by companies. "And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties."
These 400,000 souls may first of all be grouped in families. Let us say
90,000 families. These are scattered all over the greater city, most of
them in close proximity to some one of our 150 churches. To each church
may be given an average assignment of 600 families.
The average number of communicants in each of our churches is nearly
400. Some churches have less, others more. To an average company of 400
communicants is committed the task of evangelizing 600 families, not
aliens or strangers, but members of our own household of faith, people
who in many eases will heartily welcome the invitation. Some of these
400 potential evangelists will beg to be excused. Let us make a
selective draft of 300 to do the work. The task required of each member
of this army is to visit two families.
Whatever else may be said of such a computation it certainly does not
present an insuperable task. It can be done in one year, in one month,
in one week, in one day.
Without presuming to insist upon a particular method of solving this
problem, is it not incumbent upon the Lutheran churches of New York to
face it with the determination to accomplish an extraordinary work if
need be in an extraordinary manner? "The kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence and the violent take it by force."
Seventy years ago a great company of Christian men met in the old Luther
town of Wittenberg to consider the needs of the Fatherland. It was the
year of the Revolution. It was a time of political confusion and of
desperate spiritual need. It was then that Wichern, in an address of
impassioned eloquence, pointed the way toward the mobilization of all
Christians in a campaign of spiritual service.
He was directed to prepare the program. It appeared in 1849 under the
title "Die Innere Mission."
It was a clarion call to personal service and it met with an immediate
and remarkable response. The movement marked an epoch in the history of
the church.
Because the Inner Mission lends itself in a peculiar way to works of
charity it is often regarded as synonymous with the care of the helpless
and afflicted. In this use of the term we lose sight of the larger
meaning and scope of the work which has made it one of the great
religious forces of the nineteenth century. It should therefore be more
accurately described as that movement of the nineteenth century which,
recognizing the alienation of multitudes within the church from the
Christian faith and life appeals [sic] to all disciples of Christ by
all means to carry the Gospel to men of all classes who have strayed
away and to gather them into the communion and confession of the church.
It is a mission within the church and hence bears the name of Inner
Mission.
Such a call comes to us at a time when we are confronted with a problem
which almost staggers the imagination and when we are offered an
opportunity such as no other Protestant church enjoys.
The Problem of Statistics
The word statistics, according to the Century Dictionary, refers not
merely to a collection of numbers, but it comprehends also "all those
topics of inquiry which interest the statesman." The dignity thus given
to the subject is enhanced by a secondary definition which calls it "the
science of human society, so far as deduced from enumerations."
No branch of human activity can be studied in our day without the use of
statistics. Statesmen and sociologists make a careful study of figures
before they attempt to formulate laws or policies.
For church statistics we are chiefly dependent upon the tables of the
Synodical Minutes. The original source of our information is the
pastor's report of his particular congregation. Unfortunately the value
of these tables is greatly impaired by the absence of a common standard
of membership.
The New York Ministerium has no column for "communicant" members. There
is a column for "contributing" members, but these do not necessarily
mean communicants. Among the records of Ministerial Acts, such as
marriages and funerals, there is also a column for "Kommuniziert." But
even if the Holy Communion were to be classed among Ministerial Acts, it
sometimes happens that others besides members partake of the communion.
The term "Kommuniziert" therefore does not convey definite information
on the subject of communicant membership. For example, a congregation
with 160 "contributing members" reports 770 "Kommuniziert." It is hardly
conceivable that out of 770 communicant members only 160 are
contributing members and that 610 communicants are non-contributors.
Otherwise there would seem to be room for improvement in another
direction besides statistics.
The New York Ministerium also has no column for "souls," that is, for
all baptized persons, including children, connected with the
congregation. There are also many blanks, and many figures that look
like "round numbers." For thirty years I have tried in vain to
comprehend its statistics. _Hinc illae lacrymae_.
The Missouri Synod has three membership rubrics: souls, communicant
members, voting members. When however, a congregation of 900
communicants reports only 80 voting members, one wonders whether some of
the 820 non-voters ought not be admitted to the right of suffrage. The
congregational system favors democracy. It should be remembered also
that the laws of the State define the right to vote at a church
election.
The Synod of New York has three membership rubrics: Communicants,
Confirmed, Baptized. The first includes all members who actually commune
within a year. The second adds to the communicants all others who are
entitled to commune even if they neglect the privilege. The third adds
to the preceding class baptized children and all other baptized persons
in any way related to the congregation, provided they have not been
formally excommunicated.
The Swedish Augustana Synod has three rubrics: Communicants, Children,
Total. "Communicants" may or may not be enrolled members of the
congregation. This classification therefore is neither comprehensive nor
exhaustive and may account in part, for the discrepancy between the
number of Lutheran Swedes in New York and the number enrolled in the
Swedish Lutheran Churches.
None of the synodical reports take note of "families." Pastors seldom
speak of their membership in terms of families. In the book of Jeremiah
(31, 1) we are told: "At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the
God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." The
captions of the five parts of Luther's Small Catechism proceed upon the
assumption of the family as a unit. It is true we are living in an age
of disrupted families, but it would seem that some recognition of the
family should be made in the statistical tables of the Christian Church,
especially when in the families with which we have to do, most of the
individuals are baptized members of the church and have not been
formally excommunicated. Until, therefore, we agree upon a common
standard, our figures will be the despair of the statisticians. A
reformation must come. Without it, we shall not be able to formulate
needed policies of church extension.
In view of the complicated character of our membership it will not be an
easy task to reconstruct our statistical methods. But it is evident that
our missionary and evangelistic work will be greatly furthered when we
have exact information in regard to our parochial material. Our figures
should include every soul, man, woman and child, in any way related to
our congregations, classified in such a way as to show clearly in what
relation they stand to the church. A church that does not count its
members as carefully as a bank counts its dollars is in danger of
bankruptcy.
Church bookkeeping ought to be taught in the Theological Seminary. But
if the pastor himself is not a good bookkeeper, almost every
congregation has young men or young women who are experts in this art,
who could render good service to the church by keeping its membership
rolls.
Complete records are especially necessary in our great city with its
constant removals and changes of population. The individual is like the
proverbial needle in the haystack, unless we adopt a method of
accounting not only for each family but for each individual down to the
latest-born child.*
*In order that I may not be as one that beateth the air, I venture
to suggest a method of laying the foundation of records that has been
helpful in my own work. I send to each family a "Family Register" blank
with spaces for the name, birthday and place of birth of each member of
the family. The information thus obtained is transferred to a card
catalogue in which the additional relation of each individual to the
church and its work is noted. In this way, or by means of a loose-leaf
record book, available and up-to-date information can easily be kept.
When important records, such as synodical minutes, are printed, several
copies at least should be printed on durable paper and deposited in
public libraries where they may be consulted by the historian. Ordinary
paper is perishable. Within a few years it will crumble to dust. The
records might as well be written on sand so far as their value for
future historians is concerned.
Congregational histories, pamphlets or bound volumes, jubilee volumes
and similar contributions to local church history should be sent to the
publlic libraries of the city and of the denominational schools.
In search of recent information the author consulted the card index of
the New York Public Library. He found only nine cards relating to
Lutheran churches. And yet we wonder why our church is not better known
in this city.
EPILOGUE
One seldom finds an epilogue in a book nowadays. Its purpose in the
drama was to explain to the audience the meaning of the play. It does
not speak well for a writer if the people miss the point of his essay.
But it is just like a preacher to say something "in conclusion" to
secure, if possible, the hesitating assent of some hearer.
We have reached the 20th century. We are looking back upon 270 years of
history on Manhattun Island. What we have done and what we have left
undone is recorded in the stereotyped pages of an unchanging past. Our
successes and our failures are the chapters from which we may learn
lessons for the future. The gates of that future are open to us now.
Where Arensius and Falckner ministered to a feeble flock under
inconceivable difficulties, there is built the greatest, certainly the
largest, city of the world. From all the races and tongues of the earth
men are gathering here to solve the problems of their lives. From
Lutheran lands fifty myriads have already come and are living within our
walls. Consciously or otherwise they appeal to us, their brethren in the
faith, for that religious fellowship for which every man sometimes
longs. If we do not respond, who shall interpret for them the religious
life and questions of the new world?
From these Lutheran lands, from Scandinavia to the Balkan peninsula,
from the Rhine to the Ural Mountains, other myriads will come in the
long years that will follow the war. New history is sure to be written
for Europe and America. What shall be our contribution to its unwritten
pages?
In solving the problems that confront us we shall at the same time help
to solve the problems of our city and of our country. The simple faith
and the catholic principles of our church should secure far us a wide
field of useful and effective service.
APPENDIX
Abbreviations
Synods - Min., Ministerium of New York; Mo., Missouri; N. Y., New York;
N. E., New York and New England; Aug., Swedish Augustana; Nor.,
Norwegian; Fin., National Church of Finland; Pa., Pennsylvania; O.,Ohio;
D., Danish; Suo., Suomi (Finnish); U.D., United Danish; Ap., Apostolic
(Finnish); NN., National Church of Norway.
Languages - G., German; E., English; S., Swedish; N., Norwegian; F.,
Finnish; D., Danish; Sl., Slovak, Bohemian and Magyar; Let., Lettish;
Est., Esthonian; Pol., Polish; Y,, Yiddish; It., Italian; Lith.,
Lithuanian.
Heads of Statistical Columns - Lang., Language; Date, Date of
Organization; Syn., Synodical connection of congregation or pastor;
Comm., Number of communicants; Souls, Number of baptized persons related
to the congregation; Syn., Synodical connection of pastor or
congregation; P. S., Pupils in Parochial School; S. S., Pupils in Sunday
School; W. S., Pupils receiving instruction in religion on weekdays [tr.
note: in the table, this column is headed "R.H."]; Prop., Net value of
real estate in terms of a thousand dollars.
Signs - * Missions; ( ) Estimated number; -- No report or nothing to
report.
The Lutheran Churches of New York
Manhattan
Name and Location Pastor Lang. Org. Syn. Comm. Souls P.S. S.S. R.H. Prop.
1. St. Matthew, 421 W. 145th....... 0. Sieker ........ G. E. 1669 Mo. 500 1,122 126 365 40 (100)
2. St. James, 904 Madison Av....... J. B. Remensnyder. E. 1827 N. Y. 205 (331) ... 80 12 380
3. St. Paul, 313 W. 22nd........... L. Koenig......... G. 1841 Min. 300 (375) ... 75 40 140
4. Trinity, 139 Av. B.............. O. Graesser....... G. 1843 Mo. 525 674 33 41 34 75
5. St. Mark, 327 Sixth St.......... G. C. F. Haas..... G. 1847 Min. 200 (500) ... 55 55 70
6. St. Luke, 233 W. 42nd........... W. Koepchen....... G. E. 1850 Mo. 1,012 (2,000) ... 350 172 340
7. St. John, 81 Christopher........ F. E. Oberlander.. G. E. 1855 N. Y. 350 1,000 ... 333 39 85
8. St. Peter, 54th at Lex. Av...... A. B. Moldenke.... G. E. 1862 Min. 911 3,000 92 556 47 250
9. Immanuel, 88th at Lex. Av....... W. F. Schoenfeld.. G. E. 1863 Mo. 1,500 6,000 85 500 6l 178
10. St. John, 219 E. 119th.......... H. C. Steup....... G. E. 1864 Mo. 750 1,500 115 254 41 40
11. St. Paul, 147 W. 123rd.......... F. H. Bosch....... G. E. 1864 Min. 1,000 1,500 75 500 130 120
12. Gustavus Adolphus, 151 E. 22nd.. M. Stolpe......... S. E. 1865 Aug. 1,015 2,000 ... 250 37 172
13. Holy Trinity, 1 W. 65th......... C. J. Smith....... E. 1868 N. E. 450 (800) ... 150 12 275
14. Christ, 400 E. 19th............. G. U. Wenner...... G. E. 1868 N. Y. 250 817 ... 152 100 65
15. Epiphany, 72 E. 128th........... M. L. Canup....... E. 1880 N. E. 400 700 ... 190 24 39
16. Grace, 123 W. 71st.............. J. A. Weyl........ G. E. 1886 Min. 803 1,000 ... 260 54 80
17. Trinity, 164 W. 100th........... E. Brennecke...... G. E. 1888 Min. 785 2,500 ... 422 112 85
18. Zion, 341 E. 84th............... W. Popcke......... G. E. 1892 N. Y. 1,250 4,807 ... 1,120 124 112
19. Harlem, 32 W. 126th............. A. F. Borgendahl.. S. E. 1894 Aug. 233 336 ... 125 21 10
20. Washington Heights, W. 153rd.... C. B. Rabbow...... G. E. 1895 Min. 700 1,100 55 250 30 75
21. Redeemer, 422 W. 44th........... F. C. G. Schumm... E. 1895 Mo. 260 400 ... 120 22 (20)
22. Our Saviour, 237 E. 123rd....... J. C. Gram........ N. E. 1896 Nor. 210 300 ... 62 5 35
23. Atonement, Edgecombe at 140th... F. H. Knubel...... E. 1896 N. Y. 410 3,500 ... 544 250 125
24. Advent, Broadway at 93rd........ A. Steimle........ E. 1897 N. E. 503 962 88 163 22 218
25. Our Saviour, Audubon at 179th... A. S. Hardy....... E. 1898 N. Y. 106 554 ... 194 24 26
26. Finnish, 72 E.128th............. K. Maekinen....... F. 1903 Fin. 450 2,000 ... 40 25 ...
27. Holy Trinity, 334 E. 20th....... L. A. Engler...... Sl. 1904 - 700 1,000 ... ... 40 45
28. Esthonian, 217 E. 119th......... C. Klemmer........ Est. 1904 Mo. 50 200 ... ... ... ...
29. Polish, 233 W. 42nd............. S. Nicolaiski..... Pol. 1907 Mo. 100 300 ... ... ... ...
30. Messiah, 10th Av. at 207th...... F. W. Hassenflug.. E. G. 1916 Mo. ... 120 ... 65 7 ...
31. Lettish,* 327 Sixth St.......... P. E. Steik....... Let. .... Pa. ... ... ... ... ... ...
32. Italian,* ...................... A. Bongarzone..... It. .... Mo. 10 27 ... 9 ... ...
33. Yiddish,* 250 E. 101st.......... N. Friedmann...... Y. .... Mo. ... ... ... ... ... ...
34. Deaf,* 233 W. 42nd.............. A. Boll........... E. G. .... Mo. 40 60 ... 20 ... ...
Totals..... 15,978 41,485 669 7,245 1,580 3,160
Bronx
Name and Location Pastor Lang. Org. Syn. Comm. Souls P.S. S.S. R.H. Prop.
1. St. John, 1343 Fulton Av........ T. O. Posselt. ... G. E. 1860 Min. 758 1,800 50 523 69 70
2. St. Matthew, 376 E. 156th....... W. T. Junge....... G. 1862 Min. (200) (500) 46 730 67 37
3. St. Paul, 796 E. 156th.......... G. H. Tappert..... G. E. 1882 Min. 550 2,100 ... 503 103 45
4. St. Peter, 439 E. 140th......... 0. C. Mees........ E. G. 1893 0. 625 1,100 ... 412 64 75
5. St. Stephen, 1001 Union Av...... P. Roesener....... G. 1893 Mo. 280 670 70 200 (20) 42
6. St. Peter, 739 E. 219th......... F. Noeldeke....... G. 1894 Min. 200 400 ... 165 35 10
7. Immanuel, 1410 Vyse Av.......... I. Tharaldsen..... N. 1895 Nor. 50 100 ... 50 (5) 6
8. Bethany, 582 Teasdale Pl........ J. Gruver......... E. 1896 N. Y. 284 612 ... 240 (24) 14
9. St. Luke, 1724 Adams............ W. Rohde.......... G. E. 1898 Min. 346 560 ... 140 32 5
10. St. Paul, LaFontaine at 178th... K. Kretzmann...... E. G. 1898 Mo. 375 811 ... 312 68 20
11. Holy Trinity, 881 E. 167th...... F. Lindemann...... E. 1899 Mo. 197 400 ... 143 (15) 17
12. Emmanuel, Brown Pl. at 137th.... P. M. Young....... E. 1901 N. Y. 205 400 ... 301 27 26
13. Trinity, 1179 Hoe Av............ A. C. Kildegaard.. D. 1901 Dan. 125 250 ... 35 10 15
14. Grace, 239 E. 199th............. A. Koerber........ E. 1904 Mo. 320 550 ... 280 22 25
15. Heiland, 187th & Valentine Av... H. von Hollen..... G. 1905 - 160 250 ... 60 30 ...
16. Concordia, Oak Terrace.......... H. Pottberg....... G. E. 1906 Mo. 260 500 ... 230 45 10
17. Messiah, Brook Av. at 144th..... J. Johnson........ S. 1906 Aug. 155 230 ... 150 (15) 17
18. St. Thomas, Topping at 175th.... A. J. Traver...... E. 1908 N. Y. 200 350 8 250 25 15
19. Holy Comforter, 1060 Woodycrest. J. H. Dudde....... E. 1912 N. Y. 120 500 ... 175 15 5
20. St. Mark, Martha at 242nd....... O. H. Trinklein .. E. 1913 Mo. 104 300 ... 125 5 15
21. St. John, Oak Terrace........... J. Gullans........ S. E. 1913 Aug. 170 251 ... 83 6 2
22. Trinity, 1519 Castle Hill Av.... Paul G. Sander.... E. G. 1913 Mo. 70 225 ... 108 10 3
23. Fordham, 2430 Walton Av......... F. H. Meyer....... E. G. 1915 0. 178 382 ... 145 20 10
Totals..... 5,932 13,241 174 5,360 732 484
Brooklyn
Name and Location Pastor Lang. Org. Syn. Comm. Souls P.S. S.S. R.H. Prop.