# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1854 08 15_S207
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

207

death. But even that did not touch their hearts. They harden themselves daily more, boast publicly of their heathen freedom, which they had now regained, celebrate their heathen festivals more abominably than before, and give themselves up to all the shameful sins of their former life of vice, for example to drunkenness, in the highest degree.

What is to be done here, beloved brethren and sisters? We can mend nothing. Therefore let us amid all sadness trust the LORD, that He protects His Church and gives it increase, even if it should seem that His people labored in vain. But then let us be humbled and lament the sad condition of our dear Christendom in this last afflicted time, which made it possible that so grievous an event could happen among us. Yea, truly, we all bear a share of the guilt that this whole congregation could thus become the prey of the devil, in that we have let earnest and faithful prayer for them fail. Therefore let us smite upon our breast and beseech the LORD that He would richly make up the lack of our prayer through the precious merit of our Saviour Jesus Christ, that He would again have mercy also on the poor blinded souls and lead them back through repentance and contrition to blessed Christian fellowship.— To lay hand to the work ourselves is denied us, and we have to wait till the LORD opens us again a door.

On the Indian Christian congregation at Bethany the apostasy of the congregation at Shebahyonk has exercised no harmful influence, but terror at the event, almost incredible to them, hope that the whole might perhaps rest upon a misunderstanding, or that a speedy return from the lamentable devilish whisperings would take place, but at last, when this hope had to be borne to the grave, hearty sorrow and compassion for the deeply fallen animated the whole community. Far from being in danger, perhaps, of following the fallen, it will through the beholding of God's judgment upon the unfaithful only become the firmer and more faithful, and perceives the necessity of gathering itself against all enemies of the kingdom of God firmly around His Word and its faithful preachers.

Our dear, sorely tried missionary Auch has, since his Indian congregation at Shebahyonk rejected the Word of God, at his own wish been relieved by the Synod of his calling as missionary and recognized as pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Sibiwaing. The Synod would indeed have wished to employ him as a faithful missionary in another field of the mission; but he himself could not recognize it as God's will to continue to devote himself to the mission calling in the narrower sense, because he would not succeed any more in learning the language of the Chippeway Indians, on that ground, and also the ailing condition of his wife hindered him from following the distant heathen. So, God willing, his installation with the said German congregation will take place within a short time.

As to the property of the Synod at Shebahyonk, it consists of an area of 40 acres of land, of which about 18 acres are cleared, of a story-and-a-half frame house worth 380 dollars, a log church, a log stable. In order to be able to turn this property to account, the Synod will take care to acquire another 40 acres of the adjoining land for 50 dollars, since the area would then suffice for a larger farm. The movable property has been sold with much care and fidelity by the missionary Auch, partly also delivered at Bethany, so that thereby a cash sum of about 250 dollars could be paid into the mission treasury. This addition to the mission treasury was the more welcome at the present moment, since such great means were required to provide the Indians at Bethany, family by family, with a piece of land of 30—40 acres. The missionary Mießler, after a quantity of about 800 acres had been provisionally purchased, was able to make the distribution of the lands last spring. The dear red brethren at Bethany then held a great feast, and the missionary describes their joy in lively colors, and also praises their modesty and peaceableness, since it occurred to no one to ask for a piece of land which another had already chosen for himself. By the apostasy of the Shebahyonk Indians the land necessary for distribution has indeed been reduced by about 280 acres, yet nevertheless we still need a considerable piece in order to fulfil our promises to help all Christians at Bethany to renounce their wild hunting and fishing life and to accustom themselves to a quiet and peaceful civil life. To our great joy we perceive that some heathen Indians still living on the Maple River are also attracted by the preaching of the Gospel to move to Bethany. As much, therefore, as we have cause to thank most heartily all those who have hitherto so willingly remembered our mission treasury, so we beg still further to help where help is needed, to bear the mission affairs at Bethany also henceforth upon the soul, and to take earnest part in prayer for all the heathen, that the kingdom of God may come to them.

To such willingness may the faithful and merciful God help us and all who love the LORD Christ. Amen!

Frankenlust, July 24, 1854.

Ferdinand Sievers.

The Cantica Sacra.

I have at last the pleasure of announcing that the Cantica Sacra, God willing, will be printed. Many of my correspondents thought that in a couple of weeks or at most a couple of months one might be able to sing the book already. Be it said to them for their information, first: That from the beginning it was not my intention to incur great expenses until I was convinced that the proceeds of the undertaking would also cover such expenses, and secondly: that circumstances which not everyone can foresee, and which may seem unexpected even to business men, have somewhat delayed the undertaking. For this reason I have not been in a position to announce earlier whether or when the book would be printed. But now it is in the hands of printers, who will spare no pains to complete it with possible speed; and it is their sure expectation that they will have it ready for dispatch in the month of November.

Since only some of my correspondents indicated to me their wish to have the book printed with round notes, but many declared themselves decidedly in favor of the character notes, I am resolved to print it with these according to the terms of the Prospectus.

I would still use this opportunity to mention that the price of the book may perhaps be changed when it comes into the hands of the booksellers, and that all those who have not yet ordered, and who wish to obtain it at the cheap prices as announced in the Prospectus, will do well to send in their orders by the end of November. Booksellers will find it to their advantage to order by the hundred.

Canton, Ohio, June 28, 1854.

J. J. Fast.

N. B. In St. Louis Mr. Otto Ernst will have the kindness to keep the book for sale.

Receipt.
of the Mission Gifts (for the Lutheraner).

From A. Haag in Sibiwaing $0 50
From the congregation of P. Dicke in Frankentrost, for Indianerland 2 50
From J. List in Frankenmuth, for Indianerland 2 00
From the congregation of P. Seidel, 2nd remittance 10 00
From the congregation at Frankenmuth 21 67
Through Müller Hubinger in Frankenmuth 28 80
From J. Gremel in Sibiwaing 0 50
From the congregation of P. Clöter at Saginaw City 18 80
From the congregation of P. Sievers at Frankentrost 15 00
From Barbara Nüchterlein in Frankenmuth 1 00
From the congregation of P. Hoyer in Philadelphia, Pa.:
Chr. Mainling 1 00
Mary Bohn 1 00
P. Beerwind 0 25
M. Fetter 0 25
An Unnamed Person 1 00
J. U. Hiller 0 25
Chr. Dieter 1 00
H. Dieter 0 50
Wahl 1 25
G. Pfeiffer 2 00
Ph. Bohn 0 25
J. Toussaint 0 50
Müller 1 00
Isab. Rautenberg 1 00
Soph. Rautenberg 1 00
Jak. Toussaint sen. 1 00
Jak. Toussaint jun. 0 25
Minneberger 2 00
Chr. Bohn 2 00
Lehmkuhl 0 25
Anna Viehmeyer 0 25
Elis. Dreßer 0 50