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An American Family History

Zion Moselem Church

Berks County, Pennsylvania was formed on March 11, 1752 from parts of Chester County, Lancaster County, and Philadelphia County. Northwestern parts of the county became Northumberland County in 1772 and Schuylkill County in 1811.

from Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine, Volume 15 by Charles Force Deems

The Moselem Lutheran Church in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania., which was founded in 1737 and rebuilt in 1761, is one of the oldest Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania. The church is built of stone, and is of octagon shape. The pulpit is of ancient design. The Rev. Mr. Lehman, one of the old pastors, is buried beneath the organ, which is 104 years old. The congregation owns two hundred acres of land, which was presented to them by William Penn, and which is the best farming land on the mountain and in a good state of cultivation.

from A History of Education in Pennsylvania by James Pyle Wickersham

In 1742, Moselem Lutheran church, Berks county, was built, and one hundred acres of land were obtained and set apart for a church, a parsonage and a schoohouse. The following from the proceedings of the consistory in 1743 expresses views extremely liberal for the times:

That it is our most earnest desire that the teacher, as well as the preacher, shall be fairly compensated, so that he can live with his family like an honest man, without being obliged to engage in any business foreign to his profession. To this end, the teacher and preacher shall have the land and the house upon it free, as long as they officially serve the congregation, and, as far as is reasonable, they may use the same as serves them best.

Lutherans are Protestants who follow Martin Luther's religious teachings, especially the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
 

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©Roberta Tuller 2023
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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