# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 08 21_S206
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

206

in many regions of Missouri, aim to accomplish with their ultra-orthodox ways in America, I leave to thy readers to answer. Besides, it is also said that many of the preachers sent out by them, almost wholly without education, — with mere orthodoxy, without ever having reached the heart, make the dear cause still more contemptible."

We permit ourselves to reply to this only a few words.

1. Mr. Kuhl evidently means us Lutherans of the Missouri Synod; we hereby declare to him that we have from the beginning protested, and still protest, against the nickname Old Lutherans. We are, and wish to be, only Lutherans; if men will not leave us this name, then let them prove, naturally from the Symbols of the Lutheran Church, that we are not. Let them but consider that it has always gone thus: the fallen church has retained the name of the orthodox church and has branded the expelled witnesses of the truth with a sect-name; so the fallen Roman Church retained the name of the Catholic, and gave to the witnesses of the truth thrust out at the time of the Reformation the name Lutherans. Will the fallen American-Lutheran Church now do likewise, namely, after the name Lutheran has come to honor in the world through the faith which it denotes, claim this name for itself alone, and brand with a sect-name those who bear witness against it for the truth? — Well then, let them do what they cannot leave undone; it is a small matter for God to bring even the name Old Lutherans to honor in its time, and to stamp upon the name Lutheran the character of apostasy, as upon the name Catholic.

2. Mr. Kuhl calls our ways ultra-orthodox. Whoever is ultra-orthodox is naturally not orthodox, for in wishing to be orthodox he goes beyond orthodoxy. We request Mr. Kuhl kindly to show us where we forsake the orthodoxy of our Church.

3. Mr. Kuhl reports: "it is said" that many of our preachers are almost wholly without education. To this we reply, first: that it is altogether incompatible with the principles of Christianity to relate publicly further evil things which one has heard of his neighbor only by rumor, and of whose reality one is not himself convinced; whoever does so makes, in plain German, an evil report. Secondly: if by education is understood classical education, or social, that is, fine worldly education, we concede the accusation without hesitation. Our Constitution confesses without concealment that we have two kinds of institutions for the training of preachers, and that in the one our pupils receive a more practical-theological, in the other also a classical training. The institution of the first-named kind we have established not from any disparagement of a literary education, but on account of the present state of want here, which demands the speedy putting into the field of many stout champions. Whether, however, the preachers trained in such an institution are without the necessary education must be judged above all by whether they thoroughly understand the pure Christian doctrine, and can rightly set it forth and apply it for the blessedness of their hearers, as well in public preaching as in private pastoral care. — Thirdly, we must wonder that Mr. Kuhl in particular can venture, in self-exaltation, to look down upon our more practically trained preachers, since Mr. Kuhl, as the sentence quoted above plainly shows, cannot even write German grammatically correct, to say nothing of a logical, correct style. It is truly ridiculous, because of a few Latin and Greek vocables which one has learned by heart, to look down as an educated man upon another as an uneducated one, whose head these vocables do not burden. Would that Mr. Kuhl might once sit through an examination which our practically trained candidates for the ministry must first pass before they are admitted to the holy office; we doubt not for a moment that the itch over their lack of education, in comparison with himself, would soon leave him.

False Humility and True Pride.

The godless Ahaz professes a great holiness, that out of fear of God he will ask no sign. (Isa. 7, 11. 12.) So are hypocrites, where it is not necessary, the most scrupulous of all; conversely, where they ought to be humble, there they are the proudest. But where God commands to be bold, there one must also be bold. For to be obedient to the Word, that is not to tempt God. This rather is to tempt God, when one undertakes something without having the Word. Just as a monk tempts God when he goes into the cloister to serve God there, though he has not the Word of God, by which God testified that He is served by such a manner of life. So also in our day the sacramentarian enthusiasts deny, for the sake of reverence toward God (as they say), that the body and blood of Christ are in the bread and wine. But that is not to have no awe and reverence toward God, when one believes, yea, and gives his life for, that which God speaks. (See: Luthers Auslegung des Propheten Jesaias, 7, 11. 12.)

The description of the Christian Church, which Christ gives us, is: a company that not only has His Word, but also loves and keeps it, and for love's sake forsakes all. John 14, 23—27.
Luther XII, 1845.

Acknowledgment.

Herewith acknowledging subsequently several gifts of charity which up to June of the current year have been delivered to me for the same by the dear friends of our mission on the River Cass, Michigan, and returning hearty thanks therefor to the faithful God as well as to the kind givers, I attach to it especially the joyful news that the founders of this mission have now formally given it into the hands of our Synod, so that the gifts concerned are henceforth to be sent to the treasurer of the Synod, Mr. Barthel. May the zeal for missions among the dear members of the Synod be thereby doubly kindled, especially as our mission field, and thus its needs, have been considerably enlarged by the accession of the station Siboying, concerning which a fuller report shall follow shortly:

From their congregations:
$3.00 through Pastor Selle,
$4.00 through Pastor Ernst,
$11.00 through Pastor Röbbelen,
$5.50 through Pastor Trautmann,
$30.25 through Pastor Dr. Sihler,
$15.10 and $6.00 through Pastor Röbbelen,
$4.75 and $3.00 through Pastor Seidel,
$1.00 through Pastor Sauer,
$2.00 through Pastor Streckfuß.
50 cents through Mr. Mohr in Monroe.
38 cents through Mr. Meyer in Fort Wayne.
A box with articles of clothing from the German and English Lutheran friends of missions in Fort Wayne.
A box with articles of clothing from the friends of missions in Monroe.
August Crämer.

Notice of Death.

We have just received the shocking news that the Reverend Senior of our Synod, Mr. Gotthold Heinrich Löber, faithfully deserving pastor of the Lutheran congregation at Altenburg, Perry Co., Mo., departed this life on the 11th Sunday after Trinity, the 19th of this month, as a result of a nervous fever.

The members of the Fort Wayne Conference District are reminded that the next conference will be held in Fort Wayne during the 12th and 13th of September, for which those concerned will kindly present themselves in Fort Wayne by Tuesday evening, the 11th of September.

Money Received

for the purchase of the Seminary at Fort Wayne.

1. From the congregation of Pastor Wyneken in Baltimore. $69.87
2. From the congregation of Pastor Habel in Pomeroy 62.65
3. From the congregation of Pastor Crämer in Frankenmut. 7.00
4. From the congregation of Pastor Jäbker in Adams County. 100.00
5. From the congregation of Dr. Sihler in Fort Wayne. 290.95
6. Through Rev. Pastor Husmann:
a. from the St. Paul's congregation in Marion Township, Allen Co., Ind. 17.00
b. from the St. John's congregation in Adams County, Ind. 6.50
c. from the St. Peter's congregation. 28.50
$52.00
7. Through Rev. Pastor Heid:
a. from the St. John's congregation, Auglaize County, Ohio. $11.37
b. from the congregation in Wapakonetta, Auglaize Co., Ohio. 1.50
c. from the congregation in Clay Township, Auglaize Co., Ohio. 1.25
$14.12
A. Wolter.

Received

for the Heathen Mission in Michigan:

$4.87½ from members of the congregation in St. Louis. $5.37½ collected among themselves by the boys of the school in the local Trinity Church. $3.00 from Rev. P. Dulitz in Milwaukee, designated for Missionary Baierlein, for missionary purposes.

Paid.

For the 6th volume. Pastors Dulitz and H. Reutter.