Rudy, John

Rudy, John, a (Dutch) Reformed minister, was born in Switzerland in 1791, and studied under the Rev. Dr. Helffenstein in Philadelphia. He entered the ministry of the German Reformed Church in 1821, and after serving Christ in North Carolina for three years, at Guilford (1821-24), he transferred his relations to the Reformed Dutch Church. From 1825 to 1835 he was pastor at Germantown, N.Y. In the latter year he resolved to leave the English- speaking Church and people and came to New York city as a missionary to the Germans, and in 1838 took pastoral charge of the German Evangelical Mission Church in Houston Street, where he rendered apostolic service until his death, in 1842. He built up this Church from a little gathering in a hired hall to a membership of 300, and secured the erection of their commodious edifice. He was a man of deep piety, filled with the Spirit, and burdened with the labors of a New Testament evangelist. His distinguishing traits were a sound mind, good judgment, untiring zeal, and faithfulness unto death. He was an efficient coworker with the American Tract Society in the preparation and circulation of evangelical truth among the Germans. He gave himself up to the missionary service among his countrymen with tact and success. His last illness was contracted while engaged in arduous pastoral work. (W.J.R.T.)