# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 04 26_S119
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

119

If this is not done, — if not, as in former times, every teacher and preacher of a Lutheran congregation must promise to teach and to preach faithfully according to God's Word and according to the Confessions of the Lutheran Church drawn from it, — then it will just go ever worse with unbelief, and the holy Church will be ever more laid waste.

These are my three reasons, and I think they will not be found too light, dear reader.

Consider the matter, examine closely — and I hope you will answer with me to the question: Is it enough when one confesses: I believe in the Bible? — with a hearty No. There must be added to it how and in what manner one believes in the Bible, that one may have certainty and clear insight in the highly important matter of faith.

Only thereby arises a right steadfastness of faith, when one has a definite and round Confession, in which the sum of faith is gathered together; only thereby arises right joyfulness and unity of faith, and when I now step forward and say: I am a Lutheran, I believe in the whole doctrine of the Christian religion, as it is delivered in the whole Holy Scripture and, according to God's Word, is briefly composed and comprehended in the beautiful Confessional writings of the Lutheran Church, — then everyone knows at once how he stands with me, and every Lutheran, near and far, to the ends of the earth, reaches me there in hearty love his hand and says: this is yet flesh of my flesh and bone of my bones! — There is now true unity of faith, in which indeed all Lutherans of all times and all places stand fast, and by the LORD's grace will remain standing, even in the great storms of these times. Whoever now confesses thus with us, let him step forward, — we will be brethren, and in holy communion labor and pray for our dear Church, and so the Lord will help and raise her up again in her glory and beauty.

(Lutherisches Kirchenblatt.)

(Sent in.)

The Martyrdom of a Seven-Year-Old Boy.

When Romanus, a Christian,
Before the governor was
Accused for the faith in Christ,
He said: "Ask only a child,
Whether there be many gods,
And hear what it says to you thereupon."

And the judge — he was called
Asclepiades — had
A boy brought in thereupon,
Who was only seven years old,
And of comely form,
And Romanus said: "Child, tell me freely:

Shall we worship Christ
As the only Lord,
Or gods, a thousand in number?"
Thereupon with laughing mouth
The boy made known to him:
"Why, not even children believe

That there are many gods;
For one only
Must needs be worshipped as God."
Thereupon the tyrant said
To the boy: "Say on,
Who is it that has taught you this?"

"My mother has declared
It to me, and to her
The Spirit of God, from the Father and the Son;
And the faith in Christ,
Who is my Saviour indeed,
I drank in with my mother's milk already."

So answered the child
The tyrant, who quickly
Had his mother fetched, full of wrath,
And she had to see it,
How her child was hewn to pieces
By the executioners with rods to the blood.

Even the tormentors' heart
Was filled with pain,
They wept for the boy, moved;
Only the mother stood there
Without tears, and saw
How her son was led to the slaughter-bench.

And when during the pain
He once began to cry out:
"Give me water, I am so very thirsty;"
The mother called to him:
"Thou my heart's child thou,
Be patient, soon thou shalt thirst no more.

Behold, Christ, the delight,
The living fountain,
Is indeed with thee, thou shalt soon behold him,
Then enraptured for ever,
Refreshed without thirsting;
Therefore drink the cup without dread."

When the tormentor cut
Now the scalp from him
With his hair from the bleeding head,
The mother said: "Suffer still,
As thy Jesus wills it,
Thou shalt soon be wreathed with the crown."

And the boy became glad,
When the mother him thus
By her word of comfort to courage inflamed;
He looked joyfully on,
And laughed at the pain,
Even then when he was condemned to the sword.

Thereupon took in her arm
Him the mother, unharmed,
And herself bore him away to the place of execution;
Yet she wept not
Under the weight of the grief,
When the executioner demanded him there.

And she kissed him,
And she said: "Go thou hence,
Thou my dearest child, fare thee well!
And think of me,
Thy mother, when
The Lord takes thee into his kingdom; so fare thee well!"

Thereupon with delight
She pressed his head to her breast
And his blood, and with joyful tone
She sang: "Precious in the sight of God
Is the death of the saints;
Behold! thy servant is here, thy handmaid's son!"

Herrmann Fick.

Ecclesiastical Notices.

By the Vice-President Pastor W. Sihler there have been ordained in the midst of the congregations concerned and inducted into their office:

1. Mr. Wilhelm Kolb of Nassau, until now a pupil of the Fort Wayne preachers' seminary, called by the German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation in Allentown, Adams Co., Ja., on Palm Sunday. (20 March.)

2. Mr. Philipp Wambsganß of Rhenish Bavaria, until now likewise a pupil of the said seminary, called by the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Fairfield Township, de Calb Co., Ja., on the 2nd Sunday after Easter (3 April.)

The LORD set both dear brethren for a blessing, that they bring forth much fruit unto eternal life.

On the 17th of April (Dom. Jubilate) Mr. Candidate Chr. L. Metz, pupil of the theological seminary at St. Louis, after he had received a call from the German Ev. Lutheran congregation at St. Joseph, Mo., was ordained in the midst of the congregation of St. Louis by the President, with the assistance of Pastor and Professor Walther and of the Pastors Bünger and Johannes.

The LORD be pleased to accompany the dear brother to this new field of labor, and crown his work with rich blessing. Amen.

On the 9th of Jan. (Dom. 1. p. Epiph.) Mr. Heinrich Dicke, pupil of the theological seminary at Fort Wayne, was adjoined to Pastor Sievers at the congregation at Frankenlust, and was ordained by the latter, with the assistance of Pastor Clöter of Saginaw City, by commission of the Vice-President.

May the LORD Jesus, the faithful Chief Shepherd, abundantly supply to this his under-shepherd strength and ability to fulfil his office in blessing. Amen.

The address of the dear brother, as of Pastor Sievers, is:
Frankenlust P. O. Mich.

After Pastor Kunz, with the consent of his congregation, had accepted a call to a congregation near Indianopolis, Mr. Carl Sallmann, pupil of the theological seminary at Fort Wayne, was ordained in his place at Elkgrove by commission of the Vice-President, and introduced into his new office by Pastor Wunder.

The LORD be pleased to bless this dear brother abundantly in his new office.

Address:
Revd. C. Sallmann,
Elkgrove, Cook Co., Ill.

On the Sunday after New Year Pastor Philipp Fleischmann of Regensburg was inducted into his office at the German Evang. Luth. congregation at Rochester, N. Y., by Pastor Ernst.

The LORD grant grace that the little flock may be built up and increased under the faithful service of His servant. Amen.

Changed Addresses.

Rev. G. Link,
New Bremen, near St. Louis, Mo.

Rev. M. W. Sommer,
Jerusalem Mills, Hartford Co., Md.