The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-23
THB POUNDING OF
TRINITY CHURCH.
The First Pastor of the Congre-
CATION Talks of Early Days.
SERVICES IN CANTON CHURCHES
Rev.J. h. shumaker. First Pastor of Trim
ity Reformed Church, Makes an An
uiversary Address--kev. Brew
baker at the Y. m. CA.

Sunday morning at Trinity Reformed
church was celebrated the fourteenth
anniversary Of Rev. E. p. Herbruck's
pastorate.
The church was beautifully decorated
for the occasion. Over the west door
was the date 1886, over the east door
1900, the intervening time being the
period in which Rev Herbruck had
served the congregation of Trinity
church. There was profusion of palms,
ferns, potted plants, cut flowers, car
nation pinks predomineting.
The choir sang music appropriate to
the occasion, rendering two anthems
beautifully, and appropriate hymns
were sung by choir and congregation.
Rev. ]. B. Shumaker, ID. D., of Tiffin,
the pastor who first organized the
church, was present and made an ad-
dress. He talked in a reminiscent vein,
taking no text in the course Of his
address, he said:
1T affords me great pleasure to meet
with you today. Every year this day
affords some thing new. The work goes
on, and we are making church history.
Souls are being born into the kingdom,
and the membership of the church is
increasing, and you are growing In the
knowledge of God and the Savior.
''I remember when this church was rep
resented by small but earnest congre-
cation. We had no church edifice and
met Sunday afternoons in the German
Lutheran church, presided over by Rev.
Herbruck.
The congregation began to grow.
This was in 1871. The project had been
considered the year before, but nothing
was done. We believed God would pros
per the work. We became a part of the
Tuscarawas classis. / served the con-
gregation two years. While here /
formed many warm attachments.
"On the 26th of August, 1871, God sent
into our home little son. His life was
contemporaneous with that of this
church. He grew up a devout man,
studied medicine and is now doing
medical missionary work in Canton,
China-while here in Canton the church
has grown and developed, and God has
been glorified here in the redemption of
souls.
When the congregation was first or
ganized, how little we knew o: what its
growth would be; but l feel now what
ever else may have been failure in my
life work, this has been a success. This
was the grain of mustard seed which
God allowed me to plant"
After the address, Secretary Homer
]. Miller read his annual report, show
ing that $3.50 had been raised for all
purposes during the year and that SS
new members had been received into the
church. The church has a membership
of 1,13O.
The secretary also presented two sill
Yer collection plates, which had been
given by the children of the church.
At the close Of the secretary's report,
City Solicitor Ed. L. Smith. on behalf OF
the congregation, addressed the pastor
and the audience.
He spoke Of the growth of the congre-
cation, of how it gained strength by
overcoming the difficulties in it's early
history. One reason of it's success was
the cordiality with which +: received
strangers who came to worship with |
them, and the fact that there was
no caste of class distinctions among
the members.
Il want to observe also" said Mr.. 4,
Smith, that for IA years we have had |
the benefit Of the wealth Of knowledge |
of DR.. Herbruck, and to his efforts Is |
due much of the success this church has |
achieved"
Elder Neiderhauser spoke for a few
moments on the cordial relations ex.
listing between the consistory of the
church and the pastor. after which Rev.
Herbruck, in a few words, expressed mis-
appreciation of the many kind words
Of praise bestowed upon him. He show
n &IA T.
manifestations Of regard.