Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-12-09
THE STORY OF MUHLENBERG.
BY DIR. HENRY E. JACOBS.

thefan Church at Woodstock, Va, at the
beginning of the Revolutionary War, was
loaned to the Philadelphia Seminary by
Mr.. Ambrose L. Henkel, OF New Market,
Va. and its exhibition at the opening ex-
ercises OF the Seminary, on September
30th, was the occasion OF the interesting
address published herewith.
II is our privilege to have IN Our care
today memento that uniteS the names oi
two devoted servants OF our Lutheran
Church in America of period long before
the founding of this Seminary. They la
bored faithfully in their day; and the en-
tire Church has entered into the fruit ot
their labors.
The contrast between them was most
striking. One vas the Peter OF our early
Church, who drew his sword and struck.
The other was the Paul, the great plo-
neer of our early home mission work, and
the strenuous advocate of pure faith in
a period OF doctrinal indifference.
By the kindness OF MIR. Ambrose L.
Henkel, OF New Market, Va, clerical
robe is here, which through the hands OF
Rev. Socrates Henkel, his father, and
through those of Rev. Andrew Henkel, OF
Ohio, came from the Rev. Paul Henkel,
to whom it was presented, after he ceaS-
ed to be a minister, by the Rev. Peter
Muhlenberg, the distinguished general OF
the American Revolution.
Paul Henkel, descendant of Ger
mantown and Chestnut Hill family, whose
Rev. Anthony Jacob Henkel,
was the first Lutheran minister perma-
nently settled in this neighborhood, was
born in North Carolina in 1854, and died
in Virginia, i'll 1925. Throughout the Shen-
andoah Valley OF Virginia, and the neigh
boring parts OF West Virginia into the
Piedmont district of North Carolina, far
into the highlands OF South Carolina, into
Kentucky and Tennessee, throughout
Southern Ohio, and into Indiana, this
tireleSS missionary of our Church pressed
as Lutheran evangelist to no less than
eight States. The founder of numerous
he was diligent seeker
after souls, as well as intent on providing
for churches. A member at the same time
OF three synodS, Pennsylvania, North
Caralina, Ohio, he was also one OF the
founders of three, North Carolina, Ohio
and Tennessee. AS the manuscript re-
ports, in his own handwriting, preserved
in our library building show, he was a
typical pioneer missionary, travelling
through long stretches OF SparSely settled
country, often in storm and rain, in his
primitive conveyance, sleeping in the
"open," fording and swimming streams.
and seeking those who for many years
had not theard the preaching ofthe gospel.
In house or barn or grove, he found
places for proclaiming the Word, while,
as true shepherd ofSoulS, and often ac-
by his energetic wife, he fol-
lowed the lost sheep into their rude homes
in the remotest receSseS, baptized the
young, taught the catechiSm, and even
visited those under charge OF capital crime
in prison. How he resisted compromises
of the simple faith of our fathers with in
novationS thought to be better adapted to
conditions, and how his chill
dren and grand children, following in his
footsteps, prepared and published the first
edition OF our confessions in the English
language, derided at the time, but in these
later years attaining due recognition, is
a matter of history.
Licensed at York, Pa, by Our Minister
ium in 1888, he was presented, whether
at that time or later, by General Peter
his predecessor in some Of
his congregations, with the clerical robe
which the latter wore when a pastor at
Va. This robe is connected
with one of the most dramatic episodes
n American history.
Born at the Trappe in l745, studying at
The University at Halle, and serving for a
lime in the German Army, the Rev. and
Major General Muhlenberg was licensed
by the Ministerium OF Pennsylvania in
l76S, and took charge Of congregations in
New Jersey. Called to the pastorate OF
Lutheran congregations in the Shenandoah
Valley, in order to obtain recognition
from the State Church, at time when the
reigning family in England and in Luth-
eran Hanover was one, he made trip to
England and was ordained by the Bishop
Of London in l772, and filled at the same
time the anomalous position OF pastor
Of the Lutheran, and rector OF the State
Church. 1t was in that period of eccleS-
astical confusion, when a minister could
belong to several synodS and congrega-
ions here in Pennsylvania claimed to be
both Lutheran and Reformed. But that
MS relations to the Episcopal Church were
only incidental, is shown by his activity
n later years as Lutheran layman, his
OF the corporation OF Zion'S
md ST. Michael's, and his leadership in
he establishment OF the first English LII
heran Church in Philadelphia in 1906, OF
which he is the actual founder. What
glorious confession OF faith he made in
lis appeal for English Lutheran services
n Philadelphia, in 1904. Born, baptized
Ind broughtup in the Evangelical Luther
IN Church, having made a solemn vow at
,ur confirmation before God and the
Church, to abide faithful to the doctrines
If our Church in life and death, we have
10 higher wish than that we, our children
Ind our children's children, may abide
;teadfaSt in this doctrine.
1--WE want, therefore, for ourselves,
Ind our children, preaching, hymns md
Instruction in the Evangelical Lutheran