Ronemberg Simon

Ronemberg Simon , sometimes called Simon PharmaCopjeus, in allusion to his trade of an Apothecary, was a citizen of Cracow, and Elder of the first Unitarian Baptist Church in that place. He was an exceedingly zealous advocate of Adult Baptism by immersion. It was chiefly under his guidance, that the Unitarian Baptists of Poland first formed themselves into Churches, in the year 1569, about ten years before the arrival of Faust Socin in that country. In the autumn of that year, when their affairs were in a very discouraging state, Ronemberg went with Jerome Philipovius, George Schomann, and some others, into Moravia, for the purpose of holding a conference with the Brethren in Moravia, on subjects both of doctrine and discipline. The discipline they found to be admirable. According to Schomann, it was everything that could be desired. But the doctrine was such as they could not approve ; for all the sects of the Moravian Baptists believed in the doctrine of the Trinity, and defended it with a pertinacity, which surprised and grieved Ronemberg and his companions. They returned to Poland dejected and dispirited; and for a time it was thought, that nothing could be done to revive their drooping cause. Almost all their Ministers, except Czechovicius, left off preaching. "But God," says Schomann, "taking compassion upon us, restored our fallen affairs, by that excellent man, Simon the Apothecary, as by another Ezra ; and, in the midst of the existing tumults, erected a ministry, with the Baptism of adults." (Schomanni Testamentum, A. D. 1569.)

Such was the origin of the Unitarian Baptist Church at Cracow. It was formed in 1569, by Ronemberg, who was one of its Elders ; and Gregory Pauli was appointed its first Pastor. But none were admitted to communion, except those who had been previously baptized by immersion. Some have thought, that George Schomann was the founder of this Church ; but that is impossible, because he himself expressly says, in his Will, "On the last day of August, 1572, being in the forty-second year of my age, was baptized in the name of Christ at Chmielnik;" and, "in the year 1573, was sent to the ministry of the Minor Church at Cracow." (Ibid.) Now it seems very improbable, that he should have been the founder of a Baptist Church, with which he had no pastoral connexion till four years after it was formed, and which had been established as much as three years before he himself was baptized ; besides that he speaks, in the most direct and positive terms, of "Simon the Apothecary" as its founder, doubtless meaning, as Lubieniecius understood him, Simon Ronemberg, the Apothecary of Cracow.

The piety and zeal of this man were unquestionable ; but in his notions respecting the necessity of Adult Baptism by immersion, and his advocacy of close communion, he displayed a zeal which was not according to knowledge. In the year 1580, Faust Socin wrote his "Disputation on Water Baptism," in which he contended, that this rite was meant for proselytes only ; and not for those, who had been born of Christian parents. He also represented the practice of Infant Baptism as a great and hurtful error ; and endeavoured to shew, that the baptized person must be a believer, which could not be the case with infants. A copy of this work was forwarded to Ronemberg, at his own request ; and after the lapse of between two and three years, Ronemberg addressed a letter to Socin, in which, instead of answering his arguments, he urged him to join the Baptists, by way of healing the wounds of the Church. Socin, in his reply, endeavours to shew, that the party with which Ronemberg acted was in error, and imposed an unnecessary burden on the Brethren, as they could receive none under this character, nor admit them to their communion, who did not, in mature life, submit to immersion, as an avowal of their faith in Christ.

Matthew Radecius, in a letter addressed to Cornelius Daems, and written June 18th, 1598, says, "All the pious have left the city of Cracow, except Simon Ronemberg the Apothecary, who cannot remove on account of his advanced age, for I believe him to be nearly a hundred years old."

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