The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-20
WONDERFUL GROWTH.
Celebration Of the Sesqui.centennial Of
Pennsylvania Lutheran Minister.
lum Ia Trlulty Lutheran Church.

The one hundred and fftieth ami
versary of the Pennsylvania minis
terium of the Lutheran church was
celebrated yesterday by Scranton and
Wilkes Barre congregations in Holy
Trinity church. at the corner of Adams
avenue and Mulberry street. Meet
ings were held in the afternoon and
evening.
Among the clergymen and others
present were Rev. II. +. j. Seneker,
Rev. w. L. Hunton and II. l.. Hunger
ford, of Wilkes Barre; Rev. J. II.
Kuder. of Lehighton; Rev. c. II. Hem
saith, of Conyngham; Rev. l.. Linden
struth, of Mauch Chunk; Rev. F.
Ehinger, of Carbondale; Z. August
Miller, of Philadelphia, and Revs A.
l.. Ramer, Ph.D., c. G. Spieker, ]. NJ.
Scheidy and John Kowal, of Scranton.
Some cause for the observance of the
sesqui-centennial may be observed in
the fact that at The first assembly
there were represented only ten Luth-
eran congregations of about a thou
sand communicates, while today there
are 10000 congregations and 100000
communicates.
Rev. j. II. Kuder, of Lehighton, was
one of the speakers in the afternoon.
He referred at some length to the
meaning of the jubilee.
The history of the ministerium of
Pennsylvania was discussed by Rev.
G. II. Hemsrath, of Conyngham.
The evening session began at 7i5
o'clock with a liturgical service con-
Quoted by Rev. II. f. ]. Seneker, of
Wilkes Barre. An address in German
was delivered by Rev. L. Lindenstruth,
of Mauch Chunk.
+. August Miller, of Philadelphia,
gave an instructive address on church
work by the laity.
a statistical paper prepared by Rev.
A. l.. Ramer, Ph.D.. of this city. was
read by II. l.. Hungerford, of Wilkes
Barre. 1t was an interesting review
Of the growth of the church and was,
in part, as follows
In August of 174S six pastors and about
thirty delegates met in st. Mich6 els
Evangelical Lutheran church or Phila-
delphia for the purpose of effecting an
orga niZation of the Lutheran churches
scattered over vast territory but with
out any bond of union, or the means OF
| judcous oversight. In that first assem-
ply there We're represented ten congre-
|
thousand communicates. There were at
that time six other Lutheran ministers,
with twenty-three congregations.
The entire strength of Lutherans in
America was then about 5000 confirmed
members. This was $50 years ago. Now
there arr 60 synCds more than 5000 min
listers, 10000 congregations and 15OO,G00
communicates And the Lutheran church
in general has grown during a century
ard half, so has also the Mother
synod" II now consists of 325 ministers.
| 500 congregations and a COMMUNICATE
membership OF $4,000.
Numerically the Wilkcs-Barrc confer
cncc is Cne Of the weakest. 1t is largely
| a missionary conference. Since the be-
ginning of the present decade 10 con-
gregatiOns were organized. Five of its
congregations were organized before the
| beginning of the nineteenth century. dur
| ing the first half of the century twelve
more came into existence. The present
| communicate n ombership of all the con-
gregations is 1900. The number of Sun
| day schools is 60 with a membership of
| $500.
Two duets were sung by Miss Cara
| gan. contralto, and Newton Croft,
| tenor. The aCcomDanist was ]. NJ
| Chance.