Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-03


and communication so completely cut
of that he did not deem it possible
nor desirable for him to return. So, for
more than a year the mission was with
out pastor or services, except few ser
vices held by Rev. Dr.. Passayant, Of
Pittsburg.
We see that this mission had IA
vorable beginning, and if the war had
not interfered its period of struggles
would have been shortened. In June,
1862. Rev. 5. B. Barnitz, then quite q
young man. a graduate of Gettysburg
Seminary, visited Wheeling at the sug-
gestion Of Dr.. Baum, of York, Pa, and
DR.. Passayant. This visit led 10 his
settlement as pastor Of the mission at
a promised salary of $3.50 from the mis-
sion, this being guaranteed by Daniel
r. Hoxie and Abraham Detweiier. Rev.
Baruitz received in addition to the $3.50
from the mission. 5000 IRON the Home
Mission Board. He preached his first
sermon to an audience Of fifteen in the
old Clay Street Baptist Church, on the
text: II. Timothy ". ,: Preach the
Word; for instant in season, out Of sea-
son: reproye. rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine
OF the congregation which Rev. Dosh
had gathered he could find but nine
teen. owing to the vacancy and the dis
turbances of the war, and only seven
teen of these had the courage to give
their consent under the circumstances
TO 90 forward with the work.
But from June to September, 1862,
the attendance at worship had become
80. and the Sunday school had grown to
165 members. But now new trouble
arose.
The Baptist congregation declined to
lease their building any longer 10 the
English Lutheran congregation, and a
change Of place Of worship became an
imperative necessity. The German
Lutheran Church OF the joint Synod
of Ohio.on Chapline street (then Fourth
street, was secured for afternoon SER
vices and Sunday school; but ere long
q newly-elected pastor Of this church
objected TO have English preaching in
it, and the Council gave the English
Lutharans notice TO move on.
The pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, Rev. Daniel Fisher being
about TO leave the city for summer
vacation, offered them his church dur
ing his absence, an offer which was
most gladly accepted. During the four
weeks occupancy OF the Presbyterian
Church a ine hall in the Odd Fellows
building was rented at 500 per annum.
This was fitted I'D at a sum Of 5000,
and became the regular place OF wor-
shin until the summer CT 1870. During
July. August. September and October
of that ye2r the congregation occupied
the Court House. now known as the Old
Court House. Or the S1st of October
1870. Reformation Day. the congrega-
ZION and Sunday school took possession
o, the Sunday school room of the chapel
built on the lot corner Sixteenth and
Chapline streets. where they are still,
and where, I am glad. it viii remain.
The congregation met in lions
Church. old Baptist Church, St James
Church, First Presbyterian Church.
Cdd Fellows Hall, Court House.
This lot was purchased for the con-
gregation at a public sale, or the 18th
of August. 1867, by George Fricker and
George Kuehnline. trustees, for $500,
and s1o0 back taxes. The congregation
had but $50. These men loaned the
money to buy without interest.
On the 18th of November, 1868, the
cornerstone of the present chapel was
laid Rev. F. w. Conrad. D. D., Of
PHILADELPHIA. editor of the Lutheran
Observer. officiating. On the 18th OF
December. 1870. the chapel was dedi-
Gated with great JOY. the congregation
having had no place of worship it could
call its own from the time OF its organ
ration Rev. +. W. Conrad, D. D.,
Rev w. ". Baum, D. D., of Philadel-
mia. and Rev. T. W. Dosh. D. D.. OF
Winchester. Cthe first missionary
with the pastor, conducted the feast Of
dedication.
But soon it was found that the Sun
dav school room was too small to ac-
commodate the growing school, so in
the summer Of 1874 arrangements were
made for erecting the addition, known
as the Jewel Department, which build
ing was first occupied in December,
1874.
This is a very brief sketch Of the his
tory Of this congregation up to this
date. But it gives no real conception
of the struggles through which the
faithful missionary and people passed.
In 1867 the Synod of Eastern Pennsyl-
wand passed a resolution to raise $1,000
for the Wheeling mission by April,
1888 towards erecting a chapel. On
the assurance OF this resolution, and on
the advice OF the secretary Of the
Board Of Home Missions, the mission
arv contracted for the chapel, the foun-