# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 01 23_S85
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

85

"Resolved: Although it would afford us the highest pleasure, and we most sincerely wish, to see united with us in doctrine and practice those who bear the same name with us, and in such case are inclined to unite with them in such matters as aim at the promotion of the cause of truth, and to work together with them: yet we must expressly declare, and wish to be understood accordingly, that, however desirable a union may be, it can be brought about only upon the assurance of a strict adherence to the doctrine and the practices of our Church, as these are set forth in her Symbols; and so long as we cannot obtain this assurance, we, for our part, cannot consent to any such union."

Our Synod and our paper also have been kindly remembered by the dear brethren of this body. We find the following resolution concerning them:

"Resolved: That it gives us pleasure to hear that some of our German Lutheran brethren have formed a Synod, called ""The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States,"" and that they publish a German paper, called ""Der Lutheraner,"" which is devoted to the spread and defense of the original doctrines and practices of the Lutheran Church, to which paper we desire to direct the attention of our German brethren."

With hearty joy we read, furthermore, that some English Lutherans from Missouri have sent a petition to the Synod, in which they request to be taken under the oversight of the Synod and to be served by its members, which request is also to be granted.

Finally, we find in the report besides a warm recommendation, by the Synod, of the works published by H. Ludwig in New York: 1. the Book of Concord, 2. Luther's House Postil, 3. the English translation of the Augsburg Confession with a historical introduction and explanatory notes, and 4. the English translation of Meurer's Life of Luther.

We close this extract with the fervent wish that the LORD may further bless this Synod, which for now nearly thirty years has faithfully testified and contended, amid much reproach and persecution, against the apostasy of the so-called American Lutheran Church, and especially against that of the General Synod, and which, so far as we know, alone among all the older Synods of the country has rescued itself with the jewels of our Church into this last dreadful time, and that He may make it a salt of the earth, which withstands the spiritual corruption spreading about in other Synods.

The next session of the Synod is to be held in Beck's Church, Davidson County, North Carolina (about six miles southeast of Lexington), and, God willing, to begin on the Saturday before the third Sunday in October 1849. The Secretary of the Synod is: Rev. J. R. Moser, Flint Rock, Catawba Co., N. C.

(Submitted.)

Nea-Mathla on the Creation of Men.

About the year 1825 the government of the United States made arrangements to introduce schools among the Seminoles of Florida, and a sum of money was appropriated for this purpose. Nea-Mathla, a distinguished chief, who exercised great influence over that tribe, opposed this. After several unsuccessful attempts to carry out the benevolent intention of the government, an assembly was held, in which Nea-Mathla rose and addressed Governor Duval, who was at that time Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as follows:

"Father, it is not my wish to have my red children made into white children. When the Great Spirit created men, he created them just as they are, and indeed with three distinguishing marks. At the creation he assigned to each his color, his duties, and it was never his intention that they should mix.

"Father, thus the Great Spirit created men. He stood on a high place. Thereupon he took some dust in his hand, mixed and dried it, breathed upon it, threw it from his hand before him — and before him stood a white man!

"The Great Spirit was sad. He saw that what he had created was not what he had intended. The man was white! He looked weak and sickly. The Great Spirit looked at him and said: ""White man, I have given thee life. Thou art not what I really wished. I could send thee back to the place whence thou camest; but no — I will not take thy life from thee. Step aside."" The Great Spirit mixed the dust anew, dried it, breathed upon it again — and before him stood a black man!

"The Great Spirit was grieved. He saw that this man was black and ugly; therefore he commanded him to step aside. Then he mixed the dust anew, breathed upon it — and before him stood a red man!

"The Great Spirit smiled. At this moment all looked up and beheld an opening in the heavens, through which three chests slowly sank down. They came down at last and remained lying on the ground. Thereupon the Great Spirit said: ""I have given life to you all. The red man alone is my darling; yet you shall all live. But each of you must fulfil the duties that belong to him. These three chests contain the tools which you are to use in order to procure for yourselves the necessary sustenance."" Speaking thus, he called the white man to him. ""White man,"" said the Great Spirit, ""thou art not my darling, yet I created thee first. Open these chests, look at them, and choose whichever thou wilt. They contain the implements which you all three are to use during your lives.""

"The white man opened the chests, looked in, and said: ""I will take this one."" It was full of pens, ink, paper, and all the things which you white people are accustomed to use. He looked at the black man and said: ""I created thee next; yet I cannot allow thee the second choice."" Then he turned to the red man, smiled, and said: ""Come, my darling, and choose."" The red man looked into the two remaining chests and said: ""I will take this one."" It was full of beaver skins, bows and arrows, and all the things which the Indians use. Thereupon the Great Spirit said to the Negro: ""Thou mayest take this one."" It was full of hoes and axes, as a proof that the black man was created to work for the white and red man.

"Father, thus the Great Spirit created men, and thus he provided them with the tools with which they were to work. It is not his will that our red children should use the articles which came down in the chest which the white man chose, any more than it is fitting for the white man to take the implements which were prepared by the Great Spirit for the use of his red children."

(McKenney, Memoirs, Vol. 2, p. 16.)

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Rom. 1, 22. That distinguished chief evidently relates no older tradition of his people, but sets forth in the form of a fiction his reasons against the introduction of schools. And how silly it turns out! The name "Great Spirit" at first raises the expectation that the Indians had perceived God's eternal power and Godhead from His works. But this expectation is wholly disappointed, since the Great Spirit appears so powerless and unmerciful that he regards the white and the black man as a "failed cast," on which account his darling, the red man, believes himself entitled to hate and despise them.

Ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3, 28. So the Apostle once cried to Jews and Greeks. May it soon be said likewise with respect to the "white and the red man." It rests with the LORD; let us call upon Him for grace. H. Fick.