The Lutherans of New York, Their Story and Their ProblemsWenner, George Unangst
History
The Lutherans of New York, Their Story and Their Problems
Wenner, George Unangst
Lutherans -- New York (State) -- New York
While it is doubtful whether he would find admission to some of the most
orthodox synods of our own day; he was comparatively free from the
latitudinarian tendencies which had been brought over from Germany
during the last quarter of the century.
Along with General Steuben and other influential citizens he founded,
the German Society, an association which is still an important agency
in the charitable work of this city.
[illustration: "John Christopher Kunze"]
He was instrumental in 1785 in reorganizing the New York Ministerium.
This work was begun in 1775 by Frederick Muehlenberg, but had been given
up for a while, probably on account of the war.
As a writer he is credited in Dr. Morris' Bibliotheca Lutherana with
eight books of which he was the author or editor, from Hymns and Poems
to A History of the Lutheran Church and A New Method of Calculating the
Great Eclipse of 1806.
These and many other things must be set to his credit. For what he
accomplished he deserves a large place in the history of our Church in
this city. But with all his gifts he was unable to cope with the chief
problem which confronted our Church at the close of the eighteenth
century, that of the English language.
There had been a demand for English services ever since the middle of
the century. The descendants of the Dutch families had all become
English. The need of English had been met in part by the elder
Muehlenberg and his successors, Weygand and Hauseal, in Trinity Church,
doubtless also by Frederick Muehlenberg in the Swamp Church.
After the, Revolution (1784) the United Congregations certainly made
some provision for English although it was inadequate. In 1794 the
younger people petitioned for occasional services in a language which
they could understand. Dr. Kunze himself made some attempts to handle
the English, but his faulty pronunciation so amused the young people
that he gave it up. He appointed a young man by the name of Strebeck to
assist him in ministering to the English members of the congregation.
Strebeck at this time was a Methodist, although he had been confirmed
in a Lutheran Church in Baltimore. Under Kunze's influence he again
joined the Lutherans.
"A Hymn and Prayer Book for the use of such Lutheran Churches as use the
English language," published by Kunze in 1795, and another by Streback
[sic] in 1797, show that serious efforts were made to meet the wants of
the English-speaking members.
Finally, on June 25th, 1797, a separate congregation was organized
entitled The English Lutheran Church in the City of New York. (This was
the corporate name, although it was subsequently known as Zion Church.)
Strebeck was chosen pastor. Land was rented on Pearl Street opposite
City Hall Place and a frame church was built.
The incorporation of the church was reported to the Ministerium which
met at Rhinebeck. The following reply was given under date of September
1st, 1797:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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