Difference between revisions of "George Michael Weiss (Lat. Weitzius)"

 

George Michael Weiss (Lat. Weitzius) <ref name="term_65838" />

<p> Weiss (Lat. Weitzius), [[George]] [[Michael]] </p> <p> a (Dutch) [[Reformed]] minister, was a native of the [[Palatinate]] of the Rhine, but was licensed and ordained to the [[Gospel]] ministry at [[Heidelberg]] in 1725. With about four hundred German emigrants, he settled in [[Pennsylvania]] in 1726-27, accompanying them by request of his classis as their spiritual teacher. They were aided on their way by the [[Classis]] of Amsterdam. In 1731 the colony numbered fifteen thousand souls, who sought here a refuge from oppression. Mr. Weiss settled and founded a Church at Skippach, about twenty-four miles, west of Philadelphia. In 1,728 he asked help for these scattered sheep in the wilderness from his classis of, the Palatinate. But these persecuted "churches under the cross" could only refer them to the [[Synod]] of Holland. In 1729-30 he visited [[Holland]] with an elder, J. Reif, to solicit money, which was given to a large amount for that day. But Reif stole most of it, only one hundred and thirty- five pounds being recovered. </p> <p> The Classis of [[Amsterdam]] sent over ministers and money to sustain these German churches, and thus began that system of missionary labor and supervision out of. which the German Reformed Church has grown up, and which formed a strong and early tie between her and the Reformed Church of Holland. When Weiss returned to [[America]] in 1731, he settled among the Germans in New York state, in Schoharie and Dutoihess and Greene counties, at Catskill (now Leeds), Coxsackie etc. Indian depredations obliged in about fourteen years afterwards to return to Pennsylvania. He was a member of the first German ecclesiastical assembly, held in [[Philadelphia]] in 1746, and was minister of three German congregations west of Philadelphia about fourteen years. He died at the age of sixty-five. He is represented to have been a fine speaker, speaking Latin as well as he did his native German. His ministry was. entirely a pioneer work, prosecuted under great difficulties and with manifest blessings attendant upon it. See Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Ch. in America, pages 262, 263. (W.J.R.T.) </p>

 

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