The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-15

oRe-hdy OF all the services should be con- /
Quoted ia the English language, and thus
It has continued to the p, esent time. And |
since this language is 50 fast becoming
firmly established and prevailingly spoken
throughout this community, the time can
not be many years distant when all the |
services Of this church will be conducted |
exclusively in the English tongue. We
regard il as a substantially correct histori- |
cal fact that this is the Mother Church of |
all the Reformed Churches in this whole |
section Of country. And we are satisfied |
moreover that this was the first christian
congregation established here within
large radius Of country, aud it may, there
fore, justly be regarded as standing, in age,
ut the head Of all christian churches Of an |
persuasiOns 10 this community, aud as
having given, more or less, substantial as
sistance aud inspiration, from time to time,
TO them oil.
10 the year 1916, congregation was
organized Of members from this church
near White Hall, Mounipleasant township,
which is known by the name Of St. Lukc's
Church II was organized with about
twenty members. II now numbers some.
thing over one hundred The building
was erected 10 the same year and is owned
conjointly by the Lutherans and Reformed.
On November 23d, 1851, another con
gregation was organized with members Of
this church four miles southwest Of Littles-
town on the Emmitsburg road. A new
house OF worship was erected the same
year, mainly through the persevering e.
forts Of Jacob Spangler, Sr. 1t is known
by the name Of st. James Church. In
1873 this building was almost entirely
razed to the ground and new building,
much enlarged and beautiied, was erected
in its stead. Upwards of thirty members
constituted the numerical strength Of this
congregation at the time Of its formation.
1t has now about one hundred and thirty.
In the spring Of the year 1860 the Lit
tlestoWn congregation was organized, also
with members principally Of this church.
There had been regular Reformed services
IN town for some years previous, but there
had never before existed regularly estab-
lished congregation. Christ Church being
only mile and half distant, il was gen
orally supposed as being unwise and unne-
cessary TO establish a separate organization
here. Forty.fve members formed It's
original numerical strength. Soon after
wards arrangements were made for tho
erection Of a suitable church edifce, but
owing to various conflicting circumstances
and multiplied hindrances the building
was not completed and formally consecra,
ted TO Almighty God until May 26th-
1872, and up TO that time the cougrega-
toin had made no commendablc or encour-
aging progress. In the summer Of 1874
it was found that the building became too
small for the accommodation Of people at
the regular stated services, and an addition
Of nineteen feet was made, at the pulpit
end, with various other improvements, at
u cost of $4,000, The present member.
ship Of the congregation is 240. These
three congregations were organized under
the ministry Of Rev. Jacob Sechler
The Christ Church building, which was
erected in the year 1898, remained exter.
nally unmolested until the year 1871
About twenty years prior to this date 3
few changes were made ia the internal ar.
rangements Of the building, aud the walls
were irescoed, but aside from this the build
ing had undergone little or no alteration.
In this year almost the entire structure
was pulled down aud at an expense Of
about $4,000 new, substantial, beautiful
aud greatly enlarged edi6ce was erected
in its place. 1t is now very convenient
aud an attractive house of worship. II
contains a seating capacity for about zoo
persons, and is, undoubtedly, the largest
country church in the county. The build
ing committee consisted of Samuel
SchwartS, Eli Bollinger, j. Henry Felty
Daniel Sell aud Edwhad Robert Samue
Schwartz was chairman, and for his care
ful management and his untiring efforts ia
pushing forward the work and bringing il
to a speedy and successful completion the
church owes him debt Of sincercst graft
tude.
IL will be seen that Christ Church was
organized four months before a regular
Synod OF the Reformed Church existed ia
this country; 20 years before the Declara.
ton Of Independence; 2 years before the
formation OF York county from Lancaster
80 years before Adams county was formed
out Of York; II years before Hanover was
laid out; 43 years before Gettysburg, aud
Is years before Littlestown.
The ministers of the church who served
it 10 the capacity OF regularly installed
pastors from Its organization TO the present
are as follows, viz;
Rev. Jacob Lischey from 174g TO 175I
Rev. Theodore Franken6eld, / 1853 to 1856
Rev. John Conrad Steiner, 1856 to 1853
Rev. Charles Louis BOehm, 1775 to 1879
Rev. john Christ Gobrecht, l779 TO 1907,
Rev. Charles Helienstein, 1900 TO 1913.
Rev. Jacob ii. Wrestling, 1913 to 1924.
Rev. Fred. W. Bindeman, 1926 to 1927
Rev. Samuel Guielius, 1928 TO 1887.
Rev. Jacob Sechler, 1887 to 1866.
Rev. John Nj, Clemens, 1867 to 1869.
Rev. Casper Seheel, 1870 to 1872.
Rev. John Ault, lS73--prescnt pastor.
From 1889 to IT'S Revs. William OF
terbcin and Charles I,auge, who were,
during that time, settled over charges a,
Frederick and York, supplied this cougro.
CATION with preaching at various intervals
The following persons constitute the
consistory Of the church at the present
time solomon Schwartz, Daniel Sell
Daniel Sheely and j. Henry FeIty, The
Elders, and Jeremiah Sellers, Amos Car
baugh, George W. Schwartz, Abraham
keagy, Jesse Hilbert, Ishmaol Rittase,
Aaron Whaler and Jonas Robert as Dea.
cons
The following are the Trustees sam
nei Schwartz, Edward Robert, Jacob vii.
desin, Eli Bollingor, George Hcsson, Ja-
cob Bollinger, Levi Schwartz, Jacob Go.
breehs and Daniel WhaIer deceased.
Major Jacob u. Bollinger has occupied
the position Of Treasurer Of the church
during the last 22 consecutive years.
The number Of different kinds Of postage
stamps which have been hitherto issued
all over the world is estimated, in round
numbers, at 6000. Among them arc 70
Il