# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 08 19_S206
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

206

dice show them how they might be sent forth to preach the Gospel to the unbelievers. If the great lords found in the middle of Germany had no opportunity to send their subjects into such lands by voyages, they could nevertheless leave them to those states which, for the sake of trade, send their ships thither. Although that will indeed, especially in these times, remain a mere pious wish, we Evangelicals all together can nevertheless contribute something also to the conversion of the heathen, if we namely "diligently" pray out of our Litany: To bring again all that are in error and are led astray; to tread Satan under our feet; to give Thy Spirit and power to the Word. Hear us, good Lord God! Such a prayer God will not let be in vain, but according to wisdom will raise up good people, who with their undertakings might make the conversion of the heathen their concern, and make willing hearts in the rich, to contribute thereto from their good means, yea also bring about other means, which as yet are hidden from us, to spread His kingdom still farther among the heathen, and to glorify His honor.

From this we perceive how right and well done it is to strive that God's kingdom be ever more and more spread abroad, and be furthered also to those who hitherto have had no share therein. This is required not only by the gratitude which we owe to God for the benefit of His revealed knowledge, but also by love toward our fellow-men. There our dear Savior says of the Pharisees: Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves, Matt. 23, 15. Alas! this is experienced even to this day! Many indeed seek with their wicked life and example to make heathen, but that they should care for the salvation of the heathen and of others, that remains undone. To gain money and goods, to get lands into their hands, most let it be hard enough for themselves: but to gain a soul, almost no one will take care. But how does one think to answer for this? Ah! let each consider how he can do God no more acceptable pleasure than when he brings others to Him. If we find no opportunity to fetch some out of the heathen, let us at least strive to convert the heathen who are among us, that is, those who conduct themselves as heathen in the midst of Christendom. "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification," Rom. 15, 2. Thereto are bound "not only teachers and preachers, but also all men." For as all are bound to give no one offense, so it also falls to all to be concerned for the amendment of others. Thereto it is necessary that we not only "provoke and exhort one another unto love and to good works, while it is called To-day," Heb. 10, 24. 25., but also that we go before others therein with good examples, and obey the command of the LORD JESUS: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Matt. 5, 16. "In all things show thyself a pattern of good works," Paul admonishes, Tit. 2, 7. The testimony of life is much more powerful than the testimony of tongues. Where we let such be found in us, we shall make ourselves pleasing to God. For if there is great joy before God and His holy angels when one sinner repenteth, Luke 15, 10.: how should they not then be "much more rejoiced, when we convert not only ourselves, but also many others." An ancient teacher, Caesarius, says, "that is a blessed soul, blessed of God, whose humility lowers another's pride, whose patience soothes another's wrath, whose obedience rebukes another's sloth, and whose zeal rouses another's negligence. How gloriously will it sound when we shall once appear before Christ's judgment seat and be able to say: ""LORD, here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given me"". Is. 8, 18.

Unbidden Orators.

At Marburg there once died a knight of the Teutonic Order, Herr Bernhard Schwarz. When he was being buried, a haughty fellow stepped forward, who had already often let himself be heard with his unwashed speeches, and accordingly made great pretensions to be held a German, or at least a Marburg, Cicero, and had, after the custom of that day, a staff wound about with baize in his hand, set himself in posture like a royal marshal, began at last and said: What shall I say? Right Reverend, Well-born, Stern and Valiant, also Most Reverend, Most Learned, and so forth, what shall I say? What shall I say? Whereupon his art was for that time at an end, and he kept silence. The old honest Master of the Forest, Jost Burchard Rau von Holzhausen, called out to him at once with a serious countenance: "Say, the world is full of fools and I am the first." Thereupon the Provincial Commander and the whole right reverend Chapter of the Order began to laugh aloud, and the funeral oration came to an end. Never again did this great orator desire to let himself be heard.

Well known also is Doctor Luther's call to an unbidden preacher, who indeed began his sermon thus: "I am a good shepherd — I am a good shepherd — I am a good shepherd —" but could not go on further. "You are no good shepherd, but a silly sheep," the Reformer called to him, "get down from the pulpit."

To many a one a similar call would be needful, even if they do not get stuck.

(Sent in.)

From the Song of Songs.

3.

O! how am I fashioned!
How the sun has burned me!
Thy hair, so unbraided,
Is turned from thee in mourning.
Black am I, as the tents of Moab,
Like the huts of Kedar, tanned.
Kedar ever lies in the field,
Wept over by the dew of heaven.
So I lie ever in strife,
In unceasing woe.
The gleaming weapons at my side
I see Thee ever.
How am I to behold!
Whither has my beauty fled!
Thou art the blackest of women,
Unlovely is thy gain.
And yet! like Solomon's halls,
Adorned within with gold, —
Thou art the fairest of all
That is anywhere beheld!

G. Schaller.

Synod.

The great majority of the members of our Synod have cast their votes for this, that our postponed meeting of this year be held from the 2d of October to the 12th of the same, in St. Louis, Missouri; in making known this result I at the same time notify the brethren that the cholera as an epidemic has already for some time ceased to rage here, so that therefore nothing stands in the way of the holding of our sessions at the date now appointed. Those arriving are requested to inquire for the respective dwellings of the pastors of the local congregation at the porcelain-ware store of Mr. L. Pechmann, Main St. No. 35.

C. F. W. Walther,
d. z. Präs.

Received

for the building of the German Evangelical Lutheran College in St. Louis:

From the St. John's Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession at Neudettelsau, Union Co., O., $33.50. From the St. James's Congregation at Wittenberg, Franklin Co., Ohio, $10.00.

From the following members of the congregation of Pastor Sauer in Jackson Co., Ind., namely:

Heinrich Schöppmann $1.00
Friedrich Siefert 1.00
Wilhelm Duwe 1.00
Heinrich Schneider 1.00
Gerhard Rölker 0.60
Heinrich Bühner 0.50
Heinrich Mascher 0.50
Heinrich Aufdemberg 0.50
Unnamed 0.90
$7.00

From the members of the St. Paul's Congregation at Chicago, namely:

Sophie Michel $1.00
Johanne Döschel 1.00
Carl Koch 1.00
Heinrich Niemann 1.00
Heinrich Battermann 1.00
Christoph Kölling 1.00
Christian Steinmann 1.00
Willib. Brockschmidt 2.00
Friederike Pape 1.00
H. Nerge 1.00
Heinrich Biesterfeld 1.00
H. M. Siegmann 1.50
$13.50