LUTHERAN CHURCH, EVANGELICAL (Iri'ther-an chfirch, 1. Name. In the Great Reformation of the six teenth century, the adherents of Luther were nick named "Lutherans" by the Romanist, Dr. Eck, after the Leipzic Disputation in 1519, and so spoken of by Pope Hadrian VI in 1522. They were first termed "Protestants" at the Diet of Spire in 1529. Luther strongly protested, and disapproved of his name being borne by his fel low confessors ; in Europe they were and are called "The Evangelical Church ;" in this country they are commonly known as "The Evangelical Lutheran Church." 2. Sources and Growth. (1) Seventeenth Century. The first Lutherans who made per manent homes in America came among the col onists from Holland, who settled (1612-1622) for traffic with the Indians on Manhattan Island and the Hudson river. Though brought by the spirit of trade, they were the first in this country to suffer persecution on account of their faith. En gland's supremacy in 1664 gave them religious liberty. Whilst there are no Dutch Lutheran congregations in the United States to-day, there are a number of Dutch origin, mostly along the Hudson.
Gustavus Adolphus, the king of Sweden, had projected a colony to America, both for the re ligious welfare of the natives and for the glory of his realm. The glorious victory at Luetzen in 1632, immortalized "The Lion of the North," and left to his great premier, Oxenstiern, the further ing of the colony. In 1638 two shiploads from the Lutheran land of Sweden purchased lands of the Indians and established themselves on the banks of the Delaware. Others followed and all pros pered.
They built churches; their pastor, Campanius, translated Luther's catechism into the Delaware dialect, and also gave religious instruction to the Indians. For over forty years previous to the arrival of William Penn they had lived and la bored among them in the greatest peace and prosperity, and by their good name and offices greatly promoted the success of Penn's famous treaty with the Indians tinder the great elm at Philadelphia in 1683. By the close of the fol lowing century, through political changes, but mainly from lack of English-speaking Lutheran pastors, these people with their church edifices came into the hands of the Episcopalians.
(2) Eighteenth Century. Not being a sea going people, previous to the eighteenth century few Germans came to America. During this cen tury, being compelled by persecution and suffer ing, or encouraged by the plans and prospects of Penn's colony, many thousand German Lutherans sought homes in the New World.
Impoverished by the Thirty Years' War, and in constant dread of invasion, many of the wretched inhabitants of the Rhenish Palatinate sought refuge in England, whence aided by the government and Queen Anne, they came as col onists to New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina 0707-1712).
Forced into exile in midwinter, 3o,000 men, women and children from the Austrian archbish opric of Salzburg went to Prussia, Holland, Swe den and England. The English, by parliamentary aid and public contributions, assisted many of the fellow believers of those who bound them selves in the "covenant of salt" to found the Lutheran colony at Ebenezer, Georgia, under the devoted pastors, Bolzen and Gronau (1731 1734)• Unscrupulous agents traversed Germany in the interests of shipping companies, and by fabulous tales of plenty, wealth, honor anti titles so easily secured in the New World, lured the simple minded people from their homes. Pennsylvania was the paradise generally sought. In the sum mer of 1749, 12,000 German immigrants landed at Philadelphia, many of them Lutherans, and for years the tide continued. Many died on the long voyages in the poorly-supplied and overcrowded vessels. On landing the captain advertised the arrival of those too poor to pay the passage charges, and at auction sold men, women and children for three, six, ten or more years, who were taken for service to New England, Penn sylvania and other colonies. Families were sepa ratednever again to meet. Whilst character and in dustry often elevated these servants to the place of masters, and maids betimes married their pur chasers, yet, despite the laws for their protection, it was only to protracted slavery, with its wretch edness and abominations, that many of the "re demptorists" were doomed during their enforced labor.