Letter in German from H. Bode to the President and Council of the German Church asking for financial assistance. Bode stated that since times have become so bad and workers can only work three quarters and half times, he would like to receive a small gratuity in recognition for singing in the choir. He further states he does not neglect his duties when he is healthy, and it has been three-quarters of a year since he last sang.
Letter in German from Johannes Heckel to William Ufferhardt referencing his recovery from an illness caused by the long railroad trip and thanking Ufferhardt for Heckel's stay in Charleston. He asked Ufferhardt to review a vocations formula he has written and advice on whether Heckel should also write Dr. Mueller.
Letter from "your friend" J. Heinz to Capt. C.G. Ducker thanking him for help after the tragedy that "has stricken our congregation" and Dr. Muller's offer to hold German services at St. Johannes every second Sunday.
Letter from Heinrich Emil Eckel, organist, to President and Council Members of St. Matthew's Church requesting permission to use the Sunday School building to teach music to the children of the congregation.
1900, 1850-1859, 1890-1899, 1880-1889, 1870-1879, 1860-1869, and 1840-1849
Description:
This German-language ledger book contains the records of baptisms and confirmations within the community of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from 1840 to 1900. The book is divided into two sections. The front portion contains baptismal records while the back portion contains confirmation records.
1900, 1901, 1850-1859, 1890-1899, 1880-1889, 1870-1879, 1860-1869, and 1840-1849
Description:
This German-language ledger book contains the records of marriages and deaths within the community of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from 1840 to 1900, with a few additional entries for 1901. The book is divided into two sections. The front portion contains marriage records while the back portion contains death records.
Letter in German from John Heinemann, organist and member of the church, to Church Council asking to renew his contract as organist with German Evangelical Lutheran Church and stating reasons for his request.
Letter in German from Heinrich Emil Eckel to the President and Council Members of the German St. Matthew's Church offering himself as a candidate for the customary annual selection for the position of organist. He references his experience playing his own works at two concerts given to celebrate the founding of the church. He also states other churches in the city have offered him a ten-year position as organist, which speaks best to his qualifications.
Letter in German from Pastor Muller to Pastor Johannes Heckel of Nashville, Tennessee inviting Heckel to visit St. Matthew's and enclosing a draft for $50 for travel expenses. The letter is cosigned by members of the Call Committee, the Secretary, and other officials of the parish.
Letter in German from Johannes Heckel to William Ufferhardt, Secretary of St. Matthew's Parish, warmly accepting the invitation to visit and stating he will request from his church permission for a two week absence to make the trip and will advise of the date of his departure.
Letter to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Board of Directors member Carsten Wulbern from attorney John F. Ficken, returning a title to the church along with a mortgage, which has been fully satisfied.
Contract with terms of a one-year contract for Professor Otto Muller to serve as the organist for St. Matthew's congregation. Terms include, payment of $50 per year, leading and training the choir and children in preparation for becoming members of the choir, and giving a public organ concert to benefit the church (and receive $25 for his efforts). Signed by Otto Muller and members of Church Council.
Letter of thanks from Captain of SMS Gazelle to Mr. C G. Ducker, President of St. Matthew's Congregation, for the invitation for the crew to attend services and stating the officers and crew thoroughly enjoyed the worship service at St. Matthew's.
Bond document detailing Thomas E. Miller's agreement to pay back William Von Glahn the "penal sum" of $12,000, including interest, deadlines, and minimum payments against the principle. Also included is the property deed to St. Matthew' Lutheran Church, which Miller mortgaged to become Von Glahn's in the event of defaulting. Details on back indicate a release of the lien on the property. Handwritten note by Von Glahn across the document indicates the debt was "finally satisfied" on July 12, 1928.
Bond document detailing Thomas E. Miller's agreement to pay back William Von Glahn the sum of $2,400, and sets interest, payment deadlines and minimums against the principle. Mortgage to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church is included, with details on back indicating a release of the lien on the property. Handwritten note by Von Glahn across the document indicates the debt was "finally satisfied" on July 12, 1928.
This document packet is the abstract of the title to a tract of land located near the southeast corner of Meeting Street and Cunnington Street. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (then the German Evangelical Lutheran Church) purchased the land from the Northeastern Railroad Company (N.E.R.R. Company) in 1883 for the purpose of creating a cemetery. The cemetery became known as Bethany Cemetery. The abstract lists the property's previous owners and the means through which they acquired the land. It also includes legal documentation showing the N.E.R.R. paid taxes on the land and other confirmation that they had the right to sell the land.
An act to amend the charter of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church with the South Carolina General Assembly, authorizing holding property in the amount of one hundred fifty thousand dollars.
Articles of agreement for the construction of a church on the "corner of Anson and Hasel Streets" between the Building Committee of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, then known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, and John Dawson. Includes specifications for details like windows, painting and a lightning rod, and also contains notes on installment payments, each signed by Dawson.
Document detailing the contractual agreement and payment conditions between "architect contractor and builder" John H. Devereux and Jacob H. Kalb, chairman of the Building Committee, for the construction of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church for a total of $53,000.
Request on behalf of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church by president J.H. Kalb and attorney John F. Ficken to amend the church's charter, expanding its corporate status to allow for the ownership of $100,000 in assets. The request's subsequent approval by government officials is included as well.
Title granting a plot of land, described within, to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- for $12,010. After the property was auctioned by the estate of Reverend Patrick O'Neill, the title was conveyed to the church by Master in Equity James W. Gray.
German-language letter from the Vestry in recognition of the Ladies Bell and Clock Society for enabling the chime bells and tower clock to be installed in the Church steeple and the gift of a small table-bell as a symbol of high appreciation from the Church.
English-language letter from the Vestry in recognition of the Ladies Bell and Clock Society for enabling the chime bells and tower clock to be installed in the Church steeple and the gift of a small table-bell as a symbol of high appreciation from the Church.
Bond agreement for $18,067 between "Master of the Honourable Court of Equity, for Charleston District" James W. Gray and St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here named as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, including payment dates and deadlines. Also included, document detailing the church's payments against this loan, signed by John B. Gray, "receiver," in 1870 and 1871.
Bill of sale detailing the $600 sale at auction of an enslaved man named Elick to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here referred to as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the executors of the estate of Thomas Gates.
Bond document by St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- then known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- promising to repay Dorothea Clausen $50 by February 1, 1875, at 7% interest. Signed by President J.H. Kalb and secretary John Heeseman.
Bond document by St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- then known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- promising to repay J.J. Bredenberg $100 by February 1, 1875, at 7% interest. Signed by church president J.H. Kalb and secretary John Heeseman.
Bond document detailing a $6,400 loan to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under their original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- from Charles Voigt, "Trustee of Wilhelmina Mertens and children," including conditions like payment timeline and interest rate.
Envelope containing bond of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- stylized with an abbreviation of its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- from Henry Ruus.
Notarized document detailing St. Matthew's Lutheran Church mortgage holder Thomas E. Miller's extension of the time and payment of a $15,000 bond by the church for ten years, reducing interest to 4.5% and setting a minimum payment against the principle at $3,000.
Resolution from October of 1841 stating the intention to form a religious society, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- eventually, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- and the appointment of a committee, chaired by John A. Wagener, to collect the funding necessary to construct the church. Includes Wagener's mortgaging of a property to secure a loan of $1,600 from the State Bank of South Carolina for this purpose.
18"x20" black-and-white photograph of the 1909 Sunday School Building Committee. Pictured are J.H Puckhaber, J. H. Tietjen, F.D. Hartmann, and D.A. Amme.
Letter to the members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here abbreviated under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- from the Building Committee, detailing repairs to the church after suffering hurricane ("cyclone") storm damage totaling $3,627, which in the committee's view should be raised by church members.
Policy (number 1235) from "Germania Mutual Fire Insurance Co." for the Sunday School building of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church for the amount of $4000.
Letter outlining the devastating financial situation of the church, interest burdens and $1300 difference in income and expenditures along with the recommendation that the Assistant Pastor can only be funded from private means.
Memo by Captain C.G. Ducker on the letterhead of his company Carolina Mutual Insurance Co. noting a range of events related to the property history of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, beginning in 1860 and ending in 1906.
Letter to Captain C.G. Ducker from attorney John D. Cappelmann detailing his pro bono receipt of signatures on a bond by two representatives of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
Policy (number 102) from the "Carolina Mutual Insurance Company" for the Sunday School building of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church for the amount of $4000.