The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-05-18
WEALTH OF HISTORY AROUND
y REFORMED CHURCH IN PIEDMONT
Sturdy Pioneers Who Fled From Germany Because of
Love For Religious Liberty Great Force in Upbuild-
ing of this Section of observation-disclosures Giants
Among Their Number-Classis Meets at Newton.
GEO.. F. COCHRAN)

Wtllc hlCCC5 III IIlu SESSION aC |
Newton May 21, on the saith ami
versary Of the organization Of the
Church in this State. On the 21st of
May, 1881 a little company of four
ministers and four elders met at what
was known as "the old Brick Church."
OF Clapp's Church, in Guilford coun-
~, and little dreaming that the event
was TO become one of great historical |
Importance to people of their faith, !
perfected the organization Of the
Chassis, acting on instruction from
the Synod of the German Reformed
Church at Hagerstown, Nd, in 1890.
The growth of this great body of
civil and religious citizenship from
hat small beginning has been steady,
and while comparatively the hurch
is not now as strong numerically as
other denominations in the State, the
1915 showing is one Of which the Re-
formed people may be proud. When
1t is remembered that this religious de
nomination in this State is practically
confined to a few counties in the Pied
mont section, where German pioneers
settled; and that it's growth has been
so intensive instead of extensive that
it has established churches in but two
counties, Caldwell and Watauga, out
side of the original territory repre-
scented at the first Chassis, the relative
smallness of the Reformed population
is explained satisfactorily.
Statistics compiled by the stated
clerk, Rev. DR.. j. c.. Leonard of Lex
,ngton, show that there are 5,7S2
confirmed and 1,725 unconfirmed
members Of the church in this State;
Sd congregations and "a minister's; 81
Sunday schools with a total of 1874
members; and a total Of mOney rails
eG for congregational purposes Of
$43,76S, and $5,926 for b~enevolence,
a total of around $4,000 annually.
fLA-.l 49,, t. 5000 - 49, =
OF $4,000 and parsonage property
to the amount Of $4,000. The
Chassis is a part Of the great German
reformed denomination which has
l,210 ministers in the United States;
$500 congregations, with nearly half
a million members. This larger or
Sanization last year donated $2,183,
sol for congregational purposes and
over $500, 600 for benevOlence.
First Meeting of Chassis.
The account of the first meeting OF
the Chassis is highly interesting on
the Saith anniversary Of the body. II
is contained in the Churc history,
entitled Historic Sketch of the Re-
formed church in North Carolina
q book, by the way, that every studen
of State history would do we'll to read
The eight men charged with the task
of organizing the Church were Revs
d.. B. Lerch, sWilliam Hauck, J.. II
Crawford and j. G. Fritchey; ant
Elders Col. Phillip Hedrick, Col
John Hoke, Col. Daniel Clapp an(
Adam Roseman, Esq, men hos
names are common today Throughout
the Piedmont country.
Meeting on Saturday, May 81, 1881
they began to prepare themselves 70
their duty by holding religious ser
vices for two whole lays before tn
business of the meeting was touched
They preached four sermons tina
Saturday, alternating in German an
: English, for their hearers were o
without cessation there were two Eng
iish and one German sermons, cele
sIration Of the Lords Supper, and
fourth sermon in English. The oil
Church was filled to overlooking an
the people sat patiently through
prolonged period of worship that to
day would close with empty pews a
witnesses of the finals. In those day
when religious service was denie'
people for months on end, they gladl
attended all day sessions.
Eight Appointed Leaders.
Monday morning, May %, 1873
then. the eight appointed. men bega
their business session. The Churcht
Of Davidson county were Representa-
by Rev. VIM. Hauck and Col. Philli
Hedrick; those west of the Catawt
river were represented by Rev. j. {
F'ritchey and Col. John Hoke; Re
ID. b.. Lerch and Esquire Rosema
represented the churches between tt
Catawba and the Yadkin rivers; ar
Guilford and Orange were represente
by Col. Daniel Clapp and Rev. j. ]
Crawford. Mr.. Hauck was the fir
president of Chassis. Rev. J. ]
Crawford was the first recording Sc
fetary. now called stated clerk, Al
here it is interesting to note tn
throughout the entire "a years Of Il
Church's history, only three men ha'
been recording secretary, or stat
clerk. Mr.. Crawford served und
the first title for eleven years, al
under the new name for nine yea
when the late Rev. DR.. G.. w. Welk
OF sainted memory, was elected a
served continuously for, As years. !
resigned in 1892, at the 62nd annu