USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > The history of the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, 1837-1909 > Part 13
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
A service in memoriam was held on Sunday morn-
[175]
First english Lutheran Church
ing, April 7, the pastor and members of St. John's Church uniting with the congregation in this last pub- lic tribute to a beloved pastor and personal friend. The Rev. Mr. Gongaware preached the sermon. The printed order of service contained an extended notice of his life and character, and warm expressions of the respect and affection in which he was held by his people, which had been prepared by a committee of the Council.
Born near Grafton, Huntington County, Pa., Feb- ruary 12, 1844, Dr. Geissinger attended school for a short time in his native township, and, when but a boy, enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Reserves, Penn- sylvania Volunteers. He was the youngest member of that regiment, and his promotion and the regi- ment's splendid record throughout the war testified to his bravery and capacity. After three years he re-enlisted as second lieutenant and remained in the service to the close of the war. He was wounded in the battle of Fort Steadman. When the war closed he was serving as an officer on the staff of General Hartranft. During the famous Surratt trial after the death of President Lincoln he had charge of the prisoners.
After his preparatory studies at Mercersburg and at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., he studied theology from 1869 to 1872 at Philadelphia, and was ordained in Zion's Church, Philadephia, in June, 1872. From 1872 to 1874, he was assistant pastor of "Old Trinity" Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Pa., and served two mission congregations. In 1874, he became the or- ganizing pastor of Grace Church, one of the Lancaster missions, and remained there five years. In 1880, he
[176]
.
THE REV. DAVID HARRISON GEISSINGER, D.D.
first English Lutheran church
ing. Ayı T D= for und members of St. John a Chancer will go congregation in this lust pali- lic ska ven pastor and personal friend. TpF Aldaspure preached the sernion The ply fries contained an extended notice ab ant surnoter, and warm expressions of owl A affe sion in which he was held by japila A had been prepared by a committee
Bom non Grafton, Huntington County, Pa,, Feb- roary: 12, 1844, Dr. Detsalinger attended school for a short time - bis milice lowashig, and, when hot a boy. eglisle vo 1801 to the Fifth Reserves, Peon- ylvania Volunteer Be was the youngest moonber of that rox ent, mo [ his promotion and the regi- twoit's Bude did recent throughout the war testified to la bryury and capacity. After three years be reonfi dea wooet lesant and remained in the REHim I Was Mirar He was wounded in
er on the staff of General Hurten erne il Tempom Surratt trial after ola be hund charge of the
Thing at Mercersburg und at
he sfinen theology
Lin, and was ordained
In, in Jane, 1872. From
1872 to 1474 esistant pastor of " Old Trinity"
h. Lannister, Pa., and served two
missloo comer bons. In 1874, he became the or gankang pary ( Grace Church, one of the Lancaster mission, mid owined there Ove years. In 1380; he
pastorate of the Reb. David H. Beissinger
took charge of a mission of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York, located on Eighty-second Street. In 1885, he accepted a call to St. John's Church, Easton, Pa., which he served eight years. In the spring of 1893, he became pastor of the First Church, Pittsburgh, and shortly after the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Lafayette Col- lege, Easton, Pa. His last public service was per- formed in the chapel of the First Church on the evening of September 19, 1906, when he commissioned Miss Mellander, a missionary, to Porto Rico.
Besides the heavy responsibilities of his parish, he was for several years the president of the Pittsburgh Synod, the president of the Porto Rico Mission Board, and for many years a staff correspondent of The Lutheran, an able contributor to our Sunday School literature, and an efficient member of many important Synodical and General Council boards and commit- tees. The following tribute from the pen of the Rev. Dr. G. W. Sandt, in The Lutheran of March 28, 1907, fittingly expresses the Church's appreciation of his character and worth :
" Although the announcement of his death was not unex- pected, it came with deep and overwhelming sorrow to his congregation, which was bound to him by the strongest ties of affection, as also to his ministerial brethren and numerous friends throughout the Pittsburgh Synod and the General Council. The paralytic stroke, which prostrated him two years ago, had slowly robbed him of his vitality, and the hope of many of his friends that he might still prove useful to the Church has been dissipated. If the disabling of so serviceable a man will tend to teach the larger Synods the lesson, that no conscientious pastor should be expected to serve a parish while he attempts to discharge the multi-
12
[177]
First English Lutheran Church
farious duties that devolve upon the Synod's chief officer, his untimely death will not have been in vain.
" The deceased was widely recognized as a clear thinker, a forceful speaker and preacher, a conservative and competent leader, a well-poised, cultured Christian gentleman, and a devoted and faithful pastor. His sermons often bore the impress of the metaphysician, but were replete with redemp- tive thought. All his preaching was strongly positive and Christo-centric. It revolved around Jesus Christ as the great Orb of religious truth. He was the beginning, middle and end of the Gospel he proclaimed. So strongly was this a characteristic of his preaching that it was with difficulty he descended to the level of the practical in his applications of divine truth. One of his brethren who delighted to hear him tells us of instances when he was deeply moved, as in his preaching he rose to a profound appreciation of the divinity of Christ.
" He also wielded a ready and forceful pen. He wrote far too little. His language was choice and his diction fault- less. His thoughts were clear as crystal, and his vision broad and sympathetic. He never appeared to better advantage than when he took up his pen, though absorption in pastoral and other duties made it difficult for him to give much atten- tion to literary work. What he wrote for The Lutheran, whose staff correspondent he was, was generally written under considerable pressure. His service on boards and com- mittees, whether in Synod or Council, is well known and needs no further mention.
" But what endeared him most to his large host of friends, clerical and lay, within and without the General Council, was his character as a gentleman and a Christian. He was an exceptionally strong representative of the buoyant, hope- ful, sunshiny characteristics of the Christian life. There was a childlike naturalness and a manly strength in the quality of his Christianity. It was not borrowed from the convent, but sprang into beauty and fragrance as a rose
[178]
Pastorate of the Reb. David H. Beissinger
bush in a flower garden. He was happy as a lark in the sunshine of a cloudless sky. To be near him was to catch the radiance of his cheerful spirit. He was the possessor of a high order of wit-a kind of wit that never descended to regions base and vulgar. He saw enough of humanity in the garb of its native simplicity and beauty to make it unneces- sary for him to exercise his wit and humor on what was deformed and coarse in human nature. Not that he was not fully aware of the dark side of life, for at times he labored under a depressed sense of the wickedness of the world and of human imperfection, even at its best; but the dominating note in his character was hope, and while he was a child of grace, he was also, in the best sense of the term, a child of nature.
" To this happy, hopeful temperament must also be added breadth of human sympathy. While strong and immovable in what he believed to be the purest faith on earth, he yet carried with him a fine and safe catholicity of spirit. This won for him a host of friends outside of the Lutheran Church. He mingled with them, but never at the expense of the faith that was dear to him. That he kept clear of entangling alliances, whereby the principles of his Church would be compromised, was due less to his native diplomacy than to his frankness and tact. He possessed the happy faculty of impressing men of other religious persuasions with the strength and beauty of our Church's evangelical position. His polemics was irenic. It revealed the heart more than the bristles. But when the occasion called for it, he could rise to it and wield the sword of satire and logic with telling effect.
" The Church mourns him because in these trying times it needs men of sunshine, men of breadth, men of sound faith and healthful catholicity. To the writer of this feeble tribute, another star has set. It has set, but it shines with increasing brilliancy in the brighter light of its resurrection glory."
[179]
CHAPTER XII Pastorate of the Reb. George J. Gongaware 1906-
OME few items since the Rev. Mr. Gongaware assumed full charge of the congregation, April 1, 1906, call for particu- lar mention.
Sunday, May 27, an offering of $463.20 for the sufferers by earthquake and fire in San Francisco was taken.
An attractive brass missal stand for the altar and handsomely bound volumes of the Church Book were provided by Mr. Weyman.
Messrs. J. Harvey and Charles W. Wattles pre- sented the Church with a beautiful private commu- nion set, inscribed to the memory of their mother, Mrs. Julia Wattles, and their sister, Mrs. Annie Wattles Horner.
To assist in making up the loss sustained by our India missions on account of a bank failure, an offer- ing amounting to $931.37 was forwarded to the Board of Foreign Missions.
July 2, 1906, Mr. Otto C. Graf's resignation as Church treasurer was accepted, with expressions of appreciation of his painstaking and faithful service. Mr. Christian F. Schaefer was elected treasurer and on January 7, 1907, he was also elected a deacon in the Church Council.
[180]
Pastorate of the Reb. George J. Conga mare
October 2, the first meeting of the General Council Inner Mission Committee was held in the church. A public meeting was held in the evening in the in- terests of the Inner Mission work in Pittsburgh. The Rev. C. Armand Miller, D.D., of New York City, delivered the address. This and other preliminary meetings held in the chapel resulted in the organiza- tion of the Lutheran Inner Mission Society of Pitts- burgh, April 18, 1907, with one hundred and sixty members. This society now numbers 344 members and has established and maintains the Hospice, 248 Amber Street, E. E., with the Rev. Dr. Alexander J. D. Haupt, superintendent. The Society's first annual meeting was held in the chapel, Thursday, April 30, 1908.
December 3, 1906, the Council appointed a com- mittee, consisting of the Rev. Mr. Gongaware and Messrs. Lane, Weyman, and Balken, to arrange for special services in commemoration of the approach- ing seventieth anniversary of the founding of the congregation. February 4, the committee reported that the pastor had taken special notice of the event in his sermon of January 20, and that the committee had decided to recommend the publication of a con- gregational history. The committee's further and final report is this present volume.
March 4, 1907, St. John's Church having become self- sustaining, action was taken to have them assume the $4,000 mortgage resting upon their church property, and the congregation authorized the conveyance of the title to St. John's Church upon the surrender of the bond which accompanied the mortgage. Both congregations are to be congratulated upon this
[18]]
-
first English Lutheran Church
happy consummation. The transfer was completed June 29.
The following items are of interest as indicating the rapid changes and developments in the neighbor- hood of the present church building. In April, 1907, Mr. J. Harvey Wattles was appointed to represent the congregation and to accompany a delegation to Har- risburg to protest against the issuing of a charter for a contemplated elevated road whose proposed route would pass near the church. June 3, the Common- wealth Real Estate Co. was given an option on the church property for thirty days, subject to the ap- proval of the congregation, at $4,000 a foot front on Grant Street, with certain reservations.
The Easter offering for 1907 amounted to $1,285.07.
The congregation has sustained a particularly close relation to the Porto Rico Mission work of the Gen- eral Council from the beginning of work in that field. For years Dr. Geissinger was the president and Mr. Thomas H. Lane the treasurer of the Board, the latter being succeeded by Mr. Charles W. Fuhr. Messrs. W. Warren Wattles, William Steinmeyer, and J. S. Sea- man also represent the congregation on the Board at present. Mention has already been made of the fact that Dr. Geissinger's last public service was per- formed in commissioning Miss May C. Mellander as missionary to Porto Rico in the chapel, September 19, 1906. April 3, 1905, the Rev. and Mrs. Alfred Ostrom received their commissions as missionaries to this field at a service conducted in the chapel by the Rev. Dr. Belfour, who, at a similar service, April 10, 1907, also commissioned the Rev. A. P. G. Anderson missionary to that island.
[182]
Pastorate of the Reb. George J. Gonga ware
May 6, 1907, the charter of the Church Music and Liturgical Art Society was signed in Pittsburgh, and this organization was later incorporated by the Philadelphia courts "to promote interest in and knowledge of Church Music, Liturgies, and the Arts employed in Divine Worship by the printing and pub- lishing of music, literature, etc." The Board of Directors of the Society are the Rev. Luther D. Reed, president; the Rev. George J. Gongaware, secretary- treasurer; and Mr. Harry G. Archer.
The congregation has witnessed a most unusual series of deaths in very recent years. Men and women most faithfully devoted to the interests of the Church at home and abroad have been called from the scene of their earthly labors to their eternal reward. Among those who passed away dur- ing the present pastorate, and who at some time had held official position in the Church, were Mr. William B. Wolfe, who died April 4, 1906, Mr. John A. Kaercher, whose death occurred January 31, 1907, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and Mr. William Siebert, who died August 18, 1908, at the remarkable age of eighty-six. Their prompt and willing service as members of the Church Council is gratefully remembered.
December 31, 1907, marked the close of the remark- able life of Mr. Thomas H. Lane. Born at Chambers- burg, Pa., August 21, 1828, the third child of Dr. W. B. Lane and Eliza Hetich Lane, he was in his eightieth year at the time of his death. His early childhood was spent in Chambersburg. At the age of nine he visited relatives in Pittsburgh. While here he heard the announcement that on the following Sun-
[183]
first English Lutheran Church
day a meeting would be held to consider the advisa- bility of organizing an English Lutheran Sunday School and congregation. Four years later he made Pittsburgh his permanent home. The year follow- ing he was confirmed in the First Church by the pastor, the Rev. W. H. Smith, and from that day to the hour of his triumphant death his heart's affection was centred here, and his prayers and labors for her prosperity were unceasing.
The congregation, the Pittsburgh Synod, and the General Council, of which he was one of the organ- izers, mourn his death. Modest in manner, conser- vative in judgment, wise in counsel, he was a tower of strength in every relation of life into which he entered. In him were harmoniously blended the strongest elements of character of his paternal an- cestors, who came from Holland to America, with the like traits of the German progenitors of his mother. Well-poised, courageous, noble, just, without guile,- these splendid virtues were the natural fruits of a most remarkably clear apprehension of the Divine Word and of a truly vital faith in Jesus as his Saviour.
The home life of Mr. Lane was beautiful in its quiet retirement. At his genial fireside his pastors and his chosen friends always found a safe coun- sellor and a sympathizing brother. In his large and carefully chosen library were gathered the writings of the great and wise and good. His house was his refreshing grove, his library was his perennial foun- tain, and his Bible his constant inspiration.
His business career was most extraordinary. A year before his death he retired, after sixty-five years of remarkable fidelity to the duties of the station to
[184]
MR. THOMAS HETICH LANE
-
first Englich Lutheran Church
day a wwwkwe sound be beld to consider the advica bility of ing an English Lutheran Sund. School Kod n gatory. Four years later be mad Pilasbynorr went home. The year follow- uhrwied il the First Church by the W. I. Smith, and from that day bo Frimapaint death his heart's affection me bod his prayers and labors for hẹn ET Fare tousceneing.
tion the Pittsburgh Synod, and the Grond wat of vlah he was one of the organ- ils death. Modest in manner, conser- mont, wise in conngel. be was a tower In ever miletion of life into which he Fior wie karmonionely blended tho alpine Mente of baravier of his paternal an- poslors ses cne In Holland to America, with the nh tale 4 le Gemma progenitors of his mother. mgr, Doble, just, without guile,- I virtues wym the natural fruits of a Lody clear apprehension of the Divine trwa vital Kwith in Jesus ae his
MAL HOITTH ZAMOHIT AM of Mr. Lane was beautiful in its At hin genial fireside hia pastors friends always found a safe coun petki Ing brother. In his large and carefully - Library were gathered the writings of the great and wise wad good. His house was his refreshing grov- his library was his perennial foun- fain, soul hi Bil
huis constant inspiration.
His boaloves career was most extraordinary. A year before Mak dath he retired, after sixty-five years of remarkable fidelity th the duties of the station to
Pastorate of the Reb. George J. Gonga ware
which God had called him. He was highly honored by his associates and his integrity and justness were never questioned.
The object of his most ardent affection and earnest endeavors was the Church. His connection with the Sunday School almost paralleled its history. He was a pupil from 1840-1844; librarian, 1844-1845, secre- tary, 1845-1848; a teacher, 1848-1857; assistant superintendent, 1857-1866; and superintendent, 1866-1902. He was a member of the Council for fifty-seven years. He has left to his home congrega- tion and to the Church at large a priceless legacy of churchly decorum and of long-continued, unselfish, consecrated service to the Master.
His very last service was a labor of love for the First Church in the preparation of material for this published history of the congregation. Among his very last words was this remarkable testimony : "In the forty years since the organization of the General Council I have seen no occasion for her to retract any point of doctrine or practice then affirmed."
He was sincerely devoted to the work of the Porto Rico Mission from its very beginning, and served as treasurer of its Board until compelled by serious sickness to relinquish that labor.
The Christian religion was vital to him. In his final illness and on his death-bed, he experienced its sustaining power. His walk, his words, and his works are a splendid testimony to its saving merits. He was buried in Chambersburg, the place of his birth, January 3, 1907. In addition to the pastor, Mr. William H. Black, Mr. J. Harvey Wattles, and Col. James Sheafer were appointed by the Council to accompany the body to Chambersburg. Col. Sheafer,
[185]
First english Lutheran Church
however, was prevented by illness from making the journey. Mr. Samuel L. Hamilton and Mr. George Watson of the congregation also accompanied the body.
Early in the year 1908 Miss Myrtle Barry placed a handsome Bible on the lectern in memory of her brother, Bliss Barry, a most esteemed member of the congregation, whose death occurred April 23, 1906.
The pastor reported to the Council the need of medical assistance by some members of the congrega- tion, and that the free services of Dr. L. W. Smith, also a member of the congregation, were available. The offer was gratefully accepted and the treasurer of the Indigent Fund was authorized to pay for any necessary medicines.
The Easter offering amounted to $1,266.14, the morning service realizing $779.53 and the service of the combined Sunday Schools in the afternoon, $486.61. The offering was distributed as follows: City Mission and Church Extension Society of Pitts- burgh, Allegheny, and Vicinity, $48.66; General Council Slavonic Mission, $100; General Council Home Missions, $305.82; General Council Church Extension, $405.83; Pittsburgh Synod Home Mis- sions, $405.83. Total, $1,266.14.
Another death in the official circle of the con- gregation during the present pastorate was that of Col. James A. Sheafer, June 21, 1908. From the notice of his life which appeared in The Lutheran of July 2, we give the following :
" Born at Carlisle, Pa., Nov. 8, 1834, of devoted Christian parents, his environment from youth was that of simple piety, high moral ideals and sincere Christian faith. Bap-
[186]
Pastorate of the Reb. George J. Gonga ware
tized in infancy, confirmed in early youth by the Rev. Dr. Morris in the city of Baltimore, he made Pittsburgh his home as a young man and continued to live here until the voice of God called him to his eternal rest. In the First Church, where he was greatly beloved and honored, and where he served for many years as an officer, being an elder at the time of his death, his loss is most keenly felt. Words are inadequate to express the deep impression made by the suddenness of his departure.
" In the Church at large his wise counsels and efficient service will be greatly missed. He faithfully served the Pittsburgh Synod as treasurer and as a member of the Board of the Old People's Home. He was a member of the Gen- eral Council's Boards of Porto Rico Missions and Church Extension. A man of strong character, deep religious con- viction, and noble generosity, he brought to every duty of life a spirit zealous for all good works.
" His military career was noteworthy. He enlisted at the first call of President Lincoln for troops, rose rapidly to the rank of Colonel, and, as an officer, was noted for faithfulness, self-possession, gentleness in exercising authority, and effi- ciency on the field of battle. He participated in the siege of Yorktown and in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Richmond, Malvern Hill, and Kingston. He was taken pris- oner at Plymouth, N. C., in April of 1864 by the Confederate General Hood and was imprisoned successively at Savannah, Macon, and Charleston. After being released, he re-organized his regiment and at the close of the war participated with his entire command in the triumphal procession in the city of Washington. In November, 1861, before leaving for the front, the Sunday School of the First Lutheran Church, in which he was a teacher, in a public service presented him with a sword bearing the inscription ' Be thou faithful unto death.' The loss of this sword when made a prisoner of war was a great grief to him. The virtue to which he was exhorted by that inscription was one of the most prominent of the many which adorned his life.
[187]
first english Lutheran Church
" His earnestness and devotion and his loving and cour- teous disposition bound him with ties of strong affection and regard to all who were associated with him. He was a humble Christian gentleman, a great-hearted friend, a wise counsellor, a man who lived in the fear of God. For his noble and faithful stewardship, for his courageous convic- tions of duty, and for his loving devotion to the Church and his willing service of the Master we are devoutly thankful."
The resolutions adopted by the Council read as follows :
" IN LOVING MEMORY OF COL. JAMES SHEAFER.
" The members of the Council of the First Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh desire to express their sense of loss, and their sincere regret at the death of Col. James Sheafer, an elder in this body; and to record their deep sense of the affectionate esteem in which he was held by all the members of our congregation.
" He is to be held in grateful remembrance also for his devout and reverent care of the sacramental vessels of the sanctuary. Here his service was marked by most praise- worthy dignity and churchly taste. The memory of so just a man is indeed blessed, and it shall remain with us as a precious heritage. We shall greatly miss his commanding and dignified presence, his heartsome words and the sweet influence of his Christian fellowship. We share the grief and loss of companionship which his death has occasioned to his family, and to them we hereby convey our most cordial sympathy, praying that grace sufficient may be ministered unto them by the Father of all Mercy, who hath called their beloved to his eternal reward.
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.