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CENTENNIAL  HISTORY 


OF  THE 


EVANGELICAL 

LUTHERAN  SYNOD 

OF  MARYLAND 


1820 


1920 


WENTZ 


(y  ^- 


. 
t* 


^HISTORY 


OF    THE 


EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN 

SYNOD  of  MARYLAND 


OF    THE 


UNITED  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 
IN  AMERICA 

1820  1920 


BY 


REV.  PROF.  ABDEL  ROSS  WENTZ,  Ph.D. 

Professor  of  Church  History  in  the  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary, 

Curator  of  the  Lutheran  Historical  Society,  Author  of ''''The 

German  Element  in  York  County,  Pennsylvania.  " 


TOGETHER    WITH 


A  Brief  Sketch  of  Each  Congregation  of  the  Synod 

AND 

Biographies  of  the  Living  Sons  of  the  Synod  in  the  Ministry 
EDITED  BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  SYNOD 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  SYNOD 

BY  THE 

EVANGELICAL  PRESS 

HARRISBURG 

1920 


"Remember  the  days  of  old:    consider  the 
years  of  many  generations." — Deut.  32:  7. 

"The  Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  us;    the  God  of 
Jacob  is  our  refuge." — Psalm  46:  7. 


Foreword 

The  Lutheran  Church  in  America  has  a  history  of  which  her 
sons  and  daughters  may  well  be  proud.  Her  influence  was  very 
potent  in  the  earliest  settlements  in  Georgia,  along  the  Delaware 
and  on  Manhattan  Island.  The  Pilgrim  Fathers  largely  came 
from  Leyden  where  for  thirty  years  they  had  lived  in  Holland 
which  had  become  a  republic  chiefly  through  the  influence  of  the 
Lutheran  Reformation. 

From  our  earliest  history  the  Lutheran  Church  has  exerted  a 
wide'  influence  in  the  moral  and  religious  life  of  our  people.  The 
freedom  of  conscience  for  which  it  always  stood,  the  sincere  piety 
it  fostered  everywhere,  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  the  best  po- 
litical, social  and  religious  life  of  the  nation. 

In  some  respects  the  Lutheran  Church  is  an  outstanding  Ameri- 
can Church.  In  our  Colonial  history,  the  settlements  of  Lu- 
therans along  the  frontier  largely  bore  the  brunt  of  the  depreda- 
tions of  savages  who  at  various  times  were  incited  to  murder  and 
rapine  by  emissaries  from  other  lands.  During  the  war  for  In- 
dependence, the  Lutherans  stood  solidly  writh  Washington  and 
shed  their  blood  willingly  in  the  struggle  for  freedom.  In  that 
momentous  conflict  one  third  of  the  population  of  the  country 
was  Tory.  But  the  Lutherans  were  not  Tories.  So  in  the  war  of 
1812.  In  the  war  between  the  States,  the  Union  had  no  more 
loyal  supporters  North  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  than  the  Lu- 
therans. And  in  the  recent  great  war  with  the  central  powers 
of  Europe  the  Lutheran  Church  was  exceptional  in  the  number 
of  her  sons  who  followed  the  flag  and  in  her  response  to  every 
call  and  need  of  the  Government  in  its  conduct  of  the  war. 

The  best  blood  of  Europe  that  came  to  our  shores  flowed  in  the 
veins  of  those  who  came  in  quest  of  religious  freedom.  The 
Palatines  who  came  very  early  to  Baltimore  and  through  Penn- 
sylvania into  western  Maryland  were  largely  influenced  to  leave 
their  mother  countries  beyond  the  seas  by  reason  of  persecution. 
Hence,  when  they  entered  into  the  making  of  a  new  country  they 
cut  away  from  the  ecclesiasticism  and  from  the  Church  Govern- 
ments which  obtained  under  the  monarchies  of  the  old  world. 
Congregations  were  organized  and  synods  were  formed  in  har- 
mony with  the  genius  of  what  has  become  the  greatest  republic 

3 


4  FOR  I:\VORD. 

of  the  ages.  Xo  ecclesiastical  connections  nor  even  formal  fra- 
ternal relations  were  maintained  with  the  Churches  of  the  Fa- 
therlands. The  Lutheran  Churches  were  not  only  American  in 
spirit  hut  thoroughly  ami  distinctly  American  in  practice. 

The  Maryland  Synod  was  organized  almost  simultaneously 
with  the  (ieneral  Synod.  The  h'rst,  third,  fifth,  sixth  and  seventh 
presidents  of  the  General  Synod  were  members  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  The  h'rst,  second,  third,  fourth,  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth 
sessions  of  the  (Jeneral  Synod  were  held  in  Maryland  Synod 
Churches.  A  large  number  of  the  leading  ministers  and  laymen 
not  only  in  the  Lutheran  Church  but  in  the  country  generally 
have  been  connected  with  the  Maryland  Synod. 

The  Maryland  Synod  is  distinguished  by  its  prominence  in  the 
educational,  eleemosynary  and  missionary  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Tin*  Colleges  and  Seminaries  at  (Jettysburg  and  Selins- 
grove  were  largely  inspired  and  aided  in  their  beginnings  as  well 
as  through  their  entire  history  by  the  Maryland  Synod.  She  fur- 
nished the  h'rst  Presidents  for  Gettysburg,  Selinsgrove,  Witten- 
berg and  Midland  Colleges.  The  Deaconess  Home  and  Mother- 
House,  and  the  Home  for  the  Aged  are  located  on  her  territory, 
while  all  the  benevolent  and  eleemosynary  institutions  of  the 
Church  receive  the  Synod's  unfailing  support.  The  beginnings 
of  Home  Missionary  work  were  largely  under  the  direction  of 
the  Maryland  Synod.  The  first  missionaries  beyond  the  Pan- 
Handle  and  later  beyond  the  Mississippi  were  sent  forth  from  her 
Churches.  Both  the  Hoards  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  have 
had  their  headquarters  on  its  territory. 

The  writer  has  been  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  He  recalls  the  meetings  of  synods  and  con- 
ferences with  unfeigned  pleasure.  There  is  a  spirit  of  fraternity 
and  brotherly  cooperation  that  is  both  admirable  and  character- 
istic. There  is  enthusiasm  for  everything  that  makes  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Kingdom  of  our  Lord.  Delightful  fellowship, 
whole-hearted  service,  mutual  confidence,  are  marked  features 
of  the  Synod's  life. 

The  following  pages  tell  only  a  part  of  the  story.  Many  of  the 
best  things  cannot  be  written  in  a  book.  The  Committee  consist- 
ing of  Professor  Abdel  Ross  AVentx,  L.  Russell  Alden,  Esq.,  and 
the  writer,  entrusted  the  entire  literary  work  in  the  preparation 
of  the  history  to  Professor  Went/.  A  son  of  the  Synod,  preacher, 
historian,  scholar,  and  teacher  of  young  men  preparing  for  the 
Gospel  ministry,  he  has  performed  his  task  well. 

EZRA  K.  BELL. 


Introduction 

As  we  stand  on  the  bow  of  some  great  ocean-liner  hustling  it- 
self across  the  trackless  deep,  we  feel  only  the  rush  of  change, 
the  toss  of  the  waves,  the  buffeting  of  the  winds,  and  the  heaving 
of  the  mighty  deep.  As  we  look  forward  from  the  bow  we  have  no 
certainty  of  progress  or  of  definite  direction.  But  when  we  go 
back  and  stand  on  the  stern  of  the  vessel  we  see  the  wake  of  the 
ship,  boiling  out  even  as  we  watch  it  and  stretching  off  in  a 
straight  line  behind  us.  Then  we  know  that  we  are  held  to  a 
course,  that  we  are  making  progress  and  that  we  are  moving  in  a 
straight  line  and  therefore  towards  a  goal.  We  cannot  see  our 
destination  but  we  know  that  we  are  going  somewhere  because  we 
can  see  that  we  have  come  from  somewhere. 

So  the  past  is  the  wake  of  history.  It  is  an  argument  for  a 
definite  direction  in  the  world 's  events.  Our  review  of  a  century 
of  Maryland  Synod  history  ought  to  help  us  in  some  measure  to 
understand  the  divine  goal  of  daily  events  and  the  will  of  God 
for  the  future  of  our  Zion. 

This  volume  is  a  part  of  the  Maryland  Synod's  observance  of 
her  centennial  year.  It  is  intended  to  make  us  mindful  of  our 
heritage  and  our  responsibility.  It  is  not  history  for  history's 
sake,  not  a  narrative  of  facts  long  since  past  and  unrelated  to  the 
present.  It  is  rather  a  means  of  helping  us,  as  individual  congre- 
gations and  as  a  Synod,  to  understand  our  relation  to  the  living 
present  and  our  responsibility  to  the  promising  future. 

The  story  of  these  hundred  years  in  the  Synod  is  an  inspiring 
one.  No  one  can  read  the  record  without  feeling  that  the  hand 
of  God  directs  the  affairs  of  the  Church.  But  while  the  growth 
and  achievements  of  the  century  should  swell  our  breasts  with 
pride  and  fill  us  with  gratitude  to  God  for  the  past,  the  contem- 
plation of  her  progressive  development  in  powers  and  resources 
should  fill  us  with  a  sense  of  obligation  and  point  the  finger  of 
duty  to  the  coming  age. 

This  is  not  a  history  of  Lutheranism  in  the  State  of  Maryland, 
but  only  a  history  of  the  Man-land  Synod  and  her  churches. 
There  are  a  number  of  Lutheran  churches  in  the  State  that  do 
not  belong  to  the  Synod.  Such  are  the  twenty-four  congrega- 
tions of  the  Synodical  Conference  (thirteen  in  Baltimore,  two  in 

5 


()  INTROIH'CTION. 

Washington,  two  in  Accident,  and  one  each  at  Colgate,  Cumber- 
land. (Jlen  Arm,  Linthicum  Heights,  Mechanicsville,  Overlea, 
and  Preston),  the  fifteen  congregations  of  the  .Joint  Synod  of 
Ohio  (nine  in  Baltimore  and  one  each  at  Washington,  Ellicott 
City,  Fnllerton,  (Jlen  Arm.  Laurel,  and  Ferryman),  one  of  the 
Swedish  Augustana  Synod  in  Baltimore,  one  of  the  Iowa  Synod 
at  Woodlawn,  ami  several  without  synodieal  relations.  These  do 
not  eome  within  the  seope  of  this  volume. 

The  plan  of  the  book  ineludes  three  main  parts,  the  history  of 
the  Synod  as  a  whole,  the  history  of  the  ehurches  constituting 
the  Synod  at  present,  and  biographical  sketches  of  the  sons  of  the 
Synod  now  in  the  ministry. 

In  portraying  the  life  of  the  Synod  as  a  whole  we  have  first 
sketched  the  Lutheran  movements  and  settlements  within  the 
State  before  the  organization  of  the  Synod.  These  materials 
have  been  gathered  from  sources  too  numerous  to  mention  here. 
The  original  plan  to  sketch  the  early  history  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America  outside  of  Maryland  had  to  be  abandoned  be- 
cause it  would  have  led  too  far  afield.  That  subject  can  easily  be 
traced  in  other  books.  For  the  European  origin  of  these  early 
Lutherans  in  Maryland  the  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  Five 
of  my  "(ierman  Element  in  York  County,"  pages  9(5-174. 

The  history  of  the  Synod  as  such,  from  the  organization  to  the 
present,  has  been  gathered  mainly  from  the  Minutes  of  the  body. 
The  original  protocol  of  the  Synod,  we  regret  to  say,  has  not  been 
available.  For  over  two  years  we  have  conducted  a  search  for 
the  protocol  and  first  constitution.  But  in  vain.  We  believe  they 
have  been  destroyed. 

The  subject  of  the  protocol  often  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
Synod.  As  early  as  1840  the  manuscript  protocol  was  pro- 
nounced "irrecoverably  lost,"  and  a  committee  declared  it  im- 
possible even  to  secure  a  complete  file  of  the  printed  minutes. 
Four  years  later,  however,  the  protocol  is  reported  found  and 
measures  are  taken  for  its  safe  keeping.  In  18~>8  it  was  consigned 
to  the  care  of  Dr.  Morris,  but  ten  years  later  he  reported  that  a 
part  of  the  archives  had  been  lost  again.  In  1871  it  is  reported 
that  the  old  protocol  and  other  papers  of  the  Synod  have  been 
sent  to  Dr.  Diehl  "to  be  placed  with  the  archives  of  the  Synod 
in  the  church  in  Frederick."  This  is  the  last  trace  of  those  valu- 
able papers  that  can  be  found.  It  would  seem  that  they  were  re- 
moved from  Frederick  when  Dr.  Diehl  left  that  church,  but  dili- 
gent search  among  his  heirs  and  effects  has  failed  to  reveal  them. 

But  we  have  succeeded  in  gathering  a  complete  file  of  the  pub- 
lished minutes  of  the  Synod  from  various  sources,  and  from  these 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

we  have  gathered  practically  all  of  our  materials  for  the  story  of 
the  Synod  as  such. 

For  the  materials  in  the  congregational  sketches  we  are  in  most 
cases  indebted  to  the  pastors  of  the  churches.  They  were  gath- 
ered largely  from  the  church  records  and  congregational  archives 
of  the  individual  congregations.  Some  of  the  materials  are  to  be 
found  also  in  published  form.  Such  are  Williams'  "History  of 
Frederick  County,"  Williams'  "History  of  Washington  Coun- 
ty," P.  H.  Miller's  "History  of  Grace  Lutheran  Church  of  West- 
minster and  Sketches  of  Lutheran  Congregations  in  Carroll 
County,"  M.  L.  Culler's  "Early  History  of  the  Lutheran 
Churches  in  the  Middletown  Valley,"  Bell's  "History  of  the 
Leitersburg  District,"  L.  B!  Hafer's  "Brief  Sketch  of  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church  of  Taneytown,"  Ferdinand  Hesse's  "History 
of  the  Smithsburg  Charge,'"  C.  S.  Jones'  "History  of  St.  Paul's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore  County."  Sarah  C. 
Trump's  "One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  Immanuel 
Lutheran  Church  of  Manchester,"  L.  H.  Waring 's  "History  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Georgetown,"  Diehl, 
Schmucker,  and  Kuhlman  on  the  Frederick  congregation,  Culler 
and  Trump  in  "The  Martinsburg  Lutheran"  for  December, 
1918,  and  F.  R,  Wagner's  "Historical  Sketch  of  St.  Paul's  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Frostburg. "  Much  credit  is  due  also  to  Dr. 
Victor  Miller  for  his  persistent  efforts  from  1900  to  1913  in  gath- 
ering from  the  pastors  many  materials  for  the  history  of  their 
churches. 

About  one-third  of  the  congregational  histories  could  be  pub- 
lished in  practically  the  same  form  in  which  they  were  prepared 
by  the  pastors.  Another  third  we  prepared  from  data  submitted 
by  the  pastors.  For  the  other  third  we  had  to  secure  the  data  as 
well  as  write  the  history. 

The  selection  of  portraits  to  illustrate  the  congregational  his- 
tories was  a  delicate  matter,  and  in  some  cases  the  pastor  simply 
could  not  bring  himself  to  make  a  selection  from  among  the  many 
good  subjects  that  might  have  been  available,  and  in  those  cases 
no  illustrations  of  laymen  appear.  With  only  two  exceptions  we 
have  been  able  to  present  a  picture  of  even'  pastor  in  the  Synod. 
We  appreciate  this  splendid  cooperation. 

As  to  the  third  part  of  the  volume  the  editor  wishes  to  assume 
responsibility  for  the  form  in  which  most  of  the  biographical 
sketches  appear.  He  had  much  difficulty  in  overcoming  the 
modesty  of  many  of  the  "sons  of  the  Synod"  and  in  securing  a 
measure  of  uniformity  in  the  sketches.  Four  or  five  subjects  be- 
longing in  this  chapter  refused  to  respond. 


S  INTRODUCTION. 

Our  main  problem  throughout  the  book  was  condensation. 
When  we  consider  the  si/.e  of  the  Synod  and  her  ijge,  the  even 
greater  age  of  some  of  her  congregations,  the  prominence  of  the 
Synod  and  her  men  in  the  work  of  the  church,  the  many  aspects 
of  her  life,  and  the  varied  lines  of  her  activity,  we  readily  under- 
stand that  the  full  history  of  the  Synod's  hundred  years  would 
require  many  volumes  of  this  sixe.  The  minutes  alone  for  these 
hundred  years  cover  nearly  .">,()()()  pages.  Volumes  have  had  to 
be  condensed  into  sketches.  Doubtless  many  omissions  will  be 
noted  by  the  informed  reader.  Then  be  it  remembered  that  we 
have  made  special  effort  to  maintain  proper  proportions.  We 
have  been  obliged  to  condense  greatly  and  to  omit  many  tilings 
we  wanted  to  include.  Hut  we  have  not  retrenched:  we  have 
faithfully  carried  out  the  main  plan  authorized  by  the  Synod  two 
years  ago. 

If  the  plan  of  the  work  had  included  footnotes  many  interest- 
ing but  isolated  events,  many  extraordinary  occurrences,  and 
many  piquant  and  original  anecdotes  might  have  been  introduced 
to  enliven  the  reading.  Then,  too,  complete  bibliographical  and 
other  source  references  could  have  been  included.  But  these  were 
not  regarded  as  essential  to  the  main  record  and  had  to  be 
omitted. 

Our  obligations  are  hereby  acknowledged  to  Pastor  Richard 
Schmidt  for  his  article  on  the  German  Synod  of  Maryland,  to 
Miss  Mary  Baylies  for  her  account  of  the  Woman's  Home  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  to  the  pas- 
tors who  so  kindly  cooperated  in  securing  their  congregational 
histories  and  materials  for  illustration,  to  the  sons  of  the  Synod 
who  furnished  data  from  which  to  make  their  biographies,  and  to 
the  many  individuals  who  so  willingly  responded  to  our  many  in- 
quiries for  information  to  be  used  in  the  volume. 

In  typewriting  the  manuscript  for  the  printer  and  in  gathering 
the  tables  presented  in  the  volume  we  have  had  much  valuable 
assistance  from  Mr.  Luther  A.  Gotwald  of  the  Gettysburg  Semi- 
nary. 

ABDKL  Ross  WI:NT/. 

(irttiisbitrfj.  I'd.,  March  :>'(),  1!>20. 


Table  of  Contents 

PAGE 

Chapter             I.  Early  Lutheran  Settlements  in  Maryland     11 
Chapter           II.  Early  Lutheran  Expansion  and  the  Spe- 
cial Conferences  of  Pastors    33 

Chapter         III.     The  Organization  of  the  Synod 43 

Chapter         IV.     The  Growth  of  the  Synod 55 

Chapter  V.     Leading  Personalities 57 

Chapter         VI.     The  Pastors  of  the  Synod,  1820-1920 83 

Chapter       VII.  Missions :    Home,  Foreign,  and  Inner  .  . .   103 
Chapter      VIII.  Educational  Activity  and  Literary  Prod- 
ucts     127 

Chapter         IX.  Doctrinal  and  Liturgical  Development  .  .   147 

Chapter  X.     Synodical  Relations 161 

Chapter         XI.     Conventions  and  Officers  175 

Chapter       XII.  Clerical  Roll  for  the  Centennial  Year  ....   179 

Chapter     XIII.  The  Churches  of  Baltimore  and  Vicinity  .   189 

Chapter      XIV.  The  Churches  of  Washington  and  Vicinity  281 

Chapter        XV.  The  Churches  of  the  Middle  Conference  .   325 

Chapter      XVI.  The  Churches  of  the  Western  Conference .   437 

Chapter    XVII.  The  Churches  of  the  Mountain  Conference  503 

Chapter  XVIII.     Ordinations  and  Licensures 519 

Chapter      XIX.     The  Sons  of  the  Synod 527 

Indexes  .  .    633 


"We  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God,  our 
fathers  have  told  us,  what  work  Thou  didst 
in  their  days,  in  the  days  of  old:  Thou  didst 
drive  out  the  heathen  with  Thy  hand,  but 
them  didst  Thou  plant." — Psalm  44:  i,  2. 

"Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us." — 
i  Samuel  7:  12. 


CHAPTER  I. 
EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND. 

Maryland  was  originally  founded  as  a  refuge  for  Roman  Cath- 
olics. People  of  that  faith  were  at  that  time  the  objects  of  sore 
persecution  in  England.  The  first  settlers  of  Maryland,  who 
reached  the  colony  in  March,  1634,  were  oppressed  Catholics  from 
England,  about  three  hundred  in  number.  But  from  the  begin- 
ning Protestants  were  admitted  to  the  new  colony.  This  was  not 
because  of  am*  advanced  views  of  religious  toleration  but  because 
the  colony  was  British,  and  the  Catholic  proprietor,  Lord  Balti- 
more, did  not  dare  to  exclude  Protestants  from  the  colony  of  a 
Protestant  nation.  The  spirit  of  the  age  was  bitterly  intolerant, 
but  in  this  case  prudence  dictated  liberality.  And  so  it  was  that 
people  of  all  Christian  denominations  began  to  pour  into  the 
promising  colony,  and  sixty  years  after  the  colony  had  been 
founded  primarily  as  an  asylum  for  persecuted  Roman  Catholics, 
the  children  of  that  faith  constituted  but  one-twelfth  of  the  pop- 
ulation. 

The  first  Lutherans  to  settle  in  Maryland  were  Swedes.  They 
came  in  1645,  only  eleven  years  after  the  colony  had  been 
founded,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Cecil  County.  They  consti- 
tuted the  out-post  of  that  large  Swedish  settlement  that  had  be- 
gun on  the  Delaware  River  (then  New  Sweden)  seven  years  be- 
fore. In  1649  these  Swedish  Lutherans  built  the  first  Lutheran 
church  in  what  is  now  the  state  of  Maryland.  It  is  said  that  in 
1660  there  were  nearly  three  hundred  Lutheran  families  in  that 
locality.  But  the  settlement  wras  not  permanent.  With  the  pass- 
ing of  New  Sweden  this  solitary  Lutheran  settlement  in  Mary- 
land vanished  also,  and  it  made  no  contribution  to  the  Lutheran 
element  that  later  constituted  the  Maryland  Synod,  except  per- 
haps by  contributing  some  individuals  to  the  settlements  in  west- 
ern Maryland.  Nearly  a  century  was  to  pass  before  the  first 
permanent  settlement  of  Lutherans  was  made  in  the  colony  of 
Maryland.  Then  nearly  another  century  was  to  pass  before  the 
Maryland  Synod  was  born. 

As  the  history  of  our  American  Republic  covers  less  than  half 
of  the  history  of  the  white  man  in  our  country,  so  the  life  of  the 

11 


12  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

organi/ed  Maryland  Synod  covers  only  a  little  more  than  half 
of  the  history  of  Lutherans  in  the  State. 

The  Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland  is  now  just  a  century  old. 
Hut  the  history  of  Lutheranism  in  Maryland  goes  hack  nearly  a 
century  before  the  organization  of  the  Synod.  There  were  in- 
dividual Lutherans  and  Lutheran  settlements  and  Lutheran  con- 
gregations in  Maryland  some  ninety  years  before  synodical  or- 
gani/ation  was  effected.  The  beginnings  of  these  pioneer  Luther- 
an settlements  go  back  beyond  the  establishment  of  the  American 
Republic,  beyond  the  Revolutionary  War,  back  to  the  early  dec- 
ades of  th»>  Eighteenth  Century. 

Three  of  these  earliest  Lutheran  settlements  in  particular  need 
to  be  considered  as  heralding  the  dawn  of  Lutheran  history  in 
Maryland.  They  are  Baltimore,  Conoeocheague,  and  Monocacy. 
The  oldest  of  these  is  Monocacy.  But  all  of  them  have  long  since 
ceased  to  be  preeminent  in  the  Lutheranism  of  the  state.  The 
settlement  of  Monocacy  was  soon  overshadowed  and  absorbed  by 
Frederick.  That  of  Conoeocheague  dwindled  into  insignificance 
beside  Hagerstown.  And  the  old  Lutheran  community  in  Balti- 
more belonged  to  the  Maryland  Synod  only  a  short  time  and  has 
long  since  lost  its  Lutheran  confessional  character. 

Let  us  review  briefly  the  life  of  these  three  pioneer  Lutheran 
communities.  They  mark  one  stage  in  the  westward  movement 
of  the  American  frontier,  the  meeting  point  between  civilization 
and  savagery,  and  thus  they  help  constitute  the  crucible  in  which 
the  different  European  nationalities  have  been  moulded  into  an 
entirely  new  product  known  as  the  American.  At  the  same  time 
their  character  and  their  history  as  church  communities  hold  the 
germ  and  promise  of  much  of  the  subsequent  history  of  Luther- 
anism in  the  state  of  Maryland. 

On  the  Monocacy. 

The  first  Lutheran  congregation  in  the  state  of  Maryland  was 
Monacacy.  The  Monocacy  settlement  was  in  Frederick  County, 
ten  miles  north  of  the  present  city  of  Frederick,  at  the  point 
where  the  route  of  travel  from  Pennsylvania  crossed  the  Mono- 
cacy River.  This  settlement  was  one  of  the  results  of  the  gradual 
expansion  of  the  population  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard  west- 
ward. 

The  pioneers  of  the  Monocacy  Valley  came  from  Pennsylvania. 
In  the  year  1710  as  a  result  of  the  great  increase  of  German  im- 
migrants to  America  the  Lutheran  population  of  Pennsylvania 
had  begun  to  grow  rapidly.  Many  of  these  Lutherans  had  settled 
in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  just  east  of  the  Susquehanna 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  13 

River.  From  that  point  there  was  a  natural  avenue  leading 
southwestward  into  Virginia.  This  was  the  highway  that  from 
time  immemorial  had  been  used  by  the  Indians  in  their  wander- 
ings from  north  to  south  and  vice  versa.  It  included  a  series  of 
fertile  valleys  now  known  as  the  Cumberland,  Shenandoah,  and 
Virginia  Valleys.  Crossing  the  Susquehanna  where  Wrightsville 
now  stands  it  followed  the  limestone  belt  in  a  southwestern  direc- 
tion across  York  County  (York  and  Hanover)  and  the  southeast- 
tern  part  of  Adams  County  (Littlest own),  across  the  state  line 
into  Carroll  and  Frederick  Counties,  Maryland,  and  so  to  the 
Potomac.  This  route  of  travel  afterwards  figured  prominently 
in  the  history  of  our  country. 

It  was  this  great  natural  highway  from  eastern  Pennsylvania 
to  Virginia  that  brought  the  first  Lutheran  settlers  to  Maryland. 
As  the  population  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  increased  and  the 
good  lands  there  were  gradually  taken  up  the  hardy  pioneers 
pushed  westward  across  the  Susquehanna.  But  out  of  regard  for 
the  rights  of  the  Indians  the  Pennsylvania  authorities  did  not 
permit  settlement  on  the  lands  west  of  the  river  until  1729.  So 
already  several  years  before  that  date  some  of  the  immigrants 
into  Penn's  colony  had  moved  across  the  forbidden  Indian  lands 
of  York  County  and  had  pushed  on  to  the  hospitable  soil  of  Mary- 
land and  Virginia.  It  seems  probable  that  in  1727  or  the  follow- 
ing year  a  small  number  of  Germans  from  Pennsylvania  had 
taken  up  their  abode  on  Maryland  soil  in  the  Monocacy  Valley. 
These  were  mostly  Lutherans. 

A  year  or  two  later  when  the  Pennsylvania  government  au- 
thorized settlements  west  of  the  Susquehanna  the  Indian  trail  to 
the  south  and  southwest  was  converted  into  a  wagon  road  and 
soon  hundreds  of  Germans  from  Pennsylvania  were  coursing 
along  this  highway  to  the  rich  lands  of  western  Maryland  and 
northern  Virginia.  Then,  too.  Lord  Fairfax  of  Virginia  and  Gov- 
ernor Ogle  of  Maryland  were  holding  out  special  inducements  to 
the  Germans  to  settle  within  their  respective  domains.  Early  in 
1732  the  Governor  of  Virginia  ceded  a  tract  of  some  25,000  acres 
to  Jost  Hite,  a  German,  and  Jacob  Van  Meter,  a  Dutchman,  on 
condition  that  they  would  settle  two  hundred  German  families 
on  the  tract.  Hite  and  Van  Meter  traversed  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  and  even  went  to  Germany  and  Holland  in  search 
of  settlers  for  their  lands,  and  directed  them  all  to  Virginia  by 
the  way  of  the  well-known  "Monocacy  Road."  The  consequence 
was  that  soon  a  large  volume  of  immigration  began  to  flow  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Virginia. 

Then  Charles  Lord  Baltimore  tried  to  outdo  the  Governor  of 


14  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Virjrinia  in  attracting  colonists.  He  offered  the  lands  between 
the  Monocacy  and  the  Pennsylvania  line  in  tracts  of  two  hundred 
acres  each  to  families  that  would  settle  there  and  he  asked  only 
the  rental  of  one  cent  an  acre  and  no  rent  to  pay  for  the  first 
three  years.  It  is  not  surprising  that  many  of  the  Germans  on 
their  way  from  Pennsylvania  to  Virginia,  with  their  keen  sense 
for  fertile  soil  and  their  fixed  habit  to  hunt  out  good  lands,  see- 
ing the  rich  lands  of  Frederick  County  offered  them  on  such 
liberal  terms,  dug  their  spades  into  the  earth  then  and  there,  set 
up  their  hearthstones,  and  forgot  all  about  their  intentions  of 
going  farther.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Monocacy  settle- 
ment. 

These  hardy  industrious  (iermans  came  as  home-makers  and 
tillers  of  the  soil.  They  brought  with  them  their  Bibles,  their 
hymn  books,  and  generally  a  few  devotional  works,  such  as  Lu- 
ther's catechism  and  John  Arndt's  "True  Christianity/'  As 
soon  as  a  community  of  settlers  had  formed  they  began  to  take 
measures  to  satisfy  their  hunger  for  the  word  of  life,  for  com- 
mon worship  and  the  means  of  grace.  From  Pennsylvania  they 
had  come  and  to  Pennsylvania  they  looked  for  spiritual  ministry. 

In  IT.'M  John  Casper  Stoever,  "the  indefatigable  missionary," 
on  one  of  his  tours  from  New  Holland  to  York  went  as  far  south 
as  the  Monocacy  settlement,  baptized  the  Lutheran  children  there 
and  organized  the  Lutheran  members  of  the  community  into  a 
congregation.  The  following  summer,  1734,  they  built  a  neat  sub- 
stantial log  church.  This  was  the  first  Lutheran  church  in  west- 
ern Maryland  and  it  was  large  enough  and  substantial  enough  to 
serve  the  purposes  of  the  congregation  for  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury. 

To  this  unpretentious  log  church  in  the  scattering  log  village 
the  pious  settlers  gathered  from  miles  around  to  worship  God. 
Here  the  aged  pioneer  gave  thanks  for  religious  freedom  that 
had  been  denied  him  in  the  fatherland.  Here  parents  came  from 
near  and  far  with  their  families  to  acknowledge  their  Lord  and 
to  hear  the  preaching  of  His  Word.  When  an  ordained  minister 
visited  the  community  the  babes  were  carried  to  this  sacred  place 
for  holy  baptism  and  all  the  faithful  partook  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. Hither  the  young  man  and  the  maid  came  for  catechetical 
instruction  and  preparation  for  confirmation,  and  sometimes  they 
came  to  plight  their  troth  as  husband  and  wife. 

Many  years  passed  before  regular  pastors  could  be  obtained 
for  the  congregation.  Meanwhile  they  had  the  village  school- 
master to  lead  the  singing,  to  read  printed  sermons  on  Sunday, 
and  to  impart  religious  as  well  as  secular  instruction  to  the 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  15 

young.  Who  this  schoolmaster  was  or  how  well  he  performed  his 
work  we  do  not  know,  but  he  evidently  acted  under  the  instruc- 
tions and  supervision  of  Pastor  Stoever  of  New  Holland  and 
later  of  Lebanon,  who  from  1733  to  1743  made  periodic  visits 
west  of  the  Susquehanna  to  York  on  the  Codorus  and  to  the 
congregation  on  the  Monocacy. 

The  church  on  the  Monocacy  was  built  by  the  Lutherans  of  that 
community  and  for  a  long  time  was  a  purely  Lutheran  church. 
One  of  the  governing  principles  of  the  organization  was  that  "No 
minister  shall  be  admitted  to  preach  or  administer  the  holy  ordi- 
nances in  our  church,  without  a  lawful  certificate  of  Lutheran 
ordination  and  without  the  consent  of  the  Lutheran  church  war- 
dens."  But  in  1747,  after  the  community  had  been  visited  by 
Michael  Schlatter,  the  great  organizer  of  the  Reformed,  the  Lu- 
theran church  council  granted  "permission  to  regularly  author- 
ized ministers  of  the  Reformed  Church  to  hold  services  in  the 
church."  Thereafter  the  church  building  was  used  jointly  by 
the  two  congregations,  but  the  numbers  of  the  Lutherans  greatly 
exceeded  the  numbers  of  the  Reformed. 

The  membership  of  the  original  congregation  was  scattered  all 
the  way  from  Taneytown  and  Emmitsburg  on  the  north  to  the 
Glades  and  beyond  Frederick  on  the  south,  and  from  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Liberty  on  the  east  to  the  Catoctin  Mountains  on 
the  west.  This  large  parish  was  only  a  comparatively  small  part 
of  the  charge  that  was  committed  to  the  oversight  of  Pastor 
Stoever  and  of  course  it  did  not  generally  have  his  direct  or  de- 
tailed supervision.  He  visited  York  about  once  a  month.  The 
Conewago  settlement  (near  Hanover)  he  saw  twice  a  year.  But 
the  congregation  on  the  Monocacy  never  had  his  personal  services 
more  than  once  a  year. 

After  ten  years  of  intermittent  ministry  west  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, John  Casper  Stoever  resigned  in  1743  and  his  regular 
visits  to  York  and  his  irregular  visits  to  the  Monocacy  congrega- 
tion ceased.  But  he  had  prepared  his  successor.  In  April,  1743, 
he  had  ordained  David  Candler,  a  schoolmaster  of  Conewago,  and 
had  placed  him  over  the  York  and  Monocacy  churches.  That 
same  year  Candler  for  the  convenience  of  his  parishioners  or- 
ganized the  Conewago  congregation  (Hanover)  and  divided  the 
Monocacy  congregation  by  establishing  a  branch  where  Frederick 
now  stands. 

This  beginning  of  Lutheran  worship  on  the  future  site  of  Fred- 
erick City  on  the  Carroll  Creek  was  the  first  step  in  a  series  of 
events  that  finally  led  to  the  transfer  of  the  old  Monocacy  or- 
ganization to  that  thriving  town  ten  miles  south  of  Monocacy. 


1(5  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

For  a  long  time  after  separate  services  were  held  in  Frederick 
the  Lutherans  residing  there  regarded  themselves  as  members  of 
the  mother  congregation  on  the  Monoeacy.  But  when  Frederick 
was  laid  out  as  a  town  in  174.")  and  when  it  was  made  the  county- 
seat  of  the  new  county  in  1748,  the  number  of  Lutherans  at  Fred- 
erick naturally  increased  while  the  community  to  the  north 
steadily  declined  in  relative  strength  until  at  length  the  organi- 
xation  was,  at  it  were,  transferred  to  the  town.  The  oldest  record 
book  in  possession  of  the  congregation  is  stamped  on  the  back 
"(Jemeinde  Monakes, ''  that  is,  the  congregation  of  the  Monoeacy, 
and  the  most  precious  historic  relic  in  their  possession  is  the  Eng- 
lish Constitution  contained  in  this  same  book,  prepared  by  Muh- 
lenberg  and  preserved  in  his  hand. 

Tims  in  1743  Candler  had  charge  of  four  congregations  extend- 
ing all  the  way  from  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Potomac,  a  direct 
distance  of  more  than  seventy-five  miles.  He  lived  at  Conewago, 
and  when  his  great  zeal  in  the  exercise  of  his  office  and  his  in- 
tense exertions  on  behalf  of  his  congregations  undermined  his 
health  and  caused  his  death  in  little  more  than  a  year  after  his 
ordination,  he  was  buried  at  Conewago. 

A  number  of  the  people  of  the  Monoeacy  church  attended  the 
funeral  of  their  pastor  at  Conewago.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  Lars  Xyberg,  a  Swede,  who  was  pastor  at  Lancaster  and 
who  was  secretly  a  Moravian.  The  deputation  from  Monoeacy 
were  so  pleased  with  Nyberg 's  sermon  that  they  asked  him  to 
procure  for  them  a  pastor  who  could  preach  like  himself.  Ny- 
berg  conferred  with  the  Moravian  authorities  at  Bethlehem  with 
a  view  to  procuring  a  man  and  the  result  was  that  he  himself 
was  appointed  to  serve  Monoeacy  and  the  other  congregations 
west  of  the  Susquehanna.  This  appointment  he  accepted  as  an 
opportunity  to  lead  those  Lutheran  congregations  into  the  Mo- 
ravian fold.  When  the  perfidy  of  Nyberg  became  known  to  the 
Lutheran  congregations  the  doors  were  closed  against  him  at 
Lancaster,  at  York,  and  at  Conewago.  In  the  Monoeacy  congre- 
gation a  split  took  place.  Many  of  the  people  in  the  old  Luther- 
an congregation  adhered  to  Xyberg  and  to  Nicke,  his  successor, 
and  to  the  Moravian  faith,  and  when  in  1746  the  Lutheran  ma- 
jority of  the  congregation  locked  the  church  doors  on  Nicke  the 
Moravian  element  withdrew  and  for  a  number  of  years  held  serv- 
ices in  a  private  house.  In  1758  they  organized  a  church  of  their 
own  faith  at  Graceham,  three  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Monoeacy 
church. 

Years  passed  before  the  confusion  caused  by  Nyberg  in  the 
Monoeacy  congregation  was  composed.  The  defenseless  people 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  17 

were  set  upon  by  vagrant  preachers  and  imposters  and  the  dis- 
traction did  not  cease  until  Muhlenberg  himself  appeared  on  tli3 
scene  and  prepared  a  constitution  for  the  congregation. 

But  it  was  not  easy  to  secure  a  visit  from  Muhlenberg.  When 
the  congregation  was  divided  over  the  Moravian  Nicke,  in  the 
summer  of  1746,  they  sent  to  the  United  Lutheran  ministers  of 
Pennsylvania  and  asked  to  be  taken  under  their  care.  But 
Muhlenberg  was  unable  to  visit  them  at  that  time.  However,  at 
his  request  Rev.  Gabriel  Naesman,  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Luther- 
an Church  at  Wicaco,  near  Philadelphia,  who  could  preach  in 
German,  and  who  for  some  time  regularly  visited  Lancaster  after 
Nyberg  was  excluded,  made  a  visit  to  Frederick  in  October,  1746. 
On  Reformation  Day  itself  Mr.  Naesman  preached  in  the  church 
at  Monocacy  and  baptized  one  young  man  nineteen  years  of  age 
and  six  children.  He  caused  a  large  and  well-bound  record-book 
to  be  purchased  and  in  it  he  entered  the  fact  of  his  preaching 
there  and  the  record  of  his  baptisms.  He  also  gave  instructions 
to  have  the  records  of  Candler  arid  all  other  entries  copied  from 
private  journals  and  family  Bibles  into  the  new  church  book. 
Fifty -four  baptisms  previous  to  October,  1746,  were  so  entered. 

The  earliest  baptism  in  the  record  is  dated  August  22,  1737. 
The  infant  son  of  Frederick  Unsult  was  baptized  by  a  Rev.  Mr. 
Wolf.  It  is  not  at  all  certain  that  this  ordinance  was  adminis- 
tered either  at  Frederick  or  at  Monocacy.  The  probability  is 
that  the  baptism  was  performed  at  the  place  from  which  the  par- 
ents removed  before  they  came  to  the  Monocacy  settlement,  pos- 
sibly the  Lutheran  settlement  on  the  Raritan  in  New  Jersey, 
where  in  1737  Rev.  John  August  Wolf  was  pastor. 

After  Naesman 's  refreshing  visit  the  congregation  was  once 
more  without  a  head  and  a  pastor,  as  shepherdless  sheep  exposed 
to  the  ravages  of  the  wolves  that  in  those  days  wandered  about  in 
pastoral  garb.  Late  in  1746  or  early  in  1747  Monocacy  and 
Frederick  were  visited  by  the  notorious  vagabond  Carl  Rudolph, 
who  claimed  to  be  a  Lutheran  minister,  and  showed  testimonials 
with  great  seals  which  were  probably  forged  and  certainly  false. 
We  learn  of  him  first  in  Georgia  where  he  barely  escaped  the  gal- 
lows. Then  he  wandered  northward  through  the  Carolinas  and 
Virginia  until  he  arrived  at  Frederick.  Wherever  he  found  a 
congregation  he  tarried  and  offered  his  services.  He  is  said  by 
Muhlenberg  to  have  served  in  Maryland  congregations,  German 
and  Irish.  He  was  accepted  at  Monocacy  as  pastor,  but  very  soon 
showed  himself  to  be  a  thief,  a  drunkard,  licentious  and  utterly 
worthless,  and  was  soon  dismissed  here  as  he  had  been  every- 
where else. 


18  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Another  vagabond  who  attempted  to  creep  into  the  congrega- 
tion  at  Frederick  in  1747  was  a  man  whom  Muhlenberg  terms 
Empirieus  Sehmid.  He  was  a  quack  who  pretended  to  be  a  phy- 
sician and  dentist,  resided  in  New  Hanover,  Pennsylvania,  and 
as  early  at  least  as  17.'W  attempted  to  perform  ministerial  acts. 
When  Muhlenberg  took  charge  there  in  17412  there  was  not  room 
enough  for  both;  after  vainly  attempting  to  organize  an  opposi- 
tion congregation  in  1743  Sehmid  left.  He  was  afterward  in 
Virginia,  and  in  .June,  1747,  was  at  Frederick  and  Monocacy 
where  he  found  but  few  supporters. 

Meanwhile  events  were  shaping  to  bring  about  a  visit  from 
Muhlenberg  himself  to  the  Monocacy  Lutherans.  Many  of  Muh- 
lenberg 's  parishioners  in  Pennsylvania  had  taken  up  their  abode 
in  the  Monocacy  settlement.  He  states  that  between  1742,  when 
he  arrived  in  America,  and  1747,  one-half  of  the  Providence 
congregation,  of  which  he  had  charge,  removed  to  the  extreme 
limits  of  Pennsylvania  and  to  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Thus  his 
personal  interest  was  enlisted  in  the  Maryland  Lutherans.  The 
appeal  of  the  Monocacy  congregation  in  174(5  had  also  made  its 
impression  on  the  great  pastor. 

Then,  too,  Muhlenberg  had  long  been  distressed  by  the  accounts 
he  received  of  the  confusion  that  Xyberg  and  the  Moravians  had 
caused  among  the  congregations  formerly  served  by  Mr.  Candler, 
and  at  last  in  1747  when  the  Pentecostal  communions  and  con- 
firmations in  his  own  charge  were  completed  he  decided  to  visit 
those  congregations  and  to  try  to  restore  order.  In  his  reports 
to  the  authorities  at  Halle  he  gives  a  full  and  interesting  account 
of  his  journey  to  Monocacy  and  its  various  incidents. 

Setting  out  from  New  Hanover,  June  10,  1747,  he  took  the 
schoolmaster  Jacob  Loeser  with  him  and  went  to  the  Alsace 
Church,  to  Tulpehocken  and  through  Lancaster  to  York  and  then 
to  Conewago.  Here  two  deputies  from  Monocacy  met  him  and 
took  him,  June  23d,  thirty-six  miles  to  the  Monocacy  settlement. 
They  started  in  a  drenching  rain  and  finding  no  house  at  which 
to  stay  they  were  compelled  to  ride  all  night  through  the  wilder- 
ness with  the  rain  pouring  down  and  the  horses  sometimes  up  to 
their  knees  in  water  and  mire.  By  morning,  June  24th,  they 
reached  their  destination. 

He  says:  <kl  was  now  at  Manaquesy,  of  which  the  Moravians 
boast  so  much  in  their  reports.  I  found  here  a  log  church  and 
two  parties  in  the  congregation.  Some  adhered  to  the  Moravians, 
and  had  allowed  themselves  to  be  ministered  to  by  Mr.  Nicky, 
one  of  their  teachers,  who,  when  I  came,  had  just  returned  to 
Bethlehem.  The  other  party  had  accepted  the  deceiver  Carl 


EARLY  LUTHER  AX  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  19 

Rudolph  as  their  preacher,  but  some  time  before  had  dismissed 
him.  They  had  the  same  experiences  with  Nyberg  as  the  mem- 
bers at  York  and  Conawaque  and  at  last  had  locked  him  out  of 
the  church,  because  he  had  tried  to  introduce  a  Moravian  brother 
as  a  Lutheran  preacher.  They  had  now  for  nearly  a  year  ear- 
nestly entreated  that  one  of  our  ministers  should  come  and  ad- 
minister the  Lord's  Supper  to  them.  We  could  not  refuse.  My 
arrival  was  very  acceptable  to  them  and  an  occasion  of  joy. ' ' 

He  then  describes  his  efforts  to  restore  peace.  He  assembled 
the  congregation  and  before  service  he  asked  for  their  church 
record  in  which  he  wrote,  in  the  English  language,  some  articles 
headed  as  follows:  "For  the  Government  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Monocacy.  Written  in  their  Church  Book  by  Rev. 
H.  M.  Muhlenberg,  June  24,  1747." 

The  articles  are  as  follows : 

''Whereas  wo  the  subscribers  enjoy  the  inestimable  liberty  of  conscience 
under  the  protection  of  our  Gracious  Sovereign  King  George  the  II  and  his 
representatives  our  gracious  superiors  of  this  Province, "and  have  used  this 
precious  privilege  since  our  first  settling  here  at  Monocacy,  till  this  day  in 
worshiping  God  Almighty  according  to  the  Protestant  Lutheran  persuasion, 
grounded  in  the  Old  and  Xew  Testament  and  in  the  Unaltered  Augsburg 
Confession,  and  other  Symbolical  Books,  we  will  pray  for  our  most  gracious 
Sovereign  and  all  that  are  in  authority,  that  we  may  lead  a  peaceable  and 
quiet  life  in  sincerity,  Godliness  and  honesty.  And  whereas  we  are  at  times 
disturbed  by  pretended  ministers  that  style  themselves  Lutherans,  but  can- 
not produce  any  lawful  certificate  or  credential  of  their  vocation  or  ordina- 
tion, by  a  lawful  consistory  or  ministry,  and  cause  strife,  quarrels  and  dis- 
turbance among  the  congregation,  we  the  subscribers,  and  church  wardens, 
and  members,  of  the  Protestant  Lutheran  congregation,  erect  and  agree  and 
bind  ourselves  to  the  following  articles,  in  primis: 

"  1.  That  our  German  Lutherans  confess  their  adherence  to  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures and  also  to  the  Unaltered  Augsburg  Confession,  and  the  other  Sym- 
bolical Hooks. 

' '  2.  That  whenever  possible  in  accordance  with  the  same,  they  have  the 
sacraments  administered  by  regularly  called  and  ordained  ministers. 

' '  3.  That  their  rules  do  not  allow  that  open  and  wilful  offenders  against 
the  ten  commandments  of  God  and  against  the  laws  of  a  Christian  govern- 
ment should  be  acknowledged  by  them  as  members,  but  be  excluded. 

' '  4.  The  church  we  have  erected  at  Monocacy  and  used  hitherto  shall  stand 
and  remain  for  the  worship  of  our  protestant  Lutheran  religion  according 
to  our  confession  as  long  as  the  blessed  acts  of  tolerance  and  liberty  stand. 
Tlio  Reformed  shall  have  liberty  for  their  lawful  ministers. 

''5.  Xo  minister  shall  lie  admitted  to  preach  or  administer  the  holy  ordi- 
nance, without  a  lawful  call  and  certificate,  of  his  lawful  Lutheran  ordina- 
tion and  examination  by  a  Lutheran  ministry,  and  without  consent  of  the 
church  wardens. 

"  (?.  Every  year,  shall  be  chosen  four  or  more  blameless  members  for 
chui,lx  wardens  and  they  shall  be  chosen  by  'per  plurima  vota. ' 

' '  7.  These  wardens  shall  hold  and  preserve  the  keys  of  the  church,  the  ves- 
sels and  vnaments,  and  deliver  every  piece  in  time  of  worship,  or  when 
necessity  requires  it. 

' '  8.  Two  of  the  church  wardens  shall  keep  an  exact  account  of  the  alms, 
and  offerings,  and  be  ready  each  year  for  reckoning  with  the  church  wardens 
and  the  congregation." 


20  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Those  articles  were  dated  June  '24,  1747,  and  were  signed  by 
six  wardens  and  twenty-six  other  members  of  the  congregation 
residing  at  Monocacy  and  Frederick,  as  follows:  John  George 
Loy,  John  Kreitzman,  John  M.  Roemer,  Peter  Axtel,  Henry 
Sechs,  Jacob  Hoft,  Martin  Wet/el,  (leorge  Sweinhardt,  John 
Smith.  John  Yerdries,  Michel  Reisner,  Dr.  Schney,  John  Stol- 
ineyer,  John  Sechs,  Valentine  Verdries,  John  G.  Seldner,  John 
Christopher  Smith,  John  Vogel,  John  Davis,  Frederic  O.  Ver- 
dries, Martin  Wehel,  Jr.,  Nicholas  Weliel,  Frederick  Wilhide, 
George  Honig,  George  Rolx,  George  M.  Hoffman,  Peter  Apfel, 
Lndwig  Weltner,  Frederic  Unsnlt,  Jacob  Hoen,  Hans  Fred 
Geyer. 

It  is  the  book  containing  these  articles  and  their  signatures  that 
rests  in  the  archives  of  the  Frederick  Church  to-day.  Muhlen- 
berg  read  the  articles  publicly  to  the  Monocacy  congregation, 
explained  them  in  German,  and  requested  that  those  who  wanted 
to  be  Lutherans  should  sign  them.  He  tells  us  that  he  wrote 
them  in  English  so  that  they  might  be  of  service  if  any  legal  diffi- 
culties arose.  After  this  constitution  was  signed  Muhlenberg 
proceeded  to  preach  and  administer  the  communion.  Due  to  the 
heavy  rains  many  of  the  members  living  at  a  distance  were  pre- 
vented from  attending. 

Of  his  visit  the  next  day  to  Frederick,  Muhlenberg  writes: 
"On  the  25th  of  June  we  rode  on  ten  miles  farther  to  a  newly 
laid  out  town,  where  a  number  of  Lutherans  lived,  who  also  be- 
long to  the  congregation,  but  who  were  prevented  by  the  heavy 
rains  from  being  present  on  the  previous  day.  Most  of  them  sub- 
scribed the  articles  in  the  church  record,  and  elected  several  of 
their  own  number  as  deacons  (Vorsteher)  and  elders.  Three  or 
four  persons  had  adhered  to  a  man  who  formerly  at  New  Han- 
over, had  assumed  the  functions  of  the  ministry,  (in  his  diary 
Mr.  M.  mentions  his  name,  "my  predecessor  at  New  Hanover, 
the  Empiricus  Schmid,")  and  had  gone  from  there  to  Virginia 
and  had  now  returned  to  Maryland.  There  was  a  large  assem- 
blage of  English  and  German  people.  At  the  desire  of  many 
members,  after  preparatory  service  and  prayer  had  been  held,  I 
administered  the  Holy  Supper  to  some  Lutherans,  baptized  chil- 
dren and  married  two  couples.  Both  the  flocks,  that  in  town  and 
that  in  the  country,  begged  that  1  would  take  to  heart  their  dis- 
traction, poverty  and  need  of  a  preacher,  and  lay  them  before 
our  venerable  Fathers.  They  would  try  to  hold  together  as  long 
as  possible.  In  the  evening  we  rode  back  to  our  former  quar- 
ters." 

It  is  evident  that  Muhlenberg  regarded  the  Lutherans  of  Fred- 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN   MARYLAND.  21 

erick  as  a  part  of  the  Monocacy  congregation  even  though  they 
had  built  their  own  house  of  worship  four  years  before  his  visit. 
But  the  town  of  Frederick  was  now  growing  rapidly  and  while 
Monocacy  and  Frederick  continued  to  form  one  charge  until 
1810,  yet  within  five  years  after  Muhlenberg 's  visit  in  1747  the 
congregation  at  Frederick  had  taken  precedence  over  the  con- 
gregation in  the  country  and  the  parsonage  of  the  charge  was  lo- 
cated there  at  the  county-seat. 

An  interesting  side-light  is  thrown  on  the  state  of  religion  in 
that  early  Lutheran  settlement  by  an  incident  that  occurred  as 
Muhlenberg  and  his  companion,  J.  J.  Loeser,  were  returning 
home  from  Monocacy  on  June  26th.  After  riding  a  few  miles  in 
the  direction  of  Conewago  they  were  met  by  an  English  gentle- 
man who  invited  them  to  his  house,  offered  them  refreshments, 
and  desired  to  know  Muhlenberg 's  opinion  of  the  condition  of 
the  Lutherans  in  Maryland.  Muhlenberg  said  that  all  of  them 
needed  deeper  experience  in  true  repentance,  living  faith,  and 
practical  godliness.  But  he  expressed  his  emphatic  conviction 
that  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed  contrasted  very  favorably  with 
the  Moravians  and  the  Episcopalians  of  those  days. 

After  Muhlenberg 's  visit  to  the  Monocacy  church  the  congre- 
gation received  occasional  visits  from  other  Pennsylvania  min- 
isters. Rev.  J.  H.  Schaum,  of  York,  rendered  ministerial  services 
from  time  to  time,  and  toward  the  close  of  1749  Rev.  Valentine 
Kraft  took  up  his  abode  in  Frederick.  Kraft  was  an  aged  pastor 
who  had  come  into  violent  opposition  to  Muhlenberg  in  Philadel- 
phia. There  is  no  evidence  that  he  was  accepted  by  the  Monocacy 
charge  as  pastor  but  he  probably  officiated  irregularly  for  a  year 
or  two  and  had  some  adherents.  After  he  died  in  1751  Rev. 
Schaum  continued  to  visit  the  two  congregations  and  gave  them 
counsel.  He  did  much  to  counteract  the  baneful  influence  of  a 
vagabond  named  Streiter  who  though  unordained  was  exceed- 
ingly zealous  in  his  efforts  to  gain  adherents  and  preside  over  the 
congregations. 

By  the  year  1750  the  head  of  this  oldest  Lutheran  settlement 
in  western  Maryland  had  been  transferred  from  the  banks  of 
the  Monocac\r  to  the  town  of  Frederick  and  the  pastorate  was 
known  by  the  name  of  Frederick.  Thus  we  read  in  the  minutes 
of  the  fifth  Convention  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ministeriurn  in  1752 : 
"The  Congregation  in  Frederickstown,  Maryland,  shall  be  visited 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Schaum  as  often  as  possible  until  all  are  united  and 
we  can  help  them  further. ' '  But  in  that  same  year  the  Frederick 
pastorate  secured  her  first  regular  resident  pastor.  This  was  the 
highly  gifted  and  thoroughly  educated  Rev.  Bernhard  Michael 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Hausilil.  He  came  to  Frederick  County  by  way  of  the  port  of 
Annapolis.  For  the  Lutheran  forces  of  Maryland  had  now  begun 
to  gather  reenforceiuents  from  sourees  independent  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Between  1748  and  175:}  as  many  as  twenty-eight  hundred  Pala- 
tines came  into  Maryland  by  way  of  Baltimore  and  Annapolis. 
The  vast  majority  of  these  settled  in  Frederick  County.  Among 
those  who  thus  arrived  in  17f>2  were  Christopher  B.  Mayer  and 
his  son-in-law,  Rev.  Hausihl.  Mr.  Mayer  brought  a  letter  from 
Cecil  Calvert,  Proprietary  of  Maryland,  to  Benjamin  Tasker, 
president  of  the  provincial  Council,  requesting  him  to  give  the 
necessary  assistance  to  Mr.  Mayer  and  those  accompanying  him 
to  forward  them  to  Manockcsy,  their  destination.  The  result  was 
that  they  settled  in  Frederick  and  Rev.  Hausihl  became  the  first 
regular  pastor  of  the  Frederick  and  Monocacy  congregations. 
With  that  event  the  history  of  the  charge  passes  beyond  the 
pioneer  stage  and  can  be  traced  in  the  congregational  sketches 
of  these  two  congregations. 

Meanwhile  the  old  village  named  Monocacy  had  begun  to  de- 
cline, its  elements  being  absorbed  by  other  communities.  In 
1700  Creagerstown  was  founded  about  a  mile  distant  from  Mono- 
cacy and  on  ground  that  was  more  elevated  and  therefore  more 
advantageously  situated.  Thereupon  the  older  village  declined 
rapidly  and  was  soon  abandoned,  the  Lutheran  congregation  of 
the  Monocacy  preserving  its  historical  continuity  in  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Creagerstown.  To-day  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  even 
the  location  of  that  first  church  that  for  almost  a  generation 
served  as  a,  house  of  worship  for  those  earliest  Lutheran  pioneers 
in  Maryland. 

On  the  Conococheague. 

The  second  pioneer  settlement  of  Lutherans  in  Maryland  was 
that  on  the  Conococheague,  in  Washington  County.  The  Conoco- 
cheague  like  the  Monocacy  is  a  tributary  of  the  Potomac.  The 
settlement,  that  bore  the  name  of  the  stream  was  located  about 
thirty  miles  west  of  the  settlement  on  the  Monocacy,  about  eight 
miles  southwest,  of  the  present  city  of  Hagerstown,  and  between 
the  present  towns  of  Williamsport  and  Clearspring. 

The  Conococheague  settlement  began  only  a  few  years  later 
than  the  settlement  on  the  Monocacy.  Tt  drew  on  the  same 
sources  of  immigration  and  consisted  of  the  more  venturesome 
spirits  among  those  who  started  from  Pennsylvania  on  the  old 
Monoeaey  trail  to  Virginia.  The  valley  of  the  Conococheague 
did  not  lie  on  the  beaten  path  of  travel,  but  it  had  its  attractions, 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  23 

and  the  more  hard}'  members  of  the  vanguard  of  civilization  ven- 
tured to  pierce  the  wilderness  and  take  up  their  abode  on  the 
western  bank  of  the  Conococheague  and  the  northern  bank  of  the 
Potomac,  where  the  Potomac  draws  the  line  of  division  between 
the  Cumberland  Valley  on  the  north  and  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
on  the  south. 

Most  of  these  early  settlers  came  from  the  neighborhood  of 
Monocacy  and  Frederick,  making  their  way  westward  across  the 
South  Mountain  and  following  the  trail  which  afterwards  be- 
came the  National  Pike  until  they  reached  the  attractive  region 
just  west  of  the  stream  which  gave  its  Indian  name  to  the  settle- 
ment. Others  aimed  directly  for  this  settlement  before  they  left 
Pennsylvania  and  crossing  the  Susquehanna  at  Harris'  Ferry 
(now  Harrisburg)  about  thirty  miles  north  of  Wright's  Ferry 
they  soon  reached  the  head  waters  of  the  Conococheague  in  the 
Cumberland  Valley  and  then  followed  the  general  course  of  the 
stream  down  the  valley  to  its  mouth. 

This  settlement  on  the  Conococheague  began  about  1735  and 
until  some  years  after  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  War 
was  the  westernmost  settlement  in  Maryland.  The  upper  Po- 
tomac had  been  explored  at  a  much  earlier  period  in  the  history 
of  Maryland  but  almost  a  century  had  elapsed  after  the  settle- 
ment of  St.  Mary's  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  before  the  pres- 
ent territory  of  Washington  County  was  formally  opened  to  set- 
tlement. The  sale  of  lands  west  of  the  South  Mountain  was  first 
authorized  in  1733.  The  Proprietary  reserved  the  Manor  of 
Conococheague,  a  tract  of  eleven  thousand  acres.  Some  of  the 
earliest  settlers  came  from  the  east  and  southeast.  They  were 
principally  English  in  nationality  and  Episcopal  in  faith.  But 
by  far  the  largest  contingent  of  settlers  in  the  newly  opened  ter- 
ritory came  from  the  German  communities  of  southeastern  Penn- 
sylvania. These  were  chiefly  Lutherans  and  Reformed.  They 
were  mainly  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  Conoco- 
cheague settlement  formed  one  of  the  links  in  the  chain  of  flour- 
ishing farms  between  Pennsylvania  and  the  Valley  of  Virginia. 

Just  what  year  the  Lutheran  congregation  on  the  Conoco- 
cheague began  it  is  not  possible  to  determine.  The  earliest  refer- 
ence to  any  church  organization  among  the  Lutherans  of  this 
settlement  occurs  in  the  year  1747.  Rev.  Michael  Schlatter,  the 
missionary  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  makes  an  entry  in 
his  journal,  April  29,  1747,  in  which  he  records  his  visit  to  the 
Reformed  congregation  on  the  Monocacy  and  remarks  "If  this 
congregation  were  united  with  the  one  called  Conococheague, 
lying  thirty  miles  distant,  the  two  would  be  able  to  sustain  a  min- 


1M  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ister. "  The  reference  is  to  the  old  union  organization  of  St. 
Paul's  known  as  "the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Congregations  on 
the  West  Side  of  the  Conococheague  Bridge."  How  niueh  earlier 
than  1747  this  organization  was  in  existence  it  is  impossible  now 
to  ascertain. 

Before  the  middle  of  the  century  these  German  pioneers,  Lu- 
theran and  Reformed,  had  built  themselves  a  log  church  and  a 
schoolhouse.  The  principal  Lutheran  families  were  the  Brewers, 
Firys,  Barkmans,  and  Stines.  But  many  years  elapsed  before 
they  could  secure  the  services  of  a  regular  pastor,  and  we  are  not 
even  informed  that  they  had  a  schoolmaster  who  could  read  ser- 
mons to  them  on  the  Lord's  Day  and  lead  their  singing  of  hymns. 
They  seem  to  have  been  wholly  dependent  upon  the  very  occa- 
sional visits  of  such  itinerant  missionaries  as  John  Nicholas  Kurtz 
and  John  Caspar  Stoever  and  Charles  Frederick  Wildbahn. 

In  1770  Wildbahn  resided  at  McAllisterstown  (now  Hanover) 
and  served  a  large  number  of  congregations  south  and  west,  c.  y. 
Taneytown,  Tom's  Creek,  Point  Creek,  St.  John's  near  Littles- 
town,  and  Owen's  ('reek.  In  this  wide  circuit  he  also  occasion- 
ally included  Conococheague.  He  had  come  from  Saxony  as  a 
soldier  in  the  employ  of  Great  Britian,  but  as  he  was  a  man  of 
splendid  education,  classical  training,  fine  eloquence,  and  good 
character,  his  countrymen  in  America  soon  besought  him  to  be- 
come their  teacher  and  then  their  pastor.  He  began  to  teach  at 
Winchester,  Virginia.  Already  in  1762  four  or  five  congrega- 
tions in  southern  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  had  asked  the 
Pennsylvania  Ministerium  to  ordain  Mr.  Wildbahn  so  that  he 
might  minister  to  their  spiritual  wants.  Among  these  petition- 
ing congregations  was  that  of  the  Conococheague  settlement. 
The  petition  was  granted  and  Wildbahn  was  ordained.  He  took 
iij)  his  abode  at  McAllisterstown  and  traveled  over  a  wide  terri- 
tory hunting  up  scattered  villages  of  his  German  brethren  and 
ministering  to  them  in  holy  things. 

But  the  Lutherans  on  the  Conococheague  found  themselves 
so  far  removed  from  the  parsonage  at  Hanover  that  they  began 
to  desire  more  frequent  services  and  a  more  accessible  pastor. 
So  in  1770  they  sent  delegates  to  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium 
in  Reading  with  the  request  that  their  congregation  be  separated 
from  McAllisterstown  and  that  they  be  provided  with  a  pastor  of 
their  own.  The  petition  was  granted  and  a  Mr.  Frederiei  was 
proposed  to  the  congregation.  But  the  proposal  did  not  result  in 
a  call. 

That  same  year  John  Nicholas  Kurtz  became  pastor  at  York. 
He  is  said  to  have  done  much  work  in  exploring  and  ministering 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN   MARYLAND.  2£> 

to  the  Lutherans  in  the  sparsely  settled  country  west  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna.  So  after  Wildbahn's  ministrations  to  the  Conoco- 
cheague  settlement,  had  ceased  Pastor  Kurtz  paid  them  occasional 
visits  until  1772.  In  that  year  the  congregation  again  appears 
before  the  Ministerium  in  Lancaster,  Pastor  Kurtz  himself  being 
the  President,  and  Muhlenberg  records  in  his  journals :  "A  dele- 
gate appeared  from  vacant  congregations  in  a  region  situated 
between  the  boundaries  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  in  Mary- 
land, and  called  by  the  Indian  name  Cannegotschick.  These 
congregations  Senior  Kurtz  visited  now  and  then,  and  adminis- 
tered to  them  the  means  of  grace.  This  district  is  said  to  be  very 
populous  and  to  abound  in  various  sorts  of  sectarian  agitators. 
The  delegate  presented  a  petition  for  an  able  teacher  and  pastor, 
and  said  to  me  privately  that  they  desired  the  elder  Mr.  Kurtz, 
but  if  this  could  not  be,  they  would  like  to  have  Frederick  Muh- 
lenberg or  the  younger  Mr.  Kurtz The  President  pro- 
posed his  brother,  Mr.  Kurtz,  Junior We  all  agreed  to  the 

proposition  and  Mr.  Kurtz  accepted  it"  on  certain  conditions. 
These  conditions  were  evidently  not  fulfilled,  for  this  Mr.  Kurtz 
never  became  their  pastor. 

Meanwhile  in  1762  Jonathan  Hager  had  laid  out  the  town 
which  bears  his  name.  It  had  grown  rapidly  and  a  flourishing 
Lutheran  congregation  had  been  organized  there  sometime  before ' 
1769.  So  in  1772  the  Lutheran  congregation  west  of  the  Conoco- 
cheague  linked  its  fortune  to  that  of  St.  John's  Church  in  Hagers- 
town  and  from  that  date  until  1823  the  Hagerstown  pastor  was 
at  the  same  time  the  pastor  of  old  St.  Paul's.  During  this  period 
four  distinguished  names  are  recorded  as  pastors  of  the  charge 
that  included  old  St.  Paul's,  those  of  Rev.  John  George  Young, 
Rev.  John  George  Schmucker,  Rev.  Solomon  Schaeft'er,  and  Rev. 
Benjamin  Kurtz.  And  just  as  the  Monocaey  congregation  had 
been  overshadowed  by  the  church  in  Frederick,  so  the  St.  Paul's 
congregation  of  the  Conococheague  settlement  became  an  outpost 
of  St.  John's  in  Hagerstown.  It  thus  passes  beyond  the  pioneer 
stage. 

The  original  log  church  that  was  built  by  the  Conococheague 
settlers  long  before  they  were  able  to  secure  the  services  of  a 
regular  pastor  even  from  so  remote  a  point  as  Hanover,  was 
erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  old  trail  now  known  as  the  Na- 
tional Pike.  It  stood  on  an  eminence  known  as  Cedar  Ridge.  In 
1795,  during  the  pastorate  of  John  George  Schmucker,  the  log 
church  was  exchanged  for  one  of  stone.  And  this  has  since  been 
superseded  by  one  of  brick. 

Among  the  early  German  settlers  at  Conococheague  were  the 


:>f>  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Prathers.  Pohs  (Poest.)  Burkhardts.  Start/mans,  Snevelys, 
Stulls,  Wolgamuths,  Hausers,  Elwieks,  Kendricks,  and  Shryocks. 

That  the  Conococheague  settlement  grew  so  slowly  and  that  the 
Lutheran  Church  there  did  not  become  independent  and  self- 
supporting  until  the  second  quarter  of  the  Nineteenth  Century, 
is  to  he  explained  from  the  exposed  condition  of  the  frontier  set- 
tlement and  the  discouraging  events  attending  its  beginning. 
There  were  still  many  Indians  in  western  Maryland  when  this 
settlement  began.  Schlatter,  writing  of  the  Conococheague  re- 
gion in  1749,  says:  "In  this  neighborhood  there  are  still  many 
Indians,  who  are  well  disposed  and  very  obliging  and  are  not 
disinclined  towards  the  Christians  when  they  are  not  made  drunk 
by  strong  drink." 

The  early  settlers  on  the  Conococheague  lived  in  peace  with 
the  Indians.  But  the  settlers  had  prepared  themselves  against 
possible  trouble  by  building  block-houses,  one  where  Governor 
Sliarpe  afterwards  erected  Fort  Frederick,  and  one  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Conococheague  about  a  half  mile  south  of  the  point 
where  the  National  Pike  crosses  the  creek.  This  house  was  used 
for  public  worship  until  a  church  was  built.  But  when  the 
French  and  Indian  War  broke  out  this  frontier  settlement  was 
made  to  suffer.  The  formerly  well  disposed  Indians,  instigated 
by  French  money  and  influence,  became  infuriated  savages  and 
applied  the  tomahawk  to  the  peaceful  settlers  and  the  torch  to 
their  homes  and  crops.  When  Braddock  was  defeated  on  the 
Monongahela,  July  9,  175"),  a  general  panic  ensued  among  the 
white  settlers  of  western  Maryland.  In  the  Conococheague  set- 
tlement large  numbers  of  people  deserted  their  homes  and  re- 
tired for  safety  to  the  interior  of  the  province.  So  great  was  the 
desertion  on  the  frontier  that  George  Washington  wrote  in  Au- 
gust, 1756:  "The  whole  settlement  of  Conococheague  has  fled 
and  there  remain  now  only  two  families  from  there  to  Frederick- 
town.  ' ' 

As  Fort  Cumberland  (near  the  present  city  of  Cumberland) 
was  too  far  to  the  westward  to  afford  adequate  protection  Gov- 
ernor Sharpe  built  Fort  Frederick,  an  extensive  fortification  with 
massive  stone  walls  near  the  Potomac  fourteen  miles  above  the 
Conococheague.  Here  a  strong  garrison  was  stationed  and  to  the 
end  of  the  hostilities  it  afforded  protection  to  our  settlement  of 
Lutherans.  Parties  of  Indians  still  devastated  the  frontier, 
however,  especially  in  1763,  when  a  second  exodus  similar  to  that 
in  1755  occurred.  But  in  1764  the  allied  tribes  of  Pontiac's  con- 
federacy were  finally  defeated  and  the  western  frontier  of 
Maryland  at  last  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  undisturbed  tranquillity 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN   MARYLAND.  27 

and  our  settlement  entered  upon  its  first  period  of  rapid  growth 
and  development. 

In  Baltimore. 

The  third  center  from  which  Lutheranism  in  Maryland  radi- 
ated is  Baltimore.  This  city  which  is  to-day  the  largest  city 
south  of  the  Mason  and  Dixon,  the  fourth  in  size  among  the  cities 
on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  and  the  seventh  among  all  the  cities  in 
the  United  States,  is  now  a  stronghold  of  Lutheranism  and  with 
the  growth  of  the  metropolis  has  far  outstripped  the  other  two 
settlements  that  constituted  the  pioneers  of  Lutheranism  in 
Maryland.  But  in  the  colonial  times  it  was  not  so.  The  Luther- 
an Church  was  well  established  in  the  western  part  of  the  prov- 
ince before  she  even  made  her  appearance  in  Baltimore,  and  all 
through  the  Eighteenth  Century  her  growth  in  Frederick  and 
Washington  Counties  surpassed  her  slow  progress  in  the  seaport 
town. 

Baltimore  was  laid  out  as  a  town  in  1730  but  was  not  incor- 
porated as  a  city  until  1796.  Annapolis,  on  the  other  hand,  had 
been  incorporated  one  hundred  years  earlier  and  for  many  years 
the  Port  of  Severn,  as  Annapolis  was  called,  was  of  far  greater 
importance  as  a  seaport  than  Baltimore.  The  Lutherans  who 
came  to  Maryland  direct!}*  from  the  Fatherland  before  1760  ar- 
rived mostly  at  the  port  of  Annapolis  and  finding  no  industries 
there  to  attract  them  and  no  fertile  fields  promising  rewards  for 
thrift,  most  of  them  pushed  at  once  into  the  interior  and  took  up 
their  abode  on  the  rich  soil  of  western  Maryland  and  thus  helped 
to  increase  the  population  on  the  Monocacy  and  on  the  Conoco- 
cheague.  Those  who  came  to  Maryland  from  southeastern  Penn- 
sylvania as  a  rule  crossed  the  Susquehanna  from  forty  to  sixty 
miles  north  of  the  state  line  and  following  the  southwestward 
trend  of  the  valle3'S  also  reached  the  western  parts  of  colonial 
Maryland  and  helped  to  swell  the  Lutheran  settlements  there. 

It  was  not  until  towards  the  middle  of  the  Nineteenth  Century 
when  the  growing  industries  of  Baltimore  began  to  attract  im- 
migration on  a  large  scale  and  to  multiply  her  population  at  a 
rapid  rate  that  the  Lutherans  in  the  metropolis  began  to  out- 
number those  in  the  country  charges  farther  west.  It  is  signifi- 
cant also  that  while  the  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  in 
Baltimore  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
in  1820  and  was  President  of  the  body  during  its  first  four  con- 
ventions, nevertheless  the  Synod  did  not  meet  in  Baltimore  until 
its  thirteenth  convention  in  1832  and  then  not  again  until  the 
thirty-fourth  convention  in  1853. 


28  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

For  full  twenty  years  after  John  Caspar  Stoever  had  organ- 
i/ed  the  Lutherans  on  tlie  Monoeaey  into  a  congregation  and  for 
nearly  a  decade  after  a  union  organization  of  Lutherans  and 
Reformed  is  reported  in  the  Conocoeheague  settlement,  no  Lu- 
theran organization  of  any  kind  had  been  effected  in  Baltimore. 
The  number  of  Lutherans  there  increased  very  slowly.  Shortly 
after  Baltimore  was  first  laid  out  (1730)  several  German  fami- 
lies, mostly  of  Lutheran  confession,  took  up  their  abode  there. 
The  very  first  of  these  was  Vitus  Hareweg,  a  harness-maker. 
Andrew  Steiger  was  the  first  butcher.  1).  Barnitz  and  a  Mr. 
Leonard  from  York,  Pennsylvania,  established  the  first  brewery, 
(r.  M.  Meyer  erected  the  first  mill.  And  Valentine  Larsch  built 
an  inn.  Only  very  slowly  did  their  number  grow.  Proof  of  this 
is  contained  in  documents  in  the  archives  of  Zion  Church  to-day 
which  indicate  that  in  the  time  shortly  before  17f>8  the  little  flock 
did  not  consist  of  more  than  eleven  persons. 

Small  in  number  and  poor  in  respect  of  temporal  goods,  most 
of  them  being  artisans  who  had  just  begun  the  struggle  for  ex- 
istence in  the  new  country,  they  could  not  for  a  long  time  form  a 
regular  congregation  and  secure  the  services  of  a  regular  pastor. 
Nevertheless,  these  few  were  eager  to  preserve  the  faith  of  their 
fathers  and  to  be  edified  in  it.  They  gladly  welcomed,  therefore, 
anyone  who  bore  the  name  of  Lutheran  pastor  and  was  willing  to 
preach  to  them  as  he  passed  through  the  town.  Both  the  Luther- 
ans and  Reformed  had  to  endure  '"sermons  of  itinerant  preachers, 
often  of  unsavory  reputation  and  bad  conduct,  until  at  last  the 
congregation  had  so  far  increased  that  a  preacher,  for  little 
money,  came  six  or  eight  times  a  year  from  Pennsylvania  to  this 
town  and  performed  both  preaching  and  administration  of  Holy 
Supper." 

Not  until  17  oil  did  the  congregation  succeed  in  securing  the 
regular  services  of  a  pastor.  The  name  of  this  first  pastor  was 
John  George  Bager.  Pastor  Bager  had  come  to  this  country  in 
17.VJ.  For  six  months  he  had  served  congregations  in  Lebanon 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1753  he  had  become  the  pastor  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  at  Hanover.  His  field  of  labors,  however, 
included  all  the  scattered  Lutherans  in  York,  Adams,  Cumber- 
land, and  Franklin  Counties.  So  in  17f>5,  when  Pastor  Bager  was 
barely  thirty  years  of  age,  the  Lutherans  in  Baltimore  persuaded 
him  to  include  them  also  in  his  circuit.  In  the  chronicles  of  the 
congregations  it  is  recorded  that  Rev.  Bager  "for  three  consecu- 
tive years  came  down  from  Pennsylvania  six  times  a  year,  admin- 
istering the  spiritual  functions  in  preaching  and  sacraments,  and 
enjoying  from  this  not  more  than  five  pounds  per  year.  This  was 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN  MARYLAND.  29 

next  to  iiothing  (blutwenig)  indeed  as  a  reward  for  the  painstak- 
ing of  a  spiritual  guide.  The  congregation,  however,  consisting 
only  of  eleven  persons  and  the  majority  of  them  having  no  su- 
perfluous means,  the  good  man  was  satisfied  with  it  until  the 
journey  of  over  sixty  miles  became  too  arduous  for  him  and  he 
accepted  another  call." 

Bager  was  succeeded  in  this  relationship  with  the  Baltimore 
Lutherans  by  John  Caspar  Kirchner.  Like  his  predecessor 
Kirchner  had  been  ordained  in  Germany.  He  was  stationed  in 
York  County  where  he  bad  charge  of  several  smaller  congrega- 
tions. He  likewise  agreed  to  come  down  from  Pennsylvania 
every  sixth  week  to  preach  and  administer  the  sacraments  in  Bal- 
timore. For  this  service  the  congregation  agreed  to  pay  him  at 
the  rate  of  six  pounds,  Pennsylvania  gold,  for  nine  months.  He 
continued  thus  to  be  their  visiting  preacher  for  five  years,  from 
1758  to  1763. 

In  1762  the  first  church  building  was  erected.  Up  to  that  time 
the  Lutheran  services  had  been  held  in  the  English  church,  and 
when  through  " baleful  envy"  that  privilege  was  withdrawn  they 
were  continued  in  private  homes.  As  early  as  1758  efforts  had 
been  made  to  buy  a  lot  and  build  a  church  jointly  with  the  Re- 
formed, who  were  more  numerous  than  the  Lutherans.  But 
there  were  serious  obstacles  and  disagreeable  experiences.  The 
harmony  that  up  to  this  time  had  prevailed  between  the  Luther- 
ans and  Reformed  in  the  town  was  sadly  disrupted.  The  Re- 
formed bought  the  lot  and  built  their  church  in  1758  and  four 
years  later  after  much  waiting  and  despite  discouraging  circum- 
stances the  Lutherans  succeeded  in  buying  a  lot  and  at  once 
erected  a  wooden  building.  The  chronicler 'exults:  "And  to 
their  glory  be  it  known  to  posterity,  our  members  although  weak 
and  few  in  number,  still  with  much  zeal  endeavored  to  provide 
everything  necessary*  for  the  erection  of  the  church,  and  with 
concerted  efforts  began  to  build  and  in  a  short  time  completed 
the  work.  Accordingly,  we  now  had  a  church  of  our  own." 

Shortly  after  the  church  building  had  been  completed  Rev. 
Kirchner  accepted  a  call  in  Pennsylvania  too  distant  to  permit 
of  serving  the  Baltimore  congregation.  This  was  in  1763. 
Again,  therefore,  Rev.  Bager  was  requested  to  minister  to  them 
occasionally  and  for  two  years  more  he  served  them  as  visiting 
preacher.  During  this  period  the  congregation  enjoyed  occa- 
sional visits  also  from  other  itinerant  pastors.  Chief  among 
these  was  John  Christopher  Hartwick,  who  in  the  course  of  his 
wanderings  spent  the  greater  part  of  a  winter  in  Baltimore. 

Then  in  1765  Pastor  Kirchner  returned  from  remoter  Penn- 


30  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

sylvania  and  bought  himself  a  plantation  in  "the  Barrens"  not 
far  from  Baltimore.  During  his  first  period  of  service  as  visit- 
ing preacher  he  had  so  deeply  endeared  himself  to  the  Baltimore 
Lutherans  by  his  exemplary  life  and  by  his  faithful  administra- 
tion of  his  spiritual  office,  that  they  now  prevailed  on  him  to 
come  among;  them  and  accept  their  call  as  permanent  pastor. 
Kirchner  thus  in  17()~)  became  the  first  resident  pastor  of  Zion 
Church.  The  annalist  records  of  him:  "lie  now  preached  every 
Sunday  and  received  fifty  pounds  per  year,  a  sum,  to  be  sure, 
small  enough  for  a  spiritual  guide.  He  could  hardly  eat  his  fill. 
Yea,  we  have  found  him  at  times  eating?  his  bread  with  tears. 
lie  was  poor,  which  made  him  shy  and  despondent.  But  he  was 
thoroughly  honest  and  attended  to  his  pastoral  office  with  dignity 
and  without  hypocrisy,  as  befits  a  minister." 

The  congregation  now  had  its  own  church  and  its  own  pastor 
and  so  was  in  a  position  to  establish  a  firmer  legal  organization. 
A  parochial  school  was  begun,  a  regular  system  of  bookkeeping 
was  introduced,  and  above  all  a  formal  constitution  was  adopted. 
The  constitution  was  written  by  Pastor  Kirchner  in  17'iO  and  was 
signed  by  the  entire  membership  consisting  of  forty  persons.  At 
the  same  time  the  language  question  began  to  appear  and  this 
was  destined  long  afterwards  to  lead  to  the  establishing  of  an- 
other Lutheran  church  in  the  city  and  thus  to  besrin  that  era  of 
expansion  in  Baltimore  Lutheranism  that  bas  continued  down  to 
the  present. 

Pastor  Kirchner  died  in  1773,  highly  esteemed  for  his  work's 
sake,  and  was  succeeded  as  pastor  of  Zion  Church  by  John  Sieg- 
fried Gerock.  Pastor  Gerock  had  come  to  this  country  in  1753 
and  had  been  pastor  of  Trinitv  Church  in  Lancaster  fourteen 
years  and  of  Christ  Church  in  New  York  six  years.  During  his 
pastorate  of  thirteen  years  in  Baltimore  the  church  experienced 
rapid  growth.  He  sought  to  give  the  congregation  even  firmer 
organization  than  it  had  under  Pastor  Kirchner.  To  that  end  in 
1773  he  revised  the  constitution.  The  new  instrument  was  sub- 
scribed by  one  hundred  forty-seven  persons,  more  than  three 
times  the  number  that  had  subscribed  in  1760.  So  rapid  was  the 
growth  of  the  congregation  that  a  larger  house  of  worship  soon 
became  necessary.  The  wooden  house  was  torn  down  and  a  brick 
building  was  erected  in  its  place.  Twelve  years  later  this  build- 
ing also  had  become  too  small  for  the  growing  congregation.  So 
in  178.")  it  was  enlarged  by  an  addition  which  was  considerably 
larger  than  the  church  itself  had  been. 

At  the  dedication  of  this  annex  in  17Sf>  a  young  man,  John 
Daniel   Kurt/:,  delivered  the  sermon.     That  same  vear  he  was 


EARLY  LUTHERAN  SETTLEMENTS  IN   MARYLAND.  31 

called  to  be  the  second  pastor  as  Pastor  Gerock  was  now  well  up 
in  years.  Two  years  later  when  Gerock  died,  Kurtz  became  the 
regular  pastor  and  so  continued  for  forty-six  years.  As  such  in 
1820  he  was  active  in  the  organization  of  our  Maryland  Synod 
and  became  its  first  president.  His  career  as  pastor  and  as 
churchman  will  be  considered  in  another  connection. 

Zion  Church  was  the  only  home  and  rallying  point  of  Luther- 
anism  in  Baltimore  in  the  Eighteenth  and  the  first  quarter  of 
the  Nineteenth  Century.  The  First  English  Lutheran  Church 
did  not  come  into  existence  until  1826.  As  its  name  implies  it 
was  largely  the  outgrowth  of  the  demand  for  services  in  the  Eng- 
lish language.  But  Zion  Church  continued  to  be  the  only  Lu- 
theran Church  for  the  Germans  of  Baltimore.  This  was  well, 
for  it  permitted  all  the  other  Lutheran  churches  of  the  city  to 
grow  apace  unobstructed  by  any  annoyances  arising  out  of  the 
language  question.  In  1848  when  the  new  German  immigration 
began,  Zion  Church  welcomed  the  newcomers  and  provided  for 
their  spiritual  wants.  But  meanwhile,  about  1840,  the  synodical 
relation  of  Zion  Church  with  the  Lutheran  Church  had  been  dis- 
solved. Pastor  Heinrich  Scheib,  who  had  come  to  this  country 
in  1835  and  who  was  pastor  of  Zion  Church  for  more  than  sixty 
years,  was  a  man  of  liberal  theological  views  and  this  fact,  to- 
gether with  personal  differences  with  some  of  the  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  led  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  pastor  from  the  minis- 
terium  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  congregation  from  the  synod. 
The  Lutheran  Cyclopedia,  through  Professor  E.  J.  Wolf,  says 
simply:  "The  mother  church  was  alienated  from  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  from  synodical  connection  through  a  nationalist  pas- 
tor." 

Such  were  the  beginnings  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Mary- 
land, on  the  Monocacy,  on  the  Conococheague,  and  in  Baltimore. 
Primitive  and  unpromising  they  seem  to  us  in  the  perspective  of 
two  centuries.  But  in  one  striking  characteristic  those  pioneer 
Lutherans  can  still  read  a  lesson  to  our  day :  they  thirsted  after 
the  Word  of  God  and  they  longed  for  sermon  and  sacrament  ac- 
cording to  the  faith  of  their  Lutheran  fathers.  The  problem  of 
the  missionary  in  that  day  was  not  so  much  to  keep  the  people  in 
the  faith  and  get  them  into  the  churches  but  rather  to  supply  the 
ministry  of  the  Word  to  those  who  truly  loved  the  faith  and  of 
their  own  initiative  had  organized  themselves  into  congregations 
with  Lutheran  consciousness  and  Lutheran  aim. 


"There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  increas- 
eth." — Proverbs  11:24. 

"A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and 
a  small  one  a  strong  nation." — Isaiah  60:22. 


CHAPTER  IF. 

EARLY  LUTHERAN  EXPANSION  AND  THE  SPECIAL 
CONFERENCES  OF  PASTORS. 

The  frontiers  of  civilization  and  culture  are  never  stationary. 
Likewise  the  vanguards  of  faith  and  piety  are  always  moving. 
The  axe  that  clears  the  forest  for  the  tilling  of  the  soil  is  the  axe 
that  fells  the  timbers  for  the  building  of  the  church.  As  the 
venturesome  invader  penetrates  the  wilderness  in  the  search  of  a 
livelihood  he  carries  his  faith,  his  hope,  and  his  love  along  with 
him  and  he  soon  turns  and  beckons  for  spiritual  ministry  to  come 
to  him.  And  so  it  was  that  the  three  pioneer  Lutheran  settle- 
ments whose  beginnings  we  have  studied  did  not  long  stand  alone 
in  colonial  Maryland.  From  the  blossoming  fields  of  the  Monoc- 
acy  and  the  thriving  county-seat  of  Frederick,  from  the  fertile 
soil  on  the  Conococheague  and  the  flourishing  town  of  Jonathan 
Hager,  from  the  busy  growing  city  bearing  the  name  of  the  Pro- 
pietary  Lord  Baltimore,  the  population  by  natural  increase  and 
by  steady  additions  from  without  grew  and  multiplied  and  spread 
into  all  the  byways  of  the  province.  Accordingly,  in  the  last 
quarter  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  and  the  first  quarter  of  the 
Nineteenth  we  find  Lutherans  here,  there,  and  elsewhere  in  the 
state  banding  themselves  together  into  congregations  or  loose 
communities  of  faith,  sending  out  the  call  for  help  and  inviting 
Lutheran  preachers  to  minister  to  them  in  sermon  and  sacrament. 

The  scene  of  the  earliest  Lutheran  expansion  was,  quite  natu- 
rally, the  region  lying  between  the  two  pioneer  settlements  in 
western  Maryland.  More  than  thirty  miles  of  the  National  Pike 
stretch  between  Frederick  and  Clearspring  and  in  the  inviting 
valleys  extending  north  and  south  of  this  old  trail,  the  Middle- 
town  and  the  Hagerstown  Valleys,  the  second  wave  of  settlers 
took  up  their  claims  and  established  the  arts  of  civilization  and 
religion. 

The  earliest  Lutheran  organization  in  Maryland  following 
those  on  the  Monocacy  and  the  Conococheague  seems  to  have  been 
in  the  Middletown  Valley.  Here  the  first  church  was  erected 
about  two  miles  southwest  of  where  Middletown  now  stands. 
The  site  for  the  church  was  purchased  in  1750  and  the  building 
was  erected  the  next  year  or  shortly  thereafter,  This  congrega- 

33 
3 


.'54  HISTORY  OF  MAKYI-ANn  SYNOD. 

lion  was  known  as  /ion  Church  and  it  was  the  mother  of  the  Lu- 
therans in  the  Valley.  It  drew  its  membership  from  those  who 
eame  from  Pennsylvania  by  way  of  the  Monoeaey  settlement.  It 
was  a  joint  congregation  of  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed  and 
about  twenty  years  after  the  first  organization  had  been  formed, 
in  1771,  the  Lutheran  part  of  the  congregat ion  removed  into 
Middletown  and  built  its  own  Zion  Church  there.  The  names  of 
the  pastors  of  this  church  before  177!)  are  matters  of  conjecture, 
hut  it  seems  probable  that  the  congregation  was  served  first  by 
the  pastor  of  Frederick  and  then  by  the  pastor  of  Hagerstown 
until  Rev.  Young  left  Hagerstown  in  177!)  when  Middletown  se- 
cured her  first  resident  pastor  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Frederick 
(lerrisheim. 

Farther  west  along  the  same  line  of  travel  more  Lutheran 
colonies  began  to  make  their  appearance.  Already  in  1754  there 
was  a  Lutheran  congregation  and  "meeting  house"  on  the  An- 
tictatn  Creek  about  four  miles  from  Hagerstown.  At  that  time 
the  congregation  consisted  of  about  thirteen  families  and  was 
served  by  Pastor  Hausihl  who  traveled  all  the  way  from  the 
Monoeaey  where  he  had  settled  in  1752  as  pastor  of  the  Monoeaey 
and  Frederick  charge.  When  Rev.  Young  came  to  Hagerstown 
in  1772  the  congregation  on  the  Antietam,  numbering  then  about 
sixty  families,  was  placed  under  his  charge  and  in  1787  they 
erected  a  new  church,  two  miles  east  of  the  old  location,  at  the 
present  site  of  Beard's,  or  St.  Peter's  of  the  Leitersburg  charge. 

A  few  years  after  the  beginning  of  Beard's  Church,  in  1757, 
Pastor  Hager  of  Conewago  organized  a  congregation  of  Luther- 
ans on  Toms  Creek  in  Frederick  County,  twenty-three  miles 
from  Frederick,  thirty  miles  from  Hagerstown,  and  two  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  the  present  town  of  Emmitsburg.  A  church 
was  built  in  the  year  of  the  organization  and  the  congregation 
grew  slowly  until  thirty  years  later  it  numbered  about  thirty- 
five  families.  It  was  then  a  part  of  the  Hagerstown  charge.  This 
congregation  is  to-day  Elias  Lutheran  Church  in  Emmitsburg. 

Over  in  Carroll  County,  at  Manchester  in  1760,  another  con- 
gregation was  organized  and  church  built  and  for  many  years  it 
was  served  by  the  pastor  at  Hanover,  ten  miles  north.  The  next 
year  an  organization  was  formed  eight  miles  southwest  of  Man- 
chester at  Kriders  (near  Westminster),  now  St.  Benjamin's  of 
the  Salem  charge,  and  this  congregation  also  was  under  the  care 
of  Pastor  Bager  of  Hanover  and  his  successors.  The  following 
year,  1762,  St.  Mary's  Lutheran  Church  of  Silver  Run,  was  or- 
ganized by  the  same  pastor. 

Then  in  1767  a  dozen  Lutheran  families  jn  Frederick  County 


LUTHERAN  EXPANSION  AND  SPECIAL  CONFERENCES.  35 

united  to  form  a  second  Lutheran  Church  in  the  Monocacy  Val- 
ley. This  was  the  Rocky  Hill  Church  (now  Grace  of  the  Woods- 
boro  charge)  about  six  miles  from  the  old  Monocacy  Church. 
The  organization  was  probably  effected  by  Charles  Frederick 
Wildbahn,  the  faithful  and  talented  school  teacher  from  Win- 
chester, whom  we  have  noted  in  connection  with  the  Conoco- 
cheague  settlement,  whom  Muhlenberg  had  licensed  to  perform 
ministerial  acts,  who  from  McAllisterstown  ministered  to  a  large 
number  of  congregations,  as  high  as  nineteen  at  one  time,  and 
who  helped  to  consecrate  the  church  building  at  Rock}'  Hill  in 
1768. 

Down  near  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac  in  the  old  settlement  of 
Georgetown,  Lutherans,  coining  probably  from  Virginia,  had  or- 
ganized themselves  into  a  congregation  already  in  1769,  had  re- 
ceived a  donation  of  a  church  lot  and  had  built  a  log  church  on 
it.  But  their  numbers  were  so  small  and  their  congregational 
existence  so  precarious  that  for  a  long  time  they  were  scarcely 
able  to  maintain  public  worship  even  with  the  occasional  aid  of 
the  missionary  pastors  who  came  over  from  Virginia.  For  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time  services  were  intermitted  and  in  1829 
the  Lutheran  Church  was  obliged  to  resort  to  the  courts  of  law 
in  order  to  maintain  her  rights  to  the  property  granted  the 
Georgetown  congregation  in  1769. 

West  of  the  South  Mountain,  in  the  vicinity  of  Hagerstown, 
the  process  of  organizing  the  scattered  Lutherans  into  congrega- 
tions continued.  In  1771  a  congregation  of  sixteen  families  was 
gathered  at  Funkstown  (then  Jerusalem)  and  a  union  church 
was  built.  The  first  pastor  was  Charles  Frederick  Wildbahn  who 
lived  at  McAllisterstown  and  ministered  to  such  a  wide  circuit  of 
congregations.  Three  years  later  Ringer's  Lutheran  Church  was 
organized  in  the  schoolhouse  on  Ringgold's  Manor,  near  Foun- 
tain Rock,  six  miles  from  Hagerstown,  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  Rev.  Young  of  Hagerstown.  In  1802  this  congregation  re- 
moved three  miles  into  the  town  of  Eoonsboro. 

Towrards  the  close  of  the  century  the  number  of  churches  began 
to  increase  even  more  rapidly.  In  1783  Winter's  Church  (now 
St.  Luke's  of  the  Uniontown  charge)  was  organized  by  Pastor 
Schroeter  of  Hanover.  In  1788,  if  not  earlier,  Trinity  Church 
of  Taneytown  became  a  distinct  organization.  In  1790  St.  John's, 
near  Mycrsville,  was  established  as  a  part  of  the  Middletown 
charge.  The  next  year  Jacob's  Church  (now  of  the  Leitersburg 
charge)  came  into  existence.  Then  in  1793  came  Bachman's 
Church  (now  Jerusalem  Church  of  the  North  Carroll  charge). 
The  next  year,  1794,  and  perhaps  even  earlier,  Allgeier  's  Church 


36  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD.  . 

(now  St.  Paul's  of  Arcadia]  was  added  to  the  long  list  of  mis- 
sions established  by  the  pastor  at  Hanover.  In  that  same  year 
liaitst's  (now  Emmanuel  Church  of  the  Uniontown  charge)  h'rst 
took  form.  At  the  same  time  away  up  the  Potomac  Friederich 
YVilhelm  Lange,  licentiate  of  theology  and  missionary  in  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  came  down  from  Pennsylvania  and  or- 
ganized the  Lutherans  in  the  neighborhood  of  old  Fort  Cumber- 
land, and  this  was  the  beginning  of  St.  Paul's  of  Cumberland. 

The  pastors  of  these  congregations  were  almost  without  excep- 
tion members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium  which  was  or- 
ganized in  1748  and  was  the  only  synodical  organization  among 
Lutherans  between  New  York  and  North  Carolina  until  1820  the 
year  in  which  the  Maryland  Synod  was  organized.  As  members 
of  the  Ministerium  these  pastors  generally  met  in  conference  an- 
nually. But  the  means  of  transportation  were  so  limited  and  the 
meeting  places  of  the  Ministerium  were  generally  so  remote  from 
the  fields  of  these  Maryland  pastors  that  they  were  often  obliged 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  their  brethren  in  synodical 
convention.  Towards  the  clos  >  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  there- 
fore these  faithful  laborers  between  the  Mason  and  Dixon  on  the 
north  and  the  Potomac  on  the  south  began  to  feel  the  need  for 
conference  and  counsel  among  themselves  concerning  their  own 
peculiar  problems  and  needs. 

The  impulse  to  these  Special  Conferences  and  the  initiative  in 
the  movement  came  from  the  Lutheran  pastors  beyond  the  Po- 
tomac River  in  Virginia.  As  the  Maryland  Synod  when  it  was 
organized  consisted  almost  one-half  of  pastors  and  congregations 
in  Virginia  it  will  be  necessary  to  consider  briefly  the  beginnings 
of  the  Lutheran  churches  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

The  earliest  Lutheran  settlement  in  Virginia  seems  to  have 
been  in  Kpottsylvania  County,  now  Madison  County.  This  is  the 
Hebron  church  of  to-day.  These  pioneer  Lutherans  came  partly 
from  North  Carolina  and  partly  direct  from  Europe.  In  1717 
they  were  served  for  a  short  time  by  Anthony  Jacob  Henkel 
from  Pennsylvania.  From  1728  to  1734  they  had  the  ministra- 
tions of  John  Caspar  Stoever,  father  of  the  man  of  the  same 
name  whom  we  have  met  in  Maryland.  Then  for  a  long  period, 
from  17.'5b'  to  17(>4,  (Jeorge  Samuel  King  was  their  faithful  min- 
ister. He  was  succeeded  by  Pastor  John  Schwarbach,  170.")-! 77"), 
and  Pastor  Frank,  177;")-! 778.  Probably  also  Peter  Muhlenberg 
preached  in  the  old  Hebron  Church.  Later  on,  Paul  Henkel, 
while  active  as  a  missionary  in  Virginia,  had  the  congregation 
under  his  supervision.  All  of  these  pastors  extended  their  min- 
istrations also  to  the  Lutherans  in  neighboring  counties. 


LUTHERAN  EXPANSION  AND  SPECIAL  CONFERENCES.  37 

Meanwhile  a  number  of  other  Lutheran  congregations  had 
sprung  up  on  Virginia  soil.  In  1772  Peter  Muhlenberg  had  been 
sent  to  Virginia  to  supply  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  scattered 
Lutherans  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  located  at  Woodstock 
(then  Muellerstadt)  and  made  it  the  center  of  his  large  field. 
From  that  point  he  traveled  extensively  through  the  Valley  and 
the  mountains  in  the  west,  preaching  wherever  Lutherans  could 
be  found.  Among  his  friends  while  he  was  pastor  at  Woodstock 
were  .George  Washington  and  Patrick  Henry.  It  is  well  known 
how,  after  preaching  a  sermon  on  the  seriousness  of  the  times 
and  pronouncing  the  benediction,  he  cast  off  his  clerical  robe  and 
appeared  before  his  congregation  in  the  glittering  uniform  of  a 
colonel.  His  subsequent  patriotic  activities,  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  and  afterwards,  constitute  an  important  chapter 
in  American  history. 

During  the  long  vacancy  that  followed  Muhlenberg 's  resigna- 
tion the  old  church  at  Woodstock  enjoyed  the  occasional  services 
of  Charles  Frederick  Wildbahn,  Jacob  Goering,  and  Daniel 
Kurtz.  In  1805  Nicholas  Schmucker  took  charge  of  the  field, 
and  he  was  the  pastor  at  Woodstock  when  the  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia Synod  was  organized  in  1820. 

Another  field  in  Virginia  that  was  favored  with  a  resident 
pastor  was  Winchester.  Here  a  Lutheran  organization  had  been 
formed  as  early  as  1753,  for  on  May  15th  of  that  year  Lord  Fair- 
fax gave  the  Lutherans  of  Winchester  "two  lots  of  ground,  em- 
bracing one  acre,  for  sacred  uses. ' '  The  uncertain  conditions  of 
life  and  the  stirring  events  incident  to  the  French  and  Indian 
War  prevented  the  erection  of  a  church  building  for  some  years. 
The  work  was  begun  in  1764.  Pastor  Kirchner  of  Baltimore 
formally  laid  the  corner  stone.  Owing  to  the  distractions  and  ex- 
citements of  the  Revolutionary  War  the  edifice  was  not  finally 
completed  until  1793. 

In  the  meantime  the  congregation  had  succeeded  in  securing 
a  resident  pastor.  This  was  Christian  Streit.  He  was  only 
thirty-six  years  old  when  he  came  to  Winchester  but  he  had  made 
full  proof  of  his  ministry  in  Pennsylvania,  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  and  as  a  chaplain  in  the  army.  He  settled  in  Winche1 
ter  in  1785  and  ministered  there  until  1812,  a  long  period  of  de- 
voted service,  in  the  course  of  which  he  instructed  William  Car- 
penter in  theology  and  prepared  him  for  the  ministry.  Streit 
was  the  pastor  at  Winchester  when  in  1793  the  church  there  was 
the  meeting-place  of  the  first  of  those  Special  Conferences  held 
before  the  organization  of  the  Synod,  and  he  was  the  president 
of  that  first  Conference.  After  Pastor  Streit 's  death  Rev.  Abra- 


38  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ham  Keck,  a  young  man  of  twenty-two,  took  up  the  work  at  Win- 
chester, and  lie  was  the  {Mtstor  loci  when  the  Synod  was  organized 
there  in  1820. 

\nr  Market  in  Shenandoah  County  had  become  the  home  of 
Kev.  Paul  Henkel  and  his  family  in  17M).  and  within  two  years 
a  house  of  worship  was  erected  there.  This  was  known  for  half 
a  century  as  Davidsburg  Church.  Paul  Henkel  was  another  of 
the  original  members  of  the  Special  Conferences. 

At  Martinsburg  the  nucleus  of  a  congregation  had  been  gath- 
ered as  early  as  1775  or  1770  and  the  organization  was  completed 
in  177!).  This  congregation  was  served  by  the  Lutheran  ministers 
residing  at  other  places  in  the  Valley  until  17!K)  when  Martins- 
burg  s/cured  her  first  resident  pastor  in  the  person  of  John 
David  Young. 

Other  Lutheran  congregations  organized  in  the  Valley  during 
the  latter  half  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  but  for  the  most  part 
served  by  the  pastors  of  the  congregations  already  enumerated, 
were:  New  Jerusalem  Church,  near  Lovettsville  in  London  Coun- 
ty (built  17(5"))  ;  Peaked  Mountain  Church  in  Kockingham  Coun- 
ty near  McGaheysville  (built  17(>8)  ;  Rader's  Church,  near  Tim- 
berville  (17G8)  ;  St.  Paul's,  Strasburg,  then  called  Stautferstadt 
( 17(5!) )  ;  St.  Peter's,  six  miles  north  of  Elkton  (1777)  ;  Koiner's 
Church.  Augusta  County  (1780)  of  which  Rev.  Adolph  Spindle 
was  probably  the  first  pastor ;  Mount  Tabor,  Augusta  County 
(178.3)  ;  Shepherd.stown,  then  called  Mecklenburg  (built  179,"))  ; 
Staunton  ;  Xion  Church,  near  Hamburg ;  St.  Jacob's,  near  Conic- 
ville;  Solomon's,  near  Forest ville;  and  Frieden's,  seven  miles 
south  of  Harrisonburg. 

The  Special  Conferences. 

The  care  of  all  these  congregations  was  committed  to  a  few 
men.  They  were  few  in  number  but  to  a  man  they  were  faithful 
in  their  ministry  and  sincerely  anxious  to  minister  the  "Word  and 
the  Sacraments  to  the  growing  numbers  of  Lutherans  scattered 
over  all  that  region  in  Virginia.  As  they  were  so  remote  from 
the  meeting-places  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium  to  which 
they  belonged,  their  names  were  frequently  recorded  among  the 
absentees  of  the  Mother  Synod,  more  frequently  even  than  the 
names  of  their  brethren  just  north  of  the  Potomac  River.  In- 
stinctively therefore  these  men  longed  for  companionship  and 
conferences  among  themselves. 

Provision  for  such  conferences  had  been  made  in  the  constitu- 
tion adopted  by  the  Ministerium  in  1781,  in  which  it  was  pro- 


LUTHERAN  EXPANSION  AND  SPECIAL  CONFERENCES.  39 

vided  that  "ministers  dwelling1  close  together  in  one  county  or 
district  confer  in  regard  to  special  meetings  or  Conferences  to 
be  appointed."  Two  years  later  it  was  recorded  that  "The  pres- 
ent congregations  are  divided  into  districts  and  it  is  most  ear- 
nestly recommended  to  all  the  brethren  that  they  renew  and 
maintain  Special  Conferences." 

The  idea  evidently  grew  in  favor,  for  in  the  new  constitution 
of  the  Ministerium  adopted  in  1792  a  separate  chapter  is  devoted 
to  "Special  or  District  Meetings."  Here  it  is  specified  among 
other  things  that  "Special  meetings  are  to  be  held  by  pastors  of 
the  Ministerium  living  contiguous  to  each  other,  as  often  as  cir- 
cumstances may  require,  and  each  congregation  under  the  care  of 
such  minister  may  send  a  delegate  to  such  meeting,  having  seat 
and  vote.  The  objects  of  such  meetings  are  to  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  the  respective  congregations  and  of  the  German  schools 
within  the  District ;  to  examine,  decide  and  determine  the  busi- 
ness and  occurrences  in  their  congregations  that  are  brought  be- 
fore them.  A  special  meeting  is  not  to  be  permitted  under  any 
pretence  whatever  to  enter  upon  business  belonging  to  the  Min- 
isterium. The  acts  of  the  meeting  are  to  be  transmitted  by  the 
chairman  to  the  President  of  the  Ministerium,  to  be  laid  by  him 
before  the  next  Synodical  or  Ministerial  Meeting. "  It  is  recom- 
mended that  such  conferences  busy  themselves  especially  with 
such  matters  as  "mutual  edification,"  the  exchange  of  experi- 
ences incurred  in  the  discharge  of  official  duties,  and  "the  con- 
sideration of  such  Bible  truths  as  the  circumstances  and  wants 
of  the  church  seem  to  require. ' ' 

Encouraged  by  this  action  of  the  Mother  Synod  the  little  group 
of  faithful  pastors  in  Virginia  proceeded  early  in  1793  to  or- 
ganize themselves  into  a  Special  Conference.  This  was  the  first 
conference  to  receive  official  notice  in  the  minutes  of  the  Min- 
isterium. The  record  in  the  minutes  of  May  27,  1793,.  is  this : 
"A  letter  from  Kev.  Mr.  Christian  Streit  was  read,  in  which  he 
excused  his  absence  with  satisfactory  reasons,  and  gave  a  pleas- 
ing report  of  a  Special  Conference  held  in  Virginia,  the  Protocol 
of  which  was  referred  to  the  Ministerial  Meeting."  Before  long 
the  Virginia  pastors  were  joined  in  their  Conference  by  some  of 
their  brethren  from  Maryland.  And  these  Special  Conferences 
were  but  preliminary  steps  leading  in  course  of  time  to  the  or- 
ganization of  a  separate  synod  known  as  the  Synod  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia. 

There  were  at  least  fourteen  of  these  Special  Conferences  be- 
fore the  Synod  was  organized.  The  first  was  at  Winchester, 
January  6  and  7,  1793.  The  ministers  present  were  Christian 


40  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Strcit  of  Winchester,  John  David  Young  of  Martinsburg,  Paul 
Ilenkel  of  New  Market,  and  William  Carpenter  of  Culpeper 
(  Madison).  These  men  were  in  the  very  vigor  of  their  days.  The 
eldest  was  Young,  only  forty-nine  years  of  age,  Streit  was  live 
years  younger.  Ilenkel  was  thirty-nine,  and  Carpenter  was  only 
thirty-one.  The  reeord  of  their  meeting  opens  with  this  simple 
declaration:  "We  four  ministers  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  living  and  serving  congregations  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, being  present  in  Winchester  on  the  (ith  day  of  January, 
179.'5,  commenced  our  Conference,  on  this  Epiphany  Sunday,  by 
holding  solemn  religious  services."  Ilenkel  preached  in  the 
morning  and  Carpenter  in  the  afternoon.  Lay  delegates  are  re- 
ported prtsiMit  from  the  church  councils  of  Winchester,  Martins- 
burg,  Shepherdstown,  Stone  Church,  New-town,  Strasburg,  and 
Woodstock. 

At  the  business  session  the  following  day  Pastor  Streit  was 
( lected  president  and  Pastor  Young  secretary.  Streit  had  taken 
the  lead  in  calling  the  Conference  as  he  had  been  in  the  field 
longer  than  any  of  the  other  pastors  and  he  was  president  of  the 
Conference  until  his  death  in  1812.  At  this  first  session  provi- 
sion was  made  for  receiving  one  properly  accredited  lay  delegate 
from  each  congregation  in  the  State  having  a  pastor,  or  desiring 
to  procure  one,  regularly  connected  with  the  Synod.  It  was  re- 
solved that  the  members  of  the  Conference  would  not  separate 
themselves  from  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  nor  take  any 
action  that  would  come  into  conflict  with  its  regulations,  and 
that  the  Conference  would  make  it  a  "prominent  aim  to  devise 
ways  and  means  for  the  improvement  of  our  young  people  and 
children  in  knowledge  and  piety,"  and  that  the  proceedings  of 
the  Conference  would  in  each  case  be  made  known  to  the  congre- 
gations and  if  approved  by  them  would  be  laid  before  the  Synod 
for  examination  and  endorsement.  By  way  of  perpetuating  the 
organization  it  was  resolved  that  a  Conference  meeting  should  be 
held  annually  thereafter  beginning  on  the  first  Sunday  in  Oc- 
tober. 

These  resolutions  were  adhered  to  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury thereafter,  with  some  intermissions,  the  Conference  met 
regularly  each  year  on  the  first  Sunday  in  October.  The  second 
meeting  was  held  at  Strasburg  in  October,  1793,  the  third  at  Mar- 
tinsburg  in  1794,  the  fourth  at  Staunton  in  179."),  the  fifth  at  Cul- 
peper (Madison)  in  1796,  the  sixth  at  Woodstock  in  1797,  and 
the  seventh  at  Shepherdstown  in  1798.  Then  there  seems  to  have 
been  an  intermission  of  seven  years  without  any  meeting  of  the 
Conference,  for  the  next  meeting  that  we  can  find  an}'  trace  of 


LUTHERAN  EXPANSION  AND  SPECIAL  CONFERENCES.  41 

took  place  in  1805  at  Woodstock.  The  next  year  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Rader's  Church  in  Rockingham  County,  then  at  New 
Market  in  1807,  at  Winchester  again  in  1808,  at  Solomon's 
Church  in  1809,  at  Woodstock  in  1815,  and  finally  at  Culpeper 
in  1817. 

These  Conferences  all  followed  the  general  plan  outlined  at 
the  first  Conference  in  Winchester  which  we  have  described. 
They  were  chiefly  of  a  devotional  and  didactic  character.  Very 
little  business  was  transacted.  Missionary  matters,  the  training 
of  the  young,  and  the  supply  of  teachers  for  the  schools  seem  to 
have  mainly  occupied  the  attention  of  the  Conferences  in  their 
deliberative  sessions.  Several  times  the  twenty-second  Sunday 
after  Trinity  was  set  apart  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting  and 
prayer,  in  the  churches.  It  was  decided  in  1805  on  motion  of 
Doctor  Solomon  Henkel  that  the  twenty-one  doctrinal  articles 
of  the  Augsburg  Confession  should  be  appended  to  the  published 
minutes  of  that  year  and  that  each  year  a  short  pastoral  letter, 
adapted  to  the  special  needs  of  the  congregations,  should  be  ap- 
pended to  the  minutes.  In  1807  there  was  added  to  the  minutes 
a  funeral  service  and  formula  for  burial,  furnished  by  Doctor 
Henkel,  to  be  used  by  school-teachers  or  other  consistent  members 
of  the  church  when  no  regular  minister  could  be  had.  The  next 
year  it  was  resolved  that  the  congregations  without  pastors 
should  select  lay-readers,  and  the  pastors  were  urged  to  conduct 
private  meetings  in  their  congregations  as  often  as  possible  in 
order  to  edify  the  members  by  prayer,  song,  and  instruction.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  the  pastoral  letter  of  1809  complains 
that  the  ministers  were  not  able  to  do  their  mission  work  partly 
because  they  were  rich  and  unable  to  undergo  the  hardships  con- 
nected with  traveling,  partly  because  the  congregations  support- 
ing them  refused  to  let  them  go.  The  statistical  appendix  of  that 
year  shows  forty-nine  organized  congregations  in  Virginia,  many 
of  them  in  the  central  and  southwestern  parts  of  the  Valley.  It 
is  rather  remarkable  that  the  minutes  of  1817  contain  no  refer- 
ence whatever  to  the  tercentenary  of  the  Reformation. 

The  meeting  of  1817  is  the  last  of  which  we  have  any  record. 
Meanwhile  the  personnel  of  the  Conference  had  been  changing, 
and  the  pastors  in  the  southern  and  southwestern  parts  of  the 
State  wrere  slowly  gravitating  toward  the  Synod  of  North  Caro- 
lina which  had  been  organized  in  1803,  while  those  nearer  the 
northern  end  of  the  Valley  were  gradually  cultivating  relations 
with  the  pastors  of  Maryland.  The  Conference  began  with  the 
four  clerical  members  whose  names  wre  have  noted.  To  them  were 
added  from  time  to  time  Samuel  Mau,  Victor  G.  C.  Stock,  Adolf 


42  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Spindle,  John  Foltz,  William  Forster,  George  D.  Flohr,  John 
George  Butler,  George  II.  Rieraenschneider,  Abraham  Reek,  J. 
Xieholas  Sehmueker,  Peter  Sehmueker,  Frederick  Haas,  Martin 
Walter,  Andrew  Henkel,  and  Michael  Meyerhoeffer.  With  the 
growth  of  the  number  of  congregations  on  the  territory  the  lay 
representation  at  the  Conferences  also  increased.  For  it  must  be 
emphasized  that  these  meetings  were  not  merely  conferences 
among  the  pastors  but  of  congregational  representatives  also.  In 
this  they  were  truly  Lutheran. 

Already  in  17JI8  Pastor  John,  George  Sehmueker  of  Ilagers- 
town,  Maryland,  was  present  at  the  Conference,  but  only  as  an 
advisory  member.  In  1807  however  we  find  this  Maryland  pas- 
tor presenting  resolutions  and  evidently  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  deliberations  on  the  floor  of  the  Conference.  Evidently  the 
members  of  the  Conference  were  ready  to  welcome  the  fellowship 
of  their  brethren  just  north  of  the  Potomac. 

But  the  time  had  arrived  when  a  different  sort  of  ecclesiastical 
organization  was  needed.  The  Special  Conference  had  served  a 
useful  purpose  but  its  day  was  passing.  With  the  multiplying 
of  the  Lutheran  population  in  the  country  and  the  increase  in 
the  number  of  ministers,  with  the  passing  of  the  frontier  and  de- 
velopment of  congregational  interests,  the  kind  of  organization 
provided  by  the  Special  Conference  was  proving  to  be  inade- 
quate. Its  powers  were  too  limited  and  the  Synod  to  which  its 
members  belonged  was  too  distant  to  make  possible  the  effectual 
promotion  of  the  interests  of  its  congregations.  So  the  meeting 
in  Madison  Church  in  1817  seems  to  have  been  the  last  of  the 
Special  Conferences. 

The  thought  probably  suggested  itself  to  the  brethren  of  the 
Conference  that  although  they  were  too  few  to  organize  a  sepa- 
rate synod  among  themselves,  nevertheless  they  might  combine 
their  numbers  and  strength  with  those  of  their  nearest  brethren 
outside  of  Virginia  who  were  also  beginning  to  feel  the  disad- 
vantage of  their  remoteness  from  the  main  body  of  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  thus  they  might  bring  their  combined  influ- 
ence and  efforts  to  bear  more  directly  on  the  particular  interests 
of  the  Church  lying  within  the  territory  committed  to  their  care. 
Some  such  impulse  as  that,  it  seems,  must  have  led  the  pastors  of 
northern  Virginia  to  stretch  out  their  arms  to  the  pastors  of 
Maryland  and  join  hands  with  them  in  organizing  a  new  synod. 
So  the  Special  Conference,  having  served  its  day  and  having  pre- 
pared the  way  for  its  ecclesiastical  successor,  passes  off  the  stage 
and  makes  room  for  a  far  more  effective  organization,  the  Synod 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia. 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  the  progressive  development  of 
synodieal  organizations  in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  America. 
New  synods  are  generally  the  natural  result  of  the  normal  growth 
and  needs  of  the  Church.  As  the  territory  occupied  by  the 
Church  was  constantly  widening  and  the  special  needs  of  the 
Church  in  the  several  regions  became  more  apparent,  our  min- 
isters wisely  modified  and  multiplied  their  synodieal  relations. 
Experience  proved  the  wisdom  of  this  policy.  As  one  name  after 
another  was  added  to  the  clerical  roll  of  the  Pennsylvania  Min- 
isterium  after  it  was  organized  in  1748,  as  missionary  after  mis- 
sionary was  sent  out  farther  and  farther  from  Philadelphia  and 
eastern  Pennsylvania  to  follow  the  westward  advance  of  the 
American  frontier  and  to  preach  the  Word  and  administer  the 
Sacraments  to  the  Lutherans  in  "the  West"  and  in  "the  South," 
it  became  with  the  passing  of  the  years  very  burdensome  and 
almost  impossible  for  these  missionaries  and  pastors  to  make  the 
long  journeys  that  would  have  been  necessary  to  attend  the  meet- 
ings of  the  original  Synod.  Still,  they  longed  to  take  counsel 
with  their  brethren  and  to  have  a  part  in  the  deliberations  for 
the  general  good. 

Moreover,  it  was  felt  that  organizations  nearer  at  hand  would 
tend  to  stimulate  interest  and  diffuse  the  light  among  the  con- 
gregations of  the  several  regions,  that  such  organizations  would 
deepen  the  interest  of  the  laymen  in  the  general  work  of  the 
Church,  and  thus  bring  about  a  more  rapid  development  of  the 
resources  of  the  congregations.  For  these  reasons,  touching  both 
pastors  and  congregations,  new  synods  have  been  constituted 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  subdivision  of  territory  has  kept  pace 
with  the  Church's  geographical  expansion  and  her  increase  in 
numbers  and  power.  This  division  of  sphere  has  gone  on,  for  the 
most  part  in  peace  and  amity,  down  to  our  own  day,  establishing 
one  after  another  new  centers  of  light  and  power,  with  the  result 
that  there  has  been  a  constant  lengthening  of  the  cords  and  a 
strengthening  of  the  stakes  of  our  Zion  such  as  could  not  other- 
wise have  been  accomplished. 

43 


44  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOD. 

But  until  tlio  organization  of  the  General  Synod  in  October, 
1820.  this  process  of  separation  and  the  segregation  it  involved 
were  painful,  both  to  the  Mother  Synod  and  to  the  children  who 
went  forth  from  her  side  to  labor  for  (Jod  independently  of  her 
direction  and  control.  I'ntil  there  was  some  general  organization 
through  which  the  ministers  in  particular  might  hope  to  con- 
tinue the  bonds  of  fellowship  and  association  the  organization  of 
new  synods  was  attended  with  a  certain  decree  of  reluctance  on 
both  sides. 

The  organization  of  the  Xew  York  Ministerium  in  1773  and 
that  of  the  North  Carolina  Synod  in  1803  were  not  felt  much  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium.  They  were  composed  of  congre- 
gations that  lay  outside  the  bounds  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  with  two  exceptions  their  pastors  had  not  been  con- 
nected with  the  old  Synod.  The  New  York  organization  was  ef- 
fected by  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  son  of  the  patriarch  who  twenty- 
five  years  before  had  effected  the  organization  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Ministerium,  and  the  new  organization  does  not  seem  to 
have  severed  young  Muhlenbenr's  connection  with  the  older 
Synod.  The  organization  in  North  Carolina  was  formed  by  four 
pastors,  Arndt,  Miller,  Storch,  and  Paul  Henkel,  of  whom  only 
one,  Paul  llenkel,  had  been  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Min- 
isterium, as  the  church  in  that  state  had  long  been  accustomed  to 
look  for  help  and  counsel  from  beyond  the  sea.  But  when  in 
1817  the  ministers  belonging  to  a  Special  Conference  in  the  State 
of  Ohio  petitioned  the  Mother  Synod  for  permission  to  organize 
themselves  into  a  separate  Ministerium  the  request  was  not 
granted,  and  the  next  year  when  the  Synod  of  Ohio  came  into 
being  it  was  organized  under  protest.  And  when  in  1820  the 
pastors  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  asked  permission  to  organize 
a  new  synod  on  their  territory  the  matter  was  postponed  until 
the  project  of  organizing  a  General  Synod  should  have  been  dis- 
cussed. The  next  day  as  soon  as  it  had  been  decided  to  organize 
a  General  Synod  the  petition  of  the  pastors  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia was  granted.  Later  on,  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium 
withdrew  from  the  General  Synod  and  then  in  1825  she  protested 
against  the  organization  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod.  The 
consistent  purpose  seems  to  have  been  to  maintain  the  fellowship 
of  all  the  brethren  and  the  unity  of  influence  either  through  a 
single  synod  or  through  a  general  organization  of  synods.  When 
the  general  synodical  bodies  are  securely  established  the  growth 
of  the  district  synods  within  them  goes  on  naturally  and  grace- 
fully. 

The  harmonious  organization  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  there- 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD.  45 

fore,  is  to  be  understood  not  as  a  movement  in  the  direction  of 
division  which  weakens  but  rather  as  a  part  of  the  general  move- 
ment in  the  Church  towards  better  organization,  greater  efficiency 
and  more  inclusive  fraternity.  The  organization  of  our  Synod 
was  not  divisive,  disruptive,  or  schismatic.  It  was  harmonious, 
unifying,  conservative,  progressive. 

The  spirit  of  the  times  was  such  as  called  for  active  measures 
of  conservation  in  the  Church.  It  was  a  day  of  great  spiritual 
torpor  in  the  Christian  Churches  of  America,  a  day  of  great 
laxity  in  faith  and  confession  and  of  great  inconsistency  in  prac- 
tice. Skillful  efforts  were  made  to  Americanize  the  deadening 
rationalism  of  Germain'.  In  that  sense  synodical  constitutions 
were  changed  and  new  catechisms  devised.  In  large  sections  of 
American  Christianity  the  ministry  had  become  in  great  measure 
secularized.  Where  rationalism  had  not  fastened  itself  upon  the 
ministers  and  rendered  them  indifferent  to  the  deepest  spiritual 
needs  of  their  people,  they  were  orthodox  not  always  from  per- 
sonal conviction  but  all  too  often  from  intellectual  indolence  and 
motives  of  expediency.  Their  education  was  often  sadly  inade- 
quate and  their  parishes  were  far  too  large  to  admit  of  much 
close  personal  dealing  with  individual  souls.  Church  discipline 
had  almost  vanished  and  the  hearing  of  the  Word  and  the  receiv- 
ing of  the  Sacraments  had  at  many  places  degenerated  into 
purely  mechanical  services. 

Over  all  this  period  from  1787  to  1817  the  historian  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  writes  the  word  "Deterioration."  Many  evi- 
dences of  weakening  denominational  consciousness  are  to  be 
found  among  Lutherans.  In  the  revised  constitution  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Ministerium  of  1792  all  confessional  tests  were 
eliminated.  There  was  no  reference  whatever  to  the  symbols. 
The  promises  of  the  catechists  included  no  mention  whatever  of 
the  Augsburg  Confession.  Among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  con- 
gregations and  their  pastors  there  were  not  a  few  inconsistencies 
with  sound  Lutheran  practice.  Repeatedly  pastors  had  to  be  ad- 
monished to  return  to  Lutheran  ways.  Even  Paul  Henkel  was 
warned  to  beware  of  camp  meetings  on  his  missionary  journeys. 
Dr.  Helmuth's  intimate  relations  with  the  Moravians  was  proba- 
bly responsible  for  the  fact  that  he  inculcated  in  his  pupils  an 
aversion  to  explicit  theological  definition.  To  suggest  how  far 
this  indifferentism  to  distinctive  Lutheranism  had  gone  in  the 
New  York  Ministerium  we  need  only  to  mention  the  president, 
Dr.  Quitman,  and  his  rationalistic  catechism.  Corresponding  to 
this  was  Dr.  Velthusen's  catechism  published  for  the  congrega- 
tions in  North  Carolina.  In  New  York  under  Dr.  Kunze  's  leader- 


4(>  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ship  the  tendency  was  towards  unionism  with  the  Episcopal 
Church.  In  North  Carolina  the  Lutheran  Synod  fraternized 
closely  with  the  Episcopal  Church  and  both  Episcopalians  and 
Moravians  officiated  regularly  for  Lutheran  congregations.  In 
rural  Pennsylvania  the  churches  as  a  rule  were  union  churches 
(Lutheran  and  Reformed)  and  the  congregations  were  union 
congregations.  Active  efforts  were  afoot  in  1818  to  establish  a 
joint  theological  seminary. 

Now  the  organization  of  the  Maryland  Synod  and,  a  few  days 
later,  of  the  General  Synod,  were  symptoms  of  reaction  against 
the  spiritual  debilitation  of  the  times  as  it  had  been  felt  in  the 
Lutheran  Church.  They  operated  as  a  protest  against  the  many 
schemes  for  union  and  served  to  check  in  a  measure  the  move- 
ment toward  blotting  out  denominational  lines.  It  is  generally 
conceded  by  the  historians  of  our  Church  that  "the  General 
Synod  saved  the  church/'  and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Maryland 
Synod  saved  the  General  Synod.  This  was  a  victory  for  the  evan- 
gelical faith  and  for  Lutheran  conservation.  Both  the  General 
Synod  and  her  youngest  constituent  district  synod  when  she  was 
organized  stood  for  the  independent  life  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  America  and  represented  a  clear  and  unambiguous  confession 
of  a  positive  faith. 

If  we  inquire  for  the  factors  that  determined  this  positive 
character  of  the  new  district  synod  we  shall  find  them  partly  in 
the  influence  of  the  tercentenary  celebration  of  the  Reformation 
in  1817,  recalling  as  it  did,  the  distinctive  principles  and  confes- 
sions of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  partly  in  the  com- 
parative freedom  of  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  pastors  from  the 
rationalistic  influences  emanating  from  Germany  and  imported 
to  America  principally  through  the  ports  of  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  but  chiefly  in  the  positive  and  conservative  attitude 
of  the  most  influential  personalities  in  the  Synod  at  the  time  of 
her  organization  and  during  her  earliest  life. 

Certainly  the  times  were  ripe  for  the  organization  of  such  a 
Synod  as  that  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  No  Special  Confer- 
ence could  have  performed  the  mission  that  the  Synod  was  called 
on  to  perform.  Whether  we  view  it  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
congregations  and  their  special  needs  or  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  America  and  her  deteriorating  de- 
nominational consciousness,  or  from  the  standpoint  of  American 
Christianity  as  a  whole  with  its  waning  evangelical  faith,  the 
birth-moment  of  the  new  Synod  was  most  opportune. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and 
so  forth,  was  formally  organized  on  the  morning  of  October  11, 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD. 


47 


1820.  Concerning  the  preliminary  correspondence  we  have  no 
information.  We  only  know  that  in  the  minutes  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Ministerium  of  May  29,  1820,  it  is  recorded  that  among  the 
communications  received  was 

"Also  a  report  of  a  Special  Meeting  which  was  held  in  Fried- 
richtown,  Maryland.  In  it  a  special  request  is  made  for  permis- 
sion to  organize  a  new  Synod  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susque- 
hanna. 

"Resolved,  That  the  matter  be  postponed  until  the  matter  of 
the  General  Synod  will  come  up." 

The  next  morning,  May  30th,  immediately  after  the  plan  for  a 
General  Synod  had  been  adopted,  the  record  has  it : 


CHRISTIAN  STRF.IT. 


"As  to  the  request  of  certain  preachers  to  organize  a  Synod  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  it  was  now  resolved  that  this 
Synod  will  make  no  objection  whatever  if  a  new  Synod  be  or- 
ganized on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna."  (In  the  minutes 
of  the  next  year  the  expression  ' '  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susque- 


48  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

hamia"  was  ordered  to  be  cancelled  as  incorrect,  and  the  words 
"in  Maryland  and  Virginia"  were  inserted.) 

This  was  the  first  time  that  the  venerable  Ministerinm  had  au- 
thorized the  formation  of  a  new  synod  and  it  is  very  clear  that 
this  favorable  action  was  taken  only  because  of  the  approaching 
organization  of  a  General  Synod.  But  the  organization  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  preceded  by  eleven  days  the  organization  of  the 
General  Synod.  For  in  less  than  four  months  after  the  Mother 
Synod  had  granted  the  petition  for  permission  to  organize  a  new 
Synod  in  Maryland  and  Virginia  a  call  had  been  issued  to  the 
pastors  and  the  charges  lying  both  north  and  south  of  the  Po- 
tomac to  meet  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  on  October  11,  1820,  to 
organize  the  new  body. 

The  place  selected  for  this  initial  meeting  is  significant.  It 
was  at  Winchester  that  the  first  of  the  Special  Conferences  had 
been  held  in  17!).'?.  It  was  the  center  of  the  largest  charge  that 
participated  in  the  organization  of  the  Synod.  In  1821  this 
charge  reported  nine  congregations  and  far  more  communicants 
than  any  other  of  the  constituent  charges.  The  congregation  at 
Winchester  was  sixty-eight  years  old  when  it  entertained  this 
first  meeting  of  the  Synod.  But  it  had  enjoyed  the  ministry  of 
only  two  resident  pastors.  For  the  first  thirty-two  years  of  the 
congregation's  existence  it  was  dependent  for  services  upon  such 
ministrations  as  occasional  visiting  ministers  could  give.  Then 
beginning  with  1785  and  for  twenty-seven  years  thereafter  it  had 
enjoyed  the  distinguished  services  of  Rev.  Christian  Streit.  This 
servant  of  the  Lord  receives  from  history  the  very  highest  testi- 
monials to  his  accomplishments,  his  consecration,  and  his  wise 
zeal  for  souls.  He  it  was  who  pushed  to  completion  the  building 
of  the  first  house  of  worship,  just  in  time  to  welcome  the  first 
Special  Conference.  Eight  years  before  the  Synod  was  organized 
at  Winchester  Pastor  Streit  had  passed  from  his  earthly  labors 
and  had  been  buried  beneath  the  floor  of  the  old  church  and  in 
front  of  the  pulpit  from  which  he  had  so  faithfully  proclaimed 
the  counsel  of  God.  But  the  influence  of  his  devout  spirit  and 
his  diligence  in  the  instruction  of  the  young  continued  to  be  felt 
at  Winchester  long  after  his  body  had  been  laid  to  rest.  His 
pious  widow  and  five  of  his  children  were  still  living  there  in 
1820,  and  thirty-five  years  later  his  granddaughter  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Porterfield  Krauth. 

For  nearly  eight  years  before  October,  1820,  the  church  at 
Winchester  had  been  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Abraham 
Reck,  a  native  of  Littlestown,  Pennsylvania,  an  impressive 
preacher  and  an  industrious  self-sacrificing  pastor.  He  it  was 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD. 


49 


who  prepared  the  church  and  the  congregation  at  Winchester  to 
receive  the  ministers  and  lay  delegates  to  the  organization  meet- 
ing of  our  Synod.  This  congregation  afterwards  had  as  its  min- 
isters such  distinguished  men  as  Theophilus  Stork,  Charles  Por- 
terfield  Krauth,  Milton  Valentine,  William  M.  Baum,  and  David 
M.  Gilbert.  It  was  said  of  this  congregation  during  Dr.  Krauth 's 
pastorate  there  (1848-1855)  that  "The  community  at  Winchester 
contained  an  unusually  large  proportion  of  persons  of  high  in- 
tellectual and  social  culture  and  refinement."  The  same  was 
doubtless  true  of  the  community  a  generation  earlier  in  1820. 

The  Old  Church  on  the  Hill,  in  which  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Synod  was  held,  and  of  which  we  present  a  sketched  portrait 


THE  ORIGINAL  CHURCH  AT  WINCHESTER. 

herewith,  had  been  begun  in  1762.  It  was  thirty  years  in  the 
process  of  building.  It  was  built  on  large  dimensions  for  that 
day,  52  feet  by  42  feet.  The  foundation  walls  were  three  and  a 
half  feet  thick  and  the  upper  walls  two  and  a  half  feet.  The 
building  was  of  stone  and  it  was  not  until  1772  that  the  walls 
were  completed  and  the  roof  was  put  on.  During  the  war  of  in- 
dependence the  building  was  used  as  barracks.  When  Pastor 
Streit  came  on  the  scene  in  1785  the  church  received  doors  and 
windows,  in  1790  two  sweet-toned  bells  were  placed  in  the  tower, 
and  finalh-  in  1793  it  received  its  spire  and  was  complete.  The 
4 


r>o 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


organ  was  installed  in  17?).").  The  old  landmark  stood  until  1854 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  eleven  years  before  that  it  had 
been  abandoned  as  a  plaee  of  worship.  To-day  only  the  ivy- 


inanteled  east  wall  of  the  old  shrine  remains  to  mark  the  spot 
where  the  Maryland  Synod  was  formally  organized  a  hundred 
years  ago. 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD.  51 

To  such  a  community  and  congregation  and  church  came  eleven 
ministers  and  seven  lay  delegates  on  October  11,  1820,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  organized  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  so  forth.  We  reproduce  here 
the  English  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  that  memorable  first 
convention  of  the  Synod : 

WINCHESTER,  (VA.),  October  11,  1820. 

This  being  the  day  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the.  clergy  and  lay- 
delegates  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregations  in  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, to  organize  a  new  Synod,  the  following  clergymen  and  lay-delegates 
assembled : 

Rev.  Daniel  Kurtz,  D.D.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Rev.  John  Grob, Taneytown,  Md. 

"Rev.  David  F.  Schaeffer,  A.M.,   Frederick,  Md. 

Rev.  Martin  Sackman,   London  Cty,  Va. 

Rev.  Abraham  Reck, Winchester,  Va. 

Rev.  Benj.  Kurtz,   Ilagerstown,  Md. 

Rev.  Michael  Meyerheffer, Madison,  Va. 

Rev.  John  Kehler,  Middletown,  Md. 

Rev.  Michael  Wachter Frederick  City,  Md. 

Rev.  Charles  P.  Krauth, Shepperdstown,  Va. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Schmucher, Woodstock  (Sheiiandoah),  Va. 

Lay -Dele  gates. 

Frederick  Loehr,   Frederick. 

John   Baker,   Winchester. 

Abraham  Reck, Taneytown. 

George  Shryock Hagerstown. 

Frederick  Kiefer, London  Cty. 

Jacob  Bishop,  Shepperdstown. 

Jacob  Ott, Woodstock. 

The  Revd.  Dr.  Kurtz  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  David  F.  Schaeffer 
Secretary. 

The  Revd.  Chairman  introduced  the  business  of  this  session  with  a  prayer. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  B.  Kurtz, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee,  consisting  of  three  Pastors  and  three  Lay- 
delegates,  be  now  appointed,  to  draught  a  constitution  for  this  Synod,  and 
that  the  constitutions  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  Synods  be  con- 
sulted by  the  Committee. 

The  Revd.  Messrs.  B.  Kurtz,  Grob  and  Krauth,  and  Messrs.  Shryock,  Loehr 
and  Baker,  Lay-delegates,  were  appointed  accordingly. 

Adjourned  to  3  o'clock,  p.  m. 

The  session  was  closed  with  prayer  by  Mr.  Sackman. 

Three  o  'deck,  p.  m. — Prayer  by  Revd.  B.  Kurtz. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  draught  ;i  Constitution  for 
this  Synod,  reported  in  part;  and  in  the  name  of  the  Committee  requested 
further  time  to  complete  the  7-eport,  which  was  readily  granted. 

The  Revd.  Mr.  Krauth,  closed  with  a  prayer. 

This  evening,  Divine  service  was  performed  by  the  Revd.  Mr.  Schaeffer. 

Adjourned  to  9  o'clock,  A.M.,  October  12th. 

October  12th,  9  o'clock. — The  Revd.  Mr.  Reck  introduced  the  business  with 
prayer. 

The  Revd.  B.  Kurtz  continued  the  report  of  a  Constitution  for  this  Synod. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  ' '  That  the  Constitution,  as  reported  by  the  Revd.  B. 
Kurtz,  with  the  amendments  made  by  this  body,  be  now  adopted." 


52  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  this  Constitution  may  ho  altered  ami  amended 
at  the  next  Sy  nodical  meeting,  by  a  majority  of  the  members  who  shall  then 
be  present. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Synod  do  now  elect  the  officers  for  the  en- 
suing year. 

The-  Kevd.  Meyorheffer  and  G.  Shryock  were  appointed  to  receive  the  votes. 
The  following  brethren  were  then  declared  duly  elected: 

DANIEL  KTRT/.,  President; 
DAVID  F.  SCHAEFKER,  Secretary; 
ABRAHAM  KECK,  Trcasvrcr. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Dr.  Kurt/  and  Mr.  Rock,  or  any  two  of  the  of- 
ficers elected,  be  directed  to  attend  the  next  General  Synod,  as  representa- 
tives of  this  Synod,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  (!.  Sliryock. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  bo  authorized  to  purchase  the 
stationery  and  other  articles  necessary  for  this  Synod. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  correspondence  be  appointed, 
and  that  it  consist  of  Messrs.  Schaeffer,  Meyorhoffer,  and  Krauth. 

Oil  motion,  Resolved,  That  one  of  our  brethren  be  appointed  to  attend  the 
next  Synod  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Revd.  li.  Kurtz  was  appointed  accord- 
ingly. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  our  representatives  for  the  next  General  Synod 
bo  instructed  to  obtain  information  with  regard  to  the  legacy  left  in  Europe, 
for  the  benefit  of  our  clergy  in  this  country. 

M>.  Martin  Kibler,  (through  the  Revd.  Mr.  Reck)  expressed  his  desire  to 
become  a  member  of  this  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  corresponding  committee  inform  Mr.  Kibler,  that  if 
he  attends  at  our  next  synodical  meeting,  and  is  approved  of  upon  examina- 
tion, he  shall  be  admitted. 

On  motion.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  those  of  our  brethren,  who  are 
members  of  this  Synod,  having  been  ordained  as  Deacons  by  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  declared  pastors  in  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church. 

Application  was  made  by  Samuel  Hersche  to  become  a  member  of  this 
Synod. 

Resolved,  That  he  continue  his  studies  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Meyerheffer,  and  attend  at  our  next  annual  meeting. 

A  committee  appointed  to  form  a  device  for  a  se;il  to  be  used  by  this 
Synod,  reported  that  the  subject  had  been  attended  to. — The  design  was  ap- 
proved of,  and  the  Revd.  President  directed  to  have  a  seal  prepared  accord- 
ingly. 

Prayers  were  offered  by  Mr.  Schmucker. 

On.  motion,  adjourned  to  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  the  duty  of  every  member  of  this  Synod,  to  prepare 
materials  for  a  discipline  to  be  introduced  into  our  congregations,  and  offer 
them  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  President  be  appointed  to  prepare  licenses 
and  certificates  of  ordination,  and  that  he  have  125  copies  of  each  printed, 
(one-half  in  the  German,  and  the  other  in  the  English  language,)  on  good 
and  substantial  paper,  with  the  seal  of  the  Synod  attached  to  each,  for  the 
use  of  the  Synod. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  propriety  of  a  religious!  publication,  de- 
voted to  tho  interests  of  our  Church,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  recommended 
to  the  serious  consideration  of  the  next  annual  meeting  of  this  Synod. 

Tlif  business  of  the  Synod  was  now  accomplished;  every  member  was  de- 
lighted with  the  perfect  harmony  and  brotherly  love  that  prevailed  through- 
out the  session.  Every  one  was  convinced,  that  in  the  organization  of  this 
Synod,  the  hand  of  God  was  visible,  and  the  aid  of  His  spirit  experienced. 

The  President  gave  notice,  that  ere  he  could  close  the  session,  the  time 
and  place  of  the  next  annual  meeting,  must  be  determined. 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SYNOD.  53 

Accordingly  an  election  took  place,  by  which  it  was  determined  that  the 
next  annual  meeting,  be  held  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
September. 

The  brethren  having  united  in  singing  a  hymn,  the  President  offered  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  a  fervent  prayer,  and  declared  the  Synod  adjourned. 
The  evening  divine  service  was  performed  by  the  Revd.  B.  Kurtz. 
(Attested) 

DANIEL  KURTZ,  President; 
DAVID  F.  SCHAEFKER,  Secretary. 

P.  S. — Previous  and  subsequent  the  session,  discourses  were  delivered,  by 
the  Revd.  Messrs.  Meyerheffer,  Krauth,  Kehler  and  Goodman. 

These  minutes  were  printed  in  both  English  and  Gorman.  The 
official  name  in  1820  and  the  following  year  was  "The  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  so  forth."  In 
1822  the  name  becomes  "The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia"  and  so  continues  until  1833  (except 
1830).  The  pastors  of  Virginia  had  formed  the  Virginia  Synod 
in  1829.  Beginning  with  1833,  therefore,  the  name  has  been 
"The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland."  The  Synod, 
however,  has  never  pretended  strictly  to  observe  the  State  lines 
as  its  boundaries  but  has  always  included  a  few  congregations 
across  the  borders  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Virginia,  and  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. 

We  observe  that  of  the  eleven  ministers  who  organized  the 
Synod  six  were  serving  charges  in  Maryland  and  five  in  Virginia. 
Of  the  seven  lay  delegates  present  three  were  from  congregations 
in  Maryland  and  four  from  Virginia.  It  was  a  group  of  com- 
paratively young  men.  The  oldest  minister  among  them  and  the 
only  one  dignified  with  a  doctorate  of  divinity  was  the  pastor  of 
Zion  Church  in  Baltimore,  J.  Daniel  Kurtz.  He  was  three  years 
less  than  three  score.  Nicholas  Schmucker  was  forty -one, 
Schaeffer  was  thirty-five  and  probably  the  most  influential  man 
in  the  group,  Reck  was  thirty,  Meyerhoeffer  was  twenty-six,  Ben- 
jamin Kurtz  was  twenty-five,  Krauth  was  twenty-three,  and  Keh- 
ler was  only  twenty-two,  having  just  completed  his  theological 
studies  under  Schaeft'er  at  Frederick.  These  men  were  full  of  the 
vigor  and  enthusiasm  of  youth,  and  they  inspired  into  the  new 
organization  the  spirit  that  undertakes  and  achieves.  Most  of 
them  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  two  of  them,  Meyerhoeffer 
and  Kehler,  had  been  born  in  Frederick,  and  at  least  one, 
Schmucker,  had  come  from  Germany. 

When  we  glance  over  the  proceedings  of  that  first  meeting  we 
observe  that  the  most  important  items  of  business  were:  (1) 
The  adoption  of  a  Constitution;  (2)  The  election  of  the  first  of- 
ficers of  the  body;  (3)  The  request  that  each  minister  prepare 
materials  for  a  Church  Discipline,  the  beginning  of  a  work  which 
was  completed  two  years  later  by  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker,  and  which 


54  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

became  The  ("Jeneral  Synod's  Formula  of  Government  and  Dis- 
cipline; and  (4)  A  resolution  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of 
establishing  a  Church  journal,  which  resulted  in  The  Lutheran 
Initlli<j<  nc<  r,  edited  and  published  by  Rev.  1).  F.  Schaeil'er  at 
Frederick  from  182(5  to  18:51,  and  then  superseded  by  The  Lu- 
theran Observer  published  first  in  Baltimore  and  then  in  Phila- 
delphia. Surely  this  was  a  worthy  be«rinnin<r  for  the  new-born 
Synod. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  THE  SYNOD,  EXHIBITED  BY 
DECADES. 


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1820 

11 

1821 

16 

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1831 

18 

49 

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$320 

1840 

21 

47 

15 

4,935 

$376 

1850 

33 

65 

28 

8,316 

$4,433 

$15,922 

I860* 

31 

41 

22 

6,484 

$2,129 

$17,644 

1870 

58 

75 

50 

13,700 

$19,718 

$82,439 

1880 

66 

92 

48 

12,614 

$15,0X2 

$83,347 

1890 

84 

105 

57 

17,925 

$1,145,886 

$31,987 

$137,190 

1900 

104 

133 

75 

23,769 

$1,565,618 

$34,160 

$194,893 

1910 

114 

155 

96 

25,309 

$2,402,850 

$50,985 

$366,191 

1919 

120 

134** 

94** 

27,658 

$3,230,050 

$116,670 

$469,465 

*The  losses  during  this  decade  wer?  due  to  the  formation  of  the  Melanchthon 

Synod  in  1857. 

K*Tho  decrease  in  number  of  churches  and  pastorates  during  the  last  decade 
is  due  to  the  formation  of  the  West  Virginia  Synod  in  1912. 

55 


"The    Lord    doth    build    up    Jerusalem." — 
Psalm  147:  2. 


CHAPTER  V. 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 

The  first  President  of  the  Synod  was  the 

Rev.  J.  Daniel  Kurtz,  D.D. 

Dr.  Kurtz  was  for  more  than  half  a  century  pastor  of  "Old 
Zion''  in  Baltimore.  Not  only  was  he  the  first  president  of  our 
Synod  but  he  occupied  that  high  office  for  four  consecutive  terms. 
Then  for  thirty-two  years  more  he 
continued  to  be  a  member  of  the 
Synod  until  3856  he  passed  away 
in  the  ninety-third  year  of  his  age. 
For  many  years  he  had  been 
known  as  "the  aged  patriarch  of 
the  Synod,"  but  during  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  because  of  his  in- 
creasing infirmities  he  took  no  ac- 
tive part  in  the  business  of  the 
body. 

Not  only  was  Dr.  Kurtz  the 
premier  president  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  but  he  was  also  the 
first  president  of  the  General 
Synod  and  twice  thereafter  he 
was  reflected  to  that  responsible 
position. 

Sprague  summarizes  the  facts 
of  this  long  and  busy  career  thus : 

"Rev.  J.  Daniel  Kurtz,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Germantown,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  year  1763.  His  early  advantages  for  education 
were  only  such  as  were  supplied  by  the  very  indifferent  schools 
in  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived.  When  he  was  a  mere 
child,  less  than  six  years  old,  he  began  to  feel  an  indefinite  desire 
to  become  a  minister  of  the  Gospel ;  and  he  found,  at  no  distant 
period,  that  this  early  proclivity  was  quite  in  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  his  father.  While  the  Revolutionary  War  was  in 
progress,  his  father  resided  at  York,  and  Bishop  White,  who  was 
then  Chaplain  of  Congress,  had  his  apartments  for  some  time  in 

57 


EEV.  J.  DAXIEL  KURTZ,  D.  D., 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 


58  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

his  dwelling.  The  son  had  ceased  going  to  school  some  time  be- 
fore the  war  closed,  but  he  still  pursued  his  studies,  more  or  less, 
under  his  father,  always  keeping  the  ministry  in  his  eye  as  the 
profession  to  which  he  was  destined.  Mis  father  now  sent  him  to 
Lancaster  to  prosecute  his  studies  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Henry  Ernst  Muhlenberg.  Here  he  commenced  the  study  of 
Latin,  and  became  more  and  more  interested  as  he  proceeded. 
Though  his  teacher,  in  consequence  of  his  numerous  engagements, 
devoted  less  attention  to  him  than  was  desirable,  yet  he  had  a 
large  and  well  selected  library,  to  the  use  of  which  his  pupil  was 
made  welcome;  and  this  was  a  tolerable  compensation  for  any 
deficiency  in  the  matter  of  instruction. 

After  prosecuting  his  studies  at  Lancaster,  with  great  dili- 
gence, for  several  years,  he  was  examined  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Synod  in  Philadelphia,  and  received  a  license  to  perform  all  min- 
isterial duties.  .Shortly  after  this  he  returned  to  his  father's 
house  in  York,  and,  after  preaching  several  times  for  his  father, 
and  performing  various  pastoral  duties  among  his  people,  took 
charge  of  two  congregations  in  the  neighborhood,  preaching  in 
each  on  the  alternate  Sabbath.  He  was  ordained  during  the 
meeting  of  the  Synod  in  Philadelphia,  in  1784  or  1785. 

Before  he  had  been  preaching  long  he  received  a  request, 
through  his  father,  from  Dr.  Helmuth,  of  Philadelphia,  that  he 
would  come  and  be  his  assistant.  But  he  felt  constrained  to  de- 
cline the  offer,  on  the  ground  of  his  unfitness  for  so  prominent  a 
station.  The  Doctor  received  his  answer  with  decided  disappro- 
bation, and  did  not  hesitate  to  make  it  manifest  on  various  occa- 
sions afterwards.  He,  however,  finally  forgave  the  offense,  and 
an  intimate  friendship  grew  up  between  them,  which  was  termi- 
nated only  by  Dr.  Helmuth 's  death. 

In  the  same  year  (1786)  it  was  resolved  by  the  Synod  that  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Goering,  Mr.  Kurtz's  brother-in-law,  who  had  be- 
come assistant  to  his  father  at  York,  should,  with  Mr.  Kurtz  him- 
self, make  a  missionary  tour  to  the  vacant  congregations  in  Mary- 
land and  Virginia.  They  fulfilled  this  appointment  very  satis- 
factorily, and  the  next  year  Mr.  Kurtz  made  another  tour,  going 
over  nearly  the  same  ground. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Kurtz  made  a  visit  to  Baltimore,  where  he 
spent  the  Sabbath  and  preached  for  his  father's  friend,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Goerock.  His  services  proved  highly  acceptable,  and  the  re- 
sult was  that  he  was  called  to  be  his  assistant,  and  finally  became 
his  successor. 

In  the  year  1792  he  was  married  to  Maria  Messersmith,  in 
whom  he  found  a  devoted  wife,  and  with  whom  he  lived  most 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  59 

happily  for  more  than  half  a  century.    They  had  nine  children. 
Mrs.  Kurtz  died  in  1841,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

In  1816  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  1823  the  Rev.  Mr.  Uhlhorn  was  chosen  his  assistant.  In 
1832  or  1833  Mr.  Kurtz  resigned  his  charge,  and  a  pension  was 
settled  011  him.  In  his  eighty-eighth  year  he  preached  on  two 
occasions,  one  of  which  was  the  dedication  of  the  Rev.  M. 
Schwartz's  church.  In  1853,  being  then  in  his  ninetieth  year,  he 
attended,  by  particular  request,  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone 
of  the  two  German  Lutheran  churches,  and,  on  each  occasion, 
delivered  an  address. 

Dr.  Kurtz  died  in  Baltimore  on  the  30th  of  June,  1856,  in  the 
ninety-third  year  of  his  age,  leaving  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters. His  death  was  occasioned  by  no  particular  malady,  but  was 
rather  the  result  of  the  gradual  exhaustion  of  the  sources  of  ani- 
mal life. 

Dr.  Kurtz  was  distinguished  for  simplicity,  frankness,  and  un- 
compromising integrity.  He  was  a  man  of  much  more  than  ordi- 
nary powers,  and  was  a  diligent  student  and  great  reader  during 
his  whole  life.  In  his  earlier  years  he  bestowed  considerable  at- 
tention on  Botany  arid  Entomology ;  but,  as  he  advanced  in  life, 
his  studies  took  almost  entirely  a  theological  direction.  He  was 
an  evangelical,  impressive  and  earnest  preacher,  and  an  emi- 
nently faithful  and  affectionate  pastor.  He  was  admired  and 
reverenced  by  the  whole  community  amidst  whom  he  lived.  He 
never  published  anything  beyond  a  few  articles  in  the  Evangel- 
ical Magazine  (a  Quarterly  published  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Synod),  and  the  Evangelic  Hymn  Book,  prepared  by  him  and 
Dr.  Baker,  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  in  Baltimore. ' ' 

It  ought  to  be  added  that  the  first  president  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  thoroughly  evangelical  in  all  his  views.  He  was  a 
man  of  experimental  piety  and  of  deep  religious  experience.  He 
was  always  and  everywhere  insistent  upon  the  cardinal  doctrines 
of  our  holy  religion.  As  a  preacher  he  was  forceful,  instructive, 
and  thoroughly  scriptural.  He  presented  the  Gospel  truths  in  a 
plain  and  practical  way.  In  the  course  of  his  ministry  he  bap- 
tized 5,156  persons,  buried  2,521,  and  performed  2,386  marriages. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Maryland  Bible  Society,  a  di- 
rector of  our  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary,  and  closely  iden- 
tified with  all  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  church. 

Among  many  other  interesting  incidents  concerning  this  man, 
Dr.  Morris  relates  of  him:  "Although  I  have  seen  him  exposed 
to  severe  trials  of  patience,  yet  I  never  saw  him  excited  to  any 


(»()  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

(1  give,  excepting  once.  It  was  at  a  meeting  of  our  Synod,  when 
a  number  of  us  prevented  the  election  of  an  objections]  candidate 
for  the  Presidency  by  withholding  a  majority.  Five  or  six  elec- 
tions were  held,  and  with  the  same  result.  The  old  gentleman 
arose  and  most  severely  rebuked  us  for  our  obstinacy,  and  for  oc- 
casioning the  loss  of  so  much  time.  We  yielded  and  bore  the  in- 
Hiction  of  an  incompetent  man  in  the  presidential  chair  for  one 
year.*' 

I 'pon  his  death  in  185(5  the  Synod  recorded  concerning  him 
among  other  things  this:  "As  a  preacher  he  was  ardent,  impres- 
sive, and  thoroughly  scriptural.  As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful, 
self-denying,  and  diligent.  As  a  parent  he  was  affectionate,  ten- 
der, and  exemplary.  As  a  Christian  he  was  conscientious,  hum- 
ble, and  sincere.  In  every  relation  of  life  his  example  was  worthy 
of  imitation." 

The  first  secretary  of  the  Synod  was  the 

Rev.  David  Frederick  Schaeffer,  D.D. 

For  many  years  Dr.  Schaeffer  was  the  controlling  influence  in  the 
Maryland  Synod.  From  the  organization  of  the  body  to  the  time 
of  his  death  there  were  only  two  years  when  he  was  not  an  officer 
of  the  Synod.  For  three  consecutive  terms  he  was  Secretary, 
then  for  two  terms  President,  then  for  three  more  terms  Secre- 
tary, then  for  one  year  Treasurer,  then  back  to  the  Presidency 
for  three  more  terms,  then  after  one  year  of  rest  he  was  Treas- 
urer again  for  two  years,  and  a  year  and  a  half  later  he  died. 

The  Special  Meeting  of  pastors  which  in  1820  petitioned  the 
Pennsylvania  Ministerium  for  permission  to  organize  the  new 
Synod  had  been  held  at  Frederick  where  Dr.  Schaeffer  had  been 
pastor  since  1808.  This  clearly  indicates  his  moving  agency  and 
predominating  influence  in  the  preliminaries  of  the  organization. 
Then,  too,  his  continued  line  of  offices  in  the  Synod,  frequent  ap- 
pearance on  important  committees,  his  prominence  in  the  delib- 
erations of  the  body  as  indicated  by  the  minutes  of  the  proceed- 
ings, his  frequent  delegation  to  the  General  Synod,  his  editing 
of  the  first  English  Lutheran  journal  in  America,  the  Jnteili- 
yrncer,  and  his  training  of  a  constant  stream  of  theological  stu- 
dents in  the  parsonage  at  Frederick, — all  indicate  his  premier- 
ship among  the  brethren  in  those  early  formative  days. 

Dr.  Schaeffer  was  also  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod.  He  was  one  of  its  founders,  for  many  years  its  sec- 
retary, and  afterwards  its  president. 

Sprague  gives  a  review  of  his  life  as  follows : 

"David  Frederick  Schaeffer,  the  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Fred- 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 


61 


erick  David  and  Rosina  (Rosinmiller)  Schaeffer,  was  born  in 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  22d  of  July,  1787.  After  being 
prepared  for  college  at  an  academy  in  Philadelphia  he  entered 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  having1  passed  through  the 
regular  course  of  study  with  diligence  and  success,  graduated  in 
the  year  1807.  Having  studied 
theology  under  his  father  and 
under  Doctors  Helmuth  and 
Schmidt,  he  took  charge  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion in  PVederiek  City,  Maryland, 
in  July,  1808.  Though,  at  that 
time,  but  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
he  had  developed  a  fine  command- 
ing person ;  had,  for  his  years,  a 
large  measure  of  intellectual  ac- 
quirement ;  possessed  the  finest 
social  qualities;  and,  for  general 
personal  attraction,  was  almost 
unrivalled.  His  ordination  took 
place  in  Philadelphia,  on  Trinitv, 
1812. 

"Mr.  Schaeffer  soon  became 
greatly  endeared  to  his  congrega- 
tion, and  was  untiring  in  his  ef- 
forts for  the  advancement  of  their  interests.  He  labored  in  seas- 
son  and  out  of  season ;  in  town  and  in  the  country ;  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  during  the  week ;  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  the  pulpit ; 
beside  the  sick  bed  and  in  the  catechetical  class.  In  1829  he  was 
unanimously  elected  Principal  of  the  Frederick  Academy,  and, 
by  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the  Trustees,  was  induced  to  accept 
the  appointment ;  though,  after  holding  the  office  for  some  time, 
he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  it  on  account  of  the  pressure  of  his 
pastoral  and  ecclesiastical  duties.  In  1836  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  St.  John's  College, 
Annapolis. 

"Dr.  Schaeffer  was  intimately  connected  with  all  the  leading 
movements  in  his  own  denomination,  and  with  many  important 
public  enterprises  out  of  it.  The  first  English  periodical  estab- 
lished in  the  Lutheran  Church,  (which  was  the  Lutheran  Jntclli- 
(icnccr,}  in  1826,  was,  by  common  consent,  committed  to  his  edi- 
torial charge.  He  had  a  very  important,  if  not  a  primary,  agency 
in  establishing  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  which 
has  now  taken  a  commanding  place  among  the  Divinity  Schools 


RKV.  DAVID  FREDERICK  SCHAEFFER, 
D.D. 


62  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

of  the  country.  Ho  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Frederick 
County  Bible  Society,  and  was  President  of  the  General  Synod 
in  1831  and  18:52,  and  was,  for  several  years,  its  Secretary.  His 
earnestness  and  ability  in  a  protracted  controversy  with  the  Ro- 
manists, who  had  a  stronghold  in  Frederick,  were  eminently  con- 
ducive to  the  interests  of  Protestantism  in  that  region.  He  had 
rarely  less  than  three  or  four  students  of  theology  under  his  care, 
and  it  was  a  common  saying,  in  view  of  the  great  number  of  min- 
isters whom  he  brought  into  the  Lutheran  ranks,  that  he  was  a 
'Church  Father.' 

"  Dr.  Schaeffer's  indefatigable  labors,  in  connection  with  severe 
domestic  afflictions,  so  materially  affected  his  health  that,  for  the 
last  year  or  two  of  his  life,  he  was  physically  inadequate  to  the 
amount  of  service  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to  perform. 
In  addition  to  this,  certain  adverse  circumstances  brought  him 
into  painful  relations  with  the  Synod;  and  just  at  that  period 
his  earthly  career  closed.  He  died  suddenly  in  Frederick,  which 
had  been  his  only  field  of  labor,  on  the  oth  of  May,  1837,  in  the 
fiftieth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  ministry. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harkey,  who 
was  at  that  time  officiating  in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Frederick, 
and  another  Commemorative  Discourse  was  subsequently  deliv- 
ered, at  the  special  request  of  the  congregation,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Krauth,  President  of  Pennsylvania  College,  who  had  pursued  his 
theological  studies  under  Dr.  Schaeffer's  direction. 

"Dr.  Schaeffer's  published  works  are  to  be  found  chiefly  in  the 
five  volumes  of  the  Lutheran  JntcUi(jenccr,  (from  1826  to  1831) 
of  which  he  was  the  editor.  He  published,  in  addition,  A  Fast 
Sermon,  delivered  during  the  war  of  1812-15;  An  Historic  Ad- 
dress Commemorative  of  the  Blessed  Reformation,  1818;  and  a 
Charge  to  the  Rev.  S.  S.  Schmucker,  on  his  Induction  as  Profes- 
sor in  the  Theological  Seminary,  1826;  and,  it  is  believed,  some 
other  pamphlets. 

"On  the  28th  of  June,  1810,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  George  and  Catharine  Krebs,  of  Philadelphia.  They 
had  six  children/' 

Toward  the  close  of  his  life  Dr.  Schaeff'er  fell  into  a  fault  which 
in  these  days  of  national  prohibition  would  scarcely  be  possible. 
This  involved  him  in  "painful  difficulties"  with  the  Synod,  but 
these  were  happily  adjusted  before  his  death.  Of  his  eminent 
services  to  our  Synod  and  to  the  church  in  the  days  of  his  prime 
there  is  abundant  evidence  and  the  causes  for  gratitude  to  his 
memory  are  many. 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 


63 


The  first  Treasurer  of  the  Synod  was 

Rev.  Abraham  Reck. 

Rev.  Reck  was  the  pastor  loci  for  this  first  meeting  of  the  Synod. 
He  was  then  only  thirty  years  old  and  had  been  in  the  ministry 
only  seven  years,  but  a  long  and  varied  experience  la}'  before  him. 

Pastor  Reck  was  born  at  Littlestown,  Pennsylvania,  in  1790. 
He  received  strong  religious  im- 
pressions from  the  catechetical  in- 
struction of  Rev.  John  Grobb, 
whom  he  terms  "a  truly  converted 
man. ' '  Having  resolved  to  study 
for  the  ministry  he  was  put  under 
the  care  of  Rev.  F.  V.  Melsheimer 
of  Hanover,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1812  he  was  licensed  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  and  in  1813  en- 
tered upon  his  first  pastorate  at 
Winchester.  Here  he  labored  suc- 
cessfully for  fifteen  years. 

He  was  animated  all  his  life 
with  an  earnest  missionary  spirit 
and  during  his  ministry  at  Win- 
chester he  frequently  visited  the 
destitute  places  in  the  western 
part  of  Virginia.  He  had  one  sta- 
tion thirty  miles  distant  from  his  home  where  he  preached  regu- 
larly. In  1822  he  was  appointed  the  Synod's  missionary  to  the 
destitute  parts  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsylvania,  along 
the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  Alleghenies.  In  his  report  the 
next  year  he  sets  forth  that  he  travelled  one  thousand  and  six 
miles  and  preached  eighty-five  sermons.  His  narrative  of  his 
missionary  journeys  includes  some  truly  thrilling  experiences. 

Reck  was  personally  intimate  with  Charles  Philip  Krauth  and 
Benjamin  Kurtz  in  the  Maryland  Synod  and  these  three  were 
the  active  aids  of  S.  S.-Schmucker  in  the  founding  of  Gettysburg 
Seminary.  Pastor  Reck  was  frequently  invited  to  prominent 
places,  such  as  Chambersburg,  Gettysburg,  Lancaster  and 
Charleston,  but  he  never  saw  fit  to  accept  such  calls. 

During  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  at  Winchester  certain 
irreconcilable  differences,  relating  chiefly  to  questions  of  church 
usage,  arose  between  himself  and  some  of  his  people,  and  this 
finally  led  to  his  resignation. 

In  1828,  therefore,  he  accepted  the  call  from  Middletown, 


BEV.  ABRAHAM  KECK. 


64  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Maryland,  a  call  that  had  been  extended  to  him  annually  for 
seven  successive  years.  Here  he  remained  nine  years  and  so  con- 
tinued to  be  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod  even  after  the 
withdrawal  of  his  Virginia  brethren.  During  his  ministry  at 
Middletown  he  was  instrumental  in  sending  into  the  Lutheran 
ministry  such  useful  men  as  Ezra  Keller,  David  F.  Bittle,  Wil- 
liam A.  Wadsworth.  and  John  Gaver.  Reck  was  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  popular  evangelistic  methods  and  an  attempt  was  made 
by  some  of  his  opponents  on  this  score  to  prosecute  him  before 
Synod  but  this  failed  ignominiously. 

In  18:>(J  he  was  induced  to  remove  to  Indianapolis  and  his  name 
disappears  from  our  synodical  roll.  When  he  went  to  Indian- 
apolis the  name  of  a  Lutheran  was  hardly  known  there.  Hut  he 
purchased  property  with  his  personal  funds  and  set  to  work  or- 
ganizing  Lutheran  congregations.  In  less  than  six  years  he  had 
organized  nine  congregations.  Then  misfortunes  befell  him.  He 
lost  his  health  and  was  cheated'  out  of  his  property  and  rendered 
a  poor  man. 

In  1841  he  removed  to  Cincinnati  with  the  express  purpose  of 
organizing  an  English  Lutheran  Church  there.  In  this  he  suc- 
ceeded in  spite  of  unparalleled  difficulties.  Hut  his  health  and 
that  of  his  family  was  such  that  his  friends  constrained  him  to 
remove  to  Germantown,  Ohio,  in  1845.  We  next  find  him  at 
Tarleton  for  three  years,  1847-1 851,  and  finally  in  retirement  at 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  where  he  succumbed  to  a  painful  throat  afflic- 
tion in  18o'9.  During  the  last  years  of  his  life  the  Maryland 
Synod  contributed  modest  sums  to  his  support.  The  chapter  of 
his  sorrows  is  as  wonderful  as  the  chapter  of  his  successes. 

The  first  Treasurer  of  the  Synod  was  an  eloquent  harbinger  of 
the  future  missionary  career  of  the  new  body. 

Another  of  the  founders  of  the  Synod  was  the 

Rev.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  drafted  the  first  Consti- 
tution of  the  Synod.  Five  times  he  was  President  of  the  Synod 
and  he  was  always  prominent  in  the  work  of  the  body.  He  was  a 
nephew  of  Daniel  Kurtz,  the  first  President,  and  a  grandson  of 
the  John  Nicholas  Kurtz  who  was  ordained  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Ministerium  at  its  first  meeting  in  1748.  Few  men  have  exerted 
a  greater  influence  in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  America  than 
Benjamin  Kurtz.  His  public  career  extended  over  half  a  century 
and  during  that  period  ( 181  .VISH"))  he  was  identified  with  all  the 
more  important  events  in  the  history  of  our  Church.  His  life- 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 


65 


story  has  been  related  by  Hutter  and  Stoever  and  Morris,  and 
the  influence  of  his  career  has  been  estimated  by  many  others. 
Let  the  following  brief  summary  of  the  facts  suffice  here: 

Benjamin  Kurtz  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  February  28,  1795. 
His  youth  was  marked  by  seasons  of  deep  religious  convictions. 
He  studied  theology  under  George 
Lochman  and  was  licensed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium  at 
Frederick  in  1815.  For  several 
months  he  was  assistant  to  his 
uncle  in  Baltimore,  but  that  same 
3'ear  accepted  a  call  to  the  Ha- 
gerstown  charge.  He  was  then 
the  only  pastor  in  Washington 
County  and  his  charge  embraced 
five  congregations.  Sixteen  years 
later  when  he  left  that  field  the 
number  of  Lutherans  there  had 
been  multiplied  by  four  and  six 
pastors  were  required  for  the 
field. 

For  two  years  (1831-1833)  he 
was  pastor  at  Chambersburg,  but 
the  precarious  condition  of  his 
health  made  it  imperative  for 
him  to  lay  aside  the  active  duties  of  pulpit  and  pastorate.  Just 
then  Dr.  Morris  invited  him  to  take  charge  of  the  Lutheran  Ob- 
server and  as  editor  of  that  paper  for  twenty-eight  years  he 
wielded  his  chief  influence.  When  Dr.  Kurtz  took  charge  of  the 
paper  it  was  a  small  bi-weekly  with  seven  hundred  subscribers; 
when  he  laid  down  the  editorial  pen  in  1861  it  was  a  large  weekly 
with  more  than  eight  thousand  subscribers. 

Dr.  Kurtz  was  not  only  prominent  in  organizing  the  Maryland 
Synod  but  he  also  took  a  leading  part  in  the  formation  of  the 
General  Synod.  The  General  Synod  was  organized  in  his  church 
at  Hagerstown.  He  was  present  at  almost  every  convention  of 
that  body  until  his  death  and  was  twice  its  President.  For  many 
years  he  was  President  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  and  of 
the  Parent  Education  Society. 

In  1826  Dr.  Kurtz  was  appointed  by  the  General  Synod  to 
visit  Europe  in  the  interest  of  the  Gettysburg  Seminary  and  after 
two  years  he  returned  with  $10,000  and  a  great  number  of  books. 
Late  in  life  he  was  instrumental  in  establishing  the  Missionary 
Institute  at  Selinsgrove. 
5 


REV.  BENJAMIN  KURTZ,  D.D., 
LL.D. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Dr.  Kurtz  stoutly  maintained  the  "evangelical"  standpoint 
and  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  "new  measures"  and  of 
"American  Lutheranisra. "  This  hroujrht  him  into  vigorous  po- 
lemics. Hut  to  his  dying  day  he  /ealously  advocated  English 
preaching,  Sunday  school,  protracted  meetings,  and  temperance 
reform.  He  is  characterized  as  "an  eloquent  preacher,  a  sym- 
pathetic pastor,  a  keen  debater,  and  a  voluminous  writer."  The 
decree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  on  him  by  Washington  College  in 
1838,  and  the  degree  of  LL.D.  by  Wittenberg  College  in  18.")8. 
He  died  in  Haltimore,  December  29,  186.1. 

Among  the  younger  men  who  helped  to  organ i/e  the  Synod  was 
Rev.  Charles  Philip  Kraut h,  D.D. 

Dr.  Krauth  in  1820  was  pastor  at  Shepherdstown  and  Martins- 
burg,  where  he  had  taken  charge  the  year  before.  He  was  then 
only  twenty-three  years  old  and  both  of  his  theological  teachers, 
D.  F.  Schaeft'er  and  Abraham  Keck,  were  members  of  that  first 

convention  of  the  Synod.  Never- 
theless young  Krauth  rapidly  rose 
to  independent  influence  in  the 
body.  Already  at  the  organiza- 
tion meeting  he  was  a  member  of 
the  committee  that  drew  up  the 
first  constitution.  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Synod  at  her  sec- 
ond convention  in  1821,  having 
been  licensed  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Ministerium  two  years  before.  At 
the  fourth  meeting  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  he  was  made  Treas- 
urer and  so  continued  for  three 
terms.  Then  lie  became  Presi- 
dent. This  office  he  held  only  one 
term  because  in  1827  he  removed 
from  the  bounds  of  the  Synod. 
His  subs  e  q  u  e  n  t  career  as  a 
teacher  is  perhaps  traceable  his- 
torically to  the  action  of  the  Synod  in  1823  when  he  was  made  a 
member  of  the  committee  with  Henjamin  Kurtz  "to  report  a  plan 
for  the  education  of  pious  and  indigent  young  men  for  the  fJos- 
pel  ministry."  His  career  as  editor  was  also  prefigured  in  the 
Maryland  Synod  when  in  1826  and  1827  he  was  associated  with 
Dr.  Schaeffer  in  editing  the  Intrllifjcncrr. 

The  intimate  facts  of  his  life  are  very  beautiful,     Professor 


REV.  CHARLES  Pini.ir  KRATTH, 
D.I). 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  67 

Stoever  opens  his  lengthy  account  of  Dr.  K ninth's  life  with  these 
words:  "A  character  so  near  perfection,  a  life  so  almost  blame- 
less as  was  that  of  Charles  P.  Krauth  is  seldom  found.  He  was 
one  of  the  purest  and  best  men  that  ever  lived.  One  more  faith- 
ful and  affectionate,  better  in  the  entire  combination  of  his  gifts 
and  graces,  has  never  been  given  to  the  church."  From  that  ac- 
count we  gather  the  following : 

Dr.  Krauth  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania, 
May  7,  1797.  His  father,  Charles  James  Krauth,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  as  a  young  man,  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  school  teacher  and  a  church  organist.  His  mother  \vas 
a  Pennsylvania!!.  They  lived  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  also  for  many  years  in  Virginia,  highly  re- 
spected and  enjoying  the  confidence  of  their  neighbors.  Of  his 
early  life  comparatively  little  is  known  in  consequence  of  his 
singular  and  habitual  reticence  with  regard  to  himself.  He  early 
evinced  a  ciecided  taste  for  linguistic  studies,  and,  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  Latin,  Greek,  and  French,  won  for  himself  high  credit. 
Having  selected  medicine  as  his  profession,  he  commenced  its 
study  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Selden,  of  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  subsequently  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  in  the  University  of  Maryland.  But  his  funds 
having  become  exhausted,  he  visited  Frederick,  Maryland,  with  a 
view  of  procuring  pecuniary  aid  from  an  uncle,  the  organist  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  During  a  visit  to  Rev.  D.  F.  Schaeffer,  of 
Frederick,  his  mind  was  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  ministry 
was  the  work  to  which  God  had  called  him.  He  very  soon  com- 
menced his  theological  studies  under  the  instructions  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Schaeffer,  and  at  every  step  of  his  progress  was  the  more  strongly 
convinced  that  he  was  acting  in  accordance  with  the  divine  will. 

While  he  was  engaged  at  Frederick  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
studies,  in  the  year  1818,  Rev.  Abraham  Reck,  of  Winchester, 
Virginia,  who  was  in  feeble  health,  wrote  to  Dr.  Schaeffer,  in- 
quiring if  he  could  not  send  him  a  theological  student  to  aid  him 
in  the  discharge  of  his  laborious  duties.  In  compliance  with  his 
request,  Dr.  Schaeffer  sent  young  Mr.  Krauth,  who  continued  his 
studies  under  the  direction  of  Pastor  Reck,  and  assisted  him  in 
preaching  the  gospel  and  performing  other  pastoral  labor.  He 
studied  under  Mr.  Reck  one  year,  and  the  testimony  of  his  pre- 
ceptor is  that  he  showed  great  comprehension  of  mind  and  was 
a  most  successful  student. 

Mr.  Krauth  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  its  meeting  in  Baltimore  in  1819.  His  first  pas- 
toral charge  embraced  the  united  churches  of  Martinsburg  and 
Shepherdstown,  Virginia,  where  he  labored  for  several  years  most 


68  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

efficiently  and  successfully.  It  was  at  a  district  conference,  held 
in  the  church  at  Martinsburg,  while  Mr.  Kranth  was  pastor, 
that  the  enterprise  of  a  theological  seminary,  in  connection  with 
the  General  Synod,  originated,  and  the  first  funds  towards  the 
ohjeet  contributed.  lie  was,  in  182(5,  elected  a  member  of  the 
first  Hoard  of  Directors.  In  1827  he  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Mat- 
thew's congregation,  recently  organized  in  Philadelphia. 

The  removal  of  Mr.  Krauth  to  Philadelphia,  in  1827,  marks  a 
new  epoch,  not  only  in  the  history  of  our  English  Lutheran  in- 
terests in  that  city,  but  of  his  own  life.  Brought  into  new  as- 
sociations, surrounded  by  active,  earnest,  living  men,  with  large 
libraries  at  his  command,  the  best  books  on  all  subjects  accessible, 
new  powers  seemed  to  be  awakened  within  him,  new  energies 
were  developed.  As  a  scholar,  a  theologian,  and  a  preacher,  he 
rapidly  advanced,  and  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  com- 
munity. At  first  he  encountered  some  opposition  from  the  Ger- 
man churches  in  the  prejudices  which  existed,  even  at  that  day, 
against  the  introduction  of  the  English  language  into  the  serv- 
ices of  the  sanctuary,  but  this  all  vanished  when  his  character 
and  object  was  better  understood.  Dr.  Krauth  remained  in 
Philadelphia  six  years,  and  during  the  whole  period  enjoyed  the 
highest  reputation  as  a  pastor  and  a  preacher,  gathering  around 
him  a  large  and  devoted  congregation  and  accomplishing  an 
amount  of  good  that  can  scarcely  be  estimated. 

In  the  year  18.'}:},  when  Dr.  Hazelius  resigned  his  professorship 
in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  the  attention  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  was  at  once  turned  to  Mr.  Krauth  as  the  man 
best,  qualified  for  the  position.  As  a  Hebraist  he  had  not  at  the 
time,  in  the  Church,  his  superior.  He  was  unanimously  chosen 
Professor  of  Biblical  and  Oriental  Literature.  Tt  was  agreed 
that  part  of  his  time  should  be  devoted  to  instruction  in  Penn- 
sylvania College,  with  the  understanding  that  so  soon  as  the 
proper  arrangements  could  be  made  his  duties  should  be  entirely 
confined  to  the  Theological  Seminary. 

Professor  Krauth  was  unanimously  elected  President  of  Penn- 
sylvania College  in  the  spring  of  1834.  The  duties  of  this  office 
he  faithfully  performed  for  nearly  nineteen  years,  during  most 
of  the  time  also  giving  instruction  in  the  Theological  Seminary. 

Tn  the  autumn  of  18f)0,  yet  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  he  re- 
linquished with  great  satisfaction,  the  anxious,  toilsome,  and 
often  ungrateful  work  of  the  College  Presidency,  for  the  more 
quiet,  congenial  and  pleasant  duties  of  theological  instruction. 
For  five  years,  during  his  connection  with  the  seminary,  he  also 
served  with  great  acceptance  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  with 
which  the  institutions  are  united.  He  continued  his  duties  in  the 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  69 

Theological  Seminary  until  the  close  of  his  life,  delivering  his 
last  lecture  to  the  senior  class  within  ten  days  of  his  death,  the 
subject,  by  a  singular  and  interesting  co-incidence,  being  the 
Resurrection.  He  died  May  30,  1867,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  forty-ninth  of  his  ministry.  The  honorary  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1837. 

From  1850  to  1861  he  was  editor  of  the  Evangelical  Review. 
His  published  writings  are:  "Works  of  Melanchthon, "  "The 
General  Synod,"  "Early  History  of  the  Lutheran  Church," 
"Schmidt's  Dogmatic,"  "The  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United 
States,"  "Present  Position  of  the  Lutheran  Church,"  "Contri- 
butions to  the  History  of  Church, "  "  Luther  and  Melanchthon, ' ' 
' '  German  Language, "  "  Henry  Clay, "  "  Baptism. ' ' 

Three  other  ministers  who  helped  to  organize  the  Maryland 
Synod  may  receive  mention :  Schmucker,  Meyerhoeffer,  and 
Kehler. 

Rev.  John  Nicholas  Schmucker  was  born  in  Michaelstadt  in 
the  Odenwald,  Germany,  on  September  24,  1779.  His  father  was 
John  Christopher  Schmucker,  and  when  Nicholas  was  but  two 
years  old  the  family  emigrated  to  America.  For  about  one  year 
they  tarried  in  Lehigh  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  then  moved  to 
Manheim  in  Lancaster  County.  A  year  later  they  removed  to 
Shenandoah  County  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Woodstock.  Here  the  five  sons  grew  to  manhood. 
Three  of  them  became  ministers :  John  George,  John  Nicholas, 
and  Peter.  John  George  was  the  father  of  the  distinguished 
Professor  S.  S.  Schmucker. 

The  early  educational  advantages  of  this  generation  of 
Schmuckers  were  rather  meager.  John  Nicholas,  however,  was 
a  man  of  decided  natural  abilities  and  appears  to  have  faithfully 
availed  himself  of  such  opportunities  as  he  enjoyed  for  the  de- 
velopment of  his  mental  powers  and  the  acquisition  of  useful 
knowledge.  When  about  thirty  years  of  age,  impelled  by  convic- 
tions of  duty,  he  decided,  although  he  was  then  married  and  had 
two  children,  to  devote  himself  to  the  Gospel  ministry.  Accord- 
ingly, after  a  brief  season  of  theological  study  under  his  elder 
brother,  Dr.  John  George  Schmucker,  who  was  then  pastor  at 
York,  Pennsylvania,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Min- 
isterium  in  1812,  and  took  charge  of  several  congregations  in 
Shenandoah  County  where  he  had  grown  to  manhood  and  where 
he  spent  the  whole  of  his  ministerial  career. 

During  a  large  portion  of  his  ministry  of  forty  years  he  served 
chieflv  the  churches  in  Woodstock  and  Strasburg  together  with 


70  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Frieden's  and  Zion  in  the  same  county.  One  of  his  relatives  re- 
lates, according  to  Dr.  I).  M.  (Jilhc'rt,  that  Nieholas  Schmucker 
stated  on  a  funeral  oeeasion  about  five  years  before  his  death  that 
the  sermon  on  that  occasion  \vas  the  thousandth  funeral  sermon 
he  had  preached.  This  would  indicate  a  very  busy  ministry.  Dr. 
Morris  says  of  him:  " Exceedingly  simple  and  even  primitive 
in  his  habits,  never  going  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  parish,  un- 
known to  the  outside  world,  yet  his  religious  life,  his  ministerial 
fidelity  and  his  blameless  demeanor  are  to  this  day  the  theme  of 
the  people  of  that  rep-ion." 

Xot  only  was  Nicholas  Sehmueker  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  1820  but  in  1829  lie  helped  also  to  organize 
the  Virginia  Synod  and  became  its  first  president.  Late  in  the 
year  1820  he  divided  his  large  pastorate  and  shared  it  with  his 
highly-educated  nephew.  S.  S.  Sehmueker.  On  September  19th 
of  that  year  young  Sehmueker  made  this  entry  in  his  diary: 
"Yesterday  came  here  to  Uncle  Nicholas  and  was  very  kindly  re- 
ceived. Spent  the  afternoon  and  this  whole  day  conversing  with 
him  on  different  points.  He  is  a  man  of  good  talents  and  respect- 
able information.  He  is  very  willing  to  give  me  two  of  his  con- 
gregations, Woodstock  and  Huddle's  sehoolhouse,  if  I  see  fit  to 
settle  here.  He  is  very  kind.  We  have  talked  over  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  town  and  of  New  Market.  Henkel  and  sons 
persecute  instinctively  everything  that  bears  the  name  of 
Sehmueker.  Nicholas  is  a  true  Christian.  His  wife  is  a  very 
sensible,  good-natured,  pious  woman.  Became  pious,  he  told  me, 
within  the  last  two  years."  The  uncle  preached  only  in  German  ; 
the  nephew  introduced  English. 

Some  estimate  of  the  robust  character  of  his  Lutheranism  may 
be  formed  from  the  Synod  Minutes  of  1828  where  we  learn  that 
"some  disaffection  had  recently  occurred  between  the  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  churches  worshipping  alternately  in  Friedens 
church,  in  consequence  of  the  Rev.  N.  Sehmueker  refusing  to  give 
a  general  invitation  to  persons  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  that  this  was  alleged  by  a  respectable  member  of  the  (>.  Re- 
formed Church  now  present."  Whereupon  the  Synod  "Re- 
solved, That  the  Rev.  N.  Sehmueker,  in  not  giving  a  general  in- 
vitation to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  did  not  transgress  the 
discretionary  power  vested  in  every  individual  Minister  of  our 
church." 

Tn  June,  1854,  having  partially  recovered  from  a  serious  sick- 
ness, Nicholas  Sehmueker  removed  to  the  residence  of  his  son, 
Rev.  Cieorge  Sehmueker.  in  Pendleton  County,  Virginia,  in  the 
hope  that  the  change  would  improve  his  health.  But  this  hope 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  71 

was  not  realized  and  early  in  1855  he  died,  being  in  his  seventy- 
sixth  year. 

Rev.  Michael  Meyerhoeffer  was  born  in  Frederick.  Maryland, 
October  28,  1794.  His  preliminary  education  was  received  in  the 
schools  of  that  place,  after  which  he  studied  theology  under  the 
direction  of  his  pastor,  Rev.  D.  F.  Schaeffer.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Baltimore,  in  1815,  and  began 
his  ministry  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year,  in  Madison  County, 
preaching  in  both  German  and  English.  After  serving  the  Madi- 
son congregation  for  a  period  of  six  years,  he  accepted  a  call  to 
Rockingham  County,  where  he  ministered  for  about  twelve  years 
as  pastor  of  the  Union  Church  at  Cross  Keys,  the  ' '  Peaked  Moun- 
tain" Church  in  East  Rockingham,  St.  John's  Church  (in  what 
was  then  called  the  Brush  Country,  now  Singer's  Glen),  and 
Salem  Church  in  Augusta  County.  Mr.  Meyerhoeffer  was  also 
accustomed  to  preach,  occasionally,  in  Mount  Zion,  St.  Peter's 
and  St.  Michael's  churches,  and  also  in  the  counties  of  Rock- 
bridge  and  Pendleton.  He  is  .represented  by  his  cotemporaries 
as  having  been  a  popular  preacher  of  very  considerable  ability. 

In  1821  and  1822  the  Synod  was  several  times  busied  with  a 
difficulty  that  had  arisen  between  Mr.  Meyerhoeffer  and  Mr. 
Reirnenschneider  concerning  several  congregations  in  Rocking- 
ham Count}',  Virginia.  The  Synod  decided  that  Mr.  Meyer- 
hoeffer had  acted  perhaps  imprudent ly  but  not  without  author- 
ity, and  that  Mr.  Reimenschneider  had  acted  "injudiciously  and 
unclerically. "  When  Mr.  Reimenschneider  refused  to  abide  by 
the  decision  of  the  Synod  he  was  threatened  with  dismissal  from 
the  body.  Then  we  read  :  ' '  The  Rev.  Mr.  Reimenschneider,  hav- 
ing been  convinced  of  his  error,  made  ample  concessions  and  sat- 
isfactory promises.  The  same  was  affecting :  he  was  embraced  by 
all  the  brethren  present  and  lie  is  hereby  continued  a  member  of 
this  Synod. ' ' 

On  April  15,  1816,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Major  Lewis  Crigler,  of  Madison  County. 
Mr.  Meyerhoeffer  died  April  18,  1833,  and  was  buried  at  Union 
Church,  near  which  he  had  lived. 

During-  the  last  year  or  two  of  his  life  Mr.  Meyerhoeffer  be- 
came actively  interested  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  country, 
and  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a  candidate  for  Congress. 

Rev.  John  Kehler  was  born  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  near  the 
end  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Of  his  early  educational  training 
we  have  no  information.  His  studies,  preparatory  to  entering 
upon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  were  pursued  under  the  guidance 
of  Rev.  D.  F.  Schaeffer,  upon  the  completion  of  which  he  was  li- 


<2  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

censed  by  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  in  1819  and  the  next  year 
he  united  in  the  organization  of  the  Synod  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia. 

Mr.  Keliler's  first  charge  was  in  Middletown,  Maryland,  July, 
1819,  to  October,  1821.  from  which  place  he  moved  to  Madison 
County,  Virginia,  where  he  was  serving  as  pastor  at  the  time  of 
the  formation  of  the  Virginia  Synod  in  1829.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  withdrew  from  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  at  its  second 
convention  in  1830,  and  reunited  with  the  Synod  of  Maryland, 
because  of  the  resolution  of  the  former  body  not  to  remain  in 
connection  with  the  General  Synod.  A  year  or  two  after  this, 
probably  in  1832,  Mr.  Keillor  resigned  the  church  in  Madison 
County,  and  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  Cumberland,  Mary- 
land. After  serving  the  congregation  in  Cumberland  for  a  time 
he  went  over  to  the  Episcopal  Church  and  was  reordained.  Of 
his  later  history,  beyond  the  fact  that  in  his  new  connection  he 
was  employed  as  a  missionary  in  the  western  counties  of  Mary- 
land, we  have  no  knowledge. 

Less  than  two  months  after  the  Synod  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia was  organized  there  came  upon  her  territory  a  young  man 
who  was  destined  to  exert  a  very  profound  influence  upon  her 
early  history.  This  was  the  twenty-one  year  old 

Rev.  Samuel  Simon  Schmucker,  D.D. 

From  1821,  when  he  was  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod  and 
when  his  name  first  appears  on  the  clerical  roll,  to  1826,  when  it 
appears  for  the  last  time  because  of  his  removal  from  the  bounds 
of  the  Synod,  he  is  clearly  one  of  the  loaders  of  the  body.  It  was 
in  that  body  that  he  started  the  movement  for  a  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  America  which  resulted  in  the  institutions  at 
Gettysburg.  It  was  as  a  member  of  our  Synod  that  he  wrote  most 
of  the  organic  documents  of  the  General  Synod  and  it  was 
through  the  Maryland  Synod  that  he  saved  the  General  Synod 
from  dissolution  in  1823.  For  many  years  after  he  withdrew 
from  formal  membership  in  the  Maryland  Synod  he  continued  to 
attend  her  meetings  as  a  delegate  of  the  West  Pennsylvania.  In 
the  professor's  chair  he  trained  more  than  five  hundred  men  for 
the  Lutheran  ministry,  nearly  the  entire  output  in  that  period. 
In  brief,  throughout  the  first  half  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  Dr. 
Schmucker  exerted  a  wider  influence  in  the  Lutheran  Church  of 
this  country  than  any  other  man,  and  filled  a  larger  place  in  the 
public  eye  outside  of  the  Lutheran  Church  than  any  other  man 
in  it. 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 


73 


His  illustrious  career  has  been  set  forth  in  detail  by  several 
hands  (Anstadt,  Morris,  B.  M.  Schmucker)  and  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  his  influence  has  been  estimated  by  friend  and  foe. 
We  submit  a  brief  summary  gathered  from  the  account  by  his 
son : 

"Samuel  Simon  Schmucker,  D.D.,  the  son  of  John  George 
Schmucker,  was  born  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  on  February  28, 
1799.  The  eminent  piety  of  his  father  was  reproduced  in  the  son, 
and  early  directed  his  thoughts  to  the  gospel  ministry.  In  his 
eleventh  year  he  removed  to  York, 
Pennsylvania.  Here  he  enjoyed 
superior  advantages  of  education 
in  the  academy.  From  this  time 
on  he  became  a  laborious  student 
and  it  was  his  life-long  habit.  In 
his  thirteenth  year  he  received  a 
kindly  letter  in  Latin  from  Dr. 
Helmuth  of  Philadelphia,  urging 
him  to  come  to  Philadelphia,  to 
the  university.  Tn  1814  he  re- 
paired thither  and  entered  the 
freshman  class.  He  continued 
there  to  the  end  of  the  sophomore 
y  e  a  r,  adding  to  his  university 
studies  some  theological  branches 
under  Dr.  Helmuth.  He  allowed 
himself  no  vacations.  In  1816, 
young  as  he  was,  he  took  charge 
of  the  classical  department  of  the 
York  Academy.  Dr.  John  G.  Morris  was  one  of  his  students. 
Meanwhile  he  was  studying  theology  under  his  father's  care. 
The  non-existence  of  a  theological  seminary  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  compelled  him  to  finish  his  studies  in  one  of  another 
faith.  Accordingly,  in  1818  he  went  to  Princeton  and  continued 
there  for  two  years.  Among  his  fellow-students  were  Bishops 
Mcllvaine  and  Johns,  and  Dr.  Robert  Baird  was  his  roommate. 
It  may  be  conceded  that  the  training  and  associations  of  this  in- 
stitution measurably  influenced  his  own  theological  views.  On 
June  2,  1820,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, at  Lancaster.  At  that  time  he  was  undoubtedly  the  best 
educated  young  man,  of  American  birth,  in  the  Lutheran  min- 
istry. 

"In  December,  1820,  he  settled  in  New  Market.  Virginia,  and 
spent  six  years  in  earnest  and  successful  pastoral  work  But 


"REV.  SAMUEL  SIMOX  SCHMUCKER, 
D.D. 


74  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

his  zeal  and  intellectual  activity  sought  expression  in  efforts  be- 
yond a  limited  pastorate.  He  wrote:  'When  1  left  Princeton, 
there  were  three  pi  a-  dcsidcria.  which  were  very  near  to  my  heart, 
for  the  welfare  of  our  Church.  A  translation  of  some  one  emi- 
nent system  of  Lutheran  Dogmatics,  a  theological  seminary,  and 
a  college  for  the  Lutheran  Church.'  He  set  himself  to  work  to 
meet  these  wants  and  succeeded.  Under  the  advice  of  Dr.  Ivoethe, 
of  Allstaedt,  and  others  he  translated  and  published  tftorr  and 
Flatt's  Biblical  Thcolo</ij.  In  18'2.'}  he  began  the  work  of  pri- 
vately preparing  students  for  the  ministry.  For  him  it  was  ex- 
cellent training  for  his  life  work. 

"These  were  formative  years  in  the  history  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  this  country.  She  was  extending  her  borders,  and 
the  German  language  was  ceasing  to  be  the  exclusive  one  in  her 
worship.  In  18:20  the  General  Synod  was  called  into  existence, 
primarily  through  the  agency  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  in  1823  it  withdrew.  It  is  conceded  that  the  energetic 
exertions  of  Dr.  Schmucker  saved  the  body  from  dissolution. 
Thenceforth  he  was  a  guiding  spirit  in  its  more  definite  organiza- 
tion and  enterprises.  He  was  the  author  of  most  of  its  organic 
documents,  as  its  constitution,  its  formula  of  government  and  dis- 
cipline for  its  synods  and  churches,  the  constitution  of  the  theo- 
logical seminary,  and  so  forth.  At  the  convention  of  the  General 
Synod  in  1825,  it  was  resolved  to  establish  a  theological  seminary, 
and  at  the  same  session  he  was  elected  its  first  professor.  On 
September  5,  1826,  he  was  formally  installed  at  Gettysburg,  and 
for  nearly  forty  years  he  filled  the  chair  of  didactic  theology. 
During  this  time  about  five  hundred  young  men  were  prepared 
for  the  ministry.  Many  of  them  became  highly  successful  in 
pastoral  and  professorial  life.  On  August  9,  1864,  he  resigned 
his  chair,  but  devoted  himself  to  authorship  almost  to  the  end  of 
his  days.  He  died  July  26,  187:}. 

*  Reeling  the  need  of  classical  attainments  in  ministerial  candi- 
dates, Dr.  Schmucker  early  devoted  his  energies  to  the  establish- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  College,  by  appeals  to  the  state  legislature 
and  to  the  church.  He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  for- 
mation of  the  Evangelical  Alliance.  He  attended  its  first  meet- 
ing in  London  and  was  received  with  great  distinction. 

"In  1855  the  unhappy  Definite  Platform  controversy  arose. 
Dr.  Schmucker  avowed  himself  the  author  of  the  document. 
"Whilst  no  one  doubted  the  sincerity  of  his  convictions,  it  alienated 
from  him  many  friends  and  clouded  the  evening  of  his  days. 

"He  was  the  most  voluminous  author  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  country  in  his  generation.  He  published  forty-four  vol- 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY. 


umes  and  pamphlets,  mostly  theological,  historical,  and  contro- 
versial. His  Popular  Theoloyy  passed  eight  editions,  his  Psy- 
choloyi/  through  three.  Apart  from  partisanship,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  friends  and  foes,  Dr.  Schmucker's  services  to  the  Lu- 
theran Church  and  the  cause  of  Christ  were  eminent.  He  was 
greatly  loved  by  his  fellow-citizens  in  Gettysburg,  and  his  fu- 
neral was  a  demonstration  of  warm  attachment  on  their  part,  as 
well  as  of  many  of  his  students  and  friends  from  abroad. ' ' 

The  connecting  link  between  the  founders  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  and  the  present  generation  of  ministers  is  the 

Rev.  John  Gottlieb  Morris,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Licensed  by  the  Synod  in  1826  and  ordained  in  1827  he  con- 
tinued to  be  a  member  for  the  remarkable  period  of  sixty-nine 
years.  He  easily  holds  first  place  among  the  influences  that 
moulded  the  staunch  Lutheran  character  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
during  the  second  half  of 
the  Nineteenth  Century. 
He  was  particularly  influ- 
ential in  moulding  the 
spirit  of  General  S  y  n  o  d 
Lutheranism  in  Baltimore. 
He  was  the  first  permanent 
pastor  of  the  First  English 
Lutheran  Church  in  that 
city,  an  office  that  he 
graced  for  thirty-three 
years.  For  nearly  forty 
years  thereafter  he  con- 
tinued to  be  the  nestor  of 
Baltimore  Lutheranism 
and  infused  into  it  the 
blessed  spirit  of  fraternity, 
conservatism,  and  aggres- 
siveness, that  characterize  KEV-  JoHX  G-  MORRI«.  D-D->  LL-D- 
it  to  this  day.  For  half  a  century  his  voice  in  the  Maryland 
Synod  had  the  weight  of  wisdom  and  age.  Every  important 
project  in  the  Synod  during  that  period  either  originated  with 
him  or  waited  on  his  approval.  He  was  actively  interested  in  all 
the  general  work  of  the  Church,  but  was  particularly  zealous  in 
the  work  of  education  and  publication.  His  own  writings  bulk 
large  in  volume,  and  we  are  indebted  to  him  for  some  of  the  ma- 
terials in  this  Synodical  History.  A  very  brief  sketch  of  his  long 
and  varied  career  comes  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Charles  S.  Albert : 


76  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

"John  Gottlieb  Morris  was  born  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  on 
November  14,  180:}.  He  died  at  Lutherville,  Maryland,  on  Oc- 
tober 10,  1895.  His  father  was  a  distinguished  surgeon  in  the 
Revolutionary  Army.  A  student  of  Prineeton  and  graduate  of 
Dickinson,  he  pursued  his  theological  course  under  Dr.  S.  S. 
Schmucker,  also  at  Nazareth,  Princeton,  and  Gettysburg.  In 
1827  he  became  pastor  of  the  first  English  Lutheran  Church,  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  serving  there  thirty-three  years.  lie  was  also 
supply  and  pastor  of  Third  Lutheran  Church,  and  librarian  of 
Peabody  Institute.  Afterward  he  served  at  Lutherville,  Mary- 
land, until  a  few  years  before  his  death.  He  retained  his  vigor  of 
mind  and  body  to  the  last,  though  nearly  ninety-two  at  death. 
He  was  distinguished  and  influential  in  the  Church,  for  which 
his  fine  natural  endowments,  varied  culture,  biblical  and  theo- 
logical learning,  strong  pulpit  power,  devoted  loyalty  to  the 
Church  fitted  him.  He  was  a  vigorous,  popular  \vriter  (for  list 
of  writings  see  Life  Reminiscences  of  an  Old  Lutheran  Minister, 
p.  355,  ff.) .  He  was  also  a  scientific  student  and  member  of  many 
learned  societies." 

Dr.  Morris  passed  away  just  as  the  Maryland  Synod  was  gath- 
ering to  his  own  city  to  hear  his  address  on  "The  Seventy-fifth 
Anniversary  of  the  Synod."  Instead  of  listening  to  his  familiar 
voice  the  Synod  as  a  body  attended  his  funeral  and  from  the  con- 
templation of  his  long  and  useful  career  gathered  new  inspira- 
tion to  devoted  service.  The  president  of  the  Synod  in  his  official 
report  expressed  what  all  who  knew  Dr.  Morris  had  felt,  that  he 
"was  the  nineteenth-century  incarnation  of  Luther.  His  intel- 
lectual attainments,  his  fine  literary  style,  his  virile  temper,  his 
wit,  his  indomitable  energy,  his  warm  and  tenacious  affections, 
his  conservation  of  our  doctrinal  beliefs,  his  masterful  address, 
his  large  hope  of  our  denominational  prestige,  and  his  child-like 
trust  in  God,  have  left  an  ineffaceable  record  upon  our  synodical 
and  church  life." 

Such  were  some  of  the  leading  personalities  in  the  organization 
of  our  Synod  and  in  her  early  history.  It  would  be  manifestly 
impossible  within  the  scope  of  this  volume  to  set  forth  even  in 
outline  the  biographies  and  the  synodical  influence  of  all  the 
other  eminent  men  whose  names  have  graced  the  roll  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  from  time  to  time.  It  would  constitute  a  most  bril- 
liant galaxy  indeed.  One  after  another  for  a  full  century  the 
most  distinguished  men  in  that  part  of  the  Church  now  called 
Tinted  Lutheran  have  passed  in  and  out  of  the  Maryland  Synod, 
some  tarrying  for  only  a  few  years,  others  remaining  for  more 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  77 

than  a  score  of  years,  all  of  them  making  their  influence  felt  more 
or  less  potently  in  the  actions  of  the  body. 

There  was  Ezra  Keller,  a  son  of  the  Synod,  ordained  by  her  in 
1837,  a  member  of  the  body  for  nine  years  (1836-1844)  while  he 
was  pastor  first  at  Taneytown  and  then  at  Hagerstown,  her  presi- 
dent in  1843,  who  only  left  the  Synod  to  become  the  first  presi- 
dent of  Wittenberg  College.  And  there  was  Henry  Lewis 
Bangher,  Sr.,  another  college  president,  licensed  by  the  Synod  in 
1829,  a  member  from  1829  to  1831  while  pastor  at  Boonsboro 
and  again  from  1841  to  1864  while  professor  and  president  at 
Gettysburg.  There  was  Carl  Friederich  Heyer,  the  beloved  ' '  Fa- 
ther Heyer"  of  missionary  fame,  who  for  four  years  (1821-1824) 
was  the  clerical  member  of  Synod  from  Cumberland,  and  later 
(1840-1841)  was  the  Synod's' Missionary  at  Fell's  Point,  Balti- 
more. There  was  Charles  Frederick  Schaeffer,  youngest  brother 
of  the  first  Secretary  of  the  Synod,  licensed  by  the  Synod  in  1829, 
a  member  for  five  years  (1834-1839)  while  pastor  at  Hagerstown, 
afterwards  a  professor  in  three  theological  seminaries,  Columbus, 
Gettysburg,  and  Philadelphia,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
General  Council. 

Still  another  college  president  of  that  period  was  David  Fred- 
erick Bittle,  a  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod  having  been  born  near 
Myersville,  licensed  by  the  Synod  in  1837,  pastor  at  Middletown 
from  1845  to  1852,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Hagerstown  Female 
Seminary,  becoming  the  first  president  of  Roanoke  College  in 
1853  and  continuing  in  that  office  for  twenty-three  years  until 
his  death  in  1876.  His  younger  brother,  Daniel  Howard  Bittle, 
was  also  a  college  president,  born  also  in  the  Middletown  Valley, 
pastor  at  Smithsburg  from  1841  to  1843,  becoming  the  first  presi- 
dent of  North  Carolina  College  in  1858,  afterwards  the  president 
of  Colorado  College  at  Columbus,  Texas,  and  still  later  financial 
agent  for  Roanoke  College. 

Mention  should  also  be  made,  in  that  first  half  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, of  Samuel  Fiiickel  (1834-1836;  1844-1873)  at  Taneytown 
and  Washington ;  of  Daniel  Jacob  Hauer,  merited  organizer  and 
overseer  of  rural  congregations;  and  of  Simeon  W.  Harkey,  li- 
censed by  the  Synod  in  1834  and  ordained  in  1836,  serving  first 
at  Williamsport  and  then  at  Woodsboro  and  then  for  fourteen 
years  (1836-1850)  at  Frederick,  there  training  quite  a  number 
of  men  for  the  Lutheran  ministry,  and  only  leaving  the  Synod  to 
accept  the  Theological  Professorship  of  Illinois  State  University. 

Tn  1842  three  illustrious  names  make  their  appearance  on  the 
roll  of  the  Synod.  One  of  them  had  been  born  and  raised  on  her 
territory,  Samuel  Sprecher,  who  was  however  a  member  of  the 


SOME  OF  THE  SYNOD'S  GIFTS  TO  EDUCATION". 


MM/TON    VALENTINE.  H    \,    BUTHFR   SR 

.,  SvMI'Fl     SF'RFPUKR  DAUUntK,    .^S. 

J'7Di      Iv  vi  i  t-o                                         '•           i\r-\  jir»i\.  ..      —      _IT 

I>/.KA     IxKI.I.r.K.                             ,-,      ..  (•.     .[      VVnr.Ii1 

w      sj      **!(••  H  \t  i  't~-  if  vi»  f»v/iir« 

CHARLES  A.  STORK.  '•  ' ;  '  f "  ^^'  CHARLES  PORTERFIELD  KRAUTH. 

CHARLES  F.  SCHAEFFER.  CHARLES  A.  HAY. 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  79 

Synod  for  only  one  year  (1842-1843)  as  pastor  at  Martinsburg, 
and  who  after  six  years  at  Chambersburg  was  for  twenty-five 
years  the  president  of  Wittenberg  College  and  for  ten  years  more 
a  professor  of  theology  there.  The  second  of  this  remarkable 
group,  Charles  Porterfield  Krauth,  began  his  ministry  in  Balti- 
more (1842-1847),  was  licensed  by  the  Synod  in  1841  and  or- 
dained in  1842,  and  later  as  professor  in  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  as  President  of  the  Philadelphia  Seminary  was  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  and  scholarly  men  in  the  country.  The 
third  name  that  appeared  in  1842  was  that  of  William  Alfred 
Passavant,  who  was  pastor  in  Baltimore  for  two  years  (1842- 
1844),  was  both  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod, 
and  later  became  highly  distinguished  as  an  editor  and  as  the 
founder  of  so  many  eleemosynary  institutions  under  the  control 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

As  belonging  to  the  Maryland  Synod  before  1850  we  must  also 
mention  Frederick  W.  Conrad,  pastor  at  Hagerstown  from  1844 
to  1850  when  he  became  professor  in  Wittenberg  College  and 
Theological  -Department  (1850-1855),  prominent  as  preacher, 
teacher,  and  lecturer,  for  thirty-two  years  in  the  editorial  service 
of  the  Church,  and  merited  in  the  establishment  and  endowment 
of  literary  and  theological  institutions.  We  record  likewise  the 
honored  name  of  another  teacher  in  the  Church,  Rev.  Charles 
Augustus  Hay,  who  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1843 
and  ordained  in  1844  while  pastor  at  Middletown,  who  became 
professor  at  the  Gettysburg  Seminary  in  1844  but  continued  in 
the  fellowship  of  our  Synod  until  1848,  who  filled  two  periods 
of  service  in  the  professor's  chair  totaling  thirty-two  years,  and 
who  became  highty  esteemed  as  teacher,  pastor,  and  translator. 
Here  also  belongs  the  name  of  Joseph  Augustus  Seiss,  a  native 
of  Frederick  County,  a  member  of  the  Synod  for  twelve  years 
while  pastor  at  Cumberland  (1847-1852)  and  at  Baltimore  (1852- 
1858)  and  highly  honored  as  famous  preacher  and  voluminous 
author. 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  century  we  meet  with  such  well- 
known  and  highly  honored  names  as  James  Allen  Brown 
(preacher  and  president),  Charles  Augustus  Stork  (preacher 
and  president),  Milton  Valentine  (preacher  and  president),  Ed- 
mund J.  Wolf  (preacher  and  professor),  Theophilus  Stork 
(preacher  and  president),  Benjamin  Sadtler  (principal  and 
president),  T.  T.  Titus  (preacher  and  principal),  John  George 
Butler  (editor  and  churchman),  Charles  Stanley  Albert 
(preacher  and  editor),  George  Diehl  (preacher  and  churchman), 
Mahlon  Carleton  Horine  (preacher  and  writer),  Samuel  Domer 


OTHER  LEADING  PERSONALITIES. 


\V    \    P  \ssv\vr 


BHXJAMIX  SADTI.ER. 


.T.  O.  BUTLER. 
M   C 


FREDERICK  W.  CONRAD. 
S.  W.  OWES. 


LEADING  PERSONALITIES  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY.  81 

(teacher  and  preacher),  Stephen  W.  Owen  (preacher  and  pas- 
tor), and  William  E.  Parson  (preacher  and  churchman).  All 
these  rest  from  their  labors.  A  number  of  others,  equally  hon- 
ored, continue  among  us  to  this  day. 

True  servants,  these,  of  the  most  high  God,  and  true  children 
of  the  Lutheran  faith.  Most  of  them  continued  to  be  members 
of  the  Maryland  Synod  through  long  periods  of  time.  Of  a 
surety  the  glory  of  the  Maryland  Synod  is  in  her  men.  It  is  these 
that  have  made  her  history  worth  recording. 


"Other  men  labored  and  ye  are  entered  into 
their  labors." — John  4:  38. 

"I  have  laid  the  foundation,  and  another 
buildeth  thereon;  but  let  every  man  take  heed 
how  he  buildeth  thereon." — /  Corinthians  3: 
10. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  PASTORS  OF  THE   SYNOD,  1820-1920,  TOGETHER 
WITH  THEIR  PASTORATES. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  655  ministers.  It  includes  every 
name  that  ever  appeared  on  the  clerical  roll  of  the  Synod.  It  also  gives  the 
location  or  locations  of  each  member  of  the  Synod.  The  years  indicated  are 
the  synodical  years.  They  do  not  in  all  cases  coincide  with  the  calendar 
years.  In  consulting  this  list  it  may  be  well  to  remember  that  from  1857  to 
1869  a  number  of  the  pastors  (from  eight  to  twelve)  on  the  territory  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  were  not  members  of  the  Maryland  Synod  but  of  the 
Melanchthon  Synod,  and  that  this  list  includes  only  their  terms  of  service  in 
the  Maryland  Synod. 

A 

Name  Location  Tear 

Ahl,  A.  W., Parkville,    1912—1916 

Ainsworth,  .1.   E.,   Licensed,    1914 — 1916 

Albert,  C.  S., Baltimore,  St.  Mark's, '. 1882^-1893 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 1893—1912 

Albert,  J.,    Manchester 1828—1837 

Albrecht,  G.  W.  G.,    Guntur,  India, 1892—1904 

Rentachirtala,  India, 1905—1919 

Aldrich,  X.,    1885—1886 

Alleman,  B.  P., Woodsboro,    1873—1874 

Alleman.  M.  J., Middletown 1868—1869 

Amick,  G.  W.  W., Oakland, 1887—1889 

Anderson,  G.  W.,    Creagerstown,    1853 — 1856 

Leitersburg, 1856 — 1857 

Hagerstown  (No  Charge),   1868 — 1872 

Uniontown, 1873 — 1876 

Anspach,  F.  R., Hagerstown,    1850 — 1857 

Shepherdstown    (No  Charge),   1857 — 1858 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1858 — 1864 

Owensville   (No  Charge),   1864 — 1867 

Anstadt,  Henry,    Washington,  D.  C.,  Memorial, 1912 — 1918 

Anstatt,  J.  P., Baltimore,  Luther  Chapel,   1848—1852 

Appleby,  B., Baltimore,  Luther  Chapel,   1844—1846 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1846 — 1855 

Jefferson,    1855 — 1 857 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1857 — 1861 

Washington.  D.  C.  (No  Charge), 1861—1864 

Arnold,  C.  E.,    Baltimore,  Corcordia,    1910 — 1912 

Asper,  J.  IT., Westminster.   Salem,    1887 — 1891 

T  ewistown,   Utiea 1891 — 1905 

Aughey,  A.  H.,   Frostburg, 1S61— 1866 

Augustine,   L,    Wellersburg,  Pa.,   1863 — 

Aurand,  C.  M., Williamsport,     1886—1890 

B 

Bair,  D.  U.,    Williamsport,     1910—1919 

Barb,  J.  H., Mechanicstown,   1888—1896 

83 


84  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOI>. 

\<IIHI->  Location  Year 

Han-lay.  .T.    If Williamsport 18.17—1860 

Baltimore,    First 1 880— 1882 

Rare.  Will  F Sparrow's  Point 1917— 

Harry,   F.   W Cumberland.  St.  John  's 1914—1918 

Baltimore,  St.  Luke's 1918— 

Hastian,  C.  P., Keyser,  W.  Va 1907—1912 

Hateman,  S.  K., Hagerstown,    1890—189:? 

Baugher,  II.  I Boonsboro,    1829—1831 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1841—186") 

Baughman,  C.  C Jefferson,    1841—1842 

Hagerstown    (No  Charge),    18.13— 1817 

Baughman,  0.   W rniontown 1894 — 1914 

Woodbine 1914—1920 

Baughman,  IF.  F Licensed 1912—1913 

Bauman,  (' Cumberland,     1812 — 181.1 

Heard.  M.  L., Mt.  Joy  and  Keysville 1S77— 1881 

Hurkitfsville.    .  .' 18S  1  —  188.1 

Hoonsboro,   1886—1893 

Middletown,     1894—1900 

Thnrinont,    1906—1911 

Bechtell,  M.  M., Cumberland   (No  Charge),   18.19—18(54 

Becker,  I).  R.,   Freedom,     1912—191.1 

Beckley,  0.  K.,   Woodsboro,    1817— 

Boonsboro,    1,809—1882 

Reisteistown,    1881—190.1 

Beer,  R.  C .* Baltimore,  German,  St.  Jacobi 1871—1881 

Beidleman.  II.  II Frost  burg 1911— 

Beiswanger,  George,   ....  Baltimore,  Calvary 1894—1902 

Bell,  Albert Rei.-terstoxvn,   . . . 1x80 — 188.1 

Bell,  A.  I)., Sparrow's  Point 1913—1916 

Retired,     1916—1918 

T.  S.  Army  Chaplain Died    1918 

Bell.   C.   K.,    Licensed,  ' 1897—1898 

Bell,  K.   K.,    Baltimore,  First 1899 — 

Bell,  L.  J., Smithsburg    (No  Charge) 1870 — 1907 

Belmer,  II.  B Washington,   D.  C.,  St.  Paul 's, 1873—1874 

Benedict,  F.  B Licensed 1848—1849 

Frostburg,    1 819—1860 

Bedford,  Pa.  (No  Charge), 1860—186.1 

Bergner.  C.   F Washington,  Zion 1904—1912 

Cumberland,  St.  Luke's 1912— 

Bergstresser,   F Licensed 1893—1894 

Bergstresser,  P.,   Taneytown 1868 — 1874 

Waynesboro,    1 876 — 1887 

Middletown 1887—1894 

Berkey,  II.  K., Baltimore,  St.  John  's,   1909—1910 

Berlin,  S.  J Williamsport,     1866—1807 

Berry,  W.   IL,    Licensed,     1890—1892 

Carmel,  W.  Va.,  (Later  Aurora), 190.1—1912 

Beunnlnger,  L.  G (Jrantsville 1870 — 1872 

Missionary,   Afriea,    1873 —  1876 

(Jrantsville 1876—1879 

Bikle.  C.  G Licensed 1894—1891 

Biklo,  P.  M Lutherville,    1 870—1872 

Gettysburg,  Pa 1873— 

Billheimer.  S Georgetown 1894—1904 

Bishop,    IL, Williamsport,     18.10—1851 

Emmitsburg,    18.11—1862 

Baltimore,  Third,   1862—1866 


THE  PASTORS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  85 

Name  Location  Tear 

Frostburg,    1866 — 1871 

Bittle,  D.  F., Licensed,    1837 

Middletown, 1845—1852 

Hagerstown,     1852—1854 

Bittle,  D.  H., Smithsburg,    1851—1853 

Bittle,  E Licensed,    1892—1893 

Black,  L.  S., Licensed 1890—1891 

Bloonihardt,  P.  F., Lutherville,    1915—1918 

U.  S.  Navy  Chaplain 1918—1919 

Bobst,  I.  W.,   Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1879—1880 

Clearspring,   " 1884 — 1890 

Borchers,  H Washington,  D.  C.,  German, 1840—1843 

Botsford,  C.  R., Licensed,    1897—1898 

Cumberland,  St.  John's, 1918 — 

Bowers,  Geo.  S.,   Burkittsville   (No  Charge),   1882—1884 

Grafton,  W.  Va.,   1884—1886 

Hagerstown,  St.  Mark's, 1894—1903 

Baltimore,  Incarnation, 1919 — 

Bowers,  H.  G., Clearspring,   1856—1857 

Jefferson,    1869 — 1878 

Smithsburg   (No  Charge),    1878—1879 

Myersville,   1879—1881 

Burkittsville,    (Professor),    1882 — 1887 

Bowers,  J.  C.,   Washington,  D.  C.,  St.  Mark's, 1896—1902 

Baltimore,  Calvary,    1902—1910 

Catonsville,    ." 1910 — 

Bowers,  W.  W., Licensed,    1854—1855 

Bridgewater,  Nova  Scotia,   1855 — 1872 

Concord,  N.  C.,   1873—1874 

Bowersox,  G.  E., Licensed 1912 — 1913 

Bowersox,  H.  T., Licensed,     19 1 0—1911 

Boyer,  E.  B.,   Licensed,    1909—1910 

Boyer,  H.  D., Licensed, 1911—1914 

Washington,  D.  C.   (No  Charge), 1915— 

Bradley,  J.  H.,   Baltimore    (No   Charge),    1867—1869 

Brandau,  G.  H.,   Baltimore,    1847 — 1871 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1875—1878 

Hagerstown,  St.  Matthew's, 1878 — 1886 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1886—1893 

Braren,  J.  S., Cumberland,   German,    1901 — 1911 

Braun,  Hugo, Baltimore,  Church  of  Peace,   1899—1901 

Brauns,  W.  F., Licensed,    1850—1851 

Bredenbek,  A., Thurmont,    1897 — 1 898 

1898—1901 

Bregenzer,  Otto Union  Bridge,   1903—1912 

Bridgeman,  A.  L., Licensed,    1844—1845 

Britt,  C.  A., Frostburg,    1891—1899 

Taneytown,    1899—1904 

Brockman,   C.,    Catonsville,    1848 — 1855 

Brodthage,  G., Washington,  St.  John's, 1897—1910 

Brown,  J.  A., Baltimore,    1845—1848 

Brown,  G.  G.  M., Licensed,    1887—1888 

Union  Bridge, 1891—1894 

Brown,  T.  Shannon, Licensed,    1 881—1882 

Brown,  Wm.  E.,   Middletown 1907—1910 

Baltimore,  Reformation,   1910 — 1917 

Brubaker,  John,    Westernport,    1910—1911 

Bruning,  H.  H., Baltimore,    1860—1865 

Lancaster,  Pa.,   1865 — 1867 


86  H'STORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

\an;<  Location  Year 

Hucher,  Win.  .1 Licensed,     1892—1893 

Hulirinan.  A Waynesboro 18(59—1871 

Lovettsville 1873—1876 

Burgdorf.   P.  ('.,   Gardenville,   Baltimore,    1912 — 

Burgess.   Kills, Licensed,     1892—1893 

Hurk    A.  I! Baltimore  County,  St.  Peter's, 1879 — 188:1 

Hamptstead,    . 188" — 1886 

Manor,    1886—1887 

Sylvan,    1887—1889 

Fowblesburg    (  No  Charge) 1889—1892 

Doubs-Manor 1892—1897 

Woodensburg,  Arcadia, 1897—1902 

Freedom,    1904—1907 

Retired,     1907—1914 

Burke    I.  C Baltimore,  Third,   1877 — 1916 

Bush,  L.  A Tefferson,   1901—1902 

Boonsboro,   1904 — 191(5 

Bushnell,  .T.   K Hagerstown 1892—1894 

Butler,  Chas.  M Washington   (No  Charge) 1887—1892 

Washington,  Keller  Memorial, 1892—1907 

Washington,  Memorial 1M07— 1909 

Washington,  Columbia    Heights,    1910 — 

Butler   .T    G Washington,  St.   Paul 's 1848—1873 

Washington,  Memorial 1873—1909 

Butler    .T.  W Oakland 1895— 1898 

Byers,  .T.  K.,   Licensed,    1897—1898 

Baltimore,  Grace,   1917 — 

C 

Campbell,  J.  F., Cumberland 1 852—1857 

Cannaday,  Isaac Sattenapalli,  India,    1912 — 

Christ,  F.  V Licensed,    1910—1917 

Clare,  R.  D Baltimore,  St.   Mark  's,   1918— 

Clarke,  G.  I)., Georgetown 1918 — 

Cline,  J.  P.,   New  Market.  Va 1828—1834 

Smithsburg,    1834—1817 

Clutz,  J.  A., Licensed,    1871—1872 

Baltimore,  St.  Paul 's 1874—1883 

Home  Mission   Board 1883—1889 

Coffelt,  Harry, Licensed 1908 

Collins,  G.  S.', Jefferson 1853—1854 

Conrad,  F.   W.,    Waynesboro,  Pa.,    1841—1844 

Hagerstown,     1844—1852 

Conradi,  F.  A.,   Licensed,     1870—1871 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1882—1892 

Conradi,  J.  P., Cumberland,   German,    18(57 — 1875 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1879—1899 

Conradi,  R.  W., Frostburg 1890—1894 

Cook,  II.  S Waynesboro,  Pa 1888—1900 

Crebs,  W.  E Weilersburg 1873—1875 

Crigler,  J.   F.,    Lutherville 1895—1915 

Crissman,  F.  II., Frostburg 1910—1915 

Crist,  G.   W.,    Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va 1877—1879 

Walkersville, ' 1900—1914 

Cross,  J.  M Licensed,    1896-1897 

Culler,  C.  C.,    Funkstown 1843—1848 

Boonsboro,   1848—1852 

Hagerstown   (No  Charge),   1852—1854 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  87 

Name'  Location  Year 

Culler,  M.  L., Williamsport, 1867—1869 

Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,   1869—1881 

Culler,  S.  H., Reisterstown,   1904—1918 

Cunz,  B.  F.,   Hagerstown,     1905—1908 

Cupp,  A.,    Wellersburg,    1860—1862 

D 

Dean,  O.  C., Accident,    1910— 1911 

Deitrich,  J.  J.,   Hagerstown,     1872 — 1873 

Suspension  Bridge,  N".  Y.,   1873 — 1879 

Delk,  E.  H.,  Jr., Hagerstown,    Trinity,    1885—1902 

Delp,  W.  S., Uniontown,     1882—1891 

Derr,  R.  V., Licensed,    1912—1913 

Derr,  S.  J., Hampstead,    1885—1903 

Arcadia,    1904—1911 

Hampstead  (No  Charge), 1917 — 

Deyoe,  L.  E., Emmitsburg,    1889—1891 

Diehl,  C.  F., Washington,  St.  John's,   1871—1875 

Diehl,  G.,    Boonsboro,   1840 — 1844 

Frederick,   1851—1891 

Diehl,  J.  H.,    Brunswick,   1899 — 1901 

Diehl,  S.  A., Woodsboro,    1885—1892 

Westminster,   Salem,    1892—1902 

Diehl,  W.  K.,  .  .  . ' Clearspring,   1908— 

Dietz,  A.  E., Licensed,    1891 — 1892 

Diffenderfer,  G.  M.,   ....  Washington,  Memorial 1919 — 

Domer,   S.,    Washington,  St.  Paul's,   1875 — 1901 

Dornblaser,  S.  G., Hagerstown,  St.  Mark's,    1903—1906 

Dorsey,  E.,  Jefferson,    1857—1858 

Waynesboro,  Pa.,   1863 — 1864 

Dosh,  T.  W.  L.,  . Burkittsville,   1886 — 1889 

Doty,  R.  W.,    Westminster,  Salem,    1901 — 1912 

Douglas,  L.  C.,   Washington,  Memorial,   1909 — 1911 

Dunbar,  W.  H., Baltimore,  St.  Mark's,   1894—1917 

Retired,     1917— 

Dunlap,  J.  A., Oakland,     1889—1891 

Huntington,  W.  Va.,   1911—1912 

During,  M.,    Frost  burg,    1868—1871 

North  Amherst,  O.,   1871—1875 

E 

Earnest,  J.  A.,    Westminster,    1870 — 1878 

Easterday,  G.  H., Licensed,    1903—1905 

Ebeling,  "A.,   Washington,     1863 — 1865 

Ebeling,  H.  E.,   Licensed, 1887—1888 

Catonsville,    1889—1890 

Ebeling,  G.  W., Baltimore,    1855—1860 

Catonsville,    1860—1875 

Catonsville,    1889—1901 

Eggers,  H.,    Hagerstown,    1855 — 1857 

Ehrhart,  W.  H.,   Silver  Run,    1897—1903 

Eichelberger,  G.  W., Baltimore,    1902—1904 

Eichelberger,  J.  N., Licensed 1852—1853 

Eichelberger,  L., Winchester,  Va.,   1828 — 1838 

Emerick,  — .  — ., Licensed, 1845 — 1846 

Enders,  G.  W.,  Jr., Union  Bridge,   1900 — 1905 

Enders,  M.  L., Catonsville,    1901—1910 


88  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Xante  Location  Year 

Cumberland,  St.  Paul 's,   1910 — 

Englar,  G.  W Licensed,    1900 

English,  J.  S \Villiamsport, 1919— 

Krdman.   H.  C Hurkittsville,    1915— 

Kvans,  J., llagerstown,     1862—18(56 

Kvans.  W.   P Baltimore,  St.  Paul's 1SSS— 1892 

Ewing,  C.   11 Baltimore 1848—1852 

Kyler,  < '.   A Licensed 1882—1883 

Eyster,  C.   M Manchester 188.1—191)0 

Baltimore,   Independent,   1900 — 

Eyster,  I) Middleway,  Va 1828—1829 

Eyster,  W.  F., Jefferson,' 1841—1844 

Smithsburg,    1862— 1865 

Hagerstown,     18(59—1872 

Nebraska,  1872—1875 

Rock  Island,  111.,   1875—1882 


Fahs,  J.  F Hancock 1852—1856 

Fair,  M.  W.,   Funkstown,    1869—1870 

Woodsboro,     1870—1872 

Retired,     1872—1876 

Fasold,  P.   H Hurkittsville 1902—1909 

Felton,  E.,    Baltimore,  St.  Paul 's,   1884—1887 

Baltimore,  Messiah 1889—1915 

Fisher,  J.  H.  C Mr.  Pleasant,  X.  C.  (No  Charge), 1889—1892 

Fichthorn,   A.,    Lutherville,     1890—1892 

Fiuckel  S.  G.,    Licensed,     1870—1871 

Taneytown,    1878—1883 

Finckle,  S.  1)., Taneytown 1834—1837 

Cumberland,     1844—1847 

Washington,   German 1847—1873 

Fink,  R.  A Licensed,    1849—1850 

Finkbiner.  J.  W., Cumberland, 1884—1894 

Firey,  S.  M.,   Clearspring 1877—1883 

Roanoke,  Va.,    1883—1905 

Fisher,  C.  L.  T., Union  Rridge,   1884 — 1885 

Fleck,  .T.  G Baltimore,  St.  John  's,   1915— 

Flick,  II.   II Accident,     1898—1900 

Manchester,    1900—1910 

Flickinger,  J.   A.,    Licensed,    1895 

Flohr,  G.,    Wythe  County,  Va.,   1823 — 1829 

Floyd,  I).  R., rniont'iwn,     '. 1875—1882 

Boonsboro,    1882—1885 

Funkstown 1900 — 1904 

Georgetown, ' 1905 

Selinsgrove,  Pa.,   1905 — 

Focht.  J.  R.,   Frost  burg,    1853 — 1855 

Folk.  E.  L Doubs 1918— 

Forsvthe,  J.  W Myersville, 1876—1878 

Forthman,  J Licensed,     1854 — 1855 

Oakland 1856—1857 

Fouk.  G.  S Licensed 1844—1847 

Francis.  J.   M.,    Waynesboro.  Pa.,    1916 — 

Frank,  M.   II Baltimore,   Zion.   Lauraville,    1916 — 1917 

Frantz,  J.   L.,    Piedmont,  \V.  Va.,   1894 

Haltimore,  St.  Luke's 1895 — 1900 

Washington,  St.  Mark's, 1902—1912 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  89 

Name  Location  Year 

Frazier,  J.  L., Gerrardstown.  W.  Va., 1864—1865 

Freas,  Wrn.,  Jr Licensed, 1903 — 1904 

Freas,  W.  S.,  . Baltimore,  Grace,   1898—1905 

Baltimore,  Motherhouse,   1905—1911 

Frey,  Win., Washington, 18(54—1866 

Friday,  J.  M., Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1873 — 1877 

Fultz,  H.  C., Silver   Eun,    1888—1895 

Bridgeton,  N.  J.  (No  Charge), 1895—1899 

Washington,  St.  John  "s 1910—1912 

Ellicott  City,   1913—1917 

Furst,  M.  L., Brandonville,  W.   Va.,   1904—1906 

G 

Garland,  D.  F., Baltimore,  Reformation,   1891—1896 

Taneytown,    1896—1899 

Gaver,  M.  D., Licensed,    1881—1882 

Williamsport, 1890—1910 

Gearhart,  R.  H.,   Licensed,    1912—1913 

Geaver,  W.  F., Williairsport, 1 856—1857 

Geiser,  D.  H Licensed,    1891—1892 

Gentzler,  J.   W.,    Middletown,   1911—1914 

Gertsmyer,  H.  L., Licensed,    1903—1904 

Getty,  G.  A.,    Licensed,    1893—1894 

Baltimore,  St.  John 's 1910—1915 

Giese,  E.  F.,   Cumberland,  German, 1885 — 1890 

Gift,  F.  U.,   Baltimore,   Calvary,    1910 — 

Gilbert,  Frank,    Alesia,   Calvary,    1915 — 1917 

Giustiniani,  L.,   Baltimore,    1840 — 1841 

Gladhill,  J.  T Licensed 1872—1873 

Goedeke,  Harry,    Guntur,  India, 1919 — 

Goertner,  X.  W., Winchester,  Va.,  1834 — 1837 

Gotwald,  W.  H.,   Washington,  St.  Mark's, 1889—1896 

Washington,   (No  Charge) 1896 — 

Graybill,  J.  M., Clearspring,  Sylvan, 1868—1870 

Clearspring,  Sylvan 1878—1897 

Clearspring,  Retired,    1899—1912 

Graeber,  H., Uniontown,     1821 — 1828 

Graef,  Philip,    Washington,  Reformation,    1872—1877 

Graefe,  J.  E., Guntur,  India, 1914— 

Graeff,  J.  E., Washington, 1847—1850 

Graichen,  George,    Licensed,     1882 — 1883 

Graves,  Uriel,    Baltimore,  Third,   1874—1877 

Griffith.  S.  B., Washington, 1863—1865 

Grob,  John,    Taneytown,    1820—1828 

Gross,  G.  D Carmel,  W.  Va.,  Aurora, 1902—1904 

Gross,  L.  W., Hampstead 1904 — 1906 

Grubb,  J.  E Baltimore,  Second,   1917 — 

II 

Haas,  Frederick, Wooclsboro 1821 — 1826 

Preston  County,  Va ,...-„.......  .1826 — 1834 

Hafer,  L.  B., Taneytown 1911  — 

Haithcox.  H.  C.,   Freeport,  111.  (No  Charrp)v, 1913—1914 

Hamma,  M.  W., Baltimore,   First, 1882—1891 

Hankey,  Upton, Licensed 1881 — 1884 

Harkey,  J.  M., Licensed,    1 846—1848 

Harkey,  S.  L., Thurmont,    1848—1849 


90  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

\nnit:-  Locution  Year 

Harkey,  S.   \V.,   Williamsport, 1S34— 1836 

Woodsboro,     1836 — 1837 

Frederick,     1837 — 1852 

Harms,  J.  Edward, Hagerstown,  St.  John's,   1917 — 

Harpel,  J Jefferson,    183:1—1836 

Greencastle 183(5—1837 

Manchester,    1838—1841 

Harpster,  J.  TI., Guntur,  India 1871 — 1879 

(iiintur,  India    1894-1905 

Rajahmundry,   India,   1905—1906 

Karris,  J.  G., Licensed,    .  ." 1841—1842 

Harrison,  P.  L., Frederick,     1859—1866 

Frostburg,    1878—1883 

Lewistown,  111.   (No  Charge),   1883—1885 

Keeter,  Texas  (Xo  Charge),   1885—1898 

Hartman,  II.  H., Licensed,     1903—1904 

Baltimore,  Augsburg,    1910 — 

Hartman,  W.   A.,    Middletown, 1915—1918 

Hazeltine,  R., Licensed 1896—1898 

Hasskarl,  G.  C.  H., Frederick 1892—1 897 

Hauer    I).  J., Lovettsville,  Va., 1834—1844 

Jefferson,    1845—1853 

Manchester,    1853—1857 

Haverstick,  H.,   Cumberland,     1829—1831 

In  Kurope 1832—1835 

Hawkins,  Jacob,   Middletown, 1875 — 1876 

Hay,  C.  A.,    Middletown,  1843—1844 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1844—1848 

Hay,  E.  G Clarksburg,  W.  Va.,  1910—1912 

Hay,  Lewis, Washington,  Reformation,    1877 — 1879 

Hayes,  C.  E., Licensed,     1909 — 1910 

Heck,  J.  A., Licensed,    1841 

Waynesboro,    1845—1857 

Smithsburg,    1857 — 1861 

Hedges,  S.  A., Utica,    1877—1883 

Jefferson,   1886 — 1900 

Utica,    1900—1912 

Pleasant  Hill,   1912— 

Hefelbower,  S.  G., Frostburg 1899—1901 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   " 1902 — 1914 

Heilig,  P.,    Preston  County,  Ya.,   1837—1847 

Heilig,  J.  S., Martinaburg,  W.  Va.,   1866—1869 

Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1884—1885 

Heilig.  Win Lutherville,    1857—1889 

Heilman,  P.  A., Baltimore,  St.  Paul 's,   1897— 

Heisler,  C.  W., Licensed,    1882—1883 

Heisler,  M.  L., Burkittsville,    1880—1882 

Held,  C.  E Brunswick,   1896—1899 

Hennicke,  F.  T.,   Frostburg,    1886—1889 

Hagerstown,  German, 1896 — 1904 

Hennighausen,  F.  P.,  ...  Washington,  St.  John  's,   1861—1864 

Baltimore,  St.  Stephen  's,    1864 — 

Henry,  S., Westminster,    1853 — 1858 

Littlestown,   1858—1863 

Hensel,  W.  E., Arcadia,    1912 — 1918 

Herbst,  John, Manchester,    1821 — 1829 

Hering,  Max, Accident,    1897—1899 

Hersh,  C.  H., Baltimore 1859 

Hersh,  W.  F., Westminster,  Salem, 1912—1916 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  91 

Name  Location  Year 

Herter,  Geo.,    Licensed,     1834—1835 

Hess,  0.  W., Brunswick,   1900— 

Hesse,  F., Smithsburg,   1907— 

Hesse,  Win Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1888—1889 

Heydenreich,  L.  W., Hagerstown,     1869—1870 

Brooklyn,  X.  V.,  1870—1874 

Heyer,  C.  F.,   Cumberland,     1821—1824 

Baltimore,    1847—1848 

Hetrick,  W.  H., Westminster,    1911 — 1920 

Heuser,  Win.  L.,   Baltimore,    1894—1896 

Doub3, 1897—1902 

Hightman,  F.  A.,   Licensed,    1904—1905 

Baltimore,  Park  Heights, 1908—1909 

Baltimore,  Powellnaron,    1909 — 

Hines,  C.  .!.,   Huntington,  W.  Ya.,   1908—1910 

Burkittsville,    1910—1914 

Baltimore,  Emmanuel, 1914 — 

Hipsley,  G.  E., Baltimore,  St.  Luke's, 1900—1908 

Hoffman,  J.  L., Silver  Run,    1912—1917 

Baltimore,  Reformation,   1917 — 

Hoffman,  John  M., Cumberland,     1857—1859 

Accident, 1859—1863 

Frostburg,    1863—1866 

Hoffman,  J.  N., Taneytown,    1826—1833 

Hoffman,  Win.,   Licensed,     1904—1905 

Holland,  R.  C., Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,    1882—1888 

Holloway,  H.  C., Westminster,    1863—1868 

Cumberland,     1868 — 1879 

Homrighaus,  A.,   Frostburg,    1880 — 1883 

Washington,  Zion, 1883—1903 

Hoover,  C.  D.,   Smithsburg,   1886—1887 

Hoover,  D.  S.,   Lutherville,    1892—1895 

Hopkins,  E.  J.,   Washington, 1898—1899 

Grafton,  W.  Ya., 1900—1906 

Hoppe,   W.,    Baltimore,    1855 — 1857 

Horine,  M.  C., Wheeling,  W.  Va.,   1863—1865 

Smithsburg,    1865 — 1869 

Hoshour,  S.  K., New  Market,  Ya 1826—1828 

Smithsburg,    1828—1830 

Hagerstown,     1831—1834 

Howe,  J.  A.,    Hampstead,    1919 — 

Hoy,  C.   A.,    Funkstown, 1894—1899 

Huddle,  J.  T.,   Licensed,    1895—1896 

Washington,  St.  Paul's, 1904— 

Hunt,  Wm.,    Boonsboro,    1843—1850 

Woodsboro,    1850 — 1856 

Creagerstown,    1856 — 1857 


Tbach,  W.  O., Union  Bridge,   1916— 

Tde,  Ernest,   Laurel,    1873 — 1876 

Ide,  E.  C.,   Ellicott  City,   1901—1904 

Woodstock,*  1904—1917 

Tde,  E.  E.,   Edgemont,    1891—1892 

Baltimore,  Trinity, 1893 — 


92  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Xante  Location  Yi'ar 

Jaekel,  Carl Washington 1S9I5— 1S97 

Jenkins,  Win Lovettsville, IS;').'? — 1857 

Jennings,  J.   M.,    Baltimore 1X44—1815 

Jessup,    H.   (' Frostbnrg,    1SSS— 18,89 

.Johnston,  K.  S Kinniitsbiirg 1*67 — 1888 

Tones,  ('lias.  S., Spai  row's  Point 1S97 — 1S9!> 

Arcadia,    1900—  1902 

Jones,  K.  H.,   1S83 

Sharpsbnrg 1SSS— 1889 

Clearspring,    1890—1901 

Jordy,  W.   IF.,   Frostburg,    18S9 

K 

Kaempfer,  J Manchester 1848— 1853 

Kaessmann,  ('.  F.  A.,  .  .  .  Baltimore,  St.  Peter's 1882—1890 

Retired, 1890—1892 

Kayhoe,  J.  F.  F., 'Uren.se>  1 1.S84— 1885 

Keedy,  O.  L., Wavnesboro,  Pa 1871—1875 

Hagerstown   (Seminary),    1875—190] 

Ifagerstown   (  No  Charge) 1903—1907 

Hagerstown   (No  Charge), 1908 — 1911 

Keeily,  K.  M.,    Boonsboro 1 863 — 1864 

Kehler,   John,    Mi.Mletown 1820—1821 

Ma.lison,   Va.,    1821— 1832 

Ciimberlniid 1832—1841 

Keil,   W.,    Strasluirg,  Va 1822—1828 

Keller,  C.  E., Baltimore,  St.  Luke's,  1892—1894 

Thurmont,    1905—190(5 

Keller,  Emanuel, Manchester 1820—1827 

Keller,  Ezra,    Taneytown 1837—1840 

Ilagerstown 1840—1844 

Keller,  J.  B., Williamsport, 1874—1886 

Smithsburg 1888—1898 

Halfway   (Retire<l),   1900—1918 

Keller,  J.  If., Hampstead 1910—1912 

Keller,   L.,    Funkstown 1871—1881 

Kelly,  A.  A.,   Wavnesboro.  Pa 1912—1916 

Kelly,  Win Baltimore,  St.  Luke's, 1885—1891 

Kem'p,   T.  W Frederick, 1855—1861 

Kerlin,  A.  A.,    Sharpsburg 189f — 

Kerr,  J.  J Myersville 1872—1876 

Ketner,  G.  J.  M Davis,  W.  Va., 1899—1901 

Ketterman,  P.   If Donbs 1910—1912 

Killian,  J.  M., Smithsbnrg 1897—1901 

Kitzmeyer,  J.  F.  W.,   .  .  .  Davis,  W.   Va.,    1892—1896 

Kitzmiller,  J.  H.  A.,   .  .  .  Wellersbnrg,    1864—1869 

Kline,  M.  J.,    Licensed 1895—1896 

Klink,  C.  M Middletown 1857 

Knipi.Ie,  J.  O.  C., Licensed.   ' 1914—1917 

Knodle,   1L,    Myersville 1869—1871 

Olearspring 1871—1873 

Merrersburtf,  Pa., 1873— 1878 

Middletown 1892—1893 

Boonsbont 1894—1895 

Koser,  J.  G.,   K</lon.  W.   Va 1005—1908 

Leitersburg 1914— 


THE  PASTORS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  93 

Name  Location  Year 

Krauth,  C.  P., Martinsburg,  W.  Ya.,    1820—1828 

Krauth,  ('.  P.,  Jr.,   Baltimore,  Canton,   1841—1842 

Baltimore,  Second,    1842—1847 

Shepherdstown,  W.  Va.,    18-47—1848 

Winchester,  Va.,   1848—1849 

Kroh,  H.  F.,   Licensed,    1886—1887 

Baltimore  (No  Charge),   1892—1894 

Kubler,   M.,    Preston  County,  Ya.,   1824—1826 

Kuhliran,  L Baltimore,  Second,   1 884—1888 

Frederick,     1888—1903 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1903—1916 

York,  Pa.   (For.  Miss.  Sec-.), 1916— 

Kuhns,  II.  W., Westminster , 1878—1888 

Kuhns,  L.  M.,    Licensed, 1885—1886 

Washington, 1898—1903 

Kurtz,  Benj., Hagerstown,     1820—1831 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1833—1857 

Kurtz,  D.  S.,    Smithsburg,    1902—1906 

Kurtz,  .T.  D.,   Baltimore,    1820—1856 

Kurz,  A.,    Washington,  St.  John's, 1874—1880 


Lake,  J.  W.,    Grafton,  W.  Ya., 1877—1880 

Lamotto,    D.   M Woodsboro,    1875—1885 

Lane,  P.  P., Grantsville, 1866—1867 

Littlestown,    1868 — 1869 

Hampstead,    1870—1874 

Manchester  (No  Charge), 1875—1879 

Lantz,  B.  R.,   Licensed, 1897 — 1898 

Lau,  J.   B.,    Manchester 1910—1916 

Baltimore,  Atonement, 1916—1920 

Lazarus,  R.,   Grantsville,    1864—1866 

Grantsville,    1 874—1875 

Leatherman,  C.  G., Licensed,    1902—1903 

Manchester,    1916— 

Leddin,  P.  1) Washington,  St.  John  's,    .  . : 1914 — 1917 

Castletnn,  K  Y.   (Retired),   1917— 

Leisher,  W.  L.,   Oakland, 1891—1894 

Lentz,  A.  W Woodsboro 1874—1875 

Lentz,  n.  S.,   Funkstown,    1881 — 1887 

Lentz,  K.  M., Licensed,    1880—1881 

Lepley,  C.,    Frostburg 1843—1858 

Williamsport, 1859—1864 

Smithsburg,    1870—1873 

Beckleysville,   1873—1875 

Reisterstown,   1876—1887 

Baltimore, 1891—1 895 

Springfield,  O.,    1896—1905 

Letterman,  II.  A., Berrett, 1891—1895 

Lilly,  A.  W.,   Baltimore,  Third,   1851—1855 

Lingle,  J.  W., Sharpsburg,    1891—1896 

Linsz,  Aug.,  Licensed,    1869—1870 

Little,  K  B Cumberland,     1824—1832 

Longanecker,  A.  R., Alonzaville,  Ya.,   1897—1899 

Lowe,  J.  E.,  Licensed,    1910—1911 

Litbkert,  E.,   Baltimore,    1856—1857 

Luckenbach,  W.  II.,   ....  Hagerstown,  Trinity,  1872 — 1875 

Taneytown,    1875—1878 

Lunger,  J.  C.,   Sharpsburg,   1857 


94  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

M 

\anii)  Local  ion  Year 

Magee,  I Baltimore,  Second 1865—1868 

Maier,  IX,  Cumberland 18;")— 1857 

Baltimore,  St.  Matthew's 1858— 1874 

Main,  .T.  II Hagerstown,    1890—1892 

Main,  W.  H Licensed,    1888—1889 

Makcnzie,  IX  L Frostburg,    1871—1878 

Manges,   E.,    Manchester,    1881—1885 

Oakland,   1903—1912 

Manken,    II Licensed,    1902—1903 

Baltimore,  St.  Luke  's 1908—1918 

Washington,  Incarnation,   1918 — 

Mann,  L.  A.,   Burkittsville,    1869—1875 

Middletown, 1876—1888 

Cumberland,  St.  John  "s,   1903—1908 

Mann,  W.  (' Licensed,    190(5—1907 

Martin,  (' Martinsburg,  W.   Va 1S37--1841 

Lutherville,    1856 — 1858 

Baltimore, 1864—1866 

Hagerstown    (Seminary) 1866 — 1869 

Martin,  J Westminster,    ! 1860—1863 

Reisterstown 1868—1871 

Mart/,  0.  .T India 1848—1852 

Sharpsburg 1853—1855 

Piedmont.  W.  Va.,  1888—1891 

Maurer,  J.  E Roonsboro 1895—1903 

Lovettsville,  Va 1914—1918 

McAfee,  J.  W.  B.,   Fort  Leavemvorth,   Kansas 1855—1867 

Mo.Atee,  J.  Q Cumberland,  Christ 's,    1879—1883 

McCauley,  E.  R., Oakland 1894—1895 

McCauley,  J.  W.,   Cumberland,  St.  Paul 's,   1902—1910 

Baltimore,  Incarnation, 1910 — 1916 

McCauley,   V.,    Guntur,  India, 1898— 

McChesney,  W.  R Licensed, 1842—1843 

McCron,  J.,    Middletown, 1854—1855 

Baltimore,  Third 1855—1859 

Baltimore,   First 1860—1872 

Tlagerstown    (Seminary) ,    1872 — 1875 

McDaniel,  C.  T Licensed,    ! 1885—1886 

Baltimore  (No  Charge), 1890—1892 

McDowell.  S.  J Baltimore,  Third 1915— 

McGiftin,   K Davis,  W.  Va.,   1905—1908 

Me  Henry,  S Smithsburg,   1870—1872 

McLinn,  M.  E.,   Union  Bridge,   1886 — 1890 

Lovettsville,   Va 1891--1896 

Woodbine,    1919— 

McSherry,  G.  W.,   Taneytown,    . 1890—1898 

Medtart,  J., Baltimore,   First 1 824—1825 

Martinsburg,  W.   Va 1827- -1833 

Mengert,  J.  H Baltimore 1853—1855 

Metzger,  .T.  L Licensed,    1884—1885 

Metzger,  W.  S.  T., Licensed,    1876—1878 

Funkstown,     1888—1891 

Thurmont,    1899—1903 

Jefferson,    1904 — 1909 

Meyer,  F.  W.,   Licensed 1896—1898 

Baltimore,  Emmanuel 1908 — 1914 

Inner  Mission   Society,    1914 — 1917 

Lovettsville,  Va.,    1919— 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  95 

Name  Location  Tear 

Meyerheffer,  M.,   Madison,  Va.,    1820—1821 

Harrisonburg,  Ya., 1821—1829 

Millar,  G.  W.,   Jefferson,    1902—1903 

Doubs,     1904—1907 

Miller,   D.,    Williamsport,     1836—1837 

Miller,  G.  W.,   Baltimore,  Second,   1891—1916 

Miller,  H.  X.,    Brunswick,   1893—1895 

Miller,  L.  F.,   Piedmont,  W.  Va.,   1897—1904 

Baltimore,    Bethany,    1904 — 

Miller,  O.  C.,   Oakland, *. 1874—1880 

Miller,  P.  H., Lovettsville,  Va.,    1876—1887 

Westminster 1 887—1911 

Baltimore,  Concordia, 1912 — 

Miller,  S.  ,J.,   Sparrow's  Point,    1899—1901 

Baltimore,  West  Arlington,   1901 — 

Miller,  Victor,   Clearspring,   1861—1862 

Clearspring,   1877 

Leitersburg, 1881—1914 

Hagerstown   (Retired),    1914 — 

Minnick,  W.  G.,    Licensed,    1892—1894 

Baltimore,  Concordia,    1908—1909 

Cumberland,  St.  John  's,   1910—1914 

Baltimore 1914 — 

Moot,  F.  W.,   Washington,  St.  Paul 's,   1900—1903 

Morris,  J.  G., Baltimore,  First 1826—1860 

Baltimore,  Third,   1867—1873 

Lutherville,    1879—1889 

Baltimore  (Xo  Charge), 1889—1895 

Moser,  J.  C., Washington  (Xo  Charge) , 1914 — 

Mueller,  G.  J., Baltimore,    1869—1876 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 1877—1881 

Mullen,  A.  O.,   Licensed,    1893—1894 

Baltimore,    1905—1907 

Baltimore,  Christ 's,   1913—1914 

Mullen,  P.  H.  R., Licensed,     1903—1904 

Muller,  A.  A.,   Washington,  St.  Paul 's,   1842—1846 

Mumford,  E.  C., Licensed,    1905—1906 

Baltimore,  Messiah,   1916 — 

Myers,  L.  F.  M., Frederick, 1895—1900 

X 

Xeudewitz,  E.  E., Licensed,    1895 — 1896 

Xewcomer,  H.  D.,   Silver  Run, 1904—1905 

Baltimore,  Grace,   1905 — 1916 

Baltimore,  Inner  Mission, 1919 — 

Xey,  W.  C., Keyser,  W.  Va.,   1905—1906 

Elkins,  W.  Va., 1906—1910 

Xicholas,  J.  L., Berrett,     1896 — 1901 

Xicholas,  S.  T., Washington,  Keller,  1913— 

Xichols,   J.,    Guntur,  India, 1884 — 1887 

Nicoll,  W.  D.,   Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1889—1892 

Eglon,  W.  Va.,   1902—1903 

Hampstead,    1908—1910 

Myersville,    1910—1912 

Baltimore  (Xo  Charge),  1919 — 

Xixdorff,  G.  A.,   Frederick,   1846—1847 

1849—1850 

Georgetown 1871 — 1894 

Frederick  (Retired),   1895—1907 


9(>  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

\(inii  Location  Yciir 

Nolte,   W Licensed 191-1 — 1915 

Xull,  A.  C Licensed 1904—1905 

Fairmont,  AY.   Va 1907—1908 

Jefferson 1909—1914 

Kllicott  City,   1917— 

O 

Oney,  K.  K Licensed 1914 — 1915 

Oney,  W.  B Doubs 190S— 1909 

Oswald,  Solomon Boonsboro 1836—1839 

Ott,  J.  W., Licensed 1 899— 1900 

iragerstown,  St.  M:irk's 1907— 

Ottman.   K.   If Licensed 1891—1892 

Ov.en,  S.  W.,   Woodsboro 1869—1870 

IFanerstown,  St.  John  's 1870—1916 

P 

Parson,  Win.  E Washington,   I).  C.,  Reformation,    1870—1871 

Tokio,  Japan 1872—1878 

Washington,   I).  ('.,   Reformation 1S79— 190(5 

Passavant,  Win Baltimore,     1842—1845 

Patterson,  R.  L Tnion  Bridge 1894 — 1898 

Chicago.  III.   (No  Charge), 1898—1901 

Patterson,  K.  S Woodsboro 1S91— 1899 

Woodsboro 191 7 — 

Petrea,  IT.  M I^rnn.lonville,  W.   Va.,    1902—1903 

Petrea,   R.    K.,    rniontown, 1919 — 

Phifer,  W.  P Licensed,     1888—1889 

Philliny.  N".  (!., (iovans,   .• 1913—1917 

F'ieper,'  C1 Paltimore,  St.  Stenhen  's,   1917— 

Pierce,  W.  E.,    Cnirberland,  St.  John  's 1908—191 1 

Poffenberyer,  M.  L.,    .  . .  Licersed,     1882—1883 

Poffenbar-rer,  K.  S., Woodsboro,     1904—1917 

Frederick   (No  Charge),   191 7 — 

Pohlman,  A Licensed 1893—1896 

Monrovia,  Africa 1897—1902 

Probst,  J.   P.,    Myersville,    1851—1853 

Smithsburg 1853—1856 

Probst,  L.  K.,   Fainront,  W.  Va.,   1909—1912 

Q 

Quay,  P.  W.,   Keisterstown 1918— 

R 

Radamacher,  G Westminster 18t)7— 1869 

Happolt,  O Cumberland,  German, 1892—1895 

Raymond,  C.  E.,  Cumberland,  Herman 1895 — 1901 

Baltimore,  Church  of  Peace, 1901—1905 

Reck,  A Winchester,  Va.,  1820—1828 

Middletown 1828—1836 

Reck,  J Licensed  (Missionary  in  West) 1825—1836 

Reighard,  I.  C., Licensed ." 1890—1891 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  97 

Name  Location  Year 

Reimensnyder,  C.,   Westminster,    1846 — 1848 

Smithsburg 1848—1851 

Reinewald,  Chas.,   Emmitsburg,    1893 — 

Reitz,  J.  G., Hagerstown,  St.  Matthew 's, 1873—1880 

Reitz,  L.,    Frostburg,    1 867— 

Remsberg,  W.  L., Licensed,    1 876 — 1877 

Myersville,   1896—1902 

Funkstown 1908— 

Rice,  C.  E.,  .  .  . Licensed,     1913—1914 

Rice,  Elmer  F., Licensed,     1912—1913 

Richard,  M.  G., Licensed, 1897—1898 

Richard.  Asa, Lovettsville,  Va.,    1900 — 1913 

Richards,   J.,    Creagersto\vn,    1 850 — 1833 

Richardson,  A.  F.,   Aurora,  W.  Va 1887 — 1889 

Grafton,  W.  Va.,   1893—1899 

Grafton,  W.  Va.,   1906—1912 

Richardson.  X.  J Lovettsville,   Va.,    1869—1872 

Smithsburg,   1872—1889 

Riemenschneider,  G.  H.,  .  Rockingham  County,  Va., 1822 — 1823 

Riemensnider,  J.  J.,  ....  Woodsboro,    1841 — 1847 

Smithsburg,    1 847 — 1851 

Ries,  L Cordova,   1907 — 1912 

Rietz,  G.  L., Washington,     1868—1879 

Rippe,  H.  H., Gardenville,    1911—1912 

Ritter,  C.  L.,   Licensed,    1893—1894 

Burkittsville 1896—1903 

Rizer,  L Licensed,     1847 — 1848 

Rizer,  P.,    Sharpsburg,   1 832 — 1833 

Missionary 1833—1836 

Somerset,  Pa.,   1838—1839 

Middletown, 1855—1858 

Rockey,  C.  H., Waynesboro,  Pa.,   1900—1911 

Rosenberg,  J 1854—1855 

Roth,  O.  C., Taneytown,    1883—1889 

Baltimore,  Grace 1889—1898 

Rothrauf ,  F., Williamsport, 1 822—1827 

Rover,  G.  A., Accident,    1891—1895 

Carmel,  "W.  Va.,   1896—1900 

Clearspring,   1901 — 1907 

Union  Bridge,   1913—1916 

Rude,  A.  R., Jefferson 1842 

Rudisill,  M.  L Gerrardstown,  W.  Va., 1918— 

Rupley,  J.  B., Boonsboro,   1916 — 1918 

Washington,  St.  Mark's, 1918— 

Rupp,  U.  S.  G., Baltimore,  Reformation,   1897—1910 

Frederick,     1910— 

S 

Saekman,  M., Lovettsville,   Va.,    1820 — 1828 

Sadtler,   B.,    Licensed 1 844—1845 

Lutherville,  Seminary,  1867 — 1877 

Salem,  TL  C., Friendsville, .' 1905 — 1907 

Salinger.    ,T Washington,     1880—1882 

Saltzgiver,  W.   E.,    Friontown 1915 — 1918 

Fullerton,   1918— 

Schaeffer,  C.  F Frederick 1829 

Hagerstown,    1834 — 1840 

Schaeffer,  D.  F.,   Frederick. 1820—1836 


J)8  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

\dnif  Location  Year 

SchaefTer,  0.  F., Cumberland,     18(5:5—1864 

Schaoffer,  W.  C., (Jrafton,  W.  Va 1870—1875 

Sehiedt,   F Baltimore 1850 — 1851 

Schindler,  I)., Lovetts\  ille,  Va., 1888—1890 

Schloegel,  C.  A., Accident 1854 — 1857 

Frost  burg 1858 

Washington, 1859—1861 

Haltimoro,    18(52—1874 

Schmidt,  H., .  llagerstown,  St.    Matthew's.    1889—1892 

Baltimore.  Church  of  Peace, 1892—1898 

Washington,  Xion, 1912 — 

Schmitt,  K.  \V Baltimore,  Salem*,   191(5— 

Schmogrow,  W Licensed,    1851—1852 

Schnuicker,    X Woodstock,   Va 1820 — 1829 

Schmucker,  S.  S.,    New  Market,  Va., 1821  —  1826 

Schnee,  J Middle-town 1822—1827 

Schneider,  L.  H., Washington 188:5—1886 

Scholl,  C.  H., Bittinger,   1911—1912 

Scholl,  G., Baltimore,  Second,   1874—1884 

Schroeder,  II.  B., Accident,    1902—1904 

Schnlz,  M.  F.,   llagerstown,  St.  Matthew  's 1895—1896 

Schwartz,  E.,   Manchester,    1845—1848 

Schwartz,  .T Baltimore,  Second,  I860 — 1865 

Scott,  W.  D.  E., Licensed 1882—1883 

Seahrook,  W.  L., Deer  Park  Road 1908— 

Sechrist,  C.  \V., Piedmont,  W.  Va.,   1885—1886 

Doubs,     1887—1892 

Seebach,    J.,    Licensed 1 896—1 898 

Seiss,  J.  A.,   Cumberland 1847—1852 

Baltimore,  Second,   1852—1859 

Sentman,  S., Taneytown,    1840 — 1858 

Settlemeyer,  W.  II., Jefferson,   1S78— 1886 

Middletown    (Xo  Charge),    1902— 

Sharp,  M.  S., Funkstown 1905—1908 

Sheedcr,  P.,   Silver  Run,    1884 — 1887 

Shenk,  E.  A., Baltimore,  Reformation,   1916—1918 

Sherer,  J.  J., Fairmont,  W.  Va.,   T  904— 1906 

Sherer,  L.  P., Licensed,     1884 — 1885 

Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va 1886—1888 

llagerstown,     1889—1890 

Sherer,  M.  G.  G.,   (5  raft  on.  W.   Va 1886— 1891 

Sherer,  W.  J.  D.,   Licensed,    1888—1889 

Burkittsville,    1910 

Shilke,   C.   A Walkersville,    1914— 

Shipman,  W.  A., Grafton,  W.  Va 1880—1883 

Frostburg 1883 — 1887 

Shoup,  J.  D., Accident 1883—1886 

Bittinger,    1905 — 1910 

Shriver,  P.  J Beriett 1901—1904 

Sickel,  B.  F.  W., Frostburg 1872 — 1873 

Baltimore,  St.  John's 1873—1877 

Sieber,  L.  L., Baltimore,  Luther  Memorial, 1918 — 

Sifferd,  L.  W., <  'larksburg,  W.   Va 1906—1908 

Sill,  G.,   Manchester,    1870—1881 

Simon,  J.  S.,    llagerstown,  Trinity 1903 — 

Simons,  J Licensed,    1840 — 1842 

Slater,  S.  E Burkittsville 1891—1896 

Slaybaugh,  G.  IT Washington  (Xo  Charge),   1895— 

Slifer,  W.  G Licensed 1893—1895 

Davis,  W.  Va., 1896—1898 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYXOD. 


99 


Xante  Location  Year 

Sloop,  H.  E.  H., Kappa,  X.  C., .1893—1897 

Smeltzer,  J.  P Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va., 1848—1857 

Smith,  A.  M., Myersville,    . 188.3—1896 

Smith,    D Myersville,    1850—1851 

Smith,  J.  W., Graf  ton,  W.  Va., 1891  —  1893 

Smith,  S.  E Licensed,     1878—1879 

Smith,  W.  H.,   Licensed,    1838—1839 

Snyder,  H.  W.,    Licensed,    1908—1909 

Snyder,  J.  M., Lowistown, 1 884—1889 

Fimkstown,     1891—1894 

Snyder,  L.  T Licensed,     1 892— 1S93 

Snyder,  S Licensed,     1911—1912 

Spangler,  W.  M.,   Accident,    1888—1892 

Ilampstead,    1914—1919 

Sprecher,  L, Waynesboro,  Pa.,   1902—1907 

Sprecher,  S Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,    1842—1843 

Sprecher,  S.  P., Baltimore,  Third,    1862—1864 

Springer,  F.,    Clearspring,    1836—1839 

Stall,  S.,   Baltimore,  Second,   1888—1891 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 1891—1901 

Startzman,  C.,    Williamsport, 1838—1848 

Lovettsville,   1849—1 852 

Clearspring,   1853 

Myersville,   1854—1857 

Clearspring,   1869 — 1874 

Hagerstown, 1875—1880 

Steck,  C.  F., Frederick,     1904—1909 

Washington,  Epiphany,  1909 — 

Steck,  D.,   Middletown,  1870—1875 

Steinhauer,  C., Hagerstown, 1873 — 1874 

Washington,     1 874 — 1 877 

Sternat,  F.  C.  .T Licensed,    1906—1907 

Stockslager,  P.  T.  E.,   .  .  Licensed,    1899—1900 

Stork,  T.,   Licensed,    1837—1838 

Baltimore,  St.  Mark 's,    1860—1865 

Stork,  C.  A.,    Baltimore,  St.  Mark's,   1862.— 1881 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Seminary,   1881 — 1884 

Stoudenmire,   W Oakland, .  .1881—1884 

Baltimore,  Emmanuel,  1897 — 1908 

Stouffer,  S.  S., Piedmont,  W.  Va.,   1880—1882 

Hampstead,    1906 — 1908 

Accident,    1909 — 1910 

Somerset,  Pa.  (No  Charge), 1911— 

Strauss,  A.  M.,   Wellersburg,  Pa.,   1870—1872 

Streamer,  C.  S., Licensed, .  1 898 — 1 899 

Strieb,  G.  \V Hagerstown,  St.  Matthew's, 1892—1895 

Strobel,   P.    A.,    Westminster,    1868 — 1869 

Stroup,  G.  W., Bittinger,   1903—1904 

Myersville,  St.  John  's,    1904—1910 

Studebaker,  A.  II., Baltimore,  First, 1886—1899 

Baltimore,  Incarnation, 1904 — 1909 

Stumpf,   .T Frostburg,    1,873 — 1874 

Ship,  A.  C.,   Licensed,    1893—1894 

Stup,  G.  Z Licensed,    1898 — 1899 

Sues-serot,  B.  C., Licensed,    1855 — 1856 

Suman,  J.  J.,  Brucetown,  Va.,    1843 — 1844 

Frederick, 1858—1861 

Baltimore,    1862 — 1803 


100  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

\tinit.  Location  Year 

Frederick, 1864 

Washington 1865—1868 

Georgetown, 1869— 1875 

Washington 1S76— 1884 

Summers.  .T.,    Tluirmont,    1S71 — 1879 

Sutherland,    K Cumberland,  St.  .lolin  's 1S96— 1903 

Hahway,  X.  .T.  (No  Charge), 1902—1904 

Swope,   IX,    Clearspring 1876 — 1877 


Teufel,  C.  M Middletown 1918— 

Tholan,  S.   F.,    llampstead,    1901—1904 

Thomas,   C.,    Washington 1873—187;! 

Frederick   (No  Charge),   1895—1906 

Washington,  I).  C.  (No  Charge), 1907—1910 

Thompson,  A Licensed 1863—1864 

Titus,  T.  T Hagerstown,  St.  John's, 1867—1869 

Hagerstown,    Trinity 1869—1871 

Traver,  S Westminster,  Salem,    1917 — 1920 

Treibley,   1).    H Elkins,  W.  Va., 1905—1906 

Trostle,  0 Freedom,    1907—1910 

Trowbridge,  C.  R Licensed,    1884 — 1885 

Baltimore,  St.  Paul 's 1893—1896 

Easton,  Pa., 1896 — 1898 

Troxoll,  M.   F, Licensed,    1882—1883 

Trump,  C.  S., Harpers  Ferry,  W.  Va 1879—1882 

Martinsburg,  "W.    Va.,    1888—1919 

Turner,  .T.  H Burkittsville 1876—1880 

Lutherville,  Seminary 1880 — 1908 

Lutherville  (No  Charge) 1908 — 

Twele.  .T.  C Washington,  St.  John  's,   1917— 

IT 

Uhler,  G.  L, Oakland 1898—1902 

Sparrow's  Point 1902—1912 

Jefferson,    191 5 — 

ririch.  S.  J Brandonville,  W.  Va 1906—1907 

Fmberger,   J.    B.,    Myersville,  St.  John  's 1915 — 

T'nruh,  J Sharpsburg 1851 — 1852 

Boonsboro,   1852 — 1857 

Tluirmont,    1869—1870 

V 

Valentine,   M".,    Licensed,    1853 — 1854 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1869—1906 

Valentine,  M.  H.,    Licensed 1886 — 1888 

Veith,  H Baltimore,  St.  Mark  's,  German 1870 — 1873 

Cleveland,  Ohio 1873 — 1876 

Vogelbach,  J Philadelphia.    Pa 1841 — 1842 

Von  Hahmann,  E., Baltimore,  Brooklyn,   1909 — 1915 

Von  Hoxar,  H., Baltimore,    .' 1S55 

W 

Wacliter,  M.,    Woodsboro 1821 — 1836 

Middletown,  Jefferson,    .  ..1836 — 1843 


THE  PASTORS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  101 

Name  Location  Year 

Frederick,     1844—1847 

Woodsboro,    1 847 — 1850 

Wade,  J.  P Kglon,  W.  Va.,   1908—1912 

Doubs, 1912—1917 

Frederick  (Xo  Charge),   1917— 

Wade,  W.   A.,    Piedmont,  W.  Va 1905—1909 

Washington,  St.  Mark's, 1912—1918 

Baltimore,  Holy  Comforter, 1918— 

Wadswor.th,  W.  A., Licensed, 1S11— 1843 

Wagner,  F.  R.,   Frostburg,    1901—1910 

Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,   1920— 

Waltemyer,  W.  C Licensed,    1910—1911 

Thurmont,    1916 — 

Waring,  L.  H.,   Lovettsville,  Va., 1896—1899 

Georgetown, 1906—1916 

Washington   (Xo  Charge), 1916 — 

Weaver,  F.  H.,   Graf  ton,  W.  Va 1876 — 1877 

U".  S.  Army  Chaplain,   1880 — 1897 

Xewry,  Pa.   (Xo  Charge),   1907— 

Weber,  H.  H., Baltimore,  Grace,   1885—1889 

Home  Mission  Secretary, 1889 — 

Weddle,  A.  J Canton,   ' 1843—1844 

Cumberland, 1857 — 1868 

Weidley.  J.,   Washington,  Reformation,   1906 — 

Weiser^  R Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,   1835—1836 

Woodsboro,    1837—1840 

Afanchester,    1869 

Welfley,   J Emmitsburg,    1852—1855 

Wentz",   A.   R Licensed,     1906—1909 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1909— 

Weyl,  C.  G Baltimore,    1 842—1856 

Wheeler,  W.  E., Woodsboro,    1899—1904 

Taneytown,    1904 — 1910 

Wicker.  X.  J.  G., Georgetown,  1916— 191 7 

Harvard  University, 1917 — 

Wiles,  C.  P Licensed,    1895—1896 

Washington,  Keller,  1908—1913 

Philadelphia,   Pa.,    1913— 

Will,  F.  T. Boonsboro,   1918— 

Willard,  P.,    Manchester,    1842 — 1843 

Westminster,    1843—1 846 

Lovettsville,  Va 1S46— 1850 

Willian-s,  J.  R., Hagerstown,  Trinity, 1875—1883 

Uniontown, 1891—1894 

Williams,  L.  T Taneytown,    1859—1867 

Willis,  J.,   Myersville,   1906— 

Winecoff,  J.,    Cumberland, 1840—1844 

Frostburg,    1856—1860 

1863—1864 

Winder,   L.,    Washington  County, 1831—1832 

Winter,  J.,   Creagerstown,    1822—1824 

Gerrardstown.  Va.,  1S24— 18?6 

Middleway,  Va.,   1826—1828 

Williamsport, 1828—1834 

Clearspring,   1834—1846 

Martinsburg,  W.  Va., 1846—1847 

Westminster,    1848 — 1853 

Clearspring 1853—1854 

Wire,  W.  C., Burkittsville,    1869—1876 


102  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

X 11  nit-  Location  Year 

Thiirmont,    187(5—1887 

Brniis\\i<-k 1893 

\Viscnian,  P.  E.,   Washington,  Redeemer,  1884 — 

Wisswaesser,  C.   1 Vork,  Pa 190H—1904 

Witmer,   (' Cumberland, 18:10— 1857 

Wolf,  A.  <;., Silver  HUM 1917— 

Wolf,  K.  J., Haltimore.  Second,  1868 — 1873 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,   1874—1880 

Wolf,  M Licensed 18(50—18(51 

Wornian,  I.   D Davis,  W.  Va., 1909—1912 

Y 

Yeaklcy,  T.  R Davis,  W.  Va., 1901—1904 

Conferereo  Missionary 1904- — -1907 

Voder,  J.  O Silver   Knn,    .' 1905—1912 

Yonee,  G.  V., License-1, 1880—1882 

Yost,  T.  J <'iiml>erlan<l,  St.   Paul 's,    1891—1902 

Young,  J.  J., (Jrantsville,     1876—1880 

Accident,    1881—1882 

Young,  M.  L M  iddletovvn, 1877—1880 

Gettysburg.  Pa.,   1881—1884 

Yugel,  A., Bittinger 1908—1910 

Vutzy,  J Licensed,    1878 — 1879 

Z 

Zerger,  J.  E Lewistown, 1889—1892 

Zimmerman,  F., Baltimore,    1863 

Zimmerman,  H.  E., Myersville 1891—1893 

Zimmerman,  L.  M., Baltimore,  C'hri^t, 1886 — 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MISSIONS:     HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER, 
The  Home  Mission. 

The  eleven  pastors  who  in  1820  organized  themselves  into  the 
Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  expected  the  organization  to 
grow  in  numbers  and  to  expand  in  territory.  They  did  not  have 
a  very  definite  idea  as  to  the  bounds  the  Synod  might  some  day 
reach.  So  they  called  themselves  the  "Synod  of  Mar3rland,  Vir- 
ginia, and  so  forth."  They  were  apparently  conscious  of  the  fact 
that  all  about  them,  particularly  in  the  frontier  regions  on  the 
South  and  West,  were  growing  numbers  of  Lutherans  who  needed 
to  be  conserved  in  the  faith  and  brought  into  the  fold  of  the 
Church.  The  founders  of  the  Synod  were  missionary  in  spirit 
from  the  beginning,  and  their  purpose  was  not  merely  mutual 
edification  and  strengthening  but  also  aggressive  expansion  of 
the  Kingdom. 

The  very  first  year  after  the  organization  of  the  Synod  the 
number  of  clerical  members  was  increased  by  five.  One  of  these 
new  members  was  "Father"  Heyer,  who  was  then  laboring  at 
Cumberland,  but  who  for  several  years  had  been  a  travelling 
missionary  in  western  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  southern  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  Kentucky.  The  next  year,  in  1822,  the  Synod  en- 
tered actively  upon  its  work  of  home  missions.  ' '  It  having  been 
stated,  that  in  several  districts,  a  considerable  number  of  Lu- 
therans resided  who  could  not  supply  themselves  with  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  it  was  Resolved,  That  the  President  appoint  one  of 
our  brethren  a  missionary  for  three  months,  to  such  districts  of 
our  country,  and  with  such  instructions  as  he  may  deem  ex- 
pedient." And  forthwith  $159.43  was  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  Treasurer  "for  missionary  purposes,  and  to  aid  indigent  stu- 
dents and  widows." 

The  treasurer  himself,  Abraham  Reck,  was  appointed  the 
synodical  missionary.  A  month  after  the  Synod  adjourned  he 
began  his  work  and  at  the  next  meeting  of  Synod,  1823,  presented 
a  detailed  journal  of  his  travels  and  transactions.  From  this 
journal  we  learn  that  "Reck  left  his  home  about  the  9th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1822,  and  entered  on  the  mission  to  which  he  was  ap- 

103 


104  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

pointed,  in  some  of  the  most  destitute  parts  of  Virginia,  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland.  The  field  in  which  he  laboured,  em- 
hraeed  the  eounties  of  Hampshire,  Hardy,  Pendleton,  Randolph, 
Harrison,  Preston  and  Monongalia,  in  Virginia;  the  counties  of 
Greene  and  Fayette,  in  Pennsylvania:  and  that  section  of- Mary- 
land west  of  Cumberland.  Missionating  to  and  fro  throughout 
this  extensive  territory,  he  spent  about  ninety  days,  preaching 
repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to 
all  who  would  hear  him,  but  directing  his  chief  attention  to  the 
lost  sheep  of  the  Lutheran  fold:  keeping  back  nothing  that  was 
profitable  to  them,  but  teaching  then  publicly  and  from  house  to 
house.  He  found  numerous  Lutherans  throughout  the  whole  of 
this  district,  and  also  some  regularly  organized  Lutheran 
churches,  but  destitute  of  stated  ministrations.  Great  desire  was 
manifested  by  some,  to  have  the  Gospel  regularly  preached  to 
them.  lie  baptized  1^  children,  preached  8">  sermons,  rode  about 
1,()0()  miles,  visited  all  the  chief  towns  in  this  whole  district,  as 
well  as  also  a  vast  multitude  of  families  and  individuals.  Gen- 
erally his  audience  was  as  large  as  the  population  and  short  no- 
tice could  justify  him  in  expecting.  Generally  also  they  were 
very  attentive,  and  on  several  occasions  peculiarly  impressed." 

That  year  the  Synod  appointed  its  licentiate,  Rev.  Jacob  Med- 
tart,  to  missionate  among  the  scattered  children  of  the  faith,  and 
because  he  generously  declined  receiving  any  money  from  the 
treasury  to  defray  his  expenses,  Rev.  X.  B.  Little,  another  li- 
centiate, was  also  appointed  synodical  missionary  for  that  year. 
From  their  reports  at  the  convention  of  Synod  in  1824  we  learn 
that  Medtart  "left  home  in  the  beginning  of  December,  to  preach 
the  everlasting  gospel  in  the  destitute  districts  of  those  southern 
countries,  from  which  the  voice  of  distress,  and  of  spiritual  pri- 
vation had  been  poured  into  our  ears.  Appointed  to  labor  for 
three  months,  he  extended  both  the  time  and  the  missionary 
ground  considerably,  and  returned  not  until  eight  months  had 
been  consumed,  and  several  of  the  southern  and  western  states 
had  been  passed  through."  His  journal  shows  that  he  spent 
most  of  his  time  in  the  Carolinas  under  the  direction  of  Pastor 
Shober,  but  that  a  few  months  were  spent  also  in  Ohio  (Cincin- 
nati, Lancaster)  and  the  western  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  Little 
also  received  his  specific  instructions  from  Pastor  Shober  and  la- 
bored chiefly  in  Rowan  County,  North  Carolina. 

The  success  of  these  home  missionary  efforts  was  so  pronounced 
and  the  need  they  disclosed  seemed  so  great  that  the  Synod  de- 
termined to  undertake  the  work  in  a  systematic  way.  A  commit- 
tee was  appointed  in  1824  "to  collect  information  relative  to  the 


MISSIONS:     HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  105 

missionary  wants  of  our  country,  and  report  at  our  next  session 
such  measures  relative  to  our  missionary  operations  as  they  may 
deem  best  calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ."  This  re- 
sulted four  years  later  in  a  synodical  Missionary  Society.  Mean- 
while the  Synod  continued  the  practice  of  appointing  one  of  her 
number  each  year  as  synodical  missionary. 

In  182fi  Rev.  W.  G.  Keil  missionated  for  the  Synod  in  Guernsey 
County,  Ohio.  His  work  was  regarded  as  a  great  success  and  he 
received  an  urgent  call  to  come  to  Ohio  and  take  permanent 
charge  of  some  of  the  congregations  he  had  organized.  This  was 
evidently  regarded  as  proper  territory  to  be  included  in  the 
Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  for  at  the  same  meeting  it  was 
resolved  "that  hereafter  the  missionaries  of  this  synod  shall  con- 
fine their  labors  to  the  territories  of  this  synod,  until  otherwise 
ordered.*'  Keil,  however,  did  not  accept  the  call  to  Ohio  until 
several  years  later  and  when  he  did  remove  to  Ohio  he  withdrew 
from  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  Synod  and  became  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  Synod. 

A  decided  step  forward  in  the  missionary  work  of  the  Synod 
was  taken  in  1828.  A  committee  consisting  of  Morris,  Reck, 
Medtart,  and  two  laymen,  presented  a  constitution  for  the  "Par- 
ent Domestic  Missionary  and  Education  Society  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia."  The  objects 
of  the  Society  were  "to  assist  pious  indigent  students  for  the 
ministry,  in  completing  their  studies  at  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, to  supply  our  destitute  brethren  with  the  means  of  grace, 
and  to  promote  the  general  interests  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Luther- 
an Church."  Membership  in  the  Society  involved  the  annual 
payment  of  one  dollar,  life  membership  ten  dollars,  and  life  di- 
rectorship twenty  dollars.  Provision  was  made  for  auxiliary  so- 
cieties in  individual  congregations.  The  officers  and  directors 
of  the  Parent  Society  were  mostly  laymen.  Already  the  first  year 
the  treasurer  reported  receipts  of  over  $270.  Seven  auxiliary 
societies  and  a  large  number  of  individuals  were  cooperating. 
The  Society  reported  annually  to  the  Synod  until  1835  when  the 
missionary  interest  was  separated  from  the  educational  and  each 
became  auxiliary  to  an  organization  transcending  synodical 
bounds. 

The  next  two  years,  1829  and  18.30,  Rev.  H.  L.  Baugher  was 
the  synodical  missionary  and  labored  "in  the  neighborhood  of 
Beaver  Creek."  In  1831  Rev.  N.  B.  Little  was  again  appointed 
to  travel  for  three  months  among  the  destitute  brethren  and  was 
requested  to  direct  his  attention  particularly  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
He  organized  several  new  churches  and  the  following  year  writes 


106  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

from  Circleville,  Ohio,  to  say  that  he  intends  to  settle  there  among 
his  newly  organized  congregations.  That  same  year,  1831,  Rev. 
F.  .).  Ruth,  a  licentiate  of  the  Synod,  received  permission  to  mis- 
sionate  in  Ohio  and  to  settle  there,  and  in  1832  Rev.  E.  Green- 
wald,  another  licentiate,  took  up  his  work  in  Ohio.  All  three  of 
these  brethren,  Ruth,  Greenwald,  and  Little,  were  afterwards  dis- 
missed from  the  Maryland  Synod  to  unite  with  the  Ohio  Synod. 
These  young  men  at  once  assumed  positions  of  leadership  in  Ohio, 
and  in  1840  we  find  W.  G.  Keil  the  President,  and  F.  J.  Ruth  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Ohio  Synod.  Ruth  also  rendered  yeoman  mis- 
sionary service  on  the  wide  stretches  of  the  present  state  of  Ohio. 

Peter  Riser  was  sent  by  the  Synod  to  South  Carolina  in  1834 
and  under  the  appointment  of  the  South  Carolina  Synod  labored 
in  the  states  of  Georgia  and  Alabama.  Then  the  next  year  Rev. 
John  Reck,  brother  of  Abraham  Reck,  was  appointed  synodical 
' '  missionary  to  the  west ' '  for  one  year.  He  did  not  return  from 
his  mission  field  and  the  president  of  Synod  reported  that  he  had 
located  in  Shanesville,  Ohio.  Another  contribution  to  the  home 
mission  field  of  "the  west"  was  made  in  the  person  of  Abraham 
Reck,  the  first  treasurer  of  the  Synod,  who  left  Middletowii  in 
1836  and  went  to  Indiana,  thence  to  Cincinnati  in  1841,  to  Ger- 
mantown,  Ohio,  in  184.3,  and  to  Tartleton  in  1847. 

Repeatedly,  while  these  men  were  travelling  to  Ohio  and  In- 
diana and  the  Carolinas  and  the  South,  the  demand  arose  for  "a 
missionary  in  our  own  bounds."  Accordingly,  in  1837,  Rev. 
Francis  Springer,  of  Clearspring,  was  appointed  the  Synod's 
missionary  for  .seven  months  and  under  explicit  instructions  la- 
bored during  the  summer  of  1838  chiefly  in  Washington  and  Al- 
legheny Counties.  The  next  spring  Mr.  Springer  removed  from 
Clearspring  and  located  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  In  1839  Rev. 
Reuben  "\Veiser  travelled  three  months  in  the  western  states  as 
the  Synod's  representative. 

The  journals  of  all  these  missionaries  abound  in  interesting 
narratives  and  thrilling  experiences.  In  the  modes  of  travel  the}' 
employed,  in  the  conditions  of  living  they  encountered,  in  the 
spiritual  destitution  that  alternated  with  a  genuine  thirst  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Word,  these  hardy  messengers  of  the  Synod  in 
the  accounts  of  their  travels  present  striking  commentaries  on 
the  primitive  conditions  of  pioneer  life  in  that  day.  Like  Henry 
Melchior  Muhlenberg  in  his  travels  over  Pennsylvania  and  else- 
where from  New  York  to  Georgia,  like  Herkenmeyer  in  his  min- 
istrations along  the  Hudson,  like  Stoever  and  Kurtz  in  Pennsyl- 
vania,  like  Bager  and  Wildbahn  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland, 
like  Henkel  and  Stoever  in  Virginia,  during  the  Eighteenth  Cen- 


MISSIONS  t    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  107 

tury,  like  Paul  Henkel  in  his  travels  in  Virginia  and  the  South 
and  his  striking  ox-cart  tours  over  Ohio  before  the  days  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  so  these  synodical  missionaries  whose  names 
we  have  barely  recounted  suffered  hardship,  encountered  danger, 
and  actualh'  risked  their  lives,  in  order  to  furnish  spiritual  re- 
enforcement  to  the  scattered  army  of  bold  pioneers  who  had  ac- 
tively begun  the  process  of  "winning  the  west"  for  civilization. 
Over  wide  stretches  of  wilderness  they  travelled,  hunting  up  par- 
ticularly the  Lutherans  who  were  destitute  of  spiritual  ministry, 
preaching  to  them,  administering  the  sacraments,  organizing 
them  into  congregations,  or  encouraging  them  in  any  way  possi- 
ble and  wherever  they  could  be  found.  Not  a  few  of  the  Synod's 
travelling  missionaries  were  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  spirit- 
ual need  of  those  regions  and  the  opportunities  for  genuine  serv- 
ice they  afforded,  that  they  relinquished  their  established  con- 
gregations in  the  East  and  took  up  their  abode  in  those  frontier 
communities. 

But  the  day  of  larger  undertakings  was  approaching.  The 
General  Synod  had  been  organized  in  1820  and  from  the  begin- 
ning she  turned  her  attention  to  the  harvest  field  of  home  mis- 
sions. Indeed,  this  was  one  of  the  purposes  of  the  organization 
of  the  general  body.  Slowly,  very  slowly,  the  home  missionary 
machinery  was  manufactured,  for  there  was  a  strong  prejudice 
against  centralization.  The  Maryland  Synod  stood  ready  from 
the  beginning  to  cooperate  with  the  general  body  in  any  kind  of 
mission  work,  and  even  before  Springer  and  Weiser  had  acted 
as  synodical  missionaries  the  Synod  had  begun  to  merge  her  home 
missionary  operations  with  those  of  the  other  synods  in  the  or- 
ganized work  of  the  larger  body. 

After  several  preliminary  efforts  at  effecting  an  organization 
in  the  General  Synod  to  prosecute  the  work  of  home  missions, 
Dr.  Morris  of  the  Maryland  Synod  presented  a  resolution  to  the 
General  Synod  in  1835  recormmending  the  holding  of  a  Mission- 
ary Convention  of  Lutheran  Ministers.  This  resulted,  October, 
1835,  in  the  organizing  of  what  was  called  the  "Central  Mission- 
ary Society  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United 
States."  This  society  was  home  missionary  in  its  purpose.  It 
undertook  to  establish  "a  system  of  societies  throughout  the 
church."  Its  membership,  however,  was  not  representative  of 
the  General  Synod  but  was  altogether  personal  and  composed  of 
contributors  to  its  funds.  So  it  failed  of  wide  support  and  after 
a  brief  and  uneventful  career  passed  away. 

Then  the  Maryland  Synod  continued  her  missionary  activity 
on  her  own  account.  In  1842  three  of  her  licentiates  were  sent  to 


108  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  West.  Rev.  J.  G.  Harris  went  to  Ohio  and  began  a  very  suc- 
eessfnl  work  in  and  about  Mansfield.  Rev.  William  A.  Wads- 
worth  settled  in  the  same  state  and  labored  with  great  success  at 
(1anton.  Rev.  William  R.  MeChesney  started  to  build  up  an  Eng- 
lish  congregation  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Harris  and  Wads- 
worth  were  dismissed  to  the  English  Synod  of  Ohio,  McChesney 
to  the  Synod  of  the  West.  The  Synod  also  undertook  the  partial 
support  of  McChesney  in  his  mission  at  Louisville.  At  the  same 
time  the  Synod  revived  her  own  missionary  society  and  began  to 
agitate  the  subject  among  other  synods. 

The  attention  of  the  General  Synod  was  again  directed  to  the 
subject  of  home  missions  in  184:}  when  Dr.  11.  L.  Baugher,  a  dele- 
gate from  the  Maryland  Synod,  in  his  report  on  the  State  of  the 
Church,  called  emphatic  attention  to  the  urgent  need  and  general 
apathy  prevailing  throughout  the  Church  on  the  subject.  At  the 
same  time  the  General  Synod  adopted  the  suggestion  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  to  recommend  to  all  the  ministers  the  use  of  what 
was  called  "The  Cent  a  Week  Plan/'  a  device  that  yielded  con- 
siderable sums  of  money  for  missionary  purposes. 

This  started  a  sentiment  in  favor  of  a  definite  home  missionary 
organization  within  the  General  Synod.  That  sentiment  grew 
and  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  in  1845  it  crystal- 
lized in  the  formation  of  the  "Home  Missionary  Society  of  the 
General  Synod."  Here  again  the  initiative  came  from  the  dele- 
gates of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz  was  chair- 
man of  the  General  Synod's  committee  to  prepare  a  constitution 
for  the  Home  Missionary  Society  and  a  plan  for  its  operation, 
and  when  the  organization  was  formed  its  president,  first  vice- 
president,  recording  secretary,  corresponding  secretary,  and 
treasurer,  were  all  from  the  Maryland  Synod.  Its  constitution 
is  a  strong  reminder  of  that  of  the  Maryland  Synod's  missionary 
and  education  society  formed  in  1828.  This  Synod  was  the  first 
to  approve  the  formation  of  the  new  Parent  Society,  to  recom- 
mend an  annual  offering  for  home  missions  in  every  congregation, 
and  to  transmit  all  home  mission  funds  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
Parent  Society. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  this  organization  of  184")  carried 
on  the  general  home  missionary  operations  of  the  General  Synod, 
receiving  and  disbursing  several  thousands  of  dollars  each  year 
and  furnishing  substantial  aid  to  hundreds  of  missionaries  in 
many  different  states.  But  two  difficulties  attended  its  work: 
First,  a  want  of  suitable  men,  and  second,  a  want  of  cooperation 
and  the  insistence  on  separate  synodical  action. 

Efforts  were  made  to  sustain  the  Societv  and  enlist  wider  co- 


MISSIONS:     HOME,  FOREIGN,  AXD  INNER.  109 

operation.  Through  the  influence  of  the  Synod  of  Maryland  a 
convention  was  called  to  meet  in  Baltimore  to  discuss  all  the  mis- 
sionary operations  of  the  General  Synod.  It  met  in  Dr.  Morris' 
Church,  April  21,  1852.  There  were  representatives  from  the 
Hartwick  Synod,  New  York  Ministerium,  Pennsylvania,  East 
Pennsylvania,  West  Pennsylvania,  Allegheny,  Maryland,  Olive 
Branch,  and  Virginia  Synods.  Five  committees  were  appointed 
to  report  on  Church  Extension,  Education,  Home  Missions,  For- 
eign Missions,  and  Endowment  of  Church  Institutions.  But 
apart  from  promoting  good  fellowship  the  convention  does  not 
seem  to  have  produced  any  practical  results. 

In  1853  it  was  reported  that  only  two  synods  were  supporting 
the  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  General  Synod,  namely, 
Maryland  and  West  Pennsylvania,  and  the  executive  committee 
was  thinking  of  abandoning  the  work  entirely.  But  just  then, 
perhaps  as  a  result  of  Dr.  Morris'  convention  in  1852,  a  healthy 
reaction  set  in  and  several  other  synods  joined  in  the  work. 
Nevertheless,  the  feeling  continued  that  the  Society  should  be 
organically  bound  up  with  the  life  and  prestige  of  the  General 
Synod  itself.  As  to  the  best  way  of  accomplishing  this  delicate 
change  the  organization  of  benevolence  in  some  of  the  district 
synods  themselves  furnished  a  fine  analogy. 

Already  in  1848  the  Maryland  Synod,  on  motion  of  Dr. 
Harkey,  had  expressed  the  conviction  that  the  entire  business  of 
missions  is  the  proper  work  of  the  Synod  itself,  had  resolved  it- 
self as  a  body  into  a  Missionary  Society,  had  appointed  the  of- 
ficers of  Synod  themselves  an  executive  committee  to  supervise 
these  benevolences,  and  had  provided  for  annual  reports  and  ad- 
dresses and  regular  and  systematic  contributions  to  these  objects. 
Soon  this  example  was  followed  by  other  synods :  East  Pennsyl- 
vania, West  Pennsylvania,  Alleghany,  Pittsburgh,  and  others 
farther  west.  All  these  synodical  organizations  declared  them- 
selves auxiliary  to  the  Society  of  the  General  Synod  and  trans- 
mitted their  funds  without  limiting  their  application.  This  iden- 
tification of  the  mission  work  with  the  district  synods'  own 
proper  life  and  business  suggested  the  remedy  for  the  weaknesses 
of  the  "Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  General  Synod." 

Accordingly,  in  1866  the  constitution  of  the  Society  was 
amended  so  as  to  make  the  Society  more  representative  of  the 
General  Synod  as  a  body  and  to  invest  it  with  more  authority  to 
command  the  cooperation  of  the  synods.  These  changes  were 
made  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Morris  who  was  then  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Society,  and  they  looked  towards 


110  HISTORY  0V  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

making  the  Home  Missionary  Society  identical  with  the  General 
Synod  itself. 

This  last  step  was  taken  in  18(50.  The  General  Synod  conven- 
tion of  18(i9  was  a  memorable  one,  in  several  respects  the  most 
eventful  one  in  the  history  of  the  General  Synod.  A  new  epoch 
was  inaugurated,  not  only  in  regard  to  liturgy  and  polity  but 
also  in  regard  to  the  benevolence  of  the  Church.  Tt  closed  the 
era  of  individualism  and  synodical  independence  in  prosecuting 
the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  Church,  and  it  inaugurated  an 
era  of  concentrated  resources  and  cooperative  administration. 
The  Home  Missionary  Society  transferred  all  its  funds  and  all 
its  interests  to  the  General  Synod  and  went  into  dissolution. 
The  General  Synod  decided  to  assume  control  of  its  home  mission 
affairs  and  adopted  the  plan  by  which  it  committed  the  entire  ad- 
ministration of  the  work  to  a  Board  as  its  representative.  This 
method  continued  in  use  throughout  the  remaining  half  century 
of  the  General  Synod's  life  and  it  is  the  method  in  use  to-day  in 
the  United  Lutheran  Church.  The  Board  is  the  agent  of  the  en- 
tire Church  not  a  part  of  it,  it  directs  the  work  of  Home  Missions 
for  the  entire  Church,  it  administers  funds  received  from  all 
parts  of  the  Church  and  applies  them  to  the  entire  field  as  the 
need  and  opportunity  may  demand,  and  without  regard  to 
synodical  bounds  or  the  measure  of  synodical  contributions. 

Tt  will  be  seen,  therefore,  to  what  a  large  extent,  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  instrumental  in  evolving  the  method  of  administer- 
ing benevolences  that  has  so  thoroughly  approved  itself  to  the 
Church  and  that  has  operated  with  such  great  success  through 
more  than  half  a  century.  Just  before  the  final  step  was  taken  in 
the  direction  of  complete  centralization,  from  18GO  to  1868.  the 
Maryland  Synod  had  contributed  more  than  six  hundred  dollars 
annually  for  three  years  towards  the  support  of  Dr.  Harkey  in 
St.  Louis  and  in  1867  had  sent  four  thousand  dollars  to  buy  a 
lot  and  erect  a  building  for  his  mission  there.  But  as  soon  as 
the  new  policy  went  into  effect  the  Synod  gave  her  fullest  co- 
operation, transferred  all  her  missions  and  mission  funds  to  the 
Board,  and  appointed  an  advisory  committee,  as  requested,  to  act 
in  concert  with  the  General  Board.  Throughout  the  half  century 
of  its  existence  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  has  always  had  the 
undivided  loyalty  and  the  ardent  support  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
More  than  half  of  its  life  the  Board  was  located  in  Baltimore  and 
a  large  proportion  of  its  members  have  been  men  of  the  Maryland 
Synod. 

Two  other  home  missionary  items  call  for  mention  here.  One 
is  the  "Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 


MISSIONS:    HOME,  FOREIGN',  AND  INNER.  Ill 

Maryland  Synod."  On  the  initiative  of  the  Synod  itself  this  or- 
ganization was  formed  in  1883,  and  for  sixteen  years  its  minutes 
were  published  by  the  Synod  in  connection  with  her  own  minutes. 
One  of  the  leaders  in  the  splendid  work  of  the  women  throughout 
the  Church,  the  Maryland  Synodical  Society  has  always  had  the 
warmest  support  and  practical  cooperation  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  A  brief  account  of  the  history  and  work  of  the  Society 
will  be  found  later  in  this  chapter. 

The  other  fact  demanding  notice  in  this  connection  is  the  de- 
velopment of  the  home  mission  field  in  West  Virginia.  It  was  in 
1903  that  the  Allegheny  Conference  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
called  vigorous  attention  to  the  urgent  need  of  that  field  and 
asked  for  aggressive  action.  The  Synod  at  once  presented  the 
matter  to  the  general  Board  of  Home  Missions  but  at  the  same 
time  pledged  the  funds  for  the  support  of  a  district  missionary 
in  that  field.  Rev.  T.  B.  Yeakley  was  chosen  missionary.  He 
began  his  work  in  January,  1904,  and  that  year  organized  a 
church  at  Fairmont  and  one  at  Elkins  and  canvassed  a  number  of 
other  towns  and  cities.  The  Synod  then  committed  the  promis- 
ing enterprise  to  the  General  Synod's  Board  of  Home  Missions 
but  for  two  years  more  continued  the  direct  support  of  the  dis- 
trict missionary  by  pledges  taken  on  the  floor  of  Synod.  These 
direct  contributions,  which  were  in  addition  to  the  Synod's  ap- 
portionment for  home  missions,  amounted  to  more  than  a  thou- 
sand dollars  annually.  The  district  missionary  reported  to  the 
Synod  each  year  the  details  of  his  work  in  West  Virginia,  and  the 
astounding  development  of  the  field  and  the  startling  rapidity 
with  which  he  organized  congregations,  secured  pastors  for  old 
fields  long  vacant,  led  mission  churches  to  self-support,  founded 
new  missions  and  established  out  stations,  makes  his  narratives 
read  like  a  romance.  In  1910  the  Home  Mission  Board  was  sup- 
plying aid  to  fifteen  missions  within  the  bounds  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  among  them  such  promising  fields  as  Keyser,  Davis,  Fair- 
mont, Elkins,  Clarksburg,  and  Huntington.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
in  1912  these  flourishing  mission  churches  united  with  several 
congregations  formerly  in  the  Allegheny  Conference  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  and  with  the  churches  at  Wheeling  to  organize  a  new 
Synod,  the  West  Virginia  Synod.  And  this  newest  accession  to 
the  ranks  of  the  district  synods  of  the  General  Synod  is  the  direct 
outgrowth  of  the  home  missionary  zeal  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

The  Foreign  Mission. 

The  foreign  mission  activities  of  the  Maryland  Synod  can  be 
related  in  fewer  words  than  the  home  missionary.  Not  that  the 


112  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

interest  of  the  Synod  in  that  department  of  benevolence  was  less 
keen  nor  that  her  cooperation  in  the  work  was  less  cordial,  hut 
because  from  the  nature  of  the  case  the  individual  district  synod 
has  less  opportunity  to  be  conspicuous  in  the  sphere  of  foreign 
missions  than  in  that  of  home  missions. 

For  some  years  before  the  General  Synod  undertook  the  work 
of  Foreign  Missions  the  Maryland  Synod  had  become  alive  to 
the  expansive  element  in  our  religion,  the  propulsive  power  of 
the  Gospel,  and  the  world-wide  mission  of  the  Church.  This 
spirit  of  aggressive  evangelization  of  the  unsaved  was  fostered 
in  the  Synod  by  the  operations  and  reports  of  the  home  mission- 
aries, by  the  annual  sermons  on  missions,  which  began  as  early  as 
1821),  and  by  the  annual  reports  and  circulars,  both  informational 
and  inspirational,  of  the  Synod's  standing  committee  on  missions. 
When,  therefore,  the  General  Synod  was  ready  to  distinguish  be- 
tween home  missions  and  foreign  missions  and  to  undertake  for- 
eign missions  as  a  distinct  department  of  benevolence,  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  thoroughly  prepared  for  the  move. 

The  Central  Missionary  Society  formed  in  18.'55,  to  which  we 
have  already  referred,  had  as  one  of  its  objects  "ultimately  to  co- 
operate in  sending  it  (the  Gospel)  to  the  heathen  world."  But 
no  definite  steps  in  the  direction  of  prosecuting  the  foreign  mis- 
sion project  were  taken  until  the  Church  heard  the  strong  ap- 
peals which  came  from  the  celebrated  Gut/Ian"  of  China  and  the 
indefatigable  Rhenius  of  India.  These  appeals  called  the  Church 
to  immediate  action  on  the  foreign  field.  Then  the  General  Synod 
referred  the  matter  to  the  district  synods  and  on  motion  of  Dr. 
Morris  called  on  the  synods  to  give  "an  expression  of  their  senti- 
ments and  feelings  respecting  the  establishment  of  a  Foreign 
Mission  by  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United 
States." 

On  this  subject  the  Maryland  Synod  gave  no  uncertain  sound. 
She  took  action  in  18M  declaring  that  "the  Synod  of  Maryland 
considers  it  the  imperative  and  immediate  duty  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States  to  establish  a  For- 
eign Missionary  Society that  our  delegates  to  the  General 

Synod  be  instructed  to  sustain  any  efforts  which  the  General 
Synod  may  make  for  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in 
heathen  countries." 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  General  Synod,  which  was  at 
Hagerstown  in  18){7,  a  committee  of  which  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz 
was  chairman  outlined  a  policy  for  the  work  and  planned  a  con- 
vention to  organi/e  a  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  At  this  con- 
vention, which  was  held  at  Hagerstown  immediately  after  the 


MISSIONS  :    HOME,  FOREIGN',  AND  INNER.  113 

adjournment  of  the  General  Synod,  nearly  half  of  the  delegates 
were  from  the  Maryland  Synod  and  Dr.  Kurtz  was  president  of 
the  convention  and  chairman  of  the  committee  that  drafted  the 
constitution  for  the  Society.  It  was  this  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety that  appointed  "Father"  Heyer  to  go  to  India  in  1840  as 
the  first  foreign  missionary  of  the  American  Lutheran  Church. 
When  difficulties  arose  because  the  Society  proposed  to  operate 
through  the  interdenominational  American  Board,  Heyer  was 
sent  out  by  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  in  1841.  The  first  mission- 
ary actually  sent  out  by  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
General  Synod  was  Walter  Gunn,  who  went  to  India  in  1843.  It 
was  under  this  organization  also  that  Morris  Officer  began  our 
work  in  Africa  in  I860. 

With  this  Society  for  fostering  the  foreign  missionary  enter- 
prise among  the  Lutherans  of  our  country  the  Maryland  Synod 
cooperated  by  contribution,  by  agitation,  and  in  every  way  pos- 
sible. In  1848  the  Synod,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  ministerium 
called  for  that  purpose,  ordained  Rev.  G.  J.  Martz  and  solemnly 
set  him  apart  for  the  Lutheran  mission  in  India.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  long  line  of  honored  names  on  the  ministerial  roll 
of  the  Synod  of  men  whom  she  has  sent  directly  to  the  foreign 
field. 

When  the  benevolences  of  the  Church  entered  upon  their  new 
era  in  3869,  precisely  the  same  influences  and  personalities  that 
we  have  noted  as  having  led  to  the  formation  of  a  Board  of  Home 
Missions  were  the  influences  and  personalities  that  led  to  the 
formation  of  a  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 

One  other  distinctive  contribution  our  Synod  made  to  the  pres- 
ent efficient  organization  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and 
that  is  the  salaried  General  Secretary.  In  1874,  on  motion  of 
Professor  E.  J.  Wolf,  the  Synod  declared  :  "WHEREAS,  The  work 
of  Foreign  Missions,  under  the  auspices  of  the  General  Synod, 
is  beginning  to  assume  such  proportions  as  indicate  the  manifest 
favor  of  God  and  a  deep  and  liberal  interest  on  the  part  of  the 
Church,  calling  for  a  careful  supervision  of  the  work ;  therefore, 
Resolved,  That  our  delegates  to  the  General  Synod  are  directed 
to  ask  of  that  body  the  appointment  of  a  General  Superintendent 
of  Foregin  Missions  with  a  liberal  salary."  The  following  year 
on  motion  of  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork  this  action  was  reaffirmed. 
Armed  with  this  resolution  the  delegates  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
secured  from  the  General  Synod  in  1877  the  resolution  that  "it  is 
the  sense  of  this  body  that  there  should  be  a  paid  Secretary  of 
Foreign  Missions  who  shall  devote  his  whole  time  to  the  interests 
of  the  work. "  Accordingly  as  soon  as  the  funds  could  be  secured, 


114  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

which  was  not  until  1886,  the  first  General  Secretary  was  em- 
ployed in  the  person  of  Rev.  Dr.  George  Seholl. 

In  1877,  eight  years  after  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  was 
constituted,  its  headquarters  were  transferred  from  New  York 
to  Baltimore  where  they  have  remained  to  the  present.  For  some 
years  after  this  transfer  of  the  Board's  location  every  member  of 
the  Board  except  one  was  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
The  presidents  of  the  Board  from  that  day  to  this  have  all  been 
from  our  Synod:  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork, 'l 877-1 884:  Dr.  J.  G. 
Butler,  1884-1895;  Dr.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen,  1895-1897;  Dr. 
Luther  Kuhlman,  1897-1916;  Dr.  Ezra  K.  Bell,  1916  to  the  pres- 
ent. Mr.  Oliver  F.  Lantz,  of  the  First  Lutheran  (1hurch  in  Bal- 
timore, was  for  thirty  years,  1877-1907,  the  efficient  treasurer  of 
the  Board. 

Of  her  sons  and  daughters  the  Maryland  Synod  has  also  given 
liberally  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions.  On  Christmas  Day, 
1871,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  in  St.  Mark's,  Bal- 
timore, Rev.  J.  II.  Harpster,  a  licentiate  of  the  Synod,  was  or- 
dained and  solemnly  consecrated  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions. Shortly  thereafter  Dr.  Harpster  sailed  for  India  where 
he  took  his  place  alongside  of  Dr.  Vnangst  who  for  some  time  had 
been  the  only  missionary  on  the  Guntur  field.  His  long  period  of 
splendid  service  on  that  field  is  well  known.  In  1885  Rev.  J. 
Nichols,  another  licentiate  of  the  Synod,  was  ordained  at  a  spe- 
cial meeting  and  at  once  commissioned  to  India.  Dr.  George 
Albrecht,  who  had  received  ad  interim  license  from  the  Mary- 
land Synod  in  1891,  was  ordained  at  a  special  meeting  in  June, 
1892,  and  sailed  at  once  for  India.  Rev.  A.  Pohlman  was  licensed 
in  189.3  and  ordained  in  1894  and  after  a  medical  course  took  up 
his  work  at  Monrovia,  Africa.  In  1900  the  Maryland  Synod,  on 
request  of  Dr.  Harpster,  empowered  the  India  Conference  to  or- 
dain Rev.  Peravalli  Abraham.  On  the  clerical  roll  of  the  Synod 
to-day  are  found  the  names  of  the  following  missionaries:  Victor 
Macauley,  ordained  in  1898  and  assigned  to  Guntur,  India  ;  Isaac 
Cannaday,  foreign  pastor  of  St.  Mark's,  Baltimore;  E.  A.  Avers, 
of  Monrovia,  Africa ;  John  E.  Graef,  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  1914  and  ordained  by  the  Guntur  Synod  in  1916;  and 
Harry  Goedeke,  ordained  1919  at  a  special  meeting  and  commis- 
sioned to  India.  Most  of  the  representatives  of  the  Synod  on  the 
foreign  field  were  accompanied  also  by  faithful  daughters  of  the 
Synod. 

As  in  the  home  missionary  work  of  the  Church  so  in  the  foreign 
missionary  work  the  Maryland  Synod  has  indirectly  rendered 
noteworthv  service  through  her  svnodical  Woman's  Home  and 


MISSIONS  :    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  115 

Foreign  Missionary  Society.  We  introduce  here  a  modest  narra- 
tive of  the  life  and  work  of  that  Society  as  written  by  Miss  Mary 
Ba3rlies. 

The  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

Beginnings:  The  history  of  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Maryland  Synod  began  in  1880,  when 
the  Synod  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  Mrs.  M.  L.  Trow- 
bridge,  Baltimore;  Miss  Olevia  McKee,  Hagerstown,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Strobel  Levy,  Frederick,  to  take  general  oversight  of  the 
Woman's  Missionary  work  in  Maryland  Synod  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  Synodical  Society.  The  committee  undertook  the 
work  with  fear  and  trembling.  Tt  was  so  entirely  new  and  the 
difficulties  to  be  overcome  so  many,  they  felt  at  times  they  inust 
give  it  up ;  but  encouraged  by  the  success  the  movement  was 
making  in  other  sections  of  the  Church,  and  looking  to  God  for 
guidance  and  wisdom,  they  persevered  and  at  the  next  meeting 
of  Synod  were  able  to  report  they  had  organized  seven  societies, 
one  each  in  the  following  churches:  First,  Second,  St.  Mark's, 
St.  Paul's,  Baltimore;  Trinity,  Taneytown ;  Trinity,  Hagers- 
toM'n  ;  and  Water's  Store,  Howard  County. 

As  the  members  of  this  first  committee  lived  in  localities  too 
widely  separated  for  frequent  consultations,  it  was  found  im- 
possible to  work  together  with  advantage,  and  consequently  Mrs. 
Trowbridge,  the  chairman,  suggested  to  the  Synod  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  whose  members  should  all  live  in  the  same 
place.  This  was  done  and  the  following  committee  appointed : 
Mrs.  Emma  B.  Scholl,  Chairman  ;  Miss  Josephine  Brauns,  Sec- 
retary, and  Mrs.  W.  H.  James,  Treasurer,  all  of  whom  lived  in 
Ballimore.  This  committee  met  once  a  month  seeking  counsel  of 
God  and  of  each  other,  and  to  that  policy,  which  has  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  day  by  the  synodical  committee,  Maryland 
attributes  much  of  her  success. 

Tn  its  first  report  to  the  Synod  this  second  committee  say  "it 
is  with  great  reluctance  and  with  feeling  akin  to  despair  that  they 
undertook  the  task  laid  upon  them."  Their  principal  difficulty 
was  the  indifference  of  the  women  themselves,  owing  to  an  in- 
adequate conception  of  missionary  work.  Then,  too,  while  a  large 
number  of  the  pastors  willingly  cooperated  with  the  committee 
and  did  ail  in  their  power  to  organize  societies  in  their  congre- 
gations, there  were  some  who  seemed  to  think  the  chief  object  of 
the  Woman's  Society  was  raising  money,  and  as  these  funds  could 
not  be  counted  on  the  apportionment,  no  encouragement  was 
given  for  the  organization  of  a  society.  The  committee  very 


116  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

properly  felt  that  its  first  work  was  to  educate,  ami  with  this  ob- 
ject set  about  the  work  with  zeal  and  earnestness. 

To  Mrs.  Emma  B.  Seholl,  the  Chairman,  much  credit  and 
praise  should  be  given  for  untiring  and  intelligent  effort,  supple- 
mented by  the  ready  willingness  of  the  consecrated  Secretary, 
Miss  Josephine  L.  Brauns.  The  women  were  urged  to  organize 
themselves  into  societies  for  the  purpose  of  studying  missions 
and  praying  for  the  success  of  the  cause,  for  it  was  believed  that 
the  increased  knowledge  and  broader  outlook  would  bear  fruit  in 
larger  offerings  for  the  Master's  work.  Letters  were  written  to 
the  pastors  asking  cooperation  and  from  most  of  them  came 
cheering  words  and  promises  of  support. 

Thus  encouraged  the  work  grew  rapidly  and  at  the  first  Con- 
vention of  the  Society  held  in  the  First  Church,  Baltimore,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1883,  the  Secretary  reported  the  enrollment  of  twenty-two 
societies,  with  (>!)2  members  and  offerings  amounting  to  $740.89. 
At  this  convention  two  Vice-Presidents  were  added  to  the  Synod- 
ical  Committee,  namely,  Miss  Amy  L.  Sadtler  and  Mrs.  Ellen  1). 
Hynson.  It  was  at  this  first  Convention  that  the  constitution  of 
the  General  Synod  was  adopted  and  Maryland  at  once  took  a 
prominent  place  among  her  sister  societies,  a  place  which  she  has 
continued  to  hold  with  honor  and  leadership  through  all  the 
years.  The  foundations  were  laid  broad  and  strong,  the  super- 
structure has  risen  year  by  year,  each  adding  new  grace  and 
beauty  of  development  until  in  amazement  we  cry  "what  has  God 
wrought." 

Literature  Committee :  Early  in  the  history  of  the  Society, 
during  Mrs.  Hamma's  term  of  office  as  president,  a  Bureau  of 
Information  was  formed.  The  purpose  of  this  Bureau  was  to  col- 
lect sources  of  information  such  as  tracts,  books,  newspaper  clip- 
pings, and  so  forth,  and  to  send  them  out  to  the  different  societies. 
The  Bureau,  or  Committee  as  it  was  afterward  called,  was  com- 
posed of  one  member  from  each  society  in  the  city  of  Baltimore. 
Miss  Mary  Rice  of  the  Second  Church  was  for  many  years  the 
efficient  Chairlady.  Its  first  publication  was  a  small  book  called 
a  "Manual  of  Gospel  Services,"  containing  responsive  readings, 
hymns  and  instructions  for  conducting  meetings.  This  was  pri- 
marily intended  for  our  own  women,  but  it  was  later  endorsed  by 
the  General  Executive  Committee  and  soon  found  its  way 
throughout  the  General  Society,  and  also  through  the  societies 
of  the  South,  who  were  just  newly  awakened  to  an  interest  in 
woman's  work  in  missions. 

At  this  time  a  Mite  Box  was  also  prepared  by  the  committee. 
It  was  made  of  blue  card  board,  having  appropriate  texts  and  to 


MISSIONS:    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  117 

make  it  distinctively  Lutheran,  the  head  of  Martin  Luther  was 
printed  on  the  top.  This  Mite  Box  was  the  fore-runner  of  the 
Thank-offering  Box,  so  familiar  and  so  much  loved  by  all  Luther- 
an Missionary  Women. 

Conferences:  Early  in  her  history  in  an  effort  to  reach  the 
largest  proportion  of  her  members,  Conferences  were  organized 
to  meet  annually  in  the  Spring  of  the  year.  These  Conferences 
cover  the  same  territory  as  the  Conferences  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  The  Eastern  and  Middle  Conferences  were  organized  in 
1891,  the  Western  in  1892,  and  the  Allegheny,  afterward  called 
the  Mountain,  in  1903. 

Traveling  Secretary :  Still  feeling  the  work  was  not  as  care- 
fully looked  after  as  might  be,  and  with  the  hope  of  organizing 
a  society  in  every  congregation,  a  Traveling  Secretary  was  ap- 
pointed for  this  special  work.  Miss  Laura  Wade  Rice  was  se- 
lected as  the  first  incumbent  and  retained  the  office  until  1905. 

Box  Work :  One  of  the  most  helpful  features  of  our  mission- 
ary effort  has  been  the  Box  Work.  The  packing  of  boxes  with 
necessary  articles  for  the  home  missionary  and  his  family  began 
in  the  early  days  of  our  society  and  has  been  faithfully  continued. 
Thousands  of  dollars  have  gone  into  this  work,  carrying  aid  and 
happiness  to  many  a  home  missionary.  Later  a  department  for 
Foreign  Box  Work  was  added  and  every  demand  for  that  work 
was  cheerfully  met. 

Foreign  Work:  Since  1889  the  Maryland  Synodical  Society 
has  had  her  special  representative  in  India.  The  first  one  to  go 
was  Miss  Amy  L.  Sadtler,  and  for  the  honor  of  having  one  of 
her  own  members  a  Foreign  Missionary,  she  immediately  asked 
permission  of  the  General  Executive  Committee  to  undertake 
Miss  Sadtler 's  support.  Consent  to  this  was  secured  and  $500 
was  given  annually  as  a  Free  Will  offering.  In  1894  Miss  Sadtler 
decided  to  give  her  services  without  salary,  and  at  our  request 
the  Executive  Committee  allowed  us  to  substitute  Dr.  Mary  Baer, 
who  wras  then  ready  to  sail.  The  amount  of  salary  was  increased 
to  $600  annually. 

Home  Work :  Mrs.  James,  when  she  was  president,  suggested 
that  as  we  had  our  special  Foreign  Missionary,  we  should  under- 
take, with  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Committee,  one  of  our 
Home  Missions,  contributing  to  the  salary  of  the  pastor  the 
amount  given  by  the  General  Society,  thus  having  for  our  special 
work  a  missionary  in  India  and  a  missionary  in  the  Home  Field. 
The  new  mission  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  was  assigned  to  us,  and 
the  first  year's  salary  was  paid  out  of  a  legacy  of  $1,000  left  us 
by  Miss  Annie  H.  Morris.  After  that  our  annual  Thank-offering 


118  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

was  "riven  to  this  object,  until  185)7  when  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee decided  that  all  Thank-offering  money  should  he  paid  into  the 
General  Fund.  This  decision  did  not  deter  Maryland  from  con- 
tinuing her  special  home  work  and  she  contributed  annually  to 
the  pastor's  salary  at  Ann  Arbor  until  that  Mission  became  self- 
supporting.  After  that  the  new  Home  Mission  at  Clarksburg, 
West  Virginia,  was  substituted  and  this  continues  to  be  our  spe- 
cial Home  Mission  work. 

Thank-offering:  At  her  Tenth  Anniversary,  Maryland  gave  a 
Thank-offering  of  .t8!K).f>!)  in  grateful  acknowledgment  of  her 
many  blessings,  and  adopted  at  this  time  an  annual  Thank-offer- 
ing as  a  part  of  her  regular  work.  The  Maryland  Synodical  So- 
ciety has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  in  the  General  Society  to 
adopt  the  plan  of  an  annual  Thank-offering,  which  has  proved  so 
large  a  factor  in  the  general  work. 

Maryland  has  always  been  most  loyal  to  every  call  and  plan  of 
the  Executive  Committee  and  nowhere  has  this  been  shown  more 
forcefully  than  in  her  contributions  to  all  special  work,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  undertaken  by  the  General  Society.  These 
claims  were  her  first  consideration  and  she  has  always  calculated 
that  her  share  of  the  full  amount  is  one-fifth  of  the  whole.  There- 
fore she  has  given  to  all  the  Home  Mission  churches  built,  the 
schools  and  hospital  in  India  and  the  Emma  V.  Day  school  in 
Africa. 

Finances:  The  total  contributions  amount  to  $193, 672. (53.  In- 
cluded in  this  are  legacies  amounting  to  $6, 600. 05  from  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Miss  Annio  H.  Morris,   $1,000.00 

Miss   Elizabeth  Ober,    85 .  2(5 

The  Misses  Fugleman  and  Mrs.  Fliza  J.  Frownfelter,          (Hi:?.  IS 

Mr*.  Maria  L.  Trowbridge,   1,000.  no 

Miss  Sarah  ('.  Trump 100.00 

Miss  Anna  Woo<hv>rth,    868.:?! 

Miss  M.  F.  Werilebaugh, 200. 00 

Miss  Mary  F.  Sauerwein,   1,243.30 

Miss  Mary  Hay  Morris,   1,500.00 

Also  the  following  Annuitants  of  the  General  Society  are  credited 

to  Maryland : 

Miss  Clara  V.  Sadtlor,   $.100.00 

Miss  Maggie  Mehring 5,500.00 

Mrs.  Martha  Frinjjer,   500. 00 

Mrs.  Laura  J.  Poub, 400.00 

Miss  Elizabeth  Sheeleigh,    100.00 

Miss  (trace  Sheeleiifh,   ]00.  00 

Mrs.   Susan    Hafer 200.00 

Miss    Flizabeth    Tfartmaii,    100.00 

Miss  Flora  V.  Hayes,  100.00 


Total,    $7,500. 00 


MISSIONS:    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  119 

Specials :  Among  the  special  objects  to  which  Maryland  has 
given,  in  addition  to  her  regular  work  are  the  following:  $500 
for  the  furnishing  of  a  room  in  the  Woman's  Hospital,  India,  in 
memory  of  Miss  Annie  H.  Morris;  $1,000  for  the  endowment  of 
a  bed  in  the  India  Hospital  in  memory  of  Miss  Josephine  L. 
Brauns;  $9.000  for  a  Nurses'  Home  and  Training  School  in  con- 
nection with  the  hospital  in  India ;  $4,000  for  a  Dispensary  at 
Chirala,  India,  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Jane  Bennett  Heilman,  $200 
for  a  Window  to  the  memory  of  Miss  M.  E.  Werdebaugh,  in  the 
Church  at  Clarksburg,  West  Virginia;  $500  toi  Dr.  Kugler's 
Work  in  Guntur ;  $500  to  Dr.  Baer  's  Work  in  Chirala,  and  $500 
to  Rentachintala. 

Officers :  From  the  very  beginning  Maryland  has  been  singu- 
larly blessed  in  her  Presidents.  Mrs.  Emma  B.  Scholl,  Mrs.  M. 
V.  Hamma,  Mrs.  Luther  Kuhlman,  Mrs.  W.  H.  James,  Mrs.  P. 
A.  Heilman,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Miller,  Mrs.  C.  P.  Wiles,  and  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Baughman ;  all  of  them  women  of  vision  and  faith,  who  planned 
wisely  and  had  the  courage  to  attempt  great  things.  For  Vice- 
Presidents  she  has  had  such  women  as  Miss  Mar}-  Hay  Morris, 
Mrs.  J.  D.  Main,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Diehl,  Mrs.  Luther  Kuhlman,  Miss 
Maggie  Bingham,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Forrest,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Lentz,  Mrs.  C. 
V.  Spielman,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Bixler,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Baughman,  Miss  Liz- 
zie T.  Birely,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Roessner,  Mrs.  G.  V.  Ruhl,  Miss  M.  E. 
Kephart,  Mrs.  C.  D.  Bell,  and  Miss  Martha  Hoener.  Miss  Emilia 
Brauns  was  the  first  Corresponding  Secretary,  followed  by  Miss 
Mary  Baylies,  who  served  for  twenty-five  years,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Rob- 
erts, and  Mrs.  James  G.  Pugh.  The  first  Recording  Secretary 
was  Miss  Josephine  L.  Brauns  of  blessed  memory,  followed  by 
Miss  Kate  Sadtler,  Miss  Sallie  M.  Protzmau,  Miss  Clara  Genso 
and  for  the  past  nineteen  years  Mrs.  James  P.  Reese.  In  all  her 
history  Maryland  has  had  but  three  Treasurers:  Mrs.  N.  H. 
James,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Miller,  and  Mrs.  S.  F.  Ziegler,  who  has  been 
in  office  since  1894.  Our  faithful  Historian  was  Miss  Sarah 
Trump  who  served  until  her  death  in  1914,  when  she  was  suc- 
ceeded by  her  sister  Miss  Elizabeth  Trump.  With  such  women 
as  these  in  office  the  work  has  been  well  organized  and  wisely  ad- 
ministered. 

Missionaries:  From  her  fold  have  gone  to  India:  Miss  Amy 
Sadtler,  now  Mrs.  George  Albrecht;  Miss  Kate  Sadtler,  Dr. 
Eleanor  B.  Wolf,  Miss  Rebekah  Hoffman,  Miss  Tillia  Nelson  and 
Mrs.  Harry  Goedeke;  also,  one  under  appointment,  Miss  Alice 
Nickel. 

General  Officers:  She  has  also  given  a  number  of  her  daugh- 
ters to  fill  prominent  positions  in  the  General  Society.  The  mem- 


120  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

bers  of  the  General  Literature  Committee  from  the  time  that 
Committee  was  enlarged  in  1897  until  the  Merger,  have  always 
been  elected  from  the  Maryland  Synodical  Society.  Mrs.  P.  A. 
Heilman,  while  President  of  Maryland,  was  elected  President  of 
the  General  Society;  Mrs.  E.  1).  Miller  was  for  many  years  the 
General  Treasurer;  Miss  Mary  Hay  Morris  was  General  Corre- 
sponding Secretary;  and  Mrs.  Emma  B.  Scholl,  General  His- 
torian. Another  of  our  members  is  Miss  Sallie  M.  Protzman,  the 
efficient  Secretary  of  Literature  and  for  a  number  of  years  the 
associate  editor  of  Lutheran  Woman's  Work.  Miss  Laura  Wade 
Rice,  one  of  the  editors  of  The  Children's  Missionary  and  later 
of  Lutheran  Hoys  and  Girls,  is  one  of  our  own.  We  are  glad  to 
claim  also  Mrs.  F.  A.  Handsche,  the  Secretary  of  Foreign  Box 
Work,  and  Miss  Sarah  C.  Sadtler,  whose  labor  of  love  in  prepar- 
ing the  Bible  lessons  for  our  monthly  meetings  has  borne  such 
rich  fruitage.  And  what  shall  we  say  of  the  hundreds  of  mem- 
bers, unknown  perhaps  beyond  their  local  societies,  and  yet  with- 
out whose  loyalty  and  faithful  service  Maryland's  history  would 
not  be  what  it  is?  Surely  the  Master's  "well  done"  will  sound 
just  as  sweetly  to  them  as  to  those  called  to  labor  in  larger  fields. 
So  we  see  it  is  a  long  journey  we  have  come  from  our  First 
Convention  in  1883,  when  we  reported  twenty  auxiliaries  with 
692  members  and  an  offering  of  $740.58  to  our  last  one  when  the 
reports  showed  133  auxiliaries,  f),4o'3  members  and  $12,422.32 
offering  for  the  year.  But  figures  cannot  tell  all  our  story.  How 
can  we  tell  of  the  prayer,  of  the  sacrifice,  of  the  devotion  and 
years  of  services  that  have  been  given  to  the  work  ?  How  can  we 
tell  of  the  blessings  that  have  come  to  our  members  in  a  broader 
vision,  a  more  unselfish  purpose,  a  deeper  consecration  of  life  be- 
cause of  membership  in  our  societies?  When  at  the  Merger  meet- 
ing in  New  York  in  November,  1918,  Maryland  gave  up  her  proud 
old  name  of  ''Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Maryland  Synod"  and  was  given  the  new  name  of  "The 
Women's  Missionary  Society  of  the  Maryland  Synod,"  she  took 
it  with  the  determination  to  make  it  just  as  honorable,  just  as 
glorious  as  the  old  one;  and  with  firm  reliance  upon  God,  to 
whom  she  owes  all  her  success,  she  presses  forward  to  greater 
achievements  in  His  name. 

The  Inner  Mission. 

Another  line  of  mission  work  directly  supported  by  the  Synod 
is  that  of  the  Inner  Mission,  faith  working  through  love.  This  is 
a  very  recent  development.  From  the  nature  of  the  case  it  is 
limited  largely  to  the  metropolitan  City  of  Baltimore.  It  began 


MISSIONS  :    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  121 

just  in  time  to  render  a  notable  service  during  the  World  War  of 
1914. 

This  work  was  initiated  and  has  been  prosecuted  by  the  Lu- 
theran Ministers'  Association  of  Baltimore.  At  a  preliminary 
meeting  in  October,  1913,  attended  by  about  sixty  pastors  and  a 
number  of  deaconesses  and  active  lay -workers,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  and  take  steps  for  organization. 
The  organization  was  effected  in  the  First  Lutheran  Church  on 
November  11,  1913,  and  the  new  body  took  the  name  "The  Inner 
Mission  Society  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Balti- 
more Cit\'  and  Vicinity."  Its  purpose  was  to  apply  Christianity 
to  those  special  needs  that  grow  from  life  in  a  large  city,  to  ex- 
tend the  hand  of  love  and  mercy  to  those  whose  particular  spirit- 
ual wants  are  not  provided  for  either  by  the  individual  congre- 
gations of  the  city  or  by  the  other  Boards  and  agencies  of  the 
Church. 

The  need  revealed  by  a  canvass  of  the  situation  proved  so  great 
and  the  avenues  of  usefulness  opened  so  rapidly  that  the  new  So- 
ciety soon  saw  that  the  full  time  of  a  Superintendent  would  be 
required  to  carry  on  the  work  in  adequate  measure.  Rev.  Fred- 
erick \V.  Meyer  \vas  chosen  and  installed  in  the  office  October  12, 
1914.  At  the  same  time  the  Synod  officially  endorsed  the  work 
in  cordial  terms  and  promised  cooperation  in  every  way  possible. 

Now  the  work  was  broadened.  In  addition  to  the  work  as  an 
information  bureau  and  clearing  house  for  Lutherans  moving 
into  the  city,  and  in  addition  to  the  regular  visitation  of  hos- 
pitals, houses  of  correction,  and  homes  for  the  unfortunate,  the 
Board  of  Directors  began  to  plan  a  hospice  for  young  ladies. 
This  resulted  in  the  purchase  of  the  large  house  at  509  Park 
Avenue,  a  property  valued  at  $42,000  which  was  converted  into 
a  comfortable  Christian  home  for  non-resident  girls. 

Then  America  was  drawn  into  the  World  War.  Camp  Meade 
was  established  only  twenty  miles  from  Baltimore.  The  call  for 
a  Lutheran  Service  House  in  Baltimore  became  imperative.  In 
1918  the  beautiful  home  at  601  Cathedral  Street,  a  central  loca- 
tion, was  purchased  for  $20,000,  and  the  National  Lutheran  Com- 
mission paid  one-third.  This  house  became  the  headquarters  of 
the  Maryland  Committee  that  conducted  the  two  very  successful 
drives  among  Lutherans  of  the  state  for  welfare  and  reconstruc- 
tion funds.  Throughout  the  period  of  the  war  and  the  time  of 
demobilization  the  Inner  Mission  Society  rendered  splendid  serv- 
ice to  the  men  in  uniform.  When  demobilization  was  completed 
the  Service  House  was  converted  into  a  "Lutheran  Home  for 


122  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Men,"  and  as  such  it  stands  to-day,  a  credit  to  the  Church  whose 
name  it  hears. 

The  purrhase,  equipment,  and  maintenance  of  these  two  large 
and  hea ut i fill  homes  has  meant  mueh  sacrifice  and  much  personal 
service  on  the  part  of  the  Lutherans  of  Baltimore  and  vicinity. 
The  days  of  the  Superintendent,  have  been  filled  with  deeds  of 
compassion  and  love  alone:  many  different  lines.  The  laymen, 
the  women  of  the  churches,  and  the  pastors  have  freely  given  of 
their  time  and  their  means.  And  the  annual  reports  of  the  Su- 
perintendent show  splendid  results  of  the  efforts.  In  fact,  the 
rapid  growth  of  the  Inner  Mission  work  in  Baltimore,  the  large 
volume  of  service  rendered,  and  the  high  degree  of  usefulness 
attained  in  these  brief  years  of  its  history,  constitute  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  pages  in  the  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
that.  city. 

From  the  beginning  the  Maryland  Synod  lias  recognized  the 
importance  of  this  work  and  has  supported  it  morally  and  finan- 
cially. Beginning  with  1915  the  Synod  appropriated  $.")00  an- 
nually from  its  treasury  to  the  Inner  Mission  Society.  In  1918 
this  appropriation  was  increased  to  $2,000.  The  Superintendent 
of  the  Society  in  turn  has  rendered  to  the  Synod  full  accounts  of 
the  work  of  the  Society  and  they  appear  on  the  minutes  of  the 
Synod. 

The  first  Superintendent,  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Meyer,  resigned 
his  office  in  1918  in  order  to  become  a  "Camp  Pastor"  in  the  war 
service.  He  was  succeeded,  March  1,  1919,  by  Rev.  Harry  D. 
Xewcomer.  Sister  Zora  Heckert  is  the  House  Mother.  Mr.  Carl 
M.  Distler  is  president  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Charles  G.  Reipe,  sec- 
retary, and  Mr.  Frederick  W.  Kakel,  treasurer. 

Special  Lines  of  Benevolence. 

Ministerial  Relief.  As  early  as  1831  Dr.  B.  Kurtz  and  Dr.  S. 
S.  Schmucker  persuaded  the  General  Synod  to  begin  a  system  of 
ministerial  relief.  Dr.  Kurtz  drafted  the  constitution  for  the 
management  of  the  fund.  The  revenue  was  to  be  derived  from 
the  sale  of  hymn-books  and  catechisms.  But  this  plan  seems 
to  have  proved  unsatisfactory,  for  in  1839  it  was  repealed  and  an 
entirely  new  organization  known  as  the  "Lutheran  Pastors' 
Fund"  was  formed.  This  contemplated  raising  funds  by  volun- 
tary donations.  The  fund  grew  very  slowly  and  in  ten  years 
amounted  to  little  more  than  $1,300,  nearly  half  of  which  had 
been  donated  by  the  "Book  Company"  in  Baltimore.  The  plan 
was  too  complicated,  hard  to  understand  and  harder  to  carry  out, 
and  it  embodied  some  of  the  features  of  a  mutual  insurance  so- 


MISSIONS  :    HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  123 

ciety.  This  plan  also  failed,  and  it  was  only  within  a  generation 
past  that  the  General  Synod  was  able  to  evolve  a  satisfactory  sys- 
tem of  ministerial  relief. 

Meanwhile  the  Maryland  Synod  on  her  own  responsibility  had 
for  many  years  pursued  a  successful  plan  of  ministerial  relief. 
Its  benefits  were  extended  not  only  to  members  of  the  Synod  her- 
self but  to  all  Lutheran  ministers  and  their  dependents  irrespec- 
tive of  synodical  territory.  This  organization  also  was  known  as 
the  "Lutheran  Pastors'  Fund."  It  was  chartered  by  the  legisla- 
ture of  Maryland,  and  began  with  an  endowment  of  over  $2,800. 
It  began  in  1856.  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Seiss  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee that  prepared  the  plan  and  chief  of  the  incorporators. 
The  working  capital  at  first  consisted  of  the  $2,000  received  by 
the  Synod  from  the  sale  of  the  Lutheran  Observer  and  the  $804 
donated  by  the  stockholders  of  "the  Book  Company"  when  that 
institution  was  dissolved.  By  donations  of  individuals  and  offer- 
ings of  congregations  the  invested  capital  was  increased  to  more 
than  $5,000. 

For  thirty-three  years,  from  1859  to  1891,  the  business  of  the 
Fund  was  included  in  the  Synod's  order  of  business.  The  appro- 
priations were  made  annually  by  the  Synod  and  the  benefactions 
extended  to  disabled  or  superannuated  Lutheran  ministers,  and 
to  the  needy  widows  and  dependent  children  of  deceased  Lu- 
theran ministers.  More  of  the  beneficiaries  of  the  Fund  were 
outside  the  bounds  of  the  Maryland  Synod  than  within. 

Beginning  with  1886  the  Synod  annually  supplemented  the 
work  of  the  Pastors'  Fund  by  laying  an  apportionment  of  ten 
cents  per  communicant  member  for  "Ministerial  Susteiitation. " 
But  five  years  later  it  was  reported  that  the  entire  assets  of  the 
Pastors'  Fund  had  been  lost  by  the  defalcation  of  the  treasurer, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  was  resolved  that  the  Sustentation  Fund 
and  all  moneys  in  the  synodical  treasury  for  similar  purposes 
should  be  forwarded  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Pastor's  Fund  So- 
ciety of  the  General  Synod.  Thus  after  many  thousands  of  dol- 
lars had  been  administered  through  the  Lutheran  Pastors '  Fund 
of  the  Synod,  ministering  to  the  dire  necessities  of  many  an  am- 
bassador of  Christ,  relieving  the  wants  of  many  a  widow  and  fur- 
nishing sustenance  to  many  an  orphan,  that  benevolent  institu- 
tion passed  out  of  existence  and  the  Maryland  Synod  devoted  all 
of  her  relief  funds  to  the  work  of  the  general  body. 

Lutheran  Ministers'  Insurance  League.  Related  to  the  work 
of  ministerial  relief  was  the  work  of  the  Insurance  League  or- 
ganized in  1870  at  the  behest  of  Dr.  John  G.  Morris.  This  was 
not  a  synodical  organization  but  was  fostered  chiefly  by  the  min- 


124  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

isters  of  tin1  Synod.  It  was  incorporated  in  the  courts  of  Balti- 
more and  the  charter  members  were  Drs.  Morris,  McCron, 
Strobel.  Stork,  and  Hennighausen. 

The  object  of  the  organization  was  "the  exercise  of  mutual  be- 
nevolence and  the  mutual  insurance  of  relief  to  the  families  of 
its  deceased  members.''  The  rules  were  few  and  the  plan  was 
very  simple:  when  any  member  of  the  League  died  his  widow  or 
family  received  two  dollars  from  every  remaining  member  of  the 
League.  There  were  no  salaried  officers,  no  invested  funds,  and 
almost  no  possibility  of  defalcation. 

The  meetings  of  the  League  were  always  held  in  connection 
with  the  convention  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  The  first  and  only 
president  of  the  League  was  Dr.  Morris.  The  first  secretary  was 
Dr.  Sadtler  and  then  after  two  years  Dr.  Hennighausen.  The 
Church  papers  gave  hearty  support  to  the  movement  and  the 
number  of  members  increased  until  it  nearly  reached  five  hun- 
dred. In  1879  the  secretary  reported  that  the  average  aid  given 
to  the  families  of  departed  members  was  $843.  Small  though  this 
amount  may  seem,  it  nevertheless  came  to  many  of  them  as  a 
great  help,  rescuing  them  from  dependent  poverty,  enabling 
some  of  them  to  open  small  stores,  purchase  a  small  house  in  the 
country,  pay  debts  and  funeral  expenses,  clothe  their  children, 
or  lay  in  a  stock  of  winter  fuel  and  provisions. 

But  this  benevolent  institution,  from  some  unaccountable  rea- 
son, encountered  severe  opposition.  The  criticism  was  carried 
into  the  Church  papers.  This  persecution  of  the  League,  together 
with  the  advancing  age  of  its  members  and  the  frequency  of 
deaths  and  consequent  frequency  of  dues,  tended  to  weaken  the 
League  in  its  membership  and  in  its  appeal.  After  1885  the 
membership  began  to  decrease.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Dr.  Hen- 
nighausen for  sustaining  the  League  through  its  perils.  But  in 
185).")  when  the  president,  Dr.  Morris,  passed  away  and  when  the 
membership  had  dwindled  to  twenty-four,  with  no  hope  of  re- 
juvenation, the  League  also  passed  away  and  by  common  consent 
the  organization  quietly  dissolved. 

During  its  brief  life  of  only  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  Luther- 
an Ministers'  Insurance  League  had  distributed  among  needy 
widows  and  orphans  more  than  $80,000. 

Work  Among  Freedmen.  Another  special  line  of  benevolence, 
prosecuted  by  the  Synod  and  worth  of  mention,  is  the  work 
among  the  colored  people  in  our  own  country. 

Already  in  1824,  when  the  Synod  was  but  four  years  old,  she 
began  to  sense  the  negro  problem  in  our  country.  Dr.  D.  F. 
Schaeffer  was  then  president  of  the  Synod.  He  was  also  first 


MISSIONS  :     HOME,  FOREIGN,  AND  INNER.  125 

vice-president  of  the  Frederick  County  Auxiliary  Colonization 
Society.  Dr.  Schaeffer  called  the  formal  attention  of  the  Synod 
to  the  subject  of  colonizing  our  colored  people  on  the  coast  of 
Africa.  Then  the  Synod  adopted  a  lengthy  preamble  and  two 
resolutions.  The  preamble  affirms  that  the  Synod  ''conceive  it  a 
duty  to  express  their  opinion  upon  any  subject  of  importance  to 
their  brethren  in  the  faith,  when  such  expression  may  promise  to 
be  useful"  and  then  argues  the  case  for  colonization,  to  the  effect 
that  it  "affords  the  only  prospect  of  saving  our  country  from  the 
horrors  of  future  internal  wars  and  bloodshed."  The  first  reso- 
lution reads,  "That  this  synod  highly  approve  of  the  plan  for 
colonizing  our  free  people  of  color  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  and 
that  the  American  Colonization  Society  merits  the  most  cordial 
support  of  the  patriot,  of  the  philanthropist,  and  the  Christian." 

Only  once  after  that  did  the  Synod  as  such  touch  on  the  ques- 
tion. It  was  in  1834  when  it  was  resolved  "That  we  highly  ap- 
prove of  the  views  and  operations  of  the  Maryland  Colonization 
Society,  and  cordially  recommend  its  claims  to  all  our  ministers 
and  churches. ' ' 

During  the  Civil  War  the  question  of  slavery  seems  to  have 
been  scrupulously  avoided  by  this  Synod  of  the  border  state. 
But  on  the  question  of  preserving  the  Union  the  Synod  gave  no 
uncertain  sound.  At  Baltimore  in  1864  she  adopted  unanimously 
a  ringing  resolution  of  loyalty,  asserting  among  other  things  that 
"whilst  we  do  not  think  it  permitted  to  the  ambassadors  of 
Christ,  \vhose  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world,  to  introduce  into  the 
exercises  of  the  Sanctuary  matters  purely  political,  involving  no 
moral  issues,  yet  we  do  regard  it,  not  only  as  right  but  the 
bounden  duty  of  our  Ministers  to  pray  for  the  preservation  of  the 
national  existence  against  a  rebellion  destructive  in  its  aims  at 
once  of  the  life,  the  freedom  and  the  honor  of  our  great  and  good 
Government,  and  by  both  word  and  deed,  as  far  as  is  consistent 
with  their  spiritual  calling,  to  uphold  and  defend  it. ' ' 

But  after  the  reconstruction  period  was  over  and  when  the 
necessity  for  educating  and  training  the  emancipated  negro  be- 
came clear,  the  Synod  began  to  busy  herself  with  the  problem. 
For  several  years  the  Education  Committee,  of  which  Dr.  John 
G.  Butler,  of  Washington,  was  chairman,  aided  a  few  Lutheran 
students  at  Howard  University  in  Washington.  In  1883  a  stand- 
ing committee  was  appointed  on  "Education  and  Mission  Work 
Among  Freedmen."  Dr.  Butler  was  made  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee as  he  was  then  teaching  in  the  theological  department  of 
Howard  University.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Synod  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  issued  a  circular  in  the  interest 


12(5  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOH. 

of  tlic  work  and  th.it  they  had  aided  at  Howard  University  five 
candidates  for  the  Lutheran  ministry.  One  of  these  was  Daniel 
E.  Wiseman,  a  native  of  "West  India  and  a  member  of  St.  Mat- 
thew's Church  of  Brooklyn,  New  York.  Mr.  "Wiseman  had  just 
graduated  from  the  theological  department  of  the  University  and 
had  presented  himself  for  license  at  that  session  of  the  Synod. 
Licensed  in  1884  he  bepran  that  mission  work  among;  his  own  peo- 
ple in  Washington  which  has  flourished  so  splendidly  under  his 
hand. 

In  188.")  another  student  was  added  to  the  list  of  beneficiaries 
preparing;  for  work  among;  freedmen,  and  the  next  year  another. 
Most  of  these  men  Ivgan  their  mission  in  North  Carolina.  But 
the  Maryland  Synod  continued  the  work  for  five  years,  during; 
which  time  the  committee  spent  more  than  $1,'WO  and  aided  seven 
men  in  preparing;  for  the  Lutheran  ministry. 

Meanwhile  the  North  Carolina  Synod  had  become  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  this  kind  of  work  and  had  begun  to  train 
colored  ministers  and  educate  candidates  for  the  Lutheran  min- 
istry among;  freedmen.  And  as  North  Carolina  clearly  ofl'ered 
a  better  field  for  that  kind  of  work  than  the  territory  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  it  was  decided  gradually  to  withdraw  from  this 
line  of  benevolence  and  leave  it  entirely  to  the  Southern  synods. 
The  last  reference  to  the  matter  occurs  in  1889  when  the  Mary- 
land Synod  promises  the  North  Carolina  Synod  "to  second  their 
efforts  from  time  to  time." 

Deaconfsscs  and  Afjfd.  Much  might  be  said  also  about  the 
part  the  Maryland  Synod  has  played,  as  a  body  and  through  in- 
dividual members,  in  erecting  the  Deaconess  Mother-House  at 
Baltimore  and  the  National  Lutheran  Home  for  the  Aged  at 
Washington.  These  edifices  are  veritable  ornaments  to  the  Lu- 
theran Church  of  our  country,  and  both  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ings and  the  direction  of  the  work  done  in  them,  owe  much  to  the 
liberality,  enterprise,  and  energy  of  Maryland  Synod  laymen  and 
clergymen. 

But  after  specifying  these  outstanding  characteristics  of  the 
benevolence  of  the  Maryland  Synod  we  leaf  over  the  pages  of  her 
life-story  and  we  realize  thr-t  after  all,  her  greatest  work  has  been 
done  through  her  consistent  and  loyal  support,  moral  and  finan- 
cial, of  all  the  benevolent  agencies  of  the  Church  at  large  consti- 
tuted by  the  general  body  and  designed  to  promote  the  glory  of 
God. 


CHAPTER  vnr. 

EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY  AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS 

Education. 

More  than  in  any  other  line  of  activity  the  Maryland  Synod 
has  promoted  the  educational  interests  of  the  Church.  Several 
of  her  founders,  as  we  have  seen,  were  men  of  broad  training, 
nearly  all  of  them  were  young  and  active  and  highly  hopeful  for 
the  future  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  from  the  earliest  period 
of  her  history  the  Synod  has  had  among  her  membership  an  un- 
usual number  of  men  who  were  zealous  in  advancing  the  cause  of 
higher  education  among  Lutherans.  This  exceptional  interest  of 
the  Synod  in  promoting  higher  education  was  frequently  noted 
by  the  General  Synod  and  bv  other  district  synods.  Not  only 
did  she  foster  the  cause  among  her  own  people  and  establish  in- 
stitutions on  her  own  territory  but  she  also  took  the  initiative  in 
founding  more  general  institutions,  colleges  and  seminaries,  and 
in  inaugurating  the  general  educational  movement  in  the  Church. 
And  she  has  furnished  an  extraordinary  number  of  founders  and 
principals,  of  presidents  and  professors  for  the  colleges  and  semi- 
naries of  the  Church. 

The  first  move  of  the  Synod  along  educational  lines  was  made 
at  the  instance  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker.  It  came  at  the  third 
meeting  of  the  body  in  1822.  Dr.  Schmucker  had  been  ordained 
by  the  Synod  in  1821.  Already  at  that  meeting  the  Synod  placed 
a  catechist  and  theological  student,  Mr.  Kibler,  under  his  tuition. 
Young  Schmucker 's  talents  and  learning  pointed  him  out  as  a 
teacher.  He  had  been  a  student  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, had  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Helmuth,  and  as  there 
was  no  Lutheran  Seminary  in  America  had  finished  his  studies 
at  Princeton.  Before  going  to  Princeton  he  had  taught  in  the 
York  County  Academy,  and  when  he  took  up  his  pastorate  at 
New  Market  he  established  in  the  parsonage  there  a  pro-seminary 
for  ministerial  candidates.  He  was  therefore  well  equipped  for 
the  work  of  teaching  and  favorably  disposed  towards  it,  and  he 
was  seriously  concerned  for  the  training  of  the  Lutheran  min- 
isters of  our  land.  Accordingly,  as  early  as  1822  he  proposed 
that  the  Synod  consider  "the  expediency  of  providing  funds  for 
the  purchase  of  books  to  aid  indigent  students  in  acquiring 

127 


128  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

knowledge."  And  to  prove  the  project  practicable  he  exhibited 
forty-two  dollars  that  he  had  already  received  for  that  purpose. 
The  Synod  approved  the  idea  and  appointed  the  President  and 
Mr.  Schnmcker  a  committee  to  receive  and  apply  the  funds. 

This  was  only  a  beginning.  A  much  la  rarer  project  was  under 
contemplation  by  several  members  of  the  Synod.  This  was  noth- 
ing less  than  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary  to 
serve  the  entire  Lutheran  Church  of  America.  Tn  that  day  there 
was  no  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  in  this  country  except 
llartwick,  which  was  far  off  and  poorly  organized.  Candidates 
for  the  Lutheran  ministry  were  under  the  necessity  of  attending 
the  theological  seminaries  of  other  denominations  or  else  content- 
ing themselves  with  such  private  instructions  as  eminent  pastors 
could  find  time  to  give  them.  For  many  years  Dr.  D.  F.  Schaeffer 
had  instructed  theological  candidates  in  Frederick  in  connection 
with  his  work  as  preacher  and  pastor. 

The  Gct1i/sbiir(/  ticnihinrij.  The  need  for  a  general  theological 
seminary  was  keenly  felt  and  the  first  General  Synod,  meeting  in 
Hagerstown  in  1820,  had  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  plan 
for  founding  such  a  school.  But  the  committee  had  reported  in 
1821  that  they  could  not  formulate  a  feasible  plan,  and  the  enter- 
prise was  virtually  abandoned.  It  was  by  the  Synod  of  Mary- 
land and  Virginia  that  the  subject  was  revived.  In  182-'}  the  min- 
isters of  that  young  synod  held  monthly  conferences,  and  at  these 
meetings  the  expediency  of  establishing  a  seminary  was  fre- 
quently discussed.  Much  correspondence  on  the  subject  was  car- 
ried on.  Several  plans  were  suggested  but  none  was  adopted. 
The  next  year  the  subject  was  carried  beyond  the  bounds  of 
private  conference  and  brought  into  public  notice.  This  impor- 
tant, step  was  taken  by  Dr.  S.  S.  Schnmcker. 

Tn  a  sermon  preached  before  the  Synod  at  Middletown  in  1824 
Dr.  Schmucker  described  the  work  of  the  private  theological 
seminary  he  had  opened  at  New  Market  and  recommended  the 
enlargement  of  that  school  into  a  general  institution  of  the 
Church.  This  called  forth  a  number  of  suggestions  on  the  sub- 
ject but  no  definite  action  was  taken  until  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Synod  at  Hagerstown  in  182.")  when  S.  S.  Schmucker,  C.  P. 
Krauth,  and  B.  Kurtz  were  appointed  a  committee  "to  report  a 
plan  for  the  immediate  organization  of  a  theological  seminary." 
The  plan,  drawn  up  by  Schmucker,  was  presented  and  adopted 
the  same  day  the  committee  was  appointed.  It  outlined  the 
method  of  founding  and  maintaining  the  seminary  but  provided 
that  the  school  must  "be  patronized  by  the  General  Synod  and 
be  officially  put  into  operation  by  that  body." 


EDUCATIONAL   ACTIVITY    AND   LITERARY   PRODUCTS.  129 

The  General  Synod  at  its  next  meeting  adopted  the  plan  pro- 
posed by  the  Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  appointed  the 
time  for  the  opening  of  the  seminary,  eleeted  Dr.  Sehmucker  the 
professor,  chose  a  Board  of  Directors,  opened  a  book  of  subscrip- 
tions for  the  cause,  selected  agents  to  canvass  the  Church  in  this 
country,  and  appointed  Dr.  Kurtz  to  go  to  Europe  to  secure  books 
for  the  library  and  funds  for  the  endowment.  Four  months 
later,  March  2,  1826,  the  Directors  met  at  Hagerstown  to  deter- 
mine the  location  of  the  seminary.  They  considered  two  towns 
in  Maryland  (Hagerstown  and  Frederick)  and  three  in  Pennsyl- 
vania (Carlisle,  Chambersburg,  and  Gettysburg).  Chiefly  be- 
cause Gettysburg  was  regarded  as  more  centrally  located  for  the 
Lutheran  Church  as  a  whole  than  any  of  the  other  places,  the 
seminary  was  located  there,  just  six  miles  north  of  the  territory 
of  the  Maryland  Synod.  In  1892  when  the  subject  of  removing 
the  seminary  from  Gettysburg  to  some  large  city  was  being  seri- 
ously considered  the  Maryland  Synod  declared  herself  emphat- 
ically in  favor  of  removing  to  Washington.  Thus  the  child  of 
the  Synod  would  have  come  back  home.  But  the  seminary  was 
too  deeply  planted  at  Gettysburg  to  be  uprooted  and  trans- 
planted. 

The  seminary  was  located  within  the  bounds  of  the  West  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  but  was  identified  with  the  whole  Church.  It 
opened  its  classes  with  ten  students,  one-half  of  whom  were  from 
Maryland.  It  began  its  work  on  September  5,  1826,  and  the  rec- 
ord of  its  service  to  the  Church  and  its  long  line  of  distinguished 
graduates,  belongs  to  the  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church  rather 
than  the  history  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Suffice  it  to  say  here 
that  the  seminary  has  at  all  times  had  the  whole-hearted  support 
of  the  Synod  within  whose  bounds  it  was  conceived.  Right  loy- 
ally the  Maryland  Synod  has  contributed  of  her  best  to  the  semi- 
nary, to  its  faculty,  to  its  student  body,  to  its  treasury,  to  its  li- 
brary, and  to  its  Board  of  Directors.  Of  the  five  presidents  of 
the  seminary  three  (Sehmucker,  Valentine,  and  Stork)  came  to 
Gettysburg  directly  from  the  Maryland  Synod,  and  a  fourth 
(Brown)  had  been  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
and  for  three  years  had  been  pastor  of  one  of  her  churches  in 
Baltimore.  Of  the  eighteen  professors  who  have  served  the  semi- 
nary seven  (Sehmucker,  Hay,  Valentine,  Wolf,  Stork,  Kuhlman, 
and  Went/),  aggregating  one  hundred  and  forty-three  years  of 
service,  came  to  Gettysburg  directly  from  the  Maryland  Synod, 
and  four  others  (Krauth,  Brown,  Schaeffer,  and  Clutz),  with  an 
aggregate  of  fifty-four  years  of  service,  had  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  life  of  the  Synod  as  pastors  of  her  churches. 
The  other  seven  professors  have  rendered  eighty-nine  years  of 
9 


l.">0  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

service.  Moreover,  the  cordial  and  energetic  support  of  the  semi- 
nary through  nearly  seventy  years  by  J.  G.  Morris,  as  a  student, 
as  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  Directors,  and  as  a  lecturer  to  the 
student  body,  must,  be  noted  as  a  distinct  contribution  of  the 
Synod  to  the  life  of  the  institution. 

From  the  time  that  Dr.  Kurtz  returned  from  Europe  with 
$10,000  for  the  endowment  of  the  seminary  and  six  thousand 
volumes  for  the  library,  the  Synod  has  always  been  ready  to  con- 
tribute to  funds  to  the  support  of  the  institution,  through  indi- 
viduals, through  congregations  and  through  the  synodical  treas- 
ury. But  the  most  notable  undertaking  along  this  line  is  the 
Synod's  project  of  raising  a  Centennial  Jubilee  Fund  of  $50,000 
to  endow  a  "Maryland  Synod  Professorship''  for  the  seminary. 

Pennsylvania  Colhyc.  The  college  at  Gettysburg  grew  out  of 
the  necessity  of  preparing  men  for  the  seminary.  Its  chief 
founder  was  Dr.  Schmucker.  Shortly  after  taking  charge  of  the 
seminary  in  182()  Dr.  Schmucker  established  a  classical  school  at, 
Gettysburg.  In  1829  a  scientific  department  was  added  and  it 
was  called  the  Gettysburg  Gymnasium.  This  was  in  charge  of  the 
.Jacobs  brothers,  who  had  been  brought  up  in  Jacobs  Church  of 
the  Maryland  Synod.  In  1831,  after  David  Jacobs  had  died,  Rev. 
II.  L.  Baugher  was  called  from  the  Maryland  Synod  to  take 
charge  of  the  classical  department  of  the  gymnasium.  The  next 
year  Schmucker  with  the  assistance  of  Baugher  and  Michael 
Jacobs  changed  the  gymnasium  into  a  college,  obtained  a  charter 
from  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  and  organized  the  new  institu- 
tion under  the  title  of  Pennsylvania  College  of  Gettysburg. 

For  two  years,  until  better  arrangements  could  be  made,  Dr. 
Schmucker  presided  over  both  the  college  and  the  seminary.  Dr. 
J.  G.  Morris  was  secretary  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
of  the  twenty-five  men  constituting  the  incorporators  in  1832,  a 
majority  were  members  of  the  Maryland  Synod  either  at  that 
time  or  before  that  time.  Charles  Philip  Krauth,  who  had  been 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1820  and  her 
president  in  182(i,  became  the  first  regular  president  of  the  col- 
lege in  1834  and  for  one-third  of  a  century  was  identified  with 
the  life  of  the  institutions  at  Gettysburg.  Of  the  seven  men  who 
have  presided  over  the  college  in  the  course  of  her  history  five 
1  Schmucker,  Baugher,  Valentine,  McKnight,  and  Hefelbower,) 
came  to  Gettysburg  directly  from  the  Maryland  Synod  and  one 
(  Krauth)  indirectly  after  a  six  years'  pastorate  in  Philadelphia. 

The  Synod  has  always  acknowledged  the  claims  of  the  college, 
has  annually  appointed  a  .committee  to  report  on  its  catalogue, 
has  heard  its  representatives  in  her  conventions,  and  has  gener- 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY   AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  131 

ously  welcomed  its  agents  to  her  pulpits  and  to  her  congregations. 
But  it  is  interesting  to  note  the  several  efforts  that  have  been 
made  by  the  Synod  as  a  whole  to  help  in  the  financial  maintenance 
of  the  college.  In  1854  the  Board  of  Trustees  proposed  to  the 
Maryland  Synod  that  they  would  educate  all  her  beneficiaries 
gratuitously  and  forever  in  the  college,  provided  the  Synod  would 
collect  and  pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  college  the  sum  of  $10,- 
000.  The  Synod  considered  the  proposal  for  a  year,  then  de- 
cided to  accept  it  and  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  out  its 
provisions.  But  just  then  the  Synod  became  so  absorbed  in  other 
matters  that  the  committee  never  reported  arid  the  remarkable 
offer  was  forfeited.  Ten  years  later  when  a  special  effort  was 
launched  to  complete  the  endowment  of  the  college  a  formidable 
syiiodical  committee  of  ten  clergymen  and  seven  laymen  was  ap- 
pointed to  go  to  Harrisburg  to  participate  in  a  convention  for  the 
purpose,  and  the  committee  was  instructed  to  withstand  any  ef- 
fort to  remove  the  college  froin  Gettysburg.  After  another  ten 
years  the  Synod  heartily  endorsed  the  project  of  securing  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  additional  endowment  for  the  college 
and  undertook  to  raise  through  the  endowment  committee  of  the 
college  at  least  one-fourth  of  that  amount. 

Beneficiary  Education.  For  a  round  score  of  years  the  Mary- 
land Synod  fostered  the  cause  of  education  through  a  sy nodical 
education  society.  This  was  organized  in  1828.  At  first  this 
organization  was  combined  with  the  home  missionary  society. 
The  work  of  ministering  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  unchurched 
was  identical  with  the  work  of  securing  and  training  more  men 
for  the  ministry.  The  name  of  the  combined  organization  formed 
in  1828  was  "The  Parent  Domestic  Missionary  and  Education 
Society. ' '  It  was  the  first  synodical  organization  of  that  kind  in 
this  country.  One  of  the  expressed  objects  of  the  society  was 
"to  assist  pious  indigent  students  for  the  ministry.'' 

The  society  received  substantial  cooperation  from  individuals 
and  congregations  throughout  the  Synod.  Several  auxiliary  so- 
cieties were  formed  in  the  larger  congregations.  Scholarships 
were  established.  The  ladies  of  the  churches,  particularly  those 
at  Hagerstown,  Baltimore,  and  Taneytown,  manifested  great  zeal 
in  preparing  articles  of  needle-work  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of 
the  organization.  The  result  was  that  already  in  1829  the  so- 
ciety was  able  to  assume  the  support  of  four  "pious  and  promis- 
ing young  men"  at  Gettysburg.  These  were  Samuel  Rothrock 
and  Jesse  Vogler  of  North  Carolina,  and  Francis  Springer  and 
Abraham  Shuman  from  the  Synod's  own  territory.  In  1832  the 
society  was  aiding  five  students  for  the  ministry  and  thereafter 


1ML'  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

two  each  year  until  18:5.~>.  The  funds  wore  secured  by  individual 
subscriptions  and  through  auxiliary  societies,  but  several  times 
the  synodical  treasury  was  drawn  on,  as  in  1884  for  $7f>  and  in 
188.")  for  $•">().  The  minutes  of  the  society  were  regularly  printed 
with  those  of  the  Synod.  In  18:54  the  missionary  cause  was  sepa- 
rated from  that  of  education  and  we  have  "The  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  the  Maryland  Synod"  and  "The  Education  Society  of 
the  Maryland  Synod." 

When  the  General  Synod  took  up  the  cause  of  education  in 
188")  it  was  at  the  suggestion  and  instigation  of  the  delegates  from 
the  Maryland  Synod.  "The  Parent  Education  Society  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church"  was  organized  at  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Synod 
in  188.").  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz  of  Baltimore  was  chairman  of  the 
meeting  that  organized  the  society.  He  was  appointed  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  drafted  the  constitution  for  the  organiza- 
tion, and  he  was  elected  the  first  president  of  the  body.  Dr.  H. 
L.  Baugher  was  elected  secretary.  In  these  offices  Dr.  Kurtz  and 
Dr.  Baugher,  both  of  them  members  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  di- 
rected the  splendid  work  of  the  Parent  Education  Society  for 
more  than  twenty-seven  years.  In  fact  the  Maryland  Synod 
seems  to  have  been  regarded  by  the  other  synods  as  the  special 
sponsor  for  the  Parent  Education  Society,  for  in  1842  when  the 
Synod  of  South  Carolina  had  some  complaints  to  register  and 
some  questions  to  ask  concerning  the  practice  of  the  society  they 
addressed  themselves  to  the  Maryland  Synod  on  the  subject  and 
from  that  source  received  information  and  satisfaction. 

Immediately  upon  the  organization  of  the  Parent  Society  of 
the  General  Synod  the  Maryland  Synod's  Education  Society  de- 
clared itself  auxiliary  to  the  Parent  Society  and  transferred  its 
funds  and  beneficiaries  to  the  general  organization.  For  several 
years  after  that  the  synodical  society  had  a  mere  nominal  exist- 
ence. But  in  1888  a  new  constitution  was  adopted  and  this  re- 
vived the  arrangement  by  which  the  synodical  society  supported 
beneficiaries  on  its  own  account.  Thus  in  1844  we  find  the  Edu- 
cation Society  of  the  Maryland  Synod  aiding  thirteen  benefici- 
aries with  one  hundred  dollars  each  and  pledging  $1,46.)  to  the 
cause  for  the  following  year  besides  helping  the  Parent  Society 
to  support  forty-four  beneficiaries  in  that  biennium. 

However,  under  the  increased  independent  activity  of  synod- 
ical societies  the  work  of  the  Parent  Society  languished  and  in 
1848  Dr.  Baugher  as  secretary  of  the  Parent  Society  addressed 
a  communication  to  the  Maryland  Synod  setting  forth  "the  pro- 
priety of  dissolving  the  synodical  Educational  Society  and  again 


EDUCATION  AT,   ACTIVITY   AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  166 

uniting  with  the  Parent  Education  Society"  in  supporting  bene- 
ficiaries. This  appeal  met  a  favorable  response,  the  synodical 
society  was  dissolved,  and  forthwith  the  Maryland  Synod  herself 
made  beneficiary  education  a  part  of  her  regular  order  of  busi- 
ness at  each  annual  session.  So  it  continues  to  the  present.  Be- 
ginning with  1849  the  Synod  has  had  a  special  committee  on  edu- 
cation, and  this  through  its  annual  reports  has  always  kept  the 
subject  before  the  eyes  of  that  body.  For  many  years  the  com- 
mittee was  known  as  the  Beneficiary  Education  Committee ;  to- 
day it  is  called  the  Committee  on  Ministerial  Education. 

After  the  committee  had  been  organized  about  six  years  it 
began  to  undertake  the  support  of  designated  students  assigned 
to  it  by  the  Parent  Education  Society.  This  led  directly  to  the 
practice  of  having  the  Synod  support  the  ministerial  students 
from  her  own  territory  and  transmitting  any  surplus  education 
funds  to  the  general  society.  As  the  number  of  beneficiaries 
from  the  Synod's  own  territory  increased  the  demands  on  the 
treasury  became  so  great  that  the  synodical  support  of  the  Par- 
ent Society  was  withdrawn.  The  beneficiary  work  of  other  dis- 
trict synods  took  a  similar  course  and  the  Parent  Education  So- 
ciety has  long  since  been  left  with  nothing  but  twelve  scholar- 
ships yielding  thirty  dollars  each,  while  the  committee  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  alone  disburses  several  thousand  dollars  an- 
nually. 

The  Synod  has  several  times  been  called  on  to  aid  in  educating 
ministerial  candidates  from  beyond  her  own  bounds.  Thus  for 
several  years  beginning  in  1880  substantial  aid  was  sent  to  the 
Synods  of  Virginia  and  South-West  Virginia.  For  about  eight 
years,  1880-1888,  hundreds  of  dollars  were  appropriated  annually 
for  the  aid  of  Lutheran  colored  students  at  Howard  University, 
nearly  all  of  whom  belonged  to  the  North  Carolina  Synod.  From 
1906  to  1915  one  hundred  dollars  was  sent  annually  to  Breklum 
Seminary  in  Germany.  Until  the  West  Virginia  Synod  was  able 
to  organize  its  work  of  beneficiary  education  the  Maryland  Synod 
supported  her  students  for  the  ministry.  And  in  1917,  at  the 
urgent  request  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  the  Maryland 
Synod  undertook  the  support  for  three  years  of  four  of  her  men 
in  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and  this  has  involved  the  expendi- 
ture of  more  than  two  thousand  dollars.  Altogether  the  Synod 
has  been  supporting  needy  ministerial  students  for  sixty-four 
years  and  in  that  time  has  spent  for  the  immediate  purpose  of 
beneficiary  education  the  astounding  sum  of  $115,087.99. 

In  the  early  days  the  annual  conventions  of  the  synodical  Edu- 
cation Society  and  more  recently  the  annual  reports  of  the  Min- 


I.'U  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

isterial  Education  Committee  have  furnished  the  occasion  for 
eloquent  pleas  for  men  TO  enter  the  ministry,  and  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  estimate  how  many  men  have  been  influenced  either 
directly  or  indirectly  through  this  means  to  dedicate  their  lives 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Word. 

Education  of  Women.  The  Maryland  Synod  gave  much  en- 
couragement also  to  institutions  of  higher  education  for  women. 
At  one  time  she  boasted  three  "Female  Seminaries"  on  her  ter- 
ritory, each  presided  over  by  a  clerical  member  of  the  Synod  and 
each  claiming  to  serve  the  Lutheran  Church.  But  all  of  these 
were  in  reality  private  undertakings.  With  none  of  them  was 
the  Synod  as  such  officially  connected.  She  encouraged  their  be- 
ginnings, she  endorsed  their  work,  and  she  annually  appointed 
visitors  who  reported  the  progress  of  the  institutions  and  the 
facilities  they  offered  to  the  daughters  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
But  the  Synod  had  no  direct  voice  in  the  management  of  these 
schools  and  did  not  support  them  from  her  treasury. 

As  early  as  1845  the  Synod  through  Charles  Porterfield  Kraut h 
passed  a  resolution  of  encouragement  to  Professor  Haupt  in  the 
work  of  his  Gettysburg  Female  Seminary,  and  in  that  connection 
observed  that  "female  education  can  hardly  have  too  high  an  esti- 
mate put  upon  it.'' 

In  that  period  the  whole  Christian  Church  was  beginning  to 
see  the  importance  of  higher  education  for  women  and  the  Mary- 
land Synod  took  official  notice  of  the  matter.  In  1848,  probably 
on  motion  of  Dr.  Morris,  the  Synod  expressed  herself  as  highly 
favorable  to  the  establishment  of  a  Female  Seminary  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Church,  and  adopted  the  resolutions  of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Synod  relating  to  this  subject.  But  as  nothing 
came  of  this  project  to  establish  an  institution  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Church  at  large,  the  Synod  began  the  next  year  to  contem- 
plate a  seminary  under  sy nodical  auspices.  She  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolution  presented  by  Rev.  D.  F.  Bittle, 
afterwards  president  of  Roanoke  College : 

"WnKRKAs,  The  great  importance  of  Female  Education  is  be- 
ginning to  awaken  the  especial  attention  of  the  church,  and  we 
believe  the  superior  intelligence  of  the  daughters  of  Christian 
families  is  identified  with  the  prosperity  of  Christ's  kingdom,  in 
consequence  of  the  part  which  females  are  capable  of  taking  in 
the  movements  and  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  church;  and 
WIIKRKAS,  The  Synod  of  Maryland  has  in  its  connection  a  large 
part  of  the  Christian  population  of  this  State,  and  has  no  insti- 
tution in  which  its  daughters  can  receive  a  superior  education 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY  ASM)  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  135 

under  the  immediate  care  of  their  own  church ;  and  WHKRKAS, 
We  think  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  immediate  action  is 
called  for  upon  this  subject ;  therefore, 

"1.  Resolved,  That  this  Synod  now  take  the  matter  in  consid- 
eration, and  that  a  committee  of  nine  gentlemen,  four  ministers 
and  five  laymen,  be  appointed  to  devise  a  plan  by  which  the  sum 
of  $20,000  can  be  raised  forthwith  to  be  invested  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Female  Seminary  within  the  bounds  of  this  Synod,  in 
any  location  that  the  stockholders  may  deem  the  most  advanta- 
geous, to  be  conducted  under  the  supervision  of  the  Synod  of 
Maryland. ' ' 

A  committee  was  accordingly  appointed  but  the  question  of  a 
suitable  location  for  the  school  seems  to  have  delayed  the  project. 
In  1850  a  new  committee  was  appointed  to  '"'select  a  site  at  a 
suitable  place  and  adopt  measures  for  the  speedy  erection  of  a 
seminary"  and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Synod.  But 
this  new  committee  never  reported.  The  enterprise  was  under- 
taken by  private  parties  or  stock  companies,  and  the  next  year 
the  Synod  expressed  her  pleasure  at  learning  "that  efforts  are 
making  to  erect  Lutheran  Female  Seminaries  at  Hagerstown  and 
Baltimore''  and  recommended  both  of  the  contemplated  institu- 
tions to  the  confidence  and  encouragement  of  all  the  churches. 

The  Hagerstown  Female  Seminary  opened  its  first  scholastic 
year  on  September  21,  1853,  with  Eev.  C.  C.  Baughman  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  as  principal.  Every  year  thereafter  the  Synod 
appointed  a  visitor  to  the  institution  and  adopted  his  glowing 
reports  of  its  flourishing  condition.  Rev.  C.  C.  Baughman  was 
succeeded  as  principal  in  1863  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Eyster.  After 
three  years  Rev.  Eyster  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  Martin 
who  was  principal  from  1866  to  1869.  Then  Mr.  Eyster  served 
another  term  of  three  years  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Cron,  D.D.,  of  Baltimore.  In  1875  Rev.  C.  L.  Keedy,  M.  D.,  took 
charge  of  the  institution  and  three  years  later  became  the  sole 
owner  and  proprietor.  All  these  men  were  members  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  In  1865  a  committee  of  the  Synod  was  authorized 
to  form  a  company  of  Lutherans  to  purchase  the  seminary  in 
order  to  prevent  it  from  falling  into  non-Lutheran  hands.  But 
the  next  year  it  was  reported  that  the  school  had  been  purchased 
by  "two  good  Lutherans"  and  that  it  was  continuing  to  run  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Lutherans  who  were  patronizing  it.  Thus 
the  Synod  never  officially  shared  the  responsibility  of  its  owner- 
ship or  control.  The  two  Lutherans  who  had  purchased  the 
school  were  Mr.  C.  W.  Humrickhouse  and  Mr.  J.  C.  Bridges.  Mr. 
Humrickhouse  soon  became  sole  owner  and  it  was  he  who  sold  it 


l.'U)  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

to  Dr.  Keedy  in  1878.  Sonic  idea  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  in- 
stitution may  he  gathered  from  the  fact  that  in  18()8  it  was  re- 
ported to  have  a  corps  of  ten  teachers  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  students. 

The  Lutherville  Female  Seminary  was  begun  at  ahout  the  same 
time  as  that  in  Hagerstown  and  received  the  same  kind  of  en- 
dorsement and  encouragement  from  the  Synod.  Chief  among  its 
founders  was  Dr.  J.  (J.  Morris.  The  Synod's  official  visitor  to  the 
school  for  a  numher  of  years  was  Dr.  J.  G.  Butler.  As  principal 
of  the  school  Dr.  Benjamin  Sadtler,  a  native  of  Baltimore,  was 
called  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802.  He  then  became  a 
member  of  the  Maryland  Synod  and  so  continued  until  he  be- 
came the  president  of  Muhlenberg  College  in  1875.  Then  Dr.  J. 
R.  Dimm  was  the  principal  until  1880,  when  Dr.  J.  H.  Turner 
took  charge  of  the  institution.  Lutherville  Seminary,  before  it 
passed  out  of  the  hands  of  Lutherans,  was  a  faithful  servant  of 
the  Church  and  received  from  time  to  time  very  high  commenda- 
tion from  the  Synod  within  whose  bounds  it  was  located. 

Meanwhile  a  third  school  for  the  higher  education  of  the 
daughters  of  the  Lutheran  Church  sprang  up  on  the  territory  of 
the  Maryland  Synod.  This  was  the  Burkittsville  Female  Semi- 
nary. It  was  begun  in  18(H)  and  in  three  years  its  catalogue 
showed  a  list  of  eight  teachers  and  fifty-four  students.  The 
fourth  year  it  paid  $1,200  to  its  trustees.  Rev.  W.  C.  Wire  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  was  the  founder  and  the  first  principal,  and 
the  school  was  recommended  to  the  confidence  and  support  of  the 
Church.  Mr.  Wire  presided  over  the  institution  for  twelve  years 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  II.  Turner.  In  1880  Rev.  M.  L. 
Heisler  became  principal.  Shortly  thereafter  the  school  ceased 
to  be  visited  by  an  official  representative  of  the  Synod. 

Missionary  Institute  at  Selinsgrove.  The  institutions  that  now 
constitute  Susquehanna  Tniversity  were  founded  by  a  commit- 
tee of  the  Maryland  Synod.  The  project  was  fathered  by  Dr. 
Benjamin  Kurt/.  In  the  columns  of  the  Observer  he  had  advo- 
cated the  establishment  of  a  "Missionary  Institute,"  and  on  the 
floor  of  the  Synod  in  18.">(>  he  presented  the  copious  report  of  a 
committee  on  the  subject.  The  plan  grew  out  of  a  burning  /eal 
for  the  souls  of  men.  In  order  to  increase  the  supply  of  minis- 
ters and  thus  in  some  measure  to  answer  the  crying  need  for 
home  missionaries  it  was  proposed  to  found  a  school  in  which  the 
Chun-h  could  "instruct  for  six  months,  or  twelve,  or  eighteen, 
or  two  years,  or  longer  if  necessary,"  "young  men,  middle-aged 
men,  and  even  elderly  men,  who  can  speak  of  Christ  from  their 


EDUCATIONAL   ACTIVITY   AND   LITERARY   PRODUCTS. 


137 


own  experience."  Practical  and  elementary  education  was  all 
that  was  contemplated,  and  competition  with  institutions  of 
higher  education  was  specifically  disclaimed. 

The  proposal  was  adopted  by  the  Synod  with  a  divided  vote  of 
twenty-one  to  nine,  and  five  clergymen  and  five  laymen  were  ap- 
pointed to  constitute  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  proposed 
institute.  The  board  determined  first  upon  a  location  in  Balti- 
more County,  Maryland,  then  upon  Loysville,  Pennsylvania,  but 
finally  upon  Selinsgrove.  Accordingly  in  1857,  because  it  was 
evident  that  the  institute  would  be  located  outside  of  Maryland 
and  would  thus  fall  under  the  special  auspices  and  fostering 
care  of  another  Synod,  the  Board  of  Trustees  requested  the  Mary- 
land Synod  to  constitute  them  a  self-perpetuating  body.  This 
was  done  and  it  was  resolved  "That  this  Synod  hereby  abolish 
its  existing  relations  to  said  institute,  and  dissolve  its  present 
special  connection  with  it:"  At  the  same  time  Dr.  Kurtz,  who 
had  been  chosen  superintendent  of  the  institute,  was  given  a  let- 
ter of  honorable  dismissal  from  the  Synod. 

After  the  return  of  the  Melancthon  Synod  in  1869  the  Mary- 
land Synod  in  taking  charge  of  the  educational  interests  of  the 
Melancthon  Sj'nod  officially  recognized  the  importance  and  use- 
fulness of  the  Missionary  Institute,  with  its  eight  students  in  the 
theological  department  and  its  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  in 
the  collegiate  department,  and  resolved  "That  so  long  as  said 
institute  shall  continue  to  carry  out  in  good  faith  the  original 
idea  which  professedly  led  to  its  establishment,  we  will  be  willing 
to  render  it  our  patronage. ' '  In  recent  years  the  Synod  has  been 
receiving  annual  reports  on  the  catalogue  of  Susquehanna  Uni- 
versity. Dr.  David  Bittle  Floyd  was  called  from  the  pulpit  at 
Georgetown  to  become  professor  in  the  theological  department  of 
the  institution  in  1905. 

Founders,  Presidents,  and  Professors.  In  addition  to  the  in- 
stitutions at  Gettysburg  and  Selinsgrove  a  number  of  other 
worthy  colleges  and  seminaries  owe  their  beginnings  to  men  who 
came  from  the  bosom  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Limited  space  for- 
bids us  to  set  forth  any  details  and  we  can  barely  enumerate  the 
personalities. 

Wittenberg  College,  founded  in  1845  on  the  initiative  of  the 
English  Synod  of  Ohio,  had  as  its  founder  and  first  president 
Dr.  Ezra  Keller.  Dr.  Keller  was  a  native  of  the  Middletown 
Aralley  and  had  served  but  two  pastorates,  one  at  Taneytown  and 
one  at  Hagerstown,  when  he  was  called  to  establish  the  college  in 
Ohio.  The  second  president  of  the  college  was  also  a  son  of  the 


13S  HISTOkY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Maryland  Synod,  Dr.  Samuel  Sprecher,  who  was  a  native  of 
Washington  County  and  who  had  been  pastor  at  Martinsburg. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  was  president  of  the  college  and  for  ten 
years  more  the  professor  of  theology  there.  In  this  connection 
also  it  should  he  noted  that  the  present  Dean  of  Ilanuna  Divinity 
School,  Dr.  1).  II.  Hauslin,  is  a  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  For 
five  years  also  ( 18.10-1855)  this  school  had  the  services  of  Dr. 
Frederick  W.  Conrad,  who  had  been  at  St.  .John's  in  Hagerstown. 

Roanoke  College  grew  out  of  "Virginia  College  Institute" 
established  in  1842  by  Rev.  David  F.  Bittle,  D.D.  Dr.  Bittle  was 
horn  near  Middletown,  was  ])astor  of  the  Middletown  Churcli 
from  184")  to  18.VJ,  founded  the  Ilagerstown  Female  Seminary  in 
18.">3,  and  that  same  year  organized  Roanoke  College  at  Salem, 
Virginia,  and  became  its  first  president.  This  institution  also 
had  the  services  of  Dr.  Daniel  II.  Bittle,  brother  of  the  first  presi- 
dent, after  he  had  presided  over  North  Carolina  College  from 
]8f>8  to  18(>1  and  over  Colorado  College  at  Columbus,  Texas. 

Midland  College  was  founded  by  the  Board  of  Education  in 
1887  but  was  without  a  regular  president  until  1889  when  Dr. 
.Jacob  A.  Clutz  took  charge  of  the  struggling  institution.  Dr. 
Clutx  was  a  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod  and  for  sixteen  years  he 
had  been  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Baltimore,  when  he  went 
to  the  Middle  West  to  start  our  Lutheran  College  there  on  its 
career  of  prosperity.  It  was  under  his  presidency  that  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary  was  established  in  connection  witJi 
Midland  in  1894.  Rev.  Robert  L.  Patterson,  D.D.,  now  on  the 
faculty  of  that  seminary,  was  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
in  1894. 

Illinois  State  University,  which  was  tlie  forerunner  both  of 
Carthage  Collejre  and  of  the  Practical  Seminary  of  the  Synodical 
Conference,  was  founded  by  Rev.  Francis  Springer,  D.D.,  and 
Rev.  Simeon  W.  Harkey,  D.D.  Dr.  Springer  was  licensed  and 
ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1836  and  1837  respectively, 
and  his  attention  had  been  directed  to  the  Lutheran  field  in  Illi- 
nois by  his  work  as  home  missionary  for  the  Synod.  Dr.  Harkey 
was  also  a  son  of  the  Synod,  licensed  in  1834  and  ordained  in 
183<i,  and  having  served  short  pastorates  at  Williamsport  and 
Woodsboro  and  fourteen  years  at  Frederick,  from  which  place  he 
was  called  to  the  new  institution  in  Illinois. 

Xorth  Carolina  Collejre  was  founded  in  18;")8  and  its  first  presi- 
dent was  Rev.  Daniel  II.  Bittle,  I). I).,  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
The  college  was  closed  during  the  Civil  War  but  after  the  war  it 
was  revived  by  Dr.  L.  A.  Bikle,  another  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  who  continued  to  lie  president  of  the  institution  for  many 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY   ANfD  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  139 

years.     His  brother,  Dr.  Philip  M..Bikle,  was  for  a  time  a  pro- 
fessor in  the  institution. 

A  number  of  other  institutions  at  various  times  called  men 
from  the  Maryland  Synod  to  beeome  their  presidents  or  profes- 
sors on  their  faculties.  Thus  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  called  Dr.  Schaeffer  from  Hagerstown  in  1839  and 
thus  started  him  upon  his  career  as  a  teacher  of  theology.  Muh- 
lenberg  College  called  Dr.  Benjamin  Sadtler  from  the  ranks  of 
the  Maryland  Synod  to  become  its  president  in  1875.  Hartwick 
Seminary  in  1871  called  Dr.  T.  T.  Titus  from  his  pastorate  with 
Trinity  Church,  Hagerstown.  to  beeome  its  principal. 

Literature. 

Closely  related  to  theological  and  religious  education  is  theo- 
logical and  religious  literature.  In  the  production  of  English 
theological  literature  for  the  Lutheran,  Church  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  the  pioneer.  She  took  the  initiative  both  in  calling 
forth  periodical  literature  and  in  establishing  a  publishing  house. 
By  her  official  action  and  support  was  produced  the  first  English 
Lutheran  periodical  ever  published,  and  at  her  instigation  and  by 
her  support  was  formed  the  first  association  of  men  for  the  pub- 
lication of  English  Lutheran  books. 

The  Lutheran  Intelligencer.  We  have  observed  that  at  the 
very  first  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1820  it  was  resolved  that  the 
propriety  of  a  religious  publication  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
our  Church  should  be  seriously  considered  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Synod.  But  no  further  mention  was  made  of  the  matter 
until  1824  when  the  attention  of  the  Synod  was  again  directed 
to  the  expediency  of  publishing  a  periodical  magazine  for  the 
promotion  of  piety  and  religious  knowledge  in  the  Church,  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  with  power  to  act  provided  a  ma- 
jority of  the  brethren  individually  approved  the  plan.  The  com- 
mittee consisted  of  the  president,  D.  F.  Schaeffer,  and  the  sec- 
retary, S.  S.  Schmucker,  together  with  Benjamin  Kurtz  and 
Charles  Philip  Krauth. 

Ten  years  had  passed  since  the  last  number  of  Das  Evan- 
yelische  Mayazin  had  appeared.  This  was  a  German  Lutheran 
magazine  edited  by  Drs.  Helmuth,  Schmidt,  and  others,  begun 
in  Philadelphia  in  1811,  appearing  in  octavo  form  at  irregular 
intervals,  and  discontinued  in  1814.  There  was  a  genuine  need 
for  a  Lutheran  periodical  in  the  English  language. 

But  another  year  and  a  half  passed  before  the  committee  of  the 
Synod  launched  its  enterprise.  In  March,  1826,  the  first  number 
of  the  Lutheran  InteUiyencer  was  issued  in  Frederick,  Man'land, 


140  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

under  the  editorship  of  Drs,  Schaeffer  and  Krauth.  It  was  a 
monthly  publication,  octavo  size,  and  each  ninuher  contained 
about  twenty-six  pages.  The  nature  and  general  content  of  the 
paper  may  be  gathered  from  the  title  which  reads:  "The  Eran- 
t/clical  Lutheran  Intelligencer,  containing  historical,  biograph- 
ical, and  religious  memoirs:  with  essays  on  the  doctrines  of  Lu- 
ther: and  practical  remarks  and  anecdotes  for  the  edification  of 
pious  persons  of  all  denominations.  Edited  by  a  Committee  of 
Clergymen,  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia." 
The  introductory  address  sketches  the  plan  of  the  periodical 
and  says  among  other  things: 

"Though  it  will  never  be  our  ambition  to  appear  in  the  con- 
troversial attitude,  yet  we  shall  feel  ourselves  sacredly  pledged, 
whenever  circumstances  may  require  it,  "to  contend  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints."  The  necessity  of  assuming 
such  a  character,  a  character  not  congenial  with  our  feelings,  will 
be  followed  by  a  vindication  of  those  articles  that  are  contained 

in  the  creeds,  confessions  of  the  Lutheran  Church We 

shall  be  disposed  to  direct  our  polemic  artillery,  mainly,  against 
the  enemies  of  the  Cross,  those  disguised  advocates  of  revelation 
who  would  despoil  it  of  its  glory.  For  Socinianism  in  every  form, 

we  have  but  one  feeling,  and  it  is  of  abhorence Our 

Church,  numbering  at  present  in  her  ministerial  rank  upwards 
of  two  hundred,  and  reduced  into  one  thousand  organized  com- 
munities, recently  bound  together  in  a  general  synod  and  at  this 
moment  putting  forth  her  strength  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Theological  Seminary  in  which  her  pious  youth  are  to  be  trained 
for  the  office  that  "preaches  the  atonement''  will  furnish  every 
day  occurrences  with  which  our  pages  will  be  enriched,  and  our 
friends  edified." 

These  principles  were  adhered  to  and  through  the  five  years  of 
its  existence  the  Intelligencer  was  a  most  interesting  repository 
of  the  incidents  and  documents  of  contemporaneous  history.  Tn 
1827  Dr.  Krauth  removed  from  the  Synod  and  the  full  burden 
of  the  editorship  devolved  upon  Dr.  Schaeffer.  Though  the  ac- 
tive pastor  of  a  large  parish  and  the  instructor  of  theological 
candidates,  Dr.  Schaeffer  gave  much  time  to  the  work  of  his 
periodical.  He  received  no  compensation  except  the  repeated 
thanks  of  the  Synod  and  the  warm  commendation  of  his  journal. 
The  Intelligencer  was  not  highly  valued  during  the  last  few 
years  of  its  life,  ft  failed  of  general  support  and  so  in  February, 
1831,  the  last  number  was  issued  and  the  paper  was  "discon- 
tinued for  want  of  support,  notwithstanding  the  pledges  that 
had  been  given  to  the  editor."  At  the  close  of  its  career  the  mag- 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY  AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  141 

azine  had  less  than  five  hundred  subscribers  and  more  than  $800 
of  debt.  The  debt  was  assumed  by  the  Synod.  The  Intelligencer 
was  a  sturdy  pioneer  and  had  performed  good  service.  Its  chief 
merit  lies  in  the  fact  that  it  pointed  the  way  for  more  popular 
periodicals  in  the  English  tongue. 

The  Lutheran  Observer.  The  next  undertaking  in  English 
periodical  literature  for  the  Lutheran  Church  was  the  Observer. 
This  began  just  six  months  after  the  Intelligencer  was  discon- 
tinued, and  it  was  regarded  by  the  Synod  as  the  agent  that  would 
"carry  on  the  operations  commenced  by  the  Intelligencer."  But 
the  Observer  in  the  beginning  was  not  so  strictly  a  sy nodical  un- 
dertaking as  the  Intelligencer  had  been. 

It  was  originally  intended  that  the  Observer  should  be  pub- 
lished at  Gettysburg  and  edited  by  Drs.  Schmucker  and  Hazelius. 
The  prospectus  was  issued  at  C4ettysburg  over  the  names  of  the 
two  professors,  but  before  the  first  number  appeared  the  enter- 
prise was  transferred  to  Baltimore.  The  reason  for  this  transfer 
is  given  by  Dr.  Morris  thus:  "In  those  days  of  extreme  unde- 
nominational liberality  it  was  feared  that  a  paper  issued  at  Get- 
tysburg, with  the  name  Lutheran  as  significant  of  its  character, 
would  give  offence  to  the  Presbyterians  in  that  place,  and  hence 
it  was  brought  to  Baltimore,  where  no  such  apprehension  ex- 
isted." But  in  the  first  number  of  the  paper  it  is  explained  that 
the  precarious  state  of  Dr.  Schmucker 's  health  and  the  conse- 
quent increase  in  the  duties  devolving  on  Dr.  Hazelius  made  it 
necessary  to  seek  another  editor  and  therefore  a  different  place 
of  publication.  At  any  rate,  the  paper  came  to  be  issued  from 
the  territory  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  a  Maryland  Synod  man  be- 
came the  first  editor,  and  for  more  than  thirty-five  years  the  edi- 
torial berth  was  occupied  by  pastors  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

Dr.  J.  G.  Morris  was  the  first  editor  of  the  Observer  and  under 
his  wise  direction  for  two  years  it  made  its  way  into  large  use- 
fulness and  wide  popularity.  When  the  editorial  work  became 
too  burdensome  for  Dr.  Morris  in  connection  with  his  duties  as 
pastor  of  the  First  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore  he  persuaded 
Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz  to  come  to  Baltimore  and  take  charge  of 
the  paper.  And  Dr.  Kurtz,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  and  prominently  identified  with  all  her  work  for  more 
than  a  generation,  continued  to  be  the  editor  of  the  Observer  for 
nearly  thirty  years. 

Under  Dr.  Kurtz's  management  the  paper  grew.  From  a 
struggling  semi-monthly  with  a  subscription  list  of  seven  or  eight 
hundred  it  became  a  large  and  handsome  weekly  rejoicing  in  a 


142  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

subscription  list  of  over  seven  thousand.  Several  times  during 
this  period  the  Synod  offieially  encouraged  the  paper  and  urged 
her  members  "to  use  their  utmost  exertions  to  extend  its  circu- 
lation." 

Hut  Dr.  Kurtz  did  not  conduct  the  paper  in  the  spirit  in  which 
Dr.  Morris  had  begun  it.  He  made  it  a  medium  for  the  flaming 
advocacy  of  the  "new  measures"  movement  and  "American  Lu- 
theranism."  Consequently  in  course  of  time  other  periodicals 
were  established  to  present  the  more  conservative  Lutheran  po- 
sitions. The  first  of  these  was  the  Missionary,  begun  by  Dr.  Pas- 
savant  in  Pittsburgh  in  1848.  Hut  for  seventeen  years  the  Lu- 
theran Observer  in  Baltimore  was  alone  in  the  field  of  English 
Lutheran  weeklies. 

For  a  short  while  the  Maryland  Synod  legally  owned  the  Ob- 
server. In  1840  the  Lutheran  Hook  Company  had  been  organ- 
ized in  Baltimore)  with  Dr.  Kurtz  as  superintendent.  To  this 
company  Dr.  Kurtz  donated  the  Observer  with  all  its  assets.  In 
18")2  the  book  company  proposed  to  transfer  the  Observer  to  the 
Synod,  because  it  was  thought  better  for  the  Church  at  large 
that  a  Synod  should  have  charge  of  the  paper  and  receive  the 
revenues  arising  from  its  publication,  and  the  Maryland  Synod 
was  the  only  one  that  was  incorporated  at  that  time.  The  Synod 
accepted  the  offer  and  at  a  special  session  of  the  body  in  March, 
1853,  legally  received  the  paper  together  with  net  assets  esti- 
mated at  about  five  thousand  dollars.  The  only  conditions  at- 
tached to  the  transfer  were  that  the  Synod  should  continue  Dr. 
Kurtz  as  editor  of  the  paper  and  that  the  proceeds  of  the  publi- 
cation should  be  devoted  to  "benevolent,  religious  and  literary 
purposes." 

Thus  the  Synod  came  to  own  the  Observer.  An  elaborate  set 
of  principles  was  adopted  for  the  management  of  the  paper.  The 
main  import  of  these  principles  was  that  the  paper  should  con- 
tinue to  be  sacredly  devoted  "to  the  general  interests  and  wants 
of  the  Church  at  large."  Hut  the  Synod  at  once  abandoned  the 
idea  of  making  the  paper  a  source  of  financial  gain  and  the  sub- 
scription price  was  greatly  reduced.  Accordingly  it  soon  became 
evident  that  the  main  purposs  of  purchasing  the  paper  would  not 
be  realized  and  that  there  would  be  no  profits  for  distribution  to 
benevolent  purposes,  and  in  18.14  it  was  decided  to  offer  the  paper 
for  sale.  Two  bids  were  received,  one  from  Dr.  Kurtz  and  one 
from  Dr.  Passavant.  The  bid  of  Dr.  Kurtz,  though  somewhat 
lower  than  that  of  Dr.  Passavant,  the  Synod  accepted  rather  than 
see  the  paper  removed  from  her  territory. 

The  two  thousand  dollars  which  the  Synod  realized  from  the 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY  AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  143 

sale  of  the  Observer  was  used  to.  establish  a  "Pastors'  Fund"  as 
we  have  seen.  In  January,  18.~)6,  less  than  a  month  after  Dr. 
Kurtz  had  bought  the  paper  from  the  Synod,  he  sold  it  on  the 
same  terms  to  F.  R.  Anspach,  George  Diehl,  and  T.  Newton 
Kurtz.  Six  years  later  Dr.  Kurtz  ceased  to  be  connected  with 
the  paper  and  Dr.  F.  W.  Conrad  became  joint  owner  and  editor. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  in  1866  Diehl  and  Conrad 
presented  the  question  of  the  General  Synod's  ownership  of  the 
paper,  and  on  recommendation  of  the  General  Synod  the  "Lu- 
theran Observer  Association"  wras  formed  of  Lutheran  clergy- 
men and  laymen.  This  was  a  stock  company  with  capital  stock 
valued  at  $10,000  held  by  more  than  fifty  persons.  Thereupon 
the  Observer  ceased  to  be  the  special  interest  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  and  became  the  advocate  of  the  General  Synod,  and  in 
1867  the  paper  was  moved  from  Baltimore  to  Philadelphia. 

Lutheran  Church  Work.  The  first  official  periodical  publica- 
tion of  the  General  Synod  was  the  monthly  called  Lutheran 
Church  Work.  This  began  in  January,  1908.  All  three  members 
of  the  Editorial  Committee  were  members  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  Drs.  Dunbar,  Studebaker  and  Albert.  This  paper  was 
mainly  an  official  presentation  of  the  work  of  the  various  boards 
and  committees  of  the  General  Synod.  It  continued  to  be  pub- 
lished for  four  years,  when  it  was  merged  in  the  new-born  weekly 
published  by  the  General  Synod. 

It  was  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Sj'nod  in  Washington  in 
1911  that  the  action  was  taken  to  establish  an  official  weekly.  A 
standing  committee  of  four  clergymen  and  three  laymen  was  ap- 
pointed to  launch  the  paper  and  supervise  its  publication.  Three 
of  the  four  clergymen,  were  members  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Dunbar  of  Baltimore  was  chairman  of  the  entire  com- 
mittee. Dr.  J.  C.  Bowers,  at  that  time  president  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  and  Dr.  J.  S.  Simon  of  Hagerstown,  were  also  members 
of  the  committee.  Under  the  supervision  and  editorial  manage- 
ment of  this  committee  the  new  paper  started  its  career  in  March, 
1912.  It  was  known  as  the  Lutheran  Church  Work,  absorbing 
the  monthly  magazine  by  that  name  and  the  Lutheran  World, 
and  it  soon  commended  itself  to  its  constituency.  Two  years 
later,  after  the  paper  had  been  thoroughly  established,  the  com- 
mittee of  the  General  Synod  selected  Dr.  F.  G.  Gotwald  to  be  the 
editor  and  manager,  and  the  editorial  headquarters  were  removed 
from  Baltimore  to  York. 

Besides  these  periodicals  in  whose  history  the  Maryland  Synod 
or  her  pastors  figured  so  largely,  the  Synod  frequently  called  at- 


144  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

tention  to  other  publications  and  commended  them  to  her  mem- 
bership. Such  was  The  Evanyelical  Lutheran  I'reacher  and  /Vs- 
torul  .Woc.sr/j//<r,  a  publication  presenting:  a  series  of  Lutheran 
sermons,  issued  by  Rev.  Lewis  Eichelberger  at  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia, and  receiving  the  public  notice  of  the  Synod  first  in  1833. 
Such  also  were  Weyl's  Hirtenstimme,  Reynold's  Evangelical  Re- 
view, and  the  Lutheran  Quarterly.  In  1871  the  Synod  donated 
one  hundred  dollars  to  help  pay  the  debt  on  the  General  Synod's 
(Jerman  paper,  the  Kirchenfrennd. 

Lutheran  Tract  tiocifti/.  As  early  as  1832  the  Synod  formed  a 
Lutheran  Tract  Society  whose  object  was  "the  publication  of 
doctrinal  and  practical  tracts  for  distribution  in  the  Lutheran 
Church."  This  was  regarded  as  essential  in  "preserving  genuine 
evangelical  Lutheranism."  The  officers  of  the  society  were  Drs. 
Kurtz  and  Morris.  But  the  laudable  purpose  did  not  meet  writh 
general  favor  and  in  a  few  years  the  society  was  dissolved. 

Lutheran  Rook  Company.  Until  the  Lutheran  Publication  So- 
ciety was  organized  to  serve  the  interests  of  the  Church  at  large, 
the  Maryland  Synod  interested  herself  in  the  production  of  books 
that  would  be  useful  in  her  churches.  In  1830  she  recommended 
to  the  General  Synod  the  translation  of  Arndt's  "True  Chris- 
tianity'' from  the  German.  This  translation  was  produced  by 
Rev.  J.  X.  Hoffman,  one  of  the  Synod's  own  members,  and  was 
completed  in  1833.  For  several  years  beginning  in  1836  the 
Synod  had  a  committee  charged  with  the  duty  of  producing  a 
book  on  baptism.  The  work  finally  appeared  in  1840.  It  came 
from  the  pen  of  Dr.  B.  Kurtz  and  received  very  high  approba- 
tion. In  183f)  the  Synod  issued  a  call  for  a  work  of  not  more 
than  two  hundred  pages  that  would  comprise  the  following  parts : 
(1)  A  historical  sketch  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in 
Europe  and  America;  (2)  the  first  five  parts  and  the  seventh 
and  eighth  parts  of  Luther's  smaller  catechism,  published  by  the 
General  Synod;  (3)  the  Augsburg  Confession;  (4)  the  Formula 
for  the  government  and  discipline  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church:  f  ">)  a  collection  of  hymns  suitable  for  catechetical  lec- 
tures. These  specifications  are  interesting  as  showing  what  needs 
the  Synod  felt,  but  the  work  was  never  produced. 

As  men  came  to  see  more  clearly  the  need  for  specific  books  in 
English  that  would  minister  to  the  Lutheran  pastor  and  his  con- 
gregation, the  suggestion  was  made  that  a  Lutheran  "Book 
Establishment"  be  organized  to  produce  such  books.  The  sug- 
gestion was  laid  before  the  Synod  in  1836  by  Dr.  Kurtz,  editor  of 


EDUCATIONAL  ACTIVITY   AND  LITERARY  PRODUCTS.  145 

the  Observer.  The  Synod  endorsed  the  project  very  enthusiastic- 
ally arid  pledged  most  cheerful  cooperation.  Accordingly  the  Lu- 
theran Book  Company,  as  it  was  called,  was  organized  in  Balti- 
more in  1840  with  a  capital  of  $8,000.  It  was  a  stock  company 
and  the  Synod  at  once  purchased  ten  shares  of  the  stock.  Dr. 
Kurtz  was  chosen  the  superintendent  of  the  company,  with  a 
yearly  salary  of  $1,200. 

The  book  company  continued  thirteen  years  and  proved  itself 
very  useful.  Books,  pamphlets,  and  periodicals  were  printed, 
from  which  a  revenue  of  $9,000  was  derived.  This  was  con- 
tributed to  the  religious  and  benevolent  operations  of  the  Church. 
To  this  organization  Dr.  Kurtz  donated  the  Observer  establish- 
ment and  when  in  1853  the  Maryland  Synod  purchased  the  Ob- 
server the  book  company  redeemed  all  its  stock  and  went  into 
dissolution. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  for  nearly  a  third  of  a  century 
the  Maryland  Synod  has  furnished  the  editors  of  the  Augsburg- 
Sunday  school  literature  in  the  persons  of  Dr.  Charles  S.  Albert 
and  Dr.  Charles  P.  Wiles. 

In  these  many  and  varied  forms  has  the  Maryland  Synod  con- 
tributed to  the  educational  and  literan-  work  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Through  the  Synod  as  a  whole,  through  individuals 
among  her  membership,  through  groups  and  organizations  and 
institutions  within  her  bounds,  through  suggestion  to  the  General 
Synod,  in  college  and  in  seminary,  in  popular  religious  period- 
ical and  in  stately  theological  volume,  at  home  and  abroad,  for 
men  and  for  women,  she  has  distinguished  herself  by  her  constant 
fidelity  to  the  didactic  mission  of  the  Church. 


.10 


"Built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles 
and  prophets,  Christ  Jesus  himself  being  the 
chief  corner  stone." — Ephesians  2:20. 

"The  Lord  is  good;  his  mercy  is  everlast- 
ing; and  his  truth  endureth  to  all  genera- 
tions."— Psalm  100:5. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 

Doctrinal. 

The  confessional  history  of  the  Maryland  Synod  is  a  faithful 
reflection  of  the  confessional  history  of  the  General  Synod.  A 
recent  historian  has  referred  to  the  Maryland  Synod  as  "always 
prominent  and  liberal."  This  summary  characterization,  in  its 
reflection  on  the  orthodox}-  of  the  Synod,  shows  a  lack  of  histor- 
ical perspective.  It  is  true  that  for  a  number  of  years  the  Mary- 
land Synod  contained  ardent  advocates  of  the  "new  measures," 
but  it  must  not  be  overlooked  that  at  the  same  time  she  contained 
eminent  "symbolists"  and  ardent  advocates  of  "conservative" 
measures.  And  in  this  the  Synod  was  only  a  miniature  of  the 
General  Synod  and  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  large.  It  was 
just  because  the  Maryland  Synod  was  "always  prominent"  and 
embraced  such  a  large  number  of  representative  men,  that  she 
pictured  so  accurately  the  doctrinal  status  of  the  Church  in  gen- 
eral. 

Moreover,  it  must  be  remembered  that  throughout  the  period 
of  confessional  agitation  in  the  Church  and  in  the  Synod  the 
conservative  element  in  the  Synod  was  stronger  than  the  radical 
element  and  made  it  impossible  for  them  to  carry  any  extreme 
measure.  Repeatedly  liberal  and  un-Lutheran  measures  were 
proposed  in  the  Synod  but  always  firmly  rejected.  For  these  pro- 
posals the  Synod  as  such  cannot  fairly  be  held  accountable. 
Herein  also  the  history  of  the  Synod  parallels  that  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod.  The  story  of  the  doctrinal  development  both  of  the 
district  Synod  of  Maryland  and  of  the  General  Synod,  as  indi- 
cated by  their  authoritative  deliverances  rather  than  the  views 
of  certain  individuals  or  groups  within  them,  is  one  of  steady 
progress  to  the  firm  positions  of  the  present  day.  At  many  points 
along  the  line  of  development  the  Maryland  Synod  was  farther 
along  the  road  .of  conservation  than  some  other  synods  later  dis- 
tinguished for  their  conservative  positions.  The  comparative 
isolation  of  the  Maryland  Synod  from  other  general  bodies  an- 
tagonizing the  General  Synod  and  her  comparative  freedom  from 
friction  with  other  synods  on  the  same  territory,  permitted  unin- 
termittent  growth  and  development  along  doctrinal  lines. 

147 


148  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

It  is  not  claimed  that  the  Maryland  Synod  was  from  the  be- 
ginning doetrinally  complete  or  eonfessionally  sound  when 
judged  by  the  confessional  standards  of  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  of  to-day.  Under  such  standards  no  synod  was  sound  in 
181*0.  The  religious  life  of  the  country  and  the  status  of  confes- 
sional thought  at  the  time  made  such  a  thing  virtually  impossi- 
ble. It  is  only  claimed  that  the  Maryland  Synod  reflects  with  a 
high  decree  of  faithfulness  the  general  movement  of  the  Luther- 
an Church  along  confessional  lines.  This  was  a  forward  move- 
ment, attended  it  is  true  by  agitation  and  sometimes  disturb- 
ances, but  marked  by  successive  stages  of  progress.  In  this  pro- 
gressive movement  of  conservation  within  the  General  Synod  the 
Maryland  Synod  was  always  one  of  the  leaders. 

When  the  General  Synod  was  formed  in  1820  its  constitution 
made  no  mention  of  the  Confessions  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
But  neither  did  any  of  the  constituent  synods  recognize  the  Lu- 
theran symbols.  The  Church  had  receded  from  the  confessional 
position  of  Muhlenberg.  In  1792  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium 
had  adopted  a  new  constitution,  omitting  all  reference  even  to 
the  Augsburg  Confession.  The  other  synods  as  they  were  organ- 
ized had  followed  this  pattern.  It  was  a  time  of  great  confes- 
sional laxity  and,  except  in  the  little  Synod  of  Tennessee  with 
three  Henkels  and  three  other  ministers,  there  was  the  greatest 
neglect  of  the  Lutheran  Confession.  This  expressed  itself  either 
in  rationalism  or  unionism.  But  in  spite  of  the  adverse  spirit  of 
the  times  the  General  Synod  soon  found  its  way  to  the  saving 
recognition  of  the  Confessions.  In  this  process  the  Maryland 
Synod  had  a  leading  part. 

When  the  Maryland  Synod  was  organized  in  1820,  her  consti- 
tution, like  those  of  other  synods  at  that  time,  contained  no  men- 
tion of  the  Augsburg  Confession.  But  with  the  advent  of  S.  S. 
Schmucker  to  the  ranks  of  her  ministers  in  1821  a  confessional 
element  was  injected  into  the  body.  It  was  young  Schmucker 's 
conviction,  clearly  expressed  in  a  letter  to  his  father  while  he  was 
yet  a  student  at  Princeton,  "that  the  Augsburg  Confession  should 
again  be  brought  up  out  of  the  dust,  and  everyone  must  subscribe 
to  the  twenty-one  articles,  and  declare  before  God,  by  his  sub- 
scription, that  it  corresponds  with  the  Bible,  not  quantum,  but 
quid." 

On  this  conviction  Dr.  Schmucker  acted  more  than  once  in  the 
Maryland  Synod.  Already  in  1824  when  the  Tennessee  Synod 
addressed  a  memorial  to  the  Maryland  Synod  asking  for  certain 
information  concerning  the  General  Synod,  Schmucker  and 
Abraham  Reck  were  appointed  to  draft  a  reply.  The  reply  was 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  149 

framed  by  Schmucker  and  says  among  other  things:  "The  un- 
altered Augsburg  Confession  is  the  only  Confession  which  this 
Synod  receive,  or  which  has  been  received  by  our  Church  in  this 
country;  and  the  General  Synod  has  no  power  to  make  any  al- 
terations in  the  doctrines  hitherto  received  in  our  Church.  As 
to  the  excommunication  of  such  brethren  as  might  abandon  some 
of  the  views  of  the  Augsburg  Confession,  all  the  General  Synod 
can  do  is,  if  they  should  observe  any  such  deviation,  to  give  their 
advice  to  the  individual  synod,  and  the  nature  of  the  advice 
which  they  would  give  is  best  expressed  in  their  own  words  'that 
a  man  that  is  an  heretic,  who  denies  a  fundamental  doctrine,  a 
doctrine  essential  to  the  Christian  scheme,  we  are  bound  after 
the  first  and  second  admonition  to  reject. '  : 

This  statement  was  adopted  by  the  Synod  and  it  is  significant 
as  indicating  not  only  the  growing  confessional  consciousness  of 
the  Maryland  Synod  but  also  that  Synod's  conviction  that  the 
General  Synod's  constitution  implied  the  acceptance  of  the  Augs- 
burg Confession.  It  may  be  of  significance  also  that  at  this  same 
meeting  of  the  Synod  (1824)  a  committee  was  appointed  to  re- 
vise the  synodical  constitution,  though  the  nature  of  the  changes 
made  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 

The  next  year  the  movement  was  started  in  the  Man-land 
Synod  for  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary  by  the 
General  Synod.  This,  as  we  have  seen,  was  instigated  by  Dr. 
Schmucker.  A  few  wreeks  later,  when  the  General  Synod  adopted 
the  proposal  of  the  Maryland  Synod  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  prepare  a  plan  for  establishing  the  seminary,  Schmucker  was 
a  member  of  the  committee  and  the  very  first  resolution  of  the 
committee  specified  "that  in  this  seminary  shall  be  taught  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  as  contained  in 
the  Augsburg  Confession."  This  indicated  a  favorable  attitude 
of  the  General  Synod  towards  the  Augsburg  Confession  and 
opened  the  way  for  its  direct  recognition.  The  professors  of  the 
seminary  were  required  from  the  first  to  subscribe  to  the  Augs- 
burg Confession  and  the  Catechisms  of  Luther  "as  a  summary 
and  just  exhibition  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Word  of 
God." 

Not  until  four  years  later,  1829,  was  the  revision  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod's  constitution  completed.  It  is  highly  probable  that 
this  new  instrument  made  explicit  mention,  of  the  Confession. 
For  in  that  same  year  the  General  Synod  adopted  a  form  of  con- 
stitution for  the  government  of  district  synods,  in  which  candi- 
dates for  ordination  were  pledged  to  the  conviction  "that  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Word  of  God  are  taught  in  a  man- 


]  .~)0  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ner  substantially  correct  in  tbo  doctrinal  articles  of  the  Augsburg 
Confession."  This  form  of  constitution  was  framed  by  Dr. 
Schmucker  and  the  qualified  assent  it  gives  to  the  Augsburg 
Confession  marks  the  beginning  of  the  revival  of  the  confessional 
consciousness  of  the  Church. 

For  thirty-five  years  thereafter  no  change  was  made  in  the 
General  Synod's  statement  of  doctrinal  basis.  During  this 
period  various  factors  served  to  strengthen  the  denominational 
consciousness  of  the  Lutherans  in  America.  The  Church  rapidly 
arrived  at  clearer  views  of  its  doctrinal  and  other  distinctive 
features.  But  a  strong  and  influential  minority  stoutly  resisted 
this  tendency.  Party  spirit  ran  high,  in  Church  as  in  State.  On 
the  one  hand,  many  sought  to  place  the  General  Synod  uncom- 
promisingly upon  the  confessional  basis  of  all  the  Symbolical 
Books.  On  the  other  hand,  some  took  great  liberty  with  the  words 
"substantially  correct"  adopted  in  1829,  and  tried  to  gain  recog- 
nition for  an  American  recension  of  the  Augsburg  Confession. 
Prescriptive  intolerance  was  the  spirit  of  the  age.  Echoes  of  the 
great  confessional  controversy  were  distinctively  heard  in  the 
Maryland  Synod  and  some  of  the  battles  were  fought  in  her  ses- 
sions. For  her  clerical  roll  included  eminent  representatives  of 
both  sides  of  the  conflict.  Dr.  Schmucker  had  not  been  able  to 
follow  the  very  rapid  confessional  development  of  his  Church. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  protagonists  of  "American  Lutheran- 
ism,"  and  while  he  was  no  longer  a  member  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  his  spirit  was  ably  reflected  there  by  men  like  Benjamin 
Kurtz  and  Simeon  \V.  H-arkey.  On  the  other  hand,  the  party  in 
favor  of  a  stricter  adherence  to  the  Confessions  was  represented 
in  the  Maryland  Synod  by  men  like  H.  L.  Baugher,  John  G.  Mor- 
ris, F.  \V.  Conrad,  and  J.  A.  Siess. 

During  this  period  between  182!)  when  the  General  Synod  gave 
indirect  and  qualified  recognition  to  the  Augsburg  Confession 
and  18(54  when  that  recognition  became  direct  and  unqualified, 
several  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made  in  the  Maryland  Synod  to 
stem  the  tide  of  denominational  consciousness  and  to  commit  the 
Synod  to  a  modified  Lutheranism. 

At  the  meeting  of  184^  Dr.  Harkey  proposed  that  the  Synod 
publish  a  monthly  periodical  to  be  styled  "The  Revivalist"  and 
to  be  devoted  to  the  history  and  defence  of  genuine  revivals,  and 
the  best  means  of  promoting  and  conducting  revivals.  But  on 
motion  of  Professor  Baugher  this  proposition  was  declared  "in- 
expedient." 

At  the  same  meeting  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  editor  of  the  Ob- 
server, proposed  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  draft  a  min- 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  151 

ute  expressive  of  the  views  of  the  Synod  in  regard  to  "New 
Measures."  Dr.  Ezra  Keller  was  then  president  of  the  body 
and  he  appointed  on  the  committee  Drs.  Kurtz,  Morris,  and  Har- 
key.  Their  report  was  debated  for  two  days  and  then  on  motion 
of  Dr.  Conrad  was  referred  back  to  the  committee.  At  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Synod  the  committee  asked  to  be  excused  from 
further  consideration  of  the  subject.  This  was  granted,  the  com- 
mittee was  discharged,  and  the  Synod  as  a  body  was  never  com- 
mitted to  the  "New  Measures/' 

Then  in  1844,  on  motion  of  Professor  Baugher,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  prepare  a  "summary  of  the  doctrines  and 
usages  of  the  Church  within  the  limits  of  the  Synod."  The 
avowed  purpose  of  this  wras  to  correct  "various  and  repeated 
misrepresentations  concerning  the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States."  Its  aim  really  was  to 
give  definiteness  to  the  pledge  of  the  General  Synod  by  enumerat- 
ing the  doctrines  and  aspects  of  doctrine  which  must  be  regarded 
as  ' '  fundamental. ' '  Dr.  Harkey  was  then  president  and  the  com- 
mittee he  appointed  consisted  of  Drs.  Baugher,  Kurtz,  and  Har- 
key. The  report  of  the  committee  presented  the  following  year 
is  known  as  the  "Abstract  of  Doctrines  and  Practice  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland."  This  document  con- 
sisted of  fourteen  doctrinal  articles  which  represent  a  modified 
or  "American"  Lutheranism  rather  than  the  symbolism  that  was 
rapidly  growing  in  favor  with  the  Church  at  large. 

But  the  Maryland  Synod  did  not  adopt  this  "Abstract."  The 
discussion  that  attended  the  report  of  the  committee  in  1845  re- 
vealed that  the  committee  was  sharply  divided  on  the  subject. 
After  prolonged  and  ' '  very  animated  discussion ' '  the  report  was 
referred  back  to  the  committee  with  instructions  to  embody  sug- 
gestions from  the  various  members  of  the  Synod  and  report  at 
the  next  meeting.  Thereupon  Dr.  Harkey  withdrew  from  the 
committee  and  Dr.  Conrad  was  elected  to  supply  his  place.  The 
result  was  that  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Synod  the  entire  re- 
port was  laid  on  the  table  and  indefinitely  postponed.  Dr.  Kurtz 
stoutly  advocated  the  "Abstract"  in  his  Lutheran  Observer,  but 
the  Synod  steadfastly  refused  to  adopt  a  doctrinal  statement  that 
avoided  the  distinctive  features  of  the  Lutheran  Confession. 

Meanwhile  the  Church  in  general  continued  to  move  in  the  di- 
rection of  a  stricter  confessional  basis.  In  1853  the  Pennsylvania 
Ministerium  applied  for  readmission  to  the  General  Synod  after 
an  absence  of  thirty  years,  and  was  admitted.  Evidently  the 
General  Synod  and  the  Pennsylvania  Ministorium  were  each  sat- 
isfied with  the  confessional  position  of  the  other.  But  the  Penn- 


1.V2  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

sylvania  Ministerium  had  'made  very  rapid  progress  along  doc- 
trinal lines  since  1823  and  had  adopted  a  resolution  "  acknowl- 
edging the  collective  body  of  Symbolical  Books,  as  the  historical 
and  confessional  writings  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church," 
and  ascribing  "to  the  Unaltered  Augsburg  Confession  and  Lu- 
ther's Small  Catechism  an  especial  importance  among  our  Sym- 
bolical Hooks  generally/'  In  asking  for  readmission  into  the 
General  Synod  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium  placed  on  record 
the  opinion  that  the  General  Synod  was  "entertaining  the  same 
views  of  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  gospel  as  those  set  forth 
in  the  Confessional  writings  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and 
especially  in  the  Unaltered  Augsburg  Confession."  Now  the 
General  Synod  as  such  had  made  no  official  declaration  going  be- 
yond that  of  1825).  Her  cordial  welcome  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Ministerium  in  18f>:}  therefore  indicates  that  her  constituency  as 
a  whole  was  making  considerable  progress  towards  more  ad- 
vanced confessional  ground. 

It  was  probably  this  general  awakening  of  Lutheran  conscious- 
ness that  precipitated  the  publication  of  the  ''Definite  Platform" 
in  18").").  The  "Definite  Platform"  was  essentially  an  attempted 
revision  of  the  Augsburg  Confession  correcting  the  alleged  errors 
of  that  symbol.  It  was  an  effort  to  stem  the  tide  of  symbolism. 
The  authors  of  the  document  were  S.  S.  Schmucker,  B.  Kurtz, 
and  S.  Sprecher.  Copies  of  the  platform  were  sent  anonymously 
to  the  district  synods  with  the  suggestion  that  it  be  endorsed  by 
them  with  the  resolution  "that  we  will  not  receive  into  our  Synod 
any  minister  who  will  not  adopt  this  platform."  The  district 
synods  of  the  General  Synod  emphatically  rejected  the  platform. 
Only  three  small  synods  adopted  it  temporarily.  The  East  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  expressed  "unqualified  disapprobation  of  the 
dangerous  attempt"  to  change  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  General 
Synod  and  sent  solemn  warning  to  sister  synods  against  "this 
dangerous  proposition." 

In  this  way  the  "Definite  Platform"  came  before  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  A  committee  of  seven  clergymen  was  appointed 
October,  l<Sf).">,  on  the  "communication  from  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Synod."  Of  this  committee  Dr.  Morris  was  chairman  and 
both  Dr.  Baugher  and  Dr.  Kurtz  were  members.  The  committee 
first  reported  "that  as  said  platform  is  riot  officially  before  us,  no 
action  is  required."  But  two  days  later  the  committee  presented 
the  following  report  which  was  adopted  by  the  Synod:  "Re- 
solved, That  we  protest  against  any  attempt  by  Synod  or  indi- 
viduals, of  old  or  new  school  sentiments,  to  introduce  among  us 
any  new  confessions  of  faith,  or  tests  of  synodical  membership, 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  .153 

but  hereby  renew  our  declaration  of  adherence  to  that  contained 
in  our  ordination  service,  which  embraces  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  Word  of  God,  as  correctly  taught  in  the  doctrinal 
articles  of  the  Augsburg  Confession."  Thus  the  "Definite  Plat- 
form" was  definitely  rejected  by  the  Synod. 

When  Dr.  Kurtz  found  himself  unable  to  resist  the  conserva- 
tive doctrinal  tendency  of  the  Synod  he  had  helped  to  organize 
in  1820,  he  withdrew  from  that  body  in  1857  and  together  with 
several  kindred  spirits  formed  the  Melanchthon  Synod.  The 
same  motive  is  said  to  have  been  active  in  his  founding  of  the 
Missionary  Institute  at  Selinsgrove  in  1858.  Dr.  Harkey  had 
left  the  Synod  in  1850. 

On  two  other  occasions  during  this  critical  period  in  the  doc- 
trinal development  of  our  Church,  the  Maryland  Synod  placed 
herself  on  record  as  unequivocally  endorsing  the  confessional 
position  of  the  General  Synod.  Once  in  1856  at  Frederick  the 
Synod  in  order  to  allay  agitation  and  secure  harmony  adopted 
this  paragraph : 

"We  reaffirm  our  adherence  to  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod,  receiving  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  as  the  Word 
of  God,  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  at 
the  same  time  endorse  the  sentiment  that  the  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  the  Word  of  God  are  taught  in  a  manner  substantially 
correct  in  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the  Augsburg  Confession." 

And  again  at  the  same  meeting,  in  order  to  avoid  differences 
among  the  brethren  of  the  Synod  it  was  unanimously  resolved 
"to  allow  to  each  other  full  liberty  of  judgment  upon  these  dis- 
puted points provided,  however,  that  this  covenant  shall 

not  be  interpreted  so  as  to  reject  the  divine  institution  of  the 
Sabbath  or  to  conflict  with  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  General 
Synod."  These  actions  show  that  the  Maryland  Synod  as  a  body 
was  keeping  peace  with  the  doctrinal  development  of  the  General 
Synod. 

When  the  forces  of  the  General  Synod  were  split  at  York  in 
1864  over  the  question  of  admitting  the  Franckean  Synod,  two  of 
the  delegates  from  the  Maryland  Synod  voted  with  the  solid  dele- 
gation of  the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium  and  others  against  ad- 
mitting the  new  synod,  and  later  joined  in  the  formal  protest 
against  that  action.  But  the  formation  of  the  General  Council 
two  years  later  caused  no  rupture  in  the  ranks  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  and  made  no  appreciable  impress  on  that  body.  The 
Maryland  Synod  remained  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  general  body 
to  whose  origin  and  development  she  had  made  such  large  con- 
tributions. 


l.">4  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

At  the  memorable  meeting  of  tbe  General  Synod  in  1806  at 
Fort  Wayne,  whore  the  rupture  in  the  ranks  of  the  body  was 
made  permanent,  the  delegation  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  in  com- 
pany with  a  large  majority  of  the  other  delegates  present,  voted 
to  sustain  the  ruling  of  the  president  in  excluding  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Ministerial!!  delegation  until  the  convention  should  be  or- 
ganized. The  Maryland  Synod  delegation  then  reported  to  their 
body :  "None  could  regret  more  than  the  Delegates  of  the  Synod 
of  Maryland,  should  the  action  of  the  large  majority  of  the  con- 
vention produce  the  threatened  schism  in  the  Church  of  the  Re- 
deemer. Hut  as  guardians  of  the  truth,  loving  the  Church,  seek- 
ing the  things  that  make  for  peace,  and  responsible  to  the  Divine 
Head,  after  the  most  solemn,  earnest  and  prayerful  deliberation, 
we  could  not  do  otherwise." 

Forthwith  and  without  a  dissenting  vote  the  Synod  adopted 
the  following: 

"  WHERKAS  :  Several  Synods  have  withdrawn  from  the  General 
Synod,  and  invited  all  other  Synods  to  combine  with  them ; 
therefore, 

''Resolved,  That  as  a  Synod  we  re-affirm  our  unabated  confi- 
dence in  the  General  Synod,  as  the  great  bond  of  union  and  con- 
servator of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  Church. 

"Resolved,  That  we  deprecate  the  movement  of  those  Synods 
that  have  withdrawn  from  the  General  Synod. 

''Resolved,  That  we  cordially  approve  of  her  doctrinal  basis, 
and  that  we  will  pledge  our  continued  support  of  her  publica- 
tions and  institutions." 

The  doctrinal  amendments  to  the  constitution  of  the  General 
Synod  that  were  submitted  to  the  district  synods  in  1864  were 
promptly  ratified  by  the  Maryland  Synod.  When  these  amend- 
ments were  incorporated  in  the  constitution  of  the  General  Synod 
they  made  that  instrument  express  the  doctrinal  advance  that 
had  been  made  by  the  Church  in  general  since  3829.  No  longer 
is  it  held  merely  that  "the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Word 
of  God  are  taught  in  a  manner  substantially  correct  in  the  doc- 
trinal articles  of  the  Augsburg  Confession,"  but  it  is  now  clearly 
specified  that  the  district  synods  of  the  General  Synod  receive 
and  hold  "with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  our  fathers 
the  Word  of  God  as  contained  in  the  canonical  scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  Xew  Testaments  as  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  and  the  Augsburg  Confession  as  a  correct  exhibition  of 
the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Divine  Word,  and  of  the  faith 
of  our  Church  founded  on  that  Wrord."  From  this  unequivocal 
subscription  to  the  Angsburg  Confession  the  General  Synod  has 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  155 

never  made  any  material  changes.  Verbal  changes  and  explana- 
tions were  made  from  time  to  time  in  order  to  avoid  misunder- 
standing and  to  correct  misrepresentation.  These  were  codified 
and  incorporated  in  the  constitution  in  1913.  But  essentially  the 
doctrinal  position  remained  constant  after  1866. 

Now  this  doctrinal  position  of  the  General  Synod  describes 
very  accurately  the  position  of  the  Maryland  Synod  during  the 
second  half-century  of  her  life.  She  takes  firm  stand  upon  the 
Bible  as  the  Word  of  God  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith 
and  practice.  She  subscribes  to  the  Augustana  unequivocally. 
She  holds  the  unaltered  Augsburg  Confession  to  be  a  true  exhibi- 
tion  of  Bible  doctrine  and  a  correct  setting  forth  of  the  inner 
faith  and  the  objective  doctrine  of  our  Church,  which  is  founded 
on  the  Word. 

The  principles  of  the  Lutheran  Reformation,  both  formal  and 
material,  received  frequent  emphasis  in  the  conventions  and 
among  the  congregations  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Dr.  J.  G.  Mor- 
ris was  a  thorough-going  student  of  Luther  and  the  Reformation, 
and  he  lost  no  opportunity  to  bring  the  subject  to  the  attention 
of  the  Synod.  Already  in  1832,  when  the  denominational  con- 
sciousness of  our  Church  was  still  at  a  low  ebb  and  when  union- 
ism was  still  rampant,  a  synodical  committee  of  which  Dr.  Mor- 
ris wras  chairman  presented  a  resolution  pledging  the  members 
of  the  Synod  to  the  observance  of  the  Reformation  festival  on 
October  31st  each  year  or  on  the  Sunday  nearest  the  date.  This 
action  was  renewed  from  time  to  time,  notably  in  1848  when  the 
example  of  the  Missouri  Synod  impelled  the  Maryland  Synod  to 
a  more  intensive  celebration  of  the  Reformation. 

For  a  number  of  years  it  was  a  rule  of  the  Synod  to  hear  a 
Reformation  Sermon  at  one  of  the  sessions  of  her  annual  conven- 
tion. This  began  in  1837  and  Dr.  C.  F.  Schaeffer  was  the  first 
man  to  fill  the  appointment.  Doubtless  these  regular  observances 
of  the  Reformation,  both  in  the  congregations  and  in  the  synod- 
ical conventions,  had  much  to  do  with  the  growing  sense  of  ap- 
preciation for  our  Lutheran  heritage  and  the  steady  doctrinal 
development  of  the  Synod. 

Moreover,  beyond  her  own  bounds  the  Maryland  Synod  did 
much  to  stimulate  positive  Lutheran  convictions.  One  instance 
of  this  is  found  in  the  general  celebration  of  the  centenary  of 
Lutheranism  in  this  country.  The  celebration  took  place  in  1842, 
one  hundred  years  after  Muhlenberg's  arrival  in  America.  It 
was  an  important  factor  in  helping  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America  to  return  to  the  confessional  position  of  Muhlenberg 
and  his  associates.  The  observance  of  the  centenary  was  sug- 


1">6  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

•rested  to  the  General  Synod  by  the  Maryland  Synod  delegation 
acting  under  instructions  from  their  body.  The  suggestion  was 
cordially  received  by  the  Church  and  the  result  was  a  wide- 
spread effort  for  the  support  of  the  benevolent  operations  and 
institutions  of  the  Church  and  a  concerted  study  of  the  life  and 
labors  of  Muhlenberg. 

Again  in  18(i7,  the  seventh  semi-centeiurial  anniversary  of  the 
Reformation  was  ordered  to  be  observed  among  the  congregations 
of  the  Synod  by  Reformation  sermons,  special  services,  jubilee 
meetings,  and  special  efforts  for  benevolences.  The  plans  for  the 
General  Svnod's  celebration  of  this  jubilee  were  not  laid  until 
1868. 

Of  special  importance  was  the  celebration  in  188.'}  of  the  four 
hundredth  anniversary  of  Luther's  birth.  This  celebration  also 
was  observed  by  the  General  Synod  on  the  initiative  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  In  1882  Dr.  Morris  presented  a  series  of  resolutions 
to  the  Maryland  Synod  setting  forth  the  possibilities  of  the  anni- 
versary and  embodying  plans  for  its  observance.  The  next  year 
Dr.  Morris  was  elected  president  of  the  General  Synod  and,  ap- 
parently on  his  own  initiative,  appointed  a  "committee  on  Lu- 
ther Commemoration."  Dr.  Diehl  of  the  Maryland  Synod  was 
chairman  of  this  committee  and  its  report  was  practically  iden- 
tical with  the  resolutions  that  had  been  adopted  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  the  previous  year. 

The  celebration  itself  followed  the  lines  laid  down  by  Dr.  Mor- 
ris. It  produced  his  translation  of  Koestlin's  Luther  and  led  to 
a  general  review  of  Luther's  life  and  doctrine.  In  this  way  it 
effected  a  higher  appreciation  of  the  distinctive  features  of  Lu- 
ther's work.  Many  Lutherans  were  surprised  to  learn  how  much 
respect  Luther  commanded  among  the  best  men  of  other  com- 
munions. Vast  assemblages  gathered  to  celebrate.  The  Luther 
Monument  was  erected  in  Washington.  A  permanent  stimulus 
was  given  to  the  production  of  Luther  literature.  In  short,  the 
celebration  of  188.'J  marked  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  in  America  because  it  taught  Lutherans  the  pos- 
sibilities of  working  together,  showed  them  the  wisdom  of  em- 
phasizing the  things  they  have  in  common,  and  deepened  their 
appreciation  for  their  common  doctrine  and  faith.  In  this  way 
it  helped  to  pave  the  way  for  the  memorable  events  of  1017  and 
1918. 

In  the  Quadricentennial  Celebration  of  the  Reformation  in 
1917  the  Maryland  Synod  cooperated  most  cordially.  Through 
the  labors  of  her  members  in  the  work  of  the  Joint  Committee  of 
the  general  bodies,  through  her  own  synodical  committee,  through 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  157 

the  special  efforts  of  her  Conferences,  through  the  series  of  cele- 
brations at  the  synodical  convention  in  Washington,  and  par- 
ticularly through  the  preaching  of  Reformation  sermons  in  her 
pulpits  and  the  holding  of  special  services  in  her  congregations 
during  the  Jubilee  year,  she  received  her  full  share  of  the  in- 
spiration growing  out  of  the  special  observance  of  that  memora- 
ble year  and  it  was  with  peculiar  satisfaction  that  she  witnessed 
the  consummation  of  the  Merger  and  participated  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  United  Lutheran  Church. 

Several  unrelated  incidents  in  the  life  of  the  Synod  are  worthy 
of  record  here  because  they  throw  interesting  side-lights  on  the 
doctrinal  history  of  the  body. 

From  the  beginning  the  Synod  embraced  a  number  of  union 
churches  in,  which  Lutherans  and  Reformed  worshipped.  But 
this  was  not  unionism  of  organization  or  teaching,  and  the  Mary- 
land Synod  never  countenanced  the  unionistic  tendencies  that 
for  a  long  time  were  so  prevalent  in  other  parts  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Thus  when  Nicholas  Schmucker,  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Synod,  was  charged  in  1828  with  having  caused  disaffection 
between  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations  worshipping 
in  one  of  his  churches  by  refusing  to  give  a  general  invitation  to 
the  Lord's  Supper,  the  Synod  resolved  "That  the  Rev.  X. 
Schmucker,  in  not  giving  a  general  invitation  to  partake  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  did  not  transgress  the  discretionary  power  vested 
in  every  individual  Minister  of  our  Church." 

In  approving  the  design  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  in  184G 
the  Synod  expressly  guarded  against  any  kind  of  unionism  by 
declaring  that  she  "does  not  in  any  sense  regard  it  as  an  alliance 
of  denominations  or  branches  of  the  Church,  but  of  individual 
Christians,  each  acting  on  his  own  responsibility,"  and  that  "it 
is  distinctly  understood  by  the  Synod  that  no  compromise  of  the 
views  of  any  member  of  the  Alliance  on  the  points  wherein  he 
may  differ  from  others,  is  either  required  or  expected. ' ' 

A  number  of  times  the  Synod  made  deliverances  on  subjects 
pertaining  to  church  polity.  For  example,  the  parity  of  the 
ministry  is  clearly  and  firmly  maintained  in  a  resolution  adopted 
unanimously  in  1838,  '"Resolved,  That  as  in  the  view  of  the  EA'an- 
gelical  Lutheran  Church  the  incumbents  of  the  ministerial  office 
are  by  divine  appointment  of  equal  rank,  we  regard  all  ordained 
ministers  of  the  gospel  as  Bishops,  in  the  primary  and  Scriptural 
sense  of  the  term,  and  therefore  fully  entitled  to  that  appella- 
tion." 


158  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

''The  Maryland  Synod  Question"  is  the  name  that  has  been 
•riven  to  a  discussion  on  a  question  of  church  polity  that  took 
place  in  the  Maryland  Synod  but  excited  general  interest.  The 
whole  question  was  one  concerning  synodical  authority.  It  arose 
in  18">.S  when  Dr.  J.  A.  Seiss,  then  president  of  the  Synod,  gave  a 
certificate  of  honorable  dismissal  to  Rev.  John  "Winter  at  his  own 
request  when  he  had  no  intention  of  uniting  with  another  synod 
or  of  becoming  pastor  of  a  congregation.  The  Synod  refused  to 
confirm  the  act  of  the  president,  and  so  the  debate  began. 

The  question  was  whether  one  ceased  to  be  a  minister  by  ceas- 
ing to  be  a  member  of  a  synod  or  a  pastor  of  a  congregation.  The 
chief  disputants  for  the  affirmative  were  Drs.  Baugher  and  Diehl, 
for  the  negative  Drs.  Seiss  and  Kurtz.  The  debate  extended  over 
three  conventions  of  Synod,  into  the  columns  of  the  Observer, 
and  on  the  pages  of  the  Evangelical  Review.  The  discussion  was 
lively  and  interesting  but  not  acrimonious.  The  arguments  were 
far  too  lengthy  to  be  reproduced  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
debate  made  progress  and  finally  led  to  a  conclusion  that  was 
mutually  satisfactory. 

The  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter  was  embodied  in  a  number 
of  resolutions  prepared  by  both  Dr.  Baugher  and  Dr.  Seiss  and 
adopted  by  the  Synod  in  1855,  as  follows : 

"1.  That  we  view  Synodical  organizations  not  as  of  absolute 
divine  institution,  but  as  early  and  wisely  introduced  into  the 
Christian  Church  for  the  more  satisfactory  and  efficient  admin- 
istration of  its  general  affairs,  but  possessing  no  specific  divine 
powers  beyond  or  above  those  resident  in  the  ministers  and 
churches  of  which  they  are  composed. 

"2.  That  as  fraternal  association  for  mutual  consultation  and 
advice,  and  for  the  joint  exercise  of  God's  gifts  to  His  individual 
ministers  and  churches,  Synods  are  vital  to  the  operations  of  the 
church  as  it  exists  in  this  country ;  and  that  the  wisdom  of  our 
Lutheran  fathers  in  adopting  and  incorporating  them  into  the 
government  and  discipline  of  our  Church  claims  our  highest  com- 
mendation. 

")5.  That  it  is  rightfully  expected  of  all  who  claim  to  be  ac- 
credited ministers  of  our  Church,  as  constituted  in  this  country, 
that  they  seek  connection  with  some  one  of  our  District  Synods. 

"4.  That  a  minister  in  good  standing  in  the  Synod  may  with- 
draw from  his  connection  with  it,  and  may  receive  testimonials 
of  his  good  standing  up  to  the  moment  of  his  withdrawal ;  but 
that  after  he  has  thus  withdrawn  he  will  no  longer  be  regarded 
by  us  as  an  accredited  minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church  until  he 
has  again  secured  membership  in  some  one  of  our  regular  Synods. 


DOCTRINAL  AND  LITURGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  159 

"5.  That  the  power  of  giving  the  testimonials  above  alluded  to 
shall  not  lie  with  the  President  ad  interim,  but  the  Synod  itself 
in  regular  session  assembled." 

Thus  the  action  of  the  Synod  has  always  been  in  harmony 
with  the  two  fundamental  principles  of  Lutheran  Church  polity, 
namely,  that  the  primary  exercise  of  all  Church  authority  belongs 
to  the  congregations  (including  their  ministers),  and  that  per  se 
all  ministers  are  of  equal  rank.  All  resolutions  and  proposals 
contrary  to  these  principles  she  has  consistently  rejected. 

Liturgical. 

In  the  liturgical  history  of  the  Church  the  Maryland  Synod  has 
been  less  conspicuous  than  in  the  doctrinal  history  and  the  de- 
velopment of  benevolences.  Nevertheless,  she  has  made  contribu- 
tions in  that  sphere  that  are  at  least  worthy  of  brief  mention. 

The  General  S3niod  was  formed  in  ]820  for  several  purposes, 
one  of  them  being  "to  introduce  new  books  for  general  use  in  the 
public  Church  Service  as  well  as  to  make  improvements  in  the 
Liturgy."  But  this  particular  purpose  was  overlooked  until 
1825.  Then  it  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  general  body 
by  the  Maryland  Synod  through  her  request  for  a  hymn-book 
in  English.  The  General  Synod  answered  this  request  by  ap- 
pointing a  committee  "to  prepare  a  Hymn-Book,  Liturgy,  and  a 
Collection  of  Prayers  in  the  English  language,  for  the  use  of  our 
Church."  Of  the  five  members  on  this  initial  committee  two,  Dr. 
S.  S.  Schinucker  and  Dr.  C.  P.  Krauth,  were  from  the  Maryland 
Synod.  This  was  the  beginning  of  Dr.  Schmucker's  long  period 
of  conspicuous  service  in  the  liturgical  development  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod. 

The  first  liturgy  published  by  order  of  the  General  Synod  ap- 
peared in  1832.  It  was  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lintner  of 
New  York.  It  proved  as  unsatisfactory  to  the  Maryland  Synod 
as  to  any  of  the  others.  For  in  that  year  it  was  resolved  "that 
this  Synod  earnestly  recommend  to  the  General  Synod  to  make 
such  improvements  in  the  new  liturgy  as  will  make  it  satisfac- 
tory, or  suppress  it  entirely. ' '  The  General  Synod  therefore  ap- 
pointed a  standing  committee  to  revise  and  amend  the  liturgy  of 
1832.  Of  this  committee  David  F.  Schaeffer  was  the  first  chair- 
man, then  J.  G.  Morris,  and  then  E/ra  Keller.  All  of  these  were 
members  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  but  none  of  them  accomplished 
a  satisfactory  revision  of  the  liturgy. 

Not  until  1847  was  another  liturgy  adopted  by  the  General 
Synod.  This  was  prepared  by  a  committee  of  which  C.  P.  Krauth 
was  chairman,  and  it  was  largely  the  work  of  Professor  H.  I. 


160  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Schmidt.  It  was  a  decided  improvement  on  the  liturgy  of  1832, 
but  it  did  not  entirely  satisfy  the  growing  liturgical  sense  of  the 
Church.  Accordingly  in  1850  the  Maryland  Synod  started  a 
movement  that  long  afterwards  resulted  in  an  Order  of  Service 
more  nearly  Lutheran  than  anything  that  had  yet  been  attained. 
Through  her  delegation  as  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  Mor- 
ris, Sentman,  Seiss,  and  Conrad,  the  Maryland  Synod  presented 
to  the  General  Synod  a  carefully  prepared  report  embodying  ten 
definite  suggestions  for  the  improvement  of  the  liturgy.  These 
included  the  observance  of  the  Church  Year  and  pointed  in  the 
direction  of  the  historical  Lutheran  liturgies.  The  suggestions 
came  from  the  growing  conviction,  as  Professor  Reynolds  ex- 
pressed it,  "that  our  Church  is  liturgical,  that  such  forms  ought 
to  constitute  a  part  of  our  public  worship,  and  that  there  should 
be  uniformity  in  their  use." 

This  report  of  the  Maryland  Synod  delegation  was  referred  to 
the  Standing  Committee  on  Liturgy,  and  so  failed  to  produce 
immediate  fruit.  The  liturgy  adopted  in  18f>6  differed  only  in 
minor  points  from  that  of  1847.  Efforts  at  improvement  con- 
tinued. The  influence  of  Beale  M.  Schmucker  and  J.  G.  Morris 
began  to  be  felt.  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker 's  "provisional  liturgy" 
of  1864  was  a  decided  improvement  on  all  former  ones  but  it  was 
not  adopted  by  the  General  Synod.  The  liturgical  appetite  was 
rapidly  growing  keener  just  as  the  denominational  consciousness 
was  growing  deeper,  and  liturgical  matters  were  more  chaotic 
than  confessional  affairs. 

But  a  large  step  forward  was  taken  in  1809  when  the  General 
Synod  met  at  Washington.  A  committee  of  three,  L.  E.  Albert, 
T.  Stork,  and  J.  G.  Butler,  had  been  appointed  the  previous  year 
to  revise  the  liturgy.  Their  report  was  adopted  at  Washington 
and  is  commonly  known  as  the  "Washington  Service."  This 
service  was  the  first  definite  approach  to  any  historical  Lutheran 
Order  of  Service  since  the  General  Synod  had  been  organized. 
The  largest  contribution  to  the  work  of  the  committee  was  made 
by  Dr.  Butler,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  His 
advocacy  of  such  a  service  appears  repeatedly  in  the  issues  of 
the  Observer  preceeding  the  meeting  of  1869. 

The  new  service  was  subjected  to  severe  criticism.  It  was 
amended  and  revised  and  adopted  again  in  1881.  But  mean- 
while the  movement  for  a  Common  Service  had  begun.  In  the 
preparation  of  the  "Common  Service"  and  most  recently  of  the 
"Common  Service  Book"  the  Maryland  Synod  has  not  been  par- 
ticularly prominent  but  has  cooperated  through  her  representa- 
tives on  the  Committees  preparing  them  and  by  loyally  urging 
their  introduction  into  her  congregations. 


CHAPTER  X. 
SYNODICAL  RELATIONS. 

The  relations  of  the  Maryland  Synod  with  other  Synods  con- 
tiguous to  her  territory  and  with  other  members  of  the  General 
Synod  have  always  been  friendly  and  cordial. 

The  separation  from  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  was  ac- 
complished, as  we  have  seen,  with  unusual  grace  and  peace. 
Early  in  her  history  the  Synod  passed  resolutions  looking  to- 
wards the  maintenance  of  inter-synodical  comity  in  receiving  and 
dismissing  ministers  and  congregations,  in  establishing  the 
bounds  of  Synod,  in  exchanging  fraternal  delegates,  in  occupy- 
ing the  home  mission  field,  and  in  adjusting  the  relations  among 
the  congregations.  The  result  has  been  that  through  her  century 
of  history  she  has  never  had  a  single  serious  quarrel  with  any  of 
her  neighbors.  There  have  been  mild  protests  from  time  to  time, 
both  from  the  Synod  and  to  the  Synod.  But  they  have  been  few 
in  number  and  trivial  in  nature.  The  geographical  isolation  and 
the  relative  homogeneity  of  the  Maryland  Synod  have  permitted 
her  to  carry  on  her  work  in  comparative  peace.  Not  strife  and 
contention  but  harmony  and  a  willingness  to  cooperate  have  char- 
acterized her  relations  both  internally  and  externally.  Even  the 
short-lived  efforts  at  schism  within  her  own  ranks  were  treated 
with  such  a  spirit  of  forbearance  that  they  did  not  deeply  disturb 
her  synodical  equanimity. 

We  need  only  consider  here  the  relations  of  our  Synod  to  the 
General  Synod,  the  Virginia  Synod,  the  Melanchthon  Synod,  and 
the  German  Synod  of  Maryland. 

The  General  Synod. — The  Maryland  Synod  enjoys  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  only  District  Synod  that  was  in  continuous 
union  writh  the  General  Synod  from  its  formation  in  1820  until 
its  merging  into  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in  1918.  What  the 
Maryland  Synod  contributed  to  the  life  of  the  General  Synod 
may  best  be  gathered  from  the  three  chapters  in  this  volume  im- 
mediately preceding  this  chapter.  But  one  more  incident  in  the 
life  of  the  General  Synod  calls  for  record  in  this  connection.  It 
shows  how  the  Maryland  Synod  saved  the  very  life  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod. 

161 
11 


lb'2  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

11  was  in  1S2M.  The  first  regular  business  convention  of  the 
General  Synod  had  been  held  in  1821.  The  mother  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania  determined  in  1823  to  withdraw  from  the  general 
body  and  not  to  attend  the  meeting  announced  for  that  fall. 
By  nearly  every  one  this  was  considered  the  death-blow  of  the 
General  Synod.  So  general  was  this  impression  that  the  pastors 
west  of  the  Susquehanna  appointed  their  conference  on  the  very 
day  that  had  been  fixed  for  the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod. 
The  eause  of  the  General  Synod  seemed  indeed  hopeless.  Only 
two  small  Synods,  that  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  and  that  of 
North  Carolina,  remained  after  Pennsylvania  withdrew. 

Hut  several  of  the  brethren  in  the  Maryland  Synod  sensed  the 
crisis  and  saved  the  eause.  Chief  among  these  was  young  S.  S. 
Schmucker,  then  secretary  of  the  Synod.  All  through  the  sum- 
mer of  1823  he  put  forth  herculean  efforts  to  inspire  resolution 
in  the  hearts  of  the  brethren  in  other  parts  of  the  Church  to  save 
the  infant  organization  from  destruction.  In  these  efforts  he 
was  ably  seconded  by  I).  F.  Schaeffer  of  Frederick.  Letters  were 
written.  Journeys  were  made.  Appeals  were  sent.  Arguments 
and  reasonings  were  piled  one  on  the  other.  The  result  was  that 
the  life  of  the  General  Synod  was  sustained.  The  meeting  in  Oc- 
tober, 1823,  was  held  according  to  schedule,  but  without  the  large 
and  influential  Pennsylvania  Ministerium.  The  West  Pennsyl- 
vania Conference  sent  a  delegation  to  attend.  The  Synod  of 
North  Carolina  sent  four  delegates.  Of  course  the  Synod  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia  had  a  full  delegation  in  attendance.  And 
even  the  Synod  of  Ohio  sent  two  commissioners  to  attend. 

The  crisis  was  passed.  The  prompt  and  vigorous  action  of 
Maryland  Synod  men  had  saved  the  General  Synod  from  dissolu- 
tion. This  carried  tremendous  consequences  for  the  future  pros- 
perity of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country.  For  from  that 
hour  she  became  more  pronounced  in  her  Lutheranism  and  was 
saved  from  her  former  lifeless  and  distracted  condition. 

Under  such  circumstances  it  was  to  be  expected  that  the  Mary- 
land Synod  would  for  many  years  play  a  leading  part  in  the  ac- 
tivities of  the  General  Synod.  Such  proved  to  be  the  case,  as  we 
have  seen.  Of  the  first  thirteen  conventions  of  that  body  ten 
were  held  on  the  territory  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Of  the  first 
eight  presidents  of  that  body  six  were  members  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  And  throughout  the  hundred  years  of  the  history  of  the 
General  Synod  more  than  one-third  of  her  presiding  officers  were 
elected  from  among  the  delegates  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  There 
was  every  reason  why  the  relations  between  the  Maryland  Synod 


SYNODIC AL  RELATIONS.  163 

and  the  General  Synod  should  have  been  so  uniformly  happy  and 
cordial  as  they  always  were. 

When  the  question  of  a  larger  union  among  Lutheran  bodies 
arose  in  1917  the  men  of  the  Maryland  Synod  were  among  those 
who  hailed  the  proposal  with  joy  and  who  helped  to  consummate 
the  movement.  And  as  the  oldest  constituent  Synod  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  her  delegation  at  the  merger  convention  in  New  York 
in  1918  was  proud  to  be  the  very  first  to  answer  the  call  of  the 
roll  and  signify  her  cordial  assent  to  the  new  age  with  a  mag- 
nificent "All  present!" 

The  Virginia  Synod. — The  Lutheran  pastors  of  northern  Vir- 
ginia had  organized  and  conducted  the  Special  Conferences  that 
preceded  the  organization  of  the  Synod.  In  1820  some  of  them 
united  with  the  Maryland  pastors  in  organizing  the  Synod  itself 
under  the  name  of  the  "Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  and  so  forth."  The  organization  took  place  on 
Virginia  soil  and  for  thirteen  years,  except  one,  the  Synod  car- 
ried the  name  of  Virginia  in  her  title. 

But  in  1829  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Virginia  was 
formed.  The  same  motives  and  considerations  that  in  1820  had 
led  to  the  separation  of  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  pastors  from 
the  Pennsylvania  Ministerium.  nine  years  later  led  to  the  sepa- 
ration of  the  Virginia  pastors  from  the  Maryland  Synod.  They 
had  found  that  the  churches  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley  were  not 
so  naturally  and  intimately  connected  with  the  churches  in  Mary- 
land as  with  the  other  churches  in  Virginia.  They  were  becom- 
ing mere  appendages  to  the  Maryland  congregations.  Thus  there 
had  come  to  be  a  compelling  conviction  that  the  Virginia  pastors 
and  congregations  could  do  much  more  towards  establishing  the 
Kingdom  of  God  and  advancing  the  interests  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  by  concentrating  their  means  and  efforts  on  the  territory 
they  were  occupying.  Accordingly,  eight  pastors — six  from  the 
Synod  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  and  two  from  the  Synod  of 
North  Carolina — organized  the  Virginia  Synod  at  Woodstock  in 
1829. 

The  separation  was  accomplished  in  a  most  friendly  spirit. 
The  new  Synod  of  Virginia  at  once  adopted  a  resolution  express- 
ing the  highest  regard  for  their  brethren  of  the  neighboring 
Synods  coupled  with  the  assurance  that  nothing  had  induced  the 
separation  from  them  except  a  desire  to  promote  the  interests  of 
the  Church.  Both  the  Maryland  Synod  and  the  North  Carolina 
Synod  approved  the  organization  of  the  Virginia  Synod  and  for 
many  years  exchanged  minutes  and  synodical  delegates  annually 
with  the  new  body. 


1()4  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

The  mime  of  Virginia  was  therefore  omitted  from  the  title  of 
the  Maryland  Synod  in  1830.  Hut  that  same  year,  at  the  second 
convention  of  the  Virginia  Synod,  a  bare  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers decided  that  the  new  Synod  should  not  unite  with  the  Gen- 
eral Synod.  Thereupon  four  of  the  pastors,  together  with  their 
congregations,  withdrew  from  the  Virginia  Synod  and  reunited 
with  the  organization  in  Maryland.  Consequently  for  two  years 
more  we  find  the  Synod  calling  herself  the  "Synod  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia."  I»  183.'}  the  name  was  changed  to  the  "Synod  of 
Maryland"  although  two  of  the  Virginia  pastors  still  continued 
to  be  members  of  the  body. 

This  raised  the  question  of  synodical  bounds,  a  question  which 
engaged  the  attention  of  Synod  at  various  times  for  a  period  of 
fifteen  years.  It  first  arose  in  connection  with  the  status  of  con- 
gregations just  south  of  the  Potomac,  but  it  was  also  discussed 
in  connection  with  a  few  congregations  just  north  of  the  Mason 
and  Dixon.  The  action  of  the  Synod  on  this  subject  was  always 
courteous  to  her  neighbors,  always  self-consistent,  and  always  in 
accordance  with  Lutheran  principles  of  church  polity.  Already 
in  1834  she  took  action  clearly  implying  that  in  general  the 
boundaries  of  the  State  should  be  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  but 
allowing  for  exceptions  in  order  to  accommodate  the  convenience 
of  the  brethren  and  their  congregations.  This  action  was  re- 
iterated on  various  occasions  and  in  various  forms  until  1848, 
when  the  resolution  still  in  force  on  this  subject  was  adopted  as 
follows:  "Resolved,  That  recognizing  the  State  boundaries  as 
the  boundaries  of  the  Synod  of  Maryland,  the  churches  on  the 
borders  shall  be  permitted  to  retain  what  they  regard  as  their 
ecclesiastical  relations,  and  if  in  future  they  wish  to  change  them, 
they  be  permitted  to  connect  themselves  with  the  Synod  which 
is  most  convenient  to  them,  with  the  understanding  that  the  in- 
tention to  do  so  be  first  communicated  to  the  Synod  in  whose 
bounds  thc-y  are." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  in  this  connection  that  when  the  Synod 
was  about  to  meet  in  Martinsburg,  Virginia,  in  1847,  the  presi- 
dent, Dr.  F.  AV.  Conrad,  received  from  the  secretary  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Synod  a  courteous  resolution  adopted  by  that  body  and  de- 
siring the  Maryland  Synod  to  change  its  purpose  to  hold  its  next 
session  within  the  bounds  of  the  Virginia  Synod.  But  Dr.  Con- 
rad, after  diligent  inquiry  as  to  the  actual  synodical  relationship 
of  Martinsburg,  felt  convinced  that  the  resolution  of  the  Virginia 
Synod  was  based  on  a  misapprehension  of  the  facts  in  the  case, 
and  so  he  did  not  change  the  place  of  meeting.  At  that  meeting 
Dr.  J.  A.  Seiss  was  the  fraternal  delegate  from  the  Virginia 


SYNODIC AL  RELATIONS.  1G.~) 

Synod.  The  subject  of  the  boundary  between  the  two  Synods  re- 
ceived frank  and  friendly  discussion  and  the  result  was  the  ac- 
tion noted  above.  Thus  the  friendly  relations  between  the  two 
bodies  continued  unbroken. 

Under  this  principle  of  congregational  self-determination  the 
church  at  Martinsburg  associated  herself  with  the  Virginia 
Synod  for  nearly  twenty  years.  But  during  the  Civil  War  it 
found  itself  within  the  Union  lines  and  afterwards  in  the  State 
of  West  Virginia,  and  so  it  asked  to  be  received  with  its  pastor 
into  the  Maryland  Synod.  The  Virginia  Synod  protested,  but 
under  the  action  mutually  agreed  upon  the  Maryland  Synod  ac- 
cepted the  congregation,  and  in  this  relationship  it  has  continued 
to  the  present. 

In  1860  and  1861  committees  were  appointed  and  negotiations 
were  begun  looking  towards  the  reunion  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia 
with  the  Synod  of  Maryland.  But  these  negotiations  were  sev- 
ered by  the  war.  Then  after  the  war  had  closed,  in  1870,  the 
Maryland  Synod,  regarding  herself  as  best  fitted  to  open  the  sub- 
ject because  of  her  location  and  because  of  her  moderate  attitude 
during  the  wrar,  again  appointed  a  committee  of  conference  with 
the  Synods  of  Virginia  and  took  other  steps  to  bring  about  a  re- 
union of  the  southern  Synods  with  the  General  Synod.  But  be- 
yond the  interchange  of  fraternal  delegates  with  the  Virginia 
Synod  nothing  was  accomplished. 

The  Melanchthon  Synod. — This  was  a  schism  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Maryland  Synod.  It  was  not  a  deep  schism  nor  one  of  long 
duration.  Neither  did  it  seriously  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  It  was  chiefly  an  effort  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Kurtz  and  a  few  others  to  resist  the  swelling  confessional  tide  in 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  general  and  in  the  Maryland  Synod  in 
particular.  As  such  it  was  a  conspicuous  failure. 

The  Maryland  Synod  had  flatly  refused  to  publish  Dr.  Har- 
key's  proposed  "Revivalist.''  She  had  definitely  declined  Dr. 
Kurtz's  avowal  of  the  "New  Measures."  She  had  tabled  and 
indefinitely  postponed  the  "Abstract  of  Doctrines"  that  avoided 
the  distinctive  features  of  the  Lutheran  Confession.  And  she 
had  squarely  rejected  the  "Definite  Platform."  All  hope  of 
moving  the  Synod  from  her  conservative  doctrinal  trend  was 
gone.  It  was  therefore  resolved  to  try  the  expedient  of  organiz- 
ing a  new  Synod. 

We  are  not  concerned  here  about  the  detailed  history  of  the 
Melanchthon  Synod  but  only  about  the  relations  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  with  that  body.  It  was  in  1857  that  eight  pastors  (Kurtz, 
Unruh,  Campbell,  Baughman,  Hunt,  Startzman,  Klink,  and 


16()  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Beekley)  petitioned  the  Maryland  Synod  for  dismissal  from  that 
body  in  order  to  organize  themselves  into  "a  new  Lutheran 
Synod  in  Western  Maryland."  The  congregations  involved  were 
Myersville,  Middletown,  Creagerstown,  Boonshoro,  Waynesboro, 
and  Lcitersburg.  After  lengthy  discussion  the  ]>etition  was 
irranted.  A  few  weeks  later  the  Lutheran  Obaerrer  issued  the 
"Call  to  the  Convention"  and  the  Melanchthon  Synod  was  or- 
ganized. It  had  no  h'xed  boundaries  but  placed  itself  upon  the 
basis  of  "Elective  Affinity"  and  evidently  aimed  to  spread  over 
the  entire  territory  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Its  "Declaration 
of  Faith"  embodied  the  articles  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  with 
a  few  changes  and  represented  an  advanced  "American  Luther- 
anism." 

The  very  next  year  the  Maryland  Synod  repented  of  her  ac- 
tion in  allowing  the  eight  brethren  and  the  six  congregations  to 
withdraw.  When  Rev.  Christian  Start/man  applied  for  admis- 
sion as  a  fraternal  delegate  from  the  Melanchthon  Synod,  it  was 
refused,  and  the  Synod's  attitude  towards  the  new  body  was 
clearly  defined.  The  Synod  deplored  "the  error  committed  at 
the  last  meeting,  in  permitting  these  brethren  to  withdraw  and 
establish  a  Synod,  when  no  adequate  motives  existed  to  justify  a 
new  organization."  To  organize  a  new  synod  purely  on  the 
basis  of  "elective  affinity"  was  declared  to  be  "subservive  oil  all 
synodical  order  and  harmony."  The  conviction  was  recorded 
that  "under  no  circumstances  are  two  synods  either  necessary  or 
desirable  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  even  if  divided  by  a  fixed 
geographical  boundary."  And  the  brethren  of  the  Melanchthon 
Synod  were  "affectionately  invited  to  a  prayerful  conference 
with  the  brethren  of  this  Synod"  in  the  hope  of  restoring  the 
unity  of  the  ancient  body  and  thus  serving  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  State  of  Maryland. 

When  the  General  Synod  met  at  Pittsburgh  in  1859  the  Mel- 
anchthon Synod  applied  for  admission.  There  were  serious 
doubts  both  as  to  the  regularity  of  its  formation  and  as  to  its  ac- 
ceptance of  the  faith  of  the  Church.  The  discussion  concerning 
its  admission  extended  over  four  sessions.  Finally,  on  a  resolu- 
tion of  Charles  Porterfield  Krauth,  warning  the  new  synod 
against  "schism"  and  mildly  requesting  it  to  withdraw  its  im- 
plied charges  against  the  Augsburg  Confession,  it  was  admitted 
to  the  general  body.  The  vote  admitting  it  stood  ninety-eight  to 
twenty-six.  The  Maryland  Synod  delegation  was  divided  on  the 
question,  five  of  the  delegates  voting  in  favor  of  admission,  Dr. 
Haugher  alone  voting  in  the  negative.  This  admission  of  the 
Melanchthon  Svnod  to  the  General  Svnod  was  one  of  the  fruitful 


RELATIONS.  16? 

causes  of  the  rupture  in  the  ranks  of  the  General  Synod  a  few 
years  later. 

For  four  successive  years,  beginning  in  1858,  the  Maryland 
Synod  made  overtures  to  the  Melanchthon  Synod  for  reunion. 
But  all  in  vain.  Not  until  the  twelfth  convention  of  the  Mel- 
anchthon Synod  in  1868,  three  years  after  Dr.  Kurtz's  death,  did 
that  body  accept  the  long-standing  invitation  to  a  friendly  con- 
ference with  the  Maryland  Synod  with  a  view  to  reunion.  The 
preamble  of  the  action  accepting  the  invitation  states:  "The 
causes  which  legitimately  led  to  the  organization  of  the  Melanch- 
thon Synod  have  in  our  judgment  expired,  and  with  them  the 
necessity  of  continuing  a  separate  organization,  the  Melanchthon 
Synod  having  accomplished  its  special  business." 

Accordingly  a  joint  convention  of  the  two  bodies  was  held  in 
Frederick,  November  9,  1868,  and  a  basis  of  reunion  was  adopted. 
Several  of  the  articles  of  this  basis  of  reunion  are  interesting. 
Articles  One  and  Two  show  how  completely  the  Melanchthon 
Synod  had  failed  of  its  purpose :  ' '  The  Maryland  Synod  retains 
its  name  and  all  its  chartered  rights,  and  its  Constitution  re- 
mains unimpaired  and  unaltered  as  the  fundamental  law  of  the 
United  Body.  The  Melanchthon  Synod  relinquishes  its  name  and 
organization,  and  its  ministers  and  churches  become  integral 
parts  of  the  Maryland  Synod. ' '  Article  Six  suggests  a  possible 
motive  that  may  have  operated  in  conjunction  with  the  doctrinal 
motive  in  perpetuating  the  life  of  the  young  Synod:  "The  In- 
stitutions at  Gettysburg  shall  continue  to  be,  as  heretofore,  the 
principal  Educational  agency  of  the  United  Synod,  and  receive 
its  support  and  encouragement.  The  Missionary  Institute  at 
Selinsgrove,  in  its  original  design  is  also  recognized  as  a  Subor- 
dinate Educational  Agency,  and  in  that  capacity  we  will  give  it 
our  support. ' ' 

At  the  next  regular  convention  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  there- 
fore, after  due  preliminaries  the  two  bodies  were  merged.  This 
was  done  without  any  action  on  the  part  of  the  congregations. 
For  Rev.  Reuben  Weiser,  in  his  report  as  the  last  president  of 
the  Melanchthon  Synod,  had  said:  "All  seem  to  favor  such  a 
union.  The  congregations  were  not  consulted  when  the  separa- 
tion took  place,  so  we  think  they  need  not  be  consulted  when  they 
are  about  to  be  brought  together  again  after  a  separation  of 
twelve  years.  The  separation  threw;  our  churches  into  an  ab- 
normal condition,  our  union  will  make  us  a  natural  body  again." 
The  act  of  union  consisted  simply  in  adding  to  the  roll  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  the  names  of  the  twelve  pastors  (Weiser,  Startz- 
man,  Bowers,  Richardson,  Unruh,  Buhrman,  Knodle,  Wire, 


lb'8  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Owen,  Grabill,  Fair,  and  Beckley)  and  the  eleven  congregations 
( Manchester,  Clearspring,  .Jefferson,  Lovettsville,  Tliurinont, 
Wayneshoro,  Myersville,  Burkittsville,  Woodshoro,  Funkstown, 
and  Boonsboro)  whieh  eonstituted  the  last  roll  of  the  Melanch- 
thon  Synod.  The  president  of  the  Melanehthon  Synod  gave  of- 
ficial notice  of  the  dissolution  of  that  body,  and  the  schism  of 
"elective  affinity"  had  ceased.  That  the  breach  was  completely 
healed  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  Melanehthon  Synod  men 
were  admitted  before  the  Synod's  convention  was  organized  by 
the  election  of  officers,  although  this  was  acknowledged  at  the 
time  to  be  "somewhat  irregular. "  and  by  the  further  fact  that 
one  of  their  number,  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson,  was  immediately 
elected  president  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

The  (rcrnuin  Synod  of  Maryland  and  the  South. — This  was  an- 
other schismatic  venture  within  the  ranks  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  Its  career  was  even  shorter  and  more  inglorious  than 
that  of  the  Melanehthon  Synod.  It  was  a  sincere  but  ill-advised 
effort  on  the  part  of  a  small  group  to  conserve  the  spiritual  inter- 
ests of  the  German  brethren  and  to  develop  the  piety  and  power 
of  the  German  churches.  In  no  case  was  it  charged  that  the 
German  pastors  or  congregations  received  unfair  or  discourteous 
treatment  from  the  Maryland  Synod. 

In  general  it  should  be  said  that  the  Maryland  Synod's  con- 
gregations made  the  transition  from  German  to  English  with 
much  greater  ease  and  far  less  disturbance  than  was  the  case 
among  the  Synods  in  Pennsylvania  and  those  farther  west.  The 
movement  to  form  a  German  Synod  proceeded  not  from  the  origi- 
nal element,  in  the  Church  but  from  the  German  element  that 
came  to  this  country,  chiefly  from  North  Germany,  with  those 
strong  waves  of  German  immigration  about  the  middle  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century. 

On  the  whole  subject  of  the  German  element  in  the  Maryland 
Synod,  Rev.  Richard  Schmidt  has  prepared  the  following  for 
these  pages : 

The  whole  early  history  of  the  Maryland  Synod  might  well  be 
written  in  the  German  language.  German  was  the  language  of 
the  leading  pastors  and  churches,  at  Hagerstown,  Frederick, 
Middletown,  Baltimore,  Washington,  and  other  places.  Pastors 
and  churches  using  the  English  language,  if  they  were  not  to  rely 
wholly  on  Presbyterian  and  other  non-Lutheran  literature,  had 
to  use  or  even  produce  translations  and  compilations,  from  the 
rich  treasure  of  German  catechetical,  devotional,  hymnological, 
and  theological  literature.  The  Synod  was  not  in  a  position  to 
undertake  these  publications,  so  that  was  left  to  the  private  en- 


SYNODICAL  RELATIONS.  169 

terprise  of  individual  pastors,  the  Henckels  of  Virginia,  Pastor 
S.  K.  Brobst  of  Allentown,  and  Rev.  Peter  Anstadt  of  York,  be- 
ing notable  examples. 

The  Germans  on  the  territory  of  the  Maryland  Synod  were 
never  so  numerous  as  in  the  North  or  in  the  West,  but  they  were 
numerous  enough  to  have  exerted  a  much  greater  influence  upon 
events  and  developments  of  both  the  Man-land  and  the  General 
Synods.  However,  they  were  seldom  of  one  mind  as  to  policy  and 
action,  as  they  differed  greatly  in  their  classical  and  theological 
training  and  in  their  understanding  of  the  mission  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  in  America.  The  ultra-conservative  from  Saxony 
and  Hanover  found  himself  in  company  with  the  Pietist  from 
Halle,  the  Unionist  from  Prussia,  the  Reformed  from  Hessia  and 
the  Palatinate,  and  even  the  Rationalist  from  Heidelberg  or  Jena. 
Then,  too,  they  furnished  no  exception  to  the  rule  concerning  the 
proverbial  differences  of  opinion  among  Germans. 

But  the  chief  difference  among  the  German  brethren  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  and  of  other  sections  as  well,  was  concerning 
the  best  method  by  which  they  might  exercise  their  influence  and 
perpetuate  their  German  traditions  and  practices  over  against 
those  of  the  English  brethren.  Some  contended  that  these  ends 
were  best  served  by  remaining  in  close  association  with  the  Eng- 
lish brethren  and  thus  trying  to  be  a  saving  salt  against  the  ele- 
ments which  thwarted  developments  along  genuine  Lutheran 
lines.  The  other  faction,  fearing  that  by  close  contact  with  Eng- 
lish and  American  ideals  and  ideas  they  would  lose  their  German 
individuality  and  be  completely  swallowed  up  by  the  prevailing 
un-Lutheran  and  lax  tendencies,  saw  their  only  safety  in  a  sepa- 
rate German  Conference  or  Synod.  This  is  analogous  to  the  two 
currents  in  the  political  life  of  the  Germans  of  the  United  States. 
While  one  faction  sought  to  be  a  Germanizing  leaven  in  Ameri- 
can life  by  throwing  itself,  even  to  the  extent  of  being  absorbed, 
into  the  general  national  life,  the  other  sought  to  prevent  its 
own  Americanization  by  what  might  be  called  German  coloniza- 
tion here  and  there,  often  using  church  and  pastor  as  means  to 
that  end.  The  history  of  the  country  and  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
have  conclusively  shown  the  wisdom  of  the  first  party  and  the  un- 
tenableness  of  the  latter  position. 

A  regular  German  Conference,  which  the  Maryland  Synod 
itself  had  organized  in  the  early  seventies,  did  not  long  satisfy 
some  of  the  German  pastors.  They  wanted  greater  freedom  of 
action  with  regard  to  the  disposition  of  Home  Mission  funds,  but 
especially  in  the  examination  and  ordination  of  young  German 
candidates  of  whom  there  appeared  quite  a  number  and  some  of 


170  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

whom  the  English  brethren  were  not  ready  to  induct  into  the  Lu- 
theran ministry. 

So  at  a  meeting  of  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Martinsburg,  West 
Virginia,  in  1874  Pastors  G.  W.  Ebcling,  Ph.D.,  Catonsville; 
John  II.  Mengert,  Jerusalem  Church,  Gardenville;  L.  I).  Maier, 
St.  Matthew's,  Baltimore;  C.  A.  S.  Schloegel,  St.  Peter's,  Balti- 
more; J.  P.  Conradi,  Cumberland;  Jacob  Stumpf,  Frost  burg; 
and  J.  G.  Reitx,  Hagerstown,  petitioned  the  Synod  for  an  hon- 
orable dismissal  for  the  purpose  of  forming  the  German  Synod 
of  Maryland  and  the  South.  The  petition  was  granted.  The 
new  synod  was  launched  and  had  as  members,  besides  those  just 
named,  Pastors  Sickel,  St.  John's  (Biddle  Street),  Baltimore; 
Rev.  Beer,  St.  Jacobus,  Baltimore;  Dr.  A.  Schwartz,  Canton, 
Baltimore;  and  A.  Eisenhauer,  Zion,  Washington. 

The  program  was  to  gather  into  the  new  organization  all  Ger- 
man pastors  south  of  Philadelphia,  who  were  not  Missourians  or 
of  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  and  yet  were  not  satisfied  with  the 
confessional  indifference  of  the  Evangelical  Synod  of  North 
America,  which  was  then  invading  the  East  with  its  systematic 
efforts  to  capture  German  Lutheran  congregations.  The  new  lit- 
tle German  Synod  was  officially  admitted  into  the  General  Synod 
at  its  twenty-seventh  meeting  in  Baltimore,  May,  1875.  How- 
ever, at  the  next  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  two  years  later,  it 
had  already  disbanded. 

If  we  inquire  into  the  causes  for  its  failure,  we  might  name 
three.  The  first  of  these  was  the  refusal  of  the  most  influential 
German  pastors  in  the  Maryland  Synod  to  join  the  new  body. 
Pastors  F.  Ph.  Henninghausen  and  George  Grandau,  Baltimore; 
Gustave  Rietz  and  Dr.  S.  Finckel,  Washington;  Ernst  Ch.  Ide. 
Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  J.  J.  Young,  Accident,  Maryland,  pre- 
ferred to  remain  with  the  English  brethren.  Rev.  F.  Ph.  Hen- 
ninghausen was  then  the  editor  of  the  Kirchenfreund,  the  organ 
of  all  the  Germans  in  the  General  Synod,  which  paper  the  leaders 
of  the  new  Synod  seized  by  force,  but  soon  relinquished  when  the 
arm  of  the  law  threatened.  The  second  cause  of  failure  is  best 
expressed  by  the  old  saying :  ' '  United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall. ' ' 
But  the  chief  cause  was  the  aggression  of  the  Evangelical  Synod 
of  the  West,  which  seemed  to  put  forth  its  best  men  as  candidates 
for  the  German  Lutheran  Churches  in  Maryland  and  thus  cap- 
tured one  after  another  of  the  congregations  of  the  little  German 
body.  These  invaders  did  not  hesitate  to  employ  questionable 
methods.  If  a  congregation  was  bound  by  its  constitution  to  ad- 
mit only  Lutheran  pastors  as  candidates,  ways  were  found  to  cir- 
cumvent the  clause.  Instead  of  a  trial  sermon  at  the  regular 


SYNODICAL  RELATIONS.  171 

hour  of  worship,  an  address  or  lecture  on  a  Sunday  afternoon 
brought  the  Evangelical  candidate  before  the  people  with  his 
best  effort;  and  the  protests  of  the  oflicers  of  the  Lutheran 
synods  did  not  prevent  the  election. 

One  instance  is  related  where  a  congregation  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  after  the  retirement  of  the  old  pastor,  assembled  and  voted 
to  disband  donating  the  little  church  building  to  one  man.  Then 
they  proceeded  to  the  front  of  the  church  and  tarried  awhile,  and 
then  ree'ntered  the  church  and  organized  as  an  Evangelical  con- 
gregation, and  the  one  member  donated  the  church  building  to 
the  new  congregation,  and  a  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Synod 
was  on  the  field.  It  must  be  admitted  that  some  of  these  congre- 
gations had  never  officially  united  with  either  the  English  or  the 
German  Maryland  Synod.  Some  are  to  this  day  opposed  to  any 
synodical  connection,  leaving  their  pastor  free  to  join  any  synod 
he  prefers. 

But  these  churches  were  Lutheran  by  constitution  and  convic- 
tion, and  should  never  have  been  anything  else,  and  pastors  of 
the  Evangelical  Synod,  with  Lutheran  training  and  conviction 
should  have  felt  in  honor  bound,  if  called  to  these  churches,  to 
transfer  their  membership  from  the  Evangelical  Synod  of  North 
America  to  one  of  the  two  Synods  of  Maryland.  St.  Matthew's 
Church,  and  the  two  St.  John's  (Biddle  Street  and  Frederick 
Road),  Baltimore,  Christus  at  Locust  Point,  Concordia  at  Wash- 
ington and  the  German  churches  of  Annapolis  and  Frostburg 
and  some  others  ought  to  be  this  day  in  the  Maryland  Sj'nod. 

However,  the  blame  for  the  defection  of  these  churches  cannot 
entirely  be  placed  upon  the  German  brethren.  The  leading  Eng- 
lish pastors  of  the  Maryland  Synod  at  times  exhibited  a  lamenta- 
ble lack  of  understanding  and  appreciation  of  the  position  and 
problems  of  their  German  colleagues  and  their  congregations, 
and  failed  to  detect  the  un-Lutheran  character  of  the  Evangelical 
Synod  of  North  America.  For  years  the  Maryland  Synod  wel- 
comed at  each  meeting  a  delegate  from  the  Atlantic  district  of 
said  synod,  and  sent  one  of  its  German  pastors  to  that  body  as 
fraternal  delegate.  The  Evangelical  delegate  was  always  the 
same  person,  the  Rev.  Edward  Huber  of  St.  Matthew's,  Balti- 
more, individually  one  of  the  most  talented  and  congenial  men, 
though  by  birth  and  training  more  Reformed  than  Lutheran. 
His  representation  of  his  synod's  confessional  position  would  so 
captivate  the  English  brethren,  that  they  saw  no  great  difference 
between  the  two  general  bodies  and  seriously  suggested  that  va- 
cant German  congregations  of  the  Maryland  Synod  should  seek 
pastors  from  the  Evangelical  Synod,  a  thing  that  both  factions 


172  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

of  the  (ierimm  brethren,  the  loyalists  as  well  as  the  seceders,  con- 
sistently and  strenuously  opposed  as  disloyalty  to  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

This  attitude  of  the  English  brethren  might  in  a  measure  ex- 
plain the  sad  fact  that  the  members  of  the  short-lived  German 
Maryland  Synod,  after  the  collapse  of  their  organization,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  did  not  find  their  way  back  to  the  mother 
Synod  but  scattered  in  different  directions.  They  either  re- 
mained independent,  being  marked  "N.  S."  in  the  Lutheran 
Almanac,  or  went  to  the  Evangelical  Synod  which  they  had 
formerly  fought  so  bitterly,  and  some  sought  Episcopal  connec- 
tion and  even  aspired  to  have  one  of  their  number  ordained  a 
bishop.  Dr.  J.  G.  Morris  names  Pastors  A.  Eisenhauer  and 
We  issuer  her  as  the  leaders  in  this  latter  move. 

The  German  pastors  and  congregations  who  never  left  the 
Maryland  Synod  continued  to  do  the  Master's  work  faithfully, 
introducing  English  services  to  hold  their  young  people,  and 
bringing  their  people  gradually  into  a  better  understanding  of 
the  privileges  as  well  as  the  responsibilties  of  membership  with 
Synod.  Most  of  them  regularly  brought  lay  delegates  to  the 
meetings  of  Conferences  and  Synod.  The  English  brethren 
began  to  appreciate  the  Germans  more  and  more  and  showed  keen 
interest  in  their  process  of  Americanization  and  their  develop- 
ment in  all  lines  of  blessed  church  activity. 

In  the  great  church  questions  that  were  agitated  a  generation 
or  more  ago  the  German  pastors  and  their  delegates  evinced  a 
lively  iiiterest,  some  took  leading  parts  as  Dr.  E.  F.  Giese,  then 
at  Cumberland ;  Dr.  Homrighaus,  Zion,  Washington ;  Rev. 
George  Brandau,  St.  Matthew's,  Hagerstown;  and  Dr.  Hen- 
ninghausen  at  St.  Stephen's,  Baltimore.  The  latter  enjoys  the 
great  distinction  of  having  been  elected  president  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  at  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia,  in  1889  as  an  after- 
math to  the  glorious  celebration  of  his  Silver  Jubilee  in  the  pas- 
torate of  St.  Stephen's,  Baltimore;  and  never  was  the  Maryland 
Synod  presided  over  more  ably  and  gracefully  and  courteously, 
and  the  good  doctor  not  only  doubled  the  twenty -five  years  in  the 
same  pastorate,  but  brought  his  active  service  to  fifty-three  years 
and  is  still  the  pastor  emeritus  of  that  large  and  influential  con- 
gregation now  served  by  Rev.  Christian  Pieper. 

Other  long  pastorates  of  German  brethren  were  Rev.  Dr. 
Finckel,  Concordia,  Washington,  twenty-five  years;  Homrighaus, 
Zion,  Washington,  twenty;  Brandau,  twenty  years  at  St.  John's, 
Baltimore,  and  ten  at  St.  Matthew's,  Hagerstown.  This  last 
named'  congregation  showed  its  loyalty  to  the  Synod  when,  owing 


SYNODICAL  RELATIONS.  173 

to  death  and  departure  of  most  of  its  members,  it  decided  to  dis- 
band, and  divided  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  its  property  (over 
$3,000)  among  various  synodical  benevolences. 

In  conclusion  we  give  the  present  1919  roster  of  German  pas- 
tors of  the  Maryland  Synod:  Rev.  C.  F.  Bergner,  St.  Luke's, 
Cumberland ;  Dr.  P.  C.  Burgdorf ,  Jerusalem,  Baltimore ;  Rev. 
C.  M.  E}'ster,  United  Evangelical,  Baltimore;  Rev.  C.  Freuden- 
reich,  Cordova;  Dr.  F.  Ph.  Henninghausen,  pastor  emeritus,  and 
Rev.  Christian  Pieper,  active  pastor,  of  St.  Stephen's,  Baltimore; 
Rev.  K.  W.  Schmitt,  Salem,  Baltimore;  Rev.  J.  C.  Twele,  St. 
John's,  and  Rev.  Richard  Schmidt,  Zion,  Washington.  These 
might,  if  they  wanted  to,  make  quite  a  respectable  German  Con- 
ference or  Synod  of  Maryland,  but  they  know  better.  They  are 
thoroughly  at  home  writh  the  English  brethren,  doing  their  work 
increasingly  in  the  English  tongue,  some  of  them  assuming  an 
extra  sermon  for  Sunday  morning  to  satisfy  both  their  old  and 
their  young  members,  accepting  the  condition  of  decline  of  their 
specific  German  activity  with  the  philosophy  of  John  the  Bap- 
tist :  "He  must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease." 

As  the}'  become  more  efficient  in  the  use  of  the  English  lan- 
guage and  'modern  methods  in  Church  and  Sunday  school  work, 
while  they  remain  true  to  their  traditional  conservatism  and 
sound  Lutheranism,  and  withal  having  proved  themselves  loyal 
and  sincere  Americans  during  the  late  war,  they  are  striving  to 
merit  the  encomium  with  which  English  brethren  used  to  flatter 
the  German  delegates  at  General  Synod :  ' '  The  Germans  are  the 
salt  of  the  General  Svnod. ' ' 


"Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is 
for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity." — 
Psalm  133:  i. 


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HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


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12 


"The  Lord  gave  the  word;  great  was  the 
company  of  those  that  published  it." — Psalm 
68:  ii. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


CLERICAL   ROLL    FOR    THE    CENTENNIAL    YEAR    TO- 
GETHER WITH  ALL  THE  PASTORATES 
OF  EACH  MEMBER. 

The  present  clerical  roll  of  the  Synod  numbers  121.  The  list  of  former 
pastorates  of  each  member  of  the  Synod  is  intended  to  serve  as  a  sort  of 
index  to  his  past  ministerial  career. 


Name 

Ayers,  E.  A., 

Bare,  W.  F 


Entered 

Ministry                 Puxiorate  Y 

,  ..1912. ..  Muhlenberg,    Africa,    1912 


Barry,  F.  W., 


Baughman,  G.  W 1885.  . 


Beidleman,  H.  H.,   . 
Bell,  K.  K.,  n.I).,   .  . 


Berber,  ('.  F 1891 


Bikle,    P.    M.,    Ph.D., 
D.D.,   


Bloomhardt,      P.      F., 
Ph.D.,   


car 
—1917 

Steelton,  Pa.,   1895— 1897 

Dallastown,  Pa 1898—1902 

Conshohocken,  Pa 1902—1912 

Laymen's  Missionary  Moveireijt,  1912 — 1917 

Sparrow's  Point,  Md., 1917 — 

1907.  . .  Bellefonte,  Pa.,   1907—1912 

Penn's  Valley.  Pa 1912—1914 

Cumberland,  "St.  John  's,   19U— 1918 

Baltimore,  St.  Luke's 1918— 

.  Kverett,   Pa.,    1886 — 1893 

T'niontown,  Md.,   1893 — 1914 

Woodbine,  Md.,   1915—1919 

.  Frostburg,    Md.,    1915 — 

.  Bueyrus,    O.,    1879—1882 

Findlay,  O.,    1882—1884 

Cincinnati,  O 1884 — 1899 

Baltimore,  First 1899 — 

.  Upper  Sandnsky,  O.,    1891—1895 

Xashville,  Tenn'.,  1895—190 1 

Was-hington,  Zion 1904—1912 

Cumberland,  St.  Luke's,   1912—1920 


.1914 

.1878 


.1869.  .  .  X.  C.  College,    18fi9— 1870 

Lutherville  Seminary,    1870 — 1S73 

Pa.  College,  Gettysburg,   1871 — 


Botsford,  C1.  R.,    

Bowers,  G.  S.,  D.D.,  . 

Bowers,  J.  ('.,  D.D..     .  .1895.  . 


.1912.  ..  Lutherville,  St.  Paul's,    HH5— 1918 

Chaplain,  II.  S.  X 1918—1920 

1898.  .  .  Xortlnmiberland,  Pa., 1S9X — 19CO 

Berwick,  Pa., 190(i— 1915 

Secretary  Susquehanna  Univ.,    ..1915 — 1918 
Cumberland,  St.  John  's,    1918 — 

1882.  .  .  Graf  ton.  W.   Va.,    1884—1885 

Bloserville,  Pa 1885—1888 

York,  Pa.,  St.  Luke's 1888—1893 

Winchester,  Va 1902 — 1919 

Baltimore,  Incarnation 1919 — 

Washington.  St.  Mark's, 189(i— 1902 

Baltimore,  Calvary, 1902 — 1910 

Catonsville, ' 1910 — 

179 


180  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Entered 
Xamt'  Ministry  Pastorate  Tear 

Rover,  H.   D.,   1911.  .  .  Ambler,   Pa 1914 

Retired,  Washington,   1914 — 

Burgdorf,  P.  C.,  Ph.D.,  1905.  . .  Pittsburg,  Kansas 1905—1907 

Little  Falls,  X.  Y.,  1908—1912 

Gardenville,   Md 1912— 

Baltimore,  Brooklyn,    1917 — 

Butler.  C.  IT.,   1887. .  .  Frostburg,   Md.,    '. 1887. 

Washington,  Luther  Memorial,  .1889—1891 
Washington,  Keller  Memorial,  ..1891 — 1907 
Washington,  Luther  Memorial,  .1907—1909 
Washington,  Columbia  Heights,  .1910 — 

Byers.  J.  E 1898. .  .  Penbrook,  Pa 1898—1903 

Bloomsburg,   Pa.,    1903—1916 

Baltimore,  Grace,    191(5 — 

Cannaday,    1 1901 . .  .  Guntur,  India,   1902— 

Clare.  R.'  I).,  D.I) 1902.  .  .  York,  Pa.,  St.  Matthew's, 1903— 1911 

Johnstown,  Pa.,  First, 1911—1917 

Baltimore,  St.  Mark's 1917— 

Clarke.  G.  D.,   1908.  .  .  McClure,  Pa., 1908—1909 

Lititz,  Pa.,   1909—1917 

Georgetown,  IX  C.,   1918— 

Derr,  S.  J.,   1885. .  .  Hampstead,   Md.,    1886—190? 

Arcadia,   Md.,    1903—1911 

Berrysburg,  Pa.,   1913—1916 

Diehl.  W.  -K 1888.  .  .  Center  Co.,  Pa., 1889—1901 

Middleburg,  Pa 1901—1907 

Clearspring,  Md.,    1908 — 

Diffenderfer,    G.    M., 

D.D.,   1895.  . .  Xewport,  Pa 1895—1900 

Carlisle,  Pa.,  First, 1900—1914 

Secretary  Pastors'  Fund,   1914—1918 

Camp  Chaplain 1918—1919 

Washington,  Luther  Memorial,    .1919 — 

Dunbar,  W.  IT.,  D.D.,  .  .1873.  .  .  Easton,  St.  Peter's,   1874—1880 

Lebanon,  Pa.,  Zion 1880—1894 

Baltimore,  St.  Mark  's 1894 — 

Enders,  M.  L., 1902.  .  .  Catonsville,  Md 1902—1910 

Cumberland,  St.  Paul's 1910 — 

English,  J.  S.,    1898.  .  .  Saxton,  Pa.,   1898—1904 

Watsontown,  Pa 1904—1905 

Stoyestown,  Pa.,   1905 — 1919 

Williamsport,  Md.,   1919— 

Erdman,  If.  C 1902.  .  .  Freeport,  Pa.,    1902—1904 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Temple, 1904 — 1906 

Swissvale,  Pa., 1906—1915 

Burkittsville,  Md., 1915— 

Eyster.  C.  M., 1883 ...  Seven  Valley,  Pa 1884—1885 

Manchester/  Md.,    1885—1900 

Baltimore,  German  Evan.,    1900 — 

Fleck.  J.  G 1914.  .  .  Baltimore,  St.  John  's 1915— 

Floyd,  D.  B.,  D.D 1875.  .  .  TTniontown,  Md 1876—1882 

Boonsboro.   Md.,    1882—1885 

Xewville.  Pa 1885—1899 

Funkstown,  Md.. 1900—1904 

Georgetown,  T).  C 1905. 

SiisquehaniH   Fniversitv, 1905 — 

Folk,  E.  L 1884.  .  .  Botetourt  Co.,  Va * 1884—1885 

Addison,   Pa.,    1885—1889 


CLERICAL  ROLL  FOR  THE  CENTENNIAL  YEAR.  181 

Entered 

Name  Ministry  Pastorale  Tear 

Folk,  E.  L.,   1884'.  . .  Mt.  Jackson,  Va., 1890—1900 

Winston  Salem,  N.  C,, 1901—1902 

Mt.  Jackson,  Va., 1902—1906 

Middlebrook,  Va.,   1906—1911 

Harrisonburg,    Va.,    1911 — 1915 

Greensboro,  N.  C., 1916—1917 

Manor  Doubs,  Md., 1918— 

Francis,  J.  M.,  D.D.,  .  .1*91.  .  .  Louisville,  Ky.,   1891—1893 

Columbia  City,  Ind., 1893—1900 

Springfield,   111.,    1900—1908 

Sunbury,   Pa.,    1908 — 1916 

Waynesboro,  Pa.,    1 916— 

Frank,  IT.  M.,  Ph.D.,  . . 1895. .  .  Brooklyn,  N.  Y 1895—1908 

New  York,  N.  Y., 1908—1910 

Lauraville,   Md.,    1916—1918 

Cleveland,   O.,    1918— 

Freudenreic-h,  C.,    1887.  .  .  Chicago,  111.,    1887. 

Detroit,   Mich.,    1887 — 1892 

Grunock,  Pa., 1892—1896 

Erie,  Pa.,   1 896—1900 

Batesville,  Ind., 1900 — 1905 

Howells,  Neb.,   1905—1907 

Smyrna,  Ind.,    1907—1913 

Cordova,  Md., 1913— 

Gift,  F.  U.,  D.D., 1895.  .  .  Scranton,  Pa.,   1895—1899 

Williamsport,  Pa., 1899—1904 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Calvary, 1904—1910 

Baltimore,   Calvary,    1910 — 

Goedeke,  Harry,   1919 .  .  .  Guntur,  India,   1919— 

Gotwald,  W.  H.,  D.D., 

LL.D., 1867 .  .  .  Loeansville,  Pa.,   1868—1873 

Milton,  Pa.,    1873—1889 

Washington,  D.  C.,  St.  Mark's,  .1889—1896 

Graef,  J.  E 1915.  .  .  Guntur.  India, 1915— 

Grubb,  J.  E.,    1908.  ..  New  Kingston,  Pa.,   1908—1912 

Gloversville,  N.  Y., 1912—1916 

Baltimore,  Second,    1916 — 

Hafer,  L.  B.,    1896.  .  .  Fort  Washington,  Pa., 1897—1899 

Friesburg,  N.  J., 1899—1902 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Bethel,   1902—1911 

Taneytown,  Md.,  1911— 

Harms,  J.  E.,  D.D.,   .  .  .1908.  .  .  Mercersburg,  Pa.,   1908 — 1911 

York,  Pa.,  St.  Matthew's, 1911—1914 

Dayton,  O., 1914—1917 

Ha^erstown,  Md.,  St.  John's,  .  .  .1917— 

Hartman,  H.  H.,    1903.  .  .  Bridgeport.   Conn.,    1904 — 1908 

Newville,  Pa 1908—1910 

Baltimore,  Augsburg, 1910 — 

Hedges,  S.  A., 1867.  ..  New  Bloomfield.  Pa., 1869—1872 

York  Springs,  Pa.,   1872—1877 

Utica,  Md ' 1877—1883 

Newville,  Pa.,    1883—1886 

Jefferson,  Md., 1886 — 1900 

IJtica,  Md 1900—1912 

Pleasant  Hill,  Md., 1912— 

Heilman,  P.  A.,  D.D.,  ..1877. . .  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,   1880—1884 

Denver,   Colo.,    1884—1889 


HISTORY  OF  M  AKYI.A.M)  SYNOD. 


Kntered 

X  it  mi'  Minitttni 

Ileilman,  I'.  A.,   D.I).,.  .1877. 

llemiighausen,  F.  Ph., 

D.D.,    1861.. 


Bloomsburg,   Pa 

Baltimore,  St.  Paul  's, 


Year 

1SS9 — 1S96 

..1897— 


Hess,   ('.   W 1900. 

Hesse,    F 1894. 


Washington,  St.  John's 1S61  — 1861 

Baltimore,  St.  Stephens',    1864 — 

Brunswick,    Md.,    1902 — 

Xew  Oxford,  Pa 1894—1903 

Philadelphia,  Grace, 1903—1907 

Smithsburg,    Md.,    1907— 

Hetrick.   W.    H.,    1903.  .  .  Brooklyn,  X.  V.,   1904—1907 

Philadelphia,   Immanuel 1907 — 1911 

Westminster,  Grace,    911 — 1920 

Hiyhtman.   F.  A 1904.  .  .  Avonmore,  Pa.,    905—1908 

Baltimore,  Park   Heights 908—1909 

Baltimore,    Powellnaron 909 — 

lUnes,  C.  .1.,    1906.  .  .  Huiitington,   W.    Va 90S — 1910 

Burkittsville,    Md.,    1910— 19U 

Baltimore,  Emmanuel,   1914 — 

Hoffman,  J.   L.,    1901.  .  .  Tremont,    Pa.,    1902—1903 

Scrauton,  Pa.,    1903—1912 

Silver  Run,  Md.,   1912—1917 

Baltimore,    Reformation,    1917 — 

Howe,  J.  A 1912.  .  .  Strongstown,  I'a 1912—1914 

Sligo,   Pa.,    1914—1919 

Hampstead,  Md., 1919— 

H.uddle,.l.  T.,   !).!).,   .  .  189.3.  ..  Germantown,    Trinity,    1896—1904 

Washington,  St.   Paid  's,    1904 — 

Tbach,  W.  0 1896.  .  .  Lemoyne,   Pa 1898—1900 

Chicora,    Pa 1900—1901 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,    1901—1903 

Glasgow,   Pa 1903 

West  Sunbury,  Pa., 1903—1913 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  St.  .lames', 1913—1916 

Union   Bridge,   Md 1916— 

Ide.   K.    K.,   D.D.,    1890...   Kdgemont,  Md 1891—1892 

Baltimore,  Trinity 1S93 — 

Kerlin,  A.  A 1874.  .  .  Stone  Valley,  Pa!, 1874—1881 

Water  Street,  Pa 1S81  — 1894 

Glasgow,  Pa., 1894—1896 

Sharpsburg,    Md.,    1896 — 

Koser,  J.  G., 1904.  .  .  Kglon,  W.  Va., 190") — 1907 

Freeport,   Pa.,    1907 — 1911 

West  Carnegie,  Pa 1912—1914 

Leitersburg,  Md.,    1914— 

Kuldman,  Luther,  D.D.,  1881 .  .  .  .Tennerstown,  Pa 1882 — 1884 

Baltimore,  Second,    1884—1888 

Frederick,  Md 1888 — 1903 

Gettysburg  Seminary 1903—1916 

Foreign  Mission  Board, 1916 — 1919 

La u,  J.   B 1894.  .  .  Blain,  I'a.,    1894—1902 

Dallastown,   Pa.,    1902 — 1904 

Philadelphia,  Reformation 1904—1910 

Manchester,  Md., 1910 — 191/5 

Xew  York  City,  Good  Shepherd,  1916. 
Baltimore,  Atonement, 1917 — 1920 

Leatherman,  C1.   G 1902.  .  .  Lemoyne,  Pa 1903 — 1906 

Xew  Castle,  Pa.,  ioo<;_]9  ]  ] 


CLERICAL  ROLL  FOR  THK  CKXTKXXIAL  VKAR. 

Filtered 
Name  Mini.stni  Pastorate  Year 

I.eatherman,  ('.(!., 1902'. . .  Vandergrift,   Pa.,    1911—1916 

.Manchester,    Md.,    191(i— 

I.eildin,  P.  D., 1900.  .  .  Kllenville,  X.  V., 

Xew  River,  Va.,    

Herkimer,   X.    V.,    

Washington,  St.  John's,    

Manken,  H.,  Jr., 1902. .  .  Oneonta,  X.  Y., 1903— 190S 

Baltimore,  St.  Luke's 190S— 1918 

Washington,   Incarnation,    1918 — 

McCauley,  V 1898.  .  .  Guntur,  India,   1898— 

McDowell,  S.  J., 1891 .  .  .  Friesburg,  X.  J., 1892—1898 

Sbarpsburg,  Pa.,   1898—1900 

Miss.  Supt.,  Pitt.  Synod 1900—1902 

Home  Mission  Secretary, 1902 — 1915 

Baltimore,  Third ' 1915 — 

McLinn,  M.  E.,    1886.  ..  Union  Bridge,  Md.,    188(5—1890 

Lovettsville,  Va., 1890—189(1 

Bloomsburg,  Pa., 1896 — 1903 

Apollo,  Pa. 1903—1910 

Crafton,  Pa 1910—1919 

Woodbine,  Md 1919— 

Meyer,  F.  W., 1897. ..  Ravenswood,  Chicago,   111 1897—1903 

Xo.  111.  Syn.  Missionary, 1903—1904 

Williamsport,  Pa.,    .  . .' 1904—1908 

Baltimore,  Emmanuel, 1908 

Inner  Mission  Society, 1908—1918 

Lovettsville,   Va.,    .  .' 1919— 

Miller,  L.   F.,    1897. .  .  Piedmont,  W.  Va.,   1898—1904 

Baltimore,  Bethany 1906— 

Miller,  P.  H.,  D.  D.,  .  .1874.  .  .  Aurora,  W.  Va.,  .  .' 1874—1875 

Graf  ton,  W.  Va., 1875—1876 

Lovettsville,  Va 1876—1887 

Westminster,  Md., 18X7— 1911 

Lilly,   Pa.,    1911—1912 

Baltimore,  Concordia, 1912 — - 

Miller,  S.  J.,   1899..  .  Sparrow's  Point, 1900—1902 

Baltimore,  Our  Saviour,    1902— 

Miller,  V.,  D.D 1861.  .  .  Fayettsville,   Pa 1862—1871 

Clearspring,  Md.,    1877 

Leitersburg,  Md.,    1881—1914 

Minnick,  W.  G.,    1892.  .  .  Mount  Joy,  Pa.,    1893—1907 

Baltimore,'   Concordia,    1907 — 1909 

Cumberland,  St.  John's, 1910—1914 

Lauraville,   Md.,    1918— 

Moser,  J.  S.,   1878.  .  .  Mount  Jackson,  Va.,   1878 — 1883 

Selwood,  S.  C., 1884 

Madison  County,  Va.,    1885—1888 

Richmond,  Ya.,    1888—1891 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,   1892—1893 

Riverside,   Cal.,    1893—1896 

Mum  ford,    Carl,    1905.  .  .  Trenton,  X.  J.,    1906 — 1907 

Littlestown,  Pa.,   1907—191 0 

Mount  Union,  Pa 1910—1916 

Baltimore,   Messiah,    1916 — 

Xewcomer,  H.  D.,    1897.  ..  Allentown,  Pa.,   1898—1904 

Silver  Run,  1904—1905 

Baltimore,  Grace 1905 — 1916 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Entered 

Xanii  Minixtrit  I'aslnrate  Year 

Newcomer,  H.  D.,    1897.  .  .  Van  Wert,  Ohio 19 10— 1919 

Inner  Mission  Society, 1919 — 

Nicholas,  S.  T.,  D.I).,   .  1892. .  .  Pittsburgh,   Pa., 1893— 1905 

Middletown,    Pa.,    1905—1913 

Washington,  I).  ('.,  Keller 1913— 

Null,  A.  C., 1904.  .  .  Pikeland,  Pa 1905—1907 

Fairmont,  W.    Va 1907— 190S 

Jefferson,   Md.,    1908—1914 

Petersburg,  Pa 1914—1917 

Ellicott  City,  Md.,   1917— 

Ott,  J.  W.,  D.D., 1900.  .  .  (iraml  Rapids,  Mich., 1900—1907 

Hagerstown,  St.  Mark's,   1907— 

Patterson,  R.  S.,  D.I).,  .  1S91  .  .  .  Woodsboro,  Md 1892 — 1900 

Berlin,   Pa 1900—1907 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,   1907—1908 

Coatesville,   Pa.,    1908—191:? 

Charlotte,  X.  ('.,   1913—1917 

Woodsboro,  Md., 1917— 

Petrea,  R.  E 1913.  .  .  Wvtheville,  Va., 191:5—1919 

Tniontown,  Md.,    1919— 

Pieper,  C 1910.  ..  Aurora,  Jnd.,    1910—1912 

Cullman,  Ala.,   1912—1917 

Baltimore,  St.  Stephens' 1917 — 

Poffenberger,  R.  S.,  .  .  .  1904 .  .  .  Woodsboro,  Md.,   190.1 — 1917 

Quay,  P.  W 1916.  ..  Reisterstown,   Md 191 7— 

Reinewald,  C.,  D.D.,   .  .1887.  .  .  Braddock,  Pa., 1888—1892 

Emmitsburg,  Md.,  1892 — 

Remsberg,  W.  L., 1877.  ..  Princeton,    111.,    1877—1882 

Oregon,  TIL,   1882—1886 

South  Dixon,  111.,    1886—1888 

Beatrice,   Neb 1889—1894 

Omaha,  Neb., 1894— 1896 

Myersville,   Md.,    1896—1902 

Shanksville,  Pa.,    1902— 1903 

Santa  Barbara,  Cal., 1903—1908 

Funkstown,  Md.,   1908 — 

Rudisill,  M.   L.,    1904.  ..  New  Paris,  Pa 1906—1908 

Sabillasville,  Md 1908—1910 

(Jerrardstown,  W.  Va 1917— 

Rupley,  J.  B., 191.1.  .  .  Boonsboro,   Mil.,    1916—1918 

Washington,  I).  C.,  St.  Mark's,   .1918— 

Rupp,  V.  S.  (i.,  D.D.,  .  .1892.  .  .  Fort  Washington,  Pa., 1893—1896 

Baltimore,  Reformation,    1896 — 1910 

Frederick,  Md 1910— 

Salt/giver,  W.  E.,   1914. . .  Uniontown,  Md.,  1915—1918 

Fnllerton,   Md.,    1918— 

Seabrook,  W.  L 1889.  ..  Wichita,  Kan., 1889—1890 

Abilene,  Kan 1890 — 1895 

Winchester,  Va.,    1895—1902 

Newberry,  S.  C1.,   1902—1907 

Deer  Park  Road,  Md., 1907— 

Schmidt,   R.,    1889.  .  .  Hagerstown,  St.  Matthew's 1889—1892 

Baltimore,   Friedens,    1892 — 1898 

Beardstown,  TIL,   1898—1904 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.,   1904—1912 

Washington,  D.  f1.,  Zion, 1912 — 

Schmitt.  K.  W 1906.  ..  Home  Missionary, 1907 — 1916 

Baltimore,  Salems,    .  .  1916 — 


CLERICAL  ROLL  FOR  THE  CENTENNIAL  YEAR. 


185 


Entered 

Name  Ministry  Pustornte  Year 

Settlemeyer,  W.  H.,  .  .  .1869'.  .  .  North  Liberty,  Iowa, 1870—1873 

Wilmore,  Iowa,   1874—1878 

Jefferson,  Md.,    J  878— 1886 

Staunton,  Va.,   1886—1888 

Rockwood,  Pa., 3888—1893 

Friend's  Cove,  Pa.,    1893—1896 

Idaville,  Pa.,    1896—1899 

Shilke,  C.   A.,   1914.  .  .  Walkersville,  Md.,  1915— 

Siebe'-.  L.  L..  D.D.,   .  .  .  1S76.  .  .  Lavansville,  Pa.,   1876—1882 

Polo,  111.,    1882—1885 

Connellsville,  Pa.,   1885—1890 

Lewisburg,  Pa., 1890—1895 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,    1895—1918 

Baltimore,  Luther  Memorial,   ...1918 — 

Simon,  J.  S.,  D.D., 1889.  .  .  Urbana,  Ohio,    1889—1891 

New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,   1891—1893 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,   1893—1895 

Cleveland,   Ohio,    1895—1896 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,   1896—1902 

Hagerstown,  Trinity,   1902— 

Slaybaugh,  G.  W.,   1874.  .  .  Mount  Zion,  Ohio,  ." 1874 — 1877 

New  Kingston,  Pa.,   1877—1881 

Spangler,  W.  M.,   1876.  .  .  Jennerstown,  Pa.,   1876 — 1882 

Pleasant  Valley,    1882—1888 

Accident,  Md.,   1888—1891 

Glasgow,  Pa., 1891—1896 

Salona,  Pa.,   1896—1900 

Williamsburg,  Pa 1900—1903 

Beaver  Springs,  Pa.,   1903 — 1907 

Seven  Valleys,  Pa., 1907—1911 

New  Florence,  Pa.,   1911—1913 

Kimberton,   Pa.,    1913—1914 

Hampstead,   Md.,    1914—1919 

Stouffer,  S.  S.,   1869.  .  .  Luthersburg,  Pa 1871—1872 

Clarion  County,  Pa., 1872—1873 

Centerville,   Pa.,    1873—1876 

Bedford  County,  Pa., 1876—1880 

Piedmont,  W.  Va.,   1880—1882 

.Tenners,  Pa.,    1883 — 1887 

Donegal,   Pa.,    1887—1893 

Fayette  Countv,  Pa.,   1893—1902 

ITnionville.   Ontario,    1902—1906 

Hampstead,  Md., 1906 — 1908 

Accident,  Md., 1909—1910 

Steck,  C.  F.,  D.D., 1889 .  .  .  Muncie.  Ind.,   1889—1891 

Louisville,  Ky.,    1892 — 1898 

Springfield,  Ohio,    1899—1903 

Frederick,  Md.,   1903—1910 

Washington,  D.  C.,  Epiphany,   ..1910 — 

Teufel,  C.  M., 1905.  ..  East  Pittsburgh,  Pa 1907—1909 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 1909—1918 

Middletown,  Md 1918— 

Traver,  R.,   1892.  .  .  Westminster,  Salem, 1917—1920 

Turner,  ,T.  H.,  D.D.,   .  .1869.  .  .  Blacksburg,  Va 1872—1876 

Burkittsville.  Md 1876—1880 

Lutherville  Seminary,    1880 — 1908 

Twele,  J.  C.,  1897 ...  Harford  Co.,  Md., 

Baltimore,    Frieden's,    


180 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Entered 
\iuni'  Minixtri/  Putiloriiti'  Yt-ar 

Twele,  .1.  C.,    1*97  .  . .  Frostburg.   Kvangelical 

I5ra/.il,   ln<l 

IMytroutli,  Pa 

Jonesboro,  111., 

New  Memphis,   Iowa, 1910— 1917 

Washington,  I).  ('.,  St.  John's,  .  .1917— 

filler,  G.   I.,    1S97...  Oakland,   M.I 1X9X— 1902 

Sparrow's  Point,  Md 1901'— 1912 

Wilmington.   Del 1912—1915 

Jefferson,   Md 1915— 

f  mberger,  .T.   R 1MS9.  .  .  Oberlin,   Kansas 1XX9— 1891 

New   Cambria,   Kansas 1X91  — 1S9.'5 

Kfiingham,  Kansas, 1X93—1X95 

Ottawa,   Kansas 1S95— 1X93 

Harshman,  ().,   1X99—1900 

Leetonia,   () 1900—1902 

Osnaburg,  0 1902 — 190-") 

Williamsburg,  Pa 1905— 1911 

Walhalla,  S.  C 1911—1915 

Myersville,  St.  John  's 1915 — 

Wade,  J.  P 1X91 ...  Capon,   Va.,    1X90—1X95 

Floyd,  Va.,   1X95— 1X9X 

Davidson,  N.  ('., 1X9X— 1905 

Capon,   Va 1905 — 190X 

Kglon.  W.  Va 190X— 1912 

Doubs,  Md 1912—1917 

Wade,  W.   A 1904.  .  .  Piedmont,  W.   Va 1905—1909 

Lionville,   Pa 1909—1912 

Washington.  St.  Mark's, 1912—1918 

Baltimore,  Holy  Comforter,    ....191X — 

Wagner,  F.  R., 1900.  .  .  Frost  burg,    MYI.,    1901—1910 

Huntingdon,   Pa.,    1910—1920 

Martinsburg,  W.   Va 1920— 

Waltemyer,  W.  C 1910.  .  .Landisville,   Pa.,    1911  —  1913 

Butler,   Pa.,    19 13— 191(5 

Thurmont,  Md 1916— 

Waring,  L.  H.,  Ph.D.,  .1895.  .  .  Lovettsville,    Va.,    1X96—1899 

Scranton,  Pa 1X99 — 1902 

Georgetown,  I).  C., 1906 — 1916 

Weaver,  F.  II., 1875.  .  .  Grafton,  W.  Va 1876—1877 

r.  S.  A.  Chaplain,   1880—1X97 

Welier,  H.  II.,  D.D.,    .  .1884.  .  .  Baltimore.  Grace,    1X85—  1XX9 

Home  Mission  Secretary, 1XX9 — 

Weidley,  J..  I). IX,    1890.  ..  Pittsburgh.   Pa.,    1891  —  1906 

Washington,  Reformation, 1906 — 

Weiitz,  A.  R.,  Ph.D.,   .  .1906.  .  .  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  College, 1909—1916 

Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Seminary, 1916 — 

Wirkey,  N.  J.  G 1914.  . .  Georgetown,  1).  C ' 1916—1917 

Wiles,' C.  P.,  D.I).,  .  .  .  .1X95.  .  .  Rossville,  Pa 1890—1901 

Pittsburgh,   Pa 1901  — 1908 

Washington,   Keller,    1908 — 1913 

Kditor  S.  S.  Lit 1913— 

Will,  F.  I, 1912..  .  Wilmerding,    Pa.,    1913—1916 

Cleveland,   Ohio,    1910—1917 

Derry,  Pa.,  1917 — 1918 

Hoonsboro,   Md.,    ..1918 — 


CLERICAL  ROLL  FOR  THE  CENTENNIAL  YEAR.  187 

JSntcTtA 

Xante  Ministry  Pastorate  Year 

\Villi*,  J., 1876.  .  .  Mtrasburg,    \'a.,    1877—1882 

Staunton  Seminary,  \'a., 1882 — 1895 

Myersville,   Md.,   '. 1906— 

Wiseman,  D.  E.,  D.D.,  .1884.  .  .  Washington,  Redeemer,    1884— 

Wolf,  A.  G.,    188!) .  .  .  Aaronsburg,  Pa., 1890—1 899 

McConnellsburg,  Pa.,   1900—1906 

West  Fairview,  Pa., 190(5—1917 

Silver  Run,  Md.,   1917— 

Zimmerman,     L.     M., 

D.D.,   1886 ...  Baltimore,  Christ, 1 887— 


The  next  five  chapters  (XIII-XVII )  present  historical  sketches 
of  the  congregations  of  the  Synod.  These  sketches  are  grouped 
according  to  Conferences,  beginning  with  the  Eastern  Confer- 
ence, continuing  with  the  Middle  and  Western  Conferences,  and 
concluding  with  the  Mountain  Conference. 

The  Eastern  Conference,  because  of  its  size,  is  spread  over 
two  chapters,  one  embracing  the  churches  of  Baltimore  and  vicin- 
ity, including  all  of  Baltimore  County  except  Arcadia,  the  other 
embracing  the  churches  of  Washington  and  vicinity.  The  chapter 
on  the  Middle  Conference  embraces  the  churches  of  Carroll  and 
Frederick  Counties,  and  includes  Lovettsville,  Virginia.  The 
chapter  of  the  Western  Conference  sets  forth  the  churches  in 
Washington  County  and  also  includes  Waynesboro,  Martinsburg, 
and  Garrardstown.  The  chapter  on  the  Mountain  Conference 
embraces  the  churches  of  Cumberland  and  Frostburg. 

Within  the  separate  Conferences  the  congregations  and  charges 
are  arranged  in  alphabetical  order.  Where  more  than  one  church 
is  located  in  the  same  city,  as  in  Baltimore,  Washington,  Hagers- 
town,  and  Cumberland,  the  churches  appear  in  the  order  of  their 
age. 

A  means  of  ready  reference  to  individual  congregations  is 
found  in  the  indexes  at  the  end  of  the  volume. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


THE  FIRST  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  Ezra  K.  Bell,  D.D.,  Pastor 

The  early  Lutheran  Churches  in  Baltimore  City  were  German, 
and  all  services  for  a  period  of  nearly  100  years  were  conducted 
exclusively  in  the  German  language.  That  an  English  Church 
should  be  founded  to  meet  the  changing  conditions  was  most 
likely  the  opinion  of  Dr.  J.  D.  Kurtz,  pastor  of  Zion  German, 
then  a  Lutheran  Church  whose  members  were  instrumental  in 
organizing  the  First  English  Church.  Dr.  Kurtz  was  pastor  of 
Zion  Church  for  fifty  years — took  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  General 
Synod,  presided  at  the  preliminary  meeting,  and  was  the  second 
president  of  that  body.  While  he  could  not  openly  advocate  in 
that  day  the  use  of  the  English  language,  yet  he  undoubtedly 
gave  much  private  encouragement  to  the  new  enterprise.  When 
he  retired  from  the  pastorate  of  Zion,  he  became  a  communicant 
member  of  .the  First  Church. 

On  October  27,  1823,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  house  of  David 
Bixler,  on  Howard  Street,  when  the  matter  of  organizing  an 
English  Lutheran  Church  was  considered.  The  men  present  at 
that  meeting  were  David  Bixler,  John  Reese,  Thomas  Henning, 
Michael  Klinefelter,  George  Stonebraker,  Joshua  Medtaft,  Jacob 
Deems  and  Frederick  Seyler.  Subscriptions  were  taken  and  the 
Synod  was  informed  of  their  action.  A  letter  was  sent  to  the 
German  Lutheran  Church  soliciting  aid  in  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  public  preaching  serv- 
ices were  held  until  in  August,  1824,  when  the  Rev.  Charles 
Philip  Krauth,  of  Martinsburg,  at  their  urgent  request,  spent 

several  (^ays.with  them.    A  committee  was  appointed,  to  rent  a 

189 


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THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


191 


room  in  which  to  hold  religious  services  and  secure  a  lot  on  which 
to  erect  a  permanent  house  of  worship.  Following  this,  during 
a  period  of  about  seven  months  the  little  flock  enjoyed  the  pas- 
toral services  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Medtart. 

During  the  erection  of  a  church  building  which  was  dedicated 
on  May  28,  1826,  the  congregation  had  no  settled  pastor.  On 
December  17,  1826,  the  Rev.  John  G.  Morris,  then  a  student  at 
Gettysburg,  preached  his  first  sermon  and  became  pastor.  A 
Sunday  school  was  organized  and  within  a  few  years  the  church 
was  enlarged  to  accommodate  the  growing  congregation.  The 
following  were  present  at  the  first  communion  on  June  3,  1827: 
Andrew  Walter,  David  Bixler,  John  Reese,  Anthony  Groverman, 
Erasmus  Euler,  Frederick  Seller,  John  Brown,  Joseph  Clark, 
David  Martin,  William  Ross,  John  Schrimer,  Abel  D.  Chase,  T. 
Sederberg,  Jesse  Reifsnyder,  John  S.  Bridges,  Augustus  Hack, 
William  Hack,  Garrett  Altvater,  Magdalena  Bixler,  Elizabeth 
Wehrley,  Catharine  Uhler,  Ellen  Brown,  Catharine  Martin, 
Rochena  Utz,  Ann  Wampler,  Margaret  Bauer,  Rachel  Walte- 
myer,  Elizabeth  Bruner,  Mrs.  Moal,  Mrs.  Deems,  Elizabeth  Brien, 
Mary  Deems,  Mary  Bixler,  Ann  Simpson,  and  Isabella  Altvater. 

For  more  than  33  years  Dr.  Morris  ministered  to  the  congrega- 
tion. He  was  one  of  the  most  widely  known  and  influential  min- 
isters in  the  city.  Under  his  ministry  and  with  his  cooperation, 
a  mission  was  very  early  started  at  Canton,  a  colony  established 
the  Second  Church  on  Lombard  Street,  and  a  Sunday  school  was 
organized  on  Monument  Street,  out  of  which  the  Third  Church 
grew.  The  former  was  projected  in  January,  1841,  the  latter 
during  the  same  year.  The  General  Synod  was  entertained  by 
the  First  Church  twice  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Morris,  in 
May,  1841,  and  June,  1843. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Morris  in  1860,  two  candidates 
were  considered  for  his  successor.  One  was  the  amiable  and 
scholarly  Dr.  Theophilus  Stork,  and  the  other  the  "silver- 
tongued  orator,"  Dr.  John  McCron,  then  pastor  of  the  Third 
Church.  Many  meetings  were  held,  and  votes  were  cast  for  these 
two  candidates.  More  than  seventy  ballots  were  cast  without  an 
election.  The  advocates  of  Dr.  McCron  were  much  in  the  major- 
ity, but  were  not  quite  able  to  muster  the  two-thirds  vote  re- 
quired. Finally  it  was  moved  that  Dr.  McCron  be  engaged  to 
.supply  the  pulpit  indefinitely,  which  was  carried  by  a  majority 
vote. 


1!>2  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Dr.  McCron  accepted,  and  became  in  this  irregular  way  the 
pastor  of  the  church.  The  friends  of  Dr.  Stork  to  the  number  of 
96,  withdrew  and  organized  St.  Mark's  Church  and  Dr.  The- 
ophilus  Stork  became  pastor.  All  of  the  Sunday  school  officers 
and  teachers  with  one  exception  withdrew  under  the  Leadership 
of  the  superintendent.  Dr.  \V.  AV.  Kemp.  But  the  congregation 
soon  rallied  and  then  began  that  generous  rivalry  and  mutual 
emulation  that  made  for  the  development  and  strength  of  two  of 
the  largest  and  most  influential  congregations  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  this  country,  the  First  and  St.  Mark's. 

Located  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  the  First  Church,  under  Drs. 
Morris  and  McCron,  attained  a  position  of  prominence.  The 
classic  Colonial  Building  on  Lexington  Street  was  one  of  the  no- 
table structures  of  the  city.  Under  the  eloquent  preaching  of 
Dr.  McCron,  large  congregations  were  attracted  to  the  services. 
The  personnel  of  the  membership  included  many  of  the  best 
families  in  the  city. 

After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  twelve  years,  Dr.  McCron  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Barclay,  D.D.,  who  was  installed 
by  Dr.  Morris,  July  29,  1872.  During  his  first  year,  the  Book  of 
Worship  and  full  service  were  introduced.  Extensive  improve- 
ments were  undertaken  but  before  these  improvements  were  com- 
pleted the  entire  church  building  and  adjoining  parsonage  were 
completely  destroyed  by  fire.  The  church  records  contain  the 
following  brief  minute  of  the  calamity  which  befell  the  congrega- 
tion : 

"Baltimore,  July  25,  ]873 — A  disastrous  fire  broke  out  this 
day  at  about  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  in  an  establishment  in  the  rear  of 
the  First  Church,  Baltimore,  which  spread  with  great  rapidity, 
consuming  the  church  and  parsonage,  together  with  the  greater 
part  of  the  adjoining  property. 

"Our  holy  and  our  beautiful  house  where  our  fathers  praised 
Thee  is  burned  up  with  fire  and  all  our  pleasant  things  are  laid 
waste. ' ' — 0.  F.  Lantz. 

The  pastor's  sermon  at  the  first  service  held  after  the  fire  was 
preached  from  this  very  suggestive  and  appropriate  text. 

A  committee  was  immediately  appointed  to  select  a  lot  in  a 
more  residential  section  of  the  city.  This  committee  consisted  of 
L.  'A.  Coll,  E.  I).  Miller,  Samuel  Appold,  Jacob  Ehrman,  Charles 
R.  Colladay  and  Oliver  F.  Lantz.  Six  weeks  later  the  present 


Till:  CHURCHES  OF   BALTIMORE  AND   VICINITY.  193 

site   was  selected,   the   purchase   price    being   $112,000,   under  a 
ground  rent.     The  old  lot  was  sold  for  $20,500. 

It  is  regretted  by  many  that  the  old  site  in  the  center  of  the 
city  was  nQt  retained.  A  central  church,  within  easy  reach  of  the 
hotels  and  for  use  on  general  occasions  would  now  be  a  distinct 
gain  in  many  ways.  Perhaps  a  new  site  would  not  have  been 
chosen  had  it  not  been  that  St.  Mark's  was  then  located  on  Eutaw 
Street,  only  a  few  squares  away. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  Easter  Monday,  1874,  Dr.  Charles 
A.  Stork,  pastor  of  St.  Mark's,  delivering  the  address.  On  Janu- 
ary 3,  1875,  the  first  service  was  held  in  the  lecture  room  of  the 
new  church,  and  011  September  10,  the  edifice  was  dedicated,  the 
sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  C.  Wedekind,  of  New 
York.  The  money  expended  was  more  than  $100,000.  The 
church  building  is  of  beautiful  white  marble  and  the  audience 
and  Sunday  school  rooms  are  exceptional  in  their  proportions 
and  arrangement.  The  church  auditorium  in  its  graceful  Gothic 
architecture  with  its  well-nigh  perfect  acoustics  and  its  distinctly 
Lutheran  appointments  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive to  be  found  anywhere.  During  Dr.  Barclay 's  pastorate, 
on  October  4,  1875,  the  first  young  people's  society  was  organ- 
ized, and  in  May,  1880,  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  was  organized. 

Dr.  Barclay  resigned  December  10,  1881,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
M.  W.  Hamma,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  was  elected  pastor.  He 
was  installed  on  November  10,  1882,  Drs.  Morris,  Scholl,  and 
Clutz  officiating.  During  Dr.  Hamma 's  pastorate  a  number  of 
excellent  families  were  received  into  the  membership.  The  con- 
stitution was  revised  and  up-to-date  financial  methods  were  in- 
troduced, those  for  benevolence  being  especially  effective.  Mis- 
sionary interest  was  quickened,  while  a  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sion Band  was  organized. 

Failing  health  of  both  Dr.  Hamma  and  his  wife  led  to  his  res- 
ignation after  a  pastorate  of  four  years.  On  October  11,  1886, 
the  Rev.  A.  H.  Studebaker,  of  Harrisburg,  was  elected  pastor, 
and  he  was  installed  on  December  12.  Dr.  Studebaker 's  min- 
istry was  characterized  from  the  first  by  exceptional  publicity 
methods,  which  drew  unusually  large  congregations.  He  was 
undoubtedly,  in  that  day,  one  of  the  most  resourceful  church  ad- 
vertisers in  the  country.  Large  numbers  of  members  of  other 
churches  and  strangers  attended  his  services.  Under  his  direc- 
13 


FIRST  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 


THE  CHURCHKS  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  1'JO 

tion  the  chancel  of  the  church  was  remodeled  in  Lutheran  form, 
the  altar  put  in  place  and  the  lectern,  a  bronze  heroic  figure  of 
the  Angel  holding  the  everlasting  Gospel,  costing  $2,500,  added 
to  the  chancel  furnishings. 

Dr.  Studebaker's  resignation  took  effect  June  15,  1899.  July 
3,  the  Rev.  Ezra  K.  Bell,  D.D.,  supplied  the  pulpit,  and  on  July 
19  was  elected  pastor.  He  was  installed  November  5,  by  Drs. 
Albert  and  Freas. 

On  November  25,  1900,  the  seventh-fifth  anniversary  of  the 
church  was  celebrated,  the  pastor  preaching  in  the  morning  and 
Dr.  M.  W.  Hamma  in  the  evening.  Nearly  nine  thousand  dollars 
were  contributed  toward  the  cancellation  of  an  indebtedness  of 
$12,000.  Electric  lights  were  installed  in  October,  1901,  and  the 
lecture  and  Sunday  school  rooms  were  frescoed  and  refurnished. 
In  June,  1903,  the  congregation  with  the  cooperation  of  the  other 
Lutheran  Churches  entertained  the  General  Synod.  Clerical 
vestments  were  introduced  the  same  year  and  the  support  of  a 
foreign  pastor,  the  first  in  the  General  Synod,  was  undertaken. 

During  the  autumn  of  1907  new  art  glass  figure  windows,  rep- 
resenting events  in  the  life  of  Christ,  were  placed  in  the  vesti- 
bules and  auditorium,  a  mural  painting  placed  over  the  reredos, 
new  massive  hymn  tablets  erected  and  a  beautiful  facsimile  in 
marble,  made  in  Italy,  of  Thorwaldsen 's  angel  baptismal  font, 
presented  by  Dr.  Hamma,  was  placed  at  the  entrance  to  the  chan- 
cel. All  of  these  memorials  were  presented  by  members  of  the 
congregation  and  cost  in  the  aggregate  about  $15,000.  The 
church  was  greatly  beautified,  the  audience  room  being  without 
question,  and  so  pronounced  by  people  who  have  travelled  widely, 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  world. 

The  First  Church  has  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  planting  of 
new  congregations  in  the  city  and  vicinity.  It  has  aided  almost 
every  new  congregation  financially  and  given  many  new  mem- 
bers. A  large  number  of  new  members  were  added  during  the 
past  synodical  year  and  the  contributions  of  the  congregation 
amounted  to  nearly  $20,000. 


I'M; 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


THE  SECOND  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF 
BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Ifcv.  Joel  E.  Gnibb.  Pastor 

"Horn  in  a  revival"'  fitly  describes  the  beginning  of  the 
Second  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore 
During  the  wave  of  religious  feeling  and  thought  that  swept 
over  the  City  of  Baltimore  during  the  winter  of  1839- '40,  there 
\\as  sown  the  seed  that  quickly  sprang  up  and  bore  fruit  in  the 

establishment      of      the      Second 
Church. 

The  First  English  Lutheran 
Church,  then  fourteen  years  old, 
stood  on  Lexington  Street,  east  of 
Howard.  At  a  meeting  held  there 
on  April  6,  1840.  it  was  deter- 
mined to  establish  a  second  Lu- 
theran enterprise,  to  be  located  in 
a  southwesterly  direction  from  the 
mother  church.  On  December  18, 
1840,  the  following  church  council 
was  elected  to  serve  th.9  new 
church  for  one  year:  Elders. 
Thomas  Stow,  Joel  Wright,  John 
Mahaney  and  William  Bridges; 
Deacons,  James  Getty  and  Charles 
I).  Ilinks;  Trustees.  George 
Stonebraker,  Benjamin  Deford 
and  Peter  Mason. 

On  January  14.  1841.  a  constitution  was  adopted,  and  on 
the  twenty-eighth  of  the  same  month.  Mr.  William  Bridges  was 
elected  the  first  treasurer  of  the  church,  which  position  he  held 
continuously  until  1875. 

No  definite  location  for  the  church  had  yet  been  decided  upon, 
but  on  February  18.  1841.  the  present  site  was  leased.  Ground 
was  soon  broken,  and  in  May  following,  during  a  meeting  of  the 
General  Synod,  the  corner  stone  was  laid,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Baugher 
delivering  the  address.  It  was  not  until  September,  1842.  how- 
ever, that  the  main  audience  room  wras  ready  for  occupancy,  and 
h've  months  later  before  the  lecture  room  could  be  used. 

During  the  month  of  October,  1842.  the  Sunday  school  was 
organized  and  Mr.  James  Getty  elected  superintendent. 

As  is  usually  the  case  with  new  churches,  the  problem  of 
finances  was  a  troublesome  one.  Every  dollar  that  could  be 


KKV.  JOEL  E.  GRUBB. 


TI1K  CHUHCllKS  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


197 


raised  was  absorbed  in  the  cost  of  the  building,  and  but  little 
could  be  spared  to  pay  a  pastor.  A  temporary  arrangement  was 
made  in  August,  1842,  with  the  Rev.  Charles  I*.  Krauth — then 
fresh  from  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg — to  serve  the  church  at  a 
salary  of  $350  per  annum.  This  continued  for  nearly  a  year, 
until  June,  1843,  at  which  time,  according  to  the  records,  "pros- 
pects having  brightened  somewhat,  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth  was 
elected  permanent  pastor,  at  a  salary  of  $450  per  annum." 


SECOND   LUTHERAN   CHURCH,   BALTIMORE,   MD. 


From  this  time  forward  the  newly-established  church  seems 
to  have  prospered.  Although  it  was  a  struggle  for  a  while,  all 
obstacles  were  overcome  by  the  faithful  perseverance  of  the  little 
band  who  were  then  starting  out  on  the  road  which  we  of  to-day 
are  still  pursuing.  While  they  have  all  passed  on  to  the  Better 
Land,  we  are  continually  in  the  presence  of  that  nobler  part  of 


19S  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

them  which  can  never  die,  but  which  lives  on  because  it  has  be- 
come an  integral  part  of  the  work  to  which  they  gave  the  labor 
of  their  lives. 

Second  Church  has  in  its  list  of  pastors  some  of  the  greatest 
names  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.  Following  is  the  list: 
Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth.  D.I).,  LL.D..  1842-47;  Rev.  Charles  II.  Ewing. 
1848-52;  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Seiss,  D.D..  LL.D..  1852-58;  Rev. 
Charles  II.  Hersh.  1859-60;  Rev.  Joel  Schwartz.  D.I).,  1860-65; 
Rev.  Irving  Magee.  D.D.,  1866-68;  Rev.  Edmund  J.  Wolf,  D.D.. 
1868-70;  Rev.  George  Scholl,  D.I).,  1874-84;  Rev.  Luther  Kuhl- 
man.  D.D..  1885-88;  Rev.  Sylvanus  Stall,  D.D..  1888-91;  Rev. 
(Jcorge  W.  Miller.  D.D..  1891-1916,  and  Rev.  Joel  E.  Grubb 
from  1916  to  the  present  time. 

The  church  edih'ce  cost  originally  about  $11.000.  Over  $25,000 
was  spent,  however,  during  the  first  fifty  years  in  improvements 
and  repairs.  On  January  12.  1907,  fire  of  unknown  origin  com- 
pletely destroyed  the  building,  leaving  only  the  four  walls  stand- 
ing. The  council  at  once  addressed  itself  to  the  task  of  rebuild- 
ing. Over  $10,000  was  subscribed  in  a  short  while  by  the  con- 
gregation, which,  together  with  the  insurance  and  several  special 
contributions,  brought  the  amount  available  up  to  nearly  $30,000. 
With  this  the  whole  building  was  remodeled  and  beautified,  and 
needed  additions,  such  as  the  ladies'  parlor  and  the  gymnasium, 
were  made. 

Through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  George  W.  Watts,  of  Durham, 
North  Carolina,  a  former  member  of  the  church,  still  interested 
in  its  welfare,  we  were  enabled  in  May,  1917,  to  purchase  a 
parsonage,  located  at  818  Hollins  Street.  This  was  presented 
to  the  church  by  Mr.  Watts  as  a  memorial  to  his  mother  and 
father,  both  of  whom  were  lifelong  members  of  the  church. 

In  round  figures,  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  have  been 
spent  in  running  expenses  of  the  church,  while  probably  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars  have  been  contributed  to  benevolence  by  the 
church  and  its  various  organizations  during  the  seventy-five  years 
of  her  existence.  Seven  sons  have  been  sent  into  the  ministry, 
and  through  them  the  influence  of  the  Second  Church  has  been 
carried  to  the  four  points  of  the  compass.  These  are:  Rev. 
William  L.  Ileuser,  Newark,  Ohio;  Rev.  W.  Morgan  Cross, 
Greencastle,  Pa.;  Rev.  Augtist  Pohlman.  M.D..  D.D.,  Philadel- 
phia. Pa. ;  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Meyer,  Baltimore.  Md. ;  Rev.  Otto 
Bregen/er,  Bridgeton.  X.  J. ;  Rev.  Frederick  C.  Sternat,  Abbotts- 
town.  Pa.,  and  Rev.  William  E.  Wheeler,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

The  membership  at  organization  was  seventeen.  To-day  it 
numbers  about  five  hundred.  It  has  been  said  that  a  force,  once 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AX1)  VICINITY.  19!> 

brought  into  being,  never  ceases  to  exist.  Certainly  this  is  true 
of  the  work  of  this  church.  Through  so  many  channels  has  her 
influence  been  diffused,  that  should  we  raze  the  building  and  dis- 
band the  congregation,  the  force  brought  into  being  seventy-five 
years  ago  would  go  on  unceasingly  in  ever-widening  circles  from 
new  centers  of  influence.  To  follow  the  many  threads  of  use- 
fulness that  have  started  with  Lombard  Street  as  their  center, 
we  should  be  led  not  only  to  the  ends  of  the  continent,  but  beyond 
— even  across  the  trackless  ocean.  There,  like  sparks  that  have 
broken  from  a  central  fire,  which,  carried  in  every  direction,  have 
been  fanned  into  living  flames  themselves,  we  should  find  count- 
less activities,  all  of  which  owe  their  existence  in  part,  if  not 
entirely,  to  the  influence  of  our  beloved  church.  Truly,  this  work, 
started  amid  difficulties  and  trials  three-quarters  of  a  century 
ago,  can  never  die ;  it  will  go  on  and  on,  until  its  full  measure  is 
seen  and  known  in  the  boundless  realms  of  eternity. 


THE  THIRD  LUTHERAX  CHURCH  OF 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  S.  J.  McDowell,  D.D.,  Pastor 

The  Third  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore  grew 
out  of  a  Sunday  school  started  by  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church 
and  some  of  his  most  interested  parishioners.  Rev.  John  G. 
Morris,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  then  pastor,  shared  with  some  of  his  best 
members  the  feeling  that  the  section  of  the  city  east  of  Jones' 
Falls  known  as  "Old  Town"  should  have  a  Lutheran  church. 
' '  I  was  ambitious, ' '  said  the  Doctor,  in  an  address  to  the  congre- 
gation upon  the  occasion  of  its  fiftieth  anniversary,  "to  have  the 
name  and  influence  of  the  Lutheran  Church  extended,  and  cheer- 
fully parted  with  some  very  good  members  to  accomplish  this. ' ' 

The  school  was  started  some  time  during  the  year  1841  and 
with  thirty-six  persons  present  out  of  the  thirty-eight  who 
had  been  found  in  the  house-to-house  canvass,  and  who 
had  been  promised  for  the  school  should  one  be  opened.  "Al- 
most all  of  Old  Town  was  monopolized  by  the  Methodists," 
says  the  Doctor,  "and  some  faint-hearted  people  predicted 
our  failure."  The  school  was  started  in  a  private  house  on 
Hillen  Street  near  Monument  and  grew  very  encouragingly  from 
the  very  beginning.  No  records  seem  to  have  been  kept  of  the 
place  of  meeting,  the  month  of  the  year  when  organized,  or  any 
other  matters  of  interest  connected  with  the  opening  of  the 
school.  Not  even  Dr.  Morris  himself  could  recall  either  the  exact 


TIIK  CHURCHES  OF   BAl/miOKK  AM)   VICINITY. 


201 


liouse  in  which  the  school  first  met,  or  the  date  of  organ izing. 
when  these  were  sought  fifty  years  later. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  school  was  the  aged  Charles 
Hinks.  a  member  of  First  Church.  Pastor  Morris  speaks  of  him 
as  "an  active  and  intelligent  member  of  my  church  who  con- 
sented to  take  charge  of  the  infant  enterprise  until  some  other 
competent  leader  could  be  found."  A  few  months  later  Super- 
intendent Hinks,  because  of  infirmities  of  age,  retired  and  a 
young  man  by  the  name  of  William  A.  Wisong  succeeded  him. 
Superintendent  Wisong  was  a  man  of  unusual  religious  zeal  and 
very  resourceful  in  the  handling  of  children.  Under  his  man- 
agement the  school  eventually  grew  to  be  the  largest  Sunday 
school  in  the  entire  State  of  Maryland.  It  is  said  to  have  had 
an  enrollment  of  twelve  hun- 
dred when  at  the  height  of  its 
prosperity.  Mr.  Wisong  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  John  H. 
Leonhardt ;  he  in  turn  by  Mr. 
Henry  C.  Hines,  who  is  still 
treasurer  of  the  school,  and 
he  by  Mr.  J.  Fred  Bregel,  the 
present  incumbent. 

The  private-home  quarters 
was  soon  outgrown  and  the 
congregation  moved  into  a 
"school  house  on  or  near  Gay 
Street  below  Monument''  in 
1842.  "The  school,"  wrote 
the  Rev.  William  A.  Passa- 
vant,  D.D.,  its  first  pastor, 
"was  a  perpetual  inspira- 
tion." It  was  in  the  summer 
of  1842  that  the  lot  upon 
which  the  present  church  building  stands  was  leased,  and  the 
contract  was  let  for  "the  erection  of  a  neat  one-story  chapel." 
This  chapel,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  a  little  less  than  three 
hundred,  was  dedicated  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  late  in  August 
or  early  in  September,  1843;  and  the  school  was  immediately 
transferred  from  the  public  school  building  to  its  newly-provided 
chapel  home. 

The  actual  organizing  of  the  congregation  seems  to  have  taken 
place  at  a  meeting  "about  the  close  of  January;"  but  the  first 
record  of  members  received  is :  February  2,  1843.  Eleven  char- 
ter members, — three  men  and  eight  women,  composed  the  list. 


THIRD  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BAI/TIMCRE,   Mu. 


202  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

The  new  church  home  was  known  as  Luther  Chapel,  a  name  it 
retained  until  replaeed  by  the  present  briek  structure  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  \V.  Lilly,  D.I).,  when  the  name  was  changed 
to  that  whieh  the  congregation  still  bears. 

In  the  seventy-six  years  of  its  history  the  congregation  lias  had 
the  services  of  twelve  pastors.  The  following  table  shows  the 
order  in  whieh  these  served,  as  well  as  the  length  of  time.  Much 
of  real  and  special  interest  could  be  said  about  some  of  these 
earlier  pastorates,  or  about  the  unusually  long  one  so  recently 
closed,  but  allotted  space  will  not  permit.  It  is  in  the  self-sacri- 
ficing xeal.  the  wise  forbearance,  the  painstaking  devotion  of  some 
of  these  fathers  in  our  Xion  that  the  explanation  of  the  growth 
and  influence  of  the  congregation  is  to  be  found. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  William  A.  Passavant,   D.D. ..Was  pastor  from   Oct.,     1842,  Until   May.  1844 

Rev.  Bignal   Appleby Was   pastor   from   .June,    1844,  Until   June,  1845 

Rev.  James  A.   Brown,   I). I) Was  pastor   from   Jan.,     184(1,  Until   July,  1847 

Rev.  Peter  Anstadt.   D.I) ....Was   pastor  from  June,    1848,  Until   July,  1851 

Rev.  A.  W.  Lilly,  D.D Was   pastor  from   Oct.,     1851,  Until   May,  1855 

Rev.   John   MeCron.    D.I) Was  pastor   from  1855  Until  1859 

Rev.  Samuel  Spreeher,  Jr.,  D.D.,  ..Was   pastor   from   Oct..     1860,  Until  Oct.,  1862 

Rev.    Henry    Hishop Was  pastor  from   Nov.,    1863,  Until  July.  1866 

Rev.  John  G.  Morris,  D.I).,  LL.P..     .Was  pastor   from   Sept.,   1867,  Until   Nov.,  1873 

Rev.   Uriel   Graves Was  pastor  from   Mar.,    1874,  Until   July,  1876 

Rev.  I.  Calvert  Burke,  D.D Was  pastor   from   Feb.,     1877,  Until  July,  1915 

Rev.  S.  .1.  McDowell,  D.D Was  installed  Nov.  21,  1915. 

The  present  church  building  was  erected  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Lilly,  D.I).,  and  was  dedicated  in  1852.  It  was 
enlarged  fifteen  or  more  years  later  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Morris.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  I.  Calvert  Burke, 
D.D.,  it  was  thoroughly  remodeled  and  changes  made  to  the  main 
entrance  and  in  the  school  room  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $10,000.  Dur- 
ing the  present  pastorate  it  was  again  remodeled  at  a  cost  of 
$5.000. 

hi  the  summer  of  1885  the  congregation  emulated  the  example 
of  the  old  mother  congregation  and  sent  out  a  number  of  its  good 
members  to  help  organize  a  mission  in  southeast  Baltimore.  This 
mission  school  soon  grew  into  the  present  Grace  Church,  located 
at  Gough  Street  and  Broadway.  Five  years  later  the  east  Balti- 
more territory,  largely  cared  for  by  the  Third  Church,  was  still 
further  divided  by  the  formation  of  another  mission  to  be  known 
as  the  Church  of  the  Reformation,  which  eventually  located  at 
Lanvale  and  Caroline  Streets. 

Five  of  the  sons  of  the  congregation  have  entered  the  Lutheran 
ministry:  Rev.  Albert  O.  Mullen,  now  pastor  of  the  large  congre- 
gation at  Spring  Grove,  Pennsylvania;  Rev.  Philip  II.  R.  Mullen, 
his  brother,  pastor  of  the  vigorous  young  congregation  at  Swiss- 
vale.  Pennsylvania;  Rev.  Charles  J.  Ilines.  the  present  pastor  of 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  203 

the  fortunately-located  Emmanuel  Church  of  this  city ;  Rev.  AV. 
Claude  Waltemyer.  pastor  of  the  old  congregation  at  Thurmont. 
Maryland,  and  Rev.  Harry  Goedeke,  who  graduated  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  May.  1919.  was  ordained 
in  the  following  September,  and  sailed  in  November  under  ap- 
pointment as  a  missionary  to  our  Guntur  field  in  India. 

This  splendid  field  for  a  Lutheran  church  began  to  undergo 
some  very  marked  changes  about  the  year  1910,  and  it  became 
evident  that  the  Third  Church  was  destined  soon  to  be  known  as 
"one  of  our  down-town  churches."  Many  of  its  oldest  and  most 
faithful  families  began  to  seek  homes  in  the  ever-growing 
suburbs,  and  the  newcomers  in  the  immediate  community  were 
almost  invariably  families  of  foreign  birth,  largely  Jews  and 
Italians.  Then  the  colored  people  began  to  encroach  more  and 
more  upon  the  district  until  now  it  is  recognized  as  a  typical 
"down-town"  district.  However,  moving  out  of  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  church  did  not,  as  a  rule,  mean  leaving  the 
old  Third  Church,  and  her  communicant  membership  is  still  a 
little  beyond  the  six  hundred  mark,  and  the  life  of  the  congrega- 
tion is  still  unabated  and  decidedly  encouraging.  Thus  far  the 
idea  of  abandoning  its  present  church  home  has  not  even  been 
thought  of,  much  less  discussed  by  council  or  congregation.  The 
older  members  are  faithful  in  their  attendance  at  church  services, 
and  new  families  within  walking  distance  of  the  church  are  con- 
stantly being  found,  so  that  the  annual  accessions  are  still  in  ex- 
cess of  the  losses,  and  the  usefulness  of  the  Third  Church,  even 
in  her  present  location,  seems  to  stretch  on  into  the  future  for  a 
few  more  decades  at  least. 


ST.  STEPHEN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen,  D.D.,  Pastor  Emeritus 
Rev.  Christian  Pieper,  Pastor 

It  was  Rev.  Charles  A.  Meister,  who  in  the  fall  of  1849,  without 
any  aid  on  the  part  of  man.  gathered  a  number  of  German  resi- 
dents of  South  Baltimore  and  organized  them  into  an  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  congregation.  In  1850  their  first  house  of  wor- 
ship was  built  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Hanover  and  Hamburg 
Streets.  In  1851  the  congregation,  under  the  pastorship  of  Rev. 
A.  O.  Brickman,  was  incorporated  as  the  "German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  St.  Stephen 's  Congregation. ' '  The  congregation  formed 
then  already  a  part  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Mary- 


204 


HISTOHY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


land;  it  numbered  at  this  time  twenty-two  voting  members.  In 
18.~>2  both  a  Sunday  school  and  a  parochial  school  were  opened 
and  a  school  house  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  church. 

Rev.  J.  II.  Mengert  followed  as  pastor  in  1852.  Rev.  Brickmann 
having  resigned  to  the  general  regret  of  the  people.  The  school 
house  had  to  be  enlarged  during  1854,  but  Rev.  Mengert  felt 
compelled  to  resign  during  the  same  year,  the  congregation  not 
being  able  to  give  him  sufficient  support. 

Rev.  \V.  Hoppe,  who  had  recently  graduated  from  the  Theo 
logical  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  became  his  successor  and  re- 
mained until  October.  1861.  In  1854  the  first  organ  was  bought 
at  a  cost  of  $380;  a  second  new  organ  was  bought  in  1868,  cost- 


Ki;v.   K.  I'ir.  HEXXIGHAUSEX,  D.D. 


KKV.    CHRISTIAN    PIEPER. 


ing  $1.700.  and  a  third  organ  in  1894.  costing  $3,500.  The  pa- 
rochial school  flourished  until  1877,  when  German  being  intro- 
duced into  a  number  of  the  public  schools,  most  all  parochial 
schools  in  the  city  were  forced  to  close  for  want  of  scholars. 

Rev.  L.  F.  Zimmerman  became  pastor  of  St.  Stephen's  Church 
in  1861.  Congregation  and  school  flourished  for  a  while  to  such 
an  extent  that  enlargement  of  both  became  necessary.  Unfortu- 
nately, differences  soon  arose  between  pastor  and  people  which 
terminated  in  the  separation  and  the  organization  of  a  new  con- 
gregation in  the  neighborhood.  Both  are  flourishing  at  the  pres- 
ent day  and  are  on  the  best  of  terms. 

In  October,  18(i4,  Rev.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen,  D.D.,  took  charge. 
The  debt  then  resting  on  the  old  church  amounted  to  $2,660,  but 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AM>  VICINITY. 


was  soon  paid,  especially  by  the  aid  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  and 
Young  People's  Societies.  A  few  years  later  the  church  was 
renovated  at  an  expense  of  $2,300.  In  1884-85  the  present 
church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $40,000.  In  October,  1899. 
it  was  renovated  at  a  cost  of  about  $1.200,  and  was  renovated 
again  in  1911  at  a  cost  of  about  $4.000.  The  dedication  of  the 
present  church  took  place  October  4.  1885.  On  October  13.  1889. 
the  congregation  celebrated  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  their 
pastor  in  a  truly  grand  style. 

The  congregation  has  furnished  two  young  men  for  the  holy 
ministry,  viz:  Rev.  Herman  Kroh.  recently  deceased,  and  Rev. 
George  Beiswanger.  of  North  Manchester.  Indiana ;  and  a  third, 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Corbett, 
is  about  to  complete  his 
course  in  the  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg. 

In  1893,  the  pastor, 
realizing  the  need  of  the 
younger  members  and 
considering  the  future 
welfare  of  the  church, 
encouraged  the  intro- 
duction of  the  English 
language  in  some  of  the 
regular  services.  This 
move  met  with  strong 
opposition  on  the  part  of 
many  of  the  elders,  and 
even  some  of  their  chil- 
dren. Quite  a  number 
of  families,  very  much 
to  the  regret  of  pastor 
and  people,  withdrew  in 
consequence.  For  a  time 
the  English  service  was 
held  everv  other  Sundav 


ST.  STEPHEN  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 


evening,  but  since  1899 

every     evening     service 

has  been  held  in  the  English  language  and  now  perfect  harmony 

prevails. 

From  October  29  to  November  1,  1899,  the  congregation  cele- 
brated its  Golden  Jubilee,  and  from  October  2  to  4,  1914.  the 
congregation  celebrated  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  Dr.  Hennighausen. 

On  December  31,  1916,  after  having  served  St.  Stephen's  for 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

mure  than  fifty-two  years.  Dr.  Henuighausen  resigned.  He  was 
elected  pastor  emeritus  and  awarded  a  pension  for  faithful  serv- 
ice. 

A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Christian  Pieper,  B.D.,  on  March 
6.  1917.  Kev.  Pieper  assumed  charge  on  May  17  and  was  in- 
stalled on  October  3,  1!)17.  Dr.  Ilennighausen  participated  in  the 
installation  service  of  his  successor. 

Kev.  Christian  Pieper  came  from  Breklum  Seminary  in  1908 
and  graduated  from  Hamma  Divinitv  School  in  1910. 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CLLURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Ifci\  Robert  I).  Clare,  D.D.,  Pastor 

On  the  evening;  of  October  2-'},  1860,  a  portion  of  the  members 
of  the  First  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore  met  in  the 
lecture  room  of  the  Second  English  Lutheran  Church  and  or- 
gani/ed  themselves  into  a  new  English  Lutheran  congregation 
which  bore  the  name  St.  Mark's.  The  chairman  of  this  meeting 
was  Mr.  George  Slothower,  and  the  secretary,  Mr.  Win.  II.  James. 
The  Kev.  J.  G.  Butler,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  conducted  the  re- 
ligious exercises. 

A  formal  written  agreement,  constituting  the  basis  of  organi- 
x.ation,  was  signed  by  ninety-four  persons;  and  after  the  ad- 
journment of  the  meeting,  nineteen  others  added  their  names, 
thus  bringing  the  total  number  up  to  one  hundred  and  thirteen. 
Of  this  number  one  hundred  were  communing  members  of  the 
First  Church. 

Immediately  after  the  organi/ation.  the  following  provisional 
council  was  selected:  George  Slothower.  Dr.  William  M.  Kemp, 
A.  J.  Miller,  J.  T.  II.  Bringman.  J.  A.  H.  Becker  and  George  W. 
Leisenring.  This  council  was  instructed  to  invite  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Theophilus  Stork  to  become  pastor  of  the  new  congregation. 

During  the  last  week  in  October  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  building  on  Eutaw  Street,  above  Saratoga,  was  rented 
at  $'JO  per  month ;  and  an  arrangement  was  made  with  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  that  the  Sunday  morning  and  Wednesday 
evening  services  be  held  jointly  by  the  Lutherans  and  Presby- 
terians, the  ministers  of  the  two  congregations  officiating  alter- 
nately, the  Sunday  evening  service  to  be  exclusively  Lutheran, 
and  the  lecture  room  to  be  used  on  Sunday  afternoon  by  the 
Lutheran  Sunday  school.  Under  this  arrangement,  the  first 
religious  service  of  St.  Mark's  was  held  Sunday  evening,  No- 


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-08  1USTOKV  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

vember  4.  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  G.  Morris  preaching  an  appropriate 
sermon.  The  h'rst  Sunday  school  session  was  held  November  11, 
with  Dr.  William  M.  Kemp  as  superintendent.  November  26  a 
constitution  was  adopted  and  December  1  the  Rev.  Dr.  Theophi- 
lus  Stork  took  charge  as  pastor. 

In  securing  the  pastoral  services  of  Dr.  Stork,  the  new  con- 
gregation was  particularly  fortunate,  for  it  meant  the  assurance 
of  intelligent  spiritual  leadership  from  the  very  outstart.  Dr. 
Stork  was  generally  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  scholarly 
preachers  and  theologians  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  had 
previously  served  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Winchester,  Va. ;  St. 
Matthew's,  and  also  St.  Mark's,  in  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  election  to  St.  Mark's,  of  Baltimore,  he  was  the  ef- 
ficient president  of  Newberry  College,  at  Newberry,  S.  C. 

Immediately  after  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Stork,  steps  were  taken 
to  secure  a  permanent  church  building,  and  in  February,  1861. 
the  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Eutaw  Street,  was  purchased 
at  a  cost  of  $10,500.  Repairs,  involving  an  expenditure  of  $1,241 
were  at  once  made,  and  on  the  10th  of  March  the  congregation 
resumed  services  in  the  renovated  edifice. 

Harmony  of  spirit,  consecrated  zeal  and  an  intelligent  organi- 
xation  of  congregational  agencies  characterized  this  church  from 
its  very  beginning,  and  determined  to  a  large  extent  the  course 
of  its  entire  future  history.  The  first  additions  to  the  original 
membership  were  made  at  the  Easter  communion,  March  31. 
1861.  five  months  from  the  inception,  and  numbered  forty-five. 

Early  in  1862  it  was  found  desirable  to  secure  an  assistant 
for  Dr.  Stork,  whose  health  was  failing,  and  the  congregation 
unanimously  chose  for  this  position  the  pastor's  son,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  latter  preached 
his  first  sermon  on  the  third  Sunday  of  March,  1862,  and  was 
ordained  in  St.  Mark's  on  November  17  of  the  same  year. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork  had  received  his  scholastic  train- 
ing in  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Pennsylvania  College. 
Hartwick  Seminary,  William's  College  and  the  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  Upon  graduating  from  Andover  he  became 
professor  of  Greek  in  Newberry  College,  S  .C.,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  election  as  assistant  pastor  in  St.  Mark's  he  was  in  charge  of 
the  St.  James  Lutheran  Mission.  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  was  a 
man  of  rare  and  splendid  gifts,  and  during  his  years  with  St. 
Mark's  he  attained  to  a  position  of  marked  distinction  among  the 
Lutheran  preachers  of  America. 

On  May  25.  1865.  Dr.  Theophilus  Stork  felt  obliged,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  to  resign.  The  congregation  reluctantly  accepted  his 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  209 

resignation,  and  on  June  14  his  worthy  son  was  unanimously 
chosen  pastor.    The  latter  took  charge  July  1. 

Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork,  like  his  predecessor  and  successors  in  the 
pastoral  office  in  St.  Mark's,  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
larger  benevolent  operations  of  the  Church.  In  1867-68,  when 
the  Jubilee  of  the  Reformation  was  celebrated,  the  congregation 
made  a  special  benevolent  contribution  of  $2,431,  of  which 
amount  $1.200  was  given  to  establish  the  new  St.  Mark's  Church 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  Young  People's  Society,  organized  the 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MARYLAND. 

same  year,  later  assumed  the  permanent  support  of  a  native 
worker  in  India. 

On  August  21,  1868,  a  parsonage  at  76  N.  Paca  Street,  was  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  $7,000. 

In  1873  the  church  edifice  on  Eutaw  Street  was  thoroughly 
remodeled.  During  the  autumn  months  the  congregation  wor- 
shipped in  the  Masonic  Temple.  In  January,  1874,  the  lecture 
room  of  the  new  building  was  opened  for  service,  and  on  March 
8  the  renovated  church  was  rededicated.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
work,  with  a  new  organ  and  furnishings,  was  $21,000. 

In  the  summer  of  1881,  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork  was  elected  pro- 
fessor of  didactic  theology  and  chairman  of  the  faculty  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  After  due  deliberation,  he 
14 


210  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

accepted  this  position  and  resigned  the  pastorship  of  St.  Mark's, 
preaching  his  last  sermon  in  September,  1881. 

On  September  14,  1881,  the  congregation  elected  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Charles  S.  Albert,  of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  who  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office  November  5,  1881. 

Dr.  Albert  was  a  graduate  of  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  in  Philadelphia. 
He  entered  upon  his  ministry  as  assistant  pastor  of  Trinity  Lu- 
theran Church,  Lancaster.  Pa.,  and  at  the  time  of  his  call  to  St. 
Mark's  he  was  pastor  of  the  First  Lutheran  Church,  Carlisle,  Pa. 
The  new  pastor  was,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  a  fitting  suc- 
cessor to  Dr.  Stork.  His  charming  personality,  consecrated  spirit 
and  scholarly  ability  are  still  held  in  fond  remembrance  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

In  April.  1883,  the  old  parsonage,  76  X.  Paca  Street,  was  sold 
for  $4,750,  and  on  January  7,  1884,  a  new  parsonage  at  667 
Franklin  Street,  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  $6,500. 

On  December  17,  1883.  the  congregation  was  saddened  by  the 
report  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork,  in  Philadelphia. 
Memorial  services  were  held  on  Sunday,  December  30. 

In  September,  1887.  the  first  number  of  St.  Mark's  Quarterly 
was  issued.  This  publication,  which  has  continued  up  to  the 
present  time,  has  been  a  valued  and  important  factor  in  the 
church's  life. 

In  October,  1888,  the  Common  Service  was  introduced  in  the 
regular  congregational  worship.  On  November  26,  1888,  the  St. 
John's  Circle  of  the  King's  Daughters  was  organized,  and  in 
April  of  the  following  year  the  Whatsoever  Mission  Band  came 
into  being.  In  January,  1893.  the  congregation  adopted  the 
weekly  envelope  system  of  church  support. 

In  October,  1893,  Dr.  Albert,  having  accepted  an  urgent  call  to 
become  literary  editor  of  the  Lutheran  Publication  Society,  pre- 
sented his  resignation,  and  on  November  26  he  preached  his  last 
sermon  as  pastor.  During  Dr.  Albert's  pastorate  the  congrega- 
tion had  made  marked  advance  along  all  lines,  as  is  indicated  in 
part  by  the  following  summary:  Infant  baptisms,  309;  acces- 
sions, by  adult  baptism.  16;  by  confirmation.  428;  by  certificate, 
134;  by  restoration.  39;  total.  617.  Contributions:  for  local 
support.  $64,403;  for  benevolence,  $95,611  ;  total.  $160.014. 

On  February  28.  1894.  the  congregation  chose  the  Rev.  Dr. 
William  II.  Dunbar,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Zion  Lutheran 
Church.  Lebanon.  Pa.  Dr.  Dunbar  accepted  March  6.  preached 
his  first  sermon  May  6,  and  was  installed  June  7. 

Dr.  Dunbar  received  his  scholastic  training  in  Pennsylvania  Col- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  211 

lege  and  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  His 
first  charge  was  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  Church,  Easton,  Pa.  Early 
in  his  ministry  his  exceptional  ability  both  as  preacher  and  execu- 
tive was  generally  recognized  by  the  Church  at  large,  and  when 
he  came  to  this  new  field  of  labor,  he  brought  with  him  a  breadth 
of  vision  and  a  wealth  of  experience  which  were  clearly  reflected 
in  all  the  subsequent  years  of  his  long  and  fruitful  pastorate. 

In  September,  1894,  the  interests  of  the  young  people  were 
further  promoted  by  the  organization  of  the  Luther  League, 
which  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time. 

The  growth  of  the  congregation  and  changing  conditions  now 
rendered  it  desirable  to  secure  a  better  site  and  a  more  modern 
and  commodious  church  building.  Accordingly,  at  the  congrega- 
tional meeting,  held  on  November  20,  1895,  the  congregation 
voted  to  select  a  new  location.  The  present  site  on  the  corner  of 
St.  Paul  and  Twentieth  Streets  was  purchased  for  $18,000.  May 
26,  1896,  ground  was  broken ;  August  1,  the  corner  stone  was  laid 
and  on  November  6,  1898,  the  large  and  beautiful  church  edifice 
was  dedicated. 

The  total  cost  of  the  new  building,  which  combined  the  most 
modern  and  commodious  congregational,  Sunday  school  and 
parsonage  quarters,  was  approximately  $110,000.  At  the  end 
of  1898  there  remained  a  debt  of  $65,000,  which  was  gradually 
reduced,  year  after  year,  until,  in  November  6-13,  1910,  when 
the  church  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  organization, 
the  last  dollar  of  indebtedness  was  paid. 

Despite  the  peculiar  difficulties  which  usually  attend  a  change 
of  location  on  the  part  of  a  city  church,  St.  Mark's  continued 
to  develop  both  intensively  and  extensively,  and  under  the  wise 
leadership  of  Dr.  Dunbar  and  the  consecrated  men  and  women 
associated  with  him  the  work  was  one  of  ever-increasing  fruitful- 
ness. 

On  January  28,  1912,  the  former  pastor.  Dr.  Charles  S.  Albert, 
was  called  to  his  heavenly  reward,  and  on  Sunday,  February  11, 
the  congregation  held  an  impressive  memorial  service  in  his 
honor. 

In  1912  the  congregation  enthusiastically  assumed  the  support 
of  a  foreign  missionary  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Cannaday, 
of  the  India  field. 

On  September  7,  1917,  Dr.  Dunbar,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  felt  constrained  to  resign.  With  sad  reluctance,  the  con- 
gregation accepted  the  resignation,  but  as  an  evidence  of  its  loyal 
regard  and  grateful  esteem,  it  elected  him  as  Pastor  Emeritus, 
which  position  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 


212  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

The  following  summary  of  statistics  for  Dr.  Dunbar's  twenty- 
throe  years'  pastorate  speaks  for  itself:  Infant  baptisms,  285; 
accessions,  by  adult  baptism.  27;  by  confirmation,  598;  by  cer- 
tificate. 333 ;  by  restoration,  34;  total,  992.  Contributions:  for 
local  support,  $245,730;  for  benevolence,  $144,547. 

December  5,  1917,  the  congregation  elected  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robert 
I).  Clare,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  First  Lutheran  Church,  of 
Johnstown.  Pa.  The  new  pastor  assumed  charge  January  15, 
1918,  and  was  formally  installed  by  the  President  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod,  the  Rev.  Dr.  U.  S.  G.  Rupp.  on  February  3. 

Dr.  Clare  graduated  from  Pennsylvania  College  in  1900,  and 
from  (he  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1903.  During  the  first  eight 
years  of  his  ministry  he  served  as  pastor  of  the  St.  Matthew's 
Lutheran  Church,  York.  Pa.,  and  the  following  seven  years  were 
spent  in  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Lutheran  Church,  of  Johns- 
town, Pa.,  from  which  position  he  was  called  to  St.  Mark's. 

During  the  years  1917  and  1918  the  great  World  War  imposed 
many  exceptional  obligations  upon  the  Church,  and  St.  Mark's 
responded  nobly  and  generously  to  every  call.  Sixty-six  of  her 
young  men  and  women  entered  the  service  of  the  country,  one 
of  her  soldiers  sacrificing  his  life  on  the  field  of  battle.  In  Red 
Cross  work  and  other  lines  of  humanitarian  endeavor  the  con- 
gregation was  most  active.  Special  benevolent  contributions,  ag- 
gregating more  than  $6.000  were  made  to  national,  denomina- 
tional and  other  agencies. 

In  the  summer  of  1918  two  richly  beautiful  memorial  windows 
were  placed  in  the  north  side  of  the  church  auditorium:  one  by 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kiel,  in  memory  of  her  mother  and  her  daughter, 
and  one  by  Mrs.  AV.  W.  Davis,  in  memory  of  her  husband. 

On  Sunday,  May  11,  1919,  a  bronze  tablet  of  choicest  design, 
which  had  been  placed  on  the  west  wall  of  the  auditorium,  was 
dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  S.  Albert,  the 
address  of  the  occasion  being  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edwin 
Ileyl  Delk,  of  Philadelphia. 

Following  is  the  summary  of  statistics  for  the  two  years  of  the 
present  pastorate:  Infant  baptisms,  25;  accessions:  adult  bap- 
tisms, 4;  confirmations.  38;  certificate,  46;  restoration,  12; 
total.  100.  Contributions  for  local  expense.  $29,533;  for  benevo- 
lence. $19,583. 

In  this  brief  sketch  it  has  manifestly  been  impossible  to  make 
personal  mention  of  many  consecrated  and  efficient  workers  who 
have  constituted  the  very  bulwark  of  St.  Mark's  strength.  The 
congregation  has  never  been  without  men  and  women  of  spiritual 
wisdom  and  divinely-directed  energy;  and  to-day  it  comprises 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


213 


many  members  who  face  the  Church's  task  with  the  courage  born 
of  faith  and  the  full  assurance  that  the  future  is  just  as  bright 
as  the  promises  of  God. 


ST.  PAUL'S  ENGLISH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Rev.  P.  A.  Heilman,  D.D.,  Paslor 

It  is  just  fifty  years  since  the  first  steps  were  taken  to  organize 
a  church  in  Northwest  Baltimore.     At  that  time  both  the  First 
Church  and  St.   Mark's  were  down  town.     Many  of  our  sub- 
stantial  people   were   moving  to- 
ward Druid  Hill  Park  and  it  was 
thought  wise  to  establish  a  church 
iu    that    section.      An    available 
site  was  selected,  corner  of  Druid 
Hill    Avenue    and    McMechen 
Street,  and  bought  for  $12,500,  all 
of   which    was   borrowed   money, 
and  an  irredeemable  ground  rent 
was  created. 

A  Sunday  school  had  been  or- 
ganized. May  22,  1871,  which  met 
in  Russel's  Hall  on  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  but  no  church  organiza- 
tion was  effected  until  two  years 
later.  This  church  had  a  unique 
beginning.  A  lot  was  purchased, 
contract  for  building  let,  corner 
stone  laid,  and  building  erected 
before  a  pastor  was  called,  St.  Mark's  and  the  First  Church  be- 
coming responsible  for  the  new  enterprise. 

April  27,  1872,  the  contract  was  let  for  the  building  of  the 
church  for  $36,000,  not  including  the  windows  or  the  church 
furnishings.  Mr.  George  Sheets  was  the  contractor  and  builder. 

July  1,  1872,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  and  the  name  decided 
upon.  The  lecture  room  was  finished  and  the  first  service  was 
held  in  it  on  April  13.  1873.  The  same  month  the  congregation 
was  organized  with  thirty-four  members.  Rev.  Jacob  A.  Clutz, 
of  Newville,  Pa.,  was  chosen  pastor  and  began  his  work  Novem- 
ber 1,  1873. 

In  December  of  that  year  the  church  building  wras  completed, 


EEV.  P.  A.  HEILMAN,  D.D. 


-14  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  total  cost  belli?  $45,000.  It  was  dedicated  on  December  14, 
Rev.  Dr.  Conrad  officiating.  The  new  pastor  was  installed  the 
same  day. 

To  recount  the  trials  and  struggles  of  that  first  pastorate 
would  h'll  a  volume,  as  there  was  an  immense  debt  with  a 
little  tiwk.  almost  on  the  verge  of  despair  more  than  once.  But 
a  kind  Providence,  a  plucky  people,  a  brave  pastor,  and  a  host  of 
good  friends,  helped  them  to  triumph  over  their  great  difficulties. 
Prominent  among  these  must  be  mentioned  Mr.  Samuel  T.  Ap- 
pold.  of  the  First  Church,  who  loaned  the  new  church  $10.000. 
which  put  new  courage  into  their  hearts.  This  loan  was  repaid 
in  April.  1892.  Meanwhile  a  pipe  organ  was  installed  and  the 
church  building  frescoed  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 

In  October,  1888,  Rev.  Clutz  resigned,  having  been  appointed 
Secretary  of  the  Home  Mission  Hoard  of  the  General  Synod,  very 
much  to  the  regret  of  the  young  congregation.  But  it  was  the 
call  of  the  Church  and  it  was  theirs  to  submit.  Much  credit  must 
be  given  to  this  first  pastorate  of  nearly  ten  years.  The  great 
debt  had  been  largely  reduced,  and  the  congregation  strength- 
ened in  numbers  and  courage. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Felton  was  chosen  as  Dr.  Clutz 's  successor.  He 
became  pastor  November  1.  1888.  and  served  the  congregation 
faithfully  for  three  years  and  ten  months.  During  this  pas- 
torate 191  new  members  were  added  and  93  children  baptized. 
But  as  the  burden  became  too  heavy  he  resigned  September  1, 
1887,  and  was  called  to  take  up  a  new  mission  in  Canton,  one  of 
the  promising  suburbs  of  the  city. 

The  church  was  without  a  regular  pastor  for  four  and  a  half 
months,  when  Rev.  \V.  1*.  Evans  was  elected.  January  15,  1888. 
lie  was  a  very  acceptable  preacher  and  diligent  in  his  work. 
During  his  pastorate  143  members  were  added  to  the  church  and 
111  infants  baptized.  One  of  the  most  important  events  in  the 
history  of  the  church  occurred  during  this  pastorate.  The  ir- 
redeemable ground  rent  of  $12.500  became  available,  and  by  the 
energy  of  the  pastor  and  the  council  the  ground  rent  was  trans- 
formed into  a  mortgage.  This  made  it  possible  to  redeem  it  when 
the  congregation  should  see  fit.  March  13,  1892.  Rev.  Evans 
preached  his  last  sermon,  after  a  successful  pastorate  of  four 
years  and  two  months. 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Trowbridge  became  pastor  November  20.  1892. 
The  church  made  rapid  progress  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Trowbridge.  Eighty -two  names  were  added  to  the  church  roll 
and  forty-six  children  were  baptized.  But  failing  health  obliged 
him  to  resign  after  three  years  and  ten  months  of  service. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


21.") 


There  was  a  vacancy  of  seven  months  before  the  next  pastor 
Cook  charge.  During  most  of  this  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  Rev.  P.  A.  Ileilman,  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  called  to  be- 
come regular  pastor  May  1,  1897,  continuing  until  the  present. 
Dr.  Ileilman  came  as  a  seasoned  pastor,  having  been  in  the 
ministry  twenty  years,  graduating  from  Wittenberg  College  and 
Seminary  in  1877.  His  first  pastorate  was  in  Lock  Haven,  Pa., 
from  1880  to  1884,  when  he  was  appointed  missionary  at  Denver. 
Colo.  There  he  organized  St.  Paul's  congregation,  the  Woman's 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHKRAX  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Second  Mission,  and  built  the  church  and  parsonage.  Failing 
health  caused  him  to  give  up  the  work  here  after  five  years'  serv- 
ice. A  few  months '  rest  on  the  Pacific  Coast  brought  back  health 
again  and  returning  east  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  at  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa.  There  he  served  for  six  and  a  half  years,  when  he 
moved  to  Philadelphia.  It  was  while  residing  there  that  he  sup- 
plied St.  Paul's  pulpit  for  four  months. 


21  (J  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

During  tliis  pastorate  719  members  have  been  added  and  420 
children  bapti/ed.  The  mortgage  of  $12.500  has  been  paid,  the 
entire  church  repaired  twice  and  a  parsonage  bought,  costing  in 
all  $15,000.  The  full  apportionment  of  benevolence  has  been 
raised  each  year  and  often  exceeded.  In  addition,  the  church 
is  supporting  a  missionary  in  the  interior  of  Africa.  Rev.  J.  I) 
Curran. 

In  November,  1919.  the  property  on  the  corner  of  Druid  Hill 
Avenue  and  MeMechen  Street  was  sold  to  the  Trinity  Baptist 
Church  (colored)  and  St.  Paul's  congregation  joined  with  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  the  Atonement  to  build  up  a  new  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  Poplar  Grove  section  of  the  city.  Dr. 
Heilman  continues  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  new  St.  Paul's. 

From  this  church  have  gone  one  foreign  missionary.  Miss  Amy 
Sadtler.  now  Mrs.  Hev.  George  Albrecht,  for  a  number  of  years 
doing  a  noble  work  in  Rentachintala,  India,  four  ministers,  Rev. 
II.  II.  Weber.  D.D..  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
and  Church  Extension;  Rev.  II.  II.  Hartman,  the  successful 
pastor  of  Augsburg  Church,  Baltimore;  W.  II.  Nicoll  f  nd  Rut- 
lege  Ila/eltine. 

Some  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  city  and  state  have 
been  members  of  St.  Paul's.  lion.  John  Ilubner,  former  state 
senator,  and  his  wife,  were  charter  members  and  active  for  many 
years.  lion.  S.  I).  Schmucker.  chief  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  and  his  wife,  were  also  charter  members  and  active  till 
the  time  of  their  death.  Mr.  George  C.  Irelan,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War.  together  with  his  wife,  were  active  in  the  church  until 
his  translation  in  1904.  Mr.  W.  L.  Stork  of  blessed  memory  was 
superintendent  of  St.  Paul's  Sunday  school  for  twenty-five  years 
until  his  removal  to  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Sadtler  and  family  were  members  of  St.  Paul's  for 
several  years,  also  Miss  Kate  Sadtler,  missionary  to  Rentachin- 
tala. Dr.  Charles  Sadtler,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the 
city,  has  been  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  almost  from  the  beginning 
and  is  still  active. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF   BALTIMORE  AND  VICIXITY. 


217 


GRACE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  Ml). 

Rev.  John  Edward  Rijers,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Grace  Church  was  the  direct  outcome  of  a  splendid  work  that 
was  nobly  conceived  and  carried  forward  by  the  saintly  Richard 
Armiger.  Associated  with  him  were  a  large  number  of  men 
who  composed  his  Bible  class  in  the  Third  English  Lutheran 
Church.  Convinced  that  there  ought  to  be  an  English  Lutheran 
Church  in  Southeast  Baltimore, 
they  conferred  with  the  Home 
Mission  Board  and  made  a  can- 
vass of  the  section  in  the  midst  of 
which  the  church  now  stands. 
The  field  proved  a  fertile  one  and 
immediate  steps  were  taken  to 
form  an  organization  and  go  for- 
ward with  the  work. 

The  Rev.  H.  H.  Weber,  D.D., 
then  a  student  in  our  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  was 
called  as  the  first  and  only  mis- 
sionary. The  ' '  only ' '  one  because 
the  growth  under  his  earnest  ef- 
fort was  so  rapid  that  it  was  but 
a  short  while  until  the  congrega- 
tion assumed  all  responsibility 
and  became  self-supporting.  He 
began  his  work  on  July  1,  1885.  About  sixty  persons  attended 
the  first  service  on  July  12,  and  two  months  later,  on  September 
13,  1885,  Grace  English  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  with 
forty-one  charter  members.  On  November  1,  at  the  first  com- 
munion service,  thirty  persons  more  joined  them.  Rev.  Weber, 
with  his  geniality  and  tact,  proved  just  the  best  possible  pastor 
and  leader.  Within  a  year  he  gathered  and  organized  a  thriving 
and  enthusiastic  congregation. 

The  first  services  of  the  congregation  were  held  in  Powhatan 
Hall,  at  best  not  a  very  suitable  place,  and  soon  too  small  to  ac- 
commodate the  growing  needs  of  the  mission.  At  the  first  annual 
meeting  a  strong  cry  was  raised  for  a  suitable  church  edifice.  A 
few  months  later  the  Broadway  Presbyterian  congregation  put 
on  the  market  its  splendid  church  building.  Negotiations  re- 
sulted in  a  purchase  by  Grace  Church,  with  possession  given  on 


REV.  JOHN  EDWARD  BYERS,  D.D. 


218 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAN'O  SYNOD. 


March  1,  1SS7.  The  first  services  in  the  newly  acquired  church 
were  held  on  March  (i,  1887.  It  was  a  day  of  gladness  and  re- 
joicing. On  Easter  Sunday  of  this  same  spring  ninety-two  more 
persons  were  added  to  the  membership.  A  year  later,  May  13, 
1888,  the  church  became  self-supporting. 

The  next  outstanding  fact  in  (irace  Church's  history  is  the 
resignation  of  its  first  pastor,  who  was  called  to  become  the  Gen- 
eral Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension.  This  call  came 
as  a  great  shock  to  the  congregation.  They  were  not  ready  to 
let  him  go.  Upon  his  urgent  request,  however,  they  reluctantly 
agreed  to  do  it.  This  first  pastorate  ended  on  August  26,  1889. 

A  most  worthy  successor  was  found  in  the  Rev.  O.  C.  Roth,  who 
accepted  a  unanimous  call  and  became  the  pastor  on  November  1, 

1889.  He  soon  won  not 
only  the  esteem  but  the 
affection  of  a  devoted 
people,  and  for  ten 
years  worked  happily 
with  them,  largely  in- 
creasing the  member- 
ship and  advancing  the 
work  greatly  along  all 
lines.  A  few  items  of 
interest  that  marked 
his  pastorate  are :  The 
purchase  and  installa- 
tion of  a  pipe  organ ; 
the  payment  of  a  three- 
thousand-dollar  mort- 
gage; repainting  and 
refrescoing  the  church ; 
the  death  of  Richard 
Armiger;  the  purchase 
of  additional  property 
and  the  building  of 
suitable  Sunday  school 
rooms;  the  convening  of  the  Maryland  Synod  in  the  church;  the 
purchase  of  a  parsonage  at  2114  E.  Baltimore  Street.  On  the 
whole,  this  pastorate  was  very  successful,  pastor  and  people  work- 
ing together  harmoniously  and  accomplishing  large  things.  Dr. 
Roth  resigned  on  April  12,  1899,  to  accept  a  call  to  the  First 
English  Lutheran  Church  of  Altoona,  Pa. 

Again  a  most  worthy  successor  was  found  and  at  the  same 
meeting  when  Pastor  Roth's  resignation  was  accepted,  a  unani- 


MR.  RICHARD  ARMICJER. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


219 


mous  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Freas,  D.I).,  of  York, 
Pa.,  who  began  his  work  on  July  1,  189!).  The  service  of  a  parish 
deaconess,  Sister  Christina  Gleichert,  for  about  four  years  great- 
ly helped  the  pastor  in  the  heavy  work  that  he  found  to  do. 
Again  additional  property  was  bought  and  remodelled  for  Sun- 
day school  use,  costing  in  all  about  $5,000.  Dr.  Freas  was  a 
splendid  organizer,  churchly  in  tastes  and  a  preacher  of  noted 
ability.  His  touch  and  influence  upon  the  church  and  his  edu- 
cation of  the  people  for  a  period  of  six  years  were  highly  bene- 
ficial and  helpful  in  the  development  of  this  now  prominent  and 
strong  congregation.  His  res- 
ignation was  regretfully  ac- 
cepted and  his  work  ended  on 
May  1,  1905. 

On  the  same  day  that  Dr. 
Freas'  pastorate  ended  that  of 
his  successor,  the  Rev.  H.  D. 
Newcomer,  began.  For  eleven 
years  he  was  an  aggressive 
leader  and  a  faithful  pastor  of 
the  congregation.  Noted  im- 
provements to  the  church 
building  characterized  these 
years.  A  steam  heating  plant 
and  electric  lighting  were  in- 
stalled. Then  after  a  rather 
destructive  fire  came  a  general 
renovation  and  beautifying  of 
the  whole  church  interior.  The 
choir  gallery,  the  chancel  and 
its  furnishing  were  changed  and  renewed  along  churchly  lines, 
cathedral  glass  windows  were  placed.  All  this  was  followed  by 
extended  outside  improvements  and  the  paying  off  of  all  indebt- 
edness. 

The  benevolent  spirit  of  Grace  Church  is  well  known.  That 
spirit  was  finely  cultivated  by  Pastor  Newcomer  with  the  help 
of  a  number  of  active,  large-hearted,  liberal  laymen,  particular 
mention  in  this  regard  to  be  made  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Kakel,  who  is  so 
widely  known  as  one  of  the  leading  laymen  of  our  Lutheran 
Church  in  Baltimore,  and  as  being  prominently  identified  with  a 
number  of  the  General  Boards  of  the  Church.  As  a  result  of 
proper  directing  right  from  the  beginning  and  of  careful  train- 
ing throughout,  Grace  Church  has  made  for  herself  a  most  en- 
viable reputation.  She  has  always  paid  all  synodical  dues  and 


MR.  FREDERICK  \V.  KAKEL, 
Baltimore,  Md. 


220  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

her  full  apportionment.  In  recent  years  she  has  almost  forgot- 
ten apportionment,  paying  two  and  three  times  over  the  amount 
apportioned  by  Synod. 

Having  received  a  call  to  Van  \Vert,  Ohio,  Rev.  Newcomer  re- 
signed as  pastor  of  Grace  Church  and  accepted  the  call  to  Van 
\Yert  in  the  fall  of  191b',  his  pastorate  ending  October  1. 

It  seems  as  though  some  kindly  providence  has  been  working  in 
Grace  Church  history.  The  present  relation  of  pastor  and  peo- 
ple is  perfectly  pleasant  and  the  work  continues  to  prosper  beau- 
tifully. The  pastor  since  December  1,  !!)!(>,  is  the  writer,  Rev. 
.John  Edward  Byers.  He  accepted  a  unanimous  call  extended 
by  the  congregation  in  October  of  that  year.  His  pastorate  to 
date  is  comparatively  short,  but  it  has  been  richly  blessed  and 
has  promise  of  continued  success.  By  reason  of  changing  city 
conditions  the  work  of  Grace  Church  has  become  exceedingly 
difficult.  Most  of  her  members  live  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  church.  They  rejoice  in  their  loyalty  and  devotion,  however, 
and  are  proud  of  their  good  works.  Their  liberality  during  the 
past  three  years  has  been  almost  ama/ing.  All  appeals  were 
heard  and  responded  to  in  a  large  and  generous  way,  and  the 
work  in  all  departments  is  marked  by  earnestness  and  vigor. 

Because  of  the  undesirable  location  of  the  parsonage,  due  to 
changed  conditions,  the  congregation  purchased  in  February, 
1919,  the  present  house  on  the  corner  of  Twenty-ninth  Street  and 
G  nil  ford  Avenue,  for  the  use  of  the  pastor.  The  old  parsonage 
was  sold.  The  new  one  is  a  fine  and  splendidly  equipped  as  well 
as  a  commodious  building. 

Grace  Church,  in  her  life  of  thirty  years,  boasts  of  six  worthy 
sons  who  have  entered  the  ministry.  This  splendid  record  of  one 
for  every  five  years  can  hardly  be  excelled.  These  men  are: 
Rev.  George  Beiswanger,  Rev.  George  E.  Hipsley,  Rev.  William 
Freas,  Rev.  Henry  Manken,  Rev.  H.  L.  Gerstmyer,  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam C.  Day.  In  addition  to  these  is  Mr.  Harman  Miller,  now  a 
student  in  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  And  there  might  be 
added  Mrs.  Harry  Goedeke  (Martha  Hoener  Goedeke),  an  active 
Sunday  school  and  missionary  worker  in  her  own  church  and  in 
the  State,  who  sailed  in  November,  1919,  to  be  a  missionary  in 
India,  and  Mr.  Carl  Distler,  one  of  the  most  able  and  useful 
young  laymen  in  Baltimore,  who  is  constantly  being  sought  as  a 
teacher  and  lecturer  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  other  young  people's 
work,  as  well  as  a  pulpit  supply  in  the  various  Lutheran 
Churches  of  the  citv. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  221 

CHRIST  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  L.  M.  Zimmerman,  D.D.,  Pastor 

Christ  English  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  was 
organized  in  Triumph  Hall  on  Sunday,  February  5,  1888,  by  the 
Rev.  L.  M.  Zimmerman,  D.D.  The  first  service  was  held  in  the 
same  hall  on  Sunday,  December  18,  1887.  On  July  1,  1888,  at  a 
congregational  meeting,  it  was  decided  to  purchase  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  on  Hill  Street  near  Charles  Street.  On 
August  12,  1888,  the  first  service  was  held  in  the  church.  On 
November  29,  at  a  congregational  meeting,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  to  declare  themselves  self-sustaining  on  December  1,  1888, 
or  in  one  year  from  the  day  the  missionary,  the  Rev.  L.  M.  Zim- 
merman, D.D.,  came  to  Baltimore.  On  December  2  the  pastor 
was  installed.  During  the  first  year  the  pastor  made  3,400  pas- 
toral visits.  On  January  31,  1892,  the  church  declared  its  free- 
dom from  all  indebtedness.  During  the  summer  of  1894  the 
church  was  entirely  renovated  at  a  cost  of  eleven  thousand  dol- 
lars. Three  thousand  dollars  of  this  was  secured  by  the  pastor 
independent  of  the  regular  subscriptions,  one-third  of  which  was 
a  gift  of  his  own  to  the  church.  The  new  church  was  dedicated 
October  14,  1895,  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Wolf,  D.D.  In  December,  1899, 
before  the  twelfth  anniversary,  all  indebtedness  was  paid. 

Since  that  time  the  congregation  has  gained  steadily  in  mem- 
bers and  influence.  It  has  had  few  organizations,  the  pastor 
feeling  that  the  church  and  Sunday  school  are  of  such  importance 
that  the  entire  membership  should  cooperate  fully  and  steadily 
in  the  work  of  training  the  young,  the  development  of  Christian 
graces  in  the  church  members,  and  in  bringing  into  the  church 
those  who  are  without  the  fold. 

As  a  result  of  this  method  and  purpose,  the  Sunday  school  is 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  city,  and  the  congregation  at  the  reg- 
ular services  are  unusually  large,  and  have  been  so  for  years. 
During  the  past  year,  at  many  of  the  services,  people  have  been 
compelled  to  stand  for  lack  of  room.  A  Parish  Deaconess  Society 
of  seven  women  has  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  the  ministry 
of  service  among  the  needy  and  distressed.  A  men's  meeting  is 
held  in  January,  May  and  October,  which  most  of  the  men  at- 
tend. The  ladies  of  the  congregation  are  banded  together  in  an 
aid  society  in  which  they  all  unite  for  the  interest  of  worthy 
causes  through  the  channel  of  the  church  proper.  There  are  no 
other  organizations. 

The  finances  of  the  church  are  conducted  simply  but  efficiently. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  223 

The  principle  is  followed  that  there  shall  be  but  one  financial 
head  to  the  church,  through  whose  hands  the  revenue  of  the 
church  should  pass,  and  that  every  member  of  the  church  should 
give  to  all  the  various  objects  of  benevolence  as  well  as  to  the 
support  of  the  church.  The  pastor  says:  "The  one  deep  wrell 
idea  has  been  our  plan.  We  all  work  together  for  the  filling  up 
of  the  one  deep  well  from  which  we  draw  for  all  the  various  ob- 
jects of  the  church,  local  and  in  general."  Special  appeals  there- 
fore are  rarely  made. 

During  all  the  years  the  congregation  has  not  only  met  in  full 
but  has  usually  exceeded  the  apportionment,  and  has  provided  a 
$20,000  sinking  fund  for  the  future. 

Christ  Church  furnished  a  missionary  for  Africa,  and  has  one 
self-supporting  student  for  the  ministry  at  Gettysburg. 

After  thirty-one  years  the  last  was  the  best  in  the  history  of 
the  church,  both  in  attendance  and  benevolence.  The  contribu- 
tion for  benevolence  was  more  than  $9,000.  The  only  pastor  the 
church  has  had  is  the  present  one,  Dr.  L.  M.  Zimmerman,  and 
this  large  and  flourishing  congregation  is  the  finest  of  tributes  to 
his  untiring  zeal  and  devotion  as  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ. 

ST.  LUKE'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  Frederick  W.  Barry,  Pastor 

At  the  Maryland  Synod  Con- 
vention, held  at  Emmitsburg,  Oc- 
tober 4,  1882,  Rev.  John  G.  Mor- 
ris, D.D.,  presented  the  following 
resolution  in  honor  of  Martin  Lu- 
ther's 400th  birthday: 

"The  10th  of  November,  1883, 
will  be  the  400th  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  Martin  Luther,  and 
as  this  event  will  be  commem- 
orated in  every  Protestant  coun- 
try of  continental  Europe  and  by 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  Lu- 
therans in  our  own  land,  it  is  emi- 
nently proper  that  we,  as  the 

Svnod  of  Maryland,  should  also 

,          ,  i  '         ,,  •  ,    i  .  KEY.  FREDERICK  W.  BARRY. 

properly  celebrate  this  great  his- 
toric event.     The  name  of  the  great  Reformer  is  at  the  present 
time  more  frequently  mentioned  by  all  Protestant  Churches  than 


224  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ever  before,  his  transcendent  services  are  more  highly  valued, 
and  his  character  more  thoroughly  studied  and  understood  than 
during  any  period  since  his  death." 

On  Friday  evening,  September  14,  1883,  in  Benson's  Hall, 
which  used  to  be  on  Carroll  Street  near  Cross,  St.  Luke's  was 
organized  as  a  "Luther  Memorial.''  Mr.  H.  II.  Weber,  who  or- 
ganized the  church,  was  present.  Rev.  J.  A.  Clutz,  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Home  Missions,  presided.  Mr.  Henry  (Vainer  was 
appointed  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  Mr.  C.  A.  Beyer,  secre- 
tary. On  the  following  Sunday  morning  the  first  regular  church 
council  was  chosen  and  consisted  of,  Elders:  C.  A.  Miller,  Presi- 
dent; Henry  Cramer,  Treasurer;  Daniel  Y eagle.  Deacons:  C. 
A.  Beyer,  Secretary;  Luther  Cramer,  Jacob  R.  Schamer. 

The  Maryland  Synod  met  on  October  3,  1883,  in  the  P^irst  Lu- 
theran Church,  Baltimore,  and  the  president,  Rev.  Henry  \V. 
Kuhns,  D.I).,  wrote  in  his  report:  "September  28,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Clutz  wrote  the  pleasing  news  that  St.  Luke's  English  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Church,  of  Woodberry,  was  organized  on  Friday 
evening,  September  24,  with  52  charter  members.  On  Sunday, 
September  16,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  the  con- 
gregation by  Dr.  Hamma  and  Revs.  Albert,  Scholl  and  Clutz,  at 
which  time  25  additional  members  were  received  by  confirma- 
tion and  two  by  baptism,  making  a  total  membership  of  79  to 
begin  with." 

On  September  23,  1883,  at  Mr.  C.  A.  Miller's  house,  L.  Cramer 
and  J.  R.  Schamer  were  appointed  by  the  council  as  a  committee 
on  church  property.  The  question  of  pastor's  support  was  also 
discussed.  After  several  preliminary  discussions  it  was  decided 
to  call  a  pastor,  and,  after  the  morning  service  on  December  2, 
Rev.  William  Kelly,  of  Stewartsville,  N.  J.,  was  unanimously 
elected  to  be  the  first  regular  pastor  of  St.  Luke's.  Rev.  Kelly 
assumed  charge  on  February  28,  1884,  and  moved  into  a  house  on 
Elm  Avenue. 

The  advent  of  the  first  regularly  called  pastor  upon  the  field 
of  a  mission  church  marks  a  red  letter  day  in  the  history  of  that 
congregation. 

Rev.  William  Kelly  was  born  on  December  17,  1852,  at  Liver- 
pool, England.  He  received  his  earliest  training  in  a  Roman 
Catholic  school  in  Baltimore,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  united 
with  the  First  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore,  Rev.  J.  II.  Bark- 
ley,  pastor.  He  entered  the  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary  in 
1873.  After  serving  charges  in  Espy,  Pa.,  and  in  Stewartsville, 
X.  J.,  he  received  his  call  from  St.  Luke's  on  November  10,  1883, 
assuming  charge  February  28,  1884. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  225 

The  first  large  enterprise  that  immediately  engaged  the  atten- 
tion of  the  pastor  and  people  was  the  erection  of  a  house  of  God. 
To  the  already  strenuous  work  of  a  busy  mission  pastor,  is  now 
added  the  arduous  task  of  financing1  and  overseeing  the  erection 
of  a  church  building.  After  the  morning  service  of  April  6, 
1884,  in  Benson's  Hall,  a  unanimous  vote  was  cast  for  the  lot 
"on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Chestnut  Avenues,  Hampden,  Bal- 
timore County,  Md."  Some  of  the  lay  members'  names  repre- 
sented in  the  council  at  this  time  were,  Miller,  Cramer,  Beyer, 
Hosch,  Yeagle,  Shaffer,  Ruby,  Childress,  Rice,  and  Kitzmeyer. 


ST.  LUKE'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

In  the  Maryland  Synod  Minutes  for  1884,  the  Rev.  M.  Valen- 
tine, President,  reported:  "On  September  21,  1884,  the  corner 
stone  of  a  new  Lutheran  church  edifice  was  laid  at  Hampden, 
Baltimore  County,  Md.  The  addresses  on  the  occasion  were  made 
by  Revs.  I.  C.  Burke,  and  C.  S.  Albert,  of  Baltimore.  The  pas- 
tor, Rev.  William  Kelly,  laid  the  corner  stone  with  appropriate 
services.  The  cost  of  the  church,  it  is  estimated,  will  be  $6,000.00 
exclusive  of  ths  lot. " 

"Dedication  week  services"  were  held  from  May  1.7  to  24, 
1885.  The  dedication  service  proper  occurred  at  3 :  30  p.  m. 
on  Sunday,  May  17.  Rev.  Albert  delivered  the  sermon.  On  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  at  7 :  30  the  pastor  was  regularly  in- 
stalled. Sermons  by  Revs.  Hamma  and  L.  Kuhlman.  On  Wednes- 
15 


'J2(i  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

day  evening  at  8  o 'clock  a  German  service  was  held,  with  sermon 
by  Hev.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen. 

It  is  fitting  that  at  this  place  in  our  sketch  mention  be  made 
of  the  substantial  financial  aid  rendered  by  Brother  Becker, 
and  the  local  Board  of  Church  Extension.  "Many  of  the  churches 
in  Baltimore  were  interested  in  the  new  church  and  liberally 
aided  the  congregation  in  advancing  the  cause  of  Christ  and  of 
Lutherans  in  this  vicinity." 

The  reading  of  these  bare  historical  facts  is  easy  and  pleasant 
for  us  to-day.  But  success  was  won  only  after  many  discour- 
agements, and  much  hard  work  by  both  pastor  and  people.  An 
abiding  faith  in  Jesus,  and  a  real  joy  in  the  service  of  His  church, 
coupled  with  the  Father's  blessing,  crowned  the  end  with  glorious 
victory. 

Other  pastors  serving  this  congregation  have  been  :  Rev.  C.  E. 
Keller,  1892-94;  Rev.  J.  L.  Frantz,  189f>-l !)()();  Rev.  C.  E.  Heps- 
ley,  1900-8;  Rev.  Henry  Manken,  Jr.,  1908-18;  and  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Barry,  beginning  his  service  July  1, 
1918. 

The  congregation  has  given  two  of  her  young  people  to  the 
ministry  of  the  church,  viz :  Rev.  J.  F.  W.  Kitxmeyer,  now  serv- 
ing a  pastorate  at  Coney  Island,  X.  V.,  and  Sister  Florence  Pohl- 
man,  who  was  dedicated  in  the  spring  of  1919,  and  now  serving 
as  deaconess  in  St.  Mark's  Church,  York,  Pa. 

MESSIAH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  Carl  Mum  ford,  Pastor. 

Late  in  the  summer  of  1889  the  Rev.  E.  Felton  began  a  survey 
of  the  southeastern,  or,  as  popularly  known,  the  Canton  section 
of  Baltimore  City. 

At  that  time  there  were  only  nine  General  Synod  Lutheran 
Churches  in  Baltimore,  the  nearest  to  this  section  being  Grace 
Church  on  Broadway,  so  there  was  a  large  field  ready  for  devel- 
opment. Means  of  travel  were  not  so  easy  and  rapid  as  in  these 
later  days.  Therefore  the  founding  of  their  own  church  in  their 
very  midst  meant  much  to  the  good  Lutherans  who  not  only  were 
themselves  often  denied  the  joys  of  the  sanctuary  but  also  saw 
their  children  being  lost  to  the  church  of  the  fathers. 

When,  after  a  short  preliminary  canvass,  announcement  was 
made  that  a  "Lutheran  Church  Service7'  would  be  held  in 
''King's  Hall,"  Sunday,  September  8,  thirty  persons  came  to 
worship,  and  so  inspired  and  enthused  were  they  that  they 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


227 


brought  ten  others  with  them  the  next  Sunday  and  organized  a 
Sunday  school. 

So  blessed  were  the  efforts  of  the  young  pastor  now  commis- 
sioned by  the  Board  of  Home  Missions,  and  so  fruitful  his  labors, 
that  within  four  months  the  Sunday  school  had  an  enrollment  of 
three  hundred  souls.  Meanwhile 
a  Lutheran  congregation  had  been 
formally  organized  on  Luther's 
birthday,  November  10,  1889,  with 
a  charter  membership  of  seventy- 
five,  of  whom  fewer  than  a  half 
score  are  living  to-day.  Articles 
of  incorporation  were  applied  for 
and  on  January  9,  1890,  a  charter 
was  granted  Messiah  English  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Baltimore  City. 

After  worshiping  for  five 
months  in  a  public  hall,  Pastor 
Felton  had  the  great  joy  of  mov- 
ing his  growing  congregation  into 
their  own  new  brick  chapel  built 
at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  at  the  corner 
of  Potomac  and  O'Donnell 
Streets,  on  land  leased  from  the 
Canton  Company  for  $140  per  year.  The  Sunday  school  con- 
tinued to  grow  so  that  in  November,  1890,  it  became  necessary  to 
build  an  annex  to  the  chapel  at  a  cost  of  $1,000. 

In  three  years  the  church  had  prospered  and  grown  so  strong 
that  on  November  1,  1892,  she  became  self-supporting.  Steady 
growth  and  continued  prosperity  in  time  made  larger  quarters 
necessary.  Therefore  on  April  9,  1900,  ground  was  broken,  and 
on  May  6,  1900,  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  beautiful  granite 
church  was  laid.  On  November  18,  1900,  eleven  years  and  one 
week  after  the  date  of  organizing  the  congregation,  the  new 
church  was  dedicated,  having  cost  $30,000. 

Fifteen  years  longer  Pastor  Felton  continued  to  "shepherd  his 
sheep"  until  on  the  morning  of  December  20,  1915,  the  Great 
Over-Shepherd  called  him  home,  after  twenty-six  years  in  the 
pastorate  of  Messiah  Church. 

On  June  3,  1916,  Rev.  Carl  Mum  ford  took  up  this  pastorate. 
Conditions  now  are  different  from  those  of  1889.  Many  more 
people  live  here  and  a  half-dozen  more  Lutheran  churches  are 
also  here.  Then,  too,  a  large  percentage  of  the  incoming  people 
are  "foreigners" — Poles,  Italians,  Jews.  Consequently  Messiah 


KEV.  CARL  MUMFORD. 


L>1>8 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Church  sees  her  children  scattering  before  those  whom  it  is  next 
to  impossible  to  lead  within  her  gates. 

Through  the  great  world  war  she  tried  to  do  her  duty.  Sixty- 
h've  of  her  sons  were  in  the  military  and  naval  service  of  our 
country.  Three  of  them  were  killed  in  battle  in  France,  another 
lost  his  life  in  a  railroad  wreck,  and  six  others  were  wounded  in 
battle.  She  did  what  she  could  in  answer  to  all  appeals. 

And  now,  in  these  days  of  reconstruction,  she  offers  herself  in 
whatever  wa  she  can  serve  God  among;  men. 


THI-:  LrTiiKRANciirRcn  OFTIIK  REFORMATION, 

15ALTIMORK,  MI). 

It<  r.  -/.  Luther  Hoffman,  Pastor. 

The  Church  of  the  Reformation  was  organized  September  28, 
1890,  with  twenty-five  charter  members.  The  actual  beginning;, 
however,  dates  from  April  14,  1800,  when  the  local  Church  Ex- 
tension Society  decided  upon  Northeast  Baltimore  as  its  next 
mission  enterprise,  and  in  May  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  com- 
missioned Rev.  C.  T.  McDaniel  as 
pastor. 

The  canvass  of  the  district  was 
directed  by  Rev.  McDaniel,  as- 
sisted by  workers  from  Third  Lu- 
theran Church.  On  .June  9  a 
dwelling  at  1742  East  North  Ave- 
nue was  rented  as  a  temporary 
place  of  worship.  Here  a  Sunday 
school  was  organized  on  .June  22, 
and  by  July  12  the  attendance 
had  increased  from  thirty-two  to 
one  hundred,  with  fifty  to  sixty 
persons  attending  preaching  serv- 
ices. 

The  need  of  a  permanent  place 
of  worship  was  met  on  December 
"),  1890,  when  the  Church  Council 
authorized  the  leasing  of  a  lot  on 
the  corner  of  Caroline  and  Lanvale  Streets,  where  a  temporary 
chapel  was  erected.  This  building,  with  its  furnishings,  cost 
about  $f)00.  Rev.  McDaniel  resigned  on  June  1,  1891. 

On  July  1,  1891,  Rev.  D.  Frank  Garland  became  pastor.    The 


KEY.   .7.    LlTHK.K    II'tKKMAN. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  HAI/riMORK  AM)  VICINITY. 


229 


need  of  an  adequate  church  home  soon  became  imperative,  and  on 
May  2,  1893,  a  commodious  stone  chapel,  costing  $16,000  was 
dedicated. 

A  donation  of  $1,000  from  the  local  Church  Extension  Society, 
and  a  contribution  from  the  Second  Lutheran  Church  of  $100 
annually  for  five  years  toward  the  erection  of  the  building,  gave 
valuable  aid  and  encouragement  in  this  early  period  of  the  con- 
gregation's life. 

During  Rev.  Garland's  pastorate  the  debt  was  reduced  to 
$6,000  and  the  congregation  acquired  a  substantial  membership, 


"••<  i     - 

v""      -:^ 
,  „ i, 


THE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  REFORMATION,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

equipped  with  active  organizations.  Rev.  Garland  resigned  Oc- 
tober 1,  1896. 

On  November  5,  1896,  Rev.  I.".  S.  G.  Rupp  became  the  third 
pastor  of  Reformation.  Though  still  a  mission,  owning  only  the 
stone  chapel,  and  encumbered  with  an  indebtedness  of  $6,000, 
Rev.  Rupp's  pastorate  of  fourteen  years  was  marked  by  signal 
success. 

Untiring  labor  was  rewarded  by  a  greatly  increased  member- 
ship. The  change  from  a  mission  to  a  self-sustaining  church  oc- 
curred on  November  1,  1900.  The  lot  was  purchased  on  July  10, 
1901,  by  the  payment  of  $4,666.67.  The  parsonage,  at  1716  North 
Caroline  Street,  was  purchased  on  July  1,  1902,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,625.  The  larger  part  of  the  indebtedness  was  liquidated,  only 


1>:W  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

$*J.OOO  remaining  at  the  time  of  Rev.  Rupp's  resignation  on  Juno 
:{(),  1910. 

Rev.  William  E.  Brown  became  pastor  of  Reformation  on  Oc- 
tober 1,  1!)10,  when  the  congregation  had  just  passed  its  twen- 
tieth anniversary,  and  the  problem  of  adequate  accommodations 
had  again  to  be  faced.  The  construction  of  a  new  church,  how- 
ever, was  not  deemed  wise  until  the  sum  of  $10,000  was  in  hand. 
Subscriptions  secured  May  4,  19KS,  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
dedication  of  the  stone  chapel,  completed  the  initial  fund  of 
$10.000,  and  assured  the  beginning  of  the  new  church  in  the 
spring  of  1914. 

On  the  night  of  .March  '2.  1914.  during  a  violent  snow  storm, 
the  chapel,  with  its  furnishings,  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 
From  this  crushing  disaster  the  loyal  congregation  rallied  nobly, 
and  after  many  discouragements  and  much  unforeseen  expense, 
the  present  beautiful  and  complete  edifice  was  dedicated  on  May 
l(i,  1!)!.").  It  is  a  building  thoroughly  equipped  for  modern 
church  work. 

On  January  1,  1917,  Rev.  Brown  closed  a  successful  pastorate, 
which  was  marked  with  great  advancement  in  every  phase  of 
Reformation's  work. 

Rev.  .1.  Luther  Hoffman,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge  April 
ir>,  1917.  During  the  present  pastorate  of  a  little  more  than  two 
years,  the  congregation  has  been  increasing  with  an  annual  net 
gain  of  over  one  hundred  members;  the  church  debt  has  been  re- 
duced from  $Mo. 200  to  $29,000,  while  the  progress  along  all  lines 
has  been  most  gratifying. 

The  Sunday  school,  which  began  twenty-nine  years  ago  with 
thirty-two  members,  is  now  splendidly  equipped  and  graded, 
from  the  Cradle  Roll  to  the  Home  Department,  having  five  adult 
classes,  each  a  live  organization  in  itself.  There  are  now  seven 
hundred  and  forty  members  enrolled. 

The  Senior,  Intermediate  and  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  So- 
cieties reach  and  interest  many  young  people,  and  train  them  for 
Christian  service,  with  the  missionary  note  strongly  emphasized. 

The  Women's  Missionary  Society  has  earnestly  promoted  mis- 
sionary interest,  liberally  responded  to  every  call  of  the  General 
Society,  and  has  been  active  in  local  missionary  work. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  began  its  larger  work  with  the  pur- 
chase of  the  parsonage,  July  1,  1902.  It  has  since  kept  the  same 
in  repair,  installed  electric  lights,  paid  several  thousand  dollars 
on  the  church  debt,  and  at  present  lias  a  strong  and  active  mem- 
bership of  consecrated  women. 

Reformation  has  given  one  son  to  the  ministry,  Rev.  Henry  W. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


231 


Snycler,  of  Johnstown,  Pa.  Another,  August  H.  Hinternish,  died 
while  attending  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  The  college  course 
of  another  was  interrupted  by  the  war. 

The  growth  from  twenty-five  to  one  thousand  members  in  the 
brief  span  of  twenty-nine  years  has  proven  the  far-seeing  wisdom 
of  the  Church  Extension  Society.  Reformation  stands  to-day  as 
a  vital  part  of  the  religious  life  of  Northeast  Baltimore,  and, 
though  young,  takes  her  place  among  the  strong  churches  of  the 
faith  in  this  city.  Her  future  holds  the  promise  of  ever-increas- 
ing usefulness. 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  Edwin  E.  Ide,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

The  initial  steps  in  planting  this  church  were  taken  by  the 
Home  Mission  Board  and  the  General  Board  of  Church  Exten- 
sion and  the  Lutheran  Ministers '  Association  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. The  Rev.  Edwin  E.  Ide, 
having  been  commissioned  to  can- 
vass the  middle-western  section 
of  the  city,  organized  the  mis- 
sion on  October  1,  1893,  in  Rad- 
cliffe's  Hall,  northwest  corner 
Fulton  Avenue  and  Pratt  Street, 
with  forty  members. 

The  first  council  consisted  of 
Rev.  E.  E.  Ide  (chairman  ex- 
officio),  J.  G.  Vogt,  W.  Harris,  C. 
Sponsler,  W.  Ealey,  H.  Vogt,  F. 
Brinkman,  H.  Kornman  and  G. 
Romoser. 

The  Ladies '  Aid  Society,  a  very 
efficient  organization,  was  organ- 
ized March  24,  1894.  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Kriete,  the  president,  and  Mrs. 
E.  E.  Ide,  the  secretary,  have  very 
capably  filled  their  respective  offices  for  a  continuous  period  of 
twenty-three  years. 

On  October  3,  1893,  the  church  was  admitted  to  the  Maryland 
Synod. 

The  former  hall  having  become  too  small,  the  congregation 
leased  a  chapel,  corner  Hollins  Street  and  Calverton  Road,  oc- 
cup3*ing  it  December  6,  1894.  The  congregation  then  numbered 


REV.  EDAVIX  E.  IDE,  D.D. 


HISTORY  OK   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

eighty,  and  the  Sunday  school,  organi/ed  too  on  October  1,  18!K{, 
numbered  one  hundred. 

On  December  1,  18!)."),  a  permanent  site  was  purchased,  seventy- 
six  feet  by  one  hundred  feet,  for  $.'5,8.">(),  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Baltimore  and  1'ulaski  Streets. 


TUJXJTV  LUTHERAN  CHTKCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

On  July  26,  18%,  a  frame  chapel,  forty-five  by  seventy  feet, 
was  dedicated,  costing,  including  all  appointments,  $4, 500.  It 
was  the  pioneer  building  in  the  square. 

July  .'51,  18!W,  the  mission  declared  itself  self-sustaining. 

July  :J1,  1904,  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  stone  edifice  was 
laid,  witli  the  intention  of  completing  only  the  first  story  or 
Sunday  school  rooms.  Same  was  dedicated  on  Xoveinb:T  1:5, 
1!M)4,  and  cost,  including  furnishings,  $2."), 000. 

March  21.  191").  the  completed  church  was  dedicated.  The 
building  is  seventy-three  by  one  hundred  feet,  the  entire  cost 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  KAI/TIMORE  AND   VICINITY.  233 

being  $70,000.  Externally  and  internally  it  has  been  admired 
for  its  impressive  simplicity  and  churchliness. 

Since  organization,  2,100  persons  have  united  with  the  church, 
1.900  children  baptized.  950  young  people  confirmed,  920  parties 
married  and  1,100  persons  buried. 

The  Sunday  school  has  grown  from  twenty  scholars,  three  of- 
ficers and  six  teachers  to  five  hundred  scholars,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  enrolled  infants,  twenty-seven  officers  and  thirty-three 
teachers.  Nine  hundred  and  twenty-seven  scholars  have  been  ad- 
mitted to  the  church  by  the  rite  of  confirmation. 

The  church  has  ever  had  a  limited  number  of  organizations, 
but  such  as  it  has  had,  have  been  efficient. 

It  gave  seventy-three  young  men  and  two  young  women  to 
their  country's  service  in  the  late  war,  none  having  been  seriously 
wounded  and  none  killed. 


CALVARY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Rev.  Foster  U.  Gift,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Believing  that  an  English  Lutheran  church  should  be  organ- 
ized in  the  northwestern  section  of  Baltimore,  a  group  of  deeply 
interested  Lutheran  people,  as- 
sembled on  January  20,  1895,  in  a 
private  house  at  1914  North  Pay- 
son  Street,  to  consider  the  advisa- 
bility of  organizing  a  Sunday 
school.  As  a  result  of  this  meet- 
ing a  few  months  later,  on  April 
7,  a  temporary  organization  was 
effected.  On  the  first  day  of  June 
of  the  same  year,  Rev.  George 
Beiswanger,  who  had  just  com- 
pleted his  training  at  Gettysburg 
Seminary,  was  formally  called  to 
take  charge  of  the  work. 

On  September  22,  1895,  a  per- 
manent organization  was  effected 
with  forty-six  charter  members, 

and  with  the  selection  of  the  fol- 

REV.  FOSTER  U.  GIFT,  D.D. 
lowing    persons    to    compose    the 

first  church  council :    William  Essig,  Sr.,  W.  S.  Leister,  William 
P.  Smith,  Sr.,  George  W.  Mansdorfer,  Jacob  F.  Radner,  and  J. 


234  HISTOHVOK  MARYLAND  SY\Ol>. 

II.   Wagner.     The  Sunday  school   was  t'ornially  organized  one 
week  later.  September  29,  18!)."). 

Realizing  the  need  of  securing  a  suitable  church  home  without 
delay,  the  lot  at  the  northeast  corner  of  North  Avenue  and  Pay- 
son  Street,  with  a  frontajre  on  North  Avenue  of  ninety-four  feet, 
and  a  depth  of  ninety  feet  on  Payson  Street,  was  purchased  for 
the  sum  of  $4.900.  The  wisdom  of  the  selection  of  this  location 
has  since  been  fully  demonstrated  and  the  price  paid  for  it  was 
even  at  that  time  very  moderate  for  so  excellent  a  location.  A 
temporary  frame  chapel  was  erected  at  once  and  was  dedicated 
on  March  22,  1896.  On  September  13,  181)7,  ground  was  broken 
for  a  stone  chapel,  and  on  May  18,  1898,  it  was  dedicated.  The 
cost  of  the  chapel,  including  furnishings,  was  about  $13,000. 

Thus  properly  housed  the  congregation  grew  rapidly  in  num- 
bers and  strength.     After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  seven  years,  Rev. 
Beiswanger  preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  May  2.1,  1902. 
The  following  is  a  summary  of  Rev.  Beiswanger 's  pastorate: 

New  members  received   290 

Infant  baptisms   208 

Marriages 63 

Funerals 119 

After  a  vacancy  of  five  months,  Rev.  John  C.  Bowers,  D.D., 
pastor  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Washington,  was  called  to  succeed 
Rev.  Beiswanger..  He  began  his  ministry  on  November  1,  1902, 
and  under  his  wise  leadership  plans  were  at  once  inaugurated 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  work.  In  190")  a  fine  parsonage  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,000,  and  on  November  1,  1907,  the 
congregation  became  self-supporting.  In  April,  1909,  the  final 
payment  was  made  on  the  debt  of  $9,000,  which  rested  on  the 
church  at  the  beginning  of  Dr.  Bowers'  pastorate.  The  can- 
celling of  this  indebtedness  involved  much  hard  work  and  many 
sacrifices  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  and  his  devoted  congregation. 
This  important  event  prepared  the  way  for  the  consideration  of 
plans  for  the  erection  of  the  main  church  building.  After  a 
very  successful  pastorate  of  nearly  eight  years,  Dr.  Bowers 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  July  10,  1910. 
Summary  of  Dr.  Bowers'  pastorate: 

New  members  received    305 

Infant  baptisms   211 

Marriages 134 

Funerals 161 

On  October  1,  1910,  Rev.  Foster  I*,  (iift,  D.I).,  who  had  been 
pastor  of  Calvary  Church,  Philadelphia,  for  nearly  seven  years, 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  2o-> 

preached  his  introductory  sermon.  Soon  after  the  beginning  of 
the  present  pastorate  steps  were  taken  looking  towards  the  erec- 
tion of  the  main  church  building,  and  on  March  20,  1912,  ground 
was  broken.  On  May  18,  1912,  the  corner  stone  was  laid,  the 
following:  local  pastors  taking  part :  Rev.  H.  D.  Newcomer,  Rev. 
\V.  H.  Dunbar,  D.D.,  Rev.  E.  K.  Bell,  D.D.,  Rev.  L.  M.  Zimmer- 
man, D.D.,  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Bowers,  D.D.  The  completed  struc- 
ture was  dedicated  amid  great  rejoicing  on  November  24,  3912. 


CALVABV  LUTHERAN   CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Among  those  who  participated  were  local  pastors  and  Prof.  J.  A. 
Shipmaster,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Weber,  D.D.  It  was  a  great 
event  in  the  history  of  Calvary  Church  because  it  marked  the 
realization  of  long  cherished  hopes  and  ambitions  and  at  the  same 
time  represented  the  results  of  much  hard  work  and  many  sac- 
rifices. The  total  cost  of  the  new  building,  including  furnish- 
ings, was  $28,000.  The  total  cost  of  the  entire  property  repre- 
sents an  outlay  of  about  $51,000. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  present   pastorate  from 
October  1,  1910,  to  August  1,  1919: 

New  members  received   479 

Infant  baptisms   300 

Marriages 193 

Funerals  .  174 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


The  present  confirmed  membership  of  the  church  is  ()2.">,  and 
the  enrollment  of  the  Sunday  school  is  42").  The  following  char- 
ter members  are  still  connected  with  the  church  : 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  \V.  S.  Leister.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  \V.  Mans- 
dorfer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Win.  F.  Smith,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Clarence  Myers, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  J.  "Wernx,  Mrs.  Wm.  Essig,  Sr..  "Win.  Essig,  Jr., 
Charles  Essig,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chas.  II.  (Jerbig,  Mrs.  Lucinda  K. 
C.  Tingling.  Jacob  F.  Rader.  Miss  Mary  E.  Eiseman. 


THK  LUTHKRAX  CHURCH  OF  OUR  SAVIOUR, 
UALTIMORK,  MI). 

7iYr.  8.  J.  Miller,  Pastor. 

This  growing  community,  then  known  as  West  Arlington,  but 
now  a  part  of  the  city,  first  claimed  the  attention  of  the  Home 
Mission  Board  in  1902.  Rev.  H.  H.  Hartman,  a  theological  stu- 
dent at  Gettysburg,  was  commissioned  by  the  Board  and  began 
the  work  of  canvassing  about  June  1,  1902.  On  September  7, 

1902,  the  Church  of  Our  Saviour 
was  organized  with  thirty-seven 
charter  members.  The  constitu- 
tion was  adopted  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected:  Elders, 
Charles  S.  Wachter  and  Theodore 
F.  Lips;  Deacons,  J.  M.  Eyler, 
E.  E.  Hargest,  Henry  Lent/,  and 
L.  J.  Staup.  On  September  10, 
the  council  was  organized  and  the 
church  incorporated.  The  same 
week  of  the  organization  the  coun- 
cil gave  their  personal  note  for 
four  months  for  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars for  the  purchase  of  a  lot. 

On  Sunday,  September  14,  at  a 
congregational  meeting  a  new 
pastor  was  unanimously  elected. 
Rev.  S.  J.  Miller,  of  Sparrow's 
Point,  Maryland,  to  take  charge  after  October  1.  The  first  com- 
munion service  was  held  on  September  21,  at  which  time  four 
new  members  were  received  and  charter  member  list  closed. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  S.  J.  Miller,  took  charge  October  1. 
1902.  Steps  were  at  once  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  church 


S.  .1.  MM. I.K.I:. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AM)  VICINITY.  237 

building,  the  services  in  the  meantime  being  held  in  a  tent,  and 
afterwards  in  the  Junior  Mechanics'  Hall.  The  building  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Theodore  Lips,  Charles  S.  Wachter,  J.  M. 
Eyler,  William  H.  Flagle,  Henry  Lentz,  E.  E.  Hargest,  A.  C. 
Eyler,  and  the  pastor,  secured  three  lots  on  the  corner  of  Grove- 
land  and  Garrison  Avenues,  and  in  November,  1902,  ground  was 
broken  for  the  erection  of  a  church  building.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  December  17,  and  on  the  following  Easter  the  Sun- 
day school  rendered  its  first  Easter  service  in  the  Sunday  school 
rooms.  The  church  wras  dedicated  on  May  10,  1!K)-'J>. 

The  building  is  a  one-story  frame  structure  forty-eight  by 
sixty-four  feet.  This  includes  the  Sunday  school  room,  but  so 
arranged  by  sliding  windows  that  all  can  be  thrown  into  one 
room,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  three  hundred.  The  windows 
are  of  cathedral  glass,  and  wTere  donated  by  the  different  Lu- 
theran Sunday  schools  of  the  city  of  Baltimore  and  by  indivi- 
duals. The  pulpit  fiirniture  was  the  gift  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  So- 
ciety. 

The  church  has  had  a  steady  but  substantial  growth.  From 
the  forty-one  members  at  organization  the  church  has  grown  to  an 
enrolled  membership  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-two.  Besides 
reducing  the  indebtedness  from  $4,700  at  dedication  to  the  low 
figure  of  $1,800,  and  also  paying  for  all  improvements  made 
since,  contributions  have  been  made  each  year  to  the  various 
beneficent  objects  of  the  Church  at  large. 

The  Sunday  school  numbered  sixteen  the  first  Sunday  the  pas- 
tor was  present.  Under  the  superintendency  of  Messrs.  L.  J. 
Staup,  Harry  C.  Fox,  P.  E.  Wertz,  and  Lenny  Reamy  and  their 
co-laborers  the  enrollment  has  been  increased  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight. 

The  Sunday  school,  together  with  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
whose  present  officers  are :  Mrs.  Wilbert  Taylor,  president ; 
Mrs.  John  Young,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  Ira  Ramsburg,  secretary, 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Lentz,  treasurer,  and  of  more  recent  date,  the 
Men's  Club,  wrhose  officers  are  W.  C.  Reamy,  president;  George 
Heinaman,  vice-president ;  P.  E.  Wertz,  secretary,  and  August 
Gohre,  treasurer,  have  been  most  potent  factors  in  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  the  work  of  the  Church  of  Our  Saviour. 


238 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Till:  U'TIIKKAX  CI1UKCH  OF  THE  INCARNATION, 
IJALTIMOKK.  Ml). 

Kcr.  (icoryc  8.  Mowers,  I). I).,  P<tstor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Incarnation,  located 
on  Madison  Avenue,  near  North  Avenue.  Baltimore.  Maryland, 
may  he  said  to  have  had  its  inception  in  several  informal  meetings 
held  hy  a  few  men  during  the  month  of  November,  1903.  These 
men  were  influenced  hy  the  conviction  that  a  church  of  the  Lu- 
theran faith,  located  in  the  section 
of  the  city  lying:  about  North  Av- 
enue, and  bounded  by  Jones'  Falls 
on  the  east  and  Pennsylvania  Av- 
enue on  the  west,  would  contrib- 
ute largely  to  the  upbuilding  of 
Christ's  kingdom.  This  convic- 
tion grew  from  week  to  week, 
finding  definite  expression  in  a 
meeting  held  December  13,  1903, 
when  it  was  decided  to  proceed 
with  the  organization. 

The  meeting  convened  Decem- 
ber 21,  1903,  the  following  per- 
sons were  present :  Rev.  Albert 
II.  Studebaker,  D.I). ;  Messrs. 
Frederick  T.  Dorton,  William  P. 
Krauss,  Pear  re  E.  Crowl,  J.  Ed- 
gar Wylie,  Lewis  J.  Lederer, 
Harry  C.  Harranger,  Robert  L.  Yearsley,  and  Joseph  C.  H.  Ben- 
jamin. A  series  of  resolutions  was  passed  emphasizing  two  con- 
clusions reached  by  those  present :  First,  that  the  opportunity 
for  the  establishment  of  a  Lutheran  Church  in  the  section  of  the 
city  referred  to  above  was  very  auspicious;  second,  that  the 
Rev.  Albert  II.  Studebaker.  D.I).,  of  Brooklyn.  N.  Y..  possessed 
the  qualifications  requisite  for  leadership  in  the  achievement  of 
the  ends  contemplated,  and  that  his  services  should  be  sought. 
Before  adjournment  all  present  gave  pledges  of  their  intention 
to  enter  the  new  body  as  charter  members. 

With  the  passing  months  the  purpose  of  those  interested  in- 
tensified to  such  a  degree,  that  on  March  21,  1904,  a  constitution 
for  the  government  of  the  proposed  church  was  presented  and 
approved  by  the  committee  of  the  whole,  known  as  the  Organiza- 


HKV. 


S.  I-UHVKR.-S,  D.I). 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE   AND   VICINITY.  239 

tion  Committee.  This  step  naturally  prepared  the  way  for  an- 
other which  was  taken  on  April  6,  3904,  when  the  church  was 
organized  by  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  jnst  mentioned, 
and  the  election  of  officers  under  the  same.  The  congregation 
then  proceeded  to  extend  a  formal  call  to  Rev.  Albert  H.  Stude- 
baker,  D.D.,  which  call  was  immediately  accepted. 

The  next  thing  sought  in  the  forward  movement  of  the  expand- 
ing church  was  its  incorporation.  This  was  accomplished  April 
18,  1904. 

When  the  Maryland  Synod  met  in  Martinsburg,  West  Vir- 
ginia, in  October,  1904,  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation  became  an 


THE  LUTHERAN'  CHURCH  OF  THE  INCARNATION,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

applicant  for  membership  in  the  body.  All  conditions  thereto 
being  complied  with,  after  due  procedure,  on  October  29,  the 
church's  name  was  placed  on  the  Synod's  roll. 

About  a  year  later  possible  sites  for  a  church  home  were  viewed 
and  considered,  with  the  outcome  that  the  lot  on  which  the  church 
now  stands  was  purchased.  Here  in  due  time  the  present  edifice 
was  built.  Its  erection  and  dedication  occurred  during  the  year 
1907.  This  sanctuary  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  Lutheran  con- 
ceptions of  ecclesiastical  architecture,  and  stands  as  a  monument 
to  the  faith  and  devotion  of  those  who  projected  it.  As  a  house 
of  worship  it  is  much  admired  by  all  who  enter  its  portals. 

After  a  ministry  of  more  than  five  years  Rev.  Studebaker  ten- 


240  HISTORY  OK  .MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

dered  his  resignation,  the  same  to  become  effective  on  June  MO, 


The  young  church  was  without  pastoral  leadership  for  about 
six  months,  when  Rev.  .1.  William  McCanley,  of  Cumberland, 
.Maryland,  was  called  to  the  office  in  January,  1910.  This  call 
was  accepted  and  Rev.  MeCanley  assumed  pastoral  oversight 
about  the  middle  of  February.  Through  the  coming  of  the  new 
pastor  the  church  was  stimulated  anew  to  perform  the  work  to 
which  it  had  dedicated  itself.  The  membership  grew  and  the 
congregation  became  an  efficient  force  in  the  community.  After 
more  than  five  years  service  the  pastor,  by  resigning,  terminated 
in  October,  1915,  his  relationship  with  the  church. 

The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  E.  A.  Shenk,  of  Winston-Salem,  X. 
(1.  His  connection  with  the  church  began  in  December,  11)15. 
Just  prior  to  his  coming  the  congregation  purchased  a  house  ad- 
joining the  church  lot  for  a  parsonage.  For  almost  three  years 
Rev.  Shenk  gave  the  work  his  faithful  endeavors,  relinquishing 
it  October  Ml,  1!)18.  Like  many  other  young  churches,  the 
Church  of  the  Incarnation  has  suffered  from  short  pastorates. 

Before  the  present  pastorate  began  on  April  1,  1919,  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  George  S.  Rowers  as  the  minister,  the  congregation, 
through  its  council,  took  steps  to  cancel  some  of  its  indebtedness 
and  to  renovate  the  church  building.  The  effort  wras  successful. 

Early  in  its  history  helpful  organizations  were  formed  in  the 
church,  such  as  a  Sunday  school,  a  Parish  Aid  Society,  a 
Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  a  Junior  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  a  Circle  of  the  King's  Daughters.  All  have 
made  their  contribution  to  the  church's  growth. 

The  present  council  is:  Elders,  William  P.  Krauss,  Lewis  J. 
Lederer,  Charles  AV.  Struven,  Charles  E.  Lenx,  Edwin  "W.  Herr- 
mann, George  L.  Keister.  Deacons,  Milton  H.  Myers,  G.  G. 
Wirth,  AV.  L.  Wise,  Jr.,  R.  Millar  Arnold,  Glenroy  L.  Rlack,  W. 
Smith  Chambers. 


EMMANUEL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
KALTIMORE,  MI). 

Krr.  Charles  J.  Hincs,  Pastor. 

Late  in  the  year  1904  the  attention  of  the  local  Roard  of 
Church  Extension  was  called  to  this  field  by  the  Rev.  W.  C. 
Staudenmire.  In  the  spring  of  1905  he  was  authorized  to  con- 
duct a  canvass.  About  this  time  Messrs.  H.  L.  C1,  Engel  and  L.  H. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


241 


EEV.  CHARLES  J.  HIXES. 


Miller  got  in  touch  with  him  and  he  was  asked  to  preach,  if  a 
suitable  place  could  be  secured.  On  April  9,  1905,  services  were 
held  in  Smith's  Hall,  Third  Street  near  Gough,  with  the  follow- 
ing present :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  II. 
C.  Stahm,  Mr.  H.  L.  C.  Engel. 
Mrs.  Samuel  Lenberger,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  L.  H.  Miller,  Misses  Eliza- 
beth, Amelia  and  Margaret  Bauer. 
Catherine  and  Sophia  R:>ver, 
Catherine  Pfeffer,  Emma  Engel; 
Messrs.  Charles  Miller,  H.  Engel, 
Jr.,  George  and  William  Rever. 
After  this  service  the  following 
officers  were  elected :  George 
Rever,  secretary  and  organist,  and 
L.  H.  Miller,  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school.  The  first  Sun- 
day school  service  was  held  on 
April  30,  1905. 

On  May  4,  1905,  a  regularly 
called  congregational  meeting  was 
held  and  Rev.  W.  C.  Stauden- 
mire  was  called  as  pastor.  The  following  officers  were  elected: 
William  F.  Bohenberg,  Henry  Rapp,  Harry  Weaver,  Prof. 
Charles  Koch  (now  superintendent  of  public  schools),  H.  L.  C. 
Engel,  and  L.  H.  Miller.  The  last  named  was  made  secretary  and 
r.  ,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 

school. 

August  13,  1905,  the  constitu- 
tion was  adopted,  and  the  congre- 
gation was  admitted  to  the  Mary- 
land Synod  in  October  of  that 
year. 

The  Home  Mission  Board  gave 
assistance  in  the  matter  of  the 
pastor's  salary,  and  the  local  and 
general  Boards  of  Church  exten- 
sion also  contributed. 

Th?  corner  stone  of  a  new 
building  was  laid  February  4, 
1906.  Drs.  Dunbar.  Freas  and  Ilartman  taking  part  in  the  cere- 
monies. 

On  March  14,  1908,  Rev.  Staudenmire  died  after  a  brief  illness. 

On  August  1,  1908,  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Meyer  became  the  pastor. 
16 


•rs^m.- 

EMMANUEL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 


1242 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


During  his  pastorate  the  church  edifice  was  completed,  but  one 
story  havinjr  been  built  at  first,  and  the  work  grew  and  developed 
in  all  departments.  The  completed  structure  was  dedicated 
March  21,  1909,  local  pastors  taking  part  in  the  services.  In 
April,  li)ll,  Emmanuel  became  self-supporting. 

On  October  1,  11)14,  Rev.  Mr.  Meyer  resigned  to  become  super- 
intendent of  the  Lutheran  Inner  Mission  Society  of  Baltimore. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Charles  J.  Hines,  who  took  charge 
in  December,  1914. 

In  August,  1916,  the  house  adjoining  the  church  property  on 
Baltimore  Street,  was  purchased  and  was  refitted  to  be  used  as 
an  annex  for  the  overcrowded  Sunday  school.  Easter,  1915). 
about  $.'{,")()()  in  cash  was  raised  to  wipe  out  all  indebtedness  upon 
the  property. 


UETIIAXY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Ii<v.  Luther  F.  Miller,  Pastor. 

The  history  of  Bethany  English  Lutheran  congregation  lias 
been  varied.  The  congregation  has  seen  much  trouble  and  has 
had  a  struggle  for  existence. 

On  Bond  Street  near  Eastern  Avenue,  many  years  before  the 

Civil  War,  a  German  congrega- 
tion, known  as  St.  Peter's  German 
Lutheran  Church,  worshipped.  It 
was  probably  founded  by  a  Rev. 
Ilertxberg.  lie  was  probably  suc- 
ceeded by  Revs.  Brown  and 
Schwartx.  In  1861  Rev.  C.  A. 
Schloegel  became  pastor  and  re- 
mained until  his  death  in  1892. 
In  1862  the  congregation  was  re- 
ceived into  membership  of  the 
Maryland  Synod.  The  congrega- 
tion had  become  financially  in- 
volved and  at  the  death  of  Pastor 
Schloegel  disbanded. 

The  Rev.  George  Albrecht  was 
sent  to  the  field  and  from  a  nu- 
cleus of  about  thirty  members  of 
St.  Peter's  on  February  5,  1892,  a 
German  congregation  was  organized  and  named  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  Peace.  Rev.  Albrecht  served  the  little  con- 


Lt'THER    F.   MlI.LER. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  243 

gregation  about  six  months  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard 
Schmidt  in  June,  1892.  In  January  of  the  following  year  the 
congregation  began  to  worship  in  Shaeffer's  Chapel,  on  Gough 
Street  near  Washington  Street.  In  April  they  bought  the  chapel 
for  $2,150,  and  repaired  it,  and  on  May  28,  1893,  opening  exer- 
cises were  held.  Rev.  S.  Ilomrighaus  preaching  the  dedicatory 
sermon.  On  June  26,  Rev.  Schmidt  was  installed  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Hennighausen  and  Rev.  G.  H.  Brandau. 

In  November,  1894,  a  parsonage  adjoining  the  church  building 
was  purchased  for  $1.875.     Rev.  Schmidt  severed  his  connection 


BETHANY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

with  the  congregation  December  1.  1898.  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Hugo  Braun  on  December  8.  who  served  the  congregation 
until  May  5.  1901.  His  installation  was  held  February  12,  1899, 
by  Revs.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen.  D.D..  and  U.  S.  G.  Rupp.  Dur- 
ing all  these  years  the  congregation  was  slowly  acquiring  strength. 

On  June  1,  1901,  Rev.  C.  E.  Raymond.  D.D.,  became  pastor  and 
was  installed  by  Revs.  E.  C.  Ide  and  W.  C.  Staudemire  on  Sep- 
tember 22. 

In  1903  a  movement  took  place  looking  towards  changing  th;* 
services  from  German  to  English.  For  a  while  half  the  services 
were  English  and  half  were  in  German,  but  soon  they  were 
changed  to  all  English  services.  There  was  some  ill  feeling  and 
misunderstanding  and  in  October,  1904,  the  name  was  changed 
to  "Bethany  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore  City."  and 


1244  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  congregation  withdrew  from  the  .Maryland  Synod,  becoming 
an  independent  congregation.  When  the  congregation  was  waited 
upon  by  a  committee  from  the  Synod  it  rescinded  its  action  and 
in  October.  190.').  returned  into  the  Maryland  Synod. 

On  October  1.  190;"),  Rev.  Raymond  severed  his  connection  with 
the  congregation  and  on  January  1.  1906.  Rev.  Luther  F.  Miller 
took  up  the  work.  II is  installation  took  place  March  18.  1906. 
the  Revs.  Victor  Miller.  D.I).,  and  G.  AV.  Miller,  D.D..  having 
charge  of  the  services.  In  the  spring  of  1907  the  church  was 
newly  painted,  repapered.  and  re  roofed.  Simple  reopening  serv- 
ices were  held  June  IS. 

Hut  the  congregation  was  not  long  to  enjoy  the  us-  of  their 
beautified  edifice,  for  in  August.  1909.  the  building  was  con- 
demned by  the  city  authorities. 

As  conditions  were  not  favorable  for  growth  in  that  part  of 
the  city,  the  congregation  sold  their  property  at  a  sacrifice  and 
after  considerable  delay  and  difficulty  purchased  a  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Lakewood  Avenue  and  Madison  Street.  For  the  period 
of  a  year  while  negotiating  for  lot  and  building,  they  worshipped 
in  a  house  on  North  Lakewood  Avenue.  As  many  as  a  hundred 
and  twenty-five  children  were  accommodated  there  at  Bible 
school.  On  the  lot  a  modest  yet  homelike  chapel  was  erected.  It 
was  dedicated  on  May  21,  1911. 

In  February.  1917.  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  was  observed 
with  sermon  by  Rev.  Richard  Schmidt,  a  former  pastor.  In  the 
same  year  the  interior  of  the  church  was  tastefully  frescoed. 

Through  a  career  of  varying  fortunes  God  has  been  with  us  and 
brought  us  to  greater  things.  The  congregation  has  a  promising 
Bible  school  and  is  steadily  gaining  strength.  Its  property  is 
free  from  debt. 

Howard  T.  Fastie  is  superintendent  of  the  Bible  school; 
Charles  Stapf.  secretary  of  the  church;  John  IFarman.  financial 
secretary;  Miss  Anna  Vogel.  president  of  the  Christian  En- 
deavor, and  Mrs.  Amelia  Limpert,  president  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society. 

Some  former  superintendents  of  the  Bible  school  are:  John 
Beck.  C.  S.  Quandt.  George  Weifenbach,  Charles  Lamm.  Lambert 
J.  Eichner,  and  Frederick  AVeide. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  245 

CONCORDIA  LUTHERAN  mrRCII, 
BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Rev.  P.  II.  Miller,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Light  and  shade  have  alternated  in  the  history  of  Concordia 
Church,  which  had  its  origin  in  a  Sunday  school  organized  April 
1.  1876.  by  St.  Peter's  Church,  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  in  Johnson's 
Hall,  Baltimore  and  Poppleton  Streets. 

Rev.  A.  Pflueger,  the  assistant  at  St.  Peter's,  served  the  mis- 
sion, 1876-78.  In  November,  1879,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Cooperrider.  a  frame 
chapel  was  built  at  the  present  location. 
Franklin  Street  and  Arlington  Avenue,  at  a 
cost  of  $885,  and  was  dedicated  the  Sunday 
after  Christmas,  1879. 

Because  of  the  objection  to  the  use  of  the 
English  language  by  the  mission,  and  also 
because  of  doctrinal  differences  on  the  part  of 

a  neighbor  church  of  the  Missouri  Svnod,  the    REV-  p-  H.  MILLER, 

D  D 
mission   had   a   struggle   for   existence   for   a 

number  of  years  and  the  growth  was  slow.  The  teacher  of  the 
parochial  school  of  the  Missouri  congregation  mentioned  above, 
would,  on  Monday  mornings,  flog  every  scholar  who  had  attended 
the  Sunday  school  at  Concordia,  the  English  mission,  on  the 
previous  day.  We  have  this  information  from  Mr.  Frank  Biel, 
at  present  a  member  of  Concordia,  who  speaks  from  experience. 
Thirty  members  were  reported  to  St.  Peter's  Church  in  1881, 
five  years  after  the  work  was  begun.  For  a  time  services  were 
held  only  on  Sunday  afternoons,  by  Rev.  E.  L.  S.  Tressel,  the 
pastor  of  St.  Peter's,  who,  because  of  his  other  work,  found  it 
necessary  also  to  limit  his  ministrations  at  Coneordia  to  a  serv- 
ice every  two  weeks. 

Rev.  J.  E.  A.  Doerman,  who  served  as  city  missionary  of  the 
Joint  Synod,  was  the  next  pastor.  He  gave  the  mission  two 
services  every  second  Sunday.  Rev.  R.  C.  IT.  Lenski  succeeded 
Rev.  Doerman,  and  it  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  mission 
became  an  independent  organization,  taking  the  name  of  Con- 
cordia. The  congregation  was  organized  April  16,  1888. 

The  present  church  building,  a  substantial  stone  structure, 
taking  the  place  of  the  chapel,  was  erected  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  R.  E.  Golladay,  at  a  cost  of  $8.977,  and  was  dedicated 
November  10,  1901.  The  mission,  until  Januarv  1.  1897,  was 


1240 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


supported  by  St.  Peter's  Church  and  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
of  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  t'nder  Rev.  Golladay's  ministry  the 
congregation  grew  in  numbers  and  strength  and  was  enabled  to 
take  the  important  step  of  self-support  ;  and  it  was  with  much 
regret  that  the  membership  parted  with  him.  who  had.  with  the 
Lord's  blessing,  done  so  much  for  them. 

The  ground  on  which  the  church  stands  had  been  leased  until 
1901.  when  it  was  purchased  for  $2.000.  Mr.  Louis  Berger.  who 
was  an  active  spirit  in  bringing  the  congregation  into  the  Mary- 
land Synod,  was  the  leader  in  the  purchase  of  the  ground. 

Rev.  Fred  Schuh.  who  succeeded  Rev.  Golladay.  made  secret 
societies  an  issue  in  the  congregation,  which  resulted  in  his  being 

deposed  and  in  the  division  of  the 
congregation ;  a  part  organized  a 
new  congregation.  Christ  Church 
of  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  and 
the  majority,  who  held  the  church 
property,  connected  with  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  The  congregation 
was  incorporated  in  June,  1896. 

Rev.  George  Scholl,  D.D..  acted 
as  supply  pastor  until  the  calling 
of  Rev.  \V.  G.  Minnick,  the  first 
General  Synod  pastor  to  serve  the 
congregation.  Dr.  Scholl  again  be- 
came the  supply  during  the  interim 
of  pastorates  until  Rev.  C.  E.  Ar- 


>.    Ll'THKRAX    flU'ROII, 

BAI.TIMORK,  Mn. 


nold  was  called,  and  from  the  retiring  of  Rev.  Arnold  until  Rev. 
P.  II.  Miller,  D.I).,  assumed  charge.  During  Rev.  Minnick 's  pas- 
torate the  parsonage  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $2.800  in  fee. 

As  the  result  of  the  division  on  the  question  of  secret  orders 
and  the  consequent  weakening  of  the  congregation  in  members 
and  financial  ability,  it  became  necessary  to  apply  to  the  Board 
of  Home  Missions  for  aid.  This  was  granted  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  C.  E.  Arnold  and  continued  until  the  end  of  the  fourth 
year  of  Rev.  Dr.  Miller's  ministry,  when  the  congregation  again 
became  self-supporting. 

During  Dr.  Miller's  pastorate  the  church  was  improved  and 
beautified  and  modern  improvements  made  at  the  parsonage. 
The  growth  of  the  congregation  in  recent  years  has  been  steady ; 
the  full  apportionment  laid  by  the  Synod  for  benevolence  has 
been  more  than  met  and  the  devotion  of  the  members  has  given 
the  congregation  a  place  in  the  church  life  of  the  city. 

Mr.  John  C.  Louis,  who  heartily  seconded  Dr.  Miller's  pro- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  247 

posal  to  improve  and  beautify  the  church  and  gave  it  lio.Tal 
financial  support  and  who  has  always  favored  every  progressive 
movement,  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  the  work  of  the  church  in 
recent  years. 

The  mission  was  served  by  the  following  pastors:  Rev.  A. 
Pflueger,  1876-1878;  Rev.  G.  T.  Cooperricler,  1879- July,  1882; 
Rev.  J.  E.  Doerman,  May  1,  1885-December,  1887;  Rev.  R.  C. 
Lenski,  January,  1886-1888. 

After  its  organization  as  a  congregation  Rev.  Lenski  served  as 
pastor  for  a  few  months.  lie  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  T.  Rogne, 
September,  1889-March,  1892;  Rev.  Robert  E.  Golladay,  June, 
1892-1905;  Rev.  Fred  Schuh,  July  1- August  6,  1907,  all  of  the 
Joint  Synod  of  Ohio.  Rev.  W.  G.  Minnick,  January  16,  1908- 
January  1.  1910;  Rev.  C.  E.  Arnold,  August  1,  1910- April  18, 
1912;  Rev.  P.  II.  Miller,  D.D.,  June,  1912,  to  the  present,  of  the 
General  Synod. 

EPIPHANY   LUTHERAN   CHURCH   OF   POWELL- 
XAROX,  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  F.  A.  Hightman,  Pastor. 

The  Home  Mission  Board  made  a  canvass  of  the  Belair  Av- 
enue, south  of  Overlea,  in  January,  1908,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr. 
F.  C.  Oyeman  to  his  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Harry  D.  Newcomer,  and  a 
further  canvass  by  the  Rev. 
Charles  J.  Hines  discovered 
"many  Lutheran  families  who 
were  desirous  of  a  church  of  their 
own,  and  one  of  whom  would  in 
all  probability  donate  a  lot." 
This  lot  and  another  a  year  later, 
were  generously  donated  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Frederick  X.  Powell. 
The  present  site  was  selected  by 
the  Rev.  A.  Stewart  Hartman. 
D.D.,  in  the  presence  of  our  pas- 
tor, who  assumed  charge  of  the 
work  in  March,  1909.  but  was  not 
released  from  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sion on  Park  Heights  until  Sep- 

REV.  F.  A.  HIGHTMAN. 
tember,  1909. 

Our  congregation  was  organized  on  May  10,  1908,  in  the  Pow- 
ell Hay  Barn,  with  thirty-one  members  present,  but  the  charter 


248  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOO. 

was  held  open  a  month  longer,  when  fifty  members  were  en- 
rolled. Here  they  worshipped  for  eight  months,  and  after  three 
more  months  in  the  Alert  Volunteer  Fire  Company's  Hall,  we 
moved  to  the  present  chapel  on  February  21,  1909.  The  first 
service  was  a  Foreign  Mission  service.  The  building,  having 
cost  about  $4.500,  was  not  furnished  with  other  than  the  neces- 
sary chairs  and  the  crude  pulpit  used  already  in  the  Hay  Barn. 
A  beautiful  altar  and  pulpit,  etc..  valued  at  about  $500,  were 
soon  added,  and  in  April  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell  gave  us  a  pleasant 
surprise  in  donating  as  a  most  welcome  gift,  a  one-manuel  Moller 
Pipe  Organ,  which  has  greatly  inspired  our  worship.  In  1912-14 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  refrescoed  the  walls  and  the  Brotherhood 


MR.  <;.  F.  C.  OTEMAN,  MR.  MAX  MARTIN-, 

Baltimore,  Md.  Baltimore,  Md. 

laid  a  floor  on  the  cement  basement  and  covered  the  ceiling;  also 
cutting  a  doorway  on  the  east  side  through  the  stone  wall. 

Two  more  lots  adjoining  the  church  property  were  purchased 
iu  July.  1915.  and  our  present  property,  valued  at  $10,000,  was 
cleared  of  all  indebtedness  May  1.  1919,  with  an  excess  in  bank 
of  about  $500.  This  achievement,  as  a  result  of  the  liberality  of 
all  our  people  and  the  faithful  efforts  of  our  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
Brotherhood,  Sunday  school,  ete.,  has  now  again  been  crowned 
with  a  most  generous  offer. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell  have  again  given  us  great  encouragement 
by  authorizing  the  pastor  to  announce  on  May  4,  1919  (the  Sun- 
day preceding  our  eleventh  anniversary),  that  they  would  pro- 
vide in  their  will  to  donate  $15.000  toward  the  erection  of  a  new 
and  larger  church  building,  which  has  been  so  much  needed, 
especially  for  our  Sunday  school.  Thereupon  about  $1.600  was 
voluntarily  subscribed  at  once  by  a  few.  and  plans  laid  for  an 
effort  to  secure  $10.000.  if  possible,  in  two  years,  which,  with  the 
kindly  help  of  the  General  Board  of  Church  Extension,  and  the 
hearty  approval  by  resolution  of  the  local  Church  Extension  So- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  249 

piety,  who  gave  us  $500  in  1909,  we  trust  that  with  God's  help 
and  blessing  we  shall  he  enabled  to  carry  out  the  proposed  plan 
to  erect  a  church  costing  "not  to  exceed  $40,000."  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Powell  have  also  given  their  approval  to  such  a  building, 
and  so  the  vision  of  a  new  church  to  dedicate  to  the  glory  of  God 
may  become  a  reality  within  a  year  or  two. 

Three  other  important  events  need  only  to  be  referred  to: 
(1)  The  burning  of  our  second  mortgage,  December  11,  1912, 
which  had  been  given  to  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  to  se- 
cure a  loan  of  $1,000  without  interest;  (2)  the  changing  of  our 
name  by  substituting  "Epiphany"  for  "Grace  Evangelical,"  as 
voted  unanimously  by  a  congregational  meeting  on  December  22, 
1918,  as  the  State  Legislature  had  decided  to  extend  the  city  far 
enough  to  include  our  church  within  the  city  limits  after  Janu- 
ary 1,  1919,  and  thus  there  would  have  been  three  Lutheran 
churches  in  Baltimore  bearing  the  name  "Grace,"  and  (3)  the 
burning  of  our  first  mortgage,  June  16,  1919. 

The  present  active  membership  is  two  hundred  and  fifty. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MIX 

Rev.  John  G.  Fleck,  Pastor. 

On  September  25,  1905,  the 
Missionary  Committee  of  the  local 
Board  of  Church  Extension  of 
Baltimore  City  and  vicinity,  was 
instructed  to  look  into  the  field  on 
Park  Heights  Avenue,  between 
Druid  Hill  Park  and  Belvidere 
Avenue.  In  November  the  report 
of  the  committee  stated  that  the 
field  was  inviting  for  the  location 
of  a  Sunday  school  and  a  church. 
A  lot  was  suggested  upon  which 
the  Property  Committee  was  to 
take  action,  recommending  or  ap- 
proving. 

Unfortunately  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  mission,  difficulties 

i  •  ,     -,  ,         T  ,,  •,       T  REV.  JOHN  G.  FLECK. 

arose  which  delayed  the  work.    In 

September,  1907,  the  local  Board  recommended  the  project  to  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension. 

On  March  1,  1908,  Rev.  F.  A.  Hightman  was  placed  in  charge. 


250  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOD. 

After  a  preliminary  canvass  the  first  meeting  \vas  held  at  the 
home  of  Mr.  August  Snyder  on  March  I").  1908.  Two  weeks 
later.  March  29.  in  Flautt's  Hall.  Park  Heights  Avenue  and 
Shirley  Avenue,  the  Sunday  school  was  organized.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected:  Superintendent,  Henry  Hitter;  as- 
sistant superintendent.  Mrs.  Arthur  Droescher;  secretary.  J. 
Ferd  Rossiter;  treasurer,  Arthur  J.  Droescher;  organist.  Miss 
Isabelle  Snyder;  superintendent  of  Primary  Department.  Mrs. 
Henry  Ritter.  The  following  teachers  were  elected:  Misses 
Sophie  Otto.  Lillie  Ileinlein.  Anna  Hellwig,  Mabel  Ilightman. 
Isahelle  Snyder.  Mrs.  Henry  Ritter.  and  Rev.  Ilightman.  The 
enrollment  on  this  first  Sunday  was  forty-two.  Two  scholars  at- 
tended every  Sunday  during  the  first  year,  Leroy  Droescher  and 
Margaret  Moore. 

On  May  10.  1908.  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of 
Baltimore  City,  was  formally  organi/ed  with  thirty-eight  char- 
ter members.  The  following  composed  the  first  Church  Council : 
Messrs.  August  Snyder.  August  Ohlmeyer,  J.  Ferd  Rossiter. 
Christian  Ileinlein,  Louis  J.  Roth,  and  Henry  Ritter. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  whose  assistance  has  been  of  ines- 
timable value,  was  organi/ed  on  June  29,  190S.  with  the  follow- 
ing officers:  President.  Mrs.  Louisa  Vogt ;  vice-president.  Mrs. 
Louis  T.  Weis;  secretary.  Mrs.  Arthur  J.  Droescher;  treasurer. 
Miss  Isa belle  Snyder. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ilightman.  two  lots  were  pur- 
chased on  the  east  side  of  Pimlico  Road  facing  Kate  Avenue,  for 
the  future  site  of  the  church. 

Rev.  Ilightman  resigned  in  June.  1909.  but  continued  to  sup- 
ply until  September.  On  September  3.  1909.  Rev.  II.  E.  Berkey 
was  elected  pastor,  and  served  until  March  1,  1910. 

Rev.  G.  Albert  Getty,  D.I).,  having  supplied  the  pulpit  from 
April.  1910,  until  June,  was  elected  pastor,  and  assumed  charge 
about  June  1.  Brother  Getty  entered  the  work  with  energy  and 
planned  wisely.  On  July  3.  1910.  the  following  building  com- 
mittee was  appointed:  J.  Ferd  Rossiter.  Arthur  J.  Droescher. 
A.  F.  Homer.  Albert  Weis.  Rev.  Getty,  member  ex-officio.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  on  December  18.  1910. 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  on  June  18,  1911.  The  cost  was 
$16.250.  Rev.  Getty  resigned  February  1.  1915. 

Rev.  John  G.  Fleck,  the  present  pastor,  assumed  charge  on 
June  1.  1915.  In  June.  191<>.  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  was  organi/ed  with  the  following  officers: 
President.  Mrs.  X.  C.  Weller:  vice-president.  Miss  Ida  Soder- 
green  :  recording  secretary.  Miss  Clarinda  Ackler;  correspond- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


251 


ing  secretary.  Miss  Carrie  llaase;  treasurer,  Miss  Blanche  Son- 
nenburg;  magaxine  secretary,  Miss  Anna  Helhvig. 

In  March,  1917,  the  Mission  Band  was  organized.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected :  President,  Mrs.  E.  8.  Fritz ;  vice- 
president,  Miss  Esther  Messersmith;  secretary.  Miss  Elizabeth 
Deichman  ;  treasurer.  Miss  Charlotte  Ritter. 

The  present  communicant  membership  of  the  church  is  two 
hundred  and  twelve.  The  present  enrollment  of  the  Sunday 
school  is  two  hundred  and  fifty,  with  a  staff  of  teachers  and  offi- 
cers of  thirty.  Plans  are  now  being  worked  out  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  church  and  the  erection  of  a  Sunday  school  building. 
The  total  cost  of  the  improvements  will  be  about  $30,000. 


AUGSBURG  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BALTIMORE,  MI). 

Itev.  II.  H.  Hartman,  Pastor. 

The  local  Board  of  Church  Extension,  of  Baltimore  City,  on 
November  22,  1909,  called  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions  to  a  field  in  Walbrook,  Baltimore,  which  was  rich  in 
Lutheran   material,   where  .a   Lu- 
theran church  ought  to  be  organ- 
ized. 

On  December  13  the  local  board 
decided  to  concentrate  its  efforts 
for  the  year  on  one  point  as  a 
means  of  stimulating  the  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  local  board  and 
fixed  the  minimum  sum  of  $3,500 
to  be  raised  and  applied  to  the 
Walbrook  work. 

The  Missionary  Committee  of 
the  local  board  and  the  Board  of 
Home  Missions  requested  Rev.  II. 
H.  Hartman,  of  Newville,  Pa., 
who  had  organized  the  Church  of 
Our  Saviour,  West  Arlington,  and 
was  familiar  with  the  field,  to 
make  the  preliminary  canvass. 

The  result  of  the  brief  canvass  was  sixty-six  Lutheran  families, 
which  was  reported  at  the  meeting  of  the  local  board  on  May 
23,  1910.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  George  A.  Klinefelter,  a  member 


REV.  II.  H.  HARTMAN. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  local  board, 
offered  to  donate  $1.000  if  the  churches  of  the  city  raised  $2,500. 
and  the  whole  of  $.'$.500  be  donated  to  the  Walbrook  Mission. 

The  Board  of  Home  Missions  was  informed  of  this  action  and 
on  May  26,  1919,  called  Rev.  Ilartman  to  take  up  the  work  of 
organ  ixing  the  congregation. 

Rev.  Ilartman  began  work  on  the  field  on  August  1,  holding  the 
first  service  on  September  4.  1910,  at  :UHS  Mondawmin  Avenue, 
the  home  of  the  missionary,  the  rent  of  which  was  partly  paid  by 


AUGSBURG   LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  Mi>. 

the  Board  of  Church  Extension.  The  services  were  continued 
here  until  the  congregation  moved  to  the  lecture  room  of  the 
church. 

The  congregation  was  organized  as  the  Augsburg  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  on  October  In',  1910.  with  fifty -two  confirmed 
members  and  thirty-four  baptixed  children.  Rev.  H.  IT.  Hart- 
man  was  elected  the  first  pastor  of  the  congregation,  and  the  fol- 
lowing church  council  was  elected:  Elders:  AVm.  II.  Hoffman. 
John  J.  Buffington.  Deacons:  E.  C.  Stock,  G.  A.  Mong,  G.  J. 
Lindauer,  Benj.  II.  Keister.  A  resolution  recommending  the  loca- 
tion at  the  corner  of  Garrison  Boulevard  and  Bateman  Avenue 
as  the  future  site  of  the  church  was  unanimously  carried. 

The  church  was  completed  and  dedicated  on  January  21,  1912. 
It  has  two  floors,  is  built  throughout  of  Woodstock  granite,  has  a 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


253 


seating  capacity  of  four  hundred  in  the  main  auditorium,  and 
when  completed  and  furnished  cost  $40.000. 

In  1916  a  parsonage  was  built  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church. 
The  church  was  organized  as  a  mission  of  the  Home  Mission 
Board  and  was  aided  by  the  board.  In  1913-14  the  mission  was 
receiving  $750  aid.  On  February  1,  1919,  the  church  became 
self-sustaining.  The  Board  of  Church  Extension  assisted  the 
church  with  the  building  with  a  loan  of  $2.500  on  a  second  mort- 
gage, without  interest,  and  carried  the  interest  on  $7,500.  On 
November  15,  1915,  the  second  mortgage  was  taken  up  by  the 
church  and  the  board  was  relieved  of  all  further  interest.  The 
church  has  met  all  of  its  obligations  to  the  boards  of  the  church. 

The  Augsburg  Church  now  has  a  membership  of  three  hundred 
and  a  property  that  is  valued  at  $70,000.  There  is  a  nourishing 
Sunday  school  with  an  enrollment  of  two  hundred,  a  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  with  sixty  members,  a  Luther  League,  a  Men's  Bible 
Class,  and  a  Boys'  Scout  Troop. 

ZION  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  LAURAVILLE, 
BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Rev.  William  G.  31  in  nick.  Pastor. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1912  Rev.  A.  W.  Ahl,  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  at  Parkville,  Md.,  made  a  canvass  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  Lutherans  not  hav- 
ing church  connections,  at  Laura- 
ville,  Md.  He  found  a  consider- 
able number  who  deemed  it  ad- 
visable to  establish  a  Lutheran 
church  in  this  suburb  of  Balti- 
more. On  the  first  Sunday  in  Ad- 
vent, 1912,  a  Sunday  school  was 
organized  in  a  store  room  at  Cul- 
ver Avenue  and  Grindon  Lane. 
Twelve  teachers  and  scholars  were 
present.  The  Sunday  school  met 
Sunday  after  Sunday  and  its  ses- 
sions were  followed  by  services 
conducted  by  Rev.  Ahl,  alternate- 
ly in  the  German  and  English  lan- 
guage. The  first  helpers  in  the 
Sunday  school  were  Mrs.  George 
Koehler,  .Mrs.  (Jross.  Miss  Albrecht 
wald.  and  Mr.  Ilenrv  List. 


REV.  WILLIAM  G.  MINNJCK. 
Mrs.  Gvr.  Mrs.  Paul  Buck- 


254  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

On  January  7.  1918,  a  general  meeting  was  liekl  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  George  K ohler.  when  it  was  unanimously  decided  to  organ- 
i/.e  a  Lutheran  congregation  to  be  known  as  /ion  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  Lauraville.  Md.  A  constitution  was  adopted 
and  the  tirst  council  was  elected  as  follows:  President.  Rev.  Ahl; 
vice-president.  Charles  Sutfner;  treasurer.  George  Kohler;  s?c- 
retary.  Otto  Ilildehrand;  Christian  Diet/el,  Traugott  Lensch- 
ner,  Oscar  Preuss.  Oscar  Heller,  and  Herman  Xeaman.  Besides 
these,  the  following  were  charter  members:  Mrs.  Ganter.  Mrs. 
George  Kohler.  Mrs.  Otto  Ilildebrand.  Mrs.  Lenschner,  Mrs. 
Preuss.  Mrs.  Lenbccker.  Mrs.  Huckwald,  Mrs.  Gross,  Mrs.  Heller. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Munder.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adolph  Diet/,  Mr. 
Christian  AVittmer.  Miss  Wittmer.  Mrs.  Kreitler,  Mrs.  Myer.  Mrs. 
Linthicum,  Mrs.  Xeaman,  Mrs.  Koch,  and  Albert  Leubecker.  On 
January  18.  1918.  the  congregation  was  incorporated.  Services 
were  held  regularly  and  the  Holy  Communion  was  administered 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  German  language,  on  Good  Friday,  and 
in  the  English  language,  on  Easter  Sunday.  1918. 

On  June  12.  a  lot  on  Grindon  Lane  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$625.  Steps  were  taken  to  erect  a  chapel  and  the  contract  was 
given  to  James  Rufenacht  at  his  bid  of  $2.112.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  October  12.  1913.  The  church  was  dedicated  on  De- 
cember 12.  1918.  Rev.  II.  II.  Weber.  D.I).,  General  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Church  Extension,  delivered  the  sermon  and  had 
charge  of  the  finances.  Seventeen  hundred  dollars  were  pledged 
and  the  building  was  set  apart  to  the  service  of  God.  In  Febru- 
ary. 1915,  the  adjoining  lot.  corner  of  Grindon  Lane  and  Maine 
Avenue,  was  purchased  at  the  low  price  of  $550.  Rev.  Ahl  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  the  congregation  on  July  1.  1916,  and 
Rev.  M.  L.  Frank.  Ph.D..  became  his  successor  on  the  same  date. 

Rev.  Frank  made  a  canvass  of  the  community  and  while  he 
discovered  many  Lutherans,  he  found  that  they  were  not  willing 
to  sever  their  relation  with  the  churches  in  the  city.  Therefore 
he  began  a  campaign  among  the  young  people  and  organized  a 
Luther  League  Society  and  also  a  choir.  On  January  1.  1917,  it 
was  decided  to  hold  two  services  each  Sunday,  one  in  the  German 
and  the  other  in  the  English  language.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Frank,  the  number  of  scholars  in  the  Sunday  school  was  in- 
creased and  the  indebtedness  somewhat  reduced.  He  severed  his 
connections  with  the  congregation  on  November  1.  1917. 

It  was  then  decided  that  the  services  should  be  conducted  alto- 
gether in  English.  A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  William  G.  Min- 
nick.  and  he  assumed  charge  of  the  congregation  on  January  1. 
.  and  is  the  pastor  at  the  present  time.  Since  he  became  pas- 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  2oO 

tor  a  number  have  been  added  to  the  congregation,  the  Sunday- 
school  very  much  enlarged  and  the  indebtedness  both  on  the 
church  and  adjoining  lots  has  been  cancelled.  A  furnace  has  been 
installed  and  an  individual  communion  service,  a  piano,  an  altar 
railing,  and  a  bell,  have  been  presented  by  friends  of  the  pastor 
and  congregation.  The  council  is  now  considering  the  advisabil- 
ity of  erecting  a  new  church  or  of  enlarging  the  old  one. 

THE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  ATONEMENT, 
BALTIMORE,  Ml). 

Rev.  J.  B.  Lau,  Pastor. 

The  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Atonement  was  organixed  on  Sun- 
day. September  30.  1916,  Rev.  E.  K.  Bell.  D.D..  President  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  having  charge  of  the  services  and  officiating. 

A  preliminary  canvass  had  been  made  in  July  by  some  mem- 
bers of  the  Sunday  school  of  First  English  Lutheran  Church,  and 
very  gratifying  results  were  ob- 
tained. The  Church  Extension 
Society  of  the  city  procured  the 
services  of  Mr.  Paul  Wagner,  then 
a  student  in  the  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, to  canvass  the  commu- 
nity, and  a  house  to  house  canvass 
was  made,  resulting  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  church  with  most 
splendid  prospects. 

A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  .T. 
B.  Lau,  of  New  York  City,  to  be- 
come pastor.  This  call  was  ac- 
cepted and  Rev.  Lau  began  his 
work  on  December  15.  1916. 

The  property  committee  of  the 
Church  Extension  Society  of  Bal- 
timore Citv  purchased  a  lot  on 

IIT       ,  a,  i>       i  KKV.   J.    B.   LAU. 

Winchester    Street    near    Poplar 
Grove  Street,  the  congregation  agreeing  to  pay  $1,500. 

In  June,  1918,  a  new  lot  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Presst- 
man  and  Poplar  Grove  Streets,  for  which  the  sum  of  $3.000  was 
paid,  the  payment  of  which  was  completed  about  January  1,  1919. 

In  December,  1918,  the  council  purchased  the  property  at  1501 
Poplar  Grove  Street,  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage,  for  $3,000,  sub- 
ject to  a  ground  rent.  About  $1.200  of  this  amount  has  been 
paid. 


!'.)()  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Encountering  some  difficulties  in  securing  money  to  erect  a  new 
church  building,  the  council  made  overtures  to  the  council  of  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  congregation  for  a  merg'r  of  these  two  congre- 
gations. This  resulted  in  the  submission  of  terms  of  merger 
which  were  ratified  on  July  28.  1919.  Rev.  Lau  resigned  as  pas- 
tor of  the  Church  of  the  Atonement  in  October,  1919. 

At  the  time  of  the  ratification  of  the  merger  the  congregation 
had  a  confirmed  membership  of  two  hundred  and  forty-three 
and  an  enrollment  in  the  Sunday  school  of  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty. 

The  following  were  the  first  church  council:  Klders — C.  II. 
Gundersdorf,  Oscar  M.  Gibson,  George  C.  Cooper.  John  Lindner. 
Deacons— I.  Forrest  Otto.  W.  G.  X.  Rukert.  Stephen  \V.  Price. 
Conrad  Sweener. 


SALKM'S   LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BALTIMORE,  MI). 

h'n'.  K.  Walter  Srhmitt,  I'astor. 

This  congregation  is  one  of  the  latest  additions  in  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  Although  young  in  years  it  is  quite  old  in  experi- 
ence. The  storms  of  life  have 
passed  over  its  head  for  many 
years.  They  have  sometimes  bent 
its  branches  but  could  not  destroy 
the  tree. 

Salem 's  congregation  dates  back 
to  the  year  1SS5.  The  first  pastor 
was  the  Rev.  W.  1).  Kirschmann. 
During  his  ministry  the  present 
church  was  built.  lie  was  in 
charge  of  this  congregation  for 
over  twelve  years  until  March. 
1897.  when  his  resignation  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health  was  accepted. 

The  next  pastor  in  charge  was 
the  Rev.  John  C.  Rudolf,  from 
Kansas.  This  pastor  remained 
from  March.  1897.  until  June. 
1900.  Ilt.  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  William  Rooper.  from  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  The  latter  re- 
mained until  June.  1905. 

In  September.  190.").  the  Rev.  Krnst  von  Hahmann  was  elected 
as  the  new  pastor.     During  his  ministry  the  congregation  severed 


KK\.     K.     \V.\I.TKK    SCH  MITT. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  257 

all  former  synodical  connection,  believing  that  a  life  of  inde- 
pendence would  further  a  better  development.  Many  improve- 
ments were  made  on  the  interior  church  building  and  parsonage. 
Pastor  and  congregation  worked  hard  and  faithfully  to  solidify 
the  congregation.  His  ministry  in  Salem 's  lasted  until  August, 
1915,  a  ministry  of  ten  long  years  under  many  trying  circum- 
stances owing  to  local  conditions,  chief  of  which  was  the  language 
problem. 

The  successor  to  Dr.  von  Hahmann  was  the  Rev.  K.  Walter 
Schmitt.  He  came  here  from  San  Francisco,  California,  where 
he  had  been  working  in  the  interest  of  the  Home  Mission  Board. 
The  new  pastor,  firmly  believing  in  the  Synod,  persuaded  the 
congregation  to  rectify  the  former  attitude  and  come  into  the 
General  Synod.  Salem 's  Church  is  thus  the  third  independent 
German  congregation  the  pastor  persuaded  to  enter  the  General 
Synod. 

During  Rev.  Schmitt's  brief  ministry  here  the  old  mortgage 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was  paid  An  old  obliga- 
tion of  five  hundred  dollars  to  the  former  synod  was  settled  to 
give  to  the  congregation  a  legal  release.  The  English  language 
was  permanently  introduced  into  all  services  in  order  to  restrain 
the  younger  generation  from  worshipping  elsewhere  in  their  na- 
tive language.  Next  a  new  church  building  organization  was 
created  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Weber,  D.D.,  General 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension 
of  the  United  Lutheran  Church,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a 
new  church  or  remodelling  the  old  one  with  modern  accommoda- 
tions. And  with  God's  blessing  and  the  support  of  a  loyal  con- 
gregation Salem 's  Church  looks  forward  to  better  days.  For  it 
is  no  doubt  true  that  the  lack  of  these  accommodations  has  pre- 
vented a  better  growth  during  the  past. 

The  present  church  stands  on  historic  ground,  as  the  very 
names  of  the  surrounding  streets  indicate.  Opposite  the  River- 
side Park,  overlooking  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Patapsco  River, 
the  congregation  has  an  exceptional  location,  of  which  the  mem- 
bers are  exceedingly  proud.  With  better  church  facilities  this 
congregation  firmly  believes  that  it  still  has  a  mission  in  South 
Baltimore. 


17 


258  iHSTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

HOLY  roMFOKTKK   U'THKKAX  CHURCH, 
B  A  I/TIMOR  1 0,  Ml). 

AYr.  ^YiUia^n  A.  Wade.  Pastor. 

The  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Holy  Comforter  is  located  in  the 
extreme  northern  section  of  Baltimore,  corner  Ilarwood  Avenue 
and  York  Road,  formerly  known  as  Govans.  For  years  there  had 
been  a  recogni/.ed  need  of  a  Lutheran  church  in  this  section,  and 
so  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1911.  Rev.  J.  F.  Crigler,  then 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Lutherville,  made  a  canvass. 
The  first  meeting  was  called  for  October  29.  1911.  at  Parr's  Hall, 
and  forty  persons  responded.  One  week  later,  on  November  5, 
sixty  persons  signed  the  charter  roll,  and  the  congregation  was 
organ i/ed  and  incorporated  with  the  election  of  officers,  December 
31,  1911.  The  Sunday  school,  which  had  been  organized  with 
forty-four  members  November  19,  1911,  grew  nicely.  Rev.  Crig- 
ler. under  whose  efficient  leadership  the  congregation  grew  rap- 
idly, continued  as  missionary  pastor  in  addition  to  his  work  at 
Lutherville,  until  June  29.  1913.  A  splendid  foundation  was  laid 
by  Pastor  Crigler  for  a  strong  church  in  years  to  come.  The 
church  was  given  the  name  of  "First  Lutheran  Church  of 
Govans." 

Through  the  generous  assistance  of  the  local  Church  Extension 
Society  and  the  General  Church  Extension  Board,  an  excellent 
lot  was  purchased  for  ,$5,000.  Rev.  Norman  G.  Phillipy  was 
elected  pastor  and  took  charge  July  1,  1913,  being  installed  by 
the  former  pastor.  Rev.  J.  F.  Crigler,  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  C. 
Bowers,  November  9.  1913. 

On  May  26,  1914.  ground  was  broken  for  the  church  building, 
and  the  corner  stone  was  laid  July  12,  1914,  the  address  being 
made  by  Rev.  W.  II.  Dunbar.  D.I).  The  present  splendid  church 
of  gray  stone  was  dedicated  on  Sunday.  November  8,  1914,  the 
sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  II.  II.  Weber.  D.D.,  General 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension,  at  the  morning  serv- 
ice, and  Rev.  J.  A.  Clutx.  D.D..  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Gettysburg,  preaching  in  the  afternoon.  Rev.  C.  F.  Crigler  also 
assisted.  The  dedicatory  service  was  conducted  by  the  pastor. 
These  services  were  followed  by  special  services  for  several  nights, 
in  which  a  number  of  the  pastors  of  the  city  took  part. 

On  September  25.  1917.  the  pastor.  Xorman  G.  Phillipy,  de- 
parted this  life,  after  an  illness  of  some  weeks.  This  death,  which 
seemed  untimely  to  the  many  friends  in  the  church  and  out  of  it, 
brought  sorrow  into  the  hearts  of  all.  A  noble  man.  talented  as  a 


-*•    as 

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1 


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O  x 

U   g 

s 
a: 


260  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

leader  and  gifted  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him,  had  fallen  in  the  very  prime  of  life.  The  splen- 
did church  stands  as  a  lasting  monument  to  his  work.  Having 
found  the  congregation  worshipping  in  a  second  story  hall,  with 
a  membership  of  a  little  over  a  hundred,  he  departed  after  four 
years,  leaving  a  membership  doubled  and  worshipping  in  a  beau- 
tiful stone  church,  complete  in  all  the  arrangement  and  furnish- 
ings that  belong  to  a  Lutheran  church. 

On  Sunday.  December  9.  1917.  Rev.  "William  A.  Wade,  then 
pastor  of  Saint  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  Washington,  D.  C.,  was 
unanimously  elected  pastor  to  succeed  the  late  Rev.  N.  G.  Phil- 
lipy.  The  newly  elected  pastor  took  charge  the  first  Sunday  in 
February.  1918.  Installation  services  were  held  on  Sunday, 
March  i  1918.  Dr.  II.  II.  Weber.  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Church  Extension,  preaching  the  sermon  and  conducting  the 
service  of  installation. 

At  a  congregational  meeting  held  on  May  29.  1918,  the  name 
of  the  church  was  changed  to  "The  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Holy 
Comforter."  A  bronze  tablet  was  erected  in  the  vestibule  of  the 
church  in  memory  of  the  former  pastor. 

The  congregation  has  grown  steadily  and  substantially,  and 
now  the  communicant  membership  is  about  three  hundred.  The 
work  of  building  a  parsonage  on  the  lot  near  the  church  has  been 
completed,  and  with  this  newly  annexed  section  of  Baltimore 
developing  rapidly,  the  future  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
forter looks  bright. 

From  the  beginning  the  congregation  has  held  strictly  to  the 
common  service,  the  pulpit  gown,  etc.,  and  recently  vestments 
have  been  added  to  the  efficient  choir. 

The  church  council  has  been  trained  well  for  the  work  of  the 
church  and  they  take  the  deepest  interest  in  all  departments  of 
the  work.  The  Sunday  school  is  under  good  leadership  and  ranks 
among  the  best  equipped  schools  of  the  city.  The  young  people 
have  received  good  training  in  the  Luther  League.  The  Ladies' 
Guild  has  been  a  most  active  and  valuable  support  to  the  church. 
During  the  eight  years  of  its  existence  it  has  turned  into  the 
church  over  $f>.000.  The  Missionary  Society  is  also  doing  splen- 
did work  under  efficient  leadership.  The  Brotherhood  is  active 
and  doing  good  work. 

Mr.  John  E.  Adolph  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school : 
Mrs.  George  Edel  is  president  of  the  Ladies'  Guild  :  Mrs.  George 
Boone  is  president  of  the  Missionary  Society;  Mr.  S.  A.  Douglas 
is  president  of  the  Luther  League,  and  Mr.  James  Chambers  is 
president  of  the  Brotherhood. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


261 


LUTHER   MEMORIAL  CHURCH,   BALTIMORE,   MD. 

Rev.  L.  L.  Sieber,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

At  the  request  of  the  local  Board  of  Church  Extension  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  Paul  Wagner,  of  the  graduating  class  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  canvassed  the  territory 
of  North  Baltimore,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  the  number  of 
Lutherans  who  would  encourage  the  organization  of  a  mission. 
The  effort  resulted  in  securing 
sixty-six  names  of  persons  who 
promised  to  cooperate  and  become 
charter  members. 

The  first  services  were  con- 
ducted September  19,  1917,  in 
Waverly  Hall,  corner  Greenmount 
Avenue  and  Thirty-first  Street, 
and  were  conducted  once  a  Sun- 
day until  December  2,  3917,  when 
an  organization  was  effected 
with  thirty-two  charter  members. 
Later  there  were  added  thirteen 
more,  making  the  total  forty-fiv?. 

Students  from  the  seminary 
were  secured  as  supplies  until 
May  1,  1918,  with  the  hope  that 
one  of  the  young  men  graduating 
might  be  secured  as  pastor.  In 
this  hope  the  mission  was  disappointed.  Rev.  L.  L.  Sieber,  D.D.. 
of  Gettysburg,  supplied  the  mission  for  several  Sundays  and  was 
unanimously  elected  pastor  June  30,  1918,  and  by  the  endorse- 
ment of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension  be- 
came the  first  pastor. 

As  the  mission  was  organized  during  the  400th  Anniversary  of 
the  Reformation,  it  was  decided  to  name  the  mission  "The  Luther 
Memorial  Church  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. "  In  harmony  with 
the  name  the  first  $3,000  paid  to  the  purchase  of  a  lot  for  the 
church  was  secured  at  a  meeting  of  Baltimore  Lutheran  churches 
held  in  commemorating  the  400th  Anniversary  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, under  the  auspices  of  the  local  Church  Extension  Society. 

Regular  services  were  conducted  by  the  first  pastor,  Dr.  Sieber, 
twice  each  Sunday  during  the  summer  months,  and  the  congre- 
gation increased  to  seventy-four,  and  on  October  1  application 
was  made  to  be  received  into  the  Maryland  Synod,  in  whose 


REV.  L.  L.  SIEBER,  D.D. 


HISTORY  OK   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


hounds  it  is  located.  The  congregation,  with  its  pastor,  was  duly 
received  into  the  Synod  at  Frostburg,  Maryland,  December  •">, 
191 S.  Rev.  L.  L.  Sieber.  i)astor.  and  Mr.  S.  J.  Zepp.  delegate. 

The  congregation  celebrated  the  first  anniversary  of  its  pastor, 
•Inly  6.  1919.  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  seven  com- 
nmnieants  and  one  hundred  and  eighteen  enrolled  in  the  Sunday 
school.  It  has  secured  a  lot  for  the  future  chapel,  parsonage  and 
church  building,  in  one  of  the  finest  residence  sections  of  North 
Baltimore,  at  the  corner  of  (Juilford  Avenue  and  University 
Parkway,  at  an  expense  of  $6,500.  on  which  they  hope  soon  to 
begin  the  erection  of  a  chapel  and  parsonage. 


ST.   JOHN'S    LUTHERAN    CHURCH,    BROOKLYN, 
KALTIMOKK,  MI). 

7iYr.  P.  ('.  lluru<lorf.  Ph.D.,  I'astor. 

March  22.  1914.  about  nine  persons  met  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
John  Dornbush.  Brooklyn.  Anne  Arundel  County.  Maryland,  to 
organi/e  a  Lutheran  mission.  The  meeting  was  called  by  Rev. 

von  Ilahmann.  pastor  of  Salem 
Lutheran  Church.  Baltimore.  A 
congregation  was  organ  i/ed  that 
day. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  a  hall 
above  a  grocery  store  on  Septem- 
ber 28,  1914.  the  constitution  rec- 
ommended by  the  Home  Mission 
Board  was  adopted.  A  few  months 
later  the  newly  organ  ixed  congre- 
gation purchased  the  furniture 
and  effects  of  the  Missouri  Lu- 
theran Home  Mission  Board,  the 
mission  of  that  Synod  at  Brook- 
lyn having  disbanded. 

July  25.  1915.  Rev.  von  Ilah- 
mann resigned  as  the  pastor  of 
the  mission  and  accepted  a  call  to 
Amsterdam,  N.  Y.  Later  in  that 
year  the  Rev.  Walter  Schmitt.  of  Salem  Church.  Rev.  von  Ilah- 
mann's  successor,  took  charge  of  the  mission. 

June  18,  19KJ.  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Home  Mission 
Board.  Brooklyn  and  Lauraville  were  made  one  parish,  the  pastor 


KKV.  P.  c.  BUKGDORK,  PH. I). 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  263 

to  live  at  Lauraville.  Rev.  Dr.  Frank  was  recommended  by  the 
Home  Mission  Board  and  called  by  the  two  congregations. 

During  Rev.  von  Hahmann's  pastorate  the  congregation  had 
bought  a  lot  90x100  feet  on  Washington  and  Third  Streets.  Dur- 
ing Rev.  Schmittt's  pastorate  they  completed  the  payment  of 
$1,350. 

In  January,  1917,  Dr.  Frank  having  resigned,  the  trustees  of 
St.  John's  asked  Rev.  Paul  C.  Burgdorf,  Ph.D.,  of  Jerusalem 
Church,  Belair  Road,  Baltimore,  to  assist  the  congregation  and 
to  keep  together  what  was  left  of  the  mission.  Dr.  Burgdorf 
supplied  there  for  a  while.  Upon  recommendation  of  the  officers 
of  the  Home  Mission  and  Church  Extension  Board  the  congre- 
gation was  reorganized. 

On  account  of  the  war,  labor  and  material  being  too  high,  the 
officers  of  the  Synod  advised  the  building  of  a  temporary  build- 
ing, and  so  on  August  5,  1917,  the  congregation  decided  to  build 
a  frame  chapel  on  one  of  their  lots  facing  A^7ashington  Street. 
The  men  of  the  congregation  erected  the  chapel  with  their  own 
hands  in  less  than  three  days,  the  cost  being  about  $1,170.  The 
building  was  consecrated  December  4,  1917. 

With  the  completion  of  the  splendid  Hanover  Street  Bridge, 
connecting  Brooklyn  and  Curtis  Bay  with  Baltimore,  and  the  an- 
nexation of  the  village  to  the  city,  bright  prospects  are  facing  the 
little  village  across  the  river. 


ST.    PETER'S   LUTHERAN    CHURCH    OF    BALTI- 
MORE COUNTY,  MI). 

(CALVARY  CHARGE.) 
Itcv.  W.  C.  Erncij,  Supply  Pastor. 

The  record  of  the  church  does  not  give  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  first  council.  The  first  communion  was  held  on  April 
29,  1838,  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Harp  1.  Twenty  persons  communed. 
The  names  of  the  pastors  succeeding  Rev.  Ilarpel  and  the  years 
of  beginning  service  are  as  follows : 

Rev.  P.  Willard,  1841;  Rev.  J.  Ruthroff,  1843;  Rev.  Elias 
Schwartz,  1845  ;  Rev.  Jacob  Kempffer,  1846 ;  Rev.  Daniel  Hauer, 
1854;  Rev.  P.  Rizer,  1865;  Rev.  R.  Weiser,  1866;  Rev.  P.  P. 
Lane,  1870-1872;  Rev.  Ketterman,  1875;  Rev.  A.  H.  Burke. 
1877. 

Rev.  Burke  was  not  licensed  until  1879.  Revs.  Sill,  Warner, 
and  Hauer  assisted  Mr.  Burke  with  pastoral  duties  such  as  bap- 


204 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


tisins.  communions,  etc.,  until  ho  became  licensed.  During  Rev. 
Burke 's  pastorate  the  congregation  built  a  new  brick  church. 
Previous  to  the  building  of  the  church,  Lutherans  and  Reformed 
had  worshipped  jointly  in  the  old  stone  building,  but  with  the 
building  of  the  new  church  the  Reformed  members  withdrew  and 
left  the  church  purely  Lutheran. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Derr  became  pastor  in  October,  1886,  and  in  1887 
the  church  was  incorporated  according  to  the  laws  of  the  State 


MR.  .Jos KIM i  I,.  WALTEMYKR. 


MR.  THKOPORK  F.  SIIEARF.K. 


of  Maryland.  The  incorporators  were  the  following  persons: 
Daniel  F.  Shearer.  George  L.  Peterman,  George  Folk  and  John 
E.  Slyder.  Later  pastors  were : 

Rev.  S.  F.  Tholan,  1901-1904;  Rev.  L.  W.  Gross,  May,  1904- 
April,  1906;  Rev.  Samuel  Stauffer,  June,  1906-March,  1908; 
Rev.  William  D.  Nicholl,  April,  1908-April,  1910;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Kellar,  May.  1910- June,  1912. 

In  1913  the  Ilampstead  congregation  decided  to  divide  the 
Ilampstead  charge,  thus  leaving  St.  Paul  and  St.  Abraham's  to 
form  a  charge  of  their  own. 

Rev.  Frank  Gilbert  became  pastor  of  this  charge  on  January 
1.  1915,  and  resigned  October,  1917. 

At  present  Hev.  \V.  ( •.  Erney  is  supplying  this  congregation. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  265 

ST.  ABRAHAM'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BECKLEYSVILLE,  MD. 

(CALVARY  CHARGE.) 

Rev.  IV.  C.  Erney,  Supply  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1854  by  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Hauer.  For  about  twenty  years  it  was  served  by  the  same  pas- 
tors as  St.  Peter's  Church,  near  Alesia.  These  were:  Rev.  Dan- 
iel Hauer,  1854;  Rev.  P.  Rizer,  1865;  Rev.  R.  Weiser,  1866; 
Rev.  P.  P.  Lane,  1870. 

Then  for  a  short  time  the  congregation  was  under  the  influ- 
ence and  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Uriel  Graves,  who  had  come  from 
Baltimore  after  a  spectacular  trial  at  the  hands  of  a  synodical 
committee.  During  this  period  the  church  was  independent  of 
synodical  relationship.  Rev.  Graves  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Archer,  also  of  the  so-called  ' '  Independent  Synod. ' '  Rev.  Archer 
was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate  of  this  congregation  by  the  Rev. 
A.  H.  Burke,  who  began  to  serve  the  Hampstead  charge  in  1877. 
In  1886,  when  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr  became  pastor  of  that  charge. 
St.  Abraham's  again  affiliated  with  the  Maryland  Synod.  After 
Rev.  Derr's  resignation  the  following  pastors  served  the  congre- 
gation :  Rev.  S.  F.  Tholan,  1901-1904 ;  Rev.  L.  W.  Gross,  1904- 
1906;  Rev.  Samuel  Stauffer,  1906-1908;  Rev.  W.  D.  Nicholl, 
1908-1910;  Rev.  J.  H.  Keller,  1910-1912. 

In  1913  the  Hampstead  charge  was  divided:  St.  Peter's  and 
St.  Abraham's  constituted  a  new  charge,  known  as  Calvary. 
This  charge  has  been  served  by  the  Rev.  Frank  Gilbert,  1915- 
1917,  and  since  October,  1917,  has  been  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
W.  C.  Erney. 

Mr.  Daniel  Beckley  was  a  prominent  member  of  this  congre- 
gation during  the  seventies  and  eighties.  He  owned  and  oper- 
ated a  paper-mill  which  was  a  large  factor  in  the  economic  life 
of  the  community  and  in  the  financial  affairs  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Joseph  L.  Waltemyer  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  for  seven  years.  He  is  the  father  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Walte- 
myer, our  pastor  at  Thurmont,  Maryland. 

SALEM  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CATONSVILLE,  MD. 

Rev.  John  C.  Bowers,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

On  September  30,  1849,  a  meeting  was  held  by  a  number  of 
Lutherans  in  Catonsville.  Maryland,  for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing a  congregation.  For  some  time  previous  they  had  cherished 


'2()f>  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  hope  of  having  a  church  of  their  faith  and  choice.  This  hope 
was  stimulated  by  frequent  visits  and  pastoral  ministrations  of 
Father  1 1  ever,  then  on  leave  of  absence  from  his  mission  station 
in  India. 

The  meeting  in  the  fall  of  1849  resulted  in  the  purchase  of  a 
plot  of  ground  about  a  mile  from  what  is  usually  designated  as 
"th:>  village."  a  reason  being  that  a  large  number  of  people  liv- 
ing in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  spot  were  Lutherans.  The 
lot  was  splendidly  located  and  large  enough  for  a  church,  par- 
sonage, school  house  and  cemetery.  These  three  buildings  still 
stand,  the  old  parsonage  being  occupied  by  the  caretaker  of  the 
cemetery,  the  school  house  being  used  by  the  School  Hoard  of 
Baltimore  County  for  public  school  purposes. 

Pursuant  to  an  oft  expressed  desire  funeral  services  are  fre- 
quently conducted  at  Old  Salem  Church,  and  occasional  services 
are  held  there  on  Lord's  Day  afternoons.  Many,  especially  of  the 
older  members  of  the  congregation,  have  deep  affection  for  the 
church,  with  which  their  parents  were  associated  and  the  center 
of  their  own  early  associations. 

Those  who  laid  the  foundation  for  the  newly  organized  con- 
gregation contributed  liberally  in  money,  labor  and  material,  and 
were  rewarded  by  seeing  as  the  result  of  their  sacrifice  and  labor 
a  picturesque  stone  edifice,  churchly  in  its  exterior  appearance 
and  in  its  interior  appointments,  equipped  with  bell,  which  rings 
daily  at  six  p.  m.,  a  sweet-toned  pipe  organ,  made  in  Europe,  and 
a  baptismal  font. 

The  list  of  members  in  1852  includes  such  locally  familiar 
names  as:  Maeseh,  Ege,  Gerwig,  Leimbach.  Spelhaus,  Wessling, 
Knuepling,  Piel,  Renz,  Dill,  Schneider,  Maisel,  and  Reich. 

The  first  regular  pastor  of  the  congregation  was  the  Rev.  A. 
Brockman,  a  man  of  great  energy  and  determination,  but  after  a 
brief  pastorate,  death  claimed  him  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  under  the  shadow  of  the  church  he  had  labored  so  un- 
selfishly to  establish. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  W.  Ebeling,  Ph.D.,  in  1854. 
Dr.  Ebeling  was  a  man  of  strong  personality,  lovable  disposition 
and  marked  ability,  receiving  his  degree  from  the  University  of 
Goettingen.  Under  his  pastorate  the  congregation  grew  numer- 
ically and  in  prestige.  With  a  fine  musical  education  and  pro- 
nounced linguistic  ability.  Dr.  Ebeling  was  much  in  demand  as 
a  teacher.  Overlea  College  is  the  natural  outgrowth  of  his  teach- 
ing. This  preparatory  school  was  founded  by  him  and  gained  an 
enviable  reputation,  and  many  successful  men  are  fond  of  re- 
ferring to  their  school  days  at  Overlea  and  their  distinguished  in- 


268 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


structor  there.  It  was  an  occasion  of  rare  joy  to  pastor  and  peo- 
ple when  in  October,  1899,  they  observed  in  a  fitting  way  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  Salem  congregation. 

Because  of  Dr.  Ebeling's  age.  Rev.  M.  L.  Enders  was  chosen 
assistant  pastor  in  June,  1901.  The  following  August  he  was 
elected  pastor  and  Dr.  Ebeling  made  pastor  emeritus.  Dr.  Ebel- 
ing  departed  this  life  September  25.  1901,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  buried  in  Salem  Cemetery. 

In  December,  1901,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new  church,  more 

in  the  center  of  Catonsville  and  its  business  interests  and  real 

estate  development.     A  site  at  Frederick  and  Newburg  Avenues 


SAI.KM  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CATOXSVIU.E,  MD. 

was  finally  selected  and  in  October,  1902.  ground  was  broken,  the 
corner  stone  being  laid  Palm  Sunday,  190:].  The  dedication  oc- 
curred October  18.  1903,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the 
pastor's  father,  Rev.  G.  W.  Enders,  D.D.,  York,  Pa.  At  the 
afternoon  service  a  large  number  of  Lutheran  ministers  from 
Baltimore  were  present  and  made  addresses,  the  present  pastor 
being  among  the  number.  Pastor  Enders  was  admirably  adapted 
for  the  important  work  accomplished  during  the  nine  years  of  his 
pastorate.  Many  new  members  were  received,  the  finances  con- 
ducted in  a  conservative  and  judicious  manner,  the  synodical 
benevolences  always  met  and  a  fine  church  of  Port  Deposit  gran- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


269 


ite  with  a  seating  capacity  of  over  four  hundred  and  an  indebted- 
ness of  only  $2,600,  was  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  God  by  a  happy 
pastor  and  people. 

In  1910,  Pastor  Enders  having  accepted  a  pressing  call  to  St. 
Paul's,  Cumberland,  Rev.  John  C.  Bowers.  D.D..  was  called  as 
his  successor.  During  the  little  more  than  nine  years  of  Dr. 
Bowers'  pastorate  the  original  indebtedness  has  been  paid,  and 
a  fine  parsonage  erected  adjoining  the  church.  An  addition  cost- 
ing more  than  twelve  thousand  dollars  was  made  to  the  Sunday 
school  building  three  years  ago.  making  it  an  ideal  in  even'  re- 
spect. The  church  and  Sunday  school  building  have  been  fres- 
coed and  some  fine  memorials  added  to  those  previously  installed. 
A  more  liberal  and  devoted  people  one  cannot  find,  possessing  a 
church  property  which  cannot  be  surpassed  in  Baltimore  County. 


ST.  PAUL'S  AXD  ZTOX  LUTHERAX  CHURCHES, 
CORDOVA,  MD. 

Rev.  C.  Freudenreich,  Pastor. 

It  wras  a  little  over  twenty  years  ago.  in  1899,  that  the  first 
German  came  to  Talbot  County,  Maryland.  In  the  course  of  the 
following  five  years  or  so  more 
families  immigrated  from  the 
West.  They  came  mostly  from 
Nebraska,  but  a  few  from  Iowa 
and  Missouri.  In  all  they  com- 
prised about  twenty-five  families. 

In  1900  the  first  German  serv- 
ices were  held.  These  were  con- 
ducted by  pastors  of  the  Missouri 
Synod  and  then  by  pastors  of  the 
Evangelical  Synod  of  North 
America.  These  services  were 
held  at  Longwood,  Md.  In  1906 
Rev.  Reiss  took  charge  of  the 
field. 

In  1908  a  disagreement  con- 
cerning the  location  of  the  church 
building  caused  a  split  in  the  con- 
gregation. The  Cordova  people 
organized  a  new  congregation  and  built  a  church  of  their  own — 
the  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  Longwood  people  purchased  the  old  Baptist   church  at 


REV.  C.  FREUDEXREICH. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Longwood  aiul  organized  a  congregation.  This  they  called  Zion 
Lutheran  Church. 

In  1909  both  congregations  decided  to  join  the  General  Synod 
and  identified  themselves  with  the  Maryland  Synod. 

Rev.  Reiss'  pastorate  terminated  in  1912.  having  continued 
about  six  years.  From  then  until  May,  191:$.  no  regular  minister 
was  in  charge,  except  for  a  few  months  when  a  student  from 
Wittenberg  Seminary.  Springfield.  Ohio,  served  them. 

In  May.  1913.  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  C.  Freudenreich.  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  field.  He  hopes  soon  to  introduce  and  mul- 
tiply the  English  services  in  these  congregations. 

St.  Paul's,  at  Cordova,  comprises  about  twelve  families,  while 
Zion  Church,  at  Longwood,  comprises  about  thirteen  families. 


FIRST  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  ELLTCOTT 
CITY.  MI). 

Her.  A.  G.  XuJl.  Pastor. 

Ten  miles  from  Baltimore,  Md..  which  place  has  now  become 
one  of  the  chief  seaports  for  America  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  one 
comes  into  a  narrow  but  a  very  productive  valley  situated  at  the 
intersection  of  the  main  artery  of 
the  system  of  highways  from  the 
Middle  North  and  \Y-st.  and  the 
grand  old  Patapsco  River.  It  was 
just  at  this  very  spot  that  the  first 
train  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
system  of  railroads  in  America 
was  run  from  the  above  city. 

Here  it  was  that  a  colony  of 
(Jermans  settled  in  the  years  1S40 
to  1845.  Of  these  old  founders  we 
have  laid  to  rest  perhaps  a  half 
dozen  in  the  past  year.  1919. 
Their  church  was  to  them  a  mat- 
ter of  first  importance,  but  the 
only  Lutheran  church  in  reach 
was  Salem  congregation  at  Ca- 


KEV.  A.  (i.  NULL. 


tonsville.  four  miles  distant.  So 
thither  they  journeyed  Sunday 
after  Sunday,  some  on  farm  wagons,  others  walking  through 
sunshine  and  shower,  through  mud  and  snow.  There  the  chil- 
dren were  christened  and  afterwards  confirmed.  There  their 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY.  271 

dead  were  laid  to  rest  and  their  sons  and  daughters  united  in 
marriage. 

But  as  the  years  moved  slowly  on  the  distance  seemed  to 
lengthen  and  become  a  burden.  For  there  were  110  automobiles 
then,  not  even  many  vehicles  drawn  by  horses.  And  naturally  an 
agitation  arose  as  to  a  church  in  their  very  midst.  Early  in  3874 
the  members  of  Salem  congregation  living  in  and  about  Ellicott 
City  were  called  together  in  a  meeting  that  was  to  be  a  memorable 
one.  In  that  meeting  one  heard  family  names  like  Laumann, 
Kraft.  Hermann,  Wehland,  Rodey.  Werner,  -Keiner,  Engle, 
Wiese.  Dontell,  Meier,  Bauer,  Gerwig,  Wosch,  Buetefisch,  and 
many  others.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Rev.  Martin 
Kratt.  an  independent  pastor.  Twenty-five  charter  members 
were  enrolled.  Services  were  held  in  the  different  homes  for  a 
time.  Then  Charles  J.  Werner  offered  all  the  granite  stone,  to- 
gether with  the  corner  stone  towards  a  church  building.  The 
building  was  begun  at  once.  It  was  a  two-story  frame  building, 
about  thirty  by  forty-five  feet,  and  was  dedicated  in  1875.  It 
cost  about  $3,500. 

In  1877  Rev.  Martin  Kratt  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  E.  Lehnert,  who  served  until  1881,  when  he  gave  up  work 
here.  Dr.  Ebeling,  then  pastor  at  Salem,  Catonsville,  supplied 
it  in  connection  with  his  own  work,  for  one  year.  In  1882  Rev. 
Rhodes,  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  took  charge,  but  after  eight 
months  resigned  the  field.  It  was  then  that  Rev.  E.  C.  Ide,  fa- 
ther of  Dr.  E.  E.  Ide,  now  pastor  of  Trinity  Church,  Baltimore, 
came  upon  the  field.  He  labored  earnestly  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  In  1884  the  congregation  joined  the  Maryland 
Synod. 

Rev.  C.  F.  W.  Ilartlage,  of  the  Joint  Synod  of  Ohio,  followed 
Rev.  Ide,  and  ministered  here  till  about  1907.  During  his  pas- 
torate the  church  was  remodeled  and  stained  glass  windows  were 
installed. 

In  1908  Rev.  I.  Wegner  became  pastor.  In  his  five  years  of 
service  here  a  splendid  parsonage  was  erected  by  the  side  of 
the  church.  It  is  a  three-story  frame  building,  and  cost  about 
$2,200. 

In  1912  Pastor  Wegner  resigned  and  Rev.  Earl  S.  Rudisill 
from  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  supplied  for  two  summers  and 
did  excellent  work. 

In  1915  Rev.  II.  C.  Fultz  gave  up  his  work  in  Washington, 
D.  C.,  and  came  to  this  field.  He  succeeded  in  rallying  the  peo- 
ple and  at  once  began  to  remodel  the  church  extensively.  A 
vapor  heating  plant  was  installed  in  the  house  and  church  at  a 


272  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

cost  of  over  $900.  The  ceiling  of  the  church  was  lowered  and  a 
choir  loft  was  built  to  accommodate  a  pipe  organ  at  some  future 
time.  New  altar  furniture  was  ordered  and  many  other  im- 
provements made.  When  the  remodelling  was  about  finished  and 
before  the  altar  furniture,  arrived  the  hand  of  death  took  Pastor 
Fultx.  from  his  labors  of  earth,  in  March.  1917. 

In  June  of  the  same  year  Rev.  A.  G.  Null  was  called  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  On  July  8  the  house  was  rededicated  with  large  audi- 
ences present.  Rev.  J.  C.  Bowers.  D.D..  pastor  of  Salem  Church, 
assisted.  The  improvements  cost  about  $5.000.  But  in  Febru- 
ary of  1919,  by  cash  and  subscriptions  the  debt  was  cancelled. 
A  fund  for  the  pipe  organ  is  now  being  gathered.  The  congrega- 
tion numbers  about  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  baptized  mem- 
bers. In  the  two  years  of  the  present  pastorate  the  Sunday 
school  attendance  and  enrollment  has  been  doubled.  The  pastor's 
salary  has  been  increased  twice  and  the  apportionment  fully  met. 
The  congregation  is  aggressive  and  growing. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
LUTHERVILLE,  MP. 

Essentially.  St.  Paul's  congregation  dates  back  to  the  year 
1853.  when  Dr.  J.  G.  Morris  founded  Lutherville  Seminary,  now 
Maryland  College;  but  practically  it  began  July  19.  1856,  when 
the  corner  stone  of  the  first  church,  a  one-story  frame  building, 
with  an  organ  loft  facing  the  pulpit,  was  laid.  For  twelve  years 
it  was  a  union,  or  rather  an  undenominational  church,  much  of 
the  time  without  a  regular  pastor,  but  served  alike  by  Methodist 
or  Lutheran  supply.  In  the  absence  of  any  minister,  Mr.  J.  R. 
Marsten.  one  of  the  founders  and  original  trustees,  would  read  a 
sermon  and  conduct  worship. 

On  September  7,  1869.  it  became  distinctly  Lutheran  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  John  G.  Morris  and  Benjamin  Sadtler. 
Dr.  Morris  first  leased  to  the  church  the  lot  on  which  the  church 
now  stands  for  a  nominal  sum.  and  later  his  heirs  made  a  clear 
deed  of  property  to  the  congregation. 

For  many  years  Maryland  College  was  conducted  as  a  Lu- 
theran school  and  worshipped  altogether  with  this  congregation, 
but  in  the  last  ten  years,  through  a  change  in  presidents,  it  has 
become  undenominational,  though  many  of  the  students  regularly 
attend  St.  Paul's. 

In  December.  1869.  Mr.  Edward  I'hrlaub.  Hanoverian  consul, 
made  a  bequest  to  the  Sunday  school  of  $500.  the  interest  on 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AXD  VICINITY.  273 

which  was  to  be  used  to  purchase  books  for  the  library,  which 
fund  the  trustees  of  the  church  still  hold  for  that  purpose. 

For  many  years  the  Washington  Service  was  used,  but  in  1894 
the  Common  Service  was  introduced.  In  1882,  through  the  ef- 
forts of  Prof.  James  S.  Xussear,  organist,  a  large,  two-manual 
pipe  organ  was  installed  and  is  still  in  use  and  good  condition. 
In  1913  it  was  improved  by  the  addition  of  an  electric  motor. 

In  1897,  the  old  church  being  in  bad  condition,  the  council  and 
the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  F.  Crigler,  decided  to  tear  it  down  and  replace 
it  with  a  modern  stone  structure.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  in  1898,  the  first  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin 
Sadtler,  preaching  the  sermon. 

Through  the  efforts'of  St.  Paul's  pastor,  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Crigler, 
and  some  of  the  congregation,  the  new  and  nourishing  church  at 
Govans  was  begun. 

The  church  since  it  has  become  distinctively  Lutheran  has  been 
served  by  the  following  pastors: 

Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Sadtler.  1862-1876;  Rev.  J.  R.  Dimm, 
1877-1878;  Rev.  J.  G.  Morris,  1879-1889 ;  Rev.  A.  S.  Fichtern, 
1889-1890;  Rev.  W.  A.  Sadtler,  son  of  Dr.  Sadtler,  1890-1892; 
Rev.  D.  S.  Hoover,  1892-1895;  Rev.  S.  P.  Hughes.  1895-1896; 
Rev.  John  F.  Crigler,  1896-1915;  Rev.  P.  F.  Bloomhardt,  1915. 

From  its  members  have  gone  to  India  as  missionaries,  Miss 
Kate  Sadtler,  Mrs.  Albrecht,  Miss  Rebecca  Hoffman,  and  Dr. 
Eleanor  Wolf. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHEBAN  CHURCH, 
PARKVILLE,  MD. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Saltzgivcr,  Pastor. 

St.  John's  Church  was  organized  July  24,  1887,  with  thirty- 
two  members.  Previous  to  the  organization  two  services  were 
held  in  Hiss  Methodist  p]piscopal  Church,  Ilarforcl  Road,  by  the 
first  pastor  in  charge,  Rev.  Louis  Rymarski,  the  first  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  June  19,  1887,  when  sixty  persons  were  present,  and 
the  pastor  preached  on  the  sermon  from  Psalm  22:31,  "They 
shall  come  and  declare  his  righteousness  unto  a  people  that  shall 
be  born. ' '  The  second  meeting  was  held  on  July  17,  when  seventy 
attended.  At  the  close  of  that  meeting  the  people  present  voted 
to  be  organized  as  a  congregation.  July  24  was  set  for  that  pur- 
pose. On  that  day  a  constitution  was  presented  by  the  pastor, 
which  was  received  and  adopted  by  the  members,  according  to 
18 


274 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


which  the  newly  organized  church  was  called  "Deutsche  Verein- 
igte  evangelist-he  (lutherischen-reformierte)  St.  Johannes  Ge- 
nieinde" — German  United  Evangelical  Lutheran  Reformed  St. 
John's  Congregation.  According  to  this  constitution.  Art.  1, 
sec.  3.  Luther's  Small  Catechism  and  the  Heidelberg  Catechism 

shall  be  used  as  text-books  for  the 
instruction  of  the  young,  and 
Art.  VIII  provides  that  both 
bread  and  wafers  shall  be  used  at 
Holy  Communion. 

On  the  day  when  the  organiza- 
tion was  effected  the  sum  of  $1,000 
was  subscribed  by  the  members 
for  the  erection  of  a  church  build- 
ing, a  mark  that  surpassed  the 
hopes  of  many  for  the  day. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  present 
church  building  was  laid  Sunday 
afternoon.  September  11,  1887,  by 
the  first  pastor,  who  was  assisted 
in  the  service  by  the  Revs.  Edward 
TTuber.  Nicholas  Buckhardt,  both 
of  Baltimore  City,  and  Rev.  Hyde, 
of  Hiss  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  building  was  completed  and  dedicated  Sunday 
afternoon,  November  27,  when  the  same  ministers  who  assisted  in 
the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  were  present  and  took  part  in  the 
dedication  service. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  on  the  morning  of  the  day 
when  the  church  was  dedicated,  the  pastor  being  the  first  super- 
intendent. The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  was  organized  in  the  same 
month,  November,  1887.  The  first  communion  was  held  on 
Christmas  Day.  1887.  when,  according  to  the  records,  twenty- 
eight  persons  took  part  in  the  celebration.  The  Young  People's 
Society  was  organized  by  the  sixth  pastor  in  charge.  Rev.  August 
E.  Ernst,  September,  1907. 

The  pastors  of  the  congregation  have  been  as  follows:  Rev. 
Louis  Rymarski.  June,  1887.  to  November,  1888;  Rev.  Karl  Buff. 
November.  1888,  to  October,  1892;  Rev.  Dr.  Pape,  October,  1892, 
to  December,  1893;  Rev.  Henry  Gyr.  December.  1893.  to  Sep- 
tember. 1899;  Rev.  Richard  W.  Jungfer.  October.  1899,  to  March. 
1900;  Rev.  August  E.  Ernst,  July.  1906.  to  August,  1908;  Rev. 
Frederick  Hahn-Zumpf.  August.  1908,  to  June.  1909;  Rev. 
Richard  Ulhorn.  February.  1910.  to  April.  1912;  Rev.  A.  William 


RF.V.  W.  K.  SALTZGIVER. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


275 


Ahl.  May.  1913.  to  October.  1916 ;  Rev.  Henry  C.  Schlueter,  D.D., 
October' 15.  1916.  to  March  1,  1918. 

The  congregation  was  received  into  the  Maryland  Synod  in 
January.  1918. 

It  was  in  July,  1918.  that  a  call  was  extended  to  the  present 
pastor,  then  pastor  of  the  Uniontown  Lutheran  charge.  He  en- 
tered the  field  August  1,  1918. 

Since  that  date  the  communicant  membership  has  been  in- 
creased from  forty  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  ten.  The  con- 
gregation has  a  substantial  church  building  and  a  modern  par- 
sonage, valued  at  $10.000,  free  from  debt.  The  Sunday  school 
has  a  membership  of  117,  the  Luther  League  45,  and  the  Ladies' 
Aid  30.  The  Board  of  Home  Missions  gives  help  in  raising  the 
pastor's  salary  in  the  amount  of  $200  annually. 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
REISTERSTOWN,  MD. 

Rev.  Paul  W.  Quay,  Pastor. 

Trinity  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  August  10.  1855,  by 
Rev.  Daniel  Hauer,  itinerant  pastor  of  Manchester,  Bachman's. 
St.  Paul's  (Arcadia),  Schaeffer's,  and  Hofifacker's.  at  the  home 
of  John  Gies,  Sr.  Fourteen  char- 
ter members  were  present.  A 
committee  of  two,  John  Gies,  Sr., 
and  Lewis  Tritle,  was  named  to 
secure  a  suitable  place  of  worship, 
and  Lewis  Tritle  was  appointed  to 
apply,  in  behalf  of  the  newly 
formed  congregation,  for  admis 
sion  into  the  Maryland  Synod. 
The  little  flock  was  received  by  the 
Synod  the  same  year.  They  met 
for  worship  in  the  lower  room  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Hall  from  1855 
to  1866.  being  served  successively 
by  Rev.  William  Heilig,  of  Lu- 
therville  (1855-59)  ;  Rev.  J.  M. 
Orabill  (1860-61),  and  Rev.  Jos- 
eph R.  Focht  (1861-64).  During 
Rev.  Grabill's  pastorate  Reister- 
town  was  united  with  St.  Paul's  (Arcadia)  and  Trenton  congre- 
gations into  one  charge,  and  when  Rev.  Focht  became  pastor 


REV.  PAUL  W.  QUAY. 


276 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


the   name   "Harmony 

not  become  known  as 

School"    until    about 


Chestnut   Ridge  was  added.     Rev.  Focht  preached  in  both  the 
German  and  English  languages. 

While  yet  occupying  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  the  Sunday  school  was 
organ ixed  (September  IS.  18641  under 
Sunday  School."  The  organization  did 
"Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  Sunday 
1890.  although  it  had  become  distinctly  Lutheran  long  before 
that  time.  The  h'rst  superintendent.  Lewis  Tritle.  was  succeeded 
after  a  year  by  Reister  Russell,  who  served  in  that  capacity  from 
1866  to  1878.  and  again  from  1899  to  1918.  Brother  Russell  was 

present  at  the  organixa- 
tion  of  the  Sunday  school 
and  continued  a  faithful 
member  thereof  for  fifty- 
four  years.  He  is  still  ac- 
tive in  the  life  of  the 
church  and  a  highly  es- 
teemed member  of  the 
council. 

At  the  resignation  of 
Rev.  Focht.  Rev.  Jacob 
Martin,  of  Westminster, 
was  elected  to  serve  the 
combined  congregations. 
During  the  early  years  of 
Rev.  Martin's  pastorate, 
the  little  flock  began  to 
feel  the  need  of  a  more  fit- 
ting plaee  of  worship. 
Accordingly  a  subscrip- 
tion list  was  opened  and  the  work  commenced.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  July  8.  1866.  and  the  building  dedicated  the  follow- 
ing year.  Mention  is  made  in  the  records  of  the  faithful  and  ef- 
ficient service  of  the  Building  Committee.  John  Geis,  Sr.,  George 
Kephart.  and  George  Crawford.  In  1867  Rev.  Martin  resigned 
from  St.  Paul's  and  devoted  all  his  time  to  Trinity,  until  he  left, 
in  1871. 

Rev.  Ileilig  again  came  to  the  aid  of  this  congregation  and 
served  them  in  connection  with  Chestnut  Ridge.  But  the  dis- 
tance between  the  two  churches  made  the  combination  impracti- 
cable and  accordingly  Rev.  Ileilig  resigned  after  two  years  of 
service  here. 

Then  Reisterstown  was  reunited  with  St.  Paul's  and  Rev.  C. 
Lepley.  who  had  been  supplying  the  latter,  was  elected  to  serve 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
KKJSTERSTOWX,  Mt>. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICIXITY.  277 

the  new  charge.  He  accepted  and  continued  his  work  with  the 
combined  congregations  until  1881.  Rev.  Lepley  was  the  first 
pastor  to  occupy  the  Reisterstown  parsonage,  a  double-brick 
dwelling  adjoining  the  church,  which  had  been  purchased  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation. 

Rev.  Lepley  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Albert  Bell,  of  the  Gettys- 
burg Seminary,  as  pastor  of  Trinity  and  St.  Paul's,  and  at  the 
termination  of  his  pastorate  (1884),  Rev.  George  H.  Beckley  was 
elected.  Rev.  Beckley  served  the  combined  congregations  for 
thirteen  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time,  "because  of  the  age  of 
their  pastor  *  *  the  congregation  at  Reisterstown  concluded 
to  withdraw  from  St.  Paul's  and  keep  Rev.  Beckley  to  themselves 
*  the  Synod  sanctioned  the  separation."  Rev.  Beckley  con- 
tinued his  pastorate  at  Trinity  seven  years  longer,  finally  giving 
up  the  work  in  October,  1904. 

Rev.  Silas  H.  Culler,  from  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  was 
elected  to  fill  the  place  of  the  retiring  pastor  and  commenced  his 
labors  early  in  1905.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  congrega- 
tion, which  had  been  steadily  growing  in  numbers  and  influence 
during  the  half  century  of  its  history,  determined  to  erect  a  new 
place  of  worship  on  the  site  of  the  building  then  being  used.  A 
building  committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Reister  Russell,  John 
Neel,  F.  H.  Zouck,  Kephart  Pfeffer,  and  G.  H.  Stevenson,  was 
elected.  The  old  edifice  was  soon  torn  down  and  the  new  one 
under  way.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  August  5,  1906,  and  the 
building  completed  and  dedicated  the  following  summer. 

The  new  church  is  an  ornamental  brick  structure.  It  contains 
four  memorial  windows,  which  are  surpassed  for  beauty  and 
quality  of  workmanship  by  few  larger  churches.  During  Rev. 
Culler's  pastorate,  J.  Edward  Graefe,  a  member  of  Trinity  con- 
gregation, graduated  from  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  was  or- 
dained by  the  Maryland  Synod,  and  is  now  rendering  noble  and 
efficient  service  in  the  Guntur  mission  of  India. 

The  present  pastor.  Paul  W.  Quay,  took  up  the  work  here  on 
May  16,  1918.  The  community  promises  to  grow  and  the  golden 
age  of  Trinity  Lutheran  lies  before  her. 

ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
SPARROW'S  POINT,  MD. 

Rev.  Will  F.  Bare,  Pastor. 

Many  of  the  pioneers  who  helped  to  build  the  steelworks  at 
Sparrows  Point  were  Lutherans  from  Pennsylvania.  They  longed 


278 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


for  tlu>  church  of  their  fathers  and  began  by  organizing  a  Sun- 
day school  in  the  public  school  building  located  at  Fourth  and  D 
Streets.  Pastors  from  Baltimore  on  various  <x-c.asions  came  and 
preached  to  the  Lutherans  on  the  Point.  Kev.  II.  II.  Weber, 
then  pastor  of  (Irace  Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore,  several  times 

brought  his  choir  and  church 
members  by  boat  to  Sparrow's 
Point  to  give  the  people  a  regular 
church  service.  The  Rev.  A.  S. 
Ilartman,  D.D..  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions,  had  the 
oversight  of  the  work  and  erected 
a  temporary  organization  Septem- 
ber 28.  1891. 

On  March  1.  1892.  the  Rev.  II. 
P.  Kroh  was  commissioned  by  the 
Board  as  the  first  regular  mis- 
sionary. He  served  the  congrega- 
tion for  one  year.  The  flock  was 
then  without  a  pastor  for  over  six 
years,  except  during  the  vacation 
of  1894,  when  George  Beiswanger, 
a  student  in  the  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, ministered  to  them.  Dur- 
ing this  long  vacancy  there  was  great  industrial  depression  be- 
cause of  the  panic  all  over  the  country.  Many  members  of  the 
church  accepted  employment  elsewhere.  Throughout  the  dis- 
couraging years,  until  the  next  pastor  came,  the  Gerhardts.  Sim- 
mons. Potteigers,  Gladfelters.  and  others,  maintained  their  or- 
gan i/at  ion  and  kept  alive  the  Lutheran  Sunda3r  school  in  the 
school  house. 

June  1.  1898,  a  brighter  day  dawned  upon  the  congregation. 
The  Rev.  C.  S.  Jones  became  the  second  pastor.  lie  served  the 
congregation  very  acceptably  for  two  years.  A  house  of  worship 
was  erected  during  his  pastorate.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new 
building  at  Seventh  and  D  Streets  was  laid  in  December,  1898. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  J.  Miller  on  August  1,  1900.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry  of  two  years  and  two  months  the  church  paid 
its  indebtedness,  except  a  mortgage  of  $500  held  by  the  Board 
of  Church  Extension. 

Rev.  George  I.  I'hler  became  pastor  November  1.  1902.  lie 
served  faithfully  for  nine  years  and  nine  months.  Pastor  Uhler 
secured  the  money  to  build  the  parsonage  adjoining  the  church. 
After  seven  years'  labor  he  had  the  joy  of  seeing  the  membership 


KEV.  WILL  F.  BARE. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  BALTIMORE  AND  VICINITY. 


279 


increased  to  one  hundred  and  four,  and  the  congregation  as- 
sumed self-support. 

The  late  Rev.  A.  D.  Bell  became  pastor  September  1,  1913,  and 
served  three  years,  when  on  account  of  failing  health  he  resigned. 

After  a  vacancy  of  eight  months,  on  March  1,  1917,  Rev.  Will 
F.  Bare  became  pastor  of  the  fifty-seven  members.  The  congre- 
gation still  owed  $475  on  the  mortgage  given  nineteen  years  be- 
fore. In  a  six  weeks'  campaign  they  paid  the  entire  indebtedness 
and  provided  a  nucleus  for  a  new  church  building.  The  one 
hundred  and  thirty  members  are  ready  to  contract  for  their  new 
church  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 

During  the  late  war  thirty-five  sturdy  Lutheran  lads  from  this 
congregation  entered  their  country's  service.  The  congregation 
led  the  Maryland  Synod  in  average  giving  for  the  Soldiers'  and 
Sailors'  Fund.  In  benevolence  for  the  Synod  the  contribution  is 
more  than  twice  the  apportionment. 

In  1917  the  congregation  sent  George  Mahaney  as  their  first 
student  for  the  ministry.  Herbert  M.  Linn,  the  second  candidate 
for  the  holy  calling,  entered  college  in  1919. 


SISTER  ZORA  HECKERT. 

House  Mother, 
Baltimore    Inner  Mission  Society. 


OTHER  MEMBERS  OF  THE  EASTERN  CONFERENCE. 


REV. 


HARRY   I).   XK\V COMER, 
Superintendent, 
Baltimore    Inner   Mission  Society. 


RKV.  J.  H.  TURXER,  D.D., 
Ruxton,  Md. 


REV.  (.'.  M.  EYSTER, 
Baltimore,  Md. 


CHAPLAIN  P.  F.  BLOOMHARDT, 
V.  S.  S.  "George  Washington." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

.Ret1.  John  T.  Huddle,  D.D.  Pastor. 

In  1800  the  capital  of  the  United  States  was  removed  to  the 
City  of  Washington.  Thirty-two  years  previously,  in  1768,  eight 
years  before  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  one  Jacob  Funk, 
a  German  landowner  of  this  locality,  had  laid  out  a  town  which 
popularly  bore  his  name  and  had  set  aside  a  lot  therein  for  the 
use  of  a  "German  Lu- 
theran Congregation. ' ' 
It  was  not  until  1833, 
however,  that  a  body  of 
German  Lutherans,  who 
had  been  worshipping  in 
the  City  Hall,  secured 
possession  of  the  lot  by 
a  decision  of  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court, 
and  erected  a  church 
thereon.  •  This  congre- 
gation eventually  be- 
came known  as  the  Con- 
cordia  Lutheran  Church 
and  still  occupies  the  old 
site  at  Twentieth  and  G 
Streets,  Northwest. 

At  the  Concordia.  how- 
ever, services  were  held 
in  German.  The  young- 
er generation  wanted 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


them  in  English,  some  of  the  older  members  sympathized  with  the 
idea,  and  a  separate  Sunday  school  was  started  in  1842.  In  that 
year,  by  resolution  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  the  new  body  was 
established  as  a  mission.  There  were  forty  charter  members. 

281 


282  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

The  old  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  (afterward  known  as  Todd's  Hall) 
on  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  was  seen  roil  as  a  place  of  worship  and 
the  first  service  was  held  there  on  January  8,  1848.  At  this  meet- 
ing Key.  Albert  A.  Muller.  D.I).,  appears  as  the  first  pastor. 

The  complete  organization,  however,  did  not  take  place  until 
Easter  Sunday  morning.  April  15,  1848.  when  the  first  council 
was  elected.  This  was  composed  as  follows:  Andrew  Noerr, 
president;  Henry  (irieb  and  Cornele  Andrae.  wardens;  John  A. 
Kmmons.  treasurer;  Graf  ton  Powell,  secretary,  and  J.  C.  Roem- 
inele.  Charles  F.  Bihler,  John  P.  Stallings,  William  Utermehle, 
and  John  E.  School. 

At  the  convention  of  the  Maryland  Synod  in  October,  1848, 
Dr.  Muller  reported  forty  communicant  members  in  the  congre- 
gation, and  six  teachers  and  sixty-one  scholars  in  the  Sunday 
school. 

Meetings  continued  to  be  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  for  over 
two  years,  but  plans  were  early  discussed  for  securing  a  perma- 
nent church  home.  General  John  I*.  Van  Ness,  who  was  well 
known  for  his  public  spirit  and  numerous  benefactions,  was  ap- 
pealed to  by  a  committee  of  ladies  of  the  congregation  and  re- 
sponded generously  by  donating  the  lot  upon  which  the  church 
and  parsonage  now  stand. 

The  next  problem  was  the  erection  of  a  church  building.  Ap- 
peals were  made  to  private  persons  and  to  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  large,  and  Dr.  Muller  made  house  to  house  visitations  in  West- 
ern Maryland  and  Northern  Virginia.  Finally,  after  much  toil, 
enough  money  was  collected  to  start  work.  On  June  12,  1844, 
the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  imposing  ceremonies.  Notable 
among  the  guests  were  General  Van  Ness  and  Ex-President  John 
Quiney  Adams.  Rev.  John  G.  Morris,  D.D.,  then  President  of  the 
General  Synod,  delivered  the  address,  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurt/, 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  exercises. 

As  soon  as  possible  the  basement  of  the  church  was  finished  in 
modest  style  and  was  used  by  both  church  and  Sunday  school. 
The  first  service  was  held  in  this  room  on  March  15,  1845.  The 
financial  situation  was  serious  and  further  solicitation  was  neces- 
sary. An  expedient  was  adopted  by  the  council  at  this  time 
which  is  worthy  of  record  because  of  its  picturesque  character. 
A  memorial  was  addressed  to  Frederick  William  IV.  King  of 
Prussia,  signed  by  the  church  council,  mayor  of  Washington  and 
prominent  citizens,  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  city  and  of  the 
United  States,  and  officially  endorsed  by  John  C.  Calhoun.  Secre- 
tary of  State.  This  document  was  sent  to  the  American  Minister 
at  Berlin  and  officially  presented  by  him  to  the  Prussian  King. 
No  financial  benefit  seems  to  have  been  derived  from  the  experi- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY.  283 

ment,  but  in  due  time  a  silver  chalice  was  received  by  the  con- 
gregation bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

"Friederich  Wilhelm  IV  Konig  und  Elisabeth  Konigen  von 
Preussen  der  Evangelischen  Gemeiiide  zu  St.  Paul  in  Washing- 
ton. 1845."  (Frederick  William  IV  King,  and  Elizabeth.  Queen 
of  Prussia,  to  the  Evangelical  Church  of  St.  Paul  in  Washington. 
1845.")  This  cup  has  been  used  at  every  communion  service 
since  that  time. 

Dr.  Muller's  connection  with  St.  Paul's  ended  abruptly  in 
June.  1846,  after  a  pastorate  of  three  years  and  five  months.  The 
congregation  had  become  sadly  disorganized  and  so  low  had  the 
church  funds  been  reduced  that  even  the  old-fashioned  settees  in 
the  lecture  room  wrere  threatened  with  removal  by  the  cabinet- 
maker for  default  in  payment. 

Under  such  conditions,  Rev.  John  E.  Graeff,  who  had  been  but 
recently  ordained  to  the  ministry,  was  elected  pastor  on  Novem- 
ber 23,  1846.  Work  was  immediately  begun  on  the  superstruc- 
ture of  the  church,  and  on  Sunday,  October  1,  1848,  pastor  and 
people  had  the  supreme  satisfaction  of  dedicating  the  completed 
building  to  the  service  of  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  Rev. 
J.  G.  Morris,  of  Baltimore,  F.  W.  Conrad,  of  Hagerstown,  and 
C.  P.  Krauth,  of  Winchester,  were  the  officiating  clergymen. 
Among  those  present  were  James  K.  Polk,  President  of  the 
United  States,  with  his  wife  and  household;  James  Buchanan, 
then  Secretary  of  State;  Members  of  Congress,  and  many  other 
high  officers  of  the  government. 

The  young  pastor,  however,  had  sacrificed  his  health  to  the  en- 
terprise. He  succumbed  to  several  attacks  of  vertigo,  and  on  two 
occasions  was  overcome  in  the  pulpit.  His  physicians  advised 
him  to  resign  and  with  sad  heart  he  bade  farewell  to  St.  Paul's 
on  July  2,  1849,  his  pastorate  having  lasted  two  years  and  eight 
months.  It  was  his  first  and  only  charge.  Mr.  Graeff'  later  be- 
came a  successful  coal  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  noted  for  his 
liberality  and  especially  for  his  large  benefactions  to  Pennsyl- 
vania College,  his  Alma  Mater. 

Mr.  Graeff  was  succeeded  by  another  young  man  from  the 
Seminary,  Rev.  John  George  Butler.  The  latter  began  his  pas- 
torate on  July  16,  1849.  The  old  specter  of  church  debt  had  to 
be  faced  again,  but  under  the  courageous  leadership  of  the  young 
pastor,  success  was  achieved  at  last.  Then  came  the  eventful 
years  of  the  Civil  War.  At  the  outbreak  of  that  struggle,  Dr. 
Butler  declared  himself  squarely  for  the  government  and  against 
secession.  His  bold  utterances  on  the  great  questions  of  the  day 
brought  many  strangers  to  his  services  and  gained  many  friends 


284  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

for  the  church,  among  the  regular  attendants  being  Hon.  Schuy- 
Icr  CoH'ax.  Vice-President  of  the  I'nited  States;  General  Kkin, 
and  others  prominent  in  the  Army  and  in  Congress.  I 'resident 
Lincoln  appointed  Dr.  Butler  chaplain  to  the  hospitals  in  and 
around  Washington,  and  in  this  capacity  Dr.  Butler  served  to 
the  close  of  the  \var.  The  assassination  of  President  Lincoln  oc- 
curred within  three  anil  a  half  blocks  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

After  the  surrender  at  Appomattox.  St.  Paul's  being  now 
tilled  to  overflowing,  the  thought  of  Lutheran  enlargement  came. 
This  took  shape  in  the  organization  of  the  present  Memorial 
Church,  so  called  as  "  A  memorial  of  God's  goodness  in  delivering 
the  land  from  slavery  and  from  war."  In  .March.  1866,  the  com- 
manding site  at  Thomas  Circle  was  purchased  by  the  people  of 
St.  Paul's  for  eight  thousand  dollars  and  a  chapel  was  erected, 
being  dedicated  on  Sunday.  July  5,  18(58.  Preaching  services 
were  begun  and  from  18(58  to  the  final  organization  of  Memorial 
in  1873,  Dr.  Butler,  with  the  aid  of  associate  pastors,  had  charge 
of  both  the  old  and  new  congregations.  When  the  corner  stone 
of  Memorial  was  laid,  October  31,  1870,  the  pastor  reported: 
"The  cash  book  shows  that  nearly  .$30.000  have  been  paid  into  our 
treasury,  largely  by  the  people  of  St.  Paul's,  but  embracing  con- 
tributions from  all  parts  of  the  country." 

In  18(59  a  mission  was  also  planted  on  Capitol  Hill.  This  de- 
veloped into  the  Church  of  the  Reformation,  with  Rev.  W.  E. 
Parson  as  pastor.  Speaking  of  this  period,  Dr.  Parson  said, 
"Two  of  us  kept  three  churches  alive  for  some  years.  Dr.  Butler 
preached  in  the  morning  at  St.  Paul's  and  at  night  in  the  Me- 
morial. I  preached  in  the  morning  on  Capitol  Hill  and  at  night 
in  St.  Paul's.  Thus  each  outpost  had  one  service  a  day,  and  at 
the  old  hive  there  were  two  services."  In  May  of  this  same  year 
the  twenty-fourth  biennial  convention  of  the  General  Synod  was 
held  in  St.  Paul's  with  one  hundred  and  ten  delegates  present. 
At  this  convention  the  Boards  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Ex- 
tension were  created  and  the  system  of  apportionment  for  raising 
benevolence  adopted.  Since  the  inauguration  of  this  system  St. 
Paul's  has  never  gone  to  Synod  without  its  apportionment  met, 
and  often  doubled. 

On  April  1.  1873.  Dr.  Butler  resigned  from  St.  Paul's  and  be- 
came pastor  of  Memorial.  Seventeen  years,  therefore,  he  was 
pastor  of  St.  Paul's  exclusively,  and  then  seven  years  more  in 
conjunction  with  the  preparatory  work  at  Memorial,  having  in 
the  meantime  four  associate  pastors  successively  and  making  his 
total  pastorate  at  St.  Paul's  twenty-three  years  and  nine  months. 
The  associate  pastors  of  St.  Paul 's  from  1868  to  the  close  of  Dr.- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


285 


Butler 's  pastorate  were  the  Revs.  II.  S.  Cook,  July  to  September, 
1868;  H.  C.  Grossman,  1868-69;  W.  E.  Parson,  1869-71,  and 
Henry  B.  Belmer,  1872-73.  The  latter  succeeded  Dr.  Butler  as 
pastor  of  St.  Paul 's. 

Speaking  of  his  pastorate.  Mr.  Belmer  said,  "There  are  some 
still  remaining  who  will  recall  what  a  critical  time  it  was  for 
that  church.  The  Memorial  colony  that  went  out  included  many 
of  our  most  active  members.  The  thinning  of  the  ranks  could 
not  but  be  noticed  and  perhaps  at  times  was  a  cause  of  discour- 
agement to  pastor  and  people,  which  finally  prompted  him  to  re- 
sign in  September,  1874.  But  he  can  claim  an  indirect  share  in 
the  after  years  of  St.  Paul 's  prosperity,  in  being  the  means  of  se- 
curing Rev.  Samuel  Domer.  D.D..  as  his  successor,  who  so  nobly 
served  this  church  during  the  rest  of  his  life."  Mr.  Belmer 's 
pastorate  ended  on  October  1, 
1874.  having  lasted  one  year  and 
six  months. 

Dr.  Domer  arrived  in  Washing- 
ton from  Trinity  Church.  Shamo- 
kin.  Pa.,  on  November  5.  1874. 
The  congregation  was  so  greatly 
weakened  in  resources  and  de- 
pressed in  spirit  that  many  doubt- 
ed the  possibility  of  recovery  and 
urged  that  the  property  be  sold 
and  the  people  join  with  Memo- 
rial. But  said  Dr.  Domer,  "1 
found  a  little  company  of  deter- 
mined men  and  women  who  re- 
mained devoted  to  St.  Paul's  and 
rallied  around  the  new  pastor 
with  such  earnestness  as  to  inspire 
the  strongest  expectations  of  suc- 
cess and  blessing  in  the  new  departure."  The  little  band  moved 
bravely  forward,  others  joined  the  ranks,  and  before  long  the 
struggling,  doubting  remnant  became  a  vigorous,  thriving  con- 
gregation. 

In  1877  the  audience  room  of  the  church  was  improved  at  a 
cost  of  $1,040,  and  in  1881  further  improvements  were  made  at 
a  cost  of  over  $3,700.  At  this  time  the  outside  of  the  building 
was  remodeled,  the  towers  finished,  walls  resurfaced  with  arti- 
ficial stone,  and  a  new  front  and  vestibule  erected. 

The  year  1883  marked  the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  Lu- 
ther's birth,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  congregation  observed 


EEV.  SAMUEL  DOMER,  D.D. 


286  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

it  more  fittingly  than  St.  1  Anil's.  After  a  scries  of  fourteen  Kr- 
t u res  on  the  Reformation,  by  the  pastor,  the  celebration  reached 
its  climax  in  a  great  platform  meeting  in  the  church  on  Sunday 
evening.  November  11.  1883.  The  church  was  packed  to  the 
doors.  General  Eaton.  Commissioner  of  Education,  presided, 
and  thrilling  addresses  were  delivered  by  Pere  Hyacinthe,  the 
famous  Catholic  reformer  of  Paris,  who  happened  to  be  in  Wash- 
ington at  the  time;  Hon.  Simon  Wolf,  the  celebrated  Jewish 
leader  and  formerly  United  States  consul  in  Egypt ;  Mr.  B.  II. 
Warner,  a  prominent  business  man  of  the  city,  and  Dr.  David 
Wills,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  chaplain,  II.  S.  A.  This 
was.  without  doubt,  one  of  the  most  notable  events  in  the  history 
of  St.  Paul's,  and  has  been  pronounced  "one  of  the  most  re- 
markable and  interesting  services,  in  all  respects,  of  any  that 
have  ever  taken  place  in  any  church  of  that  city." 

St.  Paul's  was  now  sailing  along  like  a  magnificent  ship  in  full 
career,  with  all  canvas  spread  and  her  colors  flashing  brilliantly 
in  the  sun.  In  1887  a  mission  Sunday  school  was  started  in 
Blake's  Hall  on  Seventh  Street.  Southwest,  with  Mr.  N.  Z.  Seitz 
as  superintendent,  and  two  years  later  eight  members  of  St. 
Paul's  received  honorable  dismission  to  "unite  with  and  assist 
in  the  organization  of  a  new  congregation,  to  be  known  as  St. 
Mark's  Lutheran  Church  of  South  Washington."  The  present 
St.  Mark's  is  the  result. 

The  next  year  extensive  improvements  were  made  on  the 
church  building  at  a  cost  of  over  $8,900.  A  special  feature  was 
the  addition  of  a  pipe  organ  toward  which  Mrs.  Ann  T.  Clary 
contributed  two  thousand  dollars  as  a  memorial  to  her  son  James. 

On  April  16  and  17,  1893,  St.  Paul's  celebrated  its  semi-cen- 
tennial. The  occasion  will  be  long  remembered.  At  the  anni- 
versary services  on  Sunday  morning  the  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  J.  G.  Morris,  D.D..  LL.D.,  and  in  the  evening  the  pastor 
presented  a  historical  sketch  and  reminiscent  addresses  were  de- 
livered by  Rev.  J.  E.  Graeff.  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D.,  and  Rev. 
W.  E.  Parson.  D.I).  On  Monday  night  a  grand  reception  and 
banquet  were  held  at  the  National  Rifles  Armory,  tables  being 
spread  for  over  one  thousand  guests.  As  a  souvenir  of  the  anni- 
versary a  historical  volume  of  the  church  and  Sunday  school  was 
compiled  by  Dr.  Domer  and  Mr.  Lucius  D.  Alden.  The  semi- 
centennial council  was  composed  as  follows:  The  Pastor,  Rev. 
Samuel  Domer.  D.D..  chairman  ex-officio;  John  C.  Parker,  pres- 
ident; Albert  F.  Fox,  treasurer;  II.  II.  Seltzer,  secretary;  B. 
Frank  Meyers,  financial  secretary ;  A.  S.  Johnson,  M.  M.  Rouzer. 
and  Edward  T.  Kaiser. 


4toto> 


*HT 


f^'h*- 

"  >•     t- 


288  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Special  reference  must  be  made  to  the  Sunday  school  at  this 
time.  Under  the  able  administration  of  Lucius  I).  Alden  it  had 
reached  the  flood  tide  of  its  history  in  enrollment,  benevolence,- 
efficiency,  equipment,  teaching  and  splendid,  aggressive,  con- 
tagious enthusiasm.  Mr.  Alden  became  superintendent  on  July 
7.  1878.  and  thereafter  for  twenty-three  and  a  half  years  had  a 
career  in  Sunday  school  work  which  has  never  been  surpassed  in 
the  District  of  Columbia. 

Owing  to  failing  health  and  advancing  years  Dr.  Doiner  re- 
signed his  pastorate  on  May  31.  1900.  having  served  for  twenty- 
five  years  and  seven  months,  the  longest  in  the  history  of  St. 
Paul's.  lie  lived  but  a  year  afterward,  his  beautiful  life  coming 
to  a  sudden  but  peaceful  close  on  Sunday  morning,  June  2.  1901. 
His  passing  was  like  some  sweet  visit  to  the  roses  who  claimed 
him  for  one  of  them. 

After  Dr.  Domer's  resignation,  Dr.  L.  M.  Kuhns,  pastor  for 
many  years  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Canton.  Ohio,  supplied 
the  pulpit  until  the  coming  of  Rev.  F.  W.  Moot  from  Johnstown, 
N.  Y.  The  latter  took  charge  on  October  15,  1900.  and  served  for 
two  years  and  nine  months,  his  pastorate  terminating  unpleas- 
antly on  July  27.  1903,  because  he  had  forfeited  the  confidence 
of  the  congregation  by  irregular  financial  dealings. 

After  the  latter 's  withdrawal  the  church  was  supplied  by 
various  ministers  for  six  months  until  the  Rev.  John  T.  Huddle 
was  elected  pastor.  Dr.  Huddle  is  a  graduate  of  Roanoke  College 
and  Gettysburg  Seminary,  and  previous  to  his  coming  to  Wash- 
ington had  served  for  seven  and  a  half  years  as  assistant  pastor 
to  Dr.  Luther  E.  Albert  in  Trinity  Lutheran  Church.  German- 
town,  Pa.  lie  began  his  duties  as  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  on  Feb- 
ruary 5.  1904,  and  has  continued  as  such  to  the  present  time,  a 
period  now  of  over  fifteen  years. 

The  prosperity  and  confidence  of  the  church  which  had  been 
seriously  threatened  during  the  preceding  pastorate  were  quickly 
restored  and  the  people  rallied  enthusiastically  around  the  new 
pastor.  Shortly  after  Dr.  Huddle's  arrival  improvements  to  the 
church  were  undertaken.  These  consisted  of  a  reconstructed 
organ,  new  frescoing,  carpeting  and  renovation  generally.  The 
work  was  completed  in  May.  1906,  at  a  total  cost  of  two  thousand 
dollars. 

On  April  6,  1917,  when  Congress  declared  war  on  Germany, 
Washington  became  the  center  of  a  great  war  machine.  Camps 
sprang  up  everywhere,  soldiers  filled  the  streets,  war  workers 
thronged  to  the  city  from  every  State  in  the  Union.  This  activ- 
ity in  the  city  found  its  reflex  in  the  churches.  St.  Paul's  was 


THF  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY.  289 

crowded  morning  and  evening,  and  to  afford  an  opportunity  to 
meet  and  to  welcome  the  many  strangers  a  social  hour  was  added 
to  the  evening  service.  Many  a  soldier  has  been  present  at  these 
services  who  on  the  morrow  departed  silently  with  his  command 
for  the  field  of  duty  overseas.  And  more  than  one,  before  de- 
parting, had  accepted  Christ  as  his  Saviour  and  had  received 
communion  at  the  hands  of  the  pastor  of  St.  Paul's. 

Three  quarters  of  a  century  have  passed  since  the  first  songs 
were  sung  in  St.  Paul's.  The  voices  of  that  early  morning  are 
silent  now,  all  except  one.  It  is  with  reverence  and  affection  that 
we  record  the  name  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Linkins.  She  was  present 
at  the  organization  of  the  Sunday  school  in  1842,  was  one  of  the 
first  four  teachers,  was  a  member  of  the  first  confirmation  class 
on  Whitsunday,  1843,  and  was  present  both  at  the  corner  stone 
laying  in  1844  and  at  the  dedication  in  1848.  For  seventy-six 
years  she  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  St.  Paul's  and  still 
abides  with  us. 

St.  Paul's  has  given  two  members  to  the  ministry.  Rev.  Chaun- 
cey  R.  Botsford  and  Rev.  Elbert  E.  Oney. 

MEMORIAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Rev.  George  M.  Diffenderfer,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

This  church,  popularly  known  as  Luther  Place  Memorial 
Church,  had  its  inception  in  the  mind  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler.  D.D., 
then  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  English  Lutheran  Church,  "Washington. 
D.  C..  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  as  a  memorial  of  God's  good- 
ness in  delivering  the  land  from  slavery  and  from  war. 

At  the  session  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  held  October  14.  1864. 
in  the  Second  Lutheran  Church.  Baltimore.  Dr.  Butler,  in  his  re- 
port as  President  of  the  Synod,  called  special  attention  to  the 
growing  need  of  churches  in  Baltimore  and  Washington  particu- 
larly, and  recommended  the  founding  of  another  church  in  Wash- 
ington. In  1866  the  site  on  which  the  church  stands  was  bought. 
At  the  session  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  held  October  10,  1867.  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Washington,  the  President,  in  his  report,  re- 
ferred to  the  350th  anniversary  of  the  Reformation,  and  recom- 
mended that  it  be  marked  by  liberal  thank-offerings,  and  cor- 
dially commended  "as  one  and  if  possible  the  chief  object  of  our 
Jubilee  Offering,  the  projected  Memorial  Church  in  this  the  cap- 
ital of  our  nation."  In  .commenting  on  this  recommendation,  he 
said:  "With  comparatively  little  aid  from  the  outside  the  con- 
gregation of  St.  Paul's,  with  a  most  commendable  faith,  have 
19 


290 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


purchased  and  paid  for  one  of  the  most  commanding  sites  in  this 
city.  They  have  in  good  faith  begun  the  securing  of  a  Memorial 
Hall  at  a  cost  of  about  $11.000.  to  be  used  for  chapel  purposes, 
and  eventually  to  be  a  part  of  the  commanding  edifice,  a  plan  of 
which  is  submitted  to  this  Synod." 

The  first  structure  erected  on  the  property  was  the  Memorial 
Chapel,  still  standing  and  used  for  Sunday  school,  prayer-meet- 
ing and  social  purposes.  A  large  Sunday  school  was  gathered 
and  was  known  as  the  Mission  School,  and  preaching  services 

were  held  from  time  to  time  in 
the  chapel,  until  the  morning  of 
February  2.  187:?.  when  the  first 
regular  morning  service  of  the  fu- 
ture congregation  was  held.  Sub- 
sequently, on  March  11.  187-S.  the 
Memorial  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  was  organ  i/ed  and  Dr. 
Butler  was  called  as  its  pastor, 
lie  continued  in  this  pastorate 
until  the  day  of  his  death.  August 
2.  1909.  In  the  organisation  thus 
effected,  forty-eight  members  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  joined.  Of  this 
number  five  are  still  living,  and 
all  of  these,  with  the  exception  of 
one.  remain  as  members  of  the 
church. 

The  first  Sunday  in  June,  1874, 
the  church  was  dedicated,  the  pastor  being  assisted  by  Doctors 
Frederick  W.  Conrad  and  J.  (J.  Morris. 

In  188:5  the  Luther  Statue  Association  was  organised,  and  on 
May  21.  1884.  the  statue  of  Martin  Luther,  now  standing  before 
the  church,  was  erected  and  unv  -iled  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies. 

In  1884  the  Church  of  Our  Redeemer,  for  work  among  the  col- 
ored people,  was  established.  This  work,  under  the  guidance  of 
flu-  first  and  only  pastor.  Rev.  1).  E.  "Wiseman,  D.I).,  has  grown, 
and  the  pastor  has  made  an  honored  name  for  himself  in  this  city. 
In  November.  1889.  the  Lutheran  Eye.  Ear  and  Throat  In- 
firmary was  opened,  the  office  being  located  in  the  chapel. 

The  next  year  the  property  at  (5th  and  P  Streets.  X.  W.,  was 
bought,  and  a  Lutheran  church  organ  i/ed.  This  is  nou  known  as 
Zion's  Church.  The  work  of  this  church,  under  its  successive 
pastors,  has  grown  and  prospered,  and  under  the  administration 


KKV.  J.  (!.  BUTLKR,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


291 


of  its  present  pastor.  Rev.  Richard  Schmidt,  has  become  one  of 
the  strong  churches  in  this  city. 

In  1891  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  on  Capitol  Hill.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  Keller  Memorial  Church.  The  wonder- 
ful growth  of  Keller  Memorial  under  its  first  pastor.  Rev.  Charles 
IT.  Butler,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  and  his  successor.  Rev.  C.  P. 
Wiles,  D.D.,  and  it's  present  pastor.  Rev.  S.  T.  Nicholas.  D.D..  is 


LUTHER  PLACE  MEMORIAL  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

too  well  known  to  need  comment.  The  church  is  a  living  testi- 
monial to  the  fidelity,  consecration  and  resourcefulness  of  its  pas- 
tors and  members. 

In  1899,  upon  the  50th  anniversary  of  Dr.  Butler's  entry  into 
his  first  and  only  parish,  and  after  he  had  become  widely  known, 
not  only  in  the  city  of  Washington,  but  throughout  the  country, 
for  his  work  as  a  pastor,  as  an  army  chaplain  during  the  Civil 
War,  and  successively  as  chaplain  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives and  the  Senate,  the  citizens  of  Washington,  irrespective  of 
creed,  united  in  tendering  him  a  public  banquet  at  the  Arlington 
Hotel. 

The  congregation  had  been  accustomed  to  observe  the  birthday 
anniversary  of  the  pastor,  and  on  January  29,  1904,  while  such 
observance  was  in  progress,  the  church  caught  fire,  and  the  com- 
manding steeple  and  the  organ  and  most  of  the  roof  were  de- 
stroyed. The  interior  was  damaged  by  both  fire  and  water. 


o 


Ss 


o  ^a 


-1 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY.  293 

Immediate  steps  were  taken  for  the  restoration  of  the  church, 
and  on  January  29,  1905,  the  next  anniversary  of  the  pastor's 
birthday,  the  reconstructed  church  was  reopened.  The  reopening 
was  honored  with  the  presence  of  President  Roosevelt.  The  ad- 
dress which  Mr.  Roosevelt  delivered  on  that  occasion  was  after- 
wards published  in  pamphlet  form  by  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  widely  distributed. 

Rev.  Lloyd  C.. Douglas  succeeded  Dr.  Butler  in  1909.  Rev. 
Henry  Anstadt  succeeded  Mr.  Douglas  on  January  1,  1912.  Rev. 
George  M.  Diffenderfer,  D.D.,  the  present  pastor,  was  elected  to 
succeed  Dr.  Anstadt,  on  January  26,  1919,  and  took  charge  on 
April  1,  1919.  He  was  installed  on  May  26,  1919,  by  Rev.  F.  H. 
Knubel,  D.D.,  President  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in 
America,  and  Rev.  U.  S.  G.  Rupp,  D.D.,  President  of  the  Synod 
of  Maryland. 

Rev.  Douglas  took  charge  of  the  church  after  the  withdrawal 
of  a  number  of  the  members  who  formed  the  Epiphany  Lutheran 
Church,  Rev.  Charles  F.  Steck,  D.D..  pastor.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Rev.  Douglas  the  church  renewed  and  extended  its  activities, 
and  the  work  thus  begun  by  him  was  carried  forward  with  pro- 
nounced success  by  the  zeal,  energy,  and  consecrated  service  of 
his  successor,  Dr.  Anstadt. 

When  Dr.  Anstadt  left,  the  Church  Council  undertook  the  diffi- 
cult task  of  finding  a  successor.  Dr.  Diffenderfer  had  gained  the 
attention  of  a  number  of  the  congregation,  and  while  still  camp 
pastor  at  Newport  News,  preached  several  times  in  the  Memorial. 
His  successful  work  in  former  pastorates,  and  especially  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  his  work  in  connection  with  the  Pastors'  Fund,  which 
several  years  before  he  had  presented  to  the  church,  and  his  pa- 
triotic work  as  camp  pastor  in  the  great  World  War,  had  ap- 
pealed strongly  to  the  congregation,  and  when  the  time  for  the 
election  of  a  pastor  came  he  was  unanimously  elected.  Since 
taking  charge,  Dr.  Diffenderfer  has,  by  his  energy,  forcefulness, 
administrative  ability  and  splendid  pulpit  power,  endeared  him- 
self to  his  people,  and  there  is  a  bright  prospect  for  continued 
growth  and  greater  activity  in  all  branches  of  the  work  of  the 
church. 

The  church  has  ahvays  been  well  organized.  Its  Sunday  school 
has  a  large  adult  membership  of  both  men  and  women,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  children,  a  Sunday  School  Missionary  Society,  a 
Junior  Mission  Band,  and  a  Home  Department.  There  is  also  a 
Ladies'  Aid  Society;  a  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  and  a  very  active  Christian  Endeavor  Society, 

The  church  also  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the 


294 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


National  Lutheran  1 1  cum1  for  the  Aged,  and  has  always  had  at 
least  two  of  its  men  as  members  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  sev- 
eial  of  its  ladies  as  members  of  the  Ladies'  Board  of  Managers. 
O:ie  of  its  men  was  one  of  the  architects  of  the  new  building  of 
the  Home. 

The  prophecy  previously  referred  to  of  the  President  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  as  to  the  national  importance  of  the  Memorial 
has  been  realixed  in  the  history  of  the  church.  The  church  has 
been  a  sort  of  mecca  for  Lutherans  visiting  Washington,  and  it 
has  been  a  delightful  experience  of  the  members  of  th?  church  to 
welcome  fellow-Lutherans  not  only  from  all  parts  of  our  country, 
but  from  various  foreign  countries;  and  it  will  welcome  in  the 
heartiest  fashion  the  prospective  first  meeting  of  the  United  Lu- 
theran Church  in  America  in  1920. 

The  church  has  just  ended  a  canvass  for  the  extinguishment  of 
its  debt  and  for  the  erection  of  a  parsonage,  and  this  effort  has 
resulted  in  obtaining  sufficient  funds  to  pay  the  debt  and  to  form 
a  considerable  nucleus  for  the  purchase  of  a  parsonage. 


THE  LUTHERAN  TIITUm  OF  THE  REFORMA- 
TION. WASHINGTON,  I).  <\ 

It<r.  John  }Y<i<llcij.  D.D.,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  had  its  begin- 
ning in  the  parlor  of  Mrs.  Lucille 
Morrell.  First  Street,  S.  E.,  Wash- 
ington. 1).  C.,  in  1868. 

The  prospect  was  so  promising 
as  to  impel  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler, 
pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  con- 
gregation, and  Mr.  George  Ryneal, 
•Jr..  one  of  its  lay  members,  to  pur- 
chase an  abandoned  army  hos- 
pital, remove  it  to  First  and  C. 
Streets.  S.  E.,  and  rebuild  it  for 
church.  Sunday  school  and  public 
school  purposes.  The  magnificent 
marble  structure,  used  as  an  office 
building  by  Representatives  of 
Congress,  now  stands  where  the 
modest  church  building  then  stood. 

The  congregation  was  organ i/ed  on  October  2:5.  18(59.  by  the 
Rev.  W.  E.  Parson,  assistant  to  Rev.  .1.  B.  Butler.  Dr.  Parson 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY. 


295 


became  the  first  pastor.  He  resigned  in  1872  to  accept  a  profes- 
sorship in  the  Imperial  College.  Tokio,  Japan.  The  Rev.  Philip 
Graeff  succeeded  him  and  served  the  congregation  until  April  1, 
1877.  Then  the  Rev.  Lewis  Hay  became  pastor  and  ministered  to 
the  mission  until  April  1,  1879.  The  Rev.  AV.  E.  Parson  was  re- 
called May  11.  1879.  He  was  installed  October  19,  1879.  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Brown.  President  of  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and 
the  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  congregation,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

A  lot  was  purchased  March.  1881,  at  the  intersection  of  B 
Street  and  Pennsylvania  Avenue.  S.  E.,  for  the  sum  of  $6,470. 


MR.  A.  K.  WAGXER. 


.MR.  THOMAS  P.  HICKMAN. 


Ground  was  broken  for  the  new  church  building  in  June,  1881, 
and  on  July  11  the  corner  stone  was  laid.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stork, 
of  Baltimore,  made  the  address.  Revs.  Butler,  Domer  and  Nix- 
dorf  assisted  in  the  service. 

October  16,  1881,  the  Sunday  school  room  on  the  first  floor  was 
dedicated.  Rev.  A.  W.  Lilly,  President  of  the  Board  of  Church 
Extension,  preached  in  the  morning,  and  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D., 
LL.D..  preached  in  the  evening. 

The  upper  room  was  dedicated  November  18,  1883,  the  consum- 
mation of  years  of  patient  toil.  The  Rev.  Milton  Valentine,  D.D.. 
and  the  Rev.  Charles  Albert,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  preached 
the  sermons. 

In  the  summer  of  1889  the  interior  of  the  church  was  painted, 


2!)6  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

frescoed,  and  a  new  pipe  organ  was  installed  at  a  cost  of  $15. 000. 
the  generous  gift  of  Mrs.  Sara  I'lerinehle. 

An  addition  was  made  to  the  church  for  the  Primary  Sunday 
school,  under  the  direction  of  the  superintendent,  Mr.  I.  C.  Slater, 
in  1892. 

An  event  worthy  of  the  congregation  was  the  Silver  Jubilee, 
on  the  evening  of  May  1(5.  1904.  in  honor  of  the  twenty-five  years' 
faithful  service  of  the  pastor. 

December  19.  1905.  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  far  from  home  and 
congregation,  after  an  eventful  pastorate  of  twenty-seven  years 
with  the  congregation  he  had  organized,  the  eyes  of  the  great 
preacher  closed  in  death. 

At  a  congregational  meeting,  January  21,  1906,  the  Rev.  John 
Weidley,  D.D.,  of  Pittsburgh,  was  elected  pastor.  He  began 
his  labors  the  first  Sunday  in  March,  1906.  In  1907  a  beautiful 
tablet  was  unveiled  in  memory  of  Dr.  W.  E.  Parson.  A  tile  floor 
was  laid  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church  and  a  water  motor  was  at- 
tached to  the  pipe  organ.  A  brass  pulpit  was  dedicated  in  mem- 
ory of  Mr.  I.  C.  Slater,  elder  and  Sunday  school  superintendent. 
A  brass  lectern  was  presented  in  memory  of  Mr.  L.  W.  Slater, 
elder  and  Sunday  school  teacher.  An  altar  was  presented  in 
memory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Beall.  An  addition  to  the  building  for 
Sunday  school  purposes,  costing  $12.000,  was  dedicated  February 
2,  1913.  In  the  summer  of  1914  the  auditorium  was  refrescoed 
and  twelve  memorial  windows  unveiled. 

Two  young  men  have  entered  the  gospel  ministrj^  from  this 
church.  Rev.  Artley  Parson,  son  of  the  former  pastor,  and  Rev. 
Homer  S.  Dise,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  this  city; 
and  two  are  now  in  course  of  training,  having  the  ministry  in 
view. 

The  congregation  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary,  or  Golden 
Jubilee,  in  October,  1919. 

The  church  building  is  well  located,  within  walking  distance 
from  Union  Station,  two  squares  from  the  National  Capitol,  and 
on  the  square  adjoining  the  famous  Library  of  Congress.  It  is 
well  organized,  is  doing  a  splendid  work,  is  thankful  for  its  his- 
tory of  fifty  years,  and  the  good  men  and  women  associated  with 
it.  and  looks  hopefully  to  an  even  greater  achievement  in  the 
Master's  name  and  for  His  sake. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


297 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  I).  C. 

Rev.  John  B.  Ruplcy,  Pastor. 

On  the  evening  of  May  16,  1887,  at  the  weekly  teachers'  meet- 
ing of  St.  Paul's  Sunday  school,  Dr.  Domer,  pastor,  the  super- 
intendent, Mr.  Lucius  D.  Alden,  made  the  following  motion: 
"That  St.  Paul's  do  organize  a  branch  mission  Sunday  school  in 
South  Washington,"  which  was  adopted.  This  work  was  at  once 
undertaken,  and  Blake  Hall  on 
Seventh  Street  was  the  place 
chosen  for  organizing.  Mr.  X.  Z. 
Seitz  was  chosen  as  the  mission 
Sunday  school  superintendent. 
Out  of  this  mission  Sunday  school 
grew  St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran church. 

St.  Mark's  was  organized  on 
Friday  evening,  June  14,  1889,  in 
Potomac  Hall,  corner  of  D  and 
Eleventh  Streets,  S.  W.,  with  fif- 
teen charter  members,  by  adopt- 
ing the  formula  of  government  of 
the  General  Synod.  Dr.  W.  II . 
Gotwald  was  called  to  become  the 
first  pastor,  and  preached  his  first 
sermon  on  Sunday  evening,  May 
19,  1889.  Potomac  TIall  was  the 

place  of  worship  until  September  1  of  that  year,  when  the  first 
service  was  held  in  the  tent  erected  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  and 
C  Streets,  S.  W. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  October  14,  1889,  at  three  o'clock,  a 
large  audience  gathered  in  the  tent  to  witness  the  solemn  exer- 
cises of  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  church.  The  pastor 
had  charge  of  the  service,  and  those  having  part  in  the  service 
were  Dr.  E.  J.  Wolf,  Dr.  Samuel  Domer,  Dr.  W.  E.  Parson,  Rev. 
G.  II.  Slaybaugh,  and  also  Rev.  Baldwin,  of  the  Methodist  E.pis- 
copal  Church. 

When  the  weather  became  too  cold  in  December  of  the  same 
year  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  Wagner  became  the  place  of 
worship.  The  first  service  was  held  in  the  Sunday  school  build- 
ing on  March  2,  1890.  On  October  8  of  that  year  the  congrega- 
tion was  received  into  the  Maryland  Synod. 


REV.  JOHX  B.  EUPLF.Y. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Rev.  \V.  II.  (Jotwald.  D.I).,  the  first  pastor,  served  the  congre- 
gation until  1S96.  when  the  second  pastor.  Rev.  John  C.  Bowers. 
\vas  called.  The  new  pastor  entered  upon  his  work  on  September 
1.  at  which  time  the  congregation  was  reorganized  with  fifty-one 
members.  Of  these  original  members,  still  in  active  service  of  the 
congregation  are  the  following:  Mr.  Austin  Cooper.  Mr.  1).  A. 
Edwards.  Mrs.  F.  II.  Fridley.  Miss  Daisy  F.  Fridlcy.  Mrs.  E. 
(Jriflith.  Mrs.  Nettie  Kayhoe,  Mi's.  Anna  Koogle.  Mr.  F.  W.  Leon- 

hardt.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carl  Leinbach.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  August 
Xoaek.  Mrs.  "William 
Ileffelfinger.  Miss 
Bertha  Ileffelfinger, 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Han-old. 
Miss  Edith  Sweeny. 
Mi.ss  Emma  Strob;1!. 
Mrs.  Antonia  Tippett. 
and  Mrs.  W  i  1  1  i  a  m 
AVagner.  Quit  e  a 
number  of  improve- 
ments were  made  on 
the  church  property 
during  Rev.  Bowers' 
pastorate.  A  m  o  n  g 
these  was  the  install- 
ing of  the  pipe  organ. 
On  December  2. 
1896.  a  L  n  t  li  e  r 
League  was  organixed 
by  the  late  Cornelius 
Eckhardt.  who  was 
then  business  mana- 
ger of  the  National 
Luther  League.  This  League  was  the  first  to  be  organixed  in  the 
city  and  has  been  an  active  and  helpful  society  in  the  church. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Bowers  closed  his  pastoral  work  at  St.  Mark's,  1902. 
and  the  third  pastor.  Rev.  John  Luther  Frant/,  was  called  and 
assumed  charge  November  2  of  that  year.  On  November  1.  1903, 
the  congregation  declared  itself  self-sustaining.  During  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Frant/.  in  1904.  the  church  building  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Then  a  most  desirable  lot  on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  B 
Streets.  S.  \V..  was  purchased.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  October  (5.  1904.  The  Sunday  school  was  first 


ST.  MAKK'S  LVTHEKAN  Ciinica,  WASHINGTON, 
D.  C. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY.  299 

completed,  and  the  first  service  was  held  in  it  on  January  15, 
1905.  Three  months  later,  on  Palm  Sunday,  the  congregation 
worshipped  in  the  new  completed  auditorium. 

The  pastorate  of  Kev.  Frantz  continued  until  October,  1912, 
when  the  fourth  pastor,  Rev.  William  A.  AVade,  was  called.  Dur- 
ing this  pastorate,  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  observed.  Quite  a  number  of  needed  improvements  were 
made  on  the  church  during  the  years  that  Rev.  Wade  was  pastor. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Rev.  Wade's  years  of  faithful  service,  as 
pastor  of  St.  Mark's  in  1918,  Rev.  John  B.  Rupley,  the  fifth  and 
present  pastor,  was  called. 

There  are  two  active  ladies'  organizations  in  the  church,  name- 
ly the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society.  The  latter  was  organized  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  church.  The  following  have  been  its  presidents: 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fellinger,  Mrs.  August  Noack,  Mrs.  F.  H.  Fridley, 
and  Mrs.  P.  R.  R.  Sattes,  who  now  fills  this  office.  The  president 
of  the  Missionary  Society  is  Mrs.  Barbara  Trede. 

One  has  gone  out  into  the  ministry  from  this  congregation  in 
the  person  of  Rev.  C.  R.  Botsford.  The  church  also  has  one  son 
now  preparing  for  the  ministry,  Mr.  P.  H.  Williams. 

When  the  United  States  entered  into  the  great  World  War, 
eighteen  of  St.  Mark's  boys  went  out  into  the  service  of  their 
country,  and  of  these  not  one  was  called  to  make  the  supreme 
sacrifice. 

The  present  church  auditorium  is  very  churchly  and  Lutheran 
in  all  of  its  appointments,  and  almost  from  the  very  beginning  the 
common  service  and  robe  have  been  used.  The  location  of  the 
church  is  a  splendid  one,  facing  on  the  Mall,  or  Park,  leading 
from  the  capitol  to  the  monument. 

KELLER  MEMORIAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Rev.  8.  T.  Nicholas,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Keller  Memorial  Lutheran  Church  is  a  child  of  Luther  Place 
Memorial.  It  was  under  the  direction  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  J.  G. 
Butler,  D.D.,  that  the  project  had  its  beginning.  Having  con- 
ceived the  plan  of  expansion,  it  was,  of  course,  much  in  the  pas- 
tor's thoughts  and  words.  He  talked  of  it  from  his  pulpit.  He 
discussed  it  in  his  parish  work,  and,  as  he  expected,  results  began 
to  follow.  "Here,"  said  one  of  his  young  men,  "are  twenty-five 
dollars.  Go  plant  a  mission." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D.,  cele- 


UOO  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

brated  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  a  continuous  pastorate  in  the 
Capital  City.  In  gratitude  to  Almighty  (iod  he  was  moved  to 
make  a  thank  offering  of  three  thousand  dollars.  The  daughter 
of  a  friend  in  the  far  South  added  five  hundred  dollars  as  a 
memorial  to  a  sainted  father.  Two  hundred  and  five  dollars,  the 
savings  of  a  lifetime,  were  handed  at  the  death  of  a  consecrated 
handmaiden  of  the  Lord  to  the  pastor,  to  be  used  at  his  discre- 
tion. "I  have  provided  five  thousand  dollars  towards  the  new 
church  of  which  you  spoke.''  The  speaker  was  General  Haupt,  a 


KELLER  MEMORIAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON,  D.  (J. 

prized  parishioner  of  Luther  Place  Memorial.  ''Thanks,"  said 
the  pastor,  "and  we'll  drive  through  the  city  and  search  for  the 
lot  upon  which  to  build."  There  were  two  drives,  and  upon  the 
second,  General  and  Mrs.  Haupt  and  Dr.  Butler  selected  the  lot 
upon  which  the  church  now  stands.  Soon  after  this  Mrs.  Haupt 
passed  to  the  better  land,  and  a  letter  came  from  the  home  of 
sorrow  adding  two  thousand  dollars  to  the  liberal  provision  of  the 
noble  husband.  It  was  deemed  fitting  that  the  wife  and  husband 
should,  as  the  largest  contributors,  and  as  the  daughter  and  son- 
in-law  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Keller,  give  the  new  church 
his  name;  hence,  "Keller  Memorial."  It  is  not  often  that 
churches  are  started  with  as  much  generous  help  extended  them 
as  was  given  to  "Keller  Memorial,"  ten  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  thirty  dollars  having  been  secured  through  the  direct  efforts 
of  the  pastor  of  the  mother  church.  In  addition  to  the  activities 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY.  301 

of  their  pastor,  reference  should  be  made  to  the  substantial  gifts, 
the  unflagging  interest  and  the  prayerful  helpfulness  of  the 
membership  of  ' '  Luther  Place  Memorial. ' ' 

On  October  3,  1892,  "Keller  Memorial  Lutheran  Church"  was 
organized  with  twenty  members.  The  following  is  the  list  of  the 
charter  members :  Mrs.  Gertrude  W.  Carr,  Mrs.  F.  A.  McAllister, 
II.  W.  Weber,  Mrs.  II.  W.  Weber,  W.  T.  Bowdler,  L.  A.  Kalbach, 
Mrs.  L.  A.  Kalbach,  Dr.  AV.  W.  Alleger,  Mrs.  Edith  S.  Alleger, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Mantz.  Mrs.  Emma  Wines,  Joseph  Manning,  Mrs. 
Barbara  Manning,  D.  T.  Batson,  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Sickel,  Elizabeth 
J.  Bowdler,  Gertrude  Grace  Keck.  Abraham  Huntington,  Har- 
riet Zollers  Home,  Florence  E.  Sickel. 

The  organization  took  place  under  the  leadership  of  Rev. 
Charles  H.  Butler,  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  G.  Butler.  After  the 
organization  he  became  the  first  pastor.  His  activities  form  the 
largest  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  church.  Two  years  prior  to 
the  organization  of  the  congregation  the  lot  was  purchased  on 
which  the  building  now  stands  and  the  chapel  was  dedicated  on 
May  1,  1892. 

On  December  12,  1897,  the  present  church  was  dedicated.  The 
sermons  on  that  occasion  were  preached  by  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Haupt 
and  Rev.  II.  H.  Weber,  D.D.  It  was  a  glad  day  and  marked  a 
new  era  in  the  development  of  the  work.  The  events  of  the  years 
that  followed  are  not  easily  recorded  but  into  these  years  were 
put  the  best  strength  of  the  pastor.  Figures  in  no  measure  tell 
the  story  of  results  and  yet  they  convey  something  of  the  toil 
and  service  of  this  consecrated  man.  From  1891-1907  there  wras 
contributed  through  the  church  treasury  the  sum  of  $31,848.19. 

In  the  report  of  the  Marylan d  Synod  of  1907  we  find  the  prop- 
erty valuation  quoted  as  being  $45,000,  with  a  mortgaged  indebt- 
edness of  $6,000. 

There  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  communicant  mem- 
bers; four  hundred  and  eleven  scholars  in  the  Sunday  school, 
and  one  hundred  and  seventeen  members  in  the  Young  People's 
Societies. 

Rev.  Butler  resigned  November  5,  1907.  The  record  of  fifteen 
years  of  service  is  a  tribute  to  the  untiring  energy  of  a  faithful 
pastor.  The  foundations  were  well  laid. 

The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Charles  P.  Wiles,  D.D..  who  en- 
tered upon  the  work  in  Keller  Memorial,  March  1.  1908. 

A  partial  exhibit  of  the  work  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Wiles 
is  as  follows : 

The  Men's  Bible  Class  was  organized  with  an  enrollment  of 
more  than  eighty.  A  little  later  a  Lutheran  Brotherhood  which 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY.  303 

grew  to  more  than  one  hundred  members.  A  "Women's  Bible 
Class  was  organized  with  a  membership  of  thirty-eight.  It  is  safe 
to  say  that  from  the  very  beginning  this  class  exceeded  any  other 
organization  in  the  church  in  the  way  of  charitable  work. 

The  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  made 
rapid  and  substantial  growth  both  in  membership  and  offerings. 
The  use  of  the  mission  study  text-books  became  a  regular  feature. 

The  church  and  Sunday  school  room  were  put  in  first  class  con- 
dition ;  the  walls  frescoed,  the  church  recarpeted,  the  Sunday 
school  room  covered  with  linoleum,  new  pulpit  furniture  and  a 
pipe  organ  installed,  and  the  woodwork  within  and  without  ren- 
ovated. The  total  cost  of  the  improvements  was  approximately 
$4.500.  Mr.  Carnegie  provided  one-third  of  the  cost  of  the  pipe 
organ. 

The  graded  Sunday  school  lessons  were  introduced  in  the  Pri- 
mary Department.  The  important  work  of  teacher  training  was 
started.  Each  year  the  congregation  exceeded  its  apportionment. 
The  membership  of  the  church  was  more  than  doubled,  three 
hundred  and  sixty  members  being  added. 

The  death  of  Rev.  Charles  S.  Albert,  D.D.,  left  vacant  the 
editorship  of  the  Lutheran  Publication  Society.  Dr.  Wiles  was 
chosen  by  the  Board  of  Publication  in  January,  1913,  to  fill  that 
vacancy.  He  resigned  the  pastorate  of  Keller  Memorial,  the  res- 
ignation taking  effect  April  1,  1913. 

Dr.  Wiles  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Nicholas,  D.D., 
who  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor  of  Keller  Memorial  on  June 
1,  1913. 

Under  Dr.  Nicholas  the  growth  of  the  church  has  continued  to 
be  normal.  Nearly  four  hundred  members  have  been  received 
into  membership  during  these  six  years.  Through  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  duplex  envelopes  the  financial  resources  have  been 
greatly  increased. 

For  many  years  the  Sunday  school  was  greatly  hindered  for 
lack  of  proper  equipment.  A  beautiful  modern  Sunday  school 
building  was  erected  in  1915  at  a  cost,  with  equipment,  of  $19.000. 
On  May  1,  1918,  the  congregation  cancelled  the  entire  indebted- 
ness incurred  in  the  new  building.  On  October  1,  1918.  the 
congregation  purchased  the  valuable  property  situated  at  917 
Maryland  Avenue,  N.  E.,  as  a  parsonage.  Seventy-four  of  the 
young  men  of  Keller  were  enlisted  in  the  service  of  their  country 
during  the  war.  Rev.  Harrison  D.  Boyer  entered  the  ministry 
from  Keller  Memorial  in  1911.  Mr.  Robert  Flynn  is  a  prospec- 
tive student  for  the  ministry  and  is  now  a  sophomore  at  Gettys- 
burg. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Tu-clc,  Pastor. 

St.  John's  was  organized  in  18").").  and  at  that  time  consisted  en- 
tirely of  the  German-speaking  Lutherans  of  the  capital  city.  The 
congregation  was  gathered  and  the  organization  begun  by  the 
Rev.  Emil  Meister.  Dr.  Meister  continued  to  shepherd  the  flock 

until    the    outbreak   of   the    Civil 
War  in  1861. 

In  1861  the  Rev.  F.  Ph.  Ilen- 
nighausen  became  the  pastor  of  St. 
John's.  lie  had  been  licensed  by 
the  Maryland  Synod  in  that  year. 
The  following  year  the  congrega- 
tion appears  for  the  first  time  in 
the  parochial  reports  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod,  indicating  that  it  had 
then  affiliated  itself  Avith  the 
Synod.  The  membership  at  that 
time  is  given  as  70.  Dr.  Hennig- 
bausen  tells  us  that  the  congrega- 
tion suffered  considerably  during 
the  years  of  the  war.  The  ranks 
of  the  membership  were  thinned 
and  their  circumstances  were 
straitened.  But  before  long  the 

church  debt  was  paid,  the  building  renovated,  a  parochial  school 
organized,  and  a  modest  school  building  erected.  The  pastor  ex- 
tended his  labors  to  the  hospitals  in  and  around  Washington. 
Many  of  the  wounded  and  dying  soldiers  were  of  German  nation- 
ality, in  some  cases  unacquainted  with  the  language  of  the  coun- 
try for  whose  welfare  they  were,  nevertheless,  shedding  their 
blood.  The  young  pastor  not  only  talked  with  them  in  their  own 
tongue,  but  frequently  with  an  English  choir  went  out  to  sing 
for  them,  and  thus  his  congregation  grew  into  thousands.  When 
Dr.  Hennighansen  left  St.  John's  to  go  to  Baltimore  in  1864  it 
was  with  the  greatest  reluctance  that  the  people  of  St.  John's 
parted  with  him. 

He  was  succeeded  by  another  recent  licentiate  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod,  the  Rev.  William  Frey.  who  served  St.  John's  from 
1864  to  1870.  Then  followed  Rev.  Charles  Diehl.  1870-1872; 
Rev.  John  II.  Mengert.  1872-1874;  Rev.  Adolph  Kurtz.  1874- 


REV.  J.  C.  TWELE. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


305 


1879;  Rev.  J.  Salinger,  1880-1881;  Rev.  Lehnert,  1881-1887; 
Rev.  II.  K.  Mueller,  1887-1892;  Rev.  C.  M.  H.  Hamm,  1893-1897; 
Rev.  George  Brodthage,  1897-1910;  Rev.  II.  C.  Fultz.  1910-1914; 
Rev.  Paul  L.  Leddin,  1914-1917;  Rev.  J.  C.  Twele,  1917. 

During  Pastor  Fultz 's  pastorate  the  finances  of  the  congrega- 
tion were  greatly  improved.  Pastor  Leddin  introduced  the  du- 
plex envelope  system  and  organized  a  Woman's  Home  and  For- 
eign Missionary  Society.  During  the  present  pastorate  all  in- 
debtedness has  been  wiped  out  and  the  number  of  church  services 
has  been  increased. 

Two  of  the  charter  members  of  the  congregation  are  still  living, 
Mrs.  Frederick  and  Mrs.  Neiter.  Mr.  Rau  is  the  oldest  male 
member  of  the  congregation  and  he  has  been  president  of  the 
council  for  many  years.  The  present  president  of  the  council  is 
Mr.  Charles  Schaefer.  John  Hermann  is  the  financial  secretary. 
Trustees  are  Mr.  Martin  Wiegand  and  Mr.  Henry  Bieber. 


ZIOX  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHIXGTOX,  D.  C. 

Rev.  Richard  Schmidt,  Pastor. 

March  31,  1867,  thirty-three  families,  with  pastor  Rev.  W.  A. 
Frey,  withdrew  from  old  St.  John's  congregation  on  the  South 
Side.  April  14.  1867,  they  organ- 
ized as  Zion  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church.  Rev.  Frey  was 
elected  pastor  at  a  salary  of  $500, 
which  was  to  be  supplemented  by 
his  income  from  a  German  school 
he  conducted.  Services  were  first 
held  in  Temperance  Hall ;  then 
in  Miller's  Hall  on  H  Street  be- 
tween Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets, 
X.  W.,  and  then  for  several  years 
in  the  schoolroom  of  the  pastor  on 
N  Street  between  Sixth  and  Sev- 
enth Streets,  N.  W. 

The  Sunday  school  was  even 
then,  as  now,  a  strong,  helpful 
factor  in  the  life  of  the  congrega- 
tion, but  the  parochial  school 
caused  more  or  less  concern  and 

expense.    It  was  difficult  to  secure  consecrated  and  fully  equipped 
teachers;   the  most  satisfactory  arrangement  seems  to  have  been 
20 


REV.  RICHARD  SCHMIDT. 


306  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  RYXOD. 

to  have  the  pastor  as  principle  and  teacher  of  religion  and  Ger- 
man, with  a  lady  assistant  for  English  and  other  studies. 

"When  Rev.  Frey  joined  the  Missouri  Synod  he  could  not  per- 
suade the  congregation  to  take  the  same  step,  so  he  finally  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Rockville.  Connecticut,  in  1871. 

July  5.  1871.  the  present  site  of  our  church  was  purchased  for 
$3,000.  Rev.  Emil  Henckell  assumed  the  pastorate  February  4. 
1872,  and  soon  the  congregation  laid  the  corner  stone  of  a  modest 
frame  church,  which  was  dedicated  March  30,  1873.  Rev.  Henck- 
ell resigned  May.  1S74.  lie  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles 
Steinhauer.  whose  pastorate  was  brief  and  stormy.  Rev.  A. 
Eisenhauder.  of  Bolivar.  Ohio,  then  ministered  faithfully  from 
April.  1875,  to  October,  1877.  November,  1878,  Rev.  G.  W.  I. 
Landau  took  charge,  and  congregation  and  pastor  became  Presby- 
terian for  several  years.  April,  1881,  Rev.  Landau  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  H.  Unglaub,  who  stayed  only  one  year. 

There  was  a  crisis  upon  Zion.  complete  loss  of  the  property 
and  the  very  existence  of  the  congregation  being  threatened. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D..  and  Mr.  George  Ryneal,  Jr.,  came  to  the 
rescue  of  the  discouraged  little  band  by  assuming  the  debt  and 
assisting  in  securing  again  a  Lutheran  pastor.  Rev.  Albert 
Ilomrighaus.  of  Frostburg.  Mel.,  was  called  and  he  accepted,  tak- 
ing charge  in  the  fall  of  1882.  He  soon  restored  order  and  con- 
fidence, and  inaugurated  a  successful  movement  to  repay  Dr. 
Butler  and  Mr.  Ryneal.  The  name,  "Church  of  the  Fatherland," 
was  dropped  and  the  original  name  of  Zion  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  restored,  a  new  constitution  was  adopted,  and  incorpora- 
tion was  effected,  and  the  congregation  was  received  into  full  con- 
nection with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Maryland.  Con- 
gregation and  Sunday  school  responded  quickly  to  the  faithful 
leadership  of  the  pastor,  whose  perfect  command  of  German  and 
English  attracted  many  new  members.  A  building  fund  was 
started,  with  a  view  of  securing  a  large  and  modern  house  of 
worship. 

In  April.  1903.  after  a  faithful  and  successful  pastorate  of 
over  twenty  years.  Rev.  Ilomrighaus  accepted  a  call  to  Messiah 
German-English  Lutheran  Church  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  Rev. 
Charles  F.  Bergner.  of  Nashville.  Tennessee,  was  called,  but  did 
not  see  his  way  clear  to  accept  at  once.  Several  brethren  min- 
istered faithfully  as  supplies  for  nearly  a  year,  notably  Rev.  Dr. 
Luther  II.  "Waring,  of  our  city,  and  Rev.  Arthur  E.  Gringle,  now 
also  of  Detroit.  Michigan. 

April.  1904,  Rev.  Charles  F.  Bergner  assumed  the  pastorate 
and  soon  the  increasing  activities  in  all  lines  of  church  work 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


307 


brought  the  agitation  for  a  new  church  to  such  a  point  that  the 
annual  congregational  meeting.  January  3,  190o.  resolved  to  pro- 
ceed at  once.  Kev.  Bergner.  Christian  Herold,  John  A.  Wagner, 
William  Hasselbusch.  and  William  Schlueter,  were  named  as 
building  committee.  The  congregation  responded  amazingly  to 
-the  appeal  for  subscriptions  and  pledges. 

July  15,  1906.  the  last  service  was  held  in  the  old  church,  and 
then  the  congregation  accepted  the  offer  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Baptist  Sunday  School, 
corner  P  and  Fifteenth 
Street,  N.  W.,  to  use  their 
chapel  until  the  new 
church  should  be  com- 
pleted. 

September  16.  1906,  the 
corner  stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  and  during 
the  fall  and  winter,  under 
the  providence  of  the  heav- 
enly Father  and  the  ener- 
getic leadership  of  the  pas- 
tor and  the  building  com- 
mittee, the  magnificent 
structure  arose 
serious  interrup- 

Ziox  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C 

March  3,  1907.  the  con- 
gregation gratefully  and  joyfully  entered  the  Sunday  school  room 
for  the  first  service  of  worship  in  the  new  church. 

The  day  of  dedication.  May  19.  1907.  is  one  great  red  letter 
day  in  Zion's  history.  Prof.  David  H.  Bauslin.  D.D.,  then  Pres- 
ident of  the  General  Synod,  preached  the  chief  sermon,  assisted 
and  followed  by  other  prominent  Lutheran  divines,  as  Dr.-;.  Harry 
Yarger,  W.  E.  Peschau,  Albert  Ilomrighaus  and  local  pastors. 
"What  hath  God  wrought?"  The  seemingly  impossible  was  ac- 
complished and  stands  now  as  a  magnificent  monument  of  faith 
and  trust  in  God,  and  loyalty  and  liberality  and  cooperation  of 
Zionrs  congregation  and  Pastor  Bergner.  The  heavy  debt  was 
gradually  reduced,  so  when  Rev.  Bergner.  in  March,  1912.  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Cumberland.  Md.,  only  $9.000  remained. 

Without  belittling  the  splendid  efforts  of  the  Luther  League, 
the  Men's  and  Boys'  Clubs,  and  the  Ever  Ready  Circle,  and  the 
Evergreen  Society,  and  Sunday  school  and  confirmation  classes, 
the  chief  credit  for  the  rapid  reduction  of  the  church  debt  must 


granite 
without 
tion  or  accident. 


308  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

he  given  to  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  In  addition  to  their  efforts 
to  reduce  the  church  debt,  they  have  for  years  looked  after  the 
parsonage,  which  they  built  years  ago,  paying  for  all  repairs  and 
improvements. 

June  1,  1912.  Rev.  Richard  Schmidt,  after  a  pastorate  of  nearly 
eight  years  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Syracuse.  X.  Y..  became  Zion's 
pastor.  Soon  there  was  an  agitation  to  complete  the  appoint- 
ments of  our  beautiful  edih'ce  by  installing  a  large  modern  pipe 
organ  in  the  space  near  the  altar.  The  organ  was  built  by  the 
M.  P.  Moeller  Company,  of  Ilagerstown,  Md.,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 
and  was  dedicated  June  11,  1914.  At  the  same  time  electric  light 
was  secured  for  the  whole  building. 

Miss  Martha  Metzler  generously  presented  a  beautiful  and 
costly  communion  service  with  individual  cups. 

In  the  summer  of  1914  Pastor  Schmidt  was  given  a  three 
months'  furlough  for  a  visit  to  the  German  fatherland,  after  an 
absence  of  thirty  years.  The  enjoyment  and  benefit  of  the  trip 
were  neutralized  by  the  outbreak  of  the  horrible  war.  Upon  their 
return  the  pastor  and  his  wife  felt  doubly  grateful  that  the  good 
Lord  had  brought  them  to  this  country  and  to  such  a  devoted 
congregation  as  our  Zion. 

The  language  question,  which  had  been  troublesome  at  times 
in  Zion's  history,  was  definitely  and  happily  settled  when  the 
congregation  adopted  the  pastor's  suggestion  to  have  a  service  in 
each  language  every  Sunday  morning,  the  evening  services  being 
all  English.  While  this  arrangement  has  added  to  the  pastor's 
labor,  and  withal  leaves  him  very  little  time  for  the  Sunday 
school  session,  neither  he  nor  the  school  have  thus  far  suffered. 

The  Sunday  school,  under  its  capable  superintendent  and  loyal 
officers  and  teachers,  has  made  remarkable  progress.  Bible 
classes  for  men  and  women  and  the  growth  in  all  departments 
have  required  more  room.  The  house  adjoining  the  church  on 
Sixth  Street  was  purchased  for  $4.000  and  the  lower  floor  con- 
verted into  a  fine  chapel  for  the  Primary  Department.  This  in- 
creased Zion's  debt  again  to  $10.000.  but  the  zeal  and  the  liber- 
ality increased  also,  especially  in  the  Sunday  school,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  a  few  individuals,  made 
a  payment  of  $1,000  as  a  1916  Christmas  gift  to  the  church. 

During  the  "World  War  Zion  gave  twenty-three  young  men  to 
active  military  service.  One  of  them  made  the  supreme  sacri- 
fice. "William  T.  Deardorff.  who  had  begun  his  education  at  Get- 
tysburg in  preparation  for  the  Lutheran  ministry.  As  a  fitting 
memorial  to  their  dead  hero  his  parents  will  educate  another 
worthy  young  man  for  the  ministry. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON   AND  VICINITY. 


309 


THE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  GEORGETOWN, 

D.  C. 

Rev.  George  D.  Clarke,  Pastor. 

The  Georgetown  congregation  is  the  pioneer  Lutheran  organ- 
ization of  Washington.  Jt  was  organized  in  1769,  thirty-two 
years  before  that  city  became  the  capital  of  the  nation.  This  is 
indicated  by  a  deed  recorded  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  May  17, 
1770,  and  by  a  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  in  review- 
ing the  title  to  this  property  in 
1829  recognized  that  "an  organ- 
ized unincorporated  Lutheran 
congregation  existed  here  as  early 
as  1769." 

One  of  the  four  lots  given  for 
public  uses  in  Georgetown  was  for 
a  Lutheran  church.  A  log  church 
was  at  once  erected  on  this  lot  by 
the  German  Lutherans  who  lived 
in  Georgetown  and  along  Rock 
Creek,  and  services  were  conduct- 
ed more  or  less  irregularly  by 
various  non-resident  ministers. 
Tradition  says  that  George  Wash- 
ington attended  at  least  one  serv- 
ice in  this  church.  The  founder 
of  Georgetown  Presbyterianism 
held  his  first  services  for  his  peo- 
ple in  this  Lutheran  church  about  1780.  The  church  appears 
to  have  been  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  famous  Lutheran 
missionary  preachers,  the  Muhlenbergs.  Rev.  Peter  Muhlenberg, 
the  "fighting  parson"  of  Woodstock,  Va.,  made  missionary  tours 
in  many  directions  seeking  to  gather  together  the  scattered  mem- 
bers of  his  faith.  For  a  time,  in  1779,  owing  to  their  inability  to 
secure  a  Lutheran  pastor,  the  congregation  was  served  by  an 
Episcopal  minister  by  the  name  of  Brooke.  A  German  minister 
from  Philadelphia  served  them  during  part  of  the  year  1796. 
Another  German  minister  was  secured  in  1799.  The  difficulty  of 
securing  permanent  pastoral  oversight  will  be  understood  when 
it  is  borne  in  mind  that  at  that  time  the  number  of  Lutherans 
in  what  is  now  the  United  States  was  but  a  few  thousand.  They 
had  but  few  ministers,  and  not  a  single  denominational  college  or 


REV.  GEORGE  D.  CLARKE. 


310  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

theological  seminary  in  the  country  from  which  to  draw  their 
pastors. 

The  log  church  of  1769  having  fallen  into  decay,  after  a  lapse 
of  some  years  a  second  building — a  frame  structure — was  erected 
about  the  year  18:}.").  This  was  used,  like  the  first  building,  more 
or  less  irregularly,  as  a  house  of  worship  and  perhaps  as  a  parish 
school  also,  at  times,  up  to  a  period  within  the  memory  of  people 
still  living,  as  it  was  still  standing  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War. 

The  Georgetown  congregation  continued  its  independent  and 
struggling  existence  a  half  century  after  the  organization  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  before  it  became  connected  with  any  Synod, 
and  received  no  assistance  from  other  congregations  or  from  the 
Maryland  Synod,  on  whose  territory  it  was  located. 

The  attention  of  the  Synod  was  several  times  directed  to  the 
needs  of  the  struggling  band  of  Lutherans  in  Georgetown.  But 
the  first  definite  move  towards  a  permanent  formal  organization 
came  from  another  direction.  On  June  24.  1866,  at  the  residence 
of  Henry  A.  Kaiser,  a  German  Lutheran  congregation  was 
formally  organized  with  the  purpose  of  continuing  the  work  of 
the  church  on  the  Georgetown  property  and  making  use  of  it. 
They  elected  John  Kaiser  president.  George  F.  Wetzerich  secre- 
tary, and  Charles  Memmert  treasurer.  .Eleven  other  gentlemen 
soon  afterward  joined  the  organization. 

On  June  27.  1867,  James  Gossler,  Henry  C.  Kaiser,  II.  B.  Wis- 
ner.  J.  C.  Kaiser,  and  George  F.  Wetzerick,  were  elected  by  the 
congregation,  and  on  July  22d  were  properly  confirmed  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  District  of  Columbia  as  trustees  of  the 
German  Lutheran  congregation  of  Georgetown,  U.  C.  It  was 
decided  to  build  a  one-story  brick  building  for  church  and  paro- 
chial school  purposes,  and  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Finckel,  D.D.,  then 
pastor  of  Concordia  Lutheran  Church,  of  Washington,  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  congregation. 

The  services  rendered  this  small  congregation  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Finckel  were  in  addition  to  his  work  as  pastor  of  the  Concordia 
church.  He  did  not  serve  Georgetown  very  long,  however,  be- 
cause on  November  16,  1868,  a  very  pressing  invitation  was  ex- 
tended by  this  congregation  to  Rev.  J.  J.  Suman,  then  living  in 
Washington,  and  engaged  in  the  government  service,  to  preach 
for  them.  On  Sunday.  January  3,  1869,  he  received  a  formal  call 
to  become  pastor  of  the  church.  He  accepted  the  call  and  was 
formally  installed  by  the  President  of  the  Maryland  Synod  on 
January  24th.  Rev.  Mr.  Suman  was  thus  the  first  permanent 
pastor  formally  installed  by  authority  of  any  synod  over  this 
little  band  of  Lutherans  tenaciously  clinging  to  the  Augsburg 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY.  311 

Confession  and  to  a  Georgetown  lot  donated  for  Lutheran  church 
purposes  just  a  century  before. that  installation.  The  pastorate 
was  received  into  the  Maryland  Synod  and  reported  to  that  body 
in  the  fall  of  1869,  twenty-five  communicant  members  in  the 
church,  and  ten  officers  and  teachers  and  sixty  scholars  in  the 
Sunday  school. 

On  February  27,  1870,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Suman, 
it  was  resolved,  by  a  vote  of  the  trustees,  that  "hereafter  the 
church  building  be  devoted  exclusively  to  church  purposes." 
There  was  some  bitter  feeling  over  this  action,  as  the  Germans 
took  offense  at  it  and  ceased  attending  church  services  and  Sun- 
day school ;  but  the  German  day  school  was  closed  and  no  Ger- 
man has  been  used  since  that  time  in  the  church  or  school.  One 
of  the  old  heirlooms  still  possessed  and  highly  prized  by  the  con- 
gregation, coming  down  from  its  early  history,  is  its  large  old 
German  pulpit  Bible,  printed  in  Tuebiiigeii,  Germany,  in  1730. 

On  October  30,  1870,  an  English  congregation  was  regularly 
and  constitutionally  organized,  supplanting  all  prior  organiza- 
tions, with  an  even  dozen  members. 

The  records  do  not  give  the  date  of  Rev.  Mr.  Suman 's  resig- 
nation, but  it  must  have  been  within  a  few  months  after  this  or- 
ganization of  the  strictly  English  congregation,  inasmuch  as  Rev. 
George  A.  Xixdorff  was  invited  to  visit  the  field  with  a  view  to 
becoming  pastor.  The  chronicler  adds  that  "he  visited  us,  was 
pleased,  and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  April,  1871,  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  as  pastor  of  the  church." 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  in  the  fall  of 
1871,  there  were  reported  eleven  communicant  members  in  the 
church,  and  seven  teachers  and  forty-five  scholars  in  the  Sunday 
school.  The  reorganized  congregation  was  received  into  connec- 
tion with  the  Maryland  Synod,  and  was  represented  that  year, 
1871,  by  its  first  lay  delegate,  Mr.  John  W.  Eli. 

A  debt  of  $1.800  that  rested  on  the  congregation  at  the  be- 
ginning of  Mr.  Simian's  pastorate  was  successfully  paid  off 
through  the  assiduous  efforts  of  Pastors  Suman  and  Xixdorff  and 
a  donation  of  $500  from  the  Maryland  Synod.  Rev.  Mr.  Nixdorff 
continued  as  pastor  until  June  3.  1894,  making  a  most  faithful 
and  self-sacrificing  pastorate  of  more  than  twenty-three  years, 
for  he  never  received  any  financial  return  from  this  congregation 
through  all  those  years. 

In  October,  1894.  Rev.  Stanley  Billheimer  took  up  the  work  of 
this  pastorate,  reporting  at  that  time  a  total  of  twenty-five  com- 
municant members  in  the  church,  and  eleven  officers  and  teachers 
and  forty-five  scholars  in  the  Sunday  school.  During  his  pastor- 


312  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ate  of  ten  years,  ending  October  31,  1901,  the  church  member- 
ship increased  to  seventy-eight  communicants,  and  the  Sunday 
school  enrollment  to  eight  officers  and  teachers  and  eighty-two 
scholars,  and  the  church  property  was  much  improved  on  the 
exterior  and  in  the  interior  at  a  cost  of  about  $3,000. 

Rev.  David  Bittle  Floyd.  D.I).,  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and 
took  up  its  duties  April  1,  1905,  but  resigned  five  months  later. 
September  10.  1905,  to  accept  a  theological  professorship  in  Sus- 
quchanna  University  at  Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania.  During  his 
short  pastorate  he  nevertheless  rendered  efficient  service,  added  a 
number  to  the  church,  and  introduced  part  of  the  historic  Com- 
7iion  Service. 

Rev.  Luther  Hess  Waring.  Ph.D..  began  serving  the  congrega- 
tion as  acting  pastor  March  1,  190(5.  On  October  25th  following, 
the  congregation  extended  him  a  formal  call,  to  take  effect  No- 
vember 1,  which  he  accepted,  and  he  was  regularly  installed  as 
pastor  November  13,  1906.  During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Waring, 
the  church  having  come  into  possession  of  $20,000  through  the 
generous  bequest  of  one  of  her  honored  members,  Daniel  E.  Eli. 
it  was  made  possible  to  erect  the  present  beautiful  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  was  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  God,  February  7,  1915. 
After  having  faithfully  and  successfully  served  the  congregation 
for  a  period  of  ten  years,  Dr.  Waring  resigned  August  31,  1916. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  J.  Gould  Wickey,  who  had  just 
graduated  from  Gettysburg  Seminary  and  who  assumed  the  pas- 
toral care  September  1,  1916.  Rev.  Wickey 's  pastorate  was  of 
short  duration,  resigning  June  24,  1917,  but  he  left  a  happy  im- 
pression upon  the  hearts  of  his  people.  His  pastorate  was  pro- 
ductive of  great  increase  to  the  church. 

Rev.  Wickey  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  George  D.  Clarke,  who 
assumed  the  pastoral  care,  January  1.  1918. 


LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  OUR  REDEEMER, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Re i'.  D.  E.  Wiseman,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

The  Church  of  Our  Redeemer,  a  colored  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion. Unrated  on  Eighth  Street  above  Florida  Avenue,  N.  W., 
grew  out  of  a  desire  of  a  few7  white  friends  of  the  colored  people 
to  help  them  solve  their  many  problems,  especially  along  the 
spiritual  lines. 

The  work  was  first  started  as  a  Sunday  school,  under  the  name 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


313 


of  "Lutheran  Mission."  A  small  hall,  known  as  "VVorthington 
Hall,  located  on  Brightwood  Avenue,  but  better  known  now  as 
Georgia  Avenue  was  procured  and  for  the  space  of  ten  months 
quite  an  interesting  body  of  children  was  gathered  from  the 
neighborhood  each  Sunday  afternoon  at  3  o'clock.  With  the  aid 
of  a  few  volunteer  teachers  from  other  denominations  some  good 
work  was  done  for  the  children,  as  well  as  for  the  community. 

On  August  9,  1885,  the  corner  stone  of  the  church,  which  is 
located  at  Eighth  Street  near  Barry  Place,  N.  W.,  was  laid  amid 
.great  rejoicing  and  in  the  presence  of  quite  an  audience  of  white 
as  well  as  colored  people.  The 
choir  of  the  Memorial  Lutheran 
Church  furnished  the  music,  and 
its  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  George 
Butler,  D.D.,  acted  as  chairman  of 
the  occasion.  Dr.  Butler  used  the 
following  words:  "This  church 
of  our  Redeemer,  whose  corner 
stone  is  laid  to-day  in  the  name  of 
the  Triune  God,  had  its  inception 
in  the  conviction  and  desire  of 
some  of  our  Lutheran  people  to 
work  with  other  fellow  Christians 
among  the  rapidly  multiplying 
peoples  of  color  of  which  there  are 
now  more  than  ten  thousand  in 
this  capital  city,  furnishing  a 
large  and  promising  field  for 
Christian  labors."  Associated 
with  Dr.  Butler  in  the  ceremonies  of  that  auspicious  Sunday 
afternoon  were  the  Revs.  Samuel  Domer,  of  St.  Paul's;  G.  A. 
Nixdorf,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C. ;  W.  E.  Parson,  of  Reformation, 
and  G.  A.  Slaybaugh.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  the  pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  Daniel  E.  Wiseman,  pronounced  the  benediction. 

The  church  building  is  of  pressed  brick,  Gothic  structure,  and 
is  twenty-five  feet  wide  and  seventy-five  feet  long.  It  is  fur- 
nished with  pews,  pipe  organ,  bell  and  other  necessary  furnish- 
ings. It  was  one  of  the  first  churches  of  our  denomination  in 
the  city  to  have  a  robed  choir.  It  is  in  all  its  appointments  up- 
to-date  and  furnishes  to  its  jvorshippers  a  nice,  bright,  cozy  audi- 
torium well  fitted  for  worship.  The  church,  though  small  from 
the  standpoint  of  membership,  has  stood  in  the  forefront  in  all 
movements  for  the  welfare  of  humanity. 

It  has  not  only  preached  a  gospel  of  regeneration,  repentance 


REV.  D.  E.  WISEMAN,  D.D. 


314  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

and  faith,  as  being  essential  in  the  making  of  Christians  for  the 
other  world,  but  it  has  tried  to  instill  in  the  minds  of  its  members 
and  hearers  the  necessity  of  these  things  for  the  present  as  well 
as  for  the  life  to  come. 

The  influence  and  activities  of  the  Church  of  Our  Redeemer 
for  civic  improvements  have  been  many  and  varied.  When  the 
government  in  years  gone  by  could  not  see  the  utility  of  the  kin- 
dergarten system,  it  was  left  to  this  church  to  foster  by  the  help 
of  kind  friends  one  of  the  first  six  free  schools  of  its  kind,  which 
to-day  is  an  important  phase  of  the  school  system  of  the  District 
of  Columbia.  The  church  being  small,  as  well  as  poor,  not  being 
able  to  pay  the  teacher,  a  friend  of  the  pastor's,  a  Unitarian  lady 
and  a  few  of  her  friends,  furnished  the  salary,  while  a  colored 
lady  furnished  the  necessary  furniture  for  the  room.  Later  in 
the  history  of  the  work  a  Lutheran  lady  who  conducted  a  kinder- 
garten training  school  in  the  city  assisted  in  the  work,  by  sending 
two  of  her  pupils  each  day. 

This  work  was  carried  on  free  of  charge  to  the  children  until 
the  government  adopted  it.  Other  efforts  were  put  forth  in  the 
organi/ing  of  a  Lutheran  Alliance,  Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs,  Sew- 
ing School,  etc. 

Its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wiseman,  D.D.,  was  born  in  the 
Island  of  St.  Thomas,  Danish  West  Indies,  but  now  one  of  the 
Virgin  Islands  of  the  United  States.  He  is  of  Lutheran  parentage, 
lie  came  to  Brooklyn.  X.  Y.,  in  1871,  when  yet  a  boy,  and  joined 
St.  .Matthew's  English  Lutheran  Church.  He  sat  under  the  pas- 
torates of  the  Rev.  I.  K.  Funk  (of  Punk  and  Wagnalls),  II gen 
Burrell.  by  whom  he  was  confirmed;  A.  S.  Hartman,  and  M.  W. 
I  lamina. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Wiseman  to  enter  Gettysburg  to 
prepare  for  his  work  in  life.  But  through  the  kindness  of  Rev. 
J.  G.  Butler  and  the  help  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  of  which  he  is 
a  member  by  licensure  and  ordination,  he  took  his  course  at 
Howard  University,  Washington.  D.  C. 

This  church,  as  has  already  been  said,  is  a  small  one,  but  tak- 
ing it  from  all  angles  there  is  no  more  loyal  and  self-sacrificing 
people  to  be  found  anywhere  than  those  who  make  up  this  con- 
gregation. The  advice  and  help  of  the  pastor  is  sought  often  by 
Protestants,  Catholics  and  Jews,  as  well  as  others. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


315 


THE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  EPIPH- 
ANY, WASHINGTON,  I).  C. 

Rev.  Charles  F.  Stcck,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Elpiphany,  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  was  organized  011  Sunday,  February  7,  1909,  by 
forty-eight  members  of  the  Memorial  Lutheran  Chureh  of  that 
city,  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  Memorial  because  of  the  con- 
duct of  a  special  congregational  meeting  of  that  church  called  to 
adjust  radical  differences  among 
its  members  as  to  its  internal  man- 
agement. L.  Russell  Alden,  now 
Treasurer  of  the  Maryland  Synod, 
conducted  the  first  session  of  its 
Sunday  school  and  his  father.  Lu- 
cius U.  Alden,  for  many  years  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  school 
of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church  in 
Washington,  and  later  a  member 
and  elder  of  the  Memorial  Church, 
conducted  its  first  church  services. 

The  withdrawal  of  these  mem- 
bers from  the  Memorial  was  not 
premeditated  and  their  initial  or- 
ganization was  a  temporary  one, 
designed  to  hold  them  together 
until  a  reconciliation  with  the 
other  members  of  the  Memorial 

could  be  effected  or  other  plans  made.  To  it  they  gave  the  name 
"Independent  Lutheran  Congregation."  It  soon  appearing  that 
such  a  reconciliation  was  impossible,  on  March  25,  1909,  the  or- 
ganization was  made  permanent. 

In  the  following  October  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected:  Lucius  D.  Alden,  Charles  S. 
Sloane  and  Harry  R.  Burrell,  elders;  Abner  Y.  Leech,  Jr.,  Wil- 
liam L.  Rhoads,  I.  B.  Dodson,  Frederick  C.  H.  Wurdeman,  Louis 
E.  Hoover  and  Walter  Locke,  deacons,  and  Rev.  George  H.  Slay- 
baugh,  Henry  F.  Lerch,  Sr.,  and  Joseph  W.  Zimmerman,  trus- 
tees. Lucius  D.  Alden  was  also  elected  a  commissioner  to  the 
Maryland  Synod,  and  Abner  Y.  Leech,  Jr.,  Louis  E.  Hoover, 
Harry  Burrell  and  Rev.  George  II.  Slaybaugh  were  elected  a 
committee  with  him  to  apply  to  the  Maryland  Synod  for  admis- 


KEV.  CHARLES  F.  STECK,  D.D. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


sion' thereto.  This  application  was  granted  at  the  convention  of 
the  Maryland  Synod  held  in  Baltimore  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
1909.  and  soon  thereafter,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  Epiphany, 
the  "Independent  Lutheran  Congregation"  changed  its  name  to 
"The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Epiphany  of  Wash- 
ington. D.  C.,"  and  called  to  its  pastorate  Rev.  Charles  F.  Steek. 


LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  EPIPHANY,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

D.D.,  then  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at  Fred- 
erick, Maryland,  and  President  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

Until  the  coming  of  Dr.  Steck,  Epiphany  was  ministered  to  by 
many  clergymen,  but  especial  mention  must  be  made  of  the  help- 
fulness of  Rev.  Luther  Hess  Waring,  Ph.D..  then  pastor  of  the 
Georgetown  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Washington,  and 
of  the  services  of  Rev.  Samuel  V.  Leech.  D.D.,  uncle  of  Abner  Y. 
Leech,  Jr.,  Epiphany's  Sunday  school  superintendent  since  its 
organization,  a  Methodist  divine  who,  although  voluntarily  re- 
tired because  of  advanced  years,  had  lost  none  of  the  ability  which 
had  made  him  one  of  the  great  preachers  of  his  denomination. 
With  true  fidelity  to  his  Master's  call  wherever  it  presented  it- 
self and  the  strictest  respect  for  the  theological  views  of  the 
Lutherans  whom  he  temporarily  served,  Dr.  Leech  ministered  to 
these  people  for  several  months  while  they  sought  a  permanent 
pastor  of  their  own  and,  by  his  wise  counsel,  his  unquestioned 
prestige  and  his  able  preaching,  held  them  together,  gained  for 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY. 


317 


them  the  attention  of  the  community  and  attracted  others  to  their 
fold. 

Dr.  Steck  entered  on  his  pastorate  at  Epiphany  on  February 
1.  1910,  and  has  continued  therein  to  this  date.  Under  his  leader- 
ship the  church  has  acquired  a  valuable  property  at  IGth  and  U 
Streets  and  New  Hampshire  Avenue,  X.  W.,  overlooking  16th 
Street,  AVashington 's  most  important  boulevard,  has  erected  a 
beautiful  and  commodious  chapel  and  Sunday  school  house  on  its 
U  Street  frontage,  and.  in  eight  years,  has  paid  for  it  all,  a  prop- 


MR.  A.  Y.  LEECH,  JR., 
Washington,  D.  C. 


MR.  Lucius  D.  ALDEN, 
Washington,  T).  G. 


erty  valued  at  $33.000.  In  addition  to  this,  a  considerable  sum 
has  been  accumulated  in  its  building  fund  and  Epiphany  looks 
forward  to  the  early  completion  of  its  main  church  edifice. 

All  this  has  been  accomplished  with  the  free  will  offerings  of 
its  members  and  friends,  made  without  personal  solicitation  or 
canvass  or  public  appeal  from  the  pulpit.  The  church  now  has  a 
membership  of  125  and  a  Sunday  school  of  about  equal  numbers. 
Its  societies  are  enthusiastic  and  active  and  its  future  full  of 
promise.  But  above  all,  Epiphany's  members  have  grown  in 
Christian  grace  and  service:  Christianity  and  its  truth  as  ex- 
pressed in  Evangelical  Lutheranism  are  stronger  in  the  nation's 
capital  for  their  influence.  Out  from  its  walls  the  pastor's  son, 
Rev.  Charles  F.  Steck,  Jr.,  has  gone  into  the  Christian  ministry. 
In  another  of  its  members,  Rev.  George  H.  Slaybaugh,  both  pas- 
tor and  people  have  had  a  valued  counsellor  and  associate,  and 


318 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


still  another.  Rev.  E.  C.  Dinwiddie,  lias  been  one  of  the  foremost 
champions  in  the  national  fight  for  prohibition. 

The  present  officers  of  Kpiphany  are  (September.  1919),  Rev. 
Charles  F.  Steck.  D.D.,  pastor;  Abner  Y.  Leech,  Jr.,  George  C. 
Hnsmann  and  L.  Rnssell  Alden,  elders;  William  L.  Rhoads,  I. 
H.  Hodson.  (Justav  Loehler.  Dr.  Francis  M.  Crisell,  Ferdinand 
Waldman  and  Homer  Link,  deacons,  and  Rev.  George  H.  Slay- 
bangh.  Frederick  C.  II.  Wnrdeman  and  L.  Russell  Alden,  trus- 
tees. 

COLUMBIA  HEIGHTS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Her.  Charles  II.  Butler,  Pastor. 

The  Columbia  Heights  Church  had  its  inception  in  the  desire 

to  care  for  Lutherans  in  that  part  of  the  city.     The  need  of  a 

church  there  had  been  felt  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  two  or 

three  unsuccessful  attempts  to  establish  a  church  had  been  made. 

Rev.  Charles  II.  Butler  had  been  assisting  his  father,  Rev.  J.  G. 

Butler,  D.D.,  in  the  pastorate 
of  the  Luther  Place  Memorial 
Church.  Washington,  for  nearly 
two  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  the  summer  of  1909. 
Immediately  afterwards  the  son 
took  steps  to  inaugurate  a  new 
church  work  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  city,  known  as  the 
Columbia  Heights  section.  After 
extensive  canvassing,  the  new 
church  project  took  shape  in  the 
renting  of  a  house  and  the  organ- 
ization of  a  Sunday  school,  and 
with  the  beginning  of  regular 
preaching  service  in  January, 
1910. 

The   Board   of   Home   Missions 
assisted  the  work  for  a  period  of 

six  months.  In  March.  1911.  a  congregation  was  organized  with 
a  small  membership,  and  the  work  progressed,  but  not  rapidly. 
Meanwhile  funds  were  being  collected,  and  in  the  fall  of  1914 
a  lot  was  purchased  for  $2.500,  and  a  portable  chapel  erected. 
This  move  had  a  noticeable  good  effect  upon  the  work. 

In  March,  1918,  a  substantial  one-story  stone  and  brick  church 
in  a  better  location,  yet  in  the  same  neighborhood  was  purchased 


KKV.  CHAKLKS  II.  BUTLER. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  VICINITY.  319 

from  another  denomination  for  $11,000,  the  Board  of  Home  Mis- 
sions and  Church  Extension  assisting. 

In  September,  1918,  the  congregation  received  a  bequest  of 
$5,000  from  the  estate  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D.,  who  had 
realized  the  strategic  importance  of  Columbia  Heights  to  the 
welfare  of  the  Lutheran  cause  in  Washington,  and  who  had 
planned  to  establish  the  church  there  in  the  fall  of  1909. 

Owing  to  the  inauspicious  beginning  of  the  work,  literally  with- 
.out  money  and  without  people,  the  fact  that  two  or  three  attempts 
to  plant  a  mission  there  had  failed,  and  the  troubled  condition  of 
the  country  due  to  the  world  war,  progress  has  been  slow.  But 
the  pastor  feels  that  the  potentially  rich  territory  has  been  pre- 
empted for  the  General  Synod,  now  the  United  Lutheran  Church. 
And  such  is  the  character  of  the  Columbia  Heights  section  there 
is  reason  to  believe,  now  that  the  foundation  is  laid,  the  growth 
will  be  steady,  though  probably  not  rapid,  and  that  in  the  not 
distant  future  there  will  be  developed  a  vigorous  church  in  that 
important  part  of  the  city. 

THE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  THE  INCARNA- 
TION, WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Rev.  Henry  Mankcn,  Jr.,  Pastor. 

An  alliance  of  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Churches  of  Washington. 
D.  C..  came  into  being  on  January 
17,  1917.  Among  its  expressed 
aims  was  "the  conservation  and 
increasing  of  our  membership  by 
organized  and  systematic  ef- 
forts." The  first  regular  officers 
were  Rev.  William  A.  Wade.  Mr. 
II.  A.  Benner  and  Mr.  Harry  T. 
Domer. 

At  a  board  of  directors'  meeting 
held  at  Epiphany  Church  on  1T 
Street,  on  June  4.  1917.  favorable 
expression  was  given  to  the  proj- 
ect of  undertaking  a  mission  in  the 

Piney  Branch  Park  section.    At  a 

T    ,  , .  , .  ,    ,  REV.  HENRY  MAN  KEN,  JR. 

later    meeting    action    was    taken 

looking  to  the  purchase  of  the  northeast  corner  of  Gallatin  and 
Fourteenth  Streets,  N.  W.  Toward  this  project  one  thousand 
dollars  was  contributed  by  Washington  Lutherans. 


320 


HISTORY  OF  .MARYLAND  SYXOIX 


The  Church  of  the  Incarnation  was  thus  brought  into  existence 
by  the  Alliance,  and  with  the  encouragement  of  the  Hoard  of 
Home  .Missions  and  Church  Extension.  Cards  had  been  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  community  announcing  the  first  service 
to  be  held  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  II.  A.  Benner,  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fourteenth  and  Ingraham  Streets.  X.  W.  On 
December  9,  1917.  the  Kev.  William  A.  Wade.  President  of  the 
Alliance,  preached  the  first  sermon.  The  new  organization,  hav- 
ing been  begun  so  near  the  Festival  of  the  Nativity,  took  for  its 

name  "The  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  the  Incarnation/' 
Thirty-three  persons  signed  the 
charter  roll. 

The  Bible  School  conducted  its 
first  service  on  January  (i,  1918. 
Mr.  II.  A.  Benner,  Secretary  of 
the  Alliance,  acting  as  the  super- 
intendent. On  April  18th.  the 
congregation  adopted  its  constitu- 
tion. Steps  had  been  taken  to  se- 
cure a  resident  pastor,  and  finally 
a  call  was  extended  to  the  Kev. 
Henry  Manken,  Jr..  pastor  of  St. 
Luke's  Lutheran  Church.  Balti- 
more, who  assumed  charge  on  Sep- 
tember 1,  1918.  The  service  of  in- 
Mi;  HAIIVKY  A.  BKXXER  stallation  was  conducted  by  tin* 

'Washington,'  D.  c'.  Rev.  Drs.  C.  F.  Stock,  of  Wash- 

ington, 1).  C.,  and  John  C.  Bowers,  of  Catonsville,  Md.  A  num- 
ber of  representatives  from  the  Washington  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions were  present.  The  regular  order  of  service  of  the  new  com- 
mon service  was  used,  the  mission  being  the  first  congregation  in 
Washington  to  use  the  Common  Service  Book  with  Hymnal. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Frost  burg,  on  De- 
cember 4,  1918.  the  congregation's  petition,  presented  through  its 
delegate,  Mr.  Charles  Wise,  was  favorably  acted  on,  and  the  con- 
gregation became  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

The  members  of  the  Church  Council  are  II.  A.  Benner,  G.  H. 
Ostermayer.  C.  W.  Wise.  J.  M.  Sitler,  M.  A.  Schuler.  C.  Ludwig. 
Jr.,  R.  E.  Cannon,  and  II.  P.  Clarke,  with  the  pastor  as  president 
ex-offieio. 

A  "Woman's  Guild"  was  organized  on  April  20.  1918,  as  a 
federation  of  all  the  women  of  the  congregation.  The  officers 


THE  CHURCHKS  OF   WASHINGTON    AM)   VICINITY.  321 

are:  Mrs.  G.  H.  Ostermayer.  Mrs.  C.  Severn.  Mrs.  J.  M.  Sitler, 
and  Mrs.  II.  A.  Benner. 

A  Young  People's  Department  of  Luther  League  of  the  Bible 
School  was  organized  on  Deeember  8,  1918.  The  express  object 
of  the  league  is  to  federate  all  the  young  people  of  the  school 
and  congregation  in  an  organized  effort  for  training  and  service 
in  Lutheran  Church  work.  The  officers  of  the  League  are :  Mr. 
E.  M.  Foust.  Miss  Mabel  Freas,  Miss  Dora  Freas.  Mrs.  Robert 
Falconer  and  Miss  Helen  Ostermayer. 

The  corner  stone  for  the  congregation's  house  of  worship  was 
laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  on  July  21.  1919.  and  the  con- 
gregation expects  soon  to  occupy  its  new  home.  Mr.  Harry  A. 
Benner  is  chairman  of  the  building  committee. 


21 


OTHER  MEMBERS  OK  THE  EASTERN  CONFERENCE. 


REV.  W.  H.  GOTAVALD,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
Washington,  D.  C. 


REV.  G.  H.  SLAYBAUGH, 
Washington,  D.  C. 


KKV.  L.  II.  WARING,  PH,D., 
Washington,  I).  C. 


REV.  J.  0.  MOSER, 
Washington,  D.  C. 


OTHER  MEMBERS  OF  THE  EASTERN  CONFERENCE. 


EEV.  F.  H.  WEAVER, 
Newry,  Pa. 


REV.  N.  J.  G.  WICKEY, 
Cambridge,  Mass. 


REV.  H.  D.  BOYER, 
Washington,  D.  C. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


BRADDOCK  LUTHERAX  CHURCH, 
BRADDOCK,  MD. 

Rev.  R.  AS*.  Poffenb'erger,  Pastor. 

The  little  town  of  Braddock  is  located  along  the  National  Pike, 
three  miles  west  of  Frederick  and  three  miles  east  of  Braddock 
Heights,  Maryland's  famous  summer  resort.  Until  1907  the 
church  there  was  a  union  of  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congrega- 
tions. The  Lutheran  congregation 
was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Diehl,  of  Frederick,  sometime  in 
the  fifties  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. The  union  church  was  built 
in  1859  by  the  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed congregations  of  the  city 
of  Frederick  and  was  donated  by 
those  congregations  to  the  congre- 
gations at  Braddock. 

Then  for  a  long  period  the  Lu- 
theran congregation  at  Braddock 
was  a  preaching  station  for  the 
Lutheran  pastor  in  Frederick. 
From  about  1900  until  1915  the 
Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges  supplied  the 
pulpit  in  connection  with  his  min- 
istry at  Pleasant  Hill,  and  while 
residing  in  Middletown.  It  was 

during  his  ministry  that  the  present  church  building  was  erected. 
This  was  in  1907. 

The  house  of  worship  had  become  too  small  for  the  two  con- 
gregations and  the  alternating  of  Lutheran  and  Reformed  serv- 
ices in  the  one  building  caused  some  dissatisfaction.  Accordingly 
it  was  decided  that  the  two  congregations  ought  to  separate.  The 
Lutheran  congregation  proceeded  at  once  to  become  incorporated 
and  then  to  build  her  own  church.  A  building  committee  was 

325 


REV.    R.    S.    POFFENBF.RGKK. 


HISTOKV  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


chosen  as  follows:  George  \V.  IVrry.  Simeon  L.  Hast.  C.  M. 
1'hleeger.  Milton  E.  Akers,  Saninel  M.  Suniuiers,  Frank  II.  Grove, 
Leonard  Hoffman.  Hoy  Schaff'er.  and  William  .Mercer.  Much  of 
the  labor  and  materials  for  the  building  were  contributed  by  the 
members  of  the  congregation  and  the  completion  of  the  plans  was 
soon  reali/.ed.  Exclusive  of  these  donations  the  house  of  worship 
cost  JJO.n'OO.  The  church  is  beautiful  for  situation,  is  100  feet  long 
and  40  feet  wide,  and  is  well  furnished  and  thoroughly  equipped 
for  service.  For  several  years  now  the  pulpit  has  been  supplied 
b  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Poffenberger. 


BETHANY  LUTHERAN 

BRUNSWICK,  MI). 

(BurxswicK  CHAKCK.) 
h'<v.  Charlrx  \V.  Iltss, 


Bethany  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  Brunswick.  Fred- 
erick County.  .Maryland,  was  organized  August  21,  1892,  Rev.  C. 
AV.  Bixler,  a  seminarian  from  Gettysburg,  being  in  charge  of  the 
work  during  his  vacation.  The  work  was  under  the  direction  of 
the  Hoard  of  Home  Missions.  The  incorporators  were:  Elders. 

George  II.  Tritapo;>  and  Jonas 
Haupt;  deacons.  Luther  E.  Mc- 
Bride  and  "William  E.  Evans. 

The  first  services  were  held  in  a 
store-room  on  Fifth  Avenue. 
Later  the  "Brunswick  Seminary" 
furnished  a  temporary  home  for 
the  congregation.  Professor  J.  J. 
Shenk.  owner  of  the  seminary,  was 
elected  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school,  and  succeeded  in 
keeping  up  the  interest  in  the 
work  even  during  the  times  when 
there  was  no  pastor  in  charge. 
Mr.  Shenk  served  as  superintend- 
ent until  1904  and  was  active  in 
all  the  work  of  the  church. 

Rev.  W.  ('.  Wire  was  pastor  of 
the  mission  three  months,  begin- 

ning his  work  December  1.  1892.     lie  sought  to  gather  the  Lu- 
therans into  the  church. 

Rev.    Ferdinand    D.    Hesse,    another   seminarian,    served    the 


RKV.  CHAIM.KS  \V.  HKSS. 


THE  CHUHC'liF.S  OF  THK   MIDDLK  COXFKKKNCK. 

congregation  three  inonlhs.  beginning  his  work  .June  2:5.  1893. 
During  this  time  ten  members  were  added  and  a  building  lot  on 
Second  Street  was  bought.  The  comer  stone  was  laid  on  Sep- 
tember 24th,  and  this  was  the  final  act  of  Rev.  Hesse's  ministry. 

The  church  building  was  completed  before  another  pastor  was 
called.  The  Sunday  school  held  services  in  the  new  church  for 
the  first  time  on  February  11,  1894. 

Rev.  Henderson  N.  Miller  began  his  labors  here  on  June  1, 
1894.  The  church  building  was  dedicated  on  the  seventeenth  of 
the  same  month.  This  structure  was  36  feet  by  50  feet  in  size. 
The  entire  cost  of  lot,  building  and  furnishings  was  $2,100,  of 


BETHANY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  BRUNSWICK,  MD. 

which  amount  the  Church  Extension  Board  paid  $500 — $300  as 
a  gift  and  $200  as  a  loan;  $1,170  remained  to  be  provided  for 
on  the  day  of  dedication.  Rev.  Miller  continued  to  serve  the  con- 
gregation until  September  1,  1895. 

A  vacancy  followed  until  March  1,  1896,  when  Rev.  Cyrus  E. 
Held  became  the  pastor.  During  his  pastorate  the  membership 
was  increased  to  about  one  hundred.  His  resignation  took  effect 
on  December  1,  1898. 

Rev.  John  H.  Diehl  took  charge  of  the  work,  June  1,  1899. 
His  services  were  continued  until  December  9,  1900.  Some  prog- 
ress was  made  in  reducing  the  church  debt  while  he  was  pastor. 

From  January  2,  1902,  until  the  present.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Hess 
has  had  the  pastoral  oversight  of  the  congregation. 


HISTORY  OF  MAKYI.ANn  >YNOI>. 


As  the  town  grew  the  church  building  was  found  to  be  unde- 
sirably located.  Dr.  A.  (!.  Ilorine.  a  member  of  tin-  congregation 
and  a  man  of  business  ability,  saw  that  a  better  location  was  im- 
perative, and  in  the  name  of  the  church  bought  the  lot  upon 
which  the  present  church  building  and  parsonage  are  located,  at 
the  corner  of  A  Street  and  First  Avenue,  said  lot  to  be  paid  for 
by  the  church  at  such  time  as  the  congregation  was  able  to  do  so. 

By  the  will  of  Mr.  Joseph  \Valtman  (died  in  1S7(M.  a  Lutheran 
who  at  one  time  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  adjoining  the  town 
of  Berlin  (now  Brunswick),  the  congregation,  upon  its  organi/a- 
tion.  became  entitled  to  one  acre  of  land  and  a  graveyard,  now 


MIC.  OSCAIC  M.  Fo(;i,K. 
Hrunswirk,  Mil. 


Hi;    A.  ('.  HOICIXK, 
Hrunswii-k,  Mil. 


within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town.  This  gift  netted  the 
church  $745  in  cash,  and  reimbursed  Dr.  Ilorine  for  the  A  Street 
lot. 

The  first  church  property  was  sold  June  (i.  190:?.  The  pur- 
chaser converted  it  into  dwellings.  The  congregation  worshipped 
in  AVenner's  hall  until  the  new  church  was  built. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  present  structure  was  laid  August  14. 
1904.  As  will  be  noticed  considerable  delay  was  experienced  in 
starting  the  work.  This  was  in  part  due  to  the  legal  steps  re- 
quired in  consummating  the  sale  of  the  "NValtman  lots. 

The  first  service  was  held  in  the  basement  of  the  church  Janu- 
ary S.  190.~>. 

The  church  is  .'U  feet  bv  ">()  feet  in  sixe.     It  was  dedicated  Julv 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  329 

16,  190f>.  The  total  cost  of  the  building  was  about  $3.200;  the 
furnishings,  about  $1,300.  The  members  of  the  building  com- 
mittee were  Professor  J.  J.  Shenk,  J.  F.  Bittle,  M.  W.  Magaha, 
L.  E.  McBride,  and  the  pastor.  The  debt  remaining  to  be  pro- 
vided for  at  the  time  of  dedication  was  $1,148. 

During  the  summer  of  1916  a  parsonage  was  erected  on  the 
church  lot  fronting  on  First  Avenue.  The  members  of  the 
building  committee  were  J.  W.  Kaetzel,  L.  B.  Cline,  Professor  0. 
M.  Fogle,  Mrs.  A.  G.  Ilorine,  and  Mrs.  Sadie  E.  Mehrling.  The 
entire  cost  of  this  improvement  was  $2,900.  The  parsonage  debt 
is  $2,000,  and  there  are  no  other  financial  obligations  outstanding. 
The  pastor  and  his  wife  have  been  the  occupants  of  this  splendid 
addition  to  the  church  property  since  October,  1916. 

The  confirmed  membership  of  the  church  is  one  hundred  sev- 
enty-two. The  Sunday  school  is  progressing  nicely  under  the 
leadership  of  C.  Earl  Kelly,  superintendent.  The  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  Much  credit  is  due  the  Mite  Society  for  the  financial  in- 
terest its  members  have  taken  in  the  work. 

Bi-pocket  envelopes  have  been  in  use  since  1915  in  the  congre- 
gation. The  Common  Service  Book  was  introduced  on  Easter 
Sunday,  1919. 

LUTHER  CHAPEL,  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
PETEBSVILLE,  MB. 

(BRUNSWICK  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Charles  W.  Hess,  Supply  Pastor. 

Luther  Chapel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  Petersville. 
Maryland,  was  organized  on  October  28,  1873.  Prior  to  this  time 
Rev.  Nixdorff,  and  possibly  Rev.  Wire,  pastors  of  the  Burkitts- 
ville  charge,  had  preached  in  Petersville,  but  no  organization  was 
effected  until  the  above  date.  The  Rev.  L.  A.  Mann,  D.D.,  was 
the  first  pastor  of  the  organization. 

The  records  show  that  "The  Church  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated to  holy  use  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  November,  1874."  The 
entire  cost  of  the  building  in  money  was  about  $1,850.  "The 
brethren  George  Richards,  Lewis  A.  Easterday,  Joseph  Waltman 
(deceased),  Henry  Hoffman  and  others  deserved  especial  mention 
for  their  generous  liberality,  etc." 

This  church  continued  to  be  a  part  of  the  Burkittsville  charge 
until  1913.  Since  that  time  Rev.  Charles  W.  Hess,  of  Brunswick, 
has  been  acting  as  supply  pastor  of  the  congregation. 


HISTORY  Oh'  MARY!. AND  SYXoD. 


ST.  PAUL'S  Ll'TIIKKAX  ('IintCII, 
WKKITTSVILLK,  Ml). 

(  Bl'RKITTSVlLLE  ClIAKCK.) 

A'/}1.  //.  ('.  Krtlmnn.  I'aslur. 

The  first  Lutheran  preacher  of  whom  there  is  any  record,  who 
served  in  liurkittsvillc,  was  the  Rev.  Martin  Sackman,  wlio  came 
over  occasionally  from  Virginia  and  officiated  in  the  German 
language.  That  was  in  the  year  lSlf>.  The  services  were  held  in 
the  upstairs  of  a  building  owned  by  Mr.  E.  L.  Korn,  and  since 
used  as  a  furniture  room. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Reck,  who  was  pastor  at  Middletown.  1829- 

1S:W.  preached  here  occasionally 
in  a  building  used  as  a  wagon- 
maker's  shop.  lie  is  spoken  of 
also  as  having  preached  once  in  a 
barn  owned  by  Mr.  ().  Ilarley. 

In  the  year  1829  the  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  congregations  unit- 
ed their  efforts  and  undertook  the 
erection  of  a  church  building.  At 
the  completion  of  this  building 
Rev.  A.  Reck,  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation, and  Rev.  Bucher,  of 
the  Reformed  congregation,  each 
preached  here  regularly  every 
four  weeks. 

The  Rev.  Michael  Wachter  suc- 
ceeded Rev.  Reck  in  the  pastorate' 
of  Middletown,  and  also  preached 
at  Hurkittsville  every  four  weeks 

from  June.  IS.'W.  to  September.  184:5.  He  is  spoken  of  in  an  old 
record  as  an  "Israelite  indeed  in  whom  there  is  no  guile."  He 
was  generally  much  beloved  and  was  instrumental  in  the  conver- 
sion of  many  souls. 

Rev.  Charles  Hay  came  next  into  the  Middletown  pastorate 
and  preached  here  also.  His  stay  was  short.  He  was  called  to  a 
professorship  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  lie 
served  here  from  .January  11.  1844.  to  November  .'$.  1844. 

At  the  close  of  Rev.  Hay's  pastorate  a  change  was  made  and 
the  Burkittsville  congregation  became  connected  with  the  Jeffer- 
son charge.  Rev.  Harpel  is  said  to  have  served  at  this  period  for 
a  short  time. 


II.  ('.   EltDMAN. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  331 

Rev.  Daniel  llauer  became  the  pastor  of  Ihis  charge  in  1845 
and  served  until  1853.  He  was  very  diligent  and  untiring  in  his 
labors  and  much  beloved  by  his  people. 

Following  Rev.  Ilauer,  Rev.  George  S.  Collins  was  pastor  for 
about  a  year.  He  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  work  on  account 
of  a  disease  of  the  lungs  which  shortly  afterwards  resulted  in  his 
death.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  fine  intellect  and  great  gen- 
eral as  well  as  theological  information  and  possessed  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  selected  private  libraries. 

Rev.  B.  Appleby,  of  Baltimore,  came  next  into  the  Jefferson 
charge  and  served  here  faithfully  for  about  two  years.  He  then 
resigned  and  returned  to  Baltimore. 

Rev.  Edwin  Dorsey,  M.U.,  served  the  charge  for  about  one 
year  but  finding  the  work  too  laborious  he  received  and  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Martinsburg  charge  in  West  Virginia. 

After  the  departure  of  Rev.  Dorsey  the  Burkittsville  congre- 
gation withdrew  from  the  Jefferson  charge  and  determined  to 
support  a  pastor  for  themselves.  After  some  time  Rev.  G.  A. 
Xixdorff  was  called  and  entered  upon  his  duties  November  1, 
1858.  At  this  time  the  Burkittsville  congregation  sold  their  in- 
terest in  the  union  church  for  $600  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
plan  for  a  new  church  building.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new 
edifice  was  laid  on  August  20.  1859.  The  old  church  building 
being  too  small  for  the  congregation  assembled,  the  preaching 
service  was  held  in  the  grove  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  Rev. 
William  F.  Eyster,  of  Jefferson,  addressed  the  people  in  a  very 
happy  manner.  Revs.  Klink  and  Smeltzer  also  participated.  It 
was  during  this  pastorate,  after  the  battle  of  South  Mountain 
at  Crompton's  Gap,  September  14,  1862,  that  the  church  build- 
ing was  used  as  a  hospital.  Rev.  Nixdorff  served  the  congrega- 
tion until  the  spring  of  1865. 

In  August,  1865,  Rev.  W.  C.  Wire  took  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  in  November  had  quite  an  interesting  meeting,  resulting 
in  a  number  of  accessions.  About  this  time  the  idea  of  establish- 
ing a  female  seminary  tinder  the  control  of  the  church  was  ad- 
vanced and  finally  carried  out  in  1866. 

Rev.  Wire  also  served  the  congregation  at  Weverton,  and  acted 
as  principal  of  the  seminary. 

In  1868  a  house  for  the  use  of  the  sexton  was  built. 

Rev.  Wire  resigned  his  pastoral  duties  July  1,  1869,  to  devote 
all  his  time  to  the  female  seminary. 

From  September  17,  1869,  to  April,  1876,  Rev.  L.  A.  Mann 
was  the  pastor.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mann  a  large  lot 
was  secured  and  a  brick  parsonage  built  on  it.  Rev.  Mann  was 


•'{.'52  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAN'h  SYNOD. 

devoted  and  untiring  in  his  labors  and  was  much  beloved  by  his 
people. 

Rev.  J.  II.  Turner  became  pastor  July  20.  187(5.  and  closed  his 
labors  here  .June  1.  1SSO.  During  tbis  pastorate,  a  tower  and 
spire  were  built  to  the  church  edifice. 

Then  came  the  following  pastors:  Rev.  M.  C.  Heisler,  1880- 
1881;  Rev.  M.  L.  Beard.  1881-1888;  Rev.  T.  W.  Dosh.  D.I).. 
1888-1889;  Rev.  S.  E.  Slater.  1891-1896;  Rev.  0.  L.  Hitter.  1896- 
190:{;  Rov.  1'.  H.  Fasold.  1908-1909;  Rev.  J.  \V.  I).  Scherer. 
from  January.  1910.  to  May  of  the  same  year — this  pastor  died 
here  of  pneumonia. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles  J.  Ilines.  December  1. 
1910.  to  December  1.  1914.  the  church  edifice  was  improved  by 
installation  of  steam  heating  and  acetylene  lighting  plants,  new 
carpet  and  new  pews  for  main  auditorium,  entire  interior  re- 
painted, bath  room  and  other  improvements  in  parsonage  and 
new  cement  walks  in  front  of  church  and  parsonage.  The  church 
was  reopened  April  20,  1913. 

Rev.  Harry  0.  Erdraan  became  pastor  April  10.  1915. 

During  this  pastorate  a  two-manual  Moller  pipe  organ  was 
installed  in  the  church  and  a  hot  water  heating  plant  placed  in 
the  parsonage. 

Among  many  admirable  traits  of  that  have  been  characteristic 
of  this  congregation,  two  especially  stand  out  prominently:  the 
strong  devotion  the  people  have  always  had  for  their  pastor,  and 
the  unbroken  harmony  of  its  members.  In  the  one  hundred 
years  of  church  life  there  is  no  trace  of  a  church  quarrel. 


TKIXITY  LUTHERAN  <TIUR(1H, 
KXOXVILLE,  MI). 

(BrRKITTSVILLE  CHARGE.) 

Kev.  II.  ('.  ErdmdH.  Pastor. 

Tn  December.  1848.  Rev.  I.  P.  Smelt/er,  as  a  missionary  of 
the  Maryland  Synod,  took  charge  of  the  congregation  formed  a 
few  months  previous  by  the  Rev.  P.  AVillard.  then  pastor  of  the 
church  near  Lovettsville.  Virginia.  At  that  time  there  was  no 
house  of  worship  and  the  congregation  met  in  an  old  mill,  now 
burnt,  and  in  private  houses. 

The  church,  which  was  built  of  stone,  was  located  at  Weverton, 
ami  was  dedicated  in  1849. 

The  church  was  very  prosperous  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  333 

Smelt/er,  numbering  seventy  or  eighty  members.  After  he  left 
Rev.  G.  A.  Nixclorff  preached  there  occasionally  from  1859  to 
1864. 

During  the  war  troops  occupied  the  church  and  prevented  the 
holding  of  services. 

In  1865  Rev.  W.  C.  Wire  took  charge  of  the  congregation  at 
Burkittsville  and  Weverton.  In  September.  1865,  he  canvassed 
the  field  with  a  view  of  resuscitating  the  church  but  could  find 
only  eight  of  the  former  members.  The  church  was  very  much 
injured  by  the  soldiers,  the  roof  was  partly  burned,  the  pews 
were  all  gone,  stoves  broken  or  carried  off,  and  windows  broken, 
making  the  house  nothing  more  than  a  wreck  and  entirely  unfit 
for  service.  Because  of  this  services  were  held  in  a  school  house 
in  Knoxville. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  the  church  was  repaired.  During  the 
pastorate  eighteen  members  were  added.  From  this  time  for- 
ward this  congregation  has  been  a  part  of  the  Burkittsville 
charge. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  L.  A.  Mann,  the  church  building 
located  at  Weverton  was  torn  down  and  the  material  removed  to 
Knoxville  and  used  in  erecting  a  neat,  substantial  stone  structure 
there. 

All  of  the  pastors,  in  the  records  they  have  left,  speak  of  the 
activity  of  the  Sunday  school,  a  devoted  little  band  of  Christian 
workers.  Their  harmonious  action,  their  benevolence,  their  at- 
tachment to  the  doctrines  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  taught  and 
practiced  by  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  their  liber- 
ality have  been  remarkable  and  praiseworthy.  The  spiritual  con- 
dition of  the  church  has  been  uniformly  good.  The  pastors,  with- 
out exception,  have  received  nothing  but  kindness  and  tokens 
of  love. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Slater  a  frame  Sunday  school 
building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $800. 

During  the  summer  of  1915,  under  the  present  pastorate,  the 
church  building  was  much  improved.  A  new  steam  heating 
plant  installed,  electric  lights,  interior  painted  and  decorated, 
steel  ceiling  put  in,  new  carpet,  stone  work  on  outside  repointed 
and  cement  walk  laid  in  front  of  church  and  Sunday  school 
building. 

During  the  present  pastorate  ninety-two  members  were  re- 
ceived into  the  church. 


•  >-'54  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

TRINITY  LUTHERAN  TIITUm,  DKKK  PARK 
ROAD,  MI). 

Ifc  i'.  William  L.  Swihruok.  I'aslor. 


This  congregation  was  organized  on  February  5.  1866.  It  was 
incorporated  in  October  of  that  year.  Those  who  united  in  its 
organization  had  recently  come  directly  from  Germany,  and  so 
the  articles  of  incorporation  provided  that  "all  worship  and 
services  of  the  congregation  should  be  in  the  German  language  as 
long  as  one  male  member  should  desire  it." 

The  congregation  attached  itself  with  the  Maryland  Synod. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Gerhardt  Rademacher.  A  church 
building  was  erected  in  1867.  The  lot  for  the  building  was  do- 
nated by  George  Hit/el  and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  Subsequently  the 
congregation  acquired  an  adjacent  property  of  several  acres. 
upon  which  was  built  a  parsonage  and  a  parochial  school  build- 
ing. In  May.  1868.  Pastor  Rademacher  influenced  the  congre- 
gation to  sever  its  connection  with  the  Maryland  Synod  and 
unite  with  the  Missouri  Synod. 

In  1878  Pastor  Rademacher  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J. 
George  Ilaefner.  Through  his  influence  the  articles  of  incor- 
poration were  amended  the  next  year  so  as  to  bind  the  ministers 
and  other  officers  of  the  church  to  all  of  the  symbolical  books. 
Pastor  Ilaefner  served  the  congregation  until  1884.  His  suc- 
cessor. the  Rev.  G.  II.  Zimmerman,  ministered  here  from  1884  to 
1890.  Then  the  Rev.  F.  G.  Schaller  was  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tion for  three  years  until  189:$.  From  1894  until  January.  1901. 
the  Rev.  S.  S.  Henry  was  the  faithful  shepherd  of  the  flock. 
During  all  this  time  the  German  language  was  used  almost  ex- 
clusively in  the  services  of  the  church  and  in  the  work  of  the 
parochial  school. 

But  the  steady  Americanization  of  the  young  people  of  the 
congregation  was  followed  by  an  increasing  demand  for  the  use 
of  the  English  language.  From  the  beginning  of  1901  until  the 
end  of  1907  the  congregation  was  without  a  regular  pastor.  For 
several  years  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr.  of  Hampstead,  and  Rev.  P.  II. 
Miller.  D.I).,  of  Westminster,  ministers  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
•rave  the  congregation  occasional  services.  Many  of  the  members. 
adhering  closely  to  the  Missouri  Synod,  refused  tit  attend  the 
services  at  which  these  ministers  officiated. 

In  February.  1904.  Mr.  John  Schaefer.  acting  for  himself  and 
many  others,  filed  a  bill  of  complaint  against  the  trustees  of  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OK  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 

congregation  and  the  Rev.  P.  II.  Miller.  D.I).,  and  the  Rev.  S.  J. 
Derr,  alleging  that  the  trustees  had  permitted  the  use  of  the 
church  property  for  worship  and  devotions  other  than  those  con- 
templated by  the  articles  of  incorporation,  and  were  having  such 
worship  and  services  conducted  by  ministers  "who  deny  the 
validity,  integrity  and  binding  force,  the  sanctity  and  absolute 
authority  of  the  Symbolical  Books  of  1580."  The  bill  prayed 
for  an  injunction  restraining  Dr.  Miller  and  Rev.  Derr  from 
conducting  religious  services  in  the  church.  The  bill  of  com- 
plaint was  dismissed  by  the  Circuit  Court  of  Carroll  County,  and 
upon  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  Maryland  the  decision  of 
the  lower  court  was  affirmed.  Meanwhile  Doctor  Miller  con- 
tinued to  serve  the  congregation  regularly,  preaching  on  alter- 
nate Lord's  Day  afternoons  and  instructing  the  children  of  th'3 
congregation  and  preparing  them  for  confirmation. 

This  unhappy  litigation  caused  a  deep  schism  in  the  ranks  of 
the  congregation.  But  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  had  been 
preparing  the  instrument  for  the  healing  of  the  differences.  From 
1879  to  1888  a  young  lawyer  of  Westminster.  William  L.  Sea- 
brook,  whom  they  had  known  from  boyhood,  enjoyed  the  close 
confidence  of  many  members  of  the  congregation.  In  1888  Mr. 
Seabrook  gave  up  the  practice  of  law  and  entered  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  After  serving  General  Synod  congre- 
gations at  Wichita  and  Abilene,  Kansas,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  Synod  of  the  South,  and  was  pastor  of  Grace  Lu- 
theran Church,  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  from  1895  to  1902,  and 
of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  at  Xewberry,  South  Carolina,  from 
1902  to  1907. 

In  July,  1907.  circumstances  brought  the  Rev.  Mr.  Seabrook 
back  to  his  old  home  at  Westminster.  The  Deer  Park  congrega- 
tion asked  him  to  become  its  pastor.  Believing  that  with  divine 
help  he  would  be  able  to  reunite  the  congregation  he  accepted 
the  call.  By  letter  and  by  personal  visitation  he  succeeded  in 
rallying  the  members  of  the  congregation.  A  large  catechetical 
class  was  organized.  The  Common  Service  was  introduced  into 
th?  weekly  worship.  A  note  of  loyalty  to  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  to  the  Lutheran  faith  was  emphasized,  and  in  a  short  timo 
all  but  one  of  the  enrolled  members  of  the  congregation  had 
again  taken  up  their  active  relations  to  the  church.  To  this  day 
many  of  those  who  had  been  alienated  are  among  its  most  faith- 
ful members.  The  beautiful  spirit  in  which  Mr.  John  Schaefer 
and  those  who  were  in  sympathy  with  him  accepted  the  new 
order  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  received  and  regarded  Mr. 
Seabrook  as  his  pastor,  received  from  him  the  holy  communion 


3:56 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


two  days  before  his  death  in  February,  1911.  and  asked  to  be 
buried  with  services  in  the  old  church  which  he  helped  to  found 
and  for  which  lie  cherished  such  ardent  affection.  In  his  will 
he  left  to  the  congregation  the  sum  of  $200  unconditionally.  In 
respect  to  his  memory  the  congregation  applied  a  portion  of  this 
bequest  to  the  purchase  of  an  individual  communion  service, 
which,  suitably  inscribed,  will  remain  a  memorial  to  the  devotion, 
lovaltv  and  charity  of  John  Schaefer. 


ELIAS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
EMMITSBURG,  MI). 

h'(  r.  Charles  Rcincwald,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

The  Lutheran  church  of  this  community  dates  its  origin  from 
the  year  1757,  on  the  banks  of  Tom's  Creek,  two  and  one-half 
miles  east  of  Emmitsburg.  According  to  the  primitive  style  of 
that  colonial  period  the  structure  was  built  of  logs.  According 
to  a  historical  letter  of  Rev.  John  G.  Young,  written  to  Rev.  Dr. 

Ilelmuth,  Philadelphia,  the  year 
1757  is  the  date  of  this  congrega- 
tion's beginning.  At  a  later  peri- 
od a  new  church  building  was 
erected  on  the  same  site  by  the 
Lutheran  and  the  Reformed  con- 
gregations. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  John 
G.  Bager  (Baugher).  whose  suc- 
cessors in  office  were  the  follow- 
ing: 

Rev.  John  G.  Bager,  1757-1759 ; 
vacant,  1759-1761 ;  Rev.  Ludwig 
Beck,  1761-1767;  vacant.  1767- 
1769;  Rev.  Charles  F.  Wildbahn, 
1769-1782;  Rev.  John  G.  Young. 
1782-1794;  Rev.  Guenther  \Vin- 
gert,  1794-1795:  Rev.  John  F. 
Ruthrauff.  1797-1802  (first  pastor 

after  erecting  present  church  building  at  Emmitsburg)  ;  Rev. 
John  G.  Grobp,  1802-1828;  Rev.  John  X.  Hoffman,  1828-1833; 
Rev.  Samuel  D.  Finekel,  1833-1837  ;  Rev.  Ekra  Keller,  1837-1840; 
Rev.  Solomon  Sentman.  1841-1852;  Rev.  John  Welfley,  1852- 


KKV.  CUAI:I,K.S  REINEWALD,  U.D. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


337 


1854;  Rev.  George  S.  Collins,  1854-1855;  Rev.  Henry  Bishop, 
1855-1863;  Rev.  Washington  V.  Gotwald,  1863-1866;  Rev.  E.  S. 
Johnston,  D.D.,  1866-1888;  Rev.  Luther  DeYoe,  D.D..  1889-1892; 
Rev.  0.  G.  Klinger,  1892-1892;  Rev.  Charles  Reinewald.  D.D., 
1892. 

During  the  one  hundred  sixty-two  years  of  its  history  this  con- 
gregation has  been  served  by  nineteen  pastors.  Until  the  year 
1852  Emmitsburg  was  part  of  the  Taneytown  Lutheran  pastorate. 
Rev.  John  Welfley,  in  1852.  became  the  first  resident  Lutheran 
pastor  of  Emmitsburg. 
Until  the  year  1869  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed 
congregations  owned  and 
used  the  stone  church 
building  cojointly  and  on 
alternate  Sundays  Lu- 
theran and  Reformed 
services  were  held. 

The  present  stone  build- 
ing was  erected  in  the 
year  1797.  when  the  pres- 
idency of  Washington  was 
merging  to  its  close.  This 
historic  structure  has  been 
washed  by  the  waves  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  years  and  has  af- 
forded privileges  of  wor- 
ship and  spiritual  enlarge- 
ment for  four  genera- 
tions. Numerous  have 

been  the  lights  and  shadows  amid  which  the  congregation's  strug- 
gles and  triumphs,  its  joys  and  sorrows,  have  found  enactment. 

The  pastorate  of  the  writer  covers  a  period  of  twenty-seven 
years — exceeding  in  point  of  time  that  of  any  former  incumbent. 
During  this  period  of  twenty-seven  years — lying  in  two  cen- 
turies— not  a  few  events  have  come  within  our  appreciative  sur- 
vey. 

Christianity  and  Christian  education  must  ever  march  together 
with  unbroken  step.  In  1828  our  church  established  an  academy 
on  our  church  ground,  affording  educational  advantages  under 
competent  Christian  teachers  until  a  time  within  the  memory  of 
persons  yet  living.  The  old  school  academy  exerted  a  marked 

and  most  important  influence  on  the  progressive  life  and  intel- 
22 


ELIAS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  EMMITSBUUG,  MD. 


!">s  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

licence  of  tliis  entire  community.  This  academy  antedated  the 
founding  of  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg  by  four  years. 

In  1S:>.~>  the  church  building  was  remodelled  and  rededicated. 
Rev.  S.  I).  FincUel  preached  the  sermon  on  the  glad  occasion. 

In  October  of  this  same  year.  1S:{~>.  the  Maryland  Synod  con- 
vened in  tli is  church  at  which  time  Rev.  E/ra  Keller  was  or- 
dained to  the  holy  ministry  and  subsequently  went  to  Saint 
John's  Church.  Ilagerstown.  and  then  to  Springfield.  Ohio,  to 
become  the  founder  and  first  President  of  Wittenberg  College. 

The  Synod  of  Maryland,  in  less  than  a  century  of  its  memor- 
able history  convened  six  times  within  the  walls  of  this  church, 
vi/.:  1S:{:>.  1S4(i.  ls:>S.  1S70.  1SS2.  1907. 

In  the  year  1S97  the  centennial  of  our  congregation's  life  in 
the  present  town  structure  was  commemorated  with  deep  interest 
and  great  enthusiasm.  Many  former  parishioners  and  all  ex- 
pastors  except  one  returned  for  the  Jubilee  Service  which  began 
September  :}()th  and  continued  until  October  :>d.  Historical  ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  Rev.  John  Wei  Hey.  of  Braddock.  Pa.. 
Rev.  E.  J.  Wolf.  D.D..  of  Gettysburg,  and  Rev.  Charles  Reine- 
wald.  Addresses  were  also  delivered  by  Rev.  Luther  DeYoe, 
Rev.  ().  (J.  Klinger.  Dr.  T.  C.  Billheimer.  Dr.  A.  S.  Ilartman. 
Rev.  George  (loll.  Rev.  William  Simonton.  Rev.  I).  F.  Garland, 
and  others.  Before  the  celebration  the  church  building  was  re- 
furnished with  new  pulpit  and  chancel  furniture,  fine  art  glass 
memorial  windows,  and  new  carpet,  greatly  improving  the  church 
interior. 

In  1909  further  improvements  were  made  in  the  frescoing  of 
the  church  walls. 

In  1904  a  direct  avenue  of  concrete  \vas  made  from  the  street 
to  the  church  door,  commanding  a  wide  and  beautiful  approach. 

On  October  12-14.  1917.  the  Quadri-Centennial  of  Protestant- 
ism, along  with  the  pastor's  twenty -fifth  anniversary  of  his  pres- 
ent pastorate,  was  commemorated.  Addresses  were  given  by  Dr. 
Luther  Kuhlman.  Dr.  C.  T.  Aikens.  Rev.  V.  S.  G.  Rupp.  I). I).. 
Rev.  C.  A.  Shilke.  Rev.  W.  ().  Ibach.  and  the  address  on  the  Lu- 
theran Quadri-Centennial  by  Dr.  Abdel  R.  Went/,  of  Gettysburg. 

The  Lutheran  Church  of  Kmmitsburg  stands  first  in  numerical 
strength  among  the  Protestant  churches  and  covers  rather  a 
large  territory,  not  only  in  Maryland  but  over  the  state  line  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Through  a  varied  and  tested  life  our  people  have  been  inter- 
ested in  noble  ideals  and  have  given  for  all  purposes  and  objects 
which  tell  for  the  advance  of  Christ's  kingdom  both  at  home  and 
abroad. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  339 

The  families  of  our  church  have  furnished  many  noble  and 
splendid  examples  of  faith  and  service  in  our  long-time  career. 
Among  these  we  may  mention  the  Rowes.  the  Eiehelbergers,  the 
Sheets,  Gillellans,  Zimmermans,  Ilokes,  Zecks.  Shuffs,  the  Hos- 
j)elhorns,  Maxwells,  Rhodes,  Pattersons.  Fife/.,  Linns,  Byers, 
Shrivers,  Caldwells,  Ohlers,  Eysters,  Gelwicks,  ]\IcXairs.  Win- 
ters, Bullingers,  AVortz.  Weant,  Bishop,  Stonesifcr,  and  others. 

Dr.  James  Eiehelberger.  Sr.,  was  for  many  years  our  Sunday 
school  superintendent.  lie  was  succeeded  by  Charles  F.  Rowe, 
who  filled  the  position  faithfully  until  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1911. 

In  1835,  during  the  convention  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  Dr. 
Joseph  Augustus  Seiss  experienced  the  call  to  the  gospel  ministry. 
At  that  time  he  was  a  youth  of  fourteen,  seated  in  our  church 
gallery — his  home  at  Graeeham,  seven  miles  south  of  Emmits- 
burg.  lie  gave  a  long  and  distinguished  term  of  service  to  his 
Lord  and  Master. 

Our  second  son  from  this  church  for  the  ministry  comes  in  the 
person  of  Mr.  Wade  E.  Stonesifer,  uow  a  student  in  our  seminary 
in  Gettysburg. 

In  addition  to  these  men  for  the  ministry,  the  congregation  has 
furnished  one  very  useful  member  to  the  ranks  of  the  deacon- 
esses. Sister  Flora  Belle  Older. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Charles  Reinewald,  D.D.,  served  four 
years  at  Braddock,  Pa.,  before  coming  to  Emmitsburg  in  October, 
1892.  The  past  has  its  lessons;  the  present  its  vision  and  hope; 
the  future  its  victory  and  felicity. 


THE  FREDERICK  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FREDERICK,  MD. 

Rev.  U.  8'.  G.  Rupp,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

The  published  materials  on  the  history  of  this  church  are  many. 
The  Evangelical  Review  of  April,  1856,  contains  a  lengthy  article 
from  the  pen  of  Rev.  George  Diehl  covering  the  history  of  the 
congregation  from  the  beginning  to  1837.  The  Lutheran  Quar- 
terly of  October,  1883,  presents  a  still  longer  article  by  Rev.  B. 
M.  Schmucker.  D.I).,  covering  about  the  same  period  of  history 
of  the  congregation,  but  in  the  light  of  additional  sources  of  in- 
formation. In  1905  there  was  published  a  nineteen-page  booklet 
by  Rev.  Luther  Kuhlman,  D.I).,  containing  the  story  of  the 
church's  life  down  to  that  date.  For  a  complete  history  of  this 
old  and  influential  congregation,  therefore,  the  reader  is  referred 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


to  those  printed  documents.  From  them  we  gather  the  following 
salient  facts : 

The  pioneers  of  Lutheranism  in  this  region  journeyed  hither 
from  Pennsylvania  along  the  line  of  travel  through  Lancaster, 
York  and  Hanover  (Conewago).  The  original  settlement  begun 
about  1730-1732.  had  its  nucleus  somewhere  near  the  Monocacy. 
about  ten  miles  north  of  Frederick.  Here  was  located  the  mother 
church  of  all  the  Lutheran  congregations  subsequently  established 
in  this  general  region.  The  Frederick  church  is  a  daughter  of  the 

Monocacy  congrega- 
tion. The  oldest  rec- 
ord book  in  possession 
of  the  congregation  is 
stamped  on  the  back 
"Gemeinde  Monakes." 
that  is.  the  congrega- 
tion of  the  Monocacy. 
and  the  most  precious 
historic  relic  in  their 
possession  is  the  Eng- 
lish Constitution  con- 
tained in  this  same 
book,  prepared  by 
Muhlenberg  and  pre- 
served in  his  hand. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Wolf, 
who  administered  the 
first  baptism,  was  a 
Lutheran  pastor  on 
the  Raritan  in  New 
Jersey,  and  the  bap- 
tism may  have  been 
performed  at  that 
place. 

It  is  known  that  a 
congregation  was  in 
existence  in  1741,  that 
a  house  of  worship 

was  bought  or  built  in  17-13.  and  that  Rev.  David  Candler  was 
the  first  pastor,  not  resident  here,  however.  This  fixes  the  organ- 
i/ation  not  later  than  1743.  and  perhaps  before  that  date.  Of 
this  first  pastor  we  know  only  that  he  resided  near  Hanover,  and 
such  was  his  xeal  that  at  first  he  gathered  the  people  in  his  own 
home,  that  his  field  extended  from  York  to  Frederick,  that  he  died 


FltKDKItlCK  LUTHEKAN   ClIUUCII,   FltKDKIUCK,  MD. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  341 

in  1740,  and  is  buried  at  Conewago.  It  is  probable  that  he  was 
a  spiritual  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Casper  Stoever,  whose  center  of 
operations  was  that  Lutheran  stronghold.  York,  Pa. 

Candler  was  followed  by  Rev.  Nyberg,  a  Swede.  It  is  the  testi- 
mony of  Muhlenberg  that  he  had  charge  of  the  Monocacy  congre- 
gation, and  that  without  doubt  he  occasionally  preached  here.  It 
was  a  sorry  day  when  Xyberg  made  his  entrance  into  this  valley. 
He  was  at  heart  a  Moravian,  and  so  lax  was  his  sense  of  honor  that 
in  3745  or  1746  he  tried  to  carry  the  congregation  over  to  the 
Moravians.  In  this  reprehensible  attempt  he  did  not  succeed, 
though  the  congregation  was  rent  in  two,  the  Moravian  party 
locating  at  Graceham,  while  the  Lutheran  portion  retained  the 
old  church.  This  is  the  disturbance  to  which  Muhlenberg  refers 
in  his  report,  and  was  the  occasion  of  his  visit. 

In  1746  or  1747,  a  Rev.  Nicke,  also  a  Moravian,  and  apparently 
sent  hither  by  the  Moravian  authorities  at  Bethlehem,  undertook 
to  feed  this  flock.  But  it  did  not  recognize  his  voice  as  that  of  a 
true  shepherd,  would  none  of  his  provender,  and  did  the  sensible 
thing  when  it  locked  the  door  on  him  and  his  following  after  he 
had  preached  a  single  sermon.  In  this  same  year  these  defenseless 
people  were  set  upon  by  yet  two  other  wolves.  The  first  was  a 
pretended  Lutheran  minister  by  the  name  of  Carl  Rudolph,  who, 
in  Georgia,  came  near  hanging.  lie  wras  accepted  at  Monocacy, 
but  "soon  showed  himself  to  be  a  thief,  a  drunkard,  licentious 
and  utterly  worthless."  and  he  was  compelled  to  move  on.  The 
second  of  this  precious  pair  was  a  vagabond  whom  "Muhlenberg 
terms  Empiricus  Schmidt."  He  undertook  to  administer  both 
to  the  bodily  and  spiritual  ills  of  the  people.  He,  however,  found 
few  supporters.  Still  another  of  this  same  ilk,  Streiter  by  name, 
caused  them  no  little  distress  in  1751. 

From  1747-1749  this  congregation  received  occasional  ministry 
from  Rev.  I.  H.  Schaum  and  Rev.  Valentine  Kraft,  both  godly 
men.  The  latter  of  these  moved  to  Frederick,  was  an  old  man 
and  infirm,  very  poor,  and  was  granted,  by  the  wardens  of  the 
English  church,  an  allowance  of  ten  pounds  annually  as  charity. 
He  died  in  1751. 

In  correspondence  by  the  officers  of  the  congregation  in  Fred- 
erick, addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schaum  about  1752,  a  strong 
light  is  thrown  upon  the  difficulties  against  which  they  had  to 
contend.  Their  confidence  in  the  friendly  disposition  of  Mr. 
Schaum  toward  them  is  very  great,  and  their  appeals  to  him  for 
counsel  and  assistance  are  pathetic. 

There  is  testimony  that  Rev.  Mr.  Hausihl  came  to  Frederick  as 
early  as  March  20,  1752.  and  that  his  labors  extended  to  1758. 


342 


HISTORY  OF  .MAHYI.ANM)  SYNOD. 


He  was  the  first  resident  pastor  and  the  story  of  his  life  is  most 
interesting. 

hi  17f>S.  after  repeated  and  urgent  requests  which  would  take 
no  denial.  Muhlenberg  again  visited  Frederick.  He  counselled 
witli  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  there,  but  steadfastly 
refused  to  let  them  extend  a  call  to  him.  In  17(12  Rev.  J.  C. 
Hartwig  consecrated  the  ne\v  church  building  that  had  taken  the 
place  of  the  one  erected  in  174:$. 

After  a  vacancy  of  some  five  years  they  secured  a  pastor  in 
17b':J  in  the  person  of  Hev.  J.  S.  Schwerdfeger.  But  he  seems 
to  have  remained  less  than  a  year. 

The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  John  Andrew  Krug.  He  came 
to  Frederick  from  Reading  in  1771.  and  in  spite  of  much  oppo- 


LITIIKUAN  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  FHKDKKICK,  MD. 

sit  ion  from  within  the  congregation  succeeded  in  maintaining 
himself  in  office  until  his  death  in  1796. 

Rev.  Charles  Frederick  Wildbahn  succeeded  Rev.  Krug.  He 
also  came  from  Reading.  He  served  the  congregation  only  a  year 
and  a  half  until  June.  1798. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Wildbahn  the  congregation  ex- 
tended a  call  to  Rev.  Charles  Augustus  Gottleib  Storck.  of  North 
Carolina,  which  call  was  declined. 

In  1799.  the  Rev.  John  Frederick  Moeller.  a  youth  of  twenty- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  343 

six  years,  became  the  pastor  and  ministered  most  acceptably  for 
three  years. 

When  Mr.  Moeller  went  to  Chambersburg  in  1802,  the  last 
pastor  of  that  place  came  to  Frederick.  His  name  was  Frederick 
William  Jasinsky.  Dr.  Diehl  gives  an  interesting  and  forcible 
sketch  of  the  man.  In  1807  it  was  agreed  that  for  the  sake  of  the 
peace  of  the  congregation  he  should  withdraw. 

In  July.  1808,  Rev.  David  Frederick  Schaeffer  took  charge  of 
the  congregation.  lie  was  then  twenty-two  years  old.  only  re- 
cently licensed.  He  continued  as  pastor  until  nearly  the  day  of 
his  death  in  1837.  During  this  long  pastorate  the  congregation 
nourished  exceedingly  and  her  influence  was  felt  in  many  direc- 
tions. Dr.  Schaeffer  came  from  an  influential  family  and  was 
prominent  in  the  founding  and  early  history  not  only  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  but  even  of  the  General  Synod.  During  the 
first  sixteen  years  of  the  life  of  the  Maryland  Synod  he  was  an 
officer  every  year  except  one.  Of  the  first  six  meetings  of  the 
General  Synod  four  were  held  in  his  church,  and  of  the  first  seven 
meetings  he  was  five  times  secretary  and  twice  president.  He 
was  a  teacher  of  students  for  the  ministry  and  the  editor  of  the 
first  English  Lutheran  periodical,  the  Intelligence)-. 

Dr.  Schaeffer  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Simeon  W.  Harkey,  D.D.. 
who  filled  the  pastorate  from  1837  to  1850.  When  Rev.  Harkey 
began  his  ministry  here  there  were  two  congregations,  with  a 
communicant  membership  of  three  hundred,  and  a  Sunday  school 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy -five  scholars.  The  number  of  con- 
gregations was  subsequently  increased  to  four.  In  1840  the 
Manor  and  Mt.  Zion  congregations  were  relinquished  and  in  con- 
nection with  Jefferson  formed  a  new  charge.  In  1844  the  Bethel 
congregation  united  with  two  others,  one  at  Fair  View  and  the 
other  at  Rocky  Springs,  thereby  constituting  this  congregation  a 
separate  charge  from  that  time. 

Of  Rev.  Harkey  it  may  be  said  that  he  was  an  able,  devoted, 
spiritually-minded  minister  of  the  gospel.  In  zeal  he  was  untir- 
ing; in  preaching  scriptural,  fervent,  direct,  persuasive;  and  in 
pastoral  work  sympathetic  and  helpful.  By  all  he  was  held  in 
high  regard.  In  the  Synod  he  was  easily  among  the  leaders 
Much  of  its  best  work  was  either  suggested  or  performed  by  him. 
During  his  pastorate  the  present  parsonage  was  completed  in 
1846,  at  a  cost  of  $1,995. 

Rev.  Dr.  Harkey  resigned  in  1850.  Two  years  later  he  became 
professor  of  theology  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  an  office  that 
he  graced  for  fifteen  years. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Harkey  the  council  addressed 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  345 

itself  to  the  task  of  securing  a  successor  with  great  diligence  but 
at  first  indifferent  success.  A  number  of  ministers  were  invited 
to  preach  as  candidates,  but  most  of  them  declined.  Rev.  Joseph 
A.  Seiss.  then  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  was  extended  a  call,  and  it 
appeared  at  first  as  though  he  would  be  the  next  pastor.  After 
some  correspondence,  however,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  remain 
where  he  was. 

On  December  12.  1850.  an  invitation  was  extended  to  Rev. 
George  Diehl,  p]aston,  Pa.,  to  preach  for  the  congregation  with  a 
view  of  becoming  its  pastor.  He  was  elected,  accepted  the  call, 
and  was  formally  installed  on  August  12,  1851.  His  pastoral 
relationship  extended  over  a  period  of  more  than  thirty-six  years, 
and  exceeded  in  length  the  service  of  any  other  pastor. 

The  opening  years  of  the  new  order  were  marked  by  unusual 
activity.  Then  it  was  that  the  congregation  decided  upon  and 
performed  the  largest  single  undertaking  in  its  history,  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  house  of  worship.  The  corner  stone  was  laid 
on  August  26,  1854,  and  the  new  edifice  was  dedicated  on  Decem- 
ber 8,  1855. 

At  the  same  time  the  congregation  began  to  contribute  munifi- 
cently to  the  benevolence  of  the  church.  The  minutes  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  give  ample  evidence  of  the  prominence  and  in- 
fluence of  Dr.  Diehl  in  the  counsels  of  the  church.  He  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  General  Synod  in  1861. 

In  1878  the  pastor  evidently  began  to  weary  under  some  of  his 
burdens,  and  requested  relief  from  the  delivery  of  the  German 
sermon.  How  the  matter  was  adjusted  is  not  stated.  The 
record  furnishes  abundant  evidence  of  the  diligence  of  the  pastor 
in  his  manifold  duties.  But  the  passing  years  left  their  weight 
of  infirmities  upon  him,  and  the  time  finally  came  when  he  was 
no  longer  equal  to  the  arduous  duties  which  he  once  carried  with 
ease.  It  was  thought  that  the  situation  might  be  satisfactorily 
adjusted  by  the  employment  of  a  younger  man  as  assistant.  This, 
however,  was  not  found  feasible,  and  so  the  relation  that  had 
existed  for  so  many  years,  terminated  December  31.  1887. 

In  1888  St.  James  Lutheran  Church  was  organized,  and  as  its 
pastor  Dr.  Diehl  continued  his  ministerial  labors  in  this  city  until 
October  15,  1891,  when  in  the  silence  of  the  night  his  spirit  went 
home  to  God  who  gave  it. 

Rev.  Luther  Kuhlman,  D.D.,  became  pastor  of  the  Frederick 
church  on  February  1,  1888,  and  served  for  more  than  fifteen 
years.  This  was  a  period  of  unparalleled  growth  not  only  in  the 
size  and  property  of  the  congregation,  but  even  more  in  its  spirit 
and  activities.  A  Sundav  school  building  was  erected  at  a  cost 


c  HS'  i 

w  o 

' 


CO    ^  2   O 
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THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  347 

of  more  than  $16,000.  The  main  church  building  was  overhauled 
at  a  cost  of  over  $5.500.  A  third  story  and  other  improvements 
were  added  to  the  parsonage.  The  congregation  was  taught  the 
grace  of  direct  giving. 

Lutheran  usages  were  introduced.  The  chancel  arrangements 
and  furnishings  were  made  to  accord  with  Lutheran  ideas.  The 
Washington  Service  was  first  introduced  and  later  the  Book  of 
Worship  and  the  Common  Service  were  adopted.  Under  the  di- 
rection of  Mrs.  Kuhlman  there  were  organized  the  influential 
Woman's  Missionary  Society  which  to-day  numbers  seventy-five 
members,  the  Young  People's  Missionary  Society  (to-day  fifty), 
the  enthusiastic  Junior  Mission  Band  (to-day  one  hundred),  and 
the  model  Primary  Department  of  more  than  three  hundred  chil- 
dren. 

During  Dr.  Kuhlman 's  pastorate  at  least  seven  young  men 
were  started  for  the  Christian  ministry,  five  of  them  for  the  Lu- 
theran ministry.  Three  of  these  are  to-day  faithful  pastors  and 
preachers,  namely.  Rev.  M.  J.  Kline,  D.D.,  of  Altoona,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Rev.  A.  J.  Carty,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  G.  Z.  Stnp, 
of  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  In  a  large  way,  therefore,  Dr.  Kuhl- 
man's  ministry  deepened  the  spiritual  life  of  the  congregation, 
created  an  appreciation  of  things  Lutheran,  and  cultivated  an 
intelligent  cooperation  in  the  work  of  the  church.  He  resigned 
the  pastorate  September,  1903,  to  accept  a  professorship  in  the 
Gettysburg  Seminary. 

Rev.  Charles  F.  Steck,  D.D.,  was  pastor  from  1903  to  February 
1,  1910.  Two  important  events  marked  his  pastorate.  First,  the 
constitution  was  revised,  1904,  giving  women  of  legal  age  the 
right  to  vote.  Second,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  dedication 
of  the  present  church  building  was  observed  by  a  special  festival 
of  religious  services,  December  3-5,  1905. 

On  July  1,  1910,  the  Rev.  Ulysses  S.  G.  Rupp,  D.D.,  assumed 
the  office  of  pastor  here.  He  is  the  present  incumbent  and  under 
his  ministry  further  visible  improvements  have  been  made.  In 
1911  the  duplex  envelope  system  was  introduced.  A  Beginners' 
Department  was  organized  in  the  Sunday  school  in  1912 ;  $12,000 
was  spent  to  enlarge  and  improve  the  Sunday  school  building  so 
as  to  accommodate  this  new  department  and  the  growing  adult 
Bible  classes.  The  Sunday  school  enrollment  has  reached  the 
mark  of  1,200.  One  hundred  fourteen  men  were  given  to  the 
country  in  the  World  War,  and  four  of  these  died  in  France. 
The  Sunday  school  is  preparing  for  a  fitting  observance  of  its 
centennial  in  September.  1920. 

Thus  we  see  this  venerable  church  is  still  young  and  vigorous 
in  life. 


34  S 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  rilUKrH, 
HAMPSTKAI),  MI). 

(I I. UMPSTKAD   ClIARUE.) 

AYr.  John  A.  Ilan-r,  I'aslor. 

St.  Clark's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Hampstead,  is  one  of  four 
congregations  which  originally  formed  the  Ilampstead  charge. 
The  otlier  three  are  St.  Peter's,  near  Hoffmanville,  and  St.  Abra- 
ham's, at  Beckleysville.  and  Christ's,  of  Trenton. 

This  union  existed  until  the  meeting  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
at  Ilagerstown.  in  October.  1913.  On  April  20,  1913.  St.  .Mark's. 

of  Ilampstead,  and  Christ's,  of 
Trenton,  at  congregational  meet- 
ings called  to  consider  the  matter 
of  separation,  voted  to  sever  their 
connection  with  St.  Peter's  and 
St.  Abraham's  congregations  of 
the  aforesaid  Ilampstead  charge. 
Due  notice  was  given  of  the  action 
thus  taken  by  St.  Mark's,  of 
Ilampstead.  and  Christ's,  of  Tren- 
ton, at  a  meeting  of  the  joint  coun- 
cil of  the  four  congregations  on 
August  1,  1913.  A  petition  was 
taken  to  the  Maryland  Synod 
meeting  in  convention  at  Hagers- 
town.  on  October  22.  1913,  pray- 
ing that  their  request  be  granted, 
namely:  that  they  be  permitted 
to  sever  their  relations  from  St. 

Peter's  and  St.  Abraham's,  and  recognized  as  the  Ilampstead 
charge.  The  petition  was  granted  and  St.  Mark's,  of  Ilampstead, 
and  Christ's,  of  Trenton,  were  constituted  a  separate  charge. 

Rev.  C.  Lepley  began  to  preach  to  the  Lutherans  in  Ilamp- 
stead in  the  spring  of  1873.  He  held  his  services  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  where  he  continued  to  preach  for  five 
months.  The  Red  Men's  Hall  was  then  rented  and  in  addition  to 
preaching  a  Sunday  school  was  organixed  and  a  class  of  cate- 
chumens gathered  and  instructed.  Rev.  Lepley  served  the  few 
Lutherans  in  Ilampstead  for  eighteen  months,  after  which  they 
were  without  a  pastor  for  four  and  one-half  years. 

Rev.  A.  II.  Hurk  then  commenced  services  in  the  Red  Men's 


KKV.  .loirx  A.  UOWK. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  349 

Hall  in  April,  1879.  On  November  4th  of  the  same  year  a  elass 
of  sixteen  members  was  gathered  for  catechetical  instruction,  and 
on  the  thirteenth  of  November  a  congregation  was  organized. 
John  Scheaffer  and  Casper  Millender  were  the  first  elders,  and 
Jesse  Bixler  and  Thomas  Gardner  were  the  first  deacons.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  church  was  laid  on  May  27.  1883.  and  the 
building,  a  brick  structure  46  feet  by  32  feet,  was  dedicated  on 
December  27,  1883.  The  congregation  then  numbered  twenty- 
five.  Rev.  Burk  then  continued  to  serve  them  until  1886. 

In  October  of  that  year  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr  became  pastor,  and  as 
the  result  of  his  untiring  zeal  and  faithfulness  the  congregation 
was  almost  trebled  in  numbers.  The  debt  was  paid,  the  church 
was  improved,  and  an  enthusiastic,  devoted  spiritual  life  devel- 
oped. 

The  pastors  of  Saint  Mark's  have  been:  Rev.  C.  Lepley,  1873 
to  September,  1875;  Rev.  A.  II .  Burk,  1879  to  1880;  Rev.  S.  J. 
Derr,  1886  to  1901;  Rev.  S.  F.  Tholan,  April,  1901,  to  May, 
1904;  Rev.  L.  W.  Gross,  July  1,  1904,  to  May.  1906 ;  Rev.  Samuel 
Stauffer,  September,  1906,  to  March.  1908;  Rev.  W.  D.  Nichols, 
May,  1908,  to  March,  1910;  Rev.  J.  S.  Keller,  May,  1910,  to 
April,  1912.  Rev.  T.  T.  Brown,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  sup- 
plied the  charge  from  July  1,  1913,  to  October  1,  1914.  Rev.  W. 
M.  Spangler,  October  1,  1914,  to  July  1.  1919.  The  present  pas- 
tor, Rev.  John  A.  Howe,  took  charge  in  October,  1919. 


CHRIST'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
TREXTOX,  MD. 

(HAMPSTEAD  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  John  A.  Howe,  Pastor. 

Christ's  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  of  Trenton,  was 
organized  by  Rev.  D.  J.  Hauer,  D.D.,  in  1858,  as  nearly  as  can 
be  ascertained.  In  1859  the  corner  stone  of  the  church  building 
was  laid  by  Dr.  Hauer  and  the  church  edifice  was  erected  and 
dedicated  that  same  year. 

It  was  made  ;i  part  of  the  same  charge  with  Si.  Paul's,  of 
Arcadia,  and  was  served  by  the  pastors  of  that  charge  until  1880. 
when  it  became  a  part  of  the  Hampstead  charge. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Derr  served  the  church  as  pastor  from  1886  to  1901  ; 
Rev.  S.  F.  Tholan  from  April,  1901,  to  May.  1904;  Rev.  L.  W. 
Gross  from  July  1,  1904,  to  May,  1906;  Rev.  Samuel  Stauffer 


''}">0  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

from  September.  1906.  1o  March.  1908;  Rev.  \V.  I).  Nichols  from 
.May.  1908.  to  March.  1910-,  Rev.  J.  S.  Keller  from  May.  1910.  to 
April.  1912;  Rev.  T.  T.  Brown  from  .July  1.  19U.  to  October  1. 
1914;  Rev.  W.  M.  Spanker  from  October  1.  1914.  to  July  1. 
1919;  Rev.  John  A.  Howe.  October  9.  1919.  to  the  present. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  (11HTK(1II, 
ARCADIA,  MI). 

(  1 1. \MPSTKAD   ClIAKCK.  ) 

lief,  ,/olin  A.  I  loin .  I'tislor. 

A  complete  history  of  this  church  was  written  by  Rev.  Charles 
S.  Jones  in  1 1)02,  and  published  in  a  book  of  sixty-two  pages. 
From  this  we  gather  the  following  facts: 

According  to  tradition  St.  I'aul's  was  founded  in  1770.  Hut. 
the  records  go  back  only  to  the  year  1794.  The  first  congrega- 
tion consisted  largely  of  former  members  of  the  Manchester 
church,  who  desired  a  more  convenient  place  of  worship  than 
Manchester,  which  was  fifteen  miles  distant.  It  is  probable  that 
the  first  organization  was  formed  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Daniel  Schroeder,  of  the  Manchester  charge.  A  few  years  later, 
in  1794.  the  first  church  was  built.  As  it  was  built  on  a  lot  once 
owned  by  Jacob  Allgeier.  it  was  long  known  as  "Allgeier's 
Church.'' 

Originally  the  congregation  was  a  union  organization  of  Lu- 
therans and  Reformed,  but  the  Reformed  part  of  the  congregation 
died  out  in  1842. 

Rev.  John  Ilerbst  seems  to  have  been  the  first  minister  to  serve 
the  congregation  after  th->  building  of  the  log  church.  lie  took 
charge  about  1797.  After  about  twenty-eight  years  of  service 
he  was  dismissed  by  St.  Paul's  council  because  "he  had  violated 
the  discipline  of  the  Chun  h  on  a  sacramental  occasion."  From 
this  time  until  18n'()  the  line  of  pastors  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
mother  church  at  Manchester.  It  is  recorded  that  Rev.  Keller  in- 
troduced revivalist ic  methods,  that  Rev.  Albert  was  famous  for 
using  big  words,  that  Rev.  Ilarpel  "because  of  certain  irregular 
conduct  was  forced  to  leave  the  charge."  that  Rev.  Willard  was 
also  a  revivalist,  a  strict  disciplinarian,  a  very  popular  preacher, 
and  overmuch  given  to  joking,  that  Rev.  Ruthrauff  was  a  "pro- 
found theologian."  that  Rev.  Schwartx  was  a  young  man  and 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  the  text.  "Brethren,  these  things 
ought  not  so  to  be."  that  Rev.  Kaempfer,  as  pastor  at  Manchester, 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  351 

did  not  preach  at  Arcadia,  and  that  therefore  the  coming  of  Doc- 
tor Haiier  in  1853  was  like  the  coming  of  Nehemiah  to  Jerusalem. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hauer.  in  1860.  two  of  the  churches 
of  the  Manchester  charge.  St.  Paul's  and  Zoucksville.  were 
dropped  from  the  charge  by  the  other  churches.  Thereupon  St. 
Paul's  and  Zoucksville  united  with  the  church  at  Reisterstown 
to  form  the  Reisterstown  charge.  They  called  the  Rev.  J.  M. 
Graybill.  of  the  Virginia  Synod.  He  served  just  ten  months  and 
then  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Facht  was  called.  lie  took  charge  in  Janu- 
ary, 1862.  The  Chestnut  Ridge  Church  was  now  added  to  the 
charge.  In  1864  Rev.  Jacob  Martin  succeeded  Rev.  Facht. 

Meanwhile  the  German  element  had  become  quite  strong  at 
St.  Paul's  and  a  separate  German  congregation  was  organized. 
This  congregation  worshipped  in  St.  Paul's  Church.  During  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Martin  there  was  much  difficulty  between  these 
two  congregations.  The  Germans  supported  Rev.  Martin,  while 
the  English  rejected  him  and  finally  locked  the  door  on  him. 
The  English  element  prevailed  and  Rev.  Martin  was  obliged  to 
resign  from  St.  Paul's.  By  this  act  St.  Paul's  church  separated 
herself  from  the  Reisterstown  charge.  She  had  no  regular  serv- 
ices from  1867  to  1870.  In  1869.  however,  she  joined  the  Beck- 
leysville  charge,  which  consisted  of  Beckleysville.  St.  Peter's 
(near  Alesia).  Hampstead.  and  Zoucksville.  In  1870  this  charge 
secured  a  pastor  in  the  person  of  Rev.  P.  P.  Lane.  After  much 
difficulty  about  the  paying  of  the  joint  salary  Rev.  Lane  resigned 
in  1872. 

The  Beckleysville  charge  now  divided  on  the  question  of  the 
next  pastor.  Arcadia  and  Zoucksville  insisted  on  electing  Rev. 
Christian  Lepley,  while  the  other  churches  stood  firm  for  Rev. 
Bergner.  From  1874,  therefore.  Hampstead,  Beckleysville,  and 
St.  Peter's  constituted  a  charge  and  Trenton  was  added  in  1880; 
and  St.  Paul's  united  with  Reisterstown  to  form  the  second 
Reisterstown  charge.  This  latter  charge  was  served  by  Rev. 
Lepley  until  1881. 

Rev.  Albert  Bell,  of  the  Gettysburg  Seminary,  took  up  the 
work  of  the  Reisterstown  charge  in  June.  1881.  He  ministered 
here  until  November.  1884.  He  was  succeeded  in  1885  by  Rev. 
George  II.  Beckley.  In  1897  Rev.  Beckley  resigned  St.  Paul's 
and  continued  to  preach  at  Reisterstown.  Thus  St.  Paul's  stood 
independent.  Then  Rev.  A.  II.  Burk,  a  son  of  the  church,  who  in 
middle  life  had  been  ordained  a  minister,  supplied  St.  Paul's  for 
two  years  until  June.  1900.  Then  the  Rev.  Charles  Stork  Jones 
accepted  a  call  to  the  church,  and  served  the  congregation  for 
about  two  years.  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr  was  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  from 


3.V2 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


1903  to  1911.  After  a  vacancy  of  two  years  Rev.  W.  K  Hensel 
became  pastor  in  1913.  Rev.  Ilensel  was  a  recent  graduate  of 
Hreklum  Seminary,  Germany,  and  had  just  graduated  from  the 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  continued  to  serve  St.  Paul's  until 
his  death  in  March.  1918.  In  December  of  that  year  the  Mary- 
land Synod  made  St.  Paul's  a  part  of  the  Hampstead  charge  and 
the  present  pastor  is  Rev.  John  A.  Howe. 

The  original  church  building  was  of  logs.  This  was  replaced 
in  1838  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ilarpel  with  a  house  of  stone. 
Again  as  early  as  18f>9  the  matter  of  building  a  new  church  was 
discussed.  Hut  nothing  was  done  in  that  direction  until  in  1882 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Albert  Hell.  Then  the  first  brick 
church  was  built.  The  cost  of  this  building  was  a  little  more 
than  $2.200.  In  1892  this  structure  was  enlarged  and  improved. 
In  1902  the  congregation  secured  its  own  parsonage. 

ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN"  rilUROH, 
.JEFFERSON,  MI). 

(JEFFERSON  CHARGE.) 

l\<  v.  (!«»y<  I.  Uhlcr,  I*axtor. 

This  charge  receives  its  name  from  the  place  in  which  the  larg- 
est of  the  four  congregations  that  originally  composed  it  is  loca- 
ted. The  town  of  Jefferson  is  sit- 
uated about  eight  miles  from 
Frederick,  along  the  state  road 
leading  from  the  latter  place  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  West  Virginia. 
The  Jefferson  charge  was  formed 
about  June  10.  1838.  Originally 
the  Hurkittsville  congregation  and 
St.  Matthew's,  of  the  Manor 
charge,  were  included.  The  Hurk- 
ittsville  congregation  severed  its 
connection  in  18f>8.  and  St.  Mat- 
thew's in  1886. 

During  these  thirty-one  years 
therefore.  St.  Paul's,  of  Jefferson. 
St.  Luke's,  of  Feagaville.  and 
Mount  Zion  congregations  have 
composed  the  Jefferson  charge.  It 
should  be  noted  that  Mount  Zion 

almost  from  the  formation  of  the  charge,  was  comprised  in  the 
same.  The  beginnings  of  St.  Paul's  congregation  antedate  the 


(iKOKCK   I.    t'lll.KI! 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  333 

organization  of  the  charge  by  nearly  half  a  century.  As  people 
of  German  descent  mostly  comprised  the  congregations  of  Mid- 
dletown  Valley,  so  we  may  infer  with  certainty  that  in  the  early 
formation  of  what  is  now  St.  Paul's  they  were  also  in  a  large 
majority.  However  a  few  names  of  those  of  other  descent  seem 
to  be  present.  But  it  was  a  pastor  of  German  extraction  whose 
name  is  associated  with  a  number  of  congregations  surrounding 
Frederick  in  their  primitive  period,  that  also  apparently  min- 
istered first  to  the  Lutherans  of  Jefferson,  viz :  Rev.  D.  F.  Sehaef- 
fer,  D.D.,  of  Frederick,  who  in  the  year  1810  conducted  services 
in  the  school  house  every  four  weeks. 

What  the  developments  were  during  the  next  twenty-five  years 
seems  rather  obscure.  St.  Paul's  was  included  in  the  Middle- 
town  charge  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Graeber  in  that 
place.  That  there  must  have  been  an  increasing  activity  in  the 
church  life  not  only  among  the  Lutherans,  but  also  among  the 
Reformed,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  an  organization  was 
effected  by  the  former  in  1825,  and  that  the  stone  church  was 
jointly  constructed  by  these  two  denominations  in  1827.  during 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Reck,  then  of  the  Middletown  charge,  who. 
with  Rev.  M.  Wachter,  served  from  the  latter  place  until  1838. 
The  lot  on  which  the  union  structure  was  erected  was  donated 
by  Mr.  Henry  Hershberger  of  the  Reformed  faith.  The  first  of- 
ficers of  the  Lutheran  congregation  were :  Captain  Henry  Cul- 
ler. Mr.  Thomas  Thresher.  Mr.  Abraham  Blessing,  and  Mr.  Philip 
Williard. 

The  new  Lutheran  church  was  begun  some  time  in  1840.  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  C.  Baughmaii.  and  completed  in  1841, 
during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Eyster.  The  lot  was  deeded 
to  the  church  by  Captain  Henry  Culler  for  less  than  half  its  real 
value.  $266.  The  church,  which  was  of  brick,  cost  $3.000.  The. 
first  officers  of  the  church  in  1841  were  Messrs.  Solomon  Blessing. 
Jacob  Ahalt,  Captain  Henry  Culler.  George  Richards,  Daniel  Cul- 
ler. Lewis  Easterday,  and  John  Willard.  The  first  bell  was  a 
gift  of  the  Middletown  congregation. 

The  excellent  parsonage  and  beautiful  grounds  were  pur- 
chased in  1850,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  J.  Hauer.  for 
$2.000. 

The  present  commodious  church  building  was  erected  in  1866. 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  G.  Bowers,  at  a  cost  of  $16,000. 
In  September,  1874.  the  rear  gable  was  blown  in  by  a  severe 
storm,  causing  considerable  damage.  The  church  was  promptly 
repaired  with  the  expenditure  of  $1,000.  The  fine  bells  in  the 
tower,  sending  out  the  joyful  invitations  to  the  house  of  God, 
23 


.*]54  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

were  purchased  for  $400.  In  1S97.  during  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
S.  A.  Hedges,  repairs,  improvements  and  additions  were  made, 
such  as  new  leaded-glass  windows,  frescoing,  painting,  light  re- 
Hector  and  pipe  organ,  costing  in  all  $8.000.  The  church  cemetery 
has  also  been  recently  enlarged  and  improved  with  an  expendi- 
ture of  about  $1.000.  During  the  month  of  April.  1899,  a  new 
roof  was  placed  upon  the  church  with  the  outlay  of  $250.  With 
all  these  material  improvements  the  congregation  has  grown 
numerically  and  spiritually. 

Dr.  Ilorine.  in  referring  to  this  congregation,  says.  "With  the 
number  of  church  papers  and  periodicals  it  reads,  we  justly  infer 
that  the  people  have  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  the  work  of 
tli;-  church  at  large." 

Among  the  first  officers  at  the  time  of  organization  appears  the 
name  of  J.  Phillip  Willard.  He  afterwards  entered  the  min- 
istry. Resides  serving  a  number  of  charges  with  unusual  suc- 
cess he  was  also  equally  successful  in  soliciting  funds  for  the 
various  operations  of  the  church.  Fourteen  thousand  dollars 
were  secured  by  him  in  eleven  months  for  the  completion  of  the 
endowment  of  a  German  professorship  in  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Gettysburg.  As  financial  agent  for  the  Lutheran  Hoard 
of  Publication,  he  secured  $40.000.  It  was  he  who  originated  the 
idea  of  the  Orphans'  Home  at  Loysville.  Pa.,  and  he  was  its  su- 
perintendent for  twenty-five  years.  II is  name  has  been  familiar 
in  that  home  and  the  church  as  Father  Willard. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Wadsworth  is  described  as  a  man  "of  fine  intellect, 
good  scholarship  and  sterling  integrity  of  character."  He  how- 
ever suffered  ill  health  and  was  thus  hindered  from  engaging  in 
the  active  work  of  the  ministry  except  for  a  little  time. 

Rev.  Charles  A.  Stork.  D.I).,  whose  mother  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son, usually  spent  his  summers  on  his  grandfather's  farm  when 
a  boy. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Friday  was  a  son  of  St.  Paul's  who  met  a  seemingly 
untimely  death.  He  left  his  home  in  Harper's  Ferry,  West 
Virginia.  May  81.  1877.  to  perform  a  marriage  ceremony  in  Mary- 
land and  upon  his  returning  after  the  rite  was  "unhumanly" 
murdered.  But  four  years  were  thus  permitted  to  be  spent  in 
the  ministry. 

Rev.  M.  L.  Culler.  D.I).,  now  in  his  eightieth  year  is  also  a  son 
of  this  church.  He  has  now  retired  from  the  ministry  after  a 
long  period  of  active  work.  He  has  held  various  positions  of 
honor  in  the  church.  In  1899  he  wrote  "The  Early  History  of 
the  Lutheran  Churches  in  the  Middletown  Valley,"  to  which  we 
are  indebted  for  much  of  the  material  of  this  narrative. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  355 

Seldom  does  it  happen  that  two  sons  of  a  minister  enter  the 
ministry  from  the  place  in  which  they  were  born  and  from  the 
church  in  which  they  were  reared.  This  virtually  occurred  in 
Jefferson  from  St.  Paul's  during  the  long  ministry  of  their  fa- 
ther, Rev.  H.  G.  Bowers,  both  Rev.  George  S.  Bowers.  D.D.,  and 
his  brother  Rev.  John  Culler  Bowers,  D.D.,  entered  the  Lutheran 
ministry. 

We  come  to  rather  a  productive  period  of  ministers  in  this  con- 
gregation from  1900  to  1905.  The  first  during  this  time  was  Rev. 
Frederick  W..  son  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Friday,  whose  father's  sad  death 
is  noted  above.  Rev.  Robert  W.  Doty  entered  the  ministry  1902. 
He  is  at  present  serving  a  large  congregation  in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. George  II.  Easterday  was  ordained  in  1904.  He  later 
demitted  the  ministry  and  is  now  well  located  in  New  York  City. 
Rev.  Silas  H.  Culler  was  the  fourth  of  those  born  in  Jefferson 
bearing  that  familiar  name  to  enter  the  ministry  in  1905. 


MOUNT  ZION  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FREDERICK  COUNTY,  MI). 

(JEFFERSON  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  George  I.  Uhler,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  precedes  St.  Paul's,  of  Jefferson,  in  the  time 
of  organization.  The  church  was  built  in  1819.  It  is  located  a 
little  over  four  miles  from  Jefferson  and  about  the  same  distance 
from  Frederick,  about  a  mile  inland  from  the  state  road,  on  an 
elevation,  in  view  of  St.  Luke's  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant. 
Rev.  D.  F.  Schaeffer,  D.D.,  served  this  congregation  from  Fred- 
erick. It  was  during  his  ministry  at  the  latter  place  that  a  stone 
building  was  constructed  jointly  by  Reformed  and  Lutherans. 

It  continued  to  be  a  union  church  until  about  1880,  when  the 
Lutherans  bought  the  Reformed  interest  for  one  dollar,  the  lat- 
ter locating  at  Feagaville.  The  Lutherans  continued  to  be  served 
by  the  pastors  from  Frederick  until  1840.  It  was  during  Rev.  S. 
W.  Harkey's  pastorate  at  the  latter  place  that  Mount  Zion,  with 
the  Manor  congregation,  was  "relinquished"  and  became  con- 
nected with  the  Jefferson  charge. 

In  1885  there  was  a  desire  to  construct  a  new  church  but  on 
account  of  a  disagreement  as  to  the  location  of  the  new  building, 
a  small  part  of  the  constituency  of  Mount  Zion  congregation  with- 
drew. The  remaining  members  built  a  new  brick  church  on  the 
same  site  on  which  the  original  church  was  located,  during  the 


356  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

pastorate  of  Kcv.  \V.  II.  Set'llemeyer.  at  a  cost  of  $1.800.  While 
there  were  hut  a  few  that  at  first  withdrew  upon  the  decision  of 
the  location  of  the  new  Mount  Xion.  there  were  those  who  after- 
wards followed.  Since  that  time  to  the  present  there  have  heeu 
severe  losses  hy  removal  and  death,  hut  it  has  maintained  its  ex- 
istence with  reniarkahle  fortitude.  In  the  wills  of  Messrs.  Rehr 
and  Smith,  deceased,  the  church  has  received  kindly  remem- 
hrances.  The  most  familiar  name  in  this  congregation  is  Fulmer. 
Five  of  the  council  hear  that  name. 


ST.  LUKE'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FEAGAVILLE,  MD. 

(JEFFERSON  CHARGE.) 
h'ci'.  (jcor<j<  I.  Chirr,  I'aslor. 

The  early  history  of  this  congregation  is  not  hidden  hy  dis- 
tance of  time  as  that  of  the  other  two  of  the  charge.  It  is  located 
hetween  Jefferson  and  Frederick  in  the  village  of  Feagavillc. 
Of  the  members  who  withdrew  from  Mount  Zion  seventeen  met 
for  organization  August  30,  1885.  The  first  officers  were:  J). 
Milton  Culler.  Joseph  A.  Unglehower,  Charles  E.  Feaga,  John  L. 
Kenn.  George  B.  Culler.  E.  C.  Renn.  R.  R.  Zimmerman,  and  E. 
II.  Easterday.  The  membership  increased  to  twenty-seven  in  a 
short  time.  But  this  little  flock  would  hardly  have  undertaken 
the  building  of  the  present  fine  structure  during  the  same  year, 
had  not  financial  aid  been  extended  from  a  source  outside  of 
themselves.  The  lot.  however,  was  donated  by  one  of  their  own 
numher.  Mr.  John  L.  Renn.  Colonel  Henry  Culler,  of  Jefferson, 
contributed  $3,000  towards  the  building  of  St.  Luke's,  in  mem- 
ory of  his  deceased  son.  Clayton  Culler.  The  ground  of  the  cem- 
etery was  also  a  contribution  of  his. 

The  entire  cost  of  the  church  was  $4000.  It  was  built  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  II.  Settlemeyer.  It  was  dedicated  De- 
cemher  6.  1885.  and  was  incorporated  January  23.  1886.  It  was 
enlarged  in  189(5.  and  dedicated  January  10,  1897.  The  cost  was 
.$900."  Five  hundred  dollars  of  this  amount  was  contributed  by 
Colonel  Henry  Culler.  Upon  the  death  of  the  wife  of  Colonel 
Culler  in  1911.  St.  Luke's  received  by  her  will  $3200.  The  in- 
tention of  the  bequest  was  to  purchase  a  parsonage,  should  St. 
Luke's  ever  become  a  separate  charge.  Otherwise  the  interest  of 
the  same  was  to  be  used  for  repairs  for  the  church. 

The  membership  of  St.  Luke's  has  gradually  increased  from 


THK  CriURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  COXFEREXCE.  357 

its  inception  to  tliis  time.  Besides  the  family  names  above.  Derrs, 
Hoards.  Murrays,  Howards,  as  well  as  others,  have  been  active 
from  its  earliest  days.  In  these  days  of  consolidation  one  would 
think  that  the  proximity  of  Mount  Zion  and  St.  Luke's  would 
lead  them  to  unite  into  one  organization,  but  at  this  writing  there 
are  no  such  indications.  Each  seems  happy  in  its  separate  exist- 
ence. 

Following  is  a  recapitulation  of  the  pastors  of  the  Jefferson 
charge : 

Revs.  A.  Reck  and  M.  Wachter  served  from  Middletown  until 
1838. 

Rev.  Harpel  was  pastor  from  1838  to  1840. 

Rev.  Jesse  Winecoff  became  pastor  in  1840  for  a  few  months. 

Rev.  C.  C.  Baughman  was  pastor  but  a  short  time,  in  1841. 

Rev.  W.  F.  Eyster  became  pastor  in  1841.  and  continued  until 
1843.  lie  was  a  man  highly  esteemed  for  his  work's  sake,  and 
greatly  beloved  for  his  Christian  kindness  and  general  excellence 
of  character. 

Rev.  D.  J.  Hauer's  pastorate  began  in  1844,  and  closed  in  1852. 
He  was  an  earnest  and  pungent  preacher,  very  positive  in  his 
convictions.  He  was  abundant  in  labors,  and  his  ministry  was 
very  prosperous. 

Rev.  G.  S.  Collins  was  pastor  for  two  years,  from  1853  to  1855. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  literary  attainments  and  remarkably  fluent 
in  speech.  For  a  village  pastor  he  possessed  an  exceptionally 
large  and  well-selected  library.  Failing  health  compelled  his 
resignation.  His  deceased  wife  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  grave- 
yard in  Jefferson. 

Rev.  B.  Appleby  was  pastor  from  1855  to  1857. 

Rev.  Edwin  Dorsey's  pastorate  extended  from  1857  to  1858. 

Rev.  II.  G.  Bowers  became  his  successor  in  April,  1858,  and 
remained  the  faithful  pastor  until  1878.  His  abundant  success 
put  an  end  to  the  short  pastorates  so  long  characteristic  of  this 
charge.  Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  results  of  his 
ministry.  He  was  pastor  during  the  exciting  period  of  the  Civil 
War.  His  prudence,  caution,  Christian  forbearance,  together 
with  his  continuously  faithful  labors,  advanced  the  spiritual  and 
material  welfare  of  the  entire  charge.  The  mortal  body  of  Rev. 
Bowers  rests  in  the  cemetery  of  the  church  he  served  so  well. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Settlemeyer  became  pastor  in  1878,  and  continued 
his  ministry  until  1886.  Under  his  active  ministry  the  charge  en- 
joyed much  prosperity.  During  his  pastorate  the  new  churches. 
Mount  Zion  and  St.  Luke's,  were  built  in  1885. 

In  188fi,  Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges  took  charge.     Under  his  faithful 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


and  efficient  ministry  the  entire  charge  enjoyed  very  much  spir- 
itual and  material  prosperity.  Rev.  Hedges  served  this  charge 
until  1900. 

Also  the  following  pastors  have  served  this  charge:  Rev.  L.  A. 
Hush.  1901  and  1<M)2;  Rev.  George  Millar,  1902  and  1903;  Rev. 
W.  S.  T.  Met/ger,  1903  to  1908;  Rev.  A.  G.  Null,  1908  to  1914; 
Rev.  G.  I.  T'hler,  1915to- 


LOYETTSVILLE  PASTORATE, 
LOVKTTSVILLK,  VA. 

/.Vr.  /'.  \\'.  Mi  rt: 


The  first  real  settlers  to  locate  in  London  County,  Virginia, 
came  in  1732. 

Among  the  early  settlers  to  locate  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  was  a  colony  of  Germans  from  Pennsylvania  and  pos- 
sibly some  of  the  colony  direct  from  the  Fatherland. 

As  early  as  1824  Lovettsville  had  become  quite  a  village.     This 

proved  to  be  another  illustration 
of  the  rule  that  wherever  a  Ger- 
man settlement  located  the  school 
house  and  church  followed. 

The  first  authentic  record  of  th  • 
organ  i/.at  ion  of  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem Lutheran  Church  at  Lovetts- 
ville is  dated  1765.  Inferences. 
however,  warrant  that  the  church 
was  organised  much  earlier. 

In  1732  the  Rev.  John  Casper 
Stoever,  an  early  missionary  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  was  pastor 
of  Hebron  Church  in  Madison 
County,  Virginia.  In  his  "Lu- 
theran Church  in  Virginia,"  pub- 
lished in  Hanover.  Germany,  in 
1737,  he  states  that  he  visited  the 
congregations  of  the  German  set- 

tlers in  the  locality  of  Lovettsville.     This  German  nucleus  evi- 
dently crystalli/ed  into  the  New  Jerusalem  Church. 

Little  progress  seems  to  have  been  made  in  the  Lutheran 
church  in  London  County  until  17(5").  Then,  under  the  pastoral 
oversight  of  the  Rev.  Schwerdfeger.  a  log  church  and  school 
house  were  erected  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  present 


HKV.  K.  W.  MKYF.IJ. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  359 

edifice.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  beginning  of  regular  serv- 
ices for  the  congregation.  The  congregation  outgrowing  the 
capacity  of  this,  their  first  church,  a  stone  building  was  erected. 
This  succumbed  to  a  notable  snow-storm  in  1839.  Courageous 
and  relying  upon  the  help  of  God  they  soon  rebuilt.  This  third 
church  was  burned  in  1868.  The  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson  was 
pastor  at  the  time  the  church  was  burned.  True  to  the  faith  and 
courage  that  has  ever  characterized  the  followers  of  the  heroic 
Martin  Luther,  the  congregation  immediately  set  about  to  build 
the  present  beautiful  and  commodious  brick  church,  with  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  five  hundred. 

Because  of  the  expansion  and  growth  of  membership,  the  Lan- 
kerville  church  was  erected  in  1865,  being  four  miles  east  of  the 
"Home  Church."  Likewise  in  1895,  a  substantial  stone  build- 
ing (Shinar)  was  erected,  being  four  miles  west  of  the  "Home 
Church."  Following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  that  have 
served  the  congregation : 

Rev.  Schwerdfeger,  Rev.  John  Andreas  Krug,  Rev.  J.  G.  Grae- 
ber,  Rev.  F.  W.  Jasensky,  1805-1806;  Rev.  David  F.  Schaeffer, 
D.D.,  1807-1808 ;  Rev.  John  M.  Sackman,  until  1830 ;  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Reck,  1830-1832;  Rev.  M.  Blumenthal,  1832  (dismissed  same 
year)  ;  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Hauer,  1833-1847  ;  Rev.  P.  Willard,  - 
1849;  Rev.  C.  Startzman,  1849-1853;  Rev.  William  Jenkins, 
-  -1857  ;  Rev.  J.  B.  Anthony,  1858-  -  -;  Rev.  X.  J.  Richard- 
son, 1860-1873 ;  Rev.  A.  J.  Buhrman,  -  -  -1876 ;  Rev.  P.  H. 
Miller,  1876-1888;  Rev.  Daniel  Schindler,  -  --1890;  Rev.  M. 
E.  McLinn,  -  --1896;  Rev.  Luther  H.  Waring,  -  --1899; 
Rev.  Asa  Richard,  1899-1913 ;  Rev.  J.  E.  Maurer,  1914-1918. 

The  following  men  have  entered  the  ministry  from  this  con- 
gregation: Dr.  L.  A.  Mann,  Rev.  W.  C.  Wire,  Rev.  S.  E.  Smith, 
Rev.  B.  J.  Ilickman,  Rev.  Havire  Hough,  Rev.  Thomas  Fry,  Rev. 
R.  R,  Richard. 


IMMAXUEL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
MANCHESTER,  MD. 

h'cv.  C.  G.  Lcailicrman,  Pax/or. 

Immanuel  congregation,  of  Manchester,  was  organ i/ed  Febru- 
ary 12,  1760,  and  is,  doubtless,  the  oldest  Lutheran  congregation 
in  the  county.  The  organization  likely  antedates  the  erection  of 
the  church.  Unfortunately,  the  time  of  the  building  of  this  old- 
est Lutheran-Reformed  church  is  lost.  The  first  church  was  a 
log  structure,  built,  owned  and  used  jointly  by  the  Lutheran  and 


II1STOKY  OF   MARYLAND  SYXOD. 


Reformed  congregations,  and  located  cast  ol'  the  present  edifice, 
on  ground  now  used  for  burial  purposes.  This  original  log 
structure  was  the  oldest  and  first  house  of  worship  erected  by 
these  denominations  in  Carroll  County.  Maryland. 

The  second  house  of  worship  was  also  a  joint  Reformed  and 
Lutheran  church,  known  as  /ion's  Church,  located  just  inside 

the  entrance  to  the  cemetery  and 
was  built  largely  from  the  profits 
of  a  lottery,  which  was  frequently 
done  in  those  early  days.  This 
was  erected  in  1798. 

In  1836  a  brick  tower  was  erect- 
ed on  the  north  side  of  the  build- 
ing, which  gave  it  a  churchly  ap- 
pearance. For  these  repairs  a 
committee  was  appointed  :  Rev. 
Jacob  Albert,  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  who  was  president  and 
chief  manager,  and  Rev.  Jacob 
(Jeiyer,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  Mr.  Jacob  Houck  was 
the  eontractor  and  builder.  In 
1863  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed 
parted  company,  each  building  its 
own  church.  The  Lutherans 

adopted  a  new  name  and  called  their  church  "Immanuel  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church."  The  building  committee  for  the  Lu- 
theran church  consisted  of  Jacob  Hoffacker.  Henry  Gla/e.  Michael 
Ritter,  Jacob  Campbell,  George  Trump,  and  Henry  Reagle.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  in  June.  1862,  and  the  new  church  was 
dedicated  Sunday,  October  4.  1863.  during  the  meeting  of  the 
Melancthon  Synod  in  Manchester.  Dr.  I).  J.  Ilauer  preached 
the  dedicatory  sermon. 

Upon  examination  of  the  early  church  books  of  St.  Matthew's 
Lutheran  congregation,  of  Hanover,  Pa.,  it  is  found  that  the 
early  pastors  of  the  Manchester  congregation  were  the  pastors 
of  that  congregation  also,  from  which  fact  it  is  safe  to  conclude 
that  the  Manchester  congregation  was  originally  a  part  of  the 
Hanover  pastorate,  or  at  least  was  supplied  by  the  pastor  of  St. 
Matthew's.  The  Manchester  Lutheran  parsonage  was  bought 
in  1796.  so  that  it  is  very  probable  that  Manchester  became  dis- 
tinct from  Hanover  at  or  near  that  date.  The  following  is  a  list 
of  the  pastors,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained: 

Rev.  Lars  Nyberg.  1760;    Rev.  Daniel  Schroeder.   1783-1790; 


KKV 


LEATHER. MAN. 


THE  CHUKCHKS  OF  TIIK  MIDDLK  CONFERENCE. 


361 


Rev.  Meltzheimer  (the  elder).  1791-1796;  Rev.  .John  Ilerhst, 
1797-1825;  Rev.  Emaiiuel  Keller.  182(5  (6  months);  Rev.  Jaeob 
Albert,  1827-1836;  Rev.  Jeremiah  Ilarpel.  1837-1839;  Rev. 
Philip  Willard,  1841-1843;  Rev.  Frederick  Ruthrauff,  1843  (1 
year,  9  months);  Rev.  Elias  Schwartz,  1844-1848;  Rev.  Jacob 
Kaempfer,  1848-1853;  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Tlauer.  D.D..  1853-1862: 
Rev.  Peter  Rizer,  1862-1865;  Rev.  Reuben  Weiser,  1866-1869; 
Rev.  George  Sill.  1870-1881  ;  Rev.  Edmund  Manges,  1881-1885; 


I M MANUEL   LUTHEKAX   CHURCH,   MANCHESTER,    MD. 

Rev.  C.  M.  Eyster.  1885-1900;  Rev.  IT.  H.  Flick,  1900-1910;  Rev. 
J.  B.  Lau,  1910-1916;  Rev.  C.  G.  Leatherman,  1916- -  — . 

For  a  long  time  the  services  in  this  church  were  conducted  in 
German  exclusively.  The  early  records  are  also  in  German. 
Constant  additions  to  the  congregation  from  the  Fatherland 
made  it  necessary  to  have  an  occasional  German  service  until 
quite  recently.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Lau  the  Ger- 
man services,  owing  to  few  attendants,  were  discontinued  May  11. 
1913. 

In  1910  it  was  found  necessary  to  make  extensive  repairs  to 
Tmmanuel  Church,  built  in  1863.  After  consideration  for  nearly 
three  years  it  was  decided  to  build  anew;  the  old  building  was 
razed  April  14,  1914,  and  the  ground  cleared  for  a  new  church. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  July  19,  1914.  The  new  church  was 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


dedicated  August  2'2.  191").  This  handsome  church,  of  red  pressed 
brick,  with  lime-stone  trimmings,  costing  $:iO.OOO.  equipped  with 
sanctuary.  Sunday  school  room  and  many  class  rooms,  social  hall, 
and  beaut itied  with  opalescent  windows  of  rare  beauty,  is  a  great 
credit  to  the  congregation  and  the  patient  and  untiring  efforts 
of  Pastor  Lau. 

Those  in  the  church  council  during  this  period  were:  \V.  D. 
Hanson.  II.  F.  Leese,  (Jeo.  AV.  Sharrer.  II.  It.  Iturgoou.  Roswell 
Hoffacker,  J.  R.  L.  AVink.  AValter  K.  (Jarrelt.  Charles  Reed.  The 
building  committee:  David  L.  Itrown.  James  T.  Tingling,  llor- 


MK.  J.  II.  L.  WINK, 
Manchester,  Md. 


Mu.  H.  F.  LEESE, 
Manchester,  Md. 


atio  R.  Garrett,  Geo.  M.  Reed,  George  W.  Sharrer.  Pastor  Lau, 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  above  committee,  deserves  great  credit 
for  the  building  of  the  church.  II.  F.  Leese  and  J.  R.  L.  Wink, 
as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  church  council,  deserve  special 
mention  for  their  accurate  record-keeping. 

In  1911  a  Ladies'  Aid  was  organized  and  under  the  manage- 
ment of  President  Mrs.  II.  S.  Musselman,  the  gifts  to  the  church 
totaled  $4.500,  while  the  social  and  educational  work  of  the  so- 
ciety became  a  great  help  to  the  church. 

After  Rev.  Lau's  resignation  in  19HJ,  Rev.  C.  G.  Leatherman, 
of  Vandergrift.  Pa.,  heard  the  call  to  Manchester,  and  on  June 
:M,  191b'.  was  installed  pastor  of  the  charge.  After  six  months' 
vacancy  and  oppressed  with  $10,500  debt,  the  membership  rallied 
splendidly  to  the  call  of  the  new  leader.  Renewed  courage  tilled 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  363 

their  hearts.  The  spiritual  atmosphere  was  prevalent  and  the 
uplift  was  felt  in  every  line  of  work. 

Benevolent  work  was  regularly  presented  and  the  offerings 
grew  from  .$250  the  first  year,  to  .$600  the  second  and  $1.200  the 
third.  Loeal  expenses  were  promptly  met  for  the  first  time  in  a 
generation.  The  pastor  issued  neat  and  helpful  Lenten  folders, 
each  presenting  an  appeal  for  a  liberal  free-will  offering  for  the 
debt  and  resulting  in  $2,100  in  1917,  $1,800  in  1918.  and  $5.100 
in  1919,  at  which  time  the  debt  and  interest,  amounting  to  $11,- 
500,  was  paid. 

Meanwhile  the  field  had  grown  to  proportions  much  too  large 
for  one  man  to  cultivate  it  efficiently.  In  1797  Bachman's  Church 
had  been  added  to  Manchester;  in  1853  the  Lineboro  Church 
was  added,  and  in  1878  the  Snydersburg  Church  was  organized 
as  a  part  of  the  charge.  Each  of  these  four  congregations  pre- 
sented a  large  and  growing  field.  Tn  1917,  therefore,  by  action  of 
the  Synod  the  Snydersburg  Church  was  detached  from  the  Man- 
chester charge,  and  in  1919  it  was  amicably  agreed  by  the  remain- 
ing congregations  that  the  Manchester  congregation  should  con- 
stitute a  separate  pastorate  and  that  the  Lineboro  and  Bachman's 
congregations  should  constitute  a  new  charge.  This  new  charge 
is  known  as  the  North  Carroll  charge.  Thus  with  the  full  time 
and  energy  of  a  pastor  at  her  service  Immanuel  church  faces 
the  greatest  advance  and  the  most  thorough  development  in  her 
history. 

This  church  has  given  to  the  ministry  Rev.  J.  K.  Miller,  Rev. 
Peter  Warner,  Rev.  Michael  Fair,  Rev.  Adam  Zimmerman,  Rev. 
Dr.  Jeremiah  Zimmerman,  of  Syracuse;  Rev.  Dr.  Leander  M. 
Zimmerman,  of  Baltimore,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  S.  Trump,  late 
of  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia. 


MANOR-DOUBS  PASTORATE,  FREDERICK 
COUNTY,  MD. 

Rev.  E.  L.  Folk,  Pastor. 

The  Manor-Doubs  pastorate  covers  the  territory  south  of  Fred- 
erick between  the  Catoctin  Mountain  and  the  Monocacy  River, 
known  as  Carroll's  Manor,  from  which  it  derives  its  name. 

The  pastorate  consists  of  three  churches:  St.  Matthew's,  on 
the  Point  of  Rocks  road,  four  miles  north  of  Doubs;  St.  Mark's, 
at  Doubs,  and  St.  Luke's,  at  Point  of  Rocks.  The  parsonage  is 
at  Doubs. 


:;r,4 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


HKV.  K.  L.  FOLK. 


St.  Matthew's  Church  is  tin-  parent  church  of  the  pastorate 
and  was  for  a  Ion*;  time  the  only  Lutheran  church  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  Its  early  history  is  involved  in  obscurity.  The  date 
of  its  organi/ation  is  not  known.  On  August  S.  1812.  the  corner 

stone  of  a  union  church  (Luther- 
an and  Reformed )  was  laid  on 
land  presented  by  Mr.  Walt/,  near 
the  old  meeting  house  on  Car- 
roll's Manor,  at  which  time  Rev. 
David  F.  Schaeffer.  of  Frederick, 
preached  in  English  and  Rev.  S. 
Ilelfenstein  in  German. 

For  many  years  this  church  was 
supplied  by  Lutheran  ministers 
from  Frederick,  but  in  ]841  it  was 
made  a  part  of  the  Jefferson 
charge,  with  which  it  was  con- 
nected until  the  year  1886. 

During  this  time  it  was  served 
by  the  following  ministers: 

Rev.  AV.  F.  Eyster.  1841-1843; 
Rev.  D.  J.  Ilauer,  1 845-1 853 ;  Rev. 
<!.  S.  Collins.  1853-1854;  Rev.  H. 

Appleby.   1855-1857,     Rev.   E.    Dorsey,   1857-1858;    Rev.   II.   (J. 
Bowers,  1858-1878;   Rev.  W.  II.  Settlemeyer.  1878-1886. 

On  January  4,  1893.  the  Lutherans  sold  out  their  interest  at  the 
Manor  to  the  Reformed  and  the  present  St.  Matthew's  Church 
was  dedicated  August  13.  1893. 

Prior  to  1878  St.  Matthew's  was  the  only  Lutheran  church  on 
Carroll's  Manor,  though  the  Lutheran  pastors  of  the  Jefferson 
pastorate  preached  at  intervals  of  from  six  to  twelve  weeks  in 
the  old  Calico  Rock  school  house,  midway  between  Douhs  and 
Point  of  Rocks. 

In  1886  St.  Mark's  congregation,  at  Doubs.  was  organi/ed.  and 
a  church  built  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Settlemeyer. 

The  St.  Luke's  congregation,  of  Point  of  Rocks,  was  organi/ed 
in  1887,  and  the  church  built  in  1889. 

In  188(1  the  Jefferson  pastorate  was  divided  and  the  Manor- 
Doubs  pastorate  was  formed.  Rev.  A.  II.  Burk  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  new  charge  and  served  one  year,  lint  was  recalled 
in  1892  and  served  the  pastorate  five  years. 

Rev.  C.  W.  Sechrist  served  1887-1892:  Rev.  A.  II.  Burk  served 
1892-1897;  Rev.  William  L.  Ilauser  served  1897-1903;  Rev.  (J. 
William  Millar  served  1904-1907;  Rev.  William  B.  Oney  served 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


365 


1908-1909;   Rev.  Paul  II.  Ketterman  served  1910-1912;    Rev.  P. 
J.  Wade  served  1912-1917 ;   Rev.  E.  L.  Folk  served  1918- 

The  St.  Matthew's  congregation,  the  mother  church,  at  present 
has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  twenty.  The  St.  Mark's  con- 
gregation has  about  one  hun- 
dred, and  St.  Luke's  forty. 

Among  the  older  and  charter 
members  of  the  pastorate  we 
record  the  names  of  Samuel  T. 
Whip.  John  Buzzard,  George 
Willard.  D.  M.  Whip,  and  AVil- 
liam  N.  Hoffman. 

The  superintendents  of  the 
Sunday  schools  at  this  writing 
are:  St.  Mark's,  L.  E.  Wil- 
lard; St.  Matthew's.  Edward 
Ilawken;  St.  Luke's.  Charles 
Stunkle. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  E. 
L.  Folk,  entered  the  ministry 
in  1884,  after  taking  his  course 
at  Roanoke  College,  Va..  and  at 
the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Salem,  Va.,  and  at  Mount  Airy, 
Philadelphia.  He  has  served 
pastorates  in  Botetourt  Coun- 
ty, Virginia;  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania;  Shenandoah,  and 
Augusta  and  Rockingham  Counties  in  Virginia;  at  Winston, 
Salem  and  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  and  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  entered  upon  the  work  at  Doubs  June  1,  1918. 


ST.  MATTHEW'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
Manor-Doiibs  Pastorate. 


ZIOX  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
MIDDLETOWX,  MIX 

Rev.  Charles  M.  Teufel,  Pastor. 

The  first  church  for  this  congregation  was  built  about  two  miles 
southwest  of  Middletown.  It  was  known  as  Zion  Church,  was 
built  of  logs,  30  by  30  feet,  a  rather  rude  structure,  a  union  of 
Lutheran  and  Reformed.  It  was  situated  on  50  acres  of  land, 
purchased  or  given,  and  deeded  by  Henry  Kefauver  in  trust  to 
Conrad  Young  for  the  Lutherans,  and  to  Jacob  Flook  for  the 
Reformed.  As  the  laws  of  Maryland  did  not  permit  any  church 
to  hold  more  than  two  acres  of  land,  forty-eight  acres  of  this 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOP. 


valuable  laud  fell  into  the  hands  of  Jacob  Shawen.  In  a  law-suit 
for  the  land  the  church  lost  the  suit,  and  Jacob  Shawen  sold  the 
land  for  $80  an  acre. 

The  Hrst  church  was  erected  in  1755  and  used  until  1790,  when 
it  was  converted  into  the  use  of  a  parochial  school. 

In  1775  the  Reformed  built  a  log  church  in  Middletown  on  or 
near  the  cite  of  their  present  church,  and  gave  the  Lutherans  th« 

privilege  of  using  it  for  worship. 
The  two  denominations  alternate- 
ly using  this  church  dwelt  to- 
gether for  a  number  of  years  in 
most  delightful  harmony. 

About  the  year  1783.  upon  a  lot 
in  Middletown,  donated  by  the 
generosity  of  Mr.  Conrad  Crone, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  church, 
the  Lutherans  erected  their  first 
church,  the  first  Lutheran  church 
in  Middletown  Valley,  and  the 
first  Lutheran  Church  west  of 
Catoctin  Mountain. 

It  was  built  of  logs,  in  hex- 
agonal form,  and  for  that  day  and 
in  a  new  country,  is  said  to  have 
been  well  furnished.  It  was  hon- 
ored with  a  tower,  bell  and  pipe 

organ.  The  bell,  which  had  been  used  on  a  man  of  war,  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Conrad  Young,  and  consecrated  to  the  peaceful 
mission  of  calling  people  to  the  worship  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
It  became  broken,  but  was  soon  replaced  by  a  larger  and  better 
one,  contributed  by  the  young  men  of  the  congregation.  It  was 
afterwards  donated  to  the  Lutheran  church  built  in  Jefferson  in 
1841. 

Rev.  Schnee,  while  pastor,  purchased  two  bells  in  Philadelphia, 
whose  combined  weight  was  eleven  hundred  pounds.  Owing  to 
defective  hanging  they  were  broken,  recast  into  one  and  another 
one  was  added.  Ever  since  that  time  they  have  been  calling 
thousands  of  worshippers  to  the  house  of  God  and  in  solemn  tones 
leading  the  funeral  procession  to  the  silent  tomb. 

.Money  was  scarce  at  that  time,  just  about  the  close  of  the  ex- 
haustive eight  years  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  farmers, 
therefore,  gave  wheat,  which  was  made  into  flour;  this  was  ex- 
changed for  lumber  and  sold  for  money,  which  was  paid  to  labor 
employed  in  the  erection  of  the  church.  This  church,  which  was 


KKV.  CHARLES  M.  TEUFEL. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Krug,  served  the  pur- 
poses of  the  congregation  for  about  thirty-five  years. 

The  second  Lutheran  Church,  also  called  Zion,  was  built  during 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  G.  Graeber,  on  the  site  of  the  first  one. 
Built  of  brick,  it  cost  over  $9,000.  and  was  dedicated  September 
24.  1815.  It  is  said  there  were  present  at  the  dedication  twelve 
hundred  people.  Rev.  B.  Kurtz,  then  a  young  pastor  in  Balti- 
more, preached  the  sermon.  Dr.  I).  F.  Schaeffer,  who  may  be 
considered,  in  a  large  measure,  the 
father  of  Lutheranism  in  Freder- 
ick County,  performed  the  act  of 
dedication. 

The  steeple  of  this  church  was 
made  at  Shepherdstowri,  Virginia. 
The  excellent  bells  of  the  previous 
church  were  hung  in  this  steeple. 
The  communion  cup,  which  was 
gold-lined,  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Iliestand  as  a  memorial  to  her  de- 
ceased husband.  The  wife  of  Rev. 
Graeber  was  buried  beneath  the 
floor  of  this  church.  It  no  doubt 
shocks  the  moral  sense  of  the  pres- 
ent generation,  and  may  shock 
that  of  future  generations,  to  be 
told  that  a  part  of  the  money  for 
the  erection  of  this  house  of  God 

was  obtained  by  lottery.    But  that  was  a  rather  common  custom 
in  those  days. 

The  first  parsonage  was  also  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Graeber.  It  was  of  stone.  During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Michael 
Wachter,  repairs  and  improvements  were  made  to  the  church 
costing  $2,000.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  F.  Bittle,  D.D., 
the  present  brick  parsonage  was  built,  the  lecture  room,  and  also 
the  academy  in  which,  for  a  considerable  time,  was  conducted  a 
first-class  school,  and  at  which  a  number  of  young  men  prepared 
for  college,  several  of  whom  have  entered  the  ministry  of  our 
Church.  Mount  Tabor  Church  was  also  built  while  Dr.  Bittle 
was  pastor.  It  served  as  a  preaching  station  for  the  convenience 
of  those  living  in  that  distant  locality. 

During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Charles  Kling,  the  present  com- 
modious and  splendid  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $25,000, 
said  to  be  capable  of  seating  about  fifteen  hundred  people.  In 
addition  to  the  cost  of  the  building  it  was  necessary  to  purchase 


REV.  W.  A.  HAKTMAN. 


:!(58 


HISTORY  OF  .MAKVI.AND  SYNOD. 


it  house  and  lot  to  secure  sufficient  space  for  the  new  church. 
The  church  was  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  18(10.  Revs.  B. 
Kurt/.  D.D..  and  John  MeCron.  D.I).,  conducted  the  interesting 
and  impressive  services.  The  church  was  used  as  a  hospital  after 
the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  in  September,  18(i2. 
It  was  very  much  damaged  by  this  usage  but  was  afterwards 
thoroughly  repaired  and  beautified. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  L.  A.  .Mann,  in  1879.  Harmony 
Church,  at  Hellsvillc.  for  the  joint  use  of  the  Myersville  and 
Middletown  charges.  w;-s  built  at  a  cost  of  $1.800.  It  was  not  in- 
tended to  organ  i/.e  a  congregation,  but 
to  use  the  church  for  Sunday  school 
and  catechetical  classes.  The  first 
Sunday  school  in  the  valley  was  or- 
gan i/ed  in  the  Middletown  church  in 
December.  1827.  Its  first  superin- 
tendent was  Mr.  S.  G.  Ilarbaugh;  the 
second.  Mr.  Daniel  Remsberg;  the 
third,  Mr.  Samuel  Derr. 

In  the  list  of  pastors  of  this  church 
are  the  names  of  many  noble  servants 
of  God. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Nicode- 
mus.  but  there  is  no  record  or  knowl- 
edge of  the  time  of  his  ministry,  or 
the  place  of  his  residence  in  the  valley. 
The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  Frederick 
Gerrisheim.  who  lived  in  Middletown. 
and  whose  ministry  extended  from 
December.  1779.  to  July.  17S± 

Rev.  John  Andrew  Krug  was  his 
successor.  lie  resided  in  Frederick 


ZlON     LVTHEKAX    (JHL'KCH, 

Mii>i)i,KTo\vx    MD. 


and  continued  his  pastorate  from  1782  to  1794.  lie  is  said  to 
have  been  a  man  of  extended  scholarship,  having  been  also  for  a 
time  a  teacher  in  the  orphans'  home  connected  with  the  great 
institution  in  Halle.  Germany.  He  was  ordained  by  Dr.  Herman 
Franke  in  17(J-J.  The  church  records  of  Reading.  Pennsylvania, 
his  first  pastorate  in  this  country,  speak  of  him  as  "a  faithful 
teacher,  having  served  that  congregation  seven  years  in  sincerity 
and  love."  Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  others  of  his  ministerial  breth- 
ren thought  he  ought  to  resign  at  Reading  and  take  charge  of 
the  church  at  Frederick,  which  he  did  in  1771.  All  of  his  con- 
gregations prospered  under  his  ministry.  He  was  a  man  of  deep 
piety.  He  died  in  Frederick.  March  30.  1796. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  369 

Rev.  Jacob  Goering  became  the  next  pastor,  but  for  only  one 
year  after  which  he  moved  to  York,  Pennsylvania.  Professor 
Stoever  says,  "he  was  an  extraordinary  man,  a  profound  scholar, 
and  eloquent  preacher."  It  is  said  he  was  able  to  "electrify 
whole  assemblies,  transferring  to  them  his  own  will  and  passion." 
Most  of  his  unpublished  manuscripts  on  theological  subjects  and 
inquiries  in  the  Oriental  languages  were,  unfortunately  for  the 
church  and  literature,  during  his  last  sickness,  committed  to  the 
flames. 

The  name  of  the  man  who  succeeded  him  as  pastor  cannot  be 
obtained. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Schmucker  was  the  next  pastor  for  about  two  years. 
He  lived  in  Ilagerstowii  while  he  served  the  Middletown  church. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  his  successor,  said  of  him,  "the  affection 
and  deep-toned  enthusiasm  with  which  the  congregation  still  con- 
tinued to  speak  of  him,  as  their  spiritual  father,  their  mention 
of  the  power  of  his  preaching  and  the  searching  character  of  his 
pastoral  visits,  afford  the  best  evidence  of  the  fidelity  of  his  min- 
istry." 

The  seventh  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  G.  Graeber.  He  began  his  min- 
istry June  2,  1796,  and  closed  it  in  July,  1819.  His  ministry 
was  abundantly  successful  in  building  up  both  the  spiritual  and 
material  interests  of  all  the  churches  in  his  extended  pastorate. 
His  residence  was  at  Middletown.  His  charge  embraced  not  only 
Middletown,  but  also  Boonsboro,  Ringer's  church,  Jefferson, 
Schaff's  school  house,  Burkettsville,  Lewistown,  and  also  Lou- 
don  County,  Virginia.  He  was  a  most  excellent  Christian  gen- 
tleman, preacher  and  pastor. 

Rev.  John  Kaehler  was  the  next  pastor  from  July,  1819,  to 
October  18,  1821. 

Rev.  Jacob  Schnee  succeeded  in  a  pastorate  of  about  four  years, 
from  March  15,  1822,  to  April,  1827.  His  ministry  was  acceptable 
and  profitable  to  the  church. 

Rev.  A.  Reck  succeeded  in  a  ministry  which  extended  from 
August  15,  1829,  to  April  3,  1836.  His  work  was  remarkably  suc- 
cessful in  the  awakening  of  hardened  sinners,  the  increase  of 
spiritual  life  in  formal  believers  and  in  many  accessions  to  the 
church.  His  xeal  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  his  insisting  upon 
the  evidence  of  true  repentance  in  the  life  of  the  professed,  be- 
liever met  with  some  opposition.  But  from  his  day  and  ministry 
we  may  date  the  beginning  of  a  more  active  piety  in  the  churches 
of  this  valley. 

Rev.  Michael  Wachter  was  the  next  pastor  for  seven  years, 
from  June,  3836,  to  September  19,  1843.  He  served  the  charge 
24 


•^70 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


with  much  acceptance  and  excellent  results,  great  Iv  beloved  by 
all. 

Hev.  C.  A.  Hay.  D.I).,  was  the  pastor  next  in  order,  for  a  period 
of  only  nine  months.  His  ministry  was  closed  by  his  being 
called  to  a  professorship  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg. He  was  exceedingly  methodical,  having  in  his  short  pas- 
torate made  a  complete  directory  of  all  the  homes  of  the  member- 
ship of  the  church. 

Rev.  I).  F.  Hittle.  D.I).,  became  pastor  in  May,  1845,  and  con- 
tinued until  February.  lS-">2.  A  writer,  in  estimating  the  results 
of  his  enthusiastic,  /ealous  and  wise  ministry,  said.  "With  his 
pastorate  began  a  n-'W  era  of  prosperity  in  the  church.  He  was 


Mn.  G.  ('.  RHODEKICK, 
Middletmvn,  Md. 


MR.  SAMUEL  DEKR, 
Middletown,  Md. 


remarkable  in  this  that  in  everything  he  undertook  he  engaged 
all  the  powers  of  his  noble  mind,  all  the  emotions  of  his  soul,  and 
the  resolution  of  his  unconquerable  will."  Dr.  Ilorine  said  of 
him,  "the  influence  of  his  godly  life,  his  clear  scriptural  preach- 
ing, his  fervid  appeals  to  sinners,  his  sound  doctrinal  views  of 
divine  truth  led  to  several  true  revivals  of  religion."  They  were 
characterized  by  deep  solemnity,  true  contriteness  of  heart,  and 
an  earnest  desire  to  know  the  will  of  God.  and  submit  to  Christ 
the  only  Saviour  and  Lord.  He  also  made  faithful,  intelligent 
and  conscientious  use  of  the  catechism  in  training  the  mind  and 
heart  in  the  truths  of  the  Christian  religion.  Dr.  G.  Diehl,  in 
speaking  of  the  spiritual  fervor  of  his  ministry,  calls  him  "a 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  371 

flaming  preacher."  In  every  respect  his  ministry  was  a  great 
blessing  to  the  charge.  His  resignation  to  become  the  first  pres- 
ident of  Roanoke  College,  in  Virginia,  filled  the  congregation  with 
deep  sorrow  and  the  entire  community  with  unfeigned  regret. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Rosenberg  became  his  successor  and  continued  his 
ministry  for  less  than  a  year,  from  December  1,  1852,  to  Septem- 
ber 27,  1853. 

Rev.  John  McCron,  D.D.,  a  man  of  pleasing  and  captivating 
eloquence,  was  pastor  for  eighteen  months,  from  November  27, 
1853,  to  August,  1855.  The  church  services  were  well  attended 
and  the  congregation  enjoyed  prosperity. 

Rev.  P.  Rizer  followed,  in  a  pastorate  of  two  years,  from  Oc- 
tober, 1855,  to  August.  1857.  which  was  marked  by  devoted 
earnestness  and  quiet  dignity. 

Rev.  Charles  M.  Klink,  the  next  pastor,  produced  a  decided  in- 
fluence in  the  congregation.  There  were  numerous  additions  to 
the  church.  Gifted  with  popular  eloquence  and  very  practical 
ideas,  he  possessed  the  happy  faculty  of  unlocking  the  hearts,  and 
loosening  the  purse  strings  of  the  people.  He  was  just  the  man 
to  build  the  present  splendid  church.  His  ministry  continued 
from  October,  1857,  to  1861. 

Rev.  Lloyd  Knight  became  pastor  December  29,  1861,  and  re- 
signed in  1862. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Strobel,  D.D.,  entered  upon  his  work  as  pastor 
April  10,  1863,  and  continued  until  June,  1867.  It  seems  pecu- 
liarly providential  that  this  venerable  minister  of  Christ  should 
be  the  pastor  during  the  disturbed  period  of  the  Civil  War.  By 
his  prudence,  Christian  culture,  sound  judgment  and  patience, 
he  was  an  example  of  true  Christian  charity  and  forbearance  in 
the  midst  of  the  alienations  produced  by  divergent  political  views. 
He  held  together  the  congregation  as  perhaps  no  one  else  could 
have  done. 

Rev.  M.  J.  Alleman  became  his  successor  from  May  1,  1868,  to 
April  2,  1869.  He  was  an  able  and  impressive  preacher  of  the 
Gospel. 

Rev.  Daniel  Steck,  D.D.,  became  pastor  September  1,  1870,  and 
served  the  church  with  much  acceptance  until  March,  1875.  He 
was  a  very  eloquent  preacher. 

Rev.  Jacob  Hawkins,  D.D.,  filled  a  brief  but  acceptable  min- 
istry from  April  15,  1875,  to  April,  1876. 

Rev.  L.  A.  Mann  became  pastor  April  25,  1876,  and  continued 
until  1887.  His  ministry  was  abundantly  successful  in  the  ma- 
terial interests  and  religious  development  of  the  congregation. 

Rev.  P.  Bergstresser,  D.D..  followed  in  a  ministry  extending 


372  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

from  1887  to  April  1.  1893.  His  ministry  was  earnest  and  ac- 
tive and  resulted  in  permanent  good  to  the  congregation. 

Key.  M.  L.  Heard  served  the  congregation  from  October  15, 
1893.  to  August  31.  190(5.  This  long  ministry  was  fraught  with 
useful  service,  the  crowning  achievement  of  which  was  the  dedi- 
cation on  November  26.  1899.  of  extensive  interior  improvements, 
full  altar  equipment  and  splendid  pipe  organ;  total  cost  $8.000. 

Rev.  AYilliam  E.  Hrown  became  pastor  May  1,  1907.  and  con- 
tinued to  October  1.  1910.  His  pastorate  marked  the  elimination 
of  a  $2.500  debt  and  the  modernizing  of  the  Sunday  school  room. 

Rev.  Josaver  AV.  Gent/ler  succeeded  Rev.  Brown  and  served 
from  November  1.  1910.  to  June  1,  1914. 

Rev.  \Yilmer  A.  Hartman  came  to  the  h'eld  November  3.  1914. 
His  ministry  was  made  memorable  by  the  celebration  of  the  con- 
gregation's one  hundred  seventy-fifth  anniversary  in  1915.  Also 
he  planned  and  began  lighting  and  other  improvements  for  the 
church  building  and  desirable  changes  and  additions  to  the  par- 
sonage, lie  greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  people  and  his  death 
January  26.  1918,  created  profound  and  widespread  sorrow. 

Rev.  Charles  M.  Teufel,  the  present  pastor,  assumed  the  work 
August  9,  1918. 

Zion  Church  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  long  list  of  her 
devoted  sons  who  have  entered  the  ministry,  as  follows:  Rev. 
C.  E.  Derr.  Ph.D..  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr.  Rev.  O.  C.  Dean,  Rev.  R.  A. 
Fink.  D.I)..  Rev.  D.  H.  Floyd.  D.I)..  Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges.  Rev.  II.  A. 
Koogle,  Rev.  W.  C.  Mann,  Rev.  \V.  G.  Minnich,  Rev.  Carl  E. 
Mumford,  Rev.  W.  L.  Remsburg,  Rev.  I).  \V.  Smith.  D.D..  Rev. 
M.  L.  Smith,  Rev.  C.  M.  Wachter.  Rev.  J.  J.  Welch,  Rev.  II.  L. 
AVile,  D.D.,  Rev.  M.  L.  Young,  Ph.D.,  Rev.  Fuller  Bergstresser. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
MYERSVILLE,  MD. 

l\i  v.  Janus  Willis, 


This  congregation  was  organized  October  25.  185;").  and  the  next 
year  became  a  part  of  what  was  then  known  as  the  St.  John's 
charge,  composed  of  St.  John's  and  Wolfsville  churches.  It  was 
a  branch,  growing  out  of  St.  John's  church,  having  its  inception 
in  an  informal  meeting  in  a  room  over  the  store  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Hrown.  Having  resolved  to  organize,  the  four  men  present  at 
this  meeting  at  once  pledged  themselves  to  give  together  $1.200 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


373 


toward  the  erection  of  a  church.  Their  proposition  met  with  the 
cordial  endorsement  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  C.  Start/men.  The 
organization  was  completed  with  forty-five  charter  members. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  church  was  laid  in  July,  185,1,  ;uid  the 
church  was  dedicated  in  November  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  B. 
Kurtz,  D.D.,  preached  the  sermon.  The  entire  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  $3,100.  In  April,  1872,  the  church  was  totally  destroyed 
by  fire.  Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  rebuild.  The  church,  a 
brick  structure,  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $7.000.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  in  June,  1873,  and 
the  church  was  dedicated  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  George 
Diehl,  D.D.,  preaching  the  sermon. 
The  pastor  at  this  time  was  Rev. 
J.  J.  Kerr. 

On  September  25,  1896,  the  con- 
gregation again  suffered  a  severe 
loss.  A  storm  unroofed  the 
church,  blew  down  a  portion  of 
the  west  wall,  and  otherwise 
caused  considerable  damage.  The 
church  was  immediately  repaired 
and  improved  at  an  expense  of 
$700.  At  the  same  time,  at  the  in- 
stance of  the  pastor,  Rev.  W.  L. 
Remsberg,  a  Moller  pipe  organ 
was  placed  in  the  church.  The 
high  pulpit  was  replaced  by  a 

much  smaller  and  neater  pulpit  stand ;  also  a  small  and  inade- 
quate choir  gallery  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit.  The 
total  cost  of  building,  rebuilding,  repairs  and  furnishings  of  St. 
Paul's  church  while  connected  with  the  St.  John  pastorate  was 
$11,390. 

At  a  joint  council  meeting  called  to  secure  a  pastor  to  succeed 
Rev.  W.  L.  Remsberg,  who  had  resigned  November  17,  1902,  the 
council  of  St.  Paul's  church,  firmly  believing  that  the  pastor 
should  reside  in  Myersville  rather  than  at  St.  John's  church  in 
the  country,  proposed  that  this  change  be  made.  This  was  strong- 
ly and  positively  opposed  and  rejected  by  the  councils  of  St. 
John's  and  Wolfsville.  Whereupon,  at  a  meeting  of  the  council 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  of  Myersville,  held  April  6,  1903,  it  Avas 
resolved  to  withdraw  from  the  St.  John  pastorate  and  form  a 
separate  pastorate.  This  resolution  was  ratified  by  the  congrega- 
tion April  25,  1903,  there  being  only  two  dissenting  votes.  Rev. 


Ricv.  JAMES  WIMJS. 


•'574  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

W.  II.  Settlemeyer  was  engaged  to  supply  until  a  regular  pastor 
could  bo  secured.  St.  Paul's  church,  of  Myersville,  was  there- 
after entered  in  the  minutes  of  the  Synod  as  the  Myersville  pas- 
torate. 

As  a  separate  pastorate  the  congregation  at  once  erected  a 
commodious  parsonage  now  worth  $4.000.  Rev.  E.  O.  Bregenzer 
accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor. 

In  1910  the  audience  room  was  covered  with  Brussels  carpet 
and  the  basement  Sunday  school  room  was  enlarged  to  the  full 
size  of  the  building — (50  by  40  feet — reseated  and  greatly  beauti- 
fied. The  expenditures  in  this  connection  amounted  to  $3,650. 

In  1916  improvements  were  made  in  both  the  church  and  the 
Sunday  school  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $3.500. 

The  membership  now  on  the  roll  is  two  hundred  fifty.  In  the 
meanwhile  the  grim  reaper  has  been  gathering  from  within  a 
goodly  number.  The  pastorate  has  a  well-organized  Sunday 
school  of  one  hundred  ninety-five,  of  which  the  Primary  Depart- 
ment of  thirty-five  members  is  a  part.  Mr.  G.  W.  Bittle  is  the 
superintendent.  Christian  Endeavor,  both  Senior  and  Junior, 
have  been  active  in  supporting  mission  workers  in  India.  To 
these  church  and  missionary  workers  should  be  added  the  Ladies' 
Missionary  and  Mite  Societies,  two  most  valuable  aids. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  C.  Startzman,  from  January,  1854. 
until  July,  I860.  His  ministry  was  fruitful  in  much  good  to  the 
charge.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill,  whose  pas- 
torate continued  until  December.  1862.  On  January  1,  1863, 
Rev.  C.  Startzman  was  recalled  and  served  the  charge  until  No- 
vember 17.  1866.  Rev.  Hiram  Knodle  became  pastor  in  .July. 
1867,  and  closed  his  labors  January  5.  1872.  Rev.  J.  J.  Ken- 
became  pastor  in  1872  and  resigned  in  1875.  Rev.  J.  C.  Forsythe 
was  pastor  from  December,  1875.  to  December,  1878.  The  next 
pastor.  Rev.  II.  G.  Bower,  began  his  ministry  in  March,  1879,  and 
closed  it  in  March,  1882.  That  of  Rev.  A.  M.  Smith  began  June 
25,  1882.  and  continued  to  September,  1895.  Rev.  W.  L.  Rems- 
berg  began  his  labors  June  1,  1896,  and  closed  them  November  17, 
1902.  He  was  the  last  to  serve  the  charge  as  originally  consti- 
tuted. 

Rev.  W.  II.  Settlemeyer  supplied  the  pulpit  from  June,  1903, 
to  October  11,  1903.  Rev.  O.  E.  Bregenzer  became  the  first  reg- 
ular pastor  of  St.  Paul's  as  a  separate  pastorate  October  18,  1903. 
He  resigned  September  30,  1905.  It  was  during  his  pastorate 
that  the  comfortable  eight-roomed  parsonage  was  built.  The  Rev. 
James  Willis,  the  present  minister  in  charge,  became  pastor  Feb- 
ruary 25.  1906,  and  has  served  longer  than  any  preceding  pastor. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


375 


What  is  now  the  Myersville  pastorate,  during:  her  connection 
with  the  St.  John's  pastorate  and  during  her  life  as  a  separate 
charge  has  enjoyed  the  services  of  ten  ministers  covering  a  period 
of  sixty-five  years.  In  return  she  has  given  to  the  ministry,  the 
Rev.  J.  Lawson  Smith,  D.D.,  deceased,  who  became  one  of  the 
leading  ministers  of  the  old  Pennsylvania  Synod ;  Rev.  W.  S. 
T.  Metzger,  now  pastor  of  Glenn  Gardner,  New  Jersey;  Rev. 
John  L.  Metzger,  who,  having  served  the  Salemsberg,  Besserville. 
Pembroke,  and  Rebersburg  charges,  all  of  Pennsylvania,  fell 
asleep  April  28,  1917,  and  Rev.  II.  L.  Zimmerman,  pastor  of 
Mount  Morris,  Illinois. 

Rev.  D.  F.  Bittle,  D.D.,  founder  of  Roanoke  College,  and  Rev. 
Ezra  Keller,  D.D.,  founder  of  Wittenberg  College,  were  born  and 
reared  within  the  boundaries  of  what  is  now  the  Myersville  pas- 
torate. 


JERUSALEM  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BACHMAX'S  VALLEY,  MD. 

(NORTH  CARROLL,  CHARGE  ) 


When  St.  Matthew's,  of  Han- 
over, swarmed  in  1760,  Immanuel 
Clinch,  of  Manchester,  was  organ- 
ixed.  Thirty-seven  years  later 
another  swarm  resulted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  Jerusalem  Church 
in  Bachman  Valley.  This  church 
was  first  known  as  the  Bowers' 
Church,  after  the  donor  of  the 
land  for  the  church;  later  as  the 
Bachman 's  Church,  after  a  lead- 
ing family. 

The  church  is  the  joint  prop- 
erty of  the  Reformed  and  the  Lu- 
theran congregations,  which  wor- 
ship each  alternate  Sunday.  It 
is  a  very  neat  and  roomy  sanctu- 
ary, with  a  splendidly  lighted 
basement  for  Sunday  school  and 


MR.  JOHN  D.  SCHAEFFER, 
Westminster,  Md. 


social  purposes.  The  building  committee  was  William  Bachman, 
Lutheran,  and  P.  H.  L.  Myers,  Reformed,  with  Joseph  Slagle,  of 
Hanover,  as  builder. 


This 
prime. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

congregation    has   enjoyed    singular    prosperity    in    her 
The  type  and  character  of  her  members  residing  in  the 

valley  made  her  a  pow- 
er for  the  kingdom. 
The  membership  was 
substantial  in  members 
and  finance.  The  fate, 
however,  of  many  rural 
churches  is  approach- 
ing this  one.  Many  of 
the  land  owners  have 
lemoved  both  residence 
and  membership,  and 
the  tenants,  more  tran- 
sient, return  in  their 
autos  to  the  home 
church. 

With  the  severance 
of  pastoral  relations 
with  Manchester  and 
the  organization  into  a 
new  charge  with  Line- 
boro only,  comes  the 
promise  of  increased 


JEKVSALEM  CHUKCH,  BACHMAN'S  VALLEY,  Mn. 
(Carroll  County.) 


prosperity  and  more  thorough  spiritual  oversight  and  ministra- 
tion for  Jerusalem  Church. 


LAZARUS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
LIXEI5ORO,  MI). 

(NORTH  CARROLL  CHARGE.) 

The  North  Carroll  charge  is  the  most  recent  inter-congrega- 
tional development  in  the  Maryland  Synod.  The  congregations 
constituting  this  charge.  Lineboro  and  Hachman's.  until  the  con- 
vention of  Synod  in  1919.  belonged  to  the  Manchester  charge. 
For  some  years,  however,  it  had  been  felt  that  the  growing  field 
at  Lineboro  ought  to  have  more  pastoral  attention  and  more  serv- 
ices than  the  arrangements  with  Manchester  permitted.  At  the 
same  time  it  was  felt  that  the  Manchester  church  could  well  use 
all  the  time  and  energy  of  a  pastor.  Accordingly,  in  July.  1919. 
Manchester  voted  to  sever  her  pastoral  relationship  with  Line- 
boro and  Hachman's.  These  two  congregations  shortly  thereafter 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


377 


concurred  in  this  action  of  the  Manchester  church,  and  insisted 
that  the  severance  of  relations  take  place  as  soon  as  the  Synod 
would  give  assent.  Thus  at  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1919  the 
North  Carroll  charge  was  officially  constituted. 

The  corner  stone  of  Lazarus  Church  was  placed  September  25. 
1853.  The  building  committee  was  V.  B.  Wentz,  John  Kroh,  and 
George  Grove.  The  brick  structure  was  rapidly  carried  to  com- 
pletion and  shortly  thereafter  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congre- 


LAZARUS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  LINEBOKO,  MD. 

gations  were  organized  at  Lineboro  by  the  pastors  of  their  re- 
spective denominations  at  Manchester. 

In  1908  the  old  church  was  razed  and  a  new  one  was  erected. 
The  building  committee  this  time  was  0.  B.  Wentz,  J.  V.  Wentz, 
and  J.  F.  Warner.  The  church  was  dedicated  December  20,  1908. 

The  building  is  jointly  owned  by  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
congregations.  The  structure  is  of  brick,  with  Indiana  limestone 
trimmings.  The  style  is  Gothic,  the  dimensions  65  by  9714  feet, 
and  the  shape  cruciform.  The  building  is  heated  with  steam,  is 
illuminated  with  gas  supplied  by  its  own  gasolene  plant,  and  its 
roof  is  of  slate.  Three  beautiful  windows,  each  ten  by  fifteen 
feet,  throw  a  flood  of  light  from  the  thres  large  gables,  and  there 
is  another  fine  window  in  the  gable  of  the  Sunday  school  depart- 
ment. All  these  windows,  together  with  the  smaller  ones,  are  of 


:>>78 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOD. 


cathedral  and  opalescent  glass.  The  tower,  through  which  is  the 
main  entrance,  is  twelve  by  twelve  feet,  and  is  furnished  with  a 
tine  1,435-pound  MeShane  bell.  The  main  audience  room  is  forty 
by  sixty-five  feet,  exclusive  of  the  sanctuary,  in  which  is  placed  a 
fine  altar,  with  reredos.  The  pews  are  circular,  heavy  and  "de- 
lightfully comfortable."  and  will  seat  three  hundred  fifty.  The 
Sunday  school  room  is  separated  by  folding  doors,  and  will  seat 
four  hundred,  which  makes  the  total  seating  capacity  seven  hun- 


Mii.  CHAULES  IT.  TRACY, 
Linoboro,  M<1. 


MK.  HORATIO  T.  WENT/., 
Liiu'boro,  Md. 


d red  fifty.  Iii  addition,  there  is  a  Primary  Sunday  School  De- 
partment, pastor's  room  and  choir  alcove.  The  total  cost  of  the 
church  was  about  $15.000,  all  of  which  was  provided  for  before 
the  day  of  dedication,  except  the  small  sum  of  $900.  An  appeal 
made  for  this  amount  resulted  in  an  offering  of  $1,40(5.  Dr.  J.  A. 
Singmaster,  of  our  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and  Dr.  William  C. 
Schaeffer.  of  Lancaster.  Pennsylvania,  delivered  the  dedicatory 
addresses. 

This  congregation  has  given  two  of  her  sons  to  the  Lutheran 
ministry,  namely:  Rev.  Professor  Abdel  Ross  "Went/,  Ph.  1).,  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and  Rev.  Charles  A. 
Shilke.  pastor  of  the  I'tica  charge  in  this  Synod. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


379 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  PLEASANT 
HILL  FREDERICK  COUNTY.  MD. 

Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges,  Pastor. 

The  corner  stone  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  at  Pleasant 
Hill,  was  laid  in  1882.  The  Rev.  Dr.  George  Diehl,  of  Frederick, 
performed  the  official  act,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eshbaugh.  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  assisting.  The  present  pastor  made  the  address 
on  that  occasion.  The  church  has  from  the  beginning  b?en  a 
union  of  Lutherans  and  Re- 
formed. The  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion did  not  unite  with  the  Mary- 
land Synod  until  some  years  after 
the  church  had  been  built. 

Mr.  William  Feaga  donated  the 
site  for  the  church  building  and 
took  great  interest  in  its  erection. 
He  afterwards  became  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation. 

The  church  is  located  on  a  beau- 
tiful elevation  in  the  Frederick 
Valley.  It  is  on  the  turnpike  from 
Frederick  to  Yellow  Springs,  and 
about  four  miles  distant  from 
Frederick  City.  The  appropriate 
name  of  "Pleasant  Hill"  was  sug- 
gested by  Dr.  Diehl. 

For  some  years  after  the  con- 
gregation was  organized  it  was  served  by  Dr.  Diehl  and  his  suc- 
cessors in  the  Lutheran  church  in  Frederick.  Then  the  Rev.  S. 
A.  Hedges  took  charge  of  the  congregation.  It  ceased  to  be  an 
out-station  of  the  Frederick  church,  and  became  an  independent 
congregation.  As  such  it  united  with  the  Maryland  Synod. 

When  Pastor  Hedges  began  to  serve  the  church  its  members 
numbered  twenty -two.  To-day  they  number  between  forty  and 
fifty.  Lutheran  services  are  held  only  every  two  weeks. 


RKV.  S.  A.  HEDGES. 


.'•SO  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOO. 

ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  rilURril, 
SAHILLASVILLK,  MI). 

/MI-.  Charles  Keincwalrl.  D.D.,  I'nslor. 

Tliis  congregation  was  organi/ed  in  1892.  Rev.  J.  II.  Barb, 
then  pastor  at  Thnrinont.  began  holding  religions  services  iu  the 
home  of  Mr.  Levi  Lichtenberger.  Tims  was  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation. 

As  the  number  of  worshippers  increased  the  use  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  was  secured  for  a  time.  Soon  after  this  steps 
were  taken  to  build  a  house  of  (heir  own.  In  1893  the  present 
brick  structure  was  erected.  It  was  dedicated  in  May  of  that 
year.  Rev.  II.  II.  Weber,  D.I).,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon 
and  solicited  the  funds  yet  needed  to  complete  the  payment  of 
the  building.  The  entire  cost  of  the  structure  was  $3,000.  The 
Church  Extension  Society  gave  a  loan  of  $400  and  this  amount 
was  finally  donated  to  the  little  village  congregation. 

Rev.  Harb.  who  began  the  work,  removed  from  Thurmont  in 
1896.  Until  this  date,  with  some  assistance  from  Rev.  Charles 
Reinewald,  of  Emmitsburg,  he  was  the  supply  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation at  Sabillasville.  On  March  1.  1896.  Rev.  Reinewald 
began  to  serve  the  congregation  and  continued  to  do  so  until 
December,  1897.  when  Rev.  \V.  S.  T.  Met/ger.  of  Thurmont,  took 
charge  of  Sabillasville  in  connection  with  his  Thurmont  pastorate, 
lie  was  aided  also  from  time  to  time  by  students  from  the  Gettys- 
burg Seminary. 

In  1903  Rev.  Charles  Reinewald  was  again  called  by  the  con- 
gregation to  assume  its  pastoral  charge  in  connection  with  his 
pastorate  at  Emmitsburg.  This  charge  he  has  faithfully  carried 
from  that  date  to  the  present. 

Services  are  held  on  alternate  Sunday  afternoons  and  require 
a  drive  of  eighteen  miles  on  the  part  of  the  pastor.  The  congre- 
gation numbers  sixty-six  confirmed  members  and  a  fair-sixed 
Sunday  school.  Among  the  chief  workers  of  the  congregation 
was  Dr.  Charles  L.  "Wachter.  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Michael  AVach- 
ter.  Other  earnest  and  faithful  workers  to  be  named  are  Thomas 
F.  Eyler.  Levi  Lichtenberger.  Charles  E.  Dutrow.  Samuel  Dut- 
row,  Maurice  E.  Schaeffer,  Lewis  I).  Crawford,  John  (Jladhill, 
Charles  (jlargner.  and  James  Poole.  Some  of  these  brethren  have 
passed  to  their  eternal  reward.  The  congregation  draws  its  mem- 
bership also  from  Blue  Ridge  Summit  and  Deerfield.  Tin1  church 
has  been  characterized  by  faithfulness  and  loyalty  to  the  Mas- 
ter's service. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


381 


ST.  BENJAMIN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  NEAR 
WESTMINSTER,  Ml). 

(SALEM  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Stephen  Tmvct',  I'aslor. 

Salem  charge  is  composed  of  St.  Benjamin's,  next  to  the  old- 
est congregation  in  Carroll  County,  and  St.  John's  organi/ed 
nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century  later. 

St.  Benjamin's  church  was  built  on  ground  donated   for  the 
purpose   by   a   man   named   Greyder   and    later   corrupted    into 
K rider,  by  which  name  the  church 
is  commonly  known  to-day.     It  is 
located  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  northwest  of  Westminster. 

The  date  of  organixation  was 
August  12,  1761.  Early  in  1763 
the  members  of  the  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  congregations  united  in 
building  a  log  church,  which  was 
used  until  1809. 

In  1809  the  two  congregations 
built  a  two-story  brick  church, 
which  continued  to  be  used  until 
1890,  a  period  of  eighty-one  years. 
Then,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
J.  U.  Asper,  the  Lutherans  built 
a  new  church  of  their  own  at  a 
cost  of  $4,500. 

The  church  was  at  one  time  a 

part  of  the  Manchester  charge,  at  one  time  a  part  of  the  Union- 
town  charge,  and  later  a  part  of  the  Westminster  charge.  Since 
1887  it  has  been  a  part  of  the  Salem  charge. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the  church  :  Rev.  Christian 
Wildbahn,  November  23,  1777;  Rev.  Frederick  Gerresheim,  June 
16.  1782;  Rev.  John  A.  Rudisill,  June  5.  1813;  Hev.  Henry 
Graber  (resided  at  Uniontown),  1821;  Rev.  Jacob  Albert  (re- 
sided at  Manchester),  1831;  Rev.  Jeremiah  Harpel  (resided  at 
Manchester),  1838;  Rev.  Philip  Willard  (resided  at  Westmin- 
ster), 1842-1845;  Rev.  Cornelius  Riemensnyder,  1846-1850;  Rev. 
John  Winter,  1850-1853;  Rev.  Samuel  Henry,  1853-1859;  Rev. 
Jacob  Martin,  1860-1863;  Rev.  II.  C.  Ilolloway,  1863-1868;  Rev. 


KEV.  STEPHEN  TRAVER. 


382  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

O.  A.  Stroble.  18(58-1869;  Rev.  J.  A.  Earnest,  1870-1878;  Rev. 
II.  W.  Kuhns.  1878-1887;  Rev.  J.  U.  Asper.  1887-1891;  Rev.  S. 
A.  Diehl.  1891-1902;  Rev.  R.  W.  Doty.  1902-1912;  Rev.  W.  F. 
Hcrsh,  I!>12-l<n6;  Rev.  Stephen  Traver,  1916-1920. 

The  Rev.  A.  0.  Null,  of  Ellieott  City.  Maryland,  is  a  son  of 
St.  Benjamin's. 


ST.   .JOHN'S   LUTHERAN   TIITHm,   XKAK 
WESTMINSTER,  MI). 

(SALEM  CHARGE.) 
h'ci'.  Stephen  T rarer,  I'astor. 

St.  John's  Church  grew  out  of  a  revival  held  at  Abbott's  school 
house,  a  short  distance  from  the  church,  by  Rev.  Philip  Willard, 
in  184M  or  1S44. 

The  congregation  was  organi/ed  February  11,  1844,  with  h'fty- 
two  members,  prominent  among  whom  were  the  Leisters,  Shar- 
rers,  Zimmermans.  Houcks.  Zinkams,  Derrs.  Zepps,  Weeklys, 
Iloffmans.  and  Schaeffers. 

The  land  was  given  by  Daniel  Leister  and  John  Reese.  The 
church  is  often  popularly  known  as  Leister's  church. 

The  church  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  1845.  It  was  re- 
paired in  1864.  when  it  was  reroofed.  plastered,  weather-boarded 
and  painted.  The  congregation  was  a  part  of  the  Westminster 
charge  until  1886,  when  Grace  Church.  Westminster,  having  de- 
termined to  support  a  pastor,  St.  John's  and  St.  Benjamin's, 
with  the  sanction  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  united  in  forming  the 
Salem  charge.  A  new  church  was  built  in  1898  at  a  cost  of  $5.000. 

St.  John's  has  sent  one  son  into  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  J.  E. 
Lowe.  Jr.,  of  Brookville,  Pennsylvania. 

The  two  churches  own  a  very  modern  parsonage  in  West- 
minster. There  is  a  joint  membership  of  five  hundred  fifty  mem- 
bers in  the  charge.  The  same  pastors  that  served  St.  Benjamin's 
served  St.  John's  from  Rev.  Philip  Willard  to  the  present. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


383 


ST.  MARY-S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
SILVER  RUX,  MD. 

(SILVER  RUN  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  A.  G.  Wolf,  Pastor. 

The  Silver  Run  charge  is  composed  of  St.  Mary's,  at  Silver 
Run,  and  St.  Matthew's,  at  Pleasant  Valley,  both  of  which  places 
are  small  country  villages.  The  data  necessary  to  a  sketch  of 
these  congregations  is  exceedingly  meagre;  and  there  are  no 
records  from  which  the  necessary  information  can  be  obtained. 

St.  Mary's  is  a  beautiful  church  edifice,  modern  in  all  its  ar- 
rangements, one  of  the  most  handsome  in  the  State,  and  stands  as 
a  monument  to  the  enterprise  and 
devotion  of  the  pastor  and  the 
congregation.  It  is  the  first  ex- 
clusively Lutheran  church  ever 
built  at  the  place. 

The  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
congregations  worshipped  togeth- 
er until  1893,  when  the  Reformed 
dedicated  an  elegant  church,  cost- 
ing many  thousands  of  dollars. 
The  Lutherans  tried  in  vain  to  sell 
their  interests  in  the  joint  prop- 
erty of  the  Reformed,  and  also  to 
buy  from  the  sister  church.  Fail- 
ing to  secure  the  old  site,  where 
they  had  gone  so  many  years,  and 
which  they  were  loathe  to  leave, 
the  Lutherans  finally  purchased  a 
corner  lot,  and  with  united  effort 

and  generosity  have  accomplished  what  seemed  almost  impos- 
sible, namely,  the  erection  of  so  desirable,  beautiful  and  costly  an 
edifice. 

The  Lutheran  congregation  was  organixed  May  31,  1762.  under 
Rev.  George  Bager.  The  first  church,  a  log  structure,  was  erected 
jointly  by  the  Reformed  and  Lutherans  in  17(58.  In  this  rude 
structure  the  two  congregations  worshipped  until  it  was  replaced 
by  a  brick  church  in  1822. 

After  seventy-two  years  of  united  worship  in  this  second 
church,  the  two  congregations  having  attained  a  membership  of 
nine  hundred,  it  was  decided  to  separate.  TTence  the  two  churches. 


REV.  A.  G.  WOLF. 


384 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


On  July  14.  1894.  the  Lutherans  laid  the  corner  stone  for  their 
new  church,  on  their  new  location  in  Silver  Rim,  and  two  years 
later,  December  21.  1896.  it  was  dedicated  free  from  debt.  The 
property  as  a  whole  represented  an  expenditure  of  perhaps  $30,- 
000.  The  indefatigable  pastor,  the  Rev.  Herman  C.  Fultz,  sup- 
ported by  such  men  as  K.  Z.  Mathias.  William  Yinglinjj.  Josiah 
Lawyer.  Samuel  Kesselring,  and  many  others,  made  possible  the 
erection  of  this  beautiful  edifice. 

During  the  pastorale  of  Rev.  J.   L.  Hoffman  the  church  was 


ST.  MARY'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  SILVER  RUN,  MD. 

completely  renovated,  interior  and  exterior,  at  an  expenditure  of 
about  $3.000. 

The  pastoral  succession  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  is  as 
follows:  Rev.  George  Ba^er,  1762;  Rev.  John  Herbst.  1797; 
Rrv.  Henry  (Jrabcr.  1820;  Rev.  John  Grobp,  1825;  Rev.  Jacob 
Albert,  1827;  Rev.  -Jeremiah  Harple.  1837;  Rev.  l».  Scheurer, 
1842;  R<-v.  Samuel  Henry.  1859;  Rev.  M.  .1.  Alleman,  1869; 
Rev.  J.  A.  Lake.  1875;  Rev.  M.  J.  Alleman.  1877;  Rev.  ().  C. 
Roth.  1878;  Rev.  P.  Scheeder.  1884;  Rev.  II.  C.  Fult/.  1887; 
Rev.  W.  H.  Earhart.  1896;  Rev.  II.  I).  Newcomer,  1904;  Rev. 
J.  O.  Yoder.  1905;  Rev.  J.  L.  Hoffman.  1912;  Rev.  A.  G.  Wolf. 
1917. 

This  congregation  was  taken  by  a  German  minister  then  serv- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


385 


ing  them,  into  Western  Pennsylvania  Synod,  in  1845;  but  being 
in  Maryland  it  returned  to  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1878. 

Two  Sunday  school  superintendents  are  living,  Claude  Lawyer 
and  G.  \V.  Yeiser,  the  present  incumbent.  In  addition  to  being 
superintendent  for  two  years,  Mr.  Lawyer  has  been  in  the  council 
for  many  years,  and  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Yeiser  has 
been  in  the  council  and  Sunday  school  superintendent  for  quar- 
ter of  a  century  at  different  periods.  He  organized  the  County 
Sunday  School  Association  and  was  its  president  for  thirteen 


MR.  GEORGE  AV.  YEISER, 
Silver  Run,  Md. 


MR   CLAUDE  LAWYER, 
Silver  Run,  Md. 


years ;  he  organized  the  temperance  forces  of  Carroll  County  and 
was  their  chairman  in  two  hard  campaigns,  through  which  the 
saloons  of  the  county  were  closed.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
Bible  lands.  He  was  twice  delegated  by  the  Maryland  Synod  to 
the  General  Synod  and  is  now  Sunday  school  field  worker  of  the 
Middle  Conference. 

St.  Mary's  for  many  years  has  believed  in  efficiency  through 
organization  and  adopts  all  progressive  methods  in  her  council 
and  in  her  Sunday  school  board.  She  has  two  sons  in  the  min- 
istry. Rev.  George  Bowersox,  of  Shrewsbury,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Rev.  Grover  Knipple. 


25 


386 


HISTORY  OF  .MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ST.  MATTHEW'S  LUTHERAN  rilUKrH, 
PLEASANT  VALLEY,  MARYLAND. 

(SllA'KR    RlN    (1IIAR(1E.) 

ltn\  .1.  (i.  Wolf.  I'aslor. 

The  village  of  Pleasant  Valley  is  three  and  one-half  miles  from 
Silver  Hun  and.  like  the  village  of  Silver  Run.  has  a  population 
of  about  one  hundred  fifty.  John  Myers.  Samuel  J.  Lawyer. 
George  Howers.  Kmanuel  Myers.  .Joseph  Itelvig,  members  of  St. 
Marv's.  were  among  the  brethren  who  saw  the  great  need  of  a 


MR.  JOHN  F.  UNTERMAHLEN, 
Pleasant  Vallcv,  Md. 


Mi:.  .JKHEMIAH  KUHXS, 
Pleasant  Valley,  Mil. 


church  at  Pleasant  Valley  and  secured  its  organixation.  The 
congregation  is  a  union  of  Lutheran  and  Reformed. 

May  24.  1879,  the  corner  stone  was  laid,  and  on  November  30th 
of  the  same  year  the  church  was  dedicated. 

Immediately  after  the  organixation  of  St.  Matthew's  a  joint 
parsonage  was  erected  at  Silver  Run.  which  the  minister  serving 
Silver  Run  charge  always  occupies.  The  late  Rev.  ().  C.  Roth 
was  the  first  incumbent.  The  parsonage  is  a  thoroughly  modern 
and  very  comfortable  home. 

St.  Matthew's  is  a  commodious  church  edifice,  with  seating 
capacity  of  four  hundred,  exclusive  of  the  basement  Sunday 
school  room.  Recently,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  J.  L.  II off- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


387 


man.  the  pastor,  the  church  was  renovated,  interior  and  exterior, 
at  an  expenditure  of  about  $3.000.  and  is  now  really  one  of  the 
pretty,  neat,  comfortable  rural  church  edifices  of  the  Maryland 
Synod. 

The  congregation,  like  St.  Mary's,  believes  in  efficiency  through 


ST.  MATTHEW  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  PLEASANT  VALLEY,  MD. 

organization,  and  she  promptly  meets  all  her  benevolence  and 
current  expenditures. 

St.  Matthew's  has  a  large,  well-organized  Sunday  school,  under 
the  leadership  of  the  superintendent,  Upton  E.  Myers,  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  Elders — Jeremiah  Kuhns, 
John  F.  Utermahlen.  Deacons — Edward  Welk,  Claud  Myers, 
Edward  Wantz,  and  Lee  Roy  Myers. 


J588 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ST.    MARK'S  LrTIIKKAX 


RKV.  S.  J.  DEIJIJ. 


HS,  .AID. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Dcrr,  Supply  Pastor. 

St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Luther- 
an Church,  of  Snydersburg,  was 
organ  ixed  March  "2'.}.  1S7S.  by  the 
pastor  of  Manchester  Lutheran 
Church  for  the  convenience  of  the 
members  of  Immanuel  Church, 
Manchester,  residing  in  that  sec- 
tion. 

For  some  years  the  congrega- 
tion was  only  a  preaching  station 
of  the  Manchester  congregation, 
and  was  not  fully  and  inde- 
pendently organized.  Its  mem- 
bers continued  to  enjoy  some  priv- 
ileges at  the  Manchester  Church, 
such  as  rights  of  burial  and  the 
right  to  vote  for  pastor.  But  in 
course  of  time  it  secured  its  own 

burying-ground  and  as  the  older  members  passed  away  the  young- 

er  members   developed   an   inde- 

pendent congregational  existence. 
The  membership  has  never  been 

large.    The  church  building  is  the 

joint    property    of   the    Lutheran 

and    Reformed    congregations    of 

Snydersburg.     The  pastor  of  Im- 

manuel church  at  Manchester  reg- 

ularly   preached   at    Snydersburg 

once  every  four  weeks.     But  with 

the    growing    demands    upon    his 

time   and  energy   elsewhere  even 

this  one  service  monthly  seemed 

burdensome,     and     in     1917     the 

Maryland     Synod     detached    the 

Snydersburg     church     from     the 

Manchester    charge.      Since    then 

the  council  of  Immanuel  Church 

at  Manchester  has  been  providing 

the  pulpit  supplies  for  Snyders- 


MK.  L.  (J.  SXYDKK, 
Snydersburg,  Md. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  389 

burg  once  each  month,  and  these  have  generally  come  from 
Hampstead.  The  present  membership  of  St.  Mark's  is  about 
thirty. 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
SNYDERSBURG,  MD. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  XEAK 
MYERSVILLE,  MD. 

(ST.  JOHN'S  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  J.  B.  Umbergcr,  Pastor. 

St.  John 's  charge  is  composed  of  St.  John 's  Church,  located  at 
Church  Hill,  about  two  miles  north  of  Myersville,  and  Wolfsville 
Church,  about  four  miles  farther  north,  at  the  north  end  of  the 
famous  Middletown  Valley. 

The  earliest  available  records  indicate  that  St.  John's  congre- 
gation was  organized  in  1790,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  George 
Hehl,  and  a  humble  log  church  was  erected  on  a  tract  of  about 
three  acres  of  land  bought  of  Mr.  Daniel  Gaver  for  "five  pounds 
of  current  money. ' '  Rev.  Hehl  served  the  double  office  of  pastor 
and  parochial  school  teacher.  He  lived  in  a  part  of  the  school 
building  which  was  burned  while  he  occupied  it,  and  his  work 
seems  to  have  closed  with  that  event. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


There  are  some  data  indicating  that  this  school  house  had  been 
built  as  early  as  1772.  but  no  records  of  an  organized  congregation 
can  be  found. 

No  doubt  there  was  an  earlier  organization  in  the  community 
known  as  "Jerusalem."  about  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  the 
present  location  of  St.  John's  Church.  There  is  on  record  a  deed 
by  1'.  Kodenpiller.  dated  September  12S.  17S(i.  conveying  a  tract 
of  land  called  "Second  Choice"  to  Jacob  Sagasser,  an  elder  of 

the  Reformed  Church,  and  Mi- 
chael Troutman,  an  elder  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  for  the 
joint  use  of  the  two  churches.  On 
this  ground  a  church  building  was 
erected  and  a  bury  ing-ground  laid 
out  and  used  jointly  by  the  two 
churches.  There  is  frequent  ref- 
erence in  the  minutes  of  St. 
John's  council  to  the  sale  of  this 
building  and  the  old  cemetery 
there  is  still  cared  for  by  the  coun- 
cil of  St.  John's  church;  so  there 
must  have  been  an  organized  con- 
gregation, but  no  records  of  the 
organization  can  be  found. 

The  log  building  erected  in 
1790  served  as  a  place  of  worship 
until  1830.  when  it  was  torn  down 

and  the  logs  were  sold  to  Mr.  George  Hark  and  with  them  he 
built  a  dwelling  now  owned  by  Mr.  Charles  Gaver,  son  of  the 
late  Henry  Gaver.  On  or  near  the  same  site  the  present  substan- 
tial stone  structure,  with  galleries  on  three  sides,  was  built  in 
1880.  during  Rev.  Reek's  pastorate.  Having  stood  the  storms  of 
nearly  ninety  years  it  is  still  in  good  repair  and  not  a  crack  is 
to  be  seen  in  the  walls. 

St.  John's  congregation  formed  a  part  of  the  Middletown  pas- 
torate, or  at  least  was  served  by  the  Middletown  pastors  from  the 
close  of  Rev.  Ilehl's  pastorate  until  1850,  when  the  Wolfsville 
congregation  was  united  with  St.  John's,  forming  the  St.  John's 
charge,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  David  Smith,  who  served 
for  fifteen  months.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Probst,  who 
served  from  1851  to  1858.  On  the  sixteenth  of  October,  1853, 
Rev.  C.  Start/man  was  elected  pastor  and  served  until  1860.  His 
ministry  was  fruitful  of  much  good.  During  his  pastorate,  in 
1856.  St.  Paul's  congregation,  of  Myersville,  was  organized  and 


HEV.  J.  B.  UMBEKGEK. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


391 


connected  with  the  charge  and  remained  in  connection  with  it 
until  1903,  when  St.  Paul's  withdrew  and  became  the  Myersville 
pastorate,  and  St.  John's  and  Wolfsville  congregations  again 
formed  the  St.  John's  pastorate  and  continue  so  to  the  present 
time. 

Following  Rev.  Startzman,  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill  was  pastor  from 
1860  to  1862.  Then  Rev.  C.  Start/man  was  recalled  January  1, 
1863,  and  served  until  November  17.  1866.  Rev.  Hiram  Knodle 
became  pastor  in  July,  1867.  and  ceased  his  labors  January  5. 
1872.  Rev.  J.  J.  Kerr  became  pastor  in  1872  and  resigned  in 
1875.  Rev.  J.  C.  Forsythe  was  pastor  from  December  1.  187"),  to 


ST.  JOHN  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  NEAR  MYERSVILLE,  MD. 

1878.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  II.  G.  Bowers,  whose  ministry 
began  in  March,  1879,  and  closed  in  March,  1882.  The  longest 
pastorate  was  that  of  Rev.  A.  M.  Smith,  which  began  June  25, 
1882,  and  continued  to  September  25,  1895.  Then  came  Rev.  W. 
L.  Remsburg,  in  1896,  and  served  till  November,  1902.  He  was 
the  last  pastor  before  St.  Paul's  withdrew  and  formed  the  new 
pastorate  of  Myersville.  During  his  term  of  service  the  interior 
of  St.  John 's  was  rearranged  and  beautified. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Stroup  became  the  first  pastor  after  the  charge  was 
divided,  taking  charge  in  August,  1904.  and  resigning  April  1, 
1910.  During  his  pastorate  the  parsonage  was  burned,  in  1905, 


392  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

and  immediately  rebuilt,  and  the  "Wolt'sville  church  was  repaired 
and  a  vestibule  and  tower  added  at  a  cost  of  $1.100  and  reopened 
June  G.  1909. 

Rev.  AV.  I).  Nicoll  became  pastor  May  1.  1910,  and  served  not 
quite  two  years. 

Rev.  A.  II.  Burk  became  pastor  April  1,  1913.  and  served  till 
stricken  by  death  in  the  midst  of  his  label's,  March  28,  1914. 
He  had  taken  hold  of  the  work  with  energy  and  consecration  that 
promised  great  results  when  called  suddenly  to  his  home  above. 
He  drove  three  miles  to  Harmony,  taught  a  catechetical  class, 
came  home  and  passed  to  his  reward  that  same  evening. 

The  charge  was  then  vacant  till  June  15.  191  5,  when  Rev.  .J. 
B.  Umberger.  the  present  pastor,  was  called  to  the  work.  Dur- 
ing this  vacancy  it  was  supplied  by  students  from  Gettysburg 
Theological  Seminary.  Rev.  J.  G.  C.  Knipple,  a  student,  sup- 
plied the  charge  very  acceptably  during  the  vacation  of  1914. 

The  parsonage  was  built  by  St.  John's  congregation,  in  1850. 
on  a  plot  of  ground  adjoining  the  church  grounds,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600,  of  which  the  Middletown  congregation  gave  .$239.  The 
erection  of  this  parsonage  was  made  memorable  and  peculiarly 
sad  by  the  accidental  death  of  Mr.  Enos  Routxahn,  one  of  the 
most  highly  esteemed  members  of  the  church,  who  was  killed 
while  assisting  in  placing  some  heavy  timbers  in  the  building. 
During  the  past  few  years  extensive  improvements  have  been 
made  to  the  church  and  the  cemetery  and  surroundings. 

St.  John's  congregation  has  furnished  three  of  her  sons  for 
the  Gospel  ministry :  the  Rev.  J.  Elmer  Bittle,  D.D..  son  of  the 
late  T.  F.  Bittle,  and  for  many  years  Missionary  Superintendent 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod;  and  the  Rev.  Elmer  F.  Rice  and  Rev. 
Clay  E.  Rice,  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  L.  Rice,  both  of  whom  are 
now  in  the  active  ministry  and  rendering  efficient  service  in  the 
Pittsburgh  and  East  Pennsylvania  Synods,  respectively. 

From  this  community,  if  not  from  this  congregation,  came  Drs. 
Daniel  and  David  Bittle,  who  figured  so  prominently  in  the  Lu- 
theran Church  and  the  early  history  of  Roanoke  College. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


393 


WOLFSVILLE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WOLFSVILLE,  MD. 

(Si1.  JOHN'S  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  J.  B.  Umberger,  Pastor. 

The  early  records  of  the  Wolfsville  Church  are  very  meager 
and  deficient.  But  from  the  information  available  it  seems  to 
have  been  organized  by  Rev.  C.  C.  Culler,  then  pastor  of  the 
Funkstown  charge,  in  1845,  with  forty  members,  and  remained 
in  connection  with  the  Funkstown  charge  until  1850,  when  it 


WOLFSVILLE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WOLFSVILLE,  MD. 

was  connected  with  St.  John's,  forming  the  St.  John's  charge. 
The  church  was  built  in  1847.  In  August,  1912,  it  was  unroofed 
and -otherwise  damaged  by  a  storm.  After  being  repaired  and  re- 
roofed  with  metal  roofing  it  was  again  reopened  March  2,  1913, 
Rev.  Null  officiating.  The  repairs  cost  $400. 

From  this  congregation  the  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Stotelmyer  entered 
the  Gospel  ministry. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
TAXEYTOWN,  MI). 

If i  r.  L.  /»'.  llnfer.  I'astor. 

Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  of  Tancytown.  is  one  of  the  land- 
marks of  early  Lutheranism  in  America.  No  one  can  fix  the  date 
of  its  beginning.  Imt  it  was  certainly  not  many  years  after  the 
tii-st  Lutheran  beginnings  west  of  the  Susquehanna.  The  oldest 
record  pi-eserved  is  thai  of  a  baptism  in  17SS.  This  record  is 

made  in  a  book  which  tells  more 
definitely  the  story  of  the  church 
since  1792.  At  that  time  the  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  John  Gnenther 
\Vingandt,  and  this  is  the  first 
regular  pastorate  of  which  we 
have  definite  knowledge.  The  of- 
ficers of  the  church  at  that  time 
were  Michael  Null  and  Ulrich 
Reaver,  elders;  and  Matthew 
Shriner  and  John  Zumbrum.  dea- 
cons. The  first  three  of  these 
family  names  are  still  on  the 
church  record,  and  the  last  is  well 
remembered  in  the  community. 

The  congregation  was  first 
known  as  the  "German  Lutheran 
Congregation  of  Taneytown." 
Services  were  conducted  exclu- 
sively in  the  German  language  until  1828.  when  the  demand  for 
English  preaching  became  so  strong  that  an  English  assistant  was 
secured  for  the  pastorate.  From  that  time  until  several  years 
after  the  civil  war  both  languages  were  used,  and  now  for  nearly 
a  half  century  the  services  have  been  in  English  only. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  this  congre- 
gation was  served  by  pastors  who  were  not  resident,  but  about  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  this  became  the  center  of  a 
pastoral  charge,  which  included  at  various  periods,  Emmitsburg. 
Fountaindale.  Mount  Joy.  Baust.  Uniontown,  Winters.  Mount 
Union  and  Keysville.  Some  of  the  pastors  were  almost  entitled 
to  be  called  itinerant  missionaries,  so  faithfully  did  they  labor  to 
establish  the  church  in  all  the  surrounding  communities.  Their 
work  abides  even  to  the  present  time.  In  Taneytown  especially 


RKV. 


HAFKU. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  395 

was  there  great  success  in  gathering  people  into  the  church,  so 
that  from  the  early  records  this  appears  as  a  large  congrega- 
tion. There  are  now  about  six  hundred  seventy  confirmed 
members. 

Five  buildings  have  been  used  in  the  history  of  this  congrega- 
tion. First  the  Lutherans,  with  the  Reformed  and  Presbyterian 
congregations,  used  in  com- 
mon for  many  years  a  frame 
building  that  stood  on  ground 
which  is  now  part  of  the  Re- 
formed cemetery,  but  in  1811 
the  congregation  laid  the  cor- 
ner stone  for  a  building 
where  the  church  now  stands, 
and  two  years  later  the  struc- 
ture was  formally  dedicated. 
About  thirty  years  later  this 
building  was  remodeled  and 
enlarged.  Beginning  in  the 
fall  of  1870  a  new  church  was 
built,  and  after  more  than 
twenty-five  years  that  build- 
ing was  so  extensively  remod- 
eled, enlarged  and  improved 

as  to  give  the  present  beauti- 

f   ,          -.  -,.  i         u  REV-  EZRA  KELLER.  D.D. 

tul   and   commodious   church 

all  the  appearance  of  an  entirely  new  structure.  This  was  dedi- 
cated May  9,  1897. 

The  list  of  pastors  of  this  congregation,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, includes  eighteen:  John  G.  Wingandt,  1788-1795;  John 
F.  Ruthrauff,  1796-1799;  John  David  Young,  1800-1803;  John 
Grobp,  1803-1828;  John  X.  Hoffman,  1828-1833;  Samuel  D. 
Finekel,  1834-1837;  Ezra  Keller,  1837-1840;  Solomon  Sentman, 
1841-1858;  Levi  T.  Williams,  1858-1867;  Peter  Bergstresser, 
1867-1874;  W.  II.  Luckenbach,  1875-1878;  Samuel  G.  Finekel, 
1878-1883;  Oliver  C.  Roth.  1883-1889;  George  W.  McSherry, 
1890-1896;  D.  Frank  Garland,  1896-1899;  Charles  A.  Britt, 
1899-1904;  William  E.  Wheeler,  1904-1910;  Luther  B.  Hafer, 
since  March  1,  1911. 

Most  of  these  terms  of  service  have  been  short.  One  conspicu- 
ous exception  among  the  German  pastors  was  the  last,  Rev.  John 
Grobp,  who  served  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  then  continued  to 
live  in  the  community.  His  body  rests  in  the  cemetery  here. 
Rev.  Solomon  Sentman  was  the  most  notable  exception  among  the 


•>%  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

English  pastors,  serving  over  seventeen  years.  No  man  ever  left  a 
deeper  impression  than  he,  the  most  missionary  of  them  all.  Rev. 
E/ra  Keller  attained  distinction  as  the  founder  of  Wittenberg 
College  soon  after  leaving  Taneytown. 

In  a  history  so  long  as  that  of  this  congregation  there  have 
been,  of  course,  many  persons  whose  life  and  work  would  be 
worthy  of  mention,  but  on  account  of  the  limitation  of  space  no 
fair  individual  mention  is  possible,  so  that  we  do  not  venture  into 
that  except  to  note  the  sons  that  the  congregation  has  given  for 
the  ministry.  These,  in  chronological  order  are:  Rev.  Nathan 


TKIXITY  LUTHERAN-  CHURCH,  TAXKYTOWX,  MD. 

Cornell.  Rev.  Milton  Valentine.  D.D.,  LL.D..  Rev.  Henry  Reck. 
Rev.  John  W.  Kregle.  Rev.  Jacob  A.  Chit/.  D.D.,  and  Rev. 
Charles  AV.  Hess.  Some  of  these,  as  is  well  known,  rose  to  posi- 
tion of  eminence  in  the  church.  The  last  two  are  still  in  the  serv- 
ice. Dr.  Clutx  in  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and  Rev.  C.  W. 
Hess  an  honored  pastor  in  the  Maryland  Synod.  Besides  these, 
Daniel  E.  L.  Mehring  prepared  for  the  ministry,  but  died  in 
1856,  just  before  completing  his  course  in  the  seminary;  and 
Verle  E.  C.  Snider,  a  student  for  the  ministry  and  volunteer  for 
the  foreign  field,  laid  down  his  life  in  France,  1918. 

This  congregation  cannot  lay  claim  to  great  distinction  in  any 
particular,  but  it  can  fairly  be  said  that  in  all  its  history  it  has 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


397 


maintained  at  least  a  fair  average,  and  generally  there  has  been 
a  steady,  even,  if  not  rapid,  progress.  The  greatest  advance  in 
recent  years  has  been  in  the  matter  of  church  finances,  so  that 
the  congregation  stands  to-day  with  its  valuable  property  free  of 
debt,  with  a  good  beginning  of  an  endowment  for  the  cemetery 
fund,  with  good  balances  in  nearly  all  its  treasuries,  and  con- 
tributing much  more  largely  to  the  general  benevolences  of  the 
church  than  in  former  years.  There  is  still  room,  however,  for 
much  progress  before  the  limit  of  ability  shall  have  been  reached. 
For  a  more  satisfactory,  though  by  no  means  complete,  sketch 
of  the  history  of  this  congregation,  the  reader  is  referred  to  "A 
Brief  Sketch  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Taneytown,  Md." 
This  was  written  by  Rev.  L.  B.  Ilafer  and  was  published  by 
the  congregation  in  1911,  in  connection  with  the  celebration  of  the 
centennial  anniversary  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
first  separate  building.  Tt  is  available  by  application  to  the  pas- 
tor, or  at  the  seminary  library  at  Gettysburg. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 

THURMOXT,  MD. 

• 
Rev.  W.  C.  Waltemyer,  Pastor. 

The  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran congregation  of  Thurmont 
was  organized  about  1760.  Tile- 
first  building  was  located  about  a 
mile  northeast  of  the  town  and 
was  called  Appel's  Church.  The 
property  Avas  held  jointly  with  a 
Reformed  congregation.  Unfor- 
tunately many  of  the  early  rec- 
ords of  the  congregation  were  ac- 
cidentally destroyed,  with  the  re- 
sult that  we  have  only  a  tradi- 
tional knowledge  of  the  events  of 
those  first  years. 

In  the  year  1857  the  Lutherans 
decided  to  relinquish  their  rights 
in  the  Appel's  Church  and  build 
in  the  town  itself.  That  same 
year  a  splendid  structure  was  erected.  It  was  of  brick  and  stone, 
with  Sunday  school  rooms  in  the  basement  and  the  church  audi- 


KEV.  W.  C.  WALTE.MYEK. 


398 


HISTORY'  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOO. 


toi'ium  above.  During  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  II.  Barb. 
D.I).,  a  pipe  organ  was  installed.  In  1909,  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  late  Rev.  M.  L.  Heard,  a  new  and  larger  ehureh  building 
was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  former  one.  This  present  building 
is  of  brick  and  attractive  and  commanding  in  appearance.  The 
Sunday  school  rooms  are  on  the  first  rioor  and  above  is  the  main 
auditorium  with  a  seating  capacity  of  three  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  interior  is  most  attractive  and  is  chnrchly  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments. The  congregation  in  1917  purchased  and  improved  the 


- 


ST.  JOHN'S  LTTHEUAN  CHCUCH,  THTKMOXT,  Mr>. 

modern  and  comfortable  residence  next  door  to  the  church  for  a 
parsonage.  The  present  value  of  the  church  property  is  conserva- 
tively placed  at  $20.000. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the  congregation:  Roden- 
biuk  I).  F.  Sehaetrer.  P.  Haas.  J.  G.  Grubb,  Michael  Wachter, 
S.  \V.  Harkey,  Reuben  Weiser.  J.  J.  Remensnyder,  J.  Richards. 
(}-.  AV.  Anderson.  isr>3-18f>(i:  W.  Hunt.  1856-1861;  S.  Curtis. 
iHttMSWi:  .John  I'linih.  ISIitf-1871  ;  John  J.  Summers.  1871- 
1877;  AV.  C.  AVire.  1877-1887;  J.  II.  Barb.  D.D.,  1887-1896; 
Arthur  Brcdenbeck.  1897-1S98;  AV.  S.  T.  Metzger.  1899-1903; 
C.  E.  Keller,  D.I).,  (supply  1903-1906)  :  M.  L.  Beard,  1906-1915; 
AV.  C.  AValtemyer.  191(5-  -  — .  The  Rev.  Prof.  Abdel  Ross  AVentz, 
Ph.D..  acted  as  supply  one  year  (March,  1918-March.  1919),  while 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


the  present  pastor.  Rev.  W.  C.  Waltemyer.  was  serving  as  chap- 
lain in  the  United  States  Army. 

Three  sons  of  the  congregation  attended  our  educational  in- 
stitution at  Gettysburg  in  preparation  for  the  ministry.  War- 
ren Demuth  left  the  seminary  to  enter  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Luther  S.  Black  entered  the  Lutheran  ministry  in  1888,  but  in 
1908  became  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  Edgar  J. 
Eyler  had  but  one  more  year  at  the  seminary  when  responding 
to  the  call  of  patriotism  became  an  officer  in  the  United  States 


MR.  GEORGE  J.   TREXLER, 
Thurmont,  Md. 


MR.  LESTER  S.  BIRELY, 
Thurmont,   M«l. 


Army  and  bravely  died  on  the  field  of  battle  early  in  the  fall  of 
1918. 

The  congregation  in  this  year  of  1919  has  among  its  members 
four  veterans  of  the  Civil  War.  There  were  thirty  young  men  to 
represent  her  in  the  World  War,  and  three  of  them  gave  their 
lives  for  their  country. 

St.  John's  has  been  blessed  in  having  a  continuous  line  of 
strong,  efficient  and  zealous  laymen.  Conspicuous  among  those  of 
earlier  days  were:  Joseph  E.  Webster,  who  entered  into  his 
eternal  reward  in  1891,  and  who  for  more  than  thirty  consecutive 
years  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school;  John  Rou/er, 
who  died  in  1892.  a  most  liberal  contributor  and  earnest  worker; 
Van  B.  Osier,  who  died  in  1901,  Sunday  school  superintendent, 
choir  leader  and  frequently  a  member  of  the  church  council; 
Judge  William  J.  Black,  who  died  in  1902,  a  man  of  keen  men- 


400  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

tality  and  deep  spirituality,  a  strong  leader;  and  Col.  John  R. 
Ron/er.  who  passed  away  in  1915,  Sunday  school  superintendent 
and  active  in  the  church  council. 

The  present  active  laymen  are  worthy  sons  of  their  church 
fathers.  A  few  of  the  present-day  leaders  are:  Senator  J.  P.  T. 
Mathias.  formerly  Sunday  school  superintendent  and  active  in 
the  church  council;  John  G.  Jones,  active  and  efficient  in  all 
phases  of  church  work;  George  J.  Damuth.  zealous  and  most  de- 
pendahle;  Lester  S.  Hirely.  for  six  years  the  efficient  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  and  a  strong  leader  in  the  general 
work  of  the  congregation  ;  George  J.  Trexler,  the  present  enthu- 
siastic superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  and  vice-president  of 
the  church  council.  The  photographs  of  the  last  named  two  lay- 
men appear  with  this  sketch. 

The  organixations  within  the  congregation  continuously  have 
been  directed  by  efficient  and  godly  men  and  women.  The  chief 
organizations  are  the  Sunday  school,  the  Mite  Society  and  the 
Woman's  Missionary  Society. 

The  Sunday  school  has  been  a  vital  help  in  the  building  up  of 
the  congregation  both  materially  and  spiritually.  Besides  those 
whose  names  have  already  appeared  as  active  in  the  Sunday 
school,  mention  should  be  made  of  the  following  splendid  work- 
ers: Franklin  Dotterer.  Miss  Linnie  McGuigan,  Miss  Maude 
"Weller  and  Miss  Grace  Ilenshaw. 

The  Mite  Society,  with  ninety  women  in  its  membership,  has 
contributed  untold  energy  and  much  money  to  our  local  work. 
Mrs.  L.  R.  Waesche.  Miss  Estelle  Castle  and  Mrs.  Belva  A.  E. 
Hi  rely  have  been  excellent  leaders. 

The  Woman 's  Missionary  Society  has  been  a  real  blessing.  Its 
members  have  combined  knowledge  with  zeal  and  the  result  has 
been  that  the  congregation  has  always  had  an  intelligent  in- 
terest in  missionary  activity.  Mrs.  Harriet  Landers,  Mrs.  Jas.  A. 
McGuigan,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Foreman,  Mrs.  Ruth  M.  Jones,  and  Mrs. 
Levi  Leatherman.  all  of  whom  are  still  active,  have  been  enthu- 
siastic members  for  years. 

St.  John's  Church  of  Thurmont  has  a  present  communicant 
membership  of  three  hundred,  a  Lutheran  consciousness  and  a 
world-wide  vision  of  service  for  the  Master. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


401 


ST.  JAMES'  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
UNION  BRIDGE,  MD. 

(UNION  BRIDGE  CHARGE.) 

Rev.  W.  0.  Ibach,  Pastor. 

In  the  summer  of  1881,  John  W.  Angel,  Abram  E.  Null,  H. 
II.  Rowe,  members  of  Mount  Union,  and  Rev.  D.  B.  Floyd,  pastor 
at  Uniontown,  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  building  a  Lu- 
theran church  at  Union  Bridge.  D.  C.  Derr,  a  Lutheran,  and 
Professor  James  Yates,-  a  Presbyterian,  residents  of  the  town, 
cooperated.  October  23,  1881,  at 
a  congregational  meeting  at  Mount 
Union,  it  was  decided  to  disband 
as  a  congregation  and  unite  with 
the  Lutherans  in  and  around 
Union  Bridge  in  an  effort  to  build 
in  the  growing  town.  That  same 
evening  Rev.  D.  B.  Floyd 
preached  the  first  Lutheran  ser- 
mon there  and  continued  the 
services  every  two  weeks,  the  little 
band  worshipping  in  Ander's 
Hall.  Twenty-one  Lutherans  in 
the  place  united  with  those  from 
Mount  Union  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  secure  a  lot  and 
funds  for  building.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  Middle  Conference  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  Taneytown, 

October.  1881,  a  committee  consisting  of  Revs.  D.  B.  Floyd, 
George  Diehl.  D.D..  H.  W.  Kuhns,  John  W.  Angel,  and  D.  C. 
Derr,  was  appointed  to  encourage  the  movement.  The  removal 
of  the  chairman  of  this  committee  from  the  bounds  of  the  Synod 
delayed  the  work. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  May  24,  1883,  and  the  church  was 
dedicated  January  1,  3884,  at  the  cost  of  $4,000. 

Some  of  the  members  at  Mount  Union  who  had  voted  to  re- 
move to  Union  Bridge,  changed  their  minds  and  remained  with 
the  old  church.  This  was  followed  by  a  reorganization  at  Union 
Bridge  and  weakened  the  young  congregation.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1884  and  winter  of  1885  the  new  church  was  supplied 
from  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg.  In  May,  1885,  Rev.  C.  L.  T. 
Fisher  was  elected  pastor  and  assumed  charge. 
26 


REV.  W.  O.  IBACH. 


402  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

During  his  pastorate  of  a  little  more  than  a  year  considerable 
accessions  were  made  to  the  membership  and  Messiah  Lutheran 
Church  of  Freedom  with  St.  James'  were  formed  into  a  charge. 
the  pastor  receiving  financial  aid  also  from  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions. 

Rev.  Fisher  resigned  June  30,  1886,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
M.  E.  McLinn.  During  his  pastorate,  St.  James'  built  an  elegant 
parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $2. (500.  On  his  resignation  in  1890,  the 
charge  was  divided  and  Keysville  and  Union  Bridge  made  a  pas- 
torate. 

On  March  31.  1891.  Rev.  G.  G.  M.  Brown  became  the  first  pas- 
tor of  the  new  charge.  lie  labored  faithfully  and  successfully 
until  December  1.  1893. 

Rev.  R.  L.  Patterson  became  Rev.  Brown's  successor  June  10, 
1894.  The  church  made  steady  and  solid  progress  and  the  debt 
on  the  parsonage  was  reduced  from  $2,100  to  $375.  Tn  1897 
negotiations  were  begun  for  the  addition  of  Mount  Tabor  congre- 
gation. Rocky  Ridge,  to  the  charge.  Largely  through  the  efforts 
of  the  pastor  this  arrangement  was  consummated  on  October  1, 
1897.  Rev.  Patterson  closed  his  labors  on  September  24,  1899. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Enders,  Jr.,  began  his  pastorate  on  December  1, 
1899.  He  labored  faithfully  and  was  instrumental  in  paying  the 
mortgage  indebtedness  and  floating  debt  of  .$1,810,  besides  mak- 
ing repairs  to  church  and  parsonage.  Rev.  Enders  resigned  Sep- 
tember 1.  1905.  and  was  succeeded  October  1.  1905.  by  Rev.  0.  E. 
Bregenzer.  who  continued  his  labors  until  December  31,  1912. 

Rev.  G.  A.  Royer  began  his  labors  October  1.  1913.  During 
his  pastorate  the  church  was  thoroughly  remodeled,  so  much  so 
that  virtually  a  new  church  was  the  result.  It  was  modernized 
and  on  the  completion  of  the  work  was  pronounced  the  most  beau- 
tiful church  in  the  community.  Rev.  Royer  closed  his  pastorate 
January  31.  1916.  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  O.  Ibach,  on 
July  1,  1916,  the  present  pastor.  St.  James'  is  composed  of  a 
loyal,  consecrated  band  of  workers.  About  ten  years  ago  the 
congregation  lost  many  of  its  good  workers  when  the  railroad 
shopmen  were  moved  to  Hagerstown.  The  remaining  members 
took  on  renewed  courage  and  by  hard  work  have  kept  the  work 
moving. 

Tn  the  summer  of  1919  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  social  hall. 
This  was  felt  to  be  necessary  in  order  to  care  for  the  development 
of  the  young  people  and  impress  upon  them  that  the  church  is 
their  spiritual  home. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 

MOUNT  TABOR  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
ROCKY  RIDGE,  MI). 

(UNION  BRIDGE  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  W.  0.  Ibach,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1873.  Owing  to  the  lack  of 
records  very  little  information  of  the  early  history  is  to  be  ob- 
tained. On  March  4,  1874,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  of  the  Mount 
Tabor  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church.  This  marked  a  definite 
point  in  the  spiritual  development  of  the  community.  The  first 
regular  pastor  was  Rev.  AV.  C.  Wire,  who  entered  upon  his  labors 
in  1876.  Rev.  J.  II.  Barb  began  his  labors  on  November  17,  1887, 
and  served  the  field  until  February  17.  1896.  The  above  pastors 
served  the  Thurmont  charge  of  which  Mount  Tabor  was  a  part. 
On  October  1,  1897.  the  congregation  became  part  of  the  Union 
Bridge  charge,  at  which  tim?  Rev.  R.  L.  Patterson  assumed  pas- 
toral relationship  and  faithfully  ministered  until  October  1, 
1899.  From  this  time  to  the  present  the  pastors  of  the  above 
charge  have  ministered  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  Mount  Tabor. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  A.  Rover  the  church  was  reno- 
vated and  modern  furnishings  secured.  A  two-manual  pipe 
organ  Avas  installed  and  the  church  frescoed.  In  1917  stained 
glass  memorial  windows  replaced  the  old  windows;  a  beautiful 
altar  painting,  representing  "Christ,  the  Comforter,"  also  a 
memorial;  and  a  complete  electric  plant  and  motor  for  the  organ, 
were  purchased.  Thus  this  rural  congregation  is  worshipping  in 
a  plant  that  is  up-to-date  in  all  particulars. 

On  August  30.  1919,  six  acres  comprising  a  beautiful  grove 
near  the  church  were  purchased  and  permanent  buildings  will  be 
erected  to  care  for  the  social  needs  of  the  congregation. 

KEYSVILLE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
KEYSVILLE,  MD. 

(UNION  BRIDGE  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  W.  0.  Ibach,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  organized  October  21.  1872,  under  the 
pastoral  supervision  of  Rev.  P.  Bergstresser,  who  was  pastor  of 
Trinity  Church,  Taneytown.  Most  of  the  charter  members  were 
from  Trinity  congregation.  From  the  time  of  the  organization 


404  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

until  made  part  of  the  Union  Bridge  charge,  in  1889,  the  pastoral 
supply  was  somewhat  irregular,  as  it  was  too  weak  to  support  a 
regular  pastor  and  had  no  connection  with  any  charge.  The 
pastors  at  Taneytown  as  a  rule  supplied  Keysville.  Sometimes 
a  student  from  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg  preached  for  them 
during  vacation.  Since  it  has  become  a  part  of  a  charge  and  has 
enjoyed  the  regular  ministrations  of  a  pastor  it  has  grown 
steadily. 

Since  its  organixation  it  has  worshipped  in  a  union  church, 
owned  by  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations.  In  the 
spring  of  1919  it  was  decided  that  a  new  church  home  of  its  own 
was  necessary  to  maintain  its  congregational  life  and  its  share  in 
the  building  was  sold  to  the  Reformed  brethren.  Preparations 
were  immediately  made  to  secure  a  site  for  the  new  building  and 
Brother  and  Mrs.  Kisor  presented  an  acre,  beautifully  located  on 
the  Taneytown  road,  one  dollar  being  paid  so  that  a  clear  title 
could  be  obtained.  Active  work  is  going  on  and  materials  are 
being  secured  to  complete  the  structure  within  the  next  year. 
Ground  for  the  new  building  was  broken  on  September  6,  1919. 
When  this  is  completed  this  congregation  will  have  a  dignified 
and  substantial  house  of  worship  and  be  in  the  best  position  to 
minister  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  its  devoted  people. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the  congregation :  Rev.  P. 
Bergstresser,  1872;  Rev.  L.  T.  Williams.  1874;  Rev.  E.  S.  John- 
ston, 1876;  Rev.  M.  L.  Beard,  1877;  Rev.  J.  U.  Asper,  1886; 
Rev.  O.  C.  Roth.  1887;  Rev.  L.  DeYoe,  1889;  Rev.  M.  E.  McLinn, 
1890;  Rev.  G.  G.  M.  Brown.  1891  ;  Rev.  R.  L.  Patterson,  1894; 
Rev.  G.  W.  Enders.  Jr..  1899;  Rev.  0.  E.  Bregen/er,  1905;  Rev. 
G.  A.  Royer,  1913;  Rev.  W.  O.  Ibach.  1916. 


ST.  LUKE'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
NEW  WINDSOR,  MD. 

(UNIONTOWN  CHARGE.) 
I\(  r.  B.  E.  P circa,  Pastor. 

This  large  charge,  located  in  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  is  com- 
posed of  four  country  churches:  St.  Luke's  (Winter's),  Eman- 
uel  (Baust's).  Mount  Union  (Middleburg),  St.  Paul's  (Union- 
town),  and  was  formed  on  October  1,  1870. 

About  the  year  1766.  Francis  Winter,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  the  neighborhood  of  what  is  now  New  Windsor,  this 
county,  received  an  application  from  German  colonists  near  Lan- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


405 


caster,  Pa.,  for  land  for  fanning  purposes,  and  for  the  erection 
thereon  of  a  prospective  Lutheran  church  of  the  Augsburg  Con- 
fession. Family  after  family  arrived  and  took  up  land  in  this 
vicinity,  then  part  of  Frederick  County.  In  1772  a  log  church 
was  erected  for  a  house  of  prayer ;  but  the  congregation  was  not 
organized  until  January  1,  1783,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev. 
Johann  Daniel  fSchroeter.  when 
the  Ecclesiastical  Discipline  of 
the  Church  was  submitted  and 
adopted  by  the  congregation. 

On  May  31,  1784.  the  first  of- 
ficers of  the  church  were  elected 
and  installed.  They  were :  Elders 
—Francis  Winter  and  Henry 
Craul.  Deacons — Jacob  Haintz 
and  George  Spangler.  Pastor — 
Johann  Daniel  Schroeter.  The 
old  log  church  becoming  inade- 
quate for  the  increase  in  popula- 
tion, it  was  resolved  by  the  con- 
gregation to  build  a  new  and 
more  commodious  edifice,  which 
was  accomplished  in  the  year  1875. 
The  original  records,  written  in 
the  German  script,  are  well  pre- 
served. The  present  church  has  been  repaired  and  remodeled 
several  times,  once  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  G-  AY. 
Baughman,  later  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  W.  E.  Saltzgiver. 
Extensive  repairs  were  made  by  the  last  named  pastor  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500. 

The  congregation  is  alive  to  the  up-keep  and  beautifying  of  its 
own  church  property.  It  has  a  large  and  very  active  Ladies'  Aid 
Society.  Plans  are  being  made  for  the  organization  of  a  Lu- 
theran Brotherhood  in  the  Uniontown  charge.  Two  legacies  have 
been  applied  by  the  congregation,  one  of  $400,  the  other  of  $300. 
Of  the  first,  known  as  the  Fannie  Engleman  legacy,  $300  was 
given  to  missions  and  $100  to  the  Deaconess  Home  in  Baltimore. 
The  other,  known  as  the  E.  J.  Frountfelter  legacy,  in  amount  of 
$300.  was  given  to  missions.  The  duplex  envelop  system  is  used 
by  all  churches  in  the  pastorate.  The  present  membership  is  one 
hundred  thirty.  The  prospects  for  future  growth  are  relatively 
good.  The  present  congregation  is  very  much  scattered. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Johann  Daniel  Schroe- 
ter^  1783 ;  Rev.  John  Grobp,  Rev.  Michael  Wachter,  Rev.  Reu- 


EEV.  B.  E.  PETREA. 


400  HISTORY  OF   MARYLAND  SYXOO. 

Ix'ii  AYeiser.  Rev.  E/ra  Keller.  1836-1842;  Rev.  Solomon  Sent- 
niaii.  1842-184:1:  Rev.  Philip  Willard.  1848-1845;  Rev.  C.  Reim- 
ensnyder.  1846-1849;  Rev.  John  Winter.  1849-1852;  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Henry.  1853-1859:  Rev.  Jacob  Martin.  1859-18(5:!;  Rev.  II.  C. 
Ilolloway.  1863-1868;  Rev.  P.  A.  Stroble.  18(58-1869;  Rov.  John 
F.  Diener,  1870-1872;  Rev.  C.  W.  Anderson.  1873-1876;  Rev. 
D.  B.  Floyd.  1876-1881  :  Rev.  W.  E.  Delp.  1882-1890;  Rev.  J.  R. 
Williams.  1890-1893;  Rev.  (}.  W.  Baughman.  1893-1914;  Rev. 
W.  E.  Saltzgiver,  1915-1918;  Rev.  B.  E.  Petrea,  1919- - 


EMMANUEL  (HAUST'S)  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
(\\KKOLL  COUNTY,  MIX 

(UNIONTOWX  CHARGE. ) 

Rev.  K.  E.  I>ctrea.  1'axlor. 

Emmanuel  Church  is  the  second  oldest  in  the  Uniontown 
charge.  It  is  popularly  known  as  Baust's  Church.  The  ground 
on  which  it  stands,  including  the  cemetery,  was  deeded  by  Valen- 
tine Baust  and  his  wife.  Maria  Elixabeth.  to  John  Ilahn  and 
Peter  Shoemaker  on  the  tenth  day  of  January.  1794.  as  a  site  for 
a  schoolhouse  and  church.  The  dates  of  laying  the  corner  stone 
and  of  the  dedication  are  not  known. 

The  first  building  was  of  logs  and  stood  about  one  hundred 
yards  northeast  of  the  present  building.  A  new  brick  building 
was  erected  in  1815.  with  high  arched  windows,  two  stories  high, 
with  galleries,  wine-glass  pulpit  and  sounding  board.  This  was 
vast  improvement  on  the  old  log  church  with  its  rough  boards  for 
benches. 

The  congregation  was  incorporated  in  1835,  and  in  1868  the 
church  was  repainted  and  frescoed  at  a  cost  of  $700. 

In  the  year  1907.  June  16,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev. 
G.  \V.  Baughman,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  for  the  erection  of 
a  new  building.  The  old  building  had  been  used  ninety-two  years. 
On  April  26.  1908,  the  new  building  was  dedicated.  The  present 
building  is  of  brick,  is  got  hie  in  design,  and  is  a  thoroughly  mod- 
ern building.  The  main  auditorium,  thirty-four  by  fifty  feet, 
and  the  Sunday  school  room,  eighteen  by  thirty-two  feet,  which 
can  be  thrown  into  one,  will  seat  400.  The  building  cost  about 
$10.000.  The  building  is  jointly  owned  by  the  Lutherans  and 
Reformed.  The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  sixty.  The 
congregation  is  scattered.  The  prospects  for  future  growth  are 
bright.  A  good  Sunday  school  and  Missionary  Society  are  at 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  407 

work.  At  present  a  nice  comfortable  house  is  being  built,  wheiv 
the  original  log  house  stood,  for  the  use  of  the  sexton. 

There  is  no  list  available  of  the  earliest  pastors,  but  it  seems 
probable  that  they  were  the  following:  Rev.  John  Ilerbst.  1797; 
Rev.  Henry  Graeber,  1820 ;  Rev.  John  Grobp,  1825 ;  Rev.  J.  w! 
Hoffman,  1831;  Rev.  S.  D.  Finckle,  1834:  Rev.  Exra  Keller. 
1837. 

Then  follows  the  same  line  of  pastors  that  served  St.  Luke's 
down  to  the  present  time. 


MOUNT  UNION  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
MIDDLEBURG,  MD. 

(  UNIONTOWN  C  H ARGE.  ) 
Itev.  B.  E.  Pctrea,  Pastor. 

Mount  Union  Church,  situated  two  miles  east,  of  Middleburg, 
was  built  in  the  summer  of  1857,  as  a  union  church  to  be  held 
jointly  by  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations.  Abram  F. 
Null,  John  Angel,  Sr.,  John  Koons,  John  Feeser  and  John  W. 
Angel  were  the  leading  persons  in  the  erection  of  the  church. 
It  was  dedicated  in  1858,  and  the  congregation  became  a  part  of 
the  Taneytown  charge.  In  1860  it  was  taken  from  the  Taneytown 
and  united  with  the  Woodsboro  charge,  and  in  1869  was  made  a 
part  of  the  Uniontown  charge,  which  was  formed  during  that 
year,  and  of  which  it  is  still  a  part. 

The  Lutherans,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Anderson, 
proposed  to  buy  the  interest  of  the  Reformed  or  sell  to  them,  but 
they  could  do  neither.  In  1882  a  number  of  the  members  pro- 
posed building  a  new  Lutheran  church  in  Union  Bridge,  which 
was  afterwards  done,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  some  of  the  best 
members  of  Mount  Union  church.  For  a  number  of  years  Lu- 
theran services  were  discontinued,  with  the  hope  of  drawing  the 
entire  congregation  to  Union  Bridge.  Failing  in  this,  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Delp,  and  through  his  untiring  energy 
and  that  of  some  of  the  laymen  who  still  held  to  the  old  church, 
it  was  remodeled  and  rededicated,  and  the  congregation  reor- 
ganized. The  Reformed  having  in  the  meantime  abandoned  it, 
the  Lutherans  took  new  hope,  and  with  united  effort  developed  a 
live,  progressive  congregation. 

It  was  incorporated  1903,  by  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Baughman. 
Under  the  wise  and  efficient  leadership  of  Rev.  Baughman  in 
1903  the  congregation  resolved  to  build  a  new  church.  The  cor- 


408  ^       IIISTOKY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

nor  stono  was  laid  August  20,  1905.  and  tho  building  dedicated 
March  25,  1906.  The  present  membership  is  seventy.  The  Mis- 
sionary Society,  the  Sunday  school  and  the  Young  Peoples' 
Christian  Endeavor,  under  the  /ealons  efforts  of  Miss  Li/zie 
Birely,  are  doing  good  work.  Special  mention  should  he  made  of 
the  Christian  Endeavor.  It  has  carried  off  the  Carroll  County 
banners  many  times.  The  church  property  is  in  excellent  re- 
pair. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the  congregation  :  Rev.  L. 
T.  Williams.  1858;  Rev.  George  II.  Bockley,  1859;  Rev.  S.  AY. 
Owen,  18(56;  Rev.  J.  F.  Diener,  1870,  and  all  the  succeeding 
pastors  of  the  I'niontown  charge. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHER  AX  CHURCH, 
UNIOXTOWX,  MI). 

(UNIONTOWN  CHARGE.) 
liev.  B.  E.  Petrca,  Pastor. 

St.  Paul's  church,  located  at  Uniontown,  a  small  country  vil- 
lage, is  the  youngest  and  smallest  congregation  in  the  charge, 
and  still  retains  its  youth  and  vigor.  The  congregation  was  or- 
gani/ed  October  1,  1870.  Only  one  charter  member  is  still  living. 
The  original  members  came  partly  from  St.  Luke's  and  partly 
from  Emmanuel.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  October  24,  1874, 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  June,  1875.  The  congregation  was 
incorporated  in  1887. 

The  building  is  a  neat  frame  structure.  Close  by  the  church 
stands  the  parsonage  of  the  pastorate,  owned  jointly  by  the  four 
churches.  The  church  has  twice  been  renovated  and  remodeled. 
The  present  membership  is  sixty-five,  generally  very  active.  The 
Sunday  school  is  alive  and  active.  The  Missionary  Society  and 
the  Young  People's  Christian  Endeavor  are  at  work. 

Special  mention  must  be  made  of  her  three  sons  in  the  active 
ministry.  They  are  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Englar,  D.D.,  now  at  Bethany 
Church.  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  the  Rev.  Ilixon  T.  Bowersox,  at  St. 
James'  in  York,  Pa.,  and  the  Rev.  Harry  F.  Baughrnan,  a  son 
of  the  former  pastor,  Rev.  G.  W.  Baughman,  now  at  St.  Stephen's, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Two  other  boys  in  the  congregation  are  thinking 
of  entering  the  ministry.  One  young  lady  has  partly  completed 
the  course  for  deaconess  work  at  Baltimore.  The  pastors  are  the 
same  as  those  for  St.  Luke's  of  the  Uniontown  charge. 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  THE   MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


409 


UTICA  CHARGE. 

Rev.  Charles  A.  Shilke,  Pastor. 

'  The  Utica  charge,  formerly  known  as  the  Monocacy  Valley 
charge,  comprises  four  congregations:  St.  John's  at  Creagers- 
town,  Bethel,  St.  Paul 's  at  Utica,  and  St.  Paul 's  at  Walkersville. 
The  parsonage  is  located  in  AValkersville  and  for  that  reason  the 
charge  is  sometimes  referred  to  as  the  AValkersville  charge. 


BETHEL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  FREDERICK 
COUNTY,  MI). 

(UTICA  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Shilke,  Pastor. 

During  the  eighteenth  century,  German  settlers  filled  up  and 
occupied  every  part  of  the  Monocacy  Valley.  Small  centers  of 
population  formed  at  Utica,  where  a  schoolhouse  was  built  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty  years  ago,  in  which  the  Lutherans,  with 
three  or  four  other  denominations,  held  occasional  services. 
Amid  such  places  as  Mountain- 
dale,  near  the  Fishing  Creek  Gap, 
and  Yellow  Springs,  Charlesyille 
and  Hansonville,  which  had  each 
a  schoolhouse,  was  a  central  point, 
now  called  Bethel.  A  schoolhouse 
was  built  there  about  1760,  which 
stood  near  where  the  church  now 
stands,  and  on  ground  now  en- 
closed in  the  graveyard.  Here 
the  Lutheran  pastors  of  Freder- 
ick, who  had  members  living  in 
this  section,  preached  occasional- 
ly. John  Andrew  Krug,  pastor  of 
Frederick  from  1771  to  1796,  gave 
these  people  an  occasional  sermon 
and  buried  their  dead.  David  F. 
Schaeffer.  who  became  pastor  of 
Frederick  in  1808,  also  filled  oc- 
casional appointments  in  the  school  house.  But  the  people  all 
this  time  belonged  to  Frederick  and  went  there  for  the  holy  com- 
munion. 


REV.  CHARLES  A.  SHILKE. 


410 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Kev.  Michael  \Yaehter.  a  native  of  this  section,  who  was  li- 
censed in  1821.  and  received  ordination  in  1881.  also  assisted 
Rev.  ShanVr  in  his  work  and  preached  in  the  sehoolhouse  occa- 
sionally. Still  it  was  a  mere  supply  under  the  Frederick  pastors. 

After  Dr.  1).  F.  Schaeffer's  death.  Rev.  Simeon  W.  Ilarkey.  his 
successor  at  Frederick,  also  took  charge  of  this  sehoolhouse  ap- 
pointment. 

He  had  the  revivalistic  temper,  and  awakening  the  community, 
they  desired  a  church  and  the  means  of  grace  in  their  midst.  In 
the  spring  of  1888  ground  was  broken,  the  wall  built,  and  the 


BETHEL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  FREDERICK  COUNTY,  MD. 

corner  stone  laid  of  a  union  church.  The  church  was  dedicated 
that  same  year.  Dr.  Ilarkey  and  the  Reformed  pastor  holding  the 
feast  of  dedication.  Dr.  Ilarkey,  of  Frederick,  tail,  spiritual  and 
active  to  the  last,  resigned  in  August,  1850,  and  hence  his  serv- 
ices at  Bethel  also  closed  at  that  time. 

Rev.  George  William  Anderson  now  accepted  the  charge,  com- 
posed of  Creagerstown.  Utica  and  Bethel.  lie  began  his  labors  on 
January.  1853.  and  lived  at  Creagerstown,  being  unmarried.  He 
served  the  charge  until  the  autumn  of  1856,  when  he  married, 
resigned  and  served  the  church  elsewhere  for  many  years. 

Rev.  William  Hunt  became  pastor  in  the  fall  of  1856  and  served 
over  four  years.  His  first  communion  was  held  October,  1856, 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


411 


and  his  last  May  2(5,  I860.  His  highest  number  of  communicants 
\vas  fifty -seven. 

Rev.  William  II.  Harrison  became  pastor  on  July  1,  1800.  His 
pastorate  continued  until  1862,  when  he  resigned  to  enter  upon 
educational  work,  for  which  he  was  well  adapted,  as  he  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  ability. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  S.  Curtis,  whose  baptisms  date  from 
August  22,  1862.  His  labors  closed  August  1.  1866.  He  was  a 
faithful  shepherd  and  served  many  years  in  the  ministry. 

Rev.  John  Unruh  served  this  charge  from  August  1,  1866,  and 
continued  five  years.  lie  baptized  fifty  children  and  confirmed 


MR.  SPENCER  E.  STUP, 
Bethel  Lutheran  Church. 


MR.  CHARLES  T.  STULL, 
Bethel  Lutheran  Church. 


thirty-three  persons,  some  of  whom  are  our  substantial  members 
to-day.  On  November  18,  1866,  his  first  communion,  ninety-two 
members  availed  themselves  of  that  grace.  This  was  the  largest 
on  record  to  that  time.  Father  Unruh  served  five  years,  closing 
his  labors  August  1,  1871. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  J.  Summers,  and  his  charge  consisted  of 
Creagerstowii,  Utica  and  Bethel.  Many  members  were  received 
and  the  church  was  built  up.  He  served  for  six  years,  from  1871 
to  1877.  Twenty-two  were  confirmed  and  others  were  received  by 
letter  and  baptism. 

Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges  became  pastor  of  the  charge  November  1, 
1877,  and  he  continued  in  the  charge  for  six  years,  during  which 


412  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

time  his  labors  were  abundant,  lie  received  forty-seven  into  the 
church. 

hi  1881  a  movement  was  made  to  rebuild  the  old  church,  which 
had  always  been  a  union  church.  Lutheran  and  Reformed.  But 
a  majority  of  the  Reformed,  desiring  their  own  church,  withdrew 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Ilench,  to  Charlesville,  where  they 
established  a  church  and  cemetery. 

The  Lutherans,  under  a  competent  building  committee  com- 
posed of  the  pastor.  S.  A.  Hedges.  Abraham  Michel,  Henry 
Wachter.  Philip  Wachter  and  Lewis  II.  "NVachter,  leveled  the  old 
building  and  built  the  present  well  adapted  and  comfortable 
house  of  worship.  It  was  dedicated  on  May  28,  1882,  Rev. 
Hedges  performing  the  holy  act  of  consecration.  The  church 
cost  about  $3.000.  It  has  been  improved  since  and  will  remain 
a  monument  of  the  fidelity  and  piety  of  the  fathers  of  the  church. 
Rev.  Hedges  closed  his  labors  November  1,  1883,  and  removed 
from  the  charge. 

John  Milton  Snyder  became  pastor  of  the  charge  on  September 
1.  1884.  and  continued  in  the  charge  to  January  1,  1889.  He 
lived  in  the  parsonage  at  Lewistown,  which  had  been  purchased 
during  the  early  part  of  Rev.  Hedges'  ministry.  Bethel  now 
had  one  hundred  members.  Rev.  Snyder  confirmed  thirty -four 
adults  and  baptized  fifty  children.  His  labors  were  appreciated 
and  his  ministry  successful. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Zerger  assumed  the  labors  of  the  pastorate  in  the 
spring  of  1889.  His  records  are  meager,  but  we  learn  that  he 
received  twenty-two  members,  baptized  ten  infants,  and  held 
communion  six  times,  the  last  being  April  3,  1892,  indicating  a 
three  years'  service. 

John  U.  Asper  became  pastor  of  the  charge  in  July,  1892.  His 
first  sacramental  feast  numbered  only  thirty-seven.  His  last 
communion  on  record  notes  fifty-one  members  communed.  His 
pastorate  was  very  fruitful,  and  continued  until  November  1, 
190"),  a  period  of  thirteen  years  and  four  months. 

In  1893  Walkersville  congregation  was  received  into  the  charge 
and  it  then  consisted  of  four  congregations.  R<?v.  Asper  re- 
signed the  charge  on  November  1.  1905. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Crist,  who  became  pastor  July  4,  1906,  continued 
his  pastorate  until  his  death,  July  8.  1914.  He  was  an  efficient 
pastor  and  loved  by  all. 

On  February  14.  1915.  Charles  A.  Shilke.  then  a  student  in  the 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  was  called  to  be  pastor.  Immediately 
after  graduation.  May  20.  1915.  he  took  charge  of  the  work  and 
is  the  present  pastor. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


413 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CREAGERSTOWN.  MD. 

(UTICA  CHARGE.) 
Eev.  Charles  A.  Shilke,  Pastor. 

The  Creagerstown  church  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  in  the  Maryland  Synod.  It  is  nearly  twice  as  old  as  the 
venerable  Synod  herself,  was  twice  visited  by  the  patriarch 
Muhlenberg,  is  mentioned  by  him  in  the  Halle  Reports,  and  is  the 
mother  of  the  flourishing  church  at  Frederick. 

St.  John's,  of  Creagerstown.  is  the  direct  successor  of  the  old 


4 


ST.  JOHN  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CREAGERSTOWN,  Mb. 

Monocacy  church,  which  was  built  early  in  the  fourth  decade  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  about  1734.  For  an  account  of  this 
earliest  of  Lutheran  settlements  in  Maryland  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  Chapter  One.  The  first  church  building  served  the  pur- 
poses of  the  congregation  for  nearly  sixty  years. 

The  organizer  of  this  congregation  was  in  all  probability  the 
Rev.  John  Casper  Stover,  the  same  who  organized  Christ  Church 
in  York,  and  a  number  of  churches  in  Berks  and  Lebanon  Coun- 
ties. The  first  pastor  who  served  the  congregation  with  any  de- 


414  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

gree  of  regularity  was  the  Rev.  David  Candler,  whom  Stover  or- 
dained in  174-'$.  Candler  resided  at  Conewago  (now  Hanover), 
and  ministered  to  four  congregations:  York.  Conewago.  Monoc- 
aey,  and  Frederick.  After  his  deatli  in  December.  1744.  the  con- 
gregation fell  for  a  short  time  under  the  influence  of  Lars  Ny- 
berg.  the  Swede,  who  had  secretly  espoused  the  Moravian  faith. 
When  his  sinister  purposes  were  discovered  the  doors  of  the 
church  were  closed  against  him.  Then  the  congregation  became 
a  victim  of  several  impostors,  such  as  Carl  Rudolph  (174(5).  and 
Kmpiricus  Schmidt  (1747). 

But  these  irregularities  ceased  with  the  visit  of  the  patriarch 
Mnhlenberg,  in  1747.  Muhlenberg  preached  and  prayed  and  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  Supper.  lie  also  wrote  in  their  church 
book  a  set  of  articles  of  faith  and  fellowship.  These  articles  were 
signed  by  the  six  wardens  and  twenty-six  other  members  of  the 
congregation  residing  at  Monocacy  and  Frederick.  This  was  on 
June  24th. 

On  June  25th  Muhlenberg  visited  Frederick,  where  he  preached 
in  the  new  church  and  administered  the  communion  to  such  as 
were  hindered  by  the  rain  from  coming  to  Monocacy  the  previous 
day.  He  also  baptized  children  and  then  returned  to  Monocacy 
for  the  night.  Muhlenberg  regarded  Frederick  as  part  of  the 
Monocacy  charge. 

Rev.  John  II.  Schaum,  of  York,  paid  occasional  visits  to  Monoc- 
acy church,  and  Valentine  Kraft,  an  aged  pastor  opposed  to 
Muhlenberg.  who  settled  in  Frederick  in  1749,  rendered  some 
services  for  a  year  or  two.  After  his  death  Schaum  again 
preached,  during  1751  and  1752,  and  gave  counsel.  He  also 
counteracted  the  evil  influence  of  a  man  named  Streiter.  who  was 
exceedingly  zealous  in  his  efforts  to  gain  influence  and  serve  the 
congregations. 

In  May.  1752.  Frederick  and  Monocacy  called  Rev.  Bernard 
Michel  Ilausihl.  a  gifted,  educated  and  regularly  ordained  pastor. 
He  served  from  1752  to  1758.  Streiter 's  opposition  caused  him 
much  trouble  in  FYederick.  but  at  Monocacy  and  elsewhere  his 
labors  were  blest  and  the  divisions  were  healed.  In  1758  Ilausihl 
removed  to  Reading. 

Muhlenberg  now  paid  another  visit.  The  Germans  desired  him 
to  become  their  pastor,  hoping  to  have  exemption  from  the  taxes 
assessed  for  English  preaching,  as  Muhlenberg  could  preach  in 
both  languages.  But  he  could  not  accept.  The  charge  then  suf- 
fered a  vacancy  of  five  years,  except  occasional  supplies. 

Rev.  John  C.  Hartwick  was  one  of  these.  In  June,  1762.  he 
dedicated  the  new  Lutheran  church  at  Frederick.  Monocacv  was 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


415 


dependent  upon  its  school  teacher,  who  also  soon  failed.  The 
charge  even  offered  to  pay  the  fare  of  a  minister  from  Germany, 
but  none  came  until  1763. 

In  1753  Rev.  Samuel  Schvverdfeger  was  licensed  by  John  C. 
Stoever  and  Tobias  Wagner.  He  spent  some  time  at  York  and 
Conewago.  He  was  opposed  to  Schaum  at  York,  and  came  in 
1763  to  Frederick,  having  been  examined  and  ordained  by  the 
Ministerium  in  1762.  He  served  the  charge  until  1768.  when  he 


MR.  EOY  W.  HAXKEY, 
Creagerstown,   Md. 


MR.  JOHN  M.  AHALT, 
Creagerstown,  Md. 


made  a  trip  to  Europe.  Upon  his  return  in  1770,  he  came  to  his 
old  field,  but  they  received  him  coldly.  He  then  went  to  Al- 
bany, X.  Y. 

John  Andrew  Krug.  of  Reading,  came  to  the  Monocacy  charge 
in  April,  1771.  He  served  the  Monocacy  church  during  his  entire 
pastorate  of  twenty-five  years.  He  lived  in  Frederick,  which 
church  now  had  the  lead.  During  his  pastorate  the  old  Monoc- 
acy church  became  unfit  for  use  and  a  union  church  was  built  at 
Creagerstown  in  1791.  It  was  of  logs,  and  was  afterwards 
weatherboarded.  It  stood  about  twenty  feet  northwest  of  the 
brick  church,  a  little  nearer  the  street.  We  believe  this  was  the 
first  church  in  Creagerstown,  and  the  immediate  successor  of 
the  old  Monocacy  church,  as  there  is  a  dead  silence  of  any  other 
church  building  between  this  and  the  Monocacy  of  1734. 

A  cemetery  was  provided  for  the  church,  and  for  more  than 
a  century  have  the  people  buried  their  dead  hard  by  the  church, 


41  f>  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

until  it  lias  become  a  large,  well-ordered  cemetery,  occupying 
several  acres. 

Rev.  Krug  died  May  30,  179(>.  and  was  buried  beneath  the  aisle 
of  the  Frederick  church.  Creagerstown  lost  a  faithful,  loving 
and  gentle  pastor. 

Rev.  Charles  F.  Wildbahn  became  pastor  December  4,  179(i. 
lie  came  from  Reading,  where  he  had  served  fourteen  years.  He 
only  remained  eighteen  months  and  then  went  to  Virginia. 

John  F.  Moeller  followed  Wildbahn  in  the  pastorate.  He 
came  to  America  in  179b'.  and  served  Frederick  and  Creagerstown 
from  December  1.  1799.  to  June  1.  1802.  Tie  was  only  a  licentiate 
of  Synod  during  his  pastorate.  lie  went  to  Chambersburg. 

Frederick  W.  Jasinsky  came  from  Shepherdstown.  He  was  a 
man  of  brain  and  brawn.  He  served  Creagerstown,  Woodsboro, 
London.  Virginia  and  Frederick.  The  latter  place  soon  tired  of 
him  and  desired  his  resignation.  Woodsboro  and  London  held  to 
him;  Creagerstown  was  neutral.  In  1807  Synod  advised  his 
resignation  for  the  benefit  of  all,  and  to  this  he  agreed  on  cer- 
tain conditions,  which  were  complied  with. 

Rev.  David  F.  Schaeffer  became  pastor  on  July  17.  1808.  His 
charge  consisted  of  Creagerstown.  Woodsboro,  London,  and  Fred- 
erick. He  had  been  assistant  to  his  father  in  Pennsylvania,  under 
whom  he  also  studied. 

In  1810  a  new  charge  was  formed  of  Woodsboro.  Creagerstown. 
etc..  of  which  Rev.  Fred  Haas  became  pastor.  In  that  year  he 
reported  six  churches.  75  baptisms  and  29  confirmations.  The 
number  of  members  is  not  given,  but  Creagerstown  was  now 
in  a  flourishing  condition  with  nearly  a  hundred  members.  Rev. 
Haas  continued  pastor  of  the  charge  and  in  1819  reported  298 
members.  In  1821  Creagerstown  petitioned  the  Maryland  Synod 
that  Rev.  Haas  discontinue  as  pastor,  and  that  Creagerstown  be 
permitted  to  secure  another  pastor.  This  privilege  was  granted, 
and  Rev.  Haas  ceased  to  serve  Creagerstown,  on  November  1, 
1821.  Creagerstown  desired  a  revival  minister  and  Rev.  Haas 
opposed  any  excitement  in  worship. 

Rev.  John  Winter  took  charge  about  January  1.  1822.  He 
served  six  years  and  added  large  numbers  to  the  church.  Ill 
less  than  six  years  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  members  were 
added. 

On  November  1.  1827,  a  subscription  was  taken  for  Rev.  Michael 
Wachter.  and  January  1.  1829.  it  was  paid  to  him.  showing  that 
he  served  them  during  1828.  It  amounted  to  $35.  R;>v.  Wachter 
appears  to  have  served  some  eight  or  ten  years.  lie  lived  in 
Frederick  and  was  very  successful.  May  9,  1830,  eighty-seven 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  417 

eommuiied,  the  highest  number  during  Rev.  Wachter 's  first  pas- 
torate. His  ministerial  services  are  not  recorded  after  1835.  But 
we  feel  certain  that  he  served  until  1838,  when  Rev.  J.  J.  Reimen- 
snyder,  of  Pennsylvania,  took  charge  and  preached  several  years. 
In  1842  he  received  seven  members.  But  he  has  left  few  records 
indeed.  Perhaps  someone  else  rendered  supply  from  Woodsboro 
or  Emmitsburg.  or  Apple's  Church. 

In  1844  Rev.  Wachter  came  back  again  as  pastor.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Wachter  family,  so  numerous  in  the  county.  He 
served  Creagerstown  twice,  and  altogether  about  fifteen  years. 
He  was  pastor  during  the  building  of  the  old  brick  church,  which 
was  dedicated  on  the  exact  centennial  of  the  old  Monocacy 
church.  He  added  many  to  the  church.  He  died  in  Woodsboro 
in  1850,  after  a  ministry  of  thirty  years. 

Rev.  George  W.  Anderson's  letter  of  acceptance  is  dated  De- 
cember 19,  1852.  He  refers  to  the  Creagerstown  charge  as  hav- 
ing trouble  and  speaks  of  healing  the  difficulties.  His  labors 
began  January,  1853.  He  was  unmarried  and  lived  in  Creagers- 
town. His  labors  continued  for  three  and  a  half  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  courage  and  piety  and  spent  many  years  in  the  ministry. 
He  married  about  the  time  he  left  this  charge.  His  successor  was 
Rev.  William  Hunt,  who  took  charge  in  1856  and  served  four 
years.  He  lived  in  Creagerstown.  where  a  parsonage  was  now 
erected. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Harrison  served  the  charge  composed  of  Creagers- 
town. Utica  and  Bethel,  from  1860  to  1862.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability  and  learning.  His  successor  was  Rev. 
S.  Curtis.  His  record  of  baptisms  date  from  August  22,  1862,  to 
August,  1866.  He  was  faithful  in  the  ministries  of  his  office,  a 
true  shepherd. 

John  N.  Unruh  began  his  ministry  on  August  1.  1866.  In  five 
years,  the  time  of  his  pastorate,  he  baptized  one  hundred  and  four 
children.  The  communicants  at  his  first  communion  numbered 
one  hundred  and  sixty-one.  He  made  large  additions  to  the 
membership.  He  held  forty-three  funerals  in  the  congregation, 
and  conducted  several  extensive  revivals  of  religion.  Still  the  un- 
rest of  the  congregation  caused  him  to  remove  from  the  field. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  J.  Summers.  The  charge  consisted 
of  Creagerstown,  Utica  and  Bethel,  and  numbered  more  than  four 
hundred  members.  Rev.  Summers  remained  six  years  and  bap- 
tized one  hundred  and  eleven  children  at  Creagerstown.  He  was 
a  large,  strong,  robust  man  of  powerful  endurance.  He  served 
this  field  from  July  15,  1871,  to  July,  1877,  a  period  of  six  years. 
His  ministry  was  a  success. 
27 


418  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Rev.  S.  A  Hedges  followed  him  in  the  pastorate.  He  lived  at 
Lewistown,  where  a  parsonage  was  purchased.  His  labors  began 
November  1.  1877.  and  he  continued  in  the  eharge  for  six  years. 
His  labors  were  abundant  and  his  ministry  successful.  At  his 
second  communion.  May  12.  1878.  eighty-one  communed  and  a 
year  later  ninety -eight. 

Rev.  John  Milton  Snyder  became  pastor  after  a  vacancy  of 
ten  months,  serving  from  September  1,  1884,  to  January  1,  1889. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Zerger  succeeded  to  the  pastorate  of  the  same 
churches  in  the  spring  of  1889.  He  remained  three  years. 

After  a  short  vacancy  Rev.  John  U.  Asper  became  the  efficient 
pastor.  He  had  about  two  hundred  members  enrolled,  but  left 
no  records  of  his  abundant  ministry  behind  him.  His  service  was 
the  longest  of  any  in  the  brick  union  church.  It  continued  from 
July.  1892.  to  November,  1905.  He  was  loved  and  honored.  But 
difficulties  arose  regarding  the  parsonage,  and  regarding  the 
building  of  a  new  church  at  Creagerstown,  which  caused  him  to 
resign  and  remove  to  Pennsylvania. 

During  his  ministry  the  Walkersville  congregation  was  added 
to  his  charge,  which  he  served  with  increasing  appreciation,  and 
the  Utica  congregation  withdrew  from  the  charge. 

On  July  4.  190(5,  Rev.  George  W.  Crist  took  charge  of  the 
Creagerstown  church  and  continued  until  his  death  in  1914.  It 
was  during  his  pastorate,  in  1908,  that  the  present  handsome 
church  was  erected. 

With  the  coming  of  Rev.  Charles  A.  Shilke,  a  graduate  of  the 
Lutheran  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  who  took  charge  of  the  work 
immediately  after  graduation,  the  congregation  seemed  to  take  on 
new  life.  All  financial  obligations,  including  a  debt  of  $900  on 
the  new  church,  were  cancelled. 

In  May  and  June.  1919,  was  celebrated  the  185th  anniversary 
of  the  building  of  the  old  Monocacy  church,  and  also  the  tenth 
anniversary  of  the  building  of  the  present  church.  As  a  feature 
of  this  celebration,  the  interior  of  the  church  was  beautifully  fres- 
coed at  a  cost  of  $670. 

ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  UTICA, 
FREDERICK  COUNTY,  MD. 

(UTICA  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  ('harks  A.  Shilke,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  originally  an  off-shoot  of  the  old  Monoc- 
acy church  now  at  Creagerstown.  As  the  people  lived  several 
miles  from  the  Monocacy  church  they  began  to  hold  services  in 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


419 


an  old  schoolhouse.  In  1838  a  union  congregation  of  Lutherans 
and  Reformed  was  organized.  A  church  building  was  begun  that 
same  year  and  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  1839.  This  stood 
just  half  a  century. 

The  pastors  of  the  Creagerstown  church  served  the  congrega- 
tion at  Utica.  In  1877,  at  the  close  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
John  Summers,  the  charge  consisted  of  Mechanicstown  (now 
Thurmont).  Rocky  Ridge,  Creagerstown.  Utica  and  Bethel.  That 
year  the  Maryland  Synod  adopted  the  recommendation  that  the 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  UTICA,  FREDERICK  COUNTY,  MD. 

charge  be  divided.  Bethel.  Creagerstown  and  Utica  were  joined 
together  in  the  "Utica  Charge"  with  the  parsonage  at  Lewis- 
town.  After  that  the  pastors  of  St.  Paul's  at  Utica  were  the  same 
as  those  already  recorded  for  Bethel  and  St.  John's  at  Creagers- 
town. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  U.  Asper  the  Walkersville 
congregation  was  added  to  the  charge.  Shortly  after  that  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Dodrear,  by  her  will,  presented  her  property  in  Walkers- 
ville to  the  Walkersville  congregation  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage. 
The  bequest  was  accepted  and  the  pastor  removed  to  Walkers- 
ville. Thereupon  in  1905  the  Utica  congregation  declared  itself 
independent  and  secured  the  pastoral  services  of  Rev.  S.  A. 
Hedges.  Rev.  Hedges  had  been  pastor  of  the  entire  charge  from 


420 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


1877  to  188:},  and  it  was  during  his  ministry  that  the  parsonage 
at  Lewistown  had  been  purchased.  lie  served  them  very  accept- 
ably until  1916. 

Meanwhile  the   Creagerstown.    Bethel    and   AValkersville   con- 
gregations were  united  under  the  name  of  the  "Monocaey  Valley 


MR.  E.  J.  FTTERHACK, 
Utica,  Md. 


MB.  WALTER  S.  WILES, 
Utica,  Md. 


Charge."  In  1917,  under  tlie  ministry  of  the  present  pastor, 
Utica  was  reunited  with  the  other  three  congregations  and  the 
charge  is  now  known  as  the  Utica  charge. 

The  present  commodious  church  building  was  erected  in  1889, 
and  dedicated  in  March.  1890.  during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
J.  E.  Zerger. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WALKERSVILLE,  MD. 

(UTICA  CHARGE.) 
If <  r.  Charles  A.  tfhilke,  I'aslor. 

The  Lutheran  church  at  Walkersville  is  of  recent  date,  and 
hence  it  has  no  savor  of  hoary  age,  but  is  full  of  strength  and 
beauty.  The  Lutheran  people  of  the  community  were  compelled 
to  go  to  "Woodsboro  or  Utica  to  enjoy  the  ministries  of  a  Lutheran 
church. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


421 


In  1890,  at  the  meeting  of  Synod,  Rev.  S.  A.  Diehl  and  Rev. 
J.  E.  Zerger  were  appointed  to  look  after  the  Lutheran  interests 
at  Walkersville.  This  indicated  that  there  was  a  concentration 
of  Lutherans  in  this  growing  town.  In  February,  1891,  this  com- 
mittee appointed  Adam  Diehl,  Sr.,  and  Augustus  Clemm  to  so- 
licit subscriptions  for  a  new  church  in  Walkersville.  In  a  short 
time  more  than  $2,000  was  secured  in  subscriptions,  and  thirty- 
one  names  of  persons  for  an  organization.  The  congregation  was 


" 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WALKERSVILLE,  MD. 

organized  on  July  6,  1891.  and  the  following  officers  were  elected, 
and  afterwards  duly  installed :  Adam  Diehl,  Sr.,  and  John  W. 
Crum.  elders;  T.  S.  Albaugh  and  A.  S.  Neff,  deacons.  Rev.  S.  A. 
Diehl.  of  Woodsboro,  was  elected  pastor.  A  brick  church,  cost- 
ing $3.500,  was  built  on  Pennsylvania  Street.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  in  the  late  spring  of  1891.  and  the  church  was  dedicated 
on  Sunday,  July  17,  1892.  Rev.  Charles  S.  Albert,  D.D., 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Rev.  R.  S.  Patterson,  who  had  recently 
accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Woodsboro  charge,  performed  the 
service  of  dedication.  New  officers  were  also  elected  as  follows: 
Elders. — Lewis  II.  "Wachter  and  Augustus  Clemm.  Deacons — 
Charles  S.  Wachter  and  Edward  Zimmerman. 

Rev.  Patterson  continued  as  pastor  of  the  church  until  July  1, 
1893,  when  his  services  closed,  since  the  Woodsboro  charge  re- 


4°2 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


fused  to  accept  the  Walkersville  church  as  part  of  the  charge. 
The  church  was  pastorlcss  four  months  hut  services  were  held  by 
Revs.  Asper.  Hitter.  Hedges.  Haskarl.  Kuhlman.  and  Bare. 

On  Noveml)er  1.  1893.  Rev.  John  T.  Asper  hecame  pastor  of 
the  congregation  in  connection  with  the  I'tica  charge,  which  he 
was  serving.  He  held  services  every  two  weeks,  living  near 
Lewistown  at  the  parsonage  of  the  charge. 

On  August  1.  19(W.  the  congregation  came  into  possession  of  a 


MR.  T.  S. 
Walkersville,  Md. 


MR.  WALTER  W.  CULLER, 
Walkersville,  Md. 


valuable  parsonage,  containing  eight  rooms  and  other  valuable 
appurtenances,  situated  near  the  five  points  in  Walkersville.  This 
valuable  property  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Dodrear  by  be- 
quest. Rev.  Asper 's  long  ministry  and  Christian  spirit  have  left 
behind  nothing  but  the  most  kindly  memories.  Long  will  he  be 
remembered  as  the  beloved  pastor  of  Walkersville. 

Rev.  George  W.  Crist  was  the  next  pastor.  He  visited  the 
charge  on  June  3,  1906.  being  Whitsunday,  and  on  July  4,  his 
pastoral  labors  began  in  this  charge.  When  Rev.  Crist  was  called 
to  his  heavenly  reward  in  1914  he  was  taken  from  a  people  by 
whom  he  was  loved.  Kind  memories  indeed  has  he  left  behind. 

During  the  interval  between  the  death  of  Rev  George  W. 
Crist  and  the  calling  of  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  R.  S.  Patterson, 
then  pastor  of  the  Woodsboro  charge,  preached  for  this  congre- 
gation. During  this  time  the  interior  of  the  church  was  beaut i- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


423 


fully  frescoed,  and  new  pulpit  furniture  installed.    This  makes  it 
an  attractive,  tasteful  and  worshipful  church. 

Thanks  to  the  zeal  and  consecration  of  the  present  pastor  and 
the  devotion  of  his  people,  the  congregation  has  grown  in  num- 
bers and  every  department  of  the  church  is  flourishing. 


GRACE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WESTMINSTER,  MD. 

Rev.  William  II.  Hctrick,  Pastor. 

Lutheran  preaching  in  this  section  of  the  state  began  as  early 
as  1747,  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  the  nation  was  born. 

The  first  organized  Lutheran  congregation  in  Westminster  was 
established  in  1842,  when,  by  action  of  Synod,  the  little  congre- 
gation of  forty  Lutherans  who 
worshipped  at  intervals  in  the 
"Old  Union  Meeting  House," 
used  alternately  by  the  different 
Protestant  denominations  of  the 
town,  was  made  an  integral  part 
of  a  newly  constituted  pastoral 
district  known  as  the  Westminster 
charge.  Rev.  Philip  Willard,  then 
serving  the  Manchester  district, 
was  made  pastor  and  served  until 
1845. 

The  pastors  who  held  services  in 
the  "Old  Union  Church''  while 
serving  the  Westminster  charge, 
were  Rev.   Cornelius  Reimensny- 
der,    1846-1849,    and    Rev.    John 
Winter,  1849-1853.    It  was  during 
the  pastorate  of  the  Rev  Mr.  Win- 
ter that  preaching  was  discontinued  in  Westminster  and  it  was 
not  resumed  again  until  a  permanent  Lutheran  church  was  built 
in  1868.     Other  pastors  of  the  charge  in  the  interim  were  Rev. 
Samuel  Henry.  1853-1859,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Martin.  1859-1863. 

To  Rev.  H.  C.  Holloway,  D.D.,  still  living  at  this  writing,  is 
due  the  credit  of  having  firmly  established  a  Lutheran  church  in 
this  city.  Rev.  Holloway  was  called  to  the  pastorate  from  the 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  assuming  charge  July  16.  1863.  At 
once  the  young  graduate  became  possessed  with  the  "set  pur- 
pose" of  building  a  church  in  the  town  and  assiduously  applied 


REV.  WILLIAM  H.  HETRICK. 


424 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


himself  to  the  task.  In  the  face  of  many  difficulties  and  consid- 
erable misgivings  on  the  part  of  the  Lutheran  residents,  he  suc- 
eeeded  in  his  purpose.  Without  an  organized  congregation  to 
authorize  the  enterprise,  a  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $15,000. 
Only  twenty-two  members  constituted  the  congregation  when  it 
was  subsequently  organized.  Dr.  Ilolloway  has  erected  a  lasting 
monument  to  his  name  which  shall  not  be  forgotten  as  long  as 

Grace  church  is  in  existence. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  Au- 
gust  f>,  1866.  and  the  edifice 
dedicated  February  23,  1868. 
In  l"ss  than  three  months  from 
the  completion  of  the  new 

l__^k  church    the    congregation    was 

lei  t  without  a  pastor,  Rev  Hol- 
loway  having  resigned  May  5, 
1S68. 

Rev.  P.  A.  Stroble,  1868- 
1S69.  succeeded  Rev.  Holloway 
and  served  the  charge  only  one 
year.  This  was  a  short  pastor- 
ate, yet  the  records  show  an  in- 
crease in  membership  from 
twenty-two  to  one  hundred 
twenty.  Some  of  the  most  ac- 
tive and  prominent  laymen  of 
the  church  in  after  years  were 
among  these  accessions. 

Under  Rev.  John  A.  Earnest. 


GRACE  LUTHEPAN  CHURCH, 
WESTMINSTER,  MD. 


1869-187S,  a  period  of  more  effective  organization  and  internal 
development  began.  Organizations  such  as  the  Ladies'  Aid  So- 
ciety, a  Teachers'  Meeting  and  a  Children's  Missionary  Society 
in  the  Sunday  school,  were  begun  and  firmly  established.  The 
children  of  the  Sunday  school  were  taught  the  importance  of 
weekly  systematic  support  of  missions.  Rev.  Earnest  not  only 
provided  a  very  effective  plan  for  reducing  the  church  debt,  but 
taught  the  congregation  the  highly  important  duty  of  giving  to- 
ward benevolence  at  this  opportune  time.  lie  resigned  in  the 
spring  of  1878. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  II.  W.  Kuhns.  1878-1887,  the 
church  passed  through  its  period  of  greatest  trial  and  suffering. 
It  also  had  its  glorious  time  of  triumph.  While  the  pastor  was 
busily  engaged  in  introducing  the  various  festivals  of  the  church 
year  and  bringing  his  people  also  to  observe  the  annual  commem- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


425 


oration  of  the  Reformation,  he  suddenly  found  himself  without  a 
church  and  parsonage.  On  that  night  of  April  9,  1883,  a  fire 
broke  out  in  the  town,  burning  everything  in  its  path  until  it 
reached  the  church  properties  and  left  these  in  ruins  also.  The 
loss  to  the  congregation  was  $22,000  with  only  $5.000  insurance. 
Immediately  steps  were  taken  to  rebuild  both  church  and  par- 
sonage and  by  August  of  that  year  the  corner  stone  of  the  present 
church  was  laid,  and  on  October  26.  1884,  the  building  was  con- 


Ma.  THOMAS  F.  BABYLON, 
Westminster,  Md. 


ME.  JACOB  H.  HANDLEY, 
Westminster,  Md. 


secrated.  The  cost  of  the  new  church  was  $17,000,  all  of  which 
was  provided  for  on  the  day  of  dedication. 

It  was  during  the  latter  part  of  Dr.  Kuhns'  pastorate  that  the 
Westminster  charge  was  divided.  Thus  Grace  church  became  an 
independent  congregation,  the  other  two  churches  henceforth  to 
be  known  as  the  Salem  charge.  Dr.  Kuhns  resigned  October  16, 
1887. 

Rev.  P.  H.  Miller,  of  Lovettsville,  Virginia,  became  pastor  of 
the  church  on  November  18,  1887.  Dr.  Miller  labored  hard  and 
faithfully  through  a  long  pastorate  of  twenty-three  years,  in 
which  period  the  church  received  its  present  strength  and  sta- 
bility. The  membership  increased  from  one  hundred  forty  to 
three  hundred  fifty  communicants  The  single  envelope  system  in 
church  finances  was  introduced  and  the  present  pipe  organ  pur- 
chased and  dedicated  June  5. 1892. 

In  1892  Dr.  Miller  published  in  commemoration  of  the  church's 


426 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYN'OO. 


Silver  Jubilee,  an  admirable  history  of  Grace  church,  iu  one  vol- 
ume, with  an  appendix  of  brief  sketches  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gations in  Carroll  County,  a  work  of  inestimable  value  for  his- 
toric purposes  to  the  Lutherans  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Dr. 
Miller  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  Lilly,  Pa.,  February  1,  1911. 

Rev.  William  II.  Iletrick.  of  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church. 
Philadelphia,  was  elected  to  succeed  Dr.  Miller  and  took  charge 
of  the  church  May  21.  1911.  Rev.  Iletrick  introduced  the  bi- 
poeket  envelope  system  for  church  finances,  which  has  proved 
very  satisfactory.  An  Every  Member  canvass  has  been  held  an- 
nually for  the  past  seven  years.  Last  year  over  $1,600  was  raised 

for  benevolence  alone.  The  syn- 
odical  minutes  show  a  steady  in- 
crease of  excess  on  the  apportion- 
ment each  succeeding  year.  A  dis- 
tinctive missionary  spirit  has  de- 
veloped. The  church  subscribed 
$700  for  the  Diamond  Jubilee 
Fund  for  India,  .and  at  present  is 
gathering  a  fund  for  the  hospital 
in  Rentachintala.  Dr.  Alfred 
Ptitsch,  the  medical  missionary  in 
charge  of  the  hospital,  received  his 
inspiration  for  the  foreign  field 
while  worshipping  in  Grace 
church  when  a  student  at  Western 
Maryland  College.  Rev.  Luther 
M.  Kuhns,  Litt.D.,  of  Omaha. 
Nebraska,  entered  the  ministry 
from  this  congregation. 

The  present  roll  of  membership 


MK.  JOHN*  ,T.  REESE, 
Westminster,  Md. 


shows  a  number  of  names  of  persons  who  are  descendants  of  the 
Lutherans  of  the  first  congregation  of  1842,  such  as  the  Wag- 
oners, the  Reeses,  and  the  Schaeffers.  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Cunning- 
ham, one  of  the  charter  members  of  Grace  church  in  1866.  is  still 
a  faithful  attendant  every  Sunday  at  both  Sunday  school  and 
church.  Several  teachers  of  the  Sunday  school  in  Dr.  Earnest's 
time  are  still  with  us, — Mrs.  Nelson  Gilbert,  Mrs.  George  Sulli- 
van. Mrs.  Amanda  Shunk  and  Mr.  Jacob  Elgin.  The  church  has 
had  some  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  community  in  her 
membership,  the  Honorable  John  E.  Smith,  associate  judge  of 
circuit  court;  Mr.  Joseph  M.  Park,  Mr.  Edwin  J.  Lawyer.  Mr. 
H.  F.  Grouse,  and  Mr.  W.  L.  W.  Seabrook.  The  former  Chil- 
dren's Department  Secretary  of  the  W.  II.  &  F.  M.  S.  of  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  427 

General  Synod,  now  the  Junior  Department  Secretary  of  the 
Woman's  Missionary  Society  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church. 
Mrs.  John  D.  Belt,  is  an  active  member  of  the  church.  The  three 
laymen,  whose  photographs  accompany  this  sketch,  have  served 
on  the  church  council  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  or  more : 
Mr.  Jacob  H.  Handler,  Mr.  Thomas  F.  Babylon,  and  Mr.  John 
J.  Reese. 

MESSIAH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BERRETT,  MIX 

(WOODBINE  CHARGE.) 
Her.  M.  E.  McLinn,  Pastor. 

The  Woodbine  charge,  Carroll  County.  Maryland,  is  composed 
of  two  congregatons.  viz:  Messiah,  near  Berrett,  and  Calvary, 
located  at  Woodbine.  The  charge  was  at  one  time  called  the 
Freedom  charge. 

The  congregation  worshipping  at  Messiah  church  was  organized 
June  11,  1882.  under  the  pastoral  oversight  of  Rev.  C.  Lepley. 
who  then  resided  at  Reisterstown.  Hearing  of  a  little  colony 
of  Lutherans  who  had  settled  near  Freedom,  he  visited  the  com- 
munity and  preached  for  these  children  of  Luther.  Loyal  to  the 
faith  of  the  great  Reformer,  in  which  they  had  been  reared,  they 
rejoiced  in  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  Gospel,  as  in  former  years, 
from  a  Lutheran  minister,  and  invited  Rev.  Lepley  to  continue 
his  ministrations,  which  he  did.  The  services  were  held  at  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church  at  Berrett,  until  the  privilege  was 
withdrawn,  when  a  schoolhouse  nearby  was  secured  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  charter  members  were  as  follows:  Jonas  Ebbert.  D. 
M.  Shoemaker,  Charles  F.  Beck.  William  L.  Xott.  William  Will, 
Mahlon  Bower.  George  W.  Hess,  Mrs.  Wolbert.  Susanna  Ebbert, 
Laura  E.  Hess,  Mary  S.  Shoemaker,  Mary  M.  Beck.  Esther  Baker 
and  Mrs.  F.  A.  E.  Will.  The  most  of  these  people,  if  not  all, 
came  from  the  neighborhood  of  Taneytown. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  September  5,  1883.  on  a  lot  donated 
for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  D.  M.  Shoemaker,  but  the  church  was  not 
dedicated  until  the  spring  of  1885.  In  October  of  the  same  year, 
by  the  action  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  the  congregation  was  made 
a  part  of  the  Union  Bridge  charge,  wrhen  Rev.  C.  L.  T.  Fisher, 
the  pastor  of  this  charge,  succeeded  Rev.  C.  Lepley  at  Messiah 
church.  In  1886  Rev.  M.  E.  McLinn  succeeded  Rev.  Fisher,  and 
served  the  congregation  for  four  years  and  four  months,  when 
Synod  divided  the  charge,  to  which  two  new  congregations  had 


428  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

been  added  by  Rev.  McLinn;  one  at  Woodbine  and  one  at  Tay- 
lorsville.  which  made  it  too  largo  to  be  served  by  one  man.  Rev. 
J.  C.  MeGaughey  then  supplied  the  charge,  consisting  now  of 
the  Messiah  and  the  two  new  congregations  just  named  until  the 
spring  of  1891.  Rev.  II.  A.  Letterman  took  charge  as  pastor 
July,  1891,  and  served  until  July,  1894. 

The  parsonage  owned  by  the  Messiah  church  is  located  at  Ber- 
rett. 

The  list  of  pastors  of  this  congregation  from  the  beginning  is 
as  follows:  Rev.  0.  Lepley.  1883;  Rev.  C.  L.  T.  Fisher,  1885; 
Rev.  M.  E.  McLinn.  188(5;  Rev.  J.  C.  McGaughey,  1891;  Rev. 
II.  A.  Letterman,  1892;  Rev.  .1.  L.  Nicholas,  1897;  Rev.  P.  J. 
Shriver,  1901;  Rev.  George  Trostle,  1907:  Rev.  I).  R.  Becker, 
1912;  Rev.  G.  \V.  Baughman.  1915;  Rev.  M.  E.  McLinn,  1919. 

CALVARY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WOODBINE,  MIX 

(WOODBINE  CHARGE.) 

Re i<.  M.  E.  McLinn,  Pastor. 

Calvary  church  grew  out  of  services  held  in  a  lumber  building 
nearby,  by  Rev.  M.  E.  McLinn.  then  pastor  at  Union  Bridge,  be- 
ginning in  February,  1889.  The  corner  stone  was  laid,  December 
29,  1889;  a  congregation  of  seventeen  members  was  organized 
January  14.  1890.  and  the  church  was  dedicated  October  26,  1890. 
By  action  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  the  same  month,  the  new  con- 
gregation, St.  Paul's  at  Taylorsville,  which  had  just  been  organ- 
ized, and  Messiah  congregation,  were  formed  into  a  pastorate. 
Rev.  J.  C.  McGaughey  was  at  once  called  as  a  supply,  and  served 
the  charge  until  March.  1891.  In  July.  1891.  Rev.  H.  A.  Letter- 
man assumed  charge,  and  continued  as  pastor  until  July,  1894. 

The  pastors  for  Calvary  church  were  the  same  as  the  above  list 
of  pastors  of  Messiah  church  from  1890  to  the  present. 

SOLOMON'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WOODSBORO,  MIX 

(WOODSBORO  CHARGE.) 

Rev.  R.  S.  Patterson,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Solomon's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  Woodsboro.  was 
organized  February  10.  1805.  Rev.  W.  Jasinsky  was  the  first 
pastor.  The  church  and  grounds,  as  was  the  custom  of  that  day 
in  many  places,  were  jointly  owned  by  the  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed congregations.  The  original  church  was  a  stone  struc- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


429 


ture  thirty-five  by  forty-five  feet,  and  was  built  in  the  year  1805. 
To  this  edifice  there  was  built  a  splendid  stone  tower  and  spire, 
the  base  of  which  served  as  a  vestibule.  It  was  not  entirely  com- 
pleted until  1822. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  that  have  served 
the  church  from  its  founding  up  to  the  present  time,  with  the 
dates  of  their  installation:  Wil- 
liam Jasinsky,  1805;  D.  F. 
Schaeffer,  1808 ;  Frederick  Haas. 
1816;  Michael  Wachter,  1823 ;  S. 
W.  Harkey,  1835;  R.  Weiser, 
1836-37 ;  John  J.  Reimensnyder, 
1841;  Michael  Wachter,  1847; 
William  Hunt,  1850;  George  H. 
Beckley,  1857 ;  S.  W.  Owen,  1866 ; 
Michael  N.  Fair,  1870 ;  B.  F.  Alle- 
man,  1873;  A.  W.  Lentz,  1874; 
D.  M.  Lamotte,  1876 ;  S.  A.  Diehl, 
1885 ;  Richard  S.  Patterson,  1892 : 
W.  E.  Wheeler.  1900 ;  R,  S.  Pof- 
fenberger,  1905 ;  R.  S.  Patterson, 
1917  (returned). 

In  1839-40  the  church,  which 
was  still  owned  by  both  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  congregations,  was 

repaired  at  a  cost  of  $1.200.  At  this  time  Rev.  R.  Weiser  was 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  congregation.  Dr.  James  W.  Eichelberger 
was  the  member  of  the  repair  committee  from  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation. It  was  at  this  time  that  the  ancient  funnel-shaped 
pulpit,  attached  high  up  upon  the  wall,  gave  place  to  another  of 
more  modern  style  and  character.  About  the  year  1859  the  stee- 
ple of  the  church  lost  its  equilibrium  and  leaned  over  to  one  side. 
To  add  to  the  trouble  it  was  struck  by  lightning,  and  henceforth 
became  quite  a  dangerous  looking  concern.  Strange  to  say.  about 
the  time  the  tower  became  unsettled  on  its  foundations,  the  two 
congregations  that  had  worshipped  peaceably  together  for  more 
than  a  half  century  became  unsettled  also.  There  was  a  sharp 
contention  between  the  two  councils  about  the  regularity  of  the 
election  and  organization  of  the  Reformed  council  and  hence  their 
right  to  participate  in  the  joint  council  meetings.  The  feeling 
waxed  warm  and  spread  through  the  congregations  so  that  it 
soon  became  apparent  that  two  churches  were  needed  for  the 
contending  parties,  one  for  the  Lutheran  and  one  for  the  Re- 
formed. 


REV.  R.  S.  PATTERSON,  D.D. 


430  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Iii  the  year  I860,  with  Rev.  George  Beckley  as  pastor,  the 
building  of  a  new  church  was  begun.  The  site  selected  was  that 
now  occupied  by  the  church  building  on  Main,  or  Frederick 
Street.  The  structure  was  a  plain  massive1  building,  forty  by 
sixty  feet,  with  Sunday  school  and  lecture  room  in  the  basement. 

In  1865  Rev.  (}.  H.  Heckley  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  and 
the  church  was  again  without  the  services  of  a  pastor.  It  was 
not  long  to  remain  so.  for  on  the  twelfth  day  of  March.  1866,  the 
council  met  and  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  S.  W.  Owen,  after- 
wards pastor  of  St.  John's  church.  Ilagerstown,  Maryland.  He 
was  called  "upon  a  salary  of  $650  and  a  free  house." 

One  of  the  first  acts  under  the  administration  of  Dr.  Owen  was 
to  buy  the  splendid  and  convenient  church  property  now  used  as 
the  parsonage.  As  an  evidence  of  the  charge's  appreciation  of 
the  services  of  Rev.  Owen,  they  annually  increased  his  salary,  so 
that  if  he  had  remained  for  another  year  he  would  have  received 
one  thousand  dollars  for  his  services. 

The  most  important  act  of  the  congregation  during  his  pas- 
torate was  the  purchasing  of  a  bury  ing-ground  for  the  church. 
The  records  show  that  at  a  congregational  meeting  in  the  month 
of  May.  18(57.  Adam  Diehl,  George  D.  Mertx  and  Michael  Shank 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  and  purchase  a  suitable  lot 
of  ground  to  be  used  as  a  cemetery  by  the  church.  Accordingly 
on  September  27.  1867,  they  bought  of  George  Flickinger  four 
acres  of  land  lying  on  the  southwest  corner  of  his  farm,  along  the 
Woodsboro  and  Frederick  turnpike  south  of  the  town.  They 
agreed  to  pay  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  piece  of  ground. 

This  cemetery  has  since  figured  prominently  in  the  history  and 
workings  of  the  church.  The  money  was  not  paid  down  for  it 
when  bought :  Dr.  Owen  soon  left  the  field ;  meanwhile  the  debt, 
with  interest  and  cost  of  improvements  kept  on  increasing.  It 
soon  became  a  heavy  burden  to  the  church  and  was  not  finally 
settled  until  March  1.  1887.  when  the  total  amount  paid  for  it 
was  $2.266.05. 

Rev.  D.  M.  Lamotte  was  called  to  the  charge  in  July,  1876,  the 
historic  centennial  year.  No  man  has  ever  served  the  church 
with  greater  acceptance.  Unfortunately  he  died  on  January  17, 
1885.  from  the  shock  of  having  a  limb  amputated.  lie  was  buried 
in  the  Mount  Hope  Cemetery,  right  near  the  main  entrance, 
where  his  admiring  church  members  and  friends  have  erected  a 
beautiful  marble  monument  to  his  sacred  memory.  He  was  a 
much  beloved  pastor  and  his  portrait  may  be  seen  upon  the 
walls  of  the  homes  of  nearly  all  his  former  parishioners. 

Rev.   S.   A.  Diehl  was  called  to  become  his  successor.     Rev. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  431 

Diehl  was  a  great  financier  and  builder.  He  paid  off  the  old 
cemetery  debt  and  built  a  new  church  in  the  charge.  He  served 
until  1892,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  new  field  of  labor. 

There  was  a  vacancy  of  a  few  months  following  Rev.  Diehl 's 
departure,  during  which  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  mem- 
bers of  the  senior  class  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg. Among  those  who  came  to  fill  the  appointment  for  one 
Sabbath  was  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Richard  S.  Patterson,  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina.  The  people  took  kindly  to  him  from  that 
first  service  and  extended  him  a  call  on  February  8,  1892,  to  be- 
come their  pastor,  on  the  completion  of  his  theological  course  in 
June.  He  accepted  taking  charge  on  June  12,  1892.  During  this 
pastorate  many  forward  movements  were  inaugurated. 

The  next  pastor,  Rev.  W.  E.  Wheeler,  served  the  charge  very 
acceptably  from  1900  to  1905.  During  the  pastorate  of  his  suc- 
cessor. Rev.  R.  S.  Poffenberger,  the  present  handsome  church 
was  erected.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  new  edifice  is  $25,000. 

During  the  past  two  years  the  Rev.  Dr.  Patterson  has  been 
serving  the  charge  for  a  second  time.  During  this  time  the 
church  debt  has  been  reduced  from  $10,000  to  $1,500.  and  the 
parsonage  has  been  completely  transformed  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 

Some  of  the  honorable  family  names  in  connection  with  this 
congregation  are :  Diehls,  Shanks.  Dorcus,  Smiths,  Hulls,  Hol- 
brenners,  LeGores,  Cushalls.  Devilbiss.  Sharretts,  and  others. 
The  present  council  is  composed  of  the  following :  Elders — Mil- 
dred Phillips,  D.  A.  Sharretts  (deceased),  Lycurgus  Flanigan. 
William  Cutshall.  Deacons — W.  C.  LeGore,  Morris  Saylor,  John 
M.  Smith,  and  Roy  Moore. 


MOUXT  ZIOX  (HAUGH'S)  LUTHERAN 
CHURCH,  WOODSBORO,  MI). 

(WOODSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  R.  S.  Patterson,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

Mount  Zion  is  six  years  older  in  its  organization  than  Woods- 
boro.  It  was  established  in  the  year  1799.  Like  Woodsboro,  it. 
too,  at  first  was  a  union  church — Lutheran  and  Reformed.  The 
old  church  was  a  typical  one  of  the  times.  It  had  a  high  pulpit 
and  gallery  on  three  sides.  The  present  pastor  of  the  Woodsboro 
charge  preached  in  it  on  one  occasion  more  than  twenty-five  years 
ago. 

Like  Woodsboro,  Mount  Zion  also  felt  that  a  half  century  of 


432 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


time  was  long  enough  for  them  to  learn  to  go  it  alone.  So  they 
secured  ground  and  built  a  stone  church  across  the  road  from  the 
old  site.  This  church  stood  for  many  years  and  was  used  for  wor- 
ship by  the  congregation  until  the  year  1904  and  1905.  Then  the 
present  beautiful  brick  church  was  erected.  The  promoters  of 

the   new   building   were :     E.    O. 

('ash,  Edwin  Sharetts,  Frederick 
Mehring,  John  Rielil  and  others. 
The  plans  were  adopted  and  the 
building  was  Hearing  completion 
when  the  vacancy  of  the  pastorate 
was  filled  in  1905,  by  the  calling 
of  Rev.  Poffenberger. 

Some  of  the  honored  family 
names  connected  with  the  church 
are:  Sharretts,  Biehl,  Birely, 
Cash,  Krons,  Warner,  Mehring, 
Cover,  Garver,  Eyler,  and  others 
who  are  worthy  also  of  mention. 
The  present  council  is  composed 
of  the  following:  Elders — Healt, 
Devilbiss,  E.  0.  Cash,  William 
Mehring.  Deacons — Milton  Mil- 
ler, Harry  Leatherman,  Emery 
Warner  and  Lewis  W  a  r  n  e  r. 
Charles  Garver  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

The  congregation  has  enrolled  among  its  members  some  of 
the  most  liberal  and  loyal  supporters  of  the  Tre>isler's  Orphan 
Home  at  Loysville.  Pa.  Children's  Day  is  a  sort  of  rally  day  for 
this  worthy  institution  and  the  Mount  Zion  Sunday  school  ranks 
high  in  the  synod  with  its  offerings  for  the  Home  on  that  day. 
This  year  the  amount  was  $175.  The  outlook  for  prosperity  and 
growth  in  this  old  country  congregation  is  reassuring. 


MR.  K.  II.  SHARK-ITS, 
Koymar,  M<1. 


GRACE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  (ROCKY  HILL), 
AVOODSBORO,  MI). 

(WOODSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rer.  R.  8.  Patterson.  /)./).,  Pastor. 

Grace  church  is  by  far  the  oldest  congregation  of  the  four 
constituting  this  pastorate.  It  was  organized  in  1767.  a  decade 
before  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed.  How  long 
before  that  the  fathers  gathered  and  worshipped  God  under  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE.  433 

gnarled  and  gigantic  oak  trees  that  crown  the  hill,  no  one  living 
knows ;  but  it  must  have  .been  for  some  time. 

In  the  grant  given  by  the  English  Government,  the  grounds 
were  to  be  used  for  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Lutherans  and  Pres- 
byterians. There  are  no  Presbyterians  in  this  vicinity.  The  Re- 
formed may  have  been  meant,  for  later  their  name  and  the  names 
of  their  pastors  are  used  in  the  church  records  instead  of  the 
name  of  the  Presbyterians.  The  church  burying-ground,  etc., 
wrere  jointly  used  by  them  until  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  A.  Diehl, 
who  took  charge  in  1885  and  under  whose  leadership  a  wise  and 
amicable  separation  took  place  and  the  present  church  was  built 
—the  Reformed  people  returning  to  the  old  church.  This  they 
moved  to  Centerville  about  the  year  1887,  leaving  the  Lutherans 
in  full  possession  of  the  old  site,  which  is  one  of  the  most  suitable 
and  attractive  anywhere. 

The  Rocky  Hill  congregation  is  one  given  largely  to  sentiment 
and  love  for  the  old  church  home.  Many  of  them  live  much 
nearer  the  other  churches  of  the  parish  but  retain  membership 
here.  This  old  church  is  in  sight  of  the  Woodsboro  church. 
Nevertheless  some  of  the  members  of  this  church  find  no  other 
just  like  it,  and  they  cling  to  it  with  an  affectionate  zeal. 

The  honored  names  found  on  the  records  of  this  congregation 
are :  Beard.  Fogle.  Keeney,  Smith,  Eyler,  Feezer,  Hildebrand. 
Locks,  and  others  who  made  a  good  record  for  the  church  in  their 
day. 

The  present  church  council  is  composed  of  the  following: 
Elders — Benjamin  Eyler,  Jacob  Feezer,  J.  P.  Cramer,  and 
Thomas  Arnold.  Deacons — Franklin  Grimes,  John  Toms,  Sam- 
uel Fogle.  and  John  Welty. 

One  of  the  features  of  this  congregation  is  a  family  reunion 
and  all-day  picnic  on  the  grounds  about  the  church  once  a  year. 
The  ' '  Rocky  Hill ' '  picnic  has  become  an  institution  and  is  always 
attended  by  large  crowds.  The  day  for  this  event  is  always  the 
first  Saturday  in  August.  The  scattered  clans  and  distant  friends 
of  old  "Rocky  Hill"  are  sure  to  be  on  hand  on  picnic  day. 

UXIOX  CHAPEL,  LIBERTYTOWN?  MD. 

(WOODSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  K.  S.  Patterson,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

This  is  the  fourth  member  of  the  congregational  family  con- 
stituting the  Woodsboro  charge.  It  is  what  its  name  suggests — 
a  chapel  and  a  union  congregation.  It  is  located  about  two  miles 

28 


434  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

east  of  Libertytown.  Md..  and  five  miles  southeast  of  Woodsboro. 
Before  the  present  chapel  was  built,  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed 
met  and  held  services  under  a  large  chestnut  tree  which  stood  on 
the  present  burying-ground.  The  tree  has  long  since  been  re- 
moved. 

This  chapel  was  built  to  accommodate  a  certain  number  of 
good  people  who  lived  in  this  vicinity  and  regarded  it  too  far  to 
attend  Lutheran  or  Reformed  services,  either  in  Woodsboro  or 
Frederick.  Hence  it  was  called  a  chapel.  So  it  has  remained  and 
so  it  will  be.  It  is  still  used  by  both  bodies  and  is  among  the  very 
few  union  congregations  in  the  county,  where  fifty  years  ago 
there  were  so  many. 

The  prominent  family  names  are:  Albaugh,  Beard,  Reddick, 
Valentine,  Filler,  Burrier.  and  others.  The  Valentines  are  mem- 
bers of  the  family  that  gave  to  the  General  Synod  Lutheran 
Church  the  late  Dr.  Milton  Valentine,  of  Gettysburg,  who  was  a 
distinguished  leader  and  theologian  in  the  church  for  many  years. 
A  nephew  of  his,  M.  0.  Valentine,  is  at  present  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  school.  The  congregation  is  small,  less  than 
one  hundred  communicants,  but  very  loyal  to  the  church  of  the 
fathers. 


OTHER  MEMBERS  OF  THE  MIDDLE  CONFERENCE. 


REV.  W.  H.  SETTLEMEYER.  REV.  LI-THER  KUHLMAX,  D.D. 


REV.  \V.  M.  SPAXCLER. 


REV.  J.  P.  WADE. 


CHAPTER  XVT. 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE. 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BOONSBORO,  MIX 

(BooNSRORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Frederick  L.  Will,  Pastor. 

I.  Ringer's  Church.  This  church,  which  was  exclusively  Lu- 
thoran  and  in  which  the  services  were  all  German,  was  located  on 
"Ringgold's  Manor."  near  "Fountain  Rock,"  six  miles  from 
Hagerstown  and  three  miles  from  Boonsboro.  The  place  is  now 
called  "Monroe." 

The  congregation  was  organized  as  a  preaching  point  as  early 
as  1750.  Its  first  building  was  of  logs.  Tn  1774,  when  Rev.  John 
George  Young,  of  St.  John's 
Church  in  Ilagersto\vn.  supplied 
the  congregation  with  preaching, 
the  lower  part  of  the  building  was 
occupied  as  a  schoolhouse  and 
dwelling  for  the  teacher.  The 
upper  part  was  used  for  worship. 
The  congregation  in  1775  con- 
sisted of  twenty  families.  For 
many  years  there  were  no  stoves 
in  the  room  occupied  for  worship 
by  the  congregation.  "When  the 
children  of  these  sturdy  old  Ger- 
mans in  later  days  grew  up  and 
their  parents  had  passed  away, 
they  introduced  stoves,  which  at 
first  created  a  sensation.  Many 
thought  Satan  had  gotten  into  the 
church  by  the  introduction  of  heat. 

The  known  pastors  were  Rev.  Jacob  Goering,  who  came  in  1792, 
and  Rev.  John  George  Schmucker,  who  came  in  1793.  The 
former  was  the  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Middletown, 
Frederick  County,  and  the  latter  was  pastor  of  St.  John's  Church, 
Hagerstown,  Washington  County. 

IT.  The  Church  in  Boonsboro.  The  Lutheran  Church  in  Boons- 
boro is  the  offspring  of  Ringer's  Church.  The  town  of  Boonsboro 

437 


REV.  FREDERICK  L.  WILL. 


4:18  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

was  laid  out  in  1778.  There  was  no  preaching  in  the  town  in 
1800.  The  Lutherans  worshiped  at  Ringer's.  In  1802  the  Lu- 
therans joined  with  the  Reformed  congregation,  which  had  a 
church  at  Schwang's,  half  a  mile  away,  and  formed  a  Union 
church  in  Boonsboro,  and  named  the  organi/ation.  "The  Salem 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  Church."  This  was  during  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  .1.  (ieorge  Schmucker.  whose  pastorate  included  the  con- 
gregations of  Ilagerstown  and  Middletown.  The  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  congregations  at  tirst  held  their  services  in  the  school 
house  of  the  town.  The  money  for  a  church  building  was  raised 
in  part  by  a  lottery.  The.  church  was  built  in  1810  and  called 
"Salem  Church."  It  was  the  first  church  built  in  Boonsboro. 
It  was  built  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Graeber  of  the  Lu- 
theran, and  Rev.  Jonathan  Rauhauser  of  tin1  Reformed  Church. 
Rev.  Grabber  was  also  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Middle- 
town  where  he  lived. 

The  site  upon  which  "Salem  Church"  was  built  is  the  location 
of  the  present  Reformed  building  on  Church  Street.  The  ground 
was  a  gift  from  the  Boon  family,  descendants  of  William  Boon, 
the  founder  of  the  town.  It  was  built  of  stone.  The  total  cost 
was  $3.200. 

From  1802  to  1832  Salem  Church  of  Boonsboro  was  attached  to 
the  Middletown  pastorate.  The  pastors  in  that  time  were  Revs. 
J.  G.  Graeber,  J.  Kaehler,  Jacob  Schnee.  Abram  Reck  and  Peter 
Riser.  From  1829  to  1830  Rev.  Henry  Lewis  Baugher  served  the 
Salem  Lutheran  Church.  In  1832  he  became  professor  in  Penn- 
sylvania College,  Gettysburg,  and  afterwards  president  of  the 
college. 

In  1835  a  new  pastorate  was  formed  by  the  union  of  Ringer's, 
Bakersville  and  Boonsboro  Lutheran  congregations,  called  the 
"Boonsboro  Charge."  The  first  pastor  of  the  charge  was  Rev. 
Solomon  Oswald.  lie  became  pastor  in  1835  and  resigned  in 
1840. 

In  1840  the  Rev.  George  Diehl  became  the  second  pastor  of  the 
Boonsboro  charge.  During  Rev.  Diehl's  pastorate  a  Lutheran 
congregation  was  organized  by  him  at  Locust  Grove,  five  miles 
south  of  Boonsboro.  Rev.  Mr.  Diehl  resigned  the  charge  Septem- 
ber 1,  1843.  to  accept  a  call  to  Easton.  Pa. 

In  1843  Rev.  William  Hunt  was  called  to  the  Boonsboro  pas- 
torate. He  was  a  noted  revivalist.  During  his  pastorate  in  1844 
he  built  a  church  at  Locust  Grove.  The  charge  was  now  com- 
posed of  Boonsboro.  Bakersville.  Sharpsburg  and  Locust  Grove, 
Ringer's  congregation  was  absorbed  by  Boonsboro  and  preaching 
at  Ringer's  was  discontinued.  Through  some  disagreement  with 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  439 

the  Boonsboro  congregation  Rev.  .Mr.  Hunt  resigned  the  Boons- 
boro congregation  in  1848  and  removed  1'roni  Boonsboro  to  Loeust 
Grove  and  continued  to  preach  to  the  remainder  of  the  congrega- 
tions in  the  charge. 

On  .March  1.  1848,  Rev.  C.  C.  Culler  received  a  call  to  Boons- 
boro  and  attached  Funkstown  and  Beaver  Creek  to  Boonsboro, 
thus  forming  a  charge  consisting  of  Boonsboro,  Funkstown  and 
Beaver  Creek,  and  called  the  Boonsboro  charge.  While  Mr.  Hunt 
was  holding  revival  meetings  in  Sharpsburg  in  January,  1849, 
Rev.  Mr.  Culler  was  holding  the  same  at  Boonsboro.  In  1851 
Rev.  Mr.  Culler  resigned  and  Rev.  John  M.  Unruh  became  the 
pastor  of  the  Boonsboro  charge. 

In  1859  another  charge  was  formed  out  of  Boonsboro,  Sharps- 
burg  and  Locust  Grove.  Funkstown  and  Beaver  Creek  joined 
Bakersville  to  form  the  Funkstown  charge.  Locust  Grove  and 
Sharpsburg  joined  Boonsboro  to  form  a  new  Boonsboro  charge. 
To  this  new  Boonsboro  charge  the  Rev.  Amos  Copenhaver  was 
called  in  1859.  He  resigned  in  1867. 

In  1867  Rev.  G.  "W.  Weills  was  called  to  the  charge,  and  he  re- 
signed in  1868.  Rev.  George  H.  Beckley  was  called  to  the  charge  in 
1868.  Rev.  Mr.  Beckley  now  organized  St.  Peter's  of  Keedysville 
and  St.  Mark's  of  Rohrersville  and  built  two  churches.  When 
these  two  new  congregations  were  admitted  to  the  charge,  the  Lo- 
cust Grove  congregation  withdrew  and  joined  the  Harper's  Ferry 
charge.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Beckley,  the  separation  of 
the  joint  interest  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregation  of 
the  Salem  Church  took  place.  The  division  occurred  in  1870. 
The  Lutherans  sold  their  interest  to  the  Reformed  and  bought  a 
lot  on  Main  Street  and  built  a  church  with  the  name  of  "Trinity 
Lutheran  Church  of  Boonsboro." 

Rev.  Mr.  Beckley  was  the  church  builder  of  the  Boonsboro 
charge.  During  his  ministry  he  erected  three  churches  in  the 
charge,  one  in  Boonsboro,  one  in  Keedysville  and  one  in  Rohrers- 
ville. lie  resigned  in  1882. 

Rev.  David  B.  Floyd  was  called  to  the  Boonsboro  charge  April 
1,  1882.  The  charge  was  composed  of  four  congregations,  vix: 
Trinity  in  Boonsboro,  St.  Peter's  at  Keedysville,  Mt.  Calvary  at 
Sharpsburg,  and  St.  Mark's  at  Rohrersville.  On  October  1,  1882, 
the  Sharpsburg  and  Keedysville  congregations  withdrew  and 
united  with  the  Bakersville  congregation  to  form  a  new  charge. 
Boonsboro  and  Rohrersville  congregations  now  constituted  the 
Boonsboro  charge.  During  Rev.  Floyd's  pastorate  a  parsonage 
was  built  and  Albert  0.  Mullen  and  William  G.  Slifer  were 
started  on  their  way  to  enter  the  Lutheran  ministry.  Other  sons 


440  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

of  the  congregation  \vh<>  had  long  before  entered  the  ministry 
were  William  J.  Smith  and  Luther  L.  Smith. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  of  the  Ringer's  and 
Boonsboro  congregations,  with  the  date  of  the  years  of  their  pas- 
torships: 

At  Kinycr'x. — Rev.  Jacob  Goering.  1792;  Rev.  John  George 
Sehmueker,  1793-1809. 

At  Ifiiitftr'x  and  Kooiisboro.—liw.  J.  G.  Graeber,  1809-19; 
Rev.  J.  Kaehler.  1819-21;  Rev.  Jacob  Sehnee.  1822-26;  Rev. 
Abram  Reck,  1829-32;  Rev.  Peter  Riser,  1832-35. 

At  Boonsboro. — Rev.  Henry  Lewis  Baugher,  1S29-30;  Rev. 
Solomon  Oswald.  1835-40;  Rev.  George  Diehl.  1840-43;  Rev. 
William  Hunt.  1843-48;  Rev.  Christopher  0.  Culler.  1848-51; 
Rev.  John  M.  Vnruh,  1851-59;  Rev.  Amos  Copenhaver,  1859- 
67;  Rev.  G.  \V.  Weills,  1867-68;  Rev.  George  II.  Heckley.  1868- 
82;  Rev.  David  B.  Floyd,  1882-85;  Rev.  Martin  L.  Beard.  1885- 
93:  Rev.  John  E.  Bushnell.  1894-95;  Rev.  J.  E.  Maurer,  1895- 
1903;  Rev.  L.  A.  Bush.  1903-15;  Rev.  John  B.  Rupley.  1916-18; 
Rev.  F.  L.  Will,  1918 . 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTITKKAX  CHUR(1II, 
KOHKEKSVILLE,  .AID. 

( BOONSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Frederick  L.  in'//,  1'astor. 

This  congregation  is  a  daughter  of  Mount  Zion  Lutheran 
Church  at  Locust  Grove.  It  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  George  H. 
Beckley  in  June,  1879.  Rev.  Beckley  was  at  that  time  the  pastor 
of  the  Boonsboro  charge.  There  were  thirty-eight  charter  mem- 
bers. 

Immediately  after  the  formal  organization  of  the  congregation 
steps  were  taken  to  erect  a  house  of  worship.  The  building  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Joseph  Rohrer,  E/.ra  1).  Miller.  John  II.  l?of- 
fenberger,  Henry  Clay  Rohrer.  Noah  Rohrback,  and  the  pastor 
Rev.  Mr.  Beckley.  This  committee  proceeded  at  once  to  action 
and  the  new  church  was  dedicated  March  21,  1880. 

The  church  edifice  stands  on  the  ground  where  the  first  build- 
ing had  been  erected  in  the  village  of  Rohrersville.  The  ground 
was  purchased  from  Mrs.  Magdalena  Buck  for  $100.  The  build- 
ing cost  the  congregation  $3.500.  It  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  300. 

St.  Mark's  has  always  been  served  by  the  pastors  of  the  Boons- 
boro charge  of  which  it  is  a  part.  The  list  of  its  pastors  is  there- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN"  CONFERENCE.  441 

fore  the  same  as  that  of  Trinity  Church  in  Boonshoro  beginning 
with  Rev.  G.  H.  Beckley. 

To-day  the  congregation  has  a  membership  of  eighty-five.  The 
council  consists  of  Messrs.  Paul  Haynes,  William  Albin,  Stanley 
Dean,  Harry  Hightman.  Morris  Zecher,  and  Silas  AATassler.  Mr. 
Stanley  Dean  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

The  congregation  has  sent  two  of  its  sons  into  the  Lutheran 
ministry :  Rev.  Reese  Poffenberger,  of  Braddock,  Maryland,  and 
Rev.  William  G.  Slifer.  of  St.  Thomas.  Pennsylvania. 

ST.  MATTHEW'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
BEAVER  CREEK,  MD. 

(BOOXSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Frederick  L.  Will,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  organized  about  1845  by  the  pastor  of 
the  Funkstown  charge.  The  cornerstone  of  the  present  building 
was  laid  April  12.  1845.  and  the  church  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated that  same  year.  The  congregation  has  never  been  a  large 
one;  the  organization  began  with  fifty-two  members,  and  there 
are  now  fifty-eight.  The  membership  of  the  church  comprises 
some  of  the  best  families  of  the  neighborhood. 

St.  Matthew's  has  been  served  through  most  of  its  history  by 
the  pastors  of  the  Funkstown  charge,  of  which  it  was  a  part.  But 
in  1908  it  withdrew  from  the  Funkstown  charge  and  attached  it- 
self to  the  Boonsboro  charge.  Since  that  date  it  has  beeu  served 
by  the  pastors  of  the  Boonsboro  Church. 

The  present  council  is  composed  of  Messrs.  Frank  Funk,  Henry 
Long,  Elias  Baker.  John  Newcomer.  Clifford  Houpt,  and  John 
Hose.  The  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  is  Mr.  Elias  Baker. 

The  church  itself  stands  on  a  beautiful  elevation  near  the  hand- 
some edifice  of  the  Disciples'  Church  and  the  Beaver  Creek  High 
School. 

ST.  PETER'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
KEEDYSVILLE,  MD. 

(BOONSBORO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Frederick  L.  Will,  Pastor. 

This  congregation  was  organized  by  Rev.  George  H.  Beckley, 
pastor  of  the  Boonsboro  charge,  about  1870.  The  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected  in  1871,  the  corner  stone  being  laid  on  May  6th, 
and  the  dedication  of  the  finished  building  taking  place  about 
Christmas.  The  congregation  was  incorporated  in  1879. 


442  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Rev.  Beckley  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  and  after  the 
completion  of  the  church  preached  regularly  until  1881.  lie  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  \).  B.  Floyd,  who  began  his  labors  here  in 
April.  1882.  and  continued  as  pastor  for  eighteen  months.  Rev. 
Ellis  II.  Jones  was  pastor  from  November.  18S3,  until  August, 
1890.  The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Lingle.  His  pastorate 
was  from  April  1,  1891.  to  March  31,  1896.  Five  months  later  the 
Rev.  A.  A.  Kerlin  began  his  service  as  pastor  and  continued  until 
May  14.  190;").  In  that  year  the  congregation  was  joined  to  the 
Boonsboro  charge  and  since  then  it  has  been  served  by  the  same 
pastors  as  Trinity  Church  in  Boonsboro. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  was  Mr.  Joseph 
E.  Keedy.  but  through  most  of  the  history  of  the  congregation  the 
Sunday  school  superintendent  has  been  Mr.  David  II.  Snively. 
The  members  of  the  church  council  at  present  are  David  II. 
Snively.  John  Flook,  Clarence  Eakle,  Frisby  Clopper,  J.  W.  Bax- 
ter, and  Albert  Shank.  The  membership  is  about  fifty. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  NEAR 
CLEARSPRIXG,  MI). 

(CLEARSPRING  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  "ir.  K.  DieM,  Pastor. 

This  charge  consists  of  three  congregations:  St.  Peter's,  of 
deal-spring ;  St.  Paul's,  two  and  one-half  miles  east,  on  the  Na- 
tional Road;  and  Mount  Tabor,  situated  near  the  little  town  of 
Fair  View,  Maryland.  We  shall  consider  these  three  in  the  order 
of  their  age. 

The  oldest  of  the  three  is  St.  Paul's.  This  congregation  dates 
from  the  year  1747.  It  was  from  the  first  a  union  organization, 
and  was  known  as  the  Lutheran  and  Presbyterian  Congregations 
on  the  West  Side  of  the  Conococheague  Bridge.  This  union  or- 
gan i/at  ion  worshipped  in  a  log  church  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Conococheague  Creek.  The  lot  on  which  this  old  log  church  stood, 
consisting  of  three  acres,  was  originally  part  of  a  tract  of  land 
known  as  the  Resurvey  on  the  Mountain  of  Wales.  The  old 
church  stood  on  the  Cedar  Ridge.  Here  was  made  the  beginning 
of  what  is  now  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations. 

The  first  Lutheran  pastor  associated  with  the  congregation  was 
Charles  Friedrich  Wildbahn.  who  traveled  through  all  these  re- 
gions hunting  up  scattered  villages  of  his  German  brethren,  and 
Tninistering  to  their  wants  in  holy  things.  lie  came  from  Saxony 
as  a  soldier  in  the  employ  of  Great  Britain,  but  shortly  after  his 


THE  CHURCHES  OB'  THE  WESTERN'  CONFERENCE. 


443 


arrival  in  America  he  was  sought  by  his  countrymen  as  a  teacher 
and  abandoned  the  military  service. 

In  1762  he  came  to  Philadelphia,  where  the  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania  was  in  session,  with  letters  from  four  or  five  con- 
gregations in  southern  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  They  stated 
that  Charles  Friedrieh  Wildbalm  understood  Latin  and  Greek; 
that  he  was  a  beautiful  writer;  that  he  was  a  good  singer,  having 
been  leader  of  a  choir  in  Germany;  that  he  was  apt  at  teaching, 
was  a  good  catechist,  and  was  eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  a  person  of 
good  character ;  and  moreover,  he 
had  ministered  to  their  wants  for 
some  years.  These  congregations 
asked  that  the  Ministeri  um  ordain 
him  and  receive  them  into  fellow- 
ship, as  it  was  expensive  and  often 
very  inconvenient  for  them  to  get 
an  ordained  minister  to  celebrate 
the  Holy  Communion  with  them. 
This  proves  conclusively  that  the 
Conococheague,  which  was  one  of 
the  petitioning  congregations,  was 
then  a  well-known  and  thoroughly 
established  congregation ;  that  for 
years  previous  to  1762  they  had 
been  having  some  ordained  min- 
ister visit  them  and  administer 
the  communion;  that  Charles 
Friedrich  Wildbahn  had  already 

served  them  for  some  years,  and  would  be  acceptable  to  them  as 
their  pastor,  if  ordained  to  the  ministry.  The  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania  had  adjourned  when  Wildbahn  arrived,  and  the 
ministers  and  delegates  were  on  their  way  home,  so  that  the  let- 
ters of  recommendation  and  petition  were  not  presented  until  a 
later  session  of  the  ministerium. 

It  is  not  definitely  known  who  was  the  pioneer  in  organizing 
and  establishing  this  congregation.  It  probably  was  John  Nich- 
olas Kurtz,  the  elder  Kurtz,  as  he  was  often  called.  His  labors 
extended  from  the  year  1745  to  1799,  as  a  missionary  through 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  In  the  minutes  of  the  Ministerium 
of  Pennsylvania  for  1770,  he  gives  an  account  of  a  communion 
which  he  celebrated  with  the  Lutheran  congregation  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Conococheague,  and  states  that  for  many  years  he  was 
accustomed  to  minister  to  their  wants  in  that  way.  This  shows 
that  he  had  a  long-standing  acquaintance  with  the  congregation, 


KEV.  W.  K.  DIEHL. 


444  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

probably  from  the  time  when  as  a  young  man  he  traveled  as  a 
missionary  through  the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  Jf 
this  is  the  true  beginning  of  the  congregation  it  dates  back  as 
early  as  1745  or  1746.  After  the  ordination  of  Charles  Friedrieh 
\Vildbahn  he  became  regular  pastor,  and  lived  at  McAllistertown 
(now  Hanover).  Pa.  The  congregation  from  the  west  bank  of 


ST.  PAVI/S  CHUKCH,  NEAR  CLEARSPRING,  MD. 

the  Conococheague  was  separated  from  McAllistertown  in  1771, 
and  in  1772  it  sent  a  delegate  to  the  ministerinm.  asking  that  the 
elder  Kurtz  become  their  pastor;  and  if  this  could  not  be  they 
would  like  to  have  the  young  Mr.  Kurtz  or  Friedrieh  Muhlen- 
berg.  The  name  of  the  young  Mr.  Kurtz  was  proposed,  and  an 
appointment  was  made  for  him  to  preach  a  trial  sermon,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1772.  About  this  time.  Rev.  George  John  Young  became 
pastor,  and  continued  until  the  year  1794,  the  beginning  of  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  George  Schmucker.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  George  Schmucker  the  old  St.  Paul's  Church  was  built. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1795  and  the  building  was  completed 
in  1798.  The  lot  upon  which  the  church  stood,  and  which  is  also 
the  site  of  the  present  St.  Paul's,  was  given  by  John  Ankeny  in  the 
year  1795.  for  burial  purposes  and  for  a  church.  The  old  St. 
Paul's  was  built  of  stone  and  was  made  possible  largely  by  the 
gift  of  Joseph  Firey.  It  was  for  many  years  called  Firey  's  Church. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN*  CONFERENCE.  445 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  George  Sehmucker  terminated  in  1809. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Solomon  Schaeffer,  whose  pastorate 
ended  in  1813,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Henry  Baugliy, 
who  labored  from  1813  to  1815.  Rev.  Mr.  Baughy  completed  his 
studies  for  the  ministry  under  the  tutelage  of  Rev.  Solomon 
Schaeffer.  and  upon  his  resignation  became  his  successor  in  the 
pastorate.  His  call  to  the  congregation  aroused  opposition  on  the 
part  of  some  of  his  parishioners,  and  after  a  year  and  a  half  of 
strife  he  was  deposed  from  the  ministry  for  conduct  unbecoming 
a  minister. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Kurtz  was  called  to  the  pastorate  to  which  St. 
Paul's  belonged  in  1815.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  ability  and 
under  his  wise  counsels  and  firm  hand  order  was  soon  restored 
and  peace  secured.  Benjamin  Kurtz  became  a  prominent  figure 
in  the  development  of  the  church  in  the  last  century.  He  was 
editor  of  the  Lutheran  Observer  from  1833  to  1862.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg, for  which  he  collected  both  funds  and  books  in  Germany. 
His  pastorate  at  St.  Paul's  terminated  in  1823,  when  it  was  found 
necessary  to  divide  the  pastorate  and  form  a  new  pastorate  of 
Williamsport  and  St.  Paul's.  Rev.  Frederick  Ruthrauff  was  the 
first  pastor,  continuing  in  the  field  for  two  years.  Rev.  John 
Winter  became  pastor  in  1825  and  continued  until  1834  with 
great  acceptability  to  the  congregations.  Rev.  S.  Harkey  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  in  1834  and  continued  three  years.  Rev. 
Christian  Startzman  was  called  to  the  pastorate  in  1838  and  con- 
tinued laboring  with  great  acceptability  for  eleven  years.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  old  St.  Paul's  was  remodeled  and  refitted  and 
large  accessions  were  made  to  the  membership. 

Rev.  Henry  Bishop  became  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  and  continued 
for  five  years.  Rev.  William  F.  Greaver  was  elected  to  the  pas- 
torate in  1855  and  ended  his  labors  in  1857,  when  death  claimed 
him.  Rev.  J.  H.  Barclay  became  pastor  in  1858  and  continued 
two  years.  He  was  then  a  young  man  and  gave  promise  of  the 
brilliancy  which  he  afterwards  achieved,  both  as  a  writer  and  as 
an  orator.  Rev.  Christian  Lepley  became  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  in 
1859  and  continued  his  labors  until  1864.  Rev.  J.  Berlin  became 
pastor  in  1865,  and  remained  until  1867  when  death  called  him 
away.  Rev.  Martin  L.  Culler  received  a  unanimous  call  to  the 
pastorate  and  labored  with  great  success  from  1867  to  1869.  when 
he  was  called  to  Martinsburg. 

In  1870,  St.  Paul's  was  separated  from  the  Williamsport  pas- 
torate and  united  with  the  Clearspring  pastorate.  Christian 
Startzman  was  then  pastor  of  Clearspring  pastorate  and  con- 


-14(5  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

tinned  in  that  relation  until  1875.  Rev.  David  Swope  became 
pastor  in  187").  and  in  1877  presented  his  resignation.  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Firey  was  called  to  the  pastorate  in  1877.  and  in  1883  termi- 
nated this  relation.  Rev.  Isaac  Bohst  began  his  labors  as  pastor 
in  188.'}.  and  continued  seven  years.  Rev.  E.  II.  Jones  began  his 
care  of  the  pastorate  in  1890,  and  continued  until  the  year  1900. 
Rev.  George  A.  Rover  began  his  pastoral  labors  in  the  Clearspring 
pastorate.  June  1.  1901.  lie  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor. 
Rev.  AV.  K.  Diehl.  in  1908. 

The  old  St.  1'anl's  church  stood  102  years  and  became  one  of 
the  old  landmarks  in  the  community.  The  first  step  was  taken 
toward  a  new  church  December  12.  1896,  when  the  joint  consis- 
tories met  to  consider  the  advisability  of  remodeling  the  old 
church.  Its  walls,  however,  were  found  to  be  insecure  and  it  was 
finally  decided  to  build  a  new  church.  The  old  church  was  torn 
down  May  17,  1897.  and  on  June  26th  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  March  20,  1898. 
The  building  committee  consisted  of  three  Lutheran  and  three 
Reformed  members,  namely :  Lutheran,  Isaac  Corbett.  David 
Sword  and  John  Harsh ;  Reformed,  L.  R.  Schnebly,  John  Strite 
and  \V.  \V.  Seibert.  Rev.  E.  II.  Jones  was  the  Lutheran  and  Rev. 
William  Goodrich  the  Reformed  pastor.  The  church  is  modern 
in  architecture,  containing  a  main  auditorium  and  lecture  and 
Sunday  school  room  connected  by  sliding  doors.  It  is  constructed 
of  blue  limestone,  and  trimmed  with  brown  sandstone;  it  stands 
like  a  crown  on  the  summit  of  its  hill. 

This  congregation  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  having  more 
than  doubled  its  membership  in  the  last  decade. 

It  has  sent  the  following  sons  into  the  ministry:  Rev.  "Wash- 
ington I  lower.  Rev.  Samuel  Firey,  Rev.  Milton  Fiery.  D.D.,  (who 
was  one  of  the  organ i/ers  of  the  Prohibition  Party),  and  Rev. 
Victor  Miller,  D.D. 

ST.  PETER'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CLEARSPRIXG,  MI). 

(CLEARSPRING  CHARGE.) 
Ifcr.  11'.  K.  Dichl,  Pastor. 

St.  Peter's  Church  in  the  town  of  Clearspring  was  organ i/ed 
in  1828.  The  first  church  was  built  in  union  with  the  Reformed 
congregation.  The  first  pastor  of  the  congregation  was  Rev.  John 
"Winter,  under  whose  supervision  the  first  church  was  built.  His 
pastorate  continued  from  the  organization  of  the  congregation  in 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


1828,  to  1838.  In  1834  Rev.  S.  Harkey  became  pastor  of  the  Wil- 
liamsport  pastorate,  but  Clearspring  still  adhered  to  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  John  Winter  until  1838,  when  it  was  again  united 
with  Williamsport  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Christian 
Startzman.  He  resigned  the  pastorate  in  1849  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  H.  Bishop  who  continued  in  this  relation  until  1854,  when 
he  resigned  and  Clearspring  came  again  for  a  short  time  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  John  Winter.  He  died  in  March,  1854. 
and  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Clearspring. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  H.  C.  Bowers,  whose  pastorate  began  in 
1856  and  terminated  in  1858.     In  1858  Rev.  J.  I.  Miller  became 


ST.  PETER'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CLEARSPRING,  MD. 

pastor,  and  for  the  space  of  three  years  labored  with  great  suc- 
cess. Rev.  Mr.  Curtis  became  pastor  in  1861  and  continued  for 
one  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Knodle  supplied  the  pulpit  until  1864,  the 
beginning  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill.  He  continued 
to  labor  in  the  pastorate  until  1866.  Rev.  Christian  Start/man 
became  pastor  for  a  second  time  in  1866  and  continued  until  1875, 
making  a  total  of  twenty  years  in  which  he  served  this  people. 
Rev.  David  Swope  became  pastor  in  1875  and  continued  two 
years.  In  1877  Rev.  S.  M.  Firey  became  pastor  and  continued  to 
sustain  this  relation  to  the  congregation  for  six  years.  In  1883 
Rev.  Isaac  Bobst  became  pastor  and  his  pastorate  continued  for 


448  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

seven  years.  Rev.  E.  II.  Jones  beeanie  pastor  in  1890  and  his 
pastorate  continued  for  ten  years.  The  pastorate  of  Rev.  George 
A.  Rover  began  June  1.  1901.  lie  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
pastor.  Rev.  W.  K.  Diehl.  in  1908. 

In  I860  movement  was  inaugurated  either  to  buy  out  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  congregation  or  to  sell  to  them.  A  council  meet- 
ing was  held  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  devise  some  equit- 
able arrangement  by  which  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  congregation 
would  either  buy  or  sell.  The  committee  appointed  appraised 
their  interest  in  the  church  and  decided  that  they  would  either 
buy  or  sell  for  nine  hundred  dollars.  The  Reformed  agreed  to 
sell  to  the  Lutherans  at  that  price,  and  the  church  became  Lu- 
theran from  that  time,  the  Reformed  congregation  reserving  the 
right  to  bury  in  the  irraveyard.  The  old  church  was  burned  down 
February  14.  1875.  and  the  congregation  at  once  took  steps  to  re- 
build their  house  of  worship.  The  present  church  was  dedicated. 
July  16.  1876.  and  the  total  cost  of  .^6.000  was  fully  met  on  the 
day  of  dedication.  Rev.  F.  W.  Conrad,  editor  of  the  Lutheran 
Ohs(  rrt  r.  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon,  and  succeeded  in  rais- 
ing the  amount  of  the  remaining  indebtedness.  The  church  was 
refrescoed.  recarpeted.  reroofed  and  repaired  generally  in  1909. 

While  St.  Peter's  has  suffered  many  losses  by  death  and  re- 
moval she  is  nevertheless  manifesting  a  vigorous  congregational 
activity.  Being  well  organized  for  service  her  loyal-hearted  mem- 
bers are  doing  splendid  work  in  Sunday  school.  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  and  Women's  Missionary  Society. 

Extensive  improvements  have  been  made  in  recent  years,  in- 
cluding iron  fence.  Sunday  school  room  remodeled  and  refur- 
nished, auditorium  recarpeted,  electric  lights,  two-manual  pipe 
organ,  memorial  altar,  and  opalescent  art  windows. 

Rev.  D.  II.  Bauslin.  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Dean  of  ITamma  Divinity 
School.  Springfield,  Ohio,  is  a  son  of  whom  St.  Peter's  may  well 
be  proud. 

About  five  years  ago  the  charge  sold  the  old  parsonage  in  the 
center  of  the  town  and  purchased  a  house  and  lot  adjacent  to  St. 
Peter's  Church  in  Clearspring.  Having  remodeled  and  enlarged 
it  and  installed  a  hot  water  heating  plant,  they  now  own  a  very 
comfortable  house  for  the  pastor's  use. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  449 

MOUNT  TABOR  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FAIR  VIEW,  MI). 

(CLEARSPRING  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  IV.  K.  Diehl,  Pastor. 

Mount  Tabor  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  by 
Rev.  II.  C.  Bowers  in  1856.  The  church  was  built  in  1858.  The 
building  is  of  brick  and  is  plain  in  architecture.  This  congrega- 
tion was  incorporated  in  1879  under  the  title  of  .Mount  Tabor 
Lutheran  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1909  the  congregation  resolved  to  build  a  new 
church  and  the  resolution  was  put  into  effect  without  delay.  The 


MT.  TABOR  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  FAI&  VIEW,  MD. 

corner  stoue  was  laid  by  the  pastor  September  25,  1909.  Rev. 
Victor  Miller  delivering  the  address.  The  building  committee 
consisted  of  D.  L.  Whitmore,  M.  L.  Steck,  Jacob  Trmnpower.  J. 
H.  Strite,  J.  R.  Eckstine,  Fred  Filsinger,  F.  T.  Spickler,  J.  F. 
Dulebohn.  The  new  church  is  of  brick,  auditorium  and  Sunday 
school  room  connected  by  sliding  doors,  metal  ceiling,  heating  and 
lighting  plants,  organ,  piano,  baptismal  font,  with  bell  in  tower, 
making  a  modern  and  beautiful  house  of  worship.  July  24,  1910, 
the  church  was  dedicated  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  A.  Singmaster 
29 


4:>o 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


preaching  the  sermon.  The  congregation  has  been  steadily  ad- 
vancing in  Christian  activity,  in  beneficence  and  in  general  pros- 
perity. 

Rev.  Simon  Snyder  is  a  son  of  this  church.  His  ministry  in  the 
Scalp  Level  pastorate  of  the  Alleghany  Synod  has  been  fruitful 
and  greatly  blessed. 

The  pastors  were  the  same  as  those  of  the  Clearspring  charge, 
from  1856  to  the  present  time,  as  follows:  Rev.  H.  C.  Bowers, 
1856-1858;  Rev.  J.  I.  Miller.  1858-1861  ;  Rev.  Curtis.  1861-1862; 
Rev.  Knodle.  1862-18(54;  Rev.  J.  M.  Grabill,  1864-1866;  Rev. 
Christian  Start/man.  1866-1875;  Rev.  David  Swope,  1875-1877; 
Rev.  S.  M.  Firey.  1877-1883;  Rev.  Isaac  Bobst,  1883-1890;  Rev. 
K.  II.  Jones.  1890-1900;  Rev.  George  A.  Rover.  1901-1907;  Rev. 
\Y.  K.  Diehl.  1908. 

ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
FUXKSTOWX,  MI). 

(FUNKSTOWN  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Wilson  L.  Remsbery,  Pastor. 

The  Lutheran  congregation  of  Jerusalemtown  (now  called 
Funkstown)  was  at  first  united  with  the  Reformed  congregation 

of  the  town  and  the  two  wor- 
shipped in  one  church.  The  first 
building  was  of  logs.  Tt  was  con- 
secrated in  1771  by  pastor  John 
A.  Krug.  In  those  early  days  the 
children  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation went  to  Hagerstown  to  be 
catechised  by  the  pastor  of  old  St. 
John's.  They  were  often  con- 
firmed in  Hagerstown  and  at- 
tended church  services  in  Funks- 
town.  At  first  the  field  of  the 
Hagerstown  pastor  extended  to 
Funkstown  and  Beard's;  after- 
wards it  widened  to  Boonsboro, 
Clearspring.  Bakersville,  and 
other  adjacent  points  until  it  em- 
braced a  very  large  territory. 

The  first  pastor  who  served  the 

congregation  at  Funkstown  was  the  Rev.  John  George  Young.  Tn 
1786  Pastor  Young  wrote  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Helmuth  as  follows: 
"In  1771  a  congregation  was  gathered  two  miles  from  here 


Kr.v.  W.  L.  REMSBEIU; 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  THE   WESTERN   CONFERENCE.  451 

(Hagerstown)  in  a  small  village  called  Jerusalem  or  Funkstown, 
and  in  the  year  above  mentioned  built  in  connection  with  the  Re- 
formed a  Union  Church.  Pastor  Krug  consecrated  it.  I  have 
served  it  since  1773.  From  sixteen  to  eighteen  families  belonged 
at  the  beginning,  but  the  congregation  now  includes  about  fifty 
families.  They  have  a  good  schoolhouse  and  a  regular  and  ef- 
ficient teacher.  Every  four  weeks  I  preach  here,  both  forenoon 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  FUNKSTOWN,  MD. 

and  afternoon.  Since  most  of  the  people  are  poor  the  compensa- 
tion is  uncertain.  It  amounts  probably  to  nineteen  pounds." 

Pastor  Young  served  Hagerstown  and  therefore  Funkstown 
for  twenty  years.  He  died  in  1793  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  George  Schmucker.  He  came  to  the  charge  as  a  young 
man  in  1794  and  ministered  here  until  1810.  Funkstown  con- 
tinued to  be  served  by  the  pastors  of  St.  John's  at  Hagerstown 
until  1844.  After  Dr.  Schmucker  came  Rev.  Frederick  Solomon 
Schaeffer,  1810-1815;  Rev.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  1815-1831;  Rev. 
Samuel  K.  Hoshour.  1831-1S34;  Rev.  Charles  Frederick  Schaef- 
fer, 1834-1840,  and  Rev.  Ezra  Keller,  1840-1844. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  "Funkstown  Charge"  after  its  separa- 
tion from  the  Hagerstown  charge  was  Rev.  Christopher  Columbus 
Culler.  He  had  received  his  theological  instruction  from  Rev. 
Ezra  Keller.  The  Funkstown  charge  now  consisted  of  Funks- 


HISTORY  OK  .MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


town.  Beaver  Crock,  and  Middleburg.  Three  years  later  Middle- 
burg  withdrew  from  this  charge  and  attached  itself  to  the  Green- 
castle  charge,  hut  at  the  same  time  the  "Wolfsville  congregation 
was  organized  and  joined  the  Funkstown  charge.  A  little  later 
Boonsboro  hccaine  a  part  of  the  charge,  the  parsonage  was  re- 
moved to  that  |)lace.  and  the  charge  was  known  for  some  years  as 
the  "Boonsboro  Charge.'' 

In  1S")()  the  Funkstown  congregation  built  a  new  church  at  a 
cost  of  $M.400.    Two  years  later  the  Rev.  Mr.  Culler  resigned  and 


MK.  JACOB  STOUFFEU, 
Funkstown,  Md. 


MK.   JOHN'    D.   HOLLYDAY, 

Funkstown,  Md. 


became  associated  with  the  Doctors  Bittle  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Hagerstown  Female  Seminary.  lie  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
John  X.  Unruh.  who  was  pastor  of  the  charge  from  3852  to  1858. 
An  effort  late  in  the  year  18f>'2  to  dissolve  the  union  with  the  Re- 
formed congregation  failed  because  of  the  vigorous  protest  of  the 
Reformed  vestry.  But  in  1857  adjustments  were  made  that  satis- 
fied all  parties  and  the  dissolution  of  the  union  was  effected. 

Rev.  Amos  Copenhaver  was  the  next  pastor.  He  ministered 
here  from  1859  to  18(>7.  He  succeeded  in  maintaining  the  activi- 
ties of  the  congregation  during  the  critical  period  of  the  Civil 
War.  It  was  during  his 'pastorate  that  the  congregation  acquired 
through  the  bequest  of  Mrs.  Anna  Schultx  the  present  parsonage 
property. 

For  two  years.  1808-1870.  Rev.  M.  W.  Fair  served  the  charge. 
During  this  time  the  parsonage  was  improved  at  a  cost  of  $000. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN   CONFERENCE.  453 

Then  K«'V.  Levi  Keller  became  pastor  until  1SSO.  His  failhiul 
ministry  was  terminated  by  a  fall  from  an  apple  tree,  from  the  ef- 
fects of  which  he  died.  For  five  years,  from  1881  to  1886.  Rev.  D. 
S.  Lentz.  was  pastor  of  the  charge.  Under  his  ministry  old  debts 
were  liquidated  and  better  financial  methods  were  introduced. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  S.  T.  Metzger.  1887-1891.  is  charac- 
terized as  a  period  of  spiritual  interest  and  increased  member- 
ship. Rev.  J.  Milton  Snyder  remained  in  charge  of  the  pastorate 
only  two  years,  until  October.  1893,  but  during  this  time  the 
church  was  renovated  at  a  cost  of  about  $1 ,000.  In  1 886  the  cor- 
porate title  of  the  church  had  been  changed  from  Christ's  to  St. 
Paul 's. 

During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Charles  A.  Hoy.  1894-1899,  fur- 
ther improvements  were  made  to  the  church  building  and  a  house 
and  lot  were  purchased  with  a  view  to  extending  the  limits  of  the 
cemetery.  Then  for  four  years  Rev.  David  B.  Floyd,  D.D.,  was 
pastor.  The  Common  Service  was  introduced  and  the  Sunday 
school  was  more  thoroughly  organized.  Rev.  M.  S.  Sharp  was 
pastor  from  1905  to  1907,  and  during  his  pastorate  improvements 
were  made  in  the  church  consisting  of  gothie  windows,  raised  pul- 
pit, choir  platform,  and  chancel  rail. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  W.  L.  Remsberg,  began  his  ministry 
in  St.  Paul's  in  1908.  During  his  devoted  ministry  a  great  many 
improvements  have  been  made  to  the  church  property  and  the 
auxiliary  organizations  have  taken  on  increased  activity.  A  pipe 
organ  and  a  piano  have  been  installed  and  an  orchestra  has  been 
organized.  During  the  recent  war  the  church  sent  fifteen  young 
men  into  the  service  of  the  nation,  three  of  whom  sleep  on  the  soil 
of  France.  The  church  has  sent  one  of  her  sons  into  the  ministry, 
Rev.  Emory  Stockslager.  whose  ancestors  together  with  the  Stcuf- 
fers  and  the  Fierys  have  been  pioneers  of  this  church.  Mr.  John 
D.  Hollyday  has  been  the  efficient  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  for  twelve  years.  The  school  numbers  about  240.  while  the 
communicant  membership  of  the  church  is  about  220. 

SALEM  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
BAKERSVILLE,  MI). 

(FUNKSTOWN  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  Wilson  L.  Rcmsbrrg,  Pastor. 

At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  need  for  a  house  of 
worship  was  strongly  felt  in  the  region  now  known  as  Bakersville. 
There  being  but  few  families  in  this  section,  though  they  were 
of  different  faiths,  principally  Methodists,  German  Reformed  and 


454  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Lutherans,  they  came  together,  and  at  a  point  in  the  edge  of  a 
clearing,  these  sturdy  Godfearing  people  built  a  log  church  about 
1800.  Later,  in  lSi>:>.  finding  this  house  too  small,  they  tore  it 
down  and  replaced  it  with  a  very  large  stone  structure,  now  used 
as  a  school  house.  Among  the  early  contributors  were  Peter 
Palmer,  Henry  Poffenberger.  Martin  Newman,  John  Brantner. 
John  Knode.  Henry  7ook.  William  Reynolds,  Joseph  Roberts. 
Henry  and  Jacob  Dovenberger.  Watkins  James,  and  Olho  Baker. 


SALEM  LUTHERAN  OHUKCH,  BAKERSVILLE,  MD. 

These  three  congregations  worshipped  in  this  house  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  when  the  Methodists  either  died  out,  or  merged 
with  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed.  These  two  congregations  grew 
very  rapidly,  and  finally,  in  18f>3,  they  mutually  and  willingly 
agreed  to  separate,  the  Reformed  people  moving  two  miles  west 
and  building  for  themselves  a  church  at  Mount  Moriah. 

The  Lutherans  built  a  new  meeting  house  known  as  Salem 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  in  1854;  it  is  the  edifice  in  which 
they  now  worship.  This  building  was  remodeled  in  1888  at  a  cost 
of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  now  we  have  a  church  building 
worth  $4.000.  with  a  seating  capacity  of  three  hundred.  The  land 
where  this  church,  with  adjacent  cemetery,  now  is,  was  donated 
by  John  and  William  Reynolds. 

The  first  Lutherans  were  Germans  and  therefore  conducted  the 
services  in  German.  The  English  ministers  of  whom  we  have  rec- 
ord were:  Rev.  George  Diehl,  from  1840  to  1852:  Rev.  Unruh. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE. 


455 


1852-1854;  Rev.  Marts.  1854-1857;  Rev.  Lunger,  1857-1804; 
Rev.  Wiles.  1864-1868;  Rev.  Fair,  1868-1872;  Rev.  Levi  Keller, 
1872-1882;  Rev.  Lentz,  1882-1885;  Rev.  Ellis  II.  Jones.  1885- 
1892;  Rev.  J.  W.  Lingle,  1892-1896;  Rev.  A.  A.  Kerlin,  1896- 
1902;  Rev.  M.  S.  Sharp,  1905-1907;  Rev.  W.  L.  Remsberg, 
1908- -  — . 

Mrs.  Alice  Reynolds,  who  died  in  1912,  bequeathed  the  church 
$3,000.    Just  before  her  death  she  had  donated  an  additional  acre 


MR.  ALLEN  D.  EAKLE, 
Bakersville,  Md. 


MR.  CORNELIUS  SNIVELY, 
Bakersville,  Md. 


of  ground  to  the  cemetery.  Miss  Savilla  Welty,  who  died  in  1916, 
bequeathed  the  church  $500.  Out  of  these  bequests  the  congrega- 
tion in  1913  purchased  new  pews  and  a  new  carpet  costing  $1,200. 
Tn  1918  a  pipe  organ  and  a  new  lighting  system  were  installed  at 
a  cost  of  $1.976.  For  thirty-two  years  Mr.  Cornelius  Snively  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  church. 

The  present  communicant  membership  is  one  hundred  thirty. 
The  Sunday  school  of  which  Mr.  J.  H.  Brill  is  superintendent 
numbers  one  hundred  twenty-seven.  The  Women's  Missionary 
Society  has  a  membership  of  twenty-one;  the  Young  People's 
Missionary  Society  nineteen,  the  Mission  Band  twenty-nine  and 
the  Christian  Endeavor  thirty. 


HISTORY  OK   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


GERRARD8TOWN  LUTIIKKAX 

(iERHAKDSTOWX,  W.  Va. 

Ift  r.  .17.  L.  Kinlixill. 


This  congregation  was  organ  ixed  before  the  Maryland  Synod 
was,  but  it  has  not  always  boon  attached  to  the  Maryland  Synod. 
It  was  a  German  minister.  Rev.  John  Zimmerman,  who  organ  ixed 
the  congregation.  That  was  in  1809.  The  records  give  very  scant 
information  concerning  the  history  of  the  church,  but  the  follow- 
ing is  the  list  of  the  pastors  to  the  present  time:  Rev.  John  Zim- 

merman. Rev.  Isaac  Baker.  Rev. 
E.  Proctor.  Rev.  John  Winter, 
Rev.  J.  J.  Suman.  Rev.  J.  S. 
Ileilig.  Rev.  W.  M.  McClanan, 
Rev.  II.  G.  Bowers,  Rev.  A.  Co- 
penhaver.  Rev.  J.  Fraxier.  Rev. 
Webster  Eigelberger,  Rev.  George 
A.  Long.  Rev.  J.  Kuhn,  Rev.  M.  J. 
Sibole.  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill,  Rev. 
W.  C.  Day.  Rev.  M.  L.  Rudisill. 

It  was  during  the  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  John  Winter  that  the 
congregation  first  became  affiliated 
with  the  Maryland  Synod,  but 
that  relationship  was  not  continu- 
ous thereafter.  Three  churches 
have  been  built  in  the  course  of 
these  one  hundred  and  ten  years 
of  the  history  of  the  church.  In 

1909.  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill,  the  church  was 
completely  remodeled.  The  cost  of  these  improvements  was  met 
by  the  gift  of  $500  bequeathed  for  that  purpose  by  Mr.  J.  Henry 
Weidman.  Commemorating,  this  fact  the  church  when  it  was  re- 
dedicated  in  October.  1909.  was  named  Weidman  's  Memorial 
Church  of  Gerrardstown. 

Between  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Graybill  and  that  of  Rev. 
W.  C.  Day.  the  church  was  supplied  by  ministers  of  the  United 
Evangelical  Church.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  M.  L.  Rudisill. 
took  charge  of  the  pastorate  in  1917.  Since  then  auxiliary  or- 
ganixations  have  been  formed  and  the  membership  has  increased. 


RKV.  M.  L.  RUDISILL 


THE  CHURCHES  OP  THK  WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


457 


TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  NEAR  GER 
RARDSTOWN,  W.  VA. 

(GERRARDSTOWN  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  M.  L.  Riidisill,  Pastor. 

Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  which  is  a  part  of  the  Gerrardstown 
charge,  is  of  much  more  recent  origin  than  the  church  at  Ger- 
rardstown itself.  Trinity  was  not  organized  until  1886.  The  or- 
ganization was  effected  by  the  Rev.  R.  C.  Holland,  who  was  at 
that  time  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Martinsburg,  West 
Virginia.  The  church  building  was  destroyed  by  an  enemy  in 
1902  but  was  rebuilt  in  that  same  year.  Under  Rev.  M.  L.  Rudi- 
sill's  ministry  the  work  has  been  progressing  nicely. 


ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
HAGERSTOWN,  MB. 

Rev .  J.  Edward  Harms,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

A  brief  historical  narrative,  such  as  this  must  necessarily  be. 
cannot  present  a  full  account  of  the  historical  development  of  an 
organization  which  is  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  old.  Many  signifi- 
cant events  and  the  names  of 
many  faithful  and  devoted  work- 
ers must  of  necessity  be  omitted. 

"Old  St.  John's''  has  a  long 
and  splendid  history.  Through- 
out all  these  years  this  church  has 
been  an  agency  of  righteousness 
in  this  community  and  has  made 
its  influence  felt  in  the  social  and 
religious  life  of  the  people  in 
whose  midst  the  church  has  oper- 
ated. 

From  the  available  records  the 
exact  year  when  the  Lutheran 
Church  was  organized  in  ITagers- 
town  cannot  be  definitely  deter- 
mined. Fragmentary  records 

contain  the  account  of  ministerial  acts  having  been  performed  by 
a  Lutheran  pastor  in  this  community  as  early  as  1759.  The  prob- 
ability is  that  these  ministerial  acts  were  performed  by  some  vis- 


REV.  J.  EDWARD  HARMS,  D.D. 


4.",8 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOO. 


iting  Lutheran  pastor  prior  to  tin-  formal  organization  of  a  Lu- 
theran congregation  in  Elizabethtown  (Hagerstown  at  that  time 
was  called  Kli/abcthtown  and  belonged  to  Fmleru-k  County). 

The  year  1770  may.  with  a  reasonable  decree  of  certainty,  be 
h'xed  as  the  date  of  the  organization  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church.  This  was  six  years  prior  to  the  Declaration  of  American 
Independence. 

Rev.  Charles  Frederick  "Wildlmhn  was  the  first  duly  elected 
pastor  of  this  church.  He  served  the  congregation  for  two  years. 

At  the  time  of  his  resignation  in 

1772  the  congregation  numbered 
271  communicant  members. 

Rev.  John  George  Young  be- 
came pastor  in  1772  and  served 
the  congregation  till  1792.  It  was 
during  this  pastorate  that  the  first 
church  building  was  erected. 

Rev.  John  George  Sehmucker, 
D.D.,  became  pastor  in  179.'5.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  present  church 
edifice  was  laid  in  379").  The  new 
church  was  dedicated  in  1806. 
Dr.  Sehmucker  resigned  the  pas- 
torate in  1810.  He  died  in  Wil- 
liamsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  Oc: 
tober,  18r>4,  at  the  age  of  83  years. 
While  the  new  church  was  in  pro- 
cess of  erection  the  congregation 
worshipped  in  the  old  "Lecture 

Room."  which  was  the  sexton's  dwelling  situated  between  the 
church  and  parsonage. 

Rev.  Solomon  Schaeffer  was  the  fourth  pastor  of  St.  John's. 
He  served  the  congregation  for  four  years.  Tradition  has  it  that 
Rev.  Schaeffer  was  a  young  man  of  remarkable  ability.  In  early 
manhood  he  was  called  to  his  eternal  reward  and  was  buried  be- 
neath the  church.  A  marble  tablet  in  the  west  aisle  of  the  present 
Sunday  school  room  marks  his  last  resting  place. 

In  1815  Rev.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  this  church.  In  addition  to  the  work  of  the  pastorate 
here  he  served  the  Lutheran  congregations  at  Funkstown.  \Vil- 
liamsport.  Beard's  and  Smithsburg.  During  Dr.  Kurtx's  pas- 
torate English  preaching  was  introduced,  and  mid-week  prayer 
services  and  "protracted  meetings"  were  held.  Dr.  Kurtz  was 
granted  a  leave  of  absence  in  1826  that  he  might  go  to  Europe  as 


REV.  S.  W.  OWEN,  D.I).,  LL.D. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


459 


the  representative  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America,  to  collect 
money  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  Lutheran  Theological 
Seminary  in  this  country.  lie  returned  the  following  year  bring- 
ing with  him  $10,000  which  was  spent  in  the  erection  of  our 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  His  ministry  here  ended 
in  June,  1831.  He  died  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  December  26, 
1856.  During  this  pastorate  the  largest  communicant  member- 
ship is  reported.  There  is  a  record  of  300  having  communed  on 
Whit-Sunday  of  1819.  The  following  names  appear  on  the 


ST.  JOHN  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  HAGEUSTOWN,  MD. 

church  record  as  members  of  the  Church  Council :  Samuel  Ride- 
nour,  Theodore  Eichelberger,  John  Wise,  Sr.,  Frederick  Stover, 
George  Shyrock,  Daniel  Showman,  Jacob  Knodle,  Jacob  Kausler, 
Elders;  Daniel  Williard,  Daniel  Startzman,  William  Hawken, 
David  Artz,  Deacons. 

The  next  pastor  of  St.  John's  was  Rev.  Samuel  K.  Hoshour. 
He  became  pastor  in  1831.  His  pastoral  relationship  terminated 
in  1834.  After  leaving  Hagerstown  Rev.  Hoshour  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Rev.  C.  F.  Schaeffer,  D.D.,  became  pastor  in  1834.  He  resigned 
in  1840.  Dr.  Schaeffer  was  a  younger  brother  of  Rev.  Solomon 
Schaeffer. 

Rev.  Ezra  Keller,  D.D.,  took  charge  of  the  congregation  in  1840 


460  HISTORY  OK  MAHYI.ANI)  SYNOD. 

and  remained  its  pastor  for  four  years.  At  the  end  of  this  pas- 
torate the  communicant  membership  numbered  460. 

Rev.  F.  \V.  Conrad  was  pastor  from  May,  184-4,  to  October, 
1850.  The  present  parsonage  was  built  during  Kev.  Conrad's 
ministry  here  at  a  cost  of  $:VJOO.  The  most  significant  event  of 
this  pastorate  was  the  organization  of  St.  Matthew's  German  Lu- 
theran Church.  The  German  portion  of  St.  John's  cong relation 
presented  a  formal  request  that  they  be  permitted  to  have  an  or- 
ganization of  their  own,  to  have  their  own  church  council  and 
support  their  own  pastor.  The  request  was  granted  and  a  Ger- 
man congregation  was  organized.  This  congregation  disbanded 
in  1918.  Another  significant  event  of  this  pastorate  was  the  or- 
ganization of  four  Sunday  schools  in  the  country  districts  sur- 
rounding Hagerstown.  The  congregation  about  this  time  con- 
tributed $2,500  toward  the  endowment  of  two  new  professorships 
in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg. 

In  the  fall  of  18f>0  Rev.  F.  R,  Anspaeh,  D.D.,  was  called  to  St. 
.John's  Church.  He  resigned  January  1,  1857. 

Rev.  Reuben  Hill  entered  the  field  as  pastor  on  December  1, 
1857.  His  resignation  took  effect  December  5,  1859. 

Rev.  J.  Evans  was  pastor  from  1860  to  1866. 

Rev.  Evans  was  succeeded  in  1867  by  Rev.  T.  T.  Titus,  who  in 
October,  1869,  resigned  and  became  pastor  of  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Hagerstown,  a  new  congregation  which  separated  from 
St.  John's. 

In  November,  1869,  Rev.  S.  W.  Owen,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  became  the 
pastor  of  this  church.  Dr.  Owen  was  the  faithful  and  beloved 
pastor  of  this  congregation  for  nearly  half  a  century.  He  heard 
the  call  of  God  to  come  up  higher  on  April  16,  1916. 

It  was  during  Dr.  Owen's  pastorate  that  the  church  made  its 
most  substantial  growth.  Dr.  Owen  was  one  of  the  most  forceful 
and  eloquent  preachers  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  death  was 
a  great  loss  to  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.  The  following 
extract  is  taken  from  a  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Owen  upon  the 
occasion  of  his  45th  anniversary  as  pastor  of  St.  John's: 

''Allow  me  to  give  a  few  statistics  of  my  pastorate  here.  I 
have  preached  between  three  and  four  thousand  sermons  during 
the  45  years,  baptized  562  infants,  married  1,514  couples,  and 
have  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church  1,376  persons.  The 
relationship  between  pastor  and  people  during  these  years  has 
been  most  peaceful  and  loving.  The  current  expenses  of  the 
church  have  been  met,  and  to-day  we  have  no  debt  except  that 
which  we  owe  to  our  heavenly  Father  for  His  protection  and 
care.  Of  the  12  pastors  who  have  served  the  church  during  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN'  CONFERENCE.  461 

time  embraced  in  this  sketch,  I  am  the  only  one  remaining.  Let 
me  but  be  enrolled  with  such  Worthies,  and  I  will  say  to  any  sor- 
rowing friends,  '  Carve  not  a  line,  raise  not  a  stone,  but  leave  me 
alone  in  my  glory.'  : 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Edward  Harms,  D.D.,  was  called  to 
the  St.  John's  pastorate  January  15,  1917.  At  the  time  of  his 
election  here  he  was  serving  the  First  Lutheran  Church  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio.  The  present  communicant  membership  of  the  church 
is  715.  The  Sunday  school  membership  is  660.  Plans  are  being 
made  for  the  erection  of  a  modern  Sunday  school  building  to  pro- 
vide for  the  rapidly  growing  Sunday  school.  The  following 
members  of  the  church  constitute  the  present  Church  Council : 
Elders — Edward  Oswald,  secretary ;  M.  P.  Moller.  George  W. 
Fridinger,  J.  Frank  S.  Beck,  J.  Harry  Schueler,  Richard  S.  Os- 
wald; Deacons — John  H.  Jones,  Frank  R.  Middlekauff,  E.  Bane 
Snyder,  Hugh  N.  Garver,  Harry  D.  Burger,  John  S.  Kausler, 
treasurer. 

ITEMS  OF  INTEREST. 

1.  In  this  church  the  delegates  from  the  Pennsylvania,  New 
York,  Maryland  and  North  Carolina  Synods  met  on  October  20, 
1820,  to  adopt  a  Constitution  and  formally  organize  the  General 
Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  America. 

2.  In  this  church  a  committee  appointed  by  the  General  Synod 
met  to  determine  the  location  of  a  Theological  Seminary,  this  con- 
gregation contributing  the  largest  amount  toward  the  establish- 
ment of  it. 

3.  Three  of  the  pastors  of  St.  John's  became  editors  of  the  Lu- 
theran Observer. 

4.  One  of  the  pastors  of  St.  John's  was  the  founder  and  first 
president  of  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
HAGERSTOWX,  MD. 

Rev.  J.  S.  Simon,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

While  the  history  of  Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Hagerstown,  as  a  separate  organization,  dates  back  only  to  1869, 
yet  the  roots  of  its  life  run  back  to  the  very  beginning  of  Lu- 
theranism  in  Hagerstown.  Until  August  26th  of  the  above  men- 
tioned year,  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  throughout  its  long 
and  successful  history,  continued  undivided.  About  a  year  be- 
fore the  organization  of  Trinity  a  difference  of  opinion  arose 
among  the  members  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  concerning 


•1)  HISTORY  OF   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  remodeling  of  the  ehurch  building.  This  difference  of  opin- 
ion finally  grew  to  such  proportions  that  it  was  thought  best,  by 
those  in  favor  of  remodeling,  to  withdraw  from  the  Mother 
Church,  and  to  form  another  Lutheran  Congregation  in  Hagers- 
town. 

Among  the  prominent  leaders  in  the  new  organization  were 
Messrs.  David  Artx,  Philip  AVingert,  Frederick  Posey,  "NVm. 
Tice,  Win.  Prot/man,  Martin  Start/man,  Jonathan  Schindel, 
.Jacob  Koessner.  Otho  Swingley,  1-.  L.  Mentxer,  Abraham  Miller, 


THIXITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  H.VGEKSTOWN,  MD. 

Wilson  L.  Hays,  and  Dr.  J.  E.  Herbert.  These  were  all  members 
of  the  first  Church  Council.  A  lot  for  a  new  church  building 
was  bought  on  West  Franklin  Street,  conveniently  situated,  and 
ground  was  broken  for  the  new  building  on  October  18,  1886. 
On  November  7th  of  the  same  year,  the  corner  stone  was  laid,  the 
Rev.  Joel  Swartx  officiating. 

While  it  was  considered  necessary  for  the  two  parties,  holding 
diverse  opinions,  to  separate,  yet  they  continued  to  worship  to- 
gether until  August  2(i,  18(W,  when  the  new  congregation  was 
formally  organized.  On  that  date  it  was  decided  by  the  congre- 
gation that  it  should  be  known  as  "Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  Hagerstown,  Washington  County,  Maryland."  On 
this  same  date  the  new  congregation  extended  a  call  to  Kev.  T.  T. 
Titus,  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  of  Ilagerstown.  He 


C* 
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O  (to 

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464  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

accepted  the  call  and  took  charge  on  October  1,  I860.  On  the 
same  date  the  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated,  Rev.  F.  \V. 
Conrad  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  Rev.  Titus  was 
not  permitted  to  serve  the  people  of  Trinity  for  a  very  long 
period.  Because  of  throat  affection  he  was  compelled  to  resign, 
to  the  great  regret  of  the  congregation  to  whom  his  earnest  piety 
and  loyal,  faithful,  pastoral  work  had  much  endeared  him.  His 
resignation  took  efl'ect  on  July  1,  1871.  In  August  of  the  same 
year  he  removed  to  Hartwick  Theological  Seminary,  of  which  in 
June  he  had  been  elected  principal. 

Tt  is  but  right  that  testimony  should  be  given  to  the  faithful 
women  of  the  church,  who  worked  continuously  and  with  much 
self-denial ;  who,  having  "riven  themselves  to  the  Lord,  gave  their 
time,  energy,  money,  to  the  service  of  His  Church,  and  so  con- 
tributed, in  large  measure  to  the  payment  of  the  debt  upon  the 
church  building,  as  well  as  to  the  building  up  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  of  the  Sunday  school  in  numbers  and  in  influence. 

After  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  T.  T.  Titus,  there  was  a  va- 
cancy for  three  months,  during  which  time  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Clutx, 
D.D.,  at  that  time  a  student  in  Gettysburg  Seminary,  supplied 
the  pulpit.  On  February  25,  1872,  the  congregation  extended  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  Henry  Luckenbaugh,  a  man  of  well-known  and 
marked  literary  ability  and  pulpit  attainments.  He  accepted  the 
call,  to  take  effect  in  April,  1872,  and  served  the  congregation 
until  the  latter  part  of  1874.  During  the  ensuing  vacancy  the 
Rev.  Dr.  McCron,  then  principal  of  the  Hagerstown  Seminary, 
supplied  the  pulpit. 

On  June  13,  1875,  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Williams  was  called  to  the 
pastorate.  He  served  the  congregation  faithfully  for  eight  years. 
In  October,  1883,  Trinity  again  became  vacant. 

On  January  13,  1884,  the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the 
Rev.  Harvey  "VV.  McKnight,  D.D.  He  accepted  the  call,  but  re- 
signed  on  July  16,  1884,  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Gettysburg 
College,  which  had  been  meanwhile  offered  him.  Ilis  resigna- 
tion was  a  grievous  disappointment  to  the  congregation  and  a 
long  period  of  restlessness  ensued.  For  more  than  a  year  the 
church  was  without  a  pastor. 

The  Rev.  Edwin  Heyl  Delk,  D.D.,  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
on  June  11,  1885,  and  took  charge  in  October  of  the  same  year. 
He  served  the  congregation  with  ability  and  success,  until  May  1, 
1902.  During  his  pastorate  Trinity  made  signal  progress,  in- 
creasing in  membership,  paying  the  indebtedness  on  both  church 
building  and  parsonage,  and  extending  widely  its  power  for  good 
in  Hagerstown.  During  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  465 

of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Delk,  to  accept  a  call  to  St.  Matthew's  Church  of 
Philadelphia,  the  pulpit  was  acceptably  supplied  by  the  Rev.  J. 
F.  Baum.  The  present,  incumbent,  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Simon,  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  in  October,  1902,  and  assumed  charge  De- 
cember 5,  1902. 

About  the  year  1872  the  congregation,  feeling  the  need  of  a 
home  for  its  pastor,  purchased  a  house  on  West  Franklin  Street, 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  church.  In  1883  this  was  sold  and 
in  1885  a  large  and  substantial  brick  building,  conveniently  situ- 
ated on  North  Potomac  Street  about  a  square  from  the  church 
building,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  Tn  1887  a  new  primary 
school  building  and  library  room  were  built.  In  1891  the  chancel 
was  rearranged  and  the  church  repaired. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  October  10,  1 869,  with  eight 
officers,  twenty-three  teachers,  and  ninety-eight  scholars.  At  the 
present  time  it  has  an  enrollment  of  more  than  a  thousand,  with 
ninety  teachers  and  officers.  The  Sunday  school  is  noted  for  its 
benevolent  spirit,  giving  for  the  support  of  the  school  and  for  the 
missionary  work  of  the  church  more  than  two  hundred  dollars 
per  month. 

The  Woman's  Missionary  Society  of  Trinity  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  April,  1880,  and  has  at  present  a  membership  of  al- 
most one  hundred.  The  Young  People's  Missionary  Society  was 
organized  in  September,  1884,  and  now  has  a  membership  of 
about  two  hundred.  The  Mission  Band,  a  company  of  boys  and 
girls  organized  for  training  in  the  work  of  missions,  was  organ- 
ized in  March,  1889,  by  Mrs.  J.  D.  Main,  and  has  accomplished 
much  toward  the  training  of  the  young  for  service  in  the  church, 
especially  in  the  Missionary  Societies. 

Trinity  has  given  two  boys  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry, 
Benjamin  Lantz  and  Harry  Main.  The  Rev.  J.  H.  Main,  D.D., 
is  located  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Lantz,  D.D.,  at 
Salina,  Kansas. 

In  October,  1890.  about  twenty  members  of  Trinity,  who  ob- 
jected to  the  use  of  the  Common  Service  in  the  worship  of  the 
congregation,  withdrew  from  its  fellowship  and  formed  a  new 
congregation,  St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  which 
has  since  that  time  grown  into  a  flourishing  church  of  nearly  four 
hundred  members. 

Recently  a  new  era  dawned  for  Trinity  Church.  The  exact 
date  of  its  beginning  cannot  be  fixed,  for  that  beginning  was  not 
so  much  a  matter  of  time  as  of  the  spirit  of  the  congregation. 
The  Sunday  school  of  the  church  had  outgrown  its  rooms  and 
there  arose  a  demand  for  a  larger  place  and  one  better  adapted 
30 


46(5  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

to  the  needs  of  a  growing  progressive  school.  Besides,  the  imme- 
diate surroundings  of  the  church  property  were  becoming,  with 
increasing  population  and  growing  business  in  Hagerstown,  less 
and  less  desirable.  After  many  proposals  for  enlargement  and 
rebuilding  had  been  made,  earnestly  and  harmoniously  discussed, 
and  almost  unanimously  rejected,  a  member  of  the  Church  Coun- 
cil, directed  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  as  it  now  seems,  suggested  the 
purchase  of  a  new  sight,  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  and  the 
selling  of  the  old  church  and  parsonage  properties.  After  long 
and  prayerful  discussion  of  the  project,  the  Church  Council  or- 
dered the  submission  of  the  entire  project  to  the  congregation, 
which,  after  full  and  free  discussion,  by  a  unanimous  vote  in- 
structed the  Church  Council  to  buy  the  three  lots  located  on  the 
corner  of  North  Potomac  and  Randolph  Avenue,  for  the  sum  of 
.tl.'J,~)00,  awl  to  secure  plans  for  the  erection  of  a  church  costing 
about  $50,000.  But  afterwards  in  order  to  meet  the  needs  and 
the  religious  spirit  of  the  congregation  these  plans  were  greatly 
enlarged  and  nearly  doubled  in  cost. 

Ground  was  broken  for  the  new  building  on  June  14,  190!),  Mr. 
Jacob  Roessner,  a  charter  member  of  Trinity,  and  a  most  en- 
thusiastic and  faithful  member  of  it,  wielding  the  shovel.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid,  with  impressive  and  joyful  services,  on  Oc- 
tober 10,  1909. 

The  church  wax  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God  on  March  19, 
1911.  At  that  time  the  indebtedness  of  the  congregation  was 
more  than  $55,000.  Under  the  constant  blessing  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  church,  the  congregation  has  had  a  splendid  develop- 
ment in  Sunday  school  and  church  until  at  the  present  time  there 
are  but  few  churches  in  the  synod  to  which  it  belongs,  which  ex- 
ceed it  in  numerical  strength.  It  also  seems  certain  that  by  the 
tenth  anniversary  of  the  dedication  of  the  church  this  willing  and 
liberal  people  will  have  canceled  the  entire  indebtedness  incurred 
in  building.  And  so,  the  new  era  which  began  with  the  demand 
for  an  enlarged  place  has  proved  to  be  an  Era  of  Enlargement. 

Meanwhile  the  Lutheran  Churches  of  Hagerstown  have  become 
thoroughly  united  in  spirit.  That  which  came  as  the  result  of  a 
difference  of  opinion  among  the  members  of  the  Mother  Church, 
has,  under  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  brought  about  blessed 
results  for  Lutheranism  and  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  Hagers- 
town. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE. 


467 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
HAGERSTOWX,  MD. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Ott,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  dates 
her  beginning  to  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1889.  August  9, 
1889,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of  William  Marr  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  organizing  another  Lutheran  Church 
in  Hagerstown.  August  16th  and  23d  meetings  were  held  to  con- 
sider the  subject  further.  At  the  last  named  meeting  a  commit- 
tee reported  that  the  hall  in  the 
engine  house  of  the  Western  En- 
terprise Fire  C  o  m  p  a  n  y,  on 
Franklin  Street,  had  been  rented 
as  a  temporary  place  of  worship. 

October  6,  1889,  the  first  regu- 
lar service  was  held  in  the  hall. 
It  was  conducted  by  Rev.  S.  A. 
Hedges.  At  that  service  the  con- 
gregation was  organized  as  the 
' '  Third  English  L  u  t  h  e  r  a  n 
Church,"  with  seventeen  or  eight- 
een members.  Others  were  soon 
added,  increasing  the  number  to 
about  thirty. 

For  several  months  after  the 
organization  of  the  congregation 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  stu- 
dents from  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg.  In  January,  1890,  Rev.  S.  E.  Bateman,  of 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  was  elected  pastor  of  the  young  congregation. 
He  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  on  March  7th.  At  the  first 
council  meeting  after  Rev.  Bat  email's  arrival,  the  name  of  the 
church  was  changed  from  "The  Third  Lutheran,"  to  "St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Church."  The  Maryland  Synod,  at  its  annual  meeting 
in  October,  1890,  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  formally  received  the 
new  congregation  into  its  membership.  For  a  period  of  eight 
years  the  congregation  received  some  aid  from  the  Board  of 
Home  Missions.  It  became  self-supporting  in  December,  1898. 

November  29,  1891,  the  congregation  decided  to  purchase  the 
Straub  property  at  the  intersection  of  Washington  Street  and 
Washington  Avenue  for  the  sum  of  $5,750.  The  fine  brick 
dwelling-house  on  the  property  was  converted  into  a  chapel,  the 


REV.  J.  W.  OTT,  D.D. 


468 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOD. 


corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  in  October,  1892,  and  the  re- 
modeled building  was  dedicated  in  January.  1898,  after  having 
worshiped  in  a  hall  for  three  years.  Valuable  aid  was  rendered 
the  congregation  at  this  time  by  the  Board  of  Church  Extension 
of  the  General  Synod  Lutheran  Church. 

Rev.  Bateman  resigned  as  pastor  in  June,  1893,  having  served 
the  congregation  over  three  years  and  having  increased  the  mem- 
bership to  almost  one  hundred.  December  1,  1893,  the  second 
pastor,  Rev.  George  S.  Bowers,  of  York,  Pennsylvania,  entered 
upon  his  duties.  During  the  Rev.  Bowers'  pastorate  a  primary 


ST.  MARK'S  LUTHEKAX  CHURCH,  HAGEKSTOWX,  Mu. 

room  was  added  to  the  church  building  to  accommodate  the  grow- 
ing Sunday  school.  This  building  was  dedicated  in  June,  1895, 
during  the  meeting  of  General  Synod  in  Hagerstown.  Tn  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year  the  comfortable  three-story  brick  par- 
sonage was  built  adjoining  the  church.  It  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy about  Christmas.  On  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  organi- 
xation  of  the  congregation  the  indebtedness  to  the  Board  of 
Church  Extension  was  cancelled. 

Rev.  Bowers  served  the  congregation  until  December  1,  1902, 
a  period  of  nine  years.  Marked  material  and  spiritual  progress 
was  made  during  those  years.  The  value  of  the  church  property 
was  enhanced,  the  indebtedness  was  reduced,  and  the  membership 
was  increased  to  two  hundred  fortv. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


469 


Rev.  S.  G.  Dornblaser,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  became  pastor  of  St. 
Mark's  March  1,  1903.  He  served  the  congregation  until  Sep- 
tember 1,  1906,  a  period  of  three  and  one -half  years.  During  this 
pastorate  a  steady  development  was  manifest, 

In  February,  1907,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  J.  William 
Ott,  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.  On 
March  19th  Rev.  Ott  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor.  At  the 


MR.  A.  T.  ZENTMYER, 
Hagerstown,  Md. 


MR.  JOHN  W.  KOOGLE, 
Hagerstown,  Md. 


time  of  his  installation  which  took  place  on  November  3,  1907,  a 
debt  of  $1,300,  which  yet  remained  on  the  church,  was  canceled, 
and  the  mortgage  burned  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation. 

In  the  autumn  of  1910  the  church  was  entirely  renovated  and 
an  annex  built  to  meet  the  need  of  the  growing  Sunday  school, 
all  at  a  cost  of  $4,500.  At  the  same  time  a  new  Moller  pipe  organ, 
handsomely  finished  in  dark  golden  oak  and  costing  $2,000,  was 
installed.  On  November  13,  1910,  the  impressive  service  of  re- 
dedication  took  place.  At  the  same  time  the  financial  obligation 
of  $6,500  was  fully  met. 

This  pastorate  has  witnessed  a  grand  realization  of  Christian 
devotion  on  the  part  of  some  of  its  young  members,  two  of  them 
having  chosen  the  ministry  as  their  vocation.  Miss  Lydia  Seip- 
plemyer,  a  graduate  of  the  Deaconess  Motherhouse,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  is  in  active  work  in  Williamsport.  Pennsylvania.  At 
Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  Mr.  Lawrence  Showe  is  in 
preparation  for  the  Gospel  ministry.  Mr.  Henry  Young,  who  is 


470 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


at  this  writing  in  Franco  in  the  service  of  the  Tinted  States  will, 
upon  iiis  return  to  the  States,  prepare  for  Foreign  Missionary 
work.  St.  Mark's  is  not  unmindful  of  her  duty  to  the  work  of 
the  Church  abroad.  One  missionary  helper  in  India  is  supported 
by  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  and  another  by  a  faithful 
member  of  the  church.  Mr.  James  Start/man.  The  congregation 
also  has  a  splendid  record  as  to  other  benevolences,  always  meet- 
ing or  exceeding  the  apportionment. 

July  1,  1 !)!(),  finds  the  church  free  of  all  indebtedness,  a  com- 
municant membership  of  four  hundred  and  a  Sunday  school  with 
an  enrollment  of  over  six  hundred.  This  growth  in  numbers  has 
made  necessary  a  more  spacious  and  commodious  church  build- 
in  jr,  the  construction  of  which  is  contemplated  in  the  near  future. 

ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
LEITERSBURG,  MD. 

(LEITERSHURG   CHARGE.) 

Rev.  J .  G.  Koser,  Pastor. 

In  August,  182(i,  the  corner  stone  of  a  Lutheran  Church  in 
Leitersburg  was  laid  by  Revs.  John  and  Frederick  Ruthrauff,  H. 


REV.  J.  O.  KOSK,:. 


REV.  VICTOR  MIU.EK,  D.D. 


Kroh  and  Jacob  Medtart.  Many  Lutheran  families  of  the  vicin- 
ity were  members  of  Beard's  congregation,  which  was  served  by 
Rev.  15.  Kurtz  from  St.  John's  of  Hagerstown,  but  he  was  then 
(182")-2())  in  Germany  soliciting  aid  for  the  Seminary  at  Gettys- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


471 


burp:,  and  bis  place  was  temporarily  filled  by  tbe  Revs.  Ruthraun" 
and  Medtart. 

The  places  of  worship  nearest  to  Leitersburg  were  Beard's  and 
Jacob's  churches,  each  several  miles  distant  and  in  opposite  di- 
rections. Organization  of  a  congregation  had  been  effected  be- 
fore laying  the  corner  stone.  The  preamble  states:  "Since  the 
congregation  in  the  past  year  has  greatly  increased  and  has  de- 
cided to  build  a  house  for  di- 
vine worship,  for  the  main- 
tenance of  religion,  etc.,  we 
lay  this  stone. ' '  The  site  for 
church  and  cemetery  were 
purchased  for  $100  of  John 
Lahm  and  deeded  to  Fred- 
erick Ziegler,  John  Byer, 
Jacob  Bell,  Lewis  Tritle, 
John  Bowers  and  H.  H. 
Snyder  composing  the 
Church  Council. 

The  pastors  have  been 
Rev.  John  Ruthrauff,  Jacob 
Medtart,  and  B.  Kurtz,  D.D., 
1825-28;  Samuel  Hoshour, 
1828-30;  John  Reck,  1831- 
33  ;  John  P.  Kline,  1833-46 ; 
J.  J.  Reimensnyder,  1846- 
51;  Daniel  H.  Bittle,  D.D., 
1851-52 ;  J.  F.  Probst,  1853- 
56;  J.  Heck,  1857-61;  W. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
LEITERSBUUG,  MD. 


F.  Eyster,  1861-65;   M.  C.  Horine,  1865-69;    Samuel  MeHenry, 
1870-72;  X.  J.  Richardson,  1872-81. 

Prior  to  1828  Leitersburg  was  part  of  the  Hagerstown  charge 
which  embraced  a  large  territory.  From  1828  to  1880  it  was  part 
of  the  Smithsburg  charge  of  four  congregations.  In  1880  a 
peaceful  division  of  that  charge  took  place  and  Leitersburg  and 
Beards  formed  the  Leitersburg  charge,  which  in  January,  1881, 
unanimously  called  Rev.  V.  Miller  to  be  pastor.  He  served  the 
charge  till  September,  1914,  when  he  resigned  because  of  increas- 
ing bodily  infirmities  and  was  elected  pastor  emeritus.  He  was 
followed  in  September,  1914,  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Koser.  Dr.  Miller 
during  his  long  pastorate  of  thirty-three  3rears  won  a  warm  place 
in  the  hearts  of  his  people  by  his  faithfulness  and  devotion.  He 
now  resides  in  Hagerstown  but  he  is  often  called  back  to  his  old 
charge  to  assist  at  special  services. 


472  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYN'OH. 

Tlu1  church  building  erected  in  Leitersburg  in  1820  by  the  con- 
gregation was  a  large  and  substantial  two-story  stone  and  rough- 
cast building,  with  galleries  on  three  sides.  Originally  it  had 
neither  belfry  nor  bell,  but  one  was  secured  in  1850  and  placed 
on  a  tower  in  the  rear  of  the  church  until  1853  when  a  belfry 
was  built. 

In  1884-85  the  church  was  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  .$4,100,  a 
new  front  wall  and  tower  built,  side  galleries  removed,  corre- 
sponding upper  and  lower  windows  made  into  one,  and  new  pews 
placed.  Dr.  F.  W.  Conrad  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1885. 

The  parsonage  is  a  two-story  ten-room  brick  dwelling,  erected 
in  1881  at  a  cost  of  $:UOO  on  a  lot  donated  by  Rev.  V.  Miller  and 
is  jointly  owned  by  the  charge. 

The  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  or- 
ganized June  15,  1887.  The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  was 
formed  December  22,  1892. 

From  this  congregation  the  following  ministers  have  come: 
Revs.  C.  Lepley,  I,.  J.  Bell,  E.  K.  Bell,  D.D,  J.  F.  Kayhoe  and 
Luther  F.  Miller. 

BEARD'S  LUTHERAN  CHURni,  WASHING- 
TON COUNTY,  Ml). 

( LEITERSBURG  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  J.  S.  Koscr,  Pastor. 

Beard's  Church  is  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest,  congre- 
gation in  Washington  County.  There  is  conclusive  evidence  that 
it  existed  earlier  than  any  other  place  of  worship  in  the  county, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  St.  Paul's  near  Clearspring,  and 
the  Episcopal  Chapel  near  Chapel  Woods  school  in  the  Funks- 
town  district. 

Reliable  church  history  shows  a  Lutheran  congregation  and 
church  building  on  the  banks  of  the  Antietam  in  1756,  two  miles 
west  of  our  present  building.  The  county  records  place  them 
earlier  than  1754.  The  will  of  Robert  Downing,  dated  November 
1,  1754,  in  a  clause  referring  to  that  church  says.  ;'F  give  to  my 
daughter  Esther  all  that  tract  of  land  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
acres  (indicating  terminals)  excepting  ten  acres  convenient  to 
the  meeting  house,  providing  the  people  resorting  thereto  pay 
for  it,  etc." 

On  June  9,  1787,  nine  and  a  half  acres  of  the  reserved  ten  were 
sold  bv  Martin  Ridenour  and  John  Bard  to  William  Shanafeld 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  COXFEREXCE.  473 

reserving  one-half  acre  on  which  were  located  the  church  and 
burial  ground,  to  he  forever  exempted.  This  occurred  in  1787 
when  the  site  of  the  church  was  changed  to  the  present  one.  Just 
a  century  later  when  Rev.  V.  Miller,  the  pastor,  was  preparing 
a  centennial  sermon  he  visited  this  place  and  found  in  an  open 
field  part  of  the  unplowed  graveyard  about  twelve  by  thirty-five 
feet  with  eight  or  ten  old  sand  gravestones  lying  on  the  ground, 
showing  burials  as  early  as  1763.  Certainly  this  was  the  site  of 
the  first  Beard's  Church  erected  probably  before  1754. 

In  the  journal  of  Rev.  Schlatter  a  missionary  of  the  Reformed 
Church  there  is  record  of  his  preaching,  etc..  in  1747  in  a  church 
on  the  west  bank  of  Conococheague  Creek.  That  church  was  the 
original  of  the  present  St.  Paul's  ten  or  twelve  miles  west  of 
Beard's  Church,  and  as  all  settlements  went  westward  most  likely 
Beard's  Church  was  organized  before  1747  as  Mr.  Downing's  will 
record  of  1754  speaks  familiarly  of  a  church  building  and  grave- 
yard as  if  it  had  existed  for  years. 

Owing  to  want  of  records  previous  to  1799  we  can  but  imper- 
fectly give  a  record  of  pastors  of  that  period.  From  Rev.  J.  G. 
Young,  pastor  at  Hagerstown,  1773-91,  we  have  the  statement  in 
1786  that  Beard's  was  served  several  years  by  Pastors  Haushihl 
and  Schwerdtfeger  from  Frederick,  we  know  not  whether  as  pas- 
tor or  supply,  probably  the  latter.  Haushihl  arrived  at  An- 
napolis in  1752,  removed  to  Frederick  in  1758,  and  Schwerdtfeger 
was  pastor  at  Frederick  from  1763  to  1768  when  he  returned  to 
Europe  leaving  Rev.  Hartwig  over  his  congregations,  possibly  in- 
cluding Beard's. 

In  the  journal  of  Rev.  Henry  Melchoir  Muhlenberg,  1769,  we 
find  a  petition  to  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  of  laymen  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  Maryland  on  the  Antietam,  on  the  Conoco- 
heague  and  Sharpsburg,  in  Virginia  from  Shepherdstown  and 
Winchester,  asking  the  ministerium  to  admit  Rev.  "Wildbahn  to 
its  body.  He  resided  then  near  Littlestown  and  in  1770  removed 
to  what  is  now  Hanover.  In  the  minutes  of  the  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania  of  1772  is  this  entry,  ' '  A  delegate  from  vacant  con- 
gregations between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  in  Maryland, 
called  by  Indians  Conococheague,  which  Senior  Kurtz  visited 
now  and  then  and  ministered  the  means  of  grace,  laid  before  the 
ministerium  a  petition  for  an  able  teacher  and  pastor  and  to  me 
privately  said  they  desired  the  older  Mr.  Kurtz."  The  younger 
Kurtz  was  sent  but  the  minutes  of  the  next  year,  1773,  says, 
"Four  congregations  in  Conococheague  district  in  Maryland  pe- 
tition for  Frederick  Muhlenberg  as  pastor  and  teacher,  because 
Mr.  Kurtz,  Jr.,  could  not  get  along  well." 


474  HISTORY  OF   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Rev.  F.  A.  Muhlenberg  acted  as  a  supply  for  a  short  time. 
Later  he  became  a  member  of  Congress  and  the  first  speaker  of 
the  first  House  of  Representatives  of  the  t'nited  States. 

Rev.  J.  George  Young,  pastor  at  Hagerstown  from  177;]  till  his 
death  in  1791,  served  Beard's  till  178")  and  was  followed  there  by 
Rev.  Daniel  Schroeter,  of  Hanover.  Pennsylvania.  He  served 
congregations  in  Frederick  and  Washington  Counties,  Maryland, 
and  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  180(5.  He  proba- 
bly served  when  the  second  church  was  built  in  1787  on  the  site 
of  the  present  church,  almost  two  miles  east  of  the  first  church. 
He  is  believed  to  have  come  to  America  with  the  Hessian  troops, 
as  many  students  did  and  remained  here  and  became  a  minister. 

The  oldest  church  record  of  infant  baptisms  in  the  church,  but 
not  first  recorded  were,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  J.  G.  and  Cath- 
erine Hammel,  and  John  Jacob,  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  M.  Luber, 
both  baptized  May  9,  1790.  The  minister's  name  is  not  recorded 
but  from  the  similarity  of  the  writing  recording  an  adult  baptism 
and  confirmation  on  June  17,  1791,  we  doubt  not  that  he  was  Rev. 
Joel  G.  Hale,  and  that  record  is  that  Catharine  Retsin,  first  wife 
of  Christian,  was  born  and  bred  in  York  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  that  her  parents  were  William  and  Margaret  Hart.  On  June 
12,  1791,  she  was  baptized  and  confirmed,  and  by  her  side  was 
Christina  Bart.  This  was  signed  by  J.  G.  Hale.  This  clearly 
shows  that  he  was  pastor  in  1790  and  1791.  Unfortunately  after 
that  record  of  a  minister's  name,  we  have  no  other  till  that  in 
1848  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Reimensnyder,  although  there  are  records  of 
baptisms.  How  long  Rev.  Hale  served  or  when  he  left  is  not 
known,  but  in  1798  we  are  assured  Rev.  John  Ruthrauff  was  pas- 
tor as  his  name  is  attached  to  the  Congregational  Kirchen  Ar- 
ticles. He  was  pastor  at  Greencastle,  Pennsylvania,  from  179.") 
to  1837  when  he  died. 

How  long  Rev.  Ruthrauff  served  here  is  not  shown  but  in  De- 
cember, 1806,  the  name  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Schmucker  appears  in  the 
minutes  of  a  council  meeting  as  pastor.  As  he  served  at  Hagers- 
town  from  1793  to  1810  and  as  Rev.  Ruthrauff  was  certainly  pas- 
tor of  Beard's  in  1798  it  follows  that  Rev.  Schmucker  served  here 
only  in  his  later  ministry  in  Hagerstown,  presumably  from  1806 
to  i810,  and  it  is  likely  that  Rev.  Ruthrauff  served  from  1797  to 
1805. 

Rev.  Solomon  Schaeffer  served  from  1810  to  1813.  Rev. 
Baughey  who  served  during  1812-1814  was  unworthy  and  was 
suspended.  Rev.  B.  Kurtz  served  from  1814  to  1831.  He  and 
former  pastors,  except  Ruthrauff.  had  charge  of  Hagerstown, 
Beard's,  St.  Paul's,  AVilliarnsport,  Funkstown  and  later  Leiters- 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THR  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  475 

burg.  Ill  182-1-26  he  visited  Europe  soliciting  aid  for  the  Gettys- 
burg  institutions.  Revs.  Ruthrauff  and  Medtart  supplied  his 
charges  during  this  absence. 

In  1828  a  new  charge  was  formed  of  Beard's,  Leitersburg, 
Smithsburg  and  Mt.  Moriah  with  Rev.  S.  K.  Iloshour,  pastor,  who 
served  1828-30.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  John  Reck,  1830-32 ; 
J.  P.  Kline,  183346;  J.  J.  Reimensnyder,  1848-51;  Daniel  H. 
Bittle,  1851-53;  J.  F.  Probst,  1853-56;  J.  Heck,  1857-61,  who 
died  just  as  the  present  building  was  being  completed ;  ~\V.  F. 
Eyster,  1861-65,  M.  C.  Horine,  D.D.,  1866-69;  S.  McHenry, 
1870-72;  X.  J.  Richardson,  1872-80,  when  a  peaceful  division  oc- 
curred, Leitersburg  and  Beard 's  forming  the  Leitersburg  charge, 
and  Smithsburg  and  Mt.  Moriah  forming  the  Smithsburg  charge 
which  retained  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson. 

In  January,  1881,  Rev.  V.  Miller  accepted  the  call  to  Leiters- 
burg and  served  until  1914,  when  Rev.  J.  S.  Koser  was  elected. 

The  first  two  buildings  were  of  logs,  the  second  one  having  gal- 
leries on  three  sides  and  a  pipe  organ  built  in  1787.  The  church 
site  was  changed  and  the  third  church,  forty-two  by  sixty  feet, 
was  erected  with  brick  in  1860.  German  was  used  until  replaced 
in  1828  by  English. 

From  Beard's  came  these  clergymen:  John.  Solomon  and 
Samuel  Oswald,  W.  B.  Bachtell,  Christian  and  Clinton  Hoover, 
C.  Lepley,  L.  J.  Bell,  Ezra  K.  Bell,  Albert  Bell,  A.  A.  Buhrman, 
J.  F.  Kayhoe,  L.  F.  Miller,  S.  J.  Miller,  and  probably  others. 

JACOBS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON 
COUNTY,  MD. 

(LEITERSBURG  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  J.  S.  Koser,  Pastor. 

Jacobs  Church  is  the  oldest  institution  in  Leitersburg  District. 
The  Lutheran  congregation  that  worshipped  on  the  banks  of  the 
Antietam  in  1754  doubtless  numbered  among  its  membership 
some  of  the  families  afterward  embraced  in  the  constituency  of 
Jacobs  Church.  Others  were  members  of  St.  John's  at  Hagers- 
town,  organized  prior  to  1769;  of  the  church  at  Grindstone  Hill 
in  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  which  was  in  existence  as 
early  as  1765 ;  or  of  Zioii  Lutheran  Church  at  Greencastle,  also 
one  of  the  oldest  in  Franklin  County.  The  date  at  which  Jacobs 
Church  was  organized  cannot  be  satisfactorily  determined,  but 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  this  occurred  in  1791.  The  grounds 
for  this  conclusion  are  as  follows : 


470 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


The  records  of  St.  John's  Church  at  Hagerstown  show  that 
several  Lutheran  families  from  this  locality  were  members  from 
1770  to  1780.  Peter  and  Anthony  Hell  were  among  those  whose 
names  occur  in  this  connection;  and  as  they  lived  within  a  mile 
of  Jacobs  Church  it  is  not  probable  that  they  would  have  jour- 
neyed so  far  if  an  organization  had  existed  in  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity at  the  time.  In  178(i  Rev.  John  George  Young  of  Hagers- 
town  prepared  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  the  churches  of  his 


JACOBS  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON*  COUNTY,  Mn. 

charge  in  which,  referring  to  Beard's,  he  says:  ''From  this  con- 
gregation four  others  have  originated,  viz:  Hagerstown,  Funks- 
town,  Manorland,  and  Conococheague. "  Mr.  Young's  pastorate 
embraced  the  churches  referred  to,  as  well  as  others  in  Frederick 
County.  If  Jacobs  Church  had  been  organized  at  this  time  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  it  would  have  been  part  of  his  charge,  or 
that  he  would  in  any  case  have  mentioned  it ;  hence  its  omission 
affords  strong  presumptive  evidence  that  it  had  no  existence  in 
1786.  Furthermore,  the  present  church  grounds  were  not  ac- 
quired from  the  State  until  1787,  and  it  is  extremely  improbable 
that  a  church  building  would  have  been  erected  here  before  that 
date. 

Affirmatively,  it  may  be  positively  stated  that  the  church  was 
organized  in  the  year  1791  or  prior  thereto,  as  the  protocol  of  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  477 

Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  shows  that  the  Rev.  Guenther 
Wingardt  was  pastor  from  1791  to  1795.  While  this  evidence  is 
conclusive,  it  leaves  to  doubt  and  conjecture  much  that  would  be 
most  interesting  regarding  the  circumstances  under  which  the 
organization  was  effected.  Wingardt  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John 
Ruthrauff  in  1795,  and  with  this  date  adequate  local  records 
begin. 

Within  a  few  years  after  the  Rev.  John  Ruthrauff  became  pas- 
tor he  proposed  a  constitution  for  the  church,  which  was  duly 
adopted  and  signed  by  the  officers  and  members  on  September 
23.  1798.  This  document  is  entitled  "Constitution  for  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Congregation  situated  at  the  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  line,  called  Peace  Church."  Tt  defines  in  detail  the 
duties  of  pastor,  council,  and  members.  The  church  council  at 
that  time  was  composed  of  Jacob  Rider,  Anthony  Bell,  Philip 
Ripple,  David  Goll,  and  John  Bell. 

The  membership  at  this  time  was  widely  scattered.  Four  other 
Lutheran  churches  have  since  been  organized  upon  the  original 
territory  of  Jacobs  Church,  located,  respectively,  at  Waynesboro, 
Leitersburg,  Quincy,  and  Rouzerville.  The  formation  of  the  two 
first  named  practically  reduced  the  congregation  to  its  present 
limits.  Its  numerical  strength  has  varied  widely.  In  1796  the 
number  of  communicants  was  thirty-three,  but  in  1798  one  hun- 
dred five  persons  attached  their  names  to  the  constitution  as 
members  and  officers.  The  formation  of  the  Waynesboro  congre- 
gation in  1818  undoubtedly  deprived  the  mother  church  of  many 
members,  but  defective  records  at  this  period  render  it  impossi- 
ble to  estimate  the  loss.  In  1826,  after  the  organization  of  the 
Leitersburg  Church,  there  were  still  seventy-six  communicants  at 
Jacobs.  In  1830  the  number  was  93  ;  in  1835,  67 ;  May  26,  1839, 
65 ;  April,  30,  1843,  87 ;  May  11,  1845,  88 ;  June  4,"  1848,  97 ; 
May  19,  1850,  102;  May  13,  1855;  85;  May  19,  1860,  70;  No- 
vember 21,  1869,  64;  April  27,  1879,  65;  September  20,  1885, 
61 ;  October  31,  1897,  69.  The  following  note  is  appended  to  a 
communion  record  in  3855:  "This  congregation  has  lost  a  con- 
siderable number  of  members  by  removal."  This  remark  would 
apply  to  the  church  at  almost  any  period  in  its  history.  Many 
families  have  removed  from  its  bounds  at  various  times  and  lo- 
cated in  neighboring  towns  or  in  the  West,  where  they  have  in 
more  than  one  locality  been  active  in  establishing  or  sustaining 
other  Lutheran  churches. 

The  site  of  the  church  and  the  burial  ground  adjacent  are  em- 
braced in  a  tract  of  land  called  Martin's  Good  Hope.  Martin 
Jacobs  secured  a  warrant  for  the  survev  of  this  tract  on  the 


478  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

twenty-first  of  August,  1787;  the  survey  was  made  on  the  first 
of  April,  1788,  and  a  patent  was  issued  in  his  favor,  September 
21,  1790.  The  area  of  the  traet  was  eighteen  acres.  The  church 
land  was  deeded  by  Martin  Jacobs  to  Christian  Lantz  "for  the 
use  of  the  German  Lutheran  congregations  and  their  successors," 
November  18,  1799,  at  the  nominal  consideration  of  five  shillings 
"and  in  consideration  of  divers  other  good  causes  him  the  said 
Martin  Jacobs  thereunto  moving.1'  It  contained  three-fourths 
of  an  acre  and  thirty-four  perches  of  land  "together  with  the 
church  thereon  and  other  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belong- 
ing.'' 

From  this  deed  for  the  church  land  it  is  evident  that  the 
church  building  had  been  erected  thereon  at  the  time;  how  much 
earlier  it  may  have  been  built  is  a  matter  of  conjecture,  but  it  is 
extremely  improbable  that  this  occurred  prior  to  1787,  when  the 
land  was  acquired  by  Martin  Jacobs.  For  this  was  a  substantial 
and  somewhat  pretentious  building,  one  that  the  projectors  would 
scarcely  have  erected  upon  ground  that  might  possibly  have  be- 
come vested  in  an  owner  indifferent  or  unfriendly  to  their  inter- 
ests. It  survived,  in  all  probability,  all  who  were  prominently 
identified  with  its  erection.  Hut  the  time  at  length  arrived  when 
its  usefulness  was  terminated.  In  1841  it  was  removed;  the  logs 
were  hauled  to  Leitersburg  and  used  in  the  construction  of 
houses. 

On  September  10,  1841,  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  building 
was  laid  and  already  on  the  following  December  oth  the  church 
was  complete  and  dedicated.  This  was  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  F.  \V.  Conrad.  The  new  church  occupies  the  site  of  the  old. 
The  old  one  was  named  FViedens  Kirche,  but  the  new  one  was 
named  Jacobs  Church. 

In  18.")4  the  church  building  was  enlarged  to  its  present  dimen- 
sions by  an  addition  about  sixteen  feet  in  length  at  the  western 
end.  Extensive  repairs  were  again  made  in  1881.  Ten  years 
later  the  interior  was  again  remodeled,  the  principal  improve- 
ment being  the  present  pews. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  pastors  of  Jacobs  Church  since  1791  : 
Rev.  Ouenther  AVingardt,  1791-171).");  Rev.  John  Ruthruiiff,  179,">- 
18.T>;  Rev.  Jeremiah  Harpel,  1835-1837:  Key.  Jacob  Martin. 
18:17-1839:  Rev.  Peter  Sahm,  I).])..  1840;  Rev.  F.  W.  Conrad, 
D.D.,  1841-1844;  Rev.  John  Heck,  1845-1856;  Rev.  J.  F.  Camp- 
bell, 18.") 7-1862;  Rev.  Edwin  Dorsey,  1803;  Rev.  Alfred  liuhr- 
man,  1864-1871:  Rev.  C.  L.  Keedy,  1871-187.") :  Rev.  P.  Berg- 
stresser,  D.D..  1876-1887:  Rev.  II.  S.  Cook.  1888-1899;  Rev.  C. 
H.  Rock.-v,  1900-1911  :  Rev.  A.  A.  Kelly,  1911-1910. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  479 

Wingardt  resided  at  Taneytown,  Maryland,  and  was  pastor  of 
the  following  churches:  Taneytown,  Jacobs,  Winter's,  Thomas 
Creek,  Upper  Bermndian,  Zion,  and  Flohr's.  The  charge  to 
which  Ruthrauff  was  assigned  in  1795  was  composed  of  Green- 
castle,  Jacobs,  Beard's,  Mayfield  (?),  and  Mercersbnrg,  but  its 
limits  varied  at  different  times  during  his  long  pastorate.  He 
resided  at  Greencastle,  and  Jacobs  was  part  of  the  Greencastle 
charge  until  1841,  when  the  Waynesboro  charge  was  formed ;  the 
original  constituent  churches  were  Waynesboro,  Jacobs,  Quincy, 
and  Funkstown.  For  some  years  past  the  Waynesboro  and 
Jacobs  Churches  have  constituted  a  charge. 

In  the  summer  of  1916  the  brethren  of  the  Waynesboro  Church 
felt  that  their  church  demanded  all  the  time  of  their  pastor  and 
determined  to  sever  their  relations  with  the  Jacobs  Church. 
Some  thought  the  church  should  be  abandoned,  for  many  of  the 
members  had  died  or  had  moved  out  of  the  district,  leaving  a 
community  in  which  there  were  few  Lutheran  families.  The 
church  at  the  time  had  a  communicant  membership  of  twenty- 
nine  and  the  members  were  scattered:  they  could  attend  the 
Waynesboro  Church  as  easily  as  they  could  attend  their  own 
church.  Others,  not  willing  to  abandon  the  old  church  entirely, 
thought  preaching  services  should  be  held  there  occasionally. 
But  there  were  many,  accustomed  to  worship  there  for  years,  who 
were  unwilling  to  abandon  it  at  all.  These  last  prevailed.  A  few 
families  transferred  their  membership  to  the  Waynesboro  Church 
but  the  majority  remained.  Later  that  year  the  venerable  church 
was  attached  to  the  Leitersburg  charge. 

At  present  the  communicant  membership  of  Jacobs  Church 
numbers  thirty-eight.  Preaching  services  are  held  there  every 
two  weeks  in  the  afternoon.  The  Sunday  school  has  an  enroll- 
ment of  eighty. 

ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
MARTINSBURCr,  W.  VA. 

Rev.  F.  R.  Wafjner,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  congregations  in  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia. It  was  originally  composed  of  German  immigrants  and 
their  descendants  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  The  nu- 
cleus of  the  congregation  was  formed  in  177>~>.  Until  1832  the 
Lutheran  congregation  worshipped  in  the  same  house  with  the 
Reformed.  But  already  in  1782  the  Lutheran  congregation  began 
to  keep  its  own  record  book.  The  first  record  in  it  is  the  baptism 
of  Jacob  Krug,  December  1,  1872. 


480  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Xot  until  1790  did  St.  John's  have  a  resident  pastor.  But  the 
gospel  was  preached  and  the  sacraments  were  administered  to  the 
congregation  by  ministers  of  the  Lutheran  Church  who  visited 
them  as  often  as  possible  in  connection  with  numerous  other  con- 
gregations scattered  over  as  many  as  four  or  five  counties. 

One  striking  feature  of  the  history  of  this  church  is  its  large 
number  of  short  pastorates,  except  the  last.  Another  is  the  un- 
usual number  of  men  who  served  this  church  and  who  afterwards 
became  highly  prominent  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  large. 

The  first  regular  pastor  of  whom  we  have  any  certain  knowl- 
edge was  Rev.  Christian  Streit,  a  man  of  fine  education  and  abil- 
ity, of  deep  piety  and  earnest  devotion  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. He  took  charge  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Winchester  in 
1785  and  lived  there,  but  in  connection  with  his  other  work  regu- 
larly ministered  at  Martinsburg.  The  field  of  his  operations  em- 
braced a  circuit  of  about  fifty  miles.  He  ministered  here  until 
1790. 

The  first  church  building  was  the  common  property  of  the  Lu- 
theran and  Reformed  congregations.  It  was  acquired  in  178(i. 
It  had  been  built  as  a  tavern,  but  equipped  as  a  church  it  served 
the  purposes  of  the  congregations  until  they  separated  in  1832. 

After  Christian  Streit,  the  next  pastor,  and  the  first  who  re- 
sided at  Martinsburg,  was  Rev.  John  David  Young.  He  took 
charge  of  the  congregation  in  1790  and  served  it  until  1800,  and 
again,  after  an  absence  of  two  years  at  Taneytown,  Maryland, 
served  it  from  1802  until  his  death  in  February,  1804.  His  labors 
were  abundantly  blessed,  and  he  added  to  the  church  during  his 
short  ministry  no  less  than  one  hundred  forty-three  members. 
He  it  was  who  drew  up  the  first  constitution  and  form  of  govern- 
ment for  the  congregation.  It  shows  great  prudence  and  splen- 
did judgment.  It  was  signed  by  one  hundred  and  three  members. 

During  the  time  that  Rev.  Young  was  absent  from  the  charge, 
from  1800  to  1802,  the  congregation  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Fred- 
erick William  Ja/insky  for  about  one  year.  He  had  been  an 
army  officer  under  Frederick  the  Great,  and  was  a  man  of  very 
determined  will.  He  was  of  spotless  character  but  too  severe  to 
be  very  popular.  This  was  shown  by  his  subsequent  experience 
as  pastor  in  Frederick.  Rev.  Melsheimer  also  supplied  a  few 
months  at  this  time,  but  left  no  records. 

The  second  resident  pastor  was  the  Rev.  John  P.  Ravenach. 
He  began  his  ministry  here  in  1808.  He  was  faithful,  diligent, 
and  blameless  in  life.  Hut  his  usefulness  was  greatly  hindered 
by  domestic  troubles.  On  account  of  these  troubles  he  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  in  1814.  He  then  demitted  the  ministry. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN   CONFERENCE.  481 

hi  1817  Rev.  John  KaehLer,  a  very  young  man  who  had  been 
horn  in  Frederick  and  had  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Schaeifer, 
became  pastor  of  St.  John's  and  continued  in  that  relation  until 
1819. 

He  was  succeeded  in  1819  by  Rev.  Charles  Philip  Krauth,  then 
a  young  man.  This  was  his  first  charge  and  he  was  eminently- 
successful  both  as  preacher  and  as  pastor.  He  brought  about  a 
revival  of  religion  that  continued  unabated  for  at  least  two  years. 
During  his  ministry  of  eight  years  one  hundred  sixteen  members 
were  added  to  the  church.  He  was  the  first  pastor  who  preached 
chiefly  in  English,  and  this  fact  is  supposed  to  account  for  his 
great  success.  Dr.  Krauth  resigned  in  1827  and  became  pastor 
of  St.  Matthew's  in  Philadelphia.  He  afterwards  became  the 
first  president  of  Gettysburg  College  and  then  the  second  pro- 
fessor in  the  Gettysburg  Seminary. 

Dr.  Krauth  was  succeeded  at  Martinsburg  by  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Medtart  in  1827.  In  1835  he  also  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  St. 
Matthew's  in  Philadelphia.  It  was  during  his  ministry  at  Mar- 
tinsburg that  the  union  with  the  Reformed  was  dissolved  and  the 
Lutherans  built  their  own  house  of  worship.  It  was  dedicated 
June  10,  1832,  and  cost  the  congregation  «bout  $4,000. 

Then  followed  a  number  of  short  pastorates.  Rev.  Reuben 
\Veiser  was  pastor  from  1835  to  1837.  He  gathered  a  ccng^^a- 
tion  and  built  a  church  known  as  St.  Paul's,  near  Greensburg  in 
the  same  county  as  Martinsburg,  which  was  ministered  to  by  all 
the  succeeding  pastors  of  Martinsburg  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War. 

Rev.  Charles  Martin  served  the  congregation  from  1837  to 
1842.  Then  Rev.  Samuel  Sprecher,  afterwards  president  of  Wit- 
tenberg College,  ministered  as  pastor  during  most  of  the  year 
1842.  He  was  followed  in  1843  by  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Seiss,  who  was 
regarded  as  "a  young  man  of  much  promise."  He  remained 
only  two  years  and  then  went  on  his  way  to  great  prominence  in 
the  Church.  Rev.  John  Winter  served  the  congregation  from 
1845  to  1847.  Then  for  five  months,  Rev.  Charles  Porterfield 
Krauth,  son  of  the  former  pastor,  ministered  at  Martinsburg. 
He  resigned  in  April,  1847,  to  take  charge  at  Winchester. 

Rev.  B.  M.  Schmucker  was  the  next  pastor.  This  was  his  first 
experience  in  the  ministry.  He  took  charge  in  1848  and  resigned 
in  1852.  From  Martinsburg  he  went  to  Trinity  Church  in  Read- 
ing where  he  became  eminent  as  preacher  and  scholar.  He  was 
succeeded  at  Martinsburg  by  Rev.  Reuben  A.  Fink.  From  this 
time  forth  Shepherdstown  ceased  to  constitute  a  part  of  this 
charge.  Mr.  Fink  became  too  deeply  concerned  in  politics  to 
31 


482  HISTORY  OF   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

please  all  his  people  and  his  resignation  came  in  1S.~>4.  During 
his  brief  ministry  tho  ehurch  building  was  enlarged  and  im- 
proved at  a  eost  of  $1,200. 

The  next  two  years  were  occupied  by  Rev.  William  Kopp.  lie 
was  obliged  to  resign  in  18.~>7  on  account  of  failing  health.  Rev. 
Kopp  and  his  two  predecessors.  Revs.  Medtart  and  Krauth,all  laid 
away  their  life  companions  in  the  cemetery  at  Marti nsburg during 
their  pastorates  there.  Rev.  Kopp  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Edwin 
Dorsey,  M.D..  who  served  the  congregation  from  1858  to  1800. 

The  next  pastor  was  also  a  doctor  of  medicine.  This  was  Rev. 
Charles  Martin,  M.I).  lie  came  to  Marti  nsburg  for  his  second 
pastorate  in  the  fall  of  I860.  Hut  his  labors  here  were  terminated 
by  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  spring  of  1861.  St. 
John's  suffered  intensely  during  the  war,  not  only  the  property 
but  also  the  congregation.  For  four  years  the  church  was  used 
as  a  hospital,  the  congregation  was  without  a  pastor,  and  intense 
differences  of  political  views  added  to  the  confusion  and  strife. 
Not  until  1806  did  another  pastor  come  to  the  field. 

The  first  pastor  after  the  Civil  War  was  Rev.  J.  S.  Heilig. 
During  his  short  pastorate  of  two  years  the  church  building  was 
completely  overhauled  a:ut  renovated.  The  government  granted 
a  lit.le  more  th«)i.«tf,000  for  damages  and  the  congregation  raised 
an  s'^dit-i-onal  $1, •")()().  It  is  recorded  that  Rev.  Heilig's  ministry 
was  not  very  satisfactory,  and  lie  was  succeeded  in  1869  by  Rev. 
M.  L.  Culler. 

Dr.  Culler  was  the  historian  of  the  church.  lie  served  a  very 
successful  pastorate  of  twelve  years.  Rapid  growth  of  the  con- 
jrregation  and  many  improvements  to  its  property  marked  his 
ministry.  In  1881  a  parsonage  was  built. 

In  1S82  Rev.  R.  C.  Holland.  D.D.,  came  to  Marti  nsburg  from 
Shepherdstown.  He  ministered  here  six  years.  During  his  min- 
istry the  church  was  remodeled  at  an  expense  of  $12.000.  He  re- 
signed the  charge  in  September,  1888,  and  removed  to  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina. 

The  last  pastor  of  this  church  was  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Trump,  D.D. 
He  succeeded  Dr.  Holland  in  October,  1888.  And  his  has  been 
by  far  the  longest  pastorate  the  church  has  known.  For  thirty- 
one  years  he  labored  in  this  field.  Many  are  the  'results  of  his 
work.  All  indebtedness  has  been  removed.  In  18i)8  the  parson- 
age was  enlarged  and  improved.  In  1001  the  church  was  again 
remodeled  and  a  pipe  orjran  was  installed.  These  improvements 
cost,  over  $3,000.  Missionary  organizations  have  been  formed  and 
have  flourished.  And  the  membership  of  the  congregation  has 
been  "increased  from  400  to  842." 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  483 

It  is  our  sad  duty  to  chronicle  in  conclusion  the  death  of  Dr. 
Trump  on  October  f>,  1!)19.  He  was  buried  at  Martinsburg  where 
he  had  labored  so  long  and  so  faithfully  and  where  he  spent  the 
major  portion  of  his  life  in  the  ministry.  Of  his  approaching 
death  Dr.  Trump  must  have  had  a  clear  premonition,  for  he  wrote 
in  his  historical  narrative  dated  December,  1918:  "Ere  long  my 
congregation  will  be  listening  to  another  voice  from  the  pulpit 
and  another  pastor  will  visit  their  homes. ' ' 

TRINITY  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
SHARPSBURG,  MD. 

(SiiARPSBURO  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  A.  A.  Kerlin,  Pastor. 

This  church  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  Synod.  It  was  made 
memorable  by  the  part  that  it  played  in  the  battle  of  Antietam. 
The  church  building  that  stood  at  the  time  of  the  battle  was  in 
the  thick  of  the  fight  and  the  building  that  has  taken  the  place  of 
the  old  one  is  a  memorial  to  the  Federal  soldiers  who  fought  and 
died  in  that  battle. 

On  March  16,  1768,  a  deed  for  a  site  for  a  church  and  burial- 
ground  was  executed  by  Colonel  Joseph  Chapline  to  the  Lutheran 
vestrymen,  who  were  Dr.  Christopher  Cruss,  Matthias  Need, 
Nicholas  Sam  and  William  Hawker. 

The  vestrymen  of  the  church  began  at  once  to  erect  a  building 
of  logs  and  roughcast,  33  by  38  feet  in  dimensions  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  graveyard.  This  quaint,  old-fashioned  struc- 
ture, which  was  a  century  and  a  quarter  old,  was  surmounted  by 
a  to\ver  in  which  hung  a  bell  of  English  make.  The  interior  of 
the  church  was  ancient  looking.  The  pews  were  straight -backed 
and  high.  The  pulpit  was  goblet-formed  and  half  way  up  the 
wall,  arid  was  reached  by  a  flight  of  ten  or  twelve  steps.  Over 
the  pulpit  and  just  above  the  preacher's  head  was  suspended 
from  an  iron  rod  in  the  ceiling,  a  canopy,  or  sounding-board,  as 
it  was  termed,  which  resembled  in  form  an  open  umbrella. 

The  vestrymen  occupied  one  corner  of  the  church,  seated  on  a 
platform  considerably  elevated,  so  that  they  could  be  readily  dis- 
tinguished from  the  rest  of  the  congregation.  The  foresinger,  or 
leader  of  the  singing,  with  his  tuning-fork  and  note-book,  was 
seated  on  a  high  chair  in  the  center  of  the  church.  The  singing, 
praying  and  preaching,  from  the  organization  of  the  congregation 
until  the  year  1831,  was  conducted  in  the  German  language. 

The  early  records  of  the  church  having  been  lost  or  destroyed, 


484  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

it  is  impossible  to  give  a  very  correct  account  of  the  ministers 
who  officiated  here  in  the  very  early  times.  It  seems  quite  evi- 
dent, however,  that  this  church  at  the  beginning  was  supplied  by 
ministers  from  Frederick  City,  Middletown  and  Itagerstown,  as 
Frederick  City  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  in  1737,  Middle- 
town  in  the  year  17.")."),  and  Hagerstown  in  the  year  1770.  The 
records  of  Middletown  Lutheran  Church  show  that  Rev.  Johann 
George  Graeber  officiated  occasionally  at  Boonsboro,  Ringer's 
Church,  and  Sharpsburg  in  early  times. 

From  the  records  of  our  oldest  inhabitants,  we  find  that  Revs. 
Schmucker  and  Kurt/  preached  regularly  to  this  congregation, 
and  they  were  ministers  stationed  at  Hagerstown.  The  following 
is  the  list  of  the  ministers  stationed  at  Sharpsburg  Lutheran 
Church  from  the  year  1800  to  the  present  time:  Revs.  Ravenock. 
Baughey,  1).  F.  Schaeffer,  Little,  Schnay,  John  Winter,  Peter 
Ri/er.  I).  Oswald,  George  Diehl,  William  Hunt,  John  N.  Unruh, 
G.  J.  Mart/,  J.  C.  Lunger,  I.  J.  Stine,  Christian  Start/man,  Al- 
fred Buhrman,  G.  W.  Weills,  George  H.  Beckley,  1871-1884,  D. 
B.  Floyd,  181)2:  Ellis  II.  Jones,  1884-1801  :  J.  W.  Lingle,  1891 
1896,  and  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  A.  A.  Kerlin,  since  1806. 

This  quaint  old  building  remained  until  the  year  1864.  Dur- 
ing the  Battle  of  Antietam,  September  7,  1862,  it  was  shelled  con- 
siderably. After  the  battle  it  was  taken  possession  of  and  used 
by  the  Federal  troops  for  a  hospital,  and  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded,  by  which  use  it  was  so  much  damaged  as  to  render  it 
totally  unfit  for  worship.  It  was  therefore  torn  down,  and  the 
ground  exchanged  for  the  site  on  which  the  present  church  edifice 
stands.  The  corner  stone  for  the  second  church  was  laid  Sep- 
tember 1."),  1866.  The  building  was  dedicated  May  23,  1869,  the 
sermon  on  that  occasion  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Alfred  Buhr- 
man, assisted  by  Revs.  G.  H.  Beckley,  G.  W.  Anderson,  M.  W. 
Fair,  and  Revs.  Cronise  and  Wilson  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  second  church  was  a  poorly  constructed  building  and  in  a 
few  years  began  to  show  signs  of  decay.  The  walls  began  to  give 
way,  and  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  worship  in  it.  On  Sunday, 
December  13.  1891,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  by  the  pastor, 
vestry  and  members  to  build  a  new  church,  to  be  known  as  The 
Memorial  Lutheran  Church,  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the 
Federal  soldiers,  who  fought  and  those  who  fell  at  the  Battle  of 
Antietam,  September  17.  1862. 

In  the  spring  of  1892,  the  second  church  was  torn  down  and 
preparations  were  made  to  erect  a  third  church.  The  building 
committee  were:  Rev.  J.  W.  Lingle  and  Messrs.  George  Ile.s.x. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THK   WESTERN   COXKERENCE.  485 

.John  Bemier,  Martin  K.  Suavely,  -Jacob  Mc(!ra\v  and  William 
Earley.  On  September  17,  3892,  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the 
Battle  of  Antietam,  the  corner  stone  was  laid.  The  church  is 
cruciform  in  design,  with  gothie  windows  and  corner  spire,  95 
feet  from  base  to  top  and  is  surmounted  by  a  cross.  The  lecture 
room  was  finished  and  ready  for  worship  December  25,  1893,  and 
was  used  until  the  completion  of  the  auditorium.  The  windows 
in  the  lecture  room  are  memorials  of  aged  departed  members  of 
the  church. 

Dr.  Christopher  Cruss,  whose  name  appears  among  the  early 
vestrymen  was  a  German  chemist  and  emigrated  to  this  county 
from  Germany  about  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  the  town.  He 
was  associated  with  James  Rumsey  in  the  construction  of  the 
first  steamboat  built  in  the  United  States. 

Matthias  Need,  another  of  the  vestry,  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  and  participated  in  a  number  of  battles, 
doing  honorable  service.  He  lies  buried  somewhere  in  an  un- 
marked grave  in  the  old  Lutheran  graveyard. 


LOCUST  GROVE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
LOCUST  GROVE,  MD. 

(SHARPSBURG  CHARGE.) 
Rev.  A.  A.  Kerlin,  Pastor, 

This  congregation  is  a  part  of  the  Sharpsburg  charge.  It  has 
had  the  pastoral  oversight  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kerlin  for  nearly  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century. 

The  building  in  which  the  congregation  worships  was  erected 
in  1844.  The  congregation  is  one  of  the  most  active  country  con- 
gregations in  Washington  County.  From  1844  to  1878,  it  was 
served  by  the  following  pastors :  Revs.  William  Hunt,  John  N. 
Unruh,  G.  J.  Martz,  J.  C.  Lunger,  I.  J.  Stine,  Christian  Startz- 
man,  Alfred  Buhrman,  G.  W.  Weills  and  George  H.  Beckley. 

In  1878,  Rev.  Beckley  built  a  church  at  Rohrersville,  one  mile 
south  of  Locust  Grove.  This  divided  the  congregation.  Locust 
Grove  was  supplied  by  the  Revs.  Bobst,  Nichol  and  Trump,  pas- 
tors from  Harper 's  Ferry,  until  1884 ;  then  by  Rev.  Jones,  of 
Sharpsburg,  until  1891,  and  then  by  Rev.  Lingle,  of  Sharpsburg, 
until  1896,  when  by  action  of  Synod,  it  again  became  part  of  the 
Sharpsburg  charge,  which  relation  it  sustains  at  present.  Since 
September  1,  1896,  the  church  has  been  served  by  Rev.  A.  A. 
Kerlin. 


48f> 


HISTOKV  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


TKIXITY  LUTIIKKAX  niTRC'lI. 

SMrrnsmTK(j,  MI). 

(SMITIISBURO  CHAROK.) 
Kev.  Ferdinand  Hesse,  Pastor. 

The  history  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  of  Smithsburg  goes 
hack  to  1822  or  earlier.  There  was  an  organization  prior  to  that 
time.  The  work  in  the  neighborhood  of  Smithsburg  was  begun 
by  Dr.  Kurt/,  who  was  the  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
of  Hagerstown.  He  conducted  services  at  Smithsburg  in  a 

schoolhouse  for  some  time  before 
a  church  was  built. 

The  first  church  was  begun  in 
1822.  The  corner  stone  was  laid 
Whit-Monday,  May  27,  1822.  The 
clergymen  present  on  this  occa- 
sion were  Benjamin  Kurtz,  Jacob 
Schnee,  Jacob  Medtart  and  Peter 
Ricksecker.  Rev.  Jacob  Schnee 
delivered  a  discourse  and  Rev. 
Jacob  Medtart  preached  a  sermon 
from  1  Cor.  7:31.  The  church 
was  built  of  stone  and  the  name 
given  to  the  congregation  was 
"  Dreieinigkeits  Kirche, "  that  is, 
"Trinity  Church."  The  congre- 
gation was  incorporated  Decem- 
ber 26,  1825.  At  that  time  Trin- 
ity Church  was  part  of  the 

Smithsburg  charge  in  connection  with  \Vaynesboro,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Leitersbunr,  Maryland ;  Mt.  Moriah  at  Foxville,  Mary- 
land, and  Beard's  Church  near  Smithsburg.  \Vaynesboro  left  the 
charge  in  the  year  1840.  The  remaining  four  churches  consti- 
tuted the  charge  until  1880,  when  Leitersburg  and  Beard's  with- 
drew and  constituted  a  separate  charge.  Then  Trinity,  Smiths- 
burg and  Mt.  Moriah  formed  a  charge.  In  1897  St.  Paul's  at 
Greensburg,  Maryland,  was  made  a  part  of  the  charge.  There 
are  now  three  churches  in  the  charge :  Trinity,  Mt.  Moriah  and 
St.  Paul's. 

In  the  year  182")  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifteen  members 
and  by  1833  the  membership  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and 
eighty.  During  Rev.  P.  Kline's  long  period  of  service  as  pastor, 


HKV.  FKKDIXAND  HESSE. 


HISTORY   OK   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


he  received  into  the  church  one  hundred  and  sixty-six.  The  total 
membership  was  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  when  he  i'el'1  the 
church.  Those  most  active  at  that  period  of  the  church  were  the 
following:  Christopher  Flory,  John  Flory,  John  Etnoyer,  Jacob 
Trille,  Peter  Mong,  John  Welty,  (Jeorge  Sigler,  Conrad  Flory, 
Adam  Shank  and  David  Ludy. 

The  pastors  in  the  order  of  their  terms  of  services  are  these: 
Rev.  Benjamin  Kurt/  was  instrumental  in  organi/ing  the  con- 
gregation and  building  the  first  church  and  served  as  the  pastor 


Mu.  1).  \V.  HAIJKDOU., 
Snrithshurg,  Mil. 


Mu.  R.  B.  BKO\VX, 
Smithshurg.  Mil. 


of  the  congregation  until  1828.  Rev.  Samuel  Iloshour,  1828-:>0; 
Rev.  John  Reck,  18:}()-:52;  Rev.  John  Philip  Kline.  18:5:5-40;  Rev. 
John  J.  Remensnyder,  1840-51  ;  Rev.  Daniel  Bittlo,  1851-5.'}; 
Rev.  John  Probst.  185:5-56:  Rev.  John  Heck.  1850.  until  his  death 
March  11.  1801  :  Rev.  William  Kyster.  1801 -Of),  who  is  still  living 
at  a  very  advanced  age  in  Crete.  Nebraska;  Rev.  M.  C.  Horine, 
1805-69;  Rev.  Samuel  McIIenry. 
son,  1872  until  the  division  of  the 
came  pastor  of  the  new  charge.  Trinity,  Smithsburg.  and  Mt. 
Moriah.  from  1881  to  1887:  Rev.  J.  B.  Keller.  1888-96;  Rev.  J. 
B.  Killian.  1897-1901:  Rev.  1).  S.  Kurt/,  1901-1906:  and  Rev. 
Ferdinand  Hesse.  1907  to  the  present. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Remensnyder  the  stone 
church  was  torn  down  and  a  new  brick  building  erected.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  in  the  fall  of  1851.  and 


1870-72;    Rev.  X.  J.  Richard- 
harge  in  1880.  and  he  then  be- 


mi:  curuciiKs  <>!•'  TIII:  WKSTKKX  COM-I:I;I:.\CI:.  489 

Ihe  church  was  completed  and  dedicated  November  21,  1852.  Dr. 
Benjamin  Kurt/,  who  organized  the  church  thirty  years  before 
officiated,  assisted  by  Rev.  C.  C.  Culler,  of  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land. 

In  1870  the  church  was  repaired,  repainted,  refurnished  and 
otherwise  improved  under  the  pastoral  oversight  of  Rev.  S.  Mc- 
Ilenry. 

The  church  was  again  repaired  and  refurnished  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson  and  reopened  October  24. 
1880. 

The  church  was  again  remodeled  during  Rev  J.  B.  Keller's  ad- 
ministration as  pastor.  The  tower  spire  was  erected,  pulpit  re- 
cess added,  stained  glass  windows,  panel  ceiling,  change  of  gal- 
lery and  pews,  pulpit  furniture  and  other  improvements  made. 
The  church  was  rededicated  by  the  pastor  May  10,  1891. 

Trinity  has  sent  some  very  useful  men  into  the  ministry. 
Three  brothers,  Martin,  Joseph  and  William  Baechtell,  went  to 
Gettysburg  and  entered  the  seminary  about  the  year  1842 ;  Davicl 
Jacob  Eyler,  1850 ;  Arthur  Franklin  Richardson,  1887 ;  Rev. 
Lewis  Bikle,  D.D.,  1858;  Rev.  Philip  Bikle,  D.D.,  18G9 ;  Rev. 
Gideon  Brown,  1889;  Rev.  Charles  Krauth  Bell,  D.D.,  1898. 
Some  of  these  men  have  completed  their  labors  and  have  en- 
tered into  their  rest,  while  others  are  still  faithfully  tilling  im- 
portant positions  in  the  Master's  work. 

The  charge  has  had  a  parsonage  since  1829.  The  present 
building  was  purchased  in  1863.  In  1910  the  parsonage  was  im- 
proved by  installing  a  hot  water  system  and  adding  a  bath  room 
at  a  cost  of  $625.  In  1915  a  new  porch  was  added  to  the  building 
and  the  house  wired  for  electric  lights.  With  these  modern  con- 
veniences the  parsonage  has  been  made  a  comfortable  home. 

The  congregation  built  a  Sunday  school  chapel  in  1909.  The 
building  is  of  brick  and  is  Gothic  in  design.  It  is  heated  by 
steam,  is  electric  lighted  and  all  of  its  appointments  are  modern 
and  appropriate.  There  are  three  rooms,  one  for  the  main  school, 
another  for  the  primary  department  and  the  third  appropriately 
furnished  for  general  purposes,  and  is  used  by  the  Bible  class 
and  special  meetings.  The  chapel  was  dedicated  free  of  debt. 

A  Miiller  pipe  organ  was  installed  in  the  church  in  1913  at  a 
cost  of  .$1,700. 

A  history  of  the  charge  was  published  by  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Ferdinand  Hesse,  in  1912,  and  this  will  give  more  general  in- 
formation to  anyone  desiring  to  learn  more  of  the  Sniithsburg 
charge. 


4!)0 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  ri 
(JHKKXSIU'Kd,  MI). 

(S.MiTiiswiK;  CHAROK.) 
Ifer.  Ferdinand  11  fuse, 


A  Lutheran  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the  public  school- 
house  of  Greensburg,  Maryland,  near  Edgemont,  Maryland,  ]88<i 
by  Joseph  Sleasman,  \V.  I).  Barkdoll  and  "W.  0.  Donaldson.  The 
school  was  carried  on  successfully  for  four  years  in  the  school- 
house.  About  one  hundred  scholars  were  enrolled.  Mr.  Sleas- 
man was  elected  superintendent  and  served  until  his  death,  Jan- 


MR.  CHRISTIAN  P.  LKATIIKI:, 


MR.  WILLIAM  BARKDOLT/, 
GrciMisl)urg,  Md. 


nary  10,  1917.  Mr.  1).  M.  Kidenour  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 
Since  the  school  was  organized  in  1886  only  two  superintendents 
have  served  the  school. 

On  December  29,  1889,  steps  were  taken  to  organize  a  congre- 
gation and  this  resulted  in  a  new  church  organization  for  the 
community.  On  February  9,  1890,  a  building  committee  of  five 
was  appointed  to  arrange  for  a  new  church.  A  lot  was  donated 
by  ('.  P.  Leather  and  the  ground  consecrated  by  Rev.  •!.  B.  Keller 
of  the  Smithsburg  charge. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  April  2,  1890.  The  congregation  was 
organized  with  thirty-two  charter  members  and  with  twenty-nine 
dismissed  from  Trinity.  Smithsburg,  making  sixty-one  in  all. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN*   COXKEREXCE. 


491 


Tlie  church  \v;is  completed  and  dedicated  October  1,  1890.  Key. 
Victor  Miller  officiating. 

At  first  the  congregation  was  supplied  by  students  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  The  Rev.  E.  E.  Ide  was 
elected  the  first  pastor  and  a  call  was  extended  to  him  May,  1891. 
which  he  accepted  June  22,  1891. 

Rev.  E.  E.  Ide  served  St.  Paul's  congregation  in  connection 
with  the  Lutheran  churches  of  Rouserville  and  Quincy,  Penn- 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  GREEXSBURG,  MD. 

sylvania.  The  latter  two  belonged  to  the  West  Pennsylvania 
Synod  and  St.  Paul's  Church  being  in  Maryland,  this  congrega- 
tion applied  to  the  Maryland  Synod  for  recognition  and  was  re- 
ceived October  1,  1892.  Therefore  the  annual  report  was  made 
independent  of  the  other  two  churches  to  the  Maryland  Synod. 
Rev.  Ide  served  this  church  as  regular  pastor  about  two  years. 
He  resigned  in  December,  1892,  to  take  effect  January  1,  1893. 


4!>2  tllSTOKY  OK    MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

lii  the  fall  of  189:1  Rev.  John  Adams  was  elected  pastor  and  re- 
inaiiH'd  tiiiiil  Ins  death,  which  occurred  December  IS.  189(5. 

St.  Paul's  Kvangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  admitted  into  the 
Smithsburg  charge  .March  (>.  1897.  thereby  being  separated  from 
the  churches  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod.  The  pastors  that 
succeeded  Rev.  John  Adams  are  the  same  as  those  of  Trinity  of 
Smithsbnrg,  Maryland,  and  Mt.  Moriah,  Fox\ille,  Maryland, 
which  appear  in  their  order  und"r  those  histories,  beginning  with 
Rev.  J.  M.  Killian  who  was  elected  July  4.  1897. 

Mr.  Thomas  A.  Brown  who  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-three 
years  old  and  who  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  this  congre- 
gation remembered  the  church  with  an  annual  gift  of  .$^5  to  con- 
tinue for  fifty  years  after  his  death.  This  money  to  be  used  for 
the  most  necessary  purposes  of  the  St.  Paul's  congregation.  Mr. 
William  Shull  has  also  remembered  the  congregation  with  a  gii't 
that  will  be  a  permanent  legacy. 

One  young  man  has  entered  the  ministry  from  this  congrega- 
tion, the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  of  Oreenslmrg,  Maryland.  He  is 
preaching  at  present  at  West  Arlington,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

This  congregation  has  measured  up  to  the  amount  of  benevolent 
work  that  the  Synod  has  asked  for  the  last  twelve  years.  She  has 
had  a  splendid  growth  until  there  are  at  present  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  members  and  a  splendid  Sunday  school. 

MT.  MORTAH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FOXVILLE,  MI). 

(SMITHSBURG  CHARGE.) 
Re  v.  Ferdinand  7/r.s.sv,  fast  or. 

The  Mt.  Moriah  Lutheran  Church  was  organixed  in  1829  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Iloshour.  pastor  of  the  Smithsburg  charge.  Tn  the 
undertaking  of  the  building  of  the  church  a  general  subscription 
was  taken  and  three  hundred  and  fifty-seven  names  appear  on  the 
subscription  list.  The  contributions  amounted  to  $751.98.  The 
church  was  built  on  land  donated  by  Mr.  George  I*.  Fox.  The  lo- 
cation is  a  commanding  one  and  can  be  easily  reached  from  any 
part  of  the  community. 

The  first  record  of  members  is  that  by  Rev.  John  Reck.  It  is  a 
communion  list.  Beginning  with  his  pastoral  oversight  the  first 
church  council  was.elected;  therefore  it  is  more  than  likely  that 
he  had  much  to  do  with  the  completion  of  the  organization. 

In  1887  an  additional  piece  of  ground  was  bought  from  Mr. 
William  Brown  for  twentv-five  dollars.  The  church  was  rebuilt 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN'   CONFERENCE. 


493 


in  1887.  The  new  church  was  built  of  stone.  Rev.  X.  J.  Richard- 
son was  pastor  at  the  time  of  the  building.  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  about  $1.800.  The  church  was  dedicated  on  May  26, 
1878.  This  church  was  burned  and  entirely  destroyed  on  Easter 
afternoon.  March  31,  1918.  Plans  have  been  laid  for  a  new 
church  which  will  be  the  third 
church  in  this  their  history  of  a 
little  less  than  a  hundred  years. 

Ever  since  this  church  has  been 
organized  it  has  formed  a  part  of 
the  Smithsburg  charge ;  therefore 
the  pastors  are  the  same  for  Ml. 
Moriah  as  those  of  T  r  i  n  i  t  y. 
Smithsburg:  Rev.  Samuel  Hos- 
hour.  1829-30;  Rev.  John  Reck, 
1830-32;  Rev.  John  Philip  Kline, 
1833-46;  Rev.  John  J.  Remensuy- 
cler,  1846-51;  Rev.  Daniel  Bittle, 
1851-53;  Rev.  John  Probst.  1853- 
56;  Rev.  John  Reck.  1856  until 
his  death  March  11.  1861;  Rev. 
William  Eyster,  1861-65.  who  is 
still  living  at  a  very  advanced  age 
in  Crete.  Nebraska;  Rev.  M.  C. 
ITorine,  1865-69;  Rev.  Samuel 


Mu.  THOMAS  0.  Fox, 
Foxville,  I'a. 


McIIenry.  1870-72;  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson.  1872  until  the  division 
of  the  charge  in  1880.  and  he  then  became  pastor  of  the  new  charge. 
Trinity,  Smithsburg.  and  Mt.  Moriah,  from  1881  to  1887 ;  Rev.  J. 
B.  Keller,  1888-96;  Rev.  J.  B.  Killian,  1897-1901;  Rev.  I).  S. 
Kurtz,  1901-1906;  and  Rev.  Ferdinand  Hesse.  1907  to  the  present. 

WAYXESBORO  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
WAYXESBORO,  PA. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Francis,  D.D.,  Pastor. 

About  the  year  1791  Frieden's  (now  Jacob's)  Church  was  or- 
ganized. This  church  building  was  located  four  miles  south  of 
the  present  site  of  Waynesboro,  Pennsylvania.  The  original 
charge  consisted  of  Greencastle.  Grindstone  Hill.  Jacobs  and 
Smithsburg  churches,  and  the  Rev.  John  Ruthrauff  became  pas- 
tor of  this  charge  in  the  year  1795.  The  exact  date  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Waynesboro  is  not  known.  The 
probability  is  that  Rev.  Ruthrauff  preached  here  as  early  as  1800. 
in  the  log  schoolhouse  near  the  toll  gate  that  stood  at  the  east  end 


4!»4 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


of  the  town.  The  Lutherans.  Presbyterians  and  German  Re- 
formed congregations  uiulertook  in  1807  thr  erection  of  a  Union 
Church  upon  ground  donated  by  John  Wallace  the  founder  of 
Wayneshoro.  This  church  was  built  of  brick  and  not  completed 
until  the  summer  of  1818.  It  was  at  the  completion  and  dedica- 
tion of  this  building  that  the  first  records  of  baptism  and  com- 
municants were  made  by  Rev.  Ruthrauff,  and  the  probability  is 
that  the  organization  was  effected  about  this  time.  According  to 
these  records  sixty-six  persons  received  the  communion.  Rev. 

Ruthrauff  was  an  able  and  vigor- 
ous preacher,  his  parish  extending 
from  mountain  to  mountain.  His 
ministry  at  Wayneshoro  con- 
tinued until  1828,  laying  strong 
and  broad  the  foundations  of  our 
Church. 

In  1828  the  Waynesboro  Lu- 
theran Church  was  detached  from 
the  Greencastle  charge,  and  a  new 
pastorate  was  formed,  consisting 
of  Waynesboro,  Smithsburg  and 
probably  Beard's  and  Leitersburg 
Churches.  The  pastor,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel K.  Iloshour,  resided  at 
Smithsburg.  and  the  charge  was 
connected  w  i  t  h  t  h  e  Maryland 
Synod.  This  pastoral  arrange- 
ment, continued  thirteen  or  four- 
teen years,  until  1841 .  Rev. 

Iloshour  introduced  the  English  language  in  the  services  of  the 
church.  In  1830  the  first  church  building  was  taken  down  and  a 
second  one  erected  on  the  same  ground.  The  Lutherans  and  Pres- 
byterians used  it  on  alternate  Sundays.  This  building  is  still 
standing  on  Church  Street,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  formerly  known  as  the  German  Bap- 
tists. Tn  1831  Rev.  Iloshour  resigned.  lie  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Reck,  whose  ministry  continued  until  1834,  and  in  the 
same  year  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  I*.  Cline.  Tn  the  spring 
of  1839  a  vigorous  Sunday  school  was  organi/ed  in  the  Union 
Church,  the  first  successful  and  permanent  Sunday  school  in 
Waynesboro.  Rev.  Cline  served  as  pastor  for  about  six  years. 

In  1841  a  new  pastorate  was  formed,  consisting  of  Waynesboro, 
Jacobs,  Quincy.  and  (for  a  time)  Funkstown  Churches.  Rev. 
Frederick  W.  Conrad  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  newly  con- 


Mi:.  DAMKI,  HOOVKI:. 


THE  t'HURCHKS  OF  THE   WESTERN   CONFERENCE. 


495 


stituted  charge  in  June,  1841,  and  was  the  first  Lutheran  pastor 
to  reside  in  Waynesboro.    lie  resigned  in  1844. 

In  1845  Rev.  John  Reck  became  pastor,  and  continued  as  such 
for  eleven  years.  From  April,  1857,  to  the  close  of  1862,  Rev. 
John  F.  Campbell  served  as  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Edwin  Dorsey  in  1863.  After  a  few  months  incumbency  he  died, 
and  was  succeeded  in  the  spring  of  1864  by  Rev.  Alfred  Buhr- 
man.  Tic  served  the  charge  for  seven  years,  resigning  in  the 


THE  LUTHERAN*  CHURCH  OF  WAYNESBORO,  PA. 

spring  of  1871.  During  his  ministry,  in  1869,  the  union  that  had 
existed  between  the  Presbyterian  and  Lutheran  congregations 
was  severed  and  the  first  Lutheran  church  was  erected  on  the  site 
of  present  church  building  at  a  cost  of  $11.000  and  the  Lutherans 
of  Waynesboro  for  the  first  time  worshiped  in  their  o\vn  church. 
In  1871  Rev.  C.  L.  Keedy  became  pastor  serving  until  1875,  and 
resigning  to  take  charge  of  Kee  Mar  College.  Rev.  Peter  Berg- 
strcsser  became  pastor  in  1876  and  remained  until  1887.  Tn  1885 
the  church  was  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  about  $9,000.  In  1886  the 
Young  Women's  Missionary  Society  was  organized. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1888,  Rev.  Herman  S.  Cook  became 
pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  until  October  31,  1899.  Sev- 
eral extensive  revivals  added  large  numbers  to  the  church,  the  in- 
debtedness on  church  and  parsonage  was  liquidated,  the  Woman's 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE   WESTERN    CONFERENCE.  497 

Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  the  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  organized.  In  1898  the  individual  communion 
cups  were  used  for  the  first  time. 

Rev.  C.  H.  Rockey  became  pastor  February  1.  1900.  During 
his  pastorate  the  present  Lutheran  church  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  .$52,000,  and  the  parsonage  was  built  in  1906.  Rev.  Rockey 
resigned  June  18.  1911.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Kelly, 
December  15,  1911.  During  his  ministry  of  four  years  and  three 
months  the  church  was  entirely  freed  from  debt.  He  resigned 
March  23,  1916. 

July  9,  1916,  the  bond  that  had  existed  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred years  between  the  Waynesboro  Church  and  Jacobs  Church 
was  severed. 

On  September  1.  1916.  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Francis,  D.D.,  became 
the  fifteenth  pastor  of  this  church.  Under  his  ministry  the  church 
continues  to  prosper  and  has  now  a  membership  of  over  thirteen 
hundred  souls,  and  a  church  property  valued  at  $90,000. 

At  least  three  sons  of  this  congregation  have  entered  the  min- 
istry: Rev.  Julius  F.  Seebach,  now  of  Hollidaysburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Rev.  C.  A.  Eyler.  now  of  Collingswood,  New  Jersey,  and 
Rev.  Dixon  Geiser.  Mr.  Clarence  A.  Neal  is  now  in  the  Seminary 
preparing  for  the  ministry. 

Accompanying  this  sketch  is  a  picture  of  Mr.  Daniel  Hoover. 
He  is  worthy  of  special  mention.  He  was  a  resident  of  Waynes- 
boro from  1865  until  his  death  on  November  17,  1904.  He  was 
the  father  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
surviving  children  are  Ira  N..  Dr.  Percy  D.,  Roy  J.  D.,  and  Mrs. 
J.  E.  Byers,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Byers,  pastor  of  Grace  Lutheran 
Church  in  Baltimore.  All  the  children  Avere  baptized  in  infancy 
by  Lutheran  ministers  and  of  the  four  living,  Ira  N.  and  Dr. 
Percy  D.  are  members  of  the  Church  Council.  Roy  J.  D.  is  a 
consistent  and  active  member  of  the  church  at  Waynesboro  and 
Mrs.  Byers  is  a  member  of  Grace  Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore. 
Daniel  Hoover  was  a  loyal  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Waynesboro  for  forty-nine  years.  He  was  active  in  church  work 
until  his  death.  He  filled  practically  every  official  position  in 
connection  with  the  church,  and  was  on  the  building  committee 
during  the  construction  of  the  present  church  edifice.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  church  and  community 
and  will  be  long  remembered  on  account  of  his  consistent  life  and 
good  works. 


32 


4!)S 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ZIOX  LUTHERAN 


WILLIAMSPORT, 


MI). 


This  organization  luid  its  begii  tiling  about  the  year  1701.  Its 
early  history  js  closely  associated  with  St.  .John's  Lutheran 
Church  of  Hagerstown.  The  pastors  of  that  congregation  were 
the  pastors  at  AVilliamsport  until  1827.  The  exact  date  of  the  or- 
ganization of  this  congregation  is  not  given;  hut  a  plan  of  incor- 
poration. was  adopted  by  the  congregation,  January  9.  1S07. 

There  must  have  been,  therefore, 
prior  to  the  adoption  of  this  plan 
of  incorporation,  a  congregation 
and  a  church  building  at  this 
place;  very  probably  the  first 
church  building,  which  was  a 
small  log  structure,  was  erected  in 
the  last  years  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
John  George  Schmucker.  He  was 
pastor  at  the  time  of  the  adoption 
of  the  plan  of  incorporation.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Schmucker  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  pastoral  office  by  the 
Rev.  Solomon  Schaeffer  in  June, 
1814.  After  serving  as  pastor  for 
two  years,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Benja- 
min Kurtz,  who  continued  as  pastor  until  1820.  The  Rev.  Fred- 
erick Ruthrauff  then  became  pastor.  He  continued  in  the  pas- 
torate until  1827.  At  this  time  the  congregation  was  separated 
from  the  Hagerstown  charge,  and  was  united  with  the  congrega- 
tion at  Clearspring  and  St.  Paul's,  forming  a  new  charge. 

The  first  pastor  in  the  new  charge  was  the  Rev.  John  Winter. 
who  began  his  work  in  February.  1828.  During  the  pastorate  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  "Winter,  the  old  log  church  was  taken  down  and  a 
neat  substantial  brick  church  was  erected.  This  building  was 
placed  upon  the  foundation  of  the  old  church.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  in  June.  1829.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached 
in  the  woods  adjoining  the  town.  Eleven  weeks  after  the  corner 
stone  was  laid  the  new  church  was  dedicated.  The  sermon  on  the 
occasion  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  S.  K.  Hoshour.  The  Rev.  Mr. 


RKV.  J.  S. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  499 

Winter  continued  as  pastor  for  six  years.  After  a  vacancy  of 
seven  months  the  Rev.  Simeon  W.  Harkey  was  called  as  pastor. 
He  remained  but  one  year.  Then  the  Rev.  Daniel  Miller  came 
into  the  charge.  Mr.  Miller  remained  but  one  year,  resigning  in 
August,  1837. 

During  these  two  brief  pastorates  this  congregation  was  sepa- 
rated from  St.  Paul  and  Clearspring,  and  was  unable  to  give 
adequate  support  to  the  pastor.  After  a  vacancy  of  one  year  and 
four  months,  the  Rev.  Christian  Startsman  was  elected  pastor  in 
1839.  He  remained  eleven  years  and  under  his  ministration  the 
congregation  increased  in  membership  and  had  the  largest  pros- 
perity so  far  in  its  history.  He  was  an  earnest  and  devout 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  an  ardent  friend  of  revivals.  Large 
7iumbers  united  with  the  church  under  his  ministry,  many  of 
whom  remained  faithful  through  a  long  life. 

The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Bishop.  He  took  charge 
in  1850  and  continued  in  charge  until  1855.  He  did  not  pursue 
the  revival  methods  of  the  former  pastor,  and  on  this  account 
some  of  those  who  had  united  with  the  church  under  the  revival 
influence  withdrew.  In  January,  1855,  the  charge  was  again  sup- 
plied with  a  pastor  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  William  F.  Greaver, 
a  man  of  devout  piety  and  earnest  zeal.  Under  his  brief  ministry 
the  church  prospered.  The  congregation  esteemed  him  highly  for 
his  work's  sake.  After  a  ministry  of  one  year  and  nine  months 
he  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Williamsport. 

The  successor  df  Rev.  Mr.  Greaver  was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Bar- 
clay, a  young  man  coming  directly  from  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary. During  his  ministry  the  church  building  was  enlarged  and 
tastefully  frescoed.  He  resigned  the  charge  in  August,  1859.  On 
October  20,  1859,  the  Rev.  Christian  Lepley  became  pastor.  He 
continued  in  the  pastorate  for  five  years.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Lepley 
made  an  earnest  effort  during  the  first  years  of  his  ministry  here 
to  pay  the  indebtedness  of  the  congregation,  but  the  Civil  War 
coming  on.  differences  of  opinion  arose,  causing  bitterness  of  feel- 
ing and  alienations,  in  the  church  as  well  as  in  the  social  life,  and 
he  did  not  succeed  in  his  efforts.  His  ministry  during  the  years 
of  the  war  was  very  unpleasant  and  unsuccessful.  The  church 
building  was  used  for  some  time  as  a  hospital  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  Other  churches  of  the  town  were  used  for  the 
same  purpose.  These  other  churches  received  liberal  compensa- 
tions from  the  Government  for  damage  but  the  Lutheran  Church 
has  received  nothing.  The  reason  given  for  this  was  that  there 
were  those  belonging  to  the  church  who  were  disloyal  to  the  Gov- 
ernment. 


500 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


After  a  vacancy  of  more  than  a  year,  the  Rev.  S.  Jesse  Berlin 
was  elected  pastor,  November  1, 186o.  He  found  the  congregation 
very  much  scattered  and  distracted.  He  labored  to  unite  the 
membership  again,  to  liquidate  the  church  debt,  to  have  repairs 
made  to  the  church  property,  and  to  awaken  a  larger  spirit  of 
benevolence  in  the  congregation.  He  was  successful  in  paying 
the  debt,  a  portion  of  which  had  been  resting  upon  the  congrega- 
tion since  the  church  was  built  in  1829;  and  in  his  efforts  in  other 

directions  for  the  welfare  of  the 

church  he  was  in  a  large  measure 
successful.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Berlin 
resigned  the  charge  in  December, 
1866. 

The  Rev.  M.  L.  Culler  was  the 
next  pastor.  He  received  a  unan- 
imous call,  March  1,  1867.  He 
was  an  earnest  a  n  d  devout 
preacher  of  the  Gospel  and  a  zeal- 
ous pastor.  He  added  sixty-four 
to  the  membership  of  the  church 
in  the  two  years  and  nine  months 
of  his  pastorate.  The  church 
property  was  repaired,  the  benev- 
olent offerings  were  much  in- 
creased, and  the  spirit  of  church 
love  was  more  largely  manifested. 
In  1870  St.  Paul's  congregation 
withdrew  from  the  Williamsport 
charge,  leaving  this  congregation  to  form  a  charge  by  itself. 
The  Rev.  W.  1).  Stroble,  D.D.,  became  pastor  in  April,  1871. 
Prior  to  his  coming  the  parsonage  had  been  repaired  and  enlarged 
at  a  cost  of  sjvSOO.  Dr.  Stroble  was  successful  in  his  ministry  here. 
After  a  pastorate  of  three  years  he  resigned.  For  a  short  time 
the  congregation  was  supplied  temporarily  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mc- 
Cron.  of  the  Hagerstown  Female  Seminary. 

In  April.  1S74.  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Keller  became  pastor.  His  was 
the  longest  pastorale  up  to  that  time  in  the  history  of  the  congre- 
gation. It  continued  from  1874  to  1886,  a  period  of  twelve  years. 
During  this  period  the  membership  was  largely  increased  and  a 
"Dime  Society"  was  organized  and  kept  in  successful  operation. 
All  indebtedness  of  the  congregation  was  paid  off;  the  offerings 
for  benevolence  and  current  church  work  were  largely  increased. 
The  communicant  membership  at  the  time  of  Rev.  Mr.  Keller's 
resignation  numbered  one  hundred  and  fifty-six. 


Mu.  JOHN  D.  BYKKS, 
Williamsport,  Md. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE.  501 

The  Rev.  Charles  M.  An  rand  was  the  next  pastor.  He  took 
charge  May  1.  1886,  resigning  December  81.  1889.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  his  pastorate  he  introduced  the  full  service  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church  without  opposition.  During  the  summer  of  1887 
the  church  building  was  extensively  repaired  and  a  Sunday  school 
room  was  provided  at  a  cost  of  more  than  three  thousand  dollars. 
The  bell  was  presented  by  Mr.  Ripple.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  which  convened  in  this  church  in  October,  1887, 
the  rededication  of  the  church  took  place.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Morris.  D.D.  A  Woman's  Home  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organized.  The  society  con- 
tinues at  this  day  to  do  most  efficient  work  for  missions. 

After  a  vacancy  of  nine  months  the  Rev.  M.  D.  Gaver  was  called 
as  pastor.  He  took  charge  September  3,  1890.  The  ground  east 
of  the  church  was  purchased  in  the  autumn  of  1896  for  three  hun- 
dred dollars.  A  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor 
was  organized  during  the  summer  of  1894.  The  church  building 
was  again  repaired  in  1897.  In  the  summer  of  1901  a  new  par- 
sonage was  built.  The  building  cost  about  $2,800. 

The  Rev.  D.  Upton  Bair,  Ph.D..  became  pastor  June  1,  1910, 
and  served  through  a  very  successful  pastorate  to  July  1,  1919. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  pastorate  a  new  pipe  organ  was  pre- 
sented to  the  church  in  memory  of  his  sainted  wife  by  W.  D. 
Byron.  In  1911  a  new  church  was  begun.  The  dedication  took 
place  August  18,  1912.  The  church  was  dedicated  free  of  debt 
and  without  solicitation  for  funds  on  dedication  day. 

The  church  is  a  handsome  structure  of  Gothic  style,  built  of 
light  brick,  with  gray-stone  trimmings,  is  115  feet  in  length,  in- 
cluding an  auditorium  fifty  by  fifty  feet  with  seating  capacity  of 
three  hundred  fifty.  The  main  Sunday  school  room  is  on  the 
same  floor  in  the  rear  and  is  divided  into  class  rooms.  It  com- 
municates with  the  auditorium  by  means  of  a  large  lifting  door 
and  the  combined  seating  capacity  for  special  occasions  is  over 
six  hundred.  The  Primary  department  occupies  a  room  over  the 
Sunday  school  room  and  is  light  and  airy.  Beneath  the  Sunday 
school  room  is  a  spacious  department  designed  for  socials.  The 
cost  of  the  church  to  the  congregation  is  over  $16,000  and  to- 
gether with  memorials,  all  windows,  altar,  pulpit,  lectern,  bap- 
tismal font,  etc.,  represents  a  cost  of  about  $20,000. 

In  September,  1916,  the  congregation  celebrated  its  125th  anni- 
versary with  a  week's  services  and  had 'all  living  pastors  and  sons 
of  the  church  in  the  ministry  present. 


.~>02  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Dr.  Hair  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  English,  \vho  took 
charge  of  the  pastorate  on  November  1.  1919. 

The  congregation  has  furnished  three  candidates  for  the  (los- 
pel  ministry  in  this  first  century  of  its  history.  These  are  the 
Rev.  M.  L.  Beard,  the  Rev.  Albert  Bell,  of  York.  Pa.,  and  the 
Rev.  Edward  Byers,  of  Baltimore. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE. 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

Re i".  M.  L.  Enders,  Pastor. 

St.  Paul's  English  Lutheran  Church,  formerly  known  as 
"Christ's  English  Lutheran."  was  organized  May  11,  1794. 

The  original  constitution  written  in  the  German  language  is 
still  preserved,  though  yellow  with  age,  and  is  signed  by  twelve 
persons,  viz:  Frederick  William  Lange.  Pastor;  Nicholas  Ley- 
berger.  John  Rice,  George  Rizer,  Andrew  Harr\r,  Christian  Brote- 
markle,  George  Shuck.  Christian  Kohlhalfer,  Frederick  Loch, 
Jacob  Valentine.  John  Cramer.  Jacob  GaiTner. 

Having  been  duly  organized,  the  congregation  on  May  20,  1794, 
purchased  an  acre  of  land  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  ($72.80) 
which  is  valued  to-day  at  more  than  a  million  dollars.  The  pres- 
ent church  stands  upon  part  of  the  original  purchase  and  is  con- 
sidered the  most  valuable  site  in  the  city  and  at  present  is  valued 
at  more  than  $125,000. 

In  the  same  year.  1794.  a  small  log  church  was  erected  which 
was  used  by  German  and  English  Lutherans  for  worship.  Like- 
wise it  was  the  place  of  worship  for  both  the  Episcopalians  and 
Presbyterians  until  the  year  1830. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  here  that  the  old  bell  still  used  in  call- 
ing to  worship  the  present  membership,  was  in  these  bygone  days 
used  by  the  Protestant  and  Catholic  alike  in  the  tolling  for  the 
death  of  a  member  of  their  respective  congregations. 

The  town  at  this  time  had  less  than  thirty  houses,  so  that  the 
church  stands  as  one  of  the  oldest  factors  in  Cumberland's  de- 
velopment. 

The  following  pastors  served  this  historic  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion: Rev.  Frederick  William  Lange.  1794-1805;  Rev.  John 
George  Boettler  (English.  Butler).  1805-1816;  Period  without 
pastoral  care,  1816-1819;  Rev.  C.  F.  Heyer.  1819-1824. 

One  word  as  to  our  revered  "Father  Heyer."  After  serving 
this  congregation  faithfully  he  answered  the  call  of  his  Master 
and  as  the  first  English  Lutheran  Missionary,  was  sent  to  India 
where  he  labored  for  upwards  of  eighteen  years. 

Period  without  pastoral  care,  1824-1825;  Rev.  Nathan  B.  Lit- 

503 


.>()4  HISTORY  OF   MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

tic.  182(5-1829;    Rev.  II.  llaverstick,  1829-1833;    Rev.  John  Keh- 
Icr.  1833-1841  ;   Rev.  Jesse  Wi  net-off.  1841-1844. 

Here  occurs  the  history  of  building  the  first  brick  church  in 
Cumberland.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1842.  An  interesting 
story  is  connected  therewith.  One  of  the  vestrymen  wanted  the 
church  ten  feet  longer  than  the  others  planned  it,  so  without  a 
word  to  anyone  this  shrewd  vestryman  got  up  one  night  and  put 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

the  stakes  ten  feet  forward.  The  mistake  was  not  discovered  until 
the  builders  were  ready  for  the  roof.  The  church  completed  was 
ten  feet  longer. 

Rev.  S.  D.  Finclo'l.  1844-1847;  Rev.  J.  A.  Seiss.  1847-1852. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Seiss  the  Germans  withdrew  and 
built  their  present  church  home,  now  known  as  the  St.  Luke's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

Rev.  John  Francis  Campbell.  1852-1857;  Rev.  A.  J.  Weddell, 
1857-1868;  Rev.  II.  C.  Ilolloway,  1868-1879;  Rev.  J.  Q.  McAtee, 
1879-1884;  Rev.  J.  W.  Finkbiner.  1884-1894:  Rev.  T.  J.  Yost. 
1895-1902. 


">OG  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

During  the  closing  part  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  AV.  Fink- 
hiner,  the  present  church  building  was  begun  and  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Yost  the  building  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated. 

Rev.  J.  W.  McCauley,  1902-1910. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  W.  McCauley  the  entire  debt 
on  the  new  church  was  paid  and  the  benevolences  of  the  congre- 
gation greatly  increased. 

Rev.  M.  L.  Enders.  1910. 

During  the  present  pastorate  the  entire  church  has  been  reno- 
vated, the  Sunday  school  room  refurnished,  Lutheran  archi- 
tectural arrangement  of  chancel  introduced,  organ  chimes  added 
to  the  equipment,  and  a  commodious  parsonage  bought,  represent- 
ing an  outlay  of  $18,000.  all  of  which  is  paid. 

To-day  it  may  be  truthfully  said  that  St.  Paul's  is  stronger 
than  ever  before  in  her  125  years  of  history  and  stands  as  one  of 
the  loading  churches  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  Both  in  benevo- 
lence and  in  local  affairs  she  more  than  meets  all  obligations. 


ST.  LUKE'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

Rev.  C.  F.  Bercjner,  Pastor. 

There  are  many  instances  in  the  history  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  our  country  in  which  English  congregations  have  been 
formed  out  of  German  congregations,  but  St.  Luke's  history  is 
unique  in  that  it  was  organized  as  a  German  congregation  with- 
drawing from  an  I-Cnglish  congregation. 

St.  Luke's  Church  was  organized  in  January,  1838.  For  a  de- 
cade previous  to  that  the  Germans  had  been  settling  in  Cumber- 
land in  considerable  numbers.  As  they  were  Germans  they  at- 
tached themselves  to  the  only  Lutheran  Church  in  the  city,  which 
was  St.  Paul's.  But  all  the  services  at  St.  Paul's  at  this  time 
were  in  English.  This  language  the  newly  arrived  Germans  did 
not  understand.  But  the  pastors  of  St.  Paul's  of  that  early 
period  were  more  or  less  able  to  minister  in  the  German  language, 
and  so  they  gave  the  German  members  of  St.  Paul's  occasional 
services  in  German  and  performed  ministerial  acts  for  them  in 
that  language.  This  arrangement,  it  seems,  was  not  always  satis- 
factory to  the  English-speaking  element  in  St.  Paul's. 

As  the  number  of  Germans  increased  they  organized  into  a  sep- 
arate congregation  in  ISiJS  under  the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  John 
Kehler  and  held  their  services  in  St.  Paul's  Church  but  in  the 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE. 


507 


afternoons.  In  1842  when  the  old  log  church  b«  came  too  small 
for  St.  Paul's  the  German  congregation  cooperated  in  the  build- 
ing oi'  the  new  brick  cliurch.  Two  years  later  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Finkel  held  a  confirmation  service  in  German  and  confirmed  a 
class  of  eighteen.  Hut  the  next  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  could  not 
preach  in  the  German  language  and  the  German  congregation 
was  obliged  to  call  their  own  pastor.  Rev.  Peter  Rei/er  of  Som- 
erset, Pennsylvania,  accepted  their  call. 

On  New  Year's  Day,  1848,  the  German  congregation  was  noti- 
fied by  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  that  they  would  no  longer  be  per- 
mitted to  conduct  services  in  St. 
Paul's  Church.    This  was  a  severe 
blow  to  the  little  flock;   they  now 
had   their  own   shepherd  but   no 
place    to   worship.      But    it    hap- 
pened that  the  attention  of  the 
mayor    of    the    city,     the    Hon. 
Thomas  Shriver,  was  accidentally 
directed  to  the  plight  of  his  Ger- 
man   citizens.      He    immediately 
called  their  leading  men  into  his 
office,  suggested  to  them  that  they 
build  their  own  church,   and  of- 
fered to  donate  them  the  site  for 
the  church  and  the  stones  from 
his  own  quarry  for  its  construc- 
tion.   The  offer  was  accepted  with 
enthusiasm  and  the  new  building 
was  soon  in  the  cotirse  of  construc- 
tion.   Most  of  t  the  work  was  done  by  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation themselves.     On  June  1,  1848,  less  than  five  months  after 
the  separation  from  St.  Paul's  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  church 
was  placed.     The  building  was  completed  and  dedicated  March 
17,  1850. 

At  the  same  time  that  this  church  was  being  built  the  German 
Roman  Catholics  were  also  engaged  in  the  building  of  a  church. 
To  encourage  both  operations  the  city  council  voted  a  town  clock 
to  the  church  which  should  be  completed  first.  This  offer  pro- 
VjoJ^pd  a  spirit  of  friendly  rivalry.  The  Lutherans  won  the  race. 
Thus  the  German  Lutheran  Church  came  to  be  called  the  Town- 
Clock  Church. 

The  first  pastor,  the  Rev.  Peter  Reizer,  resigned  in  1849  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Conrad  Schwankoosky  who  served  the 
congregation  until  1852.  Rev.  Casimer  Bauman  was  pastor  from 


REV.  C.  F.  BERGNER. 


:>08 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


185:!  to  18.");").  Then  followed  Rev.  Daniel  Meier.  1855-1858.  The 
first  long  pastorate  was  that  of  the  Rev.  George  II.  \rosseler,  who 
served  from  November  1,  1858.  to  December  1.  1866.  During  this 
period  important  improvements  were  made  to  the  church  prop- 
erty and  the  cemetery  and  a  set  of  chimes  was  installed. 

From  December,  1866.  to  June,  1867,  the  congregation  was 
served  bv  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Ilever,  better  known  as  Father  Hever. 


fc'T.  LI'KK'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CUMBERLAND,  Mn. 

lie  was  in  this  country  at  that  time  on  furlough  from  his  mission 
at  Guntur.  India.  At  the  age  of  seventy-four  he  rendered  most 
acceptable  service  to  this  congregation.  lie  later  returned  to 
India.  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  while  Father  Heyer  was  pas- 
tor of  the  church  the  celebrated  Henry  Ward  Beecher  preached 
in  the  pulpit  of  St.  Luke's.  Reaching  Cumberland  on  a  Saturday 
night  and  declining  to  pursue  his  journey  further  on  the  Lord's 
Day  he  visited  St.  Luke's  Church  and  accepted  the  invitation  to 
preach  for  the  congregation  in  the  evening. 

Rev.  F.  \Vr.  Conradi  was  next  chosen  pastor  and  ministered 
from  June.  1867,  to  April.  1885.  From  May.  1885.  to  May,  1891. 
the  Rev.  C.  V.  Giese,  D.D.,  filled  the  pastoral  office.  Dr.  Giese  was 
a  man  of  marked  ability  and  profound  spirituality,  also  a 
preacher  of  note,  being  active  in  general  benevolent  work  in  the 
city  of  Cumberland. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE.  509 

Dr.  Giese  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Otto  Rappolt,  1891,  to 
1895.  After  Rev.  Rappolt 's  resignation  the  congregation  called 
the  Rev.  C.  E.  Raymond.  He  was  called  for  the  express  purpose 
of  introducing  services  in  the  English  language.  On  June  1, 
1901,  the  church  became  vacant  once  more.  After  several  months 
of  vacancy,  during  which  time  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  the  Rev. 
Professor  E.  J.  Wolf  of  the  Gettysburg  Seminary,  the  congrega- 
tion called  the  Rev.  J.  Braren.  Pastor  Braren  served  the  congre- 
gation from  1901  to  1911.  During  his  pastorate  the  beautiful 
stone  steps  in  front  of  the  church  were  erected  and  the  exterior 
was  painted. 

On  March  31,  1912.  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Bergner, 
was  called  to  St.  Luke's  from  Zion  Lutheran  Church  in  Washing- 
ton. D.  C.  In  1914  the  congregation  purchased  the  splendidly 
located  lots  on  the  corner  of  Bedford  and  Columbia  Streets  for 
^18,500  as  a  building  site.  Plans  for  a  most  handsome  church  edi- 
fice have  been  completed  but  war  conditions  have  prevented  the 
beginning  of  work  up  to  this  time. 


ST.  JOHX'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

Rev.  C.  R.  Botsford,  Pastor. 

St.  John's  Church  is  the  outcome  of  a  mission  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city.  This  section  has  developed  rapidly  in  the  last 
twenty-five  years,  and  the  enterprising  Lutherans  of  the  uptown 
churches  felt  the  imperative  need  of  a  mission,  if  our  people  were 
to  be  cared  for.  The  moving  spirits  in  the  venture  were  Rev.  J. 
W.  Finkbiner,  then  pastor  of  St.  Paul's;  H.  A.  Hensy,  of  St. 
Luke's;  and  A.  H.  Amick,  of  St.  Paul's.  The  first  meeting  was 
held  August  3.  1890,  in  a  dwelling  house  on  Virginia  Avenue.  A 
Sunday  school  was  organized  with  H.  A.  Hensy  as  superintend- 
ent. The  membership  of  the  school  at  its  beginning  was  seventy- 
seven,  and  from  that  time  to  this  the  work  has  continued  with  its 
periods  of  depression  and  advancement. 

A  lot  was  purchased  about  one  year  after  the  organization  of 
the  school  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Arch  Streets,  the  present 
site  of  the  congregation's  home.  The  lot  adjoining  was  donated 
by  Messrs.  Amick,  Henderson,  and  Miller. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  formal  organization  of  the  church, 
but  the  church  was  incorporated  October  22.  1892.  by  John  W. 
Finkbiner,  Arthur  II.  Amick,  Thomas  B.  Whaley,  Jolin  M.  Roth, 
John  E.  Smith,  and  II.  A.  Ilensy.  These  men  are  still  living  with 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


the  exception  of  John  E.  Smith,  who  died  February  11.  1919, 
highly  honored  for  his  devotion  ;uid  loyalty  to  the  church 
throughout  all  her  history.  John  M.  Koth  is  the  only  one  of  the 
incorporators  now  a  member  of  the  church,  lie  and  all  his  fam- 
ily have  been  most  faithful  members  of  the  congregation.  Our 
•rood  brother  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Church  Council, 
elected  for  life. 

A  little  frame  church  was  erected  on  the  two  fine  lots  during 
1893.     This  gave  (he  new  organization  a  permanent  home  and 

made  possible  the  gathering  of  a 
local  church  membership.  Up  to 
this  time  most  of  the  work  was 
done  by  members  of  St.  Paul's 
and  St.  Luke's  Churches. 

The  new  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Edgar  Sutherland,  who  began  his 
labors  April  1.  1896.  The  pastor 
was  a  young  man  and  wrought 
faithfully  in  the  fertile  field  until 
September  30.  1902.  The  church 
was  a  mission  in  care  of  the 
Boards. 

The  Rev.  L.  A.  Mann.  D.D..  ac- 
cepted the  charge  April  1.  1903. 
The  pastor  was  up  in  years  and 
surprised  the  whole  congregation 
by  the  splendid  results  he  secured. 
The  plowing  and  harrowing  and 

the  seeding  by  the  faithful  ones  of  the  early  days  brought  forth 
a  glorious  fruitage  under  the  care  of  the  devoted  man  of  God. 
The  present  structure  was  erected  and  the  church  brought  to 
self-support.  The  corner  stone  of  the  building  was  laid  August 
9.  1903,  and  the  house  of  God  was  dedicated  April  17,  1904. 
Revs.  Geo.  \V.  Enders.  I). I)..  York.  Pennsylvania;  C.  S.  Trump, 
D.I)..  Martinsburg.  West  Virginia,  and  P.  R.  Wagner,  of  Frost- 
burg.  Maryland,  were  the  ministerial  visitors  on  the  day  of  dedi- 
cation. Revs.  .1.  Win.  McCauley.  St.  Paul's;  M.  L.  Young,  Ph.D.. 
St.  Stephen's,  and  .].  S.  Uraren,  St.  Luke's,  the  local  Lutheran 
clergymen,  were  all  present  on  the  glad  occasion.  Dr.  Mann  con-- 
tinned  his  labors  until  April,  1908,  passing  on  to  his  eternal  re- 
ward a  few  months  after  his  resignation.  His  widow,  his  daugh- 
ter, and  two  of  his  sons,  with  their  families,  are  active  and  de- 
voted members  of  the  church  to  this  day. 

The  third  pastor  was  the  Rev.  W.  Edgar  Pierce  a  young  man. 


Hi:v.  C.  II.  BoTsFORi). 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE. 


511 


He  rendered  special  service.  As  a  preacher  he  was  very  popular, 
filling  the  church  with  interested  listeners  and  doing  a  substantial 
work.  During  his  pastorate  the  large  and  comfortable  parsonage 
was  erected.  He  began  his  service  October  1,  1908,  and  resigned 
the  charge  May  15.  1911. 

June  1.  1911.  introduced  the  Rev.  \V.  G.  JMiimick  as  pastor  of 
the  charge.    For  three  years  he  filled  the  position  to  the  edifica- 


ST.  JOHN  's  LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

tion  of  the  people  and  to  the  steady  advancement  of  the  con- 
gregation. In  1914  he  resigned  the  charge  and  removed  to  Bal- 
timore. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Barry  took  up  the  work  of  St.  John's 
June  15.  1911.  and  continued  as  pastor  until  July,  1918.  During 
his  administration  the  streets  and  pavements  about  the  church 
building  and  the  parsonage  were  paved.  Successful  efforts  were 
made  to  reduce  the  debt  remaining  on  the  parsonage.  As  a 
preacher  and  splendid  Christian  gentleman  he  has  a  host  of 
friends  in  the  community. 

The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Robert  Botsford.  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  work  September  1,  1919.  He  found  a  de- 
voted people,  most  generous  and  loyal.  Upon  the  foundation  so 
well  and  solidly  laid  he  has  begun  his  work.  The  debt  of  $3,300 
was  wiped  out  by  Easter,  1919.  Sundry  improvements  around 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


the  church  building  mid  the  parsonage  have  increased  the  beauty 
and  the  convenience  of  the  house  of  God  and  the  pastor's  home. 

J'.-hoiada's  Chest  has  been  erected 

;is  a  permanent  institution  for  the 
gathering  of  funds  on  account  of 
building  and  repair.  The  people 
are  supporting  it  enthusiastically. 
St.  .John's  at  present  has  a  com- 
municant membership  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five.  Her  Sun- 
day school  has  an  enrollment  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty-five.  Her 
field  is  very  promising. 

The  present  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school  is  J.  \V.  Smith, 
whose  picture  is  given  herewith. 
He  succeeded  in  this  office  his 
brother  George.  These  faithful 
workers  are  the  sons  of  John  E. 
Smith,  one  of  the  founders,  whose 
service  is  referred  to  above.  An- 
other son,  Harry  L..  is  a  promi- 


Mu.  J.  W.  SMITH, 
Cumberland,  Mil. 


nent  member  of  the  church  and  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
city. 

ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
FROSTBURG,  MIX 

Rer.  II.  II.  Bcidlcman,  Pastor. 

This  church  dates  its  beginning  from  the  establishment  of 
Frost  burg  as  a  town,  about  the  year  1812.  This  church  is  the 
pioneer  church  organization  of  Frostburg.  Tt  appears  that  as 
early  as  1812.  when  Rev.  John  George  Butler  was  serving  the 
English  Lutheran  Church  at  Cumberland,  the  Lutheran  people 
of  this  community  were  gathered  by  him  in  what  was  then  known 
as  the  "Old  Neff  Meeting  House.'7  and  there,  under  his  direction, 
formed  themselves  into  ;i  congregation. 

Mr.  Butler  was  a  very  popular  minister,  and  even  the  scattered 
members  of  other  denominations  became  regular  attendants  upon 
his  preaching,  and  the  work  of  the  church  grew  rapidly  and  con- 
stantly under  his  hand.  He  continued  to  serve  the  congregation 
with  great  acceptance  until  his  advanced  fge  and  infirmities  com- 
pelled him  to  resign  about  the  year  18Hi. 

From  the  foundation  of  the  church  bv   Rev.  Butler  in   1812. 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE. 


513 


until  sometime  about  the  year  1842,  our  church  was  connected  with 
the  Cumberland  charge.  Consequently  preaching  services  were 
held  on  an  average  only  once  every  two  weeks  at  any  single  point 
in  the  charge.  The  ministers  had  their  regular  posts  of  duty,  and 
the  manner  of  meeting  their  engagements,  or  filling  their  appoint- 
ments, was  bv  what  has  since  come  to  be  known  among  our  Metho- 


ST.  PAUL'S  LUTHERAN*  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE, 
FROSTBURG,  MD. 

dist  brethren  as  "circuit  riding."  Beginning  at  Cumberland 
they  would  preach  all  along  the  National  Road  to  a  point  about 
ten  miles  beyond  the  "Glades,"  where  Oakland  now  stands,  and 
on  their  return  would  preach  again  at  the  same  points.  In  spite 
of  hard  travel  and  severe  weather  conditions,  our  ministers  ap- 
pear to  have  discharged  their  duties  faithfully  and  well. 

Rev.  C.  F.  Heyer  took  charge  of  Cumberland  and  therefore  of 
Frostburg  in  1819  and  continued  as  pastor  of  the  charge  until 
1825.  spending  here  six  years  of  his  young  manhood.  By  those 
who  knew  him  he  was  considered  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
of  his  day. 

Following  Rev.  Heyer  came  the  Rev.  X.  B.  Little,  who  was 
pastor  of  the  congregation  for  the  four  years  between  1825  and 
1829.  The  successor  to  Rev.  Little  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Haver- 
stick,  whose  pastorate  covered  the  three  years  between  1829  and 
1832.  Next  was  Rev.  John  Kehler,  whose  services  extended  over 
33 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE.  515 

the  nine  years  between  1832  and  1841.  During  his  ministry  the 
place  of  worship  was  changed  from  the  old  Neff  building  to  the 
"old  log  schoolhouse"  which  stood  "over  the  hill  on  the  National 
Road."  It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  the  next  pastor,  Rev. 
Jesse  Winecoff,  in  1843,  that  the  Frost  burg  Church  separated 
from  the  Cumberland  Church. 

Rev.  Christian  Lepley  was  chosen  as  the  successor  of  Rev. 
Winecoff,  who  continued  as  pastor  at  Fro.stburg  but  a  short  time 
after  the  division.  Mr.  Lepley  took  charge  April  1,  1843.  This 
is  now  the  beginning  of  the  really  active  period  of  the  English 
Lutheran  Church  of  Frostburg.  In  1846  the  membership  had 
grown  to  such  an  extent  that  the  church  now  owned  and  used  by 
the  German  Evangelical  congregation  was  built,  and  upon  its 
completion  was  declared  to  be  "the  finest  edifice  in  town."  Mr. 
Lepley  ceased  his  pastoral  relations  towards  the  close  of  the  vear 
1855. 

As  Mr.  Lepley  followed  Mr.  Winecoff  as  pastor  in  1843,  so  Mr. 
Winecoff,  in  turn  succeeded  Mr.  Lepley  in  1855.  He  was  in 
charge  of  the  congregation  for  the  three  years  between  1855  and 
1858. 

With  the  advent  of  the  Rev.  Frederick  Benedict  a  new  depar- 
ture was  again  made.  He  inaugurated  the  movement  which  cul- 
minated in  the  locating  of  the  property  of  the  congregation  where 
it  is  at  present.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new  edifice  was  laid  in 
1860.  but  the  building  was  not  completed  until  a  few  years  later, 
its  construction  having  been  somewhat  retarded  by  the  Civil  War. 
When  it  was  completed  Rev.  Benedict  was  no  longer  pastor.  His 
relation  as  such  had  terminated  sometime  in  1860.  and  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year  Rev.  A.  H.  Aughe  succeeded  him. 

Following  Rev.  Aughe  came  Rev.  Henry  Bishop  who  began  his 
labors  about  August  1.  1866.  Rev.  Bishop  continued  with  the 
congregation  until  sometime  in  1870,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that 
during  his  stay  in  the  field  a  number  of  important  changes  were 
made,  among  them  being  the  introduction  of  the  liturgy  into  the 
church  service,  the  formation  of  a  church  choir,  the  establishment 
of  a  Sunday  school  library,  and  the  organization  of  the  Primary 
department  in  the  Sunday  school. 

Rev.  D.  L.  MacKenzie  was  next  called.  He  entered  upon  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  September  1,  1871.  During  his  time  of 
service  the  church  was  refurnished,  remodeled  and  otherwise  im- 
proved. In  September,  1874,  the  church  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
which  also  destroyed  a  large  portion  of  the  town  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  the  parsonage  being  saved  from  the  flames  after  a  hard 
struggle.  Work  was  immediately  begun  in  rebuilding  the  church, 


516  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

and  the  lower  room  or  basement  was  soon  ready  for  the  use  of  the 
congregation. 

Rev.  MaeKen/ie  served  the  congregation  seven  years  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  P.  L.  Harrison  on  August  1,  1878.  During  his 
pastorate  the  audience  room  and  upper  portion  of  the  church 
building  were  finished.  Ht  v.  W.  A.  Shipman  followed  in  order, 
his  pastorate  beginning  October  1.  188:-{.  and  continuing  until 
sometime  in  1SS6.  lie  was  a  very  popular  preacher.  Rev. 
Charles  II.  Butler,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  served  as  supply  for  the 
congregation  during  the  year  1887.  Rev.  E.  C.  Jessup,  since 
affiliated  with  the  Swedish  Lutherans  of  Illinois,  was  the  next 
pastor.  His  term  of  office  began  January  25,  1888.  and  ended  May 
24,  1889.  continuing  only  sixteen  months.  Rev.  \V.  II.  Jordy  fol- 
lowed for  a  still  briefer  pastorate,  beginning  August,  188!),  and 
ending  in  May.  1890.  Rev.  C.  A.  Britt  came  in  October,  1890. 
His  work  was  characterized  by  progress  along  many  lines.  Reno- 
vation of  both  auditorium  and  Sunday  school  room,  frescoing, 
interior  painting,  recarpeting,  steam  heating,  and  other  evidences 
of  prosperity  are  noted.  An  awakened  interest  in  missions  re- 
sulted in  the  organization  of  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  in  1897  and  the  Junior  Mission  Band  in  1898. 

Rev.  S.  G.  Hefelbower  became  pastor  June  15,  1899.  Although 
laboring,  at  first,  under  rather  discouraging  circumstances  on  ac- 
count of  the  extreme  illness  and  death  of  his  wife,  Rev.  Hefel- 
bower's  work  was  quite  efficient  during  his  brief  pastorate.  He 
awakened  renewed  interest  and  activity  in  the  congregation.  He 
resigned  in  order  to  take  up  his  studies  at  German  Universities, 
August  15,  1901. 

Rev.  Frederick  R.  Wagner  was  called  and  was  present  to  take 
up  the  work  immediately  upon  the  departure  of  his  predecessor. 
Among  the  material  improvements  during  this  pastorate  may  be 
mentioned  the  following:  Steam  heat  in  the  parsonage,  new  Pri- 
mary school  room  and  choir  addition  built  with  other  repairs 
costing  about  $3.000.  Also  electric  lights,  painting  of  church  and 
parsonage,  replacing  of  fences  and  iron  front  gates,  new  floor  in 
lecture  room,  kitchen  range,  pantry  and  other  minor  improve- 
ments. 

Rev.  F.  H.  Crissman  succeeded  Rev.  Wagner,  becoming  pastor 
in  April.  1910.  During  the  following  summer  two  societies  were 
orcranixed;  namely,  a  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor, and  a  Young  Ladies'  Missionary  Society.  Rev.  Crissman 
resigned  in  1915. 

On  June  6.  1915.  the  Rev.  H.  II.  Beidleman.  upon  his  gradua- 
tion from  the  Gettysburg  Seminary,  followed  a  unanimous  call 


THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  CONFERENCE.  517 

to  Frostburg.  During  his  pastorate  great  changes  have  been 
made  in  the  interior  of  the  church.  These  include  a  new  pulpit, 
lecturn,  altar,  baptismal  font,  cross,  vases,  alms-basin,  Bible, 
altar-clothes,  hymn-boards,  memorial  windows,  art  glass  doors, 
carpet,  indirect  lighting,  pipe  organ,  two  silk  flags,  frescoing, 
renovation  of  Sunday  school  rooms,  and  painting  of  the  exterior 
of  both  church  and  parsonage.  In  all  over  $11.000  was  expended, 
making  the  "Pioneer  Church  of  Frostburg"  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  well-equipped  places  of  worship  in  our  Synod. 
Meanwhile  a  bronze  tablet  memorial  to  Father  Heyer  was  un- 
veiled in  1917  and  the  clerical  gown  has  been  introduced  into  the 
services  of  the  sanctuary. 

Rev.  Beidleman  enlisted  in  the  services  of  the  nation  as  a  Lu- 
theran camp  pastor  during  the  recent  World  War  and  served  in 
Washington,  D.  C..  from  April  to  October.  1918.  The  congrega- 
tion furnished  twentv-four  men  for  active  service  in  the  ranks. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  MINISTERS  ORDAINED  AND 
LICENSED  BY  THE  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

1820—1920. 

In  the  one  hundred  years  of  her  existence  the  Synod  has  licensed  or  or- 
dained 316  men.  Only  three  years  have  passed  without  any  admissions  either 
to  licensure  or  to  ordination.  These  were  1829,  1868,  and  1917.  The  living 
sons  of  the  Synod  are  the  subjects  of  the  biographical  sketches  in  the  next 
chapter  of  this  volume.  In  the  following  list  I  signifies  "licensed"  and  o 
"ordained." 


Ainsworth,  John  E.,  I.  1914,  o.  1915,  56  Avon  St.,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Amick,  G.  W.  W.,  o.  1887,  Middleburg,  X.  Y. 

Anderson,  G.  W.,  o.  1853. 

Arnold.  Clarence  E.,  o.  1910,  York,  Pa. 

Augustine,  I.,  I.  1863,  Grand  Island,  Neb. 

Ayers,  E.  A.,  o.  1912,  Purnell,  Ky. 

B 

Eager,  II.,  I.  1829. 
Barclay,  Joseph  H.,  7.  1857,  o.  1858. 
Baughman,  C.  C.,  I.  1841,  1842. 
Baughman,  Harry  F.,  I.  1912,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 
Beard,  Martin  L.,  I.  1877,  o.  1878. 
Beckley,  J.  G.,  I.  1857. 

Beidleman,  Harry  H.,  o.  1915,  Frostburg,  Md. 
Beiswanger,  George,  1.  1894,  o.  1895,  Xorth  Manchester,  Inrl. 
Bell,  Albert,  L  1880,  o.  1881,  129  E.  Maple  St.,  York,  Pa. 
Bell,  Charles  K.,  L  1897,  o.  1898,  King's  Mountain,  N.  C. 
Benedict,  F.,  I.  1848. 

Bergstresser,  Fuller,  7.  1893,  Middletown,  Pa. 
Berry,  L.  W.,  I.  1860. 

Berry,  William  H.,  I.  1890,  o.  1891,  Glenside,  Pa. 
Bikle,  Charles  G.,  I  1894,  o.  1895,  Glovers\  ille,  X.  Y. 
Bittle,  D.  F.,  I  1837. 

Bittle.  J.  Elmer,  I.  1892,  423  South  Ave.,  Wilkinsburg,  Pa. 
Black,  Luther  S.,  I.  1890. 

Bobst,  I.  W.,  o.  1879,  3809  X.  Seventeenth  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Borchers,  H.,  /.  1S39,  o.  1840. 
Botsford,  C.  R.,  7.  1897,  Cumberland,  Md. 

Bowers,  George  S.,  7.  1882,  r>.  1883,  126  X.  Market  St.,  Winchester,  Ya. 
Bowers,  John  C.,  o.  1896,  Cantonsville,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Bowers,  W.  W.,  7.  1854,  1855,  o.  1856. 
Bowersox,  George  E.,  7.  1912,  Shrewsbury,  Pa. 
Bowersox,  II.  T.,  7.  1910,  1433  W.  Market  St.,  York,  Pa. 
Boyer,  Edwin  B.,  7.  1909,  Carnegie,  Pa. 

Boyer,  H.  D.,  7.  1911,  1912,  1913,  1216  E  St.,  N.  E.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Brauns,  F.  L.,  7.  1850. 

519 


.120  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Bregenzer,  Otto  E.,  7.  1903,  <>.  1904,  :U  Hank  St.,  Bridgeton,  X.  J. 
Bridgman,  — .  — .,  7.  1844. 
Brockman,  0.  A.,  /.  1S49,  o.  1850. 
Brown,  G.  G.  M.,  /.  1SS7. 
Brown,  James  A.,  /.  1845,  o.  1846. 
Brown,  T.  Shannon,  /.  1881,  Burlington,  X.  ('. 
Brunning.  H.  II.,  /.  I860,  o.  1861. 
Buclier,  William  G.,  7.  1892. 

Burgess,  Ellis,  /.  1892,  501  Vine  St.,  Connellsville,  Pa. 
Burk,  A.  Harrison,  7.  1879,  1880,  o.  1881. 

Butler.  Charles  IF.,  /.  1887,  1888,  o.  1889,  229  Second  St.,  S.  E.,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

Butler,  .T.  G.,  1.  1849,  o.  1850. 
Byers,  J.  Ed.,  7.  1897,  2900  Guilfonl  Ave.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

C 

Clutz,  Jacob  A.,  7.  1871.  a.  1872,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Coffelt,  Harry  F.,  1.  1908.  Rouzerville,  Pa. 

Conrad,  F.  W.,  o.  1841. 

Conradi,  F.  A.,  7.  1870. 

Crigler,  John  F.,  7.  1S95,  o.  1896,  408  X.  Tryon  St.,  Charlotte,  X.  C. 

Crist,  G.  W.,  o.  1877. 

Cross,  W.  Morgan,  L  1896,  Greencastle,  Pa. 

Culler,  C.,  I.  1843,  o.  1844. 

Culler.  Silas  H.,  7.  1904.  o.  1905,  Seven  Valleys,  Pa. 

Cupp,  Alexander,  7.  1860,  1861,  o.  1862. 

D 

Dean,  Oscar  C.,  I.  1910,  o.  1911,  3705  Eoff  St.,  Wheeling,  W.  Va. 

Peitz,  Archibald  E.,  7.  1891.  167  Congress  St.,  Jersey  City,  X.  J. 

Derr,  Roy  V.,  1.  1912,  Burnham,  Pa. 

Den-,  Samuel  J.,  I.  1885,  o.  1886,  Hampstead,  Md. 

DeYoe,  Luther,  o.  1889,  5300  Germantown  Ave.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

T)iehl,  G.,  o.  1840. 

P/oty,  R.  W.,  L  1901,  o.  1902,  Rochester,  Pa. 

E 

Easterday,  George  H.,  7.  1903,  o.  1904. 

Ebeling,  Henry  E.,  7.  1887. 

Eberling,  Albert,  7.  1863,  o.  1864. 

Eichelberger,  J.  X.,  7.  1852. 

Eichelberger,  L.,  7.  1828,  o.  1831. 

Emerick,  — .  — .,  7.  1845. 

Enders,  M.  L.,  7.  1901,  o.  1902,  Cumberland,  Md. 

Englar,  G.  W.,  o.  1900.  6104  St.  Marie  St.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Esensa.  John,  7.  1842. 

Eyler,  Clarence  A.,  7.  1882,  143  Woodlawn  Ave.,  Collingswood,  X.  J. 

Eyster,  1).,  o.  1828. 

Eyster,  W.  F.,  7.  1S41,  o.  1842,  Crete,  Saline  Co.,  Xeb. 

F 

Fahs,  J.  F.,  7.  1852,  o.  1853. 

Fiery,  Samuel  M..  7.  1877.  o.  1878. 

Finckel,  S.  G.,  L  1870,  o.  1871. 

Fink,  R.  A.,  7.  1849. 

Fisher,  C.  L.  F.,  7.  1884,  o.  1885. 

Fisher,  J.  H.  C.,  7.  1889,  o.  1890,  Mt.  Pleasant,  N.  C. 

Floyd,  D.  B.,  7.  1875,  o.  1876,  Selinsgrove,  Pa. 

Forthman,  John,  7.  1854,  1855,  o.  1856. 


MINISTERS  ORDAINED  AND  LICENSED.  521 

Fouk,  G.,  1.  1844,  1845. 

Frantz,  J.  Luther,  /.  1894,  o.  1895,  Meyersdale,  Pa. 
Freas,  William,  Jr.,  I.  190.3,  437  Fifth  Ave.,  Now  York. 
Frey,  William,  I  1864,  1865,  Georgetown,  Ohio. 
Friday,  J.  M.,  I.  1873,  o.  1874. 

G 

Garland,  D.  Frank,  o.  1891,  508  W.  Fourth  St.,  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Gaver,  Martin  D.,  1.  1881,  Orrville,  Ohio. 

Gearhart,  Robert  H.,  I.  1912,  Thirty-fifth  and  Spring  Garden  Sts.,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 

Geiser,  Dixon  H.,  I.  1891. 
Gerhardt,  — .  — .,  I.  1866. 
Gerstmyer,  Henry  L.,  1.  1903,  Newville,  Pa. 
Getty,  G.  Albert,  I.  1893,  40  S.  Duke  St.,  York,  Pa. 
Giustiniani,  L.,  I.  1840. 
Gladhill,  J.  T.,  I.  1872. 

Goedeke,  II.,  I.  1919,  o.  1919,  Guntur,  India. 
Goertner,  X.  W.,  I.  1834,  1835,  1836. 
Graeber,  Henry,  o.  1821. 
Graef,  Philip,  L  1872,  o.  1873. 
Graefe,  John  E.,  I.  1914,  Guntur,  India. 
Graeff,  John,  o.  1848. 

Graichen,  L.  George,  I.  1882,  Winchester,  Va. 
Greemvald,  Emanuel,  7.  1831. 
Griffith,  S.  R.,  o.  1863. 

H 

Hankey,  Upton,  I  1861,  1862,  o.  1863. 

Ilarkey,  James  M.,  I.  1846,  o.  1847. 

Harkey,  S.,  L  1834,  1835,  o.  1836. 

Harkey,  Sidney  L.,  I.  1848. 

Harpster,  John  H.,  I.  1871,  o.  1872. 

Harris,  J.  G.,  ?.  1841. 

Harrison,  William  M.,  I.  1845. 

Hartman,  Herbert  H.,  I.  1903,  3431  Piedmont  Ave.,  Walbr 'k,  Baltimore,  Md. 

H.aseltinc,  Rutledge,  /.  1896,  o.  1897. 

Haverstick,  H.,  I.  1830,  o.  1831. 

Hay,  C4.  A.,  I.  1843,  o.  1844. 

Hay,  Lewis,  I.  1877,  o.  1878. 

Hays,  C.  E.,  I.  1909,  5342  Kingsessing  Ave.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Heck,  J.,  I  1841. 

Heisler,  Chas.  W..  L  1882,  o.  1883. 

Henninghausen,  F.  P.,  ?.  1861,  o.  1863,  Idlewylde,  Tows-on,  Md. 

Hensel,  W.  E.,  I.  1912,  o.  1913. 

Hering,  Max,  o.  1897,  402  Front  St.,  Massillon,  Ohio. 

Herter,  George  L  1834. 

Hess,  C.  W.,  I.  1900,  1901,  o>.  1902.  Brunswick,  Md. 

Heuser,  William  L.,  /.  1894,  o.  1895,  Newark,  Ohio. 

Hightman,  Frederick  A.,  L  1904,  Raspeburg,  Md. 

Hines,  C.  J.,  I.  1906,  o.  1907,  118  N.  Highland  Ave.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Hoffman,  J.  N/.,  /.  1825,  o.  1827. 

Hoffman,  John  U.,  I.  1857,  1858,  1859,  o.  1860. 

Hoover,  C.  D.,  o.  1886. 

Hoover,  D.  S..  o.  1892. 

Hopkins,  Edwin  J.,  /.  1898,  1899,  o.  1900. 

Horine,  M.  C.,  /.  1863,  o.  1864. 

Hoshour,  S.,  o.  1827. 

Huddle,  John  T.,  I  1895,  738  Eleventh  St.,  JST.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Hunt,  William,  I.  1843. 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


T.lo,  Ernst.  L  1873,  o.  1874. 

Tde,  E.  E.,  L  1890,  o.  1S91,  100  X.  Payson  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

.T 

.Tones,  Charles  S..  1.  1S97,  o.  1898,  Lykens,  P:i. 

K 

Kayhoe.  .T.  F.  F..  7.  18S4,  920  Buchanan  St.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Keedy,  R.  M.,  7.  1863,  1864. 
Keil,  William,  1.  Is22.  o.  1825. 
Keller,  Enianuel.  o.  1827. 
Keller.  Ezra.  o.  1837. 
Kemp,  T.  W..  J.  18.15,  o.  1856. 
Kibler.  Martin,  7.  1822. 
Killian,  J.  M.,  o.  1897.  Lnrich,  Va. 

Kitzmeyer.  J.  Frederick  W.,  1.  1892,  o.  1893,  497  Neptune  Ave.,  Coney  Is- 
land. X.  Y. 

Kline.  Marion,  J..  1.  1895,  o.  1896,  Altoona,  Pa. 
Knape.  — .  — .,  J.  1841. 
Knatt,  Martin,  7.  1859. 

Knipple,  .T.  0.  C.,  L  1914,  o.  1916,  Manchester,  Md. 
Koehler.  John,  o.  1821. 

Koser.  J.  0.,  o.  1905.  R.  R.  Xo.  3,  Hagerstown,  Md. 
Krauth.  C.  P.,  n.  1821. 
Km  nth.  C.  P..  Jr..  I  1841,  o.  1842. 
Kroh.  H.  F.,  7.  1886. 
Kiipblor.  M.,  I  1824. 

Knhns,  Luther  M..  7.  1885,  4-58  Saunders-Kennedy  Bldg.,  Omaha,  Xeb. 
Kuntz.  — .  — .,  7.  1841. 
Kurtz,  Adnlph,  7.  1874,  o.  1875. 


Lamott.  T).  M.,  7.  1875.  o.  1876. 

Lant/,  Ben.j.  R..  7.  1897,  208  S.  Santa  Fe  Ave.,  Salina,  Kan. 

Lazarus,  P.,  n.  1864. 

Leathorman.  Clarence  fJ..  7.  1902,  Manchester,  Md. 

Lehmai-owsky,  J.  J.,  7.  1835. 

Loiitz.  H.  Max.  7.  18,80. 

Lilly,  A.  J.,  7.  1851.  o.  1852. 

Linsz,  August.  7.  1869,  1412  W.  Tioga  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Little,  X.  B..  7.  1823,  n.  1827. 

Longaneeker.  A.  R..  7.  1897,  n.  1898.  Lovsville,  Pa. 

Lowe,  J.  Edw.,  Jr.,  7*.  1910,  Brookville,  Pa. 

M 

Main.  W.  E.,  7.  1888.  1890.  o.  1891. 

Mankrn.  Uenrv,  7.  1902,  1400  Tngraham  St.,  X.  W.,  Waphington,  D.  C. 

^^anll.  \V.  C.,  7.  1906.  o.  1907,  212  Greenwood  Ave.,  Emswodh,  Pa. 

Martin.  C.,  7.  1837. 

Martz.  Georire  J..  7.  1848.  n.  1849. 

McAfee.  Josiah  B.,  7.  1855,  o.  1856. 

Me  Can  ley,  Victor,  o.  1898,  Ountiir,  India. 

McHiesney.  Wm.  R.,  7.  1842. 

McDaniel.  Thas.  T..  7.  1885.  204  Tenth  St.,  Hoboken,  X.  J. 

Medtart,  J..  7.  1823.  o.  1828. 

Metzgar,  W.  S.  T.,  7.  1876.  o.  1877,  C.len  Gardner,  X.  .T. 

Metzger,  John  L.,  I.  1884. 


MINISTERS  ORDAINED  AND  LICENSED.  523 

Meyer,  Frederick  W.,  I.  1896,  o.  1897,  Lovettsville,  Va. 

Millar,  G.  Win.,  o.  1902,  Gordon,  Pa. 

Miller,  D.,  /.  1836. 

Miller,  Henderson  X.,  I.  1893,  o.  1894,  130  Rembert  Ave.,  Macon,  Ga. 

Miller,  Luther  F.,  I.  1897,  o.  1898,  219  X.  Lakewood  Ave.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Miller,  O.  C.,  I.  1874,  o.  1875. 

Miller,  S.  J.,  i!.  1899,  o.  1900,  4102  Belview  Ave.,  W.  Arlington,  Baltimore, 

Md. 

Miller,  V.,  I.  1861,  o.  1862,  909  Hamilton  Blvd.,  Hagerstown,  Md. 
Minnich,  Win.  G.,  I.  1892,  o.  1893,  2027  St.  Paul  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Morris,  J.  G.,  /.  1826,  o.  1827. 

Mullen,  Albert  O.,  /.  1893,  o>.  1894,  Spring  Grove,  Pa. 
Mullen,  Philip  H.  R.,  I.  1903,  o.  1904,  7330  Schoyer  St.,  Swissvale,  Pa. 
Mumford,  Carl,  1.  1905,  313  S.  Elwood  Ave.,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Myers,  L.  F.  M.,  I.  1895,  o.  1896,  Glen  Rock,  Pa. 

N 

Xeudewitz,  Eugene  E.,  1.  1895,  126  Mercer  St.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

Xey,  W.  C.,  I.  1905,  Xewport,  Pa. 

Xichols,  J.,  /.  1884,  o.  1885. 

Nicholl,  W.  D.,  L  1889,  o.  1890,  2429  E.  Biddle  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Xixdorff,  Georgo  A.,  I.  1846,  o.  1847. 

Xolte,  C.  H.  W.  A.,  /.  1914,  o.  1915,  Utica,  X.  Y. 

Xull,  Arthur  G.,  1.  1904,  Ellicott  City,  Md. 

O 

Oney,  Elbert  E.,  /.  1914,  o.  1915,  Kittanniug,  Pa. 

Oswald,  Solomon,  ?.  1836,  a.  1837. 

Ott,  J.  W.,  I.  1899,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

Ottman,  Emory  E.,  I.  1891,  Richmondville,  X.  Y. 


Passavant,  Wm.  A.,  7.  1842,  o.  1844. 

Patterson,  Richard  S.,  1.  1891,  o.  1892,  Woodsboro,  Md. 

Patterson,  Robert  I,.,  o.  1894,  Sixth  and  Park  Sts.,  Atchison,  Kan. 

Phifer,  W.  P.,  I.  1888. 

Phillipy,  Xorman  G.,  o.  1913. 

Poffinberger,  M.  L  ,  I.  1882. 

Poffinberger,  Reese  S.,  1.  1904,  o.  1905,  R.  R.  Xo.  7,  Frederick,  Md. 

Pohlman,  August,  I.  1893,  o.  1894,  5143  Race  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Probst,  J.  F.,  I.  1851,  o.  1852. 

R 

Radamacher,  G.,  L  1866,  o.  1867,  33  Harlow  PI.,  Buffalo,  X.  Y. 

Rally,  Wm.  B.,  L  1843. 

Reighard,  I.  C.,  I.  1890. 

Reimensnyder,  C.,  o.  1846. 

Reitz,  J.  G.,  /.  1873,  o.  1874. 

Remsberg,  W.  L.,  1.  1876,  Funkstown,  Md. 

Rice,  Clay  E.,  ?.  1913,  Lionville,  Pa. 

Rice,  Elmer  F.,  /.  1912,  Duqucsne,  Pa. 

Richard,  Marion  G.,  I.  1897,  East  Lansdowne,  Pa. 

Richardson,  A.  F.,  /.  1887,  o.  1888,  Petersburg,  Pa. 

Ries,  L.  F.,  o.  1907   2051  Lawler  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

Rietz,  G.  L.,  I.  1866,  o.  1867. 

Ritter,  Charles  L.,  L  1893,  124  W.  Pine  St.,  Mahanoy  City,  Pa. 

Rizer,  Lawrence,  I.  1847,  1848. 

Rizer,  P.,  I.  1832,  1833,  1834,  1835. 

Rothrauf,  Frederick,  I.  1822,  o.  1825. 


524  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Kudo,  A.  R.,  /.  is(2.. 

Kudisill,  M.  L..  o.  1918,  R.  R.,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Ruth,  F.  .1.,  7.  1X30. 

S 

Sadtler,  H..  7.  1844. 

Salt/giver,  Willard  K..  o.  1915,  Parkville,  Mel. 
Schaeirer,  ('.  F.,  /.  1X29. 
Schaeffer,  G.  P.,  7.  1863. 
SchaeflVr,  William  C.,  7.  1X70,  o.  1X71,  Knoxvillo,  Tenn. 

Sdiloegel,  c.  A.,  /.  1853,  ix.->4,  o.  ix.-).-). 

Schmidt,  Richard,  /.  18X9,  o.  1X90,  50X  !'  St.,  N.  W.,  Washington,  1).  C. 

Schmogrow,  W.,  I.  1X51. 

Schmucker,  X.,  o.  1X24. 

Schmi'.cker,  Samuel,  o.  1X21. 

Sch  nee,  J.,  o.  1823. 

S.-ott,  Win.  1).  K.,  /.  1XX2,  o.  1XX:{,  Bi'iidorsvillf,  Pa. 

Sooharh,  Julius,  /.  1X96,  o.  1SD7,  New  Philadelphia,  O. 

Sentnian,  S.,  1.  1S40,  o.  1S41. 

Sharp,  M.  S..  o.  190.1,  Knola,  Pa. 

Shercr,  IX  J.  W.,  ?.  1X88,  o.  1X89. 

Shf-rcr,  J.  J.,  Jr.,  o.  1904,  1003  Monument  Ave.,  Kichmond,  Va. 

Sherer,  Luther  P.,  1.  1X84,  o.  1X85. 

Shilke,  Charles  A.,  /.  1914,  o.  1915,  Walkersville,  Md. 

Shriver,  P.  J.,  o.  1901,  5238  Usage  Ave.,  Philadelphia.  Pn. 

Simons,  J.,  /..  1840,  1841. 

Slifer,  William  G.,  I  1893,  St.  Thomas,  Pa. 

Sloop,  Henry  E.  II..  I.  1893,  Bloom,  Ya. 

Smeltzer,  J.  P.,  ?.  1848,  o.  1X49. 

Smith,  S.  E.,  I  1878. 

Smith,  William,  L  1837. 

Snyder,  H.  W.,  L  1908,  332  Vine  St.,  Johnstown,  Pa. 

Snyder,  Luther  T.,  I.  1892. 

Snyder,  Simon,  L  1911,  Scalp  Level,  Pa. 

Springer,  F..  /.  1X36,  o.  1X37. 

Startzman,  ('.,  L  1838,  o.  1X39. 

Sternat,  F.  ('.  J.,  L  1906,  Alibottstown,  Pa. 

Stockslager,  P.  T.  E.,  L  1899,  R.  R.  No.  2,  Cettvslmrg,  Pa. 

Storck,  T.,  /.  1837. 

Stork,  Charles  A.,  o.  1862. 

Streamer,  Charles  S.,  '.  1898,  553  Miapleton  Ave.,  Boulder,  Colo. 

Strieb,  George,  o.  1X92. 

Ship,  Adam  C.,  L  1893. 

Ship,  Grayson  Z.,  1.  1S9X,  4<)7  Chamliers  St.,  Trenton,  X.  J. 

Suesserot,  H.,  7.  1S55. 

Suiiian,  J.  J.,  L  1843. 

T 

Tholan.  S.  P.,  a.  1901,  Biglerville,  Pa. 

Thorn p.«on,  Abel,  L  1X63. 

Trow  bridge,  Charles  R.,  /.  1884,  o.  1X85,  402  Cattell  St.,  Kaston,  Pa. 

Troxell,  Alillard   P..  7.  1X82,  o.  1883,  Hoys  Industrial  School,  Topeka,  Kan. 

Trump,  <'.  S.,  7.  1x79,  o.  1880. 

U 

I'liruh,  John,  7.  1851,  a.  1852. 

V 

Valentine,  Milton,  o.  1853. 

Valentine,  M.  H.,  7.  1SX6,  o.  1X87,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Von  Hoxar,  Henry,  7.  1855. 


MINISTERS  ORDAINED  AND  LICENSED.  525 

W 

Wachter,  Michael,  o.  1825. 

Wade,  \V.  A.,  o.  1905,  505  Harwood  Ave.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Wadsworth,  W.  S.,  /.  1841,  18-12. 

Wagner,  F.  R.,  1.  1900,  o.  1901,  Martinsburg,  W.  Ya. 

Waltemyer,  W.  C.,  I.  1910,  Thurmont,  Md. 

Weaver,"  F.  H.,  o.  1876.  Newry,  Blair  Co.,  Pa. 

Weber,  H.  H.,  1.  1884,  o.  1885,  Security  Building,  York,  Pa. 

Weddle,  A.  J.,  /.  1843. 

Welfley,  J.,  o.  1853. 

Wentz,  A.  R.,  I.  1906,  1907,  1908,  o.  1909,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Wheeler,  Win.  E.,  7.  1S99,  o.  1900,  4908  Euclid  Terrace,  St.  Louis  Mo. 

Wickey,  X.  J.  G.,  o.  1916,  Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Wier,  — .  — .,  1.  1841. 

Wiles,  Charles  P.,  /.'  1895,  Ninth  and  Sansoiu  Sts.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Willard,  P.,  o.  1842. 

Winecoff,  J.,  /.  1840,  o.  1841. 

Winter,  John,  1.  1821,  o.  1825. 

Wiseman,  D.  E.,  1.  1884,  o.  1885,  330  W  St.,  X.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Wolf,  Michael,  o.  1860. 

Y 

Yonce,  G.  Y.,  I.  1880,  1881. 

Young,  J.  J.,  i.  1876,  o.  1877. 

Young,  Martin  L.,  I.  1877,  o.  1878. 

Yutzy,  Jacob,  L  1878,  709  Main  St.,  Trinidad,  Washington. 

Z 

Zimmerman,  Horace  E.,  1.  1891,  o.  1892,  335  S.  Lawn  A\e.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Zimmerman,  L.  M.,  7.  1886,  o.  1887,  421  Hanover  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 


The  Sons  of  the  Maryland  Synod  are  serving  the  Lord  in 
widely  scattered  fields.  In  various  offices  of  the  Church,  in  vari- 
ous sections  of  our  own  land,  and  among  the  heathen  on  the  for- 
eign field,  they  are  helping  to  establish  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Hut 
thirty-seven  of  them  are  to-day  members  of  the  Synod  that  fos- 
tered them,  and  they  constitute  nearly  one-third  of  her  clerical 
roll.  Thirty  of  them  are  active  Pastors  in  the  Synod,  three  are 
Professors  (Hikle,  Floyd,  and  Wentz),  one  is  a  Secretary 
(  Weber),  one  is  an  Editor  (Wiles),  and  two  are  Missionaries  on 
the  foreign  field  ( Goedeke  and  Graefe). 

In  the  biographical  sketches  that  constitute  the  next  chapter 
of  this  volume  the  portraits  of  the  thirty  active  Pastors  in  the 
Synod  do  not  appear,  because  they  have  already  been  presented 
in  connection  with  the  histories  of  the  congregations  which  those 
men  now  serve.  These  thirty  are: 

E.  K.  Bell  If.  Ma nken,  Jr. 
C.  R.  Hotsford                                  F.  W.  Meyer 
O.  S.  Bowers                                     L.  F.  Miller 

J.  C.  Bovvers  S.  J.  Miller 

C.  H.  Butler,  Victor  Miller 

J.  E.  Byers  W.  G.  Minnick 

S.  J.  Derr  Carl  Mum  ford 

II.  II.  Hartman  A.  G.  Null 

S.  A.  Hedges  J.  W.  Ott 

C.  W.  Hess  R,  S.  PolTenberger 

F.  Hesse  W.  L.  Remsberg 
F.  A.  Hightman  C.  A.  Shilke, 

C.  J.  Hines  F.  R.  Wagner 

E.  E.  Ide  W.  C.  Waltemyer 

C.  G.  Leatherman  L.  M.  Ximmerman 

Their  portraits  may  easily  be  found  by  reference  to  the  Index 
of  Portraits. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 

REV.  ISAAC  N.  AUGUSTINE.  Rev.  Augustine  was  born  at 
Petersburg,  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  February  9, 
1833,  the  son  of  Jacob  L.  and  May  Naull  Augustine.  When  he 
was  fourteen  he  was  catechized  and  baptised  by  Rev.  Christian 
Lupley,  at  Petersburg,  Pennsylvania.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  Wittenberg  College, 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  studies  here  he  studied 
theology  at  Susquehanna  Univer- 
sity. In  1861  he  was  licensed  by 
the  Allegheny  Synod  and  was  or- 
daiiied  (or  relicensed"!  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  1863. 

His  first  ministerial  work  was 
at  Wellersburg,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Morley's  Branch,  Maryland, 
consisting  of  four  congregations. 
During  his  pastorate  here  he  had 
a  prominent  part  in  building  a 
church  at  Grantsville,  Maryland. 
In  1865  Rev.  Augustine  and  his 
wife  felt  impelled  to  go  westward 
and  moved  in  that  year  to  St. 
Charles,  Missouri,  and  from  there 
he  moved  to  Shipman,  Illinois, 

where  they  lived  twelve  years  and  he  was  instrumental  in  build- 
ing another  church.  In  1879  he  moved  to  Loganport,  Indiana, 
and  from  there  to  Ottawa,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1881,  he  moved 
to  Nebraska  and  located  in  Thayer  County,  where  he  lived  until 
1890.  In  this  year  he  moved  to  Hastings,  and  three  years  later 
to  Wheeler  County,  where  he  founded  five  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions, resulting  in  the  erection  of  a  Lutheran  church  at  Wolbach 
and  at  Ericson.  .After  a  few  years  he  moved  to  Grand  Island, 
Nebraska,  where  he  is  living  at  present.  Here  he  served  one  year 
as  regular  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  English  Lutheran  Church. 

Rev.  Augustine  was  married  on  April  17,  1853,  to  Amanda 
Shultz,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Adam  Shultz,  of  Grantsville, 
Maryland.  There  were  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living,  except  one  son  and  one  daughter.  The  living 
children  are  Nannie  Bartow,  Irving  Milton,  George  Luther,  Nor- 
man J.,  and  Newton  Isaac  Augustine.  Mrs.  Augustine  passed 
away  on  March  18,  1915,  after  they  had  been  able  to  celebrate 

527 


.~>28  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYN'OD. 

both  their  Golden  and  Sixtieth  Anniversaries  together.  Rev.  Au- 
gustine has  lived  in  Grand  Island  for  twenty  years  and  here  he 
expects  to  live  until  his  Master  calls  him. 

For  several  years  he  was  contributing  editor  to  the  Lutheran 
Evangelist,  and  his  articles  occasionally  appeared  in  the  Lu- 
Iheraii  Observer.  For  a  while  he  was  editor  of  the  Independent 
Lutheran,  during  his  residence  in  Adams  County,  Nebraska. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  been  a  pioneer  preacher  and 
seemed  to  take  delight  in  making  a  success  where  others  had 
failed  or  where  the  work  had  not  before  been  attempted. 

REV.  HARRY  F.  BAUGHMAN.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  on  January  23,  1892,  at  Everett,  Pennsylvania.  Dur- 
ing the  year  1893  his  parents.  Rev.  G.  W.  and  Elizabeth  M. 
Baughman,  moved  to  Fniontown,  Maryland.  He  was  confirmed 
about  1904.  He  received  his  education  at  New  Windsor  College 
from  1903  to  1906.  He  entered  Pennsylvania  College  in  1906 
and  after  graduating  in  1910  entered  the  Seminary  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year.  He  graduated  from  Seminary  in  May,  1913. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  from  Seminary  he  took 
charge  of  Trinity  Church,  Keyser,  West  Virginia.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  West  Arirginia  Synod  from  1913  to  1918;  its  sec- 
retary 1915-1917;  its  president  1917-1918.  Tn  November,  1918, 
he  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  where  he  is  now  pastor  of  St.  Stephen's 
Lutheran  Church.  His  present  address  is  7710  Hamilton 
Avenue,  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. 

REV.    PROFESSOR   DAVID    H.    BAUSLIN,    D.D.,    LL.D.     Dr. 

Bauslin  was  born  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  in  1854  of  Michael 
and  Martha  Lewis  Bauslin.  On  the  paternal  side  of  his  family 
Dr.  Bauslin  comes  of  sturdy  Lutheran  ancestry,  both  of  his 
grandparents,  Henry  Bauslin  and  Margaret  Smyser,  having  been 
what  was  known  in  the  days  of  Lutheran  laxity  in  the  part  of 
the  Cumberland  Valley  in  which  they  lived  as  "Old  Lutherans," 
a  phrase  with  pronounced  historical  significance.  His  mother 
was  a  descendant  of  John  Lewis  who  came  from  the  north  of  Eng- 
land and  settled  near  Staunton,  Virginia,  in  1735.  She  grew  up 
as  a  United  Presbyterian. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  baptized  by  Dr.  Charles  P. 
Krauth  who  was  pastor  at  Winchester  at  the  time  of  his  birth. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War  in  1861  his  father  being  a 
"Tnion  Man"  and  opposed  to  the  secession  of  Virginia  was 
obliged  under  threat  to  leave  that  state.  He  settled  at  Clear- 
spring,  Washington  County,  Maryland,  where  his  oldest  child  re- 
ceived his  earlier  education  in  the  village  schools.  Here  when  a 
young  boy  he  was  received  into  the  membership  of  St.  Peter's 
Lutheran  Church,  being  confirmed  by  that  sturdy  old  saint  the 
Rev.  Christian  Startzman,  whose  dust  rests  in  the  old  St.  Paul's 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


529 


cemetery  between  Hagerstown  and  Clearspring.  In  1871  Dr. 
Bauslin  entered  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1876.  In  his  college  days  he  had  for 
his  teachers  such  men  as  Samuel  Sprecher,  Hezekiah  R.  Geizer, 
Isaac  Sprecher,  B.  F.  Prince  and  S.  F.  Breckenridge.  From 
early  childhood  it  was  his  cher- 
ished desire  to  become  a  minister 
and  in  this  he  was  always  encour- 
aged by  his  pious  parents  and  a 
faithful  and  watchful  pastor. 
From  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Wittenberg  he  graduated  in 
1878.  In  1877,  at  the  end  of  his 
first  year  at  the  Seminary,  he  was 
engaged  during  the  s  u  m  m  e  r 
months  in  missionary  work  at 
Peabody,  Kansas,  where  he  was 
instrumental  in  organizing  the 
now  flourishing  St.  Paul's  Lu- 
theran Church  of  that  town.  In 
October  of  that  year  he  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  St.  John's 
Church  of  Salina,  Kansas,  by  the 
Synod  of  Kansas,  the  names  of  T. 
F.  Dornblaser,  D.D.,  and  the  late 

Rev.  A.  K.  Felton  being  signed  to  his  certificate  of  licensure,  re- 
spectively as  President  and  Secretary.  In  1878  he  was  ordained 
to  the  Gospel  Ministry  by  the  Miami  Synod  at  Brookville,  Ohio, 
the  Rev.  George  F.  Stelling.  D.D.,  being  the  preacher  of  the  occa- 
sion, who  subsequently  baptized  his  son,  Dr.  Charles  Stelling 
Bauslin.  His  certificate  of  ordination  bears  the  names  of  George 
F.  Stelling,  President,  and  Joseph  Clark  Zimmerman,  Secretary. 

Dr.  Bauslin 's  entire  term  of  service  in  the  church  since  his 
ordination  has  been  spent  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  He  has  served  in 
succession  in  these  pastorates:  Zion  Church,  Tippicanoe  City; 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Bucyrus;  the  Second  Church  of  Springfield, 
and  Trinity  Church  of  Canton.  In  1896  he  was  elected  to  the 
"George  D.  Harter  Professorship"  of  Historical  Theology  in  the 
Hamma  Divinity  School  at  Wittenberg.  In  this  position  and  as 
the  Dean  of  the  Seminary  he  has  served  until  the  present,  and  in 
active  service  in  the  same  place  he  hopes  to  end  his  earthly  pil- 
grimage. From  his  Alma  Mater  in  succession  he  has  been  hon- 
ored with  the  degrees  of  A.B.,  A.M.,  B.D.,  and  D.D.,  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws  having  been  conferred  upon  him  by  Lenior 
College  of  North  Carolina  in  1916. 

In  connection  with  his  work  as  preacher  and  professor,  Dr. 
Bauslin  ha.s  been  diligent  with  his  pen.    For  twelve  years  he  was 
editor  of  the  Lutheran  World,  the  organ  in  its  day  of  the  "con- 
34 


530  HISTORY  OF  MARYI.AXO  SYNOD. 

servative"  wing  of  the  General  Synod,  a  paper  which  during  its 
entire  and  somewhat  varied  history  exercised  a  wide  and  whole- 
some influence  in  the  Church,  being  one  of  the  leading:  factors 
in  the  preparation  for  the  coming  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church 
of  America.  Years  ago  he  published  a  small  book  which  is  said 
to  have  had  a  very  wholesome  influence  under  the  title,  "Is  the 
Ministry  an  Attractive  Vocation?"  The  chief  work  of  his  pen 
is  "The  Lutheran  Movement  of  the  Sixteenth  Century — An  In- 
terpretation," published  by  the  Lutheran  Publication  Society  in 
1910.  At  various  limes  he  has  published  monographs  on  "The 
Place  of  Authority  in  "Religion,"  "Evangelical  Agnosticism," 
"Specious  Theological  Phraseology. "  "Permanent  Factors  in  the 
Civilisation  of  the  Middle  Ages.'"  "The  Genesis  of  the  'New 
Measure'  Movement  in  the  Lutheran  Church,"  "The  Collapse  of 
a  Bad  Theory,"  "The  Socialisation  of  the  Church,"  "The  Al- 
leged Historical  Episcopate,"  and  others. 

Mrs.  Bauslin  was  Elixabeth  Clark.  They  have  in  their  family 
two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl,  Ihe  son  now  being  a  Lutheran  min- 
ister and  the  little  girl  having  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Dr. 
Bauslin  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to  draft  the  constitution 
of  the  United  Lutheran  Church.  Tn  1005  he  was  made  President 
of  the  General  Synod  at  its  meeting  in  Bethany  Church,  Pitts- 
burgh. For  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Synod.  Tn  the  days  of  his  college  and  seminary  education 
he  was  aided  by  the  Maryland  Synod,  the  aid  accorded  him  mak- 
ing it  possible  for  him  to  enter  the  ministry.  He  has  always  been 
glad  to  express  his  affection  for  the  old  Synod  which  made  it  pos- 
sible for  him  by  its  benefactions  to  carry  out  his  cherished  life 
plans. 

REV.  GEORGE  BEISWANGER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  February  15,  18(58.  the 
son  of  John  and  Sarah  Ann  Weber  Beiswanger.  He  was  bap- 
ti/ed  and  confirmed  in  St.  Stephen's  Lutheran  Church.  Balti- 
more, Rev.  F.  Ph.  Hennighausen,  D.D.,  pastor.  Tn  1885  he  be- 
came a  charter  member  of  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Rev.  H.  II. 
Weber,  D.D.,  pastor,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
congregation.  He  entered  the  Academy  of  Pennsylvania  College 
to  get  his  college  preparatory  work  and  graduated  from  college 
in  1802,  and  from  the  seminarv  at  Gettysburg  in  1805. 

During  the  summer  of  1803  he  served  the  congregation  at 
Sparrows  Point  and  in  1804  he  received  an  ad  interim  license 
from  the  Maryland  Synod.  He  was  regularly  licensed  at  Frost- 
burg  in  1804  and  ordained  in  Grace  Church  at  the  meeting  of  the 
same  synod  in  1805,  Rev.  O.  C.  Roth,  D.D.,  president  of  the 
svnod  and  pastor  of  Grace  Church.  Rev.  Beiswanger  was  the 
first  son  of  Grace  Church  to  enter  the  ministry. 

His  pastorates  have  been  as  follows:    Calvary  Church,  Balti- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  531 

more,  1895  to  1902,  where  he  organized  the  church  and  Sunday 
school,  purchased  the  church  property  and  erected  its  first  build- 
ing at  a  cost  of  $20,000;  St.  Paul's  Church,  Yandergrift,  Penn- 
sylvania, 1902  to  1907,  where  he  was  their  first  pastor  and  during 
his  pastorate  dedicated  a  church  edifice  and  provided  for  its  cost, 
$14,500,  with  less  than  one  hun- 
dred members  and  within  a  year 
and  a  half  after  its  organization ; 
First  Lutheran  Church,  Okla- 
homa City,  1907  to  1909;  Chil- 
dren 's  Memorial  Lutheran 
Church,  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
1909  to  1915,  during  which  time 
he  removed  the  indebtedness  of 
the  church  and  improved  the  con- 
gregation in  membership  and 
place  of  worship ;  Messiah  Lu- 
theran C  h  u  r  c  h,  Constantine, 
Michigan,  3915  to  1917,  where  he 
celebrated  the  Golden  Jubilee  of 
the  congregation  and  added  fifty 
communicants;  and  finally,  Zion 
Lutheran  Church,  North  Man- 
chester, Indiana,  1917  to  the  pres- 
ent, where  he  has  more  efficiently 
organized  the  various  organizations  within  the  congregation. 

In  1914  and  1915  he  was  President  of  the  Kansas  Synod,  and 
for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Examining  Committee  of  the  same 
Synod.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Merger  Convention  in  New 
York  City  in  1918.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  "Boys'  Work 
Committee"  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church. 

On  October  3,  1900,  he  married  Lugarda  Grace  Wilhelm,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  M.  L.  Wilhelm,  of  Wooster, 
Ohio,  who  previous  to  her  marriage  had  been  a  teaching  deaconess 
in  the  Baltimore  Motherhouse.  To  this  union  seven  children  were 
born,  two  dying  in  infancy.  The  living  children  are,  George  Wil- 
helm, Martin  Luther,  Chariot  Rhoda,  Philip  Melanchthon  and 
John  Paul  Gerhardt. 

REV.  ALBERT  BELL,  D.D.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the 
son  of  Jonas  and  Catherine  Ann  Bell,  was  born  September  28, 
1855,  on  his  father's  farm  in  the  Leitersburg  district,  his  parents 
being  members  of  the  Leitersburg  Church.  He  received  his  early 
training  at  the  Longmeadow  and  Shank's  country  schools  during 
the  Civil  War,  and  at  the  High  School  at  Williamsport,  the  fam- 
ily having  moved  near  that  town  in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  en- 
tered the  Preparatory  Department,  Gettysburg,  in  the  fall  of 
1872,  taking  the  full  course.  He  graduated  from  the  college  in 


532 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


1878  and  from  the  Seminary  in  1881.  The  Maryland  Synod  or- 
dained him  the  same  year,  Dr.  Barklay,  then  of  Baltimore, 
preaching  the  sermon. 

The  charges  he  has  served  have  been  :  Reisterstown,  Maryland, 
1881-1884;  Xewton,  Iowa,  1884-1887;  Williamsport,  Pennsyl- 
vania (St.  John's),  1887-1889; 
Boiling  Springs,  Pennsylvania, 
1889-189:5:  and  from  January, 
1894,  until  the  present  he  has 
served  St.  Luke's  of  York,  Penn- 
sylvania. While  pastor  of  St. 
Luke's  the  present  comfortable 
parsonage  and  the  commodious 
and  well  appointed  church  were 
erected. 

Rev.  Bell  has  served  twenty- 
three  years  as  the  treasurer  of  the 
West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  which 
office  he  still  holds.  He  was 
joined  in  wedlock  on  February  8, 
1882,  with  Elizabeth  C.  Cashnian, 
of  Gettysburg,  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Catherine  Ann  Cashman, 
from  which  union  there  were  the 
following  children :  W.  A.  Rus- 
sell ;  Albert  Daniel,  who  died  from  Spanish  influenza  in  France, 
October  13,  1918,  while  serving  as  chaplain  of  the  310th  Machine 
Gun  Batallion;  Ralph  E.,  deceased  June  27,  1918,  and  Katherine 
Anna. 

Rev.  Bell  has  represented  his  synod  at  the  meetings  of  the 
General  Synod  at  Pittsburgh,  Sunbury,  Washington  and  Akron, 
Ohio,  lie  was  honored  by  his  Alma  Mater  with  the  honorary  title 
of  Doctor  of  Divinitv  in  1916. 


REV.  CHARLES  KRATJTH  BELL,  D.D.,  was  born  at  Smiths- 
burg,  Maryland,  December  11,  1870,  a  child  of  the  Rev.  Lewis 
Jacobs  Bell  and  his  wife  Charlotte  Ann  Marbourg.  Baptized  in 
infancy  by  the  Rev.  S.  McIIenry,  he  was  confirmed  as  a  member 
of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Smithsburg,  Maryland,  by  the  Rev. 
X.  J.  Richardson. 

Earlier  education  was  obtained  in  public  schools  of  native 
town,  and  in  the  High  School  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  Enter- 
ing Sophomore  class  in  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  he  was 
graduated  in  189")  with  degree  of  A.B.  A.M.  was  conferred,  in 
course,  in  1898.  Completed  the  course  in  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg  in  1898. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Wash- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  533 

ington,  D.  C.  in  1897,  and  was  ordanied  by  that  Synod  at  Taney- 
town,  Maryland,  in  1898. 

In  June,  1898,  he  became  pastor  of  College  Church,  Salem, 
Virginia,  in  the  S.  W.  Va.  Synod,  and  continued  there  until  lie 
accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor  at  Kings  Mountain,  North  Caro- 
lina, in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Tennessee  Synod,  which  pastorate 
he  served  until  the  end  of  1918. 

At  Salem,  Virginia,  he  married 
Miss  Alice  Virginia  Fox,  January 
31,  1900. 

In  the  Tennessee  Synod  he  held 
the  position  of  Secretary  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  was  twice  elected 
President  of  the  Synod. 

The  degree  of  D.D.  was  con- 
ferred by  Lenoir  College,  Hickory, 
North  Carolina,  in  1915. 

From  1912  until  the  ' '  Merger, ' ' 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Home  Missions  and  Church  Ex- 
tension of  the  United  Synod  in 
the  South,  and  when  the  United 
Lutheran  Church  in  America  was 
organized,  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension. 

By  appointment  of  the  President  of  the  Lriited  Synod  in  the 
South,  he  wras  a  member  of  the  committee  that  drafted  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in  America. 

He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  Second  Professor  in  the  South- 
ern Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Columbia,  South  Caro- 
lina, Chair  of  Practical  Theology,  January,  1919. 

REV.  EZRA  KELLER  BELL,  D.D.,  was  born  in  the  Leiters- 
burg  district,  Washington  County,  Maryland,  on  November  14, 
1853.  He  was  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  Mickley  Bell.  His 
great-grandfather,  Captain  Peter  Bell,  was  a  revolutionary  sol- 
dier under  Washington,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Hagerstown,  and  his  grandfather,  Frederick  Bell,  was 
largely  instrumental  in  establishing  the  St.  Paul's  Church  in 
Leitersburg  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  confirmed  by  the 
sainted  Dr.  M.  C.  Horine.  His  forebears  came  to  this  country 
nearly  200  years  ago,  his  father 's  from  Alsace,  his  mother 's  from 
Huguenot  stock. 

He  attended  the  country  school  in  boyhood,  later  the  High 
School  at  Leitersburg.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  went  to  Wittenberg 
College  after  whose  founder  he  was  named,  and  where  the  presi- 
dent was  his  father's  friend,  Dr.  Samuel  Sprecher.  He  gradu- 


534  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ated  from  college  in  1877  and  from  the  Theological  Seminary  in 
1871).  lie  received  the  degree  of  A.M.  from  his  Alma  Mater  in 
1881  and  that  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1891.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Wittenberg  Synod  in  1878  and  ordained  to  the 
ministry  at  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  in  1879. 

He  began  his  ministry  at  West  Liberty,  Ohio,  while  a  theologi- 
cal student  and  served  the  congregation  for  three  years  when  he 
accepted  a  call  to  Findlay,  Ohio.  At  Findlay  a  new  church  was 
built  during  his  pastorate.  October  1,  1884,  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  First  Church,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  congregation  was 
much  reduced  numbering  about  125  communicant  members. 
During  the  first  year  the  church  was  remodeled  at  an  expense  of 
nearly  $6,000.  The  congregation  began  to  grow  until  it  num- 
bered about  400  members,  when  the  planting  of  other  Lutheran 
Churches  in  the  city  was  undertaken.  With  the  aid  of  the  Home 
Mission  Board,  St.  Paul's  and  Walnut  Hill's  Churches  were  or- 
ganized and  aided  in  the  erection  of  church  buildings.  Follow- 
ing these  the  church  at  Bellevue  was  organized  and  aided,  also 
the  church  at  Newport  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  Ohio  River. 

When  these  four  congregations  were  established  in  new  church 
buildings,  the  old  church  on  Elm  Street  having  become  too  small, 
was  sold,  and  the  fine  new  red  stone  church  on  Race  Street  was 
erected  and  dedicated.  While  other  churches  were  following 
their  members  to  the  suburbs  and  abandoning  the  people  in  the 
down  town  section,  the  new  church  was  built  in  the  center  of  the 
city,  and  the  present  congregation  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
flourishing  in  Cincinnati. 

During  the  building  of  the  new  church,  he  was  president  of 
the  Evangelical  Alliance,  a  very  active  organization  in  civic  af- 
fairs, and  was  also  editor  of  the  J^ntheran  World.  The  multipli- 
cation of  duties  seriously  impaired  his  health  and  upon  the  ad- 
vice of  his  physician  he  reluctantly  gave  up  his  large  field  at 
Cincinnati  and  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Luke's,  Mansfield,  where  his 
work  was  much  lighter.  He  had  been  in  Cincinnati  a  little  more 
than  fourteen  years.  A  new  parsonage  was  built  near  the  close 
of  his  first  year  at  St.  Luke's,  which  he  never  occupied,  having 
received  a  call  to  the  First  Church,  Baltimore,  which  he  was  re- 
luctant to  entertain,  but  his  health  having  been  restored  and 
being  strongly  urged  to  do  so,  he  finally  accepted.  The  15th  of 
September,  1919,  was  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  his  pastorate 
in  Baltimore.  During  these  twenty  years  he  received  1,264  com- 
municant members  into  the  First  Church,  and  aided  his  congre- 
gation in  raising  $185,000  for  current  expenses  and  improve- 
ments, and  $135,000  for  benevolence  and  missions. 

He  always  loved  the  pastorate  and  could  never  be  persuaded 
to  leave  it  for  any  other  sphere  of  work.  His  heart  and  life  have 
been  given  to  his  people.  WThile  editing  the  Lutheran  World 
which  he  did  for  six  years,  and  until  his  health  failed,  the  direc- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  535 

tors  of  the  World  Company  urged  him  to  give  his  entire  time  to 
the  paper  offering  him  a  most  attractive  salary  to  do  so.  He  was 
offered  at  various  times  the  general  secretaryship  of  two  Mission 
Boards,  and  the  presidency  of  four  colleges,  one  of  them  that  of 
his  Alma  Mater.  All  of  these  were  declined  because  it  was  felt 
that  as  his  life  had  been  given  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and 
as  God 's  blessing  had  attended  his  labors,  that  was  distinctly  his 
highest  duty  and  service,  until  Providence  more  clearly  pointed 
out  some  other  way. 

He  has  made  three  trips  to  Europe.  One  in  1895  while  in  Cin- 
cinnati, another  in  1904  when  his  congregation  in  Baltimore  paid 
his  expenses  to  visit  the  Luther  lands  including  Scandanavia, 
and  a  third  to  the  British  Isles  and  the  World  Foreign  Mission 
Conference  at  Edinburg  in  1910. 

He  has  always  been  active  in  promoting  the  larger  interests  of 
the  Church.  From  his  youth  he  has  been  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
Lutheran  unity,  and  his  assumption  of  the  editorship  first  of  the 
Lutheran  Evangelist  and  then  of  the  Lutheran  World  was 
wholly  from  his  interast  in  promoting  a  better  understanding 
among  Lutherans  in  this  country.  The  Lutheran  World  became 
a  potent  factor  in  bringing  the  General  Synod  into  a  clearer  ap- 
prehension of  the  genuine  Lutheranism  for  which  confessionally 
that  body  stood.  It  was  the  first  clear  voice  and  messenger  in 
preparing  the  way  for  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in  America. 

While  in  Cincinnati  he  was  president  of  the  Evangelical  Al- 
liance for  five  years,  and  the  history  of  Hamilton  County  states 
that  it  was  his  suggestion  and  plan  of  organization  that  led  to 
the  formation  of  the  Committee  of  500  which  accomplished  so 
much  for  the  purification  of  municipal  politics  and  the  closing 
of  the  saloon  on  Sunday.  He  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  Wittenberg  College,  President  of  the  Miami  Synod  and 
a  delegate  to  every  session  of  the  General  Synod.  He  attended 
every  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  except  one  from  his  semi- 
nary days  and  since  the  meeting  at  Springfield  in  1881  was  a 
delegate  at  every  meeting  to  which  he  was  eligible  for  election. 
He  was  president  of  the  Maryland  Synod  from  1914  to  1917. 

His  ecclesiastical  alignments  have  always  been  with  those  who 
stood  for  a  positive  Christianity  and  therefore  a  positive  Luther- 
anism. Cradled  by  a  Lutheran  mother  and  reared  by  a  Lutheran 
father,  catechized  by  a  Lutheran  pastor,  he  went  into  the  min- 
istry with  a  passion  for  his  beloved  Church  which  only  increased 
with  the  passing  .rears.  He  was  exceedingly  fortunate  in  having 
had  for  his  catechist  and  pastor,  Dr.  Malcolm  C.  Horine,  and  dur- 
ing his  early  ministry,  in  having  for  his  intimate  and  cherished 
friends  those  forward  looking  Lutheran  scholars  and  theologians 
of  blessed  memory,  Drs.  S.  A.  Ort,  E.  J.  Wolf,  H.  L.  Baugher,  S. 
F.  Breckenridge,  S.  B.  Barnitz,  W.  E.  Parson,  L.  A.  Gotwald, 
Henry  Ziegler  and  Charles  S.  Albert,  who  aided  and  encouraged 


:>3G 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


him  with  voice  and  pen  during  the  trying  years  when  he  was 
editor  of  the  Lutheran  World. 

Among  his  publications  are  "Divine  Compensation,"  "The 
Path  to  Prosperity"  and  "At  the  Altar  and  After,"  of 
which  the  Publication  Society  has  sold  more  than  fifty  thousand 
copies. 

Dr.  Bell  is  president  of  the  Baltimore  Lutheran  Commission 
for  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Welfare,  president  of  the  Board  of  Con- 
trol of  Maryland  College,  a  director  of  the  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  president  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
United  Lutheran  Church  in  America,  as  he  was  president  of  the 
former  General  Synod  Board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  common 
service  committee  and  aided  in  the  preparation  of  the  new  Com- 
mon Service  Book.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee which  prepared  the  constitution  of  the  United  Lutheran 
Church.  More  than  all,  and  that  which  he  says  is  the  greatest 
joy  and  pride  of  his  life,  is  that  of  being  the  pastor  of  the  First 
English  Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore. 

REV.  LOTJIS  ALFRED  BIKIE,  D.D.  This  son  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  born  November  6,  1834.  at  Thurmont,  Frederick 
County,  Maryland,  the  son  of  Christian  Immanuel  and  Barbara 
Regina  Bikle.  When  the  lad  was  six  years  old  the  parental  home 
was  removed  to  Smithsburg,  Washington  County,  Maryland,  and 

here  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
was  instructed  in  Luther's  Cate- 
chism by  Pastors  Cline,  Remen- 
snyder,  Probst,  and  Bittle,  and 
wras  confirmed  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen. He  prepared  for  college  at 
the  Smithsburg  Academy,  of 
which  George  Pearson  was  the 
principal.  Doctor  Bikle  entered 
Pennsylvania  College  in  1853  and 
graduated  from  this  institution  in 
1857,  delivering  the  Latin  Saluta- 
tory. After  spending  one  year  in 
the  Gettysburg  Theological  Semi- 
nary, he  was  prevailed  upon  by 
his  Latin  professor  of  the  college, 
Dr.  Stoever,  to  consider  favorably 
a  call  to  the  Chair  of  Ancient 
Languages  in  North  Carolina  Col- 
lege, Mount  Pleasant,  North  Car- 
olina. He  accepted  the  call  and  entered  upon  this  work  for  the 
church  November  5,  1858. 

This  institution  under  the  auspices  of  the  North  Carolina 
Synod  opened  with  very  encouraging  signs.  For  two  years  the 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  537 

roll  of  students  increased  but  the  end  of  this  promising  outlook 
came  suddenly.  The  Civil  War  threw  a  blight  upon  all  educa- 
tional institutions  in  the  South  and  especially  upon  the  young 
college  at  Mount  Pleasant.  In  December,  1861,  the  school  found 
it  necessary  to  close  for  an  indefinite  period  due  to  the  lack  of 
students  and  funds  to  carry  on  the  work.  During  the  latter  part 
of  the  war  from  November,  1863,  to  April,  1865,  Doctor  Bikle 
served  as  Chaplain  of  the  20th  Regiment,  North  Carolina  State 
Troops. 

In  August,  1866,  North  Carolina  College  was  reopened  under 
the  direction  of  its  former  professor  of  Ancient  Languages.  In 
three  years  as  professor  and  president  he  had  succeeded  so  far 
as  to  induce  the  trustees  to  elect  the  necessary  faculty  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  College  Charter.  During  the  following 
six  years  the  institution  enjoyed  a  period  of  prosperity. 

Doctor  Bikle  resigned  the  presidency  in  1875  to  accept  a  call 
to  St.  James  Church,  Concord,  North  Carolina.  To  this  church 
he  ministered  over  four  years.  In  January,  1880,  he  returned 
to  the  college  as  president  and  assisted  the  faculty  in  completing 
a  five-year  lease  to  which  the  trustees  had  to  resort  on  account  of 
the  unfortunate  administration  of  his  successor. 

In  1S84  he  accepted  work  in  the  bounds  of  the  Tennessee  Synod 
and  continued  in  connection  with  that  body  twenty  years  as  pas- 
tor of  St.  Matthew's  Church,  Kings  Mountain,  North  Carolina. 
During  the  same  time;  he  served  for  six  years  as  professor  in 
Gaston  Female  College,  Dallas,  North  Carolina,  and  later  as 
principal  and  professor  for  five  years  of  Kings  Mountain  High 
School.  In  1904,  he  felt  it  his  duty  after  forty -six  years  of  stren- 
uous work  as  preacher  and  teacher  to  give  up  all  regular  work 
and  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  less  arduous  toil.  At 
present  he  is  the  financial  secretary  of  St.  James  Church,  Con- 
cord. 

With  regard  to  the  character  of  Dr.  Bikle 's  work  as  professor 
and  minister,  it  may  be  said  there  was  fruitage,  abundant  and 
abiding.  He  was  a  willing  worker  and  for  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  attempted  to  do  the  work  of  two  men. 

Dr.  Bikle 's  influence  in  the  North  Carolina  Synod  was  em- 
ployed to  obtain  the  adoption  of  a  definite  statement  of  the  Lu- 
theran faith.  This  occurred  during  the  seventies  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. It  was  occasioned  by  the  contemplation  of  a  revision  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  Synod.  He  was  invited  to  act  as  an  advisory 
member  upon  this  committee  for  revision  and  recommended  that 
their  first  duty  was  the  setting  forth  of  the  Lutheran  basis  of 
faith,  the  Confessions  of  the  Church  as  correctly  exhibiting  the 
Lutheran  faith.  This  was  adopted  by  the  committee  and  at  a 
subsequent  special  meeting  of  the  Synod  it  was  unanimously 
adopted  by  a  rising  vote. 

He  also,  when  president  of  the  Sj'nod,  recommended  the  aboli- 


:>38 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


lion  of  the  Ik-ensure  system  and  submitted  u  standard  of  aca- 
demie  and  theological  education  that  would  justify  the  Synod  in 
granting  ordination  upon  a  satisfactory  completion  of  this  re- 
quired work.  The  Synod  approved  of  this  recommendation. 

Dr.  Bikle  thankfully  acknowledges  the  financial  aid  given  him 
by  the  Parent  Education  Society  in  his  preparation  for  the  min- 
istry. 

REV.  PHILIP  MELANCHTHON  BIKLE,  Ph.D.,  D.D.  Dr.  Bikle 
was  the  sixth  son  of  Christian  and  Barbara  (Fiehte)  Bikle 
and  was  born  on  December  1,  1844,  at  Smithsburg,  Maryland. 
He  received  a  rigid  school  training  under  the  veteran  teacher, 
George  Pearson,  a  college  graduate,  until  his  sixteenth  year.  lie 

completed  his  preparation  for  col- 
lege at  North  Carolina  College, 
Mount  Pleasant,  North  Carolina, 
where  his  oldest  brother,  Louis  A. 
Bikle,  was  professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin.  On  January  1,  1861,  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Maryland 
and  became  assistant,  teacher  in 
one  of  the  public  schools.  He  in- 
tended to  enter  Freshman  Class 
of  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettys- 
burg, in  September,  1861,  but  at 
the  solicitation  of  the  directors  of 
a  newly  organized  school  district 
near  Smithsburg,  he  decided  to 
teach  a  year.  In  September, 
1862,  he  entered  at  Gettysburg, 
and  was  graduated  in  1866,  with 
the  appointment  to  deliver  the 
Latin  Salutatory  at  Commence- 
ment. He  taught  a  year  in  the  York  County  Academy  in  Latin 
and  Mathematics  before  beginning  his  theological  course.  He 
then  entered  the  Gettysburg  Seminary  and  graduated  from  this 
institution  in  1869.  In  the  summer  of  1869  he  was  elected  pro- 
fessor of  Latin  and  Greek  in  North  Carolina  College,  his  brother, 
Louis  A.,  having  been  elected  president  soon  after  the  Civil  War. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  North  Carolina  Synod  in  August,  1869. 
In  1870  he  accepted  the  vice-principalship  of  Lutherville  Female 
Seminary  (now  Maryland  College  for  Women),  the  subjects  of 
teaching  assigned  to  him  being  Latin  and  Science.  In  his  third 
year  in  this  position,  having  become  deeply  interested  in  Physics 
and  Astronomy,  he  decided  to  resign  and  take  a  special  course  in 
these  sciences  under  the  distinguished  astronomer,  Charles  A. 
Young  of  Dartmouth  College. 

In  the  summer  of  1874  he  was  elected  Ockershausen  Professor 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  539 

of  Physics  and  Astronomy  in  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg. 
In  1880,  when  Doctor  Baugher,  the  professor  of  Greek,  resigned, 
the  college  board  requested  him  to  take  charge  temporarily  of  the 
Freshman  work  in  Latin  in  addition  to  his  other  duties.  In  1881 
he  was  requested  by  the  board  to  take  full  charge  of  the  Pearson 
Professorship  of  Latin.  His  work  of  the  year  had  revived  his 
love  for  teaching  that  language,  and  he  cheerfully  consented  both 
for  this  reason  and  also  because  the  funds  for  the  equipment  of 
the  department  of  Physics  were  too  meagre.  He  has  had  charge 
of  the  Department  of  Latin  ever  since,  and  more  than  sixty  per 
cent,  of  the  students  who  have  studied  Latin  in  Pennsylvania 
College  since  it  was  chartered  have  been  under  his  instruction. 
In  1889  he  was  elected  dean  of  the  college. 

In  1880,  wrhen  Doctor  Brown  became  disabled,  he  became  an 
associate  with  Doctors  Valentine  and  Wolf  as  editor  of  the  Lu- 
theran Quarterly.  In  1892  he  became  sole  editor  and  publisher 
and  continued  so  till  1907  when  he  transferred  his  interests  to 
Doctors  Singmaster  and  Gotwald,  after  having  been  connected 
with  the  Quarterly  for  twenty-six  years.  In  1877  with  the  ap- 
proval and  encouragement  of  the  faculty,  he  established  the 
Pennsylvania  College  Monthly,  continuing  it  for  seventeen  years. 
His  literary  contributions  have  been  mainly  articles  and  book  re- 
views in  the  Pennsylvania  College  Monthly  and  Lutheran  Quar- 
terly. 

He  is  a  member  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa  and  also  of  the  American 
Philological  Association.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  Koanoke  College  in  1884,  and  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Pennsylvania  College  in  1914. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1870  and  his 
membership  has  been  continuous  (fifty  years).  He  was  elected 
secretary  in  1874,  1876,  1877,  1878  and  1879.  Elected  president 
in  1888.  In  1895  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  executive 
committee,  and  he  was  chairman  of  the  necrological  committee 
for  some  years.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synod  in  1877, 
3883,  1889,  1893,  1899  and  1913. 

He  married  Annie  M.  Wattles,  December  28,  1868,  one  of  four 
sisters  all  of  whom  were  married  to  Lutheran  clergymen.  One 
son,  Horace  Wattles,  is  now  residing  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  wife  died  July  8,  1872. 

On  January  2,  1877,  he  married  Emma  J.  Wolf,  niece  of  Doc- 
tor Edmund  J.  Wolf,  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  There  are  three  sons  of  this  union,  Henry  Wolf,  of 
Philadelphia ;  Paul,  Harold,  of  Mifflinburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Philip  Raymond,  of  Gettysburg.  On  November  27,  1918,  his 
wife  died. 

REV.  J.  ELMER  BITTLE,  D,D.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  near  Myersville  in  the  Middletown  Valley,  Mary- 


540 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


laiul,  a  son  of  Thomas  Franklin  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Waters) 
Bittle.  Ho  was  baptized  into  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Church 
I lill,  by  Kev.  .).  Start/man  and  was  confirmed  in  the  same  church 
by  Kev.  Henry  (!.  Bowers.  He  attended  public  schools  in  the  com- 
munity and  then  the  academy  at  Smithsburg,  Maryland.  He  spent 
one  year  in  the  sub-freshman  class  in  Gettysburg:  Preparatory  and 
was  graduated  at  Pennsylvania  College  with  the  class  of  1886.  He 

spent  five  years  in  mercantile  life 
during  which  time  he  was  married 
to  Mollie  May  Buhrman.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  couple, 
Helen  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Mabel  A. 
Boyd  and  Frank  B.  Bittle,  of 
Mansfield,  Ohio.  During  one  year 
of  his  mercantile  pursuit  Doctor 
Bittle  studied  theology  under 
Rev.  Peter  Bergstresser,  D.D., 
and  then  went  to  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1893. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  its  meeting  in 
Frederick,  Maryland,  in  1892  and 
was  ordained  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Synod  in  1893.  ' 

His    first    charge    was    Mount 
YAoii    C  h  u  r  c  h    in    Washington 

County,  Pennsylvania,  under  the  partial  support  of  Trinity 
Church,  Allegheny.  In  1894  he  was  called  to  the  mission,  Alpha 
Lutheran  Church,  Turtle  Creek,  Pennsylvania,  and  served  it  for 
two  years  as  a  mission  and  then  for  nine  years  as  a  self-support- 
ing congregation.  In  1905  he  was  called  to  the  position  of  mis- 
sionary superintendent  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod  and  he  has 
served  in  that  position  for  fifteen  years. 

In  1899  and  1900  he  served  the  synod  as  its  secretary  and  in 
1903  as  its  president.  In  1898  he  was  made  a  member  of  the 
Synod's  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  served  for  six  years,  re- 
signing after  his  election  as  Superintendent  of  Missions.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  General  Synod  as  delegate  from  the  Pittsburgh 
Synod  in  1897,  1901,  1909,  1911  and  1917  and  also  a  delegate  to 
the  Merger  Convention  in  New  York  in  1918.  Tn  1911  Rev.  Bit- 
tie  was  made  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  served 
for  four  years.  In  1917  he  was  a  member  of  the  Ways  and  Means 
Committee  for  the  merging  of  the  three  general  bodies.  Susque- 
hanna  University  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1911.  Since  1913  he  has  been  managing 
the  branch  of  The  Lutheran  Publication  Society  in  Pittsburgh  in 
addition  to  the  work  of  the  missionary  superintendent.  Since 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  541 

1910  lie  has  been  editing  the  synodical  paper  called  The  Lutheran 
Monthly. 

REV.  CHAITNCEY  ROBERT  BOTSFORD.  Rev.  Botsford  was 
born  in  New  Canaan,  Connecticut.  His  father  was  a  Yankee  sea- 
captain  and  his  mother  an  Englishwoman.  In  his  infancy  he  was 
taken  to  Georgia,  where  his  father  died  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
the  family  there.  He  lived  in  Atlanta  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
old  when  he  was  taken  to  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 
Here  he  entered  a  printing  office  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  at- 
tended St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  Rev.  Samuel  Domer,  D.D., 
pastor.  He  was  confirmed  shortly  after  this.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Washington,  and  as  Sunday 
school  teacher  and  superintendent  his  mind  was  turned  to  the 
ministry.  Not  having  enjoyed  the  ordinary  scholastic  opportuni- 
ties of  the  average  American  youth,  he  doubted  his  ability  to  at- 
tain to  the  exalted  office  of  the  ministry.  In  the  spring  of  1895 
he  was  enabled  to  enter  the  classes  at  Susquehanna  University, 
Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  spent  three  years  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Theological  Department  in  1898.  He  was 
licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  the  Church  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, Washington,  in  the  fall  of  1897.  and  was  ordained  by  the 
Susquehanna  Synod  in  May,  1898. 

His  first  charge  was  St.  John's  Church,  Northumberland, 
Pennsylvania,  which  he  served  eight  years.  In  the  summer  of 
1906  he  became  pastor  of  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Berwick,  Penn- 
sylvania, continuing  his  work  there  for  more  than  nine  years. 
He  became  field  secretary  of  Susquehanna  University  on  October 
1,  1915,  and  traveled  for  his  Alma  Mater  for  three  years,  resign- 
ing to  accept  a  call  to  his  present  charge,  St.  John's  of  Cumber- 
land, Maryland,  becoming  pastor  September  1,  1918. 

REV.  GEORGE  SPENER  BOWERS,  D.D.  Rev.  Bowers  was 
born  at  Jefferson,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  on  August  3, 
1858,  the  son  of  Henry  Grove  and  Matilda  Ankeney  Bowers. 
The  former  was  the  pastor  of  the  Jefferson  pastorate  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  On  November  21,  1858,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Campbell.  After  a  period  of  ca.te- 
chization  by  his  father  he  was  received  into  fellowship  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  of  Jefferson  by  confirmation.  Having  completed 
the  course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  of  Jefferson  and  the 
High  School  at  Smithsburg,  Maryland,  he  entered  the  Freshman 
Class  of  Pennsylvania  College  at  the  beginning  of  the  spring  term 
in  1877.  He  graduated  in  June,  1880.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  After  a 
two  years'  course  he  discontinued  his  studies  in  the  seminary  and 
joined  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  Female  Seminary  of 
Burkittsville,  Maryland.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Mary- 


542  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

land  Synod  at  its  session  in  October,  1882,  at  Emmitsburg,  Mary- 
land, and  was  ordained  by  the  same  Synod  in  October  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  in  the  First  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

His  pastoral  work  began  at  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  January 
1,  1884,  and  terminated  there  December  1,  1885.  His  next  pas- 
torate was  at  Hloserville,  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania,  and 
this  work  extended  from  December,  188."),  to  October,  1888.  Then 
followed  his  pastorate  at  St.  Luke's,  York,  Pennsylvania,  from 
that  date  until  December,  1893.  Thence  he  was  called  to  St. 
Mark's.  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  where  his  work  extended  over  a 
period  of  nine  years.  In  December,  1902,  he  became  pastor  of 
Grace  Church,  Winchester,  Virginia,  where  he  remained  sixteen 
years.  His  present  pastorate  in  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation, 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  began  April  1,  1919. 

He  was  secretary  of  the  Maryland  Synod  for  three  years,  1899- 
1902.  Twice  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synod,  at  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  in  1897,  and  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  in  1899.  He  was 
president  of  the  Virginia  Synod  from  1908  to  1913,  and  again 
from  1914  to  191").  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  United  Synod  of 
the  South  at  all  of  its  meetings  from  1905  to  1918.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  in  New  York,  November,  1918,  when 
the  merger  of  the  three  general  Lutheran  bodies  took  place.  Roa- 
noke  College  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  D.D.  in  1908. 

On  October  8,  1884,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Frances  An- 
nette Dorey,  of  Jersey  Shore,  Pennsylvania. 

REV.  JOHN  CULLER  BOWERS,  D.D.  This  son  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  born  July  1,  1867,  in  the  Lutheran  parson- 
age, Jefferson,  Maryland,  of  Rev.  Henry  Grove  and  Matilda  A. 
Bowers.  Rev.  S.  W.  Harkey,  D.D.,  baptized  the  boy  in  the  Lu- 
theran Church  at  Jefferson.  He  was  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Burkittsville.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  re- 
ceived instruction  as  a  youth  at  the  Burkittsville  Female  Semi- 
nary while  his  father  was  the  principal.  Subsequently  he  spent 
three  years  in  commercial  life,  as  a  local  correspondent  of  several 
Frederick  County  papers,  prior  to  his  entering  Missionary  Insti- 
tute, Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania,  in  1888.  He  graduated  from  the 
York  Collegiate  Institute  in  1890.  The  same  year  he  entered  the 
Sophomore  Class  of  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1893.  He  delivered  the  Ivy 
Oration  on  Class  Day.  The  following  September  he  entered  the 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  in  1896.  In  1895  he  was 
licensed  by  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod  at  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Svnod  at  Cumberland  in 
1896. 

He  became  pastor  of  St.  Mark's,  Washington,  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, September  1,  1896,  and  continued  there  until  1902.  He 
served  at  Calvary  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  from  1902  to 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


543 


1910.  Since  1910  he  has  been  located  at  Catonsville,  Maryland. 
On  December  29,  1908,  he  was  married  to  S.  Adelaide  Schumann 
of  Baltimore.  Two  children,  Ethel  Matilda  and  John  Zimmer- 
man Bowers,  have  been  born  to  this  couple.  Kev.  Bowers  has 
filled  the  position  of  secretar}-  and  later  of  president  of  the  Lu- 
theran Minister's  Association  of  Baltimore.  He  served  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Eastern  Conference  of  the  Maryland  Synod  and  as 
secretary  of  the  Synod  for  the  years  1904-1911  and  1915-17.  He 
was  president  of  the  Maryland  Synod  from  1911  to  1914.  From 
1908-09  he  was  a  director  of  the  Orphans'  Home  at  Loysville, 
Pennsylvania.  From  1902  to  the  present  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Educational  Committee  of  the  same  Synod.  In  1910  he 
was  president  of  the  Local  Church  Extension  Society  of  Balti- 
more. He  was  delegate  to  the  General  Synod  in  Sunbury,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1907,  and  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  in  1913.  He  de- 
livered an  address  before  the  Synod  on  "Our  Deaconess  Work." 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Deaconess  Board  from  1905  to  1918.  In 
1908  he  was  also  fraternal  delegate  to  the  United  Synod  of  the 
South,  meeting  at  Savannah,  Georgia.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  General  Synod  Committee  that  founded  the  Lutheran  Church 
Work  in  1912  and  1913. 

He  is  the  author  of  ( '  Christ  Knocking  at  the  Door, "  "  Heavenly 
Recognition,"  and  "Professional  Evangelism."  He  was  the  Bal- 
timore correspondent  for  the  Lutheran  World  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  has  delivered  addresses  on  assigned  topics  at  the 
Third  National  Convention  of  the  Luther  League  of  America,  at 
New  York,  in  1898,  the  Pennsylvania  State  Convention,  at  York, 
in  1909,  the  New  York  State  Convention,  in  1910,  the  Pen-Mar 
Lutheran  Reunion,  in  1908,  and  the  Braddock  Heights  Reunion, 
in  1914. 

During  his  pastorate  at  Catons- 
ville a  modern  Sunday  school 
building  has  been  erected,  a  par- 
sonage built  adjoining  the  church 
and  many  fine  and  valuable  me- 
morials placed  in  the  church  and 
Sunday  school  buildings. 

REV.  H.  T.  BOWERSOX.     The 

subject  of  this  sketch  wras  born  at 
Vniontown,  Maryland,  on  May 
18,  1889.  He  was  confirmed  in 
St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  and  graduated  from  New 
Windsor  College  on  June  3,  1908. 
He  graduated  from  the  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg  on  May  18,  1911. 
The  Maryland  Synod  meeting  at 


r>44 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Smithsburg,  Maryland,  licensed  him  on  October  23,  1910.  The 
West  Pennsylvania  Synod  ordained  him  on  October  11,  1911,  at 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  On  December  14,  1911,  he  married 
Charlotte  McClellan.  To  this  union  a  daughter  was  born  in  1919. 
Rev.  Bowersox  has  served  as  pastor  at  Rossville,  Maryland, 
from  June  1,  1911,  to  April  8,  1917.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
pastor  at  St.  James'  Lutheran  Church,  West  York,  Pennsylvania. 

REV.  GEORGE  EDWARD  BOWERSOX.  This  son  of  the  Synod 
was  born  near  Tnion  Mills,  Maryland,  on  August  16,  188(5. 
His  parents  were  Jeremiah  D.  and  Amelia  B.  Bowersox.  The 
family  were  connected  with  St.  Mary's  Lutheran  Church  of  Sil- 
ver Run.  Maryland,  and  it  was  the  pastor  of  this  church,  Rev.  (). 

C.  Roth,  who  baptized  the  boy  at 
an  early  age.  In  1903  he  was 
confirmed  in  this  church  by  Rev. 
Win.  H.  Ehrhart.  After  attend- 
ing the  public  school  at  Silver 
Run  he  entered  Gettysburg  Acad- 
emy in  the  fall  of  190o  with  the 
purpose  of  preparation  for  the 
ministry.  From  the  academy  he 
entered  Pennsylvania  College  the 
following  year  and  graduated 
from  that  institution  with  the 
class  of  1910.  While  in  college, 
he  was  very  active  in  literary  and 
athletic  lines  of  activity.  He  was 
a  member  of  Philomathean  Lit- 
erary Society,  on  the  staff  of 
';The  Mercury"  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  football  team.  He  was 
also  elected  as  a  member  of  Pen 

and  Sword  Society,  the  honorary  society  of  the  college.  Fol- 
lowing graduation  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg and  graduated  from  there  in  1913.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Maryland  Synod  at  its  meeting  in  Williamsport,  Maryland, 
in  191'J.  In  May  of  the  following  year  he  received  a  call  to  St. 
Matthew's  Lutheran  Church  of  Allentown,  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  by  which  body  he 
was  ordained  at  its  meeting  in  Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey,  in  1913. 
During  the  time  of  his  pastorate  in  Allentown  many  additions 
were  made  to  the  church  membership  and  considerable  improve- 
ments and  repairs  made  to  the  church  property,  among  these 
latter  was  the  erection  of  a  parsonage.  After  serving  this  con- 
gregatioii  for  over  five  years  he  was  called  to  Christ  Lutheran 
Church  of  Shrewsbury,  Pennsylvania,  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


545 


On  June  17,  1913,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna  May 
Hankey  of  Oakmont,  Pennsylvania.  Miss  Hankey  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Irving  College  in  its  courses  of  piano  and  pipe  organ. 
Two  children,  George  Edward,  Jr.,  and  Mary  Amelia,  add  hap- 
piness to  the  family  circle. 

REV.  OTTO  E.  BREGENZER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  March  16, 
1877,  the  son  of  Charles  A.  and  Elizabeth  Bregenzer.  Rev. 
Howser  of  the  Fourth  Reformed  Church  baptized  him  soon  after 

his  birth.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Second  English  Lutheran 
Church,  Baltimore,  upon  his  con- 
firmation in  early  youth  by  Rev. 
George  Miller,  D.D.  He  entered 
Gettysburg  Cdllege  in  the  fall  of 
1896  and  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution in  the  spring  of  1900. 
After  spending  two  years  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg, he  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Maryland  Synod  in  October, 
1903,  at  "Williamsport,  Maryland. 
One  year  later,  October,  1904,  he 
was  ordained  by  the  same  Synod 
at  Martinsburg,  "West  Virginia. 

He  entered  upon  his  first  pas- 
torate at  Myersville,  Maryland,  in 
the  fall  of  1903.  Two  years  later, 
in  September,  1905,  he  accepted  a 

call  to  Union  Bridge,  Maryland,  and  remained  there  for  a  period 
of  over  seven  years.  On  January  1,  1913,  he  entered  upon  his 
present  pastorate  at  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey. 

Rev.  Bregenzer  was  married  on  December  31,  1903,  to  Anna  L. 
Groscup  of  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Two  daughters  have  blessed 
this  home. 


REV.  WILLIAM  EDWARD  BROWN.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  at  Arcadia,  Maryland,  on  June  25,  1879.  He 
was  the  son  of  William  J.  Brown  and  Jane  R.  Brown  (nee  Gise). 
Rev.  Albert  Bell  of  the  Reisterstown  charge  baptized  him  and  he 
was  confirmed  by  Rev.  George  A.  Beckley  in  1893  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Arcadia,  Maryland.  He  attended  the  Reisterstown  High 
School  and  also  Eichelberg  Academy  at  Glenville,  Pennsylvania. 
He  entered  Pennsylvania  College  in  the  fall  of  1895  and  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1899.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  completed  his 
35 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


.Junior  year  at  that  institution.  His  Middle  and  Senior  years  he 
spent  in  Ilanmia  Divinity  School  of  Wittenberg  College.  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  graduating  with  the  elass  of  1902.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Allegheny  Synod  on  September  28,  1902. 
'  On  October  14.  1902,  he  was  married  to  Beulah  E.  Miller,  of 
Mount  Carmel.  Maryland,  to  which  union  four  children  were 
born,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

During  the  summer  of  1901  Rev.  Brown  served  as  supply  pas- 
tor for  the  Meyersdale  charge  of  the  Allegheny  Synod  and  later 

as  regular  pastor  from  May,  1902, 
to  February,  1904.  He  was  first 
pastor  of  the  Crafton,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Mission  (Pittsburgh 
Synod)  from  February,  1904, 
until  May,  1907.  He  served  as 
pastor  of  Zion  Church,  Middle- 
town,  Maryland,  from  May,  1907, 
until  October,  1910.  From  here 
he  went  to  the  Church  of  the 
Reformation,  Baltimore,  which 
congregation  he  served  as  pastor 
from  October,  1910,  until  Janu- 
ary, 1917.  He  took  up  his  pres- 
ent charge  at  the  College  Church 
(Fourth),  Springfield,  Ohio,  on 
January  1,  1917. 

The  most  outstanding  results  of 
these  pastoral  labors  have  been 
(a)  the  organization  and  estab- 
lishment on  a  sound  basis  of  the  mission  at  Crafton,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  (b)  the  building  of  the  new  Church  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, Baltimore,  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  church 
buildings  in  the  Synod. 

He  was  elected  delegate  to  the  General  Synod  at  Akron,  Ohio, 
in  191."),  also  to  the  General  Synod  in  Chicago  in  1917  and  is  at 
present  a  delegate  from  the  Miami  Synod  to  the  second  meeting 
of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in  Washington.  He  has  been  the 
author  of  various  articles  in  the  Church  papers  and  editor  of  the 
Christian  Endeavor  notes  in  the  Lutheran  Church  Work  from 
1912  to  191").  At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Min- 
isterial Education  and  Inner  Mission  Board  of  the  Miami  Synod. 

REV.  ELLIS  BEAVER  BURGESS.  D.D.  Dr.  Burgess,  the  son 
of  Andrew  and  Sarah  Catherine  Burgess,  was  born  in  Fort 
London,  Pennsylvania.  November  19,  1809.  He  was  baptized  in 
Trinity  Church  of  his  native  town  by  Rev.  A.  J.  Hesson.  After 
the  death  of  his  mother,  which  occurred  when  he  was  but  a  mere 
lad.  he  was  sent  to  Mercersburg  to  school.  After  his  graduation 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  547 

from  Mercersburg  Academy  he  spent  three  years  in  the  drug 
store  of  D.  C.  Aughinbaugh,  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and  while 
there  was  confirmed  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Delk,  D.D.,  in  Trinity  Church. 
One  year  after  leaving  Hagerstown  he  entered  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg  from  which  he  Avas  graduated  in  1893. 
In  the  last  year  of  his  course  he  accepted  a  gift  of  $100  from  the 
educational  committee  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  and  therefore  ap- 
plied to  that  Synod  for  licensure  in  1892  at  Frederick,  Maryland. 
After  his  graduation  from  seminary  he  accepted  a  call  to  Avon- 
more,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod  and 
was  ordained  by  that  body  in  ]89:»  at  Sharpsburg,  Pennsylvania. 
In  June,  3895,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Trinity  Church,  Connells- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  as  pastor  until  1920,  hav- 
ing built  up  the  mission  to  a  self-supporting  congregation  of 
1,000  members.  Gettysburg  College  granted  him  the  honorary 
degree  of  A.M.  in  1905  and  that  of  D.D.  in  1918.  In  November, 
1919,  when  the  two  Pittsburgh  Synods  merged  into  one,  Dr. 
Burgess  received  the  high  distinction  of  being  elected  the  first 
president  of  the  new  body,  to  serve  that  office  exclusively  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  He  was  married  to  Fannie  Louise  Brinker- 
hoff  of  Gettysburg;  and  has  one  son,  Milton  Valentine  Burgess. 

REV.  CHARLES  HENRY  BUTLER.  Rev.  Butler,  son  of  Rev. 
John  George  Butler,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and  Clara  Smith  Butler 
(first  cousin  of  Rev.  Professor  H.  L.  Baugher,  D.D.),  was  born 
in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  where  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  Columbian  Preparatory  School.  He  was  grad- 
uated in  1882  from  Columbian  College  (now  the  George  Wash- 
ington University)  and  the  next  year  from  Amherst  College, 
Massachusetts.  He  studied  theology  under  his  father,  by  whom 
he  had  been  confirmed  in  the  Luther  Place  Memorial  Church,  at 
the  same  time  taking  Hebrew  and  Greek  Exegesis  in  the  Theo- 
logical Department  of  Howard  University,  where  his  father  was 
a  professor.  He  studied  also  at  Gettysburg  Theological  Semi- 
nary, taking  his  third  year  at  Union  Seminary,  NewT  York,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1887.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  he 
received  an  ad  interim  license  from  the  Maryland  Synod. 

During  the  scholastic  year  1886-87  he  assisted  in  the  work  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  Chapel  in  New  York  and  during  the  sum- 
mer supplied  its  pulpit.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he  was  supply  at  the 
Lutheran  Church  at  Frostburg,  Maryland,  which  his  great-grand- 
father, Rev.  John  George  Butler,  had  established  while  pastor  at 
Cumberland  in  1812.  He  spent  the  better  part  of  a  year  in 
Europe  in  travel  and  study,  returning  in  March,  1889,  when  he 
became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Luther 
Place  Memorial  Church.  In  1889  he  was  ordained  by  the  Mary- 
land Synod,  Rev.  C.  A.  Stork,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.D., 
officiating. 


f)48  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

In  181)1  lie  began  the  work  of  gathering  a  Sunday  school  and 
church  known  as  the  Keller  Memorial,  a  mission  established  by 
the  pastor  and  people  of  the  Memorial  Church  in  the  northeast- 
ern part  of  Washington.  Here  he  continued  as  pastor  for  six- 
teen years.  After  resigning  in  11)07  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
Luther  Place  Church  until  the  hitter's  death  in  August,  1909.  In 
January,  1910,  after  extensive  canvassing,  he  inaugurated  a  new 
work  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city  known  as  "Columbia 
Heights"  Church,  which  he  is  still  serving  as  pastor. 

From  1898  for  over  eleven  years  he  taught  the  "Life  of 
Christ"  and  Hebrew  in  the  Theological  Department  of  Howard 
University.  For  sixteen  years  he  was  on  the  staff  of  the  Lutheran 
Evangelist  of  which  his  father  was  the  editor.  He  received  the 
degree  of  A.M.  from  the  Columbian  College.  In  190"),  he  was 
married,  and  has  two  children.  For  many  years  he  has  been  sec- 
retary of  the  Lutheran  Ministerial  Association  of  Washington; 
a  member  of  the  Headquarters  Committee,  Anti-Saloon  League : 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  Sunday  School  Association 
of  the  District  of  Columbia:  and  all  through  his  ministry  has 
been  active  in  the  religious  and  reformatory  work  of  the  Capital. 

REV.  JOHN  EDWARD  BYERS,  D.D.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  to  John  I),  and  Eliza  J.  (Leiter)  Byers  on  May 
31,  1871,  near  Williamsport,  Maryland.  He  was  baptized  by  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  Keller  into  Zion  Lutheran  Church  of  Williamsport  of 
which  his  parents  and  grandparents  were  honored  members.  He 
was  confirmed  by  the  Rev.  M.  D.  Gaver.  His  education  was 
begun  in  the  country  school  near  his  home  known  as  Rock  Hill. 
Afterwards  he  attended  and  graduated  from  the  High  Schools  of 
"Williamsport  and  Hagerstown.  He  taught  school  in  Washington 
County  for  two  years  and  then  entered  Pennsylvania  College, 
Gettysburg,  to  pursue  the  classical  course.  He  graduated  as  sec- 
ond honor  man  in  1895.  After  graduation  from  college  he  de- 
cided to  study  for  the  ministry  and  in  the  fall  of  that  same  year 
he  attended  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg,  graduating  in  1898.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1897  in  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  and  was  ordained  by  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Synod  at  Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey,  in  1898.  On  September  14, 
1899,  he  was  married  to  Virtue  Elizabeth  Hoover,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Newcomer)  Hoover.  A  daughter,  Helen 
Elizabeth,  and  a  son,  Daniel  Hoover,  complete  the  family  at 
Grace  Church  parsonage  in  Baltimore. 

Rev.  Byers  has  served  the  following  pastorates :  Penbrook, 
Pennsylvania,  1898-1903;  Bloomsburg,  Pennsylvania,  1903-1916; 
Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  1916- -  — .  While  at  Pen- 
brook  he  was  honored  by  an  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  Har- 
risburg  Conference.  At  Bloomsburg  a  similar  honor  from  the 
North  Branch  Conference  came  to  him.  He  was  also  elected  as  a 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


549 


director  in  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Tressler's  Orphans'  Home 
and  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  At 
Bloomsburg  he  celebrated  with  the  congregation  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  its  founding  and  used  the  occasion  to  start 
a  new  church  fund  for  which  about  $10,000  was  collected.  In 
1917  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Board  of 
the  General  Synod  and  continues  as  such  now.  At  its  first  con- 
vention he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  and  serves  in  that  capacity 
at  present.  He  is  one  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  board 
and  also  a  member  of  the  important  India  committee.  He  has 
been  honored  by  his  Baltimore  brethren  in  being  made  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Ministerial  Association  of  the  city.  At  the  last  ses- 
sion of  the  Maryland  Synod  he  was  elected  clerical  delegate  to 
the  next  convention  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church.  He  is  pas- 
tor at  present  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most  liberal  churches  of 
the  Maryland  Synod  and  his  work  is  going  forward  splendidly. 

REV.  ARTHUR  CLARENCE  CARTY.  This  son  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  born  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  February  27, 
1874,  the  son  of  Clarence  C.  and  Joanne  Elizabeth  Carty.  He 
was  baptized  and  confirmed  by 
Rev.  Luther  Kuhlman,  D.D.,  in 
St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  of 
Frederick.  Receiving  his  elemen- 
tary education  at  the  private 
school  of  the  Misses  Baer,  he  en- 
tered the  Frederick  Academy  in 
preparation  for  Pennsylvania 
College,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  upon  graduation  from  the 
latter  institution  in  1896  and  in 
1899  the  degree  of  M.  A.  After 
his  graduation  from  college  he  en- 
tered the  Lutheran  Theological 
Seminary  at  Mount  Airy,  Phila- 
delphia, from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1899.  On  May  29,  1899, 
he  was  ordained  by  the  Minister  5- 
um  of  Pennsylvania. 

He  began  his  work  under  the 

Home  Mission  Board  in  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin.  Here  in  this  par- 
ish as  the  pioneer  pastor  he  gathered  a  large  Sunday  school  to- 
gether and  erected  a  church  building.  On  October  25,  1903,  he 
received  a  call  to  Philadelphia,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Church 
of  the  Transfiguration,  in  that  city.  Here  he  was  very  successful 
with  his  congregation,  especially  with  its  vested  choir,  its  general 
activity  in  institutional  lines  and  its  steady  growth  in  church 


.").")()  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

and  Sunday  school  membership,  hi  order  to  undertake  a  special 
work  for  the  church  he  resigned  September  -JO,  1910.  Later  hav- 
ing received  a  call  as  assistant  pastor  at  Old  St.  .John's  Church, 
Philadelphia,  he  entered  upon  that  work  .January  1,  1913.  Here 
he  successfully  inaugurated  an  inner  mission  work  in  this  old 
''down-town"  parish.  Accepting  an  appointment  to  the  Stall'  of 
the  Chaplain  at  the  League  Island  Navy  Yard.  September  11, 
1917,  lie  resigned  from  St.  .John's  on  .June  1,  1918.  in  order  to  de- 
vote himself  entirely  to  the  chaplain's  work  at  the  yard,  in  which 
work  he  is  at  present  engaged. 

He  organized  the  Lutheran  Church  Hook  and  Literature  So- 
ciety in  1!H)4,  of  which  he  is  vice-president.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Ministerium  on  Hoy's  Work,  a  member  of  the  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  Welfare  Committee  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  member  of  the  committee  of  the  Mount  Airy  Alumni  Associa- 
tion to  publish  a  translation  of  Chemnitz's  Examen,  chairman  of 
Daily  Noonday  Lenten  Services,  secretary  of  the  Hoard  of  Jewish 
Missions  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church,  a  member  of  the  Mary- 
land Historical  Society  and  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society. 

On  November  '29,  1905,  he  married  Lonanna  Rease  of  A\rest 
Virginia.  Their  son,  William  Proctor  Carty,  was  born  February 
1,  1911. 

REV.  JACOB  A.  CIUTZ,  D.D.  Dr.  Clutz  was  born  January 
;"),  1848,  near  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Hannah  (Buffington)  Clutx.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Solomon 
Sentman,  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  L.  T.  Williams,  both  members 
of  the  Maryland  Synod.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Mount  Joy 
Church  in  Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  which  at  that  time  was 
connected  with  the  Taneytown  charge  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
His  education  was  begun  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  during  the  winter  of  1862-b'M  he  attended  a  private 
academy  in  Taneytown.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  entered  the  Pre- 
paratory Department  of  Pennsylvania  College.  During  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  18b'4,  though  only  sixteen  years  old,  he  served  in 
the  army  between  four  and  five  months.  Entering  the  Freshmen 
Class  of  college  in  1865,  lie  graduated  with  the  class  of  1869, 
with  the  decree  of  A.  H.  He  then  entered  the  seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, from  which  he  graduated  in  1872,  his  class  being  the 
first  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  the  full  three  years  course.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1871  and  ordained  by 
the  same  Synod  in  the  following  year.  With  the  exception  of  one 
year,  he  was  a  member  of  this  Synod  until  1889  when  he  moved 
West.  For  one  year  he  served  as  its  secretary. 

During  his  first  seminary  vacation  he  supplied  the  Luthers- 
burg  charge  in  Clearfield  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  during  the 
second  summer  supplied  Trinity  Church  in  Hagerstown,  during 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


551 


the  illness  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  T.  T.  Titus,  D.D.  His  first  regular 
pastorate  was  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  Newville,  Pennsylvania, 
but  he  remained  here  only  fifteen  months.  In  October,  1873,  he 
took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church  in  Baltimore.  This 
was  then  a  new  organization,  a  mission  of  the  other  Lutheran 
Churches  in  the  city,  and  Dr. 
Clutz  was  its  first  pastor. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  at  its  meeting  at  Car- 
thage, Illinois,  in  1877.  At  this 
meeting  the  location  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  was  changed 
from  New  York  to  Baltimore  and 
Dr.  Clutz  was  appointed  as  one  of 
the  members.  When  the  new 
board  was  organized,  he  was 
elected  as  its  corresponding  secre- 
tary, which  was  then  equivalent 
to  the  executive  secretary.  He 
served  in  this  capacity  over  seven 
years,  in  connection  with  his 
duties  as  a  pastor.  As  secretary 
of  the  Foreign  Board  he  took  the 
initiative  in  the  founding  of  the 
Lutheran  Missionary  Journal  which  rendered  such  valuable  serv- 
ice to  the  Church  for  so  many  years  as  the  official  organ  of  the 
Board  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  and  of  Church  Extension, 
and  the  Women's  Missionary  Society.  Later  from  1883  to  1889 
he  served  as  editor  of  the  Home  Mission  Department  in  this  mag- 
azine. In  1873  he  had  assisted  also  in  the  organization  of  the 
Children's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  served  as  its  treas- 
urer for  a  number  of  years,  until  the  management  was  turned 
over  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 

In  1883  Dr.  Clutz  was  elected  as  general  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Home  Missions.  He  served  in  this  capacity  until  August  1, 
1899,  when  he  resigned  to  become  the  first  president  of  Midland 
College,  Atchison,  Kansas.  At  the  commencement  of  this  same 
year  the  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his  Alma 
Mater.  He  was  president  of  Midland  College  from  August  1, 
1889,  to  February  1,  1904.  In  1893  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  inducing  the  Board  of  Education  to  open  a  Theological  De- 
partment in  connection  with  the  college  and  assisted  in  arrang- 
ing its  curriculum.  Two  years  later  this  was  erected  into  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  Dr.  Clutz  served  as  professor 
of  Homiletics  and  Christian  Ethics  in  connection  with  his  college 
duties,  until  1904.  During  these  ten  years  he  also  acted  as  sup- 
ply pastor  of  a  Lutheran  Church  at  Moray,  Kansas,  preaching 
for  them  twice  each  month.  At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod 


552  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

iu  Lebanon,  Pennsylvania,  in  1891,  he  was  elected  as  its  president. 

On  February  1,  1904,  he  resigned  the  presideney  of  Midland 
College  to  become  the  pastor  of  St.  James  Lutheran  Church, 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  This  charge  he  served  until  Septem- 
ber 1,  190!),  when  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  professor  of  Prac- 
tical Theology,  the  position  which  he  still  holds,  having  been 
elected  to  succeed  Professor  J.  W.  Richard,  D.I).,  who  died  the 
preceding  spring.  He  also  purchased  Dr.  Kit-hard's  interest  in 
the  Lutheran  Quarterly  at  the  same  time  and  has  since  been  one 
of  the  editors  of  this  old  and  valuable  periodical. 

Soon  after  returning  to  the  East  in  the  spring  of  1904  Dr. 
Clutz  was  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy  on  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
on  which  he  continued  to  serve  until  it  was  merged  with  the 
Board  of  Church  Extension  by  the  General  Synod  at  Akron, 
Ohio,  in  1915.  During  most  of  this  time  he  was  the  treasurer  of 
the  board  and  from  1913  to  1915,  its  president. 

In  1911  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  General  Synod's 
Committee  on  the  Common  Service,  on  which  he  served  until  the 
Merger  in  1918,  and  he  is  now  a  member  of  the  Common  Service 
Committee  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church.  As  a  member  of  this 
committee  and  of  the  joint  committee  on  the  Common  Service  of 
the  three  bodies  he  had  a  prominent  part  in  the  preparation  of 
the  new  "Common  Service  Book  and  Hymnal."  and  also  of  the 
common  orders  for  ministerial  acts.  He  also  helped  to  formulate 
the  new  statement  of  the  Doctrinal  Basis  of  the  General  Synod, 
and  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  at  Richmond,  Indiana, 
in  1909,  he  offered  a  motion  which  provided  for  such  a  restate- 
ment, which  was  one  of  the  things  that  prepared  the  way  for  the 
Merger  of  1918.  In  1917  when  the  movement  was  inaugurated 
to  merge  the  General  Synod,  the  General  Council,  and  the  United 
Synod  of  the  South,  Dr.  Clutz  was  appointed  on  the  committee 
to  frame  a  constitution  for  the  proposed  new  general  body.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  in  Chicago  in  1917,  he  was 
made  a  member  of  the  General  Synod's  Committee  on  Ways  and 
Means,  which  was  to  cooperate  with  similar  committees  from  the 
other  two  general  bodies  in  making  all  the  arrangements  for  the 
merger.  When  the  three  committees  met  for  organization,  Dr. 
Clutz  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Joint  Committee.  In  this 
position  he  had  a  large  and  responsible  part  in  the  work  which 
ended  so  happily  in  the  organization  of  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  in  America  in  New  York  City,  November  14-18,  1918,  and 
he  was  appointed  as  assistant  to  the  president  and  secretary  dur- 
ing the  first  convention  of  the  new7  body.  At  this  convention  he 
was  also  elected  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Board. 

Dr.  Clutz  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Penn- 
sylvania College  since  1905,  and  is  at  this  time  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  also  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  conduct  the  campaign  for  increased  endowment. 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD. 


553 


Dr.  Clutz  was  married  September  4,  1872,  to  Liberty  Augusta 
Hollinger,  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  They  had  six  children, 
five  of  whom,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  are  still  living.  The 
oldest  son,  Frank  H.  Clutz,  Ph.D.,  is  professor  of  Civil  Engineer- 
ing in  Pennsylvania  College.  The  second  son  is  a  physician  in 
Bendena,  Kansas,  and  the  other  son  is  a  farmer,  also  in  Kansas. 
The  daughters  are  married  and  live,  one  in  Pittsburgh  and  the 
other  in  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Clutz  has  published  a  number  of  pamphlets  and  has  writ- 
ten many  articles  for  the  Lutheran  Quarterly  and  for  other 
Church  periodicals.  He  is  also  the  author  of  two  tracts  that  have 
been  widely  circulated  in  the  churches  by  the  Board  of  Church 
Extension.  One  of  them,  "Mrs.  Brocht's  Confession,"  has 
passed  the  hundred  thousand  mark  and  is  still  in  much  demand. 

Dr.  Clutz 's  career  embraces  such  a  wide  variety  of  usefulness, 
such  a  large  number  of  responsible  positions  occupied,  and  such 
a  long  period  of  faithful  service  for  the  Lord,  as  would  be  very 
difficult  to  parallel  in  the  whole  Lutheran  Church  in  America. 

REV.  JOHN  FIELDING  CRIGLER.  This  son  of  the  Synod, 
the  oldest  son  of  Jason  Cornelius  Crigler  and  Elizabeth  Aylor, 
was  born  October  13,  1869,  in  Madison  County,  Virginia,  He 
was  baptized  in  early  infancy  by  Rev.  Robert  C.  Holland,  D.D., 
who  was  pastor  of  Hebron  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  of  which 
iiis  ancestors  had  been  members 
for  generations.  Rev.  J.  S.  Moser 
confirmed  him  in  his  early  teens. 
He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  county,  later 
going  to  private  schools  conducted 
by  Mr.  J.  I).  Fray  at  Old  Hebron 
Church  and  by  Revs.  J.  S.  Moser 
and  W.  J.  D.  Sherer  at  Madison, 
Virginia.  He  entered  Roanoke 
College  in  September,  1888,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution 
in  June,  1892. 

After  having  taught  one  year 
in  his  father's  famibr  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, Pennsylvania,  in  the  fall 
o'f  1893  and  graduated  in  1896. 
The  Maryland  Synod,  meeting  in  Grace  Church,  Baltimore,  li- 
censed him  in  1895  and  the  same  Synod  ordained  him  the  follow- 
ing year  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Cumberland,  Maryland. 

He  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church, 
Lutherville,  Maryland,  in  the  autumn  of  1896.  He  served  as  pas- 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOD. 


Frederick   Countv,  Marvland, 


tor  of  this  church  until  February  1,  191"),  when  he  accepted  a  call 
to  St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Charlotte,  North 
Carolina,  which  he  still  serves.  While  pastor  at  Lutherville  a 
new  church  building  was  erected  and  a  mission  was  organized 
and  established  at  Govans,  Maryland,  now  Holy  Comforter  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church.  For  a  number  of  years  he  also  occu- 
pied the  chair  of  English  Bible  and  Sacred  Literature  in  Mary- 
land College.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Maryland  Synod  for  two 
consecutive  terms.  He  is  the  author  of  "Saul  of  Tarsus,"  a  re- 
ligious drama  published  by  Sherman  French  and  Company  of 
Boston. 

During  his  present  pastorate  St.  Mark's  Church  is  being  en- 
larged and  a  new  Sunday  school  building  is  being  erected  at  an 
approximate  cost  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

He  was  married  to  Edith  Morris  Wolf,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  L.  B.  Wolf,  on  October  7,  190:}.  They  have  four 
children.  Eli/abeth  Aylor,  Catherine  Wolf,  Eleanor  Fielding  and 
John  Fielding,  Jr. 

REV.  W.  MORGAN  CROSS.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the 
son  of  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Cross,  for  more  than  thirty-five  years  an 
active  pastor  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  Emma  C.  Cross,  was  born  at  Emmitsburg, 

September  15,  1871.  His  early 
education  was  secured  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Maryland  and  the 
high  school  at  Westminster. 
After  completing  his  secondary 
education  he  entered  Western 
Maryland  College,  Westminster, 
Maryland,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  B.  A.  in  June,  1890,  and  two 
years  later  he  received  the  degree 
of  M.  A.  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
During  the  school  years  of  1890- 
91  and  1891-92,  he  was  principal 
of  the  High  School  at  Hancock, 
Maryland,  but  relinquished  his 
position  to  cuter  the  Gospel  min- 
istry. He  served  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  more  than 
two  years,  when  he  withdrew  from 

the  ministry  and  united  with  the  Second  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  of  which  congregation  the  late 
Rev.  George  W.  Miller,  D.D.,  was  then  pastor.  In  December, 
1894,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ella  Ruckle,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYXOD.  OOO 

Mrs.  Oscar  Ruckle,  of  Baltimore.  To  this  union  were  born  two 
children,  the  eldest,  a  son  who  saw  duty  on  board  a  United  States 
submarine  during  the  World  War;  the  second  child,  a  daughter, 
who  is  still  at  home. 

On  October  11,  1896,  Rev.  Mr.  Cross  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  by  the  Maryland  Synod  of  the  General  Synod  at  its 
meeting  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  and  he  immediately  went  to 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  to  pursue  a  special 
course  in  theology  for  one  year.  In  May,  1897,  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  Stone  Church  Charge  in  Northampton  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  Since  then  he  has  served  the  following 
charges:  St.  Mark's  congregation,  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  organized  the  congregation  and  was  instrumental  in  building 
the  church  edifice;  Pikeland  Charge,  Chester  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Berwick,  Pennsylvania,  and  Greencastle,  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  Cross  took  charge  at  Greencastle  in  190.")  and  served  until 
1918.  Due  to  failing  health  he  was  compelled  to  resign  the  pas- 
torate. After  undergoing  special  treatment  at  the  University  of 
Virginia  Hospital  he  recovered  his  health  sufficiently  to  return  to 
Greencastle  and  teach  English  and  History  in  the  High  School 
there.  In  1919  he  was  elected  supervising  principal  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Greencastle.  He  frequently  supplies  pulpits  in 
neighboring  cities. 

REV.  M.  I.  CULIER,  D.D.  Doctor  Culler  was  born  near  Jef- 
ferson, Maryland,  October  13,  1839,  the  son  of  Daniel  and 
Anna  Maria  (Hargett)  Culler.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev. 
Wachter  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  Edwin  Dorsey  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  Jefferson.  When  a  boy  he  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  and  prepared  for  college  at  an  academy  taught  by  David 
Spreeher.  In  1862  he  graduated  from  Pennsylvania  College  and 
from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1864.  He  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Christian  Commission  during  the  Civil 
War.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  he  was  engaged  in  this 
work  in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia ;  Annapolis,  Mary- 
land ;  Alexandria,  Belle  Plain  Landing,  and  Fredericksburg, 
Virginia.  He  was  licensed  by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  at 
Lebanon,  Pennsylvania,  September  3,  1864,  and  ordained  by  the 
Central  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  at  New  Berlin,  June  8,  186o. 
From  1865  to  1867  he  served  the  Duncannon  pastorate,  consist- 
ing of  six  congregations.  During  the  next  two  years  he  was  pas- 
tor at  Williamsport,  Maryland. 

In  1869  he  was  urged  to  accept  a  call  to  Martinsburg,  West 
Virginia,  where  he  labored  with  great  blessing  to  his  people  from 
that  year  to  1881.  This  congregation  had  been  sadly  torn  apart 
and  distracted  during  the  Civil  War,  but  during  his  ministry  it 
was  completely  united.  During  his  pastorate  here  the  member- 
ship was  greatly  increased,  the  church  building  repaired,  and  an 


556 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


excellent  parsonage  built.  At  Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania,  he 
served  next  from  1881  to  1890  with  good  results.  From  18!H)  to 
1897  he  served  at  Apollo,  Pennsylvania.  Here  the  church  build- 
ing was  greatly  improved  and  an  addition  made  to  the  parsonage. 
At  Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  Doctor  Culler  served  from  1897  to 

11)10.  This  charge  was  greatly 
benefited  by  his  labors,  improve- 
ments and  repairs  being  made  to 
the  church  edifice  and  parsonage, 
and  a  long-standing  debt  liqui- 
dated. Finding  that  the  infirmi- 
ties of  old  age  unfitted  him  for 
pastoral  work,  he  resigned  and 
moved  to  Philadelphia,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1910,  and  there  supplied  va- 
cant pulpits.  His  wife  died  sud- 
denly  in  January,  1913.  During 
^ie  summer  °f  1918  he  supplied 
the  church  at  Mercersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  September  and 
October,  1919,  he  supplied  the 
pulpits  of  St.  Thomas'  and  Lon- 
don, Pennsylvania. 

Doctor  Culler  was  secretary  of 
the  Central  Synod  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  18(56  and  of  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1874.  He  was  Fra- 
ternal Delegate  to  the  Virginia  Synod  in  1874.  In  1876  he  was 
director  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  was 
delegate  to  the  General  Synod  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1885,  at  Canton,  Ohio,  in  1895,  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  1900. 
From  1894  to  1897  he  was  president  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Examining  Committee  of  the  Allegheny 
Synod  from  1901  to  1910.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from 
Susriuehanna  University  and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  this  institution  from  1898  to  1913. 

He  is  the  author  of  "Centennial  History  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia,"  1876,  and  "The  Early 
History  of  the  Lutheran,  Church  in  Middletown  Valley,  Mary- 
land," 1899.  Both  of  these  histories  are  published  in  pamphlet 
form  and  are  in  the  Lutheran  Historical  Society,  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania.  He  also  wrote  a  "History  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church  of  Mercersburg."  He  was  examiner  of  teachers  for  the 
public  schools  of  Martinsburg,  and  the  author  of  a  "Defense  of 
the  Public  School  System"  against  the  attack  of  a  Catholic  priest 
of  that  city.  This  "Defense"  was  published  in  the  Martinsburfl 
KtatesHHin.  He  also  contributed  articles  to  the  Lutheran  Ob- 
server, all  the  Church  papers  of  the  General  Synod,  the  Lutheran 
Visitor,  and  the  Lutheran.  Also  various  sermons,  addrasses  and 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


557 


articles  of  his  have  been  published  in  the  secular  press.  During 
his  ministry  he  has  influenced  directly  or  indirectly  twelve  men 
to  enter  the  ministry. 

On  October  26,  186"),  he  married  Mary  Jane  Floyd  of  Jeffer- 
son, Maryland.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  five  children. 
These  children  are:  Pauline  L.  B.,  the  wife  of  Colonel  W.  S. 
Wood,  United  States  Army,  and  now  living  in  Washington :  Nel- 
lie Floyd,  who  teaches  French  and  music ;  Daniel  Floyd,  de- 
ceased ;  Robert  M.,  a  Colonel  in  the  United  States  Army,  is  the 
Commandant  and  Chief  Surgeon  of  the  Army  and  Navy  General 
Hospital  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas ;  their  youngest  child,  Vida 
Luther,  is  deceased. 

REV.  SILAS  HARMAN  CULLER.  Rev.  Culler  was  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1875,  on  a  farm  near  Jefferson'.  Maryland,  the  son  of 
J.  Harman  and  Lucinda  C.  Culler.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev. 
Bowers  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges  in  St.  Paul's  Lu- 
theran Church  at  Jefferson,  Maryland,  in  April,  1888.  He  at- 
tended the  local  public  schools 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  old 
when  he  took  charge  of  a  farm  be- 
longing to  a  sister,  whose  husband 
was  killed  in  an  accident.  There 
he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1896 
when  he  entered  the  Preparatory 
Department  of  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege at  Gettysburg,  taking  a  two- 
year  course.  He  graduated  from 
college  in  1902  and  the  following 
fall  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary and  graduated  from  this  in- 
stitution in  1905.  In  January  of 
that  year  while  in  seminary  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Reisterstown,  Maryland, 
to  assume  charge  upon  his  gradu- 
ation from  seminar}'  in  May.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 

Maryland  Synod  at  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Martinsburg, 
West  Virginia,  October,  1904,  and  ordained  October,  1905,  in  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  Cumberland,  Maryland. 

He  remained  in  the  Reisterstown  pastorate  for  thirteen  years, 
during  which  time  a  new  church  was  built  at  an  approximate 
cost  of  $16,000.  The  membership  was  also  doubled  and  the 
church  finances  and  polity  improved.  In  March,  1918,  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  Seven  Valley  Charge  of  the  West  Pennsyl- 
vania Synod.  On  April  10,  1918,  he  was  married  to  Grace  Flem- 
ing Russell,  of  Reisterstown,  Maryland.  During  his  present  pas- 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


torate  at  Seven  Valley  the  membership  lias  been  increased,  old 
debts  liquidated,  extensive  improvements  made  and  new  hymnal 
installed.  During  his  ministry  he  has  contributed  several  articles 
to  the  Lutheran  Obscrrrr,  the  most  important  one  was  entitled, 
"  Lutheran  Hymnology.  " 

REV.  WILLIAM  CHARLES  DAY.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
the  sou  ol'  .John  ('.  and  Elizabeth  (Wagner)  Day,  was  born 
in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  on  June  12,  1891.  On  July  If),  ]891, 
iie  was  bapti/ed  by  Dr.  Conradi.  pastor  of  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  and  received  into  communicant  membership  with  Grace 

English  Lutheran  Church  by  con- 
firmation on  March  24,  1907,  by 
Rev.  Harry  D.  Newcomer.  He  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Baltimore, 
and  afterwards  entered  Baltimore 
Polytechnic  Institute  and  later 
Baltimore  City  College.  On  No- 
vember 1,  1911,  he  entered  Get- 
tysburg Academy  to  study  Greek 
in  preparation  for  college  en- 
trance. In  the  fall  of  1912  he  en- 
tered Pennsylvania  College  and 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1915. 
In  the  following  fall  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg. During  the  summer  of 
19K)  he  supplied  the  Gerrards- 
town  Charge,  West  Virginia,  of 
the  Maryland  Synod,  as  a  Home 

Missionary  supply  pastor.  The  following  summer  he  served 
again  as  Home  Missionary  supply  pastor  at  Messiah  Lutheran 
Church,  Bergen  Square,  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  On  July  14, 
1917,  he  received  a  call,  to  take  effect  in  September  of  that  year, 
from  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  So- 
ciety, Kansas  City,  Kansas.  He  was  ordained  to  the  Gospel  min- 
istry by  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Kansas,  which  con- 
vened in  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church  Wichita,  Kansas,  October 
18,  1917. 

On  August  K),  1917.  he  was  married  to  Ruth  Elva  Shanebrook, 
of  Littlestown,  Pennsylvania,  by  Rev.  Carl  Mumford,  pastor  of 
Messiah  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland.  While  he  was 
pastor  at  Kansas  City  there  was  born  a  daughter,  Ruth  Elva,  on 
June  S.  1918.  During  his  pastorate  at  Kansas  City  the  congrega- 
tion was  enlarged,  activity  increased  and  the  church  building 
greatly  improved.  On  August  1,  1918,  Rev.  Day  resigned  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Salona  Charge,  Central  Pennsylvania  Synod. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


559 


REV.  OSCAR  CARLTON  DEAN.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Middletown,  Frederick  County,  Mary- 
land, in  the  historic  Middletown  Valley,  on  August  5,  1883,  the 
fourth  child  of  Carlton  Henry  Dean  and  Ara  Coblentz  Dean. 
He  was  baptized  in  infancy  into  Zion  Lutheran  Church  at  Middle- 
town,  Maryland,  by  Rev.  Peter  Bergstresser,  D.D.  In  the  spring 
of  1897  he  was  confirmed  by  Rev. 
M.  L.  Beard.  His  higher  educa- 
tion was  received  at  the  Boys' 
High  School  at  Frederick  and  the 
Middletown  High  School.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1903  and  1904 
he  taught  in  Frederick  County. 
In  the  spring  of  1904  he  entered 
Frederick  College  at  Frederick, 
Maryland,  and  prepared  for  col- 
lege. The  fall  of  that  same  year 
he  entered  Pennsylvania  College 
at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  in 
1908.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
there  and  graduated  there  in 
1911.  During  his  college  and 
seminary  course  he  was  a  bene- 
ficiary of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

During  the  summer  of  1909  he 

served  as  supply  pastor  of  the  Burkittsville  pastorate  of  the 
Maryland  Synod.  The  following  summer  he  supplied  the  pulpit 
of  the  Accident  Pastorate  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Smithsburg  in  1910, 
and  was  ordained  by  the  same  Synod  at  Taneytown  in  the  fol- 
lowing year.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he  accepted  a  call  to  become 
pastor  of  the  Accident  Pastorate  and  began  his  work  here  April 
1,  1911.  In  the  spring  of  1912  the  new  Synod  of  West  Virginia 
was  organized  and  Rev.  Dean  became  one  of  the  leaders  in  this 
new  body.  Rev.  Dean  accepted  a  call  to  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church  of  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and  entered  upon  this  work 
January  1,  1913.  Here  he  served  over  six  years  and  during  this 
tiniQ  almost  doubled  the  membership  of  this  congregation.  A 
new  parsonage  was  purchased  and  a  fine  new  church  built,  all  at 
a  cost  of  about  $60,000.  On  July  1,  1919,  he  took  up  his  present 
work  at  Bucyrus,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Dean  was  married  on  September  3,  1913,  to  Bertha  Mar- 
garet Chuck,  of  Uniontown,  Pennsylvania.  One  son,  Paul  Mit- 
chel  Dean,  has  been  born  to  them. 

During  his  ministry  Rev.  Dean  has  been  honored  by  the  fol- 
lowing offices:  1910-11  he  was  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Conference  of  the  Maryland  Synod  ;  1912-13,  he  was  presi- 


">60  HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

dent  of  the  conference  of  the  Synod  of  West  Virginia;  191o-17, 
president  of  the  Synod  of  West  Virginia;  1918-19  director  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  (iettysburg  from  the  West  Virginia 
Synod.  In  1918  Rev.  Dean  represented  the  West  Virginia  Synod 
at  the  Lutheran  Merger  Convention  in  New  York  City. 

REV.  CHARLES  EDWARD  DERR,  Ph.D.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  the  son  of  Sylvanus  Edward  and  Amanda  Summers 
Derr,  was  born  near  Myersville,  Maryland,  September  24,  18(>8. 
For  three  years  he  attended  the  district  school  at  Jerusalem.  At 
the  age  of  nine  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio  locating  near  Day- 
ton, where  he  grew  to  young  manhood  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  was  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  West  Car- 
rollton,  Ohio,  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Bowman,  pastor.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  entered  the  schoolroom  as  teacher  with  a  brother 
and  two  sisters  among  the  pupils.  After  two  years  he  entered 
the  Academy  of  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  graduat- 
ing from  college  in  1894  with  the  degree  of  B.A.  lie  took  his 
course  in  theology  at  the  Hamma  Divinity  School,  Springfield. 

During  the  summer  of  1896  he  was  called  to  the  First  Lutheran 
Church,  Princeton,  Illinois.  On  October  14,  1896,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Anna  Walkley  Clark,  of  Troy,  Ohio.  In  1899  he 
was  called  to  succeed  his  own  college  pastor  of  the  Third  Church, 
Springfield,  Ohio.  While  a  resident  in  that  city  he  took  post- 
graduate work  in  History  and  Sociology,  at  his  Alma  Mater,  re- 
ceiving first  the  degree  of  A.M.  and  later  the  degree  of  Ph.D. 
In  1903  he  took  charge  of  the  mission  (Second  Church)  in  In- 
dianapolis, Indiana,  which  he  succeeded  in  bringing  to  self- 
support.  He  was  called  to  Amity  Church,  Lena,  Illinois,  in  1908. 
While  here  he  was  elected  on  the  Board  of  Directors  of  "The 
Rock  River  Assembly  of  Lutherans,"  Dixon,  Illinois,  and  has 
been  serving  in  the  capacity  of  platform  manager  during  the  past 
eight  years,  and  is  at  present  president  of  the  board.  In  August, 
1913,  he  was  chosen  to  be  acting  president  of  Carthage  College, 
Carthage,  Illinois,  during  the  absence  of  President  Hoover  for 
one  year.  While  he  was  at  the  college  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
Departments  of  Philosophy  and  History.  The  following  year  he 
received  a  call  to  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
of  which  congregation  he  is  still  pastor. 

REV.  ROY  V.  DERR.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod  was 
born  near  Creagerstown,  Frederick  County  Maryland,  October 
11,  188;").  His  parents  were  Cornelius  Edward  and  Mary  Eve 
(Metxger)  Derr,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  the  well- 
known  Middletown  Valley.  Rev.  Derr  was  baptized  in  infancy 
by  the  Lutheran  pastor  of  his  family,  and  at  an  early  age  con- 
firmed in  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  at  Creagerstown.  He  is 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  561 

the  only  child  of  that  congregation  to  enter  the  ministry.  The 
pastor  who  confirmed  him  was  Rev.  J.  IT.  Asper. 

After  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Frederick  County,  he 
entered  Gettysburg  College  in  the  fall  of  1906,  and  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1910.  Three  years  later  he  graduated  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  his  own  Synod  at  Williamsport,  Maryland,  in  October,  1912. 
Having  accepted  a  call  upon  graduation  in  May,  1913,  to  Burn- 
ham,  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania,  which  is  within  the  territory 
of  the  Central  Pennsylvania  Synod,  he  was  ordained  by  that 
Synod  at  Lewistown,  Pennsylvania,  in  October,  1913. 

Rev.  Derr  was  married  October  19,  1916,  to  Hattie  D.  Ziegler, 
of  Gettysburg.  He  has  had  but  one  pastorate,  the  Burnham  mis- 
sion, which  in  a  few  years  hopes  to  be  self-supporting.  He  has 
served  as  secretary  of  the  Juniata  Conference  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Mifflin  County  Ministerial 
Association  for  several  years.  At  the  1919  meeting  of  the  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania  Synod  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  next 
convention  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  to  be  held  in  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia,  October,  1920. 

REV.  SAMUEL  JACOB  DERR.  Rev.  Derr  was  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1855,  near  Middletown,  Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
of  Samuel  and  Mary  M.  (Yasoe)  Derr.  He  received  his  early 
education  at  the  Boonsboro  High  School.  He  entered  the  Pre- 
paratory Department  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  February, 
1879,  and  the  Freshman  Class  at  Pennsylvania  College  the  fol- 
lowing fall.  In  1883  he  graduated  from  college.  He  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  the  same  year  and  completed 
the  prescribed  course  in  this  institution  in  June,  1886.  He  was 
licensed  in  St.  Mark's  Church,  Baltimore,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  1885  and  was  ordained  by  the  same  Synod 
meeting  in  Waynesboro  the  following  year. 

On  September  11,  1886,  he  received  a  call  to  the  Hampstead 
pastorate.  This  was  ratified  by  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  and 
he  took  charge  October  1,  1886,  where  he  served  until  January 
31,  1901.  In  February,  1902,  he  bought  the  Hampstead  Phar- 
macy expecting  to  make  it  his  future  life  work.  However  seven 
months  later  representatives  of  the  church  council  of  the  Arcadia 
Charge  requested  that  he  should  supply  St.  Paul's  congregation 
for  a  period  of  seven  months  until  they  could  secure  a  regular 
pastor.  This  he  agreed  to  do.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time 
Judge  Byerly,  then  president  of  the  church  council,  voiced  the 
action  of  the  congregation  in  extending  a  unanimous  call  to  Rev. 
Derr  to  become  pastor.  After  this  action  had  been  legally  rati- 
fied by  a  congregational  meeting  he  took  charge  and  his  pastoral 
work  began  on  June  1,  1903.  He  served  here  until  June  1,  1911, 
at  which  time  he  disposed  of  the  drug  store.  A  little  later  he  ac- 
36 


562 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


cepted  a  call  to  the  Berrysburg  pastorate,  Berrysburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, taking  effect  January  1,  191IJ.  Here  he  labored  until 
March  31,  191(j.  when  he  returned  to  Hampstead,  Maryland,  and 
here  he  lias  been  doing  some  supply  work. 

REV.  ROBERT  WESLEY  DOTY.  Rev.  Doty,  son  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  I).  Doty,  was  born  at  Jefferson,  Frederick  County,  Mary- 
land, August  215,  187(>.  He  was  baptized  into  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church  at  Jefferson.  Maryland,  by  Rev.  AV.  H.  Settlemeyer.  He 
was  catechi/ed  and  continued  in  the  same  church  by  Rev.  S.  A. 

Hedges.  His  early  training  he 
received  in  the  public  schools  in 
his  home  town.  At  Frederick 
College  and  at  the  Preparatory 
Department  at  Gettysburg  he  pre- 
pared for  college.  In  September, 
1895,  he  entered  Gettysburg  Col- 
lege with  the  class  of  1899,  grad- 
uating in  June,  1899.  The  same 
fall  he  entered  the  seminary  and 
graduated  from  this  institution  in 
May,  1902. 

He  received  and  accepted  a  call 
to  Salem  Charge,  Westminster, 
Maryland,  taking  charge  on  June 
1.  1902.  On  August  14,  1902,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Alice 
Roelkey,  of  Burkittsville,  Mary- 
land. One  child  has  blessed  this 
union,  Louise  R.  Doty.  He  was 

licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Boonsboro,  Maryland,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1901,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Synod  at  Hagerstown  in 
October  of  the  following  year.  After  ten  .years  of  service  in  the 
Salem  Charge  he  received  a  call  to  Christ  Lutheran  Church, 
Cambridge.  Ohio,  on  June  1,  1912.  Here  he  changed  the  location 
and  built  a  beautiful  new  church  at  a  cost  of  $22,000  and  added 
over  250  new  members  in  the  six  years  he  was  pastor.  On  June 
1,  1918,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Rochester, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  now  serves. 

Rev.  Doty  was  secretary  of  the  Middle  Conference  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  and  a  trustee  of  Tressler  Orphans'  Home  at  Loys- 
ville,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  also  president  of  the  South  Con- 
ference of  the  East  Ohio  Synod  and  secretary  of  the  East  Synod, 
and  a  delegate  from  this  Synod  to  the  General  Synod  in  1917. 

REV.  GEORGE  WILLIAM  ENGLAR,  Ph.D.,  D.D.  Dr  Englar, 
the  son  of  Basil  and  Julia  A.  Englar,  was  born  at  Clear 
Ridge,  near  T'niontown,  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  March  9, 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  563 

1875.  At  the  age  of  twelve  lie  united  with  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church,  Uniontown,  Maryland.  He  attended  the  public  school 
of  that  district  and  later  went  to  the  New  Windsor  College,  New 
Windsor,  Maryland,  where  he  studied  for  three  years.  He  en- 
tered the  freshman  class  of  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  fall  of  IS!):!,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  was 
graduated  from  that  institution 
in  1807  with  the  A.B.  degree.  He 
took  his  theological  course  at  the 
Lutheran  Theological  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
graduating  in  1900  with  the  1>.I). 
degree.  Pennsylvania  College 
conferred  upon  him  that  year  tin* 
A.M.  degree.  The  M  a  r  y  1  a  n  d 
Synod  ordained  him  at  Middl"- 
town,  Maryland,  in  October,  1 900. 

Since  entering  the  gospel  min- 
istry he  has  served  the  following- 
pastorates:  Duncannon,  Pennsyl- 
vania, 1900-1902;  Youngstown, 
Ohio,  1902-1900;  Bsthany  Lu- 
theran Church,  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania, 1906  to  the  present. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  Luella, 
daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  G.  L.  K. 

Hiekman,  of  Steelton,  Pennsylvania,  on  November  6,  1907.  He 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  D.I),  from  Oskaloosa  College, 
Iowa,  in  1909;  the  D.I),  in  course  from  Central  University,  In- 
diana, in  1914;  the  Ph.D.  in  course  from  Central  University, 
Indiana,  in  1911.  During  1915-1916  he  was  president  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Synod;  and  is  now  a  membar  of  the  Ministerial  Edu- 
cation Committee  and  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  Home  Missions 
of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod. 

REV.  CLARENCE  A..  EYLER.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Daniel  Jacobs  Eyler  and  Christiana  C. 
(nee  Kurtz).  Rev.  Eyler  was  born  at  Waynesboro,  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  January  29,  1858.  He  was  baptized  by 
Rev.  J.  F.  Campbell,  the  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of 
Waynesboro,  and  confirmed  at  the  age  of  fourteen  by  Rev.  Al- 
fred Buhrman.  After  graduating  from  the  Waynesboro  High 
School  he  entered  Pennsylvania  College,  graduating  with  the 
class  of  1880,  and  also  graduating  from  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg  with  the  class  of  1883.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Emmitsburg.  Maryland,  in 
1883  and  ordained  at  Newton,  Iowa,  in  1884  by  the  Iowa  Synod. 

His  first  pastorate  was  that  of  Ely  and  North  Liberty  Churches 


564 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


in  Iowa,  which  he  served  from  1883  to  188;").  Tn  the  latter  year 
lie  removed  to  Lisbon,  Iowa,  serving  the  church  at  Clarence,  Iowa, 
in  connection  with  the  Lisbon  Church.  During  this  pastorate  he 
was  married  to  Myrtle  A.  Boston,  of  Shickshinny.  Pennsylvania. 
The  severity  of  the  winters  of  Iowa  so  impaired  his  health  that 
he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  milder  climate.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Rev.  George  D.  Gotwald,  Minneapolis  and  Leavenworth,  Kan- 
sas, were  the  scenes  of  his  labors  from  1887  to  1891.  He  was 
again  compelled  to  make  a  change  and  returned  to  Waynesboro, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  traveling  agent  for  the  Lutheran  Ob- 
server for  one  year.  Christ's  Church  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey, 
was  his  last  pastorate.  A  very  severe  illness  of  eight  months 
necessitated  his  giving  up  the  active  work  of  the  ministry  in  1890. 
Although  now  engaged  in  secular  work  he  never  misses  an  oppor- 
tunity to  preach  Christ  and  Him  crucified. 

REV.  PROFESSOR  DAVID  BITTLE  FLOYD,  A.M.,  D.D.  Pro- 
fessor Floyd,  the  son  of  Hc/ekiah  and  Lydia  (Bittle)  Floyd,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Maryland,  March  15,  184(1  In  infancy  he 
was  baptized  in  the  Middletown  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  man- 
hood was  catechized  and  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 

Salem,  Virginia,  by  his  uncle, 
President  David  F.' Bittle,  D.D., 
of  Roanoke  College.  In  1858  he 
moved  with  his  parents  from 
Maryland  to  Indiana.  "When  he 
was  only  sixteen  years  of  age  in 
1862  he  joined  the  United  States 
Army,  serving  as  sergeant  for 
three  years  in  the  75th  Indiana 
Regiment,  receiving  a  commission 
of  lieutenant  for  meritorious  con- 
duct. He  fought  with  Thomas  at 
Chickamauga;  with  Grant  at 
Chattanooga;  and  marched  witli 
Sherman  to  the  sea. 

In  18(56  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan  as  a  medical  stu- 
dent. The  following  year  he  pre- 
pared for  college  at  Asbury  (De 
Pauw)  University,  Greencastle, 
Indiana.  In  1868  he  entered  Roanoke  College,  Salem,  Virginia, 
graduating  in  1872  with  second  honor,  delivering  his  oration  in 
Greek  and  receiving  his  Master's  degree  after  three  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  Phi  Delta  Theta  (College)  fraternity  and  was  its 
president  in  187(5.  He  was  again  a  student  of  medicine  at  Belle- 
vue  Medical  College,  New  York,  in  1872.  In  1873  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  graduating  in  1876. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  565 

He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Grafton,  West  Vir- 
ginia, in  1875  and  in  the  following  year  was  ordained  by  the 
same  Synod  in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  On  February 
15,  1877,  he  married  Mary  E.  Cutting,  of  Martinsburg,  West  Vir- 
ginia. 

His  fields  of  labor  have  been  as  follows :  Uniontown,  Mary- 
land, 1876-1882;  Boonsboro,  Maryland,  1882-1885;  Zion's 
Church,  Newville,  Pennsylvania,  1885-1899;  Funkstown,  Mary- 
land, 1900-1904;  Georgetown  Church,  West  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  1905 ;  and  on  September  10,  of  the  same  year 
was  called  to  the  Chair  of  Hebrew  and  Greek  in  Theological  De- 
partment, Susquehanna  University,  Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania. 

In  1906  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  on 
him  by  both  Roanoke  College  and  Susquehanna  University.  In 
1910  he  visited  Italy,  Greece,  Palestine,  Egypt  and  the  Islands 
of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  for  observation  and  study  of  the  Bible 
lands.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to  revise  the  consti- 
tution of  the  Maryland  Synod ;  for  several  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Loysville  Orphans'  Home  from  the 
Maryland  Synod ;  several  times  was  delegate  to  the  General 
Synod ;  and  in  1904  was  sent  by  the  General  Synod  as  fraternal 
delegate  to  the  United  Synod  of  the  South. 

He  is  author  of  "Necrology  of  Lutheran  Ministers  born  in 
Middletown  Valley,  Man-land";  of  "Reynold's  Division  in  the 
Battle  of  Chickamauga";  of  "History  of  75th  Regiment  of  In- 
diana Infantry  Volunteers";  of  "History  of  Zion's  Lutheran 
Congregation,  Newville,  Pennsylvania";  of  "Greek  Prepositions 
of  the  New  Testament. ' '  He  was  editor  of  the  first  Miscellany  ( Mi- 
crocosm) published  at  Roanoke  College;  first  editor  of  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  edition  of  the  Young  Lutheran;  for  several  years 
contributed  to  the  Lutheran  Sunday  School  Series  of  the  General 
Council,  articles  on  difficult  and  obscure  passages  of  Scripture ; 
by  request  of  the  Indiana  Commission,  wrote  the  inscription  on 
the  monument  erected  to  the  75th  Indiana  Regiment  in  Chat- 
tanooga and  Chickamauga  National  Park:  and  was  contributor 
to  the  Lutheran  Quarterly  of  the  General  Synod  and  the  Church 
Review  of  the  General  Council  and  other  periodicals. 

During  his  labors  for  thirty  years  as  pastor,  he  preached  3,340 
sermons ;  officiated  at  220  funerals ;  married  108  couples :  de- 
livered 1,564  catechetical  lectures;  received  into  church  fellow- 
ship 748  persons;  baptized  312  infants;  built  two  parsonages; 
and  catechized  and  confirmed  three  young  men  who  entered  the 
ministry. 

REV.  WILLIAM  FREAS.  Rev.  Freas  was  born  at  Hughesville, 
Pennsylvania,  on  October  5,  1880,  the  son  of  Rev.  William  S. 
Freas,  D.D.,  and  Ella  A.  Streeper.  He  was  baptized  at  Hughes- 
ville by  Dr.  Lysingring,  and  confirmed  by  his  father  in  St.  Paul's 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Lutheran  Church,  York,  Pennsylvania,  lie  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  York  and  later  attended  the  York 
County  Academy  of  that  city.  He  graduated  from  Pennsylvania 
College,  (ictlyshurg.  Pennsylvania,  in  1901,  and  from  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  there  in  1904.  The  Maryland  Synod  licensed 
him  to  preach  the  (iospcl  at  Williamsport,  Maryland,  in  October, 
190:5.  He  was  ordained  by  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  Synod, 

October  14,   1904,  at  St.   James' 
Church,  New  York  City. 

From  May  20,  1904,  to  August 
:>1,  1  !>!(),  he  was  pastor  of  Beth- 
any Lutheran  Church,  New  York 
City.  He  served  from  Sep- 
tember 1,  1  !)!(>,  to  October  31, 
!!)!!),  as  pastor  of  Holy  Trinity 
Church,  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey. 
lie  was  office  secretary  of  the  Na- 
tional Commission  for  Soldiers' 
and  Sailors'  Welfare,  from  No- 
vember 1,  1!)17,  to  the  present. 
He  has  served  as  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  Inner  Mission  Board 
of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in 
America,  from  May  1,  1919,  to  the 
present. 

For  two  terms  he  was  statistical 
secretary  of  the  Synod  of  New 

York,  vice-president  of  the  Southern  Conference  of  the  Synod  of 
Xew  York  and  for  two  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Committee  of  the  Synod  of  New  York.  He  was  chairman  of 
this  committee  for  one  year.  For  five  years  he  was  secretary  of 
Concordia.  He  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  New  York  Min- 
isters Association  for  three  years,  and  as  vice-president  of  the 
same  for  two  years.  He  received  the  decree  of  B.D.  upon  his 
graduation  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1904. 
On  July  31,  191:5,  he  married  Amelia  Behr  Wellington.  To 
this  union  two  children  have  been  born.  Florence  Alide  and  Wil- 
liam Behr. 

REV.  MARTIN  DANIEL  GAVER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  is  another  of  the  products  of  the  Middletown  Valley  which 
has  proved  so  fertile  in  faithful  servants  for  the  Lutheran  min- 
istry. His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Margaret  Caroline  (Shafer) 
(Javer,  and  he  was  born  at  Burkittsville  on  November  14,  1849. 
In  infancy  he  was  baptized  into  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Bur- 
kittsville by  the  Rev.  Philip  Willard.  Later  he  was  catechized 
and  confirmed  in  church  fellowship  by  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Wire.  His 
higher  education  he  began  in  the  Missionary  Institute,  as  it  was 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  567 

then  called,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania.  It  was  continued  in 
Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg  where  he  graduated  in  1879. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Philomatheaii  Literary  Society  and  of 
the  Phi  Kappa  Psi  fraternity.  In  1882  he  graduated  from  the 
Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary. 

Rev.  Gaver  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  1881  in 
Washington.  The  next  year,  having  taken  up  work  on  the  terri- 
tory of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  he  was  ordained  by  that 
Synod.  His  first  pastorate  was  at  Mt.  Holly  Springs,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  here  he  ministered  from  1882  to  1890.  During  this 
period  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Cumberland  Valley  Conference  of 
the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod.  In  1890  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
pulpit  of  Zion  Lutheran  Church  at  Williamsport,  Maryland,  and 
then  he  became  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Western  Con- 
ference of  the  Maryland  Synod.  At  Williamsport  Rev.  Gaver 
labored  from  September,  1890,  until  1910.  He  is  at  present  the 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Orrville,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Gaver  was  married  October  12,  1882,  to  Miss  Emma  J. 
Fairbanks,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

REV.  ROBERT  HARRIS  GEARHART,  JR.  Rev.  Gearhart  was 
born  in  Sunbury,  Pennsylvania,  October  7,  1885.  In  1902  he 
graduated  from  the  Sunbury  High  School,  from  Pennsylvania 
College  in  1910,  and  from  the  Thelogical  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg in  1913.  In  October,  1912,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  at  Williamsport,  Maryland.  He  was  ordained  at  Gallon, 
Ohio,  on  October  15,  1913. 

His  first  charge  was  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  Church,  Mans- 
field, Ohio.  He  became  pastor  of  Grace  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  on  June  1,  1915,  which  pas- 
torate he  continues  to  serve  at  the  present  time.  On  January  22, 
1918,  he  was  commissioned  chaplain  in  the  United  States  Army 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  the  308th  Machine 
Gun  Battalion.  He  served  four  months  in  this  country  and  four- 
teen months  in  France,  becoming  Senior  Chaplain  of  the  78th 
Division  with  the  rank  of  captain,  Senior  Chaplain  of  the  Second 
Army  Area,  and  Senior  Chaplain  of  Troops  Engaged  in  Graves 
Registration  Work.  He  was  cited  in  General  Orders  by  General 
John  J.  Pershing  on  April  19,  1919,  for  "exceptionally  meritori- 
ous and  conspicuous  services"  and  on  May  9,  1919,  a  second  time 
by  Major  General  J.  H.  MacRea. 

On  June  15,  1914,  he  married  Harriet  Storrd  Davies,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  M.  Davies,  D.D. 

REV.  HENRY  LEWIS  GERSTMYER.  Rev.  Gerstmyer  was 
born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  on  February  21,  1874.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  prepared  himself  for 
a  musical  career,  but  later  he  felt  himself  called  to  preach  the 


568  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Gospel.  By  private  tutors  and  attending  lectures  at  the  -Johns 
Hopkins  University  he  prepared  himself  for  Gettysburg  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  which  institution  he  entered  in  the  fall  of  l!K)l. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  on  October  25,  19015, 
and  ordained  by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  on  September  21, 
1904. 

He  has  served  the  following  churches:  Bainbridge,  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania  ;  Marysville,  Perry  County,  Pennsylvania; 
New  Berlin,  Union  County,  Pennsylvania;  Manchester,  York 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  at  present  is  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  of  Xewville,  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania. 

He  has  specialized  in  Homiletics  since  leaving  seminary,  and 
has  contributed  articles  of  a  literary  and  theological  nature  to 
our  own  Church  papers.  lie  is  a  son  of  (.{race  Church,  Balti- 
more, Maryland. 

REV.  GEORGE  ALBERT  GETTY,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  Sunday.  March  10,  1872.  His  father,  George  A. 
Getty,  was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Second  English  Lutheran 
Church,  but  subsequently  joined  the  First  Lutheran  Church, 
where  he  was  an  active  and  influential  member  until  his  death  in 
1895.  His  grandfather  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Second  Church  and  was  prominently  identified  with  its  work  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  His  mother's  people  were  of  sturdy  York 
County  Lutheran  stock. 

Rev.  Getty  was  baptized  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Wolf,  D.D.,  pastor  of 
the  Second  Church;  attended  Sunday  school  at  the  First 
Church ;  was  catechized  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Stude- 
baker,  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  and  as  a  member  of  that  church 
entered  the  ministry. 

Rev.  Getty  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Baltimore  graduating  from  the  Baltimore  City  College  in 
1890.  The  following  fall  he  wras  admitted  to  the  Junior  (Mass  of 
Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  and  became  the  valedictorian 
of  the  Class  of  1892.  He  next  spent  two  years  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  from  this  institution 
with  the  Class  of  1894.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
in  the  fall  of  1893,  and  ordained  by  the  East  Ohio  Synod  October 
7,  1894. 

His  first  charge  was  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  sent  by 
the  Home  Mission  Board  to  establish  the  C.  E.  Memorial  Church. 
He  organized  this,  the  first  General  Synod  Lutheran  Church  in 
Cleveland,  in  1894,  but  because  of  the  difficulties  of  the  work  re- 
signed from  this  field  in  the  following  year.  In  1896  and  1897 
he  was  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  East  Schodack,  New- 
York.  Tn  1898  he  accepted  a  call  to  Xion  Lutheran  Church  of 
Cobleskill,  New  York,  and  served  that  congregation  for  seven 
years.  From  1910  to  1915  he  was  pastor  of  Saint  John's  Luther- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  569 

an  Church  of  Baltimore,  and  during  these  years  built  the  church 
edifice  and  put  the  work  upon  a  substantial  foundation.  Febru- 
ary 1,  1915,  he  entered  upon  the  pastorate  of  Zion  Lutheran 
Church  of  York,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is  still  at  work. 

Rev.  Getty  is  the  author  of  numerous  articles  that  have  ap- 
peared in  the  Lutheran  Church  Work,  Lutheran  Survey,  and 
Lutheran  Quarterly.  He  has  served  the  Church  as  a  member  of 
the  Common  Service  Committee,  the  Quadri-Centennial  Com- 
mittee, the  Deaconess  Board,  the  Loysville  Orphans1  Home 
Board,  etc.  He  was  honored  by  Pennsylvania  College  in  1917 
with  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

REV.  HARRY  GOEDEKE.  This  son  of  the  Synod  is  one  of  her 
representatives  on  the  Foreign  Field.  Rev.  Goedeke  was  born  in 
Baltimore,  on  October  1, 1882.  His  parents  were  Frank  and  Hen- 
rietta Goedeke.  In  infancy  he  was  baptized  into  the  membership 
of  the  Third  Lutheran  Church  of  the  city  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burke, 
formerly  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Rev. 
Goedeke  was  confirmed  in  the  same  church  in  1897.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Baltimore  Business  College  and  the  Baltimore  Poly- 
technic Institute.  For  some  years  he  was  the  official  clerk  and 
stenographer  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  This  position  he 
occupied  with  distinction  from  1903  to  1916.  In  the  fall  of  1916 
he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  gradu- 
ated (with  the  exception  of  Hebrew)  in  1919. 

Already  in  September,  1918,  he  had  been  appointed  a  mission- 
ary to  the  India  field.  On  June  11,  1919,  Rev.  Goedeke  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Martha  Kathrine  Hoener,  a  member  of  Grace  Lu- 
theran Church  in  Baltimore.  Before  her  marriage  Miss  Hoener 
was  connected  with  the  work  of  the  Maryland  Sunday  School 
Association  and  was  vice-president  of  the  Maryland  Synodical 
Society  of  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goedeke  were  commissioned  as  missionaries  on 
September  26,  1919,  and  sailed  for  India  late  in  October. 

REV.  JOHN  E.  GRAEFE.  This  is  one  of  our  representatives  on 
the  Foreign  Missionary  field.  Rev.  Graefe  was  born  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  October  12,  1889.  His  parents  were  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  Graefe.  His  higher  education  began  at  the  Frank- 
lin High  School  of  Reisterstown,  Maryland.  He  graduated  from 
this  institution  and  took  a  course  at  the  Baltimore  Business  Col- 
lege. Then  he  attended  the  Western  Maryland  College  at  West- 
minster, Maryland,  and  graduated  from  there  in  June,  1912. 
After  a  three  years '  course  in  our  seminary  at  Gettysburg  he  was 
graduated  in  theology  in  May,  1915. 

On  September  11,  1915,  he  was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Wil- 
helmina  Theresia  Beyer.  A  son  has  blessed  this  union.  Early 
in  October,  1915,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graefe  were  formally  commis- 


:>70 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


sioned  to  go  as  missionaries  t<»  the  Guntur  field  in  India.  They 
sailed  from  Vancouver,  British  Colnnibia,  on  October  11,  1915, 
and  arrived  on  the  field  in  December.  After  studying  the  lan- 
guage for  two  years  they  are  now  engaged  in  District  Work. 

REV.  JOHN  GEORGE  GRAICHEN.  Rev.  Graichen  is  descended 
from  an  old  (ierinan  family.  The  ancestral  home  of  the  father 
was  Altenhurg,  Saxony,  and  that  of  the  mother  Xorthheim,  Han- 
over. (Jermany.  His  parents,  F.  August  and  Ernestine  Graichen, 
first  located  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  their  son  was  born. 

However,  soon  after  his  birth, 
they  removed  to  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia. In  their  religions  faith 
they  were  ardent  and  loyal  Lu- 
therans, devoted  members  of 
( i race  Church  in  Winchester.  In 
this  church  their  son  was  con- 
firmed. Through  the  e  a  r  11  e  s  t 
prayers  of  his  parents  he  was 
from  childhood  consecrated  to  the 
holy  ministry.  His  preparatory 
education  was  received  in  the 
schools  of  Winchester.  He  also 
pursued  his  studies  in  Koanoke 
College  through  his  Junior  year. 
In  June,  1883,  he  graduated  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, Pennsylvania.  On  Oc- 
tober 8,  1882,  he  was  licensed  by 
the  Synod  of  Maryland  in  Em- 

mitsburg,  Maryland.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Iowa  Synod  on 
September  30,  188;},  at  Newton,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Graichen  was  married  on  November  3,  1886,  to  Emma  R. 
Ochs.  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  solemn- 
ized by  Revs.  S.  B.  Barnitx  and  George  C.  Henry  in  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  brother  and  sister,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Raymond  Seeburger.  They  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  named 
Ernestine. 

On  February  25,  1883,  Rev.  Graichen  received  a  call  to  his  first 
charge  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  He  received  his  commission  from  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  General  Synod  on  August  1,  1883. 
In  this  field  he  labored  from  1883  to  1886  with  more  than  ordi- 
nary success,  doubling  the  membership  and  placing  the  mission 
on  a  solid  foundation. 

In  March,  1886,  he  took  charge  of  the  mission  at  Hays  City, 
Kansas,  in  response  to  a  call  from  the  congregation  and  the  com- 
mission of  the  Home  Mission  Board  of  the  General  Synod.  Here 
he  served  from  1886  to  1887  and  enjoyed  a  prosperous  pastorate. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYXOD.  571 

On  December  16,  1888,  he  was  called  to  St.  Stephen's  pastorate, 
Lexington,  South  Carolina,  which  was  composed  of  three  congre- 
gations, St.  Stephen's,  Providence  and  St.  John's.  Such  progress 
was  made  during  his  pastorate  of  ten  years  that  the  two  congre- 
gations, Providence  ajid  St.  John's,  were  able  to  remodel  their 
church  buildings,  erect  a  parsonage,  form  a  separate  pastorate 
and  call  their  own  pastor.  Rev.  Graichen  relinquished  the  entire 
pastorate  in  1898.  He  was  unanimously  elected  pastor  of  St. 
Stephen's  congregation  on  November  12,  1899.  Here  his  labors 
during  eighteen  years  from  1888  to  1907  were  attended  by  marked 
success,  chiefly  by  thorough  organization.  A  splendid  new  church 
edifice  of  native  granite  was  erected  during  his  pastorate.  An 
unlimited  or  life  call  was  extended  to  him  by  this  congregation. 

On  January  1,  1907,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Grace  church, 
Waynesboro,  Virginia,  where  he  labored  with  zeal  from  1907  to 
1912.  Here  the  membership  was  increased  and  a  substantial 
parsonage  was  erected.  Later  Buena  Vista,  Virginia,  was  con- 
nected with  this  pastorate.  He  was  called  to  Morristown-Greene- 
ville  Mission,  Tennessee,  011  March  26,  1912,  where  he  labored  ef- 
fectively until  1916.  His  present  residence  is  Morristown,  Ten- 
nessee. 

REV.  HERBERT  HOLLINGER  HARTMAN.  Rev.  Hart  man 
was  born  on  March  10,  1878,  at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  of 
Rev.  Stewart  A.  Hartman,  D.D.,  and  Julia  Catherine  Hartman. 
His  father  baptized  him  in  the  First  Lutheran  Church  at  Cham- 
bersburg. In  October,  1889,  the  family  removed  to  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  Here  in  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  he  was  con- 
firmed by  his  father.  It  was  from  this  congregation  that  he  en- 
tered the  ministry.  He  received  his  education  at  the  public 
schools  of  Chambersburg  and  Baltimore,  the  Baltimore  Poly- 
technic Institute,  and  Susquehanna  University.  He  graduated 
from  the  classical  course  of  Pennsylvania  College  in  1901  and 
from  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1904 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity.  He  was  licensed  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  on  October  22,  1903,  at  Williamsport,  Mary- 
land, Rev.  M.  D.  Gaver,  being  president.  On  October  14,  1904, 
he  was  ordained  by  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  Synod  at  St. 
James'  Lutheran  Church,  New  York  City,  Rev.  G.  U.  Wenner, 
D.D.,  president. 

His  first  work  in  the  ministry  was  at  the  close  of  his  first  year 
in  seminary  when  he  organized  the  Church  of  Our  Saviour,  West 
Arlington,  Baltimore,  September  28,  1902.  His  second  work  was 
the  organization  of  the  First  English  Lutheran  Church  of 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  September  20,  1903.  He  became  pastor 
of  the  First  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, on  June  1,  1904,  and  labored  there  until  November  1,  1908, 
when  he  became  pastor  of  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  Newville, 


572  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Pennsylvania.  lie  resigned  from  the  Xewville  congregation  to 
organi/e  the  Augsburg  Evangelical  Lutheran  Chureh  of  Haiti- 
more,  Maryland,  on  July  1,  1910.  lie  became  pastor  of  Augs- 
burg Lutheran  C'hureh  at  its  organization,  October  l(i,  1910, 
where  he  is  at  the  present  time. 

REV.  CLIFFORD  E.  HAYS  was  born  to  Ira  Wilson  and  Flora 
Viola  Hays,  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  April  21,  188f),  and  was 
bapti/ed  by  the  Rev.  Edwin  Ileyl  Delk  then  pastor  of  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church,  Hagerstown,  by  whom  he  was  also  confirmed. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Hagerstown 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Washington  County  High  School, 
Hagerstown,  in  1904.  He  also  graduated  from  Pennsylvania 
College,  (Jettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  1907,  and  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Gettysburg,  in  1910. 

Lieensnre  was  granted  in  his  senior  year  at  seminary  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  session  in  Baltimore  and  after  the  call  of 
the  McConnellsburg  Charge,  Fulton  County,  Pennsylvania,  had 
been  accepted  in  June,  1910,  he  was  ordained  by  the  West  Penn- 
sylvania. Synod  in  session  at  Median icslmrg.  He  married  Carrie 
Viola  Martin,  of  Hagerstown,  July,  1910,  and  to  them  two  daugh- 
ters, June  and  Rose,  have  been  born.  The  pastorate  at  McCon- 
nellsburg was  closed  September,  1911,  and  a  call  to  St.  Mat- 
thew's Lutheran  Chnrch,  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pennsylvania,  was 
accepted  February  1,  1912.  Here  Rev.  Hays  served  until  a  call 
to  Bethel  Lutheran  Chnrch,  Philadelphia,  was  accepted  in  Jan- 
uary, 1916.  At  Bethel  he  labored  until  January,  1918,  when  he 
sailed  to  France  commissioned  as  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  secretary.  He 
gave  service  there  in  the  Department  of  the  Nievre  as  hut  secre- 
tary, district  cashier  and  district  welfare  director  until  January, 
1919.  Then  he  was  compelled  to  return  to  America  due  to  broken 
health.  On  October  17,  1919,  the  call  to  the  pastorate  of  Luther 
Memorial  Lutheran  Church,  Fifty-fourth  Street  and  Trinity 
Place,  Philadelphia,  was  accepted. 

REV.  SHADRACH  ABRAM  HEDGES.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Middletown,  Frederick  County, 
Maryland,  on  October  Ml,  18'J~).  Rev.  Hedges'  father's  name  was 
Shadrach  and  he  was  born  on  the  old  Hedges  farm  near  Yellow 
Springs,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  about  the  year  1754.  His 
father  also  served  some  time  in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Mary  Magdalen  Miller  and  she 
was  born  in  Middletown,  Maryland,  of  German  descent.  Her 
father's  name  was  Abram,  hence  Rev.  Hedges'  name,  Shadrach 
Abram. 

He  received  his  education  at  a  public  school,  known  as  Gylers' 
and  afterwards  at  Middletown  Academy,  where  he  prepared  for 
college.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  entered  the  freshman  class  of 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  573 

Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg.  He  graduated  from  this  in- 
stitution in  1863  during  the  great  battle  of  Gettysburg.  For 
three  years  he  taught  a  select  school  in  Middletown  and  then  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  at  Lovettsville,  Virginia,  in  1867.  On  May  20,  1868, 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Hill  by  Dr.  Daniel  H.  Bittle 
in  Shepherdstown,  West  Virginia. 

He  became  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  New  Bloomfield, 
Perry  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  April  1,  3869.  In  the  fall  of 
1872  he  became  pastor  of  the  York  Springs  Charge,  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  large  and  laborious  field  consisting  of  four  churches,  far 
apart,  with  many  members.  In  this  charge  he  preached  three 
times  every  Sunday  and  held  six  or  seven  protracted  meetings, 
taking  many  into  the  church.  One  winter  he  preached  eleven 
weeks  in  succession.  He  closed  his  work  at  York  Springs  in  1877 
and  took  charge  of  the  Utica  pastorate,  Frederick  County,  Mary- 
land, the  same  year.  He  thus  returned  to  his  native  state  and 
county  and  here  he  became  very  much  endeared  to  these  people 
and  only  left  subsequently  to  obtain  better  schools  for  his  children. 

In  1883  upon  leaving  Ftica  he  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Newville,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  remained  three  years.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1886,  he  took  charge  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Jefferson, 
Maryland,  where  he  remained  fourteen  years.  During  his  min- 
istry here  the  Jefferson  Church  was  remodeled  and  much  im- 
proved. St.  Luke's  Church  in  this  pastorate  was  enlarged  by  an 
addition  of  twenty  feet.  Mount  Zion  Church  was  also  improved. 
During  his  ministry  at  Ftica  a  new  church,  Bethel,  was  built. 
All  the  money  for  these  improvements  was  secured  before  Rev. 
Hedges  left  the  field. 

In  the  summer  of  1900  he  built  a  house  in  Middletown,  Mary- 
land, intending  to  retire  from  the  active  work  of  the  ministry. 
So  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  resigned  the  Jefferson  pastorate  and 
moved  to  Middletown.  After  a  very  short  time  a  committee 
called  on  him  from  the  Utica  Church  and  asked  him  to  supply 
that  congregation.  He  did  so  and  for  twelve  years  he  supplied 
them  until  they  reunited  with  the  old  pastorate.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  begun  preaching  at  Pleasant  Hill  and  Braddock. 
He  built  a  nice  little  chapel  at  Braddock  and  paid  for  it  when 
finished.  After  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  he  gave  up  Braddock 
but  is  still  preaching  at  Pleasant  Hill.  In  March,  1902,  his  dear 
wife  departed  this  life. 

REV.  CHARLES  WILLIAM  HESS.  Rev.  Hess  was  born  De- 
cember 17,  1872,  the  son  of  Charles  M.  and  Elizabeth  Smith 
(Bushey)  Hess,  who  were  members  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church 
of  Taneytown,  Maryland.  His  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm 
near  Taneytown  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  At  this  time 
he  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Pennsylvania  Col- 


">74  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

lege,  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  graduated  from  college  with 
the  class  of  1898.  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  He  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg  the  same  fall  and  graduated  from 
this  institution  in  1!M)1  with  the  degree  of  H.I). 

On  .January  2,  190'J.  In-  look  charge  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  Brunswick,  Maryland,  and  has  served  this  congregation  con- 
tinously  until  the  present  time.  In  connection  with  his  work  at 
Brunswick  he  has  at  various  times  supplied  the  congregations  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  West  Virginia  •  Xeersville,  Virginia,  and  Peters- 
ville,  Maryland. 

REV.  FERDINAND  HESSE.  Kev.  Hesse  was  horn  near  Jones 
Spring.  Berkeley  County.  West  Virginia,  twelve  miles  west  of 
Martinsburg,  West  Virginia.  When  but  four  years  old  his  par- 
ents moved  near  Martinsburg.  a  mile  from  the  city.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old  and  he  was  sent  by  his  mother 
for  one  year  to  a  Classical  School  in  Martinsburg,  conducted  by 
Professor  Diffenderfer.  After  this  he  spent  two  years  on  the 
farm  with  his  mother.  In  1887  he  attended  Lebanon  Valley  Col- 
lege, at  Annville,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  Preparatory  Department. 
In  January,  1S88.  he  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  at 
Gettysburg.  In  the  fall  of  that  same  year  he  entered  Pennsyl- 
vania College  at  (iettysburjr,  and  graduated  from  this  institution 
in  1892.  He  entered  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg  that  fall  and 
finished  the  course  there  in  two  years. 

He  received  a  call  from  the  New  Oxford  (Pennsylvania) 
Charge  and  entered  upon  the  work  on  June  1,  1894.  He  was  pas- 
tor here  for  over  nine  years.  He  served  next  at  Grace  Church, 
Philadelphia,  beginning  his  work  in  this  field  on  September  1, 
1903.  For  four  years  he  served  Grace  Church.  Tn  1907  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  Smithsburg  Charge,  Washington  County, 
Maryland,  and  is  serving  that  charge  at  the  present  time. 

On  September  1,  1903,  he  married  Effie  Greenholt,  of  Hanover, 
Pennsylvania. 

REV.  WILLIAM  HESSE.  D.D.  On  October  9.  1856,  Kev.  Hesse 
was  born  in  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia,  of  Ludwig  and  Agatha 
Velder  Hesse.  He  was  baptized  by  the  pastor  of  the  German  con- 
gregation at  Martinsburg.  West  Virginia,  and  was  catechized 
and  confirmed  by  Kev.  M.  L.  Culler.  D.D.,  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  Martinsburg.  His  early  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools,  and  after  a  short  course  in  Dr. 
Hyde's  college,  he  taught  in  the  public  schools.  Being  tinder 
deep  conviction  to  preach  the  Gospel,  he  was  persuaded  to  enter 
the  Tinted  Brethren  Church  in  1880.  By  this  denomination  he 
was  ordained  at  Hagerstown.  Maryland,  in  1883  by  Bishop  J. 
Dixon.  and  he  served  churches  in  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  con- 
ferences until  1888. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  575 

Through  the  endeavors  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Ditzler,  of  Annville, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Rev.  G.  W.  Enders,  D.D.,  of  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  returned  to  the  Lutheran  Church.  At  Cumberland, 
Maryland,  in  October,  1888,  he  was  received  into  the  Maryland 
Synod.  He  accepted  a  call  to  Harper's  Ferry  Charge,  where  he 

was  installed  December  9,  1888. 
On  November  10,  3889,  he  became 
pastor  of  the  charge  at  Martins 
Creek,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Synod.  During  his 
first  year  here  there  were  104  ac- 
cessions. On  April  20,  1893,  he 
accepted,  a  call  to  the  Plumville 
Charge  in  the  Pittsburgh  Synod. 
While  here  he  organized  the  St. 
Matthew's  congregation  at  Rock- 
ville  and  built  two  churches.  His 
next  pastorate  was  at  Minerva, 
Ohio,  where  he  began  his  labors 
on  May  4,  1897.  Here  he  built  a 
fine  new  church  and  the  congrega- 
tion was  put  on  a  firm  basis.  Two 
years  later  he  entered  upon  the 
work  of  the  Pleasant  City  Charge, 
of  the  East  Ohio  Synod.  *  At  Cam- 
bridge, Ohio,  he  organized  what  is  now  a  flourishing  congrega- 
tion. On  October  1,  1902,  he  began  his  pastorate  at  Brookville, 
Pennsylvania,  and  while  here  two  young  men  were  led  to  the 
Gospel  ministry.  He  wTas  called  to  Grace  Lutheran  Church  at 
Leechburg,  Pennsylvania,  on  May  15,  1907.  In  September,  1911, 
he  entered  upon  his  new  field  of  labor  at  Coatesville.  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Our  Saviour.  Here  he  finished 
the  building  of  the  church  edifice  and  secured  the  liquidation  of 
a  large  portion  of  the  debt.  Since  leaving  Coatesville,  Rev.  Hesse 
has  lived  retired  in  his  home  near  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia, 
supplying  when  called  upon  to  do  so. 

In  addition  to  his  equipment  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  that 
he  received  in  the  United  Brethren  Church,  he  read  Theology  and 
Philosophy  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  M.  Valentine  and  Dr. 
Richard,  also  a  special  course  outlined  by  Dr.  H.  W.  McKnight. 
He  later  studied  Philosophy  at  Wooster  University  and  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Muskingum  College  in 
June,  1904. 

He  married  Ruth  Elizabeth  VanMetre,  of  Martinsburg,  AVest 
Virginia,  on  June  6,  1878.  To  them  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren :  Mary  Agatha,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Fulton  Wilson,  Bellevue, 
Pennsylvania;  Louella  Virginia,  deceased  wife  of  Rev.  Charles 


576 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Brosins,  Muhlenburg  Mission,  Africa;  Charles  Folder  VanMotre, 
pastor  of  ( i race  Lutheran  Church.  Red  Lion,  Pennsylvania  ;  Mar- 
garet Jane,  a  Red  Cross  nurse  in  the  United  States  Navy;  and 
William  Xelson,  who  is  employed  hy  the  Tide-water  Oil  Com- 
pany as  a  chemist. 


REV.  WILLIAM  LOUIS  HEUSER.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  son  of  Louis  C.  and  Lilla  E.  Heuser  and  was  horn  at 
Wytheville,  Virginia,  April  23,  1870.  In  -1876  the  family  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  his  father  was  principal  of 
English-German  School,  Xo.  5,  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 

baptized  in  infancy  by  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Phillippi,  of  Wytheville, 
Virginia.  Tn  1886  he  was  con- 
firmed in  the  Second  English  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Baltimore  by 
Rev.  Luther  Kuhlman,  D.D.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, the  School  for  Christian 
Workers,  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, and  Gettysburg  Theological 
Seminary.  Tn  1894  he  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  at  Frostburg,  Maryland, 
and  was  ordained  at  Baltimore 
the  following  year  by  the  same 
Synod. 

'  In  1893-04  he  was  assistant  to 
Rev.  J.  G.  Goettman,  D.D.,  in 
Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Alle- 
gheny, Pennsylvania,  lie  has  served  as  pastor  of  the  following 
charges:  The  Manor  Charge,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  1897 
to  1904;  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  East  McKees- 
port,  Pennsylvania,  1904  to  1905;  Zion's  Lutheran  Church, 
Athens,  New  York,  1905  to  1908;  The  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  Raymertown.  New  York,  1908  to  1912;  St.  Mark's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  Clarksburg,  West  Virginia,  1912 
to  1918,  where  an  attractive  and  well  appointed  church  was 
erected  during  his  pastorate;  Holy  Trinity  Evangelical  Luther- 
an Church,  Xewark,  Ohio,  1918  to  1919;  and  the  First  Lutheran 
Church  of  Tpper  Sandnsky,  Ohio,  since  August  1,  1919. 

Tn  1897  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Luella  McCain,  of 
Allegheny,  Pennsylvania.  Two  children  are  the  fruit  of  this 
union,  Louis  Glass  Heuser,  born  1901,  died  in  infancy,  and  Agnes 
Dora  Heuser,  born  1903. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  577 

REV.  FREDERICK  ARNOLD  HIGHTMAN.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  January  10,  1876,  at  Burkittsville,  Fred- 
erick County,  Maryland,  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  Martin  Lu- 
ther Hightman  and  wife  Lovetta,  nee  Arnold.  In  his  home  here 
at  Burkittsville  he  lived  for  sixteen  years.  His  grandfather, 
John  Hightman,  was  for  years  the  superintendent  of  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Sunday  school  of  Burkittsville,  and  also  served  as 
Judge  of  the  Orphans'  Court  at  Frederick.  After  the  death  of 
his  grandfather  and  his  father  in  the  same  year,  1892,  he  labored 
for  six  years  as  clerk  for  his  uncle,  Martin  Luther  Horine.  Dur- 
ing his  college  course  at  Gettysburg,  he  labored  several  years  for 
the  Maryland  Tract  Society  in  Allegheny  and  Garrett  Counties 
and  in  the  southeastern  suburbs  of  Baltimore,  and  later  while  in 
seminary  he  had  the  privilege  of  serving  in  York  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  one  summer  as  their  local  Home  Missionary  Solici- 
tor, thus  having  the  opportunity  of  preaching  in  nearly  all  of  the 
Lutheran  churches  in  that  great  Lutheran  center,  with  the  result 
that  a  sufficient  amount  was  secured  as  a  nucleus  for  the  erection 
of  a  chapel  at  Railroad,  near  Shrewsbury. 

After  graduating  at  the  college  in  1902,  receiving  the  degree 
of  A.B.,  and  at  the  Theological  Seminary  in  1905,  receiving  the 
degree  of  B.D.,  he  Avas  called  to  the  Hebron  Lutheran  Church  at 
Avonmore,  Pennsylvania,  and  while  there  was  ordained  by  the 
Pittsburgh  Synod  at  Connellsville,  in  October,  1905.  He  was 
commissioned  by  the  Home  Mission  Board  to  take  up,  on  March 
1,  1908,  the  work  of  establishing  a  mission  on  Park  Heights 
Avenue,  in  Baltimore,  between  Druid  Hill  Park  and  Belvedere 
Avenue  on  the  North.  But  a  few  weeks  later  he  was  asked,  in 
view  of  the  Local  Church  Extension  Society's  request,  to  assume 
also  the  work  of  founding  a  mission  on  the  Belair  Avenue  (Gay 
Street  extended),  one  half  mile  south  of  Overlea.  He  thus  had 
charge  of  the  two  fields  until  September,  1909,  when  he  was  re- 
lieved of  the  Park  Heights  Mission  and  was  elected  in  February, 
1909,  as  the  permanent  pastor  of  Grace  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  Powellnaron.  The  "Epiphany"  congregation,  as  it  is 
called  since  1918,  became  self-sustaining  in  February,  1918,  and 
on  May  1,  1919,  cleared  all  the  indebtedness  on  their  property 
valued  at  $10,000.  On  the  following  Sunday  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell 
made  a  most  generous  offer  to  donate  $15,000  toward  the  erection 
of  a  church  building.  Thus  they  have  proved  again  their  devo- 
tion to  their  beloved  Lutheran  Zion  and  their  friendship  and 
love  for  their  pastor.  With  the  bright  prospects  before  him  of 
soon  enjoying  the  oversight  of  a  $40,000  church  to  be  erected  in 
front  of  the  present  chapel,  Rev.  Hightman  is  hoping  to  have  a 
long  and  blessed  service  with  his  people. 
37 


578  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

REV.  CHARLES  JOHN  HINES.  Rev.  Hines  was  horn  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  September  1,  1883.  His  parents,  Henry  Clay 
Hi nes  and  Ella  Baylies  Hines,  are  both  living.  The  young  lad 
was  confirmed  by  Doctor  I.  (1.  Burke  on  April  18,  1897.  As  a 
result  of  Christian  home  training  the  young:  man  decided  to  be- 
come a  minister  in  his  early  teens.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Baltimore,  and  also  took  the  full  five- 
year  course  at  the  Baltimore  City  College,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  in  1902.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered 
the  Junior  (Mass  of  Pennsylvania  College  and  graduated  in  11)04. 
In  15)07  he  graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary. 

Upon  the  completion  of  his  seminary  course  he  did  some  tem- 
porary work  under  the  direction  of  the  Missionary  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Philadelphia  Conference.  In  February,  1908,  he  en- 
tered upon  his  first  pastorate  at  Huntington,  West  Virginia. 
The  work  here  had  just  been  begun  under  the  direction  of  the 
West  Virginia  Missionary  Committee  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
and  the  Home  Mission  Board.  Rev.  Hines  was  the  first  regular 
pastor  and  the  charge  was  then  in  the  Maryland  Synod.  He 
labored  here  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  doubled  the 
membership.  He  also  purchased  a  lot  upon  which  a  church  was 
built  in  later  years.  From  December  1,  1910,  to  December  1, 
1914,  he  was  pastor  of  the  long-established  Burkittsville  Charge 
in  Frederick  County.  During  the  time  he  served  this  charge 
there  were  advances  in  various  lines,  especially  was  all  the  prop- 
erty improved.  Since  December  1,  1914,  he  has  been  pastor  of 
Emmanuel  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore.  The  church  property 
has  been  freed  from  debt  and  many  additions  have  been  made  to 
the  membership. 

On  October  20,  1908,  he  married  Adrienne  Burns,  daughter 
of  Mrs.  Diana  Templeton  Burns  and  the  late  Dr.  A.  C.  Burns. 
There  are  two  children,  Adrienne  and  Virginia  Leigh. 

REV.  GEORGE  E.  HIPSLEY.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  January  21,  1871.  In  1893  he 
graduated  from  Pennsylvania  College.  He  received  his  Theo- 
logical course  at  Susquehanna  University  and  taught  there  dur- 
ing his  course  in  theology.  In  1894  he  married  Ada  H.  Seward 
in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  Rev.  Charles  R.  Trowbridge  perform- 
ing the  ceremony. 

Rev.  Hipsley  accepted  a  call  to  Gordon,  Pennsylvania,  in  1896, 
and  served  there  until  1900  when  he  went  to  St.  Luke's  Church, 
Baltimore,  Maryland.  Here  he  served  until  1908  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Red  Hook,  New  York,  where  he  is  located  at 
present. 

He  has  served  as  president  of  the  Hudson  Conference  of  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  for  four  years  on  the  Examining  Com- 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  579 

mittee  of  the  same  Synod.     He  is  at  present  serving  his  second 
year  as  president  of  the  Synod  of  New  York. 

REV.  EDWIN  E.  IDE,  D.D.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  October  20,  1863,  the  son  of  Rev. 
Ernest  C.  and  Charlotte  Main  Tde.  He  was  baptized  by  his 
grandfather,  Rev.  William  G.  Ide,  pastor  of  Trinity  Reformed 
Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland.  His  father,  Rev.  Ernest  C.  Ide, 
confirmed  the  boy  during  his  pastorate  at  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  He  was  educated  in  the  church 
schools  at  Gardenville  and  Annapolis,  Maryland;  the  public 
schools  at  Laurel,  Maryland,  and  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  His 
classical  training  was  furnished  by  the  Missionary  Institute  at 
Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  theological  education  at  the 
seminary  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  graduating  from  the 
latter  institution  on  June  ]1,  1891.  In  his  preparation  for  the 
ministry  he  was  assisted  financially  by  special  appropriations 
made  by  the  late  Augustus  Koonts,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
through  the  Ministerial  Education  Committee  of  the  Maryland 
Synod.  The  same  synod  examined  and  licensed  him  at  its  meet- 
ing in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  1890.  On  October 
9th  of  the  following  year  he  was  ordained  by  this  synod  at 
Hagerstown,  Maryland. 

On  September  29,  1891,  he  was  married  to  Bertha  C.  Timmer- 
man,  of  Highland,  Howard  County,  Maryland.  To  this  couple 
have  been  born  four  daughters. 

His  first  charge  was  St.  Paul's  Church,  Edgemont,  Washing- 
ton County,  Maryland,  together  with  the  churches  at  Rouzerville 
and  Quincy,  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  began  his  min- 
isterial labors  here  in  June,  1891,  and  resigned  December  31, 
1892.  He  then  inaugurated  experimental  missionary  operations 
in  the  suburbs  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  January,  1893.  He 
organized  Trinity  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  on  October  1."  1893.  In  the  fall  of  1919  he  had  the 
honor  and  unspeakable  joy  of  celebrating  the  twenty-sixth  anni- 
versary of  a  very  happy  pastorate,  and  the  highest  honor  ever 
enjoyed,  that  of  a  servant  for  Christ 's  sake. 

REV.  CHARLES  STORK  JONES.  Rev.  Jones  was  born  in  Bal- 
timore City  of  James  H.  and  Virginia  Henning  Jones.  He  was 
baptized  into  St.  Mark's  Church  of  Baltimore  by  Dr.  Charles  A. 
Stork  and  was  confirmed  in  the  same  church  by  Dr.  Charles  S. 
Albert.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Baltimore,  and 
graduated  from  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  June  20, 
1895.  He  also  graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg on  June  2,  1898.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  1897,  and  was 
ordained  by  the  same  synod  at  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Taney- 


:>80 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


town,  Maryland,  on  October  2-'J,  1898.     lie  received  the  degree  of 

A.M.  from  Pennsylvania  College  in  1908. 

On  June  20,  1898,  he  was  married  to  Laura  V.  Armstrong,  of 

Baltimore.  Two  daughters  have 
blessed  this  union,  one  of  whom  is 
living. 

He  was  pastor  of  the  mission  at 
Sparrow's  Point,  Maryland,  from 
.June  1,  1898,  to  June  1,  1900, 
building  the  present  church.  He 
served  St.  Paul's,  Arcadia,  Mary- 
land, from  June  1,  1900,  to  Sep- 
tember 1,  1902.  He  then  became 
pastor  of  St.  Mark's,  Steelton, 
Pennsylvania,  until  June  1,  1904, 
when  he  removed  to  Lionville, 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  became  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  of  that  place  until  Decem- 
ber IT),  1908.  He  has  been  pastor 
of  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  Lykens, 
Pennsylvania,  from  that  date  un- 
til the  present. 
He  has  published  a  history  of  St.  Paul's,  Arcadia,  Maryland, 

one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  the  state  and  also  a  history  of 

/ion's,  Lykens,  Pennsylvania. 

REV.  JOHN  FREDERICK  FLAUGHER  KAYHOE  was  born 
February  1,  18.17,  near  Leitersburg,  Washington  County,  Mary- 
land. When  three  weeks  old,  his  parents,  Matthias  and  Barbary 
Ann  Kayhoe,  carried  him  to  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  Leiters- 
burg, Maryland,  where  the  pa.stor  baptized  him  in  the  presence 
of  the  regular  Sunday  morning  audience.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  was  confirmed  by  Rex.  X.  J.  Richardson,  the  pastor  of 
this  same  church,  where  his  membership  remained  until  he  en- 
tered the  ministry. 

Rev.  Kayhoe  received  his  secondary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Washington  County,  taught  in  the  same,  studied  under 
tutors  until  entitled  to  a  life-certificate,  outranking  a  diploma  of 
the  Maryland  State  Normal  School.  At  the  advice  of  his  pastor, 
Rev.  Victor  Miller,  D.D.,  he  turned  his  attention  to  ministerial 
work.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  matriculated  in  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  regularly 
graduated,  June  23,  1885.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  September,  1884,  and  ordained  by  the  Synod  of  Central 
Illinois  the  following  September 

July  23,  1889,  Mr.  Kayhoe  and  Miss  Mary  Helena  Weber  were 
married  in  Carey,  Ohio,  Rev.  Adam  Schafer,  Ph.D.,  officiating. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


581 


Two  daughters  were  born :  Miss  Naomi  Louisa  and  Miss  Ruth  C. 
Kayhoe.  These  received  degrees  from  standard  institutions,  and 
at  present  writing  are  occupying  responsible  positions  in  institu- 
tions of  like  grade. 

Mt.  Carinel,  Illinois,  was  his  first  pastorate.  The  pastorate  had 
been  eighteen  months  vacant.  After  three  years  he  was  called  to 
Ohio.  Since  that  time  that  Lu- 
theran Church  never  failed  to 
meet  its  apportionment.  A  Home 
Mission  secretary  said  of  him : 
Kayhoe  is  doing  Home  Mission 
work  at  his  own  expense.  Upon 
assuming  the  pastorate  of  the 
English  Lutheran  Church  of  Up- 
per Sandusky,  Ohio,  he  found  a 
field  struggling  to  stay  off  of 
Hom6  Mission  funds.  While  here 
he  was  married.  Two  years  later 
he  accepted  the  call  to  the  Bryan, 
Ohio  Mission.  Six  years  later  he 
left  this  church  able  to  do  without 
mission  aid,  in  possession  of  a 
valuable  parsonage,  free  of  all 
debt.  In  four  years  the  church, 
upon  assuming  self-support,  "had 
paid  back  in  benevolence  more 

than  it  had  received  aid  from  the  boards."  Wells  Memorial  Lu- 
theran Church,  Goshen,  Indiana,  was  the  next  pastorate.  The 
church  was  in  the  sheriff's  hands,  Goshen  in  the  midst  of  "a 
financial  panic,"  the  people  helpless.  About  all  that  could  be 
hoped  for  was  to  secure  the  property  for  the  Church  Extension 
Board,  before  the  call  to  Mt.  Carmel,  Illinois,  was  followed.  Here 
the  old  parsonage  property  was  sold,  a  new  one  built  beside  the 
church, — a  building  demanding  some  such  changes  as  continue  to 
come  its  way.  Elwood,  Indiana,  a  Home  Mission,  called.  Here 
work  looking  to  proper  location  of  the  mission  was  planned,  when 
the  call  to  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  came — 
another  mission,  but  only  for  a  year.  After  five  and  a  half  years, 
instead  of  $2,000  debt,  the  church  owned  the  lot  on  which  the 
present  parsonage  stands,  and  the  congregation  never  fails  to 
meet  all  its  benevolent  obligations.  Since  July  1,  1909,  St.  Paul's 
Mission,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  has  demanded  his  attention.  Mrs. 
Kayhoe  and  the  daughters,  as  at  other  places,  being  of  much  help. 

While  pastor  at  Louisville,  Mr.  Kayhoe  completed  the  course  in 
law  for  LL.B.,  stood  the  necessary  examination  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Louisville  bar, — is  entitled  to  practice  law  in  Kentucky. 
He  also  availed  himself  of  the  privilege  of  the  Southern  Baptist 
Theological  Seminary  in  that  city,  taking  the  graduate  course 


:>82 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


looking  to  the  Th.D.  decree  which  his  pastoral  duties  and  the 
time  limit  of  the  institution  prevented.  The  pastor  and  his  wife 
have  availed  themselves  of  the  privileges  of  hearing  many  of  the 
greatest  lecturers  at  the  various  institutions  of  learning  making 
Nashville  known  as  "The  Athens  of  the  South."  They  also  took 
the  short  course  in  the  Southern  Sociological  College  then  located 
in  Xashville,  where  the  pastor  had  the  honor  to  serve  as  president 
of  the  local  ministerial  alliance  during  the  year  beginning  Oc- 
tober, 1916. 

REV.  J.  FRED.  W.  KITZMEYER.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  May  •'{,  18(58.  His  parents 
were  .John  W.  Kitzmeyer  and  Margaret  Mary  Kitzmeyer,  nee 
Spieker.  He  was  baptized  by  Pastor  Meier  of  Baltimore.  In 
1874  he  began  his  schooling  by  attending  the  parochial  school 

connected  with  St.  Paul's  (Mis- 
souri) Lutheran  Church.  Mean- 
while he  attended  the  Sunday- 
school  at  St.  Mark's  and  later  at 
the  First  Church.  He  received 
further  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Baltimore  and  later  in 
Baltimore  City  College.  On  Eas- 
ter Day,  1884,  he  was  confirmed 
in  the  First  Church  by  Rev.  M. 
W.  Hamma,  D.I).  In  that  same 
year  the  family  moved  into  the 
parish  of  St.  Luke's,  then  a  strug- 
gling new  field  of  which  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Kelly  was  the  devoted  pas- 
tor. Under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Kelly  his  aspiration  to  become  a 
minister  took  definite  shape.  In 
1886  he  entered  the  Preparatory 
Department  at  Gettysburg.  Later 

he  attended  the  college  and  the  seminary,  graduating  from  semi- 
nary in  189:}.  He  was  licensed  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  1892,  and  he  was  ordained  by  the  same 
synod  in  St.  Mark's,  Baltimore. 

His  first  church  was  St.  John's  in  the  Alleghanies  at  Davis, 
West  Virginia,  which  he  organized  and  which  joined  the  Mary- 
land Synod.  He  also  built  a  church  at  Cortland,  \Vest  Virginia. 
In  December,  1895,  he  was  called  by  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
to  begin  work  in  New  York  City  and  founded  Bethany,  the  first 
entirely  English-speaking  church  erected  in  Manhattan  and  the 
Bronx  for  twenty  years.  During  his  pastorate  here  he  married 
Anna  E.  Leith,  of* Davis,  West  Virginia,  on  April  20,  1898.  A 
daughter,  Frances  Mary,  was  born  to  them  there.  During  his 


THfi  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  583 

nine  years  of  service  at  Bethany  he  began  and  labored  in  move- 
ments which  resulted  in  the  founding  of  Emmanuel  and  Reforma- 
tion Churches,  which  latter  church  after  serving  a  valuable  pur- 
pose was  discontinued.  He  initiated  the  movements  which  eventu- 
ated in  the  building  of  Trinity  Church,  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and 
the  Redeemer  Church,  Yonkers,  New  York.  In  1905  he  became 
pastor  of  Emmanuel,  Woodstock,  Virginia,  and  a  son,  Edmund 
Leith,  was  born  there.  In  December,  1907,  he  was  called  to  St. 
Paul's,  Coney  Island,  New  York,  recently  organized  by  Synod  - 
ical  Missionary,  Carl  Zinnsmeister,  D.D.  The  work  is  remarka- 
ble for  having  been  self-supporting  from  the  start  and  for  having 
no  debt  except  a  small  mortgage  on  the  parsonage,  and  having  an 
invested  reserve  of  $15,000.  The  value  of  the  properties  called 
into  existence  under  his  ministry  is  above  $133,000,  pre-war  esti- 
mate, of  which  $100,000  has  been  paid  and  is  free  from  debt,  and 
the  properties  will  be  increased  by  further  building  programs. 

As  president  of  the  Southern  Conference  in  1912-13,  Pastor 
Kitzmeyer  had  charge  of  all  synodical  matters  for  the  metro- 
politan district  of  the  Synod  of  New  York.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Lutheran  War  Commission.  He  is  also  secretary  of 
the  Society  of  Inner  Mission  and  Rescue  Work,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Inner  Mission  Board  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in 
America,  in  whose  literary  productions  he  takes  part.  He  is  au- 
thor of  the  second  chapter  of  ' '  Inner  Mission  and  Social  Service, 
The  Difference"  and  of  "Saved  to  Serve." 

REV.  MARION  JUSTUS  KLINE,  D.D.    See  page  631. 

REV.  J.  GROVER  C.  KNIPPLE.  Rev.  Knipple  was  born  March 
11,  1888,  at  Silver  Run,  Maryland.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev. 
Hermann  Fultz.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Gettysburg 
Academy,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1906.  That  same  year  he 
entered  Pennsylvania  College  and  graduated  in  1910.  In  1915 
he  completed  his  Theological  Course  at  the  Seminary  at  Gettys- 
burg. .  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Woodsboro, 
Maryland,  in  October,  1914.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  synod 
in  the  Church  of  the  Reformation,  in  Baltimore,  in  October,  1915. 
His  work  in  the  ministry  covered  a  period  of  two  and  one-half 
years  as  pastor  of  the  Lemasters  Lutheran  Charge  of  the  West 
Pennsylvania  Synod. 

REV.  HENRY  ADAM  KOOGLE,  son  of  Adam  and  Magdalene 
Koogle,  was  born  June  10,  1847,  and  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm 
two  miles  west  of  Myersville,  Frederick  County,  Maryland.  He 
was  the  youngest  of  nine  children,  was  baptized  in  infancy  by 
Rev.  David  Bittle,  D.D.,  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
in  which  his  father  was  an  elder,  received  catechetical  instruc- 
tion under  Rev.  Christian  Startzman  and  was  confirmed  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  Hirarn  Knodle,  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Myersville. 


•")84  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

He  attended  the  public  school  and  for  a  short  time  a  private 
school  conducted  by  his  oldest  brother,  the  late  Judge  George 
Koogle.  He  taught  school  the  winter  of  1867  and  in  the  summer 
of  1868  took  a  special  course  in  steamer  bookkeeping  in  East- 
man's Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  with  the  in- 
tention of  visiting  foreign  countries.  At  graduation  he  was  called 
home  on  account  of  the  serious  illness  of  his  mother. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  Rev.  Knodle  held  a  series  of  meetings  and 
young  Koogle  felt  that  he  was  called  to  the  ministry  and  in  the 
spring  of  1869  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Pennsyl- 
vania College  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  He  taught  school 
the  winter  of  1861)  and  the  fall  of  1870  entered  the  Preparatory 
Department  of  \Vittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he 
continued  iiis  studies  until  near  the  close  of  his  Junior  year  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  leave.  He  took  the  advice  of  his 
physician  to  discontinue  his  studies,  which  later  he  felt  was  a 
grave  mistake. 

On  April  4,  1878,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  by  the  late  Rev. 
L.  A.  Mann,  to  Margaret  Ellen  Derr,  third  daughter  of  the  late 
Samuel  Derr,  of  Middletown,  Maryland.  In  May  they  moved  to 
Cedarvale,  Chautauqua  County,  Kansas,  and  settled  on  a  piece 
of  unimproved  land.  To  this  union  were  born  six  children,  two 
boys  and  four  girls. 

The  conviction  remained  that  he  ought  to  be  in  the  ministry. 
He  therefore  continued  to  read  theology  privately,  and  fre- 
quently left  his  plow  to  visit  the  sick  or  bury  the  dead.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Kansas  Synod,  at  Lawrence  in  1888,  he  was  li- 
censed and  took  charge  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Church  in  Russell 
County  in  1889.  He  was  ordained  by  the  synod  at  its  meeting  in 
Atchison  the  same  fall.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  was  re- 
modeled and  the  Excelsior  Church  twenty-one  miles  east  in  Ells- 
worth County  made  a  part  of  the  charge.  In  the  early  part  of 
1892  he  received  a  call  from  the  Chapman  pastorate  in  Dickinson 
County  and  began  his  labors  there  April  first. 

During  his  pastorate  here  the  unfinished  parts  of  the  church 
were  completed,  a  silver  communion  set  secured  from  friends  in 
the  East,  and  a  nine-roomed  parsonage  erected,  Rev.  Koogle  do- 
ing much  of  the  work  with  his  own  hands. 

In  September,  189:{,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Banner  City  pas- 
torate in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  where  he  labored  for 
three  years,  when  on  account  of  crop  failures  and  financial  de- 
pression the  two  charges  were  united  and  he  moved  back  to  Chap- 
man, having  four  churches,  one  eight,  one  seventeen,  and  one 
thirty  miles  from  the  town  church.  This  arrangement  continued 
for  two  years  when  he  suffered  a  severe  nervous  breakdown  from 
which  he  has  not  recovered  sufficiently  to  engage  in  any  line  of 
regular  work. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  585 

REV.  LUTHER  M.  KUHNS,  LITT.D.,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neer Lutheran  missionaries  west  of  the  Missouri  Kiver,  Rev. 
Henry  Welty  and  Charlotta  Jesepha  (Hay)  Kuhns,  and  was  born 
in  Omaha  December  10,  1861.  He  was  baptized  by  his  father,  in 
the  parsonage  in  Omaha,  in  1861  before  the  church  in  the  Indian 
village,  now  the  metropolitan  city  of  Omaha,  was  built. 

In  1872  his  father  removed  from  Omaha  to  Newberry,  South 
Carolina.  He  was  confirmed  by  his  father  in  Luther  Chapel, 
Xewberry.  He  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of  New- 
berry  College  and  was  a  student  there  during  1878-79.  When  his 
father  removed  to  Westminster,  Maryland,  he  entered  Western 
Maryland  College  where  he  remained  until  the  end  of  his  Junior 
year  in  1880,  when  he  entered  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettys- 
burg (in  1880)  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1883  with  the  de- 
gree of  A.B.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.M.  from  his  Alma 
Mater  in  1883  and  in  1918  the  degree  of  Litt.D.  He  graduated 
from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1886. 

He  was  licensed  to  the  Gospel  ministry  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
in  session  at  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  in  1885,  the 
Rev.  M.  W.  Hamma,  D.D.,  preaching  the  sermon.  He  was  or- 
dained to  the  Lutheran  ministry  in  1886  by  the  Pittsburgh  Synod 
of  the  General  Synod  at  Millerstown,  Pennsylvania,  Rev.  E.  H. 
Dornblaser,  D.D.,  preaching  the  sermon.  He  was  pastor  at  Free- 
port  and  Tarentum,  known  as  the  Freeport  Charge,  and  at  Brad- 
dock  and  Turtle  Creek  known  as  the  Bradclock  Charge,  1886-87 ; 
founded  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Omaha,  Nebraska,  in  1887,  and 
continued  as  pastor  of  this  congregation  until  February,  1903. 

For  twelve  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Traveling  Secretary 
Committee,  the  missionary  committee  of  the  Nebraska  Synod. 
He  has  twice  been  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synod,  served  three 
terms  as  trustee  of  Midland  College  and  for  several  years  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Beneficiary  Committee  of  the  Nebraska 
Synod.  He  was  president  of  the  Nebraska  Synod  for  the  years 
1899-1902. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  in  the  First  Church,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  October  31,  1895,  which  organized  the  Lu- 
ther League  of  America.  With  this  convention  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Luther  League  of  America 
and  continued  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  until 
June,  1919.  From  1902  to  1916  he  was  general  secretary  of  the 
Luther  League  of  America  and  1908-9  he  carried  the  Luther 
League  idea  around  the  world  to  the  Lutheran  mission  fields. 
From  1895  to  1916  he  was  associate  editor  of  the  Luther  League 
Review  and  since  August,  1916,  and  until  June,  1919,  editor  of 
both  the  Luther  League  Review  and  also  of  The  Luther  League 
Topics.  He  was  the  author  of  the  Luther  League  hand-book. 

For  three  years  he  was  editor  of  the  Young  People's  Topics  in 


586 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


the  Young  Men's  Journal,  Omaha,  and  for  a  year  edited  the  Sun- 
day school  lessons  in  the  same  journal. 

lie  is  a  member  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Historical  Society,  of 
the  Nebraska  Academy  of  Science  and  of  the  Nebraska  Society 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  of  which  organization  he  is  a 
past  president  and  held  the  position  of  registrar  for  a  number  of 
years  in  this  society.  He  is  the  author  of  various  pamphlets  on 
religious  topics.  He  is  living  in  Omaha  to-day  and  has  been  ac- 
tive in  the  war  and  reconstruction  and  relief  work  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  convention  of  the 
Tinted  Lutheran  Church  in  America,  in  New  York  City  in  11)18, 
having  been  a  delegate  from  the  Nebraska  Synod  to  the  General 
Synod  in  Chicago  in  1917,  the  last  convention  of  that  body  prior 
to  the  session  of  the  General  Synod  for  the  conclusion  of  its  busi- 
ness and  entrance  upon  the  merger  into  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  in  America.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Brotherhood  of  America. 

REV.  BENJAMIN  REIGLE  LANTZ,  D.D.,  son  of  John  Nelson 
and  Mary  Hoffman  Lantz,  was  born  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland, 
March  8,  1874.  He  was  baptized  in  infancy  by  the  Rev.  Henry 
Luckenbaugh,  then  pastor  of  Trin- 
ity Lutheran  Church  of  Hagers- 
town. His  parents  died  before  he 
was  two  years  old  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1876,  he  was  received  into  the 
Tressler  Orphans'  Home  at  Loys- 
ville,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Rev.  G.  D.  E.  Scott 
in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Loys- 
ville  when  he  was  thirteen  years 
old.  In  1889  he  entered  the  Pre- 
paratory Department  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pennsylvania.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Pennsylvania  College 
at  Gettysburg  in  June,  1894. 
After  a  year  in  business  he  en- 
tered the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Gettysburg  and  was  graduated  in 
June,  1898.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  Gospel  and  administer 
the  sacraments,  October  14,  1897,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  He  was  ordained 
as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  at  the  meeting  of  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Synod  in  the  Asbury  Park  Auditorium,  Asbury  Park,  New 
Jersey,  September  18,  1898. 

In  June,  1898,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lantz  accepted  a  call  to  the  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  Church  of  Millersburg,  Pennsylvania.  He  re- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  587 

signed  in  October,  1904,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  be- 
came pastor  of  the  First  Lutheran  Church  of  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri. In  October,  1911,  he  received  a  call  from  the  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church  of  Salina,  Kansas,  and  the  following  year  en- 
tered upon  his  ministry  in  this  place  which  has  continued  to  the 
present  time. 

In  May,  1917,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lantz  by  the  Faculty  and  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Midland  College,  Atchison,  Kansas. 

Doctor  Lantz  has  served  as  president  and  secretary  of  the  Kan- 
sas Synod.  This  synod  has  honored  him  three  times  by  electing 
him  delegate,  twice  to  the  General  Synod  and  once  to  the  United 
Lutheran  Church. 

Doctor  Lantz  was  married  to  Julia  Elizabeth  Hutt,  of  Law- 
rence, Kansas,  at  Lawrence,  October  9,  1901.  They  have  four 
children,  Josephine  Lydia  Lantz,  John  Nelson  Lantz,  Rachel 
Hutt  Lantz  and  Benjamin  Reigle  Lantz,  Jr. 

REV.  CLARENCE  GORDON  LEATHERMAN.  This  son  of  the 
Maryland  Synod,  the  oldest  child  of  Levi  C.  and  Lizzie  A.  (  nee 
Derr)  Leatherman,  was  born  December  28,  1875,  at  Lewistown, 
Frederick  Count}',  Maryland.  When  a  child  he  was  baptized  by 
Rev.  J.  H.  Summers,  pastor  of  the  Utica  Mills  Charge.  After 
catechization  he  was  confirmed  in  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church, 
Utica  Mills,  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Zerger.  His  education  began  in  the 
public  schools  of  Lewistown  and  after  one  year  in  the  high  school 
at  Walkersville,  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  Maryland  State  Col- 
lege. He  entered  the  contest  and  won  a  four  years'  scholarship. 
This  however  he  forfeited  after  two  years  because  there  was  no 
classical  course  at  the  Maryland  State  College  and  he  entered 
Roanoke  College  and  graduated  in  1900.  Three  years  later  he 
was  graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  B.D.  One  year  later  Roanoke  College  con- 
ferred the  Master's  Degree  upon  him.  The  Maryland  Synod  li- 
censed him  at  Hagerstown  in  October,  1902,  and  the  West  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  ordained  him  at  Gettysburg  in  October,  1903. 

He  first  served  the  pastorate  at  Lemoyne,  Pennsylvania,  from 
May,  1903,  to  November  15,  1906.  during  which  time  a  new  par- 
sonage was  built,  the  debt  on  the  chapel  was  paid,  and  the  mem- 
bership doubled.  He  then  became  pastor  of  the  Bethany  Mission 
of  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Fay- 
etteville,  nine  miles  to  the  north.  In  this  mission  the  member- 
ship was  several  times  increased,  a  beautiful  chapel  built  and  the 
General  Synod  work  given  a  foothold  in  that  city  so  that  begin- 
ning with  November  1.  1919,  the  mission  became  self-supporting. 
His  pastorate  at  New  Castle  dated  from  November,  1906,  to  De- 
cember, 1911,  at  which  later  date  he  became  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Vandergrift.  Here  as  in  other  pastorates  the  member- 


:>88 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


ship  was  doubled,  a  long-standing  church  debt  of  $;">,()()()  was  paid 
off  and  the  paisonage  relocated.  After  five  years  in  this  field  a 
call  was  extended  to  him  by  the  Manchester  parish  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  and  on  .June  2.~>,  1  !»!(>,  he  was  received  with  Mrs. 
Leather  man  as  members  of  Immanuel  Church  of  Manchester  and 
then  installed  as  pastor.  This  work  has  been  very  fruitful  as  will 
be  noted  by  the  facts  of  his  ministry.  A  debt  of  $11,000  was  paid 
off  in  three  years.  Benevolence  in  Immanuel  Church  was  paid 
in  full  for  the  first  time  in  the  160  years  of  its  history.  Laxarus 
Church  of  Lineboro  paid  1">0  per  cent,  of  its  benevolence  during 
his  pastorate.  On  -July  27,  191!),  Immanuel  Church  voted  to  be- 
come self-supporting  and  presented  a  petition  to  the  Maryland 
Synod  asking  them  to  ratify  the  action.  At  the  same  time  the 
other  churches,  Laxarus  of  Lineboro  and  .Jerusalem  of  Bach- 
man's  Valley,  petitioned  the  synod  to  become  the  North  Carroll 
Charge.  In  this  parish  a  new  parsonage  was  built  and  at  the 
present  time  the  North  Carroll  Charge  is  constructing  a  hand- 
some parsonage  for  the  new  pastor. 

On  November  15),  1903,  Rev.  Leatherman  wedded  Elh'e  I. 
Cramer,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  II.  Cramer, 
of  Walkersville.  Three  sons  were  born  to  this  couple :  Paul 
Kramer.  October  21),  1905;  Levi  Henry,  deceased;  and  Clarence 
Daniel,  July  30,  1911. 

REV.  ROBERT  LEE  LEATHERMAN.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  at  Lewistown,  Frederick  County,  Maryland, 

April  17,  1863.  He  is  the  son  of 
the  late  Daniel  Leatherman  and 
Caroline  L  e  a  t  h  e  r  m  a  n  ( nee 
Michael.)  He  was  baptized  by 
Rev.  Unruh  and  confirmed  by 
Rev.  S.  A.  Hedges  into  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church  at  Ftica  Mills, 
Frederick  County,  Maryland.  He 
began  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lewistown  and  gradu- 
ated from  Roanoke  C  o  1 1  e  g  e, 
Salem,  Virginia,  in  1888.  During 
his  student  days  he  received  many 
honors  especially  in  oratory,  be- 
ing one  of  his  class  to  speak  on 
Commencement  Day.  After  com- 
pleting the  course  at  Roanoke  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Mount  Airy,  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1888.  While  in 

seminary  he  served  on  the  staff  of  the  Indicator,  a  monthly  maga- 
zine published  by  the  students.    He  graduated  from  seminary  in 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  589 

1891.  He  was  ordained  in  the  office  of  the  Christian  Ministry 
at  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania,  May  26,  1891,  by  the  Ministerium 
of  Pennsylvania. 

After  a  call  from  the  Home  Mission  Board  of  the  General 
Council  he  started  for  his  new  field  of  labor  in  Salem  Church, 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  On  July  18,  1891,  he  took  charge  of 
the  Salem  Church  and  served  here  for  six  years.  After  resign- 
ing his  Salem  congregation  Rev.  Leatherman  came  East  and 
made  his  home  with  his  father,  serving  as  a  supply  at  frequent 
intervals.  In  July,  1905,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Mount  Pleas- 
ant parish,  Mount  Pleasant,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is  still  serv- 
ing as  the  regular  pastor.  Since  his  arrival  in  this  field  the 
charge  has  been  divided  and  now  he  has  charge  of  only  the  con- 
gregation in  the  Borough  of  Mount  Pleasant. 

During  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  Rev.  Leatherman  took  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  University  of  Minnesota,  specializing 
in  Psychology,  Ethics,  and  the  History  of  Philosophy.  In  1893 
he  also  received  the  degree  of  A.M.  from  Roanoke  College. 

REV.  J.  EDWARD  LOWE,  JR.  Rev.  Lowe  was  born  near  West- 
minster, Maryland,  on  August  1,  1881.  He  was  baptized  into  the 
church  by  a  Rev.  Dotterer.  His  parents  were  J.  E.  and  Mary 
Lowe.  In  November,  1898,  he  was  confirmed  in  St.  John's  Lu- 
theran Church  by  Rev.  S.  A.  Diehl.  He  prepared  for  the  min- 
istry in  the  following  schools :  Westminster  High  School,  Gettys- 
burg College  and  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary.  The  Mary- 
land Synod  licensed  him  at  Smithsburg  in  October,  1910.  He  was 
ordained  by  the  Allegheny  Synod  at  Everett,  Pennsylvania.  On 
September  6,  1911,  he  was  married  to  Edith  I.  Cramer  in  Calvary 
Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore. 

During  his  vacation  following  his  middle  year  in  seminary  he 
supplied  the  Glade  pastorate  in  the  Allegheny  Synod.  Here 
during  the  entire  summer  he  held  catechetical  classes  every  Fri- 
day and  Saturday.  He  was  elected  to  this  charge  on  August  14, 
1910,  and  during  the  following  winter,  his  Senior  year  in  semi- 
nary, Rev.  B.  B.  Collins  supplied  for  him.  That  fall  he  con- 
firmed forty-five  of  that  first  catechetical  class.  He  remained  in 
charge  of  the  work  here  from  May  21,  1930,  until  January  1, 
1913.  During  this  time  there  were  ninety-three  accessions  to  the 
church  membership  and  the  benevolent  contributions  wrere  dou- 
bled. 

He  served  at  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Kittanning,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  Pittsburgh  Synod,  from  January  1,  1913,  until  De- 
cember 1,  1916,  with  fifty  accessions.  He  has  been  at  the  Brook- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  pastorate  since  December  1,  1916,  where  the 
membership  has  been  doubled  by  his  efforts. 


5JH)  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

REV.  CHARLES  T.  McDANIEL.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  July  81,  1864,  the  son 
of  J.  Milton  Mc-Daniel  and  his  wife  Frances,  n?c  Elkins.  At  the 
age  of  seven  years  he  removed  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  en- 
tered the  public  schools  of  that  city.  At  the  ape  of  thirteen  he  en- 
tered the  Baltimore  City  College,  graduating  with  honors  in  the 

full  tive  years'  course  in  1881, 
also  receiving  the  Peabody  Prize 
upon  graduation.  Having  re- 
ceived a  scholarship  from  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  he  spent  two 
years  there.  Afterwards  he  spent 
three  years  at  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania,  graduating  in  1886. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  St.  Mark's  Lutheran 
Church.  Baltimore,  in  18S;">,  and 
ordained  by  the  Olive  Branch 
S  y  n  o  d  in  Jeffersontown,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1886. 

In  August,  1886,  under  the 
commission  of  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions,  he  began  his  labors  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  became 
the  first  pastor  of  the  Third  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  Church.  While  at  Louisville  he  purchased  ground, 
erected  a  church  edifice,  and  wiped  out  all  the  debts  on  the  day 
of  dedication,  making  it  a  self-sustaining  church  within  that 
time.  During  his  pastorate  here  he  married  Elsie  Use  of  that 
city.  He  was  commissioned  to  take  up  the  work  in  northeast 
Baltimore  and  shortly  after  he  organized  and  became  the  first 
pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Reformation. 
The  ground  for  the  church  had  been  purchased  and  a  temporary 
church  building  had  been  erected  and  dedicated.  Through  the 
efforts  of  his  wife  over  three  hundred  children  had  been  gathered 
in  the  Sunday  school.  And  then  a  month  later  God  called  her 
and  her  little  son  to  Himself. 

Shortly  after  this  he  resigned  upon  receiving  an  invitation  to 
take  charge  as  supply-pastor  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  during  the  absence  in  Europe  of  Rev.  M. 
Rhodes,  D.D.  Upon  Dr.  Rhodes'  return,  Rev.  McDaniel  returned 
to  mission  work  and  organized  and  became  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  English  Lutheran  Church  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
While  in  this  field  he  visited  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  with  the  ac- 
tive cooperation  of  Mr.  Albert  Dresel,  M.D.,  he  organized  the 
First  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Sedalia.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  Synod  of  Southern  Illinois  and  was  the  single 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  591 

clerical  delegate  representing  this  synod  at  the  General  Synod 
meeting  in  Hagerstown  in  ]895. 

Because  of  impaired  health  he  relinquished  the  work  in  St. 
Louis,  but  after  recuperating  a  few  months  he  accepted  a  call  to 
St.  John's  Lutheran  Church.  Hudson,  New  York.  On  January 
1,  1900,  he  resigned  this  pastorate  and  accepted  a  call  to  Grace 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Hillcrest-Trenton,  serving  here 
for  two  years.  He  was  then  called  to  Holy  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church  of  Hoboken,  New  Jersey,  which  congregation  he  has  been 
serving  for  sixteen  years.  In  this  field  he  has  purchased  the 
ground  for  the  church,  erected  the  church  building  and  also  se- 
cured the  handsome  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $25,000. 

In  1900  he  was  married  to  Lulu  B.  Bame,  of  Hudson,  New 
York.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  Dorothy,  Muriel 
and  Gerald. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synod  from  the  Synod  of 
New  York,  in  1913,  at  Atchison.  Kansas.  While  in  Trenton  he 
was  president  of  Evangelical  Alliance  of  that  city.  He  is  now 
chaplain  of  the  Hoboken  Fire  Department  with  the  rank  of  Bat- 
talion Chief. 

REV.  HENRY  MANKEN,  JR.  Rev.  Manken  was  born  in  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  on  Christmas  Day,  1876.  He  was  confirmed  on 
Palm  Sunday  in  1893,  in  Grace  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  by 
Dr.  O.  C.  Roth.  He  graduated  from  the  Baltimore  City  College 
in  1897  receiving  one  of  the  fifty-dollar  Peabody  prizes  for  gen- 
eral scholarship  and  deportment.  In  the  following  year  he 
taught  both  in  the  day  and  night  public  schools  of  the  city.  Dur- 
ing 1897-1900  he  attended  Johns  Hopkins  University  taking 
courses  in  English,  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  History,  Economics, 
Logic,  Psychology,  Philosophy,  History  of  Philosophy,  and  Char- 
ity and  Reform.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  Hagerstown  in  1902.  In  1903  Mr.  Manken 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.D.  from  the  Gettysburg  Theo- 
logical Seminary  and  was  called  to  be  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Oneonta  Lutheran  Mission  Church. 

He  entered  this  field  on  August  4,  1903.  The  Hartwick  Synod 
ordained  him  the  following  October  at  Canajoharie;  New  York. 
On  October  12,  1904,  Rev.  Manken  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Harriet  Virginia  Bream,  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Manken  was  confirmed  by  Dr.  A.  R.  Steck  in  St.  James'  Lutheran 
Church  of  Gettysburg.  After  attending  the  Teacher's  Course  at 
the  Preparatory  Department  of  Pennsylvania  College,  she  taught 
for  seven  years  in  the  public  schools  of  Adams  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. After  a  period  of  almost  five  years  Pastor  Manken  re- 
signed the  Oneonta  Mission  on  June  15,  1908.  On  July  1,  1908, 
he  assumed  charge  of  St.  Luke's  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  After  a  service  in  this  his  native  city  for  ten  years  he 


:>92 


HISTOKY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


became  again  a  Homo  Missionary  of  the  new  Board  of  Home 
Missions  and  Church  Extension.  I'nder  the  Alliance  of  the  Lu- 
theran Churches  of  Washington  a  new  mission  was  started  in  the 
suburbs  of  Northwest  Washington  and  to  this  work  Rev.  Manken 
now  directed  his  energies,  after  assuming  charge  on  September 
1,  1918.  All  the  while  he  had  been  continuing  the  teaching  of 
Old  Testament  History  and  Biblical  Outlines  in  the  Training 
School  of  the  Baltimore  Lutheran  Deaconess  Motherhouse,  where 
he  had  been  teaching  since  the  death  of  Dr.  Win.  S.  Freas.  the 
superintendent  of  Instruction,  in  February,  1911. 

REV.  JOHN  HENRY  MAIN,  D.D.  Doctor  Main,  the  son  of 
•John  I),  and  Temma/sene  Main,  was  born  in  Woodsboro,  Mary- 
land, December  5,  1868.  He  was  baptized  the  following  year. 
His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  a  farm  near  Johnsville,  Mary- 
land. He  received  his  prepara- 
tory training  for  college  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  Mid- 
diet  own,  Maryland,  where  he  lived 
from  1877  to  1884.  Here  he  also 
was  confirmed  by  Rev.  L.  A. 
Mann,  D.D.,  in  'l881.  In  the 
spring  of  1884  his  parents  moved 
to  Salem,  Virginia,  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  he  entered  Roanoke 
College,  where  he  received  his  first 
two  years  of  college  education. 
In  September,  1886,  the  family 
moved  to  Hagerstown,  Maryland, 
and  he  entered  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege and  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution in  1888  with  the  degree  of 
A.B.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  entered  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg 

and  received  the  degree  of  B.D.  upon  his  graduation  in  1891. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  1890  and  ordained  to  the 
office  of  the  Gospel  ministry  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  October, 
1891. 

His  first  pastorate  was  at  Grace  Church,  Philadelphia,  which 
he  served  from  September,  1891,  to  May,  1903.  This  \vas  suc- 
ceeded by  his  charges  at  First  Lutheran  Church,  Sharpsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  May,  1903,  to  August,  1906;  Holy  Trinity  Luther- 
an Church,  Wilmington,  Delaware,  August,  1900,  to  October, 
1908;  and  Gethsemane  Lutheran  Church,  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, October,  1908,  to  June,  1918.  At  Wilmington  he  built 
a  beautiful  church  as  a  memorial  to  the  notable  historical  event 
of  the  landing  of  the  pioneer  Swedish  Lutherans  in  this  country 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


593 


on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  near  Wilmington.  He  also  estab- 
lished and  enlarged  the  Lutheran  work  in  the  rapidly  growing 
sections  of  West  Philadelphia,  at  Grace  Church  and  more  re- 
cently at  Gethsemane  Church.  In  this  latter  church  he  built  up 
a  strong  congregation  and  established  them  in  the  new  and  com- 
modious church  edifice,  a  property  valued  at  more  than  $100,000. 
During  his  pastorate  at  Gethsemane  Church  he  pursued  a  special 
course  of  study  and  was  awarded  the  degree  of  D.D.  by  the  Cen- 
tral University  of  Indiana  in  1915. 

He  was  married  to  Ida  U.  Richards,  of  Philadelphia,  on  Au- 
gust 3,  1898,  and  this  union  is  blessed  with  two  daughters,  Gladys 
and  Ruth. 

REV.  WILLIAM  SAMUEL  TOMS  METZGER.  This  son  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  was  born  of  William  and  Lydia  (Toms)  Metz- 
ger  on  August  15,  1849,  at  Myerstown,  Maryland.  He  was  reared 
in  a  Christian  home  where  family  worship  was  held  morning  and 
evening  daily,  Luther's  Catechism  was  taught,  the  Church  paper 
was  read,  and  parental  discipline 
was  good.  He  was  baptized  in  in- 
fancy by  Rev.  David  Smith,  pas- 
tor of  St.  John 's  Lutheran 
Church  near  Ellerton,  and  by  con- 
firmation by  Rev.  Hiram  Knodle 
was  received  into  St.  Paul's  Lu- 
theran Church,  Myersville,  Mary- 
land. He  was  educated  at  Gettys- 
burg, graduating  from  Pennsyl- 
vania College  in  1874  and  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  in  1877. 
At  Jefferson,  Maryland,  he  was 
ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod 
in  1877.  On  October  17,  1878,  he 
was  married  to  Mary  E.  Wachtel, 
of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  from 
this  union  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  were  born,  a  son  and 
daughter  dying  in  childhood.  On 

August  8,  1913,  his  beloved  wife,  a  true  helpmeet  and  a  good 
mother,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  Of  the  sons  living  one  was  a  first 
lieutenant  in  the  United  States  army  in  the  late  war. 

The  first  eight  years  of  his  ministry  were  in  the  West.  He  was 
pastor  at  Morristown,  Illinois,  from  1878  to  1883,  and  at  Twin 
Grove,  Wisconsin,  from  1884  to  1885.  For  nearly  a  year  after 
his  first  pastorate  he  lived  at  Shanon,  Illinois,  preaching  as  a 
supply  and  engaged  in  the  temperance  work  under  the  direction 
of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  From  Wisconsin 
he  removed  to  Lanark,  Illinois,  and  returned  to  Maryland  in  188(x 
38 


~>94  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Since  that  time  he  has  served  the  following  pastorates:  Funks- 
town,  1887-1891;  Dillsburg,  1891-1899;  Thurmont,  Maryland, 
1899-190:};  Jefferson,  Maryland,  1903-1908;  Glen  Gardner,  New 
Jersey,  1909  to  the  present.  Since  1909  he  has  also  served  as 
chaplain  at  the  New  Jersey  State  Tuberculosis  Sanatorium,  which 
is  located  at  Glen  Gardner.  Twice  he  has  been  elected  delegate 
to  the  General  Synod. 

REV.  FREDERICK  W.  MEYER.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  was  confirmed  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Henry  Schieb  in  Zion  German  Lutheran  Church.  Later  he 
united  with  the  Second  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore,  of  which 
Rev.  George  Scholl  was  pastor.  For  twelve  years  Rev.  Meyer  was 
in  business  life  and  later  entered  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  as  general 
secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  was  engaged  for  eight  years.  From  this  position  he  resigned 
to  take  a  special  course  in  theology  in  1896.  After  spending  one 
year  at  the  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary  he  was  ordained  in 
October,  1897,  in  the  Memorial  Lutheran  Church,  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia. 

His  first  pastorate  was  in  the  Ravenswood  English  Lutheran 
Church,  Chicago,  Illinois,  as  home  missionary  from  1897  to  1903. 
He  was  the  first  synodical  missionary  for  the  Northern  Illinois 
Synod  during  the  years  1903  and  1904.  During  this  time  he  or- 
ganized the  churches  at  Joliet  and  Peoria.  In  1904  he  was  called 
to  become  pastor  of  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  Church  of  Williams- 
port,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  1908,  when  he  went 
to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  to  become  the  home  missionary  pastor 
of  Emmanuel  Lutheran  Church.  In  that  same  year,  1908,  he  was 
called  to  become  the  first  superintendent  of  the  newly  organized 
Inner  Mission  Society  of  Baltimore  and  vicinity.  This  position 
he  resigned  in  June,  1918,  in  order  to  give  all  his  time  to  the 
Camp  Pastorate  at  Camp  Meade  under  the  supervision  of  the  Na- 
tional Lutheran  Commission  for  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Welfare. 
In  December,  1919,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Lovettsville  Charge 
of  the  Maryland  Synod. 

REV.  HENDERSON  NEIFFER  MILLER,  Ph.D.  Doctor  Miller, 
the  son  of  Calvin  J.  and  Jennie  S.  Miller,  was  born  in  Salisbury, 
North  Carolina,  on  June  8,  1872,  and  was  baptized  November  3, 
1872,  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Neiffcr,  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
of  the  same  place.  He  was  confirmed  in  this  church  by  Rev. 
Charles  B.  King.  Rev.  Miller's  early  education  was  received  in 
the  public  schools  of  Salisbury.  North  Carolina  College,  Mount 
Pleasant,  North  Carolina,  is  his  Alma  Mater  from  which  he  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  A.B.  and  A.M.  During  his  senior  year  he 
was  tutor,  and  in  the  scholastic  year  after  graduation  he  returned 
to  college  as  an  assistant  instructor  and  post-graduate  student, 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


595 


but  ill  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  this  work  before  the 
middle  of  the  session.  In  January,  1891,  he  entered  Gettysburg 
Theological  Seminary,  graduating  in  1894.  While  a  student  in 
the  seminary  he  began  a  post-graduate  course  in  Pennsylvania 
College  which  he  later  finished  in  absentia,  receiving  the  degree 
Ph.D.  He  was  ordained  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  Frostburg, 
Maryland,  in  1894. 

His  first  pastorate  was  a  mis- 
sion at  Brunswick,  Maryland. 
Later  Doctor  Miller  spent  a  sum- 
mer at  the  University  of  Chicago 
studying  Hebrew  and  pursued  the 
fourth-year  course  in'the  Chicago 
Theological  Seminary,  receiving 
the  degree  of  B.D.  Doctor  Miller 
has  been  pastor  at  Brunswick, 
Maryland;  Manning,  North  Car- 
olina; Middlepoint,  Ohio;  First 
English  Lutheran  Church,  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio;  Wytheville,  Vir- 
ginia; Macon,  Georgia;  and  is 
now  (1919)  pastor  of  Holy  Trin- 
ity Lutheran  Church,  Greenville, 
Pennsylvania. 

Doctor  Miller  has  been  an  educator  as  well  as  a  pastor.  For  five 
years  he  was  president  of  Mount  Amoena  Female  Seminary, 
Mount  Pleasant,  North  Carolina,  and  for  three  years  president 
of  Marion  College,  Marion,  Virginia.  During  the  world  war 
Doctor  Miller  was  camp  pastor  at  Camp  Wheeler,  a  training 
camp  at  Macon,  Georgia.  He  was  married  in  1894  to  Cora  L. 
Patterson,  China  Grove,  North  Carolina,  who  has  always  been  a 
great  help  in  every  pastorate  he  has  served.  Four  children  bless 
this  union,  three  daughters  and  a  son. 

REV.  LUTHER  F.  MILLER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
was  born  near  Clearspring,  Maryland,  October  16,  1872,  the  son 
of  Rev.  Victor  Miller  and  his  wife  Man-  Spickler.  In  infancy 
he  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Christian  Startzman.  After  the  death 
of  his  mother  in  his  early  years  he  was  cared  for  by  his  grand- 
mother and  aunt,  until  he  was  ten  years  old  when  his  father  re- 
married, his  second  wife  being  Josephine  Newcomer.  In  1882 
his  family  moved  to  Leitersburg,  Maryland,  where  his  father  had 
been  called  as  pastor  of  the  church.  Here  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  he  was  confirmed  by  his  fa- 
ther at  this  place.  In  1891  he  graduated  from  high  school  and 
entered  the  Freshmen  Class  at  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettys- 
burg, and  graduated  from  this  institution  in  1895  as  one  of  the 


596  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

honor  men  in  his  class.  From  1895  to  1898  he  attended  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  During  his  senior  year  he  sup- 
plied at  Sabillasville,  Maryland.  At  its  meeting  in  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  in  1897,  the  Maryland  Synod  licensed  the 
young  man,  and  the  following  year  he  was  ordained  by  the  same 
synod  at  Taneytown,  Maryland. 

In  the  summer  of  1898  lie  accepted  a  call  to  the  Mount  Calvary 
Lutheran  Church,  "Western port,  Maryland,  and  served  there  until 
the  summer  of  1904.  During  his  pastorate  here  the  debt  on  the 
church  was  liquidated  and  in  a  nearby  mining  village,  Harnum, 
West  Virginia,  a  small  congregation  was  organized  and  a  frame 
church  built.  This  congregation  has  since  been  disbanded  due  to 
changes  in  population  and  mine  ownership.  During  the  next 
year  or  so  he  toured  in  Europe  and  especially  made  a  pilgrimage 
to  the  Luther  country.  On  January  1,  1906,  he  became  pastor  of 
Bethany  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
The  work  here  was  difficult  and  discouraging  until  1909  when  the 
church  building  was  condemned  and  the  church  was  forced  to 
change  its  location.  Then  in  a  developing  section  of  the  city  a 
chapel  was  built  and  paid  for,  and  the  congregation  and  Sunday 
school  were  greatly  increased. 

During  his  residence  in  the  city  Rev.  Miller  has  availed  him- 
self of  the  educational  opportunities  which  Baltimore  offers,  for 
several  years  taking  a  course  at  Johns  Hopkins  University. 

REV.  S.  J.  MILLER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod  was 
born  near  Smithsburg,  Washington  County,  Maryland.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and  then  attended 
the  academy,  which  is  now  known  as  the  Washington  County 
High  School.  He  taught  school  for  three  years  and  then  entered 
the  Sophomore  Class  at  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  in 
1894.  He  graduated  from  this  institution  with  the  class  of  1897. 
In  the  following  September  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg  and  completed  his  course  there  in  1900  writh  the 
degree  of  B.D. 

Rev.  Miller  has  served  two  pastorates.  He  entered  upon  his 
ministry  at  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Sparrow's  Point,  Mary- 
land, on  August  1, 1900.  His  second  and  present  pastorate  began 
on  October  1,  1902,  at  the  Church  of  Our  Saviour,  West  Arling- 
ton, Baltimore,  Maryland. 

REV.  VICTOR  MILLER,  D.D.  Doctor  Miller  was  born  near 
Clearspring,  Maryland,  on  October  24,  18:54.  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
Firey  Miller.  He  was  the  only  survivor  of  ten  children.  In  in- 
fancy he  was  baptized.  He  attended  school  in  St.  Paul's  Church 
under  New  England  teachers  and  then  clerked  in  a  country  store 
for  four  years.  From  1851-53  he  received  catechetical  instruc- 
tion from  Pastors  Startzman  and  Bishop.  He  confirmed  his  bap- 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  597 

tismal  vows  in  April,  1853,  and  began  to  prepare  for  college  in 
the  Academy  at  Williamsport.  In  1854  he  entered  the  Fresh- 
man Class  at  Gettysburg  and  was  graduated  in  1858  with  honor. 
While  pursuing  his  seminary  studies  he  acted  as  tutor  for  one 
year.  He  spent  a  part  of  his  second  year  in  Union  Seminary 
and  while  benefited  he  was  not  satisfied  and  returned  early  in  the 
spring  to  Gettysburg,  where  he  reentered  the  seminary  class  and 
was  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1861.  He  was  licensed  in  Baltimore 
in  1861  and  ordained  the  following  year  in  Washington. 

In  March,  1862,  Dr.  Miller  was  elected  to  the  Fayetteville, 
Pennsylvania,  Charge  in  Lawrence  and  Mercer  Counties  at  a  sal- 
ary of  $400.  Here  he  served  for  more  than  nine  years.  He  had 
married  in  Maryland  in  1865.  Clergyman's  sore  throat  increas- 
ing on  him  forced  his  resignation  in  May,  1871,  at  his  physician's 
stern  demand  of  "stop  or  die." 

In  September  of  1862  he  was  visiting  his  mother  in  Maryland 
and  was  present  during  the  Battle  of  Antietam,  a  most  memora- 
ble experience.  In  July,  1863.  when  Harrisburg  was  threatened 
with  capture  and  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  raged,  he  enlisted  in 
the  55th  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  State  Troops  and  was  sent 
to  Parkersburg,  West  Virginia.  Then  they  were  sent  to  Blen- 
nerhasset  Island  to  check  Morgan's  raid  through  southern  Ohio, 
but  Morgan  was  captured  before  he  reached  the  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  troops.  Dr.  Miller  then  returned  to  Maryland  and 
purchased  half  interest  in  a  store  in  Clearspring  in  1872,  but  in 
1873  his  wife,  the  mother  of  his  three  small  children,  died,  so  he 
sold  his  share  of  the  store  and  was  urged  by  the  county  superin- 
tendent to  try  teaching  to  aid  his  throat.  During  the  summer  of 
1877  by  request  of  the  Clearspring  Charge  he  supplied  them  until 
they  elected  Rev.  S.  M.  Firey. 

Dr.  Miller  taught  for  eight  years  and  in  January,  1881,  he  was 
asked  to  become  the  first  pastor  of  the  newly  formed  Leitersburg 
Charge,  created  from  the  peaceful  division  of  the  large  Smiths- 
burg  Charge.  Although  realizing  his  former  throat  trouble  he 
accepted,  trusting  God  to  help  him.  During  his  pastorate  he 
built  a  nice  parsonage  and  rebuilt  both  churches  in  a  few  years. 
He  acted  as  secretary  of  the  synod  for  nineteen  consecutive  years. 
In  1882  he  remarried.  After  serving  the  charge  for  thirty-three 
and  a  half  years  he  felt  it  necessary  to  resign  to  increasing  mus- 
cular nervousness  which  made  it  scarcely  possible  for  him  to  ad- 
minister the  communion  service.  In  1914  he  resigned  from  the 
active  pastorate  and  removed  to  Hagerstown.  In  accepting  his 
resignation  the  congregation  elected  him  Pastor  Emeritus  and  in 
1917  his  Alma  Mater  honored  him  with  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Di- 
vinity. He  has  seen  eight  of  his  membership  enter  the  ministry. 

REV.  WILLIAM  G.  MINNICK.  Rev.  Minnick,  the  son  of  Ezra 
and  Henrietta  Minnick,  was  born  at  Middletown,  Frederick 


i~>98  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

County,  Maryland,  in  the  heart  of  the  famous  Middletown  Valley 
which  lias  furnished  so  many  men  for  the  ministry  of  the  Luther- 
an Church.  He  attended  the  public  school  in  his  native  town  and 
prepared  for  entrance  into  the  Sophomore  (Mass  of  Pennsylvania 
College  in  a  private  school  conducted  by  Professor  William  L. 
Avis.  Not  being  able  to  enter  college  at  that  time,  Rev.  Minnick 
taught  for  three  years  in  the  public  schools,  during  which  time 
he  prepared  himself  for  entrance  into  the  .Junior  Class  of  Penn- 
sylvania College,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1890 
being  one  of  the  honor  men  of  his  class.  He  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  fall  of 
1890  and  graduated  in  1893.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  1892  and  ordained  by  the  same  body  in  1893. 

After  graduating  from  seminary  Rev.  Minnick  accepted  the 
appointment  as  principal  of  the  High  School  at  Middletown,  and 
taught  for  a  few  months,  resigning  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Mount 
Joy  Charge,  consisting  of  the  Mount  Joy  congregation  in  Adams 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  St.  Paul's  congregation  at  Harney, 
Maryland,  which  charge  he  served  for  more  than  fourteen  years. 
During  this  time  he  served  as  secretary  and  president  of  the 
Adams  County  Conference;  was  recording  secretary  of  the  West 
Pennsylvania  Synod  for  three  years  and  its  statistical  secretary 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  resigned  this  charge  to  accept  a  call 
to  Concordia  Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  while  serving 
this  church,  was  president  of  the  Lutheran  Church  Extension 
Society  of  Baltimore  City  for  one  year.  The  next  church  he 
served  was  St.  John's,  Cumberland,  Maryland.  He  was  com- 
pelled to  give  up  this  work  on  account  of  impaired  health,  due  to 
the  long-continued  illness  of  his  aged  father.  Going  to  Baltimore 
for  treatment,  he  acted  as  supply  pastor  for  several  years.  His 
health  being  fully  restored,  he  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor 
of  the  Mission  Church  at  Lauraville,  now  within  the  limits  of 
Baltimore  City,  of  which  church  he  is  now  pastor. 

Rev.  Minnick  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synod,  at  its  ses- 
sions in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  Akron,  Ohio.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  been  statistical  secretary  of  the  Maryland  Synod 
and  the  secretary  of  the  Association  of  Lutheran  Ministers  born 
in  Middletown  Valley.  He  is  the  author  of  the  brochure,  "The 
Sufficiency  of  the  Doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Her  Di- 
vine Mission,"  and  has  contributed  a  number  of  articles  to  the 
religious  and  secular  press. 

REV.  ALBERT  OSWALD  MULLEN.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod  was  born  in  Smithsburg,  Maryland,  on  January  10,  1867. 
He  was  baptized  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Grimm,  pastor  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Wolfsville,  Maryland.  Rev.  D.  B.  Floyd,  pas- 
tor of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Boonsboro,  Maryland,  confirmed 
him.  His  higher  education  he  received  at  Pennsylvania  College, 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD. 


599 


Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  institution  he  graduated 
in  1891,  and  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  he 
graduated  in  1894.  He  was  licensed  in  St.  Mark's  Lutheran 
Church,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1893.  On  October  11,  1894,  he 
was  ordained  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Frostburg,  Maryland; 
Rev.  Edwin  H.  Delk  was  presi- 
dent at  that  time.  He  entered  the 
ministry  from  the  Third  English 
Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  of  which  Rev.  I.  C. 
Burke  was  pastor. 

Rev.  Mullen  was  pastor  at  Wat- 
sontown,  Pennsylvania,  from 
1894  until  1903,  and  at  Ard- 
more,  Pennsylvania,  from  1903  to 
1904.  He  was  chaplain  of  the 
Maryland  Penitentiary,  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  from  1905  to 
1913.  During  his  residence  in 
Baltimore  Rev.  Mullen  was  a  post- 
graduate student  in  Political 
Economy,  Political  Science,  and 
History  of  Philosophy  at  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  Baltimore, 
from  1907  to  1913. 

He  has  served  in  the  following  several  offices  in  the  Church : 
Secretary  of  the  Susquehanna  Synod,  1897-]  900 ;  member  of  the 
Educational  Committee  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  1916- 

— ;  assistant  secretary  of  the  General  Synod,  1899,  1901 ;  sta- 
tistical secretary  of  the  General  Synod,  1899,  1901,  1903. 

Rev.  Mullen  was  married  to  Lulu  Grace  Bikle,  in  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  on  June  27,  1895,  by 
Rev.  S.  W.  Owen. 

REV.  PHILIP  H.  R.  MULLEN.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Ringgold,  Washington  County,  Maryland,  October 
25,  1878,  the  son  of  Amos  F.  and  Hannah  S.  Mullen.  He  was 
baptized  at  the  home  of  his  grandfather,  Philip  Oswald,  on  April 
13,  1879,  by  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson,  pastor  of  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Smithsburg,  Maryland.  He  was  confirmed  in  the  Third 
English  Lutheran  Church  of  Baltimore.  Maryland,  April  3,  1893, 
by  Rev.  I.  C.  Burke,  D.D.  At  the  age  of  two  years  his  parents 
moved  to  Boonsboro,  Maryland,  and  from  here  to  Pekin,  Illinois, 
and  subsequently  to  Baltimore.  Here  in  the  fall  of  1886  he 
started  to  public  school  and  later  attended  the  Baltimore  City 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1899  with  honors.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  Junior  Class  of  Pennsylvania 
College,  Gettysburg,  and  graduated  from  this  institution  with 


(iOO 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


the  class  of  1901.  Throe  years  later  upon  the  completion  of  his 
theological  course  at  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  decree  of  B.I),  from  the  seminary  and  A.M.  from 
the  college,  lie  was  licensed  on  October  2;">,  1903,  by  the  Mary- 
land Synod  at  "VVilliamsport,  Maryland,  and  the  following  year 
( 1004)  he  was  ordained  by  the  same  synod  meeting  in  St.  John's 

Lutheran    Church,    Martinsburg, 
AVest  Virginia. 

In  November  of  the  same  year 
he  took  charge  of  his  first  pastor- 
ate at  Maytown,  Pennsylvania. 
From  Maytown  he  moved  to  Free- 
port,  Illinois,  and  entered  upon 
his  work  there  in  January,  1908. 
During  his  pastorate  here  he  re- 
modeled the  church,  built  a  new 
parsonage,  and  served  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Northern  Illinois 
Synod  for  a  period  of  four  years. 
He  was  also  elected  delegate  from 
this  synod  to  the  General  Synod 
Akron,  Ohio,  in  .191.1,  making  a 
report  to  that  body  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Na- 
chusa  Orphanage.  Receiving  a 
call  from  St.  John's  Lutheran 

Church,  Swissdale,  Pennsylvania,  he  took  up  the  work  there  in 
September,  191."),  and  is  still  serving  this  pastorate.  Here  he 
built  a  new  parsonage  and  is  at  present  serving  upon  the  Min- 
isterial Education  Committee  of  the  Pittsburgh  Synod. 

He  was  married  February  1,  1905,  in  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church,  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  to  Clara  W.  O'Neal.  Two  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth  Calverta  O'Neal  and  John  Philip  Edward,  have 
blessed  this  union. 

REV.  EDGAR  CARLTON  MUMFORD.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Susan  C.  (Cochran)  Mumford 
and  was  born  in  Middletown  Valley,  November  12,  1877.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  he  received  his  early  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools.  He  graduated  from  the  Middletown 
High  School  in  1897.  He  taught  school  in  the  public  schools  of 
Frederick  County,  and  graduated  from  Frederick  College  in 
1900.  He  was  a  member  of  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  Middletown, 
Maryland,  and  for  a  time  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school.  He  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  at  Gettysburg  College 
in  1900  and  graduated  from  college  in  1903,  and  from  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1906. 

Rev.  Mumford  has  served  the  following  charges:    Home  Mis- 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  601 

sion  Pastor  of  Grace  Church,  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  in  1906  and 
3907,  during  which  time  he  reorganized  the  mission  which  had 
been  vacant ;  from  1907  to  1910  pastor  at  St.  John's,  Littlestown, 
Pennsylvania;  Home  Mission  Pastor  at  Mount  Union,  Pennsyl- 
vania, from  1910  to  1916;  and  from  that  time  to  the  present 
pastor  of  Messiah  English  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. 

On  April  29,  1908,  he  wedded  Mary  Maude  Beard,  daughter 
of  Rev.  M.  L.  Beard,  then  pastor  at  Thurmont,  Maryland.  Four 
children  have  blessed  this  union,  Karl  Luther,  John  David,  Paul 
Jones,  and  Lois  Katharine. 

REV.  A.  G.  NULL.  Rev.  Null  was  born  in  Carroll  County, 
Maryland,  of  Lutheran  parents.  His  early  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  and  from  the  eighth  grade  he  entered 
the  Sub-freshmen  Class  of  the  Western  Maryland  College  at 
Westminster,  Maryland,  and  after  five  years'  study  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  A.B.  degree.  He  entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  from  this  institution  in  1905  with 
the  degree  of  B.D.  The  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  ordained  him 
in  October  of  the  same  year  in  Allentown,  Pennsylvania. 

He  has  served  with  success  the  following  pastorates :  Pikeland, 
Pennsylvania,  July,  1905,  to  April,  1907 ;  Fairmont,  West  Vir- 
ginia, May,  1907,  to  November,  1908 ;  Jefferson,  Maryland,  No- 
vember, ]  908,  to  March,  1914 ;  Petersburg,  Pennsylvania,  March, 
1914,  to  June,  1917 ;  Ellicott  City,  Maryland,  June,  1917,  to  the 
present. 

REV.  ELBERT  E.  ONEY.  Rev.  Oney  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Virginia.  His  father  was  Rev.  William  B.  Oney,  pastor 
of  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Middlebrook,  Vir- 
ginia. His  mother,  who  died  when  Rev.  Oney  was  only  four 
years  old,  was  Catherine  Groceclose  Oney.  The  early  years  of 
his  life  he  spent  with  his  step-mother's  father,  H.  B.  Remine, 
M.D.,  at  Palestine,  Washington  County,  Virginia.  After  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  of  Washington  County,  Rev.  Oney  re- 
ceived his  academic  education  at  the  Concord  High  School,  at 
Concord,  North  Carolina.  Later  he  attended  the  Bridgewater 
College  of  Bridgewater,  Virginia. 

He  gave  up  his  education  at  Bridgewater  College  to  accept 
employment  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  He  followed 
a  business  career  in  Washington,  and  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania. During  these  years  Mr.  Oney  was  very  active  as  a  layman 
in  the  city  mission  work  and  especially  in  the  young  people's 
work  in  Luther  Place  Memorial  Church  in  Washington,  Bethany 
Church  in  Philadelphia  and  St.  Paul's  English  Lutheran  Church 
in  Washington.  But  in  all  these  years  he  was  not  able  to  get 
away  from  a  call  to  the  ministry.  So  taking  the  advice  of  his 


•(502  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

pastor,  Rev.  John  T.  Huddle,  D.I).,  he  resigned  his  position  and 
in  the  fall  of  1011  he  entered  Gettysburg  College  to  complete  his 
education  for  the  Gospel  ministry.  Four  years  later  Mr.  Oney 
graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  the 
second  largest  class  that  was  ever  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion. 

Rev.  Oney's  first  charge  was  at  Elk  Lick,  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Here  Rev.  Oney  was  married  to  Charlotte  C. 
Rover,  the  daughter  of  Lloyd  C.  and  Savallia  Rover,  on  June  20, 
1010.  In  the  autumn  of  1917  Rev.  Oney  accepted  a  call  to  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  Church  of  Kittanning,  Pennsylvania.  After 
getting  acquainted  with  the  conditions  there,  he  realized  that  a 
merger  of  all  the  Lutheran  congregations  of  the  community  was 
necessary.  The  result  of  this  was  that  in  February,  1019,  a  suc- 
cessful merger  of  the  various  Lutheran  congregations  was  ef- 
fected, possibly  one  of  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  in  America.  This  charge  Rev.  Oney  served  only  eighteen 
months.  In  March,  1019,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Trinity  congrega- 
tion at  Tarentum,  Pennsylvania.  Here  in  his  pastorate  of  less 
than  a  year  he  has  brought  about  great  advances  in  the  financial 
and  material  conditions  surrounding  this  congregation.  Exten- 
sive plans  for  church  improvement  and  remodeling  are  under 
way  at  the  present  time. 

REV.  J.  W.  OTT,  D.D.  Dr.  Ott  was  born  October  20,  1870,  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland,  near  Rocky  Ridge,  the  son  of  John 
T.  Ott  and  Emma  Frances  Ott.  He  was  baptized  in  Haugh's 
Church  (of  the  Woodsboro  Charge)  by  the  pastor  of  that  congre- 
gation, Rev.  S.  W.  Owen,  D.D.,  LL.D.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
was  confirmed  by  Rev.  M.  J.  Wire,  in  Mount  Tabor  Church,  at 
Rocky  Ridge.  He  received  his  early  education  at  the  public 
school  at  Rocky  Ridge  and  later  at  a  Select  School  at  Union 
Rridge,  of  which  Miss  Flora  Wilson  was  the  principal.  After 
one  year  in  the  Preparatory  Department  at  Gettysburg,  he  en- 
tered Pennsylvania  College  and  upon  his  graduation  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  Here  he  completed  the 
three  years'  course  and  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at 
Hagerstown,  in  1809.  Tn  1901  he  was  ordained  by  the  Northern 
Indiana  Synod  at  North  Manchester,  Indiana. 

From  1900  to  1007  he  served  the  Trinity  Mission  in  Grand 
Rapids.  During  his  pastorate  here  the  church  became  self-sup- 
porting and  the  membership  was  doubled.  From  1907  to  the 
present  he  has  been  pastor  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church  at 
Hagerstown,  Maryland.  In  1004  he  was  secretary  of  the  North- 
ern Indiana  Synod,  and  later  president  of  the  Western  Confer- 
ence of  the  Maryland  Synod.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Roard 
of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension  of  the  Maryland  Synod. 
Susquehanna  University  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.D. 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD.  603 

On  September  19,  1906,  he  was  married  to  Leona  Odell  Weaver, 
daughter  of  Dr.  S.  B.  Weaver  and  Mary  Jane  Weaver,  of  Littles- 
town,  Pennsylvania.  Their  only  child's  name  is  Weaver  Lvman 
Ott. 

REV.  EMERY  ALFRED  OTTMAN,  D.D.  Doctor  Ottman  was 
born  in  Cobleskill,  New  York,  on  December  21,  1868,  of  John  H. 
and  Angelica  Ottman.  He  was  received  into  the  fellowship  of 
Bethany  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Central  Bridge,  New 
York,  by  Rev.  I.  M.  Derrick.  In  June,  1889,  he  graduated  from 
Hartwick  Seminary  and  from  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary 
in  June,  1892.  The  Maryland  Synod  licensed  him  at  Hagerstown 
in  the  fall  of  1891.  In  October,  1892,  he  was  ordained  by  the 
New  York  and  the  New  Jersey  Synod  at  Wurtemburg,  New  York. 

He  has  served  the  following  pastorates :  Guilderland  Center, 
New  York,  October,  1892,  to  1898 ;  Ghent,  New  York,  August, 
1898,  to  1904;  Ancram,  New  York,  April,  1904,  to  1910;  and  at 
Richmond ville,  New  York,  from  November,  1910,  until  the  pres- 
ent. In  June,  1913,  he  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from  Hart- 
wick  Seminary.  On  December  14,  1892,  he  married  Gittie  Ann 
Vroman,  of  Central  Bridge,  New  York.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Angelena  Vroman  Ottman.  now  preparing  herself  for  teach- 
ing in  the  public  schools. 

REV.  REESE  ST.C.  POFFENBERGER.  Rev.  Poffenberger  was 
born  at  Rohrersville,  Maryland,  March  6,  1880.  He  received  his 
primary  education  at  the  public  school  of  his  home  town  and 
under  the  tutelage  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Maurer,  his  pastor,  was  prepared 
for  entrance  in  the  Preparatory  School  of  Gettysburg  College. 
Having  completed  the  course  at  this  institution  he  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  and  graduated  from  the  same  in  1905. 

His  first  and  only  charge  served  was  the  Woodsboro  pastorate. 
He  assumed  pastoral  charge  there  on  May  18,  1905,  and  con- 
tinued the  same  until  January  1,  1917.  In  these  years  the  entire 
charge  saw  a  most  wonderful  change  in  church  buildings  and 
more  than  $35,000  was  put  into  the  different  places  of  worship. 
For  the  last  year  and  a  half  he  has  been  supplying  different 
places,  more  often  at  the  church  at  Braddock  than  at  any  other. 

His  present  address  is  Frederick  Junction,  R.  D.  1,  Maryland. 

REV.  AUGUST  POHLMAN.  M.D.,  D.D.  Dr.  Pohlman  was  born 
in  1864  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  of  Frederick  Pohlman  and  Au- 
gusta Scherger,  both  of  Germany.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev.  E.  J. 
Wolf,  D.D.,  and  attended  Sunday  school  at  the  Second  English 
Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore.  He  united  with  the  church  in 
1884.  In  the  public  schools  of  Baltimore  he  received  his  prepara- 
tory education.  He  entered  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1888.  During  his  college  days  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Philomathean  Literary  Society  and  also  had  charge  of  the 


HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYXOI). 


college  gymnasium  for  four  years.  Tic  graduated  from  the  in- 
stitution in  1891.  After  completing  two  years  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  he  read  the  third  year  of  the  course 
while  taking  the  first  year  of  medicine  in  Maryland  University 
preparing  for  mission  work  in  Africa.  He  was  licensed  and  or- 
dained by  the  Maryland  Synod  in 
18W  and  1804  respectively.  In 
18!M)  he  graduated  in  medicine 
and  went  to  Muhlenberg  Mission, 
Monrovia,  Liberia,  Africa,  in  the 
fall  of  189(i.  Here  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  Rev..  David  A.  Day, 
D.I).,  for  the  last  six  months  of 
his  life. 

Rev.  Poh  1  man  was  married  in 
the  mission  on  June  11,  1899,  to 
Augusta  V.  Shaffer,  daughter  of 
Rev.  J.  F.  Shaffer,  D.D.,  of  Dela- 
ware, Ohio.  One  child  was  born 
to  them,  a  daughter,  Dorothea,  in 
September,  1907.  Both  of  them 
were  on  furlough  in  the  United 
States  during  1900,  presenting 
the  cause  of  Muhlenberg  Mission 
throughout  the  country.  They 

left  the  mission  field  in  the  spring  of  1902,  and  began  home  mis- 
sion work  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  newly  organi/ed 
Temple  Lutheran  Church.  This  mission  has  had  remarkable 
growth,  reaching  a  thousand  members  in  the  first  five  years, 
necessitating  the  large  new  building  for  which  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  in  less  than  a  year  after  the  new  pastor  took  charge. 
The  mission  was  only  receiving  aid  from  the  board  for  eighteen 
months. 

In  addition  to  the  degree  of  B.A.  given  by  the  college,  M.A. 
was  given  after  three  years,  and  M.D.  by  the  Baltimore  Medical 
College  in  1896,  and  the  honorary  degree  of  D.D.  was  given  by 
Pennsylvania  College  in  1916. 

Dr.  Pohlman  was  president  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod 
during  the  years  of  1915  to  1918,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Synod- 
ical  Mission  Committee  up  until  the  end  of  his  office  as  president 
of  the  synod.  He  was  for  years  the  Lutheran  member  of  the 
Philadelphia  Sunday  School  Association  and  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  Pastor's  Fund  of  the  General  Synod  until  the  merger  of 
the  three  bodies,  when  he  became  president  of  the  Board  of  Min- 
isterial Relief  in  1919.  He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  General 
Synod  meetings  at  Sunbury,  Atchison  and  Akron.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelistic  Commission  of  the  Federal  Council  of 
Churches  and  president  of  theKeswick  Colony,  New  Jersey,  which 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  605 

looks  after  redeeming  drunkards,  and  he  is  also  the  Lutheran 
member  of  the  National  Reform  Association.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Pan  Lutheran  Missionary  Society  to  South  America, 
until  that  work  was  taken  over  by  the  Foreign  Board. 

While  in  Africa  Dr.  Pohlman  was  a  prolific  writer  for  the 
Church  papers,  giving  a  great  variety  of  information  about  many 
subjects  of  interest.  The  articles  were  published  under  the  title 
of  "Letters  from  Africa."  He  has  been  a  frequent  contributor 
to  the  Church  papers.  He  is  also  a  well-known  popular  speaker, 
being  often  in  demand  for  Sunday  school  and  Young  People's 
conferences,  missions  and  men's  meetings.  He  frequently  ad- 
dresses shop  and  car-barn  meetings,  and  is  often  in  Reform  Insti- 
tutions, showing  men  the  better  way  of  life.  To  the  brotherhoods 
and  men's  organizations  he  is  no  stranger. 

On  September  28,  1939,  Dr.  Pohlman  celebrated  his  seven- 
teenth year  as  pastor  of  Temple  Church.  He  has  been  its  only 
pastor.  During  the  time  nearly  3,000  people  have  become  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  two  students  are  at  Gettysburg  studying  for 
the  ministry,  three  young  women  have  been  at  the  Deaconess 
Home,  and  a  missionary  is  supported  in  the  Girl's  School  in 
Africa. 

REV.  WILSON  LEE  REMSBERG.  This  son  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  E.  (Zimmerman)  Rems- 
berg,  was  born  two  miles  south  of  Middletown,  Maryland.  De- 
cember 26,  1848.  He  was  baptized  by  Dr.  David  F.  Bittle.  In 
his  youth  he  was  reared  and  inured  to  constant  toil  in  his  father 's 
woolen  factory.  He  was  brought  to  Christ  largely  through  the 
Sunday  school  of  which  his  father  was  superintendent  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  Rev.  H.  G.  Bowers  confirmed  the  young  man. 
He  graduated  from  Pennsjdvania  College  in  1874  and  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in  1877.  The  Maryland 
Synod,  meeting  in  Washington,  licensed  him  in  1876  and  he  was 
ordained  by  the  Northern  Illinois  Synod  in  1877. 

He  was  one  of  the  compilers  of  "The  Book  of  Worship  with 
Tunes";  chairman  of  the  committee  which  prepared  "Augsburg 
Songs,  No.  1";  author  of  two  choir  books,  entitled,  "Choir 
Perennial,"  and  "Choir  Devotional";  also  the  author  of  a  num- 
ber of  Easter,  Home  Mission,  and  Christmas  services.  He  was 
instructed  in  Composition  and  Harmony  by  Dr.  Charles  Baetens, 
of  Omaha,  Nebraska.  Rev.  Remsberg  is  the  author  of  a  little 
pamphlet,  "History  of  the  Remsberg  Family  in  America." 

He  served  the  following  charges  as  pastor :  Princeton,  Illinois, 
1877-1882;  Oregon,  Illinois,  1882-1886;  South  Dixon,  Illinois, 
1886-1888 ;  and  built  a  church  at  Nachusa.  From  1889  to  1894 
he  served  at  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  and  paid  off  more  than  $5,000 
church  debt.  He  also  served  at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  (St.  Mark's) 


606 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


from  1894  to  1896;  at  Myersville,  Maryland,  1896  to  1902;  at 
Shanksville,  Pennsylvania,  1902  to  190:5;  in  Santa  Barbara,  Cali- 
fornia, from  19().'{  to  1908,  where  he  organized  the  congregation 
and  purchased  an  excellent  church  edifice  for  $5.250.  He  has 
been  located  at  Funkstown,  Maryland,  from  1908  to  the  present. 
On  December  12,  1889,  he  married  Katie  B.  Stroh,  of  Oregon, 
Illinois. 

REV.  CLAY  EDWARD  RICE.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  October  27,  1887,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of 
Myersville,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  known  locally  as  Jeru- 
salem. He  is  the  son  of  Mahlon  Luther  Rice  and  Anna  M. 
((irove)  Rice,  and  brother  of  Elmer  F.  Rice,  a  minister  in  the 

Lutheran  Church  and  a  son  of  the 
Maryland  Synod.  Shortly  after 
his  birth  his  parents  moved  to  a 
farm  two  miles  north  of  Myers- 
ville. He  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  local  public  school. 
He  was  a  member  of  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church,  having  been 
baptized  and  later  confirmed  in 
this  church.  He  spent  three  years 
at  the  Myersville  High  School  and 
entered  Pennsylvania  College  in 
the  fall  of  1907,  as  a  beneficiary 
of  the  Maryland  S  y  n  o  d.  He 
graduated  from  college  in  1911 
and  that  fall  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg, 
from  which  institution  he  gradu- 
ated in  1914.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Maryland  Synod 

on  October  2:J,  1918,  in  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Hagerstown, 
Maryland. 

Having  received  a  call  to  become  the  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Lu- 
theran Church,  Lionville,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  he  took 
charge  of  the  field  on  June  1,  1914,  and  was  ordained  by  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Synod  at  its  meeting  in  Zion  Lutheran  Church, 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  September  '•}(),  1914.  His  ministry  at 
Lionville  terminated  at  the  end  of  January,  1919,  to  take  up  work 
in  the  newly  formed  pastorate,  known  as  Neffsville — East  Peters- 
burg Charge,  located  near  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

On  May  19,  1914,  Rev.  Rice  was  married  to  Minnie  Catherine 
Dinterman,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  D.  Dinterman,  of 
Middletown,  Maryland. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  607 

REV.  ELMER  F.  RICE.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod  was 
born  near  Myersville,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  February 
28,  1886,  the  son  of  Mahlon  L.  and  Anna  M.  (Grove)  Rice.  He 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  M.  L.  Smith  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church 
near  Myersville,  and  he  was  confirmed  in  the  same  church  by 
Rev.  W.  L.  Remsberg.  After  completing  the  work  in  the  public 
schools  of  Frederick  County  he  attended  the  Myersville  High 
School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1906.  The  following  fall  he 
entered  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg,  graduating  with  the 
class  of  1910.  He  entered  Gettysburg  Seminary  the  same  year 
and  graduated  from  this  institution  in  1913.  The  Maryland 
Synod  at  its  meeting  at  Williamsport,  Maryland,  licensed  him 
October  24,  1912.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Allegheny  Synod  at 
Berlin,  Pennsylvania,  the  following  year. 

On  June  1,  1913,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Jennerstown  pas- 
torate of  the  Allegheny  Synod  and  served  here  over  five  years. 
During  his  pastorate  here  the  finances  of  the  churches  were  im- 
proved, leading  to  increased  gifts  in  many  directions.  Three  of 
the  churches  of  the  charge  were  repaired  and  paid  for.  At  Bos- 
well  a  new  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $22,000,  and 
the  debt  practically  all  provided  for  before  Rev.  Rice  left  the 
field.  The  membership  of  the  charge  was  almost  tripled  during 
his  pastorate.  On  August  31,  1918,  he  accepted  a  call  to  First 
English  Lutheran  Church  of  Duquesne,  Pennsylvania,  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Synod.  Here  the  work  has  been  most  encouraging 
and  at  present  a  new  church  building  costing  $55,000  is  nearing 
completion. 

On  May  21,  1913,  he  married  Amy  M.  Derr,  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  C.  and  Clara  E.  Derr,  of  Middletown,  Maryland.  One 
son,  Edward  Martin,  deceased,  was  born  to  this  couple. 

REV.  ARTHUR  FRANKLIN  RICHARDSON.  This  son  of  the 
synod  was  born  in  Lovettsville,  Loudon  County,  Virginia,  and  is 
the  son  of  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson,  who  was  a  prominent  divine 
in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  whose  name  is  a  house- 
hold word  in  hundreds  of  homes  in  Virginia,  West  Virginia  and 
Maryland.  A.  F.  Richardson  received  his  early  training  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  Pearson  Academy, 
Smithsburg,  Maryland.  His  literary  education  he  received  at 
Gettysburg  College,  graduating  in  1885.  He  studied  theology  in 
the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1888,  immediately  receiving  a  call 
from  the  Aurora  pastorate  where  he  built  two  churches  and 
added  300  to  the  membership. 

He  was  called  to  Grafton,  West  Virginia,  where  he  rebuilt  the 
church  and  more  than  doubled  the  membership.  From  Grafton 
he  wras  called  to  Lancaster,  Ohio,  serving  the  church  there  for  six 


<>08 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYXOO. 


years.  He  went  to  Pittsburgh  from  Lancaster  and  through  his 
efforts  there  the  beautiful  edifice  at  Swissclale  was  erected.  From 
there  he  was  recalled  to  Grafton,  serving  that  church  nearly 
twenty  years  during  his  two  pastorates  there.  From  Grafton  he 
was  called  to  his  present  charge  at  Petersburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  Richardson  was  bapti/.ed  by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Bowers,  con- 
firmed by  his  father.  Rev.  X.  J.  Richardson,  at  Smithsburg, 

Maryland,  and  ordained  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  Cumberland 
in  1888.  He  was  one  of  the  mov- 
ing spirits  in  the  organization  of 
the  Synod  of  West  Virginia  and  a 
charter  member  of  that  synod  and 
its  recording  secretary  for  three 
years. 

Rev.  Richardson  has  one  son, 
Xenophon  King,  who  enlisted  in 
the  Navy  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  and  after  honorable  discharge 
secured  the  position  of  superin- 
tendent of  dock  construction  at 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  which  position 
he  now  holds. 

The  Grafton  Sentinel  pays  this 
tribute  to  the  subject  of  this 
sketch : 

"Rev.  Richardson  is  a  man  of 

indomitable  energy  with  the  courage  of  his  convictions;  a  hard 
student,  a  classical  scholar,  and  an  eloquent  pulpit  orator.  These 
admirable  traits  along  with  his  cordial,  sympathetic  nature  have 
bound  him  closely  to  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  he  is  liked  and 
respected  by  our  citizens  without  regard  to  sect  or  creed." 

REV.  CHARLES  I.  RITTER.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
son  of  the  late  Peter  Lewis  and  Oeranda  Ritter  and  was  born  at 
Keysville,  Maryland,  January  4,  1867.  He  was  baptized  by  the 
late  Levi  T.  Williams,  and  was  confirmed  April  28,  1883,  by  Rev. 
John  T.  Asper,  pastor  of  the  Keysville  congregation.  Having 
early  in  life  felt  constrained  to  enter  the  Gospel  ministry,  he  re- 
ceived his  academic  training  at  the  Preparatory  Department  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  He  entered  Pennsylvania  College,  Get- 
tysburg, Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1887,  and  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1891  with  the  A.R  degree.  The  following  September 
he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  gradu- 
ated from  this  institution  in  May,  1894.  He  was  licensed  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  on  October  5,  1893. 
The  West  Pennsylvania  Synod  ordained  him  at  Chambersburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  October,  1894.  On  October  4,  1894,  he  was 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


609 


united  in  marriage  to  Emma  Virginia  Stimmel,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  W.  Stimmel,  of  Woodsboro,  Maryland,  a  graduate 
of  Maryland  College  with  the 
class  of  1891. 

During  his  ministry  he  has 
served  acceptably  the  following 
charges  and  congregations :  Fay- 
etteville,  Pennsylvania,  charge, 
June,  1894,  to  June,  1896;  Bur- 
kittsville,  Maryland,  charge,  July, 
1896,  to  January,  1902;  Zion's 
Church,  Fairfield,  Pennsylvania, 
February,  1902,  to  November, 
1908 ;  Trinity  Church,  Wheeling, 
West  Virginia,  December,  1908,  to 
August,  1912;  St.  Peter's 
Church,  York,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember, 1932,  to  March,  1916  ;  St. 
John's  Church,  Mahanoy  City, 
Pennsylvania.  April,  1916,  to  the 
present.  He  has  also  filled  hon- 
ored positions  in  conference  and  synod. 


REV.  JULIUS  FREDERICK  SEEBACH.  Rev.  Seebach  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  March  10,  1874,  the  son  of  Julius 
Christian  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  Seebach.  He  was  baptized  by 
his  maternal  grandfather,  Rev.  Henry  Weicksel,  at  that  time  pas- 
tor of  the  Lutheran  Church,  Ringtown,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
confirmed  by  Rev.  Peter  Bergstresser,  D.D.,  at  Waynesboro, 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  place  he  went  to  receive  his  education 
in  the  college  and  seminary  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  From 
these  institutions  he  graduated,  from  college  with  honors  in  1894, 
and  from  seminary  in  1897.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland 
Synod  in  October,  1896,  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  and  ordained 
at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  by  the  same  synod  in  1897. 

On  November  15,  1897,  he  married  Margaret  R.  Himes,  of 
Gettysburg,  and  went  immediately  to  take  charge  of  St.  John's 
congregation  at  Maytown,  Pennsylvania,  remaining  there  until 
May  31,  1900.  At  this  place  the  first  child,  Julius  Frederick, 
Jr.,  was  born.  His  second  charge  was  St.  John's  Church,  Ma- 
hanoy City,  Pennsylvania,  from  June,  1900,  to  November,  1907. 
Their  second  child,  John  Arthur,  was  born  here.  He  then  took 
up  the  work  at  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania,  on  November  1,  1907, 
and  spent  five  years  here.  At  the  close  of  this  pastorate  his  ex- 
tensive library  and  accumulated  notes  of  study  were  destroyed 
by  fire.  His  fourth  charge  was  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  served  from  January  1  1913,  to  October  15.  1919.  On 
39 


<il()  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

the  latter  date  he  resigned  and  accepted  his  present  work  at  Em- 
manuel Lutheran  Church,  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio. 

The  results  of  his  work  are  recorded  in  the  better  organization 
and  steady  growth  of  each  congregation  served,  the  payment  of 
church  debts  previously  contracted  in  each  of  the  charges  and 
the  remodeling  of  the  church  and  parsonage  at  Mahanoy  City, 
Pennsylvania. 

He  was  secretary  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  for  four 
years;  trustee  of  the  Home  for  the  Aged,  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia ;  president  of  the  North  East  Conference  of  Alle- 
gheny Synod  and  vice-president  of  the  same  synod.  He  had 
charge  of  the  financial  drive  in  the  Allegheny  Synod  for  the  Na- 
tional Lutheran  Commission,  and  acted  as  camp  pastor  at  Camp 
Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  for  the  commission. 

During  his  ministry  he  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  Lutheran 
Quarterly,  the  I^ttheran  Observer,  the  Lutheran  Young  People, 
several  Presbyterian  publications,  and  the  Bible  Society  Record. 
He  is  also  the  author  of  a  volume  on  the  Bible,  called,  "The  Book 
of  Free  Men,"  and  co-author  with  his  wife  of  a  volume  of  Refor- 
mation stories,  entitled,  "The  Singing  Weaver.''  Other  volumes 
are  in  process  of  preparation. 

REV.  CHARLES  AUGUSTUS  SHILKE.  Rev.  Shilke  was  born 
on  September  22,  1886,  near  Lineboro,  Carroll  County,  Mary- 
land. He  was  confirmed  in  the  Lazarus  Lutheran  Church,  Line- 
boro, Maryland,  by  Rev.  H.  H.  Flick  on  September  28,  1901.  He 
graduated  from  the  Codorus  Township  High  School  at  Glenville, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1908.  From  here  he  entered  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege and  graduated  from  that  institution  on  June  12,  1912.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  Lutheran  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  here  in  1915.  During  the 
summer  of  1914  he  acted  as  supply  pastor  of  the  First  Lutheran 
Church,  Mill  Creek,  Illinois.  On  October  29,  1914,  he  was  li- 
censed by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Woodsboro,  Maryland.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  synod  in 
Zion  Lutheran  Church,  Middletown,  Maryland,  on  October  29, 
1915. 

In  February,  1915,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Monocacy  Valley 
Charge.  He  was  married  to  Anna  Mary  Harm,  of  Columbia, 
Pennsylvania,  on  June  16,  1915.  He  is  now  pastor  of  the  Utica 
Lutheran  Charge,  Walkersville,  Maryland,  this  being  the  succes- 
sor to  the  Monocacy  Valley  Charge. 

REV.  WILLIAM  GRANT  SLIFER,  oldest  son  of  Joshua  and 
Eliza  A.  Slifer,  was  born  at  Locust  Grove,  Washington  County, 
Maryland,  on  July  28,  1868.  When  about  a  year  old,  he  was  bap- 
tized in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Locust  Grove  by  Rev.  George  H. 
Beckley,  at  which  time  also  both  his  father  and  mother  were  re- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  611 

ceived  into  the  church  by  baptism.  He  attended  catechetical  lec- 
tures under  Revs.  George  H.  Beckley,  D.  B.  Floyd  and  M.  L. 
Beard.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  confirmed  by  Rev.  D.  B. 
Floyd  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Rohrersville,  to  which  his  par- 
ents had  transferred  their  membership. 

From  early  youth  he  had  a  desire  to  study  for  the  ministry 
and  was  encouraged  in  this  by  Revs.  Floyd  and  Beard.  Under 
the  latter 's  direction  and  with  his  assistance  he  was  prepared  for 
college  in  the  public  schools  of 
Boonsboro,  Maryland.  He  en- 
tered the  Freshman  Class  of 
Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettys- 
burg in  the  fall  of  1887,  graduat- 
ing in  1891.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  entered  the  Luther- 
an Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg, graduating  in  J  u  11  e, 
1894,  at  which  time  he  was  given 
the  degree  of  A.M.  by  Pennsyl- 
vania College.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  Maryland  Synod  in  the 
Third  Lutheran  Church  of  Balti- 
more in  October,  1893,  and  or- 
dained by  the  West  Pennsylvania 
Synod  in  the  First  Lutheran 
Church  of  Chambersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  October,  1894. 

On  June  5,  1894,  he  was  united 

in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Blanche  Walter,  of  Fairfield,  Penn- 
sylvania, who  was  called  to  her  eternal  rest  and  reward  August 
22,  1919.  To  this  union  were  born  four  children,  Luther  Walter, 
a  senior  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg:  Naomi 
Grace,  and  Mary  Evelyn  and  Martha  Evelyn,  twins. 

Rev.  Slifer  served  the  following  pastorates :  The  Upper  Ber- 
mudian  Charge,  Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  July  1,  1894- 
May,  1896.  During  this  pastorate  the  Mount  Zion  Church  at 
Goodyear  was  repaired  and  the  Sunday  schools  of  the  charge 
were  kept  open  the  entire  winter  for  the  first  time  in  their  his- 
tory. The  Saint  John's  Church  of  Davis,  West  Virginia,  was 
served  from  May,  1896-October,  1898.  Preaching  services  were 
also  conducted  during  the  week  quite  frequently  for  the  Luther- 
ans in  Baird  and  Gorman,  points  twenty-five  miles  away.  Serv- 
ices were  also  held  on  Sunday  afternoon  at  a  point  seven  miles 
from  Davis  in  the  Valley  of  Canaan.  Here  he  built  the  first 
church  of  any  denomination  in  the  valley,  Mount  Hebron.  The 
Clearville  Charge  in  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  was  served 
from  October,  1898-October,  1903.  During  this  pastorate  a  par- 
sonage was  bought  and  paid  for,  two  churches  repaired,  and  the 


(512 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


Mount  Zion  congregation  organized  and  church  built,  all  finan- 
cial obligations  being  met  in  full.  During  this  term  of  service 
four  young  men  were  influenced  to  enter  the  ministry:  Revs.  D. 
S.  "Weinier,  E.  Victor  Roland,  E.  E.  Snyder,  and  Ernest  Pee. 
The  Upper  Frankford  Charge,  Cumberland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  served  from  October,  1903-Deceraber,  1911.  During 
this  pastorate,  the  Saint  Peter's,  or  "Brick"  Church,  said  to  be 
one  of  the  finest  rural  churches  in  the  state,  was  built  and  dedi- 
cated free  of  debt.  The  Saint  Thomas  Charge  in  Franklin  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  has  been  served  from  December,  1911 -present, 
(November,  1919). 

During  his  years  in  the  ministry,  Rev.  Slifer  has  preached 
twenty-seven  hundred  twenty-three  sermons  and  delivered  one 
hundred  forty-two  other  addresses,  baptized  two  hundred  eighty- 
two  infants  and  one  hundred  forty-two  adults,  received  into 
membership  by  letter  one  hundred  thirty-one  and  by  confirma- 
tion one  hundred  sixty-nine,  performed  ninety- nine  marriages 
and  two  hundred  nineteen  funerals,  raised  over  forty  thousand 
dollars  in  money,  made  over  five  thousand  pastoral  visits,  travel- 
ing in  his  pastoral  work  over  fifty-one  thousand  miles. 

REV.  HENRY  W.  SNYDER  was  born  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
August  30,  1883,  the  only  son  of  Henry  T.  and  Justina  Ulrich 
Snyder.  He  was  baptized  by  the  late  Rev.  I.  C.  Burke,  D.D., 
pastor  of  Third  Church,  Baltimore.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 

was  confirmed  by  the  Rev.  U.  S. 
G.  Rupp,  D.D.,  in  the  Church  of 
the  Reformation.  After  attend- 
ing for  several  years  the  Zion  Lu- 
theran Parochial  School,  he  en- 
tered the  public  schools  of  Balti- 
more, and  was  graduated  from  the 
Baltimore  City  College  in  June, 
1903,  with  Peabody  honors.  He 
then  entered  the  Johns  Hopkins 
University  from  w  h  i  c  h  he  was 
graduated  in  1906  with  the  degree 
of  A.B.,  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
honor.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  entered  the  seminary  at 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  the  required  course  of  study 
covering  three  years,  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1909  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Divinity.  On  Octo- 
ber 13, 1909,  he  was  ordained  in  Christ  Lutheran  Church,  Gettys- 
burg, by  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod. 

Shortly  after  his  ordination,  Rev.  Snyder  was  married  to  Miss 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


613 


Dorothea  A.  Heitmueller,  of  Baltimore.  Three  sons  have  been 
born  from  this  union :  Luther  H.,  William  V.,  and  Henry  W.,  Jr. 

Upon  graduating  from  seminary  Rev.  Snyder  accepted  a  call 
to  the  St.  Thomas  Charge  in  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
serving  the  churches  at  St.  Thomas  and  Fort  London.  In  1911 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  John's  Church  of  Mercers- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  served  until  1915,  when  he  was 
called  to  be  pastor  of  Memorial  Church,  Shippensburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1918,  he  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor  of  the  First 
Church,  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  his  present  field  of  labor. 

Rev.  Snyder  was  elected  chairman  of  the  West  Pennsylvania 
Synod's  delegation  to  the  General  Synod  which  met  at  Chicago 
in  June.  1917.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  made  secre- 
tary of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod.  He  is  at  present  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  repre- 
senting the  Allegheny  Synod. 

REV.  SIMON  SNYDER.  This  son  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  the 
son  of  Samuel  Shields  and  Katie  Belle  Snyder,  was  born  near 
Fairview,  Washington  County,  Maryland,  August  9,  1884.  After 
baptism  in  infancy,  he  was  received  into  the  fellowship  of  Mount 
Tabor  Lutheran  Church,  Fairview,  Maryland,  by  confirmation 
by  Rev.  George  A.  Royer,  pastor. 
Through  the  influence  of  Pastor 
Royer  he  was  led  to  consider  the 
claims  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 
For  a  year  he  studied  privately, 
with  the  exception  of  Latin  in 
which  he  was  instructed  by  Pastor 
Royer.  In  the  fall  of  1904  he  en- 
tered the  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  College  en- 
rolling in  the  Sub-freshman  Class. 
In  1909  he  was  graduated  from 
Pennsylvania  College  and  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Get- 
tysburg in  1912.  On  October  22, 
1911,  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  in  session  at 
Tanej'town,  Marj^land. 

Upon  graduation  from  semi- 
nary he  received  a  call  to  the 
Scalp  Level  pastorate,  Scalp  Level,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  served 
as  pastor  for  seven  and  one-half  years,  resigning  to  accept  a  call 
to  Trinity  Lutheran  Church,  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  where  he 
is  now  located.  During  his  ministry  at  Scalp  Level  he  organized 
a  congregation  at  Rummel  which  became  a  part  of  the  Scalp 
Level  Charge.  Material  improvements  were  made  in  all  the 


<J14 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


churches,  modern  methods  were  introduced,  and  large  accessions 
resulted  in  the  churches. 

On  August  1,  15)12,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Xannie  Roth, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  Roth,  Williamsport,  Maryland. 
One  daughter,  Ethel  Virginia,  was  born  December  2f>,  If)!."). 
During  his  connection  with  the  Allegheny  Synod  he  served  on 
the  Examining  Committee  for  three  years,  examining  in  the  He- 
brew and  Greek  Scriptures.  For  the  same  period  he  served  as 
the  synodical  Sunday  school  secretary.  He  was  also  eleeted 
president,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Somerset  County  Con- 
ference and  as  statistical  secretary  and  superintendent  of  the 
Department  of  Teacher  Training  in  the  Lutheran  Sunday  School 
Association  of  the  same  conference.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Synod  which  met  in  Chicago  in  15)17  and  to  the  Merger 
Convention  in  New  York  in  1918. 

REV.  CHARLES  FREDERICK  STECK,  JR.,  was  born  in  Muncie, 
Indiana,  September  14,  185)0.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Charles  F. 
Steck,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Epiphany, 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  After  living,  respectively,  in 
Muncie,  Indiana;  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  Springfield,  Ohio, 

where  he  was  confirmed  by  his  fa- 
ther, in  1902,  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  P>ederick,  Maryland. 
During  his  residence  in  Frederick 
he  received  his  college  prepara- 
tory work  in  the  old  Frederick 
College,  an  institution  founded 
before  the  close  of  the  Eighteenth 
Century.  Having  completed  the 
course  at  this  school,  he  entered 
the  Freshman  (Mass  of  Gettys- 
burg College  in  the  fall  of  1908. 
Not  long  after  the  close  of  his 
Freshman  year,  his  parents  moved 
to  Washington,  District,  of  Co- 
lumbia, and  he  continued  his  work 
in  the  George  Washington  Uni- 
versity of  that  city. 

It  was  about  this  time,  during 
an  illness,  that  he  determined  to 

enter  the  Lutheran  ministry,  and  with  that  purpose  in  view  he 
entered  the  .Junior  class  of  Wittenberg  College  in  the  fall  of  15)1:5. 
Here  his  collegiate  work  was  finished  and  he  entered  the  Hamma 
Divinity  School  in  15)1"),  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1918. 

In  the  fall  of  15)17  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Wittenberg 
Synod,  then  in  session  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  One  year  later  he 
was  ordained  by  the  same  synod  in  session  at  Hellefontaine,  Ohio. 


THE  SOXS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


613 


Immediately  upon  graduation  Rev.  Steck  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Marie  Hansen,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and 
they  moved  at  once  to  Upper  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  he  had  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  English  Lutheran  Church  of  that  city.  To 
them  one  child,  a  son,  Charles  Frederick,  III,  has  been  given. 

In  the  spring  of  1919  a  call  from  the  Westwood  Lutheran 
Church  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  sturdy  mission  of  four  years,  was  ac- 
cepted and  since  April  of  the  same  year  they  have  lived  in 
Dayton. 

Rev.  Steck  is  the  fourth  generation  of  his  family  to  enter  the 
Lutheran  ministry. 

REV.  FREDERICK  CHARLES  J.  STERNAT.  Rev.  Sternat  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Vienna,  Austria,  March  29,  1881.  His  par- 
ents wrere  then  living  in  that  city  where  his  father  was  a  sculptor 
or  modeler,  working  mostly  in  clay  for  architectural  terra-cotta. 
He  was  brought  by  his  widowed  mother  as  an  infant  to  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  where  a  loving 
mother  and  devoted  brothers 
reared  him.  While  the  mother 
went  to  the  German  Church,  the 
son  attended  the  Second  Lutheran 
Church  on  Lombard  Street  of 
which  church  Rev.  George  W. 
Miller,  D.D.,  was  pastor.  He  was 
confirmed  by  Pastor  Miller  on 
Palm  Sunday,  1895.  While  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Polytechnic  Institute 
of  Baltimore,  the  appeal  came  to 
enter  the  ministry  as  he  listened 
to  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Fred- 
erick Meyer,  one  of  the  Second 
Church's  young  men  then  study- 
ing for  the  ministry.  And  after 
a  struggle  of  three  years  with 
plans  for  his  life  work  which  were 
for  a  technical  vocation,  the  sur- 
render was  made  about  the  time  of  graduation  from  the  institute 
in  June,  1899.  The  following  fall  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
a  student  at  Stevens  Hall,  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  as  a  pre- 
paratory student.  And  the  following  year  he  entered  Pennsyl- 
vania College  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1904,  as  a  second  honor  man.  And  then  came  for  him 
the  happy  busy  years  on  the  hill  at  seminary  from  which  place 
he  was  graduated  in  May,  1907.  Rev.  Sternat  was  licensed  to 
preach  at  Waynesboro,  Pennsylvania,  in  October,  1900,  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  and  was  ordained  in  September,  1907,  at  As- 
bury  Park,  New  Jersey,  by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod. 


(51(5 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


He  had  accepted  a  call  to  the  Palmyra  Charge  which  consisted 
of  three,  congregations,  one  at  Palmyra,  another  at  Bellegrove 
six  miles  away  and  another  near  Colebrook  which  was  ten  miles 
away,  all  in  Pennsylvania.  Four  happy  years  were  spent  among 
these  people,  who  responded  to  the  leadership  of  their  pastor  and 
one  of  the  fruits  of  that  ministry  is  a  missionary  in  India.  While 
here  Pastor  Sternat  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Apel,  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  The  work  in  this  charge  was  concluded  when  a  call 
came  from  the  Abbottstown  Charge,  Adams  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  accepted.  This  pastorate  began  May  7,  1911,  and 
has  continued  to  the  present  time.  The  response  in  this  charge 
has  been  gratifying  both  in  spirituality  and  liberality. 

Two  children  help  make  the  home  a  real  one  at  the  parsonage. 
Naomi  E.  Sternat  was  born  at  Palmyra  June  23,  1909,  and  Theo- 
dore M.  Sternat  was  born  on  September  8.  1912.  Though  not 
privileged  to  go  into  the  foreign  field  nevertheless  Rev.  Sternat 
and  his  wife  have  specialized  in  rural  work,  having  taken  several 
brief  courses  for  rural  pastors  at  State  College,  Pennsylvania, 
and  College  Park,  Maryland.  The  West  Pennsylvania  Synod  has 
elected  Rev.  Sternat  as  secretary  for  two  consecutive  terms.  And 
Rural  Manhood,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  rural 
magazine,  has  published  one  of  his  articles  on  rural  work. 

REV.  PHILIP  THOMAS  EMORY  STOCKSLAGER.  Rev.  Stock- 
slager  was  born  December  19,  1871,  near  Funkstown,  Maryland, 
the  son  of  David  K.  and  Mary  (Waltz)  Stockslager.  Rev.  Keller, 

pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church  of  Funkstown,  baptized 
the  boy  and  Rev.  W.  S.  T.  Metzger 
confirmed  him  in  the  same  church. 
He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Funkstown  and 
afterwards  attended  the  Male 
High  School  of  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  graduating  in  1893. 
He  entered  Pennsylvania  College 
with  the  class  of  1897  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg  in  1900.  The 
Maryland  Synod  meeting  at 
Westminster  in  1899  licensed  the 
young  man  and  he  was  ordained 
by  the  Central  Pennsylvania 
Synod  at  New  Berlin  on  October 
13,  1900. 

After  graduating  from  semi- 
nary he  accepted  a  call  to  Marysvile,  Perry  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. During  his  pastorate  the  present  church  building  was 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD. 


G17 


erected.  On  April  2,  1902,  he  married  Mary  G.  Peters,  the 
daughter  of  Mrs.  D.  T.  Koser,  of  Arendtsville,  Pennsylvania,  and 
they  now  have  four  children,  two  girls  and  two  boys  He  resigned 
the  Marysville  pastorate  February  15,  1903,  and  accepted  a  call 
to  Hyde  Park,  Pennsylvania.  On  March  15,  1904,  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  McKeesport  mission  consisting  at  that  time  of  about 
thirty-five  active  members.  On  January  6,  1905,  the  present 
church  lot  was  bought  and  in  the  fall  the  erection  of  the  present 
church  building  began.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  January  9th, 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  October  28,  1906. 

June  15,  1908,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Mount  Joy  Charge, 
Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  many  improvements  have 
been  made  to  the  church  and  the  parsonage.  The  cemeteries  also 
have  received  considerable  attention  and  are  now  kept  in  first- 
class  condition.  The  Harney,  Maryland,  Church  has  received  a 
home  for  a  parsonage  from  the  will  of  Samuel  C.  Shoemaker  and 
between  seven  and  eight  thousand  dollars  trust  funds  for  Foreign 
Missions.  Both  churches  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

REV.  GRAYSON  Z.  STUP  was  born  January  25,  1873,  at  the 
home  of  his  parents,  William  David  and  Eleanor  Stup  (nee 
Brunner),  about  three  miles  north  of  Frederick,  Maryland.  His 
parents,  sister,  and  brother  were  members  of  the  Bethel  congre- 
gation of  the  Utica  Charge,  but  he  was  baptized  by  the  Rev. 

George  Diehl,  D.D  ,  of  the  Luther- 
an Church  in  Frederick,  and  was 
confirmed  by  the  Rev.  Luther 
Kuhlman,  D.D.,  of  the  same 
church.  When  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  his  mother,  then  a 
widow  of  twelve  years,  with  his 
brother,  A.  C.  Stup,  a  Freshman 
at  Gettysburg,  moved  from  the 
farm  to  Frederick,  and  resided  at 
the  Rockwell  place,  opposite  West 
Third  Street.  Here  his  mother 
died  in  December,  1891.  He  at- 
tended the  Frederick  Academy, 
where  he  prepared  for  college  at 
Gettysburg  in  the  fall  of  1892. 
He  continued  his  course  without 
interruption,  by  aid  which  he  re- 
ceived from  the  Maryland  Synod, 
graduating  in  the  First  Honor 

Group,  and  delivering  the  Latin  Salutatory  at  his  commencement 
in  1896.  He  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in 
September,  1896,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.D.  in 
May,  1899.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Taney- 


(>18  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

town  in  1898,  and  ordained  by  the  Allegheny  Synod  at  Somerset, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1899. 

He  served  the  following  charges:  Kays  Hill,  in  Bedford  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  from  June,  1899,  to  March,  1902,  repairing  the 
Rays  Hill  Church  during  his  pastorate;  the  Matthew's  Charge 
in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  from  March,  1902,  to  June, 
1908.  During  this  pastorate  a  beautiful  stone  parsonage  was 
built  on  the  lot  adjacent  to  the  church  yard  and  paid  for.  From 
June,  1908,  to  January,  1917,  he  served  the  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
Church,  Lafayette  Hill,  Pennsylvania.  January  1,  1917,  he  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  Trenton, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  now  resides. 

He  was  married  July  28,  1898,  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  and  Mary  Motz,  of  Conshohocken,  Pennsylvania.  Two 
children  have  blessed  the  home :  Mary  E.,  a  graduate  of  the 
Trenton  High  School,  and  now  of  Rider  College,  Trenton,  and 
Harry  C.,  a  Junior  in  high  school,  preparing  for  college  at  Get- 
tysburg. 

He  has  written  numerous  articles  for  the  Church  papers,  and 
published  in  the  Lutheran  Quarterly,  April,  1916,  a  review  of 
Millennial  Dawn  or  Russellism. 

For  three  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Synod,  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  General  Synods  at  Akron, 
Ohio,  and  Chicago,  and  a  delegate  to  the  first  convention  of  the 
United  Lutheran  Church  in  New  York  City.  At  present  he  is 
president  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference  of  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Synod. 

REV.  CHARLES  R.  TROWBRIDGE.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  on  November  1,  18o9.  His  fa- 
ther was  James  A.  Trowbridge,  a  merchant  of  that  city,  and 
Maria  Louisa  Morris,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  G. 
Morris,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  his  mother.  The  father  died  when  the 
son  was  but  eighteen  months  old,  and  in  consequence  his  educa- 
tion and  training  were  left  to  his  mother,  whose  piety  and  Chris- 
tian character  fully  fitted  her  for  the  work.  There  is  no  record 
of  either  his  baptism  or  his  confirmation,  but  it  is  supposed  that 
the  first  was  performed  by  his  maternal  grandfather,  Dr.  Morris, 
and  the  latter  took  place  in  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  Balti- 
more, and  was  at  the  hands  of  his  grandfather,  who  at  that  par- 
ticular time  was  supplying  the  pulpit  and  parish  of  St.  Mark's, 
owing  to  the  absence  in  Europe  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Charles  A. 
Stork,  D.D. 

Mr.  Trowbridge  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  city,  finishing  it  in  the  Baltimore  City  Col- 
lege, from  which  school  he  went  to  Gettysburg  College  in  the  fall 
of  1878  and  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1882.  After 
graduating  with  the  class,  he  returned  that  fall  and  entered  the 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  619 

Theological  Seminary.  From  this  institution  he  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1885.  He  was  licensed  at  the  hands  of  the  Maryland 
Synod,  in  session  in  Taneytown  in  the  fall  of  1884.  The  next 
year,  1885,  he  was  ordained  by  the  same  synod,  meeting  in  his 
home  church  in  Baltimore. 

He  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  Christ  Lutheran  Church 
of  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  in  the  summer  of  1885  and  took  charge 
of  the  work  there  in  September  of  that  year.  He  remained  in 
this  field  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  St. 
Peter's  Lutheran  Church  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  The  work  of 
this  parish  occupied  him  until  the  fall  of  1892,  when  he  resigned 
to  take  up  the  work  in  St.  Paul's  Parish,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
In  1896  owing  to  physical  disability,  he  gave  up  the  work  in  Bal- 
timore and  returned  to  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  to  spend  some  time 
in  rest  and  quiet.  While  here,  in  1898,  the  pulpit  of  his  old 
charge  became  vacant  and  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  former 
congregation,  he  consented  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  brief 
period.  But  at  the  end  of  three  months  the  congregation  urged 
him  to  accept  a  call  to  the  pastorate  for  a  second  time.  This  he 
did  and  served  the  congregation  for  the  following  thirteen  years, 
with  considerable  success.  Being  convinced  that  it  would  be  best 
to  retire  from  the  parish  he  resigned  the  work  in  April,  1911,  and 
again  took  up  his  residence  on  College  Hill,  Easton,  where  he 
still  has  his  home. 

Rev.  Trowbridge  was  married  on  April  28,  1886,  to  Anna  M. 
Lilly,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  A.  W.  Lilly,  D.D.,  for  forty- 
two  years  pastor  of  Zion  Lutheran  Church,  York,  Pennsylvania. 
One  child  was  born  to  them,  a  son,  on  May  18,  1894. 

As  president  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  the  full  term  of 
two  years,  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  for  two 
years,  and  a  member  of  the  Synodical  Mission  Committee  of  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Synod,  having  in  charge  the  varied  home  mis- 
sion work  on  its  territory,  Mr.  Trowbridge  has  given  considerable 
time  to  the  work  of  the  Church  outside  the  parishes  served  by 
him.  Although  not  in  active  service  at  present,  he  is  frequently 
called  on  for  considerable  supply  work  in  the  pulpit  and  in  va- 
cant parishes.  He  has  served  as  pastor  pro  tempore  of  two  large 
and  important  congregations  in  his  home  town  and  neighboring 
pastors  find  it  very  convenient  to  have  some  one  to  call  upon  in 
an  emergency,  for  a  sermon  or  a  service, — a  call  which  he  is  glad 
to  answer. 

REV.  MILLARD  FRANCIS  TROXELL.  D.D.  Doctor  Troxell 
was  born  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  October  25,  1857.  He  was 
baptized  by  Rev.  Christian  Startzman  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  H. 
C.  Holloway.  He  prepared  privately  for  college  and  entered  the 
Freshmen  Class  at  Gettysburg  in  1876.  He  graduated  from  this 
institution  in  1880,  taking  the  Graeff  Prize  Essay  in  his  Senior 


620  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

year.  After  two  years'  course  at  the  seminary  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Synod  of  Maryland  and  entered  the  home  mission  field  in 
Kansas  at  Eureka,  building  a  church  and  a  parsonage  and  free- 
ing them  both  from  debt  in  the  first  year  of  his  ministry.  Tn 
1882  he  was  married  to  Julia  T.  Forney,  of  Gettysburg,  who  died 
after  one  year  of  married  life.  Tn  1888  he  was  ordained  by  the 
Maryland  Synod  at  Baltimore. 

Tn  1884  Doctor  Troxell  founded  the  Children's  Memorial 
Church  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  remained  there  five  years, 
resigning:  to  become  general  secretary  of  the  new  Board  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  General  Synod.  Tn  1880  he  married  Juliet  N.  En- 
sminger,  of  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania.  Three  sons  and  two 
daughters  have  been  the  result  of  this  union,  all  of  whom  have 
received  full  college  education  and  graduation.  Their  names  in 
order  of  birth  are,  Mark  Gotwald.  Trene,  Millard  Baxter,  Edith 
Prances,  and  John  Philip.  While  serving  as  general  secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Education  a  call  was  accepted  by  him  to  become 
pastor  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  Tn  ten  busy  years  there  a  fine 
stone  church  was  built  and  the  debt  provided  for  and  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  work  here  and  throughout  the  state,  Carthage  College 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.D.  Doctor  Troxell  was  also 
made  chaplain  of  the  state  senate,  an  executive  and  advisory  of- 
ficer in  the  state  and  international  Christian  Endeavor  move- 
ment, the  Anti-Saloon  League,  associate  charity  work  and  other 
activities  of  a  general  character  as  well  as  a  regular  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education. 

Tn  1899  he  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where  after 
a  five  years'  pastorate  he  was  elected  president  of  Midland  Col- 
lege, Atehison,  Kansas.  Tn  eight  years'  service  there  as  teacher 
and  executive  head  a  new  library  wfs  built  and  endowed,  semi- 
nary property  acquired  and  paid  for,  president's  house  pur- 
chased, and  values  in  property  and  endowment  of  over  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars  added  to  the  institution.  Tn  1912  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  become  pastor  at  Topeka,  Kansas,  and  in  1916 
the  Kansas  governor,  Arthur  Capper,  and  the  state  board,  ap- 
pointed Doctor  Troxell  chaplain  and  parole  supervisor  of  the 
state  Boy's  Industrial  School  at  Topeka  where  he  was  also  acting 
superintendent  during  the  world  war. 

Doctor  Troxell  has  been  editor  of  a  number  of  publications,  a 
Chautauqua  lecturer  and  a  leader  in  Bible  study,  and  for  years 
was  western  correspondent  of  the  Lutheran  Observer,  writing 
under  his  initials,  "M.  F.  T."  He  has  been  General  Synod  dele- 
gate at  Harrisburg,  Allegheny,  Mansfield,  Canton,  Baltimore, 
Hagerstown,  Des  Moines,  Richmond,  Washington,  and  others, 
and  president  of  his  local  synod  a  number  of  terms.  At  present 
(1919)  he  has  the  oversight  of  250  boys  in  the  State  Industrial 
School  and  over  500  on  parole  in  Kansas  and  other  states. 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  621 

REV.  C.  M.  WACHTER.  Rev.  Wachter  was  born  in  Middle- 
town,  Maryland,  August  16,  1866.  He  was  the  son  of  W.  N.  and 
Sarah  A.  Wachter.  As  a  child  he  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Michael 
Wachter,  who  was  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Middletown. 
He  received  his  catechetical  instruction  under  Rev.  L.  A.  Mann, 
and  with  a  class  of  eighteen  he  was  received  by  confirmation  into 
the  church  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  parochial  school  of  the  church  and  later  in  the 
public  schools.  Under  Professor  Avis  he  took  a  special  course 
preparing  him  for  college.  With  his  parents  he  moved  to 
Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  entered  Wittenberg  College  in  1882. 
Upon  the  completion  of  the  eight-year  course  in  college  and  semi- 
nary, he  was  ordained  by  the  Olive  Branch  Synod  in  October, 
1892,  at  St.  George  Church,  in  Edinburg,  Indiana.  The  Rich- 
mond Second  Church  and  the  Grandview  Mission  (Indiana)  were 
supplied  by  him  previous  to  his  first  pastorate. 

From  May,  1893,  until  1895  he  served  his  first  pastorate  at 
Lancaster,  Illinois.  From  here  he  moved  to  a  place  near  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  serving  the  Rockville  pastorate  for  three 
years.  He  was  pastor  at  Hooversville  from  1898  to  1901  ; 
Davidsville  from  1901  to  1908;  Belleville  from  1908  to  1909; 
Shipman,  Illinois,  from  1909  to  1910 ;  Lanark,  Illinois,  from  1911 
to  1914;  Rock  Creek,  Indiana,  from  1914  to  1917,  and  Corydon, 
Indiana,  from  1917  until  the  present.  Nearly  all  of  these  charges 
were  wreak  congregations  which  were  greatly  strengthened  by  his 
faithful  ministry.  Five  new  churches  were  erected  in  the  vari- 
ous places  during  his  incumbency.  The  last  one,  which  was  at 
Rock  Creek,  cost  $15,000,  and  is  a  beautiful  memorial  to  his  un- 
tiring energy.  With  his  acquaintance  with  music  he  greatly  en- 
riched the  services  in  his  various  churches.  He  has  labored  faith- 
fully for  twenty-seven  years  in  the  Gospel  ministry. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Tonini  in  June,  1893. 
In  the  various  synods  with  which  he  has  been  connected  he  has 
acted  as  secretary  and  also  on  various  committees  of  importance. 
Through  his  efforts  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  church  were 
strengthened,  especially  in  the  weak  congregations,  which  had 
formerly  never  raised  their  apportionment.  His  salaries  have 
been  very  meagre  and  yet  he  has  toiled  on,  truly  desirous  of  de- 
veloping the  activities  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  father  had 
the  desire  to  become  a  minister  and  being  prevented  from  so 
being  he  set  apart  his  son  for  this  high  calling.  And  from  the 
churches  which  Rev.  Wachter  has  served  more  than  a  dozen 
young  men  have  entered  the  ministry.  He  is  the  only  represen- 
tative of  the  family  in  the  ministry  since  his  ancestor  Rev. 
Michael  Wachter. 

REV.  FREDERICK  R.  WAGNER,  D.D.,  was  born  at  New 
Market,  New  Jersey,  May  30, 1873.  He  is  the  son  of  George  Wil- 


(il'2 


HISTORY  OK  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 


liain  and  Agnes  Huiiyon  Wagner,  lie  bears,  in  part,  the  name  of 
his  great-grandfather,  G.  Frederick  Wagner,  who  came  to 
America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War  from  the  city  of  Strass- 
burg  in  Alsace,  and  enlisted  as  a  soldier  for  American  Independ- 
ence with  a  company  of  infantry  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  his 
homo  town. 

Rev.  Wagner  was  baptized  and  confirmed  by  Rev.  T.  P.  Zim- 
merman, then  pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Mahanoy 
City,  Pennsylvania. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  at  Delano,  Pennsylvania,  he 
took  the  preparatory  and  part  of  the  college  course  at  "Susque- 
hanna,"  Selinsgrove,  Pennsylvania,  graduating  from  Witten- 
berg College,  Springfield,  Ohio,  in 
the  spring  of  1898.  He  is  an 
alumnus  of  the  Gettysburg  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  graduating  in 
1901  with  the  degree  of  "B.D." 
and  as  one  of  the  two  orators  rep- 
resenting the  class  at  commence- 
ment time. 

By  the  permission  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Synod,  of  which  he  was  a 
beneficiary  student,  he  was  li- 
censed by  the  Synod  of  Maryland 
at  Middletown,  Maryland,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1900,  and  was  ordained  at 
Boonsboro,  Maryland,  by  the  same 
synod  in  the  fall  of  1901,  having 
accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor 
of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church, 
Frostburg,  Maryland. 

In  the  autumn  of  1901  he  was 

married  to  Miss  Sarah  Besse  Toot,  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania. 
Two  daughters  and  two  sons  now  are  of  the  family  circle. 

The  work  of  the  pastorate  at  Frostburg,  Maryland,  was  as- 
sumed in  August,  1901.  For  eight  and  a  half  years  the  most 
pleasant  relations  of  pastor  and  people  continued  and  many  for- 
ward steps  were  taken  in  spiritual  and  material  progress. 
Among  other  things  may  be  mentioned  the  building  of  a  primary 
Sunday  school  annex,  choir  addition,  and  many  improvements 
added  to  the  church  and  parsonage  properties. 

The  first  change  in  pastoral  relations  to  date  occurred  March 
1,  1910,  when  the  call  to  St.  James'  Church,  Huntingdon,  Penn- 
sylvania, resulted  in  a  removal  to  that  place.  Soon  after  becom- 
ing established  as  pastor  of  this  congregation  a  property  adjoin- 
ing the  church  was  purchased,  which  made  it  possible  to  proceed 
with  a  long  cherished  desire  to  rebuild.  Consequently  a  new 
church,  Sunday  school  annex  and  parsonage  were  dedicated  July 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD.  623 

7,  1912.  The  buildings  are  of  brown  stone  and  are  well  equipped 
and  furnished,  including  a  very  excellent  pipe  organ.  At  the 
present  time  (1919)  the  last  installment  of  the  debt  is  being  can- 
celled. The  property  is  valued  at  more  than  $50,000.  Corre- 
sponding progress  may  be  noted  in  the  increased  membership  and 
church  activity. 

Eev.  Wagner  has  been  honored,  for  two  terms  (1916-1918),  as 
the  president  of  Allegheny  Synod,  and  has  also  held  other  offices 
in  conference  and  synod,  and  serves  on  important  committees. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  "The  Merger  Convention"  at  New  York. 

In  1901  Wittenberg  College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  and  in  1917  Susquehanna  University  honored 
him  with  that  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

He  has  made  occasional  literary  contributions  to  the  Church 
papers  and  to  the  local  press,  and  is  also  the  author  of  a  booklet 
entitled,  "A  Historical  Sketch  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church  of 
Frostburg. "  He  served  as  one  of  the  associate  editors  of  "The 
History  of  the  Allegheny  Synod,"  which  was  published  in  1917 
during  the  administration  of  Rev.  Wagner  as  president  of  the 
Synod. 

In  February,  1920.  he  took  charge  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church  at  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia. 

KEV.  W.  CLAUDE  WALTEMYER  was  born  April  27,  1889,  at 
Beckleysville,  Baltimore  County,  Maryland.  His  parents,  Joseph 
and  Keziah  Jane  Waltemyer,  were  active  members  of  St.  Abra- 
ham's congregation  of  the  Hampstead  Charge.  He  was  baptized 
by  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Derr. 

When  he  was  but  six  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  and  identified  themselves  with  the  Third 
Church.  The  late  Rev.  I.  C.  Burke,  D.D.,  was  his  pastor  and  by 
him  he  was  confirmed,  Easter,  1904.  Under  the  spiritual  guid- 
ance of  religious  parents,  a  Godly  pastor  and  faithful  Sunday 
School  teachers,  he  was  led  to  consecrate  his  life  to  the  ministry. 

He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Baltimore  graduating  from 
the  Baltimore  City  College  in  June,  1906.  In  September  of  the 
same  year  he  entered  the  Junior  Class  of  Pennsylvania  College 
at  Gettysburg.  He  graduated  with  the  class  of  1908  at  nineteen 
years  of  age.  From  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  he 
was  graduated  in  May,  1911,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Di- 
vinity. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Smiths- 
burg  in  1910  and  ordained  October  5,  1911,  at  Lebanon,  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod. 

In  February,  1911,  he  received  a  call  to  become  the  first  pastor 
of  the  newly  organized  congregation  at  Landisville,  Pennsyl- 
vania. During  a  two  years'  pastorate  the  membership  was  dou- 
bled and  all  indebtedness  on  a  fine  church  property  removed. 


624  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

A  call  to  a  second  new  work  was  accepted  in  January,  1918, 
and  he  became  the  first  pastor  of  Trinity  Church,  Hutler,  Penn- 
sylvania. This  work  was  quite  small  in  its  beginnings  but  pro- 
gressed rapidly.  When  the  pastorate  was  vacated  in  February, 
1916,  there  was  a  communicant  membership  of  more  than  one 
hundred,  a  Sunday  school  enrollment  of  two  hundred,  and  in  ad- 
dition well  organized  Missionary  and  Young  People's  societies. 

Since  February,  1916,  except  for  a  year  in  the  army,  he  has 
been  serving  the  old,  but  ever  vigorous  and  zealous,  St.  John's 
Church  of  Thurmont,  Maryland. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1918,  he  was  commissioned  a  chaplain 
— with  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant — in  the  United  States  Army. 
His  first  assignment  was  to  the  Coast  Defenses  of  Boston  and  in 
his  work  covered  three  of  the  harbor  forts,  Andrews,  Warren  and 
Revere. 

Early  in  May,  1918,  he  was  assigned  to  the  71st  Artillery,  C. 
A.  C.,  which  regiment  was  to  be  organized  in  the  Coast  Defenses 
of  Boston  and  to  be  sent  to  France.  The  regiment  was  a  Regular 
Army  unit  composed  of  volunteers  from  forty-five  of  the  states. 
Sixty-one  of  the  sixty-five  officers  were  college  or  university  grad- 
uates. 

July  30th  he  embarked  at  Boston  going  via  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia,  to  England  and  then  to  France.  The  regiment  received 
its  final  training  near  the  historic  city  of  Angers.  They  were 
preparing  to  go  to  the  Front  when  the  Armistice  was  signed.  Re- 
turned writh  the  regiment  to  the  United  States  late  in  February, 
1919.  After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  on  March  5th,  he 
returned  to  the  pastorate  at  Thurmont. 

Rev.  W.  Claude  Waltemyer  was  married  September  5,  1911,  to 
Mildred  Butzler,  who  was  also  of  the  Third  Church  of  Baltimore. 
There  are  three  children :  Miriam,  Ruth  and  Charlotte,  aged  six, 
four  and  two,  respectively. 

REV.  HENRY  HERMAN  WEBER,  D.D.  This  son  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
August  4,  1860,  the  son  of  August  and  Whilemina  Weber.  He 
was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools  of  Philadelphia,  and  later 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  he  attended 
the  private  Academy  of  Wackers,  well  known  in  its  day.  For 
one  year  he  was  a  student  at  the  Baltimore  City  College.  He 
then  entered  into  the  wholesale  dry  goods  and  notion  business  as 
entry  clerk  and  salesman.  In  1878  he  entered  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege and  took  second  honors  upon  his  graduation  in  1882.  He 
spent  three  years  in  the  Theological  Seminary  and  graduated 
from  this  institution  in  1885. 

In  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  he  organized  St.  Luke's 
and  Grace  Lutheran  Churches,  both  of  which  have  become  great 
successes.  In  1889  he  was  called  to  the  general  secretaryship  of 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


625 


the  Board  of  Home  Missions  and  Church  Extension  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod,  and  held  that  position  until  1915,  when  he  was  made 
general  secretary  of  the  new  com- 
bined Board  of  Home  Missions 
and  Church  Extension  of  the 
General  Synod.  Since  the  Merger 
of  the  various  Lutheran  bodies, 
and  the  establishment  of  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  and 
Church  Extension  of  the  United 
Lutheran  Church,  he  has  become 
the  general  secretary  of  that 
board.  In  1890  he  married  Mary 
Emma  Crist,  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. At  present  he  lives  in 
York,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  of- 
fices of  the  board  are  located. 

In  1902  he  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  his 
Alma  Mater.  He  published  two 
pamphlets,  the  one  ' '  A  History  of 
Grace  Church,"  and  the  other 
"Additional  Questions  and  Answers,  in  Connection  with  the 
Study  of  Luther  ?s  Catechism. ' ' 

REV.  ABDEL  ROSS  WENTZ,  Ph.D.  Dr.  Wentz  was  born  at 
Black  Rock,  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  8,  1883.  In 
early  infancy  his  parents,  J.  Valentine  and  Ellen  (Tracy), 
moved  with  him  across  the  state  line  to  Lineboro,  Maryland.  He 
was  baptized  by  Rev.  E.  Manges,  his  parents  being  members  of 
the  Lineboro  Church  of  the  Manchester  Charge.  He  was  con- 
firmed by  Rev.  C.  M.  Eyster. 

His  preparatory  education  Dr.  Wentz  received  in  the  Franklin 
High  School  at  Reisterstown,  Maryland.  In  the  autumn  of  1900 
he  entered  Pennsylvania  College  with  the  purpose  of  preparing 
himself  for  the  Lutheran  ministry.  Graduating  from  the  col- 
lege in  1904  and  from  the  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary  in 
1907  fortunate  circumstances  enabled  him  to  continue  his  theo- 
logical and  historical  studies  in  Germany.  He  spent  one  year  at 
the  University  of  Leipzig,  studying  under  the  direction  of  such 
leaders  as  Ihmels  and  Hauck;  one  year  at  Berlin  under  Seeberg 
and  Holl ;  and  one  semester  at  Tuebingen  under  Schlatter  and 
Mueller.  While  at  Tuebingen  the  call  reached  him  to  return  to 
his  Alma  Mater  to  assume  the  duties  of  the  professorship  of 
Biblical  Literature  and  History.  He  accepted  this  call  and  en- 
tered upon  his  work  in  the  autumn  of  1909. 

Whatever  time  was  left  free  from  his  arduous  duties  as  teacher 
Professor  Wentz  devoted  to  the  continuance  of  his  studies.  In 
40 


626 


HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOIX 


the  summer  of  1911  he  returned  to  Tuebingen  and  followed  the 
courses  of  such  distinguished  historians  as  Wahl  and  Mueller. 
The  following  two  summers  he  spent  in  research  work  iipon  the 
subject  of  his  dissertation,  "The  Beginnings  of  the  German  Ele- 
ment in  York  County,  Pennsylvania."  This  was  completed  in 

1914,  when  he  took  his  examina- 
tions under  the  faculty  of  the 
George  Washington  University, 
Washington,  District  of  Colum- 
bia, and  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Philosophy.  His  dis- 
sertation was  published  in  1916. 

Professor  Wentz  was  licensed 
by  the  Maryland  Synod  at 
Waynesboro  in  1906,  and  upon  his 
return  from  Europe  in  1909  was 
ordained  at  St.  Mark's  in  Balti- 
more. He  has  delighted  to  serve 
his  synod  in  various  capacities, 
not  least  of  all  as  the  editor  of  this 
volume  of  History. 

In  1916,  when  the  curriculum 
of  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg 
was  readjusted,  Dr.  Wentz  was 
called  to  the  newly  erected  chair 

of  Church  History.  In  1917  he  was  married  to  Mary  Edna  Kuhl- 
man,  of  Ursina,  Pennsylvania.  Their  home  has  been  blessed  with 
a  son,  Valentine. 

Dr.  Wentz  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society  of  Church 
History,  the  Pennsylvania  German  Society,  the  Board  of  Publi- 
cation of  the  United  Lutheran  Church,  curator  of  the  Lutheran 
Historical  Society,  president  of  the  Parent  Education  Society, 
and  a  member  of  a  number  of  general  Lutheran  organizations. 
For  more  than  seven  years,  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war  with 
Germany,  he  was  joint  editor  of  the  Lutheran  Quarterly,  con- 
tributing for  each  issue  an  article  on  "Current  Theological 
Thought  in  Germany. ' '  A  number  of  separate  publications  have 
come  from  his  pen. 

REV.  WILLIAM  EDWARD  WHEELER.  This  son  of  the  Mary- 
land Synod  was  born  October  14,  1872,  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
the  oldest  of  the  five  children  of  William  B.  and  Annie  Elizabeth 
Wheeler.  He  was  a  member  of  Second  English  Lutheran  Sunday 
school  of  Baltimore  of  which  church  his  mother  was  a  member, 
and  in  which  church  he  was  confirmed  by  Rev.  Sylvanus  Stall, 
D.D.  The  purpose  in  his  mind  to  study  for  the  ministry  was 
awakened  by  Doctor  Stall,  and  was  fostered  and  encouraged  by 
Rev.  George  W.  Miller,  D.D.,  his  successor.  He  entered  Penn- 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


627 


sylvania  College  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1893  and  was 
graduated  in  1897.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gettysburg 
and  graduated  with  honors  in 
1900.  The  Maryland  Synod  li- 
censed him  to  preach  in  1899,  and 
he  was  ordained  by  the  same 
synod  in  session  at  Middletown, 
Maryland,  October  21,  1900.  On 
August  28,  1900,  he  was  married 
to  Lillie  Lindauer,  of  Baltimore. 
He  has  served,  the  following 
pastorates :  Woodsboro,  Mar  y- 
land,  Charge,  June,  1900,  to  De- 
cember, 1904;  Trinity  Lutheran 
Church,  Taneytown,  Maryland, 
1904,  to  December,  1910;  *Augs- 
burg  Lutheran  Church,  Chicago, 
Illinois,  1910  to  May,  1917;  St. 
Mark 's  Lutheran  Church,  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  1917  to  the  pres- 
ent. He  was  the  first  pastor  at 

Augsburg  Church  in  Chicago,  building  the  church  and  parson- 
age.   He  is  now  building  a  new  church  in  St.  Louis. 

REV.  CHARLES  P.  WILES,  D.D.,  was  born  at  Lewistown,  Mary- 
land, nine  miles  north  of  Frederick  City.    He  attended  the  public 

school  in  his  native  village,  and 
the  high  school  at  Walkersville, 
Maryland.  He  then  entered  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Millers- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  from  which 
he  graduated.  After  taking  a 
year's  special  work 'in  the  scien- 
tific course  at  the  same  school,  and 
teaching  a  year  at  Creswell,  Lan- 
caster County,  Pennsylvania,  he 
continued  his  education  at  Gettys- 
burg, graduating  from  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1896.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  Grace  Lu- 
theran Church,  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, in  the  fall  of  1895,  and  or- 
dained one  year  later  in  St. 
James'  Church,  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. 

Just    before    graduating    from 
the  seminary  lie  accepted  the  call  to  become  pastor  of  the  Ross- 


628  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

ville  Charge,  Kossville,  York  County,  Pennsylvania.  After  serv- 
ing here  for  five  years,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Mt.  Zion  Luther- 
an Church,  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  seven 
years.  While  pastor  here  he  also  served  for  several  years  as  sec- 
retary of  the  local  home  mission  hoard  of  the  synod.  His  next 
pastorate  was  in  the  Keller  Memorial  Lutheran  Church,  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia,  and  covered  a  period  of  five  years. 
In  January,  1913,  he  received  a  call  to  become  editor  of  the  Lu- 
theran Publication  Society,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  to  suc- 
ceed the  late  Rev.  Charles  S.  Albert,  D.I).  The  call  was  accepted 
and  the  duties  of  the  new  office  entered  upon  the  first  of  April  of 
the  same  year.  After  the  merger  of  the  three  Lutheran  bodies 
was  consummated  he  was  continued  as  editor  of  the  Augsburg 
series  of  Sunday  school  lessons.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
International  Sunday  School  Lesson  Committee,  to  which  he  was 
elected  by  the  Board  of  Publication  of  the  General  Synod.  He 
has  been  requested  by  the  Board  of  Sunday  School  Work  of  the 
United  Lutheran  Church  to  continue  his  membership  on  that 
committee.  He  is  the  author  of  two  volumes,  the  one,  'Tpon 
This  Rock,"  which  is  a  confirmation  booklet,  and  the  other,  "The 
Challenge  of  the  Sunday  School." 

REV.  HORACE  EHRMAN  ZIMMERMAN.  This  son  of  the 
Maryland  Synod  was  born  in  Johnsville,  Maryland,  April  20, 
1867.  His  parents  were  Luther  M.  and  Louisa  A.  Zimmerman. 
In  infancy  he  was  baptized  at  Woodsboro.  Maryland,  by  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  W.  Owen.  In  1883  he  was  confirmed  at  Myersville,  Mary- 
land, by  Rev.  A.  M.  Smith.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Mid- 
dletown  Academy,  and  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  of  Roanoke 
College,  Salem,  Virginia,  in  September,  1885.  He  entered'  the 
Junior  Class  of  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
in  September,  1887,  and  graduated  from  this  institution  in  June, 
1889.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  graduated  from  this  institution  in 
1892.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  at  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  in  1891,  and  he  was  ordained  the  following  year  by 
the  same  synod  meeting  at  Frederick,  Maryland. 

During  his  ministry  Rev.  Zimmerman  has  served  the  following 
pastorates:  From  April  4,  1893,  to  April  3,  1898,  he  served  at 
Tannersville,  Pennsylvania;  at  Clarion,  Pennsylvania,  he  served 
from  January  1,  1899,  to  November  25,  1900;  the  next  two  years 
he  served  at  Bolivar,  Ohio;  at  Dillshurg,  Pennsylvania,  he  served 
from  January  4,  1903,  to  the  beginning  of  1905;  from  1905  to 
1906  he  served  at  Dickinson,  Pennsylvania;  from  1906  to  1909 
he  was  employed  in  secular  work,  life  insurance,  in  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska :  on  May  9,  1909,  he  took  up  the  pastoral  work  again  at 
New  Haven,  West  Virginia,  and  served  this  field  until  November 
26,  1911 ;  at  Mount  Morris,  Illinois,  he  was  pastor  from  that  time 


THE  SONS  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


629 


until  January  31,  1918;  on  February  (5.  1918,  he  took  up  his 
present  pastorate  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

He  was  married  to  Anna  E.  Doub  in  1893,  one  child  was  from 
this  marriage,  Milo  Doub  Zimmerman.  In  1900  he  married  Lil- 
lie  Saunders,  and  Anna  Lee  Zimmerman  was  the  child  of  this 
marriage.  For  ten  years  he  contributed  to  the  leading  magazines 
and  periodicals  of  this  country  and  England,  on  a  wide  range  of 
subjects,  specializing  in  scientific  and  nature  study.  For  many 
years  he  contributed  the  3'early  index  to  the  Lutheran  Observer. 

REV.  JEREMIAH  ZIMMERMAN,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  L.H.D.  Doctor 
Zimmerman  was  born  at  Snydersburg,  Maryland,  April  26,  1848, 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Leah  Zimmerman.  After  his  early  educa- 
tion, he  entered  Pennsylvania  College  and  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1873,  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  The  following  fall 
he  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg  and  gradu- 
ated in  1876.  In  that  same  year 
he  was  ordained  to  the  Lutheran 
ministry.  He  has  served  as  pas- 
tor at  Valatie,  New  York,  from 
1876  to  1878,  and  at  Syracuse, 
New  York,  from  1879  to  1904.  At 
this  time  he  resigned  to  travel  and 
devote  his  attention  to  educational 
and  literary  work. 

In  January,  1877,  he  married 
M.  Adele  Springstein  at  Valatie, 
New  York.  On  January  21,  1890, 
he  married  a  second  time,  this 
time  his  bride  was  Sophia  Eliza- 
beth Amos,  of  Sj'racuse. 

He  has  been  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  several  times.  He  was 

president  of  the  Federation  of  Churches  and  Christian  Workers 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from 
Pennsylvania  College  in  1896.  and  also  from  Wittenberg  College 
and  Susquehanna  University.  In  1902  his  Alma  Mater  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.  and  in  1908  Susquehanna 
University  the  degree  of  L.H.D.  He  spent  five  years  in  foreign 
travel,  including  a  trip  of  twenty -eight  months  around  the  world, 
when  he  lectured  in  mam-  leading  cities  of  the  Orjent.  He  has 
lectured  before  seminaries  and  colleges  on  questions  of  the  Far 
East  and  on  historical  and  archaeological  subjects,  especially  on 
the  history  of  coins  of  the  ancients,  on  which  he  is  an  authority. 
He  also  gave  the  Holman  Lecture  at  Gettysburg  on  the  Lord's 
Supper.  He  has  a  specially  selected  library  of  5,000  volumes, 


()30  HISTORY  OP  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

which  he  has  recently  donated  to  the  Library  at  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Victoria  Insti- 
tute of  (Ireat  Britian,  the  Royal  Numismatic  Society  of  London, 
and  the  American  Anthropological  Association.  He  has  been  a 
lecturer  at  Syracuse  University  on  Numismatics  and  is  president 
of  the  Federation  of  Churches  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

He  is  the  author  of  "Spain  and  Her  People,"  "The  Religious 
Character  of  Ancient  Coins,"  "The  Person  of  Christ  and  His 
Presence  in  the  Lord's  Supper,"  and  "Help  When  Tempted  and 
Tried."  He  has  also  been  a  contributor  on  Numismatics  to  the 
Standard  Dictionary,  and  to  various  other  journals. 

REV.  LEANDER  M.  ZIMMERMAN,  D.D.  This  son  of  the  synod 
was  born  near  Manchester,  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  on  August 
29,  1860.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Leah  Zimmerman.  He  at- 
tended the  village  school  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  felt 
the  call  to  enter  the  Gospel  ministry.  His  father  having  already 
educated  two  sons  for  the  ministry  was  at  first  reluctant  to  give 
his  consent,  but  hearing  his  son's  plea  the  good  man  placed  his 
hands  gently  on  Leander  's  shoulders  saying,  ' '  Son,  the  Lord  has 
called  you  and  you  must  go."  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  entered  the 
preparatory  department  at  Gettysburg  and  continued  his  studies 
until  his  graduation  from  the  college  in  1884.  After  graduating 
from  the  seminary  in  1887,  he  was  ordained  to  the  Gospel  min- 
istry by  the  Maryland  Synod  on  October  9th  of  the  same  year. 
Two  months  later,  under  appointment  of  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions,  he  began  work  in  the  southern  section  of  Baltimore 
City  without  a  single  member  or  a  church  in  which  to  worship. 

The  following  two  weeks  from  early  morning  until  late  at  night 
he  went  from  house  to  house  wherever  information  could  be  ob- 
tained that  there  was  a  man,  woman,  or  child  who  was  not  con- 
nected with  a  church  or  Sunday  school.  On  December  18th,  he 
held  his  first  public  religious  service  in  Triumph  Hall  over  a 
meat  market  at  1240  Light  Street.  One  hundred  and  fifty  per- 
sons were  present  nearly  all  of  whom  had  been  visited  during  the 
two  weeks  preceding.  Ninety-six  were  present  at  the  Sunday 
school  and  one  hundred  and  fifteen  at  the  evening  service. 

On  February  15th  he  organized  Christ  Church  with  225  mem- 
bers, 45  of  whom  had  letters  from  other  churches,  140  uniting  by 
profession,  and  40  by  confirmation.  One  year  from  the  day  the 
work  began  the  congregation  assumed  its  own  support.  A  Meth- 
odist Church  had  been  purchased,  extensive  improvements  made, 
and  on  January  31,  1892,  a  "jubilee"  was  held  to  mark  the 
church's  freedom  from  all  indebtedness. 

From  time  to  time  extensive  improvements  have  been  made  in 
the  church  building.  Dr.  Zimmerman  has  always  taken  special 
pains  to  make  the  House  of  the  Lord  beautiful  and  attractive  in 
all  its  appointments.  He  has  always  ministered  to  unusually 


THE  SONS  OP  THE  SYNOD. 


631 


large  congregations  and  while  other  churches  in  the  neighbor- 
hood have  declined  because  of  removals  to  other  sections  of  the 
city,  Christ  Church  continues  to  grow  and  flourish  in  spite  of 
unusually  adverse  conditions. 

Dr.  Zimmerman  has  been  a  member  of  the  Deaconess  Board 
since  1897,  and  is  vice-president.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  a  member  and  vice-president  of  the  Board  of  Home  Mis- 
sions. He  has  been  a  trustee  of  Tressler  Orphans'  Home,  presi- 
dent of  the  Maryland  Synod,  a  director  of  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Gettysburg,  and  president  of  the  Lutheran  Ministers' 
Association  of  Baltimore.  In  1901  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  on  him  by  Susquehanna  University. 
He  attended  six  sessions  of  the  General  Synod  as  delegate,  in- 
cluding the  merger  meeting  in  1918  when  the  United  Lutheran 
Church  was  organized. 

REV.  MARION  JUSTUS  KLINE,  D.D.,  was  born  at  Frederick, 
Maryland,  October  2,  1871.  His  father  was  William  Henry 
Kline,  his  mother,  Mary  Ann  Englebrecht.  Baptized  in  infancy 
by  the  Rev.  George  Diehl,  D.D.,  he  became  a  member  of  the  ven- 
erable Lutheran  congregation  in  Frederick.  After  the  usual 
course  in  the  public  school  and 
special  preparation  for  college, 
he  went  to  Gettysburg  to  study 
for  the  ministry.  This  was  while 
Rev.  Luther  Kuhlman,  D.D.,  was 
his  pastor. 

He  entered  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege in  September,  1889.  His  col- 
lege days  were  marked  by  a  most 
unusual  variety  of  activities,  lit- 
erary, musical,  athletic,  social, 
and  religious.  He  graduated  as 
the  valedictorian  of  the  noted 
class  of  1893.  Three  years  later 
he  graduated  from  the  Gettysburg 
Theological  Seminary,  at  the  same 
time  receiving  his  Master's  de- 
gree from  the  college. 

During  the  twentj^-four  years 
of  his  ministry  he  has  graced 

two  pastorates  and  a  secretaryship.  Immediately  upon  gradua- 
tion from  the  seminary  he  became  the  pastor  of  Bethlehem  Lu- 
theran Church  in  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania.  His  ministry  here 
proved  to  be  highly  acceptable  and  edifying.  His  enthusiasm  for 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  not  only  attracted  people  to  the  services  of 
the  church,  but  also  brought  them  to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and 
even  led  some  to  devote  themselves  to  the  ministry  of  our  Lord. 


032  HISTORY  OF  MARYLAND  SYNOD. 

Our i lit?  this  period  Dr.  Kline  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Synod's  Board  of  Church  Extension  for  two  years. 

After  six  years  of  ministry  in  Harrisburg,  this  son  of  the 
Synod  was  called  to  become  the  General  Secretary  of  the  General 
Synod's  Hoard  of  Foreign  Missions.  This  was  in  October,  1901. 
For  six  and  a  half  years  he  served  that  Board  with  eminent  ac- 
ceptability and  success.  During1  this  time  he  resided  in  Balti- 
more. 

In  May,  1908,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  First  Lutheran  Church 
of  Altoona,  Pennsylvania,  and  this  church  has  had  his  ministry 
to  the  present  day.  He  was  formally  installed  as  pastor  on  Sep- 
tember 27,  1!H)8,  by  his  immediate  predecessor,  Rev.  O.  C.  Roth, 
D.D.  The  splendid  development  begun  in  the  pastorate  of  Dr. 
Roth  along  missionary  and  benevolent  lines,  has  continued  in  the 
pastorate  of  Dr.  Kline.  Each  year  there  has  been  a  generous  ex- 
cess on  the  regular  apportionment,  and  a  large  number  of  costly 
special  objects,  both  on  the  home  field  and  on  the  foreign  field, 
have  been  carried  by  the  congregation.  The  church  property  has 
several  times  been  improved  and  enlarged.  At  tho  same  time  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  congregation  has  been  developed  and  a  large 
number  of  souls  have  been  gathered  in.  During  Dr.  Kline's  pas- 
torate an  unusual  number  of  men  from  this  congregation  have 
been  influenced  to  take  up  the  preparation  for  the  ministry. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  North  Carolina  College  in  1901.  In  1909  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  General  Synod 's  Board  of  Education,  and 
he  is  to-day  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Tinted 
Lutheran  Church.  He  has  held  a  number  of  responsible  offices  in 
the  Alleghany  Synod,  being  a  member  of  the  Ministerial  Educa- 
tion Committee,  of  the  Examining  Committee,  and  of  the  Synod's 
Board  of  Home  Missions.  Since  191.'}  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary, 
and  since  1918  the  President  of  that  Board.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Pennsylvania  College. 

Besides  editing  the  biennial  reports  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  during  his  secretaryship,  Dr.  Kline  has  written  "The 
Ministry  of  Sorrow,"  published  in  1898. 

Dr.  Kline  was  married,  July  7,  1890,  to  Miss  Belle  G.  Leeds, 
of  Washington,  D.  C.  She  died  on  January  13,  1898.  April  24, 
1902,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Plitt  Hummel,  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pennsylvania. 


Portraits  of  Ministers  and  Laymen 


Adams,  A.  D., 

Adolph,  J.  E., 

Ahalt,  J.  M.,   

Albaugh,  I.  \V., 

Albaugh,  T.  S., 

Albert,  C.  S.,  D.D.,  .  .. 

Alden.  L.  D., 

Andrae,  Henry, 

Andreae,  Heine, 

Armiger,  Richard, 
Augustine,  Rev.  I.  X., 


Babylon,  T.  F., 

Bare,  Rev.  W.  F., 

Barkdoll,  D.  W.,   

Barkdoll,  W., 

Barry,  Rev.  F.  W., 

Bartell,  L.  E.,  

Baugher,  H.  L.,  ST.,  D.D.,  .  .  . 

Baumgardner,  G.  T.,   

Bauslin,  D.  H.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  . 

Beck,  F.  W., 

Beidleman,  Rev.  H.  H., 

Beiswanger,  Rev.  G.,   

Bell,  Albert,  D.D. 

Bell,  C.  P.,  D.D., 

Bell,  E.  K.,  D.I)., 

Benner,  H.  A., 

Bergner,  Rev.  C.  P., 

Betz,  C.  F.,   

Bikle,  L.  A.,  D.D 

Bikle,  P.  M.,  Ph.D..  D.D.,  .  .  . 

Birely,  L.  S 

Bishop,  U.  G.,  

Bittle,  D.  F.,  D.D., 

Bittle,  J.  E.,  D.D., 

Blackston,  G.,   

Bloomhardt,  Rev.  P.  F.,  Ph.D. 

Blucher,  L.  K.,   

Boesche,  E.  L.,   

Boss,  B.  B.,   

Botsford,  Rev.  C.  R., 

Bowers,  G*.  S.,  D.D 

Bowers,  J.  C.,  D.D 

Bowersox,  Rev.  G.  E., 

Bowersox,  Rev.  H.  T., 

Boyer,  Rev.  H.  D., 

Boyer,  Lewis, 

Boyer,  Mrs.  Lewis,  

Brandler,  J.  X.  M., 

Braun,  C.  A., 


Page 
496 
259 
415 
346 
422 
80 
317 
259 
269 
218 
527 

425 

278 
488 
490 
223 
207 

78 
346 
529 
207 
514 
531 
532 
533 
190 
320 
507 
514 
536 
538 
399 
207 

78 
539 
344 
280 
200 
222 
207 
510 
238 
267 
544 
543 
323 
346 
346 
505 
200 


Bregel,  J.  F., 

Bregenzer,  Rev.  Otto  E.,  .  . 

Bregenzer,  Otto,   

Brown,  Rev.  W.  E., 

Brown,  R.  B., 

Brunner,  H.  C., 


Carty,  Rev.  A.  C.,  .  .  . 

Carty,  Ruth, 

Clare,  R,  D.,  D.D.,   .  . 
Clarke,  Rev.  G.  D., 
Clutz,  J.  A.,  D.D.,   .  . 

Collison,  F.  A., 

Conrad,  F.  W.,  D.D., 
Creutz,  William, 
Crigler,  Rev.  J.  F.,  .  . 

Crisweld,  H.  C., 

Croft,  Dr.  J.  W., 

Cross,  Rev.  W.  M.,  .  . . 
Culler,  M.  L.,  D.D.,  .  . 
Culler,  Rev.  S.  H.,  .  . . 
Culler,  W.  W., 


Daly,  W.W.,  Jr., 

Day,  Rev.  W.  C., 

Dean,  Rev.  O.  C., 

DeGrange,  G.  R., 

Derr,  W.  F., 

Derr,  Samuel, 

Derr,  Rev.  S.  J., 

Deveney,  J.  L., 

Diehl,  George,  D.D., 

Diehl,  Rev.  W.  K.,   

Diehlmann,   F.,    

Diffenderfer,  G.  M.,  D.D., 

Dodge,  W.  E., 

Domer,  H.  T., 

Domer,  Samuel.  D.D., 

Doty,  Rev.  R.  W., 

Douglas,  Stephen  A., 

Downin,  G.  W., 

Dunbar,  W.  H.,  D.D., 


633 


Eader,  Mrs.  E.  M., 

Eakle,  A.  D.,  

Eberly,  H.  R., 

Eddy,  G.  E 

Edwards,  IT.  P..  F., 

Enders,  Rev.  M.  L., 

Englar,  G.  W.,  Ph.D.,  D.D. 
Englehart,  W., 


Page 
200 
545 
190 
546 
488 
287 

549 
346 
207 
309 
550 
514 
80 
200 
553 
496 
496 
554 
556 
557 
422 

302 
558 
559 
344 
307 
370 
388 
302 
80 
443 
267 
292 
222 
287 
285 
562 
259 
463 
207 

346 
455 
292 
207 
514 
505 
563 
505 


034 


PORTRAITS  OP  MINISTERS  AND  LAYMEN. 


KiiKli*h,  Rev.  J.  S., 
Kr.lman,  Rev.  II.  C., 
i:.vstor,  Rev.  C.  M.,  . 


Tags 
498 
330 
280 


Faber,  F.  A., 207 

Falk,  J.  H., 346 

Falk,  J.  W., 344 

Feaster,  W.  H., 190 

Fim-kel,  W.  H., 292 

Fleck,  Rev.  J.  G., 249 

Floyd,  D.  B.,  D.D., 564 

Fogle,  C.,  302 

Fogle,  O.  M 328 

Folk,  Rev.  E.  L.,   364 

Ford,  J., 514 

Fosler,  H.  B., 200 

Fox,  A.  F., 287 

Fox,  H.  K.  C., 344,346 

Fox,  T.  C.,   493 

Frailey,  C.  P 292 

Francis,  J.  M.,  D.D., 496 

Freas,  Rev.  W., 566 

Freudenrich,  Rev.  C1., 269 

Fromke,  K.  J.,   346 

Fry,  C.  E., 463 


Paqc 

Hetriok,  Rev.  W.  H., 423 

Henser,  Rev.  W.  I,., 576 

Hif.kman,  T.  P.,   295 

Hightman,  Rev.  F.  A., 247 

Hill,  H 514 

Himbury,  J.  W., 346 

Hines,  Rev.  C.  J., 241 

Mines,  H.  C., 200 

Hofferburt,  J., 259 

I  Toff  man,  Rev.  J.  L., 228 

Hollyday,  J.  D., 452 

Holmes,  I., 505 

Hoover,  D., 494 

Hoover,  I.  N.,  496 

Hoover,  Dr.  P.  D., 496 

Horine,  Dr.  A.  C., 328 

Horine,  M.  C.,  D.D., 80 

Howe,  Rev.  J.  A., 348 

Hubner,  John, 267 

Huddle,  J.  T.,  D.D., 287 

Hutterly,  A.  O., 287 

Hyer,  C.  S., 287 


Tbach,  Rev.  W.  O., 
Jde,  E.  E.,  D.D.,   . 


401 
231 


Gerstmyer,  H., 259 

Gift,  F.  IT..  D.D., 233 

Gilbert,  F.  L., 496 

Gleitsman,  H., 222 

Gotwald,  W.  H.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  322 

Graiehen,  Rev.  J.  G., 570 

Griffith,  H.,    514 

Grim,  George, 267 

Grubb,  Rev.  J.  E., 196 

Haas,  Fred,  200 

Hafer,  Rev.  L.  B., 394 

Hagerty,  H.  R., 190 

Haller,  J.  M., 344 

Hanauer,  H 200 

Handley,  J.  H., 425 

Hankey,  R.  W., 415 

Harkey,  S.  W.,  D.D., 80 

Harms,  J.  E.,  D.D.,   457 

Harp,  M.  D 346 

Harrington,  F.  H., 344,  346 

Hartman,  Rev.  H.  H 251 

Hartman,  Rev.  W.  A., 367 

Hauer,  J.  D.,  D.D 80 

Hawkins,  B.  L., 222 

Hay,  C.  A.,  D.D 78 

Heckert,  Sister  Zora, 279 

Hedges,  Rev.  S.  A 379 

Heilman,  P.  A.,  D.D., 213 

Hennighausen,  F.  Ph.,  D.D.,  .  204 

Hess,  Rev.  C.  W., 486 

Hesse,  Rev.  F.  W., 486 

Hesse,  W.,  D.D 574 


Jones,  Rev.  f.  S., 580 

Joyner,  J.  S., 207 

Juvenal,  D.  J 190 

Kahline,  F 222 

Kakel,  F.  W.,   219 

Kalbach,  L.  A., 302 

Kanaga,  J.  D 463 

Kayhoe,  Rev.  J.  F.  F., 581 

Keedy,  C.  E., 190 

Keener,  A.  S., 463 

Keller,  Ezra,  D.D., 78,  395 

Kingsbury,  J.  G., 302 

Kirwan,  E.  F., 207 

Kitzmeyer,  Rev.  J.  F.  W.,  .  . .  582 

Kline,  Clara  G., 346 

Kline,  M.  J.,  D.D., 631 

Knieriem,  C., 514 

Knodle,  B 346 

Koogle,  J.  W., 469 

Koons,  C.  F 496 

Koser,  Rev.  J.  G., 470 

Kumler,  Mrs.  Myrtle  F., 346 

Kratz,  J.  W 207 

Krauth,  C.  Philip,  D.D., 66 

Kranth,   0.   Porterfield,   D.D.,  78 

Kuhlman,  L.,  D.D.,   435 

Kuhns,  J.,    386 

Kurtz,  B.,  D.D.,  LL.D., 65 

Kurtz,  J.  D.,  D.D 57 

Lansdowne,  G.  E.  S 190 

Lantz.  B.  R.,  D.D., 586 

Lau,  Rev.  J.  B 255 


PORTRAITS  OP  MINISTERS  AND  LAYMEN. 


635 


Page 

Lawyer,  C., 385 

Leather,  C.  P., 490 

Leatheniian,  Rev.  C.  0., 360 

Leatherman,  Rev.  B.  L., 588 

Leech,  A.  Y.,  Jr., 317 

Leese,  H.  F., 362 

Leisenring,  L.  M., 292 

Leister,  W.  A.,   190 

Leiter,  F.  S.,  463 

Leuderking,  L.  T.,   190 

Linkins,  G.  W., 287 

Littler,  J.  S., 463 

I  ehmar,  W., 302 

Long,  C., 267 

Long,  J.  B., 496 


Main,  J.  H.,  D.D., 

Manken,  Rev.  Henry,  Jr.,   .  .  . 

McCallister,  J.  G.,   

McDaniel,  Rev.  C.  T., 

McDowell,  S.  J.,  D.D., 

Martin,  Max,   

Mentzer,  W.  S., 

Metzger,  Rev.  W.  S.  T., 

Meyer,  Rev.  F.  W., 

Meyers,  J.  H., 

Michael,  J.  H., 

Middlekauf,  V.  E., 

Middlekauff,  W., 

Miedwig,  Andrew, 

Miller,  H.  M., 

Miller,  Rev.  H.  N.,  Ph.D.,  .  .  . 

Miller,  Rev.  L.  F., 

Miller,  P.  H.,  D.D., 

Miller,  Rev.  S.  J., 

Miller,  Victor,  D.D., 

Minick,  W.  L., 

Minnick,  Rev.  W.  G., 

Mobley,  Mrs.  E.  S.,   

Mobley,  G.  L., 

Morris,  J.  G.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  .  . 

Moser,  Rev.  J.  C., 

Mullen,  Rev.  A.  O.,   

Mullen,  Rev.  P.  H.  B., 

Mumford,  Rev.  Carl,    

Muth,  G.  F., 

Myers,  J.  W., 

Myers,  N.  S.,  


Neal,  J.  H., 

Newcomer,  Rev.  H.  D., 
Nicholas,  S.  T.,  D.D.,  .  . 
Null,  Rev.  A.  G., 


592 
319 
222 
590 
200 
248 
496 
593 
358 
200 
344 
463 
496 
259 
190 
595 
242 
245 
236 
470 
496 
253 
346 
346 
75 
322 
599 
600 
227 
287 
463 
463 


Ourand,  C.  H., 287 

Ott,  J.  W.,  D.D., 467 

Owen,  S.  W.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  ...  80,  458 

Oyeman,  G.  F.  C., 248 

Passavant,  W.  A.,  D.D.,   80 


PdffC 

Patterson,  R.  S.,  D.D., 429 

Payne,  Oliver,   267 

Petrea,  Rev.  H.  K., 405 

Petzold,  E.,    267 

Piel,  H.  L.,  Jr.,   207 

Pieper,  Rev.  C., 204 

Pohlman,  A.,  M.D.,  D.D.,   ...  604 

Pollard,  W.  A., 292 

Poffenberger,  Rev.  R.  S., 325 

Quay,  Rev.  P.  W., 275 

Reck,  Rev.  Abraham, 63 

Reed,  C.  L.,   463 

Reese,  J.  J 426 

Reich,  Henry,  Sr., 267 

Reich,  Henry,  Jr., 267 

Reinewald,  C.,  D.D., 336 

Remsberg,  Rev.  W.  L., 450 

Renn,  C 267 

Rhoderick,  G.  C., 370 

Rice,  Rev.  C.  E., 606 

Rice,  M., 505 

Richardson,  Rev.  A.  F., 608 

Rinehart,  D.,   496 

Ritter,  Rev.  C.  L., 609 

Roessner,  J.  F., 463 

Rohrer,  G.  W., 463 

Roland,  D.  F.,  514 

Rudisill,  Rev.  M.  L., 456 

Rupley,  Rev.  J.  B., 297 

Rupp,  U.  S.  G.,  D.D., 344 

Sachs,  H.  E 496 

Sadtler,  Benjamin,  D.D., 80 

Sahm,  Maggie  R., 346 

Saltzgiver,  Rev.  W.  E., 274 

Schaub,  J.,  267 

Schaeffer,  C.  F.,  D.D., 78 

Schaeffer,  D.  F.,  D.D., 61 

Schaeffer,  J.  D., 375 

Schissler,  J.  H., 200 

Schmidt,  G.  L., 222 

Schmidt,  Rev.  Richard, 305 

Schmitt,  K.  W.,   256 

Schmucker,  S.  S.,  D.D., 73,  78 

Schroeder,  Maria  E.,   346 

Seeger,  H.  P.,   346 

Seeger,  P 344,346 

Seiss,  J.  A.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,   ...  80 

Seltzer,  H.  H.,   302 

Settlemeyer,  Rev.  W.  H.,   ...  435 

Shaffer,  W.  A.,   514 

Sharetts,  E.  H.,    432 

Shearer,  T.  F.,    264 

Shilke,  Rev.  C.  A., 409 

Shoemaker,  J.  E., 292 

Sieber,  L.L.,  D.D.,   261 

Sievertsen,  B.  0 302 

Simon,  J.  S.,  D.D., 463 


630 


PORTRAITS  OF  MINISTERS  AND  LAYMEN. 


Taqe 

Singley,  F.  J 207 

Slaybaugh,  Rev.  C.  II., 322 

Slifer,  Rov.  W.  0 611 

Smith,  F.  F., 505 

Smith,  J.  W., 512 

Snivclv,   C.,    455 

Snyder,  Rov.  H.  \V., 612 

Snyder,  L.  0., 388 

Snyder,  Rev.  Simon, 613 

Snyder,  Simon,    259 

Somerville.  J.  W., 505 

Sowers,   S.   W 4(53 

Spangler,  Rev.  W.  M., 435 

Spielmann,  ,]., 222 

Spindler,  G 259 

Spreeher,  S.,  D.I).,   78 

Staib,  L.  A.,   207 

Steok,  C.  F.,  D.D.,   315 

Stock,  Rev.  C.  F.,  Jr.,   614 

Stein,  C.   F.,    207 

Sternat,  Rev.  F.  C.  J., 615 

Stewart,  W.  W.,   287 

Stockslager,  Rev.  P.  T.  E.,  .  .  616 

Stoll,  J.  E 207 

Stone,  X.  M., 302 

Stork,  C.  A.,  D.D., 78 

Storm,  B., 346 

Stouffer,  J.,   452 

Stowell,  W.  Mc-K 292 

Streit,  Rev.  Christian 47 

Strole,  C.  E., 463 

Stall.  f.  T 411 

Stnp,  Rev.  G.  Z 617 

Stii[),  S.   E., 411 

Styne,  J.  W., 190 

Teufel,  Rev.  ('.  M., 366 

Thomas,  (.*.,    222 

Tracy,  C.  H., 378 

Trav'er,  Rev.  S.,    381 

Troxler,  0.  J 399 

Turner,  J.  H.,  D.D., 280 

Twele,  Rev.  J.  ('., 304 


Fhler,  Rev.  G.  T 

Umberger,  Rev.  J.  B.,  .  . . 

Untermahlen,  J.  F., 

Utterback,  E.  J., 


Valentine,  M..  D.D.,  I.L.I). 
Wade,  Rev.  J.  P., 


352 
390 
386 
420 

78 
435 


Wade,  Rev.  W.  A.,   ......... 

Wagner,  A.  K.,  ............ 

Wagner,  F.  R.,  D.D.,  ....... 

Wagner,  G.  W.,  Jr.,   ........ 

Waldman,  H.  C1  ............. 

Waltemyer,  J.  L.,  .......... 

Waltemyer,  Rev.  W.  C.,  ..... 

Waring,'  Rev.  L.  H.,  Ph.D.,  .  . 
Waters,  J.  S.,   ............. 

Watkins,  L.  M.,  ............ 

Weaver,  A.  H.,   ............ 

Weaver,  Rev.  F.  H.,  ........ 

Weber,  H.  H.,  D.D.,  ........ 

Weber,  W.  W.,  ............. 

Wentz,  Rev.  A.  R.,  Ph.D.,  .  .  . 
Wentz,  H.  T.,    ............. 

Weidley,  J.,   D.D.,    ......... 

Wheeler,  Rev.  W.  E.,  ........ 

Whetstone,  G.  H.,  .......... 

Whitmore,  T.  A.,  ..........  344, 

Wickey,  Rev.  N.  J.  G.,  ...... 

Wiles,'  C.  P.,  D.D.,   ......... 

Wiles,  W.  S.,  .............. 

Will,  Rev.  F.  L.,  ........... 

Willard,  C.   B  .............. 

Willard.  R  ................. 

Willis,  Rev.  J.,    ............ 

Wilson,  A.  A  ............... 

Winebrenner,  B.  A.,  ........ 

Wines,  R.  E.,  .............. 

Wink,  J.  R.  L.,  ............ 

Wiseman,  D.  E.,  D.I)  ........ 

Wolf,  Rev.  A.  G.,  .......... 

Wolf,  E.  J.,  D.D  ............ 

Wonder,  T.  A.,    ............ 


259 
295 
621 
207 
200 
264 
397 
322 
190 
463 
222 
323 
625 
302 
626 
378 
294 
627 
496 
346 
323 
627 
420 
437 
344 
505 
373 
505 
3-14 
302 
362 
313 
383 
78 
190 


Yeiser,  G.  W.,   .............  385 

Young,  C.  E.,   .............  463 

Zaoharias,  H.  <"'.,  ...........  346 

Zaiser,   G.,    ................  267 

Zentmyer,  A.  T.,  ...........  469 

Ziegler,  S.  F  ...............  190 

Zimmerman,  Amanda  D  ......  346 

Zimmerman,  G.  H.,  .........  346 

Zimmerman,  J.,   D.D.,   LL.D., 

L.H.D.,    .................  629 

Zimmerman,  L.  M.,  D.D  .....  222 

Zimmerman,  W.  D.,   ........  344 

Zimmerman,  W.  G.,    .......  344,  346 


Pictures  of  Churches 


Page 

BALTIMORE, 

First, 194 

Second,    197 

Third,    201 

St.  Stephen 's,    .    205 

St.  Mark's, 2(19 

St.  Paul's,   215 

St.  Luke 's, 225 

Reformation,    229 

Trinity 232 

Calvary,    235 

incarnation,   239 

Emmanuel,   241 

Bethany,   243 

Concordia,    246 

Augsburg, 252 

BRUNSWICK, 327 

CATONSVILLE,  268 

CLEARSPRING  CHARGE, 

St.  Paul's,   444 

Fairview,    449 

St.  Peter's, 447 

CUMBERLAND, 

St.  Paul  X   504 

St.  Luke 's 508 

St.  John  's, 511 

EMMITSBURG,  337 

FREDERICK, 

Church,    3-10 

Sunday  School  Building,   .  .  342 

FROSTBURG, 513 

FITNKSTOXVN  CHARGE, 

Ftinkstown, 45 1 

Bakersville, 454 

HAGERSTOWN, 

St.  John 's,   459 

Trinity, 462 

St.    Mark's,    468 


Page 

LEITERSBURG  CHARGE, 

Leitersburg,   471 

Jacobs,    476 

MANCHESTER, 361 

MANOR-DOUBS, 

St.  Matthew 's 365 

MlDDLETONVN,    368 

NORTH  CARROLL  CHARGE, 

Lineboro,    377 

Bachman  's,     376 

PLEASANT  HILL,   387 

REISTERSTOWN,    276 

SILVER  RUN, 

St.   Mary's,    384 

SMITHSBURG  CHARGE, 

Sir.ithsburg,    487 

Greensburg,    491 

SNYDERSBURG,    389 

ST.  JOHN  's  CHARGE, 

St.  John  's,   391 

Wolfsville,    393 

TANEYTOWN,    396 

THURMONT, 398 

UTICA  CHARGE, 

Bethel, 410 

Creagerstown,    413 

Utica,    419 

Walkersville,    421 

WASHINGTON, 

St.  Paul's,   281 

Luther  Place  Memorial,  .  ..  291 

St.  Mark's, 298 

Keller  Memorial, 300 

Zion,    307 

Epiphany 316 

WAYNESBORO, 495 

WESTMINSTER, 424 

WINCHESTER,   49,  50 


637 


General  Index 


Ptt(lt\  PdflC 

Abraham,  Peravelli 114       Calvary  Charge, 263-265 

"Abstract    of    Doctrines    and  Candler,   David 15f 

Practice,"    151       Carty  A.  C.,  (Biog.), 549 

Aged,  Homo  for, 126       Catonsville.  Church, 265-269 

Albert.  C.  S., 7!>,  1415,  14.")  Central  Missionary  Society,  .107, 112 

Albrecht,  George 114  Church   Work,   The  Lutheran,       14.'? 

Allgeier's   Church,    35       Civil  War,    125 

Antietain  Creek  Church,    ....          34       Clearspring  Charge,    442-450 

Arcadia,    35       Clutz,  J.  A.,  (Biog.), 3«5() 

Augsburg  Confession, 14Sff       Coiniiion  Service, 160 

Augustine,  T.  N.  (Biog.),  .  . .       527       Conococheague,    22ff 

Conrad,  F.  W.,  .70,  138,  143,  150,  164 

Baltimore, 27 ff,  75,  121  fT       Conventions  of  Synod, 175tf 

Baltimore  Churches, 189  -263       Cordova  Churches, 2(59f 

Bachman  's  Cluirch, 35       ('rider's  Church 34 

Bager.  J.  G 28f,  34       Crigler,  J.  F.,   (Biog.), 553 

Baugher,  H.  L.,  Sr., 77,  Croos,  W.  M.,   (Biog.),   554 

105,  108,  130,  132,  150ff,  158,  166       Culler,  M.  I,.,  (Biog.) 555 

Baughnmn,  If.  F.,   (Biog.),   .        528       Culler,  S.  H.,  (Biog.), 557 

Baum,  W.  M 49       Cumberland  Churches, 503-511 

Bauslin,  D.  II.,   (Biog.), 528 

Baust's  Church,    406       Day,  W.  C.,   (Biog.), 558 

Beard 's  Church, 34  Deaconess  Mother-House,    .  . .        126 

Beiswanger,  G.,    (Biog.),    ...        530       Dean,  O.  C.,  (Biog.), 559 

Bell,  Albert,    (Biog.),   531  Deer  Park  Road  Church,  ..  .334-336 

Bell,  C.  P..  (Biog.) 532       Derr,  C.  E.,  (Biog.), 560 

Bell,  K.  K.,   (Biog.),   533       Derr,  R.  V.,  (Biog.), 560 

Beneficiary  Education, 131       Derr,  S.  J.,  (Biog.), 561 

Bikle,  L.  A.,  (Biog.), 138,  536       Diehl,  George,   6,  79,  143,  158 

Bikle,  P.  M.,  (Biog.), 538       "Definite  Platform,"   74,  152 

Bittle,  D.  F 77,  134,  138       Domer,  S., 79 

Bittle,  D.  H., 77, 138       Doty,  R.  W.,   (Biog.),   562 

Bittle,  J.  E.,  (Biog.), 539 

Book  Company 122f,  142,  144       Education 127-139 

Boonsboro  Charge 35.  437-442       Ellicott  City  Church, 270-272 

Botsford  C.  R.,  (Biog.), 541       Emmitsburg  Church, 34,  336-339 

Bounds  of  Synod. 164       Englar.  G.  W.,   (Biog.), 562 

Bowers,  G.  S.,  (Biog.), 541        Evangelical  Alliance 14,  157 

Bowers,  J.  C.,  (Biog.)    542        Eyler,  C.  A.,   (Biog.), 563 

Bowersox,  G.  E.,   (Biog.),    ..        544       Finckel,   S 77 

Bowersox,  II.  T.,  (Biog.),  .  .  .        543        Floyd,  D.  B.,  (Biog.), 137,564 

Braddock  Church,   325f       Foreign  Missions, Ill 

Bregen/.er,  O.  E.,   (Biog.),   .  .        545       Founders  of  Synod, 53 

Brown,  J.  A., 79,  12!)       Franckean  Synod, 153 

Brown,  W.  E.,  (Biog.), 545       Freas,  W.,   (Biog.),   565 

Brunswick  Charge 326-329       Frederick  Church, 339-347 

Burgess,  E.  B.,  (Biog.), 546       Freedmen,     124 

Burkittsville  Charge,    330-333       Frostburg  Church, 512-517 

Butler.  C.  II.,   (Biog.'),   547       Funkstown  Charge, 35,450-455 

Butler.  J.  G., 79,  114, 125, 160 

Byers,  J.  E.,   (Biog.),   548       Gaver,  M.  D.,   (Biog.),   566 

638 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


639 


Page 
Gearhart,  R.  H.,  Jr.,  (Biog.),       567 

General  Council,   153 

General  Synod,   

.  .44,  46,  107,  108,  161  if,  ct  passim 
German  Synod  of  Maryland,  .  168ff 
German  Element  in  Maryland,  168ff 

Georgetown  Church, 35,  309-312 

Gerock,  J.  S.,    30 

Gerrardstown  Charge, 456f 

Gerrisheim,  F.,    34 

Gerstmyer,  H.  L.,  (Biog.),  .  .        567 

Getty,  G.  A.,  (Biog.), 568 

Gettysburg  College, IHOf,  167 

Gettysburg  Seminary,  128ff,  149,  167 

Gilbert,  D.  M.,   49 

Goedeke,  Harry,  (Biog.),   ...        569 

Goering,  J.,   . ". 37,  58 

Graefe,  J.  E.,   (Biog.),   569 

Graichen,  J.  G.,  (Biog.),  ....        570 

Greenwald,   E.,    106 

Gnnn,  Walter,   113 


Page 

Insurance  League, 123 

Intelligencer,  The  Lutheran,  .     139ff 

Jacobs  Church,   35 

Jacobs,  David, 130 

Jacobs,  Michael,   130 

Jefferson  Charge,    352-358 

Jones,  C.  S.,  (Biog.), 579 


Kayhoe.  J.  F.  F.,  (Biog.),  ..        580 

Kehler,  J 71f 

Keil,  W.  G., 105 

Keller,  Ezra,    77,  137,  151, 159 

Kirchner,  J.  C., 29 f,  37 

Kitzmeyer,  J.  F.  W.,  (Biog.),       582 

Kline,  M.  .!„  (Biog.), 631 

Knipple,  J.  G.  C.,  (Biog.),  .  .        583 

Koogle,  H.  A.,   (Biog.), 583 

Krauth,  C.  Philip,   

66-69,  128,  140,159 

Krauth,  C.  Porterfield,    

48f,  79,  134,  166 

Hager,  Jonathan,   25       Kreider's  Church, 34 

Hagerstown  Chun-lies,   457-470       Kuhns,  L.  M.,  (Biog.), 585 

Hagerstown  Female  Seminary,       135       Kurtz,  Benjamin,   

Hagerstown  Valley,   33  25,  64-66,  108, 

Hampstead  Charge 348-352  112,   122,   128ff,   132,   136f, 

Harkey,  S.  W 77,  109f,  138,  150f  141ff,    144f,   150ff,   158,    165,    167 

Harpster,  J.  H., 114       Kurtz,  J.  Daniel 30f,  37,  57-60 

Harris,  J.  G.,  108       Kurtz,  J.  Nicholas, 24f 

Hartman,  II.  H.,  (Biog.),  ...        571 

Hartwick,  J.  C.,   29       Lange,  F.  W.,   36 

Hauer,  D.  J 77       Lantz,  B.  E.,  (Biog.) 586 

Hausihl,  B.  M.,   21f,  34       Leatherman,  C.  G.,  (Biog.),  .       587 

Hay,  C.  A.,   79       Leatherman,  E.  L.,  (Biog.),  .        588 

Hays,  C.  E.,   (Biog.),   572       Leitersburg  Charge, 470-479 

Hebron  Church,  Va.,   36       Lineboro  Church, 376-378 

Heckert,  Sister  Zora, 122       Literature,    139 

Hedges,  C.  A.,  (Biog.), 572      Little,  N.  B.,  104 

Henkel,  A.  J.,   36       Liturgical  Development,    ....      159f 

Henkel,  Paul, 36,  38,  40,  44,  107       Lovettsville  Church 358f 

Henkel,  Solomon,    41       Lowe,  J.  E.,  Jr.,  (Biog.),  .  . .        589 

Hennighausen,  F.  Ph., 124       Lutherville   Church,    272f 

Hess,  C.  W.,   (Biog.),   573       Lutherville  Female  Seminary,       136 

Hesse,  F.,    (Biog.),    574 

Hesse,  W..   (Biog.) 574       McChesney,  W.  R., 108 

Heuser,  W.  L.,   (Biog.),   576       McDaniel,  C.  T.,  (Biog.),  ...        590 

Heyer,  C.  F., .77,  103,  113       Manchester  Church,    34,  359-363 

nightman,  F.  A.,   (Biog.),   ..        577       Manor-Doubs  Charge,  .  . .        363-365 

Home  Missions, 103-111       Main,  J.  H.,   (Biog.), 592 

Horine,  M.  C 79       Manken,  H.,  Jr.,  (Biog.),  .  .  .        591 

Howard  University,   125,  133       Martinsburg,  W.  Va., 

38,  164f,  479-483 

Iowa  Synod  Church  in  Mary-  Martz,  G.  J.,   113 

land,    6       " Maryland  Synod  Question,"     158f 

Tde,  E.  E.,  (Biog.), 579       Mayer,  C.  B 22 

Illinois  State  University,    ...        138       Medtart,  J.,   104 

Indians 26f       Melanchthon  Synod 137,  165f 

Inner  Mission,  120       Metzger,  W.  S.'  T.,  (Biog.),  .        593 


640 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Paflf 

Mover,  K.  W.,   (Biog.),   .....  594 

Meyerhoeffer,  M.,    ..........  71 

Vfiddletown  Churoh,   .......  36.1-372 

Middletown    Valley,    ........  33 

Midland  College.   "  ..........  138 

Miller.  H.  X..   (Biog.)  ......  594 

Miller.  L.  F..  (Biog.)  .......  595 

Miller.  S.  J.,  (Biog.),   ......  596 

Miller,    Victor.    (Biog.),    ....  596 

Ministerial  Relief,  .........  122f 

Minnick,  \V.  G..   (Biog.),   .  ..  .197 

Minutes  of   First   Convention,  51ff 
Missionary     Institute,    Selins- 

grove  ....................  136f 

Missions.   Foreign  ..........  Ill 

Missions,   Home  ............  103 


Missions,    Inner  ............        120 

Missouri    Churches    in    Marv- 

land,  ..................  '.  .          5f 

Monocacv,  .................       12ff 

Morris.  J.  G  ................ 

59.  75f,  105.  107.   109.  123, 
130.  134,  141,  144,  150ff,  155f,  159f 
MuhleiilK-rg,  F.  A  ...........          44 

MuhlenlK'rg,  H.  M  ..........  ISff,  35 

Muhleiiberg.  Peter  ..........        3(5f 

Mullen,  A.  O.,   (Bioir.),  .....        598 

Mullen.  P.  H.  R..   (Biog.),   .  .        599 
Mumford.  C..  (Biog.),  ......        600 

Myersville  Church  ......  35,372-375 

Naessman.  Pastor,    .........  17 

Xame  of  Synod  ............          53 

National  Pike  ..............    23,  33 

Xew  Market,  Va  ............          38 

"Xew  Measures."   ........  147,  165 

Xew  York  Ministerium  ......          44 

Nichols.  J  ..................        114 

Xicke,  Pastor  ..............        16f 

North  Carolina  Synod.  ..  .41,  44,  126 

North  C'arolina  College  ......        138 

North  Carroll  Charge,  ......  375-378 

Null,  A.  C,..  (Biog.)  .........        601 

Xyl>erg,  Lars  ..............          16 

Observer.  The  Lutheran.   .  .  .  123,  141 


Officer.   Morris 

Officers  of  Svnod  ........... 

Ohio  Joint  Synod  Churches  in 
Marvland  ................ 

Ohio  Synod  ................ 

Oney.  K.  K..  n<io»r.)  ........ 

Ott.'.T.  W..  (Biog.),  ........ 

Ottman.  F.  A..  (Biog.),  ..... 

Owen,  S.  W  ................ 


113 
75ff 

(i 

44 

601 

602 

6'i3 

81 


Passavant,  W.  A.,  ..........  79, 

Pastors'   Fund  ............. 

Pennsylvania   College,    .  ...130f, 

Pennsylvania   Ministerial!),   .  . 

..."  .3(5.  3Kff,  43.  45.  48,  151f, 
Pleasant   Hill  Church  ....... 

Poffenbeiger,    K.   S.,    (Biog.), 
Pohlman,  A.,  (Biog.),   ...... 

Protocol  of  Synod,  ......... 

Qiiadriccntennial   of   Luther's 

Birth  ................... 

Quadrieentennial  of  Reforma- 

tion  ..................... 

Rationalism  ................ 

Reck,  Abraham,  .38,  43,  G3f,  103, 
Reck,  .Toll  .................. 

Reisterstowu  Church  ........ 

Remsberg.  W.  L.,   (Biog.),   .. 
Rice,  C.   K.,   (Biog.)  ........ 

Rice.  K.  F.,   (Biog.)  ........ 

Richardson.  A.   F.,   (Biog).,   . 
Ringer's  Church  ............ 

Ritter,  C.  L.,  (Biog.)  ....... 

Rizer,  P  ................... 

Roanoke  College  ............ 

Rocky  TJill  Church  .......... 

Roman  Catholics  in  Maryland, 
Rudolph,  Carl,   ........  *  ..... 

Ruth,  F.  J  ................. 


142 
123 
167 

161 

379 

603 

603 

6 

156 

156 

45 

105 

10(5 

275 

605 

(50(5 

(507 

(507 

35 

(JOS 

10(5 

138 

35 

11 

17 

106 


Parent  Education  Society,.  105.  131  ff 
Parkville  Church  ......  '  ____  273-275 

Parson.  W.  F  ...............          81 


Sabillasville   Church,    .......        380 

Sadtler,    B  .............  79,  124.  139 

Salem  Charge  ..............      381  f 

Schaeffer,  ("T.  F  .........  77,  139,  155 

Schaeffer,  D.  F  ............. 

____  60-62.  124,  128,  139f,  159,  162 

Schaeffer.  Solomon  .........          25 

Schaum.  J.   H.,    ............          21 

Scheih,  H  ..................          31 

Schlatter,  M  ................          23 

Schmucker,  .T.  G  ............    25,  42 

Schmucker.  J.  X.,   .........  69f,  157 

Schmucker,  S.  S  ............ 

............  70.  72-75.  122. 

127ff,  139.  141,  14Sf,  152,  159f,  162 
Schroeter,  Pastor,  ..........          35 

Schwarzbach.  J  .............          36 

Seehach.  J.   F..   (Biog.)  .....        609 

Seiss,  J.   A.,   .  ..79.  123.  150,  158,  1(54 
Selinsgrove.  Miss.   Institute.    136,  167 
Seminary,  Gettysburg,  128ft',  14l»,  167 
Sharpsburg  Charge  ........  483-4S5 

Shilke,  C.  A..   (Biog.)  .......        610 

Silver  Run  Charge,  .....  34,  383-387 

Slifer,  W.  C...  (Biog.)  .......        610 

Smithsburg  Charere  ........  486-493 

Snyder,  H.  W.,   (Biog.)  .....        612 

Rnyder.  Simon,   (Biog.),   ____        613 

Snydersburg  Church  ........  388f 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


641 


Page 
Sparrow's  Point  Church,  .  .  .277-279 

Sprecher,  S.,    77,  138,  152 

Springer,  F.,    106,  138 

Startzman,  C.,   166 

Steck,  C.  F.,  Jr.,  (Biog.),  ...  614 
Sternat,  F.  C.  J.,  (Biog.),  .  .  615 
Stockslager,  P.  T.  E.,  (Biog.),  616 

St.  John's  Charge, 389-393 

Stoever,  J.  C., 14ff,  28,  36 

Stork,  C.  A., 79,  114,  129 

Stork,  Theophilus, 49,  79,  160 

Streit,    Christian,    37, 39 

Stup,  G.  Z.,  (Biog.),   617 

Susquehanna  University,  ....        137 

Swedes  in  Maryland,   11 

Swedish  Cliurch  in  Maryland,  6 

Synodic-al   Bounds,    164 

Sy  nodical         Conference 

Churches   in   Maryland,    ...          of 

Taneytown  Church, 35,  394-397 

Tennessee  Synod,    148 

Thurmont  Church, 397-400 

Titus,  T.  T., 79,  139 

Toms  Creek, 34 

Tract  Society,  Lutheran,  ....  144 
Trowbridge,  C.  R.,  (Biog.),  .  618 
Troxell,  M.  F.,  (Biog.), 619 

Union  Bridge  Charge,   401-404 

Unionism,   46,  157 

Uniontown  Charge 404-408 

United  Lutheran  Church,  .  .  .  163 
Utica  Charge 409-423 

Valentine,  M 49,  79, 129 

Virginia  Synod, 163ff 

Virginia   Valley,    3S 


Page 

Wachter,  C.  M.,  (Biog.),  ...  621 

Wadsworth,  W.  A., 108 

Wagner,  F.  R.,  (Biog.), 621 

Waltemyer,  W.  C.,  (Biog.),  .  623 

Washington  Churches, 281 

Washington  Service, 160 

Waynesboro  Church, 493-497 

Weber,  H.  H.,  (Biog.), 624 

Weiser,  R.,  106,168 

Wentz,  A.  R.,  (Biog.),  625 

Westminster  Church 423-427 

West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  .  . 

44,  129,  133 

West  Virginia  Missions Ill 

Wheeler,  W.  E.,  (Biog.),  ...  626 

Wildbahn,  C.  F., 24f,  35 

Wiles,  C.  P.,  (Biog.),  627 

Williamsport  Church, 498-502 

Winchester,  Va 48f 

Winter 's  Church,  35 

Wiseman,  T).  E.,  126 

Wittenberg  College,  137 

Wolf,  E.  J.,  79 

Woman 's  Home  and  Foreign 

Missionary  Society,  .llOf,  115-120 

Women,  Education  of, 134 

Woodbine  Charge,  427f 

Woodsboro  Charge, 428-434 

Woodstock,  Va.,' 37 


Veakley,  T.  B., 
Voung,  J.  D.,  .  . 
Young,  J.  G.,  .  . 


Ill 

38 

25,  34f 


Zimmerman,  H.  E.,  (Biog.),  .  628 
Zimmerman,  J..  (Biog.),  .  .  .  629 
Zimmerman,  L.  M.,  (Biog.),  .  630 


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