German-language court brief listing German citizens indicted on charges of refusing to appear for their mandatory service in the military. Found guilty, they were sentenced to pay a fine of 200 marks and may face 40 days in prison.
Vocation (or Call) addressed to Johannes Heckel by the Call Committee, advising him that they are inviting him to take the position. It refers to their unanimous agreement to the call - subject to the approval of the Bishop. "It was God's will that we were made aware of you and that we had you in our midst and will get to know you even better. We are convinced that you will be able to support our Honorable Pastor Dr. Mueller in his difficult work and in the internal and external building of our St. Matthew's Parish. So we recognize clearly and happily the finger of God and call you unanimously as our second preacher." The letter continues to express that, as a servant of the parish, he will preach God's word, help guide and lead the Church, educate children, etc.
Print document containing list of German immigrant passengers' names and the region or town they were from in Germany. In print is the date October 13. Handwritten notes add the year 1858 with further notes: "Passanger list aboard SS Gauss on 9 October. Sailed from Bremen to Charleston, Captain H. Wieting."
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 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 V. von Lintig to Mr. Ufferhardt requesting claim for $200 from the church. V. von Lintig indicates he no longer lives in Charleston and no longer visits the Church, but since he has supported the Church vigorously, is requesting the amount of $200 plus interest.
Newpaper clippings in German and English commemorating the fortieth anniversary of arrival of one hundred and thirty five German immigrants in Charleston in 1849 aboard the Johann Frierich ship.
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.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church members of the congregation obligating themselves to financially contribute to purchase a plot of real estate for the construction of a church. One third of the sum due when lot is purchased, the second third payable after one month and the remaining third after the second month following the first payment.
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 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.
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.
A program about the services for the reopening of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Paster H.B. Schaeffer on Sunday, December 6th, 1925. The eighty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the congregation dated from December 3, 1840 to December 6, 1925.
Church Constitution of St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation in Charleston, SC, translated from the original German into English. Originally published in 1859. This revised edition was printed in 1876.
Rev. Louis Muller's recognition of fifty years of service at St. Matthw's German Lutheran Church, including his first service on Easter Sunday in 1848 and his record of service including, 4,402 baptisms, 1,440 confirmations, 1503 marriages, and burials of 4,163 friends, inlcuding the period in 1854 when the yellow fever epidemic swept through Charleston.
Church Constitution of St. Matthew's Lutheran Congregation in Charleston, SC, in German. Originally published in 1859. This revised edition was printed in 1876.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Verification under oath by members of the community that A.H.C. Stender has lived long in this community and his reputation for veracity in the city is good.
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.
Letters and documents surrounding the legal history of a piece of property eventually acquired by St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, beginning in 1834 with the settling of the estate of William A. Moultrie by the trustee William Brailsford, up until the release of a lien on the Hasell Street property, in September of 1841, upon John Bryan's bond payment of $12,000 to the business partners George Ingraham and Thomas Webb.
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.
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.
"Title of Real Estate" indicating the sale of a plot of land "situated on the North side of Radcliffe Street" from Jacob H. Kalb to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, represented by Chairman of the Vestry Henry Stender, for $1,500.
Document detailing the raising of $20,000 to complete the construction of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- through the mortgage of the church's land and sale of bonds, with the lot's mortgaged deed to be held by trustees J.C.H. Claussen, G.W. Steffens and B. Bollmann, and signed by John A. Wagener.
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.
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.
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.
Mortgage document which indicates St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- here under its original name, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- is bound to Charleston's Court of Equity for the sum of $18,016, and mortgages their property as described in the document to Master in Equity James W. Gray as collateral.
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.
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.
Program detailing the dedication ceremony of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, to take place on "Holy Thursday," March 28, 1872. Includes a personnel list for the Directors of Procession and the Arrangements Committee, and details each moment of the ceremony. Also includes several key dates in the property history leading up to the opening of the church from 1867 to 1872, and a schedule of events to come, including baptisms, funerals and a marriage.
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.
Letter to trustees J.C.H. Claussen, G.W. Steffens and B. Bollmann from John Phillips, which encloses the title to the land on which the German Evangelical Lutheran Church- St. Matthew's Lutheran Church- is being constructed.
Document detailing the mortgage of St. Matthew's Church to raise $20,000 via the trustees J.C.H. Claussen, G.W. Steffens and B. Bollmann, signed by Charles Voigt.
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.
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.
A survey map of the area known as Desperker Farm, followed by a deed indicating the area's sale to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, under its original name the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The sale for $5,650 was finalized by E.L. Freeman and D.L. Goff, based on a resolution by the stockholders of the First National Bank of Pawtucket. The conveyance of the deed was certified by the law firm Ficken, Hughes & Ficken. The date of the original survey is July 16, 1892.
A letter to Captain C.G. Ducker from the law offices of Ficken, Hughes & Ficken enclosing the deed to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, executed by the First National Bank of Pawtucket. The recording of the deed by Captain Cogswell was free, and Captain Ducker is encouraged to keep the deed, title and other property documents in his records.
Letter to the "gentlemen" of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from Thomas E. Miller indicating a reduction in interest on mortgage payments to 5% for the span of a year, from January 12, 1934 to January 12, 1935.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Petition submitted to Charleston County Probate Court by J. Frederick Knobeloch, represented by attorney William H. Harty, stating that Knobeloch has legally executed Sophie H. Nagel's last will and testament, and that the amount left over after making the payments itemized in an included list of receipts and disbursements, $2,654.22, is to go to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. An accompanying court order sets a hearing date for the final settlement.
Title from Thomas E. Miller of Philadelphia granting St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and "its successors and ensigns, absolutely and forever" the property it resides on for $64,000. Also defines the physical parameters of the lot and the realtors involved in its sales history.
Letter to J. Frederick Knobeloch from attorney J.D.E. Meyer indicating that the document that releases St. Matthew's Lutheran Church from mortgage by Thomas E. Miller is enclosed. The attorney indicates that Knobeloch or his successors will have to execute the final agreement and that the document should be kept in the church treasurer's records.
Letter to J. Frederick Knobeloch from attorney J.D.E. Meyer, enclosing a letter from Thomas E. Miller which reduces the interest on St. Matthew's Lutheran Church's mortgage payments for the span of a year, from January 12, 1934 to January 12, 1935.
Document detailing Thomas E. Miller's release of a lien on a portion of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church's property after their payment of $19,000, signed by the church's Chairman of the Vestry J. Henry Dreyer. The mortgage on the rest of the church is to remain in full effect.
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.
"Title of Real Estate" from Edward R. Laurens, Master in Equity, to Patrick O'Neill through auction for $2000 for the west side of King Street across from Citadel Square containing two lots.
Policy (number 104465) from the "Germania Mutual Fire Insurance Co." for the organ, copper roof, and furniture/fixtures of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church for the amount of $4000.
Policy (number 107292) from the "Germania Mutual Fire Insurance Co." for the organ, copper roof, and furniture/fixtures of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church for the amount of $4000.
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.
A letter from Henry Ruus, co-signed by fellow clergy members including J.H. Tietjen and K.C. Stello, indicating that they are "held and firmly bound" to pay $2,000 to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
"Title of Real Estate" with covenants from Edward R. Laurens, Master in Equity, to Charles Dunn through auction for $1180 for the west side of King Street across from Citadel Square.
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.
A certificate from Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, verifying their coverage of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here referred to by its original name, the German Lutheran Evangelical Church. A constitution of their policies is included, signed by company president Captain C.G. Ducker. The church is insured for the amount of $10,000.
A certificate from Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, verifying their coverage of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, here referred to by its original name, the German Lutheran Evangelical Church. A constitution of their policies is included, signed by company president Captain C.G. Ducker. The church is insured for the amount of $2,500.
Letter to Carsten Wulbern, President of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church Property, from attorney John F. Ficken, which encloses a record that shows there are "no outstanding encumbrances of record affecting the Church property." The enclosed record is written by Charleston County Register of Mesne Conveyances, Charles Kerrison Jr., and references dates from 1852 to 1891.
A document conveying a tract of land to the German Evangelical Church. The land was sold to the church by the "Memorial Association consisting of The German Artillery Companies A and B, The German Volunteers of the Hampton Legion and the German Hussars." The document explains that the Memorial Association had abandoned the property sometime prior to their decision to sell it to the church.
A ribbon-bound document conveying a tract of land to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The document begins by affirming that John A. Wagener, John Hurkamp, and H.H. Hoops paid off their mortgage on the land. The document also describes the land's location as being near "lands now or lately in use by the Hebrew Congregation as a cemetery" and near land used as a cemetery for people of color.
A document signed by John A. Wagener, John Hukamp, and H.H. Hoops, agreeing to pay back one-thousand one-hundred and twenty-five dollars in return for a loan from Edward R. Laurens. This money was taken out for a tract of land in the Village of Hampstead.
A map of burial plots in the German Evangelical Lutheran Church's cemetery (Hampstead), with the title written in German. The map is oriented so south is towards the top of the page while north is towards the bottom. The map is in several pieces, with some pieces missing. The remaining sections show six rows of cemetery plots, running north to south. The plots are numbered 3 to 56, with plot 51 missing. Towards the bottom-right corner, running west to east, two more plots are labelled 57 and 58.
A letter from Tristram T. Hyde to Captain C.G. Ducker, President of the St. Matthew's congregation. Hyde states he's offered to take an option for $4000, "with the assurance that $4000.00 will be paid for said land if the plan contemplated can be carried out. Hyde asks Ducker to bring the offer to the next church meeting and explain that the land's sale will lead to "public improvement."
A document signed by William F. Ostendorff and Ernst C. Hesse, agreeing to bond themselves in support of the established perpetual care fund for Bethany Cemetery.
A document signed by Julian H. Jahnz and Anton W. Jager, agreeing to bond themselves in support of the established perpetual care fund for Bethany Cemetery.
A letter to Captain C.G. Ducker, President of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, from the attorney John F. Ficken. The letter was meant to accompany the delivery of three bonds.
A letter written by Maizie J. Bergmann to the committee of the German Cemetery Grounds. The letter recounts an incident where Bergmann attempted to deliver compost to the Bergmann family plot and "Mr. J.H. Steenken" interrupted the delivery. The letter ends with an inquiry about cemetery rules.
