Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-11-11
GROWTH or HIS CHURCH.
Or. Hoffheins Submits Some Fig
ures Of Decided Interest
WORK OF The PAST 80 YEARS
Christ Reformed Church and the
Virginia Classis Show Steady
and Gratifying Increase.

and Gratifying increase
In Christ Reformed church sun
day morning, at the conclusion Of the
sermon based upon the gospel Of the
day Rev. DR.. A. Hofrheins touched
upon some interesting facts and fig
ures in connection with the completion
OF the thirtieih year OF his pastorate
of his church. A large congregation
was present at the services. which
rounded out DR. HoiTheins' unusual
Erecord as pastor ia this city and his
remarks were OF the most interesting
nature as illustrating the growth of
the church in this city and of the Vir-
Pinia Chassis during his long term OF
service in this field.
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
DR.. Hoffheins spoke of the long
years that have passed since he came
to Mariinsburg TO minister TO the
spiritual welfare of the then handful
of members, aud his words suggested
some of the important work that has
been accomplished in the upbullding
OF the church and membership by the
united efforts of the pastor and his
flock.
When he assumed his duties as pas
tor in 1875, he found congregation of
l55 members, of whom but 4s are now
surviving. To-Day the church member
ship is 1926, more than double the
number who greeted him when he
delivered his first sermon, with an adj
dltional membership of about 225 in
the Sunday school department of the
church, making a fetal membership
of about $50 souls allied with the
church, a handsome increase that ha
been both steady and consistent.
During the same period the classical
apportionment for the congregation
has increased from $75 to $34S, while
the benevolent fund has increased
from s155 in 1875 to 1856 in 800.
The growth of the Virginia Chassis
while not as proportionately large as
the growth of the church in Martins
burg. has also been steady and con
sistent. When Dir. Hoffheins came to
this Chassis in 1875 he found eight min.
listers, whose congregations comprised
1900 souls, and contributed s498 to
the synods Of the church. During the
past 30 years the Chassis has increased |
TO seventeen ministers and 26 600
members, who contribute SO ,112 to the
different synodical funds.
OF the nine elders and deacons who
comprised the copsistorv that signeo
the call to DR. hoffheins. but three
are residing here at the present time
elders Seibert and Christian Doll and
Deacon Il. ID. Staley. One las re-
moved to another point. and the others
are DEAD.
One OF the most notable OF the many
changes that have taken place during
he 30 years of DR.. Hoffheips' pastor
tie is that in the church buildings,
which DOW pFeseut an aibnRttusi
different appearance than when the
present pastor assumed charge. Five
wears after his installation the old
church building was remodaled. anu
this served its purpose until the needs
tor larger aud more commodious
'tructur were pressing. Then follow
ed the project for the present hand
some edifice, comprising auditorium.
caapel, Sunday school rooms, pastor's
.tudy, etc the whole making one OF
t handsomesr church properties in
mis- section of the state, which WIS
begun in 1900 and consecrated in 1901
i'h imposing and appropriate cere
monies. This edifice will stand for
mary years as monument to the zeal
aud efforts of DIR. Hotfheins, and well
illustrates the growth and Importance
Il his church daring the 30 years Of
his services here.