Email: rrr@horseshoe.cc
This history of Bethany Church and its sister congregation, First Church, which merged with Bethany in December, 1965, is printed in August of 1976 as a part of the "Summer Happening" of Bethany Church. During the "Summer Happening", the congregation has looked at and experienced many facets of its heritage. It is fitting that these experiences have coincided with the bicentennial celebration of our nation.
The history of Bethany Church was researched and written by Miss Mary W. Reemsnyder and was originally printed in booklet form as a part of the celebration of the two hundred and twentieth anniversary of the congregation in 1955.
Miss Reemsnyder has been a lifelong member of Bethany and represents the sixth generation in direct lineal descent of the Hibschman family prominent in Bethany's life for two hundred years. The history of First Church, which is included as a part of this history, has been written and researched by Miss Ruth Haldeman and Mrs. Norman (Marian) Scarborough. They are well qualified for this task since they were reared in this congregation, serving it in various responsible capacities prior to its merger with Bethany in 1965.
[note:the researcher was an acolyte at Bethany in the early sixties]
Ulric Zwingli, founder of the Reformed Church. was born January 1, 1484, in Wildhaus, Switzerland, to Ulric and Margaret Zwingli. His father was a prosperous and influential man in his community. He was also a learned man. At the age of twenty young Ulric had graduated from several schools and the University of Vienna with highest honors. The fame of his learning sped through all Switzerland. At the age of twenty-two he was made Master of Liberal Arts and was ordained to the priesthood.
As early as 1516 he began to promote the ideas of the Reformation in Switzerland although he still adhered to the Catholic Church until 1523 when he had an open breach with the church. In 1528 the first Synod of the Reformed Church was instituted in Berne, Switzerland.
The Reformation movement promoted by Luther in Germany and Zwingli in Switzerland spread throughout the countries of Europe. Zwingli died in battle October 11, 1531(*Battel of Kappel), at Zurich at the age of 47. He was a chaplain and the head of the Swiss Army. He had often predicted his early death and now expected it in this battle. His dismembered and beaten body was burned and the ashes desecrated. Three days later his heart, entirely uninjured in the ashes, was found and the heart which could not be destroyed even in fire was buried. He died praying for his church movement, his family and his country. A pear tree under which he died was preserved for the next three hundred years. He was the noblest, most highly esteemed. and the most indispensable man in the Switzerland of his time. His enemies tried to crush his church movement. but it had gained too much force among the common people to be stifled and it continued to grow.
Very early, members of the Reformed Church were living in the Palatinate, a domain or electorate of the old German empire in Bavaria. Princess Elizabeth of the Palatinate was a learned and pious member of the Reformed Church and an intimate friend of William Penn.
William Penn's mother was of the Reformed faith and Penn himself attended the University of Saumur which was an institution of the Reformed Church. Penn, having a wann spot for the Reformed Church, paid his debt to that faith by offering the members an asylum in his new settlement of Penn- sylvania.
Samuel Guldin, a Huguenot. fled from France to America arriving in Philadelphia September 23, 1710. He was the first German Reformed minister in America. Though he preached to Reformed people in their homes, he never founded a congregation.
Many members of the Reformed Church came to Pennsylvania from the Palatinate to escape oppression and find religious freedom and opportunities in the New World. Most of them were extremely poor, having to worh for ears to repay their passage money. They came with few possessions including a little clothing, some tools and seeds. They scattered into every direction to establish homes in the remote regions, struggling desperately to exist and progress.
After a few years of hard worh they began to "hunger and thirst after righteousness". It was then that they realized that they were sheep without a shepherd. Having come to Penns'ylvania for religious freedom but finding no place to worship God, they would gather in houses, barns or groves and select a man who could read well to read sermons and prayers. Because these men called Readers were not ordained ministers, the settlers could not have their children baptized nor partake of Holy Communion.
John Philip Boehm was one of the first and outstanding Readers for the Reformed Church settlers. He has been called the founder of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania.
In 1708 Boehm was serving as schoolmaster of the Reformed congrega- tion in Worms. After several quarrels with the consistory and city council concerning his methods of teaching and salary, he finally resigned his position as Reformed schoolmaster and came to Pennsylvania in 1720 with his second wife and three children, settling in the Perkiomen Valley. Immediately his Reformed brethren urged him to become their Reader which he did, and for five years served without pay, farming to support his growing family.
He served three congregations near Philadelphia, Falkner Swamp, Skippack, and Whitemarsh, all located in Montgomery County. These thrived and the members urged him to become an ordained minister so that they might receive baptism and Holy Communion. Boehm felt he was not qualified to be ordained, and that his family needed his support. Besides, he was too poor to return to Germany to be ordained, and there were no German Reformed ministers to ordain him in Pennsylvania.
On September 21, 1727, Rev. George Michael Weiss arrived in Philadelphia with about 400 Palatines. Weiss had the foresight to become ordained before he left Germany, and immediately established himself as the chief Reformed minister of the province. He severely criticized Boehm for not being ordained and ordered itim to cease his duties as a preacher, going so far as to establish other congregations and expelling Boehm bodily from his usual preaching place.
Boehm at first refused to obey Weiss, but the latter caused so much trouble among the congregation that Boehm finally yielded. After some preparation, and with the promise that he would receive a salary, he went to New York where he was duly ordained by three ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church on November 23, 1729. Weiss went with Boehm for the ordination after which they became reconciled planning to work together, but Weiss did not live up to his promise.
Weiss was a strong and aggressive character and he at once organized the various Reformed settlements into regular congregations, often riding twelve or fifteen miles a day on horseback to the various settlements.
He decided to return to Holland to receive a sum of money that had been donated for the advancement of the Reformed Congregation in Penn- sylvania. He returned in 1731 without money. Again he visited the various congregations and presented bibles to the congregations. His criticism of Boehm's work caused much strife and confusion among Boehm's followers, and while Weiss was in Holland, these again asked Boehm to minister to them.
Weiss had taken Jacob Reiff, an elder, with him to receive financial aid for the Reformed Movement in Pennsylvania. After a year, both returned without funds. Weiss said it took all he received for his expenses. Reiff bought merchandise which proved a bad investment, and it took him ten years to repay the loss. After their return, Weiss preached a year or two in Pennsylvania, then accepted a call to Hiintersfield in New Yorh in 1731. Weiss failed to make good there and returned to Pennsylvania, but seemingly could not live up to his first high hopes and expectations, retiring to a farm.
John Conrad Templernan came from Heidelberg, Germany to Pennsylvania before 1725, and settled in the Conestoga (Cannastocka) Valley. He was well educated and at once began to preach to small gatherings. He became the regular Lay Reader in 1729, establishing three congregations- Hill Church, now Heller's; First Reformed, Lancaster; and Cocalico (CO- collica). now Bethany. He exercised a strict and careful supervision among his people, but, not being ordained, bad Boehm baptise and give Communion to his three churches.
Boehm and Weiss visited the charge in 1727. Boehm continued to visit twice a year. By 1735 Cocalico had 60 members and was an established congregation. The elders were Swab, Gehr and Werms. Templeman preached as a layman for twenty-five years before he was ordained in 1751 at the age of 51 years. He was "called pastor" of the Conestoga Valley Charge from 1744-1748.
In 1740 mention was made of a log church building at Cocalico, and the congregation promised to pay a minister six pounds of this country's currency and twenty bushels of oats for his ministry. This agreement was signed by Jacob Weis and,Andrew Holtzbaum. deacons.
Boehm's letters to the Synod in Holland are the most valuable records of the early church in the organization of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania. He was called a preserver, defender and historian of the Reformed Church in America. He faithfully served the Reformed Church until his sudden death in 1749 in Hellertown at the home of his son. Because there was no Reformed minister available, Martin Kolb, a Mennonite, preached the funeral sermon.
John Peter Miller (Mueller) was born December 25,1709, in Germany. His father was a Reformed minister in the Palatinate. Peter Miller studied at the University of Heidelberg, coming to Philadelphia in 1730. He was well-educated, and at once was asked to preach the gospel in Philadelphia and Germantown. Not being ordained, he applied to the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia to be ordained. This took place towards the end of the year 1730. Boehm asked Miller to be ordained by the Dutch Reformed Synod in New York, but Miller refused, saying that he could not wait that long.
In 1733 he ministered to the three congregations in the Conestoga Valley, including Cocalico, near Ephrata. Early, Miller showed inclinations towards the Seventh Day Dunkers. Conrad Beissel, leader of the Seventh Day Dunkers, was anxious to have Peter Miller join his group because he was much better educated than Beissel, and could speak seven languages. In May, 1735, Miller was baptized in Dunker fashion by being immersed three times in a river. He took ten Reformed families with him to the Seventh Day Dunkers which caused much criticism from the Reformed ministers, Boehm and Templeman. In November, 1735, the Cloister was started at Ephrata. From that time to the end of his life Miller remained in the cloistered walls in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, known as "Brother Jaebez". He buried in Mount Zion Cemetery at the Cloister in Ephrata.
The names and dates of supply ministers are recorded on the memorial tablet in the narthex, but, due to incomplete records, we have no knowledge of their activities for the years 1762 - 1767. Michael Schlatter was born in 1718 in Switzerland, a well-educated young man and an ordained minister, arriving in Philadelphia in 1746. He at once relieved Boehm of many of his duties. For five years he rode from place to place preaching, administering Communion, organizing new congre- gations, and strengthening those already organized. From 1747 to 1751 he traveled W miles on horseback, preached 635 sermons, and organized 46 congregations. He was called the trouble shooter of the Reformed Church. Seeing the need for more ministers, he returned to Germany and Holland and brought six ordained young ministers to Pennsylvania. One of these young ministers, John Waldschmidt, served Bethany as pastor.
Lewis Ferdinand Vock (1750-51). Little is known about Vock. He was not sent by the Synods of Holland but came on his own responsibility. First he was a teacher and supply minister, a man sixty years old. He was not well-liked, and many declared that they did not want him as their pastor. He suddenly resigned and no one heard from him again.
John Waldschmidt (1752-62) arrived in Philadelphia in August of 1752. In October, 1752, he assumed the pastorate of Cocalico Charge which had 72 communicant members. His salary was ten pounds from each of his four congregations. In 1752 at the Coetus (the newly-organized Synod) Waldschmidt received twenty-four bibles printed at Basel, and brought to Pennsylvania by Schlatter, which he distributed. Bethany has one of these bibles today in its historical exhibit located in the hallway next to the narthex. Waldschmidt is buried in the cemetery at Swamp Church, Lancaster County.
John George Wittner was pastor at Cocalico from 1767 to 1770. He started the second church records (the first ones from 1732 - 1765 had disappeared) and recorded the first child baptized, in 1738, a son of Gerhard and Maria Kafroth. He was not successful as a minister at Cocalico, except for his church records which added materially to our knowledge of these congregations.
John Christopher Gobrecht (1770-1779). Gobrecht came to Philadelphia in 1753. He was a teacher and weaver for many years. He decided to become a minister, and after several years of study and supply preaching, he was ordained in 1766. He came to Cocalico Charge in 1770. While here he married Elizabeth Sands of Reading. In 1779 he accepted a call to Hanover.
Anthony Hautz (1786-1790) arrived in Philadelphia in 1768. He was a tailor by trade but devoted all his spare time to reading. He began preaching at Cocalico in 1786, but was not ordained until 1787 when the Coetus (Synod) met in Lancaster City. Because he was accused of preaching false doctrines, he had to take a special oath that he would live in accordance with the doctrines, customs, and regulations of the Reformed Church according to the Word of God, and show due respect to the Christian regulations of the Reverend Coetus. In 1790 he accepted a call to Harrisburg.
John Conrad Albert Helffenstein preached in Lancaster and Cocalico from 1775 to 1776 but his name does not appear on our Memorial Tablets. He did have a son Charles and a son Albert. Their names do appear on the Tablets later, but no record of their ministry was found.
John Christian Wilms came to Cocalico Church in 1791. Very little is known about him, his birth-place, youth, education or entry into the ministry. In 1791 his name appears in the Cocalico Church when he records his first baptism. He had some difficulty proving to the Synod that he was qualified to preach and administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Synod did not consider him a qualified minister but he con- tinued to serve until 1801. He died March 8, 1802, and is buried at Old Bethany Cemetery beside his wife and daughter.
John Theohald Faber (1807-1819) and Frederick A. Herman (1819- 1823) served Cocalico Charge, but we have no record of their ministry.
Daniel Hertz (1823-1843). Althoxigh Rev. Hertz served the congregation for twenty years and was known as the "marrying preacher" of the community, there is no record or comment of his activities. Some indication of his faithfulness is found in the appellation "Hertz's Church", by which Cocalico was for many years known.
From 1843 to 1859 the congregation evidently was administered by supp pastors and the records on our Memorial Tablets give their names and dates, but nothing about their services in the charge. During this time the Cocalico congregation almost disbanded from lack of interest. Frederick A. Gast (1859-1861) later became professor of Hebrew and Old Testament History in the Theological Seminary, Lancaster.
The only legal document recorded was Charter Granted to congregation on November 23, 1861. For a time it was called Hertz's Church. No date is given when the name was changed to Bethany.
All services were held in High German. Gradually. more preaching was done in English. (The immediately following paragraphs are based on "A History of Bethany Charge", written by the Rev. D. C. Tobias in 1881. His 21-year pastorate, the longest in Bethany's history, was from 1870 to 1891).
There are no deeds, draft, or any legal documents to furnish knowledge about the early history of Bethany Church. No reliable date until 1766 was established when Rev. John George Wittner (1760-1770) took charge and began keeping records of baptism, etc. ne record of the first child baptized was in 1738, son of Gerhart and Maria Kafroth.
Rev. W. A. Helfrich served as pastor from 1846 to 1848 when a downward trend of the congregation began. Seldom more than thirty or forty attended worship services.
Rev. W. T. Gerhart (1861-1870) found few active members. but had some success in building up the attendance. Miss Annie Gray told of the time when she was the only woman worshipping among the few present for services.
It is quite possible that there were no communion services held during the years 1859-61 because of indifference. The Revs. Gerhart and Tobias built up the congregation until 1881 when there were more than 130 members and peace and harmony existed.
At one time services were conducted once a month, then every two weeks. Some old-timers Objected to having preaching services more than once every four weeks, fearing too much preaching would cause the members to become derelict in their cluties. Instead of attendance decreasing, there was an increase in attendance and interest. In 1817 a new church was built of unhewn stone with a gallery on three sides, a wine glass pulpit, and a ground floor. Most of the very early church buildings had ground or earthen floors. At this time the name was changed from Cocatico to Bethany. Before Rev. Tobias assumed the pastorate the wine glass pulpit was removed for a more modern form.
Once a fine melodeon served as the musical instrument but that was replaced in 1883 by a pipe organ built by Jacob Gorgas of Ephrata at a cost of $350.00. The total cost of rebuilding and refurnishing the Second Church in 1883 was $947.31. The congregation now had 180 members.
Mrs. Maria L. Hertz. wife of the Rev. Daniel Hertz, felt the need that the children of Bethany and community should be taught more about "Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life". In 1823 Mrs. Hertz invited the children to the parsonage which is still standing near the old church site. Mrs. Hertz instructed the children for about a year in the parsonage. The enrollment increased so much that the group was too large for the home and services were conducted in the nearby church. By 1837 Bethany had a thriv- ing and well-organized Sunday School. In 1866 it was decided that all of- ficers and teachers had to be members of some church which was a disadvan- tage at that time for the school because some of the best workers were non-church members. although good and upright people. This caused a de- cided decline in attendance and interest. The Secretary wrote, "there is no interest manifested in the Bethany Union Sunday School since the "botch" of 1866, which will have a future effect on the school."
At one time Bethany Charge consisted of five congregations:
During the ministry of Rev. Tobias a meeting was called in 1883 to decide whether to build a new church in Ephrata or repair the old one at Bethany built in 1817, badly in need of repairs. The vote was 24 to 12 for repairing the old church. Edward Nagle, William Strohl, and Theodore Glass were appointed the Building Committee. On June 29, 1884, the church was consecrated to the Service of Almighty God. At this time a pipe organ replaced the melodeon. The cost of repairs were as follows:
Rebuilding of the church ............................... $812.00
Bailey Reflector .................................................... 50.00
Balance on Pipe Organ in exchange for chapel organ ...... 50.00
Carpet in pulpit and chancel ................................. 8.50
Matting in aisles .................................................... 17.66
Window Shades .................................................. 7.15
Pulpit Lamps .......................................................... 2.00
TOTAL ..................................................................... $947.31
This building was torn down in 1931. A monument stands on the original corner stone and site of Old Bethany Church.
About 1866 a Union Sunday School was organized in Ephrata in a Union Chapel. Because the Sunday School was now discontinued at Old Bethany the children of the congregation who lived in Ephrata attended this Sunday School. During the pastorate of the Rev. Frederict Pilgrim the congregation decided to move to Ephrata in order to increase the growth and efficiency of the congregation. On July 29, 1893, the Church Council pur- chased the Chapel from the Board of Trustees of the Ephrata Union Chapel Association for $1,650.00. It was renovated and rededicated in November, 1894. The building was again remodeled in 1905.
The Rev. Frederick C. Hullhorst (1896-1904) accepted a call to Nebraska. About this time Bethany became a separate charge.
The Rev. Howard H. Spahn (1904-1910) had some difficulty with some of the members of the consistory and of the church. He left the congregation, taking with him about 75 members and all the money in the treasury, again reducing the membership to about 40. At the Easter Service following his withdrawal there were fewer than 25 people present. For the second time in the history of the congregation the church was almost disbanded. The remaining few members stayed faithful and called Allan S. Meck, a seminary student, as supply pastor. After his graduation and ordination he served the church from 1911 to 1916.
In 1914 our present church was built on the site of the chapel at a cost of $25,000.00. (It is presently evaluated at approximately $750,000.00).
From Bethany Pastor Meck went to Christ Church, Easton, and later to Trinity First Church, York. He was called from that pastorate to serve as the President of the Lancaster Theological Seminary of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Dr. Meck continued to live in Lancaster following his retirement in 1957. During 1965 he served as Bethany's interim pastor. After a lingering illness he was called from this life in February, 1976.
The Rev. Cyrus T. Olmner (1917-1922) had a successful pastorate at Bethany. From this pastorate he was called to Christ Church, Norris, town, which he served until his retirement in 1952. He was called from this life in January, 1967.
The Rev. John B. Noss (1922-1926) was born in Sendai, Japan, a son of Rev. Dr. Christopher Noss who served more than 32 years as a missionary in Japan. Rev. John Noss left Bethany Church to take postgraduate work in the School of Theology at the University of Edinborough, Scotland. Upon his return he joined the faculty of Franklin and Marshall College which position he maintained until his retirement in 1962. Rev. Noss continues to live in Lancaster.
The Rev. George T. Fitz (1926-1933) came to Bethany from Ridgely, Maryland. He left in 1933 to accept a charge at First Reformed Church, Salisbury, N. C. Following that pastorate he accepted a call to St. John's Church, Johnstown, and later a call to Brush Creek Church, Irwin. Following his retirement he moved to Waynesboro where he passed away in June, 1976.
The Rev. Harvey M. Lyttle (1933-1945) became Bethany's pastor following his graduation from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. Follow. ing his resignation as Bethany's pastor he moved to Reading and served as pastor of the Bern,Belleman Charge from 1947 until his death in February, 1959. During his pastorate a new parsonage for Bethany Church was built, the building presently known as Bethany House.
The Rev. Paul B. Snead (1946-1959) came to Bethany in 1946 from the pastorate of Salem Church, Carnpbelltown. Alterations to the church basement, begun in 1945, produced eight individual classrooms. This exhausted the possibility for expansion in the original building. In 1950 the entire building was redecorated, the chancel altered and a new Mohler organ installed. In 1959 he accepted a call to First and St. Stephen's Church, Baltimore, where he remained until 1972 when he accepted a call from the Dover United Church of Christ, Dover.
The Rev. Francis X. Pirazzini (1959-1965) was ordained in 1951 following his graduation from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. Upon his ordination he accepted a call to Calvary Church, Turtle Creek. From this pastorate he moved to Syosset, Long Island, serving a mission church under the guidance of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. Following a period of service as the Associate Pastor of First Church, Greensburg, he was called as Bethany's pastor. During these years the congregation became aware of the need for additional space. As initial steps the Smith property was purchased, a capital funds campaign was held, a building committee was appointed and an architect selected. It was during this time that a serious concern for retarded children surfaced among the congregation. This interest led to the holding of a summer school in their behalf. In 1965 Pastor Pirazzini accepted a call to serve as the Conference Minister of the Central Atlantic Conference. Since 1972, he has been serving as. the Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference.[In the early sixties the owner of this website was an acolyte at this church with Pastor Pirazzini.]
The Rev. Charles E. Strasbaugh (1965- ) began his ministry in the Blue Ridge Charge of the Lancaster Synod in 1953. In 1960 he accepted a call to return to his home parish, the Paradise Charge, York County. Shortly after Rev. Strasbaugh arrived at Bethany we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of Bethany's present structure and the cornerstone laying for the new educational building. On December 5, 1965 First United Church of Christ merged with Bethany. This merger took place after extensive conversations were held by representatives of both consistories and a favorable vote to consummate the merger was taken by both congregations. In November, 1966 we adopted the present constitution of our congregation. The new educational building, known as the Nevin C. Harner Building, was dedicated in June, 1967. As a part of the completion of the new facilities a new ceiling was placed in the sanctuary and the sanctuary was completely redecorated. In order to guarantee adequate parking for the congregation we purchased the Wissler property in June, 1968. This property contains a house, a parking area and a large warehouse presently used to house the Ephrata Area Rehabili- tation Services. The Ephrata Area Rehabilitation Services is in part an outgrowth of the congregation's concern for retarded children. In April, 1969 the First United Church of Christ property was sold and the buildings were eventually razed. The organ was completely refurbished and modernized in 1976.
Seven members of the congregation have entered the Christian Ministry. The Rev. D. G. Glass who served for many years as pastor of Faith Church, Lancaster, and as Stated Clerk of Lancaster Classis of the Reformed Church. The Rev. Samuel Givler, Jr., served as pastor of Rosedale Church, Laureldale, then as pastor of St. John's Church and Salem Church at Martinsburg, Pa. He also served as a military chaplain during World War II. Rev. Givler passed away in July, 1975. The Rev. J. Richard Bishop served pastorates in Hagerstown, Maryland, Terre Haute, Indiana, Philadelphia and Millersville prior to serving as Minister of Christian Education for Penn Central Conference. He is presently serving as pastor of Bethany Church, York. The fourth son to be ordained is Charles Wealand. Following his ordination in 1962 he served St. Paul's Church, McConnellsburg. He moved to Zion Church, Ashland, in 1965, and became co-pastor of St. John's Church, Chambersburg, in 1969. Vernon Wingenroth was ordained in 1966 and served as pastor of St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, until 1968. In 1968 Robert Hacker was ordained and became the Minister of Christian Education at the Church in the Highlands, White Plains, New York. He concluded his ministry with this congregation in 1973. Rosemary McQuate Staudt was the first daughter of our congregation to accept the call of the ordained ministry. She was ordained in 1969. She and her husband served as co-pastors of the Reformed Church of the Ascension, Norristown, from 1972-1975. They currently reside in Reading. At the present we have a son preparing for the ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, Charles E. Strasbaugh II.
During the month of June, 1886, certain members of Zion Congregation of Lincoln and others of the Reformed Church elsewhere petitioned the Classis of Lancaster, asking permission to organize a congregation at Ephrata. Permission was granted and a committee consisting of Rev. Theodore Appel, Rev. J. M. Titzel and Elder J. Z. Gerhard was appointed to direct the undertaking. The petitioners and others interested met the committee in the old Union Chapel, where Bethany Church now stands. After careful deliberation the committee unanimously instructed the Rev. Stephen Schweitzer to organize the new congregation in Ephrata, naming him as supply pastor until the next meeting of Classis. On August 1, 1886, the organization was completed and the name "The First Reformed Church" chosen. The following were elected to their respective offices- Elders, Jacob Gorgas and Paul M. Weber, Deacon, William Diehl; Trustee, William Gehret; and Treasurer, Oliver Strohl.
The first communion service of the new congregation was conducted by German,bom Pastor Schweitzer in the old Union Chapel above men- tioned, with thirty four persons communing. The first child to be baptized was Maggie Heine, daughter of Levi Heine and his wife, Sarah (nee Bechtel) Heine. Maggie became the wife of Howard E. Schaeffer and is presently a member of Swamp United Church of Christ.
The first rite of confirmation was performed May 7, 1887. Thirty- four names appeared on the original roll of membership.
It is interesting to note that the Union Chapel was rented as a place of worship at a rental of $1.50 per evening for regular services and 50t for each evening the chapel was used in giving catechetical instructions. By the terms of the contract, the trustees of the chapel agreed to furnish all fuel and light.
The large lot at the corner of Cherry and Locust Streets was purchased in the spring of 1893 as the site of the future church building. On September 17, 1893, ground was broken and later on the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. At the cornerstone laying, sermons were preached by the Rev. J. M. Titzel of Lancaster, Rev. Alfred Dubbs of Allentown, and Rev. George W. Willard of Dayton, Ohio. On January 7, 1894, the new structure was dedicated by the pastor, the Rev. Stephen Schweitzer, assisted by the Rev. T. J. Hacker, Rev. J. W. Meminger, and Rev. M. H. Brensinger.
The building committee consisted of M. G. Groff, A. Ressler, W. J. Emmert, William Diehl and M. M. Gable.
The new church building was paid for by Rev. Schweitzer, with the congregation returning the money in amounts as small as $10.00. ne building cost approximately $2,500.00.
On April 14, 1894, the first catechetical class was confirmed in the new church. This class consisted of three persons, namely, Wyatt Hahn, Harry H. Shirk and Miss Katie Heiser.
A 600-pound bell was donated on April 20, 1894 by Mrs. Mary A. Weidman and Mrs. Susan E. Schweitzer.
Early in Stephen's ministry he served as many as seven congregations at one time until 1886, when the Lancaster Classis redivided the congregations and organized the various charges.
There were two children in the Schweitzer family - Martin W., born in 1863, and Marcella L., born in 1883. The family lived in Denver for a time in the Reformed Church parsonage, at 40 East Main Street, later moving to State and Locust Streets in Ephrata.
Marcella is supposed to have made the statement that her father built First Church for her mother. Her mother suffered from asthma and could not walk up the Main Street hill to Union Chapel.
During 1906 the interior was renovated and a challenging fresco of "Christ in the Garden" became a constant inspiration to the worshippers.
On Palm Sunday, April 17, 1914, the organizer and father of First Church, the Rev. Stephen Schweitzer, fell asleep in Jesus. On February 28, 1918, the family of the departed pastor placed on the altar a beautiful altar cross, together with a cross and a crown in loving tribute.
The father's mantle fell upon the son, the Rev. Martin W. Schweitzer, Ph.D., who assumed the duties of pastor at once. He was serving a pastorate in Union Bridge, Maryland, at the time of his father's death.
In 1927 the Muddy Creek Reformed Charge, of which First Church was a part, had a Directory and Yearbook printed. The other members of this four-point charge were Muddy Creek, Swartzville; Swamp, Reinholds; and Zion, Lincoln. At this time First Church had a membership totaling 209 persons.
Elders were Andrew C. Beam and Lewis Keller, Deacons, C. J. Moyer, L. F. Kemper, William B. White and William F. Mull; Secretary, P. W. Smith; Treasurer, William B. Bixler; Trustees, H. E. Schaeffer, Samuel Sweigart and Samuel Stark; and Organist, Mrs. Carrie Smith.
Willing Workers' Society officers were Rev. Martin W. Schweitzer, President; Thomas J. Turner, Vice President; Katie Krick, Secretary, and Cora Schnader, Treasurer.
Sunday School Superintendent was William B. White; Assistant Superintendent, Thomas J. Turner, Secretary, Katie Bechtel; Treasurer, Katie Krick; and Pianist, Lizzie Steffy.
During the pastorate of this faithful son, pulpit and choir vestments were used and the liturgical service became a matter of regular order.
In the spring of 1931, a fine educational unit was built and dedicated with impressive ceremonies.
Rev. Martin W. Schweitzer served as pastor of the Muddy Creek Charge until his death on October 2, 1937. His sister, Dr. Marcella L. Schweitzer, passed away June 4, 1967.
During the pastorates of the Schweitzers, the church was filled to capacity on rnany occasions, with father and son serving the Reforrned people for nearly 70 consecutive years in the sarne vicinity - a monument in itself.
From the beginning, First Congregation was a part of the Muddy Creek Charge. In 1938, the Muddy Creek Charge was reconstructed, First Church being grouped with Zion of Lincoln, and St. Paul's of Adams- town, into what was known as the Lincoln Charge.
The Rev. David J. W. Noll began his work as pastor of the new Charge on September 1, 1938, and was installed in office in Zion Church, Lincoln, on September 21 by Rev. Daniel G. Glass and Rev. Harvey M. Lyttle. Rev. Noll came to Ephrata from Shelby, Ohio.
On September 3, 1938, the congregation decided to renovate the interior of the building. The service of rededication was held October 16, 1938, the new pastor being assisted by the Rev. W. Scott Brendle of Reamstown, Rev. Harvey M. Lyttle of Ephrata, and Rev. Paul T. Henry of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata.
The officials of the congregation at this time were: Elders, Levi Gerhard, Howard Lutz, Lewis Keller, and Osborne Stick; Deacons, Elmer Beam, Dwight Hornberger, Earl Royer, and Samuel Schreiber. The Trustees were Guy 0. Repp, William B. Bixler, and Samuel Stark. Mrs. Frank Gring was the Financial Secretary. Miss Ruth Haldeman served as Re- cording Secretary and Mrs. Carrie Smith served in the capacity of Organist.
The church sponsored a number of suppers such as Chicken and Waffle and Sauer Kraut Suppers and Strawberry Socials. These were held on East Locust Street in a building known as the Band Hall. In later years the suppers were held in the church social hall and were reduced to one, the annual Duck Supper, for which they became quite famous.
One of the organizations known as the Gleaner's sponsored programs in which the women put on plays in the church. These programs were popular, but of course this was before the age of television.
The programs at Christmas and Easter were held for many years. Early directors were Miss Katie Krick and Dr. Marcella Schweitzer. Many times there were two cantatas, one for the adults and one for the children.
In the late 1940's various improvements were made including replacing the old concrete block chimney with a new brick chimney, weather-stripping the windows, adding new pavement on the Cherry Street side of the property, changing the tower, painting the exterior of the building, and changing the heating system from the one-way steam to a Webster vapor system. A rededication service was held November 21, 1948, with the Rev. C. B. Marstellar, President of the Lancaster Synod, as the speaker.
Church officers at this time were: Elders, Howard Lutz, Lewis Keller, Samuel Schreiber and Frank Steffy; Deacons, Elmer A. Beam, Alvin Burkholder and Floyd Weidman; Trustees, Samuel Stark, Lloyd Witman and Osborne Stick; Recording and Financial Secretary, Ruth Haldeman; and Treasurer, Mrs. Elmer A. Beam.
In February of 1955 the church building was saved from destruction by the grace of God, who delivered a heavy rain, and by the diligent work of the Pioneer Fire Company, when the William L. Hyman Hosiery Mill, located next door, was destroyed by fire. In 1957 First Church bought this property, converting it into a parking lot.
In 1956 a new Hammond Electronic Organ was installed. Mrs. Alvin Burkholder was organist at the time. Other organists through the years included Carrie Smith, Dr. Marcella Schweitzer, Garis Daniels, James Ulrich, Walter Troop, Kathryn Leisey and Lorena Fake. Carrie Smith undoubtedly served the longest period of time.
Rev. Noll served until 1958 when he resigned to accept a pastorate in Columbia, Pa. He passed away January 16, 1970.
After Rev. Noll's resignation, St. Paul's of Adamstown withdrew from the charge.
Rev. Lester D. Brown, pastor of Grace Church, Eden, Pa., became the next pastor of the Lincoln Charge, now comprised of only two congregations, First Church of Ephrata and Zion Church of Lincoln.
Upon acceptance of the call by Rev. Brown in May of 1959, the members of the charge were faced with the problem of procuring a parsonage. In the past, the pastor had either owned his home or the charge had rented one for his use. The possibility of continuing either one of these practices was discussed. However, after much discussion it was decided to purchase a home. The home at 111 West King Street in Ephrata was chosen. In June, 1959, the members of the charge voted to purchase this home, which was dedicated September 27, 1959. The Rev. Dr. Truman A. Crist, President of the Lancaster Synod of the United Church of Christ, was the speaker.
Rev. Brown served until 1962 when he resigned. At a later date he accepted a pastorate in Duncannon, Pa.
After Rev. Brown's resignation, First Church and Zion Church each went their own way, thus bringing to a close the Lincoln Charge. At this time the parsonage was sold.
During interim periods First Church was served by supply pastors and students from the Lancaster Theological Seminary.
The possibility of procuring an ordained minister was slim. The membership had dwindled in size through the years and it became increasingly more difficult to conduct an effective ministry, both from the standpoint of finances and personnel.
Merging with our sister church, Bethany, became a reality on December 5, 1965, after many meetings by both consistories and after both congregations voted in favor of the merger. 72 persons from First Church were welcomed into the membership of Bethany Church by the Rev. Charles E. Strasbaugh, who had come to Ephrata to serve as Bethany's pastor just three months earlier.
The following items from First Church were given into the care and keeping of the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley: 1 Altar, 3 Victorian Chairs, 1 Pulpit, 1 Lectern, 1 Miller Pump Organ, 1 Complete Set of Altar Covers, 1 Set of Offering Plates, 1 Old German Bible, 1 Old English Bible, 1 Hymnal, 1 Order of Service Book, 1 Wall Clock, 2 Elders' Pews and 1 Hymn Board.
They have been placed in the Ephrata Museum in a room on the third floor known as the Chapel. This action was taken by the consistory of First Church with the approval of the consistory of Bethany Church.
The only data available on the Miller Pump Organ is that it was built by a Mr. Miller in Lebanon, Pa., and that there are very few of these organs to be found anywhere.
In April of 1969 the First Church property was sold for $16,500.00 to Richard Rickenbach, who razed the building and converted the land into a parking lot.
The early part of this history was obtained from the book entitled "Classis of Lancaster - 1852-1940". It is interesting to note that the 88th Annual Meeting, which was the final Business Session of Cimis, was held in First Church, Ephrata, February 6, 1940.