USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware (history of Old Swedes Church of Philadelphia) > Part 6
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1720. A meeting was held on the 27th of March, for the transaction of business, at which four clergy- men were present : the Rev. Provost Andrew Hesselius, the Rev. Mr. Lidenius, of Racoon and Penn's Neck, and the Rev. Messrs. Lidman and Samuel Hesselius. The provost proposed that the last named clergyman should take charge of those portions of the congre-
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gation residing at Kalkonhook and Neshamani. This was objected to by the lay members present, upon the ground that the Swedes living in those places might thus become "weaned" from the mother church at Wicaco. It being understood that one clergyman was competent to the duties at Wicaco, it was then proposed by Mr. Lidman, that as the people at Man- ating* were at a great distance from the church, they, perhaps, would be glad of his services there, and that he would cheerfully relinquish to him so much of the salary as was furnished by that part of the con- gregation. Marcus Hulings,¡ and other "respect- able " inhabitants of that part of the country then present, earnestly seconded this proposition, promis- ing to contribute, to the extent of their means, to- wards his support. It was accordingly arranged that the Rev. Samuel Hesselius should settle at Manating.
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At the annual meeting in 1722, the same clergymen were present, with the exception of the Rev. Samuel Hesselius. At this meeting "the provost preached an excellent sermon on the duties of ministers and parish- ioners, to live in reciprocal concord, and by faithful co-operation to promote the kingdom of Christ on earth." The subject of providing a Swedish school
* Supposed to be Morlatton, four miles above Pottsgrove, on the Schuylkill.
t This Marcus Hulings was my great-grandfather, his daugh- ter Magdalena having married Matthias Holstein, my grand- father.
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for children was considered, but there being some diffi- culties in the way, it was concluded that they "would themselves instruct their children, after they had learned to read English."
In 1723 Mr. Lidman complained of the insufficiency of his salary to his support, and wished to receive some benefit from the churchland at Wicaco. It was resolved to fence it, to divide the part lying between the Moyamensing and Passyunk roads into two parts, and to let them as pasture grounds ; but "to reserve seventy trees for the use of the congregation." Two years afterwards it was resolved "to let the pasture ground next to the church, to some honest person, for the relief of the pastor."
In 1725 it was proposed by Mr. Lidman immediately to repair the church roof on the south side, which was quite decayed. The congregation promised attention to it. Two years afterwards (1727,) we find the outer doors and pews requiring speedy repairs. The next year the same thing was advised of "the windows and shutters of the church."
In 1730 the Rev. Mr. Lidman informed the con- gregation, that he had received a letter from Bishop Swedberg, notifying him of his recall by the king, and his appointment to a "good parish in Sweden." He suggested the propriety of "presenting by him to the king, and to Bishop Swedberg, some articles of peltry, as marks of gratitude for the favours re-
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ceived." To which the congregation cheerfully agreed. He preached his farewell sermon on the 24th Sunday after Trinity.
The Rev. J. Eneberg was appointed to fill the vacancy until a pastor could be procured from Sweden.
In 1731 the glebe in Passyunk was leased to Peter Cock and Mouns Cock for four pounds yearly.
In 1732 part of the church roof was blown off .- Boarding was procured in the city for the clergyman until a house should be built at Wicaco.
It was agreed that any person in the country, who might want the minister's attendance, should furnish a conveyance, as his keeping a horse in town would be troublesome and expensive.
1733. On the seventh of January, the first Sunday after Epiphany, the Rev. Gabriel Falck first appeared before the congregation. The Rev. Mr. Eneberg preached. After the service he read Mr. Falck's com- mission from King Frederick, dated Stockholm, 9th August, 1732 ; also, a letter of recommendation from Bishop Swedberg. This connexion of Mr. Falck with Wicaco was dissolved the same year it com- menced. What led to the dissolution the records do not show. I have seen it elsewhere stated that he was deposed. The congregation immediately applied for a successor, but the letter was never received. An- other letter was written in 1736; in answer to which
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the Rev. John Dylander was appointed to the rector- ship. He arrived in Philadelphia on the 2d of Novem- ber, 1737, and preached his first sermon on the 6th of the same month "to a very large congregation." After service the Rev. Mr. Tranberg, pastor of the Racoon and Penn's Neck churches, read the King's commission, dated Stockholm, 27th May, 1737, and also the letters of the venerable consistory of Upsala to the congregation, dated 8th January, 1737, signed by the Archbishop Johannes Steuchius, and four mem- bers of the consistory, viz. Olof Celsius, E. Melander, Andreas Winborn, and John Wisman.
The Archbishop made known in his letter that he had been appointed by the king superintendent of the Swedish mission, in the place of Bishop Swedberg, deceased; and that at his request the consistory were added, that they might, in the event of his death, execute the trust. He assured the congregation of his best endeavours to promote their spiritual welfare.
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The parsonage house at Wicaco was built in 1733.
At a meeting of the congregation, held on the 25th November, 1737, the wardens, among other duties to which their attention was called, were reminded that they were expected to "admonish parents to instruct their children in religious principles, to practise do- mestic devotion, by morning and evening prayers ; to reprove those who lead a bad life, in idleness, ebriety,
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discord, swearing, neglect of the divine word and sacraments, &c."
At the same meeting it was reported, that Jacob Bengtson had leased the two lots at Wicaco for £7 10s. per an .; and that Andrew Rambo had leased the glebe in Passyunk for £5 per annum.
In the spring of 1738 the Swedish members at Kalkonhook (below Darby) wished to build a church there, for their greater convenience in attending divine worship, and solicited assistance from the members at Wicaco ; which the latter promised to give the follow- ing year, when a suitable place for the church should have been chosen. The design fell through at that time. In the fall of 1738, expensive repairs to the church were found necessary.
The congregation lost the Rev. Mr. Dylander by death, after he had been with them four years. He died on the 2d of November, 1741. He appears to have possessed great vocal powers, and to have de- lighted his hearers with the sweetness of his music. His remains were interred beneath the chancel at Wicaco, and are covered by a marble slab, on which are the following lines :
While here he sang his Maker's praise, The listening angels heard his song, And call'd their consort soul away,
Pleas'd with a strain so like their own.
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His soul attentive to the call, And quickly list ning to obey, Soar'd to ethereal scenes of bliss, Too pure to dwell in grosser clay.
The Rev. Gabriel Nesman was appointed to succeed the Rev. Mr. Dylander. He arrived in Philadelphia on the 20th October, 1743. The vacancy in the pul- pit of four years, between Mr. Falck's and Mr. Dylander's ministrations; and of two years between the death of the latter, and the arrival of Mr. Nes- man, had an injurious effect upon the interests of the church. For want of a pastor in their own church, many of the Swedes attached themselves to other churches, some going to the "English churches," and . others being led away by the eloquence of Mr. Whit- field. Mr. Nesman deplored this state of things, and did all in his power to revive towards their own church the languishing zeal of the Swedes. He also took an early opportunity of calling the attention of parents to the early baptism of their children, and to the propriety of this ordinance being administered, as often as possible, in the church, and not in private houses.
I find the following entry in relation to persons not regularly receiving the Lord's supper. " Persons not communicating twice a year, must be admonished, first by the pastor alone, and if regardless, again by him
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and the elders of the parish; and if they still neglect, shall forfeit the right of voting at the meetings of the congregation. Those who very seldom or never perform this Christian duty, and disregard faithful warnings, shall be disowned, both by the pastor and congregation, and he shall not cultivate friendship with them."
Another entry : " Whereas the kings of Sweden have, from the first colonization to the present time, graciously favoured the congregations with Swedish clergymen, gratitude and prudence require us not to choose any in case of vacancy, but wait for the arrival of a successor, duly qualified by clerical ordination, and royal commission ; and in the mean time be con- tented with the aid that ministers of the other congre- gations can give."
Mr. Nesman brought over a fresh supply of Swe- dish books for the use of the different churches.
1744. At the election for wardens and vestrymen this year, Jacob Bengtson, Peter Jones, and Andrew Toy, were chosen in the place of Benjamin Bengtson, Martin Garrets, and Lars Bure, who, on account of advanced age, wished to resign. In accepting their resignation, it was provided "that they should retain the privilege of voting with the new trustees on all occasions." The other members of the vestry were Peter Kock, merchant in Philadelphia, and a native of Sweden, Hans Tate, and Jacob Archer, both of
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Amasland. John Henderson, of the latter place, re- signed the wardenship, and Andrew Georgen was appointed in his place.
1745. The wardens and vestrymen this year were Andrew Bonde, John Garret, Jacob Bengtson, Elias Rambo, wardens; and Charles Grantham, Jacob Rambo, Andrew Justis, Morton Morton, vestrymen.
1747. A resolution was passed to shingle the north side of the church roof. It was done the following year.
1750. By a letter dated the 22d February of this year, the Archbishop (Benzelius) informed the Rev. Mr. Nesman of his recall to Sweden, and of the ap- pointment of the Rev. Olof Parlin as his successor. Mr. Parlin arrived in the ship Speedwell, Capt. Nicho- las Stephenson, on the 7th of July, and was "very kindly received by the trustees and members residing in the city," and afterwards with the same cordiality by those living in the country. He preached his first sermon on the 22d of July, the sixth Sunday after Trinity, from Jeremiah i. 7: "Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." The provost, Rev. Israel Acrelius, and rector of Christina, also preached from Matthew ix. 37, 38: " The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few ; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into the har- vest." On this occasion the Rev. Mr. Nesman and
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the Rev. Eric Unander, assistant minister of the mis- sion, introduced the new rector, whose commission from King Frederick, and the letters of the Arch- bishop, and the members of the consistory, were read to the congregation by the Rev. Mr. Unander. In these letters the congregation were urged to continue steadfast in their religious principles, and gratefully to remember the interest taken in their spiritual wel- fare by the kings of Sweden, in sending them worthy ministers, the expenses of whose voyages they paid, &c.
1757. In the spring of this year the Rev. Eric Norderlind was appointed assistant minister to Mr. Parlin, to officiate "in all the congregations." On the 22d of December, of the same year, Mr. Parlin died, of pleurisy, after an illness of four days. His remains lie beneath the chancel of Wicaco church, by the side of his predecessors, Rudman and Dylander. On the stone which covers his grave is a Latin inscrip- tion, expressive of the learning, piety, &c., of him whose name it records. He appears to have been gen- erally respected and esteemed, as his funeral was at- tended by "a great number of various religious de- nominations." The Rev. Mr. Unander, of Christina, preached on the occasion in English ; and on the 26th, the Rev. Mr. Lidenius in Swedish, from 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7, 8: "For I am now ready to be offered," &c.
By a letter dated the 2d of January, 1758, the archbishop and consistory of Upsala, were notified of
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the death of Mr. Parlin, and that Mr. Norderlind would supply the church during the vacancy. They also requested that the widow and two small children of their late rector might be recommended to some relief. In applying for a successor to Mr. Parlin, the congregation desired that their pastor might in future be permitted to preach occasionally in English, the Swedes and English becoming so intermixed as to render necessary religious instruction in both lan- guages.
1759. The Rev. Mr. Norderlind continued to officiate for the Swedes until the spring of this year, when the Rev. Charles Magnus Wrangel arrived and took charge of the church. It was in his time, or about 1763, that the churches at Kingsessing and Upper Merion were built. He was one of the most popular preachers the Swedes ever had among them, and was usually obliged, on account of the crowds who attended his ministry, to preach in the open air. I have heard him represented as possessing a most winning and captivating eloquence. He returned to Sweden in 1768, and was there made a bishop. He died in 1786.
The Rev. Andrew Goeranson, who was sent over in 1766, entered upon the duties of his office as rector, in the spring or summer of 1768. He continued to officiate until the close of the year 1779. He returned home in 1785, and died in 1800.
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From . Drawing by Rer. B.J. Norton
Or Stone to A Newsam. Lehnar & Durul Lith" Auf"
8. Pollin D.D
RECTOR WICACO (GLORIA DEI) CHURCH 1786-1831 The last minister sent from Sweden to the churches on the Delaware
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1780. The Rev. Matthias Hultgren took charge of the church in January of this year, and continued to officiate as rector until the spring of 1786, his last baptism having been on the 30th of May of that year.
1786. In July of this year, the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Collin, who had been for some time officiating at Swedesborough, in New Jersey, was appointed rector of Wicaco and the churches in connexion. He pre- sided over these churches for a period of forty-five years; in which time he married 3375 couple, averag- ing about eighty-four couple a year. In the early part of his ministry it averaged much more than this. The number of couple married by him in 1795 was 199, and in the following year 179.
Dr. Collin, during the whole period of his ministry, was held in high respect by his congregations .* He possessed considerable learning, particularly in an
* To show the mistakes often made by foreigners in speaking of this country, the following extract is here given from a late number of the Foreign Quarterly Review, under the caption of "Swedish Periodical Literature." The Review, speaking of the clergy sent from Sweden to supply the spiritual wants of their colony on the Delaware, has these remarks :- "One of those then in America, Mr. Collin, preferred to remain in the colony, where the pension, to which he would have been entitled on his return home was, in the year 1825, still paid him from Sweden; and so highly satisfactory does his determination of remaining appear to have been, not merely to his flock, but to all who knew him, that he has since, although a native Swede, had the honour of being elected one of the representatives of Pennsylvania in Congress."
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acquaintance with languages. The only work which he has left behind him, is a manuscript translation of Acrelius' History of New Sweden, which he under- took in 1799, at the request of the Historical Society of New York, in whose possession it now is. He was a member, and for some time one of the vice-presi- dents, of the American Philosophical Society. And was also one of the eighteen founders of the Society " for the commemoration of the landing of William Penn." He died at Wicaco on the 7th of October, A. D. 1831, in the 87th year of his age.
At the time Dr. Collin received his appointment as rector of these churches, the Swedes began to feel the necessity, from the little knowledge of the Swedish language remaining among them, of having clergy- men set over them, who had received their education in this country. This will appear from the following record of the proceedings of vestry, in 1786, in rela- tion to Dr. Collin's appointment :- " Whereupon the vestry do agree to receive the Rev. Mr. Collin as their minister ; but at the same time reserving to themselves the right of making any new appointment hereafter, as shall be found more useful and beneficial to the said congregations of Wicaco, Kingsessing, and Upper Merion. And the wardens of Wicaco Church are authorised and required to write to the archbishop of Upsala, to desire him to thank his majesty of Sweden, in the name of the congregations, for his care and
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attention towards them heretofore, and in the present instance. But as the said congregations will be better suited (the Swedish language being extinct) by the appointment of some suitable minister from this side the water, and as the Rev. Mr. Collin has expressed a desire of returning to his native country shortly ; whenever his majesty of Sweden shall think it proper and convenient to grant him his recall, the mission to these congregations will undoubtedly cease."
It was not surprising, therefore, when the vestry, after the death of Dr. Collin, " proceeded to consider what measures it would be proper and necessary to pursue, in order to supply the existing vacancy in the rectorship," that they should have "unanimously adopted the following resolutions :
Ist. "That the church wardens and vestrymen are of opinion, that the mission from Sweden ceased upon the death of their late rector, the Rev. Nicholas Collin.
2d. That a meeting of the congregation shall be held in the church at Wicaco, on Monday, the 14th of November, A. D. 1831, at 12 o'clock, noon, for the purposes specified in the fifth section* of the act to confirm and amend the charter of the United Swedish Churches, passed the 10th of September, 1787.
3d. That the acting warden cause a notice of the said meeting to be published in the United States
* See page 142.
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Gazette, and the American Sentinel, for three weeks before the time of the meeting, and three times in the Saturday Evening Post."
Proceedings of the Congregational Meeting.
"The congregations of the United Swedish Churches of Wicaco, Kingsessing, and Upper Merion, convened at the church at Wicaco, on Monday, the 14th day of November, 1831, agreeably to public notice.
"On motion, Charles Wheeler, Esq., was chosen Chairman, and William Amies, Secretary.
"The meeting being organized, Thomas M. Jolly, Esq., offered the following resolutions, which were respectively read and considered, and on motion adopted :
"Resolved by the members of the congregation of the United Swedish Lutheran Churches of Wicaco, Kingsessing, and Upper Merion, that the present and all future vacancies in the rectorship, shall be supplied as follows :
"First. The members of the congregation shall meet in their respective churches, at such time as the church wardens and vestrymen may appoint, and vote by ballot for a rector.
"Second. The result of the voting in each church, shall be certified to the church wardens and vestrymen, by the persons who receive and count the ballots.
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" Third. If it shall appear, that any candidate has received majorities in all, or in any two of the churches, the church wardens and vestrymen shall de- clare such candidate duly elected rector.
"Fourth. If no candidate shall have received a majority of votes in more than one church, the church wardens and vestrymen shall elect the rector from the persons who are highest on the several returns.
"Fifth. No person shall be entitled to vote for rector, who is not qualified to vote for vestrymen, agreeably to the charter and by-laws of the corpora- tion.
"Sixth. The elections in the several churches shall be conducted under such regulations as the church wardens and vestrymen may prescribe ; provided, how- ever, that they shall cause notices of the time of hold- ing an election to be placed upon the doors of each church, and published in two of the Philadelphia, and one of the Norristown papers, at least ten days before the time fixed for such election.
" Resolved, That the assistant ministers for the said United Churches, shall be chosen, as heretofore, by the rector, church wardens, and vestrymen."
The following resolution was adopted :
" Resolved, That a committee of three persons be appointed, to lay before the wardens and vestrymen of the United Churches of Wicaco, Kingsessing, and
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Upper Merion, the rules and regulations adopted by the members of the said United Churches this day convened for the future choice and election of a rector, and other minister or ministers to supply the said churches, agreeably to the fifth section of the supplement to the charter, passed September 10, 1787, to the end that they may sanction or reject the same.
"The chairman, being authorised, appointed Thomas M. Jolly, Charles H. Clay, and Edward Ewing, the committee, agreeably to the last resolu- tion, who having performed the duties assigned them, reported, by their chairman Mr. Jolly, that the war- dens and vestrymen approved the rules and regula- tions adopted by this meeting.
"On motion, the meeting adjourned.
(Signed,)
"CHARLES WHEELER, Chairman.
"WM. AMIES, Secretary."
In pursuance of the above regulations, the Swedish congregations met in their respective churches on the 5th of December, 1831, and chose the compiler of these Annals, rector ; he having received all the votes (16) given at Wicaco-all but one (37) at Kingses- sing-and all those (29) given at Upper Merion.
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APPENDIX.
NOTE A.
"We, the underwritten, church wardens of the Wicaco congregation, salute our brethren, and notify that the Rev. Mr. Fabritius has now accomplished his official service promised for the year now ended ; we therefore make a friendly request to each indi- vidual, by our agent Jacob Yongh, that they may discharge their just debts to him without refusal. We also are solicitous to procure a further continu- ance of his services; and therefore desire that all who are willing for this, may subscribe respectively their voluntary contributions for his support, with their names or marks.
" Wicaco, 10th Aug. 1684."
1077 gilders were accordingly subscribed, making, in the currency of the country, as Mr. Rudman re- marks, "at the rate of two gilders for a shilling, and four bushels of wheat at half a crown, the sum of £27 8s. 6d. This salary, with the aid of perquisites, was at that time pretty good, but it was not well paid, and the old gentleman complained very much of the deficiency, especially in his latter time, as I have heard from persons of veracity."
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NOTE B. P. 38.
" The grace of God through Christ. Very reverend, very learned, very honourable consistorial senators of the unaltered Augsburgian Confession at Amster- dam. With a cordial and respectful salutation, we of the Swedish nation in Pennsylvania, notify that the reverend and learned magister Jacob Fabritius, who in 1677, on our vocation, commenced the clerical service, did during five years, while having his eye- sight, and for nine years succeeding his loss of sight, diligently and faithfully attend us, by preaching and administering the sacraments, according to the ortho- dox confession of Augsburg, and by an exemplary life; but must now resign his trust on account of blindness, and the infirmities of age. You will easily judge, venerable sirs, how forlorn will then be our situation! Like sheep without a shepherd, sick with- out physician, we shall be exposed to many dangers. We, therefore, supplicate you, in consideration of this, and of our happy fellowship in the Lutheran communion, to provide us with a proper Swedish char- acter, as we know that many students of various nations are at Amsterdam, waiting for promotion (ordination.) And as a labourer is worthy of his reward, we stipulate for the coming minister a yearly salary of one hundred rix dollars, with a house and glebe, for his maintenance .- If a qualified person is
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