The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-07-23
DEDICATION OF
ST, JOHNS CHURCH
First Building Was Dedicated
in l832-Has Been and is
Most Beautiful One in Lex
ington-Corner Stone Lay
ed-Cost $2,500.00

n large COuCOuTso VI peOp1o SotAoA-
ed at St. Johns church Saturday to
witness and to assist in the service of
laying the corner stone of the new
church. The church was taxed to
hold so many. An address appropriate
for the occasion was delivered after
which the formal exercises of laying
the stone was conducted by Pastor
Risinger assisted by Revs. Monroe and
Park. A sumptuous dinner was served
on the grounds between II and 1
o'clock and later in the afternoon the
children held a missionary service.
At 11:l5 Sunday morning the dedi-
cation service began. Pastor Risinger
!, and DR.. A. G. Voigt, D. D., preceded
by the church council, entered the
church abreast from the vestibule
carrying the Holy Bible, DR.. Voigt
preached the dedicatory sermon. He
fully expounded the meaning of the
dedication OF church buildings to
Individuals and to the service of God.
a St. Johns church is beautiful and
spacious edifice and it is lavishly fur
nished.
The corner stone bears the inscrip-
tion, .St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran
church, 1s32-1s13. List of articles
placed in the stone follows: A Bible,
hymn book, Lutheran catechism,
Stump's Edition, copy of the Lutheran
church Visitor of July II, 1918, copy
of Tidings dated July, 1918, Lutheran
church Almanac, 1918 General coun-
Gil Edition), Lutheran Almanac and
Year Book. 1918, General synod)
history of the church and congregation,
number of members, photograph of
old church, photograph of new church,
short history of St. Johns (calks
Road) Evangelical Lutheran church
of Lexington county.
Prior 10 1882, according to the best
information now obtainable, St. Johns
congregation was organized and a
frame building IS by 35 feet was built
with gallery. At that time it was
one Of the ccunty's best church bull
dings. The same can truthfully be
said of the present one. This building
was dedicated in January, 1882, and
we suppose on the third Sunday, as it
is said that the third Sunday has al
ways been the day of st. Johns SER
vice. The gallery was largely used
by the colored slaves before the civil
War. The first officers were designa-
ted as elders and were: John Leap
hart, Jacob Rawl, VIM. Taylor and
John Lown. This building with some
repairs stood as first built till 1913,
when it was remodelled into the pres
ent building. The old building was
left standing just as built and Sun
day school building IS by IS feet add
ed to the south side, and on the north
side pulpit annex of 10 by 35 feet
was added, tower was built, the bull
ding reweatherboarded, refoored, re-
covered and the old, small windows
were replaced by large gothic win
dows.
On the third Sunday, October 20,
1912, Pastor P. D. Risinger 'called a
congregational meeting Immediately
after divine service and submitted
plans for remodeling the old church
building. The plans submitted we're
according to description given above
and were at once unanimously adopt
ed, and the pastor was instructed to
begin raising the money to erect the
remodeled building. The pastor was
ordered to select a committee to assist
him in the work and accordingly he ap-
pointed Messrs. D. S. kyzer and W.
K. Hook.
The contract for the building was
awarded to John W. FRYE, of Lexing-
ton, who began work on the 9th Of
January, 1913. The building as it
now stands, completed and furnished,
cost s2,5O0.O0. The elders are J. S.
Hendrix, J. f. r. Kyzer, D. J. Har-
man, D. S. kyzer; deacons, ". X.
Hook, j. f. kyzer, John ". Rawl,
John \. Balentine.