The
Hamburg congregation (1863 – New Apostolic Church)
Some OAC
members believe the OAC can trace its roots back to the Hamburg congregation in
Germany. OAC members commonly believe that only an apostle can ordain another
apostle. Was Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss an ordained apostle? Read and decide for
yourself.
After its
expulsion in writing from the Catholic Apostolic Church by “apostle” Francis
Valentine Woodhouse (February 6th, 1863), the Hamburg congregation
along with “prophet” Heinrich Geyer, split off to form the Allgemeine
Apostolische Mission in 1863. This is commonly known as the "Hamburg
Schism".
To
distinguish themselves from the first “apostolic congregations” the new
congregations soon began referring to themselves as “new apostolic congregations”
in official correspondence.
On April 12th,
1863, a “deacon” called “priest” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss as an “apostle”
which was confirmed by “prophet” Heinrich Geyer. On May 25th, 1863,
Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz was also called as an “apostle”. Thus the German
"apostles" started from scratch in much the same way as the Albury
“apostles” did.
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| Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz |
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2;
Question 49 (page 72):
“By whom has the
foundation of Jesus Christ been laid in us?”
“Ans. By the Apostle, Thus Apostle Paul testifies to his
community…(1 Cor. 3 v. 9-10)”
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question
56 (page 77):
“Who ministers us
with the Sacrament of the Holy Sealing?”
“Ans. God, who uses the Apostle as His servant (fellow
worker)…(1 Cor. 3 v 9)”
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question
57 (page 77):
“How is the
Sacrament of the Holy Sealing ministered?”
“Ans. Through the laying on of the hands of an Apostle of
Jesus Christ. (Refer Act 19 v. 6 and Acts 8 v. 15-17.)”
Do
a “deacon” and the “prophet” Heinrich Geyer qualify as an “apostle” of Jesus
Christ? Previous calls by “prophet” Heinrich Geyer were rejected.
In 1867
Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff was “sealed” by “apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz
and on June 14th, 1868, he was sent as an “evangelist” to Amsterdam,
Holland. The community in Amsterdam grew quickly and Hermann Christoph Niehaus
who would later become “chief apostle” was also in the Amsterdam community. In
1869 “evangelist” Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff was ordained as a “bishop”. On July
19th, 1872, he was called as an “apostle” by “prophet” Edzard Willem
Ansingh. Shortly thereafter he was ordained as an “apostle” by “apostle”
Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz.
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| Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff |
Friction
existed between the “prophet” Heinrich Geyer and “apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis
Preuss concerning whether “prophets” or “apostles” had higher authority.
By the time
“apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss died on July 25th, 1878, open
conflict broke out. Heinrich Geyer the “prophet” had already called the coal
dealer Johannes F.L. Güldner as an “apostle” in a private meeting four months
before “apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss' death. Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss
had refused to recognize this calling and, on his deathbed, designated “elder”
Wichmann as his successor.
Heinrich
Geyer the “prophet” called Johannes F.L. Güldner again as an “apostle” and successor
of “apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss in a service on August 4th, 1878.
When Johannes F.L. Güldner was to be ordained, some members including Friedrich
Krebs objected. The majority of the Hamburg congregation also protested, so “elder”
Wichmann stepped up to the altar and relieved “prophet” Heinrich Geyer from his
ministry. Wichmann told “prophet” Heinrich Geyer that he had to leave, so
“prophet” Heinrich Geyer left the church with 300 of his followers. He was also
followed by Johannes F.L. Güldner.
Heinrich Geyer founded
a new congregation in Hamburg named Apostolische Mission. Did “prophet”
Heinrich Geyer distinguish himself as the custodian of the “office” of Holy
“prophet”? Did the “sibling” end up with the “covenant of the Ark” when he
formed a new congregation? His congregation eventually wasted away after his
death in 1896.
The ensuing chaos
led to a flurry of “apostle” callings. Wichmann's wife, supported by her son,
called him an “apostle”. A maid called her master as an “apostle”. Other people
called a fourth person as an “apostle”. The result of this chaos was that a
successor for “apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss was not selected at this
time.
Going by a
“prophecy”, the remaining Hamburg congregation gave themselves under the care
of “apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff in 1872 and adopted the name Allgemeine
Christliche Apostolische Mission.
Then in
spite of protests from the Allgemeine Christliche Apostolische Mission,
“apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz and “apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff
appointed Friedrich Krebs as counter-“apostle” to Johannes F.L. Güldner.
From
Germany, “apostle” Friedrich Krebs soon began to make an end to the autonomous
work methods of the HAZK-“apostles” in the work- or tribal areas allotted to
them. In his quest for the “Unity of the apostles” he abolished the callings by
mouth of the “prophets” and declared the office of “prophet” redundant, for “apostle”
Friedrich Krebs would from then on appoint the most important ministers
himself. Later the Australian “apostle” Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer reacted to
this with the mocking remark, that thus “apostle” Friedrich Krebs “was surrounded
by his own court of yes-men”. Since he deemed himself equal to the Christ, “apostle”
Friedrich Krebs believed his words were more important than the Bible. He believed
that he spoke the “living words for these times”. Friedrich Krebs' supporter
and later “chief-apostle” Hermann Christoph Niehaus did call the Bible “withered
hay and stinking stagnant well water” while the opponents of “apostle” Friedrich
Krebs in turn were denounced as “bible riders”. This quote has been attributed
to a church periodical which was published in November 1896. The date indicates
that it was in Wächterstimmen aus Zion, no. 11 of 1896. Friedrich Krebs was the
first who assumed the ministry of a “chief apostle” and his successor was Hermann
Christoph Niehaus.
When “apostle”
Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff died in May 1895, “apostle” Friedrich Krebs appointed
Hermann Christoph Niehaus as his successor. Half a year later, on December 6th,
1895, “apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz also died. Because the people in the
Netherlands hardly knew what was happening in Germany, they accepted “apostle”
Friedrich Krebs as caretaker “apostle” until a successor could be called in a “calling”
service. Hermann Christoph Niehaus, who could speak Dutch reasonably well, tried
to win the Dutch ministers to the “New Light”, as “apostle” Friedrich Krebs'
teachings were mockingly called. When in the Netherlands people began to fear
that “apostle” Friedrich Krebs himself would indeed appoint a new subservient “apostle”,
the ministers of the main congregation of Amsterdam demanded that the “calling”
service be held according to the prescribed rules. This happened on January 17th,
1897, conducted by “apostle” Friedrich Krebs and “apostle” Hermann Christoph
Niehaus. Here the Amsterdam “deacon” Martin van Bemmel was called as “apostle”
for the Netherlands by means of an overwhelming number of “prophecies” and “visions”.
He was accepted on the spot by all and inducted into the “apostolate”. When “apostle”
Martin van Bemmel did not wish to acknowledge “apostle” Friedrich Krebs' chief
authority, he was informed a month later without authorization by “apostle”
Friedrich Krebs that he was deposed from the office of “apostle”.
In 1902 “elder”
Julius Fischer came into conflict with “chief apostle” Friedrich Krebs
regarding the future second coming of Jesus Christ. According to “elder” Julius
Fischer, Jesus Christ had already returned in the re-established “apostle”
office and according to him, there was no future second coming. As a result of
his views, “chief apostle” Friedrich Krebs removed “elder” Julius Fischer from
office. Julius Fischer and his followers formed their own church named
Apostelamt Juda. Julius Fischer was ordained as the first “apostle” of his
church on May 2nd, 1902.
In 1933 this church was
seen as a socialist group and their beliefs on prophecy were considered illegal.
As a result they were banned in Nazi Germany. In 1947 they regrouped as
Apostelamt Jesu Christi.
In August
1906, “chief apostle” Hermann Christoph Niehaus renamed the Neuapostolische
Gemeinde (New Apostolic Congregation) as Neuapostolische Kirche (New Apostolic
Church) and created a public corporation for it. In 1908 he issued the Allgemeinen
Hausregeln (General House Rules).
The New Apostolic Church was considered by most members of the Catholic Apostolic Church as an illegitimate offspring ever since the schism of 1863.
The New Apostolic Church was considered by most members of the Catholic Apostolic Church as an illegitimate offspring ever since the schism of 1863.
- Friedrich Krebs was “chief apostle” from 1895 to 1905.
- Hermann Christoph Niehaus was “chief apostle” from 1905 to 1930.
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| Friedrich Krebs |
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| Hermann Christoph Niehaus |
The liturgy
of the New Apostolic Church was originally consistent with the liturgy of the
Catholic Apostolic Church, which contained strong elements of the Roman
Catholic and Anglican rite. This lasted until 1885, when emphasis of the divine
services shifted towards the liturgy of the word under the influence of Dutch
Calvinism. In the same way as Protestantism and Catholicism, the Second Coming
of Christ is at the forefront of the New Apostolic doctrine. This is in stark contrast
to what the OAC believe today.
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question
27 (pages 62-63):
“Has Christ
already come, or do we still expect him?” (Sic)
“Ans. (a) Because the world expects that Christ will come
on a natural cloud, they still look forward to his coming. From Matt. 16 v. 28,
it is however clear, that Christ must already have come…”
“Ans. (b) From 2 Tim. 4 v. 7-8 it is clear that Christ must
already have come during Apostle Paul’s life on earth…”
“Ans. (c) For us Christ has come, and we see Him, because
it is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit and is our life…”
Catechism of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa…Part 2; Question
31 (page 65):
“On which clouds
will Christ appear?”
“Ans. We must not confuse these clouds with natural
clouds... It is the cloud of witnesses… It is the same cloud under which the
flock of God was led out of Egypt…”
A tree is
known by its fruit and false prophets are known by their false prophecies.
You can also
read:
- Edward Irving (August 1792 – December 1834)
- Catholic Apostolic Church (1832 – 1972)
- Carl George Klibbe (December 1852 – May 1931)
- The schism tree
