# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1854 11 07_S46
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

46

domestic devotion, concerning any extraordinary hours of edification that may be held, concerning unlawful gatherings of separatistic and fanatical persons, concerning the state of the Bible and mission cause and of other institutions and societies connected with the Church, concerning voluntary care of the poor, concerning the churchly and moral condition, concerning discipline and walk, concerning the observance of the police regulations on morals, as well as concerning everything that promotes or hinders the church life, earnestly and thoroughly confer with those assembled.

In the fifth place, with the special assistance of the church and congregational administration, he shall confer concerning the external affairs of the church's concerns, concerning the property of the church and parsonage, etc., and shall take particular care that the churches retain the adornment of cleanliness and dignity, and that the burying-grounds do not lack a becoming order.

When the visitation has been carried out in the manner indicated, the Dean once more brings out the chief points, commends them to careful heed, and herewith dismisses the assembly. If he finds it necessary, he may, however, also take the members of the church council or individual persons aside alone, and confer further with them according to the circumstances.

Then, however, he shall also confer with the pastor alone concerning the keeping of the church registers, the registry, etc., concerning his preparation for the sermon and his manner of preaching, also concerning his continued study, and examine all this closely; he shall set before him in a loving manner what still appears deficient in his conduct of office, and shall also, by the counsel of a brother in office, especially help him to guard against an external, unspiritual discharge of the holy office; and if the office with its cares should become too heavy for him, he shall seek to raise him up by pointing him to the true Helper and to His consoling promises, etc. — —

Is not that a beautiful instruction? And would it not be precious if it were carried out and carried through truly in spirit and in truth? But alas, nothing is helped by the best instructions if the men are lacking to put them into effect. Would to God it were hard to prove that this is often the lack. Let us pray the LORD of the harvest that He may find and send, especially for this work, truly faithful, zealous, capable laborers, so that at last a serious beginning may be made with the so necessary reformation.

(Sonntagsblatt.)

Church News from Saxony.

The church government of the Kingdom of Saxony issued in March an ordinance concerning "the collections of sermons to be used by schoolteachers for reading aloud at the divine services held in place of the clergy, and the procedure customary therein," which deserves general attention. After it has been pointed out, with remarks of various kinds, that the preacher is not only entitled but also obliged to choose the sermon to be read aloud, and that no special selection is needed where a complete collection of sermons for the whole church year, found suitable by the pastor, is on hand as part of the inventory, it continues: "In the choice of the sermons to be read aloud and of the collections of sermons to be used for such readings, careful heed is to be taken that they have no content contrary to Holy Scripture and to the confession of the Lutheran Church, but, with all variety of form, foster the unity of faith and are far from confusing consciences, and above all also correspond as far as possible to the level of culture of the congregations and their religious needs." As wholly unsuitable and useless there are designated and forbidden the sermons of Schotter, Dinter, Marezoll, Beillodter, Tischer, Schuderoff, Euseb. Fischer, Wohlfahrt, Kindervater, Röhr, Zerrenner, as also the use, which has occasionally taken place, of mere books of edification, such as the Stunden der Andacht by Zschokke; there are recommended, partly several older postils still known here and there in the families of the country people (Luther, Rieger, Franke), partly more recent collections of sermons composed in a biblical and confessional spirit, such as Brandt's Predigtbuch zur Beförderung der häuslichen Andacht, the Evangelische Hauspostille, published by the Evangelical Society for northern Germany, Wilh. Redenbacher's simple meditations embracing the whole of the doctrine of salvation, and Ludw. Hofacker's sermons, whereby it is remarked, however, that the clergy and teachers are also permitted to choose other books of sermons, "provided only that in form and content they correspond to the presuppositions noted." — Another ordinance in Saxony of February of this year enjoins anew "the holding of the catechism examinations, already ordered by the General Articles of 1850 and later repeatedly enjoined, in all Evangelical Lutheran congregations," — wherein very great weight is laid on the "prudent, tactful procedure of the clergy." It is demanded in particular that the young people of both sexes take part until the completion of the 18th year, and, where it is customary, still longer; a very suitable address from the church authorities to the congregations is appended to the ordinance, to be read aloud from the pulpits repeatedly, the communication of which will surely not vex the readers of the Kirchenblatt: "It has, alas, been observable that one of the most laudable and most blessed institutions of our Evangelical Lutheran Church, by which she has wished to prevent the seed of the divine Word, sown in the hearts of the children, from being straightway choked again by the lust of the world, has in many places of our fatherland fallen almost wholly into oblivion: that is, the churchly catechism examinations. For our God-fearing forefathers wished that the Catechism of the dear man Luther, which contains the chief sum of Holy Scripture, should be not merely in the hands of the children, but should also penetrate into the hearts of the old and take root there. Therefore it was ordained already 300 years ago that, alongside the Word of God, the Catechism also be diligently taught in the church. And if it is now certainly not to be denied that many of those whom the Lord in holy Baptism has chosen for His own possession, and who were well instructed in the wholesome doctrine of the divine Word, fall upon the way of destruction for this very reason, that after the completion of their school time they no longer inquire at all after the word of life: then the highest ecclesiastical authority, to which the earnest task is assigned of watching that the congregation of the Lord never lack the wholesome pasture of the divine Word, has had to direct its care also to this, that that order, cherished by the fathers with great love and manifold blessed by God, be set up again and brought to its full validity.— Now even though the necessary arrangements have been made that the catechism examinations be restored everywhere, yet this most important concern is hereby laid especially urgently on the heart of the whole Christian congregation, that each, for his part, according to his strength contribute to this, that through this institution also the honor of God and the salvation of souls may be promoted. In particular the young men and young women are earnestly entreated and exhorted to present themselves diligently and willingly where the pastors hold these catechism examinations or shall call them to life anew. Though we would not at first compel anyone with external force and penalties to take part in them, because the Lord wills that we should gladly hear and learn His Word, yet it is expected all the more confidently that the authorities, heads of households, masters of apprentices, and whoever else is entrusted with watching over the souls of the youth will recognize it as their holy duty to hold those committed to their oversight and charge to diligent participation and to encourage them, in order that they, too, on their part may contribute to this, that the Word of God may become more living again in the hearts of the youth, and in our whole land mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other." — Yet a couple of other ordinances of the royal Saxon Ministry of Worship determine that in the schools only Luther's Catechism be used as the foundation of religious instruction, that the textbooks of Dinter, Tischer, Bauriegel, Förster, Ludwig and others be removed