Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-18

namely, "Steflenstatt; Staunerstatt,
Mullerstatt, Winchesterstatt, and the
church at ROeder's." That means
Steflentown, Stauflcrtown, Woodstock
(which IN that day was called Millers-
town. Winchester and Roeders. The
petition earnestly begs Synod. to send
them minister to preach to them regu-
larly; but if this could not be done, then
they ask that some measure be taken by
which ministers might visit them several
times year.
The Synod informed the petitioners.
that it was not in her power to send
them pastor at that time, but encour-
aged them patiently to wait, in the hope
that they could be served, in the way OF
supply, till she would be able to furnish
them minister, who would live and
labor in their midst.
Rev. F. L. Henop. Of Frederick, Md
and Rev. Jacob Weymer of Hagers-
town, Nd, were the nearest Reformed
ministers, at that time, and doubtless
they made occasional visits up the Val
ley. to these shepherdless 1ocks, and
broke unto them the bread of life.
In l7GS. Rev. Charles Lange, then
pastor at Frederick, Nd, made journey
into Virginia. and on the 18th OF April.
held communion service in Woodstock
at which service he confirmed the fol-
lowing persons Geo. Leutz, Henry
Meyer, Peter Schafler Christopher
Zumwald, Anna Lauman, Anna NJ.
Zinsler, Catharine Schwartz. L Elizabeth
| recker. and others. That service was
held 1870 year, ago. | mention these
facts to confirm the opinion that ST
Paul's congregation was organized aS
early as l74S, and perhaps earlier.
rAsroRATE OF REV. BERNHARD f
WILLY.
The first regular pastor, Of whom we
have definite knowledge, was Rev:
/ Bernhard F. Willy. He was native o.
Switzerland. About the year 1873 the
SYNOD of the Reformed church in this
country. wrote to the Synod in Holland
asking them TO send over four ministers
to labor i'm Pennsylvania. The request
was granted, aud among the four young
men who were sent was Rev. Willy.
He was received as a member OF
( Synod at its annual meeting, in Reading,
/ Pa. April 9th. l7S5. His first charge
was Reading, but his pastorate there must
have been short, for in l7s6 or 81. he
moved to Woodstock, and became pastor
OF St. Paul's congregation. He also, In
. connection with Woodstock. preached at
various other points in Shenandoah,
Frederick, Page Rockingham, Hardy
and Pendleton counties
In the beginning Of his ministry, be-
( sides his pastoral work. he also taught a !
German and English parochial school.
But i'm time he ceased to teach, and de-
voted all his time to the work OF the
ministry. He preached in places quite
remote from his home, laboring inees-
sanity. and with much self-denial, where
ever destitoto field lay open. "from
wythe county to the Potomac. and from
the Blue Ridge to the Allegheny noun
tains."
Rev. Willy did not reside at Wood
stock, all the time Of his ministry in
Virginia. but lived while in Pendleton
Co.. and also a short time in Wythe
county, at the extreme end Of the Val
ley, not far from the borders Of North
Carolina and Tennessee.
Atlength he returned again to Uood-
stock. where he resided the remainder OF
his days. He continued in the active
duties of the ministry, though amid
bodily infrmities, until death released
him from his earthly tolls.
1t is said that just short time before
hi. death. when on his way to the church.
he stopped at the house Of old Mr.. Fravel.
and after resting awhile. he rose to 20
and aid to Mr.. Fravel: Come, let MS 60
up to the house Of God. feel that the
sands Of my life are almost run-perhaps
this will be my last seryice-as God
wills it," When he reached the church,
so exhausted was he, thas he was oblig-
ed to crawl up the pulpit steps on his
hands and knees.
His presentiment proved true. twas
the last time the aged shepherd minister
ed to his flock in holy things Shortly
after he was taken sick with typhoid
fever. which soon brought him to his
grave.
He died in the house now owned by
Mrs. DR.. Martin, in the month Of May,
1910. His body lies buried In the old
graveyard on the hill. near the south
east corner of where the old church once
stood. The exact spot where his sacred
dust lies, l regret to say, is unknown,
for there is neither inscription nor stone
to mark the place.
Rev. Willy was a man small in stature,
he was fine scholar, and was especially
proficient in the ancient languages,
wrote Latin freely and was in the habit
OF writing ont his skeletons or notes in
Latin. In his preaching he was instruc-
tive and fervent, kind and afiectionate
. and yet pointed and plain.
1t is now IS years since he died, yet
his memory is still cherished, and his
name hOnored.
, REV. JACOB SCHNEIDER.
Sometime after the death OF Rev.
. Willy, Rev. Jacob Schneider located at
Woodstock. Whether he ever became
the regular pastor Of st. Paul's congre-
CATION is doubtful 1t is more than likely