By bringing about 750 traditionalist Lutherans from Saxony to Missouri in 1838-39, Martin Stephan struck a blow for religious liberty. Those Lutherans would form the basis for what became The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. But Stephan himself soon was accused of sexual immorality, misusing funds, teaching false doctrine, and ignoring fellow leaders. He was expelled from his community in Perry County, Mo., stripped of most of his possessions, taken across the Mississippi River and abandoned, in a clear example of frontier justice.
You can read Martin Stephan’s story on Page 99 of Beer, Brats, and Baseball: St. Louis Germans by Jim Merkel. The book will be out in September and is available through Amazon.com. The release/signing party will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 at the Feasting Fox, 4200 S. Grand. Blvd. in St. Louis.
Jim Merkel the Writer 