Walther's Criminal Behavior - No Secret To Historians

The keepers of the Walther shrine have hidden the syphilis story,
but the rest is well known.

Part I

One of the UOJ lapdogs claimed I was writing about a secret LCMS history, smirking as if I were making up details or digging up legends known only to a few. The material below is from Zion on the Mississippi, Walter O. Forster, 1953. The book is older than the UOJ Enthusiasts Paul McCain, Jay Webber, Preus Inc, and Jumpin' Jack Kilcrease (who jumps synods and confessions with the greatest of ease). Concordia Publishing House printed the book, which was a doctoral dissertation that employed the resources of the Concordia Hagiography Institute, where McCain had a sinecure.

My copy was owned given to Arthur Stellhorn Welch, whose mother wrote this in 1984:
"This is the authoritative soruce of the history of the Saxon Pilrims who came to America for religious as well as other freedoms. My father's parents, Stellhorn and Buenger, are of this company. I see in your nature and life that cultural and genetic strain." (Emphasis in original)

Zion has been required reading for seniors. Vehse has another account. Now the Stephan records are available in the book above, whose title I modified somewhat.

As I wrote before, Stephan was investigated many times for his obvious immoral behavior with young women. Louise Guenther was the main mistress, but there were others investigated by the police and church officials. The groupies were jealous of each other and vied for Stephan's attention. Two of the lawyers were participants in the court action just before the Saxon departure, which led to Stephan's house arrest. His long-suffering wife gave detailed testimony about Stephan's infidelities, which his lawyers knew about, although they were happy to go to America with him. Vehse and Marbach were brothers-in-law.

Note that Suelflow solemnly recorded Walther blaming Mrs. Stephan for the bishop's adultery!

All the historians know that C.F.W. Walther's future mother-in-law was jailed for her part in kidnapping and hiding the niece and nephew of Ferdinand and his brother. According to the Stephan book, police issued warrants for the arrest of Walther, who left his port early, like Jonah, on a fast ship West, regardless of the fare.

Download it here.

Landing in New Orleans, Walther swore allegiance to Bishop-for-Life Stephan, known adulterer. A few months later, Stephan was suddenly revealed to be an adulterer and a false teacher, for calling himself bishop. Actually, the pastors elected him bishop, so that made them false teachers as well.  As for the lying, let me get started.

Stephan and his group were being dissed in America and Europe for their lawlessness. That is no secret - Zion, p. 345. Stephan's pastors defended their effort and their bishop - in print.

Money was loosely handled, but the laity had control of that, even though they obeyed the directives of Stephan. The bishop showed the signs of third stage syphilis, with many strange delusions and impractical, improvident plans. The unemployed pastors also paid themselves out of the common fund. Ferdinand's brother did not even account for the huge sum, $400, he requested and received. Zion, p. 364.

"The Bishop always had a number of women staying with him at his St. Louis residence." Zion, p. 355. The women included - "Louise Voelker, Louise Guenther, Mrs. Schneider, Pauline Weidlich, and the youthful Marie Schubert, niece of the Walthers." (ibid) He resumed the evening strolls with women, the practice in Germany that attracted police attention. It is no secret that he left his wife behind in Dresden, to fend for herself, and abandoned all his children except his healthy son, who came over and established his own LCMS dynasty.

The clergy were loyal to the hierarchical order, even after the removal of Stephan. Zion, p. 357.

Walther was happy to carry out Stephan's abusive orders. Zion, p. 358.

The Saxons were offered a good deal on land, right in St. Louis, (p. 376) but Stephan wanted to be in the wilderness, so they bought in Perry County. They were running out of money. Zion, p. 373. Stephan the Bohemian had no problem with human slavery. They could have purchased better land for less in Illinois or in another territory. Perry County had spas good for additional syphilis treatment and the advantage of obscurity, away from prying eyes and urban newspapers.

The stories of Stephan's "stupid vanity and gross incompetence" suggests syphilitic dementia rather than the effects of the bishop's title. Zion, p. 387.

On April 24, 1839, five of the pastors (Loeber, Keyl, Oertel, Buerger, Walther) replied to an attack by the St. Louis newspaper, Zion, p. 388. They defended their enterprise and their bishop, but the paper said they were all under a cloud, both in Europe and America. The five pastors reversed themselves a few days later - in print!

The Rogate Sunday sermon (May 5, 1839) and confession story is recorded on p. 392 of Zion. Loerber (a great friend of Walther) preached a sermon. Two women confessed adultery, and Loerber told Walther. But they already knew, and Forster does not seem to believe the story he repeated about the shocking discovery.

"In Germany they did not want to believe ill of Stephan because of their high regard for him and their close association with him. Hence they closed their eyes to all evidence and their ears to all 'slander' against him and pronounced him an innocent martyr." Zion, p. 394

The facts are known to those who investigated them. Stephan became more contagious (third stage syphilis) and shared his disease with his mistresses. The community suddenly became aware that the overlooked adultery had bequeathed a slow, shameful death sentence on their young women, thanks to their bishop. His children and wife were already suffering from syphilis, abandoned in Dresden.

On May 15, Walther and a layman traveled from St. Louis to Perry County. Zion, p. 403. Forgetting Matthew 18, Walther did not confront Stephan but instead defrauded him of the land given by the Saxons (80 acres).  That behavior shows the common understanding in the group, that Stephan had his female groupies and no one really saw anything. After years of ignoring all the girlfriends and the bishop's wife being left behind in Dresden, Walther could not act suddenly outraged over adultery.

Part II

Something else was brewing. The only explanation is an outbreak of syphilis. To defend themselves against the charge of Loerber and Walther revealing a confidential confession (the cover story), Missourians have said, "But everyone already knew." That shows the cover story to be a lie - and not a well crafted lie at that.

Above on May 15, Walther and a layman traveled to Perry County, but not to confront Bishop Stephan. Walther needed to organize the Perry County residents, since the St. Louis Saxons were already united. Recall that Stephan was with his groupies in St. Louis before he moved down to Perry County. The entire Saxon group was in the public spotlight because their sordid reputations followed them. The kidnapping, immoral behavior, and money issues were reported in Germany and in America, although the apologists make it sound like persecution, remaining vague about why two newspapers were so antagonistic about this Holy Spirit anointed immigration.

In Perry County, Walther openly defied Bishop Stephan. The New York group came to Perry County at that time. Zion, p. 408. That included three of the Buengers, "who had been separated from the rest of the family by the performance of the Walther brothers in the incident involving the Schubert children." Zion, p. 404f. Incident? Incident? I wonder if Forster was a little more direct and found his prose edited by the LCMS public relations experts.

The Saxons consisted of three groups at this point: the St. Louis residents, the Perry County pioneers, and the newly arrived New York contingent. The New Yorkers were still loyal and obedient to Stephan. So were the Perry County residents, although they chafed at Stephan's spending and spirochete-fueled delusions.

Walther stayed with the Buengers in Perry County and got them on his side. They were already Waltherians via the kidnapping. J. F. Buenger was one of Walther's closest friends. Zion, p. 408.

"Walther, of course, immediately instructed J. F. Buenger on the state of affairs but did so in the sleeping quarters of a group of about twenty-five to thirty men, and the fact that it was done in Latin did not prevent others, such as Ernst Buenger, from understanding it. This episode is typical of Walther's methods on his mission. He did not make the mistake of immediately mounting a stump and denouncing Stephan, but gave his information to hand-picked individuals, always with the caution that they were to keep it to themselves for the time-being." Zion, p. 409.

By May 19th the "entire colony was seething." Zion, p. 409. Stephan took note, telling Ernst Buenger, "Beware of that Ferd. Walther, that fellow is a fox." p. 409.

That Sunday, May 19th, Pentecost, Walther had everyone listen to him preach, although they had been directed to hear Stephan at a different location. Walther said after his sermon: "Many of you will have been surprised this morning that I preached in spite of the invitation and against the orders of the man who until now has been beloved and respected by us all, but terrible things have happened, which I shall now communicate to you." Everyone believed Walther, so all three groups were united against Stephan. No one went to Stephan in obedience to Matthew 18. Walther began with "tell it to the church," but not until he had most of the people on his side by his crafty spread of the story. Zion, p. 410.

Walther went back to St. Louis to bring those residents to Perry County for the climax of his excellent adventure.

The tacky Walther shrine has been refurbished.

Walther did a superb job in organizing the mob against Stephan
and serving as spin-doctor about his own history.

Part III 
In Pursuit of Religious Freedom describes the arrival of the St. Louis mob and the many criminal acts against their leader:

1. Invading his home.
2. Threatening his life.
3. Strip-searching him for money.
4. Stealing all his money, a large sum of gold.
5. Taking away his books and personal possessions.
6. Making him leave his house and sleep outside.
7. Kidnapping him at gunpoint and forcing him to live in Illinois.

Not one act against Stephan was justified by his adultery. But everything is understandable in light of the spread of syphilis. Daughters and families were humiliated. The Saxon group was shown to be a degenerate cult carrying the most dreaded plague of the time. No real cure was available. A young woman with syphilis would give it to her husband and to her future children. Severe rashes would give away the disease until it went into latency, only to emerge again later with final, deadly results.

The clergy were all in trouble for their published support of Stephan, just before the expulsion. They were just as quick to accuse the bishop in print was they were to defend him in print. Both actions were only a few days apart. This reversal did not come from a dramatic confession or two, but from a much darker source and their justified fears of facing a mob in St. Louis.

I went over the Forster account in Zion to find who was organizing and leading the mob action against Stephan. No other name appears in leadership. Walther acted on behalf of the St. Louis Saxons, coming down to Perry County to steal the bishop's 80 acres and organize the colony. He used the Buenger family to convert the newly arrived New York group to his side. Then he returned to St. Louis to bring those people down to Perry County in the dramatic purge, robbery, and expulsion.

Walther never wanted an early history of the Missouri Synod written down, because he was so much a part of the story. (Suelflow) O. H. Walther married one Buenger daughter and died, so Ottomar Fuerbringer married the widow. C. F. W. Walther married another Buenger daughter and took over his brother's congregation in St. Louis when O. H. died.

Ludwig Fuerbringer was the son of Ottomar, so he was a double-Buenger (mother and aunt) and the nephew of C.F.W. Ludwig also skipped over the early years of the Saxon adventure in his two little books about the Missouri Synod. I find much to admire in Ludwig's life, ministry, and teaching. His books prove the saying that always comes to mind when dealing with historical accounts, "The unspoken word is the most important."

This Walther statue is at the Purple Palace, the LCMS Vatican.
The original is at the Concordia Hagiography Institute.
Another copy is inside the Walther shrine.
Three idols are erected to the same kidnapper and thief in the same city.
CFW is the ruling norm of the Olde Synodical Conference.

Police: Fired teacher kills head of Florida Episcopal church school, self

Dale Regan, head of the Episcopal School in Jacksonville, Fla., in May 2011. 
Police said she was murdered today by a recently fired Spanish teacher who then killed himself.

Police: Fired teacher kills head of Fla. church school, self:

A fired teacher murdered the head of the Episcopal School in Jacksonville, Fla., before killing himself, authorities say.

Update at 6:19 p.m. ET: Undersheriff Dwain Senterfitt said Shane Schumerth, 28, was fired this morning and then returned to the school early this afternoon. He killed Regan, 63, in her office, then shot himself.

Senterfitt said no details were available about why Schumerth was let go.

'via Blog this'

Mark Driscoll on the Song of Solomon « Churchmouse Campanologist. Driscoll A Vulgar Bully for the Vulgar Bullies in Fox Valley WELS

Mark Driscoll on the Song of Solomon « Churchmouse Campanologist:

Driscoll is X-rated and a bully, so he attracts vulgar bullies who follow his example. Read this ChurchMouse post at your own risk.

'via Blog this'

Pewaukee Universalist Towers To Host Anti-Pope

 bruce-church said...

What the WELS needs now is an anti-SP to occupy the second synodical HQ. Instead of Avignon's anti-pope vs. Rome's pontiff, it will be Pewaukee vs. Milwaukee. The Pewaukee anti-SP could be for Justification by Faith, and the Milwaukee SP for UOJ. I heard Brett Meyer volunteered to be the anti-SP.

WELS Down a Half-Million Dollars - What Better Time To Own Two Headquarters Buildings?

The fat lady hath sung.

From SP Mark Schroeder:

The Synodical Council (SC) held its winter meeting on February 24-25. Major items discussed included:

Budget update and future planning

The SC reviewed the ministry financial plan (budget) performance through the end of calendar year 2011. Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) in 2011 fell short of commitments by $340,000. Actual gifts were $460,000 less than 2010. While more congregations submitted CMO commitments for 2012 than the previous year, the commitments are 0.2 percent less than the actual receipts for 2011; planning had anticipated a 3 percent increase.

The Financial Stabilization Fund will enable current programs to continue without immediate program changes, but the reduced level of expected financial support will require adjustments to spending in the next fiscal year. The Synodical Council asked President Schroeder to prepare a plan for increasing support or reducing synod expense amounts by $1.5 million for the next fiscal year beginning in July, 2012. The areas of ministry will also be encouraged to underspend the current budgetary allocations (as they did last year) and to begin to make initial plans for reduced financial support in the next biennium. Program reductions can be avoided if financial support from Congregation Mission Offerings and gifts from individuals increases beyond the current projections.

Report on college loan delinquency rate raises alarms - latimes.com

Who owes for a Concordia Seminary student loan?

Report on college loan delinquency rate raises alarms - latimes.com:


Reporting from Washington— Some experts have called the nation's soaring college debt load a "ticking time bomb" — a looming crisis threatening young adults, their families and the broader economy.

A new report raises even more alarms: It's likely that as many as 1 in 4 borrowers was carrying a past-due student loan balance in the third quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.

That's a much higher delinquency rate than previously thought. By a more conventional measure, the New York Fed said, 5.4 million of 37 million borrowers with student loan balances had at least one past-due student loan account — a 14.6% rate.

Many educators are concerned about the increasing financial squeeze on college students and their families and the repercussions for the nation's economy.

W. Norton Grubb, a professor at UC Berkeley's School of Education, is worried that rising debt levels are forcing some students to drop out. Only 40% to 50% of those enrolling at universities such as the California State University schools end up completing their degrees, he said.

Such figures have helped bolster a long-held belief by scholars that America's declining or stagnant college graduation rates have become an Achilles' heel in the competitive global economy.

The New York Fed report concluded that "student loan debt is not just a concern for the young. Parents and the federal government shoulder a substantial part of the post-secondary education bill."

Skyrocketing debts may be pushing some graduates into areas of work that have a bigger immediate payoff, such as finance, as opposed to what they want to do or what may produce more benefits for them and society in the long run.

"The debt levels are distorting what fields people are taking on," Grubb said.

The New York Fed said the past-due balances on student loans amounted to $85 billion, or about 10% of the total owed. The same 10% rate applies on average to other types of consumer delinquent debt, such as mortgages and credit cards.

But Fed researchers said delinquency figures for student loans understate the magnitude of the problem. That's because the calculations don't take into account that federally guaranteed loans, which make up the bulk of student debt, typically don't require repayment while borrowers are still in school and for six months after graduation.

If those who are temporarily exempt from making payments are excluded, the report said, the number of borrowers with past-due balances would jump to 27% of the total. And the outstanding balances that are late would rise to 21%. Both figures are about double the unadjusted rates.

As for private, non-guaranteed student loans, Moody's Investors Service reported recently that the default rate in the fourth quarter was 5.1%, about the same as a year earlier.

Still, that rate is about double what it was before the 2007-09 recession. Moreover, the Moody's report noted that some private student loan measures indicated that the pace of defaults is rising and that the problem isn't likely to get better any time soon.

"High unemployment will keep defaults high," Moody's said.

Economists, meanwhile, have differing opinions about the strain of student loans to the broader economy. But there's reason to be concerned on this front.

When asked about such risks by a lawmaker in a hearing last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke replied, "Well, student loans are becoming a very large category of loans."

Indeed, the New York Fed put the latest outstanding student loan balance at $870 billion. That's more than the total credit card debt, $693 billion, and car loan debt, $730 billion.

What's different about student loans is that most of the lending is done by the U.S. government. Even so, as Bernanke noted, if federal lending isn't well managed, it could hurt taxpayers.

Bernanke, in his exchange with lawmakers, added a personal dimension to the student loan issue, saying that his son in medical school expects to owe $400,000 when he graduates.

About 167,000 people, or about one-half of 1% of all student-loan borrowers, owe more than $200,000, the New York Fed said in its report, which drew from Equifax credit data. The average balance per borrower: $23,300.


'via Blog this'

The Rented Mule Award. Asking Questions about Doctrine in the ELS, LCMS, and WELS

The Rented Mule Award is an honor I decided to bestow, given the size and depth of my audience.


Individuals earn the award by teaching the historic faith, confessing the truth, and being beaten like a rented mule for their service to the visible church. This could also be called Bearing the Cross, but that phrase has become empty talk. Synods are too busy bragging themselves up to consider that concept.


Luther taught this concept, and his words were often more colorful. Naturally, they are still beating him like a rented mule. When the Roman Catholics stop and rest, the "conservative" Lutherans take over.

He wrote:

"Patient continuance is so altogether necessary that no work can be good in which patient continuance is lacking. The world is so utterly perverse and Satan is so heinously wicked that he cannot allow any good work to be done, but he must persecute it. However, in this very way God, in His wonderful wisdom, proves what work is good and pleasing to Him. Here the rule holds: As long as we do good and for our good do not encounter contradiction, hatred, and all manner of disagreeable and disadvantageous things, so we must fear that our good work as yet is not pleasing to God; for just so long it is not yet done with patient continuance." 
Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, trans. J. Theodore Mueller, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1976, p. 55. Romans 2:6-10.

The modern recipients are:

• The two families in Kokomo, Indiana, who were expelled from WELS for confessing justification by faith. Both families were excommunicated, with WELS using the Kokomo Statements to expel them, followed by WELS blaming them for the Kokomo Statements, three of which came directly from J. P. Meyer. Sig Becker defended the Kokomo Statements. So did Panning, the president of the WELS seminary.
• B. Teigen, who proved in a scholarly work that the Olde Synodical Conference taught a blatant heresy with their creepy Receptionism. The ELS and WELS took turns thrashing him. Sig Becker also defended Receptionism. 
• Walter Meier II, the Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne professor, who showed that the Scriptures teach justification by faith. Jack Preus savaged him nationally in a letter, and Bob Preus replaced him as the next president of the seminary. Demoted and regularly beaten up by UOJ fanatics.
• Rich Techlin, WELS layman and attorney, who dared to point out Glende's and Ski's plagiarism of false teachers. The DP who supported plagiarism would not even grant an appeal. Demi-semi-excommunicated.
• Joe and Lisa Krohn, WELS laity who asked about UOJ and the waste of money thrown at Cornerstone for fund-raising. Excommunicated.
• Bruce Church, banned from Steadfast Lutherans (sic) for citing this blog.
• Lito Cruz, PhD, banned from Steadfast Lutherans (sic) for pointing out their myriad contradictions in defending the anti-Christian UOJ fallacy.

Hebrews Definition of Faith

Art by Norma Boeckler:
The angel appears to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus.

KJV Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.