The Beginnings of Der Lutheraner

Becky Kollemeyer
Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, Anna

In the mid-nineteenth century, a flood of immigrants from the British Isles and Germany poured into the United States. The Germans were the largest ethnic group in the United States. They came for religious, economic, and political reasons. They were not only Lutheran, but also Reformed, Roman Catholic, Mennonites, and free-thinkers. Like many immigrants, the Germans wanted to preserve their language. The newspapers or newsletters helped them do so. In 1840 there were forty German-language newspapers in the United States. Of course, there were also many small individual German groups that published newsletters in Illinois and across the United States.

On September 7, 1844, a Lutheran named Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther issued the first copy of Der Lutheraner, a Lutheran newsletter that was written entirely in German. Walther published this paper in St. Louis, Missouri, but it was written in a small town in Illinois. He sent copies of this newsletter to various parts of the country. The first edition of this newsletter was meant partly as communication between the Lutherans in the country. When a

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man named Wyneken saw the first issue, he exclaimed, 'Thank God, there are still Lutherans in America."

What probably struck the reader as the most distinctive feature was the authoritative tone it used to speak on Lutheran matters. Walther's purpose was to make the readers familiar with the doctrines and history of the Lutheran Church. According to one historian, it was to be a service to its readers, "teaching them how a true Lutheran, though a sinner, may be a firm believer, live a truly Christian life, bravely bear up under the cross, and, departing this life, enter into the glorious heaven." Basically, the newsletter was to be an aid to all Lutherans on how to live a Christian life pleasing to the church.

The subscription price was $1.25 a year, plus postage. The single copy price was set at 6.25 cents (half bit). The first issue of Der Lutheraner, after explaining its purpose, had an article about the principles of religion. This was followed by a historical essay on the name Lutheran. The newsletter supposedly brought "cheer, comfort, and strength to the Christian heart." This was very important because many Lutherans in the United States thought that they were alone in their beliefs. They were tired, lonesome, and frustrated. This newsletter helped them see that there were others around to help them. Dr. Sihler, to whom Walther sent a paper, wrote: "It was a great joy to receive the first number of Der Lutheraner, and after I had read the succeeding issues, I did not hesitate to recommend the paper to any congregation." Dr. Sihler knew what kind of comfort the congregations needed.

In 1847 Der Lutheraner did something amazing. Up until then, there were groups of Lutherans in Missouri and Illinois, others in Ohio, and Indiana, and more in Michigan. Walther introduced the idea in Der Lutheraner that these groups of Lutherans join to become one common church. After this suggestion, a group of men gathered in St. Louis to arrange all the churches joining together. Two more meetings followed after that within the next year and a half in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois. At the final meeting in Chicago, it was finally settled that the Lutheran churches would get together to form the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.

The matter of publishing an official synodical organ was discussed at the very first synodical convention, held in 1847. There Walther made a kind offer that the synod take over Der Lutheraner for this purpose. The Synod gratefully accepted this offer, knowing how much the newsletter meant to the congregation. At another convention, shortly after the synod took over Der Lutheraner, it was decided that churches would add their own articles to the newsletter, explaining the happenings in their church. Also, a suggestion was made that it should occasionally touch on the subjects of political events and current conditions. It was voted that there would be a column on political news, but it would have to be free of propaganda.

Not everybody liked reading Der Lutheraner, however. Some people asked their pastors why they needed to read it. One response was that the people needed to read it out of love for the Lutheran church and love of its pure doctrine. Originally the newsletter was sent only to German Lutheran groups. However, as time went by and the paper became more financially secure, it was also circulated among non-Lutheran groups. Through this newsletter, people outside of the synod were exposed to its teachings and beliefs. Some people, after reading the paper, sought out one of these churches in the synod to join. Also, it caused some churches associated with other groups to withdraw and join the new Missouri body. Overall, Der Lutheraner helped to establish the new synod.

Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was the editor of Der Lutheraner until 1865, when he had to stop due to a literary assignment. However, he continued writing for the newspaper until shortly before his death. Der Lutheraner was more than a church newsletter. Of course, it told the happenings in the churches, but it also reminded the people what the beliefs and teachings of the church were. It gave another German group the chance to preserve its language. However, most importantly, Der Lutheraner helped to form the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, and afterward aid in its growth.-[From Walter A Baepler, A Century of Grace, W.H.T. Dau, Ebenezer, Byron Northwick, The Development of the Missouri Synod; W.G. Polack, "Concordia Magazine," Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, April 1948.]

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