# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 09 18_S12
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12

negotiation concerning the real and movable property which the Ann-Arbor Missionary Society possesses at Siboying was soon concluded to this effect, that the use and enjoyment of that property shall for the present be left to us, until the Society might perhaps dispose of it otherwise. Yea, it was held out as a prospect that it might perhaps one day fall wholly to our Synod, and that the congregations of Pastor Schmidt would not cease to remember the Siboying mission station with their gifts of love, which they would send in to our treasurer. According to later reports, indeed, this last is not likely to be confirmed in the near future, since a great part of the congregations there is said to be not very well satisfied with the now final, formal and unreserved transfer of the mission station Siboying to our Synod on the part of the Ann-Arbor Mission Committee. —

The colloquy in question was held since then at a conference in Siboying by Brother Sievers with the missionaries Auch and Mayer; it had the doctrine of justification for its subject, and turned out so that no doubt remained to us concerning the orthodox disposition of the said brethren. To the same, with the same result, there also submitted himself the former mission assistant Sinke, who with keeping school and with his skilful needle desires to serve the mission there faithfully and honestly as before. All three formally declared their entrance into our Synod and their joyful assent, as to our synodical constitution, so to the conditions laid down for them concerning the conduct of the mission.

The inspection of the Siboying mission field which we made on this occasion yielded much that was gratifying. The school, which is attended by eight hopeful boys and some small children of the interpreter, is in good condition, and with great joy we can report that two of the boys will probably be fit for study. Especially uplifting for us all was the visit to a small band of about 30 souls, which lives eight miles from the mission house. It has immigrated from Canada, where it had become a prey of the Methodists, who, soon after they had entered their names in the long list of their new converts and had given them a very offensive example at wild camp-meetings, utterly neglected and abandoned them. The Siboying missionaries found them in a most pitiable condition, spiritually and bodily. Yet by God's help they soon succeeded in winning their confidence, and the Gospel preached by them was received by the hungering souls with great joy. The whole village formed itself into a little congregation, which, through its diligence and through willing following of the wholesome counsels given them by the missionaries, now flourishes also outwardly and possesses splendid fields of maize and potatoes. Our visit caused them hearty joy. When we told them that they should let the compassionate love of their Saviour constrain them to become a light among their brethren after the flesh, who are in part still heathen, in part misled by the Methodists, there sounded from all throats a loud ah! (yes). The requisites for the building of a little church are already procured, but they need for it at least a skilled master builder, who would accordingly have to be hired from our treasury. And in order that the future of this very promising post may be secured, the purchase of 40 acres of land, which however would cost only $50.00, is absolutely necessary. About six acres would be reserved for church and school and the church built thereon at once. The remainder the Indians would pay off little by little, and so come into possession. — Also across the lake at Point au gres the missionaries still have an open door, although as yet none of the Indians there has let himself be caught in the net of the Gospel. — A second band of neglected Methodist Indians, only six miles distant from Siboying, has already asked to be permitted to take part in the services of the missionaries, since their preacher (?), one of their own number, who cannot even read the Scriptures, much less expound them to them, can attain no proper standing among them at all. — Finally, the dear cross is not wanting at Siboying either. From the freebooting Methodists they have there not only just as much to suffer as we have already had to complain of, but they have also their dear trouble with the chief of the Siboying band himself, who grows ever more hardened and brings to nought almost all the influence of the missionaries upon his numerous band, which for the greater part is indeed friendly disposed toward them, but out of fear of the chief does not even dare to send its children to school. May the LORD, the faithful God, so ordain that even among these blinded and bound ones his saving Word may find entrance, and carry off the strong ones as spoil! — To HIM, the Father of all mercies, who has again so graciously taken us in hand, considerably enlarged our field of labor, increased the number of his servants in pure Word and Sacrament, and visibly strengthened our sphere of work in the midst of threatening dangers, be praise, honor, glory and thanks. May HE now also awaken the hearts of many members of our Synod and open their hands bountifully, since it is plain how greatly the needs of our mission have been increased by this gratifying enlargement, and since the supplies from without, especially from our old fatherland, are likely to fail more and more. — How small would the thanks thus shown be, after all, in comparison with the great fatherly graces and blessings which the LORD lets fall to our lot in ever richer measure. To HIM alone be honor. —

In the name also of Brothers Sievers and Gräbner

August Crämer,
Lutheran pastor at Frankenmuth.

News from the Old Homeland.

II.

(Conclusion.)

The agitation*) for it had also begun everywhere. In Prussia the second chamber had already, at the debate on the address, declared itself for it, likewise in Bavaria; in Würtemberg the chamber of estates declared every one a traitor who should undertake anything against the constitution; in Saxony also the second chamber declared itself for it, likewise in Hanover. Petitions for the acceptance of the Frankfurt Imperial Constitution came flowing in in great numbers to all governments from all sides, for men longed everywhere for a final conclusion of affairs, for a point of rest and stability, but they did not observe, or would not observe, what a dangerous, almost suicidal step they were thereby demanding of the monarchies. So long as these still refused acceptance, they still had a legal ground for themselves, which might indeed be contradicted but could not be refuted, namely, that the Imperial Assembly had exceeded its authority by the "final" resolving of the constitution, for the elections to the National Assembly had been ordered for the purpose "that the same should bring about, in conjunction with the governments, a constitution for the whole of Germany." But if the princes accepted the constitution resolved upon at Frankfurt, which had been decreed**) in all haste, without taking even the objections and misgivings of the governments into public deliberation, then those (the princes) could in all order, by the constitutional way, with persevering will (that is, if the agitations could be kept up in the progress begun for three years), be removed, and if they then wished to defend themselves against it, they were the revolutionaries, for — they had acknowledged the constitution with the suspensive veto. Therefore the governments of Prussia, Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria declared themselves against the unconditional acceptance of it, in Würtemberg at first the king also; but when the excitement in the whole land rose, he declared that he would indeed accept the Imperial Constitution, but would never give himself "under the house of Hohenzollern"†). One might indeed force him by insurrection to say yes, but a forced word could not bind him under altered circumstances. Then the king's ministry also took the side of the people, the whole land assumed the most threatening attitude, and — the king had to yield. The National Assembly at Frankfurt, however, approved and praised the attitude of the Würtemberg people. Yet the Imperial Regent had refused his signature to the summons to the "recalcitrant" governments, the energetic summons had to be changed into a friendly request, and so the instruction of the Imperial Regent received

*) the earnest working. Ed.

**) fixed. Ed.

†) that is, Prussia. Ed.