USA > Pennsylvania > The German Pietists of provincial Pennsylvania : 1694-1708 > Part 8
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98
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
Curieufe Madificiant Don PENSYLVANIA in
orden = merica
Welche I Zuf Begehren guter Freunde/ Uber vorgelegte 103. Bra gen / ben feiner Mbreiß aus Seurfch: land nach obigen Lande Anno 1700. ertheilet/ und nun Anno 1702 in Den Drucf gegeben morden. Don Daniel Balfnern/ Profeffore, Burgern und Pilgrim allda.
Scandfinrt und Leipzig / Bu finden ben Andreas Otto/Budhandlern. Jm Babe Chrifli 1702.
99
" Curieuse Nachricht."
Falkner during his sojourn in the Old World made a visit to Holland and England in the interests of the Philadelphic Society, without, however, inducing that body to emigrate to Penn's Province. While in Ger- many, he also made arrange ments to issue a book in the iod, containing answers to to the religious and social This book, before quoted, is richt | Von | Pensylvania Welche | Auf Begehren gelegte 103. Fra- || gen, bey || land nach obigem Lande nun Anno 1702 in den. | Von | Daniel gern und Pilgrim furt und Leip- bey Andreas händlern, || Im 1702." It was under the aus- Land Com- colloquial style of the per a number of queries relative conditions in Pennsylvania. entitled "Curieufe Nach | in | Norden America | guter Freunde, | Uber vor seiner Abreiss aus Teutsch- Anno 1700. | ertheilet, und den Druck | gegeben wor Falknern, Professore, || Bur allda. || Franck zig, Zu finden Otto, Buch Jahr Christi, published pices of the Frankfort pany, and issued simul taneously in Frankfort and Leipzig.
ANCIENT LARD LAMP USED BY THE MYSTICS. It will be no- ticed that the compiler here signs himself "Citizen and Pilgrim in Pennsylvania." Falkner's visit to Europe also partook somewhat of a political nature, which was destined to work radical changes in the civil affairs of the German settlement.
REYNIER JANSEN.
ELPIUS, the pious enthusiast, was exceedingly anxious to improve the moral as well as the spiritual condition of his country- men in America. He therefore had printed, or obtained from Germany, sets of small cards or slips of paper upon each of which there was a dif- EPHRATA HAND PRESS. ferent moral couplet or verse (spruch) from the Bible. The set of cards was then put in a box or card-case, called a jewel-casket (schatzkästlein), and was carried by the members of the Brotherhood for distribution among the worshipers at the Tabernacle and the heads of families, with the request that whenever a curse, oath, or blasphemous expression was uttered in their presence the offending person should be handed one of the slips of paper, which he was to read carefully and then place it upon his tongue. The same rule was to apply to the person who carried the schatzkästlein : whenever he did or said any- thing wrong, or was even tempted to do so, or was led to anger, recourse was to be had immediately to a jewel from the schatzkästlein; and so strong was the popular belief,
IOI
The "Schatzkastlein."
Bine Cunderin meinete zu den Buffen JESU; JEfus fprach : Thr find viel Bunde vergeben, denn fie hat viel geliebet ; welchen aber wenig vers geben wird, der lieber menig. fuc. 7 38:47. Weinen und Lieben. SEGUE håret all bein Sehnen, TEGUG fchauer Deine Ehrånen : 2Beine fren, Doch liebe mit, Go erbort Er Deine Bitt.
that nothing could shake their faith in the efficacy of a card, taken out at random, to be pertinent to the individual case in which it was invoked.137
The members of the Fraternity in making use of the slips invariably placed them in their mouth. From this peculiar custom arose the ridiculous charge that the Piet- ists ate their religion.138
flle die Gottfeelig leben wollen in Chrifto Jefu muffen Verfolgung leyden. a Eim. 3 12. Das erfte Loof. Bon aufen Sport und Schmach der leuren. Von innen furcht und Erauntyferren . Dis piega Das Erite Roof su fenn, Das hier Den frommen mins gemein.
137 Kästlein mit zetteln, darauf waren viele schöne Sprüche aus der Bibel und andere Reimen gedruckt die sich auf vielerey Zustande der Menschen schicken. Wann dan in der Companie jemand war der etwas eiteles zu reden anfing, so kam einer mit dem Schatz-Kästgen und ein jeder zog ein Briefgen heraus, dass wurde gelesen und hat sich gemeinlich getroffen dass ein spruch auf dem Zettel stund wie es um des Menschen Hertz beschaffen war, und so wurden die leichtsinnige reden unterbrochen, und davon kam auch die lüge vom Zettel fressen. Christopher Sauer in Almanack, 1751.
102
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
2/110 bu 0/001
-
A "SCHATZKASTLEIN" COMPLETE WITH "SPRUCHE," SEE NOTE 138.
In order to promote the spiritual welfare of the Germans in Pennsylvania, Kelpius had printed at an early day a small book or pamphlet for distribution among the German settlers, urging them to public and private devotion. The title. of this work was " Eine kurtze und begreiflige An- leitung zum stillen Gebet." This book, as well as the moral text-slips, was in all probability a specimen of tlie Jansen (father or son) imprints, which are now so rare and valuable. 139 Watson, in his MS. Annals of Philadelphia, mentions Kelpius as the author and Dr. Christopher Witt as the translator.14 Later investigations go to show that
138 This custom continued in use among the Germans in Pennsylvania for many years. Subsequent editions of these sets of moral cards were printed on both the Sauer and Ephrata presses. The Sauer edition, printed in 1744, was known as " Der Frommen Lotterie." The only complete set of this edition, 381 in number, is in the collection of Hon. S. W. Penny- packer, of Philadelphia. See illustration above.
189 This devotional work was translated into English and printed at an early day.
140 See "The First Century of German Printing in America," by the late Dr. Oswald Seidensticker, p. 62.
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103
The Jansen Tradition.
this unique work was based upon a somewhat similar book published in Germany,141 as early as 1695, by Hermann Mug. Derm. Granda® S.S.Theo], P Ord Paft. Viric. & Sclu Schriftmäßige August Francke, 142 under the title "Schrifftmässige Anweisung, recht und Gottwohlgefällig zu Be- nmeifung ten," and that a number of these books were brouglit from Halle by Rechtund Gott moblgefall! the Falkner brothers up- Brien on their return to Amer- ica. 143 No copy of the original Kelpius pam- plilet, which was in the German language, is known to the writer. Debft binguacfugten However, as a copy of Morgensu. 21bends Gebetld the Henry Miller reprint Und cinem Rielifchen RESPONSO Die Bemifheit und Berficherungit Erhdrung Des Gebets betreffens. More Auflage.
In Berlegung Des &Bayfenbaufes, 1:
of the English transla- tion has been lately found,14$ there is a possi- bility that a specimen of the earlier editions inay also be found at some future day.
There is an interesting tradition connecting the
Mystic Brotherhood with the Jansen press. It is said that during Daniel Falkner's absence in Europe, Kelpius and
141 Sachsse, ursprung und wesen der Pietisten, p. 268.
142 See p. 55 seq.
143 This work was printed many times on the press of the Halle institu- tion. The copy in the writer's library was printed in 1732.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
A SHORT, EASY AND
COMPREHENSIVE® METHOD OF
PRAYER.
Tranflated from the GERMAN:
And publifhed for a farther Promo. tion, Knowledge and Benefit of IN- WARD PRAYER. ·
By a Lover of Internal Devotion ..
The Second Edition with Addition.
GERMANTOWN, Printed by Christopher Somer. M. DCC LXIII.
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PIETISTS OF PROVINCIAL PENNSYLVANIA.
1
SUREST HOLD' AY py lene Inthe tn. The greatest difficulty and mon Imadadir . Evidenced inthe .
Of divers Perfons , item the devearing Waves of the Sea, amongft which they Suffered Show rack. And alfo wein the more cruelly devourin : jawe ofthe mohoming CANIDALS of FLORIDA. Tiffally related by ou of ik. ferris. JONATHAN PONENSON.
Egy. a. The Lead on High is mightier than the rate.
"GOD'S PROTECTING PROVIDENCE."
TITLE PAGE OF THE FIRST BOOK KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PRINTED ON THE JANSEN PRESS IN PHILADELPHIA.
Reynier Jansen. 105
others were instrumental in inducing Reynier Jansen, a Hollander, to take charge of the printing press which had been ordered from London by the Friends' Yearly Meet- ing 145 after the removal of William Bradford's press to New York; and this new press was received in Philadelphia 10 1110. 30th, 1698. It is also said that some of the printing was done in Germantown. This latter claim is partly borne out by the statement in a New England Sabbatarian record, that they went to Germantown to get their printing done. 146
Further, it is a matter of record that on the 29th of November Jansen bought twenty acres of Liberty lands in Germantown, and upon the 7th of February, 1698-99, the right of citizenship was conferred upon him by the Ger- mantown court. 147
Reynier Jansen was a member of the celebrated family of that name in Holland, the most prominent member of which was Cornelius Jansen the younger (1585-1638), Bishop of Ypres, who was the founder of the peculiar sect known as "the Disciples of St. Augustine," or Jansenists. Another branch of the family was noted as printers and publishers at Amsterdam, and was intimately connected with many of the leading religious enthusiasts and mystics
144 This new English edition was printed by Heinrich Miller, Phila- delphia, 1761. (12110., 36 pages.) The only known copy is among the John Pemberton papers in the Friends' Library of Philadelphia. Chris- tophier Sauer, the Germantown printer, also reprinted the book two years later : the title says "Second Edition."
145 " Agreed that a press be bought for printing and necessary letters and stamps, either from Boston or England, and be paid for out of the Yearly Meeting stock, the care of which is left to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Burlington, 31st day of the 7mo., 1697."-(Extract MSS. Minutes Yearly Meeting. )
146 MS. records of Newport, R. I., Seventh-Day Baptist Church. 147 " Penna. Mag.," vol. iv, p. 37.
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
of whoin the seventeenth century was so prolific. It was upon the Jansen press at Amsterdam that many of the peculiar theological and proscribed works of that day were printed. 148 The Philadelphia printer was evidently of this latter branch, and was not so entirely ignorant of the black art as has been generally supposed.149 He was a close friend of Benjamin Furley and other Separatists who then made their abode in Holland ; consequently, it was but natural that after his arrival in America he should gravitate toward his fellow Separatists at Germantown, and, on account of his previous knowledge of the printer's art, assume the charge and responsibility of the new press that had been procured by the Society of Friends. Jansen upon his arrival in the Province had but an imperfect knowledge of the English language, and this, together with the fact that he had for some years previous changed his occupation from printer to lace-maker, accounts for many of the imperfec- tions and crudities of his earliest work. According to the Ephrata manuscripts and traditions, it was in reality such of the Mystic Brethren as had some knowledge of the art, and were conversant with the English tongue, who actually did the type-setting and proof-reading, if not the press- work, of the early Jansen imprints. These traditions are strengthened by the evidence that Johann Seelig was a practical bookbinder,150 who bound the Jansen books, and
148 Adelung, iv, p. 392.
149 It was Caleb Pusey, and not Reynier Jansen, who, in the preface to "Satan's Harbinger Encountered," apologizes for misprints thus : " The chief occasion of there being so many errours was the Printer being a man of another nation and language, as also not bred to that employ- ment, consequently something unexpert both in language and calling, and the corrector's [sic] not being so frequently at hand as the case re- quired, all which I desire thou wouldst favourably consider."
150 Levering family, pp. 18, 19.
107
A Provincial Proclamation.
BY THE HONOUR ABLE COLLONEL I'M Coms LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR. of the PROVINCE or PENSILVANIA AND COUNTIES ANNEXED. A PROCLAMATION,
AGAINST IMMORALITY and PROPHANENESS
W Hereas it hath pleafed ALMIGHTY CCD, from the Treasures of His lumine Good AS well as tous h sammen ge, and pour down si precisar Billings upon this Colony, thenshe felt greeting thereof, as well by the beffewing a happy fuccefs on the Endes ours of its luhabitants and crowning what Solar y was Wilderness with a larg Afluence of all the pelaries and Comfor set Lite, as by Supporting it in an undifturbed Peace and Tranquillity during the Commotionsthat have deeply at- forud other parts of the Cuitian World and continuing to us , the Enjoyment of those manifold M T- cas which, lightly ufed, send to make a People truly happy All which divine Brantes, asth. loudly call for the most humble and hearty veck lowl manis, fo they ought more deeply to impress J iff fente of the great Obligations upon the frig replace our Lives with care and circumfixed on , in
attue Obedience and Cost smuy to G. Di hely Ques, that we may not infe id of making grateful A.Jsme to In,lesy of Negligence a work the jil Anget of the ALMIGHTY to withdraw His all which, Jeanne bus be ffible. the way to get all of Obligations, that is prions protsils of the Hoy Christian Religion they opditperably le unter. have given thefever & Love that Lives and Conversations and niekellly trampled on their positive known Duges in many vi- Ous Practices and Imme ralistes to the grunt Of novit A: MIGHTY GOD, in the Breach of his Die rine Low as well as of our caril liftcurious and to the scandal of fober Man, and great Difendere of this Government : Waich Practice it aot um ty prevented may terminate in an utter Deprivation of Munnen, throughthe Encouragem.ni raken twom' thofe fatal and pernicious Examples, by persons wie better Education and Inclinations might otherwife save reftrained them within the Bounds of Sobriety and Viriue , but from thuf: mui) I Mances, fert before their Eyes . are in danger of being burried on. not only to their own Rune, but of becoming Accufary to the, Incenfing , and drawing down upon us the Vangsance of Heaven
In a deep Consideration of which, and to the end that all peilible Difcouragements may be given to the Growth of thefe Enormities, I have through a fenfe of the Duty Towe to COD. and the cureof and Territories Though. G. , ou in and Destare That I will Difcountenance and Severely Pu- ab a. mas se Vice, los uva J'aipuan note in all parfors whatforever, within this Govern- N:it. hit will o: guilty of tas 's: A id I doc hereby Strictly forbid all manner of Debauchery, Lewd. leafonate hours without lawr al Bufi ichs &all other Diforders Wharfoever thai are contrary to the Ds- les ot & Cariftien Lite & the Rules of the Virtue. And I do Strictly Command &t Require all Magifrancs, Juitics, snettfs, Conftables and all Officers whatfoever, and others hus M j flies good Subju&s that they notonly be regular and circumspect in their own Lives that by theta goo . Examples, they may ircite tudietit behold them to the Pric ce of virtue , but a fothat they be very Di igent in the D.fcovery and filial Profection of all Ofun ters and that th y rigoroully put in Execution all the Rund and
Ancar my atn ut Dif desfura
Courge is given . ) ib . grand- Jury .
Mymath. Viers ' Crutches, and fever' C. er hatte . vorher this Province and Torito- iss, assis the fan: to be Rust in the time of Divine Service , att their refpelt.ve place of Worldn at dit fix times theyare You. A Sinst they be very Agent, in UIcouraging at manner of Vice, and Lo vorality in .hur Astron 11 Exhoring them to the Exercife of piety and virtue.
hiv: is Phhotelshises Nih lay in October man. it Beer is 1: Reign is OU" Sovereign Lady AVV by the Grace of 3 )Ja England Sonand, France in : fre-land Kseen Dusender of the Fato Sai. And the twenty fourch of the Proprietaries Government Anno Domini 1704.
JOHN EVANS.
God Save the Queen.
Fritzted is Pliladyble by Surmon Janin Tal
108
The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
for years continued in that profession in the vicinity of Germantown.
However, be that as it may, in the main it matters little whether these cards or pamphlets were printed in Europe or America. Kelpius's scheme to raise the inoral standard of the Germans by their use had an effect that extended far beyond the bounds of the German Township, and, being seconded by the Society of Friends, culminated in the issuing by Governor John Evans of a proclamation against immorality and profanity. This edict was printed by Rey- nier Jansen in 1704. A reduced fac-simile of the original broadside is reproduced on another page.
According to Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, in his "Settle- ment of Germantown," 151 Jansen, almost a year after citizen- ship was conferred upon him in Germantown, bought, December 23, 1699, seventy-five acres of land from Peter Klever, in the deed of which he is described as a "merchant" of Philadelphia. This land he, "as printer," sold to Daniel Geissler, October 20, 1701.
His career as printer was very brief.152 He died about March 1, 1706, leaving personal property valued at {226. Is. 8d., among which was included " a p'cell of Books front Win. Bradford, {4. 2s. od." He left a son, Stephen, in business in Amsterdam, whom he had apportioned there, and brought with him to this country two sons Tiberius and Joseph, and two daughters, Imitry and Alice. The sons, after the fatlier's death, seem to liave inade sonie attempt to continue in the printing business, as imprints are still in existence bearing the names of both Tiberius and Joseph, respectively.152
151 " Penna. Mag.," vol. iv, 37.
152 Early Printing in Philadelphia, " Penna. Mag.," vol. iv, p. 432, et seq.
THE DIVINING ROD AND HOROSCOPE.
ESIDES the relig- FREE 14.39 ,23. ious and educa- +6 14:49 20.6 MEIM4 995 38 tional work fostered No 101.44 A Merkant by the Community on the 30 Borne . 1616 2 19 Sentemb Wissahickon and the specu- lations as to the expected 42.23 8.30 Lat.53 Kor aff of millennium, Kelpius and 37 the more advanced mein- .8 . 14.39 A5.9: 2 0:57 bers indulged in the study 347 18. 21.44 of the Herinetic arts, as well as astronomy. Nightly AN OLD HOROSCOPE. vigils were maintained in the rude observatory that surmounted the Tabernacle. There, high above the tree-tops of the surrounding forest, one or more of the brethren was always on the look-out for celestial phenomena. These astronomical studies and speculations were calculated according to the manuscripts and publications of Johann Jacob Zimmermann, the Ma- gister of the Fraternity, under whose leadership the scheme
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
for emigration to the New World was consummated, but who unfortunately died on the eve of the embarkation at Rotterdam.
Zimmermann was an astronomer of no mean order, who in his deductions combined theology and astronomy, ac- SCRIPTURA S. COPERNIZANS feu puctus ASTRONOMIA COPERNICO SCRIPTURARIA BIPARTITA Das in : Ein gang neu und febrcurtoRs Altronomifder cording to the custom of the middle ages. The last work published by him, but a few months prior to his death, is entitled, "Scriptura S. Co- pernizans seu potius Astrono- CopernicanifchensSselt Babdudes que Seil. Schrift, MBerinnen mia Copernico Scripturaria 1. Bendes der Sonnen faint andern Giftetnon raumlider Grillftandi ald aud) der Erofuget tamt enteret Planeten natürlicher Umlauf bad fablichangervielen;
11. Die vermeintlich widersprechende Bergen- Sprüche aus Dem Sebrdifchen und Griechifthen Cept Deutlicherörtert merden,
bipartita." That is, An en- tirely new and very curious pernican system of the uni- verse from the Holy Writ.1
astronomical proof of the Co- um, formobil de Sohbet, Furtreffer und Auto- ritar des 5. Kroppenften 2Boris, miDer die heundnine Bet, Kleinerung ber Spinoffen, Naturalifien, Athefiery als auch ( bey gled). mohl notwendiger handhabung Des Dratur ingigen Copernicanifden Well (Seboubest) Der bochheiligen THEOLOGIE fur Veneration, ben buchfibluchen Bergland ber 5. Schrift, rider ben von bisherigen Co- pernicaneen anachhinunten Lonen Berliand, bet. muglichft ju bertoabren : Rebens untermengrer Griduterug tiniger' Carthefia- nifchen und Chymifchen GSehriniuffen, auch erlicher Durch Des Pidrie Oratur poctice und forlen illuftristes (Staubens Mirticuki, Jnymeyen Cheilen cinfältig entworffen,
The astronomical feature of the Tabernacle led to fre- quent visits from Daniel Leeds, who, for some years JOHANN JACOB_ Zimmermann, Philo-Mathematico. prior to the arrival of Kel- HAMBURG, bip Chili auilb. brandL pius and his party, had published an Almanack.15+ Evidences are apparent in subsequent issues of the Almanack that he profited by his visits, and that the intercourse between him and the Community on the Wissahickon was of an intimate nature.
While some of the Fraternity kept the vigils in the sternwarte, others busied themselves with the study of
153 The only known copy of this work is in the Royal Library of Wür- temberg. The photograph of the title was furnished by Professor D. Th. Schott, librarian. A second edition was published in Hamburg, 1726.
III
Hermetic Studies.
what is known as the Hermetic art. These researches were not inade for the transmutation of metals, as many supposed ; for in their ambitions they soared to a higher plane than the laying up of this world's riches. Their object was to provide remedies and preparations for the alleviation of human suffering. 155
In these chemical and pharmaceutical studies, which were mainly based upon the literature of the preceding century, the discovery of the Lapis Philosophorum, or the Elixir of Life, naturally entered largely into their specu- lations. It was believed that if the menstrum universale could be discovered, it would be by chemical means, and then it would be possible by its application to remove all seeds of disease from the human body, thereby renewing youth and lessening the infimities of age, if not repelling death.
154 Daniel Leeds was a resident of New Jersey as early as 1676. He lived in Burlington in 1680, and was married at the Friends' Meeting of that place, 2 mo. 21, 1681. His occupation was then given as a cooper. In 1682 he was a member of the Assembly and Surveyor-General of West Jersey. His first quarrel with his co-religionists was about the almanac of 1688; but he did not withdraw from the Society of Friends until the Keithian schism. (Hildeburn, vol. i, p. 7.)
Jacob Taylor, in his almanac for 1707, calls him "That unparalleled Plagiary and unreasonable Transcriber D. Leeds, who liath now for 19 years, with a very large stock of impudence, filched matter out of other men's works, to furnish his spurious almanacks." (An Almanack for 1707. By Jacob Taylor. Philadelphia : Tiberius Johnson. Am. Philo. Soc., xix, 291.)
155 Mention has been made in a preceeding chapter (p. 57), of a prescrip- tion of a universal remedy, bequeatlied, upon his death-bed, by a former member of this Fraternity to Magister Francke, and inade under the latter's supervision, from the sale of which and the revenue derived therefrom the large cluster of buildings known as the " Francke Institu- tions at Halle" chiefly owe their existence.
This remedy, known as the "Gold Tincture" or "Elixir Dulcis," is made and sold to the present day by the Apotheke connected with the
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The Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania.
In these hermetic studies, that were practised only upon nights when the moon and planets were in a certain posi- tion, the brethren were often assisted by several highly respected English Quakers and a learned Scotchman, who were wont to make visits from the city.
Upon the subject of an indefinite prolongation of human life, the members were not unanimous. While all agreed that this was possible under certain circumstances or con- ditions, some of their number, notably Köster, were in- credulous of an elixir of life, but advanced the theory of the use of mystical communications with the unseen world, as founded upon the Cabbala and the Apocalypse. 156
As a matter of fact, all the leaders of the Brotherhood, which included Kelpius, Köster, Falkner, Seelig, and Matthaï, scouted the idea of physical death, and firmly believed in bodily translation to the realins beyond, if they adhered to their Theosophical faitlı.
Another favorite occupation of these Theosophical stu- dents was the casting of horoscopes and the use of the divining-rod. The latter implement was a forked, slender stick of witch-hazel, that was cut at a certain time in the year under peculiar conditions, at which time a mystic
Orphanage. No more than a single person at one time was ever cogni- zant of its composition. The writer, during his visit to the Orphanage, obtained a vial of this remedy, and was informed by Hugo Hornemann, Ph. D., that he had been the custodian of the secret since June 1, 1863 it having been imparted to him by his father and predecessor who served from 1826 to 1863, and had in turn received it from Prof. Stoltze, who compounded it 1811-26. Prior to this time the secret formula was in possession of the Richters and Madais, who were the successive leads of the Apotheke.
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