RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2020
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
As we have mentioned several times in other “Kinsearching” columns, data about people may sometimes be found in unexpected sources. Even if the information is not very detailed, it may establish where individuals lived at a specific time and what their activities were. For example, the names of a few congregational members appear in the 46-page booklet, Constitution, Charter, Rules and Regulations for Burial Ground and Cemeteries of St. John’s (Hain’s) Reformed Church of Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pa. (Reading, Pa.: I. M. Weaver, Printer, 1924). Although the complete name of the booklet appears on the title page, the front cover shortens the title to St. John’s (Hain’s) Reformed Church of Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pa.
Page 28 – The constitution was drafted and recommended by these committee members:
Rev. Wm. J. KERSHNER, Pastor
Adam G. LERCH
Wm. V. HASSLER
A. L. BICKEL
Edwin G. RUTH
Henry H. REBER
George H. RADER
Leonard M. RUTH
Charles I. HAIN
Frederick G. HAIN
Clarence N. LAMM
Leonard G. YODER, Esq., Counsel.
Page 33 – The Consistory adopted the work of the committee on 2 July 1924. The congregation approved the constitution on 3 August 1924.
Page 34 – The charter to incorporate St. John’s (Hain’s) Reformed Church was presented to the Court of Common Pleas in Berks County on 25 November 1923. The names and Pennsylvania residences of the members of the Consistory chosen for the first year appear on page 37:
Elders
Howard L. BAIR (sic), Wernersville
Nathaniel M. REIFSNYDER, Wernersville
Thomas M. HIESTER, Wernersville
Francis H. RUTH, R. F. D., Robesonia
Deacons
Clarence N. LAMM, Wernersville
Clyde A. SCHELL, R. F. D., Sinking Spring
David F. BOHN, Wernersville
Jerome D. MOGEL, R. F. D., Sinking Spring
Trustees
George H. RADER, West Reading
Leonard M. RUTH, Wernersville
Charles I. HAIN, Wernersville
Frederick G. HAIN, Wernersville
Milton I. HAIN, Wernersville
Page 40 – All of the men listed above signed the charter. On the roster of elders, Howard L.’s surname is spelled BAIR. However, he signed the charter and the certificate of incorporation as BAER.
Page 41 – On 26 November 1923, Howard L. BAER, Thomas M. HIESTER, and Clarence N. LAMM acknowledged the Certificate of Incorporation before Adam G. LERCH, a notary public in “the Boro of Wernersville.” Nathaniel M. REIFSNYDER acknowledged the facts in the application were true at the same time.
Page 43 – Leonard G. YODER, Esq., the attorney for the petitioners, made a motion in court for the charter to be accepted. As judge, Samuel E. BERTOLET ordered a decree for its approval on 24 January 1924.
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