Loebau, Part 1
Loebau
by George Mueller, Teacher
and
Eckhart, Sexton
Translated by Ed Bernthal
Loebau is probably the oldest of the Six Cities (now four) in Upper Lusatia, which, according to tradition, were built in 706 by the Bohemian Duke
Krokus, and which were expanded by his daughter, Libussa, and were surrounded by a circular wall. The story is told that after Libussa’s death, her
maid, Wasta, a Moravian woman, rebelled against the Bohemian Duke, and, from her castle Diewen, destroyed by murder and fire the town of Loebau as
well as its surroundings.
Others say that the name Loebau, Wendish Lubi, is derived from Luiba in Dalmatia. The least probable is that the name refers to a lovely green meadow.
Also the proverb: “Loebau is the smallest of her sisters, but still the greatest for her love,” seems to be the best indication for the meaning of its
name. Regarding Loebau’s great age, there is a document from 1346 in which the town was said to be the most ancient one. Loebau, probably was created
in the first half of the 10th Century with the help of the Wendish citizens of the then Stare Libjie, a low lying place called the Town of Tiefendorf.
By and by, the differences were gone, and the citizens, by building a Tiefendorf suburb, opened up the rights of the citizens of Loebau. In the same
way, it seems that Old Loebau was connected with Tiefendorf, which had been connected together from earliest times, and which, from the German derived
name, points to a longer age as a town. The fact that the Six Cities held their meetings at the Loebau court house, cannot prove Loebau’s priority,
but much more so from its geography being located in the middle of the Six Cities, with Goerlitz to the east, Zittau to the south and Bautzen 3 miles
to the west, and like Lauban and Camenz, being 6 miles from Loebau. The place which covers the town is a basalt hill. The market lies 80 feet higher
than the so-called Loebau Creek which flow through the valley.
In 1239, there was a royal governor in Loebau. After 1303, Margrave Otto from Brandenberg, as their Land Ruler, left the court in the town, and in
1311, it received from his successor Wlademar of Kottmar Forest in Lehn. From 1314 – 1317, when the town experienced a great scarcity, it was under
the Kingdom of Bohemia. In 1336, a most prosperous year, one bushel of corn cost one Bohemian groschen. A Franciscan monastery was built here, with
the plot given by the ruler and the rest coming from the people. In 1341, Loebau was included in the 80 towns under the Higher Office of the
Independent Jurisdiction. In 1346, the first Six City meeting took place. In 1366, Heinrich, the land owner, sold the city of Dyersdorf (Tiefendorf)
for 2 pounds of pepper to the old constable at Goerlitz and Bautzen, who probably later, gave this city over to Loebau. In 1367, Kaiser Karl IV
bestowed and increased the privileges of the city, in that he added fishing rights and lifted the tax. In 1376, the greater part of the city including
the parish church went up in flames within 2 hours. In 1381, King Wenzel established the local court. In 1397, the land owner from Duden gave over the
jurisdiction of several towns to Loebau. In 1404, King Wenzel granted free health service to the city. On Sunday, February 5, 1413, the school master
in Loebau put on a play about the “Sufferings of Saint Dorothy.” In the middle of the play, a third part of the court house collapsed. A large number
of the spectators were standing on the roof, 30 of whom were killed in the collapse and many were injured. In 1419 and 1420, the Hussites came in, who
in 1425, as in 1429 and 1432, reduced the whole town to ashes. In 1434, the rebuilding was started. In 1438, King Albrecht restored the privileges of
the town. In 1464, King George Podiebrad, in a special writing which can still be found in the court house, announced to the town his ascending the
throne. In 1478, Loebau purchased the town of Oelsa, including half of Gross-Schweidnitz.
In 1496, King Wladislaus ordered that within a mile around the city no trade or tavern or a malt house could be erected. In the same year, there died,
as recorded in the church books, within the walls of the city 46 landlords from the plague. Regarding the establishment of breweries, the Council from
early on had many conflicts with their neighbors. In 1506, they smashed the beer casks in Spittel, Eiserode and Breitendorf, from which they wanted to
serve beer at the Kittlitzer church fair. Something similar happened in 1507 at Kottmansdorf and Cunnersdorf. On the Laetere Sunday in 1519, the
Franciscan cloister burned to the ground, along with the two parsonages, as well as the Goerlitz gate, several citizen’s homes and a number of barns.
The Jandas Forest was purchased in 1522 and Ebersdorf in 1531. In 1533, not far from Loebau, as was recorded in the city annals, a pregnant woman¸ on
the same night in which she had slit her husband’s throat, consumed his left arm and his left side up to his waist, and soon thereafter gave birth to
three live children, and was punished with a sentence of life imprisonment. In 1536, a carpenter by the name of Fiebiger burned the barns in front of
the Bautzen Gate. On the Sunday after Egide in 1542, so many grasshoppers came that the sky was darkened by them. In 1547, the city lost its
privileges and community seat through a so-called “Pönfalle,” the loss of which was again gradually restored. In 1548, there was a fire disaster. The
preacher, Nicol von Glaubitz, who in 1526 lived in Loebau and was inclined toward the Lutheran teachings and got married, was chased out of the city
by the papal minded citizens. In 1554, his widow sought reimbursement from the council. In 1552, the council bought the town of Oelsa along with the
Kottman Forest for 2100 Thalers. The latter covered an area of over 1500 Scheffel.
Due to a great summer drought, the year 1561 brought serious failure to the harvest of the fields and to the fruit trees, as well as to the growth of
the grass. On the evening of Gregory Day in 1562, a big storm tore down houses and barns and knocked off the tower on the city wall. In 1565, the
winter was known for its cold temperatures and much snow. In the same year, Kaiser Maximilian, upon recommendation of the State, gave to the city the
empty cloister to be used as a special school. He also sold the Monk Forest for 250 Gulden. In 1567, the Loebau Court declared that Hans Bickerling
and Wolfgang Richter from Kottmarsdorf, as well as old Luke in Eile, who had kept their cows and horses in the forest, and Hans Luke who had often
been disobedient, were to be under supervision of the royal court. In 1568, 1,000 people in Loebau died of the plague. In 1570, almost all of the city
burned down, in which 5 persons died. In 1576, the council bought Ebersdorf again, which had been lost with the “Pönfalle.” In 1580 an unusual
sickness went through all of Germany, which was called “The Spanish Cricket,” and which eventually came to Loebau, but only a few died from it. In
1584, the plague raged in Bautzen so badly that the office of the upper council had to be moved to Loebau. In 1590, there followed, especially after a
good February and March, very severe weather, and an early budding of the trees, and from June to August a terrible drought, so that the grass in the
pasture burned up, and the crops in the fields suffered severe damage, and even the fish in the water died. During the night of September 15, an
earthquake caused much damage at many places. It took almost two years before the dried up springs recovered again. On the Sunday of the evening
before Quasimodo, according to many reports, Duke Franz from Saxony and Duke Joachim Karl from Brandenburg passed through with many of their brave
soldiers. In Kittlitz, Breitendorf and other nearby places, violence broke out between the residents and the military, which must have been quite
serious since the military in a so-called “small skirmish” killed 24 and wounded six more, who later died. On the side of the farmers, Knight Franz
von Zschetzowitz in Oppeln was shot and killed. On February 28, 1597, nine delegates from the Saxon cities held a meeting in Loebau. While drinking
wine, the delegates suddenly felt sick. Blaming the wine, the Zittau delegates gave the rest of the glass to the servant of the mayor to drink, who
got a serious nose bleed, was taken home and soon thereafter died. Similar incidents of death happened on March 6 to the Zittau mayor, on March 21 to
the mayor of Goerlitz, and on March 26 to the Loebau mayor, George Hofkunze. Historians called this wine, “The Loebau Drunk.” In 1598, 530 died in
Loebau from the plague sickness. In 1599, which was a very terrible year, the plague raged so fiercely that in Loebau, Old Loebau, Tiefendorf and
Ebersdorf 550 persons, particularly children, became victims of the plague. Bautzen at that time lost 3500 people.
On July 12, 1602, a woman stole a goose from the poor goose keeper at Klein Schweidnitz. While carrying the goose to Loebau, the thief was killed in a
terrible storm that arose at Hans Phillip’s property, and the undamaged goose was returned to its poor robbed owner. In 1606, the harvest was so
productive that the crops could not all be stored in the barns. In 1608, around St John’s Day, it was so cold with hail and snow that the goats froze
in the fields. On July 29 and 30, 1609, much damaged was incurred by a great flood. On April 10, 1611, ropemaker Michael’s wife brought an
extraordinary child into the world. It had a head with hair like a calf, a face, a separated navel, two arms and four legs and two feminine birth
parts. In 1611, the State Parliament was held in Loebau, because the plague was raging in Bautzen. In 1613, the Court House tower was furnished with a
new clock, that after striking had a head that opened and closed its mouth. One time it happened that when it opened its mouth a sparrow flew into it.
The clock also showed the stages of the moon in the middle of a ball. After a very dry summer in 1616, there was a depression in 1617 in which a
bushel of corn cost seven Thalers. In 1620 there was a hard time in Loebau due to the 30 Years War. In 1626, 800 people died from the plague. In 1632,
the 30 Years War was very devastating. Among others, the city was taken over four times within ten days. On November 1, 1633, the Croatians burned
down 29 houses. On May 2, 1634, the cost of quartering the Company of General Melon was 6408 Thalers. In 1636, as well as in 1637, the 30 Years War
was again very devastating. In 1639, the cost of feeding the Swedes was 2526 Thalers and 22 Groschen. On October 16, 1642, 14 quarter barrels of beer
and 14,400 pounds of bread had to be provided for the Swedes. In 1666, the weather hit the tower of the court house, and in 1669, the same was lost in
a fire. In 1673, the hospital was newly renovated from the ground up. On August 6, 1678 at 8:00 in the morning, a fire broke out which destroyed more
than half of the city. In it the parsonages, as well as the school and the bell tower were reduced to ashes. Also the tower of the Nicolai Church and
part of the roof over the city wall were burned down. In 1684, the council had a pond built in front of the Zittau gate. In 1691, there was a great
flood.
In 1701, twice as much water was brought into the city. In 1703, there was great flood. In 1705, the firehouse was built. In 1706, there followed a
confirmation of all the privileges for the land owners in the city. The same year brought a great hail storm. On July 22, 1708, lightning struck the
powder magazine next to the house of the prince, without exploding the powder. In this year, a business society was organized and approved in Loebau.
Under Carl XII, the city had to pay the Swedes 21,703 Thalers, eight Groschen, and four Pfennig. In 1709, there appeared a contagious sickness that
affected all of Germany. In 1710, the city was struck by a mighty fire, which made it necessary the next year to rebuilt the damaged court house, and
in 1713, to cover the damaged city wall with a tile roof. On February 10, 1715, there arose an earth shaking hurricane force wind in the Kittmar
Forest. On the Loebau hills and the Monks Forest it blew down over 20,000 trees. In 1717, the city council approved the establishment of a book
printing company by Hennig Reimer (probably by a “poet” Hennig), which had up to then been run by Joh. Friedrich Hohlfeld from Posen in Flore. In
1720, it was not unusual for 16-20 persons dying in a week from a malignant illness.
Also in the year 1814, the city suffered extraordinarily from the quartering of the soldiers going back to France and from the returning Russians and
Prussians of about 200,000 men going back and forth passing through here. It took more than a decade for the wounds of the war to be completely healed
again. Since 1831, a new institution for the care of the poor and the sick was established at the cemetery in front of the Zittau gate. The old
hospital, which had been newly built from the ground up in 1673, was sold and greatly improved by the repairs made by the buyer. On December 18, 1833,
a strong hurricane did much damage to the towers, houses, trees, etc. From April 7 to May 17, 1834, the wall of the inner city was taken down from the
archdiocese to the Wendish church. Also, at 7:00 P.M. on March 9, 1844, a great storm burned down 12 barns in front of the Bautzen Gate, as well as
two houses and a barn in front of the Goerlitzer gate. The moving fire also burned the council farm, besides one house in Tiefendorf, where already on
July 12 in 1832 a farm had gone up in flames. Since 1835, the local merchant, G. Hildebrand had established a large dying house. Something similar, a
drying business was built here by the merchant Trensch, which was 129 yards long and 12 yards wide. The built on wing was 32 yards long and 20 yards
wide. On February 12, 1835 and on March 20, 1836, fire broke out in Alt Loebau, as well as on April 2, 1837, which completely burned down the barns
and the side buildings on a property. In the last named year, the lighting of the city was improved with the hanging of lamps above the middle of the
streets. On July 1 of the same year, the new justice office was dedicated here. It consists of one justice, two judicially qualified assessors, three
sports council officers, one postmaster and three workers. In addition, there is here a national post office, one postmaster and one lower tax
officer. The local council board consists of six persons including a city secretary. Ebersdorf, Alt Loebau, Dehsa and Walddorf belong to the city.
And, by the action of Mayor Schoebel, the knight’s property lease was purchased by the local community in late August of 1838. In September 1838, the
court house, along with its tower, was renovated. In the same year, the road to Gross-Dehsa and the one to Herwigsdorf were Chaussirt. Also the
hospital bridge, which had been damaged, was significantly repaired.
Loebau is connected to Bautzen, Goerlitz and Rumberg by way of the main Chausee. Since November 1838, there is, among other activities, the spinning
of wool in the local poor house, which is led by Schultze, the activities director from Zittau. This excellent activity of spinning wool was
introduced by the city council, and the council member, Austin, promoted it and promised its best progress without flattery, since the inquirer can
hardly be satisfied, by using to old proverb: “The product honors its master.” In an important meeting on April 7, 1836, an assembled committee for
the installation of a railroad in Upper Lusatia, approved a cameral survey of the geometrical preparation, and other proposals were generally
accepted. On the railroad, one could get from Dresden to Bautzen in 1 & ½ hours, from Bautzen to Loebau in 40 minutes, and from Loebau to the
Prussian border at Reichenbach in 20 minutes. The local master carpenter, Tettmeier, as well as the local departed Husor Wischy, whose father was also
called Droschuetz, and whose brother was a porter in Reichenbach, all three of whom were arrested here as suspects, confessed on April 3 to the murder
and robbery of Gocht, the owner of the knight’s property, which they committed on September 7, 1837 at the Gocht from Schoenbach property. (compare
page 21). On June 6, Wuschy almost succeeded, probably with a buckle from his truss, to cut an artery on one of his hands. But an early discovery of
his intention prevented him from ending his life, and two watchmen since then have been watching out over him. At Eastertime in 1838, a trade school
came into being, as well as a Sunday school on May 6 of the same year, and also a new fire extinguishing ordinance confirmed by the district director.
The proposed trade school never got started.
A property of the city, among others, located 2 St. to the south was the Kottmar Hill, which was grown over with spruce trees. The smaller part
belonged to Kottmardorf. The name of this 1400-foot-high hill, came from the Wendish word Chad, or walkway and from Mar or Mara, a noonday ghosts. In
order to quiet this ghost, according to the legend, sacrifices were offered on the hill. Whether, after this heathenish practice took place, there was
still a remnant in the neighboring towns where still, in the first evening of the Pentecost festival, several hundred went up the hill, could not be
verified. To the south, close to Loebau, arises the high and steep Loebau Hill, which covers an area of 800 Schst. A barren stony spot near the city
was used by the men for hill climbing, but was soon discontinued because of too few participants. One could see Bautzen from the top of the hill, and
with field glasses one could see the houses of the Prince of Tiefendorf, which is now occupied by Mr. Carl August Frey, and the cultivated Council
forest, which now produces abundant firewood for the citizens school and for the brick barn at the foot of the hill.
At the entrance to the woods, there is a lovely well surrounded by nature that is named the “honey well” because of its tasty sweet water. On the
mostly grassy peak of the hill, there are Mauerrudera, which relates to the tradition that Loebau’s earlier builders had the plan to locate the city
here, but because of the lack of water had dropped the plan again. A nearby favorite walking path was called the “herb garden” because of its many
growing medicinal herbs. Incidentally, according to the legend, a spirit possessed treasure was hidden here. The hill, which is often visited by
hundreds at its peak, like at the “honey well”, has for many years enjoyed great popularity. Its improvements are paid for partly by the community,
and partly by the city council, and so on. Good lodging is available at the “honey well” and at the top of the hill, where at times shooting contests
and concerts are held. One of the lodging houses at the top of the hill, which, at its dedication with music, attracted over 1,000 guests. Since then,
it has been called the Schweizerei in reference to the host’s name, Schweizer. Presently, someone else serves as host, and so also the Schweizer name
is being lost. The flowing Loebau water from the hill, which at the stone miller bridge in Tiefendorf, it taken up from the so-called “seldom clean
well” originates from the three springs, namely, near Schoenback, at the Bohemian border at Ober-Kunnersdorf, and in the Zuchmann Valley at
Ober-Strawalde. This flowing water is clean and healthful.
Additionally, Loebau counts more good wells, among which is the one outside of the Goerlitz gate, toward Tiefendorf, located in a hollow iron well of
excellent quality. The healing strength of the mineral water was pointed out in a short article by a Loebau doctor, Fr. Joh. Gottlieb Segnitz. In
1714, the current mayor, Christian Segntiz, who found this water to be very beneficial, had the well cleaned and enclosed. The carpenter, Liske, from
Cunnersdorf, in 1824, purchased a garden close the spring. In the same year, prompted by the city physician, who now has the Royal Saxon physician’s
office, Dr. Herzog, and is supported by the magistrate, erected, 150 steps from the spring, a bathhouse with a kitchen into which the water was piped.
It was located in a charming valley with buildings surrounded by beautiful gardens which have on the ground floor six bright and inviting spacious
bathing rooms with all the needed furnishings. Above them, is located a beautiful large arranged social room, besides conveniently furnished small
rooms for guests. For the sufferers with lower bowel problems, hardening of the liver, stomach weakness, headaches, dizziness, etc., it has proved to
be a most healing benefit to the local and outside visitors to the baths.
Loebau has three church towers besides the court house tower and 329 houses. The three city gates, known as the Goerlitzer, Zittau and Bautzen gates,
have been taken down, as well as the Latten gate that took their places, which was used for collecting the gate charge to night entrances, which has
been discontinued. The residents numbering 2,530 fall, first of all, into dealers in the weaving white and colorful linen goods, the articles of which
were sent by the main dealers to foreign lands as far as all the way to America. The main occupations in Loebau are: one book printer, seven book
binders, two gold workers, three confectioners, eight purse makers, ten coopers, one gunsmith, one brewer, six bakers, ten coopers, two bleachers, two
brush makers, eight hat makers, three comb makers, four tin makers, three button makers, one coppersmith, nine coachmen, 28 linen workers, one tanner,
four white tanners, three master masons, two master carpenters, seven millers, three wheels wrights, nine nail makers, one lace maker, three strap
cutters, two cake bakers, six saddlers, six soap boilers, eight rope makers, one grinder, six locksmiths, six blacksmiths, 29 tailors, one chimney
cleaner, 26 shoe bench makers, four cloth dyers, one linen dyer, two wheel wrights, one stocking maker, two stocking weavers, 18 cabinet makers, two
cloth makers, three potters, two tin pourers, 23 merchants, 30 business people, three glass dealers, one physician, three medical doctors, seven
lawyers, two wound doctors, three animal doctors, and one city musician. One of the local book dealers has a loan library of 3,300 books. Fruitful
fields provide good food and wonderful pastures support the raising of cattle. A weekly Thursday grain market is especially important, since many of
the hill towns need to get their provisions from this market. In the same way, the cattle market was important in the last four years. Brewing rights
were granted to 56 citizens, of which nine had the right to serve beer. Besides that, there are ten whisky distilleries. The earlier mentioned
printing business now regularly supplies a weekly newspaper which is read widely. It should not remain unmentioned that for the accommodation of
travelers and outside transportation, there is a carriage which, many times, goes through Bautzen, Zittau and Rumburg, and there are five guest court
yards, and for entertainment, there are the two resources on the Loebau hill with their baths. There is also the restoration of the (radio) hill, the
Elisium at Schallers, the shooting house, the Lowald garden, which is one half hour from Kittlitz and which offers something similar to the Saxon
Switzerland. Concerts and theatrical performances are presented on occasion in the concert hall. Lost to the vivid memory is that, since 1836,
following an expressed petition by the citizens, no soldiers could be garrisoned any more.
The mentioning of a schoolmaster in Loebau is found already in 1413. Also in a document from 1430, there is a memory of a school. After the 1336
established Franciscan cloister, which had been destroyed by the Hessians, and, in 1519, was again burned down, and had been abandoned by the monks in
1517, due to their meager subsistence, Kaiser Maxmillian II, upon the request of the city council, put in an evangelical school, which was supported
by a gift of 150 gulden as a royal favor. After the next year, the school started in the cloister building. Already in 1588, both of the first
teachers died in the plague. One of them, Teacher Hierow Noswitz by name, as one sent off from the royal court, proved to be very capable. The great
fire in 1570 also consumed the school, in which, during the 30 Years War, a new class had been established and a fourth teacher was installed. The
instruction in the school was greatly disrupted by the war, the plague, depression and by the fire havoc in 1678, as well as by the Swedish War in
1706, and the great fire in 1710. In 1716, the then Mayor Christian Trautmann, who had from the general Loebau society been able to get great income,
not without luck, by the establishment of a lottery, by means of which the school was able to gain a fine income. In 1743, the school was promoted to
a Lyceo. At 5:00 o’clock on the afternoon of March 29, within one minute, the cloister building was damaged by a crashing thunderbolt, not setting the
roof on fire, but only the splintering of a rafter. Earlier there had been three classes, but later, due to the increase in the number of the
students, there were four classes, and, since 1728 the school had one rector, one co-rector, one Tertine and one cantor. In 1766, they celebrated its
200th anniversary. After 1817, eight classrooms had been established in their 62 yards long building and, in 1818, a public school was established at
the location of which, in 1828, an auditorium was added.
Under the Collator of the council and under the inspection by the primary pastor, the present jurisdiction of the school is under the
director, Teacher Fried. Junge, born at Zittau in 1796, and in office here since 1825. The first upper teacher, Teacher Friedrich Liebgott Praetor,
was born in Dresden in 1777, and has been in office here since 1810. Teacher Praetor’s substitute following on July 2, 1838, was Fried. Wilh. Rossack,
candidate of theology, was born in Gross-Hennersdorf in 1803. The second upper teacher, Teacher Christian Traug. Limmert, was born here in 1772, and
has been functioning since 1800. The third upper teacher, Heinr. Aug. Klose, was born in Gruensberg in Silicia in 1799, and started teaching here in
1821. The first lower teacher, Carl Gottlieb Thamm, was born at Harthe near Loebau, and has been working here since 1819. The second lower teacher,
Joh. Phillip Henneer, was born in Bautzen in 1802 and has been in office here since 1823. The third lower teacher, Gustave Hacker, was born in Pirna
in 1804, and has served here since 1829. The fourth lower teacher, Carl Eduard Grusche, was born here in 1813 and has been working here since 1834. He
became the first teacher in Schonau near Bernstadt, and in his place the present installed teacher, Joh. Carl Gottlieb Freundenberg came on January 2,
1838. He was born in Gelenau near Camenz in 1812.
The school was also the responsibility of the overseer, who at the same time had to take care of pumping of the bellows in the main church and the
collection of the Cympel money. The salary of the director was 500, each upper teacher 300, and the lower teacher 250-270 Thaler, to which salaries,
more benefits could be added. The highly prized school library started in 1630, which had 1,485 books valued at 1,707 Thaler comprised mostly of
judicial works, was open to the public each Saturday noon from 11:00-12:00 o’clock since 1838. In 1838, the enrollment in the public school was 483,
including the children from Tiefendorf and Koerbigsdorf, both of which places are served here.
The director is responsible for the income of the school.
Earlier school directors were: In 1627, Rector Deacon Schubert, who died in 1632. In 1643, Teacher Seidemann, council chairman, who died in 1645; in
1650 Teacher Richter who died in 1689; in 1672, Kirchenbitter; in 1673, Fiebiger; in 1705, Teacher Guenther; in 1743, Teacher Guider died; in 1790,
Teacher Heinitz died, through whose special efforts the school was completed; in 1802, Thieme died; in 1817, Teacher Beckel died; in 1825, Teacher
Herzog died; since then, Teacher Junge, who was born in 1796 at Zittau, had already been the rector and deacon in Weida at the Weimarishen.
Church record books, as a main source for local history early on, were not always used in an appropriate way. An indication of this is seen in an old
church record book with the following descriptions of the deceased: The seventh Hannah in February 1619; the pattern writer; the Spiegel-Aune on
February 3, 1619; the boney one; the old spinner woman at Hans Paul’s on February 19, 1620; the old fiddler Hans from Altenliebe on December 15, 1620;
the fat man from Paulsdorf on January 10, 1626; the old blind miller woman from Altenliebe; a girl from the Elsse; a son of the poor man outside of
the Goertlitzer gate on December 29, 1636; a beggar boy from Berlin; the shingle maker Mayin on November 10, 1642; the beautiful Hannah on November
10, 1642; the lame Cristoph on June 2, 1651; the old Stephen Bartell on July 18, 1656; Mr. Johannes, the Bohemian magistrate on March 3, 1659; the
writer’s daughter from Konnersdorf in 1672; Hans Liehmann (Lehmann) on September 29, 1678 in Ebersdorf, who drank himself to death; a youth from
Altenliebe in 1680; a beggar from Kennersdorf in 1685; the deaf Hannah; the old tall Lena on June 14, 1690; an old farmer in 1696; the rector’s
dearest wife on June 1, 1701; a child of Hans Schuellers, formerly a shepherd in Ottenhain, July 17, 1705. At this death an absurd thing happened, in
that the Wendish singer could not sing for the funeral at the grave; Teacher Melch. Guenther, the rector at the local public school died unexpectedly
from a stroke – may God replace the rift again; old Marie at Mr. Kretschmars, April 15, 1706; Mattheaus Gratz, lodger in Old Loebau, died on Pentecost
evening in 1706, but since he had not made use of Holy Communion for many years, and did not heed the many admonitions of his father confessor, which
did not help even when finally the honorable minister went to him and talked to him about life, death, heaven and hell, which he did not want to hear,
he was buried on Pentecost Tuesday behind the city by the kindness of the council and honorable ministry, without any singing or bell ringing, as an
example to others who may have to be buried just like this; Mrs. Marie, former wife of Master Matthes Raetzes, citizen and cloth maker here, surviving
widow, June 5,1507, 82 years old, over which a great argument arose, since the funeral sermon was to be held after the catechism examination;
Mr.Gottfried Menzel, an honest German, April 26, 1708. Mr. Christian Limmer, head of the local council¸ an honest, upright and devout man, April 15,
1710. An old house maid, Eleanore Schmieden, February 8, 1711. The young wife of the bishop in Konnersdorf, October 10, 1711. Hans Stephen, lodger and
bleacher in Tiefendorf, was at the Barthels for beer, stayed overnight, as was his custom, laid down behind the stove, and on January 5, 1714 was
found dead in the morning, and was taken away without singing or ringing of bells. God grant that anyone who still lives like him will take an example
from this. Casper Mueller’s young wife on May 19, 1714. Johannes Haensch, No. 136 in 1773, and old person living with Mrs. Conzelisten, the widow of
the local glacier, died December 15. On October 8, 1776, the Lattich drunkard in the infirmary.
In the same way, some of the births, among others, read this way: On February 20, 1714, and illegitimate son was born, Hans Cristoph whose mother was
Rosine Horn, the father cannot be named since she admitted it may have been one of several. In 1793, a pregnant woman gave as the father an unknown
man with a pipe in his mouth, whom she met in the Herrnhut forest. If the church books were kept like they have been in the last 30 years, then quite
a few pieces of history of our cities and towns would have been lost. The Loebau church book, which was kept by the bell ringer, started in 1608. A
church book register from 100 years ago has been carefully restored by a local bookkeeper, although it is not quite finished yet, the outcome of the
research has already proved to be very helpful.
Loebau has four active churches, as listed by the Collator of the city council: a) the former dedicated St. Nicolaus,
Main Church,
which burned down in 1378, but has been spared since then from all the fires that have taken place here. Since 1739-1742, the south end of the church
has been enlarged and now is 87 yards long and 45 yards wide, and which has 1,705 seats that can accommodate at least 2,500 people. The outer and
inner private boxes were added by and by. The ceiling vaults were supported by 12 huge pillars. The wooden altar and baptismal font come from the
papal times. The pulpit was newly built by the Mayor at that time, and at his own expense. As reported in a church book, the three manual 28 rank
organ reparations were begun in 1686 by a Zittau master cabinet maker, Johann Prescher, along with the organ building company of Johann Drechsler from
Leipzig, without bringing the work to completion, as the cost of which was to be understood to be paid by one or the other. Finally, the God-gifted
artist, Mr. Johannes Raetzel, the renowned organ builder from Stettin, took charge in 1689 and brought it to completion, for which he will be richly
rewarded by God in the eternal life. The presently appointed cantor and music director is the fourth upper teacher from the public school, and as
organist the third lower teacher, and as bell ringer and sexton, Friederich August Eckhardt, who at the same time serves as the church bookkeeper and
available godfather. Besides the stone and wooden sculptures, there are many paintings in the church gallery, and otherwise also in the church. In one
of the church galleries there is a painting that shows the unwise virgins playing cards in a French church. Some of the pictures of the deceased
mayors and notables go back from 1835 to 1648. The last of this notables, Johann Gottlieb Brueckner, born at Goerlitz on February 9, 1752, celebrated
his anniversary in office as Doctor of Theology and as knight of the Royal Saxon civil court, and his wedding anniversary on June 29, 1829, and he
died in his 57th year in office, at the age of 83 years seven months and two days, on September 11, 1835. He was responsible for the incarcerated, and
often strongly proved the circumstances of their crimes, and eight times had the sad obligation to prepare the criminals for their death. In the
underground vaults under the altar, there are old cabinets in which can be seen a pair of monk’s boots, a knight’s sword and several very old wood
carved pictures, as well as, in the sacristy, very old mass garments, and an enclosed wooden carved depiction of the sleeping disciples at the Mount
of Olives.
A lightning bolt, which had much earlier hit the 130-foot-high church tower without setting it on fire, led to the installation of a lightning rod
from the top of the tower, as well as for over the whole church. This happened in 1833, at which time the flag and the knob were also newly gold
plated.
The tower is covered with 3,500 brass tabs, and, since 1701, supported by brick work, holds a Seigerschelle, and four bells, the oldest of which has
an inscription that read backwards,
“He has risen again as he said” and “pray for us.” (illustration)
The second bell called the “Middle,” which, in 1727, cracked during the ringing for the Queen, and was recast again in Dresden, has the following
inscription:
My ore was old, but still good, and still rang well
For over 100 years, but finally it was cracked
I have been remade again to God’s glory
By the hand of Michael Weinhold, who completed the recasting.
On the third bell, which was usually called the “Pempe,” it says:
Holy Mary be with us and don’t let us be lost.
On the fourth bell, known as the Little Bell, which was recast in Goerlitz in 1794, it says:
To the glory of God and the welfare of man.
On July 3,1703 a tower builder was hired to start fixing the two Seiger bells. The flag and the iron rod of the tower together weigh about 60 pounds,
and the knob could hold 6/4 bushel of corn.
On the night of July 11, the Bible was stolen from off the pulpit. The thief got in through a neglected unlocked door in the built-on lodge. The
oldest of the four hanging chandeliers above the altar fell down and broke on October 22, which accident, as well as its restoration has never
happened again. On the night of December 4-5, the church had a break-in by robbers who stole one silver wine container, two large cups with its
Patanen, one host plate with its box, a small spoon, one metal crucifix, one large red silk altar cloth used at high festivals, all of the cash money
from the communion and service boxes, and several gold rings, as well as a necklace that were kept here for security. It is worth noting, that during
this 400 Thaler robbery, the thieves left a small gold plated cup, which they had in hand to take. Only this cup and a similar one, which was in the
bell ringers home, were left as their altar-ware. The earliest theft in this Main Church occurred during the night of June 26-27, 1838, when upon the
opening of the offering box, which usually contained 9-12 Thaler from the monthly Klingelbeutel money, only five Groschen, 10 Pfennig were found.
Thankfully, it should be mentioned, that those who wanted to replace the loss, brought very generous offerings.
Still in the month of December, the church received other gifts: two pewter-ware wine containers inscribed with “LCM 1770,” as well as designated host
plates with the inscription “J.C.M.J, December 12, 1770,” eight silver host plates, and a silver host box inscribed with: “C.G.K. December 8, 1770,”
and 11 tin spoons besides a small silver spoon.
The donors of these gifts, besides one unnamed donor, were the widowed wife of the mayor, Kirchhof, also the aged widow Giebitz and the oldest one in
the congregation, Chirung Mueller. Further, the Captain von Berge from Ottenhain contributed 110 Thaler for use in the church of one ¾ container
silver cup, gold plated on the inside and the outside, weighing 70 and ¼ ounces, along with a silver plated case. A similar one with a Patine, gold
plated on the inside weighing 48 ounces and holding ¼ can, with the name of the giver and the year 1770, was brought by the local city physician, Dr.
Johann Gottlieb Segnitz. A third large cup, gold plated on the inside and the outside with Patine, has the words on the bottom, “This cup is donated
to the main church, St. Nicolai in Loebau by Johann Cristoph Prentzel from Lehne, Jauernick and Ochau, the upper house merchant in Bautzen, 1771.” A
fourth one with Patine cup weighing three Marks and two Quent, which cost the donor 40 Thaler and several Groschen, contains the engraved letters G.
U. M. H. C. U. A. M. The meaning of these letters is: Goerner and Mueller Company and more others. The named company had contributed 31 Thaler and
eight Groschen, and the rest was paid for by the local master blacksmith, Moskau, the manufacturer of Corwain, Glauert, the draftsman and weaver
Stephen and Cristoph May, the widow, Benade, and the farmer Joehne from Ebersdorf. A new altar cloth costing 39 Thaler and three Groschen, embossed
with red linen taffita, was generously donated in the sum of 30 Thalers by the local business men, May and Fiebiger, as well as the knight’s property
owner, Rudolph from Klein-Schweidnitz. The host of the inn, Hermann, brought a collection of six Thaler and seven Groschen. The rest was received from
the local citizen, Stolle and the master weaver, Gottlieber, as well as the famer C. G. Clemens from Ebersdorf. The student Hueltig in Leipzig
contributed a porcelain crucifix with two flower pots that went with it, worth 35 Thaler, the occasion being an inheritance from the local Dr.
Landancy.
A generous remembrance for the decoration of the church occurred in 1816, 1817, 1821 and 1825. During these years, the church received: one large
crocheted white and blue altar cloth, which is currently used, as well as communion paraments with two flower vases, and also red damask altar and
pulpit hangings with golden fringes, and a white damask altar cloth for the sacristy. The modest donors of all these thank-worthy gifts were the local
master baker, Seltmann, the local young women, the local commission counselor, Engel, and the wife of the Captain von Schuetz from Dehna. May these
continue to serve as an example, and as a lasting remembrance of the givers.
The oldest agenda was a hand-written one from 1696, a printed one from 1718, and the most recent one from 1813. The oldest Loebau hymnal is from 1686,
which was revised in 1702 and 1718. The newest containing 820 hymns is from 1831. On the door behind the altar there are, partly outside and partly
inside, the words you can read: “Pax intratibus, Salus exennitibus.” On a yearly average, there are 208 baptisms, and an average of 43
weddings that take place in the main church. Taking part in communion on a yearly average are 5,865.
On the cemetery around the church, with graves having different epitaphs, there are no more burials. A garden spot for the arch diaconate, consisting,
for the greater part, of tomb stones has been removed from the cemetery. The ministers who were installed in the main church were the following: 1391
Johann Canitz, 1407 P. Bidenkompf, 1443 A. Schmotzel, 1446 J. Ermilrich, 1483 B. Schaaf from Ober-Reichenbach, 1499 Teacher A. Bieler, 1509 Nicol. von
Glaubitz, who was the first evangelical preacher, 1529 Teacher Weise, 1568 Teacher C. Veatus, who died from the plague, 1570 Teacher J. Tilischer from
Breslau who was not here very long, since he was released because of his many squabbles, 1570 Teacher Lazar. Scherdinger from Deckendorf in Bavaria,
1585 Pastor Hieron at the end, died in 1600, 1600 Chr. Martini from Dresden who died in 1620, 1617 the substitute of the former pastor, Teacher Joh.
Maurit Fischer from Gremina died in 1645, then came Teacher Jodoc. Willichius, a Saxon from Pretrin and died in 1693, from 1700-1720 Teacher Chr.
Behrnauer, J. Joh. Chr. Kunkel from Breslau, a catechist at Salvator in 1700, later pastor in Gross-Hennersdorf, came to Loebau in 1709 and was the
primary pastor here in 1721. He was the first pastor elected by the council and as such died in 1737. Teacher J. G. Herzog from Freiberg from
1737-1746, Matth. Rathe from Klier, the former deacon in Kittlitz and Pastor in Daubitz was a Wendish preacher here in 1718, and in 1746 became the
primary pastor here, who died in 1789. He was the office and marriage Jubilarian and a knight in the Saxon Kingdom civil service order and died in
1835. He was followed by the then arch deacon, A. Th. R. Moehn from Reschwitz near Bautzen, who was pastor in Kotitz near Weisenberg in 1793, arch
deacon here in 1808 and Substitute in 1832 for the former primary pastor.
The arch deacons in the main church were: Caspar around 1550, Engelmann 1556, Elias Scheffer Barthol Selinger here in 1563, Martin Riese formerly the
cantor in Dippoldiswalde and died here from the plague in 1568 (from which at this time 1,100 people died), G. Fierbiger vorzirt in 1569 and died in
1597, J. Lankisch from Zittau died in 1599.
Elias Teuchler a Bunzlauer from 1599-1607. August Liebold a Laubaner 1607. Gottfried Flaemminger, who came here from Beiersdorf in 1615 and went to
Herwigsdorf in 1627. Teacher George Laurentius, who came from Bohemian Leipa and died in 1632. Teacher Abraham Sturz, who came from the court at
Oaschitz from 1633-1665, and who was formerly deacon in Koenigsbrueck, was the son of Gottfried Sturz, the arch deacon, but, because of his roaming
life style, was dismissed in 1687. In his place, came Teacher Chr. Behrnauer who became the principal teacher in 1700, and died as such in 1720. From
1701 – 1724, Teacher Conrad Auenmueller from Bishofswerda. Matth. Rothe (see above) who was the principle teacher in 1746 and died in 1774. Then came
Heinrich Wilhem Goetze, born in Luckau, who before this was the pastor in Reichenbach, who died in 1808. He was followed by now principle the pastor
of the branch in Lawalda. Teacher August Theodore R. Moehn. Taking his place in 1833 was Teacher G. H. I. Lipsius, born in Gross-Hennersdorf, formerly
deacon at Hennersdorf, and now is arch deacon here, as well as pastor at Lawalde.
Cantors were: Betrack 1622. Stecker 1640, who came as the pastor at Cottmarsdorf. Jerichov 1641, who in 1645 was also the organist. Jericho 1651, who
took over the cantorship for the second time, was the council chairman in 1663 and died in 1699. Mauche 1663, who became a member of the council in
1677 and died as the mayor in 1699. After his departure, came Buder from Friedersdorf near Zittau. Holzhammer 1700, former cantor at Sommerfeld in
Lower Lusatia, died here in 1739. Thome from Wittenberg 1740, who went to Muskau as the city musician. Goessely from Lubstadt near Meissen 1746, who
went to Zittau as cantor in 1752. Zier from St. Michaels near Frieberg 1752 died in 1775. Hildebrand from Ortrant died in 1797. Abernick from
Eckersdorf near Sagan 1798, who was conrector here and went as pastor to Seifersdorf near Zittau in 1809. Huebner from Marklissa 1803, went to
Rennersdorf as Pastor in 1820. Since 1821, Heinrich August Klose from Gruenberg in Silicia. Before 1820, he was the assistant teacher at Walsenhause
in Bunglar, and is here since 1821 the 4th upper teacher, cantor and music director.
An old baptismal bowl in the main church, which is not used anymore, has a writing inscribed by the teacher, Mr. Freudenberg.
(Large Circular Illustration)
This writing contained a nine-letter word, which however was completely shortened and inscribed five times, really four times and one time. Could
these nine letters, which were written in an abbreviated way by the one who established this form, possibly be the names of those who were baptized,
and the last letters (B. L. N. = baptizate liberus nostrus), indicate the purpose, for which the gifts brought to the church should serve,
namely for the baptizing of our children?
Close to the main church and next to the former Franciscan cloister (now a public school), there stands the formerly dedicated St. John’s Cloister,
now the
Wendish Church
which was probably built in 1336 along with the cloister, which after 1553 was utilized by both of the then Oelsa and Alt-Loebau congregations for
their Lutheran worship services. After some important reparations had been made from 1666-1668, this church burned down on August 6, 1678, and its
rebuilding followed in 1681. Already in 1667, the morning sermons were doubled, namely, first the German and then the Wendish were held, which in
recent years has been changed with the German and Wendish sermons alternating from Sunday to Sunday. After the closing of the cloister at Koenigstein,
the organ from there came to the Oybin cloister, and from there, upon the request of the Loebau Franciscan trustees, in accordance with the order of
Duke George, it came to the Loebau cloister church. The current school teacher at Oelsa was in charge of playing the organ as well as the introduction
of the hymns, etc. A very dry vault under the altar served earlier as the sacristy. In 1835, there were found on the altar 24 Thaler from an anonymous
donor for the acquiring of new altar and pulpit paraments. The richly displayed paintings in the church cannot be equaled. The stone in the upper
walls of the nine-cornered tower supports a very old monk inscribed bell.
Preachers in the Wendish church were: Wolfgram Steinkirchner from 1554-1555. Jacob Runge from 1569-1570. Martin Plunzkau 1574. Johann Lubarsch 1581.
Donat Mueller, first deacon in Kittlitz, then pastor in Hochkirch, and here in 1592, died in 1595. He was followed by his son, Salomo Moeller, who
later went to Hochkirch, and still later was the pastor at St. Michaels in Bautzen, and died in 1635 at Burkau. Peter Breier 1605, who was dismissed
in 1607, and went to Bautzen as a Wendish preacher. During the siege of Bautzen in 1600, his five-year-old son was shot to death on October 1 on the
ground floor of his home. Anton Gomer 1607, later went to Bautzen. Cristoph Lehmann 1614 resigned on August 10, 1617. Mattheus Lehmann vocirt April 5,
1617, and in 1627 went to Koenigswartha. Adan Marci from Oelsin in Schlessen was at the college in Bautzen in 1607, rector in Sebnitz in 1614, then
for five years pastor in Crostau, then pastor at Klein-Bautzen in 1621, and here at St. Michaels in 1627, died in 1640. Christian Lehmann, first the
deacon in Kittlitz, then Pastor at Schmoelln, and vocirt here on November 20, 1640, died on May 23, 1665. Christian Kaiser from Elstra, installed here
on August 16, 1665, died in 1666. Johann Muscorius from Gross-Grabe near Koenigsbrueck, as a child of very poor people, studied at the school in
Camenz, later at Leipzig, Hermstadt, Wittenberg and Frankfort on the Oder. The then inspector Marr. Heinsius was his greatest supporter. Then he came
here in 1667, went to Milkel as Pastor in 1672, came back here in the same year, went to Bautzen in 1674 as arch deacon, and to Lauben as principal
teacher in 1684, where he died in 1695. Teacher Paul Praetorius vocirt on March 10, 1672 and left on May 18. When his father, the pastor in Reschwitz,
died that year, he went to Reschwitz as his successor. He was born in Reschwitz on August 16, 1650, was Pastor in Klix in 1675, deacon in Bautzen
in1679 and arch deacon there in 1684, where he died in 1684. Johann Muscorius, mentioned above, came back here again from Milkel in 1672, then went to
Bautzen in 1674 and died in 1684 as the primary teacher in Lauben, as mentioned above. Peter Gude from Wendish-Paulsdorf whose father was Andreas Gude
was the gardener and vice president there and his mother was Appolena, born Jacob. He first attended the school in Bischdorf. Three times, on his way
to school, he was in danger of a great misfortune. The first time, in the winter, he met a ravenous wolf, the next time he knocked down out of a tree
a horrifying snake, and then a mad cow gave him a deadly stab with her horns. He came to the local public school and lived in the house of the former
primary teacher Willichus, went to school in Bautzen in 1664, studied in Wittenberg in 1669, came as arch deacon to Senftenberg, and then here in
1674. His son, Peter August Gude, was the rector here in 1705 who died on March 31, 1716. Cristoph Schlenker from Rosenhain was the Pastor in
Gross-Radisch in 1706, deacon in Kittlitz in 1707, came here in 1716, and was the pastor in Purschwitz in 1718 where he died in 1728. Matth. Rothe
came here in 1718 and died here as the primary teacher in 1758. Johann Hobius from Meschwitz near Hochkirch came here in 1724 and died in 1768. Johann
Christoph Mueller from Nieder-Poiritz near Dresden studied in Leipzig, was the substitute of the former in 1767, and received this position in 1768
and died on February 27, 1779. Teacher Friederich Erdman Kittel from Goerlitz studied in Wittenberg, and came here in 1789. His surviving widow, Mrs.
Henriette Sophie, born Kuenzel from Bischofswerda is still living at the age of 88, and has been blind for many years. He died on January 1, 1789, 37
years old. Johann Gottlieb Marloth from Bautzen studied in Leipzig and came here in 1789 and died on November 22, 1812. It was unfortunate that he was
blind since 1825. His substitute up to May 24, 1838 was the primary teacher and arch deacon, Johannes Schneider from Malschwitz near Bautzen.
The smallest among the Loebau churches, but regularly built and furnished is the dedicated to the Holy Spirit,
Catechism Church
in the suburb of Zittau, located on the street going to Herrnhut, which was to have been established in ancient times, and belonging to the Franciscan
monks. An altar found in this church (B. M. V.) was, according to an old report, donated by the Kopitzers, and the Collator responsible for
it was the Loebau arch priest. Ruined by a number of fires, the church lay deserted for 200 years, till after the great fire in 1710, the mayor
Christian Segnitz initiated its reconstruction, which happened so quickly, that, from its ruins, the church could be re-dedicated on August 26 of that
year. The altar painting shows the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the inscription:
“Here the Spirit works both
In the Jews and in the heathen”
On the two pewter candelabras, a gift from the shoemaker guild on March 3, 1726, the candles are lit on each high festival and on the confirmation day
of the children. The Loebau merchant Quirner, who died in 1715, and whose life-size picture is behind the altar, left a legacy of 1,000 Thaler for the
church with the thought that all the preachers, as well as the upper teachers, the bell ringer and the catechists should have a memorial sermon
preached in the presence of the other respected men each year on a Friday before Easter. The sacristy is very dark and damp. A door leads from it to
the pulpit. Behind the women’s place in the church there are three Logen and six galleries. On one of the last of these it says: “The Brotherhood of
the Shoemaker Society, October 25, 1792.” In November of this year, a new organ was dedicated.
Under an alms collection box can be read:
“Here lend to profit the contributions you put in
That will be blessed a hundredfold by God”
In 1769, thieves broke in through a window, opened the church offering box, and finding nothing, they ruined and tore up everything. On August 3,
1812, the 100th anniversary of the church was celebrated. In 1838, the outside of the church was improved in that, in place of the shingle roof, a
tile roof was put on. A small tower on which an ornament with a goat on it was a kind gift from the residents of the suburb.
The following catechists have served in this church: Teacher Johannes Usaus from Kemnitz near Bernstadt. He was the first catechist on August 26,
1712, who died at the age of 64 on May 18, 1729. After him came Elias Ruppelius from Forsta in Lower Lusatia, who served here in 1725 as the
substitute of the former catechist, and died in 1759. He had four substitutes who outlived him.
1) Solomon Daniel Haensel vocirt 1740 and came at the end of the same year to Kottmarsdorf, and then to Sohland on the Spree.
2) Johann Heinrich Brueckner vocirt 1741, went to Radmeritz in 1745.
3) Christian Heinrich Hund from Kohren near Meisen vocirt 1745 died as substitute on October 29, 1751 at the age of 33 years.
4) Christian Gottlieb Feller from Hoyerswerde, when his father-in-law Ruppelius died, was a professor and died on July 23, 1763 in his 42nd year. His
successor was Johann Heinrich Dietze for Loebau, who went to Spremberg as pastor where he died. Teacher Benjamin Ferdinand Herrmann was born on May 4,
1757. His father was the local primary teacher, Gottlieb Herrmann, at that time the arch deacon in Bischofswerda who came here in 1783. He dedicated
the new church at Nieder-Kunnersdorf where he was the first pastor. In 1800, the city council in Zittau elected him to be the pastor in
Gross-Schoenau. He was alone and declined this position. He went as pastor to Markersdorf near Goerlitz in 1803 where he died at the age of 80 on
February 17, 1837. Since 1805, Christian Gottlieb Seidel, born in Goerlitz in 1773, was since 1801 the deacon and early preacher in Marklissa. The
present organist and cantor in the Catechism Church is the 4th lower teacher in the local public school, Carl Gottlob Freudenberg.
By resolution of the Loebau churches, this church was named by our dear ladies the
Burial Church
In papal time, as named in 1512, it had an Altaristen. In 1602, a church father, Jacob Kuenzel, had a ladies’ pew built for his wife, which was
followed by others. The age of the altar is not known. The pulpit was built and decorated in 1607 by a royal associate, Johann Gloeckner. The middle
of the wooden tower on the church roof was hit by lightning in the evening of May 23, 1658, which made it necessary to cut off a part of its peak. In
1792, the tower was renovated and painted, and the knob, flag and star were gold tinted.
The cemetery, in the middle of which stands the church, has recently had a wall with three gates built around it. Above the main entrance gate it
says: “Enter here for rest, peace and salvation.” The best of the three established family crypts is the one with the two green lark trees and
decorated with large stone figures which were built in 1731 by Michael Lucke. Inscribed under 16 gilded portraits is one of the following grave
writings: “My friend, look at the portrait, see here the sweet salvation, modesty and a calmness embraced. It is the beautiful, highly esteemed and
praise-worthy woman, Mrs. Christiane Susanne Lucke, née Klemens, born in 1720 at Ohlau in Silesia. The distinguished life of this loving child was
united here with the merchant Mr. Christian Frederick Lucke on May 5, 1739. But sadly, this great Rachel bore a son on April 14, 1740 and on May 2 her
precious soul departed, 19 years, 43 weeks and three days old. Rest well you godly lamb.”
The Main Church has no fortune. Its yearly income from the “Klingelbeutel” brings in an average 130 and through the communion offering box 32 Thaler.
The support of the Wendish church stands at about 800, the Catechism Church 2,400 and the Burial Church 1,600 Thaler. A magistrate as chairman and a
citizen, dutifully serving as Deputatia ad pias causas, takes care of the needs of the church, as well as the public school and of the foundations,
namely, a) The Hospital Foundation of 1,800 Thaler, b) The Charity Foundation of 4,500 Thaler, c) The Lazarus Foundation of 3,500 Thaler, d) The
Hermann Foundation, e) and the Church Collection Foundation of 8,000 Thaler, f) The Fraternity Foundation of 3,500 Thaler, g) The Collegium
Charitativum, which supplies the support of the school, of 8,000 Thaler, h) The Quirner’s Legacy, already mentioned, of 1,000 Thaler, i) The two
legacies of 50 and 70 Thaler for the purpose to be used on Good Friday and on New Year’s Eve, and finally, k) A Goerner’s Burial Inheritance Legacy of
220 Thaler.
Under the administration of the younger magistrates, are a number of school funds. 1) A Ruler’s Family Foundation for poor orphans, 2) A Lucke
Foundation for poverty, 3) A Heroes Kingdom of about 2,500 Thaler for students, as well as the education of two poor children, and for one child’s
learning of a trade, 4) A Brueckner’s Legacy that is under the above mentioned administration. The primary pastor and the school director administer
the money of about 400 Thaler, a legacy of the deceased business man Johann Fiebger in 1682, for the support of poor girls, as well as widows and poor
homes. This Fiebger Fund presently has risen to over 4,620 Thaler.
Received by the church in the most recent times, designated for charitable purposes are: in 1823 from Miss Plato from Korbisdorf, 50 Thaler; in 1824
from the yarn handler Gottfried Heine 100, and from several church friends 35 Thaler; in 1825, an anonymous giver, the already mentioned (i) advanced
50 Thaler under the condition that at 12 o’clock at the close of each year and the beginning of the new year, all the bells are to be rung. In 1826
and 1827, several of the deceased donated 71 Thaler, as well as in 1828 several deceased 59 Thaler, and in the same year, the widow Hebold 50 Thaler;
In 1829 from the widow of the mayor, Sophie Henriette Englemann, něe Schoenberg, 400 Thaler; in 1830 and 1831 from several deceased 32 Thaler and
12 Groschen; in 1832 from the widow of the merchant Goerner, Juliane Sophie, born in May, already mentioned (k) 220 Thaler for the support of her
inherited burial expenses; in 1833 from several deceased 14 Thaler; In 1834, an anonymous giver designated 70 Thaler (see reference in i), under the
conditions that each Good Friday at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon bells should be rung for a quarter hour, and the payment should be taken from the
interest for the recognition of this established celebration for which the principal pastor voluntarily conducts an hour long prayer service. The
principal pastor Brueckner gave the mentioned legacy (b) of 500 Thaler, the interest of which is to be divided among four poor widows and four poor
widowers. In the years 1836, 1837, and 1838, 10 Thaler, 6 Thaler and 16 Groschen, and 20 Thaler were brought by several of the deceased.
The present spiritual ministers in Loebau are: 1) The primary pastor, August Theodore Rudolph Moehn, who is at the same time the school inspector of
the city school as well as the Collator at Kottmarsdorf; b) Teacher Gustav Hermnn Julius Lipsius, the arch deacon, and at the same time the pastor of
the affiliated church at Lowalde and also the school inspector there; c) The Wendish preacher, Johann Koenig, who at the same time is the deacon at
the Main Church and school inspector at Oelsa. He was robbed of respect as pastor by the rest of the ministers who did not take his part, but he has
continued to meet with much approval for his talks from pulpit in the Wendish Church; d) The catechist, Christian Gottfried Seidel, preacher of the
Catechism Church and school inspector at Ebersdorf, Ottenhain and Gross-Schweidnitz, and at the same time is the deacon at the Main Church and the
pastor of the affiliated church at Nieder-Kunnersdorf.
Included in the account of the Wendish Church, are the already mentioned congregations at the towns of Alt-Loebau and Oelsa, where still, in a small
part, the Wendish language is used. Both of these towns are associated, as well as others, with the Wendish Church, that are as follows.
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