# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 07 17_S191
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191

(For the Lutheraner.)
An Exhortation to Thanks, Humility and New Zeal.

In the April number of this year of the Pittsburgh Missionary, in an article headed "the Old Lutherans in the United States," honorable mention is made of our Synod, the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States. It says therein among other things: "The growth of this Synod has not its equal in the history of our Church. Not many years ago some hundreds of Germans with six or seven pastors landed in two ships in New Orleans, and went to St. Louis, where they settled and founded a few small colonies in the neighborhood. A little more than eight years ago a synod was formed out of these and some other preachers in Ohio and Indiana, and already this young communion numbers 122 synodical members, has two theological seminaries — one in Fort Wayne, the other in St. Louis — a college at the latter place, some eighty congregational schools, a successful mission among the Michigan Indians, and two periodicals, both of which are well edited and have a considerable circle of readers. — The Lutheran Standard contains a notice of the last Synodal Report of the Synod of Missouri etc. An important circumstance in their organization is this, that the General President devotes his whole time and strength to the welfare of the Synod, and is constantly occupied with visiting the congregations, with the inspection of the schools and with attending the annual meetings of the District Synods. An excellent arrangement, which deserves to be introduced elsewhere also, and promises very gratifying results." The kind reader sees from this how our Synod, not only in our own eyes but also in those of others, stands there like a great fruit-tree, stretching its branches already over the United States, blessed and tended by God. And as often as we think of it, or are reminded of it, it cannot be otherwise than that our heart is filled with thanks toward God, the Lord, who has poured out His blessing upon us, with humility toward the All-merciful, who in our unworthiness has not cast us off, and toward the Almighty, who has been mighty in the weak, and with the renewed resolve to devote our whole life to Him: to live to Him, to die to Him.

Secret Societies.

From an extract, which appeared in the "Luth. Herold," from the proceedings of the Ev. Luth. Western District Synod of Ohio and adjoining States, which assembled from the 1st to the 5th of June 1855 in Germantown, Montgomery Co., Ohio, we select the following:

"A copy of the improved Book of Concord published by the Brothers Henkel in New-Market. In accordance with the proposal of the committee appointed to examine this book, it was resolved: that the Brothers Henkel have again laid us under hearty obligation of thanks by the publication of this new improved edition of the Book of Concord, and that we also earnestly recommend it to our members.

The Lutheran Immanuel's Congregation in Germantown presented a memorial concerning secret societies, and, trusting in the Synod's love of justice, asked for reconsideration and withdrawal of the resolution adopted by the General Synod at Thompson Township on the 13th of June 1854: "in future to admit no one into our connection who belongs to secret societies." The committee appointed to report on this memorial, consisting of the pastors J. Leist, J. Hursch, J. Weimer, and the delegates J. Leist, J. Schnepp, P. Weber, reported in favor of the petitioners and moved, on the strength of the assertion that great harm would accrue to the Lutheran Church from the execution of that resolution, as experience had already proved, the repeal of the same, as well as the enforcement of the resolution adopted by this body at Dayton, according to which the brethren are admonished not to join any societies whose principles are contrary to the spirit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In connection with this demand the committee likewise requested that the course of the "Lutheran Herald" be disapproved, inasmuch as it admitted only such articles by which secret societies were put in a bad light, but rejected others, and so discord and divisions were called forth; it therefore moved the following resolution: that, so long as the "Herald" continues in the above manner, we could no longer recommend it to our congregations.

This subject called forth an earnest and warm debate, conducted however with Christian love, which took up almost a whole day and ended in this, that in place of the resolutions proposed by the committee the following substitute was moved: Whereas, with regard to the resolution to which the above memorial refers, serious doubts prevail among some brethren as to its constitutionality and inner correctness; and whereas it is moreover of the highest importance that time for thorough examination be given to all members, especially in such cases; therefore be it resolved: that the delegates to be appointed to the next session of the General Synod are hereby instructed to move the reconsideration of the resolution in question in that Synod and especially to examine thoroughly its constitutionality and inner correctness.

This proposal was adopted as a resolution, in that, after a roll-call of the voting members was moved, it was found that 28 votes were cast for it, but 14 against.

Church News.

Whereas Mr. Pastor F. Besel, hitherto preacher of the Ev. Luth. congregation at Staunton, Madison Co., Ill., had received and accepted a call as permanent pastor from the Ev. Luth. congregation near Ridgley, near Edwardsville, Madison Co., Ills., which he had formerly already served from Staunton as a filial congregation, he was solemnly installed in his office on the second Sunday after Trinity, by commission of the Vice-President, Pastor J. F. Bünger, by the undersigned. May the merciful God grant the dear brother at this place rich blessing in the holy office, to the glory and praise of His name.
St. Louis, July 17, 1855.
G. Schaller.

On the 17th of June, Dom. II. p. Trin., Pastor H. Bauer was installed, by commission of the Presidium, in his congregation at Dutchmanspoint, Cook Co., Ill., by Pastor H. Wunder, assisted by Pastor Brauer.

(Communicated.)
Dedication of a Church.

On the third Sunday after Trinity (on the day of St. John the Baptist) the German Ev. Luth. congregation of the unaltered Augsburg Confession here had the joy of being able to dedicate its newly built little St. John's church, which is 40 feet long and 26 wide. Present and active, besides the pastor of the congregation, Wagner, were the Pastors Wyneken — General President of the Synod of Missouri etc., who appeared at the same time as visitor — Lochner and Geyer. The last-named spoke a few hearty words before the church door, President Wyneken held the forenoon sermon on the Gospel for the dedication of a church, and Pastor Lochner preached in the afternoon on the Gospel for the day of St. John the Baptist. The two sermons were very instructive and edifying; God bless them lastingly in the hearts of the hearers. The festival and solemnity in general was in the whole similar to what the dear reader has already often and fully found reported in this paper. Besides the many fellow-believers from abroad, the singing choir from Pastor Geyer's congregation also honored us with its visit, which under the direction of Mr. Schoolteacher Wetzel delighted us with several pieces of song.

We rejoice heartily to have now a little church of our own, in which not only all the hearers find room, but in which we can also hold our divine services without fear. Both were not the case in the former place, a small English school-house, where, on the second Sunday after Easter, during the early service, the floor gave way under us. That we did not all fall into the cellar at that time was God's wonderful hand, which alone held the whole, as we were obliged to recognize all too plainly after examination of the defect.

Praise, honor and thanks be to Him to whom alone all glory is due! May He preserve the preaching of His Word in this little church also ever unadulterated, and bless it abundantly. Amen.

Watertown 1855.
A. Wagner.