Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-03-17
his friendships in. 1.-The colonies

was thus extended. Patrick Henry
Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas
Jefferson, all Virginians, were
members Of this circle. The
&c rgetown Lutheran congrega-
ton, which dates from 1863, came
also, no doubt, under the foster.
& care of Rev. Muller berg,
who made missionary tours in
many directions to minister to the
scattered Lutllerans Of those
pioneer days. The little log
church of these Lutllerans along
the mock Creek antedated any
church in the old settlement Of
| Georgetown. 1t was not unit
the year 1900 that the seat of the
national government was located
OH the Potomac River at what is
now the city Of Washington. of
which Georgetown was made an
incorporated part.
The momentous DAYS Just pre-
ceding the American Revolution
had come. Pastor Muhlenberg's
whole heart was with his native
county. He was appointed a
member of the Virginia CON-
mittee of Safety, Of the House of
Burgesses, and Of the State Con-
vention. At a meeting, which
was held in his own town and
called to consider such steps as
ought to be taken III view of the
fortboding outlook for the cause
Of the colonies, Pastor Muhlen-
berg was chosen the presiding
officer and his controlling 50 rit
governed the deliberations. When
Patrick Henry at Richmond
moved and defended his famous
resolutions for a state of public
defense, lie was earnestly sup
ported by the Lutheran pastor
from Woodstock. The VIRGINIA
House of Delegates resolved in
December, ITS, to raise six adj
ditional regiments, and the only
civilians in the whole Virginia
line to whom regiments were
given were Col. Patrick Henry
and Col. Peter Muhlenberg.
And now a bold and gallant
act" was witnessed which the
American people hold in worthy
remembrance. 1t occu I'D lie
sunday in January, l776, only a
few months before the Declara-
ton of American Independence
was made on July 4. Pastor Muh-
lenberg had notified his congre-
CATION that lie would preach his
farewell sermon. The pioneer
church edifice saw gathering
| from mountain ca bin and valley
I
farm such as it had not contained
before. The young pastor, tall
and athletic in ply build,
stately in department, and ag-
gressiye in spirit, only twenty
nine wears of age, spoke OF the
wrongs which the colonies were
called upon to endure. Momen-
tous issues rested upon the decis-
ion they would make. But a
struggle for justice and for free.
dom was one of a sacred character
In the language of Holy Writ, .
said the preacher, there is a time
for all things, time to preach
and time to pray, but there is
lso time to fight, and that
time has NOW come" He pro.
nounced the benediction.
For few seconds an impressive
stiffness pervaded the atmosphere
Of that crowded congreg alton Of
Lutheran patriots. Rtvently lay.
ing aside his pulpit gown, THE
Patriot Pa stor of the Revolution
stood before his people i'll the uni
form of Continental Colonel
With the sounding of the drums
beaten by the boys whom lie haC
sta toned al the church door, {
scene was naCted III that pioneer
church such as the American Re
volution, rich as it is in gloriou.
examples Of patriotic fervor
ffords no parallel. Three hun
dred men were enlisted that day
| in Colonel MuIlenberg owl
regiment, the Eighth of the VI
| line. Rebellion against tyrant'
was obedience to God; and 5,
| feeling and SO thinking, lie wen
forth from the temple to the field
In this the dawn of Freedoms day.
There is time to fight and pray!
who dares"- this was the patriots cry
! AS striding from the desk he came
Come out with me in Freedoms name
For her to live, for her to die?"
A hundred hands flung up reply,
A hundred voices answered, 81"
TO be continued next week