LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Concordia Lutheran Seminary

70 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW XII
ordained, Boehm made this position one which would have strategic
significance throughout the remainder of the eighteenth century.
How did this happen? Soon after he was named Court Chaplain in 1705,
Boehm translated into English an account by Francke of the rise and
progress of Francke’s Weisenhaus (orphanage) and the other institutions in
Halle. 52 The translation, entitled Pietas Hallensis, familiarized the English
public with the significant work which Francke was doing in Halle and
raised the profile of the German Lutheran Court Chaplain within religious
circles in London. In his preface to the translation, Boehm also wrote an
account of the history of Pietism. The Pietas Hallensis was positively
received not only by theologians but also from other prominent people in
England. It marked the beginning of financial contributions and students
from England for the Halle institutions. It also created an appreciation of
Halle Pietists in England and provided the basis for co-operation in a number
of charitable and missionary activities between Halle Pietists and the SPCK
in London.
The first such activity involved care for a group of German Protestants
from the Palatinate who arrived in London en route to America. Fleeing
economic hardship in Germany from the ravages of high taxes, war, and bad
weather, the first 53 emigrants arrived in 1708 under the leadership of a
Lutheran pastor, Joshua Kocherthal. Prompted by Boehm, Queen Anne
provided them with funds and clothing, German Bibles, and copies of
Johann Arndt’s True Christianity for their trip to New York. The following
April over 800 more arrived on Boehm’s doorstep, the beginning of a flood
of emigrants which eventually reached many thousands. Boehm was absent
on a trip to Germany when the highest number of emigrants arrived so the
other German Lutheran pastors bore the brunt of the work. But when he
returned, accompanied by a young theological student, Samuel Urlsperger,
he once more became a key player in the help given.
When the Palatine emigrants headed for North America, it was suggested
that Francke should provide a suitable minister for the emigrants and that the
English would provide for his financial support. However, the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) had responsibility for the spiritual care
of emigrants to North America and this society required that ministers to
whom they provided financial support be ordained as Anglicans. Although
Francke and Boehm had no difficulties dealing with the Anglicans as fellow
Christians, they still regarded them as Calvinists and were not prepared to
have their men accept Anglican orders to effect such co-operation. (The SPG
also took the approach that Christian unity could be achieved and divisions
overcome by official acceptance of the Anglican liturgy and the historic
52 Die Fusstapfen des noch lebenden und waltenden liebreichen und getreuen Gottes (Halle,
1701).