Columbia (HnitJem'tp THE LIBRARIES E^KLY HISTORY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA. BY DANIEL MILLER. With Introduction by Prof. W. J. Hinke, D. D. Reading, Pa. : DANIEi; Mli:.LE)A,' F^UBLISHER, 123 NoitTii SixTii Street. J ' J J ' J » , .* > > > » * rAai3 (US'C COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY DANIEL MILLER. PREFACE. To the author of this volume the early history of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania has been the subject of pleasant study for a long time. There are many facts connected with this history which are not only intensely interesting, but also calculated to prompt us to more fully appreciate our religious heritage. The history is presented in plain language and in a form which may be readily understood. It is often said that many writers assume too much intelligence on the part of the average reader, and fail to give all the facts con- nected with a subject. We have sought to present all the salient facts related to a subject, even at the risk of repeating some statements, so as to make matters easily understood. We hope the reader will find as much pleasure in reading this book as the author enjoyed in preparing it, although it involved a vast deal of time and research. In the preparation of this volume the author derived much aid from the recently published proceedings of the Coetus, and many unpublished reports and letters bearing on the early history of our Church. For access to the latter he is indebted to Dr. James I. Good. He is also under obligations to Prof. W. J. Hinke for valu- able information upon certain points. INTRODUCTION. The history of the Reformed Church in the United States has long been a subject of study. As early as the year 1817 a committee was appointed by Synod to prepare a historical sketch of the origin and growth of the Synod. This committee, consisting of Rev. William Hendel, Rev, John Henry HofiFmeier and Rev. Caspar Wack, Sr., examined the archives of Synod, located in the First Reformed Church at Lancaster, but found nothing that threw light upon the subject of their search. Finally one of the committee, no doubt Rev. Dr. Hendel, remembered that he had in his possession a booklet in the Dutch language, which turned out to be the diary of Rev. Michael Schlatter, printed at Amsterdam in 1751. On the basis of this report of Mr. Schlatter a short sketch of six and a half pages was prepared, of which 3000 copies were printed. After this first attempt of writing the history of our Church, it is interesting to note that the first larger book, dealing with the history of our Church, was published in Germany in 1846, being written by the first professor of theology elected by the Ohio Synod in 18.38, Rev. I. G. Buettner, D. D., who returned to Germany in 1841. It is a volume of 154 pages, entitled "The High German Reformed Church in the United States of North America from its First Founding to the Present Time." Schleiz, 1846. A more extensive history of the early period, written about the same time by Rev. Dr. Lewis Mayer, was unfortunately never published. Renewed impetus was given to historical studies by the works of Dr. Harbaugh, especially his "Life of Rev. Michael Schlatter" and "The Fathers of the Reformed Church." But it was not till 1885 that our Church had the first connected account of its history. In that year Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Dubbs published his excellent " Historical Manual of the Reformed Church in the United States," in which he summarized all that was then known of the history of our Church. Twelve years later another advance was made by the important dis- covery of the documents, relating to our Church, in Holland, which modi- fied to a large extent our knowledge of the earliest period of our history and compelled us to reconstruct certain parts altogether. This recon- struction was largely carried out by Rev. Dr. J. I. Good, through whose energy and zeal the Holland documents had been made accessible. In 1897 Dr. Good published " Early Fathers of the Reformed Church" and INTRODUCTION. V " Historical Handbook of the Reformed Church," which were followed two years later by his still more important work " History of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1725-1792." Other historians have since followed in the new avenues opened by the recent discoveries, and have completed and elaborated our history through numerous monographs or comprehensive representations, like Rev, Dr. Dubbs* attractive and delightful book "The Reformed Church in Penn- sylvania," Lancaster, 1902. But the new documents have by no means been exhausted, nor is the knowledge of our local history complete. The present volume proves the former and adds considerably to the latter. The author is peculiarly fitted to engage in historical work. For twenty-five years his press has been sending out books dealing with Reformed Church history, among which we may mention the following: D. Y. Heisler, "Fathers of the German Reformed Church," Vol. V., Reading, 1881 ; C. Z Weiser, "A Monograph of the New Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp Reformed Charge, 1731- 1881," Reading, 1882 ; Theodore Appel, "Recollections of College Life at Marshall College," Reading 1886; J. I. Good, "The Origin of the Re- formed Church in Germany," Reading, 1887; D. Y. Heisler, "The Fathers of the Reformed Church," Vol. VI., Reading, 1888 ; Thomas M. Yundt, ''A History of Bethany Orphans' Home," Reading, 1888; J. I. Good, " Rambles Round Reformed Lands," Reading, 1889 ; A. R. Kremer, "A Biographical Sketch of John Williamson Nevin, D. D., LL. D.," Reading, 1890; J. I. Good, "History of the Reformed Church of Ger- many, 1620-1890," Reading, 1894 ; J. I. Good, "History of the Reformed Church in the United States^ 1725-1792," Reading, 1899; C. Z. Weiser, "The Life of Conrad Weiser," second edition, Reading, 1899 ; Daniel Mil- ler, "History of the Reformed Church in Reading, Pa," Reading, 1905. Besides these the author has published a number of sermon books, written by Reformed ministers, as well as other books calculated to instruct and edify our people. In the present volume the author has availed himself of the rich store- house of the Holland documents, as well as of the many historical articles which have appeared from to time in his paper. Reformed Church Rec- ord. He has presented his material in numerous sketches, which are well adapted to bring out the many-sided character of our history. May this new contribution to our history do its share in keeping green the memory of our fathers, their heroic struggles and arduous labors. May it increase in our people their Jove for and devotion to their beloved Church, and lead them to a better realization of the blessed heritage which has been handed down to them. WM. J. HINKE Philadelphia, August, 1906. CONTENTS. PAflE 1. The Beginning, 9 2. The First Reformed Minister, 13 3. A Voyage Nearly 200 Years Ago, . . . . 17 4. Poverty of the Early Settlers, 23 5. How and Where Our Forefathers Worshiped, 27 6. Two Early Lay Preachers, 35 7. The First Pastoral Charge, 39 8. Early Churches, 43 9. Early Church Debts, 50 10. First Constitution of the Reformed Church, . 55 1 1 . Scarcity of Ministers, 59 12. Confession of Early Reformed Ministers, . . 64 13. Spirit of Early Ministers, 66 14. Congregation of God in the Spirit, .... 69 15. Rev. Boehm's Warnings, 72 16. Early Church Conventions, 76 17. Early Sects, 79 18. Care of the Church in Holland, 83 19. The Coetus, 91 20. Elders at Coetus, 96 21. " Censura Morum," 100 22. Method of Voting, 102 23. Early Church Quarrels, 104 24. Charity Schools, Ill CONTENTS. VII PAGE 25. Pastoral Support, 115 26. Pastoral Work, 120 27. Perquisites, 123 28. The Indian War, 125 29. Reformed Patriots, 132 30. The Coetus and Gen. Washington, . . . .151 31. Languages Used by Coetus, 154 32. Language Question, 157 33. An Early Graveyard, 162 34. Money Not Going to the Right Place, . . .164 35. Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, 169 36. Early Reformed Sunday Schools, . . . .172 37. Services for Children, 179 38. Early Church Societies, 182 39. Ministerial Relief Society, 188 40. Early Educational Movements, 192 41. Early Customs, 199 42. Names of Congregations, 207 43. Churches of Various Periods, 217 44. Slavery in Pennsylvania, 225 45. Liberty of the People, 230 46. Boehm's Church, 234 47. Family of Rev. John Philip Boehm, . . . 237 48. The Church at Conestoga, 240 49. Worthless Preachers, 247 50. First Church North of the Blue Mountains, . 250 51. A Minister's Tragic Death, 252 52. Early Defections, . 254 53. Miscellaneous, 256 Viri ILLUSTRATIONS. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE First Church, Philadelphia, .30 CoDrad Tempel man's Home, 37 Falkner Swamp Church, 41 First Church, Reading, 45 Rev. Michael Schlatter, 87 School House, Reading, .112 Col. Henry Bouquet, 127 Capt. Peter Nagel, 139 Col. Nicholas Lotz, 140 Gov. Joseph Hiester, 142 Franklin College, Lancaster, . 196 Second Church, Reading, 218 Third Church Style, 220 Modern Church, 223 1. THE BEGINNING. Let us take a look at Pennsylvania as it existed in 1710, the time when the first Reformed minister, Rev. Samuel Guldin, located here. Pennsylvania, as well as the state of Delaware, was the property of AVilliam Penn, who had purchased this territory from the Brit- ish government. The father of William Penn was Admiral Sir William Penn, a noted English naval offi- cer. At the time of his death he held a claim of six- teen thousand pounds against the English government. This con isted principally of money advanced and arrearages in his salary. This claim at the admiraPs death descended to his son, William Penn. In 1680 Mr. Penn asked the English government to give him a deed for the territory now embraced in Pennsylvania and Delaware in settlement of his claim. This was assented to, and on March 4, 1681, the King of Eng- land, Charles the Second, signed the deed. William Penn's object was to found a religious nation as a model of true freedom, where the oppressed of Europe would find a place of refuge. Penn visited his new possessions in 1682, and or- ganized a government. He appointed a governor and other officers. He returned to England in 1684. In 1699 he made a second visit to Pennsylvania, and re- turned to England in 1701. It is an interesting state- 2 10 EARLY HISTORY ment for us that the mother of William Penn was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church. Mr. Penn was a student in the Reformed university of Saumur in France, in 1662-3. In 1710, when Rev. Samuel Guldin came here, Penn's governor was Chas. Cookin. William Penn had the misfortune, like many other people, of getting deeply into debt. In 1707 he was involved in a costly law suit, and was obliged to mort- gage his American province for a loan of £6,600 ster- ling. In the following year, 1708, he was thrown into prison for debt, but released through the aid of friends. In order to extricate himself from his financial troubles, William Penn in 1712 agreed to sell his American possessions (Pennsylvania and Delaware) to Queen Anne, the English ruler, for £12,000 sterling. Before the papers could be executed, William Penn was stricken with apoplexy, and. the sale was not car- ried out. But for this occurrence our state would have fallen back to England. William Penn died on July 30, 1718, and his property descended to his sons and afterwards to his grandsons. In 1710, when Guldin came here, there were only a few inhabited places in our state outside of Philadel- phia. In 1700 the city consisted of 700 houses and over 4500 inhabitants. The whole state was a vast forest, mostly inhabited by the Indians. In the east- ern part of the state there were a few settlements, out- side of which all was a vast forest. As far as we know, there was only one church outside of Philadel- phia in 1710, the one erected by Swedish Lutherans at Molatten, the present village of Douglassville, Berks county. This church is supposed to have been erected OF THE KEFORMED CHURCH. 11 before 1703. Little was then known of the extent and character of the territory of the now great state of Pennsylvania. It would be difficult to designate any particular date as the beginning of the Reformed Church in Penn- sylvania, because during a number of years the first congregations were only partially organized. In a general way the year 1720 may be accepted as the date of the beginning, because the Falkner Swamp congre- gation dates its beginning in that year. But even that congregation was not fully organized until several years after that date. All of the earlier congregations worshiped during a number of years in private houses, and were not fully organized. The people came to- gether to worship God in the best way possible under their unfavorable circumstances. They were led in their w^orship by pious laymen, of whom John Philip Boehm and Conrad Tempelman were the most promi- nent. These men led the people in prayer and praise, and read passages of Scripture and sermons for their edification. The first Reformed church of which we have any record was the one at Skippack, which was erected about 1727. But these men were not the first ones to conduct public w^orship. The first one to do this in Pennsyl- vania as a representative of the German Reformed Church was Rev. Samuel Guldin, who is mentioned elsewhere. But he did not organize any congregations. The fact is that the beginning of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania w^as a gradual matter. The people of certain districts met with some degree of reg- ularity in various private houses, but they were not 12 EARLY HISTORY formally organized. They had neither elders nor dea- cons. There was no one to ordain such. It is true, Rev. Mr. Guldin was here, but he appears to have lived quietly upon his farm, and there is no evidence that he made any efforts to organize the people. In a letter to Holland, dated February 13, 1733, it is stated that the Conestoga congregation (now in Lancaster city) was commenced in 1725, and was served by Rev. John P. Boehm. Two years later the congregation elected elders. The congregation was divided into six meeting places. Three of them were supplied by Rev. John Peter Miller. It is stated that Conrad Tempel- man was a reader at the time, and it is supposed that he supplied the other three places. Considering all the facts at hand, it seems to be proper to say that the Reformed Church in Pennsyl- vania had its origin here about 1720. The question may properly be asked, why did our Reformed forefathers come here ? The principal reason was religious persecution. It was this that drove the Germans in the Palatinate and the Huguenots of France from their homes. Many came to Pennsylvania to find an asylum in the free state which William Penn had founded. Here tliey found religious freedom, but aside from this great boon they had to endure severe hard- ships. The country was undeveloped. It was a vast forest. The pioneer settlers had to start at the very beginning in establishing new homes. The first thing to be done was the erection of small log cabins for their families. Then the land had to be cleared so as to raise bread from the virgin soil. These facts show what the people were willing to endure for religious freedom. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 13 2. THE FIRST REFORMED MINISTER. The first Reformed minister who preached the gos- pel in Pennsylvania, of whom we have any record, was Rev. Samuel Guldio, who came here in 1710, landing at Philadelphia on September 23, with his wife and four children. He was a native of Berne, Switzerland. He was born in 1660 and baptized on April 8, 1664. The father's name was Joachim Guldin. The son was forty years of age when he came to America with his family in 1710. Samuel Guldin received a liberal education at Berne. He also studied at Geneva and Lausanne in Switzer- land, and also spent some time in Germany and Hol- land. He was a Pietist, which means an earnest Chris- tian. On this account he was called to suffer persecu- tion, and it was this which induced him to emigrate to America. In 1692 Mr. Guldin was made pastor of the church at Stettlen, Switzerland, near Berne. His earn- est preaching attracted great attention. Like the Mas- ter, the common people heard him gladly. But Guldin was not satisfied with his religious condition. He states that on August 4, 1693, he received new light and en- tered upon a fuller knowledge of the truth. He now preached with greater earnestness and eloquence. On December 26, 1696, he was elected associate pastor of 14 EARLY HISTORY the Minster, the principal church in the city of Berne, where his influence was greatly enlarged and all classes of people flocked to hear him. He insisted upon a change of heart and a pious life. His bold preaching brought him into conflict with the rulers of the Church. Rev. Guldin was cited to trial before the Great Council of the Canton of Berne, together with two other Pietists, named Koenig and Lutz. The trial ended on June 9, 1699, and all of the accused were found guilty. The charges were flimsy in character. The object of the trial appears to have been more to suppress Pietism than to punish the three individuals. One of the charges was that of " crowding the churches.^^ This was directed against Guldin, who had attracted many country people to his church, and it was charged that the Sabbath was thereby being desecrated. It is also stated that other pastors were brought into disrepute and their feelings embittered ; that is, the people who were tired of the cold, formal preaching, went to hear the warm truth preached by Guldin. Then fault was found in the charges that some of the people in church had acquired the habit of quaking, somewhat like the Quakers in England. Objection was also made to meet- ings held without authority, at which psalms were sung and religious subjects considered ! These meetings were equivalent to prayer meetings. These charges show clearly that Berne was badly in need of a new reforma- tion. But we must remember that Church and State were united. Koenig was charged with having spoken disrespect- fully of the government and was deposed from the min- OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 15 istry. Guldiu aod Lutz fared a little better. They were suspended from their pastoral charges and forbid- den to preach, and also forbidden to attend the private (prayer) meetings under penalty of being deposed from the ministry. If they would renounce Pietism, they could after awhile be appointed to inferior positions as far away from Berne as possible. Guldin was oifered an obscure charge in the moun- tains, but declined, and expresssed himself freejy about the Council. For this he was arrested and imprisoned for some time. After his release he lived for several years in retirement in a villaoje near Berne. There is no doubt that he now determined to emigrate to America, where he could enjoy religious freedom. But here he had to spend an isolated life and could not fully employ his excellent talents in the service of the Master. As stated before, Rev. Samuel Guldin landed at Philadelphia on September 23, 1710, with his family. (See his account of the long voyage elsewhere.) He located first at " Rocksburg," now Eoxboro, a short distance north of Philadelphia, subsequently in Oley, Berks county. It is a matter of much regret that but little is known of his work here as a minister. He preached in houses, barns and groves as opportunity oflPered. Churches there were none. He preached ten years before the pious laymen Boehm and Tempelman commenced to read sermons to the people and lead them in worship. He was the only Peformed minister in Pennsylvania. What an isolated position he occupied. After the Reformed church in Germantown had been erected in 1733, Mr. Guldin preached occasionally 16 EARLY HISTORY there, according to the report of Rev. Boehm in 1 739. In 1743 Mr. Guldin took a firm stand against Count Zinzendorf's movement to unite all the Protestants in Pennsylvania into one body called '^The Congregation of God in the Spirit." He had attended the first synod of the movement in 1742, but left it with some others, and in 1743 issued a book against the mov^emeut under the title of " Unpartisan Witness." Guldin was now an old man, but he saw the tendency of the new move- ment, and did what he could to induce the Reformed people to be faithful to their standards and Church. He took the same position as Rev. J. P. Boehm on this subject. Several years after publishing his book Rev. Mr. •Guldin died, viz., on December 31, 1745, at Philadel- phia, at the age of about eighty-one years. Tradition tells us that he was buried in the family graveyard in Oley. This would imply that he had been on a visit to Philadelphia, when death overtook him. This is the record of the first Reformed minister in Pennsylvania. Rev. John C. Guldin, at one time pas- tor at Brownback's church, Chester county, was one of his great-great-grandsons, and Rev. James G. Dengler, of Harrisburg, Pa., is a lineal descendant on the mater- nal side of Rev. Samuel Guldin. It has at times been claimed that Rev. Henry Hae- ger, who with twelve families located in Virginia about 1714, was the first German Reformed minister in America, but this is an error. It is however probable that his people erected the first German Reformed church in this country at Germantown, N. C, where they located in 1718. OF THE HEFORMED CHURCH. 17 3. A VOYAGE NEARLY 200 YEARS AGO. Rev. Samuel Gnldin, the first Reformed minister in Pennsylvania, a short sketch of whose life is given elsewhere, lauded with his wife aud four children at Philadelphia on September 23, 1710, after a long aud tedious voyage. Under date of December 1, 1710, Mr. Guldin wrote a lengthy report of the voyage of himself and family across the Atlantic. They sailed from London on July 5 and reached Philadelphia on September 23, 1710. They were thus eleven weeks or nearly three months on the water. The voyage is now made in six days by our modern great ships. Then tliere were of course no steamships. Mr. Guldin's description of the voyage is quite interesting, aud we give the following extracts from it : The ship in which the Guldin family came was called ^' Maria Hope.'' The report of Mr. Guldin abounds in expressions of the Lord's goodness. Xeither one of the Guldin family (parents and four children) was sick during the voyage. Many others were sick, including the crew aud the captain. The ship '' Maria Hope" w^as for some distance guarded by several Rus- sian warships. Mr. Guldin writes : " The journey was very tedious and toilsome, not only on account of the many dangers, the tempestuous 18 EARLY HISTORY ocean, the hidden cliffs and sand banks, and by reason of the roving robbers and pirates, but especially on ac- count of the hard, unhealthy food on the ship, intoler- able to many, through which the people became easily sick and some died. But the Lord has led us safely through all this, so that none of the passengers died. On July 5, 1710, we sailed from London. Within the first hour after departure our ship ran into a little boat, by which a boy drowned. Afterward it ran into another ship, and both ships were damaged, the corn- ers being knocked from our ship. In consequence of this our captain was arrested by a warship on July 8, and another captain was given us at Gravesend. We soon after encountered a violent storm, and many peo- ple took sick, so that they could no longer eat the salted meat which was cooked in salt water. After that time neither I nor any of my children tasted any meat during the whole journey. During the night of July 21 during a violent storm our ship collided with another vessel, which brought us great danger. On the evening of July 25 we saw seven French warships with white flags, and everybody was in great alarm all night, because there were only four warships with us. But we saw these ships no more. On the evening of July 25 the Russian fleet left us, and we fell in with four ships all bound for America. On July 30 we saw the island Festland. This was the last land we saw, and we were now on the great ocean. We had a good wind, so that at times we made eight miles an hour. Dur- ing the early days of August two of the ships left us, one going to Jamaica, the other to Guiana. The third OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 19 was going to Carolina, and left us afterward. From August 8 to 12 we saw a large number of fishes, called porpoises, which was soon followed by a storm. On August 14 the fourth ship left us, going to New Eng- land. On August 17 the storm was so severe that we could have only half a sail hoisted. The rudder had to be tied securely, and during the whole night we had to leave the ship to the mercy of wind and waves. The waves were like mountains, and the ship was sometimes so high that we thought we would be capsized. Then again it went down so deep that it appeared as though we Avould be hurled into the depths, and yet with all that I and my children had no fear. After this we saw many fishes. On September 9 we saw several large fishes following each other like cows. On September 12 we had the best wind of all, and made nine miles an hour. On September 15 we could touch bottom with our sounding line. The water was 15 fathoms deep, that is, 30 English or 45 German yards. " On the morning of September 16 we saw land for the first time, and greatly rejoiced that the Lord had helped us so far. On the same day we entered the Delaware river so far that Ave were safe from all pir- ates. The vvater was only six fathoms deep, and we could not proceed during the night. Next day (Sept. 17) Ave started Avith the tide of the ocean, but ran upon a sand bank, and Ave were kept busy all afternoon try- ing to get off again. HoAvever Ave had to stay there during the night. On September 18 we obtained a pilot to conduct us up the DelaAvare, and with it came the first-fruits of the new land's apples and peaches. 20 EARLY HISTORY On September 20 we arrived at Newcastle, where some of us went on land for the first time. We were well received by some people, who gave us not only to eat and drink, but also gave us apples and peaches to take back to the ship — as many as we could carry. On September 21, as we continued, others came to us on the ship, who invited the captain and all the people to a dinner. Others brought large sacks of apples on the ship to divide among the people. The same happened to some of us who left the ship on September 22, going some miles on foot until we saw Philadelphia for the first time from a distance, and came into the city early on the 23d of September, where the ship also arrived safely at noon. " On September 24 my family and others disem- barked, and were received by good friends into their houses for several days free and without money, and were shown much love. We remained there until September 27, when a Christian friend of my country- men and relatives procured a good house for us eight miles from the city, among good friends, which he gave us for the winter, or as long as we should need it. " Thus the long and tedious journey had come to an end. It took us eleven weeks from London to Phila- delphia, but only seven weeks from one side of the ocean to the other. Three weeks we spent with the Russian fleet along the coast of England and Scotland, and eight days on the Delaware. Close by the house of my friend I purchased the first plantation I have seen, where we shall begin to live next spring. The place is called Rocksburg, or fortress of rocks, as the OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 21 whole country lies upon many rocks. Thus our ark has come to rest on a mountain. " God has wonderfully preserved us. Others who went with the fleet last spring have not only been on board the ship twenty-seven weeks, but many of them have died. Among these the dear and well-known Maurice lost his life at sea. Who would have thought that such a strong young man would not be able to pass through this journey, whilst weak ones were able to endure it. The ship upon which the dear Maurice died suffered shipwreck at the end of its journey along the coast of New York. All the people were saved, but the ship was lost, and nearly all the goods were either lost or spoiled, and much of what was brought to the land was stolen during the confusion. From this we can see why the dear Lord permitted us to miss the fleet in the spring. Our coming too late was for our own good. " AYe also arrived during the time when apples and peaches were plentiful, and not during a dry and bar- ren season, so that we had at once enough to eat of the fruits of the land, and have already gathered a full harvest before we have labored. Others have planted for us. We have obtained so much fruit that the whole house has been filled, above and below. We dried so much fruit that we have enough not only for this winter, but also for the coming summer. The Lord has amply provided for us on both sides of the great ocean. '^ I should now close this big letter, if I would not want to give you a short account of the conditions of 22 EARLY HISTORY the land, as far as they have come to my knowledge. The country in itself is very good, but not everything is true which has been circulated about it. This coun- try has mountains and valleys, good and bad, sandy and clayey. There is good water, lumber and stones enough to build. During the summer, because of the intense heat, it has unusual luxuriousness, causing everything to grow very rapidly, so that within six years the seeds have become trees yielding fruit. But for this reason the land is drained all the more easily. As a result the land which was good before becomes bad, as can be seen in Germantown, where the land is not cultivated. Apples and peaches are very plentiful, which grow up from seeds without being grafted. They are very good and so plenty as I have never seen before. Pigs and horses eat more of these here than people do in many places in Germany. There are many chestnut trees here, but they are very small. There are many oak trees, but few beeches, also pop- lars.^^ OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 23 4. POVERTY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. The condition of the early settlers in Pennsylvania was sad. They were with few exceptions very poor. Many of them had come here after the devastating re- ligious wars in Europe. They came largely at the in- vitation of William Penn, who had a warm interest in the Reformed people, partly because his mother had been Reformed, and also because he knew they would make excellent settlers for his province Pennsylvania. The Palatines then at Schoharie, IST. Y., came to Tul- pehocken principally because Sir William Keith, Penn's governor of Pennsylvania, on a visit to New York state, "informed them of the freedom and justice ac- corded to their countrymen in Pennsylvania.^' Many Palatines had already come to Pennsylvania directly from Europe, and their good treatment was published far and wide. In 1717 three shiploads of Palatines landed at Philadelphia. Most of the people came practically empty-handed. They took up land on credit, and the payment of inter- est was burdensome. Many were brought over by the Land Companies, and as they had no money to pay for their passage, they were sold at Philadelphia to serve a certain period of time, usually from three to five years. These people were called Redemptioners. Many were sold to English people in Philadelphia, 24 EARLY HISTORY others to the same class nearby. Thus there were white slaves in Pennsylvania at one time. The sys- tem was abolished in 1750. Kevs. John B. Rieger and John J. Diemer made an extended report on the condition of the people here to the Synodical Deputies in Holland under date of March 4, 1732. We make these extracts from their report : " We think there are altogether 15-16,000 German Reformed in Pennsylvauia, but these people live scat- tered over more than three hundred miles of territory, and there are no churches in the laud. We have thus far only two regularly called ministers, and it is almost impossible to ascertain the actual number of members. The most of those who come here are compelled to sell themselves for their passage money, and also their chil- dren, who generally must serve until their twentieth year. Here in Philadelphia some 100 are in the ser- vice of the English people, but they have the privilege to attend our service. Others in the country who have no opportunity for the exercise of the Reformed relig- ion, resort to other sects, of which there are a great number in the land, or they accustom themselves to live without any religion. " There is in this province only one actual city, Philadelphia, and two newly laid out, Germantown and the new town at Couestoga (Lancaster). There are several places which are called townships where neighbors live one, two and more miles from each other. These are Skippack, New Hanover, Oley, Maxatawny, Tulpehocken, Cocalico, Goshenhoppen and Conestoga. [Reading had no existence then.] We OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 25 have no caudidates at all for the ministry, and only a few school teachers, because the people live so far from each other that they cannot send many children to one locality, wherefore the children must be allowed to grow up in the greatest ignorance. ^' Most of the country people live so far away from town, that even when they have some produce, they cannot turn it into money, for being six to eight days under way, the cost of carriage would not even be paid. At Philadelphia, to which place most of the grain is shipped, there are only ten families who are well-to-do, all the others are in service. Of the townships Skip- pack is the most thickly settled, wliere about forty families may be counted, but they are for the most part poor. '^ Every year many poor people arrive here, who wish to be assisted by their friends to pay their passage money. During the past year (] 731) nearly 4000 souls arrived in ten ships. By far the smaller number had any means, and the most of them had to be sold for their passage money. This causes much money to be sent out of the Ian 1, whereas it is scarce enough already. When these people have served out their time, they are just as poor as when they first arrived, and it takes a long time until they contribute anything to the church." Rev. John P. Boehm, who did very much for the Reformed people, was a most unselfish man. In a re- port to the Classis, January 30, 1729, he states that he came here with little means and had a hard strugiJ^le to obtain bread for his family, parents and six children, until he could secure it from the soil. He lived upon 3 26 EARLY HISTORY rented land and had to pay interest. When he had worked a good while (1720 to 1725) and could hope to begin to pay his debts, he was called to serve the peo- ple as their minister, practically without salary. He served them during four and one-half years without or- dination, and during this time received only forty pounds for salary. This was about §200 in that time. Both before and after his ordination he worked on the farm to support his family, when not absent in the perform- ance of ministerial duties. Instead of paying his debts, they increased. By and by his bodily vigor decreased, which made his lot harder. Pie pleaded with theClas- sis for aid. In his report of 1739 Rev. Mr. Boehm states that the people at Falkner Swamp, White Marsh, Oley and Philadelphia had no churches yet. Services were held in houses and barns. He states that the people at Gagushi (Haiu's in Berks county) had a little wooden church. He also states that in the whole country there was no dwelling for a minister or a school teacher. It is difficult for the people of the present day to form a proper conception of the condition of the early settlers. The people lived in rude log huts, with very little furniture.'^ In 1744 a minister remained over night with a family in York county. There were no beds or bedsteads in the log: cabin. It is stated that all slept in one room — the parents in one corner, several children in another and the minister in a third, and al 1 upon straw. In 1753 the schoolmaster at Cocalico (Bethany, near Lititz) stated that he lived during the winter on bread and water. OP THE KEFORMED CHURCH. 27 5. HOW AND WHERE OUR FOREFATHERS WORSHIPED. lu the early history of PeDosylvania the Reformed people had only a few ministers and no chnrehes in ^vhich to worship. They, however, held services in private houses and had sermons read for their instruc- tion and edification. As a rule the schoolmasters con- ducted the services and read the sermons from books. Of course all was in German. English services came at a later date. (In the city of Reading there was no English preaching all the way down to 1842.) For many years the people were not only without churches and ministers, but also without Bibles and other good books. Some had brought Bibles, hymn books and catechisms along with them from the Father- land. But not all The consequence was great igno- rance in religious matters. Rev. M. Schlatter brought several hundred Bibles with him when he returned from his visit to Europe in 1752. Someof these Bibles were given to churches, and for a long time nearly all Re- formed ministers here used these Bibles in preaching. One of these Schlatter Bibles is still in possession of Muddy Creek congregation. Another one is in posses- sion of Falkner Swamp congregation. Other Bibles were given to families. The first organized Reformed congregations were those of Falkner Swamp, Skippack and Whitemarsh. 28 EARLY HISTORY Before these were organized some of the Reformed peo- ple of the places named went all the way to Philadel- phia to receive the communion in the Presbyterian church. This was before 1725. In that year Mr. John p. Boehm commenced preaching at these places without being ordained, at the earnest solicitation of the people, after having for several years conducted servi- ces as a reader of sermons. During a number of years the services were held in houses and barns. In tlie course of time small log churches were erected, but as the people w^re very poor, they could not pay for even such, and the consequence was debts resting on the humble houses of worship. The Falkner Swamp congregation was founded in 1720. From that time until 1725 Mr. Boehm read sermons for the people. In 1725 he entered upon the full ministry. He held the first communion there on October 15, 1725, with 40 guests. The services were held in houses and barns until 1740, a period of twenty years. In a report, dated July 25, 1741, Mr. Boehm states that the first service in the new church was held on June 21, 1740. He also states that the people still owed sixty pounds on the church, which was a frame building. The former place of worship had been sold. At Skippack there was a frame church erected in 1727, but the notorious Jacob Reiff had it erected upon his land, and therefore controlled it. When he was afterwards asked to render an account of his collections in Europe for the churches at Skippack and Philadel- phia, he was angered and refused to allow the Reformed people to worship in the church except those who sided OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 29 with him. They therefore purchased some land below Skippack, and Mr. Boehm made himself personally re- sponsible for the payment. He asked aid from Hol- land for these people in 1744, and stated that he had not received a penny from these people, because they were poor. He lived in his own house and tilled a small farm for the support of his family. Soon after Eev. Michael Schlatter had arrived in Pennsylvania in 1746 he on August 7 went to the farm of Mr. Boehm and found him working in a field. The Skippack peo- ple in 1760 reorganized themselves and founded the Wentz congregation, and in 1762 erected the first church upon the land acquired as above stated. Peter Kalm, in describing his travels in America, states that the Reformed people of Philadelphia in their early history attended the German Lutheran services in the Swedish church which was founded by Swedish Lutherans, who settled on the banks of the Delaware in the southern part of Philadelphia in April, 1638, and dedicated their first house of worship on September 4, 1646. Kalm says the name of the minister was Rev. Dylander. (Rev. Dy lander came to America in 1737.) In the year 1744 Mr. Boehm reported that the Re- formed people in Philadelphia had until then worshiped in an old and dilapidated " butcher's house," in com- mon with the Lutherans, at a rental of four pounds per year. (It must be assumed that the house and not the butcher was dilapidated.) From the above time on the Reformed had to pay the rent alone, since the Luther- ans had erected a church for themselves, 45 by 70 feet in size. This old house of worship was owned by Wm. 30 EARLY HISTORY Allen and stood on Arch street, near the Quaker burial groun'd. Tradition says that the building was originally a barn. The Reformed congregation was organized by Rev. Geo. M. Weiss soon after his arrival in 1727. The exact date is unknown, but it is supposed to be 1728. The people worshiped in a rented place (likely the butcher's house) until the completion of their first church on Sassafras (now Race) street, corner of 4th street. On Sunday, Decem- ber 6, 1747, Rev. Mr. Schlatter prea c h e d the first sermon in it. The church was not yet plastered, and there was neither gal- lery nor window, as the record states. Thus the people wor- shiped in winter without heat. Stoves First Church, Philadelphia. WOuld haVC bcCU of no use, when there were no windows. The church was a small six-cornered building. There was a small steeple or cupola in the centre. The humble house of worship was surmounted by a weather-vane in the form of a rooster, which was a Holland symbol. We are not told how soon the little new six- cornered church was completed. The people of those days had a high regard for public worship. For a long time a ^^m OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 31 chain was stretched across the street during the time of worship, so that the congregation might not be dis- turbed by passing vehicles. Now many congregations are disturbed by trolley and steam cars. In the Tulpehocken region in the western part of Berks county there were two Tulpehocken Reformed congregations. The first congregation was organized in 1727 by Palatines coming with Conrad Weiser, sr., from Schoharie, N. Y., in 1723, and for some years wor- shiped with the Lutherans in the Reed church, which is supposed to have been the first union church of the two denominations in this country. Rev. J. P. Boehm administered the first communion at Tulpehocken in October, 1727, to 32 persons. After worshiping some years in the Reed church the Reformed people with- drew and erected a small log church on four acres of ground at the place now known as Host church, five miles north of Womelsdorf, Pa. In 1743 a new^ log churc'i was erected here. The congregation was pretty large. Before there was a regular pastor, Francis Lay- enberger, a schoolmaster, conducted worship and read sermons for the people. He is said to have been a faithful watchman against the sects. The location at Host was not satisfactory to many of the congregation, because it was too far away from those in the western part. In 1738 they secured 100 acres of land IJ miles west of Stouchsburg and erected a church upon it. This congregation is known as Trin- ity Tulpehocken church. Thus there w^ere two Tulpe- hocken churches, which caused much confusion in mat- ters of hi>torv. 32 EARLY HISTORY The Tulpehocken region was uudoubtedly the stroDg- est Reformed settlemeot at that time. Rev. Mr. Schlatter reports that on September 21, 1746, Rev. Mr. Boehm made a special journey to Tulpehocken " to notify the two congregations there to assemble on Sept. 25 to regulate their church affairs.'^ On Sunday fol- lowing, September 25, Mr. Schlatter preached there, and with Rev. Mr. Boehm administered the commun- ion to 101 persons. Mr. S. states that there were be- sides these over 600 persons inside and outside the church, but he fails to state which one of the two churches it was. He also states that the congregation numbered almost 500 souls or 200 families. Another Reformed church organized at an early date in the Tulpehocken region is the well-known Hain's church, near Wernersville. It is stated that the organization was effected in the nearby dwelling house of Conrad Kershner, the ancestor of the present pastor, Rev. W. J. Kershner. The second house on the Kershner farm was erected in 1755, and is still standing. It is a most substantial stone building, whose chimney above the roof is five feet wide. The first church here was erected in 1730 by Reformed Palatines on five acres of land, which was donated by George Hain, by whose name the church is still known, although the proper name is St. John's. The congre- gation never received a deed for the five acres of ground. The first church was used as a fort for the protection of the people against the Indians, who were numerous in the region. During the Indian war the people took their arms with them to the church, and OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 33 whilst some of them were at worship inside, others stood on guard outside. The church was also used for school purposes. The Hain church was from the be- ginning exckisively Reformed, and has ever remained so. The Reading Reformed people erected their first church in 1755. It was a small log church, and at first it contained neither floor nor stove. There was a little belfry containing a bell, which was rung on the outside by means of a rope. Here the people sat on rude benches and listened to long sermons. In Lebanon county Conrad Tempelman, a pious tailor, preached in his own humble home near Corn- wall and many other places without ordination from 1727 until 1751, when upon the recommendation of Mr. Schlatter he was ordained. Like Mr. Boelim he did this because of the importunity of the people, Avho were eager for God's word, but had no ordained minis- ters. In 1744 the Reformed people united with the Lutherans in erecting a small log church at a place ever since known as Hill church, four miles west of Lebanon, Pa. It could not be completed for a long time, and at first the people sat on rude logs during w^orship. As at Hain's church, some of the members stood guard on the outside against the Indians, whilst the others worshiped inside. Conrad Tempelman min- istered to the Reformed people. In 1739 Rev. Mr. Boehm reported that there was not in the whole country among the Reformed people a parsonage or a house for a schoolmaster. The list of primitive churches might be continued, but space forbids. The instances cited are sufficient to 34 EARLY HISTORY show US the spiritual destitution of the people in the early days of the Church in Pennsylvania. They were truly, Mr. Schlatter says, like sheep without a shep- herd. Mr. Boehm in his reports shows that his heart was distressed as he looked upon them in their need. Both he and Schlatter pleaded earnestly for them with the Fathers in Holland, and those godly people across the Atlantic Ocean took pity upon their brethren in the new world, and sent them aid. As we read about the destitution of our fathers we should learn to more fully appreciate our great blessings. This is really one of the motives for penning these lines. In his earnest appeal to the people of Holland for aid in 1751 Mr. Schlatter stated that he had visited 46 congregations and did all he could to supply them with preaching. Ofthe46, 32 were still without regular ministrations, and were served only occasionally, us- ually twice a year. Only 12 had regular ministers. Two were supplied by lay readers. Besides these there were a number of other congregations which Schlatter had not yet visited. He stated that many people bear- ing the name Reformed were in danger of falling into a new heatiienism and becoming like the Indians, or worse. Most lamentable of all he denominates the condition of the children, who were without instruction or care, and were* '^ growing up as for hell." Many people were without schools, and had no money to secure Bibles or other books. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 35 6. TWO EARLY LAY PREACHERS. It is an ioterestiog fact that the foundatioDs for the Reformed Church in Pennsylvaoia were laid by two lay preachers — men who had not been ordained to the ministry — John Philip Boehm and Conrad Tempel- man. Both commenced to preach at about the same time, in 1725, and both did it for the same reason — because the people implored them to do this in the absence of regularly ordained ministers. Mr. Boehm commenced to preach in Montgomery county, whilst Mr. Tempelman did so in Lebanon county. Mr. Boehm was a schoolmaster by profession and Mr. Tem- pelman was a tailor by occupation. Both were pious men, and did much good. They led the people in wor- ship and explained the word of God to them until or- dained ministers came here. Both were later ordained, and continued in the good work until death. John Philip Boehm was the son of a Reformed min- ister, and was born at Hochstadt, Germany. He was baptized on Nov. 25, 1683. He chose teaching as his profession. He came to America about the year 1720. and settled in Montgomery county. He was well edu- cated and pious. During several years he served the people as a reader and conducted services for them. During five years the people urged him to enter fully 36 EARLY HISTORY upon the ministry, but lie declined. Finally they en- treated him with tears to become their pastor. He fin- ally consented, ^' protesting before God that he could not justify his refusal of so necessary a work.'^ He commenced to preach regularly in 1725, and adminis- tered the commmunion for the first time on October 15, 1725, at Falkner Swamp to 40 members; in No- vember at Skippack to 37 members, and on December 23, 1725, at White Marsh to 24 members. Mr. Boehm preached as a layman from 1725 until November 23, 1729, when he was ordained by a committee of the Dutch Reformed Church in New York. He continued his labors and preached faithfully until April 30, 1749, when he suddenly died at Egypt, Lehigh county, whither he had gone to administer the communion, in his sixty-sixth year. He was buried under the pulpit of Boehm's church in Montgomery county, whose con- gregation he had organized about the year 1740. It was largely due to the firm stand of Rev. Mr. Boehm that the Reformed people were not absorbed by the Moravian Church by means of the movement inaugu- rated by Count Zinzendorf in 1741. Mr. Boehm is- sued two letters of warning to the Reformed people against the movement, one bearing date of August 23, 1742, and the other bearing date of May 19, 1743. A number of Reformed ministers were drawn into the movement, but Mr. Boehm stood firm in favor of the old Reformed doctrines and position. Conrad Tempelman was born at Weinheim in the Palatinate, Germany, March 22, 1692. He was a tailor by occupation, and worked at this trade in the OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 37 city of Heidelberg. He came to America about the year 1721^ and located several miles >outh of Lebanou, where he took up 200 acres of land. The place is still known as Tempelman Hill. Some years ago a chapel was erected at the place, and in 1888 a Reformed con- gregation was organized in it. The small flock is now being supplied by Rev. A. J. Bachman. Mr. Tempel- man commenced preaching about the same time as Rev. Mr. Boehm, in the year 1725. He did this be- cause the people had no regular minister, and appealed to him, as did others to Mr. Boehm. He preached at many places in Leb- anon and Lancaster counties. In June of 1747 Rev. Mich- ael Schlatter admin- istered the commun- ion at Muddy Creek, Lancaster county, and met Mr. Tem- Mp. rempelman's Home. pelman there. After administering the communion Schlatter asked Tempelman *to preach a thanksgiving sermon, which he did, and Schlatter was so much pleased with it that he recommended that Mr. Tempel- man should be ordained. Schlatter wrote to the Fath- ers in Holland for permission, and Mr. Tempelman was ordained in 1751, at the age of 59 years, after he had preached about twenty-six years as a layman. He continued to preach until near his end. In 1757 he became blind, but continued to preach in a few churches and in his own house He had to be led into the 38 EARLY HISTORY church and into the pulpit. He died about the year 1761, at the age of 69 years, and was buried near his home. The life and work of these two lay preachers, Boehm and Tempelman, are worthy of the highest com- mendation. They did what they could to relieve the great spiritual want of the people. They did not enter rashly upon the work of the ministry, but solely because of the importunity of the people. OF THE EEFOEMED CHUECH. 39 7. THE FIRST PASTORAL CHARGE. The oldest Reformed congregation in Pennsylvania is the one known as Falkner Swamp in the northwest- ern part of Montgomery county, near the line of Berks. It dates back to 1720, and is the oldest Reformed con- gregation with a continuous history. The Dutch Reformed preceded the German Re- formed in eastern Pennsylvania. They settled at an early date in New Jersey. Some of their people crossed the Delaware river and settled in Bucks coun- ty, Pa., where they organized a Dutch Reformed church at Neshaminy. In 1710 Rev. Paul Van Vlecq became pastor of this Dutch church. He at once also began to preach to the German Reformed located in the neighborhood. On May 29, 1710, he visited Skip- pack in Montgomery county, and baptizen 16 children. On June 4 of the same year he visited White Marsh and organized the first German Reformed congregation in Pennsylvania. He ordained two elders and two deacons. One of the deacons was William Dewees. In 1711 the congregation consisted of 15 members. Rev. Mr. Van Vlecq remained only a few years in the region, and left America in 1715. After his de- parture the congregation at White Marsh became ex- tinct. In 1725 the congregation was reorganized by 40 EARLY HISTORY Rev. J. P. Boehm, with Mr. William Dewees as one of the consistory. This congregation never had a church. The services were held in the house of Mr. Dewees. He was an excellent, pious man. In 1710 he with Henry Antes established the second paper mill in this country on the west side of the Wissahickon creek. Rev. Mr. Boehm reported in 1744 that the people at White Marsh had as yet no church, but dur- ing all these years since the beginning had held their services in the house of Elder Wm. Dewees without charge. Of him Mr. Boehm says : '' That honest man cherishes a steadfast and pious hope that God will yet furnish means for a church." But his wish was not fulfilled. After Mr. Dewees' death the congregation was again dissolved, and the members united with the congregations at Witpen (now Boehm's) and German- town. After 1800 the congregation in White Marsh was once more revived, and is now located at Fort Washington, with Rev. C. A. Santee as pastor. The congregation at Falkner Swamp was organized in 1720, and its history was not interrupted to this day. The Frankfort Company purchased 22,377 acres of land from William Penn in what is now the northern part of Montgomery and the southern part of Berks county. This tract extended from the Schuyl- kill river to Pennsburg. In the year 1700 Daniel Falkner was made one of the company's agents to sell this land to settlers. The region south of Boyertown was largely meadow land, and the district received the name Falkner's Swamp, by which it is still known. The congregation was always exclusively Reformed. OF THE REFOEMED CHUP.CH. 41 Its first church was erected between 1739 and 1743, according to the reports of Rev. Mr. Boehm, the first pastor. It was a frame building, the first one of that kind we read of up to that time. There was a debt of 60 pounds resting upon it. The congregation at Skippack was organized, as is supposed, in the same year as the one in Falkuer Present Falknep Swamp Chupeh Swamp, in 1720. According to the report of Rev. Mr. Boehm of 1739, a log church was erected about 1727, after the people had worshiped and Rev. J. P. Boehm had preached to them in private houses during seven years. The church was dedicated June 22, 1729. Sin- gularly and unfortunately Jacob ReifF, one of the mem- 4 42 EARLY HISTORY bers, had the lot upon which ^the church was erected transferred to his name. This led to strife and confusion, and eventually to the dissolution of the congregation. Mr. ReifF locked the church against Rev. Mr. Boehm, the regular pastor. Each had his friends, and there were two parties. Mr. Reiff had made a journey to Europe in 1730 with Rev. G. M. Weiss to collect money for the congregations at Skippack and Philadel- phia. Upon his return in 1732 he refused to render an account of his collections, and this was the begin- ning of the trouble. Reiff permitted other ministers to preach in the church on his land. Rev. Mr. Boehm was compelled to reorganize the congregation and to purchase some land a short distance south of Skippack, upon which about 1762 the first Wentz church was erected. The log church at Skippack stood a short distance east of the place. It was demolished in 1760. The graveyard was not kept up, and the ground under which the first settlers are resting is now farm land. These three congregations. White Marsh, Falkner Swamp and Skippack, composed the original pastoral charge of Rev. John Philip Boehm when he entered upon his ministry in 1725, at the earnest request of the people. But his labors were not long confined to these congregations. His ministrations were soon de- manded from all directions, and he preached at many points — Philadelphia, Tulpehocken, Cocalico, Cone- stoga, etc. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 43 EARLY CHURCHES. Dariug a number of years the first Reformed con- gregations had no churches. They worshiped in pri- vate houses, because they were unable to erect churches. This applies particularly to the congregations at Falk- ner Swamp, Skippack, White Marsh, Philadelphia, Lancaster, etc. The people could not even pay any considerable amount for the support of pastors. The three former congregations were organized between 1720 and 1725, but in 1730 only Skippack had a church, and this one was locked against the regular congregation. In this year the consistories appealed to the Classis of Amsterdam for aid. They say that there should be a church for each congregation. When churches were erected later, oppressive debts were in- curred in connection with some of them. With few exceptions all of the first churches in Pennsylvania were log buildings. It was most natu- ral that they should be erected of such material, be- cause logs were plenty. They were about the only thing of which the early settlers had plenty. Natu- rally these first churches were small. Large buildings were not needed. The membership was small. In 1728 the representatives of Rev. Mr. Boehm's first charge in their appeal to the Classis of Amsterdam 44 E.\RLY H [STORY state that the membership of Falkner Swamp was odIj 24 males, Skippack 20 and White Marsh 14, and these were scattered over a territory of over sixty miles. The churches were not only small, but also uncomfort- able, but the people were satisfied, only so they had a place of worship. The church in Philadelphia was opened for wor- ship in December, 1746, but it had as yet no windows and was not yet plastered. In this open, unheated building the people sat and listened to long sermons. The church was octagonal in form, that is, it had six corners. The preachers in this church were Revs. Michael Schlatter, John C. Steiner, W. H. Stoy, Fred. Rothenbiihler, Casper Weyberg and others. The church was surmounted by a weather-vane in the form of a rooster. In the Hill church, near Lebanon, the people for a number of years sat upon rude logs in an unfinished church to worship God. Afterwards, during the In- dian war, some of the members stood guard on the outside, whilst others were worshiping inside. The first church at Falkner Swamp, the oldest con- gregation in continued existence, was a frame building, erected in the early part of the year 1740, although the congregation had been started in 1720. And when the church had been erected, there was a debt of 60 pounds on hand. The Reformed congregation in Lancaster had an organization in 1727. Rev. J. P. Boehm administered the first communion there on Oct. 15, 1727, to 59 per- sons. The first log church was erected in 1736. OF THE EEFOEMED CHURCH. 45 The first church Id Reading was a small log build- ing. In the beginning there was neither floor nor stove in the church. There was a small bell above the roof, which was rung by means of a rope from the outside. The little church was erected in 1755, and used until 1761, when a much larger stone church was erected. In this little log church Rev. Philip J. Michael, W. H. Stoy, John Waldschmid and other early ministers preached. The early churches were not erected after any par- ticular style of architecture, any more than the homes Fipst Church in Reading. of the settlers. The latter were the plainest kind of log huts, and the churches were not very much differ- ent. It would be quite interesting to see some inside views of these early churches, but none are in exist- ence. The inside finish was of course of the most prim- itive kind. Instead of pews there were benches. The pulpit was of course of the plainest kind also. The later churches had so-called wine-glass pulpits — that is, the pulpits stood upon pedestals and had the general form of a goblet, with sounding boards above them. " Goblet-formed, half up the wall, The sounding-board above, with acorn crowned." 46 EARLY HISTORY There was room in them for only one man, and there were narrow stairways leading into them. The altars and chancel railings were also small and very plain. Some of these later churches were finely finished, that is, for those times. Thus the second church in Read- ing, erected in 1761, is said to have had much wood carving in its finishing. Nearly all the early Reformed churches were sur- mounted by weather-vanes having the form of roost- ers. Such was the case of the first churches in Phila- delphia, Reading, Oley, Hain's, etc. This form of weather-vane was borrowed from Holland. It was generally used by Reformed churches in that country, and was introduced here because of the supervision of the Reformed Church in Holland over the churches in Pennsylvania. The rooster weather-vane of the second Oley church, erected in 1754, is still in possession of the congregation. It contained the names of the build- ing committee — John Lesher (wdio had donated the land in 1734), Casper Griesemer and Gabriel Boyer. — Because of the rooster weather-vane on top of Hain's church, erected in 1730, the church was often called ^' the rooster church.'' — The weather-vane on the church in Reading was the cause of a ludicrous incident. On one occasion two ladies were passing along Washing- ton street. One of them was superstitions. When opposite the Reformed church she was somewhat agi- tated and said to her companion : '^ They say that when that rooster on the church once crows, the world will come to an end." But the rooster never crowed, and the w^orld still stands. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 47 Some of the first churches had bells, others not. Id 1746 the congregation at Lancaster purchased a bell and a clock for 60 pounds, and erected a steeple. It took some time to erect the steeple, and meanwhile the bell was hung upon a hickory tree near Centre square, and rung there for service until the steeple w^as com- pleted. It U claimed that the tree was the one under which the Indians held a council. There is a tradition that during the Indian troubles between 1755 and 1762 when on one occasion the hostile Indians ap- proached " Hickorytown,'^ as Lancaster was originally called, a woman rushed into the Reformed church and rang the bell, which gave the alarm to the people. In tlie steeple of the Reformed church at Boyer- town hangs the old bell wdiich was cast in England in 1763, and used on the first court house in Reading until 1841. It is not now^ in use, but kept as a sacred relic of the past. During the American Revolution a number of Re- formed churches were taken possession of by the au- thorities and used as hospitals, such as those in Phila- delphia, Reading, Easton, Boehm's in Montgomery county, Vincent in Chester county and other places. The church in Reading thus used was the stone church building erected in 1761, being the second house of worship of the congregation. The Reformed church in Easton was erected in 1776, the second year of the great struggle. This church is still standing, and is the oldest public building in Easton. It is the only Reformed church used as a hospital still standing. There were no regular hospitals at the time, and there was much suffering among the wounded and sick 48 EARLY HISTORY soldiers. A considerable number of soldiers died in the Reformed churches, and were buried in the grave- yards attached, the burial services being conducted by the Reformed pastors. Churches of other denomina- tions were used in the same way. There were three churches in Reading — Reformed, Lutheran and Qua- ker — and all were used as hospitals. Naturally the churches were considerably injured, but there was no complaint made, because the people were willing to make sacrifices for the cause of their country. The people of the towns also aided in nursing the sick and wounded. Whilst the churches named, with some others, were used as hospitals, the Reformed church at German- town was used as a prison by the British during the battle there on October 4, 1777. A number of Vir- ginians who had been captured in battle were confined in the church. One of the remarkable facts in connection with the location of the early churches is that with rare excep- tions none of them became centers of population. The present churches stand isolated in the country as did the first houses of worship. Only in a few instances did villages spring up around them. This appears strange. We cite the following instances of isolated churches — Falkner Swamp, Wentz's, BoehmV, New and Old Goshenhoppen and Indian Creek in Mont- gomery county ; Host, Hain's, North Heidelberg, Blue Mountain, Bethel, Belleman's, Bern, Alsace, St. Pe- ter's, Maxatawny, Longswamp, Hill, Oley, Allegheny and Robeson in Berks county ; Tulpehocken, Swatara, OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 49 Hill and Miihlbach in Lebaoou county ; Bethany, Hel- ler^s, Muddy Creek, Swamp and Kissel Hill in Lancas- ter county ; Lehigh, Salisbury, Heidelberg, Ziegel, Old Lynntown, Egypt, etc., in Lehigh county ; Dryland, Petersville, Plainfield, etc., in Northampton county. 50 EARLY HISTORY 9. EARLY CHURCH DEBTS. Church debts are not a modern thing. There were heavy debts resting upon the little log and frame churches erected in eastern Pennsylvania before 1750. But the difference between those early debts and many of those of our day is that then the people were all quite poor and really could not pay as they went, whilst many church debts of the present time are the result of spiritual pride and vanity. The people 150 years ago and before that time had no markets and practically no income. Now things are different. Now congregations vie with each other in erecting elaborate churches, and then mortgage the bene violence of a whole generation to pay them. One of the leading motives in this extravagance is the fact that others do the same. These remarks do not apply to small and jioor con- gregations which naturally must build for the future. There are still some instances that are largely similar to those of early times, and moderate church debts are justifiable. Let us refer to some instances of early church debts. We may learn something from them. We should learn to appreciate the struggles of our fathers to establish the Reformed Church in this then new OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 51 country. Most o^ the early settlers in the Rhine coun- try formerly had comfortable houses of worship, but these were in many instances destroyed by the religious wars which cursed the beautiful Rhine country. Many of their homes had also been destroyed. With sad hearts they left the homes of their birth and settled in this new western world. Here they had to make a new beginning in everything. First of all they had to erect little log cabins to shelter their families. For a considerable time they could not have any churches. Before 1700 there was not a single house of worship in Berks county. For a long time the people met in private houses and barns for worship. Gradually the people erected churches, but in many instances debts were left to rest upon them. Revs. Boehm and Schlatter tell us about some of these early church debts. In 1744 Mr. Boehm reports that the people at Falk- ner Swamp had erected a frame church, but owed nearly 60 pounds upon it, or about §160 in Pennsylvania money. That was a considerable debt for the people at that time. The first Reformed church in Philadelphia was com- menced in 1745. Rev. John P. Boehm laid the corner- stone. In 1748 he says that the church was erected upon a beautiful, but also very expensive lot, for which the money had been borrowed. The work proceeded very slowly for the lack of money. Presently Rev. Mr. Schlatter was made pastor, and then the work was pushed rapidly and a large debt incurred. When the church was completed the whole debt amounted to over 52 EARLY HISTORY 600 pounds, besides their own contributions. When tlie debt had become burdensome the people blamed Mr. Schlatter for it. I'hey claimed that he had directed the work and promised to write to Switzerland and elsewhere for money, but no money came, and the peo- ple were in a tight place. Church debts in those days were a more serious matter than such are now, because people could be imprisoned for debt. (See next para- graph.) In 1750, at the time of th • split of the con- gregation into the Schlatter and Steiner factions, the debt was 800 pounds. The contest was decided in favor of the Schlatter party, which had to pay the debt. It had become a heavy burden. One of the early pastors of the Philadelphia congre- gation was Rev. Fred. Rothenbiihler, who was called in July of 1762. But he was intemperate, and soon there was trouble. The consistory, after securing evi- dence, resolved to dismiss him. He had some friends who withdrew with him, and organized a new congre- gation. They erected a church on Fourth street, the cost of which far exceeded their expectations. In con- sequence of a large debt a number of the members were thrown into prison. When their friends, looking through the windows, inquired why they had been put to jail, they simply replied : '^ For building a church." To go to jail for building a church became a proverb in the city. It would probably be well if there were some law now to restrain people from building expen- sive churches and going deeply into debt. Tlie first church of the Boehm congregation in Montgomery county is supposed to have been erected OF THE BEFORMED CHURCH. 53 in 1740. Rev. Mr. Boehm had during a number of years preached in his own house nearby. The place was then called Whitpen. Mr. Boehm reports that the church was 27 feet wide and 30 feet long. It could not be completed for years for the lack of money. Mr. B. had collected 40 pounds for this purpose, but the church uncompleted had cost 70 pounds, and more than 50 pounds more was needed to finish it. Mr. Boehm says : '' We will use the church as it is, as we have done all summer, and sit on the floor and wooden benches rather than make debts ; for if we should make debts I would have to suifer for it.'^ Many a pastor of the present day knows what the latter sentence means When church debts begin to press the mem- bers, the pastor is the first one to feel it. The interest must be paid, and then the pastor's salary is not paid regularly. The first church at Host, Berks county, was a frame building, with a debt of 60 pounds upon it. Christ Tulpehocken church had a debt of 30 pounds upon it. The first Reformed church in Reading was erected in 1755. It was a small log building. It is said that there was neither stove nor floor in it. It was used only six years. In 1761 a stone church of consider- able size was erected at a cost of about §1300. This caused a considerable debt. The church was not fin- ished inside. The walls were left bare. The debt was paid in 1775, when the church was completed and an- other debt incurred, which was not fully paid until 1814. Other instances could be cited, but it would only be a repetition of the same story. The people then did 64 EA.RLY HISTORY what they could, but they simply did not possess the means to erect churches and pay for them. But they had a zeal for the house of God. There was no extrav- agance in building churches. People were glad if they could erect plain houses of worship. OF THE EEFORMED CHUKCH. 55 10. FIRST CONSTITUTION OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. In receut years the Reformed Church has spent much time and money in the effort to adopt a new con- stitution in place of the one hitherto in force, which was adopted in the year 1846, over fifty years ago. It win be interesting to read about the first constitution of the Reformed Church in this country. In 1725 Rev. John P. Boehm, one of the first Re- formed ministers in Pennsylvania, commenced his min- istry. In this year he formulated a constitution. This instrument was approved by all the elders and the three congregations then constituting his pastoral charge — Falkner Swamp, Skippack and White Marsh. It was revised by the three Dutch Reformed ministers of New York who had ordained Mr. Boehm — Revs., George DuBois, Vincent Antonides and Henry Boel. It was then sent to the Fathers in Holland and ap- proved by them. This constitution was then adopted by a number of other congregations in Pennsylvania — Conestoga and Tulpehocken in 1727, Philadelphia in 1734, and Oley in 1736. (Goshenhoppen and Ger- mantown refused because they were under the influ- ence of the opponents of Boehm.) After the Coetus had been organized, Boehm's con- stitution was read and carefully considered at the sec- 56 EARLY HISTORY oncl meeting of that body io 1748. It was adopted by the Coetus as the coostitution of the Reformed Church in the Unittd States. Originally the constitution was framed for the use of the Falkner Swamp, Skippack and White Marsh congregations, the only ones in existence in 1725, and these constituted the pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Boehm. We herewith publish a synopsis of the con- stitution : The elders and deacons then iu office were recog- nized and served out their terms, when new ones were to be elected. The names of persons elected to the consistory shall be announced in church tiiree succes- sive Sundays, to afford an opportunity to present law- ful objections. If no objections are presented they shall be installed. The sacrament of baptism shall be administered without fee after divine service. Besides the parents witnesses shall be present. These shall be persons who have professed the pure doctrine of the gospel, and whose lives are blameless. The Holy Supper shall be administered twice a year in every congregation. No one shall be admitted thereto unless upon confession before the consistory, and evidence of a godly life, in accordance with the Church Order of the Synod of Dort of 1618 and 1619. All the members shall always appear at the prepara- tory sermon, and after the service come forward. In case they become careless in this matter, they shall be spoken to by the consistory. All the members may commune in each of the three congregations. OF THE EEFOEMED CHUECH. 57 The bread and the wine for the Holy Communion shall always be bought and provided by the deacons out of the alms that have been collected, and afterward they shall give a faithful account of the same. To meet this and other necessities of the church the alms shall always be gathered by the deacons w^hile the congregation leaves the church, or otherwise, as the consistory may direct. The members of the consistory, whether they be elders or deacons, to whom is entrusted the church treasury or other property, shall annually render before the consistory an exact account of their stewardship. For this purpose they shall keep a faithful record of all receipts and expenditures, and w^hen found correct the accounts shall be signed by the minister and an elder in behalf of all as approved. Should a member, male or female, fall into any sin, he shall be placed under the supervision of the consis- tory until he promise and give evidence of amendment of life. It shall be the office and duty of the minister to preach the pure doctrine of the Eeformed Church ac- cording to the Word of God, and to administer the holy seals of the Covenant at their appointed time and place; always to adhere to the confession of faith of the Reformed Church and to the Heidelberg Catechism ; to explain the same regularly and consecutively ; to hold catechetical instruction, etc. He shall give spe- cial attention to chnrch discipline and correct practice, together wdth those who have the oversight of the con- gregation . 5 58 EARLY HISTORY He shall also pray in the public congregation jfor our beloved King, the King of Great Britain, and for the Government of this country. Provision is made for the discipline of unfaithful members. The constitution cannot be changed unless proposed changes are submitted to the Classis of Am- sterdam, and by it approved. The constitution was read each year at the time of the installation of new officers, and before the act of installation the new officers were required to sign the constitution. As a whole this first constitution was an excellent instrument. It was carefully drawn and well worded. It is one of many evidences that the author. Rev. Mr. Boehm, who at the time of formulating it in 1725 was not yet a minister, but a school teacher, was a man of decided ability and a high degree of common sense. At the above meeting of the Coetus in 1748 it was resolved to publish and sell the constitution (Church Order, as it w^as called). Rev. Mr. Boehm was asked to superintend this work. It was one of the last acts of his life, for he died before the meeting of the next Coetus, viz., on April 29, 1749. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 59 u. SCARCITY OF MINISTERS. In the early history of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania there was a great scarcity of ministers, which was sad and painful. Many people had a real hunger for the Word of God and for the sacraments, but there was in many places no one to minister to them. We rarely now find such manifestations of a desire for the Word as was shown then. In his report of 1746 Rev. Mr. Schlatter states that most of the people hunger and thirst after faithful min- isters of God's Word. Mr. Schlatter says: ^^I have daily at my house people who come from far away and beg me to come and help them to organize. I have already received twelve letters from small and large congregations, of whom some are nearly 200 miles dis- tant from Philadelphia. Yea, there have already been to see me people from A^irginia, nearly 300 and more miles from here.'' These people asked Mr. Schlatter to come to them. They stated that there were many fine Reformed people in Virginia, who would gladly pay a minister, but they could get none. Because of the lack of ministers the people were in danger of being led astray by worthless and unfaithful persons who palmed themselves off as ministers. The Moravians made great efforts to draw the Reformed to 60 EARLY HISTORY themselves, and they succeeded to some extent. Mr. Schlatter in 1746 states that of those who had gone to the Moravians nearly one hundred had returned, and none were leaving the Reformed Church any more. In December, 1746, Mr. Schlatter wrote: "A few days ago a man named John Miller came to me and begged me with tears that I should come and baptize his wife and nine children. Four weeks ago I baptized four and three weeks ago six.'' Mr. S. says the people were ''as sheep without shepherds." He thinks they could be gathered together into flocks by faithful pas- tors and diligent school teachers, but the pastors were not to be had. The labors of the few ministers then here were very hard. There was much more snow then than now, and traveling in winter was very difficult, both on account of the snow and the swollen streams, over which there were no bridges. Ministers had to travel on horseback, and ford the streams at all times. There were but few roads, mostly only Indian trails. Schlat- ter says the ministers should live among their , people, because otherwise the latter could get but little service from them in winter. Besides, the ministers would almost " fret themselves to death" because they could not reach the people in winter. It is somewhat remarkable that in our days this same argument must be used — to have ministers reside among their people. But it cannot be said that '' min- isters almost fret themselves to death because they can- not reach the people," either in winter or summer. We here present the case of the Reformed people of York, Pa., as an example of the scarcity of ministers OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 61 150 years ago. They had been served by Rev. Jacob Lishy, but they had lost all confidence in him on ac- count of his bad character and his affiliation with the Moravians. He still had some adherents, but the great majority would have nothing to do with him. In a letter to the Holland Synod, dated April 25, 1754, the people state their lamentable condition. They had repeatedly implored the Coetus for a minister, but failed to secure one. Whilst Rev. Mr. Schlatter was in Europe in 1751 they were admonished to be patient, since it was expected that he would bring some minis- ters with him. When he returned in 1752, the York people were rejoiced to hear that six young ministers had come with him. But they were told to wait until the meeting of the Coetus in Lancaster. A number of them went to Lancaster to receive a minister, but the ministers of the Coetus quarreled over the question of allowing the elders to vote, and some of the ministers and elders withdrew from the meeting. The York people were told that all of the young men recently arrived had been assigned to places, and there was no one for them. They complained that they had ^' been fooled again.'^ This was resented by Schlatter. They then begged that some of the ministers should supply them alternately until they could secure a regular min- ister. They were told this could not be done, and it was suggested that they should be satisfied with Lishy. They finally begged that a minister should come to them and give them the communion, but even this request was not granted. The people went home dis- appointed and sad. 62 EARLY HISTORY The York people next attended a Coetus meeting at Goshenhoppen, and again presented their petition. The Coetus was again divided^ and nothing was done. The next Coetus was held at Cocalico (Bethany), Pa., and the York people were again on hand to press their petition for a minister. It was resolved that they should have a new minister. Rev. Mr. Frankenfeld was elected and a call sent to him, and he accepted the same. The people were now glad, but only to be dis- appointed anew. Mr. Frankenfeld did not come, and they never learned the real cause of it. They supposed it was because his congregation would not let him go. It was to take Lishy in exchange, which it refused to do. The people at York w^ere now more disappointed and discouraged than ever. In their letter to the Hol- land brethren they say : " Thus we have to remain in our sad condition, unless you and the Almighty God come to our assistance. Most of us have not received the Holy Supper for six or seven years. You can easily judge how many young people have grown up in our midst who ought to be received into the covenant of grace, which, however, cannot be done without a minister. May God have mercy upon us.'^ These York people were very eager to secure a minister, and they were by no means partial as to who it should be, only so it would be a man of good character. If peo- ple in our day would be as easy to please as they were, there would be no difficulty in settling pastors over all vacant charges. The condition of the York people was similar to that of many others. The above gives us an insight OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 63 into the painful conditions prevailing in Pennsylvania a hundred and fifty years ago. The people were truly as sheep without a shepherd. They were anxious to have a shepherd, but could find none. These Reformed people at York close their letter to the Holland brethren in the following beautiful manner : " Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting cove- nant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'' (Heb. 13 : 20.) In 1768 the Coetus received a piteous appeal from New Llineburg, Nova Scotia, where eighty families had been seventeen years without the preaching of the gospel and the sacraments. 64 EARLY HISTORY 12. CONFESSION OF EARLY REFORMED MINISTERS. When the Reformed Fathers in Holland sent Rev. Michael Schlatter to Pennsylvania to organize the scat- tered Reformed people into charges and settle pastors over them, and to organize them into a Coetus or Synod, they instructed him "that the members of the Coetus should sign the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of the ^National Synod of Dort of 1618 and 1619, declaring that they with heart and soul are de- voted to the same and will hold to them unalterably." The Coetus was organized in Philadelphia on Sept. 29, 1747, with 31 ministers and elders. The members met in the parsonage and then proceeded to the church in a body. It was a memorable occasion. It was the beginning of the organized existence of the Reformed Church in this country. Rev. John B. Rieger preached a sermon on the 133d Psalm. Rev. Michael Schlatter presided. At the second meeting of the Coetus the following declaration of faith was adopted : " We, the under- signed ministers in actual service in the Reformed con- gregations in Pennsylvania, having appeared at the appointed Coetus in Philadelphia on Sept. 28, 1748, together with the accompanying elders from our con- gregations, do hereby affirm that we are devoted heart OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. « 65 and soul to the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of the National Synod of Dort of 1618 and 1619, and that we shall unalterably hold to thera/' This declaration was then signed by Revs. John Philip Boehm, Michael Schlatter, John Philip Leydich, Dominicus Bartholomew and John Jacob Hochreutner ; and by seven elders. Rev. John B. Rieger declined to sign the paper, because he '^ felt some scruples about the articles of the Synod of Dort treating on predesti- nation in the sense of John Calvin.'^ The Holland Fathers wished to know whether the people whom they were expected to assi«^t with minis- ters and money were sound in the faith. The above declaration was satisfactory to them. 66 EARLY HISTORY 13. SPIRIT OF THE EARLY MINISTERS. From the numerous letters and reports of the early Keformed pastors in Pennsylvania we get a glimpse of their spirit. This refers primarily to the ministers who were included in the Coetus when this body had been organized. They had come to this country with the true missionary spirit, and they manifested a great deal of self-denial. They endured many privations. They were compelled to travel a vast deal and submit to great exposure. There were no bridges across streams and few real roads, little else than Indian trails through vast forests. Their income was very small. A number of the best men who labored here, like Revs. Boehm and Tempelman, supported them- selves and families by the labor of their hands — Mr. Boehm by tilling a farm in Montgomery county, and Mr. Tempelman as a tailor in Lebanon county. Then Mr. Boehm's labors were made more difficult by cer- tain unworthy men who acted from selfish motives. Notwithstanding their hard labors and unfavorable circumstances these early ministers in Pennsylvania were possessed of a beautiful Christian spirit. Their letters and reports are pervaded by a spirit of entire devotion to the cause. They speak constantly about the glory of God, the salvation of souls and the pure OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 67 Reformed doctrine. This was tiieir staodard, and they were willing to suffer for its sake. The Reformed Church owes her existence in this country largely to the fidelity of these men, few in number, who were faithful under trying and unfavorable circumstances. They deserve to be held in the highest esteem and grateful remembrance by the people of our day, who enjoy the fruits of their sowing and are building upon the foundations laid by them with great self-sacrifice. At the meeting of the Coetus at Lancaster in 1752 the ministers adopted a paper in which they solemnly pledged themselves to maintain the doctrines founded on the Synod of Dort in 161mod. Thirteen of the twenty-two ministers were present. Of the absent ones all except three had sent excuses. Thus the separation of the Reformed Church in the United States from the Church in Holland was now complete. The new Synod included 22 ministers, 178 congregations and about 15,000 communicant mem- bers. The number of the congregations shows the growth of the Church, which now entered upon a new era. 96 EARLY HISTORY 20. ELDERS AT COETUS. At the organization of the Coetus in 1747 there were present 27 elders and only four ministers. The Coetus always consisted of ministers and elders. At the second meeting in 1748 it was resolved that each elder coming to Coetus should present a certificate signed by all the members of the consistory. The cer- tificates were to be preserved for all time, so that no one might complain about what might be transacted. A form of certificate for elders was adopted, which con- tained the statement that whatever the elder, together with the pastor, would ''present, transact, resolve and subscribe (except what is contrary to our Reformed Church and doctrine),'^ should have as much value and force among them as if each one had been present and acted in like manner. In the course of time a dispute arose whether the elders should have a vote. The number of elders being so much larger than that of the ministers, it was feared the former might take matters into their own hands and outvote the ministers. Rev. Mr. Schlatter, who was the president of the Coetus during several years, was charged with having at one time allowed the elders to vote, and then again refused this right. But the fact was that he was acting under instructions from OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 97 Holland, and the blame rested with the Fathers there. In the course of time the elders always enjoyed the right of voting at all ecclesiastical meetings. In our time there is no danger of the elders outvoting the min- isters. There is one elder sent to Classis from each pastoral charge, but there are always some unemployed ministers and some who are engaged in other lines of work than the active pastorate (such as professors, edi- tors, officers of various boards, etc.), and all such have the right of voting. Besides, the charges are seldom all represented by elders. In the early days, as at present, it was difficult to have the elders remain until the close of the Coetus. In 1770 it is stated that some of them had been absent from home for more than a week, and some had to travel 80-100 miles to their homes. For this reason some were dismissed after the important business had been transacted. In our day elders do not like to remain long on account of their business. Some com- plain that the ministers ^' talk too much.^' The custom of asking the elders at the meetings of the Classes whether the ministers were faithfully per- forming their duties was introduced at an early date by the Coetus. The elders answered frequently with a frankness which would be surprising in these days. They often brought complaints of serious character against the ministers. Unfortunately the complaints were frequently in reference to the conduct of the pas- tors. These complaints and charges were investigated by the Coetus, and in some instances they were found to be either untrue or the result of misunderstandings. But at times they were only too true. 98 EARLY HISTORY In 1760 the elders of Rev. John Waldschmid stated that they were satisfied with his preaching, but desired that he might be more diligent in family visita- tion, and more prudent in his general conduct. In the same year it w^as reported that Rev. Mr. Stoy had kidnapped his w^ife, but an examination show^ed that it was a slander. Mr. Stoy was married in the presence of his wife's parents and three ministers. Rev. C. M. Stapel, of Amwell, N. J., took an orig- inal way of securing a wdfe. He arranged a lottery for the purpose. He prepared fifteen cards, upon which were the names of so many ladies, of whom one was to be selected as his wife. He asked the consistory to be a party to this scheme, but the record states that ^' no one w-as simple enough to fall in with his scheme." He even threatened to compel them by the aid of a justice. Two elders brought a complaint to Coetus in 1764. They stated that the minister passed his time partly in drinking, partly in thinking of the women and partly in practising medicine. We are not told whether this man secured a wife. In 1768 Elder William Bausman, in the name of 27 members of the church at Lancaster, made com- plaint before Coetus against Dr. William Hendel, the pastor, who in this year was president of the Coetus. The difficulty arose from the fact that Dr. Hendel was supplying the people at Pequea, and the matter was properly adjusted. In 1769 an elder complained that Rev. Mr. Witt- ner came late to church, neglected the instruction of the children and made no house visitations. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 99 In the same year complaint was made that Rev. Mr. Lange would not baptize a child unless he had been paid in advance, and that he had given the com- munion to unchaste persons. In 1790 Elder Sebastian Mueller, of Germantown, accused his pastor, Rev. Mr. Fahring, with having ^^ in a sly manner eloped with Mueller's daughter." The Coetus declared that although Rev. Mr. Fahring had some cause for his action, yet his way of entering into wedlock was very offensive and irregular. In 1771 Hain's church in Berkg county com- plained that Rev. John Waldschmid " had been some- what lazy and negligent." For this reason the church attendance had decreased. 100 EARLY HISTORY 21. "CENSURA MORUM." At the annual sessions of the Coetus one of the items of business was the ^^ Censura Worum." This Latin term means an investigation of the conduct of ministers. This examination was held without the presence of the elders. It was a kind of executive ses- sion. The ruinutes of 1755 tell us that this investiga- tion was held " in love, yet with earnestness, and it was continued from the oldest to the youngest minister, according to the Church Order." We are told further that the work was completed to the satisfaction of all. No serious complaints were preferred against any of the ministers. The record goes on to state : " May it now please our Master and Savior Jesus Christ to be- gin, continue and graciously complete in us His ^ cen- sura morum,' revealing the whole heart, so tliat in the future with holy fear we may walk circumspectly be- fore Jehovah's face in wisdom, and thus become wiser, humbler, more edifying, more useful and more Christ- like in thought, speech and act, and thus blessed, may learn to labor and be a blessing unto others.'^ These statements and facts give us an insight into the character of the early Reformed ministers. Whilst there were a number of unworthy ministers outside the Coetus, the character of those who were members of OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 101 this body was watched with zealous care. It would have been well had this practice been continued until the present time. It would have saved the Church from many scandals, as a result of the bad character of ministers. It would be a good practice in the present day. As it is, it is difficult to secure action when there is complaint against a minister. It is usually a deli- cate matter to bring charges, and the Classis will not take action in the absence of a plaintiff. It is true, it may take action upon a common rumor, but this is sel- dom done. The good character of the minister is so essential to his usefulness that great harm often results from official indiffi?rence in this matter. The several Methodist Churches have a form of business at their annual conferences which corresponds with the Censura Morum of the Reformed fathers. The character of each minister is inquired into. If we are correctly informed, such questions as these are asked : Is his moral character correct ? Does he pay his debts ? etc. We repeat, we believe this system to be a good one. In the absence of it official action is frequently delayed until much harm has been done. 102 EARLY HISTORY 22. METHOD OF VOTING. In our day we employ several methods of voting in meetings — acclamation, ballot and rising. In Switz- erland it has been the custom to vote by '^ meer" — raising the right hand. In this way Rev. Michael Schlatter, who was a Swiss by birth, took the vote of the people in 1746 in Pennsylvania on the subject of accepting his plan of organizing congregations into pas- toral charges. In this way he had the Reformed peo- ple of Philadelphia on September 18, 1746, vote upon three questions : 1. Whether they desired to have a regular and settled pastor, who should preach every Sunday. 2. Whether they would grant him a fixed salary and pay it regularly. 3. Whether they would support a minister jointly with the congregation at Germantown. All the questions were decided unanimously in the affirmative by '^ meer'^ — raising of hands. Mr. Schlat- ter then at once asked the people to sign their names to a subscription list, with the amount each one was wil- ling to give per year towards pastor's salary. Sixty- nine persons subscribed 30 pounds, or |80. Besides this Mr. Schlatter asked that sixteen men pledge them- selves to see that the above amount would be paid an- nually without fail. This was done. OF THE EEFORMED CHURCH. 103 In the afternoon of the same clay Mr. Schlatter went to Germautowu and had the Reformed people there vote upon the same questions as had been done in the morning in Philadelphia, that is, also by " meer," raising of hands. The plan was adopted unanimously, and some sixty men subscribed 25 pounds, about $66. In this way Philadelphia and Germantown were united into a pastoral charge in 1746. On a later occasion Mr. Schlatter employed a dif- ferent method of voting. During the controversy in the church in Philadelphia on one occasion during the service he asked those who were in favor of him to put on their hats. This was a novel way of taking a vote. It is generally customary that in case of a tie the president casts the deciding vote. Otherwise the pres- ident does not vote. The Coetus of 1756 decided that in case of a tie vote the president shall cast a double vote. 104 EARLY HISTORY 23. EARLY CHURCH QUARRELS. The Cliiirch on earth is called the Church militant, because she is fighting against satan and sin. But it sometimes happens that church members fight against each other. In such conflicts the common enemy is usually forgotten. We believe that if it is possible for satan to laugh, he does so when Christians fight each other. Church fights are the result of human weak- ness, and are deplorable. A vast deal of harm is done by them. The first quarrel in the Reformed Church in Penn- sylvania occurred at Skippack about the year 1727 or 1728. A Reformed congregation had been organized in 1725, and Rev. John P. Boehm was the pastor. All went well until the arrival of Rev. Geo. M. Weiss from Europe on October 2, 1727. Weiss at once opposed Rev. Mr. Boehm on the ground that he was not or- dained and had no right to serve as a minister. The result was two parties. In 1727 a small log church was erected at Skippack on land which Mr. Jacob ReiiF owned. Great strife existed between the two parties. On March 10, 1728, Rev. AVeiss and his party debarred Rev. Boehm from the use of the church, and Mr. B. thereafter for some years preached in pri- vate houses. OF THE REFOBMED CHURCH. 105 In order to allay the opposition to Mr. Boehm on account of his not being ordained, he was by order of the Fathers in Holland ordained by a committee of- Dutch ministers in New York on Nov. 23, 1729. Rev. Mr. AVeiss was present, and he and Mr. Boehm were reconciled, and Mr. Weiss in writing promised to re- main away from Skippack and not to interfere with any of Boehm's congregations. But he was not sin- cere, for he continued to oppose him at Skippack and elsewhere as before. The feud was aggravated by the refusal of Mr. ReifFto account for the money which he had collected in Europe for Skippack and Philadelphia in 1730-32. (See Chapter on Money not Going to the Right Place.) Finally after preaching a long time in private houses Rev. Mr. Boehm upon his own responsibility pur- chased a tract of land a short distance below Skippack, upon which the church known as Wentz's church was erejted in 1762. Mr. Boehm's party had been reor- ganized into a congregation a few years before. Reiff's party continued for some years to worship in the origi- nal log church, but finally disbanded, and the church was demolished in 1760. Thus ended the first church quarrel. The second church quarrel occurred in the congre- gation in Philadelphia in 1749, and continued a long time. Rev. Michael Schlatter was the pastor. Some difficulty arose between him and the consistory. The probability is that this would have subsided had not the newly-arrived Rev. John C. Steiner come upon the scene and taken a hand in it. Mr. Steiner came to 8 106 EAELY HISTORY Pennsylvania in September of 1749, and was received with the greatest kindness by Eev. Mr. Schlatter. He was to have become the pastor of the congregation at Lancaster, and had accepted their call. It had already been arranged to ,'send horse from Lancaster to con- vey Mr. Steiaer from j Philadelphia to that place. But he was taken ill, and 'upon his recovery remained in Philadelphia. There is no doubt that his presence en- couraged the opponents of Schlatter. The consistory undertook to dismiss ^Mr. Schlatter on October 5, 1749. The congregation protested in a statement which was signed by eighty members. The consistory was de- posed and a new one elected. Mr. Schlatter, rather than have a quarrel, was disposed to withdraw, but his friends insisted^that he remain. The matter was in- vestigated by the Coetus on October 21, 1749, and their decision was unanimously in favor of Mr. Schlat- ter. The decision was signed by the members of the Coetus, including Mr. Steiner. But the old consistory ignored the Coetus, and maintained its position. It now created a scandal by circulating unfavorable re- ports about the early character of Mr. Schlatter in Europe. Mr. Steiner has been credited with bringing the facts upon which the*accusation was based to the notice of Mr. Schlatter's opponents. These opponents now elected Rev. Mr. Steiner as pastor, and the result] was two factions, each one hav- ing a pastor at its head, and there was much strife. It is reported that 110 members adhered to Schlatter and 140 to Steiner. One published report states that Mr. Steiner entered the pulpit on a Saturday evening OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 107 and remained in it all night, ?o as to be sure to hold it on Sunday morning. Another report says that one of the pastors entered the church on a Saturday evening and remained in it all night. Matters came to a point on Sunday, January 14, 1750, when both parties tried to hold services. There was much disputing. When one minister tried to preach or pray, his opponents commenced to sing. This was kept up for about two hours. A published report of this meeting states that it " was a scandal in the eyes of the negroes and heathen.'^ Finally both parties became tired of the contro- versy and appealed to Thomas Lawrence, mayor of the city, William Allen, recorder, and Benjamin Shoe- maker, an alderman, to aid them in adjusting their dif- ficulties. These three gentlemen, after considering the matter, suggested that the whole trouble should be submitted to a committee of six impartial gentlemen. Both parties accepted this proposition, and agreed to close the church pending a settlement. A committee was appointed, which on March 6, 1750, decided in favor of Rev. Mr. Schlatter and his friends, and thus ended the second serious congregational quarrel in the Reformed Church of Pennsylvania. The Steiner party wanted neither judges, ministers or lawyers on the committee. They claimed that the judges were too high, the ministers could not be impar- tial and the lawyers were not conscientious enough. Some thirty persons were proposed. Finally six men were agreed upon. One of them was an Episcopalian and five of them were Quakers, and all were business 108 EARLY HISTORY men. They were : William Clyner, ThoDias Lord, Hugh Roberts, John Mifflin, John Smith and Abel James. After deliberating about three weeks, the com- mittee on March 6, 1750, decided unanimously in favor of Mr. Schlatter and his party. Mr. Schlatter's char- acter was vindicated. The old consistory was directed to convey the church property on Sassafras (Race) street to the Schlatter party, and the latter was to as- sume the debt of 800 pounds. It was also directed that all law suits be discontinued by the plaintiffs in each case. Some persons had been prosecuted. The names of the creditors were given, together with the amounts due each. The largest creditor was William Allen, esq., whose claim was 600 pounds. Benjamin Loxley was entitled to 96 pounds. The other amounts were small. The Steiner party had pressed its charges against the moral character of Schlatter. In reply it was ar- gued that these charges were " superannuated'^ (out- lawed, too old), and the example of Christ's action in the case of the women taken in adultery was cited. But the Steiner party replied " that the woman had not been a minister." The committee of six did not charge anything for their services, but they directed that each party in the case should pay one-half of the board bill. We have no means of knowing how much this amounted to, but since five of the committee were Quakers, we may be certain that it was moderate and did not include any items for cigars, . champagne, whiskey, etc., like the bills of modern investigation committees on the part of the Legislature or Congress. OP THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 109 The unfortunate controversy had become a public scandal. Saur's paper published several articles on the subject. From them it appears that then already there were people like many in our day, who greatly enjoyed church quarrels. Mr. Saur was charged with being one-sided. Rev. Richard Peters,, an Episcopal clergyman, who was secretary of the Penns and of the governor of Pennsylvania, examined the case carefully in the interest of religion, and published a statement on April 6, 1750. He exonorated Rev. Mr. Schlatter completely, and declared that he was severely slan- dered. Mr. Peters says that the enemies of Schlatter ^' had ingratiated themselves into the good opinion of a very malignant and credulous printer called Saur, of Germantown, and persuaded him to publish their vile, malignant and scandalous statement of a part of their case.'^ Mr. Peters states further that he advised Mr. Schlatter and his friends not to reply to the statements published in Saur's paper. Rev. Mr. Steiner and his party now withdrew from the congregation, organized another one and erected a church on Race street. The result was two weak con- gregations. Mr. Steiner served the new congregation about two years, when he resigned on account of insuf- ficient support. He was succeeded by Rev. John C. Rubel, one of the six young men whom Mr. Schlatter brought from Europe in 1752. In 1755 the Coetus undertook to reunite both par- ties. Both Mr. Schlatter and Mr. Rubel agreed to resign and withdraw, which they did. They preached their farewell sermons on April 27, 1755. 110 EARLY HISTORY Singularly in 1759 the reunited congregation once more called Rev. John C. Steiner, the former rival of Rev. Mr. Schlatter, to the pastorate. He was now more successful and labored with acceptance until his death three years later, on July 6, 1762, at the early age of 55 years. He was buried in the graveyard in what is now Franklin Square. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. Ill 24. CHARETY SCHOOLS. The early settlers of Pennsylvania and founders of the Keformed Church were poor. They had been poor before they left the Fatherland along the Rhine in Germany. During the frequent wars their homes were devastated and their property destroyed. Many had only enough to pay their passage across the ocean, and others were sent over as objects of charity. After their arrival they had their hands full in establishing humble homes and clearing land for the support of their families. Under these circumstances they could do very lit- tle to establish schools for the instruction of the chil- dren. Here and there a few schools were started by congregations at an early day, but these were not suffi- cient for the Avidely scattered people. In consequence many children grew up in ignorance. It was a sad condition. This was one of the complaints in the ap- peals of our fathers for help. In the year 1746 Rev. Michael Schlatter was by the Reformed Church of Holland sent to Pennsylvania to organize and aid the Reformed people. In the next year, 1747, he organized the Coetus or Classis. He traveled over 8000 miles from 1747 to 1751 in serving the people. In 1751 the Classis sent him to Europe to 112 EARLY HISTORY represent the destitute condition of the Reformed peo- ple to their brethren in Holland, Germany and other states. He made a pathetic appeal in behalf of the people, and met with a generous response. A con- siderable sum was raised to establish schools and to aid congregations. Mr. Schlatter returned to Pennsyl- vania in 1752 and brought six young ministers with him. The work of raising money to establish schools among the Germans in Pennsylvania was continued in England and Scotland. In November, 1753, Mr. Schoolhouse at Reading, Pa. Schlatter again went to Europe in the interest of the school movement. A society had been formed in Lon- don to further the plan. A superintendent of the schools was needed, and the society elected Mr. Schlat- ter on April 20, 1754. Accordingly he resigned as a pastor of the Reformed Church and commissioner of the Holland Synods on May 14, 1754. Rev. Mr. Schlatter returned to Pennsylvania on September 28, 1754, and soon after set to work to or- OF THE REFOEMED CHUECH. 113 ganize schools. A number of prominent men of Penn- sylvania were appointed as trustees of the schools. Charity schools were established at Reading, Lancaster, York, Easton, New Hanover, Skippack and other places. The one in Reading was organized by Mr. (Schlatter on March 5, 1755. Considerable good was done by the schools, but they fell far short of expecta- tions. On the whole they may be called a failure. The support expected from Europe was small and slow in coming. A large part of the money collected abroad w^as there invested and only the income sent here. By and by the people became disgusted, and some refused the small support allowed them. There were several reasons for this. One was that the peo- ple in Pennsylvania had been represented in England (not by Schlatter) as being very ignorant and next to barbarians. William Parsons in a letter addressed to Secretary Peters, under date of October 18, 1754, re- ferring to the Pennsylvania Germans in what he calls the back settlements, says : " I am sometimes ready to question whether it be men or brutes that these gener- ous benefactors (Englishmen) are about to civilize.'^ Some Englishmen feared that such people, unless edu- cated, would become dangerous to the English interests in Pennsylvania. In the second place the German settlers were made to believe that the British sup- ported the schools for the purpose of introducing the English language arbong the people here. This view is supported by a statement of Dr. William Smith, head of the academy in Philadelphia, in a letter to Rev. S. Chandler, of London, dated May 30, 1754. 114 EAIIL.Y HISTORY He says it was a wise thing to teach the English lan- guage to the Germans in order to unite them with the cause of England, and to prevent them from being allied with the French. He thought this was one of the most useful efforts which the British could make. The Germans were very jealous of their language, and were easily aroused upon this point. Mr. Saur, the editor of the only German paper published here then, led off in circulating this view of the matter. During this agitation Rev. Mr. Schlatter received a large share of abuse, because some believed that he was playing into the hands of the English government. It was all wrong, but when -people are once aroused they do not stop long to consider the right or wrong of a matter. In this way the usefulness of Mr. Schlatter was greatly impaired. The charity schools as such came to an end about 1759, when the last foreign support was given. Some of the congregations now undertook the support and management of the schools themselves, and continued them a long time. The one in Reading was 'continued until near the middle of the last century, until the death of the last teacher, John Roland, who died in 1849, after having served over fifty years. The school- house, which had been erected in 1776 at the corner of Seventh and Washington streets, was sold in 1850. Only one of the scholars of this school is still living, Mr. John F. Moers, of Reading. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 115 25. PASTORAL SUPPORT. The early ministers before and during the Coetal period had a very meagre support. The people were very poor and had but little money. They did what they could to support the ministers, but they lacked the ability. Rev. John P. Boehm preached at a num- ber of places from 1720 to 1725, and received only about §200. He never received anything like a living salary, and supported his family largely by labor on his farm. Rev. Michael Schlatter reported, at the close of his work, that he had not only expended all he ever received, but also $1000 which his mother had given him. The early Reformed ministers almost without exception were not only poor, but many really suffered from want. There are frequent complaints on this account. The ministers practised great self-denial in preaching the gospel, and frequently endured severe hardships. At the request of Rev. P. H. Dorsius, the Dutch Reformed minister in Bucks county, who was at the time serving as a kind of overseer of the German Re- formed churches in Pennsylvania for the Holland Synods, Rev. John P. Boehm during the months of January, February and March of 1740 made a special tour of the congregations to ascertain what each one 116 EARLY HISTORY was willing to contribute annually for the support of pastors. On March 30, 1740, Mr. Boehm made a full report to Mr. Dorsius. The pledges were signed by the elders and deacons. The congregations promised to contribute the following amounts for the support of ministers sent by the Holland Synods. We give the names as they were then spelled : Falckner Schwam, 10 pounds in money and 20 bushels of oats. Schip Bach, 10 pounds in money and 20 bushels of oats. Oley, 10 pounds, 20 bushels of oats. Maxadani, 4 pounds. Gagushi, no resolution. Dolpihacke, 15 pounds, 50 bushels of oats. Canastocka, called Cocolica, 6 pounds, 20 bushels of oats. Bergkirche, 8 pounds, 25 bushels of oats. Lancaster, 15 pounds. Philadelphia, 10 pounds. Germandon, including Weitmarge, 10 pounds. New Goshenhoppen, 10 pounds. Grosse Schwam, 5 pounds. Saconkrik, 5 pounds. Total, 123 pounds in money and 165 bushels of oats. A pound was worth about $2.60 in Pennsyl- vania money. The people promised so much oats because they could spare that better than money. They raised con- siderable oats, but could not readily turn it into money. Besides the ministers could use the oats as feed for OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 117 their horses. (Id the early history of Virginia the sal- aries of ministers were largely paid in tobacco.) The people at White Marsh state that they were very weak in numbers and poor, and would unite with Germantown. At a meeting of the Reformed congregation at Lan- caster on January 28, 1750, it was resolved ^^ that the pastor (Rev. Ludwig F. Vock) shall for the year re- ceive 40 pounds in cash, Pennsylvania currency. For proclamation and marriage he shall receive 7 shillings and 6 pence. For preaching a funeral sermon, from those who are able, 5 shillings. For baptizing chil- dren he shall receive nothing. In addition to this the pastor shall be furnished with a free dwelling house ; also six cords of wood. He shall also have four Sab- baths free to preach at other places, viz., the first Sab- bath after Easter, the first after AVhitsuntide, on St. Michael's Day and on Sabbath after New Year.'' Wood was frequently a part of the pastor's salary. Such was the case with the pastors at Reading until a comparatively recent date. In 1842 the call to Rev. J. C. Bucher included '' §600 in money, the use of a house, sufficient fire wood for his family, the services of a physician and expenses for moving to Reading." In 1848 Rev. A. S. Leinbach, when called to Reading, was promised $500 in money, a house rent free and the free service of a physician. The Coetus frequently complained to the Fathers in Holland on account of their insufficient support. In 1764 the Coetus pleaded with the Fathers in Hol- land for increased support and five or six more minis- 118 EARLY HISTORY ters, and stated that if their request was denied they would have to abandon the Coetus. Besides the pov- erty of the people, they svere not well organized, and some, who were renters, moved around a good deal. The ministers also had to wait a long time for the small amounts which Avere given them. The allow- ances from Holland were under these circumstances most helpful, and were gratefully received. The salaries of ministers were fixed in Holland at 450 Dutch guilders per year. This was equivalent to 67 J pounds sterling (English money), or $170 Penn- sylvania money. In 1765 the members of the Coetus in their report to Holland state that 450 florins is " too little to live on, and too much to die.'^ In 1766 Rev. ^ J. G. Alsentz, of Germantown, used the same expres- sion in reference to himself. During the Revolution the .ministers, like other people, suffered severely through the depreciation of the paper money issued by Congress. Good money the people had none, and the paper money had but little value. Paper money was issued in such amounts that it gradually became entirely worthless. Rev. Stahl- schmid complained ^' that there were thousands of dol- lars due him on his salary, but as sixty or seventy paper dollars were equivalent to only one silver dollar, he could for all this money scarcely procure a new coat for himself.'^ Thompson Westcott states that the money " had depreciated in some articles as low as three thousand per cent.'' In 1780 the hamlet of Campbellstown, Lebanon county, consisting of a few small houses and considerable land, was sold to Robert OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 119 Coleman for $90,000. A writer says : " This seems like an extraordinary price,^ but the currency had de- preciated very much at that time, and it is doubtful whether a horse could have been purchased with this money five years later." People were by lavv compelled to accept the Conti- nental money. In]1776 John Baldwin was imprisoned in Philadelphia for refusing to accept this kind of money. A Mr. Elliot owed him 600 pounds and offered to pay him in paper money, but he refused to accept it, and for this act| he was imprisoned. In March of 1777 Stephen Phipps offered to pay a store bill with paper money to William Craig in Philadel- phia, but Mr. C. refused the^ money on the ground that he had more of that kind of money than he knew what to do with. When Mr. Phipps tried to press the paper money upon Mr. Craig, he was knocked down. Phipps reported his experience to the authorities. We cannot say what was the result. Likely Craig was punished. Compelling people to accept the worthless money for their goods was virtually confiscating their property. Sometimes necessity knows) no law. We have a similar instance {of depreciated paper money in the Southern Confederacy during the Civil War. Some time before the collapse of the Confeder- acy it took $1000 paper money to purchase a pair of boots in Richmond, Va. 120 EART.Y HISTORY 26. PASTORAL WORK. By pastoral work we uuderstand largely the work of a miDister in families. The Reformed Church has always laid much stress upon this part of the minister's work. In the year 1752 Rev. Geo. M. Weiss formu- lated a set of rules for the government of the Coetus. We have no evidence that the rules were ever adopted by the Coetus, but there is no doubt that the rule in reference to pastoral visitation expresses the views of the early Reformed people, and we therefore quote it : '^That yearly house visitation be maintained in every congregation by the pastor and elder thereof, in which the people shall be reminded of their Christian duty, and be stirred up to improvement of life." In these few words is set forth the right kind of pastoral visitation. It will be noticed that it is di- rected that an elder shall accompany the pastor in the performance of this work. This work has always been an important part of activity in the Reformed Church, and wherever it is faithfully practised there are blessed results. Of course a vast deal depends upon the faith- fulness with which it is performed. We have known a considerable number of Reformed ministers whose pastoral visits were entirely different from social calls. As a rule they conducted a short religious service with OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 121 the family. It was made known when the pastor would come, and the family w^as prepared when he ar- rived. The conversation was of a religious character, and the pastor was free to speak about matters of the highest concern. There is always a blessing in such pastoral visiting. But not all pastoral visitation is of this kind. Con- ditions are frequently of such a nature that the pastors can hardly make anything but a social call. In towns and cities it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to meet all the members of a family at one time. During the day as a rule only the mother aud perhaps a few small children are at home. Perhaps it will be sug- gested that the best time is in the evening. Perhaps so ; perhaps not. In most cases the majority of the family are also away from home, attending meetings of business, lodges, clubs, etc. Those acquainted with present day conditions know how difficult is real pas- toral work in our cities. In the country it is not much easier. During the larger part of the year farm- ers are exceedingly busy, and they do not like to be interrupted in their work in the fields. It is difficult to secure hired help, and time is precious. Then the people are scattered over a wide territory, and not many calls can be made in a day. In the country a call from the pastor is hardly considered such unless he remains long enough to take a meal with the family. Then again some ministers do not attach much im- portance to family visitation. Where it is practised, it is in many instances coupled with business. We re- member one minister not living who some years ago 9 122 EARLY HISTORY readily agreed to accompany the writer in canvassing for the church I paper, because he said he could at the same time attend to his pastoral visitation. We called at the residences of most of the families in his charge, but in some instances we found no one at home, and in many others we saw only the head of the family in the field or in the barn, and yet the minister called it pas- toral visitation. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 123 27. PERQUISITES. By the term perquisites in the case of a minister we understand voluntary fees given him for marriages and funerals, besides what he receives as regular sal- ary. He must never demand fees for such services, but he is plainly entitled to them, especially in case of funerals. Frequently a minister must hire a convey- ance to attend a funeral, and it is only just that he should be paid for his time and expenses. But there is danger that the perquisites may become a snare to the minister. A minister once complained to the writer because he had so few funerals. We know of a minister w4io advertises his services for baptism, mar- riages and funerals. He states that his charges are reasonable. This appears very improper. Even med- ical associations do not allow their members to adver- tise beyond their " shingles'' at their houses. In the very beginning of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania this subject w^as considered and a rule adopted regulating perquisites. At the second meet- ing of the Coetus, 1748, it was resolved that a minis- ter should expect seven shillings and six pence as a marriage fee, and five shillings as a funeral fee. But baptisms were to be without any remuneration. It was perhaps well that the amounts to be paid for these services were thus stipulated, because the 124 EARLY HISTORY ministers were then all poor. Their salaries were very small. Many had to work on farms to support their families. In more modern times there is no stipulation as to the amount to be paid in the form of perquisites. That is left optional with those concerned. As in the begin- ning, ministers are not to be paid a fee for baptisms. The constitution of the Reformed Church forbids this. But it is proper that people should pay for the certifi- cate. It cannot be expected that the minister should give his services free and pay for the certificates be- sides. There must be reason in all things. A chapter might be written on the subject of wed- ding fees. These vary greatly in amount, according to the ability and sense of propriety of bridegrooms. Some have undertaken to fool the ministers by giving them envelopes containing only pieces of worthless paper. This is supposed to be an act of smartness. It is only meanness, and there is nothing smart in being mean. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 125 28. THE INDIAN WAR. The Reformed people especially in the counties east of the Susquehanna, as well as other people, suffered severely during the French and Indian war from 1754 to 1763. It was a struggle between France and Eng- land for the possession of North America. Unfortu- nately for our people the French succeeded in enlisting many of the Indian tribes for their cause, and these barbarians made frequent incursions into Pennsylvania and created terrible havoc. Their weapons were prin- cipally the tomahawk and the torch. They murdered many people and burned their homes. The white peo- ple lived scattered, and were mostly without means of defense. A number of forts were erected along the Blue Mountains and elsewhere which afforded the peo- ple some shelter. The history of those years abounds in sudden attacks by Indians upon defenseless families. Unfortunately the government of Pennsylvania, which was largely controlled by Quakers who were opposed to war, was quite indifferent in the matter of relieving the people. Finally the French were completely de- feated and the cruel war ceased. During the Indian war 150 white people Avere killed in Berks county alone, whilst 27 others were carried off as prisoners. During the war people were always in danger o£ being surprised and shot down by the Indians. Every- 126 * EARLY HISTORY body went about armed, not only to their daily toil in the fields, but also to church. Thus many men car- ried their rifles with them to church, and whilst the larger number were in the churches engaged in wor- ship, others remained outside on guard against the In- dian foes. Such was the case at Hain\s church in Berks county, Hill church in Lebanon county, and other places. Dr. William Hendel, sr., was located at Tulpehocken, but he also preached in Lyken's Valley, Dauphin county, at the place known as David's church. He was accompanied thither by armed men, who stood at the door of the church during the service on guard. After the service these men accompanied him on his way home until he was within the bounds of safety. This is the way the people had to worship during the continuance of the Indian war. The most distinguished Reformed person during the French and Indian wars was Col. Henry Bouquet. He was a native of Rolle, Switzerland, and was born in 1719. On March 25, 1735, he was received into the Reformed church at Rolle. After service in the Dutch Republic, etc., he was in 1756 appointed a lieutenant colonel by England and sent to America to take part in the war against the French and their In- dian allies. Rev. Mr. Schlatter was chaplain of Bou- quet's Royal American (German Swiss) regiment, and was present with him at the capture of Louisburg in 1757. In 1758 Col. Bouquet accompanied the expe- dition to western Pennsylvania against Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg, under Gen. Forbes. Col. Bouquet and Col. George Washington commanded the two divisions OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 127 of Forbes' army. Bouquet planned the campaign, which was successful. The French destroyed Fort Du^ quesne and left the place when the British approached. The British erected Fort Pitt upon the ruins of the one destroyed as above stated. In 1763 Fort Pitt was in great danger, and Col. Bouquet was sent to its relief with a small army of about 500 men, composed of Eoyal Americans and Scotch Highlanders. At Bushy Run, near Harrison City, Westmoreland county. Pa., he, on August 5, met the Indians, who at oncp attacked 128 EARLY HISTORY the army and fought desperately ^or two days. The Indians had the advantage of firing from behind the trees, and caused heavy losses to the army. Col. Bouquet displayed great courage and wisdom. After a long and disatrous fight, Bouquet by the strategy of a seem- ing retreat led the Indians into a trap, where they were utterly defeated. This great victory disheartened the Indians, and they retired beyond the Ohio river, and Fort Pitt was relieved. The following year (1764) he marched a large army into the Ohio Avilderness and compelled the Indians to sue for peace and return sev- eral hundred captives. Col. Bouquet is justly celebrated as the hero of Bushy Run. In the battle he had lost about 50 men killed and 60 Avounded. The king of Great Britain and the Assembly of Pennsylvania thanked Bouquet for his grand victory, and the king promoted him to brigadier general. After the war Col. Bouquet pur- chased 4163 acres of land near Hagerstown, Md., and expected to settle there. But the British government sent him to Pensacola, Florida, in 1765. Unfortu- nately he was seized with yellow fever, and died on Sept. 2, 1765. His grave is unknown, but it was in- side the Pensacola barracks. Another prominent Reformed person during the Indian war was Rev. John Conrad Bucher. He was born at Schaffhausen, Switzerland, June 10, 1730. His father was a ^' Landvogt,'^ and spared no pains to give the son a liberal education. The son attended the universities of Basel and St. Gall in his native coun- try, and also visited other great seats of learning. His OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 129 "GedeDk Bucb" contains the autographs of Zollik of- fer, Mosheim and other leading professors of that time. That he became a thoroughly educated man is shown by the fact that his sermon outlines contain many Greek, Latin and Hebrew references, and that he preached in English, French and German. John Conrad Buciier came to this country in No- vember of 1755, and for some years served as an officer in the British army against the French and their In- dian allies. He took part in the Forbes expedition to Pittsburg in 1758, and afterwards was stationed sev- eral years at Carlisle, and in 1760 he was appointed lieutenant. In 1761 he was in charge of the transpor- tation service at Fort Pitt. In 1763 Bucher took part in the expedition under Gen. Bouquet to Pittsburg, and in the terrible battle at Bushy Run, in wdiich the Indians were totally defeated. In 1764 he was pro- moted to the position of captain. He acted as adju- tant of his regiment in the great expedition of General Bouquet to the Muskingum river in Ohio, which prac- tically ended the Indian war. Peace having been gained, Capt. Bucher resigned from the army in 1765, after serving about seven years. The officers of the Provincial Army were entitled to bounty lands, and Capt. Bucher received a fine tract in Buffalo Valley. This land he exchanged for a property in Lebanon, which remained in his family until 1844. Mr. Bucher commenced preaching in 1763, wdiilst stationed at Carlisle as a military officer, as is shown by his baptismal and marriage records. He appears to have officiated at various periods whilst an officer in 130 EARLY HISTORY the army. In 1765, after resigniog from the army, he became pastor of the Reformed churches at Carlisle, Chambersburg, Middletowu and Hummelstowu. After having preached several years, he was ordaioed by order of the Coetus in 1766. In 1768 Rev. Mr. Bucher removed to Lebanon and occupied his own property. He now supplied many congregations in various directions, his appointments being in Lancas- ter, Lebanon, Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland and Frank- lin counties. He supplied Reading for some time in 1769 and 1770. He was one of the most active and influential Reformed ministers of his day. During the Revolution Rev. Mr. Bucher served as chaplain of the Pennsylvania German regiment, which was composed of soldiers from the German counties. He was then already suffering from heart trouble. In the early part of 1777 he had been away from his regi- ment on leave of absence. On May 4, 1777, Baron von Arut, the colonel of the regiment, ordered Mr. Bucher to join the regiment without delay. Rev. Mr. Bucher's useful career came to a sudden end in middle life. On August 15, 1780, he went to Annville to perform a marriage ceremony, and in the midst of the festive occasion he suddenly died of heart failure, at tlie age of 50 years, 2 months and 5 days. The people held him in such high esteem that they would not allow his body to be conveyed to his home in a vehicle, but, securing a bier, devout men carried it on their shoulders to his home in licbanon. On August 17, 1780, he was buried in the graveyard in the rear of the First Reformed church in Lebanon, Pa. One of his descendants was the late Dr. Thos. C. Porter, a OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 131 well-known Reformed minister and long a professor in Lafayette College. Rev. Mr. Bucher was married on February 26, 1760, to Mary Magdalena Hoke, of Car- lisle. Six children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Singularly the three sons were named John Jacob, John George and John Conrad, whilst the daughter was named Mary Elizabeth. Space forbids us to refer to many of the blood/ deeds of the Indians during the war. On July 5, 1757, seven persons were buried at the Tulpehocken church who had been murdered in one house the day before. On the day of this funeral a number of people were attacked in Greenwich township, Berks county, and four of them killed and six others scalped. On July 26, 1764, a number of Indians surprised a school, consisting of Enoch Brown, the teacher, and eleven children, in a log school house near Greencastle, Franklin county. Pa. The teacher and ten children were killed, whilst one boy w^as scalped, but escaped and recovered. He lived many years. All the victims were buried in a common grave. In 1885 a monu- ment was erected on the site of the fatal school house and another on the grave. The work was accomplished largely through the efforts of Rev. C. Cort, D. D., of the Reformed Church, who also dedicated the monu- ments. Dr. Cort also compiled a volume on the life and labors of Col. Bouquet. On Nov. 24, 1755, a number of Indians surprised the settlement at Gnadenhiitten, now Lehighton, Pa., and murdered eleven persons. A few others escaped. The bodies of those murdered were buried in one grave. A monument marks their resting place. 132 EARLY HISTORY 29. REFORMED PATRIOTS. There were no more ardent supporters of the move- ment for American liberty than the Pennsylvania Ger- mans, both ministers and people. Already in 1775, a year before American independence was declared, the Reformed and Lutheran people of Philadelphia united with the German Society of that city in a circular in which liberty from the oppression of England was de- manded. This circular breathed the spirit of inde- pendence. The appeal had a marked effect upon the German people against England. It went a great way to prepare the German people for the great struggle. As far as we know, all the Reformed ministers in Pennsylvania were loyal patriots and active supporters of the American cause during the Revolution. Some were made to suffer for their patriotism. Rev. Michael Schlatter was arrested and impris- oned in Philadelphia, and his home at Chestnut Hill despoiled. Dr. Casper D. Weyberg, during the Revolution pastor of the Reformed congregation in Philadelphia, was also imprisoned and his church used as a hospital. After the withdrawal of the British from the city his first sermon was preached on the text : " O God ! the OF THE REFOFvMED CHURCH. 133 heathen have come into thine inheritance ; thy holy temple have they defiled.'^ It cost over |1 5,000 to repair the church. Of coarse the money was then greatly depreciated, and that sum in 1778 repre- sented not more than §5000. It is stated that Dr. Weyberg was imprisoned because of his fearless preach- ing in favor of the Americans, which had a bad effect upon the hired Hessians in the British army. Rev. John H. Weikel, pastor of Boehm's church in Montgomery county, got into trouble by preaching at the beginning of the war on the text: "Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished.'^ Eccles. 4 : 13. This sermon was of course directed against the king of Eng- land. It caused great excitement, and led to the pas- tor's resignation. Mr. AVeikel afterwards frequently discharged his pistol close to the head of his horse to train him for service in the army, if necessary. He was warmly attached to the cause of freedom. Rev. Philip Jacob Michael, the supposed founder of the Reformed church in Reading, was serving a large country charge when the Revolution broke out. In 1774 he resigned his charge and entered the army. In 1777 he was appointed chaplain of the first battalion of the Berks county militia. After the war he resumed the ministry in some of his former congregations, one of which was Longswamp, where he died in 1785. One of the most ardent patriots and the most severe sufferer among the Reformed ministers was Rev. J. W. G. Nevelling. He was a cousin of Dr. Weyberg, and came to this country in company with the wife of Dr. 134 EARLY HISTORY Weyberg, be having preceded his wife to America. At the beginning of the Revolution Nevelling was pastor at Amwell, New Jersey. He joined the army and served as chaplain. As a rule ti.e ministers were poor, and many very poor. Mr. Nevelling was an excep- tion. He was possessed of a good deal of property. As a true patriot he converted all his property into money, amounting to about ^12,000, which was a large sum at that time, and loaned the whole amount to the government. The only security he received was a certificate of Congress. Unfortunately he was in some way defrauded out of the certificate and lost all his possessions. This w^as doubly unfortunate, because soon after the war he was disabled from preaching, and spent tlie balance of his long' life in great affliction and poverty. After the close of the war Rev. Mr. Nevel- ling became pastor of the Reformed church in Reading, Pa., in 1782. In 1783 he reported 1000 families, 12 baptisms, 10 confirmed and 75 children in the parochial school. It is stated that he was a man of noble pres- ence and commanding pulpit talent. But Mr. Nevel- ling had hardly been in Reading a year, apparently very successful in his work, when his useful ministry was cut short by a sad accident. One day, as he was riding on horseback, probably to one of his country congregations, with a pipe in his mouth, the horse stumbled and fell, pushing the stem of the pipe so vio- lently into Mr. Ne veiling's throat that it injured his vocal organs and permanently disabled him from preaching again. Thus he w^as cut oflP in the prime of his life, and after a few years paralysis lamed him OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 135 completely. Some years later he also became blind. Henceforth he remained a helpless invalid for more than sixty years ! Thus this patriotic man was speech- less, paralyzed, blind and poor ! By the earnest eiforts of his brethren in the ministry he and his large family were kept from starvation. This noble patriot and champion of American liberty, ready to sacrifice all his possessions for the cause of his country, died as a very old man of 94 years in Philadelphia on January 18, 1844. We know no similar case in the Reformed min- istry of such long, severe and patient suffering. The Coetus aided him as much as it could with its scanty means. In 1789 it gave him £7 10s. In its report to Holland the Coetus in 1790 states that " Mr. Xevelling is still in very wretched circumstances, and a burden to us.'' During the Revolution Rev. J. C. A. Helifenstein was pastor of the Reformed church at Lancaster. A number of Hessian prisoners were kept there, and he frequently preached to them. On one occasion he took as his text Isaiah 52 : 3, " Ye have sold yourselves for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money.'' On another occasion he preached on these words : '' If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." These sermons produced much excitement among the Hessians, as well as the other people. Rev. xlbraham Blumer was the pastor of Zion's Reformed church in Allentown. When the British army was approaching Philadelphia in 1777 the cele- brated Liberty Bell on Independence Hall w^as re- moved to Allentown and hid under the floor in Zion's 136 EARLY HISTORY church. It was hauled by John Jacob Mickley, a member of the Reformed Church. After the British had evacuated Philadelphia^ the bell was returned to its original place, where it remains to this day. On its way to Allentown the wagon broke down, but the bell was not injured. Some time after it had been re- turned it was cracked and its usefulness ended, but it has ever since been kept as a sacred relic in Indepen- dence Hall, Philadelphia. As far as we know, all the members of the Re- formed Coetus were favorable to the American cause. Two others, Rev. John M. Kern, of Xew York, and Rev. John J. Zubly, of Georgia, held to England, and both lost their usefulness and had to leave their pas- toral charges. Kern went to Halifax, but returned to Pennsylvania in 1788 and died soon after in Bucks county. Zubly was a member of the Colonial Con- gress until a short time before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, when he left the body and returned to Georgia. Had he remained he would have been one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. He vainly tried to prevent Georgia from uniting with the movement for American independence. He was banished and one-half of his property was con- fiscated. When the British captured Savannah in 1779, Zubly returned thither and remained there until his death in 1781. Rev. John C. Rubel is also said to have been a Tory. He was deposed in 1784. One of the most prominent Reformed ministers during the Revolution was Dr. F. L. Herman, the father of five Reformed ministers. In 1793 he was OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 137 pastor at Germantown at the time when the yellow fever prevailed in Philadelphia. Gen. Washington left the city and resided several months in the family of Dr. Herman. The general frequently attended ser- vices in the Reformed church, when the services were held in English by Rev. Dr. Smith, of the Falls of Schuylkill, according to the statement of Mr. Watson. It is also stated that on one occasion he received the communion from the hands of Dr. Hernian. After the death of Washington a memorial service was held in the Reformed church in Philadelphia. Not only were the ministers loyal to the American cause, with few exceptions, but also practically the en- tire membership of the Reformed Church. The Con- tinental army contained many members of the Church, especially from Pennsylvania. Perhaps the most efficient Reformed officer during the Revolution was Baron de Steuben, a member of the German Reformed church in New York, whose pastor then was Rev. John Daniel Gross. He was a native of Magdeburg, Germany, and was an efficient officer in the Prussian army. He came to America on Nov. 1, 1777, and offered his services to Congress. They were readily accepted, and he was assigned to the army un- der Gen. Washington at Valley Forge. The army was poorly clad and disheartened. Baron Steuben set to work to reorganize the army and drilled the men almost constantly. He said it was good for them, as it kept them from freezing. Gen. Steuben commanded a division in several battles and rendered excellent ser- vice, especially at Yorktown, Va., the laet and decisive 10 138 EARLY HISTORY battle of the Revolution, where tlie entire British army was captured. After theSvar Gen. Steuben resided in New York, where he serv^ed as an elder in the Ke- formed congregation. In Jiis last years Congress made him a grant of land near CJtica, N. Y., as an apprecia- tion of his valuable services. The American people ever held him in grateful remembrance. Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, a member of the German Reformed church in New York, commanded the 800 Americans in the battle ] at iOriskany, New York, in 1777, and was mortally wounded. The battle with the Indians and Tories lasted several hours, and was fought with great desperation amid a furious thunder- storm. Each side lost one-third of its men, but the Americans maintained the field. Considering the num- ber of men engaged, the battle of Oriskany is regarded the most desperate andjbloody one fought during the Revolution. Gen. Herkimer was a Reformed Palatine and came to America in 1722. This German victory at Oriska'ny is further memorable from the fact that here for the first time in military service the stars and stripes, adopted by Congress seven weeks before, were hoisted. They had been improvised from a soldier's shirt, an old blue military ^cloak and some strips of red flannel from the petticoat of a soldier's wife. The Reformed Church in Reading and Berks coun- ty furnished many heroic officers and men for the Con- tinental army. We will mention some of the promi- nent officers. Col. George Nagel, of Reading, raised the first com- pany in Berks county for the army. This company OF THE REFORMED CHUECH. 139 marched to Bostou, reachiug there July 18, 1775, a few days after the siege of the city by the Americans. He continued in active service until 1783, rising to the rank of colonel. He had also been an officer in the Indian war until its close in 1763. Col. Nagel was born about 1728 in Germany, and came to Reading in 1755. He was married to a daughter of Mordecai Lincoln of Exeter township, an ancestor of Abraham Lincoln. He died in 1789. Capt. Peter Nagel, brother of the above, was also born in Germany, in 1750, Dur- ing the Revolution he was a captain in the army from 1777 to 1783. He also held several civil offices — justice of the peace, coroner and county treasurer. In 1794 he gave a reception to Gen. Washington in his home on the site of the present post ff/^^^.^-^ /^^'^ y office in Reading. He died //-eAl^ ch/Ci^^ Nov. 30, 1834. Mr. Wm. /y N. Coleman, of Reading, who died on June 3, 1906, aged 87 years, was a grandson of Capt. Peter Nagel. Col. Henry Haller was a well-known tailor in Reading in 1765. He was a member of the Provincial Conference in June, 1776. On June 14 of that year he was appointed by the Executive Council to solicit subscriptions in Berks county for a loan of twenty mil- lion dollars to Congress. He was active in organizing 140 EARLY HISTORY ^--^^tcX V§_^ the Berks couuty regiment of the ^^ Flying Camp/' and was made its colonel. He served in the army in New Jersey, and afterward was a member of the Assembly from 1776 to 1781. He died in Schuylkill county in 1793. Col. JS'icholas Lotz was a native of the Palatinate, being born Feb. 20, 1740, and came to Reading as a young man. He was a member of the Provincial Con- ference in Carpenter Hall in June of 1776, and afterwards was prominent as an officer in the army. He became a lieutenant colonel, and took part in the battle of Long Is- land, where he was taken j prisoner. In 1780 he was I made Commissioner of For- I age and purchased vast quan- I tities of supplies for the army. j He advanced large amounts of money for the government, but was never fully repaid. Col. Lotz served also in the Assembly and as associate judge. In 1794 he aided in arranging for the military parade in honor of Gen. Washington in Reading. He died Nov. 29, 1807. Capt. Jacob Bower served as first lieutenant in the company of Col. Benjamin Weiser, a son of the noted Conrad Weiser. He was promoted to captain, and served until the close of the war in 1783. After 1800 he removed from Reading to Womelsdorf, where he died August 3, 1818. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 141 Daniel Rose was a well-known clock maker in Reading, and took an active part in the Revolution. Like Capt. Peter Nagel, Daniel Rose also entertained Gen. Washington in 1794. The chair in which Wash- ington sat on the occasion is still preserved. All of the above persons — George and Peter Nagel, Nicholas Lotz, Henry Haller, Jacob Bower and Daniel Rose — were prominent members of the Reformed church in Reading. Their names appear frequently as members of the consistory. That of Jacob Bower is distinguished by its large, bold appearance. The min- utes of the consistory were usually signed by all the members. The two Nagels, Nicholas Lotz, as well as Gov. Joseph Hiester, were buried in the graveyard at the Reformed church in Reading. Many years after- ward their bodies were removed to Charles Evans^ cemetery. Henry Haller and Jacob Bower were bur- ied in their new homes after removing from Reading. Probably the most prominent Reformed family in Berks county during the Revolution was the Hiester family. The most prominent member of this family was Joseph Hiester, son of John Hiester, who came here from Germany in 1732 and located in Bern town- ship. The son Joseph was a member of the Provincial Conference in June, 1776. Upon his return home, being full of the spirit of patriotism, he on July 10 called a meeting with the beat of the drum and raised a company for the ^' Flying Camp.'^ He laid $40 upon a drumhead to be given to the first man who would enlist. Matthias Babb quickly signed his name and took the money. Ninety-six men enlisted, and 142 ExVRLY HISTORY Mr. Hiester was made captain. He and his company took part in the battle of Long Island, where the Ger- mans stood the brunt of the battle. Capt. Hiester and many of his men were taken prisoners, and suffered many hardships, together with Col. Nicholas Lotz, Col. Peter Kichline and many others. In December, 1776, the prisoners were exchanged. Capt. Hiester was ill with fever. Upon recovery he joined Washington's army. Subsequently he raised 650 men and marched them to join Gen. Read's army in New Jer- sey. He served in the army until the close of the war. Afterward he filled various positions of honor He was a mem- ber of the Assembly and of the Constitutional Con- vention in 1789, and in 1790 the first state sena- Berks county, he was sent to Congress, and was afterward re-elected five times. In 1815 he was again elected to Congress, and twice re- elected. In 1820 Mr. Hiester was elected governor of the state. During his term of office he traveled be- tween Reading and Harrisburg in a packet boat on the Union Canal. He died on June 10, 1832. He was highly respected and very popular. It is said that during many years he and his fellow soldiers sat together during services in the First Reformed church. J^^^C/l^ .^^7^^ tor from ^ ^In 1797 OF THE EEFORMED CHUKCH. 143 Gabriel Hiester, a cousin of the above, was born in Bern township in 1 749, and attended the parochial school at the Bern church. He was a delegate from Berks coun- ty to the Provincial Constitutional Convention in July, 1776. He was afterward made a judge of the common pleas court of this county, and served eight years in the Assembly, and also as state senator. He died in 1824. Gabriel was a brother of Col. Daniel Hiester, of Montgomery county, and of Col. John Hiester, of Chester county. Gen. Daniel Udree was an ironmaster of Oley and a member of the Oley Reformed church. He was born in Philadelphia in 1751. He was the owner of 2700" acres of land. In 1777 he was made colonel of the county militia, and took part in the battle of Brandywine, where his horse was shot under him. He was a member of the Assembly from 1799 to 1805, and twice a member of Congress. In the War of 1812 he was a major-general. In 1823 he erected a stone grist mill at Oley furnace, which is still in operation. Some time after the organization of the Oley congrega- tion Gen. Udree presented it with a part of a pewter communion service, which is still in possession of the people. He died suddenly on July 15, 1828, and wa& buried at the Oley church. John Lesher was a native of Germany, was born in 1711, came to Pennsylvania in 1734, and located in Oley, at the present village of Spangsville, where he established a forge, which he conducted some fifty years. He was a member of the Oley Reformed church, and in 1742 donated the land upon which tha 144 EARLY HISTORY church was erected. He was a member of the Consti- tutional Convention in 1776 and of the Assembly from 1776 to 1782. During the Revolution he was one of the commissioners for the purchase of supplies. He contributed largely of his private means for the sup- port of the war. Mr. Lesher died on April b, 1794, aged 83 years, and was buried on the farm of Ezra Levan, near Friedensburg. The large stone dwelling erected by him is still standing and now owned by Mr. Jacob Specht. The house is most peculiarly located. It stands against a steep hill. Originally the road passed along the base of the hill, from which people entered the basement on even ground. After the abandonment of the forge the road was transferred to the top of the hill, and now there is a gangway leading from the road into the attic of the house. Daniel Hunter was another prominent member of the Oley Reformed church. His name was originally Jiiger, but was translated into English. His parents came from Germany, and were among the early settlers of Oley. Daniel was born on April 8, 1742. He rep- resented his county in the Provincial Conference in June, 1776, and also in the Constitutional Convention in July following. He was a paymaster of the militia. In 1777 he commanded a regiment of militia, first at Trenton, then about the Brandy wine. He was a mem- ber of the Assembly in 1782. Whilst in the latter ser- vice he became ill and died on February 3, 1783, at the early age of 41 years. He was buried at Oley church, where a monument marks his resting place. His descendants are numerous in Berks county. His OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 145 sister Catharine was the wife of the well- known Balser Geehr. The Tulpehockeu region furnished its share of Re- formed patriots. Among these were the Spyker broth- ers, Benjamin and Peter. Their father, John Peter Spyker, came here from Europe in 1738 and took up a large tract in Tulpehocken township. Benjamin Spyk- er, a son, was born in the Palatinate in 1723. He took part in the Indian war. He was a neighbor and intimate friend of Conrad Weiser. In 1776 he repre- sented Berks county in the Provincial Conference and in the Constitutional Convention. He served long as justice of the peace, and died in 1802, aged nearly 80 years. — Peter Spyker, brother of the above Benjamin, was appointed one of the judges of Berks county in 1763, and continued in this office until his death in 1789, a period of 26 years. He was the principal judge of the county during the Revolution. He was also a justice of the peace in Tulpehocken township from 1777. — Henry Spyker, son of Judge Peter Spyker, and nephew of Benjamin Spyker, was colonel of the Sixth Battalion, and w^as at the head of the militia in the western section of the county until 1783. In the fall of 1777 he took part in the battle of Germantown, where he was w^ounded. Col. Sypker was paymaster of the militia of Berks county from August, 1777, until the close of the war. It is stated that he handled about $600,000 of money and accounted for every penny which passed through his hands. In 1797 he removed to Lewisburg, Pa., where he died on July 1, 1817. There are still some Spyker descendants in the 146 EARLY HISTORY Talpehocken region, but they now spell their name Speicher. Valentine Eckert was another Reformed patriot of Tulpehocken. He was a native of Hanover, Germany, came to America in 1741 and settled near Womels- dorf. In June of 1776 he was one of the ten members from Berks county in the Provincial Conference. In July of ihe same year he was also one of the eight members in the Constitutional Convention. From 1776 to 1779 he was a member of the Assembly. He commanded a company of cavalry and took part in the battle of Germantown in 1777, where he was wounded. Afterward he was a commissioner to purchase supplies for the army. In 1784 he was appointed judge of the county court, and served seven years. About 1816 he removed to Virginia, and died at Winchester in De- cember, 1821, aged 88 years. The people in the Tulpehocken region in Berks county were ardent supporters of the cause of Ameri- can freedom. The Reformed Hain's church was or- ganized about 1730 by Palatines who had come from Schoharie, N. Y. Over the door of their church they placed a stone with this inscription : "Alle, die hier gehen aus und ein, Sollen Gott und dem Konig unterthan sein.^^ This couplet indicates their loyalty to England. But during the Revolution their sentiments had been changed, and the inscription had become an eyesore. A certain Mr. Ruth declared : ^^ That king must come out.'^ He procured a chisel and hammer and effaced the word king. In this mutilated form the inscription remains to this day. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 147 One of the most prominent members of the Re- formed church in Philadelphia during his early life was Mr. Michael Hillegas. His father of the same name had been a prosperous merchant, and was one of the charter members of the Reformed church in that city. The son inherited the father. He took a promi- nent part in the struggle for American freedom. When the colonies organized for defense Mr. Hillegas was on July 25, 1775, elected treasurer, and served contin- uously during the Revolution and afterward in this position until Sept. 2, 1789, when the Treasury De- partment was established by Congress. He advanced large amounts of money to pay the soldiers in the army. He rendered the most valuable services to his country during the most critical period. The honor for this great work has nearly always been given to Robert Morris. Some time after his marriage Mr. Hillegas united with the Episcopal Church. The Reformed church at Lebanon furnished at least three prominent patriots for the Revolutionary army — Rev. John Conrad Bucher, the pastor, who served as chaplain of the noted German Regiment. He had been very active as an officer in the Indian war from 1758 to 1765. (See Chapter on Indian War, page 128.) The two others were Gen. John Philip De Haas and Hon. John Gloninger. John Philip De Haas was born in Holland about 1735, and came early with his parents to this country. He was one of the founders of the Reformed congrega- tion at Lebanon and a prominent officer of the same. Whilst a young man he became an officer in the In- 148 EARLY HISTORY dian war in 1757. He rose rapidly. In 1760 he was made captain and in 1764 major. In 1763 he took part in the Bouquet expedition to Pittsburg, and shared in the land grants in Clinton county. In June, 1764, Major De Haas was in charge of Fort Henry, an im- portant fort at Swatara Gap in Lebanon county. Dur- ing the Revolution he took an active part in the cause of the Americans. In 1775 he took part in the unsuc- cessful campaign to Canada. In January, 1776, Con- gress elected Major De Haas colonel of the First Penn- sylvania Battalion. This command took part in the battle of Long Island. In 1777 Col. De Haas was promoted by Congress to Brigadier General. He served until the close of 1778, and in 1779 removed to Philadelphia, where he died on June 3, 1786. He was a brave and efficient officer. (A deed made to the Re- formed congregation in Lebanon in 1765 is witnessed by I. C. De Haas.) Gen. De Haas had a son named John Philip De Haas, who was also an officer in the Revolution, and is at times confounded with the father. The son located upon his father's land in Clinton coun- ty, and died there in 1821. The Gloninger family was prominent in the Re- formed church at Lebanon from its beginning. One of these was John Gloninger, son of Philip and Barbara Gloninger. He was born in 1758 in Lebanon town- ship. When the Revolution broke out he was made a sub-altern officer. ToAvard the close of the war he was in command of a battalion of militia. In 1785 he was made lieutenant. He filled various positions — As- sembly man. State Senator, Associate Judge of Dau- OF THE REFOBMED CHURCH. 149 phin county and afterward of Lebanon county, etc. He was a man of great influence and highly respected. He died in 1836, aged 77, years. One of his sons, Philip, was a Reformed minister, born in 1788 and died in 1816, aged 28 years. His early death was caused by a cold Nvhich he contracted in wading through the Swatara creek to meet an appointment. All of these four Gloningers are buried at the First church in Lebanon. The Gloninger family continued to be prominent in the Reformed Church until recent years, but has nearly died out. Col. Peter Kichlein was one of the founders of the Reformed church of Easton. He was born in Heidel- berg, Germany, Oct. 8, 1722. He came to this coun- try with his father, Sept. 21, 1742. In 1749 he set- tled at the Forks of the Delaware, the site of Easton. He took an active part in the Indian war, and occu- pied the position of colonel. Subsequently he occu- pied various public positions, as sheriff of Northamp- ton county for ten years, member of the Colonial As- sembly, member of the Committee of Safety, etc. When the Revolution broke out he was one of the first to take up arms for the American cause. In ,1775, when a regiment was organized in Northampton coun- ty, composed almost exclusively of Germans, Peter Kichlein w^as elected colonel. This regiment did the most heroic fighting in the battle of Long Island, and w^as almost annihilated. It withstood the onslaught of superior numbers with great heroism. The battle w^as fought on the territory now included in the city of Brooklyn. After nearly all his men had been killed 150 EARLY HISTORY or wounded^ and himself beiug wounded, Col. Kichlein was taken prisoner with over 1000 other Americans, mostly wounded. Later the prisoners were exchanged and taken to the Reformed church in Easton. Col. Kichlein was a brave officer. He died on Nov. 27, 1789, aged 67 years, 1 mouth and 22 days. He had been in the public service during thirty-four years. He was an elder in the Reformed Church and a devout Christian. Col. Fred. Antes, of Pottstown, was one of the ardent Reformed patriots. He was born in Frederick township in 1730. He was a member of the Provin- cial Conference in Carpenter Hall, Philadelphia, June 1776, and of the Pennsylvania Assembly of the same y^r. He was very active in arousing the people to action, and became a lieutenant colonel. Gen. Howe, the British commander, offered £200 for the capture of Col. Antes, dead or alive. This offer induced great efforts for his arrest. On one occasion, while visiting his home, he eluded his pursuers only by flight through a back door. In 1777 he was appointed as one of sev- eral persons to sign an issue of $200,000 of paper money. This was considered a great honor. After the war Col. Antes removed from Pottstown. In 1801 he was a commissioner to explore the Susquehanna river. He took a severe cold at Columbia and re- paired to Lancaster, where he died on Sept. 20, 1801. He was buried in the Reformed graveyard in Lancas- ter. His two brothers, William and John Henry, were also active supporters of the war for independence. OF THE KEFORMED CHURCH. 151 30. THE COETUS AND GEN. WASHINGTON. FoHowing is a copy of the letter which the Re- formed Coetus addressed to Gen. George Washington after his elevation to the Presidency of the United States. Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789. The Coetus met on June 10 and 11, same year, in Philadelphia, and appointed a committee to draft a letter to the first President of the United States, con- sisting of Revs. Weyberg, Gross and Blumer, and Elders Col. Farmer, Grosscup and Arend. The letter was delivered in the following September, and is as follows : To\the President of the United States : The address of the ministers and elders of the Ger- man Reformed Church in the United States, at their general meeting, held at Philadelphia, the 10th of June, 1789. Whilst the infinite goodness of Almighty God, in His gracious providence over the people of the United States of America, calls for our sincerest and most cor- dial gratitude to Him that ruieth supremely, and or- dereth all things, in heaven and earth, in unerring wis- dom and righteousness, the happy and peaceable estab- lishment of the new government over which you so deservedly preside cannot fail but inspire our souls with new and most lively emotions of adoration, praise and thanksgiving to His holy name. 152 EARLY HISTORY As it is our most firm purpose to support in our persons a government founded in justice and equity, so it shall be our constant duty to impress the minds of the people entrusted to our care with a due sense of the necessity of uniting reverence to such a government and obedience to its laws with the duties and exercises of religion. Thus we hope, by the blessing of God, to be, in some measure, instrumental in alleviating the burden of that weighty and important charge to which you have been called by the unanimous voice of your fellow citizens, and which your love to your country has constrained you to take upon you. Deeply possessed of a sense of the goodness of God in the appointment of your person to the highest sta- tion in the national government, we shall continue, in our public worship and all our devotions before the throne of grace, to pray that it may please God to bless you in your person, in your family, and in your goverumeut, with all temporal and spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Signed by order of the meeting, Wm. He^^del, 'p. t. Praeses. F. Dellicker, p. t. ScribcL THE PRESIDENTS REPLY. I am happy in concurring with you in the senti- ments of gratitude and piety towards Almighty God which are expressed with such fervency of devotion in your address, and in believing that I shall always find in you and the German Reformed congregations in the United States a conduct corresponding to such worthy and pious expressions. At the same time I return you my thanks for the manifestation of your firm purpose to support in your persons a government founded in justice and equity, and for the promise that it will be your constant duty to impress the minds of the people entrusted to your care with a due sense of the necessity OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 153 of imitiDg revereDce to such a government and obe- dience to its laws with the duties and exercises of reh'g- ion. Be assured, gentlemen, it is by such conduct very much in the power of the virtuous members of the community to alleviate the burden of the important office which I have accepted, and to give me occasion to rejoice in this world for having followed therein the dictates of my conscience. Be pleased, also, to accept my acknowledgments for the interest you so kindly take in the prosperity of my person, family and admin- istration. Slay your devotions before the throne of grace be prevalent in calling down the blessings of heaven upon yourselves and your country. [Signed] George Washing tox. 11 154 EA.RLY HISTORY 31. LANGUAGES USED BY GOETUS. During the time that the Church in Holland exer- cised a care over the Reformed Church in Pennsylva- nia the Dutch language was principally employed in correspondence. Rev. John P. Boehm, who came here in 1720 and did more for the upbuilding of the Church than any minister during the early period, was well versed in the Dutch language. The same may be said of Rev. Michael Schlatter, who came here in 1746 and formally organized the Church. He had for some time studied in Holland before entering the ministry. Their knowledge of the Dutch language was of great advantage to these ministers. Both gentlemen of course had a still better knowledge of the German language. The first and third reports of Rev. Mr. Boehm to the Church in Holland, 1734 and 1744, were written in Dutch, whilst the one of 1739 was in German. The minutes of the Coetus were recorded some- times in Dutch and sometimes in German. Those of the first meeting in 1747 were in German. In the early years the Dutch language was mostly employed in recording the minutes, but gradually the German lan- guage prevailed. After 1766 the minutes were always recorded in German, with the exception of the year OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 155 1784, when Dutch was employed. Five times these minutes were recorded in Latin— 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758 and 1759. The proceedings of the Coetus were at first transmitted to Holland in the Dutch language, subsequently in German. The brethren did not like the use of the German language, because they naturally understood their mother tongue best. It is somewhat remarkable that already in 1763 the English language is employed in certain action in the case of Rev. Mr. Rothenbiihler. Thus four languages were employed during the existence of the Coetus in transacting the official business of the Reformed Church in Pennsyl- vania. There are those who still claim that Dutch is a derisive term for German. Of course such expressions only betray ignorance. We herewith give an example of Dutch to enable our readers to judge whether Dutch is the same as German. In his report of 1744 Rev. John P. Boehm reports as follows in Dutch in reference to Falkner Swamp congregation : De Gemeente te Falkner Schwam heeft een van hout wel gebouwde Kerke opgeregt, welke langen tyd kan duuren ; maar sy is nog by de sestig pond op schuldig. En sy heeft als nog geen woonhuysen, nog voor den predicant, nog voor voorlezer. English Translation.— The congregation at Falkner Swamp has erected a well-built church of wood, which will last a long time ; but they are yet about sixty pounds in debt. And they have as yet no dwelling house, either for the minister or the schoolmaster. After the Church had severed her connection vriih the Church in Holland and organized a Synod, the 156 EARLY HISTORY proceedings were pablished annually all the way down to the present time, but until 1825 only in the German language. In that year the Synod resolved to publish 600 copies of the minutes — 400 in German and 200 in English. That was not a large number. At the pres- ent time the General Synod publishes 8100 copies of its minutes — 6600 in English and 1500 in German. The probability is that in the not distant future few, if any, German minutes will be printed. At the present time the gospel is preached in the Reformed Church in four languages — English, Ger- man, Hungarian and Bohemian. OF THE EEFOEMED CHURCH. 157 32. LANGUAGE QUESTION. Oae of the difficult problems with which the Re- formed Church in this country had to wrestle at var- ious times was the language question. The Church was founded by Germans, and during many years there was no trouble, because all the members were Germans. All the services were conducted in the Ger- man language, and everybody was satisfied. The Germans adhered tenaciously to their mother tongue, which was only natural, and they were slow to yield their position. This strong attachment of the Germans to their language was the cause of a good deal of opposition to them on the part of the English citi- zens. In 1727 some people remonstrated with Gov. Keith against the naturalization of the Germans and Swiss in Lancaster county, because these people '^ had resolved to speak their own language. '^ But whilst their Church was German, the Re- formed people were living under an English govern- ment, and many of their neighbors, especially in Phila- delphia, were speaking the English language, notably the Quakers. Legal matters were transacted in Eng- lish. In the course of time a tendency toward the English language began to manifest itself. As the years passed on, this tendency increased, especially in the towns. And this tendency was the cause of much friction and trouble at different places. 158 EARLY HISTORY It was only natural that the time should come when English services in the Reformed Church would be demanded. The first formal movement of this kind was started in the church in Philadelphia on April 2, 1804, when the consistory called a meeting of the congregation for May 8 following to ascertain the sentiment of the people on the question of having occa- sional English preaching. This action was the begin- ning of much serious trouble in the congregation. The result of the May meeting was a tie vote, and matters remained as before. But the agitation for English ser- vices was continued, and various petitions came before the consistory. In 1805 the matter was brought before the Synod, and that body was requested to recommend English services on every third Sunday ^^ for the bene- fit of those who do not understand the German.'^ The Synod evaded the matter, and merely called the atten- tion of the congregation to the danger which was threatening it. On July 9, 1805, this motion was made in the consistory : '^ Resolved ^ That as the Board of Corporation of the Race street church, and in con- formity to the wish of Synod, we will introduce the English language into our services, before the congre- gation shall be destroyed through strife." (The phrase '^ in accordance with the wish of Synod'' is remark- able, in view of that body's action as above stated.) After an animated discussion the vote was taken, but resulted in a tie. Dr. Samuel Helffenstein, the pastor and president of the consistory, voted in the negative, and the proposition for English services was again defeated. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 159 In the following year (1806) both parties appealed to the Synod for aid in their troubles. The Synod de- clined to have anything to do Avith the difficulty, be- cause both parties had gone to court. Those in favor of the English language now withdrew, organized a separate congregation, and subsequently united with the Dutch Reformed Church. They erected a church which was dedicated in 1810. It is claimed that the Reformed Church was the first denomination to intro- duce the English language in church services. The withdrawal of the English members settled the question temporarily, but by no means permanently. The tendency toward English continued to increase. The children of the good old German fathers inclined strongly toward the language of the country. In 1817 the cjuestion came up in a new form. The German brethren had secured a majority in the consistory and summarily dismissed Dr. Helffenstein, the pastor, be- cause he was suspected of being favorable to the Eng- lish movement. Dr. H. on the following Sunday made a statement of the matter to the congregation, and many sided with him. On the next Sunday the consistory closed the church against him, and for some time the pastor conducted services in the school house. The matter was again taken to the court, which or- dered the consistory to open the church. On the Sunday after the court decision, when Dr. Helifenstein entered the pulpit, the German members withdrew and organized a new congregation under the name of Salem church. This was in 1817. Thus the old mother church had lost two parties, one English, the other German, on account of the language question. 160 EARLY HISTORY After this both languages were used in the Phila- delphia congregation. Alternate German and English services were introduced, and the plan worked well for some years. But the ^^nglish tendency became stronger than ever, and gradually it came to be felt that a city church could no longer prosper with both languages. The congregation now received few accessions from the Fatherland, and was dependent for its increase upon a community which was becoming more English every year. Therefore one more step was taken in 1828 and the German language was dropped. Rev. Charles G. Finney, a noted revivalist, was employed to preach two English sermons each Sunday. Mr. Finney in his autobiography states that he preached many months to large congregations. The experiences and trials of the Reformed congre- gation in Philadelphia were repeated in many other places. The language question was of the same nature in each case. The English tendency was resisted vig- orously for a long time, to the great injury of the con- gregations. Many of the most intelligent and pro- gressive members left and united with English denom- inations. Such was especially the case in Reading. Some of the most active members of the Presbyterian Church in Reading are the children of Reformed par- ents. In this city there was no English preaching until 1842, after the resignation of Rev. Wm. Pauli, when the consistory resolved to call a minister who could preach in both languages. As in Philadelphia, the use of both languages in the course of time no longer gave satisfaction in the First church in Reading, OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 161 and in 1891 the German language was discontinued altogether. In Lancaster the language question resulted in the church being locked against the German members about the year 1847. They then held a service in the graveyard in the rear of the church. The question was solved by the withdrawal of the English members and the organization of St. PauFs church. As far as the waiter knows, Lebanon, Allentown and Pottstown are the only towns in Pennsylvania in which the German language is still used in the mother churches. The use of the mother tongue has been dis- continued in the First churches of Philadelphia, Eas- ton, Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Pottsville, etc. 162 EARLY HISTORY 33. AN EARLY GRAVEYARD. Rev. Mr. Boehm reported in 1744 that he and the officers of the Philadelphia congregation had secnred an acre of ground in the city for a burial ground. Un- til that time the Reformed people had to bury their dead in a negro slave cemetery ! The acre of ground was secured for 50 pounds, besides six shillings yearly ground rent. The ground would have brought 200 pounds. But this purchase proved a real burden to the people. They could hardly raise the money to pay the interest and ground rent on this tract, besides the four pounds rent for the building in which they wor- shiped. This ground was used as a Reformed graveyard until 1835, when the city council took forcible possession of the ground and converted it into a public park known as Franklin Square. The congregation was paid $5000 for the ground. Common council had agreed to pay §50,000, but the select branch refused. The tomb- stones were laid flat on the ground and covered, and the place where the pioneer Reformed of Philadelphia were buried is now a beautiful public square in the centre of the city. Here are buried Revs. Schlatter, Weyberg, Hendel, Steiuer, Winkhaus and Rothenbiih- ler. The thousands of people passing through the OF THE REFOKMED CHURCH. 163 park do not know that they are treadiog upon sacred ground. The act of the city was a gross injustice, but the Reformed people were helpless. The matter was taken to the Supreme Court, but the result was adverse to the Reformed. The $5000 received was used in constructing vaults in the church lot on Race street. The First Reformed church in Philadelphia is still in possession of the original deed from John Penn for the above ground. 16-t EAELY HISTORY 34. MONEY NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACE. The Noted Reiff Case. A generatioD and less ago mauy people in Berks county, when asked to contribute for benevolence, re- plied : '' We would cheerfully give, but the money will not get to the right place. You know how it was in the case of the collection in Bern church. The preacher kept the money. '^ This was of course a lame excuse, which was inspired by the evil one. In every instance, when this excuse was made, the Bern collection case was referred to. It was indeed marvellous that every one who was unwilling to contribute had heard of this one case. Collections -had been lifted regularly in hundreds of places, and there w^as no complaint about money not reaching the intended place. This isolated instance had to be heralded far and wide. Upon this same principle we are told that a lie travels faster than the truth. Many people of evil hearts enjoy hearing bad reports. There was a case in the early history of our Church when it took about fifteen years for certain monies to reach their intended place, and it was the occasion of an unfortunate scandal. We refer to the celebrated Beiff case. The people at Skippack were poor, and being di- vided into two parties, the Weiss party in possession OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 165 of the church found itself unable to pay for the church erected in 1727. Weiss was at the time also pastor in Philadelphia, where he had supplanted Boehni the same as at Skippack. Therefore Rev. Mr. Weiss and Jacob Reiff of Skippack were in 1730 sent to Holland to collect money for the congregations at Skippack and Philadelphia. They were successful, and collected about 2100 florins, or §840. Weiss returned to this country early in 1731, but Reiff, who handled the money, did not return until the fall of 1732. The people at Skippack and Philadelphia eagerly awaited his return, because they had heard of his suc- cess in collecting. But upon his return Reiif refused to account for the money and ignored the matter. The result was a controversy, which lasted fifteen years. The aid of the civil court was invoked to compel Reiif to pay over the money, but this effort was unsuccess- ful. Meanwhile Rev. Mr. Weiss, instead of remain- ing in Pennsylvania, accepted a call from New York state. This made the matter more difficult. Reiif claimed to have invested the money in merchandise in Europe to be sent to Philadelphia, and insisted that the enterprise had been a failure. But he failed to state who had received the goods. There was much correspondence with the Church in Holland on the subject. The matter caused much bad blood. ReifP was denominated a church robber. Finally he divulged something which was quite a revelation to the people, and which tended to show there had been others in collusion with ReifF. At a meeting of the Philadel- phia congregation in 1734, attended by some thirty 166 EARLY HISTORY persons, Mr. Reiff relieved himself in these words : " I confess that I am a church robber, but Dr. Diemer, Peter Hillegas and Michael Hillegas are also church robbers ! They steal the bread from the mouths of the Reformed people of Philadelphia, their children and children's children.'' Reiif then displayed a letter which the seven elders in Philadelphia, including the above-named three, had written to him while in Europe, in which they directed him to purchase goods and send the same to them. He was to have six per cent, of the profits. He was to do this upon his own risk, and they would keep him harmless. This was truly a revelation. It is stated that out- side of the parties concerned not a member of the con- gregation knew anything of the scheme. Reiff claimed to have sent the goods to the parties, but they denied having received them. How this was, has never been explained. Hitherto Reiif had received the blame alone, but now the matter assumed a different aspect. The cat had been let out of the bag. One result was that the elders concerned were removed from office and others elected in their place. The matter also caused the resignation of the pastor, Rev. John B. Rieger. Michael Hillegas was a well-to-do merchant, and the father of Michael Hillegas, the first treasurer ^f the United States from 1775 to 1789. The unfortunate matter continued in an unsettled condition until after Rev. Michael Schlatter came here in 1746. He was authorized to settle the unfortunate affair, and lost no time in calling Mr. Reiff to account. The latter still sought to evade the matter, but when he found that he now had to deal with a man of firm- OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 167 ness, he consented to render an account. He admitted having received 2104 florins. But he claimed credit for many things ; among others payment for services for two years, which, if allowed, would have left the Church in debt to him for $40. After hearing all the facts in the case, Rev. Mr. Schlatter agreed to accept 1000 florins or §400 in full settlement. But Mr. Reiif was unwilling. Mr. Schlat- ter finally offered to pay 15 pounds out of his own pocket to end the matter. Yet this failed to help the affair. Finally it was agreed in 1747 to submit the matter to four impartial men, with the understanding that if either party should refuse to abide by their decision, he should pay a penalty of 2000 pounds. The end of the matter was that Reiff paid one hundred Spanish pistoles in full settlement. This was equal to 135 pounds Pennsylvania money, or about $400. The committee mentioned above consisted of Thomas Lawrence, afterward mayor of the city, Richard P. Schildknapen, Israel Pemberton, jr., and John Reynell. After examining the case thoroughly, they decided that Mr. Reiif should pay 100 pistoles, or about $400. This Mr. Reiff did. The money was thus divided. In 1747 $200 was given to the Philadelphia congrega- tion, and in 1755 $100 was given to Germantown and $100 to Skippack. Thus was this sad affair finally closed. It had taken fifteen years to secure a final settlement, and twenty-four years until the last part of the money was applied. This affair, so long a bone of contention, caused much bitter feeling and great disappointment. The 168 EARLY HISTORY people had expected a large sum, but after waitiug mauy years received ouly a little. Rev. Mr. Schlatter suffered much ou account of it. He was suspected of not having dealt fairly, which was not true. He pub- lished a statement of the settlement in Saur's paper on June 16, 1747, but this did not fully silence the tongue of slander. In 1749 the Coetus declared Schlatter's innocence. The question naturally arises, how can Mr. Reiif's strange action be explained ? He was a well-known business man, and allowed his reputation to suifer. The aid of the state authorities had been invoked. On Sept. 17, 1743, James Logan, Secretary of Pennsyl- vania, wrote : " I am informed that the debtor (Reiif ) is a roo^ue.'' One would think that the amount in- volved had been too small for a man of standing to allow his reputation to be ruined. It looks very much as if Reiff had shielded the elders of Philadelphia, who had been in league with him until the meeting in Phil- adelphia referred to above. It is significant that Dr. Diemer, who had been appointed with Rev. P. H. Dor- sius to prosecute Reiff, was very slow in proceeding against the delinquent. The whole transaction has never been fully cleared up. Reiff claimed that by the direction of the Phila- delphia elders he had invested the money collected in goods in England and sent them to them, but they de- nied having received them. Thus the matter became a question of veracity which remains unanswered to this day. This is all the more strange from the fact that the elders whom Reiff accused as being in collusion with him were men of standing, especially the two Hillegases. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 169 35. YELLOW FEVER IN PHILADELPHL/V. In 1793 yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia. The mortality was very heavy, and the distress and misery great. The scourge was repeated in the follow- ing years, but was most severe in 1797 and 1798. Many of the people who could do so fled from the city. Between the years 1793 and 1799 twelve thousand people died of the fever. In 1793 5000 persons died of the fever, or one of every five who had remained in the city. Numerous persons died in the streets, be- cause they could find no shelter. Gov. Mifflin and Alexander Hamilton were stricken with the fever, but both recovered. There were many cases of heroic devotion to duty during these trying times. Two Reformed pastors and the schoolmaster fell victims to the disease. They might have left the city, as did many others, but they remained at their posts until death called them away. At the first breaking out of the fever Rev. John Henry Winkhaus was pastor of the First Reformed church on Race street. He commenced his ministry here on Sept. 26, 1790. He died of the fever on October 3, 1793, and was buried in the cemetery which is now Franklin Square. He contracted the fatal disease while visiting the schoolmaster, who also died of the fever. 12 170 EARLY HISTORY Rev. Mr. Winkhaus' successor in the pastorate of the Reformed church was Rev. Wm. HeDdel, D. D., a venerable and saintly man. ^' His hair was long and white, his countenance serene and heavenly, and his whole appearance beautifully venerable and saint-like." Daring the yellow fever scourge which raged in 1798 Dr. Hendel continued at his post, comforting the sick and burying the dead. The city- was largely deserted, and there were many deaths. It is stated that nearly all the pastors had left their people and fled to places of safety. Dr. Hendel was at last also stricken with the fatal disease, and died on Sept. 29, 1798, and was buried in Franklin Square, beside the remains of Revs. Schlatter, Steiner, Weyberg and Winkhaus. In 1837 the city took possession of the cemetery and converted it into a public square, now known as Franklin Square. The tombstones were laid flat on the earth and covered. Thousands of people now pass through the place with- out knowing upon what sacred ground they are treading. Another noble citizen during the yellow fever epi- demics was Stephen Girard, the wealthy founder of Girard College, who aided in burying many victims of the fever. An examination disclosed the fact that the fever was caused by Dock creek, a small stream flowing through the city, into which a number of tan yards and many dwellings were drained. The nuisance was abated, and it was also resolved to supply the people with water taken from the Schuylkill river. Since then the yellow fever never visited Philadelphia. It was a great pity that this was not done earlier and OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 171 thousands of lives saved. A pumping station was erected at Chestnut street and water taken from the Schuylkill at that point. But if that were done now, the probability is that there would be a worse epidemic than was that of yellow fever described above. The water at Chestnut street is now as bad and impure as water can be. The Schuylkill is now tapped at Fair- mount dam, and it is bad enough there. 172 EARLY HISTORY 36. EARLY REFORMED SUNDAY SCHOOLS. The First Reformed church of Philadelphia has the honor of having the oldest Sunday school, not only in our Church, but also in the city of Philadelphia. The school was organized on April 14, 1806, with forty members. We must not think that this was the be- ginning of religious instruction in this congregation. Before the Sunday school there was during many years a parochial school, in which the children received re- ligious and secular instruction. We cannot state the date when the parochial school was established, but the minutes of the consistory show that it was already in existence in 1747. (The congregation itself was organ-, ized in 1728.) The first school house was erected in 1753-4. The first teacher appears to have been Mr. John Barger. The qualifications of the teacher in- cluded reading, writing, arithmetic and singing, and he had to submit to an examination. He had to be a God-fearing, virtuous man, and set a good example to the young. He was to teach three hours in the fore- noon and three hours in the afternoon, and was to open and close each session with ^^ a hearty prayer to God for His grace and blessing." It was the duty of the teacher to teach the children to pray. He was to teach them the Lord's Prayer and other prayers, the OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 173 Ten Commandments, the Articles of the Christian Faith, as well as Scripture passages. He was also to sing with the children. Those children able to read were taught the catechism until they had committed all the questions and answers. The pastor of the con- gregation was the superintendent of the school, and had to be acknowledged as such. Each child was to pay five shillings per quarter for instruction. In the case of poor children the congregation paid the teacher three shillings per quarter from the church treasury. The congregation supplemented the income of the teacher by eight pounds per year, besides the use of a house. The qualifications and duties of the teacher in Philadelphia applied to the parochial school teachers generally. Besides the duties above enumerated they had to serve as organists and leaders of singing in the church. The Sunday school organized in 1806 had many trials. During many years the school was not self- supporting, and the congregation had to aid in its sup- port. At times the school was greatly reduced in mem- bership. In 1847 it had been actually disbanded for a short time. When Dr. Bomberger became pastor in 1854, the school consisted of only three teachers and about twenty scholars on account of a secession which had oi3curred a short time previous. But the school was soon reinvigorated, and by 1858 it had increased to 250 members. At present the membership is 365. The Sunday school was conducted on the old church site on Race street, corner of Fourth street, until May, 1884, when it was removed to the new church at Tenth 174 EARLY HISTORY and Wallace streets. The centennial of the school was celebrated on Sunday, April 29, 1906. Rev. David Van HornCj the only surviving former pastor, preached the sermon. The services were in charge of the pas- tor, Rev. E. F. Wiest. As stated above, the first Reformed Sunday school in our country was founded in 1806 with forty mem- bers. Now there are in the Reformed Church over 1600 Sunday schools with about 25,000 officers and teachers and 200,000 scholars. A large increase in a hundred years. As far as the writer could ascertain, the next to the oldest Sunday school in the Reformed Church is that started by Mrs. Maria L. Hertz, wife of Rev. Daniel Hertz, in the historic Bethany congregation, near Eph- rata, Pa. In the year 1823 or 1824 she gathered the children of the neighborhood at the parsonage on every Sunday evening and gave them religious instruction. After awhile the school was transferred to the church. The date of the transfer is not known, but it was before 1837, as at that time there was a well-organized school in the church. This pious lady was the pioneer in the Sunday school work in that region. The Sunday school of Zion's church at York dates back to 1825. Rev. Lewis Mayer was pastor there from 1821 to 1825. He introduced English services, and during his pastorate a Sunday school room was erected in the rear of the church, which implies that a Sunday school was already in existence before 1825. The present membership of Zion's school is about 600. The Reformed people in Allentown (in early times called Northampton) united with the Lutherans in OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 175 1825 in organiziDg a Suoday school. Rev. John Gob- recht was the pastor of the Reformed people. At the opening session 12 children, 4 teachers and a few spec- tators were present. Michael D. Eberhard was the first superintendent. For a number of years the school was conducted without any formal organization, being without constitution or elected officers. Every child brought its own book, a New Testament, the Psalms or a primer. All the books were in German. Some were opposed to the Sunday school, because there were then parochial schools. For several years the school met alternately in the Reformed and Lutheran churches. During the first ten years the school was several times discontinued. In 1835 it was reopened in St. Paul's Lutheran church, only to be again discontinued. Some church members objected to the school being con- ducted in the church on the ground that the scholars soiled the benches. In 1836 it was reopened in a school house. In 1840 the third church on the old Reformed ground was completed, and the school came home again, to the place where it had been founded sixteen years before. In 1845 a constitution and by- laws were adopted. In 1846 charges were brought against several teachers for attending a ball and danc- ing, and they were suspended for four weeks. At the end of that time they returned, made a confession and promised reform, and were restored. In 1849 the school consisted of 35 teachers and 180 scholars. In 1856 the Lutherans withdrew from the school. In 1905 Zion's school consisted of 47 officers and teachers and 812 scholars. 176 EARLY HISTORY The Sunday school of the First church at Lebanon was organized in August, 1828. Previous to that time the Reformed people were connected with the union school of the town. Mr. Jacob Roedel was the first superintendent and served four years, although he was a Lutheran. Mrs. William Moore prepared a question book for the study of uniform lessons. The superin- tendents have been Jacob Roedel, William Yeho, William Hiester, John Ermentrour, Elias Raber and Dr. Jos. L. Lemberger. The latter was elected on June 13, 1860, and is still in office, having served 46 years continuously. — As in the case of many of the older congregations, the First church at Lebanon main- tained a parochial school from an early date. The date of the organization of this school is not known, but it was in existence before 1773. In that year's account there is an item of expense of forty cents " for a bucket and tin cup for the school house.'' In 1905 the school consisted of 88 officers and teachers and 1043 scholars. One of the oldest Sunday schools in the Reformed Church is that of the First church in Easton. The congregation was organized about 1750, and the present church was erected in 1776. The Sunday school was organized in June, 1830, during the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Pomp. We have been unable to obtain any particulars in reference to the organization of the school or to its early history. The present member- ship of the Sunday school is 550. The Sunday school of the First church in Lancas- ter was organized in 1832 with some 30 teachers and upwards of 200 scholars. There were Sunday schools OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 177 in several other churches of the city then already. The establishing of a Sunday school in the Reformed congregation was already urged in the consistory in 1821, the record says, by a " respectable man/^ who stated that Sunday schools were being generally intro- duced, and the congregation must necessarily lose, un- less it fell into line in this movement. But nothing was done then. In 1828 the matter was again brought up in the consistory, and it was agreed to start a Sun- day school in the school house in which the parochial school was conducted. However the matter was once more deferred, and the organization of the school was delayed until 1832, when it was organized and con- ducted in the church. The present membership of the school is about 260. The parochial school was founded soon after the organization of the congregation. The Sunday school of Boehm's church in Mont- gomery county was organized on July 27, 1834. Mr. Fred. Nuss was elected superintendent. Rev. George Heilig, a Lutheran clergyman, delivered an address. It is stated that during the first season the school was attended by 17 teachers and 117 scholars. The school has had a continuous existence ever since. The First Reformed Sunday school of Reading was organized in 1840. Previous to that time the Re- formed people were connected with the union school which held its sessions in the court house in Penn square, which school was commenced in 1819. In 1840 the Reformed people changed the cellar of the church erected in 1832 into a basement for the Sunday school. The place was so dark that a lot of tallow 178 EARLY HISTORY dips were kept burning during the sessions to enable the people to read. Mr. Henry Ermentrout was the first superintendent, who served only a short time. He w^as succeeded by Mr. A. F. Boas, who continued in office until 1877, a period of 37 years. He was a great friend of children, and had been superintendent of a small colored school when he was only sixteen years of age. Among the scholars attending the school in the cellar still living are Dr. W. K. Zieber, of Hanover ; Mrs. Sarah B. Soder, Jacob B. Fricker, Jacob B. Bech- tel and Mrs. Rebecca J. Hantsch, of Reading. One of the teachers w^as the late Prof John S. Ermentrout. At present the school has a membership of over 1300. — In 1755 Rev. Michael Schlatter organized one of the charity schools in the Reformed church at Read- ing, which was partly supported with foreign money. Subsequently the congregation maintained it until 1848. The school house stood at the corner of Seventh and Washington streets, and was sold in 1850. In 1841 the first Sunday school in the White Oak congregation of the Bethany charge, Lancaster county, was organized by Matthias Hoffer, Henry Keiser and others. After being conducted in the church for three or four years the school was removed to another loca- tion. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 179 37. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. Not many years ago Children's Day was intro- duced in the Reformed Church, and this day is now very generally observed. But we must not think that special services for children are a modern institution. The Sunday school is often so greatly magnified that the impression is apt to be made that our fathers did not know the needs of the children, or did not concern themselves about them. Nothing could be more erron- eous. The fact is that good people always cared for the religious instruction of their children. No people were ever more particular in this matter than the Jews. Every child was thoroughly familiar with the history of this people. Their best school for the children was the family, and the father was the teacher. The his- tory of the Jews was constantly rehearsed in the fam- ily, and in this way the children were thoroughly schooled. Paul says of young Timothy that from a child he knew the Scriptures. Substantially the same may be said of our fathers in Germany. By means of the parochial schools and Sunday afternoon catechization the children were thor- oughly indoctrinated. Religious instruction was im- parted in the parochial school by the teacher, who was a pious man and stood next to the pastor in the com- 180 EARLY HISTORY m unity. Then on every Sunday afternoon the pastor instructed the children from the catechism. It is safe to say that the children in those days possessed a more thorough knowledge of religion than those of any later period. Our fathers in this country continued the good cus- tom of the Fatherland. The parochial school per- formed its good work here too until it was supplanted by the free school. Unfortunately with the discontin- uance of the parochial school religious instruction in the weekday school passed away almost entirely. In some instances the New Testament is still being read. The first Children's Day service of which we have a record was held in the Reformed church at Lebanon on Sunday, June 24, 1792. The service was held in the school house in the rear of the church. The pastor was Rev. Ludwig Rupp, and the program used on this occasion is still preserved. Of course it was in Ger- man. There was no English service at that time, and there was of course no Sunday school. (The latter was started in 1828.) At this Children's Day service there was responsive reading by the pastor and the school, and there was a choir which rendered music. The program is pervaded by a beautiful Christian spirit. Jesus is represented as the great Children's Friend whose blood cleanseth from all sin. Notwith- standing their sinfulness He welcomes all and imparts His grace to all who seek Him. The children are asked to dedicate themselves to Him in body, soul and spirit. At a later period the late Dr. F. W. Kremer intro- duced quarterly children's services. The regular OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 181 church services were always well attended on the part of children and young people, but once a quarter the Sunday school was taken into the church and appro- priate services held. The pastor preached a sermon suited for the occasion. These quarterly children's services were very much like those now held on what is known as Children's Day. The writer has vivid and pleasant recollections of these services which he attended as a boy. 182 EARLY HISTORY 38. EARLY CHURCH SOCIETIES. The oldest society in the Reformed Church is the Ministerial Relief Society, which was organized in 1773 by the Coetus. The object was to aid disabled minis- ters and widows of ministers. (See page 188.) Early Brotherhood. The first congregational society of which the writer has any record is that of a Brotherhood. It was organ- ized by the male members of the First church in Phil- adelphia on February 10, 1806. Its specific object was '' to preserye the German language, diyine services and schools.'^ The time was during the first agitation for English services. The members of this Brother- hood realized the need of co-operation for the preserva- tion of their mother tongue. In 1807 the Brotherhood addressed a communication to the consistory, which states its object more fully. This letter is as follows : Philadelphia, February 13th, 1807. Reverend avd Worthy Mnnbers of the Consistory : It is well known to you that on February 10th of last year a brotherhood was established among the men in Mr. SchinkeFs house, "' to preserve the German lan- guage, divine services and schools." This brotherhood held its meetings in the school house every month. On March 10th 35 members of the congregation were enrolled for this purpose, but since that time some OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 183 have stayed away altogether. You know, dear sirs, that the result of the last election was secured with heavy cost. If it had not been done w^e would have been lost entirely, and would have had to submit to the English yoke. We regard it as necessary, if Ger- man services are to continue, that the youth in our congregation enjoy more instruction and be held to- gether according to our best ability. Already on the 14th of April we took measures to establish a Sunday school, because our regulations men- tion particularly the cultivation of the German lan- guage, divine services and the schools. Hence it w^as our duty to carry on the good work towards comple- tion. We elected teachers, fit to begin and to continue this laborious and troublesome work. Hardly had it become known in our congregation when parents sent their children with great joy, even from the " Xeck" and Kensington, a great distance, to our Sunday school. On the first Sunday 40 children were present, since that time the number has grown to 100. It is incum- bent upon you, dear sirs, as overseers of our congrega- tion, to support the German schools more and more. Take a look at the Lutheran congregation and notice what measures are there taken and how they interest themselves in the schools. Their congregation is about half again as strong as ours, but they have four week- day schools and two Sunday schools, wdiile w^e have only two, namely, one weekday school and one Sundav school. . . . Therefore do not delay any longer, but take everything into consideration, especially our schools. Where do the many sects come from ? From a lack of a thorough knowledge of religion, when one believes this and the other that, and at last none knows what to believe. We are convinced that it is high time and our duty more and more to establish and to confirm our children in their religion, as Paul praises young Timothy that from a child he had known the 184 EAELY HISTORY holy Scriptures, which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Sunday school has had expenses since its es- tablishment. Books, paper, ink, pens, a box in which to keep the books, etc., had to be bought. This money has been taken temporarily from the treasury of the brotherhood. Last year we appealed to you. We re- ceived an answer, but there was in it no reference to the support of the school. We had to be satisfied with that. But now since our debt has increased, through the last election, we feel compelled to appeal to you again and to ask jou that a collection in behalf of our Sunday school be taken in church, in order that we may return to the brotherhood the money advanced to us. The rest of the money will be used to buy books and other necessaries. We are with high esteem, Jacob Belsterling. Georg Muller, Johan Christ, Von Hof, Philip Mertz, Friedrich Schenkel, Adam Holl. Early Women's Society. The women of the Reformed church in Philadel- phia also had an early society for a most laudable ob- ject. It is to be regretted that the date of the organi- zation is unknown. Its constitution was first pub- lished in 1818, but it is believed that the society ex- isted a long; tiuie before that. The constitution was published in the first number of the magazine which bears the title " Evangelische Erbauliche Aufsatze.^^ The magazine contains articles on Sabbath observance, the festival days, etc., and also a hymn sung at the monthly meeting of the society. We herewith append a translation of the main por- tion of the constitution : OF THE ^[reformed CHURCH. 185 Art. 1. This society shall bear the name The Women's Society for the promotion and exercise of true godliness in the High German Reformed Church in Philadelphia. Art. 4. The object of this society shall be to pro- mote godliness by divine assistance among the mem- bers and others. Art. 5. The society shall seek to secure the attend- ance of the women of the congregation at public wor- ship on Sundays and at the weekly prayer-meetings. Art. 6. The society shall consider the poor of the congregation, and for this purpose contribute 12J cents per month. Besides this every member admitted into the society shall make a voluntary offering for the treasury. Art. 7. The society shall seek to send poor chil- dren to the school as far as the treasury will allow. Art. 8. A committee^of eight persons shall be ap- pointed — two for the city, two for South wark, two for the Northern Liberties and two for Kensington — to look after the female members who may neglect public worship and the prayer meeting, and to admonish such of their duty to attend the preaching of the word on Sunday morning and afternoon. Art. 9. This society shall concern itself about the girls of the Sunday school. Art. 10. This society shall publish evangelical tracts and edifying compositions with the assistance of the pastor. Should the Lord bless the effort, there shall eventually be published an evangelical magazine. The balance of the constitution relates to the duties of the officers. The above two documents are, interesting as show- ing that the men and women of the Reformed Church in Philadelphia a hundred years ago were good and 13 186 EARLY HISTORY earnest people. Tlie objects of botli societies were most laudable. The following hymn was sung at the monthly meet- ings of the Women's Society in Philadelphia. Both the constitution and the hymn have come to us through the kindness of Rev. A. Stapleton, of Wrightsville, Pa. Uns Schwache, Herr, verachte nicht, Die du erwiihlet hast. Wir wandeln ja in deinem Licht, Hilf tragen jede Last. Herr Jesu ! nns verbinde ganz In Lieb' und Einigkeit, CJnd schenke Weisheit, Geistesglanz, Uns alien Seligkeit. Die Heerde, Jesu ! sammle du, Durch deiuen Geist und Wort, Auch die Verlornen fiihr' herzu, 8ey unser starker Hort ! Die Armen, Herr ! verlasse nicht, Die Kinder segne du. Komm unter uns, O Lebenslicht ! Und schenke Fried und Ruh. Breit aus, O Herr, das Christenthum, Ach, baue dir dein Reich, Zu deines Namens Preis und Ruhm, Herr Gott, wer ist dir gleich ! So singen wir mit Herz und Mund Dein Lob. Halleluja ! Und machen deine Wunder kiind. Schweigt, unser Gott ist nab' ! In more recent years the Church has had numer- ous societies. Congregational missionary societies have OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 187 long since existed, as well as Women's Mite or Benevo- lent Societies, etc. There was during many years a female prayer meeting in the First Reformed church at Lebanon. About twenty years ago Women's Classical and Sy nodical Missionary Societies were organized. When these came before the General Synod of 1890 for recog- nition, the matter led to an animated discussion. Some appeared to fear that the women were going to far, and reaching beyond their legitimate sphere. Some ex- pressions were made which afterward had to be re- called. Some were quick to quote Paul that the ^^ women should be silent in church." It is indeed remarkable how strong was the prejudice on the part of some ministers against women's missionary societies. At a subsequent meeting of a District Synod a lady foreign missionary of the Reformed Church had been scheduled to speak in the church on a certain evening during the sessions, but the pastor loci could not bear the idea of a woman speaking in his church, and she was forbidden. She might go to the ends of the earth to carry the gospel of Jesus to the heathen, but she must not undertake to speak in a Reformed church, because she was a woman ! The lady accepted an in- vitation to speak in another church, where she received a great ovation. But fortunately things are changed now. At the present time we have no lack of societies in the Church, but rather a surplus. It is felt that the Church now spends far too much energy upon organi- zations. Some one has said that one more society was needed — one to kill useless societies ! 188 EAELY HISTORY 39. MINISTERIAL RELIEF SOCIETY. In the beginning of the Christian Church the Gre- cians complained against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected, and the Apostles appointed seven deacons to care for this matter. Acts 6 : 1-4. The early Reform ed ministers of Pennsylvania also realized the necessity of providing for widows. The first person to receive consideration of this kind was the widow of Rev. John P. Boehm, who may be regarded as the founder of the Reformed Church in our state. He had spent his life in the service of the people, with but little salary, and supported his family on a farm in Montgomery county. In 1752 the Coetus paid the widow four pounds in Pennsylvania money. She also received fourteen guilders from Holland, to which the Coetus added 38 shillings, besides the four pounds. The wife of Rev. Dorsius was given 47 guilders of money from Holland. She appears to have been de- serted by her husband, as appears later. In 1753 the Coetus states that ^^ the deserted wife of Rev. Dorsius" was given 8 pounds in addition to the 6 pounds sent her from Holland. In 1754 the ^^ deserted wife of Rev. Dorsius'' was given 6 pounds. At the same meeting the widow of the recently deceased Rev. Mr. Wissler was given ten pounds. Subsequently the widows of OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 189 Revs. Muenz, Wissler, Dorsius and Weiss were assisted from the monies received from Holland. In 1755 Rev. Michael Schlatter, in sending the pro- ceedings of the Coetus to Holland, stated that he pro- posed to establish a Widow^s Fund. The first formal action of the Coetus to establish a Widows' Fund was taken at the meeting of 1773, and is as follows : " Most of us are in our best years, all are married except Rev. Otterbein, and the majority are blessed with children. Owing to our very arduous work our strength is easily exhausted, and none of us can save enough out of his salary to enable his widow and or- phans to live comfortably after his death. Moreover, there are no institutions in this country which care for widows and orphans. Now, in order not to leave our dear ones entirely helpless after our departure, all the members of Coetus have resolved to establish a widows' and orphans' fund, into which every member of Coetus, as long as he lives, is to pay annually a fixed sum, which, after his death, is to be paid out, with interest, to his widow and orphans. But since we are too weak in numbers and means to make a good start in this en- terprise, we ask the Reverend Fathers for permission to use for this purpose that money which remains of the charitable donations, after duly providing for the pres- ent widows of ministers and schoolmasters, and which thus far was used to defray the traveling expenses of the ministers attending Coetus." In 1787 the Coetus adopted rules for the govern- ment of the Widow's Fund. Every member was to pay two pounds (about $5.00) annually at the meeting of the Coetus. Any one neglecting to pay was fined at the rate of ose penny per day. Any member marrying 190 EARLY HISTORY more than once had to pay a double fee for that year, four pounds, or about $10.00. In case a minister was excluded from Coetus he could still continue as a mem- ber of the Widow's Fund, and after his death his wid- ow and children received benefits, the same as if no ex- clusion had taken place. Any member neglecting to pay three times forfeited his rights and excluded his family from benefits. The interest of the money in- vested was annually divided amoug ministers' widows as long as they remained such widows. In case a min- ister left no widow, but children, such children were beneficial until the age of sixteen years. In case Coetus wished to aid others than w-idows, money could be bor- rowed from the Fund, but had to be replaced, and the officers of Coetus had to give the treasurer a bond for the return of the money. At that date (1787) there were fourteen members of the Widows' Fund, and the capital of the Fund amounted to 337 pounds, 16 shil- lings and 2 pence. There were then three beneficiaries, the widows Wittner, Bucher and Steiner. This laudable w^ork has been continued to this day. Additions were made to the Fund from the allowance from Holland as money could be spared, and the wid- ows of ministers assisted by small gratuities. In 1810 the society was chartered, but during many years it continued a small affair. In 1833 the society was re- organized and the money on hand transferred. In recent years the society has flourished, and the Fund has been largely increased by collections in churches and membership fees. At the close of its fiscal year, Sept. 30, 1905, the society had an invested endowment OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 191 of §70,300. The receipts cluriDg the year amounted to about §14,000, and there was paid out to 63 benefi- ciaries the sum of §3797. This old society is not under sy nodical control. The General Synod of 1905 took steps to organize a society which will be under the control of that body, and into which it is hoped the old society will be merged. The purpose is to have one society for the whole Church. The new General Synod society was organized in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., on August 1, 1905, by the Board elected by said synod. A charter and by-laws were adopted. The name of the society is " Board of Ministerial Relief of the Reformed Church in the Unit- ed States.'^ These officers were elected : President, Dr. Philip Vollmer ; vice president, Dr. J. H. Steele ; sec- retary and treasurer. Dr. J. M. Schick ; executive committee. Dr. Philip Vollmer, Dr. J. M. Schick, Rev. T. M. Yundt, Dr. J. W. Meminger, and elder George A. Leinbach. The latter died soon after. 192 EARLY HISTORY 40. EARLY EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS. In 1767 Rev. J. Leyd appeared before Coetus as a delegate of the Dutch Coetus of New Jersey and New York, with a communication from the above body re- questing a closer fellowship between the two Coetuses. Rev. L. stated that the Dutch brethren had secured the privilege of founding a college in New Jersey for the purpose of preparing young men for the ministry and requested support. The German Coetus received the proposition with pleasure, and expressed the need of facilities to prepare young men here instead of bringing all such from Germany, especially since some of those secured in the latter way failed to meet the require- ments. The Coetus asked the Church in Holland for permission to aid in the founding of a college such as was proposed. The experience of several centuries in Europe had taught the usefulness of such an institution. The Dutch brethren in New York and New Jersey founded Queen's College at New Brunswick, N. J. In 1772 the attention of Coetus was called to it and the request made that the ministers should recommend the college from their pulpits. This was agreed to. The first expressed desire on the part of Coetus to have a way to prepare young men for the ministry we find in the report to Holland in 1765. The brethren OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 193 say : " It would be against nature and reason that the daughter should always have to remain a minor and inferior, that she should never dare to^ grow into moth- erhood and womanhood. If our Zion is to flourish, the daughter must become a woman and a mother. The Presbyterians have given us an example in this, and have prepared men, whereby their churches flourish. And so in time it will have to be with our Church. The Synods and Classes of Holland are our best example in their beginning and progress, and our regular ordina- tion, after the articles of our faith, gives us the right and the power to increase that we may arrive at riper years.'^ In 1766 the Coetus declares that it has no intention to separate from the Church in Holland, but it asks for permission to examine and ordain candidates when nec- essary. It cites as a precedent that in 1752 Rev. Mr. Schlatter ordained Du Bois and Tempelman. But the Fathers in Holland were slow to grant this request. However the desire grew on the part of the brethren in Pennsylvania, and the request was renewed from time to time. In 1770 the Holland Fathers agreed that Coetus might ordain young men after consent had been obtained from Holland. In 1784 Coetus again refers to the desirability of preparing young men here for the ministry, instead of depending upon a foreign country for a full supply. However a school could not be established without aid from abroad. In 1785 the Coetus again expresses itself upon this subject. It repeats that a school was needed in the 194 EARLY HISTORY central part of the state to prepare youDg men for the ministry. The reason for this view was that it was expensive to bring ministers from Europe, besides some of those brought proved failures, either by bringing stains with themselves or by not being able to accom- modate themselves to the new country ; secondly, many young men would devote themselves to the ministry if they had an opportunity, and the people had more con- fidence in natives than foreigners, because of their un- fortunate experience. Thirdly, the Presbyterians had established a second school at Carlisle, for which they had asked support and some Reformed teachers. The request was declined out of love for the German lan- guage. The assurance is again expressed that there is no desire to separate from Holland. But no matter how small a beginning might be made, the Reformed people could not establish a school or college without aid, but they believed that the money thus invested would bear good fruit. In 1786, after reciting their unfortunate experience with several ministers sent from Europe, the members of the Coetus again expressed their desire for a school in which to educate young men as the surest way of securing suitable ministers. The desire for a school in which young men might be educated for the Reformed ministry was finally real- ized in the founding of Franklin College at Lancaster in 1787. This college was established principally for the education of the sons of the Pennsylvania Ger- mans, Reformed and Lutheran, and Benjamin Frank- lin took a leading part in it. The college was named OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 195 after him. He had donated 200 pounds. The state donated 10,000 acres of land in the northwestern part of the state to the new college. The building was dedicated on June 6, 1787. This was a great occasion. Benjamin Franklin attended the dedication, although he was then old and feeble. A copy of the published program is still at hand. A procession was formed at the court house and marched to the German Lutheran church, where services were held. The Reformed Coe- tus formed a part of the procession, as well as the Re- formed congregation. The services were conducted in both languages. Among the first trustees were Revs. Weyberg, Hendel, Albert Helffenstein, John W. In- gold, Abraham Blumer, Fred. Dallicker, Jos. Hiester, Philip Greenawald and others of the Reformed Church. Of the 40 trustees 15 were Reformed, 15 Lutherans and the remainder . represented other denominations. The first president was Dr. H. E. Muhlenberg, Luth- eran, and the first vice president was Dr. Wm. Hendel, Reformed. Annual public examinations were held, when stu- dents delivered orations. The first one was held on Oct. 17, 1788, conducted by Rev. Dr. ^yilliam Hen- del, of the Reformed Church. People were curious to see how the German boys would get along in the Eng- lish pronunciation, and it is stated that " there was no difference between them and the English born, except that the Germans read more slowly and distinctly.'^ At the second examination on July 3, 1789, a German oration was delivered by John T. Faber, jr., afterwards a prominent Reformed minister. Among other stu- 196 EARLY HISTORY dents who entered the Reformed ministry were J. C. Becker and Philip Gloninger. The Coetus of 1787 was held in Lancaster on June 5, so that it might attend the dedication of Franklin College. But it is difficult to understand the report of the Coetus on this subject. The new college is called a " German High School in Lancaster.'^ The original building in which Franklin College FRANKLIN COLLEGE, LANCASTER, 1787. was started is still standing. It is a two-story brick building, and is located on North Queen street, near James. It was erected by the government during the Revolution and used as an arsenal. After the removal of Franklin College the building was sold and changed into a number of dwelling houses. Above we present a picture of the original building. In 1790 the Coetal report states that "the High School at Lancaster failed a year ago, because on ac- OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 197 count of the hard times the professors did not receive their salaries/' This was not fully correct. The school was kept open, but in 1788 there was only one teacher left. The trouble was lack of money. The Reformed and Lutheran people did not generally favor higher education, and the college was not properly patronized. In March, 1788, the professors voluntarily agreed to be satisfied with £100 as salary instead of £200. Thus at first the college was rather a disappoint- ment, but later it prospered, and continued its work until 1853. Gradually it had come under the control of the Reformed and Lutherans. In 1850 the Re- formed purchased the Lutheran interest for $17,169.61, and Franklin College was united with Marshall Col- lege at Mercersburg. The latter college, founded in 1836, was removed to Lancaster in 1853, and since then the united institution is known as Franklin and Marshall College. But Franklin College did not furnish as many young men for the Reformed ministry as had been ex- pected. Before its founding and long afterward certain pastors instructed young men in theology and other branches in their homes, and furnished many ministers in this way. Revs. Weyberg, Hendel, Gross and Helf- fenstein prepared a number of young men in this way during the time of the Coetus. This work was con- tinued under the Synod which was organized in 1793. Rev. Samuel Helffenstein is said to have prepared 27 young men. Dr. Lebrecht Frederick Herman, who was the last minister sent here from Europe, prepared 13 young men, five of whom were his own sons — Chas. 198 EARLY HISTORY G., Augustus L., Frederick A., Reuben and Lewis C. (Another son, Alfred J., had also studied for the min- istry, but instead devoted himself to the medical profes- sion, and became a prominent physician at Carlisle.) The other young men prepared by Dr. Herman were these well-known ministers : Revs. John C. Guldin (a great-grandson of Rev. Samuel Guldin, the first or- dained Reformed minister in Pennsylvania, who came here in 1710), B. S. Schneck, Thomas H. Leinbach, Joseph S. Dubbs, Peter S. Fisher, Abraham Berge, Richard A. Fisher and David Young. In this way ministers were supplied for the Church until the founding of the theological seminary at Car- lisle, Pa., which was opened on March 11, 1825. In 1829 the seminary was removed to York, in 1837 to Mercersburg and in 1871 to Lancaster, where it is now located. Besides this there are now three other semi- naries in the Church — Ursinus School of Theology in Philadelphia, Heidelberg Seminary at Tiffin, Ohio, and the Mission House near Franklin, Wis. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 199 41. EARLY CUSTOMS. We read that Rev. Michael Schlatter met Conrad TempelmaDj a lay preacher, for the first time on a com- munion occasion in Muddy Creek church in 1747. After the communion Mr. Schlatter asked Mr. Tem- pelman to preach a thanksgiving sermon, which was so satisfactory to Mr. Schlatter that he recommended that Tempelman should be ordained. A thanksgiving ser- mon after the communion ? What does that mean ? It simply means what it implies. In the early history of our Church in this state the communion was fol- lowed by a thanksgiving sermon, and it was logical. It strikes us strangely, because the custom is not ob- served now. The communion is a great blesing, which calls for gratitude. We now express gratitude in the prayers before and after the communion, but our fathers had also a sermon on the subject. This custom ex- plains the statement about Mr. Tempelman's thanks- giving sermon at the communion. People in our day would not be willing to listen to a sermon after the communion. In the average congregation it would prolong the service too much. Another early custom connected with the prepara- tion for the communion was the one observed in the Reformed church in Lancaster, introduced by Rev. 200 EARLY HISTORY Wm. Otterbein and continued daring several pastor- ates. Mr. Otterbein was an earnest and godly man, and entered upon his pastorate at Lancaster in 1752. He had agreed to serve the congregation five years. He was much grieved by the lack of church discipline. At the end of his term he desired to withdraw, but the people wished him to remain, and Coetus also urged him to continue in this work. He finally consented upon the condition that proper discipline be exercised and that he be unhampered in the performance of his duties. He resumed his work in 1757. In that year the custom above referred to was introduced. A paper was drawn up in the handwriting of Rev. Mr. Otter- bein, in which certain evils are recited and the need of discipline stated. The measure was approved by the congregation and signed by eighty male members. Accordingly communicants were required to present themselves to the pastor upon a day appointed for that purpose, in order that the pastor might have interviews with them in reference to their spiritual life, and to impart to them counsel and comfort. The day ap- pointed for the purpose was before the preparatory service. Mr. Otterbein served as pastor from 1752 to 1758, and the congregation made more real progress than ever before. The above custom was continued during succeeding pastorates until the close of the pas- torate of Rev. J. H. Hoffmeier, and existed during seventy-five years. Perhaps it would be well if the custom were still practised. It would no doubt tend to growth in the divine life. At each meeting of the Classis every minister is expected to read a report of his pastoral labors during OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 201 the preceding year. In the case of a large Classis this consumes much time. Even ministers without charges come under this rule. This custom dates back to the beginning of our Church in this country. At the meet- ing of the Coetus in 1748 it was ordered that every minister should annually " hand in to the Coetus a re- port concerning the members of the congregations en- trusted to him, how many have died, how many have been married, how many children of both sexes have been baptized and how many new persons have been admitted to the holy communion during the year, in addition to the former number, which shall be given. ^^ Since then the scope of these parochial reports has been greatly enlarged. Now the pastor is required to report also the number of unconfirmed members, con- firmations, number of Sunday schools, scholars, teach- ers and officers, contributions for benevolence and con- gregational purposes, etc. Some of the early Reformed ministers wore gowns when officiating in church. Such was the case with Rev. Dr. Weyberg in Philadelphia. This was also the custom in early times at Lancaster. On April 17, 1750, a certain tailor there was paid six shillings for making a gown for their pastor, Rev. Ludwig F.Vock. The custom gradually fell into disuse, and we know only of a few Reformed ministers now wearing gowns. The custom is still continued in many parts of the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania. It is to be regretted that the early congregations did not at once commence regular church records. For ^ long time records were kept only of baptisms and 14 202 EARLY HISTORY marriages. At the Coetiis of 1752 Rev. Mr. Schlatter gave each minister two such records boimd in parch- ment, which he had brought from Holland. The one given to Rev. John Waldschmid is now in possession of Mr. David W. Gress, Denver, Pa., a lineal descend- ant of \yaldschmid. Years ago more attention was given to the religious instruction of the youth than is done now. The young people were thoroughly indoctrinated. This was done in the parochial school and subsequently in the cate- chetical class. As a rule the candidates for confirma- tion committed to memory 'all the questions and an- swers of the catechism. Then before confirmation they were publicly examined before the whole congregation. It was an excellent plan. What people acquire in their youth usually adheres to them through their lives. The cramming system of the public schools has made the former thoroughness in catechisation impossible. In the German Fatherland it was customary for the pastor to instruct the young people every Sunday after- noon in the catechism. This plan w^as better than many modern Sunday schools. It was also introluced in our country. In 1768 Elder Wm. Bausman com- plained to the Coetus that the pastor at Lancaster, Rev. William Hendel, failed to catechize the children regularly on Sunday afternoou. The pastor replied that this was impossible, because he was supplying the Reformed people at Pequea on certain Sunday after- noons. The plan w^as in vogue elsewhere, but gradu- ally fell into disuse because the ministers had to serve many congregations. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 203 The Moravian pastor at Hebron, now a part of Lebanon, states that on June 11, 1791, he attended a confirmation service by invitation in the First Re- formed church at Lebanon. Rev. Ludwig Lupp, the pastor, confirmed fifty children. First there was a preparatory sermon, after which the children were twice catechised. Then the Lord's Sapper was cele- brated. The whole service occupied six hours, and there was much weeping in the church, because the hearts of the young people were greatly affected. On June 10, 1797, Pastor Lupp confirmed seventy young persons in the same church. This was a large number, considering that Lebanon at that time was only a small town. The congregation included many country people. Until 1776 ourieouutry was under the jurisdiction of the King of England. Those coming to this coun- try had to swear allegiance to the crown of England. The first constitution of the Reformed Church, formu- lated by Rev. John P. Boehm in 1725, made it the duty of Reformed ministers " to pray in the public congregation for our beloved King, the King of Great Britain, and for the government of this country." The loyalty of the German people was frequently ques- tioned by the English, but there could be no doubt about the loyalty of the German Reformed. The most proper place for the baptism of children is undoubtedly the church. This was the view of our fathers. But the practise has largely fallen into decay. In the year 1786 the consistory of the Lancaster con- gregation adopted this action : 204 EARLY HISTORY " Since through the disorder of the war the Christ- ian order of the Church has fallen into neglect to such an extent that, for some time past, no children have been baptized in the church, therefore ' Resolved, that from this time forward, in accordance with the rules of the Church, all children must be baptized in the church. If, however, a child is sick, or the weather is bad, it may be baptized in the house.^ ^^ It has always been a custom to elect elderly mem- bers to the eldership, whilst younger ones were called to serve as deacons. In many instances elders con- tinued in office during many years. With reference to the age of elders the consistory of the Reformed con- gregation at Lancaster in 1799 adopted this resolution : " Resolved, that no one shall be elected elder who, besides leading a good life, is not of such an age as shall constitute him really venera^ble enough to be called elder. This shall be a settled ordinance for- ever.^^ One of the interesting facts in the long history ot the First church at Lancaster is this one. The Baus- man family has been active in it from an early period. In 1752, when the Second church was erected, to take the place of the little log church of 1736, William Bausman was one of the prominent members. In 1768 he represented his congregation at the meeting of the Coetus, and complained to that body about certain ac- tions of the pastor. Dr. William Hendel. In 1771, when the congregation was incorporated by Thomas and William Penn, he was an elder. In 1854 Samuel Bausman commenced to serve as elder. During 1866, 1867 and 1868 Philip, Jacob and Samuel Bausman, three brothers, served as elders. They were elder OF THE KEFORMED CHURCH. 205 brothers of Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., of Reading. Philip Bausman served as elder from 1866 until his death in January, 1897, excepting a few years between 1869 and 1880. It has been the custom of the Reformed Church from early times not to ordain a candidate until he had received a call. This custom still prevails, except in the case of foreign missionaries. In 1779 a Mr. Twi- foot, a member of the Church of England, applied to Coetus for ordination. He had been preaching in Eng- land. His request was declined because of the above rule, and also because the Episcopal Church does not recognize the ordination of Reformed ministers. During the early history of the Reformed Church in Philadelphia the people had a chain stretched across the street near the church, so that the worship might not be disturbed by passing vehicles. Matters are dif- ferent now. Many congregations are disturbed during worship by passing street cars and vehicles, and some by the shrill whistles of steam engines. No chains would be tolerated now. Under the constitution of the Reformed Church the elders with the pastors constitute the spiritual council for the purpose of watching over the spiritual affairs of the congregation and for the exercise of discipline, when necessary. Unfortunately this provision is not generally observed. The elders seldom act as such council. All the work is transacted by the consistory, composed of the elders and deacons, and sometimes trustees also. In 1805 the consistory of the Reformed church at Lancaster established the custom of meeting 206 EARLY HISTORY four times a year as a strictly spiritual body, wheu no other business was to be transacted but such as per- tained to ^' the establishing and maintaining of Christ- ian order, the promotion of love to all that is good, and to the advancement of God's honor and glory /^ This custom was followed a long time, but finally abandoned. It would surely be a good thing if the plan w^ere gen- erally followed. The misfortune is that there are too few "spiritual" meetings. The consistory meetings partake too much of the secular. Financial matters choke spiritual affairs. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 207 42. NAMES OF CONGREGATIONS. The study of the names of many churches consti- tutes an interesting subject. Many were named after localities and others after persons who donated land. We will mention a few such. Falkner Swamp congregation, the oldest in our denomination, was named after Daniel Falkner, one of the agents of the Frankfort Land Company. The region included considerable swampy land, and it Avas therefore called Falkner's Swamp. St. Luke's church is located at the " Trappe'' in Montgomery county. The meaning of the word Trappe has never been explained satisfactorily. One explana- tion offered is that in front of the original hotel at the place were many steps, the German of which is " Trep- pen." It is claimed that at first the place was known as the " Treppen,'' and that the name was afterward changed to Trappe. The first Reformed congregation organized in Berks county is the present Host church, five miles north of Womelsdorf It was organized in 1727, or possibly earlier, by Palatines who came there in 1723 as the first settlers of the region. On October 18, 1727, Rev. J. P. Boehm administered the communion there. The Reformed for some time worshiped with the Lutherans 208 EARLY HISTORY in the Rieth log church, which was erected in 1727 upon land donated by three brothers named Rieth. This was the first Reformed and Lutheran church in this country. Afterward the Reformed withdrew and erected the " Host'^ church at the place named. It is claimed that Host was the name of a family residing there. Hain's church, near Wernersville, Berks county, was also organized by Palatines who came to the Tul- pehocken region in 1723, viz., about the same time as the Host congregation, 1727. The proper name is St. John's, but it is known as Hain's, because George Hain donated the land, for which no deed was ever given. It was originally known as Cacusi church. The first church organized in Albany township, Berks county, was called '^AllemangeP' church. The term signifies ^^Allwants,'' because of the poor quality of the soil originally. When Rev. M. Schlatter in 1747 organized the Reformed congregations into charges, he grouped ^' Magunchy, Allemangel and Schmalzgass" in a charge. The Allemangel church is now known as the Red church. The ^' Schmalzgass'' church is the Jerusalem church near Allentown. The region was known by the above name in early times ; just why, we are unable to state. The first church was erected in 1741. The church at New Tripoli, formerly often called ^^Old Lynntown church," was during a long time known as the ^' organ church." It is so called in the minutes of Coetus. It was the first and for a long time the only church in that region which contained OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 209 an organ. The first church was erected in 1761, and at a later period a small organ was introduced. But the exact time is unknown, nor is it known where the organ came from. In 1798 the church was demol- ished by a storm, and the organ was destroyed. In 1850 a new organ was procured, after an apparent in- terval of many years. In Lowhill township, Lehigh county, stands the ^^ Morning Land church." It is located near a cross road which bears the singular name of ^' Leather Corner Post." How these names originated we cannot state. The congregation at Jonestown, Lebanon county, was originally called " the church on the Swatara," because it was near that stream. The first church stood two miles east of the present village of Jones- town, which had no existence when the church was erected. Rev. Conrad Tempelman was the first pastor. In the western part of Lebanon county stands the BindnagePs (Binding-Nail) church. This was the name of a family residing there. The church stands right on the left bank of the Swatara. The Reformed congregation has become extinct. There are a number of Hill churches. The Hill church four miles northwest of Lebanon is the oldest place of public worship in Lebanon county. (There is a tradition that there was a union church about two miles south of Lebanon which was known as the ^^ Grubben church," previous to the Hill church.) The Hill congregation dates back to 1733. Rev. Conrad Tempelman was the first Reformed pastor. During 210 EARLY HISTORY the Indian war some people stood guard outside whilst others worshiped inside. The church stands upon an elevation, and for this reason it was called Hill church. Originally it was called Quittapahilla (an Indian name), because it is near the stream of that name. Rev. Casper Stoever, who organized the Lutheran con- gregation, erected a stone building at the stream, which served both as a dwelling for him and a grist mill. It is still standing. Another Hill church is located in the southeastern part of Berks county. It deserves this name not so much on account of standing upon a hill, as among a number of hills. In 1747 a frame church was erected. The roof projected a good deal over the sides, and the farmers hung their seed corn under this projection to be dried. For this reason the church was long known as the ^^ corn church. '^ This congregation maintained a parochial school. The school house is still standing. One of the oldest congregations in Lehigh county is the Egypt church. We have made inquiry, but have been unable to discover a reason for this name. Several miles east of Hamburg, Berks county, stands St. PauFs church, which is known as "the smoke church." Why this designation we have been unable to learn. In the northern part of Lebanon county, between the first and second ranges of the Blue Mountains, are two small churches which are known as Moonshiners church and Sattazahn's church. Both were named after families. There are several Corner churches. One is located in the western part of Albany township, Berks county. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 211 It is SO called because of its location in a valley which comes to an end on the west. The region is known as ^' the corner.'^ The proper name of the church is New Bethel. Another corner church is near Robesonia, Berks county. This one is so called because it is located at one of four corners of a cross-road. The proper name of the Lutheran congregation is St. Daniel's, the only one we know by that name. A few years ago the Re- formed people, who nevfer had an interest in the above property, united with St. PauFs congregation in Robe- sonia, and the united congregation erected a new church in the village. Formerly the Lutherans had a six-cornered church near Pennsburg, Pa., which was not many years ago replaced by a new church. The first Reformed church in Philadelphia was octagonal in form, that is, eight-cornered, but it w^as not desig- ^nated in that way. In Richmond township, Berks county, there stand two St. Peter's churches in close proximity. St. Pe- ter's Reformed congregation erected a log church here at an unknown date, and now worships in a fine new building. The original St. Peter's church has the dis- tinction of having four corner-stones. Three are at one end. One is the cornerstone of the original church, but without date ; the others bear the dates of the erec- tion of the subsequent churches— 1762, 1809, 1890. The present church is the fourth one. In 1866 some of the members withdrew and with the Lutherans erected a separate church near by upon land donated for the purpose by Henry Becker. For this reason the latter building is called Becker's St. Peter's church. 212 EARLY HISTORY In the southern part of Berks county stands St. John's church, which is also known as the '^Forest church'^ because of its location in the region generally known as the Forest. It is a hilly region, and years ago it was a vast forest. Now there are many good farms there. The church is also called ^^ Plow church." Why this appellation we know not, unless it be because this is the name of a hotel nearby. The church is further known as the " Robeson church'*' be- cause it is located in Robeson township. This church is distinguished for having four names. Several churches were originally called " Ziegel church/' because they were covered with tiles, the Ger- man term for tiles being Ziegel. One of these churches is a part of the charge which has been served during four generations by the HelflPrich pastors. In Franklin county we have the Grindstone Hill church. The first log church here was erected in 1766. There are several " Red" churches. One of these is the one in Albany, Berks county, originally called ^'Allemangel" church because of its location in a very poor region. Later it was called " Red" church, be- cause its roof was painted red ; also to distinguish it from the White church near by, at Wesnersville. Another ^^ Red" church is the one in Pine Valley, Schuylkill county, as described elsewhere in this book. The log church erected in 1754 was destroyed by the Indians before it had been dedicated. This was the first church ever erected north of the Blue Mountains. In Northumberland county we find the "Himmel's" church, which is a part of the Mahanoy charge. Him- mel is the German for heaven. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 213 In the eastern part of Berks county we have the *' Huif '^ church. It is so called because Mr. Frederick Huff donated the land. He died in 1816, aged 82 years. He was distinguished by the large number of his descendants. Among them were 79 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Of course the great majority of churches are named after saints. The most popular among them appear to be St. John and St. Paul. Almost every town or city which has several Reformed congregations includes a St. John's or St. PauTs. In Philadelphia, Reading and Lancaster we find churches bearing each of these 'names. There are more St. John's churches in towns containing more than one congregation than of any other name — Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown, Leba- non, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Schuylkill Haven, Tama- qua, etc. There is a St. Elias church at Newmans- town, Lebanon county, the only one we know of by this name. Other popular names are Christ, Zion's, Trinity and Salem. Such names are found in all sections. The Reformed Church in Cleveland followed a unique system in naming congregations. The first nine churches are named by numbers — First, Second, Third, etc. All of the nine were founded as German churches, but some have also introduced English preaching. When the first English congregation was established the system of numbers was dropped, and this church was named Hough Avenue. Many churches are best known in their communi- ties by the names of their pastors. In this way many 214 EARLY HISTORY of the churches in Reading have been designated. This way is improper and objectionable. It sounds like nicknaming. A number of churches in Pennsylvania were named after localities in the Fatherland, such as Heidelberg, Schwarzwald, Berne, Salzburg, etc. The name Heidelberg has been especially popular from the beginning. Many of the Reformed immi- grants came from the region of the city of Heidelberg in the Palatinate, and they used the name in the new world. The Palatines who located in the Tulpehocken region applied the name to a large township in Berks county, now divided into three townships — Heidelberg, Lower Heidelberg and North Heidelberg. There are also Heidelberg townships in Lehigh and Lebanon counties. There is a North Heidelberg Reformed church in Berks county, and Heidelberg churches in York, Philadelphia, and Lehigh and Franklin counties. The only university in the Reformed Church in this coun- try bears the name of Heidelberg, at Tiffin, Ohio. One of the Classes in the Central Synod is named Heidel- berg. The Heidelberg Catechism is the symbol of faith of the Church. Heidelberg League is the name of a men's association organized some years ago by Dr. F. F. Bahner. The Jews told Jesus that a certain centurion was worthy, because he had built them a synagogue. It does not often happen that one man builds a church, but this happened at Sassamansville, near Boyertown, Pa. Mr. Henry Sassaman was originally a member of Christ (Huber's) church at Niautic. In 1837, when a OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 215 new church was to be erected, Mr. Sassaman wished to have the location changed to a place nearer his home. But the congregation voted to erect the church on the old ground, when Mr. S. became excited, and using words which are not proper to be uttered, declared that he could erect a church alone, and left the meet- ing. He then erected the substantial brick church still in use at Sassamansville at his own expense of $4500, and presented the church to the Reformed, Lutherans and Mennonites. For a long time many churches were known by names different from those now attached to them. Practically all of these early names are now under- stood. Thus the Whitemarsh church is now the church at Fort Washington ; Skippack is the Wentz church ; Whitpen is Boehm's church ; Conestoga is Lancaster ; Hill church in Lancaster county is Heller's or Salem church ; Providence is St. Luke's, Trappe ; Macungie is Ziegel church ; Cacusi is the Hain's church ; Maxa- tawny is now St. John's church, Kutztown ; the origi- nal Tulpehocken church is Host church, Berks coun- ty ; the second Tulpehocken church is Trinity church, between Stouchsburg and Myerstown ; Quittapahilla is the Hill church, Lebanon county ; Swatara is the Jonestown church, Lebanon county ; Cocalico is Beth- any church at Ephrata ; Coventry, or the church at the Schuylkill, is Brownback's, Chester county. It is remarkable how many of the early churches were known by streams flowing near by them. Thus we have the Tulpehocken church, which was located near the stream bearing that name; Cacusi church, 216 EARLY HISTORY nowHain's; Northkill church, dow Bernville; Svva- tara church, now Jonestown ; Quittapahilla, now Hill church ; Cocalico church, now Bethany at Ephrata ; Sacony church, now Kutztown ; the church at the Forks of the Delaware, now Easton ; the church at the Schuylkill, now Brownback's ; Indian Creek church in Montgomery county, etc. Many names were originally spelled quite diifer- ently from the present. We will give a few examples. Skippack was called Schip-Bach ; Whitemarsh — Weit- marge, Whitemarje, Weidmarge ; Macungie — Makin- shi, Makuntshy ; Tulpehocken — Dolpihacken, Tul- benhacken, Tulpitown ; Cacusi — Gagushi ; Quittapa- hilla — Quitenbehelen ; Swatara — Schwadare, Swettar- row ; Conestoga — Canastoka ; Dryland — Droggeland ; Taney town — Danethawn ; Plain field — Blendfield ; Ger- mantown — Germandon ; Goshenhoppen — Cushehop- pen ; Misillem — Moselem or St. Peter's in Berks coun- ty, etc. It is remarkable how many incorrect names are ap- plied to the Reformed Church in early documents. The deed for the ground of the Reformed people in Lan- caster was given '^ to the members of the congregation of the Reformed Church of the High Dutch Protestants of Lancaster." The first deed to the Reformed people of Lebanon was made to '^ the Dutch Presbyterian Con- gregation." A second deed to the same people was made to '^ the German Presbyterian Congregation " The deed to the Reformed people of Reading was made to '^ the Religious Society of the Dutch Reformed Cal- vinists." This list might be greatly enlarged. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 217 43. CHURCHES OF VARIOUS PERIODS. It may be said that churches of four general styles have been erected since the beginning of the Reformed Church in this country. The first style was that of a small log building. With very few exceptions all of the early churches were of this kind. On page 45 we publish a picture of this kind of churches. Very few of these first churches had bells. The second style was naturally an improvement over the first. On next page we print a picture of this class. The buildings were much larger and more sub- stantial. Some were erected of stone, others of sand- stone, and still others of frame. Whilst the first churches had in many instances only rude benches, the second class had a certain kind of pews, but these aiforded no real comfort. Everything was still of a primitive order. But it was the best the people could afford, and they were satisfied. Nearly all of these churches were surmounted by a weather-vane in the form of a rooster, a figure borrowed from Holland. The rooster on the Reformed church in Reading was the cause of an amusing incident. On one occa- sion two ladies were passing along Washington street. One of them was superstitious. When opposite the Reformed church she was somewhat agitated and said 15 218 EARLY HISTORY to her companion : " They say that when that rooster on the church once crows, the world will come to an end.^' But the rooster never crowed, and the world still stands. It is likely that someone had practised a joke on the too credulous lady. SECOND STYLE CHURCH. One of the most interesting rooster weather-vanes is the one which surmounted the first church of the Re- formed people of Germantown, erected in 1733. This interesting relic is still preserved by Mr. Charles J. Wister, of Germantown, and was shown the writer in 1905. It contains, a number of holes, and these have OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 219 an interesting history. In the early part of 1764 a number of people from the Paxtang region, Dauphin county, went to Philadelphia to lay their grievances on account of the numerous Indian outrages before the state officials. After reaching Germantown they halted for some time in Market square, in front of the Re- formed church. Most of the men were armed, and during the halt some of them amused themselves at firing at the rooster weather-vane on top of the Re- formed church. (The people in Philadelphia were^ greatly alarmed by the approach of these people, who were called the Paxtang Boys, because they believed they were 1500 men strong and were coming to attack the city. Great preparations were made to defend the city against this imaginary foe.) A number of these churches had bells, and a few had small organs. Some of these churches had galler- ies on three sides, and in some instances the fronts of these galleries were finely finished. The church in Reading, erected in 1761, had much fine wood carv- ing. The gallery fronts of the historic Hain church in Berks county, erected in 1766, was in panels which contained a number of carved scenes from the Bible. The first one represented the Garden of Eden, with fig- ures of Adam, Eve, the tree and the serpent. When the church was rebuilt in 1878, these interesting em- bellishments were destroyed. How much they would be cherished by some people had they been preserved. The third style of church was rather a greater im- provement upon the second than the second was upon the first. On next page we print a picture of the in- 220 EAELY HISTORY terior of this class of churches. A number of this class of churches are still standing, but they are fast disappear- ing As they become unfit for use, they are replaced by buildings of the modern style. Very nearly all of these churches had so-called wine-glass pulpits ; that is, the pulpit had the general form of a goblet, standing THIRD STYLE CHURCH, INSIDE VIEW. upon a pedestal. The pulpit was small, having room for only one person. A winding stairway led up to the pulpit on either side. The pulpit was about six feet above the floor, so that the people in the front part of the church had to look up about twelve feet to see the face of the preacher. This was hard on their necks. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 221 As stated, these pulpits stood upon pedestals and were nailed to the wall. In a certain church in Le- high county a ludicrous accident is said to have hap- pened to the wine-glass pulpit. It had become loos- ened from its mooring, and the minister had called the attention of the officers to it, but upon examination they could see no danger. Some time after, when the minister became animated in preaching and leaned over the edge of tlie pulpit, it fell over, and the preacher was thrown over the chancel into the isle, but was not hurt. Amid the laughter of the people he arose and in an angered voice declared : " Dort leid nau euer alter Rappelkaste. Ich hab's euch gesaht kat." (There now is your rickety old thing. I had told you.) In the larger churches of this period were two large wood stoves, with long pipes leading to the chimney near the ceiling. In the centre, where the pipes met, these passed through a large drum, which generated additional heat. Immediately around the stoves it was very hot, whilst in the extreme parts of the church it was cold. The chancel was a small, square place, containing a staall wooden altar. As a rule there were galleries on three sides of the church. In some in- stances the gallery fronts were finely finished. On the end gallery opposite the pulpit was the organ. The bellows was filled with air by means of hand-power. " Pumping the organ^' was no light work. In the country churches this work is still performed by hand. In the cities it is done mostly by water or electric motors. The pews in these churches had high and straight backs. In many churches there were small 222 EARLY HISTORY doors at the entrance of the pews. What for ? No one may give a valid reason. Sometimes people of an ex- clusive spirit would close these doors and try to shut out others. These churches were one-story buildings, and there were large windows with very small panes. Each window in the above picture contains 92 panes of glass. The church was usually surmounted by a steeple containing a bell. On the top of the steeple was a weather-vane, usually in the form of a fish. The old rooster was seldom seen on these churches. Upon the death of a member the bell was tolled as many strokes as the deceased was years old. In this way the death of persons was announced to the community, and the people could usually infer who had died from the number of strokes of the bell. The bell was also tolled during the time of the burial. The tolling bell had a very solemn sound, and made a deep impression upon the people. We vividly remember the sound of the tolling church bell. In the cities this custom has been discontinued, but in many country places it is still observed. Generally two biers (a larger and a smaller one) stood in the entrance to the church. We still remem- ber what an unpleasant impression these symbols of death and the grave made upon the writer's young heart. The modern style of churches presents a very strong contrast to all previous styles, especially that of the earliest period. We wonder what our fathers would say, if they could see one of these modern houses of worship! The cut herewith printed represents a OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 223 modern city church. It is frequently erected of stone or granite. It is a one-story building and practically a double house of worship — one for the cono-reo;;ation '^Ji and another for the Sunday school. There are many advantages of this style of churches. Both parts may be thrown into one large room. On this account the 224 EARLY HISTORY audience chamber needs not contain seats for the whole congregation, as not over three-fourths of the mem- bers are ever present at ordinary occasions, and on special occasions accommodations may be provided in the way indicated. The style of this church is a com- plete revolution of former styles. In many instances the choir and the organ are located either in the rear or on the one side of the pulpit, and the altar is fre- quently also in the rear of the pulpit. The pulpit is a small affair compared with the former style. Lack of space forbids a more full description of the modern church. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 225 44. SLAVERY IN PENNSYLVANIA. It sounds strangely to read about slavery in the state of Pennsylvania, yet such is the fact. And there have been tsvo kinds of slavery, white and black. The white slaves were the so-called Redemption- ers. In the early history of the state many persons from Europe who were very poor, came here in the ships of Land Companies without paying for their pas- sage in advance. Upon landing at Philadelphia they were sold into servitude, and the money realized was used to pay their passage. Their term of service lasted from three to five years. The purchasers were mostly English people in Philadelphia and vicinity. Rev. Samuel Guldin, the first Reformed minister in Penn- sylvania, who came here in 1710, speaks of these white siaves in his report of his voyage. (See his report in this volume.) As a rule these Redemptioners were well treated. But there were exceptions. The court records show that many of them ran away from their masters on account of harsh treatment. Many of these white slaves were sold to Quakers, who as a rule treated them kindly. After their liberation at the close of their term of service these Redemptioners were as poor as when they landed, absolutely without money, and they had a hard struggle to get a start in the new world. 226 EAELY HISTORY Then negro slavery prevailed in Pennsylvania, just as it existed in the southern states until the Civil War. There was probably this difference, that in a general way the slaves in those days received better treatment than in later years, when the traffic in slaves had be- come very profitable. At that early period people did not make it a business to raise slaves for the market, as cattle are raised. It is somewhat remarkable that some of the followers of William Penn, that is, the Quakers, were slaveholders. In 1748 Peter Kalm, in describing his travels in Pennsylvania, wrote : " Quak- ers at first scrupled against holding slaves, but they are no longer so nice, and they have as many negroes as the other people.'' Penn's object in purchasing Pennsylvania msls largely to establish a free state. But it is to the credit of the Quakers of England and America that they were among the first to advocate the abolition of slavery. Among the early slaveholders was Rev. Geo. M. Weiss, the second ordained Reformed minister coming to Pennsylvania. He came here in 1727, and preached in Montgomery county. He died in Upper Hanover township, said county, in 1761, and among his property was a family of negro slaves, consisting of the parents and eight children. The whole family was appraised at 280 pounds. The father was then a cripple, and no value was put upon him. The children varied in age from four to twenty years. The mother was appraised at 30 pounds, the oldest son of 20 years at 50 pounds, down to the youngest boy of four years at 15 pounds. The slave family became the property of the widow of Rev. Mr. Weiss. In her will, dated May 9, 1765, OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 227 she makes disposition of the slave family. She states that all of them have been baptized " to the Christian Protestant Reformed Religion.'^ She directs that at her death all the negro slaves shall be free. She also states that some relatives of her deceased husband in Germany made claim to one-half of his estate, and in- tended to sell the slaves, which was '^ contrary to the sentiment and intention of my said deceased husband, who died intestate.'^ Mrs. Weiss therefore directed that the negro children should be bound out to service as long as necessary to raise a sufficient sum of money to send them to the brothers and relatives of Mr. Weiss in Germany as their share of his estate. Unfortunately the will and wish of Mr. and Mrs. Weiss in reference to the liberation of their slaves were not carried out. The slaves were sold, but a strange fatality set ,in and one by one they died in rapid succession. The owner of one of the girls, hearing of the mortality among the family, liberated her. There were other slave owners in the Goshenhoppen region. In 1750 a slave murdered the wife of David Schultz, who resided near New Goshenhoppen church. A slave of Adam Hillegass tried to poison his wife, but failed. On Jan. 26, 1766, two slaves were brought to the pastor of New Goshenhoppen church for baptism by Thomas Maybury. Rev. John P. Boehm died without making a will. In the appraisement of his property we find this item : " Three servants, two boys and one girl, £30." Who these servants were would be difficult to explain. We do not think they were negro slaves, else the fact would 228 EARLY HISTORY be stated. But they appear to have been slaves, be- cause they were enumerated as property. Most likely they were white Redemptioners — persons sold at Phila- delphia to pay for their passage across the ocean. America is indebted for many good things to Re- formed Holland. It has often been shown that the American republic is based upon principles imported from Holland. The Reformed Church in this country owes very much to Holland for the care and aid given her during her infancy and formative period. But we received one thing through Holland for which we cannot be thankful — slavery. Slavery in our country com- menced in 1619, when a Dutch vessel brought a cargo of slaves into Virginia. Of course this was a matter of business, and the people of Holland as a nation w^ere not responsible for it. In 1713 the English govern- ment, by the treaty of Utrecht, secured the contract for supplying slaves to the Spanish West Indies. The trade w^as profitable and soon reached large proportions. From Virginia slavery was also introduced to some of the other colonies. There were early protests against the traffic in human beings. Already on Feb. 18, 1688, the Mennonites of Ger- mantown protested against slavery. Their protest is interesting and contains numerous quaint sentences. We quote one paragraph : " If once these slaves (weh they say are so wicked and stubborn men) should joint themselves, fight for their freedom and handel their masters and mastrisses, as they did handel them before; will these masters and mastrisses tacke the sword at hand and warr against these poor slaves, like we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe ? Or have these negers not as much OF THE EEFORMED CHURCH. 229 right to fight for their freedom, as you have to l^eep them slaves ?" The signers of this petition, who certainly deserve remembrance, were Garret Hendricks, Derick Op de GrafP, Francis Daniel Pastorins, Abraham Op den Graef, all Germans or Hollanders. This protest came up be- fore the yearly meeting of the Quakers on May 5, 1688, but an evasive reply was given. There are also other protests against slavery from Pennsylvania Germans on record. The people of Bos- ton did the same in a town meeting in 1701. A number of Quakers preached against the system at an early day. The people generally were opposed to slavery in the colonies, but England forced it upon them. Vir- ginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island passed laws prohibiting the slave trade, but they were vetoed by England. Pennsylvania passed such laws in 1712, 1714 and 1717, but in each case they were vetoed. However during the Revolution most of the colonies abolished slavery. When the constitution was formulated, the southern states demanded the continu- ance of slavery. In 1775 the '^ Pennsylvania Society for the Aboli- tion of Slavery'' was organized, and continued its ex- istence until its purpose had been accomplished by the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln in 1863. The first president of this society was Benjamin Franklin, that great statesman and philanthropist. Slavery in Pennsylvania was abolished by an act passed by the Assembly on March 1, 1780, by a vote of34to21. The bill was prepared and urged by George Bryan, formerly vice president of the state. 230 EARLY HISTORY 45. LIBERTY OF THE PEOPLE. The Reformed Church has had a good deal of trouble with some of her people on the subject of lib- erty. This has been the cause of trouble from the be- ginuing of the Church in Pennsylvania, and it has not yet fully subsided. There are still quite a number of congregations, especially in Berks county, which have what are called independent charters. They are Re- formed in doctrine, but they are independent of synod- ical authority. We find this independent spirit already in 1730 in the congregation in Philadelphia. When Rev. Mr. Boehm sought to carry out the wishes of the Holland Fathers, he was met with the reply : ^' We are in a free country, and the Classis of Holland has no right to give orders hereabouf Mr. Boehm declared it as his belief that this spirit had been infused by Rev. Geo. M. Weiss. When Weiss went to Europe in this year (1730) his place was taken by a Rev. Mr. Miller, who acted in the same spirit. It was this spirit largely which had caused the trouble and division at Skippack. We find this spirit again in the congregation in Philadelphia during the Schlatter-Steiner controversy in 1750. The opponents of Rev. Mr. Schlatter claimed that it was his purpose to take away their liberty and OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 231 to domineer over them. And when the Coetiis (Synod) decided against them, they repudiated its authority. This same policy has since then been followed by many congregations. There is no doubt that this independent spirit was infused into the people in the beginning by designing ministers who refused to come under the rules of the Coetus or who could not enter it for reasons. Some of these ministers could not secure recommendations be- fore coming to America for various reasons. One of these reasons was their bad character. None of these were accepted by the Coetus. They then used their influence against this body. They told the people that the Coetus purposed enslaving the people, as had been the case in Europe, and they warned them to have nothing to do with this body. Unfortunately many people were only too ready to listen to these men, and the result was great difficulty in providing godly min- isters for the people. These independent ministers w^ere concerned principally about their bread, and used any means which would aid them in securing it. The singular part is that this independent spirit has continued so long. The people must have ob- served that the Coetus was composed of the best min- isters, and that its object was to aid the people and not to subjugate them. There is some excuse for the posi- tion of the early settlers. They had come to America to escape religious persecution, and were sensitive on the subject of religious liberty. Tiien they had not much means of information. Again, there was great spiritual destitution among them, and they readily took 232 EARLY HISTORY up with any one who represented himself as a minister. Then there were some persons who were not ardent Christians, and with them the character of the minister was not important. With them almost any person would do for a minister. This is evident from the fact that a number of ministers without moral character had their followers. The same thing occurred frequently in more recent years. In the year 1829 public meetings were held in Heidelberg and Exeter townships, Berks county, and Cocalico, Lancaster county, to protest against the or- ganization of Bible Societies, Sunday School Union, Theological Seminaries, Tract Societies, Missionary So- cieties, etc. It was represented that such societies and institutions were managed by ministers and calculated to enslave the people, as had been the case in Europe. No minister connected with such institutions was to be supported. The resolutions adopted at these meetings speak of priestcraft, destruction of civil and religious liberty, union of Church and state, etc. The Exeter meeting condemned the Reformed Church Synod of the year 1829 because it advocated a stricter observance of the Sabbath. In those days already there was much desecration of the holy day. The representatives in the Legislature and Congress were instructed " to sup- press, with their most earnest exertion, every measure calculated to curtail the rights of conscience.^' Rev. William Hendel, D. D., of Womelsdorf, had much to suffer from the people, because he had been an ardent supporter of the movement for a theological seminary in the Reformed Church. OF THE KEFORMED CHURCH. 233 Conditions are different now. People may know better, and there is no excuse for the independent at- titude toward the organized Church which still ex- ists in some places. People have had opportunity to learn. They should all know that it is the purpose of the Church to foster the interests of the people, and not to oppress them. We believe the old independent spirit would long since have died out entirely but for some independent ministers who agitated against Clas- sis and Synod for selfish purposes. 16 234 EARLY HISTORY 46. BOEHM'S CHURCH, This place of worship is located in Whitpain town- ship, Montgomery county, Pa., sixteen miles north of Philadelphia. The congregation was organized in 1740 by Rev. John Philip Boehm, who resided on a farm near by. He came to America in 1720, and did much to establish the Reformed Church, as stated in the first part of this volume. Before the organization of the congregation he had for years preached in pri- vate houses. He served the congregation until his death, April 29, 1749. Soon after the organization of the congregation a small church was erected, in which Rev. Mr. Boehm is said to have helped with his own hands. The church was erected of stone, with very thick walls and a very steep roof. ' The little pulpit was reached by a winding stairway, and was sur- mounted with a sounding board. The pulpit was made of solid walnut. When the church was demol- ished in 1818, much of the wood of the old pulpit was used in making various keepsakes which were long preserved by the members. In this little church Rev. Mr. Boehm preached until his death in 1749. He was buried under the altar in the church. It was cus- tomary for the female catechumens to wear neat white caps at confirmation. For a long time the women re- OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 235 moved their hats at communion and wore white caps on this occasion. After the death of Pastor Boehm Rev. Michael Schlatter supplied the people until 1755. During the Revolution the small church was used as a hospital by the American army. A number of soldiers died in it and were buried in the adjoining graveyard. The little stone church served the small congrega- tion during seventy-eight years. In 1818 the present church w^as erected at a cost of about §4000. It is a two-story building, with galleries on three sides. In this second church the grave of Rev. Mr. Boehm came to be in the southeastern corner. An arch was erected over the grave. In 1870 the church was remodeled and enlarged at an expense of S5438.05. Until this time the grave of Mr. Boehm had not been marked in any way. In 1870 a tablet was placed on the inside wall in his memory, after his body had rested here one hundred and twenty years. On the outside wall is found a plain marble slab containing the words : ^^ Boehm's Meeting House, founded 1740, built 1818.'' At an- other place is a date stone with the inscription : ^^ Boehm's Church, founded 1740, rebuilt 1818, en- larged 1870.'' The old windows of the church were re- moved and memorial windows inserted One of these is the gift of the descendants of Rev. Michael Schlatter. In 1903 the church was again remodeled and a Sunday school annex erected at a cost of over $5000. The Sunday school was organized on July 27, 1834, with 17 teachers and 117 scholars. From the beginning in 1740 until the year 1814 the services were conducted entirely in the German 236 EARLY HISTORY language. In the latter year English services were in- troduced for the first time, but then only once every six weeks. In the course of time the German lan- guage was entirely superseded by the English language. At present Boehm's congregation numbers a little over 300 members, with 225 members in the Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. Edgar V. Loucks. Boehm^s congregation at an early period felt the need of a parochial school, and already in 1760 pur- chased a lot of ground and erected a school house upon it. OF THE EEFOEMED CHURCH. 237 47. FAMILY OF REV. JOHN PHILIP BOEHM. The following facts relating to the family of Rev. John P. Boehm are interesting. Rev. John Philip Boehm was married in Europe to Anna Maria Sherer, daughter of Philip Sherer. On Sept. 9, 1736, Rev. Mr. Boehm purchased 200 acres of land in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pa., at a cost of £165, 13s., Id. Here he re- sided until his death in 1749. Their children were: Anthony William Boehm, Anna Maria Boehm, Sevina Boehm, Elizabeth Boehm, Maria Philippina Boehm and John Philip Boehm. 1. Anthony William Boehm was born in the city of Worms in 1714. The date of birth and baptism are recorded in the Reformed church book at Worms. He settled in Upper Saucon township, now Lehigh county, upon land which his father had taken up. Here he died and was buried in a private graveyard. A few years ago his grave \vas discovered. His tombstone contains this inscription in German : ^^ Here rests in God Anton Wilhelm Boehm, born April 27, 1714, in Worms. Died April 6, 1766. Aged 52 years." His wife^s first name was Phillis. They had one child — Philip Boehm. This son Philip Boehm was a promi- nent man during the Revolution. He was a lieutenant 238 EARLY HISTORY colonel of the militia of Northampton county, and was in 1777 apT)ointed a paymaster. He was also coroner of Northampton county. In later life he appears to have become poor, for in 1797 Jacob Ochs, a son-in- law^, w^as bound to support Philip Boehm and his wife during their natural lives. The couple had three chil- dren : Anthony Boehm, a tanner ; Boehm, wife of Jacob Ochs, and Philip Boehm, who married a daughter of Philip AVasser. David Boehm, a son of the above Anthony Boehm, was born at Hellertown, Pa., on Sept. 15, 1812, and died on Nov. 3, 1899. He was buried at Apple's church. He was a great-great- grandson of Rev. John Philip Boehm. 2. Seviua Boehm was married to Ludwig Bitting, of Lower Milford township, now Lehigh county. Mr. Bittiug's parents came from the Palatinate in 1723. From 1736 to 1746 Mr. Bitting was a member of the Great Swamp Reformed church, and was a member of the Legislature from 1758 to 1760. He was born in 1703 and died in 1775. One of his daughters was the wife of Franz Leidich, a sou of Rev. John Philip Lei- dich, a well-known Reformed minister. 3. Elizabeth Boehm married George Shambob, a weaver of Upper Milford. He took up 230 acres of land in this township in 1740. 4. Maria Philippina Boehm married Cornelius De- wees, cooper. In 1745 he took np thirty acres of land on the Skippack road for £108. In 1751 the family resided in Gloucester county, New Jersey. 5. John Philip Boehm, the youngest child of Rev. John Philip Boehm, was married on August 2, 1753, OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 239 by the Reformed minister in Philadelphia to Anna Maria Yost, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Yost, of Whitpain township. She was born May 1, 1734. He resided upon his father's homestead of 200 acres near Boehm's church, which he acquired by settlement with the other heirs of his father. About 1760 he removed to Philadelphia and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. He united with the Reformed church there, and was soon after made an officer. He was very active during the erection of the second church, in 1771-74. In 1777 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Philadelphia. He died on Sept. 17, 1790, and was buried in the Reformed graveyard on Race street. He bequeathed £50 to the Reformed church in Phila- delphia. His children were Elizabeth, Philip, Daniel, Maria, Philip, Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth. It is remark- able that the names of Elizabeth, Philip and Daniel are repeated in this family. It is accounted for by the fact that those first bearing these names died young. Daniel succeeded to the business of his father. Philip, brother of Daniel, was a merchant in 1793, and resided at 96 North Second street. He died on Nov. 19, 1806. A number of Boehm descendants are still residing in Lehigh and Northampton counties. 240 EARLY HISTORY 48. THE CHURCH AT CONESTOGA. The early records of the Reformed Church contain references to the church at Conestoga. There have been many misapprehensions of these references. The term Conestoga means a large district rather than one single place. It means the region through which the Conestoga flows. This definition is confirmed by Rev. Oourad Tempelm'an, who says in an official report ; *^^ Conestoga is not a city, but a district deriving this name from a certain stream so called.'' After some years the name came to nieau the town Lancaster, which was laid out in 1730. The first Reformed preacher in the Conestoga re- gion was Rev. Conrad Tempelman, the pious tailor from Lebanon county, who was pressed into the minis- try by the people on account of the want of ministers. A few years later he was joined in the work by Rev. John P. Boehm, of Montgomery county. (See sketches of these two pioneer ministers on page 35.) The two ministers commenced preaching at about the same time, in 1720. There were then no regularly organized con- gregations or churches anywhere in the state. Rev. Mr. Tempelman in one of his reports states that " the Church in Conestoga took its origin in 1725, with a small gathering here and there in houses, with the OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 241 readiDg of a sermoD, and with song and prayer, upon all Sundays and Holy Days." Rev. Mr. Boehm administered the communion in Conestoga on Oct. 15, 1727. He states that this was the first time that the sacrament was administered there. We cannot state at what particular place this was, but believe it to have been at Heller's, now called Salem church. On account of the extent of the dis- trict the Reformed people met in different places in })rivate houses. By and by the region was divided into six districts with a preaching place in each. At first these places appear to have been supplied by Revs. Tempelman and Boehm. Mr. Boehm complains in one of his reports to Holland that Rev. John Peter Miller, of Tulpehocken, had crowded him out at some of these places in Conestoga. He also says that Rev. Geo. M. Weiss slandered him and drew the ^^ congre- gation" to himself. Tempelman also states that Mil- ler had been preaching at three of the six places. Weiss on October 2, 1727, in a letter to a Mr. Schwab at Conestoga offered to administer the communion to the people there, which he also did. Where were the six preaching places above men- tioned ? The question is not difficult in reference to several, but the location of the others is involved in some doubt. 1. The Hill church is undoubtedly Salem or Hel- ler's in Upper Leacock township, about seven miles east of Lancaster. Boehm speaks of the Hill church being six miles from Lancaster. This offers no serious discrepency. In Boehm's time, wdien the roads led 242 EARLY HISTORY mostly through wildernesses, distances were not meas- ured accurately. The distance from Heller's to Co- calico church is about six miles, as Boehm states. It has been suggested that the term Hill would suit Kis- sel Hill, near Lititz, better than Heller's. But the site at Heller's is located upon an eminence ; besides there is no documentary evidence that there was a church at Kissel Hill in early times. Rev. Mr. Boehm states that on May 30, 1730, a large congregation was gathered and requested to be organized. On this occa- sion there were 75 communicants. On February 11, 1743, Philip Scot deeded to John Lein and Michael AVeidler '^ two acres of land adjoining Jacob Heller's land, whereon the meeting-house now stands," for the use of the congregation. In 1748 John Lein was re- ported present at Coetus as an elder " from the earliest congregation established in Conestoga, on May 30, 1730." It is known that Lein was a member at Hel- ler's. The date of the organization must be accepted as given above by Boehm. In a document in the cor- nerstone of the present church it is stated : '^ This con- gregation was founded in the year 1722 by a number of German Reformed fathers. Their first house was built in 1722, repaired in 1802, rebuilt and enlarged in 1838 by the same congregation." This statement contains two evident errors. The first church was not erected in 1722. Then it was not enlarged in 1838 '^ by the same congregation." The organization took place in 1730. It is probable that Tempelman com- menced to hold services in 1722. There was a small log church erected there, but the date is unknown. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 243 The church had no wooden floor, the ground serving this purpose, and slabs served as seats. Documents of 1742 prove the existence of the church. After the church in Lancaster had been erected in 1736, the members at Heller's went there, and the congregation at the latter place was allowed to die, but the right to the property was kept up. Thus there was no congre- gation there for many years until 1830, when Rev. Daniel Herz, of Ephrata, organized a new Salem con- gregation at the old place with nine members, and served them as pastor from that time until 1867, when Rev. D. W. Gerhard, D. D., the present pastor, suc- ceeded him. There was a long gap in the history of the congregation, and the statement in reference to the or- ganization in 1722 is mere tradition. But Heller's was the first Reformed congregation in Lancaster county. 2. The second congregation was Cocalico, after- wards named Bethany, whose church location was about a mile from Ephrata. In the year 1894 the place of worship was transferred to the town of Eph- rata, where a neat church was purchased and remod- eled. The names of Goehr and Werns, two of the elders mentioned by Tempelman, appear in the records of that congregation. The time when the congregation was fully organized is not known, but it is believed to have been in 1738, in which year the first baptismal record was made. 3. The third congregation was Lancaster. John Jacob Hock, one of the elders mentioned by Tempel- man, was called by the congregation as its first pastor. 244 EAELY HISTORY He was a pious layman, aud no doubt had served the people in conducting worship, like Tempelman and Boehm. The time of the organization of the congre- gation is not known, but it was likely between 1730 aud 1736. The town was laid out in the former year, and the settlement increased after that. The church was erected in 1736, and dedicated on June 20, being Whit Sunday. The above named John Jacob Hock preached the sermon. It was the first house of wor- ship dedicated in the new town. It was a log build- ing, as were nearly all the first churches. Hock also preached at Cocalico (Bethany). It appears that as soon as an ordained minister could be secured, Mr. Hock retired. In 1739 Rev. John B. Rieger became pastor. The three congregations supplied by Rev. John Peter Miller are believed to have been Zeltenreich, Royers (Brickerville) and Muddy Creek. 4. Zeltenreich church was located near New Hol- land. We are unable to give the date of the organiza- tion of the congregation, but it was before 1746. In the early Coetal records this congregation is known as Erlentown. After being long supplied by visiting ministers, its first pastor was Rev. John B. Rieger. The church was named after Andreas Zeltenreich, who donated the ground upon which the original log church was erected, but failed to convey it legally to the con- gregation during his lifetime. This was done by his son George and his wife, Mary C, on Dec. 22, 1760. In 1799 the log church, in which the people had wor- shiped a long time, had become very dilapidated, and OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 245 it was resolved to erect a new church in a more central place. In 1799 and 1800 a brick church was erected in the village of Xew Holland upon a lot donated by Matthias Shirk. This church bears the name of 8t. Stephen's. The cost of erection was $5827.38. To raise money for this church the Legislature authorized the congregation to arrange a lottery. There is no record at hand of the result of this lottery. The origi- nal ground was still used^as a burial ground. In 1841 members of the Reformed Church and others erected the present Zeltenreich church, to be used by various denominations. Soon after this time Rev. Daniel Herz reorganized the Reformed congregation, which now numbers about 175 members. Other denominations now seldom hold services in the church, except on fun- eral occasions. The congregation now belongs to the Xew Holland charge, whose pastor is Rev. J. G. Xoss. 5. Brickerville church is located some distance north of Lititz, and was first named after Sebastian Royer, who took up a large tract of land in 1743. In 1747 the Reformed people purchased several acres from him for a church and graveyard. It is believed that a congregation was organized in this year. In 1748 a church was erected. During the Revolution this church was used as a hospital, presumably after the battle of Brandy wine, as was the cloister at Ephrata. Some of the wounded soldiers died in the church and are buried in its graveyard. In the deed the congregation is at one place called German Reformed church, and at an- other Dutch Reformed church. In a release the con- 246 EARLY HISTORY gregation is called " Evangelical Reformation Presby- terian Meeting." 6. Muddy Creek church is located two miles west of Adamstown, and is named after a small stream. The first person to conduct services here for the Re- formed people was Conrad Tempelman. He was fol- lowed for a short time by Rev. John Peter Miller, who recorded the first baptisms. Subsequently Mr. Tempel- man served a long time as pastor. The congregation was organized probably soon after 1730. The first (log) church was erected soon after. It was in this church that Rev. Michael Schlatter first met Rev. Mr. Tempelman at a communion service in 1747, and was so well pleased with him that he recommended his or- dination. The congregation received one of the Ger- man Bibles brought to this country by Mr. Schlatter, and this interesting volume is still at hand. Unfor- tunately the title page is missing. OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 247 49. WORTHLESS PREACHERS. In the early history of the Reformed people, that is before and after the organization of the Coetus in 1747, there was a considerable number of irregular preachers in Pennsylvania. Some of them had been school teach- ers and others mechanics in the Fatherland. Because of the lack of ministers these men undertook to exer- cise the office of the Christian ministry, and in this way much harm was done. The damage was caused mainly by the fact that some of these men were of intemperate habits. The school teachers were sufficiently educated, and with pious hearts could have done good. John Philip Boehm, the pious school teacher, and Conrad Tempelman, the pious tailor, are examples of what godly laymen may accomplish in the absence of regu- larly ordained ministers. Some of these unworthy men took to preaching as the easiest way of earning a living. Rev. Mr. Schlat- ter refers to these in his report of 1746. After refer- ring to the few faithful ministers, he says : ^^ There are many hirelings and tramps, who from being shoemak- ers, tailors or weavers, in one hour became preachers, and were changed by the innocent people for lack of other measures.^' As stated above, some lacked char- acter, but the people were patient, because they had a 248 EARLY HISTORY desire for religious ministrations, and could not get reg- ular preachers at the time. Had all been like Boehm and Tempelman, nothing could be said against them. When Rev. Michael Schlatter came here in 1746 with authority to exercise an oversight over the scat- tered and unorganized Reformed people, these irregular preachers naturally became uneasy, because they real- ized that their occupation was about to come to an end. Some refused to recognize Schlatter's authority, whilst others received him with due respect and offered to cease performing ministerial acts, upon condition that he secure positions for them as school teachers, or to help them to some other means of support. Schlatter did what he could in this line, but there were not many positions for teachers open. One of those who refused to accept the new order of things was Fred. Cassimir Miller, who had been preaching to some ten small con- gregations in Oley and elsewhere. He declared he would cause as much disunion and dissension as lay in his power. Mr. Schlatter had offered to ask the Hol- land Fathers whether he should be ordained, like Mr. Boehm, provided he should cease to administer the sac- raments and perform marriages until an answer could be received. Miller assented to this, but soon changed his mind and did as before. Schlatter therefore did not ask for his ordination. The Church continued to be afflicted with indepen- dent preachers, some without moral character, long af- ter ministers had become more plentiful. There was no longer any excuse for the people tolerating such men. It was largely this class of preachers who stirred up the people against the early institutions of the OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 249 Church. They told the people that a theological semi- nary was intended as a means to enslave the people, and that if they would submit they would soon be per- secuted by a priesthood as their fathers had been perse- cuted in Germany. Such arguments had their desired effect upon many ignorant, narrow-minded people. But those days are past. The people know better now. We have neither desire nor space to enumerate the cases of the irregular and unworthy men referred to. We will mention only one incident. It is related that one of these unworthy men, named Fritz, on one occa- sion ascended the pulpit of DeLong's church in Berks county in a state of intoxication. He undertook to preach on the words '^ Follow me,^' when he lost his balance and tumbled down the pulpit steps, with the words " follow me" in his mouth. One of the elders arose and said : " 'No, brethren, we will not follow him !'' The man was sent away immediately. The Lutheran Church was afflicted in this way the same as the Reformed Church. In 1754 Rev. Henry M. Muhlenberg complains about the vicious vagabonds without orders, who stirred up the Germans against pious and regularly ordained ministers. He mentions a number by name v/ho were guilty of crimes, and pretended to be Lutheran ministers. He expressed the belief that good order could not be restored among the people until the government would " demand proper credentials of all who exercise the ministry, and not suffer vagabonds to laugh at us who are regular clergy- men, by saying it is a free country, and by turning liberty into licentiousness.'^ 17 250 EARLY HISTORY 50. FIRST CHURCH NORTH OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. For a long time the Blue Mountains formed the northern boundary of Pennsylvania. All beyond was an unexplored wilderness. Soon after 1750 a number of German people from Berks county passed through the Schuylkill gap at what is now Port Clinton and settled in Pine Valley. They were occasionally vis- ited by Rev. Daniel Schumacher, then pastor of Trin- ity Lutheran church at Reading, who ministered to them in spiritual things. In 1754 they commenced the erection of a small log church, which was com- pleted in 1755. The congregation was called Zion's Lutheran church. Before the humble little house of worship could be dedicated the wild and ferocious In- dians suddenly swooped down upon the settlement, burned the church and their houses, murdered some of them and carried their children into captivity, whilst some others escaped across the mountains into Berks county, where they found succor in the Tulpehocken and Maxatawny settlements. The massacre v/as a re- sult of the Indian war. After a few years those who had escaped returned to Schuylkill county, buried the bones of those who had been murdered and re-established their homes. In 1765 they commenced the erection of a new and larger OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 251 log church upon the old site, which was completed in 1770. Rev. Daniel Schumacher continued to serve these people until 1782. In 1799 the old log church erected in 1770 was demolished and the erection of a larger stone church commenced. It was completed only in 1803, and dedicated on May 29 and 30 of that year. About the year 1778 a considerable number of Re- formed people settled in the same region. A few had come earlier. In 1795 they erected a church within a few rods of the Lutheran church, and called Rev. B. J. Decker as their pastor. He was succeeded by Revs. Hartzell, Kroll and Ph. Mayer. In 1863 both con- gregations united and worshiped jointly in the Luth- eran church, whilst the old Reformed church was de- molished. The union continues to this day. In 1883 the present frame church was dedicated. It was painted red, and on this account is known as the " red'^ church. At a later period it was painted white, but this caused great dissatisfaction, and it was again painted red. In 1808 a pipe organ was installed, which was made at Quakertown. It is still in use. 252 EARLY HISTORY 51. A MINISTER'S TRAGIC DEATH. In 1748 two new ministers were sent to Pennsyl- vania by the Fathers in Holland, in response to ear- nest appeals made to them. These two ministers were Kevs. John Jacob Hochreutiner and Dominions Bar- tholomaens. They arrived at Rev. Mr Schlatter's house in Philadelphia on August 13, 1748. The former w^as intended to become pastor at Lancaster and the latter at Tulpehocken. There was great joy among the peo- ple at those places on account of the prospect of soon having pastors. But the joy of the Lancaster people was soon turned into deep sorrow. Mr. Hochreutiner preached an acceptable trial ser- mon at Lancaster, and the people at once gave him a call, which he accepted. He returned to Philadelphia and prepared for his settlement at Lancaster. In Oc- tober an elder was sent from Lancaster to Philadelphia to bring the new pastor to his field of labor. On Octo- ber 14 the elder reached the house of Rev. Mr. Schlat- ter in Philadelphia with a horse for the new minister's use. At the same moment an accident happened to Rev. Mr. Hochreutiner which suddenly ended his life. He had brought a gun with him from Europe, which he loaded before leaving the ship, thinking he was about to enter a wild country. During his visit to OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 253 Lancaster he changed his mind on this point, and be- fore starting for Lancaster he concluded to withdraw the charge from the gun. But the gun was suddenly discharged, and the minister was killed. Rev. Mr. Schlatter was not at home. When Mrs. S. went into the room, she found the new minister dead on the floor ! The elder now returned to Lancaster with the sad news that the expected new pastor was dead. Mr. Hochreutiner had prepared an excellent introductory sermon, which was found in his pocket. It is said that many tears were shed at the funeral of this man on October 16. Rev. Mr. Schlatter preached the sermon. 254 EARLY HISTORY 52. EARLY DEFECTIONS. There have always be'en transitions from one de- nomination to another on the part of members and min- isters, and in some cases of congregations. There were early divisions in Reformed congrega- tions. In 1727 or 1728 a division occurred in the Skippack congregation soon after the first Reformed church in this state had been erected. — In 1750 Rev. John C. Steiner and his party seceded from the Re- formed congregation in Philadelphia and erected a sep- arate church on Race street. The enterprise failed. — In 1762 Rev. Frederick Rothenbiihler, who had been dismissed by the Reformed congregation in Philadel- phia on account of intemperance, organized an inde- pendent congregation under the name of St. George's, and erected a new church on Fourth street. But this movement was also a failure. The people got into debt, and some of them were thrown into prison for it. In 1770 the building was sold and purchased for the use of St. George's M. E. church, and is still known as such. The Reformed congregation disbanded. The first transition from the Reformed Church to another denomination occurred in 1 806, as a result of a language controversy. In 1805 an effort was made to introduce English services in the congregation in Phil- OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 255 adelphia, but the motion was lost by a tie vote in the consistory. In the following year (1806) those in favor of English services withdrew and organized a separate congregation. At first they were served by a Presbyterian minister, and subsequently the congrega- tion united with the Reformed Dutch Church. They erected a church on Crown street in 1810. The first instance of an organized congregation with its pastor going from the Reformed Church into an- other denomination occurred in 1856. Rev. Jacob Helffenstein was pastor of the Reformed church in Germantown. Gradually he dissented from the views taught in the Reformed Seminary. On March 27, 1853, he preached a strong sermon in this line. In 1854 he made his last report to the Reformed Classis, stating that there were 445 communicants in the con- gregation. The congregation then declared itself in- dependent, and was later received into the Presbyterian Church, together with the pastor. Rev. Mr. Helffen- stein. A^arious efforts were made to prevent the traoT sition, but of no avail. Thus one of the largest con- gregations and most valuable properties were lost to the Reformed Church. 256 EARLY HISTORY 53. MISCELLANEOUS. Pennsylvania was in early times called ^^ the Prov- ince of Pennsylvania." All the original states or colo- nies were called provinces. The first record of the Re- formed congregation at Lancaster, Pa., is entitled : ^^ Church Protocol of the newly built Reformed Church, here in the island of Pennsylvania, in Conastoken in the new town named Lancaster." The church was erected in 1736, and the first service was held in it on Whitsunday, June 20, of that year. The first pastor after the erection of the church was Rev. John Jacob Hock. The Lancaster congregation is one of the old- est in the denomination. In early times the whole region around Lancaster was called Conestoga on ac- count of the stream by that name. There was Re- formed preaching in this locality already in 1725 by Conrad Tempelman, a pious tailor from Lebanon county. There was neither an organized congregation nor church for some years, and the people came to- gether in private houses for worship. Because of the great extent of the territory there were at one time six preaching places, three of which were served by Rev. John P. Boehm and the other three by Rev. John Peter Miller. In the course of time congregations were established at several places, as also at Lancaster OF THE REFOEMED CHUECH. 257 after the town had been founded in 1730. The exact date of the organization of the congregation there is not known, but it is assumed that it was several years before the erection of the church in 1736. One of the early members and possibly one of the founders of the Reformed church in Lancaster, Pa., was Ludwig Christopher Frauciscus. He was a Swiss, and emigrated to the new world early in the eighteenth century. He was born December 23, 1680, married in 1718 and died September 27, 1757, as the epitaph on his tomb-tone tells us. He settled first at Pequea. The region was then a wilderness. Mr. F. lived in a log cabin. He is said to have been a man of great strength, courage and daring. One evening when all had retired except a daughter, Mr. Franciscus heard a noise at the door of the cabin. He opened the door, and at the same time a wolf seized him. Franciscus accepted the challenge, hugged the wolf tightly and called to his daughter to bring the butcher knife and rip open the breast of the wolf. She did so, and the Avolf was killed. The place where this thrilling inci- dent occurred is well known. The land was after- ward purchased by Daniel Zimmerman, who erected a fine house upon it in 1750. The early records of the Reformed church in Lancaster show that Franciscus was a prominent man, and took an active interest in the church. In early times candidates for naturalization were required to have a religious qualification. On July 25, 1741, Rev. John P. Boehm w^rote : '' People are now naturalized in a different way. They must have lived 258 EARLY HISTORY seven years in Pennsylvania, be of the Protestant re- ligion, and must furnish a certificate from their minis- ters that they not more than three months ago have received the Lord's Supper. If this is found true, they are accepted, otherwise not. They must take an oath on these points/' — This was done under an act of Par- liament in the thirteenth year of the reign of King George 11. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held its first session to naturalize persons in Philadelphia, Sept. 25-27, 1740. Foreigners who had resided here seven years and had received the Lord's Supper in some Protestant or Reformed congregation within three months could be naturalized. The proceedings of the Supreme Court state that foreigners thus quali- fied ^'became natural born subjects of Great Britain." Foreigners made American born ! — Rev. John B. Rie- ger was naturalized on one of the above days ; Rev. John Philip Boehm, April 10, 1741 ; Rev. Conrad Tempelman, April, 1743; Rev. Geo. M. Weiss, Sept. 10,1761; Rev. Michael Schlatter, April 11, 1763.— The Quakers, of whom many were naturalized, were not required to furnish a certificate of communion. Various efforts were made to unite the two Re- formed Churches in this country. Already in 1743 the Synods in Holland proposed a union between the two Reformed and the Presbyterian Churches in America, which was natural. The Holland Synods had been fostering the Dutch Reformed in New York and New Jersey, and were also manifesting an active interest in the German Reformed in Pennsylvania. But the German people declined the proposition. OF THE EEFOEMED CHURCH. 259 lu 1768 three delegates of the Dutch Coetus of New York and New Jersey appeared before the Ger- man Coetus at Easton with a proposition to unite the two branches of the Reformed Church. They also proposed to send a united delegation to the Reformed Synods in Holland. The matter was discussed one evening until midnight. The German Coetus de- clared that a closer union would be desirable, but the proposition for a full union was incompatible with its relations to the Church in Holland. The latter body was greatly pleased with this action of the Reformed in Pennsylvania. The most recent effort to unite the two Reformed Churches in this country was made in the year 1888. The two General Synods took favorable action, and appointed committees to formulate a plan for a federal union. When this had been done and the union was almost accomplished, the whole movement failed by the General Synod of the Dutch Church postponing final action indefinitely. With all our boasted superiority over our fathers, it is a question whether we are any better than they were, or even as good, religiously. There is every evidence that the people of former days were possessed of an earnest Christian spirit. The devotional spirit prevailed largely. The people had a zeal for religion and the house of God. We are told that during many years in the First Reformed church in Philadelphia a regular meeting for exhortation and prayer was held an hour before the morning and evening services of the Sabbath. These devotional meetings were conducted by pious laymen, and were of a refreshing character. 260 EARLY HISTORY There was also a time when nearly all the members upon taking their seats in church oifered a silent prayer for the Lord's blessing upon the service. Some did this standing at the entrance of the pew. This pious habit is still practised at many places, but at some places it has been forgotten, especially in many country churches. Now people enter and take their seats as if the church were a public hall. One of the first instances of renting the pews in the church was that of the Reformed church in Lan- caster, Pa. The proposition to rent the church pews was made as early as 1772, but the opposition was so strong that the matter was then dropped. In 1773 the plan was renewed and carried by a small majority. But because of the opposition of the minority it proved a failure. Only a small number took pews. The mat- ter was discussed annually for some years and then abandoned, because the members could not be harmon- ized in the matter. The matter was allowed to rest for many years. In 1830 the plan of family seats was recommended to the consistory by Peter E-eitzel, but it was not adopted until 1836. Then for the first time was the custom of renting the pews firmly and perma- nently established in that church. In Saur's paper of Sept. 1, 1750, appears an article in reference to one of a number of difficulties in the church at Lancaster. Some of the members locked the church door against the minister, because they believed he was unfit to preach. The charge against him was that he had been instructing a young lady privately under suspicious circumstances. The parents objected OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 261 to the arraugement. Some claimed that the minister had to leave Europe on account of immoral conduct, and for this reason could not bring reccmmendations with him. But the minister's friends opened the church by force. They claimed that the minister might still preach, and that parents might keep their daughters and servants at home ; that it was not likely that a better minister could be secured, and that those not wanted in Germany were usually of doubtful char- acter. They also argued " that the minister is already advanced in years, having no teeth in his mouth, and that he would not last long at any rate,'' etc. (Strange reasoning.) In an article in Saur's paper of October 16, 1750, Rev. J. B. Rieger speaks about ministers of doubtful character. He mentions one point of peculiar interest, because the principle involved has been handed down to our day. Some people claimed that the ministers referred to might still preach ; that people might fol- low their words, but not their example.^ We have heard this foolish distinction in our day. Formerly there were several intemperate ministers in eastern Pennsylvania, and some people did not see much wrong about them. They claimed that these men could preach, and people could accept their words without following their examples. Such people are spiritually blind. The name of Rev. Michael Schlatter is spelled in different ways. He himself wrote it frequently Slatter, and sometimes it was written Slaughter. The early Reformed people were frequently called " High Dutch Reformed Calvinists.'' Rev. Mr. Schlat- 262 EARLY HISTORY ter is named as the pastor of these people in Philadel- phia in the passport which the governor, James Hamil- ton, issued to him on January 29, 1751, when he was about going to Europe to solicit money for the churches in Pennsylvania. — About six years after Reading had been laid out, viz., on May 20, 1754, two lots of ground, each 60 by 230 feet, were conveyed by Thomas and Richard Penn to the " Religious Society of the Dutch Reformed Calviuists.'^ — Sometimes they were known also as Presbyterians. In 1757 the Coetus states that the Presbyterians had appointed four days in the year for public prayer and repentance ^^ in these wicked and troublous times," and the Coetus resolved to follow their example and celebrate the same days. Rev. D. Bartholomaeus, after a long illness, during which time he was largely aided by Coetus, died on July 28, 1768, and the Coetus also paid the funeral expenses, which amounted to three pounds. This was about $8.00. In those days money was worth more than now, and funerals were more simple. In 1815 Rev. Philip Pauli died in Reading, and the congrega- tion paid the funeral expenses, which amounted to $26.66. John Roland, during about fifty years school- master at Reading, died in 1849, and was buried at the expense of the First church. The expenses amounted to $18. As an evidence of the devotion of the Germans to their mother tongue a letter from Rev. J. C. A. Helf- fenstein to the Executive Council of Pennsylvania may be cited. He was pastor of the Reformed church at OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 263 Lancaster, and his letter is dated Jan. 11, 1778. It is a petition to have German papers circulated among the Germans to inform them of military and civil transac- tions, as was done by means of English papers. Mr. H. stated that the Germans could not read or under- stand English papers. Unfortunately a number of the ministers from Ger- many sent by Holland proved inefficient. Some could not accommodate themselves to American conditions, whilst others possessed no qualifications for the minis- try. Rev. Mr. Wittner was one of these. He was of a melancholy temperament, and, the Coetal minutes say, he " was despised and hated by everybody .'' The Coetus of 1770 says he is almost unfit for the ministry, and no one wanted him. For some time he was unem- ployed, and the Coetus aided him. Subsequently he served a charge in Lehigh county and got along better. In 1778 the Coetal minutes state that his poverty had been the main cause of the miserable condition of his body and mind. In 1769 a young minister named John W. Pithan came here and offered himself to the Coetus. He came from Germany and possessed testimonials showing that he had been ordained by the Palatinate Consistory. The Coetus recommended him to the congregations in and near Easton, which were vacant. But he was a failure. ^' He was accused and convicted of an offen- sive and godless life.'^ He confessed his faults and was allowed to continue a while longer, with the under- standing that in case of further complaint he would be dismissed by the Coetus. He was deposed in 1771 and became an ''• ecclesiastic vagabond.^' 264 EARLY HISTORY Another uufortunate minister was Kev. Peter Paul Pernisius, who came here with a daughter in 1784. (One authority says two daughters.) He owed 138 florins for his passage, which the Coetus paid. He was at once sent to the congregations in Xew Jersey, but these returned him soon. He was then oflPered to Leb- anon and vicinity, but he was not accepted. The mem- bers of the Coetus then persuaded the congregations in Northampton county to accept him, which was done. He remained there several years. In 1786 it is stated that he was useless in this country and would leave America if he had the money to do so. The Coetus did not possess the money either to support him or send him home. He was too old when he came here. The people asked why a man who is ready for the grave was compelled to undertake the wearisome journey to America. Besides, it was impossible for a man of Per- nisius' age to adapt himself to American conditions. The Coetus deplores that the Holland Fathers expended their money in sending three natives of Switzerland (Loretz, Pernisius and Willy, who came in the same ship), because they were failures. Pernisius was de- posed in 1789. In the summer of 1788 he was charged with having shot a Danish beggar to death. The cir- cumstantial evidence was very strong against him. He was committed to prison in Philadelphia. Dr. Wey- berg secured bail for him, and employed two lawyers to represent him. Dr. W. also paid over 28 pounds as costs to defend and free the prisoner, who escaped pun- ishment, but he soon showed his bad character. The record says he was ^' a continuous drunkard, swearer OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 265 and blasphemer, and also a digger of hidden treasures, and a conjurer of the devil.'' Rev. Samuel Dubendorf came to this country in 1776 as chaplain of some of the Hessian troops which England had hired to fight against the Americans. Mr. D. concluded to remain here, as did many of the Hessians. He had remained some time with the Brit- ish in Xew York. He was made pastor of the Re- formed church at Germantown, but the prejudice of the people destroyed his usefulness. He was a good and sincere man, but the people suspected him of sid- ing with the British. In 1780 he left German town and went to Lykens Valley, Dauphin county. He was then called an aged gentleman. In 1781 he com- plained to Coetus of the poverty of his congregations. He was poor and in great danger of the Indians. Coe- tus resolved to send him 15 pounds. In 1783 the Holland brethren agreed to send him 100 guilders. These statements are gleaned from the minutes of the Coetus. Mr. Reidemeister, of Philadelphia, a nephew of Mr. Dubendorf, under date of May 18, 1780, upon request of the Fathers in Holland, sent them a report of the case of his uncle, the minister. But his account differs from the above in one point. He says nothing about his coming here with the Hessians as chaplain. His voyage occupied twenty weeks. He was detained in Xew York four weeks until he could obtain a pass from the British Gen. Howe to go to Philadelphia. In 1782 a congregation in Westmoreland county asked for a minister. The region was then called '' a new settlement, near Pittsburg." It was a new coun- 18 266 EARLY HISTORY try and not well known. Rev. John W. Weber agreed to go out and labor there, and he thus became the pio- neer Reformed minister in western Pennsylvania. His charge is next year stated as consisting of Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), Hannatown, Hempfield and Mt. Pleasant. He did not attend the meetings of the Coetus until 1787, on account of the great distance, and then again in 1791. In 1785 Mr. Ludovicus Chitara, a former Au- gustinian monk, requested to be admitted to the ser- vice of the Church. He had good testimonials. He was placed under the direction of Revs. Hendel and Weyberg. In the year following he was publicly ex- amined by Coetus and found acceptable. He was re- quested to wait another year for ordination, but mean- while engage in pastoral work, excepting the admini- stration of the sacraments, under the supervision of a minister. Mr. Chitara was poor, and the Coetus had by this time expended over 32 pounds for board and clothing for him. In 1788 the Coetus resolved to or- dain him in the church at Knowlton, N. J. The Hol- land Fathers criticised this act. This is probably the only case of its kind in the history of the Reformed Church. This man must have been a giant-like look- ing person. He was seven feet tall, and married a lady nearly of his own size. She died, leaving one son. About eight weeks later Mr. Chitara also died, after having preached four or five years. Mr. Chitara was undoubtedly the tallest person who ever graced the Reformed ministry. Dr. B. S. Schneck, who with Dr. T. L. HoflPeditz went to Germany in 1843 to call OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 267 Dr. F. W. Krummacher to a professorship in the new theological seminary, was also a good deal over six feet tall. While in Germany the two visited Berlin and attended a review of Prussian troops. Presently the captain of the king's body guard, observing the tall form of Dr. Schneck, sought to enlist him for the guard. The king^s body guard was composed exclu- sively of tall men. Dr. Schneck informed the captain that he was already a soldier of a King, but whose kingdom is not of this world. Like all others, the Keformed people were unfa- vorably affected during the Revolutionary period. The people were naturally excited, and the war interfered greatly with the work of the Church. At the meeting of Coetus in 1775 the last Wednesday of June was designated as a day of general fasting, repentance and prayer, which was to be observed in all congregations. In its report to Holland, under date of May 12, 1775, the Coetus says : " We live in precarious times, the like of which, so far as we know, has never been seen in America. The Lord knows what He has in store for us, and especially for our beloved Church. May our hearts truly and sincerely humble themselves be- fore the Lord. Perhaps God, angry because of our sins, may then relent and leave a new blessing behind Him, so that we may offer meat-offerings and thank- offerings to the Lord our God ! Dear Sirs and Fathers, do not forget us in your prayers to the merciful God, that He may not entirely avert from us His fatherly face, but always recognize us mercifully as His own." In the meeting of 1777 complaint is made about the 268 EARLY HISTORY distractions caused by the war. The observance of the Sabbath Day and family worship were greatly neg- lected. It was stated that the people were thinking more about arms than of God's word. — The close of the war was hailed with joy. In the minutes of Coe- tus of 1783 it is stated that special joy and cheerful- ness were apparent in both ministers and elders on ac- count of the blessed times of peace. The Coetus de- clares that the change of government was especially welcome to them, because the Reformed people of Hol- land and the United States could have more unre- stricted fellowship as citizens of two republics. In 1786 the Coetus complains about the evil effects of the war upon the life of the people — debauchery and luxury, instead of gratitude for what the Lord had done for them. A spirit of extravagance prevailed. Many people were no longer satisfied with home-made clothing, as before, and " lived above their stations.'' The ministers grieved over this spirit, but said that all admonitions were in vain. The Colonial Congress held its sessions in York, Pa., from September, 1777, to June, 1778. Many members of Congress attended worship in the Re- formed church, although the services were conducted in German, as did also Gen. George Washington whilst on a visit to Congress. Col. Philip Livingston, a mem- ber of Congress from New York and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died during the sessions and was buried in the Reformed graveyard. His body was afterward removed to another place. As is w^ll known, there was a time when people could be imprisoned for not paying their debts. Rev. OF THE REFOEMED CHURCH. 269 J. F. Berger was one of those who failed to adorn the gospel by a godly walk and conversation. He was in- temperate and made debts which he failed to pay. Whilst located at Reading he was imprisoned by some of his creditors. He regained his liberty by telling his creditors that the Coetus owed him as much money as was required to pay his debts, which he would secure at the approaching meeting. At the meeting he be- haved very unseemly, and he was no longer considered a member. It happened several times that young men here sought ordination from improper motives. One was a Mr. Roth, who applied in 1785, but who ^' cared only for the honor and support.^^ He was advised to drop his purpose, which, if carried out, " would result in the ruin of himself and his congregations.'^ Mr. Roth ap- plied again in 1787, together with Mr. Giesse. Both were refused. Mr. Giesse " was directed to his school, and Mr. Roth to his carpenter's bench.'' Since then many young men hav^e been accepted for the ministry who should have been sent to the plow or to mechani- cal tools. It would be interesting to know the number of Re- formed people in Pennsylvania at the beginning of the Reformed Church. Various reports have been made and published upon this subject, but most of them have been mere guess work, and vary greatly. The fact is, there is no reliable data at hand. There was no census in those days. The earliest report on the subject appears to be that of Reformed Deputies in 1730, based upon the state- 270 EARLY HISTORY ments of Rev. G. M. Weiss, then on a visit to Hol- land. They state that there are 15,000 Reformed in Pennsylvania, constituting about one-half of the popu- lation. This statement of proportion to population is certainly incorrect. The Reformed were not as numer- ous as all the other sects together — Quakers, Luther- ans, Mennonites, etc. The Reformed constituted fully one-half of those coming from the Palatinate. A letter from Pennsylvania to Holland, dated No- vember 23, 1731, estimated the number of Reformed at only 3000. In 1733 Revs. Rieger and Diemer esti- mated the number of all Germans in the state, Lutheran and Reformed, at 15,000. Rev. Michael Schlatter in 1746 estimated the number of the Reformed at 12,000. In 1751 he gives the number of Reformed at 30,000. He estimated the whole population in Pennsylvania at 190,000, of which about 90,000 were Germans. In the fifteen years between the two dates the increase in the number of immigrants was quite large. — About the only official reports at hand are the immigrant records kept at the port of Philadelphia, where all ships con- veying immigrants to Pennsylvania after 1710 landed, with one exception. Upon the arrival of every ship the numbers and names of persons on board were placed, upon record. Upon landing these newcomers were re- quired to take an oath of allegiance to the king of Eng- land. All Germans coming to Pennsylvania had to make this oath prior to 1750. These lists of names are published in the Pennsylvania Archives. The lists contain over 30,000 names. The fact that all those taking the oath were men, and many of them heads of OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 271 familiesjustified the belief that by 1750 the number of German immigrants in Pennsylvania was about 60,000. Not all independent ministers were bad. One of the exceptions was Rev. Philip Jacob Michael, who is supposed to have organized the Reformed church in Reading in 1753. In 1764 he applied for admission to the Coetus, and stated that he had applied twelve years before, but w as refused by Rev. Mr. Schlatter because of unfounded reasons. He, therefore, labored on in a number of congregations in Maxatawny and elsewhere, but in harmony with the Coetus. The Coetus found that he was faithful in doctrine, life and conduct, and they recommend him for admission. The Holland Fathers declined to accept him, and therefore he la- bored on without ordination, because his people were well pleased with him. One of the remarkable statements is that the second building of the Reformed church in Philadelphia con- tained sittings for 2000 persons. This is incredible, al- though repeatedly so reported by Dr. Weyberg. It was dedicated on May 1, 1774, and had cost about 7000 pounds. The church was said to be one of the finest in the city. The dedication was followed by a series of a week's services, during which two or three services were held each day, except one. The first Reformed ministers here who received the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity were Revs. John Joachim Zubly, Casper Weyberg and William Hendel. Tins title was conferred upon Mr. Zubly by the Col- lege of New Jersey in 1770, and upon Revs. Weyberg 272 EARLY HISTORY and Hendel by the Academy of PrincetoD, N. J., in the fall of 1787. The title was neither sought nor ex- pected. It was well bestowed. The condition in which many of the early immi- grants reached Philadelphia was shocking. The ships are described as floating hospitals and pest-houses, filled with small-pox, and all the other diseases of crowding and dirt, which increased frightfully during the long voyages of two and three months. One ship had a voyage of six months, and the surviving passengers are said to have lived on rats and vermin. It is said that some ships lost one-third of their passengers, and one particular ship is said to have lost 250 passengers dur- ing the voyage. Saur stated that in one year 2000 Germans died while on the way across the Atlantic ocean. This report does not appear to have been over- drawn. CORRECTIONS. Page 13, Samuel Guldin was born in 1664, not 1660. Ppges 28 and 41, Skippack church was erected in 1729, not 1727. Pages 36 and 234, Boehm's congregation was organized in 1747, not 1740. Th'j year 1740 on date stone is not correct Page 41, Skippack and Swamp churches were organized in 1725, not 1720. Page 84, Weiss and Reiff went to Europe in 1730, not 1729. Page 90, the Dutch church in New York was organized in 1628, not 1626. The late Elder Henry 8. Dotterer, of Philadelphia, who was a zealous student of Reformed Church history, expressed his doubt that Rev. Sam- uel Quldin resided in Oley, Berks county, as stated on page 15. Rev. Mr. Guldin owned land in Oley, but Mr. Dotterer believed that it was occupied by his son of the same name. This is inferred partly from the fact that the father died in Philadelphia. OF THE EEFORMED CHURCH. 273 INDEX. Allemangel Church, 208. Allen, William, 30, 107. Allentown, 161, 174. Alsentz, 118. Ainwell, N. J., 98. Anne, Queen, 10. Annville, 130. Antes, Fred., 150. Antes, Henry, 40, 69, 70, 72, 73, 80. Antonides, Vincent, 55. Arend, 151. Baldwin, John, 119. Baptism, 56. Barren Hill Church, 90. Bartholomaeus, D., 65, 252, 262. Bausman, William, 98, 202, 204. Bechtel, John, 69, 70, 72, 73, 80. Becker, Henry, 211. Berger, John, 172. Berger, J. F., 269. Bern Church, 164. Bethany, Lancaster County, 26, 174. Bickel, Tobias, 76. BindnageFs Church, 209. Blumer, A., 91, 95, 135-6, 151, 195. Boehm, John Philip, 16, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32. 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 51, 53, 55, 56, 58, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 81, 83, So, 88, 104, 105, 115, 154, 155, 162, 188, 203, 207, 227, 230, 234-5, 237- 9, 240-2, 257-8. 274 INDEX. Boehm's Church, 36, 47, 52, 177, 234-236. Boel, Henry, 55. Bouquet, Col. Henry, 126-8. Bower, Capt. Jacob, 140. Boyer, Gabriel, 46. Boyertown Reformed Church, 47. Brandmiller, 70. Brickerville Church, 245. Brotherhood, 182. Brown, Enoch, 131. Bucher, J. C, 117, 128, 131, 147, UO. Bushy Run, 127, 129. Cacusi, 26, 76, 116. Campbellstown, 118. Carlisle, 129. Catechism, 64, 88, 202. Censura Morum, 100-101. Chambersburg, 130. Chandler, S., 113. Charity Schools, 111-114. Children's Day, 179-181. Chitara, Ludovicus, 266. Clymer, William, 108. Cocalico, 24, 26, 62, 92, 116, 243. Coetus, 55, 56, 58, 62, 63, 64,(66, 88, 89, 90-95. Coetus of New York, 259. Communion, 56. Conestoga, 12, 24, 44, 55, 116, 240. Consistory, 57. Constitution, 55-58. Corner Church, 210. Craig, William, 119. David's Church, 126. Decker, B. J., 251. DeHaas, General, 147-8. Dellicker, 152, 195. INDEX. 275 DeLong's Church, 249. DeWees, 39, 40. Diemer, Dr. JohD, 24, 166, 270. Dorsius, P. H., 67, 85, 115, 168, 188. Douglassville, 10. Dubendorf, Samuel, 265. DuBois, G., 55. DuBois, J., 193. Duquesne, Fort, 126. Dy lander, 29. Easton, 47, 92, 113, 149, 176, 263. Eberhard, Michael D., 175. Eckert, Valentine, 146. Egypt Church, 210. Eiders, 56, 96-99. Erlentown, 244. Fahring, 99. Falk, Gabriel, 82. Falkner, Daniel, 40. Falkner Swamp, 11, 26, 27, 28, 36, 39, 40, 44, 51, 56, 116,154,207. y ^ ^ > Farmer, Col., 151. Finney, 160. Fort Washington, 40. Franciscus, L. C, 257. Frankenfeld, 62, 89. Franklin College, 194-197. Fritz, 249. Gerhard, Frederick, 76. Germantown, 15, 24, 48, 70, 99, 102, 103, 116, 167, 218, 255. Germantown, Ya., 16. Giesse, 269. Girard, Stephen, 170. Gloninger, Hon. John, 147, 148-9. Gloninger, Philip, 196. 276 ii^DEX. Gnadenhiitten, 131. Gobrecht, John, 175. Goetschi, Maurice, 85. Goetschius, Henry, 79. Goshenhoppen, 24, 55, 62. Gowns, 201. Great Swamp, 116. Greenawald, Philip, 195. Greenwich Township, Berks County, 131. Griesemer, Casper, 46. Grindstone Hill Church, 212. Gross, John D., 137, 151, 197. Grosscup, 151. Grubben Church, 209. Guldin, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13-16, 17, 71, 83, 198, 225. Haeger, Henry, 16. Hain, George, 208. Haines Church, 26, 32, 33, 46, 76, 99, 126, 146, 208, 219. Haller, Col. Henry, 139, 140. Hamilton, Alexander, 169. Hannatown, 266. Heidelberg Churches, 214. Heidelberg Township, Berks County, 76. HeliFenstein, Jacob, 255. Helffenstein, J. C. A., 135, 158-9, 195, 197, 262. Heller's Church, Lancaster County, 241-3. Hempfield, 266. Hendel, William, 91, 95, 98, 126, 152, 162, 170, 195, ^ 197, 202, 204, 232, 271. Herkimer, General N., 138. Herman, F. L., 136-7, 197. Hickorytown, 47. Hiester, Gabriel, 143. Hiester, Gov. Joseph, 141-2, 195. Hill Church, Berks County, 210. INDEX. 277 Hill Church, Lebanon County, 33, 44, 209. Hillegas, 147, 166. Himmel's Church, 212. Hochreutiner, 65, 252. Hock, John Jacob, 244, 256. Hoffmeier, J. H., 200. Host Church, 31, 53, 207. HufPs Church, 213. Hummelstown, 130. Hunter, Daniel, 144. Indians, 32, 33, 47. Indian War, 125-131. Ingold, John W., 195. James, Abel, 108. Kalm, Peter, 29. Keith, Sir William, 23, 157. Kern, John M., 136. Kershner, Conrad, 32. Kichline, Peter, 142, 149-150. Knowlton, N. J., 266. Kremer, F. W., 180. Lancaster, 24, 44, 47, 61, 67, 92, 106, 113, 116, 161, 176, 200, 203, 205, 243-4, 256. Lange, 99. Language Question, 154-6, 157-161. Lawrence, Thomas, 107, 167. Layenberger, Francis, 31. Lebanon, 33, 129, 130, 161, 176, 180, 203. Lehighton, 131. Lein, John, 242. Leinbach, A. S., 117. Lesher, John, 46, 143. Leyd, J., 192. , Leydich, Philip, 65. Liberty Bell, 135-6. 278 INDEX. Lischy, Jacob, 61, 62, 70, 72, 73, 76-78, 80, 81. Logan, James, 168. Lord, Thomas, 108. Lotz, Col. Nicholas, 140. Lupp, Ludwig, 203. Lutherans, 29, 31, 33. Lykens Yalley, 126, 265. Lynntown Church, 208. Manhattan Island, 90. Maxatawny, 24, 116. Mennonites, 228. Michael, Ph. J., 45, 133, 271. Michaelius, John, 90. Mickley, John J., 136. Middletown, 130. Mifflin, John, 108, 169. Miller, Fred. C, 248. Miller, John, 60. Miller, John Peter, 12, 230, 246, 256. Molatton, 10, 82. Moonshine Church, 210. Moravians, 36, 61, 69, 70, 72-75, 76-78, 80-82. Morning Land Church, 209. Mt. Pleasant, 266. Muddy Creek, 27, 37, 77, 199, 246. Mueller, Sebastian, 99. Muhlenberg, H. M., 249. Muskingum River, 129. Nagel, Col. George, 138. Xagel, Col. Peter, 139. Neisser, George, 74. Neshaminy, 39. levelling, J. W. G., 133-5. New Born, 79. Newcastle, 20. New Goshenhoppen, 116 IXDEX. 279 New Hanover, 21, 113. Ranch, C. H., 70. New Luneburg, Xova Sco- Reading, 24, 27, 33, 45, tia, 63. 46, 47, 53, 113, 117^ Nitschman, Bishop, 77. 130, 176, 217, 262. North Heidelberg, Berks Red Churches, 212. County, 76, 78. Redemptioners, 23, 225. Oley, 16, 24, 26, 46, 55, geed Church, 31. 116, 143. ' ' ' ' Reiff, Jacob, 28, 41, 42, 84, Otterbein, 89, 189, 200. ^ \9\^ ^^^^ l^^o-^. T> w. OQ Qi oo ^^^^^^^ Society, 188-191. Palatines, 23 31, 32. Reynell, John, 167. Parsons^ Ayilham 113. Rieger, John B, 24, 64, 65, p'"^w> ^^ ^^^ 1^^' 244, 261 Pauli, William, 160. 270 ' ' ' ' Pemberton Israel, 167 R^^gris, Hugh, 108. Penn Wilham, 9, 10, 2.3, Roedel, Jacob, 176. ^^■, -a J ^r. Roland, John, 114, 262. Pennsylvania Synods, 70. jj Daniel, 141. Pequea, 202. Eoth ''69 Pernisius, Peter P., 264. Rothenbiihler, 52, 162, 2-54. Perquisites, 123-4. Roxboro 1-5 Peters, Richard, 109, 11.3. jj ..^-s Church, 245. Pew Rent, 260 Rubel, John C. 90, 109. Philadelphia, 10, 23, 24, ' f' f' 28. ?9> 30, 42, Salaries, 115-119. -q' qA i'aq 'in-'/?n' ^alem (Heller's), 241-3. alley, Aou Schildknappen, 167 Pi han, John W., 26.3 Schlatter, 27, 29, 30, 32, Pitt, Fort, 126 129, 266. 33 34' 37 51 53 59 ISt'?'i30 60; 61: 64,' 67,' 68,' 7.5; porter, ±. O., IrfO. gg_9Q gg jqo 103, Pottstown, 161. 105-110, 111-114, ILS^ aueen's College, N. J., 192. 126, 132, 154, 166-8, uittapahilla Church, 210. 178, 189, 199, 230, 235, 280 INDEX. 246, 247-8, 253, 258, 261, 270, 271. Schmalzgass Church, 208. Schoharie, N. Y, 23. Schumacher, Daniel, 250. Shoemaker, B., 107. Skippack, 11, 24, 25, 27, 28,36,39,41,43,44,56, 104,105, 113,116,164. Slavery, 225-229. Smith, Dr. Wm., 113, 137. Smith, John, 108. Societies, 182-187. Spyker, 145. S. Schools, 172-178, 183. Stapel, C. M., 98. Steiner, 52, 105-9, 162, 190, 230, 254. St. Elias' Church, 213. Steuben, Baron, 137-8. St. John's (Forest), 212. St. John's (Hain's), 32. St. Luke's, Trappe, 207. Stov, W. J., 45, 89, 98. St. Paul's, Berks Co., 210. St. Paul's, Robesonia, 211. St. Peter's, Berks Co., 211. Swatara Church, 209. Swedes, 29. Tempelmann, 12, 33, 35, 36-38, 6Q, 83, 193, 199, 209, 240-6, 256, 258. Tempelmann Hill, 37. Trinity, Tulpehocken, 31. Tulpehocken, 23, 24, 31, 32, 55, 68,82,116,126, 131, 145. Twifoot 205. Tan yiecq, 39. Vincent, Chester Co., 47. Virginia, 59. Vock, L. F., 117, 201. Voting, 102-3. Waldschmid, 45, 89, 98, 99, 202. Washington, 137, 141, 151- 153, 268. Weidler, Michael, 242. Weikel, John H., 133. Weiser, Conrad, 31. Weiss, George M., 30, 42, 67, 68, 79, 83, 84, 88, 104, 105, 120, 165, 189, 226, 230, 258, 270. Wentz's Church, 42, 105. Westmoreland, 265. Weyberg, 95, 132,151,162, 195, 201, 264, 271. Whitemarsh, 26, 27, 36, 39, 40, 44, 56, 117. White Oaks, 178. Whitpen, 53. Widows' Fund, 189-190. Winkhaus, 162, 169. Wissler, John J., 89, 188. Wittner, 98, 263. Women's Society, 184-187. Yellow Fever, 169-171. York, 60-62, 113, 174. Zeltenreich, Andreas, 244. Zeltenreich Church, 244. Ziegel Church, 211. Zinzendorf, 16, 36, 69, 74, 77, 80, 81. Zubly, 136. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the library rules or by special arrangement with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED DATE DUE DATE BORROWED DATE DUE C28 ^747) M100 938.26 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 0035520418 938.26 M613 Miller Early history of the Reformed ehnrch in I ' ennsrlvaiiia.