First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church

Chronicle of the First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church, U.A.C. in Buffalo, N.Y ----- Compiled from leading sources and in celebration of its Fiftieth Anniversary by P.Th. Bürger ----- Published by the Congregation through a Special Committee ----- Psalm 126 ----- Buffalo, N.Y. Printed by Burow & Miller, 209 Washington Street. 1889

List of Sources History of the Lutheran Church in Breslau from Nov. 1830 - 1832, by Dr. J.G. Scheibel, Nuremberg, 1832. Reports of the New Conditions of the Lutheran Church in Silesia from April 1832 to June 1833 et. al., by Dr. J.G. Scheibel, Nuremberg, 1833. The Schismatic Work of the Union or the New Prussian Agenda and Union, et. al., by an Evangelical-Lutheran Clergyman of Silesia, Nuremberg, 1833. The Final Destiny of the Lutheran Parishes in Silesia, by Dr. J.G. Scheibel, Nuremberg, 1834. Response to the Public Circular of a Person in Hiding, et. al., by Dr. J.G. Scheibel, Nuremberg, 1834. The Latest Ecclesiastical Events in Silesia, et. al. Published by M.A. Blüher, Nuremberg, 1835. The Newest Adversaries of the Lutheran Church in Prussia, by C. Ehrenstroem and E. Kellner, Leipzig, 1838. Archive for Historical Development and the Newest History of the Lutheran Church. Published by Dr. J.G. Scheibel, Nuremberg, 1841. Correspondance to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by E.M. Bürger, Leipzig, 1846. Letters in Self-Defense. First through Third in the Series, 1857 - 58, by Fr. Lochner, Pastor. The History of the Missouri Synod, by Pastor Chr. Hochstetter. Letters of the Synod from the Lutheran Church which emigrated from Prussia. Documents and Proceedings of the Congregation. Oral Reports of Samuel Bindig and Marie Grässer, nee Sieffert.

The Emigration from Silesia and the Establishment of the First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Buffalo, N.Y. A Union (1) had developed in our German fatherland,which ran contrary to truth, and which oppressed the beliefs of true Lutherans in Silesia. These believers sought out a new land where they would not be persecuted for following their Evangelical-Lutheran creed. They sought out a land where they did not have to hold their holy services hidden in a forest, or in a secret corner, or in a cellar but could enjoy full religious freedom without fearing the pursuit of the police(2). The United States of North America and the distant shores of Australia seemed a beacon of hope to all those oppressed because of their Lutheran profession during the fourth decade of this century. The persecuted Silesian Lutherans also noticed this beacon; they beheld it as a sign from their God and decided to follow it (3). On September 6, 1838 the Silesian Lutherans, under the auspices of those who had founded their congregation, issued the following mandate: "In the name of the Holy Trinity the Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation of the Trebnitz, Oelsner and Wartenberg District in Silesia commissions and empowers two of our brothers in faith, master tailor Carl Benjamin Schulthes of Festenberg and garden designer Carl Gottlieb Faude of Breslau. We sent these brothers in faith with our beloved pastor, Mr. Lebrecht Friedrich Ehregott Krause (4) to North American, in order

that they may come before the esteemed government of the United States of North America and in our name negotiate with them financial assistance for costs of transportation so that we may settle in the United States; the necessary land on which to settle on an installment plan with fixed terms; permission to live free and unhindered to profess our faith as has been given to us in the symbolic books of our Evangelical-Lutheran Church; our beliefs and the dictates of our consciences alone are the reason why we left our fatherland; should this be granted by the grace of the Almighty Trinity we shall prove ourselves loyal and obedient subjects of the state. We trust in God that in His mercy He will open the heart of the worthy government officials and in His grace they will do what needs to be done. We do not ask this out of dire earthly need but because of harsh religious oppression (5). We, the undersigned, impart to our appointed brothers this power of attorney, that everything, which they decide, may be interpreted as having been decided by us all. May Almighty God bless this proposal, which we have undertaken in His name, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen." Rendered in Zantkau near Breslau in Silesia on the 6th of September, 1838. Thus commissioned by the Evangelical-Lutheran congregation. The representatives of said congregation: Gottlieb Hartert, Christ. Bierosch, George Garbisch, Christ. Rolle, Wilhelm Trautwein, Daniel Keller, Christ. Rother." (6). The above power of attorney traveled with those who had been empowered in the company of Pastor Krause in November 1838 from Silesia to Hamburg where they had intended to undertake their trip to North America,

and go on to Buffalo, New York in order to make arrangements for the start of the Evangelical-Lutheran emigration of the Trebnitz, Oelsner and Wartenberg congregation in Silesia. This was undertaken as a result of the Prussian Union (7), which under the regime of King Friedrich Wilhelm III escalated its persecution of and religious tyranny against the Evanglical-Lutherans, who thus decided to emigrate to America under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Krause in order to gain the freedom of their Lutheran rituals. They became one family and left Breslau. The United States of North America was the destination of these Silesian Lutherans and the power of attorney had specific instructions from the emigration committee. After arriving in Hamburg Pastor Krause met in London with Mr. Angus, the President of the Australian Company, in order to negotiate the emigration of his congregation to Australia. When he was informed about finance terms Pastor Krause wrote Pastor Stephan, who was preparing the Saxon Lutherans for the emigration from Saxony. Messrs. Faude and Schulthes, the men with the power of attorney, had nothing further to do with the transactions. Pastor Krause wrote from Hamburg to his congregation (8), however the congregation stood by its decision to make America its destination. Mr. Schulthes was told to remain in Hamburg to coordinate the correspondence between Pastor Krause and Mr. Faude, who should travel on, and when the time came Mr. Schulthes was to arrange ship passage for the journey (9). Once Pastor Krause and Mr. Faude were on their way to America, at Dr. Hübbe's suggestion Mr. Schulthes continued to pursue negotiations with Mr. Angus in London. Although he was acting out of good intentions and love for his brethren, he had no power of attorney. He only had three or four private letters

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