LUTHERAN CHURCH in the I7nited States (LUTHERANS, ante). The first Lutherans came to America in 1621 in company with the first Dutch emigrants to what is now New York. They were without ministerial guidance. In 1638 Swedish Lutherans, with a minister, settled at Wilmington, Del. Their second pastor translated Luther's smaller catechism into the language of the native tribes in the vicinity, com mencing missionary labor among them soon after 1643, about the same time with John Eliot in 'Massachusetts. These Swedes afterwards united with the Protestant Episcopal church, under whose care the " old Swedes' church " Wilinington still stands. There is a similar one in Philadelphia, popularly known by the same name, and in communion with the same denomination. The first German Lutheran settlers in this country also came to New York with the Dutch in 1644, and were at first without a minister. When numerous enough to support a pastor, the Dutch wouldfkt allow them to have one.
But under the English rule, having obtained religious liberty, they secured their first minister, Jacob Fabrieius, in 1061, and a house of worship in 1671. This was rebuilt, in 1703, at Broadway and Rector street. In 1710, 4,000 Germans, fleeing front civil and religious oppression, settled in .New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Another colony went to Georgia in 1734, and was much increased by a second company the fol lowing year. John zind Charles Wesley, when they visited Georgia, found these Lutherans flourishing and useful. The German Lutherans of Philadelphia, having sent earnest requests for help to their brethren in England and the fatherland, Franke, the founder of the orphan house at Halle, persuaded Dr. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg to settle in America. Ilis arrival in 1742 opened a new era in the progress of the American Lutheran church, of which, indeed, he was, in a great degree, the founder. When lie came, finding no organization, he set himself to effect a union at least of German Lutherans. 13y exerting his influence in Germany, he induced a number of his friends' to come to America, so that in 1748 lie was able to form a synod, which afterwards met annually with very beneficial results. In 1749 an orphan asylum was established at Ebenezer, Ga.; in 1765 £1 private theological seminary was commenced; in 1767 the
legislature of Pennsylvania founded Franklin. college " for the special benefit of the Germans of the commoinvealth, as an acknowledgment of services rendered by them to the state, and in consideration of their industry and public virtues;" and in 1191 the sante legislature gave 5,000 acres of land to the free schools of the Lutheran church in Philadelphia: In 1785 the New York synod W£LS formed; in 1803, that of North Carolina; in 1819, that of Ohio; and in 1820, that of Maryland and -Virginia. In 1816 a public theologiczd seminary was established at Hartwick, N. Y. During the revolution the Lutherans were zealous patriots, and, in consequence, incurred the dislike of the English. At the close of the war a large number of the German soldiers whom the British government had hired remained in this country and joined the Lutheran congre gations. The growing acquaintance of the younger generations with the English language made them anxious to have part, at least, of the religious services conducted in it. Tht older persons, however, resisted the effort, sonic of them even believing that the German might become the language of the country. The first Lutheran church in which English was exclusively used was built in 1809, and it remained the only one for many years. In 1820 the general synod was formed, representing 135 ministers and 33,000 church members. The fresh arrival of Lutherans from Europe produced differ ences of opinion and disputes which resulted in several secessions front the main body. After the war of the rebellion the southern general synod was formed. A division on doctrinal grounds next occurred in the northern synods. While the Augsburg confession was cordially accepted by the general synod as a most important historical document, they did not regard a strict adherence to the letter of its teachings as essential to church membership, the privileges of which they wished to extend to all Lutherans. But the stricter party were dissatisfied with this liberal view, and, in 1864, the admission of the Frankean synod led co the withdraNval of the oldest organization—the synod of Pennsyl vania—and, subsequently, to the formation of the general council.