Photo by AG Edmunds

Message at Indian Castle Church June 30, 1985

(Sorry, but the author is unknown to me. Should the name become available, it will be posted. ajberry, webmaster)

This church was built at the request of the Mohawk Indians in 1769. On June 17, 1770, a little more than 200 years ago, Sir William Johnson, the builder, presented it to the Mohawks and it was received by Joseph Brandt, the famous Mohawk chief.

It is believed to be the only surviving colonial Anglican mission church in America.

It is a marker beside the pathway of history and one of the few survivors of a bloody revolution which swept nearly every landmark from the surface of this valley. To emphasize this point, there were 308 recorded battles fought in the American Revolutionary War and 92 of these were in New York State.

It was from this church that Molly Brant sent a warning to the British which resulted in the ambush of General Herkimer at Oriskany.

So, you see, we, who are here this morning, should be feeling a presence far beyond our reach or touch.

This is 1985, let's go back to 1885, to 1785, to 1685 and even two years before that, in 1683 the first Palatines started to leave their homes in the Rhine land of Germany. In 1708 and 1709, these Palatine people, possibly your ancestors and mine, started a migration that was the greatest single migration the world had ever known.

What compelled these people to leave their homes and send them on their perilous journey down the Rhine into Holland, across the North sea to England and across stormy miles of sea to an unknown wilderness?

About this, Historians differ, but the most reliable of them say "that freedom from overwhelming taxes, security from devastating wars, desire for free lands and the freedom of religion, were probably among the reasons."

It has not been determined for sure whether the primary reason the Palatines came to America was for religious freedom, or to secure free land. Because it is debatable, it was probably a combination of both.

It is known, that for the Palatines, the love of the land and a love of God were utmost in their thoughts and being, they had heard that God himself had let his people out of bondage, to a land flowing with milk and honey. The Bible story of the Israelites with whom, in their troubles and in their faith, they often identified themselves, fell on receptive ears. "Behold the Lord-thy God hath set the land before thee-go up to possess it-fear not, neither be dismayed."

And so they came, they came by the thousands, abandoning all that they had known in country, home, friends and relatives. They were lured by greedy promises and fantastic stories of a paradise, all originating in England under Queen Anne's government.

Promises of free land and complete religious freedom were offered by the English in exchange for nominal labor.

Their migration from their homeland, was an ordeal from start to finish-poverty, sickness, starvation, unfulfilled promises, were all too common. One group numbering about 3,000, boarded their ships around Christmas time in 1709, but did not leave the harbor until April of 1710, being confined to the ships hold for over three month. When it finally sailed they still had three more months of confinement-a total of over 6 months. The misery suffered on this voyage almost equals that endured on the slave ships of later years.

Even after arriving in America, their trials were not over, for many, the Promised Land was still a dream. Those who did manage to acquire land were often forced to give it up and others were forced to pay exorbitant prices to landowners who still held on to their extravagant grants.

Finally in October 1723, the wandering Palatines, took possession of undisputed lands held in their own name. It was still a wilderness, but potentially fertile and beautiful beyond anything they had imagined back tin their native Rhineland.

The fulfillment of their dreams was still to be accomplished only by many years of primitive living, of Indian raids and the devastating times of the American Revolution.

But now they were ready to meet the future with resolute faith. They were home at last, at heavens gate and ready to build their churches, and to take up a gun to defend their country if need be.

Here we leave the Palatines for awhile. This church was not built by the Palatines, but rather for the Mohawk Indians of the upper village of Canajoharie as this locality was called. Here, the Indians, who by now were feeling the need of a church and had asked that it be built, and whites worshipped together side by side for many years until the start of the American Revolutionary War. Now a local civil war took place within the Revolutionary War itself. Neighbor against neighbor, those faithful tot he English heritage were now enemies of those determined to have their complete freedom. As a result, the Indians and whites of this church being loyal to England fled to Canada for their own safety and many, who stayed behind, were massacred.

And so for the next few years this church stood empty. And when the war ended, wounds began to heal and people began to feel the need of churches again. Here is where the Palatines re-enter and so this church began to be used once more. People of all faiths and denomination, including the Palatines, held services here and even a rejuvenating program took place. But as the years went by, people began to turn to bigger and more elaborate buildings for their churches and so once again this building stood alone and empty.

But there was one more test, one more battle to be fought. On the night of Dec. 1, 1979, a lighted torch was thrown through that window.

But once again people with this same Palatine blood in their veins, rose up and somehow managed to save this structure. They didn't realize it or even think about it, but they were fighting to preserve what their ancestors had struggled so long to achieve.

By now, this church, this building, is only a symbol. This church represents many churches, churches of all faiths, of all denominations and all people.

The lesson of this history is that we need this church, and this church needs us. You have only to look around you to see its need for us. As we look back we find that time after time in times of trouble, these people turned to their church and a belief in God.

From the earliest days in America, the Palatines believed that a free state depended on enlightened citizens, and so as they built churches they also built schools. Often the church served as a school, and the churches frequently took care of the schooling of the children. Often the pastor served as the teacher and often, at times, when ministers were not available, the teachers read the bible and even gave a sermon. A good education was the ability to read, write and know the bible.

What we must learn is that we need this church, we need to turn to God to understand our true spiritual relationship with him. The Indians felt that need. There will surely come a time, in our lives, when a lighted torch will be thrown in our window, trying to burden us or even destroy us, then see how quick we will turn to God.

Wouldn't it be simpler if we could catch the torch before it entered and carry it forth lighting the way for others. The prophet said "For thou art my lamb, O Lord, and the Lord will lighten my darkness."

Why we need this church and why we need to go to God is illustrated in the story of Jesus healing the blind man at Jerico.

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar sitting beside the road near the gate going into the city of Jerico. One day as he was sitting in his spot begging for money to support himself, he heard that Jesus was passing by on the other side of the orad, so he called out "Master have mercy on me."

Even with all the noise and confusion going on, Jesus heard him (God will hear us also) and told Bartimaeus to come over to him. Even though Bartimaeus was blind, Jesus still said, "Bartimaeus come over here, come over here to me." And when Bartimaeus did come groping his way, he was healed of his blindness. Bartimeaus went to Jesus and he was healed. We must go also so we can catch the torch.

The door of this church is always unlocked, anybody can come in at any time. As we drive hurriedly past, on the highway outside, going from somewhere to somewhere, we look over and on a little hill--we see this white church standing alone. There are those of us who won't pay much attention and some of us who won't even see it. But those of us who do see it, might say "Look at that little white church, isn't it pretty?"

And then when the day comes when somebody will try to throw a lighted torch through the window of our lives, we will slam on our brakes, screech to a halt and crawl to that door.

Why don't we stop now as we go by, walk in and spend a few minutes talking with God.

Consequently, when the torch does come at us, we will be better equipped to reach out to it, turn it around and carry it out and let it be our light to shine before all men. The world today is in darkness, so let the light from this church go forth to bring light where it is needed.

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Opening Page for Indian Castle Church