Beginning with the immigration of the “Georgia Salzburgers,” religious exiles from Europe, The Early History of the Lutheran Church in Georgia tells a story of faith and struggle that is deeply embedded in the religious and cultural life of the American colonial South. Previously unpublished and untranslated, Hermann Winde’s dissertation laid the foundation for a limited group of scholars and specialists who have continued to develop that story for over four decades. Now, both the detail that emerges through Winde’s primary sources and the breadth of the connections he makes across colonial Georgia’s geographical and cultural landscape will continue to appeal to scholars and general readers alike as they enter the world of Georgia’s first Lutheran communities.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... the American take the place of German consistency of action. But in spite of such a difference, the prospects for the union of American Lutherans are brighter to-day than ever before. All agree in recognizing the Bible as the sole source, rule and standard of faith, accept the Augsburg Confession in its historical sense, and are convinced that the Lutheran Church stands for the most perfect form of religion which has been revealed to us by history. We may mention as a symptom of reapproachment the moderate tone being observed in doctrinal discussions, and also the respectful treatment mutually accorded by the organs of opposing synods. 36. Review of the Extension of the Lutheran Church in America. The Lutheran Church began as a tiny plant. It had small beginnings in two localities: New York and Pennsylvania. Later we notice scattered settlements along the Atlantic Coast as far south as Georgia. Since immigration was largely directed to Pennsylvania, this state has ever recorded the strongest growth of Lutheran churches. In the beginning of the nineteenth century the stream of immigration, crossing the mountains, flowed toward the West, and resulted in strong Lutheran settlements, especially in Indiana and Ohio, where the descendants of Eastern Lutherans (New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia) established themselves. The great immigration of the nineteenth century flooded the country with German settlers. These filled the Eastern church, which had been losing ground by the anglicization of its members, formed new congregations and eventually covered the whole West. Finally the stream of immigration -- then largely composed of people who had settled in the United States -- was directed toward New England. Thus in course of time we find a...