The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-07-15
The Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Ridgway, Pa.

and examining certain documents of
our church, happened-to get paper
into my hands which was peculiar in
its nature from all the others. The
handwriting l at once recognized as
that of Mr.. Breneman, though per-
sonally not acquainted with him. T am
acquainted with his handwriting
through other documents. This paper
gives a short sketch of the history of
our church in this place, the cause and
occasion of its origin and some of
the principal features connected with
the building of the edifiee, corner
stone laying, dedication, etc. 1t is of
so recent date that it will not interest
many persons of this place, as many
no doubt were eyewitness of nearly
everything transpiring publicly re-
corded in it. l will therefore not give
| the contents of the entire document,
but only make mention of some facts
recorded in it. This manuscript is of
no small importance to our church.
there never was regular record kept
of the proceedings of the church coun-
ell and the doings of the congregation.
There are contained in it several items
in few words, which give informa-
ton on such subjects as l have in vain
been endeavoring to get information
on. Therefore, Father Breneman,
though he may have had some faults,
was yet very thoughtful in supposing
such a record might some day lee very
desirable.
1t is almo.t ten years since the first
effort was mode to organizea Lutheran
congregation at this place. The main
cause for organizing such a congrega-
ton was to provide for and take care
of the spiritual wants OF the many
Germans that had already come
and were still coming to this
place. But it was at once found
that the children of these people were
fast becoming anglicized and that
they might not be lost to the church
it was found necessary also to have
services in the English language.
There were at the very first but four
families who took an active interest in
the cause. They were the families of
Geo. Walker, NOW removed to other
parts, Philip Lesser, Arnold Bruegger
and Caspar Bruegger (now known as
Caspar Brueggar No. ~. Regular
services were held every two weeks in
both languages in the old court house
(now moved to Main street below Mill
street and converted into an hotel)
where all the protestant congregations
then worshiped but one, Episcopal.
Others connected themselves with the
Lutheran organization, so that in less
than year the number of families
had more than doubled, and ut q COM
munion held in the course Of that
year, twenty-five communed. The
movement continued on favorably,
and by the spring of 1878 the organ
ization felt strong enough to build an
editice of its own wherein it might
worship the triune God. COnse-
quently it was resolved to erect such
a building, and the congregation
having received assistance and en-
enlargement from outside parties, the
building was completed and dedicated
in October of the same year. Every
thing appeared to move OF quite favor
ably until 1875. At least there are no
records to show that there was any
disturbance or that anything Of spe-
cial Importance occurred. The debts
on the church by this time were nearly
all paid. In October OF this year the
house and lot on the west side of the
church were bought. This was done
mostly OH the responsibility of the
then pastor, who appears to have done
most of the business himself and to
have given his own security. The
congregation as whole did not tappCar
to have known much about the whole
affair, nor does it seemed to have cared
nlutu. AS II lbVuldl consequence
it never took much interest in this
debt until within the last year, when
matters were laid before it and eX-
planned. For another yer or SO moth
ing of special Importance occurred.
But after that it appears that dark
cloud was appearing on the horizon
which brought with it fearful storm
almost demolishing the entire fabric.
AS in almost all storms people lose
their presence ofmind and all becomes
confusion, so it was here. During
this entire period of jarring not
single record is TO be found of any OF
the proceedings among all the papers
of the congregation. Much as this
may be lamented, it is yet perhaps
the best, as no blame can with GER
tainty be put on any party. Much is
said about it by different parties, and
from all appearances, all are perhaps
somewhat to blame. But what is
better than all this is that the storm
has passed, all is calm, and the sun is
shining again. The congregation
numbers now more than ten times the
number of families with which it be-
gan taking into consideration the
distance many of our members reside
from the church the services are well