The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-14
4 new ZION CHURCH.
Evangelical Lutherans Of
McAdoo Avenue Con-
template Building.
CONGREGATION NEEDS ROOM
Pastor Sanft Speaks of the
Great Prosperity of Last
Year-Among the
Churches.
CONGREGATION NEEDS ROOM

There have been many rumOrS afioat TO
the effect that the condition of the Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church, on Nc
Adoo. avenue, Greenville, was anything
but encouraging. These are not true, how
ever, as the description of the affairs OF
that church win show.
The RevaWilliam Sanft, the pastor. was
in a very happy frame Of mind a few days
ago when seen by a News" reporter, con-
corning the project for the building of a
new church.
9TH plans have not been consum-
mated" he said, but / am urging the
work as fast as can. The condition of
the church at present. warrants the build
ing of a new house of worship, which will
most undoubtedly be completed within the
present year. If it is not, l shall be. great
ly disappointed. The new church project
has been under consideration for quite
some time, or. in fact, about a year. The
Board of Trustees came to the conclusion
that a new church was absolutely es-
sential to accommodate the increasing
congregation, apd work was begun to
raise enough funds.
"A big start in that respect was made
when the property fronting on the Boule-
ward was purchased. There are four lots,
and a building to occupy that site, will be
a handsome one and large enough for this
church for years to come
1.-The closing of this year ended the most
prosperous one in the history of this
church.. and the balance in the treasury
is most encouraging. Within a very short
time. we viii can plans for the building,
and when the are submitted every MEM
Der IF the congregation will be in
vited to inspect them, and give his
opinion. The building will be of brick,
and will contain a basement Sunday
School room and church room. The cost
will not exceed SIS, 600. of which sum we
have more than half. The church will OF
course. face on the Boulevard, but the
only thing that keeps us from proceed
ing is the absence of a sewer on McAdoo
avenue.
Il called to see Mayor Hoos about the
matter a short time ago. and he promised
to look it up. and have the street severed
as soon as possible
The building now occupied by the con-
-gregation is situated on McAdoo avenue,
about one hundred feet from the Bouie-
ward. 1t was built in 1868. or rather dedi-
Gated in that year. 1t is a frame building,
with a pointed roof and brick foundation.
The basement is used as a Sunday School
room, and the floor above for church SER
vices. The structure has. indeed, seen
better days, but its condition is easily ex-
planned when it is taken into consideration
that all the money collected is added to
the building fund. Pastor Sanft explained
that the Board of Trustees did not favor
the expenditure of any money for repairs
to the old building, which will soon be de-
.4.siished in order to make room for the
new and handsomer ediice.
While the work on the building is In
progress, services will be held in the old
church. which will be moved to a nearby
site. h pastor further said that the
fair recently held in Belvidere Hall. Melted
the church $1.0lO.97 profit, which sum was
added to the church fund.
The late Rev. Gotthardt B~urkhardt, the
predecessor of the Rev. William Sanft,
was pastor of Zion Church for twenty
three years, during which time he built
it up to an excellent condition When
the present pastor took charge, about two
years ago, he found it on a most substan-
tial footing. There are now about three
undred members in the congregation,
and an average attendance of two undre
and sixty children in the Sunday School.
There are thirty-four teachers to look
after these scholars, and Superintendent
Gfroehrer is in charge. The parsonage
adjoins the church.