Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-10-08

Graceham Moravian Church. the Rev.
Robert Huebener, pastor, is celebrating
its sesuuicent ennial this week. The fol-
lowing article is taken from the Sunday
edition of the Baltimore American of
October Sd, and written by Rev. Albert
l.. Oerter who now resides in Graceham.
The program for the services is as fol-
lows:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER Z.
7:30 p. M-Prase and Thanksgiving
service, closing sesqucentennialye year, con
Quoted by the present pastor, Kew. r..
Huebener. Addresses by former pastors:
Rev. J. J. Rcksecker, of Bethlehem, Pa. ;
Rev. M. F. Oerter, of Riverside, N. }.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8.
Sesquicentennial Anniversary Day.
1870 A. M.-Sermon, Rev. Thomas w.
Shields, of First Moravian church, York,
Pa.
II A. M.-Lovefeast., Address and
reading of letter describing centennial
celebration of 1858.
l2 M. The Holy Communion, Rev. f.
S. Hagen, of the Moravian church, Lititz,
Pa, presiding
1880 p. M. History of Graceham vii
lage and congregation, Rev. A. l.. Oerter
of Graceham.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9.
7:3O P. M.-Sermon, Rev. E. S. Hagen,
of Lititz, Pa.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10.
1880 P. M.-Sermon, Rev. J. J. Rick
seeker, of Bethlehem, Pa.
SUNDAY OCTOBER II.
GA. Sunday School, address by
Rev. T. w. Shields, of York, Pa.
10 A. Sermon, Rev. M. +. Oerter,
of Moravian church. Riverside, n. j.
7:l5P. M.-Junor and Senior Christian
Endeavor Rally.
SP. M.-Sermon, Rev. f. S. Hagen,
of Lititz, Pa. Closing address by the
pastor, Rev. K. Huebener.
The village of Graceham, pleasantly
situated in the northern part OF freder-
lex county, on the line of the Western
Maryland Railroad, aboul two miles east
of Thurmont, owes its origin, in part
to. the disinterested benevolence of the
Hon. Daniel Dulany the elder, who, in
TAG or 1747 donated 10 acres of his land
in the Monocacy Valley to the founders
of the Moravian Church at this place.
This came to pass in the following man
ner:
In l745 Moravian layreader and school
oh | N h.
eran and Reformed congregations that
worshipped in the first union church in
this section, after the death of their m in
lister, the Rev. Chandler, by the Rev.
Lawrence Nyberg, Lutheran minister,
of Lancaster, Pa, who installed John
Henry Herzer in the above named office.
The site of this first union church has
long been matter of careful investiga-
ton, which has been only partially sue
cessful. 1t was built by colony of Ter
mans, who were on their way to Virginia
the governor of that state having made
strenuous efforts to attract immigration
on the part of Germans, who at that time
were coming to America in large num-
bers, and whose efficiency in developing
new territory had been already demon
strated.
The MOnOCacy Settlement.
When this colony arrived in the Mon
ocacy Valley the country pleased them
so we'll and the terms offered by Mr.. Du-
lany were so liberal that they concluded
to remain there. They named their set
Element, which soon became very pros
porous, Monocacy. Those best qualified
to know have concluded that it was on
the old Indian trail, or State road, run
ming from Double Pipe Creek to Lewis
town, and in southwesterly direction to
the Valley of Virginia; and that the
church which the Germans built and
which the Graceham records state was
''about two miles from this place., was
con the west bank of the Monocacy Riv-
err, on the first knoll, near the Woods
borough pike bridge" (Rev. George A..
Whitmore's Sketch of Trinity Reformed
Church in Thurmont.)
The appointment of successor to
! Mr.. Herzer in the person OF the Rev.
! George Nicke caused dissatisfaction, and
| his opponents would not permit him to
preach in the church. Those who desir-
ed his services were, therefore, obliged
to hold their meetings and school in the
house of Jacob Weller, who had come to
the Monocacy Valley in l742, and whose
farm, now known as the old Firor place,
was only few miles distant from the
historic union church.
Not long after, Jacob Weller and Jacob
Matthes, being in Annapolis on business
called on Mr.. Dulany, with whom they
were acquainted, and when they had men,
toned their trouble with the church, he
concluded to give them the tract of II
acres mentioned above for church anC
schoolhouse. This tract was surveyed
by Thomas Cresap, deputy surveyor OF
t..nce Georges county (then including al
of Western Maryland), on the Bro OF
July, l747, and was named Dulany Gift
The Original Congregation.
At the southwestern end of this tract
on the site of the present Moravian par
sOnage, log building of two stories was
erected in TAG, in which the minister
resided and in which there was school
room on the first floor and meeting hal