In the sixteenth century the wisdom of the minds and courage of the hearts of Luther and Zingali, Calvin and Melanchton led them to guide men and women through the trials of the Reformation. The foundations of Protestantism were established by God's inspiration and guidance.

Our ancestors were forced from their homeland for conscience sake. They came from Alsace-Lorraine, the Palatinate and Heidelberg across the deep waters to the shores of this country. Jesus led the foudners of Alsace church from Philadelphia to Oley over the mountains along the Bernhart Creek through Spring Valley to this hill. Here these pious immigrants worshiped, first under the trees, then in their homes, and within a few years they erected a roughly built log church inthe wilderness to the glory of God. Now, after guiding and blessing their descendants for fully two centuries, two congregations have developed here and have built two beautiful temples to worship in.

In 1730, these settlers were a small group of Alsatians who had been driven from their native land befcause they preferred the freedom of conscience secured for them by the Reformation

Their properties had been confiscated. They barely escaped with their own lives. Upon their arrival to Philadelphia, they were subjected to a variety of annoying inspections before they were permitted to penetrate through the dense forests to their longed-for destination.

This made their long trek through the wilderness all the more tedious. John Haberracker, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1727, came with Theobald Baum, Jacob Spengler, and others up the Perkiomen Valley and aacross Colebrookdale to Oley. Jean Bertolet and Isaac DeTurk, two fellow Alsatians, welcomed them with open arms. After every effort to persuade the newcomers to remain had failed, they were directed to the unoccupied lands beyond the Oley Hills.

After their long, hard push through what at times provided to be a pathless wilderness, they came early on a bright spring afternoon to approximately the place in which you are now gathered. Completely exhausted as they approached this spot, they did not fail to call upon God, who had been their Protector and Guide ever since they had left their homeland, to continue His watchful care over them.

One of the men holds his right hand over his eyes to shield them from the glaring rays of the sun while he scans the surroundings. As he looks to the south where Reading is now located, he shakes his head. After looking westerward for a few moments, he turns to his followers with a smile of satisfaction as he voices a most welcomed assurance, "At least we have found our home!"

No sooner had these Alsatians arrived here than they began to hold public worship under the trees. Services were at first conducted in the French and German languages. Peripatetic preachers would stop here about once every two or three months. The coming of the minister invariably awakened a keen interest throughout the entire community. He would call, and perhaps dine and lodge, in every home. Children were to be baptisted here and there. The sick expected spiritual, and at times medical, ministrations. Tales of his travels often kept the hearers from retiring before midnight. People vied with each other to make his stay so attractive as to make him want to come again.

Sermons never lasted less than an hour and a half. At times they continued for three hours.

It appears that these early settlers, who were denied the privilege of worshiping according to their faith in their native land, had been especially eager to provide a place for public worship at the earliest date possible. They had been here only a few years before they erectted a little log church hardly 100 feet away from where we are assembled today. It was a union Lutheran and Reformed edifice. As early as 1738, a regular pastor in the person of John Philip Streiter had charge of the Lutheran congregation. At the same time, Rev. John Philip Boehm, who periodically visited dozens of other Reformed communities, shepherded the Reformed flock here.

Pastor Streiter remained here four years, until 1742. During this period, the congregations encountered a number of serious difficulties. Differences sprung up between the two congregations worshiping here.

On December 2nd, 1744, Jacob Spengler and others declared before the authorities in Philadelphia that sufficient land had been settled and that they were under such disadvantages as to entitle them to the privileges of a township. Their wish was promptly granted, and 23,270 acres were cut out of Oley and Exeter to form Alsace. This vast area was reduced, first by the erection of Reading in 1748; second, by the erection of Muhlenberg township, in 1852; third, by adding Poplar Neck and the lands adjoining to Cumru; and finally, by the erection of Alsace and Lower Alsace. Strange as it may seem, the Alsace Churches and the residences of the descendants of the first settlers of Alsace township are now located in Muhlenberg township.

As soon as Reading was laid out by the Penns, Conrad Weiser with an uncanny foresight bought the northeast corner of Fifth and Penn Streets, where he established a store and Indian trading post. About this time, Rev. Tobias Wagner, Weiser's pastor, began to serve Alsace, and in 1748, began to hold services in a house in Reading. For fully a century, Alsace was a part of Trinity parish. Likewise, Alsace Reformed Church had for about the same length of time the pastors of the First Reformed Church to supply it with the means of grace.

About 1753, the little log church was replaced by a stone building. Even the new church was crude and uncomfortable. Flagstones covering the ground served as flooring. Hewn logs were arranged in rows to provide seats. There were no stoves. On very cold days the worshipers would warm themselves at log fires before entering the church and after the services. The introduction of stoves at a later period aroused serious opposition.

About 1777, every man, woman and child that could leave home was lined along the road to see this August body of men passs by. The members of the Congress, including their attendants and secretaries, numbered about one hundred. Their approach was heralded by several drummers and uniformed guards. As they reached the crest of Alsace Hill near the little stone church, they had their first glimpse of Reading just about two miles to the south of them. One of them, presumably their leader, John Hancock, speaks, "Before us lies one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. What is the name of this place?" A dozen voices, with enthusiasm, said "Alsace!"

The year 1790 marks the beginning of an era of great activity in the churches throughout Berks County. Within a quarter of a century after that date almost every congregation in the County helped to erect, or by itself build, a new church. A number of the edifices of that period are still standing as monuments to the liberality and churchliness of the people in this section over a century and a quarter ago.

At this time the Rev. Philip Paulis was the Reformed, and the Rev. Charles F. Wildbahn the Lutheran, pastor of Alsace. About 1793 the third Alsace Church was built. IT was a two-story brick building, located where the Reformed Church now stands. The vestibule, vestry, school rooms and living apartments of the organist took up the space on the first floor. The church auditorium occupied the second story. Worshipers who attended serives there desccribed the interior as having been similar to that of the building erected in 1850.

While the Rev. Paulis preached at Reformed services, the Rev. Drs. H.A. Muhlenberg (for whom Muhlenberg township was named) and Jacob MIlller, former president of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, officiated at the Lutheran services.

On the 9th day of FMay, 1850, the cornerstone of the new union edifice was laid in the presence of a large gathering of people. The following articles were put into a led box and placed in the stone: a Bible printed in 1849; Luther's Small Catechism, 1846; The Heidelberg Catechism, 1846; a silver quarter, a dime, and a five cent piece, coined in 1849; several local and Philadelphia papers of 1850; a sealed flask with wine; and a brief statement of the action of the church council concerning the future conduct of the affairs of the congregation.

The church they built, like the one they tore down, lasted 58 years. The congregations grew rapidly in membership. A permanent Sunday School organization was effected in 1889, with Daniel D. Becker as superintendant. With the multiplying of homes in the vicinity of the church and the approach of the city of Reading, the thought of organizing each congregation separately became more and more persistent. After overwhelmingly defeating a proposal for the erection of a new union edifice, the movement for a peaceable separation could no longer be surpressed.

In December of 1905, after a previous effort had failed, the congregations by a large vote agreed to a proposal which assured a peaceable separation. Accordingly the union organization was dissolved in January, 1907. Immediately after that, both congregations organized separately, were charted by the Berks County Court, adopted constitutions, and began to make preparations to build their own places of worship. At a joint meeting of the councils and pastors it was unanimously agreed to build twin granite churches. This was done to avoid the possibility of competition and friction between the two congregations, while the two churches were in the process of construction.

On the 24th day of May, 1908, the union congregation and Sunday School held their farewell sessions. A week later the Sunday Schools met in their respective new churches. On the latter day the Lutheran church was dedicated, and the Reformed a week later. On these occasions the pastors took part in each other's services, by bringing the greetings of the congregation they represented.

You are here today, in such large numbers, because of the devotion and sacrifice of your ancestors. You are indeed "treading where the saints have trod." They who have preceded you have given you your country, your schools, and your Church. Now they rest from their labors, and you have entered into the heritage that they have left you. Their message to you today is "Onward and upward in your loyalty to the Church of the living God."