Matthias Loy (March 17, 1828 - January 26, 1915) was an American

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

in the

Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio The Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States, commonly known as the Joint Synod of Ohio or the Ohio Synod, was a German-language Lutheran denomination whose congregations were originally located primarily in the U.S. state of Ohio ...

. Loy was a prominent pastor, editor, author and hymnist who served as president of

Capital University Capital University (Capital, Cap, or CU) is a private university in Bexley, Ohio. Capital was founded as the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio in 1830, and later was associated with that synod's successor, the Ame ...

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...

Biography

Matthias Loy was the fourth of seven children of Matthias and Christina Loy, immigrants from

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

who lived as tenant farmers in the Blue Mountain area of

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cumberland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 259,469. Its county seat is Carlisle. Cumberland County is included in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area. His ...

. In 1834, when Matthias was six years old, the family moved to Hogestown, a village nine miles west of

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in P ...

. When he was fourteen, he was sent as an apprentice to Baab and Hummel, printers of

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

. Here he worked for six years, while attending school. He received a classical education at

Harrisburg Academy Harrisburg Academy is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school in Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a diverse student body in nursery through 12th grade. The school was established in 1784 by John Harris Jr., the fou ...

and graduated at

Trinity Lutheran Seminary Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is an Evangelical Lutheran seminary in Columbus, Ohio. History In 1830, the German Theological Seminary of the Ohio Synod, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (ELTS), was f ...

in 1849. In 1849, he entered the Lutheran ministry and became pastor at

Delaware, Ohio Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County, Ohio, United States. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio ...

. In 1865 he resigned his pastorate to become professor in the Theological Seminary of

, Columbus, Ohio. In 1881 he was elected president of Capital University. Following a critical attack of

angina pectoris Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is chest pain or pressure, usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). It is most commonly a symptom of coronary artery disease. Angina is typically the result of obstr ...

, he retired as professor emeritus in 1902 Loy edited the ''Lutheran Standard'', official periodical of the

, from 1864 until 1890. In 1881, he founded the ''Columbus Theological Magazine'' and managed it for ten years. He was President of the Ohio Synod from 1860 to 1878 and again from 1880 to 1894. In 1887,

Muhlenberg College Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Muhlenberg, the German patriarch of Luther ...

gave him the degree of

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ra ...

. He wrote twenty-one hymns and also translated a number of German hymns into the English language. He also edited a translation of ''Dr. Martin Luther's House Postil'' in 3 vols. (1874–1884). He died in Columbus on January 26, 1915.

Works

Books

*''The Doctrine of Justification'', (1862) *''Life of Luther'', translated (1869) *''Essay on the Ministerial Office'', (1870) *''Sermons on the Gospels'', (1888) *''Christian Prayer'', (1890) *''Christian Church'', (1896) *''Story of My Life'', (3rd ed. – 1905) *''The Augsburg Confession'', (1908) *''The Sermon on the Mount'', (1909) *''Sermons on the Epistles'', (1910)

Hymns

* ''The Law of God is Good and Wise'' * ''The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace'' * ''An Awe-full Mystery Is Here'' * ''Jesus, Thou Art Mine Forever'' * ''At Jesus' Feet Our Infant Sweet''

References

Other sources

*
Matthias Loy, Leader Of Ohio's Lutherans
' by C. George Fry, in the Scholarly Journal of the

Ohio Historical Society Ohio History Connection, formerly The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and Ohio Historical Society, is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1885. Headquartered at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio, Ohio History Connec ...

, Volume 76, pages 183–201. The reference notes for this article begin on pag
267
*
Matthias Loy, Theologian of American Lutheran Orthodoxy
' by C. George Fry, in the ''Springfielder'', October 1974, Vol 38, Number 4.
'' Dr. Matthias Loy and his role in the Election Controversy''
by Timothy Kant (WLS Essays.net)

External links

Lutherans In America – The Synodical Conference
on the website of the

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwauke ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loy, Matthias 1828 births 1915 deaths 19th-century American Lutheran clergy 19th-century American poets American educators American Lutheran theologians American people of German descent Capital University people American Lutheran hymnwriters Muhlenberg College alumni People from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Harrisburg Academy alumni