Background
His father, born in Germany at Rinteln on the Weser, emigrated to America in 1776, enlisted immediately in the Revolutionary army, and became a commissioned surgeon in the Marquis de la Rouerie's regiment.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
John Gottlieb Morris
Edit ProfileEducation
John Gottlieb attended the York County Academy, entered the College of New Jersey in 1820, and transferred after two and a half years to Dickinson College, where he graduated in 1823.
Having decided to enter the Lutheran ministry, he studied with the Rev. Samuel Simon Schmucker [q. v. ] at New Market, Va. , 1823-24, attended Princeton Theological Seminary, 1825-26, and then returned to Schmucker as a member of the first class in Gettysburg Theological Seminary, 1826-27.
For the rest of his life he lived in Baltimore, where he was pastor of the First English Lutheran Church, 1827-60, librarian of the Peabody Institute, 1860-65, and pastor of the Third Church, 1864-73.
Career
On the advice of friends who feared that the British might capture and execute him as a deserter, he changed his name from Moritz to Morris.
Even as a young man he was one of the leaders of his church.
In 1831 he founded the Lutheran Observer, which in 1833 he turned over to Benjamin Kurtz [q. v. ].
In 1846, with Kurtz and S. S. Schmucker, he went to London to attend the first convention of the Evangelical Alliance.
In 1851 he and Kurtz founded Lutherville, a suburb of Baltimore, which thereafter was his summer home.
He published a number of books and contributed copiously to church papers, his last article appearing on the day of his death.
His common sense, gruff kindliness, and independence of spirit became proverbial.
Quarterly, July 1926; the Sun (Baltimore), Oct. 11, 1895; A. R. Wentz, Hist.
Ev.
Luth.
Synod of Md. (1920) and Hist.
Gettysburg Theol.
Sem.
(1926).
The first and last of these contain lists of his publications. ]
Religion
He retained into his ninety-second year much of the mental and physical vigor of his prime and enjoyed in the Lutheran Church the honors of a Nestor.
Connections
After the Revolution he married and settled as a physician at York.
- married:
- Eliza
- nephew:
- Charles
- Friend:
- Charles
He was ordained at Frederick, Md., Oct. 15, 1827, and on Nov. 21 of the same year married Eliza Hay, who bore him several daughters and died in 1875.
He and his nephew, Charles Augustus Hay q.v., founded the Lutheran Historical Society and built up its great collection of books, documents, and other materials.
From the theological dissensions that wracked the General Synod he stood, like his closest friend, Charles Philip Krauth q.v., apart, trusted and sometimes claimed by all factions, but at heart in sympathy with the moderate conservatives.
