The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-05

Names of the Charter Members.
Short Paragraphs of News.
Despite the weather of yesterday,
and particularly of last night, the an
nlversary services at the Hickory
street Presbyterian church both morn
ing and night were largely attended,
and were of very impressive and in
teresting nature. The occasion was the
tenth anniversary of the new edifice
of the congregation and the fourth an
niversary of the beloved pastor, Rev.
William A. Nordt.
The morning services were about as
the usual Sabbath morning services of
the congregation. The special features
were the sermon of Rev. Mr.. Nordt and
the singing of the church choir. Rev.
Nordt chose for the text of his sermon
words from psalm 2S. verse s. Lord
I have loved the habitation of Thy
house and the place where Thy honor
dwelleth." The discourse of Mr.. Nordt
was edifying and instructing. The af-
ternoon was devoted to the young peo-
pies society and the Ladies Aid So
ciety, two energetic organizations of
the congregation. The programme car
ried out was of an informal nature.
Mr.. Nordt was present and spoke in
laudatory terms of the inestimable
good which the societies have accom-
plished.
Short addresses were made by sew
eral members and an entertaining feat
ure OF the exercises was a retrospect,
given by John U. Wagner, of the his
| tories of the tNyn SociptipS
EVENING SERVICE.
When the evening service was OPEN
| ed at 7.3O o'clock the large auditorium
| of the church was filled to it's utmost
| and a pleasing and noteworthy Incl
| dent was the attendance of a goodly
| number of the old members of the con-
| gregation. An organ prelude by Prof.
| Schmidt was given, followed by prayer
| by the pastor. The church choir sang
accompanied by the Lawrence orches-
| ira. The sermon of the occasion was
then given by Mr.. Nordt. His text
| was taken from the Ephesans, chapter
4, verses 20 to "a: But ye have not
SO learned Christ, if so be that ye
have heard him. and have beer
taught by him. as the truth is ir
| Jesus, and yet put on the new
man, which, after God, is created
| righteous and true holiness" The
reverend speakers efforts were schol
arly and masterful. He spoke briefly
confining his remarks to a review O.
the congregation since it's formation
forty-two years ago. From the churcl
records from that time to the presen
day, which have been kept in gooC
shape, many interesting incidents Wer,
read.
Mr.. Nordt spoke of how in Januar!
in 81 a number of sturdy young mel
assembled in the Odd Fellows hall
which at that time GOOD where is nov
the company store" on upper Lacka
wanna avenue. and organized the con
gregation which had spread to one o
the most influential in this city. ]
being decided to organize, a call wa
sent to Rev. Henry Meth a young min
lister then filling a pulpit at jefferson
vile. n. Y, to accept to pastorate.
month later Rev. Meth wrote the boar
of elders and said he would procee
to Scranton at onco and assume tn
duties of the call. Rev. Neith's lette
of acceptance of so many years ag
was read again last night by Rev
Nordt. When Rev. Meth took charg
of his small flock they worshipped i
the old Odd Fellows hall.
CHURCH ERECTED.
; Energetic efforts were put forth, an
within a few months a church for tn
= congregation was under way. 1t wa
built at where now stands the massv
stone structure, and was known as tn
white Church" The building is use
now as a church hall, and stands i
the rear of the present church. Nj
Meth was pastor for three years, h
resigning and going to Johnstowl
i, where he still resides. A sad incider
of his Johnstown life was the perish
ing of his wife and only daughter j
the memorable Johnstown flood. Re-
Charles d. Rosenthal succeeded hin
and remained for five years, and at tn
? close of his term went to Paterson,
j. He died at that city twenty-fil
years ago. The third minister wa
!, Rev. William Wunderlich, now retire
y and spending his remaining days at h
6 native place, Leipsic, Germany. Re
. Wunderlich was the pastor for over
9 quarter of a century.
:. During the latter years of his pa
n | lOItlt lllt movement W buliu llc
a church was begun. The work was b
gun with Vigor and pushed to a graz
v conclusion ten years ago. Rev. Wul
a derlich resigned eight years ago, al
a went direct TO Leipsic, where he al
l. his neighbor, Rev. Father Shelley, WI
V was for many years pastor at
= Mary's Catholic church, which ediflce
l. adjacent to the Presbyterian churc
spent a few years together in quie
N ude.
n When Rev. Mr., Nordt accepted &
= call to the church he came to guide
flock which, as is fresh in the memo
{, of our people. was much disorganiZe
When Mr.. Ncrdt assumed charge the
1f was remaining a debt of over 500
r which has been cleared with the exec
ton of a small sum. He organized I
Id Young Peoples and Ladies Aid soci
1T ties. 4 handsome parsonage has be
erected and paid for. The congreg
Is ton has a membership of four hundr
families and is in a most ilourishi
r condition.
s. At the close of Rev. Nordt's inte
esting retrospect, the congregati
ce sang and the services closed wi
ea prayer.