The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-05-10
REV. s. ROTHROCK, D. D.
AN AGED AND BELOVED LUTHER
AN DIVINE.

Born Near Salem In 1909 Opened the
Lutheran Synod-61 Years in the
Ministry-Relativesin Winston.
Rev. S. Rothrock, d. D., the aged
and beloved Lutheran divine, of Ro-
wan county, opened the 91st annual
session of the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod at Organ church last Thursday.
lie also conducted the services there
Sunday.
"Father" Rothrock has number of
relatives residing in Forsyth and Da-
wilson counties. The last issue of
the Lutheran Visitor prints very
good portrait of him, together with
the following interesting sketch of
his life:
REV. S. RoTHRoCK, d. d.
The subject of this sketch was born
near Salem, n. C, on November 26
1909 Early in life he had an eager APP
ment of which there were very few
T and very poor facilities in his native
State. He therefore determined to,
and actually did, make his way, alone
| and on foot, to Getty sburg, Pa, where
he entered Pennsylvania College
| Here he pursued his studies until 1893
| when he was licensed, and in the FOL
| lowing year ordained by the North
Carolina Synod. From then until
1871 he served various congregations
| in Pennsylvania and North Carolina,
and was then called and became the
seventh pastor of Organ church. For
a term of twenty-five consecutive
! years, reaching through the terrible
| four years Of our civil war, he remain
ed the faithful, earnest, Jealous pas
| tor.
| In 1866 he resigned and for two years
| labored in other fields, and then re-
| TUNED to Organ for term of six
months, reaching from July /. 1868, to
Janu4ry /, 1869. Again he served
| other congregations for seven years,
ard then accepted the unanimous call
of Organ to again become it's pastor.
| This time he served them for ten
years, reaching from January l, 1876,
to January 1, 1886.
At the altar of old Organ church he
baptized seven hundred and sixty
three and confirmed seven hundred
and sixty-nine.
DIR. +. w. E. Peschau says of him,
/! in JenSen'S American Lutheran Biog-
| raphies, "IIe has held many positions
of honor and trust in the church and
always with credit to himself and to
the church. He is strong cOnserva-
| tive Lutheran. and man of most
| lovely, child-like character, and an
ever pleasant companion. lie has, in
his long life, repeatedly been an officer
of synod, and enjoyed the rare honor
Of being twice chosen president of the
General Synod South"
In 1888 the University of Nerth
Carolina conferred upon him the hon
orary degree of ID. ID.
Tie has been sixty ole years in the
ministry. On May 3, 1888, at the
eighteenth annual convention of the
North Carolina Synod, and the fiftieth
anniversary of his IabOrs in the Cos
pei ministry forty-nine Of which had
been spent in work within the bounds
of North Carolina Synod, his breth-
rCn, as as expression of their love and
esteem fer him, presented him with a
gold-hedded cane.
| He has been married twice. Ills
first wife died very shortly after they
were married, but his second wife
walked the paths of this life with him
, for more than half century. To
gether they celebrated their golden
wedding in their elegant home neal
they have been parted she having
gone on to the realms OF eternal day
Notwithstanding his long and ac
, tive life he is still well preserved fol
a man of eighty-tlye years. His home
is but few miles from Organ church
that he has served so long and sc
faithfully, where in the happy retro
specb of Il life we'll spent and perfect
faith and trust he is awaiting the
| summons to come up higher"
Every one loves old Father Roth
rock, and many are the prayers as
cending to the throne above that his
last days upon earth may be peace ant
happiness.