The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-16
NEW

to witness the ceremonies of dedication.
Ministers from other cities assisted tho
pastor, the venerable Rev. A. w.
,Werder, who for a quarter OF a century
Gas taught the word of God to the
congregation.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
st. James church has had q prosper.
Gus but quiet career. In January, 1856,
the first meeting looked towards its
formation was held by a few German
Lutheran citizens in the old Union hall,
on Main street. and Rev. Mr.. Happor
preached. He continued to minister to
the little congregation until the follow
ing year. IN 1857 Rev. Mr.. FREDERICK
accepted a call as pastor Of, the church,
and he remained in that capacity until
1852. Tho cornerstone Of the old church,
which has just been so handsomely re-
modelled, was laidAugust II, 1861, and
the church was finished and dedicated
in 1867. In 1864 Rev. A. w. Werder
was installed as pastor, and he has con
t%inuously administered to q growing
congregation ever since.
The church now has about five hun
dred communicates and about two hum
dred and fifty Sabbath school pupils.
The church was erected under the SUI
pervision Of splendid building COM
mittee, composed OF Theodore Roller,
president: Henry ]. Bayha, secretary;
George HIP. Smith, treasurer; Freder-
lex Schenck, Rev. A. w. Werder, Henry
D.! Weisgerber, Gottlieb Bayha, Simon
Keim, Henry Zinkann. who recently
died, Conrad Sctfambra, David II; Bayha
and Peter Bachmann.
THE NEW EDIFlcE.
The new structure adds about twenty
feett to the depth Of the church and tho
church is now IS feet 3 inches wide and
los feet long. 1t cost SIS, 900 or SIG, 900.
The spire rises 152 foot and is very
graceful. The architect was Edward
Stotz, OF Pittsburgh, and he designed a
very handsome stone structure of the
early Gothic style. On tho north side a
round tower rises. The front has a
large window of cathedral and opales-
cent glass, containing 240 square feet.
Tho material is Cleveland blue sand
stone, except the base course, which is
granite. The stone is laid in what is
known as the Scotch random" style.
The stone portion OF the spire rises
eighty-six feet, and the roof is slate.
The main gable OF the church is sixty
feet high. Tho interior has been COM
pletely %remodeled, and tho church is
now very conmodious, comfortable and
handsome. 1t will seat eight hundred,
with the gallery. The grand new organ
was bought Of John Soles, OF Reading,
Mass. 1t has 652 pipes and two manu-.
ais, and costSl,75l.
A BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR.
The front window already described
was donated by the combined Bayha
families. Tho next most prominent
window is the one to the left OF tho pul.
pit. 1t represents Christ as the Good
Shepherd, carrying the lost lamb in his
arms. 1t was donated blythe pupils OF
tho Sunday school. The colors arc won
derfully brilliant and show up beauti-
fully, the window being in such a posi-
tion ps to catch the afternoon sun, with
no walls in the rear OF the church to
prevent tho light from cntering::~,Two
other windows, n on tho loft and the
other on tho right, contain figures OF
Christ, the n on the lett, presented BY
Louis c. Stifel, representing Christ in
the act Of blessing the little children,
and the one on the right, presented by
Misses Elizabeth and Mary Schmulbach,
representing Christ, "the Way, the Truth
and the Life" The other windows on
the loft side are donated by Martin
Smith and family, G. E. stitel, Louis3E F.
Stifel, the widow OF John Pracht, sr.,
a.. Y. Stifel and Mrs. Elizabeth Beck.
Those on the right aido are presented