Charles Porterfield Krauth

A giant of the faith and prominent American Lutheran scholar, Charles Porterfield Krauth (1823-1883) is perhaps best known for his masterful and essential volume, The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology As Represented in the Augsburg Confession and in the History and Literature of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served congregations in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Virginia and in the Virgin Islands, and later edited the Lutheran and Missionary and Evangelical Review journals. Rev. Krauth was instrumental in the establishment of the General Council and the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia, which he led. Dr. Krauth was professor of intellectual and moral philosophy and vice-provost at the University of Pennsylvania.

Infant Baptism And Infant Salvation In The Calvinistic System – A Review Of Dr. Hodge's Systematic Theology by Charles Krauth

“There are but two developed systems in the world that claim with any show of probability to be purely Biblical. These systems are the Lutheran and the Calvinistic. They possess a common basis in their recognition of the same rule of faith; their profession of the Old Catholic faith as set forth in the three General Creeds; in their acknowledgment of the doctrine of justification by faith and of its great associated doctrines; and they have vast interests, great stakes, mighty bonds of sympathy in common. No two bodies of Christians have more reason for thoroughly understanding each other than Calvinists and Lutherans have, and no two parts of Christendom are closer together in some vital respects than consistent Calvinism and consistent Lutheranism. It is well worth their while to compare views.” — Charles Porterfield Krauth.

13 Apr 2021

The Lutheran Church and the Lord's Day by Charles Krauth [Journal Article]

“In exhibiting the earliest and purest views of our church on the divine obligation of the Christian Sabbath, we propose to present first of all, the views of Luther and Melanchthon…”

16 Sep 2020

Michael Eyster: A Biographical Sketch

“The more we knew Mr. Eyster, the more we loved him.” Table of Contents Michael Eyster. Early Days and Coming To Faith Academic Studies Greencastle and the Loss of His Wife Health Issues Mr. Eyster’s Character Fearlessness Scholarship Minister Publication Information Michael Eyster. More than twenty years have passed away since we first met with the subject of our present sketch, and from the very beginning of our acquaintance, we entertained for him the warmest regard, which more intimate relations only strengthened, and the changes of time never diminished. Seldom have we encountered a stranger, to whom we so quickly became attached, and felt more free in giving our most unreserved confidence. The attachment was reciprocated, the confidence was not misplaced.

17 Nov 2019

Michael J. Steck: A Biographical Sketch

As a pastor he was faithful and zealous. His whole time seemed consecrated to the spiritual improvement of his people. During the thirty-two years of his ministry, it is supposed he preached upwards of eight thousand sermons, baptized five thousand persons, and received into the church, by the rite of confirmation, more than two thousand.

10 Nov 2019

Christopher Emanuel Schultze: A Biographical Sketch

Moved with a feeling of compassion, and imbued with the missionary spirit, they were willing to forsake the comforts of home, the endearments of society, to make any sacrifice, and to submit to any toil, that they might subserve the cause of Christ, and be instrumental in the salvation of souls. Their energetic devotion to the principles they professed, their faithful and self-denying efforts for the extension of the Redeemer’s kingdom, beautifully illustrate their Christian character, and furnish unequivocal proof of their qualifications for the work in which they longed to engage.

3 Nov 2019

John Helfrich Schaum: A Biographical Sketch

John Schaum was one of the first ministers, who immigrated to this country in our early history. His heart had been touched by the state of things, which existed among his countrymen in America. He burned with an ardent desire to do them good, to minister to their spiritual wants.

27 Oct 2019

Letter to a Skeptic by Charles Krauth [Journal Article]

“The tone of levity, in which you often indulge, leads me to fear, that you do not sufficiently realize your accountability for your doubts… Remember, it is the infirmity of an honest mind, to believe until compelled to disbelieve; that it is proof of a dishonest and depraved one, to disbelieve until forced to believe.” – Charles Krauth

24 Oct 2019

David Jacobs: A Biographical Sketch

Few men gave brighter promise of efficiency than the subject of the present sketch; few have there been, whose premature removal from scenes of usefulness, was the occasion of deeper and more earnest grief. Young and ardent, endowed by nature with more than ordinary gifts, with a mind highly disciplined, and richly stored with knowledge, and a heart wholly consecrated to God, occupying an important position in the church, and discharging its duties with distinguished success, much was expected from his future career. These fond expectations, in the providence of God, were frustrated, the sanguine hopes of the church were disappointed! In the pride and vigor of early manhood, in the midst of active usefulness, when the church was crying, “the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few,” he was stricken down and called away from earth to heaven!

20 Oct 2019

Ernest Lewis Hazelius: A Biographical Sketch

“Twenty-three years have passed since I first met and beheld the lively, intelligent and pleasant countenance of this well beloved friend. Gettysburg was made the more dear to me on his account. As a poor student, I often found comfort in his presence, because he knew how to sympathize with me. More than once was my heart made glad, when he met me with a fatherly smile, asking me, ‘how are you getting along, young friend? Have you means wherewith to live?’ If I answered,‘No!’ he said, ‘I’ll see to it.’ The impressions I received from his conversation and godly walk, have ever been of much use to me, and will never be forgotten.”

13 Oct 2019

John Christopher Hartwig: A Biographical Sketch

“He was an original man, and said and did things differently from other persons… A very good man, he suffered persecution for his zeal for the truth.” Table of Contents John Christopher Hartwig (1716-1796) Language Conflicts in New York City Attacked for His Orthodoxy at Rhinebeck, New York Hiatus in Pennsylvania Return to New York A Very Good and Most Eccentric Man Publication Information John Christopher Hartwig (1716-1796) Of the early history of this individual we have no information. He came to this country when quite a young man, in the capacity of Chaplain to a German regiment in the service of England, during the first French war, as it is called. He was intimate with our Lutheran ministers in Pennsylvania, and sympathized with them in their difficulties. He aided them in their efforts to build up the Lutheran church in this country, and seemed interested in the extension of Christ’s kingdom. He was a member of the first Lutheran Synod held in this country, in 1748, and preached the sermon on the occasion of Mr. Kurtz’s ordination, from the words, “His blood will I require at thy hands.”

6 Oct 2019