The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-01
PASTOR HAFERs WORK
The Twenty-fifth Anniversary
of His Church Celebrated.

The three days celebration Of Ink TWEEN
ty-ffth anniversary of the founding Of
the Evangelical Lutheran, St. Trinitatis
anniversary of the Rev. r. Hafer's pas
~torate, and the annual observance of Re-
formation Day began last evening. There
interesting addresses mainly in German,
and these were interspersed with hymns
by the choir and the congregation and
solos by Miss Z. Bartels. Nearly $1,000
was pledged by various members Of the
congregation near the close of the SER
vice toward the liquidation Of the $4,000
mortgage resting on the church. The ex-
ercises opened with singing Honor be
to God on High" by the congregation.
Then Miss Henrietta Luetzen, the accom-
.plished organist of the church, rendered
q triumphal march as an organ voluntary
Prayer by the pastor followed and the
congregation sang a praise hymn. Psalm
lxxxiv was read and the confession Of
faith recited.
The Rev. ]. B.. Remensnyder, DID,.
president of the Synod and pastor of st.
James Church, Madison venue, New
York City, made an address in which he
spoke in terms of the highest praise for
Pastor Hafer's great services in rearing
up such a splendid church in the face of
obstacles which seemed almost insur-
mountable. He said he had known Pas
tor Hafer for twenty years and had
closely watched his Jealous efforts in be-
half of his people and his church He
congratulated the minister and the con-
gregation on it's good fortune in having
such a jealous and untiring pastor.
Pastor Hafer gave a brief historical
sketch of the church. He showed how
beginnings could bring about great
mustard seed. He alluded to the great
ire> in Chicago, which started from a
COW kicking over a lamp in a stable and
cited Il the ins st a Of the n,b b3ryh ~ q n1 gna
the religion of the world. the birth
of Luther. who brought about the Refor-
nation. The pastors address was prin-
cipally upon the subject of the Reforma-
ton.
The Rev. ID. schambach. of Newark.
who was down on the programme for an
count of a serious attack of Illness. The
Rev. J. J. Young. of st. Johns Lutheran
Church. New York City. came all the way
from Baltimore, Md. where he was on
take the Rev. Schambach's place on the
programme. His theme was, Thou Ant
MY Helper" He spoke Of Pastor Hafer's
faithful work. He dweft upon the fact
- 49, 80
pastorate he had not lost faith. although
his arduous labors had at times brought
him near to the grave Pastor Hafer
knew that God was helping him and that
he would ultimately succeed In rearing M
a great church and clear it of all debt.
His faith in God had been justified.
The Rev. Eugene F.. Neudewitz. of Holy
Trinity lutheran Church. of this city,
preached his text being taken from the
first verse Of the CXxxVI Psalm:-'Oh.
praise the Lord of he is good" Gods
rnN1rnec AAAnoI1r rod hod kQdr nh11nd-
antly shown to Pastor Hafer in he
had already Accommodated. He advised
the congregation to help him wipe out the
mortgage on the church.
The Rev. A. s.. Hartmann. d. D., of
Baltimore, general secretary of the Board
of Home Missions. made an imprisoned
plea for the ~pledging of money with
which to pay Off the mortgage. His plea
was effective. Pastor Hafer started the
list with a pledge of 500 of his annual
salary of $500. Others followed. The choir
sang inspiring music as members went
forward and pledged nearly $1,000 in the
aggregate.