The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-15
CANTON CHURCHES.
SKETCHES BY SPECIAL nErORTER.-(CO (COnttnued.)
ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

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ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
About the year 1887 portion Of the English
speaking members of the Lutheran Church oi
which Rev. Mr.. Feldman is now pastor, being de-
sirous Of having occasional services IN tne En'
glsh language, and being frustrated In this by the
German members, Withdrew from the congIega'
ton and formed new organization under the
pastoral charge Of Rev. John j. Fast, They were
Joined by several members OF the German he'
formed church who were also deslrous OF atIehu'
ing worship in the English language ana soon
afterwards the organization was Incorporated az
the Evangelical Congregation of Canton ohlo''
| Although always served by Lutheran ministers II
had no direct connection with any Synod until
some years afterwards. The town hall, III the ola
Market House, which formerly stood on the north
side of the public square (now the engine house
at the corner of Eighth and Poplar streets), was
engaged for their purposes, and was used as
place of worship until 1912 or lSi3
After serving the congregation for year or
more Mr. Fast removed to Cincinnatii but after
three or four years absence returned, and again,
took charge Of the congregation-the meanwhile
being wteout pastor In 1910 or 1871 an arrange
ment was made with the Trustees Of the Canton
Male Seminary (now forming a part OF the west
Union School building)by which the congregation
in consideration of one thousand dollars paid In
to the building fund Of the Seminary, were to be
permitted to occupy the main hal, on the hrst
floor of that institution, as a place OF worship, un
til the room would be needed 'for educational
purposes when 1t was to be surrendered ana the
congregation was 10 receive back the money so
paid into the building fund.
After the erection of the Seminary buildings the
congregation fitted up Its room with pulpit ana
pews and at once took possession of its new sane
tuary. In 1S42 the Rev. Mr., Wadsworth, who had
Just graduated from ihe Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg Pa, came to Canton in
search of charge. After preaching few times
for the congregation a majority of the members
favored change of ministers, and accordingly
gave Mr.. Wadsworth call" Some of the mem
bers motaby F. A. Schneider Manias Lohr and
Daniel Raft being dissatisfied with the action ol
the majority, temporarily withdrew from the con-
gregation, and for time attended the Pfesbyteri'
an and other churches. Mr., Wadsworth remained
about one year, when bronchial affection com
PEELED him to cease preaching. Rev, DR., Hamil'
ton was next employed by the congregation, and
he continued to serve 1t until 1915, when 1t was
found necessary, on account OF the distance at
which the Doctor lived from Canton, his other en-
gagements, and the difficulty in holding services
at time to suit the various members to engage |
minister who would reside az Canton and devote |
his entire attention TO the congregation. A A"cal'
was accordingly extended to Rev. A. ]. Karn |
which was accepted, aud Mr Karn remained pas
tor for about four years. During his incumbency |
the congregation hOurished, and most of the mem |
bers who had withdrawn when Mr. Wadsworth |
became pastor returned. Mr.. X. was succeeded |
by Rev. L. Rizer, who continued two years. and |
after him came Rev. D. H. Bittle, for one year |
About this time the sub act of new church build
ing was first mooted and Rev. S. A. Mealy who |
then resided in Canton, to aid in erecting one
preached TO the congregation for a time without |
compensation, but his health failing, Rev. W. P. |
Ruthrauff of shellsburg, Pa, was next employed,
and during his pastorate Of seven years the
church edifce now occupied by the congregation
was erected
The members of the congregation who had come
into it from the German Reformed Church, being
now all dead, the name of the organization was
about this time, that Is during Mr. Ruthrauf's in.
cBmbenCy, changed to Evangelical Luthe
Congregation" and it was attached to Pittsburgh
Synod Of the Ev. Lutheran Church. This synodi-
cal connection produced several protests from
other SynOds Of the church. The congregation
was within the bounds of the Joint Synod of Ohio
to which the German church at the east end of
town belongs, and also within the bounds of the
East Synod of Ohio, which is attached to the Gen.
eral Synod of the church. The Joint Synod is in
dependent of the General Synod. The lines of
The Pittsburgh Synod did not at that time extend
into Ohio; but Mr.. Ruthrauf being member of
that Synod the congregation voted to go into it
alsO and being received by the Synod, it remain.
in connection wilhit until 1868 when it withdrew
and united with the East Ohio Synod where it
still remains
Mr.. Ruthrautf was followed by Rev. D. Carver,
who remained about three years. While Mr..
Carver was pastor the steeple of the church was
blown down by a high wind, and the erection of
4 new one, and other necessary repairs, cost the
congregation a considerable sum of money, For
several months after Mr. Garver's withdrawal the
congregation was without pastor, being tempo
orarily served by Rev ]. A. Kunkeman, now of
and Others In 1868 Rev. G. F. Stell-
ng took charge OF the congregation aud remained
me year. Next came Rev. John w. Goodlin, who
for four years and was succeeded in !
500 by Rev. L. M Kuhns the present pastor,
whose term of service has been longer than that
# any of his predecessors.
OF all the ministers who have regularly served
he congregation only four are now liYing-Revs.
Hamilton Stelling, GOodlin and Kuhns.
fro BE CONTINUED