The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-25
The Now German Lutheran Church.


The Now German Lutheran Church.
Our readers will find in another column Of this
mornings News a rotico from Rev. L. Muller,
giving the ordor of the procession. to be observed
in the ceremony Of the laying Of the cornerstone
of the New German Lutheran Church. The occa-
sion is one of no ordinary solemnity, and fttingly
was fixed during the joyous period of the annual
Christian holiday. We congratulate our German
tellow-citizens on this suspicious event, and sim
cerely wish them every success in this most laud-
able endcavor.
RETROSPECT.
There arc epochs in the lives of individuals,
communities and nations, breaking the calm flow
OF every day existence, and becoming landmarks
of history. In the individual we have birth. mar
riago and death-so a nation takes its rise, reaches
the eliminating point, and then enters upon de-
cadence. a community, in importance ranging
between these two, is subject TO the SANE fuctua-
tons. .Althoug, lie occasion would seem to sug-
gcst a history Of the Germans Of Charleston, it is
not our purpose to enter upon so broad q field to-
day; we design only q lew glances at the subject.
Their beginning in this city dates back to a period
anterior TO tie Revolution. The German Friendly
Society was formed in 1766, small as q grain of
mustard seed then, but now a large and flourish
ing tree, giving shelter and support to many who
call it blessed. Tho Germans, simple in their
habits and unpretending, then vorshipped in an
humble wooden structure, near the present lalge
and handsome church in Archdalo-street which
was built in due time, and for over half q century
hoe haan faithf,llv prncido1 Ovar Nv tbo Pow H.
Bachman.
THE FIRST GERMAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL IN
CHARLESTON.
The Frieno'v Society, then the embodiment Of
the Germal feeling Of the sons Of the Frtherland
in this city, had their school and provided for the
training OF the young in the language and customs
OF their ancestors. The transactions OF the So
ciety were all in The German language, but not
withstanding all these honest and painstaking
efforts of good old Michael Kalteisen, Eckhard,
Frisch, Tidyman, Strobol, S%teinmoyer, and others,
in process of time, tho German lang gag fell into
desuetudo; and while the church retained the
Lutheran faith and ritual, and the Friendly So
ciety preserved intact its ancient German charac-
ter for benevolence. and liberality, the English
altogether usurped the place Of the
mother tongue.
ST. MATTHEW'S BUILT.
For q while the newly arrived German immi-
grants worshipped at DR.. Bachman's church, and
sent their children to the Friendly Society's school;
but as the principal bond of unity, identity of Ian
guage, was lacking, those of German birth in 1541
congregation of their own, 81. Matthew's,
and in the year Following, built the church at the
corner of Hasel and Arson streets, in which they
have worshipped ever since.
Rev. II. f.. W. Heemsoth, their first pastor,
served the church till the Spring of 1913, when he
to Germany, and he is now pastor in
M~isselwarden, Amt Dorem, Hanover.
Pastor Heemsoth was succeeded by Rev. L.
Muller, WHO has served the congregation accept
ably during nearly twenty years. Mr.. n. is q ma
tive of Rhenish Bavaria, passed through the
gymnasium of Deux Points, and completed his
studies in philosophy and theology in the Uniyer-
of Utrecht. Immediately upon his gradua-
he came to the United States, was ordained
in New York in 1912, and served congregations in
New York and Brooklyn till the Spring of 1s48,
when he was called to this city.
THE vEsTRY
OF the church is composed Of the following mem
bcrs:
Eders-A. Bischoff, George Cordes, +. Web
mann.
Wardens-F. streckfiss, J. G.. Wohlers, J.
Heesemann, +. d. Ploger, W. Uferhardt, W. Mar
Lehmkuhe, J. H. Kalb, ]. C. OjemsAa, J. C.
Often.
wEAT THE CHURCH REGISTER REVEALS.
During the twenty tx years Of its history 2119
chi1dran tova heon honri1o1 inio ibic chuToh
There have been 3ls combinations, comprising
nearly an equal number of boys aud girls; 927 mar
and 2159 funerals. In explanation Of these
large figures, it is proper to remark that whi!c the
congregation, in the more mar ow sense of men,
bership, only comprises q few hundred Of the
German population Of the city, it must be borne in
mind that more than nine-tenths of all the Ger
mans in Charleston are Lutherans by e .~ucation,
and when an occasion in life presents which re-
cures the Offices Of the church, they naturally go
to the minister of that church, who mlnistrates,
not only according to the usage of their fathers,
but also in their native tongue.
Although the deaths outnumber the births, it
must not be thought that there has not been q
steady increase in this class Of our population. AS
q rule they enjoy excellent health in our climate,
but the occasional epidemics, occurring at long
intervals, have made sad inroads into their num-
Der, the victims being principally from the ranks
of the latest arrived immigrants.
CEMETERIES.
The first cemetery OF the congregation was open
ed about 1914, on the corner of Amherst aud Hano-
yer streets, and was used till 1857, when Betha-
ny, " the ground adjoining the Magnolia Cemetery,
,,,oLosod which Ioo hoo, hiOl1,, i'm r.oral
and n appearance, as in situation, is a fitting
Acre"
SCHOOLS.
The Sunday school, in connection with the st.
Matthew's Church, numbers over 800 children in
regular attendance, and from Is 10 80 teachers.
Tho Germans are, as We know, much attached to
their mother tongue, and rs they prefer to hear
Gods Word in their native accents, sc as q
rule, they desire to have the language taught their
there is q day school also, therefore,
in connection with the church, and its Principal
is Mr.. A. ]. Hoffman, at once the crganist of the
church, and the Superintendent Of the Sunday
school. The services of Mr.. d. are much priced
by his compatriots in this city, and deservedly so,
for during the three years Of his residence in
Charleston he has accomplished much. Begin
ming in the Summer Of 1865 with three children,
he has now q fourishing school OF over 200, where
is impaired in all the elementary
branches Of knowledge, both in English and in
German. He also has q night school for adults.
Mr.. H. is a native Of Rhoaish Bavaria, passed
through the Gymnasium III Spires, and the Uni
versity in Munich, where he chose music as a
specially. Since his arrival in the United States,
oboui 6ftonn veors oco he has been CONSTANTLY an
gagged in the instruction OF youth and if we may
venture an opinion in the premises. We should say
that by nature and education he ia admirably
adapted for the responsible duties Of his Office.
THE NEW OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
The site Of the new church edlfico about to be
erected by this congregation is on the west side
of King-street, south Of Vanderhorst, late the re-
sidence OF Father O,Neill. The building will