# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1848 11 14_S48
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

48

"In Gnadau a very numerous assembly of believing preachers from near and far has taken place. One part, those decidedly Lutheran in sentiment, have turned to the Minister with the declaration that they, with their Lutheran congregations and with the Lutheran Consistory in Magdeburg, would henceforth restore the old Lutheran Church again. Their number is considerable. The Consistory is said in fact to be in agreement with them. Thus a church reform will probably declare itself in the Province of Saxony even before the primary elections (for the proposed provincial synod) can meet again. Still more vigorously and decidedly have the Lutherans in Pomerania come forward. There in Stargard a large number of preachers have come together and have united on the ground of the Lutheran Confession to set up a provisional committee for the preservation of the Lutheran Church; this has given notice to the Minister that henceforth the Lutheran Church in Pomerania exists again by right. The Minister, under the free right of association now in force, has put nothing in their way, but has only enjoined them not to infringe upon other religious societies. Thereupon the provisional committee has sent their address to the Minister and his answer to it to the royal Consistory in Stettin, with the inquiry and request whether it does not likewise openly profess the Lutheran Church together with them.

And it is rumored that in fact the Stettin Consistory also has expressed its readiness and is said to have entered into negotiation with the Minister. One sees that everywhere they are now at last passing from deliberating to acting. Efforts are being made to restore the old constitution of the Church in the land, as it was before the Union.

In this it will not fail that a united church also will remain, nay rather will only now form itself, for hitherto only its name existed without reality. For the rest, in Pomerania, with regard to the symbols and agenda of the Church, they have agreed as follows: the Pomeranian Church Order comes again into full force. All the symbolical books of the Lutheran Church come again into full validity, and ordination takes place again as formerly upon the Small Lutheran Catechism and the unaltered Augsburg Confession. Likewise it remains left to each pastor still for the time being to continue using the new Prussian Agenda, only with the exclusive use of the old forms of Lutheran agendas for the Sacraments.

An agreement with the Lutherans who have withdrawn could not yet take place now. Perhaps this is left to a later time. An evil it always remains. Two kinds of churches and yet only One Confession! Have the older brethren not attained their commission to the whole Lutheran Church? Should they not now step back again? Will they be able to continue to exist henceforth without harm to souls, when the old Lutheran Church asserts itself again everywhere? Or shall there be, as in America, several Lutheran church parties?

A similar assembly of Lutheran-minded preachers had lately come together also in Neustadt-Eberswalde, in order to take similar steps also for the Mark Brandenburg. But it came only to the formation of a provisional committee, which received the commission to make inquiry in the province whether a similar disposition for the restoration of the Lutheran Church exists? and then in the shortest time to make arrangements for a full assembly of all like-minded persons.

It is rumored that the Lutheran pastors in Silesia also have resolved the same, and will meet in June in Gnadenberg for like purposes.

So it seems that in Prussia the old Lutheran Church is working its way out of the Union and is shaping itself anew. There will be no lack of pastors, but whether there will still be in the congregations an acquaintance with Lutheran doctrine and worship, that will soon be shown. The writer of this wished to introduce in his congregation, Lutheran in name, the collecting or chanting of the clergyman at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, because he had done so in his formerly Lutheran congregation, and because it is custom and usage in all (?) Lutheran lands. But that is not known here, and they expressed the apprehension: I wanted to make them Catholic.*) Yet I will not cite Berlin as a model and example (it cannot have been a Lutheran congregation, for the Lutheran congregation has altogether the old Lutheran divine service). We Silesians count here as bad Berliners, and it may be true. Confessional churchliness is poorly represented here."

"At that time Jesus answered and said: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Matt. 11, 25.

(See: Luthers Werke. Hall. VII. 1188.)

There are here the two points over which Christ rejoices. The first, that God has hidden such a mystery from the wise and prudent. The other: that He has revealed it to the little, the simple and the babes; this first makes a right joy. As if Christ would say: If the prudent and wise will not have it, yet the simple and babes will, who say nothing against God's Word, who murmur not against God's will, but as He deals and does with them, so it pleases them well. These are all those who in themselves are not so prudent and understanding as to fall with reason upon God's works and words. They are not babblers and gossips, as is the way of the enthusiasts, who drive themselves to preach, without call and unrequired, and then say the Spirit drives them. That is surely a sign that the devil bids them preach; and if you find one of them and wish to teach him and show him the right way, they open their mouths and speak a hundred words before you say One.

But a true preacher is not so loquacious, does not break in as though he were full of skill, but presents himself as though he could do nothing. As indeed he surely also holds of himself, as though he knew and could do the least of it. These the Lord here calls babes. For these same listen much more gladly, and are willing themselves to be pupils, rather than that they should preach to others; they will not be clever like the gossips, who turn only their heart and mind to this, that they teach other people, but are willing to hear no one; and although they at times show themselves lowly before the people, yet they have an adamantine head and stubborn spirit, which will yield to no one; in short, his opinion is the best, and no other. But those who are truly lowly yield gladly, and let themselves be shown the right understanding, nay, are glad, and give thanks that they come to the right understanding. Thus Augustine was drawn forth by force, would much rather have remained a babe and a pupil than that he should teach others; but he had to come forward and preach to the congregation. Therefore he was also the best Doctor of his time, and accomplished also something with his teaching and preaching, more than any of them.

*) A pity that Mr. Weyl with his excellent Kirchenbote is not there; he could enlighten the people further on this point, and with his stupid impudence and indestructible shamelessness bravely lend them a helping hand. How would it be if a collection were taken up and the man sent out to take the field against these new Old Lutherans, and to protect the poor souls against the "Jesuitical priests" of old Lutheranism, who want to lead them "back into the dreadful night of popery"? He should with his wisdom put a flea in their ear, for he understands it, and has learned it in his so peculiarly jocosely conducted battle with the Old Lutherans here. I think the old Lutheran priests and their kindred in spirit, the Jesuits, would gladly give the last penny to this collection, to get rid of this terrible enemy. D. E.

These, however, are not the little ones who outwardly in life and walk are lowly and poor, or who are ignorant in the Scripture. For if these were to remain such coarse blocks, to learn nothing, and to give themselves out as the unlearned for the little, the lowly and the babes, and to despise even those who were versed in the Scripture, that would be nothing said. Yea, these same haughty, proud boors are the truly prudent, who inwardly exalt themselves greatly, and think much of themselves, despise others, and think they know it alone. And therefore God also hides it from them, and will not reveal this mystery to such arrogant bunglers. For it may well be that a beggar in a gray felt coat and long beard can have a more haughty spirit than about ten princes in golden garments.

God looks upon the right, inward, humble heart, which counts itself damnable, and desires God's help by grace alone; to these same God also opens His will. But those who will be wise before God, and will not let their own thing be condemned, these same He rejects.

Received

for the building of a church of the "First German Ev. Lutheran St. Paul's Congregation" in Chicago, Ill.

Through Mr. P. W. Keyl from his congregation in Milwaukee, Wis., $11.50. A. Selle, Pastor.

Received

a) for the Lutheran Seminary in Fort Wayne:
$2.50 from the Ev. Lutheran Zion Congregation near Jefferson City.
b) for the mission on the River Cass in Mich.:
$1.00 from Mr. Paar.
$2.00 from Mr. S. Koch.
c) for the Synodical Mission Treasury:
$1.00 from Mr. Wendel Kautz in Chester Township, O.
$2.00 from the Lutheran congregation in Pomeroy, Meigs County, O.
$4.72½ from members of the congregation in St. Louis.

Paid.

The 2nd half of the 4th volume. Mr. Pankow.
The 4th volume. Messrs. Georg Bremer, P. Sauer.
The 1st half of the 5th volume. Messrs. Höckendorf and Stüber.
The 5th volume. Messrs. P. Biltz, P. Birkmann, E. Beck, Georg Bremer, Mrs. Dieterly, A. Einwächter, P. Fricke, J. Fetting, P. Geyer, P. Habel, Jakob Hügley, P. Kalb (2 copies), Franz Leutner, Mrs. Lenz, Friedr. Leutner, J. H. Müller, Eberh. Muhly, C. Meyer, G. Niklas, Pehrel, Dietr. Pardieck, Th. Rückert, Wig. Rollmann, Ruppel, Joh. Strobel, G. M. Sus, J. G. Schneider, Thiemeier, G. Trentmann, Joh. Heinr. Trautmann, H. Wiegel, Gottfr. Wiedemann, Joh. Weckesser, H. Wolf.

Printed by Arthur Olshausen,
Publisher of the Anzeiger des Westens.