Local History: Northumberland County: Lower Augusta Township History of the St. Elias Lutheran Church Copyright © 2002 by John Paul Deeben. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. jandwdeeben@msn.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. Elijah's Namesake: The St. Elias Lutheran Church at Hallowing Run, Lower Augusta Township, 1850-1960 by John Paul Deeben I. HALLOWING RUN IN LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP, 1800-50 THE MID-POINT OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY proved to be quite a fertile period for Evangelical movements within the Protestant faith, nowhere more evident than in the central Pennsylvania region that included Northumberland County. Within the span of two decades or so, from 1835 to 1860, numerous fledgling congregations established themselves across the countryside immediately south of Sunbury. They represented the spectrum of Protestant denominations, from Miles Run United Brethren (1835) and Boyle's Run Methodist Episcopal (1840), to Augusta Baptist (1846) and the Lantz Emmanuel German Reformed Church (1847). The Lutheran faith was particularly well represented, seeing new congregations arise at Plum Creek (Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church) in 1844, Brush Valley (Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church) in 1847, and Asherton (St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church) in 1859. Two years after the Emmanuel Church was built, and only six years since the Eden congregation had taken root, yet another Lutheran and German Reformed venture developed in the area south of Brush Valley in Lower Augusta Township known as Hallowing Run. This new union church chose the name of St. Elias. The valley of Hallowing Run, ripe for religious activity at this time, lay more or less one mountain range below Brush Valley, and gained its name from the main water tributary that traveled the length of the region. The principal east-west thoroughfare bore the name of the region as well, Hallowing Run Road. The western end of the road connected to the Tulpehocken Road at Augustaville, while the eastern terminus met the Harrisburg Road along the banks of the Susquehanna River several miles south of Sunbury, and just a mile or so above the main stagecoach stop of Fisher's Ferry. The only settlement with any post office designation in the district was that of Asherton, which mainly comprised a small crossroads area where Hallowing Run Road connected to the southern end of Brumbach Road. By the early to mid-nineteenth century, Hallowing Run comprised a moderately settled region of fertile farms, a mill and one or two schoolhouses.[1] Several key families inhabited the Hallowing Run district by the mid-nineteenth century, who would play principal roles in the formation of the St. Elias congregation. Perhaps the foremost in the area were the Kauffmans, led by early settler Daniel Kauffman (1804-1889) and his wife Mary Ressler (1807-1885). Daniel was a native of Upper Mahanoy Township, the son of Leonhart Kauffman (1783-1854) who was a noted member of Himmel's Church. Daniel was raised to agricultural pursuits, and eventually purchased a large 150-acre homestead in the Hallowing Run district of Lower Augusta Township after renting for many of his early years. Daniel and his wife were of split persuasion in their religious faith, he following the Lutheran beliefs while she favored the German Reformed denomination. This combination, however, made their family natural leaders when the effort began to organize a new union church in the area. Daniel's son John R. Kauffman (1828-1925) would become an even more prominent church elder, as will be recounted later in this chapter.[2] [In an interesting side note, a daughter of Daniel, Mary Kauffman (1839-1875), married Hiram Savidge (1832-1909) of the Plum Creek Savidges who were closely associated with the Eden Church.] Another Hallowing Run settler who joined the movement to form a new union congregation was Daniel Schmeltzer (1805-1888). He was also a native of the lower end of Northumberland County, in Washington Township, from where he removed in 1841 to a modest spread in Lower Augusta. He would go on to serve many years as an official in the new church after signing his name to the church constitution as one of the first elected Lutheran elders. His wife Catherine Wolfgang (1807-1881) was born in the Deep Creek Valley region of Schuylkill County, a daughter of Jonas Wolfgang.[3] Henry Shipe (1804-1887) and Hannah Reeser (1804-1880) were another pioneer couple who joined the nucleus of the new union congregation. Shipe was an accomplished farmer and considerable land owner in the Hallowing Run region; according to some sources he held enough acreage to bestow a farm upon each of his eight children after his death. He also served as one of the first German Reformed elders of the new church.[4] One final Lower Augusta settler of note was Henry Reitz (1810-1899), who sold the land in Hallowing Run to the new union congregation. Henry came from a very well established family in the lower region of Northumberland County, the son of Michael Reitz (1757-1825) and Elizabeth Schnock (1766-1853). Michael's father George Reitz (1726-1793) was one of the earliest settlers in the area of Swabian Creek in Washington Township, Northumberland County, where Michael was born. Henry Reitz spent his early years in Washington Township, where he learned the gunsmith trade as well as farming. By the 1830s he had relocated to Lower Augusta and remained for twenty-two years before returning to his native township. He was generally known throughout all his life as "one of the progressive citizens of his day" who "took an active part in all movements intended for the advancement of the general good."[5] Providing land for the establishment of a new house of worship certainly fell within that category of public philanthropy. II. FOUNDING THE ST. ELIAS CHURCH, 1850-53 ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS in the early winter of 1850, a group of Lutheran and Reformed members met at the Hallowing Run home of Samuel Kauffman to plan the organization of a union church in the district. This gathering represented yet another splinter group from the Zion Stone Church in Augustaville. Like their brethren who founded the Lantz Emmanuel Church only two years before, these faithful had decided to oppose new measures then being advocated at Zion by Pastor Shindel, and instead establish their own church along more conservative Lutheran and Reformed principals. The group determined to purchase a lot of ground from Henry Reitz, located not too far from the crossroads of Asherton in Lower Augusta Township. Pastors Christopher J. M. Neumann and Richard A. Fisher again provided the guiding leadership for this effort, and thus became the founding pastors of the new union congregation, which the membership determined to name St. Elias, in honor of the prophet Elijah. [Thereafter, the pastorate of both congregations followed the same succession as those of Lantz Emmanuel, with a minor exception on the Lutheran side during the 1860s, when Rev. John T. Hornberger served for only two years from 1860-62 and was then succeeded by Rev. William R. Hasskarl until 1864; after that there is no record of a Lutheran pastor until Rev. Louis G. Eggers began his pastorate at both Lantz and St. Elias in 1869. Rev. John Henry Schmidt, who served the Lantz Church between 1864-68, appears not to have held a similar position at St. Elias during that time.][6] As mentioned earlier, St. Elias also followed the same parish affiliation as the Lantz Church. It is probable that the Lutheran congregation was part of the Lykens Valley Charge until about 1860. Then, the above-mentioned pastors, who also served churches in Mahanoy, Line Mountain and Trevorton, served St. Elias and Lantz Emmanuel as well. After 1868, St. Elias comprised the Trevorton Charge along with Lantz and Zion Lutheran in Trevorton, until 1898. After that, St. Elias and Emmanuel Lutheran at Wolf's Crossroads formed a distinct two-church parish.[7] Work quickly began on a new wooden frame church building in the early spring following the meeting at the Kauffman homestead, with the cornerstone of the foundation being laid on April 20, 1851. There is no definite record relating how long it took to complete the construction of the church. On the same date as the cornerstone ceremony, the Lutheran and Reformed membership also entered into formal articles of agreement for the organization of the joint congregation. In many respects, and for obvious reasons, the new constitution mirrored that of Lantz Emmanuel. Beginning with an interesting preamble that declared the need for a new Lutheran and Reformed house of worship as well as a graveyard for inhabitants of Lower Augusta township, First Article of Agreement called for the new congregation to be named and forever known as Elias Church (the name of course being later referred to more formally as St. Elias.) Article 2 gave the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed denominations sole and equal right to use the new house of worship. Also, ministers who served either congregation had to be members of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod or the German Reformed Synod of North America respectively (Article 14). Again reflecting the prevalent cultural traditions of the day, Article 3 allowed services to be conducted in both English and German languages, as long as four members of either denomination desired it. Article 4 pronounced the conservative theological position of the union church by forbidding the teaching of "so-called New Measures" which had heretofore caused rifts in other area churches (and which inspired the founders to organize St. Elias in the first place.) The next several articles outlined administrative procedures, such as setting voting eligibility guidelines for communing members, allowing each denomination to elect their own ministers, providing a simple majority for such elections, and directing both congregations to maintain separate register books. Articles 9-11 specified guidelines for the election and composition of the Lutheran church council as well as the Reformed consistory, each body to contain one Trustee, Two Deacons, and Two Wardens who would serve for two-year terms. Public notice of elections would take place four weeks prior to the event. Article 12 allowed members in good standing of either congregation to select a minister of their own choosing to perform funerals. The treasuries of the two denominations were to be kept separate (Article 13), and finally, these Articles of Agreement were to be read publicly once a year by the presiding pastor or member of the respective council or consistory.[8] A brief set of by-laws was later attached to the original constitution. First and foremost, the by-laws granted all confirmed members of the congregation who had reached the age of sixteen and were in good standing, the right to vote in all matters pertaining to the congregation. The by-laws expressly stated that female members would have equal standing with male members in the matter of voting, except on questions involving legal points or statutes. In that case, only "the male members who have reached their majority shall be allowed to vote."[9] Another operating rule declared that all male members should contribute no less than $1.00 per year, and female members fifty cents per year, towards the support of the church in order to retain good standing. As well, all regular congregational and council meetings were to be conducted in accordance to the articles of agreement established between the Lutheran and Reformed congregations as joint tenants of the St. Elias church building. After requiring that proper parliamentary procedure should govern the adoption of any future amendments, the final statute once again reiterated the need for the said constitution and by-laws to be publicly read once a year by the presiding pastor or the church council.[10] The first elected leaders of the two congregations, all of whom appeared as signatories on the 1851 Articles of Agreement, included Trustee Joseph Folk, Elders Daniel Schmeltzer and Daniel Kauffman, and Wardens Jacob Krebs and Peter Ferster on the Lutheran side, and Trustee Jacob Shipe, Elders Adam Renn, Henry Shipe, Samuel Kauffman, and Henry Reitz, and Wardens Daniel Conrad and Daniel Martz for the Reformed denomination. A few years later, on May 9, 1859, a combined deputation of these officials, including Daniel Schmeltzer, Daniel Kauffman, Henry and Jacob Shipe, Daniel Martz, and Daniel Conrad, had the Articles of Agreement duly recorded and notarized at the Northumberland County Court House by Justice of the Peace T. M. Schindel.[11] III. A SUMMARY OF CHURCH HISTORY, 1851-1959 THE MOST SINGULAR PROBLEM in recounting the history of the St. Elias Lutheran Church lies in the scarcity of surviving records from the congregation. Aside from the original church constitution explained above, no congregational data in the form of life activities (births, weddings, deaths), membership lists, or official records such as council minutes, remains from the early years of the church. (The only surviving register, for example, covers the middle period of church history from 1879 to 1916, with some additional hand-written records for the 1920s. Available minutes from the congregation council only go back to the 1950s.) Nevertheless, it is possible to reconstruct a general outline of congregational activity that bears some meaningful reference. It is very evident, for example, that a church cemetery was established concurrently with the founding of St. Elias. Typical of all small country parishes of the nineteenth century, the cemetery occupied an adjoining yard to the north side of the church building and was surrounded on three sides by picturesque pasture and farmlands. Published records for the cemetery reveal the earliest burial to be that of Alexander Conrad, a two-year-old son of J. Peter and Catharine Conrad, who died on August 21, 1851, just months after the first church was constructed. Other deaths and burials that occurred within the first decade of the life of St. Elias included those of Peter Conrad on July 7, 1854, Sarah Witmeyer on December 25, 1854, Peter Dunkelberger on August 10, 1856, George W. Hollenbach on September 10, 1856, Isaac Gass on January 12, 1857, Jacob Kroh on November 11, 1857, Henry R. Shipe on February 20, 1860, Isaac W. Conrad on May 16, 1860, Jane Gahringer on May 24, 1860, and Absalom Conrad on December 25, 1860 (the ten-year anniversary of the church's founding.) Maria (Dunkelberger) Reitz, the wife of landowner Henry Reitz who gave the ground for St. Elias, died and was buried on January 2, 1863.[12] (In 1928 a formal Cemetery Association was organized for St. Elias, in which every member of both the Lutheran and Reformed congregations was automatically considered a voting member.) During the second decade of ministry at St. Elias, the first formal Sunday school was organized about 1866. Several classes were established, and during the early years these classes were referred to as Testaments. (It is unknown if they were organized by age, only that they were designated First Testament, Second Testament, etc., depending on the number of classes being conducted.) The Sunday school program appeared to enjoy great popularity at St. Elias, with attendance records reaching an average of 100 during the 1890s. At one point there were even additional classes organized to teach spelling. In this respect, the Sunday school ministry reached beyond the religious and into the secular realm of knowledge to benefit the membership and surrounding community.[13] Some general remarks may also be made concerning improvements to the St. Elias church property. About 1880 the original church building became unsatisfactory for the needs of the two congregations. A new brick edifice was erected that year under the guidance of a building committee comprised of Aaron Shipe, John H. Reitz, H. Swinehart, and John R. Kauffman. John R. Kauffman (1828-1925) served as chairman of the committee and was perhaps it's most influential member. Although a member of the Reformed congregation at St. Elias (while his wife Boann Shaffer (1831-1907) belonged to the Lutheran side), his contributions deserve brief mention. Kauffman was a son of Hallowing Run settlers Daniel and Mary (Ressler) Kauffman, but he was born and raised in Upper Mahanoy Township until the family moved to Lower Augusta in 1838. In 1850 he established a general store and mercantile business at Asherton, and thereafter became one of the leading businessmen in the district until removing to Sunbury in 1889. His business acumen was described thus in later years: "One of the oldest business men in his section, [Kauffman] enjoyed a large patronage throughout his location there, and his place was long a business center, his full line of merchandise attracting the custom of a wide territory, and his accommodating methods holding customers from year to year."[14] While located at Asherton, Kauffman became the first post master when the office was established there in 1886. He also served the township as auditor and assessor. After moving to Sunbury, Kauffman became involved in considerable real estate ventures and other business connections in addition to his mercantile trade, thus becoming "one of the shrewdest investors in that borough, and by his foresight and sagacity . . . made a place for himself in the front rank of its intelligent business men."[15] Kauffman held directorships in the Sunbury Trust & Safe Deposit Company, the Pennsburg Manufacturing Company, the Blue Wing Copper Company of North Carolina, the Sunbury Nail, Bar and Guide Iron Manufacturing Company, and the Buffalo Lumber Company of West Virginia. He was also connected with the Kauffman & Sons Planing Mill Company of Sunbury. Kauffman retained a large investment in land in Lower Augusta Township as well, owning some 300 acres. While living near Hallowing Run, he actively served the St. Elias church as an elder in the Reformed consistory and as a superintendent of the Sunday school. He provided efficient leadership to the building committee as the new church was constructed in 1880, and presided over the dedication of the completed building in May, 1881.[16] Numerous improvements took place to the new church in the ensuing years. A new roof was built in 1896 after a fierce storm destroyed the old one. Sometime later, in 1932, memorial windows and new pews were installed. These items were dedicated on July 10, 1932, with several local clergymen in attendance for the ceremony, including Rev. Paul Leinbach, Rev. W. C. Beck, Dr. Chalmers Walk of Sunbury, and Rev. E. L. Leisy of Danville, all of whom offered remarks. In 1948 the chancel was redesigned to position the altar in the center of the worship space. Church member Arthur Reitz built a new altar, pulpit, and lectern, and the whole interior was redecorated. All of these improvements were dedicated at a special service on December 12, 1948, presided over by both the Lutheran and Reformed pastors. Near the end of 1951 and old burning furnace was installed to provide better comfort to the congregations. The following year the Lutherans attempted to improve the parking space and exterior access to the church by laying stone around the front façade. As late as 1959, both the Lutheran council and Reformed consistory initiated another interior refurbishment project, which included refinishing the walls and ceilings of the sanctuary, and the installation of a new lighting system.[17] St. Elias Church was also blessed during its history with a fair number of members who entered the ministry on both the Lutheran and Reformed sides. The first pastoral son was the Rev. Harry P. Foulk (1888-1950). He belonged to the Lutheran faith and was confirmed at St. Elias, but then entered the Baptist ministry after attending Susquehanna University, Pearce Business College and the Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia. Foulk served Baptist congregations near Williamsport, Slippery Rocks, and at Brewster, New York until his death. The Rev. Elmer Drumm, also of the Lutheran congregation, was born May 13, 1913 at Hallowing Run, the son of Jacob and Gertrude (Culp) Drumm. He received his education locally at Sunbury High School and Susquehanna University, from which he graduated in 1935. He then attended Gettysburg Theological Seminary from 1935-38. After serving one year as assistant pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, Drumm served pulpits in Glasgow and New Chester, Pennsylvania, as well as Immanuel Lutheran Church in Williamstown.[18] The Reformed congregation offered its son Bert E. Wynn to the ministry as well. Wynn was born January 16, 1900 and was confirmed at St. Elias in 1912. He also attended Susquehanna University, graduating in 1927, and then the Central Theological Seminary at Dayton, Ohio in 1930. He also pursued graduate studies at Oberlin School of Theology, Garrett Biblical Institute, and the University of Wisconsin. He served numerous pastorates in the Midwest before returning to serve the Friends' Cove Charge in Bedford, Pennsylvania. Another Reformed son, Jack Ritchie (1916-1935), began preparation for the ministry after enrolling at Susquehanna University. It was recorded that he often walked from Hallowing Run to Selinsgrove. His mission, however, was cut short by a sudden attack of appendicitis. He was remembered as "an inspiration to all who knew of his resolve to overcome the obstacles before him in his desire to serve the Lord."[19] In addition to these individuals, St. Elias could also claim several second-generation sons who followed the call as well. They included the Rev. Walter Drumm, who became pastor of the Lutheran church in Numidia; Rev. William Wynn, son of Rev. Bert Wynn, who served the Evangelical & Reformed Church at Sharon, Pennsylvania; the Rev. David Foulk, son of Rev. Harry P. Foulk, who followed his father as the Baptist pastor at Brewster, New York; and Rev. Paul Trump, a nephew of Rev. Elmer Drumm, who entered the chaplain program in the U. S. Army.[20] IV. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF 1953 IN THE BEGINNING OF 1953 the St. Elias congregations organized an elaborate celebration to honor the 100th anniversary of the founding of the church. It is interesting to note that the anniversary programs did not fall on the true centennial of the church, which would have been observed on December 26, 1950. The celebration organizers recognized this fact in their introduction to the centennial booklet prepared for the observances: "We believe that this is a fitting and proper time to commemorate the founding of our church. For several reasons this centennial observance does not fall exactly on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the church. In fact, no one seemed to know exactly the date of its founding until work was begun on preparations for the Centennial observance. However, it is still in order that we observe, with gratitude to our God and Saviour, the century of service our Church has rendered, and look forward to a future even more glorious."[21] There may also have been some delay in planning due to discrepancies over the division of responsibilities between the Lutheran and Reformed membership. An entry in the Lutheran Council minutes from July 1952 noted a motion to cancel "all plans for the anniversary services . . . until a later date and then be held on a 50-50 basis."[22] The "50-50 basis" notation obviously referred to the desire for an even burden of responsibility between the two congregations. Whatever the reasons for the delay, an elaborate five-day celebration finally took place between January 25 and February 1, 1953. It was organized by a Centennial Committee that included Anson Long, Harold Raker, Paul Delbaugh, Clyde Reitz, Forrest Brosious, and Harold Klock. A second committee comprised of Harold Klock, Melvin and Donald Drumm, Paul Delbaugh, and Lorry Brosious also produced the accompanying history booklet. A special service or program was organized for each day of the celebration. The opening service took place on the afternoon of Transfiguration Sunday on January 25. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Mrs. Spencer Wanke performed the prelude music, and was immediately followed by the combined congregation singing a pair of Lutheran and Reformed hymns. Several liturgical elements followed, including the Invocation, Confession of Sin and Response, and the Assurance of Pardon. The choir presented an anthem, and then the congregation observed the Reading of God's Word, followed by the Gloria Patri, Confession of Our Faith, and the General Prayer. After an offering was collected and the Offertory sung, the choir presented another anthem, followed by the Congregational Response and Dedicatory Prayer, and two more combined hymns. Dr. Charles E. Schaeffer of Philadelphia, a former secretary of the Board of Home Missions of the Reformed Church, then delivered the main message of the afternoon. After his presentation, the gathering observed the Prayer of Consecration, another set of Lutheran and Reformed hymns, and then concluded the first day of the Centennial celebration with the Doxology and Benediction.[23] The second day of observances took place on Tuesday evening, January 27, 1953, and was devoted to a recognition of "Sons of the Congregation" who had entered into the ministry. Following the Prelude, the gathering continued the practice of singing dual Lutheran and Reformed hymns, and then observed the Invocation and the reading of a Psalm from both the Lutheran and Reformed books of worship. A combined Lutheran and Reformed choir from St. Peter's Church at Paxinos then presented a choral anthem, followed by further Scripture reading. The Rev. Eugene Steigerwalt of the First Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove, then serving as President of the Danville Conference, offered greetings to the congregation. After a collection was gathered and a second anthem performed, two messages by former sons of St. Elias were then delivered. Rev. Elmer Drumm, the son of church members Jacob and Gertrude Drumm who was then serving the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Williamstown, Pennsylvania, presented the first message. Following another combined Lutheran and Reformed hymn, Rev. Bert Wynn of the Reformed congregation, who was then serving the Friend's Cove Charge in Bedford, Pennsylvania, delivered the second homily. The second day of celebration concluded with a general Prayer of the church, the Lord's Prayer, the Benediction, and closing Lutheran and Reformed hymns, followed by an instrumental postlude.[24] Festivities on the evening of January 28 featured several musical and dramatic presentations as the Centennial celebration honored St. Elias's Sunday school ministry. The program began with the favorite hymn "The Church's One Foundation," followed by a Scripture reading from Romans 8: 1-15, and a prayer. Then, Gladys and Grace Raker presented a vocal duet entitled "Jesus is the Sweetest Name." The featured program of the evening comprised a playlet, "There Was a Lad" by Anna Lutz, performed by members of the Sunday school. The cast of characters for the play included Stephen, a boy of ten with a crippled leg played by Donald Drumm. Stephen's Mother, a widow of six or seven years who "feels very acutely the fact that his upbringing has been left completely in her hands," was portrayed by Mildred Drumm. Urias Boyer and Martin Drumm played two friends of the main character, Philip and James. According to the playbill, they are kind to Stephen "and understand that their friendship means a lot to him. They sincerely desire to help their friend. Being children, however, they do not always realize that some of the cruel things they say hurt Stephen very much." Elva Brosious played the character of Martha, a "neighbor, kind and understanding . . . [who] has always tried to help Stephen and his mother." Finally, Harold Raker and Russell Brosious played two disciples of Jesus, John and Peter. Following the presentation of the drama, Nancy and Judy Reitz entertained the congregation with an instrumental duet, Miss. Pearl Kawel of Sunbury delivered an address, and then Grace, Cottie and Gladys Raker presented a vocal trio entitled "He is not a Disappointment." The program for Sunday school Night concluded with the Offering, a singing of the hymn "Faith of Our Fathers," and the Benediction.[25] The fourth day of the Centennial Celebration on Thursday, January 29 centered on an observance of "Community Night." The evening program began with an instrumental prelude, opening hymns, The Invocation, and a reading of Psalm 84. The Rev. Carl Trexler, President of the First Reformed Church in Wilkes-Barre, then delivered greetings from the Susquehanna Synod. The Men's Chorus of St. Elias provided a special music selection, followed by several liturgical elements including a reading of Scripture, The Prayer, and the gathering of tithes and offerings. Two more musical pieces-a second anthem from the Men's Chorus and a duet of Lutheran and Reformed hymns-preceded the main address of the evening, delivered by Rev. Aurance Shank of the First Methodist Church in Berwick. The evening service then concluded with a Prayer of the church, the Lord's Prayer, the Benediction, and another set of Lutheran and Reformed hymns.[26] The final program of the Centennial observations for St. Elias took place on the afternoon of Sunday, February 1, 1953, a day that was dedicated as "Septuagesima Sunday." The prelude began promptly at 2:30 p.m., followed by the opening hymn, the Confessional, the Introit, and the Collect. The Lessons for the afternoon featured a reading from 1 Corinthians for the Epistle, an anthem by the St. Elias choir, and a Gospel reading from St. Matthew 20: 1-16. Then followed a recitation by the congregation of The Apostle's Creed. A moment of announcements commenced, followed by a selection of hymns and then the sermon of the afternoon, delivered by Rev. George Whetstone, Assistant to the President of the Central Pennsylvania Synod. The worship service ended in typical fashion, with the offering and offertory, a choir anthem, a Prayer of the Church, the Lord's Prayer and Benediction, and a final set of closing hymns.[27] * * * * * Thus concluded a thoroughly faith-embodied celebration of the first one hundred years of dual ministry at the St. Elias Lutheran and Reformed Church. The celebration undoubtedly provided a strong testament of the membership's dedication to the humble yet stalwart mission of faith and ministry upon which the small country parish had been founded. Even as the anniversary was taking place, however, changing currents in the nature of the Lutheran church at large were then emerging which would necessarily effect the way that St. Elias, as well as her sister congregations throughout the Sunbury area, would continue to embody and carry out its mission. A restructuring of Lutheran parishes by the Central Pennsylvania Synod during the late 1950s culminated in 1961 with the merger of St. Elias, the Eden Lutheran Church at Plum Creek, and Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Wolf's Crossroads, into one unified congregation that became known most appropriately as the United Lutheran Church of Sunbury RD. So, even though the St. Elias Lutheran Church ceased to exist (although the Reformed congregation remains an active body to the present day), it's legacy carries on as a part of the one of the most vibrant Lutheran institutions of rural Northumberland County. ENDNOTES [1] Herber C. Bell, History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: Brown, Runk & Co., 1891), pp. 705-6. [2] J. L. Floyd, Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. L. Floyd & Co., 1911), p. 238. [3] Ibid., p. 475. [4] Ibid., p. 268. [5] Ibid., p. 790. [6] Merle Underkoffler et. al., History of United Lutheran Church of Sunbury (Sunbury: Gil Heiser Associates, 1976), p. 3; Bell, Northumberland County, p. 707. [7] St. Elias Lutheran and Reformed Church Centennial Celebration, January 25-February 1, 1953 (Pamphlet, 1953), p. 2. [8] Articles of Agreement for St. Elias Lutheran & Reformed Church, April 20, 1851, St. Elias Lutheran Church Records, United Lutheran Church Archives. [9] By-Law Nos. 1 & 2, Church Register, St. Elias Lutheran Church Records. [10] By-Law Nos. 3-6, in Ibid. [11] Articles of Agreement, April 20, 1851, St. Elias Lutheran Church Records; Agreement between the Lutheran and German Reformed Churches of Lower Augusta Township. Entered May 9, 1859, Deed Book PP, Register & Recorder's Office, Northumberland County Court House, Sunbury, Pa. [12] Joseph A. Meiser, A Genealogist's Guide to Northumberland County Burials, Vol. 2, 2nd. Ed. (Grantville: Wert Bookbinding, Inc., 1989), pp. 85-94. [13] St. Elias Centennial Celebration, p. 10. [14] Floyd, Genealogical and Biographical Annals, p. 254. [15] Ibid. [16] Ibid. [17] St. Elias Centennial Celebration, p. 2; Council Minutes, May 27, 1952, January 26, 1959, Box 1, File 4, St. Elias Lutheran Church Records, United Luthean Church Archives. [18] St. Elias Centennial Celebration. [19] Ibid. [20] Ibid. [21] St. Elias Centennial Celebration, p. 1. [22] St. Elias Council Minutes, July 29, 1952. [23] St. Elias Centennial Celebration. [24] Ibid. [25] Ibid. [26] Ibid. [27] Ibid.