The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-29
REFORMATION FESTIVAL
Followers Of Martin Luther
to Celebrate His Great
Revolt Tomorrow.
ST. TRIEITAIIS' ANNIVERSARY
Growth of the Church Found
ed "a Years Ago-Among
the Churches.

-..
Preparations rave been made for the
holding of the Reformation Festival n
nearly all the Evangelical Lutheran
Churches tomorrow. This yearly festival
is held in commemoration Of the day
Martin Luther nailed to the door Of the
celebrated Castle Church, at Wittenberg,
the famous n~inety-ive theses against the
corruption of the Roman Catholic Church
Of his time.
Coineident with his celebration to-
morrow the congregation of the Evan
gelfcal Lutheran ST. Trinitatis Church,
in Bowers street, will celebrate the TWEEN
ty-fourth anniversary of its organization.
The Rev. r. Hafer, the nineteenth ami
versary of whose pastorate was recently
observed, has been busy during the week
preparing for the double celebration. The
following is the order Of services:-
At 1890 A.. NJ. lesson, John iv, 47-54;
text for sermon, Nehemiah ~, 16-22-
theme. THE Great Reform" At 7:5o,
lesson; text for sermon, Ephesians VI,
10-17-theme, 'sThe Word of God as the
Helmet of Salvation and the Sword OF
the Spirit At 2 F. M. Casting one hour),
Sunday school service; lesson, Ephesians
vi. 1o-17-tneme, Luther as a School
Boy The pulpit will be handsomely
decorated with flowers.
While the Reformation Festival VIII
e~vershadow the anniversary celebration
Of the church organization, the latter viii
not be overlooked. The eclat that viii
characterize the twenty-ifth anniversary
next year will, of course, not be 50 great
tomorrow. But the pastor and members
of the congregation are proud Of their
present handsome edifice, which was
reared at such self-sacrifee on the part
of the interchangeable pastor and his nocN-
The church was originally known as the
FIRST German Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Jersey City, which name it
carried until 1892, when the new church
was built under Rev. Mr.. Hafer's auspices
and under the new title of Evangelical
T.utheran ST. Trinitatis Church of Jersey
CITY. The congregation was organized
IL iS74 It began with a Sunday school
on Reformation Day, in an old cllapei.
which occupied the spot upon which the
new church building stands and Whlcn
was then owned by the Second United
Presbyterisn Church congregation now
worshipping in Hancock avenue. Tne
cid chanel was sold and moved to a spot
nearby to make room for the new ed1nce.
II was occupied By Hebrews as a syna-
goere. It was the cradle Of three congre-
cations.
ST Trinitatis congregation has grown
and in noinf of numbers it is in a flour
ishing condition. 1t is rot, however
blessed with an overflow of wealthy
members. What has been accomplished
has been done with considerable self sac
n.y. ,,-opar+v is worth $50 coo. A
debt Of s.. coo still rests upon It. It is a
pretty and imposing brick structure
thoroughly Gothic as to style OF archltec-
ture. It contains one of the finest organs
in the city. costing 5000. p building IS
also ornamented with memorial windows,
costing over $500. A chime of three
Menely bells are in the bolfrys and ring
out their merry music on stated and joy
full occasions. The interior is arranged
with a view to comfort, not -extravagant
luxuriousness. It is equipped with mod
ern improvements, some of which are well
worth studying.
When Pastor Hafer took charge of the
congregation, nineteen years ago, it was
So. 600 In debt. To reach even its present
stage Of prosperity was a struggle. but
the pastor says he has yer been animated
and guided by the saying OF the Savior;
IF We had but faith like a mustard seed
I've could remove mountains" He has
looked carefully ahead.
He says he hopes. with Gods gracious
help and the faithful assistance OF his
faithful members and friends, to clear the
property of all its encumbrances before
he closes his earthly and self-denying la
hans