USA > Maryland > Annual report of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, 1st-6th, Vol. 1-6 > Part 15
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Unter den Namen der guten Prediger, die er nennt, er- kennen wir einige der berühmtesten des vorigen Jahrhunderts. Ich citire die interessante Stelle:
"Sonsten | trotz der grossen Anzahl Prediger, die gar schlecht predigen und keinen besonders guten Einfluss ausüben] befin- den sich in Pennsylvanien der Zeit viele gute Evangelisch- Schwedisch- Holländisch und Teutsche Prediger Lutherisch- und Reformirter Religion, davon mir folgende selbsten sehr wohlbekannt waren, als unter den Englischen : Die drey Gebrui- der Dement und Mr. Datt, Drey Schwedische, welche mit un- sern Predigern in einer sehr genauen Vereinigung stehen, und
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jährlich mit einander Conferenzen halten. Die tentsch Evan- gelisch-Lutherische Prediger aber sind Hr. Mr. Mullenberg, senior, im Amt Providenz und Nen-Hannover, Hr. Brunholz, in Philadelphia, Hr. Handschuh in Germanton, Ilr. Kurtz in Tul- penhaken, Hr. Wagner in Readingstoun, Hr. Heinzelmann in Philadelphia, Hr. Schultz, Hr. Weygand, Hr. Schrenk, Hr. Schärtel an den Blauen Bergen, Hr. Hartwich in New- York. Hr. Gorock zu Lancaster. Reformirte sind: Hr. Schlatter, Hr. Steiner, Hr. Siebele, Hr. Weiss, Hr. Michael, Hr. Streit- ter und Hr. Laidig ohne der Holländischen und anderen * * zu gedenken.“ (S. 48-49.)
Besonders betont er, dass in Pennsylvanien die Prediger keine ,Besoldungen oder Zehend-Früchte," keine Wohnungen oder ,, Beneficia" haben und auch keine besondere Macht. Er berichtet aber noch dieses darüber :
„Von Kindstaufen, Leichen und Copulationen gibt man gemeiniglich einen ganzen Thaler." (S. 49.)
Damals hatten die Prediger sogar viele Feinde unter dem Volke. Als ,, Erzfeinde und Spotter" nennt er Arnold Huf- nagel und Conrad Reif, die Plantage-Manner im Amt Oly waren. (S. 100-101.)
Wie sauer dem damaligen Prediger das Leben werden konnte, erhellt aus Folgendem:
„Es ist auch die Pennsylvanische Freyheit manchen Men- schen an Seel und Leib mehr schädlich als nuzlich. Sonst ist ein Sprichwort darinnen: Pennsylvania ist der Bauern ihr Himmel, der Handwerksleute ihr Paradies, der Beamten und Prediger ihre Hölle.“ (S. 50.) *)
PROFESSIONEN. - Dem Mittelberger fiel es besonders auf. dass es in Pennsylvanien keine Zünfte gab. S. 44 lautet es :
„In Pennsylvanien ist auch keine Profession oder Hand- thierung zunftig. Jedermann kann handeln und treiben wie er will und kan, und so Jemand wollte oder konnte zehner- ley Professionen anlegen, so kan und darf demselben es nie- mand wehren, und wann zum Beispiel ein Jung in der Lehre
*) Seite Il desselben Werkes heisst es: „,dass es [Pa.] seye des Frauenzim- mers Paradies, der Männer Fegefeuer, un1 der Pferde Hölle." Pferde, Beamte und Prediger stehen also auf gleicher Stufe!
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oder auch von selbsten in einem halben Jahr seine Kunst oder Handwerk erlernet, kann er schon vor einen Meister passiren und darf heirathen wann er will.
Dieses ist auch zn bewundern, dass die junge Lente, welche in diesem neuen Lande gebohren worden, schr gelehrsam, ge- schickt und kunstreich sind; dann ein mancher beschaut und betrachtet nur etliche mal etwas kunstreiches, so macht er es sogleich nach, da in Tentsehland mancher etliche Jahre daran zu lernen hat, um solches perfect zu machen. Hier ist man- cher im Stande, anch die künstlichste Sachen in kurzer Zeit zu verfertigen. Wann diese junge Leute ein halbes Jahr in die Schul gegangen, können sie gemeiniglich lesen, wo man will.“
Haben wir nicht hier einen frühen Beweis dafür, dass Gewandtheit und Versitilität, welche die Kennzeichen des echten Amerikaners geworden, schon vor hundert und fünfzig Jahren sich entwickelt hatten ? Die Worte des deutschen Musiklehrers haben einen wahrhaft prophetischen Klang!
LEBENSMITTEL. - Die Behandlung der Lebensmittel in Pennsylvanien bildet einen der interessantesten Theile seines Werkes. Nicht ohne Bedeutung ist, was er über den Preis im- portirter Waaren sagt:
„Die Lebensmittel in Pennsylvanien sind wohlfeil; hin- gegen aber alles, was gearbeitet und in's Land gebracht wird, ist drey bis vier mal theurer, als in Teutschland, Holz, Salz und Zuker ausgenommen. - - Sie banen aber lanter blosse Früchten, als Rocken, Waizen, Gersten, Haber, Buchwaizen, Welschkorn, Flachs, Hanf, Obst, Krant und Ruben. Sie haben auch gute Viehzucht, schnelle Pferde und viel Bienen. Die Schaafe, die grösser als die teutschen sind, haben jährlich meh- rentheils zwei Lämmer. Schweine und Geflügel, sonderlich welsche Hüner ziehet jedermann häufig." (S. 52.)
Schon zu Mittelberger's Zeit war das Fleischessen sehr auffallend und so verbreitet, dass er bemerkte, hier geniesse man kein Essen ohne Fleisch, selbst in den ärmsten Hansern. „Ich glaube nicht,“ fährt er fort, „,dass in irgend einem Lande mehr Fleisch verspeisset und verzehret wird, als in Pennsylvanien." (S. 52.)
Ueber AMERIKANISCHE GETRAENKE hat er eine sehr in- teressante Stelle:
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,,Das Getränk in Pennsylvanien und andern Englischen Colonien ist mancherlei: erstlich köstlich und gesundes Was- ser; zweytens macht man eine Mixtur mit Milch und drey- theil Wasser; drittens guter Apfelmost; viertens Schmahl Bier; fünftens köstlich Englisches und starkes süsses Bier : seehstens sogenannter Punsch, welcher von drey Theil Wasser und einem Theil West-Indischen Rumm (wo man keinen Rumm hat, nimmt man Brandtwein, aber der Rum ist viel ange- nehmer) mit Zucker und Citronensaft vermengt, gemacht ist ; siebentens Sinkere, *) welches noch köstlicher zu trinken ist; dieses wird von zwey Theil Wasser und einem Theil Spanischen Wein wit Zucker und Muscoten-Nuss angemacht, und dann achtens teutsche und spanische Weine sind in allen Schenk- häusern genug zu bekommen."
PFLANZEN UND FRUECHTE. - Manches Interessante be- richtet er über die Pflanzen und Baume, die in Pennsylvanien wachsen, Pfirsich- und Kirsch-, Zucker-, Sassafras-, Tulipa- nenbäume und Blumen verschiedener Art finden wir ausführ- lich beschrieben.
„Es gibt (sagt er S. 58) in Pennsylvanien, sowie in ganz Nord-Amerika von Arkadien bis nach Mexico ohngepflanzte schwarz und weisse Traubenstöcke genug zu sehen, welche in den Wäldern, an den Eichbäumen und an den Hecken auf- wachsen.“
THIERE UND INSEKTEN. - Auch über amerikanische Thiere berichtet Mittelberger Manches: ,, Hier hat man keine Mayenkäfer, dagegen aber alle fünf Jahr ein entsetzliches Heer Ungeziefer Lockis (Locusts) genannt." - ,,Die Frösche haben hier eine ganz andere Stimme. Sie quaken nicht, son- dern sie gilfen." (S. 63.) Er scheint aber dem Thierreich nicht viel Studium gewidmet zu haben, da er die Namen mancher Vogel und Thiere nicht nennt.
STRASSEN. - Ganz am Ende seiner Reisebeschreibung gibt er die Hauptstrassen der Provinz an:
„In der Provinz Pennsylvanien sind drey Hauptstrassen angelegt, welche alle drey von Philadelphia in das Land hinein gehen, so weit es bewohnet ist; die erste Strasse von Phila.
*) „Das amerikanische Getränk Sangaree.“ - Prof. Raddatz des Baltimore City College.
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gehet rechter Hand über die Delawar Neu-Frankfurt zu; die zweite oder mitlere Strasse gehet Germanton, Rittingston und Dueppenhacken zu, bis über die blaue Berge; die dritte Strasse gehet linker Hand Lancaster und Bethlehem zu, welches ein Kloster und voller Dumpler mit Bruder und Schwestern be- wohnt ist. Diese Leute scheeren keinen Bart, es hat ein Man- cher unter denenselben einen Bart einer halben Ehlen lang. Sie tragen Kutten, wie die Capuciner, Winterszeit von solchem Tuch oder Farbe, Sommerszeit aber von feinem weissen Leini- wand; die Schwestern kleiden sich auf gleiche Art. ' Diese Leut taufen sich erst und tunken sich ganz in's tieffe Wasser, wann sie schon erwachsen sind, und von ihrem Glauben Re- chenschaft geben können. Sonsten feyern sie statt des Sonn- tags den vorhergehenden Samstag." (S. 115.)
DRUCKEREIEN. - Ueber die damalige Presse schreibt er Folgendes: ,,In Pennsylvanien befinden sich bereits vier Buch- druckereien, nemlich in Philadelphia zwey, eine in Englisch und die andere in Tentscher Sprache; die dritte in German- ton, und die vierte in Lancaster." (S. 91.)
MUSIK. - Mittelberger war Organist und Musiklehrer, und ich schliesse diese Citate mit dem, was er über die Musik in Pennsylvanien zu sagen hat:
„Hingegen ist die Musik daselbst der Zeit noch ziemlich rar zu hören. In der Hauptstadt Philadelphia selbst wird weder in Englischen noch Teutschen Kirchen Musik gemacht." Zuweilen, schreibt er weiter, seien Concerte ,auf Spinnet oder Clavicymbal" in Englischen Privathäusern zu hören. Er habe selbst die erste Orgel nach Philadelphia gebracht. Als er dieses in Heilbronn verfertigte Instrument in der St. Michaels- Kirche in Philadelphia aufstellte, habe es sonst in der ganzen Provinz nur sechs Orgeln gegeben.
Ausser den oben erwähnten Gegenständen hat Mittelber- ger sonst manche dem amerikanischen Leben eigenthümliche Sitten und Brauche berührt, wie z. B. Heirathsbranche, Aber- glauben, Münzwesen u. dgl. Die gute alte deutsche Gastfrei- heit, ja sogar das alte Gastrecht tritt in dem Bericht sehr klar zu Tage, wo er sagt, man könne ein ganzes Jahr in Pennsylvanien reisen, ohne einen Kreutzer fur Speise auszu-
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geben, da es dort Sitte sei, dem Reisenden kaltes Fleisch mit Brod und Butter vorzusetzen, dessen Pferd zu füttern und Beide über Nacht zu halten.
Ans diesen Anszügen aus Mittelberger's Reisebeschrei- bung lässt es sich sehr leicht schen, dass er für das allge- meine Publikum schrieb und - zwar zunächst - für Solche, die mit dem Gedanken umgingen, nach Amerika auszuwan- dern, *) und dass er demgemäss sich nicht bemühte, Alles statistisch genau anzugeben. Es fehlt also manches Beden- tende, was er hätte erwähnen können, wie z. B. Näheres über den damaligen Zustand der deutch-pennsylvanisehen Presse und Anderes; aber er schrieb als Ausländer und nicht als Ansied- ler und für Enropaer, nicht für Deutsch-Pennsylvanier. Der Hauptwerth seiner Arbeit besteht also darin, dass er stets das Auffallende heraussucht, und betont und so einen interessanten nud zugleich lehrreichen Vergleich der Verhältnisse der alten und neuen Heimath anstellt. Es ist und bleibt also diese Reise- beschreibung eines der werthvollsten gleichzeitigen Zeugnisse für die deutsch-amerikanische Kulturgeschichte des achtzehn- ten Jahrhunderts.
*) "His observations on emigration are very good and most true." - Aus cinem Brief von John W. Jordan, Assist. Librarian der P. H. Society, dem ich hier meinen Dank ausdrücke.
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EARLY
ESTERN
SETTLEMENTS.
EARLY WESTERN SETTLEMENTS.
BY L. P. HENNIGHAUSEN.
CHE reader of American history describing the first settle- ments of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee will be under the impression, that these States were exclusively settled by people of English and Irish origin. As a matter of fact they were largely settled by people of German descent or German birth. The whole upland or hilly region east of the Alle- ghanies from the northeastern boundary of the State of New York extending southeast to and including Georgia were first settled and inhabited by Germans. They increased rapidly by raising large numerous families and their descendants were the main immigration over the Alleghanies into the new territories wrested from France and the aboriginal Indians. We know that the names of these early settlers have been anglesized by the English historians so that we don't recognize in the name of Daniel Boone the German Bohn, and in Hunter the Ger- man Family of Jager. Among the large mass of material gathered by our Society bearing on these historical researches I will add to-night a few extracts from letters and reports of early German missionaries who visited these States in the be- ginning of this century. Rev. Paulus Henkel of New Market, W. Va., writes on January 19th 1812: ,,I made last October a trip from New Market to the banks of the Ohio, above the conflux of that river with the. great Kanawha. As the winter came in great severity I could travel but twenty miles from home, where I gathered a small German congregation; I in- structed the young people, and at Easter I confirmed 22 of them, they took part together with 35 others in the holy com- munion. We have also opened a German School, which is instructed by an honest clever teacher. At the distance of
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seven miles from there I gathered last winter another German congregation, and abont 60 took part in the holy communion ; among them 21 who had been instructed and on the preceding day had been confirmed by me. In both places these religions acts made a deep impression among young and old. On April 14th I crossed the Ohio river and travelled to New Lancaster, I found there miny Germans, from Virginia as well as from Pennsylvania. I remained there 14 days. I confirmed there 14 young people who had been instructed by an excellent teacher, Johannes Kemp. The day we celebrated communion was a grand affair and will long live in the memory of the inhabitants. I did not have time or else I would have visited several congregations, as it was, I preached only in one of the Churches of the neighborhood. From there I travelled to Chillicothe, 34 miles; then to Highland County 30 miles, from there to Springfield 75 miles, from there 20 miles up the so-called Mad river. This was the utmost limit where white people live. I there had only 20 miles to the first Indian town.
I found many Germans there, with whom I had been acquainted for many years. I preached most every day to the people, sometimes in German, and sometimes in English, often in both languages the same day. The people were in great anxiety and fear of an expected invasion by the Indians and were building forts and manned them with soldiers ; notwith- standing this, they attended in large numbers onr religions meetings. The so-called Church people suffer a great deal from the German as well as English sects. The people are too indifferent about German schools. Some of my old ac- quaintances from the old settlements appeared indifferent in religions matters. After I had remained in this neighborhood eight days I went 50 miles down the Miami river. Here I remained 14 days in a congregation and gave instructions to a number of young people. The young people were all children of German parents and in part raised in that way, but their schooling was entirely English, and so I had to speak to them in part German and in part English; I noticed however, that they understood more of the German than of the English language, as their parents at home conversed entirely in Ger- man. From there I returned home again. The missionary
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intimates that he expects to make a tour through North and South Carolina the same year.
The German Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, in the year 1811, send a travelling preacher by the name of Robert Johnson Miller to the western country, we have his report to the Synod. On the 18th of June 1811 he left Burke County his home, preached twice in Wilkes County, twice in Surrey. twice in Stokes County, to large congregations. From the 21st to the 30th, he travelled through a wilderness, there were dif- ferent scets, but only three lutheran families. Near Fincastle he met six German congregations, each consisting of 25 to 30 families. He crossed the natural bridge and arrived on the 4th of July in Staunton. Here he complains that the Germans are losing their language and religion. There were two German lutheran congregations in Augusta County near Staunton. In New Market he found a large congregation. Hle preached twice to the people living on Sugar Creek. He then went into the Mountains and preached every day from the 18th to the 29th to devout hearers; he found everywhere Genmans. On the 2nd of August he had crossed the Alleghanies and preached near Lewisburg, the County seat of Greenbrier County, about 600 to 700 persons there attended his sermon. He passed through Bendleton, Bath, Greenbrier, Monroe, Montgomery, and Wythe Counties. He found a small Intheran congregation on the Jackson River. Six congregations in Wythe County. He then passed through Abingdon, Washington County to Sullivan County in Tennessee, where he found several German congrega- tions. He preached in Blountsville, on the 15th of September he preached to a large attentive congregation in Love creek. Tennessee. He then returned home and on the 4th of November 1811 started on a tour to the South, he preached on the third day in Rutherford County at the Court house, on the 7th he crossed Broad and Green river and arrived at Spartanburg, S. C. On the next day he passed the Congarce and on the 9th the Saluda river and arrived in the evening at Hard Labor creek. Here he preached on the 10th in a church which was formerly German Lutheran which had turned into a English methodist congregation. He found many Germans on the Saluda river and Falls creek, on the 13th he preached 13
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miles from Savannah, on the 18th he was on Falls creek, on the 29th he went 40 miles south to the first German lutheran church in South Carolina and found that they had all turned into English. He returned to Saluda and preached on the 1st of December to a very large German congregation. He preached every day in that part of the country until the 9th of December when he closed his mission. He deplores that every place he visited, the German language was being lost, and with it the Lutheran religion and ascribes it to want of German preachers and teachers.
The German Day - IN --
Baltimore.
THE GERMAN DAY IN BALTIMORE. October 6th, 1890.
REPORTED Bv L. P. HENNIGHAUSEN. 1
CHE committee appointed by our Society to arrange a celebra- tion for the 6th of October 1890 the anniversary, and in commemoration, of the landing of the first German colonists in our country has done its work well. It showed practical wisdom, when it invited all our citizens of German descent to participate in the arrangement as well as in carrying out the programme of the celebration. The response was enthusiastic and almost unanimous. Money and talent in abundance were placed at the disposal of the Committee. One of the most pleasing and gratifying features was the generous good will our fellow citizens of English and Irish descent manifested in the celebration. They felt that we were celebrating an event in the history of our country, in which they also have a part and can point to with pride. The English and German press with one accord endorsed the movement, and one of the English morning papers clearly stated their sentiments in the following article :
"The story of the Puritan has been told a thousand times, and his part in wresting a wilderness from savagery and in building a mighty republic reads like a fairy tale. No less interesting is the history of the English cavalier, ho settled in the South, and acted his part in the great national drama. But not so many times, nor with such enthusiasm has the story of the German been told, as it is but recently that the work of this wonderful race has come into prominence as a formative force in the production of a nation.
The first colony of Germans landed at Philadelphia 207 years ago, and straightway laid out the streets and squares of Germantown. The first comers were Mennonites. These were afterward joined by societies of "The Friends" and by
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others from the Rhine region. Gradually this branch of the European stock pressed its way through Pennsylvania to Ohio and the West, and through Maryland and Virginia to the South. By degrees the Teuton came to every state and every city in the land.
From the beginning the immigrant German was a peasant or an artisan. He was quiet, patient and industrious, and made his way among the toilers of the land. He has ever touched American life on the side of production and trade, and has meddled a little in great national questions. In the agitations and controversies, which rent the republic the German took almost no part. But when it came to action on the tented field he was there a burden-bearer and a hero to save the nation.
The Puritan to his latest descendant is self-assertive and proud of his distinguished ancestry. Likewise the first families of the South have never wearied in proclaiming the glory of their ancient as well as modern deeds. But it was left for the German to wait for time and numbers to proclaim his mighty influence in fashioning and molding America and its institutions.
German-American Day, therefore, is not without great significance among our country's holidays. The more the passionless exploits of this people are considered the more evident it becomes that the German deserves an honored place between the Puritan on the one side and the descendant of Calvert or John Smith on the other."
The other papers were no less hearty in their expression and gave a mighty impulse to the work in hand. The prepar- ations became more and more elaborate and the interest in the coming event widened and deepened until the day came to be looked upon as a ,municipal holiday. The pupils of the English-German Public-Schools, prepared to take part in the musical exercises and a resolution was passed by the School board to close the Schools on that day. All the German Societies, Schools and Churches of every denomination gave notice of their intention to take part in the celebration. I cannot do better than to give the following extract taken from the different newspapers published on the morning after the GERMAN DAY.
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EIN GROSSES FEST!
All Honor to the Colonists and their Sturdy Descendants. GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY.
A Splendid Commemoration of Early Achievements IN ART, MUSIC AND INDUSTRY.
An In and Outdoor Observance Throughout the Country. BALTIMORE'S DISPLAY THE FINEST.
Immense Crowd of Enthusiasts at the Academy-Speeches by Rev. Dr. Scheib, Col. Fred. Raine and Dr. Steiner-Songs by the United Singers and 500 School Children - A Magnificent Spectacle at Night, in which 14,000 Persons Took Part-One of the Best Torchlight Processions Ever Seen in this City-A Brilliant Show of Varied Colors-Excellent Music and Patriotic Airs-Startling Effects in Fire Works-The Parade Reviewed by a Mighty Concourse of People- Winding up with "Commers"-A Great and Memo- rable Success from Every Point of View.
Germans and descendents of Germans, wherever found in the United States, gave a proud thought yesterday to the achieve- ments of their race in the New World, and celebrated with all the warmth of their sturdy, honest natures the advent of the first German colony in America. The day they honored was no anniversary of Teutonic myth or fabled story, no illusion of a misty past, but one of the surer occurrences of a newer antiquity. It was in commemoration of the sixth day of October, 1683, when the cornerstone of German immigration was founded at Germantown, near Philadelphia, by thirteen German families of artisans, under the leadership of a later Moses in the person of Francis Pastorius, who, at Germantown, struck the rock whence flowed the fountain of industry and probity and of excellence in arts and sciences which has tinctured the great American nation of to-day. With that characteristic of slowness in self- assertion, which distinguishes the Teutonic people, two hundred and seven years have strangely enough been allowed to slip by with little more than a hearthstone reference to German- American history by those who have been its actors. Year by
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year, as the German-American has become more fully imbued with the love of his adopted country, as he has been able to discern the effect of his blood upon the plastic material of a republican people who have excited the admiration of the whole world, his American patriotism has taken the form of proudly avowing his descent from that people who have been great in leaving their impress upon modern history no less than upon the ancient. The fame of the German in America bas now burst from the narrow confines of the private "Commers" of sing- ing club and "Turner" association to a nation-wide celebration.
In Baltimore the scenes of the day will long be remem- bered. Its whole spirit was intensely American, while the German features were chietly distinguished by a reminiscent reverence and love. Throughout the town the stars and stripes waved in a profusion from thousands of German homes, while the black, red and white of the German emblem were there to illustrate the significance of the occasion. True to German instinct, the outdoor exercises planned for the morning, but sadly interfered with by the weather, were arranged to take place at the Battle . monument, for it is the German idea to hold all public patriotic exercises in the shadow of some " denkmal" or memorial of worthy deeds. The afternoon was devoted to a big indoor meeting at the Academy of Music. It was the intellectual feast of the occasion, and the great audience was thrilled with patriotism. The Rev. Dr. Henry Scheib and Colonel Frederick Raine delivered addresses in German, and Dr. Lewis H. Steiner spoke in English. The United German Singers sang the songs of Fatherland and America and five hundred pupils of English-German schools made stirring melody of the "Star-Spangled Banner," for which the words had been translated into the German.
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