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 4
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Though the Augustus church was never a union church,53 the Re- formed worshipped with the Lutherans under the Lutheran minister for a number of years, and were frequently and for a number of years regularly accorded the privilege of the building, when they had their own minister. In the by-laws attached to the charter and constitution at the time of the incorporation of the congregation, though " strange preachers " are dis-
(53) When it was first proposed to build the church in 1743, a number of Reformed members came to Muhlenberg, desiring to have a share in the undertaking. They were willing to assist in building the church. They were told that there were two ways possible-the way of equity and the way of charity : if they claimed a certain portion of the rights, they would have to pay a pro- portional share of the expenses. To this they would not consent, since they were few in numbers. The other way, the way of charity, was this : that if they would now, as good neighbors, assist to some extent in building this church, the Lutherans would put it in their written records for the succeeding generation ; if, however, during the present generation they were able and willing to erect a church-building, the Lutherans would not stand back, but assist them. In this way the building of a so-called union church, so often the cause of disunion and other attendant evils, was avoided and good-feeling between the two sides preserved. Dr. Mann's Life and Times of H. M. M., p. 133.
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tinctly excluded from the pulpit, it is expressly stated that this restriction is not to be applied to the Reformed minister.
Notwithstanding the fact that his name had been stricken from the roll of synod in 1796, in consequence of the unfortunate habit of drink, which he excessively indulged, but which he seems subsequently to have conquered, he continued to serve the congregation until his death, in the Fall of 1807. He was buried here in the cemetery, the congregation cheerfully bearing the funeral expenses ; but his grave is unmarked and unknown.
For several months after Weinland's death, Dr. Frederick William Geissenhainer, then living at New Hanover, as pastor of the congre- gation there and at Pottstown, served the congregation, receiving for his services $71.67. On the 13th of May he installed trustees, elders and wardens, who had been previously elected, and a few days later removed to New York and became Dr. Kunze's successor. The Reformed minister in the vicinity, Rev. Germann, was also engaged to supply the pulpit at stated intervals from the time of Weinland's death throughout the year, and administered the communion to the congrega- tion on Easter, an irregularity which points to a general laxity in the condition of affairs then prevailing.54 For his services he received $40.00.
REV. JOHN PETER HECHT.
A young man of promising talent, eighteen years of age, began sup- plying the pulpit during the months of November and December of 1807, who soon became the regular pastor. Licensed as candidate, with full power to act as pastor, at the meeting of the Ministerium held at Han- over in May, 1809, John Peter Hecht was immediately elected as pastor, and preached his introductory sermon June 11th. His first official pas- toral act was the installation of church officers on July 22d. He became pastor also of the congregations at Pottstown and Amity, preaching every three weeks in the morning at each place. From the Trappe congrega- tion he received a salary of £40 "good money," each congregation in addition paying one-third of his house rent and supplying him with one- third of his fire wood. He became at once deeply interested in the edu- cation of the young, and soon the school-house, whose doors had been closed for some years, was once more opened. The German received especial attention and the congregation was urged to send their children to the school so that the German might not sink into total oblivion. A school-master, Valentine Unger, was promptly engaged, who spent one- third of his time in each congregation. In Pottstown, where Hecht re-
(54) See Dr. Jacobs' Hist. of the Ev. Luth. Church in the U. S., 1893, p. 309 et seq.
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sided, he opened a school in his own house. Francis R. Shunk, who for a time was the village school-master, and elected Governor in 1844, be- came deeply attached to him, and a friendship was formed between them which was never broken.
In 1810 Hecht increased his services, preaching every two weeks in the morning for six months, and every four weeks during the rest of the year. During the summer of 1813 he resigned and removed to Carlisle.
REV. HENRY ANASTASIUS GEISSENHAINER
became pastor in October, 1813. He made his home in Whitpen town- ship, below Trappe, until April, 1817, when he purchased and moved to a farm in Pottstown. · He preached at Trappe every two weeks, holding service regularly also at Pottstown and Limerick, where a congregation had been recently established-these three congregations now constitut- ing the charge. The congregation pledged him a salary of £50, with the additional promise of the surplusage if the subscriptions exceeded that amount. Hitherto the congregation depended on the voluntary sub- scriptions of the members for raising the pastor's salary and meeting other expenses, but this method proving more and more unsatisfactory, it was resolved, in 1816, that the members should be apportioned according to their estates. The congregation was accordingly divided into six classes. Members owning eighty or more acres were taxed $6.00 ; those owning forty to seventy-nine acres, $4.00 ; twenty to thirty-nine acres, $3.00 ; one to nineteen acres, and those without any land but otherwise in good circumstances, $2.00. The last class consisted of those who de- pended upon manual labor for the support of their families and were as- sessed $1.00. If any member remained in arrears at the annual settlement, due notification was to be given, and if the overdue amounts were not paid in four weeks, the church council; was empowered to enforce payment by legal process. This arrangement was tentatively adopted, continuing in force, with some readjustment, for several years. At this time the exceedingly obnoxious provision for the annual election of the minister, by which the congregation was subsequently much distracted, was added to the by-laws. On April 12, 1852, a motion to repeal this law was lost by one vote. On April 23, 1861, an amendment, striking out the clause " for one year," was carried but speedily forgotten. It was abrogated on November 30, 1863, but even after this the old enactment was once again illegally enforced. It was entirely expunged when the by-laws were re- vised in 1874.
Dr. Geissenhainer served the congregation with fidelity and accept- ance until April, 1821, when he resigned and accepted a call to Pittsburg.
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REV. FREDERICK WILLIAM GEISSENHAINER, SR., D. D.,
who, during the vacancy created by the death of Rev. Weinland, had ministered to the congregation for a few months, succeeded his younger brother in the charge, having been unanimously elected on April 23, 1821.55 He now moved from Vincent, Chester County, where, since 1818, he had been living with his son Frederick William, Jr., assist- ing him in his pastoral charge of Zion's and St. Peter's, and took up his residence at Pottstown. English services, which soon after Muhlenberg's time had been discontinued, were now once more introduced with but little dissent. At a congregational meeting, held in the school-house on Easter Monday, 1822, it was "decided to have English preaching in the church every sixth Sabbath, only two of the 'thirty-two votes cast being in opposition to English preaching altogether." After a short pas- torate of but two years, Dr. Geissenhainer, for the second time, accepted a call to New York, and left in April, 1823.
REV. FREDERICK WILLIAM GEISSENHAINER, JR., D. D.,
became pastor of the congregation on Easter, March 30, 1823. Find- ing it now impossible to assume the burden of the two combined charges of Trappe and Pikeland, he relinquished Pottstown and retained Limerick, Trappe and the two Pikeland congregations, (Zion's and St. Peter's) as his charge. In 1824, as some of the Reformed members who were still holding their services in the church, did not seem disposed to con- tribute to the general expenses, the vestry resolved, on April 19th, " that those Reformed members who did not contribute to the Lutheran congre- gation should be held to pay for breaking ground at burials two dollars for each grave."
Dr. Geissenhainer served as pastor until 1827. On a Sunday, in February of that year, he announced that he had received a call from the Lord to New York. Considerable excitement was aroused, and after service several parties took it upon themselves to express their disapproval. Though in ignorance of the amount of salary offered, it was insinuated that he was attracted by the money ; and a hotel-keeper, whose temper was in excess of his judgment, exclaimed in German, more vigorous than elegant, " der devil hat dich gerufen, nicht der Herr."
(55) Dr. Schmucker, in his " Historical discourse on the Lutheran church in Pottstown," p. 32, says: "In 1821, when his brother Henry gave up the charge of the Pottstown, Limerick and Trappe congregations, they were added to that of the father and the son," (then jointly serving Zion's and St. Peter's, Chester County, and on p. 14, " The two together took charge of the churches at Pottstown, Trappe and Limerick." So also in Hall. Nach. I, p. 38. As far as Trappe is concerned, there is no trace in the records of any joint pastorship of father and son at this time. Only the father was elected here, and all the entries of pastoral acts are in his hand. The son may have oc- casionally assisted the father as necessity arose.
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They were evidently loath to see him leave ; but we can easily un- derstand how the call to become assistant to his father, who was over- burdened and worn down, would appeal to him with special force. He entered his last pastoral act, a baptism, in the Church Record on Feb- ruary 25, 1827, and in March moved to New York.
REV. JACOB WAMPOLE,
having been elected pastor, entered upon his duties July 22, 1827, and moved into the parsonage, one mile from Zion's church, Chester County, the two Chester County Congregations (Zion's at St. Peter's), Limerick and Trappe, still constituting the charge. A new impulse was given to the life of the congregation by his energetic labors, and large numbers were added to the church. Two new congregations were organized and united with the charge, Christ's church (known as the brick church) in Towamencin township,56 about four miles west of Lansdale, early in 1833, and in the same year St. Matthew's in Warwick township about five miles from St. Peter's.
On April 12, 1830, at a congregational meeting in the school-house, with only one vote in opposition, English and German were co-ordinated, a service in each language thereafter being held alternately every two weeks. For the security of the German, which this increase in English services seemed to threaten, the action was adopted with the distinct un- derstanding that, " as long as ten members insist on the present arrange- ment, no alteration should be made." But the constantly increasing de- mands of the enlarged parochial district so overtaxed the strength of the pastor, that it became necessary to divide the charge. Accordingly in January, 1834, Rev. Wampole resigned, and after April 27, confined him- self to the two Chester County congregations.
(56) One of the outposts where Muhlenberg frequently held services. A congregation was not regularly organized until 1833. Isaac Wampole, conveyancer, and uncle to Rev. Jacob Wampole, donated a lot and $500 for the building of a church and subsequently added an endowment of $2000, the interest of which was to be devoted to the payment of the pastor's salary. The cor- ner-stone of the church was laid on Whit-Monday, May 27, 1833, by Rev. George Roeller. In the cavity of the stone were deposited an English Bible, a German hymn-book, " used conjointly by the Lutheran and Reformed churches in North America," Luther's small catechism and a catechism of the German Reformed church. The building was consecrated as Christ's church on October 15, 1833, by Dr. Ph. T. Mayer, who preached in English from Ps. 65: 2. Dr. C. R. Demme, Revs. G. Roeller, G. Heilig and J. Wampole were the Lutheran clergymen who assisted at the service. The following were the successive pastors : Jacob Wampole, October, 1833, to May, 1834; John W. Rich- ards, June, 1834, to April, 1836 ; J. Wampole, again, April, 1836, to January, 1838; Henry S. Miller, April, 1838, to May, 1852; G. A. Wenzel, August, 1852, to October, 1854; A. S. Link, November, 1854, to March, 1859 ; G. Sill, April, 1859, to September, 1863; F. Berkemeyer, January, 1864, to Septem- ber, 1866 ; E. J. Fleckenstine, September, 1866 to 1868 ; William B. Fox, September, 1868, to March, 1871 ; supplied by students and others, March, 1871 to April, 1873; Rev. S. A. Ziegenfuss, April, 1873, to November, 1876 ; James L. Becker, June, 1877, to the present time. (For this brief sketch I am chiefly indebted to the kindness of Rev. James L. Becker.)
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REV. JOHN W. RICHARDS, D. D.
On March 12, 1834, Rev. John W. Richards of New Holland, Lan- caster County, was unanimously elected as pastor of the newly constituted charge, Trappe, Limerick and Towamencin, and preached his intro- ductory sermon here on May 1Ith. His ministry opened auspic- iously, and at his first confirmation the unprecedented number of ninety catechumens were received into the church. In April of this year, the English Lutheran congregation at Pottstown was organized by Rev. Richards in co-operation with Rev. Conrad Miller, and added to the charge. About this time considerable excitement was aroused in the con- gregation by the rumored intention of the Reformed congregation, wor- shipping in the church by permission, to hold a protracted meeting, and on March, 23, 1835, the vestry resolved, " That it was inexpedient at this time for this (Reformed) or any other congregation to hold a pro- tracted meeting in this church, and that no such proposition could be received."
In a letter, April 16, 1835, the Reformed minister, Rev. I. C. Guldin, then living at East Vincent, Chester County, again sought the consent of the Lutheran congregation to hold protracted meetings in the church, stating that he was so determined in the matter that " nothing under the canopy of heaven, neither calumny, slander without measure, nor the deadly sword itself could cause him to desist," and in addition a com- mittee of the Reformed members, consisting of Dr. Philip Wack and Henry Shade, was appointed to petition the vestry for its consent. The vestry, however, reaffirmed its former action, and no protracted meeting was held. In a supplement to the by-laws, enacted May 7th of the same year, the Reformed congregation, using the church once in four weeks, was required to pay thirteen dollars in lieu of the part of the annual expenses which they had hitherto borne. In a few months, how- ever, they withdrew and began the building of a new church in Trappe, the corner-stone of which was laid August 15th, when Rev. Richards preached the sermon.
On April 4, 1836, a deed was executed for a house and lot for a parsonage, purchased of Michael Raser, at a cost of $1580. Rev. Rich- ards did not occupy this parsonage, as in March, having accepted a call to Germantown, he resigned the charge, and in April moved to his new field of labor. Just before he left he organized the New Jeru- salem (Keely's) congregation, one mile from Schwenksville, which was at once added to the charge. Dr. Richards was held in great esteem and affection by the congregation he had faithfully served. On June 7, 1835, when delegates were elected to attend the Synod at Germantown,
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they were instructed to " convey to the said synod the entire approba- tion of the vestry of the official conduct of the Rev. Mr. Richards since he has had the pastoral charge of this congregation."
REV. JACOB WAMPOLE
was elected pastor for the second time on March 22, 1836, and preached his introductory sermon April 4th. He moved from Chester County and occupied the parsonage at Trappe. The building, however, proving too small, the congregation, on June 20th, bought five acres of ground (the lot originally intended by Muhlenberg for a parsonage) of Michael Shupe at a cost of $1150, and erected thereon the present commodious build- ing. On the same date the old property was disposed of at cost price, a title for which, however, was not executed until April 1, 1837, at a meeting of the vestry held at Hoebner's tavern. In July, 1837, Rev. Wampole moved into the new parsonage, only to move soon again, but this time into "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Before the close of the year he was seized with an acute attack of quinsy and fell a sudden victim to the treacherous disease on January 3, 1838. An immense concourse of people, estimated at three thousand, gath- ered at his funeral three days later. After brief preliminary addresses at the house, by Rev. George Roeller and Dr. John W. Richards, the funeral service was held in the church, though not half of the number present could get within the building. Rev. Conrad Miller preached in German, choosing as his text John 16: 22, " And ye now therefore have sorrow ; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Rev. F. Ruthrauff followed with an address in German, based on Psalms 102 : 23, 24, " He weakened my strength in the way : he shortened my days. I said, O my Lord, take me not away in the midst of my days : thy years are through all generations." Eleven ministers, in addition to those already mentioned, were present at the funeral, several of whom also took part in the services.
Rev. Wampole was buried in the church cemetery near the grave of the illustrious Patriarch. A large marble slab was erected over his grave, with this inscription :
Sacred to the Memory of REV. JACOB WAMPOLE, Born, December 26, 1802 : Died, January 3, 1838, Aged 35 years and 8 days. " To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,"
His death was an unexpected blow to his congregations and friends. He died in the prime of life, much beloved by all who knew him, and deeply lamented by his congregations.
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REV. HENRY S. MILLER,
after having preached a " visit sermon" in English and German, on January 28, 1838, was elected on the 3Ist. He accepted the call to be- come pastor of the five congregations of the charge, Trappe, Limerick, Keely's, Pottstown and Towamencin, and preached his introductory ser- mon at Trappe in German, on April 8th, and in English on the 22d. He preached every two weeks in German and English alternately, and after 1839, held an additional English service every four weeks, in the afternoon. But the afternoon service not being well received, all the services were soon held in the morning. He received a salary of $160, subsequently increased to $200, with parsonage and lot, from the Trappe congregation.
On May 7, 1839, a petition, signed by twelve members of the Re- formed Church of Trappe, was presented to the vestry, in which the petitioners stated that as "protracted and night prayer meetings were being held in their church (by Dr. I. C. Guldin, Reformed pastor,) which they deemed to be entirely at variance with the principles and practice of the German Reformed Church, they felt themselves excluded from the worship and requested the use of the Augustus church." The vestry, however, declined to enter into any engagement with them for any specified time, not knowing how soon they themselves might wish to use the building every Sunday, but for special reasons, not without weight, granted them the privilege of the building when not required for their own services, expressing the hope and wish that by mutual concessions their difficulties might be happily adjusted and peace and harmony soon restored.
The one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Church was now approaching, and in the Fall of 1842 it was resolved to com- memorate the interesting event with appropriate services, and invite the First Conference of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania to convene at Trappe and participate in the celebration. Accordingly, in 1843, from April 29th to May 2d the centenary jubilee was fittingly observed.
Preparatory services were held on April 29th, Rev. Peixoto of Old Goshenhoppen preaching in German from Exodus 15 : 13. On Sun- day morning, April 30th, after preaching in German from Psalms 26 : 8, on the theme " The reverence due to the house of God," the pastor, as- sisted by his predecessor Dr. Richards, administered the Lord's Supper to eighty-five communicants. In the afternoon Dr. Richards preached in English from the text Luke 14: 28-30, with special reference to the catechumens, choosing as his theme, "Counting the cost." Services were again resumed on Monday. After a sermon in English and a
SESQUI-CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL OF THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH.
~
BUILT 1745.
THE OLD MUHLENBERG HOUSE.
REMODELED 1851.
FROM A SKETCH MADE IN 1851.
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public examination of the catechumens, the pastor administered the rite of confirmation, closing with the preparatory service. In the after- noon Dr. C. T. Welden, of Vincent, Chester County, occupied the pulpit, preaching from Ephesians 4: 1, setting forth " the dignity, im- portance, and responsibility of the Christian character."
Tuesday, May 2d, the special day of the anniversary service, com- memorating the laying of the corner-stone, dawned auspiciously. In pro- cession the vestry and catechumens, led by the pastor, Drs. Welden and Richards, moved from the school-house to the church, which had been beautifully decorated with evergreens. The following programme was then rendered :
Anthem, " Wake, the Song of Jubilee," . Choir.
Hymn No. 44, " Before Jehovah's awful throne," Congregation.
Confessional Service, Conducted by the Pastor.
Scripture Lesson, Psalm 48, . . Rev. C. T. Welden, D. D.
Hymn No. 530, " Hark, the Song of Jubilee," . Congregation. Prayer, . By the Pastor.
The Centenary Sermon, text, Psalms 78 : 2-8 ; theme, " The
Fruitful Retrospect, By Rev. J. W. Richards, D. D.
Prayer, .
. By Rev. J. W. Richards, D. D.
Anthem, " Sanctus Hosannah," . Choir.
The Holy Communion, Administered by Rev. Miller, Drs. Richards and Welden.
Concluding Prayer, . By the Pastor.
Farewell Hymn, " Farewell, farewell, for we must part," Congregation. AFTERNOON SERVICE.
Conducted by the pastor, assisted by Drs. Richards and Welden.
Sermon, Acts 26 : 28 ; theme, "Reasons why many are not altogether Christians," by Rev. G. Mintzer, rector of the Episcopal church at Evansburg.
Director of the Choir, Matthias Haldeman, Esq.
The following grandchildren of Dr. H. M. Muhlenberg were present : Hon. H. A. Muhlenberg, Hon. M. S. Richards and his son, William Augustus, of Reading ; Rev. J. W. Richards, D. D., Germantown ; Mrs. Charlotte T. Oakeley and Mrs. Hetty Hiester, of Reading, her daughter, Mrs. Ann Jones, and her son, Francis Hiester.
By a resolution of the vestry Dr. Richards was requested to furnish his sermon for publication. It was accordingly printed, and though now a very rare pamphlet, we may be exceedingly grateful that this excellent discourse, containing a judicious compendium of the church's early his- tory, was not altogether lost.
In addition to his services at Trappe, Rev. Miller preached every four weeks in English at Pottstown, in English and German alternately at Limerick and Towamencin, and in German at Keely's.
For some years the capacity of the old church was becoming more and
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more inadequate, and in 1851 the congregation, notwithstanding " the respect and regard they felt for the old building and its antiquity," re- solved to build a new church. On February 27, 1851, the plans were adopted, providing for the building of a brick church, 75 feet long by 50 feet wide, and in the Spring of the following year the work of building began. But at this juncture Rev. Miller, on May 1, 1852, resigned the charge and preached his farewell sermon in English on the 16th, and in German on the 30th, bringing his pastorate abruptly to a close.
REV. GEORGE WENZEL, D. D.,
was invited to preach to the congregation on June 27, 1852, in German and English, and immediately after the services was unanimously elected as pastor. According to the terms of the call, Dr. Wenzel was required to preach at Trappe every two weeks, English and German, alternately, with an additional service every four weeks, all in the forenoon ; every four weeks at Towamencin in German and English, alternately, and at Keely's in German, the three congregations offering him a salary of $235 with parsonage and lot, $155 and $60 respectively.
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