LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Concordia Lutheran Seminary

90 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW XII
and then sent them on to Francke, sometimes appending his own comments
on the issues discussed in the letters. Francke was the one who normally
answered Muehlenberg’s letters sending them first to Ziegenhagen.
Ziegenhagen occasionally sent along his own note to Francke’s response to
Muehlenberg. This meant that the mail, already slow because it relied on
sailing ships for passage across the ocean, might be further delayed,
especially if Ziegenhagen was ill or away from home when the letter came
from either direction. Thus, on 6 June 1743, Muehlenberg complained that
he had already written three times without having received an answer. He
was particularly distressed that Ziegenhagen was not moved to respond. On
24 May 1744, Muehlenberg related all of the places on the continent from
which he had received mail, but said, “From our dear Fathers in London
[translate: Ziegenhagen], I have not seen anything even though up to five
ships arrived here or in New York this spring.” When Ziegenhagen finally
did write personally to Muehlenberg in fall 1744, it was to tell him that
additional pastoral help was on the way. 124
Although Muehlenberg may have preferred to deal with Ziegenhagen
rather than Francke, the pattern which emerged was that most of his
correspondence was with Francke. Actually, since there was regular direct
correspondence between Ziegenhagen and Francke, Francke often spoke for
both of them. Thus, in a letter to the pastors in Philadelphia, Francke wrote,
“In response to the desire expressed in several earlier letters for new
workers, Court Chaplain Ziegenhagen and I have determined under the call
of God to search for two new co-workers and to cover the travel costs from
here and England.” 125 Occasionally, Ziegenhagen did add his own comments
to what Francke wrote. One such occasion was regarding whether
Muehlenberg should leave Pennsylvania and accept a call to New York.
Muehlenberg had written to Ziegenhagen and Francke from New York on
15 June 1751 telling them about the exciting challenge of uniting the Dutch
and German congregations in that city and reminding them of the problems
which he had encountered in Pennsylvania. He felt disheartened and
inadequate for the work in Pennsylvania. As he said, “It is difficult to make a
writing quill out of a pickaxe.” 126 Muehlenberg soon changed his mind about
moving to New York; after constantly being on horseback in Pennsylvania,
he felt as though he was confined in a prison in New York. But his earlier
letter about the New York call prompted a response both from Francke and
124 Muehlenberg to Francke and Ziegenhagen, Philadelphia, 6 March 1745, printed in Aland
1:150. Ziegenhagen’s letter is not extant but one gathers from Muehlenberg’s letter that it was
“business”.
125 Francke to Handschuh and Muehlenberg, Halle, 18 March 1751, printed in Aland 1:391.
126 Muehlenberg to Francke and Ziegenhagen, New York, 15 June 1751, printed in Aland
1:406-415.