Zenger, who was apprenticed to William Bradford, at that time the only
printer in the colony. When he grew up, he became the editor of The
Weekly Journal, which made its first appearance on November 5th, 1733.
Washington at this time was not yet two years old. Zenger was one of the
earliest champions of American liberty. His arrest and imprisonment, his
heroic defence and final acquittal, are among the milestones of American
history and are a contribution to the story of New York of which
Americans of German descent may well be proud.

It was a large parish to which Falckner ministered. There were no Home
Mission Boards in those days. The New York pastor had therefore to care
for many outlying stations. His diocese included Hackensack, Raritan,
Ramapo and Constable Hook in the south, and Albany, Loonenburg and West
Camp in the north. After the death of Kocherthal he visited regularly,
not only the Dutch congregations of Claverack, Coxackie and Kinderhook,
but also such German settlements as East Camp, Rhinebeck, and Schoharie.

New York itself was not neglected during these missionary journeys.
Readers (Vorleezers) conducted the service while he was away. Such
notices as "There will be no church today, the minister is out of town,"
did not appear on his bulletin board.

The care of a parish 150 miles in length left but little time for
literary work, but in order that his people might be informed on the
subject of their church's faith as distinguished from that of their
Calvinistic neighbors, he wrote a book on the essential doctrines of
the Lutheran confession. It was published by William Bradford, New York,
1708.

He also wrote a hymn: _"Auf, ihr Christen, Christi Glieder,"_ which