The Commission of Jacob Reiff, 1730

 Here begin verbatim accounts in the matter of “Papers in Reiff Case, 1732 -1749,” including the Commission of, the Complaint against and the Answer to,  first translated and published by the Rev. J. R. Dubbs for the centennial of the Reformed Church U.S. separation  from Holland, 1893. These papers represent an early insight into Pennsylvania politics, immigration and social order. According to Dubbs they are the earliest documents of the German Reformed churches of Pennsylvania. Notably, “errors in orthography and grammatical construction have been carefully retained as they appear in the original.”

The papers impact other contemporaries of the time, especially John Philip Boehm, the first, but unofficial pastor of the Reiff Church of Skippack, defrocked by Rev. George Michael Weiss when he arrived as part of an immigrant colony in 1727. Notable members of that colony led by Weiss include the central figure of the Complaint, Frederick Hillegass.

Dotterer says in Historical Notes Relating to the Pennsylvania Reformed Church (146) that Weiss and Hillegass didn't know each other, that "they were thrown together just as now strangers are thrown together on ships crossing the Atlantic." But Hinke, editor of the letters of Boehm, says, (Proceedings and Addresses, A History of the Goshenhoppen Reformed Charge, 34) "Weiss was actually the leader of the colony, at whose head he appeared in signing the declaration of allegiance on September 21, 1727."  Shortly thereafter Weiss declared, “I cannot conscientiously recognize Mr. Boehm as a Reformed teacher and preacher, until he submits to an examination and is ordained in Apostolic manner, which he will never be able to do." Boehm complains bitterly of this interference and its effect in his letters. After the new colony had established itself in Philadelphia, Jacob Reiff of Skippack by Reformed protocol supported Weiss in deposing Boehm, but as events transpired the churches of Philadelphia and Skippack were more and more opposed. In October 1727 Boehm said Skippack was the "place to which I had been regularly called," an affront to Reformed piety, first because the congregation not the hierarchy called him and second because he was outside their clerical authority, hence had to be brought into line.

The Complaint asks for security that Reiff will not depart the province not because they think he will,  but because it is a tactic to provoke the court to order this Answer in response.

Dubbs' comments on the writing of the Commission are, “the meaning of this document is not quite clear. It is incorrectly written, and several words are evidently omitted. The following is, however, as nearly as possible a literal translation”...it was filed by Reiff in the court of chancery, and may be presumed to be a correct copy of the original (Dubbs, 57, 58).

Jacob Reiff’s name is spelled three different ways in the German complaint. It looks drawn up on the spot by one of the complaining elders which would explain the missing words and incorrect writing. Dubbs own considered view and his exoneration of Jacob Reiff, did not reach the biographers and polemicists of the past centuries any more than it did the present sanitized versions of this early history. Dubbs' version more fully appears here.

The Commission

 Nachdeme unser Her Pastor Weissen sich resolviret mit seinem bey sich habenden Geferten Jacob Reiffen nach England und Rotterdam eine reise zu thun um die Colecte welche da in loco um erbauung einer Kirche alhiesiger Lande bereit liege, als wird Jacob Reiffen hiemit die Vollmacht gegeben alles zu besorgen, damit Herr Weiss mit solchser sogleich expedirt und zur ruckkehr nach Pennsylvanien begeben soll. Wie wir ihme dann alles auf sein gutes Gewissen  übergeben, auch die Vollmacht in allem überlassen. Welches wir zur Steuer eigenhandig unterschreiben. So geschehen, Philadelphia d.  19 ten May, 1730.

Es wird dabey gebeten Jacob Reiff möchte alles auf solche

Arth richten dass wenn Herr P. Weiss nicht mehr in das

Land kommen wolte oder solte, Er als Reif sogleich

Einen von Heidelberg mit sich zu nehmen ihn auf das

Nöthigate zu besorgen: weilen wir wenn allenfals die Collecten

Gelder nicht mehr in loco waren nicht nöthing finden dass

H. Weiss weiter suck zu verreissen, sondern nach bester

Besorgung er Jacob Reif die Briefe an behörigen Orten

Zu besellen und selbst nach einen Antwort zu befragen.

Mir sämmtl. Aeltesten der beyden Gemeinen zu Philadelphia und

Schiebach.

J. DIEMER, D. M. P.,                                   WENDEL KEIBER,

PIETER LECOLIE,                                       DEOBALT JUNG,

JOHANN WILLM RÖRIG,                         CHRISTOFFEL SCHMITT,

HENRICH WELLER                                    GERHART (G. I. H.) IN DE HEVEN, S. N.,

GEORGE PETER HILLENGASS,               GEORGE REIFF,

HANS MICHEL FRÖLICH,                        GEORGE PHILIP DODDER,

MICHEL HILLENGASS.

 “Foreasmuch as our pastor Weiss, in company with his travelling companion, Jacob Reiff, has resolved to take a journey to England and Rotterdam, for the purpose of receiving a collection which is said to be ready in loco, to be applied to the establishment of a church in these provinces; therefore authority is herewith given to Jacob Reiff to take entire charge, so that Mr. Weiss may be expedited on his immediate return with the same to Pennsylvania. Therefore, we also entrust everything to his good conscience, and give him plenary in everything. In testimony whereof we sign our names. Given at Philadelphia May 19, 1730

We hereby request Jacob Reiff to arrange matters in such a way that if Pastor Weiss should or would not return to this country, he, Reiff, may at once bring with him a minister of Heidelberg, and provide him with whatever is most necessary; because if the monies collected should at any rate be no longer in loco we do not deem it necessary that Mr. Weiss should further extend his journey; but that according to his best judgment, Jacob Reiff should deliver the letters at their proper destination and personally make inquiries for a reply.

Signed by all the elders of the congregation at Philadelphia and Skippack”