John George Schmucker
Encyclopedia
John George Schmucker was a German-American Lutheran clergyman.
in 1785, and, after a residence of two years in Pennsylvania
, settled near Woodstock, Virginia
. In 1789 he began to study for the ministry. A year later he went to Philadelphia to continue his studies with Justus Henry Christian Helmuth and John Frederick Schmidt. He was licensed in 1793, and ordained in 1800. Beginning in 1794, he held several pastorates in and around Hagerstown, Maryland
. In 1809, he was called to York, Pennsylvania
, where he remained until failing health compelled him to retire in 1852. He then moved to Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, where several of his children resided, and there he remained during the rest of his life. In 1825 he received the degree of D.D.
from the University of Pennsylvania
.
Schmucker was one of the founders of the General Synod
of the Lutheran Church in the United States, in 1821, an active supporter of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
, Pennsylvania, and for many years president of its board of directors. He was also active in the establishment of Pennsylvania College, and for more than twenty-one years was one of its trustees. For more than thirty years, he was one of the leaders of the Lutheran Church in the United States, and actively engaged in all its important operations.
was a prominent theologian and educator in the Lutheran Church in the United States.
Biography
His parents emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1785, and, after a residence of two years in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, settled near Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
. In 1789 he began to study for the ministry. A year later he went to Philadelphia to continue his studies with Justus Henry Christian Helmuth and John Frederick Schmidt. He was licensed in 1793, and ordained in 1800. Beginning in 1794, he held several pastorates in and around Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
. In 1809, he was called to York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, where he remained until failing health compelled him to retire in 1852. He then moved to Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, where several of his children resided, and there he remained during the rest of his life. In 1825 he received the degree of D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Schmucker was one of the founders of the General Synod
General Synod (Lutheran)
The General Synod was an association of Lutheran church bodies in America....
of the Lutheran Church in the United States, in 1821, an active supporter of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg is America's oldest Lutheran seminary and a site of 1863 Battle of Gettysburg military engagements.-History:...
, Pennsylvania, and for many years president of its board of directors. He was also active in the establishment of Pennsylvania College, and for more than twenty-one years was one of its trustees. For more than thirty years, he was one of the leaders of the Lutheran Church in the United States, and actively engaged in all its important operations.
Writings
Schmucker was a frequent contributor to periodicals, and a poet of merit. Among his works are:- Vornehmste Weissagungen der Heiligen Schrift (The most prominent prophecies of holy scripture; Hagerstown, Maryland, 1807)
- Reformations-Geschichte zur Jubelfeier der Reformation (A history of the Reformation for its jubilee; York, Pennsylvania, 1817)
- Prophetic History of the Christian Religion, or Explanation of the Revelation of St. John (2 vols., Baltimore, 1817)
- Schwärmergeist unserer Tage entlarvt, zur Warnung erweckten Seelen (Enthusiastic spirits of our days unmasked to warn enlightened souls; York, Pa., 1827)
- Lieder-Anhang, zum Evang. Gesangbuch der General-Synode (Song appendix to the evangelical songbook of the General Synod; 1833)
- Wächterstimme an Zion's Kinder (Wake-up call to Zion's children; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1838)
Family
He married Elizabeth Gross. They had 12 children. She died in 1819, and he married Anna Hoffman in 1821. They had seven children. His son Samuel Simon SchmuckerSamuel Simon Schmucker
Samuel Simon Schmucker was a German-American Lutheran pastor and theologian. He was integral to the founding of the Lutheran church body known as the General Synod, as well as the oldest continuously-operating Lutheran seminary and college in North America .Later in his career, Schmucker became a...
was a prominent theologian and educator in the Lutheran Church in the United States.