Continuing my quick glimpse of Early Florida Lutheranism from last week, I come to the Rev. John Bachman (1790-1873), one of the most important leaders in Southern Lutheranism. Bachman was a Lutheran minister who was the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina, for 56 years. He served as President of the South Carolina Synod, and was one of the founders of both the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and Newberry College. He was also a naturalist who worked with his friend John J. Audubon to produce the monumental Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America.

In the Spring of 1860 Bachman traveled to Florida for his health. Here is a portion of a letter he wrote to his wife.

LONG SWAMP, MARION COUNTY, FLA., April 1st, 1860.

My dear, blessed Wife: Night before last was a very happy evening to me. Col. S. [Adam Summer] had taken me on an expedition of sight-seeing and of pleasure to Withlacoochee river and to Panasofkee Lake, where we remained two days. We returned Friday at five P. M. . . . I preached to-day, (Sunday), and baptized Bachman Hazelius a boy of twelve, with a skin as black as Corvus-Americanu.

There it is, the oldest reference to a Lutheran Baptism in Florida, and it is of an African-American. Bachman was a contradiction. He was a slave holder who supported the Confederacy, but nevertheless actively ministered to Blacks who were probably 40% of his congregation. He also encouraged Jehu Jones, a free black, to enter the Lutheran ministry.

There will be a final part to my story next week.

Read Luke 1:46-55 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne