USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > The old Trappe Church, 1743-1893 : a memorial of the sesqui-centennial services of Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02221 4701
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/oldtrappechurch100kret 0
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SESQUI-CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL OF THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH.
*
J.F.SACHSE/93
THE OLD AND NEW AUGUSTUS CHURCH.
THE NEW CHURCH BUILT 1852; REMODELED 1878.
THE OLD CHURCH BUILT 1743.
FROM PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN OCTOBER 1893.
1743 1893
THE OLD
Trappe Church, -A -
MEMORIAL
OF THE
Sesqui-Centennial Services OF
Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
EDITED BY
REV. ERNEST T. KRETSCHMANN, 6 Ph. D., Pastor.
PUBLISHED BY THE CONGREGATION, PHILADELPHIA. 1893.
974.802 T68K
COPYRIGHT BY E. T. KRETSCHMANN, 1894.
PRESS OF CRAIG, FINLEY & CO. 147 N. 12TH ST. PHILA.
PREFACE. 1163332
The thought of preparing this memorial volume of the Sesqui-Cen- tennial of the Old Trappe Church was the outgrowth of the celebration itself. It has been prepared with a view to perpetuate the lessons which . the services unfolded ; to secure to the congregation the wholesome stim- ulus which a study of its historic past may be well calculated to yield ; but with the hope also of redeeming what is worthy of a wider interest from being merely congregational.
Although the Old Trappe Church is objectively the property of a specific congregation, it is in no indefinite sense the heritage of the Lutheran Church; because that of which it is the monumental exponent cannot be confined to a merely local interest. It witnesses not merely to the founding of a separate congregation, but in a large sense to the planting of the Lutheran Church in America; it witnesses not only to the heroic labors of a certain pastor, but to the consecration and self- sacrifice of the Patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America. The Sesqui-Centennial of this venerable temple, therefore, while relating immediately to a circumscribed sphere, can be justly interpreted as memorial not simply of a Lutheran Church, but of the Lutheran Church.
In preparing this concise history I have met with two embarassments -fecundity and barrenness. The superabundant material covering the earliest period is only rendered embarassing for a well-proportioned his- tory by the barrenness of records touching some later periods. Muhlen- berg's beautifully conducted records should have served as an excellent model for all succeeding scribes, but it is to be deeply regretted that the pattern thus shown to them in the Mount was not in every instance rigidly adhered to.
The early history of the Old Trappe Church has been repeatedly sketched in secular and church periodicals, and notably in Dr. J. W. Richards' "Fruitful Retrospect," and in Dr. Mann's notes to the new edition of the Hallische Nachrichten, but aside from these outlines the history of the congregation has never been written.
iii
28.50
Much valuable and new material has been extracted from old papers, deeds, minute-books, financial reports, etc., which have hitherto kept their interesting secrets. As the various other sources which have been tributary to both the history and brief biographies have been very gener- ally indicated throughout the volume, no further reference to them need here be made, than to emphasize the great importance of the new edition of the Hallische Nachrichten (Halle Reports) as the chief source for the historical material, especially of the early period.
My thanks are due to the various speakers of the Sesqui-Centennial, who kindly submitted their manuscripts for this volume. Other assistance rendered by members of the congregation is also gratefully acknowledged.
I desire especially to express my warmest thanks to Mr. Julius F. Sachse for his cordial co-operation in the work of preparing the illustra- tions for this volume. I am indebted to him also for the many valuable suggestions of his rich experience as a historical investigator and an au- thority on the history, more particularly, of the colonial period.
The preparation of this volume, which is designed to be memorial especially of the services of the Sesqui-Centennial, was necessarily post eventum, but the somewhat tedious delay in its appearance is to be attributed to the protracted illness of the editor.
E. T. KRETSCHMANN.
Trappe, Pa., Easter, 1894.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE OLD AND NEW AUGUSTUS CHURCH, .
FRONTISPIECE
PAGE
FAC SIMILE OF EARLIEST ENTRIES IN THE CHURCH REGISTER, 3
FAC SIMILE OF MUHLENBERG'S ENTRY UPON ASSUMING THE PASTORATE, .. 7 PASTOR MUHLENBERG HOLDING SERVICE IN THE BARN, facing p. I6
THE OLD MUHLENBERG HOUSE,
32
THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH, 48 HISTORIC VESSELS, 64
INTERIOR VIEW OF THE OLD CHURCH,
80
MUHLENBERG FAMILY PORTRAITS,
I19
MUHLENBERG'S PASSPORT,
144
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
HISTORY OF THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH .- EARLIEST TRACES OF OR- GANIZATION .- THE EARLIEST ACCOUNT OF A PASTOR .- HENRY MEL- CHIOR MUHLENBERG. - MUHLENBERG'S HOUSE .- CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH .- PASTORAL LABORS AND TRIALS .- SYNODICAL MEETINGS AT TRAPPE .- PERFECTED ORGANIZATION .- CHURCH SERVICE .- CHURCH DIS- CIPLINE .- MUHLENBERG'S SUPPORT .- REMOVAL TO PHILADELPHIA, I
PASTORATES CONTINUED .- J. C. HARTWICK, SUBSTITUTE. - JACOB VAN BUSKERK, SUBSTITUTE .- J. L. VOIGT .- J. F. WEINLAND .- J. P. HECHT. -H. A. GEISSENHAINER. - F. W. GEISSENHAINER, SR. - F. W. GEISSENHAINER, JR .- JACOB WAMPOLE .- J. W. RICHARDS .- JACOB WAM- POLE .- H. S. MILLER .- G. WENZEL .- A. S. LINK .- G. SILL .- JOHN KOHLER .- O. P. SMITH .- DIVISION OF THE CHARGE,
18
SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND SOCIETIES .- SUNDAY-SCHOOL .- MUHLENBERG MISSIONARY SOCIETY .- YOUNG PEOPLE'S LYCEUM .- PASTOR'S AID SO- CIETY,
44
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL .- SCHOOLMASTERS. - CHARITY SCHOOL .- SCHOOL- HOUSES .- PUBLIC SCHOOL,
46
CHURCH PROPERTY .- CHURCH LOTS .- CEMETERY .- BEQUESTS. 54
THE OLD CHURCH .- DESCRIPTION .- PIPE ORGAN .- CHURCH FURNITURE. -HISTORIC RELICS .- CHURCH CUSTOMS .- OLD CHURCH DURING THE REVOLUTION. - REPAIRS .- ANONYMOUS POEM DESCRIPTIVE OF THE OLD CHURCH, .
60
THE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION .- BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION. - PROGRAM OF SESQUI-CENTENNIAL SERVICES .- ANNIVER- SARY SERMON .- PRAYER .- ADDRESSES, 71
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES .- REGISTER OF PASTORS .- SKETCHES OF PASTORS .- ADDITIONAL SKETCHES .- THE MUHLENBERG FAMILY, 115
APPENDIX .- MUHLENBERG'S SECOND PASSPORT. - MUHLENBERG'S LETTER TO DR. RICHARD PETERS. - ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICERS, 165
vii
1
,
History of the Old Trappe Church.
By the Editor.
T HE Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in the village of Trappe,1 Upper Providence2 township, Montgomery County.3 It is on the Reading turnpike,4 about nine miles north of Norris- town, and half way between Philadelphia and Reading. New Providence, (now divided into Upper and Lower Providence), a name appearing as early as 1734, was part of the tract of land reserved for a number of
(1) The first name of the village was Landau or Landaw, given to it by Samuel Seely, who divided it into town lots. But this name existed only on paper and was soon lost. About this time another name was applied to it which, with some modification, it has retained. In Dr. Muhlenberg's jour- nal, under the date November 13th, 1780, he says, " Christian Schrack, who was buried yesterday, was a son of John Jacob Schrack, who came to this country in 1717. . They built a cabin and a cave in which they cooked. They kept a small shop in a small way, and a tavern with beer and such things. As once an English inhabitant, who had been drinking in the cave, fell asleep and came home late, and was in consequence scolded by his wife, he excused himself by saying he had been at the Trap. From that time the neighborhood is called Trapp, and is known as such in all America." In the oldest deeds and maps it appears Trap and Trapp, the latter spelling as late as 1852 in the church records. Governor Francis Shunk strenuously advocated the name Treppe, claiming that its true origin was to be derived from an incident that occurred at Schrack's tavern. As an intoxicated German fell headlong down the high steps leading to this tavern, he anathema- tized " die Treppe," and so, he maintained the name of the place ought to be spelled. (See also the Fruitful Retrospect, p. 12, and Hall. Nach. I 292, note 35.) But the history of its orthography renders Shunk's theory fatally defective, and supports the view of Muhlenberg, who was in a posi- tion to know and who speaks without doubt. So intense was the feeling aroused as to its proper spelling that a public meeting was held in the school-house in February, 1835, when, after spirited discussion, it was decided that the name should be Trapp, and so, with the subsequent addition of the final e, it has remained.
(2) The origin of the name Providence is not certainly known, but tradition says it was settled by some of the followers of Roger Williams of Rhode Island. In 1636, Roger Williams had named his settlement Providence, now the capital of Rhode Island. Hence his followers coming here called this region "New Providence " (See Dr. Mann's Life and Times of H. M. Muhlen- berg, p. 202, note.) Another more plausible theory is that it received its name from one of the West Indies Islands, viz., New Providence. This is supported by the fact that Craig, an early settler, came from that place, while the Lanes and Richardsons, two of the foremost families of the township, came from the neighboring Island of Jamaica. (Hist. Mont. Co., p. 1044).
(3) Originally formed a portion of Philadelphia County, from which it was separated by an act of Assembly, passed September 10, 1784 It was named in honor of General Richard Montgomery, who fell mortally wounded at the battle of Quebec, December 31, 1775.
(4) Originally known as the Manatawny (or Mahanatawny) road, of Indian origin, after the creek at Pottstown, signifying " the place where we drank." (New Hist. Atlas of Mont. Co., p. 23, col. 1.)
2
The Old Trappe Church.
years by William Penn5 for his own use. He gave it the name of Gil- bert's Manor, in honor of his mother, who belonged to the family of Gilberts, but it was gradually superseded by that of New Providence, though occasionally found as late as 1817. The earliest settlers were Englishmen, the first, of whom we have record, was Edward Lane, who, in 1684, came from Jamaica and bought 2,500 acres of this tract. They were soon followed by the Germans, who, after the settlement of Ger- mantown, in 1683, and during the period of increased immigration from Germany, 1702-27,6 began gradually moving into this county. One of the earliest German settlers was John Jacob Schrack, who came from Ger- many in 1717, and bought 250 acres of land in the lower end of the pres- ent village of Trappe.
So rapid had been their increase in 1734 that, in a list of 762 taxables and land-holders in the present county, considerably over one-half were Germans, and about one-fifth probably Welsh. Of the various national- ities of these early settlers the German element struck the deepest root, and the result was a steady increase in their number as land-holders.
EARLIEST TRACES OF ORGANIZATION.
One of the first necessities of these settlers was, naturally, a burying- ground.
Just when the oldest part of the cemetery was first used for burial purposes will probably never be known. The oldest inscribed tomb- stone bears the date September 9, 1736. Other inscriptions have been entirely effaced ; some stones have sunk into the ground, and many graves were doubtless without any, indicating that there were burials years before this, probably as early as 1730. The Church record of burials does not begin until 1745, and gives us no information. The earliest entry in the records is a baptism dated March 8, 1730, in the hand-writing of John Caspar Stoever, Jr., a fac simile of which is here shown.
(5) On March 4, 1681, William Penn received his grant of the province of Pennsylvania. On June 3, 1684, all the right of Maughaugsin (chief of one of the Lene Lenape tribes, then inhabiting this region,) to the land along the Perkiomen creek, including Providence township, was duly sold and conveyed to William Penn, with the promise on the part of the Indians never to molest any Chris- tians that might settle thereon. (New Atlas Mont. Co., p. 6. col. 1.)
(6) Prof. J. D. Rupp, Hist. of Mont. Co., p. 134. Life of Dr. Wm. Smith, vol. I, p. 29.
Alex Jeufry Seren gefügtton Rimless me 4€ you Willangelis= Zelf Gemeinde in the :
Jebofren
townShip of Providence.
Gelangt
17209 Johann georg Marsstallen
3th Augustsimo Fffor timeli Se if We
2
Jong, was amalia
17300G. Shellarty
irsin 14h 5 Monhan Venido Soly La forum 89 Georg Songs of: Georg Arif mon Senior Juli.
1733 991 faller anna May aroger Zeuge aña Manyare jer3th
Minhalerin Junior.
Marty
Ima Fufer (alfamina Zeuge Vatfarina Ueberin. - Fabri
Marty
The Old Trappe Church.
:
FAC SIMILE OF EARLIEST- ENTRIES IN THE CHURCH REGISTER, MARCH 8, 1730,
3
4
The Old Trappe Church.
Though not yet ordained, he performed ministerial acts, began the Church Records, as itinerant preacher held occasional services here and many other places, and possibly formed a rudimentary organization.7
THE EARLIEST ACCOUNT OF A PASTOR
The first pastor of whom we have some definite knowledge, was John Christian Schultze. He was born June 11, 1701, in the margravate of Anspach, in Scheinbach, Germany, and was probably educated at Strass- burg. Immediately upon his arrival from Germany, on September 25, 1732, though 'it is doubtful if he was ever ordained, he convinced the people at least of his competency as a pastor, and began his work at Philadelphia, Trappe and New Hanover. He left no record of any pastoral acts and remained only a few months, as in the Spring of 1733 he was sent by the three congregations, in company with Daniel Weisiger and John Daniel Shoener, as delegates, to make collec- tions in England, Holland and Germany for building churches, and to secure additional pastors, but Schultze never returned. He brought the congregation into some crude form of organization, and his work, though brief and meager, was deeply appreciated, for in the letter dated May I, 1733, signed by Patrick Gordon, Governor of the Province, which they placed in the hands of their delegates to Europe, two of the signers of which, John Crossman and Jacob Schrack, were officers of the Trappe congregation, appears this testimony : " He has earnestly endeavored, according to his ability, by the preaching of the Word and the adminis- tration of the Holy Sacraments, to bring us out of the darkness and ignor- ance into which we had fallen, and by organizing three congregations, to renew and confirm our union in our most holy faith."8 It is sad, indeed, to learn that he abused the confidence they reposed in him, and that he applied to his own uses the money he collected in Germany, continuing his disgraceful and dishonest conduct until he was arrested in March, 1736, at Augsburg, deprived of his credentials and license to collect money, and some time after, at Nürnberg, was compelled to surrender the money still in his possession, amounting to 520 guldens.9 Of his subse- quent career nothing is known.
Before his departure for Germany he had ordained to the ministry, early in 1733, in the barn then used for services, John Caspar Stoever, Jr.,10 who became Schultze's successor as pastor, but remained only until
(7) Dr. Mann's Life and Times of H. M. M., p. 112.
(8) Halle Reports. p. 79. (9) Hall. Nach. I, pp. 61, 65, 66. Hall. Nach. II, 197.
(10) John Caspar Stoever was born in Frankenberg in Hesse, Germany, on December 21, 1707. He sailed in the " Good Will " in 1728, and landed at Philadelphia on September 19th; lived in the neighborhood of Trappe for a year, settled in May, 1730, in Lancaster county, near New Holland ; was ordained in 1733, and succeeded Schultze until September of the same year. He began the
5
The Old Trappe Church.
the following Spring, when he removed to Lancaster county. He still occasionally visited Trappe, as his entries of baptisms and marriages con- tinue to March 9, 1735.
For nine years after Stoever left, the congregation was without any pastoral attention, save that occasionally the Swedish pastors Gabriel Falk and John Dylander, from Wicaco, later Gloria Dei Church, Philadelphia, preached and administered the sacraments. No wonder, then, that after many years of the most irregular and sporadic ministration, and long periods of no pastoral care at all, the heart of the people should be de- pressed, and that spiritual destitution should set in. " The condition of the Lutheran Church, in a word, was altogether such as might be ex- pected to result from thirty years of confusion, disorder and neglect.11
Earnestly, tearfully, repeatedly their Macedonian cry went out to the fathers of Europe, " Come over and help us." But difficulties were in the way ; they were unwilling to pledge themselves to support a pastor until they knew what kind of a man was to be sent, and knew he was worthy of their confidence. Every obstacle, however, was at length re- moved, and after ten years of earnest entreaties, the answer came.12
A united and urgent call from the three congregations of Philadel- phia, Trappe and New Hanover, was sent to Dr. Fred. Michael Ziegen- hagen of London, who, on May 24th, placed the formal official call to the dispersed Lutherans in Pennsylvania in the hands of the man who, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was to bring order out of chaos,
HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG THE FIRST PASTOR REGU- LARLY ORDAINED AND CALLED.
He reached Philadelphia November 25, 1742. The land he found so rich in its productions that, as he said, " It was a land flowing with milk and honey." In the country, houses were scattered miles apart along roads constantly penetrating dense forests, the home of wild beasts and betimes hostile Indians. The people were suffering many hard- ships : many were in destitute circumstances upon coming to this coun- try,18 and though means of subsistence were not lacking, money was very
Church Records at Trappe, Mode Creek, York, New Holland, Lancaster, Nordkill, Tulpehocken, Philadelphia and other places ; was received into the Ministerium in October, 1763, at Philadel- phia; lived near New Holland many years, serving the people there and elsewhere, until he re- moved to Lebanon county, where, on Ascension day, May 13, 1779, at a confirmation service, he suddenly sank down and died.
(11) Early Hist. of the Luth. Church, by Dr. C. W. Schaeffer, chap. 5.
(12) Hall. Nach. I, 93; II, 197.
(13) So poor were they that many could not pay the passage money, and were bound out to labor by the ship's captain for a period of 3 to 6 years, until it could be earned. Children from 10 to 15 years had to serve until they were 21. Parents were obliged to traffic and sell their children like cattle, so that they, if the children assumed their debt as was often done, might go free. It not infrequently happened that as they ofttimes did not know whither their children were taken, they never saw them again. (See Hall. Nach. I, p. 281, and second page of Dr. Spaeth's address, in this volume.)
6
The Old Trappe Church.
scarce ; people had to haul their products to the city, and then obtained very little for them. The densest ignorance prevailed, and the prospect of approaching darkness and idolatry was most distressing.14 " So sad, so degraded is the condition of our poor Lutheran people," says Muhlen- berg, " that you could hardly bewail it enough with tears of blood. The children are growing up without baptism, without instruction, without training, and so they sink into heathenism itself. Such was the state of affairs when I first came to Philadelphia."15 They were as sheep not having a shepherd, and wolves stole in and tore the sheep. Unprincipled " vagabonds," who assumed the pastoral office, imposed themselves upon the people. Karl Rudolf at Monacacy, who claimed to be Prince of Würtemberg, but who had more to do with the prince of darkness than of Würtemberg,16 Engelland at Lancaster and York, Schmidt, the quack doctor, at New Hanover, the despicable Andeæ at Goshenhoppen and Germantown, the suicide Rapp at New York and elsewhere, the ubiquitous Kraft and many others before and after Muh- lenberg's arrival, carrying their machinations everywhere, distracting and laying waste many fields, made confusion worse confounded. The
Church was not only without form but deformed, not only unorganized but disorganized. Wave after wave beat against the little ship of church, which, without rudder, sails, and sailors, was driven about and tossed, threatened with complete destruction.17 Verily the Church was, as he said, " non plantata sed plantanda," not planted, but to be planted. It was a Herculean task that was set before him, but undismayed, with heroic energy, and reliance upon the grace of God, he grappled with the task. Muhlenberg entered upon his duties as pastor of the congregation on December 12, 1742, by holding a service on the barn floor. The people wept for very joy, and received him at once into their confidence and affection. They listened with rapt attention as he preached, and manifested the greatest interest and relish for his instruction in the Divine Word, bring- ing joy to his heart and lightening the burden of his care and labors. His entry in the Church Record upon assuming charge of the congregation, reproduced on page 7, reads : "On the 12th of December, 1742, I, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, entered upon my office here as called and ordained pastor, and preached my introductory sermon on Math. XI, the gospel for the III Advent Sunday." On Christmas day his acceptance of the call was signed by the officers of the congregations.
Upon his arrival he found about fifty families, one hundred communi- cants, belonging to the congregation. " In this township," he says, in a
(14) Life of Dr. William Smith, vol. I, p. 29. (15) Halle Reports, p. 26. cf. Hall. Nach. II, p. 195. (16) Dr. Mann's Vergang. Tage. p. 11. (17) Hall. Nach. II, p. 197.
Jan 12 fin December 1742 fin if fromif Thefor Mühlenberg vill brrüponen und Herowinston R= ligar für hab Ben forfralen und furba in Onjugo. Puber lat Evangelium Matth xi vill 11I Havents- Pontoon How flex fitigen Gimimo gt form.
FAC SIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH ENTRY BY REV, H. M. MUHLENBERG UPON ASSUMING THE PASTORATE, DEC. 12, 1742,
The Old Trappe Church.
7
8
The Old Trappe Church.
letter,18 " there is already an English church.19 The Mennonites also have a meeting-house,20 and, as there has never been a Lutheran church here, we are about building the first one."21 The building of a church was a necessity. The capacity of the barn was entirely inadequate, and as the members were increasing, many were obliged to stand outside, in rain and storm as well as in sunshine. After the celebration of Epiphany, Wednesday, January 5, 1743, his fourth service, the congregation resolved to build a church and school house. The plan of the church was submit- ted and a copy of it sent to Germany for the information of the fathers. They determined to build a church of stone (wood being too perishable,) fifty-four "shoes "22 long by thirty-nine "shoes " wide, the estimated cost of which was about two hundred pounds sterling, one hundred pounds having been already subscribed. Where the remainder was to come from was an anxious question. Still, with faith in God, they were willing to contract a debt for the remaining sum, hoping that God would put it into the hearts of benefactors to come to their assistance. Their hope was not in vain. They soon received the very generous gift of £115 7s. from European collections through Dr. Ziegenhagen, which, after having themselves raised £138 15s. 8d., considerably more than had been first subscribed, reduced their debt to £39 12S. 772d. This was in time gradually liquidated. Those who were unable to sub- scribe money pledged their labor. They were all of one mind, and during the winter entered heartily upon the work of preparing materials for building in the spring, men hauling the stones and children splitting and shaving the oak shingles. Under date of Jan. 25, 1743, Muhlenberg writes : " The deacons had engaged a master mason with whom they wanted to make a contract for the building of the church ; we could not, however, come to any agreement. Our poor members of the congrega- tion do what they can, and have already, for a beginning, hauled several hundred cart-loads (Fuder) of stone." To see them work so earnestly was, as Muhlenberg said, a real joy to him. The present site was se- lected, and on March 10, 1743, the congregation bought two adjoining tracts of land for church and burial purposes. By the fifth of January the log school-house, not frame,23 was fin-
(18) Hall. Nach. I, p. 18.
(19) St. James' Epis. Church at Perkiomen now Evansburg, 1709 ; stone church built 1721.
(20) In Skippach township.
(21) The first German Lutheran church in the United States was built at New Hanover (The Swamp), prior to 1719. Another log church was built there in 1721. A third, begun in 1741, and completed in 1747, was superseded in 1768 by the present fine stone church.
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