The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-16
LIE IS A HUMMER.
That IL what the English Evangehea' A"'"'
ernn People Think OF Their New PASTOR

That IL What the English E'ahEe"
ernn People Think OF Their New fns'"''
One OF the prettiest little churches IN Rich
mond is the First English Evangeiicai Lutn-
eran. located on Seventh street near the
corner Of Grace Although overshadowed on
one side by largo buildings. its architecture
front makes it IA striking mark for the eye ol
the casual observer. The congregation. rs IT,
name implies. Is made up principally OF haV''e
English-speakiDg people.
They have new minister. and. 10 use lhe
words Of one of his f.ock. "he is q hummer.
He has been here little over a hall year,
but In that short space Of time he has worked
a reformation. He has healed a number OF
fOrmerl y-exlstlng discussions, brought To-
gether a dlsintegrated congregation ana
largely swelled their numbers. established
union with the churches OF the same denotnl-
nation in the city where before there was no
aisiiation and thoroughly renovated what was
formerly p much dilspidated church in-
terror. His name is Rev. j. &. Seegers
and he is native OF Columbia.
:. c. He IS in his twenty-ftth
year and graduated ut the Mt. Airy IheOlo-
gical Seminary IN philade phia last May This
is his first regular charge. although before
coming here he successfully filled. tempo
rarilv. the pulpit OF the large church OF tho
Ascension in Savannah. formerly hAed by
the eminent Lutheran divine. Rev. Dr. W. :.
Bowman, now OF Charlotte, \. e.. Nheh
Mr. Seegers came 1t was 10 take nold OLA
church divided against itself, ana ny
reason OF dOctrinal and other dlherences
had dwindled from O membership OF one nun
dred and sixty 70 one of forty-hye. ana good
many o. the former members bad associated
themselves with other denominations. Inc
strength Of the church has since been srealiy
renewed. and the roll OF COMMUNICATES 10"
numbers one hundred and five. with steady
.
the new minister was 70 present lot tpe use
I OF his CONGREGATION che liturgical service re-
Gently adODted by the three main bodies OF tne
English Lutheran Church. IL was successfully
introduced. displacing that formerly use9
only by tie 81 nlted Synod. South, ana
thus some old sores were put out OF sight AT
once The services from the new Liturgy
are very pretty and take the worshipers
back 10 the bed rock of their faith. as theY
are compiled from the mass used by Martin
! Luther i'm the sixteenth century.
Shortly after being installed. Mr. Seegers
addressed himself % the betterment OK the
I church interior The auditorium IN the
second story. reached by lengthy stairways,
be transferred 10 the lecture-room on the
street level formerly used as "A sunday school.
and moved the school above. The lower
room is hiph pitched and has been complete
! ly renovated. and now the auditorium IS a
/ handsome. easily accessible room, with arts
/ TIC tresCOlu9 ana coMlOllAD-o lulHttuAV, a.
/ OF which Is paid for.
The ord Is IN His Holy Temple - print
/ ed in large letters over the chancel and. catch
/ ing the eye as you enter. at once turns your
/ thoughts to re erent Things 4 pretty organ
/ fills the space at the left Of the chancel and a
choir of eight or ten voices leads the singing.
Mr.. Seegers is slight of form. but full OF en-
ergy and enthusiasm and seems TO have
tho genius of imparting it to others. lie
Is possessed of rich voice. winning
manners and that which the world calli
personal magnetism. lie is very popular
with his people and is giving force to In
church. He breaches vigorously and limit
his sermons TO twenty-five minutes. he
preached sunday night an interesting sermon
/ OF twenty minutes on Pauls answer IN th'
presence of Felix % the charges made agalns
him by Tertullus. He rapidly sketched tn
lite and character of IT. Paul. graphically de
scri ed his trip 10 Damascus, and his caree
10 the time Of his trial and then made
practical deduction from his words 10 tellx
THAT there shall be a resurrection OF tn'
dead. the lust and the unjust. was strong.
presented a. the luiwark of religious behef
and the doctrine set forth in Paups deiens'
was held up as lesson which taught the onll
true way OIL life and salvation.