Pine Hall Lutheran Church

FOREWARD

Pastor Heydenreich

This brief history of Pine Hall Lutheran Church is the work of many -- from the former and present Church secretaries who have faithfully kept the Church's records to the members of the Congregation who have shared with us their memories of years past to the young people of the Church who have collected and compiled much of the material contained herein.

Our records of Pine Hall are somewhat sketchy for much of the Church's 132 year history. Nevertheless, through a combination of Congregational and Council meeting minutes, Synod records, and oral reports, we think we have gained a better understanding of our Church's past. We have enjoyed doing this project, and we hope that the members of the Congregation will enjoy reading our report.

State College, Pennsylvania
December 1976

Mark Johnson
John Brubaker
Cindy Homan
Karen Homan
Kim Johnson
Jeff Kephart
Debbie Rosentrater
Tom Storm
Sylvia Strouse

Members of the Senior High/Young Adults
Sunday School Class of 1976

Forward
Preface
1 Beginnings: 1844-1875

2 The Evangelical Lutheran Church at Pine Hall: 1875-1903

5 The New Church: 1903-1940

8 The War Years and After: 1940-1965

10 Pine Hall Lutheran Church Today: 1966-1976

A: Dedication of the Original Corner
Stone, May 16,1875 I
B: The 1875 Charter II
C: The By- Laws of 1885 IX
D: Current By- Laws XII
E: Pastors, 1844-1976 XV
F: Chronology of Major Events XVI

Beginnings: 1844-1875

Our earliest records of The Lutheran Congregation at Pine Hall date back to the year 1844. The first Pastor of the Congregation was Reverend Dan Moser, who served from 1844-1864.

We have precious little information about this early period. We do know that the Congregation began work on a log cabin church during the late l840s, but this church was not ready for occupancy until sometime after 1852. In the interim, the Congregation held their services in a number of other churches, including one called St. Thomas. Apparently, sometime after 1852 the Pine Hall Congregation began to share a church (possibly the log cabin) with the German Reformed Bretheren Congregation. We also know that periodically, at least as late as 1861, Reverend Moser preached in the German language

The earliest Pine Hall membership records date back to 1852, at which time there were 19 communing members. The small Congregation grew gradually to a membership of 40 in 1861. By the end of the 1960s there were at least three families in church whose descendents are still with us today: the Corls, the Homans, and the Strouses.

Aside from the above, we have only one additional piece of information about Pine Hall that gives us a flavor of that period. According to Congregational meeting minutes from the year 1859, a member of the Congregation was criticized for "profanity." He confessed his guilt at a hearing before the Congregation and was excused. At that same

hearing he was also excused for not attending communion. We suspect members of the Pine Hall Congregation had to abide by a pretty strict code of conduct in those days.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church at Pine Hall: 1875-1903

It is our good fortune to have a very thorough set of Council and Congregational meeting minutes for the period 1875-1896, kept faithfully by Church Secretary George W. Homan.

In October 1874, the Pine Hall Congregation obtained a plot of land measuring 75 feet x 55 feet from Mr. Martin Brurngard. That plot was part of the same property where Pine Hall Lutheran Church sits today. It was resolved by the Congregation that same month to build a new church:

Whereas the peace and prosperity of The Lutheran Congregation worshipping in the old union church (German Reformed and Lutheran) at Pine Hall, had been frequently and also seriously disturbed from time to time. Therefore, at a meeting held by the members of the Lutheran Congregation, on the evening of the 5th of October, 1874, resolutions were drawn up by Rev. M. G. Earhart and adopted by the members, resolving by the help of God, to erect a new church.

At the same time, the Congregation decided to sell its interest in the old church to the German Reformed Bretheren for the sum of $75.

At the November 1874 meeting of the Congregation the members decided to build a brick church if it could be done for "reasonable price." For some reason, however, it appears that they changed their minds and decided to use a wood frame construction. Between November 1874 and January 1875, subscriptions were made for a total of $1,926.79 in cash and $269.75 in labor to support construction of the new building.

The cornerstone of the church was laid on May 16, 1875. The contents of the cornerstone were as follows: a Bible, one Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book, a Book of Worship, a copy of the Lutheran Observer, a copy of the Republican Reporter, a copy of the Farmer's Friend, money scrip, silver, nickel, and copper, and a copy of the Dedication that was composed for the occasion and which appears in Appendix A.

The new two-story wood-frame church was dedicated on November 11, 1875, and the congregation held its first communion in the new building on December 19, 1875. The Charter (also an Act of Incorporation) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Pine Hall is reproduced in full in Appendix B. At this point, we might make note of just a few highlights of the Charter. First, the business of the church was to be conducted by a Council of two Elders, two Deacons, and three or more Trustees. The pastor was to serve as ex officio president. Second, there was to be an annual Congregational meeting every April to elect members of the Council. Third, those eligible to vote were communing members in good standing who had given at least $1.00 over the past year. Finally, a church pastor (there was no pastor at that time) was to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the Congregation.

The first pastor of the new church was Reverend R. Smith, who also served as pastor of the Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills. Reverend Smith received an annual salary of $300 (plus the parsonage and expenses) from Pine Hall. Partially because of some disagreement between Pine Hall and Pine Grove Mills, Reverend Smith resigned in 1877 and was succeeded by two other pastors who each lasted less than a year. In 1878, however, Pine Hall and Pine Grove Mills voted to accept Gatesburg into the Charge, and the three congregations extended a call to Reverend J. Alfred Koser, who served as pastor for the next seven years (1878-1885).

We know less about the day-to-day life of the church in those days than we know about the church building and the pastors. Nevertheless, we do know that services were conducted on a biweekly basis at Pine Hall, alternately at 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. On the Saturday before each Communion Sunday, the Congregation would gather for a "preparation" service. It would be very interesting to know more about those preparation services.

We also know that Pine Hall Church was by no means wealthy in those days. For example, in December 1884, when $212.21 was needed for building repairs, $63.21 had to be borrowed. Shortly afterwards, it was decided that the Church should have a set of by-laws which would, among other things, provide for an adequate annual church income via apportionment of expenses among the members. The By-laws of 1885 (Appendix C) outlined council election procedures; stipulated that no member could decline to serve

office; and required that all members contribute $1.00 per year plus an annual apportionment to be calculated from township tax records.

The years 1885-1900 were relatively uneventful years for Pine Hall, but the church continued to grow. Eighty persons communed in May of 1891. In March 1892, Pine Hall applied to assume legal responsibility for the cemetery across the street. In 1894, building repairs were made and new furniture purchased for a total of $800. The largest single subscription was $16.50. The year 1900 saw Pine Hall a well-established church.

The New Church: 1903-1940

One Tuesday evening in mid-December of 1903, the members of Pine Hall prepared to go to the Church for a Christmas service rehearsal. A fire was built in the Church furnace in preparation for the evening's activities. No one knows exactly what happened, but somehow the furnace set the church on fire, and the building and everything in it went up in smoke. According to the Centre Democrat of December 17, 1903, the value of the recently renovated church building was twice the amount of the insurance on it ($2,000). The Centre Daily Times reported that the temporarily homeless Congregation received invitations to worship at two different State College churches. It was also reported that the Congregation owned a church lot in the borough and would probably consider relocating to that spot.

Pine Hall Lutheran Church, however, was destined to remain in Pine Hall. Between May and October 1904, the present brick church was

constructed, utilizing the original foundation, for a grand total of $5,100 (including new furniture and an organ). In the cornerstone were placed some coins, a small bottle of wine, a testament, and some other miscellaneous items that no one quite remembers. The work was performed by the following craftsmen; the Jacksons (stone masons), the Kellers of Pine Grove Mills (carpenters), the Reed brothers (brick layers), the Ward family (painters), Mr. Hoover from Shingletown (plastering), and an unknown firm from Pittsburgh (steel ceiling).

Pine Hall's pastor at that time was Rev. Charles T. Aikens. (His name is engraved on the stain glass window to the right of the altar). Rev. Aikens had been pastor of Pine Hall, Gatesburg, and Pine Grove Mills since 1888. In 1905, Rev. Aikens left Pine Hall to become President of the Synod, which was located in Selinsgrove. According to the Centre Daily Times, Rev. Aikens' seventeen year "statistics" included 2,100 sermons, 460 confirmations, 380 baptisms, 166 marriages, 375 funerals, and 6,200 pastoral visits. When Rev. Aikens came to Pine Hall, the communing membership totaled 50; when he departed, membership stood at 130.

Our records of Pine Hall between 1905-1940 are a bit sketchy. Nevertheless, we have obtained the following information from the senior members of today's Pine Hall Congregation. The internal government (Council) of the Church remained essentially the same as before. Sunday School classes were held in the small room to the left of the Sanctuary, and they were usually well attended There was also a young peoples' group called Christian Endeavor that met on Sunday night for Bible readings and discussions. There wasn't too much social life within the Church, but there

were some outdoor recreational activities during the summer. Church services were sometimes held on Sunday afternoons. During this period also a large single silver cup was used for communion instead of the little individual glasses we use today.

While the country witnessed a World War and a serious economic depression during the years 1910-1940, Pine Hall Lutheran Church remained a stabilizing force in the lives of its members. Although Pine Hall lost some of its sons to the war and experienced the financial pressures of the depression, the church – like the community of which it was a part, was somewhat isolated from the turmoil of those years.

The center of social life in the community during this period was not the church but the Grange. Nevertheless, Pine Hall did encourage Congregational fellowship by sponsoring suppers at members' homes, picnics, and periodic Church socials. Mrs. Homer Grubb remembers that they had one type of social called a "measuring social." The idea was that everyone who came would be measured and make a church contribution of five cents for every inch they were tall. That means a six-footer would contribute $3.60 – no meager sums in those days!

Church services were held only every other week because the pastor had three churches. Perhaps as a result, the Sunday School (which met every week) was quite a bit larger than it is today. In response to our questions about those years, we are also told that the Church always had a choir, that there was always some form of entertainment around Christmas time, and that every year there was a children's service in June.

The War Years and After: 1940-1965

In 1943 Reverend and Mrs. George Groninger began their fifteen year ministry at Pine Hall and its two sister churches. The Groningers, who still live in State College, have been kind enough to share some of their memories of this period with us, so we will tell you how it was, at least partially, as seen through their eyes.

The post-war years (1945-1955) were a period of growth for both Pine Hall and the surrounding community. During this period a number of physical improvements were made, including digging a basement under the church and renovating the sanctuary. It was also during this period that a Mr. Krogmann visited Pine Hall from out of to town and was commissioned to paint the picture of Christ on the wall above the altar. In addition, the church purchased a new Hammond organ from a Mr. Kaufmann of Lewistown. Finally, the Church enlarged and paved its parking lot.

The Sunday School was quite large and active during the 1950s. There were separate men's and women's classes, and a young married group called The Busy Bees. The young married couples of the church at this time were reportedly the "backbone" of the Congregation.

Also during these years the three churches in the charge engaged in a variety of joint activities. There was a Joint Missionary Society. There was a Joint Vacation Bible School at the Ferguson Township School. In fact, all the churches in Pine Grove Mills participated in the Bible School, and daily attendance ranged from 180-200. The three Lutheran churches also had a joint mother-daughter banquet every spring; and

There was an annual joint fellowship supper with entertainment provided by each of the three congregations.

In 1956 Pine Hall expanded its lot by purchasing additional land from Mr. John A. Arbuckle. There were enough members now to talk about holding services every Sunday instead of bi-weekly. In December 1959, the Congregation voted in favor of creating a new two-church parish with The Shiloh Lutheran Church on the Benner Pike. A separate parish would then be created for Gatesburg and Pine Grove Mills - - an arrangement which only lasted until 1962. Also in 1959, Pine Hall voted to sell the parsonage in Pine Grove Mills. Pine Hall received $1,896.02 for its share of the sale.

Under the pastorate of Rev. Frank R. Heavner (1960-1965), Pine Hall voted to draw up a church constitution. The constitution appears to have been drafted, submitted to the Congregation, and approved by the Congregation during 1962. But it has never been approved by Synod, primarily because the Congregation does not wish to agree to an arrangement whereby Pine Hall would turn its property over to the Synod in the event of bankruptcy.

With the exception of the Constitution, Rev. Heavner's tenure was a relatively quiet one. However, since we have detailed Council Minutes for that period we'll try to give you a flavor of the times by reviewing some of the incidents in the life of the church during 1960¬1965. In June 1961, Council voted to stop accepting Synod contributions to our pastor's salary. In October 1961, Council decided to sponsor a Halloween party for the junior choir. In December of that year the Young People's

Sunday School Class was given permission to sell Christmas trees at the church once again. The Young People's Group also sponsored a ''macadamizing fund" to repave the parking lot. In December 1962, Pine Hall disaffiliated with Shiloh and realigned with Gatesburg, forming the two-church parish that we have today.

In late 1963, there was a movement to reactivate the young married couples group which had been so active in the early 1950s, but there wasn't sufficient interest. The Sunday School was also losing members, and the Christian Education Committee was appointed in December 1963 to see if it could encourage a better turnout.

In the Spring of 1964, arrangements were made with the Church's neighbor, Imbt, Inc., to trade a piece of land east of the Church to Imbt in exchange for some land in the rear south of the Church. At the same time Imbt, Inc. agreed to plant a row of trees at our southern boundary in order to cut his equipment off from view. Pine Hall was generally interested in expanding its property during that period. In fact, in 1965, there was a Building Committee that explored the possibility of building a new church. The idea was dropped, however, when it was determined that construction costs were too high.

Pine Hall Lutheran Church Today: 1966-1976

In the Summer of 1966, our present pastor Reverend Robert A. Heydenreich, came to Pine Hall. One of Pastor Heydenreich's first projects was to reorganize The Young Peoples Group and to change its name to Luther League. The new Luther League group has been active ever since, raising funds

through various service activities and generally contributing to the life and welfare of the church.

The year 1970 was an important one for Pine Hall. In May 1970, the Congregation made its final mortgage payment on the parsonage on Breezewood Drive. In November of that year, Pine Hall initiated a series of discussions with St. Peters Church (United Church of Christ) across the street over the possibility of merging the two churches. St. Peters had recently decided to try to operate on its own and was experiencing some financial difficulties.

In December 1970, the two church councils appointed a Joint Study Committee. The Committee deliberated for two months, and in February 1971, it submitted a report to the Congregations that outlined the pros and cons of affiliation. The Committee pointed out that neither church had kept pace with the population growth in the State College area since 1945 and that affiliation or a merger might enable the churches to improve their growth rate. Neither of the Congregations, however, appeared ready for a merger, so the committee recommended that the two churches exercise the option of engaging in some joint activities for a while in order to get to know each other better. Indeed, Pine Hall and St. Peters have tried combined services and Sunday School classes from time to time during the past five years. Moreover, there has long been a joint corporation with representatives from both churches that oversees the care and maintenance of Pine Hall cemetery. A merger, however, appears unlikely in the near future.

The period 1973-1976 has witnessed a great many physical improvements at Pine Hall. The sanctuary has been refurnished with new pews, lights, and carpeting. Movable,

soundproof partitions have been added to the Sunday School rooms in the basement. A new basement entrance has been added in the rear of the building. There has been discussion of an addition to the church and of purchasing from Erie Tech a few more acres of land immediately west of the church's property. However, neither action has been taken as yet. The most recent property decision (Sept. 1976) has been to agree to sell the parsonage to Pastor Heydenreich as soon as the details can be worked out.

Today Pine Hall Lutheran Church is a stable church with a communing membership of 175 and a few new families joining each year. There is a healthy mix of farmers, businessmen, University employees, old church families, and new church families. We get together for church suppers and picnics about four or five times a year. We sponsor an underprivileged child in Appalachia. We have an active and lively group of young people in Luther League. For the past two years we have collected money at Christmas time for local families less fortunate than we.

Our Women's Altar Guild, one of the mainstays of the church, engages in a variety of
service and fund-raising activities. We have a choir which faithfully provides us with a musical program each Sunday. Sunday School attendance averages 45 each week and provides classes for everyone interested three years and older. Then,
of course, there is the Church Council whose members since the time the Church was founded have given of their time and energies to help Pine Hall progress and grow.

We, the members of the Senior High/Young Adults Class of this bicentennial year, 1976, hope that Pine Hall Lutheran Church will continue to grow and to seek new ways to serve Our Lord and His people in the years to come. *

*We are pleased to note that during the time this booklet was being prepared for publication, Pine Hall Lutheran Church decided to serve as sponsor of The Pennsylvania State University's singing group, “Re-Creation,“ under the direction of our good friend, Mr. Hugh Brooks. "Re-Creation" travels throughout the Northeast presenting programs of secular and religious music. We are very happy that Pine Hall is playing a role in supporting this wonderful ministry of music.

In the name of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Dearly Beloved

It has been customary for devout and holy men, under the law, as well as under gospel, to erect houses of public worship for the Service of God. This custom the Almighty has been pleased to Sanction, in order to afford his people the most convenient opportunity of worshipping Him, of listening to the instructions of His word, their Sins, imploring his blessings and Securing his favor. And now that the congregation concerned might realize the blessings connected with the public worship of God in a place, affording them all the necessary conveniences; they have resolved, forthwith to make an effort, and by divine assistance, to build such an house for God. Thus far they have Succeeded in reliance upon the assistance of God, to make preparations, and have commenced the important work, of erecting the contemplated Edifice. By divine permission we have now assembled to engage in the Solemn exercises of laying the Corner Stone of the above named House.

This we now do, in the public manner, and in the name of the adorable and ever blessed Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. This new Church or house for the public worship of God, as above named, shall be the property of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation worshiping at Pine Hall, Centre County- Pennsylvania.

The particular title and designation of the above mentioned house, shall be Pine Hall Church, where the word of God shall be expounded and taught, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached in its purity, and where the doctrines and principles of the religion of Jesus Christ sha~l be inculcated, as they are contained in the Holy Scriptures, and are fundamentally set forth in the doctrinal standard of our Churches.

In a word we believe the Scriptures of Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith, and practice.

Hence we consider, that our rules of Church government, and discipline as contained in the Lutheran HYmn Book to be founded upon the word of God, and should therefore by the help of God, be obeyed and submitted to by all the members of the congregation herein mentioned.

The Corner Stone of the above named Church, was layed on the 16th day of May, A.D. 1875, under the administration of Ulysses Grant, President and Henry Wilson, Vice President of the United States and John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.

Rev. A. P. Hartsock preached the sermon of the occasion.

Minister present - Rev. A. P. Hartsock

Building Committee -

Thomas Strouse
John Homan
Joseph Hoy

Treasurer

David H. Young

Secretary

George W. Homan

Elders

Joseph Strouse
D. P. Johnson

Deacons

David L. Dennis
J. T. McCormick

Whereas the following named persons, citizens of the commonwealth viz Thomas Strouse, Thomas Wood, and J. T. McCormick have together with other citizens associated for the purpose of worshiping Almighty God, according to the faith and discipline laid down in the formula for the government and discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the State of Pennsylvania, and have for that formed a Congregation at Pine Hall in the county of Centre and State of Pennsylvania, and are now desirous to be incorporated agreeably to the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporations and regulations of certain corporations."

We therefore, certify that we do hereby associate ourselves for the object and under the articles, conditions, and name specified, in the following Articles.

Article I

That the name of the corporation shall be the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Pine Hall, and shall be located at Pine Hall, in Ferguson Township, Centre County and State of Pennsylvania, and by said name shall have perpetual succession and be able to suet and be sued, to plead, and be impleaded in all courts of law and equity, before any judge or judges, justice, or justices, in all manner of suite, complaints, pleas, and matter.

And the corporation shall be able and capable in law and equity to take hold and receive to them, and their successors, for the use of said corporation, lands, goods, tenements, and chattles, and any sum or sums of money and property of whatsoever kind or quality,

real or personal, and mixed, which now, or shall, or may, at any time hereafter, become the property of said corporation, or be held for their use, by gift, grant, bargain, sale, convenance, demise bequest, or otherwise, from any person or persons, whomsoever capable of making the same, and the same to grant, bargain, sell mortgage or dispose of for the use of said corporation, provided that the yearly value or income of said estate shall not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars, and shall not be appropriated to any other than benevolent and religious purposes and uses, and provided the same shall not be otherwise taken and held, or used, than subject to the control and disposition of the lay members of such church congregation, or religious society or such constituted officers or representatives, thereof as shall be created by a majority of the lay members, and who may be invested with a controlling power according to the rules, regulations, usages, or corporate requirements, thereof so far as consistent herewith.

Article II

The purpose of said corporation shall be to worship Almighty God according to the faith and discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the State of Pennsylvania.

The business thereof shall be transacted and conducted by one pastor, two elders, two deacons, three or more trustees (as the by-laws may direct) which persons shall constitute the church council, of which when present, the pastor shall exofficiate president; said council may appoint a Secretary, Treasurer and such other officers as they from time to time may deem necessary for the better government of the corporation until such are elected as, hereinafter, provided the following

named persons shall compose the church council until their successors are elected at the annual election to be held on the second Saturday of April of each and every year at such place and such manner, and under such regulations as the by-laws of the corporation may direct. A failure to elect a council at the stated time of election shall not work a dissolution of the corporation, but the members thereof therein office, shall continue until their successors be elected as may be provided by the by-laws.

Article III

The place of meeting for the purpose of said corporation shall be at Pine Hall, Ferguson Township, Centre County and State of Pennsylvania. All elections to be held shall be publicly announced from the pulpit at least two weeks previous to the time of the holding thereof. All elections shall be held and conducted by the church council at such time as they may select, or deem proper, or upon the day of the annual election at such time as they fix the requisite notice of the time and place of said election having been given.

The result of all elections shall be published from the pulpit at the next regular stated meeting for public worship thereafter.

Article IV

That in all elections to be held any person in full communion with the congregation and of good standing in the church and who has been a contributor to the Support of the Church to the amount of one dollar annually, previous, to the time of election, shall be entitled to the right of an elector and not otherwise.

The lay members of Said Congregation who may be eligible to be members of the Church Council shall be citizens of Pennsylvania, and in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pennsylvania.

Article V

That the congregation shall have power and full authority to hold elections from time to time for the election of a pastor, at which election the members of the congregation qualified as afore-said shall vote. Said election to be by ballot, and a two third majority of the votes cast shall to all cases be conclusive of a choice. And no pastor elected as afore said shall be dismissed from said congregation except by a two third majority of the votes of the qualified voters taken as afore-said. But no minister of the Gospel shall ever be elected as pastor of the congregation unless he is in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a member of a Synod, connected with the General Synod of the Lutheran Church in America agreeably to the, tents, rits and ceremonies thereof.

Article VI

That the church council shall consist of not less than seven, nor more than eleven members, two thirds of which members shall constitute a quorum, to transact business, and said council shall have power to make such by-laws, rules, and ordinances as are not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States, or of the State of Pennsylvania or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the said state, or to the provisions of the Charter.

Names of members that signed the Charter:

Thomas Strouse
Joseph Hoy
Andrew B. Struble
David H. Young
Sammuel S. Grieb
Andrew Tresler
Joseph Strouse
John S. McCormick
Joseph Gates
B. F. Homan
Daniel P. Johnson
David L. Dennis
John T. McCormick

Article I
Section 1 Meetings
This congregation shall hold its meetings, for the Worship of God on Sabbath, at such times as the Pastor or President shall or may order.

Section 2 Special Meetings
The Pastor or President, or any five members shall have power to call special meetings of the congregation at such times as they may desire.
Article II
The number of members present at such meetings, two thirds of which shall constitute a quorum.
Article III
Section 1
Resolved that persons wishing to become members of the Pine Hall Lutheran Church, shall inform Pastor or any member or member of the council of their intention and he or she report the same to the Pastor or council at the first meeting of said church and they shall be admitted, if accepted by the council, according to the Evangelical Lutheran church as adopted by the General Synod.
Article IV
Section 1
Election of officers shall be as follows: That they be nominated at a space of two weeks

before the election and that they shall be elected by ballot. The one receiving the largest number of votes to be declared elected to the office for which nominated and shall perform the duties of that office until expiration term of two or more years according to By-Law laid out in charter.

Section 2

In case of a vacancy in any office by death or otherwise, a successor shall be chosen and elected at any time the vacancy shall occur, according to Article IV, Section 1 to be installed immediately
on being elected.

Section 3

No member chosen to fill any office shall have a right to decline except under the following circumstances. First, that he be chosen to hold some other office at the same time. Second - or that he be nominated to the same office just expired or expiring.

Resolution

Resolved that each member shall pay one dollar annually, and thereafter he or she shall be apportioned and that the Township Book shall be taken as a guide thereto and the percentage shall be a sufficient amount to pay salary and all other incidental expenses as may occur for the keeping up the Pine Hall Lutheran Church. That where a family be divided and the husband belongs to one church and the spouse to another branch of the church that it be divided and only half the amount be collected therefore as per resolution adopted December 23, 1884.

The salary shall be paid quarterly to the treasurer who shall remit the same to the Pastor whenever it is due him.

Resolved that the time of holding the annual congregational meeting be changed, according to liberty from the second Saturday of April to the second Saturday of March of each year.

1. Amendments to these by-laws which are not in conflict with the by-laws the constitution or the charter, may be made at any congregational meeting by a two-thirds vote of the eligible members in good standing who are present and voting, provided that such amendments have been proposed in writing by at least five voting members in good standing at a meeting of the congregation held at least ninety days earlier, or provided that they have been approved by the church council and by it submitted by mail to all the confirmed members in good standing at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which final action is to be taken.

2. The Vice-President of the council shall be the chairman of the council and of the congregation, and shall conduct all the council and
congregational meetings.

3. If the annual meeting of the congregation is not held as provided by the charter, the meeting will be held at a time designated by the council.

4. The auditors shall be members of the congregation and chosen each year by the council: one member shall be a councilman, and two members shall be from the congregation at large. They shall serve one year.

5. Financial records shall be retained for seven years. All old records older than seven years, shall be disposed of only after a motion to do so has been passed by the council.

6. The Financial Secretary shall keep offering envelopes for two years and then destroy them.

7. All church offering accounts shall be considered correct unless the financial secretary is notified of errors within thirty days after individual giving statements have been received.

8. New councilmen shall be installed on the first Sunday of January.

9. The agenda for the council meetings is as follows:

Meeting called to order Prayer
Minutes of previous meeting(s)
Treasurer's report
Committee reports
Old business
New business
Meeting adjourned by motion
Lord's Prayer

10. The minister shall act as chairman of the council until one is elected.

11. The secretary and the treasurer of the council shall remain in their offices until a new secretary and a new treasurer are elected. They shall attend all council meetings until such time. They shall turn over their books to the newly elected treasurer and secretary, and explain the jobs to them.

12. All insurance policies, deeds, records of

financial transactions over $500, copies of the charter and constitution, and all other valuable or otherwise important papers, shall be kept in the safety-deposit box. Nothing shall be removed except on orders of the council.

13. There will be an inventory of all church property in the safety-deposit box at all times. It shall be brought up to date yearly.

Appendix E

Dan Moser 1844-1864
? Kentze1 1864-1866
Daniel Sell 1865-1869
L. K. Secrist 1866-1871
J. T. Williams 1866-1871
Moses G. Earhart 1871-1875
Char1es Hoy 1875 (supply
minister)
A. J. Hartsock 1875 (supply
minister)
? Krinder 1875 (supply
minister)
R. Smith 1876-1877
J. Bright 1877
H. J. Lang 1877-1878
J. Alfred Koser 1878-1885
A. K. Felton 1885-1886
A. N. Warner 1886-1888
C. J. Aikens 1888-1905
Ralph H. Bergstresser 1906-1908
F. S. Schultz 1909-1912
Luther S. Spangler 1913-1915
Lindley Neff Fleck 1916-1919
Albert M. Lutton 1919-1921
John S. English 1922-1938
James N. Fisher 1938-1943
George Groninger 1943-1958
John Clarke 1958-1959
Frank R. Heavner 1960-1965
Robert A. Heydenreich 1966¬

1844 Rev. Dan Moser becomes Pine Hall's first pastor.

1852 Log cabin church ready for occupancy.

1875 Wood frame church constructed

1878 Pine Hall and Pine Grove Mills vote to ac¬cept Gatesburg into the charge.

1885 First by-laws written

1892 Pine Hall applies to assume legal respon¬sibility for Pine Hall cemetery (now shares responsibility with St. Peters).

1903 Wood frame church burns at Christmas time.

1904 Present (1976) brick church constructed.

1959 Pine Hall and Shiloh create a new two-church parish.

1962 Pine Hall reaffiliates with Gatesburg.

1966 Rev. Robert A. Heydenreich becomes pastor of Pine Hall.

1970 Final mortgage payment made on parsonage on Breezewood Drive.

1974 Sanctuary refurnished.