Inspirationalists

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The Inspirationalists (also known as The Community of True Inspiration and the Amana Church Society) were a group of German Lutherans who settled in West Seneca, New York after purchasing land from an Indian reservation. They later moved to Amana, Iowa when they became dissatisfied with the congestion of Erie County and the growth of Buffalo, New York.

Known first in Western New York as the Ebenezer Society, it was a religious group that ultimately traced its roots to Hesse in Germany. The movement became popular in the early nineteenth century as one of the many protests against the Lutheran Church. The founders of The Community of True Inspiration are said to be Eberhard Ludwig Gruber and Johann Friedrich Rock. Their religious practices, including avoidance of military service and refusal to take an oath, kept them in conflict with German authorities. Their religion continued to grow into Gruber and Rock's deaths. It was not until a reawakening sparked by Michael Krausert who preached for a revival and had much support.^[1]

Their beginning in the United States was in West Seneca and the Town of Elma. Ultimately, a number of communities, Amana Colonies, were founded in Iowa.

[edit] Notable Members

• Christian Metz
• Barbara Heinemann Landmann

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• F. Alan DuVal. Christian Metz: German-American Religious Leader & Pioneer. Ed. Peter Hoehnle. Penfield Books, 2005. ISBN 193204333-0
• The Amana Colonies, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary