THE VISIT OF JOHN BACHMAN TO FLORIDA

A couple of years ago I posted several blogs about the early History of Lutheranism in Florida, especially in Marion County. I have recently come across some more information to share. The biggest surprise has to do with The Rev. John Bachman (pictured), one of the greatest leaders in Southern Lutheranism and an oft-neglected figures in 19th century American History. Bachman (1790-1874) was a Lutheran minister who served as the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina, for 56 years. Her also served as President of the South Carolina Synod, and was one of the founders of both the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary a,d Newberry He was also a naturalist. He 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 protion 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. 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. It was mail day and I hoped to hear from home ; so off we started through the pine woods and circled around the trees for sixteen miles. At eight o'clock, P. M., in the moonlight, we reached our destination. Sure enough, there was your long and most delightful letter, written with your left hand. It repaid me for my night's ride ; it relieved my mind of anxiety and enabled me to sleep like a top. Thank God for all his goodness !

I preached to-day, (Sunday), and baptized Bachman Hazelius a boy of twelve, with a skin as black as Corvus-Americanu. Now I think that it will be no sin, and no playing the April fool, if I write you a letter.

There it is: Bachman was a visitor to the community at Long Swamp in Marion County. Long Swamp was the site of one of the three Lutheran Churches begun by Pastor Charles H. Bernheim in 1859. The Col. S. mentioned is undoubtably Col. Adam Summer, formerly of Pomaria, South Carolina whom Bachman had known for some years.

I am convinced that Bachman must have preached on April 1 to the congregation that Bernheim had organized in Long Swamp. And now I have the name of one of the African American members of that church Bachman Hazelius who Bachman baptized. This again underlines that slaves were members of this Early congregation.

Bachman was a contradiction in regard to African-Americans. He supported the Confederacy and slavery, yet he worked aggressively to include African-Americans in his congregation in Charleston. He even encouraged several African-Americans to become ministers. His attitudes probably reflect the tensions that existed in the ante-bellum Lutheran churches in Florida. They included black and white members, but within the social and legal distinction of slave and slave-owner.  Those churches in Marion County couldn’t survive the upheaval of Civil War, Emancipation, and Reconstruction.

May the Lord bless you on your journey and greet you on your arrival.

Wayne




18838