wfn.org | Newsline: Historical marker for colonial-era printer Christopher Saur is dedicated

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

HISTORICAL MARKER FOR COLONIAL-ERA PRINTER CHRISTOPHER SAUR IS DEDICATED IN  PHILADELPHIA

(April 24, 2009) Elgin, IL -- On April 19, a Pennsylvania Historical Marker  honoring the life of colonial-era printer Christopher Saur (1695-1758) was  dedicated in Philadelphia. The event was held jointly by the Historical Co mmittee of the Church of the Brethren's Atlantic Northeast District and the  Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Saur printed the first European language Bible in America as well as numero us other religious books and hymnals. His German newspaper was the most wid ely read in Colonial America, and he used his power and the influence of hi s press to improve conditions for the German immigrant minority in Pennsylv ania.

The event took place at Trinity Lutheran Church on Germantown Avenue in Phi ladelphia, across the street from where the marker will be placed. On the c hurch grounds is the only building owned by Saur that survives to this day.  Street construction prevented the marker from being installed on the day o f its dedication, but it should be placed by the end of June.

Around 40 people attended the dedication, including two families who are Sa ur descendants. Bryan Van Sweden represented the Pennsylvania Historical an d Museum Commission; his wife is a Saur descendant. Ken Leininger, a book d ealer and avid Saur collector from Cocalico Church of the Brethren in Denve r, Pa., brought a 1743 Saur Bible and several books printed by Saur.

The committee made a display of the highlights of Saur's life. Included in  the display was a photograph of the Saur stained glass from Bethany Theolog ical Seminary--the Church of the Brethren seminary in Richmond, Ind.--taken  by Jim Chagares. A video about Saur made by Al Huston was viewed by many a ttendees.

Stephen L. Longenecker, professor and chair of the Department of History an d Political Science at Bridgewater (Va.) College, gave a keynote address de scribing Saur as a man of conviction who was a staunch separatist, fought s lavery, and used his influence politically to improve the life of the Germa n immigrant minority group. Longenecker highlighted the importance of stimu lating historical interest using markers, and remarked about the lessons th e present-day church can learn from Saur's many benevolent activities.

Kay Weaver, director of Stewardship for Atlantic Northeast District and a m ember of the Historical Committee, led the singing of hymns from the 1901 B rethren Hymnal highlighting the importance of the Bible. Opening and closin g prayers were offered by district moderator John Hostetter and pastor Robe rt DiSalvio of Amwell Church of the Brethren in Stockton, N.J. David Fuchs,  MD, serves as chair of the Atlantic Northeast District Historical Committe e.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org