Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-24
From The l.. s. Gazette.
Centcnn"ry Anniversary OF st. MichaeI's
Church, N. Il. Corner OF Fifth street =.
and AppIe Tree Alley.

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at the \. f. corner of Cherry street and Apple
Tree Alley, was dedicated to the worship of
Almighty God. Our readers will probably feel
some interest in the rise and progress ofthc
Lutheran denomination, and we have therefore
obtained the following particulars from various
sources
Prior to the year 1913, the few Evangelic
Lutheran and "Reformed' emicrants who took
up their abode in this city had no regular place
On worship, and congrcgatcd in an old frame
Workshop located in Arch street. The pastor
al charge of these focks was confided to the
Rev. DIR. Muhlonberg, who, by dint of persc-
verencc and strenuous exertion among the
members succeeded in prevailing upon them
to purchase site whereupon to build church.
Accordingly, in the year 1743, one week before
Easter, this desirable object was accomplished,
and the ground upon which the church now
stands purchased for the sum of two hundred
pounds. AS early as the fifth of April in the
same year, the corner stone was laid with be-
coming ceremonies, and the construction Of the
great spirit individual pockets were taxed,
and private property even was mortgaged TO
carry out the laudable enterprise in fact, the
zeal was such that on the Doth of October it
was so far completed as to be dedicated to Di-
vine service. The building, finished as it then
was, had cost the sum of fifteen hundred pounds,
an enormous sum in those times. The trcasu-
ry being exhausted, the interior work could not
be undertaken; the scafiolding was allowed to
remain, and in obedience TO the old adagc-
necessity is the mother of invention"-the
members, instead Of seats, used logs of wood,
upon which they laid boards ; and to have some
protection against the weather, mos, the win
dows were nailed up. In this condition the
church remained for period of nearly five
years; it was then completed. and finally
dedicated to the Lord on the l4th of Au-
gust, l7iS, ceremony performed by Pastor
Muhlenberg. a Swedish clergyman named San
din, and Pastors Brumholz IIandschut, kurz
and Schaum.
We will not dwell upon this imposing cere-
mony, but skip over a couple of years, during
which the congregation had so much increased
that it became necessary to enlarge the church.
On the 18th of May, l75l, the organ was
placed in the gallery; this instrument, at that
time, was probably the largest and handsum-
est in the United States. In 1850, il became
necessary TO purchase n second burial ground.
f,r which n,rnoco t,rn bnpJrob onI ,,ffnon
pounds were appropriated and shortly after
wards, (n the year l160,) the house appertain-
ing to the church, and the lot of ground upon
which the sclool-house now stands, were pur.
chased for four hundred and iorty-seven pounds.
10 the same year, the construction ofthe school
house was commenced and on the 9th of July,
lI6l, it was completed. From this time the
congregation increased so rapidly that, not.
contracted in consequence of the erection OF
these buildings, it became necessary 10 build
yet another aud larger church the members at
that ,iiac we're under the impression that this
new place Of worship, which was located at
the 5. L. corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets
would contain the whole congregation, as st.
Michaers Church was only 70 feet in length
and l5 feet in breadth, and lions (the new
Church los feet in length and 20 feet in
breadth.
! On the 2jth Of June; 1863, this building was
/ completed and dedicated, and the congregation
tlourished and prospered until the arrival the
revolutionary period; Philadelphia was taken
possession ofby English troops, and this beau
tiful and splendid ediiice was converted into q
hospital this occurred in the memorable year
of In but scarcely was the war concluded
ere tue I.ntherans rebuilt their church, and re
dedicated it on the 22d of September, i7s2. 4
variety of property was also purchased by thu
congregation. On the 10th of October, 1890
a lew and valuable organ was played for th'
first time in Zion's church. About the sam'
time the mother (St. Michacls) church wa
undergoing thorough repairs and improvements
In 1893 and 1874 the yellow fever ragged il
Philadelphia, and ina period Of about thre
months, the congregation lost no less than 62
Of its members and in the ensuing year. o
the evening succeeding Christmas, the ne'
church, together with the organ, was consume
! by fire. The edfice, however, was rebuilt, an
f rs-opened in November l790, and the trustee
: had moreover purchased an adjoining lot {
] ground for three thousand five hundred pound
r and erected thereon a school for the femal
c sex. About this time some difficulties aros