Dedicated May 10, 1868 Martini Lutheran Church: Heart and Soul The 150th Anniversary History Sandra Lee Harper Church Historian Martini Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Maryland Dedicated November 6, 1977 March 21, 2018 Martini Lutheran Church: Heart and Soul The 150th Anniversary History Sandra Lee Harper Church Historian, Martini Lutheran Church Baltimore, Maryland I Am The Church I am the Church. I am the best friend you ever had; I am sung about with sweet memories, Memories of brides, Memories of mothers Memories of boys and girls. I am blessed with loving thoughts, Crowned with helping hands and hearts; I have safeguarded you in your paths; I have lifted the fallen and strengthened the weak; I have helped the distressed; I have shown mercy; I bestowed kindness and offer a friendly hand; I am fellowship, friendship and love. Sometimes, someday in the near future, You will yearn for the touch of my hand. I am your comforter, and your best friend; I am calling you now; I am the Church. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 7 The Beginning.................................................................................................................................. 8 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 10 German Immigrants Come To America ........................................................................................ 10 Carl F. Louis Comes to Baltimore ......................................................................................... 11 The Call to the First Pastor of Martini Lutheran Church ............................................................... 13 Alexander Einwaechter Church Council Secretary - His Biography .............................................. 16 The Description of the Church by Rev. Carl Frincke in “Der Lutheraner” .................................... 19 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 20 The Black Friday Flood of 1868 ..................................................................................................... 20 The Church Bells ............................................................................................................................ 21 Church Bells Electrified ........................................................................................................ 23 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 23 Martini’s Day School ..................................................................................................................... 23 Martini’s Preschool in 2002 ................................................................................................. 25 English Comes to Martini .............................................................................................................. 26 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 28 Biography of Eberhard Muhly- First Congregational President .................................................... 28 Pastors of Martini ......................................................................................................................... 31 Pictured are our pastors ...................................................................................................... 31 Parsonages ........................................................................................................................... 33 Seminex ......................................................................................................................................... 35 St. Paul’s Cemetery ....................................................................................................................... 36 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 38 The Baltimore City Mission Board ................................................................................................ 38 An Oral History of Founding LCMS Churches on the Eastern Shore .................................... 39 4 Manners and Etiquette ................................................................................................................. 40 The Renovation of the Old Church In 1905 .................................................................................. 41 Martini Lutheran’s Sunday School ................................................................................................ 43 The World War II Memorial Plaque .............................................................................................. 46 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 47 Vacation Bible School .................................................................................................................... 47 Prohibition and Martini Lutheran Church ..................................................................................... 47 Albert Fiedler’s History ................................................................................................................. 48 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 48 Sons of the Congregation Who Became Pastors .......................................................................... 49 The Church Moves Down the Street ............................................................................................. 49 Presidents of Martini Congregation .............................................................................................. 52 Martini’s Longest Serving Council Presidents ............................................................................... 52 Herbert F. Kuenne 1944 – 1971 ........................................................................................... 52 Martin E. Staehlin Jr. 1971 - 2012 ........................................................................................ 53 LIFE IN BALTIMORE IN THE EARLY DAYS ..................................................................... 53 A Call Letter to Pastor Elliott M. Robertson from Martini Lutheran Church in 1997 ................... 54 Heirloms ........................................................................................................................................ 56 Chandelier ............................................................................................................................ 56 Baptismal Font ..................................................................................................................... 56 Hilborne Roosevelt Pipe Organ ............................................................................................ 57 The Transfiguration Picture On The Reredos....................................................................... 60 Picture of “Christ Calming the Storm” and Other Art Work ................................................ 61 Waldemar Dieterich, the Artist ............................................................................................ 61 Stained Glass Windows ........................................................................................................ 62 The Rose Window ................................................................................................................ 65 Celebrations .................................................................................................................................. 66 Mortgage Burning ................................................................................................................ 66 Wyneken Weekend .............................................................................................................. 66 5 Pastors’ Anniversaries In The Ministry ................................................................................ 68 The Preakness and Martini .................................................................................................. 69 140th Anniversary ................................................................................................................ 71 Crystal Moll, Local Artist ...................................................................................................... 72 Joint Reformation Services .................................................................................................. 73 Organizations ................................................................................................................................ 74 The Beginning of Martini Ladies’ Society ............................................................................. 74 Augsburg Home and Martini’s Ladies .................................................................................. 75 The Altar Guild ..................................................................................................................... 76 The Walther League ............................................................................................................. 76 The Youth Group .................................................................................................................. 76 Men’s Society ......................................................................................................................