W.G. Polack’s Der Lutheraner: The Propagation of Lutheran Orthodoxy in the New World
(Salient points)
This book was my first assignment to study during my vicarage in Marikina. Thought you have some interests on learning how the Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod started propagating in the far west. Have some cup of tea and enjoy reading!
Upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit on the consciences of those who heard the truth of the Word of God, many left their homes in Europe and went to the newly found land which was later called "America." They possess the Lutheran doctrine based on the teachings of Dr. Luther, whom God used to realign and redirect Christianity into the straight and correct teachings based on the Bible. It is interesting to know that Venezuela was the first country in South America which accepted Lutheranism, as some of its colony was founded by Weslers of Augsburg in 1527.
Among the first to step in the land of the Reds were the Swedes and Dutch. Notable figures are William Penn (founder of Philadelphia) and Gustavus Adolphus (hero of 30 year war). These people helped the immigrant Lutherans to establish their settlement where they worship. Thus, the honor of the first Lutheran church in America belongs to them. But things did not go very well for them. For in New Amsterdam, their archon possessed the Reformed faith. As a majority belief, they protested against the worship of Lutherans in their land. There was also a case mentioned where a Lutheran pastor (J.E. Gutwasser) was persecuted and thus deported from the colony. The oldest congregation in U.S. is St. Matthew's Church which was established when the English took possession of the Dutch colonies.
In Georgia, there were also persecutions by the Romans as this was a Catholic land. After aiding the Lutherans (Salzburger immigrants from Austria) of this incident, the English was surprised as they found out that Lutherans "lived so peaceably, that they required no civil courts or magistrates to maintain order." (p.15) This was due to the leadership of their faithful pastors. Notable in this area was the Jerusalem Church which was the only public building of colonial times.
In Pennsylvania, everything was very primitive. Factors such as primitivity, political unrest, French and Indian War, makes the congregation and the members handicapped in preaching God's message to the people.
In chapters two and three of Polack's book, it talks about Muhlenberg the Patriarch and his desire to unite the scattered Lutherans across America. For this man kept Lutherans from losing their faith after it was found out that some unscrupulous men who served the church only for money penetrated congregations. A friend (Dr. Trancke) called him to serve churches in Pennsylvania, Providence, and New Hanover. In these places, they worshipped in eccentric places such as old butchershop, log house, and barn. Later, he was called "Patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America." This man was credited for having been united the early churches into a synod. Through his effort and the help of others, several synods were formed and scattered souls were gathered.
Then we have the coming of the Saxons in the fourth chapter. These men from the East (Germany) sought their greatest treasure: "Liberty of conscience and freedom to worship God as one believes to be right without being dictated by higher authorities or prevented from practicing one's religion. Because of the increasing cases of nominal Lutherans, these believers travelled far to harvest souls among the habitants of America. They were led by Martin Stephan who was later creplaced because of corruption by C.F.W. Walther, the known founder of LCMS. They are lovers of music as C.F.W. Walther wanted to be before becoming a pastor.
There was a notable story in this part that captivated my attention. One moment in Perry County, when some of the settlers are having problem about their food, a stranger gave them a sack of flour freely and without a trace disappeared (p.43). Indeed, God works in mysterious ways.
The following chapters (five, six, and seven) talks about the three of the greatest men whom God used to solidify Lutheranism that will soon be the instruments He used to preach the true doctrines of the Scripture. C.F.W. Walther was known as the greatest man of Lutheran Church in the 19th Century. He really wanted to become a musician at the outset. But his father urged him to become a clergyman. What's interesting in his experience was that he heard a teaching from his group of religious men at the university where he is studying who taught that "he must through praying, fasting, and weeping utterly destroy the Old Adam before he could be sure of forgiveness of his sins and the grace of God." (p.45). But this only resulted in his dejection. "Thus, God led him into a truly Christian family named Barthel, where he was told of the grace of God in Christ Jesus." (Ibid.) He was reading the writings of Dr. Martin Luther upon discontinuing his studies because of sickness. His work was blessed by the Lord in the Perry County. He is the idea behind the church-paper "Der Lutheraner" (The Lutherans) which main purpose was "to spread the doctrines of Lutheran Church and to be of help in gathering scattered Lutherans in America." (p.48).
He was later elected as professor of theology at Concordia Seminary. The congregations of St. Louis celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination. He died on May 7, 1887.
F.C.D. Wyneken appealed for help in gathering together the Lutherans. Thus, William Loehe, a minister in Bavaria answered. This man has a commendable attitude of perseverance and dedication as the book said, "He was very poor, and most of what he received for his own living he gave away to such as needed it more than he. He ate whatever the poor settlers placed before him...it made no difference to him." Even God used the horse he was riding when it did not step to find a way from the forest. Because of that happening, there was a door opened and a light of the lantern showed up as he calls for help. (p.55) "He also traveled on foot and lost his way in the darkness." (Ibid.)
F.A. Craemer was a leader of emigrants who missioned to the Red Skins in America. His technique includes winning the confidence of the Indians and persuaded them to send their children to him for instruction. Thus, "for a number of years the work among the Indians flourished." He also had a meeting with C.F.W. Walther to establish a further solidification of scattered Lutherans across America through synods. This led to the establishment of LCMS at First St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago. Included in its constitution are the acceptance of all Bible's teaching as God's revealed will toward men, they deserve the name "Lutheran" as they subscribe to all the historic Confession of Lutheranism. Their purposes include preserving unity in doctrine, extension of God's kingdom, training ministers and teachers, and publication of sound Lutheran books and periodicals. (p.70)
Then on the ninth chapter, it recorded the propagation and branching out of the Synod's work in the North. These areas include Minnesota, Mississippi, Mineapolis, Dakota, Kansas, and many others. Then eventually, Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America emerged on the following Chapter (10). This is composed of different synods of America agreed in doctrines and practices. Their chief purposes include strengthening of one another's faith and confession, doctrines and practices, and to work together harmoniously in the upbuilding of the kingdom of God (p.83). Notable synods included are the Wisconsin and Minnesota. On the first mentioned group, under the leaderships of pastor J. Bading and A. Hoenecke, non-Lutheran materials were forbidden resulting in the replacement of Lutheran books and hymnals. For at the outset, they are not a true Lutherans, as we may use the term "Unorthodox" (Mixed teachings).
Another large church body connected to the aforementioned ECNA was the United Lutheran Church in America (ch.11). Because of the civil war, "they were separated from the northern body and founded a general synod of their own." (p.88). Thus, when the southern synods of Tennessee and Holston joined in 1886, they took the name "The United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South." However, there are independent synods in the states which includes Joint Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States, Synod of Iowa, Swedish Augustana, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, and the United Danish Lutheran Church.
Upon evaluating the Synod (LCMS) during the last half century (ch.12), many improvements took place and further solidification and establishment happened. Der Lutheraner became their chief paper, the CPH (Concordia Publishing House) which was began in 1869 were publishing hymnals, catechisms, Bibles, and others...(p.95). "One of its greatest achievements was the publication of Dr. Martin Luther's complete works in twenty-three volumes." (Ibid.)
As the Lord blessed the "Building of a Great Church," the Lutheran synod's work enriched in and out of the country (chs. 13-14). At home, they are directed by the boards which assigns missionaries in different areas. They have this kind of "Every congregation in the Church should be a missionary center" system. "All the congregations of the District contribute toward the support of these missions until they are able to defray their own expenses." (p.99). Their strategies include placing city missionaries, preaching to the deaf and mute (silent preaching), and missioning to the foreigners (Letts, Esthonians, Lithuanians, Poles, Finns, Slovaks, etc.).
The synod's work abroad started in the following countries: Brazil, Argentina, Europe, India, and China. "We have in the two chapters a glimpse of the extensive mission-fields of our Church in various countries and at home." (p.112).
The LCMS values education so much. Thus, they have built Educational Institutions of their own which helped cater the needs of paucity in terms of manpower. (Ch. 15). This is in accordance to the preparation of its ministers and teachers. They have these so called "practical" and "theoretical" seminaries. The practical seminary is located in Fort Wayne with Prof. A. Craemer as the head. The "theoretical" is St. Louis (erected by the Saxons) was headed by C.F.W. Walther. "It embraces a thorough study of English, German, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, as well as of mathematics, sciences, and history." (p.119). "
"At all of these institutions, there are no tuition charges for those young men who intend to enter the service of the Church as pastors or teachers." (Ibid.)
The LCMS also founded several other colleges in various parts of the country. (p.118). These include Milwaukee (1881), Bronxville (1881), Conover (1881), Concordia (1883), Winfield (1893), St. Paul (1893), Portland (1905), Oakland (1906), and Edmonton (1921).
