USA > Pennsylvania > The German Pietists of provincial Pennsylvania : 1694-1708 > Part 32
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Subsequently he was admitted into the ministry, became a Lutheran clergyman and in 1671 was appointed Diaconus of the church at Bietigheim, a town adjacent to his birth-
492 Fischlein, Memoria Theologorum Wirtenbergensium. Ulmae, 1710. Supplementa ad Mem. Theol. Wirt. pp. 230.
461
Expulsion from Würtemberg.
place. Here lie served until 1684, when he was deposed for his outspoken views upon the coming millennium.
Zimmermann, after leaving Würtemberg, was called to the chair of mathematics at Heidelberg University, which he filled for the next five years. Upon becoming involved still deeper in his mystical speculations, he, in 1689, lost his professorship and went to Hamburg, where he became "corrector" or proof-reader for Brandt, the Hamburg pub- lisher, who then printed many of the Mystical and Theo- sophical works of that period which were not strictly ortlio- dox, and known as "Suspecta Fidei." It was here that Zimmermann came into personal contact with such men as Horbius, Spener, Furly and others of like convictions, and where the plan was perfected for putting to a practical test, in the Western World, some of the theoretical speculations of the Theosophists.
Heretofore but little has been known of the history of this noted philosopher, except that lie was the leader of the band of Pietists that started for America, and that he died just prior to their embarkation at Rotterdam.
But he deserves a prominent place in the religious history of Pennsylvania, for it was mainly upon his astrological deductions and calculations respecting the near approach of the millennium that the organization of the emigrants was consummated.
Now, after the lapse of two centuries, it has become possible to present a sketch of this eminent philosopher and scientist ; a result which has been brought about only by a long and persistent search after material extending over both continents, a search pursued with great difficulty and much expenditure.
The first direct clue to Zimmermann was found in a fragmentary title of one of his books printed at Hamburg
١
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
shortly before his death. From this the long search was kept up through Germany until Bietigheim was reached, where on account of missing records little or no information was to be had.
When almost ready to give up further enquiry an active co-worker was found in Stuttgart,493 who introduced the writer to Professor D. Th. Schott, the Royal Bibliothekar in that capital. This librarian instituted a search for traces of Zimmermann, and found, among the musty archives of the Royal Free Library, four scientific works of his, the titles of which were photographed and placed at the disposal of the writer.
A further search by Professor Schott among long-forgot- ten legal proceedings stored within the Royal Archives at Stuttgart, brought to light once more the charges under which the Magister was tried and convicted.
From these data it appears that Magister Zimmermann, in addition to being an erudite theologian, was one of the best astronomers and mathematicians of the day, and that he received acknowledgment as such from the Royal Society of England. He was also a prolific writer upon theosophical as well as astronomical and mathematical subjects, both under his own name and the pseudonyms of Ambrossii Sehmanni and Johannis Matthaeus. He was also some- thing of a poet and hymnologist.
From the old records in the archives at Stuttgart it appears that while Zimmermann was officiating at Bietig- heim he was stricken with a dangerous fever. His physi- cian was the celebrated Ludwig Brunnquell, who was also a great admirer of Jacob Boehme. The acquaintance thus commenced between patient and doctor ripened into friend-
493 Otto Schaettle, Esq.
463
Erudition of the Magister.
ship, and ended in the physician convincing his charge of the correctness of Boehme's speculations.
Zimmermann, who during this time actively pursued his study of the heavens from his observatory, which tradition states was upon the old church tower at Bietigheim, now combined Boehme's speculations with his astronomy, and in 1684 issued the unique work wherein he prophesies amelioration of the times prior to the year 1694. These deductions were based upon the appearance of tlie comnet of 1680. The title of this book, which was to have so peculiar an effect upon social and religious affairs in Penn- sylvania was :
" Mundus Copernizans ; lingua vernacula. Muthmassige Zeit-Bestimmung bevorstehende Gerichten Gottes uber das Europacische Babel und hierauf erfolgenden Anfang dess Reichs CHRISTI auf Erden. Unter den nahmen AM- ROSII Schmann de Caminicz, Anno 1684. 800."
In this work he desires written information from the Consistory upon the four following general questions :
" (I) The downfall of Babylon in Europe.
" (2) The millennium of the pious, and universal con- version of Jews, Turks and Gentiles.
"(3) True prophets existing even now.
"(4) Certain doubts concerning the Augsburg Confession and Apology."
The answer of the Consistorium not being to his liking, he publicly denounced the Established Church as a Babel. This gave rise to considerable disturbance, which was increased still more by another book from Zimmerinan, viz.,
" Bey nahe gantz aufgedechter Anti-Christ oder unvor- greiffi Redencken über die frage: Ob die Evangelische Kirche mit recht Babel und Anti-Christisch zu schelten von welche auszugehen seye ? Nach Grund der Heil. Schrifft
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
aufgesetzt, mit Beantwortung anderer dieser Materia ver- wandten Nebenfragen. Anno 1685, 4to."
The Consistorium at once ordered Zimmermann's books to be refuted, which was done by Schellenbaur and Haber- lein. Zimmermann, nothing daunted, followed with another work :
" Orthodoxia Theosophiae Bohmianae contra Holsbusium Defensa, oder Christliche Untersuchungen der Holtzhausis- chen Anmerckungen über und wieder J. Böhmens Aurorant." Franckfurt und Leipzig, Anno 1691.
This work was issued under the name of Johannes Matthäi. In the appendix he sarcastically scores Erasmus Franciscus for his "Counter-Ray to the Aurora" and "Arrows of Calumny of Ishmael and Simeus Shivered."
One of the most curious charges brought against Zim- mermann was that he sought to elevate Jacob Boehme over the Apostles. This was founded upon the fact that he had written under Boehme's portrait the following epigram :
" Waan Petrus Juden fischt, Der Weber wirbt die Heyden. Beginnt der Schuster jetzt Sie beiderseits zu weiden. Weil Er die Heil'ge Schrifft Mit der Natur verfasst, Doch ist Er eine last Die Amasias hassti"
[ If Peter fishes Jews, the weaver enlists Gentiles. Now the cobbler commences to feed them both, because he combines Holy Writ with nature, and becomes a power which Ananias detests. ]
After Zimmermann had become so thoroughly imbued with the teachings of Jacob Boehme, he at various times gave utterance, in the pulpit, to expressions defamatory of the Established Church of which he was a Presbyter. As he professed to be able, by aid of his astronomical observa-
The Old Church at Bietigheim.
465
=
95
The old church at Bietigheim, Wurtemberg, from the tower of which Magister Zimmermann made his astronomical observations, and which led to the establishment of the " Woman in the Wilderness" on the Wissahickon.
59
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
tions, to foretell the exact time of the millenium, he became the leader of that class of mystic philosophers and their followers who then believed the great catastrophe to be impending.
When this period passed without confirming his calcula- tions, he still continued in his denunciations of the ecclesi- astical establishment. After repeated admonitions he was summoned to appear before the Ducal Consistorium; was tried, convicted of heresy, and ordered to leave the Duchy within a certain time.
This the deposed clergyman did with a bad grace, and it appears that he indulged in prophesying all sorts of dire disasters for his native country and its rulers as a chastise- ment for the fancied injustice done him.
He also issued a brochure in which he charged that he was persecuted solely on account of a notice of him written by Breckling and published by Gottfried Arnold. The Duchy being invaded and devastated by the French about this time, Zimmerinann boldly claimed that this terrible inisfortune was nothing inore nor less that the fulfillment of his predictions of a Divine retribution, and that still greater calamities were in store for the land of his birth unless he should be reinstated.
The publication of these pamphlets and the fact of his adherents in Würtemberg giving them credence, induced the authorities to set forth a counter-statement or apology, printed partly in Latin and partly in German, with the facts of the case from the government standpoint. This curious document reads as follows :
"CAROLUS" Wirtenbergische, Unschuld Act : Ulm, 1708, 4to." Page 50, article v.
" Proceedings of the Ducal Government of Würtemberg versus Magister Johann Jacob Zimmermann :
467
Astrology and Magic.
"(Section 1) .- Even as it was the duty of the govern- ment of Würtemberg to censure and proceed against M. Ludwig Brunnquell, so must the same proceedings be en- acted against M. Joh. Jac. Zimmermann if the facts are as mentioned in Breckling's catalogue, which were embodied by Arnold in the preface to his notable work, viz. :
"' M. Joh. Jac. Zimmermann, a profoundly learned astro- loger, magician, cabbalist and preacher, expelled from the Würtemberg Domain (shortly before its devastation by the French) hath written under the name of Ambrose Sehmann of Caminicz,494 many profound and learned writings of the truthis of philosophy, astrology and of comets, as well as of chronology and the computation of time ; and because he, in these deductions, agreed with Jacob Boehme, he was discharged from his position at Bietigheim. He after- wards boldly defended his position against Hincklemann and Holtzhausen.'
" (Section 2) .- That this Magister Zimmermann has far excelled many others in the astrological sciences is willingly conceded. But of what service he was to the church is a vital question, as he, by virtue of his sacred office, intro- duced his theories of astrology, magic and cabbalism into his teachings.
" Then again the charge boldly made and published in large type, that his dismissal, in a measure, was one of the great national sins which called forth such terrible retribu- tion as the subsequent devastation by the French of several cities and large tracts of the country, is both blasphemous and malicious.
" The fallacy of his prognostications, too, as to the time of divine judgment, published under an assumed name, lias been publicly proven and established by the late Dr. Haber-
194 Evidently old Comines in Belgium.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
lin in his published work. The extraordinary zeal with which Zimmermann endeavored to elevate Jacob Boehme's writings and impart to them divine inspiration is well known. With what amount of justice he has sought to maintain his position against Hincklemann and Holtz- hausen, all who are competent inay judge for themselves.
" (Section 3) .- That his removal from the diaconate at Bietigheim was due to the Breckling report as quoted by Arnold, and wherein he is said to have sanctioned the computation of time in accordance with the writings of Boehme; or that any one should charge the forcible removal of Zimmermann from office, and his banishment, merely to the above allegation, which is in itself ineager, is entirely erroneous. The true facts of the case are in short as follows :
"M. Zimmermann was a great admirer of Ludwig Brunnquell, and was by the latter seduced into all manner of superstitution, as is clearly shown from the passage in Arnold which states that 'Zimmermann was awakened by Brunnquell.'
"Therefore, the Lutheran Church must have been an abomination to the man : he regarded her as anti-Christian, and used to call her nothing but Babel. He opposed our symbolical books, with which lie found great fault, although when entering upon his ministry, he subscribed to them as perfectly consonant with the Word of God.
" He became greatly interested in the writings of Jacob Boehme, sought curious divine mysteries therein, praised them highly, both orally and in writing, strove to popu- larize them with the, people, and circulated the books among them. He did not confine to himself these teach- ings wherein he deviated from our doctrine, but promul- gated thiem wherever opportunity offered, and courted the
Accusations of Heresy. 469
favor of such as gave him an audience. But herein he, for the most part, acted covertly, for he feared the light.
" Therefore he used a pseudonym for his writings; first that of Ambrose Sehmann, and afterwards that of Johannes Mattheus 495 (without knowing, perhaps, that the Haarlem Anabaptist prophet, who confused the minds of the people about A.D. 1534, bore the same name). He could not con- ceal his mystic speculations, and some of his heresy soon appeared in his sermons. Hence he was closely watched, and several times amicably admonished, and when it was ascertained that he was the author of the alleged compu- tation of time, by promulgating which he violated in vari- ous ways the fundamental laws of this Duchy, he was summoned in regular manner, and sufficient time granted him to prepare a defence.
" Whereupon he defended himself, and even ventured to vindicate his erroneous views, rejecting what was adduced against him from the Word of God, and the doctrine based thereon ; and persisted in scattering his pernicious seed, nor did he desist therefrom in despite of all commands, and the pains that were taken to set him aright. All was in vain. Therefore, finally, a prominent minister of State, who had heretofore been his special patron, now no longer interested himself in his behalf, but suffered him to be degraded from his position.
"'Though he seemed quite happy after his dismissal, he nevertheless acted after the manner of common people, complaining greatly of the dire persecution he was forced to endure. He maligned the Ducal Consistory, and talked much concerning divine judgments which would overtake the country upon his account. As an illustration he would
495 A copy of E. Francisci's answer to Johannes Mattheus is in British Museum, No. 3907, A5.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
quote the misfortunes and death of his former Superior. His allegations, however, consisted partly in a demonstrable falseliood, and partly in the fallacy of a non-cause as a cause (fallaciâ non causae ut causae). Yet he was so auda- cious as to maliciously circumvent people in high life, both in and out of the country, partly by himself, partly through some adherents.
"(Section 4) .- It would therefore have been a fallacy not to get rid of such a man : for with what disposition lie served our church may easily be inferred. He could neither serve a congregation of our confession with a good conscience, nor could such a communion retain him as their teacher, for he held our doctrine and confession des- picable and our church as anti-Christ.
"Should a man who desires to lead the people from the Lutheran doctrine still desire to be called a Lutheran presbyter ?
"Should he want to be considered an 'Anti-Christian servant of Babel?' Moreover, should a Christian congre- gation continue a teacher in office among them who is unwilling to adhere to their confession, which is founded upon the Word of God ?
"Shall she be united with one who, as a shepherd, declareth the Church to be a congregation of Babel ?
" Let it only be considered what has been written (I will not say by our theologians), but in order that Arnold may have less chance to take exception to what has been written by Herr von Puffendorff, the Christian statesman, and endorsed by Seckendorff.
" It will possibly be better in such cases to judge in con- sideration of the above circumstances, briefly touched upon, whether M. Zimmermann of Würtemberg was treated justly or unjustly by being discharged from his sacred office.
471
Bibliography.
"The following is a partial list of Zimmermann's writings :
" Theoriae Secondorum Mobilium Perfectae," etc. Tüb- ingae, 1664. 4to.
" Amphitheatrem Orbis Stellarum." Tübingen, 1669. 4to.
" Differentia Latioudinum," etc. Tübingen, 1669. 4to.
" Calendaria, in annos complures." Stuttgart, 1675. 4to. " Provromus biceps convo-ellipticae," etc. Stuttgart, 1679. 4to.196
" Substructio Tabularum Theoricarum," etc. Stuttgart, 1679. 4to. 497
" Cometoscopia," etc. Tubingen, 1681. 4to.
" Cometolgia," etc. Tübingen, 1682. 4to.
" Portendens gravia X agiulane future Cometes," etc. Stuttgart, 1682. 8vo.498
" Mundus Copernizans," etc. Ambrosii Sehman, 1684. 8vo.
"Beynahe gantz aufgedeckter Anti-Christ," etc. 1685. 4to.
"Jovis per umbrosa," etc. Norimbergia, 1686. 4to. " Philalethae Exercitatio," etc. Hamburg, 1689. 4to.
"Scriptura Sacra Copernizans" etc. Francof., 1690; Hamburg, 1704. 4to.
" Orthodoxia Theosophiae Böhmianae," etc. Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1691.
" Logistica Astronomica Logarithmica," etc. Hamburg, 1691. Svo.
" Theoria sacra Telluris-Biblische Betrachtung des Erdreichs-Von T. Burnett in Latein herausgyeben in Hoch-Deutsche übersitzt" (2 ed), 1703.49
196 Copy in British Museum, No. 532, f. 31 (2)
497 Copy in British Museum, No. 532, f. 31, (1)
498 Copy in British Museum, 532, E 43.
499 Copy in British Museum, 4374, c.
472
Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
" Coniglobium nocturnale Stelligerum," etc. Tub., 1704; Hamb., 1704; German, Tub., 1706 and 1729. 8vo.500
According to the certified copy of the old church record of Beitigheim, the Zimmermann pair had six children :
(1) A daughter (stillborn) December 14, 1671.
(2) A son, Johann Jakob, born January 10, 1673. Died, February 25, 1697.
(3) Maria Margaretha, baptized October 10, 1675.
(4) . Phillip Christian, baptized February 18, 1678.
(5) Matthäus, baptized June 25, 1680.
(6) Jakob Christoph, baptized May 14, 1683.
The four living children accompanied the mother to Pennsylvania, where shortly after their arrival the daughter Maria Margaret married Ludwig Christian Biedermann, a candidate of theology, one of the original members of the Chapter of Perfection, who was the first of the Theo- celibacy. The of Germantown sophical party to break his vows of three sons all settled in the vicinity and survived their mother, as is shown from the will of the widow Zimmermann, probated July 29, 1723.
Ludwig Biedermann left a daughter, Hannah Ludwig Bieder- mann, who intermarried with one Jolını George Knorr and set- tled in Bristol Township. Decendants of this couple are still living in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
500 Copy in British Museum, No. 531, f. 25.
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A PAGE OF ROSICRUCIAN THEOSOPHY.
FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT,
IN POSSESSION OF THE WRITER.
DOMINIE ANDREAS RUDMANN.
OMINIE ANDREAS RUDMANN, who will always rank as one of the most active and devout clergymen in the early church history of Penn- sylvania and the adjoining prov- inces where he preached to the Swedes, Dutch, English, German and Welsh, was a native of Gevalia, in the province of Gestrickland, one of the eastern divisions of Sweden. He was born in the year 1668, and after receiving a liberal educa- SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF AXEL OXENSTIERN tion was sent to the University of Upsal, where he attracted the attention of Prof. Jesper Svedberg, 501 and became a scholar in the latter's Homiletic Seminary.
When finally King Charles XI consented to give leed to the repeated petitions of the Swedish Lutherans on the Delaware, the subject was laid before the Consistorium at Upsal by Archbishop Olof Swebilius, February 18, 1696. In the discussions that followed, Andreas Rudmann's name was the first that was presented, his cause being championed by no less a personage than his former tutor, Dr. Svedberg.
After his selection the young clergyman was summoned
501 Page 93, ibid.
60
1
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
before that august body, and as the matter was an entire surprise to him, he asked for time to consider the proposi- tion. After a lapse of several days he again appeared before the Consistorium, and stated his willingness to accept the call to the western wilderness; with the proviso that the royal promise be extended to him, " that provided God spared his life he should be recalled in a few years and advanced to some charge of honor and profit in his native land."
This was granted him without hesitation by the King. Strange as it may seem, Pastor Rudmann, devout and sin- cere as he was, by making this apparently reasonable request, unwittingly established a precedent which was taken advantage of, and followed by every succeeding Swedish missionary who came to America. The effect of this was eventually to make the American mission a mere stepping-block for clergymen who were ambitious for sub- sequent home preferment, and it was just this unfortunate circumstance which in the course of time alienated the Swedish Lutheran Church in America from the faith, and landed both church and congregations within the Protestant Episcopal fold.
However, it is not intended that the above statement of facts should in any manner be taken as a reproach to Rud- mann, for it is not the intention of the writer to reflect in the least upon that devout missionary. The circumstance is merely mentioned as a historical fact not generally known -one that has thus far escaped most of the writers of early church history, whose effect upon the religious situa- tion in Pennsylvania during the provincial period was of more than ordinary importance, and which has extended even down to the present day.
After Pastor Rudmann had accepted the call, he was
475
Gift of the Swedish King.
asked to select two clergymen as his assistants. Upon his refusal to do this, Dr. Svedberg proposed Eric' Tobias Biörck of Westinanland, who was then living with him as tutor to his children, while the King named Jonas Auren from Wermeland.
The King thereupon presented Rudmann with 500, and the other two with 400 guilders, wherewith to discharge their debts and prepare for the voyage. Moreover, the King issued an order to send with them, securely packed for the use of the congregations in America, the following books :
" 30 folio Bibles, 10 printed by Vankis and 20 by Keiser.
"6 books of Homilies (Postillen) ; 2 Cabinets of Treasure ; 2 of Moeller's ; 2 of Luther's.
" 150 Manuals.
" 100 religious treatises of different kinds, among which were 12 by Kellingius, and a number of ' Paradies Gärtlein.'
" 100 Swedish hymn books.
" Ecclesiastical Acts (Agenden).
" 2 Church Regulations.
" 100 Catechismns (Swebilius).
" 300 Sınaller Catechisms.
"400 A. B. C. books, bound in strong wooden covers.
" 500 copies of Campanius' Indian Catechism."
The last, a special contribution from the King, were by his orders handsomely bound, and intended for the Indian missions of the Lutheran Church in America.
Before the clergymen started, the King granted them a personal audience, and appropriated three thousand guilders toward their expenses and passage. In dismissing them, he gave them his hand and said :
"Go now in the name of the Lord to the place whither I send you. God be with you, and prosper your under-
476
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
taking. If any adversity or opposition befall you, return home, and I will remember you."
From Sweden the trio went to England, where they remained until the following February (1697), when they embarked on the ship "Jeffreys," Captain James Cooper. It was not until June 24, that they dropped anchor at the Bohemia Landing on the Chesapeake.
More or less mention has already been made in the course of this work of the labors of Dominie Rudmann, setting forth some of his labors and trials down to the time of his 'return to the Delaware from New York in 1703.502
During his absence in the adjoining province the religious situation had changed somewhat in Pennsylvania. Rud- mann prior to his departure for New York, had installed Sandel as Pastor loci at Wicacoa. Biörck was still at Christiana, while Auren was serving the churches in New Jersey.
The newly organized Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts at London, had in the meantime supplied clergymen for most of the embryo parishes in Penn- sylvania and the adjoining provinces; a condition which virtually left Rudmann without any charge.
He, however, by direction of George Keith, began at once to minister to the outlying English and Welsh con- gregations in connection with the indomitable Evan Evans, as well as supplying his place at Christ Church when the latter was absent. 503
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