We come now to consider the history of one whose pastorate was the longest in continuous service of any that have so far ministered to this congregation. Rev. Rath was the son of Jacob Rath and his wife Susanna (Boehm.) He was born in Upper Saucon, Lehigh County, Pa., near Friedensville, September 23, 1826. He was baptized in infancy and later confirmed by Rev. Joshua Jaeger, pastor of the Lutheran congregation at Friedensville.
His childhood and you were spent on his father's farm near Hellertown, not far distant from the place where he died. He worked on the farm until the spring of 1844, when he entered the blacksmith shop with the intention of learning the trade of his father, but his mother's death, May 4th, 1844, leaving nine children to his father's care changed the plans of his life. In the winter of 1845 he began to teach school and continued until the fall of 1846, when he went to Philadelphia as salesman in a dry goods house on Third street. While in the city he regularly attended St. John's Lutheran church, on Race street. Rev. Dr. Mayer, pastor, and was also a teacher in the Sunday School. During the winter of 1847-48 he again taught school, having been very successful as a teacher. In the spring of 1848 he went to Gettysburg to attend Pennsylvania College. Here he spent two years, but on account of failing health he had to return home.
In 1850 he began his studies in the home and under the direction of Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, then living in the parsonage of Jordan Lutheran Church, South Whitehall Township, Lehigh Co. He was diligent and sincere in his work. His preceptor entertained the highest regard for him and ever bore testimony to his unwearied application and unfeigned devotion to the work of his Lord. In June 1852, he creditably passed his examination and was licensed by the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania at its annual meeting held in Lancaster. After his reception into the ministerium he remained for a short time with Rev. Schindel and then received and accepted a call from four congregations in Northampton County, formerly served by Rev. Mendsen, viz: Towamensing, Cherryville, Moorestown and Stone Church. He lived in Cherryville.
In May 1857 he received and accepted a call to the charge long served by Rev. B. German, and more recently by Rev. J. Vogelbach. The charge consisted of four congregations, viz: Salisbury, Zionville, Blue Church and Apple's. During this time he also served the St. Paul's congregation at Catasauqua, until 1861. In the fall of 1859 he became pastor of the Lower Saucon Lutheran congregation, near Freemansburg, serving the same until 1870. During 1858-59 he preached at Mickley's and during 1861-62 he served the congregation at Cedarville. He organized the congregation at Hellertown in 1870 and served it until 1881. He also organized and served St. John's at Emaus, and the Lutheran congregation in Solomon's church Macungie. In the fall of 1857 he received a call to the "Swamp charge" but declined it.
During the last three years of his ministry and up to his death, he had pastoral charge of Salisbury and Zionville. having resigned Blue Church and Apple's. He preached his last sermon in Zionville on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1889, on 2 Tim. 2:8. Shortly thereafter he was taken sick and never again able to fill any appointment.
In the year 1882 he celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary in the four congregations forming the original charge. Very interesting services were held in these different churches and many tokens of high regard and of devotion to him were presented. It was a great comfort and encouragement to him to receive these marks of warm appreciation.
During his ministry of thirty-seven years, according to his records, he baptized 3718, married 1031 couples and buried 1466.
Besides the work in his own congregations he did a great amount of work for Synod, conference and the church institutions. He was intimately connected and identified with the welfare of Muhlenberg College, Allentown. He was a trustee in its Board from its very beginning. He served as President of the Board from 1876 to 1886 and was the father of the present amended charter of the college.
He was president of the Second District Conference from 1871 to 1877, and from 1883 to 1886. Some of the most trying ordeals through which this conference has been called to pass, took place during his incumbency. In Synod he was not less useful and active. He served on many important committees and rendered much important service to the church.
He was married December 26, 1853 to Christiana E. Snyder, daughter of the late Jonas Snyder and his wife Sarah (Flick.) Four children were born to them, viz: Rev. Myron O., Laura Alma, Mary Elizabeth, who died in infancy; and Sarah Susannah, wife of Francis G. Lewis, Esq.
His sickness was general debility, resulting in particular from an attack of typhoid fever during the severe epidemic in Allentown of typhoid in 1886. He died at his country residence at Centre Valley, Lehigh County, July 2, 1889. He was surrounded during his final struggle by his wife, who with unfaltering devotion ministered to him during long illness, and his children who followed him to the dark valley through which the Lord Jesus, whom he loved and served so long, alone could accompany him.
"Rev. William Rath was a man of more than ordinary ability. Being more or less of a timid, retiring disposition, his real worth and ability were not so well known. In the inner circle of his more intimate friends he was himself and his real merits came there to the surface. He was well versed and grounded in the history and theology of the church and his was a very decided confessional type of Lutheranism. He had no respect for mere sensationalism. There was with him no compromise of the truth for the sake of mere policy or social considerations. As a preacher he was clear, thoroughly evangelical and practical. He was firm and steadfast in his convictions, resolute and determine in purpose and conscientious in every particular. In his habits he was economical and punctual and in his intercourse with others he was polite and gentlemanly. He commanded respect from every one that had the pleasure of knowing or meeting him. He was fondly attached to his home and family. 'There is no place like home,' he would often say. His children were near and dear to him, and he was much concerned in their temporal and spiritual welfare. He had the great satisfaction of having his only son as his assistant and successor."
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."