The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-05-18

- SSpOIluIIS secretary |
was Rev. J. G. Fritchey, and Rev. d.
y. l-erch was the first treasurer. His
task was not an arduous one, evident
~, for the funds of this first Chassis
amounted to $1,000; but that small
sum, meaning more, however, then,I
than it does now, was the beginning
of a financial strength far greater
than the mere statistical figures
given elsewhere in this article, for
vast wealth is represented in this de-
nomination, and the Church has been |
able to reckon on the most supreme
loyalty on the part Of it's men Of
wealth. as we'll as upon those not
rich in worldly goods. But for this
marvellous fidelity to the faith of
their fathers, on the part Of the
sturdy pioneers, long deprived of re-
ligious services and the semblance Of
Church organization, there would be
no such thing as a Reformed Church
in North Carolina.
Churches Now Historical.
h delegates to this first Chassis
represented congregations hat today
are shrines of historic importance.
They came from EmmanuelS, Grace,
St. Paul's, st. Johns, and Daniels in
what was then Lincoln county, but
part of which is now Catawba; from
Grace, Bear Creek, Savitz's and Cold
| water in Rowan, Cabarrus and Mont
gomery countless; from Coolies,
Clapp's, Schumaker's, and Storner's
from Becks ~EmmanueTs, Leonard's
(nOw called Pilgrim), and Sewers
tcalled Beulah), in Davidson county.
Eight men represented these cOngre-
cations; one hundred will represent
the same territory in the Newton
meeting May 21; and it is safe to say
that the major portion of the dele
L oo&or will I0 1~oo Sc
the men who formed the cOngrega-
tons represented at the initial
Chassis.
Overcoming a Handicap.
The great problem before that first
meeting was the supply of ministers
to shepherd the scattered congrega-
tons. 1t had been the pressing need
Of the Reformed people for a genera
tion, and longer. In those earlier days
preachers were few and far between;
and it Is a remarkable page in the
history Of these Germans that al
though handicapped as a denomina-
: ton by the lack of preachers, they
built their churches and chung with
~tenacity to their religious belief, until
the day dawned when the denomina-
l ton was equipped with all the need
full machinery for prepetuating itself
( Yet it lost much during those frs
yearS and later because it's people OF
!: moving to sections outside the i'm
4 mediate counties settled by the pio'
!. neers, found their faith unknown ant
! were absorbed into other denomina,
: tions. These German people for man!
[ years were handicapped by their ig
nOrance of the English language, ant
, they took little or no part in public
+ affairs. Essentially a farming people
= they took no part in the towns of tn
Piedmont and thereby lost many PEG
4 - 49, L.
I been only in comparatively recen
years that in many towns the Reform
ed people began to build churches an,
establish themselves. In fact, whel
their entire history in the State is re
viewed, one marvels that the denOmi
a nation has attained any degree Of i'm
d p%ortance at all; and yet in the Pied
q mont counties its people have fO
a years been a potent force in socia
civic. industrial and religious life.
s Flee From Persecution.
s Much of the colonial history of tn
State is wrapped up in the coming c
y these Germans to North Carolina. TIL
hideOuS thirty years war which ha
made a desOlate waste Of the magnif
1, cent Palatinate, and the ~persecutiO
n Of Protestants in both Germany an
IS France, drove these people to Amer
ID lea. They went largely into Pennsy
ip vania beginning with 1907, thong
"a many had come much earlier. Fro
1925 to 1878, more than 80, 200 ha
v. landed in Philadelphia, bearing name
n that are common in Eastern Pennsy
he vania today, and in Western Mort
I'd Carolina. From Pennsylvania an
I'd Virginia they came to Carolina, G
H. account of the advantageous tern
st offered by the Lords PrOprietors ar
r. because they found -salubrio,
climate and a soil Of surprising fe
I'd tility. The first settlement of the:
at people was at BATH in 1890. The
he were members of the Reformt
We Church of France. The mex color
ed was that of the Palatines and Swi
er led by de Graffepreid. who in III
I'd came to Carolina and founded Ne
RS, Berne in honor of Berne in SWitZe
er land. This colony was practically :
nd murdered by dial
lie High Tide OF Immigration.
Ial The German immigration was
- h;-h f;1o- frnr 1TAE RI .1776t gTho