St. Mark's Pastors
- Henry Ziegler
- Joseph Welker
- Joseph Frederick Fahs
- Ferdinand C.H. Lampe
- Abraham Reeser Horne
- William Rickert
- Adolphus Leroy Yount
- George G. Kunkle
- William F. Rick
- Edwin Lunn Miller
- Stephen M. Paulson
- Henry Douglas Spaeth
- Paul L. Yount
- J. Ray Houser
- Robert Neumeyer
- Franklyn S. Lambert
- Frederick G. Hasskarl
- Paul F. Bosch
- William E. Hershey
- Robert Ardell Miller
- Jesse Houck
- Dale E. Johnson
- Stephen F. Yelovich
- Walter L. Brandau
- Kenneth R. Elkin
- James E. West
- Brian D. Vasey
In 1893, the Rev. William F. Rick, just
graduating from Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary, was called
as pastor. Under his leadership and guidance, the church became a
thriving and enlivened institution. The need for a new building
became a material reality, and the corner-stone for the new St.
Mark’s was laid in September, 1895. The church was dedicated October
14, 1896.
Much
could be written about this beloved leader, but space does not
permit. During the five years of his pastorate, he saw his
congregation grow to more than 700 members, and become one of the
most substantial churches in Williamsport. He was one of the most
popular clergymen in the city when, at the age of 29, he accepted
appointment as Chaplain of the 12th Regiment on March 14, 1898,
during the Spanish American War Days.
Shortly
after his appointment, war clouds darkened and open hostilities
broke out on April 21, 1898. The 12th Regiment entrained for Mt.
Gretna the night of April 27th, Anticipating the departure of
Williamsport’s three companies of volunteers, Chaplain Rick preached
a farewell sermon on April 24th. Because of public interest in his
address, the service was transferred from the Church to the Opera
House, which had the largest seating capacity in the city. The
audience was estimated at more than 3,000 persons.
When
the regiment entrained on the night of April 27th, it marched up
Fourth Street between solid walls of 10,000 cheering residents. At
the head of the parade marched Chaplain Rick with his wife by his
side. Behind him marched the congregation of St. Mark’s Lutheran
Church singing again and again “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
Pastor Rick ministered to the soldiers at Camp Alger until a typhoid
epidemic spread through the camp killing 24 men of the 12th
Regiment. Capt. Rick was the eleventh
victim,
and his death brought about the darkest hour of the Spanish American
War period for Williamsport. He was brought home from Camp on August
10th, seriously ill of the fever, and early on Sunday morning,
August 21, 1898, he was called to live with his Heavenly Father whom
he had served so well on earth. More than 4,000 persons paid tribute
while the body lay in state before the pulpit of St. Mark’s and the
cortege that followed the Chaplain's body to Wildwood Cemetery was
described by THE SUN as the largest in the city’s history up to that
time, with every available conveyance in the city joining the
procession of mourners. It is doubtful whether it has been exceeded
in the last half century.
On
August 21, 1948—50 years later—St. Mark’s and Camp Rick Post of
Spanish American War Veterans remembered Rev. Rick with a graveside
memorial service in Wildwood Cemetery. The hymn “Onward Christian
Soldiers” rang out from the Carillon on that Sunday, as 50 years
later a Cavalcade of some 50 automobiles moved from the church to
the cemetery.
In the words of a SUN Reporter ‘How great must have been his ability and his influence to have drawn 3,000 to the Opera House when he preached his farewell sermon; to have 4,000 sorrowing persons view his body in death, and hundreds follow his casket to its grave; and to have a whole congregation affectionately remember him after a half century.
More on Rev. Rick: