USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > The history of St. Stephen's reformed church, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1884-1909; by the Rev. Thomas W. Dickert > Part 3
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
IX. No person other than a minister of the Gospel in good standing as a member of a Synod connected with the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States shall be elected Pastor.
X. No sale or conveyance of the real estate of the cor- poration or any part thereof shall be made without a ma- jority of the members of the congregation present and voting at an election called for that purpose, upon due notice, deciding in favor of such sale or conveyance.
DANIEL BUCHER, CHAS. W. WANNER,
DANIEL S. KLEIN, GEORGE H. LONG,
MILTON J. COLLER, HENRY Y. STONER.
53
INCORPORATION OF THE CONGREGATION
It was sworn and subscribed to March 17, 1887, as is shown by the following statement :
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, ss. COUNTY OF BERKS.
Before me, the subscriber, Recorder of Deeds, in and for the county aforesaid, personally came the above named George H. Long, Henry Y. Stoner and Daniel S. Klein, who in due form of law acknowledged the foregoing in- strument of writing to be their act and deed, for the pur- poses therein specified. And the said George H. Long, Henry Y. Stoner and Daniel S. Klein being duly sworn according to law, depose and say that the statements con- tained in the foregoing instrument are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Acknowledged, sworn and subscribed before me this 17th day of March, A. D. 1887. Witness my hand and of- ficial seal. W. BENTON STOLTZ, Recorder.
It was submitted to the congregation and adopted at a special meeting held March 20, 1887.
The application was filed March 22, 1887.
The following statement of this fact is borne on the face of the document :
And now, to wit, March 22, A. D. 1887, the court hav- ing perused and examined the instrument in writing, speci- fying the objects, articles, conditions, name, style or title under which the within named subscribers have associ- ated, and it appearing to the court that the objects, arti- cles and conditions therein set forth and contained are lawful and not injurious to the Commonwealth, the court direct said writing to be filed in the office of the Prothon- otary of said court, and notice to be inserted in the
54
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
"Weekly Herald" and the "Republikaner von Berks," two newspapers published in said county of Berks, for three weeks, setting forth that an application has been made to the court to grant a charter of incorporation to the subscribers within named under the style of "St. Ste- phen's Reformed Church of Reading, Pa."
By the court, J. HAGENMAN, President Judge.
The application was advertised in the " Weekly Herald" in English and in the " Re- publikaner von Berks" in German for three weeks, as required by law. The following is a copy of the English advertisement :
Notice is hereby given that an application will be made to the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County on the 23rd day of April next, at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, under Act of Assembly, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations," approved April 29, 1874, and the supplements thereto, by Daniel Bucher, Daniel S. Klein, Henry Y. Stoner, Milton J. Coller, George H. Long and Charles W. Wanner, for the charter of an intended corporation to be called "St. Stephen's Reformed Church of Reading, Pa.," the char- acter and object of which is the support of the public wor- ship of Almighty God according to the Constitution, can- ons, discipline, doctrine, faith, government and forms of the Reformed Church in the United States, and for these purposes to have, possess and enjoy all the rights, bene- fits and privileges conferred by the Act of Assembly afore- said and its supplements.
D. N. SCHAEFFER, Solicitor. READING, March 22, 1887.
The fact that the requirements of the law were fulfilled had to be sworn to before a no-
55
INCORPORATION OF THE CONGREGATION
tary public. This was done April 22, 1887, as is shown by the following document :
BERKS COUNTY, SS.
Personally appeared before me a notary public at Read- ing, residing in and for said county, D. N. Schaeffer, who, being duly sworn, says that the above advertisement has been for three weeks in the " Weekly Herald" and in the "Republikaner von Berks," printed and published in Berks county aforesaid; and further, that three of the subscribers to the said charter herewith presented, viz., Daniel Bucher, George H. Long and Daniel S. Klein, are citizens of Pennsylvania, according to the best of his knowledge, information and belief.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd day of April,
D. N. SCHAEFFER. A. D. 1887.
ADAM B. RIESER, Notary Public.
The charter was granted by action of the court, April 23, 1887, and is as follows :
And now, April 23, A. D. 1887, the within certificate of incorporation having remained on file in the office of the Prothonotary of this court since the 22nd day of March last, being the day on which publication of notice of intended application was first made, as appears by the record, and due proof of said publication having been made, I do hereby certify that I have examined said in- strument, and find the same to be in proper form, and within the purposes named in the first class of corpora- tions specified in Section 2 of Act of Assembly of April 29, 1874, and that said purposes are lawful and not injurious to the community. It is therefore ordered and decreed that the said charter be and the same is hereby approved, and upon the recording of the same, and its endorsements and this order in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for the county of Berks, the subscribers thereto and
56
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
their associates shall thenceforth be a corporation for the purposes, and upon the terms and under the name therein stated.
By the court, JAMES N. ERMENTROUT, Judge.
It was recorded April 29, 1887, and St. Ste- phen's Reformed Church of Reading was a le- gal corporation.
On January 17, 1889, it was decided to se- cure a corporation seal, and a tentative Consti- tution was read and recommended to the con- gregation for adoption. It was unanimously adopted at a special meeting of the congrega- tion held March 13, 1889, and is as follows :
ARTICLE I.
SEC. 1. This congregation shall be known by the name and title of ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH OF THE CITY OF READING, PA.
SEC. 2. The object of this congregation shall be to pro- vide its members with the stated preaching of the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments and the other ordi- nances of the Church of Jesus Christ, and to adopt and prosecute from time to time such measures as may be cal- culated to extend the Redeemer's Kingdom.
SEC. 3. This congregation shall be subject to the con- trol of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, and shall in all respects be governed by its rules and regulations.
ARTICLE II .- Officers.
SEC. 1. The officers of this congregation shall consist of a Pastor, and at least three Elders and three Deacons.
SEC. 2 .- Pastor .- The duty of the Pastor shall be to preach the Gospel, instruct and catechise the young, ad-
57
INCORPORATION OF THE CONGREGATION
minister the sacraments, serve as President of the Sunday School, and perform all other duties belonging to a minis- ter of Jesus Christ.
SEC. 3 .- Elders .- The duties of the Elders shall be, in connection with the Pastor, to take the oversight of the congregation; to exercise ecclesiastical discipline, and to take heed that Christian order be maintained in all things; to aid in visiting the sick, and to contribute, according to their ability, to the instruction, improvement and conso- lation of the members.
SEC. 4 .- Deacons .- The duties of the Deacons shall be to assist the other officers of the congregation in promot- ing its general welfare; to collect the alms and contribu- tions designed to meet the necessities of the congrega- tion; to distribute the alms and provide for the support of the pastor.
SEC. 5 .- The Consistory .- The Pastor, Elders and Dea- cons shall constitute the consistory of the congregation, of which the Pastor shall be ex-officio President. A Re- cording Secretary, a Financial Secretary and a Treasurer shall be annually elected by themselves, at the first con- sistorial meeting after the annual election for officers; a majority of all the members shall constitute a quorum.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the consistory to provide for the faithful enforcement of discipline, according to the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States, and to transact all other business of the congrega- tion in its name, provided, however, that when any meas- ure of general interest and importance, such as the buy- ing or selling of property, the erection of buildings, etc., is concerned, they first ascertain the will of the majority of the congregation assembled for that purpose, of which due notice shall be given.
SEC. 7 .- Meeting of Consistory .- The consistory shall meet regularly once a month. At their first meeting af- ter the annual congregational meeting, the consistory
58
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
shall receive the report of the committee appointed to au- dit the report of the Treasurer made at the annual meet- ing of the congregation, organize for the current year, and transact such other business as may claim their at- tention. Special meetings shall also be held as occasion may require, due notice being given.
ARTICLE III .- Elections.
SEC. 1. In matters pertaining to the spiritual concerns of the congregation, such as the election of a Pastor, of Elders and Deacons, etc., all members, male and female, in full and good standing shall be entitled to vote. In other matters, such as the buying and selling of property, the erection of buildings, etc., all members in full and good standing shall also be entitled to vote.
SEC. 2. Under the foregoing rule, every member shall be considered in good standing and entitled to vote who has communed with this congregation at least once with- in one year preceding, and is a regular contributor to the support of the Pastor, and the defraying of the current expenses of the congregation, and has contributed within one year preceding an election.
SEC. 3. Every election or congregational meeting, called to decide on matters pertaining to the interests of the congregation, shall be announced from the pulpit at least two Sundays previous.
SEC. 4 .- Resignation, Election and Call of a Pastor .- When the office of Pastor becomes vacant, the consistory shall invite some candidate to visit and preach for the congregation, after which an election shall be held, of which previous notice shall be given. In no case shall the election be between two candidates at the same time, and in every instance the voting shall be for or against the candidate. The case of every candidate shall be fully dis- posed of before another is proposed. The person receiv- ing a majority of the votes polled is duly elected. The form of a call to an elected Pastor shall be that recom-
59
INCORPORATION OF THE CONGREGATION
mended by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States. The consistory shall have the power to act upon the resignation of a Pastor.
SEC. 5 .- Candidate for Pastor .- No minister of the Gos- pel shall be elected to the office of Pastor of this congre- gation, or at least inducted into the said office, who is not in good and regular standing as a member of a Synod con- nected with the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States.
SEC. 6 .- Election of Officers .- An election for at least one Elder and one Deacon shall be held at the annual meeting of the congregation during the first week in Jan- uary, between such hours as the consistory may deter- mine; and the persons thus chosen shall serve for a period of three years. No person shall be eligible to any of the aforesaid offices who is not a regular contributing and communicant member, in good repute for Christian piety, according to the provisions of this Constitution, as pre- scribed in Article III., Section 2. No previous tenure of office shall disqualify any person from being a candidate for any of the aforesaid offices.
SEC. 7 .- Vacancies .- Should any of the offices become vacant by death, removal, refusal, or otherwise, between the regular times for holding the election, the consistory shall have power to fill such vacancy, until the next an- nual election for officers. Should any officer declining to serve, refuse to resign, the consistory shall have power to declare his office vacant, and in like manner fill it until the next annual election.
SEC. 8 .- Delegates to the Classis .- The consistory shall annually elect two Elders-a primarius and a secundus- to represent the congregation in the annual and special meetings of the Classis with which it is connected. Care shall be taken that only such persons shall be chosen who will be able to attend the sessions of the Classis.
60
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
ARTICLE IV.
Qualification for Membership, and Duties of Members.
SEC. 1 .- Membership .- To constitute any person a mem- ber of this congregation, he must possess the qualifica- tions, and be received according to the mode required and prescribed by the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States.
SEC. 2 .- Duties of Members .- It shall be the duty of every member of this congregation to labor to promote its general welfare, and to contribute according to his or her ability to the support of the Pastor, and to every ob- ject that may require the contributions of the congrega- tion.
SEC. 3 .- Dismissions and Receptions .- It shall be the duty of every member when removing out of the bounds of this congregation to apply for a certificate of dismis- sion; and all who come from other congregations must present such a certificate in order to membership, except in special cases, of the nature of which the Pastor shall be the judge.
SEC. 4 .- Discipline .- In all cases not provided for in this Constitution those whose conduct may be such as to render them fit subjects for discipline, shall be dealt with according to the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States.
ARTICLE V .- By-Laws.
The consistory may from time to time enact such By- Laws for their government in the transaction of business as they may deem necessary, provided, however, they do not conflict with this Constitution or the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States.
ARTICLE VI .- Amendments.
This Constitution, or any part of it, may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present,
A
INCORPORATION OF THE CONGREGATION 61
at a meeting of the congregation called for that purpose, provided there are no less than twenty (20) members thus assembled.
MEMORANDUM.
At the annual election, Trustees must be elected for the ensuing year.
CHAPTER V PREPARING FOR LARGER THINGS
T
HE next seven years in the history of St. Stephen's Reformed congre- gation were a period of prepara- tion for larger things.
In the sixth anniversary ser- mon, referred to in the preceding Chapter, Rev. Mr. Gerhard made a prophecy, the fulfillment of which he was permitted to enjoy. He looked into the future and saw great possibilities for his con- gregation. He had sufficient faith in God and in his people to believe that in due time the greater things would be realized. He said to his people :
"Twice we have built additions to our church. Here we stop. We build no more additions. We have so far done our best. Our building is neat, convenient, com- fortable, large. We can seat seven hundred. Eight to ten years from now we may consider the question of erect- ing an entirely new church building."
This Chapter will be devoted to the recital of the events during this period of preparation for larger things.
The resignation of Miss Mame H. Smith as organist was accepted March 12, 1890, and J.
64
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
Wilson Klein was elected to take her place at a salary of $60.00 per year, beginning April 1, 1890.
On May 5, 1890, Charles W. Wanner was elected treasurer of the Poor Fund.
At the regular meeting of the consistory, June 9, 1890, H. Y. Stoner resigned as Elder and as Secretary of the consistory, to take effect at once. He was about to enter the Christ- ian ministry. Daniel S. Klein was elected as Elder to serve until the next regular election, and at the following meeting of the consistory, July 6, 1890, he was elected Secretary.
Milton J. Miller was elected as leader of the choir from July 1, 1890, to January 1, 1891, at a salary of $35.00. He resigned and was suc- ceeded by William H. Smith, who was elected to the office on November 3, 1890. On Decem- ber 1, 1890, it was decided that he should also serve as chorister of the Sunday School at a salary of sixty dollars per year for both posi- tions. He served only to the end of the year.
The consistory decided, December 30, 1890, that the number of Elders and Deacons be in- creased from three to four. In compliance with this resolution the following persons were elected
65
PREPARING FOR LARGER THINGS
at the annual congregational meeting held Jan- uary 7, 1891 : Elders, Isaac R. Bechtel and Jo- seph R. Roth, each for three years, and Daniel S. Klein for one year, to complete the unexpired term of Elder H. Y. Stoner ;* Deacons, Charles W. Wanner and Thomas J. Eckert, each for three years.
At the regulur meeting on February 2, 1891, the consistory reorganized by electing Joseph R. Roth, Recording Secretary ; Samuel Palm, Financial Secretary ; Daniel S. Klein, Treas- urer. At the same meeting E. H. Prutzman was engaged to conduct a singing school at a remuneration of $25.00 for twelve lessons. He was also elected choir leader at a salary of $50.00 a year, beginning January 1, 1891. This was increased to $60.00 a year from January 1, 1892.
March 30, 1891, the consistory decided to pay $700 on the mortgage. On July 31, 1889, the consistory had authorized a loan of $2,000 from John O. Glase. Of this amount
* Since page 64 was printed we found that Mr. Stoner was ordained to the Christian ministry in the First Reformed Church on Sunday afternoon, May 18, 1890, by a committee consisting of the Reformed ministers of Reading, with Rev. H. Mosser, D. D., as chairman.
5
66
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
$500 was used to help pay the annex to the church, and $1,500 was used to satisfy a mort- gage of said amount held by the Miss Eckert estate. Some time during 1890 $100 had been paid on the mortgage out of the fund raised by the building committee to enlarge the church. The payment of the $700 in 1891 reduced the amount of the mortgage to $1,200. The Easter offering, April 17, 1892, amounted to $1,226 .- 49, which was contributed as follows: Congre- gation, $415.65 ; Sunday School, $700; Ladies' Aid Society, $100; Young People's Society, $5.84. On May 2, 1892, at the regular monthly meeting of the consistory an order was granted for $1,206.60 for the payment of the mortgage with interest to date. The congregation was now free of debt, with an excellent plant, and self-supporting, paying its pastor $900 a year.
At a special meeting of the consistory on June 26, 1892, it was decided that the mortgage should be burned at the morning service, July 10, 1892. An impressive service was held on said date, the mortgage was burned, and the congregation was free of debt.
In spite of his strenuous labors in building up the congregation of which he was pastor,
67
PREPARING FOR LARGER THINGS
Rev. Mr. Gerhard was an earnest student and kept in close touch with the progressive thought of his day. He contributed frequently to the " Reformed Church Messenger," the "Re- formed Quarterly Review," and other period- icals, and his productions were widely read with interest and profit. In June, 1891, he was hon- ored by his Alma Mater, Franklin and Mar- shall College, which conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In October of the same year he was elected President of the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, which met in Harrisburg, Pa. During commencement week in 1892, Dr. Ger- hard delivered the Alumni Address at Frank- lin and Marshall College on the subject " Man's Origin and Future Destiny Viewed from the Scientific Standpoint."
At the July meeting of the consistory, July 25, 1892, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That we make an earnest effort to raise the pastor's salary to twelve hundred dol- lars per year." Since April 1, 1890, when the congregation became self-supporting, they were paying Rev. Mr. Gerhard a salary of $900 a year. It was, however, not until 1896 that he
68
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
received the full salary of $1,200, though in 1895 it reached $1,163.43.
By action of the consistory, September 5, 1892, the janitor's salary was raised to $12.00 per month. On February 6, 1893, the salaries of the organist and chorister were raised to $75.00 a year. The organist's salary was raised to $100 a year on March 5, 1894, but on April 4, 1894, he was also made chorister, with full charge of congregational and Sunday School music, at a salary of $125 a year, beginning January 1, 1894. On July 8, 1895, this was increased to $150 a year, and on January 3, 1898, to $175 a year.
At the regular meeting of the consistory held March 5, 1894, Hiram K. Ritter was elected Elder to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Aaron R. Bucks, who departed this life February 20, 1894.
The tenth anniversary of the congregation was observed with appropriate special services on Sunday, March 18, 1894. We quote the following account of the services as given by the pastor in the "Annual Visitor" of March 26,1894 :
69
PREPARING FOR LARGER THINGS
"The tenth anniversary of our congregation and Sun- day School was celebrated on Sunday, March 18. The weather was delightful and the attendance, morning, af- ternoon and evening, unusually large. The decorations on the altar, pulpit and baptismal font were beautiful and appropriate. In the morning the pastor preached from Psalm 124: 8, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." He briefly reviewed the his- tory of the congregation, which was organized on March 16, 1884. Of the persons received at that time the follow- ing are still with us: Milton J. Coller, Mrs. Jennie Hertz, Mrs. Amanda Kinsey, Mrs. Hettie Rohrbach, Daniel S. Klein, Mrs. Mary Klein, Jacob Timey, Mrs. Clara Timey, J. Fred. Gerhard, Mrs. Emma C. Gerhard, Mrs. Amanda Lerch, Daniel Bucher, Mrs. Mary Bucher, Miss Mary Bucher, G. Frank Bard, Mrs. Annie C. Bard, Miss Mary E. Gerhard, Abraham Eisenberger, Mrs. Elmina Eisen- berger, Mrs. Rosa Frantz, Mrs. Emma Prutzman, Mrs. Catharine Seyfert, Edwin Fisher, Alfred M. Ruth, Mrs. Louisa S. Ruth, Charles J. Ruth, Bernard Mengel, Daniel C. Roth, Mrs. Frances Roth, Mrs. Anna Burkert, Mrs. Su- san Getrost, Alexander Schlottman, Mrs. Catharine Schlottman, Samuel Palm, Mrs. Emma Palm and Mrs. Emma E. Gerhard.
"When the congregation was organized, our building had neither vestibule, library room nor annex. In the summer of 1885 we built the vestibule and library room at a cost of $600. In 1889 we expended $1,634 in making re- pairs and in erecting the annex. In 1890, after having been a mission for six years, the congregation became self-sustaining. In 1892 we liquidated the balance of the indebtedness on the lot, the original cost of which was $3,000. In the spring of 1893 a few members subscribed $1,100 towards the erection of the Theological Seminary building at Lancaster. From a financial and numerical standpoint we have certainly been prosperous. What
70
ST. STEPHEN'S REFORMED CHURCH
progress we have made spiritually, it is more difficult to estimate. Two things indicate that you are interested in your church and the work of the Lord generally: Your at- tendance upon the services of the sanctuary and the con- tributions which you have made. Another encouraging sign is the general good feeling which prevails. Many of our members, I know, lead earnest, consistent, Christian lives. Some have spoken to me of their religious experi- ence and have expressed their joy in the Lord. All of us have had our trials and afflictions, but at all times and un- der all circumstances the Lord has been our help. May His goodness and mercy fill our hearts with devout gratitude, with sincere sorrow for our shortcomings, and lead us to greater devotion to His service.
"We were glad to see so many visitors present at the Sunday School Anniversary, and trust that all enjoyed the special music, and the addresses delivered by Dr. B. Bausman, the pastor, Thomas D. Bausher, Milton J. Col- ler, Charles W. Wanner and Adam A. Ludwig. On De- cember 30, 1883,* the Tenth Street Mission Sunday School was transferred to our building. It consisted of sixty members. Of these only eleven are with us to-day."
At this time the membership of the congre- gation was 563 and that of the Sunday School 643.
In 1895 Dr. Gerhard published a volume entitled " Death and the Resurrection." This ' subject seemed to have been one of his favorite
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.