The free PDF and ebook versions of the Schwan Catechsim are postedon the Lutheran Library website, on this link.
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| Heinrich Christian Schwan - Find A Grave. |
Schwan was born and educated in Germany and served as pastor of Salem, Black Jack, in the St. Louis area, the same congregation where Floyd Luther Stolzenburg served as a pastor before he was removed for cause. Schwan was commissioned to write a catechism for the Missouri Synod in 1890, which was published in1896 and became known as the Schwan Catechism. Schwan served Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland for almost 50 years, from 1881 to 1899. He is considered the Father of the Christmas Tree in America.
Schwan's parish work was extensive while he served as the part-time president of his district and then the LCMS. When the synod presidency became full-time, he resigned and Franz Pieper took over.
LCMS Pastor Vernon Harley made a brilliant case for Objective Justification not being Biblical and also for Justification by Faith being clearly taught in the Schwan Catechism of 1905.
Rolfie One-Note Preus claimed and repeated the slander that Pastor Harley "befouled himself" for teaching Justification by Faith. The truth enrages the Walther-Pieper faction that tries in vain to force Justification without Faith - OJ - upon Holy Mother Missouri and Holy Mother WELS.
The Preus Slime Family used Objective Justification to attack and remove from leadership Dr. Walter A. Maier Junion (known as WAM II). Otten joined the attack, even though he published a book about Dr. Walter A. Maier (PhD Semitics, Harvard) - who taught inerrancy and Justification by Faith.
The Preus brothers, Jack and Robert, used Objective Justification to create two presidencies - Jack as LCMS president, Robert as the seminary president. They were as deserving as John Wilkes Booth stepping in to fill the vacancy of the President of the United States.
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| Otten's book about Dr. Walter A. Maier - keystone and cornerstone. OJ is gravel. |
More Information
"Schwan also served the Synod in numerous positions: vice-president of the Central District (1854-1857); member of the Board of Control of the Synod’s Fort Wayne college (1854-1857, 1860-1878); secretary of the Lutheran Free Conference (1856-1857, 1859); vice-president of the LCMS (1857-1860); president of the Central District (1860-1878); member of the Board of Examiners of the Fort Wayne college (1860-1878); representative to the Buffalo Colloquy (1866); vice-president of the Synodical Conference (1875); president of the LCMS (1878-1899).
In 1862 he published 32 Theses against Unevangelical Practice. He also supervised the publication of the Synodical Catechism in 1896." CHI
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| Schwan served as pastor, then assistant pastor, for almost 50 years, at Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland. |
Sources -
"Schwan, Heinrich Christian
(April 5 [4?], 1819–May 29, 1905). B. Horneburg, Hannover, Ger.; educ. Göttingen and Jena; private tutor Dorum, Hannover; ordained 1843; miss. Leopoldina, Bahia, Brazil; to US 1850; pastor Neu-Bielefeld (now Black Jack), St. Louis Co., Missouri, September 1850; joined Mo. Syn. October 1850; pastor 1851–81, asst. 1881–99 Cleveland, Ohio; helped popularize use of Christmas tree in Am. chs. Pres. Cen. Dist. of the Mo. Syn. 1860–78; pres. Mo. Syn. 1878–99. Commissioned by the Mo. Syn. 1890 to prepare a catechism; it appeared 1896 and became known as the Schwan Catechism."
Everette Meier. “The Life and Work of Henry C. Schwan as Pastor and Missionary,” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 24 (October 1951):132-39; 24 (January 1952):145-72; 25 (July 1952):72-85; 25 (October 1952):97-121.
