Clark County, Indiana - The Christian Church - the Advent Christian Church, 1909

The Christian church, or the Church of Christ, began in Jerusalem at the great Pentecost, wlien the first Gospel sermon was so grandly proclaimed; but the current restoration movement began on September 7, 1S09, at which time the famous address of Thomas Campbell was issued.

In Clark county, Indiana, there are congregations at the following points : Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Borden, Pleasant Ridge, Muddy Fork, Sellersburg, Memphis, Blue Lick, Bethel, Hibernia, Olive Branch, Marysville, New \\'ashington, New IMarket, Utica, Bethany, Stony Point. Several other congregations have been started in the county, but they disbanded and the members entered the other congregations near them.

One of the earliest organizations of this faith in the county was perfected July 7, 1832, on Camp Run, near Belknap's mill. It was organized by the adoption of the following resolution : Resolved, therefore, that we give ourselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God and from this 7th day of July, 1832, consider ourselves standing in the relation of a church of Jesus Christ, professing to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; mutually agreeing and receiving the Scriptures of Divine authority and as such the only infallible rule, in both faith and obedience and agree to be governed thereby. The following were the charter members : the congregation moved to Sellersburg and of late years has not affiliated with the other churches of this name because of opposition to instrumental music and organized missionary work.

Another early church was organized at Stony Point, April 22, 1837. This congregation still meets near the point where it was organized, about midway between Memphis and Charlestown.

The earliest congregation of which any records can be found was organized in Jeffersonville on March 7, 1830. in the court-house. Elder Benjamin Allen, of Goose Creek church, Kentucky, was the organizer. The following were the charter members : Nathaniel Field, Christian Bruner, Elizabeth Bruner, Mary Phillips. Elizabeth Bennett, Eleanor Wright, Francis Mc- Garrah, Maria McGarrah. To these were added liy baptism the same day, Sarah Ann Field, Elizabeth Field and Elizabeth Knight. The original book of this organization is now in the possession of Henry Burtt. It is in a fair state of preservation, and is quite interesting to read. In those days many members were excluded for living in an unbecoming manner.

A congregation was started at Charlestown at a ven,' early date but the exact time is not known since the records have been lost. In 1834 a member was received by letter in Jeffersonville from the Charlestown congregation; but how long before that the church was in existence is not known.

The Christian church is congregational in its government : but there is an annual meeting of the various county congregations, at which co-operative work is often considered. This meeting is held on the fourth Lord's Day in August.

Differences regarding doctrine in the Christian church having arisen in the early forties Dr. Nathaniel Field and eleven members of this church withdrew April 11, 1846. Shortly after this they organized a new church in the old court-house, on Market street, between Spring and Pearl. In 1850 Calvin Cook gave the new congregation a lot on Watt street, near Maple, and Doctor Field furnished the material and built the church. Doctor Field remained pastor of this church until his death, in the late eighties, and during the long time of his service never received pay. C. C. Anderson, Daniel Lanciskes and Mr. Wooley were the first trustees.

During the year 1897 and 1898 most of the members took their letters and united with the Advent Christian church in New Albany, at Silver Grove. After the death of the Rev. M. A. Stevens, who was pastor of both churches at that time, the members of the old church came back, reorganized, and in 1899 rebuilt the present church building, on Watt street. The Rev. Mr. Garberson is the present pastor.

On May 13, i860, a call was issued b)' a number of German citizens, signed by John A. Bachman, Daniel Ever. Heniy Sittel, I. L. Rockstroh, William N'anz, John Reuhl, Daniel Rieth, Christian Heyn, Valentine Wuergler, Ludwig Henzler, Jacob Angst, John Greiner, Henry Pfiester, Herman Preefer, Jacob Spielman, Joseph Stein, August Reipschlaeger, Jacob Ever, Andrew Bauer, Christian Schlosser, Melchior Brtendly, Fried, Renz, Philip Gcebal, Christian Hoffman., for the organization of a German Protestant church. At that first meeting officers were elected to perfect the organization : J. L. Rockstroh, president; John A. Bachman, secretary, and Henty Sittel, treasurer. As a result on June 22, i860 the congregation bought the Presbyterian church, opposite the present city hall, for the sum of one thousand two hundred dollars.

At a regular legal meeting on July 12, i860, the first officers were duly elected as follows : J. L. Rockstroh, president ; Ludwig Henzler, secretary ; John A. Greiner, treasurer. Henry Sittel, Valentine Wuergler, Christian Heyn, ^^'illiam N^anz and John Ruehl, trustees. In October, 1861 the first constitution and by-laws were adopted, signed by John L. Rockstroh, Henry Sittel, Ludwig Henzler, John Greiner, Christian Hejai, Valentine Wuergler, William X'^anz, John Ruehl, Christian Selimer, Jacolo Angst, Daniel Rieth, Andrew Bauer, John A. Bachman, Melchior Brjcndly, Christian Schlosser, Karl S. Spielman, John Best, Conrad Seelbach.

The first pastor to be called was a Reverend Grassow, and the congregation was known as "The German Evangelical." The next pastor was called on September 21. 1862, Reverend Hartly. In March, 1863, he was succeeded by Rev. I. N. U. Bradsh, of New Albany. On December 6, 1864, Reverend Wiehe was called, who was followed by the Rev. Carl Becker, of New Albany, who served to January 30, 1870. Then came a decided change, the congregation voted to affiliate with the Reformed Church, and called a graduate of the Mission College, Rev. Christian Baum. on May i, 1870. Then began a new era. The new officers under Reformed church rules were : John Rauschenberger, president: H. Preefer, secretary; Andrew Bauer, treasurer; consis- tory, John Ehle, G. Woehrle, W. Same, Ludwig Roederer, A. Kern, W. Bueschemeyer. The first official action was to appoint a committee to buy a lot for a parsonage. The lot next to the church was secured at a cost of one thousand dollars, of John H. Read ; and a parsonage at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars built by C. Heyn (addition was since added thereto at a cost of six hundred dollars). The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1882 at an expense of several thousand dollars.

Reverend Baum resigned April, 1873, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. Rieke, who on accoimt of longing for the old country, resigned in the following year. Rev. H. Meiboom followed and served to July 10, 1876, to be succeeded by the Rev. C. F. Fleiner, who filled the pulpit to July 7, 1880.. Next to take charge of the pastorate was the Rev. H. M. Gersman, to May, 1900, followed by Rev. Daniel Neuenschwander, wiio served one year, and was succeeded by J. G. Rees, of Chicago. In March, 1901, he resigned and was followed in the pastorate by Rev. W. G. Lienkaemper, who, on account of ill health resigned on November 13, 1903. Next, Rev. A. G. Gekler took charge in February, 1904. He served one year and resigned to again enter the mission field. On April 2, 1905, Rev. J. F. Vornholt took charge and served to August, 1908, and the pulpit is now filled by Rev. Ben E. Lienkaemper. the brother of a former pastor.

Over five hundred members have been taken intd the church by confirmation, making it in point of membership the largest congregation in the city. A strong feature is its "Woman's Society," which is saving funds, with a view of building a church which modem conveniences for Sunday school and the young people. A beautiful pipe organ has been installed less than a year ago. The future for this church looks very promising. The church is officered at the present time by Rev. Benjamin E. Lienkaemper; consistory, John Rauschenberger, F. H. ]\Iiller, Peter Nachand, John Gienger, William Pfau, John Schlc-efer, Andrew Schlosser, Jacob \\'oehrIe, Charles A. Schimpfif, secretary, since 1870, continuous. A flourishing Young People's Society was organized in June, 189 1, that has sixty-five members, whose aim is to assist tlie 'church in the equipment of the new edifice in prospect.

A Sunday school with an enr.ollment of one hundred sixty-five has been in uninterrupted regular session since 1870, with Charles A. Schimpfif as superintendent, with only a slight intennission of service. Another member with almost the same record is J. C. Reschar, a faithful teacher. John Rauschenberger has been a member of the consistory for a generation. Miss Lucy Steidinger has filled the position of organist for both church and Sunday school, continuous and faithful, since April, 1889. Great' work is anticipated tuider the present new energetic pastor. A fitting semi-centinnial celebration would be the dedication of a new church in 1910.

St. Paul's Reformed congregation of Sellersburg. Indiana, belongs to tlie Reformed church in the United States, historically known as the German Reformed church.

The work of the Rev. J- H. Krueger, a minister of the Reformed church, who occasionally held religious services for the German Protestants living in the vicinity of Sellersburg. Indiana, resulted in the desire on their part to have an organized congregation and a house of worship for regular ser\-ices. A meeting was held in the Baptist church at Sellersburg on March, 20, 1871, which was presided over by William Stickan, and of which Edward Haas was the secretary. An organization was effected under the direction of Rev. J. H. Klein, of Louisville. A constitution was adopted, and a consistory of three members was elected, one elder and two deacons. William Mueller being the choice for the office of elder and William Stickan and William Dreyer for that of deacons. Following are the names of those who signed the constitution at the time of organization: J. William ]\Iueller, F. William Stickan. William Dreyer. Carl Schwengel. Frederic Loheide. Louis Utrecht. Christian. Melcher, William Matteg, Carl Loheide, George Kranz. Edward Haas, William Krekel, H. Grossbach, Peter ^Mueller, August Koehler, Ernst Meyer.

A modest frame structure, twenty by thirty feet, was soon afterwards erected in which the congregation worshiped and in which were also held the sessions of its parochial school, until almost twenty years later a new and more commodious church was erected. The latter, located near the site of the old. was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Ph. Steinhage, in 1890. and dedicated on December 14th of that year.

For a number of years after its organization St. Paul's Reformed congregation, together with Reformed congregations at Charlestown and Otisco. Indiana, constituted one pastoral charge, these three being served successively by the following pastors : Revs. Julius Herold, Edward Gruenstein and Charles Hartmann. St. Paul's was then united with Immanuel Reformed congregation of Crothersville, Indiana, these together forming the Crothersville charge, under the care of one pastor, and now within the bounds of Kentucky Classis, Synod of the Northwest, of the Refnrmed church in the United States.

The number of young persons who have been received into the membership of St. Paul's since its organization is one hundred twenty-five. The membership of this congregation has at no time been large. This is due partly to the fact that it shares the fate of most churches in the small com- munities, which constantly lose from their membership those who remove to the larger towns and cities in search of greater opportunities and more remunerative employment, and also to this, that its activit}- has been more or less restricted to the German protestant population of the community in which it is located. But St. Paul's has always faithfully endeavored to discharge its duty of training those under its influence for a Christian life and church membership. Numerous members of churches in the nearbv cities have received their early religious training and education wh.ile under its care. St. Paul's has always distinguished itself by charitable liberality, contributing freely for the support of missions and other benevolent causes. With regard to matters of language the present is a time of transition from the German into the English.

Membership (1909): Communicant members, eighty: unconfirmed members, sixty-nine. Organizations i'.i the congregation: Sunday school, choir. Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, organized in 1908; Ladies' Aid Society, organized 1908.