Area History: A Centennial History - Mahanoy City CHAPTER VII - The Churches PAGES 40-56 This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Shirley Ryan sryan@enter.net USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. __________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER VII - THE CHURCHES PAGE 40 - 56 A CENNENTIAL HISTORY: THIS MATERIAL IS TRANSCRIBED FROM THE 1963 CENTENNIAL BOOKLET ENTITLED “MAHANOY CITY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 1863-1963, A HISTORY”. THE HISTORIANS WHO COMPILED THIS HISTORY WERE: JOSEPH H. DAVIES, CHAIRMAN CHARLES H. ENGLE ELWOOD M. YOUNG Transcribed by: Shirley E. Thomas Ryan June 22, 2002 CHAPTER VII THE CHURCHES Page 40 - The churches of Mahanoy City have played an important role in its history. The first settlers, of various nationalities, desirous of worshipping in the manner of their fathers, held services in their homes untilll their groups grew large enough to establish congregations. With the construction of the log school on West Spruce Street, most of the early congregations worshipped there until their churches were built. To the First Presbyterian Church, which was incorporated in 1862, belongs the distinction of being the oldest congregation in the community. Several congregations had their origins in 1863, the year in which the borough was chartered, and in the year immediately following. Because of limitations of space, detailed histories of the churches cannot be recorded here, but a few highlights have been mentioned in most instances. As a preface to the brief histories of the churches, the poem, “The Bells of Mahanoy,” by William Alexander Davies, “The Golden Miner,” one of the community’s earliest poets, is printed. It was written August 4, 1879. THE BELLS OF MAHANOY I Love to hear the Sabbath bells Peal forth their tones of joy; How dear to me the Sabbath bells, The bells of Mahanoy! Chorus - Hark! Hark! Hark! The Sabbath bells are ringing; Hark! Hark! Hark! The bells of Mahanoy. Through wearied by the week that’s gone, Which gave to me employe, I feel inspired from the bells, The bells of Mahanoy. Chorus. I’ve heard the bells of many a town E’er since I was a boy, But none whose music I’d compare With those of Mahanoy. Chorus. The tones I’ve often heard them peal Are free from vain alloy; Long may they chime their sacred tones, The bells of Mahanoy. Chorus. Page 41 - PROTESTANT ZION WELSH BAPTIST The first services was held in February 1865, in the Spruce Street schoolhouse. A Sunday School was organized at the same time. The cornerstone of the first church, built at the southern end of Catawissa Street, was laid in the summer of 1865. In 1894, the building was sold to St. Casimir Polish R.C. congregation and a new edifice was built at the sourtheast corner of Fourth and Market Streets. It was dedicated in March 1894. Pastors who served this church have included the Reverends W. D. Thomas, G. James, Mr. Morton, J. Richards, W.H. Williams,, T.P. Morgan, Mr. Jenkins, J. Griffith, George Hague, George Balles, Thomas Evans, whose long ministry endeared him to the entire community, and Roland Johnson (serving at present). GRACE REFORMED (A United Church of Christ) A Daughter of Church of St. Paul’s Until 1905 there was but one Reformed church in the community but on May 28, of that year, a number of members of St. Paul’s congregation withdrew to establish Grace Church. On April 22, 1907, the ground was broken for its edifice at Fifth and Pine Streets. It was dedicated by the pastor, the Reverend Henry A. Keyser, a former pastor of St. Paul’s. Succeeding the Rev. Mr. Keyser in the pastorate have been the Reverends M. N. George, Harry Uberroth, George W. hartman, C. M. Baver, and T. Richard Herbert, the present pastor. Page 42 - CHURCH OF FAITH (Episcopal) (prior to Remodeling) A service is believed to have been held as early as Easter, 1860, but it was on August 18, 1864, the parish was organized. The same day the Reverend Henry Styles Getz was elected rector. On Tuesday, November 29, 1864, the cornerstone of the church ws laid by the Right Reverend William Bacon Stevens, assistant bishop of the diocese. The church was opened formally August 2, 1865, to the Schuylkill and Lehigh Convocation which was then in session in Tamaqua and the members attended in a body. The first public Sunday service was held in the church on August 13, 1865, and the Holy Communion was administered for the first time. The Church School was organized August 13, 1865. On Thursday, August 29, 1865, the church was dedicated. Bishop Thomas Vail, of Kansas, presiding. The Guild was organized on December 2, 1877. The Ladies Sewing Guild was instituted in 1866. Succeeding the Rev. Mr. Getz were: The Reverend Messrs. Charles Kirkland (supply); Joseph V. Murphy, Charles B. Henley, B. D.; Charles J. Kilgore, Frederick Crozier, George Greene, Elijah Roke, Otho Brandt, Oscar P. Stoeckel, Herman E. Knies, George Van Frossen, Harry E. Elston, J. Lyon Hatfield, a. Harold Plummer, Donald E. Davis, David W. Jones, E.A.D. Phillips, Charles A. Adamek and Eugene S. Patton, present rector. SALEM EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL The first effort toward forming an Evangelical Society was in the years 1859 and 1860 when occasional meetings were held. In March 1863, the Reverends C. Ginerich and D. Lentz were stationed in the Ashland Circuit, which included Mahanoy City. They organized a class which met in the Spruce Street schoolhouse. The first church was erected at the northeast corner of Catawissa and Spruce Streets, and services were held there in February 1865, although the edifice was not completed. In May 1866, the Sunday School was organized. In 1892, a division in the Evangelical Association took place and the congregation allied itself with the United Evangelical Church. On April 30, 1903, the congregation purchased the property at the northeast corner of Fourth and centre Streets, selling its former edifice to Holly Emmanuel Slovak Lutheran congregation. The new house of worship was dedicated on May 29, 1904. During the pastorate of the Reverend E. R. Hart occurred the merger of the United Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Association. The congregation declared itself against the merger and became affiliated with the newly organized Evangelical Congregational Church. Those in favor of the merger withdrew and worshipped as an Evangelical congregation in the P.O.S. of A. Hall for a short period, later disbanding to affiliate with other churches. Page 43 - Sarah McQueen Eitzen, a member of this church, became a missionary to Africa. Among its sons in the ministry are Daniel Draper and Paul Faust. The following is the roster of pastors of this church: The reverends Isaiah Knerr, Assistant, Joshua Frey; C. Ginerich, D. Lentz, Reuben Deisher, D.C. Kembel, J.C. Hornberger, G. J. Smoyer, J.K. Wieand, A.M. Stirk, S.L. Weist, S.T. Leopold, W.A. Hoemaker, J.K. Seyfrit, J.R. Hensyl (on two occasions), B.H. Miller, A.A. Delong, H.D. Kreidler, W. H. Hartzler, W.H. Egge (two pastorates), D. P. Longsdorf (two pastorates), E.R. Hart, D. J. Yoder, S.H. Hecker, R. C. Steinhart, G. H. Seidel, P. K. Cressman, L. R. Klinger, E. B. Eckhart, L.D. Ziegler, E. A. Troup, H.E. Myers, W.F. Kochel (presently serving). ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN St. John’s English Lutheran Church was founded on August 7, 1867, when the Reverend L.C. Burkhalter (Burke), together with 70 members, demitted from Christ Church because of differences in languages and customs existent at that time. In the same year, a Page 44 - A frame church building was erected at a cost of $4,500. Pastor Burkhalter was succeeded by Pastors Reuben Weiser, D. Beckner, J.M. Steck, J.W. Lake, W.H. Dewars, J.R. sample, I.P. Zimmerman, L.L. Lohr, J.F. Seebach, C.W. Diehl, C.L. Ritter, John A. Aman, Lester B. Lutz and Richard L. Hinkle, who is serving at this time. Sons of St. John’s who have entered the Christian ministry include Harold Newton Follmer, William F. Steck, Frederick R. Wagner, J. Ernest Zimmerman, J.T. Jenkins, and William Butts. FIRST METHODIST The exact date of the first Methodist Episcopal service is somewhat obscure. A mission was begun by the Reverend A.M. Kester, of Ashland, in 1862. In 1863, the Reverend H. Cleveland, of Tamaqua, was instructed to preach occasionally in Mahanoy City. In the same year, two lots were secured to build a church. In March 1864, the Reverend H.H. Davis was assigned as the first pastor. He preached his first sermon in the community on March 16, 1864. From June 5, 1864, throughout the summer and fall, the congregation worshipped in a tent at the corner of Pine and Linden Streets, present site of St. John’s Lutheran Church. During the building of the first church, the poorly constructed basement wall caved in, and the wall of the gable end blown down during a heavy gale on October 28, 1864. On April 21, 1865, the foundation of the new church was begun and on July 1, the cornerstone was laid. The present edifice was completed October 29, 1893, at a cost of $21,000. The following have succeeded Mr. Davis in the pastorate: The Reverend Messrs. S.H. Reisner, J.J. McConnell, Mathias Barnhill, T.Mongomery, W.D. McComas, J. Wesley Harkins, G. Oram, William H. Fries, Richard R. Turner, L.B. Brown, Thomas Harrison, I.M. Gable, Garbutt Reed, John H. Wood, J.M. Bennets, Maris Graves, E.W. Burke, E.D. Decker, Benjamin La Pish, Rowland J. Garber, John C. Bieri, Charles A. Benjamin, William R. Ridington, W.Sands Fox, Theodore W. Bare, J. George Smith (Calvin R. Myers, supply), Edward H. Brewster, J.N. Armitstead, Leslie H. Kiefer, Claude D. Grason, Eugene E. Harshberger, William A. Pahls, Charles H. Poukish, Kenneth T. Williams (present pastor). Page 45 - ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST In September 1862, the first sermon preached in the community by a Reformed minister was delivered by the Rev. L.K. Derr, D.D., in the Spruce Street schoolhouse. He was pastor at Tamaqua. After the building of the Presbyterian Church, the congregation worshipped there. On New Year’s Day 1863, a meeting was called for the purpose of electing a consistory and perfecting an organization. This was accomplished on January 17, 1863. On September 18, the cornerstone of the first church, near the south end of Main Street, was laid. On September 17, 1865, the church was dedicated. Following Dr. Derr, the following pastors have ministered at St. Paul’s: The Reverend Messrs. Henry A. Keyser, John G. Kerschner, George M. Smith, Walter H. Diehl, Paul T. Slinghoff, F. Arthur Guldin, George R. Winters, William S. Siegel, D. Horton Nace, and Edward A. Foster. In 1906, ground was purchased at Main and Pine Streets where a new church was erected by Thomas J. Koch, local contractor who was a member of the congregation. It was dedicated on November 15, 1908. Entering the ministry from this church have been John J. Fisher, Frank Houser, Frederick Witzel, Irvin A. Wagner, W. Sherman Kerschner, Harold B. Kerschner, Howard Irvin, Malcom E. Barr, Garnet Adams and Thomas Adams. Miss Ault (Mrs. John Hoy) went from this church as a missionary to China in 1886. Miss Carrie Kerschner entered Christian work and was secretary of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the General Synod of the Reformed Church. Arthur D. Smith and his sister, Harriet, went from this church to teach in colleges in Japan, the first at Sendai and the latter at Mayagi. CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN In the early part of 1863, the Reverend J.F. Bayer, of Tamaqua, preached to a number of residents of the Lutheran faith in the Presbyterian Church. In the fall of that year, the congregation decided to build a church in conjunction with the Reformed congregation but these plans were never carried out. On May 28, 1864, the church was consecrated during the pastorate of the Reverend Henry Giesz. In 1865, Pastor Burkhalter assumed charge and it was during his ministry that a number of families withdrew to found St. John’s Lutheran congregation. Page 46 -