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1830.

PHILADELPHIA SILK.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An extract of a letter from a gentleman of Lyons, in France, containing the proceedings of the Chamber of Commerce in relation to American Silk, &c.

The proceedings were originally published in the Precursor a paper published at Lyons, Jan. 3, 1830. Chamber of Commerce.-The chamber had requested one of its members to cause to be assayed at Lyons, the silk that has lately been prepared at Philadelphia.

portunity please to communicate the sad intelligence to
our friends in Ireland. Tell them I live, but that my
what I did, I cannot; suffice it that I acted as all brave
feelings have been dreadfully wounded.
To tell you
We have lost gallant officers and generous friends, uot
men placed like me in a similar situation, would act. —
in battle, for that we could bear, but by murder, by sav
age butchery.
our's is the loss, theirs the disgrace. When we meet [
The French dared not openly meet us;
well. I hope we shall soon be under your hospitable
will give you particulars. Captain Conyngham is doing

The assay took place recently upon a sample prepared by Mr. d'Homergue, of Nismes, son of Louis d'Hom-roof in Philadelphia. ergue, late proprietor of a splendid filature of silk, in the said town.

It results from that assay, publicly executed at Lyons, by Pierre Mazel, licensed assayer of silks, that the raw silk obtained in Philadelphia is of an extraordinary quality, and is admirably adapted to all the uses of fabrica tion. Its degree of fineness is 16 dwts, so that it would produce singles of 50 dwts; organzine of 32, and tram or woof silk of 30, a quality of silk extremely rare in our country. American silk is fine, nervous, good, regular, clean, of a fine colour; in a word it unites all the qualities that can be wished for. Its market price in the state of raw silk, well reeled, according to its different qualities, well prepared, would be 26 francs a pound, and the sale of it at Lyons, would be very easy, particularly if there was a constant supply of bales weighing from 100 to 150 pounds.

The Chamber of Commerce loses no time in publishing information so satisfactory. They ought, more than ever, to excite the Americans to plant mulberry trees and raise silk, a kind of industry that will afford great advantage to both countries, and may in future give birth to establishments of various kinds, and be a new source of wealth to the United States."

With great regard, your distressed friend,

LESLIE. PENNSYLV'A RAIL ROAD TERMINATION.

MR. STRICKLAND'S REPORT,
On the route recommended by the Cancl Commissioners,
continued over Markel street Bridge.

Schuylkill at Market street, with reference to the prac-
I have examined the Permanent Bridge crossing the
ticability of carrying the Pennsylvania Rail Road into the
city of Philadelphia at that point.
Bridge, together with the offsets on the abutments, are
The piers ef the
12 feet 5 inches above high water mark, and the floors
of the wooden superstructure or present road ways, are
eleven feet above the top of the piers and abutments.
separate tracks of rails, one on each side.
This space is amply sufficient for the passage of two
easy to suspend by rigid framing from the arches or ribs
It is quite
of the Bridge, a level floor corresponding with the chord
of each arch resting on the piers or abutments; this may
be effected by a continuation of the ties and braces from
the present ribs, and by cross lateral braces on the lev-
el floor above mentioned.

An entrance may be made on each side, and under

CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO BRAD- the present Road-ways by means of archways through

DOCK'S DEFEAT.

[COMMUNICATED.]

the mound and curtain walls of each abutment to the level floor, without any hindrance or interruption to the entrance on the present curved Roadways; in other sent floor of the bridge, with a clear headway of 11 feet. words, the Rail-way may be made to pass under the pre

Extract of a letter dated June 27, 1755. "Captain Jack, on joining General Braddock with his company, requested and obtained, an interview with the General. He told him he was a man inured to hard ships; that he knew the Indians habits; and requested him to let his company act as a reconnoitering party and ascertain the places where the Indian forces were lodged, especially as the Indians preferred stratagems to open warfare. General Braddock told him there was time enough for making arrangements, and that he had experienced troops on whom he could depend with confidence. Captain Jack, finding the General was firm, soon after withdrew into the interior of Penn-house of the Bridge, is upon the same plane with the sylvania."

Copy of a letter from Major Leslie to a respectable merchant of Philadelphia.

July 30, 1755. DEAR SIR-You have heard the disastrous termination of our expedition, with the loss of our General and most of the army. What could bravery accomplish against such an attack, as sudden as it was unexpected? the yell of the Indians is fresh on my ear, and the terrific sound will haunt me until the hour of my dissolution. I cannot describe the horrors of that scene; no pen could do it, or no painter delineate it so as to convey to you with any accuracy our unhappy situation. Our friend, Captain John Conyngham is severely wounded; his horse fell on the first fire, and before he could be disengaged from the animal, which had fallen on him, received a wound on his arm; and his life was sa ved by the enthusiasm of his men, who seeing his danger rushed between the savages and him and carried him in triumph from the spot. I need not tell you that the Captain is indebted for his life to the love his men had for him. Many had sacrificed their lives before he could be extricated from the horse. If you have an op

that the top of the piers and abutments of the Bridge, From the survey and levels-which I have taken, I find strike nine inches below the ground on its surface, at the junction of Ashton with Market street, and that this level is sufficiently high to pass the Rail Road on the east side, both up and down the Schuylkill, turning on the city property upon a radius of 356 feet, towards the Northern Liberties and Southwark on Ashton street. Thus the Delaware may be reached through both districts. The pavement of Market street near the Toll

to.

top of the piers of the Bridge, and therefore it will not require any alteration to effect the plan above alluded After passing the eastern abutment of the Bridge and the Toll house, the rail tracks may be continued in a straight line on each side of Market street without any difficulty to the public square at Broad street.

The approach of the Rail Road to the Permanent Bridge on the western side of the Schuylkill, may be made with little cost, over ground requiring at the greatest depression, but 12 feet of embankment, and that for a short distance say 600 feet, partly across a meadow of 350 feet, and upon a radius of 650 feet. The ground from this point to the northward being favorable along the west bank of the Schuylkill to Harding's at the upper bridge.

From a full investigation of this subject, I am of opin ion that the plan of crossing beneath the present bridge is altogether feasible and practicable, and may be effected at a moderate cost; and that the ground on either side of the Schuylkill at this point is exceedingly favourable for the purpose, without at all affecting any established regulations of property or accustomed modes of travelling. WM. STRICKLAND. Engineer.

Philada. Feb. 22, 1830.

192

Certificate from the Engineer employed by the State, in conjunction with Major Douglass.

Having acted as Assistant Engineer in the recent surveys made by Major D. B. Douglass, by order of the Canal Commissioners, for the termination of the Railway, and having in conjunction with Wm. Strickland, Esq. and Mr. Hains, the City Surveyor made examina tions, and taken the heights and levels of the piers of the Permanent bridge and the adjacent streets and ground, I have no hesitation in saying that I entirely concur in the preceding statement.

GEORGE MERRICK,

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Total ascent of the Road from Ashton to
Broad street,

25 8

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Abstract of the state of the funds of the University of
Pennsylvania, January 1, 1830. Read, March 4, 1830.
Nominal Value. Producing
REAL ESTATE.
Buildings occupied by the
public schools,

Medical Hall, houses, lots

and lands in Bucks, co.

Ground rents,

Botanic garden,

$40,000 00

97,510 00
61,549 33
8,000 00

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Gross am❜t of personal estate,
Gross am't of real estate,

28,031 06 167,059 33

Total estate real and personal, 195,090 39

$7,331 25
1,183 79
100 00

A new weekly paper, entitled the "American Manufacturer," has just issued from the press at Pittsburg.

Boats

Notwithstanding the severity of the winter, the Susquehanna and Juniata are clear of ice, without the least damage having been done to the public works. have already descended the Juniata, and passed the river lock at North's Island with expedition and entire safety.

Jefferson Medical College.-The additional Trustees of this College have unanimously chosen DANIEL Drake, M. D. of Cincinati, to be their Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, and he has accepted of that Professorship. Philadelphian.

Doylestown, Bucks Co. Feb. 22. February Court.-At the late session of the Court of Quarter Sessions, for this county, not one criminal cause came before the Court. But one bill was sent to the Grand Jury, and that was marked and returned ignoramSuch a state of things has very rarely occurred at the Session of our Court heretofore, and probably there are few living who can remember an instance where there was so little business for our Judges, Juries and Lawyers.

us.

PHLADELPHIA MARINE RAIL WAY.

The Philadelphia Marine Rail Way Company have completed their works, and request the attention of the Shipping interest and Carpenters to the establishment.

The company have not been sparing of labor or expense, in the efforts to make this an expeditious, convenient, and cheap agent in the hands of the carpenter for repairing vessels.

The apparatus for repairing ships has been made on an approved plan, and substantial structure; the yard is spacious and dry, the sheds, staging, &c. are all calculated for the rapid despatch of business; and the company presume that these circumstances, connected with the fact that the ship wrights of Philadelphia being excellent workmen, and employ good materials, our mer8,615 04 chants will be induced to bestow additional attention to having their vessels in good order, and the owners of those that come from other ports will find it their inter295 35 est to take advantage of these circumstances, and get their vessels repaired while here.

The establishment is provided with a complete iron crane for loads of two or three tons. This will be a good convenience for steam boats in putting in, or taking out, boilers, rocking beams, &c. The crane will also be hi

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6,675 35 8,615 04 15,290 39

As

a proof of the smallness of the expense of using the Rail Way, of twenty vessels that have employed it, the highest bill of expense any of them has had to pay, did not amount to one hundred & six dollars, and no vessel has paid so high as one hundred and fifteen, wharfage inclu ded. It is proper to remark that in all cases where salt has been put between the ceiling and plank for the preSec'ty. and Treasurer. servation of the timber the same remains uninjured, which cannot be the case when vessels are "Hove out."

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THE

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. V.-NO. 13.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 27, 1830.

[Communicated for the Register of Pennsylvania.] GERMAN LUTHERAN CONGREGATION

OF GERMANTOWN.

NO. 117.

pastor Muehlenberg, to take the congregation under his care; be accordingly held divine service at Germantown, on a week day, during the term allotted for his A Colony, principally of Wirtenbergers, settled in and tinued to do until the commencement of 1745, when officiating in the Philadelphia congregation; this he conabout Germantown, as early as 1684, and numbers of pastor Brunholtz arrived from Germany, to whose care German emigrants were added every year to this settle- the congregation was committed; he preached his first ment; a great many of these settlers were Lutherans, sermon at Germantown on the 5th of February 1745, they were situated, with respect to religious institutions and so arranged it, that he officiated alternately in Phillike their brethren in other parts of the Province; a-adelphia and Germantown; on the Sunday when he was mong them too, were found adventurers, who called absent, the schoolmaster of Philadelphia, Mr. Vigero, themselves Ministers of the Gospel, and who, filled the was instructed to read a sermon, for the members. office of pastors as long as the different congregations ter the arrival of pastors Hentzelman, F. Schultze, and could submit to the degradation, of having such men to Mr. Schaum, they occasionally supplied Mr. Brunholtz's officiate for them in their churches. Many of the better place. Having now regularly, every other Sunday, diclass, of the Germantown congregation, soon felt the vine service, the congregation increased considerably, state to which they had been reduced; for, wearied and the number of families belonging to it at this time, being disgusted with the conduct of these pretended ministers, about seventy;and it was found necessary to enlarge the they like many others, were induced to avail themselves, church. as much as possible, of the services of the Swedish Lutheran Ministers.

The Lutheran clergymen were always deservedly held in the highest estimation, by the Swedish Ger. Lutherans in the province; these gentlemen, actuated by truly christian motives, were ready, and willing to grant and give their services to their religious brethren, no matter of what country, (they were sent to the provinces expressly, for the Swedish settlers and their salaries paid out of the treasury of the king of Sweden.) The spirit of kindness shown by them, to the destitute German Lutherans, was so pleasing and congenial to the feeling, of the Arch Bishop of Sweden, that he expressed the highest satisfaction on being made acquainted therewith, and subsequently instructed his clergy in the provinces to continue their services to all Lutherans; and some time after, to cultivate particularly, a good understand. ing with the German Lutheran Synod; these instructions were so liberally construed, that the Swedish and German Lutheran ministers in the province, (after the arrival of pastor Muehlenberg,) for a considerable time formed one Synod.

It was by the advice of the Swedish minister, pastor Dylander, that the German Lutherans of Germantown, were induced to build their first stone Church, (or that part which stood nearest to the street,) the building of this church took place in 1737, the before mentioned Mr. Dylander, laid the corner stone of it and when finished officiated for some time as the pastor; he was therefore, the first regularly ordained Lutheran minister in Germantown; how long he continued his services, is not exactly known.

In 1740, this congregation had so much diminished, that those who professed to belong to the church, a mounted only to 6 or 7 persons.

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On the 15th of April 1746, the corner stone of the additional building was laid; this addition to the church was in length 30 feet and in breadth 6 feet wider, than the old church, the cost was estimated at £160 curren cy: of this sum the members had subscribed £60, the balance was borrowed upon interest. sacristy cost £56 in addition. The pews and

In 1748, the debt of this congregation was £236 cur. the congregation, 300 florins, which were applied toIn 1749, the consistory of Wirtenberg, presented to wards paying the debt.

In 1750, much dissatisfaction was shown, by the Philadelphia congregation, at Mr. Brunholtz, officiating every other Sunday at Germantown, and a complaint to this effect presented to the Synod. The services of pastor Brunholtz continued until 1751, in which year the organ was finished.

To this time Germantown was considered as a Parochial church of Philadelphia; the congregation had now become strong enough to support a minister, and pastor Handschuch was appointed; he preached his first sermon at Germantown, as the pastor of the place on the 29th of May, 1751, he and Mr. Brunholtz, however, often officiated for each other, in Philadelphia and Germantown.

New Colonists continued to arrive, many settled at Germantown, and caused a great increase of members of this Church. Among these new members, were some factious, turbulent and intemperate men, who soon succeeded in attaching to themselves a strong par ty of the congregation, in opposition to pastor Handschuch, and the smaller orderly part of the congregation who were his friends; this party succeeded in getting possession of the parsonage house and church, (in the After the arrival of pastor Muehlenberg in 1742, Val- erecting of which, they had neither trouble nor exentine Kraft, (who had been dismissed by the Phila-pense,) and in 1753, they elected for their minister, the delphia congregation,) had taken up his abode in Germantown, and was chosen minister of that place, but re-and organize the German Lutheran congregations in tained as such, only about a year, when this congrega- Pennsylvania; on his arrival, he connected himself with tion also thought proper to dismiss him;, and entreated the vagrant shoolmasters. The falsity of his pretended ehlenberg; after he left Germantown, it is not known mission, was only discovered, on the arrival of Mr. Muwhither he went-but he was in 1748, minister in Cannawaka.

Ponts.

Valentine Kraft, was a disowned minister of Deux On his arrival in Pennsylvania, he alledged that he was sent, by the Consistory of Darmstadt, to regulate VOL. V.

25

notorious Andreae. It was not long before this party disagreed among themselves, and before the death of Andreae a party of them elected parson Rapp for their minister.

a sum of money, but were unfortunate, and the congre gation derived no benefit from it. They afterwards resolved to send to Europe, and make collections in Germany and England, to pay the debt; but this was strenuously opposed by the German Lutheran ministers here, who succeeded in defeating this measure.

Pastor Handschuch, and his friends, (who were those who had built the church and were the most orderly part of the congregation) now withdrew; the number was small, consisting of only about twenty families, among whom were the elders and wardens of the church; this small party entreated Mr. Handschuch not to desert them; they rented a house for £12 per annum in March, 1753, in which they held divine service, and Mr. Handschuch also lived, and kept a school 4 days in the week. But it was soon perceived that pastor Handschuch could not subsist any longer in Germantown, and he removed to Philada, where he received the appointment of Professor Extra Lingua Gallice, in the Academy, in addition to some other employment; he continued, however, to visit Germantown, hokling divine service there. In 1756, pastors Handschuch, Muehlenberg, or Brun-year to year. Two or three of the obligations, were at holtz preached for the German Lutherans every other Sunday in the German Reformed Church; at this time, the party opposed to Mr. Rapp, had it in contemplation to build a church for themselves, in Germantown.

After the death of pastor Brunholtz, Mr. Handschuch was in 1757, elected minister of Philadelphia, it was therefore no longer possible for him to attend to Germantown, nor in the power of pastor Mueblenberg to do so, therefore, in 1758, that part of the congregation, opposed to Mr. Rapp,had no separate divine service. In that year the church officers of this party, purchased a lot of ground for £100, for the purpose of building thereon a School house, to serve for a meeting house, but it was not deemed prudent to commence building on it just then.

In 1759, pastor Muchlenberg preached occasionally, for the Lutherans, in the Reformed church-and about this time, a stone Schoolhouse was built at Barrenhill, twelve miles from Philadelphia, where a good school was kept, which was well attended by scholars-Mr. Muehlenberg preached in it several times.

St. Peters church at Barrenhill, was built in the year 1761. Pastor Muehlenberg laid the corner stone of it. The disturbances in the Germantown congregation, was one of the principal causes,of its being built;the situation was considered an excellent one for collecting, a large congregation, as the surrounding country was chiefly settled by Germans and the small distance from Germantown, enabled the party opposed to Mr. Rapp, to attend at this church. There is no doubt the congregation of the Barrenhill church, would soon have become numerous, had not the prospects, of the opponents of Mr. Rapp, at this time begun to brighten; strong hopes were entertained, of again getting possession of the Germantown church. Pastor Muehlenberg gave towards the building of the Barrenhill church, out of a certain legacy £24, he preached in it before it was roofed, in which state it had cost about £500 currency, and the cost of finishing it was upwards of £500 more. pears the congregation had subscribed very little towards the building of this church, for they were in debt upwards of £1,000, when the church was finished. In order to pay part of this debt, they (against the will of the Lutheran Clergy,) endeavoured by a lottery to raise

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Conrad Andreae, was like Kraft, a disowned minister of Deux Ponts; in 1750 the congregations of old Goshehoppe and Indianfield dismissed him for marrying a woman a second time, when he knew her first husband was living; he was here twice imprisoned for misdemeanors. After this he was minister in New Goshehoppe a short time; in 1751, he had a call to the congregation of New York, which he declined. After the congregation of New Goshehoppe, had, with great tronble, rid themselves of this man, he came to Germantown, where in 1753 he died, in miserable circumstances.

The creditors seeing no probability of having their claims liquidated, became very uneasy and insisted upon having the money due them, or security for its payment. To pay them was impossible, and nothing remained, but to give them the security they demanded; this was done by the Swedish provost Dr. Wrangle,pastor Muehlenberg, and Mr. Henry Keppele, who became security for the payment of the whole debt of the Barrenhill congregation, amounting to upwards of £1000 currency, these obligations, caused these gentlemen much uneasiness, altho' for some time, the creditors showed every disposition to be lenient-the interest even could not be paid and increased the debt from length put into the hands of an Attorney; another creditor, who held a bond for £300, when he understood others had demanded their money, insisted upon being paid, principal and interest without delay. When affairs came to this extremity the securities made up the amounts thus demanded, out of their own private funds to prevent further trouble, and expense. A short time after, a letter was received the Chaplain of the king of England, authorizing pastor Muehlenberg to draw on him, for £100 sterling, and with this money satisfy the most urgent and clamorous of the creditors. After this the church, school house and lot, were by indenture conveyed to the German Lutheran congregation of Philadelphia, and the church was to be considered, parochial to that of Philadelphia.

But what principally enabled the sureties, to meet their engagements, and re-pay themselves what they had advanced, was the legacy of a man of rank, (whose name was either unknown here, then, or if known, was kept secret, but is known now to have been the Count of Roedelsheim,) by whose Will 13,000 Gulden, were bequeathed to the German Lutheran Congregations of Pennsylvania, for certain purposes; 3,000 of which were expressly given, for the purpose of paying the debt for which Mr. Muehlenberg, and others, had become answerable on account of the Barrenhill Church.

Some years ago, this Church stocd much in need of repair, the congregation objected to making them, unless the right to the church was again restored to them; which the Philadelphia congregation agreed to, and it was accordingly re-conveyed to the Barrenhill congregation.

It is more than probable the transfer of this property to the Philadelphia congregation, was only a precautionary measure, to prevent the Church falling into the hands of those who had occasioned so much trouble in Germantown.

In the year 1762, a petition signed by upwards of 100 heads of families, belonging to the Germantown congregation, was presented to the Synod, praying that body again to appoint a Minister for them-to this the Synod replied, "that this could not well be done, as the church was then in the hands of those who had contributed nothing to its erection." To this the deputies of the petitioners answered, that they would have the Church restored to them; either amicably, or they would obtain possession of it, by a judicial decision; in the mean time they had made arrangements to have divine service performed, either in the German Reformed Chuch, or in the public schoolhouse. The Synod deliberated two days, on this business, and finally came to the conclusion that Peter Kurtz, of Tolpehocken, should go to Germantown, and officiate there, as minister.

This year; the party opposed to Parson Rapp, appointed six of their number to attend to, and conduct the suit, they had brought against their opponents, for the restoration of their church. Pastor Muehlenberg and

1830.]

GERMAN LUTHERAN CONGREGATION OF GERMANTOWN.

Provost Wrangel, preached occasionally for them in the
Reformed Church.

195

in the Church, when one of these tumults took place; he with others, was under the necessity of making his exit through the window.

Pastor Voight remained at Germantown only a short time. In March, 1765, he accepted a call to the congre gation of New Hanover and Providence.

was appointed by the Synod, minister of the congrega tions of Macunschy, Saccum, and Upper Dublin, where he remained until he died.

In April 1763,it was decided by the Court that the key of the church, should be delivered to the party oppo. sed to Parson Rapp, so that they might hold divine service in the church, on one Sunday, in the morning, and on the next Sunday in the afternoon; the other party to In the same year, Parson James Van Buskerk was ap have the same right. As the party which had so long pointed minister for this congregation. He was ordain been excluded from the church had now partial posses-ed a Deacon, at Providence, on the 11th October 1763, sion of it, it was necessary to maintain this right by hav- by Provost Wrangel, Peter Muehlenberg, &c. He offiing service in it regularly on the appointed days. Pas-ciated in the congregation about four years, when he tor Kurtz accordingly left Tolpehocken, to take charge of the Germantown congregation, and on the 1st May, 1763, he preached in the morning at Barrenhill, and in the afternoon in the Germantown church, without op- In June, 1769, Pastor John Frederick Schmidt acceptposition. Pastor John Nicholas Kurtz arrived in Phila- ed a call to this congregation. He preached his first delphia, (as a Catechist,) with Pastor Brunholtz, in sermon as Pastor, the 10th August following; he also 1745; he was ordained in Philadelphia, on the 26th of preached every other Sunday at noon, in the Parochial August 1748, and had been minister at Tulpehocken 17 Churches of Frankford and Whitepain, and occasionalyears before he was appointed minister for German-ly at Barrenhill: in which Church, divine service had town. From this place, he returned in 1764 to his old been held, every other Sunday by the Germantown congregation. About 1770, he was elected minister for ministers, during the times of Pastors Kurtz, Voight and the Yorktown congregation, where he continued twen- Buskerk. After Pastor Schmidt's election to Germanty years; he died at Baltimore at the advanced age of town, Mr. Daniel Schroeter, a student of theology, and 74. assistant in the Academy, to Professor Kuntze, of PhilaAfter Pastor Kurtz left Germantown, Pastor John delphia, had the charge of Barrenhill. After Mr. SchroeLudwig Voight was appointed. He was educated at ter's departure to Manheim, above Lancaster, Mr. Molthe University of Halle, and ordained at Werningorode; ler, another student of divinity, and assistant in the acahe arrived at Philadelphia on the 1st April, 1764. Short-demy, was appointed to officiate in that congregation, ly after his arrival, he was appointed minister of Ger- and continued to do so, until 1784, when he went to mantown, and preached his first sermon there the 10th Albany. At this time the congregation applied to Pasof June, 1764. tor Schmidt, for his services, who was under the neces sity of declining the call, but promised all the assistance his time and strength would permit.

At this time the troubles in this congregation were far from being allayed; the adherents of Parson Rapp were not satisfied, and continued to occasion many disturbances. It was their aim, once more to expel the party which adhered to the minister of the Synod, and serious fears were entertained in 1765, that they would succeed; at this crisis, the affairs of Parson Voight's party at once took a favorable turn. A person, high in office, interested himself in the concerns of this congregation--he appointed a day, when both parties should meet, and hold an election for the minister they wished to have, either Pastor Voight or Parson Rapp. An clection was accordingly held, when it appeared Pastor Voight had 120 votes, and Parson Rapp not a single one. In consequence of this election, Pastor Voight's party obtained entire possession of the church, and some time after of the Parsonage; and divine service was held regularly every Sunday.

No minister was ever more beloved and respected, or better calculated to restore order in a congregation than Pastor Schmidt. Such was his popularity, that the discontented again returned to the Church, and complete harmony was once more restored in the Germantown congregation.*

The congregations of Germantown and Barrenhill, were doomed to experience a severe visitation. On the British taking possession of Philadelphia, detachments of the enemy were pushed to Germantown, and beyond it. Pastor Schmidt's sentiments, as regarded the revolution, were well known. He lived at that time, in the first house above M'Clauagen's, since called Chew's house, and was compelled to leave Germantown, (as many members of his congregation did.) His house was plun dered by the enemy, and what was not carried away, was totally destroyed by them. His place of refuge was New Goshehoppe, where he endured many privations; after the British left Philadelphia, he returned to Germantown and to his pillaged dwelling.

In this way Parson Rapp lost his office, as minister of the German Lutheran Church of Germantown, after holding the same about 12 years, against the wishes of the Synod, and in spite of the influence Pastor Muehlenberg possessed with the German Lutherans, in the Provinces. (He, in a great measure, if not altogether regulated every important step taken in the different congregations, and either appointed, or had appointed, such ministers to the different churches, as he pleased. It was this influence that enabled him to have elected for the Philadelphia congregation, those ministers who preceded Pastor Helmuth, about which time his influ-borhood of it, had either been driven away, or had been ence was on the wane.)

The Church at Germantown received no material injury, but the organ had been destroyed. The Church at Barrenhill, had been by turns, occupied by the con tending armies, as a Battery and Stable. It had receiv ed considerable injury, and at the time of Pastor Schmidt's return to Germantown, was almost in ruin; full of rubbish and dirt. The inhabitants in the neigh

Pastor Schmidt continued (after his election to the Philadelphia congregation,) to officiate for this congre.

pillaged, and were then in a most miserably impoverishParson Rapp came to Pennsylvania with a colony of ed state, and destitute of even the necessaries of life.→ Germans in 1750. In 1751, when C. Andreae declined A large portion of the members of the Germantown a call to the New York congregation, he recommended church, were in the same state, and the distress of the Parson Rapp for that place. He went there in the mid-congregation for a considerable time after, was very dle of the year; how long he remained is not known; but great, of which the Pastor had his full share. in 1753 he was a minister in Germantown. He was a man of much firmness; and as a preacher, stood high a mong his followers. Many were the charges and complaints preferred against him to the Synod, even from *In 1812, 27 years after he had left Germantown, the members of his own congregation; but as he did not be- members of this congregation, on hearing of the death long to that body, no redress could be granted those of Pastor Schmidt,held a meeting, and resolved that their who complained. Many tumultuous and disorderly oc-corporation be requested to attend his funeral. At this currences took place, in, and out of the Church, during time, a poor man, aged 80 years, undertook to walk 11 his time. An aged man, still living at Germantown, was miles, to see once more his former pastor.

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