Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-08-24
history Of Organ Evangelical Lutheran Church

remains, many yard-sticks, that
were eagely sought for, and highly
treasured in remembrance of the ole
organ.
In the year 1772, Organ Church
of Rowan County, and St. john.
Church of, then Mecklenburg, now
Cabarrus County, after having nc
doubt, exhausted every effort to Sc.
cure a pastor from the older settle.
ments in Pennsylvania, determined
to send a delegation to the father
land, to appeal to their country
men and brethren in the faith, te
send them a pastor and school
teacher; that they might have the
Blessed Word preached to them
and that their children might BE-
taught the things necessary for
them to know. Accordingly
Christopher Rintelmanr, of Organ:
and Christopher Layrely, of St,
Johns, two brave, strong, honest.
consecrated men of God, represent
ing sixty families, undertook the
long and hazardous journey at their
own expense. They were instructed
to apply to the Consistory of
Hanover, in preference to any
other, because at that time the
Provence of North Carolina was
under the government of the king
of England, who, at the same time,
was Elector of Hanover.
Supplied with the necessary
credentials and especially with one
from Governor Tryon who was, at
that time, Governor of the Province
of North Carolina, being the great
seal of the Province, and with a
letter of recommendation from him
to the Society for the spread of
the Gospel in foreign parts" at
London; the commissioners left
their homes in 1872, travelled horse
back to Charleston, South Carolina,
made a safe voyage across the At
lantic and went, first, to England
where they were most cordially re-
ceived and kindly treated. The
Missionary Society to which they
appealed, heartily endorsed their
cause. The king of England and
numbers of the English noblemen
gave literally of their means, and
St. James Lutheran Chapel in Lon
don gave them a handsome sum of
money for that day, in all amount
ing to more than eight hundred dol
lars.
In Germany they found the same
hearty welcome awaiting them,
where besides offering of money,
they were presented with Bibles,
hymn books, Catechisms and other
publications; and to Organ church
was presented with the following:
viz. a baptismal bowl, platter, wine
tankard, goblet and wafer box, con-
stituting the first vessels of the kind
ever owned and used by the congre-
cation. These vessels have been in
possession of the congregation now
for one hundred and sixty-one
years, and plainly indicate by their
appearance the long term of their
service.
For many years they were the
only vessels used. Then they were
set aside to be succeeded by a glass
set which was used until an elegant
silver set was purchased during the
administration of Rev. W. R.
Brown, later an individual COM
munion set was presented to the
congregation, which they are now
using, by Mrs. Ellen Smith Lentz,
in memory of her deceased husband,
Mr.. D. S. Lentz.
The congregation has in its pos
session today every communion YES
sci and every baptismal bowl that
it has ever owned. Amongst these
old relics is an old black bottle used
for years and years for holding and
keeping wine. How old it is no
one knows. 1t no doubt came from
the old country, and possibly was
brought with the other vessels in
1873.
In the fall of 1873 the two
commissioners, Christopher Lyerly
and Christopher Rendleman, arriv-
ed in America with their pastor and
school teacher.
The consistory of Hanover
granted their petition for a pastor
and a school teacher, and at once,
officially called and commissioned
the Rev. A~dolphus Nussman as pas
tor and Mr.. John Godfried Arndt
as school teacher, and also, pledged
the institution to serve the brethren
lin North Carolina in the future, by