USA > Pennsylvania > The German Pietists of provincial Pennsylvania : 1694-1708 > Part 26
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" In the Province of New York I serve four small Luth- "eran congregations, & all these four consist in all of about "one hundred constant communicants, besides strangers " going & coming in the city of N. York, so that in all I " have seven congregations, whom to serve I must yearly "travel about twelve hundred English iniles."
412 On Quassaik Creek in Ulster County.
413 These congregations were in Bergen County along the Hudson, and evidently do not include those on the Raritan, which were ministered to by his brother Daniel.
373
The Old Church Register.
Biorck then adds, "Thus these men were punctual enough in meeting, although scattered far and wide. Moreover :
" Mr. Kocherthal resideth as yet for the most time in one place on Hudson's River, but visiteth two places on the other side of the river, where particular Lutheran congre- gations meet. He has been as yet but once with those Lutheran Palatines that live in the Mohacks' country.
" We have brought forward these things so much out of our way, in order to make it clear that the splendor of the Gospel had already shone in such various places of America."
To reach these widely separated stations was a serious question. No regular conveyances existed ; the only means of intercourse was either by canoe on the watercourses or on horseback through the almost trackless forest, unprotected from the elements and exposed to the dangers from wild beasts and a treacherous savage. Still, even these dangers failed to deter this pioneer missionary from his path of duty.
Great as was this widespread field of his ministrations, we have records, that lie, in addition, found time to extend his labors and spread the Gospel among the negro slaves in the colony, as well as the Indians who still remained in the vicinity.
The old church records and registers of the venerable Trinity Lutheran Church (now St. Matthew's at the corner of Broome and Elizabeth Streets) give us the best insight into the piety and untiring energy of Justus Falkner.
It is indeed fortunate that these records have been pre- served to the present generation. They were saved from destruction during the great conflagration in 1776 by the heroism of the pastor, who rescued them from the burning parsonage at the peril of his life; after which they were securely placed in the cellar of the new church, and were
374
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
forgotten until found by chance a few years ago; and now, by the courtesy of the Reverend John Henry Seiker, the pastor of the church, they have been placed at the disposal of the present writer.
Dominie Falkner evidently considered the Church Book of the New York congregation as his official register, and copied his ministerial acts upon its pages, irrespective of where they were administered.
This interesting relic had been procured some time pre- vious to the arrival of Dominie Falkner, as is shown by a memorandum or two in Pastor Rudmann's handwriting. No effort seems to have been made by the latter to keep a separate record of his ministerial acts in New York, and they were without doubt entered upon the records of the Wicacoa church, which was his official station.
It was consequently left to Justus Falkner to open the church register of the Trinity Lutheran congregation in New York. This book is the oldest systematic Lutheran record in America, and is in the unmistakable handwriting of the pastor.
On the first page it states that " this is the Church Regis- ter (Kercken-Boeck) of the Christian Apostolic Protestant Lutheran Congregation, according to the unaltered Confes- sion of Augsburg, in New York, and the other thereto belonging places in America."
Then follows a brief list of contents :
"An inventory of books and papers belonging to the Church, folio 3.
" Baptismal Record (Doop Register), folio 79a.
"Register of such persons as partook for the first time with our Chris- tian Apostolic Protestant Lutheran Congregation of the Holy Sacrament, folio 876.
"Register of such as have been dismissed by the congregation, folio 109.
375
ERCKEN-BOECK.
2. Je Chriftelnike Apostolifine Profetantiche Lutherische percente toccataen IS onveranderte Conteste un Augsburg in Newyork en andern Tuertoe behoorenie Placage in America:
Title Page of the Register.
van dit Boeck
Inventarium van de Boeken in papieren, aan de Kers Gehoorendes. -
.Lol ..
PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE ORIGINAL.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
"Register of such as were married by the pastors of said congregation, folio 145.
" Burial Register, folio 185.
" Register of Church Officers, folio 316.
"Justus Falckner, Saxo-Germano nf. Eccla. Orthodox Lutheran Belvic Nov-Eboraci in America, Pastor."
To the historian the most interesting item on the above page is the reference to an inventory of church papers, then (1704) in possession of the corporation. They consisted of several bundles or packages of documents, and were labelled "Church papers," Packet I, II, etc., respectively. These documents have long since disappeared ; the only record of them which has came down to us being Falkner's inventory in the Kercken-Boeck.
Among the itemized list, Packet No. 1I would be of exceeding interest if it were still in existence, as it con- tained, among other documents, the following :
Item No. 5 .- The congregational call of Justus Falkner.
6 .- Rudmann's letter to Falkner, and Falkner's reply and acceptance.
8 .- A personal report from Falkner to Rudmann. 9 .- The engrossed certificate of ordination granted to Justus Falkner, and signed by the three Swedish pastors on the Delaware. This document was deposited by Justus Falkner with the congregation upon his acceptance of the charge.
The body of the book is divided, as the table of contents indicates, into six divisions. Reference has already been made to Dominie Falkner's first entry and votum.
The first ministerial act recorded was a baptism admin- istered in the barn of Cornelius van Boskerk at Hacken- sack in East Jersey, on Monday, February 27, 1704. Upon this occasion were baptized three children after a
377
The Doop Register.
full morning service. On April 17th, following, which was Easter Monday, Falkner baptized a daughter of Pieter A. van Boskerk in the church at New York. These four baptismns were entered upon the register at the same time in the Low Dutch language, with the following votum :
"O Lord ! Lord, let this child, together with the three 18
Door Register. L'our de Chriffelneke Protestantische Lutherifche Gemeente m Newyork, Nova Cafarea, Albania en andere daerto, be hvorenie plaelfen m America Septentrionali
Anno Christi 1704.
Aniw 1704 9. 27 Februari helt ick gedoopt to Hacknfack m Nova Cafarea nae gehoudene vormittags Praticatie in De Schwer van Comehus van Bofehkerk, navolgende Drie Kinderen Durch jonge Soon van Mattheus Corneliusfen en Syner Frysvrons Trinke, geboorn op frack infact
2
Gelungen waren Albert Saborifki en fyn Guys vrouw Magdalena
Z Laurens jonge Soon von Laurens van Bofehlerche en funer H. Now Henrichjel
getuigen waren Martin cheyer, en chargareta Janfer.
3
Alwa jonge vogter van Rudolph Berg en Catharina Synes H. brown Getmyggen waren De chowder felve es een chichael
-
Anno 1704 9. 17 Aprilis on De tweede Paefchen Jagh gedoopt monfe Kerke tot Newyork Antje jonge Soyfer van Pieter van Boschkerk en Syner Honys vrouw Trintje geboorn on Con Aapels-Arak 9. 26. Decent. 1703. Getuigen waren Heere Major de Bruyn en Gertje De Huys vrouw van Bernt Chriftiaen= 1) Heere, Have last Dit kint met Se Goven
FAC-SIMILE OF EARLIEST BAPTISMAL RECORD.
above written Hackensack Children, be and remain en- grossed upon the book of life, through Jesus Christ. Amen."
Almost every one of Falkner's entries closes with a short prayer or votum for the future welfare of the person men-
48
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
tioned ; showing the deep interest this devout shepherd took in the spiritual welfare of his flock, irrespective of their nationality or social position. Dutch, English, Ger- man, negro and Indian all lost their individuality with this pious evangelist, whose only aim and object it was to extend the Church of Christ in the wilds of America, according to the precepts of the Augsburg Confession.
The following short prayers follow the respective baptisms during the first year of his ministration :
"O God, let this child be and remain a child of salvation through Christ. Amen."
" Lord, let this child also remain forever within thy ever- lasting grace and favor, through Chirist. Amen."
"O God, let this child be included and remain in thy eternal favor, through Christ."
"O Lord, we commend this child unto thee, for both temporal and eternal welfare, through Christ. O My God, may this child be and remain a member of thy kingdom of grace and glory, through Christ. Amen."
The baptismn of children of English parents was usually recorded in the English language.
" Baptized d. 10 Octobr, 1704 in ye House of Mr. William Chambers, Richard, son of Mr. William Chambers en his wife Sarah, born d. 10 ditto.
" Bless, O Lord, this child also with everlasting happi- ness, through Christ Jesus. Amen.
"Anno 1707, the 1, Juni [literal transcript ], being Whit- sunday, baptized, in our Lutheran Church at Albany, Elizabeth, young daughter of Lieutenant Richard Brewer & Catherine his wife, born the II of March of this year. Godfather was Lieut: Henry Holland, God mother Madam Elisabeth Weems and Mrs. Margareta Kollnis.
"Grant, O Lord, that this Childt never cast away the grace
379
Falkner's Entries.
which thou has Schworn, yea given by the Covenant of Baptism trough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Among the many interesting items in the baptismnal regis- ter is the following :
In the year 1705 were baptized a daughter of Are of Guinea, a negro, and his wife Jora, both Christian men-
ANNO CHRISTI 1704
Syn ten confermael tot het frogheylige Sacrament Les Lichdens en Bloedis Defre Chrifti in onle Christelyche Protestante Gemeente toegelaten. worker navolgende Perfonen.
In Newyork
C1 Catarina Vielts Mr. Johan Viets Huys brow Charles Beeckman
2 .
Elsje La Grancie
In Albanien
4. Maria Johan Everyfen Anys brow.
Lact o Herre Jefu Christe Jefe Perforer- ware levendige Listmater acy ne tleylig Lichaem fun eh Flyver amen !
RECORD OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS.
bers of the congregation. 414 Falkner concludes with this votum :
" Lord, merciful God, who lookest not upon the person, but from whom different creatures that fear thee and do right find favor, let this child be clothed in the white robe of innocence and righteousness, and so remain through the grace of Christ, the Saviour of all mankind. Amen."
414 Vide, pp. 323, Supra.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
One of the most impressive incidents during Dominie Falkner's pastorate in New York occurred on Easter Sun- day, 1708. It was a clear, bright April day with the har- bingers of spring singing in the air, and the warm sun calling all vegetation once more to put on its garb of ver- dure ; indeed a typical Paschal day, when all nature seemed to rejoice.
The church was decorated with budding boughs and spring flowers. The Paschal candles burned brightly on either side of the crucifix upon the altar, all indicative of the glorious resurrection to be celebrated.
It was, however, a gala day in the church independent of its being one of the most joyous festivals. The full order of morning service (Haupt-gottesdeinst) was completed, to the reading of the last collect, when a baptism somewhat out of the ordinary course was administered. The candidate was a Carolina Indian, who was a slave held by Peter Woglamn.
When the former first expressed a wish to become a Christian, it became a question whether if he were admitted to the Church he could still be held in bondage and treated as a slave. The master naturally objected, in the fear that he might lose his servant. The Indian, however, settled the question by stating that he was willing to remain in servitude in this world, provided he was assured that he would be free and equal in the skies beyond.
Dominic Falkner, when he heard of the circumstances, examined the Indian, found him sincere, and concluded to accept liim, and instructed him in the catechism and the tenets of the faith.
Upon the Sunday in question, after the holy Eucharist had been celebrated, the Indian slave, after having been duly prepared, was called up before the altar and publicly
381
An Indian Baptism.
catechised in presence of the congregation by the pastor and wardens. He was then asked by Dominie Falkner whether he solemnly promised before the omnipotent Lord and this Christian congregation that he would, after he was received into the Church, continue to serve his worldly master and inistress as faithfully and truly as if he were yet in his benighted state.
Upon the Indian giving his solemn promise that he would, Dominie Falkner proceeded to baptize liin, after he liad driveii out the spirit of evil with the ancient exorcisin according to the Lutheran ritual : " Darum, du vermale- deyter Teufel, erkenne dein urtheil, &c."
The name given . to the new convert was "Thomas Christian." The ceremony closed with the invocation by the Dominie : "That the Lord would henceforthi cause this unbelieving Thomas to become a believing Christian." The morning service closed with the benediction.
History is silent as to the fate of this poor Indian slave who thus voluntarily embraced the Christian faith. Pre- sumably he continued to serve liis master and mistress, according to his solemn promise, with the same fidelity as before. Whether his bonds were ever relaxed, or whether his subsequent treatment was worse we do not know.
A somewhat similiar ceremony was performed at Albany four years after the above. The convert in this instance was a negro slave. The entry in the old register reads :
"Anno 1712, January 27, baptized at Loonenburg in Albany, Pieter Christian, a Negro and slave of Jan van Loons of Loonenburg, about thirty years of age. He has promised among other things that he will hereafter, as well as he has done before, faithfully serve his master and inis- tress as servant.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
"Grant, O God, that this black and hard Negro-heart be and remain a Christian heart, and may he be numbered among those who are clothed with white raiment before the throne of the Lamb, through the merits of the Lamb of God who bore the sins of the world. Amen."
Under date of 28, February 1710, Dominie Falkner records the baptism of Louisa Abigail, daughter of Pastor Josua Kocherthal and his wife Sibylla Charlotta.
Among the many curious entries in the Baptismal record, the following is interesting as it illustrates the orthodoxy of the Dominie. It appears that during his absence two members of his church called upon the English Episcopal minister, Rev. John Sharpe, to baptize their children. This fact evidently pained him deeply, as will be seen from the appended votum :
"Nov. 30, 1712. During my absence Mr. John Sharpe 415 baptized the young daughter of Christian Streit, named Maria Magdalena, born in New York, &c.
"December 28, 1712. Also baptized by Mr. Sharpe, the young daughter of Johann Phillip Tays, named Christine Elizabetlı, born in New York, &c.
"Lord, Lord God ! Merciful, gracious and forbearing, of great mercy and consideration, which thou showest unto
415 The Rev. Jolin Sharpe, a clergyman of character and ability, was one of the early clergy upon the rolls of the Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. His chief station under the Society was in East Jersey. Prior to this he appears to have been stationed in Maryland, probably under orders of the Bishop of London. (Nichols to Stubs .- Perry's Historical Collections, vol. iv, pp. 54, 349). But little is known of this clergyman. Upon the rolls of the Venerable Society he is entered as having been sent out in 1704, after which his career, so far as the Society goes, seems to be a blank, for immediately after his name and date is entered "resigned." According to the above entry by Dominie Falkner, he was still performning religious rites as late as 1712. Another account names him as a chaplain at New York.
383
Marriage of Dominic Falkner.
us in a thousand ways by forgiving us our offences, tres- passes and sin, let not one of the above standing names be blotted out from thy book [on ac- count of having been baptized by a minister of a different faith], but let them be therein written and re- Commilla: Licence. Provincie " main there through Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, Ainen." 416
ANNO CHRISTI. LTD.7.
To Jenno 2917. Den 26. che heeft nr. William Veley rius en Presicant van De Engliche Herche' N. forch
Lutterche Gemeen.
van Fr. Excellence Astert Hunter, ben Gouverneur my Justus Falchner Predicant van de Protefiantfe to i min stage in the Queens- Street in Fl. forch, conweert en tre d'Echt fact for reagent , met is Eetbare fonce Sachver Gerring
Itardich gefroren m'de Provincie van hogarth may County Awarie
Ich tanke unich Heere jefu, gry Zeggend my San! Amen.
cash
Rogate
FAC-SIMILE OF DOMINIE FALKNER'S ENTRY OF HIS MARRIAGE.
In the marriage record the follow- ing personal announcement is per- haps the most interesting :
Under date May 26, 1717. " On Rogate Sunday did Reverend Wil- liain Vesey, connnissary and preacher of the English church in New York, on a license of his Excellency Robert Hunter, at the time Governor of this Province, Me, Justus Falkner, pastor of the Protestant Lutheran congregation, in my house in little Queen street in New York, marry and consecrate in the bonds of lioly matrimony with the honerable vir- gin, Gerritge Hardick, born in the Province of New York, County Albany.
"I leave you not, you bless mne then. Amen."
Three children blessed this union :
416 Heere, Heere Gott, Barmhertig ende Genadig ende Lanckmaedig ende van groote Genade ende Trouwe, die Ghy bewyst in duysent leeden ende vergeeft misdaad, oventreedinge ende Soude, laat doch niet een van de boven staande naamen uyt u Bock uytgedelgt woordten, maar laat se daarin geschreewen syn en blyven door Jesum Christum, uwen lieven Soon. Amen.
384
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
Anna Catherina, born in New York, July 17, 1718; bap- · tized in the church on July 20; and Sara Justa, born at Loonenburg, May 5, 1720 ; baptized May 8 ; married Niclas van Hoesan, December 22, 1738; Benedictus, a son, born April, 1723; baptized at Calverack, April 11th.
In the performance of the arduous duties called for by his widely extended field of labor, the Dominie had but little time for rest or the enjoyment of home life. Forced as he was to be away from wife and babes for weeks and months at a time, his lot was by no means a sinecure, and to make matters worse, so beloved was he that the people, wherever he happened to be, were loth to see himn depart for his next station, and would exact promises for a speedy return.
In their attempt to secure his services, the various con- gregations even went further, and provided glebe houses that should be ready at all times for the pastor and his family. This was the case at Loonenburg, Calverack, and other outlying points.
That notwithstanding his arduous duties, Dominie Falk- ner still remained in touch with his clerical brethern on the Delaware is shown by correspondence with them, and by entries in the Diary of Pastor Andreas Sandel. The last one reads :
"July 9, 1718. I sent same day by mail a packet to New York, enclosed to Pastor Falkner, to be forwarded by the first vessel bound for England." This letter has refer- ence to Pastor Sandel's journey to Sweden.
Dominie Justus Falkner's married life proved of short duration. We know but little of his movements, except what can be gleaned from his official entries, which show that he continued to cover the whole territory of Eastern New York, Long Island and Staten Island.
Death of Justus Falkner. 385
The last entry found in his private diary, and copied into the old church register by Pastor Knoll, shows that he was at Phillipsburg early in September, 1723 :
" Sept. 4, 1723. Baptized at Phillipsburg, at the upper mill, in the house of David Sturm, Johamı Peter, born in the middle of June; ibidem, Father Pieter Hentz, mother Maria, Witness Johann Birger."
After this his history becomes a blank, the only docu- mentary notice being a memorandum made by Pastor Knoll in the records of the Lutheran church at Newburgh : " Pastor Justus Falknenier, deceased. Anno 1723."
According to the above record, which is no doubt correct, Justus Falkner died at the early age of 51 years, after having faithfully served the various congregations under his charge for twenty years.
What were the circumstances of his sudden end cannot be told. Whether he died alone among strangers, or amidst his young family, is an unanswerable question. Not even his burial place is know, nor whether he was buried with the rites of the church in consecrated ground, or in some unknown corner.
However, should any record be found to shed some light upon the last hours of this devout shepherd in the fold of Christ, it will 110 doubt show that he died in the full per- forinance of his duty, true to his ordination vows.
As to his family, it is known that after the father's death the widow with her three young children took up their abode at Loonenburg, where the latter grew up in the Lutheran Church, and were confirmned and married according to its ritual.
One of the last official acts recorded by Dominie Berken- meyer, prior to his death in 1744, was a baptism of asecond son of one of his church officers,-Benedictus Falkner, a grandson of his immediate predecessor.
49
386
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
Justus Falkner is represented by all accounts as a lovely winning character, a man of excellent gifts, good educa- tion, fine mind, devout, of decided Lutheran opinions, active and of great endurance. In fact, he was an ideal pas- tor, who entered into his office with the full knowledge that without God's grace nothing could be accomplished. As has been shown, his field of labor extended along the Hudson as far north as Albany and landward to Long Island and Raritan in New Jersey.
His services, nominally confined to the Dutch and Ger- mans of the Lutheran faith, were extended to all, irrespec- tive of creed or color, as is proved by the mention of bap- tisins of both negroes and Indians from the earliest days of his ministry.
Nothing could show the devout and sincere mind of Justus Falkner in bolder relief than the entries of his official acts in the church register, a votum being added in every case.
From the documentary evidence come to light of late, and which forms the basis pages, it is shown how Pietists of Provincial beyond the bounds of extended over New seys. No matter causes may have the Falkner broth original home in factor time is apt right is evidenced the elder Falkner HOUSE IN NEW YORK, BUILT A.D. 1697; DE- MOLISHED 1828. sion of the Pastori
of the majority of these the influence of the Pennsylvania spread that Province and York and the Jer- what the immediate been that induced ers to leave their America, how the to set all matters in the history of and the controver- us slanders.
To the devout and pious Justus Falkner, who first came
387
In Memoriam.
to the western world as a Pietist and mystical Theosophist, with the avowed intention there to prepare himself for the coming of the Redeemer, history will ever point as one of the most devout and sincere missionaries and brightest characters in early German-American history.
Although for years almost forgotten by the present gen- erations that now compose the congregations formerly served by him, their very existence at the present day, after the lapse of two centuries, and the fact of their still adhering to the Lutheran faith as based upon the unaltered Augsburg Confession, are his best monuments. They are living me- morials, far greater than either shafts of granite or tablets of bronze made by the hands of man.
As a fitting close to this sketch may be quoted the con- clusion of the ritual formerly used by the Theosophical Brotherhood of which at one time he was a member,-
"MAY GOD GRANT HIM A BLESSED
RESURRECTION."
CONRAD MATTHAI.
OR over forty years one of the most familiar figures in and about Germantown was a man of well-knit frame, who went about clad in a garb of coarse, uncolored homespun, while a wide-brimmed hat covered his head with its wealth of ARMS OF THE CHUR-PFALTZ, 1694. long hair and shaggy beard. In front of the hat there was conspicuously displayed a small shell, such as are found on the banks of the romantic Wissahickon. In his hand he always carried a long staff or alpenstock ; upon his feet he wore a mnere sole or sandal, and in winter protected them with heavy woolen stockings. The whole appearance of this strange character was such as to attract the attention of any stranger who chanced to meet him.
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