USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > A history of the Goshenhoppen Reformed charge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1727-1819) > Part 11
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In October, 1740, Mr. Goetschy had gone to Long Island where he visited the congregations of Newtown, Jamaica, Hempstead and Oyster Bay, which extended a call to him.132 This he accepted and moved to Long Island in the following year. Thus he left the German Re- formed churches of Pennsylvania and assumed the ministry of the Dutch Reformed churches of Long Island. The validity of his ordination in 1741 was questioned and in order to preserve peace among his congregations and remove all objection he submitted to another examination and ordination in 1748.
In 1743 Goetschy published a sermon on the "Unknown God," which he had preached in Dutch in 1742 at several places. After a long and successful ministry of thirty-four years in the Dutch Reformed Church he died at Schraalen- berg, N. J., November 14, 1774.133
132 Corwin, Manual of the Reformed Church in America, 4th ed., p. 490 f. 133 Corwin, I. c., pp. 489-492 ; Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. IX, Part 2, pp. 15-17; Taylor, Annals of the Classis of Bergen, 1857, p. 185.
CHAPTER IV.
MINISTRY OF REV. PETER HENRY DORSIUS, 1741-1744.
J N Boehm's report of 1744, quoted above, is found the earliest reference to the next pastor at Gosh- enhoppen. Continuing the history of Goshen- hoppen after the departure of Goetschy to Long Island, Mr. Boehm writes :134
Meanwhile, since Goetschi is no longer with them, Do. Dorsius has several times administered the Lord's Supper to this people before his journey to Holland.
This passage introduces us to a young minister, who had come to Pennsylvania in 1737.
As early as May 3, 1730, the elders of the Dutch Re- formed congregation at Neshaminy, Bucks County, had written a letter to Rev. David Knibbe of Leyden and Rev. John Wilhelmius of Rotterdam, Holland, stating that, although small in number, they were anxious to secure a minister and had for that purpose canvassed the congre- gation and found that they were able to give 60 pounds, Pennsylvania currency, as salary to a pastor. Hence they asked these two Dutch pastors to secure them as a minister " a suitable young man of about 30 years of age, who has a distinct enunciation, is well grounded in the doctrine of
134 Minutes of Coctus, p. 26.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
the truth, able to instruct, admonish and to silence all adversaries, but no less edifying in his life."135 They also guarantee him a free dwelling, fire wood and a free passage for himself and his baggage to Pennsylvania.
On May 29, 1734, Rev. Wilhelmius notified them that he had found a young candidate by name of Masius, whose father was pastor in the Low-German Reformed congre- gation at Altona near Hamburg. But when the time of his departure for Pennsylvania had come near, he had withdrawn. But, he informed them, that he had con- tinued his efforts and had, a few weeks before, found " a certain young man suitable and pious, 24 years of age, who still needs one year to complete his studies. He shows great desire and eagerness to preach the Word of God among you. This man, I believe, will, under God's gra- cious blessing, be a useful and successful preacher among you, and I heartily recommend him to you. But the ques- tion is whether you will grant him a year's time to com- plete his studies, and whether I can advance him for this purpose such an amount of the money which I have re- ceived from you, as will be necessary for it and for his examination and ordination in this country." He reports further that the money which Reiff had given him in their name was still in his care and that the reason why he had not written sooner was partly because he had had no earlier opportunity, partly because Reiff had failed to call on him before his departure in order to take a letter along.
On October 30, 1734, nineteen members of the Nesha-
135 This letter, as well as the later letters exchanged between the Dutch ministers in Holland and the Reformed Church at Neshaminy, Bucks County, are deposited in the archives of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J. This letter is printed in full in a paper, submitted by the writer to the Bucks County Hist. Society, January 19, 1918, entitled " Life and Work of the Rev. Peter H. Dorsius."
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Peter Henry Dorsius
miny congregation answered the letter of Dr. Wilhelmius. They expressed their willingness to wait for their pastor and gave Wilhelmius authority to use their money for him, but with the condition that he should see to his examina- tion, ordination and transportation to America. They also reported that they were already busy in buying 40 or 50 acres as glebe land for their pastor's use.
On March 1, 1735, Dr. Wilhelmius sent another letter to the Bucks County people. He expressed his pleasure that they were satisfied with his choice of a pastor. He reported that the young man, just about 26 years old and unmarried, had already made such good progress in the ancient languages, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, that he was instructing others in them. He was also well advanced in theological studies. He was a pious young man and was burning with desire to preach the gospel of Jesus in another part of the world. He had made him sign a paper, in which he obligated himself to go to Pennsylvania immediately after completing his studies, or to return the money advanced to him with double interest. Wilhelmius stated that the bearer of his letter was a Reformed min- ister from Switzerland [Rev. Maurice Goetschy], through whom they hoped the churches in Pennsylvania would be well organized.
Another set of letters was exchanged between Wil- helmius and the congregation in 1736, and finally on May 22, 1737, Dr. Wilhelmius reported that Do. Dorsius had been ordained at Groningen and had left for Philadelphia with Captain Stedman.
On April 5, 1734, Dorsius had matriculated at the Uni- versity of Groningen and on September 17, 1736, at Ley- den. The entry in the matriculation book of the latter university is as follows :
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
Petrus Henricus Dorsius, 1736 Sept. 17. Meursanus, 25. T.
This means that on the above date Peter Henry Dorsius, a native of Meurs, 25 years old, matriculated as a student of theology. This corrects the statement of Dr. Wil- helmius as to his age. According to his own statement in the matriculation book he was born in 171I.
Fortunately we are now able to present definite infor- mation regarding the family and age of Mr. Dorsius from the church records at Meurs (now Moers), which the present pastor, Rev. W. Rotscheidt, very kindly commu- nicated to the writer,136 for which he deserves the grati- tude of the Reformed Church in the United States.
Peter Henry Dorsius was the son of Johann Henrich " Dorschius " of Moers. His father was a widower when he married Peternella Gravers of Altkirch, on September 15, 1708. Their children were as follows :
I. Alethea, baptized November 15, 1709.
2. Peter Hendrich, baptized January 2, 1711.
3. Abraham, baptized August 5, 1712.
4. Isaac, baptized December 22, 1713, died soon afterwards.
5. Isaac, baptized March 8, 1715.
An older relative of his, who acted as sponsor at his baptism, Samuel Dorsius, entered the Gymnasium Adolphi- num at Moers on May 8, 1708. Isaac Dorsius, probably his younger brother, entered the gymnasium on May 5, 1727. His own name does not seem to be registered there. Hence he probably studied somewhere else. In 1734 he entered the university of Groningen, as we have seen, and in 1736 that of Leyden. In the following year he left Holland for Pennsylvania.
He himself has given a description of his journey to 136 In a letter, dated February 16, 1914.
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Dorsius leaves Holland
Pennsylvania and his first experiences there in a letter, which he addressed to the Synodical Deputies in June, I749. He writes :137
It is about twelve years ago, after I had been received, on April 30, 1737, by the Classis of Schieland at Rotterdam among the number of the candidates of theology, and on May 29th of the same year had been ordained by the very learned theological faculty at Groningen to be a minister of the gospel, that, on July 11 [1737], I undertook the great and dangerous journey from Rotter- dam to Pennsylvania, when we did not arrive safely at Philadel- phia till October 5th; however, with the loss of many persons, who had died at sea and had been buried in the great ocean. Then I inquired immediately after my location. I learnt at once at the beginning that I, as well as others, had been woefully misled, and thus was sadly compelled to preach in the barn of one farmer after another, because there was no house of God; and at the same time take up my lodging with one family after another in the woods [bosch], as they are accustomed to call it in this land. This made me think of returning speedily, but I was kept back by my con- science and the example of early Christians. Through the encour- aging and cheering letters of the very learned Rev. Mr. Ernest Engelbert Pröbsting, p. t., scriba of Synod, written to me in the name and by the order of the Reverend Deputies of both Synods, I was much strengthened to continue in the difficult work of the ministry which I had undertaken.
Mr. Boehm refers to the arrival of Dorsius in a letter addressed to the Classis of Amsterdam on March 10, 1738, in which he says :138
Last fall there came to this country Do. Dorsius, as a regular minister of the Dutch Reformed congregation at Neshaminy, Bucks County, and with him another by the name of Van Basten, who,
137 Hague Archives, 74, II, 12.
138 Classical Archives, Pennsylvania Portfolio, No. I. See Life and Letters of Boehm, p. 259 f.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
although he was not ordained, yet travels here and there through the country and preaches, saying that he had been sent from Hol- land. But he has given us absolutely no cause for joy.
Turning to the immigrant lists of Rupp, we find that on September 26, 1737, John Herman von Basten,139 " Can- didatus S. Th.," arrived at Philadelphia in the ship Andrew Galley, John Stedman, master, from Rotterdam. This must have been the ship on which Mr. Dorsius came. We know from the letter of Dr. Wilhelmius, quoted above, that he came with Captain Stedman, and we know from his own letter of June 1749, that he arrived on October 5, 1737. The latter is the date according to the "new style." It is, however, surprising that the name of Dor- sius does not occur in the list as given by Rupp, while in the list given in the Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. XVII, pp. 138-140, both names are wanting.
The bill for the ship's passage of Mr. Dorsius from Captain Stedman and the receipt of Dorsius given to his consistory on September 28, 1737, are still in existence.140 They read as follows :
Myn Heer Dorsius Dr.
To John Stedman
to his passage & goods P. 15 :-
to Duty in England. P. 1:1/2
to Citty Dues. 3/2:
to fresh Provision in England. P. 2:1/2
Total P. 19 : 0
139 The immigrant list in Rupp's Thirty Thousand Names, p. 109, give us at last the correct Christian name of Van Basten. In December, 1738, Dorsius reports him as having preached at Amwell, N. J., and on Long Island and as being at that time at Fishkill, N. Y., see Ecclesiastical Records of New York, Vol. IV, p. 2741. In 1739-40 he is reported as preaching at Jamaica, Success, Oyster Bay and Newtown, N. Y. But he was addicted to drink, hence his activity as a minister was brief. After 1740 he disappears. See Corwin, Manual, 4th ed., pp. 807, 1011, 1016. 140 Part of church records at New Brunswick, N. J.
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Dorsius in Bucks County
Receipt of Rev. P. H. Dorsius,
I, the undersigned, acknowledge clearly and distinctly to have received from the Reverend Consistory, elders and deacons, the sum of six and twenty pounds, fifteen shillings and two pence, Pennsylvania currency, for the passage money of person and goods, together with the expenses from Rotterdam to Pennsylvania for Captain John Stedman.
Given in Philadelphia, September 28, 1737. P. H. DORSIUS, minister in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Dorsius and Boehm worked together very harmoniously till the spring of 1740, when Boehm in answer to the re- quest of the Holland Synods, communicated to him through Dorsius, had prepared his elaborate report of 1739, and had handed it to Dorsius with the request to send it to Holland. When Dorsius failed to do this, Boehm became very indignant.
On November 30, 1740, the elders of Boehm wrote a defence of their pastor to the Classis, with affidavits re- garding the events that had taken place.
In the affidavit it is said :141
When Mr. Dorsius, minister at Neshaminy, was at Goshen- hoppen on the 24th of September 1740, and baptized children, in his anger against our minister, Mr. Boehm, he burst out without any reserve, in the following expressions among others: "If Boehm says that I have not sent the letters, which he wrote regarding the church, to Holland, he lies like a scoundrel " and this he repeated several times.
Privately to Boehm, Dorsius had admitted that the letter had not been sent off. In support of Boehm his elders wrote :142
141 Classical Archives, Pennsylvania Portfolio, No. 15. See Life and Letters of Boehm, p. 338.
142 L. c., No. 16. See Life and Letters of Boehm, p. 339.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
His Reverence [Mr. Dorsius] visited the congregations Saucon and New Goshenhoppen on his return home from Minisink. As far as we know he did not visit any other congregations in the back woods. At that time his Reverence had the young Goetschi preach the sermon and read the baptismal formula, while he bap- tized the children. Afterwards all that is stated above took place. It is impossible for us to let the case rest here because his Rever- ence has not only treated our beloved and faithful pastor so un- kindly, but he also attacked the respect due to the reverend men and devout church fathers, who established our pure divine wor- ship in this country.
During the ministry of Dorsius, in the year 1742, the second schoolmaster appears in Goshenhoppen. On De- cember 21, 1742, the Bethlehem Diary reports a visit at Bethlehem of "John Adam Luckenbach, schoolmaster at Goshenhoppen." He was born in 1713 at Winckelbach, near Hachenburg, in Nassau, Germany. On September 30, 1740, he arrived with two other members of his fam- ily at Philadelphia. He served as schoolmaster in various localities, first at Goshenhoppen. In 1743, we find him at Muddy Creek, where he assisted Jacob Lischy. When Lischy moved to York County, in 1745, Luckenbach ac- companied him and became schoolmaster in Kreutz creek. In 1754, he was schoolmaster in Allemaengel, Lynn town- ship, Lehigh County. He married Eva Maria Spiess, who bore him one son and two daughters. He died in 1785 at Saucon and was buried in the Moravian cemetery at Bethlehem.142a
According to Boehm's report of 1744, already quoted, Dorsius administered the Lord's Supper "several times " before his journey to Holland, which took place in 1743.
142a See Reincke, Register of Moravians, pp. 111, 131, Schultze, Guide to the Old Moravian Cemetery at Bethlehem (PROC. OF PA. GERM. SOC., Vol. XXI, p. 14).
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Dorsius in Goshenhoppen
In perfect agreement with this statement we find thirteen children baptized at New Goshenhoppen on August 30, 174I, and six children on September 4, 1742. Then there is a break in the baptismal record till May, 1744. In the interval Dorsius undertook a journey to Holland. This was undertaken, as he explained later to the Deputies, be- cause there was no prospect of growth for the Dutch Re- formed Church in Pennsylvania, first, because their num- ber was becoming constantly smaller through sickness and death; secondly, because through intermarriage the mem- bers were lost to the church, and thirdly, because they had no school-teachers to teach the children the Dutch lan- guage. In view of this condition Dorsius desired permis- sion either to accept a call to another church or to remain in Holland. As his letter to the Deputies, written in June, 1749, gives an interesting account of this journey, it may be quoted in part :143
I considered all this very carefully, besides, the continual com- plaints of the consistory (which had to collect the pastor's salary), that they were no longer able to pay the 68 pounds of salary which they had promised, without injuring their own families, as they were not able to secure the promised salary from the congregation, but had been compelled to add each year enough money so as to complete the salary; hence after full deliberation I concluded to return to my fatherland and to undertake the difficult and expen- sive journey in the strength of the Lord of Lords, also to call the consistory together, submit to them my plans, ask for a certificate, in case it should happen that I would not return. This was done on the 9th of March, o.s. My just request was granted and a certificate was given to me, together with a petition to the Rev. Deputies for another faithful shepherd and teacher, at a lower salary, in as much as I might feel inclined to stay in my own coun- try. This certificate and also the letters written to me by the
143 The same letter of Dorsius quoted before, see note 137.
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
learned Mr. Pröbsting, I handed over to the Christian Synod of North Holland in the year 1743, in answer to the request of the Rev. Mr. Cornelius Houthoff, p. t., deputy of the Synods. These writings are most likely still in the hands of the reverend gentlemen.
Then I began the great journey on the 26th of May, 1743, o.s., from New York to Amsterdam, where I arrived safely and well on the 14th of July at Texel. Then on the 26th and 27th of. July I appeared before the Christian Synod of North Holland held at Hoorn, in order to make known the lamentable and desolate condition of the American Reformed churches, especially of the Dutch people, over whom I had been placed as shepherd and teacher. This, however, did not have the result or effect, which I had desired or expected. I could not stay in Holland because on the one hand it was to be feared that the fire of war might break out between France and England, which would make the Spanish Sea, over which we had to sail, unsafe and dangerous to travelers, as to our grief, it proved to be the case in the spring of the follow- ing year. On the other hand, my domestic affairs (of which I do not wish to speak further) could not be arranged so as to make it possible for me to stay longer in Holland. Moreover, a suitable opportunity offered itself so that I could readily bear the expense of the journey and return home again.
Hence on the 19th of October 1743, o.s., I again undertook the great journey across the sea, when after suffering, especially in the neighborhood of Ireland, many hardships and dangers on the ocean, common to the winter season, I did not reach Philadelphia till January 16, 1744, o.s., though in good health. From there I returned to Bucks County, where I tried to discharge the duties of the ministry faithfully.
Shortly after his return from Holland, Dorsius visited Goshenhoppen again. Boehm in his report of 1744 refers at length to this visit :144
144 Minutes of Coetus, p. 26 f .; also Life and Letters of Boehm, p. 419 f.
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Boehm on Goshenhoppen in 1744
BOEHM'S ACCOUNT OF GOSHENHOPPEN IN 1744.
As I learned on Tuesday after last Easter at Goshenhoppen from a ruling elder, it is arranged that he [Dorsius] shall again admin- ister the Lord's Supper to them in the next coming month of May. On this Tuesday after Easter, when I happened to come to Goshen- hoppen, I found this among them: On Good Friday, they allowed the base deceiver, Jacob Lischy, to preach in their church, who at the same time baptized two children. When I represented to two elders, who were together on this Tuesday after Easter, the impro- priety of this act in the presence of several people, in having per- mitted a Moravian to do such things they answered me that they themselves had held it up to him, but he had protested with an oath and called upon God to forsake him if he were a Moravian. He claimed to be a Reformed preacher from Switzerland. Then I showed them his Moravian hymn book, entitled "Shepherd Songs of Bethlehem, for the use of all who are humble," which before this was his own pocket hymn book, and came to my hands in a wonderful but honorable way, in which he had written his name with his own hand; When they compared the letter he had written to them with it and saw that it was his own handwriting, they realized his wicked conduct, the more so because, when they told him that I had this little book, he denied it was his, say- ing that he knew nothing of the book, that others could easily write his name in a book; he could not prevent that, and that for this reason he had long regarded me as a treacherous Boehm, of whom he had heard before in Holland, etc. Then they acted as if they were sorry. But one among them, Michael Radner, con- fessed that it was his fault alone that Lischy had come into the church. Whereupon I took my departure. The next day I spoke with another ruling elder, who was not present the day before. This one said to me with a sad heart, almost with tears: "But what shall we do? Mr. Dorsius has told us we should not think that we could get ministers from Holland. We should ourselves see to it, what was to be done." The Hollanders had said : " What do the Pennsylvanians imagine themselves to be? They live in a
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History of the Goshenhoppen Charge
free country, have nothing to pay to any royal court, yet want to give but ten pounds in such a large congregation to a minister ; then we cannot provide them with a minister," etc. Nevertheless I admonished them to remain steadfast in prayer, and without being discouraged to wait upon God's favor. As for me, I felt assured that if our pious church Fathers desired to admonish us or were displeased about anything, they would not thus rudely present it, but speak of it in an amicable and friendly manner, becoming to servants of God. But according to my expectations the affairs of our church would take quite a different turn under the providence of God and his guidance. And thus we separated. . . .
Do. Dorsius has also promised the people at New Goshenhoppen to administer the Lord's Supper there on May 6th, and that on the 7th he would be at Old Goshenhoppen, situated about four miles from Skippack, where the Lutheran and Reformed people wish to build a union church (whereby again some members will be drawn away from Skippack, for until now this district had be- longed to Skippack) and on May 7th he will there lay the corner- stone. On this occasion the Lutheran preacher, Andres by name, and Do. Dorsius are each to preach a sermon. Do. Dorsius asked said Lutheran pastor to announce this from his pulpit for the benefit of his Lutheran congregation, which he did on April 8th. Afterwards I was told by some of my elders who were present that the Lutheran minister distinctly said: "Rev. Inspector Dor- sius will administer the Lord's Supper on May 6th at New Goshen- hoppen for the Reformed people, and on the 7th ditto, at the laying of the corner-stone of the union church at Old Goshenhoppen, he as well as myself (the Lutheran pastor) will preach the first ser- mon (which words a certain man who had heard them told me with astonishment in my house on the 16th of April) .. .
P.S. On May 6th, Do. Dorsius administered the Lord's Sup- per at New Goshenhoppen, several persons from Falkner Swamp communed there without saying anything.
On May 7th, the corner-stone of the above mentioned union church was to be laid; a considerable number of people were pres-
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
E
OLD GOSHENHOPPEN CHURCH, BUILT 1744. (DRAWING MADE BY WILLIAM J. BUCK IN 1858.)
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Cornerstone at Old Goshenhoppen
ent, but the day was rainy. Do. Dorsius did not come. It was postponed till Whit Monday, May 14th, old style. Do. Dorsius again did not come. But an elder of New Goshenhoppen was appointed to represent Do. Dorsius, and the work was thus accom- plished.
The presence of Do. Dorsius at New Goshenhoppen in May, 1744, is corroborated by the church record, for on May 5, 1744, six children were baptized, and their bap- tisms entered into the church record by one of the elders. The pastor who officiated was undoubtedly Mr. Dorsius.
The cornerstone laying at the Old Goshenhoppen church is described more fully in the Old Goshenhoppen Lu- theran record, which has also preserved the agreement, then drawn up by the Lutheran and Reformed people. It is as follows:
AGREEMENT PLACED IN CORNERSTONE OF OLD GOSHENHOPPEN CHURCH, MAY 14, 1744.
Anno 1744, May 14th, through the wonderful providence of the all-wise God and against all expectations, these two congregations, Lutheran and Reformed, began to build a large, beautiful stone church. In this year was laid the cornerstone, in which the fol- lowing writing was put and deposited :
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