USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Robesonia > Sesqui-centennial souvenir, 1753-1903, St. Daniel's Evan. Lutheran Congregation, Robesonia, Pa.; program of services, historical address, list of members > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02227 3723
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Sesqui- Centennial SOUVENIR
St. Daniel'. Evan. Lutheran Congregation ROBESONIA, PENN'A Pa
Program of Services
Historical Address
Press Notices
List of Members
The REK O. E. PFI", GER, Pastor
September 12-13, 1903 089
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2019326
Gesqui Centennial
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ST. DANIEL'S (CORNER) CHURCHI.
2
1.
Reed nov. 15-1978
Sesqui=Centennial
1753 = 1903
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1903
St. Daniel's (Corner) Evangelical Lutheran Congregation ROBESONIA, PA. The REV. O. E. PFLUEGER, Pastor
REPORT PRINT, LEBANON, PA.
IBirrisino D=jupeo@
FIRST SERVICE
Saturday Afternoon, September Twelfth 2.00 o'clock
The Choir of Robesonia Union Chapel renders the music. MISS MAY M. DEPPEN, ORGANIST.
ANTHEM. - Bo Joyful in the Lord, Donts. GERMAN ALTAR SERVICE. Galatians 2:16-21; John 2:13-17. HYMN.
No. 217. 8, 7, 7.
KOMM, o komm du Geist des Lebens, Wahrer Gott von Ewigkeit,
Deine Kraft sei nicht vergebens,
. Sie erfüll uns jederzeit, So wird Geist und Licht und Schein In dom dunkeln Herzen sein.
2. Gib in unser Herz und Sinnen Weisheit, Rath, Verstand und Zucht. Dasz wir anders nichts beginnen, Deuu was nur dein Wille sucht ; Dein Erkenntuisz werde grosz Und mach uns vom Irrthum los.
3. Führ uns, Herr, die Wohlfahrtsstege, Die dein Wort uns kund gethan ; Räume ferner aus dem Wege, Was im Lauf uns hindern kann ; Wirke Rou an Sünden statt. Wenn der Fusz gestrauchelt hat.
No. 252. OME. O come, Thou quickening Spirit
C Thou for ever art divine : Let Thy power never fail me, Always fill this heart of mine ; Thus shall grace, and truth, and light Dissipate the gloom of night.
2. Grant my mind and my affections Wisdom, counsel, purity ; That I may be ever seeking Naught but that which pleases Thee. Let Thy knowledge spread and grow. Working error's overthrow.
3. Lead me to green pastures, lead me By the true and living way. Shield me from each strong temptation That might draw my heart astray ; And if e'er my feet should turn. For each error let me monru.
GERMAN SERMON.
The Rev. F. J. F. SCHANTZ, D.D.
ANTHEM-O Holy Father, Marchetti.
ENGLISH SERMON
The Rev. E. T. HORN, D.D.
PRAYER. ANTHEM-Bless the Lord, O My Soul, Adams. THE OFFERING. IIYMN. 7, 6.
No. 28.
A CHI bleib mit deiner Gnade, Bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, Das uns hinfort nicht schade Des Bösen Feindes List.
2. Ach bleib mit deinem Worte, Bei uns Erlöser werth, Dasz uns, beid' heir und dorte Sei Trost und Heit beschert.
3. Ach bleib mit deinem Lichte Bei uns in Finsternisz, Der Sünden Macht zernichte, Und mach das Herz gewisz.
No. 59. A BIDE with us, our Saviour, Nor let Thy mercy cease ; From Satan's might defend us, And grant our souls release.
2. Abide with us, our Saviour, Sustain us by Thy Word ; That we with all Thy people To life may be restored.
3. Abide with us, our Saviour, Thon Light of endless Light ; Increase to us Thy blessings, And save us by Thy might.
DOXOLOGY AND BENEDICTION. ANTHEM-Ich will dem Herrn singen, Davis.
SECOND SERVICE
Saturday Evening, September Twelfth. 7 o'clock
The Choir of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Sinking Springs, renders the music. PROF. JAMES E. SPECHT, ORGANIST.
ANTHEM-Send Out Thy Light, Gounod. ENGLISH ALTAR SERVICE. Psalm 27. ITYMN 284.
FOR all Thy saints, O Lord, Who strove in Thee to live,
Who followed Thee, obeyed, adored. Our grateful hymn receive.
2. For all Thy saints, O Lord, Accept our thankful cry, Who counted Thee their great reward, And strove in Thee to die.
3. They all, in life or death, With Thee. their Lord, in view, Learned from Thy Holy Spirit's breath To suffer and to do.
4. For this, Thy Name we bless, And humbly pray that we May follow them in holiness, And live and die in Thec.
ENGLISH SERMON . The Rev. WM. A. SNYDER.
ANTHEM-The Lost Chord, Sullivan.
ENGLISH SERMON . The REv. A. P. PFLUEGER.
PRAYER. ANTHEM-O, For the Wings of a Dove, Mendelssohn. SOPRANO SOLO, MISS MAME ZACHARIAS. THE OFFERING. HYMN 273.
L ORD, not to us, we claim it not, 'To Thee be all the praise, That no profane and sinful spot Our mother Church o'erlays ; That, as in her primeval days, From intermediate stain We crave to intercede.
2. To no material form confined, A spirit pure alone, We serve Thee not in likeness shrined Of bread, or wood, or stone : Nor saint nor angel at Thy throne
Cleansed by Thy Word, to Thee she pays With Thee for our misdeeds atone. Unsullied rites again. With Thee for mercy plead.
4. To Thee, adored in ages past, Eternal One and Three, To Thee, Whose worship aye shall last, In trinal Unity : To Thee, O Father : Son, to Thee ; And Thee, O Spirit blest, By saints on earth all glory be With saints in heaven addressed !
BENEDICTION.
ANTHEM-Gloria, Mozart.
الـ
THIRD SERVICE
Sunday Morning, September Thirteenth 9.30 o'clock
The Choir of Zion Lutheran and Reformed Congregations, Womelsdorf, renders the music. PROF. M. B. KLOPP. LEADER AND ORGANIST.
ANTHEM-O Lord, Most Merciful, Concone. GERMAN ALTAR SERVICE. Galatians 5:16-24; Luko 17:11-19. No. 216. 8, 8, 7.
0 HEHAGER Geist kehr bei uns ein Und lasz aus deine Wohnung sein,
O komm, du Herzenssonne !
Du Himmelslicht, lasz deinen Schein
Bei uns und in uns kräftig sein
Zu stetor Freud und Wonne :
Dasz wir In dir
Recht zu leben Uns ergeben, Und mit Beton
Oft deszhalben vor dich treten.
2. Gib Kraft und Nachdruck deinem Wort, Lasz es wie Feuer immerfort
In unsern Herzou brennen, Dasz wir den Vater und den Sohn
Und dich, den Geist auf einem Thron,
Für wahren Gott bekennen.
Bleibe, Treibe Und behüte Das Gemütho,
Dasz wir glauben, Und im Glauben standhaft bleiben.
Lord, Thy graces, On us shower. By Thy power Christ confessing. Let us win His grace and blessing. .The Rev. O. LEOPOLD.
GERMAN SERMON.
QUARTET -- Oh, For the Wings of a Dove. C. M. Davis.
MR. and MRS. FRANK GRIMES. MR and MRS. ALVIN SCHWEIGERT.
HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION The REv. J. W. EARLY.
PRAYER. ANTHEM-At Evening Time, E. L. Ashford ALTO SOLO, MISS MAGGIE A. CLOUSE. SOPRANO SOLO, MISS ANNA M. MOORE. THE OFFERING. 6, 7.
No. 5.
No. 11.
NUN danket alle Gott Mit Herzen, Mund und Händen,
NOW thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices,
Der grosze Dinge thut
An uns und allen Enden ;
Der uns von Mutterleib
Und Kindesbeinen an
Unzählig viel zu gut
Bis hierher hat gethan.
2. Der ewig reiche Gott
Woll uns bei unserm Leben Ein immer fröhlich Herz Und edlen Frieden geben, Und uns in seiner Gnad Erhalten fort und fort. Und uns aus aller Noth Erlösen hier und dort.
2. O may this bounteous God Through all our life be near ns, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace. And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills, In this world and the next.
No. 249.
HOLY Spirit, enter i . Among these hearts Thy work begin,
'Thy temple deign to make us ; Sun of the soul, Thou Light Divine,
Around and in us brightly shine. To strength and gladness wake us. Where Thon shinest, Life from heaven There is given. We before Thee For that precious gift implore Thee.
2. 0 mighty Rock ! O Source of Life. Let Thy dear Word, 'mid doubt and strife, Be so within us burning,
That we be faithful unto death.
In Thy pure love and holy faith. From Thee trao wisdom learning !
Who wondrous things hath donc, In whom His earth rejoices ; Who from our mother's arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
DOXOLOGY AND BENEDICTION.
LADIES' QUARTET -- Nearer, My God, to Thee, Chas. HI. Gabriel. MRS. MARY E. SOUWEIGERT. MISS LAURA P. KLOPP. MRS. MABEL E. GRIMEN, MISS MAGGIE A. CLOUSE.
FOURTH SERVICE Sunday Afternoon, September Thirteenth. 2.00 o'clock. The combined Choirs of Womelsdorf, Newmanstown, Tulpchocken, N. Heidelberg and St. Daniel's, under the leadership of PROF. M. B. KLOPP, RENDER THE MUSIC. PROF. E. P. KLOPP, ORGANIST.
ANTHEM -- Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, D. B. Towner. SOPRANO SOLO, MISS LAURA M. ALTHOUSE. DEVOTIONS. II Chronicles 34:29-33; Psalm 46. IIYMN 186, S. S. Book.
M Y Church! my Church ! my dear old My father's and my own : | Church ! My glory and my pride! [ Church !
2. My Church! my Church! my dear old
On Prophets and Apostles built, Firm in the Faith Immanuel taught,
And Christ the corner-stone ! She holds no faith beside.
All else beside, by storm or tide, Upon this Rock, 'gainst every shock.
May yet be overthrown : Though gates of hell assail.
But not my Church -- my dear old Church, She stands secure, with promise sure,
My father's and my own ! "They never shall prevail."
3. My Church! my Church! my dear old I love her ancient name ; [ Church ! And God forbid, a child of hers Should over do her shame! Her mother-care. I'll over share ; Hor child I am alone, Till He who gave me to her arms Shall call me to His own.
ADDRESS.
Mr. THos. C. BRICKER. ANTHEM-God is Love. E. S. Lorenz. SOPRANO SOLO, MUSS CONSTANCE S. MINNICU.
ADDRESS
REV A. P. PFLUEGER.
TESOR SOLO-The Only Way, HI. Z. Long. PROF. HOWARD %. LONG.
ADDRESS
. Rev. J. W. EARLY.
No. 247.
E "IN' foste Burg ist unser Gott, Ein gute Webr und Waffen ;
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Noth, Die uns jetzt hat betroffen.
Der all' böse Feind Mit Ernst er's jetzt meint :
Grosz' Macht und viel List Sein grausam Rüstung ist : Auf Erd ist nicht sein's Gleichon.
A
No. 274. MIGHTY Fortress is our God, A trusty Shield and Weapon : Ho helps us free from every need That hath us now o'ertaken. The old bitter foe Means us deadly woe : Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight, On earth is not his equal.
2. Mit unsrer Macht ist nichts gethan,
Wir sind gar bald verloren ; Es streit't für uns der rechte Mann,
Den Gott hat selbst erkoren. Fragst du, wer der ist? Er heiszt Jesus Christ, Der Herr Zebaoth, Und ist kein andrer Gott; Das Feld musz er behalten !
2. With might of ours can naught be done, Soon wore our loss effected : But for us fights the Valiant One Whom God Himself elected. Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is, Of Sabaoth Lord, And there's none other God, He holds the field for ever.
ADDRESS. GEORGE M. JONES, Esq.
ANTHEM-Awake, My Soul, E. L. Ashford. SOPRANO SOLO, MISS SALLIE R. SHEETZ. THE OFFERING. LORD'S PRAYER. DOXOLOGY. BENEDICTION. ANTHEM-God Bo Merciful, J. S. Fearis. SOPRANO SOLO, MISS LILLIE C. HOUNCRER.
M
Y
FIFTH SERVICE.
Sunday Evening, September Thirteenth. 7.00 o'clock.
The Choir of Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Wernersville, renders the music.
MRS. W. A. SNYDER, LEADER. MISS BESSIE SCHMELTZER, ORGANIST.
ANTHEM-Praise Ye the Mighty God, Finley Lyon. BASS SOLO, MR. MILTON LUFT.
DEVOTIONS.
Psalm 84. GLORIA PATRI.
HYMN 282.
C
OME, let us join our friends above, That have obtained the prize.
And on the eagle wings of love To joy celestial rise.
3. One family, we dwell in Him, One Church, above, beneath ; Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream, of death.
2. Lot all the saints terrestrial sing. With those to glory gone ; For all the servants of our King, In earth and heaven, are one.
4. One army of the living God. To His command we bow ; Part of His host has crossed the flood, And part is crossing now.
ENGLISH SERMON The REV. I. B. RITTER.
ANTHEM-My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord, J. S. Fearis. SOPRANO SOLO, MRS. L. G. YODER.
ENGLISH SERMON . The REV. E. S. BROWNMILLER, D.D.
PRAYER.
ANTHEM-Every Valley Shall Be Exalted, Finley Lyon. SOPRANO SOLO, MRS. M. KAUFMAN. BASS SOLO, MR. MILTON LUFT.
THE OFFERING.
IIYMN 91.
GOD of Jacob, by whose hand Thy people still are fed ; Who. through this weary pilgrimage Ilast all our fathers led !
2. To Thee our humble vows we raise, To Thee address our prayer ; And in Thy kind and faithful breast Deposit all our care.
3. Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide ; Give us by day our daily bread, And raiment fit provide.
4. O spread Thy covering wings around, Till all our wanderings coase ; And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace.
DOXOLOGY AND BENEDICTION.
ANTHEM-Benedictus, E. L. Ashford. SOPRANO SOLO AND DUET, MRS. I. G. YODER and MR. MILTON LUFT.
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COMMITTEES OF ARRANGEMENT
1 .-- INVITATION AND ADVERTISEMENT. (Color, White. )
The Elders: Wm. H. Brown, Secretary, David Kiebach, Franklin HI. Bricker and Milton L. Stummp.
II .- SERVICE. (Color, Pink. )
The Deacons: Owen C. Hughes, Harry W. Sheeler. Milton R. Gruber and Win. B. Stump.
Ill .- ACCOMMODATIONS. (Color, Lavender.)
G. Frank Roother, Trustee, Chas. M. Spangler and Rufus Wenrich.
IV .- PROVISIONS AND SERVICE. (Color, Blue.)
Daniel B. Stump, Trustee, Jeremiah Moyer. Aaron Wenrich, Emanuel E. Moyer. John W. Fisher, Thomas Filbert, John E. Moyer, Samuel Brown. Nathan Wenrich, Albert D. Wenrich, Misses Lizzie and Ella Brown and John S. Moser and their families.
V .- CARE OF HORSES. ( Color, Yellow.)
Samuel K. Wenrich, Trustee, Jonathan Lengle.
TRANSPORTATION. (Color, Garnet. )
Owen C. Hughes, Geo. W. Spatz and Franklin II. Bricker.
NOTES
It is hoped that the arrangements which have been made for the comfort of guests while at the celebration, may prove ample, and observance of a few simple suggestions will greatly facilitate in their accommodation.
Launch will be served in the house of the congregation from 11.80 a. m. to 1.30 p. m. on Sunday, and from 4.00 to 5.80 p. m. on Saturday and Sunday. Meal tickets may be pur- chased at the rate of twenty-five cents from members of the Committee, who wear a blue ribbon.
During the hours of service the lunch department will positively be closed, and all in attendance are requested to participate in worship, as becomes the day and the occasion.
Your horse will be cared for by members of the Committee wearing a yellow ribbon, for the consideration of twenty-five cents per meal.
Transfer to and from trolley can be had at frequent intervals at the rate of five cents per fare, and information may be had from the Committee wearing a garnet ribbon.
We recommend your subscribing for the local monthly edition of THE LUTHERAN, which will keep you informed of all the regular and special services as well as all other matters of interest in the congregation, and other parts of the Church. The pastor will receive sub- seriptions at the rate of fifty cents per year.
A Souvenir of this Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, consisting of this Program, corrected so as perfectly to represent the services as carried out, the history of the congregation as read at the Third Service, and a full report of the services as it will appear in THE LU- THERAN, together with a picture of the church and old cemetery, (as well as of the pastors, if the number of copies ordered will warrant the expense), will be prepared and copies at the rate of twenty-five cents may be ordered of the pastor, who will deliver the same by mail as soon as they appear.
DUSTFARIBAAL AANRESS
PASTORS.
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The Rev. J. N. Komz, D.D., 1747 or '50 to 1770.
The REV. CHRISTOPHER EMANUEL SCHULZE, 1770 to 1509. The REV. DANIEL ULRICH, 1811 to 1853. The REV. T. T. JAEGER, 1853 to 1804. The REV. HENRY S. MILLER, Jan. to July 1561.
The REV. A. FINFROCK, 1864 to 1892.
The Rev. WILLIAM W. KRAMLICH, 1892 to 1901. The Rev. J. W. EARLY (supply), 1901 to 1902. The REv. O. E. PFLUEGER, since 1902.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS
BY REV. J. W. EARLY.
Upon an occasion like this it may not be amiss to go back a little further than to the time of the organization of this congrega- tion. In that way we may be better able to appreciate the full importance of this event.
It may be well for us first of all to re- member that 150 years will take us back to the time of the organization of Berks county. The addition of a few years more, in which the congregation undoubtedly already exist- od, will take us beyond that, to the time when Berks was not yet formed. It is for this reason that the contracts for masonry and the carpenter work for the first church were drawn up in Lan- caster county, and that the men who make those contracts give that as their residence.
This was, therefore, not a well-settled and prosper- ous country, but a wikler- ness, a huge forest. almost without roads, with a few clearings here and there and the inhabitants but few in number, scattered throughout this wilderness. We will more clearly understand the state of things if we remember that only about twenty or twenty-three years before this congregation was or- ganized, the inhabitants of the Tulpehocken region sent in their first petition for a public road to lead from their church, the Reed's, which was just then built, through Reading which did not then exist, to the Quaker Meeting House, near Boone's Mill. Is it then to be wondered at that it often took Muhlenberg two days to come from the Trappe to Wom- elsdorf? Now it requires about two hours.
It may therefore be safe to say that even at the time the first church at this place was built, there were but two well known roads leading eastward from Tulpchocken. Of course we will not forget that this was not St. Daniel's church then, but the Ev- angelical Lutheran church in Heidelberg township. The first of these roads was the one leading by way of Reading to the Quak- or Meeting House near the line of Exeter and Oley, and apparently thence to Swamp and the Trappe via the present Boyertown and was known as the Philadelphia road. This in general outline seems to have been Muhlenberg's asnal route from his home at the Trappe, to Tulpchocken, and to his fath- or-in-law, Conrad Weiser. Even when
THE REV. J. W. EARLY.
making a detour by way of the Dley Ilills The Hill churchi, he wonkl get back to it. The other, which it is ditheult to locate, was known as the road to Easton. But taking the description which Cammerhoff, Spangen- berg and others give of their journeys, they always seem to have taken the Easton road from Bethlehem to their congregation in Heidelberg, now known as the North Heidel- berg church. and to. the Talpehocken ( Reed's) church which was not theirs, al- though they did all in their power to make it so until the civil authorities intervened and compelled them to yield their claims en. tirely in 1755, and thence to Mühlbach where they had a school house and held services also, we may trace it very nearly. We may be pardoned for di- grossing to ask the enes tion, whether their school house at Mühlbach conld have had any possible con- nection with the Zellar's house near Newmanstown? Their route of travel must have been something like the following : From Beth- lehem across the Lohigh about Allentown, thence to Kutztown which was then known as Maxatawny, and from that point westward on the present Kutztown and Temple road to the point where the present Kutztown road do- fleets almost dne south. From that point the road seems to have continued in an al- most straight line to what is now known as Berkley, and there across the river in the vi- rinity of Cross Keys on the Schuylkill; and from this on to North Heidelberg. Tulpe- hocken and Mühlbach.
And yet at this time the Lutherans already had a church and congregation only about four miles west of this point, which had al- ready been in existence more than twenty- five years or even thirty years. And they lad oven erected a second church two miles further west than the first one, abont ten years before they built this one. In addition they had two churches at Bernville, Christ or little Tulpehocken, certainly ten years older than this one and probably fully twenty, and the Northkill or Frieden's probably at least right or ten years older and possibly fifteen. For the Records of Little Tulpehocken show that Rev. John C. Stoever performed his first baptisms there in 1728, the year of his ar-
13
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ВеВИДЦА ПЛОТНОТАИН
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HISTORICAL ADDRESS (Continued )
rival in America and he himself claims that he was their regular pastor from the begin- ning. A photograph in our possession shows that in 1739 and 1740 a certain John Geo. Schmidt ( Rev. he calls himself ) preached in Bern township, the name by which the Fried- en's church is originally known in its own records. There were, therefore, two preach- ers holding regular servires at that point, whether their congregations were regularly organized or not, as early as 1739,
But we do not propose to recount the his- tory of these churches with all their struggles and conffiets, which continued for ahnost thirty years in the Tulpchocken region and possibly oven longer at the other point, as they seem to have broken ont afresh after a period of
more than thirty years. But we do not deem it amiss to suggest to our own people that it is neither wise nor safe to trust people who come boasting of their charity and liberality, when they want a share in their property. For by listening to things
of
that
kind, the
people of Tulpehock. en would not only have lost their church and school through the admis- sion into their midst of false brethren. who, if the provi- dener of God had not intervened in Ways which we can not even now fully understand, would have deprived them of their property and thrown them . into another communion and compelled them to deny their faith. In fact it would seem as if at first these false brethren had entirely sue- ceeded, but they overreached themselves by their special protestations of great charity and their con equent vacillation of purpose.
There is another matter which does not really belong to the history of this cangre- gation to which we desire to direct attention. It is a statement in the Declaration placed in the corner-stone of the present Epler's church, erected in 1851. It is this: "Already about the year 1727. our ancestors, the first settlers in this vicinity. agreed among them- selves, in the fear of the Lord, to build a Reformed church on this plot of ground. In this church the worship of God was conduct-
ed by Reformed ministers until the building could no longer be used .-- (lit. was in ruins .... verfallen. )"
Now, if this statement is correct, it would show that some things generally accepted and published as historical facts are not so, but are considerably wide of the truth. It is gou- erally taken for granted that the Lutherans as well as the Reformed were at first settled only on the left bank of the Tulpehocken and west of the great bend near Bernville. Ac- cording to this they would also have bech on the right bank, beyond that bond, even up to the Schuylkill, nhmost as early as in what is now generally looked upon as the Tulpchock- en region.
1811-1853.
THE REV. DANIEL ULRICH.
also known that Rev. Tobias Wagner preached in Epler's church, although that was then the exclusive property of the Reformed.
This would Per-
tainly suggest that the statement made by Dr. Mano in the revised edition
Hall. Nachr. that Rov. Wagner settled on his own property near the Alsace
church, on the road to Easton, is prob- ably a mistake. The road to Easton would hardly, almost cor tainly not have touched Alsace town- ship at all, and his farm of 100 acres certainly Was Born township. the deed boek says. One of two things is clearly evident there- fore, either that Rov.
Wagner did not set ile near the Alsace church in AAlsace town. ship, or else he was not located on his own land. There are other pretty well establish- od traditions which likewise indicate that neither Reading nor Alsace church were on the road to Easton as known at that day.
But to come to the individual history of this church and congregation. Every one does or should know, that it has in all prob- ability derived its popular name of "The Cor- nor Church" from the fact that it is located in the northwest angle of the cross roads about one mile north of Robesonia in Heidel- berg township. Originally it was an exclus- ively Lutheran church and remained so at least almost a century and a quarter. A is me of the first. perhaps the very first, to be
14
HISTORICAL ADDRESS (Continued )
organized out of the parent churches, Zion's and Christ, at Tulpchocken. It is possible that Rohrersburg. Mtolheo, was organized at the same time. The fact is that Dr. Mann, without making the distinct claim, implies this by stating that Dr. J. N. Kurtz preached at both places during his entire pastorate at Tulpehocken. It is even very probable that Rev. Tobias Wagner did the same, although he seems not to have had organized congrega- tions.
The first baptism upon the "records" of this church, that of a daughter of John Geo. Imuck, b. March, 1742, and baptized the same year, would indicate that services were held at this point at that early day, possibly be- fore the congregation was actually organ- ized. Its "records" are in much better shape than those of most of the congre- gations of that early period.
The first clear evi- denre of the exist- ence of an organized congregation here, is the "Declaration" contained in a paper evidently drawn up by Rev. John Nich- olas Kurtz. This, although rather lengthy. woukl seom to have been placed in the first corner- stone. In this docu- ment gratitude to Ahnighty God for the liberty of wor- ship which they en- joy in this free pro- vince of Pennsylva- nia under the benign rule of George II, and a recognition of their duty towards themselves and their children, to preserve and maintain the pure word of God among them, are given as the motives inducing them to endeavor to establish a church here. It is also stated that they had applied to the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium, and had been received by it among the united congre- gations-that Mr. J. N. Kurtz who had ex- pressed his willingness to take charge of the congregation had commenced his labors among them towards the close of 1750. Un- fortunately it is not made perfectly clear whether this is meant to say that Kurtz com- menced to hold services at this time, or whether his contract as pastor of an organiz- ed congregation began, although all the indi- cations are that it was meant for the latter,
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