# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1854 04 11_S133
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133

to drive. It was a necessity to them (the Shebahyonkers) to see the sun dip down into the lake, to walk and to drive on its icy fields, etc. Should they have to do without all this, it would go very hard with them. But what was still very much to be considered was this, that the Methodists did not harass the quiet, solitary Shebahyonk so much as was the case with Bethany. They, the Shebahyonkers, had more rest and peace from their enemies and were happy to be able to follow undisturbed the instruction of their orthodox pastor. The same they would wish also for their brethren at Bethany, and therefore begged them to come to them.— As to the provision of each family with a certain number of acres of land, they would be glad that this was in prospect, for farming gave them more joy the longer it went on, and they were convinced with us that only thus could they gain a hold against the danger of being driven out of the country.— We listened gladly to these arguments and had to confess, for our part, that for the present we likewise were inclined in favor of the common settlement in Shebahyonk, but that, of course, the other side also must be heard before a judgment could be passed. A striking phenomenon was furnished us besides by one of the young men, who in the discussion of the question concerning the need of wives for the latter expressed the confidence that German girls also might perhaps be wooed by them. Since we did not know exactly whether the laws of the land might not be opposed to it, we gave no final answer in this matter, but said only that it was not our office to persuade the maidens of our German congregations to marry into another people, that we must rather leave such matters to the conscience of the individual. Finally the assembled Indians promised that several of them would come and fetch us in the winter, in order to make a visit with us at Bethany and to hold a council there with the brethren. We accepted this gladly, shook our friends by the hand and said — Boschu, that is, Farewell. They, however, sent greetings besides to our congregations and families and went back to their fishing.

It remained for us only to take a look at the school also. About 10 children came, at first somewhat shyly, then more confidently, toward the school and gave before our ears some proofs of their knowledge, from which we saw that the Gospel had worked also upon these young souls. We were especially pleased with the fine discipline which prevailed among the children, and by virtue of which they showed reverence to the old people according to the Scripture.

But the time of our stay in Shebahyonk was at an end for this occasion; we therefore mounted our ponies, which had rested long enough, and toward evening rode along the edge of the forest back to the little village of Sibiwaiing. Here we spent the night in the same hospitable rooms as on the journey out, that is, in the old mission house, the first that was built in this region for the Indian missionaries and which for years now they have had to vacate. For 5 years the missionary Auch and his helper had faithfully preached the Gospel to the heathen then living in Sibiwaiing; but they had stubbornly spurned it; whereupon he finally had to shake the dust from his feet and go to his present little flock, which received the Word of God more willingly than the godless wild chief Noktschikemä and his band. The writer of this cannot suppress a sorrowful mourning when he considers what a dreadful judgment will overtake the poor people if they do not yet in this time of grace come to repentance and give the Lord the honor. O that the Lord would yet give them such repentance, and that they with us might be saved through faith!

Farewell, dear reader. God willing, I shall soon be able to report to you to what decision the brethren in Bethany have been led by the Lord. Pray with me meanwhile that the Lord's kingdom may come.

Frankenlust
the 2nd of December, 1853.

Ferdinand Sievers,
Lutheran pastor.

Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Katenhusen,

Superintendent of the Duchy of Lauenburg, first spiritual assessor of the Royal Consistory, Pastor primarius at the St. Peter's Church, Ephorus of the Latin School at Ratzeburg, Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog and Dannebrogman.

(Conclusion.)

Let us now cast a glance at his work. Called into the office in his 24th year, richly endowed, outwardly and inwardly, with everything that qualifies one to be a preacher of the Gospel, he made with undaunted courage and youthful zeal his confession of Christ, which lived in his heart as a joyful, unshakable faith. It was still that time when in the land of Lauenburg also rationalistic unbelief held most of the pulpits, and when the faith-life that remained from olden times mostly lacked the knowledge and strength needed for confessing. We find him at that time in decided, courageous conflict against rationalism (he also took part publicly in the Harms theses controversy by a printed work: "Zeugnisse der lutherischen Kirche über Vernunftreligion," Kiel, 1820,) and in close union with the others, then still few in number, who confessed the revealed Gospel in our land. What now and how great the fruits of his labor were among the congregations entrusted to him (he was called in 1831 as cloister preacher to Uetersen, and in 1834 as superintendent and chief pastor at St. Peter's Church to Ratzeburg,) concerning that the judgment does not belong to human eyes; for it is the way of the Word of God that of its servants only faithfulness is required, but the success and the blessing stand in God's power alone, and in most cases are known to God alone; yet it is also outwardly perceptible that his activity was a very significant and successful one. His sermons, of which also a number have been printed at various times, were in the best sense simple and popular, equally understandable and attractive for all classes and ages, throughout noble and beautiful in form, hearty and knowing the way to the hearts, distinguished less by mass and dazzling variety of manifold thoughts than by many-sided, impressive and spirited development of the main thought, far from excited, stormy passion, instructive: stirring, yet quiet expositions, sure of their cause, of the divine deeds of salvation and of the riches of Scripture, which would convince and win souls not by oratorical art but by the self-working power of the truth, yet always animated and glowing with the quiet, chaste fire of a heartfelt love of Jesus and of a manly, unshakable faith, which must speak of the testimonies of God before the world and is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, always itself testimonies of a life that has tasted the grace of God in Christ by its own experience and is certain of its salvation in it, testimonies of a heart well acquainted with the depths of Scripture, nourished by it, tried and exercised in the school of the cross and of prayer of the Christian life. A similar stamp was borne also by his catechizations and his confirmation instruction, upon which he bestowed not only the greatest pains and care but also an unusually large measure of time. His chief aim also here was doctrine; it mattered to him above all that the catechumen be helped to a clear, right understanding of the saving truths; he wished to give the children above all a thorough knowledge, a treasure of God's Word, which would not come and vanish with momentary mood and excitement, but kept in memory and heart might afford a stay in life and bring forth fruit in its time. The prevailing impression which all received who were taught by him was that of a heart-winning love and gentleness, of a mild-tempered wisdom awakening confidence, which knew how to move childlike minds so deeply and to warm them to the love of God, as well as to fill them with the earnestness of the fear of God. Therefore there are also so many who look back with special gratitude upon the confirmation instruction received from him.

But what above all gives our Catenhusen a claim to an honorable memory also among the Lutherans outside the borders of our little country, that is the services which he rendered as general superintendent of the Duchy of Lauenburg to its Evangelical Lutheran state church. He has our Scripture-