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Tercentennial Minute
Johann Christoph
Sauer prints his first Bible
When the historian Martin Grove Brumbaugh made his case that no
other church in Colonial America was as advanced in education
and achievement as the Brethren, he used Christopher Sauer and
the Sauer Press as the cornerstone of his argument. A printer
and polymath, he had a tremendous influence on the life of
Americans in the Germantown and Philadelphia area in the spheres
of religious, political, and daily life.
However, though his son,
Christopher Sauer II was a prominent Brethren minister and
leader, Johann Christoph Sauer I, was not, nor was he ever, a
member of the Brethren. No matter. His influence on the life of
the Colonial Brethren is incalculable.
Sauer was born on February 2,
1695, in Ladenburg in the Palatinate, Germany. His first
connection to the Brethren came when, in 1722, he bought a house
from Alexander Mack near Schwarzenau, Germany. He did not live
there long, however, emigrating to Pennsylvania two years
later. Sauer wrote back to Germany, enthused about the
limitless opportunities for personal advancement in the
colonies. Although he was a tailor, he demonstrated his
mechanical genius as an inventor by teaching himself twenty-six
trades, including apothecary, surgeon, clockmaker, lathe
operator, glazier, lampblack manufacturer, and most of all
printing.
His built his own press and
made his own ink. His German language newspapers and almanacs
put him in direct competition with Benjamin Franklin, who was
suspicious of German speakers. Sauer printed hymnals, books,
and pamphlets for people of all faiths, including the first
Brethren hymnal in America (1744).
But it was his work on his
German language Bible on which his fame rests. It was the first
bible printed in a European language in America. The work was
daunting. He could only print one sheet at a time, each sheet
consisting of four pages. He would then have to reset the type
for the next sheet. It was issued in 1743. Two other editions
followed in 1763 and 1776. His Bible was far less expensive
than those printed outside of the colonies, which were subject
to heavy tariffs.
Sauer stood foursquare against
slavery, for the rights of the Native Americans, and urged
German speakers to work with the English speaking Quakers in
political matters. Around 1754 he helped to scuttle Benjamin
Franklin’s Charity Schools, which promised education to the
German speaking population, but whose intent was to eradicate
their language and culture.
He was a philanthropist who
gave freely to many charitable causes, and personally met
incoming immigrants, going so far as to take the sick and needy
into his own house.
Though he did not join any particular church, Sauer
was himself a religious separatist, and was sympathetic to the
aims of the Brethren. He died on September 25, 1758. And
that’s the Tercentennial Minute for Sunday, September 28by Frank Ramirez, pastor of the Everett, PA
Church of the Brethren
posted by permission
The Everett church
graciously makes available these weekly vignettes from Brethren
history
to all who are interested during this
300th
anniversary year of our denomination.
Frank will be the guest preacher for our Homecoming on October
26, 2008
(this is our congregation's 100th anniversary year)
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