USA > South Carolina > History of the German settlements and of the Lutheran church in North and South Carolina : from the earliest period of the colonization of the Dutch, German, and Swiss settlers to the close of the first half of the present century > Part 20
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
334
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
conduct. We all preach in black clothes and collar, but mostly without a gown, and oftentimes in our overcoat, during bad weather in winter.
"I endeavor to make the Divine service as im- pressive as possible, and suitable to the occasion, but as simple as I can. I dare not make my dis- course shorter than three-quarters of an hour, be- cause there are members, who have to ride eighteen miles to church, and in each church there is ser- vice only once every four weeks. Baptisms take place after the sermon, and in the presence of the whole congregation. Whenever the communion is administered on Sunday, the preparatory ser- vice takes place on Friday or Saturday preceding. Nothing is known here of private confession."
This interesting report of Rev. Roschen is quite lengthy, and has been somewhat abridged, because it alludes to customs that would require a lengthy explanation, before they would be properly under- stood by the general reader, and because some things are reported of his own personal affairs, which would not be interesting to any one at the present time.
Rev. Dr. Velthusen yet adds, that a letter had arrived from Mr. Gäbel in Charleston, South Car- olina, fourteen days ago, corroborating the above church intelligence. Mr. Gabel, who is on a visit to Bremen, writes, that he had left Nussmann well and hearty in Charleston (doubtless Rev. Nussmann was on a visit there at the time); that Storch has no inclination to return to Germany, and
335
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
assures us that Roschen is well satisfied, and that he will have good profit in a few years from the tract of land which he purchased there. Mr. Gabel likewise states, that in his journey through Georgia he met with the pastor at Ebenezer, Rev. Mr. Bergmann, and found him in a situation in which he may be well satisfied.
Section 8. Further Intelligence from St. John's and Organ Churches ; and a Ministerial Assembly in North Carolina called to Ordain the Rev. Robert Johnson Miller.
Extract from the old German (St. John's) Church-book .- "January 16th, 1790, the church council held a meeting, when the following mem- bers were present: Paul Barringer, Peter Quill- mann, George Meissenheimer, Daniel Jarrett, Matthew Meyer, Nicholas Reitenhauer, Jacob Fegert, Andreas Stauch, Ulrich Dürr, Jacob Bast, and the pastor, Adolph Nussmann. Paul Bar- ringer, Sr., was chosen chairman of the council. The object of the meeting was to promote a greater degree of union and true sincerity in matters of religion, both in schools and churches.
"It was resolved, that the doors of the church shall no longer be closed before the commence- ment of the Lord's day services; but as soon as one-half of the congregation shall have been as- sembled, the doors shall then be opened, and at ten o'clock the services of the sanctuary shall commence; and those persons who shall be guilty
336
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of making disturbance during worship shall be reported to the magistrate. The services shall also commence in future without any further call- ing in of those persons who remain outside.
" Resolved, That at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, alms shall be gathered at the doors. The members of the congregation are furthermore re- quested to celebrate their marriages in the church, at which time of rejoicing they and their benevo- lent guests are desired to contribute alms to the church, and to lay their mites upon the altar, as is customary in many places in our Evangelical Church.
" Resolved, That whenever slanderous reports are circulated, which might cause dissensions in the church, they shall be made known to our Presi- dent, Paul Barringer, who shall investigate the matter, and shall decide in such a way, as shall best promote the interests of true religion and the church.
" Resolved, That persons bringing their children to the church to be baptized, must make the fact known before service, name the sponsors, the day of the child's birth, the names of the parents, so that it may be recorded in the church-book."
Pastor Storch commenced his labors at Organ Church, October 26th, 1788; and in Salisbury on the Sunday following, November 2d, being the 23d and 24th Sundays after Trinity. A very con- cise constitution was introduced and adopted on the following New Year's Day, 1789, which, however, contains nothing of special interest to the general
337
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
reader, except that it indicates how much our fore- fathers felt and labored for the order, discipline and consequent welfare of their congregations.
Organ Church alone promised their pastor an annual salary of £40, North Carolina currency, and the number of those members, who subscribed this amount, and undersigned the new constitu- tion, amounted to seventy-eight persons.
In the year 1791, the present massive and, as was then considered, large and commodious stone church was erected, having large galleries on each side, except where the pulpit stands; and an organ, excellent in its day, built by one of the members, Mr. Steigerwalt, was placed in the centre of the long gallery, and opposite the pulpit. The pulpit, as a matter of course, was goblet-shaped, with a sounding-board overhead, and has but recently been removed when the church was repaired. Those time-honored relics are fast passing away by the encroachments of our novelty-seeking age.
The first English Lutheran preacher in North Carolina was the Rev. Robert Johnson Miller, who was a Scotchman by birth, a native of Bal- dovia, Angusshire, near Dundee, born July 11th, 1758, the third son of George and Margaret Miller. His parents designed him to study for the min- istry, and for this purpose sent him to the Dundee classical school. After he had completed his edu- cation there, and before he entered the ministry, he migrated to America, and arrived in Charles- town, Massachusetts, A.D. 1774. His brother, an East and West India merchant of that place, had
29
338
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
invited him from Scotland to reside with him, with whom he labored as an assistant in his busi- ness for some time.
It now happened that his adopted country be- came involved in the Revolutionary struggle, when he at once declared himself a friend of liberty, and as soon as General Greene passed through Boston with his army, young Miller enlisted as a Revo- lutionary soldier. He was engaged in the battles of Long Island, where he received a flesh wound in the face, of Brandywine, White Plains, and the siege of Valley Forge; but God preserved his life in all these engagements, as he had a more glori- ous work in store for him. With the army he traveled to the South, where he remained after peace was declared and the army disbanded.
He now remembered his duty to God, his for- mer vows, and his preparation for the ministry, and applied for license to preach the Gospel in con- nection with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as the minutes of the Methodist Conference plainly indicate; and thus authorized, he commenced preaching in the western counties of North Caro- lina, traveling often one hundred miles to meet his appointments.
Although licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Conference, yet not having the authority to administer the sacraments, his people of White Haven Church, in Lincoln County, sent a petition to the Lutheran pastors of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, with high recommendations, praying that he might be ordained by them, which was
339
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
accordingly done at St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, on the 20th of May, 1794. The ordina- tion certificate is still extant, although much muti- lated, and inasmuch as it contains some interesting historical facts, it is here inserted :
"TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, GREETING :
" Whereas, A great number of Christian people in Lincoln County have formed themselves into a society by the name of White Haven Church, and also having formed a vestry: We, the subscribers, having been urged by the pressing call from the said Church to ordain a minister for the good of their children, and for the enjoyment of ye gospel ordinances among them, from us, the ministers of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina, have sol- emnly ordained," (here much of the certificate is torn away and lost) "according to ye infallible word of God, administer ye sacraments, and to have ye care of souls ; he always being obliged to obey ye Rules, ordinances and customs of ye Christian Society, called ye Protestant Episcopal Church in America. Given under our hands and seals, North Carolina, Cabarrus County, May 20th, 1794.
"Signed by Adolphus Nussmann, Senior, Jo- hann Gottfriedt Arendt, Arnold Roschen, Chris- topher Bernhardt, and Charles Storch."
On the reverse side of this certificate the Lu- theran ministers gave their reasons why they had ordained a man who was attached to the Episcopal Church as a minister of that denomination.
340
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
As all the Lutheran ministers were present at the ordination of Rev. R. J. Miller, there must have been a synodical or conferential meeting of some kind held at that time, as such actus minis- teriales are performed generally on those occasions. This conclusion is substantiated by the fact that Miller went to St. John's Church with the view to be examined and ordained, in accordance with the petition of his congregation; and Rev. Nussmann's name is signed to the certificate of ordination as Senior, an office honorably conferred by such a body at that time. It is, therefore, but reasonable to conclude that the first ecclesiastical assembly of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina was held in St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, in the month of May, 1794, and that the first minister ordained ,by that Lutheran Ministerium was the Rev. R. J. Miller.
Section 9. Death of Revs. Nussmann and Martin- Resignation of Rev. John Charles Faber-Re- moval of Rev. Bernhardt to South Carolina- Return of Rev. Roschen to Germany-Arrival of Revs. Paul and Philip Henkel.
Rev. Nussmann's labors in North Carolina ex- tended over a period of more than twenty years, remaining faithfully at his post until God called him to his rest. He was the pioneer minister of the Lutheran Church in the State, and commenced his labors among his people in the days of their colonial hardships and trials; he had been with
341
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
them through all the devastating influences of a most sanguinary war; he had seen them rise again to comparative comfort and prosperity under the new government; he had ministered to them in all circumstances of life, and had himself experienced many trials and afflictions through which he was called to pass. All denominations of Christians, that had ever heard of him, mention his name with honor and praise. "Caruther's Life of Rev. David Caldwell, D.D.," a Presbyterian work, speaks of Nussmann as having "labored faithfully in pov- erty and privations." Dr. Velthusen, in the Helm- staedt Reports, says: "The intelligence which I have received from strangers concerning Nuss- mann, of which there is not the slightest intima- tion to be found in his own letters, informs us, that his faithfulness in his ministerial office is so great, that he places his temporal welfare and the care of his children's worldly prosperity too far in the background, and is more earnestly concerned for the building up of the Church, than for the success of his planting interests."
During his ministry he had suffered many pri- vations, as he had never received an adequate sup- port for himself and family; and during the Revo- lutionary War, he was often in despair of his life on account of his liberal principles. At one time he was obliged to secrete himself in the tall under- growth along the banks of a small stream near his house, in order to escape the fury of the Tories, who had prowled about destroying valuable lives, and robbing persons of their property and daily
342
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
bread. The Helmistaedt Mission Society sent him a selection of valuable books for his library, and other publications to be disposed of for his benefit, but it is doubtful whether he realized much from the sale of them. It is known, that some of these books were donated by him to indigent persons.
An anecdote is related of him by Christopher Melchor, Esq., that on one occasion, when he re- ceived but one dollar for a marriage fee, and some person remarked, that the sum was rather a small one, he good-humoredly remarked: "It is small if the wife proves to be a good one, but if other- wise, it is sufficiently large."
Shortly after Rev. Nussmann came to this coun- try, he was united in marriage to Barbara Layrle, a daughter of Christopher Layrle, one of the depu- ties sent to Germany to bring pastors and teachers to North Carolina; with her he lived in blissful harmony, and was the father of several sons and daughters, none of whom are now living; but his grandchildren and descendants to the fifth gen- eration are still to be met with in Central North Carolina, respected by all who are acquainted with them.
Pastor Nussmann had for some time been af- flicted with a cancer on his neck, and it became evident that it would terminate in his death, yet he bore his affliction meekly and with Christian forti- tude, when on the 3d of November, 1794, his family and friends were called to witness the de- parture of a faithful husband, father and pastor. It was a severe loss to his congregation; he was
343
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
their first pastor, and had labored long and faith- fully for them ; and how they would now be sup- plied with the means of grace, was a question not easily answered. His memory is still cherished by the members of St. John's Church, who have placed a new marble tombstone at the head of his grave; the former one, an ancient-looking blue stone slab, upon which time had done its work, is now safely and sacredly deposited in St. John's Church, and still bears the following German in- scription : "Christus ist mein Leben, Sterben ist mein Gewinn. Das Andenken der Gerechten bleibet im Segen. Hier ruhen die Gebeine des treuen Predigers, Adolph Nussmann, in Deutsch- land geboren, im August, 1739, gestorben den 3ten November, 1794" ("For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. The memory of the righteous is blessed. Here repose the remains of the faithful preacher, Adolphus Nussmann, born in Germany, August, 1739, died November 3d, 1794.") He was aged 55 years, 3 months, and some days.
Besides having labored in Cabarrus County, he also performed missionary duty in several German settlements in the northern part of North Carolina, as before stated. The following record is taken from the minutes of the North Carolina Synod of 1831: "The Rev. Mr. Nussmann, weak as he was, established two congregations in Surry, now Stokes County, and instructed and confirmed old and young; these churches have not yet died out." More could not be said to his praise than, that he lived the life of a pious and useful Christian, and
344
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
died in the triumphs of that Gospel, which he faithfully preached.
A few months after Nussmann's death, God called another and once active laborer in the Lu- theran Church in the Carolinas to his rest; this was the Rev. John Nicholas Martin, who had be- come aged and infirm, and was no longer able to perform any active duties of the gospel ministry, but who still took a deep interest in the welfare of the Church. " He was born at Zweibrücken (Deux-Ponts), in Rhenish Bavaria, and emigrated to North America about the middle of the eigh- teenth century. He was then a married man with several children. The colony, after some delay, settled in Anson County, near South Carolina. From this point Rev. Martin, with the larger por- tion of his congregation, removed to a district be- tween the Broad and Saluda Rivers," but labored mostly in Charleston, as pastor of St. John's Church, where he finally made his permanent home on a farm located about a mile from the city ; "there he closed his honored and useful life, July 27th, 1795." His descendants are numerous, the most of whom are still attached to the Lutheran Church, and are devoted members of the same.
In the year 1800, the Lutheran Church in Char- leston became vacant by the resignation of Rev. John Charles Faber, on account of the failure of his health. According to Ramsay's History of South Carolina, vol. ii, p. 23, reprinted edition, Rev. Faber's successor was Rev. Matthew Frederic, but no such name occurs in any of the records of the
345
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
Church now accessible, and it is exceedingly doubtful whether Dr. Ramsay's statement is cor- rect. The statement of the vestry of that church, made a few years ago, and extracted from the old church-book, is as follows: "Rev. Mr. Pogson officiated on Sundays for a short time, and on his retiring, Mr. Faber consented to serve the church as far as his strength would allow." No other minister's name is mentioned until Mr. Faber's successor, the younger Faber, is introduced in the narrative as the regular pastor. The vacancy con- tinued five years.
At the close of the year 1800, Rev. C. E. Bern- hardt received and accepted the call as pastor of the Saluda charge, in Lexington District, South Carolina, to which place he removed with his family from Guilford County, North Carolina; by this removal another vacancy was created in the Lutheran Church of that State. But this was not the only charge which suffered in this manner; the Rev. Arnold Roschen, who was, at first, so well satisfied with his field of labor, and had no other thought but that of continuing there the remainder of his life, now changed his mind, when his heart yearned for his Fatherland, and he returned to Germany about the year 1800; however, his place was soon occupied by the arrival of Rev. Paul Henkel, whose name occurs in the Halle Reports as a catechet laboring in Virginia, but who was afterwards ordained by the Ministerium of Penn- sylvania.
In the year 1801, the Rev. Philip Henkel, a son
346
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of Rev. Paul Henkel, came to North Carolina, and took charge of the Guilford pastorate, made vacant by the removal of Rev. Bernhardt to South Caro- lina. It is stated in the Helmstaedt Reports, that a third minister was to have been sent by Helm- staedt Mission Society to North Carolina; he is spoken of as "a candidate of a noble heart and excellent attainments," but for some reason or other he never came to America.
Section 10. St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, N. C., after Rev. Nussmann's death-Report of Rev. Storch to Dr. Velthusen-Decline of the German Reformed Church in South Carolina.
After the death of Pastor Nussmann, St John's Church remained vacant for two years, after which time it was supplied temporarily one year with the labors of Rev. Storch, so his journal informs us, and in 1797 the Rev. Adam Nicholas Marcard, who had been laboring in the vicinity, at Cold Water Creek, a newly organized church, became the pastor of St. John's Church, and labored there nearly three years, and then also removed to South Carolina. It must be said to his credit, that the records of the church during his time were neatly made by himself, being both ample and well arranged.
As no other pastor could be obtained, Rev. Storch took charge of this congregation, and served it in connection with his other churches.
347
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
He was a faithful laborer, and introduced many wholesome reforms, but his health failed him, and recommended that the congregation elect another pastor, when they called the Rev. John Henkel, from Virginia, who accepted the call in 1803, and was on the point of moving to North Carolina, when God called him from time to eter- nity. There was now no other alternative left but for Rev. Storch to continue his labors among this people, and he remained their pastor until the year 1821, laboring as faithfully as his health would permit.
The condition of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina at this time is reported in a letter of Rev. Storch to Rev. Dr. Velthusen, dated "Salisbury, N. C., February 25th, 1803," and published in one of the Doctor's works. Pastor Storch writes:
"It is now nearly three years that I live in very sad circumstances ; not only have I suffered during this time from various severe attacks of sickness, which had brought my body near to death, but likewise from an apparently incurable disease of the eyes, which seems to baffle all medical skill, and made it impossible for me either to read or write. I am, however, quite restored from my sickness of last fall, a disease similar to yellow fever, and which rages in this entire vicinity with great mortality. I now feel tolerably strong, and my eyes are somewhat better; nevertheless, according to the opinion of the physician, I need not expect any permanent restoration of my health in this
348
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
climate. However, we have an eternity before us, where we will be always well.
"The present condition of this country is re- markable, both in a political and religious aspect. Party spirit is risen to a fearful height. Infidelity prevails to a great extent, both among the higher and lower classes of society.
" I still serve my old congregations, and I con- tinue to preach the doctrines of Jesus Christ, the crucified, in simplicity, and have happily experi- enced the power of his grace upon myself and others. The prevalence of infidelity, the contempt of the best of all religions, its usages and servants, the increase of irreligion and crime, as remarked, have occasioned me many sad hours. Neverthe- less I have found consolation and courage in the thought :
'So long as Christ protects His Church, May hell its rage continue ;'
and I held fast to my faith, convinced that truth and religion will at last mightily raise up their head and prevail.
" The congregations at the Catawba River are without a preacher. The faithful brother, Ahrend, has become totally blind. It is a sad calamity for that good man and the churches. The Buffalo Creek congregation (St. John's) is likewise unpro- vided for; however, it has at present the hope of obtaining the services of a brother of Paul Henkel, the successor of our Roschen. Rev. Bernhardt has left his situation in Guilford, and is now serv- ing for the past two years several congregations
349
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
in South Carolina. The congregations in Guil- ford County are now served by a son of Rev. Paul Henkel. Rev. Magister Faber has resigned his pastoral office in Charleston some three years ago; the congregation has extended a call to me, con- nected with very favorable offers ; but I could not accept it. Mr. Faber continues to preach for them as long as the congregation has no other pastor. I am rejoiced that Pastor Roschen has again been appointed to a charge (in Germany), and I heartily wish that, with enduring health, he may long con- tinue to be useful to the Church."
During this period the German Reformed Church in South Carolina commenced to decline; all the old ministers had departed this life, and no new pastors were obtained to take charge of the vacant churches. The Rev. A. Loretz, from North Caro- lina, and perhaps some others, visited these con- gregations about once or twice a year, preached, and administered the sacraments; but as the jour- ney always embraced several hundred miles, and was made with much difficulty at that time, these visits became less frequent from time to time, until they ceased entirely, and the denomination became extinct in that State; the members were at length absorbed by other professions of faith, a large proportion of which connected themselves with the Lutheran Church, particularly where the houses of worship were held jointly by Lutheran and German Reformed congregations.
350
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 11. The great religious revival of the years 1800 and 1801, which swept over the United States ; reports of Rev. Storch and Henkel con- cerning it.
On the subject of revivals the opinion of the Lutheran Church of America has been, and is still, divided, both as to whether such revivals are right or wrong in themselves, and again, among those who favor these revivals, as to the proper mode of conducting them.
These revivals of religion, that is to say, what is generally understood by that name, so far as the Lutheran Church is concerned, are purely an American feature, ingrafted upon a portion of the Lutheran Church in this country, and has nothing in common with what is called " Pietism" in Ger- many.
At this late period of time, and with an experi- ence of more than half a century, the Church can- not be regarded an uninformed stranger to this "new measure;" the opinion of all our ministers and members is now generally confirmed as to the effects of these revivals.
Not desiring to discuss the merits of this re- vival question at this point of the history of our Church in the Carolinas, because it would be out of place in point of time, revivals not having been then introduced in our churches, it is, nevertheless, peculiarly interesting to read what our forefathers thought of them more than seventy years ago,
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.