[continuing with the Mielke translation]
"Now, after their lamentation from Psalm 47.9 [actually an extension from Psalm 74.9; "our signs we do not see, and no prophet preaches any longer and no teacher teaches any more"] lasted long and, indeed, they experienced for seventeen years what kind of misery it is when one wants bread for the soul and nobody is there who breaks it; it happened through the divine direction that I unworthy came to them one and half years ago; was asked and accepted to become their pastor under the promise of ordination and call. Then according to the grace God gives, I administered my office by teaching and administering the sacraments, about which young and old attested a great joy in the Lord.
"Now, although the Congregation promised me an annual salary of 3,000 pounds tobacco, which makes about 12 [pounds] sterling or 66 Imperial Thaler in German money, even this little, although not sufficient for the maintenance of a preacher and his family (because everything one has to put on his body is very expensive and also no fringe benefits occur, nor can anything be sold from the household), cannot be paid by the Congregation because of poverty, since they all have to contribute just like the English themselves. There is little hope to be freed from it, yea, even if such freeing could be achieved by a higher hand one would still have to worry that such would cause a great displeasure among the English nation with whom, however, we must live and feed ourselves.
"If then it has become clear from the present truthful circumstances, that the deep, blessed desire of this Congregation that has sat in the miserable, sad state of widowhood for so many years that the divine services begun with God have been established, and may be continued in future generations to the increase of the Kingdom of their King of Honors, Jesus, and to the comfort of them and their children [then] their poverty and incompetence to put such in words [has also become clear] in part, which in addition to the testimonials also attest.
"Therefore the same [Congregation] has asked me and the two co-signers, to undertake once more the dangerous and difficult journey across the ocean, and to ask submissively and obediently all Reverend Preachers and Clergy in the name of the entire Congregation that they, for the sake of God and his Honor, graciously take into consideration this pitiful condition and kindly assist with counsel and deed, so that through Christian minds and gracious contributions the Congregation may be helped in the maintenance of the present teacher and his successors and in the construction of a church and school and such, and help this needy Soul and the request of said Congregation.
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.