Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-18
For the SPECTATOR.
The Old Lutheran Church, Woodstock.

This venerable building, whose associate
history dates back of the Revolutionary
war and links us to early Colonial times, is
| fast being dismantled preparatory to the
erection of new edifce by the congrega.
| ton.
The Lutheran congregation in Wood.
stock, Va, is one of the Oldest in the
Lutheran Synod, and has connected with il
not little of historic interest. Although
the present church building was begun as
late as 1908, the earliest records of the
congregation begins with the baptism OF
an infant the 18th of June, 1853. The
old communion service still in use, and
quantity embroidered altar cloth. bear the
date of 1857.
The congregation at that period probably
received occasional visits and service from
the pastor of the Lutheran church in Mad
ison county, the history of which goes back
to 1920, and reckoned among it's supporters
the illustrious Gustavus Adolphus, of Swe-
den. - sr..a4
There is no mention Of a regular pastor
in Woodstock until 1772, when John Peter
Muhlenburg (the son Of Dr. Henry Mel
chiQn Muhlenburg, the patriarch of Lu-
theranism in America) removed from Penn
sylvania to the Valley of Virginia, at the
request of the German settlers, who had
formed themselves into a congregation and
desired pastor. In order that the Lu-
theran minister might enforce the pay
ment of tithes, it was necessary he should
be invested with Episcopal ordination.
Accordingly, Mr.. Muhlenburg repaired to
England and was ordained as priest by the
Lord Bishop Of London. On his return,
he Immediately took charge of the field Of
labor to which he had been invited, among
the Lutherans of Shenandoah, then Dun
more county. 1t has been but few years
since the low, weather-beaten house, once
occupied by Peter Muhlenburg, was torn
down to give place to a handsome drug
store. In its low-ceied, heavily y-timbered
rooms, with their immense replaces,
George ashington-tradition says-has
been guest, while passing up and down
the Valley of Virginia on his surveying
expeditions or Indian campaigns. When
Muhlenburg's Lutheran church stood just
across the way, and prayers for the welfare
of His Majesty, George the Third, were
duly offered. It was doubtless in the hos
pitality of the Lutheran parsonage that the
intimacy and friendship between Washing
ton and Muhlenburg began, which seems
never to have been broken. For it was at
the solicitation of Washington that the
pastor laid aside his clerical gown to as
sumo the garb of soldier.
The stirring words of Mr. Muhlenburg's
valedictory sermon to his flock have come
down to us. When eloquently depicting
the wrong suffered by the Colonies at the
hands Of Great Britain, he concluded thus:
sfThere is time for all things-a time to
preach and time to pray; but there is also
al time to fight, and that time has nolv comer'
=, fho,, tho hon Lo 1o.I
off his gown, displaying the uniform he
wore beneath, and proceeding to the church
door, he ordered the drums to beat for re-
cruits. He returned no more to the pull
pit; but afIer serving his country, both as
soldier and statesman, he died in the vicin-
ity of Philadel phia in 1907. It is interest
ing to note in this connection, that the ini-
tial revolutionary Y steps in Virginia were
taken at meeting held in Woodstock, June
10th, 1774, year prior to the celebrated
Mecklenburg meeting. Spirited resolutions
were adopted, and sev. Peter Muhlenburg
was chosen moderate 7 OF the meeting, and
afterward chairman Of the committee. He
writes to his brother at this time: 81 am
again chosen chairman, so whether l choose
or not l am to be poll tician."
After Muhlenburg entered the army,
Woodstock Lutheran church had no regu-
lar pastor until about 1906, when Rev.
Nicholas Schmucker took charge Of the
church in connection with several neigh
boring congregations. For many years the
services had been conducted exclusively in
German. But the children of the sturdy
settlers were Americans, and desired a
church-service in their native tongue; and
despite the murmurings and bitter objec-
tions of those who remember ed the church
of the Fatherland, the ecclesiastic authori-
ties sanctioned the use of the English Ian
guage. And now another generation calls
for the removal of the time-worn temple;
and, as l write, the old walls, where cluster
pathetic, solemn memories, are being taken
down, brick by brick. The high pulpit,
assembled by halfa-dozen steps, was removed
some years ago. Now, the wide, square
galleries, the straight, narrow pews, the
many-paned windows, all, all are gone. The
sound Of saw and hammer will soon dis
turb the silence Of the old church yard,
where sleep many who hearkened to the
voices Of Schmucler, Ulrich, Campbell,
Cline, and other pastors, who have broken
to this people the bread of life. We bid
farewell with half regret to this interesting
old house of worship, whose church-life
first arose amid stormy times; we fold it
away with the pages of Wirginia's early
history, hoping that the congregation in
the new edifice meditated NAV go on from
strength to strength.
LUCY RANDOLPH FLEMING.
The Ndnse, Woodstock, Va.