St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran Church


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Pastors of the silver run parish



Rev. John George Bager



1762 - 1768



Rev. John George Bager According to the records of the congregation the first named pastor was Rev. John George Bager. The name Bager in subsequent years was changed to Bauger.


Rev. Bager was born in Nilderlinweiler in Nassua-saarbaucken, Germany, March 19, 1725. Studied at Halle. He was ordained and installed at Simmern, December 1749 sailed from Helvastoburgs where he buried his son, Carl Theodore.


In 1752 he came to America from Rotterdam on the ship Bawley and landed October 23 in Philadelphia. At first he moved into Lebanon County, PA, but later to Conewago, where he entered office March 10, 1753, and remained without interruption until May 1, 1763. Shortly after he was stationed at Yortown. There he cherished an old love for his congregation in Conewago, where his farm was. He became suspicious against the catechist continually growing, because of his non-ordianation. pastor Bager, therefore, took those congregations into his charge as filials of Yorktown, until he finally moved with his family from Yorktown to his home, and from there served his Yorktown congregation as a filial and so there remained to the catechist several small congregations in the neighborhood, until gradually five forsaken congregations farther up toward the borders of Pennsylvania, and in Maryland, asked for his services.


These congregations he had, for a time, already served from his residence. The said congregations, viz:

a, Codorus

b, Pipe Creek (now St. Mary's Lutheran Church, Silver Run)

c, Thomas Creek

d, Sharpsburg, and

e, Conecocheague,

had therefore applied to the President by petitions signed by their names requesting that their preacher be received into the union. For many years he visited the scattered Lutherans, as a traveling preacher, from Baltimore, where he also preached once every six weeks regularly for a number of years up to Grindstone Hill, Franklin County, PA.


He died June 9, 1791. His wife preceded him December 7, 1790.


They rest side by side in the old Winebrenner Grave Yard, near Hanover PA.. Their stone in the Carlisle Street cemetery of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hanover bears this inscription: "'They were lovely in their lives, and in death they were not parted. "





Rev. Frederick Wildbahn



1768 - 1782



Rev. Frederick Wildbahn took charge of the church in 1765. The records of the Pennsylvania ministerium show that in 1768 letters were received from five or six small congregations, on the Maryland and Pennsylvania border, in which they requested that the ministerium receive into their union their Catechist Wildbahn, and ordain him.

Wildbahn came to America in about 1755 with a company of soldiers (Kreigsvolke), was born in Saxony, knew Latin and Greek, was a good singer, had a great gift as a catechist, and was quite eloquent.

In 1769 the churches were received into the Ministerium, and he was ordained. He served these churches until 1782 when he accepted a call to Reading where he remained until 1797 after which he served various church districts in Southern Pennsylvania until the time of his death in 1804.
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Wildbahn came to America, not as a minister, but as a British soldier, in 1755. (This was the year of Braddock's defeat, in the opening phases of the French-Indian War.) He was disabled and stayed in America. He had been born in the Kingdom Saxony about 1735, and was educated in the Halle circles.He worked in a print shop in Philadelphia and became close friend of Pastor Hanschuh. He read Greek and Latin, was an excellent singer, and could teach. Hanschuh secured for him a position as a school teacher in Lutheran charity schools at Hanover, Pennsylvania. He would also occasionally preach.In 1761 he went to Winchester and served as a teacher and minister Pastor Hartwick arranged for him to be certified as minister for certain functions by H.M. Muhlenberg, after petitions were delivered to the Pennsylvania Ministerium from congregations in Virginia (Winchester and Shepherdstown), Maryland (Frederick and Washington Counties, including St. Paul's in Clearspring), and Pennsylvania (York), requesting that Wildbahn be ordained, and stating that he was a good teacher, preacher, catechist, and singer.In 1763 he had to leave Winchester and return to Hanover, because of Indian attacks in Winchester area. He then served eleven congregations from Hanover to Winchester, and then returned to Winchester from 1769-76. In 1777 Wildbahn took up residence at York, was formally ordained in 1778. He continued to serve his scattered congregations until 1782, when he accepted a call to Reading, where he served for fourteen years, and built Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading.In 1796 he goes to Frederick as the successor to Pastor Andrew Krug.1798 Wildbahn resigned from Frederick, and went to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1804.Sources William A. Eisenberg, The Lutheran Church in Virginia 1717-1962 (Roanoke: Trustees of the Virgina Synod, 1967), pp. 39-42, 475. A.R. Wentz, A History of Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1738-1988 (Frederick, Md. 1988), pp. 158-162. A.R. Wentz, Centennial History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Maryland 1820-1920 (Harrisburg: Evangelical Press, 1920) pp. 442-443. Conrad Roller Military Pension Record.History Minute, February 15, 2015


Rev. John Daniel Schroeder



1782 - 1789



In 1782 the work of St. Mary's was taken up by John Daniel Schroeder. It is through him that we have our earliest record. The church book was started by him, and the records of his ministrations seem to be faithfully recorded.


He was licensed by the Penna. Ministerium in 1777. At that time he was serving churches in and near Philadelphia. In the following year, October 4, 1778, he was regularly ordained.


About this time he took up work in the vicinity of Manheim, PA., where he remained until 1782, when he came to McAllistertown (Hanover). From this place he served a large circuit of congregations, at times preaching in Baltimore.


His career in the ministry seems to have been somewhat checkered. As early as 1784 there is a letter of complaint from two members of the Silver Run congregation, and others in his defense. In 1785 a conference was held near Silver Run to remedy the trouble. From that time there seems tohave been not trouble until 1789. He then severed his connection with the Hanover Circuit. He did, however, continue to serve St. John's in an independent capacity until at least 1806. The date of his death is nowhere recorded.



Rev. John Grobp



1803 - 1819



The fourth minister was Rev. John Grobp. From 1803 until 1819 the church was supplied by him. Mr. Gropb first came to Lykens Valley, Pa., in 1794. He was then only a licentiate, his ordination taking place in 1803.


Sometime in that year he came to the Taneytown charge. He seemed to preach and administer the sacraments regularly at Silver Run until 1815. From then to 1819 there are no definite records, but it would appear that he continued to come here at times. He was one of the organizers of the Maryland Synod in 1820 and was a member of the committee to draw up a constitution for it.


He lived on a small farm near Taneytown and sold some medicine, a practice that had been his during the pastorate. After 1819 he served only three churches, Taneytown, Emmitsburg and Petersburg.


A year after he retired from the active ministry he fell asleep. For thirty years or more he lived near Taneytown. There he died and at Taneytown his remains rest in the cemetery of the Lutheran congregation.



Rev. Heinrich Graeber



1819 -1827



In 1818 Heinrich Graeber appeared before the ministerium and was licensed. There was a call for him from Benjamin's and Morelock's congregation. He accepted the call and in 1819 he was ordained.


The first record we have of him at Silver Run is that he held communion and confirmed a class of seventeen in October, 1819. He continued active with the Silver Run Lutheran church until 1827, when he accepted a call to the church in Lincoln County, N.C.


During the greater part of the time from 1819 to 1827 he resided at Uniontown.


The charge was made up of St. Mary's, Benjamin's, Bart's, Pine Run, Bair's and others.


During his pastorate we have the first record of individual church contributions to the Synod.


St. Mary's gave in the year 1824 the exorbitant sum of $1.48 for missions.



Married Anna Maria Barbara Morelock on 12 Jun 1819 in Frederick County, Maryland


BIRTH 28 Jan 1793 York County, Pennsylvania, USA

DEATH 11 Sep 1843 (aged 50) Rowan County, North Carolina, USA

BURIAL Organ Lutheran Church Cemetery Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA



Rev. John Jacob Albert



1827 - 1837



John Jacob Albert was born near Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pa., in the year 1798. At an early age his attention was directed to the ministry, which he finally entered in the year 1820, after having pursued a course of theological studies under the Rev. Christian Endress, D.D., then of Lancaster City, Pa.


He was first called to the charge of congregations at Berlin, Adams County, Pa., where he labored with commendable success for six years, when he removed to Manchester, Carroll County, Md. Here he remained from 1828 to 1837, cultivating his large and laborious field with great diligence and faithfulness. While at Manchester he received a call to Hanover, York County, Pa., which, after mature deliberation, he accepted, entering upon his labors there in the year 1837. His ministry at Hanover was characterized with unwearied interest in his work and was largely blessed to the good of souls. The accessions to the church were very numerous, adding materially to the strength and general welfare of the charge. After remaining at Hanover eleven years, he removed in 1848 to Bellefonte, Centre County, where, in connection with the service given to a part of the same charge at Salona, Clinton County, he remained until 1853, when he accepted a call to Millersville, Lancaster County, which charge he served but one year. From Millersville he was called to Centreville, Northhampton County, laboring in that difficult field for six years, from whence he moved to Northumberland County, where he served successfully the congregations at Turbotville, Muncy Hills and Trevorton. It was while temporarily supplying the Trevorton charge, that he contracted the sickness, which ended his useful life on Sunday, January 3d, 1875.


For nearly 54 years he was engaged in the active work of the ministry, crowning his life with good deeds to his Divine Master, and to his fellow-men. Blessed with a strong constitution and excellent health, he seemed never to tire in the work to which he had consecrated his life, strictly conscientious in the discharge of his duties, he was ever to be found at his post, undeterred by any exposure to the elements, or by any roughness of the way. He emphatically loved his calling, never wishing for a moment to change it for any other, however attractive to the outward eye, or lucrative in its rewards. The people among whom he labored, were ever dear to his heart, permitting nothing to alienate them from his Christian regard. Wherever he toiled he made hosts of friends, who ever welcomed his return among them, with gladsome hearts. A modest and unobstrusive man, he never mingled much in the active proceedings of Synods and Conference, but was ever intensely interested in every measure looking towards the development of the Church and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. From an account kept of his labors in the ministry for the space of 50 years, we find among the items of interest the following: Baptized 3,052, confirmed 2,491, married 2,052, buried 2,653, and administered the communion to about 30,000 souls.


He was twice married, having by his first wife twelve children, of whom five are living, two of whom are in the ministry, Rev. L.E. Albert, D.D, of Germantown, Pa., and Rev. Charles S. Albert, D.D. of Philadelphia, Pa. To him might truly be applied that beautiful passage of Scripture: "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." ~C.S. Albert .

Information taken from: Jubilee Memorial Volume of the Danville Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States. Published by the Danville Conference. 1898. Pgs. 203 - 205



Rev. Jeremiah Harpel



1837 - 1841



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Rev. Peter Willard



1842 - 1843



Peter Willard, a son of George and Susanna Willard, was born at Jefferson, Md., September 29, 1809, died at Mexico, Pa., July 26, 1893. He was educated at Gettysburg, Pa., 1834-39, and was licensed by the West Pennsylvania Synod, in 1841, and labored at Boalsburg, Pa., 1841-42 Westminster, 1842-45 Lovettsville, 1845-48. Later he served at Loysville, Mifflintown, Schuylkill Haven, and as Superintendent of the Loysville Orphans' Home, 1868-89.*
Phillip (Peter) Willard - B. Jefferson, Md., Sept. 29, 1809 s. Geo. And Susanna (Culler) W. grad. Gbg. Col., 1839, and Wem., 1841 lic. W. Pa. Syn., 1841 ord. Md. Syn., 1842 pastor, Manchester Md., 1841-42 Westminster, md., 1842-45 Lovettsville, Va., 1845-48 Danville, Pa., 1850-56 Loysville, Pa.,1856-58 Mifflintown, pa., 1858-61 Schuylkill Haven, Pa., 1861-62 agt. Byg. Col., 1849 agt. Luth. Bd. Pub., 1863-68 supt. Loysville Orphan's Home, 1868-89 m. Margaretta Christzman, Oct. 21, 1841 children, Martin L., Geo., S.S., Ezra, H.F., T. newton, Jennie, Nettie she d. Feb. 2, 1891 he d. July 26, 1893.**
* Information taken from: Jubilee Memorial Volume of the Danville Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States . Published by the Danville Conference. 1898. Pg. 287** Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.


Rev. Peter Sheurer



1843 - 1858



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Rev. Samuel Henry



1859 - 1869



Samuel Henry - b. Abbottstown, Pa., May 3, 1828 Gettysburg Col, 1845-48 grad. Gbg. Sem., 1850 lic. W. Pa. Syn., 1850 ord. same, 1852 pastor, Dillsburg, Pa., 1850-1852 Westminster, Md., 1852-58 Littlestown, Pa., 1858-68 Phillipsburg, N.J., 1868-80 Mifflinburg, Pa., 1880-84 Ottawa, Kas., 1884-86 m. Elizabeth S. Weaver, Nov. 3, 1850 children, Mrs. John M. Shiner, J.W. d. March 9, 1910.


Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.



Rev. Monroe J. Alleman



1869 - 1875 & 1877 - 1881



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Rev. John W. Lake



1875 - 1877



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Rev. O.C. Roth



1881 - 1883



Death of Rev. O.C. Roth, D.D., July 10, 1925

The Rev. O. C. Roth, D.D., since 1895 a Board member, except for the two bienniums from 1901 - 1905, passed to his eternal home, in the midst of his days of usefulness. Foreign missions were near to his heart, and his counsel and helpfulness shall be greatly missed.

Proceeding of the forty-eighth Convention of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States of America, In Session at Chicago, Illinois, June 20 - 27, 1917


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Oliver Cornelius Roth - b. Orefield, Pa., Jan. 27, 1855 s. Cornelius and Caroline (Westco) R. A.B., Gbg. Col., 1878 grad. Gbg. Sem. 1881 D.D., Gbg. Col., 1903 lic. E. Pa Syn., 1880 ord. W. Pa. Syn., 1881 pastor, Silver Run, Md. 1881-83, Trinity, Taneytown, Md., 1883-89 Grace, Balto., 1889-98 1st Altoona, Pa., 1898-08 1st Chambersburg, Pa., 1908-15 dir. Gbg. Sem. trustee, Tressler Orphans' Home member bd For. Miss. m. Grace C. Harper, Dec. 14, 1881 she d. Feb. 26, 1914, he d. July 10, 1915.


Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.



Rev. Peter Scheeder



1883 - 1887



Philip Sheeder - b. Chester Co., Pa., Aug. 28, 1819 s. Philip and Mary S. A.B., Gbg. Col., 1847 grad. Gbg. Sem., 1849 lic. W. Pa. Syn., 1849 ord. Al. Syn., 1851 pastor, Brookville, Pa., 1849-53 Lycoming Co., Pa., 1853-57 Berlin, Pa., 1857-64 Wilmore, Pa., 1864-67 Martinsburg, Pa., 1867-69 Milroy, pa., 1869-71 New Berlin, Pa., 1871-73 New Bloomfield, Pa., 1873-81 Idaville, Pa., 1881-84 Silver Run, Md. 1884-86 m. Susan Miller, 1851 she d. Oct. 8, 1906 children, Mary, Mrs. G.A. Landes, P.J., B. R. M. he d. Oct. 21, 1896. .


Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.



Rev. H. C. Fultz



1887 - 1895



Rev. Herman Charles Fultz, the present pastor of the Silver Run charge, is the son of Sigmund and Frederica Fultz, and was born in Germany, June 8, 1862. He entered the Gymnasium at the age of eight years, graduating in 1881 spent a year in the German American college at Bloomfield, N. J., pursuing a special course being at the same time tutor in German grammar and mathematics entered the Theological Seminary at Gettysbur, Pa., in 1883, and graduated in 1886 was licensed to preach Gospel in 1885 by the East Pennsylvania Synod and ordained by the same body in 1886. He has but two pastorates: the first, Yutan, Neb., February, 1887 - August, 1887 the second, Silver Run, Md., December, 1887 to present time.
Information from History of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, of the City of Westminster, MD., from 1868 to 1894
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Herman C. Fultz (orig. name Volz) b. Ochringen, Wurttemburg, Ger. June 8, 1862 grad. Gbg. Sem., 1886 lic. E. Pa. Syn., 1885 ord. same, 1886 pastor, Yutan, Neb., 1887 Silver Run, Md. 1888-95 Hoboken, J.J., Ellenville and Crawford, N.Y., 1900-05 Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1905-10 St. John's Washn., 1910-12 Ellicott City, Md., 1913-17 m. Emma C. Maus, Sept. 13, 1888 d. Mar. 21, 1917.
Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.
Pastor Fultz died in March 1917.


Rev. W. H. Ehrhart



1896 - 1903



William Henry Ehrhart - b. Dallastown, Pa., Oct. 26, 1861 s. William and Eliza (Stump) E. A.B., Gbg. Col., 1893 grad. Gbg Wem., 1896 lic. W. Pa. Syn., 1895 ord. same, 1896 pastor, Silver Run, Md., 1896-1903 Brodbecks, Pa., 1903-1934 pastor emeritus, 1934-40 m. Emma A. Strine, July 29, 1896 children, Janet E., Kenneth S she d. 1920 he d. Aug. 24 1940.


Information taken from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary, Volume 2, Alumni Record, published 1964.



Rev. H. D. Newcomer



1904 - 1905



Harry D. Newcomer stayed with us only a little more than a year, from February 1, 1904, to May 1, 1905, when he was called to Baltimore. It is interesting to note that a number of our pastors went to Baltimore or to other large cities after leaving St. Mary's. We sometimes have been called "Baltimore's stepping stone".

During Rev. Newcomer's pastorate the individual communion cups were presented by Mrs. Zenora Feeser. The organist during this period was Mr. Herbert Lippy, who was also a teacher in the public schools of the community.

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Installation – On May 15th, Rev. H. D. Newcomer was installed as pastor of the Silver Run charge, of the Maryland Synod. Rev. W.S. Freas, D.D., president of the Board of Church Extension, delivered the charge to both pastor and people. Rev. Newcomer is held in highest regard by his people. There are bright prospects for the development and upbuilding of this important charge. The Lutheran Observer – May 27, 1904


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Harry David Newcomer - b. York, Pa., July 18, 1870 s. Jos. and Amanda (Heilman) N. A.B., Gbg. Col., 1895 grad. Gbg. Sem., 1898 lic. W. Pa. Syn., 1897 ord. same, 1898 pastor, St. Matt., Allentown, Pa., 1898-1904 Silver Run, Md., 1904-05 Grace, Balto., 1905-16 St. Mark's, Van Wert, O., 1916-19 St. John's, Kittanning, Pa., 1922-31 Church of the Atonement, Syracuse, N.Y., 1942-44 rt. 1944 exec. sec., Balto. Inner Miss. Soc., 1919-22 supt., Brooklyn Inner Miss. Soc. and Luth. Children's Bureau, 1931-40 trustee Tressler Orpanage, 8yrs .


Information taken from The Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, Alumni Record, Volume 2.



Rev. John O. Yoder



1905 - 1912



The Rev. John O.Yoder arrived to the Silver Run flock August 1, 1905, and stayed with us nearly seven years, until June 1912. During this period St. Mary's celebrated her one hundred fiftieth anniversary in 1912. This is the first recorded anniversary celebration in her long history. At the end of our first century likely our people were too concerned with the struggles of the Civil War to think about the church anniversary.


For the 1912 celebration Pastor Yoder wrote a history of the church entitled -- "First Century and a Half of Lutheranism in Silver Run, Maryland, 1762 - 1912."


In 1912 Pastor Yoder left Silver Run to accept a call to a church in Akron, Ohio, where he remained until the end of his ministry. Special tribute is due to his wife, Annie M. Yoder, to whom the children of St. Mary's had a strong attraction. Their young interpretation of the kingdom of heaven seemed to be the privilege of sitting on Mrs. Yoder's lap during the Sunday sermon hour. There was a weekly waiting line for this honor.



Rev. J. Luther Hoffman



1912 - 1917



The Rev. J. Luther Hoffman came in 1912, and gave the congregation five years of devoted Christian guidance. On Oct. 15, 1916, there was a rededication of the church, after extensive repairs and improvement had been made. These included repairs to the parsonage, enlargement of the choir loft, velvet brussell carpet in the auditorium, and rehanging of all doors so that they could swing outward. People were becoming conscious of fire hazards -- as they were not when the old brick church was built without a chimney.


Pastor Hoffman was our first pastor to own an automobile - a Ford.


In 1917 Pastor Hoffman left St. Mary's to accept a call to a church in Baltimore, where he remained until his retirement. During his Baltimore pastorate he was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.



Rev. Atkin G. Wolf



1917 - 1926



The Rev. Atkin G. Wolf arrived in 1917, and for nine years Pastor Wolf was frequently seen in his Reo automobile rolling along the Carroll County roads as he ministered to our people.


He was particularly faithful in his visitation of the aged and shut-ins.


He was a man of fine scholarly attainments.


A part of this pastorate covered the period of World War I, when many Maryland boys served with the Allied Army in Europe.



Rev. Willard E. Saltzgiver



1927 - 1942



The Rev. Willard E. Saltzgiver guided the spiritual destiny of this parish from 1927 to 1942.


The Saltzgiver pastorate was honored with two "firsts": one, the commissioning service of its first missionary daughter. The second "first" was the first ordination service to be held in St. Mary's - the ordination of Pastor Saltzgiver's son, Luther Burns Saltzgiver. This took place on November 23, 1941.


On September 25, 1927, a new Moller pipe organ was dedicated by Pastor Saltzgiver. The cost of the organ was $3500, and Pastor Saltzgiver recorded in the church register for that date, "Entire amount on hand on day of dedication."


The Parish House was dedicated by Pastor Saltzgiver on May 11, 1933. These expanded facilities permitted St. Mary's to widen the scope and effectiveness of her work. In addition to being headquarters for the Adult Sunday School, this building also served as a gathering place for the auxiliary organizations of the church.


Many improvements were made to the church and were listed in the 175th Anniversary bulletin (Sunday, May 2, 1937).

  • The Frescoing of the Church, repositioning of The Ascension and incorporation of the other murals was executed by Otto M. DuBrau of Baltimore. The Artist of the Paintings was V. Marino.
  • The Pews and Choir Panel were installed by the Manitowac Furniture Company of Waukasha, Wisconsin.
  • The Reredos and Arch Panels were installed by Mr. Lloyd Crouse of Littlestown, PA.
  • The Carpet was purchased from the Olson Rug Company, Brooklyn, NY.
  • The Radiator Covers were manufactured by the Artistigue Radiator Enclosure Co. of Baltimore, MD.
  • Repairing of Concrete walks and Church Steps was done by Mr. Hyle.
  • The Electric Clock was donated by Stanley Stover of Littlestown, PA.

During her years in Silver Run Mrs. Saltzgiver was a great help to the women and the children of the church. She was particularly interested in Christian missionary activities at home and abroad, and in addition to her leadership in the parish she served faithfully as an officer in the women's Missionary Society of the Middle Conference of Maryland Synod.


The Saltzgiver's left St. Mary's, retired, and moved to live in Ormond Beach, Florida.


Born: May 9, 1890, Jefferson, York Co., PA Parents: George and Sarah Jane Saltzgiver Schools: Codorus Township High School, 1908 Gettysburg College, 1912 Gettysburg Seminary, 1915 Family: Married Elizabeth E. Burns, June 1, 1915 Children: The Rev. Luther Burns Saltzgiver Willard A. Saltzgiver Janet P. (Saltzgiver) Vodenicker



Rev. Frederick R. Seibel



1943 - 1958



The Rev. Frederick Seibel came to Silver Run in 1943, and remained until 1958, when he left to assume the pastorate of East Trinity Lutheran Church in Baltimore.


During this period St. Mary's became increasingly important as a rural church of distinction. Pastor Seibel, who became Dr. Seibel (D.D.) while he was in Silver Run, took an active part in the affairs of Maryland Synod and filled several important offices in the Synod. He also did considerable work for the youth of our church and of Maryland Synod. One of his special innovations was the "Double or Nothing" group - an organization for the young married couples of our church.


Carillonic bells and a complete sound system were installed, and dedicated on October 13, 1943, to the glory of God and in memory and honor of St. Mary's boys who served the Armed Forces of the U.S.. Dr. Herbert Alleman from the Gettysburg Theological Seminary was the guest speaker.


In March, 1954, there was a large tragedy when the Parish House was completely destroyed by fire. The building was replaced by a larger Parish House, a two-story structure of concrete block. The new building was dedicated February 20, 1955. Our ministerial student then in Gettysburg Seminary, Earl Wentz, read the Scripture lesson. The sermon was preached by Dr. J. Frank Fife, President of Maryland Synod. Pastor Seibel offered the dedicatory prayer.



Rev. Lloyd H. Seiler



1958 - 1962



In August, 1958, the Rev. Lloyd Seiler left the mission church he had organized in Starkville, Mississippi, to come to St. Mary's, and he and his family occupied the parsonage with generous Southern hospitality and Christian helpfulness.
Pastor Seiler inherited together with the heavy ministerial duties of a two-congregation parish, the responsibility of steering St. Mary's through our 200 year anniversary.
Some statistics from this time were:
As of January, 1962 membership consisted of 381 confirmed members, 251 communing members, and 583 baptized members.
The auxiliaries of the church included United Lutheran Church women, United Lutheran Church Men (organized in 1960) and a Luther League. There was also a well-organized Sunday School.
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REV. LLOYD SEILER SR. Services for the Rev. Lloyd Henderson Seiler Sr., 81, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001, at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Debra J. Boynton officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery directed by Norton Funeral Home. Visitation will be tonight, Wednesday, from 7 to 9 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1410 W. BoBo Newsome Highway, Hartsville, S.C. 29550.


Rev. Seiler died Jan. 14. He was born in Northumberland, Pa., a son of the late Rev. George H. Seiler and Anna Yeager Seiler. He was a graduate of Gettysburg College and the Lutheran Seminary. He served four years in the U.S. Army during WWII and served as battalion commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division. He was wounded thrice and received two Purple Hearts in the Normandy and Northern France Campaigns.


He was a Lutheran pastor for over 50 years having served Lutheran parishes in Senoia, Ga., Oglethorpe, Ga., Rossille, Ga., Starkville, Miss., Silver Run, Md., Fairfield, Pa. and Boalsburg, Pa. He was a member of the Hartsville Lions Club, American Legion, 112th Infantry Regiment Association, 40/8 National Box Car Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chaplain of the Pee Dee Rifles Camp 1419 S.C.V. and the 8th S.C. Vols. Inf. Reenactment Unit. He was a 32nd degree Mason Scottish Rite with membership in the Valley of Williamsport Consistory of Pennsylvania and Travelers Rest Lodge 65 of Georgia. He was vice president of the Pee Dee Fellowship Branch of the Lutheran Brotherhood.


Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Flora Harrell Lee Seiler of Hartsville one son, Lloyd H. Seiler Jr. of Hartsville one daughter and son-in-law, Wilhelmina S. and William Walton Luther Sr., of Hartsville two grandsons, William Walton Luther III and John Roland Luther, both of Hartsville and one sister, Mrs. Ruth Summers of Gettysburg, Pa.



Rev. Roland A. Ries



1963 - 1985



The following articles were given to St. Mary's, June 2005, by Mrs. Ilona Ries. Article from The Carroll County Times, Pastor of the Week column, by Gerald Fischman, Staff Writer, 1984.


Although the son of a Lutheran Minister who emigrated from Denmark, the Rev. Roland A. Ries of St. Mary's Lutheran Parish tried to go his own way as a young man.


After graduating from Johns Hopkins with a major in business economics, he did accounting work for American Oil Co. and National Lead Co. and worked part-time five years for the Gallup Poll.


Still, "sometimes I was not happy with working behind a desk, he said. He sometimes went to services at three or four different churches on Sundays and, when he went for counseling, was told, "you have an uncommonly high religious interest.' So, at about age 25, he went back to school in preparation for the ministry. For the past 21 years, Ries has been pastor of St. Mary's Lutheran Parish, which consists of the 222-year-old congregation of St. Mary's Lutheran Church at Silver Run and the 105-year-old congregation at St. Matthew's in Pleasant Valley, a union church shared with a Reformed congregation.


In that time, he is especially proud of the members' commitment to their congregations, evidenced by such things a the formation of long-standing Bible study groups. "The fellowship and the digging into Scripture is extremely important," he said.


Another accomplishment Ries noted was of a different nature: St. Mary's completed a $70,000 improvement program for its 89 year-old church building three years ago.


St. Mary's congregation has about 250 members St. Matthew's about 150. "Over half of all the churches in the United States have under 200 (in their congregations), which says something about what smaller churches offer - the fellowship," Ries said.


Ries' father was one of a group of Lutheran clergymen who came to America in answer to an advertisement for young ministers. He wound up in Atchison, Kan. Ries was born in Chicago and brought up in Nebraska and Maryland.


After deciding to go into the ministry, Ries got a masters degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins, studied at Gettysburg (Pa.) Seminary and did graduate work in education at the University of Maryland. He pastored Zion Lutheran Church in Baltimore, then served as director of parish education and youth work for the Lutheran synod of Maryland - a job in which he visited more than 100 churches.


One of his proudest accomplishments from those years was being one of the founders and the first director of Mar-Lu Ridge, a facility in the Catoctin mountains of Frederick County that now accepts thousands of campers from church groups and schools each year.


Dean of the Western District of the Lutheran Church in Maryland for six years, Ries serves on the Maryland Synod's world mission committee and stewardship council. Married, Ries lives in Silver Run. He has three grown children - two sons and a daughter - and two grandchildren.

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Article from The Baltimore Sun, Obituaries, Monday, July 12, 1993. By Fred Rasmussen, Contributing Writer. The Rev. Roland A. Ries, a retired Lutheran minster who had been the pastor of several Carroll County churches, died Thursday of renal failure at York Hospital in York, Pa. He was 76. He retired in 1985 after 22 years as pastor of the former Silver Run Lutheran parish churches of St. Matthew's and St. Mary's, both in Pleasant Valley near Westminster. Mr. Ries began his pastoral career in 1945 at the old Zion Lutheran Church in Hamilton, which he desegregated in 1955. He left the church in 1958, and it closed in 1990. He was the director of parish education and youth work for the former Maryland Lutheran Synod from 1958 to 1963 and was the director of its summer school, conducted at Hood College. In 1959 he became the first director of the Camp and Conference Center at Mar-Lu Ridge in the Frederick County community of Jefferson. He also was the Protestant chaplain on the hospital ship Hope in 1968. After his retirement, he performed volunteer work for the library of the Lutheran Theological College in Makumira, Tanzania, from 1985 to 1987. He also was an administrative assistant at the University of Nations, Kailua-Ko-na, Hawaii, and participated in the University Outreach Program in the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan from 1988 to 1989. He was born in Chicago and came to Baltimore in 1929 when his father bcame pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church on East Monument Street. He was a 1934 graduate of City College and received his bachelor's degree in political science and economics in 1937 from Johns Hopkins University. His wife, the form Ilona Reichl whom he married in 1943, said her husband was an avid reader who maintained an interest in world affairs. At the time of his death, he had satisfied the credit requirements for a doctoral degree in human development. He was fond of saying, "I go to the library like some folks go tot he saloon," Mrs. Ries said. Mr. Ries was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster and was a former member of the Maryland Mountain Club. He also served on the board and was a founder of the Carroll Lutheran Village, a retirement home and health center built in 1980. Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St., Westminster. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Lawrence E. Ries of Rockville and Daniel R. Ries of Belmont, Mass. a daughter, Helen C. Ries of Charleston, W.Va. a brother, Eugene D. Ries of Geneva, Switzerland and four grandchildren. The family suggested memorial contributions to the York Hospital Dialysis Center, 410 Pine Grove Commons, York, Pa. 17403.



Rev. Paul A. Haack



1986 - 1989



The Rev. Paul A. Haack was the pastor of St. Mary's from 1986 thru 1989. During Pastor Haack's tenure, St. Mary's celebrated it's 225 year anniversary. Former pastors and some of the former congregation returned to make the celebration. A part of the celebration called for Pastor Haack to dress in period costume and drive up for worship in a horse-drawn carriage.


During this time Pastor Fred Weiser from New Oxford, Pennsylvania organized and translated the old German records of the church.


Pastor Haack also increased liturgical awareness of the congregation and participation.


Pastor Haack and wife Janet have been married since 1968 and have two sons, Jeremy and Aaron.


Vocational History:

Pastor, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Oxford, Pa 1989 - Present Pastor, St. Mary's Ev. Lutheran Church, Silver Run, Md 1986 - 1989 Director for Evangelism, Maryland Synod, L.C.A., Baltimore, Md 1983 - 1986 Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church , Westminster, Md 1976 - 1983 Assistant Pastor, Jerusalem Ev. Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Md 1972 - 1976 Pastor, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Drakes Mills, Pa 1970 - 1972


Pastor Haack has served the community in many ways: Intermittent Chaplain of Baltimore V.A. Hospital 1975 - 1976 Chaplaincy Program, Carroll Hospital Center 1976 - 1983 & 1986 - 1988 The Westminster Ministerium 1976 - 1989 Cub Scout Webelos Leader, Pack #735 1984 - 1985 Carroll District Boy Scout Advancement Committee 1986 - 1989 New Oxford Chamber of Commerce 1990 - 1995 Chairman of the New Oxford Salvation Army Service Unit 1996 - Present Coordinator for the New Oxford Ministerium 1997 - Present Secretary, Directing Committee, Lutheran University Ministry of Greater Baltimore - 1974 to 1976 Chairman of the Westminster District Strategy Team - 1979 to 1983 Maryland Synod, L.C.A. Executive Board - 1981 to 1983 Maryland Synod L.C.A. Council for Evangelism (E.O. Task Force)- 1983 to 1985 Westminster District/Conference Strategy Team - 1987 to 1989 Maryland Synod E.L.C.A. Evangelism Committee - 1988 to 1989 Teaching Parish Supervisor - 1991 to 1993 Seminary Internship Supervisor - 1993 to 2002 Secretary, Hanover Conference of the Lower Susquehanna Synod - 1998 to 2002, 2005 to 2006



Revs. Fisher & Slinghuff



1989 - 1991



Interim Pastors



Rev. Dr. H. Lee Brumback, II



1991 - 2017



.





ST. mARY'S eVANGELICAL lUTHERAN cHURCH



3978 lITTLESTOWN pIKE, WESTMINSTER, mD 21158
(Silver Run)