The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-07
ST. JOHANNES GEMEINDE
ITS FfrTTEfH ANSfrERsARf Will
cELEBRATED TOMORROW.
gevs. Edward Huber and u, Burkhardi' Oh
Baltimore. WI lPrcach sermons-"e''
Paul l.. MenfeI's Anniversary.

yin ,o.morrow celebrate It's fftieth ami
yersary. The pastor and the conSrega-
tion have completed all arrangements TO
make the occasion memorable one. d.
vine services will be held III the morning
and evening. and an attractive musical
programme will be executed by the choir
under the leadership Of Professor Louis
L. Ide
Rev. Mr. Edward Huber, former + as
tor Of 81. Johns church, who is now To-
Gated in Baltimore. VIII deliver an appro-
PIRATE sermon In the morning and heV.
u. Burkhardt of Baltimore will preach
in the evening At the close Of his SER
mon. Rev. Paul l.. Mcneil. the present
pastor Of 81. Johns church. VIII read
brief history and recapituation OF the
church since its organization. If the
weather is favorable the members Of the
congregation viii stll further celebrate
the anniversary on Monday by a social
gathering at Blandon Park. There VIII
be all sorts Of games and outdoor sports,
but no dancing is 10 be INDUCED IN.
Together with the anniversary Of the
church. Rev. PAU J.. Mcneil VIII to-mor-
row celebrate the twenty-hfih anniversary
OF his ordination as minister. However.
this part Of the celebration VIII be a sad
one for him. for II will be for the first
time that on that day the partner of his
life, his beloved wife. will be missing. II
was In August last year when Mrs. Mem
eel was called away from her husband
and children ito a better life. Ever since
then Mr.. Mcneil had given up the idea 20
have separate celebration OF the ami
versaTy, which would have really taken
place on August 18th If Mrs. MenZe had
been spared any longer
The date Of October Sth has been Sc
lected for the proper observance of the
anniversary Of the church. I'm view OF The
fact that on that day. In 1856, the present
splendid church building was solemnly
dedicated 90 divine service, although the
actual anniversary Of the organization OF
the congregation falls in the month of
August.
The congregation OF ST. Johannes
Deutsehe Evangelische Kirche was organ
Ized May 3. 1S4s. with nifty members. and
us hrst officers were the following: c.
Nordmeyer president; Abr. Appelius,
secretary; O. A. Strecker, treasurer.
These gentlemen, together with Messrs.
]. kloeber, Jacob Freyfogel. Martin Kress,
Or. A. Caspari, August schad and c.
y \
II was decided 70 advertise in the New
York Stats Zeitung that the services Of !
a worthy Lutheran minister were desired |
by the congregation.
Two clergymen. Revs. Clements and |
Stratter. preached 20 the congregation |
during the month of August in that year |
The former resigned. and on August 8lst |
the call was extended to the Rev j. |
Stratter 10 become the pastor OF the |
young church. During the next month |
the organization was completed and SER |
Vices were held in a building still in
existence on the north side of Marshall |
between Fourth and Fifth streets. The
salary Of the pastor was fixed at $500.
After a service of fourteen months
Rev. DIR. J. Suatter resigned on No
vember 5. 1864, and Rev. j. G. Hoyer.
of Baltimore, became his successor, who
remained in the city about twenty-one
years He was succeeded by Rev Dr.
Schwarz from 1865 TO 1867; then followed
Rev. John Blenner for a few months and
Rev. William Ide. who remained pastor of
the congregation, until his death, on July
i6, 1863. He was followed by Rev. c.
Scholz from 1869 to 1873
During the first thirty years Of the ex-
istence Of the congregation it did not
belong TO any Synod OF the German Lu-
theran Church, although some OF its pas
tors were connected with the Lutheran
Synod OF Virginia.
During the second year OF the pastorate
OF Rev. j. C.. Hoyer the congregation
bought lot on north Fifth street and
erected a church building which was dedi-
Gated at Christmas. 1877. A parish school
was also organized under the supervision
Of the pastor and a school board.
Rev. Ed. Huber who succeeded Rev.
c. Scholz. arrived in the city on Deem
Der o. 1873 from Jefferson City, Mo. He
was a member Of the German Evangelical
Synod Of North America and on May End
OF the following year, his congregation
was accepted by the Synod as a member
at the conference held at Cumberland.
Md. The Evangelical Church 10 which
81. Johns German Church since belong
ed. represents the union OF the two
Churches Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lutheran and Swiss Reformed-introduced
by the efforts OF King Frederick William
III. since 1917. in the established Churches
OF Prussia, Baden, Hessen, Nassau, and
other German States. This union accepts
the Word OF God as the highest authority
in religious matters. AS to the different
confessions and symbols OF the Lutheran
and Reformed Churches. IL accepts them
wherever they agree. but wherever they
differ IT is left 10 every true Christian
TO follow his own conviction according 10
the true principles of Christian liberty of
conscience. provided that he submits
faithfully 20 the teachings OF Holy Scrip
ture as living member OF that spiritual
body, whereof Christ is the head.
The present pastor OF the church says
In regard to the connection OF his congre-
cation with the Synod:
est. Johns German church mas been
greatly blessed during the twenty years
Of its connection with the Evangelical
Church. The Gospel OF Jesus Christ our
Saviour has proved unto its members
the power of God and the wisdom OF
God. And the present prosperous condi-
ton OF the church IS due 10 the solid
foundation that has been laid, never to
be abolished"
An important event under Pastor Huber
was the erection OF the present handsome
church. corner Eighth and Marhall
streets. which was dedicated on October
.. 1881 In February, 1883 the pastor re-
signed and left for Baltimore. He was
followed by Rev. J. G. Kirchner for a few
months until the new pastor Of the
church, Rev. II. a. Johns, arrived in
Richmond. During the two and half
years OF the latter's pastorate the school
building on Eighth street was erected
In February, 1856 the present pastor,
Rev Paul l.. Mcneil reached this city
and took at once charge OF the congre-
cation. Under him ST. Johns church
has continued 10 prosper, for he is not
only man Of rare cultivation and high
education. but an eloquent preacher. and
pastor in the truest sense Of the word.
His faithful work Is highly appreciated
by all and he Is dearly beloved. not only
nv the rnauahers of mis- copgreea fion buf