Lenoir Rhyne College - Hacawa Yearbook (Hickory, NC)

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Jason Chrysostom Moser, D. D. Rev. J. C. Moser, D. D., was of the third generation of Lutheran ministers in his family, and if he had lived seven months longer, these three ministers would have served through a century in the Lutheran ministry in North Carolina. Rev. Daniel Moser, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Orange County. N. C. , May 8, 1790. He was licensed to preach by the Noith Ce)clira Sjrcd cf the Lutheran church, in Linclonton, N. C. . April 6. 1812, and was ordained to the office of the ministry on Trinity Sunday, 1823, at the same place. In this office he labored twenty-saven years, during which time he preached 1943 s rmjns, baptized 2450 persons, and confirmed 821. Rev. Timothy Moser, son of Daniel, was born in Cataw- ba County, N. C, May 7, 1817, and was set apart for the work of the ministry by the Tennessee Synod, on October 10, 18 ' t4, in Zion ' s church, Catawba County, N. C. He died near Mt. Pleasant, N. C, July 25, 1900. Thus, he labored in the holy office among his own people, and in connection with the Synod of his father during a period of fifty-six years, though he retired from active work and only supplied at intervals during the last twelve years of his life. He preached 2661 sermons. To him the title of ' father ' and ' peacemaker ' were given by his co-laborers in attestation of his eminent service and pious life. Two of his sons entered the Gospel ministry. Rev. John F. , died February 3, 1897. He was a member of the faculty of Concordia College, Conover, N. C. , six years. Exchanging the teacher ' s desk for the pulpit, he was ordained July 7, 1893. That his short period of service was fruitful is shown by the records of Conference and Synod at the time of his death. Jason Chrysostom- Moser was born November 18, 1849, in Cabarrus county, N. C. Very early in life, he decided to otfer himself for the work of the ministry. Accordingly, he secured all the preparatory education possible; entered North Carolina College, from which he graduated in the class of ' 73 with high honors and from which he afterwards received t!i3 degree of Doctor of Divinity; and took a course in theolo-

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' • ' 3 REV. JASON CHRYSOSTOM MOSER. D. D.

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gy under the private tutorship of his father. Immediately after graduation he was licensed to preach by the Tennessee Synod and accepted a call to serve the following- churches: St. Mark ' s, Mt. Moriah, and Phanuel ' s in Rowan county; Morning Star in Mecklenburg County; and E nmaers in Union caanty. His first sermon was preached in this parish August 17, 1873. He also taught school at China Grove. After three years of theological study and experience, the period of licensure terminated and Dr. Moser was solemnly ordained to the ofl ce of pastor, October, 10, 1876, Hecontinusd to serve this parish until the fall of 1882. He delivered an address at the commencement of Con- cordia High School, Conover, N. C. in 1880. The address was so excellent that friends published it and the youthful author was asked to accept a professor-ship in the hopeful young school. He labored in the school at Conover five years. During two years, ' 85 to ' 87, he was president. Much of his time was spent in canvassing for funds. At the same time he was pastor of two churches, Sharon and St. Martin ' s in Iredell county. In the summer 1888 he accepted a call to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hickory, N. C, where he spent the re- mainder of his years,— almost a quarter of a century. This long service in Hickory resulted in much good. Many souls grew strong under the good man ' s spiritual care. The con- gregation was established. Several others grew out of its membership. A handsome new church building stands as an enduring monument to Dr. Moser ' s self-sacrifice and devotion. It is agreed that the bar-rooms were driven from Hickory largely through his work and that he exerted an influence for prohibition in other parts of the State. Because of his faith in christian education he became one of four men who gave their personal notes for $2500 each for the erection of the main building at lenoir College, thereby making the offer of the splendid site available and the estab- lishment of the college assured. From 1891 to 1901, Dr. Moser held the chair of Latin in the Faculty of Lenoir College. He was a member of the Board of Trustees sixteen years and served as its first chairman ten consecutive years. Being urged by declining health he gave up the arduous