George Washington Flowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 FAMILY OF 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historyoforganch02coxg 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 ORGAN CHURCH, 
 
 ROWAN COUNTY, N. C., 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 of y 
 
 THE FIRST EDIFICE, 
 
 MAY 6, 1894. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. GEO. H. COX, A. M. 
 
 NEWBERRY, S. C. 
 AULL & HOUSEAL, PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS, 
 1894. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Lutheran Church in the United States has been making history. Until 
 recently the writing of that history has been neglected, and especially in our 
 Southern Church. She has a grand history and one that she need not be ashamed 
 to have recorded and preserved. Her members were among the pioneers in settling 
 and developing this country and they have ever stood in the forefront of progress. 
 The gathering and preserving of local history lays the foundation and furnishes 
 the material for the work of the writer of the more extended and general history. 
 
 When it was determined to hold the centennial of the building of Organ 
 church and to have historical addresses delivered, the publishers of The Visitor, 
 Messrs. Aull & Houseal, at once determined to get, if possible, a history of the 
 congregation and publish it in The Visitor, and afterwards put it in more con- 
 venient and permanent shape. A letter was addressed to the pastor, Rev. Geo. H. 
 Cox, and he at once set about gathering the material, and as a result furnished 
 the excellent sketch which is given here. Since publishing it in The Visitor it 
 has been revised and added to, and we present it confident of its accuracy and 
 completeness. Rev. Mr. Cox has been painstaking and has exhausted all the re- 
 sources at his command for data. 
 
 The historical addresses by Drs. Bernheim and Peschau are also valuable con- 
 tributions to the history of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina. 
 
 The proceedings of the exercises of the Centennial are written by the writer 
 of this introduction, he having had the pleasure of being present and witnessing 
 the same. 
 
 We feel that this little pamphlet is a valuable contribution to the history of 
 the Lutheran Church in the South and that it contains much that will be helpful 
 and instructive to those who will read it. We send it forth with the hope that it 
 may prove a ray of light and an encouragement to others. When we know the 
 trials and hardships of our ancestors and compare them with our own we should 
 take courage and thank God that ours is such a goodly heritage. 
 
 E. H. AULL. 
 
 Newberry, S. C, June 12, /Sp/. 
 
THE FLOWERS COLLECTION 
 
 HISTORY OF ORGAN CHURCH, 
 
 THE OLD ORGAN CHURCH AS IT APPEARED FROM 1794 TO 1893. 
 
 ZION, everywhere and by everybody known as Organ church, is situated 
 in Rowan county, N. C. It is in the midst of a large Lutheran popula- 
 tion represented by twenty-cne congregations numbering over four 
 thousand confirmed members, and is one of the old mother churches of 
 the Caroliuas. The exact date of the first organization is not known, but 
 was in all probability between 1765 and 1770. The history of its con- 
 temporary, the venerable St. John's, of Salisbury, N 0., and its own his- 
 tory are closely interwoven. The first date, positively known, is that 
 of 17G7, when a plot of ground was deeded to the church at Salisbury, 
 thereby showing that then, at least, that congregation was already organ- 
 ized. There are good reasons for believing that Organ was organized 
 about the same time; and that the congregation is, therefore, not less 
 than one hundred and twenty- seven years old. At the lowest estimate 
 she is one of the very oldest congregations in all this section of country; 
 a landmark reaching away back before the Revolutionary war, to the 
 time of King George III, and embracing in its history, from then 
 until now, many events, pregnant with interest and importance. 
 
 The original members and founders of the congregation were emi- 
 grants from Pennsylvania, commonly known as the Pennsylvania Dutch; 
 of whom Dr. G. O. Bernheim, in his history of the "German Settlements 
 and the Lutheran Church in the Carolina?," says: "They were all indus- 
 
4 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 trious, economical and thrifty farmers, not afraid nor ashamed of hard 
 labor, and were soon blessed with an abundance of everything, which the 
 fertile soil and temperate climate of that portion of North Carolina could 
 furnish them. As they were all agriculturists, they generally avoided 
 settling themselves in towns. Uninformed in the ways of the world, 
 ignorant of the English language, and unacquainted with the shrewdness 
 necessary for merchandizing, yet well informed in their own language, 
 and well read in their Bibles and other devotional German books." 
 
 A remarkable characteristic of these hardy pioneers was their love 
 for the Church of the fatherland; and hence, so soon as a sufficient 
 number had settled in a community, they organized their congregations 
 and erected their churches and schoolhouses, looking in faith to the future, 
 when they should have their own pastors and teachers. They have 
 retained these same characteristics to the present day. 
 
 Here, as in many other parts of our country, the early settlers were com- 
 posed of Lutherans and German Reformed, who were closely united by 
 the ties of affinity and consanguinity. Neither were strong enough to erect 
 and maintain churches of their own, and hence they, together, erected a 
 temporary building to be owned and used by themselves jointly. This 
 ivas the first house of worship, and from the material of which it was 
 built, was called "The Hickory Church." It was located about 
 seven miles from where Organ church now stands, where is now St. Peter's 
 church, served at present by Rev. W. P. Huddle. 
 
 This house was erected prior to 1772, for we know that in that year a 
 delegation was sent to the fatherland in search of a pastor, who came the 
 next year and held services there. Exactly when it was built, or for how 
 long a time they worshipped there, it is impossible now to tell. The in- 
 formation that we have is very indefinite and confusing. But this we 
 do know, it was intended to be only temporary. The ground upon which 
 it stood was not deeded to them, and it was abandoned as soon as 
 they had provided for themselves other accommodations. 
 
 The history of the congregation from 1772 up until the coming of 
 Rev. C. A. G. Storch in 1788 is all but a blank. No records can be 
 found covering that period. But from the traditions held by the peo- 
 ple, as well as the fact of the long years that elapsed until the comple- 
 tion of the present building, it is the conviction of the writer that, from 
 some cause not now known, disagreements arose, and a separation took 
 place between the Lutherans and Reformed about the year 1774, and 
 that then another building, also of hickory logs, was erected near where 
 the church now stands, in which they worshipped until the present house 
 was ready for use. 
 
 The following is a record made in the old church book by Rev. 
 C. A. G. Storch, dated January 31, 1789: 
 
 "Im 1774ten yahre nach Christ's Geburt, fingen folgende Mitglieder 
 unserer Gemeinde die so genamte Orgelkirche zu bauen, nemlich. 
 
 "Georg Ludwig Siffert, Wendel Miller, Peter Edelmann, Johannes 
 Steigerwalt, Philipp Grass, Peter Steigerwalt, Michael Gulhmann, 
 <3hristoph Bless, Leonhard Siffert, Jacob Klein, Anton Jruhn, Georg 
 Heinrich Berger, Christoph Gulhmann, Johannes Rintelmann, Jo- 
 hannes Eckel, Bastian Lenz, Jacob Benz, Georg Eckel, Franz Ober- 
 kirsch, Johannes Jose, Heinrich Wenzel." 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 5 
 
 The translation of the above is that, In the 1774th year after the 
 birth of Christ, the following members of onr congregation began to 
 build the so called Organ church. 
 
 According to this they were twenty years in building it. And, judging 
 from the size of the house, and the material of which it is built, they 
 surely must have been that long if not longer. They were all farmers, 
 dependent upon their labors on the farm for their support, with none 
 of the modem labor-saving machinery. They mast, therefore, have de- 
 voted to the work of building, only that part of the year that could best 
 be spared from the farm. That, we know, would be but comparatively a 
 short time in each year. At any rate the building was not completed until 
 1794, that date yet being plainly visible in the gable of the building 
 in the original figures carved there one hundred years ago. The house 
 is about forty feet wide, fifty feet long, and twenty-five feet from the 
 ground to the wall-plates. The walls are built entirely of stone. 
 Not hewn or dressed stone, such as we use at the present day, but rough, 
 uncut stone,, just as it was formed by nature. Where they procured this 
 stone is a mystery, as there is none like it anywhere around here. They 
 must have brought it from a considerable distance. 
 
 THE REMODELED CHURCH, SHOWING THE GRAVEYARD. 
 
 When we take all of these things into consideration we can easily un- 
 derstand how it c^uld have taken them so long a time to co nplete the 
 building. The fbor, also, was laid of large flat stones. Tli3 writer has 
 seen one of these, now used as a stepping-stone at the door of tiie 
 residence of one of the families of the congregation; and as he 
 gazed upon it he could not refrain from thinking that upm this 
 stone, do doubt, has stepped in the ages past, Nussmam, and Am it, and 
 Storch; and that if it could speak it could tell many things of the strug- 
 
6 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 tries, difficulties and triumphs of those Ifardy pioneers, who, amid 
 all their unpropitious surroundings, built so strongly and so well. 
 
 The old pulpit was, of course, goblet-shaped, with its sounding- 
 board overhead, and built up high against the wall, with winding steps 
 to ascend, after the custom of that day. It has, however, long ago dis- 
 appeared and its place is now occupied by one of more modern style. 
 
 On three sides of the auditorium there is a capacious gallery 
 with stairs leading up from either side, where facing the pulpit 
 stood for years and years, the old pipe organ, from which the 
 church derives its popular name of "The Organ Church." It was 
 built in the house, entirely by hand, by a Mr. Stigerwalt, a member 
 of the congregation, and was one amongst the very first pipe organs 
 ever built ir, America, and the first of any laud in any church in North 
 Carolina. It possessed none of the external beauty and symmetry of 
 the pipe organs of our day and time, but it was well adapted to its 
 surroundings and the object for which it was made; and for long 
 years its deep, majestic, solemn voice led the congregation in its service 
 of praise; or wailed out its slow, heart-searching funeral dirge as the 
 body of one after another of the people was carried out to the silent city 
 of the dead, hard-by. Like its builder, and the many who loved it, 
 and who for many years, from childhood through youth and manhood 
 down to old age, had united their voices with its mellow tones, it grad- 
 ually yielded to the inroads of time and use, growing each year weaker 
 and weaker, until, at length, its work was done. Then, for a long time, it 
 stood there in the gallery, voiceless and shattered, a relic and reminder 
 of by -gone days. 
 
 The people loved it, cherished it, and venerated it; and even yet in 
 speaking of it, use only hushed and reverential tones. It has long since 
 been removed from its old place in the gallery, and its parts have be- 
 come broken and scattered. Many portions of it are carefully preserved 
 as relics. The present pastor has in his possession the old C sharp pipe, 
 as perfect in form and clear in tone as when it was made over one hun 
 dred years ago. 
 
 The congregation has had made, from its remains, many yardsticks, 
 that are eagerly sought for, and highly treasured in remembrance of the 
 old organ. 
 
 Daring the pastorship of Rev. W. E. Brown, who faithfully served the 
 congregation for seven and one- half years, ending January 14, 1894, the 
 house was very greatly improved and beautified at a cost of nearly one 
 thousand doll irs. The walls were cleansed and pointed up: a new, self- 
 supporting ronf, with metal shingles, was placed upon the building; all 
 the wood work, inside and out, was fivshly painted; the floors nicely 
 carpeted; and many other things done, which have added much to its 
 beauty and comfort; and stand as an evidence of the energy, perseverance 
 and successful work of the pastor; and of the life, church-pride and 
 church-love of the people. 
 
 The following is a list of all the pastors that have ever served Organ 
 church, together with the dates and length of their service: 
 
 Rev. Adolphus Xussmann, 1773-1774, 1 year. 
 
 Rev. Gottfried Arndt, 1775-1785, 10 years. 
 
 Rev. Adolphus Nussmann, 17 5-1787, 2 years. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 7 
 
 The church was now vacant for one year and was visited occasionally 
 by Rev. Arndt. 
 
 Rev. C. A. G. Storch, 1788-1823, 35 vears. 
 
 Rev. Daniel Scherer, 1823-1829, 6 years. 
 
 Rev. Jacob Kaerapfer, 1829-1832, 3 years. 
 
 Rev. Henry Graeber, 1832-1843, 11 years. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Ro' brock, 1844-1866, 22 years. 
 
 Rev. W. H. Cone, January 1, 1866-May 1, 1866, 4 months. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Artz, May 1, 1866. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Rothrock, July 1, 1868-January 1, 1869, 6 months. 
 Revs. S. Scherer and W. H. Cone, 1869-1870, 1 year. 
 Rev. W. H. Cone, January 1, 18 /0-May 1, 1873, 3 years and 4 months. 
 Rev. W. R. Ketchie, June 1873-January 1874, 7 months. 
 Rev. P. A. Strobel, January 1, 1874— October 1, 1875, 1 year, 9 
 months. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Rothrock, January 1, 1876-January 1, 1886, 10 years. 
 Rev. W. R. Brown, July 1, 1886-January 1, 1894, 7| years. 
 Rev. Geo. H. Cox. February 1, 1894. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that during all these years, from 1773, when Rev. 
 Nussmann first came, up to the present day, one hundred and twenty - 
 one years, the congregation has been but one year without a pastor. 
 
 The following is a list of the present members of the council of 
 Organ church: 
 
 Elders— Laurence Kluttz, Alexander Powlass, Milas A. Holshouser, 
 Eli Holshouser. 
 
 Deacons — Luther C. Miller, A. L. Lyerly, Charles E. Bost, Orlin 
 Cruse. 
 
 At the east end of the church and just a short distance from it is the 
 old graveyard; the Todtenacker of our fathers. It covers an area of 
 
 the: present parsonage. 
 
8 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 about two and oue half acres, and is now nearly full. It is surrounded 
 by a stone wall, about five feet high, built of immense stones, some of 
 them ten feet long and three feet wide. It is a standing wonder how 
 they ever brought them here, and put them in their places. But here 
 they are and have been for over a hundred years, and probably will be 
 for hundreds of years to come.. 
 
 Withio these walls lie buried the generations that have come and gone 
 during nearly a century and a half. Many of the graves are unmarked 
 and unknown, and no one knows how many are buried here. Here, within 
 these sacred precincts, just to the right of the gate as you enter from 
 the church, lie the remains of Rev. C. A. G. Storch, and Rev. Henry 
 Graeber, the third and sixth pastors, of the congregation. Here, also, are 
 buried Rev. Joseph A. Linn and Rev. Daniel I. Dreher and hosts of Others 
 who have been known and loved and honored in the church here, before 
 they were called to the Church in heaven. Requiescat in pace ! 
 
 The parsonage was built during the administration of Rev. W. R. 
 Brown, and is another mark of his successful work while here. It is a 
 neat frame building containing six rooms, and is finished in good style 
 and excellent taste both inside and out. It stands upon a beautiful and 
 commanding elevation, overlooking the church. 
 
 This, together with the necessary out -buildings, makes a pleasant and 
 convenient home for the pastor, and is justly the pride of the whole con- 
 gregation. 
 
History of Organ Church. 9 
 
 SKETCH OF THE PASTORS, 
 
 Rev. Adolphus Nussmann. 
 
 In 1772, Organ church of Rowan county, and St. John's church of, 
 then Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus county, after having, no doubt, ex- 
 hausted every effort to secure a pastor from the older settlements in 
 Pennsylvania, determined to send a delegation to the fatherland, to ap- 
 peal to their countrymen and brethren in the faith, to 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 Rintelmann, of Organ, and 
 Christopher Layrely, of St. John's, two brave, strong, honest, consecrated 
 men of God, representing sixty families, undertook the long arid hazardous 
 journey at their own expense, returning safely in 1773, and bringing with 
 them the Rev. Adolphus Nussmann as their pastor, and Mr. Gottfried Arndt 
 as their school-teacher. 
 
 Thus Nussmann became their first pastor, and the pioneer minister of 
 the Lutheran Church in the State of North Carolina. 
 
 He was a learned, devct d, and self-denying Christian minister, who 
 won the praise, admiration and love, not only of those with whom he 
 came in personal contact, but of all who had any knowledge of him. 
 
 He first locate:! in Rowan county, but soon removed to Mecklenburg, 
 where, as Dr. Bernheim says he was shortly "united in marriage to Bar- 
 bara Layrely, a daughter of Christopher Layrely, one of the deputies 
 sent to Germany to bring pastors and teachers to North Carolina. With 
 her he lived in blissful harmony, and was the father of several sons and 
 daughters, none of whom are now living; but his grandchildren and 
 descendants to the fifth generation are still to be met with in central 
 North Carolina, respected by all who are acquainted with them." 
 
 On November 3, 1794, being a little over fifty-five years of age, he 
 sweetly fell on sleep and was buried in old St. John's graveyard, Cabarrus 
 county, North Carolina. 
 
 A stone was placed to mark the spot, upon which was inscribed: 
 "Christus ist mein Leben, Sterben ist mein Gewinn. Das Andenken 
 der Gerechten bleibet im Segen. Hier ruhen aie Gebeine des treuen 
 Predigers, Adolph Nussmann, in Deutschland geboren, im August, 
 1739, gestorben den 3ten November, 1794." 
 
 The translation is: "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. The 
 memory of the righteous is blessed. Here lie the remains of the faithful 
 preacher, Adolphus Nussmann, born in Germany, August, 1739, died No- 
 vember 3d, 1794." 
 
 Rev. Gottfried Arndt. 
 
 Gottfried Arndt, the school-teacher, as we have seen, came over with 
 Nussmann in 1773. He was engaged in giving instructions to the children 
 and youths until 1775, when he was ordained to the Gospel ministry. He 
 thus became the first Lutheran minister ordained in North Carolina, and 
 the second pastor of Organ church, which he served faithfully and true, 
 for ten years, and then, in the words of Dr. Bernheim, "removed to Lin- 
 coln county and became the acknowledged founder of the Lutheran 
 church west of the Catawba river." 
 
10 
 
 'History of Organ Church. 
 
 He had the honor of being one of the ministers who participated in 
 the organization of the North Carolina Synod in 1803, and his name is 
 connected with many of the important events that transpired in the 
 church from then until his death. 
 
 Rev. C. A. 0. Storch. 
 
 Rev. C. A. G. Storch was ordained in Germany and immediately started 
 for his distant held of labor in North Carolina arriving there in September, 
 1788," and at once became the third pastor of Organ Church. 
 
 An old gentleman, Col. Jno. Shimpoch, of Mt. Pleasant, N. C, 
 who often heard Rev. Storch preach and who remembers him well has 
 given me the following description of his personal appearance: "A small 
 man, medium height, slim and spare-made; with fair skin, blueish grey 
 eyes, and snow-white hair." 
 
 He was a man of remarkable ability; a close and careful student, and 
 thoroughly well acquainted with all questions of doctrine and church 
 polity. 
 
 Dr. E. J. Wolf, in the Lutheran Quarterly for April 1889, says: "He 
 had received University training, and possessed a wide range of knowledge. 
 His preaching was accordingly interesting and edifying to all classes; 
 for his thoughts were presented with such admirable perspicuity that 
 the most illiterate could comprehend them; and yet they were so rich and 
 elevated, and often powerful, that the best educated minds could not 
 but admire them." 
 
 For thirty-five years, consecutively, he was the loved and honored 
 pastor of Organ church, and resigned only because of ill health, and ina- 
 bility to perform the duties of the office. Then for eight years he suffered 
 much bodily pain, and died March 27, 1831, in the full triumphs of a living 
 faith. 
 
 During his pastorship, he baptized fifteen hundred children and con- 
 firmed thirteen hundred young people in Organ church alone. 
 
 He, also, was one of the ministers who participated in the organiza- 
 tion of the North Carolina Synod; was its first president; and was an- 
 nually elected to the office whenever he was present. 
 
 He was buried in the Organ church graveyard. A large horizon- 
 tal slab of marble marks the spot upon which is the following inscrip- 
 tion, in English: 
 
 "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Charles A. G. Storch, pastor of 
 the Evangelical Lutheran Church; who was born on the 16th day of 
 June, in the year of our Lord 1764, and departed this life on the 27th 
 day of March, 1831. Aged 60 years, 9 months and 10 days. 
 
 "His creed was founded firm 
 
 On the Eternal Rock. 
 When he departed hence, 
 
 How solemn was the shock! 
 Throughout his former station 
 
 His voice he echoes still, 
 Work out your soul's salvation, 
 
 And learn to do God's will. 
 Celestial habitation, 
 
 In which the angels bow, 
 To such a congregation 
 
 Your shepherd is gone now." 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 11 
 
 Rev. Diniel Scherer. 
 
 The fourth pastor of Organ church was Rev. Daniel Scherer; who was 
 born in Guilford county, N. C, in thi3 year 1794. He was the imme- 
 diate successor of Rev. Storch. He was a man of most excellent parts 
 and qualities, and labored successfully for six years amoagsfc the peo- 
 ple, by whom he was very much loved. During these years many 
 from Organ and other Lutheran congregations were removing to the 
 wild Western territories. Rev. Scherer felt a strong desire to follow them 
 in spiritual things. Accordingly in 1829 he resigned and removed to 
 Illinois where for years he labored, accomplishing much for the Luth- 
 eran Church in those parts. He died in 1852 and was buried at Mt. 
 Carmel, 111. 
 
 Kev. Jacob Eacmpfer. 
 
 The successor to Rev. Scherer, and thus the fifth pastor of Organ church, 
 was Rev. Jacob Kaempfer. He was a graduate of the Theological Sem- 
 inary at Gettysburg, Penn., from whence he came, immediately after 
 graduation, to North Carolina. Upon recommendation of Rev. Dr. S. S. 
 Schmucker he was at once admitted as a member of the North Carolina 
 Synod in the year 1828 and became pastor of Organ church in 1829. He 
 served the congregation faithfully for a term of three years, and then 
 removed to other fields. 
 
 Rev. Henry Graeber. 
 
 The sixth pastor of Organ church was Rev. Henry Graeber. Rev. Wm- 
 Artz, president of the North Carolina Synod in his annual report to 
 the synod in 1844, says: "The Rev. Henry Graeber, was born of Chris- 
 tian parents in the State of Pennsylvania, in the year of our Lord 
 1798, the 28th day of January. He prosecuted the study of divinity 
 chiefly under the able and pious instructions of the Rev. Messrs. Nel- 
 scheimer and Lochman. He obtained license to preach the gospel from 
 the synod of Eastern Pennsylvania, on the 7th of June in the year 1818; 
 and was shortly afterwards set apart to this holy work by the imposition 
 of hands and prayer. Nine years of his ministerial life he spent as pas- 
 tor of several congregations in Frederick county, Md., and the remaining 
 sixteen years were spent in several congregations in Lincoln, Rowan and 
 Cabarrus counties in the bounds of our synod of which he was an effi- 
 cient member, and in which he repeatedly filled with honor the highest 
 offices. (Eleven of these years he was pastor of Organ.) He was a 
 liberal supporter of benevolent institutions, and a warm and decided 
 friend of an enlightened and educated ministry. He was himself an 
 able and faithful minister of the New Testament, rightly dividing the 
 word of eternal truth, and giving to both saints and sinners their portion 
 in due season. And I need not add, in the presence of those who knew 
 him long, and who knew him well, that through the course of his min- 
 isterial life, he uniformly ^adorned the doctrines which he preached by 
 zeal, fidelity, firmness and charity, and all those virtues that are so es- 
 sential to the character of the Christian minister. He died of nervous 
 fever on the 11th of September, 1843." 
 
 During his pastorship he confirmed two hundred and fifty-one 
 young people, as members of Organ church. 
 
 He was buried in Organ church graveyard, just a few steps from the 
 
12 
 
 History of Organ Church, 
 
 grave of Rev. C. A. G. Storch, and the grave is marked by a slab exactly 
 like that of his predecessor. Upon the stone is the following inscription: 
 
 "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Henry Graeber, who was born 
 on the 28th day of January, 1791, and departed this life on the 11th of 
 September, 1843, aged 50 years, 7 months and 14 days. 
 
 "The deceased was born in the State of Pennsylvania. Ordained a 
 pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church November 5, 1821. Re- 
 moved to Lincoln county, N. C, A. D. 1827. Took charge of Organ 
 and St. John's churches in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, N. C, A. D. 
 1832, where he continued his labors as a faithful spiritual shepherd up 
 to the time of his death. 
 
 "The Gospel was his joy and song, 
 
 E'en to his latest breath. 
 The truth he had proclaimed so long 
 
 Was his support in death. 
 The grave is now his favored spot, 
 
 To sleep, in Jesus blessed. 
 There the wicked trouble him not, 
 
 There his weary head to rest." 
 
 Rev. S. Rothrock, 1>. I). 
 
 The subject of this sketch was 
 born near Salem, N. C, on Novem- 
 ber 26, 1809. . Early in life he had 
 an eager appetite for knowledge, for 
 the attainment of which there were 
 very few and very poor facilities in 
 nis native State. He therefore deter- 
 mined to, and actually did, make his 
 way, alone and on foot, to Gettys- 
 burg, Pa,, where he entered Penn- 
 sylvania College. Here he pursued 
 his studies until 1833 when he was 
 licensed, and in the following year 
 ordained by the North Carolina 
 Synod. From then until 1844 he 
 served various congregations in 
 Pennsylvania and North Carolina, 
 and was then called and became the 
 seventh pastor of Organ church. 
 For a term of twenty-two consecutive 
 years, reaching through the terrible 
 remained the faithful, earnest, zealous 
 
 Rothrock, D. D 
 
 our civil 
 
 war, 
 
 four years 
 pastor. 
 
 In I860 he resigned and for two years labored in other fields, and 
 then returned to Organ for a term of six months, reaching from July 1, 
 1808, to January 1, 1869. Again he served other congregations for 
 seven years, and then nccepted the unanimous call of Organ to again 
 become its pastor. This time he served them for ten years, reaching 
 from January 1, 1876, to January 1, 1886. 
 
 At the altar of old Organ church he baptized seven hundred and 
 sixty-three and confirmed seven hundred and sixty-nine persons. 
 
 Dr. F. W. E. Peschau says of him, in Jensen's American Lutheran 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 13 
 
 Biographies, u He has held many positions of honor and trust in the 
 church and always with credit to himself and to the good of the 
 church. He is a strong, conservative Lutheran, and a man of most 
 lovely, child-like character, and an ever pleasant companion. He has, 
 in his long life, repeatedly been an officer of synod, and enjoyed the 
 rare honor of being twice chosen president of the General Synod 
 South." 
 
 In 1888 the University of North Carolina conferred apon him the 
 honorary degree of D. D. 
 
 He has been sixty- one years in the ministry. On May 3, 1883, at 
 the eightieth annual convention of the North Carolina Synod, and the 
 fiftieth anniversary of his labors in the Gospel ministry, forty-nine of 
 which had been spent in work within the bounds of North Carolina 
 * Synod, his brethren, as an expression of their love and esteem for 
 him, presented him with a gold-headed cane. 
 
 He has been married twice. His first wife died very shortly after 
 they were married, but his second wife walked the paths of this life with 
 him for more than half a century. Together they celebrated their gol- 
 den wedding in their elegant home near Gold Hill, North Carolina. But 
 since, they have been parted; she having gone on to the realms of 
 eternal day. 
 
 Notwithstanding his long and active life he is still well preserved for 
 a man of eighty-five years. His home is but a few miles from Organ church 
 that he has served so long and so faithfully, where in the happy retro- 
 spect of a life well spent and perfect faith and trust he is awaiting the 
 summons to "come up higher." 
 
 Every one loves old Father Kothrock, and many are the prayers as- 
 cending to the throne above that his last days upon earth may be peace 
 and happiness. 
 
 Rev. W. H. Cone. 
 
 Rev. W. H. Cone, the eighth pastor of Organ church, was born of 
 Christian parents, in Union county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1831. 
 
 When quite young he was catechized and confirmed in the Lutheran 
 church at Lewisburg, Pa., by the Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff. His education 
 was acquired at the Lewisburg Academy, then at the Lewisburg Univer- 
 sity, a Baptist institution, and then at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg. 
 
 Much of his early life was spent in teaching, while at the same time 
 carrying on his studies. Thus it was that while teaching at Hagerstown, 
 Md., he began the study of theology under the direction of Rev. Frederick 
 Anspach. 
 
 For two years he continued the study of theology, at the same time 
 acting as agent for the Lutheran Observer, and travelling in Pennsyl- 
 vania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York State. During this time he was 
 granted ad interim license by the president of the Eastern Pennsylvania 
 Synod, but never served any churches in that synod. 
 
 Afterward he was called to and accepted the financial agency of 
 Roanoke College, and in 1857 was again granted ad interim license by 
 the Southwes tVirginia Synod. In 1858 that synod met in Salem, Va., 
 when he was ordained to the Gospel ministry. 
 
 His first charge consisted of several churches in Shenandoah and Page 
 counties, Va., which he continued to serve until November 1, 1864,whenhe 
 
14 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 took charge of the Davidson Pastorate of the North Carolina Synod. He 
 did not, however, present his credentials from the Southwest Virginia 
 Synod until the meeting of the North Carolina Synod in May, 1866. From 
 that day to this he has been an honored member of the North Caro- 
 lina Synod, taking an active part in all the work of the synod, once elected 
 its president, and serving faithfully many of her congregations. 
 
 From January to May, 1866, a term of four months, he was supply 
 pastor of Organ church. 
 
 From 1869 to 1870, a term of one year, he was joint pastor with Rev. 
 S. Scherer, and from January 1, 1870 to May 1, 1873, a term of three years 
 and four months, he was pastor. Coming to Organ just after the close 
 of the civil war his labors reached through those never to be forgotten 
 years of reconstruction. His work was arduous and much hindered, and 
 in consequence of all the circumstances the church records were very 
 poorly kept, so that we cannot tell how many he confirmed or baptized. 
 
 He was much beloved by the people whom he served. Of late years 
 his health has been very poor so that he is unable to do the work of the 
 regular ministry. He is living at his home in New Market, Ya., quietly 
 awaiting the time when the Master shall call him away from earth up to 
 the eternal kingdom. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Artz. 
 
 The ninth pastor of Organ church was Rev. William Artz. Of his 
 early life and training we know but very little. He was born in Mary- 
 land, June 1, 1804, and the writer of this has been unable to learn any- 
 thing more about him until his graduation from the Theological Semi- 
 nary at Gettysburg, May 19, 1829, when he received a certificate from 
 Rev. Dr. Schmucker, testifying of "highly respectable standing, both as 
 to scholarship and personal deportment," June 1, of the same year, he 
 received his license for one year, over the signature of Rev. Benjamin 
 Kurtz, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Maryland and 
 Virginia. When he was ordained we do not know, but in all probability it 
 was at the next meeting of that synod. It seems that he at once came 
 to North Carolina, was received into the North Carolina Synod about 
 1829 or 1830, and remained a member of that synod during his entire 
 ministerial life. He became pastor of Organ church in 1866, but the 
 records do not state how long he served. He was twice married and 
 was the father of eleven children. He lived to become a very old man, 
 suffering many bodily infirmities, in consequence of which, being unable 
 to attend synod or perform any of the duties of the ministry, he, in 1872, 
 asked the synod to discontinue his name from the clerical roll. He 
 lived until April 19, 1876, and then went to his eternal rest. He was 71 
 years, 10 months and 18 days old. 
 
 Rev. S. Rothrock preached his funeral sermon and he was buried at 
 old St, John's, in Cabarrus county, N. C. A few years ago the North 
 Carolina Synod showed its respect and veneration for him by marking 
 his grave with a neat tablet. 
 
 Rev. S. Rothrock, president of the North Carolina Synod, in his annual 
 report for 1876, referring to his death that had occurred but a short time 
 before, said, "Rev. W. Artz was for many years an active member of 
 synod, was a profound thinker, and possessed a high grade of pulpit 
 ability." 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 15 
 
 Rev. Simeon Scherer. 
 
 "Rev. Sim >on Scherer was the son of Rev. Jacob Scherer, Sr. He was 
 born in Guilford county, North Carolina, October 29, 1819. He was 
 baptized by thj venerable Rev. C. A. G. Storch, confirmed in childhood, 
 and early in life consecrated himself to God for the work of the ministry. 
 He studied one year in the seminary at LexingtoD, South Carolina, and, 
 in company with a friend, walked from that place to Virginia, a dis- 
 tance of three hundred miles, whither the family had moved. After hav- 
 ing taught school for some time to procure means, he entered the Vir- 
 ginia Institute (now Roanoke College) in Augusta county, Va., and 
 studied under Rev. Prof. Dr. D. F. Bittle. Here he received the greater 
 part of his classical education. He studied theology at Gettysburg 
 under Rev. Drs. Schmucker, Hay and Krauth, Sr. He entered the min- 
 istry in 1851." 
 
 Such is his record, taken from American Lutheren Biographies, 
 written by Dr. Peschau. 
 
 In 1869 he became the tenth pastor of Organ church, serving, ac- 
 cording to the records in the church book, one year in connection with 
 Rev. W. H. Cone. 
 
 He died July 11, 1876, and is buried in the old graveyard at Frie- 
 den's church, Guilford county, X. C. 
 
 He has the unusual honor of having four sons in the Lutheran min- 
 istry, viz: Rev. Luther P. Scherer, Radford, Va.; Rev. VV. J. D. Scherer, 
 Fairfield, Pa. ; Rev. M. G. G. Scherer, Concord, N. C. ; Rev. J. A. B. Scherer, 
 our foreign missionary now in Japan. 
 
 Rev. W. F. Ketehie. 
 
 Rev. W. R. Ketehie was born near 
 China Grove, Rowan county, N. C, 
 on February 13, 1839. He grew up 
 on the farm, laboring through the 
 summer months and attending the 
 old -field schools when he could be 
 spared. In the spring of 1860 he 
 entered the preparatory department 
 of North Carolina College, and con- 
 tinued to pursue his studies until 
 September, 1861, when, in response 
 to the call of his country, he volun- 
 teered in the Confederate army, and 
 served without intermission until the 
 close of the war. 
 
 April 5, 1866, he was united by 
 the holy bonds of matrimony with 
 Miss Sallie J. Patterson. Immedi- 
 ately on the adjournment of the 
 North Carolina Synod m May, 1866, 
 and in obedience to a resolution of synod, the president, Rev. N. Aid- 
 rich, gave him a certificate of ad interim license "to preach the gospel 
 and bury the dead within certai n prescribed limits." 
 
 At the meeting of the s ynod, in Low's church, Guilford county, 
 
 Rev. W. R. Ketehie. 
 
m 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 N. C, beginning April 30, 1868, his license was renewed, this time "to 
 preach the gospel and administer the sacraments of the church." In 
 the autumn of the same year he took charge of two small congregations 
 in Davie county, namely, St Matthew's and Jerusalem, (now known as 
 Eeformation.) These he served faithfully and well until August, 1871, 
 when he removed to Mount Pleasant, N. C, and at the beginning of 
 the scholastic year again entered North Carolina College, studying for 
 two years, and completing the prescribed course for the sophomore class. 
 
 In 1871 he was regularly ordained by the North Carolina synod, but 
 being in college he had no charge until June, 1873, when he became 
 the eleventh pastor of Organ church, serving at the same time, St. Steph- 
 en's in Cabarrus county, and Bethel in Stanley. He was pastor of Organ 
 church only seven months, but won many friends in that time, and did 
 much for the upbuilding of Zion. After resigning the work here he 
 served several other congregations up to the meeting of the synod in 
 1893. Since that time he is without a charge. 
 
 He is now a man of fifty-five years, strong, active and energetic, and 
 bids fair to live many years yet, and to accomplish still more in the path 
 of life he has chosen, and in which he has been so faithful. 
 
 Kev. P. A. Strobel 
 
 Was the twelfth pastor of Organ church, and served it for one year 
 and nine months, from January 1, 1874 to October 1, 1875. 
 
 He graduated at the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C, in 
 
 1836, and connected himself with the North Carolina Synod in 
 
 1837. He did much and valuable work while here, and afterwards re- 
 turned to South Carolina. In 1837 he organized St. Stephen's church 
 in Cabarrus county, N. C, and was its first pastor. 
 
 Kev. William Roedel Brown. 
 
 The thirteenth pastor of Organ 
 church was Rev. William Roedel 
 Brown. He was born of Christian 
 Lutheran parents in Wvthe county, 
 Va., August 9, 1859. 
 
 He was prepared for college at 
 Beth-Eden Collegiate Institute, Win- 
 ston county, Miss. He graduated 
 from Roanoke College in 1883, and 
 from the Theological Seminary at 
 Philadelphia, Penn., in 1886. On 
 June 22, 1886, he was ordained by 
 the Pennsylvania Miuisterium, in 
 Christ Evangelical Lutheran church, 
 Easton, Penn. The following month, 
 July 1, 1886, having been duly 
 called, he entered upon his duties 
 as the thirteenth pastor of Organ 
 church. For seven and a half years, 
 that is up to January 1, 1894, he 
 labored among the people of Organ, 
 each year becoming dearer and dearer 
 
 Rev. William Roedel Brown. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 17 
 
 to them. Deeply pious, fully consecrated and ever faithful, his work 
 told from year to year. 
 
 One hundred and thirty-nine infants and six adults baptized; one 
 hundred and eight confirmed, and thirty-six received by certificate; the 
 erection of a handsome parsonage, with all the necessary out buildings, 
 the organization of a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society; 
 which has proved to be one of the most active in the North Carolina 
 Synod; the purchase of a silver communion set, and the repairing of the 
 old church, at a cost of about one thousand dollars, are some of the 
 tangible evidences of his faithful services. But all this fails to report 
 the blessed work done through him in the hearts and lives of those to 
 whom he ministered. Eternity alone can reveal the full report. 
 
 January 1, 1894, he closed his labors here, having accepted the call 
 from Mount Airy pastorate of the Southwest Virginia Synod. 
 
 Rev. George H. Cox, the Present Pastor — Sketch of His Life by Rev, 
 F. W. E. Peseliau, D. 1). 
 
 With deep and profound interest 
 did I listen to the story of how a 
 regular out-and-out Yankee and his 
 out-and-out Scotch wife became 
 Lutherans, as told to me by Rev. Mr. 
 Cox about himself and wife. It was 
 told me whilst on a visit with me in 
 Wilmington, and I was so much im- 
 pressed with it that I urged him to 
 relate Ihe history of his introduction 
 into, and adherence to our dear 
 Evangelical Lutheran Church, pub- 
 licly to the members of St. Paul's 
 church, which he did, and it made a. 
 lasting impression on those who 
 heard it. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cox was born in the 
 great and famous Yankee city of 
 Boston, on the 9th of August, 1838, 
 and was reared and educated in 
 Boston. He was the youngest child 
 in a family of fourteen children — 
 seven Lons and seven daughters — and he is the only boy in the family 
 whose life was spared, the other six boys having died early in life; 
 and so he grew up as the only son of his dear parents, Lemuel and 
 Mary Cox, his mother's maiden name having been Trask. 
 
 When a young man he moved South, settling down in East Ten- 
 nessee, where when the war broke out he entered the Southern army, 
 having enlisted in Co. H, of the First Tennessee Cavalry. He served 
 during the entire war, participating in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., 
 in Bragg's campaign in Kentucky, in Jubal Early's campaign in the 
 V alley of Virginia, in the Maryland raid, etc. In short he was a soldier, 
 
 REV. GEO. H. COX. 
 
IS 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 true to the last in the cause he had espoused. In the year 1866 he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Nannie E. McPherson, a handsome "Scotch 
 lassie." Children being born to them, the question of identifying 
 themselves with the Church naturally arose, and the agreement was 
 made that they would study the Scriptures and the books of doctrines 
 of the different denominations — and the one that would prove to 
 be the closest and truest to the Scriptures should be their Church. 
 His wife a Methodist, and he having been under Presbyterian influences, 
 read and studied together in their quiet home in the long winter eve- 
 nings. Finally, they hear of the Book of Concord, secure it, read it, 
 compare it with God's word, and become Lutherans (for which God 
 be praised), and so were confirmed by the venerable and worthy Rev. 
 Dr. A. J. Brown, of Blountville, Tenn., on October 8, 1870. Their mar- 
 ried life was blessed with nine children — three daughters and six sons 
 — the oldest of whom is studying for the Lutheran ministry. Thus a 
 whole family was won for our dear Zion. 
 
 Feeling called to the ministry, he studied theology under Rev. Dr. 
 Brown, and on September 25, 1872, was ordained as an Evangelical Lu- 
 theran pastor by the Holston Synod, and has ever since been an honor to 
 our dear Lutheran Church, and has done a blessed work for her. 
 We give the following condensed summary of his labors: 
 He served the Knox County charge from 1872 up to the end of De- 
 cember, 1887, for a period of fifteen years. On January 1st, 1888, he 
 took charge of the Bethel, St. Stephen and Mt. Olive churches (Stan- 
 ley County) in North Carolina, where he labored with great zeal and sig- 
 nal success. In 1889 the charge divided and he served St. Stephen's 
 and Mt. Olive churches until January 30, 1894. During these years 
 he baptized 317 children and 40 adults; total, 357. He confirmed 
 194 and added by letter 50; total, 244. He married 57 couples and 
 buried 90 persons. The sum total of all members in the churches he 
 had charge of amounts to 1,200, and over 1,000 Sunday-school scholars 
 have been under his spiritual oversight. 
 
 The synods have recognized the ability and worth of our esteemed 
 brother and have given him positions of honor as follows: In Hols- 
 ton Synod, Secretary three years, President two years, Treasurer two 
 years, Missionary Superintendent five years. The North Carolina 
 Synod for the last four consecutive years has chosen him President, and 
 he has been repeatedly Delegate to the United Synod. 
 
 Organ church will find in him a noble, worthy, faithful and active 
 pastor, sound in doctrine, true to the church, zealous in good works, and 
 "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." 
 
 It seems wonderful that, in God's Providence, this old historical church, 
 German in origin, in its early history, etc., should be supplied with a 
 pastor whose coming into the Lutheran Church is so remarkable, and 
 who, as child and youth, had scarcely heard of our great church. 
 
 We are proud of having this worthy brother in our church, rejoice 
 in the happy victory of our doctrines over him and his, and wish 
 him and the dear people of Organ church God's blessing for many 
 years to come. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 19 
 
 Ancient Relics. 
 
 When the delegate from Organ church, sent to Germany in 1772 in 
 search of a pastor, arrived in the old fatherland, he found many who 
 were deeply interested in those Lutherans away over in the then wild 
 Western country, called by them "Nord America." Their hearts went 
 out to them in love and sympathy, which they demonstrated by many 
 tokens and presents sent by the hands of the returning delegate^ 
 pastor and school teacher. 
 
 Conspicuous among these presents was a baptismal bowl, platter, 
 wine tankard, goblet and wafer box, constituting the first vessels of the 
 kind ever owned and used by the congregation. These are still in ex- 
 istence, and will be used in administering the sacrament of the Lord's 
 supper to the North Carolina Svnod at its ninety-first convention, Mav 3, 
 1894. 
 
 The old wine tankard bears the date of 1773, and the wafer box has 
 the following inscription engraved upon its lid: "Der Evang Lutheris- 
 chen Gemeine in Rowan County, Nord America verhret von Johann 
 Bohl, in Haag, 1772." 
 
 These vessels have been in possession of the congregation now for 
 one hundred and twenty-two years, and plainly indicate by their appear- 
 ance 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 the present 
 elegant silver set was purchased during the administration of Rev. W. R. 
 Brown. 
 
 The congregation has in its possession to-day every communion 
 vessel 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. But it 
 has been in the church just as far back as we can trace either from the 
 memory of the oldest living ones, or from the traditions among the people. 
 
 It no doubt came from the old country, and possibly was brought 
 with the other vessels in 1773. 
 
 During the troubles of 1818-19, which resulted in the organization 
 of the Tennessee Synod in 1820, Organ congregation came in for its 
 full share. Party spirit ran very high between what w r ere then called 
 the "Henkelites" and the "Lutherans." 
 
 Both parties sought to hold possession of the old church, and were 
 not very scrupulous as to the measures or means used. 
 
 Upon one occasion a communion meeting was in progress in old Organ 
 church. Services were held on Saturday, and while progressing one of 
 the "Henkelites" slipped the key from the door of the church, hastily 
 pressed it against his bear wrist, thereby taking an impression, from 
 which he quickly whittled in pine bark a pattern; that night he made a 
 key. 
 
 Some time during the night "Henkelites" gathered at the church, 
 expecting with the key to open the door and take possession of the house 
 and keep the "Lutherans" out. But, alas, the key would not turn in the 
 
20 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 lock. In the eagerness to force it they put a stick through the ring of 
 the key to act as a lever; but the ring burst and they failed. 
 
 The next morning they gathered with the congregation ; and when the 
 communion services were ended refused to leave the house. Thereupon 
 followed a fierce struggle, which resulted in the forcible ejection of 
 the "Henkelites" from the building. Some were by physical strength 
 forced out of doors, whilst others were taken up bodily and thrown out 
 of the windows. 
 
 The old key is in the possession of Mr. Luther C. Miller, a descendant 
 of those who took an active part in the struggle of those days, and who 
 will take pleasure in exhibiting it to all who may desire to look upon the 
 old relic. 
 
 The original deed for the land upon which the old Organ church 
 building stands is dated August 16, 1786. It was given by Mr. Ludwig 
 Sefret "To the Elders and Trustees and their successors in office, for the 
 Lutheran Congregation belonging to the Second Creek Organ Meeting- 
 house." 
 
 The deed calls for "Ten acres, including the said meeting-house, school- 
 house and other buildings thereunto belonging," for which is acknowl- 
 edged the receipt of "Five pounds, good and lawful money of North 
 Carolina." 
 
 The title of the land is traced back through the several parties who 
 had owned it, to David Jones, sheriff of Eowan County, 1758. 
 
 From this title deed we learn some things interesting to consider. 
 
 First, They erected the house before they had any right or title to 
 the land upon which it stands. Such a proceeding at the present day 
 would be very much out of the ordinary, and would be undertaken by 
 very few. It shows how honest and conscientious those old-time people 
 were, as well as the entire confidence they had in each other. 
 
 Second. This deed gives us an approximate date for the old organ; 
 because the church was never known as Organ church until the organ 
 was placed in it. 
 
 We can safely say, therefore, that the organ was built more than one 
 hundred and eight years ago, and that for that long period of time the 
 present church building has been in constant use. 
 
 From some of the remains of the old organ the pastor, Rev. Geo. H. 
 Cox, has had made a gavel and block, which will be presented to the North 
 Carolina Synod, for the use of its presiding officer. 
 
 The gavel and block are made from a part of the old frame work of 
 the organ; the handle is from a piece of the old finger-board, and these 
 are inlaid with the bone that was upon the old keys. These have been 
 made by Mr. Moses Barger, a member of the congregation, and a de- 
 scendant in a direct line from Mr. Michael Stirewalt, who built the 
 organ. 
 
 Later History. 
 
 The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of Organ church 
 was organized July 7, 1888, with fifteen active and two honorary mem- 
 bers. At the end of the first year there were eighteen active and six 
 honorary members, and the amount contributed was $36.18. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 21 
 
 At the end of the second year there were twenty- five active and 
 seven honorary members, with 143.34 contributed. 
 
 The third year showed twenty-two active and seven honorary mem- 
 bers, $56.32 contributed. 
 
 The fourth year twenty-three active and eleven honorary members, 
 with $50.44 contributed. 
 
 The fifth year, twenty- two active and ten - honorary and three life 
 members, with $54.01 contributed. 
 
 At present there are twenty-one active, seven honorary and three life 
 members, and $27.93 have been contributed. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that during the five years and nine months of 
 the life of the society there has been contributed the handsome sum of 
 $268.18. The society meets regularly once a month, and holds at 
 least one public meeting during the year. The life members are Rev. S. 
 Rothrock, D. D., Rev. W. R. Brown, the former pastor, and Rev. J. A. B. 
 Scherer, our foreign missionary in Japan. The present officers are: 
 President, Miss Ellen Holshouser; vice-president, Mrs. Ellen M. Bost: 
 recording secretary, Miss Katie Beaver; corresponding secretary, Miss 
 Mary Lee Miller; treasurer, Miss Joan Smith. 
 
 "Ebenezer," a young, flourishing congregation, five miles from the 
 mother church, is the youngest daughter. This, with the mother 
 church, constitutes the present pastorate. "Christiana," a strong, 
 working congregation, about six miles away, is another child. 
 "Bethel," four miles from Salisbury, "Salem," seven miles, and "St. 
 Paul," five miles from the same place, and "St. Paul," in Iredell 
 County, N. C, are all children of the same mother. "Lebanon," recently 
 organized by Rev. B. W. Cronk, is a grandchild of Organ. Many other 
 congregations in North Carolina came in part from Organ church, 
 and all the congregations in Illinois established by the Harkeys can trace 
 their origin back to the old hive, and are grand and great-grand- 
 daughters of old Organ. 
 
 But few ministers have come directly out of Organ church, but her 
 children have borne much and precious fruit. The Storks, Rev. The- 
 opilus and Chas. A.; Rev. J. S. TIeilig, Rev. Sifferd, RcV. R. L. Brown, 
 Rev. H. M. Brown, Rev. R. L. Bame, Rev. C. B. Miller, Rev. C. A. Brown, 
 Revs. C. L. T. and J. H. C. Fisher, the Revs. Harkey, two Revs. Lentz, 
 Rev. Wiley David and Rev. Smithdeal can all trace their lineage back 
 to Organ through the congregations from which they directly come. 
 
 Truly Organ church can and will be proud of her progeny. 
 
 Organists: Miss Daisy Kluttz and Miss Mattie Holshouser. 
 
 Leader: Mr. Wm. Fesperman. 
 
 Choristers: Mary Holshouser, Mary L. Miller, Abby C. Cox, Alice 
 E. Kluttz, Effie Kluttz, Katie Beaver, Endora Bost, Nettie Barger, Eliza- 
 beth Fesperman, Cora Bost, Joan Smith, Ellen Holshouser, Ellen 
 Smith, Laura Harris, Jennie Fesperman, C. B. Cox, Dr. Moore, 
 Adolph. Holshouser, Milo Kluttz, James Bost, G. O. Kluttz, A. Kluttz, 
 L. Fesperman, D. Barger, H. Barger, W. Josey, E. W. Cox, Jno. Miller, 
 Geo. Brown. 
 
22 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
 
 Sunday, May G, 1894. 
 
 The exercises of the celebration of the Centennial were held in the 
 beautiful grove surrounding the church. A stand had been erected under 
 one of the large oaks, and seats arranged in front. The church was 
 totally inadequate to accommodate the large concourse of people assem- 
 bled on this occasion. The crowd was variously estimated from 3,000 
 to 5,000, but a safe estimate of the number present would be 4,000. 
 
 The morning was devoted to the historical address by Dr. Bernheim. 
 The exercises were conducted by Rev. Father Rothrock, D. D., himself 
 for several years pastor of the congregation. He had not been well and 
 was rather feeble but could not forego the pleasure of being present on 
 this joyous occasion. His voice was clear and distinct. The old familiar 
 hymn, "All hail the power of Jesus name," was sung with power and ex- 
 pression by the congregation. 
 
 Rev. C. A. Rose asked those present to observe order, and stated that 
 one year ago a committee had been appointed to arrange a programme 
 for this Centennial. The committee had discharged the duty assigned 
 and the programme will now be carried out. The meeting was then 
 turned over to Dr. Rothrock. 
 
 He said: "Dearly beloved: Let us collect our thoughts and command 
 our minds and proceed to carry out the programme as prepared for this 
 occasion." He then read the hymn mentioned above and said: "Let the. 
 services now proceed." The hymn was sung. 
 
 Dr. Rothrock: "The next thing in order according to the programme 
 will be the reading of the 46th Psalm by Rev. W. R. Ketchie for our 
 edification and instruction. Brother Ketchie will now proceed to read." 
 The Scripture lesson was then read. 
 
 Dr. Rothrock: "The next thing in order, according to the programme, 
 after the reading of the Scripture lesson is prayer, and we will now be led 
 in prayer by Rev. M. G. G. Scherer." Rev. Rr Scherer then offered the 
 following prayer: 
 
 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the moun- 
 tains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 
 even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. 
 
 Thou wast the God of our fathers, and we rejoice that we can look up unto thee 
 and call thee our God. We praise thee that thou hast established thy Church in 
 the world, and that from the beginning, and in all the trials and vicissitudes 
 through which she has passed thou hast been with her and sustained her. 
 
 We thank thee that thou hast permitted us to assemble on this occasion, the 
 one hundredth anniversary of the building of old Organ Church. We thank 
 thee for the great good that has grown out of the establishment of this Church, 
 not only to this community, but to all the surrounding country. We praise thee 
 for the faith, the devotion, and the heroism of our forefathers in the work accom- 
 plished here, for their steadfastness in time of trial, and for the grand results with 
 which thou hast rewarded their labors. 
 
 And as we come now to engage in this festive service, we humbly beseech 
 thee to be with us, and we pray thee, O Lord, to bless these exercises to the good 
 of this assembled multitude. 
 
 And we would ask thine especial blessing upon the future of this Church and 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 23 
 
 congregation. May they be the imitators of their ancestors in faith and in 
 all good works. May the noble example which has been set before them be to 
 them a mighty inspiration and encouragement to press onward in the good work 
 to which thou hast called them. 
 
 Do thou, O God, behold with thy favor and bless this people and their pastor 
 whom thou hast given them. Bind them together in faith and love and zeal, and 
 may they go forward, heart to heart, and hand to hand, in the great work of 
 reclaiming souls from the power of sin and Satan, and do thou give great success 
 to their united labors. 
 
 Be with us now, O Lord, and bless us in the services of this hour. Pardon all 
 our sins, and save us with all thy people. We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Dr. Rothrock: "In further carrying out the programme we will now 
 unite in singing the 128th hymn, 'Glorious things of thee are spoken.' 
 Let the exercises proceed." The hymn was sung by the choir and the 
 congregation. 
 
 Dr. Rothrock: "The next thing in order according to the programme 
 for this occasion is the address. We will now be addressed by Dr. Bern- 
 heim. He will give us an interesting address." 
 
 Address of Rev. G. D. Bernheim, D. I). 
 
 The first glimpse into the history of Organ Church must be directed at 
 its colonial origin, at the character of its early settlers, and what induced 
 them to locate in this part of the country. 
 
 We all know that your forefathers originally came from Germany, 
 from a country which was at that time known as the Palatinate, (in 
 German it is called Die Pfalz) it was located in the southern part of 
 Germamy, eastward from the River Rhine, and its capital city was 
 Heidelberg on the Necker river, a few miles above where it empties itself 
 into the Rhine. 
 
 The Palatinate is now no more, like Poland it was partitioned out to 
 the Grand Duchy of Baden and the Kingdom of Bavaria. They know 
 how to do such things in Europe, after every war new countries are 
 made, others are enlarged, and feeble ones blotted out of political 
 existence. So likewise within the last twenty-five years the Kingdom of 
 Hannover has been exterminated, it now belongs to Prussia. That is 
 the way those changes occur. 
 
 Your German forefathers did not come directly from Germany to 
 North Carolina. It is true, some of those Palatines, doubtless blood 
 relatives of yours, did settle in New Bern, N. C, in the year 1710, 
 brought over by their leaders, De Graffenried and Michel, with some Swiss 
 settlers who were their neighbors in the fatherland. But your immediate 
 ancestors were located first in the Province of Pennsylvania, hence they 
 were called Pennsylvania Germans; this their peculiar dialect informs us, 
 which is still spoken by a few of the older citizens in this neighborhood; 
 your family names are identically the same as some of those still pre- 
 vailing in Eastern Pennsylvania, especially in Northampton and Lehigh 
 Counties, where you will find Edelmans, Biebers, Bergers, Barringers, 
 Heiligs, Fishers, Misenhimers, Krauses, Steigerwalds, Kohlmans, Klutzs, 
 Kruses, Millers, Melchors, Rothrocks. Seitzs, Panluss, Bastians, Basts, 
 Kleins and others in great abundance. 
 
 So are their manners, customs and habits, the same in both localities. 
 
24 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 In short, the Pennsylvania Germans are easily recognized wherever you 
 meet them, whether they are located in the North or South, in the East 
 or the far West. 
 
 But what originally caused them to leave their German fatherland and 
 come to America? The answer to that question is a most interesting 
 narrative, fully as much so as the history of the Puritans who landed at 
 Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts in the year 1620, or the history of the 
 Salzburgers who settled Ebenezer, Georgia, m 1734. 
 
 Refugees they all were, not so much political as religious refugees, 
 who fled from Europe to escape religious persecution, they came to the 
 wilds of America that they might worship and serve the Lord according 
 to the dictates of their own consciences. Your German ancestry had 
 France as their political opponent, the Roman Catholic Church as their 
 religious enemy, and Louis XIV, King of France, the embodiment of 
 both, who, after having robbed them of every worldly possession, drove 
 them from their comfortable homes in Germany with fire and sword in 
 the middle of winter, down the Rhine to Holland, where Queen Anne, of 
 England, invited them to her hospitable shores, lodged them in tents on 
 the Black heaths near London, gave them food and clothing, and after- 
 wards provided them homes in her American colonies. That is the way 
 the most of your German forefathers happened to come to this country. 
 
 It would take too much of our time to recount fully all their sufferings, or 
 to give you a history of that iniquitous war of the Spanish Succession, 
 which was the immediate cause of this wholesale German emigration to 
 America, this you can gather from the history of Europe of that particu- 
 lar time. Suffice it to say that that war was waged by Louis XIV, King 
 of France in the interest of his grandson, whom the King was deter- 
 mined to place on the vacant throne of Spain in face of the opposition of 
 the greater part of the crowned heads of Europe. 
 
 The Germans of the Palatinate were the chief sufferers of that war, as 
 their country lay next to France along the Rhine. "Many of them died 
 of cold and hunger;" says the Rev. Dr. Thornwell, "but enough survived 
 to fill the streets of all the cities of Europe with lean and squalid 
 beggars, who had once been thriving farmers and shopkeepers." 
 
 But what a pious, industrious and sturdy class of people they proved 
 themselves to be; they soon made themselves comfortable homes in this 
 country, were satisfied with their surroundings, raised up a hardy set of 
 children, and became the bone and sinew of our American colonies. 
 
 Their religious faith was Lutheran and Reformed, and their piety, 
 honesty, sobriety, industry and economical habits were the source of 
 constant praise among their English neighbors. 
 
 In process of time, say some thirty-five or forty years, after the original 
 German settlers from the Palatinate had died, many of their children, in 
 search of farms and homes for themselves, for land was becoming scarce 
 in Pennsylvania, migrated in wagons down the Cumberland valley of 
 Pennsylvania, through the Shanandoah valley of Virginia, across the 
 Blue Ridge mountains into the unoccupied lands of North Carolina. This 
 part of our State, now called the Piedmont section, was then a wilderness. 
 As late as 1753 the Moravian Bishop Spangenberg surveyed the Wachovia 
 
History of Organ ChurcTi. 
 
 25 
 
 tract of 100,000 acres in Forsyth County for a settlement of his Moravian 
 brethren. All that land is described in Spangenberg's report as a 
 wilderness, and had been but recently vacated by the Indians. An 
 account of this survey is given in the Life of Spangenberg, a copy of 
 which I have in rny library. Our German settlements in Rowan and 
 adjoining counties must have been made before that time, as this 
 surveying party, in an almost starving condition, met certain white 
 settlers near the Yadkin river, who treated them kindly, and where they 
 stayed several days refreshing themselves, and then were guided by one 
 of the colonists to the unsettled lands along the Wachovia creek, where 
 the town of Salem now stands. 
 
 From this we naturally infer that the settlements East and West of 
 the Yadkin river were made a few years earlier, say from 1745 to 1750. 
 
 On the Western side of the Catawba river, where the Spangenberg 
 surveying party first attempted to locate their grant of land, purchased 
 from Lord Granville, they found it to be an impenetrable wilderness, 
 "with nothing but buffalo paths as roads," so the Bishop's diary reads, "and 
 camped at a place, on the 29th of November, 1752, where perhaps since 
 the wurld stands no human being had ever been." Consequently they 
 were compelled to abandon this spot at first selected, after having endured 
 much suffering from want of proper food, and located their lands farther 
 towards the East. 
 
 As in Pennsylvania so in North Carolina settlers from other parts of 
 Germany located themselves among and near the original Pali tine 
 colonists and their descendants, and added materially to the strength oi 
 the German settlements in this State, so that in 1771, as we learn from a 
 certain document, which shall be noticed later on, "nearly 3,000 German 
 Protestant families were located in the counties of IZowan, Orange, 
 Mecklenberg and Try on in the Province of North Carolina." Of course 
 this included also the Moravians and German Reformed. 
 
 For about twenty-five years were the German settlers of North Carolina 
 without the ordinary means of grace, this spiritual condition was truly 
 deplorable, as may readily be imagined, when as yet no churches were 
 erected, the gospel not preached, no sacraments administered, and the 
 young people left to grow np in comparative ignorance. A lamentable 
 want of spiritual knowledge and its consequent laxity of morals seemed 
 to prevail in most localities. 
 
 Appeals to the Lutheran ministry in Pennsylvania for ministers of the 
 gospel were repeatedly made, but alas! that province was itself sorely in 
 want of preachers of the same faith with their descendants in North 
 Carolina, and had to look to the fatherland for a supply to help them 
 out of their own destitute condition. 
 
 Something had to be done, the great spiritual need of those days had 
 to be supplied, things could not go on longer in this way. The people 
 commenced to erect churches, thus in 1768 the Salisbury Lutheran 
 Church was first erected, the settlers on Second creek in Rowan County 
 built a church of hickory logs on Mr. Fullenwider's farm near his mill 
 on the afore-mentioned creek, where St. Peter's Church now stands, 
 which was used jointly by the Lutherans, and the Reformed; another 
 
26 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 church for the use of both these denominations was built on the South 
 side of Dutch Buffalo creek, near Sassaman's mill, as it was then known. 
 These churches were very plain and humble structures. 
 
 But how and where to obtain preachers ? That was the next important 
 question. There was no other way but to send to Germany for them. 
 Accordingly the German Lutheran population of the two counties, 
 Rowan and Cabarrus, (then Mecklenburg) sent a delegation of two 
 gentlemen, Christopher Bintelmann and Christopher Layrle, to Europe 
 in the year 1771, (says Graebner's Lutheran Church in America, my 
 original documents fix the date a year later) for the threefold purpose of 
 procuring a regular pastor, a well qualified school teacher, and the 
 necessary means to support them. 
 
 Their deputies were instructed to apply to the Consistory of Hannover 
 in Germany in preference to any other, '"because at that time North 
 Carolina, as well as the other free American States, was under the 
 jurisdiction of the King of England, who was at the same time Elector 
 of Hannover." They were, of course, supplied with all the necessary 
 credentials, one of which was from Governor Tryon, with the great seal 
 of the province of North Carolina attached to it, a memorial accompa- 
 nying it reads as follows: 
 
 "Inasmuch as in the Counties of Bowan, Orange, Mechlenburg and 
 Tryon, situated in the Province of North Carolina in America, there are 
 at present nearly three thousand German Protestant families, who are 
 rapidly on the increase owing to their great fertility and a healthful 
 climate, besides receiving nearly every week large additions from the 
 German Protestants of Pennsylvania and other American colonies; and 
 inasmuch as they have been thus far without the means of grace, and are 
 not able to support a learned and right-believing preacher of their 
 language and their faith, which has been the prevailing cause of great 
 ignorance in God's word and of a lamentable unrestrained life, which is 
 constantly on the increase; and in order that this unhappy condition of 
 things be changed, which might bring down upon us the wrath and 
 punishment of Almighty God, the sixty or more German Lutheran 
 Protestant families have unitedly and humbly petitioned His Excellency, 
 Governor Tryon, the present Governor of the said Province, that he, 
 under the great seal of the Province would graciously authorize the 
 sending of the two deputies out of their number, namely: Christopher 
 Layrle and Christopher Bintelmann, who are humbly to ask the 
 Protestant brethren and other friends of the Kingdom of Christ in England, 
 Holland and Germany for their benevolence and charity, in order that 
 they might be enabled to secure a learned and orthodox Protestant 
 minister, so that the ordinary means of grace may be administered among 
 them, and the Kingdom of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ be thereby 
 established and extended in their midst." 
 
 Governor Tryon complied with the request of the German Lutherans 
 and wrote a warm letter of recommendation for the deputies, Layrle and 
 Bintelmann, to the "Society for the spread of the Gospel in foreign 
 parts," which had its seat in London, and also a letter to the Bishop of 
 London. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 27 
 
 Being thus well equipped these deputies proceeded on their journey, 
 and were most cordially received in England; the English Mission Society 
 above mentioned espoused their cause. The King himself subscribed 
 $300 for Hannover and $100 for Osnabruck; the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury gave £5, 5s, Gov. Try on the same amount, Miss Tryon £2, 2s., the 
 Bishop of London £6, 6s., the Earle of Dartmouth £5, 5s., Earl Granville 
 the same amount, others subscribed less. A collection lifted m St. James 
 German Lutheran Chapel in London amounted to £54, 18s, 9Jd., $812.50. 
 
 On the continent these American commissioners met with the same 
 friendly reception and success, everywhere they found attentive listeners, 
 willing hearts and open hands. In Germany, besides the contributions 
 in money that were handed in, there were also collected for them 
 quantities of bibles, hymn books, catechisms and other books. 
 
 Their petition for a preacher and school teacher they submitted, as 
 before determined, to the Consistory of Hannover, and in this also their 
 labor was not in vain; through the kind efforts of the late Consistory 
 Counsellor, Gotten, they obtained the Kev. Adolphus Nussmann as their 
 pastor, and Mr. John Godfrey Arends as school teacher, both of whom 
 arrived safely in their future field of labor here in the year 1773. 
 
 It was also made the duty of the University of Gottingen in Hannover 
 to serve the brethren in North Carolina in future with additional laborers 
 in the Ministry. What a blessed work these two laymen accomplished 
 with the favor of God for our Lutheran Church in the Province of North 
 Carolina! And what glowing accounts they could give on their return 
 home of the favorable reception they met with in England and Germany! 
 
 But who was Nussmann? Ah! the answer to that question likewise 
 forms an interesting page in the history of our Lutheran Church in 
 North Carolina. He, the first Lutheran minister of this Province, as our 
 State was then called, was like Luther, a converted Roman Catholic 
 monk of the Franciscan order, who had been brought to reflection by 
 reading the philosophy of Wolf, Professor of the University of Halle, etc. 
 True, Wolf's Philosophy was rationalistic, but in the province of God it 
 eventually led Nussmann into the ministry of the Lutheran Church; he 
 studied further, or completed his theological course in the Georgia 
 Augusta department of the University of Goettingen, and at the age of 
 thirty-three years he accepted the call extended to him by the Consistory 
 of Hannover from the Lutheran Churches of North Carolina. 
 
 These interesting facts are obtained from Rev. Dr. Mann's notes to the 
 Halle Reports, new edition, page 32; and Graebner's History of the 
 Lutheran Church in America, pages 585, 588, both of which have been 
 published in the German language within the last eight years; and these 
 authors gathered those facts from a Latin work, entitled "Ecclesiastico 
 Historical Acts of Our Times, Volume XII, page 213 and following. 
 
 The school teacher who accompanied Nussmann to America was John 
 Godfrey Arends, a thoroughly educated man for his vocation, a graduate 
 of the Teacher's Seminary of the city of Hannover, whose certificate as 
 teacher I have had in my hands, given in Hannover, Germany, and 
 ■dated October 16th, 1772, attesting that he was regularly appointed a 
 school teacher for North Carolina. 
 
2S 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 Rev. Nussman and Mr. Arends travelled together to the city of London 
 on their way to America, they remained a short while in London, where 
 Nussmann preached in the German Lutheran Court Chapel, St. James, 
 with great acceptance and gained many friends. 
 
 Upon their arrival in North Carolina, Pastor Nussmann made his 
 home in the vicinity of Second creek, and preached at first in the 
 Hickory Church to Lutherans and Reformed; but it was not long before 
 some dissension arose, when the Lutherans withdrew and resolved to 
 build a church for themselves, and thus originated the so-called Organ 
 Church, w 7 hose proper or real name, however, is Zion's Church, the fact 
 that an organ was afterwards placed in the Church edifice, built by one 
 of their own members, a Mr. Steigerwald, gave it the name ''Organ 
 Church," by which it was ever afterwards known. But before the new 
 stone Church was completed Pastor Nussmann resigned and removed to 
 Dutch Buffalo Creek Church in Mecklenburg County, better known at 
 this time as St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, where Nussmann had 
 been preaching a part of his time, as well as in the town of Salisbury, 
 which three congregations at first constituted his pastoral charge. From 
 a letter, dated May 4tb, 1784, which Rev. Nussmann wrote to one of his 
 friends in Germany, there appears to have been some misunderstanding 
 between him and the teacher Arends, which was the cause of Nussmann's 
 removal from Organ to St. John's Church which difficulty, however, was 
 afterwards amicably settled between them, as it is stated that they were 
 on the most friendly terms at the time Arends had removed to the other 
 side of the Catawba river. 
 
 Zion's congregation being now without a pastor, and having no other 
 way of hearing the word preached to them, this school teacher, Mr. 
 Arends, conducted divine service as a lay reader, until a certain Rev. 
 eloachim Beulow, from the Saluda river in South Carolina, and pastor of 
 St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Newberry County, happened to pass that 
 way, and ordained Mr. Arends to the office of the ministry; a copy from his or- 
 dination certificate reads as follows: "Second Creek, Rowan County, North 
 Carolina, August 22nd, Anno Christi, 1775, being the eleventh Sunday 
 after Trinity. The Rev. Mr. Johann Gottfried Arends has been examined 
 by me, the inspector over South and North Carolina, in the presence of 
 several deacons, and thereupon ordained before the whole congregation at 
 their request. 
 
 "The above mentioned Johann Gottfried Arends is now from this date 
 a regular Evangelical Lutheran pastor and minister. We recommend 
 him therefore to the kind reception of all Christians at the North, and 
 heartily wish that he may, as a friend of the bridegroom, bring many 
 souls to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and wait faithfully upon his 
 office; also with exemplary life and pure doctrine bring all the straying 
 and deceived back to the fold. 
 
 "This witnesseth out of love for the truth and its undoubted attesta- 
 tion." "Joachim Beulow." 
 
 "Missionary and Inspector over South and North Carolina." 
 
 Who appointed the Rev. Joachim Beulow Inspector over South and 
 North Carolina no records that have come to my hands do show. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 29 
 
 Dr. Mann says, that he was at one time a clerk in a store, and after- 
 wards busied himself with preaching, which corresponds with a letter I 
 received from an intelligent layman in South Carolina, saying: "He was 
 pastor of St. Paul's Church, and removed to Charleston, and was engaged 
 in trade." 
 
 Rev. Arends, who became the second pastor of this congregation, served 
 the Church during the dark period of the Revolutionary war until the 
 year 1784, when in April of that same year he accepted a call to some 
 congregations in Lincoln County (then called Tryon) where he labored 
 faithfully until he lost his sight, and at his death his remains were in- 
 terred in the Lutheran cemetery in the town of Lincolnton. 
 
 For several years Rev. Nussmann again served this people in connec- 
 tion with St. John's congregation, after which he left Organ Church the 
 second time, and devoted his whole time and attention to his other con- 
 gregation, and doing some missionary work as frequently as possible 
 among the scattered Lutherans in Davidson, Guilford, Orange, Stokes 
 and Forsythe Counties. 
 
 The smoke of the Revolutionary war had cleared away, and what a 
 fearful desolation in religion and morals were then made apparent, the 
 refugees that returned to their homes brought a spirit along with them 
 to which nothing in heaven and on earth was regarded as sacred. 
 
 If the spiritual condition of the German colonists of North Carolina 
 before Nussmann's arrival was indeed deplorable, it was infinitely more 
 so after the Revolutionary war. Many of the smaller congregations had 
 ceased to exist, the larger ones were very much weakened, the Second 
 Creek congregation, and especially the Salisbury Church had become 
 much reduced in strength, and both were vacant for some time after the 
 war. What was now to be done to bring about a better state of things ? 
 Only two Lutheran pastors in all North Carolina, and they had their 
 hands full. They could do but little towards meeting the great destitu- 
 tion and urgent need of the people. 
 
 Pastor Nussmann feeling deeply grieved at this condition of 
 ecclesiastical affairs, once more opened correspondence with his friends in 
 Europe which the war had interrupted for nearly ten years, entreating 
 them for the love of God and immortal souls to send our people, who 
 were as sheep without a shepherd, more men to labor as pastors in the 
 numerous congregations. He applied first to the mission authorities in Lon- 
 don for the £90 sterling that were left remaining before the Revolution 
 to the credit of the North Carolina Lutheran Churches, also to the Con- 
 sistory of Hannover and the University of Goettingen for additional 
 laborers; but alas! no attention was paid to his entreaties, the colonies of 
 America had revolted from the parent government, had achieved their 
 independence, and had forfeited the good will of their former English 
 and Hannoverian friends, King George III ruled, as you know, over both 
 these countries. Rev. Nussmann then wrote to Rev. Dr. John Carper 
 Velthusen, formerly pastor of the Lutheran Church in London, who was 
 then Professor of the Julia Carolina University of Helmstaedt; stating 
 that "the condition of the population is such, that if preachers and school 
 teachers are not soon sent, the people would degenerate into heathenism. 
 
30 History of Organ Church. 
 
 Thousands of families rich in children, but living far apart, forget their 
 Christianity, their children know still less of religion, and children's 
 children are veritable heathens. Thorough teachers are not here, and 
 those that are here do more harm than good. I have labored as faith- 
 fully as my capacities would permit, and as the Lord gave me strength; 
 but one arm is too short. I notice every day with sadness that sometimes 
 there is want in one place, then in another, and often in all places. My 
 labor extended itself always more over the entire field than over any 
 single locality, and yet always so as to give Buffalo Creek congregation 
 my chief attention, which has always, from the beginning, accepted the 
 word with gladness. One has to labor here more as an apostle than as 
 the pastor of one congregation. If one were to confine one's self to one 
 congregation much good could be done, but that would be to the injury 
 of the entire church." 
 
 Nussmann's application for help was successful, Dr. Velthusen became 
 interested in the welfare of the North Carolina Churches, and through 
 his instrumentality did the Lord of the harvest once more provide help. 
 Two ministers were sent over in 1788, one of whom was the Rev. Charles 
 Augustus Gottlieb Storch, who became the third pastor of Organ Church,, 
 and during his ministry your present Church edifice, which had been 
 left unfinished during the unsettled condition of the country, was com- 
 pleted and dedicated in 1794, one hundred years ago. 
 
 During the twenty years intervening between the withdrawal of the 
 Lutherans from the old Hickory Church and the completion of the 
 present stone building, the congregation worshiped in a temporary 
 structure built of logs, which was located northward of the present stone 
 Church; it was in that house of worship where Rev. Arend preached and 
 was ordained, and where his successor, Rev. Storch, commenced his 
 labors. This fact we learn from the title deed of the Church, and the 
 tradition of its oldest members, some of whom yet remember seeing the 
 ruins of the old building. 
 
 In the Duchy of Brunswick, lying eastward of Hannover and westward 
 from Berlin, there is a small city of less than 10,000 inhabitants, named 
 Helmstaedt, in which there was at one time a noted university called 
 Julia Carolinia, (one of the Helmstaedt reports calls it the Julias Charles 
 university) it was founded in the year 1576, and since 1809 is no longer 
 in existence, for at that time under the Bonaparte rule its endowment 
 funds were sequestrated, leaving nothing but the empty buildiDgs to 
 remind us of its former existence. Those buildings are still standing; I 
 visited them in 1877, and have a picture of them with me. Its importance 
 to us is at least this, that the celebrated Church Historian, Mosheim, was 
 professor there from 1723 to 1747; also that through Pastor Nussmann's 
 appeal to one of its professors, Rev. Dr. J. C. Velthusen, a small mission 
 society was established, which took charge of the mission field in North 
 Carolina after the Revolutionary war, and labored for the welfare of our 
 Churches, issuing at stated times certain mission reports of the condition 
 of the Lutheran Church in this State and South Carolina, which are now 
 known as the Helmstaedt Reports; and lastly, in that city the Rev. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 31 
 
 Charles A. G. Storch was born, June 10, 1764, confirmed by Dr. Velt- 
 husen, and graduated in its University in 1785. 
 
 Of Rev. Storch Dr. Velthusen writes in one of the Helmstaedt Reports 
 as follows: "He was born in Helmstaedt and trained under our own 
 eyes. During the years that he was private tutor in Zell-J and Diepholz 
 repeated assurances came to us of his fidelity from those persons who 
 had daily opportunity to observe his capacities as teacher, and who also 
 reported that they loved to hear him preach. 
 
 "After the most thorough examination we have found him exceptionably 
 well qualified; the public proofs of his preaching and catechization which 
 he has afforded us before his nomination to his field of labor have been 
 very satisfactory. The family where he last labored as a teacher very 
 unwillingly gave him up; he returned to the same friendly family in the 
 vicinity of Bremen to await the soon expected sailing of the ship to 
 Baltimore in which he is to embark." 
 
 It would consume too much of our time to give you an account of the 
 services connected with the ordination of Rev. Storch as missionary to 
 North Carolina, which took place in the large city Church, March 12th, 
 1788; the sermon, addresses, and even the poem written for the occasion 
 by Dr. Velthusen are all published in the Helmstaedt Reports, but I 
 very reluctantly must omit them here. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that he sailed from Bremen in the month of May, and 
 landed in Baltimore June 27th, 1788; thence he sailed to Charleston, 
 S. C, and traveled overland from that city to Nussmann's home, where 
 he arrived safely the following September. 
 
 The call extended to Rev. Storch came from the Churches in 
 Guilford County, and where he at first expected to labor; but Providence 
 ordered it otherwise. He was taken sick at Pastor Nussmann's house 
 soon after his arrival, and felt himself too feeble to undertake the long 
 journey of 100 miles on horseback to reach his field of labor. Rev. 
 Nussmann writes, under date of November 12th, 1788: "Rev. Storch's 
 sickness gave me much uneasiness and sorrow, for I love him on account 
 of his learning, virtue, spirit and friendship. All persons who see and 
 hear him love and honor him. He is now again restored, and may God 
 preserve his health in future." 
 
 During his short stay at Rev. Nussmann's home "a call was extended 
 to him from the three vacant Churches, Salisbury, Pine Church and 
 Second Creek, with the written assurance of a salary of £110, and in a 
 few days afterward £14 more from a congregation seven miles distant 
 from Salisbury, which he will have to serve during the week day. These 
 congregations also promised to pay the freight on his things, which will 
 be about two Spanish dollars for every hundred pounds." 
 
 Rev. Storch felt it to be his duty to accept this call, and preached his 
 first sermon in Organ Church, October 26th, 1788, and in Salisbury on 
 the following Sunday, November 2d, being the 23d and 24th Sundays after 
 Trinity. His home he made in Salisbury, and took up his lodgings with 
 Mr. Lewis Beard, whose daughter, Christiana, he subsequently married, 
 on the 14th of January, 1790. The next year after his arrival he reported, 
 that of his three congregations the Second Creek Church is the strongest, 
 
32 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 consisting of eighty-seven families. He also praises the people, who 
 treat him with love and respect, and supply him with the necessaries of 
 life. In the Academy of Salisbury he gave the students instruction in 
 the Hebrew language, and also established a small German school, so 
 that the youth would accustom themselves to a purer German language. 
 
 Pine Church is now better known as Union Church, and the fourth 
 congregation which Pastor Storch also served during the week day, and 
 which he spoke of as "the Irish settlement," is now called the Lutheran 
 Chapel near China Grove, N. C. 
 
 On New Year's day, 1789, the congregation of Organ Church adopted 
 a constitution for its rules of government, it was but a short one, and 
 shows how carefully your forefathers labored for order and discipline in 
 their Church matters. Seventy eight persons subscribed their names to 
 the new constitution, and the same also promised their pastor a yearly 
 salary of £40 North Carolina currency. 
 
 In Volume 8 of the Evangelical Review, p. 403, Pastor Storch's 
 memoir, mention is made of his labors in other fields, as follows: "His 
 missionary tours to South Carolina are still held in grateful remembrance, 
 and spoken of with the deepest reverence and affection, by many who, 
 through his instrumentality, were first brought from darkness into light, 
 and from the kingdom of Satan into that of the living God. He never 
 seemed happier than when laboring for the salvation of immortal souls, 
 and for the extention of Christ's kingdom." Kev. S. Rothrock wrote of 
 him to this author of the memoir: "Mr. Storch was truly a man of God! 
 Many are yet living who formerly sat under his preaching, in whose 
 hearts he is sacredly embalmed, and who still cherish for him the most 
 profound respect," 
 
 For thirty- five years did Pastor Storch labor with great success in this 
 Church in favor with God and man, although great dissensions arose -in 
 the Lutheran Church in this State during his time of service, with which 
 we are all familiar, yet he labored on in his Master's vineyard as long as 
 his health permitted. He had often received urgent calls to labor as pastor 
 in more prominent places and with much more lucrative salaries, one of 
 which was from Charleston, S. C, before Rev. Dr. Bachman came there, 
 but Rev. Storch declined them all, and preferred to live, labor and die 
 among his beloved people of this congregation. 
 
 During the period of his ministry here he baptized 1500 children, and 
 confirmed 1300 young people in Organ Church alone, and probably as 
 many more in his other congregations. 
 
 At last his feeble state of health necessitated him to resign in 1823, 
 although he lived several years afterwards; this was the first congregation 
 he served and the last he resigned, the other Churches he had given up 
 a year or so before that time. God however spared his life for nearly 
 eight years longer, but they were years of sickness, which often kept 
 him in bed, during which time he continued to take the deepest interest 
 in the welfare of his former congregations and the Synod, sighing and 
 praying for the prosperity of Zion, and contributing to advance the 
 kingdom of Christ with his means. •. 
 
 He was probably one of the most learned ministers that ever was 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 33 
 
 connected with our Synod, and had a large and valuable library, mostly 
 o£ German authors. Many of his books he bequeathed to the Theological 
 Seminary library of Gettysburg, Pa., of which institution he was elected 
 one of its first directors; the remainder of his books are in possession of 
 our college at Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 "The last days of Rev. Storch's life were very painful," says the 
 minutes of North Carolina Synod, 1831, "until his Friend Jesus took 
 him to h"s eternal rest." "When the hour of his departure came he was 
 ready. Death to him had no terrors, his disembodied spirit gently 
 passed from earth to heaven on the 29th of March, 1831, in the sixty- 
 seventh year of his age." 
 
 The fourth pastor of Organ Church was the Rev. Daniel Scherer, with 
 whom I became personally acquainted on his tour to the South collecting 
 funds for the Lutheran College of Springfield, Illinois, whilst I was a 
 student of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C. 
 
 Rev. Scherer came from Virginia, and labored in Organ Church for a 
 period of only six years; his piety, usefulness, mild and inoffensive 
 disposition endeared him to the whole Church in this and other States; 
 he likewise labored here with great success, and had at one time probably 
 the largest class of catechumens, numbering eighty-three persons, that 
 ever were confirmed in this Church, during the sessions of the Synod 
 held here in 1823, the result of Pastor Storch's faithful labors. 
 
 In 1829, the Rev. Jacob Kaempfer, of the Theological Seminary at 
 Gettysburg, became the pastor of Organ Church, which he served in 
 connection with some other congregations in the vicinity; but he remained 
 only three years, when he resigned and returned to Pennsylvania. 
 
 In the year 1832, the Rev. Henry Graeber, who was licensed by the 
 Pennsylvania Ministerium, June 7th, 1818, and ordained in Frederick- 
 town, Md., September 5th, 1821, and who six years afterwards removed to 
 Lincoln County, N. C, where he had labored with much success, now 
 accepted the call to Organ and St. John's Churches, which was also 
 vacant at that time. He accordingly became the sixth pastor of this 
 congregation, and labored here with much success, faithfully discharging 
 his duty. Several times was he elected the President of the North 
 Carolina Synod, and seems with his wise counsels to have been a man of 
 considerable influence in the Synod and in this community. In connection 
 with his ministry he also practiced medicine, on account of which he was 
 often known as Dr. Graeber. How long he might have remained here in 
 his ministerial capacity is not known, but death soon claimed him, when 
 he had not yet completed his fifty-first year, and after a short illness he 
 unexpectedly departed this life on the 11th of September, 1843, having 
 served his pastorate here but eleven years, from 1832 to 1843. 
 
 Most of your pastors have left an imperishable name among you and 
 in the Church at large by their pious, useful and honorable posterity. 
 Rev. Nussman's descendants are all around you to the fourth, fifth and 
 sixth generation, some bearing the Nussmanname; and others, descendants 
 on the female side, among whom is Dr. Paul A. Barrier, of Mt. Pleasant, 
 N. C, have his blood coursing in their veins; and all, as far as I know, 
 are an honor to their illustrious forefathers. 
 
34 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 Some of Rev. Storch's descendants have honored their father and 
 grandfather by occupying eminent positions in the Lutheran Church in 
 Pennsylvania and Maryland, both were authors, and both were honored 
 with the title of Doctor of Divinity; but, alas! both are now numbered 
 with the dead; my personal acquaintance with them has been of the most 
 pleasing character. The other descendants on his daughter's side are 
 residing in Mississippi, and are also highly respected. 
 
 Rev. Daniel Scherer's posterity reside in the far West, and one of his 
 grandsons is in the Lutheran ministry, whilst a grand-nephew of his is 
 our Missionary to Japan. 
 
 Of Rev. Arend's posterity I know but little, they reside mostly "West 
 of the Catawba River. 
 
 Rev. Graeber has two sons still living, one of whom and his children 
 occupy useful positions in Rowan County, the other son has removed his 
 family to Alamance County. 
 
 Here I propose to close this lengthy historical address, leaving to 
 others to write and narrate all subsequent events that have occurred in 
 Organ Church congregation within the recollection of still living 
 witnesses. 
 
 I might say much still of the great exodus of settlers from this Church 
 to the Western States, and localities farther South; of the many daughter 
 congregations that have been formed all around Organ Church; yet, 
 notwithstanding all this loss of numerical strength, this congregation is 
 still large, and able to accomplish much good for the honor of her Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the upbuilding of his kingdom, and the welfare of man. 
 
 I might also speak of its conservative and solid character, of the 
 progress it has made during the past century, of the many departed 
 worthies that sleep their last sleep here in the adjoining cemetery; but I 
 must desist, and only say, that I hope that the future history of Organ 
 Church will be as illustrious as its past has been, and its people as firm, 
 solid and immovable in their faith as the rocks that lie imbedded in the 
 earth all around you, reposing securely on their primeval foundations. 
 
 At the close of Dr. Bernheim's address the choir sang with powerful 
 effect, "My church, my church, my dear old church," and an intermis- 
 sion for dinner was taken. 
 
 In the afternoon the exercises were conducted by Rev. W. A. Lutz, 
 and the following prayer was offered by Rev. H. M. Brown: 
 
 Our Father who art in heaven, we bless and thank thee that w T e are permi'ted 
 again to assemble on this memorable occasion. We pray thee to bless what has 
 been said this morning for the good of thy Church, and the advancement of thy 
 kingdom, and O Lord, guide and direct us with thy Spirit this afternoon, that 
 what may be said and done may be for the good of Zion. Many of us here have 
 been consecrated to thee at this altar. O bless them, and make of them instru- 
 ments in thy hands for the accomplishment of good. Help them to be faithful 
 and true to thee, to let their light shine before men in good works, that others 
 may be brought unto thee. 
 
 Let thy blessings rest upon thy Church universal, and O Lord, especially do 
 we pray thee to bless our beloved Lutheran Church, in which we labor, we toil, 
 we sacrifice. Bless her ministers, many of whom are in foreign lands, and help 
 them to proclaim thy Word in its purity and truth. Bless her millions who have 
 been consecrated to thee at her altars, and help them to live, labor, and sacrifice 
 for thee. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 35 
 
 Let thy blessings rest upon this Church whose walls have stood for a century, 
 and where thy Word has been preached and thy name hallowed for over a hun- 
 dred years, and O Lord; let thy richest blessing be upon the present living mem- 
 bers. Give them of thy good Spirit that t.iey may be true and faithful to thee in 
 thy vineyard. 
 
 And now, dear Saviour, into thy hands we commend us. Thou hast purchased 
 us with thy own precious blood, we are thy children, O help us all more and 
 more to love thee; ever keep us near thee, with thee, in thee; and at last when 
 one by one we shall be called to bid adieu to the scenes and activities of this 
 present life, may we all be united with thee in thy eternal kingdom above, we 
 ask for Jesus sake. Amen. 
 
 At the conclusion of the prayer and the singing of a hymn, Rev. W. A. 
 Lutz introduced Rev. F. W. E. Pescb.au, D. D., in fitting and appropriate 
 terms, when he delivered the following address: 
 
 Address of Rev. F. W. E. Peschan, I). P. 
 
 Beloved fathers and brethren in Israel, who are in the ministerial 
 ranks here to-day, and ye noble descendants of the noble pioneer pastors, 
 beloved fathers and mothers in Israel, and friends in Christ among the 
 dear laity of the Churches of the dear old Synod and ministerium of 
 North Carolina, in Christian love and with Christian reverence I greet 
 you on this auspicious day, and in this historical and holy old building 
 where a century ago an entirely different scene was witnessed, there being 
 different speakers to speak, different hearers gathered to hear, different 
 singers to sing, and even a different language used. We are met to-day 
 as it were by common consent to heed the Divine admonition of God's 
 Word and learn lessons from it as recorded it Deut. Zl\ 7-9-12. 
 
 "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations, ask thy 
 father and he will show thee, thy elders and they will tell thee. 
 
 For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance; 
 
 He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him 
 about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. 
 
 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her 
 wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. 
 
 So the Lord alone did lead him." 
 
 And is it not wonderful how these words apply to our forefathers ? 
 Were they not in a desert (lonely) land and in the waste unknown wil- 
 derness filled with the howling of wild beasts? And did not God protect 
 them, as an eagle her young, in the hours of their helplessness? 
 
 We have met to be impressed with the beautiful fact that "The memory 
 of the just is blessed," and that we, recognizing this truth, should, ac- 
 cording to Divine doctrine, give "honor to whom honor is due." If God 
 keeps his promise, "For them that honor me, I will honor," then it is 
 meet, right, proper and even our duty to honor those dear men of faith, 
 whose life and labors put upon the Church and cause we love, honor that 
 will increase in lustre and power as the ages roll. 
 
 In such historical matters we can deal only with historical data and 
 historical information, and must therefore with a poet admit and only 
 claim : 
 
 We have gathered posies from other men's flowers. 
 Nothing but the threads that bind them are ours." 
 
 We take a glance at first in a general way, to the men of our Church 
 
36 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 in this country in the great past up to the time of the "Revolutionary 
 war," then during that fearful crisis in which the North Carolinians took 
 such a noble part, and then more directly at the pious, scholarly, devoted 
 and superior men who were the pastors of this famous old "Organ 
 Church," as it is so widely and popularly known, and whose memory 
 is precious and ever will be precious to us, and who though dead are still 
 revered by us, and whose names are still fragrant among us, as one has said: 
 
 "You may break, you may shatter, vase if you will, 
 But the sceut of the roses will cliug to it still." 
 
 Well has Goethe said, "The dead still live for us." 
 
 With truth has Jean Paul Richter said, "To whomsoever the holy dead 
 are of no consequence, to him the living are so too." 
 
 The history of the introduction, establishment and consequent growth 
 of our Church in this country is thrillingly interesting and inspiring. 
 Whilst judging it in the light of the coming dawn of the 20th century, 
 and in view of its after effects of the mistakes long since discovered, and 
 in a measure counteracted, as well as its proper, legitimate and faithful 
 work performed, we may find things here and there for censure, but 
 taking it "all in all," it has been gratifying, surprising and even wonder- 
 ful. When we remember and realize too, that both North of this Synod 
 and South of it also, our Lutheran brethren or ancestors had superior 
 advantages by dint of superior numbers of both ministers and members, 
 more compact colonization, closer proximity to oceanic facilities for travel, 
 and having more direct means of communication with the fatherland, we 
 think the history of Lutheranism in North Carolina all the grander. It 
 was more of a case of "help yourself" than in some other places where 
 pastors came right along with the hopeful colony, and hence gave by 
 iheir very presence zest to church love and fidelity. 
 
 According to figures that seem well founded, all the Dutch, Swedish 
 and German settlements of Lutherans in this country antedate us here in 
 North Carolina, except the one settlement at Newberne, North Carolina, 
 which seems never to have had much to do with the Germanic settle- 
 ments in Rowan, Cabarrus, Lincoln and other counties. 
 
 The following exhibit shows that the settlements as to date are : 
 
 1. The Dutch or Holland Lutherans in New York in 1623. 
 
 2. The Swedish settlement near Philadelphia in 1636. 
 
 3. The Dutch or Holland Lutherans, James Island, S. C, 1674 
 
 4. The German colonies in Maryland, Virginia and the West, in 1680. 
 
 5. The German settlement at Newberne, N. C., separate and distinct 
 from those in this neighborhood, in 1710. 
 
 6. The German colonies at Ebenezer, Ga., in 1734. 
 
 7. The Church of Spottsylvania, Madison County, Va., in 1735, which 
 received help to the amount £3,000 from Germany. 
 
 About this time, 1733, Lutherans were so numerous in Pennsylvania 
 that they sent a deputation or committee over to Germany to secure pas- 
 tors for Philadelphia, New Hanover and Providence, who gave a sad pic- 
 ture of affairs in this country at that time, when they unite we are "in a 
 land full of sects and heresy; without ministers and teachers, schools, 
 churches and books." 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 37 
 
 This deputation was instrumental in bringing over to America, Eevs. 
 Muhlenberg, Brunnholz, Handschuh, Kurtz and others, and thus laid the 
 foundation for the formation of the oldest Synod of America, the Penn- 
 sylvania, in 1748, at a time when already little by little the immigration 
 from the North set in for North Carolina, which in 1750, culminated in 
 the settling of several counties of this State. And now we come more 
 directly to this part of dear and grand old North Carolina and its Luth- 
 eran pioneers and settlers. Gathering more and more in numbers from 
 1750 to 1772, think of it, 22 years without ministers, and compelled to 
 have some devout brother read God's Word, books of devotion, instruc- 
 tion and sermons, as Christian sea captains often do to their crews on 
 Sunday in these times, they had no Church, no sacraments, no pastors, 
 and to add to it all, the war-clouds were muttering with threatening 
 storms against the sky and with ever increasing force. Yet, in the midst 
 of this all, they send for a pastor. What a sublime sight to see this 
 Committee of Christ — loving, earnest, faithful, self-sacrificing Christian 
 Lutherans — Rintelmann, Christopher Layerle — sail over the great deep, 
 in the days in which a Dr. Johnson said, "He that can go to jail, will not 
 cross the sea." Now who knows but God what prayers were sent up to 
 God's throne from these hills and valleys by our pious, German Lutheran 
 ancestors for this committee and for a minister after God's own heart. 
 And lo! he comes in the person of Rev. Adolphus Nussmann, the prayer- 
 hearing and prayer-answering God having granted them their heart's de- 
 sires according to his divine promise. 
 
 When we remember the troubles that encumbered our ministers and 
 members in those trying times, it seems a wonder both that they under- 
 took to establish themselves and the Church, and that the church ever 
 survived. We recall some of the troubles, for they heighten the glory of 
 our Church's history, just as darkness brings out the glory of the stars. 
 
 Several Swedish pastors were literally banished from New Sweden. 
 Rev. John E. Goetwater,in 1057, half escaped banishment or imprison- 
 ment in New York. In New York ministers were fined £100 for preach- 
 ing a Lutheran sermon, and the members were lined £25 for attending a 
 Lutheran service, and £10 for having a child baptized by a Lutheran 
 minister. 
 
 The Lutheran cause in South Carolina, in 1074, suffered from proscrip- 
 tion from the church of England. The same was the casein old Virginia. 
 It is a wonder, therefore, that our Lutheran fore-fathers in North Caro- 
 lina ever even attempted the work in the "Old North State." 
 
 So, harassed and troubled on all sides, our Lutheran Zion was planted 
 to grow up with the country, and to remain forever, just as if God would 
 plant an island of indestructible rock in the turbulent seas. 
 
 Add to this all the horrors endured at the hands ot the wild andinfuri 
 ated Indians, and then the distress caused by the Revolutionary War, 
 concerning which, in heated debate the younger Pitt in the British House 
 of Commons, in answer to an English Lord, said: "The noble Lord has 
 called the American war a holy war. I affirm that it is a most accursed 
 war; wicked, barbarous, cruel and unnatural; conceived in injustice, it 
 was brought forth and nurtured in folly; its footsteps are m trk^d with 
 
38 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 slaughter and devastation, while it meditates destruction to the miserable 
 people who are the devoted objects of the resentments which produced it." 
 
 Judge Schenck, a North Carolina historian, writes: "The savage 
 Indian was to be incited by English emissaries to lay waste the frontiers 
 and murder its citizens; the brutal slave was offered freedom and licen- 
 tious indulgence as a reward for treachery to his master and for service 
 in the English camp; the rules for civilized warfare were to be disre- 
 garded; solemn pledges to the citizens were broken, paroles of prisoners 
 ignored, and every oppression that devilish ingenuity could suggest was 
 to be exercised in order to crush the spirit of the patriots and suppress 
 the so-called rebellion. 
 
 "The marauding bands of the invaders committed acts of vindictiveness 
 that would have made the Duke of Alba blush with shame." 
 
 Again Judge Schenck writes: "No respect for morality or humanity 
 was allowed to thwart the purposes of conquest. No rights of property 
 were to be recognized among rebels, no appeals for mercy from the help- 
 less were to be heeded, if destruction could injure the American cause, 
 executions cruel and remorseless were to be inflicted on prisoners who 
 dared to love or fight for liberty." 
 
 What a pity that we do not know how many brave Lutherans fought, 
 especially as privates, in this great struggle for freedom, for Germans 
 seem to have a streak of the military in their nature, and as they could 
 not use English well, were of course generally privates, and no doubt as 
 such did much to add honor and lustre to the State of North Carolina, 
 and helped much to render services that led Hon. Charles Pinckney, 
 President of the South Carolina Senate at that time to write in a letter 
 dated February 24th, 1779: "I shall ever love a North Carolinian, and 
 join with General Moultrie in confessing that they have been the salvation 
 of this country." 
 
 Amid such exciting and unsettled times our people lived, and beloved 
 Pastor Nussmann arrived. Surely the poet's words express their faith 
 and courage when he writes: 
 
 "Trouble's Darkest hour 
 Shall not make me cower 
 To the spectre's power — 
 Never, never, nev.-r! 
 
 Then up my soul and brace thee, 
 While the perils face thee, 
 In thyself encase thee, 
 Manfully, forever. 
 
 Storms may howl around thee, 
 Foes may haunt and hound thee, 
 Shall they overpower thee? 
 Nay, while God's about me, 
 Never, never, never!" 
 
 Revs. Bolzius and Gronan, of Ebenezer, Ga., were both dead and the 
 older Rev. iMr. Bergmann preached there and at Savannah. At Charles- 
 ton, S. C, a Church had been built in 1759, its pastor, Rev John Geo. 
 Friedrich having arrived in 1755, and at the time of the war this Church 
 was served by Rev. John Nicholas Martin. 
 
History of Organ Church. 
 
 39 
 
 Up to 1708 Salisbury had no Church of any kind, for Rev. Mr. Nuss- 
 mann was the first pastor there. 
 
 Think of the courage, self-denial, love for Christ and love for souls it 
 must have cost to corne and live amid primeval forests with such sur- 
 roundings, and yet these pioneer Lutheran pastors came and remained 
 and died at their post. We cannot appreciate them too much. 
 
 Justly, wisely and properly does Rev. Dr. Samuel Schmucker say, "The 
 memory of 'The Pilgrim Fathers,' is cherished by our New England 
 brethren, with an interest bordering on veneration. 
 
 "And yet we hesitate not to affirm, that in regard to piety and zeal 
 father Muhlenburg and Brunnholz and Handschuh and Bolzius were by 
 no means inferior to Cotton, Hooker and Davenport or the Mathers, and 
 in learning they were their superiors." 
 
 What is true of these noble Lutheran heroes, pioneers and zealous 
 laborers is also in every sense true of the Lutheran pioneers and heroes 
 of North Carolina, namely, Rev. Adolphus Nussmann, John Gottlieb 
 Arndt, Carl Augustus Gottlieb Storch and others. No men of any de- 
 nomination, no scholars of any part of this land were better than these 
 great and good men in life's various relations, who were a part of the 
 twenty-four Lutheran ministers in the United States about a century ago. 
 
 We now consider more closely the lives and labors, the success and in- 
 fluence, the death and burial, the last resting places and the outgrowth of 
 the work of these worthy Lutheran pastors who were here in life and as 
 good health and strength as we are to-day, a century ago and since that 
 time, but who have gone the way of all flesh. 
 
 The ministerial life and history of this Church is, indeed, remarkable. 
 In its history it seems to have been vacant but one year. It has had 
 fourteen different pastors, whose names and time of service are as 
 follows : 
 
 Rev. Adolphus Nussmann, one year, 1773-1774 
 
 Rev. Gottleib Arndt, ten years, 1775-1785 
 
 Rev. Adolphus Nussmann, two years, 1785-1787 
 
 Vacant, one year 1787-1788 
 
 Rev. Carl Augustus Gottleib Storch, thirty-five years, 1788-1823 
 
 Rev. Daniel Scherer, six ysars, 1823-1829 
 
 Rev. Jacob Kaempfer, four years, 1829-1832 
 
 Rev. Henry Graeber, eleven years, 1832-1843 
 
 Rev. Samuel Rothrock, twenty-two years, 1844-1866 
 
 Rev. W. H. Cone, four months, Jan. 1, 1866-May 1, 1866 
 
 Rev. William Artz May 1, 1866 
 
 Rev. Samuel Rothrock, six months, July 1, 1868-Jan. 1, 1869 
 
 Revs. S. Scherer and W. H. Cone, one year, 1869-1870 
 
 Rev. W. H. Cone, three years and four months, Jan. 1, 1870-May 1, 1873 
 
 Rev. W. R. Ketchie, one year, June 1873-June 1874 
 
 Rev. P. A. Strobel, one year and eight months, Jan. 1, 1874-Oct. 1, 1875 
 
 Rev. Samuel Rothrock, ten years, Jan. 1, 1876-Jan. 1, 1886 
 
 Rev. W. R. Brown, eight years, July 1, 1886-Jan. 1, 1894 
 
 Rev. George H. Cox, two months, Feb. 1, 1894 
 
40 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 A better set of ministers no Church ever had. The living as well as 
 the dead deserve the highest praise. 
 
 Revs. Nussmann, Rothrock and Cone each served the Church several 
 times. Pastor Storch labored the longest time, namely thirty -five years, 
 and next in length of service comes Pastor Rothrook who served thirty- 
 tivo and a half years. 
 
 The ministers who are dead are: 
 Rev. Adolphus Nussmann. Rev. Henry Graeber. 
 
 Rev. Johann Gottlieb Arndt. Rev. William Artz. 
 
 Rev. Carl Augustus Gottlieb Storch. Rev. Simeon Scherer. 
 Rev. Daniel Scherer. Rev. Phillip A. Strobel. 
 
 Rev. Jacob Kaempfer. 
 
 God be praised, some of the living pastors, namely, Revs. Samuel 
 Rothrock, D. D., W. R. Ketchie and Geo. H. Cox are present with us to 
 take part in these memorable and memorial services, and we can but re- 
 gret that Revs. W. H. Cone and W. R. Brown are not here. 
 
 The pastoral work performed was unfortunately not recorded as it 
 should have been, for there are, alas! no records extant of work done by 
 Revs. Nussmann and Arndt, the first two pastors. 
 
 Rev. C. A. G. Storch roports 1,500 baptisms and that he had confirmed 
 1,300 persons. 
 
 Rev. S. Rothrock reports having baptized 7G3, and having confirmed 769. 
 
 Rev Henry Graeber reports having confirmed 251 persons. Thus three 
 pastors confirmed 2,320 persons. 
 
 Other reports the Synod Minutes supply and will be given in your 
 present pastor's address and outlines of the Church's history. 
 
 There is no estimating the noble work done. Only eternity w 7 ill reveal 
 to us the good done, the many souls reached, benefited and saved for God 
 and eternal life. There is no law of computing faithful ministerial labors 
 and regular services performed. To learn this we must cross life's last 
 river. The lives and labors of these servants of God were as admirable 
 as they were successful, and their success was as great as their disadvan- 
 tages were trying. Their success seems slow, but it is lasting, and after 
 one hundred years, the foundation they laid, and the work they did is a 
 greater center of influence than ever before, and the congregation in a 
 better condition than ever in its history, and never had a brighter or more 
 promising future. If it had not been for the fearful war of 1860-65, who 
 knows where Lutheranism in North Carolina would have been? Dr. 
 Morris fittingly pays this tribute: "The vigorous faith, Christian heroism, 
 holy zeal and self-denying efforts which characterized our earlier minis- 
 ters from Germany are deserving of all gratitude and admiration. No 
 one can read the narrative of their trials or contemplate the character of 
 their piety without instruction and profit. They were, indeed, devoted 
 men whose precious memory will be cherished by the pious throughout 
 all time." 
 
 In all of this we heartily concur. It will be hard to find another 
 Church that has taken it, "all in all" had a nobler set of ministers than 
 "Old Organ Church." The trouble has been, that like the history of 
 North Carolina and its people, our people have not had the full measure 
 
History of Orfan Church. 
 
 41 
 
 of credit given, although they have done the full measure of their duty, 
 and the duties performed exerted a widespread! influence, both directly 
 and indirectly, and both for God and humanity. 
 
 Do we consider the Churches organized here, or the congregations 
 formed in Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennesee, Ohio, Indiana, 
 Illinois, Texas, etc., or the mighty and constant and vast efforts to care 
 for our scattered Lutherans, or the strength given to others in various 
 ways, as visiting other Churches or Synods, sending students to Gettys- 
 burg when each student counted much, or if we look at the members 
 trained by them and sent out to other Churches in different communities, 
 or if we look at the grand and good ministers they gave to the Church, 
 as their own sons or grandsons, as the two Storks, the eleven Scherers, 
 the two Harkeys, of St Michael's Church, etc., or if we look at the grand 
 and godly men they won for our cause as Father Shober of blessed 
 memory and our dearly beloved Father Rothrock who is with us to-day, 
 or if we look at the testimonials of honor given them by Caruthers and 
 others outside of our Church, or if we look at their wisdom in building 
 so solid, enduring and substantial a Church as this, or if we remember 
 that this is the first Church in all this region that had a superb organ, 
 or if we see how wise they were in action taken or recommendations 
 offered in synodical gatherings, in printing books, or establishing schools 
 of higher education, or on the negro problem, or in having liturgies, 
 Church papers, etc., Sunday Schools, Missionary Societies, etc., or of 
 maintaining purity of life in the Church, or if we consider their prompt- 
 ness, even amid forests to organize the first Synod of our Church in the 
 Southland, if we consider this we connot but be impressed with the fact 
 that they were able, worthy, scholarly, thoughtful, intelligent, far-seeing 
 and remarkable men. Whilst they made mistakes, we must be surprised 
 that considering everything, that they did not make more mistakes or 
 mistakes of a more serious nature, when "To err is human." 
 
 It is easier to be a Lutheran now, when our Church is strong, though 
 it is still misunderstood, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and 
 minister of a prominent Church once asked me if Lutherans were not the 
 most extreme synergists in the world. A D. D. of a well-known demomi- 
 natiou asked me if our Church did not use the Heidelberg Catechism,, 
 but the worst of all was, when I was asked by a well known temperance 
 lecturer who had a national fame if we did not believe in infant baptism, 
 and a Roman Catholic thinks we are all right because we use the name of 
 the Virgin Mary in the creed, and that only by immersion. If we are so 
 misunderstood to-day, how must it have been a century ago, when thev 
 tried to make our people believe that the Episcopal Church was the 
 Lutheran Church in English dress and form. 
 
 Without English Lutheran hymn books, liturgies, books of sermons, 
 papers, etc., it is a wonder she ever survived her trying periods. Hear 
 one say of her "In Wilkes County may be found a small German flock in 
 the wilderness, surrounded by human beings who know of nothing so 
 little or of the true way of salvation, and who in their own opinions are 
 wiser than the Bible itself. These often persecuted the members of the 
 little flock." 
 
42 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 Hear Pastor Franklow give his experience: "April 7th, I went to Mr. 
 Moss with the hope of filling my appointment at the Edisto Methodist 
 meeting house, when I was informed that they objected to me on account 
 of my being a Lutheran minister." 
 
 Hear Pastor Scherer: "Proselyting is carried on extensively here, and 
 some of the Germans have united with the Baptists and Methodists but 
 very few heathens have become Christians." 
 
 "The spiritual condition of Ohio is dark. They have many preachers, 
 there appears to be a want of such, who have sound doctrine and are of 
 good repute." 
 
 Think of the hard labors in the long journeys upon horseback, in 
 almost impenetrable forests, the holding of services in barns and other 
 road places without church equipments of any kind. 
 
 How much then Caruther's remark means: "Nussmann labored faith- 
 folly in poverty and privations," and this was equally true of others. 
 
 These men of God were sound in doctrine, pure in life and held to the 
 customs of the Church faithfully. They wore robes, conducted the 
 services in a liturgical manner, catechised and confirmed the young and 
 cared for all, and if only their example in all these matters had even 
 been followed, how much better it would have been. So they toiled, 
 labored, struggled and succeeded. 
 
 The work done in middle Tennessee, I have seen with my own eyes, 
 and have heard the praise given the old North Carolina Synod, and its 
 pastors, llevs. William Jenkins, Daniel Scherer, etc., who on the banks of 
 Duck River, preached to the Lutherans settled along the stream, and 
 laid the foundation of the present Synod of middle Tennessee. It has 
 also been my good fortune to visit Mount Carme], Illinois, where the 
 sainted Scherers brought about a congregation that exists to this day, 
 and has led to the foundation of others. 
 
 I had written maty pages on the lives of the various pastors, but as 
 there appear extended and able sketches in the "Organ Edition" of the 
 Lutheran Visitor, I forbear reproducing them here and present only 
 what was not presented there. 
 
 I made many efforts to secure data regarding some of the dear dead 
 pastors, but found no one who could furnish me what I desired. 
 
 I could not ascertain where Rev. Jacob Kaempfer was buried. 
 Information was sent that he studied in the Theological Seminary at 
 Gettysburg, Pa., 1826-27, that he was a classmate of our venerable Dr. 
 Jno. G. Morris, of Baltimore, but he himself, when visited by me, could give 
 no positive informationD, aud he ventured to say that he thought Pastor 
 Kaempfer had married a Miss Oswald of York. 
 
 Rev. Philip A. Stroble after leaving old North Carolina, served a 
 number of Churches along the Hudson river in New York State, at Cable- 
 skill, Danville, etc. He was an active worker and wrote several excellent 
 books, or "The History of the Salzburgers," and "The Memorial of the 
 Hartwick Synod, New York," etc. He died in New York State about 
 twelve years ago, and I learn from Rev. Prof. G. W. Fortney, A. M., a 
 classmate of mine, who is pastor at Rhinebeck, New York, that Pastor 
 ■Strobel is buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Red Hook, a small, 
 
History of Organ Church 
 
 43 
 
 beautiful town near Rhinebeck. Rev. Mr. Fortney writes me, after he 
 visited the spot for me: "There stands in a beautiful spot in the south east 
 corner of the Red Hook Cemetery a granite monument 5| feet high, of 
 3 pieces and nicely proportioned. This inscription marks the last resting 
 place of the remains of Rev. P. A. Strobel. He died November 24, 1882, 
 aged 70 years. Also the remains of his brother, Rev. W. D. Strobel, 
 D. D., died December 6th, 1884, aged 76 years." No other inscriptions 
 are to be seen. Mrs. P. A. Strobel and son and daughter are living in 
 Georgia somewhere. 
 
 Those grand aud great men were the outgrowth of the work here. The 
 two Harkey's, Rev. S. W. Harkey, D. D., became a leader in the General 
 Synod, North. Rev. Sidney L. Harkey, D. D., has developed into one 
 of the strongest men in the General Council. 
 
 Rev. Theophilus Stork, D. D., became one of the most prominent men 
 in our American Lutheran Church life. The elegant books he wrote are 
 models of fine diction and purity of style, and will be and remain among 
 the best productions of American Lutheran authors. Then, too, it must 
 be remembered he was one of the finest preachers in his day that our 
 Church possessed, as is eminently set forth in the book of Dr. Morris on 
 "The Stork family," entitled "Life Sketches of Lutheran Ministers in 
 America." He labored as pastor in Winchester, Ya., Baltimore, Md., 
 and Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Theophilus Stork was the son of old Father Stork, and was 
 born near Salisbury in August, 1814. He was blessed with a son whom 
 he named Charles Augustus, who rose to high prominence as a preacher, 
 pastor and professor. Mr. Moody, who has been nearly all over the 
 world, said of him that "he was the grandest preacher in Baltimore." 
 Rev. Jas. H. Barclay, D. D., writing of him says: "If Dr. Stork had his 
 superior among us, we should be glad to know the name. As a church- 
 man, he was as true as in his friendship. He was a thorough Lutheran, 
 and believed, heart and soul, in the doctrines and usages of our Church. 
 He had no sympathy with imitation of other denominatins. He knew 
 that the Lutheran Church, doctrinally was sound. He knew that her 
 usages were among the best. He stood by the old ways and walked in 
 them, and was a leader for others who halted or trembled or aimed for 
 new paths." As pastor in Baltimore, and professor in the Theological 
 Seminary at Gettysburg, his name and fame will be revered in the 
 generations to come, and we question if any one will outshine him. 
 
 What a remarkable history is that of the Scherer family, two of whom 
 ministered at the altar of Organ Church. We take a glance at the Scherer 
 ministers, Revs. Jacob Scherer and Daniel Scherer were brothers. Rev. 
 F. R. Scherer lives in Kansas; A. H. Scherer lives in Indiana, Rev. J. J. 
 Scherer lives in Marion, Va., Rev. Gideon Scherer lives in Marion, Ya., 
 Rev. Simeon Scherer lives in Marion, Ya. The four sons of Rev. 
 Simeon Scherer are Rev. Luther P. Scherer, Radford, Va., Rev. W. J. D. 
 Scherer, Fairfield, Pa., Rev. M. G. G. Scherer, Concord, N. C, Rev. 
 Jas. A. B. Scherer, the first Lutheran Missionary from America to Saga, 
 Japan. What a list. Eleven ministers out of one family, and what a 
 glorious work the old pioneers did in establishing Churches even all the 
 
44 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 way out to the great city of Dayton, Ohio, and in Illinois; and how the 
 younger brethren are zealously building up our Church. 
 
 We venture the assertion that no other part of the Church, and for all 
 that of no other Church can boast of proportionately greater men, or 
 better or more men from such humble beginnings. Beloved, it is a grand 
 history when such men of such superior skill and power are produced as 
 the first named, and so many faithful, capable and devoted pastors and 
 missionaries are given God and the Church, by one noble family in but a 
 generation or two. 
 
 We are impressed still more when we contrast the outlook then with 
 the present, even if they could then say that Lutherans were to be found 
 in America 15 years before the Baptists, 65 years before the Presbyterians,. 
 140 years before the Methodists. Their surroundings were harrassing, 
 whilst now they are only encouraging. 
 
 Then there were no Lutheran colleges in all this land, for pastors and 
 parochial school teachers could be secured from Germany as long as 
 everything was German in our Church work. As late as 1845 we had 
 only seven schools of higher learning in the United States under 
 Lutheran control, but oh! what strides we have made since then, for now 
 we have 140 colleges, seminaries, etc., in the United States, 688 professors 
 in them, 13,500 students. 
 
 No Church paper was started until the year IS 1 1 , when the Pennsyl- 
 vania Synod began a German paper, and no English paper was started 
 until 1826, when the Intelligencer appeared in Frederick, Md., edited by 
 Rev. Mr. Schaeffer, and then afterwards the Lutheran Observer, edited 
 by Dr. Kurtz at Baltimore, started out successfully, and now we have 150 
 Lutheran papers published in the interests of the Church. 
 
 Then they were almost without a charitable institution, now we have 
 70 of them. 
 
 There was no English Lutheran Church in all this. land until 1806, 
 when St, John's Church was organized in Philadelphia, and the pressure 
 was so strong against the English in the old Zion Church that 1400 votes 
 were cast against the English, and in favor of German. To-day there 
 are about 1000 English speaking Lutheran congregations. 
 
 There was but one Synod up to 1894, 100 years ago, now there are 66 
 District Synods and 38 sub, or nearly 100 Synods 
 
 There were about two dozen ministers, now over 5500, with nearly 
 10,000 congregations and 1,325,000 communicants. Behold, what the 
 Lord hath wrought. It is marvellous in our eyes. Let us then appreciate 
 what these pioneer people, both ministers and lay did in the long ago, 
 for they did their duty, even until death, and left us a heritage, deserving 
 to be most devoutly cherished, protected, preserved and perpetuated. 
 
 Whilst we were appointed to speak in memory of the dear pastor?, we 
 are not unmindful of the brave, loyal, self-denying laity that lived and 
 labored with the pastors to one common end, and with one common 
 purpose. They too deserve onr highest admiration, sincerest praise and 
 ever-living gratitude, for what they did and left for us. 
 
 We who have come in an age that witnesses the growing dim of the 
 Mohammedan crescent, we who are seeing the sons of the old German 
 
History of Organ Cliurcli. 
 
 45 
 
 Fatherland, inhabit Africa and Christianize its people as they once did 
 this fair land, the home of the Indian, we who have seen the son of one 
 of your sainted members, Rev. James A. B. Scherer, sail over the great 
 seas to give Japan the story of the Cross and our Luther's Catechism, 
 we who have witnessed our Lutheran ministers go as Ambassadors of 
 Christ to India and to the isles of the sea, we who live when the work 
 begun by you and a faithful few elsewhere has spread to the California 
 coast, to the frigid North and the plateaus of South America, we to 
 whom your fair name and fame has come bright as burnished steel, rich 
 as the lustre of gold or silver and more enduring than all, we honor you, 
 love you, esteem you, and to the coming generations hand, this day, 
 the history of your lives and labors, that grow brighter and brighter 
 like the glory of the rising sun on a summer day. 
 
 Having now paid our tribute to these godly men, having looked at 
 their lives and labors, having read the roll of honor of the noble dead, I 
 feel sure we all can say of each of them: 
 
 "Of such as he, there be but few on earth; 
 Of such as he there are many in heaven; 
 And life is all the sweeter that he lived, 
 And all he loved more sacred for his sake, 
 And death is all the brighter that he died, 
 And heaven is all the happier that he is there. ' ' 
 
 At the conclusion of the address Rev. L. K. Probst, Secretary of the 
 Board of Missions of the United Synod, offered the following prayer: 
 
 Our Heavenly Father, at the close of these exercises we thank thee for what we 
 have seen and heard this day. We are glad that our attention has been so inter- 
 estingly and instructively directed to the early history of this Church. We thank 
 thee that thou didst, in times past, raise up men who devoted their lives to the 
 preaching of thy word, and the extension of thy kingdom in this place. We re- 
 joice in the work which has already been done, and for the many souls which have 
 been saved through the faithful labor of these, thy servants, the early pastors of 
 this Church. They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. 
 
 And now, our Father, we are called on to pray for their descendants — the min- 
 isters now living — who are preaching thy word. O wilt thou graciously remember 
 them this day, and bless them. We pray thee that they also, in their day and 
 generation, may be faithful to ever}' duty, and that they may be the instruments 
 in thy hand for the accomplishment of much good in the world. Especially we 
 pray thee that thou wilt very abundantly bless the young relative of a departed 
 pastor of this Church who has gone as one of our missionaries to Japan. Wilt 
 thou be with him as he labors in that far away land, and may his life be precious 
 in thy sight. Give him grace and strength for all his work, and if it seem good to 
 thee, give him, we pray, many souls for his hire. 
 
 May we all learn the lesson of this hour, and resolve anew to-day to strive to 
 faithfully perform the work thou hast given us to do. Let thy rich blessings rest 
 upon us all as we go away from this place. Lead us through life by thy Holy 
 Spirit, and save us in death, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 Before the congregation was dismissed Rev. Mr. Lutz suggested that 
 we gather around the grave of Rev. C. A. G. Storch, whose remains are 
 buried in the cemetery adjoining the Church. Dr. Rothrock was present 
 at the grave and the Apostle's Creed and the Lord's Prayer were repeated 
 in concert, Dr. Peschau leading. After this one stanza of "Nearer my 
 God to Thee,'"' was sung and Dr. Rothrock pronounced the New 
 
46 
 
 History of Organ Church. 
 
 Testament benediction, and the centennial exercises were over and the 
 large congregation was dismissed. 
 
 The writer of this esteems it as one of the privileges of his life that he 
 had the good fortune to be present on this memorable occasion, and in 
 after years will look back to it as one of the oases in his jonroey. The 
 acquaintances made and the friendships formed during his annual visits 
 among the good people of North Carolina will always be remembered 
 and cherished. May this little pamphlet do much good in cherishing 
 the memories and sacrifices of the pioneer Lutherans and be a means of 
 stimulating those now living and those yet to come to greater effort and 
 grander achievement is the earnest prayer of the writer. Other congre- 
 gations should follow the example of Organ Church and preserve their 
 history. 
 
 Note. 
 
 Since this little pamphlet was first undertaken and the first part was 
 printed another name has been added to the death roll of the pastors of 
 Organ Church. On November 2nd, 1894, Rev. S. Rothrock, D. D., 
 suddenly and peacefully passed over the river and rested from his 
 labors. He was a good man and had abounded in good works. Everybody 
 loved Father Rothrock. A sketch of his life appears in another part of 
 this history. 
 
Date Due 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 NOV G <d 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Form 335. 45M 8-37. 
 
S.C. 204 ass lae^ja v.2 
 
 N08 -- L 343074 
 
 N.C Religious pamphlets 
 
 DATE ISSUE ° T ° 
 
 N.C. 204 Z99 1860-99 v.2 
 
 No s. 1-13 343074