USA > Pennsylvania > The German Pietists of provincial Pennsylvania : 1694-1708 > Part 13
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" At a court of record held at Germantown the 7th day of the 9th month, 1700-1, before Daniel Falkner, Bailiff, Cornelius Swert, Justus Falkner, and Dennis Kunders, 3 eldest Burgesses, and Johannes J. Jawert, Recorder.
"F. D. Pastorius being Clerk and Jones Potts, Sheriff, it was ordered that the overseers of the fences in every quarter of the town shall go round some days before the next following Courts of Record, and thereupon acquaint the said Courts how they find the fences in their respective quarters and those who neglect to make them good. May be fined according to their circumstances and the harm done. Abraham op de Graef and Peter Keurlis were sent for to answer the complaints made against their children by Daniel Falkner and Johann Jawert. But the Sd Abra- liam not being well, and Peter Keurlis gone to Phila- delphia. this matter was left to the next session. Daniel Geissler refused to be Crier of the Court, which is likewise left to the general Court.
" 28th 4th Mo. 1701. Johann Henry Mehls was chosen (Recorder) in place of J. Jawert."
At the next general election, held a year later, it appears from the entry that none of the old officials, except Pas- torius and the sheriff, were re-elected,-
"gtlı of December 1701, Aret Klinken Bailiff. Paul Wulff, Peter Schumacher and William Strepers three Bur- gesses. John Conrad Cotweis Recorder, D. F. Pastorius Clerk. Jones Potts Sheriff."
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Falkner as Attorney.
Evidently one of the causes for Falkner's defeat for re- election was the determined effort made by him as attorney to obtain the lands and rights due the Frankfort Land Company, the affairs of which had been either neglected or overlooked by Pastorius. The first effort in this direc- tion appears in an entry in the before-quoted Minute-book G, under date 17th of the roth month, 1701. He did not confine his efforts to the land office. Again referring to the court record, we find,-
" 4th day of the 6th month 1702. Daniel Falkner and Johann Jawert, as attorneys for the Frankfort Land Com- pany, requested in writing the consent of this Court for to call or summon this companies tennants in the companies houses, there to make up their accounts and pay. But this Court thought it needless to give such consent."
Successive appearances before both local courts and land commissioners attest Falkner's activity in fostering the trusts, with which he was charged by the principals in Europe, as well as by his own Community.
In the court records, under date of 16th of 12th month, 1702|3, it appears,-
" By order of this Court the letter of Attorney 216 from Catherina Elizabeth Schultzin to Daniel Falkner and Arı- old Stork was compared with the copy which Hans Henry Meels hath delivered to the said Daniel Falkner and were both found agreeing word for word. In witness whereof the said Copy by the said Courts order was signed by D. F. Pastorius."
On 5th of 2nd month, 1703, Daniel and Justus went before the land commissioners, and produced a return of a warrant for fifty acres of Liberty Lands surveyed to Ben- jamin Furley. They also pressed a claim for a High Street lot of 132-foot front.
216 This was evidently the deed of gift recited on page 146.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
24th of 3d month, 1703, both brothers again appear and ask for patents for sundry tracts of 1000, 1900, and 50 acres respectively.
On the 30th of 6th month, 1703, Justus Falkner appears as attorney for Benjamin Furley in reference to a tract of 1000 acres of land in Chester County, which either joined or overlapped the Welsh tract. This claim led to some complication with David Lloyd and Isaac Norris.
On the 3d of October, 1704, Daniel Falkner came into court and " desired that an explanation of a certain letter of attorney from Catherina Elizabeth Schultzin to him the said Daniel Falkner and Arnold Storchen should be read in this Court, which being done, He further desired that the Sd explanation should be recorded. Which the Court consented to."
28th Ioth month, 1703. The case of Mathew Smitli vs. Daniel Falkner being called, the plaintiff by reason of con- science, viz.,-" That this was the day wherein Herod slew the Innocents, as also that his witnesses were and would for the same reason not be here, desired a continuance to the next terni of court of Record. To be held for this Corporation, which is allowed to, provided the Sd Daniel Falkner do then appear and stand Tryal."
8th 12 ino., 1703|4. " Proclamation being inade the action of Matthew Smith against Daniel Falkner was brought before the Court, and being wrong laid was quasht."
"d 3Mo. 1704 Daniel Falkner request to this Court, was read and answered to the first of his desires, that Mathew Smith hath paid the Court's fees already and departed out of this County (Township). To the second, that Johannes Unistadt hath all the money which he is to receive for the land in the hands of Humphry Edwards where it may be attached."
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Pastorius vs. Falkner.
In the year 1704 there appear three entries that concern the elder Falkner. According to one dated 13thi of 41110., 1704, he was chosen as a burgess in place of Peter Keyser. October 14, 1704, he was fined six shillings for having bad fences. The next entry does not appear in the remaining part of the original manuscript record-book. It is taken from the "Collections of the Historical Society" for 1853, p. 256.
" The 28th day of November, 1704. Daniel Falkner coming into this Court behaved himself very ill, like one that was last night drunk, and not yet having recovered his witts. He railed most greviously on the Recorder, Simon Andrews, and the Bailiff, Aret Klincken, as persons not fit to sit in a Court ; he challenged Peter Shoemaker one of the Judges on the bench, to come forth, and inore the like enormnities. The Sheriff, William de Wees, telling him that he would not do so at Philadelphia, the said Falkner himself, answered no, not for a hundred pounds ; and after abundance of foul language, when the Court bid the said Sheriff and the Constable bring him out, he went himself, crying you are all fools ! But afterwards coming again, the Court ordered him to pay his fine for having of late been extreme drunk, and convicted before Hans Gerry Meels, a Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, as also to find security for liis appearance and answering for the many abuses offered to this Court. He said he would pay the said fine before going out of the house, but concerning security, the Frankfort Company was security enough for lıin1, offering also paper of his to this Court, which the Clerk begun to read, but the Court having heard a few lines of it was not willing to hear it all over, and com- mitted hin, the said Daniel Falkner, to appear at the next Court of Record to be held for this corporation and answer for the abuses above expressed."
THE DECLINE OF THE COMMUNITY.
HE gleam of encourage- inent that enlivened the hopes of the leaders of 1 the Community toward the close of the first decade of tlie Theosophical experiment on the Wissahickon, when the mystic number, owing to the ARMS OF SWEDEN, A.D. 1700. accessions from Europe, was once more complete, was but like the burst of light that often precedes the dying flame. While to all outward ap- pearances, in the minds of the leading spirits, stability was now assured, it was in reality the turning-point where dis- integration began. Many of the new members were imbued witli entirely different motives from those that had insti- gated the original party ; and as soon as they commenced to feel the yoke of restraint, resulting from a communal life and discipline, they were the first to return to the free- doin of the world. Another matter that hastened the final dismemberment of the Community was the marriage of Daniel Falkner 217 and the course pursued by him and others in taking an active part in the civil and political affairs of the German township.
217 Frankfort, Pastorius papers, Pennsylvania Historical Society.
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Falkner's Swamp.
While Kelpius and a few others refused all honors and richies, the majority, owing to the continual increase in the population and the demand for men of their capabilities, again entered the world and assumed their previous occu- pations or other congenial employment.
In consequence of this internal condition of the Frater- nity, the vigils in the sternwarte were abandoned, and the watch that had been kept so faithfully during so many nights to announce the first sign of the appearance of the liarbinger of the Deliverer was kept no more. Then, as the new century increased in years, the expectation of an immediate millennium gradually grew less and less in the minds of many. The strict devotional exercises in the Tabernacle also became fewer in number, while the general discipline relaxed, and the mystical researchies and Theo- soplical speculations were either altogether neglected or left to the leaders and such of the older or more enthu- siastic members as proved to be above the allurements of the surrounding temptations.
Daniel Falkner soon found that, by virtue of his new duties as agent for the Frankfort Company and his family cares, he could not give the same attention as formerly to these recondite things. Then, in addition, the landed interests of the Community, as well as those of Benjamin Furley, required his personal attention and occupied much of his time. When the Manatawany tract was finally located and patented, a settlement was projected under his auspices upon the fertile stretch of well-watered meadow- land that is still known as "Falkner's Swamp." Coinci- dent with the earliest settlement of this tract, Daniel Falkner, and not his brother Justus, as has been errone- ously stated, organized an orthodox Lutheran congregation, of which he became the first pastor. This congregation,
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
the oldest German Lutheran one in Pennsylvania, is still in existence and in a flourishing condition. .
The departure of Justus Falkner for New York imme- diately upon his ordination at Wicacoa, November 24, 1703, to take charge of the German and Dutch Lutheran con- gregations scattered along the Hudson and in East Jersey, in connection with the Dutch Lutheran Church of New York City, was another severe blow to the permanency of the Fraternity as originally constituted.
The explanation of the withdrawal of these two brothers, both prominent members of the Fraternity, is that they were inen of strong character, and, in view of the changed condition of tlie German residents of the Province, brought about by the constantly increasing population, felt that the proper field for their activity lay among thie populace, wlio needed spiritual guidance : they could no longer waste their talents and learning in seclusion in the expectation of an immediate approach of the millennium.
To make the situation even more precarious, Kelpius, who was of a somewhat frail constitution, broke down physically under the great mental strain and the rigors of our climate. He, however, kept up his educational labors, as well as his Theosophical studies. He also continued in touch with his former associates in Europe. Letters are still in existence written by him during the summer of 1705 to Heinrich Johann Deichmann, leader of the Pliila- delphiac movement in Europe, and to his former tutor, Magister Johann Jacob Fabricius of Helmstadt. It is in writing to the latter that Kelpius again refutes the reports that lie had turned Quaker or had assimilated to any special denomination. In the winter of 1705 he became so ill and feeble that his companions removed him to the house of Christian Warmer, one of the original Brethren who had
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"A Loving Moan."
come over in the " Sara Maria," and had since married and settled in Germantown, where he was a tailor. Hither, to the humble abode of his former follower, the Magister of the Theosophists in the New World was brought during his illness, so that he might have better care and attention than could be given him at the Tabernacle.
It was while recovering from this attack, in the following spring, that Kelpius wrote the hymn, " A Loving Moan of the Disconsolate Soul in the Morning Dawn," to which he adds : " As I lay in Christian Warmer's house, very weak, in a small bed not unlike a coffin, in May, 1706."
The first and last verses of this hymn will show the state of his mind at that time,-
I " Here lye I submissive And weak, in a shrine O'er Come and made passive With the sweetest pain I think on the blooming of that lovely May Where I my Beloved shall ever enjoy And the little hut for a new do away.
25 " So will I them set me Yet better to stand And over me let thee Have thy own free hand. Therefore kiss, or correct, come to me or go, Give presents, or take them, bring joy, or bring woe : If I can but have thee, thy will may be so."
This was followed soon after by a peculiar epistle to Hester Palmer,218 a public Friend 219 from Long Island, who,
218 Hester Palmer was the daughter of one Joseph Palmer and his wife Sarah. The family is enumerated in the "Exact list of all Ye inhabi- tants names Wth In Ye towne of fflushing and p'cincts of old and young ffreemen & Servants, white & blacke. &C 1698."
219 Benezet MSS.
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it appears, had had a personal interview with Kelpius pre- viously. On account of its peculiarity this letter is repro- duced entire. It treats of the Threefold Wilderness state :
(1) The Barren ; (2) the fruitfull ; and (3) the wilderness of the Elect of God.
" A. 1706 d. 25, MAYI.
" My dearly beloved in our Immanuel Jesus the Messiah : " The Son of God our Saviour.
" Being presented lately with a letter of yours, directed to our beloved Friend M- - B -- , I found in the P.S. that the remembrance of mine was not yet slipt out of your Minde, insomuch that you desired to see a few lines from iny hand, which Desire is an evident sign to me that the said remembrance is in Love & in the Truth.
"Assure yourself that it is with no less Fervency on iny Side, but I finde as yet a double wall between us, which indeed seems to stop the current of this firey love-dream of which no more at present, least we should embolden our- selves to break through before the time appointed by Him, who nourisheth the Woman in the Wilderness (Rev. 12, 14). And since our Discourse broke just as we was about this matter, Viz :- THE THREEFOLD WILDERNESS STATE, I'll venture upon your Patience a few lines Con- cerning this subject, adding the Third State in the Wilder- ness, also having Confidence in your good Acceptance since you have in a manner bidden mne to write & I finding 110 better Subject than to begin where we left it.
"Of the first we did discourse somewhat, viz :- Of the Barren Wilderness, & as we was beginning the second, viz :- Of the Fruitfull Wilderness, we was interrupted.
" The first hath a respect upon the Old Birth, like as Ye second upon the New. These two run parallel until the
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" Of the Fruitfull Wilderness."
First dieth, & then the Second is set at Liberty. The first is begotten in Egypt, & then arriveth to its manhood, & being led out of Egypt falls and Dieth in the Wilderness. The Second is also begotten in Egypt but is educated, and arriveth to its manhood in the Wilderness, and after the death of the First enters Caanan. The First seeth indeed the stretched out Arın of God in Egypt as well as in the Wilderness, but murmurs, provokes & tempts God & limiteth the Holy one in Israel, alwais turning back with its Heart lusting after Egypt. The Second seeth God & its life is preserved, its face alwais turned Caananwarts & its Heart with Joshua & Caleb (Joshua signifieth Aid, Sal- vation, Conservation ; Caleb, full of heart, courageous, un- daunted, faithfull) stands faithfull & seeth Ye salvation of God, being filled with the fervent & only desire of attain- ing the same. The first is in continual fear of Death, & what he feareth cometh upon him (Num. 14, 28; Prov. 10, 24). The Second is undaunted & liveth (Num. 14, 30, 31) & puts his feet upon the necks of his enemies (Jos. 10, 24 ; Psal. 94, 13). The Second deriveth its origen from the First, & dying to this riseth & liveth in God : The First when He dyeth, liveth in the Second (This is a great Mystery & wants an Explanation else it may be miscon- strued, but I hope you are no Stranger to it). The Second liveth under Moses as well as the First as long as Moses liveth (Gal. 4, 1 ; Rom. 7), but is hidd inward ; by chance he is called the inward Man in the Tabernacle, from which He never departeth (Exod. 33, II). But when Moses Dyeth the New Man, being arrived now to his Manhood, appears froin his inward state outwardly to the Terror of his enemies (see of this coming forth Cant. 3, 6; & 8, 5) of Whose Land he taketh Possession (Num. 27, 15 ; Deut. 3, 21-end). I will not draw the Parallisin further, since a word to the Wise is
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1
ALLEGORICAL REPRESENTATION OF ALL FAITHS.
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" The Barren Wilderness."
enough. And since we have orally conferred of the First state, viz :- of Ye Barren Wilderness, let us insist a little upon the Mystery of the Second. In which Fruitfull Wilderness we enjoy the leading Cloud by day, out of which so many drops of the heavenly Dew (Psal. 33, 3) as a Bap- tisin of Grace upon us do fall. This is a Day of Joy & triumph, when the Holy Ghost moves & stirreth the waters in our Hearts so that this living spring diffuseth it self through the Eyes in a sweet & Joyfull Gush of Tears : O Thou blessed water-baptism, who would not desire to be Baptized with thee every day. But there followeth a night also upon this Day, wherein nevertheless the Pillar of Fire is our Guide, refining us as Gold in the Furnace, which is the Baptisin of Fire of Ye Son, & is indeed terrible to the old Birth, but bright & light to the New; for she learneth by this to be resigned & say 'Not my will, O Father ! but Thine be done.' Thus our Tears are our Meat, yea, our Manna, not only by Day but also in the darkest Night (Psal. 42, 3 ; 80, 5). The most bitter Myrrh (which con- diteth the old man in his Grave) hath the most sweetest Sweet hid in herself. For the Tree of the Cross & the Yoak of the Beloved doth but sweeten the bitter water of Affliction & sufferings in Mara (Exod. 15; Matt. II). The darkest sorrow contains in herself the most inward Joy & Gladness (2 Cor. 6, 10). Darkness is like the Light (Psal. 139, 12). To dye is in this pleasan Wilderness to grow lively. Poverty maketh rich. Hunger is the most desira- ble Meat, & Thirst the most refreshing Nectar (Math. 5, 6). To be nothing is to be Deified (2 Pet. 1, 4). To have nothing is to enjoy all (2 Cor. 12, 10). To become weak is the greatest strengthi.
" Disquietness is the surest Peace (2 Cor. 7, 10). No work no Pain doth tire, for the more we work the stronger
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
we grow (Gen. 32, 24), & yet we do experimentally find that the greatest weakness hath the greatest strength hid in herself (Cant. 2, 5). Oli everblessed Wilderness thou rejoyceth & blossometh as a Rose! yea, thou blossometh abundantly & rejoyceth even with Joy and Singing. The glory of Libanon is given unto thee, the Excellency of Carmel & Sharon ! 'In thee we see the Glory of our Lord, & the Excellency of our God! In thee our weak Hands are Strengthened & our feeble Knees confirmed (Esa. 35, I). Who would not desire to be a Denizon in Thee? Who would not delight to trace thy Solitary and lonesom walks ? O! ye Inhabitants of this happy desolation, bless & kiss that gentle hand of that Divine Sophia who at the first did so wittily allure you, when she intended to bring you into this Wilderness, for to speak to your Heart, in order to search & trie the same! Do not forsake her, untill she hatlı given you from hence your Possessions, & the hinder- inost Valley for the opening of your understanding (Hos. 2, 14, 15, according to the LXX Achor signifying hinder- most, furthest, comp. Exod. 3, 1, Syrach 4, 17-28).
" This Valley of Achor, or hindermost Cavity, leads me to the consideration of a Wilderness yet of a higher (further) degree than the Second, which it exceeds by so much as the second does the First. We may call it the WILDERNESS OF THE ELECT OF GOD, as being traced but by few, & none but peculiarly chosen Vessels of Honour & Glory.
"I shall bring but four Instances for this, Two out of Ye Old & Two out of the New- Test. The first is Moses, that great Propliet & mediator between God & the Israel, accord- ing to the Flesh, who, as the Acts 2, 7, give us to under- stand, had a Revelation that He should deliver Israel out of Egypt, whilst He was yet in the court of Pharao ; which,
THE PIETISTS OF PROVINCIAL PENNSYLVANIA.
HERRIT'S GLEN ON THE MALSAHICYON.
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" Moses in the Wilderness." 185
as he would put in Execution, miscarried of the Enterprise through the fault of the People, whereupon he fled into the Wilderness, where he remained 40 years. What He did there is nowhere described, only that towards the end of tlie 40 years He led his Flock to the Backside (or rather to the hinderinost or furthest) Desert. And there the Angel of the L(ord) appeared unto him out of a burning Bush, in order to send liim in embassage to King Pharao. But so forward as Moses was at the first to go, when he had got only an Intimation or Manifestation or Revelation or In- spiration or Motion (or what we inay call it) of what He now was to do, without any express Commission & Cre- dentials (Viz. Miricales & Signs). So backward was lie now to go, wlien he got express orders & extraordinary Credentials, so that we may easily find what he had done during the 40 years in the Wilderness having the two ex- treines, viz., his Presumption & fervent Zeal at first in which he killed the Egyptian, & his great Humility & meekness at last when God would send him, which last is Symbolically typified by his leading his Sheep by Ye Back- side or deepest of the Wilderness. Whereas formerly when his firy Quality was not yet thoroughly tinctured and Met- amorphosed into the Lamlike nature, He led liis flock, but, as it were, on the Brim & foreside of the Wilderness, of which I had more to say, but lest the Letter should exceed its bounds, I must hasten to the next Instance, which is Fleyah & runs into many things paralell to the first Wit- ness. Read the history I Kings 6, 29. He was a very zealous & had slain the Priests of Baal, as Moses liad thie Egyptian. They did seek his life, as the Egyptians did Moses his. He made his escape & fled into the Wilderness as Moses did. Moses his 40 years was turned to him in 40 days, He came at last into the Hindermost Wilderness to
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HERMIT'S GLEN ON THE WISSAHICKON.
VIDE, PAGE :14
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The Prietists of Povincial Pennsylvania.
the Mount of God Horeb, the very same where Moses saw the Vision, And here God appeared unto him, & gave him a gentle Reprimende as touching his Zeal & Presumtious. Shewing him withal, that the great and strong winde & the Earthquake & the Fire (wherein Elijah's his Ministry had consisted) did indeed go before tlie L(ord), but that the Lord did not dwell thierein, but in the still aethereall creat- ing voice & that there were yet 7000 left besides him that had not'bowed unto nor kissed Baal ; though they were hid & unknown to him, & had not ministered publiquily with storming & quaking & burning Jealousy as he had done. Thereupon being Condemned to substitute another in his Room (viz : to edifie, whereas hitherto he had but destroyed), he was soon after taken up into Paradise, by the same ele- ment wherein he had ministered. This Eleijalı leads to Ye first Wilderness in the New Testament, the Claus of the old John, the Precursor of the Messiah, who after his edu- cation was also in the Wilderness, till the day of his Shew- ing unto Israel in the Spirit & Power of Eleijal, baptizing with water to Repentance, as the first Eleijah had baptized withi Fier for Destruction. What he did in the Wilderness is not described, but by that what hath been said we may safely conclude that he was gratified there for liis so great a Ministry. That God appeared also unto him there ap- pearetli out of what he saith himself (Joh. 1, 33). He that sent me to Baptize the same said unto me. I will not draw the Parallelism any further, lest I should prove tedious at least. That like as the accorded of him who succeeded Eleijah, raised the dead man (2 Reg. 13, 21), so He who succeeded John, by his death became the Head, the Spring, the Principle & cause of Life & Resurrection unto all that believed in Him, both for Soul & Body. This is the last & greatest Witness I am to produce JESUS the Messiah of
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" The Prerogative of the Elect."
God, our God & Saviour, the centre of all, who also in likeness of the first Lawgiver Moses was 40 days (the 40 years of Moses being thus abridged) in the Wilderness & tempted there with all manner of Temptations (though without sin, wherein He hath the only Preogative above all, Heb. 4, 15; 2, 28). The Scripture indeed maketh mention of his firey trials (1 Pet. 4, 12). But nowhere saith what they was or are. They cannot be described ; it is only experience which can teach them best. The three temptations that happened at the End of the 40 days (Matt. 4) centre in this: If He was the Son of God or Not ! which indeed hath more to say than is commonly supposed. The very Ground of the Christian Religion circling therein & is founded thereupon, as appears from Matt. 16, 16; Joh. II, 27 ; I Joh. 4, 15; 5, 5; & is the greatest Stumbling block to the Jews (Joli. 19, 7) & to the Turks, the Latter believing that Jesus the Son of Mary (as they style him) is the word of God incarnate, & that he is anointed to the Holy Ghost above all the Prophets & above Mahomed, & that he is to be the Judge of the Quick & Dead & of Mahomed himself ; but that He is the Son of God they cannot believe, for, say they, God is a Spirit & cannot beget a man for his Son, &c. And no wonder, this being a Mystery surpassing all humane & Angeelicall under- standing ; nor is it to be found out by the same, it depend- ing solely from the Revelation of the Father, like as that of the Father depends from the Reception of the Son & M. K., is yet to answer the ? Why Jesus being God of very God, became to be Man & died? The Prophets & Patri- archs have been tempted indeed with great Temptations, but non like this, none of the Nature of this, they being not cabable of the same, as being the Sons of God through Faith in Him, who being God, was to be made Man (Exod.
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