Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-04-28
tFor the Register.l
"Feast of Roses"-ItS Origin and
Where Celebrated.
BY ELIZABETH GALLAHER LEVY.

season and known as the "FeaSt OF
Roses" So, too, we find that in our
own time and land a similar festival is
celebrated each second Sunday in June in
Zion Lutheran Church - cred Rose
Church"-at Mannheim, Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania. AT the appointed hour
great throngS from far and near flock hither
to witness and participate in a strikingly
uniqe an beautiful service, in which re-
ligion and romance sweetly blend; but
the most important feature OF the occa-
sion is "the payment OF a red rose to the
heirs of Baron Henry William Stiegal or
their representatives"
Interest is at once awakened as TO when
and by whom such ceremony was intro
duced. To Baron Henry William Stiegal
it owes its origin. As early as 100 the
peaceful invasion of Pennsylvania by the
Germans left a pronounced impress upon
the history of province and common
wealth, and among those emigrating in
1850 was Henry William Stiegal, who,
having disposed OF vast possessions in
Germany for princely sum, came to
BriCkerSvllle, Pennsylvania. Soon after
his arrival, he wooed and won Elizabeth
Huber, who was ''the pretty daughter OF
a rich ironmaker." To further cement
their union, the Baron bought her fathers
furnace. BY perseverance and keen bus
mess instincts, he later on founded Man
helm, the now quaint and picturesque
town, so named for Mannheim, the cap
ital of the Palatinate on the Rhine, Ger
many, and Elizabeth Forge, at both OF
which he established mammoth iron
work and glass factories. So great was
his artistic skill in the manufacture of iron
during Revolutionary days, that itSeemed
as if a second Tubal Cain had arisen; in
deed, unto this day the Stiegal stove
plates are among the most interesting
and cherished mementoes ofbygone days,
many of them depicting such Biblical
scenes as Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel,
David and Goliath, &C. But his efforts
were by no means confined to these, as
he furnished cannon and ammunition
from Elizabeth Forge TO the Revolution.
"From Gen. Washington he received
a number OF Hessian prisoners OF war,
who were sent into the hills TO cut wood
and burn charcoal for the furnaces. >" The
original log church at BriCkersville was
used as a hospital, and many who fought
and died in the Revolutionary War were
laid in the adjoining burial ground.
Baron Stiegal was devout exponent
of the Lutheran faith, having been thor
oughly imbued with the principals in
"The Fatherland" Before the erection
of church, he delighted to gather about
him on each Sabbath his workmen from
the various foundrieS and TO instructthem
in the German language concerning the
Lutheran Church. This he did from l760
to l772, using a room which formed a
sort of chapel in his own "great house, "
which was far more beautiful and stately
than those OF The time, being built of
bricks which were imported, and then
hauled from Philadelphia distance OF
seventy miles. A portion OF the original
mansion on the northeast corner OF Mar
ket Square, and the 'Stiegal office, also
located on "the square," are objects OF
admiration and interest to the many Wis
itors who are in Mannheim from year to
year. Unfortunately, however, his gen.
erous Impulses of heart and method"
caused him to become heavily involved
in debt, the penalty for which under the
colonial laws meant Imprisonment, and it
was only after an appeal to the Colonial
Assembly that he was released. Copy
of advertisement OF such appeal is on
exhibition in the Danner Musuem at Man
helm. He returned home pennileSS, but
undaunted in courage, and, gathering up
the broken threads OF life, determined,
though in an humble capacity, TO serve
his felIowman. We next find him living
in what had been the choir-master's
house. Here he served as iaHitor, leader
OF the singing, and if the pastor failed to
appear on Sunday, the Baron read the
sermon for the day.
A Lutheran congregation had been or
ganized in I'LL, and December 4th, l772,
Baron Stiegal decided portion OF ground,
"beautiful for situation, in the town OF
Mannheim, to be used by this congregation
as church lot. "This deed, signed Nov
ember oath, l773, by Baron Stiegal and
his wife Elizabeth, stipulateS, for which
satisfaction is called for the payment of
five Shillings, and yielding and paying
therefore unto the said Henry William
Stiegal, heirs and assigns at Mannheim, in
the month of June, yearly forever here
after the rent of one red rose, if the same
shall be lawfully demanded. Only twice
during the Baron's life was this rent paid,
and not until 1891, when the present hand
some and commodiouS edifice was in
course of construction, that the old deed,
carefully stored away, yellowing with age,
and long since forgotten, was discovered,
and steps were at once taken to inveSti-
gate the history of the Baron. A goodly
number of heirs were found most anxious
to accord recognition and significance, tar
dy though ii was, TO this provision" of
the deed, and the "Feast of Roses be-
came an assured institution. The heir re-