# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 10 01_S23
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

23

Lutheran Missionary Intelligence. II.

Frankenmut, Bridgeport P. O. Saginaw, Co. Mich., 6 Sept. 1850.

It was on the morning of the 27th of June of this year, when with a fresh wind we sailed out of the mouth of the little Sibiwaing River into the restless Lake Huron, to cross over to the Indian village of Shebahyongk, 8 miles distant, which will be in friendly remembrance with you, dear reader, from earlier reports. Our little vessel was crowded this time with a motley cargo. It carried not only all the members of our local Private Conference, which, consisting of 4 pastors and 3 missionaries, had just been assembled at Sibiwaing, but also 2 new arrivals from Germany and a German wanderer were aboard; then the two wives of the missionaries Auch and Maier, together with the whole mission family, that is, the festively adorned boys of the Sibiwaing Indian school; even some German countrymen who are settled around Sibiwaing had appeared in their best Sunday coats, and the old Indian doctor of Frankenmut brought up the rear, who will likewise be still remembered by you. If you had seen us thus flying over the waves with faces beaming with joy, you would at once have read from it that the day must be a happy day for us. And why should we not have rejoiced and been merry? For the little Indian church at Shebahyongk had at last, with the help of God, been finished. And today it was to be dedicated, and at the same time Missionary Maier was to be installed in it as the called preacher of his young congregation from among the heathen. But how our joy was heightened when, after a short voyage, we drew near to the little bay into which the Shebahyongk empties, and saw between the green trees the neat little log church shimmering forth, which bore on its eastern gable-peak a massive cross, a quiet and yet eloquent sign of peace, shining brightly over the dark forests which had so long been covered by the thick darkness of heathenism. We would gladly have wished the river a less shallow mouth, in order to hasten in quickly and view everything close at hand. At last, after many a hard stroke of the oar, we arrived at the goal, and now we went at full run to the church, to look at it from within. New joy surprised us when we saw the walls lovingly adorned by Indian hands with green boughs, with wreaths of leaves and flowers, as they had observed it here at Pentecost; when the neatly covered altar and a stately reading-desk, which took the place of the pulpit, looked upon us so kindly. But a still fairer adornment was soon to fill the bright room, when the little flock of Christians gathered from among the heathen came in festive garments, and men and women, boys and girls with joyful and yet reverent faces took their respective seats. The service was held, as necessity taught, in German and Indian. Pastor Gräbner, to whom the installation had been committed, preached first in German on 2 Cor. 5, 17—21, and treated, according to the text, of the Office which preaches reconciliation, setting forth in lively speech its divine institution, its comfort and its necessity. Then followed the ceremony of installation, to which the holy Supper was joined. Finally Missionary Auch, who has gathered the little congregation, set forth to them by means of an interpreter, in the Indian language, the meaning of what had taken place before their eyes, in simple manner, and admonished them very earnestly and impressively concerning the holy duties which they owed to their teacher and pastor as a Christian congregation. Joy, emotion and thankfulness could be read clearly and gratifyingly on many of the red faces. In the afternoon the whole company assembled once more, to hear now also a dedication sermon, which Mr. Missionary Baierlein delivered to them through the interpreter in their language. Thereupon Lutheran hymns were raised in the Indian tongue from full throats, so that the walls echoed with the sweet sound. After the service had ended the Indians wished that the writer of this also, as their old friend, should make an address to them. That was done, and this festive occasion was used to set before their eyes, on the one hand, the blessed communion of saints, and on the other hand to remind them of their high calling, that as a firstfruits congregation, and as blessed by the gracious God with the pure Gospel and the unadulterated Sacraments, they should now also be a right light among the near heathen of their own tribe, of whom the Methodist spirit of fanaticism has taken possession in so sad a manner. It was moving to hear the answer, spoken in a loud and solemn tone, of the worthy chief, in which he not only expressed hearty joy at standing in fellowship of faith with us white Christians who have come from afar and with our brethren in the old fatherland, but also spoke many an insightful and apt word concerning the task which has been given them by the LORD of the Church. No wonder that on our joyful return voyage we gave vent to our thankful hearts in word and song, and praised the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who for His dear Son's sake has done such great things to us unworthy ones. But yet another joy was reserved for us on the next morning, when we were just preparing to begin our toilsome but richly sweetened journey home from Sibiwaing. For the Sibiwaing chief also, who, as it seemed, had purposely kept out of our way, presented himself for an interview. That we again seized the opportunity to bring before his soul very vividly his hitherto manifested great unfaithfulness, his hearty misery, the terrible danger that threatened him, like the old Pämasikeh, of going to hell as an old unconverted sinner, and in contrast the near help, so often offered him, you can well imagine. Now may the LORD grant our words some entrance into the stony heart of this grey-haired sorcerer and wicked man. He was visibly shaken and promised that now at last it should be different with him and his poor band, enslaved by him. And, as we hear, he has so far at least kept his word, in that since then he lives in good friendship with the missionaries there, sends his children regularly to school, and no longer hinders a father of a family from his band from coming to the instruction of catechumens. May he become a firstfruits of all the others who until now have had the Word in such immediate nearness and have, partly from fear of the chief, so long despised it. At home also I have had a good after-effect of this beautiful festival to perceive. The old Indian doctor is since then at times quite thoughtful, comes more diligently to the services and listens more attentively. Lately he declared in earnest that he would let himself be baptized as soon as he should have grasped and retained what is necessary, which with him, to be sure, goes very slowly. We told him whether he could then find no time at all to present himself during the week for special instruction, as he had in fact already begun. He excused himself, however, with the approaching corn harvest, promised to pay the better attention on Sundays, and hoped to be prepared for Baptism in a few weeks. God grant that these are not again excuses which the devil, whom he has so long served, put into his hand, in order to keep him altogether in his bondage.

Also at Point au gres things have at last taken a turn for the better in a quite gratifying way. The little band declared at Missionary Maier's last visit that they would let themselves be instructed and baptized, if they might get a missionary of their own. For that we now lack, to be sure, for the moment everything. In the first place a missionary; for although Mr. Strieter, a brother-in-law of Auch, has offered himself for missionary service and is just now with me, to prepare himself for Fort Wayne, yet years will pass over his necessary training. Then we also lack the money which is required to found a station there. For on account of the great distance and the remote situation of the place such a station would be not a little costly, and yet would promise besides, for the first, little future, since except the hitherto inaccessible Sable Indians there are no others in the neighborhood. Thus we find ourselves in considerable embarrassment. Yet since the band is friendly with the one at Shebahyongk, we cherish the glad hope that it will let itself be moved to move thither, or at least into the neighborhood, whereupon, to be sure, land would have to be bought for it. But how fine it would be if in this way the congregation there were strengthened, our activity concentrated, and thus from a firm point of support