New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25
J. H. OERTER DEAD;
81 YEARS APASTOR
Senior Active Clergyman
in New York City Dies
at the Age of "a.

The Rev. John II. Oerter. for fifty
seven years pastor Of the Fourth Ger
man Reformed Dutch Church, and Sc
Nor active clergyman in New York
City, died yesterday at his home. 4lO
West 45th So. He was eighty-four
years old. but so virile that his congre-
CATION had not suspected that the i'll
ness, Of which some had heard last
week, was considered serious.
In amazement and perturbation they
saw Dr. Howard, friend of their be-
loved pastor, in the pulpit. Thunder
struck, they listened TO the broken
words in which he told them that the
man who made the church was dead.
John II. 0erter was born in Gilsbach
Prussia, October Is, 1881. His father,
foreman stone mason, died while
Oerter was in school at Dillenburg.
Upon attaining his majority Oerter set
sail in clipper ship, which carried him
10 New York. He entered the Reformed
Dutch Church Seminary at New Bruins
wick. y. j.. and was ordained in 1900.
His first charge was IN Warrenyllle,
\. j.
After two years in Warrenville DR..
Oerter got his call to New York. There
were but four German Reformed
churches in the city then. From 14th
st. northward on the West Side
stretched a section that the heads OF
the German churches felt was 10 be i'm
portant in the growth OF the city
Shortly before DR.. 0erter was called
the Fourth German Reformed Dutch
Church had been organized in hall II
Seventh ay. There were fifteen mem
bers.
IL was to that struggling passionate
that DR.. Oerter came. For nearly four
teen years services were held IN varl'
Gus assembly rooms. DR.. Oerter's work
called him from 14th ST. TO Harlem, and
even 10 Yonkers. Stages ran irregu-
larry. He generally walked, carrying
a stout stick 10 discourage hogs, dogs
the countryside
In 1871. after energetic efforts, DR..
Oerter succeeded in getting church
for his congregation. which then num-
bered more than 100. IL was a little
wooden edifice in West 40th st. Later
the more comfortable and pretentious
church, with the parsonage adjoining,
was built in West 45th st.
Although he had no sympathy with
clergymen who condemned theatres
and dancing "a iniquitous entertain
ments, DR.. Oerter doubted their seem
illness.
When appealed to by the younger
members of his congregation regard
ing either form OF amusement he
would give his views. and leave 1t TO
the applicant whether he should go
or not. He himself never attended a
theatre and never danced. For forty
eight years he never touched spir-
ituous liquor.
He was a student Of the classics. a
lecturer on socialism and kindred
topics and an author of religious
works in English and in German. His
best known English books are "Di-
vine Healing According TO the Script
ures" and "The Parousia."
lie was married September ., 1856
20 Miss Franciska T. Dauer, of Utica,
y. Y. She survives him. with one son,
Samuel j., and one daughter, Mrs. Z.
+. Merger.
Funeral services will be held in the
Fourth (German) Reformed Church to-
morrow evening. DR.. Julius Jaeger, OF
the German Evangelical Church, will
conduct the services in German, and
Dr. f.. G.. Meury, OF the Knox Presby-
terrain Church. the English services
Interment will be in Sleepy Hollow
Cemetery on Wednesday morning.