A BRIEF HISTORY
of
SALEM EVANGELICAL CHURCH
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

The Earliest Beginnings

In the year 1832, two years before Rochester was incorporated as a city, first church service for the German families residing in this community as held under the leadership of Pastor Mueller in the Brick Presbyterian Church. In the following year Pastor Welden, an itinerant missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of New York State, organized a congregation which was named "The United Evangelical Church." Although the total number of German residents in Rochester at this time was only three hundred, the register of this first German Protestant Church contained the names of forty-three heads of families.

The Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Welden was succeeded by the Reverend W. A. Fetter, who had previously served a small congregation in the village of Rush, New York. He was elected as permanent pastor in 1836. In the same year the corner-stone of the first German Protestant house of Worship in Rochester was laid at the corner of Grove and Stillson Streets. Owing to a controversy between the Lutheran and the Evangelical elements in the newly organized congregation, the building operations were retarded for several months. With the coming of the Reverend John Muelhaeuser, harmony was restored, and soon thereafter the young congregation was privileged to worship in its own sanctuary, the Zion Lutheran Church.

The Trinity Evangelical Church

Objection to certain elements in the Lutheran form of doctrine led a group of members to withdraw from the Zion Church in 1842. The outgrowth of this secession was the formation of the Trinity Evangelical Church, the mother church of Salem. A paragraph in the constitution of this congregation indicates that the founders of Trinity desired not to be known as "Lutheran," or as "Reformed," but wanted to build a United Evangelical Protestant Church. The spirit which motivated them is expressed in the official seal of the year 1849, which carries in the center as a motto, the words Ephesians 4:5, "One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism," emphasizing the unity of the Christian church. This passage was later adopted as the motto of the Evangelical Synod of North America.

After worshipping for five years in rented buildings, first in Ford Streetnear West Avenue and later in Allen Street near State Street, the membersof Trinity congregation laid the corner-stone of their own church building onthe north side of Allen Street near Fitzhugh Street. Here a brick building,forty by seventy feet in size, was erected which served the people of Trinityas their sanctuary through fifty-eight years. The names of six pastors arementioned in the early history of Trinity, prior to the year 1861. Of these the Reverend C. Haass, 1849-1852, and the Reverend C. G. Clausen, 1852-1861, experienced most fruitful ministries. Under the leadership of the former a parochial school was established which existed through many years. During bothof these pastorates the congregation enjoyed a steady and healthy growth.

With the arrival of the Reverend Philip Conradi, in 1861, began an era ofunrest and discord which culminated in the resignation of the pastor and inthe withdrawal of many of his staunch supporters from membership inTrinity Church. Together they organized St. Paul Evangelical Church anderected a new building in Fitzhugh Street, only a short distance away fromthe mother church.

Into the midst of a badly disrupted congregation and a most discouragingsituation came the man who was called of God to lead Trinity to the veryheights of Christian service and into a commanding position of influence inthe community life. This man was the Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer who assumed the pastorate in Trinity on February 25, 1862, and who became, twelveyears later, the founder and the first pastor of the Salem Evangelical Church.

The Ministry of the Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer
1862 - 1894

The Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer was born on May 17, 1832, at Wachenheim in the Palatinate in Germany. This was the period of various revolutions throughout Europe.In those days in the Palatinate and the Rhine Valley there wasrather intense feeling both for and against revolution. It is narratedthat someone fastened an emblem of the revolutionary colors to thebaby's clothing. At any rate, recently in the spring of 1932 in certain Centennial celebrations in Germany, especially that held at Hambach, theorators referred also to one "Siebenpfeiffer", and as the name is rare he may have belonged to this family. However, when the more violent revolutions occurred in 1848, the youth of 16 years was quietly attending the Latin school and 'gymnasium' in Speyer, an historic town further up the Rhine valley, in a region in which the agitation ran high. After four years we find him at Erlangen attending the theological courses at the university. He was sofortunate as to win a scholarship in theology, and this required that he mustattend the university at Utrecht, Holland. Finally he completed his education, so far as formal schooling is concerned, at Heidelberg, in the year 1856,at the age of twenty-four.

Almost immediately he came to America, having been in communicationwith two noted German clerymen, the Reverend J. Hartmann and the Reverend F. Vogt. Hewas assigned to serve a group of small congregations in thewestern part of New York State, at Bennington, Sheldon and Orangeville,all being near Attica and therefore some fifty miles from Buffalo, N.Y. In 1859 he accepted a call to come to Black Rock, usually called North Buffalo,but today a part of that city. In 1862 he came to Rochester, N.Y., where heremained the rest of his life, some thirty-two years. At first he served Trinity Church which soon grew so large in its membership that the number of listeners could no longer be accommodated.

The outcome was that a new congregation was founded on the east sideof the river, where in the years 1873 and 1874 Pastor Siebenpfeiffer's followers built the Salem Church and called him as their minister. He served this church nearly twenty years until ill health caused his retirement and shortly afterward his death on August 19, 1894. His devotion to Salem Church was most active and intense. The words "Salem" and "Siebenpfeiffer" became synonymous. The touching regard in which the people of Salem held him was exemplified in many ways, perhaps most notably in the fact that even today, nearly forty years after his death, a certain society of the church still places flowers upon his grave upon each anniversary of his birth.

His interest in the Synod at large was manifested in that group whichat the time of his early residence in America was known as "The UnitedEvangelical Synod of the East," which organization he served as vice-president. His founding and editing of the monthly paper of this Synod called"Die Union," in 1859, is proof of his aspiration to unite the various small groups of churches in a strong and effective body. This was a gradual processrequiring many years of persistent and patient effort. He resigned as editorof this paper in 1863, having served five years, but a few years later he again edited the paper and continued to do so until about 1871 or 1872, when "Die Union" was discontinued to make way for the larger and older monthly called "Der Friedensbote," which had been the organ of the larger western Synod with which a union had been effected. From 1875-1877 he held the office of District President and in 1877 he was chosen to be the Chairman of the "Synodical Board of Educational Institutions." Later, from 1880-1882, he served the Evangelical Synod as General President, and from 1885-1887 as Vice-President. Already at that time ill health began to make itself evident, so that he was compelled to restrict his labors to his own Salem Church in Rochester. It became necessary to rely more and more on assistant ministers, until at last he had to resign altogether. This retirement was followed very shortly by his death in 1894.

A description of the character of the Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer isgleaned from the printed accounts given at the time of his death by his intimate associates, Pastors Schild, Henckell and Helmkamp. He was a man ofstately bearing and a facial expression of intelligence, kindness and friendliness. He was an able preacher of great spiritual power, a ready extemporaneous speaker and a faithful leader of debate at the district and general conferences. In his pastoral work he was untiring, enthusiastic and devoted. His noble, lovable character won the confidence and the esteem of his ministerialassociates throughput the Synod. His home life was beautiful. He marriedearly, and his wife proved a true helpmate, first in that group of scatteredcountry congregations, then in the short period of his ministry in North Buffalo, and especially during the thirty-two years in Rochester. She survivedhim less than two years. There were a number of children of which three, ason and two daughters, grew into manhood and womanhood. There was muchhospitality in that small house surrounded by fruit trees and vines near thefalls of the Genesee. He grafted successfully various kinds of fruit on thesetrees and the grape vines were carefully pruned. The garden and the beeswere a source of great pleasure to him.

His library consisted largely of German hooks. Besides those in theology,there were the great poets, Schiller, Goethe and others, histories of the world, and books on plant and animal life. He loved to quote proverbs and lines ofpoetry, and with great facility and dignity he recited the choicest Scripturalpassages.

The social and economic questions of the day interested him greatly.The marvels of scientific discoveries stirred his admiration. The training ofyouth in accomplishment and cultural refinement had a place near his heart.But foremost and pervading all his effects was his love for the church of God.

In Trinity, 1862 - 1814

The Golden Age

The pastorate of the Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer is known as the"golden age" in Trinity. He was an eloquent preacher, and soon every seat inthe auditorium was filled at divine worship. Many people waited for monthsto rent a sitting. A gallery was built which was also filled to capacity in avery short time, and still the cry for more room was heard. The averageyearly number of baptisms reached two hundred, of confirmands eighty, ofweddings sixty-five, of funerals sixty, and of communicants nearly one thousand. The parochial school, which was held in the basement of the churchbuilding, flourished in unprecedented manner. Among the teachers who assisted Pastor Siebenpfeiffer in this ministry of education in the old AllenStreet school were the following: L. Hoffman, L. Braun, W. Kornhaeuser,J. Glick, J. W. Bober, A. Oberlaender, L. Ritz, H. Miller, J. C. Gauger andC. Schoepper.

A Compelling Need

As early as 1867 it became apparent that additional room for worship, foreducational purposes and for the various activities in the congregational lifemust be provided. Many of the members recognized the urgent need of largerand better facilities. Most of them were agreed that the location at Allen andFitzhugh Streets was very unfavorable and that a relocation was greatly desired. But whenever the matter of choosing a new location was presentedfor consideration, no agreement could he reached. Astime went on, the question became disturbing and caused considerable unrest and anxiety.

By 1873 the problem had become acute and demanded immediate action.On the thirtieth day of January a group of members who lived on the east sideof the Genesee River and who were led by Mr. Conrad W. Zimmer effected atemporary organization and purchased from Shadrach Parson, for the sum of$7,500.00, lot No. 70 in Franklin Street, to be used as the building site in the relocation of Trinity Church The size of this lot was sixty-six by one hundred and sixty-nine feet. (Later, in June of the same year, the adjoining lotNo. 69, thirty-three by one hundred and sixty-nine feet, was purchased fromE. James McMahon for the sum of $7,700.) However, when the proposal torelocate in Franklin Street was made and submitted for action to the congregation, a majority of the members voted NOT to move to the east side of the Genesee River.

The Beginning of Salem Church

Following this action, the members on the east side decided to organize anew congregation under the name "The German United Evangelical SalemChurch of Rochester, New York." Incorporation was effected on April 15,1873, with Mr. Conrad W. Zimmer and Mr. George Herzberger as incorporators. At a meeting held in the home of the Marburger family measures weretaken to proceed energetically and enthusiastically with the new organization. It was voted to purchase the building site in Franklin Street which Mr.Conrad W. Zimmer had secured solely on his own responsibility, and thus aplace was found where the new spiritual home could be established.

On Pentecost Sunday, 1873, a call to become the first pastor of the newlyorganized church was extended to the Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer. After due and careful deliberation he accepted and promised to begin his pastoratein Salem Church on April 1, 1874. The announcement of his acceptance onthe Sunday following Pentecost contains this statement: "For many years I,too, have entertained the thought of establishing in some more suitable locality a new and larger spiritual home, and since we, as a church, have grownstronger I have sought, at various times, to awaken your interest in the matter. In this I was prompted not by vain glory, but purely by the desire tosecure for my congregation such a place in the community as it well deserves.Because of your unwillingness to agree upon the selection of a more favorablelocation, either on the east or on the west side of the river, my hopes andaspirations have not been realized. Too long we have presented to the worlda state of indecision and controversy. On both sides mistakes have been made,hut upon me the whole matter has rested as a disgrace. I became convincedthat we should never attain our goal unless some other way could be found.Then it happened that a member of our church, without my will, purchased alot in Franklin Street, and that several others joined with him to offer it toyou as a building site for a new church. By so doing they placed themselvesin a position where they were compelled to go forward, even if you shoulddecide not to accept their offer." These words show clearly the far reachingsignificance of those first steps which Mr. Zimmer and his associates hadtaken. Surely, these men were the instruments in God's hand, and due creditfor their share in the beginning of Salem Church must ever he given them.

The Building Project

On May 27, 1873, the congregation adopted a constitution. In the samemonth an architect, Mr. Charles Coats, was engaged to prepare plans for achurch and school building, the cost of which was not to exceed the sum offifty thousand dollars. Only meager records concerning this first buildingproject are available, but according to the reports of the first treasurer, the following persons loaned sums of money ranging from two hundred to twelvethousand dollars to finance the building operations: Frederick Deininger,Samuel Dubelbeiss, John Jenny, Jacob Marburger, Frederick Morhardt, JohnNeun, Carl Rau, Frederick Roth, Adam Schake, Catharine Schmidt, PeterSchneider, Elizabeth Simrock, John Weis, Rudolph Weis, Conrad W. Zimmer,George Zimmer, Mrs. W. C. Zimmer.

Later a mortgage for ten thousand dollars was obtained from the Rochester Savings Bank. The total amount of these loans approximated the sumof sixty thousand dollars. Until the year 1880 interest was paid at the rate of 7%; after this year it was reduced to 6%. By 1882 the congregation had paid,in interest, the sum of $43,000, and by 1889 the interest on the Rochester Savings Bank mortgage amounted to $8,450. In the light of these facts and figures we can appreciate the indomitable courage and the unswerving loyaltyof our forefathers who founded Salem Church. By the end of June, 1873,contracts had been let to Rauber & Vicinus for the cellar excavation, to John Strauchen for the building of the cellar wall and to Stade & Husmann for the carpenter work.

The Laying of the Corner-stone

The work on the new building progressed so satisfactorily that the corner-stone was laid on Sunday afternoon, July 27, 1873, with appropriate ceremonies. On the next day the following account of the joyful event appearedin the "Democrat and Chronicle":

"The corner-stone of the United Evangelical Salem Church was laid yesterday afternoon with appropriate exercises. A temporary floor had beenlaid over the foundation walls, but this did not accommodate more than afraction of the immense assemblage drawn together by the occasion. Nearlyall the German Protestant congregations of the city were represented in largenumbers. The Salem Society was organized in April as a branch of the AllenStreet Church, and about that edifice a procession was formed consisting ofthe 'Zion Society of St. Paul's Church,' the 'Zion Association of the GroveStreet Lutheran Church' and the 'Benevolent Society of Allen Street Church.'Captain Heinrich's Military Band was in the van of the procession. At thenew church a covered platform had been arranged for the speakers, and thestand was further protected from the sun by flags. The exercises opened withsinging by the Rochester Swiss Society. Then followed a psalm and the singing of Luther's hymn, 'Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,' by the whole gatheringaccompanied by the band. An address was delivered by Pastor Grotrian ofSt. Paul's Church. After singing by the 'Liedertafel', the corner-stone was laid by Pastor Siebenpfeiffer according to the ritual of the Evangelical Synod. In the corner-stone were placed copies of the Bible, the Catechism of the United Church, the Constitution and the history of the church, the names of all the contributors toward the building fund, the German newspaper of July 26,which announced the laying of the corner-stone and the program for the occasion, and a package containing German and American coins given by Messrs.Fichtner and Rohr. The choir of the Trinity Church sang, and then the Reverend Oskar Kraft of Newark, New Jersey, gave an address for which he hadchosen the text Acts 20:32. A song by the 'Maennerchor' followed, afterwhich Pastor Siebenpfeiffer made brief concluding remarks. Finally the gathering joined in singing 'Nun danket alle Gott.' The exercises throughout were of a highly interesting character, the addresses being impressive and peculiarly appropriate, while the singing was inspiring."

Additional Contracts

In addition to the contracts which had been let in June others were givento the following firms and individuals:

Masonry - John Mauder,
Stone - Halloway and Marnington, M. H. Fitz Simons,
Lumber - Crouch and Craig,
Heating - Gommenginger Allen Company,
Steeples - Dave Whalen,
Art Glass Windows - Bohn Riester Company,
Gas Installation - Herman Mutschler,
School Furniture - Jacob Suter.

The total contracts together with the cost of the building site amountedto $61,836. To this amount must be added various other expenditures, including the organ, which brought the entire cost of the building enterprise toapproximately $65,000.

When we consider the value of the dollar in those days, these figures represent a large investment. They bear witness to the love of the founders fortheir church and to their willingness to make sacrifices in material things for the satisfaction of their spiritual needs.

In Salem, 1874-1894

Leaving the Mother Church

The Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer and the members of the new congregation severed their connection with Trinity Church on April 1, 1874. Until thenew sanctuary was completed, church services were held in the Sunday schoolbuilding which was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1874. The first entry in theofficial records of the new church was made on April 3, 1874. During 1873and the early months of 1874, Pastor Siebenpfeiffer held the singular positionof being the minister of two congregations who worshipped together in thesame building, Trinity Church. All the clerical functions such as christenings, weddings, funerals, et cetera, were recorded in the books of the motherchurch, until the time when the new congregation actually occupied its ownbuilding.

The Dedication

The new church was dedicated on May 3, 1874. The day was beautifullyclear and comfortably warm, so that a throng of fifteen hundred people gathered early in the morning. At ten o'clock the procession which formed in theschool house, in the rear of the church, proceeded toward the front entrance.It was led by the following clergymen:

The Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer,
The Reverend Philip Grotrian, St. Paul, Rochester,
The Reverend Carl Schild, St. Paul, Buffalo,
The Reverend C F. Soldan, Friedens, Syracuse,
The Reverend C. G. Claudius, West Turin, New York.

The church council was represented in the procession by three members,Messrs. William Wolff, Conrad W. Zimmer and John Schaeffer. Mr. Wolffcarried the silver communion service, and each of the other two carried aBible, one for the altar and the other for the pulpit. Then followed the schoolchildren, the members of the congregation and the many guests in order. Theservice was begun at the main entrance by Pastor Siebenpfeiffer with a three-fold knocking on the door in the name of the Holy Trinity, after which hespoke the words of Scripture: "Open wide ye gates that the King of Glorymay come in." Then the procession entered the building which was fully completed. Not merely on the altar and the pulpit, but also throughout the entire auditorium there was an abundance of fragrant flowers. At ten-twenty-five o'clock a mixed chorus, led by the organist, Mr. Dettmar Poppen, opened the festive program with an inspiring anthem. Following the invocation PastorClaudius read the 84th psalm. The prayer of dedication was offered with muchfeeling by Pastor Siebenpfeiffer and found a most grateful response in thehearts of the people. The Reverend Carl Schild of Buffalo delivered the principal address on the text Psalm 118:19, "Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them and I will praise the Lord." He said in part: "Thispsalm expresses our deepest feelings upon this joyous occasion. We now havea new temple. Our earnest hopes have been fulfilled. This beautiful House ofGod is a memorial to Evangelical enthusiasm and sacrifice. Approach theture in harmnony and with love for one another, and God will not withhold Hisblessings." Then followed the installation of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer as minister of the new church by the Reverend Philip Grotrian, assisted by the Reverend C. F. Soldan and Reverend C. G. Clausen. Thereupon the pastor conducted the installation of the newly elected church council which consisted of twelve members.

The other speakers in the dedicatory service were the Reverend Mr.Claudius who was formerly a minister of the local Reformed Church, and theReverend J. B. Shaw, D.D., of the Brick Presbyterian Church, Rochester, whospoke in the English language. He encouraged the congregation not to bedistressed by its heavy financial burdens, but to work together in the spirit of love and unity toward a glorious goal. The Reverend C. F. Soldan made theclosing address. Some thirty-three years before the founding of Salem, at atime when there were but few German people in Rochester, this elderly manwas a preacher here.

Special Gifts

On the day of dedication the new congregation received as special giftsthree large Bibles from Mrs. C. Rau, Mrs. S. Loescher and Mrs. C. Scholl respectively; a communion service and a carpet from the women of the church;two altar chairs from Frederick Roth; the altar and the black altar cloth fromthe Siebenpfeiffer family; and the white altar cloth from Mrs. J. Weis andMrs. C. Meitzler. The baptismal font of Italian marble was made by Henry S.Hebard. It was to cost $100, but Mr. Hebard contributed $50 toward it, andthe Young Ladies' Society paid the balance. The beautifully upholstered chairon the pulpit was made by Messrs. Fifrenberger and Einsfeld, who presentedit to the church as their contribution. Mrs. A. Gruber had written a poemdedicated to the congregation which was read at the close of the service.

In the evening another service was held in which three other ministers,Pastors Berner, Feld and Zimmer who Had arrived in the afternoon, tookpart. The Reverend H. Zimmer, a son of the council member, George Zimmer, gave the principal address.

The Charter Members

The list of the charter members, as it appears in the early records of thechurch, contains the following seventy-nine names which represent the headsof families.

The First Church Council

The following men constituted the first church council of the new congregation:

John Schaeffer, Samuel Dubelbeiss, William Wolff - Elders,
Conrad W. Zimmer, John Weis, John Kiefhaber - Trustees,
John Neun, Frederick Ruckdeschel, William Steul, Frederick Nelson, Henry Hoffman, George Zimmer - Deacons.

On May 7, 1874, this council held its first official meeting in which permanent organization with the election of the following officers was effected:

The Reverend Carl Siebenpfeiffer, president
Mr. John Neun, secretary
Mr. Conrad W. Zimmer, treasurer
Mr. John Kiefhaber, treasurer of benevolences
Mr. William Steul, treasurer of offerings.

The deed of the church property was transferred to the trustees on June14, 1874.

Signs of Progress

The organ, a fine and adequate instrument, which served the congregation through many years, was dedicated on July 15, 1874.

On March 25, 1875, Salem Church became a member of the EvangelicalSynod of North America.

During the year 1875 five hundred and eighty-eight of the available1,018 sittings were rented.

A house to house canvass which was authorized by a special congregational meeting early in 1878 resulted in the collection of $8,825. By theend of that year the indebtedness of the church had been reduced to $37,500.At the close of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer's ministry the total debt was only $8,000.

The New York District Conference met in Salem Church in June, 1878,and again in 1891.

A Memorial

There was no bell in the tower of the church at the time of the dedication,and the absence of it was noted with deep regret by many. However, withinone year a voice from the belfry summoned the people to worship on Sunday mornings. And it came about in this manner: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Priem,who were among the most loyal supporters of the new church, suffered theloss, by death, of their son, John, a boy of only thirteen years of age, in 1874. As a memorial for their beloved child, the bereaved parents placed a large bellin the tower of their church. It is of exceptionally fine tonal quality, weighs2,500 pounds and cost a thousand dollars. Since 1875 this bell has sent forthits appealing message into the community and it still serves the purpose towhich it was dedicated nearly sixty years ago.

An Anniversary

In 1887 Trinity, St. Paul and Salem united in celebrating the twenty-fifthanniversary of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer's ministry in Rochester. More than twothousand persons participated in the impressive ceremonies. The decorationsof the sanctuary under the direction of the Ladies' Society were most artisticand elaborate. A large portrait of the pastor framed in roses and forget-me-nots, a shield of ground moss and "everlasting" flowers, bearing the inscription "God with Us," a banner inscribed "To the Honor of our Faithful Pastor," and the motto "One Flock and One Shepherd" with the numerals 1862-1887, were suspended over the altar. The Pastors E. Jung, H. J. Henckell,P. Zeller, G. Kammerer and F. Schroeck escorted the beloved leader from hisresidence to the church. The Reverend Mr. Jung of Buffalo preached theanniversary sermon and the Reverend Mr. Henckell of Trinity Church madethe presentation of a silver tea set on behalf of the congregation. At threeo'clock in the afternoon a special Sunday school service was conducted in thechurch auditorium by the Reverend F. Schroeck of East Eden, N.Y. Thisservice was missionary in character, and an attendance of 620 members wasrecorded. At the evening service addresses were made by Pastors G. Kammerer, F. Schroeck and P. Zeller. On the following Friday evening, the churchofficers and the choir members called at the pastor's home and presented himwith $250.00 in gold and with handsomely framed portraits of the churchofficers.

Assistant Pastors

As early as 1888 the decline in Pastor Siebenpfeiffer's health necessitatedthe co-operation of assistant pastors. In this position the following ministersrendered acceptable service:

The Reverend George Kern, September, 1888 - May, 1889.
The Reverend William Baur, June, 1889 - March, 1892.
The Reverend Carl Loos, November, 1892 - November, 1893.

The Final Summons

Year by year the condition of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer's health became morealarming. To his deepest regret and to the unspeakable sorrow of his belovedpeople he was compelled to tender his resignation on September 14, 1893.Through twenty significant years he had proved himself a faithful servant ofthe Lord Jesus Christ and a devoted minister to his fellow men. In thesetwenty years he officiated at 3,608 baptisms, 1,341 weddings, 1,673 burials andreceived 1,603 young people into the fellowship of the Christian churchthrough the solemn rite of confirmation.

The final summons into the higher life came on Sunday, August 19, 1894.On the following Wednesday morning, August 22, at nine o'clock, brief services of comfort were conducted at the family home, after which the body wastaken to the church and placed in front of the altar. There it lay in state untilthe time of the funeral services at two-thirty o'clock in the afternoon. Themembers of the church council acted as guard of honor. Literally speaking,thousands of men and women in varied stations and walks of life came tocast a last look of love upon the face of their esteemed leader and friend.Long before the time set for the services to begin, the church was filled tothe doors and hundreds who were unable to gain admittance stood outside onthe steps and in the street. Expressions of tender affection and sincere appreciation came from the hearts and the lips of young and old, as they were conscious of the painful loss which they had sustained.

The services opened with a prayer by the Reverend J. F. W. Helmkampwho had become the successor to Pastor Siebenpfeiffer. The choir of thechurch honored their shepherd in the singing of several of his favorite hymns.In his funeral sermon on the text 2 Samuel 3: 38, Reverend Mr. Helmkamppaid a very touching and most eloquent tribute to the blessed life and theglorious ministry of his departed predecessor. He challenged the people ofSalem at all times to remain faithful to the cause of Christ in order that theymight meet their beloved pastor again, in the life which is eternal. He was followed by the Reverend Emil Henckell, who chose for his text 1 Peter 1:24-25. The Reverend A. Berner of Buffalo and the Reverend P. Zeller of Rochester also participated in the services.

A vast throng of people accompanied the remains to the beautiful Mt.Hope Cemetery, where the body of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer found a quiet placeof rest.

The men who served as bearers were Messrs. E. B. Beck, Charles Weis,Henry Husmann, John Schmidt, George Becker and Charles Hempel.

The nearest surviving relatives were his devoted wife, Marie HillenbrandSiebenpfeiffer; one son, William Siebenpfeiffer; two daughters, Mrs. CharlesP. Henn and Mrs. J. George Kaelber; one sister, Mrs. Jacobine Lausterer;and four grandchildren.

And thus the first chapter in the history of the Salem Evangelical Churchwas written. A glorious chapter it is, and the man who wrote it has gone tohis reward. But Pastor Siebenpfeiffer is not dead. He lives - in thousands ofhearts and homes he lives. The streams of blessing which by word and deedhe sent out into the world are flowing on and on; from generation to generation. We, who live in the present day, are inspired and challenged by theministry of love which he rendered so faithfully unto the very end.

The Ministry of the Reverend J. F. W. Helmkamp
1894 - 1910

John Frederick William Helmkamp was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 7, 1857, the thirdson of John F. Helmkamp and Frederika, nee Penningroth. His motherdied when he was but two years old, and he was reared by his godly step-mother, whose influence gave direction to his later life. When he was seven years of age, his parents moved to Moro, Illinois, where he attended the country school a few months each year to obtain a primitive elementary education. He wasconfirmed at the Evangelical Church near Moro. Until he was twenty-one years old he worked on his father's farm. He then entered Elmhurst Collegeto prepare himself for parochial school teaching hut was encouragedto turn to the ministry instead. Upon completion of his course here in 1882, he entered Eden Seminary to obtain his theological training, and was graduated in 1885. His first pastorates were at West Waco, and Neu Braunfels, Texas. In 1887 he was married to Miss Emma A. M. Bohle of St. Louis, Missouri.

From 1889-94 he served as the first pastor of St. John's Church in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, and during this time the church and the parsonage werebuilt. In 1894 he was called as the successor of Pastor Siebenpfeiffer to SalemChurch in Rochester, New York, where he served until 1910. While underthe heavy burden of this charge his health failed and he was obliged to giveup this work. Thereupon he was able to serve, for short periods, Evangelicalchurches in Batavia, Westchester, and Lockport, New York. In 1913 he andhis family moved to Kansas, where he served the congregations of Trinity atHighland, Immanuel at Newton, and Salem at Wichita. For a period he servedthese three churches at the same time. During 1918-20 he had charge ofImmanuel Church in Sedalia, Missouri.

In 1921, at the request of the Central Board of Home Missions he wentto California to organize an English Evangelical church in Los Angeles. Hefounded St. John's Church in that city and served it until his retirement in1923. Even then his ministerial activity did not cease. For brief periods hewas called upon to serve St. Matthew's Church at San Rafael and St. John'sChurch at Pomona, California.

He died at eleven o'clock Sunday morning, December 28, 1930, at theage of seventy-three years. His faithful wife followed him on June 29 of the present year (1933). Their union was blessed, with six sons: Albert of, NewYork City; Ralph of Rochester, New York; William of Los Angeles, California; Herbert of Denver, Colorado; Elmer of the U. S. S. Texas; George ofLos Angeles, California.

Pastor Helmkamp was an active, aggressive spirit of more than averageability, which manifested itself in and outside his pulpit. His ability as anorganizer and administrator found recognition outside the parishes he wasprivileged to serve. For several terms he acted as president of the New YorkDistrict and for many years he was a member of the synodical Board of Foreign Missions. He will be remembered as the founder of St. John's Home forthe Aged in Rochester, New York. His ordination text, St. John 7:38 ("Hethat believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his body shall flowrivers of living water"), found real significance in his life. It appears to be more than a mere coincidence that the two churches which he founded inSharpsburg and Los Angeles, the one at the beginning and the other at theclose of his active ministry, and also the Home for the Aged, founded duringhis long pastorate in Rochester, all bear the name of the disciple in whosegospel these words are found.

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