We wish also to bear to their bereaved children, parents and kindred, our most heartfelt sympathy and the assurance of our prayers on their behalf that our loving God and Father may comfort them by His spirit, and sustain them by His grace, in this, their time of grievous sorrow, through the tenderness and mercy of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord.
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were received into the fellowship of St. Andrew's at the autumn communion, Oct. 13, 1901...They were already faithful in attendance at the regular church services, and were at once ready for every good work. They immediately became active in the S. S. and assumed from time to time many positions of usefulness and honor, entered heart and soul into the busy life of our church, became leaders and pillars of the congregation, and in these several positions of influence and services for Christ they stood at the time of their terrible death.
Mr. Snyder became the asst. supt. of the S. S. soon after he became a member thereof. He rarely missed a session, and then only for good reason; he was a great help to the supt.... His gifts and faculty of adaptation were such that he could fill most acceptably any vacancy that might occur.
He, as a rule, taught a class, and in the absence of the supt. of any department would take the position on short notice. He was supt. of the primary school from last Sept. to Jan. ...
He became treas. of the ch. Jan., 1904, filling the unexpired term of the late and lamented Harry Ehl, and was re-elected to a full term in the same position a year later. In this holy and useful office he was faithful in attending all the services, and in his regular Sabbath duties was approachable, courteous and thoughtful; in the counsels of the consistory his mature judgment was always influential, and in the detail work of correspondence and visiting which fell to him as a deacon, he took, with gladness, a large share.
He had indeed an exceptional versatility of gifts--shrewd and keen in business, tactful and kind, yet firm in dealing with people, forceful and impressive in teaching and speaking, rich and full of unction in prayer--he sanctified them all in faithful and unreserved devotion to Christ and the Church.
Mrs. Snyder was equally devoted to St. Andrew's congregation and found in the midst of numerous home duties much time for Christian work. She became a teacher in the primary dept. of the S. S. shortly after joining the church, and when the S. S. was reorganized with the addition of a junior dept. she became organist of the primary school.
her quiet, sympathetic manner endeared her to the children, even as she was beloved by all; as a member of the Ladies' Aid Society she was one of the most faithful, and gave much time and strength to their work. She volunteered her services at the organization of the Mission Band, Oct., 1902, and as a teacher and organist in regular meetings and in the preparation of special programs, served with continuous faithfulness and efficiency.
Next to their home, the centre of all the holy fellowship and joys of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was the church, which they loved and sustained unitedly with beautiful appreciation, noble generosity and strong personal devotion.
Their loss to our church is great, and to those of us who were honored by their close and rich friendship the loss is irreparable. But we rejoice in their lives of splendid service, in their characters of singular sweetness, in their victory of faith through Christ Jesus our Lord, who regards them with his immortal crown of righteousness as they rest and serve before Him in the everlasting sunshine of His presence. Their works do follow them and we cherish their precious memory as a sacred heritage forever.
The Consistory--henry H. Ranck, Pastor; Elders C. E. Diefenderfer, J. O. Glase, C. H. Leinbach, J. P. Luft; Deacons Harry D. Hoffman, E. H. Kreamer, H. J. Raudenbush.
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