Socialism in California (1880): Baptist Socialists? (Der Lutheraner beats Wikipedia)

      It has been noted today how the state of California is distinctly Socialist today.  And we may think that this is something relatively new, that California was not so Socialistic in the past.  But 140 years ago, Der Lutheraner had a report that makes one wonder that today's Socialism is only a continuation. Prof. Martin Guenther reported the following in vol. 36 (1880), p. 100: 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

      The Baptist (Anabaptist) sect likes to boast that everything in it is set up "according to the apostolic model.”  But our readers know that this is a vain boast. Even the dumbest eye can recognize the Baptists' behavior in California as unapostolic. 

As is well known, the head of the Baptists in San Francisco, a certain [Isaac Smith] Kalloch, is a Baptist preacher and at the same time mayor of the city. He was elected by the Socialist Party and recently stood accused of abusing his office in favor of rebellious elements. His son, also a Baptist preacher, shot a newspaper writer in revenge, and old Kalloch, far from seriously condemning his son's deed, expressed the hope that the Baptist congregation would not take a step against him that would hinder his usefulness as a preacher. But has not the whole Baptist Convention of California declared itself against these vile men? None of the above. The convention, recently assembled at Sacramento, voted down a motion condemning the conduct of these two Baptist preachers. Who does not think of the socialistic, murderous Anabaptists of Luther's day?      G. [Martin Guenther]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

      One may read of this San Francisco mayor Kalloch in Wikipedia and find some details, that he was the Mayor of San Francisco from 1879-1881.  But what one will not read in Wikipedia is the true spiritual meaning that Prof. Guenther brings to this history.  This is where reading Der Lutheraner, instead of Wikipedia, will better prepare a Christian to stay with the full truth of history, and not get swayed by the typical socialist reporting in Wikipedia.  This blog intends to continue providing the full history from the Old German Missouri Synod Der Lutheraner.