# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 10 11_S30
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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supervised. In the free hours one sees the pupils either engaged on the playground in all sorts of games, or taking bodily exercise at the gymnastic apparatus there, or occupied with the care of their gardens, each of which has a small one, or with the beautifying or upkeep of the nearer surroundings of the buildings, or going toward evening in summer to bathe (under the supervision of a teacher) in the Mississippi, scarcely a mile away. On Sunday mornings all go to the city to church, and return after the close of the afternoon service.

The purpose of the seminary is, as is well known, to train for the Lutheran Church of this country able and faithful pastors who can preach in the German language; that of the gymnasium, to promote and secure, by a Christian education and a thorough and comprehensive instruction, the temporal and eternal welfare of the pupils, and especially their future usefulness as members of human society. The instruction in the lower gymnasium classes is also important for those who indeed choose no so-called learned profession, but yet wish some day to accomplish something worthy in their calling.

A few special advantages which this institution has over many others are the following. Above all, the Christian spirit which, God be thanked, has hitherto prevailed among our dear pupils, and which must not only soon make their stay here dear to the new arrivals, but also have the most wholesome influence upon them. Then, that effort is made to give a thorough instruction, such as is customary in Germany but still rather rare in America; and finally, that the pupils learn German and English at the same time. Moreover, the situation of the institution affords the advantages of the country, such as healthy air and absence of frequent bad examples, etc., and of the city, such as prompt and skilful medical help, ease of communication, etc. Besides, the prices for board, etc., are set as low as the maintenance of the institution always permits.

The board amounts to $1.25 a week, and is paid every month, at latest every quarter, and as a rule in advance. Since the institution often receives gifts of provisions for the benefit of the pupils who wish to become pastors, these are credited to them, so that the board for them amounts to only $4.00 a month. The tuition amounts to $6.00 for the pupils in the lower and $8.00 in the upper gymnasium per quarter. Those who wish to become pastors receive all instruction free of charge. Sums of money from a distance for board and instruction, as well as for other needs, are best sent to the treasurer of the institution, Mr. F. W. Barthel; yet the teachers are willing, at the wish of the parents, in individual cases to undertake the special oversight of expenditures for the pupils.

Pupils who enter the institution must be provided with beds and towels, and have their linen marked.

At the close of the school year there is a public examination, and both then and in the middle of the former a public certificate of diligence and conduct of the pupils is issued and sent to the parents.

Vacations are fourteen days at Christmas, as long at Easter, three days at Pentecost, and in summer from the 23rd of July to the 1st of September, on which day the school year begins. Pupils from out of town then have an opportunity to visit their parents and relatives.

In conclusion we feel constrained to urge all parents who have sons who do not lack the required gifts for the ministry, to give them to it, if God will. Dear parents, consider the need, the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Banish selfish thoughts from your minds; consider that your children are not properly yours, but God's; consider that if you have a son whom you would rather have choose a worldly calling than let become a pastor, because this seems to you more advantageous in earthly terms for yourselves or for him, you can no longer be at ease on his account, lest God take him from you before long because you would withhold him from Him, or, not to be at ease, lest he be utterly ruined because you will let him go his own ways. Look also not at the outward side of the office, which is indeed unsightly, but at the substance, which is precious; look not at the tribulation, which is indeed for the most part greater in measure for the lot of upright pastors than of common Christians, for it is slight and short; but at their reward: They that be teachers shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Foolish parents, loveless parents, who for their children would rather have good days here than desire eternal, unspeakable glory yonder. B.

Letter of a Lutheran,
who for the sake of temporal advantages had become a Papist, to a Lutheran pastor, written in the year 1681.

A certain distinguished gentleman, D. B., in Silesia went over to the Roman Church in order to obtain the temporal advantages that were promised him for his conversion. In consequence of it he was indeed raised to the rank of baron and lived for a time happily. But at last his conscience awoke. His peace was now gone. Fear and shame, however, kept the unhappy man from returning openly. When at last he came into the agony of death, the restlessness he had often suppressed turned almost into complete despair. Since, however, he knew a Lutheran pastor living nearby, whom he knew as a most godly and experienced pastor of souls, he wrote to him upon his deathbed with a trembling hand the following letter.

"Sir! The Furies (the spirits of vengeance) have for some years now given me to know how hot the fire of hell burns. I have sought comfort in the hope of God's mercy and have several times used means that were to rob me of all remembrance, but after the dispersed clouds of sleep and of wine*) I have been laid again on the former rack, and my wounded conscience has presented to me the fruits of my marriage as bondservants of the evil enemy and as children of eternal torment**). O the innocent souls which my ambition has cast down! Tell me, you sincere and God-learned friend—but let it be allowed, I beg, what I, languishing in despair, demand of you, and let it be spoken to a stone—: Is the grace of divine compassion also so rich that a drop of the water of grace may fall upon my parched soul? Shall I hope that my Miserere***) will be as valid as that of penitent David? He killed Uriah, I myself and my branches!—Ah, no; I cannot, I will not hope; I go my way the way of Ahithophel†); I choose doubt instead of hope, yea, despair instead of good confidence in God. My given offence has long moved God to say: Depart from me, thou evildoer! And I say with the tongue: God be merciful to me a sinner! but my heart bids me regard God as an enemy, because I have neglected to make use of the long respite that was given me by Him, and because, from fear of shame and mockery on earth, I have not raised up again by my example those who were fallen or offended by my example. How can I come before the God of truth, since against my better knowledge falsehood pleased me and my, alas, accursed tongue has often defended what my heart held to be the greatest error? I see that I must shortly leave what I have won at the loss of my sorely tried soul; and I am in great anxiety for comfort. Sir, be the final refreshment of my heart, and if according to your wisdom and godliness you find that you can say, God will forgive me: then your report will set me from hell into heaven, and I shall praise your love shown to me, as long as eternity is eternal, before God and all the blessed, to His honor. Mercy! Mercy! for the sake of the refuge which you have in the Word and wounds of Jesus."—

So runs the letter. The renowned theologian Valentin Löscher has communicated it from the original in his so-called Unschuldige Nachrichten of the

*)He had therefore sought, through frequent consumption of wine, to make himself insensible, in order to be free at least for a few hours from his torment.

**)He had several children and saw them now lost beyond rescue through his own fault, since he had indeed been able to lead them into the false religion, but not to convert them again to the truth.

***)That is, my constant cry: "God, have mercy on Thee!"

†)See 2 Sam. 17:23.