Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 34

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607

USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 34

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Consulting Sprague's Annals of the Lutheran Pulpit, we have some light thrown on an im- portant feature in the history of this Church. It appears that the Lutheran Church was not only planted in the North end of the Old County at New Mecklenburg, but had a house of Worship there in 1760, and a regular pastor in 1776, in the person of Rev. Mr. Bauer. This was about the time the German Lutheran Church was es- tablished in Shenandoah County, which had been part of Frederick. No evidence that either of these points had the services of a regularly or- dained minister. The church records observe complete silence when any reference is made to Lutheran Congregations, as to who the minis- ters were, and except for the contents found in the old corner-stone of the old Lutheran Church in Winchester, none would know who laid the foundations of the historic old Stone Church. And strange to say, no other church record shows the name of the minister who officiated on that occasion. The Synodical record shows that a

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German Lutheran Congregation was in an or- ganized state in 1762 at Winchester, and makes a brief note, stating "that upon their application they were received into regular Synodical con- nection with the Synod of Pennsylvania." This Synod was the only Lutheran Ecclesiastical body in the Country. The records of this Congre- gation-found in the Corner-stone,-may have mentioned many things of interest relating to the planting of this Church in the Village of Winchester. None have been preserved so far as known, except the valuable document which gives in full the names of the founders of the church they proposed to build, and also the date of the beginning of this great work, as well as a declaration of their principles as fearless and determined men holding the faith of Martin Luther. This document which has been so care- fully preserved in all these years, is given at this point in full in the English translation; the original is written in Latin, and not in Ger- man, as has been stated by several writers.

"In the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.

The foundations of this Temple, by the Grace of God, were laid in the year of Christ 1764, on the Sixteenth day of April. The Hearers and Founders of this Temple are all and each members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, at this time residing in this City of Winchester, to-wit : Thomas Schmidt, Nicholas Schrack, Christopher Henockel, David Deitrick, Chris- topher Wetzel, Peter Helfenstein, George Michael Laubinger, Heinrich Becker, Jacob Braun, Ste- phen Franckel, Christopher Altrilk, (this name was afterwards Aldrich and Eldridge, as old records show) Tobias Otto, Eberhard Doring, Andreas Friedly, Christopher Heintz, Imanuel Buger, Donald Heizel, Jacob Trautvein, Joh Sig- mond Haenh, Johannas Lemly, Johannes Lentz, Christian Schumacher, Michael Roger, Michael Waring, Christopher Lambert, Samuel Wendel, Michael Gluck, Julius Spickert, Balthaser Po, Jacob Koppenhaber, (Copenhaver) Heinrich Weller, under whose care and inspection and at whose expense this Temple is built.

At that time bore rule George III, King of Great Britain, Our most Clement Master, and his Officers and Governors in Virginia, Francis Fauquier in Williamsburg, presiding with high- est authority, and Thomas Fairfax Chief Mag- istrate of this whole District, at that time re- siding not far from this City, who has given to us gratuitously and of good will two lots of ground, embracing one acre, for Sacred uses.

This Temple has been Consecrated to the Tri- une God and to the Evangelical Lutheran Re- ligion alone; all sects whatever name they may

bear and all others, who either dissent from or do not fully assent to our Evangelical Lutheran Religion, being forever excluded :

As a permanent record of which to our pos- terity this paper is here placed, and has been deposited for everlasting remembrance in this Corner-Stone;

Drawn up in Winchester April 16th MDCC- LXIIII.

Johann Casper Kirchner, At that time Minis- ter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,

Scribe LUDWIG ADAMS,

ANTHONY LUDI, School-Master in City."

Efforts have been made to discover what re- lation Rev. Kirchner bore to this Congregation, whether he was regular Pastor, or only a visi- tor requested to attend these special services. No church reveals anything more than his sig- nature to this document. Dr. Gilbert says in his pamphlet on the "Fathers of the Church," that he was Pastor of the first Lutheran Church in Baltimore in 1762, and that he died in 1773. Dr. Gilbert adds "I am unable to produce any other record of this Minister, whose name is given as the first Lutheran Minister to appear in the Shenandoah Valley. It will be enquired by some who may chance to read these pages, how were the old Congregations maintained by any regular service, so as to preserve their Or- ganization and be able to enjoy the Gospel ser- vice of the Faderland? No Minister to give a Shepherd's care in all these years! Yes, this sounds strange to the Churches of to-day. Not many could survive the peculiar conditions ex- isting in those old Congregations for thirty years. It must be remembered, however, that wherever a Lutheran Congregation was found, there was their cherished "Augsburg Confession," and like the "Shorter Catechism and Confession of Faith" has been to the Presbyterian in his exile, it was a guide to them for all things. The Luth- eran Church had in its old Constitution, ample provision for the School-Master of the Settle- ment, in the absence of the Minister, to con- duct Gospel services and perform duties in the burial service. He was also "enabled for proper observance of Worship at stated times;" and when accessions were made to their member- ship, there is but little doubt that such men as are named in the record found in the corner- stone of the old Stone Church on the eastern side of the little "City," in 1764, were fully ca- pable of testing the fitness of all who desired to become one of their number. And may it not be accepted as a fact, that all these Luth- eran Congregations that preserved their Or- ganizations for so many years without the pas-

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toral care of any minister were bands of Chris- tians well worthy the service of such men as Bauer, Streit and Muhlenburg when they came with regular Church Orders, to accept Calls made for their services. Bauer at Mecklen- burg, 1776; Muhlenburg at Woodstock, and Streit at Winchester, 1785. Between the years 1770 and 1776, some missionary work was done in the Low- er Valley by Rev. J. C. Hartwick, Henry Moeller, and C. F. Wildbahn. County records show that Trustees held a lot in Stephensburg 1770, for the use of the German Lutheran Congregation; and Church notes show they had a log house on this lot. Old deeds show that adjoining lot owners had lines to adjoin the graveyard; and church records show that a brick church was erected on the old site in 1813. Some may en- quire at this point, who were these regular pas- tors who came to these congregations, and what did they do to distinguish them from many other men? The names of Muhlenburg and Streit have grown familiar to each succeeding genera- tion; and the writer hopes to make them more so to the readers of this volume in other chap- ters. At this point it is proper to set forth what the ministers found awaiting them at their re- spective locations. Mr. Bauer, when he took charge at Shepherdstown in 1776, found the Congregation well organized and worshiping in their peculiar way without a regular minister, in a building comfortable and suitable for church purposes, which the new Pastor and Congrega- tion dedicated for church services. Services were conducted in this church by succeeding pas- tors until 1795, when the corner stone for a new church was laid with imposing ceremonies. Rev. David Young having assumed the pastors work, labored acceptably for several years. He died in 1801, after a protracted illness. His minis- trations were strictly to the English style which became popular; perhaps some of the good old German Lutherans felt the effect too much; and this may account for the appearance among them in 1802 of a new pastor with the unmistak- able German form of worship, if the name is any index to his view of what service this Con- gregation should have to cure what disaffection had crept in through the English form; so Rev. Mr. Gausinske undertook to give his lessons in German. But the little English leaven was too much for him to overcome; his short stay only fanned the flame that had started, and he soon left the field. The Church suffered with these useless dissensions for years. During this time, Rev. Mr. Rabonack, another German, tried the field for about two years; he gave way to a Mr. Kehler, who combined the English and German, but failed in less than one year. Fortunately on

the first day of July, 1819, Rev. C. P. Krauth, whose reputation as a sublime Christian Min- ister had long since been known to this Congre- gation, accepted their call and preached an effective sermon in pure English; and his daily contact with the people soon won their confi- dence, and gradually the storm abated and good fellowship prevailed, and for the eight years of his service, the Church took new life; the English service was fully established, and has been maintained to this day. After Dr. Krauth's retirement in 1827, the Church has prospered under the ministry of Revs. Medtart, Weir, Martin, Speecher, Seiss, and several others. The Church is considered strong in the Virginia Synod of to-day.

The next in order of the trio of Ministers mentioned, is Rev. Peter Gabriel Muhlenburg. He arrived at Woodstock when the church to which he had been called-like the country, had some unrest that bordered on dissensions. As we have seen in the sketch of the Episcopal Church, there were two distinct sects in the Congregation-the Swedish being one, and the German Lutheran the other; the former desir- ing more ritualism in the service. Both had certain forms; and a disinterested observer once remarked, "It was plain they had a distinction, but he failed to see the difference." There was a difference however, which was being felt by this large body of people, with no shepherd to take oversight. Just at this juncture came Muh- lenburg, fully equipped to meet the emergency. Doubtless he was a Lutheran like his father, but he had conceived the idea that he could be more effective in his ministry if he had church orders bestowed on him by the Established Church ;- at least he would not be embarrassed or hindered in his service by any Vestry, who seemed to think in that day that their duty was to annoy other churches, instead of devoting themselves to their own and exercising proper influence over the struggling membership, and providing suitable edifices for their own people to worship in. Mr. Muhlenburg was not dis- turbed by any Vestry. He knew the wants of the German Lutherans, and was well fitted to serve the Swedish faction. He proved himself able to cope with the conflict, and all went well, differences subsided, and his brief ministry has been a wonder and a puzzle to many,-how he could lay the foundation for an Episcopal Church, and serve the Lutherans so acceptably. From the time he laid aside his church vestures and donned the uniform of an officer in the great struggle for freedom from British tyranny, he has been claimed by both Churches as their Minister; and as he never returned to the min-

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istry when hostilities ceased, none will ever know what he was. The Congregations at Wood- stock and other points in Dunmore County, had great reverence for his good deeds and useful and successful ministry. The churches, of course, suffered loss during the Revolutionary War, with no pastor for any of the neighboring church- es. Many of the best members entered their country's service; many of them never returned. In 1790, Rev. Paul Henkel came from his native State, North Carolina, and began a ministry in several vacant churches. Beginning where New Market was soon to become a village, Mr. Henkel seemed to have the whole of Shenan- doah as a mission field for several years. No regular minister had charge of the Woodstock Church until 1829, when the first Convention was held that year. Dr. Gilbert says this was August 10-11th, and mentions Rev. J. Nicho- las Schmucker, of the Woodstock and Stras- burg Charge, also the Laity was Jacob Ott, of Woodstock, and Lawrence Pitman, of Mt. Jack- son. Nov. 5th, 1838, Rev. J. B. Davis was or- dained at Strasburg. Dr. Gilbert says that Messrs. D. F. Bittle and Isaac Baker had been recommended as suitable persons for licensure and obtained the same. According to the best Church records, the churches in Shenandoah dur- ing all the years prior to 1850, received very irregular service, very few ministers appearing in the churches, and no record to show any Stated Pastor. For more than forty years the Church has prospered throughout the Shenandoah section, seeming to take new life after the Civil War. The next of the trio is Rev. Christian Streit, who had settled in Winchester on the 19th day of July, 1785, according to Wolfe in his interesting work, The Lutherans of Amer- ica. Mr. Streit had seen service in the Revolu- tionary War as Chaplain, and was taken pris- oner by the British while he was pastor at Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Streit in his new field, assumed the pastoral oversight of a large congregation of sincere and devoted Luth- erans, but of such admixture of German and English, that he was confronted with grave re- sponsibilities, and was embarrassed somewhat by lack of proper place of worship; for stand- ing out in bold relief were the massive bare walls of the new Stone Church, whose corner- stone had been laid 16th day of June, 1764; and now full 21 years had passed and the building was unfinished. No adornments, not even win- dows or doors. The unfinished building indi- cated a state of affairs in this Congregation that was enough to discourage some men. Mr. Streit at once set to work to know the cause of this long delay of completion. One good reason was

the six years of war that had unhinged every- thing in the country,-even the power of King George. The building had been used as bar- racks for soldiers, as they occasionally assem- bled at Winchester for formation of the new regiments. (The Author will say at this point, this building could not have been used as bar- racks for Genl. Braddock's Regiments, as claim- ed by some writers, going so far in one case as to say, "Genl. Braddock was attracted by its peculiar location, situated on an eminence that commanded a view of the surrounding country, he appropriated it for his Head Qrs .; and in this building he and Col. Washington planned the march and details of the campaign which was to end in his death and disaster to his splendid army,"-all of which must of course be noth- ing more than the fanciful touch of a reckless pen for magazine articles. As is well known, the foundation of this building had not been selected, even, when Braddock was in the vil- lage in 1755).

The spirit that prompted the old Germans in '64, to lay the foundation of the massive struc- ture, seemed lacking in the people that Mr. Streit found in '85; and he was compelled to preach his first sermon as Pastor on Sunday, July 25th, 1785, in the old log church on the same hill, the building which had for years been used alternately by the Reformed Calvanist and German Lutheran Congregations. Mr. Streit soon learned that the former were the real own- ers of the property; and he at once stirred a lively spirit in his congregation; the result be- ing that all sprang to the work of completion, and together with a Lottery scheme provided for by an Act of the Genl. Assembly, 1788, they secured funds sufficient, not only for the com- pletion and adornment of the church, but to justify an order for two bells to be cast in Germany; and later on in 1793 the spire went up; and in 1795, an organ was purchased. Mr. Streit had his congregation comfortably seated 1789 in what has been known for more than a Century as the Old Stone Church on the Hill. All this proved his wonderful efficiency; and his long pastorate made it possible for this church to attain the prominence it has held for the last century. It must be remembered that Mr. Streit had all the requirements needed for his great work, his learning, piety, energy, and youthful vigor, together with his supreme integ- rity, secured the devotion of his entire congre- gation. He preached able, sincere and often eloquent sermons, either in the German or Eng- lish, as seemed to him desirable-which marked him as a man who commanded the respect and esteem of all, regardless of creed or social status.

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His pastorate continued until his death, which occurred 10th March, 1812, lacking a few months to make it 27 years, that he had served this congregation. His old diary shows that he preached 386 times during the first three years- 156 at Winchester, 58 at Stone's Chapel, 52 at Newtown, 26 at Strasburg, 28 at Old Furnace, 26 at Pine Hills, (Bethel) 6 at Capon, 4 at Warm Springs, (Whitehall) and 30 at various places in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The author as Clerk of Court, was often called upon to give certificates of marriages of the old an- cestors, and name of the minister celebrating the ceremony. The name of Christian Street appearing so often, he has recently taken the trouble to find how many marriages were sol- emnized by him. The first marriage was that of Wm. Law and Mary Peterson, Oct. 5th, 1785. The last marriage was that of Adam Haymaker and Sally Grim, Dec. 25th, 1811. During that time he officiated at 617 marriages.

Rev. Abram Reck succeeded Mr. Streit Jany. Ist, 1813. During his pastorate, the church build- ing had many changes. The old style high pul- pit which occupied the East side like a high loft, or miniature tower, was reduced in height and set up on the South end. The spire was then found to be in the wrong place and it was re- built in 1821. The church provided for a manse for their pastor, by converting the old stone school-house which for many years had stood on the northwest corner of the church lot, into a comfortable dwelling. Here Mr. Reck resided during the remainder of his ministry, which terminated in 1827. The church was much dis- turbed during his ministry by reason of his inability to convince many of his members of the wrongs they were charging to others. Counter charges prevailed; and the Pastor found it best to resign. They needed a Streit at the helm. The disaffection was afflictive, but since it was an affair of this church, and not that of this generation, there is no need of giving any rea- sons for their trials. While they were grievous and hard to bear, there came a man in 1828- Rev. Lewis Eichelberger, who succeeded in bring- ing the church back to its safe moorings; and for years his good counsel and faithful service not only renewed the life of the old Congregation, but tightened the cords and strengthened the stakes of every Lutheran point in the county. In 1833 he resigned his charge of the Winchester Church, so that he might give more time to the other charges, with whom he laboured for many years. Many persons still living, can, and do, recall his successful work in this field, from mountain to river.

Rev. N. W. Goertner having accepted a call

from this Church, became the Pastor, preach- ing his first sermon Feby. Ist, 1834. While his sermons were good and his service faithful, there was an apparent lack of harmony between pastor and people. Perhaps his doctrine was more Calvinistic than Lutheran; and discover- ing this himself, he resigned in 1836, and later on connected himself with the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Mr. Stork, a young man of much promise, preached his first sermon as pastor of this church Oct. 9th, 1837. Rev. J. R. Keisee succeeded Mr. Stork in 1843, serving as pastor during 1843, when he resigned. The church had become strong both financially and numerically. A strong feeling had shown itself for several years among a certain class of the congrega- tion, to make changes, to accommodate a senti- ment for a down town church. This was ob- jected to, of course, by the older members who had an equally strong sentiment to cling to the Old Stone Church on the Hill. Compromises, however, were made, and the Council decided to provide a lecture-room at some convenient place down town to be used for night services, Sunday school, etc. Before proceeding to erect the room for lecture service, it became apparent that the demands for a change of location must be met; and the congregation decided in the latter part of 1839 to purchase the lot on Water St., where the present church now stands. On this lot work was started in the summer of 1840 to build a lecture-room. The trustees received further instructions from the congregation and the original plans were changed, and one adopt-

ed that would give a building suitable for all church purposes. During the erection of the new church, the older members were becoming reconciled to the change; and when the day came for the dedication of the new church home that had cost the congregation nearly $7,000; it was stated in a local newspaper of that date, "The entire congregation was present and gave evi- dence of their approval of the great change they had made." Rev. F. W. Conrad preached the dedicatory sermon on the first Sunday in Jany. 1843. No record shows who filled the pulpit in the new church during the following Spring and Summer. Rev. J. Few Smith was installed Nov. 1, 1843. He was a man of abil- ity; and his ministry was fruitful of much good. After nearly five years service, he resigned, much to the regret of the congregation, who spread upon their minutes their appreciation of his pastorate. Mr. Smith entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and was noted for his eloquence and power. The new church was now at that point where she entered upon her great career, which she has maintained to this

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day. April 9th, 1848, Rev. C. P. Krauth be- came their Pastor and remained as such until in the Autumn of 1855. Mr. Krauth's success- ful services to this church were such as could be expected from a man of his endowments. His learning and devotion to the duties of his sacred office, gave him a hold upon the affec- tions of the congregation which never lost its influence. It was during Dr. Krauth's ministry- 1850, that many costly improvements were made to the edifice-an imposing bell-tower was erect- ed for the old bell which was brought from the old stone building, and there it is in use at this writing. The writer remembers well when the new pipe organ gave forth its first volume of music to the large waiting congregation. It was quite an event at that time for a church to in- vest the large sum of $1,000. for such purposes- total expenditures about $3,000. The following year the church continued its evidence of pros- perity, in the purchase of a home for their pas- tor on Loudoun St., due West from the Jail.

The year 1854 was one of historic interest to the Lutheran Church of Winchester. She seemed to have almost reached the zenith of her glorious progress. The large congregation had come up through many tribulations, and were happy and prosperous in their new home on Boscowan St., well equipped for every ser- vice. Their faithful pastor, after years of anx- iety and service, was safely housed in the com- fortable Manse; pastor and congregation enjoy- ing their occasional pilgrimages to the old Stone Church on the Hill, which had furnished a home for the fathers and succeeding generations, through many well remembered episodes. Their cup of joy was well nigh full,-the old stone bulwark standing as it were a sentinel, to not only give watch over the new edifice and as- sembling congregations on each recurring Sab- bath, as her old bell sent forth her musical call for service, but also as the guardian and keep- er of the sacred grounds where their loved ones had been gathered for their eternal sleep. The glare of the mid-day sun and tornado storms produced no change in the old guardian. Dwell- ers in the town below grew to feel that it was an imperishable land-mark dear to all; little dreaming that the hour was near at hand when sombre clouds would cast their shadows over not only this happy congregation, but the en- tire community would be aroused to a sense of irreparable loss. The night of Sept. 27th, 1854, became memorable as the time when from some unknown cause, the old stone land-mark was destroyed by fire. The great stone wall crum- bled on the North, South and East sides, leaving the West wall to mark the spot where sacred

services were held, and where sacred ashes had lain for a half Century. The entire population was so stirred over their loss, that Dr. Krauth made the incident the subject of a discourse on the third Sabbath in Oct., 1854, so full of pathos, eloquence, and reflex of the feeling of the assembled community, that it has been treas- ured through all the passing years. At the ear- nest solicitation of the people of every Creed through their representatives, as will be seen in the following correspondence. The Address was published in pamphlet form, Dr. Krauth chose as his Text-"Our holy and beautiful house, where our Fathers praised Thee, is burn- ed up with fire,-Isaiah LXIV, 11."

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Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 34

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.] Number of Pages: 607

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607