Samuel Laird (1835-1913) “…belonged to a group of stalwart preachers and leaders whose influence could not be confined to a congregation or a city or a synod. Among them were numbered such men as Krauth, Krotel, Mann, Spaeth, the Schaeffers, Schmucker, Seiss, Greenwald, Passavant. They rose into prominence at a time when Lutheranism in its English form was passing through a crisis because it had in large measure forgotten the rock whence it was hewn and the pit whence it was digged.”

“Though his modesty forbade him to assume the role of leader in the controversy which preceded and followed the organization of the General Council in 1867, he was a staunch defender of the principles for which it stood. He was wont to speak with much admiration of the men who bore the brunt of the battle, and more than once characterized them with the brief sentence, “There were giants in those days,” not once thinking that he was one among them. – George Sandt

Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed.

Dr. Laird was secretary of the General Council, president of the Pittsburgh Synod, President of the Pennsylvania Ministerium and was influential in the operations of the General Council’s English Home Mission Board. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College, and on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. For many years he served as Trustee of the German Hospital, and a Director of the Mary J. Drexel Home and Motherhouse of Deaconesses, in Philadelphia. Rev. Laird pastored faithfully for thirty-five years at St. Mark’s Church, Philadelphia.

Contents of the Book (199 pages)

• Introduction
• 1 The Love of God
• 2 The Attraction at Bethlehem
• 3 Jesus A Man Among Men
• 4 Men Offended at Christ
• 5 Palm Sunday
• 6 Christ Crucified
• 7 The Resurrection of Christ
• 8 The Ascension of Christ
• 9 The Glorious Church
• 10 The Coming of Christ
• 11 Christ’s Coming and Preparation For It
• 12 Turning From Idols and Waiting For Christ
• 13 Life a Gleaning
• 14 Advent
• 15 The Kingdom Among Men
• 16 Quieting Thoughts About Life
• 17 Coming to Christ
• 18 The Fullness of Salvation
• 19 The Resurrection of the Just
• 20 A Great Commission

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2018-05-01
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0