The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-23
FOUR YEARS THEIR PASTOR.
REV. w. c. sCHAEFFER's WORK IN
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

ing His Pastorate-A Total of S13,-
! I2O Raised For Church Work Out
side of the Pastors Salary and
Current Expenses-As New Church
Organized From the Old and Yet
the Old Is Larger and Richer Than
Before.
Rev. W. C. Schaeffer reviewed his four
years pastorate with the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church of the Ascension at the
morning service yesterday. The thread
| of his discourse is indicated by his text:
THE Lord hath done great things for US,
whereof we are glad" Psalms 1926: 8.
Here 1 stood stranger four years
ago." said DR.. schaeffer "At my in
stallation 1 bowed at this altar and prom
| ised to devote the energies of body,
mind and heart to the cause of Christ in
this church. In my opening sermon an
nounced that I would preach the gospel
| of Christ, the gospel OF salvation, of
peace of comfort and of progress, ac-
cording to the confession of our church.
1
GUS responsibility in the full recognition
of my own weakness; that my entire de-
pendence rested upon the guidance,
help and blessing of God and
the assistance and cooperation
of the officers and members of this congre-
cation. announced further that could
do this work only in my own way. Great
and good men of God occupied this pulpit
before me and performed the splendid SER
vice which stands to their credit. 1 could
not wear Saul's armor. 1 could NOT work
in the same way and with the same meth
DDS as my predecessors. God bestows tall
ents as seemeth good to Him. We must
use our own and so 1 have endeavored
fearlessly to discharge my duty. 1 have
sought to serve all alike without distinc-
tion. have called no one master but my
Lord. There are no bosses in this church.
Mrs. Schaeffer and l have given the best
efforts of mind and heart to serve the
church."
After expressing his thanks to the Of
ficers and members for the courtesy SYM
pathy and cooperation extended him, DIR.
Schaeffer proceeded to give review of the
work or the last four years.
When l assumed charge of the work"
he said, I'VE had one Lutheran church in
this city with 400 enrolled members. Now
we have two churches, with 7S5 members,
and this church now has an enrolled MEM
bership of 543, after dismissing about 1870
to St. Pauls. Our two Sunday schools
have grown from combined membership
of 400 to 665. We introduced free pews
and the system has worked out most sat
"a
choir, and it has met our highest expecta-
tons. Our music is not eXcelled in the
city,
IN addition to all the current expenses
and benevolent work of the church, all of
which have been promptly met the con-
gregation has paid the following amounts:
On old debts, $1,400; on repairs Of church,
and organ, $3,105; to St. PauPs church by
missionary society, congregation and Sun
day school, about 1926; on parsonage by
| the Parsonage Aid Society, $2,100; other
| objects, $780, total, 1920; add to this the
| proceeds of the fair just closed, $4,000. and
we have the grand total Of $13, 120.
This regard a most remarkable record
considering the stringent financial times"
The following statement of the pastoral
work was given: Additions to the men,
bership by letter and confirmation, 1868;
| baptisms, 203; marriages, SO; funerals, 1872;
| pastoral visits over 5000,
results for the Lutheran church in this
! city, we would give full recognition to
| the efficient and successful labors of our
| beloved brother Rev. NJ. ]. Epting and
| his faithful band of trained and enthus-
| iastic laborers The record of their work
| in this church abides monument to their
| honor.
1--WE would also make full recognition
| of the service rendered the church by the
missionary society of the Ladies' Guild
| the choir, the German Aid and the German
| Social societies."
In conclusion, DR.. Schaeffer urged upon
| the members of his congregation that it Is
| their duty to show their gratitude to God
for his blessings by serving the church
more faithfully, by regular attendance
upon the service, by speaking well of her
by fervent and constant prayer for her
| welfare, by love of the brethren, by per-
sistent and loving effort to bring others
| to Christ.
1t should be borne in mind that the finan-
cial statement does not include amounts
| paid for pastors salary and other current
| church expenses. If these were given the
total would be greatly increased. Practi-
! cally the whole amount stated was used
for extraordinary expenses. The showing
| Is a remarkable one, and DR.. Schaeffer
| and his congregation are to be congratu-
! lated for Their successful work.
Dr. Schaeffer's ability as a pastor is well
| demonstrated by the fact that after dis
missing large portion of his congrega-
ton for the formation Of a new church.
he now has a larger church membership
than before with better condition of the
church finances than for many years.