USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Maytown > The history of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Maytown, Lancaster Co., Pa., 1765-1904 > Part 6
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* A lineal descendant of Joseph Klöpfer, one of the signers of the contract for the building of the stone church in 1804.
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I. A large and imposing stone tower, build of lime stone, with light-colored sandstone with rock face, for the corners, procured at Lititz, and the old steeple removed to it from the main building. This stone tower was the magnanimous gift of Elder Abraham S. Rhoads, and was given by him, as the following inscription on a marble tablet placed in the hall of the tower shows: "In grate- ful memory of God's goodness." The cost of the tower exceeded $1, 100.
When the corner-stone was removed from its original resting-place to the southwest corner of the tower many were the expressions of sorrow and disappointment expressed when it was found that the precious documents it contained were un- decipherable, and still more strange that no coins were found in it. This fact gives some credence to the assertions current for several generations, that these coins had been surreptitiously removed the night following the day of its laying.
Rev. Harding prepared a historical sketch of the church, an outline of the proposed changes and other matters of interest, which together with a number of coins, were put in a hermetically sealed box and placed in the stone. Precautions were taken and carried out to insure the safety of the contents until the tower had reached a height where such measures were no longer necessary.
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The following is a list of the coins and donors :
COINS.
By Rev. Harding : Columbian half dollar; half dime of 1857; eagle cent of 1858; cent of 1896; a German coin.
By Henry S. Book : Half dollar of 1893; quarter dollar of 1896; 10-cent piece of 1892; 5-cent piece of 1890; cent of 1887; cent of 1895.
By Abram Rhoads: Quarter dollar of 1774; quarter dollar of 1781; half dollar of 1805.
By John Johnstin : Cent of 1798; cent of 1812.
By A. Edw. Archer : British coin of 1730.
By Thos. Haines : Half penny of 1832; cent of 1819.
By John Tome : Spanish coin of 1810.
By Jesse Klugh : Cent of 1822; Canadian cent of 1859; U. S. cent of 1856; half penny of 1809.
By Isaac Carpenter : 5-cent piece of 1883, minus the word "cents;" cent of 1853.
By Wmn. Barnhart : Cent of 1828.
Temperance pledge by John A. Buller.
2. The old square window frames were removed and the original arched frames restored, in which were placed the present beautiful and impressive stained glass memorial windows.
The two south windows bear the following in-
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scriptions : "In memory of Samuel F. Kame by John Kame and his wife," and "Sacred to the memory of Frederick F. and Catherine E. Klugh." The imposing window with a life-size representa- tion of Martin Luther on the east side was pre- sented by George and Anna Rhoads, "In memory of George and Elizabeth Rhoads," while the other two windows on either side of the Luther window were given respectively by "Catharine Garber and daughter Anna," and "In memory of Henry and Sarah Johnstin by their children and grandchil- dren." The two windows in the recess, behind the pulpit, are dedicated to "the pastor, Rev. W. H. Harding," and to his wife, "Martha R. Hard- ing." The beautiful and inspiring window show- ing a life-size picture of Christ on the west side was presented "In memory of David and Sarah Sletter by their children." The two windows on either side of this one were given respectively "In memory of Lawrence and Catharine Beschler by their children," and "In memory of Samuel and Barbara Drabenstadt by Mrs. Anna M. Welchans." (For the memorial windows of the Sunday-school, see history appended.)
3. A recess was added to the north end of the church, which was built by Messrs. Win. A. Bontz, assisted by Jacob M. Henderson, Isaac Carpenter
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and Charles Evans. The ceiling was also torn down and replastered by Mr. Samuel Sload.
4. The walls of the church and Sunday-school were frescoed by Mr. C. Day Rudy, of Harrisburg, at a cost of $275. The entire wood-work of the church was painted by Messrs. Milton and Harry Shireman and John Brown. Mr. J. F. McCullon, of Lancaster, P'a., did the graining.
5. The old pews were taken out and replaced by heavy quartered oak curved pews, which were fur- nished, except those under the gallery, which are straight, by the Grand Rapids Furniture Co., of Michigan. The old mohair pulpit furniture, con- sisting of a sofa and two chairs, and the old pulpit were transferred to the Sunday-school room, and were replaced by the massive and elegant quartered oak pulpit and three plush-covered chairs, the cen- ter one being a beautiful high-backed arm-chair. These, together, with the finely-executed oil paint- ing of Christ the Good Shepherd bearing a lamb on his arm, which covers the entire space between the two windows in the recess behind the pulpit, and painted by the famous artist, Beck, of New York-all these, were the generous gifts of Mrs. Susanna Brandt, in memory of her husband, Mr. Christian Brandt, which fact is inscribed on a sil- ver tablet in front of the pulpit.
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A handsome golden oak communion table and two silver offering plates were "presented by the young men of the Sunday-school of '96."
A large Holman pulpit Bible, printed in 1896, was presented by the pastor, Rev. W. H. Harding.
Five dozen folding-chairs were purchased for use in the church ; at the same time five dozen large and three dozen small chairs were bought for the Sunday-school and infant rooms.
6. Through the influence of Mr. C. G. Longe- necker, a very generous friend, whose identity even to this day has not been made known, pre- sented to the church a Frick eighteen-light chande- lier, with prisms, valued at $215.
7. The old heater was donated to the Maytown Band, and a steam-heating plant was put into the church by the Monitor Steam Generator Manu- facturing Co., of Landisville, Pa., at a cost of $327.
8. The old gallery was lowered a distance of two feet and a half in the rear, and a foot and a half in the front. The old board front was taken out and replaced by a modern banister, the base of which, however, was left intact. As it was not only a rare specimen of the old style of workmanship, but also a historical relic, it being one of the original hand-carved beams of the old gallery when the church was built in 1804.
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Another matter of great historical interest is that the present door frames in use, which are also fine specimens of the skillful handiwork of the craftsmen of the 18th Century, were built by the carpenters who assisted in erecting the church in the beginning of the 19th Century, and they are not to be surpassed by those made in the present day.
9. A new carpet was bought to cover the entire floor of the auditorium, hitherto the aisles only being carpeted. This carpet was purchased from Artman, Treichler & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., at a cost of $88.
The work of remodeling was begun on June 6, 1896, when Deacon Wmn. A. Bontz removed the old pews from the church, some of which later on replaced the benches previously used on the gallery.
The following is a brief list of the men who were engaged upon this work besides those already mentioned :
Mr. Jeffries Shireman * was the chief carpenter, and his assistants were Messrs. Geo. B. Welchans and Ephraim Williams.
Messrs. Abraham Cobaugh and Jacob Dimeler were the stone-masons.
* A lineal descendant of Alexander Shireman, one of the con- tractors in the building of the stone church in 1804.
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Mr. Charles Mayer did the tin work.
The price of ordinary labor was fixed by the council at $1.10 per day, and great credit and praise is due to the members and others interested in this important work who rendered valuable aid gratuitously in the labor connected with the re- modeling of the church.
At first the progress of the work was rather slow, but soon the earnest and willing workers began to inake headway, and as the alterations assumed definite form tlie work was pushed forward more rapidly, and after a period of six months and eleven days was brought to its final completion preparatory to its dedication.
Thus out of the débris resulting from the many alterations of the old church rose the beautifully remodeled St. John'sEvangelical Lutheran Church of Maytown, Pa., and the unostentatious elegance and comfort of its interior is excelled by few churches of its size outside of our larger cities. It stands as a magnificent monument of the self- sacrificing, consecrated and earnest labors of the pastor and its people, who can be justly proud of the beautiful church they will bequeath to the coming generations. The entire cost of the re- inodeling exceeded $4,400.
On December 13, 1896, the dedicatory services
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were held, when the entire debt was paid in cash and subscriptions by the members and friends of the church. The program of that event is here- with given :
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1896.
10:00 A. M.
ANTHEM-Gloria . . Mozart. MORNING SERVICE-Book of Worship.
READING OF SCRIPTURE . Ps. xxiv., xlviii. Rev. A. H. Shertz, Newry, Pa.
HYMN NO. 491-Book of Worship.
PRAYER.
HYMN NO. 158.
SERMON . Rev. F. W. Staley, Middletown. Pa.
PRAYER.
ANTHEM-" The Lord is Great " . Righini.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND OFFERING.
SOLO-" If Jesus is Near " . Mrs. G. A. Harter. " Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow."
BENEDICTION.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL RALLY.
2:00 P. M.
SELECTION . Wrightsville Orchestra.
SINGING-" More About Jesus."
SCRIPTURE READING-Ps. cxxii. . . J. A. Dehoff, Asst. Supt. PRAYER Jas. F. Johnstin, Supt
SINGING .
. Infant School.
ADDRESSES BY VISITING MINISTERS.
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"BREAKING OF BARRELS " AND COLLECTION.
ADDRESSES BY PASTORS OF TOWN. SINGING-" Beyond the Ken." SELECTION Orchestra.
BENEDICTION.
DEDICATION HOUR.
7:00 P. M.
SELECTION . Wrightsville Orchestra. EVENING SERVICE-Book of Worship.
HYMN NO. 18-Book of Worship.
READING OF SCRIPTURES-2 Chron. vi., 18-33 ; Psalm cxxxii.
Rev. F. W. Staley.
PRAYER.
ANTHEM-" Great and Marvelous " Farmer.
SERMON . . Rev. W. S. Hinman, Columbia, Pa.
SOLO-" Nearer, My God, to Thee " . . Mrs. G. A. Harter. FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND OFFERING.
SELECTION Orchestra. DEDICATORY SERVICES . Pastor. ANTHEM-" Break Forth Into Joy " Dunham.
ADDRESS . Rev. A. H. Shertz.
DOXOLOGY.
BENEDICTION.
SERVICES FOLLOWING DEDICATION.
MONDAY-Preaching by the Rev. B. F. Alleman, D.D.,
Lancaster, Pa.
TUESDAY-Preaching by the Rev. A. H. Shertz, Newry, Pa. WEDNESDAY-Preaching by the Rev. George Scholl, D.D., Gen'1 Sec'y Board of Foreign Missions, Baltimore, Md.
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THURSDAY-Preaching by the Rev. D. M. Gilbert, D.D., President of East Penna. Synod, Harrisburg, Pa. FRIDAY-Preparatory Services, Rev. Milton H. Stine,
Harrisburg, Pa.
SUNDAY, DEC. 20TH-Holy Communion Pastor.
In the following year, 1897, the pastor was in- structed to present the old chandelier to one of the home missions, which accordingly was done. About the same time, January 4, Rev. Harding attempted to organize a catechetical class at Row- enna, in which he was not very successful. On May 5, 1897, the pastor sent the following letter of resignation to the council :
"To Joint Council:
"On March 1, 1891, I received a unanimous call to become your pastor, and feeling guided by our heavenly Father, I cheerfully accepted a call which was formally extended. Now after six years of labor among you, which has been wonder- fully blessed of God, both by adding souls to our number and in beautifying both houses of worship, we can look back and feel that God truly directs His work and workers. In my relations with you as pastor and undershepherd, I have spent the most precious portions of my life, and having un- daunted faith in God, who has been leading, I now feel called of Him, through His people, to accept a unanimous call of St. John's Lutheran church of Williamsport, Pa., I hereby extend to you my resignation, to take effect June 15, 1897."
"Very fraternally,
" Your Brother in Christ's work,
"W. H. HARDING."
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The Joint Council accepted this resignation, and on the above-mentioned date he left the field.
Rev. Harding at present is the pastor of Trinity Lutheran church, at Colwyn, Pa., where through his earnest efforts, his congregation, though only a mission church, has recently built a beautiful house of worship.
At the first council meeting held after the charge became vacant the following important action was taken :
"July 5, 1897, on motion of Deacon William A. Boutz, council voted unanimously to recommend to joint council the following propositions for a readjustment of the pastor's salary :
I. That each congregation pay the sum of $300 salary, and receive preaching once every Sunday, alternating from morning to evening.
2. That if the Bainbridge congregation is unable to pay one-half the salary, then the Maytown con- gregation shall pay $400, the Bainbridge congre- gation $200, and the congregations receive preach- ing in the ratio of 4 to 2, thus giving Bainbridge one service each Sunday two out of three, alter- nating from morning to evening.
3. That if neither of the first two are agrecable or desirable, then the Maytown congregation shall apply for a dissolution of the pastorate and thereby become an independent pastorate."
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These propositions were considered at a special meeting of the joint councils held at Bainbridge July 14, 1897, "without any agreement being reached."
On July 25 the Maytown congregation endorsed the propositions of their council, and that if no satisfactory agreement could be accomplished, "we apply to Synod for a dissolution of the pastorate."
From the records it is evident that no satisfac- tory adjustment could be accomplished, and ou September 27, 1897, on mnotion of Deacon G. A. Harter, it was resolved that council recommend to the congregation :
I. That we procure a regular supply, to continue until pastorate is regularly dissolved by Synod.
2. That said supply be continued as our regular pastor after formal dissolution.
3. That the salary of aforesaid pastor shall be $500 per annum, payable monthly.
These resolutions were unanimously confirmed at a congregational meeting held October 3, 1897.
REV. JULIUS F. SEEBACH.
1897-1900.
On October 3, 1897, Rev. Seebach was called as supply, to continue as such until the difficulties with the Bainbridge congregation should be ad-
L
MAIN AUDITORIUM AFTER THE REMODELLING IN 1806.
ELDER ABRAHAM S. RHOADS. Died September 28, 1901.
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justed; after which he was to be continued as reg- ular pastor. He took charge of the pastorate November 15, and owing to Synod's delay in settling the differences between the congregations he was not regularly installed, but served them faithfully and well as a supply for two years and six months.
His records were well kept and speak for them- selves. From them we glean that in the ten com- munion services which were held by him there were 1, 108 members present during his period of ministry; the average attendance being 110. The highest number to commune was 126, and the lowest was 95.
During his pastorate the old and inadequate envelope method for collecting the pastor's salary was changed at a council meeting held July II, 1898, when on Deacon G. A. Harter's motion, it was "resolved that the weekly system of pay- ment for preacher's salary be recommended to the congregation," which was adopted. At this meet- ing a very important action was taken in connec- tion with delinquent church members, when on motion of Deacon John Wolf, it was "resolved that all those who wilfully neglect the privileges and responsibilities of membership in the congregation, both spiritually and financially, for the space of
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two years, shall be considered as having sepa- rated themselves from the communion as regular members."
At the close of 1898 Miss Jennie Brooks, who had served as organist from 1895 (when Miss Mabel Houseal, the former organist, had resigned) gave up that position, Miss Hallie Buller was elected, and for the past six years she has ably and faith- fully served the church in this capacity.
On August 30, 1898, Julius F. Seebach, Jr., was born in the parsonage.
Rev. Seebach, having accepted a call to the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Malianoy City, Pa., he resigned this pastorate, and on June 1, 1900, he left the field. On September 18, 1902, Rev. Julius F. Seebach was elected secretary of the East Pennsylvania Synod, at Mt. Holly Springs, Pa.
REV. GEORGE PHILIP GOLL.
1900-1904.
Having received a unanimous call to become the regular pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Maytown, Pa., Rev. Goll entered upon his ministerial duties June 24, 1900. He had been a missionary in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, from 1887-1898. In 1899, he was a member of a government commission under the direction of
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Prof. O. F. Cook and Mr. G. N. Collins, which was sent by the Department of Agriculture to study the economic plants and products of Porto Rico, when he made a collection of over 2,000 specimens of the phanerogamous (flowering) plants of that island for the U. S. National Museum in Washington, D. C.
On September 9, 1900, by permission of the President of the East Pennsylvania Synod, Rev. J. A. Singmaster, D. D., Rev. Goll was regularly in- stalled as pastor of the Maytown congregation, Revs. M. H. Stine, Ph. D., and D. H. Geiser, both of Harrisburg, Pa., performing the installation service.
At the next session of the East Pennsylvania Synod held at Gettysburg, Pa., by a unanimous vote the Maytown and Bainbridge charge was dis- solved, and St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Maytown became an independent con- gregation on Monday, October 1, 1900.
It is the custom now to hold quarterly commun- ion seasons, which are usually held on the first Sunday in the quarter, and from the records covering a period of three and a half years, the following data is gleaned : During this time 15 communion services were held, and a total of 1,635 members partook of the holy sacrament,
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making an average of 109. The lowest number was 75; while the highest number, and also the largest in the history of the church, was 144. It was held on July 5, 1903, a little over 100 years after Rev. John Frederick Ernst confirmed the largest catechetical class in the history of the church, May 28, 1803. At this service the pastor was assisted by Rev. Milton H. Valentine, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa. He also baptized Margaret Goll, the infant daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Maude B. Goll, who is the first girl born in the parsonage, February 15, 1903.
Nor has the congregation been lacking in its contributions toward the benevolent objects of the church, as the following tabulation of the past four years shows :
1900. Total benevolence $146.26
1901.
178.79
1902.
160.33
1903.
205.00
Grand total to end of Synodical Year . . $690.38
It is gratifying to note that many of our members have adopted the plan of systematic giving toward meeting the Synodical apportionment, quite a number giving much more than the plan calls for, and others, alas, do not seem to have awakened to their responsibility in this important matter.
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The Pan-American Exposition held at Buffalo, N. Y., in the year 1901 will ever be memorable in the history of our country because of the tragic assassination of President William Mckinley on September 6, who died a week later, September 14, 1901. While the whole country was mourning this untimely death of its executive officer, thie con- gregation of St. John's church in Maytown were again called upon to inourn the loss of one of its most honored and faithful members and officers, Elder Abraham S. Rhoads, who was called from his earthly labors to his heavenly reward Septem- ber 28, 1901, at the advanced age of almost 78 years.
His death was a great loss to the church, and was keenly felt by the members, and on October 7, 1901, resolutions of respect and condolence were unanimously adopted by the council on behalf of the congregation, which were entered upon their minutes, and a copy was also given to his relatives.
Up to this time there had stood on the corner of the lot on the south side of the church, just across an alley on Queen street, an old, dilapidated build- ing belonging to the Lindsay estate, which had been used as a cigar shop. It had become an eye- sore to the members, and late in the fall of 1901 this property was to be sold at public auction, and
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the council instructed its treasurer, Elder William Frysinger, to buy it, which was accordingly done, and the property was bought for $645. In the following year, 1902, the trustees were authorized to sell the house and lot, with the exception of 100 feet nearest the church, and in March Mr. Abra- ham Fletcher bought it for $450. In May the old building standing on the upper end of the 100 feet ot the lot retained by the church was torn down, and in June the trustees were empowered to build on this lot a wagon-shed 60 feet long with six stalls. The tearing down of the old shop enhanced the beauty of the church, and has added very much to the general appearance of the whole property. As the centennial year of the building of the stone church was rapidly drawing near, active measures were adopted by the council for a fitting celebra- tion of that event.
In the council meeting held on March 2, 1903, a motion made by Dr. G. A. Harter and seconded by brother Edward Fitzkee, recommended the ap- pointment of a committee on historical research by the congregation preparatory to our centennial anniversary in 1904. At a congregational meeting held on March 21, 1903, the pastor presented the above question to the meinbers, and the motion of brother William A. Bontz to hold the centennial
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anniversary was carried unanimously. Brother C. G. Longenecker's motion that the council should appoint a committee on historical research was also carried. The president of council, elder John A. Dehoff, then made a statement of the financial condition of the congregation, and pre- sented a recommendation of the council that the debt of $600 which had accrued from unpaid sub- scriptions for the remodelling of the church in 1896 amounting to $350.00; from expenses incurred by the purchase of the Lindsay property, and for gen- eral running expenses of the church, be paid before the anniversary. On motion of Deacon Harry Yeagle it was unanimously decided to "clear the church of all debt before our anniversary in 1904." At this meeting and at a subsequent one subscrip- tions were taken for this purpose, and the whole amount was provided for.
At a meeting of the council held May 4, 1903, the following committees were appointed: "Finance committee, brothers Dehoff, Frysinger and Yeagle; Historical committee, Rev. Goll, Dr. G. A. Harter, and J. Frank Johnstin." How well these com- mittees have performed the work assigned them the coming anniversary will show in the liquidated debt and in the completed history which will be placed in the hands of all those who care to read it.
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In accordance with a resolution presented in council by Elder John A. Dehoff on April 6, 1903, authorizing the purchase of two new musical instruments for the church and Sunday-school, steps were taken toward that end. On January 10, 1904, the Sunday-school purchased a fine Estey organ at a cost of $100. The Aid Society then de- cided to assist in securing a suitable organ for the church, and among the many successful plans for raising funds, a very fine silk "crazy patch " quilt was made by some of the ladies, on the lower side of which, a broad ribbon bearing the names of all those contributing toward this fund, forms a square border. The final disposition of the quilt will be made at a public auction.
After due deliberation it was decided that it would not at this time be advisable to purchase a pipe organ, which was ardently desired by many. The purchase of a handsome two-manual and pedal Estey philharmonic reed-organ, with pipe-organ top, was made possible through the generous gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, of New York, to whom Rev. Goll had written for assistance, who offered to pay half the cost of the instrument selected at that time. Owing to the liberal terms of Messrs. Yohn Bros., of Harrisburg, Pa., through whom the organ was purchased, the present beautiful instru-
REV. JULIUS F. SEEBACH. 1897-1900.
-
MRS. ANNA WELCHANS. President of W. II. & F. M. Society, 1882-1904.
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ment was selected at a special price, which the Aid Society unanimously agreed to furnish. This beautiful and wonderfully sweet-toned organ will be dedicated at the beginning of the week of the centennial anniversary, Sunday morning, April 17, 1904.
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