LANCASTER COUNTY. 46 1 



charge of congregations. The German Reformed have 

 twenty places of public worship, and if they had a competent 

 number of efficient ministers, might easily organize ten or 

 fifteen congregations in a few years. Here is a large field for 

 home missionary enterprize. 



The United Brethren or Moravians. — This denomination 

 is essentially missionary in their operations; and as early as 

 1742, several congregations were organized in this county. In 

 1742, count Zinzendorff, the apostle of the American Mora- 

 vians, visited Lancaster. In 1746 they held a provincial council 

 in the town of Lancaster. At Litiz they have a large commu- 

 nity.* The following ministers have presided over the congre- 

 gation at Lancaster: 1746, Rev. L. T. Nyberg ; 174S, Rev'ds 

 L. Schnell and R. Ultey ; 1749, Rev. A. Reinke, sen.; 1751, 

 Rev. G. Weiser; 1753, Rev'ds C. Rauch and A. Wagner; 

 1754, Rev. 0. Krogstrup ; 1755, Rev'ds C. Bader and C. F. 

 Oerter; 1756, Rev. A. L. Rusmyer; 1757, Rev. C. G. Rundt; 

 1758, Rev'ds Rundt, Rusmyer and Bader; 1753, Rev. C. Bader; 

 1762, Rev. A. L. Rusmyer; 1786, Rev. A. Langgaard; 1773, 

 Rev. 0. Krogstrup; 1785, Rev. L. F. Boehler ; 1786, Rev. J. 

 Herbst; 1791, Rev. A. Reinke, jr. ; 1795, Rev. L. Huebner; 

 1800, Rev. J. M. Beck; 1303, Rev. A. Reinke, jr. ; 1806, Rev. J. 

 M. Beck; 1810, Rev. C. Mueller; 1819, Rev. S. Reinke; 1823, 

 Rev. Peter WoUe ; 1826, Rev. J. G. Ilermaii ; 1S29, Rev. C. F. 

 Reinhel; 1834, Rev. C, A. Vanvleck ; 1335, Rev. S. Reinke; 

 1839, Rev. George F. Bahnson, present pastor. 



The Roman Catholics. — A church, by this denomination 

 was organized about the year 1740. The members were regu- 

 larly visited by pastors from Philadelphia. It appears they 

 had no regular settled pa^itor among them before 1800. Their 

 number has steadily increased, principally however from 

 foreign emigrations of German and Irish Catholics. Their 

 present pastor is the indefatigable Rev. B. Keenan. They have 

 3 or 4 places of public worship in the county. 



The Methodist EnscoPAL.— In 1781, Methodist ministers 

 first visited this county; and in 1782 the Lancaster Circuit was 

 formed, and the Rev. William Partridge appointed as minister, 

 Among the early ministers who preached in different parts of 



f See pages 308 and 20. 



39* 



