USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 7
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"We often had similar conversations with each other, and it was not long before he also came to an awakened condition. As he was a ready speaker, he began to speak
4 " German Baptist Brethren," by the author, page 74.
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GERMANTOWN.
in the meeting so powerfully that it was a marvel to hear him, and aroused much notice in the congregation. . . . At that time we had a meeting for the unmarried every Sunday afternoon, where we also spoke together as narrated above. At last the spirit of revival came upon all who were as- sembled together, so that one often heard with astonishment how they praised God; however, with many it did not last long."
These meetings have sometimes been called a Sunday School because held on Sunday afternoon. But let it be remembered, first, it was "a meeting for the unmarried "; second, the teaching theme was Koch's visions and Beissel's doctrine of celibacy; third, the teachers were Beissel's disciples. These meetings received every possible en- couragement from Ephrata, and Peter Miller and others from Ephrata frequently were present to address the meet- ings. After these Germantown Brethren and Sisters had gone to Ephrata, they continued the Sunday meetings there, for many years.
A Divided Congregation .- Thus matters continued for several years, with increasing gloom hanging over German- town. There could be 'but one result,-a divided congrega- tion, a disrupted church. The Chronicon gives the follow- ing, as to conditions at this time :
"The fame of it (the awakening ) soon resounded through the whole land; for they held their meetings in the woods, and then walked through Germantown hand in hand, which attracted much attention. Besides, they had frequent meet- ings at night. The teachers of the Baptists themselves went astray in this movement. Some of them, like Henry Kalck- glässer, Valentine Mack, John Hildebrand, supported it; while others, like P. Becker, Naass, etc., [Peter Becker, John Naas,] who had had a similar experience in Germany, opposed it. Yes, Peter Becker often said to them: 'Dear children, it is the seventh-day spirit of Conestoga!'"
And so, the crisis was at hand. Beissel had won, but at tremendous cost, and the victory was worse than the defeat. Koch and his companions and adherents marched out of Germantown, most of them never to return. They
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
journeyed to Ephrata, there to bury themselves in seclusion behind monastic walls. Germantown had lost a host, Beissel added a few names to his monastery lists. It was the saddest day in the history of Germantown, for many valuable members had been lost, and some of the best fami- lies were represented. A few, when they realized their disappointment, repented and returned; others there were who died in the sadness and solitude of their disappoint- ment. There was only one thing that saved Germantown in this trying ordeal, and that was the faithful devotion of Elder Peter Becker and those who stood with him.
The following names are given as composing the exodus of 1739, mostly on March 27: Heinrich Kalckglässer, and wife; Valentine Mack, and wife Maria (Hildebrand) ; Louis Höcker, his wife Margretta, and daughter Maria; Johannes Hildebrand and wife; Johannes Pettikoffer, and wife Anna Elizabeth; the widow Gorgas and her children. Among the single persons who joined the celibates, or Solitary, were: Stephen Koch, Alexander Mack, Johannes Reismann, Christian Eckstein, Heinrich Höcker, Martha Kinsing, Miriam Gorgas and Elizabeth Eckstein. And so the curtain forever falls upon the unwritten tragedy.
CHAPTER XI. CLOSING DECADES OF THE PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
General Survey .- It is necessary, at this time, to take a view of the whole field of the Brethren activities. During the closing decades of this period, the work is much ex- tended, far beyond the borders of the field covered by this volume. These can only be referred to, in order to show to what extent the work has spread at so early a date. There was much colonization at an early day, and with this colonizing went the doctrine and influence of the Brethren. This migration and colonization was first to the southern counties of Pennsylvania, and then into various counties in Maryland and Virginia, and even south as far as North Carolina.1
Virginia .- There were probably no organized churches of the Brethren in Virginia before the Revolution, but settle- ments by the Brethren had commenced; and, also, several by followers of Beissel, some of whom here, as in other places, soon came into full fellowship with the Brethren, upon the disintegration of Beissel's work.
Maryland .- Several well-established churches must have existed in Maryland, by the close of this period. The first Brethren Church was probably that of Middletown Valley, in Frederick County, organized in 1760. "Many members went to the Conococheague and to Monocacy, from the various congregations in Pennsylvania; and among them were prominent and efficient ministers, but we know little of their work in the early days. The scores of congrega- tions of the present day, however, attest the faithful devo- tion of these pioneers, and the success of the migration to the Southland."2 Among the prominent Elders and minis-
1 See "History of the Brethren in Virginia," by D. H. Zigler; also, "The Church Before the Revolution," in "Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethren," by J. W. Wayland.
2 " German Baptist Brethren," by the author, page 98.
71
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
ters who went to Maryland early, before 1770, were :- Elder Jacob Donner, from the Codorus Church, York County ; Elder Daniel Leatherman and Elder Nicolas Martin, both from Little Conewago Church, in York County, Pennsylvania. These were prominent and active elders, and frequently returned to the Pennsylvania churches on preaching tours, and important church councils. This much must suffice for a notice of the work to the southward, from Pennsylvania. We hope that soon the Brethren in Maryland will make a thorough research of their ante- cedents, and after having gathered all available data possible, make a careful study of their history, and publish the fruits of their labors, for the instruction and inspiration of the coming generations.
A Momentous Period in American History .- It is well to note some of the external conditions with which our Brethren were surrounded during the latter years of this period under consideration. It was indeed a momentous period in American history, as to political and military con- ditions. In this period fall two wars in which the Ameri- cans and the English fought against the French; and it also marks the beginning of a far greater one, in which the Americans and the French fought against the English. In the former wars, the French lost their empire in America ; and in the latter, in the succeeding period, England forever lost a vast empire, and the beginnings of a mighty nation. It was scarcely less momentous from educational and re- ligious considerations. The following panoramic sketch is full of interest, as well as thoughtfully suggestive :-
"It was in this period under review that Thomas Jeffer- son was born; that Washington rose from a forest ranger to a general's rank; that Franklin became famous as a printer, and an inventor, and won some notoriety for his antipathy to the Pennsylvania Dutch; that Jonathan Edwards pub- lished his work on the freedom of the human will; that Zin- zendorf the Moravian, Mühlenberg the Lutheran, Schlatter the German Reformed, and Whitefield the Methodist, all came to Pennsylvania or neighboring colonies; that the northern Indian tribes rose in that mighty conspiracy under
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CLOSING DECADES OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
the crafty Pontiac; that the Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament one year and repealed the next; that Patrick Henry and James Otis set the land aflame with words and ideas; and that there was fired one April morn- ing in the dim light at Lexington, near Boston, 'the shot heard round the world.'
"It was a stirring time; a period of aggressive strivings, momentous beginnings and of rapid developments; and, un- fortunately for us, a period of too scanty records. Our fathers of that time were too busy subduing wild nature, and overcoming want and long distances, to pay much atten- tion to writing history. They were making it, not writing it. We have entered into their labors with joy and thanks- giving, but we long to know more of their story."3
In Southern Pennsylvania .- This field is exceedingly in- teresting, from the fact of its early beginnings and rapid developments. The Brethren at an early day crossed the Susquehanna, entered what is now York County, and occu- pied many hundreds of its fertile acres. The strong con- gregations within the county to-day attest their prosperity for one hundred and seventy-five years. The Little Cone- wago Church was the first to be organized, in 1738, with Elder Daniel Leatherman as their minister; and upon his moving to Maryland, Elder Nicholas Martin was their minister. He also went to Maryland, as noted before, and when the Church was thirty-two years old, in 1770, Brethren Jacob Moyer and James Henrich, not ordained, were the ministers. The Conewago Church was organized, three years later, in 1741; Elder George Adam Martin was the minister. Later Leatherman and Martin, from the Little Conewago, also ministered to them, until they left the state. In 1770, George Brown, not ordained, was the minister; the Church, with a membership of 77, was the next to the largest church in the Brotherhood, Conestoga alone being larger. The Codorus Church was organized in 1758 with Elder Jacob Tanner, or Donner, as their minister. When he went to Maryland Henry Neff was their minister in 1 770. The Bermudian Church was organized by Beissel, in 1758,
3 " Two Centuries, Church of the Brethren," J. W. Wayland.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
but he was too feeble, in a few years, to serve them; when Peter Miller and George Adam Martin preached there for a time. When Miller ceased his visits, and Martin went to Stony Creek, in Bedford County, the Bermudian Church passed entirely under the influence and control of the Brethren. Henry Lowman, not ordained, was the minister in 1770. The Antietam Church in Franklin County was organized in 1752, when George Adam Martin was also an active minister. The Stony Creek Church was organized in 1770.
"This church also is the offspring of Ephrata (for the most part) ; the seventh-day sabbath is kept.
"The minister is Rev. George Adam Martin, of whom mention has been made before. He was born near Land- stuhl in Germany in the year 1715 ; was bred a Presbyterian ; embraced the principles of the Baptists in 1737, and was ordained by Peter Baker (Becker) in 1739. Afterwards he resided at Little Conewago, where some misunderstand- ing arose between him and the people and occasioned him to remove to Antitum (Antietam). In the year 1762 he adopted the sentiments of the seventh-day Baptists, and preached at Bermudian. From thence he went to Stony Creek this year."4
After the death of Martin, the Stony Creek Church passed into the hands of the Brethren, as Bermudian had done before. For full accounts of the colonial Brethren Churches at this period, 1770, see German Baptist Brethren, by the author, pages 80-102, quoting Rev. Morgan Edwards; see, also, Brumbaugh, quoting from same. These accounts are very interesting, but too lengthy to be inserted here. See tabulated list at the close of this chapter.
" At some time between 1750 and 1760 certain Tunkers (Brethren) became the first permanent settlers in what is now Blair County, locating in the southern end of Morri- son's Cove. They are said to have held religious services before the year 1756."5
4 Morgan Edwards, in 1770.
5 J. W. Wayland, Bicentennial address, 1908.
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CLOSING DECADES OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
These brief accounts must suffice for a general survey of the work and activities of the Brethren in other parts.
Our Own District .- In this district, the colonial churches for the most part are elsewhere fully considered. The Conestoga Church will be found in the following chapter, discussed by Elder Henry Kurtz.
The Coventry Church is found in Chapter I, Part IV, Coventry Group, and nothing more need be said, by way of addition to general references in early colonial conditions, and the special chapter devoted to the history in detail.
The colonial church in New Jersey, Amwell, will be found in Part III, The Church in New Jersey, Introduction.
White Oak Church, for a long time a part of Conestoga, is fully discussed in its separate existence, in Chapter I, Part VII; The White Oak Group.
The Big Swatara, The Little Swatara, The Northkill, and The Oley Churches, are covered by the discussions in Chapters I, II, and V, of Part VIII, Swatara Group, which chapters cover the territorial divisions of the former colonial churches above-named.
The "Greatswamp" (Big Swamp) Church, organized in 1735, receives due consideration in Chapter I, Part V, Indian Creek Group.
As our definite and specific information of these times largely closes with the year 1770, the time when Morgan Edwards published his researches, this pre-revolutionary period must largely close with that date. The foregoing general survey, though necessarily brief, gives a fair view of the condition of the Brethren Churches in 1770, and shows really a remarkable development during thirty years, since the time when that dark cloud hung over the Germantown Church. Before closing this period it will be necessary to name a few things that happened there in thirty years.
Germantown .- As everywhere else, so at Germantown, a great change has taken place. The entire leadership, of the earlier years, has passed away, by the close of this period. Not one remains. At no other place was there so great a change in conditions, and so remarkable a change in leader- ship, as at Germantown. With the death of Mack in 1735,
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Peter Becker was once more the leader ; and with the exodus to Ephrata in 1739, when at least three ministers left Ger- mantown, and another one having died, it may be that Becker was the only minister left at the time. Perhaps at no other time was his character and personality brought to a greater test, and perhaps at no other time did he show greater fervor and devotion, and higher elements of leader- ship. He reorganized his shattered forces, and prepared Germantown for a period of greatest strength, and highest development.
Elder Peter Becker.6-Much has been said of him, in the preceding chapters, in the discussion of the religious activi- ties of the Brethren, but it is necessary to give a few biographical facts, in closing his life. He was born at Dils- heim in Germany, in 1687. He was educated a Presby- terian, but embraced the principles of the Brethren at Cre- feldt, Germany, in 1714. He was the leader of the first emigration, and arrived in America in 1719. At the organization of the Church at Germantown, he became the first Elder, the administrator at the first baptism, and officiated at the first love-feast. He was a weaver by trade, and owned twenty-three acres of land, which he cultivated in cereals and flax.
Marriage and Family .- He was married to Anna Dorothy Partman, by whom he had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. The first was married to Rudolph Harley, and the other to Jahob Stump; both of which settled in the neighborhood and had large families, and most of them became members of the Brethren at an early period. In 1746, his wife died, and he removed to Indian Creek, and lived with his daughter, the wife of Rudolp Harley. Here he lived twelve more years, and labored faithfully in his ministry in the Indian Creek Church, but his life's record belongs to Germantown, rather than Indian Creek.
His Character .- It is said of him, that he was not an eloquent and forceful preacher, but a sweet singer, and a
6 For fuller biography, see "Some Who Led," Brethren Publishing House; also "History, German Baptist Brethren," Brumbaugh, pp. 191- 210.
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CLOSING DECADES OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
man remarkably gifted in prayer. He is noted for his piety and true devotion to the cause he loved. He seems to have been a wise counselor, a safe leader in trying times, when some others lost their balance, and were swept away by the influence of visionary theories, and mystical doc- trines of the spirit of the times. He was a rock of safety, in the stress of a great crisis. He was not the most gifted man, but, next to Mack, one of the most used of the Lord in the early church.
A Center of Influence .- Not alone the leadership of Peter Becker saved and re-established Germantown, but gradually and power fully, other influences contributed to a great change in conditions, and the development of a new leadership. Prominent in the new order of things is the beginning of a printing establishment that in due time reached to the remotest parts of Colonial America. This printing busi- ness was commenced by Christopher Saur (Sower) the First, and afterwards, continued by his son, Christopher Second, one of the Bishops, or Elders, of the Germantown Church for many years. This same Sower family has con- tinued the publishing business in various places ever since, and the Christopher Sower Publishing Co., of Philadelphia, was established by the late Chas. G. Sower, and incorporated by him to perpetuate the name of his ancestors. This Sower press soon became famous, and the Brethren early came into full control of large publishing interests, and issued many books, and pamphlets, and especially Bibles and hymn books. The Leiberts and Schreibers were also printers, and book-binders. These literary and publishing activities made the Germantown Church a center of wide- spread influence, throughout all the German settlements in all the colonies.
The New Leadership .- It will be remembered that with the exodus from Germantown to Ephrata, went Alexander Mack, Jr., then a young man. Just how long he remained is not known, and what he did while there is not an essential part of our story. He did remain, however, long enough to convince himself that Ephrata is not the place for him to spend his life, and to do his life's work. He returned to
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Germantown, before 1748, for in that year, he was not only in full fellowship with his Brethren, but also in their full confidence. Christopher Sower records in his diary, "On June 7, 1748, there were placed upon me and Brother Sander (Alexander ) Mack the oversight (Aufsicht) of the Brotherhood (Gemeinschaft ) on trial.7 Brother Brum- baugh adds :-
"Prior to this Alexander Mack must have returned and made fitting apology for his absence, and lived long enough among the members to win their confidence and love. Otherwise they would not have given him the joint over- sight of the congregation. This closes his career as a wanderer and marks the beginning of fifty-five years of continuous service in the ministry of the Church of the Brethren."
According to the further record in the diary of Elder Sower, they served as Elders on trial for five years, and were then ordained with the laying on of hands by Elder Peter Becker, on June 10, 1753. These two Elders, the successors of Alexander Mack, Sr., and Peter Becker, be- came the most prominent Elders in their generation, during the closing years of this period, and during and after the Revolutionary War. Under their joint Eldership the Ger- mantown Church prospered, and their influence extended throughout the entire Brotherhood.
Prominent Elders .- Some of the Elders who constituted a tower of strength during a part of, or all, of this period of 30 years, from 1740 to 1770, are the following: Peter Becker, Germantown; Alexander Mack, Germantown; Christopher Sower, Germantown; John Naas, New Jersey ; First Martin Urner, Coventry; Second Martin Urner, Coventry; Michael Frantz, Conestoga; Michael Pfautz, Conestoga; George Klein, Northkill; John Jacob Beshor, Swatara; George Adam Martin, Conewago; Abraham Duboy, Big Swamp; Jacob Donner, Codorus; Daniel Leatherman, Little Conewago; Nicholas Martin, Little Conewago.
7 " German Baptist Brethren," Brumbaugh, p. 219.
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CLOSING DECADES OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Pennsylvania Churches in 1770.8
When Or-
No. of
Name of Church.
Name of Place.
ganized. Members.
Germantown
.Germantown
1723
57
Greatswamp
Bucks County
I735
28
Coventry .
. Chester County
1724
40
Conestoga
Lancaster County
1724
86
Oley
Berks County
I732
20
White Oak
. Lancaster County
1736
65
Big Swatara
Lancaster (now Dauphin) County ..
1756
39
Little Swatara
Berks County
1757
45
Northkill
. Berks County
1748
II
Codorus
York County
1758
35
Little Conewago
York County
1738
52
Conewago
York County
I741
77
Bermudian
York County
1758
58
Stony Creek
Bedford County
1762
17
1735
"Thus we see that there are in this province fifteen churches of Tunker Baptists, to which appertain eight or- dained ministers, elders, or bishops, and thirteen exhorters, or probationers, and four meeting houses; the reason of their having no more places of worship is, that they choose rather to meet from house to house in imitation of the primi- tive Christians. We see also that their families are about four hundred and nineteen, which contain about two thou- sand and ninety-five souls allowing five to the family, where- of seven hundred and sixty-three persons are baptized and in communion."9
It must be noted that in the above paragraph, from Morgan Edwards, in giving his statistics, he includes the Ephrata congregation with one hundred and thirty-five members. I may say, in passing, that, at this time, 1770, Beissel is in his grave, and his Monastic community has commenced to decline, but it is not necessary to describe in this connection Ephrata, because it forms no part of the Brethren history at this period. For almost all matters of statistics at this time, and many important facts, we are indebted to Rev. Morgan Edwards, and we need to give full recognition to the value of his writings, and descriptions of
8 These facts and figures are taken from the accounts of Morgan Edwards.
9 Morgan Edwards, "Materials for History of the Baptists."
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
the early congregations of the Brethren. It is to be re- gretted exceedingly, that the facts which he put on record in reference to the Brethren Churches in Maryland, were not published; but remained in manuscript form, until the big fire in the Baptist Publication Society building, in Phila- delphia, some years ago, when these with other very valu- able manuscripts and historical records were all destroyed. Many of these valuable historic records can never be re- placed. This is another warning that everything possible should be done to preserve our own invaluable historic data, by proper publication from time to time, and in such form as to insure permanency. It is to be hoped that every local church, and every state district will fully wake up on this important subject.
CHAPTER XII.
THE VERY ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN LANCASTER CO., PA.
According to manuscript records, kept in said church, and entrusted to the writer for investigation, it consisted on the 29th of September, 1734, as on the day when MICHAEL FRANTZ was baptized, who was afterwards their first teacher, of the following members :
BRETHREN.
SISTERS.
Legan,
Rollin,
John Keppinger,
Koch,
John G. Koch,
Kalkglaser,
Rudolph Bollinger,
Latshaw,
Earnest Stoll,
Luy,
Joseph Latshaw,
Keppinger,
Lewis Kalkglaser, - Luy,
Hildebrand,
Krapf.
Samuel Gut,
John Hildebrand,
Gott fried Geiger,
Michael Frantz.
Altogether of 20 members.
Counting from the above date, September 29, 1734, this church in Lancaster is now (1855) over 120 years old. Truly a venerable mother-church, whose daughters are to be found in the most distant parts of our great country, as we have reason to conclude from the names of the members in that church.
" Afterwards," continues the record, "hands were laid on MICHAEL FRANTZ by Elders, and he was ordained as Elder and overseer of the church in Conestoga and White Oak; and thus by the grace and blessing of God the church has been multiplied and increased continually." And how great
7
81
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
the blessing was that rested upon this church the continued lists of those who were baptized by them, and were added unto them from the Seventhday Baptists and from else- where, show.
In the list from 1735 to 1739 are 32 names of newly- received members, and among them we find the following: Segrist, Etter, Frantz, Royer, Martin, Landis, Roland, Bollinger, Miller, Longenecker, &c. In the year 1739 were further baptized 21 persons, among whom were MICHAEL PFAUTZ, the successor of the first overseer, and three Brethren by the name of Mohler.
In the year 1740 were received seven; in the year 1741, ten; in the year 1742, twenty-eight, among whom were the names of Stucky, Gehr, Alterffer, Schwartz, Flory, Hag, Funderburg, Weis, Schneider, Lichty; and others occur.
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