# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 11 25_S55
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

55

Löhe's and into the Erlangers; with the latter the Nuremberg preachers also side. But what the former do to the Symbols, in that they pretend to make their provisions more distinct (more clear and more discriminating) and to develop them further, that the Erlangers take away from the Symbols in almost equal measure, although both deny that they are unauthorized thereto.

In Erlangen I have already made the acquaintance of Professors Thomasius, Hofmann, Schmid, and Höfling, who have received me with an unexpected, extraordinary love and friendliness. They all speak as with one voice. Although they agree with us in the doctrine of the Church and of the power of the Church, yet they all deny that the ministry has been immediately instituted by God; they derive it rather from an ethical (moral) necessity and from a merely intimated will of the LORD. I have already had many a hard bout with these learned gentlemen on this account, up to now, however, only with the result that they have moved somewhat nearer to us, without, however, becoming fully one with us.

It is fermenting mightily here, and God manifestly has a great work in hand here; may men not stifle and forfeit it through their unfaithfulness.

Although there is now, however, a new stirring and moving in the Lutheran Church of Germany, yet — so our friend writes further — one finds one thing almost everywhere amid all the clamor about the Lutheran Church, namely, that men do not set themselves down childlike and simple at the feet of our old teachers, and do not, before they will themselves seek everything out of the Scripture, first hear these teachers, who have spoken to us the Word of God, whose end they consider, and whose faith they follow, Heb. 13:7. It is indeed true, one no longer recognizes the Germany which we left thirteen years ago; everywhere, alongside the most fearful development of the kingdom of darkness and enmity to God, the orthodox Confession has won formal friends; everywhere men wish, as they say, to be strictly Lutheran again; even the church authorities in the principal states of Protestant Germany declare that the Lutheran Confession stands in law and shall be protected again; but few there are who use this time of visitation truly faithfully. There is no decided return to the Reformation.

The one sort speak of nothing but of necessary further development; the others are sluggish and wish to wait until God does what He yet wills to do through them and to which He has yet called them. It looks here as if a morning were indeed breaking again, but under mist and rain."

On the journey from Verden to Nuremberg our friends called in Halle upon Dr. Guericke and spent with him, for two days, the most delightful hours. In him — it says — we found on our journey the first believing theologian, with whom we soon recognized ourselves wholly one, and who himself also expressed great joy at recognizing and feeling himself inwardly one with us."

In Dresden we found with Dr. Harleß (as is well known, Chief Court Preacher and Vice-President of the Royal Saxon Consistory), this high-placed man, the most open access. He received us like brothers, and soon it showed itself that our American Lutheran Church, with its doctrine and practice (within our Synod), is a joy of his heart. We found ourselves entirely at one in all points which were touched upon. He took the most heartfelt part in our welfare and declared to us — and he has already testified it to others in Germany — that the German Lutheran Church needs the helping hand of the healthily flourishing American Church, as conversely".

Finally it reads: "The blessing of our delegation is already visible here, for here and for yonder. Many prejudices against our American Church and its condition have already fallen, and many hearts have been won anew for it."

Our friends intended to stay yet about fourteen days in Erlangen, so that Professor Walther might have time to complete, at the commission of our Synod, a little book containing the presentation and defense of the Lutheran doctrine of the Church and of the ministry, and thereafter to make a second visit to Pastor Löhe, in order, God willing, to arrive at a complete understanding and reunion with him and his friends.

On the 28th of November they intended, God willing, to return home from Bremen to America with the last steamship of this year. May the LORD conduct them by the protection of His holy angels and bring them back blessed and safe into our midst!

(Sent in.)
Free Papers.

Under the heading: "Thanksgiving" Mr. Fr. Schmidt furnishes in his notorious paper of infamy an article full of the most abominable and horrible blasphemies against the almighty and righteous God, so that we do not care to communicate them, lest we offend the moral feeling of our readers. Verily, a plain proof of the infinite goodness and longsuffering of God lies in this, that He lets such a brazen, venomous blasphemer of His holy Majesty as Mr. Fr. Schmidt still live, and still bestows on him all manner of benefits.

Moreover, we dispute no more with such men as Mr. Fr. Schmidt, since Christ says with respect to them: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. Matt. 7:6. Of him also the word shall be fulfilled in its time: Be not deceived; God is not mocked. Gal. 6:7.

Dedication of a Church.

On the twelfth Sunday after Trinity our newly built church in German Township, Fulton Co., Ohio, was solemnly dedicated, whereby it received the name "Evang. Luth. St. James' Church." A little over five years ago I came for the first time into that region to seek out German Lutherans, having been previously made aware by a man that several Germans had settled there who longed for Lutheran worship. A small congregation formed. But since the members were for the most part poor, a church could not be built at once. We had therefore to hold our worship at first in the house of the elder of the congregation, which was the most suitable, afterwards in the district schoolhouse, which was gladly opened to us. Soon, however, the need of a church building of our own arose. So two years ago preparations were made for it, an acre of land having already before been bought as a burial ground, on which the church was to be built. But when the people were to lay hand to the work, several withdrew on the ground that the church was to be "purely Lutheran." They would rather have a hodgepodge. Sad as this was to me and to the faithful members of the congregation, yet we were glad that the impure revealed themselves, and the building of the church was therefore not stopped. Through the preaching of several years and the reading of the "Lutheraner," several have come to the knowledge of the truth, and these resolved to do everything, and to bring the church to completion even without the help of those adhering to the false Union, even if they must incur some debts. Although some obstacles showed themselves later, yet it has come about, with the help of the LORD, that on the day named above we had the joy of assembling for the first time in the new house of God, where I preached on the festival Gospel. Unfortunately, on account of the great distance, I could not bring any neighboring brother in the ministry to take part, although I wrote to one for that purpose. The church, though only a log church, is a fine building in a well-situated place.

May the LORD grant that in this house also many be born again to eternal life. May He preserve the congregation, which He has led happily through so many a storm hitherto, still further in His pure Word, and make it ever stronger in the right love of the truth, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A. Detzer.