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{{Short description|American publisher and Mennonite leader (1835–1830)}}
⚫
'''John Fretz Funk''' (April 6, 1835 - January 8, 1930) was a publisher and leader of the [[Mennonite Church]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mcusa-archives.org/personal_collections/FunkJohnF.html |title= John Fretz Funk, 1835-1930, Collection |accessdate= 2009-03-15 }}</ref> Funk published the ''[[Herald of Truth]]'' from 1864 until 1908 when it merged with the ''[[Gospel Witness]]'' to form the ''[[Gospel Herald]]''.<ref name=GAMEO>{{cite web|last=Bender|first=Harold S.|title=Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/F868ME.html/?searchterm=john%20f.%20funk|work=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|accessdate=11 January 2012}}</ref> Jacob Clemens Kolb, in his preface to ''Bless the Lord, O My Soul'' quotes an unnamed commentator who said, "John F. Funk is the most important [Mennonite] man after [[Menno Simons]]."<ref name=Bless></ref>
{{redirect|John Funk|the American politician from Maryland|John B. Funk}}
[[File:John F. Funk in Earlier Years, circa 1870-1880 (15524412918) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Funk, circa 1870-80]]
⚫
'''John Fretz Funk''' (April 6, 1835 – January 8, 1930) was a publisher and leader of the [[Mennonite Church (1725–2002)|Mennonite Church]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mcusa-archives.org/personal_collections/FunkJohnF.html |title= John Fretz Funk, 1835-1930, Collection |accessdate= 2009-03-15 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090323115759/http://www.mcusa-archives.org/personal_collections/FunkJohnF.html |archivedate= 2009-03-23 }}</ref> Funk published the ''[[Herald of Truth]]'' from 1864 until 1908 when it merged with the ''Gospel Witness'' to form the ''Gospel Herald''.<ref name=GAMEO>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Bender|first=Harold S.|title=Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/F868ME.html/?searchterm=john%20f.%20funk|encyclopedia=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|access-date=11 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Jacob Clemens Kolb, in his preface to ''Bless the Lord, O My Soul'' quotes an unnamed commentator who said, "John F. Funk is the most important [Mennonite] man after [[Menno Simons]]."<ref name=Bless />


==Biography==
==Biography==
⚫
===Early Life===
⚫
John Fretz Funk was born on April 6, 1835 in [[Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Hilltown Township]], [[Bucks County]], [[Pennsylvania]] to Jacob Funk and Salome Fretz Funk.<ref name=GAMEO></ref> He was the great-grandson of Bishop [[Heinrich Funck]] (Henry Funk), who had immigrated to the [[Colony of Pennsylvania]] before 1720 on the ship ''Friendship''.<ref name=Bless></ref>


⚫
===Early life===
⚫
Attended Freeland Seminary (now [[Ursinus College]]) to become a public school teacher but taught for only two years in his home community before accepting the invitation of his brother-in-law Jacob Beidler to go, in 1857, to [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] to join him in his lumber business.<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
⚫
John Fretz Funk was born on April 6, 1835, in [[Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Hilltown Township]], [[Bucks County]], [[Pennsylvania]], to Jacob Funk and Salome Fretz Funk.<ref name=GAMEO /> He was the great-grandson of Bishop [[Heinrich Funck]] (Henry Funk), who had immigrated to the [[Colony of Pennsylvania]] before 1720 on the ship ''Friendship''.<ref name=Bless />

⚫
Attended Freeland Seminary (now [[Ursinus College]]) to become a public school teacher but taught for only two years in his home community before accepting the invitation of his brother-in-law Jacob Beidler to go, in 1857, to [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], to join him in his lumber business.<ref name=GAMEO />


===Chicago===
===Chicago===
In Chicago, Funk converted, in 1858, to [[Christianity]] at a [[Presbyterian]] [[Christian revival|revival]] and became heavily involved in various church activities and became a close acquaintance of noted American Evangelist [[Dwight L. Moody]].<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
In Chicago, Funk converted, in 1858, to [[Christianity]] at a [[Presbyterian]] [[Christian revival|revival]] and became heavily involved in various church activities and became a close acquaintance of noted American Evangelist [[Dwight L. Moody]].<ref name=GAMEO />


In 1860, Funk returned home to Bucks County, Pennsylvania to be baptized in the [[Mennonite]] Church and returned again in 1864 to marry Salome Kratz. Also in 1864, Funk began publishing the ''[[Herald of Truth]]''.<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
In 1860, Funk returned home to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to be baptized in the [[Mennonite]] Church and returned again in 1864 to marry Salome Kratz. Also in 1864, Funk began publishing the ''Herald of Truth''.<ref name=GAMEO />


===Elkhart===
===Elkhart===
In 1867, John F. Funk moved to [[Elkhart, Indiana|Elkhart]], [[Indiana]] with his wife and young daughter.
In 1867, John F. Funk moved to [[Elkhart, Indiana|Elkhart]], [[Indiana]], with his wife and young daughter.


On January 8, 1930, John F. Funk died at the age of 94 and was buried in the [[Prairie Street Cemetery]].
On January 8, 1930, John F. Funk died at the age of 94 and was buried in the Prairie Street Cemetery.


==Ministry==
==Ministry==
In Chicago in 1861, Funk was made superintendent of the Milwaukee Depot Sunday School.<ref name=ACKolb></ref>
In Chicago in 1861, Funk was made superintendent of the Milwaukee Depot Sunday School.<ref name=ACKolb />


Funk was ordained as a minister for a Mennonite congregation near [[Gardner, Illinois]] in 1865.<ref name=ACKolb>{{cite journal|last=Kolb|first=A. C.|title=John Fretz Funk 1835-1930: An Appreciation|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|year=1932|month=July|volume=6|issue=3|pages=144–155|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001472170&site=ehost-live|accessdate=5 March 2012}}</ref>
Funk was ordained as a minister for a Mennonite congregation near [[Gardner, Illinois]], in 1865.<ref name=ACKolb>{{cite journal|last=Kolb|first=A. C.|title=John Fretz Funk 1835-1930: An Appreciation|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|date=July 1932|volume=6|issue=3|pages=144–155|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001472170&site=ehost-live|accessdate=5 March 2012}}</ref>


About 1866, Funk and Peter Neff began a small Mennonite congregation in Chicago which lasted until Neff's house, the church's meeting place, was destroyed in the [[Great Chicago Fire]] of 1871.<ref name=Liechty></ref>
About 1866, Funk and Peter Neff began a small Mennonite congregation in Chicago which lasted until Neff's house, the church's meeting place, was destroyed in the [[Great Chicago Fire]] of 1871.<ref name=Liechty />

⚫
===Prairie Street Mennonite Church===


⚫
====Prairie Street Mennonite Church====
{{main|Prairie Street Mennonite Church}}
{{main|Prairie Street Mennonite Church}}
In 1870, Funk and other Mennonites living in and around Elkhart began meeting for church services in members' homes. A church building was completed in 1871 and the church was thereafter named [[Prairie Street Mennonite Church]] after the road on which it was situated.<ref name=Mishler>{{cite book|last=Mishler|first=Dorsa|title=The Prairie Street Mennonite Story: 1871-1996|year=1996|publisher=Mennonite Board of Missions|location=Elkhart, IN|pages=98}}</ref>
In 1870, Funk and other Mennonites living in and around Elkhart began meeting for church services in members' homes. A church building was completed in 1871 and the church was thereafter named [[Prairie Street Mennonite Church]] after the road on which it was situated.<ref name=Mishler>{{cite book|last=Mishler|first=Dorsa|title=The Prairie Street Mennonite Story: 1871-1996|year=1996|publisher=Mennonite Board of Missions|location=Elkhart, IN|pages=98}}</ref>


Funk became a [[bishop]] of the [[Mennonite Church]] on June 6, 1892, and served in that capacity until 1902 when he was relieved of his duties as bishop.<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
Funk became a [[bishop]] of the [[Mennonite Church (1725–2002)|Mennonite Church]] on June 6, 1892, and served in that capacity until 1902 when he was relieved of his duties as bishop.<ref name=GAMEO />


==Publishing==
==Publishing==
As a young man in Pennsylvania, Funk wrote some letters to the editor of the local paper. When he moved to Chicago, he began to subscribe to ''Das Christliche Volks-Blatt'', a paper edited by [[John H. Oberholtzer]] who had broken from the Mennonite Church near Funk's hometown.<ref name=Liechty>{{cite journal|last=Liechty|first=Joseph|coauthors=James O. Lehman|title=From Yankee to Nonresistant: John F. Funk's Chicago Years, 1857-1865|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|year=1985|month=July|volume=59|issue=3|pages=203–247|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000949112&site=ehost-live|accessdate=5 March 2012}}</ref>
As a young man in Pennsylvania, Funk wrote some letters to the editor of the local paper. When he moved to Chicago, he began to subscribe to ''Das Christliche Volks-Blatt'', a paper edited by [[John H. Oberholtzer]] who had broken from the Mennonite Church near Funk's hometown.<ref name=Liechty>{{cite journal|last=Liechty|first=Joseph|author2=James O. Lehman|title=From Yankee to Nonresistant: John F. Funk's Chicago Years, 1857-1865|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|date=July 1985|volume=59|issue=3|pages=203–247|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000949112&site=ehost-live|accessdate=5 March 2012}}</ref>


In 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War, Funk published ''War: Its Evils, Our Duty'', his first printing endeavor.<ref name=ACKolb></ref>
In 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War, Funk published ''War: Its Evils, Our Duty'', his first printing endeavor.<ref name=ACKolb />

⚫
On moving to Elkhart, Funk began his publishing company, originally named "John F. Funk and Brother" (as his younger brother A. K. Funk joined him in the venture). The company was incorporated as [[Mennonite Publishing Company]] in 1875.<ref name=GAMEO />

The most well known and enduring works to come out of Funk's publishing house were the English translations of ''[[The Complete Works of Menno Simons]]'' and ''[[Martyrs Mirror]]''.


⚫
On moving to Elkhart, Funk began his publishing company, originally named "John F. Funk and Brother" (as his younger brother [[A. K. Funk]] joined him in the venture). The company was incorporated as [[Mennonite Publishing Company]] in 1875.<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
===''Herald of Truth''===
===''Herald of Truth''===
{{main|Herald of Truth}}
{{main|Herald of Truth}}


In 1864, John F. Funk began the ''[[Herald of Truth]]'' a religious newspaper, published in both English and German. It was the first periodical of the [[Mennonite#"Old" Mennonite Church (MC)|"Old" Mennonite Church]].<ref name=GAMEO>{{cite web|last=Bender|first=Harold S.|title=Herald of Truth (Periodical)|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/H471.html/?searchterm=herald%20of%20truth|work=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|accessdate=12 March 2012}}</ref>
In 1864, John F. Funk began the ''[[Herald of Truth]]'' a religious newspaper, published in both English and German. It was the first periodical of the [[Mennonite#"Old" Mennonite Church (MC)|"Old" Mennonite Church]].<ref name=GAMEO/> The ''Herald'' consisted of a mix of published sermons, short articles of evangelical exhortation, poetry, accounts of journeys, Biblical exegesis, and obituaries. Though the ''Herald'' usually published quite a bit of "original" material, it nearly always also included selections from other publications such as the [[Sunday School#Publishers|''Sunday School Times'']] or [[Menno Simons#Works|the works of Menno Simons]].

The ''Herald'' consisted of a mix of published sermons, short articles of evangelical exhortation, poetry, accounts of journeys, Biblical exegesis, and obituaries. Though the ''Herald'' usually published quite a bit of "original" material, it nearly always also included selections from other publications such as the [[Sunday School#Publishers|''Sunday School Times'']] or [[Menno Simons#Works|the works of Menno Simons]].


===Young Denominational Leaders===
===Young Denominational Leaders===
Funk's publishing company attracted many young men who went on to be leaders in the [[Mennonite]] church. These include:
Funk's publishing company attracted many young men who went on to be leaders in the [[Mennonite]] church. These include:
*[[John S. Coffman]]
* [[John S. Coffman]]
*John Horsch
* [[John Horsch]]
*G. L. Bender
* G. L. Bender
*H. A. Mumaw
* H. A. Mumaw


===Decline===
===Decline===
John A. Hostetler argues in ''God Uses Ink'' that Funk's removal from his position of Bishop in 1902, increasing competition from the Mennonite Tract and Book Society as well as the [[Gospel Witness]], bankruptcy due to a bank failure in 1904, and finally a devastating fire in 1907 caused the steep decline in the fortunes of John F. Funk's [[Mennonite Publishing Company]].<ref name=Ink>{{cite book|last=Hostetler|first=John A.|title=God Uses Ink|year=1958|publisher=Mennonite Publishing House|location=Scottdale, PA}}</ref> James C. Juhnke argues that many of those factors reflected Funk's unwillingness to yield to a younger generation of Mennonite leaders.<ref name=Juhnke>{{cite book|last=Juhnke|first=James C.|title=Vision, Doctrine, War|year=1989|publisher=Herald Press|location=Scottdale, PA|pages=126–127}}</ref> In any case, all of the Company's periodicals were sold to the [[Mennonite Publishing Board]] in 1908.<ref name=GAMEOmpc>{{cite web|last=Bender|first=H. S.|title=Mennonite Publishing Company|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M467080.html/?searchterm=mennonite%20publishing%20company|work=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|accessdate=7 March 2012}}</ref>
John A. Hostetler argues in ''God Uses Ink'' that Funk's removal from his position of Bishop in 1902, increasing competition from the Mennonite Tract and Book Society as well as the Gospel Witness, bankruptcy due to a bank failure in 1904, and finally a devastating fire in 1907 caused the steep decline in the fortunes of John F. Funk's [[Mennonite Publishing Company]].<ref name=Ink>{{cite book|last=Hostetler|first=John A.|title=God Uses Ink|year=1958|publisher=Mennonite Publishing House|location=Scottdale, PA}}</ref> James C. Juhnke argues that many of those factors reflected Funk's unwillingness to yield to a younger generation of Mennonite leaders.<ref name=Juhnke>{{cite book|last=Juhnke|first=James C.|title=Vision, Doctrine, War|url=https://archive.org/details/visiondoctrinewa00juhn|url-access=limited|year=1989|publisher=Herald Press|location=Scottdale, PA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/visiondoctrinewa00juhn/page/n228 126]–127|isbn=9780836131048 }}</ref> In any case, all of the company's periodicals were sold to the Mennonite Publishing Board in 1908.<ref name=GAMEOmpc>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Bender|first=H. S.|title=Mennonite Publishing Company|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M467080.html/?searchterm=mennonite%20publishing%20company|encyclopedia=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|access-date=7 March 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==Aid to Russian Mennonite Immigrants==
==Aid to Russian Mennonite Immigrants==
When, in the 1870s, the [[Russian Empire]] moved to [[nationalize]] the diverse population within its borders and thus void military exemptions given to [[Mennonite]] colonies there, Funk invited representatives of those Mennonite communities to visit the [[United States]] and consider immigrating there. In 1872, four young men representing the [[Russian Mennonite|Russian Mennonites]] toured the United States and [[Canada]], evaluating the potential of immigration. John F. Funk hosted the young men at his house, just as he would later host many of the flood of [[Russian Mennonite|Russian Mennonites]] he had helped immigrate, most of whom arrived in [[1874]].<ref name=Schnell>{{cite journal|last=Schnell|first=Kempes|title=John F. Funk, 1835-1930, and the Mennonite Migration of 1873-1875|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|date=1|year=1950|month=July|volume=XXIV|issue=3|pages=199–229|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000661618&site=ehost-live|accessdate=23 January 2012}}</ref>
When, in the 1870s, the [[Russian Empire]] moved to [[nationalize]] the diverse population within its borders and thus void military exemptions given to [[Mennonite]] colonies there, Funk invited representatives of those Mennonite communities to visit the [[United States]] and consider immigrating there. In 1872, four young men representing the [[Russian Mennonite]]s toured the United States and [[Canada]], evaluating the potential of immigration. John F. Funk hosted the young men at his house, just as he would later host many of the flood of [[Russian Mennonite]]s he had helped immigrate, most of whom arrived in 1874.<ref name=Schnell>{{cite journal|last=Schnell|first=Kempes|title=John F. Funk, 1835-1930, and the Mennonite Migration of 1873-1875|journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review|date=1 July 1950|volume=XXIV|issue=3|pages=199–229|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0000661618&site=ehost-live|accessdate=23 January 2012}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
John F. Funk is credited with introducing into the [[Mennonite]] church many church functions which he had come into contact with during his time in Chicago, when he had attended churches of other denominations. Perhaps most notably is his championing of [[Sunday school|Sunday schools]].<ref name=Bless>{{cite book|last=Gates|first=Helen Kolb|title=Bless The Lord O My Soul: A Biography of John Fretz Funk|year=1964|publisher=Herald Press|location=Scottdale, Pennsylvania}}</ref>
John F. Funk is credited with introducing [[Sunday school]]s and other church functions into the [[Mennonite]] church, which he drew from his time in Chicago, when he had attended churches of other denominations.<ref name=Bless>{{cite book|last=Gates|first=Helen Kolb|title=Bless The Lord O My Soul: A Biography of John Fretz Funk|year=1964|publisher=Herald Press|location=Scottdale, Pennsylvania}}</ref>


Funk collected many volumes of [[Mennonite]] history which formed the core of the [[Mennonite Historical Library]].<ref name=GAMEO></ref>
Funk collected many volumes of Mennonite history which formed the core of the [[Mennonite Historical Library]].<ref name=GAMEO />


One of Funk's daughters, Phoebe, married [[Abram B. Kolb]], who worked with Funk at the [[Mennonite Publishing Company]].<ref name=Kolb>{{cite web|last=Steiner|first=Sam|title=Kolb, Abram B. (1862-1925)|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/contents/K6442.html|work=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|accessdate=11 January 2012}}</ref>
One of Funk's daughters, Phoebe, married Abram B. Kolb, who worked with Funk at the Mennonite Publishing Company.<ref name=Kolb>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Steiner|first=Sam|title=Kolb, Abram B. (1862-1925)|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/contents/K6442.html|encyclopedia=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online|publisher=Herald Press|access-date=11 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928201320/http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/contents/K6442.html|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>


Funk's personal papers are housed in the [[Mennonite Church USA Archives]].
Funk's personal papers are housed in the [[Mennonite Church USA Archives]].

==Works==
⚫
*''Warfare: Its Evils, Our Duty,'' 1863.
*[[iarchive:mennonitechurchh00funk|''The Mennonite Church and Her Accusers; a vindication of the character of the Mennonite Church of America from her first organization in this country to the present time,'' 1878]]
*''A Biographical Sketch of Bishop Christian Herr,'' compiled by John F. Funk, 1887
*''[[iarchive:peacefulkingdomo00twis|The Peaceful Kingdom of Christ or An Exposition of the 20th Chapter of the Book of Revelations, by Peter J. Twisk]]'' Translated by John F. Funk, 1913


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
==Further reading==
⚫
''Warfare: Its Evils, Our Duty'' - pamphlet by Funk, 1863.


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Funk, John Fretz
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Mennonite Church Leader and Publisher
| DATE OF BIRTH = April 6, 1835
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Bucks County, PA
| DATE OF DEATH = January 8, 1930
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Funk, John Fretz}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Funk, John Fretz}}
[[Category:1835 births]]
[[Category:1835 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:American Mennonites]]
[[Category:American Mennonites]]
[[Category:American schoolteachers]]
[[Category:American publishers (people)]]
[[Category:American publishers]]
[[Category:People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Mennonite writers]]
[[Category:Mennonite writers]]
[[Category: 19th-century Mennonite bishops]]
[[Category:19th-century Mennonite bishops]]
[[Category:Ursinus College alumni]]
[[Category:Ursinus College alumni]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Pennsylvania]]

{{US-publish-bio-stub}}
{{US-bishop-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:03, 21 November 2024

"John Funk" redirects here. For the American politician from Maryland, see John B. Funk.
Funk, circa 1870-80

John Fretz Funk (April 6, 1835 – January 8, 1930) was a publisher and leader of the Mennonite Church.[1] Funk published the Herald of Truth from 1864 until 1908 when it merged with the Gospel Witness to form the Gospel Herald.[2] Jacob Clemens Kolb, in his preface to Bless the Lord, O My Soul quotes an unnamed commentator who said, "John F. Funk is the most important [Mennonite] man after Menno Simons."[3]

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

John Fretz Funk was born on April 6, 1835, in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to Jacob Funk and Salome Fretz Funk.[2] He was the great-grandson of Bishop Heinrich Funck (Henry Funk), who had immigrated to the Colony of Pennsylvania before 1720 on the ship Friendship.[3]

Attended Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus College) to become a public school teacher but taught for only two years in his home community before accepting the invitation of his brother-in-law Jacob Beidler to go, in 1857, to Chicago, Illinois, to join him in his lumber business.[2]

Chicago

[edit]

In Chicago, Funk converted, in 1858, to Christianity at a Presbyterian revival and became heavily involved in various church activities and became a close acquaintance of noted American Evangelist Dwight L. Moody.[2]

In 1860, Funk returned home to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to be baptized in the Mennonite Church and returned again in 1864 to marry Salome Kratz. Also in 1864, Funk began publishing the Herald of Truth.[2]

Elkhart

[edit]

In 1867, John F. Funk moved to Elkhart, Indiana, with his wife and young daughter.

On January 8, 1930, John F. Funk died at the age of 94 and was buried in the Prairie Street Cemetery.

Ministry

[edit]

In Chicago in 1861, Funk was made superintendent of the Milwaukee Depot Sunday School.[4]

Funk was ordained as a minister for a Mennonite congregation near Gardner, Illinois, in 1865.[4]

About 1866, Funk and Peter Neff began a small Mennonite congregation in Chicago which lasted until Neff's house, the church's meeting place, was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.[5]

Prairie Street Mennonite Church

[edit]
Main article: Prairie Street Mennonite Church

In 1870, Funk and other Mennonites living in and around Elkhart began meeting for church services in members' homes. A church building was completed in 1871 and the church was thereafter named Prairie Street Mennonite Church after the road on which it was situated.[6]

Funk became a bishop of the Mennonite Church on June 6, 1892, and served in that capacity until 1902 when he was relieved of his duties as bishop.[2]

Publishing

[edit]

As a young man in Pennsylvania, Funk wrote some letters to the editor of the local paper. When he moved to Chicago, he began to subscribe to Das Christliche Volks-Blatt, a paper edited by John H. Oberholtzer who had broken from the Mennonite Church near Funk's hometown.[5]

In 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War, Funk published War: Its Evils, Our Duty, his first printing endeavor.[4]

On moving to Elkhart, Funk began his publishing company, originally named "John F. Funk and Brother" (as his younger brother A. K. Funk joined him in the venture). The company was incorporated as Mennonite Publishing Company in 1875.[2]

The most well known and enduring works to come out of Funk's publishing house were the English translations of The Complete Works of Menno Simons and Martyrs Mirror.

Herald of Truth

[edit]
Main article: Herald of Truth

In 1864, John F. Funk began the Herald of Truth a religious newspaper, published in both English and German. It was the first periodical of the "Old" Mennonite Church.[2] The Herald consisted of a mix of published sermons, short articles of evangelical exhortation, poetry, accounts of journeys, Biblical exegesis, and obituaries. Though the Herald usually published quite a bit of "original" material, it nearly always also included selections from other publications such as the Sunday School Times or the works of Menno Simons.

Young Denominational Leaders

[edit]

Funk's publishing company attracted many young men who went on to be leaders in the Mennonite church. These include:

Decline

[edit]

John A. Hostetler argues in God Uses Ink that Funk's removal from his position of Bishop in 1902, increasing competition from the Mennonite Tract and Book Society as well as the Gospel Witness, bankruptcy due to a bank failure in 1904, and finally a devastating fire in 1907 caused the steep decline in the fortunes of John F. Funk's Mennonite Publishing Company.[7] James C. Juhnke argues that many of those factors reflected Funk's unwillingness to yield to a younger generation of Mennonite leaders.[8] In any case, all of the company's periodicals were sold to the Mennonite Publishing Board in 1908.[9]

Aid to Russian Mennonite Immigrants

[edit]

When, in the 1870s, the Russian Empire moved to nationalize the diverse population within its borders and thus void military exemptions given to Mennonite colonies there, Funk invited representatives of those Mennonite communities to visit the United States and consider immigrating there. In 1872, four young men representing the Russian Mennonites toured the United States and Canada, evaluating the potential of immigration. John F. Funk hosted the young men at his house, just as he would later host many of the flood of Russian Mennonites he had helped immigrate, most of whom arrived in 1874.[10]

Legacy

[edit]

John F. Funk is credited with introducing Sunday schools and other church functions into the Mennonite church, which he drew from his time in Chicago, when he had attended churches of other denominations.[3]

Funk collected many volumes of Mennonite history which formed the core of the Mennonite Historical Library.[2]

One of Funk's daughters, Phoebe, married Abram B. Kolb, who worked with Funk at the Mennonite Publishing Company.[11]

Funk's personal papers are housed in the Mennonite Church USA Archives.

Works

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References

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  1. ^ "John Fretz Funk, 1835-1930, Collection". Archived from the original on 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bender, Harold S. "Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Herald Press. Retrieved 11 January 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b c Gates, Helen Kolb (1964). Bless The Lord O My Soul: A Biography of John Fretz Funk. Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press.
  4. ^ a b c Kolb, A. C. (July 1932). "John Fretz Funk 1835-1930: An Appreciation". Mennonite Quarterly Review. 6 (3): 144–155. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b Liechty, Joseph; James O. Lehman (July 1985). "From Yankee to Nonresistant: John F. Funk's Chicago Years, 1857-1865". Mennonite Quarterly Review. 59 (3): 203–247. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  6. ^ Mishler, Dorsa (1996). The Prairie Street Mennonite Story: 1871-1996. Elkhart, IN: Mennonite Board of Missions. p. 98.
  7. ^ Hostetler, John A. (1958). God Uses Ink. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House.
  8. ^ Juhnke, James C. (1989). Vision, Doctrine, War. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN 9780836131048.
  9. ^ Bender, H. S. "Mennonite Publishing Company". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Herald Press. Retrieved 7 March 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ Schnell, Kempes (1 July 1950). "John F. Funk, 1835-1930, and the Mennonite Migration of 1873-1875". Mennonite Quarterly Review. XXIV (3): 199–229. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  11. ^ Steiner, Sam. "Kolb, Abram B. (1862-1925)". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Herald Press. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
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