Lutheran Emigrants in North America A Letter to the Readers of the Sonntagsblatt. by Wilhelm Loehe Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores From: Noerdlingen Sonntagsblatt, XI (January 10, 1841), cols. 9-14, As Transcribed in James L. Schaaf, "Wilhelm Loehe's Relations to the American Church: A Study in the History of Lutheran Mission," Heidelberg University, Ph.D. Dissertation, 1961, Appendix II. 1. Thousands, even hundreds of thousands have left Germany, crossing the ocean, hoping to find new homes. German fathers, children of German mothers, brothers and sisters of Germans, relatives of Germans, childhood friends of Germans, are now under foreign skies, in another part of the world. As they left, did love leave also? Has the memory of far away loved ones died? Fathers, are you not concerned about your children? Mothers, do you no longer care for those whom you have suckled? Is it so cold in Germany that love, implanted in everyone's heart, can no longer thrive? Is this love for parents and children, is love between blood-relations no longer alive? Have our people forgotten the German way? Has the Fatherland of family love changed? 2. Most of the German emigrants are members of the evangelical church. In 1834 there were already 627 German-Lutheran congregations in the central and southern states of North America and Ohio. By 1838 there were 800, which does not include the countless families and small settlements who are not formally members of a congregation. Is the German evangelical church not concerned about so many of its children? The Pope has divided North America into dioceses and sends his messengers to his sheep. Should the church--which reveals God's love ever more completely and recognizes a myriad of mercy from which the Catholic church distances itself--not extend its care for its own across the ocean? Should it sever the ties which connect it in love to its distant children? Children of the church, brothers and sisters, far from it! We believe in a holy, Christian church which encompasses all worlds! Our love extends across the oceans, into the American forests, to the mountains, the far away rivers, to wherever people are who are adhering to the true value, the unaltered authority of the sacraments. 3. Alas, many are forsaken, extremely forsaken, so very many of our brothers-in-faith, our race, our people, our children, our siblings. Troubles and tribulations have befallen them, grief and sorrow of this world are upon them. Who knows how much? Should we not suffer with them, pray with them? In addition, our distant brothers-in-the-faith are surrounded by much spiritual trouble as well. There are only 300 preachers available to serve these 800 congregations located in the Eastern states and Ohio. There are many settlements and families scattered about in both Ohio and Pennsylvania, which are not included in the count of 800. They are not being served by these 300 preachers. What conditions are there in the Western states? How can we expect the Eastern states, which themselves are extremely needy, to serve those in the West? And yet, how forsaken they are there in the West. German farmers are attracted to these states, people from our fatherland are moving westward in huge numbers. In those areas churches and congregations have not yet been established. There it is possible to found 10 or 15 new congregations without a preacher ever coming even near. There are cases where young girls of 18 years, even mothers with several children, demand to be baptized by traveling preachers, some of which have been sent by the Eastern states. Should we not suffer with them? The North American states do not have compassion. Their administrations do not provide for the spiritual well-being of its citizens. If one can't provide for oneself, one is forsaken. There are some who do care, but as far as the eye can see there are no preachers of the Gospel. And once they find one, who will provide for his livelihood? What sort of young people are growing up there, where there is no voice of the good shepherd? Should we therefore not suffer with them, we, whose call it is to sustain German Protestants because we ourselves are German Protestants? 4. Our brothers are suffering in the vastness of North America. We are standing by idly, unwilling to help. Meanwhile, the Pope's servants and the proponents of sects are all the more busy. Their love too seems holy, eagerly accepted by the ones in need. They return their love, with their children they join the Roman church, the sects. For those who thirst muddy, unclean and unhealthy waters are preferable to death by thirst. Should we not help? Should we idly watch how our brothers-in-faith are being misled because of the lack of shepherds? Should we watch as the evangelical church in North America disappears? Woe to us if we do not help here as much as possible. We let thousands perish while we exert ourselves to win individuals? We pray the Lord to save the heathens and add them to His church, while we abandon congregations of our church? We forget those who are near and dear to us while we reach for those who are still serving idols. We should do the one and leave the other! Come on, brothers, let us help as much as we can. 5. Brothers, hear the summons, expressed by someone else, and heed it: "Thousands of families, your brothers-in-faith, maybe even your physical brothers and sisters, are hungering for the healthy sustenance of the Gospel. They beseech you with their pleading: Help us! Send us preachers who will strengthen us with the bread of life, who will edify us with God's word and teach our children the saving doctrine of Jesus. Please help us, else we are lost! Why are you not helping? Is this how you express the love of Christ? Is this how you keep His commandment? Remember the words: Whatever thou doest to the least of my brothers, thou doest unto me.' It is certainly true that many of our German brothers in the western states of North America are calling for help. In many localities they are facing additional danger, for in no other country are there so many religious sects as in North America. Some of them have already directed their attention and efforts towards the settlements of our German brothers. Alien workers want to bring in the harvest, while the Lord is calling for His own. Should our brothers not worship in the spiritual inheritance of their fathers, instead of lingering in the institutions of the sects? I am begging you, for Christ's sake, lend a helping hand, quickly pull together. Don't parley too much! Quickly, quickly! Immortal souls and their rescue are at stake here! 6. Now then, dear brothers, in Bremen and Stade men have gathered to help these North American Christians. Let us not fall behind! Is there anyone among you who can and may go himself: a preacher, a candidate, someone who has no other obligations, a young teacher, anyone who is fit to teach: Over there is work! There you can dispense the treasures of the Gospel which you have gathered thus far, and the Lord will continue to replenish you with His blessings. Is there one among you who has neither vocation nor talent to go himself, let him enable others with generous gifts, so they may go for him. This too is mission work, it is much valued indeed. If a good shepherd of a congregation reads this, let him show his congregation how to help. Everyone help as best he can! All of us will pray, at home and in church, in our morning and evening prayers, that the Lord not abandon the forsaken ones and bring the erring sheep back to the fold. It goes without saying that this writer will gladly accept donations and provide proof of their proper application. ______________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Erika Flores and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ______________________________________________________________