A Historical Study of Lutherans in Wicomico County, Maryland
A HISTORICAL STUDY OF LUTHERANS IN WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND
by
Rev. Robert H. Sorenson
July 1973
Lutheranism, being one of the newer church denominations to be found in Wicomico County of Maryland, has no complete recorded history. The purpose of this paper is to establish an accurate history of Lutheranism in Wicomico County before many of the sources of information cease to exist.
The period of time covered in this study is from 1920 through 1970. This
Limitation has been placed on the study since there is little evidence found of any activity among the Lutherans of Wicomico County before this time.
The study will begin by looking at the origin of Lutherans in Wicomico
County and how they worked to establish a church in their county. It will proceed through the early history of that first established congregation until that congregation went out of existence for a short time. An examination will be made of various reasons given for the demise of Lutheranism. The closing sections will review the growth and expansion of Lutheranism into two congregations after it was reestablished.
The data for this paper was obtained through reading the records kept by the Lutheran congregations in the county as well as the records of the various groups connected with those churches. Many of these records were not complete. There are several years when records were not kept or were lost. The other information was obtained through interviews with individuals who were knowledgeable about the events being considered.
THE ROOTS OF LUTHERANISM
The histories written of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and of Salisbury indicate that the first religious movements among the residents of Wicomico County were made by the Church of England (Episcopal) and the Presbyterian Church.(l) The largest religious movement came through the work of the Methodists followed closely by the work of the Baptists. (2) The Lutherans coming to Wicomico County before 1931 were forced, if they wanted to worship, to attend a church of a different denomination or travel to neighboring counties where there were Lutheran Churches. (3) The closest Lutheran congregations were located in Somerset County at Princess Anne and in Dorchester County in Vienna. (4) The Church in Princess Anne was served by a pastor of the Ohio Synod who traveled from Baltimore to hold services after 1923. (6)
The first substantiated efforts to form a Lutheran congregation in Salisbury came in 1930. (7) Families who wanted to raise their children in the Lutheran faith found it inconvenient to travel to Vienna, Maryland for religious instruction and worship. (8) Edward Frase of Salisbury and William Malchow of Quantico Maryland traveled to Preston, Maryland in 1930 to request of the Rev. Louis Geiger, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church there, that a congregation be formed in Wicomico County. (9) The following year, on April 19, 1931, (10) Helen Malchow took her’ family to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Preston to have two of her children baptized. (ll) She relates that Pastor Geiger asked her questions about where they lived and how many Lutherans, were in the area. (12) Several weeks later Rev. Geiger of Preston, Rev. Theodore Martin of Dover, Delaware, and Student-pastor Albers made several trips to the Wicomico area and visited with each family that claimed to be Lutheran to determine the possibility of beginning a Lutheran Church. (13) That same year at the convention of the Eastern District of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States which was held in June in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Rev. Theodore Martin from Dover, Delaware, requested and received permission to operate mission station to be located in Salisbury. (14)
A CONGREGATION IS BORN
The Mission Board of the Eastern District dispatched a student from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri to begin the work in Salisbury. (15) Arthur Wittrock arrived in Salisbury during the month of September, 1931, and laid the ground work of organizing the congregation. (16) Pastor Louis Geiger of Preston had made two trips to Salisbury during August, to visit with more families and to make arrangements for a place to hold worship services. (17) Pastor Geiger obtained the use of the Odd Fellow’s Hall which was located on the third floor above the New Theater across from the Post Office on East Main street. (18) The first worship service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salisbury was held at 2:30 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall on October 4 1931. (19) The attendance at this opening service was 224 with a large number of worshippers coming from the Lutheran congregations located at Dover, Delaware, Preston and Cordova, Maryland. (20) The younger members of these same three congregations distributed invitations for the service to people in Salisbury. (21) Student-pastor Wittrock held the first regular service the following Sunday, October 11, 1931, at 11:00 a.m. (22) The attendance at this first regular service was thirty-two. (23) This new congregation of Lutherans remained under the direct control of the mission Board of the Eastern District until it was formally organized into a congregation on February 2, 1934, and adopted a constitution. (24) There were nine voting members, and twenty-eight adults who were considered to be contributing members at that time. (25) It was decided at that meeting on February 2, 1934, to take the name of “Bethany Lutheran Church” (26) The worship services were held in the Odd Fellows Hall from the initial service of the congregation on October 4, 1931 through September 29, 1940 when the congregation rented a house on 202 Powell Avenue. (27) The only interruption occurred in 1933 when the Odd Fellows Hall was damaged by fire. However it was soon restored. (28) The fact that services were held in a lodge hall was a source of irritation, since the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States had prohibited lodge membership. (29) Several attempts were made during those years to obtain more suitable quarters. In October of 1937 inquiries were made into the possibility of purchasing a county school house and moving it to a lot in Salisbury. (30) The most promising possibility arose In April of 1938 when a motion was passed by the congregation and permission received with the promise of financial help from the District Mission Board to purchase a home and property at 303 Washington Street. (31) However this plan was abandoned when it was decided that the $4000 price for the house and lot was too high considering the location of the property. (32) The Mission Board then offered to build a chapel for Bethany if the congregation would buy a lot. (33) A building fund was established but a lot was never purchased. The congregation, after having moved to the house on Powell Avenue where they held services in 1940, rented part of the house to the student-pastor for a residence. (34) The congregation furnished the house for worship with a piano and pews taken from an old country church. (35)
Bethany congregation was formally accepted as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States in June of 1936. (36) During the period between its founding in 1931 and” the beginning of 1943 Bethany was served by a total of eleven different men. (37) Most of these men served only for a period of one year and then returned for their final year of training at the seminary. (38) The student-pastor was not allowed to administer Holy Communion because of denominational regulations. It was therefore necessary for the pastor from Dover, Delaware to come once every three months to administer Holy Communion. (39)
The student-pastors began to conduct the worship services for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vienna, Maryland at sometime during 1938. They continued to do this until the congregation in Salisbury disbanded in 1942. (40) On October 13, 1940, Leonard Pranschke began conducting Sunday evening services at the American Legion Log Cabin in Seaford, Delaware. (41) The three congregations became known as the Salisbury-Vienna-Seaford,” Parish. (42)
The growth in members of Bethany between 1931 and 1940 was gradual. (43) There are no records indicating size of membership during these years but it is possible to get some estimation of size through other church records. The first service saw an attendance of thirty-two in 1931. (44) The 1933 congregational records show twenty-eight people who were listed as “contributing members”. (45) The attendance record for worship services, which was started in 1937, shows that there, was a gradual increase from an average of twenty worshippers each Sunday in 1937 to thirty in 1940. In 1941, however, there was a decrease in the average to twenty and in 1942 down to fifteen. (46) The Church Record for Bethany shows that after November 22, 1942 when the last of the student-pastors, Howard Georg, left Salisbury, worship services were continued in the evening on a bi-weekly basis. These worship services were conducted by the Rev. Paul E. Holls who was pastor of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Dover, Delaware. All services ceased after March of 1943. (47)
THE DEATH OF THE ORGANIZED CHURCH
There were no worship services held in Salisbury from March, 1943 until the summer of 1946. (48) As was indicated earlier, the attendance began to drop off in 1941. (49) By 1943 there were only two families who continued to worship regularly. (50) The reason most frequently cited by those present at that time and the church records was the fact that most of the families moved away due to the influences of the Second World War. (51) A second factor proposed was the large number of student-pastors, with little practical experience, who served the parish in a relatively short period of time. One member commented, “They put the students down here to learn to preach and when they learned they took them someplace else.” (52) An officer of the congregation during that period commented, “I loved each one of those student-pastors. But you know, there were some whom I had to call down I don’t think they liked it.” (53) A third factor was the shortage of pastors which occurred during the Second World War. (54) When the congregation suspended services all the possessions of the congregation were stored in the garage of Edward Frase on Washington Street. (55) The Rev. Louis Geiger of Preston, Maryland performed all necessary pastoral acts for those Lutherans who remained in the Wicomico County area. (56) Some of the Lutherans worshipped at other local churches or traveled to neighboring; Lutheran Churches at Preston, Maryland, and Dover, Delaware. (57)
THE ORGANIZED CHURCH IS BORN AGAIN
The first known attempt to reestablish a congregation following the Second World War came in 1945. Mr. Frank Reinhardt of Salisbury wrote a letter to the International Lutheran Hour, a radio program sponsored by the Lutheran Laymen’s League of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. He requested that church body to investigate the possibility of reopening a church in Salisbury. (58) Shortly after this a letter was received from the speaker on the “Lutheran Hour” and the Southeastern District of the LC—MS stating that the District, was very interested in starting a church in Salisbury once again. (59) In the summer of 1946 the Mission Board sent the Rev. Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer to survey the area for a possible new congregation. (60) Pastor Ernstmeyer stated that “He found that not only had some zeal for the Church been kept alive during the interim, but others had moved into the vicinity and were looking for a Lutheran Church.” (61) The decision was made by the Mission Board to keep Pastor Ernstmeyer in Salisbury to reorganize the congregation. (62)
The first service was held in the American Mechanics Hall on September 1, 1946. This was located on the second floor of the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall at 704 East Church Street. This new congregation, by Easter of 1947 was in the process of formal reorganization but was still subsidized the Southeastern District of the LC-MS. The congregation called Pastor Ernstmeyer to be the first regular pastor to serve in Wicomico County after formally organizing. (63) In the summer of 1947, an effort was made to get of the inconvenient second floor location on East Church Street. This led to the renting of space in the new Park Seventh Day Adventist Church that was located at 729 East Main Street. (64)
There were attempts quickly initiated by the members to build a church building for their own use. (65) The Mission Board of the Southeastern District granted permission for a committee to be appointed to look for property. The first proposal was for a large plot of ground located directly across the street from East Salisbury School on Old Ocean City Road. This was rejected by the Mission Board because of the high cost. (66) The second proposal, which was accepted, was for property on the corner of Camden Avenue and South Boulevard. The work on the church building went rapidly ahead. By October 31, 1948, (Reformation Sunday) the cornerstone was laid and the dedication of the new facility was held on May 29, 1949. The financing of the new building was helped greatly by a gift of $3,000 and the loan of another $3,000 from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the Southeastern District. (67)
The growth of this Lutheran Mission began once again very slowly. The first service began with fifteen members. (68) Substantial growth did not take place until the group moved into the Seventh Day Adventist building. In a few months time the attendance at Sunday worship services took a dramatic rise. (69) By the time the congregation dedicated its own building for worship in 1949, the membership had grown to 144 men, women and children. (70) By the end of 1954, when Pastor Ernstmeyer had left the congregation, it had grown to 204. (71) Statistical reports in 1960 show that the baptized membership at that time was 387. (72)
The congregation lost its first ordained pastor when Rev. Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer accepted a call to serve as pastor of a congregation in Scotia, Nebraska. By the middle of March in 1954, however, Bethany had its second regular pastor when the Rev. Clayton W. Hammell came to Salisbury from Elizabethton, Tennessee. (73)
A SECOND LUTHERAN CONGREGATION IN WICOMICO COUNTY
A portion of the membership of Bethany under Pastor Ernstmeyer had been members of the United Lutheran Church in the United States before moving to Wicomico County. (74) There was a period of strained relations in the congregation at the time that Pastor Ernstmeyer left Bethany. (75) Several of those unhappy members sent a request to the President of the Maryland Synod of United Lutheran Church, J. Frank Fife, asking for help in starting a second congregation. (76) There were additional troubles among the members of Bethany concerning membership in secret organizations such as the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. Such membership was prohibited by the LC-MS. (77) Pastor Ernstmeyer had accepted people into membership even though they were affiliated with secret organizations, but when Rev. Clayton became pastor in 1954 he refused to accept any additional members who maintained a membership in any lodge. (78)
The Rev. Clayton Hammell made an unsuccessful attempt, working through the District office, to block the formation of a second congregation. He felt a second congregation would hamper his work. (79) In June of 1954 the ULC sent two students to canvas the community and later the same year John L. Strube arrived in Salisbury to continue the canvas. (80) Late in 1954, Pastor Strube organized services which were held in the Wallace Funeral Home. The first service was attended by thirty people. The congregation was formally organized on May 20, 1956, as Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church with the service being held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. (81) There were
fifty-six charter members. (82)
Rev. John Strube stayed with the work in Salisbury until 1959. In 1957 the congregation purchased property on the corner of West Fairfield Drive and Old Ocean City Road. (83) The large tract of land included a large children’s home which was converted into a house chapel with space for an office and Sunday School rooms. (84) In the same year, 1957, the congregation was legally incorporated. (85) Faith Lutheran Church, between its founding and 1970, has been served by a total of four workers. Pastor Strube left in 1959 and was followed during the summer months by Rodney Gatzke, a theological student. The Rev. C. Edgar Koehnlein was installed as the second pastor of Faith in September of 1959. (86) The membership began to dwindle after 1959. There was an average attendance of twelve at worship services with only thirty members left on the roll at the time when the third pastor, the Rev. Donald E. Bauer, was installed as pastor in July of 1961. Under the leadership of Pastor Bauer, the congregation has grown to a membership of 110 confirmed and 175 baptized souls in 1970. (87) In 1952 the congregation began to hold worship services in Ocean City during the summer months in addition to the services in Salisbury. In 1965 the congregation constructed a chapel on their property on Old Ocean City Road. (88)
RECENT HISTORY
Bethany Lutheran Church under the guidance of the Rev. Clayton Hammell became free of all district financial help in January of 1961. (89) In 1958, the congregation built a parsonage for Pastor Hammell. This parsonage was located at 811 Camden Avenue directly across South Boulevard from the church. The house was built at a cost of $35,000. (90) In July of 1962 the home next to the church at 817 Camden Avenue was purchased to be used for additional Sunday School space and to give additional room for future expansion. (91) Bethany, beginning during the ministry of Pastor Ernstmeyer, began to conduct worship services at the Atlantic Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland for vacationers. (92)
Pastor Clayton Hammell accepted a call to Salt Lake City, Utah on March 9, 1964. (93) The congregation was served by the Rev. Herbert J. Krieger of Cambridge, Maryland, as interim pastor until the Rev. Lawrence R. Lineberger became pastor of Bethany on July 4, 1965. (94)
The ministry of Pastor Lineberger at Bethany witnessed a turn from the bitterness and competition that had existed between the two Lutheran congregations in previous years. (95) The two churches worked at cooperation in reaching their goals and even made an attempt at merging the two congregations. June of 1969 saw a combined Vacation Bible School. In September of the same year the instruction classes in church membership for the teenagers was brought together. (96) However the efforts at organic union of the two churches met with resistance in both congregations and was dropped although other cooperative efforts continued. (97)
The history of Lutheranism in Wicomico County has been mixed with both failures and success. The early years of Lutheranism were troubled by the constantly changing student-pastor’s as well as the great mobility of the members. When the church was reestablished, the rapid growth did not come until the congregation found a church-like atmosphere in which to worship. The next years brought a rapid growth. This growth continued and saw a second congregation established. The succeeding years saw bitterness and rivalry.
The recent history has seen both congregations of Lutherans overcome the bitterness and rivalry that marked the establishment of Faith Lutheran Church. This has been shown by the willingness of both congregations to work together in many of their activities.
END NOTES
- Charles B. Clark, The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc. 1950), II, 683-697; Charles J Truitt, Historic Salisbury Maryland (Garden City, New York: country Life Press, 1932), pp. 23-37
- Charles Truitt, Historic Salisbury 30-35.
- Statements by Mrs. Helen Malchow (June 27, 1973, Mr. Edward Frase (June 27, 1973), Mr. Fred Senkbeil (June 29, 1973) personal interviews.
- Baptismal Certificate for Helen Malchow, 1919 from St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Princess Anne, Maryland; John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vienna, Maryland, Service Record kept in files of Bethany Lutheran Church in Salisbury, Maryland.
- Statement by Mrs. Helen Malchow, personal interview; the Ohio Synod had its beginning in Ohio and established churches in different area of the country. The Ohio Synod merged in 1930 with the Iowa and Buffalo Synods to form the American Lutheran Church. [Ablel Ross Wentz, A Basic History of Lutheranism in America (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1964), p. 67.]
- Statement by Mr Fred Senkbeil, personal interview.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, Personal interview.
- Baptismal Certificate for Augusta Malchow, April 19, 1931 from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Preston, Maryland.
- Statement by Mrs. Helen Malchow, personal interview.
- Statements by Mr. Edward Frase, Mr. Fred Senkbeil, Mrs. Helen Malchow, personal interviews.
- This name has since been shortened to “The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod”. This Lutheran body was founded in Missouri in 1839 and has since become an international body, as related by Wentz, Lutheranism in America, p. 100; The Salisbury Times [Maryland] October 3, 1931.
- The Salisbury Times [Maryland] October 3, 1931.
- Ibid
- “History of Bethany Lutheran Church – 1931 and 1946” Mimeographed page, author unknown, found in records of Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland.
- The Salisbury Times [Maryland] October 3, 1931; statement by Hazel Vollmer, (July 8, 1973), personal interview.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Treasury – Book3. This name was given the congregation before its formal name was given in 1933; The Salisbury Times [Maryland] October 3, 1931.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- The Salisbury Times [Maryland] October 3, 1931; The sermon at the service was delivered by Rev. Louis Geiger. Special music by the choir form John’s Lutheran Church, Dover Delaware.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Minutes of Congregational Meetings1; Bethany Lutheran Church Salisbury, Maryland, Financial Secretary Book 1933-36. Only male members were allowed to vote in the congregational matters according to the constitution of the evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes p. 2
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Service Record beginning August 15, 1937 kept in files of Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, pp. 45-46.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Bethany Lutheran Church Salisbury, Maryland, Church Council Minutes – 1937, November 5, 1937. The policy of this Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States was to exclude from membership anyone holding membership in a secret society such as a lodge. This policy may be found in Handbook of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1967), pp. 213-214, and “Constitution and By-Laws of Evangelical Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland” 1934, mimeographed copy of the first constitution.
- Bethany, Council Minutes – 1937, October 1, 1937
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes 27.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes 33.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Financial Secretary Records beginning in 1937 and found in files of Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, p. 15.
- Statement by Edward Frase, personal interview.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes 17.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Church Records 389-393. For a list of all student-pastors and ordained pastors who served in Salisbury consult the appendix.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, personal interview.
- Bethany, Service Record beginning 1937, pp. 1-69. Only ordained clergy called to the congregation were allowed to administer Holy Communion.
- John’s Vienna, Maryland, Service Record, pp. 1 & 70.
- Bethany, Church Record, p. 392.
- Ibid.
- Bethany, Service Record beginning 1937, pp. 1-69.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Bethany, Financial Secretary Book – 1933, August 14, 1933.
- Bethany, Service Record Beginning 1937, pp. 1-69.
- Bethany, Church Record, p. 393.
- Ibid.; “History of Bethany – 1931-1946”.
- Bethany, Service Record beginning 1937, pp. 1-69.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, Personal interview; “History of Bethany- 1931 and 1946”; Bethany, Church Record, p. 393.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, personal interview; Bethany, Church Record, p. 393.
- Statement by Mr. Fred Senkbeil, personal interview.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, personal interview.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Statement by Mr. Edward Frase, personal interview.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt (July 9, 1937), personal interview. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is the former Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states and hereafter will be referred to as LC-MS.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Bethany Lutheran church, Salisbury, Maryland, “Dedication of Bethany Lutheran Church”, May 29, 1949, printed pamphlet found in file at Bethany Lutheran Church.
- Ibid.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview; “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”; Bethany, “Dedication”.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview; Bethany, “Dedication”.
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Bethany, “Dedication”.
- Ibid.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Bethany “Dedication”.
- Southeastern District, LC-MS, “Statistical Report for 1954” (Found in files of Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland).
- Southeastern District, LC-MS, “Statistical Report for 1959” (Found in files of Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland).
- “History of Bethany – 1931 and 1946”.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview. The United Lutheran church is now known as the Lutheran Church in America. (Reference to them from this point on will be ULC or the LCA.)
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Statement by the Rev. Donald E. Bauer, Present pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland (July 8, 1973), personal interview.
- Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Statement by Rev. Bauer, personal interview.
- A carbon copy of a letter from Clayton Hammell to the southeastern District officials dated June 7, 1954.
- A letter form President William Kohn of the Southeastern District to Rev. Clayton Hammell, dated June 14, 1954.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, Bear Witness Through Faith, a printed pamphlet which includes a brief history of Faith Lutheran Church, written in 1964. No page numbers.
- Statement by rev. Bauer, personal interview.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bear Witness.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bear Witness.; Statement by Mr. Frank Reinhardt, personal interview.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bear Witness.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bear Witness.
- Statement by Rev. Bauer, personal interview.
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bear Witness.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes, p. 186.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes, p. 186
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, “Church Council Minutes – 1949” (Found in files of Bethany Lutheran Church in loose-leaf form).
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Minutes, p. 270.
- The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland June 26, 1965.
- Statement by Rev. Bauer, personal interview.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, “The Bethany Bulletin” Vol. 4, No. 11, June 1969. A mimeographed Newsletter found in the files of Bethany Lutheran Church.
- Statement by Rev. Bauer, personal interview.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Clark, Charles B. The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc. 1950. 3 vols.
A detailed work on life on the Eastern Shore. There is a chapter on churches which covers the history before the Lutherans were very active. Limited value for this paper.
Truitt, Charles J. Historic Salisbury, Maryland Garden City, New York:
Country Life Press, 1932.
A general work with one chapter dealing with the early church history in Wicomico County. There is only a passing reference to the Lutheran Church.
Wentz, Abdel Ross, A Basic History of Lutheranism in America. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1964.
A thorough study of Lutheranism which gives a good understanding of the different Lutheran bodies and their customs.
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
Bauer, Donald E.: July 8, 1973
Pastor Bauer is pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. He was an excellent source, primary and secondary for facts about the founding and history of Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland
Frase, Mr. Edward: June 27, 1973.
Mr. Frase was an original member and officer of Bethany Lutheran Church of Salisbury. He provides much information that proved accurate.
Malchow, Mrs. Helen: June 27, 1973.
Mrs. Malchow was instrumental in the founding of Bethany Lutheran Church of Salisbury. She gave valuable information for this paper.
Reinhardt, Mr. Frank: July 9, J.973.
Mr. Reinhardt is a self-made historian who keeps track of everything that happens in his life. His information about the reorganization of the church seems extremely accurate.
Senkbeil, Mr. Fred: June 29, 1973.
Mr. Senkbeil was an original member of Bethany Lutheran Church. He substantiated the information given by others and gave additional information.
Vollmer, Mrs. Hazel: July 8, 1973.
Mrs. Vollmer’s late husband was the first President of Bethany Congregation. She was able to substantiate what others had said but offered no new information.
DOCUMENTS
Bethany Lutheran Church; Salisbury, Maryland. Church Council Minutes – 1937.
Gives information about official actions of the congregation during; 1937.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland, “Church Council Minutes” –
1949 (Looseleaf).
Gives information about official actions of congregation.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Church Record. October
- – 1973.
This book is the official record book of Bethany Lutheran Church. It lists baptisms and all other official acts. It has a brief summary of the early years of the church.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. “Constitution and By-laws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salisbury, Maryland 11 1934. (Mimeographed)
A copy of the congregation’s first constitution.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Dedication of Bethany Lutheran Church. May 29, 1949.
This pamphlet is of great value since it gives a brief history of a period when no records were kept.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Financial Secretary Book 1933-36.
A valuable aid in determining names of early members of Bethany Lutheran Church.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Financial Secretary Records. 1937-1942. A valuable aid in determining names of early members and some activities of Bethany Lutheran Church.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. History of Bethany Lutheran Church 1931 and 1946”, author unknown” (mimeographed).
This is a brief history without documentation of the two founding dates of Bethany Lutheran Church. It gives valuable information.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Minutes of Congregational Meetings 1933-1964.
Contains all the information about the officially approved business of the congregation.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Service Record, 1937-1942.
This book supplies information concerning attendance figures and the pastors who conducted, services.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. “The Bethany Bulletin”.
Vol. IV, No. ll, June 1969.
A monthly newsletter published by the congregation giving activities. Excellent source of information.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Treasury – book. 1933-1942.
The entries in this ledger helped to establish dates and names.
Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland. Bear Witness Through Faith.
This stewardship pamphlet provides a brief history of Faith Lutheran Church, Salisbury, Maryland.
Malchow, Miss Augusta. Baptismal Certificate dated April 19, 1931, from
Immanuel- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Preston, Maryland.
Valuable in determining date of request for Lutheran congregation in Salisbury, Maryland.
Malchow, Mrs. Helen. Baptismal Certificate dated 1919 from St. Matthew’s
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Princess Anne, Maryland.
Valuable in discovering the existence of this congregation.
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vienna, Maryland. Service Record.
This is a listing of each worship service with all the statistics for each Sunday.
Southeastern District, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. “Statistical Report for 1954”.
This form gives statistical data for the congregation for the year 1954.
Southeastern District, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.. “Statistical Report for 1959”.
This form gives statistical data for the congregation for the year 1959.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Handbook. St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 1967.
This booklet supplies the information that is needed to understand the policies of the parent church body.
LETTERS
Hammell, Clayton W. Carbon of letter to District officials dated June 7, 1954.
Speaks of pastor’s concern over attempts of the ULC to open, a congregation in Salisbury Maryland.
Kohn, William. Letter to Clayton Hammell dated June 14″ 1954.
This is the Districts response to Pastor Hammell’s concern.
NEWSPAPERS
The Salisbury Times, [Maryland] October 3, 1931.
Gives details of the first Lutheran service to be held in Wicomico County.
The Daily Times, [Salisbury, Maryland] June 26, 1965.
Gives details of the pastor leaving Bethany Lutheran Church and the new pastor arriving.
MEN WHO HAVE SERVED CONGREGATIONS IN SALISBURY, MARYLAND
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Name Position Date Served
Arthur Wittrock Student-pastor September 1931 – April 1932
Henry E. Dederer Student-pastor April 1932 – December 1932
Casimir S. David Student-pastor January 1933 – August 1934
Elmer M. Elliott Student-pastor August 1934 – August 1935
Oscar’ E. Milke Student-pastor August 1935 – August 1937
Leonard. Pransche Student-pastor August 1937 – August 1938
Walter C. Martin Student-pastor August 1938 – August 1939
Bernhard Schuldt Student-pastor August 1939 – April 1940
Leonard Pranschke Graduate April 1940 – January 1941
Howard. Georg Graduate February 1941 – November 1942
Paul C. Halls Pastor-St. John November 1942 – March 1943
Lutheran Church Dover, Del.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – ———– March 1943 – July 1946
Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer Pastor August 1946 – December 1953
Clayton W. Hammell Pastor March 1954 – April 1964
Herbert J. Krieger Interim Pastor April 1964 – July 1965
Cambridge, MD
Lawrence R. Lineberger Pastor July 1965 – August 1971
Frederick Klein Interim Pastor August 1971 – March 1972
Seaford, DE
Robert H. Sorenson Pastor March 1972 –
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
John L. Strube Pastor October 1954 – May 1959
Rodney Gatzke Student-pastor June – August 1959
Edgar Koehnlein Pastor September 1959 – June 1961
Donald E. Bauer Pastor July 1961 –