
Missionary
Society
C. E. Society
Jr. C. E. Society
Mission Band
Ushers'
Association
Catechetical
Class
1888
$ 109 $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 109
1889
106
106
1890
65
62
127
1891
203
526
100
829
1892
421
705
100
1,226
1893
121
237
75
433
1894
106
254
50
410
1895
101
262
50
413
1896
108
342
50
500
1897
147
357
50
554
1898
132
600
50
782
1899
146
612
758
1900
183
1000
1,183
1901
182
962
1,144
1902
223
700
50
973
1903
1024
1017
50
2,091
1904
1028
966
75
2,069
1905
954
1780
300
50
10
5
25
10
94
3,228
1906
750
1443
300
25
10
10
50
10
121
2,719
1907
1963
1132
400
45
10
3
60
10
3,623
1908
1361
854
300
10
5
2
40
10
20
2,602
1909
1571
897
210
30
10
5
50
5
14
2,792
Totals
$11004
14708
$2,210 $160
$45
$25
$225
$45
$229
$28,671
8226
Totals
.
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