Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-16
A SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
CELEBRATION OF ORGANIZATION
OF ST. JOHNS GERMAN CHURCH.
Its Early Ohlcers aud Psstors-The
Present Building and
Membership.

The congregation Of st. Johns German
Evangelical church, corner of Eighth aud
Marshall streets. will. on the 9Th and 9th
OF October celebrate the fftieth ami
versary of their organization. aud great
preparations are making tor the event
The first day Sunday three services will
be held. and pastors from outside the city
are expected TO participate. Special invi-
tations have been extended to former
nastors of the church. Rev. L. Huber, OF
Baltimore. Nd. Rev. J. G.. Kucher and
Kew. X. A. Johns and to others.
The congregation was organized May 3,
lSi3. with 6fty members. who elected the
following officers: q. Nordmeyer, presl-
dent. Abr. Appelius. secretary; .. a.
Strecker, treasurer. j. kloeber. jacob
Freyrogel. Martin Kress. DIR. A. Casparl,
Aug. Schad, and G. Man. vestrymen. IL
was also resolved to advertise IN the New
York Stats Zeii,tnq that the congregation
desired the services OF worthy Lutheran
minister. During the month OF August
two clcrgymen. Rows Clements and Stra-
ter. preached before the congregation:
The former resigned. and on the 3lst OF
August the coll was extended TO Rev. Mr..
Stratcr TO assume the duties OF pastor OF
the young congregation. thus during
the month Of September the organization
was made complete. The services were
held in building that still exists on the
north side If Marshall street between
Fourth and Fifth. The pastors salary was
fixed at $500 year.
PASTOR HOVER.
Rev. Mr.. Strater resigned his Office after
fourteen months of service on November
o. 1884 and Rev. J. c. Hover. of Baltimore,
Md, was elected as his successor. Pastor
Hover remained IN Richmond about
twenty-one years. His successor was Rev.
DR.. Schwarz (ls65}67) then came Rev.
John Blenner for few months, and since
then Rev. William Ide. who died July
16. 1869 TO the great sorrow of the whole
congregation. He was followed by Rev.
G.. Scholz Q869)73). During these first
thirty years the congregation did not be-
long to any synod of the German Lutheran
Church, although some Of the pastors
were in connection with the Lutheran
Synod Of Virginia. In the second year of
Rev. }. G. Hoyer's pastorate the congrega-
tion bought lot on north Fifth street and
erected there q church building that was
inaugurated at Christmas, lSlI. parish
sch DOL was also organized under the SUI
peryision of the pastor and a school board.
PASTOR HUBER.
On the 25th of December, 1873. Rev. Ed.
Huber, of jefferson City, Mo-, member OF
the German Evangelical SYNOD OF North
America, who had been elected pastor OF
tho church. arrived in this city. and from
that day new era OF prosperity began.
His faithful services to the church Will
ever be remembered. In 1874 the congre-
cation unanimously resolved TO JOIN the
German Evangelical SYNOD OF North
America and MAY 2, 1874, at the confer
ence of Cumb srland. Ind. the congrega-
tion was solemnly accepted as
l. a
gellcal Church. to winch st. johns
since belonged. represents the union
of the two Churches of the Reformation
German Lutheran and Swiss Reformed
introduced by the efforts OF King Frede-
rick William III. since 1917, in the estab-
lished Churches of Prussia, Baden, Hesse,
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 SYM
bols of the Luthern and Reformed
churches 1t accepts them wherever they
agree. but wherever they differ. II is lett
to every true Christian to follow his own
conviction according TO the true princi-
pies of Christian liberty OF conscience,
provided that he submits faithfully 10 the
teachings of Holy Scripture as a living
member of that spiritual body, whereof
Christ is the head.
GREATLY BLESSED.
The pastor SAYS "St. Johns German
church has been greatly blessed during
the twenty years OF ITS connection with
the Evangelical Church. The Gospel of
Jesus Christ. our Saviour, has rrove I'M
TO ITS members the power OF God and the
wisdom of God. And the present pros
porous condition OF the church Is due to
the SOLID foundation that has been LAID,
never TO be abolished"
A great event of Rev. Ed. H1ber's pas
torate was the erection of the present
handsome church, corner of Eighth ana
Marshall streets. The building was dedl-
Gated October 8. 1881. and this is the reason
why that date has been selected for the
semi-centennial celebration.
Every one was filed with sorrow when
Pastor Huber resigned in February, 1888.
and left for Baltimore. He was succeeded
bv Rev. J. g. Kircher, who worked faith
fully tor few months until tie new pas
tor of the church. Rev. X. A. John, arrived
in Richmond May. 1885. During the two
and a half wears of the latter's pastorate
the school building on Eighth street was
erected. In February, 1885, the present
pastor. Rev. Paul l.. Mcneil, arrived in
Richmond and took charge o. the con-
gregatlon. Under Pastor Mcneil ~.
Johns has continued to prosper. tor
he Is not only man of rare cultivation
and an eloquent preacher, but pastor IN
the truest sense of the word. There was
never a more faithful laborer and those
hv whom be is beloved are not confined TO
his own congregation, but embrace oil
who know him.
The church counts now nearly three
hundred families as members. The Frauen-
Nerein, Tabea- Verein, Jugend-N ereln, the
SUNDAY school with its $50 children and
36 teachers and officers, are fourishlng
organizations. The church debt has been
reduced to 81 800. and peace and harmony
prevail everywhere.