German Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania

First published by the author in 1895, The German Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania narrates the history of the early Germans of various sects and congregations who settled in Pennsylvania starting at the end of the seventeenth century, with a particular focus on a group of German Pietist mystics who emigrated to America in 1694 to pursue the freedom to practice their religion. The book details Pietism’s origins in Europe, Pietists’ beliefs and practices, and the Pietists’ relationships with other religious groups, like the Quakers, Lutherans, and Jansenites. The book is a product of meticulous archival work and research, and it includes numerous references to and facsimile pages from rare source material. Sachse also provides a comprehensive look at the activities of well-known figures including Johannes Kelpius, Daniel Falkner, Johann Jacob Zimmerman, and Benjamin Furly.

Julius F. Sachse (1842–1919) was a Philadelphia native, historian, author, and amateur photographer devoted to the study and documentation of Pennsylvania’s history. He is known for his work on the Ephrata Cloister, Pennsylvania Germans, and Freemasonry, and for his photographic documentation of Philadelphia’s disappearing historic landmarks.