Helffenstein, Samuel, Dd

Helffenstein, Samuel, D.D.

a prominent German Reformed minister, son of Reverend John C. Albert Helffenstein, was born at Germantown, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1775. He studied privately, partly under Reverend Mr. Stock, and partly under Reverend Dr. Melsheimer. His theological studies he prosecuted under Reverend Dr. William Hendel, the elder, pastor of the Reformed Church on Race Street, Philadelphia. He entered the ministry in 1796 or 1797. After preaching for a short time in Montgomery County, he received a call to the Race Street Church, as successor to his theological preceptor, who died about this time. Here he labored for a period of thirty two or three years, when he retired from the active duties of the ministry, and spent the remainder of his, days at his private residence in North Wales, Montgomery County, where he died, October 17, 1866. Dr. Helffenstein was a man of fine talents, thorough education, and superior pulpit abilities. He prepared a large number of young men for the ministry, and also took a deep interest in the establishment of the literary and theological institutions of the Reformed Church. In 1846 he published a work on didactic theology, which probably embodied the substance of his lectures to the students whom in earlier life he had under tuition. See Harbaugh, Fathers of the Germ. Ref. Church, 4:31. (D.Y.H.)