The Life of Rev. Michael Schlatter with a Full Account of His Travels and Labors Among The Germans in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia ... 1716 to 1790

384 Pages·1857·7.698 MB·English

by  Henry Harbaugh

:
THE LIFE
REY. MICHAEL SCHLATTER;
WITH A PULL ACCOUNT OF HIS
TRAVELS AND LABORS
^tXlMU
t
IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND AND VIR-
GINIA; INCLUDING HIS SERVICES AS CHAPLAIN
IN THE FRENCHAND INDIANWAR, AND IN
THE WAR OP THE REVOLUTION.
1T16 TO 1790.
EEV. H. HARBAITGH, A.M.,
MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSTLVANIi; AUTHOR OF "THE SAINTED
DEAD,""HEAVENLY EECOGNITION,""HEAVENLY HOME," "BIRDS OP
THEItlBLE.""UNIONVaTH THE CHUBCH,"ETC.ETC.
Durch meine FederKommtdieses"Weheklagen derelenden,
verlasseneDjhirtenloseuundurnHiilfeschreiendenPennsylva-
nischenGemeindengegenwartigzueurenOhren
1
Schlatter's Appeal to the Churches op Europe,1752.
PHILADELPHIA
LINDSAY BLAKISTON.
&
1S5
7.
/^.
Entered,accordingtoActofCongress,intheyear1857,by
REV. 11. IIARBAUair,
in theClerk's Office ofthe District Court oftheUnited States forthe Eastern
DistrictofPennsylvania.
BTEREOTYPEBDYJ.PAGAN PRINTED BY C.SnZRMAN & 60N.
TO
THE MEMBERS
OFTHE
(Bitmrn ^efeimlj €^\m\ in ^mmm,
WHO
ARE NOW EEAPING TUB RICHPRUITS
OF THE
LITE AND LABORS
HEREIN POKTEAYED,
THIS
VOLUME
13
3£le»i)ectfulls SBBetiicntcti.
(iii)

PREFACE,
The recordsofan earnestand laborious life,nearlyhalf
a century of which was spent in the religious interests of
the Germans in Pennsylvania, NewJersey, Maryland, and
—
Virginia a life, too, belonging entirely to the last cen-
tury, including what may be called the formative period
in Church and State, and extending through the perils of
—
ourcountry'stwo-tediouswars canhardlyfailto possess
some interest to all who are wont to commune with tlie
past.
Bythe ministers and members ofthe German Reformed
Churchparticularly, the life and labors ofRev. Michael
Schlatter must ever be held in grateful remembrance
;
and an endeavor to revive the story ofhis toils and sacri-
fices in the proper and permanent organization of the
infant church inAmerica, will no doubt meet theircordial
approval. Should we have succeeded in any degree to
their satisfaction, we will be glad of the result.
Itis nowsixty-sixyears sincethe subjectofthis memoir
fell asleep, and thus long have the records of his life and
labors been exposed to the wasting, scattering power of
(v)
VI PREFACE.
time, and intervening changes. Under these circum-
stances it cannot be an easy labor to reproduce a life, the
scenes of whose activities lie entirely in the last century.
We cannot, therefore, hope that our work is free from
errors yet, the notes will show that we have endeavored
;
to go to the sources, and we hope will give the reader
confidence in the authenticity of our statements.
—
We believe it will appear for we have sought to be
—
careful on this point that we have not made a hero of
the subject of our memoir. We have not consciously
indulged either in inflated eulogy on Mr. Schlatter, or in
sounding glorification ofthe German Reformed Church,in
whoseinterestshe labored. Desirous ofpursuingtheways
ofbettertaste and bettermorals, itwas always our aim to
state history, notto make it, and in simplicity and godly
sincerityto tell the tale as the records have told it to us.
Though the sources and authorities are carefully indi-
cated in the notes, and, in some cases, favors are also
acknowledged, yet we desire here to express our thanks
for important assistance rendered by J. D. Rupp, of
Harrisburg^ John P. Watson, and Kev. H. Haverstick,
of Germantown Samuel Hazard, Townsend Ward, C.
;
W. Carrigan, and Rev. Dr. Bomberger, ofPhiladelphia
;
Rev. Dr. T. W. De Witt, of New York Prof. T. C.
;
Porter, Prof W. M. Nevin, and Mr. Wittenweiler, of
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster; Rev. J. G.
Wolf, of Woodstock, Virginia; J. S. Dubbs, A. B., of
Lehigh County Lewis M. Harbaugh, of Hagerstown,
;
Md. ; Alfred Snyder, Esq., of Manayunk, Pa. ; Rev. E.
;;
PREFACE. Vll
L. Schwartz, of Boston, Mass. Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick,
;
of Amwell, N. J. ; Rev. J. 0. Miller, and J. L. Mayer,
of York, Pa. Rev. A. Helfenstein, of New Holland
;
Rev. W. M. Baum, of Barren Hill, Pa.; and Rev. J.
Glinz, German Reformed Pastor in St. Gall, Switzerland.
May this volume be blest to the Church for which
Schlatter labored. The Lord continue to render fruitful
this vine which his own right hand has planted on these
western shores, and cause it to send out its boughs unto
the sea, andits branches unto the rivers. May the con-
gregations which here find how tenderly theywere nursed
in their infancy, now that they are strong, not cease to
bless God for His goodness which has been ever of old
—
and Thou, everblessed Headofthe Church who,before
we or ourfatherswere born, didstfurnish us in her bosom
—
so firm a refuge, and so sweet a rest, let the people
praise Thee, Lord Jesus, let all the people praise
Thee.
H. H.
Lanoastek, Pa., April, 1857.