USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > The old Trappe Church, 1743-1893 : a memorial of the sesqui-centennial services of Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 3
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During service Muhlenberg insisted on perfect order and sought to inculcate a proper reverence for the house of God. Misbehavior was a serious matter. On one occasion a man by the name of Shadrack Samuels, who had given public offense during service, was prosecuted and had to
(44) Halle Reports, p. 170.
SESQUI-CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL OF THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH.
PASTOR MUHLENBERG HOLDING SERVICE IN THE BARN.
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The Old Trappe Church.
appear at court in Philadelphia, where his case was tried. It involved the congregation in considerable expense.45
MUHLENBERG'S SUPPORT.
The congregation had agreed from the beginning to pay a salary of £40 ($106.66 present valuation), but even this amount they were scarcely able to raise. The first two years, as the congregation was burdened with the church debt, and the fathers in Halle had agreed to provide tempor- arily for his support, he waived all payment of salary on the part of the congregation. But this promised support was so meager that he was sub- jected to great personal inconvenience and the sternest self-denial. " My clothes," he says, "during the first and second years, were so totally worn out by my continuous traveling, that I had to contract a debt of sixteen pounds to buy underclothing and outer garments.46 After this his salary was only paid in part, but what the members were un- able to contribute in pounds they very generously donated in provisions. " Though they are not able to raise much money," he says, " they can, nevertheless, easily pay a salary in the form of provisions and such pro- duce as is necessary for housekeeping. They offer so many kind gifts in the form of meat and drink that there is a superabundance. They do not know how to make their good-will toward me sufficiently manifest."#7 But up to the time of his departure there was an arrearage of many years' salary.
(45) Muhlenberg, in his account book, records it as follows:
"In the year 1760, March 18th, settlement was made at a meeting of the church council con- cerning an action, which was ' debated' in court at Philadelphia against Shadrach Samuels, who had given offense in the public service of God.
I. Plaintiffs were chosen from the congregation, viz. Messrs. John Koplin, Esq., Valentine Sherer, Fred. Setzler, Fred. Rieser, Nic. Custer, John Kepner, who have each spent 6 days. Six shillings a day for every person amounts in all to £10 16s 0d
II. To the King's Attorney and Mr. Ross, 7
0 0
III. Per Henry Muhlenberg again to the King's Attorney and Mr. Ross, 4 0 0
IV. For summons of a witness before Esq. Koplin, 0 8 0
Sum of the total expense, 22 4 0
(46) Dr. Mann's Life and Times of H. M. M., p. 139.
(47) Halle Reports, p. 178. Dr. Mann's Life and Times of H. M. M., p. 132. Dr. Jacobs' state- ment (Hist. of the Luth. Ch. in the U. S., p. 219) that " the Providence people gave him nothing whatever " must be understood to refer to the payment of a salary in money. (See below on the same page). In enumerating some of the gifts Muhlenberg writes to Halle (H. M. M. Autobio- graphy, Dr. W. Germann, p. 173), " One brings a sausage, another a piece of meat, a third a chicken, a fourth a loaf of bread, a fifth pigeons, a sixth hares, a seventh eggs, an eighth tea and sugar, a ninth honey, a tenth apples, an eleventh partridges, and so on. * * About such crumbs, however, I am not concerned, but much more about the heart, if only that can be won with love. I have done away with the perquisites for baptism and the Lord's Supper as the circumstances (the abuses of impostors who were chiefly concerned about the fees) made it necessary." The first year, the New Hanover congregation presented him with £12, the first he received in Pennsylvania, "to buy a horse, and to afford him in addition a slight recreation," promising also to supply free horse feed. In Philadelphia his first year's salary did not suffice to pay his house rent.
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REMOVAL TO PHILADELPHIA.
A gloom was cast over the church council when, on September 19, 1761, Muhlenberg summoned them together in his house and announced that he felt necessitated to go for a time to the relief of the Philadelphia congregation, and endeavor by God's merciful assistance to bring the troubled affairs there into order and harmony. But only after being con- vinced of the great urgency of the situation did they consent to have him go, and then only on condition that he would not give up the con- gregations here, but retain them under his supervision, visit them when opportunity offered, provide them with good teachers during his absence, and as soon as possible come " home " again and serve them.
Muhlenberg then proposed that either Schaum should serve the con- gregation in Providence and New Hanover, and Van Buskerk take Schaum's place, or that effort should be made to secure pastor Hartwick, who might at the same time assist Van Buskerk, then preparing for the ministry, in his theological studies. They chose the latter alternative, elected
REV. JOHN CHRISTOPHER HARTWICK, Substitute,
and offered him, on condition of his serving them faithfully, the same salary which on their subscription list they had promised to Muhlenberg. The following day, September 20th, after administering the Lord's Supper to his people, on which occasion Hartwick who was visiting Muhlenberg at the time preached the sermon, he announced the decision of the church council to his saddened people. On October 18th he preached his farewell sermon in Ger- man and English in the presence of a large multitude, and a week later moved with his family to Philadelphia. Hartwick immediately took charge as adjunct pastor. He had visited Muhlenberg on vari- ous occasions, attended the confirmation services on April 7, 1751, and preached to the people, so that he did not come as a stranger or un- known. But as in so many places before and afterward he did not suc- ceed. Dissatisfaction and dissension soon arose, and in a short time, when Muhlenberg's hand was no longer on the helm,'the ship of church was amid the breakers and in danger of the shoals. Some disaffected mem- bers wanted to engage the services of a mountebank preacher, who had been a papist and never ordained, and matters waxed so unpleasant for Hartwick that after six months, having informed Muhlenberg of his in- tention to leave, removed in April to Frederick, Md.
JACOB VAN BUSKERK, Substitute.
Muhlenberg, who had promised to supply the congregation with competent pastors, promptly appeared upon the scene, and soon restored
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peace and order. He preached to the congregation and administered the Lord's Supper on May 16th. After service it was decided that " young Van Buskerk," then stationed at New Hanover, should be en- gaged to preach every two weeks at Trappe, Muhlenberg himself agreeing to preach every six weeks.
On this occasion Muhlenberg produced a note which he held against the congregation, signed by two of the trustees, according to which they owed him from May, 1759, to the Fall of 1761, viz., two years and a half, £20 with interest, amounting to £23. This indebtedness, repre- senting the amount which Muhlenberg had advanced toward the payment of the church debt, being now fully discharged, he handed the note to the trustees, having first torn away their names, saying " that the church was accordingly free from debt. Thank God."
On one of his visits to his country congregations, in May, 1763, which he made especially in response to Van Buskerk's urgent request, who since February had a class of fifty-nine in course of preparation for confirmation at New Hanover, he found that the catechumens had mas- tered the five parts of the catechism, a brief order of salvation and proof texts, and on May 8th confirmed them.
On Ascension day, May 12, 1763, he conducted services at Trappe, preaching from Colossians 3, I. Mr. Van Buskerk was then en- gaged to continue six months longer, though the congregation was dissatisfied that Muhlenberg did not return to them altogether. On June 28th of the same year Muhlenberg sold his residence and land, real- izing that his engagement in Philadelphia would be more lasting than he at first anticipated. In speaking of the sale, he says in his journal on the same day, " I have reserved five acres situated along the road and near the church and several acres of woodland in the rear, which in the future may serve for a convenient parsonage if a house be built on it ; the con- gregation shall have the first refusal of it."48 Muhlenberg kept this lot until his death, and afterwards his son, Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, reserved it for many years, but as the congregation did not seem disposed or able to buy it, he finally sold it. It was not until 1836 that the congregation bought the lot of Michael Shupe and built the present parsonage thereon.
Three weeks later Muhlenberg again appeared at Trappe, and on August 20th held preparatory services, taking Phil. 3 : 18-21, as the basis of his exhortation. The next morning he preached to a great multitude in and around the church from Acts 10: 10-16, and administered com- munion to the congregation. A vast throng of all sorts of religious par- ties assembled at the English service in the afternoon. As the organist
(48) Hall. Nach., Old Edition, p. 1107.
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" did not have the English melodies in notes," a German hymn was sung, after which Muhlenberg preached in English from Math. 16: 13-18.
It is an interesting fact that a few weeks later, on September 9th, at Philadelphia, one of the negroes whom he had baptized at Trappe on the occasion of the consecration of the church, John Billing, who con- tinued faithful to the profession he had made twenty years before, had Muhlenberg baptize his child.
Van Buskerk, for whose ordination the congregations had repeatedly and urgently applied, was duly examined on October 3d of this year by Provost Wrangel and Muhlenberg in the theory and practice of dogmatics and morals. The ordination services which had been appointed to take place in Augustus church,49 were, however, at the special request of the ·congregation in New Hanover, held at that place on October 12th. Provost Wrangel, after preaching the sermon from John 21 : 15, "Feed my ¡lambs," on the theme, " The tender human love of Jesus for dearly pur- "chased souls," ordained Van Buskerk as diaconus, assisted by Revs. Muh- lenberg, Kurtz and the Swedish missionary Heggeblat.
During these years, after Muhlenberg's withdrawal to Philadelphia, the Trappe congregation was sadly falling off. The officers informed him that if he did not speedily return and assume the pastorate, the con- gregation would go to nothing, and the church and school-house stand merely as monuments of their death. After again being informed by a Mr. J. P., of Providence, who visited him on November 5th, that the congregation was diminishing and would soon go to ruin, Muhlenberg, as soon as his other duties permitted, came to Trappe, preached to the con- gregation on November 28th, and encouraged the people to hope for assistance from Europe, which had been assured. After the service, he stated that inasmuch as they feared he or his heirs might claim the large sum, they acknowledged they owed him as arrearage for many years' salary, he publicly and generously forgave them the entire debt.50 " One thing, however," said he, " I publicly state, you know for
(49) Two other catechists, Ludolf Heinrich Schrenk and Lucas Rauss, who arrived together at Philadelphia, from Germany in February 1749, were "under pressure of circumstances" examined and ordained in Augustus Church, on Nov. 5, 1752, the twenty-second Sunday after Trinity. Both of these individuals turned out badly. In career and character they closely resembled each other, being equally unsuccessful in their work, selfish in disposition and violent in temper. Both of them requited Muhlenberg's many kindnesses with the most shameful ingratitude and calumny. Muhlenberg's comment on Schrenk (Hall. Nach. I. 562), who was last heard of preaching to Lutherans in Ireland, might with almost equal justice be applied to Rauss, who rendered himself particularly obnoxious and notorious by his absurb charges of heterodoxy against Muhlenberg : " If ever mortal creature abused my love and racked my patience it was Schrenk. May God be gracious and merciful to him, and pardon his sins for Jesus sake. Amen."
(50) On the preceding evening, at the house of one of the elders, a private conference was held -between Muhlenberg and a number of the elders and deacons (vorsteher). "At this meeting," Muh-
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what object this Augustus church and school-house were founded, built and designated forever in the writings of the corner-stone and in other instruments (the constitution); and to secure that object you, who are at present the church council, and your successors, should strive, namely, that our holy evangelical doctrine, according to the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, and the unaltered Augsburg Confession, together with the holy sacraments, be continued to the latest posterity, and in so far I will still watch with you."51
More because of a persistent hope and longing for Muhlenberg's return than any real prejudice against Van Buskerk, the congregation grew more and more dissatisfied, so that at length in 1764 Van Buskerk discontinued his services at Trappe altogether, and retained New Hanover and Pikestown under his charge until the following year when he was called to Germantown. During this period the congregation was without services, the most prominent elder in consequence moved with his family
lenberg says in an extract of his journal sent to Halle, (Hall. Nach. 1157 et seq. Old Ed.,) " the fol- lowing matters were discussed :
"1. Why they, the elders of both congregations, received no answer to their written presenta- tions concerning my return ? Answer: Their letter came too late. It was read at Synod, but the Providence congregation had no delegate there.
" 2. Why, in the beginning when I went to Philadelphia, I promised soon to return and did not keep my word, although two years had already flown by, and the congregation was going to ruin ? Answer: I made such promise conditionally, viz., as soon as the Philadelphia difficulties would be adjusted and help come from Europe. Since both of these things had not been accomplished, the matter still remained where it stood two years ago.
"3. Whether I did not say publicly, after I came home from Raritan with my family in 1760, that I would now remain, live and die in their midst? Answer : Yes, also on condition, viz., if the congregations would make better use of the means of grace, with their hearts become converted to Jesus, and live for Him who died and rose again for them. This they had not fulfilled, and I on the other hand had not served a strange congregation in these two years, but that in Philadelphia which also stood in my call as well as the two country congregations.
"4. The deacons especially disclosed a matter of grave concern ; viz., pastor Muhlenberg has the right to demand, according to his call, £40 sterling, annually ; he has served nineteen years in the two first country congregations, and the Providence congregation has not yet made up its 'quo- tum.' Now if pastor Muhlenberg chooses to proceed according to law, he can demand a large sum. Some of the members have, in the meantime, changed their places of residence, many have died, and others have moved away ; consequently the debt could be demanded of the elders and deacons ; how is this knot to be untied ? Is not pastor Muhlenberg himself to blame for not demanding his salary at the proper tinie ? Answer : To-morrow, so please God, I will untie this hard knot for you.
"5. But how is the waning congregation to be succored ? Answer : I have recently received a fatherly letter from the Rev. Court-chaplain Ziegenhagen, in which lie most graciously states that a faithful inspector of the orphanage at Halle, Mr. Voigt, has accepted a call to Pennsylvania and that another faithful laborer is being sought for. If this poor congregation is, by God's mercy again to be restored, it must be done as the Swedish Provost did with a congregation that had entirely fallen away ; he went from house to house, catechised children, parents and servants, and gradually gathered together a large and flourishing congregation. A man, who has two or more widely sepa- rated congregations is scarcely equal to the general not to speak of the special duties. If there- fore a special young laborer would be engaged at Providence alonc, and if need be at one other affiliated station (Filial), who would do like the Provost, similar results under the gracious assist- ance of God might be expected.
"6. But the Providence congregation is too weak to support a laborer alone ? Answer: If men seek first the kingdom of God, all these things shall be added unto them."
(51) Hall. Nach. Old Edit. p. 1139.
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to Lancaster, the members were being scattered and the church stood empty. But a new and promising era in the life of the congregation was inaugurated by the advent of a regular pastor.
REV. JOHN LUDWIG VOIGT
was the first pastor regularly elected after Muhlenberg, who, however, still continued to sustain a definite official relation to the congregation until his death. He was called in March, 1765, moved in December from his former charge in Germantown, took up his residence in the neighborhood of Trappe, and assumed charge of the congregations in Trappe, Pikestown, west of the Schuylkill, and at New Hanover. Muhlenberg, under the date of Dec. 8, 1765, writes somewhat humor- ously of his arrival: "Voigt was glad to cast off the Germantown yoke and enter the paradise where old Muhlenberg lived like a bird in hemp-seed for so many years; the diaconus (Van Buskerk who succeeded Voigt at Germantown) found it expedient to offer Voigt his large house, garden and meadow for fro a year, but some thought that Voigt might very well occupy the upper room in the school- house and board with the schoolmaster's family, since Muhlenberg in the beginning lived in still smaller and more wretched quarters. This, how- ever, I opposed, declaring that we no longer lived according to old style in America but the new." Voigt accordingly removed his residence to New Hanover, preached there every two weeks, and on the Sunday thus left open alternated at Trappe and Pikestown. In 1772, when the new St. Peter's church (beyond the French Creek a few miles to the southwest of Zion,) was built by some members of the Zion congregation, he min- istered there also. About this time the little flock at Pottstown was added to the charge of which Voigt became the first regular pastor. In 1774 Muhlenberg, intending to visit Ebenezer, came to Trappe to take leave of his friends, after having assisted at the laying of the corner-stone of Zion's new Church in Pikestown August 15th, and preached to the congregation on August 16th. Pastor Voigt, who was a skillful musician, presided at the organ, and afterward with some officers of the vestry and a number of friends gave Muhlenberg a farewell dinner.
Two years later, Muhlenberg, who always decidedly preferred the country, finding the exacting duties of the city charge too arduous for his failing strength, his eyesight also growing defective, and under the pressure of the Revolutionary war, decided once again to move to the place he loved, and on July 28, 1776, occupied his new home in Trappe, which he had purchased in January. This house, now belonging to the Hunsberger estate, is about a quarter of a mile distant from the church.
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The window from which he could view the American troops as they frequently passed by, or were encamped in the neighborhood in 1777 during the war, is still pointed out to visitors.
His removal to Trappe was a practical resumption of his pastorate, Voigt continuing rather as his assistant. This year, 1776, Voigt resigned the congregation at New Hanover and moved to Pikestown, Chester County, and soon after occupied the parsonage purchased by Zion's and St. Peter's congregation. He now preached once a month at Zion's, St. Peter's, Pottstown and Trappe, dividing the work here with Muhlenberg, who ministered at Trappe and New Hanover, assisted for a time by his two sons, Frederick Augustus and Henry Ernst. But in 1778, owing to Muhlenberg's increasing infirmities, the burden of the pastoral care fell upon Voigt. During this time Muhlenberg not only preached at Trappe and New Hanover, but also at times in neighboring churches and still occasionally in Philadelphia. When Voigt held service he sometimes played the organ. In April, 1779, on account of age, loss of hearing and general weakness, he formally resigned the Philadelphia congregation. In the Spring of 1781, despite his growing disability, he instructed forty- four catechumens in New Hanover and five others at Trappe. But the shadows of his life were lengthening toward the East. He preached his last sermon at Trappe Sept. 26, 1784. As the end approached, in addition to the swelling of the feet, with which he had been plagued for some years, aggravated dropsy and other painful disorders set in. During his last sickness Voigt was a frequent visitor. Eight days before his death, Voigt was again with him and expressed his joy at the signs of improve- ment he seemed to find, but when he left Muhlenberg said it was farewell and repeated the beautiful hymn,
" A heavy road before me lies Up to the heavenly paradise, My lasting home is there with thee Bought with thy life blood once for me."
On Saturday, October 7, 1787, at midnight, with the words of the last verse of Paul Gerhardt's hymn upon his lips, " Befiehl du deine Wege" (Com- mit thy ways), the soul of the Great Patriarch returned to Him who gave it. He was buried on October 10th in the presence of a large multitude, who gathered from far and near. The ministers present were Voigt, Schultze, Helmuth, Van Buskerk, Wildbahn, Roeller, Schaum, his son Henry Ernst Muhlenberg, and the Reformed ministers Schlatter and Dal- iger. The hymn "My life it flees away," was sung at the house, and after Dr. Helmuth offered prayer, the body was taken to the Trappe Lutheran cemetery and laid in the grave immediately back of the Old Church. As the church could not accommodate the vast number present, Voigt de-
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livered a short funeral discourse in the open air from Psalms 15 : 1, 2, " Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speak- eth the truth in his heart." In different cities bells were tolled with muffled tongues, churches were draped in black, and funeral orations de- livered, in testimony of the great love and veneration in which the Patriarch was held.
The large marble slab erected over his grave, bears the following epitaph :
Hoc Monumentum sacrum esto Memoriæ beati ac venerabilis HENRICI MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor et Senioris Ministerii Lutherani Americani. Nati Sept. 6, 1711. Defuncti Oct. 7, 1787. Qualis et quantus fuerit Non ignorabunt sine lapide Futura Saecula.
Sacred Be this monument to the Memory of the blessed and venerable HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG Doctor of Sacred Theology and Senior of the American Lutheran Ministerium. Born Sept. 6, 171I. Died Oct. 7, 1787. Who and what he was future ages will know without a stone.
" Who and what he was, future times will know, Without a monument of stone." His sacred dust lies low, Rests undisturbed, in the last solemn longest sleep, Whilst seasons come and go, whilst mortals smile and weep ; He was an humble Christian, saved by Sovereign grace, Holding within the Church, a St. Paul's highest place, His is a household name, where'er the Lutheran faith, Its temple, membership, communion, history, hath. 5 2
(52) Dora B. M'Knight, in The Busy Bee, Oct. 1887.
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Beneath the same stone rest the earthly remains of his wife, who died August 23, 1802.
Voigt continued to serve the congregation until 1790, but main- tained a nominal pastoral oversight until 1793. He remained pastor of Pottstown, Zion's and St. Peter's congregations until his death, December 28, 1800.
JOHN FREDERICK WEINLAND,
who, in 1789, entered upon the charge of the congregation at New Han- over, relieved Voigt of his pastoral duties at Trappe in August of the fol- lowing year. From this date the records continue regularly in Wein- land's hand, and in the synodical minutes of 1793 he appears as the regular pastor.
On March 20, 1805, at the special instance and under the direction of Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, whose name appears in the charter as one of the members of the Augustus Church, the congregation was incorporated at an expense of $52.03, which General Muhlenberg himself bore. In August of the same year, Weinland, who had previously resided at Fruit- ville, now occupied the school-house, as for a time there was no resident school-master. The pastor's salary was still fixed at forty pounds. In the subscription list there were two classes who contributed, first, the reg- ular members of the congregation, and secondly, non-members, including Reformed and others, who were, nevertheless, willing to subscribe to his support. Of the £40 salary which Weinland received in 1806, £5 6s. Id. was paid in corn, a bedstead, pair of shoes, wood, butter, a hat, flour and groceries,-a method of paying salaries which has fortunately been discontinued.
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