USA > Pennsylvania > The German Pietists of provincial Pennsylvania : 1694-1708 > Part 18
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The subject of this sketch was the eldest of three brothers who composed the Küster family, and all upon attaining their majority became men of note. Ludolph, the noted literary critic and linguist, was born in 1667, eventually entered the Roman Churchli, and became the superintendent of the Royal Library in Paris, where he procured tlie col- lation of the famous Ephrem Palimpsest. 263
The youngest brother, Johann, also became a leading citizen in his native district. It was his son, Ludolph, who studied law, and afterwards became noted as the bailiff (Amtmann) to the Countess of Schaak at Ingenhausen.
Young Henrich received the rudiments of instruction in the common schools of Blumenberg, where he was taught by Pastor Vogelsang. When the latter was called to Det- mold as assistant rector, his student accompanied him, and remained four years under his instruction, perfecting himself in' Latin, Hebrew and Greek, beside his other studies.
At the age of fifteen he went to Bremen with the express intention of studying law and philosophy at the Gymna- siuin of that city. He, however, devoted himself mainly
263 It was the intention of the parents that young Ludolph should become a merchant and succeed his father. He, however, showed so great a pro- clivity for books and learning that his elder brother commenced to lead him into classical studies, continuing his supervision over him, even when the latter attended school in Berlin.
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Köster as Pedagogue.
to the study of the philosophy of Descartes,264 and attended the lectures of Schwelings.
After a sojourn there of five years he went to Frankfort on the Oder, where he studied law for three years, leaving the University in 1684, and ending his academic days at the age of twenty-two. Koster had a natural inclination to teach or impart knowledge, and at once started upon a career as tutor. He made his début as pedagogue at Kiis- terin, in the family of Aulic-councillor Polemius, where he remained about a year.
In his curriculum he abandoned the old methods of instruction then in vogue, whereby the minds of the scholars were strained, but attempted rather to interest his pupils by rational discourses, delivered in an agreeable and impres- sive manner.
This system of instruction became known to Pfarrer Stos, a Berlin divine, who in turn brought it to the notice of the Brandenburger privy-councillor, Baron Orten von Schwerin. The councillor was so much pleased with the new method that he asked Köster to instruct in this manner his three sons, Carl, Friedrich and Orten. A satisfactory agreement having been arrived at, Köster came to Berlin and was installed as resident tutor. This was in the year 1685; he remained in charge for seven years, dividing his time between the estates of his patron in Berlin and Landsberg.
The father of the Baron of Schwerin was a consistent Lutheran, and was greatly grieved at the course of liis son in affiliating with the Reformed Church. Every induce-
264 René Descartes (Kartesius), a celebrated French philosopher, born 1596. Died at Stockholm, February II, 1650. He advanced far beyond his predecessors, and if he had done nothing besides introducing a spirit of inquiry into the mysterious operations of nature, he would have labored inuch for the benefit of mankind.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
ment was offered to the son to adhere to the faith of his fathers, but even the promise of an increased patrimony failed to alter the course of the Baron. During this con- troversy between father and son, the former had greatly increased his library, mainly with orthodox standard and controversial theological literature.
To this collection the young tutor had free access, and there came upon the famous English Polyglot,265 a work that interested him above all others. He now improved his opportunity to perfect himself in Greek and Hebrew, and although jurisprudence had thus far been his specialty, he at once commenced to study such of the Eastern lan- guages as were used in the polyglot translation.
He even went so far as to interest his patron by calling his attention to the preface of Brian Walton,200 showing him
265 This work, one of the " four great Polyglots," is usually known as the London or Walton's Polyglot, from the fact that it was published in that capital under the editorsliip of Brian Walton. This great work was completed in the midst of persecution and civil war. It consists of six volumes, folio, with two supplementary volumes (London, 1654-57), exhibiting the text in nine different languages : Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, Samaritan, Arabic, AEthiopic, Persian, Greek and Latin. The whole is based upon the Paris Polyglot (Le Jay, 1645), with many additions and improvements. A copy of this work was brought to America by Köster, and formed a part of the library of the Community, where it remained when he returned to Europe. Subsequently it came into the possession of the Sprogel brothers, and is now in the library of Christ Church in Philadelphia.
266 Brian Walton was born in Cleveland, Yorkshire, in 1600, and was educated at Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts in 1623. During the Civil War he sided with the King, and was consequently obliged to take shelter at Oxford, where he formed the scheme for his polyglot Bible. Doctor Walton had several assistants in his laborious un- dertaking, of whom the principal was Dr. Edmund Castell. On the restoration of Charles II, to whom he presented his Bible, with a new dedication (the original one to Oliver Cromwell having been cancelled), he was made one of the royal chaplains ; and in 1660 he was raised to the Bishopric of Chester. He died in London, 1661.
257
Translation of the Old Testament.
how the Briton proved conclusively that the accepted Hebrew text of the Old Testament had been tampered with, and that the Septuagint translation had been made before the interpolations were added, and it therefore contained the veritable Divine Word of the Old Dispensation. 267
These representations induced Baron von Schwerin to examine the polyglot and read the introduction by Walton. He, too, became of the opinion of his tutor that the deduc- tions of the Briton seemed feasible. He thereupon con- cluded to refresh his knowledge of Greek, and make a translation of the Septuagint into the German tongue. So patron and tutor studied Greek together, and translated the Old Testament from the Septuagint into German. They began with the Psalms, proceeded with the Pentateucli of Moses and so on, until the whole had been translated and corrected.
After the work was completed, it was finely engrossed upon quarto sheets, illuminated and bound up into several volumes. This monumental work is still preserved in the archives of the Schwerin family.
It is an easy matter to see how close the intercourse and friendship became between the two inen, separated as they were by their social positions, and what favors the tutor could have asked, if he had been so disposed, from a patron who had so great an influence with the reigning House of Brandenburg. Indeed more than once was the tutor offered a suitable provision. His reply was, when offered a lucra- tive appointment under the foriner prince, " I ant a Lutheran, and therefore must not serve a Reformned master, or go to a court where there are so many opportunities for sin."
267 Besides the Latin of the Vulgate there is an interlineary Latin trans- lation of the Hebrew. Though nine languages are used, yet no one book appears in so many. Vide, note 265.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
It was while at Berlin that Köster became interested in the Pietistic movement, which had taken root and was spreading over northern Germany. Joining a local Colle- gium Pietatis, he became acquainted with Horbius, and through him with John Jacob Zimmermann. When, finally, the movement fell under the bans of both church and state, and it was decided to form a Chapter of Perfection to emigrate to the new World, we find Köster actively sec- onding Zimmermann in his efforts to secure transportation for the party, and concessions from Penn's representatives in Holland.
After the issuing of the various edicts, the suppression of the Collegium at Erfurth, and the expulsion of Francke, it was decided to establish two central rallying-points prior to the final embarkation at Rot- terdamn. Magdeburg, on the Elbe, in Saxony, and Halberstadt, were the two places selected on account of their ac- cessibility and freedom from judicial interference.
ARMS OF ROTTERDAM.
Köster journeyed from Berlin to the former place, and there joined Seelig, Kelp, Biedermann, Falkner, and about twenty others. This contingent elected Köster as their leader, and when the time arrived, started, as was then the custom, 011 foot, staff in hand, and knap- sack on back, upon their pilgrim- age to America by way of Hol- land. Here the two parties were united, and the final preparations were made to embark for the prov- ince of Penn, under the auspices of Benjamin Furly. ARMS OF MAGDEBURG.
259
Erudition of Köster.
The success in obtaining transportation for so large a party was mainly due to the efforts of Köster. It appears that Benjamin Furly and Ludolph Köster, then living at Amsterdam,268 were intimately acquainted; and it was mainly through the intercession of the Köster brothers that the experiment was mnade possible. embarkation, the ister Zimmermann1, was chosen in his the eventful voyage has all been fully chapters. How on the eve of chief promoter, Mag died, and Kelpius place, together with on the "Sara Maria" told in previous
The Rev. Ernest pastor of Langen ARMS OF AMSTERDAM.
Ludwig Rathelf, hausen, near Han- over, was a close friend of Köster after his return to Europe. In referring to the period we are now concerned with, Rathelf, under whose charge Köster was then living at the Hanover Orphanage, states : "Our Herr Köster is a Luth- eran, and has always adhered strictly to the doginas and teachings of his church ; carefully investigated them, and held fast unto them. In his youth he was taught the two sacred languages, and he was thus able to read God's holy Word in their original tongues and purity. In his study of jurisprudence, lie never neglected an opportunity to obtain a clear insight into theology."
While in the employment of the Baron of Schwerin, the finding of the polyglot not only urged him to perfect him- self in the two languages, but also to learn to speak and read other tongues, and to inquire further into spiritual philosophy.
Köster was endowed with a remarkable memory, with- out which no linguist can succeed. His mind retained
268 Memoirs of Zacharias von Uffenbach.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
everything which was entrusted to it, and the matter could be recalled with ease and rapidity. He could repeat ver- batim, in Hebrew and Greek, all the Psalms, the whole of Isaiah, and other books of the Old Testament. He was equally felicitous in his knowledge of the New Testament. It was far easier for him to recall any quotation from tlie Bible than to find it in a concordance. This peculiar prop- erty of liis mind enabled him to repeat to others his spiritual deductions, and to defend himself in controversy.
Tlie society with which he went to America therefore elected hint as their general instructor ; and he acceded to their wishes. He frequently spoke to his fellow-passengers about spiritual matters, and when Sunday came he preached to them a regular sermon, wherein he especially exhorted tliemn to remain steadfast to the Lutheran Church. Several of his company were somewhat clouded, and seemed defi- cient in holiness, and in certain articles of the faith. More- over, he foresaw trouble when these persons would come to a country where they might be led astray by the Quaker doctrine. He therefore devoted all his energies to lead the erring ones aright, and fortify them against all such temp- tation. What he had done on shipboard he continued in Germantown, where there was a lack of spiritual teachers. As previously stated, Köster did not coufine his ministra- tions to the German-speaking population, but also went among the English, preaching both in Germantown and Philadelphia, as soon as he learned that his English hearers were sincere in their search after spiritual enlightment.
Rathelf mentions that George Keith took passage for Europe about the same time that Köster sailed for America, and that the former left many followers behind him, who now wandered about like unto sheep without a hierdsman. When Köster arrived he knew nothing about, or the pecu- liar schism that had been fomented among the Quakers.
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The Founding of Christ Church.
But when he learned of the situation, he at once began to instruct his people and friends upon Sunday and other days, and to impress upon his hearers such doctrines as the Quakers failed in.
The Keithians soon found this out, and when they heard that he preached to the multitudes of the Saviour's death, His merits, His ascension, the use of the Scriptures and of the ordinances they flocked in crowds to listen to his serions.
It was these Keithians whom Köster, not knowing them at first, took for enemies. But he soon learned to know both them and their sentiments, and led them straightway from the ways of the Quakers. The large number of Bibles and prayer-books 269 which he received from England were a material aid to him, as they were scarce among the Keithians.
The Friends naturally inade every effort to heal the old schism, and induce the seceders to return. But the regu- lar Church services organized by Köster, and the Orthodox Lutheran doctrine preached by him, considerably changed the situation. It inspired new hope and courage in the Keithians, and they even went so far as to again enter the meetings, and boldly refute some of the Quaker tenets.
The teachings of Henrich Bernhard Köster, however, had even a more extended effect upon the religious situa- tion of the Province, for they increased among the English and Welsh, a longing for regular services according to the ritual of the English Church. This was the case not only in the hearts and minds of the followers of Keith, but
269 This incident has already been noticed at length on page 68 of this work. There can be no question whatever that Köster used the Book of Common Prayer in his English services, as did the Swedish pastors, Rud- mann, Sandel and others under similar circumstances.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
also in others who had been brought up in the Church prior to becoming followers of Fox and Penn. This longing for church services as by law established took shape under the guidance of Köster, and within eighteen months after his arrival in the Province (November 15, 1695), a piece of ground was secured in the city of Philadelphia for church purposes, subject to an agreement between Griffith Jones and Joshua Carpenter.
This lot, upon which Christ Church now stands, con- tained 'one hundred feet fronting on Second Street, and one hundred and thirty-two feet in depth. 270
The pecuniary consideration was a yearly rental of "tenne pounds of curant silver money of ye Province." This ground rent could be extinguished for {150 at any time within fifteen years. There was nothing whatever stated in the indenture to show or prove that the ground was secured for church or burial purposes. 271
270 A strip of land of forty feet on Second Street north of this lot was eventually purchased, making the total frontage of the Church property 140 feet.
271 It will be noticed that the conveyance, although dated on November 5, 1695-6, was not consummated until four months later, March 5, 1695-6. There is not a single word in the indenture to indicate that the ground was to be held for any specific purpose. Upon the face it is a conveyance in fee-simple from Griffith Jones to Joshua Carpenter, subject to the above- mentioned ground-rent, which, had it not been extinguished within the limit of fifteen years, would have become an irredeemable incunibrance. It was extinguished by a deed made April 4, 1702, and acknowledged in open court in a Court of Common Pleas, June 4, 1702. (Deed not on record.)
On the 20th of July following, Joshua Carpenter signed a declaration which set forth the uses for which this ground was originally intended. After reciting the original deed and its extinguishment, it sets forth : " To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come :
"And Whereas, fifty pounds part of the consideration money was the proper monys belonging to the comunity of the church and the other
263
Opposition to Lutherans.
The witnesses to this historic document were Samuel Holt, James Trewalla, Jeremiah Price and John] Moore. It was acknowledged in open court on the 5th day of March, 1695-6, and has never been placed upon record.
This attempt to establish the Church of England in the very stronghold of Quakerdom naturally added fuel to the flame of religious excitement in the Province, and increased the bitter feeling which the Quaker leaders bore against the German religious enthusiast. So great became the hatred of the Friends and others against the Lutherans, on account of Köster's successful efforts in establishing the congregation, that when William Davis, in one of his numerous disputes with the Orthodox Friends, suggested the appointment of a Swedish pastor as referee, the request
hundred pounds residue thereof was advanced and taken upon interest by the said Joshua Carpenter for the use of the said church and the said Joshua Carpenter's name from time to time used only in trust the said piece of ground being always designed to be appropriated for a Church and Cemetary and the buildings and other improvements being completed with the stock and joint charge of the members thereof :
" NOW know Ye that the said Joshua Carpenter doth hereby acknow- ledge and declare that his name was used in the aforesaid deeds by the speciall nomination and appointment of the community of the said Church and for their use and benefitt and the Sd part of the lott of land is intended for a Cemetery or Church-yard and the Church and other premises are to be perpetually appropriated and used for the publick wor- ship of God and for the better instruction of the people inhabiting and to inhabit in Philadelphia aforesaid in the true Christian religion as it is now professed in the Church of England and established by the laws of the said Realm and to no other use or uses whatsoever the Wardens for the time being paying interest to the Sd Joshua Carpenter his executors ad- ministrators or Assigns from time to time for the sum of one hundred pounds till the principall mony shall be paid in out of the publick stock. " In witness whereof the said Joshua Carpenter hath hereunto sett his land and seal this twentieth day of July 1702."
The witnesses to the Indenture were Jonathan Dickinson, Charles Plumly, John White, and John Moore.
The document is not upon record.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
was refused, with the remark that the Lutherans were as " bad as Indians or Heathens.272 Köster, however, was not to be diverted from his course; and in the absence of any English clergyman held services according to the Book of Common Prayer, whenever a suitable room was to be obtained.
In referring to this movement he states :- " Here, then, there is an opening for a great harvest, which the Lord opens for us wider and wider, giving us strength to make his Philadelphiac Word a foundation on which Jerusalem can descend from above."
This feeling against the Lutherans, upon the part of the Quakers, was not a new thing, but dates back to some time prior to the arrival of the German Pietists. It arose in this manner. One Charles Christopher Springer, a Swedish schoolmaster at Wicacoa, who, as the old record states, was " a plain, honest, pious man, but devoid of talents," 273 made a determined effort, after the incapacity and death of Fabri- tius, to maintain some show of church services among his countrymen, until a regular pastor should arrive from Sweden in response to their repeated petitions.
These services were strictly according to the Lutheran doctrine, the sermon always being read from Luther's " Pos- tilla." It appears that they attracted the notice of the Welsh beyond the Schuylkill river, and the Quakers, fearing that this might alienate the former from their fold, at- tempted to prevent both the Welsh and the Swedes fromll crossing the Schuylkill on Sundays, so that they could not attend the services.
272 " Jesus the Crucifyed man," p. 18.
273 As a matter of fact Springer appears to have been a man of thorough education, as he was an attaché of the Swedish minister in England, whence he was abducted and carried off to Virginia, where he was sold into bondage. After serving as a slave for five years he made his escape, and found a home with those of his own nationality on the Delaware.
265
Persecution of Swedish Lutherans.
This action upon the part of the local authorities was met by a protest and petition from the Swedes to Gov. Benjamin Fletcher of New York, as soon as the news came of his appointment to the governorship of Pennsylvania under the Crown.
This petition was read before the Provincial Council on May 11, 1693, his Excellency Gov. Fletcher presiding. In this paper " they sett forth that their meeting house is on the other side the river : that they live three miles distant from the ferry, and that they are restrained from passing the river the nearest way to their worship on Sundays & Holydays by Philip England, keeper of the ferry att Schuilkill."> 274
Governor Fletcher, as the minutes of the Council state, "did offer his Inclinations to remove any obstruction that might be given to the worship of God, and his regard to the Interest of the proprietarie in the ferry, desiring the Councill's advice."
The members of the Council present at the meeting- Andrew Robeson, Robert Turner, Pat. Robinson, Lawrence Cock, Win. Clarke-gave as their opinion, "That the petitioners may liave Libertie granted them to transport themselves over the river to & from their worship, pro- vided they doe not abuse this Libertie to other ends, to the prejudice of the ferry."
Köster's course of action, together with the opposition of the Quaker leaders, made many enemies for him among his countrymen as well as among the English, and culmi-
274 Philip England established the first regular ferry across the Schuyl- kill. He held his license under the hand and seal of William Penn, dated the 16th of Sber, 1683. This grant was confirmed by order of Gov. Fletcher, dated the 29th of April, 1694, and further by a lease from the Lieut. Governor, in behalf of the Proprietor, for a certain term of years at an annual rental of seven pounds.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
nated in a disagreement with his fellow-mystics on the Wissahickon, and his retirement with a few others from the Community in the forest.
How he attempted to start a somewhat similar Com- munity in Plymouth, under the name of "tlie Brethern in America " or "the True Church in Philadelphia," has been fully detailed in a former chapter.275
Pastorius, in his so-called "Rebuke," refering to Köster and his followers (1697), writes :- " They stile themselves the Brethern in America, the True Church of Philadelphia or Brotherly Love, etc.
" This sounds mightly afar off, and some silly Women in Germany, who may happen to see their pamphlet, which probably for that end and purpose was printed in the high Dutch tongue,276 besides the English will be ready to think this Church or Brotherhood something real and consider- able. But to undeceive those, who prefer Truth before fictions and falsehood, I herewith must inform them that all these specious Names and Epithets in the pages above quoted, and more others, are mere Kosterian Chimera, an idle fancy. He, the said H. B. Koster, arriving liere in Pensilvania, his heart and head filled with Whimsical and boisterous Imaginations, but his hands and Purse emptied of the money, which our Friends beyond Sea imparted unto him, and some in his Company, was so cunning as to intice four or five to a Commonalty of Goods, and so settled a Plantation near German-town, upon a tract of Land given unto them, calling the same IRENIA; that is to say, the house of Peace, which not long after became ERINNIA, the House of raging Contention, and 110w returned to the donor, the Bretheren of America being gone
275 Page 84-92, ibid.
276 This was the first book printed in the German language in America.
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The Yearly Meeting at Burlington.
and dispersed, and the Church of Philadelphia (falsly so called) proving momentary, and of no moment; Mark iii, 25."
Among the men whose enemity Köster evoked was the above-named Daniel Francis Pastorius of Germantown. The controversy thus engendered between the two leaders became very bitter, and was aggravated still more by the occurrences of the following year.
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