From “The Passing Scene”, Volume 11 by Mr. George M. Meiser, IX: Just south of Crystal Cave Road, between Route 222 and Virginville, is a red brick church typical of many that have stood along the rural byways of Berks County in times gone by. The congregation that communes here has a long history steeped in Lutheran tradition. Unlike many another house of worship of similar situation, it has never been part of a union-church arrangement.
But like most early established congregations, its founding dates and activities are somewhat vague, the product of scant record-keeping during its initial years and having what materials ever existing sift through the hands of 23 pastors and countless church officials.
According to tradition, the congregation at Moselem came into being around 1734, probably gathered together by the Rev. Johann Casper Stoever, who was an active organizer during that time and a familiar figure in Musseeley (Moselem) district - so named for a creek running through its central portion.
The oldest record books date from 1737. At that time the worshippers were more formally organized into a constituted body, which was noted somewhat cryptically in an inscription set into the wall of the 1761 edifice... “Die Gruendung der ersten Kirche was 1737.” (The establishment of the first church was 1737.)
Historian M.L. Montgomery recorded that “The purpose to build an Evangelical Lutheran church in the upper part of Richmond Township was agitated as early as 1739 by Johann Christopher Kuhn, Sebastian Kreamer, and Jacob Hill, but before it could be accomplished the latter two died, leaving the work to be finished by Kuhn.”
“In this he was ably assisted by his son, Dr. Adam Simon Kuhn of Lancaster County, who collected funds and secured a tract of over 100 acres from the Penns for church purposes.”
In 1741 a warrant was issued to Adam Kuhn, Leonard Bieber, William Killian and Christian Houseknecht for 101 acres. The patent had been received July 31, 1741, for the consideration of fifteen pounds thirteen shillings.
Upon this land a log church was built late the following summer, close to where the sexton's house now stands. It was dedicated by Rev. Johann Valentine Kraft, the Evangelical Lutheran pastor at the church (and probably the first minister), on Thursday, Jan. 20, 1743.
For the record, it has been written that “a good many Lancaster countians were present at the dedication, some having come on foot. For years afterward there were people from Lancaster present nearly every time services were held.”
Old descriptions place the meetinghouse “in Philadelphia County, in Andelanen (Ontelaunee area), bounded by lands of Carl Hefelin and Ulrich Scherer.”
Little is known about the building, other than it was a very small log structure noted for being uncomfortably damp. On rainy days it was difficult to keep books and clothing dry due to the poor construction of the roof. After the congregation worshiped here for about six years, Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietaries of the province, gave them 107 acres of land, which included the usual allowance of six acres (out of every 100) for roadways and highways.
The tract was to be paid in quit rent on the first day of March every year, one-half penny for every acre until the whole amount was discharged.
In 1745 M. Tobias Wagner, “a regularly ordained Lutheran pastor”, became the second minister and led the congregation 16 years. He was succeeded by J.H. Schaum (some sources give his name as Frederick Schaum) who continued serving until his death in 1778. It was during Schaum‘s ministry that the unusual six-sided church structure was erected in 1761 of “neighborhood stone.”
As was the custom of the day, there was a gallery (balcony), brick floor, and simple benches for seating. Inasmuch as folk of that period were not wasteful, most of the roofing material from the earlier church was recycled for use in the new building, which in time fell into serious disrepair.
A squirrel took advantage of the situation and worked its way into the loft. A century ago an oldster recalled hearing as a child that “many a time when the minister was expounding the Gospel, the squirrel chirped, to the great amusement of the little boys and girls.”
In an effort to “raise services to a higher level,” an organ was ordered from David Tannenberg (1728-1804) of Lititz, called by some America’s foremost organ builder of the 18th century. Of the 41 or more instruments produced by this Moravian craftsman, the one at Zion is believed to be the oldest existing.
When completed in 1770, it was installed in the gallery, where it presented a quaint and curious appearance. The large bellows were on top, just below the church rafters and barely out of view of the worshippers below.
During the time the present edifice was under construction, the organ was rebuilt by Samuel Bohler of Reading, who added extra keys and foot pedals in addition to making other modifications. In the 1930s an electric blower was attached, which remains the main source of wind, although it can still be pumped manually from the rear.
By 1957 the ancient instrument was all but unable to be played. Because the considerable sum needed for proper rebuilding was unavailable at that time, an electronic organ was purchased as a stop-gap measure.
In 1973 a decision was made to return the priceless but forlorn relic to its original appearance and playing condition. Through the generosity of Katie Dietrich and Charles K. Kaufman, funds were provided to engage Joseph Chapline of Philadelphia to proceed with the task.
This involved restoring the cabinet to a white enameled finish ornamented with gilded pipe shades, stripping the paint from all pipes down to the bare metal, repairing all Tannenberg’s pipework and replacing missing members, rebuilding the keyboard, removing all Bohler’s turn-of-the-century "extras," and reconstructing the windchest and feeder system.
The restored Tannenberg has eight stops arranged vertically, four on either side of the 51-note keyboard. Nine ranks of pipes stem from its single manual (keyboard) for a total of 459 pipes. Like many organs of the 1700s, the keyboard coloring is opposite that seen today. The white keys are black and the flats/sharps are white.
It is interesting to note that Zion Moselem’s fourth pastor, Rev. Daniel Lehman, who served here from 1778 to 1810, was buried October 4, 1810, under the church’s brick floor, east of the altar, under the pallbearers’ box pews. On this singular occasion Rev. Dr. Henry A. Muhlenberg Jr. of Reading preached a funeral sermon on the text of St. John 17:5.
After protracted discussion, it was decided to erect a new edifice. A formidable number of members, though, had serious misgivings about destroying the 1761 church, since many understood it to be the second oldest Lutheran house of worship in America.
Those who wanted it left standing as an historic landmark were outvoted by others, who desired to use the stone to form the foundation of its replacement, in observance of due economy.
Consequently, razing began early in 1894. By mid-April the old building was nearly down and stonemason James Gettis was laying the foundation to the new one. Chester Rhode of Kutztown was about ready to start setting brick.
While construction was in progress, services were held in the brick one-room school house that still stands opposite the church, used for scout meetings.
Education was always given high priority at Moselem, from the time Rev. Kraft began teaching the scripture, psaltery, reading, writing, and arithmetic during the winter of 1743 until Cora Fisher Glasser of Kutztown bade farewell to her youngsters at Moselem Church School in the spring of 1955.
The earliest classes were conducted in the 1742 log meetinghouse. Later, a two-story building was built on the site of the sexton’s house, one room of which was set aside for educational purposes. This continued as a parochial school until about 1854 when Richmond Township commenced offering “public schooling.” Thereafter the township rented the classroom for some twenty years, until the existing one-room building was erected.
Construction of the present church proceeded without incident. The cornerstone was laid May 13, 1894, and on June 2, 1895, dedication took place. The Rev. Dr. Sydney L. Harkey delivered the last sermon in the old edifice and the first in the new one.
Concerning burials, 85 years ago, when there were over 500 tombstones in view, it was claimed that nearly an equal number of unmarked interments had been made.
An Indian mound is supposedly located just back and north of where the 1761 structure stood. It
is traditional that a great many Indians were buried hereabouts.