Part
nine - Published in the Parish Newsletter - September 2011
In
our last article we learned about the construction and completion of our current
church building. It was at about that same time, for the first time in its
history, St. Mary’s Reformed Church first experienced having the services of a
full time pastor that was not shared with other churches in a charge.
Rev.
John G. Noss served our congregation ably in that capacity. Dr. Hoover said that
“ the record of the pastorate of Rev. Noss would not be complete without
reference to the fact that he left the indelible impression of his thought and
character upon the people to whom he ministered”.
Rev.
Noss resigned after 18 years to continue his ministry in New Holland, Pa. Dr. A.
F. Dreisbach accepted a call to St. Mary’s in 1895 and served for four years
before moving on to a calling in Steelton, Pa. In October of 1899, Rev. Stuart
Hartman became the pastor of our congregation. A number of important
transactions took place during his pastorate which placed the congregation on a
“still firmer basis. Perhaps chief among these was the final settlement of the
somewhat perplexing and difficult problem as to what disposition should be made
of the Union Church property (which still stood across the road from the new
church).”
Both
St. Mary’s congregations had beautiful new church buildings and the old church
was no longer in use. That property was damaged by a severe storm on July 3,
1902 which tore off part of the roof and left it in unsafe condition. St.
Mary’s Reformed congregation offered a proposal to the congregation of St.
Mary’s
It
was decided that the Reformed congregation would purchase the property from the
Lutherans. The old church was torn down and many items were sold privately with
the remainder being sold at public auction. “The graceful arch which stood at
the back of the old elevated pulpit was removed and placed in a similar position
in the new church.” This arch still remains in place today with the same
German inscription –“Allein zu Gottes Ehre”. Where we see the picture of
Christ today inside this arch, there was a cloth, deep purple in color, that was
part of the sanctuary for over 50 years. Dr. Hoover (in 1912) said, “the motto
which challenged the respect and devotion of several generations….still stands
as the one object to which the church is dedicated and to which every member is
urged to shape his or her character.” I believe that still rings true today.
Other
items that were added during Rev. Hartman’s tenure included installing cement
walkways in the front of the church, installing a hot water heating system in
the parsonage and the execution of a charter in accordance with the laws of the
state of