GERMAN REFORMED & PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY, WASHINGTON TWP., MORRIS, NEW JERSEY

Copyright (c) 2000 by Stewart J. A. Woolever, Jr. (sjaw@citilink.net).

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GERMAN REFORMED AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GERMAN
VALLEY.
The following account is mainly condensed or copied from a most valuable
"Historical Sketch of the German Reformed and Presbyterian Church of German
Valley, delivered on the dedication of the church edifice, April 28th 1870,
by Rev. I. Alstyne Blauvelt." We trust this acknowledgment will excuse the
absence of quotation marks or further notice of this source of information.

To the German immigrants who had left their fatherland to obtain greater
religious freedom on the shores of America as related on page 376 a church
and a minister were necessities. After clearings had been made and rude log
houses had been constructed to provide them shelter the new-comers set to
work to build a log church, which is said to have been located near the spot
where the ruins of the old stone church now stand. In what manner services
in this edifice were conducted, or whether a regular minister accompanied
the band in their exile, or whether they procured one soon after their
arrival in the new country, is likely to remain always a matter of
conjecture; certain it is, however, that the first minister to this
community of whom we have any knowledge from record or tradition was the
Rev. Michael Schlatter. He was sent out by the synods of North and South
Holland, as a sort of missionary and superintendent, "to visit the various
German settlements, organize churches, preach the gospel, administer the
sacraments, prepare the way for the settlement of ministers who might be
sent from the old country, and take the general oversight of the churches."
He was a regularly educated minister, and well qualified for the duties
imposed upon him. He sailed for America on the 1st of June 1746, and landed
in Boston in August of that year. He went from Boston to New York, and
afterward to Philadelphia, where he became pastor of the German Reformed
church of that place in connection with one at Germantown. In his journal he
writes:

"When I arrived safely at home on the 3d [of July 1747] I found a very
earnest and moving letter written by several congregations in the province
of New Jersey, namely at Rockaway [now Lebanon], German Valley, Fox Hill and
Amwell, in the region of the Raritan, distant about seventy miles from
Philadelphia. They urge me, with the strongest motives, yea they pray me,
for God's sake, to pay them a visit that I may administer to them the Lord's
Supper, and by baptism incorporate their children in the church, who have
already, during three or more years, remained without baptism." And again:
"On the 13th I undertook the journey to the three congregations in New
Jersey, from which I had, on the 3d of July, received a most friendly and
pressing invitation to meet them. On the 14th, after a journey of sixty
miles, I came to Rockaway [Lebanon]. Here I received twenty young persons
into the church after they had made a profession of their faith; preached a
preparatory sermon on the 15th and on the following day administered the
Holy Supper in a small church to an attentive and reverent assembly. In the
afternoon I went to Fox Hill, where I preached a preparatory sermon, and on
the following day, which was the 18th, I administered the Holy Supper to
forty members. After I had performed this solemn service to the great
edification of the congregation, and yet in each place preached a
thanksgiving sermon after the communion, I returned again to Philadelphia on
the 20th, joyful in heart and giving thanks to God for the support which he
had rendered me. I cannot refrain from referring briefly to the fact that
those three congregations, from gratitude for the service I had rendered
them, handed me a pecuniary reward, the first money which since my arrival
in America up to this time I have received for my labor and pains."

It was about three years longer before a pastor was secured for the church,
or rather the two churches of German Valley and Rockaway, and even then
their ministrant had not been ordained. His name was John Conrad Wirts, and
he was a native of Zurich, Switzerland. It is not known when he came to this
country, but he had preached for some time previous at Easton, in
Pennsylvania.

An interregnum of a number of years followed the departure of Mr. Wirts in
1792. During that time it is thought Rev. Caspar Michael Stapel held
occasional services at the Valley, but he was located at Amwell, in what is
now known as Hunterdon county. His successor in that place was Rev. John
Wesley Gilbert Nevelling, who is also supposed to have preached to the
community at German Valley. One incident connected with this gentleman has
come down to us through the mist and smoke of years. He had a habit, most
unfortunately for himself, of smoking, and while he was riding on horseback
with his pipe in his mouth his horse stumbled and
Page 386

fell, and the pipe stem was driven into the rider's throat, inflicting such
a wound as ever after to disable him from preaching.

It was the year 1768 before another regular pastor was installed in the
charge of the church at the Valley. His name was Frederick Dalliker. At
first his charge consisted of the churches of Rockaway, Alexandria, German
Valley and Foxenburg or Fox Hill, at which latter place a separate church
was started about this time. A new church was built about the year 1776. The
congregations were composed of Lutherans or Presbyterians and the Reformed
sect. Before building, articles of agreement were drawn up and signed by the
representatives of the two churches. The original paper was in German, and
the following translation was made in 1817 by Rev. Caspar Wack:

"Whereas we the members of the Evangelical Reformed Congregation, and we the
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, who by reason of the
preachen which we have with Germantown, by reason of the money expended for
the church and parsonage house are members of Zion's church, living in the
Dutch Valley, Roxbury township, Morris county, are willing to build a
meeting-house jointly;

"Be it hereby known to all men that the following conditions were agreed to
by the subscribers, representing both congregations, viz.:

"I. Both parties have agreed to build the meeting-house at their united
expenses, so that none of the parties may throw up anything to the other.

"II. As the church is built jointly, so it shall be kept by our posterity
jointly; the friendship of both congregations giving us hope that in case of
the necessary repairs of the meeting-house the weaker party will be
supported by the stronger.

"III. Both parties with respect to public worship shall have an equal right;
in case both preachers should meet together, then alternately the one must
wait till twelve o'clock on the service of the other.

"IV. For the good of both congregations none shall be permitted to preach
but such as are under a regular church government.

"V. Whereas, we do not only concern ourselves for ourselves, but for our
posterity also, it is our will and opinion that none of the parties shall or
can sell their right in any way or manner.

"Acted the 4th day of February 1784, which is testified to by Frederick
Dalliker, V. D. M.; Henry Muhlenberg jr., deputy rector of Zion's
corporation; Wilhelm Welsch, Diedric Strubel, Conrad Rorick, Caspar Eick,
Anthon Waldorf, Adam Lorenz, Philip Weise, Christo pher Karn, Leonard
Neighbour, Roulof Roulofson, John Schwackhammer, Andrew Flucky."

It was customary in those days and for some time afterward to help along
public works by means of a bee, or gathering of the good folks of the
vicinage, and thus save the contractor's bill. Perhaps all of the early
school-houses and churches built in the township were commenced in this
manner; certainly several of them were. At all events there was a very
lively bee on this occasion. To stimulate the energies of all it had been
decreed that the horses of him who brought the first load should be
decorated with flags and ribbons as a testimonial of high honor. There was
much excitement on the subject, and each one determined if possible to
secure the prize. Judge David Welsh, who lived on the ground where David the
fourth now resides, determined to try a little strategy. Accordingly, the
evening before, he secretly loaded his wagon with stone and then concealed
it through the night. In the morning he was up betimes, had his horses
harnessed, and started for the ground before sunrise. But he was none too
early, for as he drove up to the spot he heard the heavy wagons thundering
down the mountains on both sides; although he won the prize of the
decorations he was but little in advance of many others, and before he could
get his wagon unloaded all German Valley was on the ground.

Mr. Dalliker remained pastor of the church until 1782, when a call was given
to Rev. Caspar Wack, who accepted it (probably in that year), after some
objection on his part and insistance on the part of the congregation. A call
still extant is dated 1786, and is addressed to C. Wack "present preacher of
the Valley and Fox Hill congregations." He perhaps did not labor at Rockaway
till 1786.

Mr. Wack was the first young man born in America who entered the ministry of
the German Reformed church, and he was the first man ever ordained by that
church in this country. In connection with preaching he carried on the
business of farming, on lands afterward included in the farms of John
Swackhammer and John Creger. He taught a singing school, attended to the
management of an oil-mill, conducted a fulling-mill, gave the instruction in
a day school, baptized the infants, married the young, buried the aged, on
Sundays preached to the congregations of German Valley, Fox Hill, Rockaway,
Stillwater, Knowlton, and Sussex Court-house, and made money.

The following anecdotes are related of him: When he first came to the Valley
the church services were conducted in German, a custom which he followed but
for a time. A certain army officer happening in the neighborhood, and
understanding that Mr. Wack preached in German, went to hear him on an
occasion when his discourse was in English; after which he made the remark
that he never knew before that German was so like English, and that he could
understand a great deal of what Mr. Wack said. A Universalist preacher, once
attempting to dispute with him, affirmed that his doctrine was an old
one--that it was preached in Paradise; meaning to claim that the promise
that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head was a proof of
the doctrine of universal salvation. Mr. Wack replied: "Yes, your doctrine
was preached in Paradise, and the devil preached it; his text was `Ye shall
not surely die.'"

While Mr. Wack was on one of his long rides a young man asked and received
permission to ride behind him on his horse. The young man was one whose life
was a great way from the teachings both of law and gospel, and when he was
seated on the parson's horse Mr. Wack gave him such an amount of wholesome
admonition that he afterward declared it to be the hardest ride that he ever
took.
Page 387

Mr. Wack remained in this charge twenty-seven years, during which time
ninety-eight persons were confirmed as communicants. He left the Valley in
1809, after which the church was vacant four years.

The successor of Mr. Wack was Rev. Jacob R. Castner, whose ministry lasted
until 1820. He lived in a house which is still standing, though greatly
enlarged--the house where Lawrence Hager lived and died. The ecclesiastical
connection of the congregation had been with the German Reformed Synod of
Pennsylvania until 1813, when it made application to the Presbytery of New
Brunswick to be taken under its care; and beginning with the ministry of Mr.
Castner it became the Presbyterian Church of German Valley. This was due
largely to the fact that its previous connection had been with a body too
far away for it to receive proper sympathy and care therefrom. Mr. Castner
was a very urgent advocate of propriety in manners and life, and denounced
with great vigor the very common sin of Sabbath-breaking, as well as other
misdemeanors of a religious, or perhaps sacrilegious, nature, to which some
of his parishioners were addicted. So stinging was his language in rebuking
sin and sinners that he gained quite a character for invective, which
virtue, however, was not always described by that name, as witness the
following:

One of his parishioners represented to him that he had several daughters,
who were fair to look upon, and possessed moreover of such charms and
virtues as to excite the admiration of all the young men of the
neighborhood. They accordingly had many suitors, but of course the fair
damsels could not smile on all. As a consequence the rejected admirers were
very angry, and were in the habit of venting their displeasure by unhanging
the old gentleman's gates, stealing the bolts and linchpins out of his
wagons, and committing many other depredations of a very annoying character.
Mr. Castner expressed his sympathy for his friend, who had come to ask his
assistance, but remarked that he did not exactly see how he could help him.
".Vy," said the man, "you 'pints meetin' to my house. De boys will all come;
dey wants to see de gals. Den, ven you gits 'em dare, you zhust give 'em von
real goot blagarden. Dey say you's goot at it."

During Mr. Castner's pastorate the first Sabbath-school was organized in the
township, in 1816. He served the three churches of German Valley, Fairmount
and Chester.

John C. Vandervoort was pastor from 1820 to 1828. Mancius S. Hutton was
pastor from 1828 to 1834. During his pastorate the present church edifice
was erected on a lot given by Lawrence Hager and Mr. Swackhammer. It was
then esteemed a marvel of beauty, and still holds a front rank among country
churches for comfort, neatness, and taste in furnishing. James Scott was
pastor from 1834 to 1843, and was the first who had no other pastoral care
than the church at German Valley. Robert G. Vermilye was pastor from 1843 to
1846, and James H. Mason Knox from 1846 to 1851. During his pastorate a
parochial school was organized, by aid from the board of education. This
school has made a deep and lasting impression upon the moral as well as
intellectual condition of the community. Garret Van Artsdalen was pastor
from 1851 to 1854, and William R. Glen from 1868 to 1874. During Mr. Glen's
pastorate the church edifice was enlarged and refurnished. A large colony
was also sent out to form the Presbyterian church of Lower Valley.

Edward P. Lennel became pastor in 1874 and still remains in charge. To him
we are indebted for the history of the church from the close of Mr. Wack's
pastorate.

The church has ever been noted for its Christian unity and its large-hearted
support of its ministry, and has ever been influential for good in a large
region of country.