On three editors of “Der Lutheraner”: Walther, Günther and Gräbner.
[by "J. S."]
C. F. W. Walther
is at the head of the editors of the “Lutheraner” both in time and importance. It is said that the apostle Paul was small and unhandsome in stature. To a certain extent, this can also be said of Walther. He was of medium height, but a lanky, gaunt figure, almost all skin and bone, so that it seemed as if he could be blown over by any wind. In this weak vessel, however, dwelt a strong spirit, a spirit adorned with many a glorious gift. The observer looked into a sharply cut, spiritualized face with lively features, from which a pair of fiery, flashing eyes shone at him. Blessed President Dr. H. C. Schwan, with whom he was not personally acquainted, got to see him for the first time at a service in the old Trinity Church on Lombard Street in St. Louis, and immediately received the impression: This must be an important personality.
We shall not speak here of the blessed work of this great man in the pulpit, the professorship, in synodical meetings and in his writings, of his splendid organizational talent of his gift of government, and of other things, but we will only consider him as editor of the “Lutheraner”.
When Walther fell into serious illness in 1844, he made a vow to God that if he recovered, he would publish a newspaper for the good of the church. After his recovery, he took the preparatory steps, won over his congregation, the Trinity congregation in St. Louis, to the plan, and they enthusiastically supported the costs. Thus, on September 7, 1844, the first number of the “Lutheraner,” 4 pages 11½x8½ print, appeared with the motto: “Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr’ vergehet nun und nimmermehr.”
It was indeed time for a remedy. Wolves and foxes had broken into the vineyard of the Lord, and Lutheran Zion was in a state of lamentable desolation. The Lutheran Church of this country was barely living a bare life in name. On the whole, it resembled a body covered with bumps, with wounds and welts inflicted by its own children through unbelief, unfaithfulness and flirting with false believers. Sense and understanding of pure doctrine had almost universally dwindled. The leaders were ashamed of Lutheran doctrine and practice, publicly renounced it, courted recognition from the sectarian churches, made fraternity with them and saw in the rapturous new measures that had sprung up in the Methodist field a remedy for the damage to the church. Unrestraint in synodical bodies and congregations and neglect of the youth regarding the teaching of the doctrine of salvation was not uncommon. Prophets ran without being sent. Clerical tramps forced their way into congregations, got themselves hired like a swineherd, for a year or on notice, and managed as long as they could. There were “Lutheran” pastors who served not only mixed Lutheran and Reformed congregations, but also Lutheran and Reformed congregations at the same time, as each required. Untrained, untested men were licensed by church bodies to tamper with congregations on a trial basis for a year or even longer. That under these circumstances the preaching ministry fell into disdain and contempt is understandable. And yet, on the other hand, the preaching profession was elevated to such a high level that it looked down disdainfully on the poor laity in the manner of a priest. — But enough of this pitiful picture! To the ears of today's generation the mentioned sounds so strange that it seems unbelievable, and yet it is only seventy-five years ago when all this was going on and one was used to it as if it was self-understood.
According to his motto, Walther entered the scene with God's Word and Luther's doctrine. He brought nothing new, but the old Lutheran Bible teaching; but this had become so strange and unknown at that time that it appeared to many contemporaries as something new. There was no lack of opposition; it was too unpleasant for some people to be shaken out of their accustomed tranquility and the views they had grown fond of. But Walther knew how to hit the heart with the slingshot of the divine Word, and when the foxes raised their yelps, he still had in his quiver arrows of biting mockery that did not miss their target. For the edification of the congregation, the “Lutheraner” brought healthy food for the head and heart of his readers. Doctrinal articles, flowing from God's Word, convincing, in commonly understandable, heart-moving presentation, firmly established the faith of the Christians, and many hearts gratefully blessed the man who performed this service. Walther wrote in chosen, noble language, and he handled the language for his goals as only a master can. When the blessed President Schwan distributed a few numbers of the “Lutheraner” to his friends in Germany in 1860, they were quite delighted about it and confessed that they would not get to read such German in Germany again.
The blessing that Walther has bestowed through the “Lutheraner” is incalculable. He worked for the “Lutheraner” for more than forty-two years until death took the pen from his hand — a long time rarely granted to the editor of an ecclesiastical paper. The mantle of editorship of the “Lutheraner” fell to one of Walther's students,…
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