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 9
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Since that time the old church has been kept in good repair, and with proper attention will safely weather the storms of many years to come. May the Augustus congregation ever prove faithful to the trust and re- sponsibility which they have thus inherited. "The house our fathers built " still stands. Its rubble-walls and white-pointed joints, now encased in a
(93) Dr. William A. Muhlenberg's "Sermon at the re-opening of the Church of Augustus," p. 13.
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suit of mortar, its two arched Vorhäuser and the octagonal extension on the East side, its curiously gabled hip-roof, surmounted by antique weather vanes, the Latin inscription over the main entrance, together with its hallowed associations and experiences, have invested this sanctuary with a halo of rarest interest and attracted to its shrine "priest and people," poet and historian, artist and antiquary. The beautiful anonymous poem descriptive of the church, incorporated by the poet Longfellow in his " Poems and Places," may serve as a fitting conclusion to the history of Old Trappe Church.
In the heat of a day in September We came to the old church door, We bared our heads, I remember, On the step that the moss covered o'er. There the vines climbed over and under, And we trod with a reverent wonder Through the dust of the years on the floor.
From the dampness and darkness and stillness No resonant chantings outrolled, And the air with its vaporous chillness Covered altar and column with mould. For the pulpit had lost its old glory, And its greatness become but a story, By the aged still lovingly told.
O'er the graves 'neath the long waving grasses In Summer the winds lightly blow, And the phantoms come forth from the masses Of deep tangled ivy that grow. Through the aisles at midnight they wander, - At noon of the loft they are fonder,- Unhindered they come and they go.
And it seemed that a breath of a spirit, Like a zephyr at cool of the day, Passed o'er us and then we could hear it In the loft through the organ-pipes play. All the aisles and the chancel seemed haunted, And weird anthems by voices were chanted Where dismantled the organ's pipes lay.
Came the warrior who robed as a Colonel Led his men to the fight from the prayer, And the pastor who tells in his journal What he saw in the sunlight's bright glare, How a band of wild troopers danced, under While the organ was pealing its thunder In gay tunes on the sanctified air.
And Gottlieb, colonial musician, Once more had come over the seas, And sweet to the slave and patrician' Were the sounds of his low melodies ; Once again came the tears, the petition, Soul-longings and heart-felt contrition At his mystical touch on the keys.
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There joined in the prayers of the yeomen For the rulers and high in command, The statesman who prayed that the foeman Might perish by sea and by land : And flowers from herbariums Elysian Long pressed, yet still sweet, in the vision Were strewn by a spiritual hand.
There were saints,-there were souls heavy-laden With the burden of sins unconfessed. In the shadow there lingered a maiden With a babe to her bosom close pressed, And the peace that exceeds understanding Borne on odors of blossoms expanding Forever abode in her breast
Then hushed were the prayers and the chorus As we gazed through the gloom o'er the pew, And the phantoms had gone from before us By invisible dark avenues, And slowly we passed through the portals In awe from the haunts of immortals Who had vanished like Summer's light dews.
O church ! that of old proudly flourished, Upon thee decay gently falls, And the founders by whom thou wert nourished Lie low in the shade of thy walls; No stone need those pioneer sages To tell their good works to the ages : Thy ruin their greatness recalls.
@ @ THE 2 2
Sesqui-Centennial
@ @ Celebration.
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A Brief Account of the Celebration.
A T a meeting of the vestry of Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, held April 3, 1893, it was resolved that the Sesqui-Centennial of the founding of the church be fittingly observed with memorial services on September 12, 1893, in special commemoration of the first ser- vice held in the Old Church, and that a cordial invitation be extended to the First District Conference of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania to convene in its regular Fall session at Trappe and participate in the fes- tive services. As the pastor had not sufficiently recovered from a recent attack of sickness to undertake the necessary preparations for the celebration on this date, it was postponed to September 26th, a date also especially appropriate as the anniversary of Patriarch Muhlenberg's last service in the old Trappe church.
Agreeable to this change of date, the First Conference convened in Augustus Church, Trappe, on the 25th of September. The usual opening services, together with the celebration of the Lord's Supper, were held in the morning at 10 o'clock, at which time Rev. Jacob Neiman, pastor of Grace Lutheran church of Royersford, preached the sermon from Romans 8: 31-39. The theme, " The Christian's sure Triumph," was developed by considering that "I. All help is on his side, vs. 31-32," that "II. An unerring God will be the Judge, v. 33," and that "III. He has Christ's inseparable love, vs. 35-39."
The regular business session of the Conference took place in the afternoon, and in the evening special exercises of a missionary character were held, Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer delivering an address on Home Missions, and Missionaries Pohl and Arps on Foreign Missions. On September 26th, notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the weather, a very large gathering of people assembled at the special anniver- sary services. In anticipation of large audiences, a number of speakers, in addition to the services indicated on the regular printed programme, were engaged, so that services might be held in both churches morning and afternoon. The decorating committee of the Pastor's Aid Society, with others assisting, arrayed both churches becomingly for the festive occa- sion. Palms and choice flowers were tastefully arranged in the new church, and on either side of the chancel the dates 1743-1893 were con-
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spicuously displayed in red carnations. In the centre on an easel stood a large frame-work of a variety of cut flowers, from which the word " Welcome," running diagonally across the frame obtruded conveying fragrant greeting to conference-delegates and friends. Similar taste was revealed by the same deft and willing hands in the old church, which was decorated with evergreens and wild flowers, the anniversary dates and " Welcome " being also prominently in view. The Pastor's Aid So- ciety showed commendable interest also in having a portrait of Muh- lenberg prepared and framed for the occasion. It now holds a perma- nent place in the Sunday-school room.
The musical portion of the regular programme was successfully con- ducted by the gifted soloist and experienced musical director Mr. George Frescoln, of Philadelphia, for whose hearty and successful work so cheer- fully rendered, the congregation is deeply indebted. Our thanks are likewise due to Rev. Charles W. Jefferis, pastor of the North Wales Lutheran congregation, who ably presided at the organ and conducted the music of the additional services held in the old church in the morn- ing and in the new church in the afternoon. The collections gathered at these services, amounting to $165, and including the generous gift of $100 from Mr. F. J. Clamer, of Philadelphia, are to be applied to the re- pairs of the old church. During the noon recess the delegates of con- ference, friends, visitors and members partook of an ample collation pre- pared by the ladies of the congregation on the grounds.
That the services of the day proved of great interest and enjoyment to the large assemblies, is due to the able manner in which the various speakers fulfilled the parts which they were invited to assume, as well as to the great historic facts which were the occasion of the celebration. For the congregation at least, it was a memorable as well as a memorial day. It will not have been without profit if the services have inspired a greater appreciation of all that the old church and its history repre- sent, deepened the sense of dependence upon God's gracious Providence, so strikingly exhibited in the past experience of the congregation, strengthened faith in Him who hath helped us hitherto, and imparted an earnest spirit of endeavor for the future. E. T. K.
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17 43. - 1893.
THE SESQUICENTENNIAL
D
-OF-
AUGUSTUS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
AT TRAPPE,
SEPTEMBER 26, 1893.
The Pastor : Rev. E. T. Kretschmann
The Musical Portion of the Services Under the Direction of MR. GEO. FRESCOLN, of Philadelphia.
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THE MORNING SERVICE.
(IN THE NEW CHURCH.)
The sun no more thy light, - Anthem. - WOODWARD.
The regular liturgical service of the Church book-
CONDUCTED BY
REV. H. B. STRODACH and REV. J. L. BECKER.
HYMN : Zion stands with hills surrounded.
THE ANNIVERSARY SERMON,
REV. JACOB FRY, D. D.
THE PRAYER: - - REV. J. L. SIBOLE.
OFFERINGS:
To be devoted as a fund for repairs of the Old Church.
I will praise Thee, O Lord.
Anthem. - O. KANE.
HYMN : A mighty Fortress is our God.
BENEDICTION. (Silent prayer.)
The hymns are printed on the last page of the programme.
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THE AFTERNOON SERVICE.
(IN THE OLD CHURCH.)
Praise ye the Lord.
Bass Solo. - RUPES.
THE INVITATORY.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord : our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls : and prosperity within thy palaces.
THE SCRIPTURE LESSON.
THE PRAYER.
HYMN : -
I love Thy Zion, Lord.
THE THEME :
The Old Trappe Church Muhlenberg's Best Monument.
IT TEACHES US :
The need of a well-equipped ministry.
REV. PROF. M. H. RICHARDS, D. D.
The Triumph of Small Beginnings. REV. O. P. SMITH.
HYMN :
The Church's One Foundation.
IT INSPIRES US :
To meet the pressing needs of Home Missions. REV.S. LAIRD, D. D.
To devote ourselves with love to Foreign Missions. REV. C. J. HIRZEL.
OFFERINGS:
To be devoted as a fund for repairs of the Old Church.
Ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers.
: :
ANTHEM :- STAINER.
"From the Depths." (Prayer.) - Bass Solo. - CAMPANA.
BENEDICTION. (Silent prayer.)
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Zion stands with hills surrounded ; Zion kept by power divine ; All her foes shall be confounded, Though the world in arms combine. Happy Zion, What a favored lot is thine !
Every human tie may perish ; Friend to friend unfaithful prove ;
Mothers cease their own to cherish ; Heaven and earth at last remove : But no changes Can attend Jehovah's love.
In the furnace God may prove thee; Thence to bring Thee forth more bright, But can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in His sight ; God is with thee, God, thine everlasting Light.
I love thy Zion, Lord, The house of Thine abode ; The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood. I love Thy Church, O God ! Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.
Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, Thou Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe, Shall great deliverance bring.
Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
A mighty Fortress is our God, A trusty Shield and Weapon ; He helps us free from every need That hath us now o'ertaken. The old bitter foe Means us deadly woe ; Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight, On earth is not his equal.
With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected ; But for us fights the Valiant One Whom God himself elected. Ask ye, Who is this ? Jesus Christ it is, Of Sabaoth Lord, And there's none other God, He holds the field for ever.
The Word they still shall let remain, And not a thank have for it, He's by our side upon the plain, With his good gifts and Spirit, Take they then our life, Goods, fame, child and wife; .When their worst is done, They yet have nothing won, The Kingdom ours remaineth.
The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation By water and the Word ; From heaven He came, and sought her To be His holy Bride, With His own blood he bought her, And for her life He died.
Elect from every nation, Yet one o'er all the earth, Her charter of salvation One Lord, one Faith, one Birth; One holy Name she blesses, Partakes one holy Good, And to one Hope she presses, With every grace endued.
Mid toil and tribulation, And tumult of her war, She waits the consummation Of peace for evermore ; Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest, And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.
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Additional Programme.
THE MORNING SERVICE. (German.)
(IN THE OLD CHURCH.)
ORGAN VOLUNTARY, REV. C. W. JEFFERIS. The regular liturgical service of the Kirchenbuch,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. D. K. KEPNER.
The Scripture Lessons : 1st- Psalm 84. 2d-St. John 15 : 1-9.
REV. D. K. KEPNER.
HYMN, No. 181. .
Exhalt uns deine Lehre, vs. 3 and 4.
MEMORIAL ADDRESS, . REV. PROF. ADOLPH SPAETH, D. D.
THE GENERAL PRAYER, . REV. D. K. KEPNER.
OFFERINGS :
To be devoted as a fund for repairs of the Old Church.
HYMN, No. 192,
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.
BENEDICTION. (Silent prayer.)
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Additional Programme.
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
(IN THE NEW CHURCH.)
ORGAN VOLUNTARY, . REV. C. W. JEFFERIS. THE INVITATORY.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord, etc.
The Scripture Lesson, THE PRAYER.
HYMN : . Zion stands with hills surrounded.
ADDRESS,
The Mission of the Old Trappe Church,
REV. C. J. COOPER.
HYMN,
. I love Thy Zion, Lord.
ADDRESS :
Greetings from the Tulpehocken region,
REV. F. J. F. SCHANTZ, D. D.
OFFERINGS:
To be devoted as a fund for repairs of the Old Church.
HYMN, . A mighty Fortress is our God.
LORD'S PRAYER.
DOXOLOGY.
BENEDICTION. (Silent prayer.)
The musical portion of the Additional Programme conducted by Rev. C. W. JEFFERIS, of North Wales, Pa.
SESQUI-CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL OF THE OLD TRAPPE CHURCH.
LEVYTYPE CO. PHILA.
INTERIOR VIEW OF CHURCH.
FROM PHOTOGRAPH.
8 I
The House Our Fathers Built.
The Anniversary Sermon BY Rev. Prof. Jacob Fry, D. D.
The House Our Fathers Built.
LUKE 6 : 48. " He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock : and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
I come to join my heart and voice with yours on this glad jubilee. Let us exalt and praise His name together, who has protected and preserved the venerable sanctuary whose hundred and fiftieth anniversary we are met to celebrate. He put it into the hearts of our fathers to build this house, and by His providential care it has stood through all the trials and changes a century and a half have seen.
To me personally, this is sacred soil; for I am again amid the scenes and hallowed memories of childhood. In this old Augustus Luth- eran church I was taught the fear and the faith of the Lord ; at its altar I knelt at my confirmation, and in its pulpit I preached my first sermon. And the earliest recollection my memory distinctly holds, is the centennial celebration of the laying of its corner-stone, when the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. John W. Richards, on May 2, 1843. The arrival in our quiet village of a number of descendants of the Patriarch Muhlenberg and other distinguished visitors, and the jubilee character of the services, left an impression on my memory which holds vividly to-day. Among the multitude who thronged the church on that occasion, there sat a boy, less than ten years old, deeply interested and impressed with all the services, yet little dreaming he would be the preacher at the sesqui-centennial celebration of the same venerable church.
'This village of the Trappe, though little among the thousands of Judah, has occupied an important place in the early history of our church in this country. What Wittenberg was to the states of Europe during the sixteenth century, this little village of the Trappe, (then called Providence, a name which never should have been changed,) was to the scattered and
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discouraged Lutherans in America, during the second half of the last century. Here lived the greater part of his life, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, that eminent man and minister of God, universally known and acknowledged as the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America. He arrived in this country but a year before this church was erected, to find, as he expressed it, " ecclesia non plantata, sed plantanda." Hither came many weary feet and anxious hearts seeking counsel and aid in the troubles and distresses by which our early churches were beset, and out of this place issued streams of wisdom and personal help to make glad the city of God in every settlement where our people were found.
It was the inspiration and influence induced by the residence of Muhlenberg here, that led to the erection of this church, so wonderfully strong and substantial, within a year of his arrival in this country. Al- though for many years superseded by the building in which we are now assembled, as better adapted to the needs of the congregation, you have done well to let the old church stand and keep her in good repair. We salute her on this her sesqui-centennial; as a monument and symbol in stone, of the stability of the Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ, purified and restored by Luther, and planted in her true faith and spirit by Muhlenberg in this Western land.
I have chosen my text from Luke's account of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount. It was spoken of those who hear and heed the Gospel, and may fitly be applied to Muhlenberg and his associates in the building of this church. In this use of the text, three lines of thoughts are suggested ; the Church's foundation, the Church's trials, and the Church's stability.
I .- HER FOUNDATION.
I. This is all important. It begins at the beginning. It makes much of first principles and puts great value on a proper commencement. The point of the text is that the building stood because it had a good and solid foundation. St. Paul speaks of his work as " laying the foundation as a wise master-builder," and describes the Christian Church as " built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."
This was the great concern of our fathers, and is a distinguishing feature of our Church. Others may surpass us in attractive architecture, elaborate arrangements and imposing ritual ; but we are chiefly concerned about foundations. And if the text means anything, It means this is the chief thing in building the Church. And no better foundation can any man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. This is the glory and strength of our Church and the work of its builders, to lay the foundation absolutely and exclusively on the doctrines, the work, and the person of
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the Lord Jesus. Others may be concerned only about the superstructure, but her mission and history has been to attend to foundations.
Therefore, much of her work is unappreciated, because unseen. Foundations are under ground, and do not catch the public eye nor call forth popular applause. The work of our theologians and pioneers is not appreciated by casual visitors and spectators, nor has it commanded the admiration and praise it deserves. The foundations which lie beneath the surface are rarely considered.
This Augustus Lutheran Church was thus founded, and of Muhlen- berg it might be said, " I will liken him to a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock." Literally true is it that this building has a solid foundation, or it would not have stood these hundred and fifty years. But more true yet is it that the congregation here established was founded on the Rock, as the binding of its preachers and members to the evangelical doctrines of the Confessions of our Church, both in the records of its books and the inscription over its portal, abundantly testify.
2. To gain this foundation we must dig deep.
A solid foundation is not often obtained just beneath the surface. In religious truth especially, the rock lies deep. It requires hard work and toil to reach it. To dig deep is no child's play. It requires a strong arm and great patience and perseverance. It is a slow and tedious work in which many soon weary. To work downward instead of upward, confined in narrow bounds instead of broad fields, and employed in throwing out and casting away instead of gathering together and building up, is ex- ceedingly discouraging and tests the perseverance of the saints.
This was the work of Luther. To bring the Church back to its true foundation, he had to dig deep through the accumulated rubbish of a thousand years. Through the hard and stubborn strata of papal preten- sions, priestly profanations and popular prejudice, through errors in doctrine, abuses in worship, and corruptions in life, he had to dig deep indeed until the rock was reached and the reformation of the Church assured.
And this was the work of Muhlenberg to a great extent. When he arrived in this country he found a few scattered congregations, and most of them in a disorderly and lamentable state. To relay the foundations of these was harder work than to establish those altogether new. Through the prejudices excited against him by the irregular and often unworthy men who claimed to be their spiritual guides; through the abuses these men had practiced and errors they had taught ; and through the ignorance and poverty of the people to whom he came to minister, he had to dig deep. To lay the foundation of our Church was no easy task, nor one
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which could be speedily accomplished. Like Paul he was in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own coun- trymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren ; in weari- ness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness ; and beside these things that are without, that which came upon him daily, the care of all the churches.
This is the wisdom and glory of our Church, to dig deep. Our method of instruction in doctrine and in righteousness by patient catechisation before confirmation, is hard work and attracts no public attention, but it goes to the bottom of things and rests not until the rock is reached. It is no superficial system, aiming at immediate results. It seeks to have men " lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come," and to secure this, digs deep.
3. When the rock is reached the foundation must be laid. By these words we understand Christ to teach that when the rock is reached, the wise man begins to build. Important as is the foundation, the Church is something more than a foundation. Foundations are laid to be built upon, and he would be a foolish man who would dig down to the rock and there let his work cease. It is possible we may be so concerned about the proper foundation as to forget or neglect the superstructure. But when the rock is reached, the real work begins, for which the deep digging was only preparatory. To fail, therefore, to lay the foundation, is to fail altogether. Of what benefit is it to find Christ if we make no use of Him, or do not believe in Him? Of what advantage is it to dis- cuss and decide what is the truth, or to settle a creed, if we never build up ourselves on our most holy faith, nor grow unto an holy temple in the Lord ?
And when the rock is reached, and we begin to build, let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon. When the foundation is laid the lines and angles of the corner-stone must be followed. It is not suffi- cient to say " I have found the Christ," or " I believe in Jesus." There is not a sect in Christendom but pretends to be founded on Christ and on His word. The question is not only do you believe in Jesus Christ, but what do you believe concerning His person, His doctrine and His work ? It is not sufficient to say " we preach Christ ;" the question is what do we preach and teach concerning Him, and what confession of Him do we require ? Unless we build of proper materials, and these not carelessly thrown in, but fitly framed together, and on the lines of the corner stone, the building will not stand and our labor will be in vain.
Thus this Augustus Lutheran Church was built. Our fathers were not content with securing a good foundation, but on it erected these sub-
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