Church: History: St. Paul's [Klopp]: Near Hamlin, Bethel township, Lebanon Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linnea T Miller
 ltmiller@geocities.com

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
		and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
		and submitter information is included. Any other use,
		including copying files to other sites requires
		permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
		any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
		county table of contents.
____________________________________________________________


Centennial History of Lebanon Classes of the Reformed Church in the U.S.,
 1820 - 1920, Compiled by Prof. Thos. S. Stein, Lebanon PA: Sowers Printing 
Company.

Excerpts from Chapter VI: "Sketches of Congregations"

St. Paul's, Hamlin, Bethel Charge.
Rev. C.M. RISSINGER, Pastor.

	Near Hamlin, Bethel township, Lebanon county, Pa., are two church
 buildings, not far apart, often spoken of as the Klopp Churches (die Kloppe
 Kerche), though the real name of each is St. Paul. The older one, built of
 stone, dates from 1827. It is often called the old Klopp Church. The second
 church was erected by the Reformed in 1884, and is often designated the new
 Klopp Church.

	The early history of the old church or congregation, organized in 1752, is
 somewhat involved in obscurity. The first building is supposed to have been
 a simple log structure. Tradition says it was burned down by the Indians in
 the French and Indian War. In 1767 the log structure gave place to a second
 building, which stood until 1827. In 1825 the Reformed people signed an
 agreement, granting equal rights in church property and land to the
 Lutherans. The question arises, Was this agreement legal? in view of the
 terms specified in the original grant, which says it was to be "forever for
 the sole benefit and behalf of the said protestant German Church or
 congregation called or known by the name of the Reformed Church in Bethel
 Township aforesaid, and to no other purpose whatsoever."

	In 1827 a new (union) church was built of stone. It is still standing and,
 as said, is known in common parlance as the old Klopp Church.
	All went well and the Lord was worshiped in peace and unity, until 1884,
 when it was deemed necessary to erect a new church, because the membership
 was increasing, and the church was no longer able to accommodate the
 worshipers. But now, sad to relate, began dissension, factional strife,
 appeals to Classis and Synod, and finally litigation in the civil courts.
 This continued for a period of fifteen years.

	When the Reformed and Lutherans could not agree on building terms, a
 majority of the Reformed decided to build. This resulted in the erection of
 a new brick church on the old church property. This new church, erected in
 1884, was recognized by the Classis and Synod as the successor of the
 original St. Paul's congregation, the descendant in an unbroken line of St.
 Paul's Reformed congregation of 1752.

	But while the majority of the Reformed members built this new church, the
 minority remained and continued to worship in the old church, organizing a
 separate congregation with the old name St. Paul. It is now under the care
 of the German Philadelphia Classis - German Synod of The East.

	The pastors of the Reformed congregation from 1752 down to the present time
 (1920) are the following. (In the old church from 1752 to 1884; in the new
 church, from 1884 to 1920).
		Rev. Wm. STOY (pro. Sto-ey), 1752 - 1756.
		Rev. Fred. Casimir MILLER, 1757 - 1765.
		Rev. J.J. ZUFALL, 1765 - 1767.
		Rev. J.C. BUCHER, 1768 - 1769.
		Rev. Wm. HENDEL, Sr., 1769 - 1782.
		Rev. J.W. RUNKEL, 1782 - 1785.
		Rev. Andrew LORETZ, 1785 - 1786.
		Rev. Daniel WAGNER, 1786 - 1793.
		Rev. Wm.. HENDEL, Jr., 1793 - 1829.
		Rev. Fred. HERMAN, 1830 - 1834.
		Rev. T.H. LEINBACH, 1834 - 1864.
		Rev. Chas. H. LEINBACH, 1864 - 1884.
		Rev. H.J. WELKER, 1884 - 1891.
		Classical Supply, 1891 - 1893.
		Rev. Henry HILBISH, 1893 - 1899.
		rev. H.A. KEYER, 1900 - 1910.
		Rev. C.A. BUTZ, 1905 - 1908.
		Rev. T.H. BACHMAN, 1909 - 1910.
		Rev. C.M. RISSINGER, 1911 -  .
	The pastors of the Reformed congregation worshiping in the old church -
 1884 to 1920 - were:
		Rev. A.S. KEYSER, 1885 - 1893.
		Vacancy - 1893 - 1897.
		(During this period Rev. R.S. APPEL served as a supply for several months
 in 1893 and confirmed a class of catechumens.)
		Rev. S.F. HARTZELL, 1897 - 1911.
		Supply Committee of German Philadelphia Classis, 1911 - 1914.
		Rev. V.W. DIPPELL, Ph.D., 1914 -  .

	The following are sons of St. Paul's and have entered the ministry:
		Revs. E.S. NOLL, Lehighton, Pa.; E.W. LENTZ, Bangor; John LENTZ, Milton;
 Robert EDRIS, Auburn; Edw. SANDO, Hellam; Allen MECK, Easton; Rev. Pierce
 W. SWOPE, Lansford, Pa. (Old Klopp's).

	[The memory of the strife in this church is still fresh in our minds. What
 a sad commentary on our Christian life and profession it is to see the
 brethren at variance. It seems that differences, disagreements,
 dissensions, strife, crimination and recrimination, and lawsuits are
 various methods which our arch-enemy makes use of by his endeavors to
 undermine the kingdom of God. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
 the brethren to dwell together in unity."]