The Root of the Church - The German Bible

Maryanne Szuck
Feb. 8, 2009

Preaching services in the early 1800s were held in German, the language of our early settlers.

At Sunday worship they used a formal German called High German, the language of their Bible and hymns.

In 1837 preaching services were held every 4 weeks. Then in 1867 services came bi weekly, and in 1894 the worship services were conducted weekly including some evenings.

Joseph Hagey served as both pastor to the Hagey congregation and the Kressman congregation and as bishop to all the congregations in Waterloo Township. He is considered the founding leader of this congregation and served as minister from 1839 to 1867.

Following Joseph Hagey, Jacob Woolner became minister and he could preach fluently in both German and English.

Language transition occurred in the 1890s.

The first minister to speak regularly in English during Sunday worship services was Isaac Wambold in 1894.

This large well worn German Bible with its front cover no longer attached and the leather straps off was printed in Philadelphia. There is no date inside. There are remnants of clasps on the edges of the cover. The bookbinder referred to them as buckles. After searching on the internet under “old German Bibles printed in Philadelphia” I came upon this website and discovered that it is most likely printed about 1810 to 1840. It is in good condition for its age.

The inscription inside the front cover of this Bible has been translated and reads “This Bible is dedicated for praising God and for the use in the Kressman`s meeting house”. It would be interesting to know what year it was dedicated to the church.

This old leather bound German Bible is one of the First Bibles printed in the New World in a European language.

This is a historical treasure and a root of our church. This Bible, a valuable possession likely brought with the early settlers from Pennsylvania to this area.

Questions to ponder about the Bible

Who actually brought this Bible?

Was it the Kressman's Family Bible?

How many pages did the German Bible have?

Does the German Bible contain the Old and the New Testament like ours today?

How did the people feel about the transition to English preaching?

Since the Bible's binding and cover is so worn and the leather straps and buckles are completely worn off, was this bible carried and transported in and out of the church frequently?

Was it often riding in some one's bag on a horse drawn cart or sleigh, to and from church and to and from meetings at member's homes?

Was it considered a source of wisdom, a guide to truth, a rule book by which to live, a literal and historical record or a metaphor collage to inspire? Did the members of the congregation think similarly of this bible and its importance or were their convictions about its role diverse?