HISTORY
GERMAN SETTLEMENTS
AND OP THE
NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA,
FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD OF THE COLONIZATION
OF THE DUTCH, GERMAN AND SWISS SETTLERS
TO THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST HALF OF
THE PRESENT CENTURY.
? /
g: d.v bernheim,
PASTOR OF ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WILMINGTON, N. C.
"LOOK UNTO THE ROCK WHENCE YE ARE HEWN."
—Isaiah 51:1.
PHILADELPHIA:
THE LUTHERAN BOOK STORE,
117 NORTH SIXTH STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
Br Gt. D. BERNHEIM,
the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
PHILADELPHIA .*
SHERMAN & CO., PRINTERS.
THE MEMORY
OF
Rev. ERNEST LEWIS HAZELITJS, D. D.,
AND TO
Rev. JOHN BACHMAN, D.D., LL.D.,
STILL LIVING,
TO WHOM THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CAROLINAS IS GREATLY
INDEBTED FOR ITS PRESERVATION AJSTD PROSPERITY,
THESE PAGES
ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
BY
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
An historical work requires no haste in its production,—
it should be the creature of time, inasmuch as the arrange-
ment of material, the weighing of testimony, and the search
for missing links in the chain of narrative, all require time.
That the historical contribution which is herewith offered
to the public has not been hastily prepared, nor unadvisedly
thrust upon the reader's notice, may be seen from the fol-
lowing statements.
In the year 1851, the Lutheran Synod of South Carolina,
by resolution, made it the duty of the author to gather
together a copy of all its printed minutes, have them prop-
erly bound, and place the bound volumes in the library of
its Theological Seminary. In so doing, the author became
interested in the records of Synod, provided a set of dupli-
cate copies for himself, and arranged certain tables of
statistics of that Synod, exhibiting the gradual increase of
the Church, the date of each minister's licensure and ordi-
nation, &c, &c, and had these written statistics bound
with his volumes of the Synod's minutes, merely for his
own private use and future reference. A prominent min-
ister of that Synod happening to overlook these statistics,
suggested the propriety of their publication. To which the
author replied, that it might be done, provided the minutes
of the North Carolina Synod could also be procured, and
similar statistical tables be arranged from them, when
both could be published at the same time.
Not long afterwards, in 1858, the author was called to
reside in North Carolina, when he commenced collecting
the minutes of the Lutheran Synod of that State also, and
VI
PREFACE.
found such a large amount of additional historical docu-
ments, that he became exceedingly interested in the search,
and the labor has been to him a recreation and a pleasure
rather than a wearisome toil. Public libraries were next
visited ; the records of the Secretaries of State in the Capitol
buildings of North and South Carolina were examined; each
colony of Germans in the two Carolinas was traced to its
origin; missionary journals, discovered to have been sent
from the first ministers in North Carolina to Germany
and there published, but no longer known to have any exist-
ence, were sought after and obtained in Europe; all of
which produced a collection of historical material greater
than was at first believed to be possible.
During the years, from 1861 to 1864, the author pub-
lished, from the material then on hand, seventy-two "His-
torical Sketches" in the columns of the "Southern Lu-
theran," which were received with so much favor, that un-
solicited suggestions came from Rev. John Bachman, D.D.,
LL.D., and from editors of several Southern journals, to
have these "Historical Sketches published in a more con-
venient and durable form;" besides, letters were received
from private parties urging the same thing. On a visit to
the North at the close of the war, these "Sketches" were
exhibited to Kev. Dr. Hawks, of New York, author of the
History of North Carolina, and to Rev. Dr. Krauth, of
Philadelphia, and the same suggestion was repeated by
both those learned gentlemen.
And now, believing that the information contained in
this work is too valuable to be lost; believing also, that the
ripe and scholarly judgment of others should not be disre-
garded; believing, that the labor of twenty-one years, the
leisure time of which was mostly spent in gathering to-
gether the materials for this work, should not be spent in
vain; and lastly, believing that some good towards the
advancing of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom will
thereby be effected, and that a generous public will so re-
gard this work, these pages are sent upon the world with
PREFACE.
vii
the earnest hope that they may accomplish this their mis-
sion.
But probably the most important question is: Is this
book a reliable historical work? To which the author re-
plies, that it is as much so, as human labor and patient
toil can make it. This work has been altogether a labor of
love, hence no pains were spared to make it eminently
correct and exact in dates, names, localities, &c. That it
occasionally comes in conflict with other historical authori-
ties could not be avoided, as the author felt assured that
Church records, missionary reports, records of the Councils
of State, minutes of Synod, private journals and the like
sources of information, produced at the time when the
events occurred, are all of them more reliable than the
statements made by authors, who had not these records at
their command, however highly those authors may other-
wise be regarded.
Some of them were unacquainted with the German lan-
guage, German characteristics, and the religion of the Ger-
man settlers, hence originated the errors that are sometimes
found in American histories in reference to the German
colonists.
It was deemed unnecessary to furnish a list on one or
more separate pages of the sources whence the materials
for this work were derived; but, in order to remove all
doubt concerning the reliability of this work, it was
thought to be more serviceable to the reader to mention
the names of authorities on the page where such authors
and records are quoted.
There is a niche in the history of North and South Caro-
lina that has never been filled. It is a well-known fact
that these two Provinces were largely settled by German
colonists, and yet their history has hitherto never been fully
written. In the various histories of North Carolina we
have extended accounts of the German settlements at New-
berne and at Salem, but of the other German settlers, who
located themselves in the central and western parts of the
State, nothing is said, although they comprise more than
viii
PREFACE.
three-fourths of the German population. South Carolina
historians have been equally remiss; with the exception of
the Purysburg and the Hard Labor Creek settlements, very
little is said concerning those colonies from Germany and
Switzerland, which were spread over a large portion of the
interior of that Province. There can be but one solution
of this apparent neglect, and that is, the records of these
German settlements were couched in a language foreign to
those historical writers. It is hoped that the omission has
been, at least, largely supplied. A few more years, and
the records of the history of our German forefathers would
have passed beyond human reach. In view of this fact,
how forcible are the remarks of Dr. Ramsay in the preface
to his uHistory of South Carolina:" "Every day that
minute local histories of these States are deferred is an in-
jury to posterity, for, by means thereof, more of that knowl-
edge which ought to be transmitted to them will be irre-
coverably lost."
The author confesses to a few omissions in this work,
and that this history has not been extended to the present
time. His reason for the latter fact is, that occurrences so
recent can scarcely be regarded as history, until they have
been mellowed by age—have passed into perspective—when
"distance lends enchantment to the view." At all events,
the author prefers to close at a point, where he will not be
obliged to record occurrences in which he was more or less
personally interested.
The first omission consists in the want of an extended
account of the ecclesiastical difficulty that arose in the year
1819, between the North Carolina Synod and the ministers,
who afterwards formed the Tennessee Synod. In this the
object was, not to open afresh those wounds which have
been more than fifty years in healing. Let us by all means
have a hopeful future, and let us throw no obstacles in the
way of 41 the dead past burying its dead."
The second omission is a trifling one, namely, the pass-
ing in silence the efforts made in 1842 by the North and
South Carolina Synods to celebrate the supposed centenary
PREFACE.
IX
anniversary of the introduction of the Lutheran Church
in America. To the South this celebration was x^eculiarly
anachronistic. German Lutheranism was established in
Pennsylvania in 1742,but it existed in the South eight years
earlier, when Revs. Bolzius and Gronau commenced their
labors in the German (Salzburg) colony at Ebenezer, Geor-
gia, A.D. 1734, and in the Carolinas, five years sooner,
when Rev. Giessendanner labored for the Germans in
Orangeburg, S. C, in 1737.
The author is aware that this historical work, especially
in its detailed ecclesiastical information, must be interest-
ing chiefly to the members of the Lutheran Church in the
Carolinas; it is hoped, nevertheless, that the general reader
will gather from it much information which is not to be
obtained from any other source.
G. D. Ber:n"heim.
Wilmington. N. C,
June 10th, 1872.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
An Account of the Early Colonization of the Dutch,
German and Swiss Settlers in the Carolinas.
PAGE
Section 1. The Causes, in general, which led to the Colo-
nization of America with European settlers, . 25 ,
Section 2. The Religious Persecutions in Europe as another
effective cause of Emigration to America, . . . 30 ,
Section 3. The War of the Spanish Succession, . . 37
Section 4. The Mission Societies established in Europe for
the benefit of the early settlers in America, . . 46
Section 5. John Lederer's Explorations, A.D. 1670, . 49
Section 6. The Dutch Colony of Lutherans on James
Island, South Carolina, A.D. 1674, .... 56
Section 7. The Colony of Palatinate and Swiss Germans
in Newberne, North Carolina, A.D. 1710, . . 67
Section 8. The German settlers in Charleston, S. C, . 81
Section 9. The Swiss Colony at Purysburg, S. C, A.D.
1732, 88
Section 10. The German and Swiss colonists of Orange-
burg, S. C, A.D. 1735, 99
Section 11. The German settlers of Saxe-Gotha Township,
now Lexington County, S. C, A.D. 1737, . . 126
Section 12. The German settlers from Pennsylvania in
Central North Carolina, A.D. 1750, . . . . 148
^Section 13. The Moravians at Salem, N. C, A.D. 1753, . 154
Section 14. The German Lutheran colony at Hard Labor
Creek, Abbeville County, S. C, A.D. 1763 and 1764, 161
Xll
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Section 15. Other German Settlements, particularly in
South Carolina, 167
Section 16. Hessian Deserters during the Revolution, . 171
CHAPTER II.
Condition and History of the German Colonies in the
Carolinas to the close of the Revolutionary War.
Section 1. A brief review of the planting of the different
German colonies in North and South Carolina, . 175
Section 2. Trials and Difficulties of the Early Settlers, . 181
Section 3. Character, occupation and condition of the Ger-
man settlers in the Carolinas, 185
Section 4. Great want of the means of grace among the
early German colonists in the Carolinas, . . . 191
Section 5. An account of the Weber Heresy, . . . 195
Section 6. History of St. John's Lutheran Church, Charles-
ton, S. C, to the close of the Revolutionary War, . 205
Section 7. The Lutheran Church in Amelia Township,
Orangeburg District (County), S. C, ... 224
Section 8. The Lutheran churches in Saxe-Gotha Town-
ship, Lexington District (County), S. C, . . . 229
Section 9. Other German churches in South Carolina, . 233
Section 10. Early History of St. John's Lutheran Church,
Salisbury, N. C, 239
Section 11. Early History of Organ Church, Rowan
County, N. C., 243
Section 12. Early History of St. John's Church, Cabarrus
County, N. C, 246
Section 13. The Delegation sent from North Carolina to
Europe for Pastors and Teachers, and the Subsequent
Organization of the Helmstaedt Mission Society, . 253
Section 14. The Labors of Revs. Nussmann and Arndt in
North Carolina, . . . . . . . .259
Section 15. Character of the Lutheran Ministry in the
Carolinas previous to the Revolutionary War—Their
Piety, Learning, Firm Adherence to the Confessions
of their Church, Faithfulness in the Discharge of
their Ministerial Duties—Liturgical Worship, &c, . 262
CONTENTS.
xiii
PAGE
Section 16. Gradual Improvement of the Condition of the
German Colonies and of their Churches in the Caro-
linas, and Bright Prospects for the Future, . . 267
Section 17. The Effect of the Revolutionary War upon
the German Settlements and their Churches, . . 269
CHAPTER III.
History of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas
from the close of the revolutionary war, a.d.
1783, to the Organization of the Synod of North
Carolina, A.D. 1803, embracing a Period of Twenty
Years.
Section 1. State of the German Colonies and of the Lu-
theran Church at the close of the Revolution, . . 274
Section 2. Reorganization of Ecclesiastical Affairs in the
Lutheran Church in the Carolinas, .... 278
Section 3. Arrival of Rev. John Charles Faber—Reunion
of the North Carolina Churches with the Parent
Church in Germany—The North Carolina Catechism,
published by Rev. Dr. Velthusen; and Rev. Daser's
Report to the Helmstaedt Fathers, .... 281 Section 4. The Corpus Evangelicum or Unio Ecclesias-
tica in South Carolina, and the Ordination of Rev. J.
G. Bamberg, 288
Section 5. The Act of Incorporation of the fifteen Ger-
man Churches in the Interior of South Carolina, . 305
Section 6. Arrival of Revs. Bernhardt, Storch and Rosch-
en in North Carolina, A.D. 1787 and 1788, . . 311
Section 7. The Helmstaedt Mission Society—Letters from
Revs. Nussmann, Storch and Roschen, published in
the Helmstaedt Reports, indicating the Condition of
the Lutheran Church in North Carolina during the
years 1788 and 1789, 322
Section 8. Further intelligence from St. John's and Organ
Churches, and a Ministerial Assembly in North Caro-
lina, called to ordain the Rev. Robert Johnson Miller, 335
Section 9. Death of Revs. Nussmann and Martin—Resig-
xiv
CONTENTS.
PAGE
nation of Kev. John Charles Faber—Removal of Rev. Bernhardt to South Carolina—Return of Eev. Eosch-
en to Germany—Arrival of Revs. Paul and Philip
Henkel 340
Section 10. St. John's Church, Cabarrus Count}7, N. C,
after Rev. Nussmann's Death—Report of Rev. Storch
to Dr. Velthusen—Decline of the German Reformed Church in South Carolina,...... 346
Section 11. The great religious revival of the years 1800
and 1801, which swept over the United States; reports
of Revs. Storch and Henkel concerning it, . . 350
Section 12. Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of North Carolina, A.D. 1803, . . .355
CHAPTEE IY.
History of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas
Continued, from the Organization of the North
Carolina Synod, A.D. 1803, to the Formation of the
First Lutheran General Synod in America, A.D.
1820; Embracing a Period of Seventeen Years.
Section 1. Condition of the Lutheran Church in South
Carolina in the year 1803, 359
Section 2. Henkel's report on the condition of the Lu-
theran Church in North Carolina in the year 1806, . 366
Section 3. Extracts from the First Minutes of the North
Carolina Synod, from A.D. 1803 to 1810, . . .372
Section 4. Missionary tours of Revs. Miller, Franklow
and Scherer, 378
Section 5. Emigration from North Carolina to several
new States and Territories, 392
Section 6. Additional extracts from the Minutes of the
North Carolina Synod from 1811 to 1815, exhibiting
the Rapid Increase of its Influence, the Extension of
its Borders, and its great want of Ministers, . . 395
Section 7. Origin and History of several new Congrega-
tions established in North and South Carolina, . 401
Section 8. Continued history of several of the older Lu-
theran Congregations in the Carolinas, . . .411
CONTENTS.
XV
PAGE
Section 9. Arrival of Rev. John Bachman as pastor of St.
John's Lutheran Church in Charleston, S. C, and his Report on the State of the Country and the Condi-
tion of the Lutheran Church in America in the year
1815, 415
Section 10. The Ordination Question, and Opposition to
the Licensure of Candidates for the Ministry, . . 425
Section 11. The Literary Institution in Tennessee for the
Education of Ministers, and the Publication by au-
thority of the North Carolina Synod of a book, called
"Luther," 429
Section 12. The Convention which was called for the Pur-
pose of Organizing a General S}rnod, .... 435
Section 13. The First Rupture in the Lutheran Church in
America, and the subsequent Formation of the Ten-
nessee Synod, A.D. 1819 and 1820, ....440
CHAPTER V.
From the Organization of the Tennessee Synod to
the Establishment of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, South Carolina, A.D. 1833.
Section 1. A Glimpse into the History of some of the
Older Congregations, 446
Section 2. Fraternal Union of the North Carolina Synod
with the Protestant Episcopal Convention of North
Carolina, 457
Section 3. Rev. John Bachman's Labors in Savannah and
Ebenezer, Georgia, 463
Section 4. Organization of the Lutheran Synod of South
Carolina, A.D. 1824, 467
Section 5. Removals to the "West, and Missionary Labors
of the North Carolina Synod in Illinois and other
States,. 470
Section 6. Rapid Progress of the South Carolina Synod,
and the Missionary Labors of Revs. Scheck, Schwartz,
and W. D. Strobel, 474
Section 7. Death of Rev. Charles A. G. Storch in 1831,
and arrival of other Lutheran Ministers in North
Carolina, 480
XVI
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Section 8. Principal Transactions of the Tennessee Synod,
from 1820 to 1833, 485
Section 9. Establishment of a Theological Seminary in
South Carolina, under the Professorship of Rev. John
G. Schwartz, A.D. 1830, 489
Section 10. New Churches Erected in South Carolina;
and the Early Deaths of Revs. Wingard, Schwartz,
Bergman and Daniel Dreher, ..... 497
Section 11. Founding of the Theological Seminary at
Lexington, S C, and arrival of Rev. E. L. Hazelius,
D.D., as Professor of Theology, . . . .507
CHAPTER VI.
History of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas
continued to the close of the tear 1850.
Section 1. Condition of the Lutheran Church in North
and South Carolina in 1834, 512
Section .2. Kev. Daniel Jenkins' Revivals in North Caro-
lina—Commissioners sent by the South Carolina
Synod to the North Carolina Synod with Proposals
in behalf of the Lexington Theological Seminary— Death of Rev. Gottlieb Shober, 516
Section 3. Increase of Lutheran Ministers in the Caroli-
nas—Establishment of New Congregations—Visit of
Rev. Dr. Bachman to Europe, ..... 520
Section 4. Settlement of North Germans in Southern
Cities—Organization and Early History of St. Mat-
thew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church,Charles-
ton, S. C, 529
Section 5. Formation of the Western Virginia Synod;
and Death of Rev. Henry Graeber, .... 533
Section 6. Endowment of a Second Professorship in the
Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C.—Memoir
of Henry Muller, Sr., 538
Section 7. Colony of German Settlers at Walhalla, S. C.—
Additional New Congregations Organized—The Mis-
sissippi and Texas Missions, 544
Section 8. State of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas,
in the Year 1850, 549
Section 9. Concluding Remarks, 554
HISTORY
[email Settlements anfl tie lutein Ctarcl
NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER I.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY COLONIZATION OF THE
DUTCH, GERMAN, AND SWISS SETTLERS
IN THE CAROLINAS.
Section 1. The causes, in general, which led to the
colonization of America with European settlers.
The memory of the early settlers of America
should ever be regarded as sacred; it was their
courageous hearts or conscientious convictions of
duty that led them to venture upon the dangers
of a long and tedious voyage across the Atlantic,
and to endure the perils and hardships of an in-
hospitable wilderness, which greeted them upon
their arrival in this country. To them America
owes the debt of gratitude for having planted the
"westward star of empire" on its shores; for
having introduced the dawn of civilization on
this continent, where brutal savages, always at
26
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
war with themselves, and threatening each other's destruction, formerly roamed unrestrained over
its wide and trackless forests; for having borne
the standard of Christianity to this vast country,
where once the curses of idolatry hung like a
funeral pall over its future progress and prosperity.
In such a wilderness, and under many adverse and
dangerous circumstances, our adventurous or pious
forefathers made their homes and reared their
hardy families; well may those early settlers, in
more senses than one, be denominated the fathers
of this—their adopted—country.
The causes which induced the early settlers of
America to leave their native homes and seek an
abode in the Far West, across the wide Atlantic,
which, on account of its dangers, and a long,
tedious, and expensive voyage, severed them for-
ever from all that they once held dear, were nu-
merous and of great variety; but the principal of
these causes of emigration shall be given and de-
scribed in the following narrative.
Amid the over-abundant population of Europe,
crowded within a small area of productive land,
there always existed, for many centuries past, a
large proportion of inhabitants of every class of
society, whose pecuniary circumstances ever for-
bade them to arrive at the condition of competency
and wealth in the ordinary pursuits of life; the
titled nobleman, by misfortune or bad manage-
ment, had become deprived of that affluence,
which once gilded the coronet of his ancestral
house; the unfortunate merchant, by unwise
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 27
speculation, improper investments, want of suc-
cess, or some other mismanagement in his com-
mercial affairs, brought himself and family to the
verge of ruin; the industrious artisan could
scarcely maintain a large and increasing family
on the small pittance which was his daily support,
forbidding his industry ever to reach beyond that
which was necessarily consumed in the mainte-
nance of his esteemed wife and beloved children;
whilst the tenant upon a lordly estate was so over-
burdened with tithes and gatherings, that he
groaned over the profitless labor which he daily
performed.
In addition to these classes, many young and
unmarried men and women, who could see noth-
ing before them but pre-occupied situations, closed
avenues of industry; and servants, already too nu-
merous, awaiting the rich man's bidding, felt but
too keenly that the Old World had little employ-
ment to offer, and less bread to spare.
Thus necessity, as well as inclination, induced
these worthy members of society to seek a fortune
in America, or at least to improve their pecuniary
condition, which was accomplished by engaging
in remunerative agriculture, trading with the
aborigines of the forests, or in the pursuit of such
commercial enterprises as invited the settlers to
the enjoyment of prospective wealth, luxury, and
influence. Capital was necessary, connected with
the ordinary commercial judgment and prudence,
to build up a fortune for the enterprising merchant
in the Old World, but in America, industry aud
28
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
economy accomplished astonishing results; oppor-
tunity was wanting to many an anxious aspirant
in the Fatherland in all the various departments
of industry, but in the New World, unoccupied
situations presented themselves every day to all
classes of honest and useful men, whilst the want
of labor in the wilds of America was constantly
felt. Lands, farms, and plantations were freely
offered to every settler for a small amount of pur-
chase-money, or for an annual quit-rent of a trifling
character.
What an alluring prospect presented itself in
this country to all the inhabitants of Europe, a
country crowded for many centuries to its utmost capacity! What an outlet to the inhabitants
thereof, groaning under the stringent civil laws
necessary for such a superabundant population,
which was at times somewhat reduced by the
horrors of civil war! They came, like so many swarms of bees from their native hives, to seek
subsistence and wealth in America, where good
prospects and fine opportunities awaited them.
A large number of emigrants to this country
were possessed of a romantic spirit, desiring to
roam free and unrestrained through the primeval
forests in search of adventure; their highest am-
bition was to hunt the wild deer, chase the fox
and the buffalo, trap the beaver and the otter, or
encounter other but more dangerous animals
without the restraints of law or privilege of fa-
voritism, which forbade their entering into Euro-
pean forests with the rifle, the huntsman's dog,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
29
and the horn; at that time even the Atlantic slope
of our country afforded them ample opportunities
and advantages to follow the bent of their inclina-
tions; their wonderful narratives composed many
of the winter-evening tales that were then pub-
lished for the amusement and instruction of many
a European family.
Another, and a very useful and valuable, class
of colonists were the redemptioners, who came to
America to escape the poverty and starvation that
stared them in the face in their native country;
bread for themselves, their wives, and their little
ones, was all they asked and expected from the
fruitful soil of their adopted country; too poor to
pay their passage-money across the ocean, the
father, and sometimes the mother also, were sold
by the captain of the ship, as soon as the vessel
arrived in port, and thus several years' labor of
these poor emigrants were required to pay the ex-
pense of their passage to America. These settlers
had a hard life of it; however, with strict economy
and by honest industry they became qualified for
future independence, which they had learned to
appreciate well by a previous state of servitude.
Others of the same class were aided by European
philanthropists to settle themselves in the various
colonies in America, having a debt of gratitude
ever resting upon them and their children, for the
kindness extended to them by their benefactors in
the Fatherland.
Political refugees also found an asylum and a
home in this country; some of these came from
30
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Scotland, who had espoused the cause of the Pre-
tender, Charles Edward, and were persecuted by
the reigning house of Hanover in Great Britain;
others came from Ireland, after the rebellion; and
some again emigrated from other countries for the
same reasons; many came from all parts of Ger-
many, in order to escape the demands of their
country upon them for military service; whilst not
a few from all lands came to settle in America,
having been fugitives from justice, and "left their
country for their country's good."
Thus these early settlers came from every na-
tion in Europe; they spoke every language of that
country; they were possessed of every shade of
idea; they differed in their manners, customs, and
habits. In this way was America peopled; and
these were the parents of that hardy and indomi-
table race which eventually broke the rule and
power of the English crown in the colonies of
America, during the bloody period of the Revo-
lutionary War.
Section Tlie religious persecutions in Europe, as
another effective cause of emigration to America.
What would finally have become of America
with its heterogeneous mass of inhabitants, with-
out the intermixture of a people possessed of an
earnest and active Christianity, as "the salt of the
earth," or "the leaven for the whole lump," is a
fruitful subject for the pen of the speculative phi-
losopher; happily, however, Providence furnished
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
31
this precious leaven at the commencement of the
colonization of America, by employing the fires
of bloody persecutions in various parts of the Old
World, and thus again was "the wrath of man
made to praise God," whilst uthe remainder of
wrath He did restrain." We are familiar with
the history of the Puritans of England, who sought
and found a home on the barren rocks and shores
of Plymouth, Massachusetts; but the story of the
persecuted Huguenots of France, who settled
themselves in the Carolinas; of the Non-conform-
ists of Scotland; of the German Palatines (Pfalzer)
from the Rhine; of the Salzburgers from the Al-
pine districts of Austria, is as yet but imperfectly
known, and but partially understood.
It was religious persecution which caused a very
large number of European inhabitants to emigrate,
and to seek an asylum in America, and, in so doing,
they sought not wealth nor fortune, but simply,
"freedom to worship God;" here they found the
asylum they sought; no hand of political or eccle-
siastical power has ever materially disturbed the
votaries of any religious tenet or worship in the
enjoyment of this inalienable right. These noble
colonists erected many a Plymouth monument of
religious liberty on our Southern shores, and under
circumstances much more interesting than those
which attended the crossingof the noted Mayflower
from Old to New England.
A cloud of persecution overshadowed the Prot-
estant Christian on the continent of Europe, more
fierce and unrelenting than that which ever op-
32
THE LUTHEEAN CHURCH
pressed the Puritans in their native country. The
Church of Rome, which had long been schooled
in the doctrine of "death to heretics," which had
led a John Huss and a Jerome of Prague to a
martyr's death, which had endeavored to exter-
minate with fire and sword the pious Pieclmontese
in their peaceful valleys and mountain fastnesses
of Italy, which had inaugurated the horrors of St.
Bartholomew's night, continued its savage orgies
against the devoted Huguenots of France, by the
revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685, when
France lost 750,000 of its most useful and indus-
trious citizens, many of whom located themselves
permanently in America.
The name "Huguenot" was a term of derision
applied by the Romish Church to those Protestant
Christians who had early embraced the doctrines
of the Reformation, and is said to have originated
from a certain locality near the city of Tours,
where the first French Protestants usually assem-
bled themselves for public worship.
Under the reign of Henry II, of France, the
Huguenots increased rapidly, which so alarmed
the Romanists, that they organized themselves into
a party with the intention of exterminating all
traces of Protestantism in the realm; yet in this
they were not successful. Thus matters were con-
tinued during the short reign of Francis II, a
young and imbecile prince; when at last his bro-
ther, Charles IX, surnamed the Bloody, ascended
the throne. A civil war now broke out between
the Romanists and Protestants, in which the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
33
former were in the main successful. Charles IX,
instigated by his wicked mother, Catharine de'
Medicis, introduced the awful horrors of St. Bar-
tholomew's night, August 24th, 1572, when Ad-
miral Coligni and thousands of his fellow-Protest-
ants met with a treacherous and bloody death.
"The massacre was continued in the city and
throughout the kingdom for a week, and it is com-
puted that from eighty to one hundred thousand
were slain in France. The annals of the world
are filled with narratives of crime and woe, but
the massacre of St. Bartholomew stands, perhaps,
without a parallel."
During the reign of Henry IV, the Protestants
were treated with marked favor, and in 1598 he
proclaimed an edict at the city of Nantes, granting
to the Protestants the right of religious liberty.
This celebrated Edict of Nantes continued in force
for eighty-seven years, until the reign of Louis
XIV, when, in 1685, it was revoked, and now
again were the fires of persecution lighted anew,
and the Huguenots, feeling themselves no longer
secure in their own native land, and dreading a
repetition of the horrors of former years, resolved
to leave a country over which such a hostile gov-
ernment had unlimited sway. They fled to Swit-
zerland, Germany, Holland, England, and Amer-
ica, and thus was France depopulated of thou-
sands of her most useful, industrious, and wealthy
citizens, who carried with them not only their
religion, but likewise some of the finer and most
useful arts of France. In America the Huguenots
34
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
located themselves principally in the provinces of
North and South Carolina, where we meet with
their honored descendants at the present day.
The Non-conformists or Dissenters were those
Calvinistic Christians in Scotland, who were un-
willing to be connected with the established Church
of England, and were persecuted on account of
their religious faith. Some of these fled directly to
America, others at first located themselves in the
northern part of Ireland, and from thence they and
their descendants removed to this country, hence
they are called Scotch-Irish. They came flocking
in large numbers to America, and their descend-
ants may be traced in the bosom of the various
branches of the Presbyterian Church in this
country.
We must now turn our attention to our German
forefathers. Soon after the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes, Louis XIV, king of France, not
content with persecuting his own subjects, spread
desolation into Germany. The country named
Alsace, formerly a French province, located along
the banks of the beautiful Rhine; the Palatinate,
a country no longer known in the geography of
Europe, but known well in its history, these were
the fields of bloody carnage for the grand and
cruel Louis, who threatened the utter extermina-
tion not only of the strong men, who might oppose
him in battle, but of the aged fathers, as well as of
the helpless females and innocent children, whose
only crime was, in his view, the sin of Protestant-
ism. The persecution of the German Palatines
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
35
(Pfalzer) was occasioned by the war of the Spanish
Succession, to which brief allusion is made in Dr.
Hazelius' American Lutheran Church, page 23,
an account of which shall be given in the next
section of this history.
Another valuable accession of German settlers,
who were driven to this country by the cruelties
of religious intolerance, were the pious Salzburgers
from the regions of the ISToric Alps, in Upper
Austria, and who were persecuted on account of
their religion by Leopold, the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Salzburg.
Of these German colonists, who settled them-
selves in Ebenezer, Georgia, twenty-six miles
northwest of Savannah, Bancroft, the historian,
writes thus: "They were indeed a noble army of
martyrs going forth in the strength of God, and
triumphing in the faith of the Gospel under the
severest hardships and the most rigorous persecu-
tions. They were marshalled under no banners
save that of the cross, and were preceded by no
leaders save their spiritual teachers and the great
Captain of their salvation." Sympathy had been
so greatly enlisted in their behalf throughout all
Protestant Europe, that their journey from the in-
terior of Austria to the seaboard was like a con-
stant ovation; the cities and towns, through which
they passed, vied with each other to do them honor
and bid them God-speed.
They travelled on foot, passing through Augs-
burg and Halle, until they reached Frankfort-on-
the-Main, where they embarked in a vessel, and
36
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
were soon floating on the bosom of the beautiful
Rhine. "And as they passed," says Bancroft,
"between the castled crags, the vineyards, and
the white-walled towns that adorn its banks, their
conversation, amid hymns and psalms, is of justi-
fication and sanctification."
*
It is not necessary to give an extended history
of the Salzburgers, inasmuch as they were not set-
tlers of North and South Carolina, though near
neighbors to their brethren in those two provinces,
and exerting great influence over them. However,
should the reader desire to know more of their
history, he is referred to "Strobel's History of the
Salzburgers," or to "Urlsperger's Nachrichten der
erstenNiederlassung der Salzburger Emigranten in
Georgien," and "Das Americanische Ackerwerk
Gottes," in five large quarto volumes of some 1200
pages each.
It will not be uninteresting to state, that though
these Salzburg emigrants were Germans at the
time of their departure from Austria, they are,
nevertheless, the descendants of those noble Val-
lenses of Piedmont, Italy, who had fled from the
persecutions of the Dukes of Savoy, following the
mountain crags of the Alps until they arrived at
a place of comparative safety in Austria, where
for awhile they could worship their God unmo-
lested by Papal intolerance. There they soon em-
braced the Lutheran faith, and educated their
children in the pure doctrines and principles of
the Reformation; and it is only to be regretted
that such an able historian as Bancroft should,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
37
with "Urlsperger's Nachrichten" before him, al-
though written in the German language, make all
these Salzburgers Moravians, which error is, of
course, copied by nearly all the minor historians
who have written text-books for our common
schools. Even Moravians smile at this Bancroftian
error in history and geography, as no Moravians
had ever a habitation in that portion of Austria
where once the Salzburgers resided.
Section 8. The War of the Spanish Succession,
War is always the occasion of great upheavals
in society; the anxiety, the feeling of insecurity,
the ravages of a brutal soldiery passing through
the country of a people whom they regard as their
enemies, has the effect of dislodging many a peace-
ful citizen from his native home. In addition to
that, the persecutions which generally follow the
unsuccessful party after the conflict is over, makes
many a one a fugitive from the land he once loved,
to seek an asylum in some undisturbed country,
where he may enjoy both the fruits of his labor
and his religion unmolested.
Among the many wars which afflicted Europe
during the period of American colonization, the
War of the Spanish Succession stands prominent
in history, as being the chief instrument in send-
ing numerous settlers to the English colonies on
this side of the Atlantic; and, inasmuch as the
English government was also drawn into the vortex
of this strife, the British queen, Anne, made large
38
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
provision for the welfare of those Germans who
were made unfortunate and homeless exiles from
their native land by the effects of this useless war.
Extensive grants of land were made for the bene-
fit of these German Palatines in New York, North
a n d S o u th C a r o 1 i n a, b y t h e b e n e v o 1ent Queen Anne,
of which more shall be said in this history at the
proper place.
Charles II, king of Spain, departed this life
November 1st, 1700, without having been blessed
with any heir in his own immediate family as a
successor to his throne. He was the last scion of
that branch of the Hapsburg family which bore
the rule in Spain for nearly two hundred years.
In Austria the house of Hapsburg has been the
occupant of the throne from A.D. 1273 to the
present day, a period of about six hundred years;
and on account of its distant relationship with the
ruling family of Spain, one of the sons of Leopold
I, king of Austria, was the natural successor to
the vacant throne.
This matter would have been thus adjudged by
all Europe without any difficulty, had not Louis
XIV, king of France, by intrigue and persuasion,
induced Charles, shortly before his decease, to make
a will, in which he nominated Philip, a grandson
of Louis, to be his successor to the Spanish throne.
This involved the question of the Spanish succes-
sion in a difficulty, which agitated all Europe at
the commencement of the eighteenth century, as
it became a question of state policy which threat-
ened to disarrange the system of equilibrium of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
39
power in Europe. Should the Bourbon family
become possessed of the thrones of France and
Spain, a power would then have been established
which could and would overawe all the kingdoms
and minor states of Europe, to the destruction ot
their independence and, perhaps, of their religion.
Hence it was that all the powers of Europe became
interested in the proper settlement of this vexa-
tious affair of state.
The vacant throne of Spain presented a most
tempting object of desire to the two claimants, for
at that time Spain was in the enjoyment of the
zenith of her wealth and glory; her rule extended
over the Netherlands, Naples, Sicily, Milan, and
the larger portion of America—a handsome legacy
indeed, of wealth, power, and regal glory for the
fortunate successor of the deceased Charles. What
a blessing it would have been for Europe for a
court of law to have decided this matter, as is done
in all other cases of disputed inheritance; or, if
resort must have been had to a conflict of arms,
the persons immediately interested to have fought
it out among themselves, without dragging their
unfortunate subjects and neighbors into the bloody
strife.
In this manner originated this dreadful conflict,
known in history as the " War of the Spanish Suc-
cession," which raged so fiercely in Europe for a
period of thirteen years.
Leopold I, Emperor of Austria, had two sons,
Joseph I, heir-apparent to his father's throne, and
Archduke Charles, whom his father expected to
40
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
wear the crown of Spain, as the legitimate suc-
cessor of his kinsman, Charles II. The King of
France, Louis XIV, had no son living, but his two
grandsons became the object of his care and solici-
tude. Louis, the Dauphin, afterwards Louis XV,
was heir-apparent to the throne of France, and
Philip, Duke of Anjou, afterwards Philip V of
Spain, was the person named in Charles's will as
his successor.
The French king enlisted France, Spain, and
the Electorates of Bavaria and Cologne on his
side; whilst the Emperor of Austria induced the
German States, the Netherlands, and England to
declare themselves in favor of the house of Haps-
burg. Denmark permitted herself to be subsidized
by England, and arrayed herself also on the side
of the allies against France. The countries, which
felt the direful effects of the war most severely,
were Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the
Netherlands, as all of these countries became the
theatre for the bloody strife.
The war had lasted several years, when Leopold,
Emperor of Austria, died, A.D. 1705, and his
eldest son, Joseph I, ascended the imperial throne
as his successor, but without producing any change
in the progress of the war, which was waged on
both sides as fiercely as ever, and in which the allied
Austrian powers were in the main successful, and
Louis XIV would soon have been so humbled as
to withdraw his claim to the Spanish throne; how-
ever, the new Emperor of Austria, Joseph I, died
in the year 1711, leaving no issue, when his brother,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
41
the Archduke Charles, succeeded to the vacant
throne. This event so material!jT affected the
question in dispute, that it promised a speedy re-
turn of peace.
The derangement of the State system of Europe
of equilibrium of power was now more to be
dreaded in the Hapsburg family, by uniting the
crowns of Austria and Spain, as in the Bourbon
family reigning in France; consequently, England
and some of the other European States were pre-
pared for terms of settlement; and Charles of Aus-
tria could have been no longer so anxious for the
throne of Spain, since he had come into possession
of the crowns of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia.
A change of administration in England inter-
rupted for a season the settlement of the difficulty;
however, all matters were finally adjusted at the
Congress of Utrecht and Rastadt, A.D. 1713 and
1714, when it was agreed that Philip V, Duke of
Anjou, and grandson of Louis XIV, should suc-
ceed to the Spanish throne, with the proviso that
France and Spain shall be, and forever remain,
separate kingdoms; that the crowns of these two
kingdoms shall never descend upon one head, in
order that the equilibrium of State power in Eu-
rope should in no wise be disturbed; and thus has
the Bourbon family, until recently, occupied the
throne of Spain, except for the short time when
Napoleon I disturbed the peace of all Europe at
the commencement of the present century.
It is not necessary to give an account of the
battles that were fought during this war, or to
4
42
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
name the generals who became conspicuous in the
strife, or to enumerate the principles, rights, privi-
leges, towns, and fortresses which each nation se-
cured or lost at the peace of Utrecht and Rastadt;
our purposes will be served by turning our atten-
tion to Germany, and notice the dire effects of this
cruel war upon its peaceful inhabitants.
In order to gain his end, and the sooner to se-
cure his coveted prize, Louis XIV carried his war
into all Germany, except Bavaria and Cologne,
which countries belonged to his allies; besides,
being a bigoted Romanist, and the inhabitants of
Germany being nearly all Protestants, he had a
twofold motive in carrying fire and sword, desola-
tion and ruin, wherever he sent his army among
our German forefathers, who were residing so
peacefully and prosperously in those countries
bordering on the beautiful Rhine, insomuch that
a proverb arose among them, "We dread the
French, as well as the Turks, as enemies of our
holy religion."
The peaceful inhabitants of the Palatinate, plun-
dered of all their earthly possessions, were driven
in midwinter as exiles from their native land to
seek an asylum in some safe and friendly country.
They beheld their comfortable cottages and once
amply-filled barns and storehouses smouldering in
the flames behind them, whilst they and their
helpless wives and children, ruined in worldly
prosperity, naked, feeble, and in a starving condi-
tion, were wending their weary way over vast
fields of snow and ice, leaving their bloody foot-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
43
prints in the frozen snow, seeking shelter and
finding none. Numbers perished by the way,
others dragged along their feeble bodies until at
last they found safety in the Netherlands, and
from thence they journeyed into England. This
is no overdrawn picture. Says a distinguished
writer:* "The ravages of Louis XIV in the beau-
tiful valleys of the Rhine, were more fierce and
cruel than even Mahometans could have had the
heart to perpetrate. Private dwellings were razed
to the ground, fields laid waste, cities burnt,
churches demolished, and the fruits of industry
wantonly and ruthlessly destroyed. But three
days of grace were allowed to the wretched in-
habitants to flee their country, and in a short time,
the historian tells us, 'the roads were blackened
by innumerable multitudes of men, women, and
children, flying from their homes. Many died of
cold and hunger; but enough survived to fill the
streets of all the cities of Europe with lean and
squalid beggars, who had once been thriving
farmers and shopkeepers.'"
The cruel-hearted Louis exhibited no mercy to
his own French-Protestant subjects at the revoca-
tion of the Edict of Nantes, but persecuted them
with fire and sword, and drove them from his
realm, though their loss would be greatly felt in
France; would he then be less lenient to those
foreigners whom he regarded both as his political
enemies as well as his spiritual foes, inasmuch as
Rev. Dr. ThornwelL
44
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
they were believers in the principles of the Refor-
mation? Thus were these inhabitants of the
Palatinate continually harassed by the French
army, until they were safely landed in England.
The good Queen Anne had invited them to her
realm, and thither they flocked by thousands,
where they were kindly treated and hospitably
entertained.
It occurred to the benevolent Queen, that she
could better provide for these poor Palatines by
inducing them to become settlers in her American
colonies, where all classes of useful citizens were
greatly needed. Accordingly, some were settled
in the Province of E"ew York; others again were
brought over by De GrafTenreid and Mitchell to
Newberne, North Carolina; and some found a
home in various portions of the colony of South
Carolina, principally in Charleston and along the
banks of the Congaree, Saluda, and Broad Rivers;
whilst others can be traced to have settled in
Orangeburg District, and some along the Savan-
nah River, occupying some of the most fertile
valleys of that Province.
Thus they became at length happily, and, to all
appearances, safely located. Every possible ar-
rangement was made by the Queen to provide not
only comfortable homes for these unfortunate
refugees, but likewise extensive grants of land for
churches, pastorates, glebes, and schools for the
education of their children.
When these persecuted German Protestants
journeyed to America, they brought with them
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
45
their Bibles, hymn-books, catechisms, and other
religious books for edification and instruction;
and, what was still better, they brought with them
the pearl of great price, their religion, their piety,
and their habits of devotion, and thus they be-
came, in a great measure, the salt of the earth to
all around them where they were located.
Whilst it is true that the War of the Spanish
Succession left its dire effects upon the face of the
lovely countries along the Rhine, and that the
peaceful inhabitants, who were innocent in bring-
ing it about, were nevertheless the principal suf-
ferers, whilst wicked and designing men were the
agents of this dreadful scourge; yet God, for wise
purposes, permitted them to afflict and humble his
people; America stood in need of pious, industri-
ous, and useful settlers, who might otherwise
never have departed from their comfortable and
happy homes in the Fatherland, but who now came
flocking to the New World in great numbers, to
build up Christ's kingdom in a rising and future
prosperous country. Time, progress, and indus-
try—the powerful healers of all national troubles—
would eventually rectify the devastations, and re-
build the ruins which war had made in the Palat-
inate, whilst America became blessed in her policy
of being the asylum for the oppressed of all na-
tions.
It is, however, sad to reflect that these German
refugees did not improve the advantages offered
and granted them for churches and schools by
the benevolent Queen of England; their glebes,
46
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
pastorates, and school-tracts were suffered to re-
main unoccupied by themselves and their de-
scendants, until these grants and privileges were
forgotten, and the lands otherwise disposed of.
A large body of land, now forming a county in
South Carolina, and yet remembered by the name
of "the Saxe-Gotha tract," situated along the
banks of the Congaree River, which was once
allotted by Queen Anne for this purpose, was
finally lost to the Church, although the Germans
made settlements in that vicinity at a later date.
What an immense amount of wealth might have
been preserved to the Lutheran Church, to ad-
vance religion and education among the descend-
ants of these Palatines and other German settlers
to their latest generation, in the different colonies
of America, where these grants were located.
Section J+. The Mission Societies established in Europe
for the benefit of the early settlers in America.
It is not to be supposed that the various colonists
of America were soon forgotten by their friends
and relatives in the old country, or were neglected
by their former spiritual shepherds. We send
missionaries, at the present time, to nations still
benighted with heathenism, and not at all con-
nected with us by the strong ties of consanguinity;
how much more would the European Christians
feel interested in the progress of evangelization
in this Western world, where their own kindred
resided, who were of the same household of faith,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
47
and from whom they occasionally received infor-
mation by letters, beseeching them to send them
ministers of the gospel to break the bread of
eternal life to them.
Some of the colonists, like the Salzburgers, took
their pastors with them to America; others were
not so fortunate; and all had need of more min-
isters, in order that they might regularly enjoy
the administration of all the means of grace. Con-
sequently, various mission societies were formed
in Europe among the Episcopalians, the Lutherans,
the Moravians, and, perhaps, some other denom-
inations, to meet this want. A society of this kind
seems to have been first organized in England,called
"The Society for Promoting the Knowledge of
Christ in Foreign Parts," with which the Lutheran
Church on the Continent must have been in some
way connected, having her directors in that institu-
tion, such as, the Rev. Dr. Ziegenhagen, Lutheran
chaplain at the Court of St. James, London ; Pev.
Dr. Urlsperger, pastor of St. AnnaLutheran Church
of Augsburg; Rev. Dr. Fran eke, son of the founder
of the Orphan House at Halle; this missionary in-
stitution is also noticed in many historical works
under its Latin title, " Societas promovenda cog-
nitione Christi," and was exceedingly effective in
doing great good in this country; under its care
the mission in Ebenezer, Georgia, was placed; it
not only supported their pastors, but built their
churches and endowed them by various investments.
These Ebenezer pastors were in duty bound to
report minutely, extensively, and frequently to the
48
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
missionary board in Europe, or Fathers (as they
were then called); which reports were published
by Dr. Urlsperger, of Augsburg, for the purpose
of keeping up the interest in Germany in behalf
of this mission in Georgia; they are still extant,
and known by the name of "The Urlsperger
JSTachrichten."
The University of Halle organized a separate
mission society, which was altogether under Lu-
theran management. It was this society that sent
Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, D.D., and other Lutheran
ministers to the Province of Pennsylvania, who
labored there among the German settlers. Their
missionary reports were sent to the society in
Halle, where they were likewise published, and
are now known by the double name of "Die Hal-
lische Nachrichten," or "Die Pennsylvanische
ISTachrichten," many copies of which are still pre-
served in the libraries of several Lutheran colleges
in the United States, to which they were donated
by agreat-grandson of the Halle Society's first mis-
sionary, H. H. Muhlenberg, M.D., of Reading, Pa.
At a later period another mission society was
organized in Germany by the professors of the
Julius Charles University, located in Helmstaedt,
Duchy of Brunswick. This society sent a number
of laborers to North Carolina. Rev. Dr. Velthu-
sen was the leading spirit of that organization,
which provided for the support of Rev. £Tussmann,
and sent out Revs. Storch and Roschen to labor
among the scattered and neglected Germans in
North Carolina.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
49
The reports of these missionaries were published
from time to time, as soon as they reached the
Society in Ilelmstaedt. Some of them have re-
cently been brought to light, but others are still
missing. They are interesting to the antiquarian,
and though not voluminous, they supply an im-
portant link in the chain of narrative concerning
the German settlers in North Carolina.
No documents can be more valuable to the his-
torian than the reports of these missionaries, which
were written by learned, conscientious and reliable
men, who were themselves residents in the colo-
nies, and were well acquainted with facts that
transpired under their immediate observation. An
insight into the difficulties, the customs, and the
spirit of those times is thus furnished, which en-
ables the writer of history to understand the more
readily the events of a succeeding age, which are
but imperfectly reported in isolated state docu-
ments.
Section 5. John Lederers Explorations, A.D. 1670.
Having now furnished the reader with such his-
torical facts of a general character, which must
necessarily be known in order to understand cor-
rectly the history of the German colonies in the
Carolinas, inasmuch as those facts likewise apply
to these two provinces, and frequent allusion must
be made to those events, it is time to confine our
attention to the principal subject of this history,
which is introduced by an account of John Leder-
er's explorations. This will afford us an insight
5
50
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
into the condition of these two provinces before
they were colonized to any extent. This narrative
of Lederer's explorations will be none the less
welcome to the reader, when it is remembered that
this early explorer was of the same nation, whose
history in the Carolinas is made the subject of this
volume.
Thus the first German that set foot upon the
soil of Carolina was John Lederer, who was sent
on three different expeditions by Sir William
Berkeley, Governor of the Colony of Virginia, to
explore the lands lying south and west of the James
River, during the years 1669 and 1670.
From his map of the country which he explored,
as well as from his journal, we gather the fact that
he passed through North Carolina, and proceeded
as far into South Carolina as the Santee River.
North and South Carolina were at that time one
province, and had passed, but a few years previous,
A.D. 1663, by a grant of Charles II, into the hands
of several noblemen in England, who were styled
"The Lords-Proprietors."
At the time when Lederer made his first explor-
ing tour, South Carolina was destitute of any white
settlers, whilst the eastern portion of North Caro-
lina had been improved by only two small colo-
nies, the one on Albemarle Sound, the other on
Clarendon (now Cape Fear) River. The entire
interior and western part of North Carolina, with
the whole of the territory of South Carolina, con-
stituted as yet the undisturbed home of the red
man of the forest. However, the same year that
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 51
John Lederer reached the interior of South Caro-
lina, the first English colony, under Colonel Wil-
liam Sayle as their Governor, arrived at Port
Royal, near Beaufort, and a few months later
located themselves, "for the convenience of pas-
turage and tillage," on the banks of the Ashley
River, and near its mouth laid the foundation of
Old Charlestown, A.D. 1670.
Lederer was a man of learning. His journal
was written in the Latin language, his map indi-
cates a knowledge of geographical calculation,
considering the circumstances and advantages of
those times, and the difficulties under which he
labored. The translator of his journal, Sir Wil-
liam Talbot, Governor of Maryland, also speaks
highly of his literary attainments.
Concerning his courageous and enterprising
disposition and the success of his explorations, we
must permit Rev. Dr. Hawks to speak, who in-
forms us that "John Lederer was a learned Ger-
man, who lived in Virginia during the administra-
tion of Sir William Berkeley. Little was then
known of the mountainous part of that State, or
of what was beyond. Berkeley commissioned
Lederer to make explorations, and accordingly he
went upon three several expeditions. The first
was from the head of York River due west to the
Appalachian Mountains. The second was from
the falls of the James River west and southwest,
which brought him into Carolina. The third was
from the falls of the Rappahannock westward to-
wards the mountains.
52
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"Certain Englishmen were appointed by Berke-
ley to accompany him. These, however, forsook
him, and turned back. Lederer proceeded not-
withstanding alone, and on his return to Virginia,
which, by the way, was never expected, met with
insult and reproaches, instead of the cordial wel-
come to which he was entitled. For this he was
indebted to his English companions who had for-
saken him; and so active were they in creating a
prejudice against him, that he was not safe among
the people of Virginia, who had been told that the
public taxes of that year had all been expended in
his wanderings."
Thus it appears that, like Christopher Colum-
bus, John Lederer never received that respect and gratitude which was due him by his fellow-citi-
zens, though they were greatly benefited by his
scientific and hazardous exploits. How frequently
does it happen that to future generations it is left
to award tribute of just praise to merit, which an
ignorant and selfish populace could not appreciate,
who persecute their contemporaries for having ex-
celled their fellow-men in literature, science, or
moral excellence.
The following brief extract from Lederer's jour-
nal will afford us a nearer acquaintance with the
character and attainments of this worthy and sci-
entific German.
"The 20th of May, 1670, one Major Harris and
myself, with twenty Christian horse (horsemen)
and five Indians, marched from the falls of the
James River, in Virginia, towards the Monakins;
IN NORTH AND SOUTn CAROLINA.
53
and on the 22d we were welcomed by them with
volleys of shot. Near this village we observed a
pyramid of stones piled up together, which their
priests told us was the number of an Indian colony,
drawn out by lot from a neighbor country over-
peopled, and led hither by one Monack, from
whom they take the name Monakin. Here, in-
quiring the way to the mountains, an ancient man
described with a staff two paths on the ground,
one pointing to the Mahocks, and the other to the
Nahyssans. But my English companions, slight-
ing the Indian's directions, shaped their course by
the compass due west; and, therefore, it fell out
with us as it does with those land-crabs, that,
crawling backward in a direct line, avoid not the
trees that stand in their way, but climbing over
their very tops, come down again on the other
side, and so after a day's labor gain not above two
feet of ground. Thus we, obstinately pursuing a
due west course, rode over steep and ragged cliffs,
which beat our horses quite off the hoof. In these
mountains we wandered from the 25th of May till
the 3d of June, finding very little sustenance for
man or horse, as these places are destitute both of
grain and herbage.
"The 3d of June we came to the south branch
of the James River, which Major Harris, observ-
ing to run northwardly, vainly imagined to be an
arm of the lake of Canada, and was so transported
with this fancy that he would have raised a pillar
to the discovery if the fear of the Mahock Indians
and want of food had permitted him to stay.
54
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Here I moved to cross the river and march on,
but the rest of the company were so weary of the
enterprise that, crying out, one and all, they would
have offered violence to me had I not been pro-
vided with a private commission from the Gov-
ernor of Virginia to proceed though the rest of
the company should abandon me, the sight of
which laid their fury.
"The air in these parts was so moist that all
our biscuits became mouldy and unfit to be eaten,
so that some nicer stomachs, who at our setting
out laughed at my provision of Indian corn meal
parched, would gladly now have shared with me;
but I being determined to go upon further discov-
eries, refused to part with any of that which was
to be my most necessary sustenance. The 5th of
June my company and I parted good friends, they
back again, and I, with one Susquehannah Indian
only, named Jackzetavon, in pursuit of my first
enterprise, changing my course from west to
southwest and by south, to avoid the mountains.
Major Harris, in parting, gave me a gun, believ-
ing me a lost man, and given up as a prey to In-
dians or savage beasts, which made him the bolder
to report strange things in his own praise and my
disparagement, presuming I would never appear
to disprove him. This, I suppose, and no other,
was the cause that he did with so much industry
procure me discredit and odium; but I have lost
nothing by it but what I never studied to gain,
which is popular applause."
Lederer had several narrow escapes among the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
55
Indians; often was he in danger of losing his life,
or of being taken captive; but at other times he
was kindly treated by them, and, on one occasion,
the daughter of one of their Indian kings was
offered to him in marriage, which courtesy, how-
ever, he declined, and pursued his exploring jour-
ney to the close, ending it at Lake Ushery. This
lake is supposed to be nothing more than a por-
tion of the waters of Santee River in South Caro-
lina, as we learn from the narrative of Col. Byrd,
that the Indians who were living along the Santee
River were called Usheries. Besides,if wepresume
that Lederer was in possession of the instruments
necessary to make correct calculations of degrees
of latitude, we are then warranted to conclude,
from the fac-simile of his map, where the degrees
of latitude are noted on the margin, that his travels
extended as far south as 33J degrees, north lati-
tude, which would likewise fix the terminus of his
journey on or near the banks of the Santee River,
and the lake of which he speaks must have been
one of those immense swamps with which this
river abounds.
On his homeward journey he took another route,
and arrived safely in Virginia, where he was re-
proached and insulted in such a manner that he
went to Maryland, where he finally succeeded in
obtaining a hearing from the Governor, Sir Wil-
liam Talbot, and in submitting his papers to him.
The Governor, though at first much prejudiced
against the man by the stories he had heard, yet
found him, as he says, "a modest, ingenious per-
56
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
son, and a pretty scholar;" and Lederer vindicated
himself "with so convincing reason and circum-
stance," as Governor Talbot says, that he quite
removed all unfavorable impressions, and the
governor himself took the trouble to translate his
journal from the Latin, and published Lederer's
account of his explorations.
The influence that this German explorer exerted
by his account of the country he visited must have
had its effect in the speedy settling of the Carolinas,
inducing many of our forefathers to emigrate to
this country, and seek their fortunes in the wilds
of America; it is certain that, but ten years later,
in 1680, the tide of German emigration to America
commenced its flow; doubtless such men as John
Lederer, and later, Louis Mitchell, whose journals
of explorations were published, contributed greatly
towards producing this happy result, and in mak-
ing America wealthy in the development of her
agricultural resources, when the thrifty farmers of
Germany tilled her virgin soil.
Section 6. The Dutch colony of Lutherans on James
Island, South Carolina, A.D. 167Jh
The only settlement in South Carolina at this
period was Old Charlestown, located on the
Ashley Elver, several miles distant from where
the present Charleston now stands. The settlers,
who had been located there but little over three
years, struggled for a name and existence against
famine and other adverse circumstances, when,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
57
fortunately, "during the time Sir John Yeamans
was governor of Carolina, the colony received
a great addition to its strength from the Dutch
settlement of Nova Belgia," now New York,
which province surrendered, as is well known,
without any resistance, to the armament com-
manded by Sir Robert Carr, and became subject
to the British crown.
"Charles II donated Nova Belgia to his brother,
the Duke of York," after whom its name was
changed to New York, "who governed it with
the same arbitrary principles which afterwards
rendered him so obnoxious to the English nation.
After the conquest many of the Dutch colonists
who were discontented with their situation, had
formed resolutions of moving to other provinces.
The proprietors of Carolina offered them lands and
encouragement in their Palatinate, and sent their
ships, Blessing and Phoenix, which brought a
number of Dutch families to Charlestown.
"Stephen Bull, surveyor-general of the colony,
had instruction to mark out lands on the south-
west side of Ashley River, viz., on James Island,
for their accommodation. There each of the
Dutch emigrants drew lots for their property, and
founded a town, which was called Jamestown.
This was the first colony of Dutch who settled
in Carolina, whose industry surmounted incredible
hardships, and whose success induced many from
ancient Belgia afterwards to follow them to the
Western world." (HewaWs Hist, of S. C. and Geo.,
vol. i, p. 73.)
58
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Whether these Dutch settlers had their pastor
or not, history does not inform us; it is known,
however, that they constituted a distinct class
among those numerous dissenters, who protested
against that unjust legislation of A.D. 1704, which
established the Church of England in the two
Carolinas as the Church of the State, and sup-
ported by the public treasury. A full account of
this transaction may not be uninteresting, and ap-
pears to be necessary for the better understanding
of all the facts and circumstances in the case; the
following narrative is gathered from various his-
torical works.
The two first acts of the Legislature, which have
been found in the records of the Secretary's office,
were but right and proper. They enjoined the
observance of the Lord's day, commonly called
Sunday, and prohibited sundry gross immoralities,
particularly "idleness, drunkenness, and swear-
ing;" thus far the Government aided religion in
the colony. (Ramsay's Hist, of S. C, vol. ii, p. 2.)
"Both parts of Carolina were in a deplorable
state as to religion. Such of the inhabitants as
were born, or had grown up to manhood, in Caro-
lina, were almost utter strangers to any public
worship of the Deity. Among the first emigrants
some sense of religion had been, for a while, pre-
served; but the next generation, reared in a wil-
derness in which divine service was hardly ever
performed, and where private devotions cannot be
supposed to have been much attended to, were
rather remarkable for loose, licentious principles,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
59
and the fundamental doctrines of the Christian
religion were often treated with the ridicule of
professed infidelity. The population of the colony
was composed of individuals of different nations,
and consequently of various sects: Scotch Presby-
terians, Dutch Lutherans, French Calvinists, Irish
Catholics, English Churchmen, Quakers, and Dis-
senters, emigrants from Bermuda and the West Indies, which, from their late settlements, could
not be places remarkable for the education of
young people in Christianity and morality." [Mar-
tin's Hist, of N. C, vol. i, p. 218.)
"In the year 1698, one step farther was taken
by an act of the Legislature 'to settle a mainte-
nance on a minister of the Church of England in
Charleston.' This excited neither suspicion nor
alarm among the Dissenters, for the minister in
whose favor the law operated was a worthy, good
man; and the small sum allowed him was inade-
quate to his services. However, the precedent
thus set by the Legislature, being acquiesced in
by the people, paved the way for an ecclesiastical
establishment. In the year 1704, when the white
population of South Carolina was between five
and six thousand, when the Episcopalians had
only one church in the province, and the Dis-
senters had three in Charleston, and one in the
country, the former were so far favored as to ob-
tain a legal establishment. Most of the proprietors
and public officers of the province, and particu-
larly the Governor, Sir Nathaniel Johnson, were
zealously attached to the Church of England.
60
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Believing in the current creed of the times, that
an established religion was essential to the sup-
port of civil government, they concerted measures
for endowing the church of the mother country,
and advancing it in Carolina to a legal pre-emi-
nence." (Ramsay, vol. ii, p. 2.)
"Preparatory thereto Governor Johnson, as-
sisted by the principal officers of the southern
part of the province, exerted his influence with
so much success, as to procure the election of a
sufficient number of Episcopalians, who were dis-
posed to forward his views. Notwithstanding the
great opposition which the bill received, it passed
into law. The southern part of Carolina was di-
vided into ten parishes, and provision was made
for the support of ministers, the erection of
churches and glebes; and an act was passed re-
quiring members of Assembly to conform to the
religious worship in the province, according to
the Church of England, and to receive the sacra-
ment of the Lord's Supper according to the rites
and usages of that Church." (Martin, vol. i, pp.
218, 219.)
"This act passed the lower house by a majority
of only one vote. It virtually excluded from a
seat in the Legislature all who were Dissenters,
erected an aristocracy, and gave a monopoly of
power to one sect, though far from being a ma-
jority of the inhabitants. In this way did Gran-
ville, one of the Lords-Proprietors, who had thus
instructed the governors of Carolina, expect to
effect his purposes of impious bigotry; he, how-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
61
ever, found it very hard work in which he was
engaged, to fuse by one act of human legislation
all the various dissenting denominations into one
lump of piety and orthodoxy. The usual conse-
quences followed. Animosities took place and
spread in every direction. Moderate men of the
favored church considered the law impolitic and
hostile to the prosperity of the province. Dis-
senters of all denominations, both in North and
South Carolina, made a common cause in endeav-
oring to obtain its repeal. The inhabitants of
Colleton, which was chiefly settled by Dissenters,
drew up a statement of their sufferings by this
oppressive act, which they transmitted by John
Ashe, an influential character among them, to lay
their grievances before the Lords-Proprietors.
"The Governor succeeded in preventing this
gentleman's obtaining a passage to England in any
of the ships in Charleston; he was therefore com-
pelled to travel by land to Virginia, where he em-
barked. On his way he stopped in the county of
Albemarle, where he was received with great re-
spect and cordiality, and the people, feeling the
same interest as his constituents in the object of
his mission, prevailed on Edmund Porter to ac-
company him, in order to aid, by the representa-
tions of the people of the northern part of the
province, the object which the people of Carolina
had much at heart," (Ramsay, vol. ii, p. 3.)
When these commissioners from North and
South Carolina arrived in England, the Palatine
62
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
received them as "the emissaries of their lord-
ships' vassals," with considerable coldness.
Mr. Ashe, unable to effect the object of his mis-
sion by his representations to the Lords-Proprie-
tors, and finding the public sentiment in his favor,
determined on raising it into action, by a candid
representation of thegrievances of his constituents;
but death prevented the intended appeal. His
papers fell into the hands of those who had an in-
terest to suppress the expression of his sentiments.
Thus was this first effort of the people to throw off
a galling ecclesiastical yoke frustrated; it proved
a failure for that time.
Sir Nathaniel Johnson, governor of Carolina,
intent upon carrying the Palatine's views into exe-
cution, overcame every obstacle in his way. A cor-
poration, composed of twenty individuals, was in-
stituted, with power to exercise high ecclesiastical
jurisdiction. Authority was given it to deprive
ministers of their livings, and the acts of the Legis-
lature, of which John Ashe had gone to procure
the repeal, were executed with great zeal and
rigor. Thus did Lord Granville, a bigoted mem-
ber of the Church of England, who had instructed
Governor Johnson to establish that church by
legal enactment, effect his purpose.
The Dissenters of all denominations were exas-
perated; a migration to Pennsylvania was spoken
of, but it was at last determined to send Joseph
Boon to England, with a petition to the House of
Lords. On the introduction to this petition, the
House, on motion of Lord Granville, the Palatine
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
63
of Carolina, heard counsel at its bar, in behalf of
the Lords-Proprietors, and, after some debate,
came to a resolution, "that the laws complained
of were founded on falsity in matter of fact, re-
pugnant to the laws of England, contrary to the
charter of the Lords-Proprietors, an encourage-
ment to atheism and irreligion, destructive to
trade, and tended to the ruin and depopulation of
the province."
The Lords next addressed the Queen, beseeching
her to use the most effectual means to deliver the
Province of Carolina from the "arbitrary oppres-
sion under which it lay, and to order the pro-
prietors of it to be prosecuted according to law."
The subject was referred to the Lords-Commis-
sioners of Trade and Plantations, who reported
that the facts stated in the petition were true;
that the powers granted by the charter had been
abused; that the grantees had incurred a forfeiture
of it; and recommended that process might be
ordered to issue accordingly against their lord-
ships.
The Queen's law servants were thereupon di-
rected to procure a writ of quo warranto, and to
report what might more effectually be done, in
order that the Queen might take the government
of Carolina into her own hands. The matter was,
however, abandoned, and no step was taken to
annul the charter, or to relieve the people. (Ram-
say, vol. ii, p. 3.)
From this narrative we learn that our Lutheran
brethren, the Dutch colonists of South Carolina
64
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
on James Island, likewise suffered severely by this
impious act of human legislation, and that they
were not attached to the principles and usages of
the Church of England, otherwise they never
would have been classed by all historians of the
two Carolinas among the number of those who
dissented from that Church, and protested against
its establishment by law.
It may be asked, what reasons we have to con-
clude that the Dutch settlers on James Island were
members of the Lutheran Church? To which we
reply, that they are so denominated by all histo-
rians who have given us an account of the oppres-
sive act instigated by Lord Granville, and carried
into effect by Governor N. Johnson; consequently
we conclude that these settlers from Nova Belgia
(now New York) were mostly, if not all, Lu-
therans. However, should this doubt arise, that
Englishmen were in the habit of denominating
Germans as Dutch, thus confounding them with
Hollanders, and that thus this mistake might very
easily arise, we can safely meet this doubt with
the fact, that at this early period, A. D. 1704, there
were no other Lutheran Protestants, of either Ger-
man or Swiss origin, in all the territory of the two
Carolinas; the first German emigrants to these
provinces were the Palatines, and they did not
arrive at Newbern, N. C, until 1709, and in South
Carolina about the same time. Every history of
the two provinces, as well as the records in the
office of the Secretary of the State, have been
thoroughly examined, and no trace of any other
A
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
65
Lutheran colony could be found for this early
period. The conclusion is, therefore, correct, that
the Dutch Lutherans mentioned are none other
than the Dutch settlers of James Island.
This opinion is confirmed by examining Rev.
Dr. SchaefFer's Early History of the Lutheran
Church in America, in which it will be seen,
that in Holland there were Dutch Lutherans as
well as Dutch Reformed, at this period, and that
a great many of the Dutch settlers of Nova Belgia
(now New York) were of the Lutheran faith, and
were, on that very account, sorely persecuted by
Governor Stuyvesant. Dr. Schaefler states, p. G4:
"The Lutherans had long been accustomed to
meet in their own dwellings for purposes of social
devotion. Against these meetings, called 'con-
venticles' in contempt, Stuyvesant published a
fiery proclamation, showed that the Lutherans
could expect no indulgence from him, encouraged
the Dutch Reformed clergy in enforcing their bap-
tismal formulary, so obnoxious to the Lutherans, and continued to punish by fines and imprison-
ment those who refused submission." Their first
minister, the Rev. John Ernest Goetwater, who
was sent to them by the Lutheran Consistory of
Amsterdam, Holland, upon his arrival at New
Amsterdam (New York), "was cited to appear
before the civil tribunal, and forbidden to preach,
or to hold any Lutheran 'conventicles;' in short,
he was forthwith banished from New Amsterdam;
and having spent some few weeks in sickness in
the suburbs of the city, he embarked, in the month
6
66
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of October, and returned to Holland." (Schaeffer,
p. 65.) Besides, if Rev. Dr. Howe is correct in
dating the arrival of the Dutch settlers on James
Island, S. C, as far back as December, 1671, then
certainly these Dutch settlers must all, or nearly
all, have been Lutherans, for that was the period
when they suffered such fierce persecutions from
Governor Stuyvesant, before the reins of his gov-
ernment had yet passed into the hands of the
English, and the Dutch Lutherans were doubtless
greatly rejoiced to have an opportunity of escap-
ing religious intolerance, by removing to South
Carolina in the proprietary government's ships,
Blessing and Phoenix; all of which must of neces-
sity stand opposed to the statement found in Dr.
Howe's History of the Presbyterian Church in
South Carolina, p. 86: "The Dutch settlers were
of the Presbyterian Church of Holland."
History also informs us of the final fate of this
Dutch colony as follows: "The Dutch inhabitants
of Jamestown, on James Island, afterwards find-
ing their situation too narrow and circumscribed,
in process of time spread themselves through the
country, where they soon lost their individuality
by marriage with the other settlers, and their
town was totally deserted." (Heioatt, vol. i, p. 73.)
We sometimes meet with traces of Dutch set-
tlers in the Carolinas and Georgia at the present
day; they may be supposed to be the descendants
of this early Dutch colony on James Island; they
themselves, as well as their surnames, inform us
that they are descendants of Dutch ancestry, but
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
they remember no longer their own colonial his-
tory, it being so remote that even tradition has
left them no traces of the same. Many of these
are still in full connection with the Lutheran
Church, and retain a strong attachment to her
doctrines and usages.
Section 7. The colony of Palatinate and Swiss Ger-
mans in New-Berne, North Carolina, A.D. 1710.
That lovely and picturesque portion of Ger-
many, situated on both sides of the river Rhine,
attached now to Bavaria and Baden, formed at
one time the country known in history as " The
Palatinate" Its inhabitants were mostly Protest-
ants, having early embraced the principles of the
Reformation, but were compelled to suffer grievous
persecutions on account of their religion. In 1622, Heidelberg, the principal city of the Palatinate, was laid in a heap of smouldering ruins by General Tilly, the leader of the Spanish army, during the
thirty years' war between the Romanists and the
Protestants. In the destruction of this city, the
University of Heidelberg was plundered of its
immense library, and presented to Pope Gregory
XV. The city was afterwards rebuilt, and re-
mained in peace for some time, though deprived
of much of its former greatness, until a new
source of tribulation arose, at the time when the
Protestant Electoral house became extinct, and a
bloody war with France ensued, which, in 1689,
68
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
again reduced almost the entire city, with its
beautiful palace and gardens, into a heap of ruins.
But the cup of calamity and sorrow was not yet
full for the inhabitants of this unfortunate country.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, a de-
scription of which is given in Section 3d, page 37,
of this history, a large number of the inhabitants
of the Palatinate, without shelter or home, were
driven from their fatherland to seek an asylum
in foreign countries. A. knowledge of their sad
condition reached England, and attracted the no-
tice of that magnanimous and tender-hearted sov-
ereign, Queen Anne, who invited thousands of
these unfortunate people to the hospitable shores
of her realm, where every provision which hu-
manity could devise was made for their welfare.
"Great sympathy/' says Dr. Hawks, in his His-
tory of North Carolina, "was felt for these poor
creatures, whose sin was Protestantism merely;
the Queen of England, pitying their condition, by
her proclamation in 1708, offered them protection
in her dominions, and about twelve thousand of
them went to England."
1STurubers of these exiles, about four thousand
at one time, were afterwards sent, with most
liberal provisions, to the Province of New York,
where the benevolent Queen made them large
grants of land on the banks of the Hudson River,
where the towns of Newburg and New Windsor
now stand. Other grants were made, through the
instrumentality of Queen Anne, by the Proprie-
tary government, along the banks of the Con-
garee River, in South Carolina.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
69
However, there were still many of these German
Protestants remaining in England, too poor to help
themselves, and living upon the charities of the
Queen and her benevolent subjects, for whom
there had as yet no provision been made for their
emigration to America, when Providence opened
another and a new way before them.
Baron Christopher de GrafTenreid, a Swiss noble-
man from Berne, induced a large number of
his countrymen, about fifteen hundred souls, to
migrate with him to America. They first landed
in England, and whilst there the Baron met with
Louis Mitchell in the city of London, who had been
to America, had spent a number of years on that
continent, and was well acquainted with the coun-
try; he had been sent over by the Canton of
Berne as an exploring agent, in order to search
for a large and vacant tract of land, suitable for
a colony, either in Pennsylvania, Virginia, or
Carolina. These two gentlemen, acting in con-
cert, determined to accept of the fair proposals of
the Lords-Proprietors, and settle their colony in
Carolina. They accordingly purchased ten thou-
sand acres from their lordships, which they were
permitted to locate in one body, on or between
the Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers, or any of their
tributaries. They paid twenty shillings sterling
for each hundred acres, and bound themselves to
a quit-rent of the sum of sixpence yearly for every
hundred. It was also agreed that instruction
should be given to the surveyor-general to lay off
in addition one hundred thousand acres, to be re-
70
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
served for them twelve years. De Graffenreid
was then made and declared a landgrave.
It now occurred to the good Queen of England
that this would be a favorable opportunity to plant
another colony of her adopted German Palatines
in her transatlantic dominions, which plan was
so satisfactory that it met with favor on all sides.
On the one hand, the Queen was thereby relieving
herself of the support of these poor Germans, for
whom she had appointed commissioners to collect
money, and thus provide speedily for their perma-
nent settlement, besides increasing the strength of
her American colonies. On the other hand, these
Germans themselves, trained to habits of industry
and economy, could but rejoice at the prospect of
so soon occupying their own homes, and tilling
their own fruitful lands, dependent no longer upon the charities of the benevolent. The Lords-Pro-
prietors could, of course, make no objection, as it
was their interest to have Carolina peopled with
frugal and industrious citizens; and De Graffen-
reid and Mitchell were glad enough to obtain ten-
ants for their lands, which could but enhance the
value thereof; and, inasmuch as the Swiss emi-
grants were also Germans, speaking the same lan-
guage with the Palatines, there could be no con-
flicting interests between them; and this addition
of settlers could only increase the safety and pros-
perity of the new colony.
A negotiation, therefore, was entered into be-
tween the Queen's commissioners, the Swiss leaders
of the colony, and the Lords-Proprietors. Their
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
71
articles of agreement were soon written and signed,
a copy of which may be seen in Hawks' History,
from which we learn that the number of German
Palatines who emigrated with De Graffenreid and
Mitchell amounted to six hundred and fifty, filling
two vessels; and that the most liberal provisions
were made for them by their English friends, who
bound their leaders to the most far-sighted pledges
in the contract for their comfort and prosperity.
Two hundred and fifty acres of land were to be
given them for five years without remuneration,
after which they were to pay an annual rent of two-
pence per acre; besides, implements for agriculture
and building were to be furnished them gratui-
tously by De GrafTenreid and Mitchell; to be also
supplied with cattle, hogs and sheep, which were
not to be paid for until seven years after receiving
them; and for twelve months after their arrival
they were to be supplied with necessary food for
themselves and families, which, likewise, was not
to be paid for until the end of the second year
after their arrival. "The commissioners, on their
part, agreed to give each colonist, young and old,
twenty shillings sterling in clothes and money,
and to pay De Graffenreid and Mitchell £5 10s.
sterling a head for transportation."
In the month of December, 1710, these Swiss
and Palatine settlers, with their leaders, landed
safely at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent
Rivers in North Carolina, where they built a town,
which they named New-Berne, after the capital
city of Switzerland, of which De Graffenreid and
72
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Mitchell and the majority of the colonists were
natives. The troubles of a long and tedious voy-
age across the Atlantic were now over; these poor
Germans had at last found a home, and here could
they worship God according to the doctrines and
usages of their own Protestant religion, thanking
their Almighty Preserver that they were safely
beyond the reach of all Roman Catholic sovereigns.
In the year 1711, not many months after the ar-
rival of the De Graffenreid colony, a dreadful In-
dian war broke out, brought on by the agency of
two miserable white men, Carey and John Porter,
whose turbulent ambition did not permit them to
submit to the authorized and lawful government
of Hyde; Carey, having determined to take the
rule out of the hands of Governor Hyde, and to
act in that capacity himself, but being unsuccess-
ful in his attempt, resorted with his friends to the
base and fiendish measure of stirring up the Tus-
carora Indians "to cut off all the inhabitants of
that part of Carolina that adhered to Mr. Hyde."
For this purpose Carey dispatched his friend, John
Porter, to those Indians, numbering twelve hun-
dred fencible men, promising them great rewards
for the accomplishment of this bloody deed.
The white settlers had all this while lived on
the most friendly terms with the Indians, and if
any case of disturbance among individuals occurred
occasionally, it was soon amicably settled by the
law, to which both parties had recourse, and was
equitable enough on both sides. The Indians were
frequently employed by the whites as domestics,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
73
without any suspicion or alarm, they having in-
gress and egress to and from the dwellings of the
whites. "At length the appointed day of slaughter
came. Twelve hundred Tuscaroras, separated into
numerous small divisions, entered on their secret
march. No outward manifestations of hostility
were to be seen; individuals were sent among the
whites to reconnoitre, and, as usual, entered the
houses of their doomed victims as friends. As
night approached, large numbers appeared, as if
seeking provisions; but still not in such quantities
did they show themselves as to beget alarm.
"At the dawn of day they impatiently waited
for sunrise, which was the preconcerted signal for
the simultaneous butchery. As soon as it arrived,
those in the houses of the whites, and scarce a
habitation in any settlement of the province was
at that moment without them, gave a whoop,
which was instantly responded to by their com-
panions lurking in the adjacent woods, and the
frightful work of blood began.
"The slaughter was indiscriminate, and the
wonder is that any white person escaped. Gray-
haired age, and vigorous manhood, and childhood's
helplessness, all fared alike. One hundred and
thirty victims were butchered in the settlements
on Roanoke. The Swiss and Palatines around New- bern, to the number of sixty or more, were murdered.
The poor Huguenots of Bath and its vicinity, to
what number we know not, fell under the knife
or the tomahawk. Happy he who could hide him-
self, or escape from the scene of horror. But soon
7
n
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the torch was applied to the dwelling and store-
house alike, and the concealed were forced from
their hiding-places.
"The incarnate fiends, with loud yells, then
marched in their several divisions through the
forests to a common centre previously designated,
and, infuriated now by drunkenness, staggered on
their bloody man-hunt for the few whites, who had
escaped the desolation of their habitations. They
formed new parties, and scoured the country north
of Albemarle as far westward as the Chowan. The
carnage lasted for three days, and terminated at
last from the disability produced in the savage by
the combined effect of drunkenness and fatigue.
The few colonists who had escaped slaughter, avail-
ing themselves of the forced suspension of whole-
sale murder, gathered together as they could with
their arms, and stunned by the blow they had re-
ceived, attempted at first nothing more than to
collect the women and children, and guard them
night and day until time would enable them to
concert other measures." (Hawks' Hist of N. C,
vol. ii, pp. 530-532.)
A few days previous to this general massacre,
Baron De Graffenreid and the surveyor-general,
Lawson, with a negro servant belonging to the
Baron, ascended the river Neuse in a boat for the
purpose of inspecting the lands and make further
explorations. Not dreaming of Indian hostilities
they expected to spend the first night at an Indian
village named Corutra; but finding that several
Indians whom they had met were armed, they did
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
75
not like the appearance of these things, and de-
termined to sail up the river; but as they made
for their boat they were seized by the Indians, and
were led the next day to a council purposely con-
vened; but might have been liberated, as the coun-
cil was dissolved without any apparent decision,
had not an Indian who understood a little English,
and listened to their conversation, told a falsehood
against them, which so exasperated the others
that they at once executed the negro in a manner
not known, and poor Lawson was inhumanly
murdered by having sharp pine splinters inserted
in his flesh, which were then set on fire. De
Graffenreid escaped by stating he was King of
the German Palatines, and demanded of them by
what authority they could put a king to death,
especially as he had committed no offence towards
them. His life was accordingly spared, though he
was still kept in custody.
This massacre, as a necessary consequence, led
to a war with the Indians in North Carolina, in
which the Palatines were obliged to remain neu-
tral, as De Graffenreid had obtained his liberty
by a treaty of neutrality with such of the savages
who were in arms. The principal terms of the
treaty were, that he and his Palatines on the one
hand, and the Tuscarora and Core Indians on the
other, should preserve friendship towards each
other; that in the existing war with the English
the Palatines should remain neutral, and that the
Baron should take up no land without the consent
of the Indians.
76 THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Baron adhered strictly to the terms of this
treaty, which was, of course, not agreeable to the
whites in general, but which was, nevertheless, of
great advantage to the province, "as it afforded
him an opportunity, which he improved at the
constant risk of his life, to discover and commu-
nicate to the whites all the Indians' plans." "This
neutrality alone probably saved the remnant of
the settlement at what is now ISTewberne from
utter extermination. The danger of discovery,
however, was so constant and so great, that the
Baron would gladly have removed with his Pala-
tines to Virginia." (Hawks, vol. ii, p. 536.)
Shortly afterwards the settlers received aid from
South Carolina against these relentless savages.
Colonel Barnwell, with a detachment of the mili-
tia and friendly Yemassee Indians, was sent to
attack these hostile savages, who were so much
reduced by the loss in killed, wounded, and pris-
oners, that they caused the whites but little trou-
ble afterwards, and soon removed to other parts,
when the colony began once more to flourish
through the benign influence of peace.
Baron De Graffenreid having had a bitter expe-
rience of Indian treatment, in which his life was
in constant jeopardy, resolved to return to his
native country, Switzerland. He, however, left
the German Palatines, who were already suffi-
ciently impoverished by the Indian war, in a most
destitute condition, by withholding their titles to
their lands, and contrary to the stipulations of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
77
contract made between himself and the London
commissioners appointed by Queen Anne.
Williamson, in his History of North Carolina,
states that these poor Germans were looked upon
by the Swiss gentlemen as mere objects of specu-
lation, and that De Graffenreid mortgaged their
lands to Colonel Pollock in order to satisfy a debt
which he had incurred. Dr. Hawks, however,
frees Louis Mitchell from all blame in this matter,
since the power of making titles was not vested
in him. Whether the Baron ever returned to
America, or permitted his family to remain here
whilst he visited his native country, or whether
after all his family had departed from America,
some again sought a home in Carolina, is not re-
lated; but it is well known that his descendants
are still residing in different portions of Carolina.
The last resource left to these German Palatines
was to send a petition to the council, dated Novem-
ber 6th, 1714, in which they stated that they were
"disappointed of their lands/' &c, which were to
be provided for them, and petitioned that each
family might have permission to take up four
hundred acres of land, and have two years' time
of payment allowed them. The council granted
their petition, and represented their case to the
Lords-Proprietors, from whom they doubtless re-
ceived every aid and encouragement which could
be afforded them.
It would require very patient and toilsome re-
search among the unpublished archives of Europe
in order to answer the question positively, to what
78
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
religious denomination these Swiss and Palatinate Ger-
mans at New heme professed themselves. All the
historians of North Carolina are silent on this
subject. However, let us not overlook such au-
thorities which are within our reach even in this
country.
The present, as well as the former religious con-
dition of Switzerland is well known. The popu-
lation is divided into the Roman Catholic, the Re-
formed, and the Lutheran Churches. The emi-
grants from that country to Newberne were
doubtless all Protestants, inasmuch as they were
brought over by Protestant leaders, and soon after
their arrival in North Carolina connected them-
selves with a Protestant Church. The majority of
them were most likely members of the Reformed
Church, so supposed,because the Reformed Church
is the strongest Protestant denomination in Swit-
zerland.
The German Palatines were all Protestants, inas-
much as, on account of this "sin" as Dr."Hawks
ironically expresses it, they suffered such grievous
persecutions, and were forced to flee from their
native country to seek an asylum in England.
That the greater number of Palatines were Lu-
therans may safely be presumed; from the exten-
sive history of Lutheranism by SeckendorfF, we
learn that Lutheranism made rapid progress in the
Palatinate at the time of the Reformation, and
that it had greatly prevailed in that country dur-
ing the seventeenth century, which was the time
immediately preceding the departure of these
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 79
settlers from their native country. Seckendorff
wrote his history but twenty-four years previous
to the last Protestant exodus from the Palatinate.
In connection with this fact we have the addi-
tional proof, that the most of those twelve thousand
Palatine Germans, who fled to England to enjoy
Queen Anne's protection, and who settled in New
York and other provinces, were members of the
Lutheran Church, and it is but reasonable to con-
clude that their brethren in North Carolina were
of the same faith with themselves.
The story of their religion in their newly adopted
country is soon told, which may be gathered from
the correspondence between De Graffenreid and
the Bishop of London, published in Hawks' His-
tory, and reads as follows:
"My Good and Excellent Lord:
"The misfortune I met with in all being unexpect-
edly hurried away from London to New Castle to
meet my Swissers, in order to transport them into
North Carolina after those six hundred and fifty
Palatines I had sent before, which unlooked-for arri-
val of them so far north, gave me notice to pay my
duty to your lordship, whom then, I was told, was
neither in London nor at Fulham* I can assure your
lordship no person of any rank is unacquainted with
that great and good character your lordship has and
merits. So I can make no excuse on that behalf, but
heartily beg pardon, and at the same time humbly
request your lordship to accept of me and my people,
and receive us into your Church under your lordship's
patronage, and we shall esteem ourselves happy sons
80
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of a better stock, and, I hope, shall always behave
ourselves as becomes members of the Church of Eng-
land, and dutiful children of so pious and indulgent a
father as your lordship is to all under your care, in
all obedience. Craving your lordship's blessing to me
and my countrymen here, I make bold to subscribe,
"My lord, yours, &c,
"C. be Graefenreid."
The answer of the Bishop of London to this
epistle is contained in a letter to the Secretary, an
extract of which is furnished us by Dr. Hawks.
"Fulham, 12th January, 1711-12.
"Sir:
"As to the letter of Baron Graffenreid, whereby
you may perceive that they are all ready to conform
to the Church of England: if the Society will be
pleased to allow a stipend for a chaplain to read
Common Prayers in High Dutch (German), I will
endeavor to provide one so soon as I have their reso-
lution, which I would willingly hear so soon as pos-
sible, that I may send him over with Mr. Eainsford.
"I am, sir, yours, &c,
"H. London."
It is presumed that the bishop was successful
in sending to this German and Swiss colony a
clergyman of the English Church, who could
minister to them in their native language, and
thus these German Protestants glided gradually
into the Episcopal Church. They may have been
induced to take this step from the following mo-
tives: they had no pastor of their own faith, and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
81
thus were destitute of the means of grace; they
had been kindly treated by the English sovereign
and her people, and a feeling of gratitude for
their benefactors led them to think very favorably
of the religious faith of the English people; and
furthermore, the Church of England was the
established religion in the Carolinas.
Some of the names of these Germans are still
on record; in the list of jurymen, in Craven pre-
cinct, dated 1723, we find, among others, the follow-
ing undoubted German names: Christian Eslar,
Christian Slaver, John Lecher Miller, Jacob Miller,
Matthew Kasenober, John Dipp, John Simons,
Henry Perk, Henry Perlerbo, John Wixedell,
Michael Resabel, and Martin Franke. uAn old
document, signed by the Palatines," says Dr.
Hawks, "gives us the following German names,
yet familiar in Craven and the adjacent counties:
Eslar (now Isler), Gram (Croom), Rennege, Mohr
(Moore), Eibach (Hypock), Morris," and a number
of others. "Of the Swiss, we find Coxdaille (Cog-
dell), from whom, on the maternal side, descend
the JSTorth Carolina branch of the families of Stanly
and Badger."
Section 8. The German settlers in Charleston, S. C.
We will now direct our attention to one more
German settlement along the seacoast, whose
history must not be omitted, and then we will
turn our faces inland. James Island, S. C, oppo-
site Charleston, has had our attention; New-
82
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
berne, C, came next; no settlement of any
note was as yet established along the Cape Fear
River, and Wilmington, C, had no existence
at that early date; but Charleston, the principal
seaport of the Carolinas, was a flourishing town,
and commanded a considerable share of the emi-
gration to America; and the Germans, who sought
and found a habitation in so many parts of Amer-
ica, during the commencement of the eighteenth
century, also found a home in this locality. We
have a few facts upon which we can build a very
safe conclusion as to the probable date of the ar-
rival of German settlers in Charleston, but no
direct testimony has as yet been discovered, in
which the year and day of their landing is men-
tioned.
Queen Anne of England caused lands to be donated in the Province of South Carolina to the
German refugees from the Palatinate, as Dr. Haze-
lius informs us in his History, p. 25; this must
have been done before the 31st of July, 1714,
when her majesty departed this life. And we ask,
would this grant have been made if there were
no German Palatines remaining in her realm, or
expected soon to arrive, for whom this location
was provided? Or, is it likely that none of these
Palatine Germans came to the port of Charles-
ton, when they were landed at the seaports of
other provinces in America, especially as an abun-
dance of land in the Province of South Carolina
was provided for them, and in order to reach the
locality of that grant they had to be landed in
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
83
Charleston, even though they did not occupy, at
that time, the lands of that grant, as we are in-
formed by Dr. Hazel ins?
The colony of the pious Salzburgers, with their
pastors, Bolzius and Gronau, landed first at Char-
leston in the early part of March, 1734, before
their arrival at Ebenezer, Georgia; and in Rev.
Bolzius' journal, found in Force's Collection of
Historical Tracts, we have the following state-
ment, dated " Charleston, March 7th, 1734:" "We
found here some Germans, who were very glad
of our arrival, and will come to us, in order to
receive the sacrament."
Next comes the statement of Strobel's History
of the Salzburgers, p. 59: "Remaining in Charles-
ton a few days, the Salzburgers re-embarked on
the 9th day of March."
In Urlsperger's Nachrichten, Rev. Bolzius gives
us a lengthy account of his visit to Charleston, in
company with Baron Von Reck, in the following
May; he arrived there on the 23d of May, 1734,
and left again for his home in Ebenezer, May 26th.
Here we have the following record: "A certain
glazier and his wife, who are from the Palatinate,
went with us to the Holy Supper, and manifested
great attention and earnestness; their love for the
word of God and the holy sacraments is so great,
that they are determined to remain no longer in
Charleston, and have concluded to remove to
Ebenezer as soon as possible. They have many
children, which will enlarge our small school.
84
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Both these parents will be very useful to us in our
house arrangements."
The above records settle the matter conclu-
sively, that there were Germans residing in Char-
leston previous to the early part of 1734; that
they were then sufficiently numerous to have the
word of God preached to them, and to enjoy a
communion season; and that some of them were
from the Palatinate.
But how far back we are to date their arrival
in Charleston is uncertain; they could not have
settled there before 1708, as the exodus of Palat-
inate refugees into England did not take place
until that time, and after the Queen's proclama-
tion, inviting them to the hospitalities of her
realm; and they certainly were living there in
1734.
These Germans did not occupy the lands granted
them along the Congaree River, and for a very
good reason; those lands were located too far in-
land for that period of time, being about one hun-
dred miles remote from Charleston; that location
would have been an unsafe dwelling-place at the
time, for even Orangeburg County was not much
settled until 1735, and that locality is much nearer
the seaboard than the Saxe-Gotha grant on the
Congaree River. The presumption then is, that
when the Palatine Germans arrived at Charleston,
they remained there and in the vicinity.
A number of Germans having thus located them-
selves in Charleston, and their wants having be-
come known to the pastors of the Salzburg colony
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
85
as they passed through to Ebenezer, these holy
men resolved to do something for the spiritual
welfare of their beloved brethren of the same faith
in this town. Accordingly, on the 23d of May,
1734, Rev. Bolzius accompanied Baron Von Reck,
Lord Commissary of the Ebenezer colony, as far
as Charleston, on his return to Europe, where they
remained a few days; and from Rev. Bolzius'
journal we quote the following account of the first
communion administered there among the Ger-
mans.
"May 23,1731^.—We were informed in Savannah
where we could best lodge in Charleston, and we
likewise found very friendly people in the hotel,
with many accommodations there for reasonable
charges. Several Germans of our Evangelical
Confession mentioned to me and our Commissary
their desire to commune at the Lord's table, for
which they have had a great longing for a long
time. I therefore determined to remain here over
Sunday, and prepare the people from the word of
God for this solemn exercise.
"May 25.—Many persons of distinction in this
place showed us great attention, and constrained
us to dine and sup with them, which we would
rather decline, as in so doing we would be sub-
jected to many dissipations of mind and heart.
To-day those persons came to me, who had noti-
fied their intention to commune, in order that I
might hold some scriptural conversation with
them; as far as time and opportunity permitted,
I discoursed with them on the importance and
86
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
benefit of the Holy Supper, as well as the require-
ments of true Christianity. We deemed it advis-
able that, as those persons would hear us but once
or twice, to press home upon their hearts the most
needful truths, and to instil upon their memory
4 the order of salvation,' together with several im-
portant Scripture passages.
"May 26.—This day a fine opportunity presented
itself for me to return, and arrive at Ebenezer in
a few days, consequently, I was compelled to leave
Charleston to-day. I therefore assembled the com-
municants early, at 5 a.m., when we all sang sev-
eral hymns, and I discoursed upon some of the
important and practical truths from the gospel of
to-day. After sermon we all fell upon our knees,
and the Lord Commissary prayed very fervently
to God in the name of the whole congregation.
After the absolution and the celebration of the
Lord's Supper, I prepared myself for the home-
ward journey. It was very remarkable to me,
that a certain German shoemaker had also noti-
fied himself as being desirous to commune, but he
came to my room after the services were ended,
because, as he remarked, the house where I lodged
had been locked. Afterwards I learned that this
very man was a drinking character, who associ-
ated himself with low company, but which I could
neither discover in his outward appearance, nor
from his conversation, and had presumed something
good of him in my short intercourse with him; I
was, therefore, rejoiced that he was prevented
from coming to the table of the Lord. A certain
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
87
glazier and his wife, who are from the Palatinate,
went with us to the Holy Supper, and manifested
great attention and earnestness; their love for the
word of God and the holy sacraments is so great
that they are determined to remain no longer in
Charleston, and have concluded to remove to
Ebenezer as soon as possible. They have many
children, which will enlarge our small school.
Both these persons will be very useful to us in our
house arrangements."
In 1742 the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg,
D.D., visited Charleston; he had been sent from
the Mission Society of Halle, in Germany, to labor
in Pennsylvania, but it was made his duty first to
visit the colony at Ebenezer, Georgia, and landed
at Charleston on 21st of September, where he re-
mained but three days, and then proceeded to
Ebenezer.
Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg did not remain long with
the pastors of the Salzburg colony, and, as soon as
he had somewhat refreshed and strengthened him-
self from the effects of his perilous and wearisome
voyage to America, he returned to Charleston in
company with Pev. Bolzius, who had intended to
accompany him to Philadelphia, and there induct
him into his office; however, as no vessel was ex-
pected to sail from Charleston to Philadelpha for
several months, Rev. Bolzius, after having remained
a few days, returned to his own field of labor in
Ebenezer.
Rev. Muhlenberg was a man of no idle habits,
and, from the time of this, his second arrival in
88
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Charleston, October 20th, 1742, whilst waiting for
an opportunity to reach his destined field of labor,
to November 12th of the same year, when he set
sail in a very small and frail vessel for Philadel-
phia, he employed himself in laboring for the
spiritual welfare of the Germans in Charleston.
During his stay he made his home in the family
of a painter, named Theus, the brother of a Ger-
man Reformed minister, who labored in Saxe-
Gotha, South Carolina, along the Congaree River.
On Sundays Dr. Muhlenberg preached to several
German families that had congregated themselves
in Mr. Theus7 house, and during the other days
of the week he catechized their children, who were
thus instructed in all the principles of the Christian
religion, according to this excellent and ancient
custom.
Eleven years later, A.D. 1753, the Revs. Chris-
tian Rabenhorst and M. Gerock, A.M., arrived at
Charleston, upon the same vessel, from Germany,
on their way to their respective fields of labor;
the former having been appointed by the Society
for Promoting Christian Knowledge in Foreign
Parts as the third pastor at Ebenezer, and the
latter, as the Lutheran pastor in Lancaster, Penna.;
both of these ministers labored a short time in
Charleston whilst they tarried there.
Section 9. The Swiss colony at Paryshurg, S. C,
A.D. 1732.
In Beaufort County, S. C, some thirty miles
inland from the seacoast, and situated on the east
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
89
bank of the Savannah River, there was once a
flourishing German town and colon}T, named
Purysburg. The inhabitants came from Switzer-
land, and under circumstances very similar to
those of the settlers of ISTewberne, N. C.; for,
what De GrafTenreid and Mitchell were to the
colony on the confluence of the Neuse and Trent
Rivers, that Purry, Richard, Meuron, and Ray-
mond were to the Swiss settlers on the east side
of the Savannah River.
In the year 1731, "John Peter Purry, of Neuf-
chatel, in Switzerland, formerly a Director-Gen-
eral of the French East-India Company, having
formed the design of leaving his native country,
paid a visit to Carolina in order to inform himself
of the circumstances and situation of that province.
After viewing the lands," and satisfying his own
mind, by means of personal observation, of the
fertility of the soil, eligibility as to climate and
situation for a settlement of his countrymen, "he
returned to Britain. The government there en-
tered into a contract with him, and agreed to give
him lands, and four hundred pounds sterling for
every hundred effective men he could transport
from Switzerland to Carolina." (Mills' Statistics of
South Carolina, page 369.)
Whilst Mr. Purry was in Charleston, he drew up
the following flattering account of the soil and cli-
mate of South Carolina, and of the excellency and
freedom of the provincial government, and on his
return to Switzerland published it among the
people. It reads as follows:
8
90
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"Proposals by Mr. Peter Purry, of Neufchatel, for the
encouragement of such swiss protestants as should
agree to accompany him to carolina, to settle a
new colony.
"There are only two methods, viz.: one for
persons to go as servants, the other to settle on
their own account.
"1. Those who are desirous to go as servants
must be carpenters, vine-planters, husbandmen, or
good laborers.
"2. They must be such as are not very poor,
but in a condition to carry with them what is suf-
ficient to support their common necessity.
"3. They must have at least three or four good
shirts, and a suit of clothes each.
"4. They are to have each for their wages one
hundred livres yearly, which make fifty crowns of
the money of ISTeufchatel, in Switzerland, but their
wages are not to commence till the day of their
arrival in Carolina.
"5. Expert carpenters shall have suitable en-
couragement.
u6. The time of their contract shall be three
years, reckoning from the day of their arrival in
that country.
"7. They shall be supplied in part of their
wages with money to come from Switzerland, till
they embark for Carolina.
"8. Their wages shall be paid them regularly
at the end of every year; for security whereof they
shall have the fruits of their labor, and generally
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
91
all that can be procured for them, whether mova-
bles or immovables.
"9. Victuals and lodgings from the day of their
embarkation shall not be put to their account, nor
their passage by sea.
"10. They shall have what money they want
advanced during the term of their service in part
of their wages to buy linen, clothes, and all other
necessaries.
"11. If they happen to fall sick, they shall be
lodged and nourished gratis, but their wages shall
not go on during their illness, or that they are not
able to work.
"12. They shall serve, after recovery, the time
they had lost during their sickness.
"13. What goes to pay physicians or surgeons
shall be put to their account.
"As to those who go to settle on their own ac-
count, they must have at least fifty crowns each,
because their passage by sea and victuals will cost
them twenty to twenty-five crowns, and the rest
of the money shall go to procure divers things
which will be absolutely necessary for the voyage."
(Carroll's Collections, vol. ii, pp. 121, et seq.)
Here follows also, from the same author:
"A Description of the Province of South Carolina.
Drawn up at Charles-town, in September, 1731.
"The King of Great Britain having about three
years ago purchased this province of the Lords-
Proprietors thereof, has since studied to make
92
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
agriculture, commerce, and navigation flourish in
it. His Majesty immediately nominated Colonel
Johnson, a worthy gentleman, to be Governor
thereof; who, at his departure for Carolina, re-
ceived divers orders and instructions, &c. His
Majesty further grants to every European servant,
whether man or woman, fifty acres of land free of
all rents for ten j-ears, which shall be distributed
to them after having served their master for the
time agreed on.
"In consequence of these instructions, Mr. Puny
was permitted to go and choose on the borders of
the river Savannah land proper to build the town
of Purysburg upon; and having found it such as
he wished, the government made him a grant
thereof under the great seal of the Province, dated
1st September, 1731, and at the same time pub-
lished throughout the whole country a prohibition
to all sorts of persons to go and settle on the said
land, which is already called the Swiss Quarter.
"In order to facilitate the execution of this
undertaking in the best manner, the Assembly
granted to the said Mr. Puny four hundred pounds
sterling, and provisions sufficient for the mainte-
nance of three hundred persons for one year, pro-
vided they be all persons of good repute and Swiss
Protestants, and that they come to Carolina within
the space of two years.
"The river Savannah is one of the finest in all
Carolina, the water good, and stored with excellent
fish. It is about the largeness of the Rhine, and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
93
there are two forts already built upon it, which
the Indians have never dared to attack.
"The town of Purysburg will be situated thirty
miles from the sea, and about seven miles from
the highest tide. The land about it is a most de-
lightful plain, and the greatest part very good
soil, especially for pasturage, and the rest proper
enough for some productions. It was formerly
called the great Yemassee Port, and is esteemed
by the inhabitants of the Province the best place
in all Carolina, although never yet possessed but
by the Indians, who were driven from thence by
the English several years ago, and have never
dared to return thither. All sorts of trees and
plants will grow there as well as can be wished,
particularly vines, wheat, barley, oats, pease, beans,
hemp, flax, cotton, tobacco, indigo, olives, orange
trees, and citron trees, as also white mulberry
trees for feeding of silk-worms.
"The lands will not be difficult to clear, because
there is neither stones nor brambles, but only
great trees, which do not grow very thick, so that
more land may be cleared there in one week than
could be done in Switzerland in a month. The
custom of the country is, that after having cut
down these great trees, they leave the stumps for
four or live years to rot, and afterwards easily root
them up in order to manure the land."
The remainder of Mr. Purry's description of
South Carolina is of so general a character that it
would add nothing to the interest of this sketch.
He gave such a flattering account of the country
94
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
that many Switzers were induced to emigrate with
him to Carolina. This document published in
pamphlet form was then signed by four gentle-
men, and extensively distributed. The conclusion
reads as follows:
"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed,
do attest that all which is contained in this account
of South Carolina is the real truth, having been
eye-witnesses of the most part of the particulars
therein mentioned.
"Done at Charlestown the 23d of September,
1731.
"John Peter Purry, ofNeufch&tel,
"James Richard, of Geneva,
"Abraham Meuron, of St. Sulpy, in the
county of Neufch&tel,
"Henry Raymond, of St. Sulpy."
After Mr. Purry's return to Switzerland, and his
proposals having become generally known, the
people flocked to him without delay, and he soon
made every preparation necessary for the safety
and comfort of the colonists, who placed themselves
under his charge. Mills, in his Statistics of South
Carolina, page 369, states: "Immediately one hun-
dred and seventy Switzers agreed to follow him,
to be transported to the fertile and delightful prov-
ince, as he described it," so that in a few months
they were ready to enter upon their long voyage,
which was doubtless a prosperous one; for they
left England about the 1st of August, 1732, and
arrived in Charleston during the following Novem-
ber.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 95
The Governor of South Carolina, agreeably to
instructions, allowed them forty thousand acres of
land for their settlement, which was surveyed and
located on the east side of the Savannah River,
where a town was laid out for their accommoda-
tion, and named Purysburg, after the founder of
the colony and the promoter of its settlement. The
interest in favor of this new enterprise continued
in Switzerland for some time. Not long after-
wards some two hundred more settlers were added
to the new colony, who likewise arrived safely in
Carolina.
It was the intention of the Swiss settlers, in con-
nection with the other more necessary articles of
husbandry, to plant the vine, and also to give their
attention to the rearing and manufacturing of silk,
for which this Province appeared to be admirably
adapted, as the climate was warm, and the soil
very productive for the growing of a variety of
grapes, and the planting of the white mulberry
tree, on which the tender silk-worm feeds. The
Governor and Council likewise were happy in the
acquisition of such a force, who, by their knowl-
edge of these various branches of industry, gave
promise of great service to the Province. "They
allotted to each of them a separate tract of land,
and gave every encouragement in their power to
the people. The Swiss emigrants began their
labors of raising silk and planting the vine with
uncommon zeal and energy, highly elevated with
the idea of possessing landed estates." (Mills, p
370.)
96
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rev. Bolzius visited Purysburg on his way to
Charleston, in May, 1734, not two years after its
settlement, and speaks highly of it in his journal
as follows: "This town is built upon the more
elevated banks of the river, and, as many wealthy
people reside here, it is hoped that in a short time
it will become a considerable town. The inhabi-
tants labor industriously in their gardens and
fields, and persons can already procure here fresh
meats, eggs, garden vegetables, even more than in
Savannah. We were shown all kindness, and sev-
eral of the inhabitants besought us to return soon
again, and administer the communion."
The majority of these settlers were, doubtless,
members of the Reformed Church of Switzerland
before they came to America; they were all Prot-
estants, as this faith was made one of the condi-
tions for their becoming settlers of this colony;
a few families were connected with the Lutheran
Church, as Rev. Bolzius' journal informs us. The
colony brought their own pastor with them, the
Rev. Joseph Biignion, ua Swiss minister," who,
when he arrived in England, on his way to Caro-
lina, was induced to have Episcopal ordination laid
upon him by the Rev. Dr. Clagett, Bishop of St.
David's. His motives were doubtless pure, think-
ing that the Church of England was the established
religion in Carolina, and that he might accomplish
as much good, with less opposition, "as a stranger
in a strange land," if he would conform to the
rules and worship of that Church. Whether the
majority of the Swiss Protestants coincided with
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
97
him is not stated; probably many of them did so,
but others connected themselves with the Lutheran
Church at Ebenezer, Georgia. Rev. Mr. Biignion
did not remain a great while among his country-
men atPurysburg; about the commencement of
the year 1735 he removed to St. James, Santee.
"In 1744 the Rev. Henry Chiffelle arrived in the
Province as the first missionary from ' The Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts' to this parish. He was a native of Switzerland,
and was ordained," as a minister of the Church
of England, "by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London,
July 14th and 21st, 1734." During his time of
service in this charge, in February, 1746, this set-
tlement was established as a separate parish by an
act of the legislature, under the name and title of
St. Peter's Parish. "The Act directed that the
Church or Chapel, and the dwelling-house wherein
the Rev. Mr. ChifFelle had preached and dwelt,
should be the Parish Church and Parsonage-house
of St. Peter's Parish. The Rector or minister was
to be elected as in other parishes, and to receive
a salary of £100. Proc. money. Mr. Chiffelle con-
tinued in this mission until his death in 1758, and
was succeeded by the Rev. Abraham Imer, who
arrived in the Province in 1760, and died in 1766."
(Dalcho's History of the Prot. JEpis. Church in South
Carolina, pp. 385 and 386.)
In regard to the Lutheran element of this colony,
we may add, that they appear to have always had
a warm attachment to their own faith. Their con-
tiguity to their Lutheran brethren of the Ebenezer
9
98
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
colony on the other side of the Savannah River,
as well as the zeal of the Salzburg pastors, who
occasionally visited them, had the effect of keeping
up the interest in their own Church for a long
time. The following extract from the journal of
Rev. Bolzius, as found in Force's Collection of
Historical Tracts, abundantly proves this: "March
19th, Mr. Oglethorpe, going to Purysburg, took
with him one of us, Rev. Mr. Gronau, and recom-
mended him to preach to the Germans there, which
he accordingly did. There are three families of
our Lutheran confession in that place. Rev. Gro-
nau having preached for them from Gal. 2: 20,
they were very glad, and resolved to come con-
stantly to our settlement, which is but a few, three
German, miles from Purysburg to hear the word
of God, and to receive the sacrament. They reckon
the Salzburgers very happy in having their own
ministers, for at Purysburg they are now without
a minister."
As far as can be ascertained, no Lutheran con-
gregation was ever established in this place, as
there were but few families of that faith in the
colony, and these could occasionally attend divine
worship at Ebenezer. Of the Episcopal Church
established there, Dalcho further states: "There
has been no incumbent since the Revolution.
Divine service has occasionally been performed
by visiting clergymen. No organized Episcopal
congregation exists here at present." A.D. 1820.
The final history of the colony is hinted at by
Mills, page 370, from which we can draw our own
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
99
conclusions. He states that "in a short time they
felt the many inconveniences attending a change
of climate. Several of them sickened and died,
and others found the hardships of the first state of
colonization much greater than they expected.
The}' became discontented. Smarting under the
pressure of indigence and disappointment they not
only blamed Purry for deceiving them, but repented
leaving their native country." The colony lingered
up to the period of the Revolutionary war. Mills
informs us that "Purysburgwas the first headquar-
ters of the American army under Lincoln in the
Revolution. It afterwards was in possession of
the British under Prevost."
A large number of these Swiss settlers sought
and found homes in other parts of Carolina, both
before and after the Revolution, which left to
Purysburg very little more than a name in his-
tory.
Section 10. The German and Swiss Colonists of
Orangeburg, S. C, A.D. 1735.
The story of the settling of Orangeburg, South
Carolina is a page in the history of that State which
has never been fully written. The cause of this
omission can scarcely be accounted for, as ample
materials were within the reach of former histo-
rians. Certain outlines have been given, but noth-
ing very satisfactory has been furnished.
"The first white inhabitant who settled in this
section of country was named Henry Sterling; his
100
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
occupation, it is supposed, was that of a trader.
He located himself on Lyon's Creek in the year
1704, and obtained a grant of a tract of land, at
present in the possession of Colonel Russel P.
McCord." {Mills, p. 656.)
"The next settlers were some three or four indi-
viduals, who located themselves at the Cowpens,
northwesterly of the low country white settle-
ments; these, and the Cherokee and Catawba
Indians were all the inhabitants who had pre-
ceded the Germans." {Mills, p. 657.)
The colonists of Orangeburg County and town
were mostly German and Swiss, who came over
from Europe in a large body, occupying several
vessels, and even to the present day their descen-
dants are easily recognized by their unmistakable
German names, and are found to be the principal
owners and occupants of the soil in this portion of
South Carolina.
The principal facts concerning the early history
of these colonists are mainly derived from the
Journals of Council of the Province of South
Carolina, as found in manuscript form in the
office of the Secretary of State, as well as from the
Church record-book, kept by their first pastors,
the two Giessendanners, uncle and nephew, written
in the German and English languages, which is
still extant, and has been thoroughly examined by
the writer; and as these additional facts are now
presented for the first time, it is hoped that they
may open new avenues, which will afford future
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 101
historians of the State additional sources of research
and information.
That the German element of the Orangeburg
colonists came partly from Switzerland, we learn
from the records of the Giessendanners7 church-
book, as it was the custom of the younger Giessen-
danner to mention the place of nativity of all the
deceased, in his records of each funeral of the
early settlers; and as this emigration from that
country to Orangeburg occurred only two or three
years subsequent to the emigration of a former
Swiss colony to Purysburg, S. 0., it certainly re-
quires no great stretch of the imagination to ex-
plain the causes which induced such a large num-
ber of emigrants from that country to locate them-
selves upon the fertile lands of South Carolina,
which were described so glowingly by John Peter
Purry and his associates.
Let any one examine the pamphlets, as found in
vol. ii of Carroll's Collections, which Mr. Purry
published in reference to the Province of South
Carolina, and which he freely distributed in his
native country, in which the fertility of the soil,
salubrity of the climate, excellency of government,
safety of the colonists, opportunities of becoming
wealthy, &c, &c, are so highly extolled, and cor-
roborated by the testimony of so many witnesses,
and he will easily comprehend what the Switzers
must have fancied that province to be, viz.: the
El Dorado of America,—the second Palestine of
the world.
Mr. Purry's account of the excellency of South
102
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina for safe and remunerative settlement
went round, from mouth to mouth, in many a
hamlet and cottage of the little mountain-girt
country, losing nothing by being told from one
family to another; which, with the additional
fact, that many had relatives and friends living in
both the Carolinas, whom they possibly might
meet again, soon fastened their affections upon
that province, and induced them to leave the
Fatherland, and make their future homes with
some of their countrymen in America. Their
little all of earthly goods or patrimony was soon
disposed of; preparations for along journey were
quickly made, as advised by Mr. Purry in his
pamphlet; the journey through North Germany
towards some seaport was then undertaken; and,
with other Germans added to their number, who
joined their fortunes with them whilst passing
through their country, they were soon rocked upon
the bosom of the ocean, heading towards America,
with the compass pointed to their expected haven,
Charleston, South Carolina.
These German and Swiss settlers did not all
arrive in Orangeburg at the same time; the first
colony came during the year 1735; another com-
pany arrived a year later, and it was not until 1737
that their first pastor, Rev. John Ulrich Giessen-
danner, Senior, came among them with another
reinforcement of settlers; whilst Mills informs us
that emigrants from Germany arrived in Orange-
burg District as late as 1769, only a few years be-
fore the Revolution.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 103
Like most of the early German settlers of Amer-
ica, these colonists came to Carolina not as "gen-
tlemen or traders," but as tillers of the soil, with
the honest intention "to earn their bread by the
sweat of the brow," and their lands soon gave evi-
dence of thrift and plenty, and they, by their in-
dustry and frugality, not only secured a compe-
tency and independence for themselves and their
children in this fertile portion of South Carolina,
but many of them became blessed with abundance
and wealth.
From the records of Rev. Giessendanner we
learn that there were also a considerable number
of mechanics, as well as planters and farmers,
among these colonists; and the results of this Ger-
man colonization were extremely favorable to
Orangeburg District, inasmuch as they remained
there as permanent settlers, whilst many of their
countrymen in other localities, such as Purysburg,
&c, were compelled to leave their first-selected
homes, on account-of the want of health and of
that great success which they had at first expected,
but the Orangeburg settlers became a well-estab-
lished and successful colony.
It has been asserted that the German congrega-
tion established in Orangeburgamong these settlers
was Reformed, which is evidently a mistake, as
an}7 one may perceive from the following facts.
On the one hand, it must be admitted that the
Switzers came from the land where John Calvin
labored, and where the Reformed religion prevails,
but where there are also many Lutheran churches
104
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
established. It is also admitted that the Giessen-
daimers were natives of Switzerland, but it would
be unsafe to conclude from these facts that the
German congregation at Orangeburg, with all, or
nearly all, of its members, and with their pastors,
were Swiss Reformed or Calvinistic in their faith.
On the other hand, although nothing positive is
mentioned in the Record-book of the Church, con-
cerning their distinctive religious belief, yet the
presumptive evidence, even from this source of
information, is sufficiently strong to conclude that
this first religious society in Orangeburg was a
Lutheran Church. The facts from which our con-
clusions are drawn are:
Firstly.—Because a very strong element from
Germany was mixed with their Swiss brethren in
the early settling of this county, which, by still
later accession of German colonists, appears to
have become the predominating population, who
were mostly Lutherans, and the presumption be-
comes strong that their church-organization was
likewise Lutheran.
Secondly.—It seems to have been a commonly
admitted fact and the prevailing general impres-
sion of that time, when their second pastor had
become an ordained minister of the Church of
England.
Thirdly.—In examining their church records
one will discover, through its entire pages, a rec-
ognition of the festivals of the Lutheran Church,
as were commonly observed by the early Lutheran
settlers.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
105
Fourthly.—In Dalcho's History of the Prot. Epis.
Church in 8. C, published in 1820, at the time
when the son of the younger Giessendanner was
still living (see Mills' Statistics, p. 657, published as
late as 1826), it is most positively stated concern-
ing his father, that "he was a minister of the Lu-
theran Church." (Daleho, p. 333, footnote.) How
could Dr. Dalcho have been mistaken when he had
the records of the Episcopal Church in South Caro-
lina before him; and in that denomination this
was the prevailing impression, as was, doubtless,
so created from Giessendanner's own statements
in the bosom of which Church he passed the latter
days of his life.
Fifthly.—One of the churches which Giessen-
danner served before he became an Episcopal
clergyman, located in Amelia Township, called St.
Matthews, has never been any other than a Lu-
theran Church, and is still in connection with the
Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina.
Sixthly.—The Orangeburg colonists, after their
pastor departed from their faith, were served with
Lutheran pastors entirely, numbering in all about
seventeen ministers, and only for a short time a
Reformed minister, Rev. Dr. Ziibly, once labored
there as a temporary supply.
Seventhly. — In Dr. Hazelius' History of the
American Lutheran Church, p. 64, we have the
following testimony, gathered from the journal of
the Ebenezer pastors, Bolzius and Gronau, found
in Urlsperger's JSTachriehten: "Their journal of
that time mentions among other things, that many
106
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lutherans were settled in and about Orangeburg
in South Carolina, and that their preacher resided
in the village of Orangeburg."
It is to be hoped that all this testomony is satis-
factory to every candid inquirer, that the first es-
tablished Church of Orangeburg, S. C, which was
likewise the first organized Lutheran Church in
both the Carolinas, was none other than a Lutheran
Church; that those early settlers from Germany
and Switzerland were mostly, if not all, of the
same denomination, and that Dr. Dalcho has pub-
lished no falsehood by asserting that "their pastor
was a minister of the Lutheran Church."
The first colony of German and Swiss emigrants
who settled in Orangeburg village and its vicinity
in 1735, as well as those who selected their homes
in Amelia Township along Four-hole swamp and
creek, did not bring their pastor with them; the
Rev. John Ulrich Giessendanner did not arrive
until the year 1737; he was an ordained minister
and a native of Switzerland, and was the first and,
at the time, the only minister of the gospel in the
village and District of Orangeburg; we infer this
from Mills' Statistics, p. 657, stating that there
were but four or five English settlers residing in
the District before the Germans arrived, and these
few would not likely have an English minister of
their own to labor among them. We infer this,
moreover, from the record of Giessendanner's
marriages; the ceremony of one was performed
in the English language during the first year of
his ministry, with the following remark accompa-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
107
nyingit: "Major Motte having read the ceremony
in the English language," from which we conclude
that at the time, October 24th, 1737, Rev. Giessen-
danner was still unacquainted with the English
language, and that on this account he solicited the
aid of Major Motte in the performance of a clerical
duty. That there could have been no other min-
ister of the gospel within reach of the parties, who
did not reside in the village, otherwise they would
not have employed Rev. G. to perform a ceremony
under such embarrassing circumstances.
Rev. J. U. Giessendanner came to this country
with the third transportation of German and Swiss
settlers for this fertile portion of South Carolina.
In the same vessel also journeyed his future part-
ner in life, who had resided at his home in Europe
as housekeeper for twenty-six years, and to whom,
on the 15th of November, 1737, he was " quietly
married, in the presence of many witnesses, by
Major Motte;" doubtless by him, as no minister
of the gospel was within their reach, to which rec-
ord he piously adds: "May Jesus unite us closely
in love, as well as all faithful married people, and
cleanse and unite us with himself. Amen." By
this union he had no children, since both himself
and his partner were "well stricken in years."
The elder Giessendanner did not labor long
among this people. Death soon ended his minis-
trations in Orangeburg, and we infer that he must
have died about the close of the year 1738, since
the records of his ministerial acts extend to the
summer of that year, whilst those of his nephew
108
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
commence with the close of the year 1739. Allow-
ing the congregation time to make the necessary
arrangement with the nephew, and he to have
time to seek and obtain ordination, as we shall see
hereafter, besides the inference drawn from the
language of a certain petition, &c, we learn that
daring the fall of 1738, the Rev. John Ulrich Gies-
sendanner, Sr., was called to his rest, and thus
closed his earthly career.
The congregations in Orangeburg village and
District now looked about them for another servant
of the Lord to labor among them in holy things,
but the prospect of being soon supplied was not
very encouraging. The Ebenezer pastors were
the only Lutheran ministers in the South at that
time, and they could not be spared from their
arduous work in Georgia, and to expect a pastor
to be sent them again from the Fatherland was at-
tended with many difficulties. Another plan pre-
sented itself to them. The nephew of their first
pastor, who had prepared himself for the ministry,
was induced to seek ordination at the hands of
some Protestant denomination, and take upon him-
self the charge of these vacant congregations in
the place of his departed uncle.
From the records of the Orangeburg Church
we learn that their second pastor was also named
John Ulrich Giessendanner, but he soon afterwards
dropped his middle name, probably to distinguish
him from his uncle, and so is he named in all the
histories of South Carolina, which give any ac-
count of him.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
109
Difficulties and sore trials soon attended Rev.
John Giessendanner's ministry; the Urlsperger
Reports state, in vol. iii, p. 1079, that the town of
Orangeburg was then, A.D. 1741, in a worse con-
dition than Purysburg; that the people were lead-
ing very sinful lives, manifesting no traces of
piety, and that between pastor and hearers there
were constant misunderstandings. It is also stated
that their lands were fertile, but, as they were far
removed from Charleston, and had no communi-
cation with that city by water, they could not con-
vert their produce into money, and on this account
very little or no money was found among them.
Dr. Hazelius likewise gives an unfavorable account
of the state of religion in that community. On p.
64, he remarks: "From one circumstance men-
tioned with particular reference to that congrega-
tion, we have to infer that the spiritual state of
that church was by no means pleasing. A Mr.
KiefTer, a Salzburg emigrant and member of the
Ebenezer congregation, was living on the Carolina
side of the Savannah River, whose mother-in-law
resided at Orangeburg, whom he occasionally
visited. On one occasion he remarked, after his
return, to his minister, Pastor Bolzius, that the
people at Orangeburg were manifesting no hunger
and thirst after the word of God; he was therefore
anxious that his mother-in-law should remove to
his plantation, so that she might enjoy the oppor-
tunity of attending to the preaching of the word
of God, which she greatly desired." All this tes-
timony, though in the main correct, needs, how-
110
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ever, some explanation, and by referring to the
Journals of Council for this province, in the office
of the Secretary of State, we will soon discover
the cause of such a state of things. The people
had been but sparingly supplied with the preached
word, the discipline of the Church had not been
properly administered, and when the younger
Giessendanner took charge of these congregations,
and attempted to regulate matters a little, whilst
the majority of the people sustained him in his
efforts, a minority, who were rude and godless,
became his bitter enemies, and were constantly
at variance with him.
This condition of Church affairs opened the way
for the Zauberbiihler difficulties, which are very
minutely described in the Journals of Council of
the Province of South Carolina, vol. 10, page 395,
et seq.; the main facts of this troublesome affair
were the following:
During the year 1743, a Swiss minister of the
gospel, formerly located along the Savannah River,
at New Windsor, Purysburg, and other places,
named Bartholomew Zauberbiihler, very adroitly
attempted to displace the Rev. John Giessendanner
from his charge in Orangeburg, and make him-
self the pastor of those churches. He supposed
that by becoming an ordained minister of the
Episcopal Church, at that time the established
church in the Province, he would have rights supe-
rior to the humble Lutheran pastor in charge at
Orangeburg, and, as he supposed, have the law on
his side in thus becoming the pastor himself. The
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
Ill
records of his evil designs, which have long slum-
bered in oblivion in manuscript form on the shelves
of the Statehouse at Columbia, are now brought
to view, and read as follows:
"Nov. 9th, 1742. Read the petition of Rev. B.
Zauberbiihler, showing that as there were a great
many Germans at Orangeburg, Santee, and there-
abouts, who are very desirous of having the word
of God preached to them and their children, and
who desire to be instructed in the true religion,
humbly prays: That he may be sent to serve them
and to be supported with a competent salary until
he shall be able to take a voyage to England to be
ordained by the Bishop of London, and at the same
time proposes to bring over with him a number of
Germans, which he thinks may be as great a num-
ber as ever were brought at any time into this
province, it being a great encouragement to them
when they find that they may have the Gospel,
not only on their voyage, but also after their ar-
rival in this province, preached to them, &c.
"Upon reading the said petition, it was the
opinion of His Majesty's Council, that providing
the petitioner do produce a certificate from the
inhabitants of Orangeburg, as also a certificate
from ye Ecclesiastical Commissary, Mr. Garden,
of his qualifications to receive orders in the Church
of England, and his engaging to go home to Lon-
don to receive ordination, and after that to go to
Germany to procure others of his countrymen to
come over to settle in this province, that the sum
of five hundred pounds currency be advanced him
112
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
out of the township fund, in order to enable him
to perform the same."
Journals of Council, vol. xi, pp. 74-76. Under
date of Feb. 13th, 1743-44: "Reconsidered the
petition of Rev. Mr. Zauberbiihler, which had
been exhibited at this Board on the 10th day of
November, 1743, praying that in consideration of
the earnest desire of the inhabitants of Orangeburg,
Santee, to have a person to preach the gospel to
them in their own language, he is willing to per-
form that pastoral duty, but being as jet unor dained, desires to be supported with a competent
salary until he shall be able to take a voyage to
England to be ordained, at which time he proposes
to bring over a number of foreign Protestants to
settle in this province, who are unwilling to come
over for want of having the gospel preached to
them in their voyage here. Whereupon it ap-
pearing by a former minute of Council, of the 10th
of November last, that provided the petitioner shall
produce a certificate from the inhabitants of Orange-
burg of their desire to receive him as a preacher
amongst them, and also a certificate from the Rev.
Mr. Garden of his qualifications to receive orders,
that then the sum of £500 current money be ad-
vanced him out of the township fund, in order to
enable him to perform his voyage, and bring on
the Protestants to settle here as he mentions.
Whereupon the petitioner produced the following
certificate from the Rev. Mr. Commissary Garden:
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
113
u South Carolina.
"These are to certify whom it may concern, and
in particular the Rt. Rev. the Lord Bishop of Lon-
don, that the bearer, Bartholomew Zauberbiihler, a native of Appenzell in Switzerland, appears to
me on creditable testimony to have resided in this
Province for the space of seven years last past, and
daring that time to have been of good life and be-
havior as becometh a candidate for hoi}' orders,
"Signed, Alexander Garden.
"February 13th, 1743."
"On producing the said certificate his Excel-
lency signed an order on the public Treasurer for
the sum of £500, to be paid him on condition that
the Treasurer take his written obligation to repay
the said money upon his returning and settling in
the Province, in case he does not bring over the
Protestants he mentions."
The following counter-petition against Mr. Zau-
berbiihler from the Orangeburg settlers is found
in vol. xi of Journals of Council, pp. 139-143,
and dated March 6th, 1743:
"Read the humble petition of the German and
English inhabitants of Orangeburg and the adjoin-
ing plantations, showing to his Excellency, to whom
it is directed, that the petitioners heartily congratu-
late his Excellency on his auspicious ascension to
the government of this Province, hoping that by
his judicious care and power not only their pres-
ent grievances, but likewise all other misfortunes
10
114
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
may evaporate and vanish. And ye said petition-
ers humbly beg leave to acquaint ye Excellency,
that above five years ago, the German minister hap-
pening to die, Mr. John Giessendanner, by the con-
sent and approbation of your said German petition-
ers, went to Charlestown with the intention to make
his application to the Rev. Mr. Alexander Gar-
den, Commissary, to admit him into holy orders,
to preach in German in this township; and when
the said Mr. John Giessendanner came to Charles-
town aforesaid, he accidentally met with one Major
Christian Motte, who acquainted him that he
ought not to trouble the said Rev. Alexander Gar-
den with the affair, but to go with him to some
certain gentlemen, who, if they found him suffi-
cient, would directly give him orders according to
his desire; upon which the said Mr. John Giessen-
danner, being then a stranger to the English
method of proceeding in such cases, accompanied
the said Major Christian Motte, and was by him
introduced to an assembly of the Presbytery, who,
after examination, presented him with orders to
preach, which he has since done in German con-
stant! j7 for the space of five years to the inexpressi-
ble satisfaction of the congregation at Orangeburg;
and about two years ago your said English peti-
tioners, being fully sixty miles from any other
place of divine worship, some of whom had not
been favored with an opportunity of hearing a
sermon in the space of seven years, observing the
said Mr. John Giessendanner to be a man of learn-
ing, piety, and knowledge in the Holy Scriptures,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 115
prevailed with him to officiate in preaching once
every fortnight in English, which he hath since
performed very articulate and intelligible to the
entire satisfaction of ye said English petitioners,
and always behaves himself with sobriety, honesty,
and justice, encouraging virtue and reproving vice. "And the said Mr. John Giessendanner lately
observing great irregularities and disorders being
committed almost every Sabbath day by some
wicked persons in one part of the township, pub-
licly reprimanded them for the same, which re-
proof so exasperated them that they threatened to
kick the said Mr. John Giessendanner out of the
church if he offered to preach there any more, and
have lately sent for one Bartholemew Zauberbiih-
ler, a man who not long ago pretended to preach
at Savannah town, but, as your said petitioners
are informed, was soon obliged to leave that place
and a very indecent character behind him. The
last week he arrived at Orangeburg, and upon the
last Sabbath, he, the said Bartholomew Zauber-
blihler and his wicked adherents associated to-
gether, and pretended that the said Bartholomew
Zauberbiihler had brought with him a power from
the Hon. William Bull, Esq., late Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of this Province, his Majesty's Hon. Coun-
cil, and the Rev. Mr. Alexander Garden, Commis-
sary, an order to expel the said Mr. John Giessen-
danner from the church, and to preach there him-
self, and some of ye said petitioners demanded a
sight of his said authority, but he refused to pro-
duce it, which occasioned great animosities and
116
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
disorders in the congregation, and when the said
Bartholomew Zauberbiihler makes his second ap-
pearance at or near Orangeburg, which he declares
shall be at ye expiration of three weeks, there will
certainly be more disturbance and confusion than
before, unless some powerful means be used to
obstruct it.
"Whereupon your said petitioners most humbly
beg that your Excellency will be pleased to inter-
pose with your authority, and direct the said Mr.
Alexander Garden, if he hath given or granted
any such orders, to countermand them, and to per-
mit the said Mr. John Giessendanner still to offi-
ciate for them in divine service, free from any
further disturbance or molestation, &c.
u Signed by John Hani, and above fourscore
more subscribers.
"Ordered by Council that the consideration of
this affair, and of the above petition, and those of
Mr. Zauberbiihler, be deferred until Mr. Zauber-
biihler's return from England, and that ye Clerk
acquaint them therewith in writing."
Fortunately, however, Mr. Zauberblihler had
not yet departed on his journey to England as the
Council had supposed, but had been lurking for
awhile in Orangeburg District, and as soon as he
returned to Charleston he once more made his
appearance upon the floor of the Council chamber.
Journals of Council, Vol. XI, p. 143: 4fcBar-
tholomew Zauberbiihler, being returned from
Orangeburg Township, attended his Excellency
in Council, and laid before him two written cer-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
117
tificates from justices of ye peace there in his favor,
and which were read, representing his sobriety
and good behavior, whereupon Mr. Zauberblihler
was by his Excellency directed to wait again on
Rev. Mr. Garden, and to learn if he has any objec-
tions to his receiving orders in England, and to
report the same."
Journals of Council, Vol. XT, p. 152: "Bar-
tholomew Zauberbiihler attended his Excellency,
the Governor, in Council, according to order,
whom the Governor gave to understand that he
had not acted well in the exhibiting a certificate
from the Township of Orangeburg, read at this
Board on November 13th, 1742, seeing that under
the notion of having an invitation to the ministry
by the majority of that Township, there was, on
the contrary, a later memorial laid before the
Board, signed by near ninety of the inhabitants,
and by far the majority of the Township, praying
that Mr. Giessendanner, their present minister,
might be continued to preach among them, and
that Mr. Zauberbiihler's going to preach in the
said Township, and his design to be settled there
as a minister, was not by their desire, on the con-
trary, had occasioned no small disturbance in the
said Township. That his proceedings with the
Lieutenant-Governor and Council in ye said affair
had not been with that candor that might have
been expected from one who designed to take on
him holy orders, and that, therefore, he ought to
be contented with at least one-half of what had
been paid him by ye Treasurer, and return the
118
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
other £250, or, at any rate, to procure a joint se-
curity of one residing in Charlestown that he
would return the money in case he did not bring
over the foreign Protestants mentioned, but that
if he did bring them over the whole £500 should
be allowed him; whereupon Mr. Zauberbiihler
withdrew."
After this action of the Governor and Council
we read nothing more of Mr. Zauberbiihler in the
Journals of Council, and the Rev. John Giessen-
danner was permitted to continue his labor as
pastor in Orangeburg without further molestation.
The historical facts deduced from the above
State papers are the following:
That the Rev. John Ulrich Giessendauner, Sr.,
who was the first pastor at Orangeburg, departed
this life during the close of the year 1738, having
labored there but little more than one year.
That his nephew, the Rev. John Giesendanner,
became his successor some time during the year 1739, and that he was "a man of learning, piety,
and knowledge in the Holy Scriptures;" he was
probably educated for the ministry, but left Europe
before he had been ordained; that, although a
Lutheran in his religious persuasion, as we learn
from other documents, he applied for ordination
at the hands of any Protestant ministry who were
empowered to impart the desired authority, there
being at that time no Lutheran Synod in all the
American colonies. That he was ordained by the
Charleston Presbytery is certain, but that he was
not a Presbyterian in faith is evident also, else he
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
119
would not have endeavored first to obtain ordina-
tion at the hands of the Protestant Episcopal au-
thority, and only changed his purpose of becoming
Episcopally ordained at the suggestions of Major
Christian Motte, and doubtless also to avoid an
expensive and wearisome voyage to Europe, which
he would have been obliged to undertake had he
insisted upon obtaining the requisite authority to
preach the gospel and administer the sacraments
either in the Lutheran or Episcopal Church. That the first Orangeburg Church must have
been built some time before the above-mentioned
petition was written, A.D. 1743, as it is therein
spoken of, as being then in existence.
That Rev. John Giessendanner labored faith-
fully as a good servant of his Master, even bring-
ing enmity upon himself for reproving vice; like-
wise, that he preached in the German and English
languages.
That the country in the vicinity of Orangeburg
must have been sadly deficient at that time in the
enjoyment of the usual means of grace, as many
persons were living sixty miles from any other
church, some having not heard a sermon preached
for seven years; need we wonder at the irregulari-
ties in faith and conduct manifested in those days.
That Rev. Giessendanner must have had a con-
siderable congregation, inasmuch as the petition
drawn up in his defence was signed by nearly
ninety male persons, who were either all members
of his congregation, or mostly so, and the remain-
der his friends and adherents.
120
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
That Rev. Bartholomew Zauberbiihler must
have sadly degenerated in the latter period of his
ministerial life, as the Ebenezer pastors give us a
very favorable account of him several years pre-
vious in the Urlsperger Reports, when he first
came to this country.
Rev. Giessendanner was affectionately remem-
bered by the Church in Europe. Rev. Bolzius,
in the Urlsperger Reports, Vol. Ill, p. 875, states:
"I also wrote a letter to-day to young Mr. Gies-
sendanner, the present minister in Orangeburg,
informing him that a donation of about nine
guilders had been collected for him in Switzer-
land, of which a respectable merchant in Zurich
writes, that as old Mr. Giessendanner had died,
this amount should be paid over to his nephew.
Also, that we will send him, as soon as possible,
those books collected for him in Switzerland,
which are sent in the chest for us, and which has
not yet arrived.
"I would have been pleased to have sent him
this money sooner had any safe opportunity pre-
sented itself. I entreated him, likewise, to write
to me occasionally, and inform me of the transac-
tions of the departed Giessendanner, which may
be of great service to him." *
The name of Rev. Giessendanner occurs in sev-
eral other paragraphs of the same Reports, but
only in connection with the books and money
above-mentioned; but nothing further is said con-
cerning himself and his ministry, or that of his
predecessor. He was probably prevented from
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
121
imparting the desired information on account of
the want of communication between Ebenezer and
Orangeburg.
Rev. John Giessendanner labored ten years as
a Lutheran minister, after which, in 1749, he went
to London to receive Episcopal ordination at the
hands of Eev. Dr. Sherlock, Bishop of London.
The reasons for making this change in his Church
relationship are not known; however, it is pre-
sumable that, as he was then the only Lutheran
pastor in South Carolina, he preferred to enjoy a
more intimate connection with some ministerial
organization than the one that was then afforded
him in the bosom of his own Church; and although
the Ebenezer pastors were also then laboring in
the South, nevertheless they were somewhat dis-
tantly removed from him, and dwelling in another
Province. He doubtless also had his fears that
some other Zauberbiihler difficulty might harass
him again, and thus, by taking this step, he would
have all legal preferences in his favor, as the
Church of England was then virtually the estab-
lished Church of the Province.
He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara
Hug, and became the father of several children,
one of whom, a son named Henry, born July 3d,
1742, was still living in 1826, as he is mentioned
in "Mills' Statistics;" and his widow spent the
close of her life with one of her children residing
in Georgia.
Henry Giessendanner was married to Miss
Elizabeth Rumpf, February 25th, 1767; he re-
n
122
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
corded the birth of but one child, Elizabeth, in
his father's church-book, though he may have
had more children, whose names were not entered
there. This record-book likewise informs us that
Rev. John Giessendanner had a brother and sister
living in Orangeburg, named George and Elizabeth
(afterwards married to a Mr. Krieh), and that the
whole family were natives of Switzerland; hence
also the money sent Rev. Giessendanner came from
this country, as mentioned in the Urlsperger Re-
ports. This concludes the history of the Giessen-
danner family, as far as it is necessary for our pur-
pose, and until recently it was not known that
these two pastors were the first Lutheran minis-
ters that labored in South Carolina—even their
very names had become almost obliterated in the
annals of the Lutheran Church. Dr. Dalcho yet
adds this information, that Rev. John Giessen-
danner departed this life during the year 1761.
The Orangeburg settlers at first clustered to-
gether near the banks of the Edisto River, and
built their dwellings near each other in the form
of a small town, supposing that the adjacent stream
would be advantageous in forming an outlet for
them to Charleston, in the transportation of lum-
ber to market. A year later other German emi-
grants arrived, who located themselves on lands
adjoining their predecessors, and thus this tide of
immigration continued until the entire district became mostly colonized with German and Swiss
emigrants. The present town of Orangeburg is
located very near the spot where this original
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
123
German village once stood. In this village the
first Lutheran church in the Carolinas was erected,
and there also the first Lutheran pastor of this
congregation lived and died; his nephew and suc-
cessor, as is supposed by some of the present in-
habitants, had his home several miles from the
village, where he died and was buried.
Some half a mile from the centre of the present
town of Orangeburg and towards the Eclisto Elver
there is a graveyard, which presents the appear-
ance of having been a long time in use for the
interment of the dead, and where the entombed
generations of the present day are silently slum-
bering with those of the past. It is still styled
"the old graveyard" although there are many new- made graves to be seen in it; and here, doubtless,
repose the remains of the first Lutheran pastor in
the Carolinas.
During the evening twilight of autumn the
writer visited this hallowed spot, in order to com-
mune with the dead; the seared and faded leaves
of October overhanging his head or rustling be-
neath his feet; the peculiar sighing sound of the
winds of autumn, passing through the foliage of
the Southern long-leaved pine trees, produced
Nature's sad and fitting requiem for the dead.
He sought for records of the past upon some di-
lapidated tombstone, but his search was unavail-
ing, and, like the fallen leaves of many years past,
even these mementos of a former age were no
longer visible.
What lessons of the vanity of all human great-
124
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ness, namely: the power of wealth, the pride of
family, the pleasures and gayeties of life! All end
at last in the grave—all alike blend in one com-
mon dust.
Around this place, with the old church edifice
very near it, the former village stood; they are
both thus described by a correspondent: "The
Orangeburg church was built of wood and clay,
in much the same manner as chimneys are when
made of clay; the old graveyard is still used as a
burial-ground common to all; and the site of the
church is still plainly seen—it is in the village,
and wTas at that day in the centre of it. I have
learned this likewise from an old gentleman who
remembers hearing his father saying this as above.
It fell to ruins at the time of the Revolution; but
the spot has never been built upon since that day,
and is now known as 6 the old churchyard.' This
church was the one used by the Rev. John Gies-
sendanner as an Episcopal church, and no doubt
used likewise by him at first as a Lutheran church;
its dimensions were—say thirty by fifty feet."
The time when the old church edifice was
erected is now no longer known, and can only be
a matter of conjecture; however, it is possible
that this event occurred during the elder Giessen-
danner's ministry—the records do not positively
state this to have been the case, nevertheless sev-
eral indications are given which make it very
probable that this was the time.
It became changed into an Episcopal house of
worship in 1749, when the pastor, the younger
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
125
Giessenclanner, took orders in the Church of
England, as he continued to labor there to the
close of his life. At the time this change was
effected, the congregation numbered 107 commu-
nicants, and on Whitsunday following 21 persons
more were admitted to the Lord's Supper.
In concluding the history of this congregation,
we would simply add, that after Rev. Giessen-
danner's death nothing further is known concern-
ing it until 1768, when a new Episcopal chapel
was ordered to be erected, and the Rev. Paul
Turquand preached there in connection with
another congregation.
During the Revolutionary War, Rev. Turquand
was absent, and labored in the valley of the Mis-
sissippi, but returned in 1788, when he resumed
his labors in Orangeburg, and died the following
year; since then no trace is left of the history of
the church and its congregation.
The present Episcopal Church in the town of
Orangeburg is of recent organization, and their
house of worship is comparatively new, indicating
that the old church edifice, the still later erected
chapel, and the former congregation have long
since become entirely extinct.
The existing Lutheran church and congregation
in Orangeburg are of a still more recent date; both
the organization and church edifice have no his-
torical connection with the past, made up of ma-
terial in membership who have become citizens
of the place not many years ago.
126
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 11. The German Settlers of Saxe-Gotha Town-
ship, now Lexington County, S. C, A.T). 1787.
In Mills' Statistics of South Carolina, page 611,
we have the following statement in reference to
Lexington District (now County): "This District,
when first settled, was merged in Orangeburg pre-
cincts. A parish and township were laid out in
about the year 1750, and named Saxe-Gotha, in
compliment to the first settlers of the country, who
came from that part of Germany."
An entirely different statement may be found
on pages 25 and 26 of Dr. Hazelius' History of
the American Lutheran Church; from which we
learn that the name Saxe-Gotha originated in
Queen Anne's time, and that the first settlers of
that county "came from the neighborhood of the
Rhine, Baden, and Wlirtemberg," kingdoms con-
siderably removed from Saxe-Gotha.
But from the Journals of Council, in the office
of the Secretary of the State, the date of the set-
tlement of Saxe-Gotha by Germans is unmistak-
ably fixed to be 1737, and that few, if any, of the
first settlers of that county came from Saxe-Gotha.
Council Journal, vol. viii, p. 69: "May 26th,
1742.—Petition of John Caspar Gallier and family,
John Caspar Gieger and family, John Shalling
and family, Abram Gieger and family, Jacob
Liver and family, Julius Gredig and family,
Caspar Fry and family, Conrad and Caspar
Kiintzler (now Kinsler), John Jacob Bieman and
family, Herrman Gieger and family, Elizabeth
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
127
Shalling and family, showing that, as they arrived
and settled in his Majesty's Township of Saxe-
Gotha, even since the year 1737, and received his
Majesty's most gracious bounty of provisions and
warrants for lands in Saxe-Gotha Township, but
that they could not find in what office they are,
therefore they humbly pray his Honor, the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, and his Majesty's honorable
Council, that they would be pleased to order that
search may be made," &c, &c.
Again, under date 1744, "John Jacob Gieger
arrived seven years ago, is now married, and prays
for one hundred acres of land over against Santee
River, opposite Saxe-Gotha, where he has already
begun to clear ground and almost finished a house.
Granted." Subtract seven years from 1744, and
we have again the date 1737, the time of the first
settlement of that township by Germans.
From the above reliable source of information
we evidently perceive that Mills' statement is en-
tirely incorrect, and that Saxe-Gotha Township
was laid out and received its name long before
the year 1750, as it is spoken of in the Journals
of Council as early as 1742, as being then a town-
ship and known by the name, Saxe-Gotha, and
may have been so called, according to Dr. Haze-
lius' statement, during Queen Anne's time, pre-
vious to the year 1714, the time of her Majesty's
death. However, the Council Journals likewise
prove the Doctor to have been mistaken in stating
that these lands were wrested from the Germans,
for they settled there, and their descendants are
128
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
there still, occupying the very lands which their
forefathers had received by warrant from the king
of England, showing conclusively that, inasmuch
as their titles came directly to them from the first
legal authority, these lauds had not yet passed into
other hands.
But it is possible that, as in the State of New
York, the benevolent Queen Anne did make
grants of land for church and school purposes in
Saxe-Gotha Township, which, however, could not
be occupied at the time, as the settlements in
South Carolina had then not been extended so far
inland; the Indians were still in possession of that
portion of the province, and the grants and good
intentions of the Queen were eventually lost sight
of and forgotten. Afterwards, when the Germans
did actually locate themselves in Saxe-Gotha, new
warrants were issued and secured to them by the
authority of the then ruling sovereign, his Majesty
George II.
Independent of the actual accounts and dates of
the settling of this township, we have before us
the general rule that "Westward the star of em-
pire takes its way/' and that the farther westward
or inland the settlements were made, the later
will be the dates of such settlements. This is the
result of natural causes, and admits of no excep-
tions to the well-known rule; the first settlers of
America necessarily located themselves along the
seashore, afterwards a little more inland, whilst
the aborigines, living in the forest, gradually re-
ceded from the march of civilization; then further
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
129
encroaches were made upon their territory, and
so on, gradually, until the Appalachian chain of
mountains was reached. After the Revolutionary War even the mountains formed no barrier to the
settlements of the whites, and thus, in a short time,
nearly all of America became populated, even be-
yond the valley of the Mississippi.
Orangeburg, South Carolina, was settled by
Germans in 1735; Saxe-Gotha, further inland, of
necessity was settled still later; hence common
sense will admit of no date of permanent settle-
ment earlier than, or even as early as, that period
of time.
Saxe-Gotha comprised nearly all that portion
of territory embraced at present in Lexington
County; it is not many years since the name was
changed, in honor of the battle of Lexington,
Massachusetts, by an act of legislature, which was
a most unfortunate exchange of names, being less
euphonic, very inappropriate, and altogether un-
historical. Give us back the old name, and may
the citizens of old Saxe-Gotha, in South Carolina,
never be ashamed of their German names and
German extraction.
How the name originated, as applied to this
township, it is impossible to state. It certainly
was not so called in compliment to the Germans
who settled there, as they came from a different
section of Germany; it is possible that the name,
"Saxe-Gotha," was applied to this scope of terri-
tory during Queen Anne's reign, as intimated by
Dr. Hazelius, and thus, even by name, it was to be
130
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
distinguished as a future home for German emi-
grants.
The following record of this settlement is made
in the Urlsperger Reports, vol. iii, p. 1791: "Wed-
nesday, December 2d, 1741. We had heard nothing
before of Saxe-Gotha in America, but we have just
received the intelligence that such a town (town-
ship) is laid out in South Carolina, twenty-five
German miles (100 English miles) from Charles-
town, on the road which passes through Orange-
burg, and settled with German people. Doubtless
the majority of them were German Reformed, as
they have a Reformed minister among them, writh
whose character we are not yet acquainted." This
minister wras the Rev. Christian Theus, of whom
we shall say more hereafter. He commenced his
labors in Saxe-Gotha as early as 1739.
The Geiger families and their neighbors were
not compelled to remain a long time as isolated
settlers in their new homes; the name Saxe-Gotha
sounded so agreeably familiar to the ears of the
Germans that they flocked in numbers to this
Germany in America.
Besides, a certain German, named Hans Jacob
Riemensperger, contracted with the government
to bring over a number of Swiss settlers, many of
whom he located in this township, as we learn
from Urlsperger, vol. iii, p. 1808, and from the
Journals of Council, on several different pages.
In addition to these settlers, this same Riemen-
sperger, in company with a Mr. Haeg, brought a
number of orphan children to Saxe-Gotha, for
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 131
which service to the province, as well as for the
boarding of the children, they brought in their
accounts to the Council for payment. Vol. viii, pp.
69 and 70.
Settlement of Redemptioners.
Some of our best and most useful settlers in the
South were persons, who, too poor to pay their
passage-money across the ocean, were sold by the
captains of the vessels, that brought them to
America, to any one of the settlers who felt in-
clined to secure their labor. The price for which
they were sold in Carolina was usually from five
to six pounds, sterling money, and both men and
women were thus alike sold to service; and then,
by hard labor, which extended over a period of
from three to five years, they eventually redeemed
themselves from this species of servitude.
The advantages of such an arrangement to them
and to their adopted colony were, upon the whole,
important and salutary.
1. Our infant colonies stood in need of a useful
population which would prove a defence to the
country in case of the execution of the continued
threatenings of a Spanish invasion, and the sudden
attack of hostile Indians.
2. Besides, labor was greatly needed for the cul-
tivation of the virgin soil, and these poor Germans
—many of them excellent farmers, some of them
useful artisans, and all of them hard-working people—furnished this labor, and at very cheap
rates.
132
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
3. The country also needed permanent settlers
who would become habituated to the soil and cli-
mate, who would learn to love their adopted coun-
try, by being compelled to remain until they had
fully tested all the advantages of the same; these
the Redemptioners abundantly supplied in their
own persons.
4. Nor were the advantages to them of slight
importance. They had nothing to risk in the
shape of property, as they possessed nothing 'of
this world's goods, and thus they never became a
prey to those landsharks which often despoil the
less sagacious immigrants of much of the posses-
sions which they brought with them to America.
5. Besides, they were the poorer class of people
at home in Europe, and would always have re-
mained in this condition, had such an arrangement
not existed; but now they enjoyed the flattering
prospect of receiving competency and wealth at
some future day.
6. Then again, their servitude became their ap-
prenticeship in America; in the meantime they
learned the English language, they became ac-
quainted with the laws and customs of the new
country, they discovered by silent observation
what would in future be to their advantage, and
thus in every way did they become qualified by
sagacity, industry, and economy, for their new and
independent sphere of life.
Yet it must be confessed that they had to endure
many hardships; often were they rigorously treated
by their ship captains; ill and insufficiently fed on
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 133
their voyage across the ocean, and on shore before
they were purchased for their services; exposed
publicly for sale as the African slave; often treated
harshly by their masters who purchased them, and
compelled to labor in the broiling sun of a south-
ern climate, and many, by disease and death, fre-
quently closed their short earthly career.
However, when our country had become suffici-
ently populated, the government interposed and
put an end to this kind of servitude, on account
of the severity of the lot of these unfortunate la-
borers, and thus abandoned this source of coloni-
zation. In confirmation of these facts, the follow-
ing extracts will furnish abundant proof, and are
herewith submitted:
Journals of Councils, vol. xiv, p. 37, January
24th, 1744: "Read the petition of a considerable
number of Protestant Palatines, most humbly
showing that the poor petitioners have been on
board the St. Andrew's, Captain Brown com-
mander, these twenty-six weeks past, and there is
as yet no likelihood for them to get free of her,
because there are none of us yet who have pur-
chased their service; they therefore humbly pray
his Excellency and Honors that they may find so
much favor as to their passages that a sum equiva-
lent to discharge the same be raised by the gov-
ernment, for which they promise to join in a bond
to repay the same within the term of three years,
with lawful interest; and that if any of them shall
not be able to pay the above sum within that time,
that the government in that case shall have full
134
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
power to dispose of them and their families as they
shall think proper, &c. Ordered to make investi-
gations, and report."
Vol. xiv, pp. 62 and 63: "Several Protestant
Palatines, who arrived hither on Captain Brown's
ship, and whose services have not as yet been pur-
chased, sent a complaint, by their interpreter, to
the governor, that the said Captain Brown had often
withheld their diet from them on board his ship,
and that they had been several days without meat
or drink; particularly that last Friday they were
the whole day without any, the least, sustenance,
and had been the like for several days before, and
not only they, but all the rest of the Germans that
still remain on board Captain Brown's ship.
"Captain Brown being sent for and interrogated
whether he had used those foreigners in the man-
ner they had represented, answered, that if they
had asked him for food in their language he would
not have understood them.
"His Excellency ordered the captain's steward
to be sent for, who attended accordingly, and the
original contract between Captain Brown and
those Palatines in Holland was also sent for and
laid before the Board, which being read and the
particular species of diet that was allowed for
every day of the week specified, his Excellency
asked, in particular, if the said Germans had been
fed last Friday in the manner contracted for?
"The steward replied that the Germans would
sometimes reserve the taking of diet on certain
days in order to have double allowance another.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA,
135
But his Excellency gave Captain Brown to under-
stand that as he was by virtue of his contract
bound to maintain those foreigners till they were
disposed of, if any should die for want while
aboard his ship, he must answer for their lives;
after which they withdrew."
The accounts of the trials and hardships of these
persons, as narrated in the Urlsperger Reports,
are entirely too numerous to be inserted in these
pages; those who feel inclined to search for them-
selves are referred to the volume and page of
those Reports, where they can find all they desire
to know concerning the Redemptioners. Vol. i,
p. 10; vol. ii, pp. 2472, 2482, 2508. How the Re-
demptioners conducted themselves can be learned
from vol. ii, pp. 2193, 2200, 2213,2221, 2404, 2413.
One account is here translated for the informa-
tion of our readers. Vol. ii, p. 2472:
"The poor people which Captain Thomson
brought over with him as servants for this colony
are chiefly Palatines and Wiirtembergers, a whole
vessel full of men, women, and children; these
are to be sold for five years' service, but for which
the inhabitants have neither money nor provisions.
An adult person costs £6 5s., sterling. After I
had preached to these poor people from Rom. 8:
28, they thronged around me and besought me to
take them to our place (Ebenezer, Georgia), but
which was out of my power. An old widow of
fifty years, who had lost her husband at sea, and
who, on account of her age, was despised and neg-
lected, have I besought General Oglethorpe to
release, and sent her to our Orphan House."
136
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
This was the general condition of these poor
persons in almost every seaport of America. The
following extracts indicate that many such ser-
vants were sold and located in Saxe-Gotha, and
after their legal discharge from servitude they ob-
tained the king's bounty and tracts of land, the
same as other settlers.
Journal of Council, vol. xi, p. 486: "Petition of
John Wolfe and wife, natives of Berne, Switzer-
land, too poor to pay passage-money, entered
into the service of Anthony Stack, of Saxe-Gotha,
for three years, being now discharged from ser-
vice, prays for his quota of land and bounty-money.
Granted, on evidence of his written legal dis-
charge."
Vol. xi, pp.142 and 143: "Fullix Smid, of
Switzerland, servant of David Hent, lately deceas-
ed, discharged by his executors, applied for and
received 150 acres of land and bounty in Saxe-
Gotha."
It is useless to multiply instances, which could
easily be done; these extracts will fully show the
correctness of all the foregoing statements, and
that Saxe-Gotha, with many other settlements, re-
ceived her full share of this class of useful settlers,
who proved to have been upon the whole a great
benefit to their adopted country.
During the period that intervened between the
years 1744 and 1750, Saxe-Gotha received a large
influx of population, and much of the available
land of that township was then occupied. The
vessel which bore them across the ocean was the
ship St. Andrew, Captain Brown, commander,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 137
who doubtless treated his paying passengers well,
although he acted so unfeelingly to those who
were to be sold for their passage-money. Mention
is likewise made of a Captain Ham, who brought
other German settlers to South Carolina, but
whose passengers chiefly located themselves in
Orangeburg, whilst others settled in Saxe-Gotha.
All these German colonists came mostly from
those provinces bordering on the Rhine, such as
Switzerland, Baden, the Palatinate, and Wiirtem- berg. They excelled as tillers of the soil, and
were accustomed to the culture of the vine, and
thus they constituted the very class of people
which did become greatly serviceable to the pros-
perity of Carolina, but whose influence upon the
physical welfare of their adopted country has been
as yet little noticed by the various historians of
the South.
The Saxe-Gothans were fortunate and blessed
in obtaining the services of a pious and faithful
pastor; all the records extant speak in the strongest
terms of praise concerning him, but, at the same
time, all agree in stating that he had a hard life
of it, that he was not appreciated, that he was
often persecuted for righteousness' sake, and this
treatment he received at the hands of the very
people for whose good he labored and prayed.
Two years after the first settlers set foot upon the
soil of Saxe-Gotha, the Rev. Christian Theus ar-
rived and labored in their midst; and as these
settlers were not neglected in the administration
of the means of grace, which unfortunately was
12
138
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the case with many others of the early colonists,
they really had no excuse for their conduct, and
should have treated their pastor in the most friendly
manner.
Dr. Muhlenberg's journal, published in the
Evangelical Review, vol. i, p. 540, contains the
following statement:
"October 22, 1774. This afternoon I had an ac-
ceptable visit from the Reformed minister, the
Rev. Theus, of the Gongaries (Congaree River),
in South Carolina, 120 miles from Charleston.
His brother Theus, a painter, lately deceased, re-
ceived me as a stranger most kindly into his house
when, thirty-two years ago, I travelled through
here on my journey from Savannah to Philadel-
phia, and afforded me an opportunity to preach on
Sunday to the then yet few German families. The
Lord requite his love in eternity! The aforesaid
pastor, Theus, came with his parents into this
country from Switzerland as a canclidatus theologke,
was examined and ordained by the Reverend
English Presbyterian Ministerium, and since 1739
has performed the duties of the ministerial office
in the scattered country congregations among the
German Reformed and Lutheran inhabitants, and
has conducted himself with the propriety and
fidelity due his station, according to the testimony
of capable witnesses. We had agreeable conver-
sation, and he promised me a written account of
church matters in these country congregations,
which, moreover, he is best able to furnish, having
lived longest in this country, and being an erudite
man."
IN NOKTH AND SOUTH CAKOLINA. 139
It is to be regretted that this "written account of
church matters" if Dr. Muhlenberg ever received
it, has never been published; what interesting
material it could now furnish the Church, which
must forever be buried in oblivion!
The Doctor continues: "He also furnished me
with a more detailed description of the sect men-
tioned October 5th, the members living near him.
At a certain time he came unexpectedly into their
meeting, and found Jacob Weber contending
that he was God, and the said Smith Peter (or
Peter Schmidt) insisting that he himself was
Christ, and that the unconverted members must
be healed through his stripes. Pastor Theus, op-
posing such blasphemy, the leaders became en-
raged and threatened his life, and counselled with
the rabble whether to drown or hang him. He
escaped, however, from their hands, fled to the
river, and fortunately found a negro with his canoe
at the shore, sprang into it, and was conveyed
across."
Here we have the impartial testimony of Rev.
Dr. Muhlenberg, gathered from "capable wit-
nesses," of the parentage, ordination, date of min-
istry in Saxe-Gotha, piety and learning of the
Rev. Christian Theus, up to the period immedi-
ately preceding the Revolution. This brief nar-
rative, coming from such a source, is not only en-
titled to our entire credit, but speaks as much of
that devoted man of God as though a volume were
written to perpetuate his name and memory.
Rev. Theus lived to be an aged man, for we
140
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
discover his name in the list of members of the
"Corpus JEcangelicum." and present at every meet-
ing of that body until the year 1789, the last meet-
ing of which the records are still extant. How
much longer he was spared to do good we know
not; but from the dates which are in our posses-
sion, he had at that time been half a century in
the ministry of his Savior.
His resting-place is still pointed out to the
stranger, and is located in a field along the state
road, between Columbia and Sandy Run, about
eight miles from Columbia. It is the only grave
that can still be seen there, and tradition says that
his dwelling was located not far from that grave-
yard. Mr. Abraham Geiger, now also in eternity,
erected the tombstone, at his own expense, at the
head of Rev. Theus' grave, to perpetuate his mem-
ory. Had Mr. Geiger not performed this labor
of love, the Church and the world would never
even have known where the first pastor of Saxe-
Gotha, the contemporary of Geissendanner, Bol-
zius and Gronau, had been laid down to rest. The
inscription is now much defaced by the hand of
time, and can scarcely be deciphered; nevertheless,
we are thankful for this much, and would wish that
we could gather similar mementoes of the resting-
places of all the first German ministers in the
South. The inscription reads as follows:
"This stone points out where the remains of
Rev. Christian Theus lie. This faithful divine
labored through a long life as a faithful servant
in his Master's vineyard, and the reward which
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
141
he received from many for his labor was ingrati-
tude."
Rev. J. B. Anthony, one of the late pastors of
Sandy Run Lutheran Church, adds yet this infor-
mation, published in the Lutheran Observer, A.D.
1858: "Among the octogenarians of this vicinity
we have not been able to learn much more of Mr.
Theus than the rude stone, now standing in a
vast cotton-field, records. Few now living recol-
lect to have seen him. No records of those early
times are known to exist. The small school-
house, which is said to have stood near his grave,
has long since disappeared. A few other graves
are said to be here, but as no stones can be found
in this sandy section to place at the head and foot,
light-wood knots are frequently substituted by the
poor, hence, when these decay, there is nothing
left to mark the place."
The spiritual and moral condition of the Saxe-
Gothans is not very highly extolled in the Urls-
perger Reports. Rev. Bolzius, who gives us the
account, may have been somewhat prejudiced, in-
asmuch as his Ebenezer colony had lost some
runaway white servants, who probably concealed
themselves in the neighborhood of the Congaree
River, and in several pages of his diary he berates
both the Saxe-Gothans and the government of
South Carolina that they were not returned; thus,
perhaps, his human feelings were too much en-
listed on the side of prejudice and interest whilst
speaking of these people. We insert the follow-
ing extract:
142
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Urlsperger Reports, vol. iv, p. 672: "Wednes-
day, April 25, 1750.—The German Evangelical
Lutheran inhabitants of Congaree, in South Caro-
lina, which new settlement has been named Saxe-
Gotha, had besought me, several months ago, to
come to them and preach for them, and admin-
ister the Lord's Supper. I sent them books suit-
able for the edification of adults and the instruc-
tion of children, and wrote them that my circum-
stances did not permit me to make so long a
journey. Now I have received another letter, in
which the former request is renewed, and in which
they likewise beseech me to assist them in the
erection of a church and in obtaining a pastor.
They have a congregation of about 280 souls, who
all could attend church if the house of worship
were erected in the midst of their plantations.
"The Reformed have received 500 pounds,
Carolina currency, from the government, which
amounts to something more than 500 guilders,
for the building of a church, but no one is in-
terested for the Lutherans, unless I would do
something in their behalf. They live with the
Reformed in great disunion, at which I showed
my displeasure in my former letter. A few fami-
lies have removed from this place among them,
who might have supported themselves very well
here; afterwards three adult youths were per-
suaded to leave their service here, and two (white)
servants ran away, all of whom are harbored in
the Congaree settlement. The citizens them-
selves, as a Carolina minister once wrote me,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
143
lived disorderly among each other, and estimate
their Reformed minister very low. I have no
heart for this people. If they were truly con-
cerned about God's word, then so many unworthy
people would not have located in their midst, as
there are other places where good land and sub-
sistence may be obtained.
"In this very letter they inform me that they
have built both a saw-mill and a grist-mill, and
expect to build more of the kind. Why then
should they be unable to erect a house of worship
if they were sincerely in earnest?"
The above record in Bolzius' diary, published
in the Urlsperger Reports, is in strict accordance
with the testimony of Dr. Hazelius on the Weber-
ites—which sect arose some ten years later,—with
Dr. Muhlenberg's account, with the inscription
on the tombstone on Rev. Theus, and with several
living witnesses, who were contemporaries with
many old citizens of a former day, whose narra-
tives they still well remember.
Whilst many of the Saxe-Gothans were not
devoid of blame, and deserved censure in those
days, there were others whose life and conduct
were praiseworthy, and others who were devotedly
pious, and who were anxious to enjoy the bless-
ings of the means of grace, and it is sad that Rev.
Bolzius permitted his feelings of interest for his
own colony to cause him to act so unfriendly to-
ward this people, and to send no kind word of
encouragement to them, when they besought him
to visit them and break to their hungry souls the
144
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
bread of life. Who knows what good he might
have accomplished by a friendly visit? Who
knows what future evil, e.g., that Weber heresy,
he might have been the instrument of preventing?
Besides all this, he, as a minister of the Gospel
and of like persuasion with these people, had no
right to withhold his influence and sympathy from
two hundred and eighty souls, (we are surprised at so
large a number) who extended such a Macedonian
call to him, and besought him twice to interest
himself in their behalf in procuring a minister
for them, who were almost as sheep without a
shepherd. Who could calculate the influence the
Lutheran Church would have exerted in those
regions, had this large congregation been properly
cared for, and supplied with the means of grace?
Besides, had Rev. Bolzius been instrumental in
securing a pious and efficient pastor for them at
that early period, and this pastor, laboring side
by side with Rev. Theus, how much that faithful
servant's hands would have been strengthened,
and how much good seed might have been sown,
springing up to everlasting life, which would
have entirely changed the spiritual and moral
condition of this people. Deprive men of the
Gospel and the Sacraments, take away or refuse
to give them the benign influences of Christianity,
and we need not be astonished at "disorderly
living" and heresy in doctrine.
Another Lutheran minister in South Carolina
at this time, A.D. 1750, and one of the right char-
acter, Rev. Giessendanner being then in Orange-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 145
burg, who, in that event, might have remained
in the Lutheran Church, with the three Eben-
ezer pastors in Georgia, these five might have
formed the nucleus for a Lutheran Synod in the
South, almost as old as the Pennsylvania Synod,
which could have instructed and ordained other
pious men for the Gospel ministry. At a later
date the pastors of other established Lutheran
congregations would have connected themselves
with this Synod; their synodical reports sent to
the city of Augsburg, in Germany, would have
made the Urlsperger Reports as interesting in its
records of Church affairs, as the Halle reports are
now, filled, as they are, with general accounts of
Church matters in the entire Province of Penn-
sylvania, and not simply the detailed accounts of
daily occurrences in a single settlement. What
short-sighted people even the most pious ministers
of the Gospel sometimes are!
The present citizens of old Saxe-Gotha, now
Lexington County, are an entirely different people;
their forefathers could not prevent unworthy set-
tlers from locating themselves among them. Many
of those depraved men met an untimely death in
the war with the Cherokees; a few perished miser-
ably at the hand of administrative justice; others
were cut off by disease and an early death; whilst
a number moved to other parts of the country.
It is exceedingly doubtful whether many of those
reprobates left their descendants behind them in
Saxe-Gotha, as all traces of Weber and Schmidt
have entirely disappeared.
13
146
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
We have seen that Rev. Theus came to the
Congaree settlement in the year 1739. In what
building he first preached is unknown, but ar-
rangements were soon made for the erection of a
church. As early as 1744-5 John Jacob Riemen-
sperger petitioned the government of South Car-
olina to do something toward the erection of
churches and school-houses for the German set-
tlers in various localities; otherwise they would
continue to do what many had done heretofore,
move with their families to Pennsylvania, where
all these advantages could be enjoyed. That the
government entered into such an arrangement we
have already seen from the Urlsperger Reports,
for five hundred pounds currency was donated
for the building of a German Reformed Church,
which, we presume, had been completed at that
time, A.D. 1750, and the people were enjoying
the means of grace in their new house of worship.
Tradition informs us that this German church
stood near the spot where the remains of Rev.
Theus are deposited, but it has long since been
no more. We now turn to an ancient map of
South Carolina, originally published in 1771 and
1775, and recently reprinted in "Carroll's Collec-
tions." Near the Congaree River, a short distance
below the confluence of the Saluda and Broad
Rivers, and in the township of Saxe-Gotha, a
church is laid down, bearing the name St. John's.
This substantiates all the above-mentioned records
and traditions, gives us the exact locality of that
church, which, in the proper proportion of dis- IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 147
tances, would be the very spot where the grave
of Rev. Theus can still be seen, and furnishes,
furthermore, the name by which that church was
known. This house of God must have been de-
stroyed during the Revolutionary War, as all
traces of the same after that period appear to
have been lost; it is not mentioned in the general
act of incorporation of all the German churches,
passed by the legislature of South Carolina in
1788.
During the years 1759 and 1760, the people of
Saxe-Gotha suffered greatly from the ravages of
the Cherokee war. During the time that the
French and English were at war with each other
in the colonies of America, which however did
not reach as far south as the Carolinas; the French
instigated the Cherokee Indians to make war upon
the peaceful settlers of the two Carolinas, who
murdered the white inhabitants at midnight, whilst
they were wrapped in their peaceful slumbers, and
committed atrocities at which humanity shudders.
The Congaree and Fork settlements were then
mostly exposed to the fearful inroads of the sav-
ages, as but few settlers were living further in
the interior than the Germans were at that time.
Bolzius informs us, that many were compelled
to take refuge among the Germans at Ebenezer
and Savannah, whilst others fled for safety to
Charleston, Purysburg, and other places, until
those Indian hostilities were ended, and peace
and security was again restored.
148
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 12. The German Settlers from. Pennsylvania
in Central North Carolina, A.D. 1750.
Had a traveller from Pennsylvania visited, about
forty or fifty years ago, portions of the present
counties of Alamance, Guilford, Davidson, Rowan,
Cabarrus, Stanly, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln and
some others in the State of North Carolina, he
might have believed himself to have unexpectedly
come upon some part of the old Keystone State.
His ear would have been greeted with sounds of
the peculiar dialect of the Pennsylvania-German
language, familiarly known as "Pennsylvanisch-
Deutsch," a language made up of the dialects
used in the ancient Palatinate, Wiirtemberg and
other countries bordering along the Rhine, inter-
mixed with English words, which plainly indicate
that many of their forefathers were some of those
Protestant refugees, who fled from the persecutions
of Louis XIV, king of Prance, and were brought
to America under the kind and fostering care of
Queen Anne of England.
This language, however, has almost become ex-
tinct in North Carolina; a few aged persons may
still be found, who are fond of conversing in that
kind of German with those wTho are acquainted
with it, but in a few more years the last vestige of
Pennsylvania-German will be sought for in vain
in this State, where once even many of the negro
slaves of these Germans spoke no other language.
Family names are to be met with in this section
of North Carolina, which are familiar in Mont-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
149
gomery, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Coun-
ties of Pennsylvania, such as the Propsts, the
Bostians, the Kleins (Cline), the Trexlers, the
Schloughs, the Seitzs (Sides), the Reinhardts, the
Bibers (Beaver), the Kohlmans (Coleman), the
Derrs (Dry), the Bergers (Barrier), the Behringers
(Barringer), and many others still abounding both
in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Our supposed traveller might have worshiped
on Sundays in churches, where the services were
still conducted entirely in the German language,
in which both the Lutheran and German Reformed
had equal rights and privileges, and each denomi-
nation alternately worshiped therein, as is still
the case in many parts of Pennsylvania. The
ever-present "Gemainshaftliches Gesangbuch"
(union hymn-book) suited to the taste, at that
time, of both denominations, would have been
found in general use; and, at the centre of one of
the long sides of the church, there would have
stood the high and goblet-shaped pulpit, with a
sounding-board suspended overhead of the officia-
ting minister; a few such shaped pulpits may be
seen in this State to the present day, but they will
soon be numbered with the past.
The farm-yard of these Germans still abounds
with fine and well-fed horses, and the old Penn-
sylvania four-horse wagon securely housed in the
shed between two corn-cribs, with the bow-shaped
body suspended above it upon chains, ready to be
let down in its position on the wagon, whenever it
should be needed.
150
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
In the dwelling-house, and behind a cheerful
wood-fire, during the winter season, one might still
notice a heavy iron plate placed upon the hearth
to protect the back of the chimney, having singular
devices cast upon its face, such as no ironworks of
modern times are known to mould, with German
sentences and "Redting Furniss" (Reading Fur-
nace) standing out in relief, indicating that they
were cast in the city of Reading, Berks County, at time when those extensive iron manufactories of
Pennsylvania were yet in their infancy, and per-
haps brought along to North Carolina with the
emigrants from the Keystone State.
On the blank pages of the old German Bibles of
those first German settlers of North Carolina, we
may frequently find the story of their colonization,
stating that they were born in Pennsylvania at
such a date, and that they emigrated to North
Carolina and settled in such a county of that
Province. Besides, all the aged citizens of that
section, where the German descendants are located,
will tell you that their ancestors came originally
from Pennsylvania, and here and there you may
meet a family, like the Heilig family, who still
keep up a friendly intercourse with some of their
relatives in Pennsylvania.
The conclusion then evidently is, in the absence
of all State documents on that subject, and the
silence of all historians of North Carolina, that
the Province of Pennsylvania, and not Germany,
furnished North Carolina with the most of her
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
151
numerous German settlers, located in the central
and western part of the State.
The cause of their migration from Pennsylvania
to North Carolina may he found recorded in Wil-
liamson's History of North Carolina, vol. ii, p. 71,
which, however, he applies only to their neighbors,
the Scotch-Irish settlers: "Land could not be ob-
tained in Pennsylvania without much difficulty,
for the proprietors of that Province purchased the
soil by small parcels from the natives, and those
lands were soon taken up;" and at that early
period no one ventured to cross the Alleghany Mountains for the purpose of settling there, so
the seekers after new homes went southward in-
stead of westward, and kept to the east of the
range of the Alleghanies, until they found unoc-
cupied lands where they could make their settle-
ments. Williamson informs us, vol. ii, p. 71,
that "Lord Carteret's land in Carolina, where the
soil was cheap, presented a tempting residence to
people of every denomination."
The eastern portion of North Carolina having
been settled at an early date by various colonies
of English, Swiss, and German Palatines at New-
berne, French Huguenots, and Scotch refugees,
and these colonies having, in process of time,
located their descendants as far inland as Hills-
boro on the northern side of the Province, and the
Pedee Elver on the southern side, with a number
of Quakers and Scotch-Irish among them; an en-
tirely new class of colonists, the Germans from
the Province of Pennsylvania, as above described,
152
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
arranged themselves on vacant lands to the east-
ward and westward of the Yadkin River, whilst
the Scotch-Irish from the same Province, who had
always lived on friendly terms with their German
neighbors in Pennsylvania, soon followed them
southward, and occupied vacant lands mostly to
the westward of the German settlers, along both
sides of the Catawba River; these again, Germans
and Scotch-Irish, at a later day, formed settlements
of their descendants in the western part of the
State. This is the brief story of the settling of
North Carolina; the different European nationali-
ties from which these settlers originated, occupy-
ing strips of land across the State mostly in a
southwesterly direction, like so many strata of a
geological formation.
The Pennsylvania Germans journeyed in much
the same manner as did the later colonists to the
Western States, before railroads afforded a cheaper,
safer and more speedy mode of transportation;
every available article for house and farm use,
capable of being stowed away in their capacious
wagons, was taken with them; and then the caval-
cade moved on, every able-bodied person on foot,
women and children on bedding in the wagons,
and cattle, sheep, and hogs driven before them;
they travelled by easy stages, upon the roads of
the picturesque Cumberland and Shenandoah
Valleys, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains in
some part of Virginia, until they reached the land
of their hopes and promise.
It is impossible to date precisely the arrival of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
153
all those German colonists from Pennsylvania, as
they all depended upon themselves for leaving
home and journeying southward; they arrived
continuously for a number of years in succession,
usually leaving home in the fall season, after all the
harvesting was over and the proceeds of the year's
labor could be disposed of; they arrived at their
places of settlement just before the commencement
of the winter season. The first arrival of the
pioneer train may have occurred about the year
1745, but the large body of these German colonists
did not commence to settle in North Carolina until
about the year 1750; this may be gathered partly
from tradition, partly from old family records in
their German Bibles, but mostly from the title-
deeds of their lands, which were always dated
some years after their actual settlement, affording
them time to decide upon a permanent location,
and to make some other necessary arrangement,
having to run no risk in losing their titles by the
delay of a few years.
These German settlers were all industrious,
economical, and thrifty farmers, not afraid nor
ashamed of hard labor, and were soon blessed
with an abundance of everything, which the fertile
soil and temperate climate of that portion of North
Carolina could furnish them. As they were all
agriculturists, they generally avoided settling
themselves in towns; uninformed in the ways of
the world, ignorant of the English language, and
unacquainted with the shrewdness necessary for
merchandising, yet well informed in their own
154
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
language, and well read in their Bibles and other
devotional German books, they remained at their
own country homes, and enriched themselves with
the productions of the soil; hence we witness the
fact, that very few Lutheran and German Reformed
churches were erected in the towns of North Car-
olina at that early day; and when, in process of
time, it did become necessary to build churches in
the villages and towns of the State, it was found
exceedingly difficult to get the members from the
country to become accustomed to the new ar-
rangement.
Inasmuch as these settlers located themselves
so gradually, as before stated, besides being di-
vided into two denominations, it was some time
before they were sufficiently numerous to have a
pastor located and permanently settled among
them; sermons and prayers were usually read on
Sunday by their German school-teacher, and when-
ever they were permitted to enjoy the regular ad-
ministration of the preached word and sacraments,
which was but seldom, it was afforded them by
some self-appointed missionary, whilst their school-
teacher usually buried their dead with an appro-
priate ceremony from the German liturgy, and, in
case of urgent necessity, baptized their children.
Section 18. The Moravians at Salem, N. C,
A.D. 1753.
The first colony of Moravians settled in Georgia
in the year 1735, under the leadership of Rt. Rev. A.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
155
G. Spangenberg, a bishop in the Moravian Church,
or " Unitas Fratrum," as that Church is sometimes
called. This new colony came one year later than
the first arrival of the Lutheran Salzburgers at
Ebenezer, Georgia, and located itself between
Savannah and Ebenezer. The Moravians, how-
ever, did not remain long in Georgia; in 1737 a
war broke out between the English colonies and
the Spaniards, who believed themselves aggrieved
by the colonization of Georgia under English
government, and regarded it as an encroachment
upon their territory; this war was renewed in
1739, and the Moravians, who were conscientiously
opposed to taking up arms, were nevertheless
compelled to do so, contrary to the promise made
them, that they should be exempt from military
service; hence they believed themselves necessi-
tated to abandon houses and lands in Georgia, and
removed to Pennsylvania, in 1738 and 1740, the
peaceful government of the Quakers in that Prov-
ince being well suited to their conscientious
scruples against war. Here the Moravians now be-
gan their settlements at Bethlehem and Nazareth,
and likewise their missions among the Indians in
different parts of Pennsylvania and New York.
In the year 1751, the Moravians were induced
to purchase one hundred thousand acres of land
in North Carolina, from Lord Granville, President
of the Privy Council of the government of Great
Britain; Bishop Spangenberg was commissioned
to locate and survey this large tract of land, and
journeyed with some friends, during the month of
156
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
August, from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Eden-
ton, North Carolina, where he was accompanied
by the surveyor-general, and at first attempted to
locate the tract towards the head-waters of the
Catawba, New and Yadkin Rivers, but suffered
so much from sickness, cold and hunger, that
they retraced their steps, and located the tract
farther eastward, in the present county of Forsyth,
to the east of the Yadkin River. The general
deed for the whole tract, containing 98,985 acres,
was signed and sealed August 7th, 1753, and re-
ceived the name of "The Wachovia Tract" in
honor of one of the titles of Count Zinzendorf,
who was lord of the Wachau Valley in Austria,
and the founder and head of the Moravian Society
under its present new organization.
The sources whence the above information is
principally derived are the Urlsperger Reports,
Life of Bishop Spangenberg, and Martin's History
of North Carolina, but the following continued
narrative is copied from Martin's History, Vol.
I, pp. 28-30, et seq., of the Appendix.
"In order to facilitate the improvement of the
land, to furnish a part of the purchase-money, and
to defray the expenses of transportation, journey,
&c, of the first colonists, a society was formed,
under the name of TheWachovia Society, consisting
of members of the Brethren's church and other
friends. The directors of it were Bishop Spangen-
berg and Cornelius Van Laer, a gentleman resid-
ing in Holland. The members of it, who were
about twenty, received in consideration for the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
157
money which they advanced, two thousand acres
of the land. This society was again dissolved in
1763, having proved very beneficial and answered
the intended purpose.
"In the autumn of the year 1753, the first colo-
nists, twelve single brethren or unmarried men,
came from Bethlehem to settle upon the land.
They had a wagon, six horses, cattle, and the neces-
sary household furniture and utensils for husbandry
with them. After a very tedious and fatiguing
journey, by way of Winchester, Evan's Gap, and
Upper Sauratown, on which they spent six weeks,
they arrived on the land the 17th of November,
1753, and took possession of it. A small deserted
cabin, which they found near the mill creek, served
them for a shelter or dwelling-house the first win-
ter. On the spot where this cabin stood, a monu-
ment was erected in the year 1806, with the in-
scription, Wachovia Settlement, begun the 17th Novem-
ber, 1753. They immediately began to clear some
acres of land, and to sow it with wheat. In the
year 1754, seven new colonists, likewise single
brethren, came from Bethlehem. It was resolved,
that on the same spot where the first settlers had
made already a small improvement, a town should
be built, which was named Bethabara (the house
of passage), as it was meant only for a place of so-
journing for a time, till the principal town in the
middle of the whole tract could be built at a con-
venient time. Bishop Bohler, who was here on
a visit from Bethlehem, laid, on the 26th of No-
vember, the corner-stone for the first house in
158
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
this town, which was appointed for a church and
dwelling-house of the single brethren, with prayer
and supplication to our Lord that he might pros-
per the work. He likewise examined more accu-
rately the greatest part of the Wachovia tract,
divided it into proper parts for improvement, and
gave names to several creeks, which are yet some-
times used, and are to be found in deeds and pub-
lic records.
"In May, 1755, Bishop David Nitschmann came
on a visit from Bethlehem, and on the 11th of the
same month the first meeting-house was conse-
crated, which solemn transaction was attended
with a gracious feeling of the divine presence.
Many travellers and neighbors have heard after-
wards, in this house, the word of life with joy and
gratitude.
"In the year 1758, the Cherokees and Cataw-
bas, who went to war against the Indians on the
Ohio, often marched through Bethabara in large
companies, sometimes several hundreds at once,
and the Brethren were obliged to find them quar-
ters and provisions for several days. The Chero-
kees were much pleased with the treatment they
received, and gave to their nation the following
description of Bethabara: The Dutch fort, where
there are good people and much bread.
"In 1759, the town of Bethany was laid out,
three miles north of Bethabara, on Muddy Creek,
and divided into thirty lots; and at the end of the
year 1765, the number of inhabitants in Bethabara
was eighty-eight, and in Bethany seventy-eight.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
159
"In the year 1766, the beginning was made to
build Salem, the principal settlement of the Vnitas
Fratrum in North Carolina, five miles to the south-
east from Bethabara. Hitherto, all the brethren
and sisters who settled in North Carolina came
from Pennsylvania, but in this year the first com-
pany, consisting of ten persons, came from Ger-
many by way of Loudon and Charleston. Salem
was laid out the year previous by Frederick Wil-
liam von Marshall, senior civilis of the Unitas
Fratrum. It was resolved that Salem should be
built in the same manner and have the same regu-
lations as Herrnhut, Niesky, Bethlehem, and
other settlements of the United Brethren, wherein
the unmarried men and boys, and the unmarried
women and girls live in separate houses by them-
selves. The house for the unmarried men or sin-
gle brethren was built in the years 1768 and 1769."
Two other settlements were made on the Wa-
chovia Tract, named Friedburg and Friedland,
during the years 1769 and 1770, each having their
own meeting-house and school, which received a
considerable number of settlers from Germany
and from that part of Massachusetts which is
now the State of Maine. Another settlement received its name, Hope, and was made in 1772, by
colonists from Frederick County, Maryland.
During the Revolutionary War, the Moravians
again suffered severely on account of their pecu-
liar principles not to take up arms personally, and
were obliged at times to pay large amounts of
money for substitutes for all those who were
160
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
drafted as recruits for the American army, but
were, at last, exempted from military service by
taking the oath of allegiance and fidelity to the
State of Carolina and the United States, and pay
a triple tax, which they accordingly did, and re-
mained unmolested.
"About eight miles above the Hope meeting-
house, and ten miles from Salem, on the west side
of Muddy Creek, a meeting-house was built in
1782, by a German Lutheran and Reformed con-
gregation, wherein, since the year 1797, divine
service is held by one of the ministers of the
Brethren's church, every fourth Sunday, in the
German language."
In the year 1804, the well-known Salem Female
Academy was founded. The building was com-
menced the year previous, and has educated a
large proportion of the matrons and daughters of
the Southern States. "From the beginning of
the institution, in May, 1804, to the end of the
year 1807, about one hundred and twenty young
ladies, from North and South Carolina, Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, received their
education in it, of whom, at the end of 1807,
forty-one remained in the Seminary."
This narrative of the Moravian settlement in
and around Salem, North Carolina, has been in-
cluded in this history, because it is also a German
settlement, and was established by a religious de-
nomination nearakin to theLutheran Church, with
the Augsburg Confession as the basis of their
faith. Besides two of the ministers, connected
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
161
with the Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, came
from this settlement of Moravians: the Rev. Gott-
lieb Shober, ordained by the Lutheran Synod of
North Carolina in 1810, and who labored in some
Lutheran churches in the vicinity of Salem, N. C,
but who also retained in some way his connec-
tion with the Moravians, residing all his life in
Salem; and the Rev. S. Rothrock, still living
and doing good service in the North Carolina
Synod.
Section 14- The German Lutheran Colony at Hard
Labor Creek, Abbeville County, South Carolina,
A.D. 1763 and 1764..
A few years before the Revolutionary War,
there occurred a most interesting instance of Ger-
man colonization, which added greatly to the
growth and strength of the Province of South
Carolina, and which, likewise, ought to have con-
tributed much to the permanent establishment of
one or more Lutheran churches in that vicinity;
however, the facts, as taken from Hewatt's His-
tory of South Carolina and Georgia, vol. ii, pp.
269-272, will speak for themselves.
"Not long after this, during the years 1763 and
1764, a remarkable affair happened in Germany,
by which Carolina received a great acquisition.
One Stiimpel, who had been an officer in the king
of Prussia's service (Frederick the Great) being
reduced at the peace (after the close of the Seven
Years' War) applied to the British ministry for a
14
162
THE LUTHEBx^N CHURCH
r tract of land in America, and, having received
some encouragement, returned to Germany, where
by deceitful promises, he seduced between five or
six hundred ignorant people from their native
country.
"When these poor Palatines arrived in Eng-
land, the officer, finding himself unable to perform
his promises, fled, leaving them in a strange land
without money, without friends, exposed in the
open fields, and ready to perish through want.
While they were in this starving condition, and
knew no person to whom they could apply for
relief, a humane clergyman, who came from the
same country, took compassion on them, and pub-
lished their deplorable case in the newspapers.
He pleaded for the mercy and protection of gov-
ernment to them, until an opportunity might offer
of transporting them to some of the British col-
onies, where he hoped they would prove to be
useful subjects, and, in time, give their benefactors
ample proofs of their gratitude and affection.
"No sooner did their unhappy situation reach
the ears of a great personage, than he immedi-
ately set an example to his subjects, which served
both to warm their hearts and open their hands
for the relief of their distressed fellow-creatures.
A bounty of three hundred pounds sterling was
allowed them; tents were ordered from the Tower
for the accommodation of such as had paid their
passage and been permitted to come ashore;
money was sent for the relief of those that were
confined on board.
IN NOHTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, 163
"The public-spirited citizens of London, famous
for acts of beneficence and charity, associated, and
chose a committee on purpose to raise money for
the relief of these poor Palatines. A physician,
a surgeon, and a man-midwife, generously under-
took to attend the sick gratis. From different
quarters benefactions were sent to the committee,
and in a few days those unfortunate strangers,
from the depths of indigence and distress, were
raised to comfortable circumstances. The com-
mittee, finding the money received more than
sufficient to relieve their present distress, applied
to his Majesty (George III), to know his royal
pleasure with respect to the future disposal of the
German Protestants. His Majesty, sensible that
his Colony of South Carolina had not its propor-
tion of white inhabitants, and having expressed
a particular attachment to it, signified his desire
of transporting them to that Province. Another
motive for sending them to Carolina, was the
bounty allowed to foreign Protestants by the Pro-
vincial Assembly, so that when their source of
relief from England should be exhausted, another
would open after their arrival in that Province,
which would help them to surmount the difficul-
ties attending the first state of cultivation.
"Accordingly, preparations were made for send-
ing the Germans to South Carolina. When the
news was communicated to them, they rejoiced,
not only because they were to go to one of the
most fertile and flourishing Provinces on the con-
tinent, but also because many of them had friends
164
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and countrymen there before them. Two ships,
of two hundred tons each, were provided for their
accommodation, and provisions of all kinds laid
in for the voyage. An hundred and fifty stand of
arms were ordered from the Tower, and given
them by his Majestyxfor their defence after their
arrival in America; all of which deserves to be re-
corded for the honor of the British nation, which
has at different times set before the world many
noble examples of benevolence. Everything
being ready for their embarkation, the Palatines
broke up their camp in the fields behind White
Chapel, and proceeded to the ships, attended by
several of their benefactors; of whom they took
their leave with songs of praise to God in their
mouths, and tears of gratitude in their ej^es.
"In the month of April, 1764, they arrived at
Charleston, and presented a letter from the Lords-
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to Gov-
ernor Boone, acquainting him that his Majesty
had been pleased to take the poor Palatines under
his royal care and protection, and, as many of
them were versed in the culture of silks and vines,
had ordered that a settlement be provided for
them in Carolina, in a situation most proper for
these purposes. Though this settlement met with
some obstruction from a dispute subsisting at that
time between the Governor and Assembly, about
certain privileges of the house, yet the latter could
not help considering themselves as laid under the
strongest obligations to make provision for so
many useful settlers. Accordingly, in imitation
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
165
of the noble example set before them in London,
they voted five hundred pounds sterling to be dis-
tributed among the Palatines, according to the di-
rections of the Lieutenant-Governor, and their
necessities. That they might be settled in a body,
one of the two townships, called Londonderry,
was allotted for them, and divided in the most
equitable manner, into small tracts, for the accom-
modation of each family. Captain Calhoun, with
a detachment of the Rangers, had orders to meet
them by the way, and conduct them to the place
where their town was to be built, and all possible
assistance was given towards promoting their
speedy and comfortable settlement."
In the State Library at Raleigh, North Carolina,
to which the writer had access by invitation of the
late Governor Ellis, he found an old map of South
Carolina, and discovered that Londonderry Town-
ship is the exact locality answering to that of
Hard Labor Creek in Abbeville County, at which
place, as is well known, a settlement of Germans
was made, and a Lutheran church and congrega-
tion once existed; so that this fact, in connection
with corresponding dates, besides they having
been met by Captain Calhoun, which family set-
tled and resided in Abbeville District, and various
other circumstances, prove beyond a doubt that
this interesting account, given by Hewatt, is the
story of the colonization of our German Lutheran
brethren at Hard Labor Creek.
Dr. Hazelius' history informs us (p. 120) that
formerly there existed among them a Lutheran
166
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
church and congregation, as it was incorporated
by the legislature, February, 1788, under the name
and title of "St. George, on Hard Labor Creek,"
and a few years ago, whilst on a visit to Abbeville,
the writer was informed that the old church edi-
fice was still standing.
These settlers had also their own pastor, for at
the time when the above-mentioned visit was made
there were persons still living who had heard him
preach in St. George's Church.
The last account we have of this congregation
may be found in the journal of Rev. R. J. Miller's
missionary tour, published in the minutes of the
Spring Session of the North Carolina Synod, of
1812, an extract of which is here given:
"Saturday, November 9th, 1811. I arrived in
the evening, after having crossed Saluda River,
at a Mr. Robert Smith's, on Hard Labor Creek,
where my appointments were to commence. Sun-
day, the 10th, I preached in a German meeting-
house; here was formerly a Lutheran congrega-
tion, but no remains of them (Lutherans) are now
to be found; here the Methodists and Baptists
have pulled each other out of the pulpit. Every
person seemed very attentive. Here is a full proof
of the necessity of missionary preaching. Bro-
thers Dreher, Meetze, and Fulmar, from the con-
gregation on Saluda, met me here."
The period of time when the above reported
visit of Rev. R. J. Miller was made, and even be-
fore that time, was the trying period of the Lu-
theran Church in the South; the want of ministers
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
167
to feed the flock was felt everywhere; the people
lived as sheep without a shepherd, and soon be-
came a prey to ravening wolves; and this congre-
gation in Abbeville District, being somewhat iso-
lated and remote from the present flourishing
churches in the central and southern part of the
State, and having become vacant, could not be
easily visited by the few Lutheran ministers then
laboring in South Carolina, they having their
hands full and their time occupied in laboring
among the other churches committed to their
charge, and so the Lutheran congregation on
Hard Labor Creek very naturally became extinct,
and thus an interesting page in the history of our
Lutheran Church in the South is practically lost
to us.
Section 15. Other German Settlements, particularly
in South Carolina.
It is impossible to give a correct account of all
the smaller settlements of Germans in the two
Carolinas, inasmuch as no records concerning
them have been preserved, either in the colonial
annals of these two States, or in the various other
published or unpublished historical reports, from
which reliable information might be obtained.
In North Carolina the German emigrants from
Pennsylvania, that scattered themselves over the
central and western part of the State, located them-
selves in companies wherever they found vacant
lands to be occupied, and continued to arrive
168
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
almost every year from 1740 to the breaking out
of the Revolutionary War. In addition to these
yearly arrivals, the older settlements in the State
began likewise to send out new colonies farther
westward in this State, and in this manner were
new settlements of Germans formed east and west
of the Catawba River.
In South Carolina a number of other German
settlements were made, which have not yet been
noticed; the one in Barnwell County was doubt-
less formed by the breaking up of the Dutch col-
ony on James Island, the gradual absorption of
the unsuccessful German and Swiss colony at
Purysburg, and the influx of other German set-
tlers from Orangeburg County. In much the same
manner were German settlements made along the
boundary line of Richland and Fairfield Counties,
on Cedar and Dutchman's Creeks. The most of
these colonists doubtless came from adjoining
older settlements; as the one at Saxe-Gotha Town-
ship, Lexington County, was nearest to Richland
and Fairfield, it may have supplied the German
element residing there. On Cedar Creek there
was once a German church, which bore the name of
"German Protestant Church of Apii-Forum," and
was incorporated by legislative enactment in 1788.
From the best accounts that we can gather at this
late date, this congregation, having been so long
neglected by our Lutheran and German Reformed
ministers, became at last absorbed by and into a
Methodist congregation in the vicinity. The
Newberry County Germans were mostly all de-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
169
scendants from the original German settlers in
Saxe-Gotha Township, with an occasional addi-
tion from the German settlements of North Caro-
lina and Virginia.
In the southern part of Edgefield County, along
the Savannah River, and opposite the city of Au-
gusta, Georgia, there was a township laid out at
an early date, bearing the name of New Windsor;
here a number of German emigrants were located,
that were brought over to America by the Rev.
Bartholomew Zauberbiihler of Orangeburg noto-
riety, or came over to South Carolina under his
influence; at a later date an addition of German
emigrants was made to this new colony, who were
brought there by John Jacob Riemensperger, who
appears to have been commissioned so to do by
the provincial government of South Carolina; it
is possible that the German descendants, now re-
siding in the central part of Edgefield County,
came originally from this settlement and Saxe-
Gotha Township. This supposition is strength-
ened by the fact that Riemensperger brought col-
onists also to Saxe-Gotha, which may have induced
both settlements to locate a colony on lands lying
about midway between them.
Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg speaks of meeting a cer-
tain Philip Eisenman in Charleston during his
visit there in 1774; this Eisenman informed him
that he was a resident " of Old Indian Swamp,
fifty miles in the country, who arranged his barn
for public worship, and they (he and his neigh-
bors) have accepted as preacher a young man
15
170
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
lately arrived from Germany, and who might
answer for a schoolmaster." The Doctor does not
mention his name, nor does he speak very highly
of his attainments. A church, bearing the name
of "The German Protestant Church of St. George
on Indian Field Swamp," was incorporated by
the legislature in 1788. Taking these facts to-
gether, it is proper to conclude that a German
settlement was made fifty miles from Charleston,
that these Germans had a church of their own,
which was doubtless unitedly Lutheran and Re-
formed, as it bore the name " German Protestant," but where to locate the church is now a matter of
impossibility, as the afore-mentioned swamp is not
shown on any of the old or modern maps of South
Carolina; it is probable, however, that it had its
position in Barnwell County, where there are
Lutheran Churches at the present time.
About the year 1750, a German colony from
the Palatinate arrived in South Carolina, and
"after some delay, settled in" what was then
called "Anson County," North Carolina, along
the boundary line between the two provinces, on
lands that are now located in Union County,
North Carolina, and Lancaster and Chesterfield
Counties, South Carolina, many of whose descend-
ants are still living, and are gathered in Lutheran
congregations belonging to the Tennessee Synod.
In company with this colony came the Rev.
John Nicholas Martin, one of the first pastors of
St. John's Lutheran Church, Charleston, South
Carolina, but at that time a layman, and the father
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
171
of a family "with several children." According
to Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg's statement, he was a
self-taught man, and was said to have been or-
dained afterwards by the Lutheran pastors at
Ebenezer, Georgia. He did not remain long in
Anson County, North Carolina, but, in company
"with the larger portion of" his fellow-colonists,
removed to the fork of Saluda and Broad Rivers,
in South Carolina, where they found permanent
homes, and where afterwards they were also
served in spiritual things by Rev. Martin, after
having been pastor in Charleston from 1763 to
1767, but who finally located himself permanently
in that city.
Section 16. Hessian Deserters during the Revolution.
The period of the Revolutionary War was one
of sore trial to all the American colonies, and the
German settlers underwent an amount of suffering
no less than that of other citizens; the thirteen
Provinces numbered at that time three millions of
inhabitants, and these had established their homes
with but few exceptions, east of the Alleghany
Mountains. It was a severe trial for them to take
up arms and send ablebodied men into the battle-
field, when they were needed at home in develop-
ing the resources of their country, which had been
but partially reclaimed from its primeval condi-
tion. Thousands left home and enlisted for the
war, who never again returned, but whose bodies
filled the honored graves of the patriot soldier;
thousands of widows and orphans lamented their
172
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
irreparable loss, and a void was created in the
heart and a vacancy at the fireside, which in most
cases was never again filled.
England supplied her depleted ranks in the
army from the overcrowded population of other
European countries, whose military service she
procured by large subsidies to the sovereigns of
these people, and bounty money to the purchased
soldier, thinking to gain thereby a two-fold ad-
vantage, that of saving her British subjects, wTho
went reluctantly to fight against their own flesh
and blood, for so were the American colonists
regarded, and that of preventing desertion to the
American army and cause of liberty and indepen-
dence. It was confidently supposed that the Ger-
man soldiers, mostly Hessians, numbering "a little
over seventeen thousand men," ignorant of the
English language, generally spoken in America,
would be proof against the seductive representa-
tions made by the Americans; and to make this
fancied security doubly sure, the most incredible
stories concerning the character of the Americans
were freely circulated among the Hessians.
However, one thing the British government
had entirely overlooked, namely, that numbers of
the American citizens were Germans and German
descendants, still bearing German names, pos-
sessed of German characteristics, and speaking
the German language. No sooner did the Hes-
sian soldiers come in contact with these German-
American citizens, than they deserted the ranks
of the British army whenever they found a safe
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
173
opportunity for so doing, and fled to the German
settlements, to be delivered from the dangers and
hardships of a war in which they had no interest.
In these settlements the identity of the Hessian
deserters soon became lost to the British, and the
German farmers were only too happy to have the
Hessians in their midst as laborers ever to betray
them to the British, who were their own enemies
as well as they were dangerous foes to the Hes-
sian, deserters. The Hessians discovered that
these American-Germans were both civilized and
christianized, contrary to the slanderous tales cir-
culated by the British leaders; and though they
were not originally from the same German prov-
ince, yet they spake the German language, and
were generally of the same faith with themselves.
Besides, they discovered that land was cheap and
labor scarce, and that better prospects were before
them in America, than they could ever hope to
find on their return to Germany after the termina-
tion of the war.
In this manner were the German settlements at
the North, where the Hessians first landed, sup-
plied with a valuable addition to their strength;
and farther south, particularly in the Carolinas,
many honest, industrious, and useful German set-
tlers came in good time to supply the loss that had
been caused by the war. These did not, and of
necessity could not, form separate settlements, as
that would most certainly have endangered their
safety as long as the war continued, but they lo-
174
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
cated themselves among the German farmers, who
had already been established in this country.
Among these Hessian deserters was one who
afterwards became a Lutheran minister in South
Carolina, named John Yost Miitze, known better
as Rev. J. Y. Meetze, and whose history was ob-
tained from one of his sons. He deserted near
Charleston at the time the British army was be-
sieging that city from the other side of Ashley
River; he was pursued some thirty miles, but
finally made his escape over Bacon's bridge, where
he was safe within the American lines. He located
himself in Saxe-Gotha Township, now Lexington
County, six miles above the present county-seat,
and became the forefather of a large and influen-
tial family in that section of the country. The
following tablet inscription marks the spot where
his remains now repose:
"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. J. Y. Meetze,
who departed this life May 7th, 1833, aged 76
years, 5 months, and 5 days."
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
175
CHAPTER II.
CONDITION AND HISTORY OF THE GERMAN COLONIES
IN THE CAROLINAS TO THE CLOSE OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Section 1. A Brief Review of the Planting of the differ-
ent German Colonies in North and South Carolina.
"The child is the father of the man;" this is a
trite but true saying, and is the key that unlocks
many of the peculiar mysteries of habit, manners
and customs, as well as the moral, intellectual
and religious life of any community. The condi-
tion of an infant colony has much to do with its
future development; one age of the world suc-
ceeds another as naturally, and adjusts itself to
the preceding age as appropriately as do the sev-
eral pieces of mosaic in making a grand whole—a
perfect picture; and, inasmuch as there can be no
effect without a cause, it is always necessary to
study the character and condition of the early
colonies, if we desire to understand fully their
peculiarities of the present time.
It is not to be supposed that the German settle-
ments in the Carolinas would form the only excep-
176
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tion to this general rule. With these truths before
us, and kept always in view, the peculiar differ-
ences, that still mark the North and South Caro-
lina German descendants at the present day, can
be easily understood. Local and State govern-
ments have had something to do with the forming of these peculiar characteristics, but when we re-
flect that these governments are the creatures of
the settlers of each county, then we are again
thrown back upon the original condition of the
first colonies.
Again, it is not to be supposed that the German
forefathers, coming directly from various parts of
Germany or from the Province of Pennsylvania,
would leave their German peculiarities at home,
and be ready to adopt the manners and customs of
the settlers who preceded them and among whom
they lived, or be moulded into their religious be-
lief and peculiar ecclesiastical usages. This doubt-
less was the case with those German settlers, who
were isolated and cut off from all intercourse with
their brethren, and where other elements of colo-
nization predominated, but not until after process
of time, when a generation or two had passed
away.
The Dutch were the first Lutheran settlers in
the Carolinas, and history has informed us how
strenuously they, with others, resisted the en-
croachments of the Church of England upon their
faith, and how they struggled against the efforts
of the Proprietary government of South Carolina
to make Episcopalians of them and their children;
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 177
whilst the German and Swiss colony at Newberne,
North Carolina, in course of time, submitted to
the arrangement of a change of their faith, when
made in a more conciliatory spirit and manner.
However, as both these colonies became practi-
cally lost to the faith of their early founders, it is
unnecessary to follow them any farther, as on this
wise their original identity was lost; although a
number of the Dutch settlers found congenial
homes, and preserved their original faith among
German settlers in other parts of South Carolina. Charleston, Purysburg, Barnwell, Orangeburg,
Saxe-Gotha, Edgefield and Newberry received
their Teutonic element previous to the year 1740,
and inasmuch as, with the exception of Purys-
burg, the descendants of these settlers are still to
be met there, and the Lutheran Church is firmly
established among them, it is proper to examine
the condition of these early settlements to under-
stand their peculiar characteristics manifest at the
present day. They received their principal
strength from several German nationalities; na-
tives of Switzerland, the Palatinate, Austria, Wur-
temberg, Holland and the Hessian States, located
themselves principally in those parts of South
Carolina, and all, of course, brought their peculiar
national characteristics with them, and were so
far beneficial to each other as to increase their in-
tellectual and practical acquirements in almost
every department of life, for they could communi-
cate to each other the ideas and information which
they receivedin their different mental and religious
178
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
trainings, as well as what was customary and ad-
vantageous in the useful arts in their native coun-
tries. Besides, the Swiss element largely pre-
dominated over any one of the other German na-
tionalities, and these Switzers, coming from the
land of William Tell, were born and cradled in a
republic, lived in an adopted country which had
overthrown the Proprietary government in 1719,
because of its oppressive rule in that province;—
need any one then be astonished at their love of
liberty, and the prompt assertion of their inaliena-
ble rights?
Their peculiar ecclesiastical condition is like-
wise the result of their early colonial training;
in the interior of South Carolina the Lutherans
and German Reformed did not continue long as
two separate denominations, owing to the neglect
of the German Reformed Church in taking care
of their congregations so far south, and failing to
supply them with ministers of the gospel after the
older ministers there had all died. This, no doubt,
the German Reformed Church in America could
not avoid, and thus the members of that Church
in those settlements soon lost their ecclesiastical
identity, many having connected themselves with
the Lutheran Church; whilst others, who were
again necessarily neglected by the Lutherans, were
absorbed by other denominations. In Charleston
the ecclesiastical union of Germans extended still
farther, and embraced even those who were at-
tached to the Roman Catholic faith, of which the
Rev. Dr. Velthusen, of Helmstaedt, Germany, re-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
179
ports in his preface to the North Carolina Cate-
chism, as follows: "We have likewise the assur-
ance from other parts of America, that our books
of instruction are suitable to their wants. Besides,
various of these books have been also introduced
in Charleston, by the approval and support of the
congregation, for the instruction of their youth.
This congregation may be looked upon as an ex-
ample of Christian harmony, for it is composed of a
union of Lutherans, German Reformed and Catholics,
all of whom live, according to the testimony of
their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Faber, very peaceably
together, although they are educated in different
principles of religion. They visit the house of
God faithfully, and contribute equally for the sup-
port of divine worship." Thus were these dif-
ferent elements united, communicating to each
other their peculiar faith and church usages, re-
taining, however, the Lutheran name up to the
present time.
The only other extensive settlement of Germans
in South Carolina was the one in Abbeville County,
on Hard Labor Creek, which remained Lutheran
for a number of years, but, owing to neglect on
the part of the Lutheran Church in supplying
those people with the much-needed means of grace,
they became, in course of time, lost to the Lu-
theran faith entirely.
In North Carolina there existed an entirely dif-
ferent state of things; all the German settlers,
with the exception of those who were located at
Newberne, came mostly from Pennsylvania during
180
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
a period of twenty-five or thirty years before the
Revolutionary War; even the Moravians at Salem
and vicinity came originally and mostly from that
Province; consequently, one will find Pennsyl-
vania ideas, habits, manners and customs pre-
vailing among the German descendants in North
Carolina, and here and there the Pennsylvania-
German dialect still spoken among the aged. In
addition to that, the Lutherans, German Reformed
and Moravians have always preserved their eccle-
siastical identity, and although the Lutherans and
Reformed built many joint-churches for them-
selves, in which both these denominations wor-
shiped alternately, that arrangement has not ma-
terially interfered with their respective faith and
ecclesiastical usages.
Again, these North Carolina German settle-
ments have been mostly made in the country, as
those colonists from Pennsylvania were principally
farmers, and continued to follow their peaceful
and unambitious pursuits for many years, and
until recently, they cared to make but little prog-
ress in intellectual pursuits beyond that which
their forefathers enjoyed, they continued their
German schools and German worship for a long
time, and but few of their descendants engaged
in mercantile pursuits, or sought distinction and
prominence in the arena of political life; and, as
a general thing, they also adhered all the more
closely to the faith and church usages of their
forefathers. Besides, with the exception of the
German and Swiss settlers atNewberne, the three
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 181
German denominations of North Carolina have
lost but very little by the proselyting encroach-
ments of other denominations, compared with the
German settlements of almost every other State
in the Union.
This is doubtless owing to various circum-
stances : firstly, they were more strongly attached
to their own peculiar faith; secondly, they remained
more closely together in their own settlements,
and when they did colonize, it was generally done
in such a manner as to have a number of German
families locate in the same new settlement; thirdly,
they were more regularly supplied with the means
of grace in their own churches, although there
were some exceptions to this condition of things in certain localities; fourthly, the German colonies
were established in North Carolina at a later date,
when the parent Churches in Europe had become
fully awakened to the importance of taking care
of their interests in America.
Section Trials and Difficulties of the Early
Settlers.
The trials of strangers in a strange land under
the most favorable circumstances, when the neces-
saries and comforts of life are at their command,
are sufficiently numerous and hard in themselves;
the feeling of loneliness, the separation from af-
fectionate relatives and friends, the sighings ("Ach
und Weh") produced by home-sickness, especially
such as the Swiss emigrant must have felt, when
182
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
he contrasted the grandeur of the Alpine scenery
in his native land with his surroundings in the
Carolinas, located, as he was, upon the level and
sandy plains, which extend there along the At-
lantic coast. In the same manner, doubtless, were
also the German Palatines affected, although war
had driven them from their peaceful homes, when
they remembered the beautiful banks along the
Rhine and its vine-clad hills, which they had left
behind them—never to behold again; all of which
tended to make the heart sink within them in
mental anguish and despondency. Wise indeed,
as well as kind, was the divine injunction given
to the children of Israel, Deut. 10:19: "Love
ye, therefore, the stranger: for ye were strangers
in the land of Egypt."
Yet how much greater must have been the
anguish and suffering of the early colonists, who
either willingly or necessarily abandoned home
without the most distant prospect of return, to
dwell in a land that could give them no shelter,
until the log-cabin was erected by their own in-
dustry, and no necessary supplies of life, until
they could cultivate these themselves; and all that
they possessed to sustain life was often nothing
more than what they brought with them from
the vessel that conveyed them to America. The
first English colony, located on Roanoke Island
in North Carolina, actually perished from want,
and was swept away entirely; not a soul was left
to tell the tale of its woes and sufferings, of which
Dr. Hawks speaks: "It was subjected to the hor-
IN NOKTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
183
rors of famine; time and experience would prob-
ably have corrected the other evils we have named,
but for starvation there was no remedy; and so,
after the toil and suffering of years, the expendi-
ture of much precious treasure, and the loss of
still more precious life, the waves of Albemarle
rolled, as of old, their ripples up the deserted
island beach, and the only voice heard was that
of the fitful winds, as they sighed through the
forests of Roanoke, and broke upon the stillness
of nature's rough repose. The white man was
there no longer."
And then came also the exposure to all kinds
of weather and the inhospitality of climate, to
which the early settlers were as yet unaccustomed,
which, with the ignorance in regard to the pecu-
liarities of the new country, often locating them-
selves near streams of water, the malaria of which
superinduced sickness, frequently brought the
strongest constitutioned person to an early grave;
whilst others were so enfeebled by sickness, that
all their native strength and energy, brought with
them from the Fatherland, was necessarily pros-
trated. It was some time before they became ac-
quainted with the peculiarities of the country and
climate, and discovered the healthy localities,
where they would be free from the attacks of
malignant fevers, and their physical constitution
would adapt itself to the climate of their new
homes.
But the greatest hardship of the early settlers
was the occasional outbreak of hostility from the
184
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Indians; this was a never-failing cause of appre-
hension and alarm. Whilst the Indians remained
near them, they never felt themselves perfectly
safe; war often broke out upon them quite un-
awares; the strong man, the helpless woman and
the innocent child were not unfrequently mur-
dered in cold blood. In this manner did many
of the poor Palatines and Swiss, in and around
Newberne, lose their lives during the Tuscarora
and Core Indian war, as already related in chapter
i, section 7, of this history, containing an extract
from Dr. Hawks' History of North Carolina.
Whenever the early colonists were pursuing their
daily avocations, at home or in the field, at church
or elsewhere, the trusty rifle had always to accom-
pany them, so that they might be prepared for
any sudden attack.
The sparseness of population was another great
inconvenience to the early settlers, both in the
matter of defence against the hostile attacks of
the Indians, as well as in the procuring of most
of the necessary articles of husbandry and do-
mestic life. There were but few mechanics and
still fewer trading-places, where the supplies of
commerce could be obtained, so that nearly all the
settlers were obliged to live and labor without
those things which are now regarded as neces-
saries of life. This, of course, compelled each
family to manufacture their own articles of cloth-
ing and implements of husbandry; the loom, the
anvil, the tannery and the shoe-shop became nec-
essary adjuncts to almost every household, whilst
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
185
all the inmates of the family had to content them-
selves to live and be clad in the most primitive
style; useful industry became every member of
society at that time, and the hum of the spinning-
wheel resounded in almost every dwelling.
Section 3. Character, Occupation and Condition of
the German Settlers in the Carolinas.
Wherever the Germans have located themselves,
they have usually manifested certain traits of char-
acter, which are upon the whole very commend-
able. Whilst they are generally retiring and
peaceful in their intercourse with man, opposed
to riot and contention, and will patiently suffer
wrong for a long time, they are nevertheless un-
willing to submit to oppression when persistently
brought to bear down upon them; they may be
led, their minds are open to conviction, but they
cannot be driven, and will determinately resist
all attempts to deprive them of their inalienable rights.
The Germans are the most industrious settlers
that have ever come to America; they are willing
to endure any amount of toil to secure a perma-
nent home, or an establishment over which they
may have entire control; they never shrink from
labor that promises to be remunerative; every-
thing around them must be well and profitably
arranged, hence their farms usually present the
appearance of order, thrift and comfort; all work
must be well done, ere it can be made satisfactory
16
186
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
to them. Besides, they also love home and its
comforts, and are usually slow to leave the place
which they have once secured as their own; there
are plantations and farms at the present day in
possession among the German descendants in both
the Carolinas, that have never passed out of the
family, being still held by virtue of the original
grant or deed made in colonial times. They
generally persevere in all their undertakings, even
when the immediate prospects are not encour-
aging, and manage all their affairs with the strict-
est economy, often carrying their frugality to such
an extreme as to become a fault, when such
frugality is no longer needed. Honesty and up-
rightness are also marked characteristics of the
Germans; they shrink from debt, and are un-
happy as long as all their liabilities are not can-
celled, and when once a promise has been made
by them, it can generally be relied on, for their
word is usually as good as their bond; there are,
of course, exceptions to this general trait of char-
acter, yet not so many as materially to impair the
confidence which is usually reposed in the Ger-
mans and their immediate descendants every-
where. They are slow in making changes, and
often tenaciously adhere for a long time to the
practices and conduct of their forefathers; this
has been frequently attributed to them as a fault,
inasmuch as they appear so unwilling to make
progress and keep pace with modern advance-
ment; yet win 1st this may be true, it can also be
said that they do not advance so readily in the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 187
vices, immoralities and fraudulent dealings of our
progressive age.
The Germans appear to have been specially
fitted in all their characteristics to make the wilds
of America to blossom and bloom as the rose;
their patient toil, together with their excellent and
economical management, has made the soil of this
country to produce abundantly, thereby enhanc-
ing its material prosperity.
The early German colonists were slow in aban-
doning their native language, especially where
they lived in settlements of their own, and did not
come much in contact with other people, as was
the case in agricultural districts; this was one of
the causes of their having retained their peculiar
traits of character for so long a time, having had
its influence also upon their educational, religious,
social and moral condition. They established
parochial schools in all their settlements, wherever
it could possibly be done, and a teacher could be
secured, an arrangement to which they had al-
ways been accustomed in their Fatherland, in
which the catechism was taught, as well as the
other branches of rudimental knowledge; neither
was the Bible excluded from the school, and gene-
rally constituted the text-book in the reading
classes; by this means a vast amount of religious
intelligence was diffused among the German set-
tlers and their descendants.
Their divine service was conducted for a long period of time in the German language, and when,
at length, it did become absolutely necessary to
188
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
introduce the English language occasionally in
their churches, because some of their descendants
and some English settlers among them could not
understand the German very well, the minister or
pastor in charge, who conscientiously tavored or
proposed this new arrangement, often met with a
storm of opposition that generally impaired his
usefulness, and obliged him to seek for another
field of labor. His successor, however, then found
the way prepared before him, and could officiate
in English without much opposition, the storm
having spent itself upon the pastor who first pro-
posed the change. This same German character-
istic, namely, opposition to all innovations, or firm
adherence to the ways of their forefathers, had
another deleterious effect: it sometimes became
necessary to have a church located in town, in
order to preserve its prosperity, when a number of
the members had removed there, and the town
became the central point of the congregation, then
animosities would sometimes arise, which either
defeated the proposed measure, or necessitated
the removal of the pastor. The long use of the
German language, whilst it exerted a deleterious
influence upon the Church in retarding its prog-
ress, in many instances also preserved it from the
encroachments of error and the inroads of prose-
lytism, especially in the rural districts; whilst in
cities and towns it had the opposite effect, and
caused numbers of the German descendants to
connect themselves with other denominations, who
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
189
would gladly have remained in the church of their
fathers.
Many of the Germans in the Province of South
Carolina were brought there with the design of
establishing the production of silk and the culti-
vation of the grape-vine, with which the Swiss
and Palatines were well acquainted, as it was
thought that the soil and climate were admirably
adapted thereto; but it did not promise much suc-
cess, owing chiefly to the little demand for those
articles of luxury at the time, and the more profit-
able employment of labor in other and more nec-
essary articles; besides, the cost of producing silk
and wine was greater than in Europe. Wine
could be made, as the grape-vine bears plenti-
fully, but the wine produced in South Carolina
cannot be long preserved in so warm a climate
without admixture of other ingredients, especially
in the lowlands, where the first German settlers
were located. Planting, farming and the useful
arts constituted the principal employment of the
Germans and their descendants in the Carolinas:
merchandizing, especially in towns and cities,
eventually claimed their attention also, but only
to a limited extent. Their mode of living, their
industrious habits, and their simplicity of manners,
to all of which they had been accustomed in their
Fatherland, were well adapted to the condition of
the country in its early period of colonization, of
which Captain John Smith, though Governor of
another Province, the Virginia Colony of James-
town, very appropriately remarks: "When you
190 THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
send again, I entreat you, rather send but thirty
carpenters, husbandmen, gardeners, fishermen,
blacksmiths, masons and diggers up of trees'
roots, well provided, than a thousand such as we
have; for except we be able to lodge them and
feed them, the most will consume with want of
necessaries before they can be made good for any
thing." (Smith's History of Virginia, vol. i, p.
202.)
The purity of morals of the early German set-
tlers likewise contrasts very favorably with some
of the English colonists, who came to Carolina to
seek a change of fortune, and of whom Rev. Dr.
Hawks writes: "The outcasts of London prisons
and the sweepings of London kennels, then, as
now, doubtless could furnish their quota to every
shipload of adventurers. The dissipated scions
of respectable families were gladly sent off, lest
they should finally tarnish ancestral honors by a
felon's fate at home: the inmates of the vile slums
and alleys of the metropolis were but too glad to
escape the grasp of violated law; to leave a coun-
try where they had nothing to gain and every-
thing to lose, because they had reached an infamy
and attained to a notoriety in guilt, which left
them no further hope of committing crime with
impunity. In short, we may not doubt, that some
of the earliest colonists belonged to that class
which the poet has described as ' the cankers of a
long peace, and a calm world."' (Hawks' History
of North Carolina, vol. i, p. 253.)
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
191
Section 4- Great ivant of the Means of Grace among
the early German colonists in the Carolinas,
"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers
are few," has been the cry for more than eighteen
centuries, and the want of ministers of the gospel
is continued to be felt up to the present time, but
at no time and among no people to a more alarm-
ing extent than among the early German settlers
in the Carolinas. The Dutch colony on James
Island, South Carolina, the Swiss and Palatine
settlers in JjTewberne, North Carolina, the German
and Swiss colonists in Purysburg, South Carolina,
never did have a minister of the gospel of their
own faith among them, and were consequently
lost entirely to the Church of their fathers; whilst
all the other German settlements in these two
Provinces suffered more or less, and some for a
long time, for the want of the regular adminis-
tration of the means of grace; and when German
ministers did eventually come to labor among
their brethren of the same faith with themselves,
the en em}7 had already sown his tares among the
wheat, which caused great spiritual degeneracy.
From A.D. 1674 to 1737, that is to say, from the
settlement of the Dutch colonists to the arrival of
the first German minister in Orangeburg, South
Carolina, embracing a period of sixty-three years,
during which time a number of important German
settlements had been made, not a single minister
of the gospel of their own faith labored among
these settlers in that entire territory; and after
192
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
that time their pastors were so few in number that
comparatively little good could be effected.
In some localities temporary houses of worship
were erected, and grants of land were secured for
that purpose; or in the absence of these, school-
houses and barns were used for divine service,
generally conducted by some pious layman or the
school-teacher, who read a sermon or devotional
essay from such books as constituted the library
of the early settlers. Great desire was at first
awakened to enjoy the preaching of the Word
and the administration of the sacraments, which
want was occasionally supplied by very unworthy
men, who were generally denominated "straggling
preachers," of whom Dr. E. W. Caruthers, in his
"Life of Rev. David Caldwell, D.D.," speaks as
follows: "Hardly any of these (preachers) were
calculated to advance the interests of vital piety,
or to elevate the character of the people. Some
of them had no kind of authority to preach, and
no claims on the confidence of the churches on
the score of piety; but came out here, either from
the Northern States or from Germany, pretending
to be preachers; exercised an assumed authority,
andacted as self-constituted pastorsof the churches,
or went from place to place, imposing on the peo-
ple who knew no better, or were glad to meet
with any one who came to them as a minister of
Christ."
The effect of such great want of the means of
grace, or the improper administration of them, can be readily imagined; it occasioned at first
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
193
much sorrow and regret among the better class of
settlers, who became greatly dissatisfied with their
new homes on account of this deficiency; and, as
in Saxe-Gotha, South Carolina, gave intimation
that they would likewise remove from their present
location to the Province of Pennsylvania, where
they could enjoy these spiritual advantages, as
many had heretofore done. In Purysburg,
Charleston and elsewhere, a number of German
settlers did leave for this very reason, and located
themselves among the Salzburgers of Ebenezer,
Georgia, who were supplied with two efficient and
pious pastors, the Revs. Bolzius and Gronau.
Others again grew cold and indifferent to their
spiritual interests and welfare, whilst not a few
abandoned themselves to the dictates of their own
corrupt natures, and fell from that grace and
those pious principles of which they were once
possessed; permitting their children to grow up
without a proper knowledge of God, of their duty,
and of the way of salvation.
In one locality a singular heresy made its ap-
pearance among a number of settlers, which ter-
minated in a very tragical affair, as found related
in the succeeding section, and may readily be un-
derstood as a very natural consequence of the want
of the means of grace administered in the regularly-
appointed and divinely-ordered way.
In Charleston, South Carolina, the German set-
tlers fared somewhat better; it being the centre of
commerce in that Province, and having more in-
tercourse with the European world, ministers of
17
194
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the gospel, who first landed there on their way to
their respective fields of labor in other parts of
America, occasionally supplied the German citizens
there with the preaching of the gospel and the ad-
ministration of the holy sacraments; Rev. Bolzius
visited them in 1734, and accomplished much good
in preaching and administering the communion to
them for the first time; Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg,
who had been sent by the Mission Society of Halle
to labor in Pennsylvania, landed in Charleston,
September 21, 1742, and whilst tarrying there he
preached the gospel and catechized the children;
Revs. Rabenhorst and Gerock, the one on his way
to Ebenezer, Georgia, and the other destined for
Pennsylvania, likewise visited the German citizens
of Charleston, and labored a short time for their
spiritual welfare, A.D. 1753; in this manner was
the flame of true religion preserved from becoming
entirely extinguished among them, until they se-
cured the services of a regular pastor in 1755.
But in the rural districts of South Carolina, the
spiritual condition of the German settlers was
most deplorable, inasmuch as, previous to the year
1737, not a single German pastor labored among
them.
The Lutherans in Saxe-Gotha Township, num-
bering two hundred and eighty souls, wrote to the
Ebenezer pastors, in 1750, for a minister of their
own faith; but their urgent plea was not regarded,
which greatly discouraged them. Need any one
be astonished at the legitimate effects of so deplor-
able a want of the means of grace as was witnessed
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 195
at that time in the Province of South Carolina.
The settlements of Germans from Pennsylvania
in the interior of North Carolina were not com-
menced until about this time, therefore they do
not now claim our attention; but the Newberne colony of Swiss and Germans in 1710, as has been
stated before, was entirely neglected, and became,
as a necessary consequence, also entirely lost to
the Church of their fathers.
Section 5. An Account of the Weber [Weaver) Heresy,
In Saxe-Gotha Township, Lexington County,
South Carolina, and "in the neighborhood of
what is now called Younginer's Ferry," there
originated a sect among the Swiss and German
settlers, who were called Weberites. Their heresy
was of so revolting a nature, that it would be de-
sirable to pass it by in silence, if it could be done
without doing injustice to a faithful and correct
narration of historical facts.
Rev. Dr. Hazelius gives us a brief sketch of the
doings of these "Weberites in his American Lu-
theran Church, p. 103; and the Pev. Dr. Muhlen-
berg has also furnished us a more extended ac-
count of them in his journal, translated and pub-
lished in vol. i of the Evangelical Review, dating
their transactions as having occurred in the year
1760; nevertheless, the origin of this sect must
have taken place some time before, as that is the
date of the culmination of their heresy into the
crime, which brought their leader to suffer the
just penalty of the law.
106
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Dr. Muhlenberg's account is as follows: "Mr.
Strobel, the son-in-law of Rev. Mr. Martin, a
wealthy tanner, sent for me in a chaise, to convey
me out of town to dine with him. He told me,
among other things, a remarkable history of an
abominable sect, which had arisen among the
Germans in South Carolina, A.D. 1760-1, and had
some similarity with Knipperdolling and Jan Van
Leiden. They committed murders, on which ac-
count one of them, named Jacob Weber, who
called himself a god, and slew a person, was
hanged. Their founder is said to have been Peter
Schmidt. The sect originated at Saluda Fork,
about one hundred miles from Charleston (125
or 130 miles).
"Jacob Weber was a Swiss. He first became
an exhorter, then he advanced himself still farther,
but before his end he came to his senses, and saw
his error.
"The people in the country, in general, grew
up without schools and instruction. Occasionally
a self-taught (auto-didacter) minister may labor
for awhile amongst them, yet it continues only a
short time. The people are wild, and continue to
grow wilder, for what does it profit them to hear
a sermon every four, six, or twelve weeks, if in
early youth the foundation of Divine Truth had
not been laid? The aforesaid sect had so far ob-
tained the supremacy that several families united
with it for fear of their lives; numbers of both
sexes went about uncovered and naked, and prac-
ticed the most abominable wantonness. One of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
197
them pretended to be God the Father, another
the Son, and a third the Holy Spirit; and the pre-
tended Father, having quarrelled with the Son,
repudiated the pretended Son, chained him in the
forest, declared him to be Satan, and finally gath-
ered his gang, who beat and trampled on the poor
man until he died; he is reported also to have
killed the pretended Holy Ghost in bed. A report
of these circumstances having reached the authorities in Charleston, the militia were ordered to
arrest the pretended deity, when he was tried, con- \demned, and executed upon the gallows.
"The English inhabitants scoffed about it, and
said the Germans had nothing to fear, their Devil
having been killed, and their God having been
hanged. Such are the fruits of not inculcating
the doctrine of Divine Truth early in youth, and
of leaving man to himself. Rom. 1 : 21-32. This
sect spread from South to North Carolina, thence
to Maryland and Virginia, among the German
and English population, and has likewise left some
seed of this heresy in Charleston. Upon this gross
Satanic tragedy a more subtle temptation followed.
Quakers, Anabaptists, &c, spread themselves in
the country regions around, and appear to be better
suited to the circumstances of the land at this
time.
"October 9th. To-day I received the original
copy of a letter dictated by Jacob Weber in prison
before his death, for the benefit of his childreni
which reads as follows:
198
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
666 Jacob Weber's Confession.
"'April 16th, 1761,being imprisoned and ironed,
it occurred to me and the jailor to transmit to my
beloved children a sketch of my mournful life. I,
Jacob Weber, was born in Switzerland, in Canton
Zurich, in the county of Knomauer, in the parish
of Stifferschweil, and was raised and educated in
the Reformed Church. In the fourteenth year of
my age I journeyed with my brother to South
Carolina, leaving my parents; and soon after my
arrival I lost my brother by death. Thus I was
forsaken of man, and without father or mother.
But God had compassion on me amid much
trouble and sorrow. He planted the fear of the
Lord in my heart, so that I had more pleasure in
the Lord, in godliness, and the Word of God, than
in the world. I was often troubled about my sal-
vation when I reflected how strict an account God
would require, that I must enter into judgment,
and know not how it would result. Although
God drew me with his grace, I found also the re-
verse in my corrupt nature, which was excited
with the love of the world, viz., of riches, honors,
and an easy life.
Mankind love a social life, and as the Lord
drew me back in many wonderful ways, I came,
therefore, nearer to him; notwithstanding I always
attended to my religious services and prayer, but
with a heart cold and averted from God. Through
such exercises of the heart I arrived at a knowl-
edge of my sins, and learned how awfully the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
199
human race had fallen from God, and how low all
mankind, without exception, are sunken in de-
pravity. As soon as I experienced this, I earnestly
besought God day and night for forgiveness, for
the Holy Spirit, for a pure heart, and for saving
faith, and I felt the necessity of retirement to re-
strain my thoughts, and to prevent the Divine
work from being hindered in me. In this retire-
ment I forgot the turmoil of the world. In this
light I regarded all vain desires and thoughts and
all human works as by nature damnable in the
sight of God. Fear and sorrow now seized upon
my poor soul, and I thought, what shall I do to
be saved? It was shown me that nothing would
suffice but being born again of water and of the
Spirit. Realizing that I could not be saved in
any other way, I prayed still more earnestly, and
it was shown me still more plainly by the Holy
Ghost in my heart how sinful I was (Rom. 7), so
that I stood there before the judgment of God;
but the judgment of God became manifest in me,
so that I judged myself, and confessed that I had
deserved a thousand-fold to be cast from the pres-
ence of God, and wondered that the forbearance
of the Lord had not long since hurled me, poor
and condemned wretch, into the lowest pit of de-
struction; and then too, I saw the whole world lay
in sin. Feeling myself so lost, I cast myself en-
tirely upon the mercy of God to lead me according
to his holy will and pleasure, whether unto life or
death, if he would only be gracious unto my poor
200
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
soul for Christ's sake, and pardon my sin, and
purify my heart from all uncleanness. Thus I lay
at the feet of Jesus with all my heart in submis-
sion, sighing and praying night and day for his
grace, and so continued for several days, until I
had passed from death unto life. Then Jesus re-
vealed himself unto my soul. Then there was
great joy in heaven over me, a returning sinner.
Then all my sins were forgiven me, and I was full
of the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced with a joy un-
speakably great. This occurred, or I experienced
this joy, A.D. 1756, in the month of May. This
grace caused me to despise the joy of the world,
and to disregard its reproach, and kept me, thence-
forth, continually with my surety, Jesus, amid
many temptations not now to be mentioned, until
finally I found rest for my soul. This peace and
communion with God I possessed about two years,
under every burden of affliction, for I had the
grace to enable me, under all circumstances, to
submit my will to the mercy of God. Through
the grace which was in me I could govern tem-
poral goods without danger to my soul. Upon
this followed the great misery and awful fall into
sin, already, alas! too well known. The devil
bringing me into a greater temptation and fall
than was ever known, of which Peter Schmidt was
the origin and instrument. After this, by the provi-
dence of God, I was captured and cast into prison,
that I might recover my reason, come to a knowl-
edge of my great sins, and confess them before God,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
201
that thus it might awaken great wretchedness in
my soul, humble me before God and man, yea,
beneath all creatures, yea, that I might account
myself as the poorest worm. I often thought
each and every person too good to speak to me,
and interest himself in me. Nevertheless I sought
cordially the forgiveness of my sins in the blood
of the Lamb of God, my Redeemer, who loved me
and died for all my sins, and for his righteousness'
sake arose, all which I heartily believe, because I
experience again the witness of the Holy Spirit,
which testifies unto my spirit that I am a child of
God. And now, my children, beloved in the Lord,
I must leave this world, and, perhaps, behold
your face no more in this life. I commend you,
therefore, to the protection and mercy of God!
Pray without ceasing, learn and read; injure no
one willingly and wilfully while you live; labor
industriously and faithfully according to your
ability; then, if we should meet no more in this
world, we may hope to meet each other in heaven,
in the world to come; which may the triune God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, grant to you for the
sake of the crucified Jesus, Amen. Such cunning
and celerity does Satan possess as to cause so great
a schism and injury even among the children of
God, and to lead them astray, and make them fall
so suddenly against their knowledge and consent.
May God preserve all persons from so great a fall,
and trample Satan under foot, for Christ's sake,
Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you and all persons, Amen. And I beseech
202
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
all persons who have been injured by me to for-
give me, for Christ's sake.
"'Written or dictated by
"'Jacob Waebbr.
"'April 16th, 1761.'"
Dr. Hazelius' account of this tragic affair is as
follows:
"It was about this time that a number of our
(German) people, living on the banks of the Saluda
River, in South Carolina, being destitute of minis-
terial instruction, agreed to assemble from time to
time for singing, prayer, the reading of the Scrip-
tures, and mutual edification. This was as it
should be, but the enemy soon sowed tares among
the wheat, by introducing spiritual pride among
the small flock. One man, by the name of Wea-
ver, personated Christ, another the Holy Spirit, a
certain woman, the wife of Weaver, the Virgin
Mary, and one poor fellow was doomed to repre-
sent Satan. The curiosity of the people became
highly excited by the strange proceedings on Sa-
luda River, in the neighborhood of what is now
called Younginer's Ferry. Excess followed excess,
until at length Weaver, representing either Christ
or God, ordered, in virtue of his dignity, that
Satan should be chained in a subterranean hole,
and finally that he should be destroyed. For this
purpose they met, placed the unfortunate man in
a bed, covered him with pillows, on which some
seated themselves, while others stamped with their
feet on the bed until the life of the man had be-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
203
come extinct. The corpse was then taken out of
bed, and thrown into a burning pile of wood, to
be consumed to ashes. The perpetrators of this
crime were taken to Charleston and tried. Wea-
ver was found guilty, and suffered the penalty of
the law on the gallows. His wife was pardoned."
The Rev. Christian Theus furnished Dr. Muhlen-
berg with a more detailed description of this sect
of Weberites, as he was well acquainted with their
doings, having lived about twenty-five miles from
the place where the murder occurred. At a cer-
tain time he came unexpectedly into their meeting,
and found Jacob Weber contending that he was
God, and the said Peter Schmidt insisting that he
himself was Christ, and that the unconverted mem-
bers must be healed through his stripes.
Pastor Theus opposing such blasphemy, the
leaders became enraged, and threatened his life,
and counselled with their rabble whether to drown
or hang him. He escaped, however, from their
hands, fled to the river, and fortunately found a
negro with his canoe at the shore, sprang into it,
was conveyed across, and thus saved his life.
All traces of this abominable heresy have long
since been obliterated; neither are there even any
descendants of Jacob Weber and Peter Schmidt
to be found in the Saluda Fork. To what region
of country they emigrated, or what was their sub-
sequent history, is not known. The object of his-
tory in preserving the record of such deeds is that
it might serve as a warning to all not to depart
from the truth as revealed in God's word, even in
204
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
their religion. The Bible is given as a "lamp to
our feet and a light to our path," and the promise
is there that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need
not err therein; but whosoever despises the re-
vealed light will soon glide into very grievous and
dangerous errors. Sincerity is no proof of the
purity of faith, and no guide to man's actions. That
Weber was sincere, his confession, which he made
with eternity in view, fully proves; notwithstand-
ing his sincerity, so great was his deception in
spiritual things, that he became guilty of the most
horrid blasphemy and of the greatest crime known
to the law.
This narrative also demonstrates the value of
an evangelical, educated and faithful ministry of
the Gospel, an institution which has been divinely
appointed, through whose ministrations God is
pleased to bless mankind and keep them in the
way of truth and peace. In such occurrences as
these, the infidel is rebuked in his opposition to the
preaching of the Gospel; man soon degenerates and
becomes capable of committing all manner of ex-
cesses, where he is not restrained by the influence
of the Gospel. In this locality, where the Weber-
ites had their origin, and about that period of time,
A.D. 1758, according to the import of Weber's
confession, the Gospel was but seldom preached,
and the effects of such neglect soon manifested
themselves; the people generally gave a loose rein
to their passions, rioted in their wantonness, and
actually believed that in doing so they were ren-
dering service to God. If in the commencement
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 205
of this settlement the people would have been
blessed with the faithful labors of an evangelical
and intelligent pastor, doubtless such extravagance
in religion and morals never would have been
manifested there, as is sufficiently proved by the
condition of those settlements where religious ad-
vantages were enjoyed; so likewise, where the
young are well trained and indoctrinated, depart-
ures from the principles of a pure faith and cor-
rect morals are not likely to occur. Occasional
ministrations of the word and the sacraments are
not sufficient in any community; orthodox churches
should be established in reach of every family, and
a pastor should labor continually among his people,
both at the fireside and upon the pulpit, if he ex-
pects to accomplish permanent good, for it appears
that the want of such constant ministrations had
a serious effect upon this community, at the time
these criminal occurrences took place.
Section 6. History of St. John's Lutheran Church,
Charleston, South Carolina, to the close of the
Eevol ittionary War.
At the period of time when the first Lutheran
Church in Charleston was established, so far as
the records now extant appear to indicate, there
was no longer a single Lutheran congregation nor
Lutheran minister in the Province of South Caro-
lina. The Rev. John Giessendanner, of Orange-
burg, having become discouraged, and dreading
further annoyance from such straggling preachers
206
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
as Zauberbiihler, connected himself and his con-
gregation with the established Church of England
in 1749; and the Rev. Christian Theus labored as
a German Reformed minister in Saxe-Gotha
Township, near the Congaree River.
The early records of the Charleston Lutheran
Church are mainly derived from the journal of
Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, D.D., who labored in
Pennsylvania, and who was sent, A.D. 1774, by
the "Society for Propagating the Gospel" on a
second visit to the South to adjust certain difficul-
ties, which had arisen in the congregation at Eben-
ezer, Georgia; and on his way thither he spent
some time in Charleston, and took notes of the
principal occurrences in the Lutheran Church in
that city, as well as of the German churches gen-
erally, located in South Carolina. Dr. Muhlen-
berg's journal was translated and published in
the Evangelical Review in 1850, by a descendant
of his, the Rev. J. W. Richards, D.D., then Lu-
theran pastor at Easton, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Ramsay,in the second volume of his "History
of South Carolina," reprinted edition, p. 23, states:
"Their first minister, the Rev. Mr. Luft, arrived
in 1752." How much credit is to be given to this
statement, the writer is not prepared to say; but
it appears singular that Dr. Muhlenberg, who ex-
amined the records of this Lutheran Church in
Charleston thirty-four years before Ramsay, and
associated freely with its members for five weeks,
arranging their church affairs, should not have
mentioned the Rev. Mr. Luffs name in his jour-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
207
rial. However, if the Rev. Mr. Luft was the first
pastor of this people, they certainly had no house
of worship of their own at the time, and very prob-
ably no regularly organized congregation, for even
Ramsay states: "In the year 1759 they began to
build a house of worship themselves/* and that
event took place during Rev. Friederichs' minis-
try in Charleston.
Rev. John George Friederichs arrived in Char-
leston, South Carolina, about the year 1755 or 6,
and gathered the Germans residing there into a
congregation, which he afterwards served for sev-
eral years; he may, therefore, justly be regarded
as the founder of the first Lutheran Church in
Charleston. The elders of the French (Huguenot)
congregation kindly offered and granted the use
of their church for divine service to our German
brethren, when not needed for their own worship;
they likewise extended the right of sepulture to
the Germans in their own graveyard, all of which
was accepted with gratitude.
"Rev. Friederichs labored hard, and,together
with the elders and wardens, exerted himself so as
to procure a place in the town for a German Lu-
theran church and graveyard. He was acquainted
among the English and beloved by them, and col-
lected among them towards the erection of a house
of worship. He desired the church to be built of
brick, which would have been best, but several
elders and members outvoted him, and caused it
to be built of wood." The enterprise so far suc-
ceeded as to have the corner-stone of the new edi-
208
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
fice laid on the 17th of December, 1759. Soon
after this event, lie v. Friederichs resigned, and
took charge of several congregations in the coun-
try, locating himself in Amelia Township, Orange-
burg District, South Carolina.
After the removal of Rev. J. G. Friederichs the
congregation secured the services of a Rev. Mr.
Wartman, who was a highly educated divine, and
is said to have been an animated preacher, yet his
usefulness was very much injured, on account of
his having been possessed of a very fiery and chol-
eric disposition, which unhappy temperament had
been the cause of his short stay in several congre-
gations in Pennsylvania and Virginia, where he
had frequently exposed his temper, and exhausted
both himself and his people. This was also the
reason of his short stay in Charleston, where he
might have been exceedingly useful, as he was
possessed of the other necessary qualifications of
a pastor, had he been enabled to control his un-
happ3<r disposition. He remained but two years
and then took up his residence in the country.
The fourth pastor of this congregation was the
Rev. John Nicholas Martin, a self-taught man,
who is said to have been ordained by the Salz-
burg pastors in Georgia, and who enjoyed the
reputation of having been a sensible and indus-
trious laborer in Christ's vineyard. He took
charge of St. John's Church, November 24th,
1763, and served it for three years and three
months; during his ministry the new church edi-
fice was completed, which had been in course of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
209
construction over four years, and was dedicated
on the 24th of June, 1764, John the Baptist's day.
The officiating clergymen on this occasion were
Rev. J. G. Friederichs, the founder of this congre-
gation, and the Rev. J. 1ST. Martin, the pastor in
charge. The dedication sermon was preached
from the text, Luke 1: 68-70: "Blessed be the
Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and re-
deemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,
which have been since the world began." This
church was a small wooden building, situated in
the rear of where the present church stands, and
"was an antiquated building of a peculiar con-
struction, resembling some of the old churches in
the rural districts of Germany;" a representation
of it is still preserved, "suspended in the vestry-
room of the present church; and for uniqueness
of architecture, as well as for its value as a relic of
the past, excites no little notice."
During the ministry of Rev. Martin in this con-
gregation, a large number of worthy Germans
organized themselves into a "German Benevolent
Society," now known as the "German Friendly
Society," which appears to have been in a most
flourishing condition from its commencement to
the present time. Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg gives a
glowing description of this praiseworthy society,
and informs us, that it was founded January 15th,
1766, and had increased in a little more than eight
years to "upwards of eighty members, living in
18
210
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the town and country, of whom upwards of fifty
are still living." Daring those years their funded
capital had accumulated to £400 sterling, the in-
terest of which is to be "applied for the relief of
every such poor member, or of his widow and or-
phans, as shall have been connected seven years
with the Society, and have paid their contribu-
tions. This commendable Society is, in a measure,
the flower and crown of the German nation in this
place."
By special invitation of the "heads of this So-
ciety," and escorted to their place of meeting by
the Vice-President and Treasurer, Rev. Dr. Muh-
lenberg dined with the members, and thus became
acquainted with the most influential Germans in
the place. He speaks also very highly of their
manner of conducting the business of this Society,
and gives the names of the members present at
that meeting.
Early in the year 1767, Rev. J. K Martin took
leave of this congregation, and labored in the Fork
of the Saluda and Broad Rivers, where it is known
that he still labored some seven years later, in
1774, as his name is incidentally mentioned in
that connection in Dr. M.'s journal, and the pre-
sumption is, that he became the Lutheran pastor
of the congregations in the Fork soon after his de-
parture from Charleston.
The elders and wardens of St. John's Church
now applied to Rev. Dr. Wachsell, in London, be-
seeching him to send them a regular teacher and
pastor, and obtained through his instrumentality
TN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
211
the Rev. John Severin Hahnbaum, to whom a
call was extended on the 28th of January, 1767.
He arrived with his family, and took charge of
the church on the 12th of June of the same year;
unfortunately, however, he was either in infirm
health when he arrived in Charleston, or the cli-
mate there disagreed with him, for he was often
indisposed, and lived only a few years. During
the first year of his ministry, "the following per-
sons were the elders or vestrymen of the church:
Messrs. Johannes Swint, Melchior Werley,
Philip Mensing, Abraham Speidel, Martin Miil-
ler, J. Shutterling, Jacob Breidell, John Kirchner,
and Michael Kalteisen. One year later four war-
dens were elected, viz., Messrs. Joseph Kimmel,
Henry Lindauer, Godman, and Jury.
"In 1768 the Hon. John Paul Grimpke pre-
sented the church with a silver plate of the weight
of one pound, which was appropriated by the
council for gathering the collections every Sunday.
So also did Capt. Alexander Gillon, who had re-
cently arrived from Germany, present to the
church a pair of beautiful candlesticks, which
were ordered to be placed on each side of the
pulpit. He had also collected, whilst in Germany,
£275 currency for the benefit of the church, which
he offered to pay over, but the council requested
him to retain it in his possession, and pay it out
for the repairs and improvements of a house re-
cently purchased by the congregation."
This fact, in connection with the additional one,
that no charge was to be made to the pastor for
212
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
house-rent, and the statement of Dr. Muhlenberg,
indicate that the congregation possessed a par-
sonage at that time, which was rented out for
the good of the church, when not in use by the
pastor.
"In 1769 the officers made a contract with Mr.
Speisseggir for a new organ, but no statement is
given as to its cost."
A short time previous to Rev. Hahnbaum's
death, a certain Master of Arts, Mr. Frederick
Daser, who was yet very young, arrived in Char-
leston from the Duchy of Wiirtemberg, without
credentials, without clothes or money, his trunk
containing said articles, according to his declara-
tion, having been stolen from him in Holland. A
good-hearted elder of this congregation had com-
passion on him, paid his passage-money, and pro-
cured him respectable clothing suitable to his pro-
fession.
Pastor Hahnbaum having been sick along time
received this Artis Magister, with the consent of
the vestry, as his vicar. He examined him, had
him ordained,and afterwards also installed through
two elders, and married him on his sick-bed, be-
fore his decease, to one of his own daughters, be-
sides giving him the necessary books and skeletons
of sermons.
After the death of Rev. Hahnbaum, which oc-
curred February 10th, 1770, the vestry gave Magister Daser a conditional call for one year, with
the hope that through "prayer, study, and tempta-
tion" (oratione, meditatione et tentatione), which
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
213
was Luther's celebrated recipe for the making of
a preacher, a theologian might yet be formed of
him; but his young wife likewise conducted her-
self in a manner unbecoming a pastor's wife, be-
sides being ignorant of housewifery, and destitute
of the true ornament of a woman—1 Pet. 3:4;
and he himself was light of body, light in spirit,
and heavy in self-will and inordinate passions and
affections; consequently, the fruits of such dispo-
sitions soon manifested themselves. The year
having now expired, and having no other alterna-
tive, the congregation contracted with him to serve
them three years longer.
The following account of this transaction, as
gathered from the church records of this congre-
gation by Mr. Jacob F. Schirmer, does not exactly
agree with what is related above by Dr. Muhlen-
berg, but may, therefore, because taken from the
records of the church, be all the more correct:
"The congregation appointed a committee to
wait upon the pastor, and inquire upon what terms
and what length of time he would be willing to
serve them, and whether he would promise to be
faithful, industrious, and conscientious in his walk
and conversation, and to serve the flock as a faith-
ful shepherd. Such questions, propounded to Rev.
Daser after he had labored one year as pastor of
that church, do not argue much in his favor, and
yet the committee at the next meeting reported
that the congregation appear to be perfectly satis-
fied with Pastor Daser, and that he on his part
promises to discharge his duties faithfully, but he
214
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
thought it unbecoming to enter into a regular
contract between pastor and people, but was will-
ing to serve them for three years at a quarterly
payment of £500 currency. This was submitted
to the congregation, and they finally agreed to
engage Mr. Daser for two years, and that he re-
ceive £420 currency quarterly, still reserving to
themselves the right, that if his conduct did not
meet with their approbation, they were at liberty
to discharge him, by giving him three months'
notice. This arrangement was first objected to
by the minister, but he finally agreed to it, and
signed the agreement. He now requested his
people to present him with a gown, which was accordingly ordered, and was made by Mr. Tim-
rod.
"In 1773 Pastor Daser lodged a complaint
against one of the members for his improper
conduct towards him, and hopes he would treat
him with more kindness, and not judge him so
severely."
Dr. Muhlenberg states further: "However, as
Rev. Daser had always discharged the duties of
his office as a secondary business, and both he and *
his wife had digressed in several things, had fre-
quented too much company, and became deeply
involved in debt, &c, the vestry discharged him
before the end of the third year. He had, how-
ever, a party of his own kind, who were offended
at the vestry on account of his discharge, and who
regarded his extravagance either as trifling or
praiseworthy; yet they wTere far too weak to raise
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 215
his salary without the aid of the elders and other
well-disposed members." The vestry then wrote
to the Reverend Consistorium of the Electorate
of Hanover, supplicating that ecclesiastical body
for a regular minister, but were informed that
they could not be supplied from that source. Af-
terwards the elders and wardens addressed Dr.
Muhlenberg, and besought him to send them an
educated and exemplary pastor of the Pennsyl-
vania Ministerium. The adherents of Mr. Daser
also wrote to him anonymously at the same time,
accusing the vestry, stating that Parson Daser had
been a good preacher for them, and that the vestry
had discharged him without the will and knowl-
edge of the congregation, without cause and from
motives of personal hatred, &c.
Dr. Muhlenberg answered both communications,
informing them that, "God willing, he would make
a journey to Ebenezer, in Georgia, in the fall, and
would then also come to Charleston on his way
to Georgia, and there personally investigate their
affairs."
Accordinglj' Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg set sail for
Charleston, South Carolina, August 27th, 1774,
and arrived September 8th following. He was
received and welcomed with the utmost kindness
by the principal German families, as well as by
many English inhabitants, and whilst there he ex-
erted himself, as far as he could, to heal the un-
happy division then existing in the German Lu-
theran congregation, caused by the irregularities
of Pastor Daser, in which, as he was well adapted
216
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
for this undertaking, and was frequently and justly
entitled the peacemaker, he was quite successful.
In the mean time, which elapsed between Dr.
Muhlenberg's answer to both parties in the con-
gregation and his arrival in Charleston, Rev. Daser
had procured a recommendation from the Lord
Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina, residing
in Charleston, and also from the resident English
Episcopal clergymen, to the Lord Bishop of Lon-
don for Episcopal ordination, and afterwards to
receive " a competent living in some country con-
gregation, and thus become a dead weight in the
English Established Church." However, before
he had completed his arrangements for his con-
templated visit to London, Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg
arrived in Charleston; and then he hoped and ex-
pected, through the venerable Doctor's interces-
sion, to be called by the vestry of St. John's Lu-
theran Church for life, and to receive an annual
salary of £100 sterling.
But as soon as the Doctor had learned all the
circumstances of Daser's own and his wife's con-
duct "from sensible and impartial persons," he
could not conscientiously interest himself in Rev.
Daser's behalf; "for," says the Doctor, " when a
minister makes himself familiar with drunkards,
flourishes with his sword at night along the streets,
throws stones at windows, &c, and his wife fre-
quents the theatre at night, leads in the dance at
weddings, &c, we can easily imagine what impres-
sions this must make upon well-meaning mem-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
217
bers! 0 Lord of Heaven, do Thou have mercy
upon such a state of things!"
For the purpose of carrying out his design, Rev.
Daser sailed in a vessel from Charleston to Lon-
don, in order to obtain Episcopal ordination; many
well-disposed persons subscribed liberally to the
support of his wife and two small children during
his absence; but a violent storm arose whilst the
vessel was out at sea, and so injured her that she
was obliged to return to Charleston. This provi-
dential occurrence had the effect of changing Rev.
Daser's purpose, and may have induced him to
become a wiser and better man, for his after-life
appears to have been considerably changed.
It is also recorded of him, that during his ab-
sence at sea, the members of St. John's Church
discovered that he had cut thirty-two leaves out of
their church-record book, for which they took
him to task immediately after his return, and he
acknowledged that he had cut out and burned
two leaves only. This accounts for the mutilation
in that church-book as mentioned by Mr. Schirmer
in his "Reminiscences of the Past."
Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg had no small difficulty in
healing the dissensions of the congregation. He
listened to all parties and heard their tale of
grievances patiently, preached to them faithfully
in the church every Sunday during his stixy among
them, called congregational meetings, and on the
fourth Sunday of his visit administered the com-
munion, and yet apparently with very little effect;
for some still wanted Rev. Daser to be recalled,
19
218
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
others desired the Rev. Mr. Martin, who now
labored in the Saluda Fork, to return and be their
pastor; whilst Dr. Muhlenberg, with many others,
believed it to be the best policy to call an entire
stranger from Germany or elsewhere, who could
exert much more influence, and heal all divisions,
than one who was already well known to the con-
gregation. Acting upon this belief, and as a last
resort, the Doctor drew up a petition to be sent to
the " Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,"
requesting it to send a pastor to this congregation,
which reads as follows:
"We, the subscribers, for the time being, war-
dens, vestrymen, and contributing members of the
German Lutheran St. John's Church and congre-
gation in and about Charleston, in South Carolina,
His Brittanick Majesty King George Ill's loyal
and dutiful subjects, do send greeting to the most
worthy and reverend fathers in God, Frederick
Ziegenhagen, His Majesty's Chaplain in the Ger-
man Chapel at St. James, Anastasius Freyling-
hausen, Louis Schultz, D.D., and to the Directors
of the East and West India Missions at Halle,
Gustavus Burgmann of the Savoy, Rector, and
William Pasche, Assistant in His Majesty's Ger-
man Chapel, all worthy members of the venerable
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and
do humbly request that," &c, &c. (here follows a
description of the kind of minister that was de-
sired, adding also this important clause), "who is
able and willing to propagate the Gospel accord-
ing to the foundations of the holy Apostles and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
219
Prophets, whereof Christ Jesus is the Corner-
stone, and to administer the holy sacraments,
agreeably to the articles of our unaltered Augus-
tan (Augsburg) Confession." (Then follow an
enumeration of the other pastoral duties, salary
promised, use of the parsonage rent free, precau-
tionary promises against further divisions in the
congregation, &c, concluding the whole with):
"In witness whereof, we have hereunto inter-
changeably set our hands and seals at Charleston,
in South Carolina, this 25th day of October, in
the sixteenth year of His Majesty's reign, Anno
Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-
four." Evangelical Review, vol. i, pp. 401 and
402.
Dr. Muhlenberg had the satisfaction to see this
petition signed by nearly all the members of the
congregation. It was carried around to each one
privately by several of the vestrymen, who by
their personal influence, and the great desire for
peace at last, enabled them thus to heal up the
unhappy divisions then existing in the congrega-
tion.
As a matter of course, this petition terminated
all hopes of Rev. F. Daser's ministrations in this
congregation for that time; how he returned and
served this people again, and under what circum-
stances, will also be made apparent.
The letter containing the petition of the congre-
gation to the " reverend Fathers" in Europe for a
pastor was sent to Rev. William Pasche in Lon-
don; a merchant in Charleston, Mr. Mey, took it
220
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
in charge, and forwarded it to Europe by the first
opportunity.
The vestry also sent another letter to the Rev.
J. N. Martin, beseeching him to serve the congre-
gation once more until the new pastor would
arrive, provided they should be successful in ob-
taining one from the Society in Europe. Rev.
Martin consented to their request, as Dr. Muhlen-
berg states: "To-day an elder of the congregation
showed me an answer from Rev. Mr. Martin, in
which he states, that in compliance with the desire
of the vestry, he will serve the Evangelical Con-
gregation of this place one and a half years, and,
Deo volente, will take charge the first Sunday in
Advent. Thus, it appears, this object is gained,
that the congregation will be supplied in the
meanwhile, until it can be seen what will result
from the critical strife between the Colonies and
their angry mother, and whether the intended call
to our reverend Fathers for an ordained minister
will meet with the desired effect."
Under date of October 15, Dr. Muhlenberg
states: "To-day I sent for the church records of
this congregation, and recorded the actus ministe-
riales that occurred during my five weeks' sojourn
in this place."
On the 26th of October, Dr. Muhlenberg took
affectionate leave of this people, after having satis-
factorily settled all the difficulties in the congrega-
tion. Many of his cherished friends attended him
to the vessel which was to take him, together with
his wife and daughter, who accompanied him, to
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
221
Savannah. The good that he had effected in
Charleston was long remembered by many grate-
ful hearts.
The church council agreed to pay Rev. J. 1ST.
Martin half of his travelling expenses to Charles-
ton, and give him a fixed salary of X130 quarterly,
which was accepted, and he returned once more
to them as their pastor early in December, 1774,
and labored faithfully among his people, beloved
by all, and in harmony with the various opposing
parties that had previously existed. About this
time the German Friendly Society presented the
church with a clock.
The time of engagement with Rev. Martin as
pastor among the Lutherans in Charleston was
now drawing to a close, and no hope as yet pre-
sented itself of obtaining a pastor from the So-
ciety for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge.
Troubles of a more serious nature were gathering thick and fast. The high price of the necessaries
of life, the struggles of the American Revolution
which had caused it, the irregularity and final ces-
sation of all commercial intercourse with Europe,
made it now a matter of impossibility to obtain
ministerial help from abroad; all of which induced
the congregation in 1776 to enter into a new agree-
ment with Rev. Martin, engaging him for two
years longer, inasmuch also as they were well
pleased with him as their pastor.
From an anniversary sermon, delivered b}7 Rev.
John Bachman, D.D., a glowing picture of the
state of this church at that time is furnished us.
222
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Doctor informs us, that "during the stormy
season of the Revolution, the Germans of this city
had been the strenuous advocates and defenders
of the rights of their adopted country. The Ger-
man Fiisilier Company was formed out of the
original members of this congregation. They par-
ticipated in the dangers and sufferings of the
Revolution, and their captain fell at the siege of
Savannah. Their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Martin,
many of whose descendants are still living among
us, on his refusal to pray for the king, was driven
from his church and his property was confiscated.
He was for a time placed under an arrest, and
was afterwards compelled to leave the city, to
which he did not return until the close of the war.
In the meantime, the church was partially supplied
by two other ministers, who were less exception-
able to our foreign rulers."
The two ministers, alluded to by Dr. Bachman,
were the Rev. Christian Streitt, and Rev. Fred-
erick Daser; however, it is not to be supposed
that the former was a Tory in principle. In the
memoir of Rev. Mr. Streitt, published in the
Evangelical Review, vol. ix, p. 379, we are in-
formed, that "during our Revolutionary struggle,
Rev. Streitt was appointed Chaplain in the army,
and was, for a season, in the service of the Third
Virginia regiment. Afterwards he was settled as
pastor of a congregation in Charleston, South
Carolina. During the sacking of the city in 1780,
he was taken prisoner by the British, and retained
as such until exchanged. The cause of his capture
was, undoubtedly, his unwavering patriotism and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
223
firm attachment to the principles of the American
Revolution. It is a source of congratulation to
the Lutheran Church, that those who ministered
at her altars during that memorable and trying
period, with scarcely an exception, were the de-
voted friends of their country."
The two pastors appear to have labored in
friendly connection with each other, as the signa-
tures of both are occasionally affixed to the records
of the proceedings of the vestry, whilst at other
times the signature of only one of them appears.
This may have been permitted by Pastor Streitt
and the vestry, from motives of respect to Rev.
Daser, and for the purpose of conciliating him
and his party.
Rev. Streitt entered upon the duties of his
office in 1778. During the month of April of
that year he preached several trial sermons, when
he, soon afterwards, became the pastor. He was
engaged to serve three years in this charge, but
was taken away before the expiration of that term
as a prisoner of war by the British. It was Rev.
Mr. Streitt, says Ramsay,vol. ii, p. 23, who "first
introduced divine service in the English language,
so as to have one service in English every second
or third Sunday." In July, 1782, he took charge
of ISfew Hanover Church, in Pennsylvania, and
in 1785 he commenced his labors in Winchester,
Virginia, where he remained to the close of his
life!"
An enormous rate of charges for ministerial
duties appears to have been established by the
vestry of St. John's Lutheran Church, in Charles-
224
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ton, in 1779, whilst the Eev. Mr. Streitt was the
pastor. This was done on account of the very
high price of provisions consequent upon the war,
and was to remain in force only so long as such a
state of things existed. They were as follows:
For attending a funeral, £10; for preaching a
funeral sermon, £30; and £50 for a marriage fee;
of course, all in Carolina currency.
In the year 1781, Rev. F. Daser seems to have
had sole charge of this church once more. This
was the period of British rule in Charleston, and
it is probable that he was the person who was
"less exceptionable to our foreign rulers," as
stated by Rev. Dr. Bachman. At all events he
continued in office during the whole of that period,
and resigned his charge of St. John's Church some
time after peace was declared, viz., in July, 1786,
when he removed to Orangeburg District, South
Carolina.
Section 7. The Lutheran Church in Amelia Town-
ship, Orangeburg District [County), South
Carolina.
In addition to the settlement of Germans and
Swiss in and around Orangeburg village, which
received the name of Orangeburg Township, so
great was the influx of German emigrants there,
that another township was soon laid out, north-
east of Orangeburg, and adjoining it, which was
named Amelia Township, where a Lutheran con-
gregation was organized and a house of worship
erected, that received the name St. Matthew's
Church, and which has survived all the vicissi-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
225
tucles and encroachments of more than a century
of time.
When it was organized and who was instru-
mental in effecting its organization can now be
only a matter of conjecture. From the church-
record book, kept by Rev. John Geissendanner,
and still preserved by his descendants, we learn
that he often visited the German settlers in Amelia
Township, and performed ministerial acts among
them; it is not improbable that he also occasion-
ally preached there, but nothing is stated con-
cerning a church-edifice and congregation having
existed in Amelia Township during the first years
of his ministry, and there is strong reason to be-
lieve that such was not the case, inasmuch as he,
at that time, connected the records of baptisms,
marriages, &c, of these people with those of the
Orangeburg congregation. Nevertheless, as he
must have labored there some nine years before
any other German minister arrived, he may have
been instrumental in organizing St. Matthew's
Lutheran Church.
In the year 1747, the Rev. Joachim Ziibly, D.D.,
removed from Frederica on St. Simon's Island, in
Georgia, and labored in this community. He was
a German Reformed minister, and is spoken of in
the highest terms in Dr. Muhlenberg's journal, as
follows: "Oct. 28. According to invitation, I and
my family dined with Rev. Dr. Ziibly, and I spent
the afternoon very pleasantly with him in his
library and study. He is an experienced, influen-
tial, learned, prudent, and very industrious man,
of a sanguine temperament. He has a larger col-
226
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
lection of fine books than any I have seen in
America. The external appearance of his library
and study is not surpassed by the most superior
in Germany. All the books appear like trees that
lose their fruit in autumn, so that innumerable
printed leaves, whole and half tracts, manuscripts,
&c, are scattered on the floor. It reminded me
of the polyhistorian Markosius, and our venerable
Bogatzky, whose studies are said to appear in
such good order, that the most noted housewife
dare not venture to arrange anything in them, lest
she should put them in disorder. January 9th.
Towards evening Rev. Dr. Ziibly arrived here,
who communicated to us in the evening his man-
uscript Latin dissertation, 'Pro gradu doctoris,'
which will shortly be printed. January 10th.
Towards evening Rev. Dr. Ziibly returned from
Purysburg, where he had preached in English,
and refreshed us during the evening with Christian conversation."
During the ministrations of Dr. Ziibly in Amelia
Township, he doubtless was instrumental in effect-
ing the organization of "The German Calvinistic
Church of St. John on the Fourhole," which was
incorporated by that name by the State Legisla-
ture in 1788, but is now no longer in existence,
and its members and their descendants have long
since been mostly absorbed by the Lutheran
churches in the vicinity. Fourhole is the name of
a creek in Amelia Township, which with the fact
that this (St. John's) Church is clustered together
with the two Lutheran churches located in
Orangeburg District (County), in one and the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
227
same bill of incorporation, locates that church in
Amelia Township, or immediately below it, in
Orangeburg County, which encompasses all that
territory.
Rev. Dr. Ziibly afterwards removed to Savan-
nah, Georgia; where Dr. Muhlenberg met him
on his way to Ebenezer.
In the year 1760, the Rev. John George Fried-
erichs, the founder of the first Lutheran church in
Charleston, commenced to labor in Amelia Town-
ship, and remained in this pastorate for a long
time, being still at that post of duty on October
15th, 1774, when Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg gives the
following account of him:
"I received an agreeable letter from Rev. John
George Friederichs, Lutheran minister in Amelia
Township, one hundred miles in the country,
dated October 15th, 1774, in which he states, that
he learned of my arrival in Charleston, first from
Rev. Hochheimer, who traveled through here, and
was assured of it by letter of September 20th ult.,
which afforded him very great pleasure, and in-
duced him to prepare for a journey to Charleston,
but that he was prevented by sickness and the
fear of not meeting me here, especially as I had
intimated in my letter that I intended, God will-
ing, to continue my journey to Georgia in October.
But that he would request my host, Mr. Kimmel,
to inform him when I returned to Charleston, and
then, if we lived, visit me, &c, &c. The person
bringing the letter returning to-morrow, I an-
swered his letter and sought to encourage him to
fight the good fight, to keep the faith, and to finish
228
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the course, &c. He sustains a good character for
sound doctrine and exemplary conduct among in-
formed persons; he has no family, and is satisfied
with the necessaries of life.
"A laborer, standing thus alone in the wilderness
among rude people, must be much encouraged
when he receives unexpectedly a few lines of com-
fort from a fellow-suffering and tempted cross-
bearer, as is manifest from his answer to my first
letter. It is written, 'Woe to him that is alone/"
How long afterwards Rev. Friederichs labored
in this charge cannot be ascertained, but it is pre-
sumed that he remained there in the faithful dis-
charge of his duty to the close of his life. Per-
haps he did not live long after Dr. M.'s visit to
Charleston, for nothing is further recorded of
him, and his name does not appear among the list
of ministers in South Carolina, who formed the
Corpus Evangelicum in 1787; and in 1786 an-
other minister had taken charge of the pastorate
in Amelia Township.
It was during the ministry of Rev. J. G. Fried-
erichs in this community, that a colony of Ger-
mans came from Maine and settled in Orangeburg
District, accompanied by their pastor, the Rev.
Mr. Cilley or Silly; but, inasmuch as the records
of this colonization of Germans do not harmonize
with each other, they are inserted here without
comment, leaving the reader to form his own con-
clusions.
J. C. Hope, Esq., speaking of the Lutheran set-
tlers in Orangeburg District, says: "In 1763 a
colony of German Lutherans came from Maine,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
229
accompanying their pastor Silly, and joined their
brethren in South Carolina; but in time the most
of these returned."
Rev. Dr. Hazelius' statement is: "Rev. Mr.
Cilley arrived in South Carolina with a colony of
German emigrants from Maine, in the year 1773.
But of his labors and success no accounts can be
found."
The statement in "The Javelin," pp. 170 and
171, is as follows: "The disappointment and suf-
fering which they were presently made to endure
in consequence of the deceptions practiced upon
them, were trying in the extreme. And to all
their other troubles, the Indians fell upon them
also, and destroyed many lives and much sub-
stance. Ill-treated, robbed, wronged and disap-
pointed, many of them, under the guidance of a
Moravian clergyman, left Muscungus (Maine), and
emigrated to Carolina, in 1773."
Section 8. The Lutheran Churches in Saxe-Gotha
Township, Lexington District (County), South
Carolina.
Saxe-Gotha Township having been settled as
early as 1737, principally by Germans and Swiss,
who continued to arrive there for several years
following, soon became well populated by these
colonists, considering the difficulties of emigration
and state of the country at that time. The Ger-
man Reformed settlers, as already stated, were
supplied with a pastor, who labored among them
from the year 1739 to the close of his life, a period
of more than fifty years, for he was still living in
230
THE LUTHERAN. CHURCH
1789. The Lutherans were not so fortunate as
their German Reformed brethren, in being thus
early supplied with the regular means of grace.
At the time of Dr. Muhlenberg's visit to Charles-
ton, in 1774, there were two Lutheran ministers
laboring in Saxe-Gotha, the Rev. Lewis Hoch-
heimer, at Sandy Run, and the Rev. J. 1ST. Martin,
in the Saluda Fork, and it is safely presumed that
they were the first Lutheran ministers who labored
in that township; at all events, it is an ascertained
fact, recorded in the Urlsperger Reports, that no
Lutheran minister had labored there previous to
the year 1750, when a petition was sent to the pas-
tors of Ebenezer, Georgia, signed by two hundred
and eighty Lutherans, beseeching those pastors
to send them a minister; yet their petition was
not regarded, and they were left without a pastor
of their own faith. How long they continued in
this spiritually destitute condition is not known,
but it is more than probable, judging from the
condition of the colony and of the Church at the
time of the criminal conduct of the Weberites, in
1760, that the Lutherans of Saxe-Gotha were then
still destitute of the means of grace. Seven years
later Rev. Martin removed from Charleston and
commenced his labors in the Saluda Fork, but no
records inform us at what time Rev.. Hochheimer
commenced his ministry in the Sandy Run Church. The members of the Lutheran Church of that
portion of Saxe-Gotha bordering on the Congaree
River, known better as the Sandy Run settlement,
although privileged to hear the Gospel in their na-
tive language from the lips of the German Re-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
231
formed minister, Rev. Christian Theus, still felt it
their duty to build a church for themselves, where
they could worship God according to the princi-
ples of their own faith; but at what time they took
the proper steps to secure this object, although so
much discouraged by Rev. Bolzius, is not known.
Nevertheless, as the Urlsperger Reports, which
gives us the Church news generally, does not
mention this fact up to the year 1760 (the latest
date of the Ebenezer pastors' diary), and as the
Cherokee War would naturally interfere with all
ecclesiastical enterprises, it can be safely inferred,
that the building of the Lutheran church at Sandy
Run, probably the earliest erected Lutheran
Church in Saxe-Gotha, was not commenced before
the year 1765.
Nine years later we have a brief record from
Dr. Muhlenberg's journal, as follows: "A visit
from Rev. Lewis Hochheimer, 120 miles from
here, at Sandy Run, who related to me the events
of his life, and offered to assist me in preaching
next Sunday." "Sunday, September 18th. In
the afternoon I went again to church and heard
Rev. Hochheimer preach from Psalm 50: 21:
< These things hast thou done and I kept silence,'
quite edifying and systematic." "Monday, Sep-
tember 19th. Rev. Hochheimer took leave, and
promised to give me a correct description of some
Lutheran congregations in this neighborhood."
These records indicate that a Lutheran church
existed at Sandy Run at that time, and that the
congregation had a pastor, the Rev. Lewis Hoch-
heimer.
232
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The early settlers along the Congaree River se-
lected their lands and erected their dwellings very
near the river banks, where they could obtain the
richest lands, and enjoy all the advantages of
water transportation, fishing, &c; but where they,
on the other hand, suffered much from the effects
of the miasma arising from the river and its nu-
merous swamps. Nevertheless, they clung to their
original settlements and homes until disease had
made repeated inroads upon their robust consti-
tutions, and death had greatly diminished their
original number.
Wherever they had located their houses and
homes, there likewise did they erect their church,
about three miles from the present situation of
Salem Church, Sandy Run. The old graveyard,
which was not far removed from the church, is
still pointed out under the appellation of " The
Church Field;" and it is stated that so swampy
or spongy is the condition of the land, that many
a coffin was lowered in its grave which had become
half filled with water, so that the coffin became
quite covered with that element; and all efforts
to remedy the evil at that place were unavailing.
Yet it did not occur to the members of the church
until a long time afterwards, to remove the church
and graveyard to a more elevated situation.
It is to be lamented that we know so little of
Rev. Hochheimer's history; when he became
pastor, how long he remained at Sandy Run,
what the condition of the church was during the
Revolution, who succeeded Rev. Hochheimer,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
233
when and where he died and was buried? all
these are questions which, it is feared, will never
be answered, and these answers, with other in-
teresting facts connected with them, may lie for-
ever buried in the oblivion of the past.
Three Lutheran congregations composed at one
time the Saluda charge: Zion's or Mount Zion,
on Twelve-mile Creek, St. Peter's, on Eighteen-
mile Creek, and Bethel, on High Hill Creek.
They are always spoken of in the old records of
their church-books as having formed one pastor-
ate; but how far back this arrangement extended
cannot now be ascertained. Salem Church, on
Hollow Creek, was added to this pastorate at a
much later date, probably some time at the be-
ginning of the present century.
In the year 1767 the Rev. John Nicholas Martin
commenced to labor in the Fork of the Saluda and
Broad Rivers, and remained there until the close
of the year 1774, when he was recalled to Charles-
ton, as temporary pastor of St. John's Lutheran
Church.
During the Revolutionary War, it is probable
that these churches were vacant, as no Lutheran
minister was residing then in that part of South
Carolina, unless, perhaps, the Rev. Lewis Hoch-
heimer of Sandy Run was still living, and occa-
sionally visited them.
Section 9. Other German Churches in South Carolina.
Newberry District (County) was only partially
settled by Germans, and at a period succeeding
20
234 THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
f
the colonization of Saxe-Gotha. A number of
German churches existed there in 1788, which
were incorporated at that time by legislative en-
actment, the names of which were: "The German
Lutheran Church of Bethlehem, on Forest's
(Fust's) Ford;" "The German Lutheran Church
of St. Jacob, on Wateree Creek;" "The German
Protestant Church of Bethany, on Green Creek;"
and "The German Lutheran Church of St. Mar-
tin." The last one mentioned was not organized
until after the Revolutionary "War. (See minutes
of Corpus Evangelicum.) When these congre-
gations were organized, and whether they had a
pastor previous to the Revolutionary period, is
not known, and the probability is that no minister
labored there at that time. The first pastor min-
istering there, of whom we have any knowledge,
was the Rev. Frederick Joseph Wallern, whose
name occurs in the first minutes of the Corpus
Evangelicum, in 1787, but of the date of his arrival
in Newberry nothing is said.
At Hard Labor Creek, Abbeville District
(County), there was also a Lutheran Church,
likewise incorporated in 1788, and named St.
George; but unless the German settlers brought
their pastor with them from Germany, of which
nothing is said in the records of their colonization,
it is exceedingly doubtful whether they were sup-
plied with the means of grace in the German
language previous to the Revolution, inasmuch
as this German settlement was only made in
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
235
1764, eleven years before the breaking out of the
war.
Concerning the other settlements of Germans
in South Carolina very little can be said during
this period, except that which has already been
stated; the one on Indian Field Swamp, fifty
miles from Charleston, had no minister for some
time: they were supplied with the labors of a
German preacher in 1774, whether Lutheran or
Reformed is not stated, and even his name is not
mentioned; the congregation worshiped in a barn
belonging to Philip Eisenman.
Dr. Muhlenberg speaks of the condition of this
German settlement as follows: "My kind host re-
ceived a visit to-day from an intimate German
family of our denomination from old Indian
Swamp, fifty miles in the country. The man is
named Philip Eisenman, has a farm of his own,
but no negroes. He and his wife cultivate the
place themselves, in the sweat of their brows.
They lamented the want of schools aud churched
in their neighborhood. He has arranged his barn
for public worship, and they have accepted as
preacher a young man lately arrived from Ger-
many, and who might answer for a schoolmaster,
lie writes his sermon through the week, and
reads it on Sunday, and even reads with it the
Lord's prayer also, being yet young, and excusing
himself with: 'The Lord not having gifted him
with a retentive memory.' The credentials
brought by him from Germany are — a black
suit of clothes. The remaining fragments, to
236
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
wit, band, &c, he obtained from his countryman,
Rev. Daser. The two honest old people com-
plained that his preaching was so meagre and
dry, and left the heart entirely unaffected, and
they wanted something, therefore, more to awaken
and nourish the heart."
It is not known at what time these people suc-
ceeded in building their church, but it is not very
probable that they accomplished this undertaking
until after the Revolutionary War, inasmuch as
they had no church at the time of Dr. Muhlen-
berg's visit, which was only a few months previous
to the battle of Lexington, Mass. In 1788 this
settlement had a church organization and a house
of worship, incorporated under the name of " The
German Protestant Church of St. George, on In-
dian Field Swamp."
The German Protestant congregation in Rich-
land District (County), near the Fairfield line, in-
corporated at the same time by the name of "The
German Protestant Church of Appii Forum, on
Cedar Creek," was established during this period.
Mills, in his Statistics, p. 722, says: "The Presby-
terians were the first religious society established
in the (Richland) District; they erected a church
on the banks of Cedar Creek anterior to the Rev-
olution." Dr. Howe, in his "History of the Pres-
byterian Church in South Carolina," p. 494, says:
"It must have been of the German Reformed
connection, and was ministered to by Rev. William
Dubard, who died of the small-pox in the city of
Charleston, near the close of the Revolutionary
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 237
War." Dr. Howe thinks it probable that this was
the church which became incorporated by legis-
lative enactment, in 1788, under the name of " The
German Protestant Church of Appii Forum, on
Cedar Creek."
From the memoranda furnished Dr. Howe, p.
495, by A. F. Dubard, of Cedar Creek, Richland,
we learn that "the traditions of the neighborhood
speak of it as having continued in existence into
the next century, the successors of Mr. Dubard
being a clergyman by the name of Penegar,
another by the name of Houck, and another by
the name of Loutz. The house of worship was
built of logs, with an earth floor."
"Our informant speaks of Mr. Loutz as a man
of education and influence, who visited this church
from North Carolina, where his residence was.
The communion seasons were to his mind, in his
youth, scenes of great solemnity. The commu-
nicants, approaching the table one after another,
received the elements of bread and wine in a
standing posture, and passed away from the table
with clasped hands and uplifted eyes."
"This church had occasional preaching by
others, but became extinct as a Presbyterian
church of the German Reformed order, and the
neighborhood became the seat of a Methodist
church and congregation. No traces of this
church now remain."
The Rev. Mr. Houck, or Hauck, is mentioned
in the minutes of the Lutheran Synod of North
Carolina, A.D. 1812, p. 7, as a candidate for the
238
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ministry, who desired to be ordained by that body
as a minister of the German Reformed Church;
"but this Synod, after due consideration, con-
cluded that they could not consistently do any-
thing in this matter."
Dr. Muhlenberg mentions the name of a Rev.
Mr. Hausile as having preached twice in the Ger-
man Lutheran Church of Charleston "a few years
ago," but whether he became permanently located
in South Carolina, and where he labored is not
known.
The following is a list of all the German min-
isters who were laboring in South Carolina imme-
diately preceding the Revolutionary War, as far
as the records in the writer's possession appear to
indicate, namely: 1. Rev. John ~N. Martin, pastor
of the Lutheran church in Charleston; 2. Rev. F.
Daser, no charge, but still residing in Charleston;
3. Rev. , preacher at Indian Field Swamp; 4.
Rev. John G. Friederichs, pastor of the Lutheran
churches in Amelia Township, Orangeburg Dis-
trict; 5. Rev. Lewis Hochheimer, pastor of Salem
Lutheran Church, Sandy Run; 6. Rev. Christian
Theus, German Reformed pastor in Saxe-Gotha
Township; 7. Rev. Christian Streit, pastor, for a
short time during the Revolution, of the Lutheran
church in Charleston; and although the names
of Revs. Cilley and Hausile are also mentioned,
nothing special is known concerning them; 8.
Rev. William Dubard, German Reformed pastor
at Cedar Creek Church, Richland District.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
239
Section 10. Early History of St. John's Lutheran
Church, Salisbury, N. C.
It is a cheerful task for the writer of historical
narrative to enter upon a field where the earliest
records are abundant, carefully made, and well
preserved. This is the case in regard to nearly
an the churches in North Carolina, whose original
church record-books and titles to church property
are still extant, and the reports of whose pastors'
labors, like those of the Pennsylvania and Georgia
ministers, had been sent to Germany, and were
published there.
St. John's Lutheran Church, in Salisbury, North
Carolina, is first brought to view, and was doubt-
less the first Lutheran congregation organized in
that Province, under the following circumstances:
The German citizens of that place organized
themselves into a congregation in the days of King
George III, and several years before the Revolu-
tion, when Salisbury was as yet denominated "a
township," containing but few dwellings and a
small number of inhabitants. One of the wealthy
citizens residing there, John Lewis Beard, a mem-
ber of the Lutheran Church, was bereaved by
death of a beloved daughter. Whether the town-
ship of Salisbury could then boast of a regular
"God's acre" is not known, and the probability
is that the mortal remains of departed ones were,
at that early period, deposited without many re-
ligious services in the grounds of each landholder
in whose family or family connection the death
240
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
occurred, a custom thus early established from the
force of circumstances, and still reverently ob-
served by many in various parts of this country.
In the same manner was the body of Mr. Beard's
daughter laid in the silent tomb, opened on her
father's town property, in a lot containing nearly
an acre, and well selected for the quiet repose of
the dead. However, the question then naturally
arose, Shall that hallowed spot, consecrated by the
repose of the dead and the tears of foud survivors,
ever be disturbed by the march of civilization?
To prevent such an occurrence, the forefather of
the Beard family in Salisbury made and executed
the following land title, donating the grounds upon
which his daughter slept the quiet slumber of the
dead, to the German Lutheran Church, the
Church of his choice. The original title is still
preserved, and enables us to glance at the peculiar
customs of that day in making conveyance of prop-
erty, as well as to learn the condition of the Church
at that time.
Leaving out all useless and redundant matter,
it reads as follows:
"This indenture, made September 9, 1768, be-
tween John Lewis Beard, of Salisbury, in the
County of Rowan, and Province of Worth Caro-
lina (butcher), of the one part, and Michael Brown,
Michael More, Caspar Guenther, and Peter Reeb,
Trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation
in the township of Salisbury, of the county and
province aforesaid, of the other part, Witnesseth,
that for and in consideration of the sum of five
shillings, &c, &c, and for other good causes, him
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
241
thereunto moving, hath granted, &c, &c, unto the
said trustees of the said congregation aforesaid, and
to their successors in office forever" (here follows
the boundaries and description of the lot, contain-
ing 144 square poles), "unto the German Lutheran
congregation in and about Salisbury, for to erect
and build thereon a church, for the only proper
use and behoof of the said German Lutheran con-
gregation forever" (here follows a long descrip-
tion of the manner the vacancies in the trustees'
office are to be filled, granting also the use of the
church to) "the High Church of England, and to
the Reformed Calvin ministers at such time as the
said Lutheran minister doth not want to perform
divine service in said church," &c, &c. Signed
and sealed by John Lewis Beard, in presence of
John Braly, Andreas Betz, and Valentine Mauny.
The historical facts derived from this convey-
ance and from other sources are the following:
In the year 1768, Salisbury had as yet no house
of worship of any kind within its precincts; min-
isters of the Gospel may have often or occasionally
preached in the private or public houses of the
place, and persons may have worshiped in other
churches in the country, but no church existed in
Salisbury at that early period.
Although trustees had been elected for the Lu-
theran congregation there, indicating that some
kind of organization had been effected, yet regular
worship could not have been held among the mem-
bers, as no Lutheran minister was then laboring in
all North Carolina; all these arrangements were
21
242
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
made preparatory to, and anticipating the regular
administration of the means of grace.
The Lutheran church in Salisbury is the oldest
church established in the place, and from other
sources we learn that the congregation had a log
church edifice erected on the lot granted by Mr.
Beard, in order that they might secure the land
to the congregation as stipulated by the grantor,
in which he also rendered them every assistance
in his power. This log church was built soon
after the lot of land was granted.
This deed seems to have answered the threefold
purpose of a title to the land, a charter, conferring
upon the congregation certain rights and privi-
leges, and a code of by-laws for its government,
and thus has the appearance of a very peculiar
legal document.
The first pastor of this church was the Rev.
Adolph Nussmann, a ripe and thorough scholar,
and, what is still better, a devoted, self-sacrificing,
and pious Christian. He came from Germany in
1773 under circumstances related in Section 13,
succeeding, but did not labor long in this congre-
gation. He removed to Dutch Buffalo Creek
Church, now better known as St. John's Lutheran
Church, Cabarrus County. He was succeeded by
Rev. Godfrey Arndt, who had charge of Organ
Church at the same time, but soon removed to the
west side of the Catawba River.
The Lutherans at Salisbury were energetic par-
ticipators in the Revolutionary struggle, arraying
themselves on the side of liberty and independence,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
243
as can be seen by referring to Wheeler's History
of North Carolina, where the names of Beard,
Barringer, Beekman, Mull and others, frequently
occur in connection with those who labored and
fought for their country's welfare and honor.
During this trying period the Lutheran church
in Salisbury was vacant for a few years, but was
visited by Revs. Nussrnann and Arndt as often as
the circumstances of the country would admit.
Section 11. Early History of Organ Church,
Rowan County, N. C.
The proper name of this congregation is " Zion's
Church," but there are few persons, even among
its members, who are acquainted with its true
name. The fact that it was, until recently, the
only Lutheran church in North Carolina which
was possessed of such an instrument of music, has
given it this sobriquet, by which it is generally
known and so called in all the records of the Lu-
theran Church in the State. The old organ—a
relic of the past—is still there, but its voice is no
longer heard in the worship of the congregation;
like the voices of its contemporaries, who are now
mouldering in the adjoining graveyard, its spirit
of music is fled, and the external remains, encom-
passing a number of broken and disarranged pipes,
are all that is left to remind us of a former age, a
former congregation, and of a master whom it
once honored. How forcibly, under such circum-
244
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
stances, do the following lines of Moore's Melo-
dies strike the mind!
"The harp that once, through Tara's halls,
The soul of music shed,
Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls,
As if that soul were fled."
The history of this congregation is gathered
from the old German church-book, which is still
carefully preserved, and the historic records are
made therein by one of the first pastors, Rev. C.
A. G. Storch, from which a correct idea may be
obtained of the past transactions of the people
who worshiped there.
ThefirstGermansettlersofthatportionofRowan
County, along Second Creek, came from Pennsyl-
vania, and were members of the Lutheran and
German Reformed Churches, but in numbers far
too few to erect a church for the sole use of either
denomination; hence they concluded to build a
temporary house of worship to be owned by them-
selves jointly, and which was called " The Hickory
Church." According to the statement of the late
Rev. J. A. Linn, this church occupied the site on
which St. Peter's Lutheran Church now stands,
and was built by permission on the land of Mr.
Fullenwider, who, however, never gave the two
congregations a title for this spot of ground, as
the church was considered a temporary building
only, to be occupied alternately by both these de-
nominations, each of which expected to erect their
own house of worship at a later period. The term
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
245
"Hickory Church" also indicates of what perish-
able material this house of worship was built, and
was in keeping with the original idea. It was
soon left unoccupied, and in course of a few years
it crumbled into ruins. More than half a century
later a want for a church to be built on this same
site was again felt, when St. Peter's Lutheran
Church was organized, and a more durable build-
ing was erected.
As was the case with all the first German set-
tlers in North Carolina, who did not bring their
pastor with them, so likewise were the Lutheran
members of the Hickory Church destitute of the
means of grace for some length of time, and as no
other hope of obtaining a regularly ordained min-
ister of the Gospel presented itself, the members
were resolved to send to Germany for a pastor.
In this manner they secured the services of Rev.
Adolph KTussmann as their pastor, and Gottfried
Arndt as their schoolteacher.
The new pastor preached but one year in the
Hickory Church to both denominations, after
which some dissension arose, and a majority of the
Lutherans then resolved to build a church for
themselves, and in this manner originated Zion's Church, better known as Organ Church. The
members of the German Reformed Church soon
followed the example of their Lutheran brethren,
and likewise built a new church on another loca-
tion, which they named Grace Church, but is
more frequently called "The Lower Stone
Church," on account of its position lower down
246
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the stream above mentioned, and built of the same
material as Organ Church.
Before the building of Organ Church was quite
completed, Rev. A. Nussmann left this congrega-
tion, and went as pastor to Buffalo Creek Church,
in Cabarrus County.
The congregation, which now had a church but
no pastor, sent their schoolteacher, Gottfried Arndt,
to be ordained to the office of the ministry, in the
year 1775. He served them through the trying
period of the Revolution, until 1786, when he
moved to the Catawba River, residing in Lincoln
County, and labored in that field to the close of
his life.
Section 1L2. Early History of St. John's Church,
Cabarrus County, N. C
Cabarrus County is known in the early records
as Mecklenburg County, in which it was included,
but was formed into a separate county in the year
1792. The eastern portion of it was settled en-
tirely by Germans, the most of whom came from
Pennsylvania.
During the Revolutionary War, a number of
Hessian soldiers deserted from the British army
at Savannah, after the siege of that place, and
found their way to the German settlement on
Dutch Buffalo Creek, intermarried with these
settlers, and were thus permanently located there.
They, in a measure, supplied the loss of so many
young men in that settlement, who had sacrificed
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA,
247
their lives in the service of their country. This col-
ony suffered severely during that dark and bloody
period. Although no regular army assailed these
Germans, or passed through their settlement, yet
they had to contend much with the Tories, whilst
many of their young men enlisted as soldiers in the
American army. One family, named Schwartz-
walder(Blackwelder), had seven sons, four of whom
were in the battle of Camden, South Carolina, and
two or three of them found soldiers' graves upon
that battlefield, having lost their lives in the service
of their country. Others shared the same fate,
whilst those at home had several skirmishes with
the Tories. The following account of the action,
which one of these early settlers took in the war
for independence, is given by one of his grand-
sons, and may not be uninteresting:
"John Paul Barringer, who took an active part
in all public matters, was known as Captain Bar-
ringer long before the Revolution, and during this
war, though too old for regular service, took the
lead against the Tories in his section, and so odi-
ous did he become to them from his efficient and
unceasing efforts against them, that they surprised
him in his bed at night, and posted him off as a
prisoner to Camden, where he remained in con-
finement several months, if not during the re-
mainder of the war. In the meantime the Tories
stole and destroyed most of his property, and left
his family, then afflicted with small-pox, in a most
helpless and distressing condition."
In this manner did the greater number of these
248
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
German settlers suffer, inasmuch as a special ha-
tred was manifested towards them by their enemies
during the war, since they were residents of that
patriotic county, whose citizens had first declared
their sentiments of independence in the Mecklenburg Declaration, May 20th, 1775. Some one or
two German names from this section of that county
may be distinguished as signers of that Declara-
tion.
Governor Try on, who came to this part of North
Carolina on a visit, with the view of again con-
ciliating matters in favor of the existing govern-
ment, some few years before the Revolution, when
the Regulators had enlivened the minds of the
people against the tyrannical authorities of the
Province, arrived in the settlement on Dutch Buf-
falo Creek, and lodged with Captain Barringer,
who was well known for his influence and hospi-
tality.
"The story is," continues his grandson, "that
the Governor appeared in full uniform, with a
cocked hat and sword, drank freely of the Cap-
tain's rich wine, which was always kept on hand,
condescended to try his skill in mowing the green
meadows of Dutch Buffalo, and left fully per-
suaded, so kind and generous was the entertain-
ment, that he had not a stancher friend in all the
country as 'the gallant Dutchman.' But in this
he was, of course, sadly disappointed."
In the old church record-book, and in the old
minutes of the North Carolina Synod, the congre-
gation of St. John's is known as "Dutch Buffalo
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 249
Creek Church," because its members were princi-
pally located along that stream of water, and be-
cause their first place of worship and their first
graveyard had its location near the same creek,
three miles distant from its present situation. The
first church edifice was, of course, exceedingly
plain, made of unhewn logs, and served the people
the double purpose of a schoolhouse and place of
worship. Both the German Reformed and Lu-
therans worshiped in the same building for a
certain period of time, after which a more com-
modious building was erected for the united wor-
ship of the two denominations, about half a mile
removed from the location of the present church
edifice. This second building, in point of archi-
tectural style, was but little better than the former,
except that it was somewhat larger, and fitted for
the exclusive use of Divine worship.
About the year 1771, the members of the Lu-
theran Church, at the suggestion of Captain John
Paul Barringer, separated themselves from their
German Reformed brethren, and built their own
church on the site of the upper portion of the
present graveyard. The work was undertaken by
Daniel Jarrett, whilst Captain Barringer acted as
the building committee. This church was built
chiefly at his own expense, and out of gratitude to
him the congregation had a pew constructed for
the special benefit of himself and family, which
was somewhat raised above the others, located in a
prominent place in the church, and inclosed. He
was a true-hearted and thorough Lutheran, devot-
250
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
edly attached to his church, and seemed to have
been a defender of the rights of the German set-
tlers there, and a leading man among them.
It was not until the year 1774, that the congre-
gation obtained their first pastor, who had been
laboring about a year and some months at Organ
Church and in Salisbury, and who had been
brought to America by a deputation sent from
Organ and St. John's Churches to Germany, in
1773. He located himself about one and a half
miles east of St. John's Church, on a tract of land
of his own entry or purchase, and labored faith-
fully all the remaining days of his life among this
people. The congregation also secured about the
same time the services of a Mr. Friesland as their
schoolteacher.
On the 22d of October, 1782, three benevolent
members of the church council, Jacob Fegert,
Marx Haus, and Jacob Thieme, paid the sum of
fifty shillings, the accustomed rate, for one hun-
dred acres of government land, on a portion of
which the church had already been built, and en-
tered it "in trust for the congregation of Dutch
Buffalo Meeting-House." This wise procedure
manifested considerable forethought in those first
members of the church, for the land is now valu-
able, and has been of much service to the congre-
gation.
A short time before the close of the war, which had already so sadly affected all the peaceful pur-
suits of life, and disarranged much of the affairs
of the church, when the prospect of peace and pros-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 251
perity reanimated all hearts, a constitution was
adopted for the government of this congregation.
It is written in the German language, and in Pas-
tor Nussmann's handwriting, inscribed in the an-
tiquated church-book, still carefully preserved.
This constitution was compiled, as stated by
Rev. Nussmann, from the "Kirchenordnung of
our Evangelical brethren in Smyrna, and the one
used in England and Holland, but made suitable
to the circumstances of our country/' Erom this
constitution, which is exceedingly strict, both in
doctrine and discipline, the following facts are
gathered:
1. That the church was placed under the super-
vision of the Consistory of Hanover and the Uni-
versity of Gottingen, and that, whenever the
congregation should be in want of a pastor, ap-
plication was to be made to that Consistory or
University. However, in case of war or other
untoward circumstances, when correspondence
would necessarily be interrupted, the congrega-
tion was then to apply to the ministry in connec-
tion with the Pennsylvania Synod.
2. That the pastor was bound to confess himself
with heart and mouth to the symbolical books of our
Evangelical Church.
3. That the pastor was to be in regular corres-
pondence with the brethren of the same faith in
Europe; that he was to send them minute reports
of church matters every six weeks, asking aid and
counsel whenever the circumstances required it,
as soon as the long-wished-for peace would once
252
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
more open conveniences for correspondence be-
tween Europe and America.
4. A regular support for the pastor and school-
teacher was expected from the members, and be-
fore they could engage the services of either, it
was made binding upon them to state the positive
annual amount of salary for their support in the
written call. A portion of the schoolteacher's
salary consisted in the use of a certain amount of
good land, which the members were to cultivate
for him, and also to gather the grain, hay, &c,
into his barn, when the proper season arrived.
5. Provision was also made for orphan children
and such other persons, as were in needy circum-
stances.
6. All marriages had to be proclaimed, accord-
ing to the custom of the country, three Sundays
in succession before the marriage could take place,
and none except the minister was allowed to per-
form the ceremony.
7. The church council were usually designated,
according to the recommendation of this constitu-
tion, as adjunct executors in all wills and testa-
ments, for the purpose of taking special care of
the children of the deceased in their religious
education.
8. The following order of service for public
worship in the sanctuary was established:
a. A hymn of praise.
b. A collect, or the epistle for the day.
c. The principal hymn.
d. Reading of the Scriptures.
IN N0KTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
253
6. The creed, or a short Sunday hymn.
/. The sermon.
g. The singing of a few verses. h. A short catechetical exercise. i. A long prayer, suitable either to the catechi-
zation, sermon, or other circumstances. k. The benediction.
I. The concluding verse of the principal hymn.
9. The liturgy adopted by this congregation
was the one used in the German Lutheran Court
Chapel of St. James, in London; and the Marburg
hymn-book, which was reprinted for the use of the
churches in Germantown and Philadelphia, was
also introduced in the worship of this congregation.
Section 13. The Delegation sent from North Caro-
lina to Europe for Pastors and Teachers, and
the subsequent organization of the Helmstaedt
Mission Society.
The German settlements in the interior of North Carolina, although commenced in the year 1750,
were of very gradual growth, owing to the pecu-
liar manner in which they were made. They
were not favored with shiploads of emigrants
direct from Germany; their increase of colonists
depended on the overland route, made in wagons
and on foot, from the Province of Pennsylvania.
It took all of fifteen or twenty years before these
settlers were sufficiently numerous to form them-
selves into congregations, but after these congre-
254
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
gations were organized, the urgent want of the
regular administration of the word and sacraments
was also felt. The slow but gradual increase of
these German settlements will account for the ap-
parent tardiness which these settlers manifested
in sending for ministers of the Gospel, and the
manner in which they journeyed to North Caro-
lina made it almost impossible for them to take
their pastors with them. But after the harvest
was ripe for the sickle, where to obtain pastors
for their newly organized congregations, that was
a question not easily answered. The Synod of
Pennsylvania had no ministers to spare, for even
in that favored Province the want of ministers
was greatly felt, having to apply constantly to the
Church in Germany to supply the wants of their
ever-increasing German population and churches,
and to go farther South for ministerial help was
utterly useless, for there the want and scarcity was
still greater.
In view of this great want, felt everywhere
among the Germans in America at this time, Dr.
Muhlenberg expresses himself as follows (Evang.
Review, vol. i, p. 414): "True, enough teachers
and false apostles may be found, who pervert the
word of God, and manufacture the most baneful
sects with it! 0 how necessary, useful, and con-
solatory would it not be, if we were able to erect
a long-wished-for institution, in which Catechets
could be trained who would be capable and willing
to teach school during the week, and to deliver a
discourse (Vortrag) on the Lord's day. It would
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
255
not be necessary to torment such subjects many
years with foreign languages; it would be suffi-
cient if they possessed mother wit, a compendious
knowledge and experience of the marrow and sap
of theology, could write a tolerable hand, under-
stood their vernacular (German) and the English
tongues, and the elements of Latin. They should
also possess a robust bodily constitution, able to
endure every kind of food and weather, and espe-
cially have a heart that sincerely loves Jesus and
his lambs.
"In America there are schools, gymnasiums,
academies, and universities enough (and their
number is multiplying with the increased taste)
for lawyers, notaries, physicians, philosophers,
candidates for benefices, critics, orators, sea cap-
tains, merchants, artists, &c, &c, but who helps
the half-dead man that has fallen among thieves,
and lies bleeding? Priests and Levites pass by on
the other side, for their law forbids them to touch
anything unclean. And if occasionally some be
found who profess themselves Samaritans, they
have, notwithstanding, ofttimes unrighteous ob-
jects; bind up, it is true, the wounds of the help-
less sufferer, and set him on their own beast, but,
at the same time, expect as a recompense to own him entirely and to lead him to their sectarian inn,
when the proverb is verified, 'The remedy is worse
than the disease,' as can be shown by many ex-
amples. This matter belongs to the pia desideria
(pious desires), which are more easily accomplished
in theory than in practice."
256
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The newly organized Lutheran congregations
in North Carolina had only one other resource
remaining, and that was—to send to Europe for
pastors and teachers for this new and promising
field of labor among the Germans in this Prov-
ince; and these congregations were not slow in
making this resource available, as may be seen by
examining the records of the old church-book be-
longing to Organ Church. They well knew that
to send letters or petitions to Europe for pastors
and teachers would accomplish but little, hence
they resolved to send a delegation, who could
make personal appeals to the hearts of their
brethren of the same faith, describe the wants of
the churches in North Carolina, and answer any
question relative to the country in which they re-
sided, support of the pastor, &c. Accordingly,
in the year 1772, Christopher Rintelmann, from
Organ Church, in Rowan County, and Christopher
Layrle, from St. John's Church, in Mecklenburg
County, were sent as a delegation to Europe, for
the purpose of applying to the Consistory Council
(Consistorialrath) of Hanover, in Germany, for a
supply of ministers of the gospel and school-
teachers, for the various Lutheran congregations
then organized in North Carolina. The reason
is also stated, why the delegation were instructed
to apply to the proper authorities in Hanover in
preference to any other place or kingdom: "Be-
cause at that time North Carolina, as well as all
the other free American States, was under the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 257
jurisdiction of the king of England, who was at
the same time elector of Hanover."
These commissioners traveled first to London,
and from thence they journeyed to Hanover, and
there, in accordance with their instructions, to
bring at least one pastor and a schoolteacher with
them, and through the kind efforts of "the late
Consistory counsellor, Gotten," they obtained the
Rev. Adolph Nussmann as their pastor, and Mr.
Gottfried Arndt as schoolteacher; both of whom
arrived safely in North Carolina in 1773.
But this was not all the good which these com-
missioners effected, for by their faithful represen-
tations of the condition and want of the churches,
the Lutheran congregations in North Carolina, as
already seen from the constitution of St. John's
Church, were placed under the supervision of the
Consistory of Hanover and the University of
Gottingen, from which they were promised and
expected both pecuniary assistance and a further
supply of ministers and teachers; and had it not
been that the Revolutionary War broke out shortly
afterwards, which stopped all communication with
Europe for a period of nearly eight years, there
is no calculating how much the Lutheran Church
in the Carolinas would have been benefited by
the arrangement made with the parent Church in Hanover. Even after the war ended, as will be
seen in the next chapter, the money that had been
collected in Hanover for St. John's Church, which
was feared to have been lost or forfeited on ac-
count of the action which the Germans in North
22
258
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina took in the war, was nevertheless paid
over to that congregation, according to the origi-
nal intent of the donors.
One effect, however, the Revolutionary War
did have upon the Consistory of Hanover and
the University of Gottingen, although the cause
or reason is not stated; the supervision of the
Lutheran Church in North Carolina was placed
in the hands of the professors of the Julius Charles
University of Helmstaedt, in the Duchy of Bruns-
wick. Doubtless the parent Church in Hanover
became indifferent to the wants of the Lutheran
congregations in North Carolina, because the re-
volt of the American Colonies was against the
reigning house of Hanover, who was, as already
seen, at the same time king of Great Britain,
which may have occasioned the transfer of the
care of the North Carolina mission field to the
Duchy of Brunswick.
Rev. John Caspar Velthusen, D.D., theological
professor of the Julius Charles University, in
Helmstaedt, and abbot of the cloister of Marieu- thal, became the leading spirit of this newly-
formed mission society, organized for the super-
vision and care of the Lutheran churches in North
Carolina; with him were associated the Rev. Prof.
Henke, and the Professors Crell, Kliigel, and
Bruns. The labors of this society, if formed be-
fore the close of the Revolutionary War, were in-
terrupted during that stormy period, when all
communication between Europe and America
ceased, but became exceedingly efficient for the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 259
welfare of the North Carolina mission field soon
after peace was again established, and to this
Helmstaedt mission society is all the honor due,
for having saved the Lutheran Church in North
Carolina from sinking into decay, if not from
total annihilation. It commenced, or recom-
menced, its labors for the North Carolina mission
field on the 14th of October, 1786.
Section The Labors of Revs. Nussman and Arndt
in North Carolina.
The Lutheran Church in North Carolina was
peculiarly fortunate in obtaining the services of
so learned, devoted and self-sacrificing a Chris-
tian minister as was its first pastor, the Rev.
Adolph Nussmann. His praise was in all the
churches; men did him honor who had never
known him, but heard of his influence and suc-
cessful labors among the German settlers. Rev.
Dr. Caruthers, a Presbyterian minister, speaks of
him in the highest terms of praise. Rev. Dr.
Velthusen in Germany does the same. Nussmann
was indeed a man who might have filled with
honor the highest position in any Church or liter-
ary institution, but was content to labor for the
cause of Christ, and to sacrifice himself among
the unambitious but honest German agriculturists
of North Carolina.
He located himself at first in Rowan County,
near Second Creek, and served Organ and Salis-
bury Churches, whilst the newly arrived teacher,
260
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
J. G. Arndt, occupied himself in giving instruc-
tion to the children and youth.
After having taken a survey of the field of min-
isterial labor in the interior of the Province, Rev.
Nussmann perceived that it was already ripe for
the harvest, and that he could effect but little by
himself; the demands upon his time and energy
would be far too great, were he to endeavor to
supply all the Lutheran churches, then existing in
that Province, with the appointed means of grace,
and to labor simply as a missionary, organizing
congregations, preaching and administering the
sacraments among and in all of them, would effect
but little good, unless these churches could be
soon supplied with pastors: a number of congre-
gations were already organized, and were hunger-
ing after the bread of life.
His only alternative was to have the teacher
Arndt ordained, who indeed had received an ex-
cellent education in Germany, where much is re-
quired of a teacher, and make him a co-laborer
in this hopeful field; so, after having properly
arranged all Church affairs in Rowan County, he
resigned the charge into the hands of Rev. Arndt,
and removed to St. John's Church, in Mecklen-
burg County, where he labored industriously and
faithfully all the remaining years of his life. He
also made a number of missionating tours to
Davidson, Guilford, Orange, Stokes and For-
sythe Counties, "strengthening the things that
remained," organizing Lutheran congregations,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
261
and serving them occasionally, particularly in the
two last-mentioned counties.
Rev. Arndt's labors were chiefly confined to
Rowan County until after the close of the Revo-
lutionary War, when, in 1786, he removed to
Lincoln County, and became the acknowledged
founder of the Lutheran Church west of the
Catawba River.
It must not be supposed that Nussmann's labors,
confined to the wants of St. John's Church, would
be comparatively light, except when he made mis-
sionary visits to other counties—nothing is farther
from the truth. It was the custom in those co-
lonial times, when the population was sparse, to
have but one church centrally located in a county
or district, and the people would come from a
great distance to attend divine service, and attach
themselves to the congregation, the bounds of
which often embraced a territory within the radius
of fifty miles, except where it came near to another
church of the same faith in an adjoining county.
This was the case with St. John's Church, out of
which sprang a number of other congregations,
located now in the same and different counties,
all of which were faithfully and regularly supplied
with the word and sacraments by Pastor Nuss-
mann, until after his death the necessity arose
for organizing new and separate churches. The
same may likewise be said of the labors of Rev.
Arndt, inasmuch as Rowan County embraced at
that time all the territory of Davie, Iredell, and
Davidson Counties.
262
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Fifteen years did these two faithful servants of
God labor alone, under many difficulties and pri-
vations, and through all the stormy period of the
Revolution, before any additional laborers were
sent to their assistance; however, they succeeded,
by the blessing of God, in preserving life among
those congregations that were remotely located
from them, and in building up those of which
they were the regular pastors.
Dr. Caruthers states, that in connection with
the occasional labors of Rev. Nussmann among
the German settlers of Guilford and Orange, the
Rev. Mr. Beuthahn, a German Reformed minister,
organized congregations in that territory, and
preached for them, but supported himself princi-
pally by teaching a German school in the south-
east corner of Guilford County. Many of these
congregations held the church property jointly
with the Lutherans, and each denomination had
alternate use of these churches.
Section 15. Character of the Lutheran ministry in
the Carolinas previous to the Revolutionary War;
their piety, learning, firm adherence to the Con-
fessions of their Church, faithfulness in the dis-
charge of their ministerial duties; liturgical
ivorship, $c.
The testimony of all the ancient records of the
ante-revolutionary period, concerning the charac-
ter of the early Lutheran ministry in the Carolinas,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 263
is so excellent and so impartially written, even by
those who were in no way connected with the
Lutheran Church, that it is refreshing to read
them; God be praised, that, in the period of the
founding of our Church in these two provinces, so
excellent a beginning was made, the best and the
most competent men were sent by the parent
Church in Europe to labor in this field; and whilst
the great want of ministers at that time did bring
into the field some, who were not so distinguished
for their learning, and others, like Revs. Wartman
and Daser, who were possessed of characteristics
calculated to interfere with their usefulness, never-
theless, the majority of the Lutheran ministers of
that period, and who may be regarded as the early
fathers of their Church, and certainly the best
entitled to that distinction, were men of the noblest
traits of character, and efficient in accomplishing
a vast amount of good. Their faith and piety
were made manifest without seeking public noto-
riety, and the noblest monument reared to their
memory are the works which followed them, which
still speak to their praise, though many of them
now slumber in unknown graves.
They were men of learning, and might have
filled positions of honor and usefulness in their
native country; but, possessed of the true mission-
ary spirit, they sacrificed all temporal advantages,
in order that they might labor for the welfare of
the souls of their neglected brethren in America,
and build up the Church in that section of the
country to which they had been sent. And when
264
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
they arrived, great were the privations and hard-
ships which they had to endure, and which can
never be fully estimated without contemplating
all the circumstances of colonial times; they not
only felt the absence of relatives, friends of their
youth, college and university associates, but also
the want of frequent intercourse with ministerial
brethren, of men of learning and refinement, of
the literature of the day, of the comforts of ad-
vanced civilization, and even of good roads and
conveniences for travelling. They were isolated
and, so to speak, walled-in by the primeval forests,
and were subjected to the constant intercourse
with persons who, whilst they respected, esteemed
and loved their ministers, never could enter into
their feelings of refinement, nor appreciate any
intellectual conversation.
The early records also indicate, that the Lutheran
ministers of that period were firm believers in the
doctrines of their Church, and unconditional ad-
herents to the manner in which these doctrines
were set forth in the Symbolical books. For
proof of this we are directed first to the Urlsperger
Reports. Rev. Bolzius makes the following record
in his journal, under date, May 15, 1734: "This
morning we returned to Habercorn, where we
administered the Lord's Supper to two sick per-
sons, who rejoiced that their souls were refreshed
with the eating and drinking the body and blood
of Christ. We held a short preparatory discourse
on the words: 'Whosoever will come unto me, I
will in no wise cast out,' to which they attentively
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
265
listened with tears of contrition/' &c. Although
the Symbolical Books are not mentioned in this
extract of Rev. Bolzius' diary, yet the distinctive
belief of the Lutheran Church in reference to the
Lord's Supper is set forth, plainly indicating the
faith of these Ebenezer pastors. It is also admitted
that Rev. Bolzius did not reside in Carolina, but
at that time he occasionally visited Charleston and
Purysburg, and labored among the Germans re-
siding there; and the extract, as above given, oc-
curs in his diary of a journey made to Charleston
for this very purpose.
The next testimony on this subject is given in
the journal of Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg. During his
visit to Charleston, a petition of the members of
the vacant Lutheran congregation in that city for a
pastor was sent to Europe, in which they describe
the kind of pastor they were desirous to obtain,
and in which description the following clause oc-
curs: "Who is able and willing to administer the
Holy Sacraments agreeably to the articles of our
unaltered Augsburg Confession." Whilst it is ad-
mitted that the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg is the author
of that petition, it was nevertheless undersigned
by all, or nearly all, of the members of St. John's
Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
After the Revolutionary War this congregation
formed a union with Roman Catholics and Ger-
man Reformed, as reported by Rev. Dr. Velthusen,
"but from the beginning it was not so."
Another decided testimony is furnished from
the first constitution of St. John's Church, Meck23
266
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
lenburg (Cabarrus) County, North Carolina, writ-
ten by the founder of the Lutheran Church in that
Province, Key. Adolph ISTussmann, which reads as
follows: "Every pastor of this church is bound to
confess himself with heart and mouth to the Sym-
bolical Books of our Evangelical Church." From
the same constitution we also learn that the wor-
ship in that congregation was liturgical, as it was,
indeed, in all the Lutheran churches in the Caro-
lina^ at that early period, conforming very closely
to the usages of the Lutheran Church in Germany. The early fathers of the Lutheran Church in
the Carolinas were conscientious and faithful in
the discharge of their ministerial duties, perform-
ing labors for the welfare of the Church even out-
side of their own congregations, and were always
ready in word and doctrine to lead souls to Christ.
They generally devoted all their time to the work
committed to their charge. Some of them had a
very meagre support, especially in the rural dis-
tricts, where the salary consisted principally in the
productions of the soil, which the members of
their congregations brought to them, and where
this was insufficient for the support of themselves
and families, they labored with their own hands
on their farms, or on lands belonging to their
churches.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
267
Section 16. Gradual Improvement of the Condition of
the German Colonies and of their Churches in
the Carolinas, and bright Prospects for the Fu-
ture.
The German colonies of North and South Caro-
lina were now firmly established. The people had
nothing more to fear from the incursions of the
Indians, who had mostly been driven beyond the
Alleghany Mountains; the whole Atlantic slope,
from New England to Georgia, was in the posses-
sion of the white settlers, who could quietly and
safely remain at home, and enrich themselves by
the cultivation of the soil.
The peculiar adaptation of the German colonists
to agricultural pursuits was soon rewarded by thrift
and abundance. They became attached to their
new homes, and their children intermarrying with
each other, bound the settlers together in bonds
of relationship, as well as of friendship. Their
love for their former homes beyond the sea and in
other American provinces was lost, in course of
time, in the feeling of general prosperity, whilst
those, who were "to the manor born," knew and
loved no country so well, as the one in which they
resided. The trials, want and hardships of early
colonization were at an end, and bright prospects
for the future appeared to greet every settler, who
was willing to labor, and to manage his affairs
prudently.
The Lutheran Church in the Carolinas likewise
presented hopeful prospects for the future at this
268
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
period immediately preceding the Revolutionary
War. Congregations were being organized, and
churches were erected wherever the number of
settlers was sufficiently large to warrant them in
taking these steps; often they did not always wait
for the aid of ministerial counsel, but took the
necessary steps themselves. The scarcity of min-
isterial labor was still greatly felt, yet the German
settlers who had no pastors, were occasionally vis-
ited by the pastors of their own faith in more for-
tunate congregations; besides, the parent Church
in the Fatherland had now become interested in
their spiritually destitute condition, and the pros-
pect was good that all the churches would shortly
be supplied with either pastors or missionaries.
This hope, or rather this dependence, whilst it
promised the Germans in the Carolinas a speedy
supply of the means of grace, exerted, nevertheless,
an unwholesome influence upon them. No effort
was made to organize a synod for the purpose of
regulating their Church affairs; some of their min-
isters labored in an independent and isolated
sphere, whilst others were under the control of
the parent Church in Germany, to which they re-
ported regularly, and from which they received
aid, direction and counsel. Nor did they feel the
necessity of establishing an institution of learning
to educate ministers of their own in America, and
thus be enabled to fill the vacant churches with
pastors, which, if properly managed, could have
been done with but little outlay of money in those
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
269
clays of economy and thrift, had they not had the
prospect of receiving more ministers from Europe. Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg foresaw this evil and its
consequent effects, but whilst he lamented the
want of such a literary institution, he made no
personal effort to accomplish the good work, or
was prevented from so doing by the indifference
of the Church in regard to this matter. Not long
after that time the Revolutionary War commenced,
when it was too late to make the attempt, for the
mind, heart and wants of the colonists were set
in another direction.
Section 17. The Effect of the Revolutionary War
upon the German Settlements and their Churches.
War is one of the most destructive calamities
with which any people can be afflicted, bearing
many evils in its train, and seriously affecting all
the affairs and interests of civil, social and ecclesi-
astical life. Especially was this the case with the
Revolutionary War in its effect upon the Ameri-
can people, who had but recently emerged from
all the evils and hardships of early colonization,
and who had as yet no independent national exist-
ence, no regular army and navy; and although the
war was not altogether an unexpected event, yet
when it did break out, it found the Colonies but
little prepared for it, and consequently must have
been productive of much suffering and many evils.
The effect of the war upon the German settle-
ments was the same as on all the other Colonies.
270
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
It arrested all progress, it interrupted the pursuit
of every peaceful art, except that which was nec-
essary to support life. Many a plowshare rusted
away in its unfinished furrow, many a field lay
fallow for a long time, little improvement was
made anywhere. The strength of manhood, which
was needed at home for the development of the
resources of the country, was more urgently re-
quired to fill up the rank and file of the army;
and the women of that period were obliged to per-
form, to a certain extent, the hard labor that was
needed to cultivate the soil, and to gather and
prepare its productions for home consumption,
whilst the long winter evenings were spent in
making articles of clothing for the family and for
the relatives in the army.
War had its sad effect also upon the faith and
morals of the people. When it frequently occurs
that brother is arrayed against brother, and one
neighborhood known to be in open hostility to
the other, when it was lawful for the adherents
of royalty, called Tories, to rob and plunder, and
even to destroy human life at pleasure, and re-
prisals on the American or Whig side were like-
wise not wanting, it can be readily imagined what
the state of piety and morals must have been at
such times of almost general anarchy. When law
and order, in times of peace, can scarcely restrain
the passions of men, what must have been the con-
dition of society during the prevalence of a war for
the establishment of a new government, which
afflicted our country for so long a time, and con-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
271
certiing which, to a large extent, the opinions and
feelings of the people were divided!
Upon the different churches the war had a most
deleterious effect; it greatly reduced their number
of membership; it caused those who remained at
home to become careless and indifferent about
their spiritual welfare; many of the churches in
the cities were used as hospitals for the sick and
wounded, and the congregations were more or
less scattered to where the people were less ex-
posed to the devastations of the hostile army;
whilst in the country the danger of being robbed
and plundered during absence from home, in
attendance upon divine service, almost emptied
the various churches of worshipers; all that the
minister of the gospel could then do was to visit
his flock as often as time and opportunity per-
mitted, laboring only in hope of the dawn of a
better day, and the speedy return of peace and
prosperity. No congregations could think of
making improvements on their churches and
schools, or of building new houses of worship;
it was even more than could be accomplished to
hold their own, and "to strengthen the things
which remained, that were ready to die." The
close of the war witnessed churches in ruins, con-
gregations dispersed; some of them so effectually
died out that they were never again resuscitated,
whilst others were so weakened and had grown
so indifferent, that with the greatest difficulty they
were revived into a new though lingering life.
This was particularly the case with the Lutheran
272
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Church in the Carolinas; it had suffered much in
the days of its early planting, but it suffered still
more during the dark period of the Revolutionary
War, and approached very near to becoming en-
tirely extinct.
The ministers themselves were often harassed,
persecuted, and at times in danger of their lives.
Rev. Christian Streitt, pastor of St. John's Lu-
theran Church, Charleston, South Carolina, was
taken prisoner by the British soldiers, and was
never again permitted to return, but found a field
of labor elsewhere at the close of the war. "Rev.
Mr. Martin, many of whose descendants are still
living, on his refusal to pray for the king, was
driven from his church, and his property was con-
fiscated. He was for a time placed under arrest,
and was afterwards compelled to leave the city,
to which he did not return until the close of the
war." "His house," writes his great-grand-
daughter, "had twice, during the Revolutionary
War, been burned by our own troops, fearing that
the dwelling might furnish a cover to the enemy's
approach." This was doubtless done before the
British succeeded in occupying the city. Rev.
Nussmann in North Carolina fared no better,
although no regular army passed through the
country where he resided; but he was pursued
by Tories, who threatened to take his life. Aged
and defenceless as he was, he could do nothing
better than to seek refuge in fleeing to a retreat
near his home, where he was hid from their view,
and thus escaped. During all this dark period
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 273
of time the German ministers struggled single-
handed and alone, but all were as faithful in the
discharge of their duties, as the times and circum-
stances would permit. God also wonderfully pre-
served their lives, for it is not positively known
that a single Lutheran minister in the Carolinas
died during the war. Rev. J. G. Friederichs passed
from the stage of action some time shortly pre-
vious to, or during the Revolution, but it is not
certainly known when God took him to his rest;
and Rev. L. Hochheimer's name also disappears
from the records of that period.
Another sad effect of the war upon the churches
in the Carolinas was the impossibility of having
any correspondence with the parent Church in
Europe, owing to the interruption of all commer-
cial intercourse with foreign nations. This de-
prived the congregations of the sympathy and aid
of their brethren in the Fatherland, and termi-
nated the supply of ministers, books and dona-
tions in money for the good of the Church in
these two Provinces as long as the war lasted. In
short, the removals, the deaths, the changes and
the sufferings that were caused by this war of
England with her colonies in America can never
be fully described, and will never be known, in
all their details, by any human being this side of
eternity.
274
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHAPTER III.
HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CARO-
LINAS FROM THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY
WAR, A.D. 1783, TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
SYNOD OF NORTH CAROLINA, A.D. 1803, EMBRAC-
ING A PERIOD OF TWENTY YEARS.
Section 1. State of the German Colonies and of the
Lutheran Church at the Close of the Revolution.
The conflict of arms had ceased; the smoke
and din of battle were seen and heard no more;
peace again spread its benign influence over our
long-afflicted country; the independence of the
American Colonies was at last achieved—acknowl-
edged even by England, and civil and religious
liberty was the well-earned reward of the people,
who had patiently struggled and suffered for eight
long years. Prosperity again commenced to
dawn upon the land, when all the energies of the
people were directed to the development of its
resources, and industry and economy soon re-
stored the healthy financial condition of its in-
habitants.
But there is another side to that picture which
is generally overlooked. War had left its deep
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
275
traces of evil upon the virtues and morals of the
people, who had become more or less degenerated
by the evil influences which a long war and a
change of government generally exert upon man-
kind. The German people, especially in the
rural districts, were not so greatly affected by
these influences of the war as were others, owing
to their isolated condition on account of lan-
guage, and their temperate and industrious habits
kept them more closely confined to their homes;
nevertheless, a general indifference to all matters
of religion prevailed almost everywhere, for the
people were no longer hungry for the bread of
life, but regarded the acquisition of wealth, or the
repair of their former condition of competency, as
of primary importance.
Old landmarks of government had been entirely
overthrown, and the people were for five years
politically unsettled in mind, ere a solid and stable
government was formed and established. State
governments existed, without which the whole
land would have been subjected to all the terrors
of anarchy; but one can easily imagine how little
restraint these governments could enforce, and
what protection they could warrant, as long as
every political arrangement was regarded as
merely provisional.
Foreign immigration, particularly into the
Southern States, was, for a time, almost entirely
arrested.
But the worst consequences of the success of
the Revolutionary War were the almost deifica-
276
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tion of Liberty and the rapid rise of infidelity,
rationalism and religious indifference. A proph-
ecy was made by one of the wisest statesmen of
that time or shortly afterwards, that in fifty years
there would not a single copy of the Bible be
found in this country. Nor was the influence of
the success of the Revolution confined to America.
France soon became dissatisfied with its monarch-
ical government, and ran wild in its demands for
liberty. It had its desire, but its reign of terror,
which followed close upon the heels of American
independence, became warning enough to all, that
liberty, however excellent it is, when properly re-
strained by the virtue of its possessors and whole-
some laws, becomes a dangerous plaything in the
hands of incompetent, selfish and wicked men.
How significant is the cry of one of the victims
under the guillotine: "0 Liberty, Liberty, how
many crimes are committed in thy name!"
With this period we may also date the beginning
of rationalism in the Lutheran Church in America;
old landmarks of the Lutheran faith were set aside,
or formally confessed with a mental reservation,
church discipline was not generally, properly and
impartially enforced, ancient church usages were
abandoned; our Church, thus despoiled of her
glory and strength, was made to correspond with
the spirit of American liberty, and to assimilate
itself to other denominations, and an anxious seek-
ing after temporal advantage became manifest
even among some of those, who were the acknowl-
edged shepherds of the flock.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
277
The spirit of the age was skeptical, selfish, and
prone to deify a virtue and morality entirely
disconnected from the religion of our Savior.
Priestcraft, under which reproachful term the
gospel ministry of all denominations was under-
stood, was so generally dreaded and so frequently
denounced, that it is a matter of surprise that
ministers of the gospel could effect any good at
all. But one extreme is usually followed by
another, and generally by its opposite. The re-
vival of 1800, which swept over the entire land,
no doubt accomplished good in checking the grow-
ing evil of infidelity and religious unconcern, for
it taught men that there is a future retribution;
but its spirit was legal, and it became the parent
of much fanaticism and Pharisaism, establishing
an ethical kind of religion, which cut off some of
the most tender cords of faith and love, that draw
the human heart near to the Savior. An emo-
tional religion became prevalent; religious expe-
rience exchanged places with Christ, and a subjec-
tive faith was substituted for the objective; but
as a more extended account of this great revival
will be furnished in another section of this chapter,
it is unnecessary to enlarge here.
The Lutheran ministers in the Carolinas, who
survived all the vicissitudes of the Revolutionary
War, as far as can be ascertained, were Revs. Nuss-
mann and Arndt in North Carolina, and Revs.
Martin and Daser in South Carolina; concerning
Revs. Friederichs and Hochheimer nothing is
known positively; their names do not occur in any
278
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the extant records of that period; what became
of them, and when they died, must now remain,
as it is feared, a matter of mere conjecture. Rev.
Theus, the German Reformed minister in South
Carolina, still lived, and continued to labor faith-
fully in his Master's vineyard. The names of four
other German ministers in South Carolina appear
in view four or five years later, but it is probable
that they began to labor in that field only after
peace was restored.
Section 8. Reorganization of Ecclesiastical affairs in
the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas.
On the 26th of March, 1784, St. John's Lutheran
Church in Charleston, upon the application of its
members, made in 1783, obtained a charter of
incorporation, under the changed name and title
of" The Lutheran Church of German Protestants,"
from the State legislature, which then held its
sessions in Charleston. This appears to have been
the first effort that was made at reorganization of
ecclesiastical affairs in the Lutheran Church under
the new form of civil government in the Carolinas.
Rev. Frederick Daser was still the pastor, and
continued in charge of that congregation until
July, 1786; there is undoubted testimony on that
point, firstly, from the extract of the records of
the church-book, published by Mr. Jacob F. Schir-
mer, who states: u¥e find the name of Mr. F.
Daser as pastor up to July, 1786, when he resigned
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 279
his office;" secondly,from the HelmstaedtReports,
in which the author mentions having received a
letter from Rev. Daser, and states: "We learn
from his letter of the 20th of June, 1787, that he
has now left Charleston since August, 1786, and
has moved to another congregation, composed of
English and German people, in Orangeburg Dis-
trict, seventy miles further inland."
Rev. John Nicholas Martin was again recalled,
and became the pastor of this church for the third
time, but labored only one year, until the new
minister from Germany arrived, when, on account
of the infirmities of age, he withdrew from the
active duties of the ministry. The family memoir,
furnished by one of his descendants, states: "Al-
though aged, and having lost his former physical
vigor, his congregation still clung to him with
warm affection. They urged him in 1783 (1786)
to resume his pastoral relations, until a stated
minister could be procured from Germany. Upon
the arrival of his successor, Rev. John C. Faber,
he was released from further service, with a vote
of thanks from the church for the fidelity with
which he had ministered to their spiritual interests.
He lived several years, after his withdrawal from
the active duties of the ministry, on the little farm
with which there were so many associations con-
nected." This farm was situated about a mile
from Charleston, on which the revolutionary inci-
dents occurred, which were noticed in one of the
preceding sections.
Concerning the other Lutheran congregations
280
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
in the interior of South Carolina, very little is
known until 1787, excepting that the Orangeburg
District charge was fortunate enough to have
received Rev. F. Daser for their pastor in August,
1786, and who, doubtless, remained there to the
close of his life.
In Rev. A. ISTussmann's principal congregation,
St. John's, Mecklenburg (Cabarrus) County, 1ST. C,
the want of a better house of worship was felt after
the war, when the congregation had again become
thoroughly organized. On the 6th of November,
1784, a beginning was made u for the purpose of
rebuilding St. John's Church." It was resolved
to erect the new church on the same site where
the old one stood, in the inclosure of the present
graveyard, near the upper part of it. The sub-
scription list, taken in the currency of English
money, and ranging from ten pounds to three
shillings, is prefaced by the following pious wish:
"May the good God help us, so that our under-
taking may succeed well in peace and unanimity,
and that every man may do his part as he would
wish others to do towards himself." The whole
subscription amounted to about <£172J.
The church edifice was completed the following
year, and was solemnly dedicated to the service of
the triune God on the fourth of July, 1785, but
with what ceremonies is not stated. Soon after
another subscription was taken, for the purpose of
purchasing a large gilt silver goblet from their
pastor for communion service, which is still used
for the same purpose.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 281
In the Organ and Salisbury Churches matters
remained unimproved, and those congregations
became vacant soon after the restoration of peace,
by the removal of Rev. J. G. Arndt to Lincoln
County, where a new and promising field awaited
him, and where he accomplished much good.
Concerning the other German Lutheran settle-
ments in North Carolina nothing much can be
said, inasmuch as they never enjoyed the regular
services of their own pastor until 1788, but were
visited by Revs. Nussmann and Arndt as frequently
as the attendance upon the wants of their own
regular congregations would permit them.
Section 3. Arrival of Rev. John Charles Faber—Re-
union of the North Carolina Churches with the
Parent Church in Germany—The North Caro-
lina Catechism, "published by Rev. Dr. Velthusen,
and Rev. Daser's Report to the Helmstaedt Fa-
thers.
In the year 1787, the Rev. John Charles Faber,
having received and accepted a call from the Lu-
theran Church in Charleston, South Carolina,
"arrived from Germany and took charge of the
church." He continued to labor there for thirteen
years, when, during the year 1800, his health failed
him, and heTresigned bis office as pastor of that con-
gregation. "The Rev. Mr. Pogson," an Episcopal
clergyman, "officiated on Sundays for a short time,
and on his retiring Mr. Faber consented to serve
the church as far as his strength would allow."
24
282
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
According to the testimony of Rev. Dr. Velt-
husen, in his preface to the North Carolina Cate-
chism, Rev. J. C. Faber must have labored with
great acceptance and success in Charleston, induc-
ing many of the Germans of other religious per-
suasions to unite with the Lutherans in building
up their church. Dr. V. says, "This congrega-
tion may be looked upon as an example of Chris-
tian harmony, for it is composed of a union of
Lutherans, German Reformed and Catholics, all
of whom live, according to the testimony of their
pastor, the Rev. Mr. Faber, very peaceably toge-
ther, although they are educated in different prin-
ciples of religion. They visit the house of God
faithfully, and contribute equally for the support
of divine worship."
A strong effort was made at this time by Rev.
JSTussmann to place the Lutheran Church in North
Carolina once more in connection with the parent
Church in Germany, and this time he accomplished
his purpose. His object was threefold: his con-
gregation, St. John's, had money on deposit in
Europe, which had been collected for its benefit
previous to the breaking out of the Revolutionary
War, and the amount, £90 sterling, was certainly
worth the attempt to secure for the benefit of
that congregation; besides, -devSjional books and
German school-books were greatly needed everywhere, and, in order to obtain a supply of them,
application was made to the Mission Society at
Helmstaedt, Duchy of Brunswick, to send books in exchange for the money that was coming to
IN NORTH ANB SOUTH CAROLINA,
283
tluit church, which could then be sold among the
Germans in North Carolina, and more than the
same amount of money realized from their sale.
But the greatest necessity of all was a supply of
German Lutheran ministers; accordingly, as is
stated in Rev. C. A. G, Storch's journal, a call for
several Lutheran ministers to labor in North Caro-
lina was sent by Rev, Nussmann to Rev. Dr. Velt-
husen, in Helmstaedt, Germany, and by this
means Rev. N. endeavored to preserve the Lu-
therau Church in this State from becoming entirely
extinct, for in all human probability this would
have been eventually its fate, if help, in the supply
of ministers, had been delayed several years longer,
when Revs. Nussmann and Arndt were called to
their long rest,
For the purpose of taking these matters into
consideration, particularly those bearing upon the
welfare of St. John's Church, a meeting of the
church-council was called on the 30th of Septem-
ber, 1787, which convened at the pastor's house,
and the following business was transacted:
As before stated, many charitable persons in
Europe had safely deposited a considerable amount
of money in London, some time before the Revo-
lution, for the benefit of "the congregation at
Dutch Buffalo Creek, Mecklenburg County/'
which had been appropriated in part for the wel-
fare of that church, and of which £90, sterling,
were still remaining on deposit in that city, and
which, it was feared, this congregation had for-
284
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
feited, on account of the action of its members in
the Revolution; it was, therefore,
"Resolved, That if those benefactors would still
have the kindness to permit this amount to be ap-
propriated to the welfare of this congregation, as
was at first intended, that the money should always
be considered as a fund belonging solely to the
church.
"Resolved, That from the interest of this fund
the yearly salary of the pastor shall be supple-
mented.
"Resolved, That no part of the principal shall
be touched without the consent of the donors."
This fund had accumulated in 1843 to fifteen
hundred dollars, and was then all consumed, con-
trary to this resolution, in erecting the present
church edifice, in which the members of St. John's
Church now worship.
"Resolved, That this amount of funds shall not
be sent in money, but, as the congregation is de-
sirous of obtaining books, especially those pub-
lished by those five learned philanthropists in
Helmstaedt, Revs. Abbots Velthusen and Henke,
and the Professors Crell, Kliigel and Brims, for
the benefit of the Christian religion in America;
it is ordered that a part be printed by St. Michael's
Day, and the other part by next Easter Day, and
it is requested that the first four numbers be pur-
chased, and strongly but not expensively bound,
and then be sent over to us.
"Resolved, That the whole Society, or a part of
the members by order of the Society, be permitted
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 285
to appropriate the whole or a part of this money
in the purchase of those expected books, which
are to be sent to us.
"Resolved, That these resolutions be inscribed
in the church-book.
"Resolved, That the chest, in which these books
are to be sent, shall be directed M. C. D. B. C,"
supposed to signify Mecklenburg County, Dutch
Buffalo Creek. This abstract of the proceedings of St. John's
church council, held at the time and place above-
mentioned, is taken from the old church-book,
still extant and written in the German language.
The efforts of Rev. Nussmann and his congre-
gation were crowned with success; the money was
secured, the needed books were sent, and in com-
pliance with the request of Rev. Nussmann, a sec-
ond edition of one of those books, named at first
"The Helmstaedt Catechism," was published, and
received the title "North Carolina Catechism." A
copy of its title-page is inserted here in its original
language, for the benefit of all those who under-
stand the German:
"Nordcarolinischer Katechismus, oder Christ-
licher Religionsunterricht nach Einleitung der
heiligen Schrift, entworfen von Job ami Caspar
Velthusen, Doctor und ordentlichem Lehrer der
Theologie, erstem Prediger in Helmstaedt, und
General Superintend; audi Abte des Klosters
Marienthal,"
It is a book containing 254 pages, published in
1788, iu the city of Leipzig, by Siegfried Lebrecht
286
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Crusius, and also incloses Luther's smaller cate-
chism in its pages. It informs us of the degree
of interest which the Church in the Fatherland
took in our ecclesiastical affairs in this section of
our country. Its chief importance at this time is
its historical value, giving us an insight in the
manner in which the practical affairs of our
churches in the Carolinas were conducted at the
time of its publication. This is furnished us in
its preface, in which Dr. Velthusen reports some
interesting facts concerning the Lutheran Church
in North Carolina and Charleston, informing us
of the departure of Rev. C. A. G. Storch (Stork)
from Iielmstaedt to his future field of labor in
North Carolina.
The preface to this "North Carolina Catechism"
reads as follows: "This second edition corresponds
verbatim with the first, which I then denominated
the Helmstaedt Catechism, because it is likewise
necessary for the use of the Catechetical Institute
of this place.
"In the meantime two very strong congrega-
tions in North Carolina have most feelingly de-
clared themselves willing to accept with gladness
the preachers which we expect to send out to them.
Rev. Mr. Storch is already upon the sea on his way
thither."
"We have also the assurance from other por-
tions of America, that the choice of our books of
instruction are suitable to their wants. Besides,
various of these books have also been introduced
in Charleston, by the approval and support of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
287
congregation, for the instruction of their youth."
(Here follows the description of the condition of
the Lutheran Church in Charleston, already quoted
on another page.) "I have, therefore, given the
above title to this Catechism from motives of love
and regard to my friend, Rev. Nussmann, as such
has been his desire from the beginning. May
God bless the use of this book, my dear brethren,
for your and your children's everlasting salvation.
"Helmstaedt, May 1st, 1788."
From one of the Helmstaedt Reports we are
informed how these books and letters intended
for Rev. Nussmann were sent to him. Dr. Velt-
husen says: "We had formerly sent everything
which was intended to reach Rev. Mr. Nussniann,
as we were requested, to the address of Rev. Mr.
Daser, but who has now left Charleston, and has
moved to Orangeburg District, where he must
await such opportunities as the country market-
wagons afford, before Rev. iTussmann could re-
ceive our letters, sent over through the kindness
of friends in London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen,
Hamburg, Altona and Bremen."
Rev. Mr. Daser also mentions a fact in his letter,
which is worthy of notice, and assists us in obtain-
ing an insight into the condition of the Lutheran
Church in the interior of South Carolina at that
time.
Dr. Velthusen states: "Rev. Mr. Daser men-
tions two congregations in South Carolina that
are in search of a pastor, but the assurances were
not sufficiently distinct and satisfactory to propose
288
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
this call to one, whose welfare at the present time
is even dearer to us than our own, or even to
permit any one to make a journey upon such an
uncertainty; for we have determined upon the
principle, never to send any one as a preacher to
America, except under such circumstances which
would induce each one of us cheerfully to make
this journey ourselves, if our individual circum-
stances would permit, in dependence upon God
and upon the good cause; for we despise, with all
our hearts, every uncalled-for emigration from the
Fatherland, and all wandering ahout in the world
as adventurers."
These two vacant churches in South Carolina
must have been the one in Barnwell District, and
Salem Church at Sandy Run, Lexington District,
so supposed from the fact that all the other charges
in that State appear to have been supplied with
pastors that same year, when the Corpus Evan-
gelicum was organized; and also, that Rev. Daser,
residing in Orangeburg District at the time he
wrote, was nearest to these two congregations, and
was doubtless specially interested in their welfare.
Section 4,. The Corpus Evangelicum, or TJnio JEccle-
siastica in South Carolina, and the Ordination
of Rev, X 6r. Bamberg,
We have now arrived at that period in the his-
tory of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas,
when the first attempt was made, in connection
with the German Reformed ministers, to organize
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
289
some kind of ecclesiastical body, that should have
the supervision of all the German churches in the
interior of the State of South Carolina.
This body was organized in Zion's Church, Lex-
ington District (County), November 13th, 1787,
and consisted of Lutheran and German Reformed
ministers, together with lay deputies from the
churches belonging to both denominations. It
had the double name of Corpus Evangelicum and
Unio Ecclesiastica, doubtless so given with the
view that neither denomination could have occa-
sion to object to the title and to its undenomina-
tional character. Its principal object was to make
special arrangement for the proper incorporation
of all the German churches by legislative enact-
ment, which were located in the interior of the
State; the Lutheran church in the city of Charles-
ton having already secured its charter of incorpo-
ration. The ordination of a candidate to the office
of the ministry indicated that the performance of
this duty seemed to be also one of its objects; and
the general oversight and welfare of all the churches
in its connection, as was manifested by the pres-
ence of lay delegates, claimed a large share of the
attention of that body.
The Lutheran congregation in Charleston never
connected itself with that body; neither did the
two Lutheran ministers, Revs. Faber and Martin,
who resided there; but for what reason is not
stated.
The Corpus Evangelicum was short-lived, as
might have been expected, and as all such mixed
25
290
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ecclesiastical bodies must necessarily be. A union
of denominations cannot be otherwise than false,
where the united parties are not agreed either in
doctrine or practice, for each party feels that it is
not laboring specially for the upbuilding of its
own denomination, and thus zeal and energy are
paralyzed, and the heart grows weak. Such a
union becomes the parent of indifferentism.
It is a Utopian dream ever to expect a union
of all orthodox Christian denominations in this
world, and every attempt to effect a union of this
kind must finally become inoperative. Royal
edicts, as in Prussia, may for a long time keep
two or more denominations in an organized eccle-
siastical connection, and galvanize such a union
into a certain kind of life; but no sooner are such
edicts revoked, than the former state of things is
restored, with, perhaps, the forming of a third
denomination where once but two existed, thus
making the division still greater.
It is admitted that this is taking but a philo-
sophical view of the case. The question, Is it
right in the sight of God? is quite another matter,
which need not now be discussed, as we have at
present to deal only with historical facts. It is
well known that such an ecclesiastical union was
formed in South Carolina—an account of which may be found in Rev. Dr. Hazelius' History of
the American Lutheran Church, pp. 118-121,
which, however, is not here inserted, because the
constitution and report of the proceedings of that
body are preferred, as translated by Dr. Hazelius,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
291
and inscribed in the church book of St. Peter's
congregation, near Lexington Court House, South
Carolina, in which church-book the orginal Ger-
man copy was found.
Constitution of the Corpus Evangelicum.
Whereas our legislature, in virtue of a petition,
has incorporated the major part of our Evangeli-
cal Zion in this free State, consisting of fifteen
congregations, as a lawful society, with full power
to constitute and make such by-laws, orders, and
regulations as they may deem proper for the wel-
fare of such a society, and to administer a salutary
church discipline; therefore, the undersigned met
on the 12th day of August, 1788, in the Lutheran
Salem's Church, Sandy Run, and resolved that
the following articles shall be signed and sealed
by us, and be kept inviolably by every member
of the fifteen evangelical churches, as a general
Church discipline, and that every person, who is
desirous of becoming a member of this Church,
shall sign and observe these regulations, as fol-
lows:
Article I. All the Christian congregations, in-
corporated as aforesaid, shall form one corpus
evangelicorum under the title: Uuio Ecclesiastica
of the German Protestant Churches in the State
of South Carolina. Each and every congregation
is depending on this corpus, by which all things
concerning Church and religion shall be managed
o o o
292
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and directed, and the free course of the gospel be
promoted within its bounds.
Article II. Whereas it would be highly detri-
mental, if members of the Lutheran and Reformed
Confessions, who in this State live near each
other, and attend the same churches, should be
separated, therefore we have agreed to this eccle-
siastical union, by which, however, it is not to be
understood that any member of either confession
should forsake his confession, but that both Lu-
theran and Reformed, who are members of one
or the other incorporated churches, and who have
hitherto united in the attendance on worship, shall
continue to enjoy the same rights and privileges,
without the least reproaches in consequence of
their respective confessions.
Article III. Each of the united evangelical
congregations agrees herewith, in accordance to
the design expressed in their petition to the legis-
lature, to establish and preserve among them a
Directory of their churches as long as a majority
of the fifteen churches agree to the same, which
Directory shall consist of the ministers of said con-
gregations and two delegates, suitable lay-members
of each of these churches. Under the general
superintendence of this Directory all affairs re-
lating to churches shall be judged and regulated;
as for instance, the reception and dismission of
preachers, their election, examination, ordination,
and induction, the establishment and regulation
of churches and schools, where there are none at
present, the improvement of such as are in exist-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
293
ence, the manner of Divine service, so that uni-
formity may exist in this matter, the collections in
churches, and the proposition in what manner a
fund may be collected gradually for several neces-
sary expenses, and, in general, whatever may be
of importance for the furtherance and welfare of
the whole body, as well as of each individual
church.
Article IV. The officers of this Ecclesiastical
Directory consist of a president, chosen from the
ministers, a church council, selected from the
deputies of the respective congregations, a secre-
tary, and a warden; which officers are to be
chosen yearly, on the second Wednesday of Jan-
uary, by the plurality of the votes of the whole
Directory; and the place of meeting may be
changed, provided it is a convenient and central
situation.
Article V. Whenever a member of these in-
corporated churches should be cited before this
Directory, such member promises to appear before
the same, unless prevented by some extraordinary
hindrance; and any member chosen to fill an
office in the Directory engages to accept the office
and to perform its duties, unless very special cir-
cumstances should prevent him from so doing.
Article VI. Every congregation is to reply in
writing to the Directory, and to give an account
of the state of their church. In all cases of im-
portance seek advice from the Directory; but
each incorporate church elects yearly on Easter
Monday the necessary church officers, viz.: two
294
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
elders, four wardens, a secretary, and a church
treasurer. The officers of the last year are to
give an account of the state of the church prop-
erty to the newly-elected officers, and deliver to
them all and every part thereof. And it is here-
with agreed that all the church officers shall take
an oath before a magistrate, that they will faith-
fully and honestly administer the property of the
church.
Article VII. The Directory is to keep a book
of record of all its regulations and ordinances.
But each congregation shall keep its own minutes
and church register through the medium of their
ministers and secretaries, and it shall be the duty
of the latter to register all the regulations concern-
ing the temporalities of the church made by the
vestry and ministry concerning the same. The
books, which are to be kept by the minister, shall
be mentioned below.
Article VIII. Wherever the major part of the
members of a congregation should belong to the
Reformed Church, such a liturgy, formula, and
catechism are to be used as the Reformed Church
in the Palatinate or Switzerland make use of; but
where the divine service has hitherto been per-
formed according to the ceremonies of the Lu-
theran Church, the Wiirtemberg or Halle formula
shall be adopted. The Marburg Hymnbook, in
its second edition, remains in use in our churches
of both confessions.
Article IX. Every congregation has the un-
doubted right to elect, call, and to approve of its
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 295
own minister; but whenever a parish is vacant, it
shall be the duty of its officers to apply to the Direc-
tory in this case, as in all cases of importance, to propose a suitable candidate, and being approved
by the congregation, and they promise to give him
a support, it shall be the duty of the Directory to
deputize two ordained ministers to install the new
preacher in his parish.
Article X. Every congregation promises here-
with, and obligates itself, to make up a salary by
subscription, according to its ability, and regularly
to pay the same; likewise to treat its minister
with respect, and not to dismiss him from its ser-
vice without a proper cause. Nevertheless, the
minister shall have the right and privilege to
accept a call from any other congregation, if
Providence should so direct. Each congregation,
likewise, fixes the contingent fees of the minister
according to their respective abilities.
Article XL The preacher, in any of these in-
corporated congregations, promises on his part,
and binds himself before God and the Church, to
administer his holy office, to adorn it by an unim-
peachable walk and conversation. In the discharge
of the duties of his holy office, whether public or
private, he shall appear in his ministerial dress,
which is to be provided by the congregation. He
shall preach every Lord's day an evangelical and
edifying sermon, and afterwards catechize the
youth, except when baptism, communion, or a
marriage is to be celebrated, or in case that he
has to visit the sick. He shall yearly keep a fast
296
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and prayer day in his congregation, preach a har-
vest sermon, and celebrate in his church the high
festivals of Easter Sunday and Monday, Pentecost
Sunday and Monday, Ascension Day and Christ-
mas Day, and other festivals of the Christian
Church, such as Good Friday, New Year, &c.
He likewise promises to continue his theological
studies, and not to depart from the principles of
our holy religion, and to warn his hearers against
the sects which divide the Church, and to endeavor
to prevent the growing evil. He shall also ad-
monish his household and children to walk in the
fear of God, and in every respect is he bound as a
faithful steward of God to act conscientiously in
his public and private vocation. Unless it is abso-
lutely necessary, he shall not absent himself too
far from his congregation, and shall submit to
every regulation which either has been made or
may be made by the Directory.
He shall, at least once every year, make a state-
ment to the Directory of his parochial duties,
according to a formula which he is to receive.
He shall frequently visit the schools, and seriously
admonish the parents to educate their children in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He
shall be diligent in exposing, and warning against,
the vices and immoralities which may creep or
prevail in congregations. In regard to marriages,
and everything connected with the same, he is to
act with circumspection, and he shall endeavor to
preserve good morals, peace, and harmony, both
in the Church and families.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 297
Every quarter he shall call a meeting of the
church officers, to counsel with them concerning
the temporal and spiritual state of the congrega-
tion, examine the account of the church treasurer,
and keep an exact account of these proceedings in
his own book, as the secretary has to preserve a
similar account in his. If hitherto no register of
baptisms, communicants, confirmations, marriages,
and deaths has been kept in a congregation, the
minister is to make diligent search in his congre-
gation, whether any records of former times may
be discovered, and if not, he shall henceforth keep
such a record, a model of which shall be sent to
them by the president. Every minister, who is
cited to appear before the Directory to answer to
any accusation which may be brought against him,
is bound to appear before the same, and to submit
to the decision thereof.
Article XII. A copy of this act and church
discipline shall be made and deposited in each of
our united and incorporated congregations; this
copy shall be subscribed and sealed by each mem-
ber, and it shall frequently be read to the congre-
gation. Whosoever desires to become a member
of the church or Directory has to subscribe and
seal this discipline before he can be admitted to a
vote in any election held by the church.
Article XIII. We herewith agree to keep a
box in every church, into which every attendant
on divine worship may cast his contribution, ac-
cording to his ability and good will. The amount
of these contributions shall yearly be declared
298
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
before the Directory. This money is to be applied
for the purchase of baptismal and communion ves-
sels; ministerial gowns, however, are to be pro-
vided by private collections in the congregation.
Article XIV. We will make application by
letter to our brethren in the faith in Europe to
consider our weak state, and especially to supply
us with ministers and schoolmasters.
Article XV. As far as it is possible we will
aid the poor in our congregations.
Article XVI. We shall not interfere in cases
which, according to law, ought to come before our
civil magistrates, and in all respects submit to the
laws of our country.
Article XVII. If any person in the congrega-
tion should have a complaint against his minister,
he is to make it known to the church council and
wardens, and if these officers are unable to bring
the difficulty to an amicable settlement, they are
bound forthwith to acquaint the president with
the circumstances by a written communication,
who is then to take the matter in hand.
Article XVIII. All the families of our united
evangelical congregations bind ourselves solemnly
to attend regularly divine service agreeable to our
duty; to labor earnestly for the propagation of our
holy religion; frequently to attend the means of
grace; to avoid sectarianism as much as possible;
and to walk carefully according to the prescription
of pure doctrine.
Article XIX. Our united zealous endeavor
shall be directed to promote the welfare of our
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
299
Church, the extension of the religion of Jesus, as
well as of our Zion; and with the adoption of this
discipline we make a beginning of this endeavor.
May God further grant his richest blessing.
Article XX. Should it hereafter be considered
necessary, after due reflection, to change, abro-
gate, or disannul any of these Articles of Disci-
pline, or add anything to the same by the Church
assembled in Directory, such resolution shall be
added as a lawful by-law to these regulations, and
which member soever shall wilfully resist these
rules, and will in nowise agree to the same, can-
not find fault with the Church to which he has
hitherto belonged, nor with the Directory, if he
shall be deprived of the benefits and claims to
either.
Acted and unanimously resolved and confirmed
by the Directory, August 8th, 1788; which we,
who have been present at this Church meeting,
confirm with our seals and subscription of our
names.
NAMES OF MINISTERS AND THEIR SEALS.
Friederich Daser, A.M., President pro tern. [l. s. ]
Christian Theus. [l.s."|
J. G. Bamberg. [l.s.]
Friederich August Wallberg. [l.s.]
Carl Friederich Froelich. [l.s.]
300
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
NAMES AND SEALS OF THE DEPUTIES.
Philip Berghoch. [l.s.]
Johann George Koeller. [l.s.]
Peter Michler. [l.s.]
Johannes Gartmann. [l.s.]
George Gortmann. [l.s.]
Jacob Btjchmann. [l.s.]
Leonhard B. Buch. [l.s.]
Johannes Schwaigart. [l.s.]
John Jacob Stiefel. [l.s.]
Johann Philip Zauerwein. [l.s.]
Matthias Sen. [l.s.]
Christopher Schlagel. [l.s.]
Heinrich Koch. [l.s.]
Johann Balthaser Mark. [l.s.]
Proceedings of the Corpus Evangelicum in
South Carolina.
On the 13th of November, 1787, the undersigned
ministers assembled themselves in Zion's Church,
on Twelve-mile Creek, after due notice had been
given, and united themselves from that day into
a ministerial society. The constitution proposed
by Rev. Mr. Wallberg was laid before the meet-
ing and adopted, and Frederick Daser was chosen
Senior of the ministry, and appointed the second
Sunday of January, 1788, as the day on which
they would again meet at the same place, to take
into consideration the various petitions signed by
different German Protestant congregations, and
further to regulate the affairs of their society. In
confirmation whereof the ministers signed their
names.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
301
Friederich Daser, Christian Theus, John George
Bamberg, M. Carl Binnicher, Friederich August
Wallberg, Friederich Joseph Wallern, Carl Fried-
erich Froelich.
Actum, January 8th, 1788.—The undersigned
ministers assembled as members of the Minis-
terium in Zion's Church, on Twelve-mile Creek.
Fred. Aug. Wallberg was unanimously elected
Secretary, and all the Evangelical Lutheran min-
isters were sworn on the Symbolical Books. The
subscription of the petition for incorporation of
the different congregations was laid before the
Ministerium. Bethel Church and the new congre-
gation of St. Martin's wished to have more time
for consideration of the subject.
Resolved, That the President should inform the
members by a circular of the time of our next
session.
Signed by Revs. Daser, Wallberg, Bamberg,
Froelich, and Theus.
Actum, January 9th, 1788.—Rev. Messrs. Wall-
berg and Bamberg moved that the subscriptions
of Bethel Church and of the new St. Martin's
Church should be added to the subscriptions of
the other churches, and laid before the General
Assembly of this State, which motion was approved
and accepted by Rev. Senior Daser.
As it had been mentioned the preceding day
that Mr. Bamberg had for some time performed
ecclesiastical duties, and had received a call as
minister from several congregations, and as it was
302
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
known to the Ministerium that he had studied
theology but had never been ordained, and as he
had petitioned for an examination and ordination,
it was
Resolved, That the Rev. President and Secretary
examine Mr. Bamberg this day; and he, the said
Bamberg, being approved of in said examination,
was this day ordained in Zion's Church, in the
presence of a numerous audience and his church
officers.
Fredh. Aug. Wallberg,
Secretary.
Actum, Sandy Run, August 12th, 1788.—Revs.
Messrs. Senior Daser, Theus, Bamberg, and Wall-
berg assembled in Salem Church at Sandy Run,
with the deputies of the respective congregations. It was
Resolved, That Bethlehem Church should hence-
forth be known under the name of "The German
Reformed Church at Fust's Ford."
The act of incorporation passed by the General
Assembly of this State was read; and the Church
regulations or discipline proposed by President
Daser was likewise read and adopted in its nine-
teen articles, signed and sealed.
Resolved, To hold the next session in Zion's
Church, January 14th, 1789.
Actum, January 19th, 1789.—Revs. President
Daser, Theus, Bamberg, Wallern, and Secretary
Wallberg met in Zion's Church.
After prayer and sermon, the conference was
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
303
opened. The Church regulations, as adopted,
signed, and sealed, were read once more without
opposition.
Next session is to be held in Salem Church,
Sandy Run, on the second Wednesday in the
month of August. Pastor Wallern was appointed
to preach on said occasion.
Rev. Senior Daser was again unanimously
chosen President, and Wallberg, Secretary.
George Hook was appointed President of the lay
members of the Directory.
Notice of the Translator.—The records of the suc-
ceeding sessions of the Directory are partly torn,
and partly so badly written that it is impossible
to arrange them in any kind of order.
The Directory seems to have met as late as the
year 1794; at least, so far the records go which I
have seen.
Signed, Ernest L. Hazelius,
Principal of the Theological Seminary, Lexington, S. C.
The seven German ministers of the Gospel who
formed this Corpus Evangelicum were located as
follows:
Rev. Frederick Daser, A.M., at St. Matthew's
Church, Orangeburg District, South Carolina.
He was a Lutheran minister.
Rev. Christian Theus, on the west side of the
Congaree River, eight miles below Columbia,
South Carolina. He was a German Reformed
minister.
Rev. John George Bamberg labored until 1798 in
804
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lexington District, South Carolina, and was pas-
tor of Zion's Church, as the records of that church
indicate, when he resigned and located himself in
Barnwell District, South Carolina, where he re-
mained to the close of his life. He was a Lutheran
minister, and died during the year 1800.
Rev. Frederick August Wallberg labored among
the churches in Lexington District before Bam-
berg's time of service, probably about the time
the Corpus Evangelicum was organized. He was
a Lutheran minister, and is supposed to have lived
in the Fork of the Saluda and Broad Rivers to the
close of his life.
Rev. Carl Friederich Froelich, according to J. C.
Hope's statement, was a German Reformed min-
ister, but where he lived and labored is not known.
Rev. Frederick Joseph Wallern was the pastor of
the churches in Newberry District, South Caro-
lina. He was a Lutheran minister, and died about
the year 1816.
Rev. M. Carl Bwnicher, according to J. C. Hope's
statement, was a Lutheran minister, but where he
labored is not positively known. It is presumed,
however, that he was the pastor of the Hard Labor
Creek congregation, Abbeville District, South
Carolina, and probably also served the church on
Slippery Creek, Ninety-six District.
From the constitution and proceedings of this
Corpus Evangelicum we learn many interesting
facts, namely:
1. That the Lutheran ministers in South Caro-
lina at that time held the Symbolical Books of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
305
Lutheran Church in very high esteem, the records
say: "All the Evangelical Lutheran ministers
were sworn upon the Symbolical Books;" that is,
they were sworn to teach and preach its doctrines.
2. They were likewise churchly in conducting
public worship, &c, as is manifested by their ob-
servance of all the festivals of theLutheran Church,
catechetical instruction, confirmation, and opposi-
tion to the inroads made upon the Church by the
surrounding sects.
3. They still adhered to the ancient custom of
wearing the gown, both in "public and private," in the discharge of all the duties of the ministerial
office.
4. They were very strict in the enforcement of
discipline, both among the ministers and lay mem-
bers; and made provision for the support of the
poor in their midst.
5. Parochial schools likewise claimed the atten-
tion of this body; and the keeping of church rec-
ords was made the duty both of the pastor and sec-
retary of each congregation.
Section 5. The act of incorporation of the fifteen Ger-
man churches in the interior of South Carolina.
No. 1414. An Act for Incorporating divers Religious
Societies therein named.
Whereas, by the constitution of this State, passed
the nineteenth day of March, one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-eight, it is declared that all
denominations of Christian Protestants in this
26
306
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
State shall enjoy equal religious and civil privi-
leges; and that whenever fifteen or more male
persons, not under twenty-one years of age, pro-
fessing the Christian Protestant religion, agree to
unite themselves in a society for the purpose of
religious worship, they shall (on complying with
the terms thereinafter mentioned), be constituted
a church, and be esteemed and regarded in law,
as of the established religion of this State, and on
petition to the legislature shall be entitled to be
incorporated and to equal privileges; and that
every society of Christians so formed shall give
themselves a name or denomination by which they
shall be called or known in law.
And whereas, the name of "Hopewell," in the
Long Cane settlement, in the county of Abbeville
and State aforesaid; and the Presbyterian congre-
gation or society of Christian Protestants of
"Indian Town," in Georgetown District; and
also the several congregations and societies of
Christian Protestants, styling themselves by the
general appellation of "The Ecclesiastical Union
of the several German Protestant congregations in
the back part of the State of South Carolinaand
by the particular names of:
"The Frederician Church, on Cattel's Creek;"
"The German Calvinistic Church of St. John, on the Pour-
hole "The German Lutheran Church of St. Matthew, in Amelia
Township;" "The German Lutheran Church of Salem, on Sandy Run;" "The German Lutheran Church of Mt. Zion, on Twelve-mile
Creek ■"
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 807
"The German Lutheran Church of Bethel, on High Hill
Creek;"
"The German Lutheran Church of St. Peter, on Eighteen-
mile Creek 5"
"The German Lutheran Church of St. Martin 5"
"The German Lutheran Church of Bethlehem, on Forest's
(Fust's) Ford;""The German Protestant Church of Bethany, on Green Creek;"'
"The German Protestant Church of Appii Forum, Cedar
Creek;"
"The German Protestant Church dedicated to Queen Charlotte,
on Slippery Creek
"The German Lutheran Church of St. George, on Hard Labor
Creek;" "The German Lutheran Church of St. Jacob, on Wateree
Creek;"
"The German Protestant Church of St. George, on Indian
Field Swamp;"
have petitioned the legislature of this State, pray-
ing to be incorporated, and setting forth that they
have severally complied with the terms required
by the constitution as preparatory thereunto, and
the allegations in the said petitions appearing to
be true.
I. Be it therefore enacted, by the honorable, the
Senate and the House of Representatives, now met
and sitting in General Assembly, and by the au-
thority of the same, That the several and respec-
tive societies hereinbefore mentioned, and the sev-
eral persons who now are, or shall hereafter
become members of the said societies, respectively,
and their successors, officers, and members of each
of the said societies, shall be, and they are hereby
declared, respectively, to be a body corporate, in
law, in deed, and in name, by the respective names
308
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and styles of: (Here follows a repetition of the
names of all the churches above-mentioned.) And
by their said respective names shall, severally,
have perpetual succession of officers and members,
and a common seal, with power to change, alter,
break, and make new the same, as often as they,
the said corporations, shall severally judge expe-
dient; and each and every of the said corporations
respectively are hereby vested with all the powers,
privileges, and advantages which are specified and
expressed in "the Act for incorporating divers
religious societies therein named," passed the
twenty-sixth day of March, one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-four.
II. And be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, That this act shall be deemed and taken
as a public act, and notice shall be taken thereof
in all courts of justice and elsewhere in this State;
and the same may be given in evidence on the
trial of any issue or cause, without being specially
pleaded.
In the Senate, Friday, the twenty-ninth of Feb-
ruary, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-eight, and in the twelfth year
of the independence of the United States of
America.
John Lloyd,
President of the Senate.
John Julius Pringle,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
1. The question now arises: Were there any other
German churches in South Carolina besides these
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
309
fifteen, incorporated by the above act of the legis-
lature, and the Lutheran Church in Charleston?
With the single exception of the German Reformed St. John's Church on the Congaree River,
of which Rev. Theus was the pastor at one time,
there is no knowledge of any other German Church
in the State at that time; but why it was not
incorporated, or what had become of it, is not
known. It has now long since ceased to exist.
2. Of these fifteen German Churches nine were
Lutheran; seven of these Lutheran Churches are
in existence at the present day, the other two are,
St. Martin's, of which no record can be found in
any of the minutes of Lutheran synods; and St.
George's Church on Hard Labor Creek, Abbeville
District, which had already ceased to exist in 1811,
according to the missionary report of Rev. R. J.
Miller.
3. The other six churches are: (a.) The Freder-
ician Church on Cattel's Creek, which was located
in Orangeburg District. According to Drs. Jamie-
son's and Shecut's statement in the Appendix of
Ramsay's History of South Carolina, this church
was erected in 1778, and named after Andrew
Frederick, "who was its principal founder;" it is
called by them a Presbyterian Church, but this is
an error; it was doubtless a German Reformed
Church. It has long since ceased to exist.
(b.) The German Calvinistic Church of St. John,
on the Fourhole Creek, was also located in Orange-
burg District, which has likewise ceased to exist.
There are four Lutheran Churches now in that
310
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
part of Orangeburg County: St. Matthew's, Mt.
Lebanon, Pine Grove, and Trinity, which have,
doubtless, absorbed the principal part of the de-
scendants of these two German Reformed Churches,
whilst others have connected themselves with other
denominations.
(c.) The German Protestant Church of Bethany
on Green Creek cannot be located by the writer,
nor are any traces of it to be found at the present
time; if, as is supposed, it was located in Newberry
District, its material must have been absorbed by
the Lutheran Church or other denominations.
(d.) The German Protestant Church of Appii
Forum, on Cedar Creek, was located in Richland
District, near the Fairfield line. Its history has
already been given. The congregation and its
house of worship are long since no more, and the
material has been absorbed in the Methodist
Church.
(e.) The German Protestant Church, dedicated
to Queen Charlotte, on Slippery Creek, Ninety-six
District, had its location either in Abbeville or
Edgefield District, which comprise part of the
territory of what was then known as Ninety-six
District. This church has likewise long since
passed out of existence.
(/.) The German Protestant Church of St.
George, on Indian Field Swamp, was located in
Barnwell District, fifty miles from Charleston, is
known no more under that name. There are two
Lutheran Churches in that vicinity at the present
time.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
311
4. If these fifteen German Churches comprised
the entire German element in the interior of South
Carolina in the year 1788, then, as a matter of
course, all other Lutheran Churches, not mentioned
in this act of incorporation, must have been organ-
ized at a subsequent period. This fact will enable
any future writer on the subject to unravel their
history the more readily.
Section 6. Arrival of Revs. Bernhardt, Storch and
JRoschen in North Carolina, A.D. 1787 and 1788.
In the year 1787 Rev. Nussmann's heart was
gladdened in being permitted to welcome another
laborer into the mission field of the Lutheran
Church in North Carolina. This was the Rev.
Christian Eberhard Bernhardt, a native of Stutt-
gard, in the kingdom of Wiirtemberg. He was
ordained in his native country, and came to Amer-
ica in the year 1786. He landed at Savannah, and
then proceeded to Ebenezer, Georgia, where he
remained twelve months. In 1787 he went to
Rowan County, N. C, and labored among the
churches there one year, doubtless in that part of
the county east of the Yadkin River, now known
as Davidson County. In 1788 he took charge of
the congregations in Stokes and Forsythe Counties,
which had been organized and frequently visited
by Rev. Nussmann; here Rev. Bernhardt was
married, but the records do not mention the name
of his wife. One year later he removed to Guil-
ford County, where he remained to the close of
312
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the year 1800, when he accepted the call to be-
come the pastor of Zion's and several other Lu-
theran churches in Lexington District, S. C. This
account has been furnished by his daughter-in-
law, the widow of the late Rev. David Bernhardt.
In September, 1788, Rev. Nussmann, the faith-
ful pioneer and father of the Lutheran Church in
North Carolina, was permitted to grasp the hand
of another brother in the ministry, who was sent to
his assistance by the Helmstaedt Mission Society,
namely: the Rev. Carl August Gottlieb Storch,
whose earl}T history is best described by himself
in his manuscript journal, an extract of which has
been translated and published in the Evangelical
Review, vol. viii, pp. 398-404. However, we will
let Rev. Storch speak for himself, simply giving
his remarks an English translation.
"I, Carl August Gottlieb Storch, was born in
Helmstaedt, Duchy of Brunswick, June 16th,
1764; my father's name was George Friederich
Storch, a native of the city of Danneberg and mer-
chant in Helmstaedt: my mother's name was Von
Asseburg. In the year 1779 I was confirmed by
Rev. Abbot* Velthusen, after which I went three
years to the high school of Helmstaedt, when I
was declared by the Director, Professor Winde-
burg, fitted to enter the University, and in the
year 1782,1 became a student of the University of
Helmstaedt. Having devoted myself three years
to theological sciences, I was recommended in
* The word "Abbot" is the title of an office.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
313
1785 by Rev. Abbot Velthusen to the tutorship of
a young nobleman, Von Hodenberg, who resided
with Major Von Scheither in Gisthorn, where I
remained only one year, because the young noble-
man, Von Hodenberg, was elected to the position
of page in Hanover; whereupon I became the
teacher of Mr. Friese's children, a merchant of
Fresenhede, near Bremen. Having remained
there two years, I received the call and order from
Rev. Abbot Velthusen to go as a pastor to North
Carolina, whereupon I was examined and ordained
to the ministry, and journeyed in May, 1788, from
Germany, and arrived in America about the end
of June of the same year. God be praised that
he has thus far wonderfully and paternally led me,
and safely preserved me in the midst of dangers.
I selected my first residence in Salisbury, and
commenced to board with Lewis Beard on the 8th
of November, 1788."
On another page of his journal, Rev. Storch
makes the following record: "April 16th, 1788.
I left Fresenhede and journeyed to North Caro-
lina, in North America. The cause of my making
this distant and dangerous journey was as follows:
Rev. Adolph Nussmann, who was sent as a min-
ister from Germany to North Carolina in the year
1773, and who is still living, greatly desired Rev.
Abbot Velthusen to send him several assistant
ministers, when Rev. Velthusen selected and per-
suaded me to undertake this journey. Upon the
ducal consent and command I was examined by
the five Helmstaedt professors, and ordained as a
27
314
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
minister for North Carolina by Abbot Velthusen.
All the expenses of my journey were paid, and,
upon request, I received the written assurance
from my ruler of the land, that, if I should return
after a few years, I should still receive my promo-
tion. Under those circumstances, and in reliance
upon God, I went to sea on the 4th of May, 1788,
and arrived safely in America, landing in Balti-
more on the 27th of June of the same year. The
whole journey lasted seven weeks and five days.
In Baltimore I met with a kind and friendly re-
ception, and after having enjoyed a delightful stay
of six weeks in that city, I journeyed by water to
Charleston in six days. In Charleston I remained
fourteen days, purchased a horse for eleven pounds
sterling, and rode to Rev. IsTussmann's residence,
making a circuit of about 300 English miles, and
arrived there at the beginning of the month of
September, 1788. Rev. Nussmami serves a con-
gregation at Buffalo Creek. After having re-
cruited myself, we made arrangements with the
congregations that desired to have me as their
pastor. Three congregations elected and called
me, namely: the one in Salisbury, where I first
took up my residence; the second, named Organ
Church, on Second Creek, ten miles from Salis-
bury; and the third, Pine Church, which, how-
ever, I had to resign, and now only serve two con-
gregations, Salisbury and Organ Church, which
have promised me in writing £80 North Carolina
currency, paper money; the funeral sermons and
marriages are paid extra, usually with one dollar.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
315
I commenced my ministry on the twenty-third
Sunday after Trinity, and at Salisbury the Sunday
following. On the 7th of January, 1789, I com-
menced to preach in the Irish settlement once
every month, for which I am promised £13 or £14
North Carolina currency."
The high esteem in which Rev. Storch was held
in his native country can best be seen from the
account given by Rev. Dr. Velthusen, in one of
the Helmstaedt Reports, of the ordination and
subsequent departure of Rev. Storch to North
Carolina. Dr. Velthusen says:
"On the 12th day of March, 1788, the candi-
date, Carl August Gottlieb Storch, was ordained,
under the highest ducal patronage, to the gospel
ministry as an assistant preacher for North Caro-
lina. The ordination address has been published
under the title, 'Address and Prayer at the Con-
secration of Mr. Carl A. GL Storch as an Evan-
gelical Assistant Preacher for North Carolina, &c.
One and a half sheets, to be had at the book-store
of our publications.'
"He has been sent away with the most gracious
assurances and best wishes of his Fatherland, that
should he, in the lapse of several years, have good
occasion to return to the same, after having faith-
fully discharged his official duties among our
brethren in the faith in that country, he may find
an open situation as teacher in his Fatherland.
"He was born in Helmstaedt, and was educated
under our immediate auspices. During the years
which he spent as tutor, we received repeated as-
316
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
surances of his capacity and fidelity as a teacher
from those who had opportunity to observe him
daily, and had also heard him preach, where he
is still held in gracious remembrance. In addi-
tion to that, at an appointed examination, con-
ducted in the strictest manner, we have found
him well prepared and fitted for his office, and
the public evidences of his capacity for preaching
and catechizing which he has rendered have given
cause of universal satisfaction. The family in
which he last served as tutor were very unwilling
to part with him; and after having taken his de-
parture from us on his way to America, he re-
turned to this friendly family, in order that he
might be in the vicinity of Bremen, and await
the sailing of the vessel which is to take him to
Baltimore. It will now wholly depend on the
affectionate reception which our brethren in the
faith in America, and the citizens generally, espe-
cially in North Carolina, will bestow upon him,
in what manner we shall hereafter aid them in
their necessary church affairs."
A few months after the arrival of Rev. Storch
came the Rev. Arnold Roschen, who was likewise
sent to North Carolina by the Helmstaedt Mission
Society. He was a native of the city of Bremen,
educated by the Rev. Pastor Nicolai, of that city—
that is, as is supposed, under his auspices; and,
on the eve of his departure to America, married a
lady of Bremen, doubtless with the view that he
might become permanently settled, and be con-
tented in his new home.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
317
All these facts are gathered from the Helm-
staedt Reports, in which there is found also a
published letter, which Rev. Roschen wrote to
his friend and preceptor, Rev. ISTicolai, giving him
an account of his journey to America, kind and
hospitable reception at Charleston, and safe ar-
rival in his field of labor in that part of Rowan
County, now known as Davidson County. Rev.
Roschen writes as follows:
"North Carolina, Rowan County, near Abbot's Creek; in
the midst of the forests of North America, sixty-six
miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains, eighteen miles
from Salem; from April 29th to June 21st, 1789.
"Our journey was a fortunate one, although it
lasted twelve weeks from shore to shore. With
the exception of two heavy showers in the Chan-
nel, which soon passed over, we did not have a
single storm upon our long journey by sea; on
the contrary, the weather was as good as our
friends wished for us at our departure. True,
sea-sickness did often and long inconvenience us,
but not in such a manner, as that we have to com-
plain greatly concerning it. The want of good
water and of necessary refreshments was the hard-
est to bear. After the New World came to our
view—a joy which cannot be described with words
—the wind became very unpropitious to us. The
great number of vessels that were gathered around
us made the crossing along the coast very danger-
ous; and here we would have been lost without
hope, when we thought that we had overcome all
difficulties, had not Providence miraculously saved
318
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
us. After a few days we arrived safely over the
bar—a sand-bank which incloses the ship-channel,
and in which there are but three openings where
a vessel can enter, but which do not permit an
entrance without the aid of a pilot. Here a new
and glorious prospect awaited us. Life and com-
motion, a coming together and crossing of so
many kinds of vessels, on all sides the loud and
resounding song of the sailors, a lovely day, the
view of Charleston, the islands that lay around
us, the trees which had not yet shed their foliage,
the negroes and their apparel, the language—in
short, everything that we saw here, and particu-
larly the long-wished-for termination of our jour-
ney by sea—awakened within us impressions and
feelings which we had never experienced before.
On the same evening, November 28th, 1788, we
were already brought to shore, and entered into
the house of a German; but we did not remain
there long. The merchant, Mr. Gabel (a native
of Bremen, who had also kindly entertained our
Storch, and had in various ways offered his hand
to our (mission) institute, says Dr. Velthusen),
heard that same evening of our arrival, sent a
friend to us with reproaches, that we had passed
the house of our countryman, and desired us to
move into his dwelling immediately, if we wished
to be regarded as his friends. He offered us sev-
eral rooms, received us in a noble manner, and
spoke to us very obligingly. At the same time
he commanded his negroes to look upon us as
their masters, so that we wanted for nothing.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
319
"I found an upright friend in Rev. Mr. Faber,
the German minister, who treated me, during the
ten weeks that we had to remain here, in such a
manner, as any one could have desired under the
circumstances. He besought me to conduct Divine
service with him, and to preach whenever it would
be agreeable to me. In this manner I preached
here about five times. Upon the whole, I must
acknowledge that all the Germans endeavored to
make the place, which is in itself a very charm-
ing one, as agreeable to us as possible, although
the obligations became very costly to us; for every-
thing, even the smallest article, is very dear here,
so much so that I and my wife could live very
well in my native city on the amount that has to
be expended here for extras.
"At length the wagons, sent by our congrega-
tions, came for my things, and horses for us to
ride—for every person rides here—and we two
began our journey of 300 North Carolina miles
on horseback, which was at first very fatiguing.
It was very hard for me to leave Charleston; I
had many opportunities there of becoming profit-
ably associated, and I found at times very noble
friends, whose magnanimity astonished me. At
the first moment of my stay there, I was delighted
at the banishment of all ceremonies, which among us are regarded so sacredly. Besides that, we
heard such dreadful reports of the people where
my congregations are situated, which, however,
God be praised! arose from the fact, that in
320
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Charleston the citizens are as badly informed as
in Germany concerning this country.
"We were accompanied several miles on our
journey by our friends; our way then went through
a great part of South to North Carolina. This
overland journey lasted fourteen days, and was
very wearisome, as may be readily supposed.
Sometimes we slept at night at a plantation, where
we were friendly received and kindly treated; at
other times we lodged with a new settler, where
seven or eight people rested in the same room be-
side us, among whom, at times, were sick and
dying persons, and our repose became very un-
pleasant; then again we slept under a tree; aud
sometimes under a wagon and in the rain; nev-
ertheless, we had generally very pleasant weather.
"We passed through three American towns,
which, on account of the small number of houses,
would scarcely be considered by us as villages.
Among these was Camden, which is very hand-
somely built, containing about thirty houses, and
is distant about 150 miles from Charleston, where
we lodged for the night with a German from
Hamburg, named Schiitt, whose brother lives in
Charleston and is in good circumstances.
"At length we arrived in Salisbury, where
Pastor Storch resides, whom I especially esteem
and love as a friend, and who rendered me very
important services, where we were as kindly re-
ceived as we could have expected. Upon the first
intelligence of our arrival, the deacons of one of
the nearest of my congregations, together with
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
321
some wealthy planters residing there, came to the
town to welcome us. The people here know noth-
ing of compliments, but express their opinions
in a manner that indicates good thinking facul-
ties. They informed us that we would not find a
dwelling-house as yet prepared for us, because,
upon consultation, it was thought best to wait
until my arrival, so that I could myself direct the
building of the same. And now the whole train
moved along, increased by Pastor Storch's accom-
panying us, until we came to the place appointed
for me, situated on Abbot's Creek, a small stream
that empties itself about twelve miles distant into
the Yadkin River. A deacon of my central con-
gregation took us to his home, where we remained
several months, until we moved to our own plan-
tation of two hundred acres of land, which we
have purchased advantageously, assisted by sev-
eral upright planters of this place; we were ad-
vised to take this step by Pastor Nussmann, who
came to meet us in Salisbury, in which advice
Rev. Storch also joined.
"As soon as we arrived, the deacons out of three
congregations came and visited us. A fourth con-
gregation, which is now almost the largest, also
placed itself under my ministry. So now I am
the pastor of four churches. The people from all
parts of the country brought us abundantly flour,
corn, hams, sausages, dried fruit, chickens, tur-
keys, geese, &c, so much so, that there has been
scarcely any necessity to spend one farthing for
our housekeeping up to this time."
322
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
According to these statements, it may be seen
that the Lord of the vineyard had now five laborers
in the Lutheran Church in North Carolina, namely,
Revs. ITussmann, Arndt, Bernhardt, Storch, and
Roschen, and they were "workmen that needed
not to be ashamed," for they were all talented
men, and filled with the spirit of their Master;
besides, they were men of the most profound
learning; even Arndt had received an excellent
education, although he came to this country in
the capacity of a school teacher, and all had been
brought up in the most refined society, and might
have been an acquisition and an honor to any col-
lege or university in the land; but because they
were Germans, and spoke a foreign language,
little was ever known of them by the general in-
habitants of the State; however, they were so
much the better known, and the more highly
esteemed by the people among whom they lived,
and for whose spiritual welfare they labored.
Section 7. The Helmstaedt Mission Society—Letters
from Revs. Nussmann, Storch, and Roschen,
published in the Helmstaedt Reports, indicating
the condition of the Lutheran Church in North
Carolina during the years 1788 and 1789.
The Lutheran Church is at present tolerably
familiar with the titles of two extensive German
publications, denominated "The Halle Reports"
and "The Urlsperger Reports;" however, it is
not generally known that a similar work, although
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
323
not so extensive, and therefore, perhaps, more
readable, entitled "The Helmstaedt Reports," to
which frequent allusion has been made, had like-
wise been published for the purpose of imparting
information to European readers, concerning the
state of some of our Lutheran mission stations in
America.
The missionary spirit in the Lutheran Church
was engendered more than two centuries ago, and
soon after the close of the Thirty Years' War.
Various mission societies have been formed in
Europe, under a variety of appellations, but all
having the same object in view, that of spreading
the knowledge and benefits of the Christian reli-
gion in foreign lands. The different mission fields
appear to have been properly apportioned and
selected by the numerous societies over all Prot-
estant Europe.
Among the various fields of labor of our pious
German forefathers, America was not forgotten,
and the Lutheran Church in Europe was foremost
in the ranks in her efforts to provide for the spir-
itual welfare of her people on this continent and
its adjacent islands. Not only were faithful and
self-sacrificing missionaries sent, their salaries
paid them by charitable donations of Christians in
the Fatherland, but also churches, school-houses,
and sometimes orphan asylums were both erected
and supported by these munificent contributions.
Books of worship and devotion, as well as of edu-
cation and instruction, were sent gratuitously in
great numbers to our forefathers in America.
324
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
In point of time the Swedish Delaware-River
Mission was the first enterprise of this kind; its
object was the planting of the Lutheran Church
systematically and firmly in America, not men-
tioning the Danish Lutheran mission in Green-
land, and the different missions on some of the
islands along the Atlantic coast of America.
Next in order was the Ebenezer Mission in
Georgia, with which we are tolerably familiar, and
the extensive minute reports of its missionaries,
which were sent to the parent society in Augsburg,
and cover about six thousand quarto pages of
printed matter, were all published by the Rev.
Dr. Urlsperger, and thus originated "The Urls-
perger Reports."
Then the University and Orphan House at Halle,
institutions founded by the celebrated August
Herrmann Francke, sent missionaries to another
vacant field farther north, which claimed their
attention, and the Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, D.D.
and others were sent to Pennsylvania, who like-
wise transmitted the reports of their labors to the
parent Mission Society, and which were all pub-
lished under the title of "The Halle" or "The
Pennsylvania Reports."
However, between Pennsylvania and Georgia
there was a large territory still unoccupied, and,
at a later period, the Professors of the Julius
Charles University, in the city of Helmstaedt,
Duchy of Brunswick, became interested in this
field, midway between the two American missions
established by Halle and Augsburg, and on this
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 325
wise was North Carolina selected and regarded as
a hopeful locality for still farther missionary opera-
tions, and the Rev. John Caspar Velthusen, D.D.,
Professor of Theology in the above-mentioned
university, with his associates, sent missionaries,
upon the earnest call of Rev. Nussmann, to labor
among the Germans in North Carolina. The re-
ports which these missionaries sent to the parent
society in Helmstaedt, were also published, and
were denominated "The Helmstaedt or North
Carolina Reports," which, until recently, were no
longer known to exist.
From an article in one of these published re-
ports, we are informed that "up to the present
time (March 13th, 1788), the net proceeds of dona-
tions and funds advanced upon the publication of
our (their) seven advertised books of instruction,
amount already to 1238 rix-dollars, 13 groschen,
and 8 pfennigs." This was the beginning of a
treasury for the welfare of the North Carolina
mission field; in other of the reports, acknowl-
edgments of additional donations, and the names
of the donors occur. Dr. Velthusen goes on to
state:
"For nearly a year past it appeared that we would
not be able to carry out our purpose in so short a
time, namely, the sending of well-qualified preach-
ers to North Carolina." (Here follows what has
been stated already in another section.) "Our
spirits were likewise revived by the statement of
several other trustworthy friends, who had been
in Virginia, as well as to the borders of North
326
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina, and who were unanimous in praising
the Christian willingness of our evangelical breth-
ren in the faith in that country to provide liber-
ally for those preachers sent to them, so that they
need want for nothing, provided they were in any
way worthy of their confidence."
In the following pages of this narrative Dr. Velt-
husen mentions the names and acts of kindness of
several friends of the mission enterprise who re-
sided in New York, Baltimore and Virginia; be-
sides, the delay of the publication of several works
for the benefit of the mission, occasioned by the
call and removal of Prof. Kliigel to Halle; the
names and character of the works intended for
publication; the delay of the publication of a geo-
graphical work until the reception of more recent
information from Charleston; list of donors to the
mission cause in which the Professors had em-
barked, &c.; the whole of which is dated and
signed by them as follows:
"Helmstaeclt, at the Ducal Brunswick-Liineburg
Julius-Charles University, March 13th, 1788.
"J. C. Velthusen, Professor of Theology, and
Abbot.
"H. P. C. Hencke, Professor of Theology, and
Abbot.
uJj. Crel), Professor of Medical Science and
Philosophical Mineralogy and Mining.
"G. S. Kliigel, Professor of Philosophy and
Mathematics.
"P. J. Bruns, Professor of the History of Phil-
osophy and Literature/'
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
327
A Letter from Rev. A. Niissmami to Rev. Dr.
Velthusen.
North Carolina, Mecklenburg County,
Buffalo Creek, November 12th, 1788.
Honorable Abbot, my best Friend:
The indications of Providence develop them-
selves more and more visibly in this religious
work, so that God's finger is made manifest here
in the work for the welfare of his people. In
Charleston a warm interest is taken in our affairs.
Rev. Mr. Faber is an active man. Rev. Storch's
sickness gave me much uneasiness and sorrow, for
I love him on account of his learning, virtue, spirit
and friendship, which had already commenced in
Germany. All persons who see and hear him,
love and honor him. But even in this respect has
God helped us,—Rev. Storch is again restored;
and may God preserve his health in future, so that
whether I live or die, my expectations concerning
him may be realized.
A change has taken place concerning his call to
the congregation in Guilford County; Providence
has directed otherwise. Storch felt at that time
so feeble, that he believed himself to be unable to
make the long journey on horseback, which was
necessary to reach his field of labor. Besides, he
would have then been one hundred miles distant
from me, and in a wilderness where no messen-
ger can be obtained. These difficulties were at
once removed by God. A call was extended to him
from three vacant congregations, Salisbury, Pine
Church and Second Creek, with the written as-
328
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
surance of a salary of £110, and in a few days after-
wards £14 more from a congregation seven miles
distant from Salisbury, which he will have to
serve during the week-day. These congregations,
through their deacons, promised to pay the freight
on his things, which will be about two Spanish dol-
lars for every 100 pounds, but they could not pay
his traveling expenses from Baltimore to Charles-
ton. It is a hard matter to take everything out of
the pocket of a private man, in a country where the
congregation have as yet nothing of their own.
A book printing establishment would be of the
greatest benefit to religion, and which could read-
ily obtain assistance here, if we only had the type.
The capital necessary for such an establishment
could not only be kept up, but also improved, for
there is no German printing office from Georgia
to Maryland, and not even a good English one in
North Carolina. If we only had one, then we
could suit ourselves to circumstances, and print
those publications immediately, which are the
most necessary; the transportation from Germany
is so slow, and the want in a new country so
urgent, that one dare not wait long to meet this
want.
An organ is also necessary, as it must be our
chief concern to reinstate church music. In the
last sixteen years I have had an oversight of several
hundred square miles, partly by personal visits
and partly through reliable intelligence, and I have
found that in proportion to the music, which the
people were able to conduct, congregations spring
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 329
up,increase, flourish, decay, fall into ruin. An im-
provement, therefore, must be made; fifty copies
of an excellent singing-book, judiciously scattered
in schools and families, would soon secure its adop-
tion as a school and family singing-book; after-
wards it would come into general use through
the country.
The 370 rix-dollars should, according to the in-
tent of the donors, be a permanent investment for
the benefit of religion, principally in the congre-
gations from Rocky River to Salisbury. This would
be satisfactory to all, and would re-establish and
preserve peace and quietude. God, who has so often
and visibly aided us in these matters, and brought
forth great results out of small things; who has
always arranged matters differently to what I had
imagined, but always better than my expectations,
will also help here, and through his wisdom direct
everything in such a manner, so that the four phi-
lanthropists, your assistants, in connection with
all those upright persons who have aided the good
cause, may experience joy in their work.
I am, &c,
Your most devoted friend,
Adolph Nussmann.
Report of Rev. C. A. G. Storch, dated May 28th,
1789.
This report was sent to the ITelmstaedt Mission
Society, from which Dr. Velthusen makes the fol-
lowing extracts. "Rev. Storch, as well as Rev. Roschen, are both
28
330
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
satisfied in the midst of their congregations. Rev.
S. mentions, that of his three congregations, Organ
Church, on Second Creek, is the strongest, and
consists of eighty-seven families. He praises the
people, who treat him with love and respect, and
supply him with the necessaries of life." (Here
the salary, &c, is again stated, much the same as
in Nussmann?s report.) "His congregation is
building a house for him, and have offered him a
loan for the purpose of purchasing a plantation,
without which one cannot succeed there. He still
lives in Salisbury, where an academy has been es-
tablished, in which there are some students, who
receive instruction in Hebrew from him. In ad-
dition to that duty, he has also established a small
German school, so that the youth may accustom
themselves to a purer German language. He ex-
pects to confirm about fifty children next harvest
season. He says that Rev. Roschen is likewise
treated with love and respect; that he has four
congregations, and receives from them about £100,
current paper money; that he resides about eigh-
teen miles from him, on the other side of a broad
river; has already purchased a plantation, and is
accustoming himself well to the climate and mode
of living in that country."
Report of Rev. Arnold Roschen.
"In my middle congregation I have confirmed
twenty-four persons; in the congregation situated
towards the Yadkin River I confirmed twelve,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA,
331
and in the others I have this duty jet before me."
(Here follows a lengthy description of the cus-
tomary funeral ceremonies.) "Marriages are here
performed in two modes; the one, according to
the rules of the Church, requires to be announced
three times; the other is managed as follows:
The groom gets a certificate from Salisbury, rides,
accompanied by his friends, with his bride to the
minister, or, if there is none in the place, to the
magistrate, where the marriage takes place. The
first questions of the minister are, Whether he
has taken his bride without her parents' knowl-
edge?—this occurs frequently—and, Whether the
parents have given their consent? If any one has
stolen his bride, and has a license from Salisbury,
then the objections of the parents avail nothing.
Upon the whole, in this free country, a son, when-
ever he has arrived at his twenty-first year, and a
daughter, as soon as she is eighteen years old, is
no longer under the parents' control. Persons
generally marry very young, because they need
not be much concerned for the future. He that
will work, can soon have a plantation; and poor
people are not to be met here at all. A person
can often meet with families that have thirteen to
fourteen children, nearly all living. I myself am
acquainted with a planter here, who has had a
family of twenty-three children, born of one
mother, and who, with the exception of two, are
all living and well.
"My catechumens, whom I have instructed
three days in every week for seven weeks, con-
332
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
sist partly of married persons, some of them as
old as thirty years, and young persons from six-
teen to twenty years of age. Among other things,
I advise them not to intermarry with persons of
other nationalities, because such mixed marriages
are generally unhappy, and sometimes occasion
murder and homicide, and because the English in
these regions belong to no religious denomina-
tion, and do not permit their children to be bap-
tized, nor send them to school.
"Rev. Storch and I recently passed by the
court-house in Salisbury, at the moment when a
man was standing in the pillory. A German
called to us to stop awhile, and see how the
Americans punish rogues and thieves. Upon my
asking him, 'The criminal is certainly not a Ger-
man?' I received the literally true reply, 4Never
has a German stood in the pillory in Salisbury;
nor has ever a German been hung in this place.'
"Most persons are well satisfied with their plan-
tations in this country. I recently visited a member
of my congregation, and inquired of him how he
was getting along. To which he replied, 'Were
we to complain, God would have to punish us.
We have need of nothing, and possess a large
surplus above our wants. We are enjoying good
health, and everything is in good order on our
plantations; and since we are possessed of such an
abundance so soon after the war, we must cer-
tainly become wealthy if God continues to give
us peace.'
uSo far as my situation as planter is concerned,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
333^
I can say nothing else than that I am very fortu-
nate and happy, and it would cost me a great
struggle on this account, as well as that I am be-
loved and respected as pastor by my congregation,
to exchange my present location with any other.
I pray God, that he would not separate Storch and
myself, for he is now also beginning to feel satis-
fied. Not long ago, when I had service in my
upper congregation, I was surrounded by the
elders and deacons, who besought me never to
leave them. A certain Colonel declared, that he
would never again be connected with the church,
if I were to move away. I can assure you that I
will not abandon these congregations so easily as
persons in Germany doubtless imagine. We min-
isters are treated with a respect, which is shown
to no other person. There is no difference in
rank acknowledged here, and yet no one has ever
spoken with me, who did not hold his hat in
his hand. I must say the same of Storch; he is
treated with such love and respect by his congre-
gations, as few ministers in Germany are treated. "At first Storch, in his hypochondria, looked
upon all things in a false light; besides, his ar-
rival in America was unpropitious" (that is, he
was laid upon a bed of sickness soon after his
arrival in North Carolina); "now he speaks differ-
ently. Nussmann, who is a good and upright
man, lives upon his plantation in very moderate
circumstances. Arndt, formerly a catechet, now
a preacher, possesses two fine plantations, is
wealthy, and edifies his people by his life and
334
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
conduct. We all preach in black clothes and
collar, but mostly without a gown, and oftentimes
in our overcoat, during bad weather in winter.
"I endeavor to make the Divine service as im-
pressive as possible, and suitable to the occasion,
but as simple as I can. I dare not make my dis-
course shorter than three-quarters of an hour, be-
cause there are members, who have to ride eighteen
miles to church, and in each church there is ser-
vice only once every four weeks. Baptisms take
place after the sermon, and in the presence of the
whole congregation. Whenever the communion
is administered on Sunday, the preparatory ser-
vice takes place on Friday or Saturday preceding.
Nothing is known here of private confession."
This interesting report of Rev. Roschen is quite
lengthy, and has been somewhat abridged, because
it alludes to customs that would require a lengthy
explanation, before they would be properly under-
stood by the general reader, and because some
things are reported of his own personal affairs,
which would not be interesting to any one at the
present time.
Rev. Dr. Velthusen yet adds, that a letter had
arrived from Mr. Gabel in Charleston, South Car-
olina, fourteen days ago, corroborating the above
church intelligence. Mr. Gabel, who is on a visit
to Bremen, writes, that he had left Nussmann
well and hearty in Charleston (doubtless Rev.
JSTussmann was on a visit there at the time); that
Storch has no inclination to return to Germany,and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 335
assures us that Rosehen is well satisfied, and that
he will have good profit in a few years from the
tract of land which he purchased there. Mr.
Gabel likewise states, that in his journey through
Georgia he met with the pastor at Ebenezer, Rev.
Mr. Bergmann, and found him in a situation in
which he may be well satisfied.
Section 8. Further Intelligence from St. John's and
Organ Churches; and a Ministerial Assembly
in North Carolina called to Ordain the Rev.
Robert Johnson Miller.
Extract from the old German (St. John's)
Church-book.—"January 16th, 1790, the church
council held a meeting, when the following mem-
bers were present: Paul Barringer, Peter Quill-
mann, George Meissenheimer, Daniel Jarrett,
Matthew Meyer, Nicholas Reitenhauer, Jacob
Fegert, Andreas Stauch, Ulrich Diirr, Jacob Bast,
and the pastor, Adolph Nussmann. Paul Bar-
ringer, Sr., was chosen chairman of the council.
The object of the meeting was to promote a
greater degree of union and true sincerity in
matters of religion, both in schools and churches.
"It was resolved, that the doors of the church
shall no longer be closed before the commence-
ment of the Lord's day services; but as soon as
one-half of the congregation shall have been as-
sembled, the doors shall then be opened, and at
ten o'clock the services of the sanctuary shall
commence; and those persons who shall be guilty
336
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of making disturbance during worship shall be
reported to the magistrate. The services shall
also commence in future without any further call-
ing in of those persons who remain outside.
"Resolved, That at the celebration of the Lord's
Supper, alms shall be gathered at the doors. The
members of the congregation are furthermore re-
quested to celebrate their marriages in the church,
at which time of rejoicing they and their benevo-
lent guests are desired to contribute alms to the
church, and to lay their mites upon the altar, as
is customary in many places in our Evangelical
Church.
"Resolved, That whenever slanderous reports are
circulated, which might cause dissensions in the
church, they shall be made known to our Presi-
dent, Paul Barringer, who shall investigate the
matter, and shall decide in such a way, as shall
best promote the interests of true religion and the
church.
"Resolved, That persons bringing their children
to the church to be baptized, must make the fact
known before service, name the sponsors, the day
of the child's birth, the names of the parents, so
that it may be recorded in the church-book."
Pastor Storch commenced his labors at Organ
Church, October 26th, 1788; and in Salisbury on
the Sunday following, November 2d, being the
23d and 24th Sundays after Trinity. A very con-
cise constitution was introduced and adopted on the
following-New Year's Day, 1789, which, however,
contains nothing of special interest to the general
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
337
reader, except that it indicates how much our fore-
fathers felt and labored for the order, discipline
and consequent welfare of their congregations.
Organ Church alone promised their pastor an
annual salary of £40, North Carolina currency,
and the number of those members, who subscribed
this amount, and undersigned the new constitu-
tion, amounted to seventy-eight persons.
In the year 1791, the present massive and, as
was then considered, large and commodious stone
church was erected, having large galleries on each
side, except where the pulpit stands; and an organ,
excellent in its day, built by one of the members,
Mr. Steigerwalt, was placed in the centre of the
long gallery, and opposite the pulpit. The pulpit,
as a matter of course, was goblet-shaped, with a
sounding-board overhead, and has but recently
been removed when the church was repaired.
Those time-lronored relies are fast passing away
by the encroachments of our novelty-seeking age.
The first English Lutheran preacher in North
Carolina was the Rev. Robert Johnson Miller,
who was a Scotchman by birth, a native of Bal-
dovia, Angusshire, near Dundee, born July 11th,
1758, the third son of George and Margaret Miller.
His parents designed him to study for the min-
istry, and for this purpose sent him to the Dundee
classical school. After he had completed his edu-
cation there, and before he entered the ministry,
he migrated to America, and arrived in Charles-
town, Massachusetts, A.D. 1774. His brother, an
East and West India merchant of that place, had
29
338
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
invited him from Scotland to reside with him,
with whom he labored as an assistant in his busi-
ness for some time.
It now happened that his adopted country be-
came involved in the Revolutionary struggle, when
he at once declared himself a friend of liberty, and
as soon as General Greene passed through Boston
with his army, young Miller enlisted as a Revo-
lutionary soldier. He was engaged in the battles
of Long Island, where he received a flesh wound
in the face, of Brandywine, White Plains, and the
siege of Valley Forge; but God preserved his life
in all these engagements, as he had a more glori-
ous work in store for him. With the army he
traveled to the South, where he remained after
peace was declared and the army disbanded.
He now remembered his duty to God, his for-
mer vows, and his preparation for the ministry,
and applied for license to preach the Gospel in con-
nection with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as
the minutes of the Methodist Conference plainly
indicate; and thus authorized, he commenced
preaching in the western counties of North Caro-
lina, traveling often one hundred miles to meet
his appointments.
Although licensed to preach by the Methodist
Episcopal Conference, yet not having the authority
to administer the sacraments, his people of White Haven Church, in Lincoln County, sent a petition
to the Lutheran pastors of Cabarrus and Rowan
Counties, with high recommendations, praying
that he might be ordained by them, which was
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
339
accordingly done at St. John's Church, Cabarrus
County, on the 20th of May, 1794. The ordina-
tion certificate is still extant, although much muti-
lated, and inasmuch as it contains some interesting
historical facts, it is here inserted:
"To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, GREETING:
"Whereas, A great number of Christian people
in Lincoln County have formed themselves into a
society by the name of White Haven Church, and
also having formed a vestry: We, the subscribers,
having been urged by the pressing call from the
said Church to ordain a minister for the good of
their children, and for the enjoyment of ye gospel
ordinances among them, from us, the ministers of
the Lutheran Church in North Carolina, have sol-
emnly ordained," (here much of the certificate is
torn away and lost) "according to ye infallible
word of God, administer ye sacraments, and to
have ye care of souls; he always being obliged to
obey ye Rules, ordinances and customs of ye
Christian Society, called ye Protestant Episcopal
Church in America. Given under our hands and
seals, North Carolina, Cabarrus County, May 20th,
1794.
"Signed by Adolphus Nussmann, Senior, Jo-
hann Gottfriedt Arendt, Arnold Roschen, Chris-
topher Bernhardt, and Charles Storch."
On the reverse side of this certificate the Lu-
theran ministers gave their reasons why they had
ordained a man who was attached to the Episcopal
Church as a minister of that denomination.
340
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
As all the Lutheran ministers were present at
the ordination of Rev. R. J. Miller, there must
have been a synodical or conferential meeting of
some kind held at that time, as such actus minis-
teriales are performed generally on those occasions.
This conclusion is substantiated by the fact that
Miller went to St. John's Church with the view to
be examined and ordained, in accordance with the
petition of his congregation; and Rev. Nussmann's
name is signed to the certificate of ordination as
Senior,an office honorably conferred by such a body
at that time. It is, therefore, but reasonable to
conclude that the first ecclesiastical assembly of the
Lutheran Church in North Carolina was held in
St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, in the month
of May, 1794, and that the first minister ordained
by that Lutheran Ministerium was the Rev. R. J.
Miller.
Section 9. Death of Revs. Nussmann and Martin—
Resignation of Rev. John Charles Faber—Re-
moval of Rev. Bernhardt to South Carolina—
Return of Rev. Roschen to Germany—Arrival
of Revs. Paul and Philip Henkel.
Rev. Nussmann's labors in North Carol in a ex-
tended over a period of more than twenty years,
remaining faithfully at his post until God called
him to his rest. He was the pioneer minister of
the Lutheran Church in the State, and commenced
his labors among his people in the days of their
colonial hardships and trials; he had been with
IN NOETH AND SOUTH CAEOLINA.
341
them through all the devastating influences of a
most sanguinary war; he had seen them rise again
to comparative comfort and prosperity under the
new government; he had ministered to them in all
circumstances of life, and had himself experienced
many trials and afflictions through which he was
called to pass. All denominations of Christians,
that had ever heard of him, mention his name with
honor and praise. "Caruther's Life of Rev. David
Caldwell, D.D.," a Presbyterian work, speaks of
Nussmann as having ulabored faithfully in pov-
erty and privations." Dr. Velthusen, in the Helm-
staedt Reports, says: "The intelligence which I
have received from strangers concerning ITuss-
mann, of which there is not the slightest intima-
tion to be found in his own letters, informs us, that
his faithfulness in his ministerial office is so great,
that he places his temporal welfare and the care
of his children's worldly prosperity too far in the
background, and is more earnestly concerned for
the building up of the Church, than for the success
of his planting interests."
During his ministry he had suffered many pri-
vations, as he had never received an adequate sup-
port for himself and family; and during the Revo-
lutionary War, he was often in despair of his life
on account of his liberal principles. At one time
he was obliged to secrete himself in the tall under-
growth along the banks of a small stream near his
house, in order to escape the fury of the Tories,
who had prowled about destroying valuable lives,
and robbing persons of their property and daily
342
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
bread. The Helmstaedt Mission Society sent him
a selection of valuable books for his library, and
other publications to be disposed of for his benefit,
but it is doubtful whether he realized much from
the sale of them. It is known, that some of these
books were donated by him to indigent persons.
An anecdote is related of him by Christopher
Melchor, Esq., that on one occasion, when he re-
ceived but one dollar for a marriage fee, and some
person remarked, that the sum was rather a small
one, he good-humoredly remarked: "It is small
if the wife proves to be a good one, but if other-
wise, it is sufficiently large."
Shortly after Rev. Nussrnann came to this coun-
try, he was united in marriage to Barbara Layrle,
a daughter of Christopher Layrle, one of the depu-
ties sent to Germany to bring pastors and teachers
to North Carolina; with her he lived in blissful
harmony, and was the father of several sons and
daughters, none of whom are now living; but his
grandchildren and descendants to the fifth gen-
eration are still to be met with in Central North
Carolina, respected by all who are acquainted
with them.
Pastor Nussmann had for some time been af-
flicted with a cancer on his neck, and it became
evident that it would terminate in his death, yet he
bore his affliction meekly and with Christian forti-
tude, when on the 3d of November, 1794, his
family and friends were called to witness the de-
parture of a faithful husband, father and pastor.
It was a severe loss to his congregation; he was
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
343
their first pastor, and had labored long and faith-
fully for them; and how they would now be sup-
plied with the means of grace, was a question not
easily answered. His memory is still cherished
by the members of St. John's Church, who have
placed a new marble tombstone at the head of his
grave; the former one, an ancient-looking blue
stone slab, upon which time had done its work, is
now safely and sacredly deposited in St. John's
Church, and still bears the following German in-
scription: "Christusist mein Leben, Sterben ist
meiu Gewinn. Das Andenken der Gerechten
bleibet im Segen. Hier ruhen die Gebeine des
treuen Predigers, Adolph Nussrnann, in Deutsch-
land geboren, im August, 1739, gestorben den 3ten
November, 1794" ("For me to live is Christ, to
die is gain. The memory of the righteous is
blessed. Here repose the remains of the faithful
preacher, Adolphus Nussrnann, born in Germany,
August, 1739, died November 3d, 1794.") He was
aged 55 years, 3 months, and some days.
Besides having labored in Cabarrus County, he
also performed missionary duty in several German
settlements in the northern part of North Carolina,
as before stated. The following record is taken
from the minutes of the North Carolina Synod of
1831: "The Rev. Mr. Nussmann, weak as he was,
established two congregations in Surry, now Stokes
County, and instructed and confirmed old and
young; these churches have not yet died out."
More could not be said to his praise than, that he
lived the life of a pious and useful Christian, and
344
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
died in the triumphs of that Gospel, which he
faithfully preached.
A few months after Nussmann's death, God
called another and once active laborer in the Lu-
theran Church in the Carolinas to his rest; this
was the Rev. John Nicholas Martin, who had be-
come aged and infirm, and was no longer able to
perform any active duties of the gospel ministry,
but who still took a deep interest in the welfare of
the Church. "He was born at Zweibiiicken
(Deux-Ponts), in Rhenish Bavaria, and emigrated
to North America about the middle of the eigh-
teenth century. He was then a married man with
several children. The colony, after some delay,
settled in Anson County, near South Carolina.
From this point Rev. Martin, with the larger por-
tion of his congregation, removed to a district be-
tween the Broad and Saluda Rivers/' but labored
mostly in Charleston, as pastor of St. John's
Church, where he finally made his permanent
home on a farm located about a mile from the city;
"there he closed his honored and useful life, July
27th, 1795." His descendants are numerous, the
most of whom are still attached to the Lutheran
Church, and are devoted members of the same.
In the year 1800, the Lutheran Church in Char-
leston became vacant by the resignation of Rev.
John Charles Faber, on account of the failure of
his health. According to Ramsay's History of
South Carolina, vol. ii,p. 23, reprinted edition, Rev.
Faber's successor was Rev. Matthew Frederic, but
no such name occurs in any of the records of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
345
Church now accessible, and it is exceedingly
doubtful whether Dr. Ramsay's statement is cor-
rect. The statement of the vestry of that church,
made a few years ago, and extracted from the old
church-book, is as follows: "Rev. Mr. Pogson
officiated on Sundays for a short time, and on his
retiring, Mr. Faber consented to serve the church
as far as his strength would allow." ISTo other
minister's name is mentioned until Mr. Faber's
successor, the younger Faber, is introduced in the
narrative as the regular pastor. The vacancy con-
tinued five years.
At the close of the year 1800, Rev. C. E. Bern-
hardt received and accepted the call as pastor of
the Saluda charge, in Lexington District, South
Carolina, to which place he removed with his
family from Guilford County, North Carolina; by
this removal another vacancy was created in the
Lutheran Church of that State. But this was not
the only charge which suffered in this manner;
the Rev. Arnold Roschen, who was, at first, so well
satisfied with his field of labor, and had no other
thought but that of continuing there the remainder
of his life, now changed his mind, when his heart
yearned for his Fatherland, and he returned to
Germany about the year 1800; however, his place
was soon occupied by the arrival of Rev. Paul
Henkel, whose name occurs in the Halle Reports
as a catechet laboring in Virginia, but who was
afterwards ordained by the Ministerium of Penn-
sylvania.
In the year 1801, the Rev. Philip Henkel, a son
346
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of Rev. Paul Ilenkel, came to North Carolina, and
took charge of the Guilford pastorate, made vacant
by the removal of Rev. Bernhardt to South Caro-
lina. It is stated in the Helmstaedt Reports, that
a third minister was to have been sent by Helm-
staedt Mission Society to North Carolina; he is
spoken of as "a candidate of a noble heart and
excellent attainments," but for some reason or
other he never came to America.
Section 10. St. John's Church, Cabarrus County,
N. C, after Rev. Nussmann's death—Report of
Rev. Storch to Dr. Velthusen—Decline of the
German Reformed Church in South Carolina.
After the death of Pastor Nussmann, St John's
Church remained vacant for two years, after which
time it was supplied temporarily one year with the
labors of Rev. Storch, so his journal informs us,
and in 1797 the Rev. Adam Nicholas Marcard, who
had been laboring in the vicinity, at Cold Water
Creek, a newly organized church, became the
pastor of St. John's Church, and labored there
nearly three years, and then also removed to
South Carolina. It must be said to his credit,
that the records of the church during his time
were neatly made by himself, being both ample
and well arranged.
As no other pastor could be obtained, Rev.
Storch took charge of this congregation, and
served it in connection with his other churches.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
347
He was a faithful laborer, and introduced many
wholesome reforms, but his health failed him,
and recommended that the congregation elect
another pastor, when they called the Rev. John
Henkel, from Virginia, who accepted the call in
1803, and was on the point of moving to North
Carolina, when God called him from time to eter-
nity. There was now no other alternative left but
for Rev. Storch to continue his labors among this
people, and he remained their pastor until the year
1821, laboring as faithfully as his health would
permit.
The condition of the Lutheran Church in North
Carolina at this time is reported in a letter of Rev.
Storch to Rev. Dr. Velthusen, dated "Salisbury,
N. C, February 25th, 1803," and published in one
of the Doctor's works. Pastor Storch writes:
"It is now nearly three years that I live in very
sad circumstances; not only have I suffered during
this time from various severe attacks of sickness,
which had brought my body near to death, but
likewise from an apparently incurable disease of
the eyes, which seems to baffle all medical skill,
and made it impossible for me either to read or
write. I am, however, quite restored from my
sickness of last fall, a disease similar to yellow fever,
and which rages in this entire vicinity with great
mortality. I now feel tolerably strong, and my
eyes are somewhat better; nevertheless, according
to the opinion of the physician, I need not expect
any permanent restoration of my health in this
348
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
climate. However, we have an eternity before us,
where we will be always well.
"The present condition of this country is re-
markable, both in a political and religious aspect.
Party spirit is risen to a fearful height. Infidelity
prevails to a great extent, both among the higher
and lower classes of society.
"I still serve my old congregations, and I con-
tinue to preach the doctrines of Jesus Christ, the
crucified, in simplicity, and have happily experi-
enced the power of his grace upon myself and
others. The prevalence of infidelity, the contempt
of the best of all religions, its usages and servants,
the increase of irreligion and crime, as remarked,
have occasioned me many sad hours. Neverthe-
less I have found consolation and courage in the
thought:
'So long as Christ protects His Church,
May hell its rage continue;'
and I held fast to my faith, convinced that truth
and religion will at last mightily raise up their
head and prevail.
"The congregations at the Catawba River are
without a preacher. The faithful brother, Ahrend,
has become totally blind. It is a sad calamity for
that good man and the churches. The Buffalo
Creek congregation (St. John's) is likewise unpro-
vided for; however, it has at present the hope of
obtaining the services of a brother of Paul Henkel,
the successor of our Roschen. Rev. Bernhardt
has left his situation in Guilford, and is now serv-
ing for the past two years several congregations
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
349
in South Carolina. The congregations in Guil-
ford County are now served by a son of Rev. Paul
Henkel. Rev. Magister Faber has resigned his
pastoral office in Charleston some three years ago;
the congregation has extended a call to me, con-
nected with very favorable offers; but I could not
accept it. Mr. Faber continues to preach for them
as long as the congregation has no other pastor.
I am rejoiced that Pastor Roschen has again been
appointed to a charge (in Germany), and I heartily
wish that, with enduring health, he may long con-
tinue to be useful to the Church."
During this period the German Reformed Church
in South Carolina commenced to decline; all the
old ministers had departed this life, and no new
pastors were obtained to take charge of the vacant
churches. The Rev. A. Loretz, from North Caro-
lina, and perhaps some others, visited these con-
gregations about once or twice a year, preached,
and administered the sacraments; but as the jour-
ney always embraced several hundred miles, and
was made with much difficulty at that time, these
visits became less frequent from time to time,
until they ceased entirely, and the denomination
became extinct in that State; the members were
at length absorbed by other professions of faith, a
large proportion of which connected themselves
with the Lutheran Church, particularly where the
houses of worship were held jointly by Lutheran
and German Reformed congregations.
350
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 11. The great religious revival of the years
1800 and 1801, which swept over the United
States; reports of Rev. Storch and Henkel con-
.cerning it.
On the subject of revivals the opinion of the
Lutheran Church of America has been, and is still,
divided, both as to whether such revivals are right
or wrong in themselves, and again, among those
who favor these revivals, as to the proper mode of
conducting them.
These revivals of religion, that is to say, what is
generally understood by that name, so far as the
Lutheran Church is concerned, are purely an
American feature, ingrafted upon a portion of the
Lutheran Church in this country, and has nothing
in common with what is called "Pietism" in Ger-
many.
At this late period of time, and with an experi-
ence of more than half a century, the Church can-
not be regarded an uninformed stranger to this
"new measure;" the opinion of all our ministers
and members is now generally confirmed as to the
effects of these revivals.
Not desiring to discuss the merits of this re-
vival question at this point of the history of our
Church in the Carolinas, because it would be out
of place in point of time, revivals not having been
then introduced in our churches, it is, nevertheless,
peculiarly interesting to read what our forefathers
thought of them more than seventy years ago,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
351
when the great revival of 1800 and 1801 swept
over this entire country, and the subject was pre-
sented to their minds for the first time.
Rev. Storch writes: "By the side of this pesti-
lence (infidelity), there prevails now, for over a
year, a something, I know not what to name it,
and I should not like to say Fanaticism. Christians
of every denomination assemble themselves in the
forest, numbering four, six and sometimes ten
thousand persons; they erect tents, sing, pray and
preach, day and night, for five, six and eight days.
I have been an eye-witness to scenes in such large
assemblies, which I cannot explain. I beheld
young and old, feeble and strong, white and black,
in short, people of every age, position and circum-
stances, as though they were struck by lightning,
speechless and motionless; and, when they had
somewhat recovered, they could be heard shriek-
ing bitterly, and supplicating God for mercy and
grace.
"After they had thus spent three, and many
even more, hours, they rose up, praised God, and
commenced to pray in such a manner, as they never
were wont to do, exhorting sinners to come to
Jesus, &c. Many of those, who were thus exer-
cised, were ungodly persons before, and we can
now discover a remarkable change in them. Even
deists have been brought to confess Christ in this
way. Thus this thing continues even to this hour.
"Opinions are various in regard to it; many,
even ministers, denominate it the work of the
devil; others again would explain it in a natural
352
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
way, or in accordance with some physical law;
whilst others look upon it as the work of God. Please give me your opinion and explanation.
This thing has occasioned me no little uneasiness.
In our German congregations nothing of this kind
has yet been manifested. Besides that, it is not
known to me that something like it has taken
place in Germany; but in England and Ireland
there are similar occurrences. The inclosed pub-
lished accounts will, therefore, not be uninterest-
ing to you; the facts are like those which I have
seen myself. The authors of these accounts are
generally respectable men and worthy of belief."
This account of Rev. Storch, dated February
25th, 1803, was sent to Rev. Dr. Velthusen in Ger-
many, who published it in his "Maurerey und
Christenthum Gegeneinanderuebergestellt," vol. i,
pp. 64-70.
In the German minutes of a Virginia Conference,
held in 1806, in the new Roeder's Church, in Rock-
ingham County, Rev. Paul Henkel writes on this
subject as follows:
"Towards the close of the year 1801, there oc-
curred a mighty waking up of religion among the
English people in Guilford and Orange Counties,
which caused our German people to understand
the true worth of the gospel. Both the pastors
and their people were surprised, for it appeared
exceedingly strange to those, who were well ac-
quainted with the order of salvation, that true con-
version should consist in such a way as declared
by these people; that true faith should originate
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
353
iii sncb sermons, which caused such corporeal con-
vulsions, such representations of the devil, death
and hell; the fearful and awful expressions of light-
ning, thunder, hail, fire and brimstone against
the sinner deprived many of their senses, and
prostrated them in fainting fits.
"As the like proceedings were upheld and de-
fended by so many English preachers, and as
many had declared, that by means of such work-
ings they had received the true and reliable wit-
ness of the pardon of their sins and of the new
birth, many of us hesitated to contradict such
proceedings, although they were thought so con-
trary to the doctrines of the gospel. Many pas-
sages of Scripture were pointed out as opposed to
these outward manifestations; but many good-
meaning persons defended them as scriptural,
whereupon the important question arose among
them: 'Must we not also experience the same
thing in order to be saved?' The people became
anxious and concerned, were much affected and
distressed, pressed upon their pastors to decide
this matter for them, who were unwilling to do
this without due consideration and the fullest as-
surance.
"The German ministers were at first divided in
their opinions on this subject; nevertheless, it
drove them to more intimate communion with
each other in their official acts, and they had thus
the opportunity to investigate this matter more
closely. The Lutheran pastors (of North Caro-
lina) formed themselves into a Conference (Synod),
80
354
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
in winch they and the lay delegates transacted the
usual business of the Church as in other States.
Each pastor concluded that he would not bear the
name of an evangelical minister in vain; conse-
quently the Gospel was preached industriously and
earnestly.
"The two young pastors, Revs. Dieffenbach and
Henkel, were surrounded by the fire. Many as-
saults were made upon them and their congrega-
tions. But they always stood in good understand-
ing with each other, and unitedly taught the same
doctrine, consequently their congregations were
edified on both sides. Better order'was obtained
among the youth; however, the churches greatly
lamented that Rev. Philip Henkel felt constrained
to leave them. Rev. R. J. Miller, an English Lu-
theran minister, preaches the gospel orderly, with
effect, earnestness and due consideration. He
was also much assailed in his teachings by those
who sought to excite the people to these extraor-
dinary manifestations of body. Having been or-
dained by our German brethren, he stands in
regular connection with them, and always defends
the doctrines of the Lutheran Church in a rational
and acceptable manner."
The Rev. Dieffenbach, alluded to in the above
report, was a minister of the German Reformed
Church.
IN HOMH AND SOUTH CA&OLIHA,
355
Section 12, Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of North Carolina, A>D. 1808.
It is not known precisely at what time the Helm-
staedt Mission Society either became disbanded, or
ceased to labor for the welfare of the mission field
in North Carolina. In the year 1788, Professor
Kliigel was called from the University of Helm-
staedt to a professorship in the University of
Halle. In 1790 we find Rev. Dr. Velthusen a
resident of Rostock, as Oberkirchenrath in the
Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, an office similar
to that of superintendent or bishop; and also
Professor of Theology in the same place. Dr.
Velthusen, nevertheless, continued to labor in the
interest of the Lutheran Church in North Caro-
lina, after his removal to Rostock; but the impres-
sion is, that owing to these, and perhaps other
changes, the llelmstaedt Mission Society ceased
to exist, and the Lutheran churches in the State
were necessitated to struggle on unaided by the
parent Church in Europe. Correspondence was
continued for some time between Rev. Storch and
Dr. Velthusen as late as 1803, which is proved by
a published letter of Rev. Storch, and inserted in
the preceding section; but the fact, that it was
published in one of Dr. Velthusen's individual
works, and not in a Helmstaedt Report, indicates
that the Society was then no more.
Rev. Dr. Velthusen was a most learned man
and a voluminous writer. He was raised to high
positions in the Lutheran Church in Germany.
356
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
We find, that oven in Home's Introduction, a
work placed in the hands of every English theo-
logical student, Dr. Velthusen's name occurs as
one of the authorities referred to and consulted
by Dr. Home.
The North Carolina Lutheran ministry, having
now no dependence upon which they could rely
other than their own efforts, and having been re-
inforced by a number of ministers in that field, but chiefly, on account of the anxiety of inquir-
ing souls and the distracted state of the Church,
caused by the breaking out of the revival of 1801,
resolved to labor more unitedly and in an organ-
ized capacity, and hence originated the North
Carolina Synod or Conference, for so were Synods
then sometimes denominated by our German min-
isters. This Conference or Synod stood under no
jurisdiction of any other or higher ecclesiastical
body, but had the power to exercise sole juris-
diction for itself from its commencement; "in
which," says Rev. Paul Henkel in 1806, "they
and the lay delegates transacted the usual business
of the Church as in other States."
The Lutheran Church in North Carolina felt
the necessity of organizing a Synod, in order to
labor for its continuance and future prosperity,
for there was no Lutheran Synod in all the South-
ern States. The Pennsylvania Synod, which is
the oldest Lutheran Synod in America, never ex-
tended its jurisdiction farther south than Virginia.
All the Lutheran churches south of that State, had
been either under the care of a mission society in
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
357
German}7, or stood in an independent position.
The organization of the Corpus Ecclesiasticum in
South Carolina was the only previous attempt to
bring the German congregations under the care
of an organized ecclesiastical union, but had ceased
to exist several years before the North Carolina
Synod was formed. Hence the Lutheran ministry
in North Carolina were impressed with the neces-
sity and advantage of concentrated and organized
labor for the welfare of the Church in a synodical
body.
In the address to the congregations, published
in the first minutes of the North Carolina Synod,
the following excellent thoughts occur: "That
which you herewith receive for your perusal and
contemplation is to show you what we, your
teachers and delegates in Conference assembled,
have considered, resolved, and shall endeavor to
introduce as rules of order for the welfare of our
Church and the furtherance of true godliness. In
this we have acted according to our best understanding. Ye yourselves will know, that it is
necessary, if the Christian Church is to be per-
petuated, that order must be preserved both
among the ministers and in the congregations.
Dear brethren, we look to you to assist us in this
noble undertaking. God's work calls for help;
the condition of our Church and people calls for
help; the condition of thousands, both of old and
young, calls for help; and shall this call of God
and the cry of so many immortal souls not be
heard at all, or heard in vain? We have no fear
358
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of it, but are assured that your heart and mind
will be united with us in so praiseworthy an un-
dertaking, so that the instructions and quickening
influence of the Gospel may be brought to many
thousands of souls, who have hitherto been neces-
sarily deprived of the same." Signed by Robert J. Miller, Carl Storch, Paulus Henkel, Christo-
pher Bernhardt, Philip Henkel, Ludwig Markert.
The first session of the North Carolina Synod
was held in the town of Salisbury, on Monday,
May 2d, 1803. On the preceding Saturday and
Sunday, the ministers held Divine service and ad-
ministered the holy communion to a large assem-
bly in Pine (Union) Church, four miles from Sal-
isbury.
The names of the ministers present at that first
Synod were: Rev. Gottfried Arndt, of Lincoln
County; Rev. Robert J. Miller, of the same county;
Rev. Carl A. G. Storch, near Salisbury; Rev.
Paul Henkel, from Abbot's Creek, Rowan (David-
son) County. These ministers, with a number of
elders and deacons from most of the congrega-
tions as lay representatives, formed the North
Carolina Synod, which is the oldest Lutheran
Synod in the Southern States, and the third Synod
in America in point of time, the Pennsylvania and
New York Synods having preceded it in their or-
ganization.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
359
CHAPTER IV.
HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CARO-
LINAS CONTINUED, FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD, A.D. 1803, TO
THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN GEN-
ERAL SYNOD IN AMERICA, A.D. 1820, EMBRAC-
ING A PERIOD OF SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Section 1. Condition of the Lutheran Church in
South Carolina in the year 1803.
We now come to the dark period of the Luth-
eran Church in South Carolina, a period frequently
spoken of and greatly lamented by the aged min-
isters and laymen of our Church in the presence
of the writer some twenty or more years ago, when
such men as Revs. Michael Rauch and George
Haltiwanger, Sr., were still living, whose memory
is yet fondly cherished in the Church.
All the early pastors, who came from the Father-
land, were dead. Revs. Martin, Daser, Theus,
Hochheimer, Froelich, Bamberg, Friederichs,
Wallberg, and others were gathered to their
fathers, and, with the single exception of the send-
ing of pastors to the Lutheran Church in Charles-
ton, no reinforcement of ministers came any longer
360
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
from Germany to South Carolina, and the German
congregations were generally fast going to destruc-
tion. Proselyting sects were only too industriously
engaged in gathering the scattered members of
our churches into their fold, and some once flour-
ishing German congregations became irretrievably
lost to the Church of their fathers. The only sur-
vivor of the Corpus Evangelicum was the Rev.
Frederick Joseph Wallern in Newberry District.
Here and there exhorters arose in the various
vacant congregations, but they were men of very
limited education, though zealous and active, and,
with their restricted influence, they could do but
little more than preserve a spark of vitality in a
few scattering churches, which were glad enough
to be served with such ministrations as these ex-
horters could bestow upon them.
A brief review of the condition of the several
pastoral charges in South Carolina will manifest
the truth of the above statement, and will indicate
how sad and mournful was the state of the Lu-
theran Church at that time, and as far as the Ger-
man Reformed Church is concerned, it had then
almost ceased to exist.
St. John's Church in Charleston was vacant at
this time; the Rev. J. C. Faber was still living,
but his health had declined, and was therefore
necessitated to resign his charge, merely serving
it as a temporary supply, and as far as his strength
would allow, until some other pastor could be
obtained. The congregation extended a pressing
call to Rev. Storch of North Carolina, which he,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
361
however, was obliged to decline, on account of his
own feeble health and the wants of the Church in
that State. "In February, 1805, the Rev. M. T.
Charles Faber, a younger brother of the former
pastor, arrived from Bremen, and became the pas-
tor of this church. He resigned in 1811, and soon
afterwards died of the yellow fever. Ministers
from other denominations were now engaged for
a term of six months only, according to a rule of
the church, and the Rev. Mr. Spieren, the Rev.
Mr. Darnielle, the Rev. Mr. Best, the Rev. Mr.
Hanckel, and the Rev. Mr. Mills, all ministers of
the Episcopal Church, at different periods supplied
the congregation. They received the same remu-
neration as if they had been stated ministers."
The Lutheran churches in Barnwell District
were likewise in a sad condition, as about this
time, A.D. 1803 or 4, their beloved and efficient
pastor, the Rev. J. G. Bamberg, departed this life,
and they engaged the services of a certain John
Henry Graff, a native of Saxony, who had been
ordained to the gospel ministry in 1800, by the
Rev. Mr. Wallern of Newberry District. Graff
continued to "work at his trade, being a shoe-
maker, to support his family," and, as might be
expected, accomplished very little good, except
that the churches did not become entirely extinct.
St. Matthew's Church or pastorate, in Orange-
burg District, fared very little better; the Rev. J.
P. Franklow, who said, that he had obtained license
to preach and baptize from the bishop of the Epis-
copal Church residing in Charleston, in the.year
31 :: :%.
362
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
1798, but who was afterwards licensed by the
North Carolina Synod in 1812, and subsequently
ordained by the same body at its next session,
served this charge from 1799 to 1814, but whether
he administered the Lord's Supper, previous to his licensure and ordination by the North Carolina
Synod, is not known.
The Sandy Run Church had no pastor at all at
this time, but was visited by Revs. Franklow and
Bernhardt; the latter officiated there only every
recurring fifth Sunday in the month, consequently
this congregation enjoyed the services of a regu-
larly ordained ministry only four times a year, for
a long period of time, and had gone down to such
an extent, that it was necessary to reorganize the
congregation on the 29th of December, 1811.
The Lutheran congregations, located on both
sides of the Saluda River in Lexington District,
were more fortunate in securing the services of a
succession of pastors. A year or so after the res-
ignation of the Rev. J. G. Bamberg, who removed
to Barnwell District in 1798, the Rev. John Nicho-
las Marcard, who came from St. John's Church in
Cabarrus County, North Carolina, became the
pastor of the Saluda charge, but he did not labor
long in that portion of the Lord's vineyard;
whether he died or moved away is not known.
At the close of the year 1800, the Rev. C. E.
Bernhardt, from Guilford County, North Carolina,
became the pastor of the Saluda churches, and
labored there to the close of his life. He died
August 27th, 1809. He had charge of four con-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
363
gregations: Zion's, Bethel, St. Peter's, and Salem
Church on Hollow Creek. He was buried near
his residence, about one mile distant from the
present St. Michael's Church; no tombstone, but
some dogwood trees mark the spot, where repose
the remains of this faithful servant of God. These
churches have always continued in a prosperous
state to the present time, one of which, Zion's, had
an organ to assist in the musical part of divine
worship, as the records indicate, which is, perhaps,
still remaining in the church, but not now in use.
In 1805, the organ was put in repair by a gentle-
man from Ninety-six District, who was paid for
his services by an amount raised by subscription.
In 1797, the congregation petitioned the State leg-
islature to grant them the privilege of establishing
a public ferry on the Saluda River, "for the con-
venience and use of the church members on the
Sabbath-day, when they attend divine service; and
for passengers, in order to receive funds for the
support of the church in paying the minister's
salary, &c, as the funds were not adequate to the
wants of the church, for the property consisted
only in land, and the members were too poor to
defray the ordinary church expenses." "In April
25th, 1802, a subscription was taken to complete
the church, that is, to lath and plaster it, to wainscot the pews and window shutters, and to paint
the outside of the church." The above is an ex-
tract from the church-book.
Rev. R. J. Miller, in his missionary report, under
date of November 19th, 1811, speaks very highly
364
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the Saluda congregations, as follows: "From
Hollow Creek Church, called Salem, I preached
through all the German congregations in the neigh-
borhood until the 28th. It is a pleasure to labor
here; the people love the Gospel of Jesus and his
servants."
Rev. Wallern labored as pastor in Newberry
District, and a Rev. Mr. Winckhouse, who after-
wards preached occasionally in the Saluda charge,
made vacant by the death of Rev. C. E. Bernhardt,
was also a resident of the same District; but when
he commenced and ended his labors in Newberry
is not known to the writer. By means of the
labors of Revs. Wallern and Winckhouse the New-
berry churches were preserved from annihilation,
although Rev. Wallern was a worldly-minded man,
and attended industriously to his planting and
other worldly interests, as is still reported of him,
and at which the Rev. R. J. Miller hints, when he
said in his missionary report: "I went to the Lu-
theran minister, Wallern; found him about his
farming business; conversed that-evening and the
following day much with him on the state of the
Church, of religion, and on other subjects, and
found him a man acquainted with the world."
The German congregations in Abbeville Dis-
trict had a sad history at this time. St. George's
Lutheran Church on Hard Labor Creek was also
visited by Rev. R. J. Miller in his missionary tour
in 1811, and the following is his report concerning
this church:
"Sunday, November 10th. I preached in a Ger-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
365
man meeting-house on Hard Labor Creek, where
my appointments were to commence; here was
formerly a Lutheran congregation, but no remains
of it are now to be found; here the Methodists and
Baptists have pulled each other out of the pulpit.
Every person seemed very attentive; here is full
proof of the necessity of missionary preaching.
The former Lutheran minister became a Method-
ist."
The other German congregation in this District,
incorporated under the title of "The Charlotte
Church, on Slippery Creek, Ninety-six District," has no other now known history, except that of
its incorporation by the State legislature.
When we consider all these facts, relating to
the condition of the Lutheran Church in South
Carolina at that time, and gathered from the re-
ports of the then living witnesses, we need not be
astonished that a number of the German conore-
ogations in that State became entirely extinct; but
the greater wonder is, that so many of those con-
gregations struggled on and continued to live
through that dark and trying period. The few
charges that were blessed with the continued and
faithful services of the Gospel ministry were pre-
served in a flourishing condition, proving fully,
that nothing but the faithful and proper adminis-
tration of the word and the sacraments can pre-
serve the Church, and promote its welfare.
366
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 2. HenkeVs Report on the Condition of the
Lutheran Church in North Carolina in the year
1806.
From the German minutes of a Virginia Confer-
ence, held in the New Boeder's Church, in Rock-
ingham County, A.D. 1806, and published by the
Rev. Paul Henkel, we gather the following inter-
esting account of the condition of all the Lutheran
congregations in the State of North Carolina at
that time. Rev. Henkel writes:
"As soon as the Germans had located them-
selves in different parts of North Carolina, they became concerned about the regular administra-
tion of Church worship and ordinances in their
midst. They soon erected houses of worship ac-
cording to their ability, which were generally the
joint property of both the Lutheran and German
Reformed Christians.
"In that region, which lies partly in Orange and
partly in Guilford Counties, there are three Lu-
theran and three Reformed churches, besides one
other joint-church, named Frieden's, which is
served in connection with the others. Since the
year 1801, Rev. Henry Dieffenbach has served the
Reformed churches, and in the same year Rev.
Philip Henkel was called to serve as Lutheran
pastor, who remained there until 1806, when he
accepted a call to an enlarged field of labor in
Lincoln County.
"In Rowan County (now Davidson) on Abbot's
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
367
Creek, we find three joint and one Lutheran
church on the Sandhills. These were served by
the Rev. Paul Henkel from the year 1800 to 1805,
when he was necessitated to resign this charge, on
account of the failure of his own and his family's
health; he therefore introduced the Rev. Ludwig
Markert as candidate preacher into these congre-
gations, which he was himself compelled to leave.
"In the vicinity of Salisbury, Rowan County,
there are three strong Lutheran congregations,
which have been served by the Rev. Charles Storch for nearly twenty years; but under many disad-
vantages on account of the frequent and severe
attacks of fever, which prostrated his energies for
the last ten years, and which apparently had sev-
eral times brought him near to the grave. His
numerous official duties lay often heavy upon him
on account of his ill-health, especially the admin-
istration of the Lord's Supper to two hundred and
fifty communicants at one time, so that his feeble
powers of body were always exhausted after hav-
ing served all these people. Some twenty years
past, there was a tolerably strong German congre-
gation in Salisbury; they had erected a com-
fortable church for themselves, but as the Ger-
man people and their language were changed into
English, the German worship soon became ex-
tinct.
"Near Buffalo Creek, Cabarrus County, we find
one of the strongest German Lutheran churches
in the whole State; however, since the death of
their former pastor, Rev. Adolph JsTussmann,
368
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
which occurred some twelve years ago, the con-
gregation has suffered much, as it is now served by
Rev. Storch, who moved a little nearer to this
congregation. In the year 1803, the Rev. John
Henkel had been unanimously chosen as the pastor
of this church, and consented to serve them; he
made the necessary arrangements to move his
family from Virginia, but whilst the people were
waiting for the intelligence when they should send
for him, they received the message that the Lord
had called him to his home. This was sad news, not
only to the congregation, but likewise to the re-
maining ministers in the State, who lamented the
want of so many faithful laborers in the Lord's
vineyard. The few sermons Rev. H. preached,
whilst on a visit to that church, will long be re-
membered. It is rejoicing to know, that this peo-
ple are now blessed with the labors of so faithful
a pastor.
"About eighteen miles from Salisbury there is
another church, which was built by the Germans
as a joint house of worship, but as they are so
much intermingled with English settlers, this
German congregation will also become extinct.
Many English residents had become members of
this church. During the visits of Rev. Paul
Henkel in the fall season, from 1785 to 1789, many
adult and aged persons were baptized, instructed
and confirmed, and thus a very strong congrega-
tion was gathered. Much experimental Christi-
anity was supposed to exist here; however, hope-
ful as appearances were outwardly, they were never-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
369
theless of short duration; many tore themselves
away from the church, and were divided into differ-
ent singular persuasions. The Germans became
degenerated, lead disorderly lives wTith these other
settlers, so'that at this time a perfect Babel exists;
foolish pride and many vices prevail. The few
remaining upright souls are constrained to weep
in silence over this desolation.
"In Lincoln County there are eight or nine
congregations, several of which are quite large.
All these have erected joint houses of worship.
The Lutheran congregations were served by the
Rev. Gottfried Arndt for twenty years. Before
that time he had labored in the vicinity of Salis-
bury, and even at that time he often traveled
among these churches, and performed official
duties, as far as his circumstances would permit.
He labored faithfully in his calling over the whole
State, wherever he could find German brethren.
For the last four years he became unfitted for his
calling, as he met with the misfortune of losing
his eyesight entirely. He is at present quite an
aged man, and were it not for his misfortune, he
might still serve in his holy calling. The greater
number of his former congregations are now
served by Rev. Philip Henkel.
"In Burke County there are also a number of
Germans, among whom, as yet, no church has
been built. Rev. Arndt preached there several
times, so also did the Rev. Paul Henkel, in the
German and English languages, during his visit
through that county in 1787. In May, 1804, he
370
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
made another visit among this people in company
with the German Reformed minister, Rev. Jacob
Laros. It was their intention to preach several
days in each congregation, but in this they were
hindered by the many rains and consequent high
waters, so that each of them could preach but two
sermons.
u In Wilkes County may be found a small Ger-
man flock in the wilderness, surrounded by human
beings, who know of nothing so little as of the true
way of salvation, and who in their own opinions
are wiser than the Bible itself. These often per-
secuted the members of this little flock. Rev.
Paul Henkel visited them twice whilst he was still
living in North Carolina. During his last visit in
1805, he instructed and confirmed their youth, and
administered the Lord's Supper. He informed
them that he had reason to believe that the Lord
was in their midst. As it concerns the spiritual
condition of this church, it may be truly said that
here, as elsewhere, many having neglected to em-
brace their opportunity, are still strangers to that
work of grace, which they should experience in
their hearts; there are others again to be found,
who are enlightened by something better than
their own blind reason, who seek the salvation of
their souls not in works, but in the merits of their
Savior, and who strive with all their hearts to be-
come the followers of Jesus. In this place not so
many learned and feeling sermons have been
preached as in other congregations, nevertheless,
many became savingly acquainted with the doc-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
371
trines of the gospel from their own experience.
The labors of traveling ministers had awakened
attention to the word; serious impressions deeply
affected their hearts, which resulted in much good,
and enabled many to declare the things they had
experienced in their own hearts.
"The two German Reformed preachers, Revs.
Jacob Christman and Jacob Laros, who, for the
last two years, had labored in the State of Ohio,
were, at the time above mentioned, residing in
Guilford County. As soon as Rev. J. Christman
was ordained, he labored in various localities and
performed many journeys. He was peculiarly
fitted to impart private instruction in families,
which duty he performed industriously. Rev. J.
Laros, who did not labor so extensively, was more
successful among children and youth in schools
and catechetical instruction; he was always very
edifying in his sermons, and his exemplary walk
was an ornament to his official duties." (Here fol-
lows the lengthy report on the revival of 1801,
which has been given in the 11th section of the
preceding chapter.)
"The Evangelical Brethren, that is, the Mora-
vians, have five German and one English church
in this State. Their pastors preach the gospel
with exemplary order and propriety; they are
always friendly in their deportment towards all
other orderly pastors. Among these brethren may
be found many members, who are well acquainted
with true godlinessand experimental Christianity."
372
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 3. Extract from the First Minutes of the
North Carolina Synod, from A.D. 1803 to 1810.
Immediately upon the organization of the Synod of North Carolina, a new life appears to have been
infused into the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas;
the various scattered congregations were now
brought into a closer relationship with each other,
a uniform church discipline was introduced with
good and wholesome effect, arrangements were
made to supply all the vacant congregations with
the means of grace, and the scattered members
were visited by missionaries appointed by Synod,
who organized new congregations wherever it wa3
practicable. However, the want of ministers of
the Gospel was still very great, and in order to
supply this demand, pious laymen were licensed
as catechets, who afterwards became candidates
for the ministry; in this way originated the licen-
sure system, and the preparation of pious young
men for the ministry by receiving private instruc-
tion from some of the older ministers; this arrange-
ment afterwards received the name of "the home
student system." The most urgent necessity de-
manded this departure from the rule of the Lu-
theran Church in the Fatherland, where an educa-
tion at the University was necessary, before any one
could be admitted to the gospel ministry, and
where a candidate was ordained as soon as he had
received a call as pastor of a church, without having
to pass through a state of licensed probation.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
373
All the Lutheran ministers residing in South
Carolina connected themselves with the newly or-
ganized North Carolina Synod, with the excep-
tion of Rev. Faber, in Charleston, who doubtless
could not attend this or any other Synod, on ac-
count of the want of public conveyances at that
time, and the great distance from the place where
the Synod usually met; also the Rev. F. J. Wal-
lern, who continued to remain in an independent
and isolated position as long as he lived; what his
motives were for so doing is not stated in the re-
ports of the Synod's missionary, who visited Rev.
"Wallera. and his congregations in 1811.
Rev. C. E. Bernhardt, who labored in Lexing-
ton District, connected himself at once with the
North Carolina Synod, and labored in great har-
mony with his brethren to the close of his life.
Rev. J. P. Franklow also attended the meetings
of Synod, and was licensed by that body at its
spring session of 1812, and ordained the same
year at its fall session. Rev. Godfrey Dreher was
presented to that body as a candidate for the min-
istry, October 23d, 1810, when he was licensed,
and was afterwards ordained in South Carolina in
1812, by a committee appointed by Synod for that
purpose. From all accounts he is still living,
being now in the sixty-second year of his ministry,
although no longer able to perform any official
duty.
Revs. Michael Rauch and J. Y. Meetze appeared
before Synod at a later date; they were both li-
censed October 19th, 1812, at Lau's Church, Gail-
374
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ford County. Rev. Ranch was ordained April
28th, 1819, at St. John's Church, Cabarrus
County; but Rev. Meetze was not ordained until
1822, when by the order of Synod he received his
ordination in South Carolina. All these Lutheran
ministers, residing in South Carolina, continued
their connection with the North Carolina Synod
until 1824, at which time the Synod of South Caro-
lina was organized.
At the first session of the North Carolina Synod,
held in Salisbury, May 2d, 1803, very little busi-
ness was transacted. The Synod was then simply
organized, and a resolution was passed, at the sug-
gestion of Eev. Arndt, that Rev. Paul Henkel
should visit Rev. Arndt's charge in Lincoln
County the following August, in order to perform
the necessary official duties, to which Rev. Arndt
could not attend, owing to the loss of his eyesight
and his feeble health. Rev. Henkel attended to
this duty.
The second session of Synod was held at
Lincolnton, N. C, October 17th, 1803, when a
constitution was adopted, consisting of nine arti-
cles. They are much the same as are generally
adopted by all Lutheran Synods. The fourth arti-
cle requires candidates of the ministry "to under-
stand the order of the Latin language, and so
much of Greek as to be able to understand the
New Testament." Rev. J. G. Arndt was Presi-
dent, and Eev. E. J. Miller was Secretary of this
synodical convention.
The third session of Synod was held at Abbot's
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
375
Creek Church, in Davidson County, October 21st,
1804. Rev. Paul Henkel was elected President,
and Rev. Miller, Secretary. Very little business
was transacted at this session of Synod, because
nearly all the ministers were unfitted for duty
on account of sickness. It was resolved that
a special conference be held at Pine Church,
Rowan County, the following April, for the pur-
pose of ordaining Rev. Philip Henkel. John
Michael Rueckert and Ludwig Markert were li-
censed as catechets. The next session of Synod
was held at Organ Church, Rowan County, Octo-
ber 20th, 1806. Rev. Storch was chosen Presi-
dent, and Rev. Bernhardt, Secretary.
There appears to have been no meeting of Synod
during the years 1807 and 1808, doubtless pre-
vented by the prevailing sickness during the fall
season.
In the year 1809, August 7th, the Synod was
convened in Guilford County, at which meeting
some additional articles were added to the consti-
tution. The officers of Synod were, Rev. Charles
A. Storch, President, and Rev. Ludwig Markert,
Secretary.
On the 22d of October, 1810, the Synod con-
vened at Organ Church, at which time a consid-
erable amount of business was transacted. The
Rev. C. A. Storch was re-elected President, and
Rev. Gottlieb Schober was elected Secretary. At
this meeting there were ten ministers present, and
the names of the lay delegates were published for
the first time. Rev. G. Schober was ordained to
376
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the gospel ministry; he was a member of the
Moravian Church, and continued in connection
with that Church to the close of his life, neverthe-
less, he became a Lutheran minister, and was
pastor of several Lutheran congregations in the
vicinity of Salem, 1ST. C, where he resided, and
served those congregations during his life. Revs.
Storch, Miller and Philip Henkel officiated at his
ordination.
"On motion of Rev. Philip Henkel, it was re-
solved that, inasmuch as awakenings arise in our
days by means of three days' preaching, and the
like is to be wished among our brethren in the
faith, a trial of such preaching be made, with the
proviso, that three ministers of our connection hold
those meetings, to which also ministers of the
Moravian and Reformed Churches, whether Ger-
man or English, be welcomed; at each of these
meetings the communion is to be administered."
The time was then appointed when these meetings
were to be held in each pastoral charge.
Rev. R. J. Miller was appointed as a traveling
missionary for the Synod, with the power to or-
ganize new congregations, and to take up collec-
tions for this object.
It was also resolved, that Revs. Storch and
Schober prepare a pastoral letter to the various
churches in connection with this Synod, and that
it be appended to the minutes.
The candidates, Revs. Jacob Scherer and God-
frey Dreher, were then licensed to the ministry,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
377
and the catechets, J. M. Rueckert and Jacob
Krieson, had their limited licenses renewed.
The names of all the congregations belonging
to the Synod, with their pastors, la}^ readers, elders
and deacons, are appended to the minutes; the
names of these churches are as follows:
Rev. Storch's jKislorate: Zion's or Organ; Buffalo
Creek or St. John's; Irish Settlement, now Luther
Chapel; Pine, now Union; Crooked Creek; and
Bear Creek, now Bethel.
Rev. MarkerVs pastorate: Pilgrim's; Beck's;
Schweiszguth (Swicegood), now Sandy Creek;
Lau's; Frieden's; Graves, now St. Paul's, Ala-
mance County. Richland Church was supplied
by Jacob Krieson as catechet or lay reader.
Rev. Sehober's pastorate: Muddy Creek; and
Dutchman's Creek.
Rev. Philip HenkeVs pastorate: St. John's; Old
Church; School-house Church; Kasner's; Leba-
non; Emanuel's; Hebron; and Zion's; all in Lin-
coln County.
"Various congregations in South Carolina, which
connected themselves with our Synod:" Bethel
Church, on High Hill Creek; St. Peter's; Zion's;
and a Reformed Church, of which Henry Kuhn,
Samuel Bockman, and Henry Schull were the
elders.
A synodial seal was also adopted with certain
devices, bearing the words "Pax vobis" and
"Sigil. Minist. Evang. Luth. in Carolia Sept. et
Stat, vicin." A lengthy explanation of the de32
378
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
vices and a translation of the Latin words as
quoted above are given in the minutes.
Then follows the admonitory pastoral letter as
adopted by the Synod, and prepared by Revs.
Storch and Schober.
Section J+. Missionary tours of Revs. Miller, Frank-
low and Scherer.
In order that a correct knowledge might be ob-
tained concerning the condition of the scattered
Lutheran congregations and settlements in South
Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio, the
Synod of JSTorth Carolina sent several exploring
missionaries into these States, with instructions to
preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, and
otherwise to encourage and build up the dispersed
members of the Lutheran Church in their most
holy faith. From the published reports of these
missionaries most valuable information is obtained,
affording us a portraiture of the condition of the
Lutheran Church in those States at that time.
The Rev. Robert Johnson Miller was the first
one of these missionaries sent by Synod to explore
the field; he started upon his first tour June 18th,
1811, passing through Wilkes, Surry and Stokes
Counties, 1ST. C, into Virginia. And, although
the State of Virginia is not embraced in the his-
tory of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas,
nevertheless, a few extracts from Rev. Miller's
journal of his tour into Virginia and return through
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
879
Tennessee may still be acceptable. Rev. Miller
states: "I departed from my home in Burke
County on the 18th day of June, 1811, in confi-
dence of the protection of God, preached twice in
Wilkes County, as often in Surry, four times in
Stokes, and mostly to large, serious and attentive
congregations, particularly in Germantown. In
the first forty-two miles of my journey in Virginia,
I found only one small Methodist meeting-house,
and heard of no settled minister of any denomina-
tion. From the 27th to the 80th I traveled through
much spiritual wilderness, where all denominations
live dispersed, their youth being without any re-
ligious instruction, and found three families whose
parents had been Lutherans.
"Sunday, July 2d. I met preacher Meyer with
his numerous congregation, and preached to atten-
tive and serious people; their teacher (pastor) is
not appointed or ordained by the Pennsylvania
Lutheran Ministerium, yet he administers all the
sacraments; I warned him and his flock against
such conduct. He informed me that he attended
six congregations, each of which consisted of from
25 to 30 families.
"In New Market I preached three times to
large and serious congregations, and at my de-
parture Dr. Solomon Henkel, in whose house I
baptized two children, and his brother Ambrose
presented me with 200 small English catechisms
to be given to the poor and ignorant, which order
I afterwards faithfully executed. After having
crossed the Shenandoah Mountain, I met with
380
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Moses Henkel, who is a Methodist preacher, and
a brother of our Rev. Paul Henkel.
"On the 2d of August, after having passed the
rough Alleghany Mountain, I found in the neigh-
borhood of Lewisburg a Lutheran congregation,
who are attended by the Rev. Mr. Flohr, from
Wythe County, three times a year. Excepting a
small congregation on Jackson's Fork of James
River, there are but few Lutheran families in
Monroe County, and all are without Christian in-
struction. In this whole territory, including the
South Branch of the Potomac, and the counties
of Pendleton, Bath, Greenbriar, Monroe, Mont-
gomery and Wythe, there is but one Lutheran
minister. Aug. 11th. I arrived at Rev. Mr. Flohr's
in Wythe County; he attends six congregations;
further up New River there is another numerous
but divided congregation, where, minister and jus-
tice, Stanger resides.
"From here I went by way of Abingdon into
Sullivan County, Tennessee, where I found some
German congregations, who are attended by Rev.
Mr. Smith; before his arrival here they were at-
tended by Rev. Mr. Sink, now gone to Kentucky;
I preached in all congregations and in other places,
particularly in Blountsville. Aug. 31st. I met with
Rev. Smith, who has been now ordained by our
Synod, and found him an honest, upright man;
both he and his congregations were glad of the
opportunity to be connected with our Ministerium;
I visited as many of Mr. Smith's congregations as
possible, partly accompanied by him, and on the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
381
11th of October, after having preached at Cove
Creek to a large and attentive congregation, I
separated from Rev. Mr. Smith and the good peo-
ple, wishing them spirit, life, fidelity and zeal, es-
pecially in the instruction of their youth, so that
the future race might not be more bewildered, and
departed on my homeward journey, where I ar-
rived in safety, after an absence of three months."
The next tour the Rev. Mr. Miller made into
the State of South Carolina. He says in his
journal: "The second part of my journey I began
on the 4th of November, 1811, and spent the first
evening about twenty-five miles from home. When
I came to Rutherfordton, my appointment to
preach had not been made. From thence I rode,
crossing Broad and Green Rivers, through a thinly
settled country to Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Saturday, 9th, I arrived at Mr. Robert Smith's,
on Hard Labor Creek, where my appointments
were to commence, and preached on Sunday in a
German meeting-house." (This part of the jour-
nal is omitted, having been given on a preceding
page.)
"On the 13th I preached fourteen miles from
Savannah River to a serious congregation, chiefly
Presbyterians. Farther up on Little Saluda River,
which I passed the next day at a dangerous ford,
there is a considerable number of our people,
whom I did not see. Throughout this whole
country no attention is paid to the religious in-
struction of youth, except among the Presby-
terians. In such a condition of things there can,
382
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of course, be but very little vital religion among
the people.
"On the 19th, after sermon in Hallow Creek
Church, called Salem, I became acquainted with
a poor man calling himself a preacher, but to all
appearance destitute of the spirit and temper of
a Christian, as well as of every qualification to
preach. I gave him some advice, but received
very little thanks. From hence I preached in all
the German congregations throughout the neigh-
borhood until the 28th. It is a pleasure to labor
here; the people love the gospel of Jesus and his
servants.
"About forty miles south of this place, I ar-
rived at one of the first settled congregations in
all these quarters (St. Matthew's, Orangeburg Dis-
trict); visited their teacher, Mr. Franklow; found
the congregation much decayed, but it might be
revived and increased if it could be supplied with
a minister of talents and grace. They have been
attended for several years past by Mr. Franklow,
who, as he says, had received license from the
Bishop of the Church of England to baptize.
"On my return to the Saluda River I preached,
December 1st, in the oldest German church in
this vicinity to a large and very serious congrega-
tion, and found the people very desirous to place
themselves under the care of our Synod.
"On the 4th, after having preached, I arrived
again at Brother John Dreher's. This man has
exerted himself for some years past, in the absence
of a settled minister, to keep the light of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
383
gospel burning. He had divinely pious books
printed at his own expense, spreads them for a
low price among the people, and an evident bless-
ing rests upon his exertions. On Friday, the 6th,
I went to the Lutheran minister, Wallern, found
him about his farming business, conversed that
evening and the following day much with him on
the state of the Church, of religion, and on other
subjects, and found him a man acquainted with
the world. Sunday, the 8th, I preached in his
church. He accompanied me also the following
day to a funeral, where I addressed the people on
the subject of death and preparation; he preached
from Ps. 37 :18. On the following day I preached
to a small but, to all appearance, serious people,
and therewith finished my missionary tour for
this year.
"I have to observe that in the counties of Bo-
tetourt, Augusta and Rockingham, in Virginia,
an itinerant minister, qualified to preach both in
the German and English, would be of great bene-
fit, and I have no doubt that he would have great
success in bringing back many of those, who have
been obliged to leave the Church for the want of
a minister qualified to administer her ordinances
to them. The people there are much in want of
such a minister, and a circuit could be formed on
that plan, that would work beneficially. Another
itinerant minister, qualified as above, to travel
from Broad River westward near to the Savannah
River, and southward near to Charleston, would be
employed equally as useful, and there is no doubt
384:
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
bat that the people would cheerfully contribute
what would be sufficient for a decent support.
Oh! that the Lord would give us three or four
young ministers, endowed with grace and talents,
and gifted to preach in both languages, much
could then be done for his Church. The congre-
gations there now are sensibly mouldering away
for the want of such preachers. Among the old
Germans there is a standing still; their youth
learn and speak English; if a teacher speaks
German, it is to them like the sound of the
church-bell. But the affair is the Lord's.
"On my whole tour I have baptized this year
two adults and sixty children, preached sixty-seven
times, traveled three thousand miles, and received
$70.44 for my support, without asking for a cent
in any way, and arrived home in health and safety.
Honor, thanks and praise be to the Lord."
On page 11 of the minutes of the North Caro-
lina Synod for 1812, the following record may be
found: "The Rev. Mr. Franklow was hereupon
requested to make one or more visits in a part of
South Carolina called Saltketcher, there to in-
quire into the situation of the residue of our mem-
bers, who formerly had a well-regulated congre-
gation, and report the result of his inquiries to
the next Synod."
This duty Rev. Franklow performed faithfully,
and reported at length, which report was greatly
abbreviated and inserted in the minutes; but the
original document having been found some twelve
years ago among Rev. G. Shober's papers, in a
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
385
garret of one of his grandchildren in Salem, North
Carolina, it is now presented, and reads as follows:
"Sunday, March 28th, 1813. I set out on my
journey from my church after Divine service, and
arrived in the evening at Mr. Moss', on Edisto
River. Here I made an appointment to preach
in a new Methodist meeting-house on my return
on Thursday, April 8th. The next day I crossed
the Little Saltketcher through a long swamp and
deep water, and came in the evening to Mr.
Shobert, a church-warden of St. Bartholomew's
Church. I made my appointment to preach in
this church on Friday, April 2d, and on Sunday
and Monday following at St. Nicholas Church,
and again at St. Bartholomew's on my return on
Tuesday, April 6th.
"March 31st. To-day I was introduced to sev-
eral members of the church, when I was informed
that they had a minister, who had lived and
preached nine years among them, named John
Henry Graff, a native of Saxony, in Germany,
and who labored there ever since the death of
Rev. Mr. Bamberg. Graff was ordained by the
Rev. Mr. Wallern to the ministry of the Gospel.
For two years the members of St. Bartholomew's
Church had not employed Graff any longer as
their pastor, and in St. Nicholas Church his time
expires in three weeks. I found that the minister
and people were opposed to each other, and upon
inquiry as to the cause of this division, I was in-
formed that Mr. Graff could not speak the English
language so as to be understood, and that his
33
386
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
sermons were three and four hours long; that he
had no energy and life in his discourse; that he
spoke too low to be heard distinctly; in short,
that they would engage him no longer as their
pastor. Mr. Shobert desired me to go and see
him, which I had intended to do.
"April 1st. I visited Mr. Graft*, and stayed sev-
eral hours with him. I found him at home, ex-
pecting to see me, from the report of some of his
neighbors that a strange minister was come to
visit him and the congregations. He received
me in a friendly manner, and I found him well
informed in religion and the Scriptures. He told
me of the dislike which his congregations had
against him, which he said proceeded from the
family in which his daughter had married, who
was then a widow, and now they were maliciously
affected towards him. He showed me his letter
of ordination, signed by Rev. Mr. Wallern and
church-wardens, dated September, 1800. He works at his trade, being a shoemaker, to support
his family,
"April 2d. I went to St Bartholomew's Church,
which is in sight of their minister's house, and
preached in the German and English languages to
a small but attentive congregation, one of whom,
Mr. Copel, asked me to baptize a child for him on
my return next Tuesday. I was surprised, and
told him I did not wish to do it, as they had a
minister; to which he replied, that Graff was no
longer their minister, as he had not been engaged
in that church these two years, and that if I would
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
387
not baptize his child, Mr. Graff should not do it.
The next day I crossed the Big Saltketcher at
Rivers' Ford, nearly three-quarters of a mile wide,
and very deep, and arrived at Mr. Jacob Hardee's,
one of the wardens of St. Nicholas Church. He
has a mill, and by that means most of the people
were informed that divine service would be per-
formed the next day.
"Sunday, April 4th. I went to St. Nicholas and
preached to a serious congregation; the people
were very attentive, both to the German and Eng-
lish discourses. After service I published, as I
had promised, that the Lord's Supper would be
administered on Easter Sunday by their minister,
but not one offered to give in their names, and
wished that I should administer it to them on that
day; to which I replied that it was impossible, as
I had two appointments to fill, one at Sandy Run
next Sunday, and at my own church on Easter
Day. They then begged me to visit them again,
and administer the sacraments, as Mr. Graff' was
not worthy to administer any sacrament. I told
them that, if possible, I would pay them another
visit in the fall, and would make my appointments
by letter before I came. On Monday I preached
again at St. Nicholas, to a tolerably full congrega-
tion, part of the members having been prevented
from attending on account of the session of Barn-
well court, which commenced this day. The
people complained that whilst Mr. Graff lived
among them, no other minister would come to be
their pastor.
388
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"Tuesday, April 6th. After having crossed
Broxton's Ford in a canoe, and swimming my
horse, I arrived yesterday at my old lodging-place,
Mr. Shobert's. I went to-day to St. Bartholomew's
Church, where I met Mr. Graff, who promised to
preach in English after my discourse. He in-
formed me that a neighbor of his baptized children
without license or authority, and that the people
employed him in preference to Mr. Graff's attend-
ing upon this duty. After my discourse Mr. Graff
preached in the German instead of the English
language, although it was contrary to his promise
and the people's expressed desire. After service
I baptized Mr. Copel's child, rather than suffer it
to be baptized by an improper person. Here I
took my leave of this people, exhorting them to
reconciliation and unity with their minister. They
answered that this could not be, but that they
were now as lost sheep without a shepherd; that
they went to hear the word of God among the
Methodists and Baptists, but would not join them,
as they wished to keep to the religion of their
fathers. They hoped that some good minister
would soon be their pastor, and begged me to
state their condition before the Lutheran Synod,
and that they would appoint me or some other
minister to visit them again.
"April 7th. I went to Mr. Moss with the hope
of filling my appointment at the Edisto Methodist
Meeting-house, when I was informed that they
objected to me, on account of my being a Lutheran
minister. The next day I went to Sandy Run, in
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
389
accordance with my promise, where I met Revs.
Dreher and Henkel. We preached to a numerous
assembly; and on Sunday friend Dreher and I
administered the Lord's Supper to many commu-
nicants in the presence of a large assembly. I
arrived at home, thanks to God, safe and well,
and found my family in good health, although my
horse could scarcely carry me home."
Rev. Jacob Scherer's missionary tour was made
within the State of Ohio, where a great number
of families, who had emigrated from North Caro-
lina, were then residing, and for whose spiritual
welfare the Synod of North Carolina was much
concerned.
Rev. Scherer accompanied Rev. Miller into
Virginia, who then made a second tour through
that State, in 1813, as far down the Shenandoah
Valley as Winchester, and whose lengthy report
is published in the minutes of that year. In Pen-
dleton County, Revs. Scherer and Miller separated
from each other, each one taking his journey as
prescribed by Synod.
Rev. Scherer writes: "On the 4th of June I
parted from Rev. Miller, and taking Mr. Gobel
with me, we journeyed westwardly towards the
State of Ohio, passing through Tiger's Valley, a
region of great spiritual darkness. Proselyting is
carried on extensively here, and some of the Ger-
mans have united themselves with the Baptists and
Methodists, but very few heathens have become
Christians.
"From Clarksburg we went to Marietta, where
890
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
we crossed the Ohio River, and passing New Lan
caster we came to Dayton on the 17th of June.
On this route I baptized seven children and one
adult.
"On the following Sunday I preached twice
among the Germans, who are mostly from North
Carolina, and intend building a church, desiring
to have a preacher from that State." (The first
English Lutheran Church of Dayton, Ohio, was
organized and established at a subsequent period
by a minister from North Carolina, the Rev. D.
P. Rosen miller, so the writer was informed on his
visit to that city in 1868.) "From here I visited
my uncle, Christian Scherer, in which neighbor-
hood I preached four days, from the 24th to the
27th, to large congregations; baptized five chil-
dren. The spiritual condition of Ohio is dark;
people of all denominations are intermixed, and
although they have many preachers among them,
there appears to be a want of such, who have sound
doctrine and are of good repute.
"On the 29th of June we left the State of Ohio,
and proceeded on our homeward journey, and ar-
rived on the 7th of July in Powell's Valley, where
I preached and baptized seventeen children. The
people complained with tears of their desolate
situation, urgently beseeching us to send them a
minister. There are many families here from
North Carolina, and several congregations could
be formed; the people are willing to build houses
of worship. We promised them that they should
be visited, and their children instructed and con-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
391
finned. On the 9th I preached in Grassy Valley,
and the next day arrived at Rev. Smith's, who ac-
companied me from the 13th to the 19th, for here
Mr. G-obel left me. In one place twenty-five chil-
dren requested to be instructed and confirmed,
and other persons subscribed their names to form
a congregation.
"On the 20th I formed another congregation
in the Fork of the Holstein, and eleven young people desired to be instructed. On the 21st I
preached in Rossler's Church; the congregation
with joy placed itself under our Synod, and nine
persons requested to be confirmed. The next day
I preached in Buler's Church, where a Mr. Zink
officiates, who said that he had been once in Penn-
sylvania, when Rev. Mr. Helmuth and Smith had
given him license, but that it had long since ex-
pired, and still he persuaded the people that he
had a right to act as a minister.
"Sunday, the 25th, I preached in a new church
on the Middle Fork of the Holstein, in Washing-
ton County, Virginia, where a small congregation
was formed; thirteen persons gave in their names
for instruction; the Rev. Mr. Flohr promised to
instruct them. On the North Fork of the Hol-
stein there is another desolate congregation, which
had never yet been visited. Here I found an ig-
norant man preaching and baptizing without the
least ceremony; he takes up the children, pours
water on them, and says nothing, and yet the poor
ignorant people know no better, but acknowledge
him as a minister.
392
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"On the 28th I arrived at Rev. Mr. Flohr's, by
whose loving and brotherly treatment, condescend-
ing and spiritual conversation, I was exceedingly
comforted—I was delighted. From here I jour-
neyed homewards, having traveled in all 1617
miles, preached 50 times, baptized 72 children and
one adult, and in connection with Brother Miller,
and partly alone, 13 congregations were formed,
consisting of 1175 members, and 215 persons re-
quested to be instructed in the doctrines of Christ."
Section 5. Emigration from North Carolina to
several new States and Territories.
At what time the exodus from £Torth Carolina
to other States and Territories commenced can-
not now be precisely stated. Before the Revolu-
tionary War, very few English and German settlers
had crossed the Alleghany Mountains from any
portion of the Atlantic slope, and during the prog-
ress of the war, as a matter of course, emigration
to the West was impossible. Now allowing the
inhabitants of the United States several years' time
to recover from the effects of the war, and the
dangers of travel through sparsely settled coun-
tries and among hostile Indian tribes gradually
subsiding, this westward emigration scarcely com-
menced until the beginning of the present cen-
tury, and most probably not until after the pur-
chase of the Western territory by the United
States from the government of France, under Na-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
393
poleon I, in 1803, usually called "The Louisiana
Purchase."
Thousands of German families, as well as Ameri-
can citizens, induced by the flattering reports of
the fertility of the lands in the West, and the ad-
vantageous offers made to settlers to secure for
themselves a home almost "without money and
without price," sold their paternal possessions in
North Carolina, and migrated to Tennessee, Ken-
tuck}7, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and other States
and Territories. The Synod of North Carolina,
feeling concerned for the spiritual welfare of its
former children, and hearing their continued call
for the bread of life, sent missionaries to these
settlers to visit them, who, themselves becoming
enamored with the flattering advantages and pros-
pects of these "new countries," likewise soon be-
came classed among the new settlers. In this man-
ner were Lutheran congregations formed in Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois, composed almost entirely of
North Carolinians; and whilst this was a decided
advantage to the West, it was, on the other hand,
a fearful drain upon the strength of the Lutheran
Church in "the old North State."
In many instances the German Lutheran settlers
in the West became so scattered, that it was found
impracticable to continue their connection with
the Church of their fathers, and thus were they ab-
sorbed by other denominations, and lost to the
Lutheran Church. Concerning all this, a recent
correspondent to " The Lutheran and Missionary"
expresses himself as follows: "Instead of (the Lu-
394
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
theran Church in North Carolina) being strength-
ened by immigration into it, it has suffered greatly
by emigration from it. For forty (and more) years
large numbers of Lutherans have each year gone
westward. They and their descendants are found
in nearly all the Western States. Some of these
have been gathered into congregations in their
new homes; but the great majority have been lost,
not only to the Church in North Carolina, but to
the Lutheran Church. Some congregations, once
large and flourishing, have been almost destroyed
by it. A very large proportion of the young men
of the Church of the State have gone entirely be-
yond her reach. She has not only been weakened
by-these losses, but discouraged."
In South Carolina the Lutheran Church also
lost heavily in the number of her membership by
emigration to other States, but not at this early
period of her history. Numbers moved away at
a later date, and formed colonies in Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, many
of whom are still true to the Church of their
fathers, whilst others again have connected them-
selves with other denominations.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
395
Section 6. Additional Extracts from the Minutes of
the North Carolina Synod from 1811 to 1815,
exhibiting the Rapid Increase of its Influence,
the Extension of its Borders, and its Great Want
of Ministers.
The meeting of Synod of 1811 was not well at-
tended, hence very little business was transacted.
A special meeting of Synod was therefore held in
April, 1812, at which time the Synod numbered
twelve ministers, including the licentiates; nine
congregations in Tennessee, under the pastoral
care of Rev. C. Z. H. Smith, connected themselves
with the Synod at this meeting; the names of
these churches were,Zion's and Roller's, in Sullivan
County; Brownsboro and (name not mentioned),
in Washington County; Patterson, Sinking Spring
and Cove Creek, in Green County; Lonax and Thomas, in Knox and Blount Counties. "A pe-
tition from South Carolina, signed by 18 Reformed
and 13 Lutherans, was read, praying that Synod
should ordain William Hauk as a German Re-
formed minister, but this Synod, after due con-
sideration, concluded that they could not consist-
ently do anything in the matter."
The parochial reports, ranging from two to
twenty-four years, and which had never been
handed in before, sum up as follows: 26 congre-
gations, 2071 confirmations, 100 adult baptisms;
infant baptisms and communicants were not re-
ported; besides these are the reports of only live
396
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the ministers whose congregations were all lo-
cated in North Carolina.
"It was resolved that Sunday-schools should be
publicly recommended from the pulpit in all our
congregations."
A written plan, embracing ten articles, was
presented to Synod for the purpose "of establish-
ing schools for our poor children," to be supported
by voluntary donations from the members of the
Church; in which schools the German and English
languages were to be taught. It was also unani-
mously declared, that Luther's Smaller Catechism
"must remain the foundation of instructionalso
the catechisms printed by Ambrose Henkel & Co.,
were recommended for general adoption.
"A fervent wish being expressed to enter into
a nearer and more cordial connection with the
brethren professing our faith in Pennsylvania, a
letter of the year 1807, addressed to our Minis-
terium from the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, was
read. We felt sorry that, because in said and the
succeeding year no full Synod had been assem-
bled, the same was mislaid, and the receipt thereof
never acknowledged, nor has the letter been an-
swered. Revs. Storch and Shober were hereupon
appointed in the name of this Synod to answer
the said letter, and to send them, at the same time,
a copy of the principal transactions of this and the
last Synod, together with the most memorable
matter of Rev. Miller's missionary tour."
Rev. Mr. Storch was commissioned to prepare
a liturgy, and lay the same before the next Synod.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
397
On the 18th October, 1812, the regular session
of Synod was held. President, Rev. R. J. Miller,
and Rev. G. Shober, Secretary. Rev. Jacob Sherer
was ordained at this meeting. A letter from Rev.
J. G-. Schmucker, of York, Pa., was read, acknowl-
edging the receipt of the friendly letter from the
North Carolina Synod, by the Ministerium of
Pennsylvania, and informing the Synod that their
President, Rev. Mr. Helmuth, was requested to
reply to the same.
The following condensed missionary report of
Rev. Philip Henkel is inserted in the minutes:
"I served as missionary preacher from the 11th
of May to the 7th of August; traveled 1534 miles,
preached 50 times, baptized 115 children and 4
adults, and administered the Lord's Supper 4 times,
in all to 45 communicants. I found in the States
of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, many
deserted congregations, and they everywhere pray
that preachers be sent them."
Two new congregations, organized by Rev.
Shober, named Hopewell and Bethlehem, were
received in connection with the Synod; so also
was the Sandy Run congregation in South Caro-
lina, under the pastoral care of Rev. Godfrey
Dreher.
The Synod of 1813 convened in Pilgrim's
Church, Davidson County, N. C, in October; it
was well attended by ministers and lay delegates,
and the minutes contain fifty-two pages of closely
printed matter, made up principally of sermons
and the missionary journals of Revs. Miller and
398
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Soberer. Rev. Storch was elected President, and
Rev. Shober, Secretary. Revs. David Henkel, J.
P. Schmucker, and Daniel Moser, were licensed
to the ministry. Four congregations in Shenan-
doah and Rockingham Counties, Virginia, named
Hoxbiehl, Solomon's, Rider's and Paul's Churches,
were received in connection with the Synod.
"Rev. Scherer also gave information that fifteen
congregations, which he had visited last summer,
and of which some were newly formed by Rev.
Miller and himself, desired to be admitted to our
association, and to be placed under the care of our
ministry; and they were, with thanks to our gra-
cious Lord, accepted, which resolution was, how-
ever, accompanied with this deep sigh: O! had
we more faithful servants of the Lord! In these
fifteen congregations there are 1323 souls desirous
to be waited on with the word, and out of that
number 241 have given in their names, requesting
to be catechized and confirmed." Whereupon it
was resolved to petition the Moravian Church for
one or more ministers to labor in connection with
the Synod, to supply the "want of able laborers in
the vineyard of the Lord, entrusted to the Synod."
On the 16th of October, 1814, the Synod con-
vened at Organ Church, Rowan County, ST. C.
At this meeting there were eighteen ministers
present, twelve of whom were licentiates. The
officers of the preceding year were re-elected. It
was resolved that, inasmuch as the Pennsylvania
Synod had concluded to publish a liturgy, no fur-
ther steps be taken to prepare one by this Synod,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
399
hoping to be united with that Synod in the intro-
duction of its liturgy in our congregations.
The congregations in Tennessee having lost
their minister, Rev. Mr. Smith, by death, during
the past year, Rev. Philip Henkel consented to
become their pastor.
A difficulty arose with catechet Michael Mackin,
who insisted that prayer would not be answered
unless performed in a kneeling posture, and who
introduced that position in prayer in the congre-
gations where he exhorted; he being absent from
Synod, Rev. Storch was appointed to examine him,
and if still unwilling to conform to the established
rules of the Church, to withhold his license from
him.
A circular from the Lutheran congregation in
Charleston, S. C, was presented, earnestly be-
seeching the Synod to send them a minister capa-
ble of preaching in the German and English lan-
guages. The Synod regretted that none could be
found among them to labor in this hopeful field,
and resolved to send that congregation a friendly
letter, with the promise that if deemed necessary,
it should be visited the following spring.
The following congregations were received in
connection with the Synod: St. Michael's and
Paul's (Rail's), Lexington District, S. C. One
congregation in Newberry District, S. C, of which
Michael and Peter Rickard, Andrew Wecker, and
Martin Kinard, were elders; and Coldwater
Church, in Cabarrus County, C.
In accordance with a written communication
400
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
from brother John Dreher, of South Carolina,
and upon his desire, it was—
"Resolved, That negro slaves be instructed in
our holy religion, and be received into our Church
as members; and that congregations should make
proper arrangements in their houses of worship to
give the slaves also the opportunity to hear the
Gospel. It was also—
"Resolved, That all our ministers unite them-
selves to labor against the pernicious influence and
consequences of dancing, and seek to prevent it in
every possible way.
"Resolved, That a special conference be held on
the third Sunday after Easter, in St. Michael's
Church, Lexington District, S. C."
An appendix to the minutes contains the cor-
respondence as ordered by Synod at its last meet-
ing, between the Synod's committee, Revs. Storch
and Shober, and Bishop Van Vleck, of the Mora-
vian Church, on the subject of obtaining a supply
of ministers from that Church. And although the
Bishop's letter was a very friendly one, yet he re-
gretted exceedingly, that at that time, no minister
of their Church could be spared.
October 15th, 1815, the Synod convened in the
Lutheran Church in Lincolnton, N. C, but on ac-
count of sickness, few ministers were present.
Resolved, That no minister has a right to leave
his congregations and labor in another field when-
ever he deems it advisable, without informing the
elders and deacons of his intention some time be-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
401
forehand, and the matter be brought before Synod
for final decision.
A congregation at McCobbin's Creek, Mecklen-
burg County, N. C, was received in connection
with Synod. Quite a number of petitions from
three congregations in Fairfield County, Ohio,
from Washington County, Indiana, then still a
territory, from Sevier County, Tennessee, were
presented, petitioning Synod for ministers of the
gospel, but which could only be partially or occa-
sionally supplied with the means of grace by a
visiting minister.
Two congregations in Iredell County, N. C,
named New Pearth (now St. Michael's) and Christ
Churches, were taken into connection with the
Synod. The other transactions of this meeting of
Synod are of no special interest.
Section 7. Origin and History of several new Congre-
gations established in North and South Carolina.
From the extracts of the minutes of the North
Carolina Synod, as given in the preceding section,
it may be readily perceived that the Synod was
not only a necessity to the Lutheran Church in
the two Carolinas, but also to the same Church in
other States; its influence extended itself into
Virginia and Tennessee, and even into other and
more distant States. Congregations placed them-
selves under its care in such numbers as to distress
the members of Synod to know how to make pro-
vision for the spiritual wants of all these churches.
34
402
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Not only hundreds, but thousands were added to
the number of its communing membership in an
almost incredibly short period of time. In addi-
tion to that, a number of new congregations were
organized in its immediate territory, likewise
claiming the attention and care of Synod.
God certainly gave the Synod a large field to
occupy, and that was the time when it should have
taken immediate steps to establish a classical and
theological school for the education of young men
to the ministry; and it would have been well, if
some of the older and more educated ministers
had abandoned their congregations, if necessary,
but particularly their private interests, such as
farming, &c, had conscientiously taken this matter
in hand themselves, and would have gone at once
as professors into the lecture-room. At first a log
hut might have been built for this purpose in al-
most any locality; this would have sufficed for a
beginning, until a more convenient and stately
edifice could have been erected, and at a place
where it might have been made more successful.
True, a few years later, an effort was made in
Tennessee to establish such an institution, but it,
of necessity, became a failure, as shall be shown
hereafter, for want of proper encouragement and
good management.
The new congregations that were formed in
North and South Carolina are the following:
1. Bethel Church, Stanly County, N. C, which is
more commonly known as "Bear Creek Church," on account of its contiguity to that stream. It was
IN NOUTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
403
at this time a unitedly Lutheran and Reformed congregation, and its Lutheran members mostly
belonged previously to St. John's Church, Cabarrus
County. About the year 1804 divine worship was
held in Christopher Layer] e's barn for two or three
years, who donated one hundred acres of well-tim-
bered land to the newly organized congregation;
the male members then went to work in felling the
trees, squaring the logs, and piling them up in
true colonial style, until the new church edifice
was sufficiently elevated for having the roof placed
upon it, and other necessary work done to it. The
following extract is a translation from its church-
book: "We erected this church on the 19th and
20th of March, 1806, in the western part of Mont-
gomery (Stanly) County, which was quickly brought
under roof, and was made so far comfortable that
on the following 25th of May, Whitsunday, service
was held in it for the first time by Rev. George
Boger (a German Reformed minister), who was
our pastor at that time."
The church was afterwards completed at a cost
of about $300, and presented a very respectable
and comfortabe appearance. A petition for aid
was then drawn up by Theophilus Lotter, their
school-teacher, and was sent to the Lutheran con-
gregation in Charleston, S. G, who were moved
to present this infant enterprise with three boxes
of window glass, which was received with thank-
fulness, duly recorded with their church-book, and
accordingly appropriated for the purpose intended.
This same church building is still standing in
404
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
all its early strength of architecture, and may re-
sist the encroachments of time for many years to
come.
The congregation was for a long time deprived
of the services of a regular Lutheran pastor, but
was frequently visited by Revs. Storch and J. W.
Meyer; and was received into connection with the
Synod in the year 1810.
2. Coldwater Creek Church, Cabarrus County, N.
C, now St. James' Church, Concord, If. C. The
early records of this congregation have all been
destroyed by the ravages of those enemies to an-
cient documents, the rats and mice, who have ap-
propriated the leaves of the records of this church
to their own comfort. Audubon, the ornitholo-
gist, was served once in the same manner, when
his earliest portfolio leaves were all ruined; how-
ever, he could replace what had cost him three
years' toil to gather together, by once more shoul-
dering his knapsack and gun, and returning to the
fields and forests for a renewed supply. But there
is no such remedy for the seeker after historical
facts; when once the early records are destroyed
and lost, no efforts can reproduce them; diligent
inquiry and search was made to obtain at least a
portion of the records of this church, but all in
vain, the work of destruction was done effectually.
Coldwater Church was at one time the oldest
German religious organization in Western North
Carolina; it had a pastor even before the Rev. A.
Nussmann came to America in 1773; this pastor
was the Rev. Mr. Suther, a German Reformed
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
405
minister, some of whose descendants are still living
in Concord, 1ST. C, and are worthy members of the
Lutheran Church there.
In Wheeler's History of North Carolina, vol. ii,
p. 11, the following record in Governor Tryon's
journal occurs: "Sunday, August 21st, 1768.
Heard Mr. Luther, a Dutch minister, preach." This is a very brief record, but it contains much
information, when all the circumstances connected
with it are considered. Firstly, the place was near
Major Phifer's residence, Mecklenburg (now Ca-
barrus) County, where Governor Tryon with his
suite lodged from the 19th to the 22d of August.
Secondly, the church was a German one, called
"Dutch" according to the common parlance of
that day, and was none other than the Coldwater
Church, which was then the nearest German
church to Major Phifer's residence. Thirdly, the
minister's name was Suther, and not Luther,
which is undoubtedly a mistake of the copyist of
the Governor's journal, or of the printer, inasmuch
as the letter "S," in writing, so nearly resembles
the letter "L;" for no minister with the name
"Luther" ever resided in that vicinity, and it is
known that the Rev. Mr. Suther was the minister
of that church about that time. Fourthly, the time
dates the existence of the Coldwater Church as far
back as 1768.
Now whether the Lutherans had, at that time,
a common right in the property of that church
with the German Reformed is not known.
Thirty years later a Lutheran minister occasion-
406
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ally preached there, at least in performing funeral
services in that church, as may be seen from the
records of St. John's church-book. This minister
was the Rev. A. NT. Marcard, then the pastor of
St. John's Church.
In the minutes of the North Carolina Synod
mention is first made of this church in the year
1814, when it was received in connection with the
Synod, giving the names of Philip Cress and
Michael WinecofT as its church officers, and it is
exceedingly probable that its organization as a
Lutheran congregation, worshiping with the Ger-
man Reformed, dates back only to about that time.
In the year 1843, under the pastoral care of Rev.
W. G. Harter, the Lutheran congregation with-
drew from the Coldwater Church, and erected
their own house of worship in the town of Con-
cord, adopting the name of St. James' Church,
where it continues to exist to the present day.
3. St. Michael's Church, Lexington District, South
Carolina.—This congregation is likewise compara-
tively a new organization, and its church edifice
is better known as "The Blue Church."
The congregation originated in the following
manner: A number of members of Bethel Church,
on High Hill Creek, were desirous of hearing the
Word of God in the English language, which in-
novation being met with much opposition, the
friends of English preaching withdrew and wor-
shiped for a time in a schoolhouse, but afterwards
secured a portion of land by gift or otherwise, and
erected their own church. A number of members
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA,
407
from old Zion's Church also soon connected them-
selves with the new enterprise. The Rev. God-
frey Dreher became their first pastor, and their
first communion was held in the church on the
fifth Sunday in June, 1814. It was admitted into
connection with the North Carolina Synod, Octo-
ber 18th of the same year. Its elders and deacons
at that time were: John Wise, John Dreher,
Samuel Wingard, and Thomas Shuler, whose
names are mentioned in the minutes of the Synod. According to a resolution of the North Carolina
Synod, a special Conference was held in this
church, at which Conference the Revs. Storch,
Miller and Shober, from North Carolina, were
present. The Lord's day services were held in
Bethel Church, April 29th, 1816, "when Rev.
Charles A. Stork opened public worship by preach-
ing from John 3: 14,15, and the Rev. R. J. Miller
in the English language from Matt. 21:43. During
the first sermon, the Rev. G. Dreher and Candi-
date M. Rauch addressed the English visitors out
of doors, and during the second, the Rev. G. Shober
addressed an assembly of negroes near the church
on the subject of Christianity, and afterwards
preached a sermon in the church from Matt. 13:
25, in the German language. It is hoped that
among that great concourse of people, who list-
ened attentively during the long service, some
precious seed fell on good ground. It was then
thought advisable that the meeting of Conference
should be held at St. Michael's Church at nine
o'clock, Monday morning." The above extract
408
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
is taken from the printed minutes of that special
Conference, and is herein inserted, because this
was the first ecclesiastical meeting of the Lutheran
Church held in this State. The conventions of
the Corpus Ecclesiasticum preceded it some
twenty-nine years, but it was a German Reformed
as well as a Lutheran body.
The object of holding this Conference was to
adjust certain difficulties, that had arisen and dis-
turbed the Lutheran Church in South Carolina,
in reference to the baptism of the children of un-
worthy church members and of non-professors of
religion. The decision arrived at was, that the
children of all such members, who were not ex-
pelled from the Church, could be presented by
their own parents for baptism, and that the chil-
dren of all others were likewise to be baptized,
provided worthy members of the Church acted
as sponsors, and presented them to the altar.
Another vexed question had reference to the col-
ored population, namely: 1. When should they
be baptized and confirmed? 2. Should they after-
wards be immediately admitted to the communion
or remain awhile in a state of probation? 3.
Should they belong to the same church with their
masters, or be at liberty to select a church for
themselves? 4. Should they bring their own chil-
dren to baptism themselves? 5. The marriage
relation was recognized and strictly enforced. A
resolution was then also passed, requesting Synod
to publish in the minutes of every year the list of
its authorized and recognized ministers.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 409
4. St. Michael's Church, Iredell County, North Caro-
lina.—The German citizens of Iredell County came
originally from Rowan and Cabarrus Counties.
All the productive and available lands in these two
counties had been preoccupied by their forefathers,
whose descendants were, therefore, compelled to
go westward, and many of them occupied lands
in Iredell that were still vacant, or purchased
farms from the original Scotch-Irish settlers.
This influx of a German population occurred
about the close of the last or commencement of
the present century, and owing to the peculiarities
of their settlement here, many of them are inter-
married with the original Scotch-Irish colonists,
and nearly all are more or less scattered over the
whole of that country, and some of them are of
necessity located rather remotely from their own
house of worship.
The Rev. R. J. Miller was the first Lutheran
minister who gathered the German settlers in Ire-
dell County into a congregation, A.D. 1815. This
fact is ascertained from the church records, as
well as from the minutes of the Synod of 1815,
when that congregation was admitted under the
name of "New Pearth." The church land was
donated by Mr. Daniel Walcher, and was given
as joint property for the use of both the Lutheran
and Episcopal denominations, and was so continued
as a union house of worship for several years, when
the Episcopalians withdrew and erected their own
church a few miles distant from St. Michael's
35
410
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Church, leaving the Lutheran congregation the
sole possessor of that property.
The church edifice has since been considerably
enlarged, and is located on a pleasant site near
the public road leading from Charlotte to States-
ville, and recently the "Atlantic, Tennessee and
Ohio Railroad" has been located very near to this
church and its graveyard. Rev. Mr. Miller contin-
ued to labor here for six years, when he voluntarily
disconnected himself from the Lutheran Church,
in 1821. It was in this congregation that the Rev.
Simeon W. Harkey, D.D. and his brothers, who are
also in the ministry, were born and reared up for
enlarged usefulness in the Lutheran Church. Dr.
Harkey was for a time President of Illinois State
University; many interesting circumstances of his
early life are still related by his former schoolmates
and early associates. St. Michael's Church has
lost heavily by the removal of many of its mem-
bers, principally to the State of Illinois.
5. McCobbin's Creek Church, Mecklenburg County,
N. C, is also mentioned in the minutes of the
North Carolina Synod, as having been received
into its connection in 1815. Of its history nothing
is known to the writer; it is probable, that this is
the present" Morning Star Church" in that county,
and now connected with the Tennessee Synod.
There are, doubtless, other new Lutheran con-
gregations which were organized in other parts of
the Carolinas at or before this time, but as they
are not mentioned in the minutes of the Synod,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 411
and no other records are at hand, nothing can be
said concerning them.
Section 8. Continued History of several of the older
Lutheran Congregations in the Carolinas.
The Lutheran Church in the interior of South
Carolina was beginning to present a more hope-
ful appearance; much good was accomplished by
the labors of its young ministers, who had recently
been licensed or ordained by the North Carolina
Synod; the Synod itself was also exerting a whole-
some influence upon those churches in South
Carolina that were connected with it. In New-
berry District the Rev. F. J. Wallern was still
laboring, but he and his congregations remained
isolated and uninfluenced by synodical counsel
and authority, consequently no improvement was
manifested in their condition; one congregation,
however, placed itself under the care of Synod in
1814, whose elders' and deacons' names have been
mentioned, yet it is not stated who was its pastor
at that time.
Soon after the death of Rev. C. E. Bernhardt, in
1809, the churches in Lexington District, on both
sides of the Saluda River, were served by the Rev.
Godfrey Dreher, who was licensed by the North
Carolina Synod in 1810, and labored there for a
number of years, having still the charge of Zion's,
St. Peter's, and other more recently organized
congregations, as late as 1848, at about which time
412
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
he resigned. The Rev. J. Y. Meetze also resided
and preached in this District, serving several con-
gregations; and after the year 1814, the Rev. J.
P. Franklow, who resigned his charge in Orange-
burg District, likewise labored in Lexington, so
that the congregations in this District were for the
time well supplied with ministerial labor.
The Sandy Run congregation was supplied once
a month with the means of grace by Revs. Dreher,
Franklow and Rauch, from and after the year
1812; Rev. Franklow, however, soon afterwards
resigned; whether Rev. Rauch continued to preach
there any length of time is not stated, but Rev.
Dreher remained the pastor of that church until
the close of the year 1821.
The St. Matthew's charge in Orangeburg Dis-
trict was supplied with a pastor in the Rev. J. P.
Franklow, who remained in office in that charge
until 1814, when he resigned, and Rev. M. Rauch
became hi^s successor. By resolution of the North
Carolina Synod, he also took the oversight of the
two congregations in Barnwell District.
The Lutheran church in Charleston was vacant
from the year 1811, but was supplied with the
means of grace, six months at a time, by several
Episcopal clergymen,until theRev. JohnBachman,
from the State of New York, became the pastor in
January, 1815. Of his arrival in Charleston and
of his pastoral labors more will be stated in the
next section.
The various churches in Lincoln County, IST. C,
were served with the pastoral labors of Revs. R.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
413
J. Miller, David Henkel and Daniel Moser; the
latter became the successor of Rev. Philip Henkel,
who had resigned and accepted the call to the
Tennessee congregations, made vacant by the
death of Rev. C. Z. H. Smith.
The two congregations in Cabarrus County were
supplied by the Eev. C. A. G. Storch; St. John's
Church was served as a part of his regular charge,
whilst the Coldwater congregation received occa-
sional visits from him. The other now existing
congregations in this county were not organized at
that time.
In Rowan County Rev. Storch was laboring still
at Organ Church, in the bounds of which he then
resided; it is probable that he also served Savage's
or Sewits' Church, now called Lutheran Chapel;
but the Union or Pine Church he had resigned,
and the Rev. J. W. Meyer became its pastor.
St. John's Church, in Salisbury, was at this time
still vacant; it had become a neglected field, and,
according to the provisions in the title granted by
Mr. Beard, the Episcopalians occupied the church,
since they had no house of worship of their own,
and the few remaining Lutherans worshiped with
them.
The churches in Davidson County were served
faithfully by their pastor, Rev. Lewis Markert,
from 1805 to 1816, when he removed to the State
of Indiana, where he continued to labor until the
Lord called him home, November 22d, 1850.
After the removal of Rev. Markert, and at the
request of the vacant congregations, the Synod, in
414
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
1816, appointed Rev. G. Shober to supply two of
the churches of that charge, whilst the remaining
two were placed under the care of Rev. J. W.
Meyer. In 1817, Catechet Daniel Walcher was
sent by Synod to labor in these vacant churches,
where he remained until 1821, when he removed
to Pendleton County, Virginia.
In the year 1810, the Rev. Jacob Scherer became
the pastor of the churches in Guilford and Orange
Counties, which had been vacant about four years,
but through the energetic and faithful labors of
Rev. Scherer's ministry, this charge became one of
the most promising in the State. His catechetical
instructions were specially blessed. At one time
a certain young man came to him and declared
that "he would not for the whole world have been
without these instructions, for by means of them
he had found what was worth more than the world
to him." The Rev. Jacob Grieson was licensed
to preach the gospel in 1810, and labored as an
assistant pastor with Rev. Scherer, accomplishing
much good, and was always willing and prepared
to lighten the burdens and labors of the regular
pastor in that extensive charge.
The congregations in Forsythe County, near
Salem, 1ST. G, were greatly built up by the efficient
labors of their first pastor, the Rev. Gottlieb Scho-
ber, who commenced his ministry there in 1810,
and continued in charge of these churches to the
close of his life, June 27th, 1838.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
415
Section 9. Arrival of Rev. John Bachman as Pastor
of St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston,
S. C, and his Report on the State of the Coun-
try and of the Condition of the Lutheran Church
in America in the year 1815.
At last we have reached that period in the his-
tory of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas
which comes within the range of still living wit-
nesses, one of whom is the Rev. John Bachman,
D.D., LL.D., now in his eighty-third year, and in
the fifty-eighth year of his ministry in Charleston,
S. C, as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church;
and though no longer able to preach the gospel,
he still manifests the liveliest interest in the wel-
fare and prosperity in the Lutheran Church, both
in his own Synod and in America; and has but
recently (March 28th, 1872) been permitted, in a
reclining posture, to participate in the dedication
of St. Matthew's German Lutheran Church of
Charleston.
It is not designed to give a sketch of Dr. Bach-
man's life and ministry in this section of this work,
as it would require more than a few pages, and
belongs properly to biographical literature; be-
sides, it would bring at once the history of Luther-
anism in Charleston to its present date, and disar-
range the entire plan of this work. Rev. Dr.
Bachman's name, life and labors will now accom-
pany and be included in the history of the Lu-
theran Church in the Carolinas to the present day,
416
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
as he is inseparably connected with it as one of its
most useful and prominent ministers.
On Sunday, January 10th, 1858, Dr. Bachman
preached an anniversary sermon to his congrega-
tion, on the occasion of his having then been forty-
three years their pastor. This sermon has been
published, and furnishes the Church the most in-
teresting incidents in his life and ministry, besides
embracing a report on the state of the country
and of the condition of the Lutheran Church in
America in the year 1815. Truly that was the
day of small things to the Lutheran Church in
this country, when her ministry numbered not
quite one hundred, and there were still but three
Synods in the United States,—the New York, the
Pennsylvania, and the North Carolina Synods.
The following extracts are taken from Dr. Bach-
man's anniversary sermon:
"On the 10th of January, 1815,1 arrived in this
city for the purpose of taking charge of this con-
gregation. A meeting of the vestry of the church
took place on the 12th, two days afterwards, and
the charge of the congregation was, in due form,
committed to my trust. This day, then, is the
forty-third anniversary of my arrival to engage in
the ministry in this city.
"On the 10th, the day of my arrival, I attended
the first funeral service, which was performed by
another clergyman, who had previously been en-
gaged, and on the 16th I performed the first bap-
tismal service.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 417
"My Antecedents.
"I was licensed by the Lutheran Synod of New
York in 1813, having previously been elected pas-
tor of three congregations in the vicinity of my
own neighborhood, in the county of Rensselaer,
N. T., where I would have gladly spent the re-
mainder of my days, among the friends and rela-
tives of my boyhood and early youth. A hemor-
rhage of the lungs,'however, of which I had been
attacked whilst at college, was making a fearful
inroad on my health, and I was advised by my
physicians to seek relief in a more southern cli-
mate. A call had been sent from this congrega-
tion to the President of the Synod of New York,
Dr. Quitman, with a request that he should rec-
ommend some clergyman who might be adapted
to this field of labor. He was the father of the
present General Quitman, and was regarded as
one of the most learned and eloquent men of his
day. He and my ever faithful friend, Dr. Mayer,
of Philadelphia, proposed my name to this congre-
gation. They immediately sent me a call to be-
come their pastor. After consultation with my
family and congregation, they reluctantly gave
me leave of absence for nine months, during which
time the hope was expressed that my health
would be sufficiently restored to enable me to re-
sume my ministerial labors among them. As the
Lutheran Church had scarcely an existence in our
Southern States, and as we had no Synod here, an
418
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
extra meeting of the Synod of New York was con-
vened in December, 1814, at Rhinebeck, Dutch-
ess County, the place of my nativity, for the pur-
pose of ordaining me. The ordination services
were performed by Dr. Quitman and the other
officers of the Synod in the Lutheran church at
Rhinebeck, where I had been baptized in infancy.
Without returning home, I proceeded on my way
to this city.
"The State of our Country.
"We were in the midst of a three years' war
with the most powerful of foreign nations. Fear-
ful battles had occurred on our Northern frontiers,
on the ocean and on the lakes. The traces of de-
vastation and death were visible in the half-cov-
ered graves along the highway between Baltimore
and Washington. The blackened walls of the
Capitol at Washington, and the waste and destruc-
tion in every part of the city, presented an awful
picture of the horrors of war. On my arrival here
I found our citizens working on the lines of de-
fence thrown around the landside of our city—
even ladies went there with hoes and spades to
cheer the citizen soldiers by their presence, their
countenance and example, and I too joined, at least
in form, for it was our common country that was
to be defended. In the meantime the battle of New
Orleans had been fought, on the 8th of January,
and a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent;
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
419
but these important events were not known until
some time afterwards. The war had fallen heavily
on our Southern people. The principal staple of
our commerce, cotton, had for several years, during
the embargo and war, been sold at a mere nominal
value, and was stored away in various depositories
in King Street. Our city was then only a village
compared with its present growth, and the grass
was growing in our most public streets. Men had
the necessaries of life, and these were cheap; but
all the means of enterprise and all the avenues to
wealth were closed up. Fortunately men were
driven to the necessity of manufacturing their nec-
essary articles, and they were compelled to deny
themselves luxuries; they studied economy, and
hence there was not much suffering among our
people from any want of the necessaries of life.
But the constant dread of invasion, the sufferings
and dangers to which our friends who were in the
army and at sea were constantly exposed, kept the
minds of our citizens in an unsettled and feverish
state. The means of traveling were very differ-
ent from what they are now in the days of steamers
and railroads. The roads were almost impassable;
as an evidence of this, I would state that with the
exception of a Sabbath on which I preached for
Dr. Mayer, of Philadelphia, I came in the regular
stage line, which traveled day and night, and ar-
rived at Charleston on the morning of the twenty-
ninth day after leaving Dutchess County, which is
a hundred miles north of the city of JSTew York.
420
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
In the meantime our vehicles were'either broken
or overturned eight times on the journey.
"The State of the Lutheran Church in America at
the time of my Arrival at the South.
"The Lutheran Church in America was at a
very low ebb. There were only three Synods, one
in New York, composed of seven ministers; one
in Pennsylvania, which in point of numbers was
considerably larger; and a small Synod in North
Carolina." (In the North Carolina Synod there
were, October 17th, 1814, the last meeting of
Synod previous to Dr. Bachman's arrival, nine
ordained ministers and eleven licentiates, twenty
ministers in all.) "Our ministers, with very few
exceptions, performed service exclusively in the
German language. This was a great error, inas-
much as it excluded from the Church the descend-
ants of Lutherans, who had by education and
association adopted the language of the country.
Our doctrines were not objectionable to them, but
they could not understand the language in which
they were promulgated. Thus the progress of the
Church was greatly retarded in consequence of
the bigoted attachment of our ancestors, and es-
pecially their clergy, to a foreign language. Since
the introduction of the English language into our
ministrations the Church has made rapid progress.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 421
"The State of our Church in Charleston, South Caro-
lina, and in the other Southern States.
"When I arrived here the congregation wor-
shiped in a small wooden church, situated in the
rear of the present church; it was an antiquated
building of a peculiar construction, resembling
some of the old churches in the rural districts of
Germany. The congregation was composed of
Germans, who, during the stormy season of the
Revolution, had been the strenuous advocates and
defenders of the rights of their adopted country.
"The services continued for many years to be
conducted in the German language. The Rev.
Mr. Faber, the younger of two brothers, who were
pastors of this congregation, introduced the ser-
vice in the English language. After his death,
there was for several years no minister of the Lu-
theran Church presiding over this congregation.
I have scarcely a doubt that the congregation was
preserved from total annihilation through the pious
zeal and devotion of the venerable Jacob Sass, who,
for a long series of years, was the president of the
vestry, and who was one of the purest and best
men with whom it has been my privilege ever to
associate.
"It does not become me to speak of my own
labors in this congregation; suffice it to say, that
I feel how imperfect are the best efforts of man,
and wherever there has been any success, let us
ascribe all the praise and glory to God, to whom
422
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
they legitimately belong. Men are but the instru-
ments in His hands, and He, the Master, often
gives the blessing whilst the servant is unworthy.
"For many years the Germans of our city formed
a part of this congregation; I preached for them
in the German language, at first, once a month,
and for some years afterwards, occasionally in the
evenings. For nearly twenty years I preached
three sermons on each Sabbath. I now feel con-
vinced from experience that this labor is beyond
the capacity of most constitutions, especially in
our debilitating climate. In the autumn of 1837,
my health and strength failed me. My congrega-
tion, feeling a deep interest in the preservation of
my life and the restoration of my enfeebled health,
unanimously requested me to remove for a season
from my field of labor. I left my home and peo-
ple in 1838, believing that I looked upon the land
of my nativity for the last time, and that I was
destined to breathe my last breath among strangers
in a foreign land. I was absent eight months,
during which time I wandered nearly over all Eu-
rope, and was received with a sympathy, kindness,
and untiring hospitality that have left deep traces
of gratitude on my heart. I returned in January,
1839, with health partially restored. For a few
years, until my health was re-established, this con-
gregation engaged an assistant minister.
"I cannot here withhold from you the candid
admission that the establishment of our Church in
the South was a source of greater anxiety to my
mind than even the prosperity of my own congre-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
423
gation. I came as a pioneer in our holy cause.
For several years I held my membership with the
Synod of New York. We had very few materials
in the South from which the Church could be
built up; no emigrants from abroad.
"There were Lutherans in Lexington and
Orangeburg Districts, but they were almost desti-
tute of the means of grace. There had been a
church in Savannah, erected before the Revolution,
that belonged to the Lutherans, but it was burnt
down in 1797. This congregation contributed $500
towards rebuilding it; no congregation was, how-
ever, subsequently organized, and the small build-
ing was occupied as a Sunday-school by another
denomination. They were visited, a congregation
was organized from the materials which could be
collected, and a clergyman, who had been raised
up in this congregation, became their pastor.
They have now a new church and a flourishing
congregation. Ebenezer was also visited. The
pastor there, who seemed not aware that Luther-
anism had any existence in the South, had taken
a license in another Church. He soon became a
co-worker with us, and they have now two pastors
and several churches in the neighborhood. We
at length began to discuss the propriety of form-
ing a Synod in our State. We had no theological
school, we had but three or four pastors who were
able to perform duty, and the few Lutherans that
remained were either poor or in very moderate
circumstances.
"On my first arrival here I became a member
424
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the German Friendly Society, which was then
composed of nearly one hundred members; these
have all passed away, and I am now the oldest
member. Of the few communicants I found in
this church at my arrival, one only is now alive.
The vestrymen, whose names were signed to my
call, were: Jacob Sass, President; Abraham
Markley, John Strohecker, Henry Horlbeck,
Jacob Strobel, J. E. Schirmer, Benjamin A. Mark-
ley, Jacob Eckhardt, Sr., and John Strobel. War-
dens: J. M. HofT, C. C. Philips, Adolph Beckman,
and Anthony A. Pelzer. All these have gone to
their account.
"Of the committee of twenty-one who, in 1815,
reported on the expediency of building this church,
all are dead. Of the pastors who occupied the
pulpits of our city on my arrival, not one is now
living. Of the managers of the Bible Society, who
met me in 1815,1 only am left, and of its members
I am the oldest on their record. At our first con-
firmation in 1816, of sixty-four persons, who were
then dedicated to God, nine only are now alive.
"I have given you a very brief and imperfect
sketch of the days that are past in my long min-
istry. Time will not permit me to enter into any
details; they would fill volumes. Little now re-
mains of that thread of life, which has been spun
out in the midst of you. I would not wish to re-
call that life, unless it could be spent in greater
usefulness to you and to others, and I trust, through
the mercy of that Savior who died for a fallen
world, I will be prepared to resign it cheerfully
IN NORTH AND SOUTII CAROLINA.
425
into the hands of that God who gave it, whenever
He shall see fit to call me hence. This congrega-
tion was the only one of which I have had charge
since my ordination. To all invitations from other
sources in the Church and seats of learning—offer-
ing higher pecuniary advantages—I did not hesi-
tate a moment in giving a negative reply."
Such matter in Rev. Dr. Bachman's sermon,
which was not strictly of a historical character, or
which had been quoted in other parts of this book,
in its proper chronological position, has been
omitted; other historical data, brought out in the
Doctor's discourse, but referring to a later period,
will find their place in some of the succeeding
chapters.
Section 10. The Ordination Question, and Opposition
to the Licensure of Candidates for the Ministry.
The principal transactions of the North Carolina
Synod during the year 1816, were certain reports
and resolutions on the question of ordination,
which were occasioned as follows:
In consequence of the great want of ministers,
and in order to preserve harmony and uniformity
with the Pennsylvania Synod, the licensure system
was adopted also by the Synod of North Carolina.
This system is altogether an American feature, so
far as the Lutheran Church is concerned, and
arose entirely on account of the great paucity and
want of ministers of the gospel in this country.
36
426
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The various Lutheran congregations which had
been organized in America, besought the different
Synods to furnish them preachers or pastors; but
what could the Synods do towards answering
these numerous and repeated calls made upon
them? Few ministers came or were sent from
Germany, and no university or college had as yet
been established for the education of candidates
for the ministry by the Lutheran Church in this
country; it was, therefore, thought expedient to
license persons who could exhort and catechize, to
take charge of these vacant churches, at the same
time making it the duty of the ordained ministers
residing in the vicinity to administer the sacra-
ments as frequently as possible in those congrega-
tions. These exhorters were called catechets. A
course of study was prescribed for them in Latin,
Greek and theology, to be studied privately or
with some of the older ministers; as soon as they
stood a fair examination, they were advanced in
their ministerial standing and received license, to
be renewed every year, to administer all the ordi-
nances of the Church. They were called candi-
dates, and were obliged to continue their studies,
report their ministerial acts to Synod, bring a writ-
ten sermon annually for examination, and, when-
ever they passed a good examination on their
studies, character and ministerial usefulness, were
solemnly ordained to the gospel ministry. They
were then called pastors, enjoying all the privileges
of the older ministers. This arrangement was re-
garded as an educational one, and not as having
IK NORTH AND SOUTH CAKOLINA. 427
established different grades or orders of the min-
istry.
There now arose in Lincoln County, B\ C. a
great opposition to this system, because the candi-
dates were authorized to perform all ministerial
acts without having been previously ordained; a
long statement, covering more than three pages
of the minutes of Synod for 1816, is devoted to
this subject, from which the following extracts are
made:
"Upon the adoption of the report (on the licen-
sure of a number of candidates), a sad opposition
manifested itself from Lincoln County, and, under
the pretext that disturbances had been caused in
said county by the impression that it was anti-
christian for any one to administer the sacraments
without ordination, it was vehemently insisted
upon that the candidates be ordained." Here fol-
lows a lengthy statement of the reasons why the
Synod adopted and continued the licensure sys-
tem, namely: that it had been a blessing to the
Church, and that the Synod wished to conform also
in this particular usage to the long-established
practice of their brethren in Pennsylvania. The
report of the Pennsylvania Synod on this subject,
as found in its minutes of 1814, is also given, which
report reads as follows:
"Upon motion, the ordained ministers were
called upon to express their opinion on the ques-
tion proposed by the (North) Carolina Ministerium,
namely, 6 Have candidates the right to perform the Ac-
tus Ministeriales loithout a previous laying on of hands V
428
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Some expressed their opinions verbally, others in
writing. It was unanimously—
"Resolved, That, according to the testimony of
the Bible and the history of the Church, a written
authority is equally as valid as the imposition of
hands, that our ministerial arrangement is not in
opposition to the principles of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church, and that, therefore, licensed can-
didates can perform all Actus Ministeriales with
a good conscience." The Secretary of the North
Carolina Synod adds yet this remark to the above
resolution of the Pennsylvania Synod: "At this
Synod twenty-two ordained ministers and twenty-
nine candidates were present, and all were agreed
on this subject; their resolutions and opinions were
sent to us in writing in 1814; we should, there-
fore, be uniform in practice, and one or two other-
wise thinking individuals among us should yield
that much from motives of love.
"All, however, was of no avail; therefore, upon
motion of Rev. Shober, it was resolved to make
the following alteration for one year only: that if
the present candidates can pass through their this
year's examination, their license be handed them
publicly before the congregation, after having af-
firmatively answered that they would observe all
what the Bible and the Augsburg Confession re-
quires of a minister, and that in the name of the
Church a blessing be pronounced upon them with
imposition of hands.
"The President (Rev. Mr. Storch), protested
openly against this innovation; the resolution
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
429
was, nevertheless, adopted. And, inasmuch as
the President could not conscientiously perform
this ceremony, he requested Rev. Shober to attend
to this duty for him.' A fear is also expressed in
the minutes, that all this would eventually cause
a division in the Church.
At the next meeting of Synod, in 1817, the sub-
ject came up again, and was finally disposed of by
vote, Rev. R. J. Miller being the only one who
voted in the negative, namely, against the licen-
sure of candidates.
From all this we can also arrive at the number
of Lutheran ministers in the United States in 1814.
The Pennsylvania Synod, 51 present, probably
only a few absent at that meeting; the New York
Synod, 7; and the North Carolina Synod, 21;
Total, 79. Suppose we allow 6 absentees to the
Pennsylvania Synod, then we have 85 Lutheran
ministers in 1814 in this country. This number
also agrees with the statement made by Rev. Dr.
Hazelius, in an inaugural address.
Section 11. The Literary Institution in Tennessee
for the Education of Ministers; and the Publi-
cation by authority of the North Carolina Synod
of a book called "Luther."
In East Tennessee Lutheranism was spreading
rapidly; three new congregations, named Union,
Hopeful and Lick Creek, were organized, and
connected themselves with the Synod in 1817;
430
TEE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and in this State, where a few years ago there was
but one minister, the Rev. C. Z. H. Smith, there
were now four laborers, namely, Revs. Philip
Henkel, Jacob Zink, Adam Miller and Joseph
E. Bell; the last mentioned was a good classical
scholar, and was received as a catechet in 1816,
in accordance with his own request, and because
he could not be present at Synod that year; the
next year, however, being present, he was regu-
larly licensed as a candidate.
In 1817, Revs. Philip Henkel and Jos. E. Bell,
commenced a classical and theological seminary
on their own responsibility, at which the Synod
was greatly rejoiced, for it was high time that
something was done in that direction. A report
on this institution, and the action of the Synod in
reference to it, are here presented.
"Rev. Philip Henkel reported, that in Green
County, in the State of Tennessee, a seminary, on
a small scale, was established under his and Rev.
Bell's supervision, in which theology, the Greek,
Latin, German and English languages are taught,
and in which Rev. Bell is the principal teacher. In
accordance with a report, said seminary was re-
ceived with joy under the counsel and aid of
Synod, with the confident expectation that this
small beginning, by the help of God, located in
so healthy and cheap a region of country, this insti-
tution, so long and earnestly desired, may prosper
in such a manner, that many well-qualified minis-
ters and missionaries may be educated as preachers
of the glorious Gospel of Jesus in all parts of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 431
world, who will be prepared to give to every man
a reason of the hope that is in them. Thousands
of the present and future generations will then
thank both those who have been instructed in that
institution, as well as those who have contributed
their gifts for the support of this new enterprise, &c.
"A letter was also read to Synod from Rev. Mr.
Bachman, pastor in Charleston, South Carolina,
in which he expresses his joy and desire to labor
in harmony with us, and greatly desires to see
that a seminary for the education of ministers be
established, and that his congregation would gladly
contribute towards the support of the enterprise;
furthermore, that the New York Ministerium, to
which he belongs, would willingly aid us with
missionaries, and that he regrets that, at this
season of the year, he cannot be present with us.
"The reading of this letter was listened to with
much rejoicing; and as the time for the meeting
of Synod is now changed, we hope to have the
pleasure, through Rev. Bachman, to become more
intimately acquainted with the New York Minis-
terium."
Arrangements were also made to take up col-
lections the following May in all the congrega-
tions for the support of the seminary in Tennessee.
It is sad to relate that this institution was short-
lived, because it was remotely located, and there-
fore did not properly come under the influence of
Synod; also, because the leading men of Synod
did not take hold of it themselves. They were
very willing to extend their counsel, sympathy
432
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and aid, when others did the work in establishing
it; but that is not the proper way to build up an
institution, which requires the entire wisdom and
energy of all the members of Synod.
But the principal cause of the failure of this in-
stitution at that time was the division which arose
in the Lutheran Church in the South in 1819.
After the year 1820, nothing more of importance
is known of this seminary in Tennessee.
From the minutes of Synod for 1819 the infor-
mation is received that $246.75 was sent from
South Carolina in aid of this institution, out of
which Rev. Bachmau's congregation had contrib-
uted $221.75.
Concerning Rev. Shober's book, familiarly en-
titled, "Luther," and published by authority of
Synod, the following action was taken. In 1816,
on motion of Rev. Philip Henkel, it was resolved
that the secretary, Rev. Shober, compile all the
rules adopted by this Synod, and publish them in
the English language, inasmuch as our Church is
very little known among the English inhabitants.
In accordance with this resolution, the Secre-
tary prepared and laid before Synod in 1817, "A
manuscript compilation entitled: Comprehensive
Account of the Rise and Progress of the Refor-
mation of the Christian Church by Dr. Martin
Luther, actually begun on the 31st day of October,
A.D. 1517; together with views of his character
and doctrine, extracted from his books; and how
the Church, established by him, arrived and pro-
gressed in North America; as also the Constitu-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
433
tion and Rules of that Church in North Carolina
and adjoining States as existing in October, 1817."
"On motion, a committee, consisting of the
Rev. R. J. Miller, Philip Henkel and Joseph E.
Bell, was appointed to examine the same." A
few days afterward the committee reported:
"That they had examined said manuscript, and
do highly approve of its contents, and recommend
it to be published, believing that it will have a
beneficial effect throughout our congregations,
and give succinct information to other Christians
what the Lutheran Church is."
"The Synod unanimously adopted said report,
and directed the treasurer to have 1500 copies
printed." The proceeds of the sale of this book
were to be applied to the Tennessee Seminary and
other synodial objects.
The contents of this book are: a history of the
Reformation, a history of the Lutheran Church
"transplanted to America," particularly in North
Carolina and other Southern States; the Augsburg
Confession; Constitution and Rules adopted by
the North Carolina Synod; extracts from Luther's
writings; and some concluding remarks.
The character of the book appears on some of
its pages to be soundly Lutheran; on other pages
compromising aud unionistic. The tenth and
eleventh articles of the Augsburg Confession are
not passed by without a comment, in the shape of
a foot-note, weakening their force, and making
them agreeable to all denominations. In the
"Conclusion" the following remarks occur: "I
37
434
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
have attentively examined the doctrine of the
Episcopalian Church, read many excellent authors
of the Presbyterians, know the Methodist doctrine
from their book, 'Portraiture of Methodism,' and
am acquainted with the Baptist doctrine, so far as
that they admit and adore Jesus the Savior.
Among all those classes, who worship Jesus as a
God, I see nothing of importance to prevent a
cordial union; and how happy would it be if all
the Churches could unite, and send deputies to a
general meeting of all denominations," &c, &c.
This full account of the action of Synod in ref-
erence to this book, and this full description of it,
have been given for very good reasons, which are
briefly as follows:
Firstly, inasmuch as the Synod authorized the
secretary to write this book, had it examined by
a committee, had adopted it without a dissenting
voice, had it published at the expense of Synod,
had it afterwards scattered in its congregations,
and generally circulated, the conclusion, there-
fore, is natural, that the Synod was perfectly satis-
fied with its contents, that the sentiments therein
expressed were the sentiments of Synod at that
time, and that all its ministers were united in the
faith as therein exhibited.
Secondly, inasmuch as Revs. Philip Henkel and
J. E. Bell composed two-thirds of the committee
to examine this book, and reported favorably,
"highly approving of its contents" branding the
eleventh article of the Augsburg Confession as
"conciliatory" to the Roman Catholics, but no
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
435
longer observed; that their faith and opinions in
regard to those doctrines and usages were in har-
mony at that time with those of Rev. Shober, its
author.
Thirdly, inasmuch as Revs. David Henkel, Philip
Henkel and others of the then future Tennessee
Synod circulated this book by sale, up to the time
of their withdrawal from the North Carolina
Synod, it is but reasonable to conclude, that doc-
trinal differences did not, at first, cause the divi-
sion in the Church in the years 1819 and 1820.
In short, the fact is apparent that all the mem-
bers of Synod, with many of their forefathers before
them, both in America and in the greater part of
Germany, had gradually departed from the pure
faith as confessed by the Reformers.
Section 12. TJie Convention which was called for the
purpose of organizing a General Synod.
On the 19th of October, 1817, the Synod of
North Carolina convened at Pilgrim's Church,
Davidson County, N. C.
At this synodical meeting it was resolved that,
owing to the prevalence of sickness during the fall
season, the time when the meetings of Synod had
been generally held, the Synod hereafter shall be
convened on Trinity Sunday of each year. This
time of meeting was "firmly fixed" (vest gesetzt).
It was also resolved that the next meeting of Synod
shall take place on Trinity Sunday of 1819; con-
436
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
sequently there was no meeting of Synod held in
1818, since that year's Trinity Sunday occurred
only about seven months after the last meeting of
Synod; the next meeting was therefore postponed
to Trinity Sunday of 1819.
This arrangement became the occasion of a
threefold difficulty, namely: nineteen months with-
out a meeting of Synod was too long a time to in-
tervene for the welfare of the Church; many evils
might have been prevented had a meeting of Synod
taken place in 1818. Too many important inter-
ests were intrusted to its care, and the Synod
should have heeded the warning contained in
Matt. 13 : 25. Then again, the call from the Penn-
sylvania Synod to consult with that body, during
its session in Baltimore on Trinity Sunday of 1819,
about the propriety of organizing a General Synod,
presented another difficulty, conflicting with the
time of the meeting of the North Carolina Synod,
and occasioned no little trouble to arrange this
matter properly. The third difficulty will become
apparent in the next section of this book.
In compliance with the call of the Pennsylvania
Synod, the North Carolina Synod was convened
six weeks before the time appointed, on the second
Sunday after Easter, as the following statement in
the English minutes of Synod of 1819 fully ex-
plains.
"The cause of changing the time of meeting of
the Synod from Trinity Sunday to this day was
explained, namely: that at the last Synod of the
Lutheran ministry in Pennslvania, a general de-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
437
sire was expressed, if possible, to effect a more in-
timate union with all the Synods of our Church in
the United States; which was officially communi-
cated by the officers of their Ministerium to our
secretary, and in private letters from other reverend
sources. This information was then communicated
to ministers of our Synod, and particularly to our
reverend president, and all such who, in the vicin-
ity, could be informed thereof, united in opinion,
that towards a union of our Church in this exten-
sive country all possible assistance ought to be ren-
dered on our part. But as the Synod of Pennsyl-
vania and adjacent States was this year to meet in
Baltimore on Trinity Sunday, and the officers of
their last Synod had invited us to send a deputy
or deputies to the same; the consideration whether
this Synod would send deputies could not be post-
poned to the same day, and for that reason this
meeting was called at this time. And after the
said letters from the reverend secretary, Endress,
of Lancaster, and the reverend president, Loch-
man, were read, this Synod unanimously approved
of our present meeting.
"It was further unanimously agreed that our
reverend president, with the consent of two or
three ordained ministers residing in his vicinity,
is authorized to call a Synod, and to make other
orders and regulations which will not admit of
delay; and which should be valid until the suc-
ceeding meeting of the Synod.7'
This would have all been well enough, if the
matter which claimed their earlier attention had
438
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
been urgent; also if the time of the meeting of
Synod had not been "firmly fixed."
That the question, concerning the establishment
of a General Synod, did not require speedy action
at that time is evident from the fact, that the meet-
ing in Baltimore in 1819 was simply an annual
meeting of the Pennsylvania Synod; where the
question was to be discussed as to the propriety of
organizing a General Synod; it was certainly in-
judicious haste on the part of the North Carolina
Synod to disarrange its own Church affairs, merely
to send a deputy to a meeting of the Pennsylvania Synod; at which meeting no steps could possibly
be taken, except to discuss the question and call
for a convention of delegates from all the Synods.
The North Carolina Synod should have had more
respect for its own legislation at its last meeting,
and let "firmly fixed" remain so, until reconsid-
ered and changed at a regular meeting of Synod.
"After deliberating on the manner how a de-
sirable union of the whole Church might best be
effected, it appeared unnecessary to send more
than one deputy at the beginning of an attempt
towards a union; because if one deputy of each
now existing Synod was elected, they could form
a constitution of our general Church, which would
then be laid before the different Synods for accep-
tance.
"According to this view, our secretary, Gottlieb
Shober, was elected to attend the Synod at Balti-
more, and, in the name of this Synod, endeavor to
effect such a desirable union.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
439
"Resolved) that if he accedes to a constitution for
the purpose of uniting our whole Church, and that
constitution be in accordance with his instructions
received from this Synod, it be adopted by us;
but if such constitution be not in accordance with
his instructions, the same must first be communi-
cated to our next Synod; and only then, if adopted,
can it be binding upon us.
"A committee to form instructions for our
deputy was appointed, namely: the Revs. Robert
Johnson Miller, Jacob Scherer, and Mr. Jonas
Abernathy." The committee afterwards reported,
and the " instructions were considered, paragraph
after paragraph, amended, and then unanimously
approved." These instructions were not published
in the minutes. Rev. Shober attended the meeting
of the Pennsylvania Synod in Baltimore, and
labored with a committee of said Synod in pre-
paring a plan for the organization of a General
Synod; this plan was published for general distri-
bution among all the ministers and delegates of
the several Lutheran Synods in the United States,
a copy of which is found reprinted in the minutes
of the Tennessee Synod of 1820, from which it is
seen that Rev. Shober was the only delegate that
appeared upon the floor of the Pennsylvania Sy uocl
from other Lutheran Synods.
The next step, that was taken for the organiza-
tion of the General Synod, was the convention of
delegates from the several Synods in October,
1820, at Hagerstown, Maryland, at which conven-
tion a constitution was adopted for the government
440
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the future General Synod. At this convention
four Synods were represented, namely: The Penn-
sylvania, the North Carolina, the New York and
the Maryland-Virginia Synod. The Ohio Synod
at first adopted the proposed "Plan" of the Penn-
sylvania Synod, but afterwards reconsidered its
action, and withdrew from the enterprise; the
Tennessee Synod never became connected with
the General Synod. The North Carolina Synod
elected Revs. R. J. Miller, Peter Schmucker and
Mr. John B. Harry as deputies to the convention
at Hagerstown, Maryland.
The first session of the General Synod was held
in October, 1821, in Fredericktown, Maryland.
Delegates present from the North Carolina Synod
were Revs. G. Shober and D. Scherer.
Section IS. TJie First Hupture in the Lutheran
Church in America, and the subsequent forma-
tion of the Tennessee Synod, A.D. 1819 and
mo.
It may be seen from the preceding sections, that
dissensions were beginning to arise in the Lutheran
Church in the Carolinas. This state of things
might have been expected, when ministers from
other denominations, still holding fast to their un-
Lutheran principles, were admitted as members of
the Synod; and when no theological seminary was
established, in which the future ministers might
be trained alike in the doctrines and usages of the
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
441
Lutheran Church. Doctrinal differences were at
first not very apparent, except on the ordination
question; however, it was perceptible, as early as
1816, that everything was tending towards a dis-
ruption, and that only some occasion or circum-
stance was wanting to produce it.
This event was not long delayed, for in the year
1819 the Synod of North Carolina held its sessions
six weeks earlier than the appointed time, which,
with the transactions of that meeting of Synod,
furnished the occasion to rend the Church asunder.
The persons who became the leaders in this
division were Rev. Gottlieb Shober, on the part
of the North Carolina Synod, and Rev. David
Henkel, on the part of the withdrawing party,
that afterwards formed the Tennessee Synod.
Rev. Shober was a man of decided opinions,
unyielding in everything which he considered
right, as may be seen from a sketch of his life in
the Evangelical Review, vol. viii, pp. 412-414;
"with a mind that knew no dissimulation, a lofty
independence, an ardent temper, and a character
decidedly affirmative, he frequently experienced
difficulties, and encountered points other than
pleasant, in his pilgrimage through life, and which
a disposition more pliant could have averted.5'
"The lineaments of his countenance gave indica-
tions of a strong and active mind." "lie was one
of the most active defenders of (the) General
Synod, as he had also been prominent among its
early founders." But Rev. Shober was no Lu-
theran, he was a member of the Moravian Church,
44:2
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
and never disconnected himself from communion
with the same; he lived and died as a member of
that Church. This information the writer received
from his own daughter, the widow of Bishop Herr-
man. He merely served the Lutheran Church in
the capacity of one of its ministers, being the pas-
tor of several neglected Lutheran congregations
in the vicinity of his place of residence, Salem,
C. It may be readily perceived that no com-
promise could be expected on his part, in the
difficulties which distracted the Lutheran Church
at that time.
Firm as was the Rev. G. Shober, he found his
equal, in that respect, in Rev. David Henkel, who,
though a young man then, was equally as decided
and unyielding in his opinions. He was a hard
student and well educated, not only in the German
and English languages, but also in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew and Theology, all of which he had prin-
cipally acquired by private study and close appli-
cation. He was the best informed candidate for
the ministry the North Carolina Synod had at that
time, and wielded even then a considerable influ-
ence in the Church. It is not to be supposed that
he would readily yield his opinions to others, or
permit himself to be led about at the will of even
those who were older than himself, when he be-
lieved his cause to be just. In him the Tennessee
Synod had a champion who could not be easily
overcome. He had a mind that was clear, active
and penetrating; he was quick in discerning an
advantage, and not slow in making use of it.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 443
These characteristics are gathered principally from
his own writings.
The difficulty was at first a personal one, and,
as admitted by the North Carolina Synod (English
minutes of 1820, p. 6)," errors had been committed
on both sidesbut it soon took a wider range; a
strong opposition was created to the formation of
the General Synod, and, in the heat of controversy,
doctrinal differences between the two opposing
parties became manifest, which widened the breach
already existing, and all attempts at reconciliation
during the meeting of the Worth Carolina Synod,
which convened in Lincolnton, 1ST. C, May 28th,
1820, proved unavailing.
On the 17th of July of the same year, Revs.
Jacob Zink, Paul Henkel, Adam Miller, Philip
Henkel and George Easterly, with delegates from
the Tennessee congregations, met in Solomon's
Church, Cove Creek, Green County, Tennessee,
and organized the Tennessee Synod. Rev. David
Henkel could not attend this meeting, but ac-
knowledged himself a member of the new organi-
zation. The separation between the two contend-
ing parties was now fully effected, and both Synods
labored industriously in their own selected spheres
of usefulness; not, however, without considerable
opposition to each other, and the publication of
controversy.
Although divisions in the Church are always to
be dreaded, and, except in cases of doctrinal dif-
ferences, always to be avoided, nevertheless, when
they do occur, they sometimes effect good in vital-
444
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
izing dormant energies, and in re-establishing the
pure faith of the Gospel. Such was the case in
this division; it increased the number of minis-
ters, it provided for the wants of so man}7 neg-
lected congregations, it made ministers and lay-
men all the more energetic, zealous and faithful
in the discharge of their duties, and it resulted
in an enlarged increase in the strength of the
Church.
But God made use of this division in the Church
in accomplishing a special purpose for the welfare
of the Lutheran Church in America:
Firstly, In attracting attention once more to the
pure doctrines of the Lutheran Church, as con-
fessed by the early Reformers, and in awakening
inquiry into those truths, which the symbols of the
Lutheran Church exhibited. So gradual and yet
so sure were the departures from the confessed
faith of the Church, as well as the assimilation to
the teachings and practices of other denomina-
tions, that for a long time it awakened no alarm,
and but a learned few had any idea of what the
faith of the Lutheran Church was; admirers of
Luther there were in abundance, even among
other denominations, but very few knew anything
of the secret which made Luther the conscientious,
fearless and zealous man that he was. Multitudes
admired Luther's energy and labors, but they
knew little of the faith which actuated his labors,
and of the doctrines upon which that faith was
based. Had they known it and experienced it
themselves, more would have been accomplished
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 445
at that time in the Lutheran Church in America,
and divisions would not have occurred; then also
there would have been less manifest desire to unite
all denominations into one Church, but a stronger
desire to advance the interests of that Church, to
which God has given a peculiar field of labor.
Secondly, By means of this division the symbols
of the Lutheran Church were translated into the
English language. This was a want that had long
been felt, but before that time no one possessed
the patience and energy to apply himself to the
task. There was an abundance of anxious desire
manifested by some to make the Lutheran Church
in America an English, as well as a German
Church, but no anxiety manifested itself to an-
glicize the faith of the Lutheran Church, that is,
to translate its confessions and theology into the
English language. All honor then to the Ten-
nessee Synod for undertaking this work, which
has accomplished more in preserving the faith of
our fathers in this country than any similar under-
taking in the English language.
Thirdly, The Lutheran Church in America has
had its publication boards and societies in abun-
dance, which have doubtless accomplished a good
work; but the oldest establishment of the kind is
the one in New Market, Virginia, which dates its
existence as far back, at least, as 1810, for the
minutes of the North Carolina Synod were printed
there at that time. It was established by the
Henkel family, and has continued under their
management to this day; at the time of the divi-
446
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
sion in the Lutheran Church in North Carolina,
it came at once into the service of the Tennessee
Synod, and has issued more truly Lutheran theo-
logical works in an English dress than any similar
institution in the world. We may well say, " What
hath God wrought?" How imperceptible have
been his purposes! How brightly they shine forth
now!
CHAPTER V.
FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TENNESSEE SYNOD
TO THE ESTABLISHMENT 0E THE THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY AT LEXINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, A.D.
1833.
Section 1. A Glimpse into the History of some of the
older Congregations.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Charleston, S. C.—
Nothing contributes more to the prosperity of a
congregation than the voice and presence of a liv-
ing and faithful ministry; the want of an efficient
and useful pastor for the short time of only one
year is of incalculable injury to any church, not
that the building up of a congregation is the work
of man, but that Christ has so ordained, that pas-
tors should watch over and "feed the flock of God."
Disarrange the relationship between pastor and
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
447
people, and no promise is given that a congrega-
tion will be blessed. The voice of a living minis-
try must be heard; the faith of a people is built
up by the preached word and the administered
sacraments.
This was also exemplified in the Lutheran
Church in Charleston. Before the arrival of their
pastor, the Rev. John Bachman, in 1815, the con-
gregation had greatly declined, but from that time
it commenced to improve, and soon enjoyed a high
state of prosperity. Their new pastor possessed
the confidence of his people and of the community
at large, and was peculiarly fitted for the work
intrusted into his hands.
The " small wooden church erected in colonial
times," soon became filled with devout worshipers,
and became too small to accommodate the grow-
ing congregation. "The commanding attain-
ments, and the attractive geniality and social
habits of the new pastor, won so rapidly the ad-
miration and esteem of his good people and the
public, that the erection and dedication of the
present handsome temple became almost at once
a matter of necessity.
"A committee of twenty-one was appointed to in-
quire into the expediency of building a new church,
who reported favorably, and in July, 1815, Mr. F. Wesner's contract for the wood work of the edi-
fice, and Mr. J. F. H. Horlbeck's for the brick
work, were accepted. The new building was
dedicated on Sunday, January 8th, 1818, by the
Rev. John Bachman."
448
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
God blessed the labors of his servant, and made
him a shining light in the Church, laboring in
harmony with his brethren, and accomplishing
much good. A few years after his arrival in
Charleston, Rev. Bachman connected himself by
marriage with the family of a former and greatly beloved pastor of this congregation, the Rev. J.
N". Martin, whose son's daughter became the new
pastor's partner in joy and sorrow, and thus were
the past and present happily linked together, and
all circumstances, together with the pastor's unre-
mitting and appreciated labors, contributed to the
growth and prosperity of the congregation.
St. John's Church, Salisbury, N. C.—In the year
1818, whilst the Episcopalians were worshiping in
this church, they made the proposition to erect a
new frame church, the old log building being
greatly out of repair. The members of the Lu-
theran Church agreed to this proposal, and also
aided in the building of the new house of worship.
However, this arrangement gave rise to serious
difficulties; as soon as the new church was com-
pleted, the question of its dedication arose, and the
Lutherans were fearful that, if the church would
be consecrated by a bishop of the Episcopal
Church, they would forfeit their right and title in
the property. And thus it was, whilst the Lu-
therans claimed the land on which the church
stood, the Episcopalians claimed the building.
Whose then was the church? Who had the right
to worship there? These questions seriously agi-
tated the minds and feelings of both parties; but
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 449
before any very decisive hostile steps were taken,
and in order to effect a compromise, the Lutherans
agreed to purchase the interest in the building to
which the Episcopalians laid claim, gave their
bond in the meantime for the amount agreed
upon, and afterwards raised the funds by sub-
scription to liquidate the debt.
In August, 1822, the President of the North
Carolina Synod, Rev. G. Shober, sent a written
communication to the members of the Lutheran
Church in Salisbury, which was publicly read to
them. It is herewith inserted in order to show
the sad state of this congregation at that time.
"Respected Friends, Members of the Lutheran
Church by Birthright or otherwise:
"Being appointed by the Lutheran Church in
our last Synod, President of the same for one year,
I regard it as being part of my duty during the
recess of the Synod, to have a constant eye towards
the preservation of the same in all its rights, priv-
ileges and possessions, and to encourage the re-
vival of former congregations.
"I am convinced, by the reading of the deed of
conveyance from Mr. Beard, deceased, to our
Church, for a lot of ground, near or in Salisbury,
where the church now stands, that we have an undoubted right for the same; that there was, for
manj^ years, regular service performed by the Rev.
Senior Stork, is well known, and it only abated
38
450
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
on account of his disability to attend. It is my
opinion that we, as a Church, are acting disrespect-
fully to the donor of the lot and to his heirs, who,
by that deed, are expressly charged to protect us
in the right and privileges of the same, and that it
is a dereliction of duty in the members of our
Church not to preserve the lot and burying-ground,
particularly for the interment of the heirs of the
donor, and members of our Church and their de-
scendants, and also from being a general burying-
ground.
"I therefore beg leave to advise you now to
elect elders and trustees, whose duty it is, accord-
ing to law, to preserve the property of the church
as trustees (particularly if the heirs of the donor
decline acting as such), and also to give to them
the necessary authority to regulate all external
things according to the constitution and rules of
our Church.
"I beg leave further to propose that if you agree
to revive a congregation according to our rules,
by appointing elders and trustees, to appoint a
time when the church can be dedicated by our
ministry and according to our form of worship,
when two or three ministers of our Church will
attend for that purpose; other preachers may also
be invited to attend and to preach the word, all
for the purpose of causing a revival of true religion
for our department of the Church of Christ, by
whose Spirit alone it can through the word be
effected. But it is to be observed that only such
Lutheran ministers as are in union with our
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 451
Synod, and such who bring and show credentials
of being duly appointed in other States, can be
admitted. The standing of each minister must
be inquired into by the elders, who have the power
to admit or refuse.
"In expectation that the Lord will bless your
exertions for the revival of the congregation of
the Lutheran Church,
"I remain, your humble servant,
"G. Shober."
This communication, sent by Rev. Shober to
the remaining Lutherans of Salisbury, had the
desired effect of once more rousing and encourag-
ing them to action. On the 20th of September,
1822, the following articles, drawn up by Hon.
Charles Fisher, member of Congress, for the pur-
pose of reorganizing the old Lutheran congrega-
tion, were sent around to the citizens of Salisbury
for their signature:
"Salisbury Lutheran Church.
"We, the subscribers, believing that the cause
of religion will be promoted by re-establishing the
Lutheran congregation which formerly existed in
the town of Salisbury, and believing, moreover,
that it is a sacred duty we owe to the memories of
our fathers and predecessors no longer to suffer
the church and the graveyard where their bodies
are at rest to lie in neglect and disregard, do
hereby agree to unite our names and efforts to
452
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the purpose of reviving the congregation, keeping
the graveyard in decent order, and for other pur-
poses properly connected with a work of the kind.
We further agree to meet at the church on such
day as may be fixed upon for the purpose of con-
sulting together upon such subjects as may be con-
nected with the establishment and prosperity of
the congregation.
"Dated and signed by
John Beard, Sr., John H. Swink,
Charles Fisher, Bernhardt Kreiter,
Daniel Cress, Lewis Utzmann,
Peter Crider, H. Allemong,
John Trexler, M. Bruner,
John Beard, Jr., John Allbright,
Peter H. Swink, Henry Swinkwag."
Moses Brown,
Through the efforts of Mr. John Beard, Sr.,
the devoted friend and firm member of the Lu-
theran Church at that time, funds were collected
for the purpose of inclosing the graveyard, which
had long been neglected.
For some time no regular pastor could be ob-
tained, and the energies of the members again lay
dormant until the year 1825, when brighter pros-
pects dawned upon this neglected congregation,
and once more revived the hopes of its members.
A meeting of a respectable number of the citizens
of Salisbury and its vicinity was held in the church
on the 3d of September, 1825, for the purpose of
adopting measures to reorganize a Lutheran con-
gregation; John Beard, Sr., was called to the chair,
and Charles Fisher appointed Secretary.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
453
"After due deliberation as to the best method
of accomplishing the object of the meeting, it was
unanimously resolved, that a committee of two per-
sons be appointed to draft an instrument of writ-
ing, and offer the same for the signature of such
persons in the town of Salisbury and its vicinity
as are disposed to aid in the formation of a Lu-
theran congregation in this place, either by becom-
ing members of said congregation, or supporters
thereof. Messrs. John Beard and James Brown
were accordingly appointed to compose said com-
mittee.
"It was further resolved, that a committee, con-
sisting of George Vogler and Robert Mull, be and
are hereby appointed to offer a subscription list to
the good people of Salisbury and vicinity for the
support of a Lutheran clergyman for preaching
part of his time for one year in the town of Salis-
bury. The meeting then adjourned to meet again
the following Monday.
"Charles Fisher,
'1 Secretary.
"At a subsequent meeting George Vogler was
appointed treasurer, and Henry C. Kern recording
secretary of this society. It was also resolved that
a Bible be purchased and deposited in the church,
to be the property of the same forever. The
church council elected at this meeting were:
Elders: Messrs. John Beard, Sr., George Vogler,
Moses Brown. Deacons: Messrs. Nathan Brown,
George Fraley, and Henry C. Kern."
454
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
In the year 1826, the Rev. John Reck, having
received and accepted the call tendered him, be-
came the pastor of this church; the number of
communicants at that time was but fourteen,
which, however, steadily increased under the faith-
ful ministrations of their pastor, who was greatly
beloved by the people, and through his zeal and
energy accomplished much for his Master's king-
dom.
The condition of this church under Rev. Reek's
ministry in 1827 is stated in the minutes of the
North Carolina Synod, as follows: "In Salisbury,
where eighteen months ago there was no regularly
organized Lutheran congregation, there are now
thirty members in full communion; and by the
active measures of several respectable persons, a
large and commodious church has been purchased,
and a subscription raised to pay for it. In this
place a lecture meeting is held once a week, which
is generally well attended, and not unfrequently
the utmost solemnity pervades the audience. The
people are liberal and attentive to the cause of be-
nevolence, and assist in supporting Bible, mission-
ary, and other religious societies."
Thus might this church have been greatly in-
creased in strength, energy, and usefulness, but
Rev. J. Reck, after having been its pastor for five
years, felt it his duty to resign and return to Mary-
land, and after this time the congregation had
such a continued and rapid succession of minis-
ters, besides having been at times also unsupplied
with the stated means of grace, as to be unable
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
455
to command the influence which the regular
ministrations of a permanent pastor might have
given it.
St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, N. C.—In the
last account of this church, it was seen that the
Rev. C. A. G. Stork was the pastor of this congre-
gation, but his health having become too feeble to
attend to the wants of so many churches, he intro-
duced the Rev. Daniel Scherer as his successor.
During a communion season in the spring of 1821,
when a large class of catechumens, numbering
seventy-seven persons, were confirmed, their aged
pastor being present, but too feeble to stand dur-
ing the ceremony, called all his catechumens to
him, and gave them and the other members and
friends of the church his last farewell. So affect-
ing was the scene, that the whole of that vast as-
sembly were moved to tears, and long has the
serious lesson been remembered, which their aged
pastor addressed to them at that time, whilst he
held out his hand to each, and gave them his part-
ing blessing.
Rev. Daniel Scherer proved himself to have been
likewise a faithful pastor. He was much beloved
by his people, and remained nearly ten years among
them; however, during his ministry and for some
time previous, a large number of persons from St.
John's and other Lutheran churches in North
Carolina settled themselves in Illinois Territory, and their pastor's heart followed them to the wild
prairies of their newly-adopted country, and he
soon cast his lot among them, and labored there
for their spiritual good.
456
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Organ Church, Rowan County, North Carolina.—
As Rev. Stork was the pastor of this congrega-
tion as well as that of St. John's, it had much the
same history at this time. Rev. Daniel Scherer
also became his successor here some two years
afterwards. Thirty-five years did Rev. Stork
labor in this church, and with great success. It
was the first congregation he served, and the last
he resigned. He lived in favor with God and
man; his example and usefulness are still felt,
and his memory is cherished with affection by all
who knew him. During this period he baptized
1500 children, and confirmed 1300 young people
in Organ Church alone, and probably as many
more in the other churches under his charge.
At length the feeble state of his health com-
pelled him to resign this church also in 1823.
His successor labored here likewise with much suc-
cess, and had at one time probably the largest
class of catechumens, numbering 83 persons, that
were confirmed in this church, during a session of
the North Carolina Synod at this place, in which
ceremony their aged pastor took the deepest in-
terest.
Rev. Scherer labored but six years in this con-
gregation. As he had the oversight of so many churches, he thought it advisable to resign some
portion of his charge into the hands of another
minister, in order to do justice to the cause of
Christ, and Rev. Jacob Kaempfer became his suc-
cessor in 1829.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
457
Section 2. Fraternal Union of the North Carolina
Synod with the Protestant Episcopal Convention
of North Carolina.
The first step taken in this direction was Rev.
Robert J. Miller's attendance upon the Episcopal
Convention held in Raleigh, April 28th, 1821.
His object was to connect himself fully with the
Episcopal Church, to which he really belonged,
having been ordained by the Lutheran ministers
of North Carolina in 1794 as an Episcopal min-
ister, and was the pastor of an Episcopal congre-
gation, White Haven Church, in Lincoln County,
but because there was no Episcopal diocese at that
time in the State, he was admitted as a member
of the Lutheran North. Carolina Synod at its or-
ganization in 1803.
From the journal of the Episcopal North Caro-
lina Convention of 1818, the following item of in-
telligence is taken: "Previously to November,
1816, there was no Episcopal clergyman in this
State, and but one congregation in which the
worship of our Church was performed." That
having been the condition of the Episcopal Church
at that period, Rev. Miller felt it his duty to form
a temporary connection with the Lutheran Church,
and continued to labor for her welfare twenty-
seven years, when in 1821 he severed that con-
nection, and was ordained in Raleigh to deacon's
and priest's orders in the Episcopal ministry in
one day. Whilst in attendance at said Conven39
458
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tion, Rev. Miller proposed to effect, "as far as
practicable, intercourse and union between the
Episcopalians and some of the Lutheran congre-
gations." His proposition was referred to the
Committee on the State of the Church, who after-
wards reported as follows:
"A very interesting communication has this
session been laid before the committee, on the
subject of a union between that truly respectable
denomination, the Lutherans, and our Church.
To carry this measure into effect, the committee
propose the following resolution:
"Resolved, That a committee, consisting of three
persons, two clerical and one lay member, be ap-
pointed to meet the Synod of the Lutheran Church,
to consider and agree upon such terms of union
as may tend to the mutual advantage and welfare
of both Churches, not inconsistent with the con-
stitution and canons of this Church, or the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church in the United States.
"The Convention then proceeded to take into
consideration the resolution proposed by the com-
mittee, when it was adopted, and the Rev. Adam
Empie, Rev. G. T. Bedell, and Duncan Cameron,
Esq., were appointed a committee to attend the
Lutheran Synod, and to carry the resolution into
effect."
On the 17th of June, 1821, the Lutheran North
Carolina Synod met in Lau's Church, Guilford
County, and from its minutes the following is
quoted:
"The President now reported that the Rev. R.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 459
J. Miller, who had labored for many years as one
of our ministers, had been ordained by the Bishop
of the Episcopal Church as a priest at a conven-
tion of that Church. That he had always regarded
himself as belonging to that Church, but because
the Episcopal Church had no existence at that
time in this State, he had himself ordained by
our ministry, with the understanding that he still
belonged to the Episcopal Church. But as the
said Church had now reorganized itself (in this
State), he had united himself with it, and thus
disconnected himself from our Synod, as was
allowed him at his ordination by our ministers.
Rev. Miller then made a short address before
Synod and the congregation then assembled, in
which he distinctly explained his position, so that
no one should be able to say that he had aposta-
tized from our Synod, since he had been ordained
by our Ministerium as a minister of the Episcopal
Church. He then promised that he would still
aid and stand by us as much and as far as lay in
his power.
"With this explanation the whole matter was
well understood by the entire assembly, and was
deemed perfectly satisfactory. Whereupon it was
resolved that the president tend to Rev. Miller
our sincere thanks, in the name of the Synod, for
the faithful services he had hitherto rendered our
Church. This was immediately done in a feeling
manner.
"After this a letter was read from Rev. Bishop
Moore, addressed to our Synod, in which he re-
460
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ported to us, that a committee was appointed by
their Convention to attend our Synod, with the
view of making an effort towards a more intimate
union between our respective bodies, whereupon
the members of that committee presented them-
selves, and submitted their credentials. Their
names are, Ilevs. Adam Empie, G. T. Bedell, and
Duncan Cameron, Esq. They were all affection-
ately received, and the following committee was
appointed by our Synod to confer with our visit-
ing brethren what possibly might be done towards
a more intimate union, namely: Revs. G. Shober,
Michael Rauch, and Henry Ratz, Esq." The
next day the following report was submitted and
adopted:
"The committee of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of North Carolina, and the committee on
the part of the Lutheran Synod of North Caro-
lina and adjacent States, having conferred on the
subject of their respective appointments, have
agreed on the following articles:
"L Resolved, That we deem it expedient and
desirable that the Lutheran Synod and the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church of North Carolina should
be united together in the closest bonds of friend-
ship.
"II. Resolved, That for this purpose we will
mutually make such concessions as may not be
inconsistent with the rules and regulations of our
respective Churches, for the purpose of promoting
a friendly intercourse."III. Resolved, That the Convention of the Prot-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 461
estant Episcopal Church may send a delegation of
one or more persons to the annual Synod of the
Lutheran Church, which person or persons shall
be entitled to an honorary seat in that body, and
to the privilege of expressing their opinions and
voting in all cases except when a division is called
for; in which case they shall not vote.
"IV. Resolved, That the Lutheran Synod may,
in like manner, send a deputation to the Conven-
tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, who in
all respects shall be entitled to the same privileges.
"V. Resolved, That all the ministers of the Luth-
eran Church in union with the Synod shall be en-
titled to honorary seats in the Convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church; and the clergymen
of the said last-mentioned Church shall, in like
manner, be entitled to honorary seats in the Synod
of the Lutheran Church.
"The committee respectfully recommend to the
Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and to the Synod of the Lutheran Church the
adoption of the foregoing resolutions.
"G-. Shober,
"Michael Rauch,
"Henry Eatz,
"Committee of the Lutheran Synod.
"A. Empie,"Duncan Cameron,
"Committee of the Protestant Episcopal Church.*'
The report was adopted by Synod, and the fol-
lowing persons were elected to attend the next
462
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Convention of the Episcopal Church: Revs. G.
Shober, Jacob Scherer, and Henry Ratz, Esq.
At the next Convention of the Episcopal Church,
held in Raleigh, April 18th, 1822, the following
action was taken in reference to this matter.
"The Rt. Rev. President of the Convention then
read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Shober on the same
subject, after which it was moved that the report
be received, which was unanimously agreed to;
it was then
"Hesolved, that the Secretary be required to ad-
dress a letter to the President of the Lutheran
Synod, informing him of the unanimous adoption
of the above report.
"The following delegation to the Lutheran
Synod was then appointed: Rev. Messrs. Miller,
Davis, and Wright, of the clergy; Messrs. Alex-
ander Caldcleugh, Duncan Cameron, and Dr. F.
J. Hill, of the laity."
At the next meeting of the North Carolina
Synod, three of the above delegation, "the Rev.
R. J. Miller, the Rev. R. Davis, and Alexander
Caldcleugh, Esq., appeared, were welcomed, and
took their seats with us.
"On information that the Protestant Episcopal
Church will hold their next annual Convention for
North Carolina in Salisbury, on the second Thurs-
day after Easter, in the year 1823, the following
persons were elected to attend the same, and there
represent the Synod, namely: the Rev. G. Shober,
the Rev. Daniel Scherer, General Paul Barringer,
and Colonel Ratz." All ofythese delegates ap-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
463
peared at said Convention and attended its
sessions.
After the year 1823 nothing more appears con-
cerning the fraternal relations of these two eccle-
siastical bodies, although this "bond of friend-
ship" does not appear to have been revoked,
nevertheless, the interchange of delegates, being
attended with some difficulty in those days of
traveling by private conveyance, fell practically
into disuse.
Section 3. Rev. John Bachnan's labors in Savannah
and Ebenezer, Georgia.
Although a sketch of the Lutheran Church in
the State of Georgia does not strictly belong to
the history of the same Church in the Carolinas,
nevertheless, as one of the Lutheran ministers ot
South Carolina visited Georgia, with the view of
reorganizing and infusing new life into several
long-established Lutheran congregations of that
State, it is but proper that an account of his effi-
cient labors in this direction should not be passed
by unnoticed.
Rev. Bachman having been informed that at
one time two Lutheran congregations had been
established in Georgia, at Ebenezer and Savannah,
by the Salzburgers, who commenced emigrating
to Georgia in 1733, and arrived there in March,
1734, he felt a desire to become more intimately
acquainted with the condition of those churches.
464
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
During one of the winter months of 1823-4, Rev.
Bachman journeyed to Savannah "as a pioneer
in our holy cause," and discovered thataLutheran
church had been erected in that city some time
before the Revolutionary War, but that it was
burnt down in 1797. The congregation in Charles-
ton, S. C, had contributed $500 towards rebuild-
ing it, but nothing was done towards keeping up
the congregation; it had no pastor, and became
gradually disorganized; the small building, erected
as a Lutheran church, " was occupied as a Sunday-
school by another denomination/' "and had been
sequestered for many years." The prospects were
certainly not bright, and a few more years of neg-
lect would have extinguished the name of Lu-
theranism in Savannah. Rev. Bachman's visit was not one moment too soon; by means of his well-
directed and energetic labors "a congregation
was organized from the materials which could be
collected," and, " about a month after this event,"
Rev. S. A. Mealy "came to reside in Savannah," as the pastor of that congregation. He was "a
clergyman who had been raised up in" the Lu-
theran Church in Charleston, and received his
theological training from Rev. Bachman, whom
he acknowledged as his "spiritual father." From
that time forward the Lutheran congregation in
Savannah commenced to prosper, under the effi-
cient labors of a succession of pastors, two of whom,
Revs. Mealy and Karn, have been called to their
rest.
Rev. Bachman having completed his labors in
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
465
Savannah, now also "determined to extend his
visit toEbenezer," for he had learned that, though
a Lutheran congregation still existed in that place,
its "aged pastor was fast sinking into the grave."
This pastor was "the Rev. John E. Bergman, a
native of Germany, and the learned and exemplary
minister of this church for the long period of
thirty-six years." He had a son, who had devoted
himself to the work of the Gospel ministry, named
Rev. Christopher F. Bergman, " who had received
a classical education, and had carefully attended
to his theological studies, under the care of his re-
vered and excellent parent, and was well qualified
for the ministry;" but not being "aware that Lu-
theranism had any existence in the South," he had
taken "license to preach the Gospel under the
auspices of the Presbyterian Church."
"This was the source of the most unfeigned
regret, both to his father and his father's congre-
gation. The latter was fully aware, that from the
increasing age and infirmities of their venerable
and esteemed pastor, they would soon have to
resign him to the grave, and their eyes were
directed without hesitation to the son as his suc-
cessor. This wish was extremely natural. The
son had been educated for the ministry, and was
possessed of the most exemplary piety; and hav-
ing been born and raised in their neighborhood,
and under their own immediate eye, he would be
as a son to the aged, and a brother to the younger
parishioners. This fondly cherished hope, how-
ever, was nearly crushed, when an event of Provi-
466
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
deuce occurred, which brightened the scene around
them."
This event was the opportune arrival of Rev.
John Bachman on a visit to Ebenezer. His dis-
cerning mind soon penetrated the difficulty under
which the younger Bergman labored, and "was
made the instrument, in the hands of God, of
giving a new direction to Rev. C. F. Bergman's
theological views, of securing his belief in the
doctrines, and his attachment to the institutions
of our beloved Church, and of cheering the last
hours of a venerable servant of Jesus Christ."
Too much cannot be said in praise of Rev.
Bachman's judicious labors in Ebenezer. The
elder Bergman had probably not seen the face of
a Lutheran minister for a number of years; how
it must have brightened his last hours of life to
have Rev. Bachman standing at his bedside ere
he departed this life, and to welcome him as God's
instrument in leading his son back to the Church
of his fathers. He could now die in peace, for his
eyes had seen what he no longer expected to see
on earth. And what a blessing was this visit to
the Ebenezer congregation also; it was not only
saved to the Lutheran Church, but it was also
provided with a Lutheran pastor, and he the one
whom the members preferred above all others.
It is necessary yet to add, that the Rev. C. F.
Bergman attended the meeting of the newly organ-
ized Synod of South Carolina, held in St. John's
Church,Lexington District, November 18th, 1824,
where he "was solemnly ordained to the Gospel
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
467
ministry by the Rev. Messrs. Bachman, Hersher,
and Dreher." 0
All these items of intelligence, concerning Rev.
Bachman's labors in Georgia, have been mainly
derived from Rev. Mealy's "Funeral Sermon
occasioned by the death of Rev. C. F. Bergman,"
published in Savannah, A.D. 1832.
Section 4. Organization of the Lutheran Synod of
South Carolina, A.D. 18L2Jf,.
The time had now arrived, when the number of
ministers made it possible, and the wants of the
Church made it necessary, to organize a Lutheran
Synod in South Carolina; accordingly, "on the
14th day of January, 1824, the following clergy-
men of the Evangelical Lutheran Church met at
St. Michael's Church, Lexington District, S. C,
with the intention of organizing a Synod for South
Carolina and adjacent States, namely: Revs. John
P. Franklow, John Y. Meetze, Godfrey Dreher,
Michael Rauch, Jacob Moser, all residing in Lex-
ington District, and Rev. Samuel Hersher from
Orangeburg District, S. C."
These ministers were members of the North
Carolina Synod; those residing in Lexington Dis-
trict have already been introduced to the reader.
The Rev. Samuel Hersher had become connected
with that Synod only since 1822; he was a student
of Rev. Mr. Meierhoffer, of Rockingham County,
Virginia, and recommended by him as worthy to
468
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
become a member of Synod. He was accordingly
examined, licensed, and sent by the North Caro-
lina Synod to labor in the vacant congregations of
Orangeburg District, S. C.
After due consideration, the ministers present
unanimously resolved, "that the situation and
wants of the Evangelical Lutheran churches in
* South Carolina' require that a Synod be now
organized."
"Rev. G. Dreher was then elected President, and
Rev. S. Hersher, Secretary. The first item of
business was the ordination of Rev. S. Hersher.
Five lay delegates now handed in their certificates,
and were admitted as members of Synod.
Rev. John C. A. Schonberg, a licentiate of the
Pennsylvania Synod, presented his license with
the request to have it renewed, which was accord-
ingly done on the next day.
"On motion, it was resolved, that the Augsburg
Confession of Faith be the point of union in our
Church.
"It was resolved, that the Revs. G. Dreher, S.
Hersher, and M. Rauch be nominated a committee,
for the purpose of entering into a friendly corres-
pondence with the North Carolina Synod."
On the 18th of November of the same year, the
South Carolina Synod met at St. John's Church,
Lexington District, at which meeting eight Lu-
theran ministers were present, and two, Revs.
Franklow and Mealy, were absent. Revs. Bach-
man, Bergman, and Mealy were added to the list
of members of Synod, and nine lay delegates were
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 469
admitted as representatives from the various con-
gregations.
It was reported to Synod that Rev. Jacob Moser
had been ordained by the committee appointed by
Synod, on the 4th of April; and that on the 20th
of May, Revs. Dreher, Franklow, and Hersher had
ordained the Rev. Stephen A. Mealy. Rev. C. F.
Bergman was ordained at this meeting of Synod.
The New York English Lutheran Hymn book was
recommended to be introduced by the ministers
into their churches.
The most interesting item of information, con-
tained in the minutes of that synodical meeting, is
the report of the committee on the u State of
the Church," which is as follows:
"There are in the State of South Carolina
twenty-four Evangelical Lutheran churches, and
in the State of Georgia, two. Of those in South
Carolina, one is in Charleston, under the care of
Rev. J. Bachman, having 275 communicants.
Three under the care of Rev. S. Hersher, having
380 members. Six under the care of Revs. J. Y.
Meetze, J. P. Franklow, and G. Dreher, having
260 members. Four under the care of Rev. M.
Rauch, having 380 members. Four under the
care of Rev. J. Moser, having 136 members.
"Of those in the State of Georgia, one is in
Savannah, under the care of Rev. S. A. Mealy,
having 35 families. One at Ebenezer, under the
care of Rev. C. F. Bergman, having 130 members.
Six churches are vacant in South Carolina, and
two or more congregations might be formed in the
470
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
State, if Lutheran clergymen could be obtained.
The number of communicants in our churches has
considerably increased, and that, on the whole,
there are some flattering prospects in our Church." The committee lamented " that whilst the har-
vest is plenteous, the laborers are few."
Section 5. Removals to the West, and Missionary
Labors of the North Carolina Synod in Illinois
and other States.
Allusion has already been made to the vast emi-
gration from the State of North Carolina to other
new States and Territories. This drain upon the
strength of the Lutheran Church in North Caro-
lina continued for many successive years; colo-
nies from St. John's Church, Cabarrus County,
and from the neighboring congregations, may be
found in most of the Northwestern States, as well
as in Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas. By
means of this extensive colonizing in new coun-
tries, the labors and influence of the early pastors
in North Carolina are felt over a much greater
extent of country than what is included in the
boundaries of the congregations they served.
For a long time those Western colonies were
destitute of the means of grace; they naturally
looked to the Synod of North Carolina, under
whose fostering care they had been brought up in
the Church of their fathers, to be supplied with
pastors.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
471
At a meeting of the Synod in 1825 an urgent
call came from Union County, Illinois, signed by
forty-three persons, for a pastor or missionary who
would be able to preach in the German and Eng-
lish languages, establish schools, and labor for the
welfare of the Church. They furthermore de-
clared, that if their spiritual wants be not soon sup-
plied, the consequences to them and their children
would be very injurious.
The letter was read in open Synod, and the
Secretary was required to write to those congre-
gations in Illinois. Rev. Wra. Jenkins was then
requested to visit those people, and a resolution
was passed to send a letter to Rev. Samuel
Schmucker, beseeching him, if it be possible, to
have a missionary sent to that State.
In the minutes of the Synod of 1827, the Com-
mittee on Letters and Petitions presented the fol-
lowing:
"No. 11 contains a petition from three congre-
gations in Union County, Illinois, in which they
give a mournful description of their destitute con-
dition; pray that they may be visited by the Rev.
Jacob Scherer, and, if he cannot comply with this
their request, that the Synod would send them
another, and promise to give him an adequate sup-
port. Your committee would recommend these
congregations to the particular notice of this
Synod, for if they are not soon supplied with a
minister, they will be dispersed/'
Whereupon it was
"Resolved, That, as it is impracticable for the
472
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rev. J. Scherer to visit those petitioning congrega-
tions in Illinois, the Rev. John C. A. Schonberg
visit them immediately, and, if practicable, to
locate among them; and that he receive ten dol-
lars out of the synodical treasury to defray the
necessary traveling expenses to Illinois."
The Rev. Mr. Schonberg accepted this appoint-
ment of Synod, and moved to Illinois in 1827, and
thus the North Carolina Synod has the honor of
sending the pioneer missionary of the Lutheran
Church to that State. Rev. Schonberg labored
there for several years, and continued his connec-
tion with the North Carolina Synod, when, in
1829, he wrote a letter to Synod, stating "that in
consequence of indisposition he has been necessi-
tated to resign his churches in Illinois."
About the close of the year 1831, the Rev.
Daniel Scherer, the successor of Rev. Storch as
pastor of St. John's Church, Cabarrus County,
N. C, felt it to be his duty to remove to Illinois,
and succeeded Rev. Schonberg as pastor of the
Lutheran congregations in Union County, Illinois.
In 1833 he wrote a letter to Synod, "containing
the pleasing information of his success in forming
a congregation in Hillsboro, Illinois, consisting of
thirty-five communing members."
Professor Haverstick, of Philadelphia, who vis-
ited Rev. D. Scherer and his congregations in
1835, during his exploring missionary tour in the
West, having been sent by the Pennsylvania
Synod, speaks of the untiring labors of Rev,
Scherer in the most exalted terms, mentions that
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 473
be frequently travels 150 miles from home on
horseback, in order to minister to the spiritual
wants of such colonies as are not included in his
own immediate charge, and this of necessity, in-
asmuch as he was the only resident Lutheran min-
ister at that time in the entire State of Illinois.
Rev. Scherer labored faithfully in that State to
the close of his life, April 4th, 1852, and may
justly be considered the father of the Lutheran
Church in Illinois.
Rev. AVm. Jenkins, who became connected with
the North Carolina Synod in 1824, upon the rec-
ommendation of Rev. D. F. Schaifer, President
of the Maryland Synod, was sent the following
September to the State of Tennessee, and labored
in the Lutheran congregations at Duck River,
"where he was received with joy, and kindly
treated." He formed additional congregations in
Franklin and Lincoln Counties, and reports hav-
ing found a large settlement of Lutherans at Fau-
gunder Creek, near Jackson, who were anxious
to obtain a pastor. He further states: "Since-
last Synod I have traveled 3000 miles on horse-
back, preached 175 times, baptized 84 children
and 14 adults, admitted to church membership
34 persons, and had 8 funerals." All these con-
gregations were admitted under the care of the
North Carolina Synod in 1825, and Rev. Wm.
Jenkins was acknowledged as their pastor, having
located himself in Bedford County, Tennessee,
serving ten congregations, where he was still
laboring as a member of the North Carolina Synod
40
474
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
as late as 1835, when he connected himself with
some other Synod, but did not remove from Ten-
nessee until 1854, when he became the pastor ot
the Lovettsville charge, in Loudon County, Virginia.
Shortly after the year 1811, when Rev. R. J. Mil-
ler was first sent on an exploring missionary tour
through the State of Virginia, all those Lutheran
congregations, situated in the southwestern part
of Virginia, with their pastors, connected them-
selves, with but few exceptions, with the North
Carolina Synod; so intimately were those churches
united with that Synod, that five of its annual
sessions were held in the State of Virginia.
Much missionary labor was devoted to that field
and with good results. Originally this territory
was connected with the Pennsylvania Synod, and
the Rev. Mr. Flohr was the first regular minister
who labored there, but its contiguity to North
Carolina brought it under the influence of the
Synod of that State, which arrangement was con-
tinued until the year 1842, when the Synod ot
Western Virginia was formed.
Section 6. Rapid Progress of the South Carolina
Synod, and the Missionary Labors of Revs.
Scheek, Schwartz, and W. D. StrobeL
As soon as the South Carolina Synod was organ-
ized it commenced to increase, and its influence was
extended rapidly; all the strength of the Lutheran
IN NOETH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 475
Church in that State and Georgia became concen-
trated, and the affairs of Synod were managed
with wisdom and prudence. A desire was mani-
fested at once to labor earnestly and faithfully for
the welfare of the Church, and everywhere success
attended the efforts of its ministers.
However, as there were still many vacant con-
gregations in the bounds of Synod, at its second session, in 1825, it was—
"Resolved, That the Secretary of this Synod be
requested to write to the different Northern
Synods, and endeavor to ascertain whether it may
not be practicable to obtain well-educated Lu-
theran ministers to supply our vacant churches,
or to labor as missionaries within the bounds of
this Synod.5'
This appeal was not made in vain. The next year
the Rev. C. B. Wessells, a licentiate from the State
of New York, commenced his labors in South Caro-
lina. He opened a school at Leesville, Lexington
District, and preached occasionally; but "he soon
gave evidence of mental derangement," and re-
turned to the North. In 1827, the Rev. John D.
Scheck arrived from Maryland, and labored as the
first missionary in the bounds of the Synod.
From Rev. Bachman's congregation in Charles-
ton, three useful and well-educated young men
entered the ministerial ranks, the Revs. S. A.
Mealy, J. G. Schwartz and W. D. Strobel, and
from the interior congregations the Synod received
three additional ministers in the Revs, J. Wiu^ard,
476
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
J. C. Hope and Daniel Dreher. In this manner
was the Synod greatly increased.
The Rev. J. D. Scheck was employed by Synod
to make a missionary tour through the State for
the purpose of organizing new congregations, and
also to visit the vacant churches as much as possi-
ble. He commenced his labors June 2d, 1827,
and the following extract from his journal was
presented by the committee:
"He labored one week at Amelia, preaching
every day: he represents those people as being
wealthy and respectable, and possessing the largest
church of any denomination in this part of the
country. After having preached at Sandy Run
and at Nazareth Churches, he labored at Lexing-
ton Court-house. Near North Edisto River he
found a number of Lutherans who are very desti-
tute of spiritual privileges, and have not heard a
sermon from any of our ministers for three years,
yet none have left our Church, though solicited to
do so. They are now building a house of worship.
"Mr. Scheck also visited Edgefield, where he
found many of our people who have not been
visited for many years by any of our ministers.
He represents their condition as truly deplorable,
but says that they are now building a church, and
expect to hear preaching from some of our ministers.
Sunday, July 1st, he preached in Long Church,
where also the people were very desirous of ob-
taining a Lutheran minister. On Monday, at
Wise's school-house (Newberry); here he found
the people very destitute; but there are many
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 477
persons who would be members of our Church
immediately, if supplied with preaching. They
are both able and willing to build a place of wor-
ship and support a minister.
"On Thursday, Mr. S. preached in the settle-
ments of G. Egner to fine congregations, who hear
the word but once in three weeks from any de-
nomination. Many of our people here are wealthy,
and desirous of obtaining a minister among them.
They have already commenced the building of a
church. On the 15th and 17th he preached in the
two churches in Barnwell District, both of which
are in a destitute condition, and have been so for
five years. Some of the people have united them-
selves to other societies; they have resolved to
bring their destitute situation to our view, and
request us to send our ministers to preach to them
occasionally.
"The neighborhood of Myers, Rhinehardt's,
Wise's, Peterbaugh and Egner's are entirely des-
titute of the means of grace, and are loudly call-
ing upon us in the words of the man of Macedonia,
Come over and help us."
February 11th, 1828, the Rev. J. G. Schwartz
was employed as a missionary, and the following
interesting items are taken from his report:
"I first visited a few Lutherans east of Broad
River, in the upper part of Richland District, who
occasionally hear preaching from the Rev. Mr.
Dreher. The people of this neighborhood are
principally descendants of members of our Church.
From this I passed over into Newberry, and
478
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
preached twice in Mount Pleasant Church, owned
in part by Lutherans. There is here a fine con-
gregation, and the people appear favorably disposed
towards our Church. A neat and commodious
building was about to be erected for the exclusive
use of Mr. Scheck. He can preach there, how-
ever, but once a month.
"From this I passed into Spartanburg, and
preached at the residence of a member of our
Church; the house was full, and the people re-
markably attentive. Some of the Lutherans here
have attached themselves to other denominations,
in consequence of the absence of their own. Six
miles beyond the village I preached at the resi-
dence of a gentleman who had been brought up
to the Lutheran Church. He informed me of
several families who, from similar circumstances
with himself, had connected themselves with
other societies. I next preached at Spartanburg
Court-house, where also there is a great call for
regular preaching. The day after, I preached at
the house of a Lutheran family below the village.
"On Good Friday I preached at Sandy Run
Church. This place is common as a house of
worship to Lutherans, Baptists and Methodists.
Rev. Mr. Wingard has the care of the Lutherans,
and ministers to them once a month. I subse-
quently passed through Chester, York, Lancaster,
Chesterfield, Darlington, Sumter and Orange-
burg, and preached wherever I had an opportu-
nity. From all that has come to my knowledge,
I have no hesitation in saying, that twelve or four-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
479
teen Lutheran ministers could find abundant em-
ployment in this State. Descendants of Germans
are to be found in almost every part of the coun-
try, and here I might deplore that prejudice which
has so fatally operated, and in some places does
still operate upon the minds of those who con-
tinue to minister to their people in the German
language. I know it has been in part a matter
of necessity; but had those who removed from
Germany to this country endeavored to introduce
the language of their adopted country, our Church
might now, in all probability, nearly be equal to
the united churches of other denominations."
During the greater part of the year 1830, the
Rev. W. D. Strobel was engaged as a missionary,
and his labors were blessed wtth practical results.
Several important congregations were organized,
and the vacant churches greatly revived and
strengthened. He reports as follows:
"Immediately after receiving my appointment
in Savannah, I made it my business to visit the
congregations designated for my care in the min-
utes of the Synod, to wit: St. Nicholas, St. Bar-
tholomew's, and Erwin's, at the Saltketchers;
Mount Calvary in Edgefield; Brandenburg's, in
Orangeburg. In addition to these, I took under
my care Nazareth, Lexington Court-house, Piatt
Springs, all in Lexington District. In all these
stations I have kept up regular appointments
during the year, with the exception of Erwin's,
where I considered, after preaching some time,
that there was no prospect of success.
430
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"I have encouraged the congregations to meet
at their churches on the Lord's day, and have en-
gaged their elders in reading sermons and other
religious exercises. During the year we have suc-
ceeded in building a church at Brandenburg's, to
be known by the name of Shiloh. A large church
is in a state of forwardness at Lexington Court-
house, and that at Nazareth will soon be com-
pleted. From the vicinity of so many members
of our Church, we expect that Lexington Court-
house will become one of the most important
stations."
The above reports from Revs. Scheck, Schwartz
and Strobel have been very much abbreviated,
and only that much as has reference to the history
of the Church has been given as literally as pos-
sible.
Section 7. Death of Rev. Charles A. G. Storch, in
1881, and arrival of other Lutheran Ministers
in North Carolina.
It is, as a matter of course, not expected to give
a lengthy obituary notice of every departed Lu-
theran minister who labored in North or South
Carolina, but when such a prominent servant of
God as the Rev. Charles Augustus Gottlieb Storch
is called by death to his long rest, it creates a void
that is not soon filled, and a wound so deep, how-
ever long the event may be expected, which is not
healed in a short period of time. The last link
which bound the past with the present in the es-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
481
tablishment of Lutheranism in North Carolina was
now broken, and Rev. Storch descended to his
grave sadly lamented by all the members of his
entire pastoral charge, and his loss was deeply de-
plored by the whole Synod, of which he was one
of the early founders. He went to his grave with
the highest honors upon his hoary head, as one of
the fathers of the Lutheran Church in North Caro-
lina.
A notice of the funeral occasion of Rev. Storch,
in one of the secular papers, says: "The deep and
unrestrained emotions of the assembly of his spir-
itual children at the grave of their departed friend
evinced the magnitude of their loss, and the ex-
tent of his worth."
From the minutes of the North Carolina Synod,
giving a lengthy account of his life and labors,
the following extract is made:
"He enjoyed the love of all his dear congrega-
tions; he refused sundry lucrative situations to
other cities out of love to his flock; and as soon
as a Synod of the Lutheran Church was formed in
North Carolina, he was annually elected Presi-
dent, whenever he could be present, and his nearly
thirty-seven years' service will remain in blessed
memory. Since a few years his sickness, which
often kept him in bed, compelled him to give up
his congregations, but he always participated in
the happiness and woe of the Church and his
former flock by praises, prayer, sighing and tem-
poral assistance. The last days of his life were
very painful, until his friend, Jesus, whom he
41
482
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
loved, took him to his eternal rest on the 27th of
March, 1831, where all weakness and trouble are
buried under his feet.
"Two funeral discourses were delivered at Synod in remembrance of our venerable and lately
departed father, Charles A. Storch, to a numerous
and attentive audience. The German discourse
was on John 12 : 36, by the Rev. G. Shober; the
English by the Rev. D. P. Iiosenmiller, on John
20 :17/'
The following extract is taken from Dr. Hazelius'
History of the American Lutheran Church, pp.
224-226:
"The Church suffered a great loss in the de-
parture of Rev. C. A. G. Storch. His missionary
tours in South Carolina are still held in grateful
remembrance by many, who through his instru-
mentality were first brought from darkness to
light, and from the kingdom of Satan to the living
God. As a man of science he was highly esteemed
by all who knew him in that respect. As a min-
ister of the Gospel, he richly possessed the rare
talent to create a deep interest for his subject in
the well-informed, while he was fully understood
by persons of no education. As friend, husband,
and father, his remembrance will be cherished,
blessed, and honored, so long as one friend and
one child lives, to feel what he was to them in
these capacities in life.
"During the last six years of his earthly exist-
ence, bodily infirmities prevented him from attend-
ing the services of the house of God, but still he
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 483
cheerfully embraced every opportunity to counsel
and comfort the afflicted. His last illness con-
tinued for nine weeks, and he frequently gave,
both to his family and visiting friends, the assur-
ance of his firm hope of eternal life, and of his
desire that true piety and the religion of the heart
might become general among mankind, and es-
pecially that these blessings might be universal in
the churches to whom he had administered the
word of life. He departed full of faith and hope
in his Redeemer."
In the Evangelical Review, vol. viii, pp. 402 and
403, the following additional facts are stated:
"He was familiar with the Hebrew, Greek and
Latin, and it is said he could converse fluently in
five or six different languages. Such was his
thirst for knowledge that he kept pace with the
improvements of the age, and was constantly add-
ing to his stores of information. His mind was
active and discriminating, and so well disciplined
that he had no difficulty in grasping any subject
that claimed his attention. It is said his library
was large and valuable, embracing quite a number
of distinguished German authors. Many of these
he bequeathed to our Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg, of which he was elected one of the
first directors, and in whose prosperity he always
manifested a deep interest. The most of his
books are, however, in the possession of North
Carolina College, at Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus
County, K C.
"Rev. Samuel Rothrock, who succeeded him in
484
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
one of his churches, writes: 'Mr. Storch was
truly a man of God! Many are yet living who
formerly sat under his preaching, in whose hearts
he is sacredly embalmed, and who still cherish for
him the most profound respect.'"
The following inscription is engraved upon the
tablet in the adjoining God's acre of Organ Church,
which marks the spot where this useful servant of
the Lord was laid down to rest: "Sacred to the
memory of the Rev. Charles A. G. Storch, Pastor
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; who was born on the 16th day of June, A.D. 1764, and de-
parted this life on the 27th day of March, 1831.
Aged 66 years, 9 months and 11 days."
In addition to those pastors laboring in Virginia
and retaining their connection with the North Carolina Synod, namely, Eevs. Jacob Scherer and
Daniel J. Hauer, who removed from North Caro-
lina to that State, and Revs. Martin Walther, Andrew Seechrist and John P. Cline, the Synod
received a considerable accession to its ministerial
ranks in Revs. Henry Graeber, Jacob Kaempfer,
William Artz and David P. Rosenmiller, all of
whom became connected with the Synod in 1828.
"Rev. Henry Graeber was for a number of years
a member of the Lutheran Synod of Maryland and
Virginia, and lately accepted a call to Lincoln
County, X. C, where he preaches to six congre-
gations. The people there are generally liberal
in supporting the Gospel. As an evidence of this,
a certain individual made a donation of fifty acres
of land to be appropriated as a parsonage, and a
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
485
commodious house was built on it by the congre-
gation, where Rev. Mr. Graeber now lives."
The Revs. Artz, Kaempfer, and Rosenmiller
were three young men, who had completed their
theological course of studies at the Seminary at
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and came to labor in
North Carolina upon the recommendation of Pro-
fessor S. S. Schmucker. They were admitted at
once as members of the Synod. Rev. Artz took
charge of the vacant congregations in Guilford
County; their pastor, Rev. Jacob Scherer, having
removed to Virginia. Rev. Rosenmiller located
himself in Lexington, the seat of justice in David-
son County, where he opened a classical school,
and attended to the duties of pastor among several
of the churches in the county, and the one lately
established in the village. Rev. Kaempfer became
the pastor of Organ Church and some of the other
contiguous congregations, made vacant by the re-
moval of their pastor, Rev. Daniel Scherer, to the
State of Illinois.
Section 8. Principal Transactions of the Tennessee
Synod, from 1820 to 1833.
The name of this Synod would indicate that its
labors were confined to the State of Tennessee;
such is, however, not the case, as that Synod, like
some other Lutheran Synods in this country, has
many congregations in the States adjoining. Some
of these churches are located in North and South
486
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina, and hence the history of the Tennessee
Synod also belongs properly to the history of the
Lutheran Church in the Carolinas.
As stated before, the Tennessee Synod was
organized July 17th, 1820; at that meeting the
German language was made the business language
of Synod, and all its transactions were to be printed
in German.
All articles of faith and practice, as well as all
books used in public worship, are to be arranged
according to the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures
and the Augsburg Confession.
Two ranks of the ministerial office were ac-
knowledged, namely, Pastor and Deacon, both
of which requiring a separate ordination by the
imposition of hands. Only the pastors had the
right to perform all ministerial acts; the deacons
could catechize, read a sermon to a congregation,
bury the dead, exhort, and, in case of necessity,
baptize, provided no pastor can be obtained.
Each congregation had the right to send a dele-
gate to Synod, but the number of the lay-delegates'
votes was limited to the number of ministers pres-
ent at Synod.
At the fifth session of Synod, Eev. JSTehemiah
Bonham, of Tazewell County, Virginia, an English
Lutheran minister, with his congregations, was
admitted as a member of Synod. Eev. Bonham
became an active worker in the Lord's vineyard,
and accomplished much good.
In 1825 the minutes of Synod were printed also
in the English language. At that same meeting
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
487
"a memorial, subscribed by nine persons," was
handed in, "in which the Synod is requested to
make another attempt to effect a union with the
ministers of the North Carolina Synod; yet so,
that the genuine Lutheran doctrine be not thereby
suppressed."
November 27th, 1825, Rev. Paul Henkel departed
this life at New Market, Virginia. Pie had been
in the ministry forty-four years, and, at the time
of his decease, had arrived at an advanced age of
life.
During the seventh session of the Synod, the
following action was taken in reference to the
difficulty respecting the English language. "As
several members of this body do not understand
the German language, and yet do not desire to
form a separate Synod, it was, therefore,
"Ilesolved, that David Henkel should act as in-
terpreter to them; furthermore, that the business
of Synod shall be transacted in the German lan-
guage during the first three days, afterwards the
English language shall be used."
At the ninth session a new constitution was
adopted, and appended to the printed minutes.
Rev. David Forrester was ordained at this session
to the office of a pastor, and several students of
theology were received under the care of Synod.
From the minutes of 1829, it is manifest that
the Synod was extending its bounds and influence,
and through the labors of Rev. Bonham, Luther-
anism became known in Habersham and Carroll
Counties, Georgia. Rev. John L. Morkert, from
488
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Ohio, attached himself to the Synod, and Rev.
John N. Stirewalt was ordained to the pastoral
office. A vote of thanks was presented to Dr.
Solomon Henkel "for his extra and benevolent
services he has rendered this body from time to
time, in printing" the transactions, &c, of Synod.
In 1831 the Rev. William C. Rankin, a licentiate
of the Presbyterian Church, and in good standing,
as seen from the records of Union Presbytery,
East Tennessee, having adopted the principles of
the Lutheran Church, and desiring to become one
of its ministers, was examined by a committee, and
recommended for ordination. "He was first admit-
ted to full membership of the Lutheran Church by
the rite of confirmation, and after having taken
the solemn vows of a minister, he was ordained as
pastor with prayer and imposition of hands."
The same day Rev. Henry Goodman was or-
dained as deacon. During this year, on the 15th
of June, Rev. David Henkel departed this life,
aged thirty-six years, one month, and eleven days.
His remains were interred at St. John's Church,
Lincoln County, N. C. As a youth of seventeen
years he commenced to preach the gospel; he
delivered his first sermon, November 1, 1812, at
St. Peter's Church, in South Carolina. "He was a
diligent student, and searched deep into the truths
of divine revelation." He was the author of nine
different publications, the most of which are of a
theological character. He was asked on his death-
bed whether he remained steadfast in the doctrine
he preached, to which he replied in the affirmative,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
489
and that he had no fear of death. "His last words
were: < 0 Lord Jesus—thou Son of God—receive
my spirit.'" He left a wife and seven children to
mourn his loss.
During the years 1832 and 1833, nothing of any
special interest was transacted at Synod, except
the ordination of Eev. H. Goodman to the pastoral
office, and the withdrawal of Rev. W. C. Rankin
from Synod; whether he connected himself with
some other ecclesiastical body is not stated.
Appended to the minutes there is an obituary
notice of Rev. Philip Henkel, who departed this
life October 9th, 1833, aged fifty-four years and
seventeen days. His remains were interred at
Richland Church, Randolph County, N. C. He
was one of the first founders of the Lutheran Ten-
nessee Synod, and was thirty-three years and three
months in the ministerial office.
Section 9. Establishment of a Theological Seminary
in South Carolina, under the Professorship of
Rev. John G. Schwartz, A.D. 1830.
The first steps taken towards the establishment
of a Theological Seminary by the South Carolina
Synod, were sundry resolutions passed at the meet-
ing of Synod held in Savannah, Georgia, Novem-
ber 20th, 1829, and are as follows:
"The several resolutions already mentioned, as
having reference to the establishment of a Theo-
logical Seminary, within the bounds of this Synod,
490
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
were now taken up, and after mature discussion,
unanimously adopted.
"Resolved, That this Synod regard the establish-
ment of a theological seminary under the auspices
of this judicatory, and within its bounds, as highly
calculated to advance the interests of our Church,
and as an object worthy of attention.
"Resolved, therefore, That we direct our efforts
forthwith to the erection of a fund, to be hereafter
devoted to the establishment and support of such
a seminary.
"Resolved, also, That a committee, to consist of
twenty, be now appointed, who shall be authorized
to receive any donations which may be presented
or legacies which may be bequeathed towards the
erection of such a fund.
(Here follow the names of the members of that
committee.)
"Resolved, moreover, That this committee act
until the ensuing session of this Synod. That the
chairman of the committee report at the next an-
nual meeting, whether any and what donations
have been received, and that a similar committee
be appointed from year to year."
The next year fully decided the fate of the pro-
posed institution. The President of the Synod,
Rev. J. Bachman, opened the subject in his annual
address to Synod, as follows:
"Although by the blessing of God our Church
under the direction of this Synod is evidently on
the increase, yet there still continues a lamentable
want of ministers. Our congregations are enlarg-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
491
ing, and new ones are forming from year to year,
yet the number of our ministers is not propor-
tionally on the increase; and such are the calls
for their services, that although some of our min-
isters attend to from four to seven congregations,
it is feared that there will be some churches left
but very partially supplied during the coming
year. There are also petitions from Georgia and
Alabama for missionaries, to which it is feared we
can only respond by our wishes and our prayers.
We have applied to our sister Synods in vain for
aid. So wide a sphere is opened to them in the
North and West, that they have no ministers to
send us; and it is believed that our only perma-
nent dependence, under the blessing of God, will
be upon pious individuals who will hereafter be
educated for our Church, who are natives of the
States within the bounds of our Synod, and who
are attached to our institutions, and accustomed
to our climate.
"Let us bring the means of a theological edu-
cation within the reach of our pious young men,
and we may be assured that they will profit by
these advantages. And I come now to recom-
mend with all the earnestness I am capable of, and
imploring Almighty God for his blessing on our
humble exertions, the institution and support of
a Theological Seminary. Hitherto I have had
many anxieties on this subject, and great doubts
of our success. I feared that in attempting too
much we might entirely fail. But Providence
seems to have removed the greatest obstacles to
492
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the establishment of such an institution. Our
people have become united and zealous in the
cause, and evince a liberality which, until now,
we had no reason to expect. A proposition has
emanated from them to subscribe a hundred dol-
lars each, payable in four and five years, which
would enable persons even in moderate circum-
stances to render their efficient aid to our contem-
plated institution. The success in obtaining sub-
scriptions, thus far, is quite encouraging. The
clergy of our denomination, although in most in-
stances they receive but a very inadequate sup-
port, express their views of the importance of such
an institution to our Southern Church in a desire
to share with their people the burden of expense.
This united zeal and perseverance will, we confi-
dently hope, enable us at the next meeting of our
Synod to report that ten thousand dollars have
been pledged—a sum sufficient to enable our in-
stitution to go into successful operation; and al-
though it would have but an humble origin, yet
fostered by our liberality, our watchfulness, and
our sincere and fervent prayers, we may, under
the blessing of heaven, look forward to a long
train of signal blessings upon our Church."
In addition to this address, Rev. Bachman also
brought the subject before Synod in his discourse,
which is likewise appended to the minutes of that
year, and although an exceedingly interesting
document, it is much too lengthy to be inserted
here. It had the good effect of awakening the
minds of the people generally on the importance
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 493
of establishing the proposed Theological Semi-
nary, and it accomplished good results even after
the adjournment of Synod.
The chairman of the committee to receive dona-
tions, &c, for this object, reported that by the 1st
of January next, "$3000 will have been sub-
scribed."
The Synod then adopted the following series of
resolutions:
"Whereas, The committee appointed at the last
meeting of this Synod for the purpose of raising
a fund for the support of a Theological Seminary,
have made considerable progress in obtaining con-
tributions; and whereas, there is a prospect of
having a sufficient fund collected in a short time;
"Resolved, That in humble reliance on the Di-
vine blessing, we now establish a Theological Semi-
nary, to be conducted under the auspices of this
Synod, and that we, by this resolusion, do conse-
crate our efforts to Him, who is the great Head of
the Church, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls—
God over all, blessed forever.
"Resolved, That as a course of preparatory study
may be necessary for many theological students,
and in order to the defraying of the expenses of
a Theological Institution, we have connected with
it a classical academy, under the superintendence
of the Professor of Theology, and that this acad-
emy be open to all males over ten years of age."
The other resolutions refer to the appointment
of a board of ten directors, the election of a treas-
urer, when the board is to be elected, the election
of a Professor of Theology, &c.
494
THE LUTHERAN CPIURCH
"Mr. Henry Muller was elected Treasurer, and
the Rev, J. G. Schwartz was unanimously chosen
Professor of Theology."
Concerning Rev. Schwartz's election, and his
fitness for the office, Rev. Bachman says:
"It was necessary that a professor to the insti-
tution should be elected, and that he should enter
at once upon the discharge of his duties. Every
eye among the clergy and laity was immediately
directed to Mr. Schwartz. They knew his educa-
tion, his talents and piety. Although but twenty-
three years of age, he had made the best use of
his short life. There were few better Greek and
Latin scholars in our country; he had attended
considerably to the Hebrew language; he was
proficient in the French, and he was studiously
directing his attention to the German, and read
and translated that language with considerable
ease. He had made an equal proficiency in the
other sciences. In theology he was probably as
well read as any young man of his age. He had
attentively read all the most important writings
on the subject; and although he preferred the doc-
trines of our Church to all others, yet his soul was
the seat of Christian liberality, and it should be
spoken to his praise, that although surrounded by
Christians of other denominations, yet he never
gave them offence, and they generally attended
with satisfaction and improvement on his minis-
trations. The objections to his youth were every
day removing. He received a unanimous vote as
Professor of Theology. After the election there
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
495
was a pause of many minutes, when he arose to
address us. For a time his feelings almost pre-
vented the power of utterance. He at length pro-
ceeded to thank us for our favorable opinion;
stated his sense of his incapacity to discharge the
duties of the station to which he had been ap-
pointed; pointed out its difficulties, but signified
his willingness to undertake it by the help of God,
and entreated our prayers and intercessions, and
those of all Christians in his behalf. The youth
of the individual—the occasion—the importance
of the subject, and the feeling and eloquent ad-
dress, melted the whole audience into tears, and I
am sure that few who were then present will ever
forget that impressive scene.
"He had entered the Junior Class of the South
Carolina College in the autumn of 1824, and gradu-
ated in 1826, having throughout his collegiate
course conducted himself with such propriety,
that he was greatly beloved by the members of
his class. He received a high honor when he
graduated, and a letter from one of the professors
stated—'He is not only among the best scholars,
but one of the very best young men that graduated
here for many years past.'"
The permanent location of the Theological Semi-
nary was postponed to some future time; how-
ever, as Professor Schwartz had taken charge of
several congregations in Newberry District, which
he was unwilling to resign until another year had
expired, he gave notice "that for the year 1831
his residence will be in Newberry District, with
496
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Colonel John Eigleberger, about ten miles below
Newberry Court-house, and that he will be pre-
pared, by the first Monday in February, to receive
as theological students such persons, as shall have
been approved by the standing committee of the
Board of Directors.
"Boarding, inclusive of washing, &c, will be
furnished at seventy dollars per annum.5'
The Seminary of Theology opened with very
flattering prospects; so many students became
connected with it, that Professor Schwartz ex-
pressed his fears in a letter to Rev. J. Bachman,
that if many more would come, they could not be
accommodated: and of their character he further
states: "All the young men now with me are
promising—and if their hearts be right in the
sight of God, I have no doubt they will prove a
blessing to our Church. The heart is known,
however, only to God—we can judge only by the
outward appearance; but did I think that any of
these students were deficient in proper views of
religion and of the ministerial office, I should feel
it my bounden duty to advise them at once not to
enter this institution. I dread the idea of being
instrumental in educating any one for the holy
office of the ministry, who through a want of per-
sonal religion may bring disgrace upon our sacred
calling."
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
497
Section 10. New Churches erected in South Carolina;
and the early death of Revs. Wingard, Schwartz,
Bergman, and Daniel Dreher.
1. Mount Calvary Church, Edgefield District, was
dedicated by the Rev. Messrs. Schwartz and W.
D. Strobel, on the 21st of February, 1830. The
congregation at that time numbered twenty-four
communicants.
2. St. Paul's, a fine new church in Newberry
District, was dedicated on the third Sunday in
June, 1830, by the Rev. Messrs. Rauch and
Schwartz. A revived state of religion had been
visible for some time past, and soon after the
dedication of the church thirty-seven persons were
added at one time by confirmation.
3. Shiloh Church, in the fork of the two Edisto
Rivers, and in the neighborhood of Mr. Branden-
burg, was completed this year, and on the second
Sabbath in January, 1831, it was dedicated; it con-
tained at the time a membership of but fifteen communicants.
4. Ebenezer Church, in the city of Columbia, a
neat brick edifice, located in an extensive lot, with
an ample God's-acre for the repose of the dead,
was completed this year, and dedicated the 28th
of November, 1830. This congregation was gath-
ered together and organized by Rev. Jacob "Win-
gard, who manifested great zeal and good manage-
ment in this laudable enterprise. The congregation
being small, and the membership generally in lirn42
498
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ited circumstances, the church edifice was erected
principally through the munificence of Mr. Henry
Muller, Sr., of Piatt Springs, Lexington District,
S. C. In February, 1865, it became a prey to the
flames of the burning of Columbia by the Northern
army, under General Sherman; but has since been
rebuilt by funds, donated partly by Lutheran con-
gregations and individuals at the North.
St. Stephen's Church, at Lexington Court-house,
a frame building, with ample accommodations,
was erected this year, but not completed until the
fall of 1831, when on the fifth Sunday in October
it was dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
Being located in a town where the Lutheran element largely predominates, it has the prospect of
becoming a flourishing church. It was likewise
burnt down during the late war.
6. During the year 1831, "the Church in the
Sandhills was also dedicated."
7. "The Church at Hollow Creek is said to be
nearly completed, and will be opened for worship
in the course of a month."
8. "A new church in Barnwell District, near
the Saltketchers, is also being erected, and is in a
considerable state of forwardness."
The above are quotations from the president's
report to Synod in 1831.
God was visibly blessing the South Carolina
Synod in enlarging its sphere of influence and
usefulness, in the increase of its members and con-
gregations; but there is also a shady side to that
picture—God visited the Synod by the removal of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
499
a number of useful ministers of the Gospel by the
strong hand of death; they were taken away when
yet in their years of youthful strength and vigor,
when the Church had centred great hopes in them,
and they gave promise of a long life of service in
the Lord's vineyard.
Rev. Jacob Wingard was the son of Samuel
Wingard, and a young man of much promise; of
him the Rev. J. Bachman, President of Synod,
remarks in his report of 1831: "Mr. Wingard had
but recently returned from the Theological Institu-
tion at Gettysburg, where he had been highly re-
spected for his talents, his piety, and worth. But
his friends beheld with anxiety and sorrow that
his constitution, which had never been strong, had
been attacked by an insidious disease; but trust-
ing to that heavenly physician, who is able to re-
store health and vigor to the diseased frame and
cheer the drooping hopes of man, we still looked
forward to the time when his recovery would re-
store him to usefulness in the Church, and by our
advice he was solemnly ordained and set apart to
the work of the ministry. But on the 14th day of
January last, the God whom he loved to serve, and
in whose cause he had spent the whole of his short
life, summoned him away. Mr. Wingard was a
young man of uncommon attainments, considering
the disadvantages under which he had labored in
his youth, for the want of a systematic education.
He was in most cases his own instructor; every
leisure hour that could be spared from those occu-
pations in which he was necessarily engaged was
500
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
devoted to books; and all his reading and study
had for its object the promotion of his Savior's re-
ligion. For this object he left his peaceful home,
and devoted himself to solitude and study in a
distant part of our land. Here he was attacked
by a disease, which he bore with Christian resig-
nation. When he was summoned away, he ap-
peared still at the post of duty, and meekly re-
signed himself to the will of God, trusting through
the mercy of his Savior for the salvation of his
soul, and the joys of heaven."
With Rev. Prof. John G. Schwartz the reader
is already well acquainted. He commenced his
labors as the first regular Professor of Theology in
connection with the Lutheran Church in the Caro-
linas, early in February, 1831, under the most
flattering prospects, and with the high hopes of
the Church centred upon him; but these hopes
were destined to a speedy disappointment; in less
than seven months Prof. Schwartz was numbered
with the dead.
The following brief sketch of his life is fur-
nished by Rev. Dr. Hazelius in his "American
Lutheran Church:"
uThe Rev. John G. Schwartz was born in
Charleston, S. C, in the year 1807, where he also
received the preliminary part of his education.
Afterwards he became an alumnus of the South
Carolina College, at Columbia, where he gradu-
ated with distinguished honor in December, 1826.
On his return to Charleston he commenced the
study of theology under the direction of the Rev.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 501
Mr. Bachman. In 1828 he was elected Junior
Professor of Languages in the Charleston College.
But desirous of serving the Lord as a minister of
the Gospel, he freely surrendered his present ad-
vantages, as well as his fair temporal prospects of
the future, and engaged as a missionary among
the destitute churches in the interior of South
Carolina.
"His labors were eminently blessed, and our
brother enjoyed the full confidence of the mem-
bers of his churches. But his career was to be
short; for wise purposes, to us unknown, the Lord
called his young servant away in the midst of
his useful labors. In the summer of 1831 he was
seized with a violent fever, which at first appear-
ance seemed to yield to the influence of medicine,
but returning with increased severity, put relief
beyond the power of human means, and on the
26th of August it terminated his valuable life,
having just reached the 24th year of his age."
From a funeral discourse, occasioned by the
death of Rev. J. G. Schwartz, and delivered by
the Rev. Mr. Bachman, the following testimony
of the character and worth of Prof. Schwartz is
obtained:
''Should it be asked what was the peculiar trait
in the character of Mr. Schwartz, I would say that
it was a solemn determination conscientiously to
discharge his duty to his God. For this he left
his peaceful home and the friends of his youth,
and retired into a sickly part of our county; and
from thence he wrote: 'Here in the woods of
502
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina I suspect my lot is cast—here I shall live,
and here I shall die. To be instrumental in doing
good and enlarging the Redeemer's kingdom is
all I ask.'
"That a man who was so devoted to the duties
of the Christian should possess the amiable graces
of benevolence, we cannot wonder. He felt it his
duty to exert all his powers to do good to the
bodies and souls of men. The great maxim, no
man liveth to himself, was engraven on his mind.
Without profession or show, he engaged in and
ardently devoted himself to every work of benevo-
lence.
"The shock given to the people among whom
he lived by this event was unusual, and the calam-
ity was heightened by its bereaving them of their
fondest hopes. A gentleman who attended the
funeral writes: 'No tongue can express, no pen
can describe the feelings of the people on this
melancholy occasion. The remains of our dearly
beloved friend were interred this morning in Beth-
lehem churchyard; the largest concourse of people
that were ever assembled in this country attended
the funeral. The sad looks, the loud sobs and the
tears shed on this mournful occasion, amply testi-
fied the high esteem in which he was held by all,
rich and poor, old and young, white and black—
pardon me for introducing the word black, but I
must say, that even the poor Africans sympathized
and sorrowed, saying, "Dear Mr. Schwartz."7
Three of the ministers of our Church officiated at
his funeral, and all bore testimony, that never had
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
503
an individual departed in that community who
was more beloved, or whose loss was more sin-
cerely lamented than was that of our departed
friend."
The next victim in the ministerial ranks of the
South Carolina Synod, which death claimed as his
own, was the Rev. C. F. Bergman, who, though
laboring in Ebenezer, Georgia, was ordained by,
and labored in connection with, the South Caro-
lina Synod, and maintained his official relationship
with the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas to the
close of his life. It is therefore proper that an
account of his life, labors and death be here in-
serted, which is furnished by Rev. S. A. Mealy in
his funeral discourse, preached to Rev. Bergman's
congregation at Ebenezer, occasioned by the death
of their beloved pastor:
"The Rev. Christopher F. Bergman was born
at Ebenezer, Georgia, on the 7th of January,
1793. His father, the Rev. John E. Bergman, a
native of Germany, and the learned and exem-
plary minister of this church for the long period
of thirty-six years, had the exclusive care of the
education of the subject of our present recollec-
tions. He may, indeed, with the utmost truth,
be said to have been trained up from youth to
manhood in his own father's study.
"The general deportment of our friend was
grave, and his very appearance forbade the rude
approach of impertinent curiosity. One who saw
him for the first time, would have thought him,
perhaps, inaccessible and austere. But the same
504
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
individual, upon a closer acquaintance, would
have perceived his error, and found himself in
the presence of gravity indeed, but a gravity most
delicately softened by every generous virtue and
amiable emotion. His outward bearing to others
was affable, but unobtrusive. He was almost al-
ways cheerful, but never trifling. I have often
seen his countenance lighted up with a smile
among his friends, but distorted with laughter,
never. His feelings, though cautious in their dis-
play, were constitutionally warm; and his affec-
tion for those whom he loved, ardent. In all the
social relations of life, as a man—as a citizen—a
husband—a parent—a master—a neighbor, and a
friend—those who best knew him will bear me
out in the assertion that he reflected honor upon
the age in which he lived, and may be safely imi-
tated, without any qualification whatsoever, by
those whom he has left behind him.
"And what he was to this people, as the affec-
tionate pastor, there are none of you will ever for-
get. How this 'good man, who was over you in
the Lord,' preached to you—how he consoled you
in the hour of sorrow—how he dried your tears in
the season of affliction—how he prayed beside
your sick-beds—how sincere]}7 he loved you, and
how faithfully he admonished you—is well known
to all of this congregation, and shall be known to
assembled worlds in the great day of judgment,
when pastors and their charges shall meet again.
"I inquired whether, if it was the Divine will,
he would not wish to be spared a little longer to
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 505
his dear family and congregation. He said noth-
ing for a considerable space, till I began to think
he had not heard my question. At length he re-
plied, 'If it is the divine will, I would rather go
now. I feel that for me to depart and to be with
Christ is far better. I think I can truly say, "for
me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."' I ob-
served, ' Then you are not afraid to die?' He said,
'No!' 'You have no doubts of your acceptance
with God, through our great Mediator?' He re-
plied, 'None. Blessed be the God and Father of
my Lord Jesus Christ, I have no doubts.'
"While I was engaged in prayer, he held one
of my hands clasped in both his own, and distinctly
though feebly repeated almost every word after
me, and concluded the prayer for me with the
usual Amen. He then lay composed for some
time, when at length he warmly pressed my hand
and said, louder than he had yet spoken, 'Fare-
well.' He now repeated that triumphant hymn,
'Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.'
"These were among the last words he used.
At a quarter before three, a.m., on the 26th of
March, 1832, he ceased to breathe, and was gath-
ered to his rest in peace."
On the 14th of August, 1832, God called another
young laborer to his early rest. Of him, Dr. Ha-
zelius writes:
"The Rev. Daniel Dreher, son of Mr. John
Dreher, of Lexingtou District, enjoyed the advan43
506
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tages of the advice and instruction of pious parents
during his childhood and years of his youth, and
by that instrumentality the Lord directed him
early to the knowledge of his sinful nature, the
need of a Savior, and to Jesus, the friend of re-
penting sinners, whose merits he embraced,
through faith in application to his own soul.
Having found Jesus precious, and the rock on
which he had built the house of his hope, he be-
came anxious to recommend him also unto others.
Having given some attention to the study of di-
vinity under the direction of his elder brother,
the Rev. Godfrey Dreher, he was received by
Synod as licentiate. He was an acceptable and
zealous preacher, and his remembrance is cher-
ished by all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He
departed in hope of eternal life."
Thus was the Synod of South Carolina sorely
smitten at that time, and the Church bereft of
some of its most promising laborers. In view of
these severe afflictions, the President of Synod,
Rev. John Bachman, in his address to Synod, thus
expresses himself:
"Let our past afflictions teach us humility, an
increase of zeal and an humble trust and confi-
dence in the protection and mercy of God; and as
the hour of the night is darkest which precedes
the rising morn, and as the day is often calmest
which succeeds the violence of the tempest, so
these visitations of heaven, like the calamities
which befell the Church of old, may be followed
by a long train of mercies and blessings to our
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 507
beloved Zion. But whilst we rely for future suc-
cess and prosperity on the blessings of heaven, let
us in the meantime do all that lies in our power
to promote its best interests."
Section 11. Founding of the Theological Seminary at
Lexington, S. C, and Arrival of Rev. E. L.
Hazelius, D.D., as Professor of Theology.
The fund necessary for the endowment of a
professorship in the Theological Seminary was
constantly increasing, and at the meeting of the
South Carolina Synod of 1831, "liberal offers were
made by several persons for the location of the
Seminary in their respective neighborhoods.
"After much interesting discussion had been
elicited, in which several, both of the clerical and
lay members, took an animated part, the following
resolutions were finally adopted:
"Resolved, That the location of our Theological
Seminary be deferred till the next meeting of
Synod; and that during the recess of the Synod
the Board of Directors ascertain which of any two
places selected will hold out the greatest induce-
ments for the establishment of our Seminary in
that place.
"Resolved, That Lexington Village and Sandy
Run, the latter comprising a circuit of from one
to two miles from the church, be the places desig-
nated in the above resolution."
At the next meeting of Synod, held in St. Mat-
508
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
thew's Church, Orangeburg District, the question
of locating the Seminary was finalty disposed of
by the reading of the proposals made by the
above-mentioned two places, which were as fol-
lows:
"Lexington Village, in money and other property, $5287
Sandy Run, " "4000
Excess in favor of Lexington Village, . . . $1287"
And the passing of the following resolution:
"Resolved, That since Lexington Village holds
out the greatest inducements, our Theological
Seminary shall be located in that place." In reference to the Seminary, it was also
"Resolved, That the sincere thanks of this Synod
be returned to our friends and the members of our
Church for their very generous subscriptions to
our Theological Seminary.
"Resolved, That it be enjoined on all our min-
isters to bring the subject of our Theological
Seminary to the view of their respective congre-
gations, and to impress upon them the necessity
of using their most strenuous exertions to promote
its best interests.
"Resolved, That the Rev. Godfrey Dreher and
Mr. Henry Muller be appointed by this Synod as
their agents, to solicit donations and subscriptions
to our Theological Seminary, and that they report
to this Synod at its next meeting."
Mrs. Mariana Chisolm, of Charleston, S. C, pre-
sented to the Synod, for the use of the Seminary,
a large Bible and hymnbook, "accompanied with
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
509
her earnest prayer that the institution may be in-
strumental in furnishing the now destitute churches
with many pious and able ministers of the Lu-
theran faith.7' Whereupon the Synod
"Resolved, That the thanks of this Synod be re-
turned to Mrs. Mariana Chisolm for her very ac-
ceptable present of a valuable Bible and Lutheran
hymn and prayer book for the use of our Semi-
nary."
During the year 1833 the necessary buildings
were erected near Lexington Court-House, both
for recitation rooms and a dwelling for the theo-
logical Professor; and at the same time the Board
of Directors elected Rev. Dr. E. L. Hazelius, of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Professor of Theology;
and the Rev. Washington Muller, a graduate of
South Carolina College, Principal of the Classical
Academy.
Rev. Dr. Hazelius was a native of Silesia, in the
kingdom of Prussia; in early life he was connected
with the Moravian Church; and, having " received
his collegiate education in Saxony and Prussia, he
subsequently graduated in the Moravian Theologi-
cal Seminary at Niesky, in 1797. He arrived in
America in 1800," and was for a time the classical
teacher at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, a Moravian
institution of learning, where one of his pupils
was the future Bishop Van Vleck. In 1809 he
was ordained by the New York Ministerium a
minister of the Lutheran Church. In 1815 he
was elected Professor of Theology at Plartwick
Seminary, New York, "where he remained a
510
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
faithful and successful instructor until 1830, when
he removed to Gettysburg Seminary/' as one of
its professors.
In the fall of 1833, he became located at Lexing-
ton, S. C, where he remained in the service of his
Master for nearly twenty years, to the close of his
life.
In the synodical address of Rev. J. Bachman,
he was kindly and heartily welcomed as Professor
of Theology and as a member of the South Caro-
lina Synod in the following terms:
"It is a source of no small gratification to me to
be permitted to welcome among us our brother
and friend, the recently elected Professor of The-
ology in our Seminary. He has come, we hope
and believe, to spend the remainder of an active
and a useful life in the midst of us. He has
brought along with him those talents which God
gave him—that learning which a life devoted to
study has enabled him to acquire—and that expe-
rience, zeal, and fidelity which caused him to be
respected, and rendered him eminently useful, in
all those valuable institutions over which he was
heretofore called to preside. His unanimous elec-
tion to this responsible office—the pleasure which
we all felt on hearing of his acceptance of the ap-
pointment—the sacrifices he has made to come
among us—are all so many loud calls upon us to
perform our part of the contract with liberal and
cheerful hearts. Let us co-operate with him in
all those regulations which are calculated to pro-
mote the best interests of the institution, and let
TN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
511
us give to that institution our united efforts and
our fervent prayers."
Both the Theological Seminary and the Clas-
sical Academy went into operation on the first
Monday of January, 1834, and both commenced
with very favorable prospects; a number of young
men enrolled themselves as students of theology,
whilst the local and other patrons of the classical
department were quite numerous.
In the inaugural address of Rev. Dr. Hazelius,
in which he impresses his audience with the ne-
cessity of a theological training for ministers of
the gospel, the following are the closing remarks:
"Brethren! Benefactors of this institution! Iam
aware your satisfaction at the success which has
crowned your efforts, your labors, and your ex-
pense, is great, and you regret not having at-
tempted, though few in number, what in other
sections of our country, large legacies, the contri-
butions of strangers, and the united efforts of sev-
eral Synods only could accomplish. To you the
Lutheran Church of South Carolina and the adja-
cent States is largely indebted; and though no
monuments of marble may hereafter point out to
posterity what you have done for the Church,
your latest posterity will bless your memory, and
the Searcher of the heart will reward you.
"We have the proud consciousness of knowing
that we all have entertained and do now entertain
no other view, no other aim in the establishment
of this Seminary than the enlargement of the Re-
deemer's kingdom, and there is no doubt, if our
512
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
institutions remain faithful to this principle, and
faithful in the application of the means intrusted
to us by our brethren for the benefit of the Semi-
nary, and also in the instruction of our young
brethren, if we never stoop to mean intrigue and
management, but act with a single eye to the
glory of God, and with candor towards man, the
blessing of Almighty God will accompany this
institution; it will prove a benefit to the Church,
and its blessings will descend to the latest genera-
tions."
CHAPTER VI.
HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CARO-
LINAS CONTINUED, TO THE CLOSE OE THE YEAR 1850.
Section 1. Condition of the Lutheran Church in North
and South Carolina in 1834.
During the three years which intervened be-
tween 1831 and 1834, very few changes occurred
in the North Carolina Synod; the Rev. John T.
Tabler, a student from Gettysburg, became con-
nected with the Synod, and labored as pastor in
Salisbury, but he remained there only one year,
after which he removed to Virginia.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
513
In 1832, the Rev. Henry Graeber resigned his
charge in Lincoln County, and became the pastor
of St. John's and Organ Churches, which had be-
come vacant by the removal of Revs. D. Scherer
and J. Kaempfer. In 1833, the Rev. Samuel
Rothrock, having completed his studies at Gettys-
burg, returned to North Carolina, was licensed by
Synod, and labored as missionary in several vacant
churches for a short time, after which he became
the pastor of Salisbury and Union Churches. The
following year the Rev. Daniel Jenkins became
connected with the North Carolina Synod; he
came from "the State of Maryland, about the be-
ginning of November, 1833, and expressing a de-
sire to serve our Church in this Southern section
as a missionary," was licensed by the President of
Synod "to preach in our destitute churches until
the next session of the Ministerium."
The congregations in Lincoln County, having
had no regular pastor of the North Carolina Synod
since the removal of Rev. Graeber from their
midst, and having been only occasionally visited
by missionaries and other members of Synod, be-
came eventually connected with the Tennessee
Synod.
Concerning the state of the Church in 1834, the
President of Synod reports: "The events of the
past synodical year have become, in some measure,
4 more encouraging than they have been for several
years before. Those churches in our connection
that could be regularly supplied, had not only
a considerable increase since our last annual meet-
514
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ing, but are also generally in a prosperous condi-
tion. The gospel has been faithfully preached,
and the holy ordinances regularly administered.
There are still a goodly number of small but re-
spectable congregations that are vacant, which, if
they could be supplied with ministers, would add
considerable strength to this weak but evangelical
member of the Lutheran household of faith.
Prospects have also appeared during the last
year, of forming several new congregations."
During the year 1834 the Tennessee Synod had
no meeting, caused by the absence of so many
ministers. The next year the Synod met at Blue
Spring Church, Green County, Tennessee, at
which meeting the Rev. William Handier, Daniel
S. Schulfeld, Christian G. Reitzel and Samuel
C. Parmer, were ordained to the office of deacon.
At that time the Revs. Daniel Moser, Adam Mil-
ler, Jr., and Jacob Casner were laboring in Lin-
coln County, 1ST. C.; the Rev. H. Goodman, in Ire-
dell County, K C.; the Rev. C. G. Reitzel, in
Guilford County, 1ST. C; and Rev. J. K Stirewalt,
in Rowan County, N. C. The other twelve min-
isters of the Tennessee Synod had charges in
other States outside of the Carolinas.
During this year, on the third Sunday in August,
a new Lutheran Synod was organized in the State
of Indiana, with which the three ministers of the
Tennessee Synod, who resided in Indiana, doubt-
less connected themselves. They besought their
brethren of the parent Synod not to regard this
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
515
movement as "a separation or schism," but rather
as a means of " strengthening" the Church.
In the South Carolina Synod no changes of im-
portance occurred during the year 1834. "The
Theological Seminary located at Lexington," says
the President of Synod, in his annual report, "has
thus far fully equalled our most sanguine expec-
tations." Nine young men formed the first class
of students of theology, namely, F. F. Harris, J.
P. Ring, D. Bernhardt, E. A, Bolles, E. Hawkins,
W. Berly, H. Stoudenmyre, L. Bedenbaugh and
P. A. Strobel. Valuable additions to the library
of the Seminary were presented by Messrs. Henry
Muller, Sr., of Piatt Springs, Thomas Purse, of
Savannah, and the congregation of Ebenezer,
Georgia.
In December, 1833, the Missionary Committee
of the Synod employed the Rev. P. Rizer, "who
arrived at Lexington, S. C, from the State and
Synod of Maryland," as a traveling missionary in
the States of Georgia and Alabama. "He met
with a very cordial reception from many Lutherans
who had emigrated from Carolina, and found them
still attached to the doctrines and usages of our
Church." In Monroeville, at Flatt Creek, and
at Bogue-Chitto Creek, in the State of Alabama,
the prospects for the immediate organization of
Lutheran churches was so flattering, and the de-
mand for a pastor so urgent, that on the return of
Rev. Rizer, one of the theological students, Mr.
F. F. Harris, was licensed, and sent at once to
these people as their pastor. At the meeting of
516
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sjmod in 1834, he was ordained as the pastor of
this hopeful charge in Alabama, and remained in
that State eight years, when he removed to Ohio.
He was succeeded by Revs. Daily and Stouden-
myre, but nothing is now known of these churches,
and no Lutheran minister is at present laboring in
that portion of Alabama.
The President of Synod, Rev. J. Bachman, in
his annual report, urges upon the members of
Synod the importance and necessity of catechetical
instruction, stating: "The mind of man requires
instruction as well as excitement, and in all our min-
istrations we should be cautious to enlighten the
understanding, and to enable our hearers to give
a reason for the hope that is in them."
Section 2. Rev. Daniel Jenkins* Revivals in North
Carolina—Commissioners sent by the South Caro-
lina Synod to the North Carolina Synod, loith
Proposals in Behalf of the Lexington Theological
Seminary—Death of Rev. Gottlieb Shober.
The revival system or "new measures," as it
was then called, was not introduced into the North
Carolina Synod to its full extent until the year
1835, when the Rev. Daniel Jenkins, from Mary-
land, introduced it in his congregations. It created
considerable opposition both among the clergy and
laity of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina.
The subject was debated at Synod, and the Min-
isterium passed the following resolutions:
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
517
"Resolved, That we countenance no distinction
between those Christians who are separately
prayed for in public, and those who retire into
their chambers for devotion.
"Resolved, That if any licentiate should depre-
ciate religious instruction of youth by way of cate-
chization, or otherwise, he can never be ordained."
At no period of time has the North Carolina
Synod abandoned catechetical instruction, al-
though in some few congregations this old-estab-
lished "good rule of our Church" fell into dis-
use. Frequently the "new measures" accom-
plished more harm than good; and, to use a para-
doxical expression often quoted, several churches
were "revived to death." The system finally cul-
minated into regular camp meetings; but from
that time forward it commenced to decline, and
the ruins of the temporary little cabins, denomi-
nated "tents," and of the covered sheds for preach-
ing to large assemblies, denominated "arbors,"
may still be seen in some places, but they are no
longer used for the purpose originally intended.
In the year 1836, Kev. Dr. Hazelius and Mr.
Henry Muller attended the meeting of the North
Carolina Synod. They came as commissioners
sent by the Synod of South Carolina for the pur-
pose of conferring with the members of the North
Carolina Synod, "as to the possibility and mutual
advantage of a union of effort in the support and
patronage of the Seminary at Lexington."
The commissioners made the following pro-
posals:
518
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"1. The Synod of South Carolina will allow that
of North Carolina such share in the government
of the institution established at Lexington, as their
portion of the funds shall equitably entitle them to.
"2. The students from North Carolina that
enter the Seminary, shall be entitled to free tui-
tion, as well as the students from South Carolina.
"3. The fund collected by our brethren from
North Carolina shall remain under the control of
the Synod of North Carolina, and only its yearly
proceeds made over to the treasurer of our Semi-
nary."
The Synod of North Carolina having "atten-
tively heard" the proposition of the South Caro-
lina Synod's commissioners, unanimously—
"Resolved, To appoint two delegates, one cleri-
cal and one lay delegate, to meet the Synod of
South Carolina at its next session in November,
with instructions from this body to unite our efforts
with our brethren in South Carolina, in the sup-
port of their Seminary."
The delegates elected by ballot were Rev. Wm.
Artz and Col. John Smith; alternates, Rev. H. Graeber and Moses L. Brown.
Arrangements were then made for the creation
of a fund for the support of the Seminary at Lex-
ington, S. C. The committee were also instructed
"to adhere strictly to the propositions made by
the commissioners of the South Carolina Synod,
and to make no agreement to raise a larger sum
of money than can be obtained."
At the succeeding meeting of the South Caro-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
519
lina Synod, Rev. ¥m. Artz, delegate from the
North Carolina Synod, being present, the above
propositions were confirmed, with a few addi-
tional provisos, one of which was, "That the right
be conceded to the Synods respectively to rescind
this agreement, and annul the obligations grow-
ing out of it, whenever in the opinion of either
body such a dissolution is advisable."
On the 27th of June, 1838, the Rev. Gottlieb
Shober "departed this life, after being confined
for one day only, although for some years past his
bodily health and native vigor of mind had been
rapidly declining. At his death he was in the
eighty-second year of his age. His life was spent
in untired activity and useful labors until old age
admonished him to seek retirement." In memory
of his death, the North Carolina Synod passed the
following resolutions:
"Resolved, That this Synod has heard with deep
regret of the death of the Rev. Gottlieb Shober,
who has, for many years, been an efficient and
useful member of this body.
"Resolved, That this Synod will ever cherish
with grateful remembrance, the active zeal and
eminent services of Father Shober."
A lengthy memoir of Rev. Shober is contained
in the Evangelical Review, vol. viii, pp. 404-415,
from which we learn that he was a native of Beth-
lehem, Pennsylvania, and, "at the time of his
death, was the only survivor of those who had com-
menced the building of the town of Salem, 1ST. C."
"In the spring of 1810, in company with Rev.
Mr. Storch, he visited South Carolina, during
520
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
which occasion he preached his first sermon."
He was a member of the North Carolina Synod
for a period of twenty-eight years.
Section 3. Increase of Lutheran Ministers in the
Carolinas—Establishment of New Congrega-
tions— Visit of Rev, Dr. Bachman to Europe.
The influence of the Theological Seminary at
Lexington, S. 0., was now beginning to be felt in
the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas; both the
North and South Carolina Synods received from
it large additions to the number of their ministers,
and in other Southern States a number of its
graduates were called to labor. It supplied a
greatly and long felt want of the Lutheran Church
in the South.
During the five years preceding the meeting of
the North Carolina Synod in 1840, the following
additions were made to its clerical roll:
1. Rev. Edwin A. Bolles, a graduate of the
Lexington, S. C, Theological Seminary, was
licensed by the South Carolina Synod in 1835,
and became the pastor of the Lutheran church in
Salisbury, N. C, where he, however, remained
but a short time, and removed to Ebenezer,
Georgia. He is laboring at present in South Caro-
lina, as State Agent for the American Bible So-
ciety.
2. Rev. Benjamin Arey, from the Theological
Seminary of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, licensed
by the North Carolina Synod in 1836, became at
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
521
first located in Davidson County, and labored in
various charges in the bounds of Synod, but finally
located himself permanently in Iredell County,
N. C.
3. Rev. John Swicegood, licensed at the same
time, made his permanent home in Davidson
County, but frequently labored in the counties
adjoining. He departed this life September 9th,
1870, in the full triumphs of a Gospel faith.
4. Rev. Elijah Hawkins, a graduate of the Sem-
inary at Lexington, S. C, became connected with
the Synod in 1837, and labored in Wythe County,
Virginia, to the close of a most useful life.
5. Rev. Philip A. Strobel, likewise connected
himself with the North Carolina Synod in 1837,
having graduated at Lexington, S. C, in 1836;
he labored for a short time as agent for the Sem-
inary, and then located himself in Concord, N. C.
He did good service in the North Carolina Synod
in establishing several new churches, and remained
in Concord four years, when he returned to South
Carolina.
6. Rev. Jacob Crim, from the Lexington Sem-
inary, attached himself to the North Carolina
Synod in 1838, and labored successively in David-
son, Rowan and Davie Counties. In 1869 he
removed to the State of Texas, where he shortly
afterwards was called to his rest.
7. Rev. John J. Greever, a "student of the
Gettysburg Theological Seminary," was licensed
by the North Carolina Synod in 1840; he labors
44
522
THE LUTHEEAN CHURCH
still in Wythe County, Virginia, where he was first
located.
8. Eev. Aldrich, a "student of divinity of
the Episcopal Church at Bristol College, Pennsyl-
vania," was licensed by the North Carolina Synod
in 1840, remained only a few months at Concord,
1ST. C, when he removed to Savannah, Georgia,
and became the successor of Rev. S. A. Mealy, as
pastor of the Lutheran church in that city. He is the present pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran
Church, in Charlotte, N. C.
9. Rev. Gideon Scherer, "a student of the
Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C," was
licensed by the North Carolina Synod in 1840,
and located himself in Wythe County, Virginia.
In the South Carolina Synod the increase in the
number of ministers was still greater, and it was
not long before all the vacant charges were sup-
plied with the regular ministrations of the word
and sacraments.
In the year 1831, before the Theological Semi-
nary went into full operation, four ministers were
licensed by the South Carolina Synod, whose
names have not yet been mentioned, namely:
Eevs. Ilerrman Aull, William Hotchkiss, George
Haltiwanger, Sr., and Eobert C\oy. Eev. Aull
lived, labored and died in Newberry District, S. C.
Rev. Haltiwanger became the pastor of St. Mat-
thew's Church in Orangeburg District, S. C, and
labored with great acceptance and usefulness in
various parts of South Carolina to the close of his
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 523
life, April 18th, 1849. Rev. Cloy labored in Barn-
well District, S. C.; he died May 4th, 1853.
From 1885 to 1840, the following additional
names were added to the ministerial roll of the
South Carolina Synod:
1. Eev. James P. Ring, a graduate of the Lex-
ington Theological Seminary, was licensed by the
South Carolina Synod in 1835, and devoted his
life to teaching. He was Professor of a classical
institution in the city of Augusta, Georgia, at
which place he died, April 12th, 1852.
2. Rev. David Bernhardt, was the son of Rev.
C. E. Bernhardt, whose history has been given in
a previous chapter. The son became a student
and graduate of the Theological Seminary at Lex-
ington, and was licensed by Synod, A.D. 1835.
He had charge of St. Matthew's Church, Orange-
burg District, and Sandy Run Church, Lexington
District, S. C, up to the close of his life, April
13th, 1843.
3. Rev. Levi Bedenbaugh, a student of Lexing-
ton Seminary, was licensed at the same time. His
principal field of operations has been Coweta
County, Georgia, where he is still laboring.
4. Rev. David Hungerpeler, was licensed in
1836, and died April 20th, 1840. He labored in
Barnwell District, S. C.
5. Rev. William Berly, a graduate of the Lex-
ington Seminary, was licensed in 1836, labored
for a time in Newberry District, S. C, was elected
the second Professor of the Theological Seminary
at Lexington in 1850, whereupon he removed to
524
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lexington Court-House in 1851, where he is still
residing, laboring as pastor there.
6. Rev. William G. Harter, also a graduate of
the Lexington Seminary, was licensed in 1837, labored in the States of South Carolina, North
Carolina and Kentucky; he was called to his rest
July 31st, 1864.
7. Rev. H. Stoudenmyer was licensed in 1838,
and labored for a time in the State of Alabama.
8. Rev. S. R. Sheppard, a student of the Lex-
ington Seminary, was licensed in 1838, labored for
some time in Edgefield District, S. C, removed to
the State of Mississippi in 1853, where he recently
departed this life.
9. Rev. J. Kleckly was licensed in 1839, and
labored in the State of Georgia, where he died a
few years ago.
10. Rev. William H. Smith, of the State of
Maryland, was elected assistant pastor to Rev.
John Bachman, D.D., in 1839, was ordained by
the South Carolina Synod April 24th, 1839, re-
mained three years, and returned to the North.
11. Rev. S. Bouknight, licensed in 1840; he
labors principally in Lexington District, S. C.
12. Rev. J. P. Margart, a graduate of the Sem-
inary at Lexington, licensed in 1840, labored in
Orangeburg, Newberry and Lexington Districts,
S. C, removed to Alabama in 1862, where he still
resides, making strong efforts to build up the Lu-
theran Church in that State.
13. Rev. George Haltiwanger, Jr., a student of
the Lexington Theological Seminary, was licensed
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
525
in 1840, labored in Lexington District, S. C, until
1849, when he became the pastor of the Ebenezer
charge in Georgia, where he labored to the close
of his life; he died on the 10th of February, 1862.
14. "Rev. C. B. Thuemmel, formerly of the
Synod of New York," took charge of the classical
school connected with the Theological Seminary
at Lexington, S. C, in 1841; he labored in that
capacity three years, when he returned to the
North.
15. Rev. J. Daily was licensed in 1840, and labored in Alabama.
Other ministers were licensed by the South
Carolina Synod during this period, but as their
names have been mentioned in connection with
the North Carolina Synod, it is not necessary to
insert them here again.
The Tennessee Synod was likewise blessed with
a considerable addition to her ministerial strength,
during the five years preceding the year 1840, as
follows:
1. Rev. Abel J. Brown, was ordained a deacon
in 1836, labored for several years in Lincoln
County, N. C, but made his home finally in Ten-
nessee, where he is still doing good service in his
Master's vineyard.
2. Rev. Jacob Killian was ordained a deacon at
the same time, and labored in Augusta County,
Va., where he departed this life July 5th, 1871.
3. Rev. Jonathan R. Moser was likewise or-
dained to the deacon's office in 1836, labored a
number of years in Lincoln County, N. C, but
526
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
finally moved to Missouri, where he is still resid-
ing.
4. Rev. Henry Wetzel, was'ordained deacon in
1837, is still laboring in Virginia.
5. Rev. Adam S. Link was ordained at the same
time, but afterwards moved to Ohio, where he
died, March 30th, 1862.
6. Rev. Jacob S tire wait was likewise ordained
deacon in 1837; he became pastor in New Market,
Va., where he labored to the close of his life; he
died August 26th, 1869, in his 67th year.
7. Rev. Albert J. Fox was ordained deacon in
1837, labored successively in North Carolina, Ten-
nessee, and Alabama, but since 1855 has been re-
siding near Lincolnton, 1ST. C, where he is still
laboring in the Lord's vineyard.
The following new congregations were organ-
ized and new church edifices erected in the Caro-
linas during the five years preceding 1840.
1. Luther's Church, in Rowan County, N. C,
is first mentioned by that name in the minutes of
1830, but at what time the congregation was or-
ganized is not stated. The Rev. Jacob Kaempfer
was its pastor in 1830.
2. St. Enoch's Church, in Rowan County, N. C,
is a colony from the Sewitz's or Luther Chapel
congregation, and was organized in 1836; it is
not stated when their church edifice was erected;
it was dedicated at some time during the fall of
1839.
3. St. Paul's Church, in Rowan County, K C,
is first mentioned in 1837, under the name of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
527
Holdshouser's Chisrch, with Rev. S. Roth rock as
its pastor. A new brick church has been recently
erected and was dedicated July 21st, 1872.
4. St. Stephen's Church, Cabarrus County, N.
C, was organized in 1837 by the Rev. P. A.
Strobel, who was its first pastor. It was received
under the care of the North Carolina Synod in
1838.
5. St. Matthew's Church, Rowan County, N. C,
sent a communication to the North Carolina Sy-
nod in 1838, "stating that they have regularly
organized themselves into a congregation, and
pray to be received under the care of Synod; also,
that they have chosen the Rev. 13. Arey as their
pastor."
6. St. Matthew's congregation, in Davie County,
N. C, is first mentioned in 1839 in the minutes
of the North Carolina Synod, when forty-three
persons in that locality petitioned the Synod to
send them a minister "to break unto them the
bread of eternal truth, to baptize their children,
and instruct their youth."
Two new church edifices were erected in old-
established congregations during the year 1839,
namely: St. Paul's Church, Orange (now Ala-
mance) County, N. C, which was dedicated on
the third Sunday in September, 1839; and Luther
Chapel, in Rowan County, N. C, which was dedi-
cated about the same time.
7. St. Paul's Church, Iredell County, N. C, and
the above-named Si. Matthew's Church, in Davie
County, N. C, are mentioned in the minutes of
528
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
the North Carolina Synod of 1840, as having
"been regularly organized during the last synodi-
cal year," and were received, in 1840, under the
care of Synod.
In the bounds of the South Carolina Synod the
following churches were added to the strength of
the Synod.
1. St. Andrew's Church, Lexington District, S.
C, was organized in 1835, and during the same
year their church edifice was erected and dedicated.
In 1835, they petitioned Synod for the pastoral
labors of Rev. L. Bedenbaugh, but from the min-
utes of 1836 it appears that Rev. M. Rauch was
their first pastor.
2. Mount Zion Church, Newberry District, S. C,
having been organized under the pastoral care
of Rev. J. Moser, their church edifice was dedi-
cated on the fifth Sunday in August, 1840.
3. Good Hope Church, at Cloud's Creek, Edge-
field District, S. C, having been organized some
time in 1839, their newty-erected church edifice
was dedicated on the 19th of April, 1810. Their
first pastor was the Rev. R. Cloy; it was received
under the care of Synod in 1840.
The labors of Rev. John Bachman, D.D., LL.D.,
having been for many years very arduous, inas-
much as he was necessitated to preach three times
every Sunday for the long period of twenty years,
and frequently both in the English and German
languages, his being the only Lutheran church in
Charleston, S. C, at that time; besides, having
also devoted much of his time to natural science,
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 529
he and the renowned naturalist, J. J. Audubon,
being associated together in preparing for the
press "The Quadrupeds of America/5 his health
at length became impaired, and, at the repeated
solicitations of his congregation, to whom his life
and labors were exceedingly valuable, he left his
home on a visit to Europe, in 1838, believing that
he looked upon the shores of his native land for
the last time. He was absent eight months, and
was received everywhere on his transatlantic tour
with "sympathy, kindness, and untiring hospi-
tality." He "returned in January, 1839, with
health partially restored," and his congregation
engaged the Rev. "William H. Smith, of Maryland,
as an assistant minister for a few years, until his
health was re-established, when, in 1842, he once
more assumed the entire charge of the pastoral
duties of his church.
Section 4- Settlement of North-Germans in South-
ern cities. Organization and Early History of
St Matthew's German Evangelical-Lutheran
Church, Charleston, S. C.
Many years had now elapsed since the tide of
German emigration to North and South Carolina
had entirely ceased. The dependence for the in-
crease of the Lutheran Church in those States
rested mainly upon the descendants of the early
settlers. However, about the year 1835, emigra45
530
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tioii from North Germany found its way also to
Southern cities, and every fall new emigrants from
that portion of the Fatherland continued to arrive.
The largest number of these settlers located
themselves in Charleston, S. C, but many have
found homes in Wilmington, N. C., Savannah,
Georgia, and other Southern cities. They are
mostly natives of Hanover, Oldenburg, Holstein,
Mecklenburg, and the once free cities of Hamburg
and Bremen, although a number of emigrants
from other German states may be found among
them.
These North Germans are regarded as the direct
descendants of those Saxon nations which con-
quered ancient Britain, a portion of whom, after
the Saxon conquest, located themselves perma-
nently in England. That this is a fact established
beyond dispute may be readily learned from the
pages of history, and easily perceived from the
contiguity of those North-German countries to
England, their maritime character, and their lan-
guage. It may not be generally known, that the
North Germans speak two languages, the high
German, which is the written language, taught at
school and preached from the pulpit, and the low
German (Platdeutsch), which is the original lan-
guage of the ancient North Saxons, still spoken
and generally used in those countries, and bears a
remarkable resemblance to the present pure Eng-
lish or Anglo-Saxon language. Hence, North
Germans generally find no difficulty in acquiring
a knowledge of the English language soon after
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
531
their arrival in this country, and learn to pro-
nounce it correctly with remarkable facility.
As the North Germans are natives of maritime
States, they prefer mercantile to agricultural pur-
suits, and hence they are generally found engaged
in mercantile employments in our Southern cities,
though not entirely confined to that kind of life.
Captain H. Wieting, a name familiar to all our
North-German citizens in the Southern States, and
his vessels, the "Johann Friederich," and the
barque "Copernicus," of which successively he
was commander, usually arrived, for some length
of time, once a year in Charleston, S. C, filled
with German passengers, who expected to make
their future home in the South.
These German settlers, by means of their
economy, good management, and excellent busi-
ness talents, have acquired considerable property,
and control a large portion of the commercial and
other interests in the cities and towns where they
reside.
The Lutheran faith being the prevailing re-
ligion in North Germany, although German Re-
formed and Roman Catholics may likewise be
found there, these immigrants are generally mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church, and, upon their ar-
rival in this country, usually attach themselves
immediately to Lutheran congregations.
Rev. E. L. Hazelius, D.D., President of the
South Carolina Synod, in his annual report of
1839, speaks of the first attempt of the native Ger-
man citizens of Charleston, S. C, in establishing
532
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
a second, and altogether German, Lutheran
Church, in the following manner:
"A desire having been expressed by a consid-
erable number of German citizens of Charleston,
to have the Gospel preached to them in the
language of their Fatherland, meetings of the
Germans were held during my st&y in the city
and afterwards, for the purpose of making the
necessary arrangements; and I have since learned
that articles of a Church union were drawn up and
adopted; that $500 had been collected, and about
as much had been subscribed for the salary of a
German preacher. I endeavored to encourage
these friends to proceed in the good cause."
In the Charleston Courier may be found an
account of the next steps that were taken in this
direction.
"On the 3d day of December, A.D. 1840, the
first German congregation was organized in this
city, with the following founders: John A. Wag-
ener, George Caulier, C. Heide, F. Mehrtens, F.
Hilgen, J. Hiirkamp, W. H. Hoops, J. Haesloop,
J. Stelling, Geo. Rieke, J. H. Ostendorff, J.
Schroder, J. Kleinbeck, C. Gerdts, J. Bauman,
and L. F. Behling. The congregation so formed
soon made arrangements for the erection of a
place of worship."
They adopted a constitution for their govern-
ment on the 9th of December, 1840, and soon
afterwards purchased a lot on the corner of Hasell
and Anson Streets, on which they erected a brick
church edifice. In the election of officers, Col.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 533
John A. Wagener was chosen their first Presi-
dent. In the month of October, 1841, the corner-
stone of this (St. Matthew's) church was laid, at
which time the congregation already numbered
two hundred and twenty-five members. Their
first pastor was the Rev. F. Becher, who had been,
up to that time, a minister of the German Re-
formed Church, but connected himself with the
South Carolina Synod in 1841, after having taken
charge of this new German Lutheran congregation. However, the Rev. Mr. Becher did not remain
long in Charleston. In 1842 the Rev. F. W.
Heemsoth took charge of the congregation, and
on the 22d of June of the same year, the new
church was dedicated, and the newly elected pas-
tor duly installed. "Rev. Mr. Heemsoth served
the congregation until 1848, when he resigned
and returned to his native country, where he now
resides," and is the beloved pastor of a large Lu-
theran church in Germany.
Section 5. Formation of the Western Virginia Synod,
and Death of Hev. Henry Graeber.
It would not be proper to notice the formation
of the Synod of Western Virginia in the history
of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas, were it
not for the fact, that the territory of the Synod of
Western Virginia was, for a long period of time,
embraced in the limits of the North Carolina
Synod, which watched over the interests of the
534
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lutheran Church in Western Virginia with a
mother's tender care, supplying that field with
missionaries at first, and afterwards with pastors.
But the time had now arrived, when the old
mother Synod was to be confined within the limits
of the State from which she derived her name; all
her ecclesiastical operations were henceforth to be
devoted to North Carolina alone. The interests
of the Church demanded that the brethren in
Southwestern Virginia were to form a Synod for
themselves, and the sequel has proved that this
was a step taken in the right direction, for it has
developed the energies of that portion of the Lu-
theran Church in a most remarkable manner, both
in missionary and educational enterprises.
Accordingly, on the 20th of September, 1841, a
convention was held in Wythe County, Virginia,
for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps
towards the formation of a Synod, and on the 21st
of May, 1842, "the ministers residing in Western
Virginia, with their lay delegates, assembled in
Zion's Church, Floyd County, Virginia." The
ministers, who registered their names as members
of the newly formed Synod, were: Revs. Jacob
Scherer, Samuel Sayforcl, Elijah Hawkins, John
J. Greever, Gideon Scherer and Stephen Rudy.
The officers of Synod then elected were: Rev.
Jacob Scherer, President; Rev. Elijah Hawkins,
Secretary; and Mr. Joseph Brown, Treasurer.
The strength of Synod then reported was, fifteen
congregations and seven hundred and seventy-
eight communicants.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
535
From the Synod of North Carolina, established
in the year 1803, and which at one time embraced
a large scope of territory, the following Synods
have gone out, and are still doing good service in
the vineyard of the Lord:
The Tennessee Synod, organized A.D. 1820.
The South Carolina Synod, organized A.D. 1824.
The Western Virginia Synod, organized A.D.
1842.
From these again the following additional
Synods have been formed: The Georgia Synod,
the Mississippi Synod, the Holston Synod, and
the Concordia Synod. The Lutheran Church in
the West, and particularly in Illinois, was also
cradled and nourished in its infancy by the North
Carolina Synod.
The Rev. Henry Graeber, who at one time
wielded a considerable influence in the North
Carolina Synod, and who, on account of his ster-
ling virtues and power of his native intellect, as
well as by his energy of character, accomplished
much good, was now called to his rest, while yet
in the strength of his years, and in the height of
his usefulness. After a short illness he unexpect-
edly departed this life, September 11th, 1843.
The President of Synod, Rev. Win. Artz, gives
us the following account of this sad event, con-
nected with a brief memoir of Rev. Graeber's life:
"When the names of the members of our min-
isterial association shall be called, and every one
present shall take his seat, the place of our worthy
and beloved brother, the Rev. Henry Graeber,
536
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
will be vacant. How sad! How unexpected!
He has ceased from his labors in the vineyard of
the Lord on earth, and has entered the rest above,
to reap the eternal reward which Jesus has prom-
ised to all his faithful servants.
1 His conflicts with his busy foes
For evermore shall cease,
None shall his happiness oppose,
Nor interrupt his peace.
But bright rewards shall recompense
His faithful service here,
And perfect love shall banish thence
Each gloomy doubt and fear.'
"Our worthy brother, the Rev. Henry Graeber,
was born of Christian parents in the State of Penn-
sylvania, in the year of our Lord 1793, the 28th of
January. He prosecuted the study of divinity
chiefly under the able and pious instructions of
the Rev. Messrs. Melsheimer and Lochman. He obtained license to preach the Gospel from the
Synod of Pennsylvania, on the 7th of June, in the
year 1818, and was shortly afterwards set apart to
this holy work by the imposition of hands and
prayer. Nine years of his ministerial life he spent
as pastor of several congregations in Frederick
County, Maryland, and the remaining sixteen
years were spent in several congregations in Lin-
coln, Rowan, and Cabarrus Counties, in the bounds
of our Synod, of which he was an efficient mem-
ber, and in which he repeatedly filled with honor
the highest offices. He was a liberal supporter of
benevolent institutions, and a warm and decided
friend of an enlightened and educated ministry.
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 537
Pie was himself an able and faithful minister of
the New Testament, rightly dividing the word of
eternal truth, and giving to both saints and sinners
their portion in due season. And I need not
add, in the presence of those who knew him long,
and who knew him well, that through the course
of his ministerial life, he uniformly adorned the
doctrines which he preached by zeal, fidelity, firm-
ness, and charity, and all those virtues that are so
essential to the character of the Christian minister.
He died of nervous fever on the 11th of September
last, in the 51st year of his age. While his ashes
sleep in the peaceful tomb, may his memory be
cherished by us with fraternal affection."
His body lies entombed in the Organ Church
graveyard, not far distant from the place where
repose the remains of Rev. C. A. G. Storch, and
where at this time the bodies of four Lutheran min-
isters sleep until the morning of the resurrection.
The following epitaph has been inscribed on the
marble slab which covers his mortal remains:
"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Henry
Graeber, who was born on the 28th of January,
1793; and departed this life on the 11th of Sep-
tember, 1843. Aged 50 years, 7 months, and 13
days.
1 The Gospel was his joy and song,
E'en to his latest breath;
The truth he had proclaimed so long,
Was his support in death.
The grave is now his favored spot,
To sleep in Jesus blessed,
There, where the wicked trouble not,
He laid his head to rest.'"
538
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Section 6. Endowment of a Second Professorship in
the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. (7.—
Memoir of Henry Midler, Sr.
The educational interests of the Lutheran
Church in the Carolinas had now become so
greatly developed, that it became necessary to
endow an additional professorship for the Theo-
logical Seminary at Lexington, S. C. Provision
had been made for several years past to have a
classical Professor connected with the Seminary,
and the Rev. Washington Muller, Rev. C. B.
Thuemmel, and Mr. S. E. Caughman had each
successively been appointed to this position by
the Board of Directors, and had acted in that
capacity; but for want of a permanent endowment
of this professorship, the arrangement was sub-
jected to repeated interruption.
The discussion of this matter, as well as that of
the location of the Seminary, during the year 1848,
in the columns of the Lutheran Observer, brought
the subject prominently before the Church, and
at the next meeting of the South Carolina Synod,
held at Sandy Run Church, in Lexington District,
the President of Synod recommended "the ap-
pointment of a special committee to investigate
and report upon this whole subject."
The committee appointed in accordance with
the recommendation of the President were: Revs.
John Bachman, D.D., John F. W. Leppard and
J. B. Anthony, of the clergy; and Messrs. George
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
539
M. Fulmer, John C. Geiger and John Rauch, of
the laity, who gave the matter a thorough and
prayerful consideration, closing their lengthy re-
port as follows:
"In the midst of our anxious and prayerful de-
liberations, a providential and thrilling scene pre-
sented itself, that gave a presentiment of God's
favor and our prospect of success. One of our
benevolent lay members, whose untiring zeal and
liberality has ever kept him far in advance of all
our other benefactors, and whose praise is in all
the churches, rose to present to this object the
sum of $4000, on condition that individuals from
the various portions of our Church should pledge
themselves to make up a similar amount, to be
appropriated to the same benevolent object. From
that moment we regarded the work as done. We
have only to say to ourselves, to our brethren, the
ministers, delegates, and members of our churches,
'go,' and in proportion to your circumstances, 'do
ye likewise,' and the object of our anxious solici-
tude and ardent prayers will be accomplished. We
have been purchased by the blood of Christ—let
us evidence our gratitude by contributing to send
the light of salvation to those for whom he died.
"The Church demands these small pecuniary
sacrifices—let us say to our people and to the
world, we esteem it an honor and a privilege to
respond to her call. Here, in the presence of the
Living God, surrounded by the ministers, and
fathers, and representatives of our beloved Church,
let us resolve that ere we separate for our distant
540
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
homes, nay, ere yon sun shall set, ere another
night shall intervene to awaken the feelings of
selfishness, or throw a shadow of doubt over the
bright picture of Christian benevolence which is
now before us, let us resolve in the strength, the
fear, and love, and in imitation of our benevolent
Master, whose office on earth was to go about
doing good, that this work shall be consummated.
Let us resolve with the pious men of old: < O
Jerusalem, if I forget thee, let my right hand for-
get her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let
my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I
remember not Jerusalem, my chief joy.;"
(Signed) John Bachman, George M. Fulmer,
John F. W. Leppard, John C. Geiger,
J. B. Anthony, John Rauch.
This stirring appeal had the desired effect—the
inspiration of a sense of this new duty and of love
to the Church pervaded the whole assembly, and
before the Synod closed that memorable day's
session, the required sum was pledged, secured,
and afterwards paid in as the instalments became
due. An additional sum of $3223 was subse-
quently added to this fund, through a seven
months' agency of Rev. G. D. Bernheim, who was
employed by the Board of Directors for this pur-
pose.
The following resolution of thanks to Mr. Henry
Muller, Sr., was then adopted:
"Resolved, That the thanks of this Synod be pre- IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 541
sented to our venerable and esteemed friend and
benefactor, Henry Muller, Sr., for his many labors
and sacrifices in behalf of our Theological Semin-
ary, and the various interests of the Church, for
his generous contributions from year to year, and
for his liberal donation to the Seminary, at our
present session, of $4000."
Mr. Muller's benefactions toward this object did
not cease with that donation; at his own expense
he had a dwelling erected, costing about $2000,
for the use of the second Professor, and donated it
to the Synod, so that this new enterprise for the
welfare of the Church could go into operation
forthwith.
No one can speak too highly of Mr. Henry
Muller's humble and devoted Christianity, and of
his never-failing and munificent acts of benevo-
lence. Not only did the Theological Seminary
receive a very large share of his benefactions, but
churches, Sunday-schools, ministers of the Gospel,
indigent students of theology, and many other
persons were assisted by him with-amounts in
proportion to their necessities. Never in travel-
ing over seventeen States of our Union has the
author seen Mr. Muller's equal in every respect;
such members are a blessing to any Church.
The amount of his wealth was not enormous;
many there are in almost any Synod, who possess
as much property, and even more than he did.
Besides, Mr. Muller had a large family of children,
to whom he gave all the advantages of a most liberal
education; but he had also a large heart, beaming
542
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
with the love of Christ, and regarding himself
merely as a steward, he was ready to aid any and
every worthy object that was presented to him.
As a just tribute to his memory, the following
account of his life will not be uninteresting:
Ernest Henry David Muller was born in the
Kingdom of Saxony, November 20th, 1774, and
was left an orphan at the early age of five or six
years. He was brought up in the city of Bremen as
a merchant, and came with his brother to America,
December 16th, 1805, being then in his thirty-first
year. He located himself at Granby, in Lexing-
ton District, and engaged in merchandising, but
afterwards moved his place of business to Sandy
Run. He was married to a Miss Geiger, a de-
scendant of the early German settlers of Saxe-
Gotha Township, Lexington District, and resided
near Piatt Springs. He was the father of eleven
children, five sons and six daughters, nine of
whom survived him. He departed this life in
great peace on the 12th of October, 1850, aged 75
years, 10 months and 22 days.
"In him," says the President of Synod, "the
Church has lost one of its most ardent lovers, the
institution at Lexington one of its warmest friends,
and the Board of Directors one of its most active
and useful members."
The following preamble and resolutions were
adopted by Synod in memory of this mournful
event:
"Whereas, It has pleased the kind Disposer of
all human events to remove from the endearments
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
543
of his family and friends—from the sphere of
active duty in society, and his labors of love in the
Church—the late Henry Muller, the Treasurer of
our Seminary; and whereas it is a pious duty to
cherish the memory and record for the imitation
of posterity the virtues of the benevolent and
pious, be it therefore—
"1. Resolved, That this Synod will cherish the
memory of our deceased brother, whose whole
life was an exhibition of those virtues which
emphatically characterize the just man. That
they feel grateful for the untiring zeal, industry
and accuracy with which he performed the duties
of Treasurer of the Seminary, from the time when
the institution was first organized until the day of
his death—and that we will ever bear in remem-
brance his acts of munificence, by which we were
enabled to establish a second professorship in the
Seminary, and those deeds of charity which char-
acterized his whole life, which rendered him an
ornament to the Christian Church while living,
and which will embalm his memory in the hearts
of pious men of all denominations after his re-
moval from the earth.
"2. Resolved, That this Synod will use their ut-
most efforts to promote the best interests of those
institutions in our Church which our deceased
brother so strenuously labored to cherish and ad-
vance; and that we feel thankful to the great
Head of the Church that we have enjoyed the
benefit of being stimulated by so noble an example,
544
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
who, although dead, still speaketh to us of the
high and holy duty of Christian beneficence.
"3. Resolved, That this Synod secure to the
family of the deceased Henry Muller, and their
descendants, one scholarship for the Seminary, as
long as the institution continues to exist.
"4. Resolved, That this Synod express their sym-
pathy and condolence with the bereaved family of
the deceased; that the Secretary transmit a copy
of these resolutions to the bereaved widow and
mourning family of the deceased, and that they be
published in our minutes and in the Lutheran
Observer."
Section 7. Colony of German Settlers at Walhalla,
S. C—Additional New Congregations organized
— The Mississippi and Texas Missions.
The number of German settlers in Charleston,
S. C, having increased rapidly within the past
few years, it was deemed advisable to locate a
German colony somewhere in the interior of the
State. Accordingly, about the year 1850, a land
company was formed among the Germans resid-
ing in Charleston, through the energetic labors of
Col. John A. Wagener, a public-spirited and en-
terprising German, and a large body of land was
purchased in Pickens District, S. C, of Col.
Gresham and others.
The land was admirably located, being in the
mountain regions of Carolina, exceedingly fertile
aud well adapted for the cultivation of all the nec-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
545
essary cereals, fruits and vegetables, with an abun-
dant supply of excellent water, free from the heat
of less elevated latitudes, and possessing a most
salubrious climate, making this settlement a most
desirable summer retreat for strangers from the
low country. A town was soon laid out, and re-
ceived the ancient German name, Walhalla, and
the remaining land was divided into farms and
sold to German settlers. So rapidly did the popu-
lation in the new settlement increase, that Wal-
halla has become a place of importance, even to
native American citizens. It has, of course, a
Lutheran church, for nearly all the original set-
tlers are of that faith. This church was erected
in 1855, under the pastoral care of Rev. C. F. Ban-
semer; it was built with a spire 112 feet in height;
but there are three churches of other denomina-
tions likewise located in the town. Newberry
College, the literary institution of the Lutheran
Synod of South Carolina, has been recently re-
moved to Walhalla, all of which, with its Female
Seminary, its trade and its abundant railroad fa-
cilities, will make Walhalla eventually one of the
largest inland towns in the mountain districts of
Carolina. It numbers now about 1500 inhabitants,
and has recently become the county seat of Oconee
County, a newly-formed judicial section of the
State.
In North Carolina, under the ministry of Rev.
W. G. Harter, a new Lutheran church was erected
in the town of Concord, and the Lutheran portion
of the old Coldwater Creek coni>reo;ation trans-46
546
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
planted thither, receiving the name St. James at
the day of its dedication, which event occurred on
the 6th of April, 1843. The dedication sermon
was preached by Rev. Henry Graeber from the
text Luke 14 : 23: "Compel them to come in, that
my house may be filled."
In the year 1850, a new congregation was or-
ganized in Rowan County, N. C, "seven miles
from Salisbury, on the Beattie's Ford Road, with
twenty-two members," under the ministry of Rev.
B. N. Hopkins. It afterwards received the name
of Salem Church. In the town of Newton, Ca-
tawba County, a new mission church was estab-
lished during the same year.
The Church in North Carolina under the care
of the Tennessee Synod became also greatly en-
larged, but it is impossible to particularize the
organization of new congregations, inasmuch as
these items are not reported in the minutes of that
time.
"On the fourth Sabbath in May," 1842, "a new
Lutheran church by the name of Corinth, in the
District of Edgefield, S. C, was dedicated to the
service of the triune God. The dedicatory ser-
mon was preached by Rev. G. Haltiwanger, Sr.,
and a sermon by Rev. Wm. Berly on the doctrines,
government and usages of the Lutheran Church
in this country. Rev. Messrs. Aull and Leppard
were present on the occasion, and rendered their
appropriate share of service."
In 1843, under the ministry of Rev. G. H.
Brown, a new Lutheran congregation was organ-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 547
ized and a church erected in Newberry District,
S. C, receiving the name of Beth-Eden. It was
dedicated on the second Sunday in September;
the ministers present on that occasion were Revs.
J. 0* Hope, H. Aull and the pastor in charge.
"Another church building was erected by the
St. Matthew's congregation, to be a branch of the
old church, which was dedicated to the service of
the triune God on Sun da}7, the 26th of March,
1843. Brethren in attendance—pastor in charge
and Brother Sheppard. This constitutes one of
the three churches connected with St. Matthews,"
in Orangeburg District, S. C.
St. David's Church, in Lexington District, S. C,
was organized and received in connection with
the South Carolina Synod in 1845.
In 1849 three new churches were dedicated for
newly-organized Lutheran congregations in South
Carolina, namely, one located on the Monk's
Corner Road, St. Matthew's Parish, Orangeburg
District, on the first Sunday in June. It is pre-
sumed that this is the church called "Trinity
Church."
Macedonia Church, in Lexington District, was
dedicated on the fourth Sunday in September by
Rev. Mr. Berly.
Another church, near Leesville, S. C, was con-
secrated on the fourth Sunday in October by Revs.
S. Bouknight, S. R. Sheppard and J. B. Lowman.
The Mississippi mission was commenced by the
Synod of South Carolina in the year 1846, when
the Rev. G. H. Brown resigned his pleasant Beth-
54:8
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Eden charge, and from conscientious convictions
of duty felt himself called to labor for the Church
in that promising field, where Lutheran colonists
from North and South Carolina had located them-
selves. The new missionary enterprise was not a
mere experiment, for, "after many discourage-
ments and severe trials," it became eminently suc-
cessful; the Lord blessed the labors of his faithful
servant, the Rev. Mr. Brown, who had not been
long in Mississippi when he called for more laborers,
and in 1847, the Rev. James D. Stingley came to
his assistance, who was soon followed by the Revs.
S. R. Sheppard, C. D. Austin and J. T. Warner.
A Synod was formed in that State in 1855, and
the Lutheran Church in Mississippi, after having
overcome many difficulties, appears at present to
be in a prosperous condition. The Revs. Brown,
Stingley and Sheppard have all been called to
their final rest and reward, but their works still
follow them.
In the year 1850, the South Carolina Synod
sent the Rev. George F. Guebner as a missionary
to the State of Texas, who, at first, traveled over
a considerable portion of its territory, organizing
congregations, but finally located himself in the
city of Galveston. Rev. Guebner remained there
but a few years, when his health failed him, and
he removed to one of the Northwestern States,
residing, a few years ago, in the State of Indiana,
and being in connection with the Evangelical
Union of the West. The Texas mission, however,
is not a failure; ministers from Germany located
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. 549
themselves there soon afterwards, and in consider-
able numbers, who now have a flourishing Synod
in that State.
Section 8. State of the Lutheran Church in the Caro-
linas, in the year 1850.
During the twenty-five or thirty years preceding
the year 1850, the Lutheran Church in North and
South Carolina made rapid progress in almost
every respect, and without any material addition
to her strength by foreign immigration, yea, even
with a constant drain upon her strength by the
removal of many of her members to the West.
Nor has she ever made any effort to propagate
her doctrines legitimately among those of no
ecclesiastical connection, but rather shrank from
all public notoriety, modestly laboring for the
good of those, whom G-od had specially committed
to her care; she has, notwithstanding, accom-
plished an amount of good fully equal to the talent
intrusted to her keeping. God has upheld her by
His own right hand, and preserved her for a work
and purpose that will glorify His name; and, judg-
ing from the past, will make her future still more
prosperous.
In 1820, when the Tennessee Synod was organ-
ized, only five ministers became connected with
it; and in 1850 the number had increased to
twenty-eight ministers, and, had not other Synods
been formed, with which some of its ministers be-
550
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
came connected, the increase on its clerical roll
would have been much larger.
The principal additions to its number of minis-
ters since 1840, were Revs. John Roth and Joel
W. Hull, who were ordained as deacons, Decem-
ber 13th, 1841; Rev. Dennis D. Swaney, ordained
as deacon in 1842; Revs. Jesse R. Peterson, Poly-
carp C. Henkel, Jacob M. Schaeffer, who were
ordained to the office of deacon, October 5th, 1843;
Revs. J. M. Wagner, Timothy Moser, ordained to
the same office, October 10th, 1844; Revs. James
K. Hancher, Thomas Crouse, ordained as deacons
in 1845; Rev. Adam Efird, ordained as above in
1847; Rev. D. M. Henkel, ordained October 5th,
1848; Revs. Socrates Henkel, D. Efird, J. B. Em-
mert, and James Fleenor, ordained to the deacon's
office in 1850. Of these, Revs. Hull, Peterson,
P. C. Henkel, T. Moser, T. Crouse, A. Efird, and
D. Efird, were laboring in North Carolina in 1850.
The Efird brothers soon afterwards removed to
South Carolina, and Rev. J. M. Wagner subse-
quently labored several years in North Carolina.
Rev. Adam Efird has since departed this life, Sep-
tember 13th, 1870.
The North Carolina Synod was likewise largely
increased by an addition of ministerial strength,
but the number of its ministers became greatly
reduced in 1842, by the organization of the West-
ern Virginia Synod, at which time the North
Carolina Synod became restricted within the
limits of its own proper State boundary, whilst at
the same time, nearly one-half of the strength of
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
551
the Lutheran Church in North Carolina is em-
braced in the Tennessee Synod.
The ministers who connected themselves with
the North Carolina Synod since 1840, were the
following:
Rev. John D. Scheck, of the South Carolina
Synod, who became the pastor successively of the
Salisbury, St. John's, Cabarrus County, and the
Alamance pastorates. During his ministry, and
in 1845, the large brick St. John's Church, in Ca-
barrus County, was erected, and was dedicated
August 22d, 1846. Its dimensions are eighty by
fifty-five feet, and is at present the fifth house of
worship, which has been built for this congrega-
tion, since the first settlement of Germans on Buf-
falo Creek, and was considered at the time the
largest and most commodious house of worship in
Western North Carolina.
Rev. William G. Harter, also from the South
Carolina Synod, became the pastor of the Concord
Church, whose history has already been men-
tioned.
Rev. Joseph A. Linn, a student both at Lexing-
ton, South Carolina, and Gettysburg, Pennsylva-
nia, and licensed in 1844, became the pastor of the
Gold Hill charge, in Rowan County, where he
was much beloved, and generally useful to the
Lutheran Church in North Carolina. His death
was a sad one: returning home on Sunday from
one of his churches, he was thrown from his horse,
which fractured his head, and he expired the fol-
lowing Wednesday, March 16th, 1864.
Rev. J. B. Anthony was received by the North
552
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Carolina Synod May 6th, 1844, and labored some
twenty years in the bounds of the North and South
Carolina Synods, but is at present residing in the
State of Pennsylvania, as pastor of the York Sul-
phur Springs charge.
Revs. Fink, Cofiman, and Hopkins were added
to the list of ministers successively in 1847, 1848,
and 1849, but their names had soon to be stricken
from the roll.
Rev. Levi C. Groseclose, a student from Lexing-
ton, S. C, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was li-
censed in 1849 by the West Virginia Synod, and
has been doing good service in the North Carolina
Synod since 1850, being at present the pastor of
the St. John's charge in Cabarrus County, N. C:
The Synod of South Carolina manifested at this
time a more rapid growth and a greater degree of
prosperity than either the North Carolina or Ten-
nessee Synods; this was owing to its Theological
Seminary and extensive missionary operations
outside of the limits of the State. In 1824 this
Synod was organized with seven ministers, and in
1849 it had forty-six ordained and licensed minis-
ters on its clerical roll; however, this number has
since been reduced by the formation of the Mis-
sissippi and Georgia Synods.
During the ten years preceding the year 1850,
the following ministers were added to the clerical
strength of the South Carolina Synod:
Rev. John F. W. Leppard, who was licensed No-
vember 30th, 1841, was the pastor of St. Stephen's
Church, Lexington Court-House, and Sandy Run
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
553
Church. He was adjunct Professor of Theology
at the Lexington Seminary during the years 1848
and 1849; he was an eloquent preacher, and a
man greatly beloved, but departed this life, Feb-
ruaryl3th, 1852.
Rev. P. Kisiler was licensed at the same time,
and labored successively in South and North Caro-
lina. He has connected himself with another de-
nomination.
Rev. C. F. Bansemer entered the ministry, Feb-
ruary 20th, 1842; was for several years pastor of
the Lutheran Church in Walhalla, S. C, and Pres-
ident of North Carolina College, at Mt. Pleasant,
K C, in 1867 and 1868.
Rev. F. W. Heemsoth was received as a member
of Synod in 1842; was pastor of the German Lu-
theran Church in Charleston, S. C, but returned
to Germany in 1848.
Rev. Elias B. Hort was licensed in 1842; became
the pastor of the Lutheran Church in Columbia, S. C, where he remained in office to the close of
his life. He died January 15th, 1863.
Rev. George H. Brown1's history has been given;
he was licensed in 1842.
Revs. George R. Haigler and James H. Bailey
were licensed November 11th, 1845. The former
labored for a time in St. Matthew's Parish, Orange-
burg District, after which he removed to Alabama.
The latter is still doing good service in Lexington
County, S. C.
Rev. L. Miiller, admitted as a member of Synod
in 1848. He is still the pastor of St. Matthew's
47
554
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
German Lutheran Church in Charleston, S. C.
His congregation has recently built a large and
magnificent church edifice, which was dedicated
March 28th, 1872.
Revs. E. Elmore, Eph. KiefTer, J. B. Lowman, B.
N". Hopkins and Ephraim Dufford, were licensed
November 24th, 1848. Revs. Elmore and Kieffer
labored in Georgia; Revs. Lowman and Dufford
are still laboring in South Carolina.
Rev. A. J. Karn became the pastor of the Lu-
theran Church at Savannah, Georgia, in 1848, and
connected himself with the South Carolina Synod
the next year. "He died December 19th, 1860,
in Chicago, Illinois, aged forty years."
Revs. George F. Guebner, G. D. Bernheim,
Mark Posey, CD. Austin, E. Caughman, A. W.
Lindler, D. Sheely and S. W. Bedenbaugh, were
admitted to the ministry November 14th, 1849,
all of whom are still living except Rev. Posey, who
died at Franconia, Alabama, August 26th, 1852.
Revs. Caughman, Lindler and Sheely are still
laboring in South Carolina; Rev. Bedenbaugh in
Georgia. The history of the others has already
been furnished, all of whom are still actively en-
gaged in the work of the ministry.
Section 9. Concluding Remarks.
In order to understand the age in which we live,
it is important and necessary that we should care-
fully study the history of the past. The various
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
555
and succeeding epochs of the world are not a num-
ber of disjointed parts rudely thrown together,
which might as well have happened at some other
time, but a successive course of events all occur-
ring "when the fulness of time was come."
The present is a development of the past; it is
the child of a parent that has stamped upon it
many of the characteristics and manifestations ot
the past. And as individuals are possessed of vir-
tues and faults, so is every age in which man lives
an intermixture of excellencies and errors, which
the study of history enables us to discover, so that
we may walk in the light of the one, and studi-
ously avoid the other.
In ecclesiastical affairs it is equally important
and even more necessary diligently to study the
history of the past, inasmuch as an error com-
mitted in the Church invariably leads to eternally
fatal consequences. And that departures and
errors have occurred in the Church is well known;
these should be ever kept in view, like so many
pillars of salt, with "Remember Lot's wife" in-
scribed upon them, so as to apprise us of our dan-
gers, and point out to us the path of safety.
We can become wiser than our forefathers, only
when we have mastered their knowledge and ex-
perience, and add our own thereto; but never by
obliterating the past, and starting upon a career
in the world, unprepared to meet and avoid its
dangers, and unfitted to take advantage of the op-
portunities it offers us.
As the Lutheran Church professes to be, and is,
556
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
in intimate connection with the past, let her not
unwisely assume the character and put on the garb
of infancy, casting away her priceless history and
experience, and starting upon a voyage on the
ocean of life without compass, rudder, anchor, or
chart.
These thoughts apply equally as well to the
local history of the Lutheran Church. Here in
America, yes in every Province or State, events
have occurred which have had their influence
upon her character, and which it is our duty to
know and to study. Had there been no depar-
tures either in faith or practice, there would never
have been any divisions; this is a truth which ec-
clesiastical history teaches us on almost every
page. It was once thought wise and praiseworthy
to cast aside the shackles of the past, by which the
Lutheran Church was believed to have been en-
slaved, and start her upon a new career with im-
proved doctrines, altered forms of worship and a
new cultus; but events have proved, that nothing
has been gained by this departure, but rather—that
thereby she "was wounded in the house of her
friends."
It is needless now to conceal the divisions that
are apparent in the Lutheran Church in the Caro-
lina^, as well as in America—they do exist; and
all our lamentations, &c, cannot heal them; they
are the legitimate developments of the past; let
us rather study them in the light of past experi-
ence, in order that we may discover the mistakes
then made, which prepared the way for such di-
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
557
visions, and endeavor to heal them at their very
root. Let us no longer make the attempt "to
agree to disagree," but honestly ask for the old
paths, diligently study "the faith once delivered
to the saints," so that we may intelligently and
"earnestly contend for itlet us in this way seek
to become united in faith and practice, not from
motives of policy, but as an honest conviction of
duty.
May then also this history of the Lutheran
Church in the Carolinas inspire our people and
their ministers with a greater respect for their
time-honored Church, and build upon the founda-
tion which their forefathers in the days of the Re-
formers have laid, and do this with such a zeal
and energy, as proceeds only from a conscientious
conviction of duty; then indeed will their labor be
productive both of the dissemination of the pure
doctrines of God's word, and of the glory of God
in the advancement of our Savior's kingdom on
earth. The fact, that inquiry has been awakened
in regard to these things in the Lutheran Church
both in Europe and in every section in America,
is a hopeful indication of her future healthy devel-
opment, and of her increased activity and pros-
perity.
"Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion:
for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and
favor the dust thereof." Psalm 102 : 13 and 14.
THE END.


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