USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > Lebanon > Old Salem in Lebanon : a history of the congregation and town > Part 10
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Arriving in the new building, the assembled con- gregation no doubt received the Festival Leaflet published by Dr. Lochman containing the hymns of the dedicatory service .* In that leaflet the pas- tor gives prominence to the new name of the Church and addresses the people as follows :
"These leaflets are distributed among you to arouse you to a state of joyfulness and praise unto God over the completion of the church. But espe- cially are they intended for our beloved young people as a constant reminder of the dedication of this church, built by their fathers.
"Perhaps there are some among you anxious to know why this church has been named "Salem," and to enlighten these the reasons shall here be given. Salem was the place where God especially revealed his presence, for we read in the Old Testa- ment, Psalms 76:3: "In Salem is his tabernacle." Secondly, the beautiful meaning of the word "Sa- lem" has prompted us to name the church "Salem." Salem means "The peaceful." Salem church is,
*A few of these have been preserved to the present day, and from them several of the faithful members of the church in this year 1898, have had fac-simile reproductions struck off in German and also trans- lations in English, in commemoration of the original consecration.
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BUILDING OF SALEM CHURCH
therefore, the peaceful church or the Church of Peace. And how it is to be wished that this our con- gregation may always be and remain a church of Peace, a congregation of Love! How it is to be wished for that it never may prove itself unworthy of this name! Then God, who is a God of Love and Peace, will surely dwell among us and bless us.
"Moreover you know, dear friends, that it is not sufficient to build houses of God but it is also our duty to attend the services, which are being held in them and we must (what is still more important) live up to the teachings of the church, which will be to the honor of God and to the blessing of the soul. This is the object of a church of God. This is also the destination of this new church, which we dedicate today. Here we shall unite to praise the Holy Trinity, here songs of praise to Jesus, the Son of God, shall ring out. Here it is our blessed privilege to ask Jesus for mercy, blessing and help and He by His promise, will be in our midst and hear our united prayers, and bless us. And here we shall listen to the precious word of consolation. Would to God that we should always hear it in such a manner that our hearts will become purer. Here especially the young shall be brought to Jesus and led in the paths of virtue. Lastly, here in this earth- ly tabernacle we shall be prepared to enter the hea- venly tabernacle of Salem above.
"May these expectations and hopes be realized with all of us. That is the earnest wish and prayer of
Your Friend and Teacher,
"M. GEORGE LOCHMAN."
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
The President of the Synod, Dr. Henrich Muh- lenberg, entered the altar, and "with a solemn prayer consecrated this church to be a house of salvation."* He preached the consecratory ser- mon on Gal. 6:15, 16:
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncir- cumcision, but a new ceature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
There was a second service in the afternoon at which Dr. Helmuth preached on Ps. 68:27 :
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
At the evening service, P. Schmidt took as his text, Gen. 4:4:
And Abel, he also brought of the firstling of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering.
On Monday, June 4th, Synod was in session, and the exercises closed in the evening with a service and a sermon by Rev. Mr. Schaefer, from German- town.
On the following Saturday Pastor Lochman con- firmed a class of 36 catechumens, among whom were a Jacob Embich, a Christoph Uhler, a David Heylman and a Georg Hofman. The next morn- ing the Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time in the new Salem church ** and 162 com- municants partook of the sacrament. Thus was the beautiful and solemn celebration of theconsecra- tion of the new church concluded, and it stood ready to greet the nineteenth century and bear
*Doc. Hist. p. 301.
** Das erstemal in Salemskirche, "Church Record," p. 438.
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BUILDING OF SALEM CHURCH
daily testimony in the heart of a busy community that there is a God of strength and peace in the hea- ven above.
Three generations have passed away since that day, and the bones of the builders lie mouldering in the dust. There lives are gone but their work remains. Their other achievements, howsoever great, are remembered almost no more by the com- munity that rises ever anew about these walls. But their one great deed for God, has rescued their names from oblivion, and has won respect for them after a hundred years of rushing progress. As for new Salem, she has become Old Salem, but she ever renews her youth, and stands forth afresh in the beauty of holiness.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE BEGINNING OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, IN SA- LEM AND IN LEBANON.
M ANY changes were 1 taking place in the American Re- public during the last fif- teen years of the old cen- tury. The generation of pioneers in Eastern Penn- THE OLD PARSONAGE. QUIN IN HOOD sylvania and their ways of thinking had disappeared.
Lebanon was in those days a satellite first of nearer Lancaster and then of more distant Philadel- phia. Though young Mr. Lochman had cast in his lot with the Lebanon people, he had left his heart in Philadelphia, and a year and a month after his first arrival he was married to a Philadelphian* and brought his bride to the little Lebanon parsonage. She died several years afterward, and on June 3d, 1799, he was married again. Again the minister's wife was a Philadelphian .** It was no wonder, then, that the congregation began the new century by erecting a two-story building for the use of their preacher. The building was on the site of the pres-
"Mary Magdalene Grotz.
** Susan Hoffman.
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NINETEENTH CENTURY
ent parsonage, and the lot "on the corner of Spring alley and Walnut street," was donated for the pur- pose. Stites had sold it in 1760 to John Huber. The deed was endorsed by Frederick Yensel, M. Reinhart, A. Whitman and then by John Thome to Daniel Fetzberger and Martin Uhler, trustees, "for the use of the German Lutheran congregation in Lebanon."
Since writing the chapter on the parsonage of 1783-only a few hours ago, in fact-the writer found the original deed and has discovered that both the parsonage of 1783 and the one of 1800 were erected on the same spot on this lot under discussion. The following extract from the origi- nal deed will make the matter clear :
"AND WHEREAS the said John Huber and Maria Elizabeth his Wife in and by their assignment endorsed on the said Indenture and bearing the date 7th of December A.D. 1762 did assign sell and convey the above described Lot or Piece of Ground with the appurtenances unto Frederick Yensel in Free. And
WHEREAS the said Frederick Yensel and Maria Agnees His Wife by an assignment endorsed on the said Indenture dated the 4th day of May A. D. 1767, did assign sell and convey the above described Lot or Piece of Land with the appurtenances unto Abraham Weidman his Heirs and Assigns forever,
AND WHEREAS the said Abraham Weidman and Elizabeth His Wife by their assignment endorsed on the said Indenture dated the 25th day of December 1769, did assign sell and convey the above described Lot or Piece of Ground unto John Thome in Free. And
WHEREAS the said John Thome and Anna Maria his wife by their In- denture bearing date the 5th day of February Anna Domini 1783 did sell and convey the above described Lot or Piece of Ground with the ap- purtenances unto the said Daniel Fetzberger and Martin Uhler in Free. And
WHEREAS the German Lutheran Congregation settled in and near Lebanon aforesaid having erected a House on the above described Lot or Piece of Ground which now is for a considerable time past has been used and occupied by their Minister. And the Members of the
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
Congregation aforesaid have chosen and duly constituted and appointed the said Philip Fernsler, Jacob Stieb, Daniel Fetzberger, and An- thony Deobler Trustees to take possession of the said Lot or Piece of Ground with the appurtenances to and for the only use purpose and Benefit of the said Congregation and for no other use purpose or benefit whatever."
The Old Parsonage with its suggestion of spread- ing strength and rest and simple comfort, with its walls covered by a thin stucco and a smooth pinkish white wash, with its stately columnar piazza, and great side yard, was a picturesque object in Leba- non. In the rear its old fences and lines of spread- ing currant and raspberry bushes, its clumps of gooseberry stalks in the middle, its great pound- apple and rambo trees, its upshooting beds of rhu- barb and horseradish, and its cucumber patches, its grape arbors and quince trees, its moss-covered wash and tool-house, its old hard-wood log barn, and its pavements of flag-stones with the grass creeping up between the interstices, were objects of care and delight in the summer season. In this parsonage young Pastor Lochman so faithfully kept his Church Records. The following table will give at a glance some idea of his official acts in the con- gregation :
Com.
Catech. Mar.
Fun.
Com.
Catech.
Mar.
Fun.
1794
47
11
8
1803
183
53
41
13
1795
196
95
26
16
1804
197
37
45
32
1796
122
35
17
13
1805
. 40
30
1797
140
37
16
12
1806
217
55
52
18
1798
162
36
22
23
1807
205
45
55
12
1799
159
45
50
11
1808
226
47
41
10
1800
173
42
55
24
1809
210
49
51
20
1801
160
37
21
10
1810
218
58
38
9
1802
172
40
45
25
1811
247
63
48
31
A congregation that could build a church, and
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NINETEENTH CENTURY
a parsonage two years afterward* and meantime pay a schoolmaster and carry on a flourishing school was not in extraordinary financial stress. The times, indeed, were improving greatly. Large enterprises were being projected and undertaken. Already in 1792 David Rittenhouse, the Philadel- phia astronomer and geometrician, had surveyed a route for a canal to connect the waters of the Susquehanna and the Schuylkill by means of the Swatara and Tulpehocken creeks. The full plan was nothing less than to connect the great lakes and the Mississippi with the seacoast by a water- way. The start was to be made by connecting the Susquehanna and the Schuylkill. Lebanon was then the central point of operations and work was begun between Myerstown and Lebanon already in 1794. Though the progress was slow, the fame of the project was great, and it was spoken of far and wide. Joseph Scott, in his Geographical De- scription of Pennsylvania in 1805, prematurely de- scribes the enterprise as already completed. "Leb- anon," Scott says in this year 1805, "is a hand- some borough, and port-town, agreeably situated on the S. side of the Quitipahilla creek. The plan of the town is regular. It contains about 300 houses, a German Lutheran and a German Calvinist church. About a mile and a half E. of the town is the Susquehanna and Schuylkill canal, connecting the waters of the Tulpehocken. A navigable
*Under Dr. Lochman the Annville Church probably was built, and also the present brick church of the Bindnagel congregation.
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
branch of the Schuylkill, with the Quitipahilla, a navigable branch of the Swatara."
The people lived quite comfortably. The fol- lowing articles bought at the sale of property on a well-stocked farm in 1808 will furnish an idea of the mode of life at the time. The articles disposed of were "I wet stone, I apple, Old Iron, I Chizel, I Bell, I Hamer, 2 Hatchels, I Wool Card, I drawing knife, I Syth, Old Iron, I Ax, Old Iron, I Spade, I Cutting Iron, Sundries, I Broad Ax and Hoe, I chain and pan, 6 Syth, I iron pot, I hoe, I Bridle, I Sattle Cloth, I Saddle and Saddle Bags, 2 cow chains and tobacco box, I cutting knife, 2 augers, I pair stockings, I cap, 4 pair of Trowsers, I Shovel, I shirt and jacket, I Geat Coat, I pair Breeches, I hunting Shirt, I coat, 3 Bags, I Hat, I English Bible, I spelling Book, 2 Books, 3 Bot- tles, I Basket, I table, I iron kettle, I Gun and Shott Bouch, I Rifle, 2 Barrels, I Slough, 2 sheep, I Chest and Drum, Flax seed, I Blanket Coat, 1412 1b. wool, I Horyle, 2 Heiffers, I Swine, I Tub, I Saw, I Stove, 12 wheeping sticks, I Sheep Sheet, 3 porengers, I tea pot and Razor, I pewter mug, pewter plates, 2 shirts."
John Kelker was the cryer of that time and re- ceived about $3 for one day's crying. John Glon- inger, for doing the scrivening, and for appraising goods, writing inventory, agreements, releases, etc., connected with the settlement of an estate, re- ceived £3 or £4. At country sales free whiskey of- ten was served. It took a gallon or two, which
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NINETEENTH CENTURY
152
Bushong and Bowman were willing to furnish for five or six shillings.
By this time the first print- ing press had been set up in Lebanon. Jacob Schnee, who lived just across the street from the church,* set up his estab- lishment in 1799. His first work was "Der wohler- fahrene Baum-Gaertner." It was "a thorough man- ual of instruction in the art of handling fruit trees." Jacob Schnee was in business from 1799 to 1816. In 1809 Jacob Stoever started a second press and continued it until 1829. H. B. Sage put a third press, also in 1809, but remained in business only two years. In 1816 Joseph Hartman began the printing business, continuing until 1830, and in 1827 Johann and Joseph Miller began to print but continued at work only three years.
Mr. Schnee, the first Lebanon printer, was a member of Salem church. He did good work. For printing handbills he recived about ten shillings. On January 1, 1807, he branched out into a new venture and established the first Lebanon paper. It was called Der Freie Lebanoner. For inserting advertisements, such as public sales, etc., a number of times, his charge was about a dollar. He con- tinued the paper only two years, when in 1809 he sold it to Jacob Stoever, who called it the Libanon Morgenstern. Schnee also published an almanac, for the first time in 1808, and several religious books.
*Where John Henry Miller now resides.
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
In 1809 Henry Sage published a 16mo book of 52 pp., giving instructions in the art of dying wool, linen and cotton fabrics. Schnee published a 16mo life of Dr. George de Benneville, in 45 pages, and a Life of General Washington. In 1809 he published a Heidelberg Catechism, the almanac, the daily jour- nal of the State Senate, and Seiler's Biblishe Reli- gion, a 12mo vol. of over 300 pages. In 1814 he printed Habermann's Gebetbuechlein .*
The first number of Mr. Schnee's paper was issued on Thursday, January Ist, 1807. It contained arti- cles on the Congress of the United States, on Aaron Burr, a regular column of European news, an article on Bonepart's Tyranny, and a transla- tion of a Hebrew letter which proved that Napolean Bonaparte was a Jew.
Some well-known man, whose name is signed in full, publishes the following
WARNING FOR A WICKED MAN
In the town of Lebanon, name D. L .; he is a satler by trade, and I hereby warn everyone, not to have anything to do with him, for no one can get along with him.
The hotel of the White Swan on Cumberland street is being offered for sale by John Dubs. "A German Schoolmaster is wanted in the congrega- tion at Zigel church. This would be a good place
*For information relative to early German books printed in Pennsyl- vania the reader is referred to "The First Century of German Printing in America, 1728-1830, by Oswald Seidensticher, Phila. Schaeffer &
Koradi, 1893."
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NINETEENTH CENTURY
for a man with a family, as the congregation is sup- plied with a good residence and school house, and a stable, a pump near the house. A usable and fit subject can begin on the first of next April." Signed by the elders and deacons.
The postmaster of the town at this time was J. Karch. George Oves was clock maker. The colo- nel of the Third Regiment was George Bowman, and the paymaster was Peter Shindel. The Leb- anon Morgenstern was now being printed as it itself states "In Market street between the taverns of Mr. Gleim and Mr. Greenwalt." Christian Snavely was the store-keeper. Among the prominent persons in the community, not mentioned before, were John Weidman, David Krause, Frederick Hubley, Henry Gilbert (treasurer of Salem church), Peter Schindle, Henry Snavely, Stephen Sarge, John Carmany, and in the county, Philip Erb and Sam- uel Rex. The Morgenstern of June 27th, 1810, pub- lishes the following notice of the corner-stone lay- ing of the original Roman Catholic church in this community :
CORNER-STONE LAYING.
To a Christian-disposed public notice is given that the corner-stone of the new Roman Catholic church to be built in the town of Lebanon will be laid on Monday the 23rd of next July at 10 o'clock, with the customary ceremonies. A number of preachers will be present. All respecters of public worship are therefore respectfully invited to attend
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
this church solemnity by the Building Committee. June 27, 1810.
The following week it commented on the event, stating that the ceremony occurred "Day before yesterday with all due solemnity. At II o'clock in the morning the Reverend Mr Beschter of Lan- caster, with the assistance of the Reverend Preach- er of this town opened the service and laid the cor- nerstone. In the morning he preached in German and in the afternoon he delivered a fitting sermon on Ist Peter, 2-6."
All these papers mentioned, all the books pub- lished in Lebanon were German. All religious rec- ords were kept in German. All services, with rare ex- ception, were held in German, and the conversation heard on the streets and in the stores and taverns was almost altogether German It was the custom for prominent citizens to meet and discuss matters at the taverns, and the town people in general had much more time and disposition for conversation than they have now. On election days and battalion days, and at the cherry festivals, as well as at funer- als and sales the populace gathered in large num- bers and for the purpose of recreation .*
*We who are apt to condemn the amusements of preceding generations should bear in mind that the opportunities for recreation such as the young people now crave were very limited. There were no rail or trolley cars, no bicycles, no music halls and opera houses, no illustrated papers, magazines, or daily papers, etc., etc., and a man who spends his money to witness baseball, or a woman who goes about for recreation on a bicycle, would have been as severely condemned by the fathers for wrong doing, as we sometimes are inclined to condemn them in their ways. It must be said however that the habit of drinking was much more uni- versal than it is now and was baneful in its effects.
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NINETEENTH CENTURY
TAKE NOTICE!
The undersigned Burgesses of the town Lebanon announce that a Jahr- marckt of Fair will be held in the town of Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday 23rd and 24th of this month, when proper stands for salespeople will be put up in order to furnish such attractions as are generally to be found at fairs. No gambling for money or money value will be al- lowed.
ABRAHAM DOEBLER
CHRISTIAN SCHNEBLY
Burgesses.
Lebanon Oct. 3, 1809.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NEW CHURCH CONSTITUTION.
1 1 T IS not probable that the Salem church had any written law during the first gen- eration of her existence. But with her thorough establishment under Dr. Loch- man, it was natural that that far sight- ed and indefatigable worker should see the neces- sity of having something more fixed and settled than mere old custom under which to act, and something which would serve the congregation as a sheet anchor in times of trial.
Pastor Lochman wrote a very simple and clear form of constitution and in the Fall of 1803 called the Church Council together a number of times in order to consider it. This constitution was laid before the congregation on Second Christmas day and read point by point and was adopted with few alterations. (Church Record, page 535.) It seems, however, as though the congregation was not quite sure as to what it might be binding itself unto, or as to whether it wished to be bound at all by a writ- ten instrument. For it laid down the conditions that every year on Second Christmas alterations may be made in the constitution if desired by a ma- jority of the members.
The first chapter treats of "the Preacher." He is
1
158 THE NEW CHURCH CONSTITUTION
to preach God's Word on the ground of the Apos- tles and Prophets and of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, publicly, purely, short, clear, and in a comprehensible and edifying manner." He is to ad- minister the Holy Sacraments, and to decline to give them to those who live in open sin. He is to visit the sick, and prepare them for a blessed death. He is to take charge of the catechetical instructions, to have the oversight of school and teachers, and to institute salutary discipline and examinations in order that the youth may be thoroughly grounded in God's Word and our catechism which is drawn therefrom. He is also to preside at the business meetings of the congregation. He is not to allow any preacher or student to take his place who has not been thoroughly tested by the Church disci- pline.
Chapter 2 is devoted to the School Master. He is to teach the children to read, write, pray, sing, and learn the catechism and if possible to exercise them in arithmetic. He is to use the text books pre- scribed by the pastor and council. He is to be the Precentor of the congregation in the song of the church and is to have the supervision of the ring- ing of the bell. He is to be compensated by the congregation for leading the singing and for ring- ing the bell for public service and formidday prayer; but for ringing and singing at funerals he is to be compensated by those who engage him. He is to set a good Christian example.
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OLD SALEM CHURCH
The third chapter treats of the trustees. It says that as long as the congregation is not incorpor- ated it is imperatively necessary that she elect a certain number of citizens of substantial means who are at the same time steadfast members, in order that the deeds of the congregation's property may be made transmitted and preserved in the name and for the benefit of the congregation. It is the duty of the four trustees to secure, with the consent of the congregation and the accord of the Church Council the necessary pieces of property, to erect buildings thereon, and to advance sums of money when necessary, which shall be paid again by the contributions of the congregation.
Chapter fourth is devoted to the elders and dea- cons. They are to remain in office for two years. The Church Council shall nominate four or six can- didates for each office. When elected they must subscribe the constitution. The elders shall also set a good example. They shall reduce and wipe out the debts of the congregation and see that the finances are properly conducted. They shall visit the schools and see that the children are properly taught. They shall make peace in disputes. They shall be ready to accompany the pastor to see the sick, and to do everything for the welfare of the congregation. The deacons are to have charge of the public service and to render all assistance there- unto, they are to collect and account for the alms, they are to see that the minister is supported, and to see that discipline and good order are maintained
160
THE NEW CHURCH CONSTITUTION
in the congregation, particularly at public worship. The fifth chapter is devoted to the treasurer.
The sixth chapter to the members of the congre- gation. The rules of the members of the congre- gation are very strict.
The seventh chapter prescribes the rights and duties of the Church Council, and the eighth chap- ter defines those who have the right of burial upon the grave-yard. The constitution is signed De- cember 26th, 1803, by John George Lochman, preacher of the congregation; Jacob Stieb, An- thony Dobler, Conrad Hofman, trustees; Peter Fischer, Jacob Beicher, Conrad Reinohl, Johannes Schnee, elders; Anstett Glasbrenner, Bernhard Embich, George Beckley, George Reinohl, Jr., dea- cons; Henry Gilbert, treasurer; Christian Ulrich, George Kurtz, Johannes Fernsler, Jacob Embich, Frederick Steiner, Jacob Ritscher, Frederick Beck- ly. It was in force for many years.
CHAPTER XXV.
OLD SALEM BUYS AN ORGAN.
A FTER half a century's existence Old Salem had provided a school house and teacher for the education of her children, a
church building for her public worship, a
pastor and parsonage, and a constitution for her internal organization. Up to this time all the music in the church services was vocal. In fact an organ had never been heard in the town of Lebanon. At Hebron there was an instrument al- ready in Revolutionary days, but it was very small. The song of the congregation was led by the Pre- centor and the school children constituted a sort of children's choir. In the year 1808, however, the congregation decided to set up a large pipe organ in the church. This organ had two manuals and was a very fine instrument in its day. It was built by Bachman, of Lititz, who was a pupil of the cele- brated organ builder, Tanneberger. Both these builders, and in fact all the organ buiders in Amer- ica at this time were Moravians. Tanneberger built the largest and finest organ in America for the Lutheran church in Philadelphia, in 1796, and it may have been the hearing of the service render- ed by the aid of this organ, as Dr. Lochman was accustomed to it, by the delegates of Synod, that stimulated the first agitation of the organ ques-
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