The Pauli family is somewhat noted in the Reformed Church as having furnished a long succession of men to minister at her altars. Charles Augustus Pauli was born in the city of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1804. His parents were the Rev. Philip Reinhold Pauli and Anna Elizabeth Musch. He was early baptized, and in mature years instructed in the Heidelberg Catechism and received by confirmation into full communion with the Reformed Church in Reading, of which his sainted father was then pastor. He prosecuted his literary course in the Academy of his native place, and afterwards, in 1822, commenced the study of theology under the Rev. J. William Dechant.
At the meeting of Synod held in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1825 he was examined, licensed, and on the evening of September 29th ordained to the holy ministry. (Syn. Min., 1825, pp. 6-9.)
Soon after this Mr. Pauli took charge of the St. John's Church in Robeson township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, which he served about one year, when he accepted a call from the Angelica congregation, and afterwards from the Schell's and Wenrich's, in Dauphin county, Pa. These, with some interruption, he served for a period of seven years. In 1834 he accepted a call from four congregations in the counties of Berks and Lebanon, namely, Womelsdorf, Hain's, Oley and Newmanstown, which he continued to serve for twenty-one years. When, in 1855, his elder brother, the Rev. William Pauli, died, he gave up Oley, Womelsdorf and Newmanstawn, retaining only the Hain's, to which he added the Sinking Spring, Alsace, Yocum's, Hinnershitz and Kissinger congregations, previously served by his brother. These he continued to serve up to the time of his death—the Hain's for thirty-seven years.
Very few ministers of the gospel by outward appearance showed the pastoral office as plainly as did Mr. Pauli, while at the same time being of easy approach by the most humble of his parishioners. In him was truly the character of the lowly, great Nazarene Teacher. He appeared unobtrusive and at the same time carried the dignity and firmness which should always be a part of the person ordained to serve his Master for the redemption of the souls of His people.
At the time that Rev. Pauli began to serve the congregation at Hain's Church a great deal of dissatisfaction prevailed. A small number were allured to Rev. Augustus L. Herman, but likely on account of his brother Frederick, who had served from 1822 to 1826. A strong sentiment, however, prevailed against him, making it impossible for him to be elected to the pastorate. Rev. Thos. H. Leinbach, one of the other of the trio who served the congregation after Rev. Dubbs, declined to continue his labors at Hain's. He met with considerable opposition; to such an extent that it was apparent he could not carry a majority vote to become the pastor of the congregation, and thereupon delivered his farewell sermon and severed his connection with the congregation. Rev. John Hautz, the other of the trio who served Hain's Church during the period immediately after Rev. Dubbs, would undoubtedly have been the choice of the congregation, but an all-wise Providence decreed otherwise by calling Rev. Hautz from his labors hereon earth. The congregation was thereupon without the choice of a pastor at the close of the year 1833. Rev. Pauli was then a young minister, residing at Reading and serving several country congregations, and had officiated at several funerals at Hain's Church during the latter part of 1833. Thus the year 1834 opened, the congregation without a pastor and divided Rev. Charles Augustus Pauli into factions and all but peace and harmony prevailed.
The consistory and elders of the congregation suggested young Pauli, provided he could be engaged at an unfixed salary for a year's trial, in an attempt to bring the disrupted condition of affairs to an end. The consistory was loath to fix a definite sum on account of the trouble which befell their predecessor, when four members paid the pastor his year's salary. The proposition being tendered, Rev. Pauli, after due consideration consented to accept, remarking if the salary should fall below a sufficient amount he would not be obliged to continue, but could stop at any time after the expiration of the year. He preached his first sermon February 2, 1834, and after the first year strife, discord and ill feeling among the members ceased to exist and the congregation entered upon an era of prosperity. He was never elected as the pastor of the congregation, but continued to serve until the end of his life. That such an early reconciliation of the members of the congregation was brought about must in a great measure be attributed to Rev. Pauli, who did not take sides with any of the factions, avoiding friction among the members as much as possible. He preached the gospel, but always refrained from participating in anything relating to the buildings or other matters pertaining to the Church. Sometimes members of the consistory would endeavor to have him express his views, but invariably they failed, his general answer being: "That property or matter is yours to attend to; I am not your master, but your servant, called to preach the gospel undefiled."
Rev. Pauli was always dressed neat and clean in a conventional clerical suit, and in early life traveled on horseback in the performance of his duties. Later he had a carriage, which he used, and in the latter part of his life he never went alone. He then had a contract with some liveryman at Reading, who furnished the team and a regular driver whenever he had occasion to use it. His team, a purely clean white horse hitched in a clean, low rockaway carriage, was a familiar figure known over all the principal roads and byways within a radius of eight to ten miles from Reading. The carriages came in vogue about 1835 to 1845. The hearse came in use about the year 1840. Before that date they used what is called the Conestoga wagon in bearing away their dead. During confirmation the girls all wore confirmation lace caps, which were made of fine lace. The boys were all dressed in black.
On the 30th of August, 1835, Mr. Pauli was married to Miss Maria L. Davis. They never had any children.
During his ministry of some forty-six years he baptized 6,775, confirmed 2,013, buried 2,044, married 2,121 couples, and preached about 4,700 times. For some years Mr. Pauli did not stand in any connection with the Synod. Some difficulty occurred between him and the Lebanon Classis. He stood aloof for several years, when his name was erased from the list of ministers. (Syn. Min. 1845, p. 25.) His personal character, so far as we know, was unexceptionable. In the discharge of his pastoral duties he manifested considerable zeal, and his labors were not without good fruits. He always remained faithful to the Reformed standards, carefully instructed his people in the Heidelberg Catechism, and confirmed them according to the custom of the Church in which he was raised. In fact he was always exact in his catechetical instructions, laying stress on the fall of man-kind and the redemption by having the catechumen commit such passages of the Scriptures which had direct bearing on the subject. In the confirmation and admission into the Church he always spoke with deep feeling, and always had a certain custom that he followed. This was also the case during communion services. The opening of divine services was always the same. At funerals in giving the biography of the deceased he had a certain form, from which he never deviated. A funeral in those days was held on the third day. They were not advertised, as there were no daily papers, only weekly. Accordingly notice was given by persons going from place to place.
Mr. Pauli was a well disposed man, of pleasant address, and possessed of some talent for preaching. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties, and, by his genial spirit and kindly bearing, had gained for himself many warm and devoted friends.
Mr. Pauli's health had been gradually failing for some time past. During the last several years of his life he was a constant sufferer. His last illness commenced about two months previous to his decease. After patiently suffering the will of God, he fell asleep gently at his residence in the City of Reading, Berks county, Pa., October 5th, 1871, aged 67 years, 5 months and 23 days. His funeral took place on the 11th of October, when a suitable discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. B. Bausman on these words, chosen by himself: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. 4:7.
In the year 1844 it became evident that it was necessary to make more than ordinary repairs. The congregation decided to remodel the church. The brick floor was taken up, and George See was awarded the contract to superintend the work. The interior was entirely renovated. The bricks were ground to sand by Mr. Peter Hain at Hain's mill and used in putting a coat of plaster on the outside walls, which was then laid out in imitation of brick. The stone over the door on the south side, containing the inscription and date of building, was also attended to. The inscription on this stone was in German and is as follows:
"Alle, die hier gehen aus und ein, Sollen Gott und dem Koenig unterthan sein."
In English translation would read as follows:
All who here go in and out Should be subject to God and the King."
This couplet indicated their loyalty to England. But during the Revolution their sentiments had been changed, and the inscription became an eyesore. The word "king" was, at the direction of the Building Committee, erased with chisel and hammer by Jonathan See, a son of the master carpenter. It was then repainted—the letters in black and the stone white.
The work being fully completed, the church was re-dedicated on Christmas of the same year. Rev. Pauli, the pastor, was assisted by Revs. J.S. Dubbs, C.G. Herman and Samuel Seibert in the dedicatory services.
The church was then without a steeple, and in 1851 the congregation agreed to have a bell. A belfry or dome was built on the eastern gable end, on the original tower of the church, which had been struck by lightning on New Year's Day, 1817.
On September 26, 1851, a bell was hung in the new erected tower, the weight of which was 1,047 pounds. The bell was dedicated October 19, 1851.
On June 6, 1866, the congregation celebrated in a suitable and appropriate manner the centennial anniversary of the erection of the church in commemoration of their ancestors and to the glory of God. An immense concourse of people was in attendance. Rev. Dr. B. Bausman, of Reading, preached in the morning at 10 o'clock a centennial sermon from the text: Deut. 32:7. Revs. B.D. Zweizig, P.P.A. Hoffman and T.C. Leinbach took part in the services. Pastor C.A. Pauli had prepared and read a historical sketch of the congregation, alluding to the principal families who were at the time when the church was built inhabitants and members of this congregation.
Source: History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed Church in Lower Heidelberg Township Berks County, Penna. by Rev. W.J. Kershner and Adam G. Lerch. Reading, PA: I.M. Beaver, Publisher, 1916, pp. 164-168.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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