FRY

REV. FRANK F. FRY is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, and is undoubtedly one of the most popular and successful ministers in Bethlehem, being beloved by every one who has the pleasure of his acquaintance. He is a young man of fine presence and scholarly attainments, and has already become one of the prominent ministers in the Lutheran Church. He is an earnest and enthusiastic worker, and is sincerely devoted to the cause of Christianity, to which lie has consecrated his talents and his life. Though he has had many flattering calls to other important fields of labor and usefulness, with offers of larger salary, he has declined them all, believing that he has a great work to do here; and he has certainly accomplished a most gratifying work in this community.

Mr. FRY was born in Carlisle, Pa., November 1, 1864. His father is the distinguished Rev. Jacob FRY, D. D., one of the leading clergymen in his denomination. His grandfather, Hon. Jacob FRY, was an enterprising and extensive merchant at the Trappe, in Montgomery County, Pa. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of others to such an extent that he was elected a Member of Congress from his district, and also served as Auditor-General of the state of Pennsylvania. He died at his home, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which he was an active and consistent member. His great-grandfather, whose Christian name was also Jacob, was of an old and highly respected family.

Rev. Mr. FRY belongs to a family of preachers. His father, his only brother, and several uncles are all Lutheran clergymen. When only three years old, he began to preach regularly every Sunday afternoon, so that he may be called literally a "born preacher." His father was educated in Union College, at Schenectady, N. Y., from which he graduated with honor. He then pursued his theological studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., after which he was ordained to preach the Gospel by the Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania. His first charge was at Carlisle, Pa., where he preached for eleven years. Since that time he has been pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Reading, Pa., the largest English-Lutheran Church in the world. He is also a Professor in the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, having for three years occupied the chair of homiletics and Sacred Oratory. For some years he was the English Secretary of the Mother Synod of Pennsylvania, for ten years was elected Treasurer of that body, and has served ever since on its Executive Committee, besides holding many other positions of responsibility and trust, he has just completed the "History of Trinity Lutheran Church of Reading,'' with which he has been connected for thirty years. It is a memorial volume of the centennial anniversary of the congregation. He is also the author of "The Church Book Explained," and has contributed extensively to theological journals and periodicals. His degree of Doctor of Divinity was received from his Alma Mater. His wife, formerly Eliza J. Wattles, was born in Gettysburg, and is the daughter of Horace D. Wattles, who kept a large hotel at that place, where he died at a good old age. It is a curious fact, worthy of passing notice, that of the five daughters and three sons of the family to which she belonged, all of the daughters married Lutheran clergymen, and all the sons are jewelers in Pittsburg.

Until he was fifteen years of age Mr. FRY attended the public and high schools of Reading, standing regularly at the head of his class. The next year he spent in a private course of study in the classics under Rev. Dr. T. C. Billheimer, of Gettysburg, and in preparation for college. September 1, 1881, he entered Muhlenberg College, from which he graduated in 1885. Here again for four years he enjoyed the honorable distinction of attaining the highest grade in the class. He carried off the prize in the Junior Oratorical Contest, and graduated with first honors as Valedictorian, his rank being the highest ever reached by any student in the history of the college. Out of a possible one hundred his average percentage was ninety-eight and one-half. He was President of the Sophronian Literary Society during his Freshman year, was one of the editors of The Muhlenberg from its inception, being Editor-in-Chief in 1885. He also organized the College Missionary Society, which is still a flourishing organization. In the fall of 1885 he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He was ordained to the office of the ministry by the Mother Synod of Pennsylvania in May, 1888, in Trinity Lutheran Church of Lancaster, where he preached his first sermon. At once he became the assistant of Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D., LL. D., L. H. D., the most scholarly and distinguished Lutheran preacher in America. For some years he was associated with him in the Church of the Holy Communion, Broad and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, one of the foremost churches of the Lutheran denomination in this country. During his father's absence in Egypt and Palestine for six months in 1890, Mr. FRY became acting pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church at Reading. He also served St. John's Lutheran Church of Easton for three months, during the absence of its pastor, Rev. D. H. Geissinger, in Europe. In December, 1890, he was unanimously called as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Bethlehem, which he accepted, and he entered upon its duties .January 1, 1891.

During the summer of 1892 the church was considerably enlarged and completely renovated and beautified, the improvements costing $8,100. It is now regarded as the most chaste and beautiful sanctuary in Bethlehem. All its services are very largely attended, the Wednesday evening lectures being especially so. Mr. FRY is a fluent speaker, a careful thinker, and an edifying preacher, and is deservedly held in the highest esteem both by his congregation and the entire community. The membership of the church has shown a rapid rate of increase, numbering at present more than four hundred and fifty communicants. The Sundayschool is also in a very flourishing condition and has won an enviable reputation for its splendid singing. In arranging and rendering grand festival services, it has no superior in the town.

During the present Pastorate time young people have become a prominent factor in the congregation. A regular series of societies has been organized, with churchly methods and a churchly spirit, with most gratifying results. These societies aggregate a membership of more than two hundred and twenty-five. They have aided very materially the attendance at church services, have promoted sociability among the members, have raised a large amount of revenue in a legitimate way, and have stimulated much zeal arid activity in tire congregation. Mr. FRY is connected either directly or indirectly with every organization, so that all work together in perfect harmony.

Though still young in years, Mr. FRY holds many important positions of responsibility and trust. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, his Alma Mater, a member of its executive committee, and one of its examining board. He is also a member of the Church Book Committee of the General Council of the Lutheran Church in America, and serves on the Committee on Model Constitution for the Lutheran League of the state of Pennsylvania. He is also prominently connected with many movements of local interest. That he is actuated by the highest motives, without the least trace of material gain, is shown by the fact that when his present congregation offered him a salary of $1,500, he accepted only $1,200. Since serving in Grace Church he has received an urgent call from each of his former charges, an honor rarely paid to any clergyman. His only brother, Rev. Charles L. FRY, is a prominent minister at Lancaster, Pa.