The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-05-31
CHURCHES CELEBRATE
10th ANNIVERSARY.
INTERESTING HISTORY EVER SINCE
1862 HANDSOMESI CHURCHES In
The COUNTY.


church This week these churches
have been engaged in the celebration
of the one hundred and fiftieth ami
versary Of their organization. The
first church building, a rude log struc-
ture, which stood in the hollow below
the old graveyard, was erected as a
union church by the two congrega-
tons in 1862. Two Of the most i'm
portant names attached to the preamble
and constitution Of those churches, a
document still in existence, are those
Of Jacob Lischy, M. ID. nj, Calvinist
minister in York county, Pa, and Geo.
Bager Lutheran, minister in York
county, Pa.
The log building did service until
1921, when a more modern church,
well remembered by many persons
now living, was erected, of brick, on
the eminence near the site of the
present Reformed church. This house
of worship was also used jointly by
the two congregations. The old log
building was then taken down, and
part of it, building material was used
in the construction OF "a parish
schoolhouse.
The names of the members Of the
ii
Hahn, chairman; Frederick Outer,
secretary; Nicholas Dill, treasurer;
Michael Frock, Phillip Holl, Peter
Snyder, John Hull and Henry KRONER.
These names, variouSly modified, i'm
some cases, are still common in the
neighborhood. Andreas Hull was
chief carpenter.
a New Shrine.
| When the necessity for the abandon
ment of the structure became appar-
emit the Reformed congregation (orig-
inally denominated German Reform
ers" was the first to decide upon the
erection OF its separate place of wor-
ship land in 1893 carried this decision
into effect. Tt erected a church edi-
flee on new site at . cost approx
mating $4,000. The Lutheran con-
gregation selected a new site and
erected an ediffce in 1894, equaling in
cost and beauty that of the Reformed.
Both also have handsome and COM
modious parsonages.
Thus it happens that the little vii
lage Of Silver Run, with a population
or not over $50, has two churches
which would not be discreditable in
large city. From handful of mem
bers the joint membership now ap-
proximates 1000, about three-fifths
Of whom are members Of the Reform
ed Church.
How or for what reason the name of
St- Mary's was adopted by the found
ers of their congregations the records
do not disclose. A small influx of
Germans and Swiss from Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, between 474O
and 1850, led to the organization OF
the two congregations. Rev. Jacob
Lischy, a Calvinist minister from
York county, Pennsylvania, organized
the German Reformers," and Rev.
Johannes Georgius Bager the Luther
ans. Rev. Mr.. Bager, served Is con-
gregations at one time, his ministry
reaching from Lancaster, Pa, through
Frederick to Baltimore.
Rev. Lischy continued his connec-
ton with the Reformed congregation
till about 1773, and from that time
until 1912 the Reformed congrega-
ton was without a regular pastor.
In 1872 Rev. Jacob Wrestling be-
came the pastor of the Manchester
charge, which included 1t. Mary's, at
Silver Run, and continued in that ca
pacity for four years. He was follow
ed by Rev. Jacob Geiger in 1917, who
continued his pastorate till 184S, when
he died. 1t was under his pastOrate
that the Reformed Church made it's
greatest progress and became great
power in the community.
Influx Of Lutherans.
The German Lutherans, who, on
their way from Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, to Virginia, about LAO,
stopped i'm the fertile lands about Sill
yer Run, soon began to appeal to Revs.
G. A. F'rancke and Henry Melchoir
Muhlenberg for the establishment of
IA Lutheran church at Silver Run.
Their appeals brought Rev. John Geo.
Bager to the field and it was he who
organized the Silver Run congregation
and, with Rev. Jacob Lischy, signed
the joint constitution adopted May
81, 1852.
During it's existence this congrega-
ton has been served by IS Lutheran
clergymen The present pastor l.
Rev. John o. Yoder. Rev. John George
Bager has left many descendants
many of whom have been prominent
i'm the Lutheran Church and others
in the learned professions and in bust
ness.
The organization of St. Mary's Luth-
eran Church, at Silver Run, took
place only IS years after the Luth-
eran congregation organized by Null
enberg in this country.
Rev. .. Charles Hoover j. pastor OF
the Reformed congregation, and Rev.
John 70. Yoder, pastor Of the Luther
ans.
For the anniversary, which began
on Tuesday, the following program
was carried out:
Tuesday, May %, 8 P. M-Address:
Rev. VIM. Fl. Ehrhart, Lutheran
Church
Wednesday, May 20, 2 P. M.-Greet-
ings from neighboring congregations.
I8 P. M.-Address: Rev. J. Stewart
Hartman, Our Heritage.
Thursday, May 80, 2 u. M.-Remln-
iscent meeting. 8 P. M.-Address:
Rev Dr. o. c. Roth.
Friday, May 81, 2 P. M.-Address:
Rev. II. ID. Newcomer; greetings from
neighboring congregations. s p. M
Address, Rev. John G. Moss, The Es-
sentials to the Permanence of Chris
tian Congregation.