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John George Butler

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The Rev. John George Butler

John George Butler (January 28, 1826 – August 2, 1909) was a prominent Lutheran clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate and as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.

Early years

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John George Butler was born in Cumberland, Maryland on January 28, 1826, the son of Jonathan Butler.[1] His paternal grandfather and namesake was a well-known pioneer minister of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He was educated at the Cumberland Academy and graduated from the Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College), and the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He worked for a time at his father's store in Berlin, Pennsylvania.[2]

Ministry

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Ordained in 1848, he became pastor of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. in 1849, serving there twenty-four years. He was one of the first regimental and hospital chaplains appointed by President Abraham Lincoln at the outbreak of the American Civil War. He also served as chaplain to George Atzerodt, one of Lincoln's assassins, assuring him of divine compassion even to the gallows.[3] At the end of the war he returned to Washington and was elected Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.

He was the organizing pastor of the Luther Place Memorial Church, in Washington, D.C., founded in 1873. He was also responsible for the heroic statue of Martin Luther in Luther Place, erected in 1884 on Luther's 400th anniversary.[1]

Butler served as Chaplain of the Senate (1886–1893), and as professor of church history and homiletics at Howard University.[4] He died at the age of 83, on August 2, 1909, in his home, in Washington, D.C.[5]

Personal life

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John George and Ann E. Butler were the parents of Ella C. Butler, Dr. William K. Butler, Charles H. Butler (who was also a Lutheran pastor), and Grace E. Butler.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gates, Merrill Edwards, ed. (1905). Men of Mark in America: Ideals of American Life. Vol. 1. Men of Mark Publishing Company. pp. 185–187. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Jensson, Jens Christian (1890). American Lutheran Biographies; Or, Historical Notices of Over Three Hundred & Fifty Leading Men of the American Lutheran Church. American Theological Library Association. pp. 129–131. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Clark, Allen Culling (1925). Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital. Press of W.F. Roberts Company. p. 135. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Breidenbaugh, Edward Swoyer, ed. (1882). The Pennsylvania College, Books 1832–1882. Gettysburg College Alumni Association. p. 356. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Dr. John G. Butler Dead". The New York Times. Washington. August 3, 1909. p. 7. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ 1880 U S Census
Religious titles
Preceded by 45th US House Chaplain
March 4, 1869 – December 6, 1875
Succeeded by
Preceded by 48th US Senate Chaplain
March 15, 1886 – April 6, 1893
Succeeded by