The Conversion Ceremony

Friedrich Carl Christlieb’s baptism and conversion took place on Trinity Sunday in the afternoon of May 20, 1742. By all indications, Friedrich Carl’s baptism was not an informal affair attended by a few persons of social rank. Instead, it was a large elaborate, formal, ceremonious occasion that was attended by an impressive number of dignitaries, who ranked from village mayors to sovereigns of the region.

As one of the two remaining sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—the Rite of Baptism in the Lutheran Church had evolved into an elaborate ceremony by the middle of the 18^th century. Taking all into consideration, the imagined events surrounding Friedrich Carl Christlieb’s baptism may not be as overstated as some might suppose this account to be.

Friedrich Carl’s conversion-baptism provided Count Friedrich Magnus the opportunity to impress the high ranking guests who had come to Dürkheim for the occasion. Because of the distances involved, the Count probably provided overnight accommodations at his palace, located only few steps away from the church. In addition to Count Christian Carl Reinhard, his most important guest would have been the 81-year-old Elector Prince Carl Philipp, III, who had come from Mannheim for the occasion. On the eve of Friedrich Carl’s conversion, a lavish banquet would have been prepared for the distinguished guests.

In all probability, many of the aforementioned dignitaries would have attended Divine Services that Sunday morning, with perhaps Prince Carl Philipp occupying Friedrich Magnus’ private upper enclosure in the Schlosskirche. It would have been after the noonday meal that the ceremony occurred. According to Count Christian Carl Reinhard’s invitation—referenced as “The Amorbach Letter”—the ceremony began with a processon at one o'clock in the afternoon.

Because the ceremony took place in the “Schlosskirche” (Castle Church), the procession would have included clergy representing each of the sovereigns in attendance. Although it was a Lutheran observance, a ceremony of this importance as this would see the clergy attired in embellished robes and the choir in vestments. Accompanied by music from the organ, the clergy in procession proceeded inside. Within their midst was the soon-to-be convert to Christianity, Simon aus Frankenstein. Following the clergy were the Leiningen Counts dressed in full regalia of their offices. After a respectful pause, perhaps an organ and trumpet fanfare announced the most important dignitary of all—Carl Philipp III, Elector and Prince of the Lower Palatinate, perhaps more magnificently attired than the two Leiningen Counts.

Because the Schlosskirche was the official church of Friedrich Magnus, the ceremony would have to have been every bit as splendid as described, if for no other reason than to impress the other sovereigns who were there. Especially prepared music sung by a choir of men and boys would have enhanced the service. In addition to the customary chorales, a brief cantata may have been sung.

To stress the solemnity of the occasion—especially in the presence of the Prince who was a Catholic by faith —portions of the music would have been sung in Latin. Incense could very well have been used in the ceremony. Such were the customs of the Lutheran Church in mid-18th century Germany.

The high point of the service was Friedrich Carl’s receiving the waters of baptism. Up to this moment, he was still Simon aus Frankenstein. Guided by the clergy, he bent low over the ancient Taufstein as the waters of baptism poured over his head. Through the act of baptism, the young Jewish bachelor from Frankenstein became a Christian. With the endorsements of the Palatine Elector and the Leiningen Counts, Simon aus Frankenstein became Friedrich Carl Christlieb. His baptism-conversion had been a State occasion; the ancient church at Dürkheim being filled to capacity with witnesses and well wishers. What a glorious, colorful and unforgettable day it was for the new convert!

To this day it remains unknown why such an elaborate effort was made to honor this individual. Logic dictates that there is more to this story than the singular endorsement of one Jew’s conversion to Christianity. It is truly unfortunate that the reason behind this political, social, and spiritual exaltation of a single individual has been lost to history.

Upon his conversion and as a sign of his commitment to his new religion, Friedrich Carl chose Christlieb, for his surname, a name frequently assumed by Jewish converts at the time. Meaning "Lover of Christ," the adopted surname was colloquially pronounced Christlip or Christlib in the dialect of Dürkheim.

It is believed that the convert chose Friedrich and Carl in honor of the various dignitaries with whom he had associated on that day. He may have chosen Friedrich after Count Friedrich Magnus. In choosing Carl, he honored many persons, including Prince Karl Philipp III, Count Christian Carl Reinhard, and perhaps Friedrich Magnus’ son, Karl Friedrich, who one day would be elevated as one of the Princes of the Holy Roman Empire.

The baptismal font (Taufstein) from which Friedrich Carl was baptized dates from 1537. In the early years of the 18^th century, the church previously known as the Church of St. John the Baptist became the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), because the Counts of Leiningen-Dachsburg-Hartenburg had built a new residence next to the church. In 1706, Count Johann Friedrich of Leiningen had the font removed from the church, because a Jew had been baptized in it.

“Count Johann Friedrich must have been an adversary of the Jews, an anti-Semite. From this follows that he ordered that the Jews had to sell their houses in the main streets and to remove to the side streets. But the successor and son, Friedrich Magnus had another opinion, for the Jews were allowed to keep their houses. And so we must conclude that, under the rule of Friedrich Magnus, the baptismal font was returned to the church as Friedrich Carl Christlieb had been baptized from this font.” Excerpt from a newspaper article by Dürkheim Historian, Georg Feldmann, October 7, 1992.

The whole-hearted endorsement of Friedrich Carl’s baptism-conversion in 1742, and the baptism of his son, Friedrich Carl II, in 1751, were perfect opportunities for the Leiningen Counts to publicly demonstrate tolerance for their Jewish subjects. Such actions, which were totally contrary to those of a generation before, no doubt helped ease any remaining ill feelings held by the Jews of Leiningen.

The baptismal font (taufstein) from which Simon aus Frankenstein received Holy Baptism on May 20, 1742, thus becoming Freidrich Carl Christlieb.