Presbyterian Missions to Polish Immigrants: 2023 Research Fellowship

Dr. Kazimierz Bem, of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Wroclaw (Poland) and pastor of First Church (Marlborough, MA [UCC]), was awarded a PHS research grant this year (2023) to work on his project “Presbyterian Missions to Polish Immigrants in Baltimore, c. 1880-1940.” On a recent visit to PHS to conduct research in the archives, Dr. Bem sat down with us to talk about his experience researching with us.
To learn more about our research fellowship program, visit: www.history.pc...

[@stephanottawa7890]

I wonder if Mr. Bem knows about the Concordia Historical Society Quarterly based in St. Louis, Missouri, and their work on this very subject. Many of the people who he was describing as Poles who spoke German were Masaurians who had immigrated from East Prussia. Some were Reformed, but most were Lutheran and there was some movement between the two church forms.

[@kazimierzbem]

Yes, I will be referencing the work by Lutherans - but my focus is on the "Frozen Chosen" though their main missionary, Rev. Fox, was himself Lutheran

[@stephanottawa7890]

Great, Mr. Bem...I know of another group of which you are probably aware. They come from East Prussia and were probably at least partly Polish or Masurian. They have certain habits that seem to be particular to them alone, at least in today's Canada. For instance, they pray twice at meals: At first blessing the food and then at the end giving thanks. All remain at the table for the length of the meals. I being a slow eater was always conscious of others waiting for me to finish. Another habit is to read sermons from books of the 18th and 19th century. This is often in church in the evenings or at home now as there are few churches with evening services now. The most striking is to kneel on the floor to pray. It does not matter if there are kneelers or not (there is in the one church in Guelph, ON), but be it carpet, hardwood flooring or dirt, all kneel on the floor. Few can still speak Masaurian as it was discouraged in the Nazi period, but hymns are still sung in a Masuarian style. Let me know if you know about this group or have had contact with them. Thanks @@kazimierzbem

[@phawarchannel1853]

Pleng udei u postor jong ka Presbyterian u la change sha ka fellow ship.