History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna

1916·28.4 MB·English

by  Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926

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REV. WM. J. KERSHNEK.
HISTORY
OF
St John's (Hain's) Reformed
Church
IN
LOWER HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP
Berks County, Penna*
BY
REV. W. piRSHNER, Pastof
J.
AND
ADAM LERCH
G.
Reading, Pa.
I. M. BEAVER, PUBL:ISHER
1916
F/i'f
ST. JOHNS (MAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
PREFACE.
To write a narrative or history of passing events as they trans-
pire from time to time is an easy task. The matertal is then at
hand and is only to be put in sentences embelished with language
to gratify the taste of both writer and readers.
To put into writing what transpired more than five genera-
tions ago is a more difficult undertaking, especially when records
and traditional facts are meager and few. It then becomes neces-
sary to collect from all available sources information that throws
light on the subject, and by collation ascertain which and what
of the material is of the greater weight and reliability. This was
found to be the case in the compilation of this work. It had been
the wish of some of the members of the St. John's Reformed
Church in Lower Heidelberg township, Berks county, Penna. (bet-
ter known as Hain's Church), to have a history published giving
in detail a description of the formation, struggles and growth of
the congregation. An attempt of the same is hereby offered to
the reading public.
THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH RECORD.
In the year 1891 Mr. Michael Ruth, an aged member of the congrega-
tion, made a suggestion that some one should take care of the old church
records, so that they would not be lost. It was then remarked that Mr.
Adam G. Lerch was the proper person for this task. This induced Mr.
Lerch to make traaslations of the same, so that the coming generations
could read them. Then later Dr. James I. Good.
"We, the undersigned, whose ancestors lie buried in the grave-yard of
the Hain's Reformed Church, Berks county, Pennsylvania, do, out of re-
spect to their memory, present this Church Register to its consistorj', so
that the early church records may be translated into it by Adam G. Lerch,
and thus preserved. May 9, 1896.
Ancestors. Donors.
/James I. Good
^CCReoavnportlaaudJmti_Eoicnnk,aetrrhyte.War^)\) ^I1\^GWRxiee,slbozler.icgnaceEma.BEE..cBEkeGcenkrosetoorndSttetson
VDavid E. Benson
—
Ruth Ivudwig James Rick
Henry Hain S. Agnes Otis
Henry, Daniel, John, Jacob Hain Clara L. Hain Zieber
George, Casper, Joseph, Benjamin
and Harriet Hain Daniel B. D. Beaver "
We have not given any references showing the sources of our informa-
tion, because a great many pages would have been marred by numerous
repetitions, but we would express our gratitude, appreciation and indebt-
edness to the consistory of the Church and to the members of the congre-
gation in their aid in the work to the "Reformed Church Record," Rev.
DI.r.M.JasB.eaIv.eGr,ooEdd,itRoerv,.aWnidltlhieamm;eHinnkine,hiHs.esHtaarbollidshKmeernsth;neWri,llRieavm.ST.hDoemlaps,
H. Krick, Edward E. Hafer, Harry E. Miller and "The Reading Eagle."