John Philip Boehm, their minister, thus writes to the authorities of the church in Holland: In the congregation at Whitemarsh we have as yet nothing at all (in the way of church edifice), but during all this long time we have made use of the house of Elder William Dewees for holding divine service without any unwillingness from his honor or the least expectation of payment. This worthy man cherishes a constant and pious hope that God will yet provide the means (to build a church).

Thus, this beautiful spot has, from the beginning, been the home of religion and education. The oldest deed of it, now in possession of the Mt. St. Joseph's Convent, is a deed from Henry Antes in the year 1738.

TH

CHAPTER III.

COADJUTORS.

HE SAME month in which John Henry Antes was born there were two events that were destined to deeply influence his career. One was the arrival of Bishop Spangenberg, who became his father's most intimate friend, and the director of his early education. The other event was the conference with the Indians in Philadelphia, held by the Deputy-Governor, James Logan.

Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg was born July 15th, 1694. His father was a Lutheran Minister in Northern Germany. The son received a classical education in the University of Jena, and studied theology under Dr. Buddes, from whom he learned these two principles: I. "That children of God may be found in all denominations; and 2. That the true Christian Church consists of those who live in intimate communion with the Saviour." For six years he was a popular lecturer at Jena, and afterward a Professor of the University of Halle. At this time there was a great deal of religious persecution in various parts of Germany. Against this spirit Zinzendorf stood as the friend of everyone who was seeking to do the will of the Redeemer. Spangenberg's liberal way of thinking brought him in close contact with many of these separatists and with Zinzendorf. This created an ill feeling at the University, and as a consequence Spangenberg was required to leave. He went to Herrnhut, where he became Zinzendorf's most intimate friend and helper. The opposition to Zinzendorf and his religious views led to his banishment from Saxony and the establishment of colonies of his people. Zinzendorf united two purposes in one, namely, to make a permanent abode for his people in Georgia, and at the same time to begin a mission among the Cherokee and Creek Indians. Spangenberg accompanied the brethren to Georgia to superintend the work of the brethren. Here he became acquainted with John Wesley, who was impressed

with the fervent piety and the great theological erudition of the German. Here the work among the Indians was begun, but it soon found a check, because, when the Spaniards tried to expel the English from Georgia, and the latter called on the Moravians to bear arms, they refused, as it was contrary to their most cherished principles. Spangenberg was instructed to visit the Swenkfelders in Pennsylvania. Here he worked on a farm and preached among the people as the opportunity offered. Here he met Henry Antes, and the similarity of their aim in serving the Savior became the basis of a friendship that was never broken. The wife of Henry Antes, carrying the infant John Henry in her arms, served Spangenberg with the hospitality of a truly Christian home.

Another intimate friend of Henry Antes, and a visitor at his home, was Conrad Weiser, one of the most useful men in the Colony. He was one of the Justices and a companion of Antes in the Unity Conferences, an Indian interpreter and a guide or scout to the great camping places of the Indians. Conrad Weiser was born in Germany in 1696. When seventeen years of age his father, who was one of the Deputies to arrange for the settlement of the Germans at Schoharie, left him with an Indian chief to learn the language in use among the Six Nations.

Through the greed and duplicity of the English merchants the Germans were robbed of their settlements and were forced to seek another home. Gov. William Keith invited them to settle in Pennsylvania. They came across the wilderness to the Susquehanna, and floated down the river to the mouth of the Swatara creek, which they ascended, and made a permanent settlement at Tulpehocken. Conrad Weiser was a man of great influence among these persecuted people. The effect of his conversations at the fireside of the Antes family upon the awakening mind of the boy John Henry can be readily imagined.

In 1736, while Henry Antes was preaching peace and good will among the Germans, a council was held in Philadelphia between James Logan, the Governor, and one hundred chiefs of the Six Nations. The chiefs sat in the body of the Quaker meeting house, and the galleries were crowded with spectators. The Seneca chief, Kanickhungo, was the principle speaker, and while presents were being exchanged, expressions of peace and friend

ship were spoken. It was a very solemn occasion, for the spirit of trouble was in the air. Eleven days after the council, when the head men of the tribes had gone away, the few that remained sold to the proprietary all the lands lying between the mouth of the Susquehanna and Kittatinny hills, extending eastward as far as the heads of the branches or springs which run into the Susquehanna.

It

This sale laid the foundation for terrible consequences. was only one instance of the way in which the Indians were cheated out of their lands. Drake says, "By his last will Governor Penn devised to his grandson, William Penn, and his heirs 10,000 acres of land, to be laid out in proper and beneficial places in this province by his trustees. William Penn, the grandson, sold out this land to a gentleman-Mr. William Allen, a great land jobber. By a little management Allen got his land located, generally where he desired. One considerable tract included part of Minisink, and no previous arrangement had been made with those Indians. No sooner had the new proprietor got the lands surveyed to him than he began to sell it to those that would go on at once and settle it. About the same time proposals were published for a land lottery, and by the conditions of these proposals not the least notice was taken, or the least reserve made of the rights of the Indians. But on the contrary such persons as had settled upon lands that did not belong to them, were, in case they drew prizes, to remain unmolested upon the lands of the Indians. this means much of the land in the Forks of the Delaware, as well as other places, being taken up by this kind of gambling, the Indians were thus crowded out of it. To still the clamors of these injured people recourse was had to as great abuses as had already been practiced. Crimes were sought to be clouded by bold stratagem. The Iroquois were connived with, and they came forward, confirmed the doings of the land jobbers, and ordered the Delawares to leave the country. They were to choose one of the two horns of a dreadful dilemma. The power of the Iroquois could not be withstood, backed as it was by the English. They ordered the Delawares to remove, or they would destroy them. This was the foundation of the Delawares uniting with the French against the English, and the dreadful massacres that devastated. this entire territory."

By