History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 22

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 22

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"In 1642, six years after their arrival, Col. John Printz, of the Swedishi army, was sent over as Gov- ernor of the colony. His instructions, dated Stock- holm, Aug. 15, 1642, contain twenty-eight articles, embracing his duties,-first, in relation to the Swedes; secondly, to the Europeans living in the vicinity ; and thirdly, to the Indians. With respect to these latter, the Governor was directed to confirm, immediately after his arrival, the treaty with them, by which they had conveyed to the Swedes the western shore of the

Delaware from Cape Henlopen to the Falls of San- hickan, since called Trenton, and as much inland as gradually should be wanted. Also to ratify the bar- gain for land on the east side, and in these and future purchases to regard them as the rightful owners of the country.

" He was to treat all the neighboring tribes in the most equitable and humane manner, so that no injury, by violence or otherwise, should be done to them by any of his people. He had also in charge to accom- plish, as far as practicable, the embracing of Chris- tianity by them, and their adoption of the manners and customs of civilized life.

"He was accompanied by Rev. John Campanius as chaplain of the colony. In 1653, Governor Printz was succeeded by Governor John Claudius Rising, who soon after invited ten of the leading Indian chiefs to a friendly conference. It was held at Tini- cum on the 17th of June, 1654.

"He saluted them in the name of the Swedish queen, with assurances of her favor, put them in mind of the purchase of lands already made, and re- quested a continuation of their friendship. He dis- tributed various presents among them, and gave a good entertainment to them and their company. They were much pleased, and assured him of a faith- ful affection.

"One of the chiefs, Naaman, made a speech, during which he remarked that ' the Swedes and the Indians had been as one body and one heart, and that thenceforward they should be as one head,' at the same time making a motion as if he were tying a strong knot, and then made this comparison, 'that as the calabash was round without any crack, so they should be a compact body without any fissure.'

" Campanius represents the Indians as having been frequent visitors at his grandfather's house in Dela- ware County, which gave him an opportunity of studying their language, in which he became quite proficient.

" In the conversations he had there with them he succeeded in impressing upon their minds the great truths of Christianity and awakening a deep interest among them, hence his translation of Luther's Cate- chism.

" They attached great valne to this act, as evincing a deeper interest in their welfare than that indicated by mere lip-service, and it thenceforward proved a bond of union, binding them in acts of devotion and fealty to the Swedes.

" The Swedes gave the great and good Penn a most cordial welcome, and the benefit of their influence and experience, for which he was truly grateful, and which he kindly acknowledged in a letter to his friends at home in 1683.1

"This society does itself credit in thus lionoring

1 He interceded in their bebalf with the Swedish ambassador at Lon- don for Swedish books and ministers.

THE FIRST SWEDISH SETTLEMENTS.

the memory of a people who were among the earliest to locate in this vicinity, and who established regu- lations and usages that have exercised a refining and elevating influence in shaping the morals and habits of the community around us. I thank you for the opportunity of saying thus much in their behalf."

NOTE .- The Fatherland has never lost sight of the Swedes in the Schuyl- kill Valley. As late as 1876, during the Centennial period, the blood royal of the home government, accompanied by a large number of dis- tinguished guests and citizens, paid a visit to the " Merion Swedes1 Church." The event took place Sunday, the 2d of July of that year. The appearance of the royal party, nearly all of whom were dressed in uniform, seated in the sombre old church, was a novel aight. The prince occupied a front pew and was the magnet of observation. He waa a boyish-looking lad, yet possessing a free and unassuming manner. Among his retinue were intelligent-looking faces and fine specimens of well-developed manhood. The party consisted of the following distin- guished persons: Prince Oscar, Duke of Gottland, second son of the King of Sweden ; Count Frederick Posse, Royal Swedish Commissioner for the Machinery Department; Le Comte C. Lewenhaupt, Envoy Ex- traordinaire and Minister Plenipotentiaire of Sweden and Norway; Baron M. D. Ruuth, Royal Swedish Navy Executive officer H.M.S. "Norrkoping"; Baron O. IIermelin, Commissioner for the Fine Art De- partment; and many other notables from the Swedish Commission. The occasion was memorable, and the following extract from the address of the Rev. O. Perinchief forma an eventful chapter in the history of the day :

"The best thing Europe had in it four or five hundred years ago was a deep satisfaction with everything as it was in church or state. The best particular thing was the Bible, hidden away, to be sure, but here and there mighty minds that dared all difficulties to get at it and other books of thought and learning, not only of the ancient timea but of the outside nations. A new life began in a whole continent. Thousands of men and women felt they were men and women, and weut out to tell it to all trihes in all tongues. What we call the Reformation began. That reformation was in opening sealed books, in independent thought, in new ideas. One of these ideas was that of Columbus, who conceived that over here was another world. At last he found it. That simple discovery in itself lent a wonderful impulse to everything in Europe. The news set the nationa wild. Italy had furnished the man, and Spain had furnished the means. A new world was discovered. Whose world was it? Not Spain's, not Italy's. God knew it was here. lle had kept it for the nurture of all things old or uew that were already good, and for the production of all things that were in any way better. But though a new continent was discovered a new nation was not born. The work of discovery was only begun. Spain, England, Holland, France, all had their ships abroad to find out what the new world was. As each nation discovered, ao each claimed the territory discovered. Nearly a century had passed before any attempt was made to settle the laud with Europeans,-Spain in the south, the French in the north, England and Holland in the middle territories. At last each of all these hecame suc- cessful, and Europe was transplanted in America. All nations took stock in the new venture, and from that ilay to this every American has been more or less a foreigner, and every foreigner who has been a true man, and in bis nationality seeking the good of the human race, has been more or less an American. Weall began, and from that day to this we all stand upon our own and greet each other as brothers. Vast is our debt to England, to Germany, to all Europe, but in particular we who are here to-day are more directly indebted to Sweden. In 1631, or from that to 1638, a colony of Swedes landed and settled upon this side of the Delaware, at or below the placo where now stands the city of Wilming- ton. There is aome uncertainty about the date. The probability is that attempts bad been made, or partial settlements, having for their object the necessary investigation preparatory to a permanent occupation, which at least did take effect in 1637 or '38. At any rate, we know the great Gustavus Adolphus had contemplated the enterprise for many years. The great struggle between Romanism and Protestantism was then at its bitterest, and the hope and purpose of founding here a Prot- estant colony entered largely into the enterprise. But with this was com- bined the evangelization of the Indians, and, more than all, the estab- lishment of the people-good, honest Swedes-in comfortable homes, upon lands they could look at and call their own. The persons who came over in that colouy were of two classes,-a small class of govern- ment officials to administer order and, as occasion occurred, watch

their own individual chances, but a large class of soher and industrious people truly seeking a home. It sometimes happened that persons were sent over partly as banishment and partly in hope of reform; but the people not only of this but of sister colonies sent them back, for they were always worse than useless. Though bound to hard labor, it was a aort of slave labor, and the freemen would rather do their own work, because they could do it better and because they abhorred slavery. These settlers bought their lands from the Indians, and in later times erected substantial homes. Nearly all the men were husbandmen. They saw their wealth in the soil. Up to 1700 the colony had grown to over a thousand, though they had been subjected to bitter discour- agement and sad vicissitudes. But their prosperity had not been ac- complished without great care and generosity on the part of their brethren at home. At the very outset the settlers were provided with ministers of the gospel-pious and learned men-to teach and admon- ish the people, and to preserve the spiritual privileges they had enjoyed in their native land. Theae ministera were supported by the funds of the mother-country. The colony was supplied with Bibles, catechisms, and books. On one single occasion ministers were sent, bearing books in plentiful supply, and encouraged by a dooation of three thousand dollars from Charles XII.

" The Swedes were reminded of the Indians around them, and ' Luther's Catechism' was translated into the Indian dialect at least aa soon, and perhaps sooner, than the corresponding work of Eliot in regious farther north. The fault of these Swedes, if it may be permitted to speak of such a thing to-day, was a want of unity in purpose and harmony in action. Their plans lacked breadth and unaelfishness. They looked a little ahead or not at all. Before their children they set no greatoess, and made little provision for its creation. In narrowed endeavors to save they very frequently lost, and left us, instead of property and rich advantages, a legacy of sad reflection aud bitter regrets. In the nature of things the settlement spread on the other side of the river in New Jersey, and on this side of the Delaware and along the Schuylkill. The first settlement in this immediate neighborhood was in 1702. At that time the nearest church was at Wicaco, now Glora Dei, in Philadelphia. Gradually their numbers thickened, and in a few years we begin to hear of requesta for occasional services up here. In 1733 a lot was given and a house built for the double purpose of school and church. Upon the very ground within the present stone walls which inclose our yard a wooden building was constructed, though we know that prior to 1733 the grounds had been used as a place of burial. No atated minister living nearer than Philadelphia, both religious and educational matters languished until 1759, when there arrived from Sweden a very remark- able man, whose memory is still green and deserves to be richly cherished, Dr. Charles M. Van Mangel. Under bim our church herer this very structure, was built in 1760, making this present its one bun- dred and sixteenth anniversary. The date '1760' was engraved on its walls, and stands there to-day. In 1765 a charter was obtained from the Proprietary government of John Penn, then at the head of affairs. The churches lying within the territorial limits of Pennsylvania were incor- porated under the name of the ' United Swedish Lutheran Churches of Wicaco, Kingsessing, and Upper Merion.' This charter continued until 1787, when the new state of things consequent upon the American Revo- Intion remlered it needful to obtain a charter from the State government of Pennsylvania. The new charter was substantially the same as that of 1765, except that it gave the people the right to elect their own min- ister, and provided for the formal ending of the Swedish mission. Thus closed the long interval of nursing care which established us here as a church, which through many years must have exerted a vast influence in shaping the destiny of this commonwealth and nation ; a period marked by noble generosity, by many sacrifices, enshrined by many holy and ex- emplary lives ; a period which left us stewards invested with no slight responsibility. The two churches (Kingses-ing and Upper Merion) con- tinned with Wicaco until 1842, when each church obtained for itself a separate and independent charter. The other two churches passed into communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church. We remained, as we still remain, a separate organization, heir to all the traditions, in- vestel, too, perhaps in that very fact, with the great responsibility, a witness still of a faith and kindness which never slumbered, a monu- ment of labor which blessed our fathers, etill blesses us, aud which we believe will go on to bless our children. For it all we lift up our hearts and praise God, who made man of one blood. We greet our brethren to- day from that Fatherland, and thank them, and through them the people to whom they belong, and assure them that of whatever things among us their ears may hear or their eyes behold, which at the same time their hearta approve, they have had their part in producing, and that this day as a people we would not be a selfish people taking credit to

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ourselves, but gratefully acknowledging our debt, and prayiag God to return the blessing a thousandfold upon their own people, asking in turn their prayers that we and the whole aation may be faithful in every trust, that we have freely received we may freely give, until all nations, kindreds, tribes, and tongnes be gathered into one grand king- dom, under one king, the common Redeemer and Saviour of all."

CHAPTER VI.

WILLIAM PENN .- "THE HOLY EXPERIMENT, A FREE COLONY FOR ALL MANKIND."

THE life, character, and purposes of William Penn, as disclosed prior to the period of his colonial enter- prise, rendered him a conspicuous personage in his native land. In his minority neither royal power nor parental displeasure could swerve him from or mate- rially modify his religious, political, or social convic- tions of duty. Self-poised and self-reliant, a disciple of peace and peaceful methods, he was in strange con- trast with the warlike spirit of the age that produced him. The young and those of maturer years may study his example and the circumstances of his ad- vent with manifest advantage. As the founder of Pennsylvania and the author of that system of colo- nial government which prevailed previous to the in- stitution of the commonwealth, his life and public services are a part of our common history. The im- press which he left upon the laws and the religious thought of the period, his love of personal liberty, his solicitude for the education of the poor, and his abiding faith in the wisdom of the " freemen of the province" were essential factors in preparing the pub- lic mind for the simple yet adequate forms of self-gov- ernment which he imposed in the organization of the colony. A pleasing sense of home-esteem insensibly associates itself with the memory of the illustrious man who gave to his generation characteristics that have made us Pennsylvanians in all generations since, whether at home or abroad. His boyhood was remarkable. He was born Oct. 14, 1644, in the city of London. His biographer says, " He was endowed with a good genius, and his father, Admiral and Sir William Penn,1 improved the promising prospect which the son inherited by bestowing upon him the advantages of a liberal education. He acquired knowl- edge easily and rapidly, and in the fifteenth year of his age he was admitted a student in Christ's Church College, in Oxford. Prior to his admission to this in- stitution of learning he seems to have been impressed

1 His father, Sir William Penn, was of eminent character, and served both under the Parliament and King Charles II. in several of the high- est maritime offices. He was born in Bristol, anno 1621, and married Margaret, daughter of John Jasper, of Rotterdam, in Holland, merchaat, by whom he had his son, William Penn. He was himself the son of Capt. Giles Penn, several years consul for the English in the Mediterra- neaa; and of the l'enns of Penn's Lodge, in the county of Wilts; and those Peans of Pean, in the county of Backs; end by his mother from the Gilberts, in the county of Somerset, originally from Yorkshire .- Proud, Hist. of Penna., vol. i.

with religious convictions, induced by the ministry of Thomas Loe, a preacher of the Friends. Imparting his views to his classmates, he found among them con- genial and sympathizing spirits, who withdrew from the "national way of worship," and "held private meetings for the exercise of religion, where they preached and prayed among themselves." This bold innovation upon the forms of state church by the young Quakers, as they were derisively called, gave marked offense to the professors of the university, and young Penn was subjected to a fine for " non-conform- ity," and, later, " for his persevering in like religious practices, was expelled from the college."2 Young Penn returned to his home, greatly to the displeasure of his father, who regarded the expulsion of his son as a serious hindrance to the future career of wealth and influence in store for him, Still further compli- cating the situation, the son sought the society of the plain and sober people among the Friends, and mani- fested an utter disregard of and contempt for the con- ventional formalities to which his father was devoted, both by inclination and interest. His father sought in all proper ways to engage the confidence of the son and guide him in the way of public preferment, but all to no purpose ; " for, after having used both the force of persuasion upon his mind and the severity of stripes upon his body without success, he at length was so far incensed against him that, in great resent- ment of rage, he turned him out of his house," to choose between poverty with a pure conscience or for- tune and official favor with obedience.

The virtue of patience, already possessed by the son, enabled him to calmly wait for the hour when the petulance and anger of a disappointed father would yield to the more natural feeling of parental love and affection. Results justified the expectation. The father relented, and the son was sent to France, in company with friends, who were to introduce him to persons of rank and distinction, and at the same time use all means in their power to break up the Quaker notions of the young man. While in France he applied himself to study, and acquired a knowl- edge of the French language. He subsequently vis- ited Italy, and was preparing for an extended tour of the Continent when his father was placed in com- mand of a British squadron in the naval war with Holland, in consequence of which he was obliged to return in haste and assume the care of his father's estates. The advantages of travel, and the discipline of the courtly society in which he was constrained to move gave him elegance and grace of manners, and " in London the traveled student of Lincoln's Inn, if diligent in acquiring a knowledge of English law, was also esteemed a most modish fine gentleman."

This was a critical period in the early career of William Penn. He was in the bloom of youth, of engaging manners, and "so skilled in the use of the

2 Prond, Hist. of Penne., vol. i. p. 23.

wmerlin

WILLIAM PENN.

sword that he easily disarmed an antagonist," of great natural vivacity and gay good humor, and a career of wealth and preferment waiting his acceptance through the influence of his father and the favor of his sovereign. It was in 1664, when Penn was in his twentieth year, that his spiritual conflict or religious exercise of mind seems to have reached a climax. " His natural inclination, his lively and active dis- position, his accomplishments, his father's favor, the respect of his friends and acquaintances did strongly press him to embrace the glory and pleasures of this world, but his earnest supplication being to the Al- mighty for preservation, he was in due time favored with resolution and ability to overcome all opposition and to pursne his religious prospects." It was a happy providence in the life of Penn when, in the twenty-second year of his age, his father committed to his care and management a large estate in Ireland. It withdrew him from the temptations of a great com- mercial centre, and gave him the freedom of a pas- toral life, which quickened the spiritual sensibilities of lis nature. It opened anew visions of a future, which, however obscure and uncertain, was, never- theless, the hope of his benevolent soul. Removed from the conventional atmosphere of London, the watchful eye of parental solicitude and official favor, the struggle between conviction to self-imposed duty and obligations to friends and family became less se- vere, and he soon found himself in the society of his old spiritual guide and adviser, Thomas Loe, at Cork. He was in frequent attendance upon Friends' meet- ing in the town of Cork. Freedom of speech was indulged in, and this religious liberty, so consistent with the ideas of the Friends, was warmly espoused by the young and ardent Penn. These frequent meet- ings excited the hostile feelings of those in authority, and in the year 1667, Penn, with eighteen others, was arrested, and by the mayor of the city committed to prison. Upon the hearing the mayor observed that the dress of Penn was not the same as the other " Quakers," whereupon he directed that Penn should be discharged upon giving his own bond for his future good behavior. This Penn promptly refused to do, and with the others suffered imprisonment. While in jail he wrote to the Earl of Orrey, Lord President of Munster, stating his situation, declaring his inno- cence, and protesting against the outrage and perse- cution suffered by himself and friends. The earl immediately ordered his discharge from prison. Concealing with admirable tact his feelings of natural indignation, he became more than ever pronounced in his favor for the persecuted "Quakers." Those who had been his former friends now avoided him, and, as is said, " he became a by-word and the subject of scorn and contempt, both to the professor of re- ligion and to the profane." The facts and circum- stances of this episode were reported to his father, who immediately recalled him to London. The son was obedient, aud manifested a profound respect for

his honored and distinguished parent, but his studi- ous deportment and deep concern of mind upon the subject of religious controversy left no room to doubt the unalterable convictions resting upon his mind.

"Here my pen," says his biographer, "is diffident of her abilities to describe that most pathetic and moving contest between his father. and him,-his father, by natural love, principally aiming at his son's temporal honor ; he, guided by a divine impulse, having chiefly in view his own eternal welfare; his father grieved to see the well-accomplished son of his hope, now ripe for worldly promotion, voluntarily turn his back on it; he no less afflicted to think that a compliance with his earthly father's pleasure was in- consistent with an obedience to his heavenly one ; his father pressing his conformity to the customs and fashions of the times ; he modestly craving leave to refrain from what would hurt his conscience; his father earnestly entreating him and, almost on his knees, beseeching him to yield to his desire ; he, of a loving and tender disposition, in extreme agony of spirit to behold his father's concern and trouble; his father threatening to disinherit him ; he humbly sub- mitting to his father's will therein ; his father turn- ing his back on him in anger ; he lifting his heart to God for strength to support him in that time of trial."

During this memorable conflict between the pas- siou of love and the mandates of duty, which scarcely finds a parallel in history, the following incident oc- curred, which fully attested the sincerity of the son, no less than the commanding character of the parent : " His father finding him too fixed to be brought to a general compliance with the customary compliments of the times, seemed willing to bear with him in other respects, provided he would be uncovered in the presence of the king, the duke, and himself. This being proposed, the son desired time to consider it. This the father supposed to be an excuse to find time to consult with his Quaker friends ; to prevent this he directed him to retire to his chamber and there remain until he should answer Accordingly he withdrew, and having humbled himself before God, with fasting and supplication, he became so strength- ened in his resolution that, returning to his father, he humbly signified that he could not comply with his desire therein." All efforts to reach a compro- mising line of conduct between the haughty and commanding father and the remarkable son proved unavailing, and again the latter was " turned out of doors, having no substance except what his mother pri- vately sent him." While Admiral Penn keenly felt the disappointment resulting from the conduct of his only son, he seems to have been duly impressed with his perseverance and integrity of purpose, and in a few months thereafter, in deference to the wise and loving wife and mother, the son was permitted to re- turn and remain at home; and when he was subse- quently imprisoned, the father privately used his influence for his liberation.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 22

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534