York Town Square

This window transom stained glass window at York, Pa.’s, First Moravian Church is one of 31 designed by noted York County artist J. Horace Rudy. This is another in a series on those windows. Also of interest: All Rudy stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton’s ‘Law & Order’ voice known to the world and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day.

A former pastor of York’s First Moravian Church was honored with the dedication of this stained-glass window a century ago.
The pastor was F.F. Hagen, according to Terrence Downs, who is writing a series of articles about the J. Horace Rudy stained-glass windows in First Moravian.
Specifically, the dedication states: “In Memoriam – The Rev. F.F. Hagen by the Zinzendorf Bible Class.”
Here is the rest of Terry’s explanation about the window:

“Should I not for gladness leap, Led by Jesus as His Sheep?” Henrietta Louise von Hayn, 1776, the hymn ‘Jesus Makes my Heart Rejoice’ – Moravian Book of Worship
The hymn stanza noted is tantamount with the credo of the Moravians – sung with vigor within many Moravian Churches including York First. This endearing rally hymn & tune is written by H. L. Hayn.
The Rudy Glass transom shown – befitting the Corporate Seal of the Worldwide Moravian Church for over 250 years is a tribute to another beloved Moravian Servant – In Memoriam – The Rev. F.F. Hagen by the Zinzendorf Bible Class.
Count Ludwig Nicholas von Zinzendorf (1700 – 1760) is recognized as the conduit to Today’s worldwide Moravian Church: “Jesus Makes my Heart Rejoice” hymn is sung commemorating the high occasion of August 13, 1727, when near Zinzendorf’s estate at Berthelsdorf, Germany, at a Moravian settlement established as Herrnhut (Light on the hill) – the Holy Spirit stirred souls present, transgressions were keeled and a sense of unity (Moravians were known as ‘Unity of the Brethren’ since 1457) was kindled and invoked.
The century following 1727, the renewed Moravians set aside their old world notions and moved into the “Light”, initiating the largest Missionary movement in history up to that time. As the window elaborates, this one hymn stirs and moves all in rich harmony to an apex of mirth when it is sung – and more voices only enrich it; as Moravians are well known for their singing! Count Zinzendorf urgently understood Jesus to be The Great Shepherd. Henrietta Luise von Hayn (1724-1782) was master of the hounds to the Duke of Nassau, was born at Idstein, Nassau, May 22, 1724. In 1746 she was formally received into the Moravian community at Herrnhaag. Her hymn work encompassed 40 hymns.
The Reverend Francis Florentine Hagen (1815-1907) is revered at York First with grand affection: his pastorate at the Moravian Church began prior to the Amercian Civil War, serving from 1854 to 1861. Within the spheres of the Moravian Church globally, Rev. Hagen is renowned as author of the tune “Morning Star” (1837), an antiphonal work sung between the congregation and a vocalist or choir. The stanzas exhort Jesus’ being ‘the Light of the world’ and are eagerly awaited at York’s Christmas Eve services as a Moravian staple.
Also in his Pastorate, he dealt with change from German language to English, with great opposition among some members. F. F. Hagen’s father, Johann Joachim Hagen (1771-1844) was born in Prussia, F. F.’s mother was Suzanna Lick (1787-1853) and her family came first to Lititz PA, and then relocated to Salem in April 1814. F. F.’s first wife was Clara Cornelia Reichel (1817-1862), a native of Salem, North Carolina. Their union produced 6 children. The call to York Moravian Church brought them north.
With the advent of Rev. Hagen, a new era of spiritual interest and numerical growth dawned for the congregation. His evangelistic style reflected Moravian distinction, and adopted unusual methods of approach, with some members decisively demurred. He renounced “quietists” and implored them to ‘learn that there were no new kinds of worship; but a more evident manifestation of the old power in new form’ (Albright, 1927). His leading influenced 50 new members in the latter 1850’s.
Upon Clara’s death in 1862, he married York native Ellen Smyser the following year, Ellen being a daughter of the York congregation. This union produced 3 more children, 2 surviving birth, including a son of the congregation – The Rev. Ernest Smyser Hagen, who served York from 1897-1901. Rev. E. S. Hagen also took post as Principal of Linden Hall in Lititz from 1912 to 1915. A window in his honor is placed within the church sanctuary as well.

Also of interest:
– View the previous post in this series about the Fishel family.
– All York Town Square posts from the start. (Key word search by using “find” on browser.)
– Previous posts on First Moravian or its historic windows.