Martin Stephan
Encyclopedia
Martin Stephan was pastor
of St. John Lutheran Church in Dresden
, Germany
during the early 19th century. He organized the Saxon
emigration
to the United States
in the early 19th century.
, Moravia
, presently the Czech Republic
, of Austrian, German, and Czech parents. Martin attended St. Elizabeth's Gymnasium in Breslau, sponsored by local pietist and pastor Johannes Ephraim Scheibel, a professor at the University of Breslau. He attended the University of Halle and the University of Leipzig
from 1804-1809.
Stephan became pastor in Haber
, Bohemia in 1809. In 1810, Martin became the pastor of St. John's in Dresden, a specially chartered church that had its origins in those who had fled from Moravia and Bohemia in 1650 and were befriended by Count Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf
, a pietistic bishop and missionary. He preached in Czech and German. For the next 30 years Martin was known for his teaching, preaching, and compassionate counseling. He led the protest of oppressive practices by the Saxon consistory in the state-governed Lutheran Church. He came under attack by the rationalist pastors for his confessional and orthodox stand. Pastor Stephan continued to uphold biblical and sacramental practices in his church.
In 1824, Martin Stephan began to explore America as a place to practice the faith without harassment. Martin and ten other men formed a "Gesellschaft" or Society for emigration
from Dresden to St. Louis, Missouri
. He helped organize 700 people and five ships for passage to America in November 1838. When the ships landed at the Port of New Orleans, Martin Stephan was elected Bishop
of this small band of Lutherans according to the travel regulations of the Emigration Society. Forster indicates that Stephan was made Bishop initially only by the passengers and clergy on board the Olbers. This occurred around the time this ship entered the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Forster states, "On January 14, 1839...they made Stephan their bishop and endowed him with a liberal grant of power to carry out the functions of his office." Additionally, only four of the five immigrant ships arrived safely in New Orleans (the Amalia never arrived) and the ships arrived at varying times over the course of a couple of weeks.
After two months, the Saxon immigrants purchased land in Perry County, Missouri
at the confluence of the Brazos and Mississippi Rivers. Here they built homes, towns, schools, and churches. The organization of the community was disrupted when Martin was accused of sexual misconduct. Pastors G. H. Loeber and C. F. W. Walther
told lay leaders of this confession. Walther made two trips to Perry County to prepare the Bishop’s deposition.
Stephan soon became embroiled in allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct
, and was ejected from the settlement, leaving C. F. W. Walther as the senior clergyman. On May 30, 1839, Bishop Martin Stephan was deposed and excommunicated from the community on the grounds of sexual misconduct and embezzlement
. He was put across the river to Kaskaskia, Illinois
. Though the women who initially accused Stephan of sexual misconduct later recanted, he was never restored to his position. Following his removal from the colony, he served another congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, at Horse Prairie near Red Bud, Illinois
.
Stephan continued to hold worship in the county court house in Kaskaskia every two weeks. He taught German and guest preached in other Protestant churches until called as a pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Horse Prairie, a rural church a few miles east of Red Bud, Illinois. Martin was pastor there for four months until his death on February 21, 1846. According to the custom Pastor Stephan's coffin was carried around the church three times before he was interred in Trinity's cemetery. A fence was placed around the grave and a wooden 10 foot cross was erected. A memorial marker was erected by the congregation in 1988.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. John Lutheran Church in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the early 19th century. He organized the Saxon
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 19th century.
Biography
Martin Stephan was born August 13, 1777 in StrambergŠtramberk
Štramberk is a small town in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic, next to Kopřivnice. It lies on the slope of a forested lime hill, dominated by the Trúba castle tower...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, presently the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, of Austrian, German, and Czech parents. Martin attended St. Elizabeth's Gymnasium in Breslau, sponsored by local pietist and pastor Johannes Ephraim Scheibel, a professor at the University of Breslau. He attended the University of Halle and the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
from 1804-1809.
Stephan became pastor in Haber
Úštek
Úštěk is a small town in the Ústí nad Labem Region, Czech Republic. It is located 16 km northeast of Litoměřice and has a population of 2,719 . The town is renowned for its medieval centre where houses with Gothic gables have been preserved....
, Bohemia in 1809. In 1810, Martin became the pastor of St. John's in Dresden, a specially chartered church that had its origins in those who had fled from Moravia and Bohemia in 1650 and were befriended by Count Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf
Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf
Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, Imperial Count of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, , German religious and social reformer and bishop of the Moravian Church, was born at Dresden....
, a pietistic bishop and missionary. He preached in Czech and German. For the next 30 years Martin was known for his teaching, preaching, and compassionate counseling. He led the protest of oppressive practices by the Saxon consistory in the state-governed Lutheran Church. He came under attack by the rationalist pastors for his confessional and orthodox stand. Pastor Stephan continued to uphold biblical and sacramental practices in his church.
In 1824, Martin Stephan began to explore America as a place to practice the faith without harassment. Martin and ten other men formed a "Gesellschaft" or Society for emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
from Dresden to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He helped organize 700 people and five ships for passage to America in November 1838. When the ships landed at the Port of New Orleans, Martin Stephan was elected Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of this small band of Lutherans according to the travel regulations of the Emigration Society. Forster indicates that Stephan was made Bishop initially only by the passengers and clergy on board the Olbers. This occurred around the time this ship entered the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Forster states, "On January 14, 1839...they made Stephan their bishop and endowed him with a liberal grant of power to carry out the functions of his office." Additionally, only four of the five immigrant ships arrived safely in New Orleans (the Amalia never arrived) and the ships arrived at varying times over the course of a couple of weeks.
After two months, the Saxon immigrants purchased land in Perry County, Missouri
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
at the confluence of the Brazos and Mississippi Rivers. Here they built homes, towns, schools, and churches. The organization of the community was disrupted when Martin was accused of sexual misconduct. Pastors G. H. Loeber and C. F. W. Walther
C. F. W. Walther
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was the first President of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and its most influential theologian...
told lay leaders of this confession. Walther made two trips to Perry County to prepare the Bishop’s deposition.
Stephan soon became embroiled in allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
, and was ejected from the settlement, leaving C. F. W. Walther as the senior clergyman. On May 30, 1839, Bishop Martin Stephan was deposed and excommunicated from the community on the grounds of sexual misconduct and embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
. He was put across the river to Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
. Though the women who initially accused Stephan of sexual misconduct later recanted, he was never restored to his position. Following his removal from the colony, he served another congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, at Horse Prairie near Red Bud, Illinois
Red Bud, Illinois
Red Bud is a city in Randolph County, Illinois. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census.It is the home of the of Southwestern Illinois College.-Geography:Red Bud is located at ....
.
Stephan continued to hold worship in the county court house in Kaskaskia every two weeks. He taught German and guest preached in other Protestant churches until called as a pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Horse Prairie, a rural church a few miles east of Red Bud, Illinois. Martin was pastor there for four months until his death on February 21, 1846. According to the custom Pastor Stephan's coffin was carried around the church three times before he was interred in Trinity's cemetery. A fence was placed around the grave and a wooden 10 foot cross was erected. A memorial marker was erected by the congregation in 1988.
External links
- Wolf, Edmund Jacob. The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth. New York: J.A. Hill. 1889.
- Graebner, August Lawrence. Half a Century of Sound Lutherianism in America: A Brief Sketch of the History of the Missouri Synod. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1893.
- Kriegbaum-Hanks, Susan: A Brief History of the Old Lutheran Immigrants and the Buffalo Synod: 1838 - 1867