Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-26
The Historical Diary of the Building OF
the Graceham Parsonage.
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY REV. CHRISTIAN
FREDERICK SCHAAF.


be done IN love and unity, all agreed, with
the exception Of Brother Peter Yansen, that
It was necessary to build, and that 1t should
he done.
In regard to the plan of building, however,
they could not agree, some wishing one
thing and some another. Then came the
matter of cost. 1t was roughly estimated
that tie whole undertaking would cost $4,000
1t was asked how much each one would sub.
scribe, and $540 were raised. To this was
added the sum of $500 the cash income from
the cultivation of the church land. Bro
Lembke proposed making a loan from Bro.
Schropp Of $1,000 which he had in the hands
of one of our neighbors (ncighbors were thus
called because they were not members OF the
church). TO this some did not agree, and
said that rather than go into debt to build
the whole project should be abandoned and
so they separated.
February lin the afternoon the church
council met in the first place to arrange for
the payment of some outstanding obligations
| Then the building of new school house
was again discussed and actually decided
upon; however 10 such way that 1t should
not be allowed to become too heavy bur
den on the congregation. Bro. John Weller
presented his plan on paper; 1t was very
satisfactory to many, still it met with oppo
sition because the school room seemed too
small, and the communication of the school
room with the dwelling through the passage
appeared inconvenient to some. 1t was pro
posed to appoint building committee, and
a ballot taken thcreupon, the committee was
to consist of Bros Schaaf, the pastor, Bro
John Weller and three Others
March "a letter from Bro Hucbener in
the name of the Lititz Conference, was reat
to the brethren of the council in which good
advice was conveyed as to how we could
come to an agreement in regard TO the pro
posed building, namely, that the brethren
with the resolution to yield should come
together, carefully investigate both the planf
and then permit the matter to be decided by
the lot. The latter did not appear to have
unanimous support, after much arguing, the
first plan, that of Bro. Lembke. was unan
mously adopted, except that in the upper
story few changes were made Everyone
seemed to be pleased Mt this decision.
March 6-Bros. Weller and Born rode tc
Hagcrstown to make compact with the
| brick maker and mason,
March S-The building committee met In
the afternoon and prepared bill of the nee
essary lumber.
March 11-Eight brethren came together
and dug the ground for the brick at Bro
John Weller's (This brick kiln was located
in what is now the meadow lands of Mr.
Uriah Warrenfeltz' farm, near Eicholtz' mill
March 12-The brethren of the council ar.
ranged to cut wood at Bro. John Weller on
the coming Friday and Saturday, to burn
brick.
March 17-Today it raincd very hard at
times, but nevertheless most of the brethren
and some outsiders assembled to Wcllcr's to
cut wood and continued with this work on
the 18th. Everything went on in love and
peace,
April 19-The brethren remained at the
church and Bro. Weller asked them to I've
ready in case the brick maker, in accordance
with his promise, should come today, to help
him tomorrow with the erection of the kiln
and hearth. The committee talked about
the lime and Bro. Lembke was instructed to
compact with Mr. Gilbert to let us have the
lime as cheaply as possible.
April 19-Scveral brethren were busy TO-.
day erecting the kiln for the brick maker,
upon which they had also worked yesterday
afternoon.
June ga beginning was made a. hauling
the lime.
July ga church council, but not at all
in the proper order. There was much talk
ing but nothing was brought to an orderly
decision. Among other things it was deter
mined in regard to boarding of the workmen
during the building, that Sister Leinhach
should see to the cooking for all of them;
Bro. John Weller should, however, notify
the members in rotation to bring butter and
vegetables, also that now one, and now an.
other should butcher and that salt meats
should be obtained of Bro. Lembke. The
four brethren, John Jacob Weller, Lawrence
Krieger, Christian Herbach and Daniel
Protzman, pledge themselves each to loan a
COW during the building, which should be
pastured IN the congregation field and at.
tended to by Sister Leinbach. The last
named brother did not promise quite posi-.
lively.
1t was decided that in the course of the
next week we should ascertain In what ways
the members would help and that on July 81
the old house Quilt in 1749) should be torn
down, and in the following days the ground
eXcaYated. After the council and on the
following days, there were many express
sions of opinion in regard to the cooking.
The residents of the town and different other
members believed it would be easier if the
workmen were distributed IN the town for
eating and sleeping, myself was in favor of
trying the plan decided upon. Bro. John
Weller came meanwhile and went hurriedly
among the residents, finding some who were
willing to take workman or two into their
homes, but others were not willing. The
disorder of the last church council gave me
the idea of making use of the building COM
mittee.
The four brethren who had been appointed
were spoken with on this particular point
and directed to get matters into shape in