Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-12-09

the venerable pastor with his white locks
is inconsistent with the fact that the
preacher-soldier was only few months
over twenty-nne years old. More his
toricaI is the graphic description OF one
OF his near relations, published sixty
years ago.
"HiS different congregations, widely
scattered, were notified that their beloved
pastor would deliver his farewell sermon.
The appointed day came. The rude
country church lit was the old log church
at Woodstock was filled to overfowing
with the hardy mountaineerS ofthe from
tier counties, among whom were collect
ed one or more of the companies, TO which
the forethought Of the convention had
given birth. SO great was the assem-
blage, that the quiet burial-place was filled
with crowds OF stern, excited men, who
had gathered believing that something,
they knew not what, would be done in
! behalf OF their suffering country. In this
spirit, the people awaited the arrival OF
him whom they were now to hear for the
last time. He came and assembled the
pulpit, his tall form arrayed in full uniform
over which his gown, the symbol OF his
! holy calling, was thrown. He was a
plain, straightforward speaker whose
| native eloQuenCe was well suited to the
people among whom he labored. After
recapitulating in words, that aroused the
coolest, story of their wrongs, and telling
them OF the sacred character of the Strug-
gle, in which he had unsheathed his sword
! and for which he had left the altar he had
vowed to serve, he said that, in the IAN
guage of Holy Writ there is time for all
things, a time to preach and time to
! pray, but those times have passed away
and in voice that re-echoed through the
church like trumpet-blaSt, there is a
time to fight, and that time has now come.
"The sermon finished, he pronounced
the benediction A breathleSS stiffness
brooded over the congregation. Deli5-
erateIy putting off his gown, which thus
far had covered his martial figure, ne
stood before them a glrded warrior; and
descending from the pulpit, ordered the
drums at the church door TO beat for re-
crutS. Then followed scene, to which
even the American Revolution, rich as it
is in bright examples OF the patriotic de-
votion OF the people, affords no parallel.
His audience excited in the highest degree
by his impaSSioned words, flocked around
him, eager to be rPnked among his fol-
lowers. Nearly three hundred men OF the
frontier churches that day enlisted under
his banner, and the gown then thrown
of was worn for the last time.
The robe, no longer used by its owner,
was given to one Of his successors in the
ministry of the Lutheran Church, Rev.
Paul Henkel, through whom it has come
10 us. II is unlikely that, in those pio-
neer days, Lutheran pastor had more
than one robe. II is here today as mem
oria Of what our people contributed TO
the independence of our country, and OF
fidelity of this eminent man, whose career
is familiar to every student OF our revolu-
tlonary struggle, TO the Church OF his
fathers. and whose services as devoted
Lutheran layman where probably even
more far-reaching in their influence than
those which he could have rendered if
he had continued TO wear this official
robe.
Nor should il be forgotten, at this time
and place, that it was from the Lutheran
people of that region, represented IN
those congregations, that DR.. ChaS. p.
Krauth, whose name is commemorated in
our library building, came. The name Of
his mothers family, the HenkelS, occurs
several times on the roster OF that Eighth
Virginia regiment, while its Lieutenant
Colonel was OF the same family as the
mother Of another most closely connected
with this Seminary, and the General
Council, DR.. B. NJ. Schmucker. It was
in the Shenandoah Valley, and amidst the
community where the event this robe
survives had still living witnesses, that
founders of this Seminary were prepared
10 contribute to the work that is to con-
tinue on these grounds from generation 10
generation.
II. too, we Lutherans are sometimes
made to feel by our neighbors that we are
mere guests in this land, and enjoy the
privilege OF American citizenship by
courtesy rather than by right, this gown
reminds us that this is not simply the land
OF our adoption, but that our fathers had
a prominent part in the founding OF this
nation, and that while large portion OF
the English element that now demands
recognition as most American in its claim
where either hostile or indifferent in the
hour of decision, the Germans and their
defendants, from New York TO the Caro-
linas, standing as united body under the
leadership OF the Muhlen5ergs, were the
determining factor, When tne issue nunS
in the balance
Or this battlefield OF Germantown
where Muhlenberg's figure shone con-
spicuouslY in the struggle, and particular
~ OF Yorktown, where he led the final
charge that swept away the last opposi-
ton of the enemy, the right OF the Luther
an Church to claim this land as her home.
was sufficiently established. We are not
aliens, but are charter members OF this
great nation. We may well address the
question TO some who challenge our
claims, But who are you Where were
your fathers in the days that tried mems
souls =? What contribution did they make
to American independence ?"