USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > New Hanover > The Lutheran Church in New Hanover, (Falckner swamp) Montgomery County, Penna. Part XXII. of a narrative and critical prepared at the request of the Pennsylvania-German society > Part 12
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Another fact must not be overlooked, viz., that in those early years, nearly all the assistants, and the regular pas- tors even, up to the time of the sons of Mühlenberg, and possibly even after that, taught the school a part of the time. In fact, much of the proficiency of many of the pas- tors of that day arose from the fact that they were thoroughly trained as teachers. They knew how to teach, and their teaching bore rich fruit.
Another whose name has been handed down and who was held in high esteem was John Jacob Loeser. He was employed here in 1748, and probably even earlier. Mühlenberg speaks very highly of him. He appears to have been an immediate successor of J. N. Kurtz, and was employed here before Kurtz left. However, he always remained a teacher. He never entered the ministry. He not only taught the ordinary branches, but also acted as catechist. It is said of him that he could commit to memory an entire sermon in two days.
So far we have found no distinct data showing who were his immediate successors, except the ministers and helpers already mentioned. Being cotemporaneous with Kurtz, he and Kurtz were married about the same time. Loeser was married to Mary Eble, November 18, 1747, and Kurtz in December of the same year, to Elizabeth Seidel.
October 22, 1748, Loeser appeared at Lancaster as a candidate for the office of teacher and cantor. Accord-
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Schoolmasters and Organists of the Church.
ing to the testimony of Handschuh's diary he was set to work to show his fitness as a teacher. He seems to have spent the remainder of his days at Lancaster. We are told that he died there in 1793, aged sixty-nine years, six months and three days, after having spent forty-four years as a schoolmaster.
According to a statement of Dr. Ochsenford, Michael Walther was the schoolmaster in 1750 and 1751. Little is known of the man except the mere fact that Mühlen- berg states, without giving a specific reason, that he could not be sent out to preach, or to read sermons.
Who his immediate successor was we have not been able to learn positively. Apparently it was Lucas Rauss. If so, he remained but a short time. Rauss apparently occupied the position during the latter part of 1749 and the beginning of 1750, but who had charge of the school from the time of his departure to Albany to the time of his return, about 1752 or 1753, we have not been able to ascertain. There is a possibility that J. Albert Wey- gant assisted him a part of the time, or was substituted for him. Rauss seems to have had charge of the school a part of the time after his return until his final location at York. Perhaps there had been some one to aid him in the work, as he actually officiated as pastor of the churches at Oley Hill, Pikeland and Tohickon during these latter years.
Undoubtedly William Kurtz was the schoolmaster, as well as the pastor's assistant and substitute from 1757 or 1758 to 1760.
Whether Rev. Van Buskirk, Rev. Ludwig Voigt and the sons of Muhlenberg, during the time they officiated as the assistants of Mühlenberg, ever filled the office of schoolmaster, cannot be said, but it seems probable that
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they did. That would fill up the time until about the time when Mr. Schaffner had charge of the school, in 1774. Unfortunately the older minutes throw no light on the subject. This unfortunately leaves a gap of about twenty years unaccounted for.
The later minutes beginning March, 1795, furnish some good clues as to the teachers employed between that time and 1867. These records show that January 17, 1798, Daniel Schaeffer was elected as school teacher for one year. Apparently he is the same man who sub- sequently entered the Lutheran ministry and for several years acted as pastor of Zion, Perry Township, St. Paul's, Windsor, and probably several other congrega- tions in the vicinity of Hamburg, Berks County.
December 9, of the same year, there was a public exam- ination of three candidates, Daniel Schaeffer, Adam Fil- bert and Samuel Schoch. At the election held four days later, December 13, Samuel Schoch was elected by fifty- four votes against thirty cast for the other two men. Mr. Schoch certainly retained charge of the school until 1804, and possibly at least a part of the time for nearly seven years more, for it does not appear that the name of Mr. Schmidt is recorded as teacher until 1811, when a resolu- tion was adopted to the effect " that if our Schoolmaster, Mr. Schmidt, because of his sickliness and other causes could not perform his duty, the congregation would be satisfied if Mr. Schurig his son-in-law took charge of it."
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CHAPTER IX.
MEETINGS OF THE SYNOD HELD IN THIS CHURCH.
RADITION tells us, that at first there was an agree- ment that the synod should meet alternately at Philadelphia and Lancaster, as the two congrega- tions were considered of equal importance. While it is possible that there may have been such a tacit understanding, it is very doubtful whether any positive action to that effect was ever taken.
On the other hand, it is very evident that before long the synod met in some of the other united congregations.
At New Hanover the first meeting of the synod was held June 16-18, 1754. This was the seventh conven- tion, only six years after its organization. At this time, in addition to the Swedish Provost Acrelius and Pastor Unander, there were thirteen pastors and delegates from
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Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and New Jersey, in attendance. Whether Rev. Gerock, of Lancaster, who was invited to be present at this meeting, is included in this number, is not quite certain. But as it is also stated that there were fourteen High German ministers there, and as Rev. Schertlein was likewise there, it would seem as if Gerock were counted with the ministers.
This convention deliberated concerning the "internal and external condition of the congregations," as well as the hindrances in the way of a successful prosecution of their work. There was also an account presented before the body concerning a certain M. Engelland, who tried to secure congregations among them, but there was no action taken in the matter.
The second synodical meeting at New Hanover was held November 6 and 7, 1768, in connection with the dedication of the present church edifice.
It may be of interest to note here that the first con- vention of the synod, held west of the Susquehanna, met at York in 1776, the year immediately preceding the third meeting at New Hanover, and that Rev. Goering, who figured so largely in the history of the church of that sec- tion, was ordained there.
The synod met at New Hanover for the third time, May 25, 1777. At this convention only nine ministers were present, viz., Revs. Schmidt, Kunze, Fr. Müh- lenberg, Henry (E.) Mühlenberg, Goering, Lehman, Mueller, Schroeter and H. M. Mühlenberg, besides the president, Rev. J. N. Kurtz, who was so sick that he could not attend the sessions and could take no part in the ser- vices. He was however reelected president. The next meeting was appointed for the first Sunday after Trinity, 1778, at New Hanover.
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The synod however did not meet at the time appointed, but met about four months later, October 4-6 of the same year. Probably this place was selected again because the British were in full possession of Philadelphia at that time. Nineteen ministers, including three candidates for ordination, were in attendance. One of the latter, a Mr. Frantz, appears to have dropped out of sight altogether. The other two, Lehman and Schroeter, were duly or- dained. In the afternoon of the second day, we are told, " they had some trouble with a man from Gernsheim, who had set up as a preacher." Could this possibly have been Adolph von Gerresheim, who figured in the churches of the Lykens and Pine Valleys, in the vicinity of Gratztown about that time? It is not known now who the man really was. Another matter which has often perplexed those looking up historical facts is clearly solved here. For we are told, " afterwards, they com- pleted the ministerial constitution," showing that the first constitution of the ministerium, contained in the protocol, beginning 1781, was finally adopted in 1778 at New Hanover. This congregation therefore. enjoys the distinction of having witnessed the adoption of the first ministerial (or synodical) constitution, adopted by the Lutheran Church in America-certainly a consider- able distinction for a small country congregation. For not only was this the first German Lutheran congregation in America, but in its final and definite form its constitu- tion was given here to the first Lutheran Synod in America, which was very appropriately called "The Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of North America."
June 19-22, 1791, the synod again met " in New Han- over Township, Montgomery Co." This time nineteen
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ministers were in attendance. Among them we find Rev. Krug, Frederic, Md .; Schroeter, Hanover, York Co .; Lütge, Shippensburg, and Zimmerman (Carpenter), from far-off Virginia. Rev. Weinland was the resident pastor. One of the transactions worthy of notice at this convention was the granting to Michael Billmyer, of Germantown, the right to publish the new hymn-book, a contract for which was drawn up and signed by all the members of the ministerium present.
At this meeting Rev. Caspar Dill received his first license. Rev. Lütge's license was renewed and one was granted to a Mr. Wickerman, who however seems to have been hereafter dropped from the roll. There was like- wise the usual distribution of the proceeds of the Roedel- sheim legacy.
The Philadelphia pastors were appointed a committee to have a seal for the ministerium prepared. The cost was to be met from the proceeds of the Roedelsheim legacy. Mt. Joy (now Elizabethtown) and White Oak desired a Mr. Bentz to be licensed. Instead of being licensed he was placed under the supervision of Rev. Mühlenberg, Lancaster, for further preparation. At this meeting Christian Espy, or Espig, also made applica- tion for a license. He was placed under the supervision of Revs. Weinland and Roeller. There were two other applicants-a Mr. Ahl, whom the ministerium rejected absolutely, and a Mr. Stock, whom they advised to keep on teaching some time longer. The licensed candidates, Jung and Zimmerman (Carpenter), were ordained at this meeting.
At this convention St. Michael's and Zion's of Phila- delphia, memorialized the synod, asking that the lay dele- gates be " accorded a seat and vote in every meeting of the
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ministerium." Synod decided to grant this right. Revs. Helmuth and Kunze were appointed a committee to pre- pare a plan for carrying out the measure and to report any needed amendments to the constitution, to put the proposed changes into effect. It might be justly claimed that this was one of the most important of the con- ventions held during the entire history of the synod, for it changed the whole form and constitution of the body to a free representative body of the entire church, instead of one composed of ministers only.
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CHAPTER X.
SPECIAL EVENTS. DEDICATIONS AND ANNIVERSARIES.
OT a great deal can be said concerning church dedications in the early days of the church in this country. The history of this church is not entirely ex- ceptional in this respect. Possibly they had no corner- stone laying, and no dedica- tion services for the first three churches. This would not be strange, for it repeat- edly happened during the early days of some of the churches in this country that no cornerstones were laid and that there was no subsequent dedication of the build- ing. What the real cause was of this state of things is difficult to determine. It may be that the scarcity of ministers to perform these functions had something to do with it, or it may have been indifference; or the
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THE PFARRER'S BACH-A SCENE ON THE ROAD LEADING TO THE CHURCH.
Special Events : Dedications and Anniversaries. 177
desire to occupy the building, rather than consecration services, was uppermost in the minds of these early pioneers. Whatever the cause the fact remains, that numerous churches erected between 1775 and 1850, and possibly some of earlier date, were simply erected, then occupied and used by the congregations without further ceremony.
The erection of the present church building during the pastorate of Rev. Ludwig Voigt has a different story to relate. There had been a cornerstone laying in 1767, and the building, when completed, was formally consecrated in November, 1768, to the service of the Triune God, by the " Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of North Amer- ica " called in special session for that purpose. The his- tory of these services has already been given and need not be repeated in this connection.
In the year 1801 a new pipe organ was introduced and probably also consecrated. The agreement made in 1800 between the congregation and Christian Dieffenbach, or- gan-builder, expressly states that the first half of the payment for the organ shall be made when the organ is dedicated. There is however no record at hand of the date of dedication or of the services which may have been conducted.
When the congregation took up the brick floor and sub- stituted a wooden one, and renovated the entire church building in 1826, that would apparently have been a fav- orable opportunity for the celebration of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation, as well as the sixtieth anniversary of the erection of the present church, but there is no account of any special services either of commemoration or of consecration.
In 1867 the congregation determined again to repair
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and renovate the church; this probably came as a thank offering unto the Lord in that he allowed the congrega- tion to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. That they intended the work of renovation to be thorough is shown by the fact that they resolved to put in new pews, windows, pulpit, doors, etc., at a cost of $3,000, besides labor voluntarily rend- ered. Before this renovation took place the congrega- tion celebrated its centennial, which took place on May II and 12, 1867. Rev. B. W. Schmauk, of Lebanon, preached the centennial sermon. Rev. J. B. Rath, of Bethlehem, and Rev. Laitzle, of Pottstown, also preached sermons on that occasion, while Rev. George F. Miller, of Pottstown, and Rev. L. J. Mayer, pastor of the local Re- formed church, assisted the pastor, Rev. L. Groh, in these services.
Perhaps the most important of all the anniversaries is " The Bi-centennial of the Lutheran Congregation in New Hanover," observed on the twenty-eighth and twenty- ninth of November, 1903. This was the first bicentennial of any German Evangelical Lutheran congregation cele- brated in this country-the first one of the kind in North America. The details of the program will not be re- produced here. One feature however deserves notice- the majority of those taking part in the services were sons of the congregation itself, or of its immediate neighbors- bearing the names of men prominent in the congrega- tion, Kurtz, Fegley, Bertolet, Fox, etc. The president of the ministerium, Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, preached the first sermon. His position naturally implied that his sermon should be historic, and presented this congregation in its relation to the synod. In the evening of the same day the speakers were Rev. U. S. G. Bertolet, of Philadel-
Special Events : Dedications and Anniversaries. 179
phia, and Rev. I. B. Kurtz, of Pottstown. On the fol- lowing day Rev. Prof. G. F. Spieker, D.D., professor in the Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, preached in Ger- man at the morning service. In the afternoon the Rev. O. P. Smith, D.D., Rev. W. B. Fox and Julius F. Sachse, Litt.D., of Philadelphia, made appropriate and interest- ing addresses. The evening services, at which Rev. Prof. H. N. Fegley, D.D., and Rev. W. O. Fegley spoke, closed the celebration.
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CHAPTER XI.
HISTORICAL EVENTS.
I. TRIALS AND STRUGGLES OF THE CONGREGATION.
UCH might be written about the early strug- gles of this congregation, as well as concerning those of many other churches of the provincial period. It might however be truthfully said, that, perhaps as far as the mere struggle for existence was concerned, the people of this community were not re- quired to deny themselves to the same extent as some others, nor yet in the same manner, e. g., the people of the Schoharie Hills, in Heidel- berg and Lynn Townships, in Lehigh County and Albany, Berks County. There, besides being harassed by the In-
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Historical Events.
dians, some dug caves to afford them temporary shelter or homes, and others occupied their large wagons as sleep- ing rooms and parlors, and used the protecting branches of some large oak or chestnut tree as the roof of their dining room and kitchen. Some of our day, no doubt, think that experiences of that kind are peculiar to the far-distant West. Possibly this may have been so in recent years. But in those earlier days they also occurred here in the East. That these conditions were existing is shown by the following petitions for protection.
PETITIONS OF CITIZENS TO GOVERNOR PATRICK GORDON FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE INVASION OF THE INDIANS.
Two interesting documents, which will be reproduced, in this connection, have been furnished through the kind- ness of Dr. Julius F. Sachse, throw light upon several matters of importance.
The information derived from these proved that the in- habitants in this community were already numerous prior to the year 1720, the date of one of these petitions. This one contains the signatures of seventy-seven persons, most of them, perhaps all, land holders and heads of families, with wives and children. It also shows the condition and fear of the inhabitants, at the time, also that the attacks of the Indians were frequent and hostile, and that pro- vincial protection was necessary in order to live in safety and in peace.
These petitions to the Governor also show that these people were no squatters because they speak of their plan- tations as being their own; nor were they simply occupying these places temporarily, since some of the signatures of
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these people appear on both petitions, the one being dated eight years later than the other. The latter petition contains the names of seventy-four persons. It were in- teresting to give the names of all these signers, but as some of them are illegible this cannot be done, except by photo- graph; some of them however will appear in connection with the petitions.
Perhaps the greatest interest gathers around the names of persons who have become prominent in church and state, or the names of such whose descendants still live in this community. Many of these names appear upon the Records of the congregation.
These petitions plainly indicate that these people stood together for mutual protection, and were deeply interested in the safety and welfare of their own families, and the community in general. Also that Rev. Gerhard Henckel resided in this community in 1728, and was probably the pastor of this congregation up to this time, or even later.
The writing of these petitions appears without any punctuation marks whatever, and will be so given, the capital letters are used indiscriminately, giving the manu- script an odd appearance. The first petition is as follows :
To his Excellency Patrick Gordon Esqr Governor Generall In chie (f) Over the Province of pensilvania And the Territoris Belonging Benbrenors township and the Adjacences Belonging May ye 10th 1720
We think It fit to Address your Excellency for Relief for your Excellency must know That we have Sufered and Is Like to Sufer By the Ingians they have fell upon ye Back Inhabitors about falkners Swamp & New Coshahopin Therefore We the humble Petitioners With our poor Wives And Children Do humbly Beg of your Excellency To Take It into Consideration And Relieve us the Petitioners hereof Whos Lives Lie at Stake With us and
To his Sonarall In choc Our thorjunto Bolongmt Bor bowers tow We think clancy must know.
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these people appear on both petitions, the one being dated eight years later than the other. The latter petition contains the names of seventy-four persons. It were in- teresting to give the names of all these signers, but as some of them are illegible this cannot be done, except by photo- graph; some of them however will appear in connection with the petitions.
Perhaps the greatest interest gathers around the names of persons who have become prominent in church and state, or the names of such whose descendants still live in this community. Many of these names appear upon the Records of the congregation.
These petitions plainly indicate that these people stood together for mutual protection, and were deeply interested in the safety and welfare of their own families, and the community in general. Also that Rev. Gerhard Henckel resided in this community in 1728, and was probably the pastor of this congregation up to this time, or even later.
The writing of these petitions appears without any punctuation marks whatever, and will be so given, the capital letters are used indiscriminately, giving the manu- script an odd appearance. The first petition is as follows :
To his Excellency Patrick Gordon Esqr Governor Generall In chie (f) Over the Province of pensilvania And the Territoris Belonging Benbrenors township and the Adjacences Belonging May ye 10th 1720
We think It fit to Address your Excellency for Relief for your Excellency must know That we have Sufered and Is Like to Sufer By the Ingians they have fell upon ye Back Inhabitors about falkners Swamp & New Coshahopin Therefore We the humble Petitioners With our poor Wives And Children Do humbly Beg of your Excellency To Take It into Consideration And Relieve us the Petitioners hereof Whos Lives Lie at Stake With us and
To his Excellency Patrick Gowen Gvar Yournor Ganarall. In choc Our the Province of poralhamza W the Ornitoris therunto Belonging Que leaves town ship and the adjacentes Belonging may yo 10th 172.0) We think It Put to Woof your Ellency for klif for your cashoncy must know That was Raw Sufored and go Like to Infor By the Ingions they have folt aran yo Back On habitons about folknous Swamp Is now Coshahopin Chloroform of the Fun te Opotionors With our your Wines and Children Do humbly dog of your Baloney 56 Jako Je into Consideration and Motions us the Dotion ons fordof What Limes dis At Stake Much us and our poor News & Children that go more to us than die Showfor the the humble Polationors her of Do Defire an Infor from your Barlancy By you Baron High food Sono mano at profond from your por afflicted Pronto Whoje namos ar how, Sullovill
John Roberts
Ir Crawling Henry Jannebekers Lane John Pauls Isaac Dubois Israel Morr's
Benjamin fry foot op den graef
Auchan adams Forge Dager
Tilman Roll
Paul that
Dotaz Rambo Javed young
anthony Lahmon. John Have Klein
william Bing
Glubband Castle
mathias Jason
Christian Gall Bracol Cronior Jacob Hoford
gomory Holand
Christian alibodo
hans Rife Daniel Howfard
Johann Fallingin Avant John John for. Colly Lafelfinger
nicholas hadiman michal higher Christian Hower
Claus Johnfor nicholas hicks Johanas Listas. Jacob thiman michall Crops Polar Kilo Grange Rifo George miro gestion Smith.
Garrot Chimons
Christin deter деткано до Кезде
Lovanty hingamony Richard Jacob
Conrad Infor Jacob Chsminke. chrishan mah Swan you Conwat Kig Jacob Roll hous wally Borgy John mior Offennich koll
1
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Historical Events.
our poor Wives & Children that Is more to us than Life There- fore We the humble Petitioners hereof Do Desire An Answer from your Excellency By ye Bearor With Speed So no More at present from your poor Afflicted People Whose names are here Subscribed
John Roberts
David young
Jn Pawling
Garret Clemens
Henry Pannebecker
Johannes Reichardt
Wm Lane
Mathias Jnson
John Jacobs
Peter Johnson
Isaac Dubois
Yost hut
Israell Morris
Christian Alibock
Benjamen Fry
hans Rife
Jacob op den graef
Daniel Stowfard
Dirtman Kolb
Abraham Schwartz.
Marti Kolb
Johann Vallentin Kratz.
Gabriel Showle
John Johnson
Anthony halmon
Colly hafilfinger
John Isaac Klein
Nickolas huldiman
Hans Detweiler
Michal Sigler
Christian Weber
Christian Stoner
Gerhard sheffe
Johannes Garber
Lorentz Bingamon
John huldiman
Richard Jacob
Claus Johnson
Hermanes Küsters
Nicholas hicks
Peter Bun
Johannes Lisher
Jacob Engners
Jacob Shimar
Jacob Kolb
Michall Cross
hons Wolly Bargy
Peter Rife
John Mior
George Rife
Henrich Kolb
George Mire
John fret
Pastwin Smith
Paul fret.
Jacob Stoferd
Wm Smith
Henry Stoferd
Peter Rambo
Paul fret. Junior.
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