BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Seiss: Lutheran (General Council); was born near
Graceham, Maryland, U.S.A. on March 18, 1823; and died at Philadelphia on June
21, 1904.
His parents were Moravian, but he became a student in
Pennsylvania college, Gettysburg, 1839-41, without graduating; and his
theological study was mostly private. He became pastor at Martinsburg and
Shepherdstown, Virginia., 1843; Cumberland, Maryland., 1847; Baltimore,
Maryland., 1852; of St. John's, Philadelphia, 1858; and of Holy Communion,
Philadelphia, 1874.
He was one of the most eloquent preachers of the
country, possessing a style that was clear, ornate, and forceful. He was one of
the founders of the General Council, and one of the committee which made its
Church Book. He edited Prophetic Times, a monthly, 1863-75; was joint editor of
The Lutheran, 1860-61; of The Lutheran and Missionary, 1861-73; editor of the
latter, 1873-79; and travelled in Europe and the East, 1864-65.
He was
the author of Lectures on Epistles to the Hebrews (Baltimore, 1846); Baptist
System Examined (Philadelphia, 1854); Digest of Christian Doctrine (1855); Last
Times (1856); Holy Types (1860); Book of Forms (1860); Evangelical Psalmist
(1860); Parable of the Ten Virgins (1862); Ecclesia Lutherana (1867); Plain
Words, sermons (1869); Lectures on the Apocalypse (3 vols., 1870-84; 6h ed.,
1900); The Javelin, by a Lutheran (1871); Uriel, Occasional Discourses (1874);
Church Song (1875-81); Lectures on the Gospels (2 vols., 1876); A Miracle in
Stone (1877); Recreation Songs (1878); Thirty-three Practical Sermons (1879);
Voices from Babylon (1879); Blossoms of Faith, sermons (1880); The Golden
Altar, manual of private devotions (New York, 1882); Gospel in the Stars
(Philadelphia, 1882); Luther and the Reformation (1883); Lectures on the
Epistles (2 vols., 1885); Riggght Life (1886); Letters of Jesus (1889); Beacon
Lights (1900); The Christ and his Church (1902); and Recent Sermons (1904).