Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Minister Writes Of Internal Politics, Reformation Movement, Expanding Religion: Archive

In the mid-1860s, Lutheranism in Lancaster and other Pennsylvania cities was marked by long-standing congregations and significant organizational shifts. Some congregations dated back to the colonial period in areas like Lancaster, New Holland, Muddy Creek and Warwick. The Civil War impacted Lutheran congregations in Lancaster County with many taking positions on the war and slavery and veterans playing a role in church leadership.

Offering a large archive of about fifty letters, twenty-six of which refer to activities, workings and politics of the Lutheran Church during the 1860s and 1870s in a number of Pennsylvania cities with wide ranging discussion about their academies, Sunday Schools, the politics of hiring ministers, the Lutheran Reformation of 1867 and its 350th anniversary celebrations. In 1867, German Lutherans formed the common Evangelical Lutheran Conference, aiming to address the possibility of uniting with Reformed churches.  Nearly all the letters were written by GEORGE HENRY TRABERT (1843-1931), a Lutheran Minister, Missionary, Hymn translator and author. Trabert provides a wealth of information on the Pennsylvania Lutheran movement in about 90 pages to his friend and fellow minister GEORGE RANK of Lancaster, PA. A synopsis follows: 

--October 6th, 1861, Churchtown, PA, Trabert writes, “...I was in Lancaster to see my school and make out a plan for my boarding. I will commence teaching on the 1st of October, which is 2 weeks from today. I was rather unlucky on last Monday. We were cleaning our well... A pretty large stone falling from the top struck me in the head...It...cut a pretty deep gash and bruised several other places....I remain ever true to the Union and your ever true friend...”

--June 2nd, 1863, Churchtown, PA, Trabert writes, “...I stated in my last letter that Rev. Mr. Town is going to preach at Rolland’s Church next Sunday....If everything goes right and the weather is favorable, Mr. Town and I will go to Lancaster on Saturday and come to Pleasant Grove in the evening and instead of taking dinner, we will lodge with you and go to Church on Sunday morning; after church we would return home in time for me to attend Sunday School...There will be church on Sunday if the weather at all permits. I am still pursuing my studies in Latin pretty briskly.  I am at present reading the Fable of Whittington and His Cat...I hope by the grace of God that we can enter freshmen by Autumn...”

--January 2nd, 1864, Lineville, PA, Trabert writes, “...I went to Reamstown on Thursday and attended the branch institution...Lectures were delivered by Messrs. Bamer, Hill, Geoff, Evans & others & essays read by Messrs Wood, Lutz, Wickel, & Thos. Rufsynder. The last named was one of the best essays I have ever heard on Moral Education. I think the institute was as instructive if not more so than the County Institute of Lancaster...On Saturday morning, I proceeded to the Provost Marshall where after explaining myself and answering some questions, I succeeded in getting a blank. After getting it partly filled up, appeared, I afterwards sent to Lancaster, hoping it may exempt me. My school has been improving considerably since 1864. The past week, I averaged over 30...How is the church getting along in New Holland? Have you got a pastor yet?”

--November 24, 1864, Trappe, PA. JOHN KOHLER, pastor of the Old Trappe Church writes to GEORGE RANK. “...You will see that this is Thanksgiving Day and I could not help but think of New Holland where we spent last Thanksgiving Day or rather that we were there for worship and could not but feel sorry that you are still destitute. Some when they spoke so freely against their pastor & being reminded that they might lose him, said it will be easy to get another, but has not proved so easy after all. And so it is sometimes more easy to get rid of a pastor than to be suited again...You will not likely get any better men to visit than some who have visited you. None better than Mr. Apple or Mr. Richards. Mr. A did not make a favorable impression when he was at New Holland but he is not to be judged by that. Ministers who have heard say he preaches well...He has been called to a very fine charge in Northampton Co. Mr. Richardson, another good man whom the congrega fused and a congregation that has refused to take good men, & for reason such as were given against Richards, can hardly expect to succeed. Two or three men who have made all the trouble seem to rule the congregation. The vestry, in their letter, say they were competent to manage their own affairs & had confidence in their synodical relations, why could not N.H.? The synod cannot be in the way & leaving our synod would not help matters. Dr. Sirp church in Phila, lately withdrew from E. Pres. Synod and such a church, the most prominent in our church leaves to come to us, it is strange the N.H. church should think of going to E. Pres...”

--October 27, 1867, Philadelphia, Trabert writes, “...Yesterday, a new student was admitted from the Chrishona at Basil, Switzerland. Now we have 2 from that institution, and thirty-four in all. This is quite a contrast to the Seminary at Gettysburg, where they have only eight. We have more than four to their one. The states and countries represented are New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Virginia, Canada, Switzerland and Northern Germany...The Sunday School is in a flourishing condition, averaging nearly sixty. It will be kept up at least till after the jubilee and perhaps throughout November...At present, the city seems to be all aglow with the jubilee. The theme is in everybody’s mouth, especially such as belong to our Lutherans. The churches here will all be richly decorated and appropriate services held on the 31st. I hope you will enter into the services, heart and soul, and not pass the seventh jubilee of our church inconsiderately. It occurs only once in fifty years and should be celebrated in the most appropriate manner, thanking God for the Reformation and that he has let us live to see the Lutheran Church, the Mother of the Protestant World, with such a powerful influence in the world. I may here remark that the Lutheran Church covers more territory than any other two Protestant churches and has greater membership than the whole Protestant World, one million live in the United States.

In 1857, TRABERT graduated from Gettysburg College. Three years later, he completed his studies at and graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He was ordained by the German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States. He was ordained in 1870. His first pastorate was Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he served until 1873. He subsequently served at a number of other Lutheran churches. 

Overall very good condition. Folds, light toning.

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