| "During
the year 1743, a Swiss minister of the gospel,
formerly located along the Savannah River, at New
Windsor, Purysburg, and other places, named
Bartholomew Zauberbühler, ver adroitly
attmempted to displace the Rev. John
Giessendanner from his harge in Orangeburg, and
make himself the pastor of those churches. He
supposed that by becoming an ordained minister of
the Episcopal Church, at that time the
established church in the Province, he would have
rights superior to the humble Lutheran paster
(John U) in charge at Orangeburg, and, as he
supposed, have the law on his side in thus
becoming the pastor himself. The records of his
evil designes, which have long slumbered in
oblivion in manuscript form on the shelves of the
Statehouse at Columbia ..." The petition from the
Orangeburg Settlers on behalf of Rev. John, II -
"after an
attempt made by Rev. Bartholomew Zauberbuhler to
oust their pastor, John Giessendanner"
(II). The following counter-petition against
Mr. Zauberbühler from the Orangeburg settlers is
found in vol. xi of Journals of Council, pp.
139-143, and dated March 6th 1743."
"Read
the humble petition of the German and English
inhabitants of Orangeburg and the adjoining
plantations, showing to his Excellency, to whom
it is directed, that the petitioners heartily
congratulate his Excellency on his auspicious
ascension to the government of this Province,
hoping that by his judicious care and power not
only their present grievances, but likewise all
other misfortunes may evaporate and vanish. And
ye said petitioneers humbly beg leave to acquaint
ye Excellency, that above five years ago the
German minister happening to die, Mr. John
Giessendanner, by the consent and approbation of
your said German petitioners, went to Charlestown
with the intention to make his application to the
Rev. Mr. Alexander Garden, Commissary, to admit
him into holy orders, to preach in German in this
township; and when the said Mr. John
Giessendanner came to Charlestown aforesaid, he
accidentally met with one Major Christian Motte,
who acquainted him that he ought not to trouble
the said Rev. Alexander Garden with the affair
but to go with him to some certain gentlemen,
who, if they found him sufficient, would directly
give him orders according to his desire; upon
which the said Mr. John Giessendanner, being then
a stranger to the English method of proceeding in
such cases, accompanied the said Major Christian
Motte, and was by him introduced to an Assembly
of the Presbytery, who after examination
presented him with orders to preach, which he has
since done in German constantly for the space of
five years to the inexpressible satisfaction of
the congregation at Orangeburg; and about two
years ago your said English petitioners, being
fully sixty miles from any other place of divine
worship, some of whom had not been favored with
an opportunity of hearing a sermon in the space
of seven years, observing the said Mr. John
Giessendanner to be a man of learning, piety, all
knowledge in the Holy Scriptures, prevailed with
him to officiate in preaching once every
fortnight in English, which he hath since
performed very articulate and intelligible to the
entire satisfaction of ye said English
petitioners, and always behaves himself with
sobriety, honesty and justice, encouraging virtue
and reproving vice.
"And
the said Mr. John Giessendanner lately observing
great irregularities and disorders being
committed almost every Sabbath day by some wicked
persons in one part of the township, publicly
reprimanded them for the same, which reproof so
exasperated them that they threatened to kick the
said Mr. John Giessendanner out of the church if
he offered to preach there anymore, and have
lately sent for one Bartholomew Zauberbühler, a
man who not long ago pretended to preach at
Savannah town, but as your said petitioners are
informed, was soon obliged to leave that place
and a very indecent character behind him. The
last week he arrived at Orangeburg, and upon the
last Sabbath, he, the said Bartholomew
Zauberbühler had his wicked adherents associated
together, and pretended that the said Bartholomew
Zauberbühler had brought with him a power from
the Hon. William Bull, Esq., late
Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, his
Majesty's Hon. Council, and the Rev. Alexander
Garden, Commissary, an order to expel the said
Mr. John Giessendanner from the church, and to
preach there himself, and some of ye said
petitioners demanded a sight of his said
authority, but he refused to produce it, which
occasioned great animosities and disorders in the
congregation, and when the said Bartholomew
Zauberbühler makes his second appearance at or
near Orangeburg, which he declares shall be at ye
expiration of three weeks, there shall certainly
be more disturbance and confusion than before,
unless some powerful means be used to obstruct
it.
' Whereupon
your said petitioners most humbly beg that your
Excellency will be pleased to interpose with your
authority, and direct the said Mr. Alexander
Garden, if he hath given or granted any such
orders, to countermand them, and to permit the
said Mr. John Giessendanner still to officiate
for them in divine service free from any further
disturbance or molestation, &c.' "
Signed
by John Harn, and above forescore more
subscribers
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