# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 05 10_S125
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

125

(Communicated.)

Announcement

of a New and Important Book.

The dear readers of the "Lutheraner" will hear with joy that at this very time the following book is being published by the bookseller Beck at Nördlingen in Bavaria:

Explanation of the Catechism

from

Dr. Luther's Writings and the Symbolical Books

compiled by E. G. W. Keyl, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Baltimore.

First Volume, containing the First Chief Part.

The book is new, but the contents date from the time of the blessed Reformation, when Dr. Luther brought the pure doctrine of God's Word to light and preached so purely and mightily as had never been done since the times of the apostles; indeed, the greatest part of the contents of this book was spoken and written by Dr. Luther himself. Dear to you and precious, surely, is the Small Catechism of Luther, not merely as a textbook for the children, but also as the confession of the worthy handmaid of God, our Evangelical Lutheran Church; you bless your parents and teachers who taught you the Catechism, for in it you have a form of the wholesome doctrine of God's Word, which equally shields you from the deceptions of the false teachers, and is your watchword and standard, by which all the world can know you as members of the one holy Christian Church. This worthy Catechism and epitome of the pure doctrine you see expounded in the book here announced, not as people of the present time might wish that Luther had thought and written, nor with the fluttering words of newfangled wisdom, but by Dr. Luther himself, who made the Catechism and was himself all his life a humble pupil of the Catechism. Pastor Keyl of Baltimore, who in the fellowship of our Synod teaches the Word of God purely and sincerely, and is in blessed remembrance with many among you, has sought out in the Symbolical Books, but especially in the writings of Dr. Luther, all those discourses and sayings which expound the Catechism; for years he has labored at it with much toil, sighing and care, yet did this work gladly, because from his own experience he was convinced of the benefit of such an exposition of the Catechism from Dr. Luther himself. As the fruit of this exertion he now offers you, in a "first volume," the exposition of the first Chief Part, "Of the Holy Ten Commandments." You surely wish, like Dr. Luther, to be pupils of the Catechism: so procure this little book, take it in hand, and you may imagine that you were now in the school or church and the old Dr. Luther were standing on the lectern or before the altar and expounding the Catechism to you; how the fullness of pure, wholesome doctrine would descend upon you and into you, in the clear and ringing speech of Dr. Luther, which so penetrates to the heart! —

This spirited and edifying book is herewith heartily commended to the attention of our Lutheran brethren. A precise notice of the contents of this exposition of the Catechism I intend, with God's help, to lay before you in the coming weeks, and for the present would only remark: first, that at the approaching Synodical convention at Cleveland there will be a good opportunity to place orders for this little book with the author, but that Mr. Bergmann in New York and Messrs. Schäfer and Korade in Philadelphia will also gladly undertake to supply it; further, that its price will be set as low as possible, and will in any case demand of each purchaser only a small sacrifice; finally, that with God's help the continuation of the book shall appear very soon, but that this first volume may also be regarded as a whole in itself.

May this work promote God's honor and the building of His holy Christian Church also among us, as it has been undertaken for that and for that alone.

A. Hoyer,
Pastor at St. John's in Philadelphia, 45 Redwood Street, Southwark.

(Communicated.)

Church News from Germany.

The Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Hamburg, which has received a faithful preacher in Pastor Meinel from Bavaria, received some time ago from the Senate of Hamburg a decree in which it was promised that it might continue its worship services undisturbed, but that as a congregation it could not, at least for the present, yet be recognized, since the so-called Old Lutherans were split into three parties and that party had not yet demonstrated the financial means necessary for its existence. Baptizing and marrying are therefore not permitted the pastor of that congregation; the congregation must have its children baptized by pastors of the Hamburg state church, and does so under protest against the abuses of the state church, as well as against the opinion that the Lutherans were thereby withdrawing again. It may also be that the factions which have severed themselves from the Lutheran congregation over all sorts of outward matters will long continue their doings and thereby hinder the recognition of the true congregation. Cross and distress of every kind will in general still await the congregation. But God plainly advances the good cause there also, visibly, and thereby so kindly strengthens the faith of His poor Christian people; for this we here in America also should rejoice, according to 1 Cor. 12:26, and should pray that God would graciously lead His congregation in Hamburg on through the cross.

To the Lutheran confessors in Baden also, who were lately most severely oppressed by the authorities of the United state church, God lets His light rise again. The King of Prussia, namely, has admonished the Grand Duke of Baden in writing against the oppression of the Lutherans, and has offered to the Lutheran Pastor Eichhorn of Durlach, who was repeatedly imprisoned, a position in a Lutheran congregation of Prussia (that is, in a congregation which is supposed to be Lutheran under United church government.) Thereupon the Grand Duke has had a deputation of Lutherans come to him, has conferred with them at length, and it is now doubtless to be expected that they also in Baden will obtain toleration. So the LORD will surely help also the oppressed brethren in the faith in Nassau soon, and the Hamburgers, when His hour shall have come. The readers of the Lutheraner shall pray that it may come soon. —

Many hearty greetings to all ours, especially also to Pastor Wyneken. God's rich grace be with you!

In hearty love,
Yours,
A. Hoyer.

Persecution of Protestantism in the Kingdom of Prussia.

Dr. Mariott recently published the following:

To the Agents and Correspondents of the Inner Mission of Germany.

On the 2nd of March there came before the Criminal Deputation of the Royal District Court at Hagen in Westphalia a case for trial which, because of its significant importance, must draw the most general attention in wider circles, as it has already for some time engaged the sympathy of the public in a high degree there and in the whole surrounding region. So a greater number of interested persons had come from near and far to the public hearing than the rooms of the courtroom could hold. Before the bar of the court stood the Evangelical Lutheran Pastor, Mr. Heinrich of Langerfeld, as the accused. On the last Reformation festival he had delivered before his congregation a sermon on Psalm 119:105, "Biblical Illumination of the Chief Catholic Doctrines," and had this sermon printed for the erection of a new organ in his church. In vigorous, pithy speech he had therein brought to light the chief distinguishing doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church in their contradiction to Scripture, had judged them clearly and intelligibly with the sharp sword of the Spirit, so that every hearer and reader must receive from it a powerful impression of the truth. This, as is said, is to be, first of all, to the Catholic church-