Concordia Historical Institute

Institute Opens Walther Exhibit

2011-10-25T09:14:00.002-05:00

A new exhibit, “To God Alone the Glory: The Life of C. F. W. Walther,ˮ is now open. The exhibit uses documents, artifacts and publications from the Instituteʼs collections to tell the story of Waltherʼs life and work from his childhood and education in Saxony, his role in the Saxon Immigration to Missouri, and his multi-faceted career as pastor, seminary president and first president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It includes information on his family life, musical interests and the effects of the Civil War on his ministry.

The Institute staff has also prepared a PowerPoint presentation using much of the material from the exhibit for personal and educational use in congregations and schools. The special DVD includes manual and automatic versions of the presentation and may be ordered from the Institute for $20.00 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling.

Pastor Biltz Meets the Secessionists

2011-08-22T11:30:00.005-05:00

In August 1861 Pastor Franz Julius Biltz and his congregation at Cook’s Store (Concordia), Lafayette County, Missouri, had their first encounter with General Sterling Price (right) and his Confederate forces. Price had served as a brigadier general of volunteer forces in the Mexican War and as governor of Missouri from 1853 to 1857. In May 1861 had was assigned by pro-Confederate Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson to command the newly reformed Missouri State Guard in a campaign to secure Missouri for the Confederacy. Fresh from participation in the Confederate victory in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, Price’s Missouri Guard began an invasion of northern Missouri that culminated in the First Battle of Lexington on September 20.

Before moving north, General Price sent his son, Colonel Edwin Price to the Lafayette County area to gather new recruits who might have been heartened by the secessionist victory at Wilson’s Creek. Edwin Price and his men passed through Freedom Township, and Colonel Price had Biltz brought to him for interrogation. Biltz recorded the encounter in his diary this way:

[August] 22. Secession troups [sic] about 1000 men here - camp burned - houses searched - Br[ockhoff’s]. store nearly emptied - Commander Price told me, to tell make known the object of their coming - to interrupt, to hurt nobody - not even touch any man’s person or property - only no man should take up arms against the state - or lay them down.

A Union flag was found in the church, which was taken. -

23. Wahrenbrock - H. & Fr. Bruns - Franks are searched after. - I was taken prisoner yesterday, but soon released - - Blume, Tiemann, Kirksick - hanged on trees several times [without killing them] -

23-26. Taking of horses and mules from the prairie & stables - exspecially [sic] from those, who belonged to the Home Guard. -

In September General Sterling Price moved his Missouri State Guard north to capture the town of Lexington in order to block the Missouri River to Federal traffic.

From the Biltz Civil War Diary, July 14, 1861

2011-07-13T15:33:00.005-05:00

From the Civil War diary of Pastor Franz Julius Biltz, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cook’s Store (Concordia), Lafayette County, Missouri, July 1861:

14. Our Home Guard order to Georgetown, returned
next day-- Meth[odist] church demol[ished].

Georgetown is an unincorporated community just north of Sedalia in Pettis County, Missouri, and southeast of Lafayette County, where Biltz’s congregation was located. Identification of the Methodist church to which Biltz referred has not been determined.

From the Biltz Civil War Diary, July 8, 1861

2011-07-08T08:59:00.005-05:00

From the diary of Franz Julius Biltz, July 1861:

8. Lexington besetzt mit Uniontroops
Afterwards in care of the Homeguards
10-13. Camp for our troops near the church –

This is an example of Biltz’s mixture of German and English throughout the diaries. The first line says, “Lexington occupied by Union troops.”

Lexington is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, it was the largest city west of St. Louis in the 1830s and 1840s, and the third largest city in Missouri at the time of the Civil War. Except for Freedom Township, where Biltz’s congregation of German Lutherans had settled, the county was among the most strongly pro-secessionist areas of the state, often referred to as “Little Dixie.” It was the center for Quantrill’s raiders, and two of the largest battles of the war in the west occurred there.

In early July 1861 Union forces, having driven Governor Claiborne Jackson out of Jefferson City, moved to occupy Lexington. The pro-Union Home Guards in the area, including members of Biltz’s congregation, received arms and support from this force. For a detailed account of the arrival of the Union troops, see the letter of James E. Love to his finance Molly covering the July 6-10 period, posted on the Missouri History Museum’s “History Happens Here” web site.

Rosa Jinsey Young (1890-1971)

2011-06-30T10:03:00.004-05:00

Rosa J. Young, “the mother of Black Lutheranism in central Alabama,” died on 30 June 1971. Born 14 May 1890 in rural Rosebud, Wilcox County, the daughter of an African Methodist Episcopal minister, she graduated from Payne University and opened a private school in her home Rosebud community. Advised by Booker T. Washington, she approached the Mission Board of the Lutheran Synodical Conference in 1915 for support. After surveying the situation, the board sent veteran missionary Nils J. Bakke to oversee the development of the school, at which Young continued to serve as teacher and adviser. She later served as a professor at the Alabama Lutheran Academy (today Concordia College) in Selma. In 1961 she was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. For more information, see the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

150 Years Ago ... From the Diary of F. J. Biltz

2011-06-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

Franz Julius Biltz, pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cook's Store (Concordia), Liberty Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, recorded events related to the Civil War that took place in western Missouri and around the state and nation. The following entries (in English in the original) are from the end of June 1861:

[June] 26. No mail for more than two weeks.--

28. Mail again / sad affray in Benton County! Un[ion] Home Guard attacked by Secess[ionists].-- lost killed wounded

[This refers to a skirmish on June 19 between a hastily organized unit of German Lutheran farmers near Cole Camp, Benton County, Missouri, that was tasked with stopping the flight of deposed Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson, a Confederate sympathizer. See previous blog post.]

29. Part (60 men) of our Home Guard [Liberty Township] going to Boonville for arms.-- Conduct on the road.-- returned July 7th accompan[ied]. by 250 St. Louis Home Guards.-- 175 muskets, etc., 7000 Patronen [bullets], 1 keg powder.-- next day 28 more were sworn in and armed.

Three companies of Home Guards had been organized on June 15 by the German Lutherans living in Liberty Township. These people had settled there in the 1840s, placing themselves in the middle of “Little Dixie,” the most predominant slave-owning area of Missouri.

150 Years Ago ... Battle of Cole Camp, Missouri

2011-06-19T13:47:00.003-05:00

On 19 June 1861 a hastily assembled Union Home Guard made up almost entirely of recent German Lutheran immigrant farmers was attacked and overcome near Cole Camp, Missouri, by a Missouri State Militia force, allowing the deposed Confederate-supporting Governor Claiborne Jackson to escape pursuing Union forces. The rag-tag Home Guard had no regular officers or forces to lead or support them. About 900 men had assembled on 13 June on a nearby farm, but half of the men had been sent home for lack of weapons or ammunition. Confused by Confederates carrying a Union flag, the Home Guard force held its fire until too late. Some 35 Home Guard men were killed, several of them members of Lutheran congregations in the area.

For more information on this early Civil War engagement in Missouri, click here and here.

Celebrating the Walther Centennial ... 1911

2011-05-23T09:53:00.003-05:00

A grand celebration of the centennial of the birth of Dr. C. F. W. Walther was held on Sunday, May 14, 1911, in the St. Louis Coliseum. The conventions of the German and English Missouri Synods were meeting at the time and would merge into one synod the next day.

The Lutheran Witness of May 25 described the celebration:

On Sunday afternoon an inspiring celebration, commemorative of the one hundredth anniversary of Dr. Walther's birth, was held in the Coliseum. The German address was made by Prof. Bente, and the English one by Prof. Dau, of Concordia Seminary. The musical portion of the program was in the hands of Mr. John Barthel. The singing by the Student Chorus, of 200 voices, a mixed chorus of 800 voices, and a children's chorus of 2,000 voices which sometimes sang separately, and sometimes in unison, forming a grand chorus of 3,000 voices, was magnificent and inspiring to every one who was privileged to be present at this great occasion. It will not soon be forgotten. Congratulatory addresses were also made by Prof. Dr. Stub, of the theological seminary of our Norwegian brethren at St. Paul, and by President John Schaller of the theological seminary of the venerable Wisconsin Synod at Wauwatosa, Wis.

100 Years Ago ... English District Joins Missouri Synod

2011-05-16T13:59:00.002-05:00

On Monday, 15 May 1911 delegates to the 12th convention of the [English] Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States, meeting at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in south Saint Louis, Missouri, marched as a body to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, where the Delegate Synod of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States was meeting. With this dramatic demonstration, the English Synod was accepted into the German-speaking body as the non-geographic English District.

This year English District congregations are celebrating their district's centennial history. For a brief sketch of the district's history, click here.

Institute to Host Muhlenberg Exhibit

2011-03-28T09:37:00.003-05:00

Concordia Historical Institute, in cooperation with Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri, will host a traveling exhibit April 26 through May 16, 2011, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of colonial American Lutheranism. The exhibit was produced by the Francke Foundation of Halle, Germany, from which Muhlenberg was called to serve as a Lutheran pastor in America.

A special set of lectures and a reception will open the exhibit on Tuesday, April 26, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Fuerbringer Library at Concordia Seminary. Dr. Robert Kolb of the seminary faculty will speak on “‘So Much Began in Halle’: The Mission Program That Sent Muhlenberg to America.” Dr. Gerhard Bode, also of the seminary faculty, will speak on “Man on a Mission: Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and the Lutherans in America.” A reception will follow the lectures in the Institute’s facilities across the street from the seminary library at 804 Seminary Place, Clayton, Missouri.

The exhibit, which consists of 20 full-color panels, celebrates the importance of Muhlenberg’s legacy to the American colonies and his place as patriarch and pillar of Lutheranism in North America.

Born September 6, 1711, in the town of Einbeck, then a part of the Duchy of Hanover, Muhlenberg is widely recognized as the most influential German-American cultural figure in 18th century America, spending 43 years in a vigorous engagement with life in colonial America, actively participating in community affairs throughout the colonies, closely observing all aspects of the world around him, and recording his daily activities in precise detail in journals and correspondence to friends in the colonies and Europe.

He officially served as pastor to congregations in Pennsylvania and New York, but even more importantly worked as an adviser to hundreds of small Lutheran settlements scattered across the colonial landscape. He traveled frequently, journeying by horseback, wooden sailboat and canoe to meet with settlers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia. His descriptions of his travels and his work at these locations offer an unparalleled glimpse into the urban and rural landscapes, as well as the concerns of German settlers in 18th century colonial America.

The exhibit will be open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. in the Institute’s museum, 804 Seminary Place, Clayton. There is a $3.00 admission charge. Also on display are two series of 16th century woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer from the Institute’s own collection.

Visit CHI Exhibit at LCMS Convention

2010-07-11T10:23:00.003-05:00

CHI’s exhibit at the 2010 LCMS Convention in Houston offers information about the mission and services of the Institute as the Department of Archives and History of the Synod. Sample copies of the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly are available, and daily drawings for free memberships in the Institute are offered.

May God bless this gathering of “One People — Forgiven” that the message of the Gospel may clearly and freely resound throughout the world.

Wyneken Exhibit Now Open

2010-06-15T16:17:00.004-05:00

Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) opened its new museum exhibit, “F. C. D. Wyneken: The Thunder That Follows the Lightning,” on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as part of a reception for the alumni of Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis). It will remain on display until fall 2011.

“F. C. D. Wyneken: The Thunder That Follows the Lightning” highlights the life and ministry of Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken, a celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Wyneken left Germany in 1838 to minister to German Lutherans in America and began his ministry as a missionary in Indiana. A strong confessional Lutheran pastor, Wyneken was involved in preliminary discussions that led to the formation of the Missouri Synod and joined the Synod in 1848, a year after its founding. He served as president of the Synod for fourteen years. During his 38-year ministry he served parishes in Fort Wayne and Friedheim, Indiana; Baltimore, Saint Louis and Cleveland. Despite the many struggles he faced throughout his life, Wyneken served God and the church faithfully until his death in 1876.

This exhibit includes newly translated letters from Wyneken to key individuals in the Lutheran church. These letters reflect his life as missionary and pastor, synodical president and his personal life. They highlight the manner in which he judiciously and honestly carried out his role as president, father and friend. Wyneken’s handwritten agenda notebook, which contains rites for baptism, marriage and funerals in German, English and French, can be viewed in the exhibit. A book of psalms given by Wyneken to Marie Sophie Buuck, who later became his wife, on the occasion of her confirmation is also on display. Other artifacts include a cross made of Wyneken’s hair, a book of handwritten sermons, and various other publications about and by Wyneken.

Concordia Historical Institute is located on the Clayton campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, at 804 Seminary Place, off of Clayton Road. The museum, which has free admission, is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Reservations are not necessary to view the museum exhibits, except for groups over 50. Tours of the synodical archives at the Institute require advanced reservations. For reservations or more information, please call 314-505-7900.

A Plea from Fort Wayne

2010-06-04T09:20:00.004-05:00

On 4 June 1838 Adam Wesel, elder at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, wrote to the mission society of the Pennsylvania Ministerium, appealing for a missionary to serve them. A Pastor Kohler had previously been sent by the society to travel through Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, but he had begun to serve congregations in eastern Pennsylvania and was no longer interested in traveling.

F. C. D. Wyneken, who had just arrived in Baltimore from Germany on 28 June, was recommended to the executive committee of the society, which invited him to meet with them in Lancaster for an interview. The committee “found him to be a man, whom they believed to be especially qualified for the important work of a missionary,” so “they took him into their service” (Proceedings of the Missionary Society, Synod of Pennsylvania, 1839, p. 5).

Although he was directed to survey the same territory as Kohler—Indiana, Illinois and Missouri—he spent a week in several settlements in northwest Ohio and then traveled to Fort Wayne, where the congregation prevailed on him to become their pastor. The mission society granted their request “to keep brother Wynecken [sic],” who also continued to visit German settlements in northern Indiana and Michigan and organized several congregations. A detailed report, dated 25 February 1839, recounts Wyneken’s missionary activity for the society.

Wyneken Exhibit Opens June 9

2010-06-03T10:57:00.002-05:00

The Institute’s new exhibit, “F. C. D. Wyneken: The Thunder That Follows the Lightning,” will open on Wednesday, June 9, with a ribbon cutting as part of a reception for the Alumni Reunions of Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis). The exhibit is in the museum gallery of the Institute’s main facilities on the seminary campus at 804 Seminary Place in Clayton, Missouri.

Wyneken’s Baptism

2010-05-21T17:21:00.004-05:00

On 22 May 1810 Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken was baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by his father, Pastor Heinrich Wyneken, in the Saint Andreas Church, Verden, Hannover.

His birth/baptismal entry from the church records reads:

On the 22nd [of May 1810]:

The son of Pastor Heinrich Christoph Wyneken and of my wife, Anna Catharine Louise, nee Meyer Wyneken, who was born on the 13th. He is named: Friedrich Conrad Diedrich.
Godfathers: My brother, the Danish Major, and the Superintendent Wyneken of Ratzeburg and High Court Administrator Johann Diederich Schwarz of Ritterhude.
Witnesses of the Baptism: H. H. Dr. Carelson and Postmaster Cramm.

— Translated by Robert E. Smith and Matthew Wyneken

(Photographs courtesy Pastor Christoph Barnbrock, Zion Lutheran Church [SELK], Verden, Hannover)

Wyneken at the General Synod (1845)

2010-05-21T09:46:00.007-05:00

On 20 May 1845 Friedrich Wyneken, then a pastor in Baltimore, arrived at the 13th convention of the General Synod, being held in Philadelphia. At the time he was a member of the Synod of the West.

The meeting had begun on 16 May, and before Wyneken arrived, the assembly had instructed its Committee for Foreign Correspondence to defend the General Synod against the alleged false accusations spread in Germany that it was not orthodox and to ask the Lutheran societies there to send it available missionaries. Though Wyneken was not named in the resolution, it was aimed at him and the accounts he had shared in Germany during his 1841-1843 visit about the conditions of the church in America.

Once Wyneken was in attendance, he participated in the discussions, at one point attempting to remove a section of a resolution that commended the American Tract Society for issuing its publications in German.

He also opened one of the sessions with prayer.

According to J. C. W. Lindemann's biography of Wyneken,

When Wyneken appeared at the synod and heard about the decision [to write to Germany in defense of the General Synod’s theology], he made the motion on the last day of the conference: “To send Dr. Schmucker’s and Dr. Benjamin Kurtz’s writings, also a volume of the Lutheran Observer and the Hirtenstimme and other books and periodicals, in which the doctrine and practice of the General Synod is described, to Dr. Rudelbach, Prof. Harless and other editors and publishers in Germany of excellent Lutheran periodicals for scrutiny and thereby prove the orthodoxy of the General Synod to the Lutheran Church of Germany.”

The synod tabled this motion so dangerous for it. Wyneken, however, rose again and said he didn’t expect anything else than this and for that reason he had formulated a second motion in advance and pocketed it. He pulled it out of his pocket very calmly and read it. He called for: “The General Synod should publicly disapprove and repudiate the previously mentioned writings of Dr. Schmucker and Dr. Kurtz, as well as the Lutheran Observer and Hirtenstimme as heretical and deviating from the standard of beneficial doctrine!”

Such language had been unheard of until then at conferences of the synod. Everyone was appalled by such an incredible demand and did not think in the slightest to comply.

This confrontation is not recorded in the printed proceedings of the 1845 General Synod.

Return to America

2010-05-18T09:56:00.004-05:00

On this date in 1843 Friedrich Wyneken, along with his wife, Sophie, and daughter Louise, as well as Candidate Adolf Biewend, set sail for the United States. Wyneken had gone back to Germany in 1841 with his young bride to seek treatment for a throat ailment and to plead for help from German pastors, congregations and mission societies to bring the Gospel to the American frontier. While there he published his appeal, The Distress of German Lutherans in North America. His efforts garnered the attention of Wilhelm Loehe, who began soliciting funds to train and send men to teach and preach among German immigrants in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

The ship Isabella arrived in the port of New York on 5 July 1843. The names of Wyneken's party appear at the top of the passenger list.

Prayer for the Bicentennial of the Birth of Friedrich Wyneken

2010-05-13T09:38:00.003-05:00

The following prayer was posted today on Friedrich Wyneken's wall on Facebook:

Lord of the Living Harvest, Who sends workers into the harvest field of souls, we thank You for the gift of Your servant, Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken, who entered this life 200 years ago today and into Your eternal kingdom in the waters of baptism on the 22nd of May. As you blessed the work of his hands, gathering scattered Germans into Lutheran congregations in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio and forging the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod into a warm fellowship united in doctrine, mercy and mission, bless our work as we seek to proclaim your word in our lost and dying generation, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our ascended Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, yesterday, today and forever. Amen.

(The portrait of Wyneken is from about 1842 during his trip to Germany to gather support for mission work in the U.S. The original is in the Concordia Historical Institute collection and will be on display in the exhibit, “Friedrich Wyneken: The Thunder That Follows the Lightning,” opening this month.)

Coming Soon: "F. C. D. Wyneken: The Thunder That Follows the Lightning"

2010-05-11T21:28:00.005-05:00

Concordia Historical Institute's celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken begins soon with the opening of a new exhibit in the museum gallery of the Institute's main facility on the campus of Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis (804 Seminary Place, Clayton).

Titled "The Thunder That Follows the Lightning " after a characterization of Wyneken by the 19th century Missouri Synod historian Christian Hochstetter, the exhibit will chronicle the life and ministry of the second president of the synod and pioneer figure of Lutheran home missions in the mid-19th century in the American Midwest.

In addition to the physical exhibit, the Institute is preparing translations of Wyneken's correspondence and writings to assist researchers in studying this important figure and to make him accessible to the English-speaking church of the 21st century. These resources will be added to the Institute's web site in coming weeks and months.

He Qi Exhibit Extended, Photos Online

2009-12-23T12:14:00.002-06:00

The exhibit of He Qi's art work at Concordia Historical Institute has been extended through the end of February 2010. If you have not seen it yet and are in the Saint Louis area, be sure to stop by. Autographed posters of many of the exhibited works are available, and some of the limited edition giclee prints themselves are available for purchase.

He Qi has posted photographs from his visit to CHI for the opening of the exhibit on his web site. Click here.

“Look toward the Heavens: The Art of He Qi”

2009-10-19T13:38:00.005-05:00

Concordia Historical Institute is pleased to host an exhibit of the works of Chinese Christian artist He Qi in our museum gallery on the campus of Concordia Seminary beginning October 23 and continuing through January 2010. Sponsored by Concordia Theology and the staff of the Concordia Journal, the exhibit features about 40 of the artist's works depicting biblical themes and stories in his unique and very colorful style. The exhibit is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:00, except for major holidays.

Hill of Peace Harvest Festival Service

2009-09-17T12:57:00.002-05:00

The annual Harvest Festival service at the Hill of Peace historic site at Friedenberg, Missouri, just south of Perryville will be held on Sunday, October 4, at 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Raymond Mirly, president of the Missouri District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, will be the preacher. Refreshments will be served after the service.

Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival

2009-09-17T12:53:00.002-05:00

The annual Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 10. Don't miss it!

Workshop on Congregational Records

2009-09-16T10:01:00.002-05:00

Are you in a quandry about what congregational records need to be kept and how they can best be preserved? Do you spend too much time looking for information in your files? Is a special anniversary of your congregation coming up? Are you looking for idea on how to celebrate it?

The program of the Institute’s 30th Biennial Conference on Archives and History for Saturday morning, October 3 (8:30 to 12:00 noon) provides a workshop on congregational archives and records that can help you get organized and plan for your special occasion. The program will cover:

“Congregational Records: What to Preserve and How”
“Telling the Story of the Congregation’s History”

Members of congregations who are responsible for maintaining the records or planning for anniversary celebrations are invited to attend the Saturday morning sessions of the conference for a fee of $15.00 per person. Attendees will receive copies of a series of service bulletins with information on organizing and preserving records and suggestions for celebrating anniversaries. The workshop will also allow time for plenty of questions and sharing of ideas among the participants.

To register for the congregational archives workshop only, please contact CHI at 314-505-7900 or chi@lutheranhistory.org. You may pay in advance by credit card or bring your payment to the workshop. But we do need to know that you are planning to attend.

For additional information on the entire Conference on Archives and History, go to our web site at http://chi.lcms.org/conf09.htm.

Bicentennial Lectures

2009-09-16T09:32:00.002-05:00

The 200th anniversaries of the births of three individuals who played a very significant role in the beginnings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod fall between 2008 and 2011. Wilhelm Loehe’s bicentennial was observed last year. Those of F. C. D. Wyneken (2010) and C. F. W. Walther (2011) are coming. All three were leading figures in the founding and shaping of the synod in the 19th century.

The program of Concordia Historical Institute’s 30th Biennial Conference on Archives and History includes lectures on the significance of these men for Lutheran history on Friday morning, October 2:

“Wilhelm Loehe and American Lutheranism” by Dr. John Hellwege (8:30–9:30)
“C. F. W. Walther’s Relevance for Today” by Prof. Thomas Egger (10:30–11:30)
“F. C. W. Wyneken’s Importance for the LCMS” by Dr. Gerhard Bode Jr. (11:30–12:30)

These lectures are free and open to the general public. They will be held in the Presidents Lounge (Pritzlaff Hall) on the Concordia Seminary campus.

For additional information, contact us at chi@lutheranhistory.org or call 314-505-7900.

CHI Museum Video

2009-09-11T09:16:00.002-05:00

Pastor Jim Likens of St. Louis has created a video tour of the new CHI Museum. Take a look and then come see it in person!

Institute Offers Reformation Display for Schools

2009-09-02T09:52:00.003-05:00

Concordia Historical Institute is offering a special Reformation display for use in Lutheran elementary schools this fall. The theme of the exhibit is "Hope and Perseverance," based on Romans 5:3b–4: "... because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

The purpose of this new resource is not only to help students learn more about Luther's life but also to encourage them in their relationship with God by fostering a better appreciation for how their hope in Jesus Christ as their Savior can help them persevere through the problems and challenges that they face throughout their lives.

Developed from materials that were gathered for the Reformation Room in the new CHI Museum, the exhibit follows a timeline of Martin Luther's life, highlighting his perseverance through many challenges and hardships and pointing to the hope that he experienced from the knowledge of God's grace and love in Jesus Christ. The timeline is enriched with activities and visual pieces, including vocabulary exercises, maps of Germany and other activities. The program offers five options ranging from a timeline of Luther's life with 17 segments through a full-blown exhibit on a display board with carrying case that the school may keep. Prices range from $50 to $400, depending on the option chosen. Click here for an order form.

Conference on Archives and History

2009-08-20T10:44:00.003-05:00

The 30th biennial Conference on Archives and History, sponsored by the Institute, will take place on October 1–3, 2009, on the campus of Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis. Special features of this year's conference include a series of lectures on Wilhelm Loehe, F. C. D. Wyneken and C. F. W. Walther. The 200th anniversaries of the birth of these leading figures in 19th-century Lutheranism occur between 2008 and 2011. Other highlights of the conference program include a tour of the new CHI Museum at the LCMS International Center and a workshop on congregational records and history on Saturday morning, October 3. Click here for more details and registration information.

Wyneken Bicentennial (2010)

2009-08-11T11:51:00.003-05:00

Bicentennial anniversaries of several figures important to the history of Lutheranism in America and particularly of the Missouri Synod occur around this time. 2008 saw the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Loehe. In 2010 we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken, and in 2011 the bicentennial of the birth of Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther.

Efforts are under way to translate and publish in some form the correspondence and writings of F. C. D. Wyneken by the time of his anniversary date (13 May 2010). Check out Friedrich's Facebook page if you are interested in helping with this project.

The finding aid for the F. C. D. Wyneken Collection at Concordia Historical Institute has now been posted to our web site as a PDF file. More detail will be added as time permits.

Concordia Historical Institute Museum Opens

2009-08-06T16:35:00.005-05:00

The Concordia Historical Institute Museum at the International Center of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod opened with a special dedication service on Sunday, July 26.

Read the online story in the LCMS's Reporter.

See photos from the dedication from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

CHI is way overdue in having a blog presence. The opening of a new museum is a good occasion to get one started.