Remensnyder, Junius Benjamin

REMENSNYDER, rem´en-snai´´der, JUNIUS BENJAMIN: Lutheran; b. at Staunton, Va., Feb. 24, 1843. He was graduated from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa. (B.A., 1861), and the Gettysburg Theological Seminary (1865). He served in the 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1862–63, and after his ordination in 1865 held pastorates at St. John's, Lewistown, Pa. (1865–67), St. Luke's, Philadelphia (1867–74), Church of the Ascension, Savannah, Ga. (1874–80), and St. James', New York City, of which he has been the head since 1881. In theology he is conservative and is opposed to rationalism, favoring progressive and constructive, not destructive, criticism; he advocates educational rather than emotional methods in religion and in worship holds to the historic liturgies. He has written Heavenward: or, The Race for the Crown of Life (Philadelphia, 1874, new ed., 1908); Doom Eternal: The Bible and Church Doctrine of Everlasting Punishment (1880); The Work and Personality of Luther (New York, 1882); Lutheran Literature: Its Distinctive Traits and Excellencies (1883); The Six Days of Creation: Lectures on the Mosaic Account of the Creation, Fall, and Deluge (1886); The Real Presence (1890); The Lutheran Manual (1892); The Atonement and Modern Thought (Philadelphia, 1905); and Mysticism: Psychology, History., and Relation to Scripture, Church, and Christian Life (1909).