# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 07 05_S158
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158

in Sheboygan, Sheboygan Co., Wisc., by the Lutheran pastor of Freistatt and Kirchhain, Fürbringer, with the assistance of Pastor Dulitz, and introduced into the holy office for the congregation there, as well as for the congregations at Town Herrmann and Town Wilson. Both took place by commission of the Presidium of the Synod of Missouri. They had been received with joy by their respective congregations. May God set them there for much blessing and crown them with grace as with a shield, Amen.

It will doubtless afford our dear Lutheran readers great joy when we herewith inform them that at last a German preacher of our confession has now found a field of labor also in New Orleans (Louisiana), in this great city, where so many thousands of our German countrymen and Lutheran co-believers are found. Not long ago, namely, we read in a periodical that a little Lutheran congregation had formed in that city, which indeed was already in possession of a pretty little church, but as yet lacked a regular preacher and therefore made shift with reading services, in which the Postils of Luther and of Arndt were used. In this periodical the wish was at the same time expressed that some synod or other might take up this orphaned flock of members of our Church. The report that the congregation had chosen precisely the writings of a Luther and of an Arndt for its soul's nourishment naturally awakened in us the best prepossession for it; for people who prefer Luther's writings to others will hardly be indifferent as to pure doctrine and inclined to fanaticism, and people who join an Arndt with Luther will hardly be dead people who, forgetting godly living, merely boast of the orthodoxy of their head. Since now among all Lutheran synods that of Missouri, etc., was probably the nearest to the little congregation, and therefore had also probably the duty before all others to take it up if possible, our dear Mr. President, Pastor Wynecken, sent the Candidate Mr. Georg Volk of Nürnberg, after he had completed his theological studies in the Concordia Collegium here and had passed his candidate's examination, to the said city, to inquire first of all into the circumstances and needs of the congregation described. Mr. Volk did this and returned after only a few days with the written request for the sending of a preacher, since he himself, upon the request made to him at once to remain with them, had not dared to enter into it without the counsel of the President. The congregation had just been in the greatest embarrassment on account of a preacher to be appointed; Mr. Volk's appearing in their midst precisely at this time had therefore awakened great joy and the firm confidence in all the members that this came from the LORD, who hears prayers and is nearest with His help precisely when the need is greatest. Although the President had already recommended Mr. Volk elsewhere, he nevertheless soon convinced himself that the wish already expressed by the congregation in New Orleans to obtain this our dear young brother was a sign from God; he therefore prevailed upon Mr. Volk to begin his journey to New Orleans again at once, and commissioned the editor of these pages to accompany the one sent, and, if need be, to ordain him and install him in the office. When we thereupon arrived safely in New Orleans on the Thursday before Trinity Sunday of the current year, we were received by the congregation with great joy. The writer of this cannot say what enjoyable days were now prepared for him. He found here a congregation, indeed still small, but consisting of members to whom it was evidently a heartfelt earnest concern not only for the salvation of their souls, but also for the knowledge of the full, pure, unadulterated truth. Through the faithful, simple testimony of an Oldenburger, by the name of Hollander, concerning the truth, there had gathered here in all quiet a little flock of upright Christians out of the Unionist, Methodist and Roman churches, who, having recognized the falsehood of their former fellowship and the agreement of the Lutheran doctrine with the Bible, had constituted themselves a congregation of the Augsburg Confession, had built a beautiful church with pulpit, altar and sacristy, and in the meantime had enjoyed the spiritual guidance and care (with the exception of the administration of the sacraments) through their dear Hollander. Here it cost, naturally, little trouble to convince these upright people of how a right Christian, Evangelical Lutheran congregation must be constituted, as well in regard to confession as in regard to life. What could be clearly and plainly proved to them from God's Word found also at once a hearty, willing acceptance with them. The introduction of an orthodox hymn-book, the establishment of Christian church discipline and order, the issuing of a regular call, the arrangement of announcements for confession, and the like, were therefore matters which met here not the remotest opposition. Mr. Candidate Volk was then finally, with hearty invocation of God, regularly and solemnly elected unanimously, and on Trinity Sunday was ordained and installed in his office by the writer of this, publicly in the St. John's Church of the congregation (Roman Street and Corner of Customhouse Street), after a sermon preceding on Rom. 15, 29. So the Lutheran reader may be assured that now also in New Orleans there stands a congregation which with us "stands in one mind quite even," with us believes, confesses, suffers and fights. There are also all prospects that the congregation will increase rapidly, since many Lutherans of that city have waited for the arrival of a permanent preacher before joining the congregation. It afforded us a special joy to find in another part of the same city a congregation of Lutheran name, which, served by Mr. Pastor Kleinhagen, who met us exceedingly kindly, declared that it wished to go with the St. John's congregation one way, the way of faith of our fathers. May then the faithful Lord and Archshepherd, who has already done such great things for our dear brethren in New Orleans while they still stood lonely and alone, further take heartily to heart their cause, grant grace to their young preacher to lift up his voice like a trumpet for the awakening of the dead and the strengthening and preserving of the living, but make the dear members of the congregation perfect, strengthen, stablish, settle them, and gather in the great city an ever greater people that shall honor, worship Him, and proclaim His holy name. Amen.

Pastor Grabau's Latest Answer.

After our Synod, from Cleveland, again most recently invited the Synod of Buffalo to a public disputation or a religious colloquy for the settlement of the differences pending between the two synods, not only has the latter rejected the invitation and, following the precedent of its Senior, declared that it could not colloquize with us for the settlement of the doctrinal controversies until we should have done penance — but in the latest number of his "Informatorium" Pastor Grabau also, as he says, "by commission of the Church Ministerium," instead of a favorable answer, has issued against our Synod rather a Bull, of which even a Pope would have no cause to be ashamed. Let it suffice for this time to have made only mention of it; more in the next number, God willing.

The Song of Eternity.

II.

How many stars in the firmament,
How many dewdrops the dew contains,
How many streams in the water bright,
How many showers in the rain so swift,
How many flakes on tender furs,
How many flowers of varied kind,
How many scents of herbs there be,
How many colors of the little cloths,
How many berries on vines yet,
How many apples on trees on high,
How many ears of grain stand in the field,
How many leaves in the forest wave,
How many little creatures on earth do swarm,
How many motes of dust under all the heavens,
On the head how many little hairs,
Among the children how many little tales,
How much sand in the ocean's bed,
How much grass on meadows stood; —
If so many were eternity,
It would yet have measure, goal and time.