# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 02 04_S91
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

91

question, what is to be done for the practice of the Catechism.

As to the first matter, the old-church recitation of the Catechism, it were to be wished that the same might not only precede every churchly examination, but that it also be more frequently and more urgently recommended by the preachers to the heads of households for daily practice, as Dr. Luther did in the preface to the Small Catechism. Only this practice must be undertaken regularly, and care must be taken that the parts of the Catechism be recited slowly, distinctly and devoutly, which can be done better by individuals than by many together. The manner recently recommended, that the first three chief parts be recited without the explanation, but of each of the others only one customary proof-text, and of the so-called Appendix nothing at all, does at least not agree with the general prescriptions of the pure church orders, which we must indeed, wherever possible, take as our pattern in their entirety. This manner has, moreover, still much else against it. Since the recitation of the Catechism in church takes place chiefly for the sake of the grown, [for the children are in the first place committed to the school], this aim is attained on that way only very incompletely, in that the text as well as the explanation of the Catechism is changed in manifold ways, quite against the wise counsel of Dr. Luther that one should change both not by a syllable, because thereby the learners are easily led astray and never grasp a fixed form. How needful is it also for the grown, besides the text of the first three chief parts, which most indeed know, to have the excellent explanation, particularly of the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer, which many have either never learned or have forgotten again. The same holds of the questions and answers on Baptism, the Lord's Supper and the Office of the Keys, by whose omission these parts cease to be proper parts of the Catechism. One may also thereby easily awaken the suspicion that one approves the procedure of those who, from aversion to the doctrine and form of the Lutheran Catechism and under the pretext of wishing to stay merely with the actual words of the Bible, separate out all that as dross and keep only this as pure gold. How needful, finally, are also to the grown the part on Confession, the form of the house prayers, the Table of Duties and the Questions, of which most know little or nothing. What now is more advisable: to have on every Sunday a most incomplete Catechism recited whole, or the single parts of our Catechism recited completely from time to time? I must declare unconditionally for the latter. For the days, however, on which the Catechism instruction, and with it the recitation of the Catechism, should fall out, it would offer a substitute if the preachers in the pulpit were to read aloud in like manner whole parts of the Catechism and thereby at the same time give a pattern how it ought to be recited by the children, slowly, distinctly and devoutly.

In regard to the Catechism sermons Dr. Kl. remarks: "Certainly our forefathers hit upon the right thing when they laid the Catechism at the foundation of these sermons. Sermons, and particularly sermons of this kind, must have such a foundation in the hands of the congregation, for the sake of preparation, understanding and repetition. These purposes would not be so well attained, and it would be altogether harder to begin, if one wished to lay a series of Scripture passages at the foundation of these sermons."

A very sensible lack, however, for all who earnestly wish to prepare themselves for the Catechism sermons is this, that with the great mass of explanations and sermons upon it there is still wanting an orderly and rich collection of materials from the whole writings of Dr. Luther; also for the arrangement of such sermons there are, besides several later sermons of Dr. Luther and besides the excellent Children's Sermons of V. Dietrich, still too few patterns. In general the task of delivering a right Catechism sermon is not so light as many a one might imagine. It is necessary, with every Commandment, Article, Petition, etc., to show that the explanation of Dr. Luther really contains the full sense of the text; therefore the text of the Catechism shall sound through the whole sermon, as in a good prelude on the organ the melody sounds through all the accompanying voices. Upon this shall follow the further development of the doctrines flowing from it, as also the brief refutation of the false doctrines opposed to it, all this, however, not in that monotonous, wearisome form which is found especially in the Pietistic school, but in the simple yet charming dress, interwoven with fitting parables and examples from biblical and church history, in which Dr. Luther in particular knows how to clothe the Catechism doctrine.

Finally, in regard to the Catechism examinations, there is still little to be added to what was said in the first section. As it is in any case most advisable ordinarily to let the examination follow the sermon and to render the contents of the same summarily, so one is also, if possible, so to arrange that the explanation of the whole Catechism be completed in the course of one church year, which can be done in the following manner proved by experience. In the first year let one hold a sermon and examination on each chief part, as also on each single part of the so-called Appendix. In the second year let one hold a sermon on each Commandment, on each Article two or three, and on the remaining parts let one preach more briefly. In the third year let one repeat briefly what was explained earlier at greater length, and proceed to explain the parts still remaining in like manner; if one is now in this way finished with the whole Catechism after four or five years, let one begin this sequence again from the front, whereby the knowledge and experience meanwhile gathered will greatly benefit teachers and learners. Whoever, moreover, during the examination dwells with the individuals, and particularly with those already confirmed, upon a few questions, and does not, as usual, hasten quickly away, will soon be convinced of the usefulness of this manner.

The chief difficulty in the introduction of such Catechism services in the country might in many places, with the good will of those who wish to take part in them, be removed by this, that after the example of many of our English-American neighbors the afternoon service should begin shortly after the close of the forenoon service.

In such manner we should show our readiness to fulfil the urgent request of Dr. Luther to all pastors: "Take to heart your office with all your hearts, have compassion on your people, who are committed to you, and help us to bring the Catechism among the people, especially into the young folk."

To the foregoing I add yet the following concluding remarks from the original essay:

"It needs scarcely to be remarked that in the above only hints are meant to be given, and that it makes no claim to have set forth the matter as fitting for all circumstances. It will happen that, with a sensible regard to local circumstances, the matter must be taken hold of quite differently. It will also happen that in many places the circumstances let it come to the matter not at all, or only in a very small compass. But it will also happen again that in other places the circumstances meet the good will far more than had been supposed." - We must not let ourselves be led astray in the present case if we must at first work with limited means, if at first we can begin only single things of the kind. The beginning is in such matters ever not only a germ of future formations, but of itself already a working." - Finally, it must not lead us astray if to the new food which we thus offer our congregations in Bible exposition and Catechism preaching, at first only few guests come, or if at the beginning crowds step forward, but very soon reduce themselves to a small choice of the faithful. These things are by their nature not made for the great multitude of the congregation, but for the smaller circle of the advanced. But the further care of these twelve to twenty members of the congregation is of just as telling an effect upon the congregation as the seeking preaching into the great multitude; and through such care the number of this choice company will also grow. In the present state of the times everything depends upon holding fast always that, as circumstances once are, in the very best things one can never begin with the total masses, but that many things can only in a selec-