The Autobiography of Bishop Wilhelm Wagner Orwig (1810–1889)

Bishop Wilhem Wagner Orwig (1810–1889) was an influential leader in the Evangelische Gemeinschaft / Evangelical Association. Orwig founded the Association’s publishing house and developed its newspaper, Der Christliche Botschafter, into an important Christian periodical. Orwig held several other important positions throughout his career, including Bishop, President of Union Seminary, and President of the Missionary Society. Orwig also engaged in theological disputation, and was a key defender of the doctrine of entire sanctification. Orwig authored or compiled over 13 volumes, including sermon collections and hymn books. During Orwig’s lifetime, the Evangelische Gemeinschaft experienced profound language change. Orwig wrote primarily in German, but, by the time of his death, the younger members could no longer understand German. This language change has left German-language American Methodism relatively unstudied. Orwig’s autobiography, translated here, offers a glimpse into the spiritual and practical world of the German-speaking Gemeinschaft.