The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-06
ton at KirkwOOd. .Hsiswithrus and is
known Of all. r-, 5nI
RULING ELpElS.

1859. having filled tue onhce III Ihia
church with great acceptance for seven
Sssrs a. A. Smith died March, 1862
one year after his ordination. james
Smylcy died 1870. VIM. St. Clair, July
1879.
The present session consists Of the fol-
lowing, to.wit: WIN. Holiday, Thomas
q. Culbertson, John Armstrong, VIM
Clark, II. W. Smith and John N. Kius.
low. Since its organization there have
been received 10 The communion OF the
Church on certificate from other Churches
1863, and on profession Of faith 272. The
present membership IL 2l0. The Church
raised for all purposes the past year
$4,000. &, o.
The Sabbath School under the care Of
the Church numbers $50, and Is in a pros
porous condition.
CHURCH BUILDING.
The Church building was commenced
in 1871. II was occupied by the copgre.
cation in the summer Of 1912, although II
was not completed for several years after
that date. 1t was with the years Of
bank suspensions and the stringency in
monetary matters Of the country that the
Church at this time had to contend. But
tho zeal OF the founders did not relax, but
with untiring energy they toiled on until
they had comfortable place in which &c
worship.
TO show the self sacrificing spirit Of
one OF the contributors 70 the erection OF
the building, his son, then a small boy,
says that he hnd to forego the luxury OF
wearing shoes, because every dollar was
paid for the purpose OF building the
Church.
The ground upon which the building
stands was generously donated by the
late Ebehezef Martin, who, although a
member Of another denomination, not
bound however by sectarian prejudice but
with large Christian charity, contributed
to the churches Of all denominations,
while he was blessed with the means oil so
doing.
When the workmen commenced the
ioundation,th ground was in wheat, and
lay at that time entirely outside Of the
town plat. Repairs and improvements
were made at various times until the
wear OF 1866, when the cdifce was re-
modified and enlarged to It's present condi.
ton, at an expense Of foEty.fve hundred
dollars. There were eight feet and .
gallery added;and the walls Of the church
we're raised six feet, with suspension
roof which superseded the unsightly
posts that formerly stood in the mids,
Of the church.
In addition to the main building alect'
lnre room lSx45 feet was erected, (which
weekly lectures, prayer meetings and the
Sabbath schools are held.
The audience room contains seventy
pews, besides the gallery, and will COM
fortably seat four hundred and twenty
five.
The beliry and steeple, which adds
much to the appearance ofthe building
and is an ornament TO the town, was built
in the fall Of 1875, under the direction and
superintendence OF the Rev. G. W: Chal'
FAINT, the present pastor Of the church,
who has displayed much skill and taste
| in its finish and architectural proportions.
At the same time the bell weighing
twelve hundred pounds, cast by the Fulton
Bell Foundry, Of Pittsburgh, Pa, was
placed in it's present position, and every
Sabbath day by its mellow tones the citi-
zens are summoned to the house OF God
Reviewing the whole history as a con-
pregation we find little that is extraor-
binary or worthy Of special note. We rec.
ognize the hand OF the Lord in its steady
growth, and would gratefully ascribe to
him all the glory Of the, good acoomp-
lished through its instrumentality
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped u.s."
GERNis LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Ger. IAN Lutheran Church was or
ganized in Martin Ferry in 1864 by The
Rev, Frederick Fredericks, who took
charge Of the church and served as pastor
for two years. Previous 10 this time
several Of the German families attended
service in the First German Lutheran
Church at the city OF Wheeling. The or.
panization service was held in the United
Presbyterian Church Of this place, in
which they worshipped for two years
Mr.. Fredericks, after serving the congre.
CATION faithfully and eiiectually, resigned
and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr.. Ber-
kenmyer, who assumedTthe pastoral care
of the church and labored for one year.
The Rev. Mr.. Eastermyer accepted the
oversight OF the church, in 1867, and
preached for six months, and lett the
field, and for the next three months thu
congregation was supplied with preach
ing by the Synod OF Pittsburgh.
July 4, 1868, Rev. Walters accepted the
position Of pastor Of the church and re-
manned for three years. For two years ht
also taught the German school Ia the
same building. He resigned in 1871 and
was succeeded by the. Rev. John. Fritz
who served the church with ability and
general acceptance for four years. For
two years he also taught the German
language in the Martins Ferry Union
School. He resigned and removed to
New Castle, Pa.
January /, 1876, Rev. Baker served In
this church for three months, and was
followed by the Rev. Kunkle, who preach,
cd for two months and retired from the
service Of the church. At this time
July !, the congregation is without stated
minister, but Is supplied by the commit
lee Of the Pittsburgh Synod. Thu
Rev. Marwine Is, chairman Of said com
mittee.
The present church building wa
erected III 1867. 1t is located on the cas-
side Of Fourth street near the residence
Of Mr.. james Gray. II is neat ant
comfortable one story brick house twenty
four by forty-fve feet, plainly but taste
fully finished and furnished, with twenty
four pews and will comfortable sea
eighty.five persons.
i The following list OF names uniteC
with the church at Its organization
h Henry Helling, Louis Myers, Fredericl
lKanap, Charles Swartz, August Ruther
man, Henry Juyger, Charles Seabright
Henry Rei6ling, Charles Whunke, Henri!
EFloto, Jacob Brown, Michael Stuling
John Shutters, August Speck. .' 3
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
Counel-Charles Seabright, President
John II. Hoffman, Secretary; Charlie
Helling, Treasurer.
TtUasa-Henry Helling, August Ruth
Deacon, Jacob Brown, Fsedericl
DAume.
SaSGaM SeLoOl-John H. Hoffman, su
perintendent; Frederick Daume, Nssistan
lSnperlntendAnt.