The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-09-25

Of Its Organization and Growth
Rev. c. S. Slagle, at the Celebration Its 10th
Anniversary Sunday Last.

-
ed for that purpose a Board of Trus-
tees consisting of David H. Shriver,
Joseph Hesson, John Beggs, Augustus
Shriver and Hashabiah Haines was
chosen, to whom was conveyed the
right and title of the church property
The foundation walls were completed
in due time and on Sunday, August
goth, 1868, the corner stone of the new
church was laid with appropriate
ceremonies. The Church received the
name of St. Paul's Reformed Church
Rev. E. r. Eschbach, D. D., preached
the sermon. Rev. Simon S. Miller
assisted in the services. The corner
stone was laid by the pastor. On the
same day in the afternoon, at Krider's
Church, W. G. Cremer was installed
as pastor of the Westminster charge
by Revs. Eschbach and Miller. The
work of building progressed rapidly
and by the first of November the
building was under roof.
In the Spring of 1869, the lecture
room was completed and on June 18th
it was dedicated to the worship of
God. Rev. E. v. Gerhart, D. D., Rev.
E. R. Eschbach, D. D., and Rev. ]. w.
Hoffmeier assisted in the services. 1t
is worthy Of note that up to this time
there was no organized congregation.
The building committee and the Board
of Trustees were personally respon
sible for all the obligations which they
made. To begin the erection of a
church of the size and cost of this one
and to put the building under roof
under these circumstances certainly
required a great deal of faith and
work on the part of the brethren.
At the annual meeting of Chassis in
Frederick in May 1869 authority was
given to organize congregation here
to be known as st. Paul's Reformed
Church of Westminster. Accordingly
on Wednesday, June 10th, meeting
was held in the lecture room for the
purpose Of effecting an organization.
Twenty five members confirmed at
Krider's and elsewhere were received
and enrolled members of the new con-
gregation.
Out of this number the first con-
sistory was elected and installed the
following Sunday, consisting of David
H. Shriver and Samuel l.. Myers as
elders and Samuel Hughes and Abra-
ham Long as deacons. A constitution
was adopted and the Consistory was
instructed to have the Church incor-
porated. The Sunday School was or
ganized on Sunday, June 9th, 1869.
The work of completing the Church
was pushed on as rapidly as funds
could be secured. Every effort was
made to have the Church completed
by the 10Th Of May, 1870, when the
Maryland Chassis would meet in an
nual session in Westminster.
The efforts were successful and ac-
-cordingly on Sunday, May 22nd,
while the Chassis was in session the
Church was dedicated, Rev. DR.. Zach
arias, of Frederick, preaching the
sermon. The cost of the church was
$16,50O A considerable part of this
was still owed after the dedication
and it was not until January, 1879,
nine years later, that Treas. J. T..
Orndorff reported a note paid in full
which he said was the last of the Or
iginal church debt. Shortly after the
building of the church the parsonage
was erected which is the building now
occupied by Mr.. Jas. B. Allison. This
was built by the three congregations
of the charge. Previous to this the
pastor lived in the old stone house at
the west end of Pennsylvania avenue.
When we take into consideration the
small number of members of the con-
gregation during the nine years in
which this work was done, we must
acknowledge the heroic effort and self
denial on the part of the small con-
gregation in carrying to completion
this work and paying for it in this
time We who are enjoying the fruits
of their Iabors owe a debt of gratitude
to them and 1t is fitting and proper
that we pay an humble tribute to their
memory:
During the year 1871 a memorial
bell in memory Of Daniel Zacharias
Reifsnider was given to the congrega-
ton by the father, Jesse Reifsnider,
the mother and brother-John l.. Reif-
snider, of the deceased.
In October, 1876, Rev. w. c. Cremer,
the pastor, resigned after pastorate
of eight and half years, having ac-
cepted a call from Zion Reformed
Church, Chambersburg.
Rev. John G. Moss. of Philadelphia,
was called as pastor and having ac-
cepted the call entered upon his pas
torate December 18th, 1875.
The growth of the work made a di-
vision of the charge advisable and In
response to an overture from the con-
sistories at Krider's and Westminster
the Chassis formed the Silver Run con-
gregation into a new charge. On De-
cember 18th, 1882, Rev. Mr.. Moss, after
pastorate of six years resigned to
assume the pastorate of the newly
constituted charge. For several
months the charge was without pas
tor.
In April, 1888, Licentiae A. s. Weber
was called. He accepted the call and
was ordained and installed on July
1st, 1883. On Aug. 4th, 1887, Rev. Mr..
Weber resigned to take the presidency
of Wichita University, his resignation
taking effect Oct 1st, after pastor
ate of four years.
| The present pastorate began Nov.
1st. 1887. During the year 1888 the
church was recovered by a slate roof.
During the winter of 1890 an order
for a two manual pipe organ was
given by the Consistory at cost OF
$1,000. subscriptions for this amount
had been taken up by the pastor. With
the exceptions of the organs in the
Roman Catholic and Episcopal church
es this was the first or the
number of pipe organs which were
shortly afterwards placed in all the
churches of the city. The organ was
dedicated in April, the sermon on
this occasion being preached by Rev.
rhomoc n Annie n n The services