Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-09-03
Cornerstone Lavinp,

laying of a new corner stone jp the founda
noh ot the new Lutheran church that is in
The course OF being built in this place. Al
day long large force of men and bows had
been hard at work taking down, brick b,
brick, the west wall Of the old church, anc
the cornerstone of the old edifice was
reached only half hour before the cere.
mony Of laying the new stone was begun.
! The Ceremony was just such u one =.
would lend an additional charm to reli-
gtous scene sYch as was enacted in the face
of the dismantled Lutheran church build
ing. The temperature of the air was aboui
10 degreesi perfect calm prevailed the
sun had just gone down behind the hills
and the moon, half full, gave light enough
10 break the dark shade of the approach OF
night. The surroundings were not doleful
All nature seemed to unite to impaft to the
assembly cheerful solemnity
-Four ministers were present to conduct
the. Ceremony, namely, Rev. E. Z. Berry,
pastor of the charge; Rev. II. C. Shndel,
ef the Port Royal Lutheran church, Rev.
I. j. Sherrari, of the Presbyterian church
of Mitiiintown; Rev. 4. e. Wilson, of the
Methodist church of Miffiintown.
! The ceremony was brief, end consisted in
the reading of the Scriptures by Rev. T, J q.
Sherrard Prayer by Rev. L. Z. Shiadel
/ Reading of the History Of Nessiah's Luth-
ersn Church, by Rev. L. E. Berry, from the
manuscript that had been put in the corner
stone in the year 1888; The Liturg,caI ser
vice BY Rev. Z, Berry; Laying of The stone ;
1 The deposit.ng of the contents o: the old
I stone. together with the additional articles
of this day and generation, by Rev. Z. f.
Berry. The articles taSen from the old stone
aud red posted in the new stone were :
A redcovered, gilt-edged hymn book, with
the name of s. r. Boyer, who was the PAS
/ tor under whose ministry the church of 1888
Wa. built, written in it copy of the Lsth-
eTGn 0bserrer published in Baltimore, Aug.
| 10, lS3S-the paper was one that had been
sent TO John Murphy, Is his name was writ
ten on It in a way that indicated that it had
been sent from the office of publication a
copy OF Luther's Smaller Catcchsm; a copy
# the Constitution and History of the
Lutheran Church, which was read by Rev.
b. f. Berry, ana is as follows;
HIsToRY OF THE CoSuREGATIos.
In the year of cur Lord 1901 il appears
God put il into the hearts Of some of his
people TO establish a congregation, and erect
house of worship. At this time the Luth-
erdn congregation was weak, but notwith-
standing, they persevered in the good work,
and being Kindly favored by Mr.. John HIr-
ris, who was the founder of Mlf-
fintown, who gave them lot TO
build on, they succeeded, after many diff
culties, to complete their house of worship
in the wear A. ID. lSl2 1t was
eleven years from the time OF the beginning
TO the completion of the building. The
size of the house was Is follows; 81 feet
long and 2S deep, with a gallery on three
sides. During this period of time the con-
gregation had no regular pastor, yet the
Rev. George Helm preached tor the people
occasionally, ami the last .eS years also the
Rev. William Helm, who al .erw ards became
their pastor.
The first Trustees elected were Messrs.
Jaceo Wright, Frederick Swits-r, and Zach
aria Darst, in the year lSG2, but before
the church was completed three new Trus-
tees We're elected, namely, Conrad Schue,
John kepner, and Zacharia Darst. Trus-
tees, Elders and DeacOns were then elected
from time to time, who continued III ciiice
about three years.
In March, ISL, the Lords Supper was
for the first time administered in the new
house, and then again in 1872, at which
time the number of commuEing members
was 10. The Rev. William Helm, having
taken charge OF this congregation about the
year 1910 or 1872, continued TO be pastor
OF it until the year 1855.
/ In the year lo22 the number of cCnmun-
| ing members was about 81, and when Rev.
William Helm left the congregation IN 1888,
about so.
In the year 1884 the Rev. Charles Weyl
took charge of the English part of the con-
gregation, and continued Tor one year, dur
| ing which time he confirmed IL persons.
administered the Lords Supper to gocdiy
number, and God blessed his labors-
| On the 18th day OF March, 1885, the Rev.
S. K. Bower took chlrge of this cOngrega-
ton, to preach both in the English and
! German languages, and has continued until
/ this day. During the three years that he
| has been the pastor he has confirmed 81 per-
sors, and the congregation has increased TO
about 100 communing members, yet at our
! last communion season there were ia.
On Monday. the 2Sth day of August. 1881, :,
| the pastor of the congregation called meet
1 ing for the purpose of taxing into consider
alton the propriety of building new house
of worship. when it vas unanin Ousiy re-
solved, that, in humble reliance on the
| Great Head of the church, We will go on TO
build a new temple unto the Triune uod.
I The following persons were then appointed
as building committee Jacob Aelgi"r,
John F. Ssiger, Abram Guss and Samuel
| Davis.
The articles enumerated were the entire
contents of the stone of the church built in
1898. The articles added to those just
mentioned, and all deposited in the ne"
stone, were, Lutheran Obseruer, dated Au-
gust 23. 1879, Latksrdn Evangelist, the
J.niq.d Se.finef and Republican,, Democrat
and Register, Juniata Tribune; manu-
SCRIPT containing nalie of the President OF
the United States of America; Governor D!
the Commonwe ealth, Judge of the Court !
names of the county officers the member-
shin of the church with its officers names
of the members of the building committee
copy of the Augsburg Lesson Book; Lis'
of officers and teachers of the Sabbath
school; copy of prayer-meeting card. hach
or,;.,. was named as il was laid in place By
Rev. f. E. Berry.
A basket collection was then taken up
after which Rev. E. Z. Berry declareo 'h'
stone laid, which was followed by pene'
diction by Rev. r. E. Wilson.
Editor Sentinel and Repabitcan-Sir. Tt
, all whom it may concern-The manage
/ ment of the late pic-nics held at Thomp
sontown would state that surplus iund
after PAVING all expenses, remains In LII
hands OF the management, which they pro