The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22
History of the Lutherans.

history OF the Lutherans.
The first who came to this country
were from Holland, arriving at New Am
sterdam (now New York; in 1921. The
first colony accompanied by pastor was
from Sweden, in 1888, and settled on
the site of the city of Wilmington, Della
ware: For many years this pastor, REQ
rus Torkillus, was the sole Lutheran min
lister in the new world. His successor.
John Campanius, first published Luther's
Smaller Catechism in this country, and
gave it to the Indians in their vernacular.
This is supposed to be the first book rem
dered into the Indian language; and the
Swedes were probably the first mission
aries to the Indians. The first German
Lutherans came in 1914, and settled at
New Amsterdam. Jacob Fabricius was
the first to preach to them in their own
language. Their first Westinghouse was
erected In 1911. In ITO their number
was augmented by the arrival of 1000
Germans, who settled in New York, Pen
sylvania, and South Carolina. In l774
a colony settled in Georgia. Up to this
time there was little of organized effort,
but in l742 Rev. Henry NJ. Muhlenburg
came over and settled in Philadelphia,
becoming the founder of the Lutheran
Church in America. He effected the or
ganlzation of the first Lutheran SYNOD.
at Philadelphia, August IA, 1748, and
this body ordained the first preacher of
the denomination. A Swedish minister
had however, been ordained here bv
three Swedish clergymen, as early as
1701.
In l765 a private theological seminary
was started at Hartwick, n. Y, and in
l787 Franklin College was established by
the Legislature Of Pennsylvania. In 1791
the Legislature gave to the free schools
of the Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, >"
5000 acres of land The Church was
constantly recruited by German immigra-
ton; and after the Revolutionary War,
,2OO British soldiers from Brunswick,
and some 1000 Hessians remained in this
country, and were received into the
Lutheran fold. At this period began to
be seriously agitated the question of
preaching, at least part of the time. in
English. The matter was strongly urged
by the young people, but not until 1909
was there a Lutheran church built in
which English was exclusively used, and
for many years that church lSt. Johns,
Philadelphia stood alone. The first
public theological seminary was founded
at Hartwick, N. Y, in 1916. The Gen
eral Synod was formed in 1920. The
whole number of Lutherans in the United
States at that time was 35O0O of whom
ITO were ministers. At the meetino
which organized the General SYNOD. 1873
ministers and $4,000 of the laitv were
represented. The first break was made
IN 1861, when the Southern members
withdrew, and formed the General
Synod Of North America" Another d.
vision more serious occurred in 1865
The General Synod, while cherishinp the
augsburg Confession as the authoritative
doctrlnal exponent Of the Church. did
not make the literal acceptance of all it's
expressions a condition of membership
But strict party arose which insisted
on an exact conformity to the letter Of
the Confession, and in 1864 the Pennsvl-
vania Synod withdrew from the Conven-
tlon. In 1866 this Pennsylvania SYNOD
called upon all Lutherans adherinp TO
the letter Of the Augsburg Confession to
unite IN forming a genuine Lutheran
Church, which was done at Fort WAYNE
Ind November 1867, when twelve
Synods, embracing a membership of no. |
OOO-a number larger than the combined
membership Of the General SYNOD of the
United States and Of the General SYNOD
OF North America-were represented.
There is fourth body called the "Svn-
odical Conference Of North America -"
This IS larger than either Of the others
Its composed chiefly of foreign Synodg