The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-26
PINE GROVE CHURCH
ANNUAL SYNOD TO MEET THERE
IN A SHORT TIME.

! Names Of the Pastors Who Have
Served This Old Historic Church
il the Past.
The following brief, but interest
ing sketch OF historic old Pine
Grove Lutheran Church was writ
ten for the News and Courier by
DR.. T. H. Dreher, of st. Matthews,
and we take pleasure in reproducing
it in our columns, as we know 1t
will be read with interest:
Calhoun County is proud of its
Lutheran population-mostly Ger
man-and proud Of the fact that the
next Lutheran Synod OF South Car
olina will convene November I'll
in Pine Grove Church, on the Santee
River. The first religious society in
old Orangeburg County was a Lu-
theran Church and the first Luth-
eran organization, in both of the
Carolinas, was established in the
then village of Orangeburg, along
towards the middle of the eighteenth
century.
Soon after the second Lutheran
Church in Orangeburg Township
was established and known as the
St. Matthews Lutheran Church, on
the old Moncks Corner road, eight
miles below the town Of st. Mt
thews, with the Rev. Mr.. Giessen-
daner, of Orangeburg, as its pastor.
From this church, as an offshoot,
sprang the present Pine Grove Lu-
theran Church. It's history of sixty
years is interesting.
1t was born in 1S47, under the
tender guidance of the sainted and
eloquent Rev. J. P Margart amid
discouraging conditions. Its first a.
bode was a rude log structure few
hundred yards northeast of the pres
ent residence of Mr.. J. c. Stouden-
mire and half mile from the pres
ent location. 1t was later followed
by frame structure on the present
site of the pretty cemetery.
Twenty years ago another step
forward was made, when the present
church building was erected, which
Is one of the neatest and prettiest
in the county. The successor of the
Rev. ]. P. Margart was the Rev. E.
Dufford, two of whose children are
still living members of the church
and honored citizens Of that COM
munity.
He was succeeded by the Rev. w.
A. Houck for sixteen years and who
was we'll known to The News and
Courier correspondent, as q boy, as
one of the noblest and most pious
members of his or any there religius
denomination. He has a son still liv-
ing in the Cameron section, who is
one Of the most progressive anu
scientific farmers in the county.
The Rev. S. T. Hallman, D. D.,
succeeded Mr.. Houck, who is now
the worthy and intelligent secretary
of the United Lutheran Synod and
for a long time the 'honored editor
| of the Lutheran Church Visitor. The
Rev. J. H. w. Wartz then served
eight years, followed by his son, the
Rev. ]. @. Wertz, whose mantle in
turn fell upon shoulders of the Rev.
M. o. ]. Kreps.
The Rev. J. D. Bowles next took
charge and, under his efficient man.
agement, both the present houses of
worship at Pine Grove and Trinity,
Elloree, were built. Next in order,
successfully, were the Revs. B. w.
Cronk, S. L. Nease, P. D. Risinger
and w. B. Aull
The present pastor, the Rev. l.. r.
Boland, is worthily and nobly tlllng
the sainted seats occupied by MS
splendid array Of predecessors. Dur
ing the year 1910, under his success
full regime, the pastorate composed
of Pine Grove, Trinity (Elloree) and
small congregation, st. Marks
near Fort Motto, contributed $1,1OO
to the new Theological Seminary
building, in Columbia. This year
they have contributed $1,000 to the
Lutheran Mission School, in Japan.
This year, Pire Grove has contrl-
buted $500 to improvements in her
church and parsonage.
Pine Grove has been peculiarly
honored by the Lutheran Synod
this being the third lime its sessions
have been held within her sacred
precincts, first held 1854 and again
in 1884. A stirring incident happen
ed during it's sitting in 1884. Whlle
in session, the news of Grover CleVe-
Iands's first election as president OF
the United States was announced TO
the large congregation in the yard
by the Rev. DR.. Stack, who waved
his hat on high and should Justify
for the first Democratic President
since Buchanan, in the late hftles.
Such, in short, is the manner OF
chrch which will welcome the Lu'
theran Synod to it's midst in NoVem-
ber. 1t may be stated, in advance
that the visiting brethren will be
royaly entertained by one or the
most prosperous focks in the State
and who love their church with eV'
ery fibre of their being.