The Notebook of a Colonial Clergyman

by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg

Other authorsTheodore G. Tappert (Editor), John W. Doberstein (Editor)
Hardcover, 1959

Status

Available

Call number

922 M

Publication

Fortress (1959), 250 pages

Description

Commemorative Edition of The Notebook of a Colonial Clergyman marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and celebrating the pioneer missionary spirit and work of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg.Henry Melchior Muhlenberg arrived in the American colonies in 1742—a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor—to take up missionary work among the German immigrants who were coming to the New World in search of a new life. His ministry spanned forty-five tumultuous years—years of political revolution, years that saw both the birth of a new nation and the establishment of the Lutheran Church on American soil. With the inception of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in 1748, the Lutheran tradition took on an organizational structure that positioned the fledgling church to grow in the American context. The birth of the new nation and the growth of the new church are uniquely captured in this collection of Muhlenberg's journal entries.These excerpts from Muhlenberg's notebooks take you back to the colonial period with fascinating anecdotes and penetrating insights into the political, religious, and cultural realities of the time. Muhlenberg the man and Muhlenberg the missionary of the gospel of Christ come alive for later generations in these revealing journal entries.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member MrsLee
These are excerpts from the extensive journals of a Lutheran pastor in the 1700s. It was interesting to read about his positions on religion, theology and politics at that time and to see the differences in today's society. Kind of funny to read how concerned he was with the decaying morality in
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this new land. Also, he was interested in Native healing herbs and other treatments for ailments, some of which horrified me! At times it was dull when speaking of the little conflicts or day to day problems within the church, but I didn't dare skim because other snippets which were interesting would be suddenly inserted. Henry M. Muhlenberg may have been intimidating, but I sensed an underlying humor to life, and a deep and abiding faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
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