07/24/2026
The past few months I have been working on several copies of Peter Muhlenberg’s clerical robe. The antique survives in the Lutheran Archive’s in Philadelphia. Sadly it is in poor condition and probably taken apart at some point. Peter probably had it made in Philadelphia in the early 1770s before heading out to Woodstock, Virginia. Nice to see the robe in actual action.
Did you know? The Philadelphia campus of United Lutheran Seminary has been a longtime owner of an 18th C silk preaching gown reputed to be the one worn by Muhlenberg’s sons, Peter.
According to a beloved historical account, in 1776, Peter (a pastor in Woodstock, VA) preached a sermon declaring that “now was a time for war.” And then, in a dramatic reveal, he stepped out from under the gown…wearing the uniform of a Continental Army officer.
For generations, this gown was passed down in a family from Hebron and has been displayed in the ULS library in Philadelphia for many years. Though too fragile to display today, we recently commissioned a reproduction using the same materials.
This past weekend, we brought it home to Hebron, where Dr. Erwin wore it in the pulpit to preach as a powerful reminder of the courage and conviction of those who shaped our Lutheran heritage.
As ULS celebrates its bicentennial, we reflect on the challenges, triumphs, and the enduring legacy of the American Lutheran story. This gown is just one of many historic treasures entrusted to our care, symbols of the seminary’s deep roots in the story of this nation.
Explore more of our history at https://www.unitedlutheranseminary.edu/bicentennial
This is honoring our roots at ULS
