Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-08
In MemOrian.
[FoR THE CLARION. I

Memoir of Sarah Matilda Oerter, m. n.
Fettcr, who departed this life al Graccham,
Md, Jan 81, 1906, aged "a years and days.
Sarah Matilda. youngest daughter OF j.
George Fettcr and his;wife Ann Eliza, IN. n.
Horsfeld, was born at Lancaster, Pa jan,
81, 1s41. Baptized in infancy, she later re-
newed her baptismal covenant in the rite OF
confirmation. Aug. 10, 1862. she was united
IN holy matrimony a, Lebanon, Pa, by the
Rev W. l.. 1ennert,'to the Rev. Albert l..
Oer,er, who had accepted call as pastor of
our church at Canal Dover, o., to which
place she went with her husband in Septem-
Der. They served this congregation for four
years, until September 1895, when Bro. Der.
ter followed cali to Salem, N. G., as assistant
pastor and vice president Of the Salem Fee
male Academy. After the death of Bishop g.
f. Bahnson. four years later, her husband
became pastor of the congregation, and they
continued to reside IN Salem until April 1879
when they removed to Bethlehem, Pa, Bro.
Oerter having accepted call as secretary of
Publications and editor of the church papers.
Bethlehem continued to be their home until
Oct 1897 when they retired from active ser
vice and removed to Graceham, their oldes,
son being the pastor OF our congregation at
that place. In true christian spirit she &C
ceptcd and DEVOTED herself 20 her duties in
every position she was called 10 fill and WOE
many warmly attached friends wherever her
lot was cast.
A few years ago she began TO suff'r from
an affection of the heart which gradually in
creased and somewhat later dropsical af.
Fiction also added tc her suf1erings. In Sept.
1904, she sustained a severe stroke OF paral.
ysis, which disabled her right side and de-
prived her of the faculty of articulate speech.
Since that time confined to her chair and
able to use only her left hand, she bore her
often intensely painful sufferings with exem.
plary patience and resignation, until, on
Wednesday morning, Jan. 81, 1905, soon af
ter o'clock, she gently breathed her last,
and entered into her eternal rest.
The doctrinal text for that day was: PA.
,ience worke,h experience" Rom. s: 4, with
the collect:
"Midst the trials we experience,
May We not give way to fears,
But possess our souls in patience,
Passing through this vale of tears:
Waned thereby from things terrestrial,
Let US look fer joys celestial,
Waiting for that time, when we
Rom oil sorrnxu abo)I ho rroa
A goodly number of the members of the
congregation at Graccham and other friends
attested their sympathy for the hereaved and
respect for the departed by attending the
short funeral service in the house at Grace
ham a. 73O p. m, Friday, February 2. After
this service had been opened with the use of
the first part OF our liturgical service for the
burial of the dead, the Graceham choir sang
No. 500, Jesus makes my heart rejoice"
from the Moravan hymnal; they sang the
LIST, Sd, and 4th stances Of hymn No. 400.
"Jesusl still lead on" at the close of the SER
vice, both hymns being special favorites of
the departed. The rest of the service con.
sisted of prayer, short sermon on Heb. II:
4; Rev. IA: 10. and reading of the memoir by
her pastor, who, at the close of the sermon,
and vocng the sentiments of himself and all
that knew her, expressed their appreciation
ofher exemplary character and conduct at
all times and under all circumstances.
Under the direction of undertaken E. E.
Black, OF Thurmont, her mortal remains
were placed on the train at Graceham, on
which the surviving husband, with his son,
Rev. M, F. Oerter. of Riverside, N. j., and
her daughter Mary also left for Lititz, Pa,
on Saturday morning last. The funeral ser
vices were completed at Lititz at Up. M,
where the interment took place.
After the funeral at Lititz Bro. A. l.. Ger
ter and his daughter accompanied her broth.
er, Rev. M. F. Oerter to Riverside, N. j.,
where they expect to spend a week or so be-
fore returning home.
]. r. Kaiser.