USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Kutztown > The centennial history of Kutztown, Pennsylvania : celebrating the centennial of the incorporation of the borough, 1815-1915 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
The building committee necessary for those jointly erecting a church shall be chosen by the two congregations, from one congregation as many as from the other; and to them shall be given the preparation for and superintendency of the building of the aforesaid union church, at the expense of both congregations. The selected building committee shall have full power to enter into agreements with the necessary mechanics for the erection of this church, however, they shall be careful to avoid all unnecessary expenses ; but shall look with favor upon enduring, rather than ornamental work in the erection of this church. Both congregations obligate themselves not only to supply the building committee with money for building material and wages ; but also with teams and manual labor, whenever neces- sary until the church is built and paid. How- ever, if, contrary to all expectations, one or sev- eral of the building committee shall act partially or seek their own advantage, and the same be clearly shown; then that or those members of the building committee shall be relieved of their duties, and other members be chosen to their places from that or those congregations from which the dismissed members had been selected.
Art. V.
Each congregation shall choose and support its own pastor ; the minister receiving the highest vote shall subsequently be accepted and supported by the entire congregation. But no minister can or shall be elected and accepted, except one that sustains true churchly relations.
Art. VI
The elders and deacons shall see to it that both pastors do not hold services on the same Sunday but the services shall be held alternatingly. If both congregations increase, so that they be- come able to hold two services every Sunday, they shall also be held alternatinglv, that is, the min- ister who prcaches on Sunday morning, shall
preach on the following Sunday in the afternoon and the minister who preaches on the Sunday afternoon, shall preach on the following Sunday in the morning and thus shall the services bc alternatingly continued. The services on the holidays shall be left to the two ministers; but if they cannot agree between themselves, then the elders and deacons shall see to it that on the fastal days services shall be held alternatingly by each of the ministers. Should funerals occur simultaneously in the two congregations, and that the friends of both the deceased desire their own pastor for the burial. then the pastor of the one who died first, if it be possible, shall preach his funeral sermon first, but in such manner that the second burial be not unnecessarily delayed.
Art. VII
The elders and deacons whose pastor preaches shall have precedence in the deacon's pews and they shall supress all mischief and disorder in and about the church. Otherwise no member shall have any precedence over another member to any scat in the church.
Art. VIII
Each congregation mav conduct their Holy Communion serivce, accord'nº to their own church order, and whenever thev desire, however only on their own Sunday. The elders and deacons of the other congregation, shall see to it when one of the two congregations celebrate the Lord's Supper that there shall not arise a discussion or disturbance on account of usual denominational customs, and in particular that no minister be affronted during the services.
Art. IX
The vessels which are employed in the holy sacraments as well as the necessary church cloths and collection bag (Klingelbentel) shall be joint- ly provided and jointly used. ,
Art. X
The alms which shall be received on Sundays and the festal days shall be jointly administered and employed as follows :- One year an elder or a deacon of one congregation shall receive the alms monev. and the following vear an elder or a dearon of the other congregation shall receive it ; every year there shall be an accounting and the surplus shall, either in money, or by a note, be handed over to the succeeding custodian. If any improvements or repairs be made at the church or the school house, yet to be built, or other necessary expenses arise they shall be raid out of the joint alms, or provided by a joint collec- tion.
Art. XI
If a gift or legacy shall be given or left to this union church, the same shall be jointly em- ploved. ard no congregation shall have any prior claim to it.
Art. XII
Only one church hook shall be kept in which the children that will be baptized in each of the two congregations shall be entered : which shall be kent in the church or the school house. There shall also be only one key to the church, and also to the cupboard in the church, and they shall be kept in the school house.
Art. XIII
The place of burial or churchyard of this union church shall also be union, and no one of any of the two congregations shall have any
82
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
prerogation on this already mentioned union place for burial and it shall be fenced in as soon as possible. The elders and decons shall see to it in particular that good order be maintained on the place for burial.
Art. XIV
" Since the instruction of the young in reading, writing and the like is of the highest importance, therefore we shall build a school house as soon as possible, and that under the following regu- lations :
Ist SECTION. The school house shall be erect- ed jointly on a common piece of ground, near the church.
2d SECTION. As soon as the union school house shall be built, a capable person who at the same time leads an upright life, shall be elected by a majority of both congregations as schoolmaster and chorister. (The first teacher may be a member of either the Lutheran or Reformed denominations). Should however the schoolmaster conduct himself unseemly and of- fensively, or should be partial (denominationally) in his instruction or be too ignorant or too indif- ferent, he may, after being once or twice admon- ished by the pastors, elders and deacons, be dis- missed by a majority of the votes cast by both denominations.
3d. SECTION. If for example a schoolmaster adhering to the Evangelical Reformed faith be elected for a period of three years he may at the expiration of three years, if he has proven himself worthy both in teaching and in life, be re-elected for three more years by a two-third vote of the Lutheran congregation and by a ma- jority vote of the Reformed congregation. But if he is no more agreeable to two-thirds of the Lutheran congregation and the majority of the Reformed congregation, then shall a schoolmaster of the Evangelical Lutheran faith be elected by a majority vote of both congregations, but only for a period of three years. However, if he is agreeable at the expiration of three years to two- thirds of the Reformed congregation and the majority of the Lutheran congregation he shall be elected for three more years, or dismissed by the same vote, so that a scholmaster may remain as long as he behaves himself properly, and is re-elected according to the above prescribed man- ner.
4th SECTION. The reverend ministers, elders, and deacons shall intelligently see to it that good order is kept in the school, and that each child is properly taught in its studies, and that no partiality be shown [in teaching the doctrines of the denominations.]
Art. XV
Should however again a dispute arise con- cerning matters pretaining to the church or the school, of whatever kind, in either or both con- gregations, the matter in dispute, if it pertains to both congregations shall be adjusted by the pastors, elders, deacons and several members of both congregations. If however the contention is only in the one congregation the pastor, elders deacons and several members of that congrega- tion shall adjust the matter, and whenever pos- sible be kept from the secular courts.
Art. XVI
If one of the two congregations, may it be which it may (from which however the Lord preserve us) will not adhere to these articles, but desire to break and ignore the same or any one of them, so shall that congregation be ac-
counted as the disturber of the harmony and peace and shall forfeit its right in the church; and shall not be allowed to hold any services in it until they fulfill and come up to the broken article. This XVI Article is for no other pur- pose, but that through it all strife and all dissen- sion may be prevented and that peace and har- mony may abide and endure forever.
Art. XVII
It is agreed that on the 24th of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety the cornerstone of this union church shall be laid; at which solemn celebration, the two neighboring reverend pastor, the reverend pastor Daniel Lehman on the Lutheran side, and the reverend pastor Johann Henrich Helffrich on the Reformed side, shall deliver sermons suitable to the occasion.
Art. XVIII
These articles, which the members of both con- gregations have accepted and promised to ob- serve, and which have been undersigned in the name of the two congregations by the chosen building committee and made legal by the affixing of their seals, besides a confession of faith [catechism] of each of the Evangelical congre- gations as well as a short account of the govern- ment under which we live, shall be placed in the cornerstone, as an abiding memorial; and a copy of these already mentioned articles, shall be en- tered upon the church record for a continuous reminder, and a more strict observance.
That the members of both the Evangelical congregations, the Reformed as well as the Luth- eran, entirely approve all the articles of this document, and desire to keep them inviolable, we the undersigned building committee (the elders and deacons have not as yet been chosen) in the name of members of both congregations ac- knowledge with our hand and seal, done on the 24th of May Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety, and in the fourteenth year of the declared independence, by the thirteen states from the crown of England, and in the seventh year of the succeeding peace, at which time England acknowledged the independence of the states.
The elected building committee on the Lutheran side:
JACOB HERRMAN, JACOB SWEIER, MICHAEL WERLEIN.
The elected building committee on the Re- formed side :
GEORGE PFISTER, JERMIAS KOLB, PETER CHRISTMAN.
Herewith follows the system of government under which this church was built.
The system of government for the United States which was inaugurated last year, con- sists of a President. who is at present George Washington, and a Vice President who is John Adams, of a House of Senatoren to which each state elects two, and of a House of Repraesentaten to which each state elects more or less accord- ing to its population. Our state has for the present eight Repraesentanten. As to the system of Government of our state, a printed sketch of it is deposited in the cornerstone which system was but lately in the month of August recognized as permanent and binding. It was accepted and inaugurated in our state. The plan consists of a Gouverneur who is Thomas Mifflin, and of a
J-
83
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
House of Seuatoreu and of a House of Reprac- sentanteu. In the meantime two more states, namely Vermont and Kentucky, have been added to the thirteen States.
This union church was dedicated in the pres- ence of a very large concourse of people, on the 7th of August, 1791, by the Reverend Dauiel Lehman and the Reverend Joh. Heurich Helffrich after which both of the reverend pastors were elected and accepted by the congregations as their regular pastors.
The schoolmaster accepted by both congrega- tions is Abraham Dauber.
Because the building committee refuse to ac- cept the two offices of Elder and Deacon, since they had so much trouble during the erection of the church, therefore the following were elected : On the Reformed side :
NICOLAUS KIEFFER, GEORG KEMP. Elders. JOHANNES SIEGFRIED, SIMON GEORG, JOHANNES LEVAN, JR. Deacous.
On the Lutheran side:
GEORGE KISTLER, PETTER MATTERN, Elders.
JOHANNES BAST, ABRAHAM BIEHL, NICHOLAUS KUTZ, Deacons.
These articles were recorded in this book (in the church book) on the 9th of February, 1792.
PREAMBLE AND CONSTITUTION GOVERNING SCHOOL HOUSE
THE
A school house of stone, having been erected, near by the church in Kutztown, in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, by both congregations, namely the Lutheran and Reformed, as a union school house, therefore we the undersigned build- ing committee of the above named school house and church as well as the church councils of both congregations do, in the name of both congre- gations, forever establish the following Consti- tution or Regulations and Directions.
I. An annual meeting shall be held every year in the month of November at which time five trustees shall be chosen from the congregations. The first year three trustees shall be chosen from the Lutheran congregation and two trustees from the Reformed congregation, and the next year three from the Reformed congregation and two from the Lutheran congregation, and so on al- ternating yearly, and they shall be elected by ballot. At all elections two judges shall be chosen from each of the two congregations, who shall conduct the election and read the cast ballots : and those receiving the highest votes shall serve for one year.
2. These five trustees shall have all care and control of the said school house, and they are hereby commanded or at least a majority of them, to arrange every three months ( Vierteljahr) with the Pastors, Elders, Deacons and several mem- bers from each congregation for an examination, and to conduct the examination in the presence of the schoolmaster, and to see to it with all earnestness that the instruction. of the youth is not neglected.
3. The schoolmaster shall be elected by ballot, and if two or three are nominated they shall be. in the manner already indicated, elected by the members of both congregations, and the one receiving the highest number of votes shall serve and reside in the school house. And he is hereby charged with the duty of leading the singing in the Kutztown congregation, as well as to play the Organ at each service, also to teach in the school the children, with all earnestness to pray, spell, read, write, singing and to reckon, as well as, without discrimination, to teach the children of both congregations the Catechism, also in sum- mer to conduct catechetical instruction when there are no services, and to confer from time to time with the trustees on matters relating to the wel- fare of the school.
Further he shall ring the church bell, for which he is to be paid, every morning at eight o'clock and at noon at twelve o'clock during the whole year, except on Sundays when it shall be rung for services, according to our custom.
4. Should it happen that complaint be lodged with the trustees, against the schoolmaster resid- ing in the school house; that he does not do his duty or fulfill his office, or that he discriminates between the children, or that he does not conduct himself soberly and discreetly, the trustees shall assemble and inquire into the matter. If they find the complaint sustained they may reprimand the school master and encourage him to do better. But if he shall not amend they, or a majority of them, shall notify him that, at the expiration of three months, he must remove from the school house. And they shall also make it known through the newspaper that a teacher is desired. As soon as one or more teachers have applied. the members of both congregations shall hold an election as above designated. In no case shall a teacher be elected for a longer term than one year.
5. And because in the said school house a room is also provided for an English school, the afore- said trustees are herewith instructed, next fall as early as possible, to engage an English teacher, who shall possess a good character and be able to speak, read, write and reckon well in English, for the winter and longer if a sufficient number of scholars present themselves. If it should hannen that the English school be conducted dur- ing the whole year, then the English teacher shall be elected in the same nammer as the German teacher.
6. The yearly elected trustees of the above mentioned school house shall, at all times, have charge of the building, and they or a majority of them are hereby instructed to keen it in good condition, as well as provide the adjoining lots with stables and fences as they or a majority of them may see fit. Both congregations promise to pay their part, whenever it becomes necessary.
Approved and undersigned by the members of both congregations, as trustees of the church and school house, as well as the church council. this the fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord 1805.
Building Committee of the Church : Jacob Herman Tacoh Brobst
Peter Christman David Klein
George Pfister
Building Committee of Schoolhouse: Jacob Levan, Jr. Hornrich Heist
Jacob Kutz, Jr. John Bieber, Jr.
Elders of the Church : George Kemp Jacob Kutz
John Bieber . Philip Meyer : :
84
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
Deacons : Michael Heldenbrand Peter Schafer
John Bieber, Jr.
Jacob Levan, Jr. John Kutz
To the above the committee adds a lengthy note in which they declare that the regulations shall be considered only as by-laws to the original constitution and where they differ to be of no effect, so that the original constitution may remain unaltered; also that the deed for lots numbered 87 and 88, was given to the congre- gation May 6, 1804 by Jacob Herman, and the proprietors' deed by Heinrich Kohler, according to the conditions of the original church regu- lations for school purposes.
The late Rev. F. K. Levan, D. D., in a paper read before the Pennsylvania German Society, entitled "Maxatawny Prior to 1800," relates an incident how his great-grandfather Col. Peter Klein, who late in life founded the village of Klinesville, prevented one of these self appointed ministers from conducting services in the new church (1791).
"One day he [Col. Peter Klein] was told that on the next Sunday there would be serv- ices in the church in Kutztown by a strange minister. So early on Sunday morning, he saddled his horse and rode to the town. He [being an elder] went to the sexton and got the keys of the church and then took his position on the steps of the entrance. Hc would not unlock and so prevented the ring- ing of the church bell. When the crowd be- gan to gather and questioned him he called attention to the resolution passed. The new minister was meanwhile at the tavern, and others with him. At last he, with his com- Dany came. "What is the difficulty ? was the inquiry." Let the minister show his papers. Well he had none, or had lost them or for- gotten them. Then followed much Krummes und Grades. We can imagine the scene and the opinions expressed-very varying. At last Col. Peter Klein grew tired of it, and stepping forward, he said with a meaning in his voice which his well known physical strength amply supported : "Peter has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and today no one enters in."
The following list of officers of St. John's union congregations are appended to the Laws and Regulations in the pamphlet published in 1846. The dates affixed to their names show that they were in service in those years; but do not in every case, give the length of service. Thus Jacob Levan 1826-46 indicates that he served in the capacity of elder from 1826 to 1816, but his services may have begun a few years earlier and extended beyond 1846.
ELDERS
Reformed
Nicholaus Kieffer, 1791 George Kemp, 1791-05 Philip Meyer, 1805-II Jacob Levan, 1826-46 Philip Schaeffer, - - 1846 -?
Lutheran
George Kistler, 1791 Peter Mathern, 1791 John . Bieber, 1811-44 Tacob Kutz, 1822-46 Jacob Biehl, 1822-46 Heinrich Heffner, 1846 Heinrich Xander, 1846
DEACONS
Reformed
Johann Siegfried, 1791 Simon George, 1791 Johann Levan, Jr., 1791 Philip Michael, 1795 Philip Klein, 1797-93 John Fink, 1801 Peter Klein Jacob Levan, 1802
Peter Schaeffer, 1803-II Abraham Wanner, 1806
Dewalt Wink, 1809-13 Daniel Kemp, 1808-12 Philip Schaeffer, 1810-13 Johann Siegfried, 1812 Jacob Levan, 1813-18 Johann Mohn, 1813 Jacob Graff, 1816-22 John Wanner, 1820-25 George Kemp, 1821-23 Daniel Hottenstein, 1822-26 John Palzgrove, 1822-25 George Schafer, 1823-27 Daniel Kemp, Jr., 1826-28 John Fister, 1825-29 David Kutz, 1827-32 Jonathan Schmick, 1828-29 Jacob Levan, 1829-32 Wm. Heidenreich, 1829-34
John Rahn, 1832-35 Jonathan Bar, 1832-35 David Graff, 1834-39 Samuel Kutz, 1835-37
John F. Levan, 1836-41
John Scherrer, 1837-42 George Kemp, 1841-46
Gideon Butz, 1842-46
Fayette Schodler, 1842-46
Lutheran
Johann Bast, 1791
Abraham Biehl, 1791-95 Nicholaus Kutz, 1791-99 Jacob Esser, 1796-99
John Bieber, 1799 John Kutz, 1799 Abraham Merkel, 1800
Jacob Christ, 1801-03
Michael Heldenbrand, 1803-06 John Bieber, Jr., 1805 Solomon Kutz, 1806 Isaac Bieber, 1806 Heinrich Kistler, 1806
Gabriel Old, 1800-15
Conrad Schmelzer, 1810-12
Christman Schweier, 1811-12 Jacob Biehl, 1812-16 Daniel Merkel, 1816 Dewald Bieber, 1815-20
Jacob Baldy, 1817-21 Jacob Bieber, 1820-26
Daniel Biehl, 1821-25
Jacob Esser, 1825-29
Jacob Merkel, 1823-25
Jacob Heffner, 1824-28 Tacob Biehl, 1827-30 John Fischer, 1828-32 George Bieber, 1829-3.3
Daniel Merkel, Jr., 1830-33 Daniel Hinterleiter, 1832-36
Gideon Biehl, 1833-36
Georg Humbert, 1833-37
Peter Deischer, 1836-41
Tohn S. Bieber, 1837-4I Daniel B. Kutz, 1837-41 Heinrich Heffner, 1841-45
85
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN
Jacob Xander, 1841-45 Daniel Braum, 1841-46 Samuel Kutz, 1845-46 Heinrich Croll, 1845-46
TREASURER
On January 1, 1813, the office of Kassirer (treasurer) created at the annual congregational meeting, at which time Heinrich Heist was chos. en. No other name has been discovered except that of Benjamin Schneider to whom in 1844, as treasurer of the congregation the church keys were entrusted, "because at that time no teacher was living in the school house." He was also the treasurer in 1846.
TRUSTEES OF THE CONGREGATION
Reformed
George Pfister, 1789-1839 Jeremias Kolb, 1789 Peter Christman, 1789-1813 David Klein, 1805 Michael Scherer, 1813-28 Daniel Kemp, 1813 Charles Schmick, 1828-45 Jacob Graff, 1839-46 Jacob L. Levan, 1845-46 Daniel Kemp, 1846
Lutheran
Jacob Herman, 1789-1805 Jacob Schweier, 1789 Michael Werlein, 1789 Jacob Probst, 1805 Nicholaus Ernst, 1811 Johann Bast, 18II Daniel Merkel, 1822-46 Heinrich Heist, 1844 Daniel B. Kutz, 1844-46 George Humbert, 1846
TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOLHOUSE
Jacob Levan, Jr., 1805 Jacob Kutz, Jr., 1805 John Seigfried, Sr., 1814 John Bieber, 1805 Heinrich Heist, 1805 Jacob Schweyer, 1814
NEW BUILDING
For four score and six years the people of Kutztown and vicinity worshipped in the old church. However as the congregation increased the reed of a larger building was felt and on April 4, 1876, the joint vestry decided to sub- mit the crection of a new edifice to the congre- gations. At the vote taken on the 17th of the same month it was found that two hundred and seventy-nine favored a new building and seventy- seven were opposed to one. Preparations were immediately made for the building of a new structure and the following committee appointed to solicit subscriptions : Charles Rahn, Charles Deisher, George Bieber, David Schaeffer, Jacob Sunday, Charles Kutz, Jonathan Bieber, John Christman, George Kutz, John Kemp, W. Rahn and Jacob Rahn.
In the presence of a great multitude of people. on Whitsunday, June 4th, the corner stone was laid. The exercises were continued on Whit- Monday which in former years was regarded as a holiday. On the morning of Sunday preached Rev. B. S. Smoll, assisted by Rev. J. S. Herrmann, and the afternoon of the same day, Rev. B. Weiss, from Lenhartsville, from the text I Cor. 3, 10-11. The corner stone was laid by Revs. J. S. Herrmann and B. E. Kramlich, assisted by the
elders of the congregation. In it were deposited the following articles : A Bible, a Lutheran and Heidelberg Catechism, Sacramental Wine and Wafer, the names of the officers, coins, a silver dollar, donated by Dewalt Kemp, with his name and year engraved on it, the Lutheran "Zeit- schrift," the Reformed "Hausfreund," and the "Kutztown Journal"; also a document containing a resolution that the congregations shall remain Lutheran and Reformed as long as five members in good standing shall desire it. On Monday morning Rev. B. Weiss preached again, and in the afternoon, Rev. D. Humbert, of Bowers. The old cornerstone was again laid by Rev. J. S. Herr- mann, who also delivered - an affecting address. In it were deposited an old Bible, presented by Charles Kutz, of Kutztown, an old Hymn Book, the old Constitution of the congregations, with all the names of the officers to the present time, a silver Quarter Dollar and a Five Cent piece, donated by the old bell-ringer, Charles O'Neal.
The church was dedicated the following year, October 28, 1877, by the pastors in charge, Revs. J. S. Herrmann and J. J. Cressman. They were assisted by Revs. E. V. Gerhard, D. D., and N. C. Schaeffer, D. D., Reformed, and by Revs. J. B. Rath, B. E. Kramlich and L. Groh, D. D., then president of the Conference, Lutherans. The structure is a fine example of church architecture of its period. It has a seating capacity of one thousand besides a large basement used for Sunday School purposes.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.