[continuing with Hopeful Church in Boone County, KY]
Within a couple of years after Rev. Carpenter went to Hopeful Church, a new constitution was adopted. It, too, was written in German. It was more detailed and showed stronger Lutheran sympathies than the former constitution, which had the flavor of a union church with the Reformed. The constitution was explicit about the duties of the pastor and the deacons, and it said some things very plainly about the duties of the members, to wit:
He must model his life according to the Christian ordinances and, if he deviates therefrom, he must be cheerfully corrected. Everyone must contribute according to his means as God has blessed him, whether it be much or little, for the maintaining and carrying forward of God's work in the congregation. Through the mercy of God, we should avoid all gross sins and vices, such as cursing and swearing, lying and cheating, carnal sins, fornication and adultery, drunkenness, immoral plays, gambling, obscenity, horse-racing, as also hatred, enmity, strife against neighbors, and all other sins and vices, forbidden in the word of God and offensive to a true Christian...
In 1823, the congregation took up the question of a new church. Father Carpenter spoke upon this subject, and became so deeply affected that he gave vent to his feelings, burst into tears, and said:
"Alle bauen gute Haeuser and lassen Gott in der Hütte wohnen!" [All build good houses and let God live in the hut.]
The effect upon the members was so strong that they resolved to build a new church. So in the summer of 1823, a log church was built, 25 ft. by 25 ft. with an end galley, and a high pulpit. [The old church survived until at least 1900, when it was used as a barn.]
The constitution of 1815 was signed as follows:
William Carpenter Daniel Beemon George Rouse Ephraim Tanner Christopher Zimmerman Frederick Tanner Jacob Rouse Benjamin Aylor John House John Rouse John Beemon Aaron Tanner Simeon Tanner Michael Rouse Jeremiah Carpenter William Rouse, Sr. Abraham Rouse John Crisler David Crisler Jonathan Carpenter Jeremiah Rouse Elisha Rouse
This constitution was written in German, which sufficed until the 1846 translation by Noah Surface. The services were conducted exclusively in the German language until 1824, when Father Carpenter began to use English half of the time in preaching. Within a short time English was used altogether. Apparently Carpenter was willing to use English even earlier, but the conservatism was very strong and Carpenter was careful not force matters and bring about trouble.
Abraham Beemon was the first recorded baptism. Besides the members from Virginia, a number of people of the neighborhood were converted to the Lutheran faith. Sometimes entire families were baptized at one time.
(23 Feb 02)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.