USA > Maryland > Frederick County > Graceham > The history of Graceham, Frederick County, Maryland > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
Wednesday, the 23d, was set for digging clay for the bricks, the work to be done by all the brethren without pay, on Bro.
6
82
Daniel Weller's farm. The wood for burning the bricks would also be chopped by the brethren gratis. By November 3, the brickmakers had finished their work. Congregation Council re- solved to get the lumber from the river on the 12th, and to go on with the preparations for building, and all the brethren de- clared they were willing to help wherever they could. It was resolved that the church should be fifty feet long and forty- two feet wide, without galleries, except an organ and choir gal- lery, and with a pulpit according to the plan made by Bro. Her- bach. The ceiling of the church was to be arched, and a suitable steeple or cupola was to be placed on the roof. The Building Committee was urgently requested to keep an exact account of all disbursements, so that there might be no confusion. It was resolved that everything, as far as possible, should be done by the members, and by all means to avoid hiring workmen for cash payments.
September I. The brethren Daniel Weller, Christian Her- bach, John Wilhide and Ludwig Protzman were elected by the Congregation Council as a new Committee for two years.
1822 .- January 30. Resolved again to proceed with the build- ing, and that the Building Committee should confer with the master-workmen necessary, and get from them plans and esti- mates, and the amount which each would charge for his work, and to report as soon as possible. Resolved, that every one would support the work heartily. The brethren who worked should have 50 cents a day and find themselves, and the pay should be credited on their subscriptions. Every one who worked with a team should have $3 a day and find himself, the amount also to be credited on his subscription. During the first and second weeks of January all the brethren and some neigh- bors were busy hauling the bricks. On the 19th, the Diary says : "This evening the brethren finished hauling the bricks. This work, so hard in all respects, was done by our brethren and neighbors with pleasure, and in love and harmony, so that in eight days 110,000 bricks were hauled a distance of two miles to this place, at which all rejoiced, and thanked the Lord who had given us fine weather and good roads for this necessary work. It was remarkable that as soon as this work was finished, weath- er and roads changed, as it began to rain. On March 5, and the
83
following days, the brethren squared the timbers for the new church, and March 18-22, hauled stone.
April 28. The Committee and Building Committee resolved that on Wednesday, May I, the old church should be torn down, the site be cleared up, and the foundation for the new church be dug. Bro. Kluge was requested to make it known to the congregation and to invite all the brethren to assist with the work. On the same day, the Diary says: "At the usual time we assembled for the last services in our old church, which was filled with a devout and attentive audience. After an appropriate choir- piece we thanked our dear Lord for all the blessings enjoyed in this church, asked forgiveness for all that had been amiss, and besought His grace and love for the future. The sermon fol- lowed, on Is. 54:10, 'The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness, etc.,' after which we knelt in prayer and commended this congregation and all who come hither to hear the Word of God, and also the building of our new church, to our dear Lord, for His grace and guidance, with many tears. Thereupon it was announced that on Wednesday, May I, we would take down the old church, and begin the build- ing of the new one, at which all the brethren of this congrega- tion were invited to assist."
May I. "All of our brethren and some of our neighbors came to tear down the old church, for which purpose sixty-four per- sons with various implements, and almost as many spectators, had assembled. Those who worked did so with pleasure and in perfect agreement, so that by evening everything was taken down, removed, and the foundation dug. The sisters also helped by bringing from all sides a bountiful meal at noon, so that all were well provided for. We thanked God, our Heavenly Fa- ther, especially for His gracious protection, as no one sus- tained the slightest injury, although the work was dangerous, as the walls, especially on the north side, were so decayed that it was a wonder the church had stood so long, the four outside walls being simply planks four inches thick." Yet they had stood for almost fifty years, as on the following July 26, it was fifty years since the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Matthew Hehl.
84
At the same time it was resolved to lay the corner-stone of the new church on May 19, and to proceed with the work "in the name of God." Sunday, May 5, the services were held in the school-room, which, together with the whole lower story of the parsonage, had been appointed for this purpose until the new church should be finished.
May 13. The masons began to build the foundation-wall and two brethren worked on the corner-stone.
May 14. The Committee and Building Committee discussed the boarding of the carpenters and joiners, and resolved that if Bro. Isaac Harry would board and lodge them for $6 a month apiece an agreement should be made with him, provided he would take whatever provisions the Building Committee would supply as cash, at the market price. Bro. Harry was willing to do so. The Building Committee promised him that if it could not furnish sufficient provisions, it would pay for such as he might procure.
Sunday, May 19. "At 10 A.M., the corner-stone of our new church was laid, in the name of the Holy Trinity, on the south- west corner, close to the school-house (parsonage). A very large number of people had assembled. After this ceremony had been performed by Bro. Kluge, and the trombones had played a cho- rale, he preached from a stand that had been prepared near the building-site to an exceedingly large auditory, in German and English, on Is. 28:16, 'Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, etc.' At the close of the service a collection amounting to $20 was taken up."
On May 27, Bro. Kluge writes in the Diary : "At 7 A.M., we started, with the best wishes of our brethren and sisters, on our journey to the congregations in Pennsylvania, in order to solicit contributions in aid of our new church building. We met with a kindly and sympathetic reception, and they assisted us with a generous contribution, for which we wish them abundant bless- ings from our dear Lord. After an absence of seven weeks we returned safely on July 13, with praise and thanks to our dear Lord, who had graciously prospered our undertaking, and found to our surprise that our new church was already under roof."
August 8. The steeple was put up, for which purpose and al- so to clean up the place around the church and house, most of the brethren came; so that by evening everything was done.
85
August 28. The iron rod, with the ball, was put up on the steeple.
September 21. The Committee and Building Committee con- cluded to have the dedication of the church on October 27, and that besides our ministers from other congregations, the Luth- eran and Reformed ministers of Hagerstown and Frederick should be invited.
October 15. The roof of the parsonage was taken off, in order to put a new one on to correspond with the church roof.
October 20. After the preaching it was arranged that during the week the brethren should finish cleaning up the premises, and the sisters should scrub the church and the benches, which was done on the 23d and 24th. On Friday, the 25th, Bro. and Sr. Samuel Reinke (consecrated Bishop, 1858) arrived from Lan- caster, and on Saturday, the Lutheran minister, Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, came from Hagerstown, to take part in the dedication.
Sunday, October 27, being the day set for the dedication, many people came early in the morning, notwithstanding the bad weather. At 10 o'clock the solemn service was introduced by a chorale on the trombones, after which the choir sang several verses composed for the occasion, and then Bro. Kluge, after a short address, offered the dedicatory prayer, commending this church of the Moravian United Brethren to the Triune God for His blessing and grace, and dedicating it to the preaching of the saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose gracious pres- ence was thankfully realized. Thereupon Bro. Reinke preached in German on the text for the day, "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof" (Matt. 8:8). The audience completely filled the church. After the sermon the choir sang, "Praise, Jerusalem, the Lord." In the afternoon the Lutheran minister, Rev. Kurtz, preached in English, and in the evening in German. Before and after each sermon the choir sang an an- them. On the next day, Monday, the 28th, the congregation- festival was celebrated, and the Centennial Jubilee of the Breth- ren's Unity, which had been observed elsewhere the previous June, when this congregation could not do so, was also called to mind. A Lutheran minister, and a Reformed minister, who could not come the day before (Sunday) were present and shared the festal joy. As there were still many strangers present who wished to hear a sermon, Bro. Reinke preached in English in
86
the morning. At I P.M., the lovefeast was held, after which the Holy Communion was celebrated, ninety-five communicants partaking. "In the evening a service was held to close these richly blessed festival days. After an address on Rev. 3:10, we knelt in prayer, thanking our dear Lord and Saviour for all the blessings we had enjoyed, and commending ourselves to His guidance and protection in the future, and then the O. T. bene- diction was sung by the choir. On the 29th and 30th our dear visiting brethren and sisters returned to their homes."
With reference to the building of this church the following remarks are made in the Memorabilia for 1822: "What our dear Lord did for us during the building of this church is still fresh in our memory. Evidently He blessed this undertaking. He not only preserved us and the workmen from all injury and mis- fortune, but also gave our members and our neighbors from near and far willingness to support us actively, and maintained love and harmony among our brethren of this congregation, so that with God's help the Committee and Building Committee could always procure at the right time the funds needed for the building, so that this great work was not only never hindered, but greatly furthered, in such a manner that to our and every one's astonishment, this beautiful house of God was completed in five months. We can declare with truth, therefore, that the blessing and the power of God were manifested in our little strength."
There is no description of the church as it appeared in 1822 on record here, but the older members of the congregation re- member its appearance before it was remodeled in 1875. There were two doors, traces of which are still visible on the outside walls, one on the north and one on the south side of the church, where the central windows now are, the present door on the south side being then a window, the upper part of which has been retained in order to afford light on the gallery. There was also a door opening into the church from the parsonage, the same that now opens into the lecture-room. By this door the sisters probably entered the church, the brethren entering through the door on the south side, which was also used at fu- nerals as the exit to the path leading to the cemetery, on return- ing from which the congregation entered the church by the door
87
on the north side, when the interment preceded the funeral ser- mon. The large windows were furnished with an upper and a lower sash filled with the small panes of glass in vogue at that time, and so remaining until the windows were remodeled in 1902. There was a small, arched window in the north-east gable wall, above the pulpit, which was a high one, in accordance with the style then prevailing. The plan for the pulpit was made, the Minutes say, by Br. Herbach (Harbaugh), probably Christian Harbaugh, Sr., who was one of the Committee at that time. The walls were originally simply whitewashed. The ceiling of the church was arched on the two long sides, as had been resolved, and as it is at present. Opposite the pulpit was the choir and organ gallery, on which the organ, set up by Bro. Tanneberger, on the gallery of the old church in 1793, was rebuilt, remaining there until 1895 (102 years on both galleries) when it was re- moved to its present position, on the platform made for it and the choir on the north side of the pulpit. The space under the gallery, walled off in 1875 for a lecture-room and vestibule, was until then included in the auditorium, the former school-room in the parsonage being used as a lecture-room. The congrega- tion was seated on movable benches, which were arranged in two tiers, with a central aisle, and one on each side into which the north and south doors opened. The brethren sat on one side of the central aisle and the sisters on the other, the children occupying the front seats, as usual formerly in all our churches. In 1875 the fixed pews, in use until 1911, were made, partly out of the benches, as could still be seen, so that the congregation was seated on the very same boards that for so many years, since the building of the first separate meeting-hall or church, in 1772, had afforded seats to their predecessors. For lighting the church tallow candles were used until 1857, when the first lamps were procured.
In this present church-edifice, built and dedicated in 1822, renovated in 1858 for the Centennial Jubilee, remodeled in 1875, and again renovated in 1911, when extensive improvements were introduced, the following twenty resident ministers have officiat- ed, viz. :
John Peter Kluge, who officiated in the former church three years, 1819-'22, and in the present church five years and two months, 1822-'27, altogether 8 years, 2 months ;
88
Samuel Reinke, July, 1827-December, 1835, 8 years, 5 months ; Samuel R. Huebner, Dec., 1835-June, 1839, 3 years, 6 months ; Ambrose Rondthaler, June, 1839-Jan., 1845, 5 years, 6 months ; Edward Rondthaler, Jan., 1845-Mar., 1849, 4 years, 3 months ; Robert de Schweinitz, March, 1849-Sept., 1849, 6 months ; Amadeus A. Reinke, Sept., 1849-Sept., 1854, 5 years ;
Benjamin Ricksecker, September, 1854-July, 1859, 4 years, 10 months ;
Henry C. Bachman, July, 1859-June, 1861, I year, II months ; Eugene P. Greider, June, 1861-Nov., 1867, 6 years, 2 months ; Henry T. Bachman, Nov., 1867-Nov., 1870, 3 years ; Jesse Blickensderfer, Nov., 1870-Sept., 1873, 2 years, 9 months ; Lewis P. Clewell, Sept., 1783-May, 1880, 6 years, 8 months ;
Elisha W. Shields, May, 1880- - -, 1884, 4 years ;
Charles C. Lanius, -, 1884- , 1887, 3 years ;
Robert W. Herbst, - -, 1887- , 1891, 4 years ;
Joseph J. Ricksecker, Nov., 1891-Jan., 1894, 2 years, 2 months, 7 days ;
Maurice F. Oerter, Feb., 1894-Feb., 1902, 8 years, 6 days ; John F. Kaiser, March, 1902-Nov., 1907, 5 years, 8 months ; Robert Huebener, December, 1907 -.
These twenty brethren, with nine who officiated in the former church (Bro. Kluge being counted with those who preached in the present church), and with the sixteen who officiated in the first meeting-hall in the "Gemeinhaus," both before and after the organization (Bro. Joseph Neisser being counted with those who preached in the old church) and with three who held services in the Lutheran and Reformed union church on the Manocacy and in private houses before the building of the "Gemeinhaus," make in all forty-eight Moravian ministers who, while in office here as pastors, held forth the Word of Life, and discharged all the functions of the pastoral office at this place and in the vicinity, since Bro. John Henry Herzer came as a lay reader and school- teacher for the Lutheran and Reformed congregations that wor- shipped in the union church on the Manocacy. The great ma- jority of them rest from their labors before the throne of God and of the Lamb. With the present pastor there are but five brethren living who have, as pastors, ministered to this congre- gation in holy things.
1
4
89
LATER HISTORY.
The building of the present church-edifice in 1822, may be said to mark the termination of the early constructive period in the history of the Graceham congregation. The burden of erecting suitable buildings for a church and parsonage, and of doing all the pioneer work incident to the care of the property of the con- gregation, thus establishing it on a good foundation, was borne by the founders of this congregation and their immediate suc- cessors. In 1749 they built the first log "Gemeinhaus ;" in 1772 the addition at its north-east gable for a separate meeting-hall or church; in 1797 the present brick parsonage, and in 1822, the present brick church. Thus, in seventy-three years it was found necessary to erect four buildings for the furtherance of the work of the congregation. Willingly and cheerfully they contributed their labor and their means, all working together in fraternal harmony to promote what they considered the most important thing in life, the preaching and privileges of the gospel, as the only means of salvation here and hereafter, thus setting a good example for their children and children's children, to the latest generations.
Having made this needful provision for the spiritual wants of themselves and of their descendants and successors, all that was left for the latter to do as to temporal affairs, was to care faith- fully for the preservation and improvement, when necessary, of the valuable architectural legacy bequeathed to them, and of the land which had been in part donated to the charter-members of the congregation, and in part purchased by them. Although the present parsonage was built more than a hundred years ago, and the present church not far from a hundred, they were so well and substantially constructed that, in the ordinary course of events, they will not soon have to be replaced by others. And hence, while it has been necessary to make repairs and improve- ments from time to time-and this has been cheerfully and faith- fully done-the congregation has been able to pursue its course during the past ninety years, since this church was built, with- out the necessity of undertaking the labor and expense of erect- ing new buildings.
90
But while we cannot expect to see in the history of the past ninety years a repetition of the labors and experiences of the previous seventy-three, that history is of interest and import- ance as the connecting link between the more distant past and our own times. The work of the congregation has been con- tinued without interruption, and is still being continued in the present as it was in the past, so that the members of the congre- gation may well thank God and take courage, as they were en- couraged to do in the sesqui-centennial anniversary sermon by the Rev. Thomas W. Shields.
Some of the happenings and details which have thus far been recorded in this history, and some of those which are now to follow, may seem of a trivial character to one who is not specially interested; but just as occurrences in the history of a family that appear unimportant to others are interesting to the members of that family, so everything connected with the life of a congregation, which is a church-family in which all the members are brethren and sisters, and of which our Saviour is the Head, will be of interest to the members of that family. It has often happened, in the lives of individuals, and in the history of communities, of nations and of the Church, that apparently unimportant occurrences have proved to be of the greatest im- portance in determining the course of events, and the same has undoubtedly been the case in the history of this congregation, although we, who "see through a glass, darkly" and "know only in part," may not be able to trace the connection. The work of the ministers and pastors who have served here, the discus- sions and resolutions of the committees and congregation coun- cils, the lives of the successive generations of church-members, all have influenced in a greater or less degree, known only to the Omniscient Head of His Church, the course of events in the history of this place and congregation from the beginning of its existence to the present day.
1823 .- February 5. The Committee discussed the accounts concerning the building of the new church, and appointed the 15th of this month for a settlement, at which time a new sub- scription should be opened for payment of the remaining debt. Also resolved to build a new spring-house and finish the other work at the spring as soon as the weather permits, for which
91
purpose boards could be selected from those that remained over from the building of the church.
May 28. The pastor, Bro. J. P. Kluge, by special invitation, attended and participated in the laying of the corner-stone of a Reformed church "twelve miles from here." The location is not mentioned in the Diary, but must have been in the mountains where Bro. Kluge had been preaching. Seven other ministers and several hundred people were present. After the service Bro. Kluge dined with the ministers, who were very cordial and in- vited him to preach in their churches as often as he could. Bro. Kluge remarks further: "It appeared noteworthy to me, that just at the school-house where I have been preaching once in four weeks, for four years, at the request of the people there, a church is now to be built, so that I can see that the seed of the Word has not been sowed in vain." "One soweth and another reapeth." In addition to his numerous duties here at Graceham in the pulpit and among the members of the congregation, Bro. Kluge continued the stated preaching in school-houses in the mountains, the farthest distant being "two miles in Pennsylva- nia," that is, beyond the line. A number of our members lived in Harbaugh's Valley, probably the one which he calls "the beautiful mountain-valley," and these, with many others, at- tended the services, so that the audience was always a large one. To keep these appointments Bro. Kluge, like his predecessors, rode from eight to sixteen miles, in all kinds of weather and over bad roads, sometimes preaching in one school-house in the morning and in another in the afternoon. Besides this, he was often requested to visit the sick and dying in the neighbor- hood, and to hold funerals at Apple's church and in Mechanics- town (Thurmont), Creagerstown, Emmitsburg, and elsewhere ; so that, especially during the prevalence of epidemics, he was out day and night, sometimes not returning home until mid- night or after, and sometimes remaining all night with the dy- ing, at their request or that of their relatives. "But," he writes, "although it is sometimes attended with difficulties, and even with danger, I consider it my duty to serve all suffering souls, if I can help to save them for the Saviour, to whom I owe body, soul and spirit." In this sense our ministers at Graceham could say with John Wesley, "The world is my parish." But while they were willing to serve all who were in distress, especially of
92
a spiritual nature, they never obtruded their services upon those who had no special claim on them or had not requested them, and they were on the best of terms with ministers of other de- nominations, with whom they often exchanged visits and pul- pits. It is self-evident that if it had been the object of our Church to organize congregations and build churches at the various places where the ministers of the Graceham congregation preached for years to good audiences, there would now be sev- eral Moravian churches in Maryland.
June 26 .- The accounts referring to the building of the new church were examined and approved by the Committee, and it was resolved to lay them before the Congregation Council after harvest. Also that the interest on the $100 borrowed from Beth- lehem be paid annually, until the whole amount can be refunded. There was much sickness in the vicinity during the summer of this year. There were 150 cases of a malignant fever in and around Creagerstown, and Bro. Kluge was called to visit the sick and keep funerals almost daily, the most of them being for persons who were not members of our church. In Graceham there were not many cases of sickness.
August 30. The church-building accounts were examined by the Congregation Council, found correct, and approved. No amounts are mentioned, so that the cost of the present church- edifice in dollars and cents cannot be stated. As a new Com- mittee for two years, the brethren Isaac Renatus Harry, Wil- liam Gernand, Christian Eigenbrod and Jacob Gernand were elected.
September 15. The Committee resolved to finish the work at the spring and spring-house before winter, if possible. Also the path around the church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.