Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-05-27

first communion. And 80 the fore.ordained
purpose Of God with regard to this region
was brought to pass, with blessed, albeit
small, beginning"
Passing over the records of the next four
years, we read that in 1892 "the graveyard
Of the congregation was laid out, and on
October 22d was consecrated by the burial
of young girl, Catherine Barbara Schmidt"
The graveyard is therefore 1876 years old.
ION Easter Sunday, April 8, 1853, the Easter
Lltany was prayed on our graveyard for the
first time"
On Tuesday. August 4. 1772, the ground
was staked off for the erection of new
church building, IN accordance with reso'
luton unanimously adopted in church
council held on July Goth. On September
25th the frame was raised, and on October
10Th of the following year. 1878, the church
was dedicated.
Almost half a century later, In 1922, 1t
was found necessary to rebuild again. The
last service in the old church was held on
Sunday, April %. ION May 1st' says the
diary, "all our brethren and some Of our
neghbors came together, in accordance with
the decision Of the committee. in order to
tear down the old church. For this work
"a persons with various tools assembled, and
almost as many spectators. They undertook
this work with joy, and toiled with the
greatest pleasure, and in the greatest love
and unity, so that by evening it was all torn
down and cleared away, and even the foun.
dation dug. On this occasion the sisters
also were not inactive; at noon they came
from all sides. bringing plenty to eat so that
every one could be wei provided for, and in
the evening all returned home greatly
pleased and very grateful. We thanked God
especially for His gracious protection, that
in this dangerous work no one received the
slightest injury, although the church, on the
north side especially, was badly dccayed, so
that one could not sufficiently wonder how
it could stand so long. The four walls con.
sisted only of planks four inches thick, and
it has stood fifty years. The committee and
building committee at once decided to lay
the corner stone of the new chnrch on the
10Th of this month, and then to proceed with
the building in the Name of God"
Tie services of the congregation, while
the building was gong on, were held in the
lower story of the parsonage, part of which
WAS at that time used as schoolroom; hence
the parsonage is often spoken Of in the diary
as the school house.
ION Sunday. the 10th of May, at ten O..
clock in the morning, the corner. stone of our
new church was laid, in the name of the
Triunc God, on the southwest corner. close
to the school-housc parsonage). A very
large number of people had assembled for
the service. After this ceremony had been
closed with the playing Of the trombones,
Bro. John p. Kluge, the pastor, preached,
at the place prepared for the purpose,
near the building site He spoke, in German
and English, on Isaiah 49, Behold, |
lay in Zion for a foundation q stone, a tried
stone, precious cornerstone sure tounda.
ton. At the close of service q collection
was taken, which amounted to SEQ.
Thus briefly does diary record the inter
csting and important event of today rs years
ago.