USA > Pennsylvania > Historical notes relating to the Pennsylvania Reformed Church, V. I > Part 19
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1
HISTORICAL NOTES
RELATING TO THE
PENNSYLVANIA REFORMED CHURCH.
VOL. I. No. 10. February 10. 1900. $1.00 PER ANNUM.
Edited by Henry S. Dotterer.
Perkiomen Publishing Co., 100 N. THIRTEENTH STREET. PHILADELPHIA.
Revival of Friendship.
Correspondence between the German Reformed Church in the United States and the Classis of Amsterdam, which ceased in 1793, has been renewed by a letter, dated AAmsterdam, January 13, 1900, written by the committee of Classis of Amsterdam on Correspondence with the other Reformed Churches, and ad- dressed to the brethren of the Reformed Church in the United States In this communication is this statement : "We recall the many and close connections that have bound us together in the past, and are glad to feel our union still in working for the advancement of Christ's King- dom, and the downfall of the bulwarks of Satan in our respective fatherlands."
Referring to the satisfaction expressed in America at this re-establishment of in- tercourse between the Dutch and Ameri- can branches of the Reformed Church, the editor of Our Magazine, of Rotterdam, the organ of the English non-Episcopal churches of the Netherlands, says : "We are sure that it is equally gratifying here to know that the link which binds these two Churches is again being tightened, and that the daughter-Church is so grate- fnl for what the mother-Church in Hol- land was privileged to do for her in the days of her infancy."
How Holland's Interest Began.
In that portion of Prof. Hinke's His- tory of the Reiff Case printed in this number, the beginning of fraternal rela- tions between Holland's wealthy Church and Pennsylvania's struggling congrega- tions is fixed at 1525. In that year Jacob
Reiff, of Skippack, went to Europe, tak- ing with him a petition from the Phila- delphia and Skippack congregations to the Holland Church for donations. "Through this petition," Prof. Hinke declaires, "the Dutch Church was made acquainted and brought into contact for the first time with the German Reformed Church of Pennsylvania."
George Michael Weiss' Coming.
What induced Rev. George Michael Weiss to come to Pennsylvania in 1727 ? W'as he invited to come ? If so, by whom, and where is the record of such invita- tion ? Or did he come of his own motion, willing "to take the chances" of finding a suitable field of labor ?
Could we know what passed on the ship William and Sarah, during ber voy- age from Rotterdam, via Dover, we should be vastly better prepared to answer the foregoing questions. Four hundred Pala - tines were on the vessel. Among them were Rev. George Michael Weiss, a regn- larly ordained minister of the Reformed denomination. a young, talented graduate from Heidelberg university. Of the other passengers were Sebastian Graff, Rudolph Wellecker, Johann Friderich Hilligass, Hans Michael Zimmerman, Hans Casper Spangler, Hans Georg Welecker, Alexan- der Duobendorfer. Hans Michel Diel. Daniel Levan, and possibly others, who afterwards became active members and officers in the various congregations of the Reformed Church in Pensylvania. It cannot be doubled that the young clergyman -- fresh, highly educated, with a bright intre before him-made strong
---
146
HISTORICAL NOTES.
and favorable impression upon these time was of engaging manner and com- emigrants. Did he know that the unor- panionable qualities ; and we know that dained Behm was performing all the Hillegass was a man of ample means and ministerial functions in Pennsylvania ? of forceful character. Nothing could be more natural, therefore, than that the young divine and the mature layman should be attracted to each other, and, ou warm Summer days, while standing upon the ship's deck looking ont upon the spark- ling waves, talk of their respective plans for the future. During these conferences, repeated many times on the long voyage. did they sometimes discuss the programi- tion of securing for Weiss the pastorate of Philadelphia -- Michael Hillegass and George Peter Hillgass being contel on as factors to influence such a consuma- tion ? Possibly, he had learned this at Heidel- berg before his departure from Germany. The other passengers would hardly be possessed of this knowledge. They were emigrants, going with their families and their possessions to a new country, to try the hazards of life in the mighty forests as vet peopled by savages and infested by wild beasts ; and it is little likely that they had definite information as to the status of the Reformed Church in their prospective home. Weiss seemingly knew the questionable manner of Bohm's as- sumption of the office of the ministry. Note how quickly after his arrival at Where shall we turn for answers to these questions? Shall we find them in the archives at Heidelberg ? among the descendants of Weiss' relatives in Germany ? or among the papers of the Hillegass descendants ? Philadelphia he went to Skippack and the other interior congregations and ac- quainted the people of Bohu's congre- gations with the faultiness of their pas- tor's title to the clerical office.
The accidental coming together of George Michael Weiss and John Frederick Hillegass as fellow-passengers upon this memorable voyage was fraught with no- mentous consequences. It is altogether improbable that Weiss and Hillegass knew each other before they entered the ship. At the place of Weiss' birth, the name Hillegass is unknown. They were thrown together just as now strangers are thrown together on ships crossing the Atlantic. And they contracted a friend- ship just as friendships are made now. That of Hillegass and Weiss proved to be one that lasted for life.
-
John Frederick Hillegass may have known something about the condition of the Reformed Church in Philadelphia. llis brothers, Michael Hillegass and George Peter Hillegass, lived there, and had established themselves as potters. In the correspondence between the broth- ers in Philadelphia and the brother about to follow them, did they make mention of the congregations in Pennsylvania, of Berlin, and of the need of more pastors" And did Hillegass communicate these facts to Weiss?
We cannot doubt that Weiss at that
Weiss in Philadelphia.
Rev. George Michael Weiss, pastor of the Reformed Church in Philadelphia. announced his willingness to take private pupils to teach them some of the higher branches of learning. lu the Philadel- phia American Weekly Mercury, in its issue for the week from Tuesday, February 3, to Tuesday, February 10, 1729-30 (i. e. 17:0) the following advertisement appears the first time:
This is to give notice, that the sub- scriber hereof, being desicons to be a generally usein as he can in this con- try, ( wherein he is a stranger), derlans his willingness to teach Logic. Natural Philosophy, Metaphysics, &c., to all sich as are willing to learn. The place of teaching will be at the Widow Spiegel's on Second Street, where he will attend, if he has encouragement, three times a week for that exercise. BY G. M.
Minister of the Reformer J'ulative Church.
In the same paper, for the issue cover- ing the period from Tuesday, February 10 to Thursday, February 1. 150-200
.
117
HISTORICAL NOTES.
the advertisement again appears, but the him-a year ago. The communion ser- signature is changed to "By G. Michael, Minister of the Reformed Palatine Church," and it so appears for Thursday, February 19, to Tuesday, February 24, 1729-30.
In the issue for Tuesday, March 3 to Thursday, March 5, 1729-30, the signa- ture is changed to "By G. Michael Weis, Minister," &c.
The advertisement appears for the last time in the isssue for Thursday, April 2, to Thursday, April 9, 1730.
Easter Communion.
At this season, the laggard church member makes his appearance, if at no other time during the year. He feels that he must not neglect his Church at this festival. Hle comes forth in his best raiment, accompanied by wife and chil- dren, all smiling and entirely content with themselves on this occasion of per- formance of religions duties. He looks over the congregation and notices with quiet satisfaction the presence of so many of the familiar faces of the church officers and the steady members. He misses with surprise a white-haired elder from his accustomed seat, or a devout lady he was won.c to see in her pew these many years past. A moment's thought recalls to his mind that the former was laid to rest the preceding Summer and the latter finished her work on earth months ago. It seems somewhat strange to him to find their places vacant, for without them the church seems not what it formerly was to him, nor what it ought to be now. Yes. it saddens him, and even discourages him, to note these changes in his church, and he feels half disposed to drop church altogether, seeing that it brings him im- pleasant thoughts like these.
vier at last is ended. The pastor an- bounces that now the offering will in gathered and in a few direct words re- minds the membership of their duty to give as the Lord has prospered them to the worthy object to which their gifts will lx applied. Our friend, at this stage, moves uneasily in his seat, for he had not given this feature of worship any thought be- fore entering the holy place. It cristal his mind instantly that churches and their ministers are always asking for money. Why need they be ever this causing him uneasiness? Is not the church out of debt-paid for by the lib- erality of the forefathers a hundred or more years ago ? And do not the present generous members of the congregation contribute enough to pay the pastor's salary, and the trifling expenses incident to running a church? Let the active, regular members contribute more for benevolence-they are accustomed to do so, and it seems to please them to give. However, here is a duty which the de- voted annual member feels obliged to face. He reaches down into his pocket-re- membering that he is not bound to give a fixed sum, in fact can give what he pleases, voluntarily-and draws forth that which the Bible has stamped with approval, his mite. The account between the annual member and his Maker is settled for another year. He will cour again, a year bence.
Reformed Church Literature.
Letters from Broos, Asia Minor, by Mrs. E. C. A. Schneider, with an Essay on the Prospects of the Heathen, and our Duties to Them, by Rev. B. Schuci- der, and an Introduction by Rov. E. Heiner, A. M., President of the F. B. of
Lis attention is soon diverted from these gloomy reflections. The later M. of the Reformed Church. Published by Rev. Samuel Cintelins, Chambersburg. the lier. Ref. Church, 1516. I'mo, ell pages, 12 full-page illustrations.
comers are now in their seats, and the solomu services proceed. The full, Pa. Printed at the Publication Office of round voice of the pastor is just the same; but the annual member thinks he dis- corns a few more streaks of gray in his Owned by Henry S. Potterer, Phila- hair than he did the last time he saw
delphia.
W
148
HISTORICAL NOTES.
William Dewees, Paper Maker.
Quite unexpectedly has come to light a manuscript in which saention is made of business transactions with William Dewees, paper maker, on the Wissahickon, as far back as the year 1710. It is the record of the personal accounts of Rev. Paulus Van Vleeq, Dutch Reformed minister in Pennsylvania. These business entries are scattered through the Church record of the congregations served by Van Vlecq. The transcript from the original has been made by Prof. Wm. J. Hinke, whose decipherings of antiquated manuscript may be dependel upon as unerringly accurate. We append the entries in the language of the original record, and add a translation :
Anno 1710 den 18 December aen Willem De Wees geleent 5 pondt light geht om in 't eerst van Mey anno 1711 weeder te geven : 5 : - : - :
Ontfangen 2 pondt ; shel. en 10% swaer gelt.
Anno 1710 Den 18 December aon
Pieter Van Hooren geleent
2 pondt & schel. 6g pons swaer
2: 8:63
geldt om in 't laest van
.
April weder te geven. Ontfangen van Willem de Wees 2 schel.
- : 2 :-
4 bock papier à 75 peux per bock A schel 6 pens an pastorius -: : 6
: 2 : 6
fijn papier 10 à 9 pens per bock -: 7 :6
5 boek papier à 6 pens per bock -: 2 :6
-: : : 12
5 boek papier à 72 pens per bock Dilbeeck debet voor een pzahn boek 2 schel.
an Willem de Wees over betack 2 schel : 10 pens.
P. : - : 6 : -
nogh 12 tinne lepels Rest van 't onde nogh 6 schel : 93 pens. TRANSLATION.
18th December, 1710, loaned William Dewees 5 pounds light ( paper?) money, to be returned on Ist of May, 1711 Received £2 7 10g in heavy money (coin ?) 18th December, 1710, loaned Peter Van Horn £2 8 6g heavy money, to be returned on the last of April.
£5 0 0
149
HISTORICAL NOTES.
Received from William
Dewees, 2 shillings 20
4 quires of paper @ 73d. ₺ quire 2 6
4 shilling 6 pence (paid) to Pastorius 4 G
fine paper 10 @ 9d. ₱ quire .. 2 6
5 quires of paper @ 6d. ? quire
.. 2 6
5 quires of paper @ 73d. ? , quire
.. 3 1}
Dilbeeck Debtor for one Psalm
Book, 2 shillings.
-
Paid over to William Dewees
2 shillings 10 pence.
also 12 tin (or pewter) spoons
£ . 6 0
Balance of the old 6 shillings 6 pence.
COMMENTS.
Here is an instance of a pastor who was in a position to lend his parishioners money. It will be found upon examination that, including the payment to Pastorius, (made no doubt by William Dewees for credit of Van Vlecq) the entire loan of Five Pounds was repaid by William Dewees. This is the only instance of sales of paper by Dewees that has come to our notice. The concluding items relating to William Dewees must remain unexplained.
How the Huguenots of Bearn were Converted.
Foucault led his troops from town to town, from village to village. They entered every place with drawn swords. They were billeted upon the Protestants alone. They lived at free quarters and committed the most inhuman actions that brutality, fury and rage can inspire when granted full license. Foucault bade them to prevent those who refused to yield to other means of torture from falling asleep. The beating of drums, loud cries and oaths, the breaking and hurling about of furniture, were customary means of keeping the Huguenots awake. If these annoyances did not suffice, the soldiers compelled their hosts to stand, or to move continually from room to room. They pinched them, they prodded them. they hung them up by ropes, they blew the smoke of tobacco into thei" nostrils, they tormented them in a hundred other ways, until their unhappy victims scarcely knew what they were doing, and promised whatever was exacted of them.
They committed unspeakable acts of indecency. They spat in the faces of women, made them lie down on burning coals, made them put their heads into ovens whose hot fumes stifled them. So writes Benoist. with much more to the same effect. -HENRY M. BAIRD.
150
HISTORICAL NOTES. History of the Reiff Case.
BY PROF. W.M. J. HINKE.
II. THE COLLECTING TOUR OF WEISS AND REIFF IN EUROPE, 17:0-1732.
When Jacob Reiff went to Europe in the summer of 1730, it was neither the first nor the last time that he crossed the ocean. In 1727 he "went over there to fetch his relations" and incidentally ( which in reality was of far greater importance to us) to deliver to Rev. Wilhelmins of Rotterdam a petition which "was signed and subscribed by the church wardens or elders of both the said congregations of Philadelphia and Skippack setting forth the unhappy and necessitons condition of the said congregations and prayed the charitable donations of the said Classis." Through this petition, delivered to the authorities in Holland by Jacob Reiff, in 1727, the Dutch Church was made acquainted and brought into contact for the first time with the German Reformed Church of Pennsyl- vania. Thus far it has been thought that the petition of Badan, written in July, 1728, and laid before the Classis of Amsterdam on November 14. 1728, was the first step which brought the two churches together and was the beginning of a union which lasted for 64 years. A more thorough investigation, however, shows that the petition of Weiss, delivered by Jacob Reiff, preceded the other petition by a full year, and hence must be awarded the honor of being the first link in the chain which united the two churches. The personality and activity of Jacob Reiff gains new interest and importance for us by this interesting discovery. No matter what his faults or mistakes may have been, he stands as a prominent figure in the opening chapter of our history, a man by whose agency two continents were brought closer together.
The petition of the congregations of Weiss in 1727 was the herabl which prepared the way for his visit in 17:30. As a result "a collection was made in favor of the said congregations of the German Reformed Church of Philadelphia and Skippack to the amount of about 200 gnill- "Is." On his return to Pennsylvania Reiff was asked by Wilhelmins .to receive the money so collected for the use of the said congregations." but he refused absolutely to do so, as his honesty had been questioned. Reiff arrived in Philadelphia again on August 19, 1729, on the ship Mor- tonhouse. The petition. of Weiss in 1727 and the consequent collection in Holland were therefore the two steps that led to his journey in 17:0. The petition had another result. It influenced Rev. Wilhelmins. the President of the Synod of South Holland, at its meeting at Breda in 17:0. to read a lengthy report on the Pennsylvania churches, based on the in- formation he had thus received. This made the church at large acquaint- ed with the pitiable condition of the German Reformed people in Penn- sylvania, and when their two representatives appeared, they were everywhere received with open arms and open pocket-books. The time
151
HISTORICAL NOTES.
of their arrival must have been the beginning of August, 1730. There is no evidence that they attended the Synod of Breda, held July 4-14, 1730, for their names do not occur in the minutes. We first meet them at Haarlem on August 10, where they received of Rev. Jacob Geelkerke f1. 390 from the Synod of North Holland. A few days later, on AAngust 15 and 16, they were at Rotterdam, where Rev. Tiele gave them the con- tributions of the Synod of South Holland, held at Keulenburg in 1729, in all 11. 696 12, and Rey. Barth. Van Velse gave the contributions of the Synod, just held at Breda, namely, fl. 79. At the same time they ap- peared before the Synodical Deputies, whose minutes give us the following interesting information:
"1. The Deputies of the Synods have requested the Rev. Classis of Schieland to appoint some of her members, to make further inquiries, in accordance with the resolution of the Rev. Synod of South Holland, hell at Breda, about the report concerning the churches in Pennsylvania, which had been presented to the Synod. They hear with much satisfaction from the mouth of the President, Rev. Wilhelmnius, that a good opportunity will be afforded to do this, because Rev. George Michael Weitzius, minis- ter at Philadelphia, and an older of that congregation are at present in Rotterdam.
42. Who having been interviewed at length by the Deputies about the condition of the church and the contents of the memorial, presented before Synod, it was resolved to further discuss the matter with them to- morrow at the house of Rov. Wilhelmius.
"3. Having met here the above mentioned Rev. Weitzius.
(a) presented to the Deputies his certificate of examination and the commission given to him by the Upper Consistory at Heidelberg, dated May 1, 1727, and renewed by the said Consistory on April 26, 1728.
(b) He gave an account of the large number of Reformed people in Pennsylvania, who hitherto have been served by him alone and by a certain Philip Böhm, who has set himself up as a teacher, although being without education and having no proper call, but who through wrong information was examined, it seems, and admitted to the ministry by one of the ministers of New Netherland, upon the order of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, about which the congregation at Philadelphia and at Skip- pack have written a letter to the Classis, dated May 30, 1730, signed by forty-four persons, requesting that the above mentioned Bochum might not be forced upon them as their minister.
(c) He accepted the request to prepare a chart, showing the different colonies of Palatines, the distances of one from the other, and how many churches ought to be built there for their service, and how many shepherds or teachers would be necessary to serve them properly, and further he agreed to give a detailed written account concerning the whole condition of the land and the Palatines living therein."
,
152
HISTORICAL NOTES.
This account was presented to the Deputies shortly after their sep- tember meeting of 1780, and no doubt formed the basis of the first printed account of our Church, published by order of the Syuod of Dort in 1731. It is entitled:
"Berigt | en | Onderrigtige | nopens en aan de Colonie [ en Kerke | van Pensylvanien. | Opgestelt en mijtgegeven door de Gedeputeerden van [ de E. Christelyke Synodus van Zuid-Holland | , benevens de Gecom- mitteerden van de | E. Classis van Delft en Delfland [en Schieland." [ pp. I & 18, small quarto.
This is in English:
Report and Instructions, concerning and for the colony and church of Pennsylvania. Prepared and published by the Deputies of the Rev. Christian Synod of South Holland, together with the Commissioners of the Rev. Classis of Delft, Delfsland and Schieland.
On September 4, 1730, Weiss and Reiff were at AAmsterdam. where they appeared before the Classis. The minutes of that meeting inform us that
"Do. G. Mich. Wijs, minister at Philadelphia, appeared with all elder of Schibach and made known that the congregation at Schibach, from which also a letter has been received, is very much disturbed and in great confusion, because the congregation refuses to recognize Do. Ichm as a properly ordained minister, who has been installed as their pastor, in accordance with the order of this Classis, by the ministers of New York. which can be seen in the Acts of January 11, 1729. His Reverence re- quested this Classis to take such measures as would restore the peace of the congregation. Whereupon the Deputies for foreign affairs were asked to investigate this matter carefully and present their recommendations to this body. "
"Further His Reverence requested a contribution to build a chance at Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, which congregation is recommended to the charity of all the congregations under the jurisdiction of this Classis."
In the light of these reports, made by Weiss to the authorities in Holland, the charge of Bothin is fully substantiated, that Weiss was not sincere in his attitude towards him. He was neither fully reconciled to Bochum nor did he recognize his ministry, but used every opportunity to injure a man who was every inch as good as he, and moreover rendered the Reformed Church far more important and valuable services than Weiss ever did.
The two travellers remained in Amsterdam for several months. On October 18, 1780, the burgomasters of the city permitted them to collect 11. 600 ( see the permit in Historical Notes, Volume I. page (). while on the next day the Amsterdam Consistory voted them fl. 150, and on October 20 the diaconato gave fl. 600. The official list of the contributions. as contained in the minutes of the Synodical Deputies is as follows: (ht differs in some details from the copy sent to Pennsylvania, which was
153
HISTORICAL NOTES.
published by Prof. J. H. Dubbs in the Reformed Church Review of 1893, p. 68 f. ) Guild 78.
1. Barth. Van Velse, minister at Rotterdam, has given by the order of the Synod of South Holland, held at Breda,
2. Alardus Tiele, minister at Rotterdam, by order of the Rev. Synod of South Holland, held last year, 1729, at Cuylenburg, has given on August 16, 1780,
696 12
3. Jacob Geelkerke, minister at Haarlem, by order of the Synod of North Holland, has given at Haarlem on August 10, 1730,
390 -
4. The Consistory at Amsterdam gave on October 19, 1730, through John Visscher, pro tem. President of Synod,
150 -
5. The Diaconate of the true Reformed Church at this city gave towards the same object on October 20, 1730. through the deacon Win. Coevenhoven,
P. S. Contributions of private persons in Holland.
Guilders.
1730, October 26. A. B. gave cash, 1730, November 2. D. S. gave cash, 20 -
1730, November 2. G. Corven, P. R.,
40
-
31
Total, 11. 2132 12
Besides this there was collected at Frankfort-on-the-Main:
1. [Of the Dutch Ref. congr. at Frankfort ]
40 -
2. [Of the French Ref. church at Frankfort]
20
3. fOf the French Ref. church at Hanau] 12 -
4. [Of the Low Dutch church at Hanau]
4 -
C. C. Van Asten sent 750 Dutch guilders by draft to Frankfort.
(The words in brackets are taken from another source. )
The last reference to the presence of Weiss in Holland is found in the minutes of the Classis of The Hague, which refer under date November 6, 1730, to a Latin letter of Rey. Weiss to the Classis, asking for their help and encouragement. Dr. Good has inferred ( History of the Reformer Church, p. 142) from the minutes of the Deputies, that Weiss and Reiff were again present on March 16, 1731, but it is doubtful whether that inference is justified by the minutes. They only state: "The Deputies have learned from letters and oral reports of Rer. Weys and his older. having come over hither, etc." (herwaarts overgekomen). The last phrase refers more probably to their trip across the ocean. The proposi- tion "over" implies an obstacle that was overcome and could hardly be used of a journey on land.
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