# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 10 25_S36
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

36

not through certain magic formulas of Roman priests, is a church indeed dedicated; hence that, as is well known, has also been the custom of our fathers.

The order was briefly this. The undersigned spoke first in the house-chapel hitherto used, taking as his text Heb. 13, 14: "For here have we no continuing city," etc., some words of farewell after the singing of the verse: "Our going out may God bless," etc., with the Our Father. After that we walked in a long orderly procession to the little church nearby, lying on a hill, in front the sacred vessels and our weapons: the Word of God, the Agenda, and the hymn-book. So went before us, though not visibly in the pillar of cloud and fire as before the people of Israel, the LORD in His Word. Before the church door there rang forth far and wide with the sound of trombones the hymn: "Now thank we all our God," etc. Then we entered. In the church, as also outside at the doors and windows, everything was occupied. The dedicatory prayer was followed by the confessional service, which was held by Pastor Keyl of Baltimore. Pastor Nordmann of Washington City, who had done much for the building of the church, to our regret could not be present. The service was held liturgically. The whole solemnity was greatly enhanced and adorned by the performance of the piece of music and song newly rehearsed for the purpose: "The Church Festivals," by A. Bergt, by the church music and singing choir of the congregation at Baltimore. This piece of music was as fittingly chosen as it was rendered by those taking part with commendable exactness and heartfelt feeling. After this, and after the rest belonging here, followed the sermon on the Sunday Gospel, likewise held by Pastor Keyl, in which he treated, with manifold reference to the festival, how the LORD Christ is still mighty in deeds and words, and indeed 1. in deeds, and 2. in words. May the triune God bless the testimony of His servant to the hearts of many unto eternal life! — Thereupon the Baltimore choir alone again sang a few verses of the precious hymn: "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates" etc., No. 31 of our hymn-book, with moving grace and freshness, in four parts with solos. After this followed the celebration of the Holy Supper, and then still a baptism, whereupon we closed the service with singing and silent prayer and left the house of God, to refresh one another yet in Christian fellowship.

We thank all the guests for their friendly participation, especially, however, the worthy friends who by their kind co-operation strengthened and gladdened us. That we celebrate a church dedication at all, and could celebrate it so, was also a mighty testimony against our manifold enemies; they could hear and see, yes, grasp with their hands, that the Lutheran little flock, "an afflicted and poor people" — Zephaniah 3, 12. — yet stands not alone, and that all enmity and bitterness have been able neither to destroy hitherto in this place the rebuking testimony of Christ's servants nor the confessors of the pure doctrine. May the merciful Keeper of Israel carry out this beginning to a fair victory, and bring hither our kinsmen dwelling in the neighborhood, many of whom have hitherto forsaken our assemblies and made light of the preaching; for "yet there is room," for them also, as Christ says. May He do it, here and in all places, and hear the silent sighing of those who often sow in hope against hope, that soon also here many witnesses may exult: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined!" Ps. 50, 2.

We greet you all, who with us are members of the one body; pray for us and with us, dear brethren! But unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end! Amen.

M. W. Sommer, Pastor.

(Submitted for the "Lutheraner.")
The Political St. Vitus' Dance in the Year 1848,
by Dr. Kerner.

In the year of our Lord 1848, in the month of March, coming from France, there spread over Germany a peculiar madness, which they called the political St. Vitus' dance, also the March fever. This contagious plague spared no age or sex; men, women, youths, and maidens were seized by it; especially did such plague prevail in the cities, where previously extravagance and luxury had prevailed among the tradesmen, since they had much opportunity for earning in so many years of quiet and peace. Less did it prevail among the country people, the vinedressers and peasants, who diligently, in spite of all privation, went about their business and remained true to nature.

The attack was such that one had to believe the people had all drunk of the cup of trembling of which Isaiah writes. In such a frenzy they went in crowds into taverns and also into the open, where they assembled in great numbers, leaped upon tables, benches, and casks, and poured themselves out in exalted speeches with words of which the following were most repeated in speech and writing at that time, as: "March achievements," "broadest foundation," "popular sovereignty," "Hecker forever!" "to take the time into account," "goods and blood," "new age," "as one man," "soundness of principle," "consciousness of the times," "traitor to the people," "private whims," "interpellations," "reaction," etc.

Especially striking was that the features of those seized by this mental plague underwent in a short time a noticeable change.

Many who had formerly been quite lean got suddenly thick, puffed-up cheeks, red noses, and sparkling, often also running eyes. The face of very many also quickly covered itself wholly with hair, which ran out from the chin often into a long, often red beard, and so it came about that often the father no longer knew the son, the friend the friend; for in many their human countenance was thereby wholly altered and took on the look of a wood-devil.

The longer and shaggier beard and hair stood on such a one, the more strongly was he seized by this plague; if he had beard and hair trimmed, this was already a sign of incipient convalescence (improvement); but if he took his beard wholly off, one might reckon with certainty that the malady had left him for good.

This observation was also made, after the confirmation of several physicians of the insane, upon ordinary lunatics, namely that the first sign of their improvement consists in their letting their beards be taken off.

Wonderful longings showed themselves in this sickness, even in boys, for the feathers of cocks, which they stuck on their hats, and the persecution of these creatures was very great at that time. Those who were seized by this plague to the utmost grew red combs, like the cocks, and especially was the red color a vehement desire to them, wherefore they also often had red flags carried before them; yet this color increased their frenzy, as happens with turkey-cocks, and they thereby fell into lust of plunder and bloodthirstiness, and spoke deliriously of guillotines and the robbing of the nobility and the rich. Others cried very loudly for guns and sabers, even for cannon, and marched in all sorts of attire under drumbeat and war-song in the streets of the town and over the cow pastures round about with the cry: "Goods and blood!" and: "as one man!" At this time there was much misfortune with shooting, because the bakers and tailors did not yet know the handling of arms, whereby they or those standing near them often wounded themselves unintentionally. A perpetual drumming scared away all songbirds.

Others seized by this plague left their business and stood about in the streets as if they were waiting for things that were to come and yet would not come. All business rested, and so also trade and traffic, while those so afflicted, staying in the streets and in the taverns, raved about lack of employment (themselves producing nothing more). Often also it happened that such persons, in great company of others also so afflicted, went about by night in the streets with watering-cans, cooking-pots, fire-tongs, cow-bells, and tubs, and made these resound in the most dreadful clatter and with mewing (cat-screech) before the houses of those who in speeches or in periodicals had suggested means for the suppression of this ruinous plague; and these nightly insane processions were called at that time "cat-music."

But not merely tradesmen and ordinary citizens did this plague seize, it raged also among other classes, and in particular among the class of advocates, chiefly when these were of Jewish stock. The eloquence and talkativeness of such persons was heightened to the most fearful degree by this plague, and these were, on account of the contagion, which most often proceeded from them, especially dangerous. Since in the preceding years also a plague never before seen, a striking one, had come among the potatoes, one called that among men