History of Saint John's Classis (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 Excerpt: ...Rev. Shearer was pastor of the Shanesville charge 13 years; closing his work in 1840. Rev. Jacob Baer became the next pastor of the Shanesville charge, coming in 1840. We are told that he had charge of 12 congregations. In the historical sketch prepared for the 75th anniversary of the congregation the writer says: "After the pastorate of the Rev. David Shearer there was a long vacancy on the Reformed side." It appears, however, from the records that New Bedford at this time must have been a part of the Shanesville charge, and so must have enjoyed the services of Rev. Baer, who continued to labor in this vicinity five or six years. Following him (1845) Rev. David Martz, who at first served ten, later six, congregations, ministered unto the people. These were the days of the movement known as "New Measureism." It appears, the Rev. Mr. Martz fell in with this movement. This act was not well received by the majority of his people, and in the end caused some of them to leave the church both here and at Farmerstown. It is said that the outgoing ones became the nucleus for the U. B. churches at both of these places. Rev. Martz died Feb. 19, 1849. Just when the New Bedford and sister congregations were constituted a charge independent of the Shanesville charge, is not clearly stated. It would seem, however, that this must have come to pass during the Martz pastorate. In the records of the Supreme Court of Ohio, 1878, in the Case in Partition pending between the German and English Reformed congregation of Zions Church near New Bedford, Ohio, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church it appears that Rev. David Kaemmerer ministered unto the congregation. He says: "I officiated there in 1845 and 1846, and have preached there since, and also after 185...