# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 08 16_S181
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

181

others would do the like, not to conceal the same, but to disclose it forthwith without fear; since God also might permit (which He, in His mercy, would nevertheless avert) that you yourselves, through human wit and delusion, should turn away from such pure doctrine and knowledge of God, either to the Papists, Calvinists, or other sects contrary to the aforesaid pure Confession, that you will, by virtue of your sworn oath, report such without fear and await further direction and resolution. And all this faithfully and without any deceit." Thereupon the one to be ordained had to answer: "All that has now been read and recited to me with various words and points, and which I have also plainly understood, that will I steadfastly, firmly, and inviolably, and also faithfully keep: so help me God through JESUS Christ, His Son, our LORD." (See: Ternin's Unterricht, was ein Candidatus Ministerii zu wissen nöthig hat. Appendix to the 5th Part. pp. 158, 159.)

In the Kingdom of Saxony all who are to be ordained must to this very hour take the following oath of religion: "I promise and swear: with regard to religion, to remain firmly and steadfastly with the pure evangelical doctrine accepted in these lands, as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures, set forth in the unaltered Augsburg Confession, and repeated in the remaining symbolical books of the evangelical*) Church, to teach in accordance with it, to undertake nothing, either secretly or publicly, against the upholding of this doctrine, and also, if I perceive that others would do so, not to conceal it, but to report it forthwith to my superiors; and if I should feel constrained in my conscience to depart in my teaching from the doctrinal system accepted in the ev. Church, or to profess a confession other than and irreconcilable with this one, to report this without delay to my superiors, by virtue of the oath sworn by me, and thereupon to await further decision." (See: Votum über die eidliche Verpflichtung auf die kirchlichen Symbole by Dr. Harleß. Leipzig, 1846. Page 33. Therein Harleß writes among other things: "No one can derive from the existing Church itself an authority for the abolition of the Confession; he must first withdraw from its membership before he can put such a design into effect." p. 17.)

*) By "evangelical Church" one understands in Saxony not the Union church, but the Lutheran, which originally bore this name.

Who can and will now give us information? Does the Ev. Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania really acknowledge "with the ev. Luth. Church of our fathers" — that is to say, like these our fathers — all the Symbols of our Church? Or is the addition, "historical confessional documents," to give the declaration another meaning?

We think that, above all, Dr. Becker of Philadelphia, at present President, or Pastor Mann, who formulated and introduced the resolutions concerned, owe it to the Church to be ready to answer this well-meant question.

Freemasons.

How far the spiritual harlotry goes which the Methodists and even so-called Lutherans here carry on with the Freemasons, this anti-Christian society, the dear reader will see from the following letter, which a preacher has addressed to Pastor Anstädt, editor of the Kirchenbote. We are glad that Mr. Anstädt makes known his abhorrence of it in the editorial note.

* *
*

Dear Messenger!

I make the following extract from a letter which bears the signature "An Old Fellow," and is to be found in the "Observer" of the 1st of July:

"A Lutheran church in Staunton, Virginia, had long been desired. The cornerstone was laid on the 24th of June. The ceremonies on this occasion were performed by the Grand Masonic Lodge of Virginia, which had assembled in Staunton to dedicate a new Masonic Temple. In the forenoon the Masons paraded and dedicated their Temple. Lewis L. Stevenson, Esq., of Staunton, delivered an address before the brotherhood and a large assembly of ladies and gentlemen.

At 2 o'clock the Masons and others assembled in the Methodist Episcopal Church, where the preparatory solemnities before the laying of the cornerstone took place. Rev. R. A. Fink, a member of the Grand Lodge, opened the meeting with prayer. Rev. J. B. Davis, preacher of the Lutheran Church at Staunton, followed with an able and fitting address. —

After the address of Rev. Davis, Rev. A. Reese, Presiding Elder of the Methodist Church, also a Mason, exhorted to voluntary contributions; $209 were contributed.

From the Methodist Church all went to the Lutheran church site. The Grand Chaplain then began the solemnities at the cornerstone with prayer; then followed the Freemason ceremonies which are customary on such occasions, the various objects were laid in the stone, and the stone was declared "true and trusty."

The solemnities being over, the Masons returned to their Temple — and those present to their homes. Enough thus far.

Now, dear Messenger, you know that I am a simple country pastor, and perhaps behind my time. Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that this letter has astonished me very much, — yes, so much that after long silence I must write to you once more. Tell me, since when does one lay cornerstones in this manner in the Lutheran Church? I have often read and heard how they are laid in my fatherland and here also — but such a thing has never yet come my way. Listen, I have often heard of an American-Lutheran Church, and that one knows much more about it there with you in Gettysburg than here in L. Now — is this perhaps the custom among these? Be so good as to give me a little light! I should very much like to know how long it has been the fashion for Freemason lodges to lay the cornerstones of Lutheran churches. I once saw two Methodist preachers in a pulpit at a Freemason occasion, who attack us poor Lutherans severely because we sometimes still wear the surplice, and just imagine, they wore white gloves and little Mason's aprons. Perhaps there are also Lutheran preachers who would think they were not only Puseyites but Catholics — if they mounted the pulpit in the black surplice, who nevertheless think nothing of it, or even count it an honor, to appear in the pulpit as Masons — with trowel and apron.

Do ask among the learned people whether that belongs to the worship of the American-Lutheran Church.

No offense.

Your
country pastor in L.

Note of the Editor of the Kirchenbote. — We are not able to give the dear country pastor more light on the above-described laying of the cornerstone. With him we can only express our astonishment, indeed even our disgust at this proceeding. We have attended many cornerstone layings, but never before have we had to witness such "humbug" in a holy place. This practice is, in our judgment, neither American Lutheran nor European Lutheran; it must be an entirely new "measure," against the introduction of which every Lutheran preacher ought to set himself with all his strength.

The Child's Prayer Gloriously Answered.

A ten-year-old girl, the youngest daughter of an unbelieving mother who was hard toward her 3 children, had received from the love of Jesus, the Friend of sinners, a deep impression already in earliest childhood, and felt the most heartfelt love in return toward Him. Most powerfully had the precious saying of the Savior: "He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him," taken hold of her heart, so that she constantly meditated upon it and refreshed herself with it. But for that very reason she had to, before her