History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 236

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 236

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The Rev. J. Albert C. Helffenstein succeeded to the pastorate. His first church record in the church register was made April 21, 1808, and his ministry extended over a period of two years and ten monthis. The Goshenhoppen charge was his first field of labor, he having been a licentiate fresh from his studies. Being a young man and somewhat inexperienced, as well as wholly unused to the ways of a rural people, he found himself ill at ease in his work here. Be- sides, the English language was his vernacular, which he was obliged to lay aside entirely among this peo-

ple. Believing that a more congenial field had opened for him, and fully persuaded, too, that another shepherd could be chosen who might prove more efficient in this charge, he left for Carlisle, Pa.

When Pastor Helffenstein left Goshenhoppen, in 181I, the choice.of a successor fell at once upon Pas- tor Frederick Wilhelm Von der Sloot, Jr. The remembrance of the father, no doubt, contributed much towards the selection of the son. His father and grandfather having been men of liberal education, Frederick Wilhelm enjoyed many advantages over others in his own country. He had been prepared with a view of entering the legal profession, and it seems he had actually entered upon the active prac- tice of his chosen calling for a few years prior to his emigration, which was in 1801. Coming thence to Philadelphia and Easton in search of his father, who had preceded him to America, he fell in with a farmer from Allen township, Northampton Co., who con- ducted him to the parsonage which the older Von der Sloot occupied. The meeting of father and son proved, in a measure, the narrative of the parable of the Prodigal Son over again. The elder exclaimed,

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UPPER HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

"This is my only beloved son from Germany!" The stepmother said, " And a fine-looking son he is." He remained with his father and prepared himself for the ministry. Later he visited the charge at Goshen- hoppen, preached trial-sermons in the several pulpits, received and accepted a call and entered upon his duties in this locality in 1812-13. He served in the charge for a period of five years, supplying the Re- formed congregation at Trappe, Montgomery Co., in addition to his regular duties.

By an inscrutable Providence, the younger Pastor Faher was led to follow still further in the foot-prints of the elder Faber. Both father and son had com- menced their pastoral life among this people, and both had been called to separate charges, the one to Lancaster City, the other to Lancaster County, and so, too, had it been ordained that both should again be recalled to and end their histories among. this people. When Pastor Von der Sloot had vacated the field, the minds of a large majority of the mem- bership in his congregation favored the recalling of their former pastor. It was during this election of pastor that the Reformed congregation of Okdl Goshenhoppen became dissatisfied and severed its connection of eighty years' standing with the other churches of this charge. Its pulpit was supplied by the pastor over the charge in Falconer Swamp until the death of Pastor Faber, when it became identified as a factor in that pastoral charge. The congregation at Upper Milford was substituted in its room in Pastor Faber's fiekl on the 22d day of October, 1820, and remained a part of his field to the close of liis life. He entered upon the discharge of his duties on the 3d day of June, 1819, and continued his second pastorate over thirteen years, both periods swelling it to twenty-nine. His field of labor was still the same, though its complexion had vastly changed. The old house at the parsonage had been removed and a new two-storied stone building erected in its stead under Pastor Helffenstein. The few who remained of his father's time at the close of his first term had ended their days, and the companions of his youth and early ministry had become aged like himself. He was no longer " young " Faber, but "Father " Faber rather, and in his own mind he determined that, as he had been young and old in this field, his bones should lay beside the dust of his father, if it pleased God. Pas- tor Faber's history, like that. of his sainted father, came suddenly and solemnly to a close. While in the middle of a funeral discourse he was taken suddenly ill and sank away. It was just forty-five years later than the time his father had received his final call to the eternal world. He lingered a few days, his death occurring on the 16th day of February, 1833. The congregation decided to lay his remains beside the dust of his father within the chancel. When the repairing of the second church was being carried forward, the pastor had the unpretending mark of Pastor Faber's tomb supplanted by an entablature.

Thus did the tombs of the two Fabers, under the right and left sides of the pulpit, seem as pillars. In the erection of the third church these sacred spots fell without the walls. The temple now standing excels all its predecessors, it is true, but the glory which these tombs conferred on the former the latter has not.

The next pastor over this charge was the Rev. Daniel Weiser, the youngest child of eleven born to Conrad and Barbara Weiser. In his youthful years he was employed as clerk in the service of his brother Conrad at Beavertown, Snyder Co., Pa. In his four- teenth year he enlisted as a volunteer in Nerr Mid- (llesworth's company and served in the war of I812 for four months, after which he was discharged, the war having ended. For this act of youthful patriotism he was rewarded with one hundred and sixty acres of land in 1861, and a pension of twelve dollars per month in 1871 to the day of his death. ITis trade was that of a nailsmith during his first manhood. In his twenty-second year he commenced the study of the- ology under the Rev. James R. Riley, of Hagers- town, Md. He subsequently continued and com- pleted his course under the Rev. Heury Yost Fries, of Mifflinsburg, Pa. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 1822 and ordained by the Synod in 1823. His first charge was composed of three congregations, located around Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., Pa., which subsequently embraced fourteen stations. Here he labored ten years. During this part of his ministry he married Lydia Ruth, of Milton, who died seven months later of yellow fever. Several years later he married Caroline Boyer, of Norristown, Pa. In 1833 he succeeded as pastor over the New Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp charge, over which he ministered as an active pastor for thirty years, serving during the last twelve years as superintendant of the Infant Sun- (lay-school, occasional assistant to his son and tem- porary supply in vacant fields. Pastor Weiser con- tinned healthy and vigorous to the last. On the 22d day of November, 1875, after complaining of a cold for several days, he was stricken with paralysis. After lingering for ten days, with conselousand unconscious intervals, he died December 2d, at the age of seventy- six years. He was buried on December 9th, at the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, amid many of his former members and friends. But two children sur- vive him, a son and a daughter, Pastor Weiser had served but two charges during a ministerial life of fifty-two years. His first field embraced the church in which he had been baptized by the Lutheran pastor, Iasensky, and subsequently confirmed by the Reformed pastor, Isaac Gerhart. He was a self-made man, and for a man in his circumstances, or of his opportuni- ties, we would pronounce him well-made. Franklin and Marshall College conferred the title of Doctor of Divinity upon him during the evening of his life.

Pastor Daniel Weiser had often said the next evil to a pastorate too brief seemed to him to be a pastor-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ate too long. As little as he approved of itinerating, 80 little did he favor the outliving of one's day. Ae- cordingly, after labering diligently and successfully through thirty years, his son was called to his side as assistant pastor, April, 1862. The younger Weiser had been serving his novitiate pastorate in and around Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., Pa., his native place, as it had likewise beeu the birth-place of the father, as well as his maiden field. On the 2d day of November, 1863, the Rev. C. Z. Weiser was elected pastor-in- chief of the Goshenhoppen charge by a literally unanimous vote. Thus for the third time in the his- tory of this charge had father and son worn the same mantle in the same field,-the Von der Sloots, the Fabers and the Weisers. On the 21st day of August the installation services were held in the Great Swamp Church, the brethren Revs. A. J. G. Dubbs, R. A. Van Court and P. S. Fisher having been appointed the committee by Goshenhoppen Classis to attend to this duty. After a term of service, extending over twenty years, the present pastor has reason to be thankful for having had the labor of his heart and hand so largely blessed. The number of the several flocks has constantly increased by fair accessions, the guests at the altar now numbering near one thousand souls. He attributes the steady and healthy growth of the field, under God, to the long line of properly- equipped and very worthy pastors before or back of himself. In comparing the condition of the church to-day with that of more than a century ago striking contrasts are noticed. One hundred and fifty years ago Pastor Goetschy served in a diocese which ex- tended from Skippaek to Tulpehocken, from Goshen- hoppen as his centre. Many laborers have entered the field, whilst New Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp have sustained their own shepherd exclusively since the advent of Pastor Daniel Weiser, in 1833. We doubt whether the whole territory numbered as many communieants as now surround the altar at New Goshenhoppen.

The church at New Goshenhoppen is a large brick edifice, built in the year 1857. It is one of the largest and most.showy churches to be found outside of the cities and is the third church built at this place.

REV. CLEMENT Z. WEISER, D. D .- Dr. Weiser, the only survivor of three sons, was born in Union (now Snyder) County, Pa., which was also the na- tive place of his brother, the late Dr. Daniel Weiser. He is the fourth removed from the re- nowned and historical Conrad Weiser. He gradu- ated from old Marshall College in 1850, and then acted as German tutor, and .subsequently as co- principal over the preparatory department for two years after the removal of the college to Lancaster. Just twenty-five years after graduation Franklin and Marshall College conferred upon him the meritorious title of Doctor of Divinity. He was called to his native place as pastor, and so also was his father, it

being the first field of labor for both. Serving in this field as pastor from the time of his ordination, in 1855, he was calle l as an assistant to his father in Goshen- hoppen, Montgomery Co., where he has now lived seventeen years. A faet worthy of note is that Dr. Weiser began his pastoral duties where his father did, and closely followed in his footsteps, each serving but two charges. The charge he now holds has quite a history, and has on three different occasions been served by father and son,-first, by Pastors Vander- sloot, Sr. and Jr .; second, by Pastors John Theobald Faber, Sr. and Jr. ; third, by Dr. Weiser and his son. The congregations at Lancaster, Philadelphia and at several other points placed calls in the hands of Dr. Weiser for his consideration, but he invariably refused to leave his country parish. Here his spare time is zealously devoted to general literature and study. His pen is not idle, and whatever time is allowed him from his pastoral duties is used in the preparation of articles for the Messenger, Guardian, Hausfreund, Reformed Quarterly Review and . other publications. Among his literary productions is a " Life of Conrad Weiser." He also devotes much time to the aiding of churches and Sunday-schools by the delivery of lectures. Dr. Weiser stands high in the councils of his church, is much esteemed for his good qualities of mind and heart by his brethren in the ministry, and dearly loved by the people of his congregation. As a man fully equipped for the work and the field of work of his choice, the church cannot, perhaps, show many as his equal and none as his superior. Dr. Weiser lias been since 1874 a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. On the occasion of the celebration of the Centennial of Montgomery County he was honored by an invitation to deliver the Ceu- tennial oration. He is chaplain of the Sixth Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weiser was, in 1859, married to Louisa C., daughter of Judge I. Gutelius, of Mifflinburg, Uniou Co., Pa. Their children are three sons and a grown daughter, all deceased.

OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AT NEW GOSHEN-

HOPPEN, 1840-80.

Superintendents .- Rev. Daniel Weiser, 1841-46; Henry Dotts, 1846-49; Charles Hillegass, 1849-55 ; John F. Gerhard, 1855-59; Jonathan Gery, 1859-60 ; John F. Gerhard, 1860-63; Jesse D. Pannepacker, 1863-71; George Deisher, 1871-74; Rev. C. Z. Weiser, D.D., IS74-80; Professor C S. Wieand, A.M., 1880, etc.

Assistant Superintendents .- Philip Super, Esq., 1841 -44; Lewis Masteller, 1844-46; Rev. Daniel Weiser, 1846-49; Lewis Masteller, 1849-50; John F. Gerhard, 1850-55; William Trippe Cramer, 1855-56; Rev. Daniel Weiser, 1856-57 ; Charles Hillegass, 1857-58; William Trippe Cramer, 1858-59; Rev. Daniel Weiser, 1859-60; Henry L. Gerhard, 1860-82; Rev. C. Z.Weiser, D.D., 1862-64: Renben Masteller, 1864- 65; Jonathan Gery, 1865-66; Abraham Welker,

C. Z. Warson.

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UPPER HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

1866-73; William H. Kehl, 1873-75; Professor C. S. | known as Dr. Geissenheiner, was requested to fur- Wieand, A.M., 1875-80.

Treasurerx .- Lewis Masteller, 1841-19; John F. Gerhard, 1819-75; Adam J. Dimmig, 1875-81.

Secretaries .- Charles Hillegass, 1841-49; Mahlon Hillegass, 1819-55; Charles Hillegass, 1855-57; Mahlon Hillegass, 1857-81.

Assistant Secretaries .- Benjamin Gery, 1866-70; James D. Bobb, 1868-74; Mrs. Mahlon Ilillegass, 1870-74; William HI. Steltz, 1874-8].

Librarians .- Jonathan Gery, 1863-65; James D. Bobb, 1865-68: Nathanial R. Reed, 1868-69; Ami- brose E. Roeder, 1869-81; George F. Hoot, 1876-81. Chorister .- Mahlon J. Gerhart, 1869-81.

Collectors .- Nathaniel Deisher, 1869-73; Charles Kehl, 1873-80; Charles L. Fluek, 1880-81.

Sunday-School Paper Agent .- Fobias Fried, 1876 -81.

Infant Sunday-School .- 1865-70: Superintendent, Rev. D. Weiser, D.D .; Assistant Superintendents, Mrs. Maria Hillegass, Mrs. Elizabeth Deisher, Mr. Samuel Roeder, S. MI. Beysher (chorister). 1870-73 : Superintendent, H. E. E. Roeder ; Assistant Superin- tendent, Mrs. Maria Hillegass, Mrs. Deisher, T. K. Gerhart, E. 11. Steltz (chorister), W. Krause, D). Dimmig. 1873 to date: Superintendent, Mrs. C. Z. Weiser ; Assistant Superintendents, Mrs. MI. Bobb, Mrs. M. Roeder, D. Dimmig, T. K. Gerhart, MI. J. Gerhart (chorister), F. L. Fluck (assistant chorister).1

The New Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, commonly called the "Six-Cornered Church," is about a mile east of the village of Pennsburg. It is a large and handsome stone building, surmounted with a tall steeple, and constitutes one of the land-marks of the valley.

The congregation is probably as old, or nearly so, as the Reformed congregation, it having had part with said congregation in the burial-ground and having buried its dead there till it sold its claim to the Re- formed Church, in 1796. The exact date at which the congregation was organized is uncertain, but that it was previous to the year 1739 is shown by the church record, which states that in that year Johann Jacob Birkenstock was installed as pastor of the congregation. At the spot where the present church stands formerly stood an old log church. When it was built is uncertain, but it was probably in the beginning of the last century. An old member of the congregation states that he had often heard his forefathers say that at the time this log church was built Indians were still plenty in the valley.

This church stood till 1803, when the congregation resolved to build a new one of stone. The old one was torn down and sokl, the purchaser using the best logs in the erection of a house which is still stand- ing. Rev. F. W. Geissenheiner, who was the pastor of the congregation, and who was afterwards widely

nish a plan for the new church. This he willingly did, but unfortunately for the congregation, it came in his mind to furnish two plans,-one with a four- cornered building and one with six corners,-he, in the goodness of his heart, supposing that the congre- gation would be able to decide on one or the other of them. In this he was mistaken, as there immediately arose two parties in the congregation,-one for the four-cornered and one for the six-cornered plan. After much heat and contention, the six-cornered plan was finally adopted. The church was built with six corners, and has ever since been known as the "Six Cornered Church." The six corners are caused by the building of an alcove, in which is placed the large organ of the church. In 1860-61 the large steeple, containing a bell weighing fifteen hundred pounds, was erected on the part forming the six corners.

The first pastor of the congregation, as has been said, was Johann Jacob Birkenstock, who served from 1739 to 1743. The second was Conrad Andrea, from 1743 to 1752. The third was Frederick Shultz, who had charge from 1752 till 1756. He was succeeded hy Rev. Frederick Reis, who, in turn, was followed, in 1764, by G. Frederick Neimayer. In 1771, Conrad Sebastian Roeller took charge and was followed, in 1775, by Pastor Schwabach. After him came Pastor Dornapfel, who served the congregation till 1790. In this year Christian Esprich took the charge and remained there three years, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Frederick Wilhelm Geissenheiner who took charge and served till 1807. Of the reception of this pastor by the congregation the following is told :

" When, in 1793, Pastor Esprich left the charge the congregation ap- plied to Revs. Smith and Hellmuth, of Philadelphia, to procure them a pastor from Germany. The new pastor arrived safely on the 8th uf De- vember, 1793. He was a young man, apparently much younger than Le really was, and wore a three-cornered hat. On Sunday morning he found the congregation, many of whom were old German emigrants from Oberwald, gathered in the old school-house to receive him. On his en- trance many of them whispered together, 'What can that youth know, and what can he teach ns.' They went from there to the old log church to hear his first sermon to them. The stripling was equal to the emergency, and as he proceeded in his sermon with an enthusiasm and pathos that struck deep into the hearts of his hearers, all eyes were turned upon him and he was listened to with deep attention. After the service the old men gathered around him and congratulated him, saying, "This we did not expect of you.' Another difficulty now arose; the young preacher must have a home. Another meeting took place in the school-house, and the question went round, 'Who will take the pastor in his house?' On all sides came the answer, 'I don't want him ; neither do I.' They could not agree what to do with him, till at last one of them miade the proposal, 'We will draw straws, and the one who draws the longest must take the pastor in his house,' This was as- seuted to, and one of the fathers of the church, named Reiter, drew the longest straw, and with it not only the pastor, but his future son-in- law, as some time afterwards Mr. Grissenheiner married one of his daughters, "

The pastor left the congregation in 1807 and moved to Reading, being succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Miller, who had been his student. He remained till

1('. Z. Weiser, D.D., Hist. of New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, 18:1. . 1829, when he also moved to Reading. After Miller,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

on May 12, 1829, the Rev. Frederick Waage took charge of the congregation, of which he was pastor till 1870, when he was succeeded by his son, the Rev. O. F. Waage, the present pastor. Rev. Frederick Waage served the congregation over forty years, and only retired when his age prevented him from per- forming the hard work of his large charge.

On the evening of the 23d of August, 1884, closed the life of this venerable aud highly-respected man. His long, active and devoted life rendered Pastor Waage's name one of the best known over Eastern Pennsylvania, as well as quite famous throughout the Lutheran Church, more especially so during the earlier history of his time and services. Cay Freder- ick Sophus Waage was born August 17, 1797, in the dukedom of Holstein, Denmark. At a remarkably early age he commenced his school-days, and from the primary, through the higher and classical institutions, he was promoted until he entered the university at Kiel. For six years he attended here, laying the foundation to a high degree of scholarship in later years attained. His stay at Kiel made him a familiar friend of Pastor Claus Harms, who became to him his ideal pastor and theologian. His picture hung on the walls of his admirer's study, his autograph was put under glass and inclosed in a frame of gilt, and Pastor Waage's whole life was tinged by the spirit of this man. When twenty-two years old, in 1819, in the month of June, the young student went to Hamburg for the purpose of sailing for America. In the ship " Milo" he was tossed about on the ocean for sixty- eight days, and landed in Philadelphia in the month of September. On the shores of this new world he met a Reformed clergyman, Rev. Jacob Wilhelm Dechant, who led the young German to the house of Rev. Frederick William Geissenheiner, a Lutheran minister of note, and under the roof of this pastor yonng Mr. Waage spent two years preparing for the ministry of the gospel. To this happy event Father Waage referred with great gratitude. In Chester County these two years were spent both in somewhat Americanizing himself and in waiting, since the rules of the church required that a certain time should elapse ere a foreigner could take orders.

In 1822, on the 27th of August, Mr. Waage became a licentiate, by order and permission of the Pennsyl- vania Lutheran Ministerium, during its sessions at Germantown, Pa. His ordination followed on the 10th of June, 1828, by authority of the Synod at Reading, Pa. He served his first charge as a licen- tiate, which consisted of the congregations at Trum- bauerstown (Charlestown) and Flatland (Richland- town), Bucks Co., Pa.

After a little more than four years he received a call to his second charge, spreading over parts of Northumberland, Columbia and Lycoming Counties. The points were Milton, Fulmer's, Muney, Williams- port, Paradise, St. John's, St. James' and Black Hole Valley. Here he remained three years, and during

this period he was naturalized as an American citizen. In 1829, in the month of May, he was called to his third and last charge in this region. The New Go- shenhoppen Lutheran, together with the congregation at Charlestown and Sheetz's church, formed a pastoral field. In 1836 he organized and added the church at Huber's, in Montgomery County ; and in 1854 he established and joined Ridge Valley Church. In this unwieldy field Pastor Waage labored and toiled dur- ing a period of forty years. Adding his student ser- viee and his voluntary labors since his retirement, his pastoral history covers a full half-century.

Pastor Waage maintained independent views in re- ligious matters. His personal life was singularly pure and Christian ; he erected his own standard, and ac- cording to that lived and worked conscientiously. The large and growing family of this busy and thoughtful man led him to study the theory and prac- tice of homeopathy for the benefit of his own house, and his skill and success soon went abroad in the charge and neighborhood. But "the strong man" fails and falls at last. Even the physician cannot heal himself always. Age and its inevitable colleagues came to him too, who had so long been hale and hearty. The evening of his life was spent in medita- tion and quiet acts of personal devotion in near com- munion with his sons. Father Waage died at the close of the week,-on Saturday evening,-as if to show that a full life had been well rounded off. In his death a spirit left the world matured for a higher life,-a man scholarly, educated, well-informed, con- versant with men, of a poetical temperament and a believer in everlasting life.

The burial of Father Waage was largely attended, on the 27th of August, at his favorite "Six-Cornered" Church, in New Goshenhoppen. There were present clergymen of four denominations. Rev. Dr. A. R. Horne, of Allentown, preached a sermon in the Ger- man language, on the words found in Zechariah i. 5. Rev. Dr. E. Huber, of Philadelphia, followed with a discourse, likewise in German, based on the text found in Rev. xxii. 14. A biographical sketch was read by Rev. Dr. C. Z. Weiser, of the Reformed Church.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 236

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