The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-12-10
EVANSVILLE LUTHERAN
CHURCH HAS CELEBRATION
Weeks Services Mark 18th An
niversary of Founding of the
Church in Old Trails Town
ALL DEBTS ARE NOW PAID

The fve-day program celebrating
the 18th anniversary of the Lutheran
church at Grantsville eliminated last
Friday night with the burning of the
mortgage on the church property,
leaving the congregation entirely free
of debt and with beautiful and COM
modious house of worship worth, to-
gether with the large lot on which 1t
stands, at least $4,000.
The celebration began on Monday
evening, designated as High School
Night" when teachers and pupils OF
the Grantsville High School took part
in the program.
Tuesday night was Historical
Night" when the history of the local
church was reviewed. The program
on this night began with a pageant
under the direction of Misses Holmes
and Wallace, depicting the history of
the progress of Christianity with spe-
cial reference to the Lutheran Church
from the time of Martin Luther to the
present. Those taking part were all
suitably costumed and presented it in
a very beautiful and artistic manner.
The various parts were taken by the
young people of the church and teach
ers and pupils of the Grantsville High
School.
George W. Diefenbach read his
tory of the congregation, which was
organized in 1856 by the late Rev.
Matthew F. Pfahler, who was the
first pastor. The first church building,
frame structure, was dedicated in
1859, on the site of the present edi-
flee, on a lot donated by Adam Shultz,
a pioneer citizen, stone mason, farmer
and tavern-keeper of Grantsville. The
present brick structure was dedicated
under the passionate Of the late DR.. L.
P. Young in 1918. About seven years
ago the ground under the edifice was
eXcavated and a sub-story was added
to the church at a cost of more than
$4,000, including the furnishings, etc.
The basement is used for Sunday
school and social purposes.
Miss Emma Estelle Pfahler, Mey-
ersdale, great-granddaughter of
Rev. Matthew Pfahler, the founder of
the church, gave reading, and was
followed by her father, R. D. Pfahler,
a grandson of the founder, who gave
some "reminiscences about the veneer
able 'Father" Pfahler, who was often
referred to by that title on account
Of his goodness.
A class of little girls in the quaint
costumes worn by little girls of 60
years ago, appeared on the rostrum
10 represent the children of the first
Sunday school held in the old brown
church erected by Father Pfahler. The
little girls sang several Sunday school
songs of the long ago.
Some Of the older members of the
congregation and former Sunday
school scholars were called upon for
"reminiscences of the olden times,
among them Publisher W. S. Liven-
good of the Meyersdale Republican,
and his newspaper brother, P. L. Liv-
engood, of Salisbury, who as young
boys attended Sunday school in the
old church from 1867 to 1874.
William Winterberg and other old
time members of the church and Sun
day school also gave "reminiscences. A
granddaughter of Hon. Thomas Henry
Bittinger, who was superintendent of
the Sunday school for many years,
read some extracts from the minute
book kept by her grandfather during
his long incumbency.
Wednesday night was missionary
Night" when the annual Thank Offer
ing service was held. Thursday night
was Community Night" when ap-
propriate services were held in COM
memoration of the benefit the Luth-
eran church has been to the Grants
vile community.
On Friday night the pastor, Rev. S.
D. Sigler, gave a talk on the past and
future of the congregation.
At this service the money necessary
to pay off the few hundred dollars of
the mortgage on the church property
was raised and the mortgage was
burned.-Meyersdale Republican.