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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20941-8.txt b/20941-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7bd8c66 --- /dev/null +++ b/20941-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8753 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Lutheranism, by Friedrich Bente + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Lutheranism + Volume 1: Early History of American Lutheranism and The Tennessee Synod + +Author: Friedrich Bente + +Release Date: March 30, 2007 [EBook #20941] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN LUTHERANISM *** + + + + +Produced by (Rev.) Kurt A. T. Bodling Concordia Senior +College, Class of 1976 + + + + + + +AMERICAN LUTHERANISM + +Volume I +Early History of American Lutheranism +and +The Tennessee Synod +By +F. BENTE +St. Louis, Mo. +CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE +1919 + + +PREFACE. +Essentially, _Christianity_ is the special divine faith in the truth +revealed by the Bible that we are saved, not by our own efforts, works, +or merits, but alone by the pure and unmerited grace of God, secured by +Christ Jesus and freely offered in the Gospel. And the Christian Church +is the sum total of all those who truly believe, and therefore confess +and propagate this truth of the Gospel. + +Accordingly, the _history_ of Christianity and of the Christian Church +is essentially the record concerning this truth, _viz.,_ how, when, +where, by whom, with what success and consistency, etc., it has been +proclaimed, received, rejected, opposed, defended, corrupted, and +restored again to its original purity. + +_Lutheranism_ is not Christianity _plus_ several ideas or modifications +of ideas added by Luther, but simply Christianity, consistent +Christianity, neither more nor less. And the Lutheran Church is not a +new growth, but merely the restoration of the original Christian Church +with its apostolic, pure confession of the only saving Christian truth +and faith. + +The _history_ of Lutheranism and of the Lutheran Church, therefore, is +essentially the story concerning the old Christian truth, restored by +Luther, _viz.,_ how, by whom, where, when, etc., this truth was +promulgated, embraced, rejected, condemned, defended, corrupted, and +restored again to pristine purity. + +As for _American Lutheranism,_ it is not a specific brand of Lutheranism, +but simply Lutheranism in America; for doctrinally Lutheranism, like +Christianity, with which it is identical, is the same the world over. +Neither is the American Lutheran Church a distinct species or variety of +the Lutheran Church, but merely the Lutheran Church in America. + +The _modified_ Lutheranism advocated during the middle of the nineteenth +century as "American Lutheranism" was a misnomer, for in reality it was +neither American nor Lutheran, but a sectarian corruption of both. + +Hence, also, the _history_ of American Lutheranism is but the record of +how the Christian truth, restored by Luther, was preached and accepted, +opposed and defended, corrupted and restored, in our country, at various +times, by various men, in various synods and congregations. + +In the history of American Lutheranism _four names_ are of special +significance: Muhlenberg, Schmucker, Walther, Krauth. + +H. M. Muhlenberg endeavored to transplant to America the modified +Lutheranism of the Halle Pietists. S. S. Schmucker's ambition was to +transmogrify the Lutheran Church into an essentially unionistic Reformed +body. C. F. Walther labored most earnestly and consistently to purge +American Lutheranism of its foreign elements, and to restore the +American Lutheran Church to its original purity, in doctrine as well as +in practise. In a similar spirit Charles Porterfield Krauth devoted his +efforts to revive confessional Lutheranism within the English portion +of our Church. + +The _first volume_ of our presentation of American Lutheranism deals +with the early history of Lutheranism in America. The second, which +appeared first, presents the history of the synods which in 1918 merged +into the United Lutheran Church: the General Synod, the General Council, +and the United Synod in the South. The third deals with the history of +the Ohio, Iowa, Buffalo, and the Scandinavian synods, and, _Deo +volente,_ will go to press as soon as Concordia Publishing House will be +ready for it. In the fourth volume we purpose to present the history and +doctrinal position of the Missouri, Wisconsin, and other synods +connected with the Synodical Conference. + +As appears from the two volumes now in the market, _our chief object_ is +to record the principal facts regarding the doctrinal position occupied +at various times, either by the different American Lutheran bodies +themselves or by some of their representative men, such comment only +being added as we deemed indispensable. We have everywhere indicated our +sources, primary as well as secondary, in order to facilitate what we +desire, _viz.,_ to hold us to strict accountability. Brackets found in +passages cited contain additions, comments, corrections, etc., of our +own, not of the respective authors quoted. + +As collateral reading, especially to pages 1 to 147 of Vol. I, we +urgently recommend the unique, thorough, and reliable work of our +sainted colleague _Dr. A. Graebner:_ "Geschichte der Lutherischen +Kirche in Amerika. Erster Teil. St. Louis, Mo. Concordia Publishing +House, 1892." + +While, as stated, the immediate object of our presentation is simply to +state the facts concerning the questions, theologians, and synods +involved, it self-evidently was an _ulterior end_ of ours also, by the +grace of God, to be of some service in furthering and maintaining the +unity of the Spirit, an interest always and everywhere essential to +the Lutheran Church. + +"May the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus grant the grace of +His Holy Spirit that we all may be One in Him and constantly abide in +such Christian unity, which is well-pleasing to Him! Amen." (_Form, of +Conc_., Epit., 11, § 23.) + +F. Bente, +Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. +July 28, 1919. + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +AMERICAN LUTHERANISM............................page +Introduction....................................1-10 +EARLY HISTORY OF AMERICAN LUTHERANISM.........11-147 +Lutheran Swedes in Delaware....................11-16 +Salzburg Lutherans in Georgia..................16-20 +Lutherans in New York..........................20-24 +Justus Falckner................................24-29 +Joshua Kocherthal..............................29-32 +William Christopher Berkenmeyer................32-35 +Deterioration in New York......................35-39 +New York Ministerium...........................39-42 +John Christopher Hartwick......................42-46 +Germantown, Pennsylvania.......................46-50 +Slavery of Redemptioners.......................50-55 +Lutherans in Pennsylvania......................55-59 +Henry Melchior Muhlenberg......................59-64 +Further Activity and Death of Muhlenberg.......64-70 +Muhlenberg's Confessionalism...................70-73 +Muhlenberg's Pietism...........................73-77 +Muhlenberg's Hierarchical Tendencies...........77-83 +Muhlenberg's Unionism..........................84-91 +Training of Ministers and Teachers Neglected...91-99 +Deterioration of Mother Synod.................99-103 +Unionism in the Ascendency...................103-110 +Typical Representatives of Synod.............110-113 +Synod's Unlutheran Attitude Continued........113-116 +Lutherans in South Carolina..................116-119 +The North Carolina Synod.....................119-122 +Critical Conventions.........................122-128 +Gottlieb Shober..............................129-131 +North Carolina Rupture.......................131-134 +Lutherans in Virginia........................134-140 +Special Conference in Virginia...............140-144 +Synod of Maryland and Virginia...............144-147 +TENNESSEE SYNOD..............................148-237 +Organization.................................148-158 +Objections to General Synod..................158-167 +Attitude as to Church-fellowship.............167-173 +Efforts at Unity and Peace...................174-184 +Tennessee Justifying Her Procedure...........184-191 +Doctrinal Basis..............................192-195 +Confession Enforced..........................195-198 +Anti-Romanistic Attitude.....................198-207 +Anti-Methodistic Attitude....................207-213 +Anti-Unionistic Attitude.....................213-217 +Tennessee and Missouri.......................217-221 +Peculiarities of Tennessee Synod.............221-232 +The Henkels..................................232-237 + + +American Lutheranism. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +1. Christianity the Only Real and True Religion.--Religion is man's +filial relation to, and union with, God. Natural religion is the +concreated relation of Adam and Eve in their state of innocence toward +their Creator. Fallen man, though he still lives, and moves, and has his +being in God, is, in consequence of his sinful nature, _atheos,_ without +God, and hence without true and real religion. His attitude toward God +is not that of a child to his father. Heathen religions are products of +the futile efforts of men at reconciling God and restoring union with +Him by their own penances and works. They are religions invented and +made by men. As such they are counterfeit religions, because they +persuade men to trust either in fictitious merits of their own or in +God's alleged indifference toward sin. Christianity is the divine +restoration of religion, _i. e.,_ of the true spiritual and filial +relation of fallen man toward God. Essentially, Christianity is the +divine trust and assurance that God, according to His own merciful +promise in the Gospel, is, for the sake of Christ and His merits, my +pardoning and loving Father. It is the religion of justification, +restoration, and salvation, not by human efforts and works, but by +divine grace only. Paganism believes in man and his capacity for +self-redemption; Christianity believes in the God-man and in salvation +by His name and none other. From Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and all other +religions of the world Christianity differs essentially, just as Jehovah +differs from idols, as divine grace differs from human works. +Christianity is not one of many species of generic religion, but the +only true and real religion. Nor is Christianity related to other +religions as the highest stage of an evolutionary process is to its +antecedent lower stages. Christianity is divine revelation from above, +not human evolution from below. Based, as it is, on special divine +interposition, revelation, and operation, Christianity is the +supernatural religion. And for fallen man it is the only availing and +saving religion, because it alone imparts real pardon, and engenders +real and divine assurance of such pardon; because it alone really +pacifies the conscience and fully satisfies the heart; and because it +alone bestows new spiritual powers of sanctification. Christianity is +absolute and final, it is the _non plus ultra,_ the Alpha and Omega, of +religion, because its God is the only true God, its Mediator is the +only-begotten Son of God, its ransom is the blood of God, and its gift +is perfect union with God. Compare John 8, 24; Acts 4, 12; John 14, 6; +3, 36; Gal. 1, 8. 9. Romanism, Rationalism, Arminianism, Synergism, +etc., are heathen remnants within, and corruptions of, Christianity, +elements absolutely foreign to, and _per se_ subversive of, the religion +of divine grace and revelation. + +2. The Church and Its Manifestations.--The Christian Church is the sum +total of all Christians, all true believers in the Gospel of salvation +by Christ and His merits alone. Faith always, and it alone, makes one a +Christian, a member of the Church. Essentially, then, the Church, is +invisible, because faith is a divine gift within the heart of man, hence +beyond human observation. _Dr. Walther:_ "The Church is invisible because +we cannot see faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, which the members of +this Church have in their hearts; for we can never with certainty +distinguish the true Christians, who, properly, alone constitute the +Church, from the hypocrites." (_Lutheraner,_ 1, 21.) _Luther:_ "This +part, 'I believe a holy Christian Church,' is an article of faith just +as well as the others. Hence Reason, even when putting on ever so many +spectacles, cannot know her. She wants to be known not by seeing, but by +believing; faith, however, deals with things which are not seen. Heb. +11, 1. A Christian may even be hidden from himself, so that he does not +see his own holiness and virtue, but observes in himself only fault and +unholiness." (Luther's Works. St. Louis, XIV, 139.) In order to belong +to the Church, it is essential to believe; but it is essential neither +to faith nor to the Church consciously to know yourself that you +believe. Nor would it render the Church essentially visible, if, by +special revelation or otherwise, we infallibly knew of a man that he is +a believer indeed. Even the Word and the Sacraments are infallible marks +of the Church only because, according to God's promise, the preaching of +the Gospel shall not return without fruit. Wherever and only where the +Gospel is preached are we justified in assuming the existence of +Christians. Yet the Church remains essentially invisible, because +neither the external act of preaching nor the external act of hearing, +but inward, invisible believing alone makes one a Christian, a member +of the Church. Inasmuch, however, as faith _manifests_ itself in the +confession of the Christian truths and in outward works of love, the +Church, in a way, becomes visible and subject to human observation. Yet +we dare not infer that the Church is essentially visible because its +effects are visible. The human soul, though its effects may be seen, +remains essentially invisible. God is invisible, though the +manifestations of His invisible power and wisdom can be observed in the +world. Thus also faith and the Church remain essentially invisible, even +where they manifest their reality in visible effects and works. Apart +from the confession and proclamation of the Gospel and a corresponding +Christian conversation, the _chief visible effects_ and works of the +Church are the foundation of local congregations, the calling of +ministers, the organization of representative bodies, etc. And when +these manifestations and visible works of the Church are also called +churches, the effects receive the name of the cause, or the whole, the +mixed body, is given the name which properly belongs to a part, the true +believers, only. Visible congregations are called churches as quartz is +called gold, and a field is called wheat. + +3. Visible Churches, True and False.--The objects for which Christians, +in accordance with the will of God, unite, and should unite, in visible +churches and local congregations, are mutual Christian acknowledgment +and edification, common Christian confession and labor, and especially +the establishment of the communal office of the public ministry of the +pure Gospel. This object involves, as a divine norm of Christian +organization, and fellowship, that such only be admitted as themselves +believe and confess the divine truths of the Bible, and who are not +advocates of doctrines contrary to the plain Word of God. Christian +organizations and unions must not be in violation of the Christian unity +of the Spirit. Organizations effected in harmony with the divine object +and norm of Christian fellowship are true visible churches, _i. e.,_ +visible unions as God would have them. They are churches of the pure +Word and Sacrament, professing the Gospel and deviating from none of its +doctrines. Christians have no right to embrace, teach, and champion +error. They are called upon and bound to believe, teach, and confess +all, and only, Christian truths. Nor may they lawfully organize on a +doctrinally false basis. Organizations persistently deviating from the +doctrines of the Bible and establishing a doctrinally false basis, are +sects, _i. e.,_ false or impure visible Churches. Yet, though error +never saves, moreover, when consistently developed, has the tendency of +corrupting the whole lump, false Churches may be instrumental in saving +souls, inasmuch as they retain essential parts of the Gospel-truths, +and inasmuch as God's grace may neutralize the accompanying deadly +error, or stay its leavening power. Indeed, individuals, by the grace of +God, though errorists in their heads, may be truthists in their hearts; +just as one who is orthodox in his head may, by his own fault, be +heterodox in his heart. A Catholic may, by rote, call upon the saints +with his lips, and yet, by the grace of God, in his heart, put his trust +in Christ. And a Lutheran may confess Christ and the doctrine of grace +with his lips, and yet in his heart rely on his own good character. +False Churches as such, however, inasmuch as theirs is a banner of +rebellion in the kingdom of Christ, do not exist by God's approval, but +merely by His sufferance. It is their duty to reform on a basis of +doctrinal purity and absolute conformity with the Word of God. + +4. The Lutheran Church the True Visible Church.--The Lutheran Church +is the only known religious body which, in the Book of Concord of 1580, +confesses the truths of the Gospel without admixture of any doctrines +contrary to the Bible. Hence its organization is in perfect harmony +with the divine object and norm of Christian union and fellowship. Its +basis of union is the pure Word and Sacrament. Indeed, the Lutheran +Church is not the universal or only Christian Church, for there are +many believers belonging to other Christian bodies. Nor is it the only +saving Church, because there are other Churches preaching Christian +truths, which, by the grace of God, prove sufficient and powerful to +save men. The Lutheran Church is the Church of the _pure_ Word and the +_unadulterated_ Sacraments. It is the only Church proclaiming the +alone-saving truth of the Gospel _in its purity_. It is the Church with +a doctrinal basis which has the unqualified approval of the Scriptures, +a basis which, materially, all Churches must accept if they would +follow the lead of the Bible. And being doctrinally the pure Church, the +Lutheran Church is the true visible Church of God on earth. While all +sectarian churches corrupt God's Word and the Sacraments, it is the +peculiar glory of the Lutheran Church that it proclaims the Gospel in +its purity, and administers the Sacraments without adulteration. This +holds good with regard to all Lutheran organizations that are Lutheran +in truth and reality. True and faithful Lutherans, however, are such +only as, being convinced by actual comparison that the Concordia of 1580 +is in perfect agreement with the Holy Bible, subscribe to these symbols +_ex animo_ and without mental reservation or doctrinal limitation, and +earnestly strive to conform to them in practise as well as in theory. +Subscription only to the Augustana or to Luther's Small Catechism is a +sufficient test of Lutheranism, provided that the limitation does not +imply, and is not interpreted as, a rejection of the other Lutheran +symbols or any of its doctrines. Lutheran churches or synods, however, +deviating from, or doctrinally limiting their subscription to, this +basis of 1580, or merely _pro forma,_ professing, but not seriously and +really living its principles and doctrines, are not truly Lutheran in +the adequate sense of the term, though not by any means un-Lutheran in +every sense of that term. + +5. Bible and Book of Concord on Christian Union and Fellowship.-- +Nothing is more frequently taught and stressed by the Bible than the +truth that church-fellowship presupposes, and must be preceded by, unity +in the spirit, in doctrine. Amos 3, 3: "How can two walk together except +they be agreed?" According to the Bible the Word of God alone is to be +taught, heard, and confessed in the Christian Church. Only true teachers +are to preach, in the Church: Deut. 13, 6 ff.; Jer. 23, 28. 31. 32; +Matt. 5, 19; 28, 20; 2 Cor. 2, 17; Gal. 1, 8; 1 Tim. 4, 16; 1 Pet. 4, 11. +Christians are to listen to true teachers only: Matt. 7, 15; John 8, 31; +10, 27. 5; Acts 2, 42; Rom. 16, 17; 2 John 10; 1 Tim. 6, 3-5; Eph. 4, 14; +Titus 3, 10; 2 Cor. 6, 14-18. In the Church the true doctrine, and only +the true doctrine, is to be confessed, and that unanimously by all of +its members: 1 Cor. 1, 10; Eph. 4, 3-6. 13; 1 Tim. 5, 22; Matt. 10, +32. 33. Christian union and fellowship without the "same mind," the +"same judgment," and the "same speech" with respect to the Christian +truths is in direct conflict with the clear Scriptures. The unity of the +Spirit demanded Eph. 4, 3 requires that Christians be one in doctrine, +one, not 50 or 75, but 100 per cent. With this attitude of the Bible +toward Christian union and fellowship the Lutheran symbols agree. The +Eleventh [tr. note: sic!] Article of the Augsburg Confession declares: +"For this is sufficient to true unity of the Christian Church that the +Gospel be preached unanimously according to the pure understanding, and +that the Sacraments be administered in agreement with the divine Word. +And it is not necessary to true unity of the Christian Church that +uniform ceremonies, instituted by men, be observed everywhere, as St. +Paul says, Eph. 4, 4. 5: 'One body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in +one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.'" "Pure +understanding of the Gospel" is here contrasted with "ceremonies +instituted by men." Accordingly, with respect to everything that God +plainly teaches in the Bible unity is required, while liberty prevails +only in such things as are instituted by men. In this sense the Lutheran +Church understands the _"Satis est"_ of the Augustana, as appears from +the Tenth Article of the Formula of Concord: "We believe, teach, and +confess also that no church should condemn another because one has less +or more external ceremonies not commanded by God than the other, if +otherwise there is agreement among them in doctrine and all its +articles, as also in the right use of the Sacraments, according to the +well-known saying: 'Disagreement in fasting does not destroy agreement +in faith.'" (Mueller 553, 7.) It cannot, then, be maintained +successfully that, according to the Lutheran symbols, some doctrines, +though clearly taught in the Bible, are irrelevant and not necessary to +church-fellowship. The Lutheran Confessions neither extend the +requirements for Christian union to human teachings and institutions, +nor do they limit them to merely a part of the divine doctrines of the +Bible. They err neither _in excessu_ nor _in defectu_. Accordingly, +Lutherans, though not unmindful of the admonition to bear patiently +with the weak, the weak also in doctrine and knowledge, dare not +countenance any denial on principle of any of the Christian doctrines, +nor sanction the unionistic attitude, which maintains that denial of +minor Christian truths does not and must not, in any way, affect +Christian union and fellowship. In the "Treatise on the Power of the +Pope" the Book of Concord says: "It is a hard thing to want to separate +from so many countries and people and maintain a separate doctrine. But +here stands God's command that every one shall be separate from, and not +be agreed with, those who teach falsely," etc. (§42.) + +6. Misguided Efforts at Christian Union.--Perhaps never before has +Christendom been divided in as many sects as at present. +Denominationalism, as advocated by Philip Schaff and many Unionists, +defends this condition. It views the various sects as lawful specific +developments of generic Christianity, or as different varieties of the +same spiritual life of the Church, as regiments of the same army, +marching separately, but attacking the same common foe. Judged in the +light of the Bible, however, the numerous sects, organized on various +aberrations from the plain Word of God, are, as such, not normal +developments, but corruptions, abnormal formations, and diseased +conditions of the Christian Church. Others, realizing the senseless +waste of moneys and men, and feeling the shame of the scandalous +controversies, the bitter conflicts, and the dishonorable competition of +the disrupted Christian sects, develop a feverish activity in +engineering and promoting external ecclesiastical unions, regardless of +internal doctrinal dissensions. For centuries the Pope has been +stretching out his arms to the Greek and Protestant Churches, even +making concessions to the Ruthenians and other Uniates as to the +language of the liturgy, the marriage of priests, the cup to be given to +the laity, etc. In order to present a united political front to the Pope +and the Emperor, Zwingli, in 1529, offered Luther the hand of fellowship +in spite of doctrinal differences. In political interests, Frederick +William III of Prussia, in 1817, forced a union without unity on the +Lutherans and Reformed of his kingdom. In America this Prussian Union +was advocated by the German Evangelical Synod of North America. The +Church of England, in 1862, 1874, and 1914, endeavored to establish a +union with the Old Catholics and the Russian Church even at the +sacrifice of the _Filioque_. (The Lutherans, when, in 1559 and again in +1673 to 1681, negotiations were opened to bring about an understanding +with the Greek Church, insisted on unity in the doctrines of +Justification and of Free Will, to which Jeremiah II took exception.) +Pierpont Morgan, a number of years ago, appropriated a quarter million +dollars in order to bring the Churches of America under the leadership +of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which demands as the only condition +of union the recognition of their "historical episcopate," a fiction, +historical as well as doctrinal. In 1919 three Protestant Episcopal +bishops crossed the seas seeking a conference with the Pope and the +representatives of the Greek Orthodox churches in the interest of a +League of Churches. The Evangelical Alliance, organized 1846 at London, +aimed to unite all Protestants against Rome on a basis of nine general +statements, from which the distinctive doctrines were eliminated. The +Federal Council, embracing 30 Protestant denominations, was organized +with the definite understanding that no Church, by joining, need +sacrifice any of its peculiar doctrines. The unions effected between the +Congregationalists and Methodists in Canada, and between the Calvinistic +Northern Presbyterians and the Arminian Cumberland Presbyterians in our +own country, were also unionistic. Since the beginning of the last +century the Campbellites and kindred sects were zealous in uniting the +Churches by urging them to drop their distinctive names and confessions, +call themselves "Christians" or "Disciples," and accept as their +confession the Bible only. Indeed, the number of physicians seeking to +heal the schisms of Christendom is legion. But their cure is worse than +the disease. Unionistic henotics cannot but fail utterly, because their +object is not unity in the Spirit of truth, but union in the spirit of +diversity and error. + +7. Lutherans Qualified to Head True Union Movement.--Most of the +union-efforts are failures _ab initio_. They seek outward union without +inward unity. They proceed on a false diagnosis of the case. They +observe the symptoms, and outlook or intentionally ignore the hidden +cause, the deviations from the Word of God, which disturb the unity of +the Spirit. And doctrinal discussions, which alone can bring about a +real cure, are intentionally omitted and expressly declared taboo, as, +_e. g._, by the Federal Council. The Church, suffering from +blood-poisoning, is pronounced cured when the sores have been covered. +They put a plaster over the gap in Zion's wall, which may hide, but does +not heal, the breach. Universally, sectarian henotics have proved to be +spiritual quacks with false aims, false methods, and false diagnosis. +Nowhere among the sects a single serious effort to cure the malady from +within and to restore to the Church of Christ real unity, unity in the +true doctrine! Indeed, how could a genuine unity-union movement +originate with the sects? Can the blind lead the blind? Can the beggar +enrich the poor? Can the sects give to Christendom what they themselves +are in need of? The Lutheran Church is the only denomination qualified +to head a true unity-union movement, because she alone is in full +possession of those unadulterated truths without which there can be +neither true Christian unity nor God-pleasing Christian union. +Accordingly, the Lutheran Church has the mission to lead the way in the +efforts at healing the ruptures of Christendom. But in order to do so, +the Lutheran Church must be loyal to herself, loyal to her principles, +and true to her truths. The mere Lutheran name is unavailing. The +American Lutheran synods, in order successfully to steer a unity-union +movement, must purge themselves thoroughly from the leaven of error, of +indifferentism and unionism. A complete and universal return to the +Lutheran symbols is the urgent need of the hour. Only when united in +undivided loyalty to the divine truths of God's Word, will the American +Lutheran Church be able to measure up to its peculiar calling of +restoring to Christendom the truths of the Gospel in their pristine +purity, and in and with these truths the true unity of the Spirit and a +fellowship and union, both beneficial to man and well-pleasing to God. + +8. Lutheran Statistics.--God has blessed the Lutheran Church in +America abundantly, more than in any other country of the world. From a +few scattered groups she has grown into a great people. In 1740 there +were in America about 50 Lutheran congregations. In 1820 the Lutheran +Church numbered 6 synods, with almost 900 congregations, 40,000 +communicants, and 175 pastors. In 1867 about 1,750 pastors, 3,100 +congregations, and 332,000 communicants. Twenty-five years later, 60 +synods, with about 5,000 pastors, 8,390 congregations, and 1,187,000 +communicants. In the jubilee year, 1917, the Lutheran Church in America +embraced (besides about 200 independent congregations) 65 synods, 24 of +which belonged to the General Synod (350,000 communicants), 13 to the +General Council (500,000 communicants), 8 to the United Synod South +(53,000 communicants), and 6 to the Synodical Conference (800,000 +communicants). The entire Lutheran Church in America reported in 1917 +about 9,700 pastors; 15,200 congregations; 2,450,000 communicants; 28 +theological seminaries, with 112 professors and 1,170 students; 41 +colleges, with 640 professors and 950 students; 59 academies, with 404 +teachers and 6,700 pupils; 8 ladies' seminaries, with 72 instructors and +340 pupils; 64 orphanages, with 4,200 inmates; 12 home-finding and +children's friend societies; 45 homes for the aged, with 1,650 inmates; +7 homes for defectives, with 430 inmates; 9 deaconess homes, with 370 +sisters; 50 hospitals; 19 hospices; 17 immigrant homes and seamen's +missions; and 10 miscellaneous institutions; a large number of +periodicals of many kinds, printed in numerous Lutheran publishing +houses, in English, German, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, Icelandic, +Finnish, Slavonian, Lettish, Esthonian, Polish, Portuguese, Lithuanian, +etc., etc. + + +Early History of American Lutheranism. + +LUTHERAN SWEDES IN DELAWARE. + +9. New Sweden.--The first Lutheran pastor who set his foot on American +soil in August, 1619, was Rasmus Jensen of Denmark. He was chaplain of +a Danish expedition numbering 66 Lutherans under Captain Jens Munck, +who took possession of the land about Hudson Bay in the name of the +Danish crown. In his diary we read of the faithful pastoral work, the +sermons, and the edifying death, on February 20, 1620, of this Lutheran +pastor. However, the first Lutheran minister to serve a _Lutheran +colony_ in America was Reorus Torkillus. He was born in 1609 at +Faessberg, Sweden, educated at Linkoeping, and for a time was chaplain +at Goeteborg. Gustavus Adolphus already had entertained the idea of +founding a colony in America, chiefly for the purpose of carrying on +mission-work among the Indians. Peter Minuit, a German, who had come to +Manhattan Island in 1626 to represent the interests of the Dutch West +India Company (organized in 1621), led also the first Swedish expedition +to Delaware in December, 1637. Nine expeditions followed, until the +flourishing colony was captured by the Dutch in 1655. The work of +Torkillus, who died September 7, 1643, was continued by John Campanius +(1601 to 1683), who arrived on February 15, 1643. Three years later, one +hundred years after the death of Luther, he dedicated the first Lutheran +Church in America at Christina (Wilmington). His translation of Luther's +Small Catechism into the language of the Delaware Indians antedates +Eliot's Indian Bible, but was not published till 1696. Returning to +Sweden in 1648, Campanius left about 200 souls in the charge of Lars +Lock (Lockenius), who served them until his end, in 1688. In 1654, +Pastors Vertunius and Hjorst arrived with 350 additional souls. Both, +however, returned to Sweden when Stuyvesant took possession of the +colony in 1655, permitting the Swedes in Delaware to retain only Lars +Lock as pastor. Jacob Fabricius, who, after rendering his stay in New +Amsterdam (New York) impossible, was laboring among the Dutch along the +Delaware from 1671 to 1675, before long also began to do mission-work +among the Swedes and Finns, at the same time intriguing against Lock, +whose cup of sorrow was already filled with family troubles and other +griefs. In 1677 Fabricius took charge of the Swedes at Wicaco +(Philadelphia), where he, though blind since 1682, continued faithfully +to wait on his office until his death in 1693 (1696). He preached in +Dutch, which, as reported, the Swedes "spoke perfectly." + +10. Succored by the King of Sweden.--In 1692 the now orphaned +Lutherans in Delaware addressed themselves to Karl XI, who promised to +help them. However, four years passed before Pastor Rudman arrived with +two assistants, Bjoerk (Bioerck) and Auren, as well as with a +consignment of Bibles and other books. New life entered the Swedish +colony. In 1699 the new Trinity Church was erected at Christina, and in +1700 Gloria Dei Church in Wicaco (Philadelphia). From the very +beginning, however, a spirit of legalism, hierarchy, and of unionism +wormed its way into the promising harvest. The congregations were not +taught to govern themselves, but were ruled by provosts sent from +Sweden. In the interest of discipline, Andreas Sandel, who arrived in +1702, introduced a system of monetary penances. In his _History of the +Lutheran Church in America_ Dr. A. Graebner writes: "Whoever came to +church tipsy, was to pay 40 shillings and do public penance. Blasphemy +of the divine Word or the Sacraments carried with it a fine of 5 pounds +sterling and church penance; to sing at unseemly hours was punished by +a fine of 6 shillings; such as refused to submit to the discipline were +to be excluded from the congregation and to be refused interment at its +cemetery." (86.) Eric Unander, who returned to Sweden in 1760, employed +the same methods to keep order in the congregational meetings. A. +Rudman, after his brief pastorate among the Dutch Lutherans in New York +during 1702, returned to Philadelphia. From 1707 to his death, in 1708, +he served an Episcopal church without severing his connection with the +Swedes. His successors followed his footsteps. From 1737 to 1741 J. +Dylander preached at Gloria Dei Church in German, Swedish, and English +every Sunday, served the Germans in Germantown and Lancaster, and, in +the absence of their pastor, ministered also to the Episcopalians. The +same practise was observed by the provosts: Eric Bjoerk, who was +appointed the first provost in 1712, and returned to Sweden in 1714; +A. Sandel, who also served Episcopalian congregations and returned in +1719; A. Hesselius, who left in 1723, and in Sweden, 1725, published a +short report of the conditions prevailing in America; Peter Tranberg, +who was stationed at Raccoon and Pennsneck, N. J., from 1726 to 1740, +and at Christina till his death in 1748; J. Sandin, who arrived in 1746, +dying two years later; Israel Acrelius, who arrived in 1749, saw the +language question become acute, served Episcopalian congregations, and +returned to Sweden in 1756, where he published (1759) a description of +the conditions in New Sweden; Olaf Parlin, who arrived in 1750 and died +in 1757; Dr. C. M. Wrangel, who was provost from 1759 to 1768, assisted +in rejuvenating the Pennsylvania Synod in 1760, and began a seminary +with Peter Muhlenberg, Daniel Kuhn, and Christian Streit as students; +Nils Collin, whose activity extended from 1770 to 1831, during which +time he had eight Episcopalian assistant pastors in succession. + +11. Church-fellowship with Episcopalians.--In 1710 Pastor Sandel +reported as follows on the unionism practised by the Swedes and +Episcopalians: "As pastors and teachers we have at all times maintained +friendly relations and intimate converse with the English preachers, one +always availing himself of the help and advice of the other. At their +pastoral conferences we always consulted with them. We have repeatedly +preached English in their churches when the English preachers lacked the +time because of a journey or a death. If anywhere they laid the +corner-stone of a church, we were invited, and attended. When their +church in Philadelphia was enlarged, and the Presbyterians had invited +them to worship in their church, they declined and asked permission to +come out to Wicaco and conduct their services in our church, which I +granted. This occurred three Sundays in succession, until their church +was finished; and, in order to manifest the unity still more, Swedish +hymns were sung during the English services. Also Bishop Swedberg [of +Sweden], in his letters, encouraged us in such unity and intimacy with +the Anglicans; although there exists some difference between them and us +touching the Lord's Supper, etc., yet he did not want that small +difference to rend asunder the bond of peace. We enter upon no +discussion of this point; neither do we touch upon such things when +preaching in their churches; nor do they seek to win our people to their +view in this matter; on the contrary, we live in intimate and brotherly +fashion with one another, they also calling us brethren. They have the +government in their hands, we are under them; it is enough that they +desire to have such friendly intercourse with us; we can do nothing else +than render them every service and fraternal intimacy as long as they +are so amiable and confiding, and have not sought in the least to draw +our people into their churches. As our church is called by them 'the +sister church of the Church of England,' so we also live fraternally +together. God grant that this may long continue!" (G., 118.) Thus from +the very beginning the Swedish bishops encouraged and admonished their +emissaries to fraternize especially with the Episcopalians. And the +satisfaction with this state of affairs on the part of the Episcopalian +ministers appears from the following testimonial which they gave to +Hesselius and J. A. Lidenius in 1723: "They were ever welcome in our +pulpits, as we were also welcome in their pulpits. Such was our mutual +agreement in doctrine and divine service, and so regularly did they +attend our conferences that, aside from the different languages in which +we and they were called to officiate, no difference could be perceived +between us." (131.) + +12. Absorbed by the Episcopal Church.--The evil influence which the +unionism practised by the Swedish provosts and ministers exercised upon +the Lutheran congregations appears from the resolution of the +congregation at Pennsneck, in 1742, henceforth to conduct English +services exclusively, and that, according to the Book of Common Prayer. +In the same year Pastor Gabriel Naesman wrote to Sweden: "As to my +congregation, the people at first were scattered among other +congregations, and among the sects which are tolerated here, and it is +with difficulty that I gather them again to some extent. The great lack +of harmony prevailing among the members makes my congregation seem like +a kingdom not at one with itself, and therefore near its ruin." (335.) +The unionism indulged in also accounts for the trouble which the Swedes +experienced with the emissaries of Zinzendorf: L. T. Nyberg, Abr. +Reinke, and P. D. Bryzelius (who severed his connection with the +Moravians in 1760, became a member of the Pennsylvania Synod, and in +1767 was ordained by the Bishop of London). Unionism paved the way, and +naturally led to the final undoing of the Lutheran Swedes in Delaware. +It was but in keeping with the unionism advised from Sweden, practised +in Delaware, and indulged in to the limit by himself, when Provost +Wrangel gave the final _coup de grace_ to the first Lutheran Church in +America. Dr. Wrangel, the bosom-friend of H. M. Muhlenberg, openly and +extensively fraternized not only with the Episcopalians, but also with +the Reformed, the Presbyterians (in Princeton), and the Methodists, +notably the revivalist Whitefield. And, evidently foreseeing the early +and unavoidable _debacle_ of Swedish Lutheranism in Delaware, von +Wrangel, at his departure for Sweden, suffered the Episcopalians to use +him as a tool to deliver the poor, weakened, and oppressed +congregations, whose leader he had been, into the hands of the +Anglicans. (392.) On his way home Wrangel carried with him an important +letter of introduction from the Episcopalian Richard Peters to the +Bishop of London, the ecclesiastical superior of the Anglican ministers +and congregations in the American Colonies. The letter, dated August 30, +1768, reads, in part: "Now Dr. Wrangel intends to utilize properly the +general aversion [in Delaware] to the Presbyterians in order to unite +the great mass of Lutherans and Swedes with with the Church of England, +which, as you know, is but small numerically and in humble circumstances +in this province; through union with the German Lutherans, however, we +both would become respectable. According to Dr. Smith's and my opinion +this could be effected through our Academy. In it we could establish a +theological professorship; then German and English young men could be +educated, and as their training would embrace both languages, they could +preach German as well as English at places where both nations are mixed. +That would unite us all and make us one people in life and love. It is a +happy thought. I would desire your Excellency to speak with Dr. Wrangel, +and encourage him as much as possible. In this matter I have written to +the two archbishops, asking them to consider it carefully together with +your Excellency. I am sure that now the opportunity is good to bring +this desirable affair to a happy conclusion." (394.) In a document dated +June 25, 1789, the Swedish government served official notice on the +congregations in America that in future they could no longer expect help +from Sweden, alleging that, whereas "the purpose, the Swedish tongue," +had come to an end, it was but just that in future also the +disbursements in Sweden should be discontinued. (401.) The result was +that one congregation after another united with the Episcopalians. By +1846 the Lutheran name had disappeared from the last charter. Thus the +entire Swedish mission territory, all of whose congregations exist to +the present day, was lost to the Lutheran Church. The chief causes of +this loss were: unionism, hierarchical paternalism, interference from +Sweden, the failure to provide for schools and for the training of +suitable pastors, and the lack of Swedish and, later, of English +Lutheran literature. The report of the Pennsylvania Ministerium of 1762 +remarks: "For several generations the Swedish schools unfortunately have +been neglected in the Swedish congregations; Dr. Wrangel, however, has +organized an English school in one of his parishes where Luther's +Catechism is read in an English translation." From the very beginning +the foundations of the Lutheran structure along the Delaware were both +laid insecurely and undermined by its builders. + + +SALZBURG LUTHERANS IN GEORGIA. + +13. Banished by Archbishop Anton Firmian.--Like the Swedes in +Delaware, so also the Salzburg Lutherans in Georgia, as a Church, have +disappeared in the course of years. The story of their vicissitudes and +especially of their colony Ebenezer, however, has retained a peculiar +charm. On Reformation Day of 1731 the cruel Archbishop Anton, Knight of +Firmian, issued a manifesto which ordered the Evangelicals of Salzburg, +Austria, either to return to the bosom of the Catholic Church, or to +emigrate, leaving their property and their young children behind them. +Some eighteen thousand Lutherans chose banishment rather than deny the +faith that was in them. On their journey the exiles awakened lively +sympathy by singing their _Exulantenlied_ (Hymn of the Exiles) which +Joseph Schaitberger had composed for those banished In 1685. The eleven +stanzas of this hymn read in the original as follows: "1. I bin ein +armer Exulant, A so tu i mi schreiba; Ma tuet mi aus dem Vaterland Um +Gottes Wort vertreiba. 2. Das wass i wohl, Herr Jesu Christ, Es is dir a +so ganga. Itzt will i dein Nachfolger sein; Herr, mach's nach deim +Verlanga! 3. A Pilgrim bin i halt numehr, Muss reise fremde Strossa; Das +bitt i di, mein Gott und Herr, Du wirst mi nit verlossa. 4. Den Glauba +hob i frei bekennt, Des derf i mi nit schaema, Wenn ma mi glei ein +Ketzer nennt Und tuet mir's Leba nehma. 5. Ketta und Banda wor mir en +Ehr Um Jesu willa z' dulda, Und dieses macht die Glaubenslehr Und nit +mei boes Verschulda. 6. Muss i glei in das Elend fort, Will i mi do nit +wehra; So hoff i do, Gott wird mir dort Och gute Fruend beschera. 7. +Herr, wie du willt, i gib mi drein, Bei dir will i verbleiba; I will mi +gern dem Wille dein Geduldig unterschreiba. 8. Muss i glei fort, in +Gottes Nam! Und wird mir ales g'nomma, So wass i wohl, die Himmelskron +Wer i amal bekomma. 9. So muss i heut von meinem Haus, Die Kinderl muss +i lossa. Mei Gott, es treibt mir Zaehrel aus, Zu wandern fremde Strossa. +10. Mein Gott, fuehr mi in ene Stodt, Wo i dein Wort kann hoba, Darin +will i di frueh und spot In meinem Herzel loba. 11. Soll i in diesem +Jammertal Noch laenger in Armut leba, So hoff i do, Gott wird mir dort +Ein bessre Wohnung geba."--The cruelly persecuted and banished +Salzburgers were hospitably received in Prussia and Holland, where many +found a permanent home. Others resolved to emigrate to Georgia, where, +through the mediation of Dr. Urlsperger of Augsburg and the court +preacher Ziegenhagen of London, the British government promised them +religious liberty and other advantages. + +14. Ebenezer in Georgia.--The first ninety-one persons of the +Salzburg colony, which later numbered about 1,200 souls, landed at +Savannah, March 10, 1734. They were accompanied by Pastors John Martin +Bolzius and Israel Christian Gronau, who had received their education at +Halle. Governor Oglethorpe led the immigrants twenty-three miles +northwest of their landing-place, where they erected a monument of +stones and called the settlement Ebenezer. Seven years later (1741) +Jerusalem Church was built, for which also Whitefield had made +collections in Europe. In 1743 a second church was dedicated in the +country. Dr. Graebner records the following statistics: "In 1743 the +congregation numbered 279 souls: 81 men, 70 married women, 6 widows, 52 +boys, 59 girls, and 11 maid-servants." (554.) In 1744 the Salzburgers +celebrated the tenth anniversary of their deliverance on the tenth of +March, a day which was annually observed by them as a day of +thanksgiving. Sorrow followed the joyous celebration, for in the +following year, January 11, 1745, their beloved Pastor Gronau was called +to his eternal reward. Dwelling on Gronau's edifying death, Bolzius +wrote in a letter dated January 14, 1845: "His heart was in deep +communion with the dear Savior. With profound desire he received the +Lord's Supper a few days before his dissolution. He distinctly +recognized all who surrounded him [when he was dying], and exhorted them +to praise God. It seemed, and such was also inferred from his words, as +though, like Stephen, he saw something extraordinarily beautiful and +glorious. At last, after stretching forth his hands and taking leave of +all, he directed his folded hands toward heaven, praying and praising +God. Finally, saying, 'Do come, Lord Jesus, Amen, Amen, Amen!' he closed +his eyes and mouth, and entered peacefully into the joy of God." (556.) +Gronau was succeeded by Pastor H. H. Lemke, of Schaumburg, who +previously had been active in the institutions at Halle. His diploma of +vocation was signed by Samuel Urlsperger in the stead and name of the +English Society for the Promotion of the Knowledge of Christ. Thus +Ebenezer was actually the foundation of a mission society whose members +were for the most part adherents of the Reformed Church. In 1742 Pastor +John Ulrich Driessler had been called to the congregation of Frederica, +south of Savannah. He entered upon his labors in 1744, and died three +years later. In the following years several ships arrived bringing +emigrants from Swabia. To meet the growing needs Pastor Chr. Rabenhorst +was sent to the colony in 1753. In 1765 Pastor Bolzius died, sixty-two +years old, repeating the words: "Father, I will that they also whom +Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory +which Thou hast given Me." (John 17, 24.) None of the three pastors, who +were easily able to minister to the spiritual needs of the colony, +displayed a missionary spirit in any marked degree. + +15. Dissension and Disintegration.--While Bolzius, Lemke, and +Rabenhorst had labored together in harmony, dissension and strife began +to blast the blissful peace and quiet contentment of Ebenezer, when, +after the death also of Lemke, Pastor C. F. Triebner arrived in 1773. +The congregation was torn by factions, the minority siding with Triebner +in his bitter opposition to Rabenhorst. When the majority refused +Triebner permission to officiate in the church, the minority forced the +doors. After a new lock had been secured by the majority, the minority +began to conduct separate services in the home of John Wertsch, and +entered suit before the Governor of Georgia. This brought about the +loss of their church property, the Governor, in accordance with the +express wording of the patent grant of April 2, 1771, deeding Jerusalem +Church to the Episcopalians. The patent contained the provision: "... +for the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of two ministers of the +Gospel, residents within the parish aforesaid, using and exercising +divine service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of +England within the said parish and their successors forever." (599.) In +1774 Muhlenberg arrived, commissioned by the "English Society" to +conduct an investigation and restore peace. A reconciliation was +effected, and articles of agreement were signed by the pastors and the +members of the congregation. Before long, however, the old discord broke +out again and continued unabated until the death of Pastor Rabenhorst in +1777. Triebner now secured a firm footing in the congregation. But new +storms were brewing for the poor people. In 1775 the War of Independence +had broken out, in which Triebner not only espoused the cause of England +himself, but urged his congregation to do the same, thereby bringing +untold misery upon Ebenezer. Triebner, taken captive and severely dealt +with, finally found his way back to Europe. After the war Ebenezer +presented a sad spectacle. Soldiers had used the church as a hospital +and stable; Rabenhorst's home had been given to the flames; fields were +laid waste; and the inhabitants were scattered and despoiled of their +property. The congregation, however, recovered, and through the +endeavors of Urlsperger received a new pastor in the person of John +Ernest Bergmann, who had studied at Leipzig. In 1785 he assumed the +duties at Ebenezer, formerly discharged by two and three pastors. But, +though a diligent worker, Bergmann was not a faithful Lutheran, nor did +he build up a truly Lutheran congregation. There came a time when but +very little of Lutheranism was to be found in the old colony of the +Salzburgers. (600.) During Bergmann's long pastorate, which was +conducted in the German language exclusively until 1824, the +Americanized young people gradually began to drift away from the mother +church. However, to the present day descendants of the Salzburgers are +found in the Lutheran congregations of Savannah and of the Georgia +Synod. + + +LUTHERANS IN NEW YORK. + +16. Persecuted in New Amsterdam.--In the first part of the seventeenth +century the Lutheran Church was by law prohibited and oppressed in the +United Netherlands. When the power of the papists had come to an end, +Reformed tendencies gained the ascendency, and Calvinists reaped where +Lutherans had sowed with tears. While claiming to be adherents of the +Augsburg Confession, they persecuted the Lutherans, forbidding all +Lutheran worship in public meeting-houses as well as in private +dwellings. Nevertheless the Lutheran Church not only continued to exist, +but even made some headway in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and other places. The +greatest handicap, however, which also prevented the Dutch Lutherans +from developing any missionary activity, was the lack of a native +ministry thoroughly conversant with the language of the people. +Conditions similar to those in Holland obtained in the American +colonies. Like the mother country, New Amsterdam had a law prohibiting +the exercise of any religion save that of the Reformed faith. Sanford H. +Cobb, in his work _The Rise of Religious Liberty in America_, quotes the +law as follows: "No other religion shall be publicly admitted in New +Netherland except the Reformed, as it is at present preached and +practised by public authority in the United Netherlands; and for this +purpose the [Dutch West India] Company shall provide and maintain good +and suitable preachers, schoolmasters, and comforters of the sick +(Ziekentrooster)." (303, 321 f.) However, the report of the Jesuit +Jogues, who sojourned in the colony in about 1642, shows that this law +was not strictly enforced during the first part of the century. Also the +Lutherans were permitted to conduct reading-services in their homes. But +when the Dutch and German Lutherans (the former having arrived in New +Amsterdam probably as early as 1624) had organized a congregation in +1648, and in 1653 requested the authorities to grant them permission to +call a Lutheran pastor, they received a curt refusal at the hands of the +governor, Peter Stuyvesant. The two Reformed domines, Megapolensis, who +had arrived in 1649, and Drisius, who came in 1652 (the successors to +Michaelius, who came over in 1623, and Bogardus, who followed him in +1632), proved to be the most bigoted and fanatical in the opposition to +the request of the Lutherans. Instead of their petition being granted, +the Lutherans were now forced to have their children baptized in the +Reformed churches by Reformed pastors, and to promise to bring them up +in the Confession of Dort; and private services in dwellings were made +punishable with severe penalties. Peter Stuyvesant, who was also deacon +of the Reformed Church, declared at the close of a session of the +church council, that, if any one ever dared to appeal from his decision +to the authorities in Holland, he would reduce his stature by the +length of his head and send him back to the old country in pieces. But +the Lutherans were not intimidated. When Stuyvesant denied their +request for a Lutheran pastor, they appealed to the authorities +overseas. The two Reformed domines also sent a letter to Holland, +setting forth the dire consequences which were bound to follow in the +wake of such religious toleration. + +17. Moderation Advised.--The authorities in Holland agreed with the +intolerant domines and directed Stuyvesant to allow none but the +Reformed religion. Yet, while denying the request of the Lutherans, +they, at the same time, urged the governor to employ mildness and +moderate means in dealing with them. Cobb gives the following +translation of these instructions: "We have decided absolutely to deny +the request made by some of our inhabitants, adherents of the Augsburg +Confession, for a preacher and free exercise of their religion, pursuant +to the custom hitherto observed by us and the West India Company, on +account of the consequences arising therefrom; and we recommend to you +also not to receive any similar petitions, but rather to turn them off +in the most civil and least offensive way, and to employ all possible, +but moderate means to induce them to listen and finally join the +Reformed Church." (313.) The letter was dated February 26, 1654. But +notwithstanding this rebuff, the Lutherans persisted in their demand, +and held religious services in their houses without a minister, +declaring that "Heaven was above law." This excited the wrath of the +autocratic governor, who was not accustomed to brook opposition, nor +knew how to employ mildness, wisdom, and "moderate means" in dealing +with anybody, least of all with the Lutherans. Instead of persuasion he +employed force; and instead of trying "the most civil and least +offensive way," he resorted to harsh and most offensive measures. On +February 1, 1656, a stringent "Ordinance against Conventicles" was +posted, which ran: "Some unqualified persons in such meetings assume the +ministerial office, the expounding and explanation of the holy Word of +God, without being called or appointed thereto by ecclesiastical or +civil authority, which is in direct contravention and opposition to the +general Civil and Ecclesiastical order of our Fatherland, besides that +many dangerous heresies and schisms are to be apprehended. Therefore, +the director-general and council . . . absolutely and expressly forbid +all such conventicles and meetings, whether public or private, differing +from the customary, and not only lawful, but scripturally founded and +ordained meetings of the Reformed divine service, as this is observed +. . . according to the Synod of Dordrecht." The penalties imposed by the +act were 100 _Flemish_ Pounds for the preacher and 25 Pounds for every +attendant at such services. (317.) A number of Lutherans were cast into +prison. Realizing that such harsh measures would prove hurtful to their +business interests, the authorities in Holland, in an order dated June +14, 1656, rebuked Stuyvesant for his high-handed procedure, saying: "We +should have gladly seen that your Honor had not posted up the +transmitted edict against the Lutherans, and had not punished them by +imprisonment, . . . inasmuch as it has always been our intention to +treat them with all peaceableness and quietness. Wherefore, your Honor +shall not cause any more such or similar edicts to be published without +our previous knowledge, but suffer the matter to pass in silence, and +permit them their free worship in their houses." (314.) + +18. Johannes Ernestus Gutwasser.--Evidently, to the Lutherans the time +seemed favorable to renew their urgent requests for a pastor of their +own. And in July, 1657, Johannes Ernestus Gutwasser (not Goetwater, or +Gutwater, or Goetwasser), a German, sent by the Lutheran Consistory of +Amsterdam, arrived on Manhattan Island. Great was the fury of the +Reformed domines and vehement their clamor for his immediate return. +They wrote a letter to the classis in Amsterdam in which, according to +Cobb, "they relate that 'a Lutheran preacher, Goetwater, arrived to the +great joy of the Lutherans and the especial discontent and +disappointment of the congregation of this place, yea, of the whole +land, even the English. We went to the Director-General,' who summoned +Goetwater, and found that he had as credentials only a letter from a +Lutheran consistory in Europe to the Lutheran Church in New Amsterdam. +The governor ordered him not to preach, even in a private house. The +domines lament, 'We already have the snake in our bosom,' and urge +Stuyvesant to open the consistory's letter, which, oddly enough, he +refused to do, but consented to the ministers' demand that Goetwater be +sent back in the ship that brought him. [']Now this Lutheran parson,' +the Dutch ministers conclude, 'is a man of a godless and scandalous +life; a rolling, rollicking, unseemly carl, who is more inclined to +look into the wine-can than to pore over the Bible, and would rather +drink a can of brandy for two hours than preach one.'" (315.) But, +though maligned and persecuted, Gutwasser did not suffer himself to be +intimidated, and even begun to preach. So great and persistent, however, +was the fury of the fanatics that he was finally compelled to yield and +return to Holland, in 1659. The second Lutheran pastor to arrive on +Manhattan Island while the Dutch were still in power was Abelius +Zetskorn, whom Stuyvesant directed to the Dutch settlement of New Amstel +(New Castle) on the Delaware. The tyranny of Stuyvesant, however, was +abruptly ended when in 1664 the English fleet sailed into the harbor and +compelled the surrender of New Amsterdam. In the Articles of +Capitulation it was specifically agreed that "the Dutch here shall enjoy +the liberty of their consciences in divine worship and church +discipline." And according to the proclamation of the Duke of York, also +the Lutherans were granted religious liberty, "as long as His Royal +Highness shall not order otherwise." + + +JUSTUS FALCKNER. + +19. Fabricius, Arensius, Falckner in New York.--In 1669, five years +after the fall of New Amsterdam, Magister Jacobus Fabricius was sent +over by the Lutheran Consistory of Amsterdam to minister to the +Lutherans in New York and Albany. Being of a churlish and quarrelsome +nature, he soon fell out with the authorities of Albany and was banished +from the town. The New York congregation was torn by factions, many +demanding the resignation of Fabricius on the ground of "deportment +unbecoming a pastor." The matter was even carried before the governor. A +solution of the problem was brought about through the arrival of a new +pastor from Holland in the person of Bernhardus Arensius (Arnzius). +Fabricius obtained permission to install Arensius as his successor, and +went to Delaware, where he labored among the Dutch and Swedish +Lutherans. Arensius continued to serve the Lutherans in New York and +Albany from 1671 to 1691. The mildness and firmness which he displayed +in trying circumstances repaired the harm done by Fabricius. Dr. +Graebner says: "In Pastor Arnzius the Dutch Lutheran congregations on +the Hudson had an excellent preacher and pastor, a man of whom they had +no cause whatever to be ashamed. Above all he was a sound Lutheran, +whose opposition to any and all church-fellowship with the Reformed was +so decided that he abstained even from cultivating social intercourse +with the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church, although it would seem +that the existing conditions called for it." (70.) After the death of +Pastor Arensius, in 1691, a long vacancy ensued, lasting till 1702, when +Pastor Rudman, a Swede from Philadelphia, acceding to their repeated +requests, took charge of the congregation in New York. But finding +himself unequal to the task of regulating their deranged affairs, he +resigned in 1703. Rudman was succeeded by Justus Falckner, who was +ordained November 25, 1703, in the Swedish Gloria Dei Church of Wicaco, +by Rudman, Bjoerk, and Sandel, the first Lutheran ordination in America. +The new pastor, who arrived in New York on December 2, 1703, proved to +be a true Lutheran, a faithful shepherd of the flock committed to his +care, among which he labored with much blessing for a period of twenty +years. Graebner says: "It is a most pleasing, captivating figure that +we behold in Pastor Justus Falckner during the twenty years of his +activity, a man of excellent parts, of splendid knowledge, of a delicate +disposition, of a truly pious frame of mind, of a decidedly Lutheran +standpoint, of active and enduring diligence in his office, in short, an +all-round pastor. He had assumed the duties of his office with the +consciousness that he was able to accomplish nothing without the +gracious assistance of God; that God would grant him sufficiency was the +fervent prayer of his heart." (94.) Justus Falckner, born November 22, +1672, was the fourth son of Daniel Falckner, Lutheran pastor at +Langenreinsdorf, Crimmitschau, and Zwickau, Saxony. He entered the +University of Halle, January 20, 1693, and studied theology under A. H. +Francke. He completed his course, but shrank from assuming the +tremendous responsibility of the ministry. On April 23, 1700, he +acquired the power of attorney for the sale of William Penn's lands in +Pennsylvania, and left with his older brother, Daniel, for America. In +1701 ten thousand acres of Penn's lands were sold to Provost Rudman and +other Swedes. Probably this transaction brought Rudman into closer +contact with J. Falckner, who also had attended the Swedish church in +Philadelphia. The result was that Falckner was ordained and placed in +charge of the congregations in New York and Albany. While a student at +Halle, Falckner wrote the hymn: "Auf! ihr Christen, Christi Glieder-- +Rise, Ye Children of Salvation." (_Dict. of Hymnology_, 363.) + +20. Falckner's Spirituality.--Falckner was of a spiritual and truly +pastoral frame of mind. He was a faithful and humble shepherd, who loved +the flock entrusted to him with all his heart. "God, the Father of all +goodness and Lord of great majesty, who hast thrust me into this +harvest, be with me, Thy humble and very weak laborer, with Thy special +grace, without which I must needs perish under the burden of temptations +which frequently descend upon me with violence. In Thee, Lord, have I +put my trust, let me not be confounded! Render me sufficient for my +calling. I have not run, but Thou hast sent, hast thrust me into this +office. Meanwhile forgive whatever, without my knowledge, my evil nature +may add; pardon me, who am humbly crying unto Thee, through our Lord +Jesus Christ. Amen." Such was the prayer with which, in classic Latin, +Falckner prefaced his entries in the church register. Following are some +of the prayers which he appended to his entries of baptisms: "O Lord, +Lord, may this child, together with the three aforementioned Hackensack +children, be and remain recorded in the Book of Life, through Jesus +Christ. Amen." "God grant that also this child be and remain embraced in +Thy eternal grace and favor through Jesus Christ. Amen." "O Lord, may +this child be commended unto Thee for its temporal and eternal welfare, +through Jesus Christ. Amen." "May this child also, O Lord God, be and +remain an heiress of Thy Kingdom of Grace and of the glory which Christ +has obtained for us. Amen." "God grant that this child may overcome +Satan, the world, and its own corrupted nature, and with Christ reign +and triumph eternally for Christ's sake. Amen." "Lord Jesus, grant that +this child may taste and enjoy Thy sweet love and grace in time and +eternity." In 1704 Falckner baptized in his congregation at New York +"Maria, the daughter of Are of Guinea, a negro, and his wife Jora, both +Christians of our congregation." To the record of this baptism he added +the prayer: "Lord, merciful God, who regardest not the person of men, +but in every nation, he that feareth Thee and doeth right is accepted +before Thee: let this child be clothed with the white garment of +innocence and righteousness, and so remain, through Christ, the Redeemer +and Savior of all men. Amen." In later years, Falckner, after recording +the baptisms of an entire year, would add a prayer like the following: +"Lord, Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in +goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquities +and transgressions and sin: do not let one of the names above written be +blotted out of Thy Book, but let them be written and remain therein, +through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son. Amen." One of the intercessions +recorded with the entries of confirmations reads as follows: "Lord Jesus +Christ, should Satan seek to sift as wheat one or the other of these +members of Thy congregation, then do Thou pray for them to Thy heavenly +Father that their faith may not cease, for the sake of Thy holy merit. +Amen." Marriages are recorded with prayers like the following: "Grant, +Lord God, that also this union may redound to the honor of Thy holy +name, to the promotion of Thy kingdom, and to the temporal and eternal +blessing of those united, through Jesus Christ. Amen." Graebner remarks: +"What a gifted and sincerely pious pastoral frame of mind appears in the +entries of the noble man, whom God, in wonderful ways, led from far-away +Saxony to New York and here made a shepherd and teacher of the Dutch +Lutherans!" (94 ff.) + +21. Distinctive Doctrines Stressed.--Tender love for his flock did not +silence Falckner's confessional Lutheranism, nor did it induce him to +keep doctrinal differences in the background. He was no unionist. On the +contrary, in order to protect the souls committed to his care from the +Reformed errors with which they came into contact everywhere, and to +enable them to confess and defend the Lutheran truth efficiently, he +emphasized and preached also the distinctive doctrines of the Lutheran +Church. Naturally, his congregation was imbued with the same spirit of +sound and determined Lutheranism. "The straitened circumstances of our +Dutch Lutherans," says Graebner, "might have suggested to their flesh to +seek a better understanding with the Dutch and English Reformed of the +city, and to sacrifice some of their Lutheranism, in order to win the +friendship as well as the support of these people. Indeed, we hear that +these Lutherans manfully confessed their Lutheran faith whenever they +came in contact with their Reformed compatriots. And Pastor Falckner was +repeatedly urged by members of his congregation to compile a booklet for +his parishioners in which the chief doctrines, especially the +distinctive doctrines concerning which they were often called upon to +make confession, would be briefly set forth, together with the necessary +proof-passages. Falckner acceded to these requests. In 1708 he published +a book entitled 'Thorough Instruction (Grondlycke Onderricht) concerning +Certain Chief Articles of the True, Pure, Saving, Christian Doctrine, +Based upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ +Himself Being the Chief Corner-stone.'" It was the first book to appear +from the pen of a Lutheran pastor in America, and till the awakening of +Confessional Lutheranism the only uncompromising presentation of +Lutheran doctrine. V. E. Loescher praised it as being an +"Anti-Calvinistic Compend of Doctrine, Compendium Doctrinae +Anti-Calvinianum." The chapter on the "Freedom of the Will," which is +embodied in Graebner's _History of the Lutheran Church in America_, +bespeaks theological acumen and clarity on the part of the author. In +simple catechetical form, together with most appropriate Bible-passages, +Falckner presents the following truths: Having lost the divine image, +man, by his own natural free will, can neither understand, will, nor do +that which is spiritually right, good, and pleasing to God. Man is +converted to God and to all that is "thoroughly good" only by the grace +and power of God. It is God's pleasure to work in every man in order +that he may will and do that which is good. The reason why this is not +accomplished in all men is, because many wilfully resist the work of +God's grace, despise the means of conversion, and thus, by their own +stubborn and evil wills, frustrate the good and gracious will of God. +Man has a _free_ will; for he does the evil and rejects the good freely +and without constraint, without any compulsion on the part of God. +Furthermore, in external matters, which reason comprehends, man also has +a free will, in a measure. The will of a regenerate Christian is set +free, inasmuch as he is able to will that which is pleasing to God, by +faith in Jesus Christ, although, in this world, he is not able perfectly +to do that which is good. Falckner says: "I conceive this doctrine of +free will as follows: All the good which I will and do I ascribe to the +grace of God in Christ and to the working of His good Spirit within me, +render thanks to Him for it, and watch that I may traffic with the pound +of grace, Luke 19, which I have received, in order that more may be +given unto me, and that I may receive grace for grace out of the fulness +of grace in Jesus Christ. John 1, 16. On the contrary, all the evil +which I will and do I ascribe to my own evil will alone, which +maliciously deviates from God and His gracious will, and becomes one +with the will of the devil, the world, and sinful flesh. And I am +persuaded that if only my own will does not dishonestly, wilfully, and +stubbornly resist the converting gracious will of God, He, by His +Spirit, will bend and turn it toward that which is good, and, for the +sake of Christ's perfect obedience, will not regard, nor impute unto me, +the obstinacy cleaving to me by nature." In the introduction of the +book, which was written in the Dutch language, Falckner unequivocally +professes adherence to the Symbols of the Lutheran Church, the +confession of his fathers, "which confession and faith," he says, "by +the grace of God and the convincing testimony of His Word and Spirit, +also dwell in me, and shall continue to dwell in me until my last, +blessed end." (91 ff.) + + +JOSHUA KOCHERTHAL. + +22. Palatinates in Quassaic, East and West Camp.--Wearying of the +afflictions which the Thirty Years' War, the persecutions of Louis XIV, +and Elector John Wilhelm, who was a tool of the Jesuits, had brought +upon them, hosts of Palatinates came to America in quest of liberty and +happiness. The cruelties and barbarities which the French king, the +French officers, and the French soldiers perpetrated against innocent +men, women, and children are described by Macaulay as follows: "The +French commander announced to near half a million of human beings that +he granted them three days of grace. Soon the roads and fields, which +then lay deep in snow, were blackened by innumerable multitudes of men, +women, and children flying from their homes. Many died of cold and +hunger; but enough survived to fill the streets of all the cities of +Europe with lean and squalid beggars, who had once been thriving farmers +and shopkeepers. Meanwhile the work of destruction began. The flames +went up from every marketplace, every hamlet, every parish church, every +country seat, within the devoted provinces. The fields where the corn +had been sown were plowed up. The orchards were hewn down. No promise of +a harvest was left on the fertile plains where had once been +Frankenthal. Not a vine, not an almond tree, was to be seen on the +slopes of the sunny hills round what had once been Heidelberg." (Wolf, +_Lutherans in America_, 175.) Great numbers of emigrants from Hesse, +Baden, and Wuerttemberg whose fate had been similar to that of the +Palatinates, joined them. Permission to settle in the New World was +sought from the authorities in London, where in 1709, according to +various authorities, from ten to twenty thousand Palatines, as they were +all designated, were assembled, waiting for an opportunity to emigrate. +Joshua Kocherthal, Lutheran pastor at Landau in Bavaria, was the leader +of the emigrants from the Palatinate. In 1704 he went to London to make +the necessary arrangements. Two years later he published a booklet on +the proposed emigration. In 1708 he sailed for the New World with the +first fifty-three souls, landing in New York at the close of December, +1708, or the beginning of January, 1709, after a long and stormy voyage +lasting about four months. It was the first German Lutheran congregation +in the State of New York. After spending the winter in the city, they +settled on the right bank of the Hudson, near the mouth of the Quassaic, +where Newburgh is now located. Every person received a grant of fifty +acres and the congregation five hundred acres of church land, which, +however, the British Governor in 1750 awarded to the Episcopalians. In +July, 1709, Kocherthal, entrusting his congregation to the care of +Falckner, whose acquaintance he had made during the winter in New York, +returned to London to obtain, through a personal interview with the +Queen, grants of money which were needed to supply the utterly +destitute colonists with the necessary means of subsistence until the +land was made arable. He returned in June, 1710, with a multitude of +emigrants in eleven ships. But, while 3,000 had sailed from London, +only 2,200 were destined to reach their homes in the New World, 800 +having died while en route and in quarantine on Governor's Island. A +tract of land comprising 40 acres for each person was assigned to them +at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, about 100 miles north of New +York. They settled on both sides of the Hudson, naming their settlements +East and West Camp, respectively. + +23. Hewing Their Way to the Mohawk Valley.--The immigrants had been +promised prosperity; but the English officials were actuated by selfish +motives and shamefully exploited the colonists. They were ordered to +engage in the production of tar and pitch, and were treated as slaves +and Redemptioners, _i.e._, emigrants, shamefully defrauded by "the +Newlanders (Neulaender)," as Muhlenberg designated the conscienceless +Dutch agents who decoyed Germans from their homes and in America sold +them into slavery, at least temporarily. The contract for provisioning +the Palatinate colonists was let to Livingston, a cruel and greedy Scot, +from whom (Governor Hunter had purchased the land on which the +Palatinates were settled. Livingston now sought to enrich himself by +reducing both the quantity and quality of the food furnished to the +colonists. Hunger was common among the settlers, becoming especially +acute in winter, as they had not been given sufficient time to plant +crops for themselves. Dissatisfaction spread throughout the ranks of the +Palatinates, and when the Governor refused to heed their appeal for +relief, fifty families left the settlement and hewed their way through +the primeval forest to the Mohawk Valley, where they obtained fertile +lands from the Indians and founded the Schoharie congregation in the +winter of 1712/13. The governor declared the fugitives rebels; but still +more followed in March, making their way through three feet of snow. The +Lutherans of Schoharie were the first white people to live at peace with +the Indians. In order to obtain a clear title to the lands in the +Schoharie Valley, which the governor refused to grant them, John Conrad +Weiser was sent to England. On his way he was plundered by pirates; in +England he was thrown into a sponging house on account of debts. After +regaining his liberty, he was compelled to return to Schoharie broken in +health and without accomplishing his purpose. The result was that 33 +families left Schoharie and settled in Tulpehocken, Pa., in 1723. Among +those who remained in West Camp was Pastor Kocherthal. He continued +faithfully to serve his congregations, including Schoharie, until his +end, December 27, 1719. He lies buried in West Camp. A weather-beaten +stone slab marks his resting-place. The inscription calls him "The +Joshua and pure Lutheran pastor of the High Germans in America on the +east and west bank of the Hudson." In the original the epitaph reads +complete as follows: "Wisse Wandersman Unter diesem Steine ruht nebst +seiner Sibylla Charlotte Ein rechter Wandersmann Der Hoch-Teutschen in +America ihr Josua Und derselben an Der ost und west seite Der Hudson +Rivier rein lutherischer Prediger Seine erste ankunft war mit L'd +Lovelace 1707/8 den 1. Januar Seine sweite mit Col. Hunter 1710 d. 14 +Juny Seine Englandische reise unterbrach Seine Seelen Himmlische reise +an St. Johannis Tage 1719 Begherstu mehr zu wissen So unter Suche in +Welanchtons vaterland Wer war de Kocherthal Wer Harschias Wer +Winchonbach B. Berkenmayer S Heurtein L Brevort MDCCXLII." (111.) The +successors of Kocherthal were: Justus Falckner, until 1723; Daniel +Falckner, the brother of Justus, who had served several German +congregations along the Raritan, till 1725; Berkenmeyer; and from 1743 +to 1788 Peter N. Sommer, who preached in thirteen other settlements and +baptized 84 Indians. He died October 27, 1795. Sommer's aversion to the +Halle pastors probably was the reason why he took no part in the +organization of the New York Ministerium at Albany in 1786. + + +WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER BERKENMEYER. + +24. Activity in New York.--In New York Falckner was succeeded by W. +Ch. Berkenmeyer (1686-1751). Berkenmeyer was born in the duchy of +Lueneburg and had studied theology at Altorf under Dr. Sontag, a +theologian whose maxim was, "Quo propius Luthero, eo melior theologus, +The closer to Luther, the better a theologian." Upon request of the New +York congregation the Lutheran Consistory of Amsterdam, in 1724, called +him to serve the Dutch congregations in the Hudson Valley. While _en +route_ to his new charge, he was informed that a vagabond preacher by +the name of J. B. von Dieren, a former tailor, had succeeded in +ingratiating himself with the New York Lutherans, and had been accepted +as their preacher. Nothing daunted, Berkenmeyer continued his journey, +landing at New York in 1725. At the first meeting of the Church Council +he won the hearts of all, even of those who had been instrumental in +foisting von Dieren upon the congregation, who now stood convicted as +an ignorant pretender, and therefore was dismissed. Dieren continued his +agitation in other Lutheran congregations until Berkenmeyer in 1728 +published a tract fully exposing the character of the impudent impostor. +From the beginning Berkenmeyer's labors were blessed abundantly. +Bringing with him money collected by the Lutherans in Amsterdam and +receiving additional financial help from London and the congregations of +Daniel Falckner, Berkenmeyer was enabled to resume the building +operations in New York begun as early as 1670 (1705). On June 29, 1729, +the New Trinity Church was dedicated. Berkenmeyer's parish covered a +large territory. In addition to New York, Albany, and Loonenburg he +served the congregations at Hackensack, Raritan, Clavernack, Newton, +West Camp, Tar Bush, Camp, Rheinbeck (where a new church was dedicated +on the First Sunday in Advent, 1728), Schenectady, Coxsackie, and in the +Schoharie Valley. In Schoharie he baptized the infant daughter of Conrad +Weiser, who eighteen years later became the wife of Henry Melchior +Muhlenberg. In the absence of churches, Berkenmeyer preached in private +dwellings or, more frequently, in barns. At one of these services +fourteen children were baptized in the "Lutheran barn" of Pieter Lassing. +(176.) This immense parish was divided in 1731, Berkenmeyer removing to +Loonenburg. Pastor Christian Knoll of Holstein was called to take charge +of the southern congregations in and about New York. Berkenmeyer +delivered his farewell sermon November 26, 1732, and sixteen days later +Knoll preached his first sermon. In 1734 the Lutheran clergy received an +addition in the person of Magister Wolff, who succeeded the aged and +infirm Daniel Falckner at Raritan and five other congregations in New +Jersey. In the same year the three Lutheran pastors and a number of +congregations organized the first Lutheran Synod in America, with +Berkenmeyer as chairman. Its first and only convention of which we have +record was held at Raritan, August 20, 1735; nine congregations were +represented by delegates. The chief business of Synod was to settle a +quarrel between Wolff and his congregations, one of the charges +preferred against the pastor being that he read his sermons instead of +delivering them from memory ("statt aus dem Haupte zu predigen"). Peace +was restored, but temporarily only. Berkenmeyer continued his ministry +in Loonenburg for twenty years. Like other Lutheran divines of his day, +the Swedes and Salzburgers not excepted, he kept two slaves, whom he +himself united in marriage in 1744. Also during his declining years +Berkenmeyer experienced much sorrow. His end came on August 26, 1751. +The closing words of his epitaph are: "He has elected us in Christ +before the foundation of the world; there is therefore now no +condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." In the same year Knoll, +who, owing to disputes arising from the language question, had been +compelled to resign at New York, took charge of the Loonenburg +congregation and continued there until 1765. + +25. Berkenmeyer's Sturdy Lutheranism.--Though not clear in some points +and, at times, rigorous in discipline, Berkenmeyer stood for a sound and +decided Lutheranism. His orthodoxy appears from the very library which +he selected and brought with him for the congregation in New York, +consisting of twenty folios, fifty-two quartos, twenty-three octavos, +and six duodecimos, among them Calovius's _Biblia Illustrata_, +Balduinus's _Commentarius in Epistolas S. Pauli_, Dedekennus's +_Consilia_, Huelsemann's _De Auxiliis Gratiae_, Brochmand's _Systema, +etc_. Owing to his staunch orthodoxy, Berkenmeyer also had an aversion +to the Pietists, and refused to cooperate with Muhlenberg and his +colaborers from Halle. He disapproved of, and opposed, the unionistic +practises of the Swedish and Halle pastors. Speaking of Berkenmeyer's +pastorate in New York, Dr. Graebner remarks: "In a firm and faithful +manner he had preserved for himself and his congregation, both in +doctrine and practise, a staunch Lutheran character, which banished the +very thought of fraternizing with the heterodox. At the same time, +though a German theologian and commanding an easy, flexible, and +forceful Latin, he was a genial Dutchman among his Dutch parishioners, +perfectly adapting himself to their manners." (186.) He was firm and +consistent, but not fanatical, bigoted, or narrow. "In 1746, when the +Reformed pastor Freylinghausen lay ill with the smallpox at Albany, +Berkenmeyer visited him. But never did he establish an intimately +friendly intercourse with the Reformed pastors, and in church-matters +he was determined to keep himself and his people separate from the +Reformed. In the German congregations, such as those in and about +Newton, where Lutherans lived among the Reformed, with whom, after +suffering together with them, they had emigrated, warnings against +apostasy and unionistic practises were even more necessary than in the +Dutch congregations, especially, as the Reformed made concessions to +Lutherans uniting with them, _e.g._, by having the Lutheran children +recite the Lutheran Catechism in the catechetical instructions of +children (Christenlehren). Berkenmeyer, however, knew how to keep +awake the Lutheran conscience. When, in 1736, the Calvinists on the +Katsbaan, several miles from Newton, forbade their lector henceforth +to have the children recite the Lutheran Catechism, this led to a +declaration on the part of the Lutherans to the effect that they would +no longer attend services at their church. At Schoharie, Berkenmeyer +had to preach in the Reformed church; but that did not prevent him from +testifying against joint services. He declared that in such union, +without unity in the faith, the pastor was required to become 'either a +dumb dog or a mameluke'; the theme of his sermon here was: 'Our Duty to +Defend the Truth against the Gainsayers.'" (207.) The same earnestness +characterized Berkenmeyer's dealings with pastors, whom he recognized +only after they had confessed their Lutheranism in clear and unequivocal +terms. + + +DETERIORATION IN NEW YORK. + +26. Germans versus Dutch.--About 1742 the language question became +acute in New York. Dutch immigration had ceased, while Germans arrived +in ever increasing numbers. As a result the German communicants in New +York outnumbered the Dutch about 8 to 1. As the spokesmen of the German +element made unreasonable demands and met with unreasonable opposition +on the part of the Dutch, frequent and stormy meetings became the order +of the day. Pastor M. C. Knoll had labored faithfully; but, difficulties +constantly increasing, he lost control of the situation, and toward the +close of 1750 was compelled to resign his charge. Prior to this some of +the Germans had withdrawn from Trinity Church, and organized as Christ +Church, suffering themselves to be served by unworthy characters, such +as J. L. Hofgut, J. P. Ries, P. H. Rapp, J. G. Wiesner, and J. M. +Schaeffer. A better element having come into control, they called men +whom H. M. Muhlenberg recommended: I. N. Kurtz, who had been active in +Tulpehocken; I. G. Baugher (Bager), who came to America from Helmstedt +in 1752, served New York from 1754 to 1767, and died in 1794; J. 8. +Gerock, who was sent to America by the Consistory of Wuerttemberg in +1755, served in Lancaster, then in New York from 1767 to 1773, and died +in 1787; F. C. A. Muhlenberg, educated in Halle, who served Tulpehocken +in 1770, New York from 1773 to 1776, and (having fled from New York when +the British captured the city in the Revolutionary War) New Hanover in +1777. After 1779 F. C. A. Muhlenberg entered political life, being +elected a member of the Continental Congress and Speaker of the +Pennsylvania Legislature. He died in 1801. In the Dutch Trinity Church +peace was restored by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who served as Knoll's +successor from 1751 to 1753. Muhlenberg cultivated an intimate and +fraternal intercourse with the Reformed and Episcopalian pastors, and +inaugurated a period of pietism and unionism in New York. On his +departure he recommended Pastor J. A. Weygand, who had been serving the +Raritan congregations since his arrival, in 1748, from Halle. Weygand +remained in New York until 1767. In 1755 he published an English +translation of the Augsburg Confession. During his pastorate a parochial +school was organized and housed in a building erected for that purpose. +He died in 1770. Weygand's successor was Houseal (Hausihl), who had +emigrated from Strassburg in 1752. In 1771 he conducted the last service +in the Dutch language. In 1776 the church was reduced to ashes by the +great fire which destroyed about one-fourth of the city. Though losing +all his personal property, he rescued the documents and records of the +old congregation. Being an ardent loyalist, he received permission from +the British commander to use the Presbyterian church, where his services +were also attended by the Hessian troops of the army. When peace was +concluded, Houseal emigrated to Halifax, where he was ordained in the +Episcopal Church and made chaplain of the garrison. Here he died in +1799. + +27. Union Lauded by Kunze and Schaeffer.--The two Lutheran +congregations in New York reunited in 1783. The first pastor to serve +them was J. C. Kunze. He was born in the vicinity of Mansfeld, received +his preparatory education at Halle and other schools, and studied +theology at the University of Leipzig. After a brief service in Halle, +Kunze was called to be third pastor in Philadelphia. He landed in New +York, September 22, 1770, accompanied by two sons of Muhlenberg, who +had studied in Halle. In Philadelphia, where he married Muhlenberg's +daughter, Kunze conducted a Seminary from 1773 till its close in 1776, +and then successively occupied the chairs of Philosophy and of Oriental +languages at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1773 this institution +awarded him the title of Doctor of Divinity. In the following year he +received the call from the reunited Lutheran congregation in New York, +which he accepted. He entered upon his new labors with great zeal, and +met with no little success, confirming 87 persons in the first six +months. Kunze laid especial stress upon the English, which hitherto had +been greatly neglected. He also educated young men for the English +ministry. A year after his arrival in New York he published "The +Rudiments of the Shorter Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther," and ten years +later, 1795, the first English Ev. Lutheran Hymn- and Prayer-book. In +the same year he issued a new translation of the Small Catechism, +containing, besides the six chief parts, also, the Christian Questions, +103 fundamental questions, and a "Systematic Presentation of the Order +of Salvation." (527.) Kunze was also the first president of the New +York Ministerium, organized at Albany in 1786. At his burial, in 1807, +the Reformed Pastor Runkel delivered the funeral oration. While a +learned man, a hard worker, a man of great influence, a man also who +sought to familiarize not only the German, but also the English element +of his church with the doctrines of the Catechism, Kunze was not a +sound and staunch Lutheran on the order of Berkenmeyer or Falckner. He +had no adequate appreciation for the doctrinal differences which +separate the Lutherans and the Reformed. In the appendix to his Hymn- +and Prayer-book of 1795 Kunze wrote: "That the two Protestant Churches +have often shown animosities against one another is true and to be +lamented. But that such times are past is a truth more joyful than +another, which likewise ought not to be concealed, and [_viz_.] that +true piety in the Evangelical Church stands highly in need of a new and +energetic revival, and that it is doubtful in many cases whether the +present union of the two churches, which, however, every true Christian +will wish to be indissoluble, has its origin in enlightened ideas or in +worldly interest, in brotherly love or in indifference." (528.) Kunze's +pupil, G. Strebeck, who had been called to preach English in the Old +Congregation, organized an English Lutheran Church instead, and in 1804, +with a part of his English flock, united with the Episcopal Church. The +English congregation now called as its pastor a man who had been +excommunicated from the Presbyterian Church on account of Chiliasm, who, +in turn, was succeeded by a former Methodist preacher, under whom, in +1810, the entire congregation followed Strebeck into the Episcopalian +fold. + +28. Reformation Jubilee in 1817.--In the mother congregation Kunze, +who died 1807, was succeeded by F. W. Geissenhainer. When the latter +was no longer able to supply the growing need for English services, F. +C. Schaeffer was called in his stead, with the duty expressly imposed +upon him of preaching also in English. In 1817, at the tercentenary of +the Reformation, Schaeffer arranged a great celebration in which he was +assisted by an Episcopalian, a Reformed, and a Moravian pastor. _Dr. +Spaeth:_ "Here also [in America, as in Prussia] a great Reformation +Jubilee was celebrated in 1817. Here also it was, in the first place, +of a unionistic character. The Ministerium of Pennsylvania invited the +Moravians, Episcopalians, Reformed, and Presbyterians to unite with +them in this celebration. In the city of New York the eloquent Lutheran +pastor, F. C. Schaeffer, having kept the jubilee in the morning with his +own congregation, delivered an English discourse in the afternoon in St. +Paul's Episcopal Church on the text, 'I believe, therefore I have +spoken.' Thousands were unable to find admittance to the service, so +great was the throng." (_C. P. Krauth_, 1, 322.) Rejoicing in the +growth of unionism, Schaeffer said in his sermon: "In Germany, the +cradle of the Reformation, the 'Protestants' are daily becoming more +united in the bond of Christian charity. Whilst the asperities, which +indeed too often affected the Great Reformers themselves, no longer +give umbrage; whilst the most laudable and beneficial exertions are +universally made by evangelical Christians to remove every sectarian +barrier, the 'Evangelical Church,' extending her pale, becomes more +firmly established. And though we have melancholy evidence that the +state and disposition of the present Romish Church calls loudly for a +reformation, we must not omit the pleasing fact that many of her worthy +members are conscientiously alive to the cause of truth and enlightened +Christianity." (G., 654.) But, instead of more firmly establishing the +Lutheran Church, the indifferentism and unionism introduced into New +York by the Halle Pietists soon opened wide her gates to a flood of +rationalism. + + +NEW YORK MINISTERIUM. + +29. Eliminating Confession.--In 1786 the New York Ministerium was +organized in Albany, N. Y., by Pastors Kunze, of New York City, H. +Moeller, of Albany, and J. S. Schwerdfeger, of Fellstown, and two lay +delegates, one from New York, the other from Albany. Eight of the eleven +pastors in this district took no part in the organization. Six years +elapsed before another meeting convened. The minutes of the first +convention state: "In view of the fact that only three pastors and two +delegates appeared, those present considered it advisable to look upon +themselves only as a committee of the Lutheran Church in the State of +New York." The _Lutheran Cyclopaedia_ says: "Though no records prior +to the meeting at Albany are extant, Dr. Kunze stated in 1795, and +again in 1800, that the New York Ministerium, revived in 1786, had been +organized as early as 1773 by F. A. C. Muhlenberg, then pastor in New +York." (490.) _Dr. Jacobs:_ "Concerning the fact that any meeting was +actually held, we are in ignorance; but Dr. Kunze, who ought to be most +competent authority, declares: 'To the late Dr. Henry Muhlenberg +belongs the immortal honor of having formed in Pennsylvania a regular +ministry, and, what is somewhat remarkable, to one of his sons, who +officiated as Lutheran minister from the year 1773 to 1776 in the city +of New York, that of having formed the Evangelical Ministry of New York +State.' The thought was carried out in 1786." (300.) In a letter to his +father, then visiting in Georgia, F. A. C. Muhlenberg mentions a +meeting of the Lutheran ministers in the Province of New York, planned +for April, 1774. (Graebner, 450.) The Ministerium organized at Albany +was a duplicate of the Pennsylvania Ministerium. According to the +Minutes a resolution was adopted to regard "the constitution of the Ev. +Luth. Church of Pennsylvania as their law." (469.) In 1792 the New York +Ministerium adopted the new constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod, +which contained no reference to the Lutheran Confessions whatever, +merely retaining the name Lutheran. At the convention in Rheinbeck, +1797, Dr. Kunze being the leading spirit and president, the New York +Ministerium passed the notorious resolution: "Resolved, That, on account +of the intimate relation subsisting between the English Episcopalian and +Lutheran Churches, the identity of their doctrine, and the near approach +of their church-discipline, this consistory will never acknowledge a +newly erected Lutheran church in places where the members may partake of +the services of the said English Episcopal Church." (628.) Seven years +later this resolution was rescinded, not, indeed, for confessional +reasons, but in the interest of expediency and policy, because in 1804 +G. Strebeck, with a part of his English congregation in New York, had +been received by the Episcopalians. Spaeth remarks with respect to the +Rheinbeck resolution: "A fitting parallel to this resolution is found in +the advances made by the Mother Synod of Pennsylvania toward a union +with the German Reformed Church, first in 1819 for the joint +establishment of a common Theological Seminary, and afterward, in 1822, +for a general union with the Evangelical Reformed Church. See Minutes of +1822." (_C.P. Krauth,_ 1,320.) + +30. President Quitman the Rationalist.--The unionism and indifferentism +of the New York Ministerium naturally developed and merged into +Socinianism and Rationalism under its liberal, but most able and +influential leader, Dr. F. H. Quitman (1760-1832). "Quitman," says +Graebner, "was a stately person, over six feet in height and of +correspondingly broad and powerful build. Already at his entrance in +Halle, one of the professors greeted the nineteen-year-old giant with +the words, 'Quanta ossa! Quantum robur! What bones! What power!'" In his +subsequent intercourse with the polite world Quitman acquired a fine +tact and measured, dignified ways. At the same time he was a man of +excellent parts, a master at repartee, with a keen intellect and a firm +will, and in every respect a born leader." (532.) He was the only +Lutheran minister who ever received, and perhaps desired [?] [tr. note: +sic!] to receive, the degree of D. D. from Harvard University. Quitman, +a disciple of Teller and of Semler in Halle, was a determined +protagonist of German Rationalism. In 1807 this outspoken and consistent +Socinian was elected president of the New York Ministerium, remaining in +this office till 1825. When Quitman accepted the call to the Schoharie +congregations, which he served beginning with the year 1795, he vowed +that he would preach the truth according to the Word of God and "our +Symbolical Books." Before long, however, he began to reveal the true +inwardness of his character. In his revised edition of Kunze's +catechism, which appeared in 1804, authorized by Synod, the 94th of the +"Fundamental Questions," which treated of the real presence of the body +and blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper, was omitted. Ten years later, +1814, in his own catechism, which was likewise published with the +approval of Synod, he omitted and denied such fundamental doctrines as +those of the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Vicarious Atonement, +Justification for the sake of Christ, etc. In this book Quitman and the +New York Ministerium declare: "The Gospel teaches us that Christ +suffered and died in order to seal with His blood the doctrine which He +had preached." (533.) Two years later a "Lutheran Hymn-book" appeared, +containing an un-Lutheran order of service, the Union formula of +distribution, a rationalistic order for the celebration of the Lord's +Supper, rationalistic prayers to the "great Father of the Universe," +etc. Also this book appeared "by order of the Ev. Luth. Ministerium of +the State of New York," and with a preface signed by President Quitman +and Pastor Wackerhagen. (535.) When the tercentenary of the Reformation +was celebrated, Quitman, again by order of the New York Ministerium, +published several sermons bearing on this event. Here he says: "Reason +and Revelation are the only sources from which religious knowledge can +be drawn, and the norms according to which all religious questions ought +to be decided. . . . Are not both, Reason and Revelation, from heaven, +always in agreement and the one supporting the other?" Again: "The true +sense which the Reformers connected with the term 'faith' is still more +apparent from the XX. Article of the Augsburg Confession, where they +explicitly declare that faith 'which is productive of good works +justifies man before God.'" (653.) This rank Socinianism and +Rationalism of Quitman and the Ministerium became firmly intrenched and +was protected from attack by the constitution of 1816, which contained +the paragraph: "And we establish it as a fundamental rule of this +association that the person to be ordained shall not be required to make +any other engagement than this, that he will faithfully teach, as well +as perform all other ministerial duties, and regulate his walk and +conversation, according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as +contained in Holy Scriptures, and that he will observe this constitution +while he remains a member of this Ministerium." (655.) Within the New +York Ministerium, therefore, ministers could no longer be required by +their congregations to pledge themselves on the Lutheran Confessions. +According to the constitution doctrinal discussions were permitted on +the floor of Synod, but only with the express proviso "that the +fundamental principle of Protestantism, the right of free research, be +not infringed upon, and that no endeavor be made to elevate the +Ministerium to an inquisitorial tribunal." (679.) Thus the entire +heritage of the Reformation, together with its Scriptural principle and +cardinal doctrine of justification by faith, had gone by the board, the +unionism and indifferentism of the Halle pastors having served as the +first entering wedge--just as in Halle Pietism and subjectivism, an +essentially Reformed growth, foreign to sound objective Lutheranism, had +given birth to the ugly child, afterwards, when grown up, named +_Rationalismus Vulgaris_. + + +JOHN CHRISTOPHER HARTWICK. + +31. The Eccentric Wandering Bachelor.--Hartwick (Hartwig, Hartwich, +Hardwick) was born 1714 in Thuringia, Saxony. Coming to New York in +1746, Berkenmeyer had him subscribe to the Loonenburg Church +constitution. His parish included the congregations at Rheinbeck, Camp, +Staatsburg, Ancrum, and Tar Bush. The capriciousness with which +Hartwick, who remained an eccentric bachelor all his life, performed his +pastoral duties soon gave rise to dissatisfaction. Complaints were +lodged against him with Berkenmeyer, who finally wrote against him +publicly. In 1750 Muhlenberg conducted a visitation in Hartwick's +congregations, and reports as follows: "He went to Pennsylvania too +often, and that without the permission of his congregations, etc. He +did not sufficiently prepare the young for confirmation, by simple +instruction in the Catechism; is too austere in his dealings with the +people; does not always permit them to see him; does not maintain order +at public worship; begins services an hour or two after the time fixed; +has long hymns sung and preaches long, so that those who come from a +distance must drive till late into the night and are compelled to +neglect their cattle. He is headstrong (koppich), that is, self-willed, +and will not allow any one to tell him anything or to give him advice. +He says he did not come here to learn from the people, but to teach +them. Nor did he, said they, cultivate the friendship of the old +spiritual father Berkenmeyer, while pastors were to set a good example. +Such and similar were the complaints made by his opponents." (G., 412.) +The upshot of the deliberations was that Raus was appointed vicar of the +congregations, while Hartwick agreed to spend six months in +Pennsylvania, where he previously, 1748, had participated in the +organization of the Pennsylvania Synod. In 1752 Hartwick preached to the +Dutch congregation of New York, an honor that was denied him in 1750 +because of his hostility to Berkenmeyer. January 8, 1751, Hartwick +addressed a pastoral letter to his congregations, in which he not only +displays a lack of Lutheran knowledge, but also refers to Berkenmeyer as +"brother Esau" and speaks of his opponents as "Edomites" and "Esauites." +In the spring of 1751 Hartwick returned to his congregations. When it +became impossible for him to maintain his position any longer, he went +to Reading, in 1757. In the following year he returned to Columbia and +Duchess Co., N. Y. Subsequently, wandering about aimlessly, he was seen, +now in Hackensack and Providence, now (1761) as Muhlenberg's successor +in the country congregations, then in Maryland, 1763 in Philadelphia, +then in Winchester, Va., 1767 in New York, attending the unionistic +church dedication, 1774 in Boston, and ten years later again in New +York, whither he returned to ingratiate himself with the Lutherans who +had not emigrated to Nova Scotia with Houseal. Known everywhere, but at +home nowhere, and usually an unwelcome guest, Hartwick died suddenly, +July 16, 1796, at East Camp. The last lines of the dreary inscription on +his tombstone are: "The brief span of our days is seventy to eighty +years, and though it was ever so precious, its sum is trouble and +sorrow. On the wings of time we hasten to a long eternity." In the +original the epitaph reads as follows: "Hier ruhet Johann C. Hartwich +Prediger der Evangelisch Lutherischen Kirche. gebohren in Sax Gotha de +6 Jenner 1714 Gestorben den 16 Julius 1706 Seines alters 82 Jahre 6 +Monat.--Das kurzgesteckte Ziel der Tage Ist siebenzig is achtzig jahr +Ein innbegrif von muh und plage Auch wenn es noch so kostlich war. +Geflugelt eilt mit uns die zeit In eine lange ewigkeit." (657.) + +32. Hartwick Seminary and Dr. Hazelius.--In 1754 Hartwick purchased +21,500 acres of land in Otsego Co., N. Y., which he endeavored to +colonize with a Lutheran congregation. "The lease was to contain a +clause pledging every colonist to unite with the church within a year; +to recognize Pastor Hartwick or his representative as his pastor and +spiritual adviser; to attend his services regularly, decently, and with +devotion; to contribute to the maintenance of the church, school, and +parsonage according to ability; to have his children baptized, and to +send them to school and confirmation instruction until they were +confirmed. The validity of the lease was to depend on the fulfilment of +these conditions." (454.) The plan failed, and Hartwick, in a will, +executed shortly before his death, left his estate, valued at about +$17,000, to found a theological seminary. Among the conditions were +that heathen authors should never be read in this institution, and that +a catechism be prepared and agreed upon by pastors of various churches, +in which, all controversial points being avoided, the essential +questions of the Christian religion were to be answered by classic +Bible-verses containing the Christian doctrines. A request was appended +to the will, in which Congress was asked to promote in every possible +way the undertaking planned by him "in the interest of humanizing, +civilizing, moralizing, and Christianizing, not only the aborigines of +North America, but all other barbarous peoples with whom the United +States may have connection or intercourse." (658.) In 1797 the income +of Hartwick's estate was used to pay Dr. J. C. Kunze, of New York, for +his theological instruction, Rev. A. T. Braun, of Albany, for +instruction in the classics, and Rev. J. F. Ernst for teaching the +children on the patent (Otsego County) where the seminary was to be +located. The foundation for a building was laid in 1812, which was +dedicated December 15, 1815, and opened by Dr. Hazelius and A. Quitman +(later renowned as a lawyer, statesman, and general) with 19 students. +A charter was obtained in 1816 containing the provision that the +director must always be a Lutheran theologian, and that the majority of +the trustees must be Lutherans. When the English congregations separated +from the New York Ministerium in 1867, Hartwick Seminary remained in +their hands. In 1871 the trustees requested the Franckean, Hartwick, New +York, and New Jersey Synods each to nominate three trustees, the +institution thus coming under the control of these synods. The first +director of Hartwick Seminary was Dr. Hazelius, who was born in Silesia +in 1777, and educated at the institution of the Moravians in Germany. He +came to America in 1800 and was made instructor in the classics at the +Moravian institution at Nazareth, Pa. Before long he was employed in the +theological department. In 1809, Hazelius was ordained as Lutheran +pastor of Germantown. He was connected with Hartwick Seminary for +fifteen years, when he was called to Gettysburg Seminary. Three years +later (1833) he accepted a call to the seminary of the South Carolina +Synod at Lexington, where he died in 1853. Hazelius, who did not leave +the Moravians for doctrinal reasons, held that Lutherans and Reformed do +not differ fundamentally. Accordingly, he also approved of distributing +the Lord's Supper at the same altar, to Lutherans according to their +practise, to others in the manner of the Reformed. The minutes of the +proceedings of the General Synod held at Winchester, Va., May 21, 1853, +record the following: "Whereas, It has pleased the God of all and Head +of the Church to remove from this transitory scene, and to take home to +Himself, our venerable and beloved father in Christ, the Rev. Ernest +Lewis Hazelius, D. D., we, who have been privileged to sit at his feet, +and to be instructed by him in the various departments of sacred +service, desire to unite in a public expression of our grief at his +departure from among us, and of our high regard for his name and memory; +therefore, Resolved, That we duly appreciate and gratefully acknowledge +the importance, efficiency, and happy results of his long, faithful, and +untiring labors as a minister of our Church; first a pastor, then, for +fifteen years, as the first professor and principal of Hartwick +Seminary, afterwards as professor at the Theological Seminary of this +body at Gettysburg, for two years, and, lastly, up to October, 1852, as +Professor of Theology at Lexington, in the Theological Seminary of the +Synod of South Carolina." (44.) + + +GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. + +33. Early Germans in America.--In the Colonial days, next to the +English, the Germans were foremost in settling and developing our +country. Long before the Puritans thought of emigrating to America, +Germans had landed in various parts of the New World. As early as 1538, +J. Cromberger established a printing-office in the City of Mexico, from +which he issued numerous books. From 1528 to 1546 German explorers came +to Venezuela also with a printing-press and with fifty miners to explore +the mountains. A number of German craftsmen accompanied the first +English settlers who came with Captain John Smith to Virginia. Soon +after Henry Hudson had discovered the river which bears his name, +Christiansen, a German, became the explorer of that stream. He also +built the first homes on Manhattan Island, 1613, and laid the +foundations of New Amsterdam and Fort Nassau, the present cities of New +York and Albany. Peter Minuit (Minnewit), the first Director-General of +New Netherland, was also a German, born in Wesel, on the lower Rhine. +He arrived in New Amsterdam on May 4, 1626, and one of his first acts +was the purchase of Manhattan Island, 22,000 acres, from the Indians +for trinkets valued at $24. He remained at his post till 1631, when he, +soon after, became the founder and first director of New Sweden, at the +mouth of the Delaware River. He lost his life in the West Indies during +a hurricane. His successor in New Sweden was another German, Printz von +Buchau, during whose regime, from 1643 to 1654, the colony became very +successful and thereby aroused the jealousy of the Dutch, who, while +Buchau was on a trip to Europe, attacked the colony and annexed it to +New Netherland. When New Netherland, in 1664, fell a prey to the +English, the colony had among its citizens numerous Germans, most of +them Lutherans. A native of Hamburg, Nicholaus de Meyer, became +burgomaster of New York in 1676. Another German, Augustin Herrman, made +the first reliable maps of Maryland and Virginia. J. Lederer, a young +German scholar, who came to Jamestown in 1668, was the first to explore +Virginia and part of South Carolina. Lederer's itinerary, written in +Latin, was translated by Governor Talbot of Maryland into English and +published 1672 in London; etc. However, it was at Germantown, at +present a suburb of Philadelphia, that Germans broke ground for the +first permanent German settlement in North America. A group of +Mennonites, 33 persons, landed October 6, 1683. They were received by +William Penn and Franz Daniel Pastorius, a young lawyer from Frankfort +on the Main. In Germantown Gerhard Henkel preached before 1726, and St. +Michael's Church was begun 1730 and dedicated by the Swede J. Dylander +in 1737. Pastorius had landed in America with several families on +August 20 of the same year in advance of the Mennonite emigrants, in +order to prepare for their arrival. The official seal of Germantown +bore the inscription: "Vinum, Linum et Textrinum," the culture of +grapes, flax-growing, and the textile industries being the principal +occupations of the colony. In 1690 W. Rittenhaus established in +Germantown the first paper-mill in America. Here also Christopher Sauer, +a native of Westphalia, published the first newspaper in German type, +and in 1743 the first German Bible, antedating, by forty years, the +printing of any other Bible in America. The Germans in the cloister +Ephrata, Pa., established by the Tunker, or Dunkards, also owned a +printing-press, a paper-mill, and a bookbindery. They published, in +1749, the _Maertyrer-Spiegel_, a folio of 1514 pages, the greatest +literary undertaking of the American Colonies. To the Germans enumerated +must be added the German Reformed; the Moravians, who founded Bethlehem +and Nazareth in Pennsylvania; the Salzburgers in Georgia; the Palatines +in New York; etc. And what may be said of Germantown, is true also with +regard to Philadelphia. June 6, 1734, Baron von Reck wrote concerning +the conglomerate community of this city: "It is an abode of all +religions and sects, Lutherans, Reformed, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, +Catholics, Quakers, Dunkards, Mennonites, Sabbatarians, Seventh-day +Baptists, Separatists, Boehmists, Schwenkfeldians, Tuchfelder, +Wohlwuenscher, Jews, heathen, etc." (Jacobs, 191.) Concerning the +thrifty character and all-round good citizenship of the German +immigrants in Pennsylvania generally, McMaster remarks: "Wherever a +German farmer lived, there were industry, order, and thrift. The size of +the barns, the height the fences, the well-kept wheat fields and +orchards, marked off the domain of such farmer from the lands of his +shiftless Irish neighbor." "They were," says Scharf in his _History of +Maryland_, 2, 423, "an industrious, frugal, temperate people, tilling +their farms, accustomed to conflict with savage and other enemies on +the border, and distinguished for their bold and independent spirit." +(Jacobs, 235.) Also in the cause of liberty and humanity the German +immigrants in America stood in the front ranks. + +34. First Anti-Slavery Declaration in America.--The importation of +negro slaves to America was practised by the English and Dutch since the +sixteenth century, without disapproval on the part of the Puritans and +Quakers, who boasted of being the fathers of liberty and the defenders +of human rights. The inhabitants of Germantown, led by Pastorius, were +the first to draw up, on February 18, 1688, a protest against this trade +in human flesh and blood. The remarkable document, addressed to the +meeting of the Quakers in Pennsylvania, reads as follows: "This is to ye +Monthly Meeting held at Richard Warrel's. These are the reasons why we +are against the traffick of men Body, as followeth: Is there any that +would be done or handled at this manner? to be sold or made a slave for +all the time of his life? How fearful and fainthearted are many on sea +when they see a strange vessel, being afraid it should be a Turk, and +they should be taken and sold for slaves into Turckey. Now what is this +better done as Turcks doe? Yea rather is it worse for them, which say +they are Christians; for we hear that ye most part of such Negers are +brought hither against their will and consent; and that many of them are +stollen. Now, tho' they are black, we cannot conceive there is more +liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is +a saying, that we shall doe to all men, like as we will be done our +selves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they +are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase +them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience, which is +right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty of ye body, +except of evildoers which is another case. But to bring men hither, or +to robb and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe +there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those +oppressed which are of a black colour. And we, who know that men must +not commit adultery, some doe commit adultery in others, separating +wifes from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the +children of those poor creatures to other men. Oh! doe consider well +this things, you who doe it; if you would be done at this manner? and if +it is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in +this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, +where they hear off, that ye Quackers doe here handel men like they +handel there ye cattel. And for that reason some have no mind or +inclination to come hither, and who shall maintaine this your cause or +plaid for it? Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better +hereoff, that Christians have liberty to practise this things. Pray! +What thing on the world can be done worse towards us, then if men should +robb or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries, +separating housbands from their wifes and children. Being now this is +not done at that manner, we will be done at, therefore we contradict and +are against this traffick of menbody. And we who profess that it is not +lawful to steal, must likewise avoid to purchase such are stollen but +rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible; and such men +ought to be delivered out of ye hands of ye Robbers and sett free as +well as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead +it hath now a bad one for this sacke in other countries. Especially +whereas ye Europeans are desirous to know in what manner ye Quackers doe +rule in their Province; and most of them doe look upon us with an +envious eye. But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evill? +If once these slaves (which they say are so wicked and stubborn men) +should joint themselves, fight for their freedom and handel their +masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before, will these +masters and mastrisses tacke the sword at hand and warr against these +poor slaves, like we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe? +Or have these Negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as +you have to keep them slaves? Now consider well this thing, if it is +good or bad? and in case you find it to be good to handel these blacks +at that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may +inform us here in, which at this time never was done, that Christians +have such a liberty to do so, to the end we shall be satisfied in this +point, and satisfie lickewise our good friends and acquaintances in our +natif country, to whose it is a terrour or fairfull thing that men +should be handeld so in Pennsylvania. This is from our Meeting at +Germantown held ye 18. of the 2. month 1688, to be delivered to the +monthly meeting at Richard Warrel's. gerret hendericks derick op de +graeff Francis Daniell Pastorius Abraham op Den graeff." (Cronau, +_German Achievements_, 20.) This protest was submitted at several +meetings of the Quakers. But it was not before 1711 that the Quakers +introduced "an act to prevent the importation of Negroes and Indians +into the province," and still later that they declared against +slave-trading. Also the Salzburgers in Georgia were opposed to slavery, +though Bolzius himself was compelled to buy slaves on account of the +lack of white laborers. The Germans also were first and most emphatic +in condemning the cruelties connected with the "white slavery" of the +so-called Redemptioners. + + +SLAVERY OF REDEMPTIONERS. + +35. Cruelly Deceived by the Newlanders.--Toward the middle of the +eighteenth century there were some 80,000 Germans in Pennsylvania, +almost one-half of the entire inhabitants. In 1749 about 12,000 arrived. +Benjamin Franklin and others expressed the fear: "They come in such +numbers that they will soon be able to enforce their laws and language +upon us, and, uniting with the French, drive all Englishmen out." Many +of the Germans were so-called Redemptioners, who, in payment of their +freight, were sold and treated as slaves for a stipulated number of +years. Most of them had been shamefully deceived and decoyed into the +horrors of this "white slavery" by Dutch and English merchants and +conscienceless agents whom Muhlenberg called Newlanders (Neulaender). +In Holland they were called "soul-traders." By means of stories of the +fabulous wealth acquired in America they enticed Germans and other +emigrants into the signing of papers in the English language which not +only committed them and their children to slavery, but sometimes +separated husband and wife, parents and children. The following is an +instance of the revolting horrors connected with this trade: In 1793, +when the yellow fever prevailed in Chester, a cargo of Redemptioners +was sent thither, and a market for nurses opened. (Jacobs, 236.) In +Pennsylvania this kind of slavery continued from about 1740 to the +second decade of the nineteenth century. Quakers and other "friends of +liberty and humanity" exploited the system. Foremost among those who +exposed and condemned it were Germans, notably Muhlenberg, who described +the abominable business of the Newlanders as follows: "These Newlanders +first make themselves acquainted with the merchants in the Netherlands. +From them they receive, in addition to free freight, a certain +gratification (_douceur_) for each family or each unmarried person which +they enlist in Germany and bring to the traders in Holland. In order to +attain their object, they resort to all manner of tricks. As long as the +comedy requires it, they make a great show in dress, frequently look at +their watches, and make a pretense of great wealth, in order to excite a +desire within the hearts of people to emigrate to so happy and rich a +country. They give such descriptions of America as make one believe it +to contain nothing but Elysian fields, bearing seed of themselves, +without toil and labor, mountains full of solid gold and silver, and +wells pouring forth nothing but milk and honey, etc. Who goes as a +servant, becomes a lord; who goes as a maid, becomes a milady; a peasant +becomes a nobleman; a citizen and artisan, a baron!" Deceived and +allured by such stories, Muhlenberg continues, "The families break up, +sell what little they have, pay their debts, turn over what may be left +to the Newlanders for safe-keeping, and finally start on their journey. +Already the trip on the Rhine is put to their account. In Holland they +are not always able to depart immediately, and frequently they get a +small amount of money, advanced by the traders, on their account. The +expensive freight from Holland to America is added, also the head-money. +Before they leave Holland, they must sign a contract in the English +language. The Newlanders persuade and reassure the people [who, not +understanding the English, knew not what they were signing] that they, +as impartial friends, would see to it that, in the contract, no wrong +was done their countrymen. The more freight in persons a merchant and +captain can bring in a ship, the more profitable it is, provided that +they do not die _en route_, for then it may be disadvantageous. For this +reason the ships are kept clean, and every means is employed to deliver +healthy ware to the market. For a year or so they may not have been as +careful, suffering to die what could not live. When parents die on the +ships and leave children, the captains and the most intelligent of the +Newlanders, acting as guardians and orphan-fathers, take the chests and +inheritance in their safe-keeping, and the orphans, arriving on the +land, are sold for their own freight and the freight of their deceased +parents; the real little ones are given away, and the inheritance of +their parents just about pays for the manifold troubles caused to the +guardians. This crying deceit moved some well-disposed German +inhabitants of Pennsylvania, especially in and about Philadelphia, to +organize a society, which, as much as possible, would see to it that, at +the arrival of the poor emigrants, they were dealt with according to +justice and equity." When a ship of emigrants has arrived in the harbor +of Philadelphia, Muhlenberg proceeds, "the newcomers are led in +procession to the court-house, in order to take the oath of allegiance +to the King of Great Britain; then they are led back to the ship. +Hereupon the papers announce that so and so many German people are to be +sold for their freight. Whoever is able to pay his own freight receives +his freedom. Those having wealthy friends endeavor to obtain a loan from +them to pay the freight; but these are few. The ship is the market. The +buyers pick out some and bargain with them as to the years and days of +service, whereupon they make them bind themselves before the magistrate +by a written instrument for a certain period as their property. The +young, unmarried people of both sexes sell first, their lot being a good +or a bad one, for better or worse, according to the character of the +buyer and God's providence or permission. We have frequently noted that +children who were disobedient to their parents, and left them stubbornly +and against their will, here found masters from whom they received their +reward. Old and married people, widows and the frail, nobody wants to +buy, because there is here already an abundance of poor and useless +people who become a burden to the state. But if they have healthy +children, then the freight of the old people is added to that of the +children, and the children must serve so much longer, are sold so much +dearer, and scattered far and wide from each other, among all manner of +nations, languages, and tongues, so that they rarely see their old +parents or brothers and sisters again in this life; many also forget +their mother-tongue. In this way the old people leave the ship free, but +poor, naked, and weak, looking as though they were coming from the +graves, and go begging in the city at the doors of the German +inhabitants; for, as a rule, the English, afraid of infection, close the +doors on them. Such being the conditions, one's heart might bleed seeing +and hearing how these poor human beings, who came from Christian lands +into the New World, partly moan, cry, lament, and throw up their arms +because of the misery and separation which they had never imagined would +befall them, partly call upon and adjure all elements and sacraments, +yea, all thunderbolts and the terrible inhabitants of hell to smash into +numberless fragments and torment the Newlanders and the Dutch merchants, +who deceived them! Those who are far away hear nothing of it, and the +properly so-called Newlanders only laugh about it, and give them no +other consolation beyond that given to Judas Iscariot by the Pharisees, +Matt. 27, 4: 'What is that to us? See thou to that!' Even the children, +when they are cruelly kept and learn that they must remain in bondage +all the longer on account of their parents, conceive a hatred and +bitterness toward them." (G., 474 ff.) + +36. Mittelberger on Redemptioners.--Mittelberger, who, in 1750, +brought to America the organ built at Heilbronn for the Lutheran church +in Philadelphia, and served Muhlenberg also as schoolteacher in +Providence, describes, in substance, the sad lot of the Redemptioners as +follows: "Healthy and strong young people were bound to serve from three +to six years, young people from their tenth to their twenty-first year. +Many parents, in order to obtain their freedom, must themselves bargain +about and sell their own children like cattle. A wife must bear the +freight of her husband if he arrives sick; in like manner the husband is +held for his sick wife; thus he must serve not only for himself, but, in +addition, five or six years for his sick spouse. When both are sick, +they are brought into the hospital, but only when no buyer is found. As +soon as they are well, they must serve in payment of their freight, or +pay, if they have property. It frequently happens that a whole family, +husband, wife, and children, being sold to different buyers, are +separated, especially if they are unable to pay anything on their +freight themselves. When a spouse dies on the ocean after one-half of +the voyage is completed, the remaining spouse must not only pay or serve +for himself, but also for the freight of the deceased one. When both +parents die on the ocean, their children must serve for their own and +their parents' freight till their twenty-first year. If anybody escapes +a cruel master, he cannot get very far, since good provisions are made +for the certain and speedy recapture of escaped Redemptioners. A liberal +reward is paid to him who holds or returns a deserter. If a deserter was +absent for a day, he must serve a week for it; for a week, a month; and +for a month, half a year. Men of rank, skill, or learning, unable to pay +their freight, or to give any surety, must serve their masters by doing +manual labor like ordinary servants. While learning to perform the +unaccustomed hard labor, they are treated with lashes like cattle. Many +a suicide was the consequence of the abominable deceit of the +Newlanders. Others sank into utter despair, or deserted, only to suffer +more afterwards than before. Sometimes the merchants in Holland make a +secret agreement to deliver their cargo of human beings not in +Philadelphia, where they wanted to go, but at some other place, where +they expect a better market, thus robbing many of the assistance of +their friends and relatives in Pennsylvania. Many entrust their money to +the Newlanders, who remain in Holland, and on their arrival in this +country they must either serve themselves, or sell their children to +serve for them." (477 ff.) Like the negroes, the Redemptioners could be +resold. The newspapers carried advertisements like the following from +the _Staatsbote_ of Philadelphia: "The time of service of a bond-maid is +for sale. She is tall and strong enough to do any kind of work, and is +able to perform work in the city as well as in the country. She is not +sold on account of a physical defect, but only because her master has +many women folks about. She has yet to serve for four and a half years. +The name of her owner may be learned from the publisher of this paper." +(481.) As with the negro slaves the lot of a Redemptioner was not in +every case physically a sad and cruel one. In Maryland the laws +protected them by limiting the days of work in summer to five and a half +a week, and demanding for them three hours of rest in the middle of the +day during the months of greatest heat. In 1773 Pastor Kunze wrote: "If +I should ever obtain 20 pounds, I would buy the first German student +landing at our coast and owing freight, put him in my upper room, begin +a small Latin school, teach during the morning hours myself, and then +let my servant teach and make my investment pay by charging a small +fee." (481.) Some of the honored names in American history are those of +Redemptioners, among them Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Congress +during the Revolution, Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of +Independence, and the parents of Major-General Sullivan. (Jacobs, 235.) + + +LUTHERANS IN PENNSYLVANIA. + +37. Roaming About without Altar and Ministry.--Justus Falckner, in a +letter to Dr. H. Muhlen, [tr. note: sic!] dated August 1, 1701, +describes the "spiritual wilderness" in and about Germantown as follows: +"As much, then, as I was able to observe the conditions of the churches +in these parts and in particular in this province, they are still pretty +bad. Because of the lack of any good preparations the aborigines, or +Indians, remain in their blindness and barbarism. In addition to this +they are scandalized by the wicked life of the Christians, and +especially by the trade carried on with them, and merely acquire vices +which were unknown to them before, such as drunkenness, theft, etc. The +few Christians here are divided in almost in numerable sects, which kat' +exochen [tr. note: two words in Greek] may be called sects and rabbles, +such as Quakers, Anabaptists, Naturalists, Libertinists, +Independentists, Sabbatarians, and many others, especially secretly +spreading sects, regarding whom we are at a loss what to make of them. +However, all of them agree in their beautiful principles (si Dis +placet): Abolish all good order, and live for yourself as you see fit. +The Quakers are the most numerous because the Governor [William Penn] +belongs to them, so that one might call this land an anatomical +laboratory of Quakers. For much as our theologians have labored to +dissect this cadaver and discover its entrails, they, nevertheless, have +not been able to do it as well as the Quakers are now doing it +themselves in this country. It would fill a whole tract if, as could be +done easily, I were to describe how they, by transgressing their own +principles, make it apparent what kind of a spirit is moving them, while +they, by virtue of the foundation of such principles, are scoffers and +Ishmaels of all well-ordered church-life. _Hic Rhodus, hie saltant_ +(Here is Rhodes, here they dance)." "Also here" (as in Europe), Falckner +proceeds, "the Protestant Church is divided in three nations; for there +is here an English Protestant Church, a Swedish Protestant Lutheran +Church, and people of the German nation belonging to the Evangelical +Lutheran and the Reformed Churches. The Swedes have two +congregations.... But not without reason have I spoken of the Germans +merely as some Evangelical Lutheran Germans and not the German +Evangelical Lutheran Church, inasmuch as they are roaming about in this +desert without altar and the ministry (scilicet qui ara sacerdotuque +destituti vagantur hoc in deserto), a miserable condition, indeed. +Otherwise there is a great number of Germans here. But a part of them +have joined the other sects, who use the English language, which is +learned first by all who come here, and some of them are Quakers and +Anabaptists. Another part of them are freethinkers, uniting with nobody +and letting their children grow up in the same way. In brief, there are +Germans here, and probably the most of them, who despise God's Word and +all good outward order, blaspheme and frightfully and publicly desecrate +the Sacraments. Spiritus enim errorum et sectarum asylum sibi hic +constituit (For the spirit of errors and sects has here established his +asylum). And the chief fault and cause of this is the lack of provision +for an external visible church-communion. For since, as it were, the +first thesis of natural theology, inborn in all men, is 'Religiosum +quendam cultum observandum, A certain religious cult must be observed,' +it happens that these people, when they come here and find no better +external service, elect any one rather than none. For though they are +Libertinists, nevertheless also Libertinism is not without its outward +form, by which it makes itself a specific religion in none of them." +Falckner proceeds: "I and my brother [Daniel] attend the Swedish church, +although, as yet, we understand little of the language. And by our +example we have induced several Germans to come to their meetings +occasionally, even though they did not understand the language, and for +the purpose only of gradually drawing them out of barbarism and +accustoming them to outward order, especially as one of the Swedish +pastors, Mr. M. Rudman, for the sake of love and the glory of God, +offered to go to the trouble of learning the German language and +occasionally to deliver a German address in the Swedish church, until +the Germans could have a church of their own." In the following Falckner +dwells on the great help it would afford in attracting the Indians and +the children of the Quakers and drawing the young Swedes to the services +if an organ could be installed in the Swedish church. (G. Fritschel, +_Geschichte_, 35 ff.) The miserable condition spiritually of the +Lutherans in Pennsylvania appears from a letter of their representatives +to Dr. Ziegenhagen in London, dated October, 1739, in which they state: +"There is not one German Lutheran preacher in the whole land, except +Caspar Stoever, now sixty miles distant from Philadelphia." (Jacobs, +191.) + +38. New Hanover, Philadelphia, Providence.--It was a motley crowd of +Germans that gathered in the land of the Quakers. Indeed, Pastorius, the +first mayor of Germantown, was a rather moderate pietist from the +circles of Spener, but, as stated above, with him and after him came +Mennonites, Tunkers, Moravians, Gichtelians, Schwenkfeldians, disciples +of the cobbler of Goerlitz, Jacob Boehme, and enthusiasts who as yet had +no name. (G., 242.) Before long, however, the Lutherans outnumbered all +other German denominations (Moravians and German Reformed) and sects in +the Quaker State, to which they came in increasingly large numbers, +especially after the sad experiences of the Palatinates in New York. By +1750 the number of Germans in Pennsylvania was estimated at 60,000, of +whom about two-thirds were Lutherans by birth. Though imbued with +apocalyptical and mystical ideas, H. B. Koester, who arrived in 1694 +with forty families, is said to have conducted the first German Lutheran +services in Germantown. Before long he united with the Episcopalians and +founded Christ Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, but returned to Germany +in 1700. Daniel Falckner, who had emigrated with Koester, opposed the +Quakers in Germantown. In Falckner's Swamp (New Hanover), he organized +the first German Lutheran congregation in Pennsylvania, and is said to +have erected a log church as early as 1704. In his struggle against the +mismanagement of Pastorius, Falckner, in 1708, fell a prey to intrigues. +A disappointed man he went to New Jersey, where he served the +congregations at Raritan, Muehlstein, Rockaway, and other points, and +from 1724 to 1725 also the settlements which Kocherthal had served along +the Hudson. Owing to his increasing mental weakness, Daniel Falckner, in +1731, resigned his field in favor of J. A. Wolff. He died at Raritan ten +years later. In New Hanover Gerhard Henkel, the first Lutheran pastor in +Virginia, continued the work from 1717 to 1728. In Philadelphia J. C. +Schulz, of Wuerttemberg, was the first Lutheran pastor of whom we have +any knowledge. Educated in Strassburg, Schulz arrived in Philadelphia on +September 25, 1732. He also served New Hanover and New Providence. At +the latter place the first entries in the parish register date back to +1729, and the congregation numbered about one hundred communicant +members when Muhlenberg took charge. In 1732 Pastor Schulz, accompanied +by two lay delegates, left for Europe to collect money, and, above all, +to secure laborers from Halle, for the mission-work in Pennsylvania. +These efforts terminated when Schulz was arrested in Germany for +disorderly conduct. Before leaving Pennsylvania, Schulz had ordained +John Caspar Stoever, a relative of Pastor J. C. Stoever, Sr., in +Spottsylvania, Va., and placed him in charge of his congregations. +Stoever, Jr., had studied theology in Germany, and after his arrival in +America, 1728, had been active in mission-work among the Lutherans in +Pennsylvania, a labor which he zealously continued till his sudden death +in 1779, while confirming a class at Lebanon. Stoever's aversion to +Pietism at first kept him from uniting with Muhlenberg. It was 1763, +fifteen years after its organization, before he became a member of the +Pennsylvania Ministerium. Concerning Stoever and the Agenda of 1748, +Muhlenberg relates the following: "We were minded to employ the very +words of our Lord Jesus: Take and eat; this is the body of Jesus Christ, +etc. Take and drink, this cup is the New Testament in the blood of +Christ, etc. At the baptism of children it was our intention to ask the +sponsors, or godparents: Do you renounce in the name of this child, +etc.? To this the opponents [Stoever, Wagner, and their adherents] +objected strenuously before we had finished. We therefore made a change +immediately and used the words which their terrified consciences +desired, _viz_.: This is the _true body_, etc.; this is the _true +blood_, etc., and in the formula of baptism: Peter, Paul, or Maria, dost +thou renounce, etc.?" Graebner comments as follows: "If the Wagners and +Stoevers [whom Muhlenberg severely censured in 1748] had committed no +other crimes but that of compelling the 'united preachers' [from Halle] +to take a decided Lutheran position, one might wish that their influence +had extended still farther." In the following year, 1749, however, the +Pennsylvania Synod changed the formula of baptism so that the sponsors +were asked, "Do you renounce (believe) in the name of this child, etc.?" +(Graebner, 327.) + + +HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG. + +39. Self-sacrificing Halle Emissaries.--The help which Pastor Schulz +and his laymen had requested from Halle in 1734 arrived nine years +later. Francke's hesitation with regard to questions of salary, etc., +drew the matter out until Muhlenberg declared himself willing to accept +the call to America without further conditions. He was the instrument +whereby it pleased God to preserve the Lutheran Church in America from +complete deterioration and disintegration and from the imminent danger +of apostasy through Zinzendorf. Muhlenberg (Muehlenberg) was born at +Eimbeck, Hannover, September 6, 1711. In 1738 he graduated from +Goettingen. He spent one year teaching in the Orphan Home at Halle, and +served a congregation in Upper Lusatia from 1739 to 1741. In 1741 he +also published his only work, a defense of Pietism against B. Mentzer. +In the same year he accepted the call to the congregations in +Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Providence, and New Hanover. September 23, +1742, he landed at Charleston, visited Bolzius and the Salzburgers in +Ebenezer, and arrived in Philadelphia, November 25, 1742. From the very +beginning Muhlenberg was successful in his opposition to Zinzendorf, +who had come to America in 1741 to convert the Indians and to merge the +pious of all churches in the _Unitas Fratrum_. Pretending to be a +Lutheran, he had wormed his way into the Lutheran congregation at +Philadelphia, assuming the title and functions of Inspector-General of +all the Lutheran churches in America. However, unmasked by Muhlenberg, +he now, January, 1743, returned to Germany in disgrace. In spite of +many other difficulties, Muhlenberg rapidly won recognition from all +the congregations. In 1745 he dedicated his first church in +Philadelphia. The _Hallesche Nachrichten_ contain vivid pictures, from +the pens of Muhlenberg and his assistants, of their untiring, +self-sacrificing, blessed, and constantly increasing missionary +activity, which at the same time served the purpose of encouraging Halle +to send additional laborers. The close of January, 1745, saw the arrival +of Peter Brunnholtz (who took charge of Philadelphia and Germantown) and +of the two catechists Nicholaus Kurtz and J. H. Schaum, who at first +served as assistants and were later on ordained as pastors. Muhlenberg +wrote to Halle: "To be brief: the church which must be planted here is +at a very critical juncture (Hier ist ecclesia plantanda in einer recht +kritischen junctura). Hence we ought to have experienced and strong men, +able to stand in the breach and to dare with patience and self-denial. +You, highly venerable fathers, know full well that I am not the man. But +I regard my dear colleague Brunnholtz as such a man, and wish that he +had two or three colaborers like himself; that would help us. God would +easily direct me to some smaller corner." (290.) In 1743 Muhlenberg sent +Tobias Wagner to the Palatines in Tulpehocken Creek, where Gerhard +Henkel had already preached, and where, in 1745, Wagner solemnized the +marriage of Muhlenberg and the daughter of J. C. Weiser. Services were +conducted at this time also in Ohly, Cohenzi, Indianfield, Chester, and +Reading (where the Lutherans and the Reformed had erected a church +together). In 1745 Muhlenberg conducted a visitation at Raritan, induced +Wolff to resign, sent them Kurtz and 1747 Schaum as temporary +supply-pastors, and finally, in 1748, induced the congregation to call +J. A. Weygand. Following the track of the Moravian Nyberg, who created +confusion wherever he went, Muhlenberg secured a foothold also at +Lancaster in 1746, at York, and Conewago, in 1747, as well as in +Monocacy and Frederick, Md. J. F. Handschuh (Handschuch), who arrived +from Halle in 1748, was put in charge of Lancaster. L. H. Schrenck and +L. Raus arrived in 1749. The former was stationed in Upper Milford and +Saccum, the latter was appointed vicar in Rheinbeck and Camp. F. Schultz +and Heintzelmann came in 1751. The latter received an appointment in +Philadelphia and married Muhlenberg's daughter. Baugher (Bager) arrived +in 1752, and Gerock the year following.--Pastors and congregations +were imbued with one and the same spirit, and considered themselves +parts of one and the same church, consisting of the "Collegium Pastorum" +on the one hand and the "United Congregations" on the other. + +40. Organizing Pennsylvania Synod.--To stablish the congregations, +Muhlenberg, with five pastors and ten congregations, on August 26, 1748, +organized the Pennsylvania Synod, then generally called "The United +Congregations" or "The United Pastors." This event has been designated +by Dr. Graebner "the most important in the history of the American +Lutheran Church of the eighteenth century." From the very beginning +Muhlenberg's three original congregations were called "The United +Congregations." This name was extended also to the congregations +subsequently organized or served by Muhlenberg and his colaborers at +Germantown, Lancaster, Tulpehocken, York, etc. And pastors and +congregations being imbued, as they were, with one and the same spirit, +and considering themselves parts of one and the same church, consisting +of "The College of Pastors (Collegium Pastorum)" on the one hand and +"The United Congregations" on the other, it was but natural that they +should unite in a regular synod with regular meetings. The year 1748 +was most opportune and suggestive for such an organization. Pastor +Hartwick of Rhinebeck had come to Philadelphia. Nicholas Kurtz had +arrived in order to be ordained as pastor for the congregation at +Tulpehocken. The dedication of St. Michael's Church in Philadelphia +brought other representative Lutherans to the city. The Swedes were +represented by Provost Sandin and Peter Kock (Koch), a trustee of +Gloria Dei Church, who zealously advocated synodical connection between +the Germans and Swedes. Before the public services, Pastors Brunnholtz, +Handschuh, and Hartwick met to examine Kurtz. His answers were approved +of in Halle as creditable even to candidates in Germany. On the +following day, Sunday, St. Michael's was dedicated. Provost Sandin +headed the procession from Brunnholtz's parsonage to the new church. +"Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord," was sung. A letter from the Swedish +pastor Tranberg, regretting his absence and congratulating the +congregation in English, was then read. The address emphasized that "the +foundation of this church was laid with the intention that the +Evangelical Lutheran doctrine should be taught therein according to the +foundation of the prophets and apostles, and according to the Unaltered +Augsburg Confession and the other symbolical books." After singing +another hymn, six prayers were offered, two in Swedish by the Swedish +pastors, and four in German by Brunnholtz, Hartwick, Handschuh, and Mr. +Kock. After another hymn a child was baptized, and a sermon preached by +Handschuh. Hereupon the ministers, with a few of the congregation, +received the Lord's Supper. In the afternoon Hartwick preached the +ordination sermon. Then, the lay delegates standing in a semicircle +about the altar, Provost Sandin and the four German pastors ordained +Kurtz. Muhlenberg read the liturgical formula. On Monday, August 26 (15 +Old Style), 1748, the first session of Synod was held, N. Kurtz, the +newly ordained pastor, delivering the opening sermon. + +41. First Session of Synod.--According to the minutes, written by +Brunnholtz and signed by the four German pastors residing in +Pennsylvania and a number of lay delegates, the synod consisted of six +ministers (including Sandin and Hartwick) and twenty-four delegates, +exclusive of the church council of the Philadelphia congregation: four +lay delegates from Germantown, three from Providence, three from New +Hanover, two from Upper Milford, one from Saccum, three from +Tulpehocken, one from Nordkiel, six from Lancaster, and one from +Earlingtown. Peter Kock represented the Swedish laity. The congregation +at York, in a letter, regretted the absence of representatives. The +organization proceeded without the adoption of any formulated +constitution. Though not formally elected, Muhlenberg, by virtue of his +first call and commission by the authorities in Halle, was president of +the synod. When, at the second meeting of the synod, in 1749, +Brunnholtz, on motion of Muhlenberg, was elected overseer of all the +United Congregations, this was ignored by the authorities in Halle, and, +Brunnholtz's health failing, the office was soon transferred to +Muhlenberg, who exercised it for many years. At the first meeting, after +the hymn, "Du suesse Lieb', schenk' uns deine Gunst," was sung, +Muhlenberg addressed the assembly, saying, in part: This union was +desired for a long time. The effort made five years ago in the Swedish +church was frustrated by Nyberg. Unity among us is necessary. Every +member in the congregation has children. In their interest elders are +required to assist in making a good church order. For this purpose we +are here assembled, and, God willing, shall meet annually. "We +preachers, here present," Muhlenberg emphasized, "have not run of +ourselves, but have been called here and urged to go. We are bound to +render account to God and to our consciences. We maintain connection +with our fathers in Europe. We must not only care for ourselves, but +also for our descendants." In part, Muhlenberg's remarks reflected on +Stoever, Streit (Streiter, as he is called in the minutes), Andreae, +and Wagner. These ministers had not been invited to participate in the +organization of the synod, because, as a declaration put on record by +synod explains, "1. they, without reason, decry us [Muhlenberg and his +adherents] as Pietists; 2. are not sent and have neither an internal +nor an external call; 3. are unwilling to observe a uniform order of +service with us, each following the ceremonies of his country; 4. an +experience of six years had taught Muhlenberg that their object was +nothing but bread; 5. they were subject to no consistory and gave no +account of the exercise of their office." The lay delegates were +called upon to give a report concerning the efficiency of their +pastors, and their opinion concerning the new liturgy, which they +regarded as too long. Also the condition of the parochial schools was +inquired into. The conference with the laymen was adjourned Monday +afternoon, after which they dined together. The pastors then attended to +business generally regarded as belonging to them. Hartwick addressed the +elders, wishing their congregations every blessing. The Swedish provost +expressed his desire to be a member of the body. But Peter Kock having +died, no Swede attended the meeting in the following year. Seven annual +meetings were held by the United Congregations, the last at New Hanover +in 1754. Revived by Dr. Wrangel and Muhlenberg in 1760, this oldest +Lutheran synod in America exists to the present day as "The Evangelical +Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania." (Graebner, 301 ff.) + + +FURTHER ACTIVITY AND DEATH OF MUHLENBERG. + +42. Discouraging Conditions.--The joyous events of 1748 in +Philadelphia were followed by disappointments to such an extent that +after 1754 the synodical meetings were abandoned till 1760, when, as +stated, Provost Von Wrangel revived the synod in the interest of +establishing a German-Swedish organization. The failure was caused by +various discouragements: the deaths of Heintzelman and Brunnholtz; the +troubles in the congregations of Handschuh at Lancaster, Germantown, and +Philadelphia; the opposition of Stoever and other anti-Pietists, whom +the synod in 1748 marked as undesirables; charges against Muhlenberg and +his colaborers, that they were but secret agents of Zinzendorf, etc.; +and above all the entirely insufficient support in men and moneys from +Halle. The difficulties and discouraging conditions under which +Muhlenberg and his assistants were laboring, appear from the urgent +appeal, signed by Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, and Handschuh, adopted by the +synod in 1754, and sent to both London and Halle. Dr. Jacobs writes: "It +is one of the most important papers in the Halle 'Reports.' The entire +field is surveyed, the history of German immigration traced, and the +religious condition of the immigrants described. The manner in which +other denominations and the Swedish Lutherans are aided by foreign help +is shown, and a very discouraging contrast is drawn. The condition of +each parish is then candidly and at length set forth. Three great +dangers they see threatening the inner life of congregations, _viz_.: +the assumption, by the leading men of particular parishes, of the right +to dictate, as a compensation for the perhaps greater amount expected of +them for the pastor's support; the lawlessness of immigrants who abuse +the freedom of the country, want to break through all rules, and revile +all good order, the regular ministry, and divine service as papacy +itself; the introduction of worthless men into the country as pretended +ministers by the Newlanders, who sell their services from the ship to +Lutherans willing to be deceived in this way. The United Pastors, they +urge, are almost powerless to resist. The people are, as a rule, poor. +In a congregation of three hundred members scarcely fifteen can be found +able to contribute toward the building of churches; and the +responsibility for debts incurred must, therefore, as a rule, fall upon +the pastors themselves. Many thousands of Lutheran people are scattered +throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, +etc. No provision is made for the traveling expenses of the pastors or +supplies for their places, if these Lutherans are cared for. People come +often one and even two hundred miles to hear a sermon and receive the +Sacrament, and weep bitterly over the destitution, which no one +endeavors to remove. They [the signers of the appeal] contrast the +condition of a pastor in the New with that of one in the Old World. The +latter has the assurance of necessary support, of protection in his +office, of all needed buildings, of provision for the proper instruction +of his people. The former has none of these. Among ten families there is +scarcely one or two that contribute according to their promises. The +sects diffuse among the people the ideas, to which they lend too ready +assent, that the pastors as well as their hearers ought to work at a +trade, cut wood, sow and reap during the week, and then preach to them +gratuitously on Sunday. They hear such things wherever they go--in +papers, in company, on their journeys, and at the taverns. The picture +is a very dark one. The pastors feel that they do not see how it is +possible for them to advance; and yet to recede or even to be stationary +must be fatal." Jacobs continues: "Such representations probably had +something to do with the impression current for a while at Halle that +Muhlenberg was visionary and eccentric, so strange do his statements +seem to those incompetent from personal observation to appreciate the +urgency of the situation in Pennsylvania. If there was any time when, +even for a moment, Muhlenberg entertained the suggestion of transferring +the care of the Lutherans of Pennsylvania to the Church of England, it +was only at some such time when he and his associates in the synod were +allowed to struggle on under such burdens almost unaided, while union +with the Church of England would at once have provided all missionaries +sent thither with an appropriation almost sufficient for support, and +with far better protection against the prevalent disorder. If the +Lutherans in Europe could not meet the demands of the hour, we can +pardon the thought, which never became a fixed purpose, that, sooner +than have the thousands for whose care he felt himself responsible +neglected, some other mode of relief would have to be sought." (246 ff.) + +43. Further Activity and Death.--In May, 1751, as related above, +Muhlenberg became pastor of the Dutch congregation in New York. From +1753 to 1761 he once more labored in New Hanover and Providence. During +this period he made visits to Raritan (1757, 1758 for nine weeks, 1759 +with his family, again in October, 1759, and in January, 1760), his +assistant J. H. Schaum in the mean time representing him in Providence. +October 29, 1761 Muhlenberg returned to Philadelphia to allay the +strife which had broken out. Here he lived in his own home, and +maintained an intimate intercourse with Dr. Wrangel. By the new +congregational constitution, which his congregation subscribed to in +1762, and which, in the course of time, was adopted by nearly all the +congregations in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg's influence was extended far +and wide. In 1769 he dedicated the new Zion Church at Philadelphia. +(The national memorial services of Benjamin Franklin [1790], of +Washington [1799], and of Abraham Lincoln [1865] were held in this +church.) September 8, 1774, he arrived in Charleston, accompanied by +his wife and daughter, where the congregation had requested him to +settle their quarrel, which he did with skill and success. His real +goal, however, was Ebenezer, where he, by order of the authorities in +Europe, was to conduct a visitation and to repair the harm done by +Triebner. Here he drafted a new constitution, which was adopted by the +Salzburgers and resulted in a temporary peace. On February 6, 1775, he +began his journey back to Pennsylvania. When the vestry of his +congregation at Philadelphia in 1779, without further ado, elected Kunze +to be his successor, Muhlenberg conducted himself with dignity. The +congregation rescinded her action, whereupon Muhlenberg resigned, and +was given a pension of 100 Pounds annually and granted permission to +preach occasionally in the church. As early as 1748 Muhlenberg had +compiled an Agenda, which at first was circulated in manuscript, and was +printed in 1786 in a somewhat modified form. The only objection which, +in 1748, the congregations raised to the Agenda was that "public worship +would last too long, especially in the cold winter months"; wherefore +"they requested that it be abbreviated." In 1782 Muhlenberg also did the +chief work in preparing the hymnal, which was printed in 1784. In the +same year Pennsylvania Academy conferred upon him the degree of Doctor +of Divinity. Muhlenberg accepted the title, but requested his friends +not to make any use of it in their intercourse with him. Muhlenberg died +October 7, 1787. Taking leave of his friend for this life, he spoke of +the journey ahead to his true fatherland, repeating the words of the +hymn: "Ich hab' vor mir ein' schwere Reis' Zu dir in's Himmels Paradeis, +Das ist mein rechtes Vaterland, Darauf du hast dein Blut gewandt." +Shortly before his death he prayed the stanza: "Mach' End', o Herr, +mach' Ende An aller unsrer Not, Staerk' unsre Fuess' und Haende Und lass +bis in den Tod Uns allzeit deiner Pflege Und Treu' empfohlen sein, So +gehen unsre Wege Gewiss zum Himmel ein." Muhlenberg's funeral was +attended by eight Lutheran pastors, the Reformed minister Schlatter, and +a great concourse of people, so that Pastor J. L. Voigt was compelled to +deliver his oration in the open. Memorial services were conducted in New +York and in many other places, as well as in almost all congregations +belonging to the synod. In Muhlenberg the greatest man whom God had +given to the Lutheran Church of America in the eighteenth century, "the +patriarch of the American Lutheran Church," had passed away. His body +was interred just outside the walls of the church in Trappe. A marble +slab over his grave bears the inscription: "Qualis et quantus fuerit, +Non ignorabunt sine lapide Futura Saecula. (Future ages will know his +character and importance without a stone.)" (484. 521.) + +44. Tributes to, and Estimates of, Muhlenberg.--In his letter to Dr. +Freylinghausen in Halle, Muhlenberg himself reveals the pious and humble +frame of his mind as follows: "To-day, December 6, 1762, it is forty +years since I set foot in Philadelphia for the first time; and I believe +that my end is no longer removed very far. Had I during these forty +years served my Lord as faithfully as Jeremiah, I could look forward to +a more joyful end. But I must now account it grace and mercy +unparalleled if the gracious Redeemer, for the sake of His +all-sufficient merits, will not regard my mistakes and weaknesses, but +receive me graciously." Speaking of Muhlenberg's faithfulness, Dr. E. A. +W. Krauss remarks: "Muhlenberg continued faithful in things both small +and great, even after he had received assistance from Germany, and one +coworker after another began to labor at his side. Before long his +activity had exceeded the sphere of his three congregations. On request +he visited the scattered Lutherans in Germantown, Tulpehocken, +Lancaster, York, Raritan, Frederick. He was the counselor of poorly +served congregations, the judge in their quarrels. Confidence was +everywhere reposed in him. "By reason of his talent for organizing, his +erudition, but, above all, his unselfishness, his modesty, dignity, and +piety, he was in universal demand, and was compelled to take the lead, +which he also kept till his blessed departure from this world." +(_Lebensbilder_, 694.) Dr. H. E. Jacobs sketches Muhlenberg's character +as follows: "Depth of religious conviction, extraordinary inwardness of +character, apostolic zeal for the spiritual welfare of individuals, +absorbing devotion to his calling and all its details, were among his +most marked characteristics. These were combined with an intuitive +penetration and extended width of view, a statesmanlike grasp of every +situation in which he was placed, an almost prophetic foresight, +coolness, and discrimination of judgment, and peculiar gifts for +organization and administration." Dr. A. Graebner writes: "The task +which Muhlenberg found set before him when he entered upon the wild and +disordered field which had been allotted to him here, was such that, if +any one in Halle had been able to tell him and had told him what was +awaiting him in America, he would hardly have found the necessary +courage and cheerfulness to lay his hand to the plow which was to +convert this wild bramblepatch into an arable field. Still, where could +a second man have been found at that time who would have proven equal +to the task in the same measure as Henry Melchior Muhlenberg? Richly +endowed with a robust physique and a pious mind, with faithfulness in +matters great and small, with cheerful, but firm courage, with restless +activity and a spirit of progressive enterprise, with wisdom and +prudence, with the ability to inform himself quickly and to accommodate +himself to the circumstances, and, in addition to this, with the +necessary independence of volition and action,--characteristics +seldom found combined in one and the same person,--Muhlenberg was +splendidly equipped, both as to degree and variety, with the gifts +which a missionary and an organizer has need of. And from the very +first day of his planting and watering God gave a rich increase to his +labors, so rich, that Muhlenberg could say with a grateful heart: 'It +seems as though now the time had come that God would visit us with +special grace here in Pennsylvania.' Furthermore, self-exaltation was +utterly foreign to him. 'God does not need me,' he would say; 'He can +carry out His work also without me.' Likewise, he was ever content +although he never saw much money. During the first half-year of his +stay in Philadelphia he earned his board by giving music lessons." +(279.) Dr. A. Spaeth: "Though there were Lutheran congregations and +pastors among the Dutch on the Hudson, and among the Swedes on the +Delaware, as early as the first half of the seventeenth century, and, +later on, among the numerous German immigrants, still the real +organization of the Lutheran Church in America, on the foundation of the +fathers, only dates from the middle of the eighteenth century, and is +due to the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, by common consent the +patriarch of the Lutheran Church on this continent, through whose +efforts the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, 'The Mother Synod,' was +established in 1748. In missionary zeal, in pastoral tact and fidelity, +in organizing ability and personal piety, he had no superior." (_C.P. +Krauth_, 1, 316.) + + +MUHLENBERG'S CONFESSIONALISM. + +45. Unqualified Subscription to Entire Book of Concord.--Like the +"Fathers in Halle," Muhlenberg, self-evidently, desired to be a +Lutheran and to build a Lutheran Church in America. He himself says, in +a manner somewhat touchy: "I defy Satan and every lying spirit to lay at +my door anything which contradicts the teaching of our apostles or the +Symbolical Books. I have often said and written that I have found +neither error, nor mistake, nor any defect in our Evangelical doctrine, +based, as it is, on the apostles and prophets, and exhibited in our +Symbolical Books." _Dr. Spaeth:_ "The standards of the Lutheran Church +of the sixteenth century were accepted and endorsed by Muhlenberg +without reservation, and in his whole ministerial work he endeavored to +come up to this standard, as he had solemnly pledged himself in his +ordination vow before the theological faculty of the university at +Leipzig, on August 24, 1739, which committed to him the office of +'teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments according to the +rule given in the writings of the prophets and apostles, the sum of +which is contained in those three symbols, the Apostolic, Nicene, and +Athanasian, in the Augsburg Confession laid before Emperor Charles V, +A. D. 1530, in the Apology of the same, in Dr. Luther's Large and Small +Catechism, in the Articles subscribed to in the Smalcald Convention, +and in the Formula of Concord. He solemnly promised that he would +propose to his hearers what would be conformed and consentient to these +writings, and that he would never depart from the sense which they +give.' (Dr. W. J. Mann's _The Conservatism of Henry Melchior +Muehlenberg_, in the _Lutheran Church Review_, January, 1888.) And this +was the position not of the patriarch alone, but of his colaborers, of +the whole Synod of Pennsylvania, which he organized, and of the sister- +or daughter-synod of New York, during the lifetime of Muhlenberg and +Kunze. 'Those fathers were very far from giving the Lutheran Church, as +they organized it on this new field of labor, a form and character in +any essential point different from what the Lutheran Church was in the +Old World, and especially in Germany. They retained not only the old +doctrinal standards, but also the old traditional elements and forms of +worship; the church-year with its great festivals, its Gospel- and +Epistle-lessons, the Liturgy, the rite of Confirmation, preparatory +service for the Lord's Supper, connected with the confession of sins +and absolution. Their doctrinal position was unmistakably Lutheran, in +the sense in which Lutheranism is historically known, and is something +individual and distinct, and as such stands in opposition to Romanism on +the one hand, and to Zwingli, Calvin, and all other so-called Protestant +parties on the other. Those fathers were admitted to the ministry on +condition of their own declaration that they were in harmony with the +Confessio Augustana Invariata, and with all the other Symbolical Books +of the Lutheran Church. They demanded of those whom they admitted to the +sacred office the same condition. They allowed no organization or +constitutions of congregations without demanding the acknowledgment of +all the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church as the doctrinal +basis.'" (1,317.) In a letter dated June 14, 1774, and addressed to one +of the members of the Lutheran congregation at Charleston, S. C., some +of whose troubles and difficulties he had endeavored to adjust, +Muhlenberg stated the rule of his own personal course as follows: +"During the thirty-two years of my sojourning in America, time and again +occasions were given me to join the Episcopal Church, and to receive +four or live times more salary than my poor German fellow-members of the +Lutheran faith gave me; but I preferred reproach in and with my people +to the treasures in Egypt." (Jacobs, 298.) The confirmation form of the +Agenda contained the question: "Do you intend to remain true to the +truth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as you have learned to know it +and solemnly confessed it?" (G.,498.) + +46. Pledge of Pastors and Congregations.--In like manner as Muhlenberg +himself, all his colaborers and congregations were pledged to the +Lutheran confessions. The religious oath which Brunnholtz took reads, in +part, as follows: "I, Peter Brunnholtz, do solemnly swear and before God +Almighty do take an oath upon my soul . . . that I will abide by the +pure and unadulterated Word of God, as, according to the sense of the +Spirit, it has been diligently compiled from Holy Scripture against all +errorists in the three chief Symbols, and especially also in the true +Lutheran church-books, as the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, its +Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the two Catechisms of Luther, and in the +specific Formula of Concord, and that I will teach according to them." +(G., 283.) In similar fashion, Kurtz, Weygand, and all pastors solemnly +promised to discharge their office "according to the pure doctrine of +the apostles and prophets and all our Synodical Books." (_Lehre u. +Wehre_, 1856, 120.) According to the Agenda of 1748 the catechumens +promised faithfulness unto death "to the truth of the Evangelical +Lutheran Church which they had solemnly confessed." (488.) From the very +outset, Muhlenberg also had the congregations subscribe to articles in +which they confessed themselves to God's Word and the Lutheran Symbols. +(299.) The congregations, in agreement with the constitution of 1762, +pledged their pastors to preach "the Word of God according to the +foundation of the apostles and prophets and in conformity with the +Unaltered Augsburg Confession." True, the Pennsylvania Synod, at its +organization in 1748, did not draw up any special articles of +confession, yet, according to the Agenda which had been previously +adopted, it was regarded as self-evident that all pastors and +congregations subscribe to the Lutheran Symbols. The synodical +constitution of 1778, which was entered in the official book of record +begun in 1781, contained the following provisions: "As to his life and +teaching, every pastor is to be found in consonance with the Word of +God and our Symbolical Books." "In case complaints are lodged against +teachers, the investigation must concern itself with: 1. express errors +against the clear sense of Holy Writ and our Symbolical Books of +faith." (529.) Muhlenberg's devotion to the Lutheran doctrine appears +also from the interest and zeal which he showed in furthering the +institution of catechetical instruction and in establishing parochial +schools. One of the chief questions to engage the attention of the +first convention of Synod in 1748 was, "What is the condition of the +schools?" Yet, though Muhlenberg, in the manner described, stood for +confessional Lutheranism, it cannot be maintained convincingly that his +influence in this direction was sound and salubrious in every respect. +His was not the genuine Lutheranism of Luther, but the modified +Lutheranism, then advocated in Europe and Germany generally, notably in +Halle and the circles of the Pietists, a Lutheranism inoculated with +legalism, subjectivism, indifferentism, and unionism. Muhlenberg's +confessionalism was of the historic kind, that is to say, reverence for +the venerable Lutheran symbols rather than the living power of Lutheran +truth itself, directing, permeating, and shaping one's entire +ecclesiastical activity both as to teaching and practise. + + +MUHLENBBERG'S PIETISM. + +47. Subjectivism of Halle Pietists.--Following are some of the +aberrations of the Pietists in Halle: That doctrine was of minor +importance for, and as compared with, piety; that sanctification was not +contained in, but must be added to, faith; that repentance and +conversion were urged in such a manner as if man himself could force +them; that such Christians as could not tell of certain peculiar +penitential struggles and sensations of grace were regarded as +unconverted; that the assurance of salvation was not based on the +objective Word of God, but on subjective marks, notably such us were +found in those converted in the circles of the Pietists; that the +afflicted, instead of being comforted with the Gospel of the +unconditional pardon of the entire world, were bidden to feel the pulse +of their own piety; that such as did not manifest the symptoms of +conversion _a la_ Halle, were judged uncharitably and looked down upon +as not being truly converted; that the "revived" and "awakened" were +regarded as the real church in the Church, the _ecclesiolae in +ecclesia_. And what of the pietism of the Halle emissaries in +Pennsylvania? Dr. Mann declared concerning Muhlenberg and his + co-laborers: "Their pietism was truly Lutheran piety, a warm-hearted, +devout, practical Lutheranism." (Spaeth, 1, 318.) However, traces of the +morbid and infected Lutheranism cultivated by Pietists, were but too +apparent also in Muhlenberg and the associates carefully selected for +him by Francke and Freylinghausen in Halle. The piety for which they +strove so earnestly and zealously was, in more than one respect, neither +truly evangelical nor soundly Lutheran, but of a legalistic and +subjective nature. They delighted in evangelistic sermons designed to +convert men in the manner of Halle. They endeavored to ascertain who +were the truly converted in their congregations. As a standard they +applied their own experiences and as models the Halle converts. Instead +of immediately comforting terrified sinners with the full consolation of +the Gospel, they proved them "according to the marks of the state of +grace." _Graebner:_ "While Diaconus in Grosshennersdorf, Muhlenberg had +already published a polemical tract against Dr. Balthasar Mentzer, who +had attacked Pietism, and had pictured the time before the rise of +Pietism as a time of darkness, in which God had 'set up a true light +here and there, until at last the faithful servants of the Lord, the +sainted Spener, Francke, Breithaupt, Anton, and others arose' and 'again +brought forth the Bible.' At that time Muhlenberg advocated private +meetings for souls who had been 'awakened from the sleep of sin,' to +which the Burgomaster of Eimbeck referred when he sent word to +Muhlenberg 'to cease the pietistic conventicles, as they were against +the law of the land.'" (315.) + +48. Converts, Prayer-Meetings, Revivals.--Brunnholtz, whose work was +highly praised by Muhlenberg, says of his parishioners, whom, +nevertheless, he admitted to the Lord's Table, that, for the greater +part, they were "totally blind and dead," people who had not yet +experienced any "true change of heart"; that in present-day +congregations one must "be content with the gleanings while looking and +waiting for traces of divine activity, where, when, in whom, and +whether the Spirit can give a rich harvest." It is only too true, he +continues, "that the great multitude, both old and young, are still +buried in carnal-mindedness and in great ignorance, and stand in need +of a true conversion." "There are indeed a few, some also in my two +congregations, concerning whom I have the well-founded hope that they +have been awakened from the spiritual sleep of sin and are being drawn +to the Son by the Father." "With regard to my congregation here in +Philadelphia, I am not able to boast very much of the majority and of +the outwardly great number, since there is still much corruption among +them. The Lord, however, has granted me a small remnant, who have been +awakened by the Word, and who earnestly seek after the paths of peace, +permitting themselves quietly, but in earnestness, to be prepared for +the rest of God." Muhlenberg says: "True repentance and conversion +according to the Word of God is a difficult matter and a rare +occurrence." "We continued our labors upon the inner and outward +upbuilding of the Church, because a small, divinely sanctified seed was +noticed among them." What Brunnholtz and Muhlenberg looked for in the +communicant members of their congregations whom they regarded as +unconverted were, no doubt, the Halle symptoms. In 1748 submissiveness +to be guided by the pastor was numbered among these marks. When the +elders of the congregation in Lancaster opposed their pastor and +insisted upon their opinion, which was not wrong by any means, they were +admonished "to convert themselves with all their hearts, since otherwise +they could not properly wait on their office, and the pastor's trials in +the congregation would become too great." (319.) The "small remnant of +the converted" were nurtured by the pastors in "special prayer-meetings +in the houses." (320.) This was the practise of Brunnholtz in +Philadelphia. And Muhlenberg wrote from New York in 1751: "I have +learned that among the Reformed here there is a small body of awakened +souls who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is said that this +awakening was brought about by the younger of the two Reformed pastors. +My hostess also belongs to the Reformed congregation. Some years ago she +was so terrified by the opinion of the unconditional decree of God that +a hysterical malady set in with which she is still somewhat afflicted. I +searched for the marks of the state of grace. She answered sensibly, +which gave me hope that she is in a state of grace. My host desired me +to go into a private chamber with him and his weak spouse, and to pray +in secret, which we did." "At the close of the day my dear host again +desired that I pray with him and his wife in private, since she thereby +had experienced strength and relief on the former occasion. On the 30th +of July I was taken to the pious English merchant, who had some awakened +souls with him. They sang a psalm, read a chapter from a devotional +book, and urged me to pray at the close. After a time the dear souls +returned to their homes, and I remained with him till eleven o'clock and +employed the time in pleasant and edifying conversation with him and his +godly wife." "August 1, Saturday evening, I preached penitential sermons +both in the German and Dutch languages. . . . The church was well filled +on this occasion, and the parting seemed to touch and sadden the +awakened and well-meaning souls." Weygand continued the work in the +spirit of Muhlenberg, conducting "private hours" with the "awakened +souls," and finding particular delight in some souls who had been +awakened by Wesley. When Whitefield returned to Pennsylvania in 1702, +Dr. Wrangel entered into relations with him and began to conduct +prayer-meetings in a private house in the city, and when the room in +that house could no longer contain the people, Muhlenberg's congregation +granted him the use of their church. When not prevented by other duties, +Muhlenberg regularly attended these English devotional hours. The +congregational constitution of 1762 especially reserved for the pastor +the right to "conduct hours of edification, exhortation, and prayer in +churches and schools, on week-days or evenings, as necessity might +dictate, and as strength and circumstances might permit." (383. 425. +440. 485.) Dr. J. H. C. Helmuth was the first to report on a +revivalistic awakening in his congregation at Lancaster, in 1773. Later +on, 1811, Helmuth, in the name of the Pennsylvania Synod, wrote a +letter to Paul Henkel, then on his missionary tours in Ohio, warning +him not to participate in camp-meetings, "if he should come into contact +with similar aberrations from our Lutheran ways." But even at this time +Synod did not take a decided stand against revivalistic enthusiasm. +Already in the first decades of the nineteenth century reports, coming +out of the Synod, such as the following were heard: "Here the fire is +also burning." "Here we behold miracles of God's grace; everywhere we +find the wounded, the weeping, the moaning, and those who are praying. +Some cried out, 'My God, what shall I do that I may be saved?' Others +asked with tears, 'Can I still be saved?'" (549.) In 1810 the North +Carolina Synod resolved to have Philip Henkel try out a revival, since +such awakenings were also to be desired among Lutherans. During the +revival agitation from 1830 to 1850, the English Lutheran churches +caught the contagion in great numbers. They introduced emotional +preaching, the mourners' bench, protracted meetings, and, vying with the +fanatical sects, denounced as spiritually dead formalists all who +adhered to the old ways of Lutheranism. In its issue of March 21, 1862, +the _Lutheran Observer_ declared that the "Symbolism" of the Old +Lutherans in St. Louis meant the death of the Lutheran Church, which +nothing but revivals were able to save. (_L. u. W_. 1862, 152; 1917, +374.) Muhlenberg's Pietism had helped to prepare the way for this +Methodistic aberration. + + +MUHLENBERG'S HIERARCHICAL TENDENCIES. + +49. Government of and by the Ministers.--A clear conception of the +doctrines of the Church and of the holy ministry was something +Muhlenberg did not possess. Hence his congregations also were not +educated to true independence and to the proper knowledge and exercise +of their priestly rights and duties. Dr. Mann says of Muhlenberg and his +coworkers: "These fathers were very far from giving the Lutheran Church, +as they organized it on this new field of labor, a form and character in +any essential point different from what the Lutheran Church was in the +Old World, and especially in Germany." (Spaeth, _C. P. Krauth_, 1, 317.) +The pastor ruled the elders; the pastor and the elders ruled the +congregation; the synod ruled the pastor, the elders, and the +congregation; the College of Pastors ruled the synod and the local +pastor together with his elders and his congregation; and all of these +were subject to, and ruled by, the authorities in Europe. The local +congregations were taught to view themselves, not as independent, but as +parts of, and subject to, the body of United Congregations and Pastors. +The constitution for congregations simply presupposed that a +congregation was a member of, and subordinate to, Synod. (499.) This +appears also from a document signed by the elders of Tulpehocken and +Northkill (Nordkiel), August 24, 1748, two days before the organization +of the Pennsylvania Synod. In it the elders, in the name of the +congregations, state and promise: "In this it always remains presupposed +that we with the United Congregations constitute one whole Ev. Lutheran +congregation, which acknowledges and respects as her lawful pastors all +the pastors who constitute the College of Pastors (Collegium Pastorum) +and remains in the closest connection with them, as being our regular +teachers. . . . Accordingly, we have the desire to be embodied and +incorporated in the United Congregations in Pennsylvania, and to be +recognized and received by them as brethren and members of a special +congregation of the Ev. Lutheran Church, and consequently to share in +the pastoral care of the College of all the Rev. Pastors of the United +Congregations. In accordance herewith we most publicly and solemnly +desire, acknowledge and declare all the Rev. Pastors of the United +Church-Congregations to be our pastors and ministers (Seelsorger und +Hirten); we also give them complete authority to provide for the welfare +of our souls, how and through whom, also as long as, they choose. We +furthermore promise to regard the Rev. College of Pastors of the Ev. +Lutheran Congregations in Pennsylvania as a lawful and regular +presbyterium and ministerium and particularly as our pastors- and +ministers-in-chief, also to respect and regard, them as such, without +whose previously known advice and consent we do, order, resolve, or +change nothing; hence to have nothing to do with any [other] pastor, nor +even, without their previously known advice and consent, to undertake +anything in important church-matters with the pastor whom they have sent +to us; on the contrary, to approve of and with all our powers to observe +and execute whatever, in church-matters of our own and the +congregations, the whole Rev. College of Pastors will resolve, and +properly indicate and make known to us. Furthermore we promise to +recognize, receive, respect, honor and hear the teacher [minister] as +our lawful and divinely called teacher as long as the Rev. College of +Pastors will see fit to leave him with us; nor to make any opposition in +case they should be pleased for important reasons to call him away and +to put another in his place; moreover, to receive and regard his +successor with equal love and duty. We furthermore promise, if (which +God forfend) a misunderstanding or separation should arise between the +whole congregation or part of it and the teacher, or between members of +the congregation, to report this immediately to the Rev. College of +Pastors, and to await their decision, and to abide by it." (301 f.) +_Graebner:_ "One's indignation is roused when reading how the elders of +the Lancaster congregation were treated at the first synod. These men +defended the by no means improper demand of their congregation that such +as had fallen away to the sects and again returned should subscribe to +the constitution of the congregation before they once more were +recognized as members. In spite of the opinion of the assembly and the +utterly wrong admonition 'to leave it to their pastor,' the elders +'adhered to their opinion.' Immediately their conversion is questioned, +and 'all the elders who have not yet been thoroughly converted are +admonished to convert themselves with all their heart.' The remark of +the minutes, 'They kept silence,' conveys the impression that the rebuke +had been merited, and that the cut was felt." (320.) According to the +constitution for congregations, subscribed to October 18, 1762, by +Muhlenberg and Handschuh and 270 members of their congregations, the +grades of admonition and church discipline were: 1. admonition by the +preacher alone; 2. admonition by the preacher in the presence of the +elders and wardens; 3. expulsion before or by the whole church council. +(402.) The same constitution contains the provision: If any deacon or +elder who has been elected to perform this arduous duty refuses to +accept the office without sufficient reasons, "he is not to be excused +until he has made a considerable contribution to the church treasury." +(490.) At synod the pastors ruled supreme. The lay delegates, consisting +of the elders of the congregations, merely reported to Synod, when +asked, concerning the work, fidelity, and efficiency of their pastors, +the parochial schools, etc., and presented requests to Synod. But they +had no voice in her decisions. In the common assembly of the pastors and +laymen no vote was taken. The _Lutheran Cyclopedia_ says: "The +deliberations were exclusively those of the pastors, while the lay +delegates were present only to furnish the needed information concerning +local conditions and the fidelity of pastors." (493.) Furthermore, the +ministerium, the college of pastors, conferred the office and made +pastors through ordination, a rite considered essential to the ministry, +and without which no one was regarded a lawful and full-fledged pastor. +Thus, for instance, in the case of J. A. Weygand it was held that he was +given the right to perform all the functions pertaining to his office, +not by the call of the congregation which he had accepted, but by his +subsequent ordination. (432.) + +50. Obedience to Ministerium and Fathers in Halle.--In the ordination +the pastors were pledged to obey the Ministerium. In Weygand's call the +clause was embodied, "that he would submit to the investigation and +judgment of the United Pastors and the Venerable Fathers" in Halle. +(452.) The manner in which Kurtz was bound appears from the following +points of the "Revers" which he had to sign before his ordination in +1748: "2. To consider my congregation nothing but a part of the United +Congregations. ... 4. To introduce no ceremonies into the public worship +or into the administration of the Sacraments other than those which have +been introduced by the College of Pastors of the United Congregations, +also to use no other book of forms than the one which will be assigned +to me by them. 5. To undertake nothing of importance alone nor with the +assistance of the church-council, except it have been previously +communicated to the Reverend College of Pastors, and their opinion have +been obtained, as well as to abide by their good counsel and advice. 6. +To render a verbal or written account of my pastorate at the demand of +the Reverend College of Pastors. 7. To keep a diary and daybook and to +record therein official acts and remarkable occurrences. 8. Should they +call me hence, to accept the call, and not to resist." (305.) Before his +ordination Pastor J. H. Schaum had to sign a "Revers" and, with a +handclasp, seal the promise to the United Pastors that he as their +adjunct "would be faithful and obedient to them." To the congregations +the Ministerium did not only prescribe the liturgy, but appointed and +removed their pastors as they saw fit. Pastor Schaum's call to New York +was signed by the four pastors, Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, Handschuh, and +Kurtz as their own vocation, in their own name, not in the name of the +congregation. (327.) The congregation at Lancaster desired Kurtz as +their pastor instead of Handschuh, whom the Ministerium was planning to +send to them. Muhlenberg, however, reports: "We bade them consider this +and demanded a short answer, giving them to understand that, if a single +one of them would be restive and dissatisfied with our advice and +arrangement, we would consent to give them neither the one nor the +other, but would turn to the other congregations still vacant and leave +the dust to them. They must consider it a special favor that we had come +to them first." Graebner comments on this as follows: "One can safely +say that there could be found to-day in all America not a single +Lutheran pastor or congregation who would consent to concede to a synod +such powers as Pastor Kurtz and the congregation at Tulpehocken yielded +to the 'United Pastors' in 1748." (321.) The superiors of the United +Pastors and their congregations were the "Fathers in Europe." They had +commissioned them, and to them they were responsible. All decisions of +Synod in doctrinal, liturgical, and governmental questions were subject +to the advice and approval of the authorities in Halle. When the church +council of the congregation in Philadelphia sent a humble petition to +the Synod in 1750, requesting permission to retain the services of +Pastor Brunnholtz for themselves, they received the answer: We have no +right to make changes without the previous knowledge and permission of +the "Fathers in Europe." (330.) In order to ordain Weygand, Muhlenberg +had to get permission from the "Fathers in Europe." (432.) Even such +pastors as Stoever and Wagner, who did not unite with the Ministerium, +were by Muhlenberg designated as "such as had run of themselves," as +"so-called pastors," who had "neither an inner nor an outward call," and +"who were concerned about nothing but their daily bread." And why? +Because, according to Muhlenberg, they had not "been sent" (by the +Ministerium or the Fathers); because they were not subject to a +consistory, did not render account of their pastorates, and would not +observe the same order with those who had come from Halle. (311.) +Concerning Weygand, who arrived in 1748, Muhlenberg reports: "I asked +him what he was now going to do in Pennsylvania, whether he intended to +be for us or against us; if he desired to be with us, it would be +necessary for us first to obtain permission from our Venerable Fathers. +If, however, he intended to be against us, he might come on, we +entertained no fear, as we had already encountered such as had run of +themselves. He answered, 'God forfend!' He would not side with the +Ministerium, to which men belonged like Valentine Kraft, Andrew Stoever, +Wagner, and the like, though they had requested him to join them; that, +on the other hand, he would not be in our way either, but rather go +elsewhere and begin a school at some place or another." (431. 322.) + +51. Constitution of 1792.--The new constitution, adopted by the +Pennsylvania Synod in 1792, though granting a modified suffrage to lay +delegates in all important questions, left the synod what it had been, a +body governed by the clergy. Dr. Graebner says: "It has been pointed out +how this [hierarchical] trait plainly appeared already when the +Pennsylvania Synod was founded; later on we meet it everywhere and in +all synods organized prior to the General Synod. According to the +conception generally prevailing a synod had its real foundation, its +essential part, not in the congregations, but in the preachers. This +idea governed their thinking and speaking. The 'preachers of the State +of Ohio united with some of the preachers in Pennsylvania living nearest +to them, and established a conference or synod of their own.' Some +'preachers west of the Susquehanna' were granted their petition of being +permitted to form a synod. In agreement herewith they preferred to speak +of a synod according to its chief and fundamental part, as a +'ministerium.' The constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod began: 'We +Evangelical Lutheran preachers in Pennsylvania and the neighboring +States, by our signatures to this constitution, acknowledging ourselves +as a body, name this union of ours The German Evangelical Lutheran +Ministerium in Pennsylvania and the neighboring States, and our +individual meetings A Ministerial Assembly.' Lay delegates of the +congregations, though admitted to the synodical conventions in +Pennsylvania and at other places, were nowhere recognized as members +having equal rights with the ministers. It was as late as 1792 that the +lay delegates obtained the right to vote in Pennsylvania, and even then +only with restrictions. In the affairs of greatest import (doctrinal +matters, admission of new members, etc.) they were privileged neither to +speak nor to vote. On this point the ministerial order of the +Pennsylvania Synod declared: 'Lay delegates who have a right to vote +shall sit together at one place in the assembly; they are privileged to +offer motions, and to give their opinion and cast their votes in all +questions submitted for decision and determination, except in matters +pertaining to the learning of a candidate or a catechist, to questions +of orthodoxy and heterodoxy, the admission to, and expulsion from, the +ministerium, and other, similar cases, for the ministerial assembly has +cognizance of such as these.' The constitution of the New York +Ministerium contained the same provision, chap. 7, §4: 'Each lay +delegate shall have a right to take part in the debates of the House, to +offer resolutions, and to vote on all questions, except the examining, +licensing, or ordaining of candidates for the ministry, the admission of +ministers into the association or their exclusion from it, and the +discussion of weighty articles of faith or cases of conscience.' The +right of a layman to vote was regarded as grounded in that of the +minister, not the right of both in the congregation. When a minister +lost his vote, the delegate of the congregation lost his too." The +constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod provided: Such lay delegates only +"as have an ordained preacher or licensed candidate, and whose teacher +is himself present," shall have a right to vote. Accordingly, "no more +lay delegates can cast their votes than the number of ordained preachers +and licensed candidates present." Furthermore, the resolutions of Synod +were regarded as binding on the congregations. The constitution of the +Pennsylvania Ministerium provided, chap. 6, §14: "Whereas the United +Congregations are represented in the synodical assembly by their +delegates and have a seat and vote in it, they accordingly are bound +willingly to observe the decisions and resolutions of the synodical +assembly and of the ministerium." Chap. 7, §5 of the constitution of the +New York Ministerium read: "Every congregation which is represented by a +delegate in the synods of this body is bound to receive, and submit to, +the resolutions and recommendations of the ministerium, and to bear its +part of all expenses and services necessary for the welfare of the +associated churches generally and the advancement of the common cause. +And if any congregation perseveres in refusing such submission, it shall +no longer be entitled to a representation in this body." (693 ff.) + + +MUHLENBERG'S UNIONISM. + +52. Attitude toward Non-Lutherans.--In the _Lutheran Encyclopedia_ H. +E. Jacobs says in praise of Muhlenberg: "He knew how to combine width of +view and cordiality of friendship towards those of other communions, +with strict adherence to principle." (331.) Similar views had been +expressed by Dr. W. J. Mann at the First Free Lutheran Diet at +Philadelphia. In his "Theses on the Lutheranism of the Fathers of the +Church in This Country" he said: "Their Lutheranism did not differ from +the Lutheran orthodoxy of the preceding period, in the matter of +doctrine, but to an extent in the manner of applying it. It was +orthodoxy practically vitalized. They were less polemical and +theoretical. Whilst tolerant toward those of other convictions, they +were, however, neither indifferent nor unionistically inclined, and +never conformed Lutheranism to any other form of Christianity, though in +their days the pressure in this direction was heavy." (Spaeth, _C. P. +Krauth_, 1, 318.) However, though Muhlenberg's intentions undoubtedly +were to be and remain a Lutheran, his fraternal intercourse and intimate +fellowship with the Reformed, Episcopalians, Methodists, and other +denominations, was of a nature incompatible with true Lutheranism. He +evidently regarded the various Christian communions as sister churches, +who had practically the same divine right to exist and to propagate +their distinctive views as the Lutheran Church. Such was the principle +of indifferentism on which Muhlenberg based his practise of fraternal +recognition and fellowship. The natural and inevitable result of his +relations with the sects was that the free, open, and necessary +confession of Lutheran truth over against Reformed error was weakened +and muffled, and finally smothered and entirely silenced and omitted. +Nor can it be denied that Muhlenberg, by this unionism and +indifferentism, wasted and corrupted much of the rich blessings which +God bestowed, and purposed to bestow, on the American Lutheran Church +through him. Like Dr. Wrangel and the Swedes in Delaware generally, +Muhlenberg and his associates entertained the opinion that especially +the Lutherans and Episcopalians were not separated by any essential +doctrinal differences. Indeed, the Germans in Pennsylvania, like the +Swedes in Delaware, seem at times to have seriously considered a union +between the Episcopalians and the Lutherans. In brief, Muhlenberg's +attitude toward the Reformed and other sects was of a nature which +cannot be justified as Lutheran nor construed as non-unionistic in +character. + +53. The Facts in the Case.--From the very beginning to the end of his +activity in America the practise of Muhlenberg was not free from +indifferentism and unionism. Already on his voyage across the ocean he +had conducted services according to the Book of Common Prayer. (G., +322.) November 25, 1742, Muhlenberg had arrived in Philadelphia, and on +December 28th of the same year he wrote in his journal: "In the +afternoon I visited the English pastor of the Episcopal Church. He was +very cordial, and informed me that he had always been a good friend of +our Lutheran brethren, the Swedish missionaries, and desired to be on +friendly terms also with me." (267.) In 1743 Muhlenberg signified his +willingness to build a union church with the Reformed in case they were +willing to shoulder their part of the expenses. (272.) In 1751 he +reported from New York: "May 31, I visited Mr. Barclay, the most +prominent pastor of the Anglican Church, whom the Archbishop has +appointed commissioner of the province of New York. . . . The Dutch +Reformed have at present four pastors. I called on the oldest of them, +Mr. Du Bois, who received me cordially. Thereupon I visited the youngest +of the Dutch Reformed Ministerium. I visited also the third member of +this body, who, together with his wife, carried on a beautiful and +edifying conversation, so that I was truly delighted." (421.) "June 28, +I visited Mr. Pemberton, the pastor of the English Presbyterian +congregation, for the first time. He was much pleased with my short +call, and remarked that he had received a letter from Pastor Tennent in +Philadelphia, who had mentioned my name and advised him to cultivate my +company. Almost immediately he began to speak of the sainted Professor +Francke, saying that he had read several of his Latin works. Besides +this we had several other edifying conversations. Upon my departure he +asked me to visit him frequently." (422.) "July 22, my host and I drove +to the oldest Reformed pastor, who gave us a cordial reception. In the +afternoon we visited one of the elders of my congregation. In the +evening the younger Reformed pastor visited me." (425.) "On the 23d I +again preached in Dutch on the opening verses of the fifth chapter of +Matthew. The two Reformed pastors and a large number of people were +present." (425.) "August 17, I preached a penitential sermon and had +confession. The church was filled with Lutherans and Reformed, among +whom was also the younger pastor." (428.) "August 21, the members of +the congregation who live near by, several Reformed neighbors, and a +number of friends of New York assembled to hear my farewell sermon at +that place." (420.) "May 11, our Dutch congregation-members who live +near by, and some Reformed neighbors, were invited to attend an hour of +edification." (434.) "In the afternoon I bade farewell to the younger +Reformed pastor." (439.) "Early on Tuesday morning the Reformed Pastor +Schlatter came to my home and embraced me after the custom of our old +and unfeigned love." (439.) "In the evening I was called to the six +Reformed pastors who had arrived. I went and welcomed them with the +words: 'Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye +therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' July 30, I was taken +to the pious English merchant, as he had some awakened souls with him. +They sang a psalm, read a chapter from a devotional book, and in +conclusion urged me to pray. After the dear souls had returned to their +homes, I remained with him and had a very delightful and edifying +conversation with him and his pious wife." (440.) Muhlenberg praises the +Episcopalian Richard Peters as a "moderate theologian," possessed of a +"catholic spirit," and reports in 1760: "On the ninth and tenth of +August Mr. Richard Peters, secretary of the province and president of +the Academy in Philadelphia, visited me in Providence. In the morning he +attended our German service, with which, he said, he was greatly +delighted. In the afternoon he himself delivered a very solid and +edifying sermon to a large audience." (516.) After his removal to +Philadelphia, in 1761, Muhlenberg wrote: "On Monday, March 16, I +intended quietly to leave the city. However, Provost Wrangel as well as +some of the elders accompanied me, the former as far as the home of +Pastor Schlatter, where we were hospitably received and entertained for +the night." (380.) On the services conducted at Barren Hill on Easter +Monday, 1762, Muhlenberg reports as follows: "After my sermon Pastor +Schlatter added a short admonition, impressing upon them what they had +already heard." (517.) "On Monday, May 25, I went out in the forenoon to +visit some English friends. As I happened to pass by the English High +Church at eleven o'clock, I was called into the manse, where I found a +numerous assembly of the honorable English missionaries, who were +conducting their annual meeting. They took me to church with them, +showed me unmerited honor, and permitted me to attend their session as a +friend and witness." (380.) May 21, 1762, Muhlenberg noted in his diary: +"At noon I was with Mr. R., who related with joy how he, Mr. D., and +Provost Wrangel, together with the new Swedish pastor, Mr. Wicksel, and +the Reformed pastor, Schlatter, had yesterday, on Ascension Day, +attended the new church, where they had heard two splendid and edifying +sermons in German and English delivered to two large audiences." (383.) +October 16, 1763, he wrote: "Pastor Handschuh was called upon to bury a +Reformed woman who died in childbirth; he delivered the sermon in the +old Reformed church." On October 18, 1763, during the sessions of Synod, +and at its request, Whitefield preached in the pulpit of Muhlenberg. In +1767 J. S. Gerock dedicated his new church in New York, "assisted by +different High German and English Protestant pastors and teachers," H. +M. Muhlenberg and Hartwick also preaching. (444.) When Muhlenberg +dedicated his new Zion Church in Philadelphia, on June 25, 1769, the +professors of the Academy as well as the Episcopalian and Presbyterian +pastors were invited. The report says: "The second English pastor, Mr. +Duchee, opened the services by reading the English prayers, the +Prorector of the Academy offered an appropriate prayer, and Commissioner +Peters delivered a splendid sermon on the song of the angels, Luke 2, +whereupon Rector Muhlenberg, in the name of the corporation and +congregation, thanked the honorable assembly, in English, for their +favor and kindness in honoring this newly erected church and conducting +a service there." May 27, 1770, Whitefield, upon invitation, also +preached in the new church. (518.) Without a word of censure on the part +of his father, or of protest on the part of Synod, Peter Muhlenberg, in +1772, at London, subscribed to the Thirty-nine Articles and received +Episcopal ordination, in order to be able to perform legal marriage +ceremonies within his congregations in Virginia. Invited by the +Presbyterian pastor, W. Tennent, Muhlenberg, Sr., preached in his church +on two occasions while at Charleston, in 1774. (578.) At Savannah he +preached in the union church of the Reformed Pastor Zuebli, and in the +Lutheran church at Savannah he enjoyed the sermon of a Methodist pastor. +(518.) At the church dedication in Pikestown, in 1775, he preached in +German, and an Episcopalian, Mr. Currie, in English, etc. + +54. Whitefield in Muhlenberg's Pulpit.--"The pastors of the first +period of the Ministerium," says Dr. Jacobs, "were on friendly +relations with Whitefield. Dr. Wrangel interested himself in securing +for him an invitation to meet with the members of the Ministerium during +the sessions of 1763. In urging this proposition, Wrangel did not forget +the collections which Whitefield had made in Europe for the impoverished +Salzburgers. The presence of a man who had pleaded eloquently in English +pulpits for contributions to build Lutheran churches in Georgia, and +with that eminent success which Benjamin Franklin has noted in a +well-known passage in his autobiography, certainly deserved recognition, +even apart from Whitefield's services in awakening life in the Church of +England and in America. He was present at the examination of the +children of St. Michael's Church before the synod, made a fervent prayer +and an edifying address. On the next day he bade the synod farewell, and +requested the prayers of its members. The next year he was in attendance +at the funeral of Pastor Handschuh. In 1770 (May 27) he preached by +special invitation in Zion Church." (286.) In his report, dated October +15, 1763, on the synod of the same year, Muhlenberg himself says: "It +was also considered, whether we should not invite Mr. Whitefield and the +two well-disposed preachers of the Episcopal Church for Monday and +Tuesday, especially to the examination of the children. Among other +reasons Dr. Wrangel mentioned the fact that Whitefield had assisted our +poor suffering brethren in Georgia [Salzburgers] with collections. In +the evening Dr. Wrangel took me to Mr. Whitefield, and in the name of +the Ministerium we invited him together with the rector of the High +Church, who was present." October 16, Muhlenberg wrote: "After the +services Dr. Wrangel, Pastor Handschuh, and three trustees went to Mr. +Whitefield and asked him if on the morrow he would attend our +examination in the church, and speak a word of admonition to the +children. He answered: Yes, if his weakness permitted, and such were +God's gracious will." October 18, Muhlenberg wrote: "Mr. Whitefield +ascended the pulpit, and said a hearty and powerful prayer. Hereupon he +addressed himself to the children, delivering, with tears and deep +emotion, a condescending sermon about pious children of the Old and New +Testaments, together with some modern examples which he had himself +experienced, and finally enjoined upon parents their duties. After this +the children were examined by Dr. Wrangel, and then, in German, by me. +Whitefield, however, being very weak in body, and the church being very +crowded, we discontinued and closed with a piece of church music. The +pastors and other delegates, the elders and deacons took dinner in the +school, the old Mr. Tennent [Episcopalian], who was given the place of +honor, delighting us with edifying conversation." October 19, Muhlenberg +wrote: "At four o'clock Mr. George Whitefield visited our Ministerium in +the school, bidding us an affectionate farewell, and requesting us to +intercede for him before the throne of grace." Dr. Graebner remarks: "A +misstep as serious as this, admitting an errorist like Whitefield to the +pulpit of the local pastor and synodical president, such as was done at +this synodical meeting, had, at least, not been made before the time of +Wrangel." (383 ff.) Concerning his fellowship with Whitefield in 1770, +Muhlenberg made the following entries in his journal: "Friday, May 25... +Because I could not do otherwise, I wrote a few lines to Rev. Mr. +Whitefield, stating that if he would preach for me on next Sunday night +in Zion Church, it would be acceptable to me." "Sunday, May 27.... Early +in the evening Zion Church was filled with people of all sorts of +religion, both German and English. We two preachers went to Mr. +Whitefield's lodging and took him with us to the church, which was so +crowded that we had to take him in through the steeple-door.... He +complained of a cold contracted at the morning service, and consequent +hoarseness, but preached very acceptably from 2 Chron. 7, 1 on 'The +Outer and the Inner Glory of the House of God.' He introduced some +impressive remarks concerning our fathers--Francke and Ziegenhagen, +etc." (Jacobs, 287.) At the First Lutheran Diet, Dr. C. P. Krauth +explained: "Whitefield was an evangelist of forgotten or ignored +doctrines of the Gospel; a witness excluded from many pulpits of his own +church because of his earnestness in preaching the truth; in some sense +a martyr. This invested him with interest in the eyes of our fathers, +and his love to the Lutheran Church and his services to it made him very +dear." (287.) + +55. Experiencing the Consequences.--From what has been said it is +evident that Muhlenberg's relations with the sects was not without +reprehensible unionism. Even where, in such fellowship, syncretism was +not directly practised, the proper confession of Lutheran truth was +omitted. As with the Swedes in Delaware, fraternal intercourse proceeded +on the silent understanding that the sore spot of doctrinal differences +must be carefully avoided. For Lutherans, however, this was tantamount +to a denial of the truth. Muhlenberg set an example the influence of +which was all the more pernicious by reason of the high esteem in which +he was held by the members of Synod, who revered him as a father. As +late as 1866 the Pennsylvania Synod defended its intercourse with the +Reformed Synod "as a measure introduced by the fathers in the time of +Muhlenberg and Schlatter." And the unionistic practises indulged in by +the General Synod throughout its history cannot but be viewed as the +fruits of the tree first planted by the Halle emissaries. Nor could they +fail to see the abyss into which such unionism must finally lead, as it +was apparent already in the history of the Swedes. That Muhlenberg had a +presentiment whither things were drifting appears from his warning in +1783 to J. L. Voigt not to open his pulpit to Methodist preachers. +(516.) Indeed, Muhlenberg himself lived to see the first bitter fruits +of his dalliance with the sects. Four months before his end, June 6, +1787, Franklin College, at Lancaster, was solemnly opened as a German +High School and a union theological seminary for Lutherans, Reformed, +and a number of other sects. H. E. Muhlenberg delivered the sermon at +the opening exercises, which were attended by the entire synod. The name +of the institution was chosen in view of the virtues and merits of +Benjamin Franklin, who had contributed 200 Pounds. The College had +forty-five trustees, consisting of 15 Lutherans, 15 Reformed, and 15 +chosen from other communions. A director was to be chosen alternately +from the Lutheran and from the Reformed Church. Among the first trustees +were J. H. C. Helmuth and other Lutheran pastors. Two of the first four +teachers were Lutherans: Pastor H. E. Muhlenberg, the first director, +and Pastor F. W. Melsheimer. (515.) Dr. A. Spaeth, agreeing with W. J. +Mann, says: "Sooner or later the whole Lutheran Church of America should +and could unite on the position of Muhlenberg." (252.) We would not +detract from the merit of Muhlenberg. The slogan of the American +Lutheran Church, however, dare never be: "Back to Muhlenberg!" "Back to +Halle!" but "Back to Wittenberg!" "Back to Luther! Back to Lutheran +sincerity, determination, and consistency both in doctrine and +practise!" + + +TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND TEACHERS NEGLECTED. + +56. Parish Schools Cultivated.--One cannot possibly say too much in +praise of the missionary zeal on the part of Muhlenberg and his +associates and of their unceasing efforts to establish new mission-posts +and organize new congregations, and to obtain additional laborers from +Europe, notably from Halle. In a large measure this applies also to +their labors in the interest of establishing parochial schools. In fact, +wherever we read of early Lutherans in America, especially German +Lutherans, there we also hear the cry for schools and schoolteachers to +instruct the children. Comparatively weak efforts to establish schools +for their children were made by the Swedes in Delaware. At Christina a +teacher was employed in 1699; in Wicaco Teacher Hernboom began a school +in 1713. The minutes of the Pennsylvania Synod of 1762 record: "In the +Swedish congregations the Swedish schools have for several generations +been regrettably neglected; Dr. Wrangel, however, has started an English +school in one of his congregations in which the Lutheran Catechism is +read in an English translation." Acrelius, who had been provost of the +Swedes in Delaware, wrote in 1759: "Forty years back our people scarcely +knew what a school was. The first Swedish and Holland settlers were a +poor, weak, and ignorant people, who brought up their children in the +same ignorance." The result was great ignorance among the Swedes. +_Jacobs:_ "There seems to have been an entire dearth of laymen capable +of intelligently participating in the administration of the affairs of +the congregation until we come to Peter Kock. Eneberg found at Christina +that 'of the vestrymen and elders of the parish there was scarcely any +one who could write his own name.'" (104.) The Salzburgers had a school +in Ebenezer, and later a second school in the country. At the beginning +Bolzius and Gronau gave daily instruction in religion, the one four, the +other three hours daily. In 1741 Ortmann and an English teacher +instructed the youth at Ebenezer. The Palatinates in New York began +with the building, not only of a church, but also of a school in 1710, +the very year in which they had settled at West Camp. In New York there +was a schoolhouse as well as a church, and a "schoolkeeper" +(_Schulhalter_) was employed. When the teacher disappeared, the +schoolhouse was rented out, but Berkenmeyer taught the children in his +home for five months in a year, three times a week. Also in North +Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, etc., parish schools were established, +and the great need of them explained to and urged upon the people by the +conferences and ministers. In Pennsylvania there were several German +schools even before the arrival of Muhlenberg; as a rule, however, the +teachers were incompetent or immoral, or both. (247.) When, in 1734, +Daniel Weisiger, one of the representatives of the congregations at +Philadelphia, New Hanover, and Providence, made his appearance in Halle, +he asked for both an able and pious preacher and a schoolteacher. In the +beginning Muhlenberg himself took charge of the school. In January, +1743, he wrote: "Because there is a great ignorance among the youth of +this land and good schoolteachers are so very rare, I shall be compelled +to take hold of the work myself. Those who possibly could teach the +youth to read are lazy and drunken, compile a sermon from all manner of +books, run about, preach, and administer the Lord's Supper for hard +cash. Miserable and disgusting, indeed! I announced to the people [at +Providence] to send first their oldest children for instruction, as I +intended to remain with the congregation eight days at a time. On Monday +some of the parents brought their children. It certainly looks +depressing when children of seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty years +come with the Abc-Book. Yet I am delighted that they are possessed of so +great a desire to learn something," etc. "In Providence," Muhlenberg +wrote later on, "I have a splendid young man, who keeps school in +winter, and in summer earns his living by doing manual labor." In 1745 +J. N. Kurtz and J. H. Schaum were sent from Halle to take charge of the +youth. One of the chief questions to engage the attention of the first +convention of the Pennsylvania Synod, in 1748, was: "What is the +condition of the parish schools?" Brunnholtz reported: In his home at +Philadelphia, Schaum, whom he supported, had been keeping school for +three and a half years; since Easter there had been no school, as Schaum +was needed at another place; however, before winter would set in, he and +his elders would do their best in this matter. Germantown, continued +Brunnholtz, had two teachers, Doeling, a former Moravian, being one of +them, whose schools were attended by many children, some of them +non-Lutherans. Another school near Germantown with twenty children had +been closed for lack of a teacher. Muhlenberg stated: In Providence +there had been a small school in the past year. New Hanover had a fair +school, Jacob Loeser being teacher. Though a teacher could be had for +the filials Saccum and Upper Milford, there were no schools there. When +the elders hereupon explained that the distances were too great, Synod +advised to change off monthly with the teacher, and demanded an answer +in this matter in the near future. Kurtz promised to begin a school at +Tulpehocken in winter. Handschuh reported: In Lancaster the school was +flourishing; Teacher Schmidt and his assistant Vigera had instructed 70 +children. At the meeting of Synod in 1753 the pastors complained: "The +schools within our congregations are in a very poor state, since able +and faithful teachers are rare, salaries utterly insufficient, the +members too widely scattered and in most cases poor, roads too bad in +winter, and the children too urgently needed on the farms in summer." +(G., 496.) According to the report of the Synod held in 1762 there were +parochial schools in New Providence, one main school and several smaller +ones; in New Hanover; in Philadelphia, where a public examination during +the sessions of Synod exhibited the efficiency of the school; in Vincent +Township, a school with a good teacher and 60 children; in Reading, a +school with more than 80 children; in Tulpehocken, a school of 40 +children; in Heidelberg, a school of 30 children; in Northkeel, 30 +children, taught by Pastor Kurtz; in Lancaster, a school of 60 children +in summer and 90 in winter, etc. (495.) + +57. Dearth of Pastors and Schoolteachers.--From the very beginning one +of the greatest obstacles to the spread and healthy growth of the +Lutheran Church in America was the dearth of well-trained, able, and +truly Lutheran pastors and schoolteachers. And the greatest of all +mistakes of the early builders of the American Zion was the failure to +provide for the crying need of laborers by the only proper and effectual +means--the establishment of American seminaries for the training of +truly Lutheran pastors and teachers qualified to serve in American +surroundings. The growing indifferentism and deterioration of the +Lutheran ministry as well as of the Lutheran congregations was a +necessary consequence of this neglect, which resulted in an inadequate +service, rendered, to a large extent, by incompetent or heterodox +ministers. Dr. Mann was right when he maintained in his _Plea for the +Augsburg Confession_ of 1856, that the doctrinal aberrations of the +Definite Platform theologians were due, in part, to the fact that S. S. +Schmucker and other ministers had received their theological education +at Princeton and other non-Lutheran schools. The constantly increasing +need, coupled with the insufficient preparation of the men willing to +serve, led to the pernicious system of licensing, which for many decades +became a permanent institution in Pennsylvania and other States. In 1857 +the General Synod adopted the following report: "The committee on the +Licensure System respectfully report that the action of this body +requesting the several District Synods to take into consideration and +report their judgment on the proposed alteration or abolition of our +Licensure System has been responded to by fifteen synods. Out of this +number all the synods, excepting three, have decided against a change. +Your committee have to report the judgment of the Church to be decidedly +against any change of our long-established regulations on this subject, +and therefore deem it unnecessary to enter on the discussion of the +merits of the subject, in this report, and propose the adoption of the +following resolution: Resolved, That the great majority of our Synods +having expressed their judgment against any change in our Licensure +System, your committee be released from the further consideration of the +subject." (20.) The great dearth of ministers accounted for this action. +Even before 1727 there were in Pennsylvania more than 50,000 Germans. In +1751 Benjamin Franklin expressed his apprehension that "the Palatine +boors" would Germanize Pennsylvania. In 1749 more than 12,000 German +emigrants arrived. In 1750 the Germans in Pennsylvania numbered about +80,000, almost one-half of the inhabitants of the State. And more than +one-half of these were considered Lutherans. In 1811, however, when this +number had greatly increased, the Pennsylvania Synod reported only 64 +ministers, of whom 34 were ordained, 26 were licensed to preach, and 4 +were catechists. The number of ministers sent from Germany had been +augmented by such as had been tutored by pastors in America. Chr. Streit +and Peter Muhlenberg, for example, were instructed by Provost Wrangel +and Muhlenberg, Sr. Another pupil of Muhlenberg was Jacob van Buskirk. +H. Moeller, D. Lehman, and others had studied under J. C. Kunze. Jacob +Goering, J. Bachman, C. F. L. Endress, J. G. Schmucker, Miller, and +Baetis were pupils of J. H. Ch. Helmuth. H. A. Muhlenberg, who +subsequently became prominent in politics, and B. Keller were educated +in Franklin College. Later on some attended Princeton and other Reformed +schools to prepare themselves for the Lutheran ministry! To make matters +worse, the ministers who, toward the close of the eighteenth century, +came from Germany were no longer adapted for their surroundings, which +were rapidly becoming English. Besides, Halle and the other German +universities had grown rationalistic. According to the Report of the +General Synod in 1823 the Lutheran Church in America numbered 900 +churches with only 175 ministers. (9.) The same report states: "The +ancient and venerable Synod of Pennsylvania is rapidly increasing both +in members and in ministers, and we trust that much good is doing in the +name of our blessed Savior Jesus. From the minutes of the session of the +present year, which was held at Lebanon, it appears that the body +consists of 74 ministers, who have the pastoral charge of upwards of 278 +churches; that between the session of 1822 and 1823 they admitted to +membership by baptism 6,445, admitted to sacramental communion by +confirmation 2,750, that the whole number of communicants is 24,794, and +that there are under the superintendence of the different churches 208 +congregational schools." (11.) In 1843, according to the _Lutheran +Almanac_ for that year, the General Synod numbered 424 ordained and +licensed pastors and 1,374 congregations with 146,303 communicants. This +averaged three congregations for every pastor, some serving as many as +six, eight, or even twelve, giving the majority of the congregations one +service every four weeks, and to many only one service every eight +weeks. (_Kirchl. Mitt. 1843, No. 11.) In 1853 about 9,000 Lutheran +congregations in the United States were served by only 900 pastors. +(_Lutheraner,_ 10, 31.) Thus, as the years rolled on, the question +became increasingly pressing: "Where shall we find pastors for our +children?" Yet, while the Lutheran ministers, as a rule, were most +zealous and self-sacrificing in their labors to serve and gather the +scattered Lutherans, organize congregations, and establish parochial +schools, the early history of American Lutheranism does not record a +single determined effort anywhere to provide in a systematic way for the +training of preachers and teachers, such as were required by American +conditions and surroundings. We hear of an orphan home founded by the +Salzburgers in 1737 with three boys and eight girls, but nowhere of a +seminary turning out preachers and teachers for the maintenance and +upbuilding of the Church. It was in 1864, more than 120 years after the +first appearance of Muhlenberg in Pennsylvania, that the "Mother Synod" +of the Lutheran Church in America founded a seminary in Philadelphia. + +58. Hopeless Situation.--Several years after his arrival in America, +Muhlenberg realized the need and conceived the thought of founding an +orphan asylum with a preachers' seminary in connection; and in 1748 he +had acquired the ground for this purpose. In his letters to Halle he +repeatedly declared that it would be impossible to supply "the almost +innumerable multitude of German Lutherans" with pastors for any length +of time without a seminary in America. In one of these letters he says: +"An institution of this kind does not appear to be impossible. And it +seems to be necessary, because, as the past experience has taught us, +the calling of well-tried and able preachers from Germany, though +indeed of especial advantage, and needed also in the future, at least +for a considerable time, is connected with so many difficulties and +such great expense that it will be impossible to send over as many +from Germany as will be required in order to provide sufficiently for +all congregations." (504.) In 1769 Muhlenberg broached the matter to +the convention of the Ministerium, and Synod repeatedly considered the +question. But nothing materialized. Indeed, J. C. Kunze, who later +became Muhlenberg's son-in-law, finally did succeed in opening a +preparatory school; lack of funds, however, compelled him to close it +during the Revolutionary War. Kunze, Helmuth, and J. F. Schmidt now +pinned their hopes to the "German Institute" of the Pennsylvania +University, whose professors were Lutherans from 1779 to 1822. Helmuth +instructed every day from eight to twelve and from two to five o'clock. +But the "German Institute" did not turn out any Lutheran pastors, as +the curriculum contained no course in theology. Kunze writes: "It is +true, I was professor of Oriental languages in Philadelphia. However, I +had but six scholars, and I doubt if one of them will study theology. +And who would instruct them, in case they should desire to study +theology? We did not have time to devote a single hour to this subject +in Philadelphia." In 1785 Helmuth and Schmidt wrote: "There is nothing +we pastors desire more than a German educational institution, where +young men could be prepared directly for the service of the Church. To +be sure, we have part in the university located here, and also make use +of it. But languages and philosophy only are taught here, from which our +churches and schools derive no benefit." The hopelessness of the +situation is further revealed by the following letter which Helmuth +addressed to the synod assembled in Lancaster, Pa., 1784: "Brethren, we +are living in a sad time. My heart weeps over the awful decay of +Christendom. I readily acknowledge my share of the guilt that God seems +to hide His countenance from us, permitting the doors to stand wide +open, for the spirit of lies [rationalism] to enter and destroy the +vineyard of the Lord. You will learn from the report from Halle how the +swine are uprooting the garden of Christ in Germany. . . . Another +thing, dearest brethren, how shall we in the future supply our +congregations with pastors? Where shall we find ministers to meet our +need, which will increase from time to time! From Germany? Possibly a +secret Arian, Socinian, or Deist? For over there everything is full of +this vermin. God forbid! Under present circumstances, no one from +Germany! We ourselves must put our hands to the plow. God will call us +to account for it, and will let our children suffer for it, if we do not +wake up, and hazard something for the weal of immortal souls."--And +how did they now seek to provide help? Franklin College was founded in +conjunction with the German Reformed and other sects! Helmuth and other +Lutheran pastors were among the trustees of the institution. In an +appeal to the Lutheran congregations they say: "Where will you at last +find pastors and teachers if you do not send your children to college? +. . . Think you that your churches and schools can exist without them? +Either your children will have to content themselves with the poorest +kind of men, or else surrender language and religion, for which you have +laid the foundation, thus loading a great guilt upon yourselves. Dear +friends, German church-life can impossibly continue to exist as it has +hitherto existed in many places. In a few years the churches you already +have will be deserted. And what will then become of the increased number +of Germans dwelling in your midst? Are there not already a great number +of localities where the inhabitants hear no sermon for six to eight +weeks, and where the young grow up like the savages?" (515. 530.) The +Synod of 1818 also staked its hopes on Franklin College, which, however, +was eking out a pitiable existence, and finally became the exclusive +property of the Reformed. The dire need was apparent to all; the true +way out of the difficulty, however, no one saw nor wanted to see. And +the reason? Avarice on the part of the congregations, and a lack of +initiative and Lutheran earnestness and determination on the part of the +pastors. Nor did the seminaries founded in the first part of the +nineteenth century (Hartwick Seminary, established in 1815; Gettysburg +Seminary, in 1825; and the seminary of the South Carolina Synod, in +1829, at Lexington) meet the needs of the Church, either as to the +quantity or the quality of the candidates required for the Lutheran +ministry. In a letter addressed to the General Synod, assembled 1827 at +Gettysburg, Dr. Hazelius wrote: "Our [Hartwick] Seminary has been +established since the year 1815; during which time 11 young men have +received their theological education here, 10 of whom are now actively +engaged as laborers in the vineyard of our Lord; but one is prevented by +disease from participating in the labors of his brethren." (20.) All +told, 10 preachers produced by Lutheran seminaries in the United States +till 1827! Besides, in reality these seminaries were not Lutheran, but +unionistic and, in a degree, Reformed schools. + + +DETERIORATION OF MOTHER SYNOD. + +59. Descent Increasingly Swift.--The Lutheran Church has always held +that, as faith cannot and must not be coerced, the broadest tolerance as +to matters of conscience and religion should govern the policy of the +State everywhere. On the other hand, the Lutheran Church maintains that, +as truth is absolutely intolerant of error, and error is the direct +denial of truth, the Christian Church dare not in any shape or manner +give recognition to false teaching, but, on the contrary, is bound +always to reject it and to confess God's truth alone. Indifferentism as +to false doctrine and practise has ever proved to be the most deadly +foe of true Lutheranism, which, essentially, is but another name for +consistent Christianity. Lutheranism and doctrinal indifferentism are +just as destructive mutually as are truth and falsehood. Also the +history of the Pennsylvania Synod offers ample proof of this law. In the +days of Muhlenberg, Lutherans began to doubt that their doctrinal +position, as presented in the Lutheran Symbols, alone is of divine right +in the Christian Church, and alone in complete keeping with the +Scriptures. Then they began to defend themselves as also being in the +right and standing for truth; then, to apologize for their presence in +America; then, to be ashamed of themselves and publicly to deny the +distinctive tenets of Lutheranism; and, finally, to oppose its +doctrines, champion their counterpart, and practically embrace +sectarianism. Muhlenberg had lived to see the beginning of the end of +true Lutheranism when Franklin College was opened. The descent was +increasingly swift. In 1792 the confession of the Lutheran Symbols was +omitted in the new constitution of the Ministerium. And when, under the +influence of Quitman, the New York Ministerium became rationalistic, the +Pennsylvania Synod made no protest, administered no rebuke, and did not +sever its fraternal relations with it. Moreover, in a measure, they +opened their own doors to Rationalism; the German language was regarded +as being of greater import than faithful adherence to the Lutheran +Confessions; and refuge against the inroads of Rationalism and the +English language was sought in a union with the German Reformed and the +German Moravians. The utter degeneration of the Pennsylvania Synod +appears from the new Agenda, concerning which Synod resolved in 1818 +that it be introduced in all German congregations of the Ministerium. +In this Book there were embodied also forms designed to satisfy the +Rationalists. Two of the forms for administering the Sacrament of +Baptism contained no confession of faith. The confession to the +Lutheran Church was stricken from the form for Confirmation. In two of +the forms for the administration of the Lord's Supper the Union formula +of distribution was employed, _viz_., "Jesus says: Take and eat--Jesus +says: Take and drink ye all of it," etc. The second form contained the +following general invitation: "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and +Master, I say to all who acknowledge Him as their Savior, and are +determined to be His faithful followers: You are welcome at this Feast +of Love." (669.) The second formula for burials had a rationalistic +tang. And the formulas of ordination and licensure no longer demanded +adherence to the Lutheran Confessions. (669.) + +60. Intrenching behind the German Language.--The Christian Church, +hence also the Lutheran Church, views every language, Hebrew, Greek, and +Latin, as well as German and English, not as an end, but always as a +means only toward furthering her real end, the regeneration and +salvation of souls. According to Loehe's _Kirchliche Mitteilungen_ of +1845, No. 5, a German emigrant wrote shortly after his arrival in +America: "I cannot sufficiently thank God for the grace bestowed upon +me; for when I for the first time heard the language of Canaan +[English], the language of the New Jerusalem, I was immediately and +deeply moved by the Spirit of God and was caught like tinder." This was +certainly not the attitude of the German Lutheran ministers of the +Pennsylvania Synod, some of whom, going to the other extreme, were in +danger of viewing the English, as compared with the German, as +impregnated with the spirit of rationalism and infidelity. Riding, as it +were, on the language, rationalism had made its public entry into the +New York Ministerium. The real cause, however, was not the language, but +the indifferentism and unionism prevailing within this body, which long +ago had paved the way for, indeed, had itself bred, religious unbelief. +However, mistaking what was merely accidental and a concomitant for the +chief and real cause of the calamity in the New York Ministerium, +prominent German ministers of the Pennsylvania Synod, in order to guard +against a similar turn of events in their own midst, frantically opposed +the use of the English language in the Synod and her congregations, and +placed such emphasis on the German as made it an end _per se_ peculiar +to the Lutheran Church rather than a means employed wherever and +whenever the conditions call for it in order to attain her real and +supreme object--the saving of souls. Men like J. H. C. Helmuth and J. +F. Schmidt, in a way, identified English and Rationalism, German and +Lutheranism (that is to say, unionistic Evangelicalism). Lamenting the +inroads that Rationalism was making also in Lutheran congregations, they +wrote: "But now the Protestant churches are threatened by a terrible +storm, which is not the mere consequence of the natural course of +things, but a _sign of this time_, and it will soon despoil them of the +treasures of their Church together with all their happiness, unless +teachers and parents will counteract it with united strength. Almost +universally, especially in the cities and at the boundaries, they are +beginning to educate the children exclusively in the English language, +and, in a manner for which they will not be able to answer, to neglect +them as regards the German services. This is the consequence of the +indifference and the disregard of sound doctrine which, in the present +hour of great temptation, is spreading over the face of the earth." But +instead of stemming the tide of Rationalism by returning to Lutheran +faithfulness, they ignored the Lutheran Confessions and intrenched +themselves behind the German language and the "brethren" in the German +Reformed and German Moravian churches. The general church-prayer of the +Agenda of 1786, universally introduced in the congregations of the +Pennsylvania Synod, contained the passage: "And since it has pleased +Thee [God] to transform this State [Pennsylvania] into a blooming +garden, the deserts into delightful meadows, grant that we may not +forget our nation, but strive to have our dear youth educated in such a +manner that German churches and schools may not only be maintained, but +brought to a flourishing condition, ever increasing." (404.) In 1812 the +_Evangelisches Magazin_ appeared "under the auspices of the German +Evangelical Lutheran Synod," Pastors Helmuth and Schmidt being the +editors. Its avowed purpose, however, was not to represent Lutheranism, +but specifically to bolster up the cause of the German and to oppose the +introduction of the English language. The "Proposal to Synod" concerning +the new German paper states: "1. We want to aid the German language as +much as we can, because we are convinced that, with her language, our +Church will lose unspeakably much, and, finally, for the most part, even +her very existence under her [Lutheran] name. 2. We know the days of the +great apostasy in Europe. . . . Also this devouring monster could be +counteracted by a well-arranged _Evangelisches Magazin_." (544.) In 1813 +the _Magazin_ contained a series of articles urging the Reformed and +Lutherans to stand together against all attempts at introducing English. +The English language, it is said, is too poor to furnish an adequate +translation of the German prayers and hymns and books of devotion. +English congregations could not remain either Lutheran or Reformed, +because "our religious writings are all German." Revealing his Utopian +dreams, the writer continues: "What would Philadelphia be in forty years +if the Germans there were to remain German, and retain their language +and customs? It would not be forty years until Philadelphia would be a +German city, just as York and Lancaster are German counties. . . . What +would be the result throughout Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland in +forty or fifty years? An entirely German State, where, as formerly in +Germantown, the beautiful German language would be used in the +legislative halls and the courts of justice." (Jacobs, 330.) In 1805 the +Pennsylvania Synod resolved that "this Ministerium must remain a +German-speaking body"--a resolution which, especially in Philadelphia, +merely served to increase the humiliating and damaging language-strife +which had begun several decades before. + + +UNIONISM IN THE ASCENDENCY. + +61. Seeking Refuge with the Reformed.--In their struggle against +Rationalism and the English language the German Lutherans of +Pennsylvania sought help in an alliance with the German Reformed and the +Moravians. Fellowship between them became increasingly intimate. "Luther +and Zwingli," they boasted harmoniously, "opened the eyes of the world!" +"After all," they kept on saying, "there is but one faith, one Baptism, +one Supper, no matter how much the Lutheran and Reformed views on it may +be at variance." (539.) One of the objects of the German _Evangelical +Magazine_ evidently was to bring about a more intimate union between all +German Evangelical bodies. For this reason it was not called "Lutheran," +but "Evangelical." The preface to the first volume declared: "Our +undertaking would be greatly furthered if the brethren of other +communions would beautify it with their pious contributions, and also +solicit subscriptions. The brethren of the Moravian Unity have expressed +their satisfaction with this imperfect work, and assured us of their +abiding love in this point." (544.) In view of the celebration of the +Reformation Jubilee, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, at York, June 2, +1817, resolved that the German Reformed, Moravian, Episcopal, and +Presbyterian churches be invited by our President to take part with us +in the festival of the Reformation. In the following year the unionistic +and rationalistic Agenda characterized above was adopted by the +Ministerium. A committee was also appointed to confer with the German +Reformed, and to devise plans for utilizing Franklin College as a +theological seminary, in order to prepare ministers for both +denominations. In 1819, at Lancaster, Pa., Synod again considered the +proposition of founding a joint seminary at Lancaster, and appropriated +the sum of $100 for this purpose on condition that the Reformed Synod +set aside an equal amount. A committee was also appointed to confer with +a similar committee of the Reformed, and to draw up the necessary plans +for the seminary. During this time, especially in the period of 1817 to +1825, prominent men of the Pennsylvania Synod considered and advocated +plans for an organic "general union of our Church in this country with +the Evangelical Reformed Church." (685.) The Pennsylvania minutes of +1822 contain a notice according to which Endress and W. A. Muhlenberg +were among the chief advocates of this movement. Many, especially in the +Pennsylvania and North Carolina synods, regarded and zealously urged the +union of all Lutheran synods in a General Synod as a step in this +direction, _viz_., union with the Reformed. Graebner says: "When all +the Lutherans had been organized into one general body, and had grown +accustomed to marching together, one might also hope to experience that +when the command for the greater union would be given, the entire +Lutheran people, now freed from Lutheranism, would march in stately +procession to the goal of Schober's Morning Star [union of all +Evangelical churches]. This was evidently the policy and ulterior object +when, at Harrisburg, 1818, the Pennsylvania Synod resolved that 'the +officers of Synod be a standing correspondence committee to bring about, +if possible, a union with the other Lutheran synods.'" (685.) Viewed in +its historical context (the favorable deliberations and resolutions on +the union seminary, the union hymn-book, etc.), this resolution admits +of no other interpretation. When, therefore, the organization of the +General Synod seemed, in the opinion of many, to interfere with and +threaten the projected union with the Reformed, the Pennsylvania Synod +promptly withdrew from this body, in 1823. Says Jacobs: "The form of the +opposition [to the General Synod] was that the General Synod interfered +with the plans that had been projected for a closer union with the +Reformed, and the establishment of a Lutheran-Reformed theological +seminary. Congregations in Lehigh County petitioned the synod, for this +reason, to 'return to the old order of things'; and the synod, in the +spirit of charity [?] toward its congregations, in order that nothing +might interrupt the mutual fraternal love that subsisted between the +brethren, consented, by a vote of seventy-two to nine, to desert the +child which it had brought into being." (361.) + +62. Union Reformation Jubilee of 1817.--At York, June 2, 1817, the +Pennsylvania Synod resolved to celebrate the tercentenary of the +Reformation together with the Reformed, the Episcopalians, etc. +Invitations were extended accordingly. In his answer of October 14, +1817, Bishop William White of the Episcopal Church wrote to Pastor +Lochman, expressing his delight at the prospect of taking part in the +prospective celebration. He said: "I received the letter with which you +honored me, dated July 23, 1817. In answer I take occasion to inform you +that it will give me great satisfaction to join with the reverend +ministers and with the whole body of the Lutheran Church, in this city, +on the day appointed, in returning thanks to Almighty God for the +beginning of the blessed Reformation in the three-hundredth year +preceding, and in raising up for that purpose the great and good man who +has transmitted to your Church his name, and whose praise is in all the +churches of the Reformation. This occasion must, of course, be the more +welcome to me on account of the agreement in doctrine which has always +been considered as subsisting between the Lutheran churches and the +Church of England, the mother of that of which I am a minister." +(Jacobs, 356.) In his sermon at Frederick, Md., D. F. Schaeffer declared +that it is noteworthy that both Luther and Calvin "were agreed on all +points, with the exception of one which was of minor importance." The +congregation sang according to the tune of "Wie schoen leuchtet der +Morgenstern": "One hundred years, thrice told this day, By heavenly +grace truth's radiant ray Beamed through the Reformation; Yea, glorious +as Aurora's light Dispels the gloomy mists of night, Dawn'd on the world +salvation. Luther! Zwingli! Joined with Calvin! From error's sin The +church to free Restored religious liberty." In Yorktown a German cantata +was sung from which we quote, according to the original, as follows: +"Chor: Heute vor dreihundert Jahr, Strahlte Licht aus Gottesthron, Durch +die Reformation. Luther, Deutschlands hoechste Zier, Stund der Kirche +Jesu fuer. Solo: Aber welch ein Widerstand! Solo: Luther war mit Gott +verwandt. Duetto: Seiner Lehre heller Schein, Drang in tausend Herzen +ein, Drang in tausend Herzen ein. Pause: Zwingel kam Und Calvin, Traten +auf in Christi Sinn; Duetto: Und verbreiten Licht und Heil Segensvoll in +ihrem Teil. Ganzer Chor: Millionen feiern heut', Dankbar froh' im +hoeh'ren Ton, Dieses Fest dem Menschensohn." (G., 665.) + +63. Reformed and Lutheran Minutes on Lancaster Seminary.--From 1817 to +1825 the Synod of Pennsylvania and the German Reformed Church were +engaged in devising plans and adopting measures looking to the +establishment of a united theological seminary for the education of the +ministers of both the Reformed and Lutheran Churches. According to the +minutes of the two bodies the respective actions taken were as follows: +Minutes of the German Reformed Synod, 1817: "The committee on the +founding of a literary institution reported further, recommending that +two committees be appointed, consisting of three persons each, the one +to confer with a committee of the New York Synod [Dutch Reformed] and +the other with the Lutheran Synod. Resolved, That the Rev. Messrs. Pomp +and Saml. Helffenstein be the committee to the New York Synod, and the +Rev. Messrs. Hendel, Hoffmeier, and Wack, Sr., the committee to the +Lutheran Synod." (11.) Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, 1818: "At this +point, Revs. H. Hoffmeier, E. Wack, and W. Hendel appeared before the +synod as a committee from the Reformed Synod of this State, and +presented the following communication in writing, namely: An extract +from the minutes of the Reformed Synod held at York, September 9, 1817. +Mr. Hoffmeier having explained this whole subject more particularly to +Synod, it was thereupon resolved, That a committee be appointed to +confer with our esteemed brethren of the Reformed Synod in respect to +the subject under consideration. The Messrs. J. George Schmucker, +Conrad Jaeger, and H. A. Muhlenberg were named as this committee." "The +committee appointed yesterday to confer with the committee of the +Reformed Synod, and to make inquiry as to the way in which a union +seminary for the education of young men for the ministerial office in +both churches could be best established, presented the following report: +'1. That they have attended to the duty assigned them, and have had +under consideration the fact that in the city of Lancaster there is an +institution already in existence, known by the name of Franklin College. +... 2. That the committee greatly regret that this institution has +hitherto been neglected, and consequently the object to which it was +originally devoted by the State has altogether failed of attainment. 3. +That the committee has examined the charter of said institution with +care, and finds it necessary to recommend that the president thereof be +instructed to make arrangements for holding a meeting of all its +trustees. 4. That Messrs. Hoffmeier and Endress see to it that such a +meeting be held. 5. That a committee be appointed by both synods, who +shall conjointly prepare a plan setting forth how this institution can +be best adapted to the accomplishment of the purpose aforementioned.' +The above report was received with general favor, and Messrs. Schmucker, +Lochman, Geissenhainer, Sr., Endress, and Muhlenberg were appointed the +committee provided for in section five of the report." (7. 8.) Minutes +of German Reformed Synod, 1818: "The committee which was appointed to +confer with a committee of the Lutheran Synod in reference to the +founding of a theological school reported that they attended the +Lutheran Synod of last year, and were received in a very fraternal +manner; and that that Synod has appointed a committee to confer after +the present meeting with a committee of the Reformed Synod on any +subjects relating to the school, and to submit something definite; and +they proposed that a similar committee be appointed. The proposition of +the committee was accepted, and Revs. J. W. Hoffmeier, F. Herman, Sr., +Wm. Hendel, Thos. Pomp, and S. Helffenstein were appointed such +committee." At the same meeting a committee which had been appointed to +confer with a similar committee from the Reformed Dutch Church, in +reference to uniting with it in establishing a theological seminary, +reported, stating that, inasmuch as negotiations were in progress with +reference to uniting with other Germans in Pennsylvania, who have a +common interest in property voted to them by the State Legislature for +the support of a German institution [at Lancaster], nothing definite +could at present be done in the matter. (6.) Minutes of Pennsylvania +Synod, 1819: "Pastor Endress made a verbal report in behalf of the +committee appointed the previous year to confer with a committee of the +Reformed Synod in regard to the matter of Franklin College in Lancaster. +Resolved, That the sum of $100 be appropriated out of our synodical +treasury toward the support of the college in Lancaster, provided the +same be done by the Reformed Synod. Resolved, That a committee be +appointed on our part who shall, at the next meeting of the Reformed +Synod in Lancaster, in conjunction with a committee from this latter +body, draw up a plan for a theological seminary. Resolved, That the +Pastors Schmucker, Endress, Lochman, Muhlenberg, and Ernst constitute +said committee. Resolved, That, through Mr. Endress, fifty copies of the +minutes of synod of this year be forwarded to the Reformed Synod, +shortly to convene at Lancaster." (15.) Minutes of Reformed Synod, 1819: +"Proposed and resolved that a committee of five be appointed to confer +with a committee of the Lutheran Synod in reference to the founding of a +union theological institution, with authority to devise the plan +necessary for the purpose. The committee consists of Revs. Hoffmeier, +Hendel, Pomp, Becker, and Saml. Helffenstein." "The committee of the +Lutheran and Reformed Synods to consider the matter relating to a +theological seminary have prepared a plan for this purpose, and +carefully examined the same, and found that such a theological seminary +would be not only exceedingly useful for our youth preparing for the +ministerial office, but also can easily be established. The committee, +therefore, submit this plan to the Rev. Synod, and, at the same time, +request the Rev. Synod to have the plan printed, in order that it may be +circulated among the members of both synods, to afford each one an +opportunity to examine it carefully for himself, because the time for +this purpose is at present too short. The committee of the Rev. Lutheran +Synod proposes to pay half the expenses of printing, and recommended +that two hundred copies thereof be printed." "It was proposed and +resolved, that fifty copies of the proceedings of the present Synod be +transmitted to the Rev. Lutheran Synod as an evidence of our gratitude +and mutual respect." (7. 19.) Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, Lancaster, +May 28, 1820: "The president of synod made a verbal report in behalf of +the committee that had been appointed, in conjunction with a committee +of the Reformed Synod, last September at Lancaster to draw up and +publish a plan for a union seminary. From this report it appears that +the members of our committee were not all present; that the joint +committee did actually prepare a plan; that the printing of the same +was entrusted to Revs. Endress and Hoffmeier, but that this duty was not +attended to. Dr. Endress arose and made a long speech in defense of +himself, referring to a number of local reasons and certain +misunderstandings that influenced him to omit the publication of the +plan. To this it was replied that the reasons given by him were not +altogether satisfactory. Candidate Schnee arose and gave synod an +account of an institution located at Middletown, Pa., known as 'The +Fry's Orphans' Home.' He awakened the joyful hope that by the blessing +of the Lord it might be possible at some future time to establish at +that place a theological seminary for the Lutheran Church in this +country. Dr. Lochman arose and made a powerful speech in favor of +establishment of a theological seminary, and of supporting the college +at Lancaster. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to attend the +meeting of the Reformed Synod shortly to be held at Hagerstown; that +Revs. D. F. Schaeffer and B. Kurtz constitute said committee." (19. 20.) +Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, Chambersburg, 1821: "Revs. Hoffman and +Rahausen, deputies of the German Reformed Synod, took seats as advisory +members. Resolved, That Rev. Mr. Denny, pastor of the Presbyterian +church at Chambersburg, be acknowledged as an advisory member of this +synodical assembly. The committee to examine the protocol of the German +Reformed General Synod reported that they examined said protocol, and +found the following items which may require to be considered at this +meeting: 1. That Messrs. Schaeffer and Kurtz, appointed as our delegates +to the Reformed Synod at our last year's meeting, were received as +advisory members by the Reformed Synod. Resolved, That this Synod sees +in this action evidence of the love of those whom we acknowledge as +brethren, and that it is prepared always, as heretofore, to reciprocate +this kindness. 2. That Revs. Hoffman and Rahausen were appointed +delegates by the Reformed Synod to attend our present synodical meeting. +Resolved, That Pastors Muhlenberg and Knoske attend the next meeting of +the Reformed Synod at Reading as delegates from this Synod." (6. 16 f.) +In 1820 the Pennsylvania Synod entered upon its wild scheme to found a +seminary at Frederick, Md., with Dr. Milledoller as professor, with +$2,000 salary. This stopped all other negotiations for the time being. +Dr. Milledoller held the call under consideration two years, and then +declined. He went to New Brunswick immediately after that, and Col. +Rutger's money went with him to that place, which, it was understood, +would go to whatever place Dr. Milledoller would go. (_Lutheran +Observer_, Sept., 1881.) The fact that nothing tangible resulted from +the movement of uniting the Lutheran and Reformed synods and of +establishing a union seminary was not due in the least to a growing +confessionalism on the part of the Pennsylvania Synod, for at that time +such was not in evidence anywhere. + + +TYPICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF SYNOD. + +64. C. F. L. Endress Denounces Form of Concord.--Among the better +class of Lutherans prominent in the Pennsylvania Synod during the +decades immediately preceding and following the year 1800 were such men +as J. B. Schmucker, H. A. Muhlenberg, Lochman, Probst, and Endress. In +the Proceedings of the General Synod, 1827, Lochman and Endress are +spoken of as belonging to "the Fathers of our General Synod, and able +ministers of the Lord Jesus," as the "oldest and most respected members" +of the Synod of East Pennsylvania, as "men who were among the brightest +ornaments of the Lutheran Church, and whose departure is lamented no +less by the synods in general than by that to which they more +immediately belonged." (12. 21.) Yet they, too, were absolutely +indifferent as to the Lutheran Symbols. Dr. C. F. Endress, a pupil of +Helmuth, a leading spirit in the Pennsylvania Ministerium and most +prominent in the unionistic transactions with the German Reformed +Church, declared his theological position as follows: "We have the +Formula Concordiae, in which expulsion, condemnation, anathema, were, +in the most liberal manner, pronounced and poured forth against all +those who were of a different opinion, which, however, thank God, was +never received universally by the Lutheran Church. I would suffer both +my hands to be burned off before I would subscribe that instrument." "As +we have hitherto received the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechism +and Melanchthon's Apology, so I have no objection that they should be +kept in reverence and respect as our peculiar documents, but not to +overrule the Bible. For by this shall the Lutheran Church forever +distinguish itself from all other religious connections, that the Bible, +the Bible alone, shall remain the only sun in Christ Jesus, and that we +rest upon human declarations of faith only in so far as they receive +their light more or less from that great light." "What shall I answer on +the question, What is the confession of faith of the Lutheran Church? +Answer: I will not dictate to you what you should say; but if I should +be asked, I would say, first, and principally, and solely, and alone: +The Holy Word of God contained in the writings of the prophets and +apostles. The confessions of faith by the Church of the first four +centuries we hold in conformity with the Bible, and receive them, as far +as I know, universally in the Lutheran Church. The confession of the +princes of the German Empire presented at the Diet of Augsburg is held +by all in honor and respect, and when we compare it with other human +confessions, we give it a decided preference. Luther's Catechism is used +in all Lutheran churches, and no catechism of other religious +denominations has that honor. The so-called Apology is in possession of +very few Lutheran ministers; but whether they have read it or not, they +consider it a good book. The Smalcald Articles I have often read. In +Germany they are taken up among the Symbols. I know not whether any +other divine in the Lutheran Church in America ever read it except +Muhlenberg and Lochman. In short, we hold firmly and steadfastly to our +beloved Bible, when the one holds to Calvin, the other to Zwingli, a +third to the Heidelberg Catechism, a fourth to the Confession of the +Synod of Dort, a fifth to the Westminster Catechism, a sixth to the +Common-prayer Book, a seventh to the Solemn League and Covenant, and the +eighth to the darkened and depraved reason per se, the ninth to reason +under the name of Holy Spirit, and the tenth to the devil himself in the +form of an angel of light. But I will cleave to my beloved Bible, and +hereby it shall remain. Amen." (_Luth. Observer_, Sept., 1881.) + +65. Rev. Probst Defending Union.--The _Lutheran Observer_, September, +1881, from whose columns we quoted the statements above concerning Dr. +Endress, continues: Rev. Probst, who was a member of the Pennsylvania +Synod from 1813 until his death, and well acquainted with the sentiments +of his brethren, in a work published in 1826 for the express purpose of +promoting a formal and complete union of the German Reformed and +Lutheran churches in America, entitled, _Reunion of the Lutherans and +Reformed_, says that there was no material difference of doctrinal views +between them, the Lutherans having relinquished the bodily presence, and +the Reformed unconditional election. Speaking of the supposed obstacles +to such union, he remarks: "The doctrine of unconditional election +cannot be in the way. This doctrine has long since been abandoned; for +there can scarcely be a single German Reformed preacher found who +regards it as his duty to defend this doctrine. Zwingli's more liberal, +rational, and Scriptural view of this doctrine, as well as of the Lord's +Supper, has become the prevailing one among Lutherans and Reformed, and +it has been deemed proper to abandon the view of both Luther and Calvin +on the subject of both these doctrines." (74.) "The whole mass of the +old Confessions, occasioned by the peculiar circumstances of those +troublous times, has become obsolete by the lapse of ages, and is yet +valuable only as matter of history. Those times and circumstances have +passed away, and our situation, both in regard to political and +ecclesiastical relations, is entirely changed. We are therefore not +bound to these books, but only to the Bible. For what do the unlearned +know of the Augsburg Confession, or the Form of Concord, or the Synod of +Dort?" (76.) "Both churches [the Lutheran and the Reformed] advocate the +evangelical liberty of judging for themselves, and have one and the same +ground of their faith--the Bible. Accordingly, both regard the Gospel +as their exclusive rule of faith and practise, and are forever opposed +to all violations of the liberty of conscience." (76.) "All enlightened +and intelligent preachers of both churches agree that there is much in +the former Symbolical Books that must be stricken out as antiquated and +contrary to common sense, and be made conformable with the Bible, and +that we have no right to pledge ourselves to the mere human opinions of +Luther, or Calvin, or Zwingli, and that we have but one Master, Christ. +Nor is any evangelical Christian bound to the interpretations which +Luther, or Calvin, or any other person may place on the words of Christ; +but each one has the right to interpret them according to the dictates +of his own conscience." (80.) "Inasmuch as all educated ministers of the +Lutheran and Reformed churches now entertain more reasonable and more +Scriptural views on those doctrines which were formerly the subjects of +controversy, what necessity is there of a continued separation?" (81.) + + +SYNOD'S UN-LUTHERAN ATTITUDE CONTINUED. + +66. Decades of Indifferentism.--After the abortive efforts at +establishing a union seminary and uniting with the Reformed organically, +and after her withdrawal from the General Synod in 1823, the +Pennsylvania Synod passed through a long period of indifferentism before +the spirit of Lutheran confessionalism once more began to manifest +itself, chiefly in consequence of influences from German Lutheran +immigrants and by the activity of such men as Drs. Krauth and Mann. +However, even till the middle of the nineteenth century the symptoms of +reviving Lutheranism in the Pennsylvania Synod were but relatively weak, +few, and far between. The Agenda of 1842 still contained the union +formula of distribution in the Lord's Supper and revealed a unionistic +and Reformed spirit everywhere. A form of Baptism savors of Pelagianism +and Rationalism. The Agenda does not contain a single clear and +unequivocal confession of the Lutheran doctrine of the real presence. +The second form for celebrating the Lord's Supper states: "As we are +sensual creatures, He [Christ] has appointed two external, visible +elements, bread and wine, as tokens (Pfaender), as it were, in order by +them to assure us that with, in, and under them (mit, bei und unter +denselben) we should become partakers of His body and blood, that is, +of His entire grace of atonement. As surely, therefore, as a penitent +communicant receives the blessed bread and the blessed cup, so surely +he, in a manner invisible, will also receive from his Savior a share in +His body and blood." (_Lutheraner_ 1844,47; 1846,61.81.) In 1848 Rev. +Weyl, of Baltimore, the arch-enemy of confessional Lutheranism and +unscrupulous slanderer of Wyneken, Reynolds, etc., declared in his +church-paper that within the whole Synod of Pennsylvania there were +hardly ten preachers who, in their faith and teaching regarding the +doctrine of the Lord's Supper, deviated from the views of the General +Synod. Dr. Walther remarked with respect to this statement, which he was +inclined to regard as mendacious: "Since the [Pennsylvania] Synod was +not ashamed to conclude its Centennial Jubilee by declaring this +miserable paper [of Weyl] its organ and thereby publishing to the world +its spiritual death [as a Lutheran Church], it serves her right to have +this man write her epitaph." (_L_. 1848, 31.) Concerning the new +hymn-book of the Pennsylvania Synod, Rev. Hoyer wrote in _Kirchliche +Mitteilungen:_ "After a closer inspection I found that this hymn-book +was compiled for three classes of people, Orthodox, Unionists, and +Supranaturalists. Here we find, besides 'Es ist das Heil uns kommen +her,' also 'Religion, von Gott gegeben,' as well as a hymn for the +national holiday, the 4th of July, imploring the Lord to give us the +spirit of Washington." (1850, 91; _L_. 7, 65.) _Der Lutherische Herold_, +which, edited by H. Ludwig, appeared since April, 1851, in New York, +represented the class of German Lutherans within the Ministeriums of +Pennsylvania and New York then most advanced in their protestations of +Lutheranism. But what kind of Lutheranism it was that Ludwig and his +paper advocated appears from the following quotation: "We expect little +sympathy from the Old Lutherans; yet, our endeavor shall always be to +banish from our columns everything that might increase the breach, _for +in doctrine we are one, we only differ in the form, of the dress_, that +is to say, in practise, and in the mode and manner of spreading the +doctrine." (_L._ 1, 151; 8, 143.) In January, 1855, the same paper was +complimented by the _Reformierte Kirchenzeitung_ as follows: "The +_Lutherische Herold_, published by H. Ludwig, endeavors to mediate +between the two extremes in the Lutheran Church of this country, and +represents the milder Melanchthonian conception of the Sacraments. We +read the _Herold_ with joy, and wish it a recognition and encouragement +commensurate with its services." (_L_. 11, 102.) As late as 1851 the +Pennsylvania Synod, according to the report of the convention in that +year, 51 ministers being present, maintained fraternal intercourse with +the Reformed, United, Methodists, and Moravians. She admitted Reformed +and Presbyterian preachers as advisory members. Synod had also received +a Reformed minister as such into her ministerium. She assembled in +Reformed and Presbyterian churches for union services, and attended the +service in a Methodist church. She also adopted the resolution to enter +into more intimate relations with the Moravians. (_L_. 1852, 138.) In +the following year Synod returned to its original confessional position +in the days of Muhlenberg, though in a somewhat equivocal manner. +(Spaeth, _W. J. Mann_, 171.) In 1853, however, at the same time +appealing to all Lutheran synods to follow her example, the Pennsylvania +Synod resolved, by a vote of 54 to 28, to reunite with the General +Synod, then rapidly approaching its lowest water-mark, doctrinally and +confessionally, its leading men openly and uninterruptedly denouncing +the doctrines distinctive of Lutheranism and zealously preparing the way +for the Definite Platform as a substitute for the Augsburg Confession. +Indeed, the Pennsylvania Synod added to its resolution on the reunion +that, "should the General Synod violate its constitution, and require of +our Synod assent to anything conflicting with the old and +long-established faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, then our +delegates are hereby required to protest against such action, to +withdraw from its sessions, and to report to this body." (Penn. Minutes +1853, 18.) However, the action as such was tantamount to a violation and +denial of the Lutheran Confession. Dr. Walther remarked with respect to +the union: "This event will be hailed by many with great joy, a joy, +however, that we are unable to share in in any measure. . . . For who +does not see that the Synod [of Pennsylvania], by entering into +ecclesiastical union with a body notoriously heterodox, has already +departed from, and actually denied, the good Confession of our Church?" +(_L_. 9, 122.) Confirming the correctness of this statement, the +Pennsylvania Synod, thirteen years later, when the ranks of her +conservatives had materially increased, severed her connection with the +General Synod. + +67. Dr. Sihler's Estimate.--In 1858 Dr. Sihler wrote concerning the +Pennsylvania Synod: "When the writer of this article, more than fourteen +years ago, came to this country and gradually informed himself on the +American conditions of the Lutheran Church, he had to observe with +heartfelt sorrow that the Pennsylvania Synod, then still undivided and +very numerous, in whose territory or vicinity the leaders of the +so-called Lutheran General Synod have their field of labor was so +completely indifferent toward the shameful apostasy of the latter from +the faith and the Confession of the Lutheran Church. For in vain one +looked for a strong and decided testimony in any of the synodical +reports of this church-body against the pseudo-Lutherans of the General +Synod. Nor was there to be found within the Pennsylvania Synod, or in +other synods not belonging to the General Synod, so much earnest zeal +and love for the truth of God's Word and of the Confessions of the +Church, nor did it have any men among its theologians who were able to +expose thoroughly in the English language the error, the hollowness and +shallowness of the miserable productions of a Schmucker and Kurtz, who +were made Doctors of Theology by God in His wrath and by Satan as a joke +and for the purpose of ridicule. On the contrary, they seemed to be not +a little impressed with the theological learning and dogmatical science +of these two so-called Doctors, who, in rare self-satisfaction, found +life and complete happiness in Reinhard's supernaturalism. In short, +these open counterfeiters, Calvinists, Methodists, and Unionists, these +base traitors and destroyers of the Lutheran Church, were and always +remained the dear brethren, who contributed not a little to the +prosperity and welfare of the dear 'Lutheran Zion.' Accordingly, it did +not require a gift of prophecy when the writer of this article, as early +as 1844, foretold in the _Lutherische Kirchenzeitung_ [edited by Schmidt +in Pittsburgh] that, in differently observing, as they did, the +anticonfessional, church-destroying activities of the so-called General +Synod, yea, fraternizing with their leaders, they would become their +prey, as was actually the case several years ago." (_Lehre u. Wehre_ +1858, 137.) + + +LUTHERANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. + +68. Pioneer Pastors in South Carolina.--In 1735 colonists from Germany +and Switzerland had settled in Orangeburg Co., S.C. Their first resident +pastor was J. U. Giessendanner, who arrived in 1737 with new emigrants, +but died the following year. He was succeeded by his son, who was +ordained first by the Presbyterians and then by the Bishop of London, in +1849. [tr. note: sic!] Orangeburg was thus lost to the Lutheran Church. +At Charleston, S.C., Bolzius conducted the first Lutheran services and +administered the Lord's Supper in 1734. Muhlenberg preached there in +1742. The first pastor who, in 1755, organized the Lutherans at +Charleston into a congregation (St. John's) was J. G. Friedrichs +(Friederichs). In 1759 he was succeeded by H. B. G. Wordman (Wartmann), +who had labored in Pennsylvania. In 1763 Wordman was succeeded by J. N. +Martin. He dedicated the church begun in 1759. J. S. Hahnbaum, who came +from Germany with his family in 1767, was, according to the church +records, forbidden to "be addicted to the English Articles" and to +attack the Church of England. The gown, wafers, festivals, gospels and +epistles, and the use of the litany on Sunday afternoons, are required. +(Jacobs, 297.) Hahnbaum died in 1770. His successor, who also married +his daughter, was Magister F. Daser. He had arrived in Charleston, sold +as a redemptioner, and had been redeemed by one of the elders of the +Lutheran congregation. (G., 574.) In 1774 H. M. Muhlenberg advised the +congregation and adjusted some of her difficulties. In the same year +Martin returned and served till 1778, when he was succeeded by Christian +Streit, who labored until he was driven away in the vicissitudes of the +Revolutionary War, there being a tradition of his arrest by the British +in 1780. (Jacobs, 297.) Pastor Martin served a third term in Charleston +from 1786 to 1787, when he was succeeded by J. C. Faber, who wrote to +Germany, from where he had arrived in 1787: His congregation was +growing; it was a model of Christian unity; it consisted of Lutherans, +German Reformed, and Catholics; they all lived together most peacefully, +attending the same services and sharing in the support of their pastor, +who had brought about such a union. No wonder that the congregation was +satisfied with the service of the Episcopalian Pogson when Faber had +resigned on account of ill health. (G., 582 f.) + +69. "Unio Ecclesiastica" in South Carolina.--In 1788 fifteen German +congregations were incorporated in the State of South Carolina, nine of +them being Lutheran and six Reformed or United. The Lutheran +congregations were served by F. Daser, J. G. Bamberg, F. A. Wallberg, +F. J. Wallern, and C. Binnicher; the rest, by the Reformed Pastors Theus +and Froelich. In 1787 these ministers and congregations had united as a +"corpus evangelicum" under the following title: "Unio Ecclesiastica of +the German Protestant Churches in the State of South Carolina." Pastor +Daser was chosen _Senior Ministerii_. At the following convention, +January 8, 1788, all Lutheran ministers present pledged themselves on +the Symbolical Books. A third meeting was held August 12, 1788; +President Daser presented a constitution, which was adopted. Among other +things it provided: 1. The intention of this union was not that any +member should deny his own confession. 2. A Directorium, composed of the +ministers and two laymen, should remain in power as long as a majority +of the 15 congregations would be in favor of it. 3. The Directorium +should be entrusted with all church affairs: the admission, dismissal, +election, examination, ordination, and induction of ministers; the +establishment of new churches and schools; the order of divine service, +collections, etc. 4. Any member of any of the congregations was bound to +appear before the Directorium when cited by this body. 5. Where the +majority of a congregation was Reformed, a Reformed Agenda and Catechism +were to be used. 6. The ministers should be faithful in the discharge of +their pastoral duties, . . . visiting the schools frequently, +admonishing the parents to give their children a Christian training, +etc. 7. A copy of this constitution should be deposited in every +congregation and subscribed by its members. 8. Complaints against the +pastor which the vestry failed to settle should be reported to the +President immediately. 9. The brethren in Europe should be petitioned to +provide the congregations with preachers and schoolteachers.--It is +self-evident that this anomalous union with a Directorium invested with +governing and judicial powers, to whose decisions Lutheran as well as +Reformed pastors and congregations had to submit, lacked vitality, and, +apart from flagrant denials of the truth, was bound to lead to +destructive frictions. After an existence of several years the "Unio +Ecclesiastica" died a natural death, the Directorium, as far as has been +traced, holding its last meeting in 1794. By 1804, the ministers who had +organized this union body, all save one, were dead. The congregations +eked out a miserable existence, becoming, in part, a prey to the +Methodists and Baptists. Thus also the promising Lutheran field of South +Carolina was finally turned into a desert, chiefly in consequence of the +dearth of Lutheran preachers, who really could have been produced from +this very field. (G., 601 ff.) + + +THE NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD. + +70. Unionistic from the Beginning.--Most of the Germans in North +Carolina came from Pennsylvania. In 1771 the congregation at Salisbury +(which was in existence as early as 1768, and soon thereafter erected a +church), together with the congregations in Rowan Co. and in Mecklenburg +Co., sent a delegation to England, Holland, and Germany, asking for +assistance. The result was that Pastor A. Ruessmann, who died in 1794, +and Teacher J. G. Arends (Ahrends), who soon officiated as pastor, were +sent in 1773. In 1787 Pastor Chr. E. Bernhardt arrived, followed by C. +A. G. Stork (Storch) in 1788, and A. Roschen, who returned to Germany in +1800. But it was not genuine Lutheranism which was cultivated by these +German emissaries. Many of the books coming from Helmstedt were of a +rationalistic character. Also the North Carolina Catechism +("Nordkarolingischer Katechismus . . ., entworfen von Johann Kaspar +Velthusen, Doktor und ordentlichem Lehrer der Theologie, erstem Prediger +in Helmstedt und Generalsuperintendent") savored of rationalism. The +confessional and doctrinal degeneration of the pastors in North Carolina +appears from, and is attested by, the fact that in his ordination, in +1794, R. J. Miller was pledged to the Thirty-nine Articles of the +Episcopalians. The Synod of North Carolina experienced a rapid growth, +receiving 19 congregations into membership in 1813. According to the +Report of 1815, twenty lay delegates were present at the meeting of that +year. In 1823, after the separation of the Tennessee Synod, the North +Carolina Synod reported 19 ministers with about 1,360 communicants. Its +first convention had been held in Salisbury, May 2, 1803. Besides the +lay delegates, this meeting was attended by Pastor Arends, Miller, +Stork, and Paul Henkel. From the very beginning the Articles of Synod +made no mention of the Lutheran Confessions. At the meeting of 1804 a +Reformed minister delivered the sermon. In 1810 a resolution was passed +permitting every pastor to administer communion to those of another +faith. It was furthermore resolved: "Whereas it is evident that +awakenings occur in our day by means of preaching for three consecutive +days, and whereas this is to be desired among our brethren in the faith, +it was resolved, on motion of Mr. Philip Henkel, to make a trial in all +our churches next spring." In the same year the North Carolina Synod +ordered the ordination of the Moravian G. Shober (Schober). The minutes +of 1815 record the following: "Since the church council of a newly built +Reformed church in Guilford County expressly desires that our next synod +be held in their church, it was resolved that synod shall be held in +said church on the third Sunday in October, 1816." As in the other +Lutheran bodies of that time, pulpit- and altar-fellowship, Reformed +teaching, and Methodistic enthusiasm became increasingly rampant in +Synod. In 1817 Synod declared that it would continue to bear the +Lutheran name, and became demonstrative over the Reformation +tercentenary. The same convention, however, passed a resolution with +regard to the joint hymn-book published by Schaeffer and Maund in +Baltimore, as follows: "We hereby tender the aforementioned gentlemen +our heartiest thanks, and rejoice that we are able to accede fully to +the aforementioned recommendations for its use both at church and in +private among all our congregations. At the same time we humbly +petition the God of love and unity to crown it with blessings in His +kingdom and temple. It was also resolved that the English Agenda which +Quitman had introduced in New York "be adopted as one of our symbolical +books, and as such be recommended for use." (G., 647.) + +71. Shober's Jubilee Book.--In 1817 Synod also approved of, and +resolved to publish, Shober's jubilee book, "A Comprehensive Account of +the Rise and Progress of the Blessed Reformation of the Christian +Church by Doctor Martin Luther, begun on the thirty-first of October, A. +D. 1517; interspersed with views of his character and doctrine, +extracted from his book; and how the Church established by him arrived +and progressed in North America, as also the Constitution and Rules of +that Church, in North Carolina and adjoining States, as existing in +October, 1817." In the Preface, Shober gives utterance to the hope that +all Protestant churches and their individual members would, by reading +his book, be moved "to pray to God that He would awaken the spirit of +love and union in all who believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the only +Mediator between God and men, in order to attain the happy time +prophesied, when we shall blissfully live as one flock under one +Shepherd." On page 208 ff. he says: "Why are we not all united in love +and union? Why these distances, controversies, disputes, mutual +condemnations, why these splittings of formulas? Why cannot the Church +of Christ be one flock under one Shepherd? My friends, at the proper +time the Lord will unite us all. Thank God, we see the morning star +rising; the Union approaches, in Europe through Bible-societies, in +America, too, through mission-societies, through the efforts of the rich +and poor in sending out religious tracts, through the hundred thousand +children who now learn to know their God and Savior in the +Sunday-schools. Through frequent revivals and many other signs it +becomes apparent that the earth will soon be filled with the knowledge +of the Lord. Among all classes of those who adore Jesus as God I see +nothing of importance which could prevent a cordial union; and what a +fortunate event would it be if all churches would unite and send +delegates to a general convention of all denominations and there could +settle down on Christ, the Rock, while at the same time each +denomination would be permitted to retain its peculiar ways and forms. +This would have the influence on all Christians that, wherever and +whenever they met each other, they would love one another and keep +fellowship with each other." Synod declared: This book "will give to our +fellow-Christians in other denominations a clear view of what the +Lutheran Church really is." Yet, in this jubilee-gift Shober practically +denied the Lutheran doctrines of the Lord's Supper and of Absolution, +and, as shown, enthusiastically advocated a universal union of all +Christian denominations. Previously Shober had written: "I have +carefully examined the doctrine of the Episcopal Church, have read many +excellent writers of the Presbyterians, know the doctrine of the +Methodists from their book _Portraiture of Methodism_, and am acquainted +with the doctrine of the Baptists, as far as they receive and adore +Jesus the Savior. Among all classes of those who adore Jesus as God, I +find nothing of importance which could prevent a cordial union." (647 f. +682.) + + +CRITICAL CONVENTIONS. + +72. "Untimely Synod" of 1819.--The leaders of the North Carolina +Synod, Stork, Shober, Jacob Scherer, Daniel Scherer, Miller, and others, +cherished a sanguine hope of uniting all churches into a national +American Church, despite doctrinal differences. What could be more +delightful, and what in all the world could be more desired, they +declared in 1820, than "to bring about a general union of all religious +parties throughout the entire land, that the glorious prophecy might be +fulfilled: that they might all be one flock who are all under one +Shepherd." (_Tennessee Report_ 1820, 25.) The scheme also of organizing +a Lutheran General Synod (for which purpose the Pennsylvania Synod had +invited all other Lutheran bodies to attend its meetings at Baltimore +in 1819 in order to discuss plans for this projected Pan-Lutheran +union) was exultantly hailed as a step in this direction by leaders of +the North Carolina Synod, notably by Shober. Accordingly, in order to +enable the North Carolina Synod to take part in the meeting at +Baltimore, the officers of Synod autocratically convened that body five +weeks before the time fixed by the constitution. Shober was sent to +Baltimore as delegate, and took a prominent part in drawing up the +"Planentwurf," the tentative constitution for the organization of a +General Synod. This irregular meeting of the North Carolina Synod was +later on known as the "Untimely Synod." It provoked much ill feeling and +led to the organization of the Tennessee Synod in 1820. (_Tenn. Rep_. +1820, 49.) At this "Untimely Synod" David Henkel was charged with +teaching transubstantiation, because he had preached the Lutheran +doctrine of the Lord's Supper to his congregations. Synod found him +guilty, and degraded him to the rank of catechist for a period of six +months. Says the Report of the Tennessee Synod, 1820: "David Henkel was +to be entitled to his former rank in office only when, after a period of +six months, sufficient written evidence should have been submitted to +the President that peace obtained in his congregations, and that no +important accusation was lodged against him by others, especially by the +Reformed [Presbyterians], whereupon the President would be empowered to +confer on him the privileges of a candidate until the next synod." (18.) +The following statement of the same Report characterizes the doctrinal +attitude of President Stork and other leaders of Synod: "We [the +Henkels] have written evidence that, when a paper was read at said +'Untimely Synod' containing the statement that the human nature of Jesus +Christ had been received into the divine nature (dass die Menschheit +Jesu Christi in die Gottheit sei aufgenommen worden), and that therefore +He possessed all the divine attributes, the President [Stork] declared +that he could not believe this. And when it was said that such was the +teaching of the Bible, he answered: 'Even if five hundred Bibles should +say so, he would not believe it!' And to our knowledge he was never +called to account for this statement." (20.) The autocratic actions of +the leaders of the North Carolina Synod and their adherents virtually +resulted in a rupture of Synod in the same year. For the dissatisfied +party held a synod of their own at Buffalo Creek, at the time specified +by the constitution, and ordained Bell and David Henkel. + +73. "Synod of Strife" (Streitsynode).--The meeting at Lincolnton, N. +C., 1820, which followed the "Untimely Synod," was marked by painful +scenes and altercations and the final breach between the majority, who +were resolved to unite with the General Synod, and the minority, who +opposed the union and accused the leader not only of high-handed, +autocratic procedure and usurpation of power in contravention of the +constitution, but also of false doctrine, and publicly refused to +recognize them as Lutherans. On Sunday, May 28, Synod was opened with a +service in which Stork preached German and Bell English. Monday morning +the preachers, delegates, and a great multitude of people from the +neighborhood returned to the church. They found it occupied by Pastors +Paul Henkel, Philip Henkel, David Henkel, and Bell, who refused +admission to the rest. After some parliamenteering, written and verbal, +both parties entered the church. The Henkels report as follows: "They +[the opponents] took their stand on the fact that the majority was on +their side and according to it everything should be decided. +Accordingly, before they came to us in the church, they first delegated +one of their preachers with two questions directed to one of our +preachers. The first was: 'Whether he intended to separate from the +North Carolina Synod?' The second: 'Whether he was willing to be +governed by a majority of preachers and delegates in the matters +disputed?' He, giving him no decisive answer, came to the rest of us and +told us. We answered in writing: 'That we neither intend to separate +ourselves from Synod, nor would suffer ourselves to be governed by a +majority; but that we wanted everything investigated and decided +according to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession and according to +the constitution or order of our church, nothing else.' In the mean time +the minister delegated came to us where we were gathered and demanded a +verbal answer to the same questions. We then gave this answer also +verbally, whereupon he said with an arrogant gesture and autocratic +tone: 'That is not the point; I only ask, Do you want to, or do you not +want to?' We answered: 'We did not want to.' He declared, 'That is all I +desire to know'; and saying which he rapidly turned about and hastily +ran away from us. In the mean time the multitude of our opponents moved +toward us, proposing the same questions. We answered as before. The +leaders among them endeavored to maintain that, in order to decide the +dispute, we were not bound to the constitution, but only to the majority +of the votes of the preachers and delegates, which majority they had; +and that it was reasonable and fair for us to act according to it in +this dispute. But we thought that the doctrine of the Augsburg +Confession (being assured, as we were, that it can be proved by the +doctrine of the Bible) should be of a greater weight to us than the +voice of a majority of men who are opposed to the doctrine and order of +our Church. After a brief altercation of this kind they went into the +church, and we followed. Here the President [Stork], in a long speech in +German, endeavored to prove what he had asserted before. The Secretary +[Shober] made a still longer speech in English, in which he endeavored +to prove that we were not at all bound to act according to the +constitution or order of our Church; although he himself, with the +approval of Synod, had written the constitution and had it printed, this +was not done with the intention of making it a rule or norm by which we, +as members of Synod, were to be guided in our transactions; it was +merely a sort of draft or model according to which, in course of time, +one might formulate a good constitution, if in the future such should +become necessary. However, it was proved [by the Henkels] from the +constitution itself that it had been received as just such an [official] +document, sanctioned, after previous examination and approval by several +ministers, by Synod and ordered to be printed. To this he [Shober] +answered that such had not been the intention of Synod. Haste and lack +of time had caused him to write it thus without previous careful +consideration; therefore, now everything had to be governed and judged +according to the majority. But we were of the opinion that it would +prove to be a very unreasonable action to reject a constitution which a +few years ago, according to a resolution of Synod, had been printed and +bound in 1,500 copies, the money being taken from the synodical +treasury, and sold at 75 cts. a copy." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1820, 24.) The +question concerning the violation of the constitution would, no doubt, +have been settled in favor of the Henkels, if they had not opposed the +leaders in their union schemes and charged them with false doctrine and +apostasy from the Lutheran Church. Says the aforementioned Tennessee +Report: "Even though the officers with their adherents (die alten Herrn +Beamten mit ihrem Zugehoer) could perhaps themselves have thought so far +[as to realize the arbitrariness of their procedure with reference to +the 'Untimely Synod'], yet the desire to organize the General Synod and +to bring about a union with all religious bodies, especially with the +Presbyterians, was so strong as to outweigh everything else" [even an +imminent breach]. The leaders finally admitted that both parties had +erred, and declared their willingness to pardon everything if the +minority would reunite with them. The Henkels, however, declared that +they could have no fellowship with people who were addicted to false +doctrines concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and rejected the +doctrine of the Augsburg Confession. They also declared their impatience +with the contemplated "general union of all religious denominations," +saying that such a union was no more possible than to bring together as +one peaceful flock into one fold "sheep, goats, lambs, cows, oxen, +horses, bears, wolves, wild cats, foxes, and swine." At this juncture +one of the officers, dissolving the meeting and leaving the church, +exclaimed: "Whoever is a _true Lutheran_, may he come with us to the +hotel of J. H.; there we will begin our Synod!" The minority answered: +"Whoever wants to be a true fanatic (Schwaermer), may he go along; for +you are no real Lutheran preachers: you are fanatics (Schwaermer) and +to them you belong!" A young teacher added: "According to the testimony +of Holy Scripture, it is impossible for us to regard you as anything but +false teachers." Then one of the old ministers, turning toward the +assembly, said: "Now you yourselves have heard the boldness and +impertinence of this young man, who charges us, old and respectable +ministers that we are, with false doctrine." Similar utterances were +made by others. The report concludes: "However, they left the church +without defending themselves against such accusations, except that one +of the old ministers said at the exit of the church that he was much +astonished. But we could not help that." (_Tenn. Report_ 1820, 27.) As +Bell joined the Shober party, his ordination at Buffalo Creek was +declared constitutional and ratified as valid. Shober now reported on +his cordial reception by the Pennsylvania Synod and on the transaction +which led to the adoption of the "Planentwurf" for the contemplated +organization of the General Synod. The document, after its individual +paragraphs had been read and discussed, was adopted by the North +Carolina Synod by a majority of 15 to 6--a result which Shober had +forestalled in a letter to the Pennsylvania Synod assembled at +Lancaster, stating "that the greatest part of the members of the North +Carolina Synod had adopted the so-called Planentwurf," and expressing +the hope that the General Synod might be established. After adopting the +"Planentwurf," the North Carolina Synod elected Pastors Shober and Peter +Schmucker delegates to the convention of the General Synod, which was to +convene at Hagerstown, Md., October 22, 1820. Only a few ministers from +Tennessee being present, the Henkels resolved not to transact any +business at this time. (27.) + +74. Doctrinal Dispute at Lincolnton.--The points disputed at +Lincolnton did not only refer to the autocratic actions of the leaders +of the Synod and their union schemes, but also to the doctrines of +Baptism and the Lord's Supper, regarding which the minority charged +Stork, Shober, and their followers with holding un-Lutheran and +anticonfessional views. The discussions on these doctrines caused James +Hill, a Methodist preacher who was present, to address a letter to +Synod in which he said: "For almost thirteen years which I have spent in +this county [Lincoln Co., N.C., where David Henkel preached], I have +understood that the greatest number of your preachers in the county have +taught that the baptism of water effects regeneration, and that the body +and blood of Christ is received bodily with the bread and wine in the +Lord's Supper, so that these doctrines, being so generally taught and +confessedly believed, confirmed me in the conviction that they are the +orthodox doctrines of the Lutheran Church. Last Monday [at the +discussion on floor of Synod], however, I discovered, or believed to +discover, that some members of your Rev. Synod entertained different +views. . . . Now, in order that I may know how to conduct myself in the +future toward so respectable a part of the Church of Christ [North +Carolina Synod], I request the opinion of your Synod on the above +points." The answer, formulated by R. J. Miller and Peter Schmucker, and +approved of by the ministerium, was: "We do not say that all who are +baptized with water are regenerated and converted to God, so that they +are saved without the operation of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, +without faith in Christ." "We do not believe and teach that the body and +blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are bodily received with the bread and +wine in the Holy Supper, but that the true believer receives and enjoys +it spiritually together with all saving gifts of His suffering and +death, by faith in Jesus Christ." (681.) According to the report of the +Henkels, the doctrine of predestination as taught by the Presbyterians +was also touched upon, for in it we read: "One of the members declared, +and sought to maintain, that it was impossible for a man to fall from +the grace of God after he had once been truly converted. Another denied +the doctrine of Baptism as laid down in our catechism and in the Second +and Ninth Articles of the Augsburg Confession. The offer was made to a +third to prove to him from his own handwriting that he denied the +doctrine of the Lord's Supper as set forth in the Tenth Article [of the +Augsburg Confession]. They offered to have the letter read; but our +opponents did not agree to this. A book was placed before him and a +passage was pointed out to him, in order that he might read what Luther, +of blessed memory, himself teaches on this question. He closed it +angrily and pushed it away. A fourth put the question: 'Can I not be a +[Presbyterian] predestinarian and also a Lutheran?' For he believed that +the [Presbyterian] doctrine of predestination could be proven from the +Bible. He received the answer: 'If he believed as the Predestinarians +believe, then he belonged to them, and might go to them, it did not +concern us.'--For these reasons we believed to be all the more certain +that they were not true Evangelical Lutheran preachers, and this we also +told them without reservation." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1820, 24 f.) In connection +with the doctrine of regeneration by Baptism, the Henkels also referred +to the error of the enthusiasts, gaining ground increasingly within the +North Carolina Synod, _viz_., that conversion and regeneration was +effected by anxious shrieking, united praying, and the exertion of all +powers of the body and soul. (32 f.) The rupture, then, was inevitable: +the doctrinal and spiritual gap between Shober and his compeers on the +one hand and the Henkels and their adherents on the other hand being +just as wide and insurmountable as that between Zwingli and Luther at +Marburg 1529. The leaders of the North Carolina Synod were not only +unionistic, but, in more than one respect, Reformed theologians. The +ministers who soon after united in organizing the Tennessee Synod +declared with respect to the North Carolina Synod: "If they would adopt +the name of what we believe they really are, and in this way withdraw +from us, then we and other people would know what our relation was +toward them. But if they intend to remain in our household, they shall +also submit to its authority [Augsburg Confession], or we will have +nothing to do with them." (31.) + + +GOTTLIEB SHOBER. + +75. Harbors Reformed Views on Lord's Supper.--The charges against +David Henkel as to his teaching the Romish doctrine of +transubstantiation, referred to above, had been lodged with Pastor +Shober, then secretary of the North Carolina Synod. When David Henkel +complained that his accusers were not named, Shober, who had never +forsaken his Moravian views, wrote him a letter, dated October 20, 1818, +which at the same time reveals that, as to the Lord's Supper, his were +the views of the Reformed. For here we read: "Your very long epistle, +proving that Christ is with His body every where present, is excellent +on paper, but not so in the pulpit, where seven-eighths of the hearers +will gaze at the profound erudition and one-eighth of such as reason +will shake heads at a thing to be believed, but not explainable, and to +none will it effect conviction of the necessity of spiritual +regeneration and of adopting Him as their God and Savior crucified." "I +must assure you that creditable people of our Church and the Reformed +have not only heard you advance that whosoever is baptized and partakes +of the Supper wants no other and further repentance, but also that +whosoever teaches other doctrine, he is a false teacher. This, my dear +sir, is making people secure in forms and not in realities. How easy is +it to go to heaven, for an adulterous heart to be absolved by Mr. +Henkel, and as a seal to receive from Mr. Henkel the Sacrament, who by +his few words made bread body and wine blood--and such a holy divine +body, without limitation of space, as is compelled to enter into all +substances and beings, whether they will or not, so that a Belial, when +he receives it, must thereby be made an heir of heaven. No, no, I cannot +believe in such theories, and as I told you once at my home when you +returned from Virginia and asked me on that subject, so I think yet, and +say that when Mr. Henkel consecrates bread and wine, it is the body and +blood of our Savior to such with whom He can unite; but to those who are +not of pure heart and yet partake, and that with reverence, the +spirituality of the true essence does not unite with their souls; they +eat bread and wine, for they have not such a faith, love, and humility +as enables them to possess the divine essence. And those that partake +without reverence, light-minded, and during the ceremony disdain the +simplicity of the institution, mock and deride it, they bring judgment +upon themselves for eating and drinking the consecrated elements, but +not for partaking [the] body and blood of Jesus, for they have not +partaken thereof. God and Belial cannot unite. Do, pray, reflect deeply +on the subject, and assure to all peace in heart, and those of contrite +spirit that the Lord in the Sacrament will unite with them spiritually +and seal their heavenly inheritance. But invite them all to come and +partake that revere the Savior as God, and assure them that, if they +approach with reverence, it may be made the means of viewing the +condescending love of God ready to unite with them, and their own +depravity, which will or may make them cry, and, if pure in heart, +obtain mercy." + +76. Slandering David Henkel.--What the Henkels, as early as 1809, had +taught on the Lord's Supper, appears from a pamphlet published in that +year at New Market, in the printery of Henkel. Here we read as follows: +"But Paul teaches us that the bread which we break in the Lord's Supper +is the communion of the body of Christ, and the cup of blessing with +which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ. If our bread +and wine has communion with the body and blood of Christ, then it also +must be what our dear Lord Himself calls it in the institution: His +body and His blood." (680.) This genuinely Lutheran doctrine it was +that also David Henkel had been preaching, and which his opponents who +charged him with Roman aberrations called transubstantiation, +impanation, or consubstantiation. And true to his Reformed traditions, +Shober continued in his endeavors to slander David Henkel as a +Crypto-Papist. This compelled Henkel to make the following explanation +in 1827: "The ministry of the North Carolina Synod are charged with +denying the most important doctrine of the Lutheran Church, and have +been requested to come to a reciprocal trial, which they have +obstinately refused. . . . Those ministers, as it plainly appears, +entertain a strong personal prejudice against me, and have asserted +many charges with respect to my personal conduct, as well as with +respect to my doctrines. What shall I say? Have I not heretofore +offered them a reciprocal trial, even as it respects personal conduct? +Why did they not accede to it? They are truly injuring their own +reputation when they speak many evil things of me, in order to render +me ridiculous, and an object of persecution, and yet are unwilling to +confront me and prove their accusations by legal testimony. . . . I wish +a reciprocal forgiveness. But as it respects the difference with respect +to doctrines, it is necessary to be discussed, as that respects the +Lutheran community. Mr. Shober has most confidently charged me with +teaching 'that if a man only is baptized and partakes of the Lord's +Supper, [he] is safe; and that I call those enthusiasts and bigots who +insist upon further repentance and conversion.' Again he charges me with +openly supporting the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation, and of +forgiving sins like the papists pretend to do. Now I positively deny +these charges as being true, and if Mr. Shober does not confront me and +prove these charges by a legal testimony or testimonies, what can I +otherwise, agreeably to the truth, call him but a calumniator, or one +who bears false witness against his neighbor? I do not believe that any +man in the United States (or, at least, I have never heard of any) +teaches that, if a person only is baptized and receives the Lord's +Supper, [he] is safe exclusive of repentance. What a puerile conduct +some men manifest in trying to prove that the doctrine with which Mr. +Shober has charged me is erroneous, when no man nor class of men contend +for it! They are all the while fighting their own shadows. If the reader +will take the trouble to read my book entitled, '_Answer to Mr. Joseph +Moore, the Methodist;_ with a Few Fragments on the Doctrine of +Justification,' he may readily see whether I maintain the doctrines with +which I am charged, or whether I deny regeneration and the influence of +the Holy Spirit. Again, as little as I believe the doctrine of +transubstantiation, so little do I believe that of consubstantiation. A +perusal of the book just now mentioned will also satisfy the reader on +this subject." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1827, 48.) + + +NORTH CAROLINA RUPTURE. + +77. Charges Preferred by Tennessee Synod.--The report of the committee +which the Tennessee Synod appointed in 1824 to discuss the doctrinal +differences with the North Carolina Synod charged them with the +following statements of un-Lutheran doctrine which they quoted from +their writings: "1. 'Jesus says, without being baptized; and furthermore +He says: He that believeth not shall be damned--hence, baptized or not +baptized, faith saves us.' See the committee's appendix to the +proceedings of said North Carolina connection of the year 1822, p.4, §2. +The President of said connection [Stork] says in his _English Review_, +p.46, 'that none but idiots could believe that the body of Christ fills +all space.' See also their proceedings of 1820, p. 18." (_Tenn. Rep_. +1824, Appendix.) Accordingly the charges lodged by Tennessee against the +North Carolina Synod were that they rejected the distinctive doctrines +of Lutheranism. In keeping herewith Tennessee refused to acknowledge the +North Carolina Synod as Lutheran, and declined to grant her this title, +speaking of her as a connection "which _calls_ itself a Lutheran synod." +In 1825 the Tennessee Synod declared: "We must here observe that we +cannot consistently grant to the Synod of North Carolina this title +[Lutheran], because we maintain that they departed from the Lutheran +doctrine." (6.) The same convention headed a letter addressed to the +North Carolina Synod as follows: "To the Reverend Synod of North +Carolina, who assume the title Lutheran, but which we at this time, for +reason aforesaid, dispute. Well beloved in the Lord, according to your +persons!" etc. (7.) According to a letter of Ambrosius Henkel, March 24, +1824, Riemenschneider declared: "The North Carolina Synod must have +deviated not only from the Lutheran doctrine, but from the very words of +Christ as well, as I have lately, in one of their publications, read the +horrible words: Baptized or not baptized, faith saves us. What is that +except to declare Baptism unnecessary? One would think that these people +were crazy (man sollte denken, diese Menschen waeren verrueckt)." The +North Carolina Synod, however, in spite of their avowed unionistic and +essentially Reformed attitude, boldly insisted that they were the "true +Lutherans"--a bit of bravado imitated several decades later by +Benjamin Kurtz, one of the Reformed theologians of the General Synod, +over against Missouri and other synods loyal to the Lutheran Confessions. + +78. "Lutheraner" on Division of North Carolina Synod.--The first +unbiased Lutheran estimate and, in all essential points, correct +presentation of the division in the North Carolina Synod is found in the +_Lutheraner_ of June 5, 1855. Here Theo. Brohm, who attended the +thirty-fourth convention of the Tennessee Synod in 1854 as the +representative of the Missouri Synod, writes as follows: "German +Lutheran congregations had been organized in the State of North Carolina +as early as the middle of the preceding century. About 1798 the first +attempts were made to unite these congregations by a regulated synodical +bond. However, the removal of a number of pastors resulted in the decay +of the church life in this field. After a number of years the +congregations increased again, and so the foundation for the Ev. Luth. +Synod of North Carolina was laid in 1803. Paul Henkel was among the +charter members. The beginning was weak, but the good cause progressed. +Gradually Lutheran congregations were organized also in Virginia, South +Carolina, and in Tennessee, uniting with this synod. As most of the +pastors had come from Pennsylvania, cordial unity obtained between the +Pennsylvania Synod and the Synod of North Carolina. In the course of +time, however, Satan succeeded in sowing tares among the wheat. Two +opposing parties sprang up in the synod. The one, to which the great +majority belonged, found its expression and embodiment in the General +Synod, and is too well known to our readers to require further +characterization at this place. The other was the staunch and truly +Lutheran party, to which, indeed, but a small minority adhered. The +majority, in agreement with a number of influential men in the +Pennsylvania Synod, proposed the idea of a General Synod, which, +according to their view, was to embody not only the various Lutheran +synods of this country, but, if possible, all other religious bodies as +well. While the true Lutherans could see nothing but mischief arising +from this General Synod, the majority entered upon this unhappy scheme +with great enthusiasm. And, in order to carry out their plan, without +the let or hindrance of the staunch Lutherans, the friends of the +General Synod convened a meeting of synod in 1819 at an unlawful time, +and also without notifying all pastors, especially those of Tennessee. +Delegates were elected to the convention of the Pennsylvania Synod in +Baltimore, where the plan for the General Synod was to be matured. In +order to destroy the influence of one of the most decided opponents, the +young David Henkel, he was suspended from office for a period of six +months, ostensibly because he was spreading Roman Catholic doctrines, +which in reality, however, were none but pure Lutheran doctrines, +especially those of the power of Baptism and of the presence of the true +body and blood in the Lord's Supper. When the Synod met at Lincolnton, +N. C., in the following year, those members of Synod who were +dissatisfied with the resolutions of the previous year demanded a +thorough investigation of the mooted questions. In answer reference was +made to the majority vote, which decision was to be final. Hostility to +the Augsburg Confession and especially to the doctrines of Baptism and +of the Lord's Supper, as well as the tendency to unite with all +religious bodies, became more and more apparent. And when the plan of +the General Synod met with the determined opposition of the staunch +Lutherans, the other party dissolved the meeting and made the beginning +of the General Synod. Those pastors who remained faithful to the +Lutheran Confessions, six in number, now united and organized the +so-called Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod." (11, 165.) + + +LUTHERANS IN VIBGINIA. + +79. G. Henkel, Stoever, Klug at Spottsylvania.--In 1754 Muhlenberg and +the Pennsylvania Synod sent an appeal to both London and Halle in which +they state: "Many thousands of Lutheran people are scattered through +North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, etc." When the +Indians attacked New Bern, N. C., shortly after it had been founded in +1710 by 650 Palatines and Swiss, twelve Lutheran families escaped from +the massacre and sought refuge in Virginia. Here Governor Spottwood +allotted them homes in Spottsylvania County. Gerhard Henkel is said to +have been their first pastor; but he served them for a short time only. +Their number was increased by a colony of Alsatians and Palatinates. +They had started for Pennsylvania, but, after various hardships on the +voyage, in which many of their companions died, were purchased by +Governor Spottwood, and sent by him to his lands in the same locality, +on the upper Rappahannock, "twelve German miles from the sea." (Jacobs, +184.) In 1728, after a vacancy of sixteen years, Henkel was succeeded by +John Caspar Stoever, Sr., born in Frankenberg, Hesse, who came to +America with his younger relative of the same name, the latter being +active for many years as a missionary in Pennsylvania. Stoever's salary +in Virginia was three thousand pounds of tobacco a year. In 1734 he and +two members of his congregation, Michael Schmidt and Michael Holden, +went to Europe to collect a fund for the endowment of their church. +"Because the congregation," as an old report has it, "ardently desires +that the Evangelical truth should not be extinguished with his death, +but be preserved to them and their descendants, the said preacher, Rev. +Stoever, toward the close of the year 1734, . . . undertook a voyage to +Europe to collect a fund for the continuance of their service, the +building of a church and school, and the endowment of the ministry." +(G., 115.) In London they were cordially received by Ziegenhagen, and +recommended to Germany and Holland. Besides a large amount of money, +they procured a library of theological books. George Samuel Klug offered +his services as a pastor, and, after his ordination at Danzig, August 30, +1736, proceeded to Virginia with one of the laymen. After completing his +collections, Stoever returned, in 1838, but died at sea. The +contributions which Stoever had collected amounted to three thousand +pounds, one-third of which paid the expenses, and the rest the building +of a chapel (Hebron Church) and the purchase of farmlands and slaves. +Muhlenberg, Sr., wrote: "It is said to be a profitable plantation, and +owns several slaves to till the land." (G., 606.) Pastor Klug, who, in +order to relieve the monotony of his isolation, made occasional visits +to the Lutheran ministers in Pennsylvania, wrote in 1749 that "the +congregation was not in the least burdened by his support." However, the +endowment of the church seems to have been a hindrance rather than an +advantage. The congregation lost many members to the Dunkards. Klug +continued his ministry till 1761, when he was succeeded by Schwarbach, +and later by Frank, both of whom were licensed at Culpeper, the latter +for three years, beginning with 1775. Probably also Peter Muhlenberg +preached in the old Hebron Church. Later on Paul Henkel, when active as +a missionary in Virginia, had the congregation under his supervision. + +80. Peter Muhlenberg and J. N. Schmucker at Woodstock.--Many of the +more enterprising of the Germans in Pennsylvania, notably in Montgomery, +Berks, Lancaster, and York Counties, pressed toward the frontiers of +their State, and then followed the Cumberland Valley into Maryland and +far beyond into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, their number being +constantly increased by immigrants from Germany. To supply their needs, +Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, in 1772, was sent to Virginia, Woodstock +(Muellerstadt) being his home and the center of his field. Though +serving practically none but German Lutherans, he sought and secured +the ordination of the Episcopal Church in order to obtain legal +recognition of his marriages. In Virginia the Protestant Episcopal +Church was firmly established, and dissenters were compelled to pay an +annual tribute to the established preachers. Says Muhlenberg, Sr.: "If +dissenting parties were married by their own pastors, this was not +legal, and they could not get off any cheaper than by paying the +marriage dues to the established county preacher and obtaining a +marriage certificate from him." (G., 606.) Together with W. White, +afterward Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, +Peter Muhlenberg was ordained by the Bishop of London, after he had been +examined and had subscribed to the Thirty-nine Articles. By the +indifferentistic Germans and Swedes of those days such ordinations were +generally regarded as a favor and comity from the Episcopalians rather +than a humiliation and denial on the part of the Lutherans. Dr. Kunze +says: "The bishops of London have never made a difficulty to ordain +Lutheran divines, when called to congregations which, on account of +being connected with English Episcopalians, made this ordination +requisite. Thus by bishops of London the following Lutheran ministers +were ordained: Bryselius, Peter Muhlenberg, Illing, Houseal, and Wagner. +The last-mentioned was called, after having obtained this ordination, to +an Ev. Lutheran congregation in the Margraviate of Anspach in Germany." +(Jacobs, 285.) Peter Muhlenberg viewed his Episcopal ordination as a +purely civil affair, and, though claimed by the Episcopalians, he always +regarded himself as a Lutheran. He died (1807) with the conviction that +he had never been anything but a Lutheran. In a circular to the Lutheran +churches of Philadelphia, dated March 14, 1804, he said: "Brethren, we +have been born, baptized, and brought up in the Evangelical Lutheran +Church. Many of us have vowed before God and the congregation, at our +confirmation, to live and die by this doctrine of our Church. In the +doctrine of our Church we have our joy, our brightest joy; we prize it +the more highly since, in our opinion, it agrees most with the doctrine +of the faithful and true witness of our Savior Jesus Christ. We wish +nothing more than that we and our children and our children's children +and all our posterity may remain faithful to this doctrine." (284.) +Among the friends of Peter Muhlenberg at Woodstock were George +Washington and the orator of the Revolution, Patrick Henry. The story is +well known how, after preaching a sermon on the seriousness of the times +and pronouncing the benediction, he cast off his clerical robe, +appearing before his congregation in the glittering uniform of a colonel. +During the long vacancy which followed Wildbahn, Goering, and J. D. +Kurtz preached occasionally in the old church at Woodstock. In 1805 John +Nicholas Schmucker took charge of the field. He was a popular preacher, +using, almost exclusively, also in the pulpit, the Pennsylvania German. +"Zu so Kinner," he said, "muss mer so preddige." (G., 608.) + +81. Patriotic Activity of Peter Muhlenberg.--Peter was the oldest son +of H. M. Muhlenberg. He was sent to the University of Halle for his +theological training, where his independent spirit soon brought him into +trouble. At one occasion he resented an insult on the part of his +instructor with a blow. Forestalling expulsion, the young man enlisted +in a German regiment, in which he was known as "Teufel Piet." After two +years of military training he returned to America, and consented to +study theology under his father. After a short pastorate in New Jersey +he was transferred to Woodstock. He traveled extensively through the +Shenandoah Valley and the mountains to the west, preaching wherever +Lutherans could be found. When the Revolution began, Peter Muhlenberg +roused the patriotism of his fellow-Germans in Virginia, who were much +better established and in closer touch with their English neighbors than +those in North Carolina, many of them being acquainted with Lord Fairfax +and George Washington and holding civil offices in their communities. +Muhlenberg brought about, and was chairman of, the Woodstock Convention, +June 16, 1774, at which the Germans united with their Scotch-Irish +neighbors in a declaration against British tyranny, nearly a year before +the famous Mecklenburg Declaration in May, 1775. The resolutions adopted +at Woodstock were prepared by a committee, of which Muhlenberg was +chairman. They read, in part, as follows: "That we will pay due +submission to such acts of government as His Majesty has a right by law +to exercise over his subjects, and to such only." "That it is the +inherent right of British subjects to be governed and taxed by +representatives chosen by themselves only, and that every act of the +British Parliament respecting the internal policy of America is a +dangerous and unconstitutional invasion of our rights and privileges." +"That the enforcing of the execution of the said act of Parliament by +military power will have a necessary tendency to cause a civil war, +thereby dissolving that union which has so long happily subsisted +between the mother country and her colonies; and that we will most +heartily and unanimously concur with our suffering brethren of Boston +and every other part of North America that may be the immediate victim +of tyranny, as promoting all proper measures to avert such dreadful +calamities to procure a redress of our grievances and to secure our +common liberties." After the Woodstock meeting Muhlenberg was elected a +member of the House of Burgesses of Virginia and also of the State +Convention. He was appointed colonel of the Eighth regiment, afterwards +known as the German regiment, which he also raised. After receiving his +commission, Muhlenberg preached the famous war sermon which Colonel +Roosevelt, several years ago, repeated in _Collier's Weekly_, in his +plea for fair play for the Germans. Beneath his black pulpit robe, which +is to-day in the possession of the Henkel Brothers' Publishing House, +Peter Muhlenberg wore his uniform. In his sermon he spoke of the duties +citizens owe to their country. In closing he said: "There is a time for +preaching and praying; but there is also a time of fighting; now this +time has come!" The service ended, he retired to the sacristy and came +out the colonel. He made a speech from the front steps of his church and +began the enlistment, 300 signing. In the war he distinguished himself +at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown, and was advanced to +the rank of Major-General. The war over, Peter Muhlenberg served as +Speaker of the House in Congress and afterwards as United States +Senator. (_Luth. Church Review_ 1919, 160 ff.) + +82. Chr. Streit at Winchester, Henkel at New Market.--In 1785 +Christian Streit, who had been active in New Hanover, Pa., since 1782, +came to Winchester, Va., where he served till 1812. Here the foundations +for a church had been laid in 1704. According to a document found in the +cornerstone, the congregation, then numbering 33 members, declared: +"This temple is dedicated to the Triune God and the Lutheran religion; +all sects, whatsoever their names may be, departing from, or not fully +agreeing with, the Evangelical Lutheran religion, shall forever be +excluded from it." This document was signed by Caspar Kirchner, then +pastor of the congregation, L. Adams, secretary, and Anton Ludi, +schoolteacher. By the aid of a lottery the church was completed under +Chr. Streit in 1787. William Carpenter, a scholar of Streit, labored in +Madison Co., Va., from 1791 to 1813, when he removed to Kentucky. +Augusta County, in the Shenandoah Valley, was almost exclusively settled +by Germans, the Koiner (Coyner, Koyner, Coiner, Kiner, Cuyner) family, +hailing from Wuerttemberg, being especially numerous. New Market, +Shenandoah County, was the home of Paul Henkel (1754--1825), who had +studied German, Latin, Greek, and Theology under the direction of Pastor +Krug in Pennsylvania, and was ordained at Philadelphia in 1792. A most +zealous and energetic missionary, his journeys carried him into Virginia, +North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. +From 1800 to 1805 he was stationed in Rowan Co., N. C., and took part in +the organization of the Synod of North Carolina in 1803. Returning to +Virginia in 1805, he, together with his six sons, established a printery +at New Market, which loyally served the cause of true Lutheranism. As +the years rolled on, the Henkels became increasingly free from the +prevailing doctrinal indifferentism, and arrived at an ever clearer +understanding of Lutheran truth, and this at a time when all existing +Lutheran synods were moving in the opposite direction. The Lutheran +loyalty and determination of the Henkels over against the unionistic and +Reformed tendencies within the North Carolina Synod led to the +organization of the Tennessee Synod, July 17, 1820, a synod which +espoused the cause of pure Lutheranism, and zealously opposed the +enthusiastic, unionistic, and Reformed aberrations then prevalent in all +other Lutheran synods of America. Two years prior, September 14, 1818, +Paul Henkel had participated in the organization of the Ohio Synod, at +first called the General Conference of Evangelical Lutheran Pastors, etc. +On October 11, 1820, conferences, which had met since 1793, led to the +organization of the Synod of Maryland and Virginia at Winchester, Va., +by ten pastors and nine delegates. Nine years later the Virginia Synod +was organized; and the Southwest Virginia Synod, September 20, 1841. + + +SPECIAL CONFERENCE IN VIRGINIA. + +83. Minutes of 1805.--In the first decade of the nineteenth century a +Special Conference was organized in Virginia: "Specialkonferenz der +Evang.-Luth. Prediger (Lehrer) und Abgeordneten im Staat Virginien." At +the meeting held on Sunday, October 7, 1805, in the newly built church +at Millerstadt (Woodstock), five lay delegates (among them Doctor +Solomon Henkel) and the following ministers were present: Chr. Streit, +W. Carpenter, Paul Henkel, J. Foltz, A. Spintler. Streit delivered a +touching sermon (eine ruehrende Rede) in the Lutheran church on Matt. +28, 20. In the afternoon Paul Henkel preached in the Reformed church on +2 Cor. 4, 5; in the evening, Carpenter on 1 Cor. 1, 23, also in the +Reformed church. Monday morning they met in the schoolhouse. At 12 +o'clock Spintler preached in the Reformed church on Eph. 1, 7. In the +afternoon it was decided that an address to the congregations be added +to the minutes "on better bringing up of the children and better order +of the youth." On motion of Solomon Henkel it was resolved to add to the +minutes also the 21 articles of the Augsburg Confession. Furthermore it +was resolved that after the sermon the children should be instructed in +the catechism. It was also approved to abolish as far as possible the +custom of saying the individual lines of the hymns in public worship +(die Lieder zeilenweise vorzusprechen). The address added to the minutes +says, in part: "If children are to grow up well-bred and be reared to +the honor of God, then the teachers in the churches, the schoolteachers +in the school-houses, and the parents in their dwellings must perform +their various duties toward the young plants in the vineyard of the +Lord." "Generally men care for the bodily welfare of their children, +which in itself is not wrong; why, then, should we not also, and indeed +much more so, be concerned about their everlasting and eternal welfare?" +"O parents, parents! seek to save yourselves and, as much as is in you, +also your children! Do not spare any trouble or expenses to have your +children instructed in the fundamental truths of our holy religion. Send +them, according to your ability and the circumstances, to school +regularly, especially to such schools where they are trained, not only +for this world, but for heaven also, where they are instructed in song, +prayer, and the doctrine of the catechism." "In our corrupted times some +parents permit their children to waste the whole day of the holy Sabbath +in a disorderly and sinful manner rather than bring them to the teacher +in order to have them instructed for half an hour to their temporal and +eternal welfare. O parents, parents! is that the way to bring up your +children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? O remember that, who +knows how soon, you with your dear children will have to appear before +God's judgment! O ponder what a fearful and terrible thing it would be, +if at that great day your own children should have to accuse and condemn +you there before the throne of God!" With respect to the grown-up youth +the address complains: "We cannot, in truth, think of many of you +without shedding tears. Many of you do not only despise your mother +tongue, but with it your mother church. Many, at least among those of +our acquaintance, born of Evangelical Lutheran parents, neglect the +instruction which they could have so conveniently, neglect confirmation +and the Lord's Supper, and frequently behave in public worship in a +manner to make one feel almost ashamed of them, and thus they live in +the world without religion and without God." + +84. Minutes of 1807, etc.--To the minutes of 1807 a formula for burial, +furnished by Henkel, is added for the use of schoolteachers in the +absence of a minister. At the meeting in the schoolhouse at Winchester, +1808, it was resolved that the congregations elect devout men to conduct +reading-services and give catechetical instruction to the children on +Sundays when ministers are absent. It was furthermore resolved that +ministers should conduct, as often as possible, private meetings in +their congregations in order to edify the members by prayer, song, and +instruction. The admonition, written by Paul Henkel and Streit, and +added to the minutes, in a simple and earnest manner urges the +congregations to introduce the reading-services, the instruction of the +young, and to attend the private meetings. "Coldness and indifference in +religion," they say, "is so universal that we must employ all possible +means to awaken men to a true and living Christianity." A special and +fervent appeal is added not to abuse, but to keep, the Sabbath, the Day +of the Lord, "the good, useful, holy day, which God especially has +reserved for Himself for the furtherance of His honor and the welfare of +our immortal souls." The appeal concludes: "Do you love your country? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love civic rest? Then sanctify the +Sabbath. Do you love your neighbors? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you +love your children? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love your parents? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love your preachers, your Savior, and +your souls? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you desire to escape hell? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you desire some day to celebrate the +eternal Sabbath with the saints and the perfected just before the throne +of God? Then sanctify the Sabbath here on earth, whereby you may be best +prepared for those blissful occupations." At the meeting of the Special +Conference in the school of Solomon's Church, Shenandoah County, 1809, +it was resolved that the admonition to be added to the minutes of this +year should take "special reference to the furtherance of the German +language and schools." The admonition, written by Paul Henkel and +Carpenter, complains that the ministers were not able to do their +mission-duty, partly because they were rich and unable to undergo the +hardships connected with traveling, partly because the congregations +supporting them refused to let them go. They admonish the congregations +to show their brotherly love in permitting their ministers to serve +their forsaken and needy brethren. Respecting the cultivation of the +German language, the admonition remarks, in part: "In the first place, +we know that the English language is not as easily understood as the +German. Even when the Germans are able to read and write it, they +understand very little of it aright. Their parents, themselves not +knowing the language, can hear their children read, and see them write, +but cannot show them where they err, nor correct them. And just as +little are they able to explain to them the contents of what they read; +for [even] the English understand very little of what they read in some +useful books, until they learn to understand it from their +dictionaries." "If parents were really concerned about training their +children for the general weal of the country, they would see to it that +their sons be taught the Christian religion in their mother-tongue as +well as be instructed in the English language to read, write, figure, +etc. Then they might become truly useful men for the general welfare of +their country. All the most useful men that one can point out in our +country are, as a rule, of this class. It cannot be expected that men +who, for reasons of selfishness and pride, despise their language and +church will stand for the welfare of their country." The admonition +concludes: "We know how much good and wholesome instruction for the +edification of our souls and for the comfort of our hearts we have +derived from our German books, which are so easily understood, and which +so plainly describe the simple way of life. From what we learned from +them ever since our youth, we have obtained our only hope of salvation +hereafter; why, then, should we, for any reason whatsoever, deprive our +children of it?" According to the statistical appendix of the minutes of +the Special Conference in 1809, there were, at that time, no less than +49 organized congregations in Virginia. It does not, however, appear +that the interest in the German language and the consciousness of true +Lutheranism made any marked progress in the following years. In 1817, at +Culpeper, Pastors G. Riemenschneider, A Reck, Nicholas and Peter +Schmucker, and Michael Meyerhoeffer, and five lay delegates were +present. Four German and three English sermons were delivered. Among the +resolutions is the following: "that only pious and, if possible, only +converted men be chosen as elders of the congregations, and that they +live piously both in their homes with family prayer in the evening and +morning, and before the world respectably and honorably, receive the +Lord's Supper frequently," etc. Instead of any reference to the +tercentenary of the Reformation we find in the minutes of 1817 a +resolution to the effect "that the proceedings of this year, together +with a _Letter of a Traveling Jew_ appended, be printed." + + +SYNOD OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. + +85. Always Prominent and Liberal.--The Synod of Maryland and Virginia, +organized October 11, 1820, has always been prominent in the General +Synod. "The _Lutheran Observer_, the Pastors' Fund, the Lutheran +Ministers' Insurance League, the Missionary Institute, now Susquehanna +University, were all born in this venerable Synod, which was also first +to suggest the observance of Reformation Day. Lutherville and Hagerstown +Female Seminaries are within its bounds. It has always been abreast of +the most advanced, evangelical, and catholic life of the Church, giving +no uncertain sound upon the divine obligation of the Lord's Day and the +saloon." (J. G. Butler in the _Luth. Cycl_., 482.) Among its noted +pastors were J. D. and B. Kurtz, J. G. Morris, F. W. Conrad, S. W. +Harkey, Theo. and C. A. Stork, D. F. Schaeffer, C. Philip and C. +Porterfield Krauth, S. S. Schmucker, H. L. Baugher, Sr., W. A. +Passavant, Sr., Ezra Keller. But men of this synod also led the van in +doctrinal and practical liberalism. Harkey and Kurtz were New-measurists +and enthusiastic revivalists. Harkey moved the publication of a monthly, +_The Revivalist_, which Synod, however, declared "inexpedient." Through +the endeavors of Kurtz a committee was appointed to bring in a report on +the "New Measures," which was referred back to the committee. In 1844 +Synod resolved to issue an "Abstract of the Doctrines and Practise of +the Ev. Luth. Synod of Maryland." Fourteen doctrinal articles were +prepared by H. L. Baugher, B. Kurtz, and S. W. Harkey, containing, among +other statements, also the following: "We believe that the Scriptures +teach that God has given to man, as a natural gift, the power of choice, +and that, whilst he is influenced in his volitions by motives, he always +possesses the ability to choose the opposite of that which was the +object of his choice. God, in His providence and grace, places before +man the evil and the good, urging him by the most powerful +considerations to choose the latter and reject the former. When the +sinner yields to God, that is regeneration." "We believe that the +Scriptures teach that there are but two Sacraments, _viz_., Baptism and +the Lord's Supper, in each of which truths essential to salvation are +symbolically represented. We do not believe that they exert any +influence _ex opere operato_, but only through the faith of the +believer. Neither do the Scriptures warrant the belief that Christ is +present in the Lord's Supper in any other than a spiritual manner." "We +regard them [the Lutheran Symbols] as good and useful exhibitions of +truth, but do not receive them as binding on the conscience, except so +far as they agree with the Word of God." Evidently these articles of the +Maryland "Abstract," as A. Spaeth puts it, "not only avoid or contradict +the distinctive features of the Lutheran Confession, but have a decided +savor of Arminianism and Pelagianism." (_C. P. Krauth_, 1, 111 f.) +October 17, 1856, the Maryland Synod declared that every one is at +liberty to accept or reject the doctrines of the Augsburg Confession +which the "Definite Platform" rejected as false, provided that thereby +the divine institution of the Sabbath be not rejected, nor the doctrinal +basis of the General Synod changed. (_L. u. W_. 1856, 382.) + +86. Maryland Abstract of Doctrines.--On the un-Lutheran, Reformed, and +Arminian articles of the Maryland "Abstract" we quote Dr. A. Spaeth as +follows: "This report was first recommitted, and, in 1846, was laid on +the table and indefinitely postponed. The _Lutheran Observer_ referred +to it in an extended editorial (November 27, 1846), and printed it in +full, with a few slight alterations and omissions. We quote from this +article as follows: 'When asked what Lutherans believe, the question is +not always so easily answered to the satisfaction of the inquirer. We +may refer him to books, confessions, catechisms, etc.; but the +proponent, most probably, has neither inclination nor time to hunt up +and examine such authorities. He desires to be told in a few words, +distinctly and definitely, what is the prevailing belief in the Lutheran +Church on all fundamental points of religious truth. A short tract, a +page or two comprehending an epitome of the doctrines and usages of the +mass of Lutheran Christians in the United States, is what would suit +him. Is there anything of this kind to be found in the Church? The want +of it has long been felt and expressed. From the North and the South, +the East and the West, we have been asked for something of this nature. +The question assumed such importance that it was finally agitated some +two years ago in the Synod of Maryland, and afterward in the General +Synod (1846), held in Philadelphia. In both instances committees were +appointed to draw up and report an abstract of our "doctrine and +practise." The committee appointed by the Maryland Synod complied; and +though the "Abstract" itself was approved, the Synod, for reasons which +we have not time at present to explain, did not think proper to adopt +the report and recommend it to the Church. The committee was composed of +some of our most intelligent and valued ministers; when they had +prepared it, they sent a copy to every minister of the Synod, soliciting +his emendations on the margin, and after its final return it was +reprinted with the benefit of these emendations; and it is in this +improved form that we now present it. We find no difficulty in +subscribing the document, and in presenting it as a fair, honest +exhibition of Lutheran doctrine and practise as understood in the +latitude in which we reside; and if we are not greatly mistaken, the +great mass of our American ministers throughout the land would not make +any material objection to it.'" Dr. Spaeth continues: "This attempt to +substitute such an 'abstract' for the full and precise language of the +Confession of the Church was a sort of forerunner of the famous +'Definite Platform,' which appeared about ten years afterward, and whose +principal author, Prof. S. S. Schmucker in Gettysburg, was so much +pleased with the 'abstract' that he referred to it again and again in +his lectures and articles, and even made his students commit to memory +its principal statements. In an article on the 'Vocation of the American +Lutheran Church' (_Evangelical Review_, Vol. II, p. 510) he says: 'With +the exception of several minor shades of doctrine, in which we are more +symbolic than Dr. Baugher, we could not ourselves, in so few words, give +a better description of the views taught in the Seminary [Gettysburg] +than that contained in his "Abstract of the Doctrines and Practise," etc. +No ground of apprehension as to our seminary, since the doctrines of our +Symbols and the prevailing doctrines of our American Church are here +faithfully taught.'" (112.) + + + +THE TENNESSEE SYNOD. + + +ORGANIZATION. + +87. "German Ev. Luth. Conference of Tennessee."--Although the +Tennessee Synod has always been and is now only one of the smaller +American Lutheran synods, its history reveals much that is gratifying, +instructive, edifying, and interesting. The first report is entitled: +"Report of the transactions of the first conference of the German Ev. +Luth. pastors and deputies held in the State of Tennessee, in Solomon's +Church, Cove Creek, Green Co., on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of July, +1820." The conference was organized by Pastors Jacob Zink of Virginia, +Paul Henkel of Virginia, Adam Miller of Tennessee, Philip Henkel of +Tennessee, George Esterly of Tennessee, and David Henkel of North +Carolina (who was unable to attend the first meeting), and 19 deputies +of congregations in Tennessee. (_Bericht_ 1820, 3.) By 1827 the number +of pastors had increased to 14, by 1856 to 32, and by 1900 to 40. At +present the Tennessee Synod numbers about 130 congregations and 14,500 +communicants. The name "Synod" appears for the first time in the English +Report of 1825, and is found in the constitution since 1827. In the +minutes of 1820 we read: "Firstly, it was deemed necessary and good that +all business and proceedings of this conference, or synod, shall be +conducted in the German language. All written reports of the proceedings +belonging to the whole shall also be published in the German language." +(4.) Synod also regarded it "as most necessary that we be as diligent as +possible to acquaint our children with all our doctrines of faith in our +German language, since in it we are able to instruct them in the easiest +way." (9.) A footnote makes the following comment: "The reason why we +desire a purely German-speaking conference: Experience has taught us +that where a conference is German-English, either the one or the other +party considers itself offended. When German is spoken, the English +brethren understand little, and very frequently nothing at all. When +English is spoken, many a German brother is unable to grasp the matter, +and accordingly unable to judge in questions of the greatest importance. +Besides, at the present time there are very few purely English pastors +who accept the doctrine of our Church and desire to preach it." (4.) The +same sentiments are voiced in the following statement of this report: +"False Lutherans prefer to seek entrance among the German church-people, +because they still contribute most to the support of the ministry. Some +Germans also of our day are of such a kind that if they are able to +preach a little English, no matter how broken and jargonlike it is +spoken, they are inflated with such senseless pride that they would no +longer preach a thing in their mother-tongue nor care the least for the +order of the Church, if it were not a question of bread and of keeping +the good will of some obdurate Germans. They preach because they take +pleasure in hearing themselves. Those who are really English and +understand their language do not care to hear such, except at times, and +then for their amusement only. The Germans therefore are under no +obligations to the good will of such sirs, when they serve them in their +language and according to their order." (31.) Originally, then, the +Tennessee Synod was determined to be and to remain a purely +German-speaking body. + +88. Attitude toward the English Language.--That the interest +manifested by the Tennessee Synod in the German language was not due to +any unreasonable prejudice or hatred toward the English language as +such, appears from the fact that since 1821 the minutes of Synod were +printed both in English and German. Moreover, in the minutes of the +second convention, 1821, we read: "At the request of some of our +brethren of North Carolina it was resolved that there be annually a +synod held in North Carolina, or in an adjoining State in the English +language. The members of the German Tennessee Synod may also help to +compose this Synod. It shall be governed agreeably to the same +constitution as that of the German Tennessee Synod (the language +excepted). Those who compose this Synod may appoint the place and time +of the meeting, when and where they may deem it expedient." (Report +1821, 7.) The Report of 1822 records: "Resolved: Because this Synod is +German-speaking, and Mr. Blalock not understanding this language, he +cannot therefore have a seat and vote in this body. Yet, the Revs. Paul +and David Henkel are allowed as individual ministers to examine him, and +in case he is qualified, to ordain him. It is to be understood that Mr. +Blalock is to be ordained a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; +but in case he should acquire a knowledge of the German language, which +he expects to do, he can then have a seat and vote in the German synod. +But whilst he understands the English language only, he may with other +ministers, who walk agreeably to the doctrines and rules of the German +synod, organize an English-speaking synod, in conformity to a resolution +passed last year." (5.) In 1826 the resolution was adopted: "Whereas +there are sundry members belonging to this Synod who do not understand +the German language, and yet do not wish to form a separate body, it was +resolved that the Secretary, during this session, shall act as an +interpreter between the German and English brethren. It was further +resolved that at the next session, during the three first days, all the +business shall be transacted in the German language, _i.e._, if so much +time shall be requisite; after which the business shall be resumed in +the English language." (3.) The anxiety caused by the language-question +appears from the following letter of Philip Henkel, dated October 19, +1826: "After my return from Synod, I found our German +congregation-members very much dissatisfied because they believed that +we had violated the constitution, and I am afraid that a separation will +be the result. For the old Germans will never suffer the Tennessee Synod +to become a German-English-speaking body. We must certainly act +carefully in this matter, otherwise our Synod will be ruined. . . . They +said that they were willing to sacrifice the constitution, provided that +we remain an exclusively German-speaking body. I also am willing to +relinquish the constitution, provided that the Augsburg Confession is +made the constitution of this synod. We shall find that we shall not be +able to keep the Germans and English together, even when we conduct +synod at the same place three days in the German and three days in the +English language, for the Germans will have to suffer the burden. The +English will always want to attend; then they are coarsely treated by +the Germans; the English complain; thus the matter will be ruined. My +advice, therefore, is: Let us always hold a German-speaking synod, and +afterwards an English-speaking one. In this way we shall be able to +exist. For my part, I am willing to attend both. Every constitution +except the Augsburg Confession may then be set aside. If the Germans +refuse to maintain their language, we can't help it, and we are not at +fault if they perish. If you approve the plan of holding first an +exclusively German-speaking synod and then an exclusively +English-speaking synod, and also of abolishing every constitution except +the Augsburg Confession, advise me at your earliest convenience. I will +then write to the rest of the preachers, and appoint the time and place +for synod. This seems to be the only means of keeping our people united, +for at present they are apart, and who knows how we may bring them +together. After the constitution has been transgressed, everybody feels +free. But if the Augsburg Confession were the constitution, every member +would readily agree to it. These are my thoughts. Write soon. Philip +Henkel." (_L. u. W_. 60, 63.) In the minutes of 1827 we read: "14. Some +members of this congregation alleged the following charge against Mr. +Adam Miller, Jr.: that he neglected to officiate in the German language, +and thus deprived those of religious instructions and edification who do +not understand the English. The Synod was convinced of the justice of +the complaint, and considered it highly necessary that these brethren +should be served in the German language. Mr. Miller, in defense of his +conduct, said that he did not understand the German language accurately +and therefore could not officiate in it, and that hitherto he has not +had an opportunity of learning it. But he promised to acquire a more +accurate knowledge of this language, provided his congregations were +willing to spare him from their service for one year. He intends to +study this language with David Henkel. The members of his congregations +who were present agreed for him to do so, but requested to be visited a +few times by some of the other ministers during the time they should be +vacant. The Synod highly approved Mr. Miller's resolution, and wished +him to persevere in this laudable undertaking." (12.) The Synod of 1827 +was confronted by conflicting petitions as to the language-question. The +following memorials were read: "1. A memorial from St. James's Church in +Greene County, Tenn., subscribed by 23 persons. They pray this Synod not +to alter the constitution. Further, that this body remain exclusively +German, and that some measures be taken to establish a separate English +Synod.... 4. In a letter in which the Rev. Adam Miller, Sr., states the +reasons of his absence, he prays this body to allow the English brethren +equal privileges, so that they may not be under the necessity of +establishing a separate Synod." (14.) The constitution, which was +proposed at this meeting and accepted in the following year, disposed of +this question as follows: "All debates shall first be held in the German +language, whereupon the same shall be resumed in the English; provided +there shall be both German and English members present. After the +debates on a subject shall have been ended, then the decision shall be +made." (R. 1827, 24; B. 1828, 28.) In the following years the English +language rapidly gained the ascendency, until finally the German +disappeared entirely. (R. 1831, 9; B. 1841, 8. 9.) Rev. Th. Brohm, after +visiting the Tennessee Synod, wrote in the _Lutheraner_ of January 2, +1855: "Though of German origin, the Tennessee Synod in the course of +time has lost its German element, and has become a purely English synod." + +89. Born of Lutheran Loyalty.--The organization of the Tennessee Synod +came as a protest against the projected General Synod, and especially +against existing conditions in the Synod of North Carolina, to which the +Tennessee pastors belonged until their secession in 1820. March 14, +1820, Philip Henkel had written to his brother: "If I am spared, I shall +attend synod. . . . If the old ministers will not act agreeably to the +Augsburg Confession, we will erect a synod in Tennessee." The "old +ministers" were Stork, Shober, Jacob and Daniel Sherer, and other +pastors of the North Carolina Synod who advocated a union with the sects +and the connection with the General Synod, and sought to suppress such +testimony on behalf of Lutheran truth and consistency as the Henkels had +begun to bear publicly. Aversion to faithful confessional Lutheranism +was the real reason why the Synod of North Carolina in 1816 refused to +ordain the young, but able David Henkel, which, even at that time, +almost resulted in a withdrawal of the Henkels and their delegates. The +tension was greatly increased when the Synod of 1819 degraded David +Henkel to the rank of catechist, on the false charge that he had +preached transubstantiation and other papistic heresies and thereby +given offense to the "Reformed brethren." As a matter of fact, he had +proclaimed the Lutheran doctrine of the Lord's Supper. The North +Carolina Synod made the entry into their minutes. "He [David Henkel] is +therefore no preacher of the Lutheran Church of North Carolina and +adjacent States." (G., 696.) A source of additional ill will was the +autocratic procedure of the officers in arbitrarily convening the Synod +of 1819, five weeks before the constitutional time (whence known as the +"Untimely Synod"), and that without sending out notices sufficiently +early, and for a purpose most odious to the Henkels and their adherents, +_viz_., to elect a delegate (Shober was chosen) to the convention of +the Pennsylvania Synod at Baltimore in order to participate in the +framing of a tentative constitution for the projected General Synod. +Resenting the arrogance and unconstitutional action of the officers as +well as the obnoxious resolutions of the "Untimely Synod," those members +of the North Carolina Synod who had been either unwilling or unable +(having been notified too late) to take part in the deliberations of the +"Untimely Synod," five weeks later, at the time prescribed by the +constitution, held a synod of their own at Buffalo Creek, in Stork's +congregation, where the "Untimely Synod" had been held, under the oaks, +near the church, Stork having refused them the use of the church for +this purpose. "The Synod," Stork declared, "has been held; and there is +no need of holding it again." He ordered his elders not to open the +church, but finally permitted them to hold services there, with the +express proviso, however, that no business was to be transacted in it. +(B. 1820, 21.) Philip Henkel was elected president, and Bell and David +Henkel were ordained. (21.) In the following year, a few months after +the so-called "Quarreling Synod" ("Streitsynode"), where the majority of +the North Carolina Synod decided in favor of a union with the General +Synod, the minority, as related above, organized the Tennessee Synod. +(15.) In the minutes (Bericht) of 1820, the members of the new synod +justify their withdrawal and organization as a separate body by calling +attention especially to the following points: 1. The officers and some +of the members of the North Carolina Synod had proven by their words +and actions that they "could no longer be regarded as truly Evangelical +Lutheran pastors." (12. 15.) 2. The "Untimely Synod" had declared the +excommunication of a member of David Henkel's congregation to be +invalid, without investigating the matter in that congregation, thereby +infringing upon the rights of the congregation. (20.) 3. The same synod +had not rebuked its president, Rev. Stork, when he made the statement +that he could not believe the Lutheran doctrine that Christ as man was +in possession of all divine attributes, and that he would not believe it +if 500 Bibles should say so. 4. The Synod of 1820 had declared David +Henkel's ordination "under the oaks" invalid, and had published a sort +of letter of excommunication against him. (22.) 5. Synod had refused to +settle the mooted questions according to the Augsburg Confession and the +synodical constitution, but, instead, had demanded that the minority +should yield to the majority. "We, however, thought," says the Report, +"that the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession (concerning which we were +convinced that it could be proven by the doctrine of the Bible) should +have greater weight with us than the voice of a majority of men who are +opposed to the doctrine and ordinance of our Church." (23.) 6. Synod had +permitted the un-Lutheran remarks made at the convention and elsewhere +on Baptism, the Eucharist, Election, Conversion, and the certainty of +the state of grace, as well as on union with all religious parties, to +pass unreproved.--Stating the causes of the deplorable schism, David +Henkel wrote in 1827: "A most unhappy difference exists between this +body and the North Carolina Synod. Previous to the year 1820 some +members of the former and some of the latter constituted one Synod. In +this year the North Carolina Synod entered into the connection of a +General Synod with some other synods. This is a connection and +institution which heretofore did not exist in the Lutheran community, +and to which the Tennessee Synod object as an institution calculated to +subvert ecclesiastical liberty, and to prepare the way for innovations. +This, together with the difference in regard to some of the fundamental +doctrines of the Christian religion, are the principal reasons of the +division." (R. 1827, 32.) In brief, the organization of the Tennessee +Synod was a solemn protest against synodical tyranny and +anticonfessional teaching then prevailing in the North Carolina Synod +and in all other Lutheran bodies in America. Accordingly, as compared +with her contemporaries, it remains the peculiar glory of the Tennessee +Synod that she was born of Lutheran loyalty. + +90. Back to Luther! Back to the Lutheran Symbols!--Such, in substance +and effect, was the slogan sounded by the Tennessee Synod, for the first +time in the history of the Lutheran Church in America, after long years +of confessional disloyalty and of doctrinal and practical deterioration. +By dint of earnest and conscientious study of the Lutheran Symbols and +of Luther's writings, the Tennessee pastors, in particular the Henkels, +had attained to a clear knowledge of Lutheran truth and practise, +thereby, at the same time, becoming fully convinced that of all +teachings in Christendom the Lutheran doctrine alone is in full accord +with Holy Writ. March 13, 1823, Solomon Henkel wrote: "A week ago Mr. +York was here, bringing with him Luther's Works. They are bound in 13 +folio volumes and cost $100. I purchased the books." To penetrate deeper +and deeper into the writings of Luther, to persuade others to do the +same, and to make this possible to them, such was the ardent desire and +earnest endeavor of the Tennessee pastors. Evidently with this purpose +in view, Paul Henkel had established a printery at New Market, Va., +where books and tracts breathing a Lutheran spirit were published. +Synodical colporteurs diligently canvassed them among the congregations. +Sound Lutheran works, _e.g._, the Augsburg Confession, sermons by Luther +and Arndt, the article on Good Works from the Formula of Concord, were +from time to time, by resolution of Synod, appended to the synodical +reports. (1831, 11.) Nor was their zeal satisfied with fostering true +Lutheranism in their own midst. In order to acquaint the +English-speaking public with the truths and treasures of our Church, +they issued translations of standard Lutheran works. Besides an agenda +and a hymnal, the New Market printery published in 1829 an English +translation of Luther's Small Catechism with notes by David Henkel; in +1834, a translation of the Augsburg Confession with a preface by Karl +Henkel (in 1827 David Henkel had already been commissioned to prepare a +correct translation); in 1851, an English version of the entire Book of +Concord, of which a second and improved edition appeared in 1854; in +1852, "Luther on the Sacraments," being translations of some writings of +Luther by Jos. Salyards and Solomon D. Henkel, 423 pages octavo; in +1869, Luther's Epistle Sermons, an English edition of which had been +determined upon in 1855. (Rep. 1826, 7; 1830, 17; 1841, 15; 1855, 14.) +On March 1, 1824, a certain Sam Blankenbecker wrote to David Henkel: +"There are two sorts of Lutherans: the one sort believes there is no +doctrine right and pure but the Lutheran; the other thinks that also the +Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists are equally right and pure; and +such Lutherans are very hurtful to others." The Tennessee Synod belonged +to the first class. They were conscious Lutherans, who knew what they +were and what they stood for. The fact is that in those days Tennessee +was the only synod with a true Lutheran heart and an honest Lutheran +face. + +91. Despised and Ostracized.--Their return to Luther and the Lutheran +Symbols brought the Henkels and the Tennessee Synod into direct +opposition to, and sharp conflict with, all other Lutheran synods of +that day. For, though still bearing, and priding themselves on, the +Lutheran name, they all had long ago begun to abandon the confessions +and distinctive doctrines of the Church which the cherished and coveted +name of Luther stood for. Their leaders had become indifferentists, +unionists, and Reformed and Methodistic enthusiasts. Over against this +lack of Lutheran faithfulness and apostasy from the Confessions the +Henkels gave no uncertain testimony. Being Lutherans in their hearts as +well as in their heads, they boldly confessed the truths, and most +energetically championed the cause of genuine Lutheranism. And they +squared their actions with their words and convictions. Consistent also +in their practise, they refused to fellowship and recognize the +errorists everywhere, even when found in Lutheran synods. No wonder, +then, that the Henkels and their uncompromising attitude met with no +sympathy on the part of the Lutheran synods then found in America. And, +being, as they were, a standing protest against the apostasy of these +synods, it was but natural, carnally, that the Tenneesee [tr. note: sic] +confessors were avoided, ignored, despised, hated, maligned, and +ostracized by their opponents. Tennessee was decried and stigmatized as +the "Quarreling Conference" ("Streitkonferenz"). The "Henkelites," it +was said, had been convicted of error at the "Quarreling Synod"; there +they had not been able to prove their doctrine; they were false +Lutherans; some of them had been excluded from Synod, therefore they had +no authority to officiate as ministers; their synod was not a lawful +synod; its transactions were invalid, etc. (1820, 22.30; 1824, App. 3; +1827, 43 f.) All endeavors on the part of the Tennessee Synod to bring +about an understanding and a unification in the truth were spurned by +the other synods "with silent contempt," says David Henkel. (1827, 6. +25.) In the Maryland Synod the prediction was heard: "This Tennessee +Synod will go to pieces finally." The Address of the General Synod of +1823 states: "Our Church, which was originally embraced in two +independent synods [Ministeriums of Pennsylvania and New York], has +spread over so extensive a portion of the United States that at present +we have _five_ synods [North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia, +Pennsylvania, and New York Synods], and shall shortly have several +more." (3. 9. 14.) The General Synod, then, refused to recognize +Tennessee as a Lutheran synod in America. In a letter, dated January 23, +1826, and addressed to Solomon Henkel, H. Muhlenberg remarked that the +Tennessee Synod "had as yet not been recognized as a synod by the other +Lutheran synods." In 1839 the General Synod censured both the Franckean +and Tennessee Synods as the two extremes "causing disturbances and +divisions in our churches" and standing in the way of a union of the +Lutheran Church in America--a resolution which was rescinded in 1864. +Thus universal contempt and proscription was the reward which Tennessee +received for her endeavors to lead the Lutheran Church out of the mire +of sectarian aberrations back to Luther and the Lutheran Symbols. Rev. +Brohm, after his visit with the Tennessee Synod, wrote in the +_Lutheraner_ of June 5, 1855: "In order to heal, if in any way possible, +the deplorable breach, the Tennessee Synod, in the course of seven +years, made repeated attempts to persuade her opponents [in the North +Carolina Synod] to discuss the mooted doctrines, offering them +conditions most just and most acceptable . . . . But with exasperating +indifference all these offers were stubbornly despised and rejected. +Tennessee directed various questions also to the Pennsylvania Synod in +order to learn their views on the pending doctrinal controversies. But +this body, too, did not even deign to answer. The Tennessee Synod, +however, though rebuffed on all sides and stigmatized as a fanatical +sect, quietly went its way, without suffering itself to be confused or +led astray. Unanimity and love reigned among its members. The number of +congregations which united with them and desired pastors from them +constantly increased, so that the Synod was not able to satisfy all +requests. The synodical resolutions offer ample evidence of the lively +interest and diligence of their pastors to appropriate more and more +fully the riches of the Reformation, and to make their congregations +partakers thereof." (11, 166.) The first request for a minister came +from Cape Girardeau, Mo. The minutes record: "At the earnest request and +desire of a number of German inhabitants in Cape Girardeau ("Cape +Cheredo"), Mo., through H. Johannes Schmidt and Georg Klemmer, who +earnestly pray that they might be visited, it was resolved that H. Jacob +Zink should make a journey thither, as soon as possible, to preach the +Gospel to them and to perform all other official acts that may be +required. For this laudable undertaking we wish him the rich blessing of +the Lord." (B. 1820, 10.) + + +OBJECTIONS TO GENERAL SYNOD. + +92. Critique of So-called "Planentwurf."--The formation of a Lutheran +General Synod, warmly advocated by the Synods of Pennsylvania and North +Carolina, met with the earnest and zealous, though not in every respect +judicious, opposition of the Tennessee Synod. Her Report of 1820 +contains a criticism of the _Planentwurf_, which in 1819 had been +proposed by the Pennsylvania Synod as a tentative constitution for the +projected General Synod. Among the objections enumerated are the +following: 1. Whosoever desired to be recognized as a pastor would be +compelled to pursue his studies at the proposed seminary of the General +Synod. 2. Of those entitled to cast a vote there were two pastors to +every lay delegate. "It would therefore be vain for a lay deputy to make +the journey, except he desired the honor of being a servant of two +masters." 3. The General Synod arrogated to itself the exclusive right +to introduce new books for public worship. 4. Luther's Catechism also +was to remain only _until_ the Synod would introduce other books. 5. +According to the _Planentwurf_, the General Synod could reject all +articles of faith or omit them entirely. 6. Neither the Augsburg +Confession nor the Bible was designated as the foundation of the General +Synod, nor even so much as mentioned in the _Planentwurf_. (52 f.) 7. The +General Synod was striving to establish a dominion over all Ministeriums, +as appeared from the statement: "Until the permission or approval of the +General Synod shall have been formally obtained, no newly established +body shall be regarded as a Ministerium, nor shall an ordination +conferred by them be considered valid." "Accordingly," they said, "one +had as much liberty as the rope permitted." (54 f.; 1822, 10.) 8. The +General Synod claimed the right to specify the "ranks universally valid +for the ministry." "Catechist," as the Report of 1820 has it, +"candidate, dean, and pastor will no longer suffice; who knows but +something higher will be required, such as bishop, archbishop, cardinal, +or even pope!" 9. Pastors were granted the right to appeal from the +decision of their synod to the General Synod. "Accordingly the case of a +pastor, be he ever so bad, may drag on for years; and if, owing to +extreme distances or other circumstances, the witnesses are not able to +attend, he may finally even win it. This provision renders the matter +similar to a temporal government, where appeals are commonly made from a +lower to a higher court." 10. "One cannot be sure that a spirit desiring +as much power as appears to be granted by this _Planentwurf_ will be +able to rest and not seek further power." 11. No one was able to +guarantee that this Lutheran General Synod would not later on unite with +the General Synods of the sects to form a National Synod, in which the +majority would then determine all articles of faith and all +church-customs. 12. Such a National Synod would be able also to change +the Constitution of the United States and compel every one to unite with +this National Synod, impose taxes, etc. (50 f.) By resolution of Synod +the reasons why some pastors in Ohio, influenced in their action by Paul +Henkel, rejected the _Planentwurf_ were also appended to the Report of +1820. Among them were: 1. The fear "of falling into the hands of a +strong hierarchy" by accepting this _Planentwurf_, since they knew from +church history that the Papacy had developed rapidly along similar +lines. (64.) 2. The General Synod would soon become English, whereas, +according to its ministerial order, the Ohio Synod "must remain a +German-speaking ministerium." (65.) 3. Every meeting of the General +Synod would mean for them a traveling expense of $168. 4. As the +_Planentwurf_ was subject to change, union with the General Synod would +be tantamount "'to buying the cat in the bag,' as the proverb has it." +These scruples reveal the fact that the Tennessee Synod viewed the +General Synod as a body which was hierarchical in its polity and +thoroughly un-Lutheran in its doctrinal position, an opinion well +founded, even though the objections advanced are not equally valid. + +93. General Synod's Constitution Criticized.--The critique of the +_Planentwurf_ was not devoid of fruit in every respect. Due to the +testimony of the Henkels, its hierarchical features were toned down +considerably in the constitution finally adopted at Hagerstown, Md., +1820. Thus, _e.g._, the odious passage regarding the establishment of +new ministeriums and the validity of their ordinations was omitted. +Still Tennessee was far from being satisfied with the constitution as +amended. Moreover, a committee was appointed to draw up their remaining +objections, and the report submitted was appended to the minutes of 1821 +and printed by order of Synod. It subjects the constitution to a severe +examination, and makes a number of important strictures. 1. The first +objection was raised against the words of the Preamble: "Whereas Jesus +Christ, the great Head of the Church, hath not given her any particular +prescriptions how church-government should be regulated, she therefore +enjoys the privilege in all her departments to make such regulations as +may appear best, agreeably to situation and circumstances." While +recognizing that Christ has given no prescriptions "for the regulation +of some things not essential to the Church," they objected to the +sweeping statement of the Preamble whereby the government of the Church +would be left to a majority of votes. Tennessee maintained that Matt. 18, +16 Christ prescribes to the Church how discipline is to be exercised; +that 1 Cor. 11, 4-11 sufficient rules with respect to public worship are +prescribed; that 1 Tim. 3, 1-3 the grades of ministers are described; +that 1 Tim. 5, 19-22 instructions are given how to receive an accusation +against an elder; and that 2 Tim. 2, 3-6 Paul shows that ministers +should not be entangled with the things of this world. "From these and +many more passages that might be quoted, it is evident that Christ and +His inspired apostles have given the Church sufficient prescriptions of +her government in all her various branches. They are general rules, and +yet applicable to every particular case that may occur, so that they are +also particular prescriptions. But that the constitution of the General +Synod saith, Christ has not left such particular prescriptions, appears +a strange, unwarranted, and arbitrary assertion." (14 f.) 2. The second +objection asserted that the General Synod was a yoke of commandments of +men, hence could not serve the purpose of true peace. According to the +constitution the purpose of the General Synod was "the exercise of +brotherly love, the furtherance of Christian harmony, and the +preservation of the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace." But the +Report maintained: "The attempt of the establishment of this General +Synod has not produced any brotherly love, nor harmony, nor peace; but +on the contrary, divisions, contentions, and confusion. This +establishment is nothing but self-invented rules and traditions of men, +and such as love Christian liberty cannot suffer themselves to be +brought into bondage; hence the confusion. O ye watchmen of Zion, pity +and spare the flock!" (17 f.) A "note" added by David Henkel, the "clerk +of the committee," explains: "That this institution of General Synod's +promotes unity in spirit is contrary to constant experience. The +Presbyterians, Methodists, and other churches are governed by General +Synods, and have many human rules and regulations; but yet from time to +time many disputes and factions have arisen among them, so that they are +split into many sects and parties. The Lutheran Church never heretofore +was governed by a General Synod, yet she never was divided until this +novel system was introduced. . . . The first Lutheran ministers +emigrated from Germany and Sweden. . . . Being few in number, no +particular synods were formed for many years; yet they were united. The +Augsburg Confession of Faith, containing the principal doctrines of the +Holy Scriptures, was their standard of union. It was unalterable; they +had no novel system, produced by a majority of votes, to expect. . . . +Each of these synods, before the General Constitution was formed, were +independent, and not amenable to any superior tribunal, except that of +Christ. Differences in local and temporary regulations, the formation of +new synods, etc., were not considered as divisions of the Church; their +standard of unity was far more noble, and exalted: the pure Scriptural +doctrines of the Augsburg Confession of Faith was their meridian sun, +which they viewed with united eyes; and anything less, such as local and +temporary regulations, never influenced their minds, even to think of +divisions. The Church proceeded peaceably, until the unhappy and fatal +period of 1819 arrived, when a meeting was called to Baltimore, +consisting of some of the Synod of Pennsylvania and an individual from +North Carolina, for the purpose of devising a plan for the establishment +of the General Synod, etc. (17 f.) Article III, Sec. V, which provided +that "the General Synod shall take good care not to burden the +consciences of ministers with human traditions," called forth the +following comment: "The General Synod shall not burden the consciences +of ministers with human traditions, yet at the same time the very +institution of the General Synod is nothing but human laws and +traditions! How vehemently our Savior upbraided the Pharisees for their +human laws and the traditions they imposed upon the common people! By +means of human laws and traditions popery was established.--Why are +preparations made now again to introduce that horrid beast? How careful +individual synods should be not to impose human traditions upon the +Church, but to remember that they do 'not assemble for the purpose of +making laws for the Church, but only to devise means to execute those +already made by Christ." (B. 1821, 26; R. 1821, 28. 29.) In an +additional "note" David Henkel remarks: "The unity of the Lutheran +Church doth not consist in any external forms or ceremonies, or +government established by men. It is independent of any general head +except Christ. The Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession of Faith +points out the true nature of her unity. . . . It is the same as if it +had said: the Church of Christ is but one united body, consisting of +innumerable members; but what unites them? All believers believe in one +invisible Lord, by whom they are governed, for He is their King; they +are anointed by the same Holy Ghost, for He is their Comforter and +Guide. This is an invisible, godlike union, not discerned by the carnal +eye, nor doth it imitate the unity of the kingdom of this world. Christ +is its polar star, the Bible its charter, ministers who proclaim sweet +words of peace, its heralds, Baptism and the Lord's Supper its seal, +bond, token, and security. This union is independent of all human +ceremonies, traditions, general synods, or anything of the kind, and has +existed ever since the promulgation of the Gospel in all realms and +climes. . . . A union which consists of human laws, ceremonies, and +discipline may be termed a political union--a union peculiar to civil +government of this world. Now, even were it the case that all who call +themselves Christians would be united in this manner, it would by no +means prove their spiritual unity. For many may conform to one external +rule, and yet be divided in heart, for they are not all Israelites that +are of Israel. It is evident, because the General Synod is but the +invention of men, that they make much more necessary to Christian unity +than the pure preaching of the Gospel and the proper administration of +the Sacraments, commanded by Christ. Thus, this establishment of the +General Synod must be contrary to the Seventh Article of our Confession +of Faith. True Christianity is thereby blended with human laws and +policy--the true lineaments of popery. . . . If no man is to judge +Christians in respect to meat and drink or of an holy day, or of the new +moon, or of the Sabbath-days, who, then, has a right to judge them in +respect of forming books for the public use in churches, or in respect +of meeting as a synod, without a formal permission, or in respect of +performing ordinations? The General Synod have arrogated this right of +judging and oppressing Christians in these respects. These are +prerogatives they claim, contrary to the doctrines of the apostle." +(R. 1821, 28.) + +94. Criticism of Constitution Continued.--3. The third objection +maintained that the General Synod was Lutheran in name only. Says the +Report: "This body, indeed, may call itself Evangelical Lutheran, and +yet not be such. The constitution does nowhere say that the Augsburg +Confession of Faith, or Luther's Catechism, or the Bible shall be the +foundation of doctrine and discipline of the General Synod. It is well +known that they always have been the standard of the Lutheran Church. +Why does the constitution not once name them?" "Had the framers of this +constitution been zealous advocates of Lutheran doctrine, they would +have been careful to insert a clause to compel the General Synod always +to act according to our standard books. It is an easy thing to prove +that some of the founders of this General Synod have openly denied some +of the important doctrines of the Augsburg Confession of Faith and of +Luther's Catechism." (B. 1821, 18; R. 1821, 19.) 4. The fourth objection +was based on the proposed membership of the new body, which, according +to Article II, was to consist "of deputies of the different Evangelical +Synodical and Ministerial Connections in the United States." Tennessee +commented: "This body [General Synod] may consist of deputies from the +different evangelical connections. It is not said of the several +Evangelical _Lutheran_ connections. If this body may consist of the +different connections, then it is evident that it may be composed of +_all_ denominations, such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc. +These all denominate themselves Evangelical, and are even recognized as +such by some who call themselves Lutherans. Thus it is manifest that all +denominations who call themselves Evangelical may have seats and votes +in this body, forasmuch as there is nothing to prohibit them from it." +(R. 1821, 22.) The German version adds the following: "The constitution +has opened a door where all manner of sects and parties may creep into +the Lutheran Church and extirpate her doctrine." (B. 1821, 20.) These +apprehensions of Tennessee were no mere products of their own +imagination, for just such a union of all Evangelical denominations +Shober and his compeers had been ardently advocating in the North +Carolina Synod, especially since 1817. 5. The fifth objection was that +the General Synod proposed to curtail the exercise of Christian liberty +in regard to ceremonies. Article III, Section II, provided that no synod +or ministry in connection with the General Synod shall publish any new +catechism, liturgy, compilation of hymns, or confession of faith +"without having first handed a complete copy thereof to the General +Synod, and having received their sentiments, or admonitions, or advice." +The Tennessee Synod held this to be against the Seventh Article of the +Augsburg Confession and said: "Why shall individual societies be robbed +of the liberty to introduce such books us suit them best, when our +Confession of Faith grants every person liberty in this case?" (23.) 6. +A further objection was raised against this article (III, 2) of the +constitution because its language permitted the introduction of a new +confession of faith. Tennessee remarked: "An opportunity is here given +to introduce a new confession of faith. This appears a conclusive proof +that the General Synod do not intend to be governed by (the Augsburg +Confession of Faith, nor vindicate the Lutheran doctrines contained +therein; for if they did, they would not by this clause have given +liberty to form other confessions of faith. Perhaps this may be one of +the reasons why they have nowhere promised in the constitution that +Luther's Catechism, the Augsburg Confession of Faith, nor the Bible +should be the guide of their body. They wish to have power to form a new +confession; perhaps more popular, and suited to the newfangled opinions +of this present age of infidelity. Were not the men such as Luther, +Melanchthon, etc., who formed the Augsburg Confession of Faith, as a +testimony against popery and other heresies, godly and enlightened men, +and to whose instrumentality we owe our light of the Gospel? Will any of +the votaries of the General Synod presume to say that this confession is +erroneous, heretical, and wicked? Can they form a better one? If they +answer in the affirmative, they are no Lutherans, as they call +themselves. If they answer in the negative, why, then, have they not +positively specified in the constitution that such should remain the +standard of the Church? Why have they given an opportunity to introduce +a new confession? It is known that all Lutheran ministers, when they are +ordained, are solemnly pledged as by an oath to maintain the doctrine of +the Augsburg Confession of Faith. But when there is an opportunity given +to propose and introduce other confessions, perhaps the very reverse, +what shall become of all the oaths made at the time of ordination?" +(24.) The German Report argues: "The Evangelical Lutheran Church already +has, for almost three hundred years, a confession of faith, to wit, the +Augsburg Confession. To this confession all Lutheran ministers are +pledged by an oath when they are ordained. Since the constitution +nowhere states that the Augsburg Confession shall be retained, and other +confessions of faith may be proposed, it is apparent that the General +Synod has the power to abrogate the Augsburg Confession entirely, and to +introduce a new and erroneous confession of faith, and consequently to +set aside the oath of ordination." (B. 1821, 22.) 7. A further objection +to the General Synod was based on Article III, Section V, which +provided, among other things, that the General Synod shall take good +care "not to oppress any person on account of differences in opinion." +After pointing out that this can only be understood as referring to +doctrinal differences, Tennessee made the following arraignment: "What +an opportunity is here given to introduce all manner of false doctrines! +If no person is to be afflicted in respect to difference in opinion, +then no person can be excommunicated for propagating any false or wicked +doctrine. One might deny the Holy Trinity, and encourage any system of +infidelity, and yet, agreeably to this constitution, no one could be +rebuked nor suspended. One might plead this article in defense, and say +the General Synod have no right to oppress me for my different opinion." +(R. 1821, 30; B. 1821, 25.) The German report concludes as follows: +"This is nourishment for the lukewarm spirit, where men are indifferent +whether true or false opinions are maintained." (27.) That also these +apprehensions were not purely imaginary appears from the fact that two +delegates of the Ministerium of New York, then identifying itself with +the rationalism of Quitman, were permitted to participate in the +organization of the General Synod. 8. Finally, Article III, Section +VIII, provided that the General Synod should "be sedulously and +incessantly regardful of the circumstances of the times, and of every +casual rise and progress of unity of opinions among Christians in +general, in order that the blessed opportunities to promote concord and +unity, and the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, may not pass by +neglected and unavailing." In this, too, Tennessee saw but "another +opportunity to extirpate the Lutheran doctrine." "For," said they, "how +is it possible that the opinions of Lutherans can ever become agreed +with those of Calvinists and other parties so long as they do not deny +their teachings?" (B. 1821, 30.) The English Report merely states: "All +that we can understand from this [Section VIII] is a desire to unite +with all denominations." (34.) Thus the Tennessee Synod, with the utmost +candor, exposed and rebuked the un-Lutheran features of the constitution +of the General Synod, which substituted external organization and union +for true internal Christian unity in the Spirit. David Henkel remarked: +"Is the General Synod a plant which has been planted by the heavenly +Father? No. It was planted by a majority of votes. . . . It is too +lamentable a fact that among the most denominations human laws, +discipline, and ceremonies are made the rallying point of unity!" (R. +1821, 30; 1832, 17.) It was in the spirit of truth and conscientiousness +that Tennessee had made her objections to the constitution of the +General Synod. "We conclude," they say, "hoping that the friends of the +General Synod will not view us as enemies. We would freely join in with +them if we could do it with a good conscience . . .; it is much easier +to swim with than against the current." (34.) + + +ATTITUDE AS TO CHURCH-FELLOWSHIP. + +95. Refusing to Join in with General Synod.--The practise of the +Tennessee Synod squared with her doctrinal position. Also +church-fellowship was regarded as a matter, not of expediency and +policy, but of conscience. In the conclusion to their "Objections +against the Constitution of the General Synod" the committee declared: +Since a general connection of all ministers in a General Synod would +exalt the clerical state to a high degree above the people; since +greater burdens might then be imposed on the people, and ministers could +thereby live more comfortably; since our widows and orphans also might +then live with much ease and our missionary services would be amply +remunerated; and since the union with the General Synod would increase +our popularity and decrease our burdensome labors,--"we, therefore, +would freely join in with them if we could do it with a good +conscience," and "if we could justify such conduct before the judgment +throne of Christ." (R. 34; B. 30.) In accordance herewith Tennessee, at +her first meeting, resolved: "It cannot be tolerated that a teacher of +our conference have any connection with the so-called Central or General +Synod, for the reason which will be adduced afterwards." (5.) The +minutes of 1826 record: "Whereas there is a report in circulation, both +verbally and in print, that some of us, members of the Tennessee +Conference, should have said that we now regard the General Synod as a +useful institution; that we disapprove the turbulent conduct of a +certain member of this body; that we (some of us) pledged ourselves to +leave this body if we cannot succeed in having said member expelled, we +deem it our duty hereby to inform the public that we are unanimously +agreed in viewing the General Synod as an anti-Lutheran institution, and +highly disapprove it, and are the longer, the more confirmed in this +opinion; and that we know of no member among us whose conduct is +turbulent or immoral, and hence have no desire either to expel any one, +nor do any of us intend to withdraw from this body. Neither do we know +of any member among us who is not legally ordained. We testify that we +live in brotherly love and harmony. September 5, 1826." (6.) In 1839 the +General Synod publicly denounced the Tennessee Synod, charging her with +un-Lutheran as well as unchristian doctrine and conduct. The matter, +brought to the attention of Tennessee by a petition from the +congregation at New Market and from Coiner's Church, was disposed of by +the following resolutions: "1. Resolved, That it is to us a matter of +small importance whether the General Synod recognizes us as an +Evangelical Lutheran Synod or not, since our orthodoxy and our existence +as a Lutheran body in no wise depends on their judgment. 2. Resolved, +That we cannot recognize the General Synod as an Evangelical Lutheran +body, forasmuch as they have departed from the doctrines and practises +of the Lutheran Church. 3. Resolved, That under present circumstances we +have no inclination whatsoever to unite with the General Synod, and can +never unite with them, except they return once more to the primitive +doctrine and usages of the Lutheran Church. 4. Resolved, That Pastor +Braun be appointed to draw up our objections to the General Synod, and +to show from its own publications wherein that body has departed from +the doctrine and usages of the Lutheran Church, and submit his +manuscript to this Synod at its next session for examination; and that, +if approved, it be printed." (B. 1841, 11; R. 1842, 8.) In this +connection the Tennessee Synod likewise resolved in no wise to take part +in the centenary of the Lutherans in America as recommended by the +General Synod. (15.) At the next session of Synod the committee reported +that they had examined the manuscript submitted by Rev. Braun, and that +it was "well calculated to place in their proper light the views and +practises of the General Synod and expose its corruptions and departures +from Lutheranism, as well as to evince the fact that the Tennessee Synod +still retain in their primitive purity the doctrines, and adhere to the +usages of the Lutheran Church." (10.) When, in 1853, the Pennsylvania +Synod called upon all Lutheran synods to follow their example and unite +with the General Synod, Tennessee took cognizance of this matter in the +following resolution: "Whereas we regard the Unaltered Augsburg +Confession as the authorized and universally acknowledged Symbol of the +Evangelical Lutheran Church, and consequently the belief and +acknowledgment of it, in its entireness, as essential to the existence +of Lutheranism in its integrity; and whereas we profess, in our +synodical constitution, to believe the doctrines of the Christian system +as exhibited in this symbol, and have pledged ourselves to teach +according to it; and whereas the doctrinal position of the General +Synod, as we understand it, is only a qualified acknowledgment of the +Augsburg Confession, as we think it evident, a) from the constitution of +this body, in which there is no clause binding its members to teach +according to the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and not even a distinct +mention of this instrument; b) from the constitution recommended by the +General Synod to the District Synods connected with it; c) from the form +of oath required of professors in its Theological Seminary, when +inducted into office; d) from the construction placed upon its +Constitution by the framer of that instrument, and other prominent +members of it; e) from the various publications made by distinguished +members of the General Synod, in which distinctive doctrines of our +Church confessions are openly assailed, and for doing which they have +never been called to account: be it therefore 1. Resolved, That we +cannot, under existing circumstances, take any steps toward a union with +the General Synod." (8.) + +96. Attitude toward North Carolina Synod.--In her relations with the +North Carolina Synod the practise of Tennessee was in perfect keeping +with her doctrine, her actions tallying with her words. In 1820 they +declared: "No teacher of our Conference may take seat and vote in the +present Synod of North Carolina, since we cannot look upon them as a +truly Evangelical Lutheran synod." (B. 1820, 9.) Neither was it +tolerated that a member of the Tennessee Synod at the same time be a +member of the North Carolina Synod; witness the case of Seechrist. (R. +1826, 4.) Furthermore, Tennessee declared that steps looking to a union +with the North Carolina Synod would be contemplated only if the +respective pastors of that synod were to "revoke their doctrine in print +as publicly as they had disseminated the same, and would give entire +assent to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession." (1824, 11; 1825, 6.) +At the sixth convention, 1825, the committee previously appointed to +negotiate with the North Carolina Synod reported that the ministers of +that connection had refused to deal with them, 1. Because this +"committee did not entitle them as a genuine Lutheran body; and 2. +because we appointed farmers to constitute the committee." (6.) With +respect to the first grievance Tennessee declared: "We must here observe +that we cannot consistently grant to the Synod of North Carolina this +title, because we maintain that they departed from the Lutheran +doctrine. This is the very design in preferring the questions, in order +to ascertain whether they adopted different views, since they published +their doctrines. We, therefore, entreat them not to be offended when at +this time we cannot grant the desired title, but to be contented until +a union with respect to doctrine shall have been effected." (R. 1825, +6.) Thus Tennessee was careful to avoid even the appearance of denying +her convictions. Dissimulation was not in her nature. True to her +convictions she formulated the address of her second petition for +negotiations as follows: "To the Rev. Synod of North Carolina, _who +assume the title Lutheran_, but which we, at this time, for the reason +aforesaid, dispute. Well-beloved in the Lord, according to your +persons," etc. (R. 1825, 6.) Similar language was employed in the +invitation of December, 1826, which the Tennessee committee (Daniel +Moser and David Henkel) sent to Pastors Stork, Shober, Sherer, and other +pastors of the North Carolina Synod to conduct a public debate, that +every one might be enabled to decide for himself "who are the genuine +and who the spurious Lutherans." The invitation reveals a spirit of +love, fairness, and willingness to yield in every point which was not a +matter of conscience, as well as true Lutheran conscientiousness and +determination not to yield a single point in violation of the Scriptures +and the Lutheran Symbols. Here Daniel Moser and David Henkel who wrote +the letter of invitation state with true Christian frankness: "You call +yourselves Lutherans, and we call ourselves the same; notwithstanding +there is a division. You have accused us with teaching erroneous +doctrines, and we, notwithstanding the appellation you give yourselves, +deny that your doctrines correspond with the same or with the Holy +Scriptures." (27.) "We are willing to forgive all private conduct which +we conceive erroneous and criminal in you. You ought also to be willing +to forgive what you conceive to be the same in us. But as we differ with +you in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, an +ecclesiastical union is impracticable, until the one or the other party +be clearly refuted and convinced." (29.) The following were mentioned as +the chief points of difference which ought to be discussed: "1. The +person and incarnation of Christ, etc. 2. Justification. 3. Repentance. +4. Good Works. 5. Holy Baptism. 6. The Lord's Supper. 7. Church +Government." (R. 1827, 26.) An offer of union made by the North Carolina +Synod, in 1847, was answered by Tennessee as follows: "Resolved, That we +accede to a union with the said Synod only on the platform of pure and +unadulterated Evangelical Lutheranism--a union which we shall heartily +rejoice to form, as is evident from the repeated overtures we made to +bring about such a desirable state of things." (R. 1847, 9.) + +97. Attitude toward Other Southern Synods.--Tennessee was conscious of +representing nothing but the pure truth of unadulterated Lutheranism +also over against the Synods of South Carolina, Virginia, and South West +Virginia. Despite enmity, contempt, and slander, they were unwilling to +enter into any unionistic compromise at the expense of the truth as they +saw it. As for the Synod of South Carolina (organized 1824), the +Tennessee Report of 1838 recorded the following protest: "Whereas the +Synod of South Carolina has recently employed various scandalous means +in order to bring the Ev. Luth. Tennessee Synod into disrepute, in +particular by the annotations contained in a sermon delivered by Pastor +Johannes Bachman, D. D., which was published with the approval and by +the support of said Synod (the aforementioned sermon, unless its evil +influence is hindered, is well calculated to make a false and unfavorable +impression upon otherwise honest minds, and to represent our doctrine, +synod, and pastors as being the objects of scorn, disdain, and constant +persecution); and whereas we believe that we stand on the primitive +ground of the Lutheran Church, and that the doctrine of the glorious and +memorable Reformation, which was wrought through the especial mediation +of the Saxon Reformers, Dr. Martin Luther and his immortal assistants, +exactly agrees with the Word of God, which we regard as the only +infallible norm of faith and life: 1. therefore be it Resolved, That we +regard the actions of the South Carolina Synod toward us as impolite, +ignoble, dishonest, and uncharitable. 2. Resolved, That we look upon the +assertions in Dr. Bachman's sermon as utterly unfounded and without the +slightest approach to the truth, but as base calumniations, well +calculated to insult (beschimpfen) our Synod." At the same time Pastors +Braun and Miller were appointed a committee to publish a refutation of +Bachman's sermon. (B. 1838, 11.) In his address delivered on November +12, 1837, Bachman, as President of the South Carolina Synod, had voiced, +with a squint toward Tennessee, among others, the following sentiments: +"We have never boasted of being an exclusive church, whose doctrines are +more Scriptural or whose confessors are purer than those of other +denominations round about us. . . . We will gladly unite with every +friend of the Gospel in producing the downfall of sectarianism, though +not the obliteration of sects. Our pulpits have ever been open to the +servants of every Christian communion, and we invite to our communion +tables the followers of Jesus regardless of what particular denomination +they may belong to." Dr. Bachman, in direct contravention to what the +Henkels had maintained over against Stork and Shober of the North +Carolina Synod, expressed his own indifferentistic and Reformed +doctrinal position as follows: "If Baptism is regeneration, why, then, +does not every one who has been baptized in infancy walk with God from +his Baptism? Why does not every one lead a pious life? Evidently, such +is not the case!" "As a matter of fact, for a hundred years the Lutheran +Church has abandoned the moot question of the body of Christ, etc., and +has left it to the consciences of its members to decide what they must +believe according to Holy Writ. This we may do without deviating from +the faith of our Church, since at our ordination, especially in this +country, we confess nothing more than that the fundamental articles of +the divine Word are, in a manner substantially correct, presented in the +doctrinal articles of the Augsburg Confession." (_Kirchl. Mitt_. 1846, +34 f.) In the same year (1838) the Tennessee Synod instructed its +secretary to inquire of the president of the Virginia Synod (organized +1829 at Woodstock) why, according to the resolution passed at their last +meeting, they do "not recognize the members of the Tennessee Conference +as Evangelical Lutheran pastors." (B. 1838 12.) And, when, in 1848, the +Western Virginia Synod (Southwest Virginia Synod, organized 1841) +requested an exchange of delegates, Tennessee answered: "Resolved, That, +although it would afford us the highest gratification, and we most +sincerely desire to see those who are one with us in name also united in +doctrine and practise, and in that case would most cheerfully unite and +cooperate with them in such measures as are calculated to advance and +promote the cause of truth, yet we wish it to be distinctly understood +that, however much a union is desired, it can only be effected upon the +assurance of a strict adherence to the doctrines and usages of our +Church as set forth in its Symbols; and until we can have this +assurance, we, on our part, can consent to no such union." (R. 1848, 8.) + + +EFFORTS AT UNITY AND PEACE. + +98. Attempts at Union with North Carolina.--Though universally decried +as the "Quarreling Conference," Tennessee enjoyed and cultivated unity +and harmony within, and zealously also sought peace and unity with other +Lutheran synods. In 1826 all of the Tennessee ministers signed a +document, denying a report circulated by their enemies, according to +which Tennessee was disagreed as to its attitude toward the General +Synod, and declaring: "We testify that we live in brotherly love and +harmony." The minutes add: "Thus it is evident that all the ministers of +this body live in brotherly love, and entertain uniform sentiments." +(7.) Nor did the staunch, unbending doctrinal position of Tennessee +prove to be a hindrance of, and a check upon, their efforts at unity and +peace, but rather a spur to most earnest endeavors in this direction. +Moreover, after having themselves fully realized that the Lutheran +Confessions contain nothing but God's eternal truth over against the +manifest errors of the Roman and other churches, it was, as shown above, +the ambition and prayer of the Henkels to lead the American Lutheran +synods out of the mire of sectarian aberrations back to the +unadulterated Lutheranism of Luther and the Lutheran Symbols. When, in +1824, some members of the North Carolina Synod made proposals for a +union of the two synods, Tennessee forthwith appointed a committee to +negotiate with them. (10.) This committee was instructed to compile the +controverted points of doctrine from the writings of the two parties, +"and to put into one column what the ministers of the North Carolina +Synod teach, and in an adjoining column what the Tennessee Synod +teaches, so that every one may immediately perceive the difference." In +this way they hoped to enable every one to decide for himself which +party taught according to the Augsburg Confession. In the interest of +truth the committee was also authorized to direct such questions to the +North Carolina Synod as they might see fit. (11.) It was, however, +resolved that any further arrangements for union were not to be made +until "said pastors, in case they would be convinced, recall their +doctrine in print as publicly as they had disseminated it, and fully +assent to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession and to Lutheran order +as it obtained before the institution of the General Synod arose." (11.) +Following are the questions which were directed "to the Messrs. C. +Stork, G. Shober, Jacob Sherer, Daniel Sherer, Jacob Miller, Martin +Walter, and to all other men belonging to this connection" (North +Carolina Synod): "1. Do ye intend for the future to maintain what you +have asserted, _viz_.: 'Baptized or not baptized, faith saves us?' Or +upon mature deliberation, have ye concluded publicly to revoke the same +as erroneous? 2. Will ye also maintain that the Christian Church may +consist of twenty different opinions? 3. Do ye deny that the true body +and blood of Jesus Christ are really present in the Lord's Supper, and +administered and received under the external signs of bread and wine? +and that also the unbelieving communicants do eat and drink His body and +blood? Further, do ye deny that Jesus Christ, agreeably to both natures, +as God and man, inseparably connected in one person, is omnipresent, and +thus an object of supreme worship? 4. Do ye intend to relinquish the +General Synod, if in case ye cannot prove the same to be founded in the +Holy Scriptures?" (R. 1825, 8; B. 1824, Appendix, 2.) However, the +Carolina Synod declined to answer. The Tennessee committee reported +1825: "The ministers of said connection [Carolina Synod] refused to +answer the committee that was appointed last year to negotiate with +them. The reasons of their refusal shall here be inserted: Said +ministers assign the following reasons which we learn from Mr. J. +Sherer's letter and their minutes: 1. That the committee did not entitle +them as a genuine Lutheran body; and 2. because we appointed farmers to +constitute the committee." (R. 1825, 6.) David Henkel wrote in 1827: "In +the year 1822 I addressed a letter to them [North Carolina Synod]. . . . +But they refused to accept the letter because they got offended with the +address which was, 'The Lutheran Synod of North Carolina and adjoining +States, _so called_.' The Tennessee Synod have since, at several of +their sessions, made sundry propositions to them for a reciprocal trial, +and have proposed some questions to them which they were requested to +answer. But as they were not addressed in such manner as to recognize +them as genuine Lutherans, they rejected every proposition. It must, +however, be observed that they were not thus addressed through contempt, +but rather through, necessity. One of the charges against them is that +they deviated from the Lutheran doctrines; hence had we addressed them +in such manner as to have recognized them as genuine Lutherans, they +might easily have justified themselves under the covert of the address, +and have produced it as an evidence against our charge." (R. 1827, 35.) +However, though North Carolina had not even answered their letter, +Tennessee did not relinquish her efforts at peace and harmony. In the +following year, 1825, a memorial subscribed by nine persons was +submitted, requesting Synod "to make another attempt to effect a union +with the ministers of the North Carolina Synod; yet so that the genuine +Lutheran doctrine be not thereby suppressed." (R. 1825, 6.) Pursuant to +this request, "it was resolved that the questions again should be +preferred in a friendly manner; and provided their answer should prove +satisfactory, all the necessary regulations shall be made to effect +peace and harmony." (7.) At the same time Tennessee explained and +justified their action of withholding from the North Carolina Synod the +title Lutheran, and of appointing laymen, "farmers," as they were styled +by North Carolina, to constitute the committee. "It was believed," David +Henkel declared with respect to the latter point, "laymen would act more +impartially, since the ministers are more immediately concerned in this +controversy. Neither can I discover that all the farmers are so +contemptible a class of people that Mr. Sherer could possibly be +offended at the appointment!" (R. 1825, 7.) Regarding the first point +Synod declared: "We must here observe that we cannot consistently grant +to the Synod of North Carolina this title [Lutheran], because we +maintain that they departed from the Lutheran doctrine. . . . We +therefore entreat them not to be offended when at this time we cannot +grant the desired title, but to be contented until a union with respect +to doctrine shall have been effected." (R. 1825, 7.) In accordance +herewith the letter to the North Carolina Synod was addressed as +follows: "To the Rev. Synod of North Carolina who assume the title +Lutheran; but which we at this time, for the reason aforesaid, dispute. +Well-beloved in the Lord, according to your persons!" (R. 1825, 7.) + +99. Debates at Organ and St. Paul's Churches.--According to her +resolutions of 1825, Tennessee was ready to establish peace and harmony +with the North Carolina Synod. But one proviso had been added by +Tennessee, limiting this action as follows: "Provided their [North +Carolina's] answer should prove satisfactory." If such, however, should +not be the case, they proposed public discussions of the differences. +The minutes continue: "But if in case their answers should not prove +satisfactory, that we propose to them to appoint a certain time and +place, and that each party appoint a speaker, for the purpose of +exhibiting the disputed doctrines, so that the assembly, which may be +present, may discover the difference; and that also all the arguments, +on both sides, may afterwards be published." (R. 1825, 7.) In the +following year, when the questions preferred were still unanswered by +North Carolina, Tennessee resolved: "This Synod have made sundry +proposals to the North Carolina connection for the purpose of amicably +adjusting the difference which exists with respect to doctrine and other +differences, but said connection have hitherto refused to comply with +any of the proposals. Although it seems to be in vain to make any +further propositions, yet this Synod deem it their duty to adopt the +following resolutions: 1. That the Revs. Adam Miller, Daniel Moser, and +David Henkel be authorized to proclaim and hold a public meeting at or +near the Organ Church, Rowan Co., N.C. They shall continue said meeting +at least three days, and preach on the disputed points of doctrine. 2. +That they invite the Revs. C. A. Stork and Daniel Sherer, who reside +near said Organ Church, to attend said meeting, and give them an +opportunity of alleging their objections and proving their doctrines. +Further, that as many of the other ministers belonging to the North +Carolina connection as may be conveniently notified be also invited to +attend for the same purpose. This will afford an opportunity to a number +of people to ascertain which party have deviated from the Lutheran +doctrine. This meeting shall, if God permit, commence on the 4th day of +next November." (R. 1826, 5.) The public meeting was duly proclaimed at +Organ Church in Rowan Co., N.C., on the 4th of November. A notice was +inserted into the weekly paper, and some of the ministers were +individually requested to attend. However, not one of the North Carolina +Synod ministers put in his appearance, or made any official statement of +their reasons for not attending. Persons who had visited Rev. Stork +quoted him as having said: "Let them [the committee] come to our Synod, +which is the proper place to discuss these points." (R. 1827, 5.) +Stork's remark suggested the arrangement of a second debate in +connection with the prospective meeting of the North Carolina Synod in +St. Paul's Church, Lincoln Co., beginning May 7, 1827. The Tennessee +Report of 1827 records: "On the day appointed [November 4, 1826], +Messrs. Moser and Henkel attended [the meeting at the Organ Church]; but +none of the ministers whom they had invited. Whereupon sundry +respectable members of the Lutheran community [in Lincoln Co.] requested +the committee [of the Tennessee Synod, Moser and Henkel] to renew this +invitation, and to make another appointment. The same request was also +made by the Lutheran Joint Committee of this county [composed of members +of several Lutheran congregations in Lincoln County], at their session +on the 9th of last December [1826]. Accordingly, Messrs. Moser and +Henkel renewed the invitation, and proclaimed another meeting." (25.) +The request of the Lutheran Joint Committee reads as follows: "To +Lutherans. The Lutheran Tennessee Synod had appointed a committee for +the purpose of publicly debating some points of doctrine, which are in +dispute between the aforesaid Synod, and that which is commonly called +the Synod of North Carolina and adjoining States. Some members of the +latter were invited and notified by the committee to attend at Organ +Church, on the 4th ult., for the purpose of reciprocally discussing the +aforesaid points of doctrine. Two of the committee attended, but none of +the ministers of the North Carolina Synod. Whatever reasons they may +have had for not attending, we, the members of several Lutheran +congregations in this county, being assembled and constituting a joint +committee for the purpose of regulating the internal government of the +same, request said committee to proclaim another public meeting at a +convenient place for the aforesaid purpose, and to invite the members +of the North Carolina Synod to attend the same. We also hereby request +the members of the North Carolina Synod to meet the committee [of +Tennessee] in a friendly manner, in order to discuss the doctrines in +dispute." Moser and Henkel responded: "We . . . acquiesce in your +request, and deem it pertinent to the manifestation of the truth." (26.) +They also published a proclamation, inviting the ministers of the North +Carolina Synod to attend a public meeting to be held in St. Paul's +Church, Lincoln Co., "to commence on the day after you shall have +adjourned, and to continue at least three days." (R. 1827, 27.) Again +invitations and notices of the projected meeting were printed, and a +copy was sent to each of the ministers of the North Carolina Synod a +few months prior to their session. And when the North Carolina Synod was +convened, by special messenger, a letter was sent to the president for +presentation to Synod, inviting them to attend the proposed debate, at +the same time asking them to give their reasons in case they should +refuse to comply with the request. On the following day the messenger, +Mr. Rudisill, applied for an answer, and again on the day of +adjournment; but in vain. The Report of 1827 records: "Mr. Rudisill +handed this letter to the president, who, taking it, replied that it was +not properly directed to them; notwithstanding it should be given to a +committee appointed by this Synod, who should report on the same. On the +next day Mr. Rudisill applied for an answer, but he received none. On +Wednesday, the day of their adjournment, Mr. Rudisill again requested an +answer, but he again received none. Neither did the Synod assign any +reason for their refusal. Whereupon Mr. Rudisill publicly proclaimed +that Messrs. Moser and Henkel would attend on the next day, _i.e._, on +Thursday, and discourse upon these disputed topics, and invited all who +were present to attend. Accordingly, Messrs. Moser and Henkel attended, +but none of the ministerium of the North Carolina Synod appeared. The +most of them, or perhaps all, had started on their way home. The +members of the church who were present requested David Henkel to +discourse on a few of those disputed points, with which he complied. +After his discourse was ended, it was concluded that it was not +necessary then to pursue the subject any further. The congregation, who +were present, nominated a majority of the members of this committee to +draw up the above statements. It was resolved that this report shall be +laid before the next session of the Tennessee Synod and that the same +shall be requested to annex it to the report of their transactions. It +was further resolved that David Henkel be requested to write a treatise, +in order to show the propriety and Scriptural grounds for the debate on +the disputed points of doctrine, which was offered to the ministers of +the North Carolina Synod." (R. 1827, 31 f.) Thus the repeated and +cordial offers on the part of the Tennessee Synod to discuss and settle +the differences were ignored and spurned by the North Carolina Synod. +David Henkel wrote: "As the committee, who gave them the last invitation +to attend to public debate, knew from past experience that to address +the North Carolina Synod with the addition 'so called' was offensive, +and was made a plea to evade a public trial, they addressed some of the +principal ministers thereof agreeably to etiquette, by their personal +names, and including all the others, believing that no rational man +would be offended to be called by his own name. Neither did I hear that +any of them objected to the address as offensive, nor to any of the +propositions for the manner of conducting the debate. Notwithstanding +this, and although they accepted a letter directed to them also by the +committee, and promised the bearer to return an answer, yet they +treated both the invitation and letter with silent contempt." (35.) The +repeated endeavors of the Tennessee Synod to draw the false Lutherans +out of their holes failed. The Lutheran Church of America was destined +to sink even deeper into the mire of indifferentism, unionism, and +sectarianism. + +100. Characteristic Address of Moser and Henkel.--The truly Lutheran +spirit in which Tennessee endeavored to bring about unity and peace +with the North Carolina Synod appears from the following letter, +published in connection with the debates proposed in the interest of +union, and dated, "Lincoln Co., N.C., December 10, 1826": "To the Revs. +Charles A. Stork, G. Shober, Jacob Sherer, and Daniel Sherer, and all +other ministers belonging to their Synod.--Sirs! You call yourselves +Lutherans, and we call ourselves the same; notwithstanding there is a +division. You have accused us of teaching erroneous doctrines, and we, +notwithstanding the appellation you give yourselves, deny that your +doctrines correspond with the same or with the Holy Scriptures. It is +hence somewhat difficult for some professors of Lutheranism to determine +with which party to associate, as they have not sufficient information +on the subject. We know no method which would be better calculated to +afford the people information and an opportunity for both parties to +prove their accusations than to meet each other, and debate the points +in dispute publicly, according to the rules of decorum.--Whereas we +are informed that you intend to hold your next synod in St. Paul's +Church in this county, on the first Sunday in next May, why we wish to +try your doctrines, and why we wish you to try ours by the Augustan +Confession and the aforesaid symbolical books, is because the important +question in the dispute is, Who are the genuine and who the spurious +Lutherans? For it is known that Lutheran ministers are pledged to +maintain the Augustan Confession. But if you should at said meeting +declare that the Augustan Confession contains false doctrine, and that +Dr. Luther erred in any of the doctrines which are here proposed for +discussion, we shall then, in that case, be willing to appeal +exclusively to the Holy Scriptures.--Whatever private misunderstanding +may have existed between us heretofore, we notwithstanding intend to +meet you in a friendly manner, without attempting to wound your feelings +by personal reflections. That we intend publicly to contradict your +doctrines as erroneous we beg you not to consider as an insult, as we +expect and are willing for you to treat ours in the same manner. We pray +you as our former brethren, do not despise and reject those proposals, +as a compliance with them may have the salutary effect to convince +either the one or the other party of the truth, and we are confident it +will be beneficial to many of the hearers.--We are willing to forgive +all private conduct which we conceive erroneous and criminal in you. You +ought also to be willing to forgive what you consider the same in us. +But as we differ with you in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian +religion, an ecclesiastical union is impracticable until the one or the +other party be clearly refuted and convinced.--We remain yours, +respectfully, Daniel Moser. David Henkel." (R. 1827, 27.) + +101. Probing Orthodoxy of Pennsylvania Synod.--In the interest of +doctrinal clarity and Christian unity the Tennessee Synod, in 1823, +addressed to the Pennsylvania Synod the following questions: "1. Do ye +believe that Holy Baptism performed with water, in the name of the Holy +Trinity, effects remission for sins, delivers from death and Satan, and +gives admittance into everlasting life to all such as believe, according +to God's promises? 2. Do ye believe that the true body and blood of +Christ are present, administered, and received under the external signs +of bread and wine? Do ye believe that the unbelieving communicants also +eat and drink the body and blood of Christ? We do not ask whether they +receive remission for their sins, but simply, whether they also eat and +drink the body and blood of Christ. 3. Ought Jesus Christ to be +worshiped as true God and man in one person? 4. Ought the Evangelic +Lutheran Church, endeavor to be united with any religious denomination, +whose doctrines are contrary to the Augustan Confession of faith? Or, +is it proper for Lutherans to commune with such?" (R. 1825, 9.) The +Pennsylvania Synod, which immediately prior to that time had been +planning to establish a union seminary with the German Reformed and to +enter into organic union with that body, treated the request with silent +contempt. Two years later Tennessee, patiently and humbly, renewed the +questions with the following preamble: "In the year of our Lord 1823, a +few questions were preferred to your honorable body by this Synod, but +as no answers have been received, and as the reasons thereof are not +known, we [Daniel Moser, Ambrose Henkel, John Ramsauer, Peter Hoyle] +were appointed by our Synod to renew the request, and to solicit you to +comply with the same. We most humbly beseech you to make known the +reasons of your hope that is in you, because we believe if this be done, +it will contribute towards restoring peace and tranquillity [tr. note: +sic] among all genuine Lutherans. We, therefore, renew the following +questions," etc. (R. 1825, 8 f.) "It was also resolved," the Report of +1825 continues, "that the Secretary of this Synod be ordered to address +a friendly letter to the Rev. Muhlenberg, member of the Synod of +Pennsylvania, for the purpose of obtaining his counsel relative to the +present affairs of the Church." (9.) However, these letters also +remained unanswered. But, even this did not exasperate, nor exhaust the +patience of, Tennessee, as appears from the following entry in the +minutes of 1826: "At our last session a few theological questions were +submitted to the reverend Synod of East Pennsylvania, and a letter to +the Rev. Muhlenberg; but we received no answer, neither from the Synod +nor from Mr. Muhlenberg. The cause of this delay we do not know; but we +indulge the hope of receiving satisfactory answers before our next +session." (R. 1826, 6.) In the same Report we read: "Several letters +from Pennsylvania [not the Synod] were read in which David Henkel is +particularly requested to visit that State for the purpose of preaching, +and arguing the peculiar doctrines of the Lutheran Church. Resolved, +That this Synod also solicit him to undertake this task. He agreed to do +so, provided he can arrange his other business so as to be enabled." +(9.) In the following year, however, as no answer had arrived from the +Pennsylvania Synod, Tennessee made the following declaration, which was +directed also against the North Carolina Synod: "Whereas there are +sundry ministers who appear under the disguise of Lutherans, +notwithstanding [they] deny the Lutheran doctrines, and as they are +patronized by several synods, this body deemed it expedient and to have +a Scriptural privilege to demand of other bodies answers to some +theological questions, in order to ascertain whether they differ in +points of doctrine from this body. Accordingly, they submitted a few +theological questions to the reverend Synod of Pennsylvania (now East +Pennsylvania), and have waited patiently four years for an answer. But +no answer was received. The secretary was also ordered by the session +of 1825 to address a friendly letter on the subject to the Rev. +Muhlenberg. The secrtary [tr. note: sic] complied with this order; but +Mr. Muhlenberg has not as yet returned an answer. In order, therefore, +to ascertain the sentiments of the several synods, as well as of +individual ministers on sundry points of doctrine, it was resolved, 1. +That there shall be a pastoral address directed to the Lutheran +community, in which shall be shown what this body deem to be the +genuine Lutheran doctrines relative to such points as are in dispute. +2. That the several Synods, as well as individual ministers shall be +requested, in the preface of the aforesaid contemplated address, to +peruse and examine it; and then, in a formal manner, either justify it +as correct, or condemn it as erroneous. That every synod and minister +who shall be silent after having had an opportunity of perusing it shall +be considered as fully sanctioning all its contents as correct, although +they should teach or patronize a contrary doctrine. 3. That David Henkel +shall compile and prepare said book for publication, and that the other +ministers of this body shall assist him in it. . . . This address is +intended to be published both in the German and English languages." (R. +1827, 6 f.) Also from the Ohio Synod, which at that time practically +identified itself with the indifferentistic attitude of the Pennsylvania +Synod, Tennessee received but little encouragement in her efforts at +purifying the Lutheran Church from the leaven of sectarianism. Says +Sheatsley: "The minutes [of the Ohio Synod of 1825] report that David +Henkel of the Tennessee Synod placed several theological questions +before Synod. These were discussed in the ministerial meeting and +answered, but as many of the older heads were absent, the answers +should first be sent to them and then forwarded to Pastor Henkel. What +the questions were we have no means of determining [no doubt, they were +the same questions asked the Pennsylvania Synod], but, judging from the +ability and bent of the doughty David Henkel, we may surmise that the +questions involved some difficulties. In the following year Synod +resolved that it could not answer these questions, since it is not our +purpose at our meetings to discuss theological questions, but to +consider the general welfare of the Church. This did not betoken +indifference [?] [tr. note: sic] to doctrine, but it was then like it +is now a Joint Synod; there was little or no time for the discussion +of these matters." (_History_, 73.) + + +TENNESSEE JUSTIFYING HER PROCEDURE. + +102. Confession of Truth a Christian Duty.--It appears from the +procedure of the Tennessee Synod, as well as from the resolution of +1827, quoted in the preceding paragraph, that Tennessee felt justified +in demanding a showdown on the part of the American Lutheran synods, +which had persistently refused to reveal their colors. However, being +unionists, indifferentists, and masked or open Calvinists, these false +Lutherans resented such a demand as obtrusive, arrogant, and impudent. +Hence their contemptuous silence. However, also in this matter Tennessee +realized that they were only asking what, according to the Word of God, +it was their solemn duty to demand. For to confess the faith which is in +him is not only the privilege of a Christian, but also an obligation and +a debt which he owes his brethren. Accordingly, when, in 1827, the +committee reported how all efforts to induce the Carolina and +Pennsylvania Synods to reveal their colors and to give testimony of +their faith as to the doctrines of Baptism, the Lord's Supper, etc., had +been rebuked with silent contempt, Tennessee passed the resolutions +quoted in the preceding paragraph. They felt called upon publicly to +justify their procedure; and this all the more so because a member of +the North Carolina Synod had declared "that it was not only improper, +but also sinful to argue publicly on religious subjects." (R. 1827, 36.) +David Henkel, therefore, in a treatise appended to the Report of 1827, +endeavored to show the propriety and the Scriptural grounds for the +public debate proposed to the ministers of the North Carolina Synod. How +Tennessee justified her actions appears from the following quotations +culled from this treatise: "The members of the Lutheran Church," says +David Henkel, "are pledged by their confirmation vows to support and to +adhere to her doctrines and discipline. Now as it is not a matter of +little importance to break such vows, it is therefore highly interesting +for every member to know who of the ministers and which of the synods +have departed from the confession of faith they have vowed to maintain, +as a connection with such would be a partaking of their errors." (33.) +"Because all Lutherans are pledged to maintain the doctrines of their +confession of faith, it may therefore be legally required of any one to +stand an examination, if it be believed that he has deviated from the +same." (36.) "The members of the Lutheran Church at the time of their +confirmation declare that they believe the doctrines as held by the +same, and every minister is solemnly pledged to maintain the Augustan +Confession. Independently of Synods, the Augustan Confession of Faith is +the point of union of all Lutherans, and by which they are distinguished +from other denominations. As all bear the same name, and are pledged to +maintain the same creed, they are viewed as one body. Therefore one +member is accountable to another, and it is one minister's duty to watch +the other's official conduct, as the doctrines taught by one are +ascribed to the others, because they constitute one body. How does a man +become partaker of another's guilt but by being in connection with him, +and not reproving it? 1 Tim. 5, 22." (37.) "Now as one Lutheran +minister's doctrine is ascribed to another, why should the one not have +the right to bring the other to an account, provided he believes that he +deviates from the confession they are both pledged to maintain? The +ministers of the North Carolina Synod call themselves Lutherans, but as +we believe that they propagate doctrines contrary to the Augustan +Confession, we considered it necessary to require of them to stand an +examination. It is necessary to correct a wrong opinion, which is, that +Lutheran ministers are at liberty to deviate from the Augustan +Confession whereinsoever they conceive it as erroneous. Some ministers +have declared that they did not care what the Augustan Confession +teaches, that they simply taught the doctrines of the Scriptures; +further, that Luther was only a man, and was therefore liable to err. In +answer to this, I observe that Lutheran ministers have no right to +deviate from any article of this Confession because the whole of it is +viewed by the Lutheran community as true and Scriptural. Let them +remember their solemn vows! Such as think proper to deviate, infringe +upon the rights of the community. It must, however, be admitted that if +any one should discover that this confession is unscriptural, he would +be justifiable in renouncing it. By doing so no one would be deceived. +If there are errors in this confession, why should any man who has +discovered them yet pretend to preach under its covert? Such as believe +that this Confession contains errors practise a twofold fraud. The one +is, that they cause Lutherans to think that they hold the same doctrines +as they do themselves, when yet they do not. The other is (provided it +be true what they affirm), that they encourage the people in those +errors, because they pretend to support the very confession which +contains them. That the Bible is the proper rule of doctrine must be +confessed; yet the question is, Does the Augustan Confession contradict +it? That Luther was a man, and therefore liable to err, is not denied; +but that he did err with regard to the doctrines contained in the +Augustan Confession remains to be proven. But if he erred, why do such +as believe this call themselves Lutherans? Such practise a fraud by +being called Lutherans, when they affirm that Luther taught erroneous +doctrines; or else [they] must own that, by being called after him, they +sanction such errors." (37 f.) + +103. Truth Always Seeks the Light.--In his justification of the +procedure of the Tennessee Synod, David Henkel continues as follows: +"The intention of the public debate which was offered to the ministers +of the North Carolina Synod was to afford them an opportunity of +manifesting the doctrines we teach, and to prove them as erroneous. The +same [opportunity] we would also had to have treated theirs in like +manner. The propositions which were made were calculated to have brought +all these things to light. They would not only have offered the hearers +who might have been present the opportunity of knowing the difference, +and arguments on each side, but the debates might also have been +committed to paper and published, and thus the whole Lutheran community +might have been judges in this controversy. When a doctrine is in +dispute between two parties, how shall the public decide when they never +heard the opposite arguments? Is it rational to condemn either party +without a trial? Whilst the deeds of men are to be concealed, there are +just grounds for believing that they are evil. Our blessed Savior says, +'For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the +light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth +cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are +wrought in God.' John 3, 20. 21. No man who is confident that he has the +truth on his side will ever evade coming to the light; for he is not +ashamed to profess and vindicate the truth; and though it should be +scrutinized to the utmost, yet he knows that thereby, like gold passing +through the fire, it shall become more brilliant. Even the man who is +diffident with respect to his doctrines, yet having an honest +disposition, never objects to be brought to the light; for he considers +that no greater favor could be shown him than that his errors be +overthrown, and he be led into the paths of truth. But the man who knows +that he cannot defend his doctrines upon Scriptural grounds, and yet +possesses too high an estimation of himself, hates to be brought to the +light, for he knows that his errors will be unmasked; 'for every one +that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his +deeds should be reproved.' Why do men make so many shifts to evade a +public trial of the doctrines, but a consciousness of being in an error +which their pride does not suffer to be publicly exposed? Many a man in +a hasty ill humor condemns a doctrine merely because the man whom he +considers his enemy vindicates it; and though he should afterwards be +clearly convinced, yet he believes it to be beneath his dignity to make +a recantation, and thus throughout all his days he is tormented with a +guilty conscience. In the days of the Reformation public debates were +highly conducive to manifest the errors of the papists. When Luther +confronted his opponents in the presence of multitudes, it was that many +souls got convinced of the truth, which before were kept in ignorance. +Had he refused to appear, especially before the Diet at Worms, what +would have been the result? Though he knew that his life was in danger, +if he appeared, yet he also knew that the cause he had espoused would +have suffered, provided he evaded a public test of his doctrines. The +Papists having been taught by experience that the public debates with +Luther proved injurious to their party, they avoided them as much as +they could and employed various stratagems to destroy him and his cause. +Luther says: 'The court of Rome most horribly fears, and shamefully +flees from, a Christian council.' Had this principle been uniformly +followed in the days of Luther that it is sinful to dispute on points of +doctrine, the errors of the Papish Church could have been impregnable; +and those who bear the name of Christian might perhaps yet groan under +papal superstition and tyranny. . . . Thousands have joined churches +with whose peculiar doctrines they are not acquainted, and even do not +know whether their government is republican, aristocratical, or +monarchical. They are satisfied with what they hear from their +ministers, without even examining their creeds or forms of government. +Such being ignorant, they are already prepared for a state of slavery. +They who so easily submit to an ecclesiastical slavery may also by +degrees, by the same means, be led to sacrifice their civil liberty. How +is it possible that people can with any degree of safety be in +connection with such ministers as are publicly impeached with erroneous +doctrines, and yet are not willing to be brought to light? Ought not +every person conclude: If such ministers believed that they had nothing +but the truth on their side, they would freely embrace every opportunity +of coming to the light, so that they might show that their works are +wrought in God, and refute their opponents' calumnies? That a public +debate would create animosity is no reason that it should be omitted. +Would it offend real Christians? By no means. It indeed might offend +false teachers and their votaries, who for the want of argument would +substitute the ebullitions of their anger. But what Christian can +imagine that no error should be exposed, lest the persons who are guilty +might be offended?" (38 ff.) + +104. Arguments Continued.--David Henkel furthermore showed from Phil. +2, 15; 1 Pet. 2, 9; 1 Pet. 3, 15. 16, that it is the duty of Christians +to shine as lights in the world, to instruct the ignorant, to give an +answer to every man who asks them a reason of the hope that is in them, +and then proceeds to the following conclusion: "Now if it be every +Christian's duty to answer those who interrogate them respecting the +grounds of their faith, how contrary to the Word of God do such synods +and ministers act when they refuse answering some important theological +questions either by writing or public interview! Do they refuse because +they consider the persons who interrogate them too far beneath their +notice? Does not this (if it be the case) indicate that they are +possessed with the pride of the devil? What! poor sinful mortals, do +they exalt themselves above their fellowmen? Or are they ashamed to let +their sentiments be known? Are they sensible that they cannot +rationally defend their doctrines if they were scrutinized? Or, indeed, +have they the truth on their side, and yet fear to let it be known that +they believe it, lest they should become unpopular? Alas! there are too +many whose sentiments may be correct, yet through fear of getting the +ill will of some others will not answer the most important questions. +Let such men remember, that, whilst they wish to keep the truth in +darkness, with a view to please opposite parties, that they are vile +hypocrites; and let them tremble! St. Paul says: 'For if I yet pleased +men, I should not be the servant of Christ.' Gal. 1, 10. We have asked +the ministers of the North Carolina Synod for the reasons of the hope +that is in them, or properly, for the proofs of their doctrines; and, +agreeably to the last invitation given them, they might have had the +opportunity of showing the reasonableness of their doctrines. Now as +they have neglected to endeavor to convince us, why do they warn the +people against us, especially since they are not willing to confront us +in a public debate?" (42 f.) Henkel continues: "We, as it has been +already said, are represented by the ministers of the North Carolina +Synod as enemies of the promulgation of the Gospel. Particularly I am +charged with teaching the most dangerous heresies, as may be seen from +a scurrilous pamphlet written by their president, Mr. Shober. How is +such a dangerous man to be treated by Christian pastors? Is he to be at +liberty without reproof? Is he to be opposed behind his back, and +defeated by arguments, or rather invectives, to which he has no +opportunity of replying? No. For such treatment has rather a tendency to +strengthen him in his errors, and cause such as are led by him to +conclude that his doctrines are incontestable; otherwise the learned and +pious clergy would confront him in a public interview. St. Paul +describes the duty of a bishop in this respect: that he should 'hold +fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by +sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.' He adds: +'For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially +they of the circumcision, whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole +houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.' +Titus 1, 9. 11. As these show that it is the duty of a bishop to exhort +and convince the gainsayer, and to stop his mouth, the question may be +asked, How is this to be done? It cannot be done otherwise than to +propose to the gainsayer an interview, and if he attend to it, to refute +his arguments. But if he refuses to attend, the bishop has discharged +his duty; for the gainsayer thereby shows that he is, already convinced, +and his mouth stopped, because, if he believed that he could not be +refuted, he would by no means avoid the light. Again, when the gainsayer +in a public debate is closely pursued by the truth, he uses invectives +instead of arguments, which is a plain indication of his mouth being +stopped. A false teacher is said to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, which +signifies to be under the covert of a servant of God. . . . Now, indeed +is it possible that the ministers of the North Carolina Synod represent +me as the most dangerous wolf, and yet can see me come among their +congregations, and gain a goodly number of their people, without even +being willing to confront me in a public debate, which would be +calculated to show me in mine originality. Why do they flee? Do they not +feel for their flocks? To pronounce them hirelings would seem +uncharitable. How could I otherwise acquit them of such a charge, unless +I would suppose that they in reality do not consider me as a false +teacher? Otherwise they would not flee, but stand public test. But that +they have called me a false teacher is perhaps owing to the violence of +the old man in them, whom they have not yet crucified through the +Spirit." (44 ff.) Finally, in defending the propriety of the procedure +of the Tennessee Synod, David Henkel refers to the example of Christ, +who "answered the questions of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and +the devil. Now, as Christ debated with wicked men, yea, with the devil +himself, with what face can any man say, It is wrong to dispute on +doctrinal topics?" (45 f.) David Henkel concludes: "Whereas all +Lutherans are pledged to their creed by a solemn vow, it must be a +matter of great importance for every one to know the sentiments of the +ministers under whose care he may be; for whosoever supports such as are +inimical to the doctrines of the Church acts contrary to his vow. Every +Lutheran ought to be certain, and able to prove by texts of Scripture, +that his creed contains erroneous doctrine, before he adopts a contrary +one, lest he incur the crime of perjury. The ministry of the North +Carolina Synod are charged with denying the most important doctrine of +the Lutheran Church, and have been requested to come to a reciprocal +trial, which they have obstinately refused. Now, what is the duty of the +people under their care? Ought they not to urge them to come to a +reciprocal trial? How can they consider themselves safe under a ministry +who are not willing to come to the light!" (47.) + + +DOCTRINAL BASIS. + +105. Attitude toward the Scriptures.--Regarding the constitution of +the Tennessee Synod we read in the Report of 1827: "Whereas the +constitution [of 1820] of this Synod is blended with the transactions of +the session at which it was formed, and as the unalterable articles are +not distinguished from those that are local and of a temporary nature, +and as the language is not sufficiently explicit, it was deemed +necessary, in order to supply those defects, to supply another. +Consequently a committee was appointed to draw up one for examination." +The committee complied with the order, drew up a constitution, and laid +it before the body. Every one of its articles having been critically +examined, Synod resolved: "1. That this constitution shall be annexed +to this journal [Report]; but it shall not now be adopted nor ratified, +so that the absent ministers, as well as the congregations may have the +opportunity of alleging their probable objections, or of proposing +necessary amendments. This also affords an opportunity for the members +of the present session to reexamine it. 2. But that, if no objection of +importance shall be alleged, or necessary amendments proposed by any +member of this body, or by any congregation, and be laid before the next +session, it shall then be considered as the adopted and ratified +constitution of this Synod." (9.) In the following year the new +constitution was adopted and ratified in a somewhat revised form, and +appended to the minutes of the same year. The English version is found +also in the Report of 1853. The First Article of this constitution reads +as follows: "The Holy Scriptures, or the inspired writings of the Old +and New Testaments, shall be the only rule of doctrine and +church-discipline. The correctness or incorrectness of any translations +is to be judged according to the original tongues, in which the +Scriptures were first written." (B. 1828, 13; R. 1853, 20.) The +Introduction declared: "Nothing relative to doctrines and +church-discipline ought to be transacted according to the mere will of +the majority or minority, but in strict conformity with Holy Writ." (B. +1828, 12; R. 1853, 19.) According to the constitution of 1828, +therefore, Tennessee recognized the Holy Scriptures as the only norm and +rule of doctrine and life. This had been the position of the Tennessee +Synod from the very beginning. As early as 1822 they declared: +"Forasmuch as the Holy Bible is the only rule of matters respecting +faith and church-discipline, and because the Augsburg Confession of +Faith is a pure emanation from the Bible, and comprises the most +important doctrines of faith and discipline, hence it must always remain +valid. Therefore our Synod can neither be governed by a majority nor a +minority, now nor ever hereafter, with respect to doctrine and +discipline. This is the reason why nothing can be introduced among us, +now nor at any time hereafter, which may be repugnant to the Bible and +the Augsburg Confession of Faith. Neither the majority nor the minority +shall determine what our doctrine and discipline are, because they are +already determined in the above-named rule. But that we assemble from +time to time is neither to form new rules, doctrines, nor traditions, +but as united instruments in the hand of God we wish to promulgate the +doctrine of the Bible, and to execute the rules already laid down in the +Holy Scriptures. But with respect to local and temporary regulations, +such as the place and time of meeting, and such like things, which do +not interfere with matters of faith and discipline, the Synod suit +themselves to the conveniences of the most of their members. We refer +the reader to the Seventh, Fifteenth, and Twenty-eighth Articles of the +Augsburg Confession of Faith, where he may find more satisfactory +instructions with respect to these things." (R. 1822, 9 f.) + +106. Augsburg Confession Adopted with a "Quia."--From the very +beginning the Tennessee Synod regarded the Book of Concord as a correct +exhibition of the teachings of Holy Writ, although at first only the +Augsburg Confession was officially received into the constitution. At +its organization in 1820 Synod declared: "All doctrines of faith and the +doctrine of the Christian Life, as well as all books which are used for +public worship in the Church, shall, as far as possible, be arranged and +observed according to the Holy Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession. +Especially shall the youth and others who have need thereof in our +Church be instructed according to the Small Catechism of Dr. Luther, as +has been the custom hitherto. Said Catechism shall always be the chief +catechism of our Church." (4.) "Whoever will be a teacher shall solemnly +promise that he will teach according to the Word of God, and the +Augsburg Confession, and the doctrine of our Church." (5.) The minutes +of 1821 record: "On motion made by Mr. Peter Boger, it was resolved that +a copy of the Augsburg Confession of Faith, likewise a copy of the +minutes of the Synod, shall be deposited in every church." (8.) The +Second Article of the new constitution, adopted 1828, reads as follows: +"The Augustan Confession of Faith, comprised in twenty-eight articles, +as it is extant in the book entitled 'The Christian Concordia,' is +acknowledged and received by this body, _because_ it is a +true declaration of the principal doctrines of faith and of +church-discipline. Neither does it contain anything contrary to the +Scriptures. No minister shall therefore be allowed to teach anything, +nor shall this body transact anything that may be repugnant to any +article of this Confession. Luther's Smaller Catechism is also +acknowledged and received, because it contains a compendium of +Scriptural doctrines, and is of great utility in the catechising of +youth." (R. 1853, 21.) The "Remarks" appended to this article explain: +"Creeds fraught with human tradition and opinions are rejected by this +body. Neither is the authority of a general council considered as valid, +or sufficient to establish any point of doctrine. . . . Now there is a +considerable difference when a body of Christians receive a human +composition [symbol] as an unerring guide in addition to the Scriptures, +or when they receive it to show their views as respecting points of +doctrine. Lutherans acknowledge the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of +doctrine and discipline; nevertheless they receive the Augustan +Confession _because_ it exhibits the same views they have on the +Scriptures, and is a formal declaration of what they believe. But if it +were possible to prove that the views on the points of doctrine +contained in the Augustan Confession were erroneous, it would be the +duty of this body to renounce it; nevertheless, in that case they could +by no means be Lutherans, as they would have rejected the views of +Lutherans. As there have been various editions of the Augustan +Confession, this body have chosen the one which is extant in the book +entitled 'The Christian Concordia,' because they are well assured that +that is genuine." (22.) The revised constitution of 1866 recognized the +entire Book of Concord as being the doctrinal basis of the Tennessee +Synod, thereby merely giving expression to the position which the +Tennessee Synod had actually occupied from the very beginning. In their +letter of December 10, 1826, addressed to the pastors of the North +Carolina Synod, Daniel Moser and David Henkel declared: "We also wish to +appeal to the book called 'Concordia,' as it is one of the principal +symbolical books of the Lutheran Church." (R. 1827, 28.) The sixth of +the "Alterable Articles" of the proposed constitution submitted to synod +in 1827 reads: "The book entitled 'Concordia,' which contains the +Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, shall be viewed as a directory +in Theology." (24.) After visiting the Tennessee Synod in 1855, Brohm +wrote: "Creditable witnesses have given me the assurance that, as far as +their persons are concerned, all the pastors of the Synod adhere to the +entire Concordia." (_Lutheraner_ 11, 78.) When the Tennessee Synod was +organized, it was the only American Lutheran synod which was pledged to +the Lutheran Confession, not merely with a _quatenus, i.e._, as far as +it agrees with the Bible, but with an honest _quia, i.e._, because it +agrees with the Bible. + + +CONFESSION ENFORCED. + +107. Confession No Mere Dead Letter.--That Tennessee did not regard +the Lutheran Confession a mere dead document appears from her attitude +toward the Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and other unfaithful Lutheran +synods, as delineated above. The treatise appended to the Report of 1827 +declared: It is necessary to correct the wrong opinion that Lutheran +ministers are at liberty to deviate from the Augustan Confession +whereinsoever they conceive it as erroneous. As long as a minister +pretends to be a Lutheran minister, he has no right to deviate from any +article of this Confession. Let him remember his vows! If any one should +discover that the Augsburg Confession is unscriptural, he is justified +and bound to renounce it. But if he continues to preach under its cover, +he is guilty of a twofold fraud. He deceives the Church by causing +Lutherans to believe that he agrees with them. And he deceives the +Christians by failing to warn them against what he regards erroneous +teaching. If Luther and the Lutheran Confessions erred, "why do such as +believe this call themselves Lutherans? Such practise a fraud by being +called Lutherans, when they affirm that Luther taught erroneous +doctrines; or else must own that, by being called after him, they +sanction such errors." (38.) Tennessee was not satisfied with being +_called_ Lutheran. They were seriously determined to _be_ Lutherans. +The Lutheran Confessions were the living norm of both their preaching +and their practise. In publishing books, receiving pastors and teachers, +examining candidates, in negotiating with other synods, Tennessee was +scrupulously guided and governed by the Lutheran Symbols. In 1821 they +resolved on a Liturgy to be prepared by Paul Henkel "according to the +Augsburg Confession of Faith and the Bible." (7.) In 1826 it was +resolved that Luther's Smaller Catechism should be translated into the +English language, and that Ambrose Henkel was to provide both for an +_accurate translation_ and for the publication of the Catechism. (7.) +Numerous instances where pastors were carefully examined with respect to +doctrine before they were admitted to membership are recorded in the +synodical minutes. In the Report of 1831, _e.g._, we read: "Mr. Rankin +[who previously had been a member of the Presbyterian Church] presented +himself to the committee. He was first made a full member of the +Lutheran Church by confirmation. Then, having taken the most solemn +pledge, he was ordained a pastor of the same Church with prayer and +laying on of hands." (8.) The Report of 1832 records: "Whereas Mr. +Rankin, as appears from a letter of Mr. Bonham, addressed to Synod, and +from other trustworthy sources from Green County, Tenn., _has departed +from the Augsburg Confession_, both as to doctrine and discipline, it +was resolved that Mr. Rankin be requested to attend the next session of +our Synod, and there defend himself against the above-mentioned charges, +otherwise we can regard him as member of this Synod no longer." (9. 16.) +In the Report of 1827 we find the following entry: "It was considered +necessary that one of the pastors should visit all the other pastors, +and their congregations, and examine whether there be any who deviate +from the doctrines and rules of our Church. But as none of the pastors +who were present could undertake this visit, it was resolved that any of +the absent ministers who may volunteer his services shall hereby be +authorized to make this visit, and to reprove all errors that may come +within his knowledge. Whatever pastor may undertake this visit is +requested to inform the secretary of his intention, and to hand in a +report of his journey at the next session." (12.) + +108. Symbols Regarded as Necessary.--In the "Remarks," appended to the +Second Article of the constitution, adopted 1828, the necessity of +symbols in explained as follows: "Now the question may be put, Is not +the Augustan Confession a human composition? Why is it adopted by this +body? Answer: The Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to 'be ready always +to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope +that is in them,' etc. 1 Pet. 3, 15. 16. From the history of the +Reformation it is evident that the Protestants were called upon to +deliver their confession of faith before the diet assembled at Augsburg. +Every Christian is not only privileged, but also commanded to confess +what he believes. Although the Scriptures be a sufficient guide without +any other, and though there be but one explanation of them which can be +correct, yet not all who profess Christianity explain them alike, for +their views are widely different. Hence, as all do not explain the +Scriptures alike, it could but be known what each body of Christians +believed; consequently others could not know whether they should +fellowship them, provided they had not a formal declaration of their +views on the points of doctrine contained in the Scriptures. But when a +body of Christians make a formal declaration of their views on the Holy +Scriptures, others are enabled to judge whether they be correct, and +thus may know with whom to hold Christian fellowship. . . . Lutherans +acknowledge the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of doctrine and +discipline; nevertheless they receive the Augustan Confession because it +exhibits the same views they have on the Scriptures, and is a formal +declaration of what they believe." (22.) According to his own report of +a conversation with a pastor of the General Synod, dated December 2, +1824, Andrew Henkel answered as follows the objection that the +Scriptures are sufficient, and that for that reason symbols are +superfluous: "I told him then that he had departed from the Augsburg +Confession, and, of course, from the Lutheran Church. He then told me +that the Bible was his creed, and not the Augsburg Confession, and that +the said Confession contained things which were not in the Scriptures. +I then replied and said that every fanatic and sectarian said so, and +that Lutherans as much considered the Scriptures to be the only guide in +doctrines as he or any other person did, but that it was necessary to +have some standard by which men could know how the Scriptures were +understood by this or the other denominations, as men varied materially +in their explanations of the Scriptures. I then demanded of him to show +wherein the Confession did not correspond with the Scriptures. He +referred me to the word 'real' in the article of the Lord's Supper, and +added that that word was inserted by the hotheaded Luther." + + +ANTI-ROMANISTIC ATTITUDE. + +109. Church Governed by Word of God Alone.--The Tennessee Synod did +not only realize the importance of the Symbols for the Lutheran Church, +but had correctly apprehended also their spirit and doctrinal content. +This appears from her uncompromising attitude toward the Romanistic, +Reformed, Methodistic, and unionistic tendencies prevailing in the +Lutheran synods and congregations at the time of her organization. As to +polity, the cast of the first American Lutheran synods and congregations +was of the hierarchical type. The congregations were subordinate to +their pastors, the pastors and congregations to their respective synods, +as a rule called ministeriums, because, essentially, they were bodies +composed of ministers. David Henkel had experienced the tyranny to which +such an order would naturally lead and lend itself. The Tennessee Synod +must be credited with being the first, in a large measure, to recognize, +confess, and defend the inalienable rights of all Christians and +Christian congregations. The Henkels must be regarded as champions also +of the basic truth of all normal church-government, _viz._, that no one +is to govern the Christian Church, save Christ and His Word alone, not +the pastor, nor the ministerium, nor the synod, nor any sort of +majority. (1820, 23; 1828, 12.) In 1820, when the leaders of the North +Carolina Synod, in matters of right and wrong, demanded subjection to +the majority of votes, the Henkels maintained: "We thought the doctrine +of the Augsburg Confession, of which we were assured that it can be +proved by the doctrine of the Bible, ought to be of greater authority +to us than the voice of a majority of men who are opposed to the +doctrine and order of our Church." (1820, 23.) Nothing short of clear +proof and conviction from the Word of God and the Augsburg Confession +would satisfy the Henkels. In 1822 Tennessee declared: "Our Synod can +neither be governed by a majority nor a minority, now nor ever +hereafter, with respect to doctrine and discipline. . . . Neither the +majority nor the minority shall determine what our doctrine and +discipline are to be, because they are already determined in the +above-named rule. . . . But with respect to local and temporary +regulations, such as the place and time of meeting, and such like +things, which do not interfere with matters of faith and discipline, the +Synod suit themselves to the conveniences of the most of their members." +(R. 1822, 9.) In a "Note" appended to the above declaration, David +Henkel defines the position of Tennessee as follows: "Herein is the +difference between the government of the pure Evangelical Lutheran +Church and the government of the General Synod. The established rule of +the pure Christian Church is the Holy Scriptures and her supreme Head, +Jesus Christ. Christ, by His Word, governs the Church in the doctrines +of faith and discipline; there needeth no majority of votes to +determine. In such matters as do not immediately interfere with the +doctrines of faith and government of the Church, as, for instance, to +appoint the time and place for the meeting of a synod, or the erection +of a synod, and such like things, herein our Church doth not seek to +exercise any authority, but granteth liberty to each congregation and to +each of her ministers to act and do as they judge it most convenient for +themselves. No one is despised for not joining with us in our Synod; no +one is oppressed who is not in conformity with us in matters which are +not essential to the doctrine of faith. Nothing can separate our union +or break our peace with any, only when they deviate from the pure +doctrine of the Gospel, and when they compose traditions of their own +and impose them on others. A majority is not to have authority over any +one, because they have no power to impose traditions of men on others +with regard to religion. The government of the General Synod is +altogether otherwise. . . . It is plainly to be seen in her constitution +that her aim is to impose a number of human traditions on the Church, +as, for instance, that no synod shall be erected in any State, unless +there are six ordained ministers living therein, and not even then +unless they are authorized by the General Synod. The General Synod is to +be governed by a majority; if it were not so, she would admit that every +congregation and every minister should act agreeably to their own +advantage in matters not interfering with the doctrines of faith, and +not seek such universal power, by which they may compel men to act +according to the will of a majority. The Church of God on earth was +never constantly governed right by a majority. In the times of the +prophets the Church was oppressed by a majority. . . . How was it in the +time of Christ? How did the majority act against the Savior? Who was +right? The great council of Jerusalem and thousands of their adherents, +or Jesus of Nazareth, and the few of His disciples who were despised by +the world? How was it in the days of Luther? What was he against +millions of the Papist Church? And yet every Protestant will confess +that Luther's cause was just, and is thankful to God that the light of +the Gospel was set up by Luther. But supposing that Luther had yielded +to be governed by a majority as the advocates for a General Synod +insist, or wish that the Church should be governed by a majority, might +we not have remained in the ignorance of blind popery to the present +day? The government of the world is supported by a majority, and thus, +many imagine to themselves, it ought so to be in the Church; but they +are greatly mistaken! Jesus saith, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' +and consequently not His manner of government. . . . Jesus Himself hath +already prescribed all things respecting the doctrine and discipline of +His Church, therefore we need no General Synod to give us prescriptions! +As touching matters not essential, as appointing the time and place of a +convention or the like, whereof no prescription is given, no one is +justifiable to give any prescription or direction, much less to compel +any one thereto, whereas all are to enjoy Christian liberty. See Rom. +14; Col. 2. But those of the General Synod undertake to erect universal +directions in these matters, or else they would not name their Synod +Universal. Whosoever submits himself to be governed by a majority must +be such as trust to a majority. The Scripture saith: 'Cursed is the man +who putteth his trust in man.' Jer. 17." (R. 1822, 11 f.) These views +were embodied also in the constitution of 1828. In the explanatory +"Remarks" to the Fourth Article we read: "As the aforesaid duties [to +supply laborers, detect false teachers, examine and ordain ministerial +candidates, etc.] devolve on all churches and ministers, they +undoubtedly have the privilege to perform them jointly, _i.e._ they may +constitute a synod. But no Christian synod can have legislative powers, +consequently have no right to make rules for churches. All necessary +and salutary rules pertaining to the government of the Church are +prescribed in the Scriptures; therefore every body of men who make rules +for the Church are in opposition to Christ. To make rules for the Church +is one thing, but to execute these rules already made, and to employ the +proper means for the promulgation of the Gospel, is another. The latter, +but by no means the former, is the business of this body. That there +ought to be no appeals from the decisions of congregations is evident +from Matt. 18, 15-20." (B. 1828, 20; R. 1853, 25.) Of course, appeals +from the congregation to the synod as a higher authority, to which the +congregation is subordinated, were meant. The Introduction to the +constitution says: "The rules and principles of church-government are +contained in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore no body of Christians have +authority to dispense with, or alter or transact, anything contrary to +them. Human traditions or rules impressed upon the Church as necessary +for Christian fellowship, which have no foundation in the Scriptures, +are rejected by our Savior. Matt. 15, 9. 13. 14." Although, in executing +the rules of the Church, different times, persons, and local +circumstances intervene, as, for instance, in one age and country one +language is prevalent, but not in another age, and perhaps not in the +same country . . ., nevertheless, Christ being omniscient, and His +all-wise Spirit having inspired His apostles, they have provided the +Church with salutary rules, which are applicable to all persons in all +places, times, and circumstances. Nothing relative to doctrines and +church-discipline ought to be transacted according to mere will of the +majority or minority, but in strict conformity to the Scriptures. Local +and temporary regulations, such as the time and place of the meeting of +the synod, the ratio of representatives from congregations, etc., may be +varied for the sake of convenience, hence are subject to be altered, +amended, or abolished by the majority; yet they ought not to attempt to +make their decisions in such cases absolutely obligatory upon the whole +community, because such regulations are only subservient to the +execution of the rules which are founded upon the Scriptures." (19.) + +110. Antihierarchical Principles Practised.--The organization of, and +connection with, a synod was regarded by Tennessee as a matter not of +divine obligation, but of Christian wisdom and liberty. No congregation +was condemned or refused fellowship merely because it refused to unite +organically with their synod. In the "Remarks" to the Fourth Article of +her constitution Tennessee explains: "When ministers and lay-delegates +are assembled, they may have a more accurate knowledge of the exigencies +of the whole connection they represent, hence are the better enabled to +impart their counsel. By their simultaneous efforts, vacant churches may +be supplied with ministerial labors, and others formed and organized. +Indeed, the same end may also be obtained by individual ministers and +churches; nevertheless, as it frequently becomes necessary for such to +receive cooperation from their brethren, this end may be obtained with +more facility by the meeting of a Synod." (1853, 25.) According to +Tennessee, then, the organization of, and connection with, a synod is a +matter of Christian liberty, wisdom, and expediency. But, while not +opposed to synods as such, Tennessee most strenuously objected to any +kind of human autocracy within the synods and congregations. When, in a +letter, several members of the North Carolina Synod designated Paul +Henkel "the head" of the Tennessee Synod, the latter declared, and could +do so truthfully, that their Synod "confesses no man as its head save +the one and only God-man, Jesus Christ." (B. 1824, 10.) The fact is that, +in the beginning, Tennessee was even without standing officers. The +chairmen were elected and changed at pleasure even during the sessions +of the same convention. (B. 1820, 7.) Largely, her opposition to the +General Synod also was rooted in her determined hostility to every form +of Romanism. (R. 1820, 55; 1821, 17.) "If you will consider," they said +to the North Carolina Synod, which had joined the General Synod, "what +pertains to true Christianity, you certainly cannot reasonably desire +that a government, shall be forced upon the Church, of which no trace +can be found in the Bible." (B. 1824, Anhang 2.) Indeed, in their +aversion to any and every form of synodical dominion over the +congregations Tennessee frequently went so far as to create the +impression that they viewed with suspicion and as questionable, if +indeed not as directly objectionable and sinful, every form of +organization of synods into a _general_ body. On this point, also in +her criticism of the General Synod, Tennessee frequently ran riot. But, +though occasionally losing her balance and making a wrong application of +her antihierarchical doctrine, the principle as such was sound to the +core and truly Lutheran. When the North Carolina Synod, without further +investigation, annulled a ban of excommunication which David Henkel's +congregation had imposed, Tennessee repudiated the action as an +infringement on the rights of the congregation. "For," said they, "it +cannot be proven anywhere that a synod has authority to break the +decision made by the church council and the congregation. In such +matters a congregation has greater power than any synod." (B. 1820, 20.) +In agreement herewith the Fourth Article of the constitution submitted +in 1827 provided: "But this Synod shall have no power to receive appeals +from the decision of congregations, with respect to the excommunication +or receiving of members. For every congregation in this respect is +independent of the Synod." The German version adds: "Hence Synod cannot +change or annul a decision of any congregation pertaining to the +exclusion or the acceptance of a member." (R. 1827, 22; B., 21.) The +form in which this article was finally adopted (1828) reads: "But this +Synod shall have no power to receive appeals from the decisions of, nor +to make rules nor regulations for, congregations." (B. 1828, 19; R. +1853, 25.) Neither did the Tennessee Synod arrogate to itself the right +to appoint pastors to the congregations or to remove them. The Report of +1824 records concerning Adam Miller: "This young man displays strong +inclination for preaching; but since he has produced _no regular call +from a congregation_, he could not be ordained." (14.) The Tennessee +Synod claimed no power whatever over the individual congregations. The +minutes of 1825 record: "It is reported that this Synod, in 1821, +ordered all the congregations not to suffer any minister who is +connected with the General Synod to preach in their meeting-houses. Be +it therefore known to all whom it may concern that there was no such a +resolution adopted; although, there was a petition handed in, +subscribed by three congregations in Tennessee, in which they stated +that they had adopted a resolution among themselves not to suffer a +minister belonging to the General Synod to preach in their +meeting-houses, and also petitioned the Synod to admonish all the +congregations to concur with their resolution. But the Synod sanctioned +their resolution only in part, in so far as not to be connected with the +General Synod; yet the Synod do not arrogate to themselves any authority +to prescribe to any congregation, whom they shall suffer to preach in +their meeting-houses. All congregations in this respect are independent +of the Synod." (R. 1825, 11; 1821, 7.) The Report of 1832 declared: +"This body arrogates to itself no power to make laws and rules for the +congregations, because it is against their rights and liberties, as well +as also against the Fourth Article of our constitution." Indeed, such +was their care not to exceed their authority that, _e.g._, Synod, +superscrupulously, refrained even from making a declaration how to +further the instruction of the young, but contented itself with merely +advising "the diverse church councils and congregations to make such +rules and arrangements how they might most fittingly and conveniently +(wie es fuer sie am schicklichsten und bequemsten sei) instruct their +young." (B. 1832, 9.) According to the Fourth Article of the +constitution it was the business of Synod "to detect and expose false +doctrines and false teachers." But the "Remarks" appended to this +article are careful to explain: "That it shall be the duty of this body +to detect erroneous doctrines and false teachers does by no means +suppose that the same does not also devolve upon individual churches and +ministers, for this body does not claim it as their prerogative. But it +is believed that this duty may be performed more advantageously by a +synod." (R. 1853, 25; B. 1828, 19.) Even the right of examining and +ordaining ministers was not denied to the congregation. The draft of the +constitution published 1827 declared: "The business of this body shall +be . . . to examine (_if requested_) candidates for the ministry who may +be called by congregations, and, if they be found qualified, to +consecrate them with the imposition of hands and prayer." (R. 1827, 22.) +The reading adopted in 1828 ran thus: "The business of this body shall +be to impart their useful advice . . . and, _upon application_, to +examine candidates for the ministry." (1853, 24.) The "Remarks" appended +this explanation: "Neither does this body claim the exclusive right of +examining and ordaining candidates for the ministry. For every +congregation has the privilege of choosing fit persons for their +ministers, and individual pastors have the authority to perform their +ordination. This is evident from the practise of the primitive +Christians, as well as from the Scriptures. But when any congregation +shall _request_ this body to examine and ordain the person of their +choice, it then devolves on this body to perform this duty. As the +aforenamed duties devolve on all churches and ministers, they +undoubtedly have the privilege to perform them jointly, _i.e._, they may +constitute a synod. But no Christian synod can have legislative powers, +consequently have no right to make rules for churches." (1853, 25.) + +111. Rights of Laymen Recognized.--From the very beginning the +Tennessee Synod vindicated to the deputies of the congregations the +right not merely to listen, to witness, and to testify, when called upon +to do so by the ministers, as had been the custom in the Pennsylvania +Synod, but also, on equal terms with the pastors, to deliberate, decide, +and vote on all matters submitted to Synod. (_ Lutheraner_ 11, 166.) +Article Three of the Constitution declared: "It shall not be allowed +either for the ministers to transact any business exclusively of the lay +delegates, or for the lay delegates exclusively of the ministers; +provided there shall be both ministers and lay delegates present." (B. +1828, 16; R. 1853, 23.) The "Remarks" appended, add the following: "It +is not the privilege and duty of the clergy alone to impart their +counsel in ecclesiastical matters, and to employ means for the +promulgation of the Gospel, but also of other Christians. The first +Christian council was convened in Jerusalem, and consisted of the +apostles, the elders, and the other brethren. They decided the question +whether it was necessary to be circumcised. See Acts 15, 1-31. The +apostles were inspired, hence could have made the decision, without the +assistance of the lay brethren; but it appears they desired no such +prerogative. This precedent justifies the laity in being in council with +the clergy for the purpose of deliberating on the most important +ecclesiastical matters. Christians, in common, are called 'a chosen +generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,' and +they are 'to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of +darkness into His marvelous light.' 1 Pet. 2, 9. Now, since Christians +in common have such honorable titles, sustain such a high dignity, and +are to manifest the praises of God, it may be concluded that they have +the same rights in church-government as the clergy. St. Paul, in writing +to the Corinthians, said: 'Do ye not know that the saints shall judge +the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to +judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that ye shall judge angels? how +much more things that pertain to this life?' 1 Cor. 6, 2. 3. Not only +the believing ministers, but also the laity are saints. . . . Now, if +saints shall judge the world, even the angels, why should they not also +be capable and privileged to transact the most important matters +pertaining to the Church? That laymen should exercise equal rights with +clergymen in church-government, is not only Scriptural, but also +conducive to the preservation both of civil and ecclesiastical liberty. +. . . From the history of the Church it appears that whenever the clergy +governed without the laity, they enslaved the people, grasped civil +authority, and persecuted those who detected or opposed their aspiring +views. This not only has been the case under the reign of Popery, but +also some of the clergymen who called themselves Protestants have been +the most bloody persecutors." (B. 1828, 17; R. 1853, 23.) In accordance +with these principles, laymen in the Tennessee Synod were also +represented on, or even exclusively composed, most important committees. +Thus, in 1824, three laymen were elected members of the committee which +was to confer with the North Carolina Synod in an effort to remove the +doctrinal differences separating them. "They appointed farmers," Jacob +Sherer of the North Carolina Synod, in a letter, remarked contemptuously, +"to instruct us, who in public print have slandered us, and treated us +scornfully when it is known to them that the priests' lips are to +preserve the doctrine." David Henkel, then secretary of the Tennessee +Synod, however, in a "Note," recorded in the Report of 1825, justified +the action of Tennessee. Here he wrote: "I conceive it to be my duty to +observe that it is truly astonishing that farmers should not also, as +well as ministers, be capable of judging the Christian doctrine. +Whenever it shall be proved that farmers are not to read the Holy +Scriptures, then only ought they to be excluded from this important +business. It is well known that in the dark ages of Popery the layman +was not permitted to judge in religious controversies, and it seems very +alarming that Mr. Sherer has expressed a similar sentiment, inasmuch as +he considers himself much offended because the Synod appointed laymen +or, as he says, farmers to constitute the committee. That the priests' +lips are to preserve the doctrine does not prove that it is inexpedient +or wrong to appoint laymen to assist on deciding a dispute. It was +believed laymen would act more impartially, since the ministers are more +immediately concerned in this controversy. Neither can I discover that +all farmers are so contemptible a class of people (so niedertraechtige +Leute) that Mr. Sherer could possibly be offended at the appointment! If +in case the committee have published anything, which is contrary to +truth, Mr. Sherer is at liberty to make it appear." (R. 1825, 6.) + + +ANTI-METHODISTIC ATTITUDE. + +112. Fanatics Described.--At the time of the organization of the +Tennessee Synod the Lutheran Church of America generally was suffering +with a threefold malady: Unionism, Reformedism, and Methodism. Methodism +may be defined as a diseased condition of Christianity, causing +Christians to base their assurance of salvation not on the gracious +promises of God in the objective means of grace, the Word and +Sacraments, but on feelings and experiences produced by their own +efforts and according to their own methods. As the years rolled on, the +early Lutheran Church in America became increasingly infected with this +poison of subjectivism and enthusiasm, especially its English portions. +Rev. Larros of Eaton, 0., said in a letter to Paul Henkel, dated August +2, 1821: "I remember when eighteen or twenty years ago many among the +Germans in North Carolina were awakened as to their salvation, and we, +in joyful hope, spared no trouble teaching and instructing, in order to +make of them men for the kingdom of Jesus, preserving the Bible-religion, +that even then one could notice how some were flushed and puffed up with +pride. This was evident especially at the time of the great revival of +the English Church, when, at the large meetings, their novices +["Neulinge," young English preachers] admonished the people, and, to the +detriment of the Church and the depreciation of the older ministers, by +their bold and arrogant actions indicated, that they understood the +business of converting the people better than the old preachers, and +this without being called to order by their superiors. Since that time +impudence and lust of ruling have greatly increased, so that the fruit +of it appears at public synods." (B. 1821, 35.) The Methodistic doctrine +of conversion, as related above, was a point of dispute also between the +North Carolina and Tennessee Synods. The Tennessee Report of 1820 states +this difference as follows: "Since our opponents [of the North Carolina +Synod] refuse to admit that regeneration is wrought in the manner taught +by our Church, we infer that they believe it must be effected in an +altogether different way. For almost all religionists of this time teach +most frequently and diligently and urge most earnestly that one must +_experience_ regeneration, or be eternally lost. We are also accused by +many that we deny the doctrine of regeneration. Our answer is: We do not +deny the doctrine of regeneration at all; moreover, we teach it as well +as our opponents. But that regeneration is effected in the manner and by +the means such as they teach and pretend, this we cannot believe, nor do +we admit that it is possible in this way. Some of them teach and +maintain that regeneration cannot be wrought in any other way than by +fear and terror, when one, experiencing true contrition and sorrow of +sin, is moved to pray and cry anxiously, beseeching the Holy Ghost to +perform in him the work of regeneration. They hold that the Holy Ghost +can operate this in such only as are previously brought into this state +of fear and terror. As a natural birth cannot be effected without pain, +in like manner, they argue, no one could be born anew without +previously, through anguish and fear, having experienced pains of the +soul, more or less. Such teachers, however, fail to observe that by this +example they contradict themselves. For in a natural birth, as everybody +knows, only the mother has pain, not the child, while according to their +doctrine the child ought to have the pain. Who, therefore, does not see +that their teaching is most absurd and questionable? Now, in order to +bring about regeneration in the manner they teach, it is the rule to +preach the Law and its curse. To produce the required pangs of the soul, +the poor people are threatened with the devil, eternal death, and hell. +The intention is to cause a sinner to pray earnestly in order, by such +prayer, to receive the Holy Spirit. To produce this result, joint +prayers are said to contribute the most, _viz._, when a number of +people gather and strain every power of body and soul in crying and +screaming to move the Holy Spirit, or even to force Him, to finish the +work of regeneration. They imagine that, by their own exercises in +prayer, and especially by their joint prayers, they have advanced the +matter and earned and obtained the Holy Ghost, and that, He [the Holy +Ghost] having united with their exercises and labor, the work of +regeneration was finished through the combined operation of their +prayers and the gifts of the Holy Spirit acquired by them. They mistake +imaginations for divine revelations. And the sensation rising from such +imaginations they regard as effects of the Holy Spirit. They apply to +themselves what the Apostle Paul writes Rom. 8, 16: 'The Spirit itself +beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.' They +declare: We are born anew, and we know indeed that it is so, for the +Spirit of God has given testimony to our spirit. But if one desires to +learn how He had given this testimony, whether they had seen Him or +heard Him, or in what manner or whereby He had given such assurance, +they appeal to their imaginations and sensations, from which also +something peculiar, like an apparition, may come to them; but whatever +this is we do not know. One can be absolutely sure, however, that it is +not the Holy Spirit. For as soon as you let them understand that you +believe that they have been deceived and you endeavor to lead their +attention to the testimonies of Holy Scripture in order to obtain from +it reliable testimonies, immediately their anger begins to rise, their +countenance becomes disfigured, and, alas, with some already a fist is +clenching with which they strike the table or their knees and declare +defiantly: 'I don't care anything for what you say; it is none of your +business; I know that I am born of God, and will suffer it to be taken +away from me by nobody, by no learned man, nor by any devil; what I know +I do know.' There is a reason, why such a person will not suffer his +opinion to be taken from him by anybody, and he need not fear that any +devil will rob him of it, especially when he is ready to use his fist in +defense of his opinion." (B. 1820, 32 ff.) + +113. Sober Attitude of Tennessee Synod.--In opposition to the +subjectivism of the Methodistic enthusiasts within the Lutheran synods, +Tennessee based the certainty of salvation on the objective means of +grace, placing especial emphasis on the well-known comforting passages +of Holy Writ concerning Baptism, such as John 3, 5; Eph. 5, 23. 25. 26; +Titus 3, 5; 1 Pet. 3, 20. 21; Rom. 6, 3-5; Acts 2, 38; 22, 16; Gal. 3, +26. 27; Mark 16, 16. "These passages of the Bible," they said, "show us +that we are not to seek salvation in any work which we ourselves can +create or perform, no matter whatever its nature may be, but only +through faith on the Lord and Savior Christ, who alone has done +everything for us, and through the grace which He bestows and confers +on us in Holy Baptism, whereby we are regenerated." (B. 1820, 34.) +Again: "From the passages here quoted the attentive reader is able to +see and comprehend that regeneration is not effected in the manner as +some teach." It was evident from the Scriptures, they maintained, that +Christ referred to Baptism when He declared that no one can enter the +kingdom of God unless he was born again of the water and the Spirit. +They explained: Self-evidently it is not a natural power or effect of +the water to wash away sin. "Yet we see that the washing and cleansing +from sin is effected alone [?] [tr. note: sic!] through Baptism, and +that by faith alone such grace is appropriated. Accordingly, whoever +believes and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16, 16." (38.) In this +passage, Mark 16, 16, Tennessee declared, "Christ in a few and clear +words indicates the whole condition under which a man can be saved. It +consists in this, that he believes that, for the sake of Christ and what +He has done and suffered for us, God will forgive all our sins, and that +by faith, in Baptism, he appropriates such promises of all the gifts of +salvation which God imparts to man for Jesus' sake. This also shows us +that man cannot be saved by his own work or merit, but alone by what God +presents and imparts to him. He obtains faith through preaching, which +is by th. Word of God, as Paul writes, Rom. 10, 17. Baptism is +administered by the command of Jesus Christ, Matt. 28, 19, through the +service of the minister of the Church. In this way God, through means, +seeks man before man seeks Him. Accordingly, for having been translated +into the state of salvation, man is to thank God and His ordinances +alone, not himself, his merit, his own works, or his experiences." +"Because we understand and teach this matter in the manner indicated, we +are said to despise prayer, declare it unnecessary, and teach men that +it is sufficient for salvation if they are baptized and attend the +Lord's Supper, and that nothing else is needed. To this we answer: +Whoever is baptized and has _true faith_ in Christ, is in need of +nothing else in order to die a blessed death; if he should die thus, he +would be saved, for whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved. +And Paul writes to the Galatians: 'Ye are all children of God through +faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized into +Christ have put on Christ.' However, if they are possessed of the true +faith, they will also acknowledge the grace of God, for which they thank +Him heartily. Whoever truly believes, loves his neighbor; indeed, he +loves all men, he prays for all, being moved to do so by love and +compassion toward all. Such a one will also experience many temptations +and tribulations by the devil, the world, and his own flesh against +which he will have to fight and strive daily. This will cause him +trouble and teach him to pray of his own accord. Such people we advise +to pray heartily, and give them instruction therein. And this we do for +the reason that God in His Word promises to hear them, and that they may +be strengthened in faith, to continue faithfully to the end, but not in +order that thereby they may be born anew." (36 f.) The question, "How +does the Spirit give testimony?" was answered by David Henkel as +follows: "When an evil-doer condemned to death receives a document with +the name and seal of the Governor affixed, that his crime is pardoned, +and that he shall be set free, then he is in possession of something +upon which he may firmly rely. By it he cannot be deceived, as would be +the case when such a thing merely appeared to him in his thoughts, or he +had dreamt that he was set free. In like manner he cannot be deceived +who firmly believes the assurances given him in the Word of God that +God, for the sake of Christ, has forgiven all his sins. The Spirit is +then giving him, through the Word, firm assurance of the forgiveness of +his sins. And if he remains in faith, he always has this firm assurance +in the Gospel which proclaims the forgiveness of sins. All men could +have such an assurance if by faith they were obedient to the Gospel. +The Romans had it, but only for the reason that, in accordance with the +ordinance of Jesus Christ, they were baptized and believed in Him. That +this text [Rom. 8, 16] does not, though always misinterpreted in this +way, prove that one must have been favored with a certain heavenly +vision in order to know that one's sins are forgiven, every intelligent +man will see without further explanation. The Prince of Darkness always +endeavors to lead men away from the ordinances and promises of God, and +causes them to rely on all manner of works and merits of their own, in +order, finally, to make the poor creatures believe as all Deists do, +_viz._, that Christianity is nothing but a nursery-tale. There is +reason also to believe that wily Satan presents some illusion to such +as, in an overwrought frame of mind, are in great expectations of +seeing a vision, and that they regard it as sent from heaven, and build +on it their assurance of the forgiveness of their sins." (43.) In the +letter, appended to the Report of 1821, from which we quoted above, +Jacob Larros says: "If I can again, after falling from baptismal grace, +appropriate to myself from Holy Scripture the blessed marks of a state +of grace and of regeneration, then it truly is no new grace, produced by +the storming of men; but it most assuredly is the same grace promised in +Baptism which has been found once more. The grace secured by storm [die +gestuermte Gnade] may also have its marks, drawn from the air or out of +the head, not from the Bible, but from the majority of false voices." +(B. 1821, 35.) Concerning the "new measures" (die "neuen Massregeln") +the Report of 1841 records the following: "Now the 'new measures' were +taken under advisement [by Synod], and after a carefully considered +discussion it was unanimously Resolved, That we disapprove most strongly +of the 'new measures' which have been introduced into the Lutheran +Church by modern enthusiasts, because we believe that they are in +conflict with the Word of God, with the doctrine of the Augsburg +Confession, with the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, and with +the usages of the Church in her best and purest era, and are calculated +to arouse discord and contention between the members of the Church." (B. +1841, 10.) However, though strenuously opposed to Methodistic +enthusiasm, Tennessee, at the same time, was very considerate of +Christians who were pietistically inclined, and care fully avoided +judging their hearts. In the Report of 1820 we read: "It is indeed true +that some men of honest mind do err in this matter; they do not perceive +the difference and seek in their own exercise and experience what in +reality they have already received in Baptism. However, if they are but +faithful, they will advance in holiness by the thing wherein they seek +regeneration, and thus it cannot, harm their salvation. The harm, +however, is this, that the Price of Darkness misleads many who are in +such error to believe that, since they seek to be regenerated by their +own works and doings, Baptism is unnecessary; and, remaining unbaptized +themselves, they will not permit their children to be baptized." (43.) + + +ANTI-UNIONISTIC ATTITUDE. + +114. Refusing Fellowship to Non-Lutherans.--The purpose of the General +Synod was an external union of all bodies bearing the Lutheran name, +irrespective of their differences as to doctrine and practise, and to +cultivate intimate fraternal relations with other Evangelical +denominations. The Tennessee Synod, on the contrary, was not only +opposed to any kind of union with non-Lutheran churches, but also sought +to bring about a separation of the true Lutherans from the spurious +Lutherans, and to unite the former in defense of true Lutheranism +against Reformed and other corruptions then prevailing in the Lutheran +synods. Unity in the spirit, unity in doctrine, unity in faith and +confession, was viewed by Tennessee as the _sine qua non_, the +absolutely necessary condition, of all church-fellowship, church union, +and cooperation. This appears from their attitude toward the North +Carolina and other synods, as described above. While Stork, Shober, and +others advocated a union not only with the General Synod, but with all +religious bodies in America, the Henkels and their adherents declared at +the "Quarreling Synod," 1820: "The general union of the numerous +religious parties, though a very desirable matter, is not to be hoped +for, as we can clearly see that such a thing is impossible at this time. +How should it be possible? Some teach: Christ died on the cross for all +men to redeem all. Others teach: This is not true; He died only for the +small number of those who, according to the holy will and the wise +counsel of God, are elected from eternity and are compelled to be saved; +the rest of mankind, also according to His wise counsel, God, from +eternity, has ordained and elected unto damnation, and they must be +lost. Again, some teach: Baptism is necessary to salvation, because +Christ and His apostles teach thus. Others hold: This is not true; +Baptism is a mere outward sign indicating obedience toward the command +of the Lord and nothing more; Baptism is not at all necessary unto +regeneration, as regeneration is wrought by the Holy Spirit without any +means whatever. Some say: It is right to baptize children. Others +maintain: Infant Baptism is an institution of the Pope. Others: It is of +the devil. Some reject every kind of baptism. Such and similar are the +people who constitute the present so-called Christendom: opinions, +opposing one another, and that always will be opposed to each other! All +these are supposed to be united in one church, and to become one +congregation and one flock, all under the care of one shepherd. That +would be like stabling together sheep, goats, lambs, cows, oxen, horses, +bears, wolves, wildcats, foxes, and swine, and putting them under the +care of one shepherd, saying, 'Here you have a united flock which now +you may feed and pasture in peace; you have many heads under one hat, +take your place among them.' That some were much displeased by this +objection to the general union is not to be wondered at, for some of +that stripe were present. There were also some of almost all religious +parties in attendance." (B. 1820, 26.) It is apparent from these +statements that a general union of all denominations, irrespective of +their doctrinal differences, was certainly not relished by Tennessee in +1820. Twenty years later Synod still occupied the same position. In +1841, after discussing an appeal which had gone out to unite all the +different religious parties in one big body, Tennessee "resolved that +whereas the Church of Christ is a gathering of all true believers, and +is not now, nor ever has been, divided; and whereas it is impossible +that all the different, contradictory teachings should agree with the +Word of God; and whereas it is also impossible to bring about a +Christian union of all the different denominations without the unity of +opinions; and whereas the teachers do greatly differ in their views on +religion and the form of church-government: a union of all the various +denominations in one large body is both impossible and improper; and +even if brought about, instead of furthering the kingdom of our +Redeemer, it would harm the welfare thereof and jeopardize the religious +liberty of our happy land." (B. 1841, 11.) + +115. Refusing Fellowship to False Lutherans.--That the attitude of +Tennessee also over against those whom they regarded as false Lutherans +was of a most determined and consistent nature, and free from all +unionism, has been shown above. Nor did they regard this a mere matter +of policy, but of conscience. With respect to their public testimony +against the errorists of the North Carolina Synod the men of Tennessee +declared: "Should any one raise the accusation that it was unbecoming +for us as teachers of the Gospel to publish and reveal this matter here +[in the Report of 1820], to him we give the answer: The prophets in the +Old Testament did also contend against every erroneous doctrine, and the +Apostles Paul, Peter, and John marked all such as taught false doctrine, +and warned the Christians against them. If, however, it can be proven +from Holy Writ that we proclaim erroneous or false doctrine, we will +suffer ourselves to be corrected. We cannot, however, for the sake of +keeping the peace, let everything pass and approve of everything they +preach, for we know that it does not agree with the Holy Scriptures. It +is certainly our desire to be able to live and continue to work in peace +and union with all members of the entire Synod. We cannot, however, +unite with them at present [because they were not agreed doctrinally]. +We consider it our supreme duty and obligation to defend the doctrines +of our Church against all false teachings; and though they proceed from +such as call themselves Lutheran preachers, we cannot on that account +spare them nor keep silence in this matter, even if we could thereby win +their favor and the favor of all great men on earth." (1820, 31.) With +special reference to Shober, Stork, and their compeers Tennessee +declared: "Should we help them to cover such bold things as you have +here read [errors concerning Baptism, Lord's Supper, etc.], because they +belong to our organization and bear the name Lutheran? Can we do this +with a good conscience?" (1820, 31.) True, at the "Quarreling Synod," +1820, the Henkels were charged with having served all religious parties +with the Word and Sacrament. They admitted that this was true, and +expressed their confidence that it had not been without blessing, at +least, for some. But they added: "This, however, must also be taken into +consideration, that they [the Henkels] had always taught such people +what our Church teaches, and that they had never preached anything else +in deference to them, or to please them. Now, if any one was agreed with +our doctrine, and hence felt free to hear our doctrine and to commune +with us, we could not hinder him. We do not regard the name of such +people, but what they believe." (1820, 25.) However, one will admit that +the practise of Tennessee at this early date does not appear to have +been fully consistent. The Report of 1820, for example, records: "With +the Evangelical Reformed David Henkel had no quarrel that we know of, +for many of them, who are members in good standing, receive Communion +from him." (18.) The following remark of the same Report uncovers a +similar inconsistency: "Should any one who has been baptized according +to Christ's command, and who has been confirmed in another church, +desire to commune with us and to be in fellowship with our Church, it +shall be permitted him, and he may be looked upon as a member of the +Church without being baptized or confirmed for the second time." (5; +1831, 8.) These shortcomings, how ever, do not dispute the fact that the +Tennessee Synod, in a manner most energetic and persistent, endeavored +to steer clear of, and opposed every kind of, unionism with the sects, +as well as with unfaithful Lutherans. In 1886, however, Tennessee, +untrue to its noble traditions, participated in the unionistic +organization of the United Synod in the South, and in 1918 she joined +the Lutheran Merger, which brought her into complete fellowship with all +the unionistic synods that constituted the General Synod, opposition to +which having been the primary cause of her separate organization in 1820. + + +TENNESSEE AND MISSOURI. + +116. Mutual Attraction.--The doctrinal, confessional, and practical +position of the Tennessee Synod being such as described, it was but +natural that, as soon as Missouri and Tennessee became acquainted with +each other, both should sense their kindred spirits, and feel attracted +mutually. And such was the case in spite of the fact that Tennessee at +this time had practically sloughed off the German language, while +Missouri was thoroughly German, and continued so for many decades. +Immediately after the first contact with Tennessee, Missouri displayed a +lively interest in these early protagonists of genuine confessional +Lutheranism. They rejoiced in having found in the Tennessee confessors +flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone. With great satisfaction +they reported on the antiunionistic position which Tennessee held over +against the old, apostate synods. In Loehe's _Kirchliche Mitteilungen_ +of 1847 we find the following: "Several Virginians came to St. Louis to +the Lutheran Pastor Buenger, and asked him whether he still adhered to +the old Lutheran faith, which he affirmed to their joy. Thereupon they +told of Henkel. . . . They had protested against an edition of Luther's +Small Catechism in which, with reference to Baptism, the words 'who +believe _it_' (die _es_ glauben) had been made to read 'who believe' +(die _da_ glauben)." (94.) The _Lutheraner_ of February 22, 1848, +published the Tennessee resolution, stating that they could unite with +the Synod of North Carolina "only on the ground of pure and +unadulterated Evangelical Lutheranism," and added the comment: "We +confess that a closer acquaintance has filled us with the best +prepossessions for this Synod. As far as we can see from the Report, +they are earnestly striving to preserve the treasure of pure Lutheran +teaching." At the convention of the Missouri Synod at Fort Wayne, in +1849, Dr. Sihler was elected a delegate to the Tennessee Synod. He wrote +to Loehe that "according to its Reports and confessions, this Synod +maintains an upright churchly position." "It would be a great joy," +Sihler adds, "if we could enter into definite church-fellowship with +them, especially, as we, above all others, have been stigmatized as the +'exclusive Lutherans.'" (_Kirchl. Mitt._ 1849, 92.) Reviewing the +Tennessee Report of 1848, Walther remarked in the _Lutheraner_ of +January 23, 1849: "Like its predecessor, this Report proves that this +Synod belongs to the small number of those who are determined not only +to be _called_ Lutherans, but also to _be_ and to remain Lutherans." +After reporting their chief resolutions, including the one expressing +their delight over the organization of the Missouri Synod, and +recommending the _Lutheraner_ to their German-speaking members, Walther +continues as follows: "We close this extract with the sincere wish that +the Lord would continue to bless this Synod, which for almost thirty +years, in spite of much shame and persecution, has faithfully testified +and fought against the apostasy of the so-called American Lutheran +Church, especially against the General Synod, and which, as far as we +know, of all the older Lutheran synods, alone has preserved in this last +evil time the treasures of our Lutheran Church; and we also wish that +the Lord would make this Synod a salt of the earth to stay the growing +spiritual corruption in other synods." (5, 84.) At the meeting of the +Tennessee Synod in 1853, a letter dated October 6, 1853, and signed by +Theo. Brohm and A. Hoyer, delegates appointed by Missouri, but unable to +attend personally, was read, stating, in part: "We are highly rejoiced +in this vast desert and wilderness to meet a whole Lutheran synod +steadfastly holding to the precious Confession of our beloved Church, +and zealously engaged in divulging the unaltered doctrines and +principles of the Reformation among the English portion of Lutherans, by +translating the standard writings of the Fathers, at the same time +firmly resisting the allurements of those who say they are Lutherans and +are not. Our Synod extends, through our instrumentality, the hand of +fraternity to you, not fearing to be refused, and ardently desires, +however separated from you by a different language and local interests, +to cooperate with you, hand in hand, in rebuilding the walls of our +dilapidated Zion. We are authorized to beseech your venerable Synod to +delegate as many of your members as you may deem proper to our synodical +meeting to be held next year at St. Louis, promising hereby a friendly +and hospitable reception. Should your Synod next year assemble at a +place more easily accessible, and more convenient, to us, we, or they +whom our Synod may appoint, shall not fail to attend." (1853, 18.) With +special reference to a letter of Rev. A. Biewend, also a delegate +appointed by the Missouri Synod, but prevented from attending, in which +he expressed "the hope and desire that a more intimate acquaintance may +be formed between both synods," Tennessee adopted the resolution, "That +we duly appreciate the kind regard of the Missouri Synod, and that we +also desire a more intimate acquaintance with them, and that we appoint +Rev. J. R. Moser a delegate to the next session of that Synod." (1853, +13.) In the Tennessee minutes of 1854 we read: "The Rev. Theodore Brohm, +of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, was introduced to +Synod, and received as a corresponding member of this body." (5.) +"During recess, Rev. Th. Brohm preached from Rev. 14, 6. 7." (11.) "The +Rev. Theodore Brohm, of the Missouri Synod, being present, the following +preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas the Rev. +Theodore Brohm, of the city of New York, delegate of the Synod of +Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, has appeared amongst us, and we are +assured from personal interviews with him, as well as from other sources +of information, that the Synod which he represents adhere strictly to +the doctrines of the Ev. Lutheran Church, as exhibited in her +confessional standards, and are zealously and actively engaged in +promoting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, be it therefore 1. +Resolved, That we are highly gratified to see Brother Brohm in our +midst. 2. Resolved, That we fully and cheerfully reciprocate the kind +and fraternal feelings expressed and manifested towards us by the +Missouri Synod. 3. Resolved, That we endeavor to cultivate a more +intimate acquaintance and a closer union with the Missouri Synod. 4. +Resolved, That, for this purpose, Rev. Socrates Henkel be appointed a +delegate from this body to the Eastern division of the Missouri Synod, +to be holden in Baltimore; and that Rev. J. R. Moser be appointed our +delegate to the Western division of said Synod, at its next session." +(12; _Lutheraner_ 11, 77.) Moser attended and reported to his Synod in +the following year. (1856, 23.) Brohm, relating in the _Lutheraner_ his +visit to the Tennessee Synod, said, in part: "Let the assurance here +suffice that, among the pastors in attendance, I have found a faithful +adherence to our common Mother Church, and that I have not met with any +essential doctrinal differences. It gave me great pleasure to observe +how these men, in spite of the great dearth of English-Lutheran +literature, have preserved such a living consciousness of Lutheran +orthodoxy and such a firm Lutheran character." (11, 78.) + +117. Tributes from Dr. Walther.--When, in 1852, the book, _Luther on +the Sacraments_, published by the Tennessee Synod, came to Walther's +attention, he wrote: "We praise God that He has caused this glorious +work to succeed. The importance of the appearance of this work in this +country, where the great majority of the English-speaking Lutherans have +fallen into Reformed errors regarding the articles of the holy +Sacraments, and are ignorant of, yea, do not even suspect, the good +foundation on which the Lutheran doctrine of the Sacraments is built, +cannot be estimated at its true value. After the Book of Concord had +been presented to the English-speaking Lutherans in their own language, +no better selection could have been made for them than the +above-mentioned three writings [Sermon on Holy Baptism, of 1535; Letter +on Anabaptism, of 1528; Confession of the Lord's Supper, of 1528 of +Luther, the chosen vessel of God for the reformation of the Church. +These two books, now rendered into English, are gracious visitations +indeed for the English Lutheran Church of this country. May it know the +time of its visitation! . . . And the right reverend Tennessee Synod, +which has issued both works (the Book of Concord and Luther on the +Sacraments) in the English language, as well as the dear men who moved +by love for the truth and the Church of their fathers, have regarded +neither the unspeakable labor nor the great expense connected with this +undertaking--may God reward them by showering His blessings upon them +in abundant measure!" (9, 115.) When the second edition of the _Book of +Concord_ appeared, Walther wrote: "We thank God for the unspeakable +blessing which He has conferred upon the Church of our adopted +fatherland [through the publication of this book], and in our hearts we +bless the faithful publishers. It is surprising as well as +faith-strengthening to learn that already in the first year a second +edition has become necessary. May many hands reach out for it, and may a +third edition soon become necessary!" (L. 11, 63.) Walther's joy and +enthusiasm over these works published by Tennessee in the English +language will be understood when we remember that it was the time when +the Definite Platform was preparing, and Benjamin Kurtz and others, in +order to discredit the "Old Lutherans," who still adhered to the +Lutheran doctrine of the Lord's Supper, were boldly repeating the +Heidelberg Lie (die Heidelberger Landluege), according to which Luther, +shortly before his death, disavowed his doctrine regarding the Lord's +Supper. (L. 12, 31.) + + +PECULIARITIES OF TENNESSEE SYNOD. + +118. Opposed to Incorporation.--The peculiarities of the Tennessee +Synod, several of which have already been alluded to, may be accounted +for partly by the lack, on their part, of correct logical distinctions +and clear conceptions, partly by their fear of synodical tyranny over +the individual ministers and congregations. Conspicuous among these +abnormalities is the rejection of civil incorporation us a reprehensible +commingling of State and Church. Article 5 of the Constitution declares: +"This Synod shall never be incorporated by civil government, nor have +any incorporated Theological Seminary under their care." (B. 1828, 20; +1827, 22; 1853, 26.) The "Remarks" appended explain: "This article +prohibits this body ever from being incorporated by civil government. +That the government of the Church ought not to be blended (vereinbart) +with the State, is a tenet of the Augustan Confession, amply supported +by the Scriptures. See 28th Article. Our Lord declared that His kingdom +was not of this world. John 18, 36. That the Church ought not to be +blended with the State is also according to the Constitution of the +United States, whose spirit and design is to secure to every person full +liberty with respect to spiritual matters. The kingdom of Christ admits +of no bondage, for 'it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy +Ghost,' Rom. 14,17; 'and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is +liberty,' 2 Cor. 3, 17. But when the Church is identified with the +State, it is also fettered by human traditions, aspiring priests obtain +the power to tyrannize men's consciences. However, an ecclesiastical +body may be incorporated by civil authority, and yet not be the +established Church of the nation; and so far as I am acquainted with our +civil constitutions there is nothing contained in them to prohibit a +legislative body from incorporating any society. But when a Church is +incorporated, _it approximates to a State coalition_. The Church, by an +act of incorporation, if I am not greatly misinformed, would have power +to enact laws and regulations binding upon all their members, and could +recover by a civil suit at law any property, or its value, bequeathed to +them. Thus empowered, could they not also borrow money upon the credit +of their whole community for the establishment of any institution? An +incorporated Church may not only preserve their funds, but they may also +lend out their money on usury, and obtain a vast increase. The aspiring +priests of such a body, knowing that the wealth of the Church is their +interest, they invent many schemes to enlarge the so-called treasury of +God, lest it should ever get exhausted. They fetter the conscience of +some persons, by telling them that they ought to promote the cause of +God, by casting their donations into the sacred treasury, so that they +yield to their request, whilst they denounce those who refuse to comply +with their importunities as foes to Christ and His holy Gospel. They +contrive to obtain testamentary devices to the injury (in many cases) of +widows and orphans; they condescend to flatter the female sex until they +have begged all that they are able to bestow. Thus by the +instrumentality of those clerical beggars, and by the cause of Christ +being made a pander, the Church becomes wealthy; and wealth creates +power, and power, tyranny and oppression. That many of the clergymen of +the day possess an aspiring spirit is evident from the several attempts +they have made to get some of their institutions incorporated by civil +authority. If a few of the most numerous denominations in the United +States were to unite, join their funds, in one, and could succeed in +obtaining an incorporation act, they would not only be extremely wealthy +already; but they might also increase in wealth to such a degree as +would endanger our civil as well as ecclesiastical liberty. But if it be +asked in what manner this could be effected, I answer: In various ways, +as, for instance, such a gigantic body might by means of their wealth +establish so great a number of printing-offices as would enable them to +print and sell Bibles at so reduced a price that they would engross the +sales of all the Bibles wanted in America, which would be an annual +revenue of millions. They would be enabled to educate thousands for the +ministry who otherwise had no inclination to embark in that office; and +they, tutored in the principles of aristocracy, and the churches filled +with them, those principles might be disseminated among millions; they +could also supply the most of the common schools with their teachers, +and thus the rising generation would imbibe the same pernicious +principles, until at length persons of this description would occupy all +the civil offices in our country, which would ultimately effect the +destruction of civil liberty. In a similar manner the Roman Church +became elevated above the State. By testamentary devises from the +people, as well as from noblemen and kings, by the sales of indulgences +and other inventions, the Church became exceedingly wealthy; cloisters +were erected, and they occupied by friars and nuns supported at the +expense of the people, it was their interest to support the power and +dignity of the Roman pontiff. The same causes will produce the same +effects. If the Church should ever acquire great wealth, aspiring +priests will grasp great power. Whereas this body know these things, and +wish to preserve both spiritual and civil liberty, and to prevent their +successors from attempting to blend the Church with the State, they have +by this article prohibited an incorporation of this body, and of any +theological seminary under their care, and from accumulating funds for +the support of such a seminary and of missionaries." (1853, 27.) + +119. Establishment of Seminaries Discouraged.--Tennessee did not only +oppose the incorporation of seminaries, but, strangely enough, never did +encourage the establishment of any kind of theological school whatever. +According to their views, theological and literary schools, supported by +the Church, were superfluous, since the languages might be studied in +the secular academies of the country, and a course of theology could be +pursued with some able divine. The Fifth Article of the Tennessee +Constitution provides: "Neither shall they have any particular treasury +for the purpose of supporting . . . theological seminaries." (1853, 26.) +The "Remarks" appended to this article explain: "Although this body +shall have no incorporated theological seminary under their care, nor +any particular treasury for its support, nevertheless they consider it +highly beneficial to the Church for every minister to understand the +original tongues of the Scriptures, and to be well skilled in theology. +But such qualifications may be acquired without an incorporated +theological seminary. There are already a goodly number of academies +dispersed throughout our country which are not under the care of any +particular denomination, in which the student may acquire a classical +education. He, in like manner, may have the opportunity of studying +theology with some able divine." (1853, 26.) However, though Tennessee +in no way encouraged the establishment of a theological seminary, the +conclusion must not be drawn that they underestimated or despised a +well-educated ministry. The minutes of 1821 record: "A motion was made +by Rev. David Henkel that no person shall be ordained a pastor of our +Church unless he understands as much of the Greek language as will +enable him to translate the New Testament. But no resolution respecting +it was passed. It remains postponed until the next Synod, when it shall +be taken into contemplation." (1821, 8.) In 1827 Tennessee made the +following recommendations and declarations with, respect to the German, +Greek, and Hebrew languages: "Whereas the Symbolical Books of our +Church, particularly Luther's works, are extant in the German language, +and as sundry extracts have been made out of them, and most erroneously +translated into the English; and as it is probable that such frauds may +be practised in future, this body recommend the study of the German +language to all the members of the Church. This would enable them to +detect the glaring frauds practised by men under the garb of Lutherans. +It was resolved that a more strict attention shall be paid to the +literary qualifications of those who enter the ministry than has been +done heretofore. A deacon should at least understand the language in +which he officiates with some degree of accuracy, and be able to make +the logical compositions in writing. A pastor ought, in addition to +these qualifications, be acquainted with the Greek, the original tongue +of the New Testament. Also an acquaintance with the Hebrew, the original +tongue of the Old Testament, would the more amply qualify him for the +sacred ministry. The Synod, however, do not think that there are not +also useful men in the ministry who do not possess all those +qualifications. For there are men whose manifold experience supplies +some literary defects. But when a whole body of ministers are +illiterate, they are not able to defend the truth of the Gospel against +the subtile attacks of enemies. Suppose false teachers were to make a +spurious translation of the Scriptures, how could such an illiterate +body of ministers detect the forgery? If the knowledge of the original +tongues should ever become extinct, the Gospel might soon become forged +and corrupted. It is to be lamented that there are too many young men +who wish to be ministers; notwithstanding, they are too indolent to +acquire a knowledge of the original tongues. They are infatuated to +think that they are immediately inspired from heaven, and that, +therefore, they need no literary qualifications. In order to check this +growing evil, and to oppose this fanaticism, it was resolved that every +candidate for the ministry shall stand a literary as well as a +theological examination, and be promoted agreeably to his industry. This +resolution principally respects young men." (11.) + +120. General Mission Treasury Regarded Dangerous.--The Report of 1824 +records: "Synod has not, and does not want to have, a treasury to pay +traveling missionaries." (8.) The "Remarks" appended to the Fifth +Article of the constitution, rejecting "any particular treasury for the +purpose of supporting missionaries and theological seminaries," explain +as follows: "There are but few, if any, young men in our country who are +not able to defray the expenses of their education either by means of +their property or industry. Yet if there be such whose indolence is the +cause why they are not able to defray the expenses of their education, +they should by no means embark in the ministry, as the faithful +discharge of ministerial duties requires men of great industry. It must +also be observed that this article does not limit the charities of +liberal Christians who wish to encourage the promulgation of the Gospel; +for they may, if they deem it expedient, assist any student in getting +his education, or any indigent congregation in getting ministerial +labors. Nor does it prohibit individual congregations from having funds +under their own care, for the purpose of defraying their own expenses, +and assisting any of their indigent brethren. It would be expedient for +every congregation to have a fund, yet by no means to hold such under an +act of incorporation. Again, although this article prohibits this body +from having any particular treasury for the purpose of supporting +missionaries, yet some of the ministers of this body annually perform +missionary labors. Now if it be asked how they are supported, it may +again be asked, How were the apostles of Christ supported when they went +into all the world to preach the Gospel? Did Christ recommend the +establishment of a general fund by begging donations, and obtaining +testamentary devises from dying men to remunerate His apostles for +missionary labors? By no means. He said unto them that they should +'first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness,' and that 'all +these things should be added unto them.' Matt. 6, 33. See also vv. 25-31. +Thus they had the promise of being supported whilst they labored in the +Lord's vineyard. Every faithful minister may rely upon these promises. +If he be industrious in preaching the Gospel and instructing the +ignorant, he will turn many unto righteousness, who will consider it +their duty and privilege to manifest their gratitude in contributing +towards his support. But such people as manifest an avaricious +disposition, so that they will suffer faithful ministers to serve them +without contributing something towards their support, prove themselves +unworthy of the Gospel, and minister to others, who will receive them +with gratitude." (1853, 26.) In their "Objections" to the constitution +of the General Synod, Tennessee declared: "We cannot conceive the +propriety of paying missionaries out of a general fund. How many pious +ministers heretofore have preached the Gospel in remote parts, without +such a provision. Men who are commissioned by Christ to preach the +Gospel, 'take no thought, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we +drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed?' Matt. 6, 31-34. Their daily +employment is to teach and admonish the people--for their support +they depend on the faithful promise of our Lord who said: 'All these +things shall be added unto you.' Men who are sent of God shall profit +the people; the Lord, therefore, who feeds the winged songsters, though +they toil not, and arrays the lilies of the field, stirreth up the +hearts of the people, and fills them with gratitude, so that they +freely honor Him with their substance in supporting His ministers. Thus +the promise of Christ shall evermore be verified. But hirelings and +wolves do not believe this promise. They are either entangled with some +temporal employment to secure their support, or else must know what they +are to have from a general fund before they go forth to labor in the +Lord's vineyard. When men know what they shall get from a general fund, +before they preach, they have no need to exercise faith in the promise +of Christ, for their trust is in the general fund! The country is +already filled with such hired circuit-riders, whose trust for a support +is not in the promise of our Lord; because they first bargain with their +superiors or general synods what they are to have per month or year from +the general fund. Was the mission of the primitive apostles conducted in +this manner? Had Christ established a general treasury, out of which He +had hired His apostles by the month or year? No. Is it not degrading for +Christians to depart so far from the paths of Christ and His apostles? +Is it not enough that we have His promise? Genuine ministers have no +need of a general fund to support them; their mission is profitable to +the people, whose hearts, being moved by the Lord, will support their +teachers--but such men, who are not called of God do not profit the +people; they therefore do not expect to be be supported by the promise +of Christ, hence they must look to the general treasury. What is better +calculated to induce hirelings to enter into the holy orders than their +sure wages, by a general fund?" (1821, 31.) The German Report of 1821 +concludes these remarks as follows: "Give an itinerant preacher 40 to 50 +dollars a month, as some already receive, and it will prove to be a +veritable bait to lead all manner of evil men into the ministry, whether +they are called of God or not; for the salary calls them!" (28.) + +121. Funds for Widows and Orphans of Pastors Denounced.--Regarding +Christian benevolence and charity, Tennessee admonished the Christians +to be liberal, and also to establish a congregational treasury to meet +their needs. General treasuries, however, were denounced as leading to +synodical tyranny and worldly-mindedness. This was applied also to the +establishment of general funds for the support of widows and orphans of +pastors. In the Report of 1821 we read: "Why are ministers' widows and +orphans, and poor ministers only, to be supported by a general fund, and +not also the poor members of the church? Are the families of ministers a +nobler race than other people, so that extraordinary provisions must be +made for them in preference to others? Would it not be better if every +congregation had a fund of its own to support their needy at home? Each +congregation are best acquainted with their own poor, and know who +deserves help. Is it necessary that the congregations should send their +money several hundred miles from home, into the general fund, and that +the poor should receive it from thence? Pious ministers accustom their +families to honest labor, so that they may know how to support +themselves when they need it. Who supports the people's widows and +orphans? It is too lamentable a fact that too many ministers do not +accustom their children to labor, but indulge them in their pride, +vanity, indolence, and in the imitation of rich, proud, and pompous +people of the world. Behold how many ministers with their wives, in our +time, surpassing humility--how grand their attire, how lofty their +appearance, how great their association with the wealthy of this world! +With what contempt do they view the poor! How numerous their waiters, +and how little do they expose themselves to preach the Gospel unto the +poor! There is no similarity between them and Christ, whose ministers +they affect to be--for He was poor; He appeared lowly and in the form +of a servant. Such vain, arrogant, and indolent families truly cannot +support themselves in such style after their fathers' decease; a general +treasury indeed might be considered necessary to support such in their +vanity. The farmers and mechanics may labor hard to procure money to +fill this treasury, of which, though, their widows and orphans in their +straits could expect no assistance. Have we any nobility in America whom +the people must bear upon their hands? What a constant tax is hereby +imposed upon the congregations! How frequently the ministers or +church-council must admonish the people to cast their mites into the +general fund, lest it should be exhausted! There would be no end to +begging and expostulating with the people for money. Howbeit, it is said +that no person is compelled to contribute towards the general fund. We +grant it in one sense, but not in another; for such as did not freely +contribute would be viewed with a contemptible eye, and frequently +reproved as avaricious, hardened wretches, so that at last they would +find themselves obliged to contribute. Such widows and orphans who by +some misfortune are rendered unable to support themselves generally find +benefactors, in addition to those means civil government hath already +provided." (33.) The "Remarks" to the Third Article of the constitution +conclude as follows: "Can it be believed that the majority of the clergy +of the day are true shepherds? and that they do not cherish the most +aspiring views? Why are there so many attempts made to identify the +Church with the State? Why are so many petitions sent to legislative +bodies for incorporation? Why is there such an insatiable thirst for +creating funds of immense sums for churches under incorporation acts, if +the clergy of the day did not cherish the most aspiring views, and did +not wish to acquire a spiritual dominion blended with civil power?" +(1853, 24.) It was in keeping with these views on general funds when +Tennessee, in 1841, resolved not to participate in the Lutheran +centenary jubilee advocated by the General Synod, also for the reason +that they were opposed to the plan of collecting $150,000 as an +endowment fund for its literary and other institutions. (15.) + +122. Doctrinal Peculiarities.--Evidently at the time of its +organization, the views prevailing in the Tennessee Synod concerning +"The Last Things" were not as yet sufficiently clarified. They believed +that by the organization of the General Synod the way was prepared for +"the great falling away," spoken of in the Bible, when "the +_ Antichrist_ prophesied 2 Thess. 2 would set himself in the temple of +God." In the "Conclusion" of his "Objections" to the constitution of the +General Synod, David Henkel said: "We do not expect finally to prevent +the establishment of this General Synod by publishing our objections, +because we believe, agreeably to the divine predictions, that the great +falling away is approaching, so that Antichrist will set himself into +the temple of God. 2 Thess. 2 We also believe that the establishment of +General Synods are preparing the way for him. Antichrist will not, nor +cannot, get into power without a general union, which is not effected by +a divine harmony of godly doctrines, but by common temporal interests +and the power of a majority. Notwithstanding, we consider it our duty to +make the people attentive to those things, and to instruct such as are +not wilfully [tr. note: sic] blind. But should we be deceived in our +opinion, and clearly be convinced of it, we shall not be ashamed to +recant. In vain people dream of the Millennium before crosses and +tribulations shall have visited the Christian world by the rage of +Antichrist. His kingdom is reared under a good garb; if this were not +the case, no person would be deceived. Men who are notoriously immoral +and vicious cannot deceive, but they only who appear like innocent +lambs. May God preserve all His people against every temptation, for +Jesus' sake! Amen." (1821, 35.) In a letter of Jacob Larros, appended to +the German Report of 1821, we read: "O that our dear brethren in office +would recognize the prophecies of Holy Writ concerning the kingdom of +Antichrist which . . . soon will undergo a great change and appear in +its highest stage; for then they would be on their guard. Of him it is +written: 'And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to +overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and +nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.' He +desires a universal communion (Universalgemeinschaft) to reach his +purpose. This he neither can nor denies to attain by [bringing them all +into] agreement with the Scriptures, but by the majority of votes. Oh, +how it will grieve our brethren when they, having by their well-meant +_Planentwurf_ [constitution of the General Synod] organized a universal +communion, behold that, as forerunners, they have only prepared the way +for Antichrist to reach his goal and obtain his dominion. From this, +Lord God, preserve our Church and our dear brethren in the ministry! +Amen." (36.)--Concerning the _ministry_ the Sixth Article of the +constitution, adopted 1828, declares: "The grades of the ministry are +two: pastor and deacon, or, as St. Paul calls them, bishop and deacon. +They must possess the qualifications which are described by St. Paul 1 +Tim. 3, 1-14; Titus 1, 4-9." (1853, 25.) Both of these offices, as well +as ordination, were regarded as necessary. Says the Report of 1820: "As +concerning the states and grades of the ministry (des Lehramts), we do +not recognize more than two, to wit, pastor and deacon, as necessary for +the preservation and propagation of the Church. A pastor is an +evangelical teacher who discharges the office fully, in all its parts, +or who performs all ministerial acts. He must be ordained and +consecrated to this office by prayer and the imposition of hands by one +or more pastors, when he also solemnly promises faithfully to discharge +such office according to the Word of God and the doctrine of our Church. +A deacon is indeed also a minister of the Word of God, but he does not +discharge this office fully, like a pastor, but conducts catechetical +instruction, reads sermons, conducts funerals, exhorts and, in the +absence of a pastor, also baptizes children, where such is desired. He +must be a regular member of the church and possess the testimony of a +Christian conversation. At the request of the church-council he is to be +examined at the synod as to his qualifications. If he is found able, he +is dedicated [gewidmet] to such service by one or more pastors by prayer +and laying on of hands either at the conference or in one of the +congregations which he serves. And in the presence of the whole +congregation he is, at the same time, to make the solemn promise that he +will faithfully discharge his office according to his instructions. If +such a deacon proves to be diligent in his office and acquires the +knowledge and ability needed for the discharge of the office of a +pastor, and also receives a regular call from one or more congregations +who are without a minister, he may be consecrated and ordained a pastor +in the manner indicated before." (1820, 6.)--In the _celebration of +the Lord's Supper_ the Tennessee Synod adhered to the custom of +breaking the bread, instead of using wafers. When questioned by Missouri +concerning this practise, they appealed to 1 Cor. 10, 16 and to passages +of the Confessions which speak of a "breaking of the bread." In 1856 +Synod declared: "With all due deference to the learning and high +character of the Missouri Synod for orthodoxy, we have been unable to +see sufficient reason to make any change in our manner of administering +the Lord's Supper. We are influenced in our practise in this respect by +the authority of both the Holy Scriptures and the Symbolical Books of +the Lutheran Church. . . . For the present, therefore, we feel fully +justified in our present practise." (R. 1856, 23 f.) Self-evidently, +Tennessee did not adhere to this practise in the interest of Reformed or +unionistic views. + + +THE HENKELS. + +123. A Most Influential Family.--The Henkels were by far the most +prominent and influential of the men composing the Tennessee Synod. +Because of their bold and uncompromising attitude toward the sects as +well as all others deviating from the Christian doctrine, as taught by +the Lutheran Confessions, they, together with their adherents, were +universally, by false Lutherans as well as Methodists, Baptists, +Presbyterians, and other sects, hated and ostracized, and stigmatized as +"the Henkelites," Paul Henkel being designated as their "head." (B. +1824, 10.) The sire of the American branch of the Henkel family was +Gerhard Henkel. For a time he was court chaplain to the Duke Moritz of +Saxony. But when the duke turned Roman Catholic, Henkel was banished. He +left for America and served the first Lutherans in Virginia and later on +Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania, notably in New Hanover and +Germantown. James Henkel, the grandson of G. Henkel, was the father of +Moses, Paul, Isaac, and John Henkel. Thus Paul Henkel, born 1754, was +the great-grandson of Gerhard Henkel. He was educated by J. A. Krug and +ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium in 1702. For many years he +served as missionary, laboring especially in Virginia, North Carolina, +and Ohio. He was pastor at New Market, Va., at Salisbury, Va., and again +at New Market, where he died, November 17, 1825. He participated in the +organization of the North Carolina Synod, in 1803, of the Ohio Synod, in +1818, of the Tennessee Synod, in 1820. In New Market, Paul Henkel, +together with his sons, established a printery for the purpose of +supplying the Lutheran Church with the books, German and English, which +they were in need of so sorely: Luther's Catechism, the Augsburg +Confession, a Liturgy, hymn-books, etc. Paul Henkel was the father of +six sons: Solomon, Philip, Ambrose, Andrew, David, and Carl. Solomon was +a physician and manager of the printing-establishment. Philip was pastor +in Green County, Tenn., and a member of the North Carolina Synod. +Together with Bell, who was later ordained a minister, he opened a Union +Seminary which, however, soon passed out of existence. He was one of the +founders of the Tennessee Synod. Two of his sons, Irenaeus and Eusebius, +were Lutheran ministers. Ambrose was minister at New Market, and a +member of the New Market publishing firm. Under him the Book of Concord +and other important works were issued. He was joint translator of the +Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Appendix, +and the Articles of Visitation. Andrew, the fourth son, was pastor in +Ohio. David, the fifth son, was the most gifted of the Henkel family. A +clear, able, and undaunted theologian, he was preeminent in zealously +defending the Lutheran truth. He died 1831, at the early age of +thirty-six years. His two sons, Polycarp and Socrates, entered the +ministry. The latter was pastor in New Market for more than forty +years; he also assisted in the publication of the Book of Concord. +Charles, the youngest son, was pastor in Ohio and published a +translation of the Augsburg Confession in 1834. Dr. Graebner remarks +with respect to the publishing house established by the Henkels at New +Market: "From this printery, which is in existence today as the oldest +Lutheran publishing house in America, were issued numerous large and +mall publications in both the English and German languages, abc-books, +catechisms, hymnals, theological dissertations and polemical writings, +books for pastime and for instruction for young and old, Christmas +booklets, such as _Das Virginische Kinderbuch_ of 1809, a paper +entitled, _Der Virginische Volksberichter und NeuMarketer Wochenschrift_ +bearing the motto: '_Ich bring' das Neu's, So gut ich's weiss!_' The +Henkels were a busy and skilful [tr. note: sic] people. When in need of +manuscript for their press, they wrote it; when in need of verses, they +composed them; when in need of woodcuts, they cut in wood; after the +books were printed, they bound them; and when the bindings had dried, +they, in part themselves, canvassed the finished product throughout the +country." (611.) + +124. Paul Henkel.--"My father," says Andrew Henkel, "was a large man, +within half an inch of six feet in height, well developed, with a keen +black eye, as erect as an Indian; somewhat inclined to corpulency, and +yet athletic and rapid in his movements. Though his health was not +always good, yet he was almost constantly employed either in reading, +writing, preaching, or traveling; and when necessary he did not hesitate +to labor with his hands. He had no desire for this world's goods beyond +what was wanting for daily use; whatever savored of ostentation was +foreign to his nature. His manner of living was frugal, and his dress +plain, and yet in performing the services of the sanctuary, he uniformly +wore a gown of rich black silk. He had great equanimity and serenity of +temper, and his friendships were sincere and constant, and his friends +numerous. In the social circle he always rendered himself agreeable, and +often communicated important instruction by means of some pertinent and, +sometimes, humorous anecdote. As a preacher he possessed much more than +ordinary power. In the commencement of his discourse he was slow and +somewhat blundering, but, as his subject opened before him, he would +become animated and eloquent, with a full flow of appropriate thought +and glowing language. His illustrations were lucid and forceful, simple +and natural. He assisted in training a goodly number of young men for +the ministry, some of whom have occupied responsible stations with great +fidelity and usefulness." (Sheatsley, _History_, 40; _L. u. W._ 43, 106 +ff.) The obituary notice of "Father Paul Henkel of blessed memory," +appended to the Tennessee Report of 1826, says, in, part: "During his +illness his greatest concern was that we might all remain faithful to +the pure Evangelical Lutheran doctrine, and with meekness and patience, +yet manfully contend for the truth for which he had contended so +earnestly." (B. 1825, 16.) He expressed the same sentiments in a message +to Pastor Riemenschneider, by whom also desired to be buried. Ambrose +Henkel, in a letter, November 30, 1825, reports concerning the death of +his father: "I then asked him whether I should inform also all my +brothers to this effect concerning him. He said: 'O yes; write to all of +them, that by all means they should remain steadfast.' I furthermore +asked him whether he still stood on the faith which he had hitherto +defended. He said: 'Yes, indeed; on this faith I have lived, and on it I +will now die.' I was also careful to call in several neighbors to listen +to his words, fearing that enemies might contradict my report of his +statements." In his last letter, written to his son David, and dated +August 20, 1825, Paul Henkel wrote: "If the doctrine is right and it is +the will of the Lord that it should be taught publicly, He will also +find and show ways and means to do it. . . . How our mendax-priests +would rejoice if they could accuse some of us that we deviated in a +single article from the teaching of the Augsburg Confession of Faith." +(_L. u. W._ 60, 62.) + +125. David and Philip Henkel.--As for David Henkel, the Report of 1831 +enumerates his publications and speaks of him as "this much-esteemed and +venerable fellow-laborer." "His last illness," says the notice of his +death, "was dyspepsia, which disabled him from officiating in a public +capacity for the term of nine months. He bore his afflictions with a +perfect resignation to the will of his divine Redeemer. He embarked in +the cause of his blessed Savior when a youth (1812). And we are happy to +say, to the praise of this worthy servant of Christ, that his assiduity +and vigilance to study and deep researches into the truth of divine +revelation have seldom been equaled by any. He remained immovable in the +doctrines he promulgated to the end of his life. This venerable servant +of the Lord had to endure many trials, crosses, and temptations, but he +maintained his integrity through them all, trusting to the promises of +his Redeemer; and notwithstanding the difficulties he had to encounter, +he left a bright example to succeeding pilgrims. His ardent desire for +the promotion of his Redeemer's kingdom and his love of truth caused him +to submit cheerfully to the difficulties connected with his official +labors. When on his death-bed, being interrogated by his friends whether +he still remained steadfast in the doctrines which he had taught, he +confidently answered in the affirmative. Being again asked whether he +feared death, he replied in the negative. The last words which he was +heard to utter, were, 'O Lord Jesus, Thou Son of God, receive my +spirit!' and in a few moments expired." "The perishable remains of this +worthy brother were followed to the grave by his loving companion and +seven children, together with a numerous train of mourners, who were +left to lament the loss of a kind father, an affectionate husband, a +friend and benefactor. The body is deposited at St. John's Church, +Lincoln County, N.C. The funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev. Daniel +Moser, from Phil. 1, 21: 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is +gain.'" From 1812 to 1830 David Henkel preached 3,200 sermons, baptized +2,997 infants and 243 adults, and confirmed 1,105 persons. The whole +course of his ministry was distinguished for industry and perseverance. +He traveled in all seasons, even the most inclement, and frequently +preached two and three times in a day, in the German and English +languages. Besides, he maintained an extensive correspondence and was +quite active also in a literary way. (1831, 15.)--Concerning Philip +Henkel we read in the obituary notice, appended to the Tennessee Report +of 1833: "Already in his youth he was a confessor and defender of the +Christian religion, and began in 1800 to consecrate his services to the +Lord, in whose vineyard he labored incessantly for 33 years and 3 +months. During this time he preached 4,350 sermons, of which 125 were +funeral sermons. He baptized 4,115 children and 325 adults, and +confirmed 1,650 persons into the Christian Church. . . . Shortly before +his end he declared, if it were the will of God to take him home, he was +willing, and prayed the verse, which were also the last words he was +heard to utter: 'For me to live is Jesus, To die is gain for me, To Him +I gladly yield me, And die right cheerfully.'" (B. 1833, 24.) Philip +Henkel was the first to conceive the plan of organizing the Tennessee +Synod. In a letter to his brother David, dated December 9, 1819, he +wrote that he would do his utmost to induce Pastor Zink and Miller to +join them. "But," he added, "do not say a word of it to anybody, not +even to your best friend, lest they get wind of it. In a second letter, +dated March 14, 1820, Philip declared: "If the old ministers will not +act agreeably to the Augsburg Confession, we will erect a synod in +Tennessee." (_L. u. W._ 59, 481.) + +THE END OF VOLUME I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of American Lutheranism, by Friedrich Bente + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN LUTHERANISM *** + +***** This file should be named 20941-8.txt or 20941-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/9/4/20941/ + +Produced by (Rev.) Kurt A. T. Bodling Concordia Senior +College, Class of 1976 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20941-8.zip b/20941-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2743c1d --- /dev/null +++ b/20941-8.zip diff --git a/20941.txt b/20941.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..78065de --- /dev/null +++ b/20941.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8753 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Lutheranism, by Friedrich Bente + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Lutheranism + Volume 1: Early History of American Lutheranism and The Tennessee Synod + +Author: Friedrich Bente + +Release Date: March 30, 2007 [EBook #20941] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN LUTHERANISM *** + + + + +Produced by (Rev.) Kurt A. T. Bodling Concordia Senior +College, Class of 1976 + + + + + + +AMERICAN LUTHERANISM + +Volume I +Early History of American Lutheranism +and +The Tennessee Synod +By +F. BENTE +St. Louis, Mo. +CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE +1919 + + +PREFACE. +Essentially, _Christianity_ is the special divine faith in the truth +revealed by the Bible that we are saved, not by our own efforts, works, +or merits, but alone by the pure and unmerited grace of God, secured by +Christ Jesus and freely offered in the Gospel. And the Christian Church +is the sum total of all those who truly believe, and therefore confess +and propagate this truth of the Gospel. + +Accordingly, the _history_ of Christianity and of the Christian Church +is essentially the record concerning this truth, _viz.,_ how, when, +where, by whom, with what success and consistency, etc., it has been +proclaimed, received, rejected, opposed, defended, corrupted, and +restored again to its original purity. + +_Lutheranism_ is not Christianity _plus_ several ideas or modifications +of ideas added by Luther, but simply Christianity, consistent +Christianity, neither more nor less. And the Lutheran Church is not a +new growth, but merely the restoration of the original Christian Church +with its apostolic, pure confession of the only saving Christian truth +and faith. + +The _history_ of Lutheranism and of the Lutheran Church, therefore, is +essentially the story concerning the old Christian truth, restored by +Luther, _viz.,_ how, by whom, where, when, etc., this truth was +promulgated, embraced, rejected, condemned, defended, corrupted, and +restored again to pristine purity. + +As for _American Lutheranism,_ it is not a specific brand of Lutheranism, +but simply Lutheranism in America; for doctrinally Lutheranism, like +Christianity, with which it is identical, is the same the world over. +Neither is the American Lutheran Church a distinct species or variety of +the Lutheran Church, but merely the Lutheran Church in America. + +The _modified_ Lutheranism advocated during the middle of the nineteenth +century as "American Lutheranism" was a misnomer, for in reality it was +neither American nor Lutheran, but a sectarian corruption of both. + +Hence, also, the _history_ of American Lutheranism is but the record of +how the Christian truth, restored by Luther, was preached and accepted, +opposed and defended, corrupted and restored, in our country, at various +times, by various men, in various synods and congregations. + +In the history of American Lutheranism _four names_ are of special +significance: Muhlenberg, Schmucker, Walther, Krauth. + +H. M. Muhlenberg endeavored to transplant to America the modified +Lutheranism of the Halle Pietists. S. S. Schmucker's ambition was to +transmogrify the Lutheran Church into an essentially unionistic Reformed +body. C. F. Walther labored most earnestly and consistently to purge +American Lutheranism of its foreign elements, and to restore the +American Lutheran Church to its original purity, in doctrine as well as +in practise. In a similar spirit Charles Porterfield Krauth devoted his +efforts to revive confessional Lutheranism within the English portion +of our Church. + +The _first volume_ of our presentation of American Lutheranism deals +with the early history of Lutheranism in America. The second, which +appeared first, presents the history of the synods which in 1918 merged +into the United Lutheran Church: the General Synod, the General Council, +and the United Synod in the South. The third deals with the history of +the Ohio, Iowa, Buffalo, and the Scandinavian synods, and, _Deo +volente,_ will go to press as soon as Concordia Publishing House will be +ready for it. In the fourth volume we purpose to present the history and +doctrinal position of the Missouri, Wisconsin, and other synods +connected with the Synodical Conference. + +As appears from the two volumes now in the market, _our chief object_ is +to record the principal facts regarding the doctrinal position occupied +at various times, either by the different American Lutheran bodies +themselves or by some of their representative men, such comment only +being added as we deemed indispensable. We have everywhere indicated our +sources, primary as well as secondary, in order to facilitate what we +desire, _viz.,_ to hold us to strict accountability. Brackets found in +passages cited contain additions, comments, corrections, etc., of our +own, not of the respective authors quoted. + +As collateral reading, especially to pages 1 to 147 of Vol. I, we +urgently recommend the unique, thorough, and reliable work of our +sainted colleague _Dr. A. Graebner:_ "Geschichte der Lutherischen +Kirche in Amerika. Erster Teil. St. Louis, Mo. Concordia Publishing +House, 1892." + +While, as stated, the immediate object of our presentation is simply to +state the facts concerning the questions, theologians, and synods +involved, it self-evidently was an _ulterior end_ of ours also, by the +grace of God, to be of some service in furthering and maintaining the +unity of the Spirit, an interest always and everywhere essential to +the Lutheran Church. + +"May the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus grant the grace of +His Holy Spirit that we all may be One in Him and constantly abide in +such Christian unity, which is well-pleasing to Him! Amen." (_Form, of +Conc_., Epit., 11, Sec. 23.) + +F. Bente, +Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. +July 28, 1919. + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +AMERICAN LUTHERANISM............................page +Introduction....................................1-10 +EARLY HISTORY OF AMERICAN LUTHERANISM.........11-147 +Lutheran Swedes in Delaware....................11-16 +Salzburg Lutherans in Georgia..................16-20 +Lutherans in New York..........................20-24 +Justus Falckner................................24-29 +Joshua Kocherthal..............................29-32 +William Christopher Berkenmeyer................32-35 +Deterioration in New York......................35-39 +New York Ministerium...........................39-42 +John Christopher Hartwick......................42-46 +Germantown, Pennsylvania.......................46-50 +Slavery of Redemptioners.......................50-55 +Lutherans in Pennsylvania......................55-59 +Henry Melchior Muhlenberg......................59-64 +Further Activity and Death of Muhlenberg.......64-70 +Muhlenberg's Confessionalism...................70-73 +Muhlenberg's Pietism...........................73-77 +Muhlenberg's Hierarchical Tendencies...........77-83 +Muhlenberg's Unionism..........................84-91 +Training of Ministers and Teachers Neglected...91-99 +Deterioration of Mother Synod.................99-103 +Unionism in the Ascendency...................103-110 +Typical Representatives of Synod.............110-113 +Synod's Unlutheran Attitude Continued........113-116 +Lutherans in South Carolina..................116-119 +The North Carolina Synod.....................119-122 +Critical Conventions.........................122-128 +Gottlieb Shober..............................129-131 +North Carolina Rupture.......................131-134 +Lutherans in Virginia........................134-140 +Special Conference in Virginia...............140-144 +Synod of Maryland and Virginia...............144-147 +TENNESSEE SYNOD..............................148-237 +Organization.................................148-158 +Objections to General Synod..................158-167 +Attitude as to Church-fellowship.............167-173 +Efforts at Unity and Peace...................174-184 +Tennessee Justifying Her Procedure...........184-191 +Doctrinal Basis..............................192-195 +Confession Enforced..........................195-198 +Anti-Romanistic Attitude.....................198-207 +Anti-Methodistic Attitude....................207-213 +Anti-Unionistic Attitude.....................213-217 +Tennessee and Missouri.......................217-221 +Peculiarities of Tennessee Synod.............221-232 +The Henkels..................................232-237 + + +American Lutheranism. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +1. Christianity the Only Real and True Religion.--Religion is man's +filial relation to, and union with, God. Natural religion is the +concreated relation of Adam and Eve in their state of innocence toward +their Creator. Fallen man, though he still lives, and moves, and has his +being in God, is, in consequence of his sinful nature, _atheos,_ without +God, and hence without true and real religion. His attitude toward God +is not that of a child to his father. Heathen religions are products of +the futile efforts of men at reconciling God and restoring union with +Him by their own penances and works. They are religions invented and +made by men. As such they are counterfeit religions, because they +persuade men to trust either in fictitious merits of their own or in +God's alleged indifference toward sin. Christianity is the divine +restoration of religion, _i. e.,_ of the true spiritual and filial +relation of fallen man toward God. Essentially, Christianity is the +divine trust and assurance that God, according to His own merciful +promise in the Gospel, is, for the sake of Christ and His merits, my +pardoning and loving Father. It is the religion of justification, +restoration, and salvation, not by human efforts and works, but by +divine grace only. Paganism believes in man and his capacity for +self-redemption; Christianity believes in the God-man and in salvation +by His name and none other. From Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and all other +religions of the world Christianity differs essentially, just as Jehovah +differs from idols, as divine grace differs from human works. +Christianity is not one of many species of generic religion, but the +only true and real religion. Nor is Christianity related to other +religions as the highest stage of an evolutionary process is to its +antecedent lower stages. Christianity is divine revelation from above, +not human evolution from below. Based, as it is, on special divine +interposition, revelation, and operation, Christianity is the +supernatural religion. And for fallen man it is the only availing and +saving religion, because it alone imparts real pardon, and engenders +real and divine assurance of such pardon; because it alone really +pacifies the conscience and fully satisfies the heart; and because it +alone bestows new spiritual powers of sanctification. Christianity is +absolute and final, it is the _non plus ultra,_ the Alpha and Omega, of +religion, because its God is the only true God, its Mediator is the +only-begotten Son of God, its ransom is the blood of God, and its gift +is perfect union with God. Compare John 8, 24; Acts 4, 12; John 14, 6; +3, 36; Gal. 1, 8. 9. Romanism, Rationalism, Arminianism, Synergism, +etc., are heathen remnants within, and corruptions of, Christianity, +elements absolutely foreign to, and _per se_ subversive of, the religion +of divine grace and revelation. + +2. The Church and Its Manifestations.--The Christian Church is the sum +total of all Christians, all true believers in the Gospel of salvation +by Christ and His merits alone. Faith always, and it alone, makes one a +Christian, a member of the Church. Essentially, then, the Church, is +invisible, because faith is a divine gift within the heart of man, hence +beyond human observation. _Dr. Walther:_ "The Church is invisible because +we cannot see faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, which the members of +this Church have in their hearts; for we can never with certainty +distinguish the true Christians, who, properly, alone constitute the +Church, from the hypocrites." (_Lutheraner,_ 1, 21.) _Luther:_ "This +part, 'I believe a holy Christian Church,' is an article of faith just +as well as the others. Hence Reason, even when putting on ever so many +spectacles, cannot know her. She wants to be known not by seeing, but by +believing; faith, however, deals with things which are not seen. Heb. +11, 1. A Christian may even be hidden from himself, so that he does not +see his own holiness and virtue, but observes in himself only fault and +unholiness." (Luther's Works. St. Louis, XIV, 139.) In order to belong +to the Church, it is essential to believe; but it is essential neither +to faith nor to the Church consciously to know yourself that you +believe. Nor would it render the Church essentially visible, if, by +special revelation or otherwise, we infallibly knew of a man that he is +a believer indeed. Even the Word and the Sacraments are infallible marks +of the Church only because, according to God's promise, the preaching of +the Gospel shall not return without fruit. Wherever and only where the +Gospel is preached are we justified in assuming the existence of +Christians. Yet the Church remains essentially invisible, because +neither the external act of preaching nor the external act of hearing, +but inward, invisible believing alone makes one a Christian, a member +of the Church. Inasmuch, however, as faith _manifests_ itself in the +confession of the Christian truths and in outward works of love, the +Church, in a way, becomes visible and subject to human observation. Yet +we dare not infer that the Church is essentially visible because its +effects are visible. The human soul, though its effects may be seen, +remains essentially invisible. God is invisible, though the +manifestations of His invisible power and wisdom can be observed in the +world. Thus also faith and the Church remain essentially invisible, even +where they manifest their reality in visible effects and works. Apart +from the confession and proclamation of the Gospel and a corresponding +Christian conversation, the _chief visible effects_ and works of the +Church are the foundation of local congregations, the calling of +ministers, the organization of representative bodies, etc. And when +these manifestations and visible works of the Church are also called +churches, the effects receive the name of the cause, or the whole, the +mixed body, is given the name which properly belongs to a part, the true +believers, only. Visible congregations are called churches as quartz is +called gold, and a field is called wheat. + +3. Visible Churches, True and False.--The objects for which Christians, +in accordance with the will of God, unite, and should unite, in visible +churches and local congregations, are mutual Christian acknowledgment +and edification, common Christian confession and labor, and especially +the establishment of the communal office of the public ministry of the +pure Gospel. This object involves, as a divine norm of Christian +organization, and fellowship, that such only be admitted as themselves +believe and confess the divine truths of the Bible, and who are not +advocates of doctrines contrary to the plain Word of God. Christian +organizations and unions must not be in violation of the Christian unity +of the Spirit. Organizations effected in harmony with the divine object +and norm of Christian fellowship are true visible churches, _i. e.,_ +visible unions as God would have them. They are churches of the pure +Word and Sacrament, professing the Gospel and deviating from none of its +doctrines. Christians have no right to embrace, teach, and champion +error. They are called upon and bound to believe, teach, and confess +all, and only, Christian truths. Nor may they lawfully organize on a +doctrinally false basis. Organizations persistently deviating from the +doctrines of the Bible and establishing a doctrinally false basis, are +sects, _i. e.,_ false or impure visible Churches. Yet, though error +never saves, moreover, when consistently developed, has the tendency of +corrupting the whole lump, false Churches may be instrumental in saving +souls, inasmuch as they retain essential parts of the Gospel-truths, +and inasmuch as God's grace may neutralize the accompanying deadly +error, or stay its leavening power. Indeed, individuals, by the grace of +God, though errorists in their heads, may be truthists in their hearts; +just as one who is orthodox in his head may, by his own fault, be +heterodox in his heart. A Catholic may, by rote, call upon the saints +with his lips, and yet, by the grace of God, in his heart, put his trust +in Christ. And a Lutheran may confess Christ and the doctrine of grace +with his lips, and yet in his heart rely on his own good character. +False Churches as such, however, inasmuch as theirs is a banner of +rebellion in the kingdom of Christ, do not exist by God's approval, but +merely by His sufferance. It is their duty to reform on a basis of +doctrinal purity and absolute conformity with the Word of God. + +4. The Lutheran Church the True Visible Church.--The Lutheran Church +is the only known religious body which, in the Book of Concord of 1580, +confesses the truths of the Gospel without admixture of any doctrines +contrary to the Bible. Hence its organization is in perfect harmony +with the divine object and norm of Christian union and fellowship. Its +basis of union is the pure Word and Sacrament. Indeed, the Lutheran +Church is not the universal or only Christian Church, for there are +many believers belonging to other Christian bodies. Nor is it the only +saving Church, because there are other Churches preaching Christian +truths, which, by the grace of God, prove sufficient and powerful to +save men. The Lutheran Church is the Church of the _pure_ Word and the +_unadulterated_ Sacraments. It is the only Church proclaiming the +alone-saving truth of the Gospel _in its purity_. It is the Church with +a doctrinal basis which has the unqualified approval of the Scriptures, +a basis which, materially, all Churches must accept if they would +follow the lead of the Bible. And being doctrinally the pure Church, the +Lutheran Church is the true visible Church of God on earth. While all +sectarian churches corrupt God's Word and the Sacraments, it is the +peculiar glory of the Lutheran Church that it proclaims the Gospel in +its purity, and administers the Sacraments without adulteration. This +holds good with regard to all Lutheran organizations that are Lutheran +in truth and reality. True and faithful Lutherans, however, are such +only as, being convinced by actual comparison that the Concordia of 1580 +is in perfect agreement with the Holy Bible, subscribe to these symbols +_ex animo_ and without mental reservation or doctrinal limitation, and +earnestly strive to conform to them in practise as well as in theory. +Subscription only to the Augustana or to Luther's Small Catechism is a +sufficient test of Lutheranism, provided that the limitation does not +imply, and is not interpreted as, a rejection of the other Lutheran +symbols or any of its doctrines. Lutheran churches or synods, however, +deviating from, or doctrinally limiting their subscription to, this +basis of 1580, or merely _pro forma,_ professing, but not seriously and +really living its principles and doctrines, are not truly Lutheran in +the adequate sense of the term, though not by any means un-Lutheran in +every sense of that term. + +5. Bible and Book of Concord on Christian Union and Fellowship.-- +Nothing is more frequently taught and stressed by the Bible than the +truth that church-fellowship presupposes, and must be preceded by, unity +in the spirit, in doctrine. Amos 3, 3: "How can two walk together except +they be agreed?" According to the Bible the Word of God alone is to be +taught, heard, and confessed in the Christian Church. Only true teachers +are to preach, in the Church: Deut. 13, 6 ff.; Jer. 23, 28. 31. 32; +Matt. 5, 19; 28, 20; 2 Cor. 2, 17; Gal. 1, 8; 1 Tim. 4, 16; 1 Pet. 4, 11. +Christians are to listen to true teachers only: Matt. 7, 15; John 8, 31; +10, 27. 5; Acts 2, 42; Rom. 16, 17; 2 John 10; 1 Tim. 6, 3-5; Eph. 4, 14; +Titus 3, 10; 2 Cor. 6, 14-18. In the Church the true doctrine, and only +the true doctrine, is to be confessed, and that unanimously by all of +its members: 1 Cor. 1, 10; Eph. 4, 3-6. 13; 1 Tim. 5, 22; Matt. 10, +32. 33. Christian union and fellowship without the "same mind," the +"same judgment," and the "same speech" with respect to the Christian +truths is in direct conflict with the clear Scriptures. The unity of the +Spirit demanded Eph. 4, 3 requires that Christians be one in doctrine, +one, not 50 or 75, but 100 per cent. With this attitude of the Bible +toward Christian union and fellowship the Lutheran symbols agree. The +Eleventh [tr. note: sic!] Article of the Augsburg Confession declares: +"For this is sufficient to true unity of the Christian Church that the +Gospel be preached unanimously according to the pure understanding, and +that the Sacraments be administered in agreement with the divine Word. +And it is not necessary to true unity of the Christian Church that +uniform ceremonies, instituted by men, be observed everywhere, as St. +Paul says, Eph. 4, 4. 5: 'One body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in +one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.'" "Pure +understanding of the Gospel" is here contrasted with "ceremonies +instituted by men." Accordingly, with respect to everything that God +plainly teaches in the Bible unity is required, while liberty prevails +only in such things as are instituted by men. In this sense the Lutheran +Church understands the _"Satis est"_ of the Augustana, as appears from +the Tenth Article of the Formula of Concord: "We believe, teach, and +confess also that no church should condemn another because one has less +or more external ceremonies not commanded by God than the other, if +otherwise there is agreement among them in doctrine and all its +articles, as also in the right use of the Sacraments, according to the +well-known saying: 'Disagreement in fasting does not destroy agreement +in faith.'" (Mueller 553, 7.) It cannot, then, be maintained +successfully that, according to the Lutheran symbols, some doctrines, +though clearly taught in the Bible, are irrelevant and not necessary to +church-fellowship. The Lutheran Confessions neither extend the +requirements for Christian union to human teachings and institutions, +nor do they limit them to merely a part of the divine doctrines of the +Bible. They err neither _in excessu_ nor _in defectu_. Accordingly, +Lutherans, though not unmindful of the admonition to bear patiently +with the weak, the weak also in doctrine and knowledge, dare not +countenance any denial on principle of any of the Christian doctrines, +nor sanction the unionistic attitude, which maintains that denial of +minor Christian truths does not and must not, in any way, affect +Christian union and fellowship. In the "Treatise on the Power of the +Pope" the Book of Concord says: "It is a hard thing to want to separate +from so many countries and people and maintain a separate doctrine. But +here stands God's command that every one shall be separate from, and not +be agreed with, those who teach falsely," etc. (Sec.42.) + +6. Misguided Efforts at Christian Union.--Perhaps never before has +Christendom been divided in as many sects as at present. +Denominationalism, as advocated by Philip Schaff and many Unionists, +defends this condition. It views the various sects as lawful specific +developments of generic Christianity, or as different varieties of the +same spiritual life of the Church, as regiments of the same army, +marching separately, but attacking the same common foe. Judged in the +light of the Bible, however, the numerous sects, organized on various +aberrations from the plain Word of God, are, as such, not normal +developments, but corruptions, abnormal formations, and diseased +conditions of the Christian Church. Others, realizing the senseless +waste of moneys and men, and feeling the shame of the scandalous +controversies, the bitter conflicts, and the dishonorable competition of +the disrupted Christian sects, develop a feverish activity in +engineering and promoting external ecclesiastical unions, regardless of +internal doctrinal dissensions. For centuries the Pope has been +stretching out his arms to the Greek and Protestant Churches, even +making concessions to the Ruthenians and other Uniates as to the +language of the liturgy, the marriage of priests, the cup to be given to +the laity, etc. In order to present a united political front to the Pope +and the Emperor, Zwingli, in 1529, offered Luther the hand of fellowship +in spite of doctrinal differences. In political interests, Frederick +William III of Prussia, in 1817, forced a union without unity on the +Lutherans and Reformed of his kingdom. In America this Prussian Union +was advocated by the German Evangelical Synod of North America. The +Church of England, in 1862, 1874, and 1914, endeavored to establish a +union with the Old Catholics and the Russian Church even at the +sacrifice of the _Filioque_. (The Lutherans, when, in 1559 and again in +1673 to 1681, negotiations were opened to bring about an understanding +with the Greek Church, insisted on unity in the doctrines of +Justification and of Free Will, to which Jeremiah II took exception.) +Pierpont Morgan, a number of years ago, appropriated a quarter million +dollars in order to bring the Churches of America under the leadership +of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which demands as the only condition +of union the recognition of their "historical episcopate," a fiction, +historical as well as doctrinal. In 1919 three Protestant Episcopal +bishops crossed the seas seeking a conference with the Pope and the +representatives of the Greek Orthodox churches in the interest of a +League of Churches. The Evangelical Alliance, organized 1846 at London, +aimed to unite all Protestants against Rome on a basis of nine general +statements, from which the distinctive doctrines were eliminated. The +Federal Council, embracing 30 Protestant denominations, was organized +with the definite understanding that no Church, by joining, need +sacrifice any of its peculiar doctrines. The unions effected between the +Congregationalists and Methodists in Canada, and between the Calvinistic +Northern Presbyterians and the Arminian Cumberland Presbyterians in our +own country, were also unionistic. Since the beginning of the last +century the Campbellites and kindred sects were zealous in uniting the +Churches by urging them to drop their distinctive names and confessions, +call themselves "Christians" or "Disciples," and accept as their +confession the Bible only. Indeed, the number of physicians seeking to +heal the schisms of Christendom is legion. But their cure is worse than +the disease. Unionistic henotics cannot but fail utterly, because their +object is not unity in the Spirit of truth, but union in the spirit of +diversity and error. + +7. Lutherans Qualified to Head True Union Movement.--Most of the +union-efforts are failures _ab initio_. They seek outward union without +inward unity. They proceed on a false diagnosis of the case. They +observe the symptoms, and outlook or intentionally ignore the hidden +cause, the deviations from the Word of God, which disturb the unity of +the Spirit. And doctrinal discussions, which alone can bring about a +real cure, are intentionally omitted and expressly declared taboo, as, +_e. g._, by the Federal Council. The Church, suffering from +blood-poisoning, is pronounced cured when the sores have been covered. +They put a plaster over the gap in Zion's wall, which may hide, but does +not heal, the breach. Universally, sectarian henotics have proved to be +spiritual quacks with false aims, false methods, and false diagnosis. +Nowhere among the sects a single serious effort to cure the malady from +within and to restore to the Church of Christ real unity, unity in the +true doctrine! Indeed, how could a genuine unity-union movement +originate with the sects? Can the blind lead the blind? Can the beggar +enrich the poor? Can the sects give to Christendom what they themselves +are in need of? The Lutheran Church is the only denomination qualified +to head a true unity-union movement, because she alone is in full +possession of those unadulterated truths without which there can be +neither true Christian unity nor God-pleasing Christian union. +Accordingly, the Lutheran Church has the mission to lead the way in the +efforts at healing the ruptures of Christendom. But in order to do so, +the Lutheran Church must be loyal to herself, loyal to her principles, +and true to her truths. The mere Lutheran name is unavailing. The +American Lutheran synods, in order successfully to steer a unity-union +movement, must purge themselves thoroughly from the leaven of error, of +indifferentism and unionism. A complete and universal return to the +Lutheran symbols is the urgent need of the hour. Only when united in +undivided loyalty to the divine truths of God's Word, will the American +Lutheran Church be able to measure up to its peculiar calling of +restoring to Christendom the truths of the Gospel in their pristine +purity, and in and with these truths the true unity of the Spirit and a +fellowship and union, both beneficial to man and well-pleasing to God. + +8. Lutheran Statistics.--God has blessed the Lutheran Church in +America abundantly, more than in any other country of the world. From a +few scattered groups she has grown into a great people. In 1740 there +were in America about 50 Lutheran congregations. In 1820 the Lutheran +Church numbered 6 synods, with almost 900 congregations, 40,000 +communicants, and 175 pastors. In 1867 about 1,750 pastors, 3,100 +congregations, and 332,000 communicants. Twenty-five years later, 60 +synods, with about 5,000 pastors, 8,390 congregations, and 1,187,000 +communicants. In the jubilee year, 1917, the Lutheran Church in America +embraced (besides about 200 independent congregations) 65 synods, 24 of +which belonged to the General Synod (350,000 communicants), 13 to the +General Council (500,000 communicants), 8 to the United Synod South +(53,000 communicants), and 6 to the Synodical Conference (800,000 +communicants). The entire Lutheran Church in America reported in 1917 +about 9,700 pastors; 15,200 congregations; 2,450,000 communicants; 28 +theological seminaries, with 112 professors and 1,170 students; 41 +colleges, with 640 professors and 950 students; 59 academies, with 404 +teachers and 6,700 pupils; 8 ladies' seminaries, with 72 instructors and +340 pupils; 64 orphanages, with 4,200 inmates; 12 home-finding and +children's friend societies; 45 homes for the aged, with 1,650 inmates; +7 homes for defectives, with 430 inmates; 9 deaconess homes, with 370 +sisters; 50 hospitals; 19 hospices; 17 immigrant homes and seamen's +missions; and 10 miscellaneous institutions; a large number of +periodicals of many kinds, printed in numerous Lutheran publishing +houses, in English, German, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, Icelandic, +Finnish, Slavonian, Lettish, Esthonian, Polish, Portuguese, Lithuanian, +etc., etc. + + +Early History of American Lutheranism. + +LUTHERAN SWEDES IN DELAWARE. + +9. New Sweden.--The first Lutheran pastor who set his foot on American +soil in August, 1619, was Rasmus Jensen of Denmark. He was chaplain of +a Danish expedition numbering 66 Lutherans under Captain Jens Munck, +who took possession of the land about Hudson Bay in the name of the +Danish crown. In his diary we read of the faithful pastoral work, the +sermons, and the edifying death, on February 20, 1620, of this Lutheran +pastor. However, the first Lutheran minister to serve a _Lutheran +colony_ in America was Reorus Torkillus. He was born in 1609 at +Faessberg, Sweden, educated at Linkoeping, and for a time was chaplain +at Goeteborg. Gustavus Adolphus already had entertained the idea of +founding a colony in America, chiefly for the purpose of carrying on +mission-work among the Indians. Peter Minuit, a German, who had come to +Manhattan Island in 1626 to represent the interests of the Dutch West +India Company (organized in 1621), led also the first Swedish expedition +to Delaware in December, 1637. Nine expeditions followed, until the +flourishing colony was captured by the Dutch in 1655. The work of +Torkillus, who died September 7, 1643, was continued by John Campanius +(1601 to 1683), who arrived on February 15, 1643. Three years later, one +hundred years after the death of Luther, he dedicated the first Lutheran +Church in America at Christina (Wilmington). His translation of Luther's +Small Catechism into the language of the Delaware Indians antedates +Eliot's Indian Bible, but was not published till 1696. Returning to +Sweden in 1648, Campanius left about 200 souls in the charge of Lars +Lock (Lockenius), who served them until his end, in 1688. In 1654, +Pastors Vertunius and Hjorst arrived with 350 additional souls. Both, +however, returned to Sweden when Stuyvesant took possession of the +colony in 1655, permitting the Swedes in Delaware to retain only Lars +Lock as pastor. Jacob Fabricius, who, after rendering his stay in New +Amsterdam (New York) impossible, was laboring among the Dutch along the +Delaware from 1671 to 1675, before long also began to do mission-work +among the Swedes and Finns, at the same time intriguing against Lock, +whose cup of sorrow was already filled with family troubles and other +griefs. In 1677 Fabricius took charge of the Swedes at Wicaco +(Philadelphia), where he, though blind since 1682, continued faithfully +to wait on his office until his death in 1693 (1696). He preached in +Dutch, which, as reported, the Swedes "spoke perfectly." + +10. Succored by the King of Sweden.--In 1692 the now orphaned +Lutherans in Delaware addressed themselves to Karl XI, who promised to +help them. However, four years passed before Pastor Rudman arrived with +two assistants, Bjoerk (Bioerck) and Auren, as well as with a +consignment of Bibles and other books. New life entered the Swedish +colony. In 1699 the new Trinity Church was erected at Christina, and in +1700 Gloria Dei Church in Wicaco (Philadelphia). From the very +beginning, however, a spirit of legalism, hierarchy, and of unionism +wormed its way into the promising harvest. The congregations were not +taught to govern themselves, but were ruled by provosts sent from +Sweden. In the interest of discipline, Andreas Sandel, who arrived in +1702, introduced a system of monetary penances. In his _History of the +Lutheran Church in America_ Dr. A. Graebner writes: "Whoever came to +church tipsy, was to pay 40 shillings and do public penance. Blasphemy +of the divine Word or the Sacraments carried with it a fine of 5 pounds +sterling and church penance; to sing at unseemly hours was punished by +a fine of 6 shillings; such as refused to submit to the discipline were +to be excluded from the congregation and to be refused interment at its +cemetery." (86.) Eric Unander, who returned to Sweden in 1760, employed +the same methods to keep order in the congregational meetings. A. +Rudman, after his brief pastorate among the Dutch Lutherans in New York +during 1702, returned to Philadelphia. From 1707 to his death, in 1708, +he served an Episcopal church without severing his connection with the +Swedes. His successors followed his footsteps. From 1737 to 1741 J. +Dylander preached at Gloria Dei Church in German, Swedish, and English +every Sunday, served the Germans in Germantown and Lancaster, and, in +the absence of their pastor, ministered also to the Episcopalians. The +same practise was observed by the provosts: Eric Bjoerk, who was +appointed the first provost in 1712, and returned to Sweden in 1714; +A. Sandel, who also served Episcopalian congregations and returned in +1719; A. Hesselius, who left in 1723, and in Sweden, 1725, published a +short report of the conditions prevailing in America; Peter Tranberg, +who was stationed at Raccoon and Pennsneck, N. J., from 1726 to 1740, +and at Christina till his death in 1748; J. Sandin, who arrived in 1746, +dying two years later; Israel Acrelius, who arrived in 1749, saw the +language question become acute, served Episcopalian congregations, and +returned to Sweden in 1756, where he published (1759) a description of +the conditions in New Sweden; Olaf Parlin, who arrived in 1750 and died +in 1757; Dr. C. M. Wrangel, who was provost from 1759 to 1768, assisted +in rejuvenating the Pennsylvania Synod in 1760, and began a seminary +with Peter Muhlenberg, Daniel Kuhn, and Christian Streit as students; +Nils Collin, whose activity extended from 1770 to 1831, during which +time he had eight Episcopalian assistant pastors in succession. + +11. Church-fellowship with Episcopalians.--In 1710 Pastor Sandel +reported as follows on the unionism practised by the Swedes and +Episcopalians: "As pastors and teachers we have at all times maintained +friendly relations and intimate converse with the English preachers, one +always availing himself of the help and advice of the other. At their +pastoral conferences we always consulted with them. We have repeatedly +preached English in their churches when the English preachers lacked the +time because of a journey or a death. If anywhere they laid the +corner-stone of a church, we were invited, and attended. When their +church in Philadelphia was enlarged, and the Presbyterians had invited +them to worship in their church, they declined and asked permission to +come out to Wicaco and conduct their services in our church, which I +granted. This occurred three Sundays in succession, until their church +was finished; and, in order to manifest the unity still more, Swedish +hymns were sung during the English services. Also Bishop Swedberg [of +Sweden], in his letters, encouraged us in such unity and intimacy with +the Anglicans; although there exists some difference between them and us +touching the Lord's Supper, etc., yet he did not want that small +difference to rend asunder the bond of peace. We enter upon no +discussion of this point; neither do we touch upon such things when +preaching in their churches; nor do they seek to win our people to their +view in this matter; on the contrary, we live in intimate and brotherly +fashion with one another, they also calling us brethren. They have the +government in their hands, we are under them; it is enough that they +desire to have such friendly intercourse with us; we can do nothing else +than render them every service and fraternal intimacy as long as they +are so amiable and confiding, and have not sought in the least to draw +our people into their churches. As our church is called by them 'the +sister church of the Church of England,' so we also live fraternally +together. God grant that this may long continue!" (G., 118.) Thus from +the very beginning the Swedish bishops encouraged and admonished their +emissaries to fraternize especially with the Episcopalians. And the +satisfaction with this state of affairs on the part of the Episcopalian +ministers appears from the following testimonial which they gave to +Hesselius and J. A. Lidenius in 1723: "They were ever welcome in our +pulpits, as we were also welcome in their pulpits. Such was our mutual +agreement in doctrine and divine service, and so regularly did they +attend our conferences that, aside from the different languages in which +we and they were called to officiate, no difference could be perceived +between us." (131.) + +12. Absorbed by the Episcopal Church.--The evil influence which the +unionism practised by the Swedish provosts and ministers exercised upon +the Lutheran congregations appears from the resolution of the +congregation at Pennsneck, in 1742, henceforth to conduct English +services exclusively, and that, according to the Book of Common Prayer. +In the same year Pastor Gabriel Naesman wrote to Sweden: "As to my +congregation, the people at first were scattered among other +congregations, and among the sects which are tolerated here, and it is +with difficulty that I gather them again to some extent. The great lack +of harmony prevailing among the members makes my congregation seem like +a kingdom not at one with itself, and therefore near its ruin." (335.) +The unionism indulged in also accounts for the trouble which the Swedes +experienced with the emissaries of Zinzendorf: L. T. Nyberg, Abr. +Reinke, and P. D. Bryzelius (who severed his connection with the +Moravians in 1760, became a member of the Pennsylvania Synod, and in +1767 was ordained by the Bishop of London). Unionism paved the way, and +naturally led to the final undoing of the Lutheran Swedes in Delaware. +It was but in keeping with the unionism advised from Sweden, practised +in Delaware, and indulged in to the limit by himself, when Provost +Wrangel gave the final _coup de grace_ to the first Lutheran Church in +America. Dr. Wrangel, the bosom-friend of H. M. Muhlenberg, openly and +extensively fraternized not only with the Episcopalians, but also with +the Reformed, the Presbyterians (in Princeton), and the Methodists, +notably the revivalist Whitefield. And, evidently foreseeing the early +and unavoidable _debacle_ of Swedish Lutheranism in Delaware, von +Wrangel, at his departure for Sweden, suffered the Episcopalians to use +him as a tool to deliver the poor, weakened, and oppressed +congregations, whose leader he had been, into the hands of the +Anglicans. (392.) On his way home Wrangel carried with him an important +letter of introduction from the Episcopalian Richard Peters to the +Bishop of London, the ecclesiastical superior of the Anglican ministers +and congregations in the American Colonies. The letter, dated August 30, +1768, reads, in part: "Now Dr. Wrangel intends to utilize properly the +general aversion [in Delaware] to the Presbyterians in order to unite +the great mass of Lutherans and Swedes with with the Church of England, +which, as you know, is but small numerically and in humble circumstances +in this province; through union with the German Lutherans, however, we +both would become respectable. According to Dr. Smith's and my opinion +this could be effected through our Academy. In it we could establish a +theological professorship; then German and English young men could be +educated, and as their training would embrace both languages, they could +preach German as well as English at places where both nations are mixed. +That would unite us all and make us one people in life and love. It is a +happy thought. I would desire your Excellency to speak with Dr. Wrangel, +and encourage him as much as possible. In this matter I have written to +the two archbishops, asking them to consider it carefully together with +your Excellency. I am sure that now the opportunity is good to bring +this desirable affair to a happy conclusion." (394.) In a document dated +June 25, 1789, the Swedish government served official notice on the +congregations in America that in future they could no longer expect help +from Sweden, alleging that, whereas "the purpose, the Swedish tongue," +had come to an end, it was but just that in future also the +disbursements in Sweden should be discontinued. (401.) The result was +that one congregation after another united with the Episcopalians. By +1846 the Lutheran name had disappeared from the last charter. Thus the +entire Swedish mission territory, all of whose congregations exist to +the present day, was lost to the Lutheran Church. The chief causes of +this loss were: unionism, hierarchical paternalism, interference from +Sweden, the failure to provide for schools and for the training of +suitable pastors, and the lack of Swedish and, later, of English +Lutheran literature. The report of the Pennsylvania Ministerium of 1762 +remarks: "For several generations the Swedish schools unfortunately have +been neglected in the Swedish congregations; Dr. Wrangel, however, has +organized an English school in one of his parishes where Luther's +Catechism is read in an English translation." From the very beginning +the foundations of the Lutheran structure along the Delaware were both +laid insecurely and undermined by its builders. + + +SALZBURG LUTHERANS IN GEORGIA. + +13. Banished by Archbishop Anton Firmian.--Like the Swedes in +Delaware, so also the Salzburg Lutherans in Georgia, as a Church, have +disappeared in the course of years. The story of their vicissitudes and +especially of their colony Ebenezer, however, has retained a peculiar +charm. On Reformation Day of 1731 the cruel Archbishop Anton, Knight of +Firmian, issued a manifesto which ordered the Evangelicals of Salzburg, +Austria, either to return to the bosom of the Catholic Church, or to +emigrate, leaving their property and their young children behind them. +Some eighteen thousand Lutherans chose banishment rather than deny the +faith that was in them. On their journey the exiles awakened lively +sympathy by singing their _Exulantenlied_ (Hymn of the Exiles) which +Joseph Schaitberger had composed for those banished In 1685. The eleven +stanzas of this hymn read in the original as follows: "1. I bin ein +armer Exulant, A so tu i mi schreiba; Ma tuet mi aus dem Vaterland Um +Gottes Wort vertreiba. 2. Das wass i wohl, Herr Jesu Christ, Es is dir a +so ganga. Itzt will i dein Nachfolger sein; Herr, mach's nach deim +Verlanga! 3. A Pilgrim bin i halt numehr, Muss reise fremde Strossa; Das +bitt i di, mein Gott und Herr, Du wirst mi nit verlossa. 4. Den Glauba +hob i frei bekennt, Des derf i mi nit schaema, Wenn ma mi glei ein +Ketzer nennt Und tuet mir's Leba nehma. 5. Ketta und Banda wor mir en +Ehr Um Jesu willa z' dulda, Und dieses macht die Glaubenslehr Und nit +mei boes Verschulda. 6. Muss i glei in das Elend fort, Will i mi do nit +wehra; So hoff i do, Gott wird mir dort Och gute Fruend beschera. 7. +Herr, wie du willt, i gib mi drein, Bei dir will i verbleiba; I will mi +gern dem Wille dein Geduldig unterschreiba. 8. Muss i glei fort, in +Gottes Nam! Und wird mir ales g'nomma, So wass i wohl, die Himmelskron +Wer i amal bekomma. 9. So muss i heut von meinem Haus, Die Kinderl muss +i lossa. Mei Gott, es treibt mir Zaehrel aus, Zu wandern fremde Strossa. +10. Mein Gott, fuehr mi in ene Stodt, Wo i dein Wort kann hoba, Darin +will i di frueh und spot In meinem Herzel loba. 11. Soll i in diesem +Jammertal Noch laenger in Armut leba, So hoff i do, Gott wird mir dort +Ein bessre Wohnung geba."--The cruelly persecuted and banished +Salzburgers were hospitably received in Prussia and Holland, where many +found a permanent home. Others resolved to emigrate to Georgia, where, +through the mediation of Dr. Urlsperger of Augsburg and the court +preacher Ziegenhagen of London, the British government promised them +religious liberty and other advantages. + +14. Ebenezer in Georgia.--The first ninety-one persons of the +Salzburg colony, which later numbered about 1,200 souls, landed at +Savannah, March 10, 1734. They were accompanied by Pastors John Martin +Bolzius and Israel Christian Gronau, who had received their education at +Halle. Governor Oglethorpe led the immigrants twenty-three miles +northwest of their landing-place, where they erected a monument of +stones and called the settlement Ebenezer. Seven years later (1741) +Jerusalem Church was built, for which also Whitefield had made +collections in Europe. In 1743 a second church was dedicated in the +country. Dr. Graebner records the following statistics: "In 1743 the +congregation numbered 279 souls: 81 men, 70 married women, 6 widows, 52 +boys, 59 girls, and 11 maid-servants." (554.) In 1744 the Salzburgers +celebrated the tenth anniversary of their deliverance on the tenth of +March, a day which was annually observed by them as a day of +thanksgiving. Sorrow followed the joyous celebration, for in the +following year, January 11, 1745, their beloved Pastor Gronau was called +to his eternal reward. Dwelling on Gronau's edifying death, Bolzius +wrote in a letter dated January 14, 1845: "His heart was in deep +communion with the dear Savior. With profound desire he received the +Lord's Supper a few days before his dissolution. He distinctly +recognized all who surrounded him [when he was dying], and exhorted them +to praise God. It seemed, and such was also inferred from his words, as +though, like Stephen, he saw something extraordinarily beautiful and +glorious. At last, after stretching forth his hands and taking leave of +all, he directed his folded hands toward heaven, praying and praising +God. Finally, saying, 'Do come, Lord Jesus, Amen, Amen, Amen!' he closed +his eyes and mouth, and entered peacefully into the joy of God." (556.) +Gronau was succeeded by Pastor H. H. Lemke, of Schaumburg, who +previously had been active in the institutions at Halle. His diploma of +vocation was signed by Samuel Urlsperger in the stead and name of the +English Society for the Promotion of the Knowledge of Christ. Thus +Ebenezer was actually the foundation of a mission society whose members +were for the most part adherents of the Reformed Church. In 1742 Pastor +John Ulrich Driessler had been called to the congregation of Frederica, +south of Savannah. He entered upon his labors in 1744, and died three +years later. In the following years several ships arrived bringing +emigrants from Swabia. To meet the growing needs Pastor Chr. Rabenhorst +was sent to the colony in 1753. In 1765 Pastor Bolzius died, sixty-two +years old, repeating the words: "Father, I will that they also whom +Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory +which Thou hast given Me." (John 17, 24.) None of the three pastors, who +were easily able to minister to the spiritual needs of the colony, +displayed a missionary spirit in any marked degree. + +15. Dissension and Disintegration.--While Bolzius, Lemke, and +Rabenhorst had labored together in harmony, dissension and strife began +to blast the blissful peace and quiet contentment of Ebenezer, when, +after the death also of Lemke, Pastor C. F. Triebner arrived in 1773. +The congregation was torn by factions, the minority siding with Triebner +in his bitter opposition to Rabenhorst. When the majority refused +Triebner permission to officiate in the church, the minority forced the +doors. After a new lock had been secured by the majority, the minority +began to conduct separate services in the home of John Wertsch, and +entered suit before the Governor of Georgia. This brought about the +loss of their church property, the Governor, in accordance with the +express wording of the patent grant of April 2, 1771, deeding Jerusalem +Church to the Episcopalians. The patent contained the provision: "... +for the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of two ministers of the +Gospel, residents within the parish aforesaid, using and exercising +divine service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of +England within the said parish and their successors forever." (599.) In +1774 Muhlenberg arrived, commissioned by the "English Society" to +conduct an investigation and restore peace. A reconciliation was +effected, and articles of agreement were signed by the pastors and the +members of the congregation. Before long, however, the old discord broke +out again and continued unabated until the death of Pastor Rabenhorst in +1777. Triebner now secured a firm footing in the congregation. But new +storms were brewing for the poor people. In 1775 the War of Independence +had broken out, in which Triebner not only espoused the cause of England +himself, but urged his congregation to do the same, thereby bringing +untold misery upon Ebenezer. Triebner, taken captive and severely dealt +with, finally found his way back to Europe. After the war Ebenezer +presented a sad spectacle. Soldiers had used the church as a hospital +and stable; Rabenhorst's home had been given to the flames; fields were +laid waste; and the inhabitants were scattered and despoiled of their +property. The congregation, however, recovered, and through the +endeavors of Urlsperger received a new pastor in the person of John +Ernest Bergmann, who had studied at Leipzig. In 1785 he assumed the +duties at Ebenezer, formerly discharged by two and three pastors. But, +though a diligent worker, Bergmann was not a faithful Lutheran, nor did +he build up a truly Lutheran congregation. There came a time when but +very little of Lutheranism was to be found in the old colony of the +Salzburgers. (600.) During Bergmann's long pastorate, which was +conducted in the German language exclusively until 1824, the +Americanized young people gradually began to drift away from the mother +church. However, to the present day descendants of the Salzburgers are +found in the Lutheran congregations of Savannah and of the Georgia +Synod. + + +LUTHERANS IN NEW YORK. + +16. Persecuted in New Amsterdam.--In the first part of the seventeenth +century the Lutheran Church was by law prohibited and oppressed in the +United Netherlands. When the power of the papists had come to an end, +Reformed tendencies gained the ascendency, and Calvinists reaped where +Lutherans had sowed with tears. While claiming to be adherents of the +Augsburg Confession, they persecuted the Lutherans, forbidding all +Lutheran worship in public meeting-houses as well as in private +dwellings. Nevertheless the Lutheran Church not only continued to exist, +but even made some headway in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and other places. The +greatest handicap, however, which also prevented the Dutch Lutherans +from developing any missionary activity, was the lack of a native +ministry thoroughly conversant with the language of the people. +Conditions similar to those in Holland obtained in the American +colonies. Like the mother country, New Amsterdam had a law prohibiting +the exercise of any religion save that of the Reformed faith. Sanford H. +Cobb, in his work _The Rise of Religious Liberty in America_, quotes the +law as follows: "No other religion shall be publicly admitted in New +Netherland except the Reformed, as it is at present preached and +practised by public authority in the United Netherlands; and for this +purpose the [Dutch West India] Company shall provide and maintain good +and suitable preachers, schoolmasters, and comforters of the sick +(Ziekentrooster)." (303, 321 f.) However, the report of the Jesuit +Jogues, who sojourned in the colony in about 1642, shows that this law +was not strictly enforced during the first part of the century. Also the +Lutherans were permitted to conduct reading-services in their homes. But +when the Dutch and German Lutherans (the former having arrived in New +Amsterdam probably as early as 1624) had organized a congregation in +1648, and in 1653 requested the authorities to grant them permission to +call a Lutheran pastor, they received a curt refusal at the hands of the +governor, Peter Stuyvesant. The two Reformed domines, Megapolensis, who +had arrived in 1649, and Drisius, who came in 1652 (the successors to +Michaelius, who came over in 1623, and Bogardus, who followed him in +1632), proved to be the most bigoted and fanatical in the opposition to +the request of the Lutherans. Instead of their petition being granted, +the Lutherans were now forced to have their children baptized in the +Reformed churches by Reformed pastors, and to promise to bring them up +in the Confession of Dort; and private services in dwellings were made +punishable with severe penalties. Peter Stuyvesant, who was also deacon +of the Reformed Church, declared at the close of a session of the +church council, that, if any one ever dared to appeal from his decision +to the authorities in Holland, he would reduce his stature by the +length of his head and send him back to the old country in pieces. But +the Lutherans were not intimidated. When Stuyvesant denied their +request for a Lutheran pastor, they appealed to the authorities +overseas. The two Reformed domines also sent a letter to Holland, +setting forth the dire consequences which were bound to follow in the +wake of such religious toleration. + +17. Moderation Advised.--The authorities in Holland agreed with the +intolerant domines and directed Stuyvesant to allow none but the +Reformed religion. Yet, while denying the request of the Lutherans, +they, at the same time, urged the governor to employ mildness and +moderate means in dealing with them. Cobb gives the following +translation of these instructions: "We have decided absolutely to deny +the request made by some of our inhabitants, adherents of the Augsburg +Confession, for a preacher and free exercise of their religion, pursuant +to the custom hitherto observed by us and the West India Company, on +account of the consequences arising therefrom; and we recommend to you +also not to receive any similar petitions, but rather to turn them off +in the most civil and least offensive way, and to employ all possible, +but moderate means to induce them to listen and finally join the +Reformed Church." (313.) The letter was dated February 26, 1654. But +notwithstanding this rebuff, the Lutherans persisted in their demand, +and held religious services in their houses without a minister, +declaring that "Heaven was above law." This excited the wrath of the +autocratic governor, who was not accustomed to brook opposition, nor +knew how to employ mildness, wisdom, and "moderate means" in dealing +with anybody, least of all with the Lutherans. Instead of persuasion he +employed force; and instead of trying "the most civil and least +offensive way," he resorted to harsh and most offensive measures. On +February 1, 1656, a stringent "Ordinance against Conventicles" was +posted, which ran: "Some unqualified persons in such meetings assume the +ministerial office, the expounding and explanation of the holy Word of +God, without being called or appointed thereto by ecclesiastical or +civil authority, which is in direct contravention and opposition to the +general Civil and Ecclesiastical order of our Fatherland, besides that +many dangerous heresies and schisms are to be apprehended. Therefore, +the director-general and council . . . absolutely and expressly forbid +all such conventicles and meetings, whether public or private, differing +from the customary, and not only lawful, but scripturally founded and +ordained meetings of the Reformed divine service, as this is observed +. . . according to the Synod of Dordrecht." The penalties imposed by the +act were 100 _Flemish_ Pounds for the preacher and 25 Pounds for every +attendant at such services. (317.) A number of Lutherans were cast into +prison. Realizing that such harsh measures would prove hurtful to their +business interests, the authorities in Holland, in an order dated June +14, 1656, rebuked Stuyvesant for his high-handed procedure, saying: "We +should have gladly seen that your Honor had not posted up the +transmitted edict against the Lutherans, and had not punished them by +imprisonment, . . . inasmuch as it has always been our intention to +treat them with all peaceableness and quietness. Wherefore, your Honor +shall not cause any more such or similar edicts to be published without +our previous knowledge, but suffer the matter to pass in silence, and +permit them their free worship in their houses." (314.) + +18. Johannes Ernestus Gutwasser.--Evidently, to the Lutherans the time +seemed favorable to renew their urgent requests for a pastor of their +own. And in July, 1657, Johannes Ernestus Gutwasser (not Goetwater, or +Gutwater, or Goetwasser), a German, sent by the Lutheran Consistory of +Amsterdam, arrived on Manhattan Island. Great was the fury of the +Reformed domines and vehement their clamor for his immediate return. +They wrote a letter to the classis in Amsterdam in which, according to +Cobb, "they relate that 'a Lutheran preacher, Goetwater, arrived to the +great joy of the Lutherans and the especial discontent and +disappointment of the congregation of this place, yea, of the whole +land, even the English. We went to the Director-General,' who summoned +Goetwater, and found that he had as credentials only a letter from a +Lutheran consistory in Europe to the Lutheran Church in New Amsterdam. +The governor ordered him not to preach, even in a private house. The +domines lament, 'We already have the snake in our bosom,' and urge +Stuyvesant to open the consistory's letter, which, oddly enough, he +refused to do, but consented to the ministers' demand that Goetwater be +sent back in the ship that brought him. [']Now this Lutheran parson,' +the Dutch ministers conclude, 'is a man of a godless and scandalous +life; a rolling, rollicking, unseemly carl, who is more inclined to +look into the wine-can than to pore over the Bible, and would rather +drink a can of brandy for two hours than preach one.'" (315.) But, +though maligned and persecuted, Gutwasser did not suffer himself to be +intimidated, and even begun to preach. So great and persistent, however, +was the fury of the fanatics that he was finally compelled to yield and +return to Holland, in 1659. The second Lutheran pastor to arrive on +Manhattan Island while the Dutch were still in power was Abelius +Zetskorn, whom Stuyvesant directed to the Dutch settlement of New Amstel +(New Castle) on the Delaware. The tyranny of Stuyvesant, however, was +abruptly ended when in 1664 the English fleet sailed into the harbor and +compelled the surrender of New Amsterdam. In the Articles of +Capitulation it was specifically agreed that "the Dutch here shall enjoy +the liberty of their consciences in divine worship and church +discipline." And according to the proclamation of the Duke of York, also +the Lutherans were granted religious liberty, "as long as His Royal +Highness shall not order otherwise." + + +JUSTUS FALCKNER. + +19. Fabricius, Arensius, Falckner in New York.--In 1669, five years +after the fall of New Amsterdam, Magister Jacobus Fabricius was sent +over by the Lutheran Consistory of Amsterdam to minister to the +Lutherans in New York and Albany. Being of a churlish and quarrelsome +nature, he soon fell out with the authorities of Albany and was banished +from the town. The New York congregation was torn by factions, many +demanding the resignation of Fabricius on the ground of "deportment +unbecoming a pastor." The matter was even carried before the governor. A +solution of the problem was brought about through the arrival of a new +pastor from Holland in the person of Bernhardus Arensius (Arnzius). +Fabricius obtained permission to install Arensius as his successor, and +went to Delaware, where he labored among the Dutch and Swedish +Lutherans. Arensius continued to serve the Lutherans in New York and +Albany from 1671 to 1691. The mildness and firmness which he displayed +in trying circumstances repaired the harm done by Fabricius. Dr. +Graebner says: "In Pastor Arnzius the Dutch Lutheran congregations on +the Hudson had an excellent preacher and pastor, a man of whom they had +no cause whatever to be ashamed. Above all he was a sound Lutheran, +whose opposition to any and all church-fellowship with the Reformed was +so decided that he abstained even from cultivating social intercourse +with the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church, although it would seem +that the existing conditions called for it." (70.) After the death of +Pastor Arensius, in 1691, a long vacancy ensued, lasting till 1702, when +Pastor Rudman, a Swede from Philadelphia, acceding to their repeated +requests, took charge of the congregation in New York. But finding +himself unequal to the task of regulating their deranged affairs, he +resigned in 1703. Rudman was succeeded by Justus Falckner, who was +ordained November 25, 1703, in the Swedish Gloria Dei Church of Wicaco, +by Rudman, Bjoerk, and Sandel, the first Lutheran ordination in America. +The new pastor, who arrived in New York on December 2, 1703, proved to +be a true Lutheran, a faithful shepherd of the flock committed to his +care, among which he labored with much blessing for a period of twenty +years. Graebner says: "It is a most pleasing, captivating figure that +we behold in Pastor Justus Falckner during the twenty years of his +activity, a man of excellent parts, of splendid knowledge, of a delicate +disposition, of a truly pious frame of mind, of a decidedly Lutheran +standpoint, of active and enduring diligence in his office, in short, an +all-round pastor. He had assumed the duties of his office with the +consciousness that he was able to accomplish nothing without the +gracious assistance of God; that God would grant him sufficiency was the +fervent prayer of his heart." (94.) Justus Falckner, born November 22, +1672, was the fourth son of Daniel Falckner, Lutheran pastor at +Langenreinsdorf, Crimmitschau, and Zwickau, Saxony. He entered the +University of Halle, January 20, 1693, and studied theology under A. H. +Francke. He completed his course, but shrank from assuming the +tremendous responsibility of the ministry. On April 23, 1700, he +acquired the power of attorney for the sale of William Penn's lands in +Pennsylvania, and left with his older brother, Daniel, for America. In +1701 ten thousand acres of Penn's lands were sold to Provost Rudman and +other Swedes. Probably this transaction brought Rudman into closer +contact with J. Falckner, who also had attended the Swedish church in +Philadelphia. The result was that Falckner was ordained and placed in +charge of the congregations in New York and Albany. While a student at +Halle, Falckner wrote the hymn: "Auf! ihr Christen, Christi Glieder-- +Rise, Ye Children of Salvation." (_Dict. of Hymnology_, 363.) + +20. Falckner's Spirituality.--Falckner was of a spiritual and truly +pastoral frame of mind. He was a faithful and humble shepherd, who loved +the flock entrusted to him with all his heart. "God, the Father of all +goodness and Lord of great majesty, who hast thrust me into this +harvest, be with me, Thy humble and very weak laborer, with Thy special +grace, without which I must needs perish under the burden of temptations +which frequently descend upon me with violence. In Thee, Lord, have I +put my trust, let me not be confounded! Render me sufficient for my +calling. I have not run, but Thou hast sent, hast thrust me into this +office. Meanwhile forgive whatever, without my knowledge, my evil nature +may add; pardon me, who am humbly crying unto Thee, through our Lord +Jesus Christ. Amen." Such was the prayer with which, in classic Latin, +Falckner prefaced his entries in the church register. Following are some +of the prayers which he appended to his entries of baptisms: "O Lord, +Lord, may this child, together with the three aforementioned Hackensack +children, be and remain recorded in the Book of Life, through Jesus +Christ. Amen." "God grant that also this child be and remain embraced in +Thy eternal grace and favor through Jesus Christ. Amen." "O Lord, may +this child be commended unto Thee for its temporal and eternal welfare, +through Jesus Christ. Amen." "May this child also, O Lord God, be and +remain an heiress of Thy Kingdom of Grace and of the glory which Christ +has obtained for us. Amen." "God grant that this child may overcome +Satan, the world, and its own corrupted nature, and with Christ reign +and triumph eternally for Christ's sake. Amen." "Lord Jesus, grant that +this child may taste and enjoy Thy sweet love and grace in time and +eternity." In 1704 Falckner baptized in his congregation at New York +"Maria, the daughter of Are of Guinea, a negro, and his wife Jora, both +Christians of our congregation." To the record of this baptism he added +the prayer: "Lord, merciful God, who regardest not the person of men, +but in every nation, he that feareth Thee and doeth right is accepted +before Thee: let this child be clothed with the white garment of +innocence and righteousness, and so remain, through Christ, the Redeemer +and Savior of all men. Amen." In later years, Falckner, after recording +the baptisms of an entire year, would add a prayer like the following: +"Lord, Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in +goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquities +and transgressions and sin: do not let one of the names above written be +blotted out of Thy Book, but let them be written and remain therein, +through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son. Amen." One of the intercessions +recorded with the entries of confirmations reads as follows: "Lord Jesus +Christ, should Satan seek to sift as wheat one or the other of these +members of Thy congregation, then do Thou pray for them to Thy heavenly +Father that their faith may not cease, for the sake of Thy holy merit. +Amen." Marriages are recorded with prayers like the following: "Grant, +Lord God, that also this union may redound to the honor of Thy holy +name, to the promotion of Thy kingdom, and to the temporal and eternal +blessing of those united, through Jesus Christ. Amen." Graebner remarks: +"What a gifted and sincerely pious pastoral frame of mind appears in the +entries of the noble man, whom God, in wonderful ways, led from far-away +Saxony to New York and here made a shepherd and teacher of the Dutch +Lutherans!" (94 ff.) + +21. Distinctive Doctrines Stressed.--Tender love for his flock did not +silence Falckner's confessional Lutheranism, nor did it induce him to +keep doctrinal differences in the background. He was no unionist. On the +contrary, in order to protect the souls committed to his care from the +Reformed errors with which they came into contact everywhere, and to +enable them to confess and defend the Lutheran truth efficiently, he +emphasized and preached also the distinctive doctrines of the Lutheran +Church. Naturally, his congregation was imbued with the same spirit of +sound and determined Lutheranism. "The straitened circumstances of our +Dutch Lutherans," says Graebner, "might have suggested to their flesh to +seek a better understanding with the Dutch and English Reformed of the +city, and to sacrifice some of their Lutheranism, in order to win the +friendship as well as the support of these people. Indeed, we hear that +these Lutherans manfully confessed their Lutheran faith whenever they +came in contact with their Reformed compatriots. And Pastor Falckner was +repeatedly urged by members of his congregation to compile a booklet for +his parishioners in which the chief doctrines, especially the +distinctive doctrines concerning which they were often called upon to +make confession, would be briefly set forth, together with the necessary +proof-passages. Falckner acceded to these requests. In 1708 he published +a book entitled 'Thorough Instruction (Grondlycke Onderricht) concerning +Certain Chief Articles of the True, Pure, Saving, Christian Doctrine, +Based upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ +Himself Being the Chief Corner-stone.'" It was the first book to appear +from the pen of a Lutheran pastor in America, and till the awakening of +Confessional Lutheranism the only uncompromising presentation of +Lutheran doctrine. V. E. Loescher praised it as being an +"Anti-Calvinistic Compend of Doctrine, Compendium Doctrinae +Anti-Calvinianum." The chapter on the "Freedom of the Will," which is +embodied in Graebner's _History of the Lutheran Church in America_, +bespeaks theological acumen and clarity on the part of the author. In +simple catechetical form, together with most appropriate Bible-passages, +Falckner presents the following truths: Having lost the divine image, +man, by his own natural free will, can neither understand, will, nor do +that which is spiritually right, good, and pleasing to God. Man is +converted to God and to all that is "thoroughly good" only by the grace +and power of God. It is God's pleasure to work in every man in order +that he may will and do that which is good. The reason why this is not +accomplished in all men is, because many wilfully resist the work of +God's grace, despise the means of conversion, and thus, by their own +stubborn and evil wills, frustrate the good and gracious will of God. +Man has a _free_ will; for he does the evil and rejects the good freely +and without constraint, without any compulsion on the part of God. +Furthermore, in external matters, which reason comprehends, man also has +a free will, in a measure. The will of a regenerate Christian is set +free, inasmuch as he is able to will that which is pleasing to God, by +faith in Jesus Christ, although, in this world, he is not able perfectly +to do that which is good. Falckner says: "I conceive this doctrine of +free will as follows: All the good which I will and do I ascribe to the +grace of God in Christ and to the working of His good Spirit within me, +render thanks to Him for it, and watch that I may traffic with the pound +of grace, Luke 19, which I have received, in order that more may be +given unto me, and that I may receive grace for grace out of the fulness +of grace in Jesus Christ. John 1, 16. On the contrary, all the evil +which I will and do I ascribe to my own evil will alone, which +maliciously deviates from God and His gracious will, and becomes one +with the will of the devil, the world, and sinful flesh. And I am +persuaded that if only my own will does not dishonestly, wilfully, and +stubbornly resist the converting gracious will of God, He, by His +Spirit, will bend and turn it toward that which is good, and, for the +sake of Christ's perfect obedience, will not regard, nor impute unto me, +the obstinacy cleaving to me by nature." In the introduction of the +book, which was written in the Dutch language, Falckner unequivocally +professes adherence to the Symbols of the Lutheran Church, the +confession of his fathers, "which confession and faith," he says, "by +the grace of God and the convincing testimony of His Word and Spirit, +also dwell in me, and shall continue to dwell in me until my last, +blessed end." (91 ff.) + + +JOSHUA KOCHERTHAL. + +22. Palatinates in Quassaic, East and West Camp.--Wearying of the +afflictions which the Thirty Years' War, the persecutions of Louis XIV, +and Elector John Wilhelm, who was a tool of the Jesuits, had brought +upon them, hosts of Palatinates came to America in quest of liberty and +happiness. The cruelties and barbarities which the French king, the +French officers, and the French soldiers perpetrated against innocent +men, women, and children are described by Macaulay as follows: "The +French commander announced to near half a million of human beings that +he granted them three days of grace. Soon the roads and fields, which +then lay deep in snow, were blackened by innumerable multitudes of men, +women, and children flying from their homes. Many died of cold and +hunger; but enough survived to fill the streets of all the cities of +Europe with lean and squalid beggars, who had once been thriving farmers +and shopkeepers. Meanwhile the work of destruction began. The flames +went up from every marketplace, every hamlet, every parish church, every +country seat, within the devoted provinces. The fields where the corn +had been sown were plowed up. The orchards were hewn down. No promise of +a harvest was left on the fertile plains where had once been +Frankenthal. Not a vine, not an almond tree, was to be seen on the +slopes of the sunny hills round what had once been Heidelberg." (Wolf, +_Lutherans in America_, 175.) Great numbers of emigrants from Hesse, +Baden, and Wuerttemberg whose fate had been similar to that of the +Palatinates, joined them. Permission to settle in the New World was +sought from the authorities in London, where in 1709, according to +various authorities, from ten to twenty thousand Palatines, as they were +all designated, were assembled, waiting for an opportunity to emigrate. +Joshua Kocherthal, Lutheran pastor at Landau in Bavaria, was the leader +of the emigrants from the Palatinate. In 1704 he went to London to make +the necessary arrangements. Two years later he published a booklet on +the proposed emigration. In 1708 he sailed for the New World with the +first fifty-three souls, landing in New York at the close of December, +1708, or the beginning of January, 1709, after a long and stormy voyage +lasting about four months. It was the first German Lutheran congregation +in the State of New York. After spending the winter in the city, they +settled on the right bank of the Hudson, near the mouth of the Quassaic, +where Newburgh is now located. Every person received a grant of fifty +acres and the congregation five hundred acres of church land, which, +however, the British Governor in 1750 awarded to the Episcopalians. In +July, 1709, Kocherthal, entrusting his congregation to the care of +Falckner, whose acquaintance he had made during the winter in New York, +returned to London to obtain, through a personal interview with the +Queen, grants of money which were needed to supply the utterly +destitute colonists with the necessary means of subsistence until the +land was made arable. He returned in June, 1710, with a multitude of +emigrants in eleven ships. But, while 3,000 had sailed from London, +only 2,200 were destined to reach their homes in the New World, 800 +having died while en route and in quarantine on Governor's Island. A +tract of land comprising 40 acres for each person was assigned to them +at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, about 100 miles north of New +York. They settled on both sides of the Hudson, naming their settlements +East and West Camp, respectively. + +23. Hewing Their Way to the Mohawk Valley.--The immigrants had been +promised prosperity; but the English officials were actuated by selfish +motives and shamefully exploited the colonists. They were ordered to +engage in the production of tar and pitch, and were treated as slaves +and Redemptioners, _i.e._, emigrants, shamefully defrauded by "the +Newlanders (Neulaender)," as Muhlenberg designated the conscienceless +Dutch agents who decoyed Germans from their homes and in America sold +them into slavery, at least temporarily. The contract for provisioning +the Palatinate colonists was let to Livingston, a cruel and greedy Scot, +from whom (Governor Hunter had purchased the land on which the +Palatinates were settled. Livingston now sought to enrich himself by +reducing both the quantity and quality of the food furnished to the +colonists. Hunger was common among the settlers, becoming especially +acute in winter, as they had not been given sufficient time to plant +crops for themselves. Dissatisfaction spread throughout the ranks of the +Palatinates, and when the Governor refused to heed their appeal for +relief, fifty families left the settlement and hewed their way through +the primeval forest to the Mohawk Valley, where they obtained fertile +lands from the Indians and founded the Schoharie congregation in the +winter of 1712/13. The governor declared the fugitives rebels; but still +more followed in March, making their way through three feet of snow. The +Lutherans of Schoharie were the first white people to live at peace with +the Indians. In order to obtain a clear title to the lands in the +Schoharie Valley, which the governor refused to grant them, John Conrad +Weiser was sent to England. On his way he was plundered by pirates; in +England he was thrown into a sponging house on account of debts. After +regaining his liberty, he was compelled to return to Schoharie broken in +health and without accomplishing his purpose. The result was that 33 +families left Schoharie and settled in Tulpehocken, Pa., in 1723. Among +those who remained in West Camp was Pastor Kocherthal. He continued +faithfully to serve his congregations, including Schoharie, until his +end, December 27, 1719. He lies buried in West Camp. A weather-beaten +stone slab marks his resting-place. The inscription calls him "The +Joshua and pure Lutheran pastor of the High Germans in America on the +east and west bank of the Hudson." In the original the epitaph reads +complete as follows: "Wisse Wandersman Unter diesem Steine ruht nebst +seiner Sibylla Charlotte Ein rechter Wandersmann Der Hoch-Teutschen in +America ihr Josua Und derselben an Der ost und west seite Der Hudson +Rivier rein lutherischer Prediger Seine erste ankunft war mit L'd +Lovelace 1707/8 den 1. Januar Seine sweite mit Col. Hunter 1710 d. 14 +Juny Seine Englandische reise unterbrach Seine Seelen Himmlische reise +an St. Johannis Tage 1719 Begherstu mehr zu wissen So unter Suche in +Welanchtons vaterland Wer war de Kocherthal Wer Harschias Wer +Winchonbach B. Berkenmayer S Heurtein L Brevort MDCCXLII." (111.) The +successors of Kocherthal were: Justus Falckner, until 1723; Daniel +Falckner, the brother of Justus, who had served several German +congregations along the Raritan, till 1725; Berkenmeyer; and from 1743 +to 1788 Peter N. Sommer, who preached in thirteen other settlements and +baptized 84 Indians. He died October 27, 1795. Sommer's aversion to the +Halle pastors probably was the reason why he took no part in the +organization of the New York Ministerium at Albany in 1786. + + +WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER BERKENMEYER. + +24. Activity in New York.--In New York Falckner was succeeded by W. +Ch. Berkenmeyer (1686-1751). Berkenmeyer was born in the duchy of +Lueneburg and had studied theology at Altorf under Dr. Sontag, a +theologian whose maxim was, "Quo propius Luthero, eo melior theologus, +The closer to Luther, the better a theologian." Upon request of the New +York congregation the Lutheran Consistory of Amsterdam, in 1724, called +him to serve the Dutch congregations in the Hudson Valley. While _en +route_ to his new charge, he was informed that a vagabond preacher by +the name of J. B. von Dieren, a former tailor, had succeeded in +ingratiating himself with the New York Lutherans, and had been accepted +as their preacher. Nothing daunted, Berkenmeyer continued his journey, +landing at New York in 1725. At the first meeting of the Church Council +he won the hearts of all, even of those who had been instrumental in +foisting von Dieren upon the congregation, who now stood convicted as +an ignorant pretender, and therefore was dismissed. Dieren continued his +agitation in other Lutheran congregations until Berkenmeyer in 1728 +published a tract fully exposing the character of the impudent impostor. +From the beginning Berkenmeyer's labors were blessed abundantly. +Bringing with him money collected by the Lutherans in Amsterdam and +receiving additional financial help from London and the congregations of +Daniel Falckner, Berkenmeyer was enabled to resume the building +operations in New York begun as early as 1670 (1705). On June 29, 1729, +the New Trinity Church was dedicated. Berkenmeyer's parish covered a +large territory. In addition to New York, Albany, and Loonenburg he +served the congregations at Hackensack, Raritan, Clavernack, Newton, +West Camp, Tar Bush, Camp, Rheinbeck (where a new church was dedicated +on the First Sunday in Advent, 1728), Schenectady, Coxsackie, and in the +Schoharie Valley. In Schoharie he baptized the infant daughter of Conrad +Weiser, who eighteen years later became the wife of Henry Melchior +Muhlenberg. In the absence of churches, Berkenmeyer preached in private +dwellings or, more frequently, in barns. At one of these services +fourteen children were baptized in the "Lutheran barn" of Pieter Lassing. +(176.) This immense parish was divided in 1731, Berkenmeyer removing to +Loonenburg. Pastor Christian Knoll of Holstein was called to take charge +of the southern congregations in and about New York. Berkenmeyer +delivered his farewell sermon November 26, 1732, and sixteen days later +Knoll preached his first sermon. In 1734 the Lutheran clergy received an +addition in the person of Magister Wolff, who succeeded the aged and +infirm Daniel Falckner at Raritan and five other congregations in New +Jersey. In the same year the three Lutheran pastors and a number of +congregations organized the first Lutheran Synod in America, with +Berkenmeyer as chairman. Its first and only convention of which we have +record was held at Raritan, August 20, 1735; nine congregations were +represented by delegates. The chief business of Synod was to settle a +quarrel between Wolff and his congregations, one of the charges +preferred against the pastor being that he read his sermons instead of +delivering them from memory ("statt aus dem Haupte zu predigen"). Peace +was restored, but temporarily only. Berkenmeyer continued his ministry +in Loonenburg for twenty years. Like other Lutheran divines of his day, +the Swedes and Salzburgers not excepted, he kept two slaves, whom he +himself united in marriage in 1744. Also during his declining years +Berkenmeyer experienced much sorrow. His end came on August 26, 1751. +The closing words of his epitaph are: "He has elected us in Christ +before the foundation of the world; there is therefore now no +condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." In the same year Knoll, +who, owing to disputes arising from the language question, had been +compelled to resign at New York, took charge of the Loonenburg +congregation and continued there until 1765. + +25. Berkenmeyer's Sturdy Lutheranism.--Though not clear in some points +and, at times, rigorous in discipline, Berkenmeyer stood for a sound and +decided Lutheranism. His orthodoxy appears from the very library which +he selected and brought with him for the congregation in New York, +consisting of twenty folios, fifty-two quartos, twenty-three octavos, +and six duodecimos, among them Calovius's _Biblia Illustrata_, +Balduinus's _Commentarius in Epistolas S. Pauli_, Dedekennus's +_Consilia_, Huelsemann's _De Auxiliis Gratiae_, Brochmand's _Systema, +etc_. Owing to his staunch orthodoxy, Berkenmeyer also had an aversion +to the Pietists, and refused to cooperate with Muhlenberg and his +colaborers from Halle. He disapproved of, and opposed, the unionistic +practises of the Swedish and Halle pastors. Speaking of Berkenmeyer's +pastorate in New York, Dr. Graebner remarks: "In a firm and faithful +manner he had preserved for himself and his congregation, both in +doctrine and practise, a staunch Lutheran character, which banished the +very thought of fraternizing with the heterodox. At the same time, +though a German theologian and commanding an easy, flexible, and +forceful Latin, he was a genial Dutchman among his Dutch parishioners, +perfectly adapting himself to their manners." (186.) He was firm and +consistent, but not fanatical, bigoted, or narrow. "In 1746, when the +Reformed pastor Freylinghausen lay ill with the smallpox at Albany, +Berkenmeyer visited him. But never did he establish an intimately +friendly intercourse with the Reformed pastors, and in church-matters +he was determined to keep himself and his people separate from the +Reformed. In the German congregations, such as those in and about +Newton, where Lutherans lived among the Reformed, with whom, after +suffering together with them, they had emigrated, warnings against +apostasy and unionistic practises were even more necessary than in the +Dutch congregations, especially, as the Reformed made concessions to +Lutherans uniting with them, _e.g._, by having the Lutheran children +recite the Lutheran Catechism in the catechetical instructions of +children (Christenlehren). Berkenmeyer, however, knew how to keep +awake the Lutheran conscience. When, in 1736, the Calvinists on the +Katsbaan, several miles from Newton, forbade their lector henceforth +to have the children recite the Lutheran Catechism, this led to a +declaration on the part of the Lutherans to the effect that they would +no longer attend services at their church. At Schoharie, Berkenmeyer +had to preach in the Reformed church; but that did not prevent him from +testifying against joint services. He declared that in such union, +without unity in the faith, the pastor was required to become 'either a +dumb dog or a mameluke'; the theme of his sermon here was: 'Our Duty to +Defend the Truth against the Gainsayers.'" (207.) The same earnestness +characterized Berkenmeyer's dealings with pastors, whom he recognized +only after they had confessed their Lutheranism in clear and unequivocal +terms. + + +DETERIORATION IN NEW YORK. + +26. Germans versus Dutch.--About 1742 the language question became +acute in New York. Dutch immigration had ceased, while Germans arrived +in ever increasing numbers. As a result the German communicants in New +York outnumbered the Dutch about 8 to 1. As the spokesmen of the German +element made unreasonable demands and met with unreasonable opposition +on the part of the Dutch, frequent and stormy meetings became the order +of the day. Pastor M. C. Knoll had labored faithfully; but, difficulties +constantly increasing, he lost control of the situation, and toward the +close of 1750 was compelled to resign his charge. Prior to this some of +the Germans had withdrawn from Trinity Church, and organized as Christ +Church, suffering themselves to be served by unworthy characters, such +as J. L. Hofgut, J. P. Ries, P. H. Rapp, J. G. Wiesner, and J. M. +Schaeffer. A better element having come into control, they called men +whom H. M. Muhlenberg recommended: I. N. Kurtz, who had been active in +Tulpehocken; I. G. Baugher (Bager), who came to America from Helmstedt +in 1752, served New York from 1754 to 1767, and died in 1794; J. 8. +Gerock, who was sent to America by the Consistory of Wuerttemberg in +1755, served in Lancaster, then in New York from 1767 to 1773, and died +in 1787; F. C. A. Muhlenberg, educated in Halle, who served Tulpehocken +in 1770, New York from 1773 to 1776, and (having fled from New York when +the British captured the city in the Revolutionary War) New Hanover in +1777. After 1779 F. C. A. Muhlenberg entered political life, being +elected a member of the Continental Congress and Speaker of the +Pennsylvania Legislature. He died in 1801. In the Dutch Trinity Church +peace was restored by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who served as Knoll's +successor from 1751 to 1753. Muhlenberg cultivated an intimate and +fraternal intercourse with the Reformed and Episcopalian pastors, and +inaugurated a period of pietism and unionism in New York. On his +departure he recommended Pastor J. A. Weygand, who had been serving the +Raritan congregations since his arrival, in 1748, from Halle. Weygand +remained in New York until 1767. In 1755 he published an English +translation of the Augsburg Confession. During his pastorate a parochial +school was organized and housed in a building erected for that purpose. +He died in 1770. Weygand's successor was Houseal (Hausihl), who had +emigrated from Strassburg in 1752. In 1771 he conducted the last service +in the Dutch language. In 1776 the church was reduced to ashes by the +great fire which destroyed about one-fourth of the city. Though losing +all his personal property, he rescued the documents and records of the +old congregation. Being an ardent loyalist, he received permission from +the British commander to use the Presbyterian church, where his services +were also attended by the Hessian troops of the army. When peace was +concluded, Houseal emigrated to Halifax, where he was ordained in the +Episcopal Church and made chaplain of the garrison. Here he died in +1799. + +27. Union Lauded by Kunze and Schaeffer.--The two Lutheran +congregations in New York reunited in 1783. The first pastor to serve +them was J. C. Kunze. He was born in the vicinity of Mansfeld, received +his preparatory education at Halle and other schools, and studied +theology at the University of Leipzig. After a brief service in Halle, +Kunze was called to be third pastor in Philadelphia. He landed in New +York, September 22, 1770, accompanied by two sons of Muhlenberg, who +had studied in Halle. In Philadelphia, where he married Muhlenberg's +daughter, Kunze conducted a Seminary from 1773 till its close in 1776, +and then successively occupied the chairs of Philosophy and of Oriental +languages at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1773 this institution +awarded him the title of Doctor of Divinity. In the following year he +received the call from the reunited Lutheran congregation in New York, +which he accepted. He entered upon his new labors with great zeal, and +met with no little success, confirming 87 persons in the first six +months. Kunze laid especial stress upon the English, which hitherto had +been greatly neglected. He also educated young men for the English +ministry. A year after his arrival in New York he published "The +Rudiments of the Shorter Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther," and ten years +later, 1795, the first English Ev. Lutheran Hymn- and Prayer-book. In +the same year he issued a new translation of the Small Catechism, +containing, besides the six chief parts, also, the Christian Questions, +103 fundamental questions, and a "Systematic Presentation of the Order +of Salvation." (527.) Kunze was also the first president of the New +York Ministerium, organized at Albany in 1786. At his burial, in 1807, +the Reformed Pastor Runkel delivered the funeral oration. While a +learned man, a hard worker, a man of great influence, a man also who +sought to familiarize not only the German, but also the English element +of his church with the doctrines of the Catechism, Kunze was not a +sound and staunch Lutheran on the order of Berkenmeyer or Falckner. He +had no adequate appreciation for the doctrinal differences which +separate the Lutherans and the Reformed. In the appendix to his Hymn- +and Prayer-book of 1795 Kunze wrote: "That the two Protestant Churches +have often shown animosities against one another is true and to be +lamented. But that such times are past is a truth more joyful than +another, which likewise ought not to be concealed, and [_viz_.] that +true piety in the Evangelical Church stands highly in need of a new and +energetic revival, and that it is doubtful in many cases whether the +present union of the two churches, which, however, every true Christian +will wish to be indissoluble, has its origin in enlightened ideas or in +worldly interest, in brotherly love or in indifference." (528.) Kunze's +pupil, G. Strebeck, who had been called to preach English in the Old +Congregation, organized an English Lutheran Church instead, and in 1804, +with a part of his English flock, united with the Episcopal Church. The +English congregation now called as its pastor a man who had been +excommunicated from the Presbyterian Church on account of Chiliasm, who, +in turn, was succeeded by a former Methodist preacher, under whom, in +1810, the entire congregation followed Strebeck into the Episcopalian +fold. + +28. Reformation Jubilee in 1817.--In the mother congregation Kunze, +who died 1807, was succeeded by F. W. Geissenhainer. When the latter +was no longer able to supply the growing need for English services, F. +C. Schaeffer was called in his stead, with the duty expressly imposed +upon him of preaching also in English. In 1817, at the tercentenary of +the Reformation, Schaeffer arranged a great celebration in which he was +assisted by an Episcopalian, a Reformed, and a Moravian pastor. _Dr. +Spaeth:_ "Here also [in America, as in Prussia] a great Reformation +Jubilee was celebrated in 1817. Here also it was, in the first place, +of a unionistic character. The Ministerium of Pennsylvania invited the +Moravians, Episcopalians, Reformed, and Presbyterians to unite with +them in this celebration. In the city of New York the eloquent Lutheran +pastor, F. C. Schaeffer, having kept the jubilee in the morning with his +own congregation, delivered an English discourse in the afternoon in St. +Paul's Episcopal Church on the text, 'I believe, therefore I have +spoken.' Thousands were unable to find admittance to the service, so +great was the throng." (_C. P. Krauth_, 1, 322.) Rejoicing in the +growth of unionism, Schaeffer said in his sermon: "In Germany, the +cradle of the Reformation, the 'Protestants' are daily becoming more +united in the bond of Christian charity. Whilst the asperities, which +indeed too often affected the Great Reformers themselves, no longer +give umbrage; whilst the most laudable and beneficial exertions are +universally made by evangelical Christians to remove every sectarian +barrier, the 'Evangelical Church,' extending her pale, becomes more +firmly established. And though we have melancholy evidence that the +state and disposition of the present Romish Church calls loudly for a +reformation, we must not omit the pleasing fact that many of her worthy +members are conscientiously alive to the cause of truth and enlightened +Christianity." (G., 654.) But, instead of more firmly establishing the +Lutheran Church, the indifferentism and unionism introduced into New +York by the Halle Pietists soon opened wide her gates to a flood of +rationalism. + + +NEW YORK MINISTERIUM. + +29. Eliminating Confession.--In 1786 the New York Ministerium was +organized in Albany, N. Y., by Pastors Kunze, of New York City, H. +Moeller, of Albany, and J. S. Schwerdfeger, of Fellstown, and two lay +delegates, one from New York, the other from Albany. Eight of the eleven +pastors in this district took no part in the organization. Six years +elapsed before another meeting convened. The minutes of the first +convention state: "In view of the fact that only three pastors and two +delegates appeared, those present considered it advisable to look upon +themselves only as a committee of the Lutheran Church in the State of +New York." The _Lutheran Cyclopaedia_ says: "Though no records prior +to the meeting at Albany are extant, Dr. Kunze stated in 1795, and +again in 1800, that the New York Ministerium, revived in 1786, had been +organized as early as 1773 by F. A. C. Muhlenberg, then pastor in New +York." (490.) _Dr. Jacobs:_ "Concerning the fact that any meeting was +actually held, we are in ignorance; but Dr. Kunze, who ought to be most +competent authority, declares: 'To the late Dr. Henry Muhlenberg +belongs the immortal honor of having formed in Pennsylvania a regular +ministry, and, what is somewhat remarkable, to one of his sons, who +officiated as Lutheran minister from the year 1773 to 1776 in the city +of New York, that of having formed the Evangelical Ministry of New York +State.' The thought was carried out in 1786." (300.) In a letter to his +father, then visiting in Georgia, F. A. C. Muhlenberg mentions a +meeting of the Lutheran ministers in the Province of New York, planned +for April, 1774. (Graebner, 450.) The Ministerium organized at Albany +was a duplicate of the Pennsylvania Ministerium. According to the +Minutes a resolution was adopted to regard "the constitution of the Ev. +Luth. Church of Pennsylvania as their law." (469.) In 1792 the New York +Ministerium adopted the new constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod, +which contained no reference to the Lutheran Confessions whatever, +merely retaining the name Lutheran. At the convention in Rheinbeck, +1797, Dr. Kunze being the leading spirit and president, the New York +Ministerium passed the notorious resolution: "Resolved, That, on account +of the intimate relation subsisting between the English Episcopalian and +Lutheran Churches, the identity of their doctrine, and the near approach +of their church-discipline, this consistory will never acknowledge a +newly erected Lutheran church in places where the members may partake of +the services of the said English Episcopal Church." (628.) Seven years +later this resolution was rescinded, not, indeed, for confessional +reasons, but in the interest of expediency and policy, because in 1804 +G. Strebeck, with a part of his English congregation in New York, had +been received by the Episcopalians. Spaeth remarks with respect to the +Rheinbeck resolution: "A fitting parallel to this resolution is found in +the advances made by the Mother Synod of Pennsylvania toward a union +with the German Reformed Church, first in 1819 for the joint +establishment of a common Theological Seminary, and afterward, in 1822, +for a general union with the Evangelical Reformed Church. See Minutes of +1822." (_C.P. Krauth,_ 1,320.) + +30. President Quitman the Rationalist.--The unionism and indifferentism +of the New York Ministerium naturally developed and merged into +Socinianism and Rationalism under its liberal, but most able and +influential leader, Dr. F. H. Quitman (1760-1832). "Quitman," says +Graebner, "was a stately person, over six feet in height and of +correspondingly broad and powerful build. Already at his entrance in +Halle, one of the professors greeted the nineteen-year-old giant with +the words, 'Quanta ossa! Quantum robur! What bones! What power!'" In his +subsequent intercourse with the polite world Quitman acquired a fine +tact and measured, dignified ways. At the same time he was a man of +excellent parts, a master at repartee, with a keen intellect and a firm +will, and in every respect a born leader." (532.) He was the only +Lutheran minister who ever received, and perhaps desired [?] [tr. note: +sic!] to receive, the degree of D. D. from Harvard University. Quitman, +a disciple of Teller and of Semler in Halle, was a determined +protagonist of German Rationalism. In 1807 this outspoken and consistent +Socinian was elected president of the New York Ministerium, remaining in +this office till 1825. When Quitman accepted the call to the Schoharie +congregations, which he served beginning with the year 1795, he vowed +that he would preach the truth according to the Word of God and "our +Symbolical Books." Before long, however, he began to reveal the true +inwardness of his character. In his revised edition of Kunze's +catechism, which appeared in 1804, authorized by Synod, the 94th of the +"Fundamental Questions," which treated of the real presence of the body +and blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper, was omitted. Ten years later, +1814, in his own catechism, which was likewise published with the +approval of Synod, he omitted and denied such fundamental doctrines as +those of the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Vicarious Atonement, +Justification for the sake of Christ, etc. In this book Quitman and the +New York Ministerium declare: "The Gospel teaches us that Christ +suffered and died in order to seal with His blood the doctrine which He +had preached." (533.) Two years later a "Lutheran Hymn-book" appeared, +containing an un-Lutheran order of service, the Union formula of +distribution, a rationalistic order for the celebration of the Lord's +Supper, rationalistic prayers to the "great Father of the Universe," +etc. Also this book appeared "by order of the Ev. Luth. Ministerium of +the State of New York," and with a preface signed by President Quitman +and Pastor Wackerhagen. (535.) When the tercentenary of the Reformation +was celebrated, Quitman, again by order of the New York Ministerium, +published several sermons bearing on this event. Here he says: "Reason +and Revelation are the only sources from which religious knowledge can +be drawn, and the norms according to which all religious questions ought +to be decided. . . . Are not both, Reason and Revelation, from heaven, +always in agreement and the one supporting the other?" Again: "The true +sense which the Reformers connected with the term 'faith' is still more +apparent from the XX. Article of the Augsburg Confession, where they +explicitly declare that faith 'which is productive of good works +justifies man before God.'" (653.) This rank Socinianism and +Rationalism of Quitman and the Ministerium became firmly intrenched and +was protected from attack by the constitution of 1816, which contained +the paragraph: "And we establish it as a fundamental rule of this +association that the person to be ordained shall not be required to make +any other engagement than this, that he will faithfully teach, as well +as perform all other ministerial duties, and regulate his walk and +conversation, according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as +contained in Holy Scriptures, and that he will observe this constitution +while he remains a member of this Ministerium." (655.) Within the New +York Ministerium, therefore, ministers could no longer be required by +their congregations to pledge themselves on the Lutheran Confessions. +According to the constitution doctrinal discussions were permitted on +the floor of Synod, but only with the express proviso "that the +fundamental principle of Protestantism, the right of free research, be +not infringed upon, and that no endeavor be made to elevate the +Ministerium to an inquisitorial tribunal." (679.) Thus the entire +heritage of the Reformation, together with its Scriptural principle and +cardinal doctrine of justification by faith, had gone by the board, the +unionism and indifferentism of the Halle pastors having served as the +first entering wedge--just as in Halle Pietism and subjectivism, an +essentially Reformed growth, foreign to sound objective Lutheranism, had +given birth to the ugly child, afterwards, when grown up, named +_Rationalismus Vulgaris_. + + +JOHN CHRISTOPHER HARTWICK. + +31. The Eccentric Wandering Bachelor.--Hartwick (Hartwig, Hartwich, +Hardwick) was born 1714 in Thuringia, Saxony. Coming to New York in +1746, Berkenmeyer had him subscribe to the Loonenburg Church +constitution. His parish included the congregations at Rheinbeck, Camp, +Staatsburg, Ancrum, and Tar Bush. The capriciousness with which +Hartwick, who remained an eccentric bachelor all his life, performed his +pastoral duties soon gave rise to dissatisfaction. Complaints were +lodged against him with Berkenmeyer, who finally wrote against him +publicly. In 1750 Muhlenberg conducted a visitation in Hartwick's +congregations, and reports as follows: "He went to Pennsylvania too +often, and that without the permission of his congregations, etc. He +did not sufficiently prepare the young for confirmation, by simple +instruction in the Catechism; is too austere in his dealings with the +people; does not always permit them to see him; does not maintain order +at public worship; begins services an hour or two after the time fixed; +has long hymns sung and preaches long, so that those who come from a +distance must drive till late into the night and are compelled to +neglect their cattle. He is headstrong (koppich), that is, self-willed, +and will not allow any one to tell him anything or to give him advice. +He says he did not come here to learn from the people, but to teach +them. Nor did he, said they, cultivate the friendship of the old +spiritual father Berkenmeyer, while pastors were to set a good example. +Such and similar were the complaints made by his opponents." (G., 412.) +The upshot of the deliberations was that Raus was appointed vicar of the +congregations, while Hartwick agreed to spend six months in +Pennsylvania, where he previously, 1748, had participated in the +organization of the Pennsylvania Synod. In 1752 Hartwick preached to the +Dutch congregation of New York, an honor that was denied him in 1750 +because of his hostility to Berkenmeyer. January 8, 1751, Hartwick +addressed a pastoral letter to his congregations, in which he not only +displays a lack of Lutheran knowledge, but also refers to Berkenmeyer as +"brother Esau" and speaks of his opponents as "Edomites" and "Esauites." +In the spring of 1751 Hartwick returned to his congregations. When it +became impossible for him to maintain his position any longer, he went +to Reading, in 1757. In the following year he returned to Columbia and +Duchess Co., N. Y. Subsequently, wandering about aimlessly, he was seen, +now in Hackensack and Providence, now (1761) as Muhlenberg's successor +in the country congregations, then in Maryland, 1763 in Philadelphia, +then in Winchester, Va., 1767 in New York, attending the unionistic +church dedication, 1774 in Boston, and ten years later again in New +York, whither he returned to ingratiate himself with the Lutherans who +had not emigrated to Nova Scotia with Houseal. Known everywhere, but at +home nowhere, and usually an unwelcome guest, Hartwick died suddenly, +July 16, 1796, at East Camp. The last lines of the dreary inscription on +his tombstone are: "The brief span of our days is seventy to eighty +years, and though it was ever so precious, its sum is trouble and +sorrow. On the wings of time we hasten to a long eternity." In the +original the epitaph reads as follows: "Hier ruhet Johann C. Hartwich +Prediger der Evangelisch Lutherischen Kirche. gebohren in Sax Gotha de +6 Jenner 1714 Gestorben den 16 Julius 1706 Seines alters 82 Jahre 6 +Monat.--Das kurzgesteckte Ziel der Tage Ist siebenzig is achtzig jahr +Ein innbegrif von muh und plage Auch wenn es noch so kostlich war. +Geflugelt eilt mit uns die zeit In eine lange ewigkeit." (657.) + +32. Hartwick Seminary and Dr. Hazelius.--In 1754 Hartwick purchased +21,500 acres of land in Otsego Co., N. Y., which he endeavored to +colonize with a Lutheran congregation. "The lease was to contain a +clause pledging every colonist to unite with the church within a year; +to recognize Pastor Hartwick or his representative as his pastor and +spiritual adviser; to attend his services regularly, decently, and with +devotion; to contribute to the maintenance of the church, school, and +parsonage according to ability; to have his children baptized, and to +send them to school and confirmation instruction until they were +confirmed. The validity of the lease was to depend on the fulfilment of +these conditions." (454.) The plan failed, and Hartwick, in a will, +executed shortly before his death, left his estate, valued at about +$17,000, to found a theological seminary. Among the conditions were +that heathen authors should never be read in this institution, and that +a catechism be prepared and agreed upon by pastors of various churches, +in which, all controversial points being avoided, the essential +questions of the Christian religion were to be answered by classic +Bible-verses containing the Christian doctrines. A request was appended +to the will, in which Congress was asked to promote in every possible +way the undertaking planned by him "in the interest of humanizing, +civilizing, moralizing, and Christianizing, not only the aborigines of +North America, but all other barbarous peoples with whom the United +States may have connection or intercourse." (658.) In 1797 the income +of Hartwick's estate was used to pay Dr. J. C. Kunze, of New York, for +his theological instruction, Rev. A. T. Braun, of Albany, for +instruction in the classics, and Rev. J. F. Ernst for teaching the +children on the patent (Otsego County) where the seminary was to be +located. The foundation for a building was laid in 1812, which was +dedicated December 15, 1815, and opened by Dr. Hazelius and A. Quitman +(later renowned as a lawyer, statesman, and general) with 19 students. +A charter was obtained in 1816 containing the provision that the +director must always be a Lutheran theologian, and that the majority of +the trustees must be Lutherans. When the English congregations separated +from the New York Ministerium in 1867, Hartwick Seminary remained in +their hands. In 1871 the trustees requested the Franckean, Hartwick, New +York, and New Jersey Synods each to nominate three trustees, the +institution thus coming under the control of these synods. The first +director of Hartwick Seminary was Dr. Hazelius, who was born in Silesia +in 1777, and educated at the institution of the Moravians in Germany. He +came to America in 1800 and was made instructor in the classics at the +Moravian institution at Nazareth, Pa. Before long he was employed in the +theological department. In 1809, Hazelius was ordained as Lutheran +pastor of Germantown. He was connected with Hartwick Seminary for +fifteen years, when he was called to Gettysburg Seminary. Three years +later (1833) he accepted a call to the seminary of the South Carolina +Synod at Lexington, where he died in 1853. Hazelius, who did not leave +the Moravians for doctrinal reasons, held that Lutherans and Reformed do +not differ fundamentally. Accordingly, he also approved of distributing +the Lord's Supper at the same altar, to Lutherans according to their +practise, to others in the manner of the Reformed. The minutes of the +proceedings of the General Synod held at Winchester, Va., May 21, 1853, +record the following: "Whereas, It has pleased the God of all and Head +of the Church to remove from this transitory scene, and to take home to +Himself, our venerable and beloved father in Christ, the Rev. Ernest +Lewis Hazelius, D. D., we, who have been privileged to sit at his feet, +and to be instructed by him in the various departments of sacred +service, desire to unite in a public expression of our grief at his +departure from among us, and of our high regard for his name and memory; +therefore, Resolved, That we duly appreciate and gratefully acknowledge +the importance, efficiency, and happy results of his long, faithful, and +untiring labors as a minister of our Church; first a pastor, then, for +fifteen years, as the first professor and principal of Hartwick +Seminary, afterwards as professor at the Theological Seminary of this +body at Gettysburg, for two years, and, lastly, up to October, 1852, as +Professor of Theology at Lexington, in the Theological Seminary of the +Synod of South Carolina." (44.) + + +GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. + +33. Early Germans in America.--In the Colonial days, next to the +English, the Germans were foremost in settling and developing our +country. Long before the Puritans thought of emigrating to America, +Germans had landed in various parts of the New World. As early as 1538, +J. Cromberger established a printing-office in the City of Mexico, from +which he issued numerous books. From 1528 to 1546 German explorers came +to Venezuela also with a printing-press and with fifty miners to explore +the mountains. A number of German craftsmen accompanied the first +English settlers who came with Captain John Smith to Virginia. Soon +after Henry Hudson had discovered the river which bears his name, +Christiansen, a German, became the explorer of that stream. He also +built the first homes on Manhattan Island, 1613, and laid the +foundations of New Amsterdam and Fort Nassau, the present cities of New +York and Albany. Peter Minuit (Minnewit), the first Director-General of +New Netherland, was also a German, born in Wesel, on the lower Rhine. +He arrived in New Amsterdam on May 4, 1626, and one of his first acts +was the purchase of Manhattan Island, 22,000 acres, from the Indians +for trinkets valued at $24. He remained at his post till 1631, when he, +soon after, became the founder and first director of New Sweden, at the +mouth of the Delaware River. He lost his life in the West Indies during +a hurricane. His successor in New Sweden was another German, Printz von +Buchau, during whose regime, from 1643 to 1654, the colony became very +successful and thereby aroused the jealousy of the Dutch, who, while +Buchau was on a trip to Europe, attacked the colony and annexed it to +New Netherland. When New Netherland, in 1664, fell a prey to the +English, the colony had among its citizens numerous Germans, most of +them Lutherans. A native of Hamburg, Nicholaus de Meyer, became +burgomaster of New York in 1676. Another German, Augustin Herrman, made +the first reliable maps of Maryland and Virginia. J. Lederer, a young +German scholar, who came to Jamestown in 1668, was the first to explore +Virginia and part of South Carolina. Lederer's itinerary, written in +Latin, was translated by Governor Talbot of Maryland into English and +published 1672 in London; etc. However, it was at Germantown, at +present a suburb of Philadelphia, that Germans broke ground for the +first permanent German settlement in North America. A group of +Mennonites, 33 persons, landed October 6, 1683. They were received by +William Penn and Franz Daniel Pastorius, a young lawyer from Frankfort +on the Main. In Germantown Gerhard Henkel preached before 1726, and St. +Michael's Church was begun 1730 and dedicated by the Swede J. Dylander +in 1737. Pastorius had landed in America with several families on +August 20 of the same year in advance of the Mennonite emigrants, in +order to prepare for their arrival. The official seal of Germantown +bore the inscription: "Vinum, Linum et Textrinum," the culture of +grapes, flax-growing, and the textile industries being the principal +occupations of the colony. In 1690 W. Rittenhaus established in +Germantown the first paper-mill in America. Here also Christopher Sauer, +a native of Westphalia, published the first newspaper in German type, +and in 1743 the first German Bible, antedating, by forty years, the +printing of any other Bible in America. The Germans in the cloister +Ephrata, Pa., established by the Tunker, or Dunkards, also owned a +printing-press, a paper-mill, and a bookbindery. They published, in +1749, the _Maertyrer-Spiegel_, a folio of 1514 pages, the greatest +literary undertaking of the American Colonies. To the Germans enumerated +must be added the German Reformed; the Moravians, who founded Bethlehem +and Nazareth in Pennsylvania; the Salzburgers in Georgia; the Palatines +in New York; etc. And what may be said of Germantown, is true also with +regard to Philadelphia. June 6, 1734, Baron von Reck wrote concerning +the conglomerate community of this city: "It is an abode of all +religions and sects, Lutherans, Reformed, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, +Catholics, Quakers, Dunkards, Mennonites, Sabbatarians, Seventh-day +Baptists, Separatists, Boehmists, Schwenkfeldians, Tuchfelder, +Wohlwuenscher, Jews, heathen, etc." (Jacobs, 191.) Concerning the +thrifty character and all-round good citizenship of the German +immigrants in Pennsylvania generally, McMaster remarks: "Wherever a +German farmer lived, there were industry, order, and thrift. The size of +the barns, the height the fences, the well-kept wheat fields and +orchards, marked off the domain of such farmer from the lands of his +shiftless Irish neighbor." "They were," says Scharf in his _History of +Maryland_, 2, 423, "an industrious, frugal, temperate people, tilling +their farms, accustomed to conflict with savage and other enemies on +the border, and distinguished for their bold and independent spirit." +(Jacobs, 235.) Also in the cause of liberty and humanity the German +immigrants in America stood in the front ranks. + +34. First Anti-Slavery Declaration in America.--The importation of +negro slaves to America was practised by the English and Dutch since the +sixteenth century, without disapproval on the part of the Puritans and +Quakers, who boasted of being the fathers of liberty and the defenders +of human rights. The inhabitants of Germantown, led by Pastorius, were +the first to draw up, on February 18, 1688, a protest against this trade +in human flesh and blood. The remarkable document, addressed to the +meeting of the Quakers in Pennsylvania, reads as follows: "This is to ye +Monthly Meeting held at Richard Warrel's. These are the reasons why we +are against the traffick of men Body, as followeth: Is there any that +would be done or handled at this manner? to be sold or made a slave for +all the time of his life? How fearful and fainthearted are many on sea +when they see a strange vessel, being afraid it should be a Turk, and +they should be taken and sold for slaves into Turckey. Now what is this +better done as Turcks doe? Yea rather is it worse for them, which say +they are Christians; for we hear that ye most part of such Negers are +brought hither against their will and consent; and that many of them are +stollen. Now, tho' they are black, we cannot conceive there is more +liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is +a saying, that we shall doe to all men, like as we will be done our +selves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they +are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase +them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience, which is +right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty of ye body, +except of evildoers which is another case. But to bring men hither, or +to robb and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe +there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those +oppressed which are of a black colour. And we, who know that men must +not commit adultery, some doe commit adultery in others, separating +wifes from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the +children of those poor creatures to other men. Oh! doe consider well +this things, you who doe it; if you would be done at this manner? and if +it is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in +this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, +where they hear off, that ye Quackers doe here handel men like they +handel there ye cattel. And for that reason some have no mind or +inclination to come hither, and who shall maintaine this your cause or +plaid for it? Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better +hereoff, that Christians have liberty to practise this things. Pray! +What thing on the world can be done worse towards us, then if men should +robb or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries, +separating housbands from their wifes and children. Being now this is +not done at that manner, we will be done at, therefore we contradict and +are against this traffick of menbody. And we who profess that it is not +lawful to steal, must likewise avoid to purchase such are stollen but +rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible; and such men +ought to be delivered out of ye hands of ye Robbers and sett free as +well as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead +it hath now a bad one for this sacke in other countries. Especially +whereas ye Europeans are desirous to know in what manner ye Quackers doe +rule in their Province; and most of them doe look upon us with an +envious eye. But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evill? +If once these slaves (which they say are so wicked and stubborn men) +should joint themselves, fight for their freedom and handel their +masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before, will these +masters and mastrisses tacke the sword at hand and warr against these +poor slaves, like we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe? +Or have these Negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as +you have to keep them slaves? Now consider well this thing, if it is +good or bad? and in case you find it to be good to handel these blacks +at that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may +inform us here in, which at this time never was done, that Christians +have such a liberty to do so, to the end we shall be satisfied in this +point, and satisfie lickewise our good friends and acquaintances in our +natif country, to whose it is a terrour or fairfull thing that men +should be handeld so in Pennsylvania. This is from our Meeting at +Germantown held ye 18. of the 2. month 1688, to be delivered to the +monthly meeting at Richard Warrel's. gerret hendericks derick op de +graeff Francis Daniell Pastorius Abraham op Den graeff." (Cronau, +_German Achievements_, 20.) This protest was submitted at several +meetings of the Quakers. But it was not before 1711 that the Quakers +introduced "an act to prevent the importation of Negroes and Indians +into the province," and still later that they declared against +slave-trading. Also the Salzburgers in Georgia were opposed to slavery, +though Bolzius himself was compelled to buy slaves on account of the +lack of white laborers. The Germans also were first and most emphatic +in condemning the cruelties connected with the "white slavery" of the +so-called Redemptioners. + + +SLAVERY OF REDEMPTIONERS. + +35. Cruelly Deceived by the Newlanders.--Toward the middle of the +eighteenth century there were some 80,000 Germans in Pennsylvania, +almost one-half of the entire inhabitants. In 1749 about 12,000 arrived. +Benjamin Franklin and others expressed the fear: "They come in such +numbers that they will soon be able to enforce their laws and language +upon us, and, uniting with the French, drive all Englishmen out." Many +of the Germans were so-called Redemptioners, who, in payment of their +freight, were sold and treated as slaves for a stipulated number of +years. Most of them had been shamefully deceived and decoyed into the +horrors of this "white slavery" by Dutch and English merchants and +conscienceless agents whom Muhlenberg called Newlanders (Neulaender). +In Holland they were called "soul-traders." By means of stories of the +fabulous wealth acquired in America they enticed Germans and other +emigrants into the signing of papers in the English language which not +only committed them and their children to slavery, but sometimes +separated husband and wife, parents and children. The following is an +instance of the revolting horrors connected with this trade: In 1793, +when the yellow fever prevailed in Chester, a cargo of Redemptioners +was sent thither, and a market for nurses opened. (Jacobs, 236.) In +Pennsylvania this kind of slavery continued from about 1740 to the +second decade of the nineteenth century. Quakers and other "friends of +liberty and humanity" exploited the system. Foremost among those who +exposed and condemned it were Germans, notably Muhlenberg, who described +the abominable business of the Newlanders as follows: "These Newlanders +first make themselves acquainted with the merchants in the Netherlands. +From them they receive, in addition to free freight, a certain +gratification (_douceur_) for each family or each unmarried person which +they enlist in Germany and bring to the traders in Holland. In order to +attain their object, they resort to all manner of tricks. As long as the +comedy requires it, they make a great show in dress, frequently look at +their watches, and make a pretense of great wealth, in order to excite a +desire within the hearts of people to emigrate to so happy and rich a +country. They give such descriptions of America as make one believe it +to contain nothing but Elysian fields, bearing seed of themselves, +without toil and labor, mountains full of solid gold and silver, and +wells pouring forth nothing but milk and honey, etc. Who goes as a +servant, becomes a lord; who goes as a maid, becomes a milady; a peasant +becomes a nobleman; a citizen and artisan, a baron!" Deceived and +allured by such stories, Muhlenberg continues, "The families break up, +sell what little they have, pay their debts, turn over what may be left +to the Newlanders for safe-keeping, and finally start on their journey. +Already the trip on the Rhine is put to their account. In Holland they +are not always able to depart immediately, and frequently they get a +small amount of money, advanced by the traders, on their account. The +expensive freight from Holland to America is added, also the head-money. +Before they leave Holland, they must sign a contract in the English +language. The Newlanders persuade and reassure the people [who, not +understanding the English, knew not what they were signing] that they, +as impartial friends, would see to it that, in the contract, no wrong +was done their countrymen. The more freight in persons a merchant and +captain can bring in a ship, the more profitable it is, provided that +they do not die _en route_, for then it may be disadvantageous. For this +reason the ships are kept clean, and every means is employed to deliver +healthy ware to the market. For a year or so they may not have been as +careful, suffering to die what could not live. When parents die on the +ships and leave children, the captains and the most intelligent of the +Newlanders, acting as guardians and orphan-fathers, take the chests and +inheritance in their safe-keeping, and the orphans, arriving on the +land, are sold for their own freight and the freight of their deceased +parents; the real little ones are given away, and the inheritance of +their parents just about pays for the manifold troubles caused to the +guardians. This crying deceit moved some well-disposed German +inhabitants of Pennsylvania, especially in and about Philadelphia, to +organize a society, which, as much as possible, would see to it that, at +the arrival of the poor emigrants, they were dealt with according to +justice and equity." When a ship of emigrants has arrived in the harbor +of Philadelphia, Muhlenberg proceeds, "the newcomers are led in +procession to the court-house, in order to take the oath of allegiance +to the King of Great Britain; then they are led back to the ship. +Hereupon the papers announce that so and so many German people are to be +sold for their freight. Whoever is able to pay his own freight receives +his freedom. Those having wealthy friends endeavor to obtain a loan from +them to pay the freight; but these are few. The ship is the market. The +buyers pick out some and bargain with them as to the years and days of +service, whereupon they make them bind themselves before the magistrate +by a written instrument for a certain period as their property. The +young, unmarried people of both sexes sell first, their lot being a good +or a bad one, for better or worse, according to the character of the +buyer and God's providence or permission. We have frequently noted that +children who were disobedient to their parents, and left them stubbornly +and against their will, here found masters from whom they received their +reward. Old and married people, widows and the frail, nobody wants to +buy, because there is here already an abundance of poor and useless +people who become a burden to the state. But if they have healthy +children, then the freight of the old people is added to that of the +children, and the children must serve so much longer, are sold so much +dearer, and scattered far and wide from each other, among all manner of +nations, languages, and tongues, so that they rarely see their old +parents or brothers and sisters again in this life; many also forget +their mother-tongue. In this way the old people leave the ship free, but +poor, naked, and weak, looking as though they were coming from the +graves, and go begging in the city at the doors of the German +inhabitants; for, as a rule, the English, afraid of infection, close the +doors on them. Such being the conditions, one's heart might bleed seeing +and hearing how these poor human beings, who came from Christian lands +into the New World, partly moan, cry, lament, and throw up their arms +because of the misery and separation which they had never imagined would +befall them, partly call upon and adjure all elements and sacraments, +yea, all thunderbolts and the terrible inhabitants of hell to smash into +numberless fragments and torment the Newlanders and the Dutch merchants, +who deceived them! Those who are far away hear nothing of it, and the +properly so-called Newlanders only laugh about it, and give them no +other consolation beyond that given to Judas Iscariot by the Pharisees, +Matt. 27, 4: 'What is that to us? See thou to that!' Even the children, +when they are cruelly kept and learn that they must remain in bondage +all the longer on account of their parents, conceive a hatred and +bitterness toward them." (G., 474 ff.) + +36. Mittelberger on Redemptioners.--Mittelberger, who, in 1750, +brought to America the organ built at Heilbronn for the Lutheran church +in Philadelphia, and served Muhlenberg also as schoolteacher in +Providence, describes, in substance, the sad lot of the Redemptioners as +follows: "Healthy and strong young people were bound to serve from three +to six years, young people from their tenth to their twenty-first year. +Many parents, in order to obtain their freedom, must themselves bargain +about and sell their own children like cattle. A wife must bear the +freight of her husband if he arrives sick; in like manner the husband is +held for his sick wife; thus he must serve not only for himself, but, in +addition, five or six years for his sick spouse. When both are sick, +they are brought into the hospital, but only when no buyer is found. As +soon as they are well, they must serve in payment of their freight, or +pay, if they have property. It frequently happens that a whole family, +husband, wife, and children, being sold to different buyers, are +separated, especially if they are unable to pay anything on their +freight themselves. When a spouse dies on the ocean after one-half of +the voyage is completed, the remaining spouse must not only pay or serve +for himself, but also for the freight of the deceased one. When both +parents die on the ocean, their children must serve for their own and +their parents' freight till their twenty-first year. If anybody escapes +a cruel master, he cannot get very far, since good provisions are made +for the certain and speedy recapture of escaped Redemptioners. A liberal +reward is paid to him who holds or returns a deserter. If a deserter was +absent for a day, he must serve a week for it; for a week, a month; and +for a month, half a year. Men of rank, skill, or learning, unable to pay +their freight, or to give any surety, must serve their masters by doing +manual labor like ordinary servants. While learning to perform the +unaccustomed hard labor, they are treated with lashes like cattle. Many +a suicide was the consequence of the abominable deceit of the +Newlanders. Others sank into utter despair, or deserted, only to suffer +more afterwards than before. Sometimes the merchants in Holland make a +secret agreement to deliver their cargo of human beings not in +Philadelphia, where they wanted to go, but at some other place, where +they expect a better market, thus robbing many of the assistance of +their friends and relatives in Pennsylvania. Many entrust their money to +the Newlanders, who remain in Holland, and on their arrival in this +country they must either serve themselves, or sell their children to +serve for them." (477 ff.) Like the negroes, the Redemptioners could be +resold. The newspapers carried advertisements like the following from +the _Staatsbote_ of Philadelphia: "The time of service of a bond-maid is +for sale. She is tall and strong enough to do any kind of work, and is +able to perform work in the city as well as in the country. She is not +sold on account of a physical defect, but only because her master has +many women folks about. She has yet to serve for four and a half years. +The name of her owner may be learned from the publisher of this paper." +(481.) As with the negro slaves the lot of a Redemptioner was not in +every case physically a sad and cruel one. In Maryland the laws +protected them by limiting the days of work in summer to five and a half +a week, and demanding for them three hours of rest in the middle of the +day during the months of greatest heat. In 1773 Pastor Kunze wrote: "If +I should ever obtain 20 pounds, I would buy the first German student +landing at our coast and owing freight, put him in my upper room, begin +a small Latin school, teach during the morning hours myself, and then +let my servant teach and make my investment pay by charging a small +fee." (481.) Some of the honored names in American history are those of +Redemptioners, among them Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Congress +during the Revolution, Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of +Independence, and the parents of Major-General Sullivan. (Jacobs, 235.) + + +LUTHERANS IN PENNSYLVANIA. + +37. Roaming About without Altar and Ministry.--Justus Falckner, in a +letter to Dr. H. Muhlen, [tr. note: sic!] dated August 1, 1701, +describes the "spiritual wilderness" in and about Germantown as follows: +"As much, then, as I was able to observe the conditions of the churches +in these parts and in particular in this province, they are still pretty +bad. Because of the lack of any good preparations the aborigines, or +Indians, remain in their blindness and barbarism. In addition to this +they are scandalized by the wicked life of the Christians, and +especially by the trade carried on with them, and merely acquire vices +which were unknown to them before, such as drunkenness, theft, etc. The +few Christians here are divided in almost in numerable sects, which kat' +exochen [tr. note: two words in Greek] may be called sects and rabbles, +such as Quakers, Anabaptists, Naturalists, Libertinists, +Independentists, Sabbatarians, and many others, especially secretly +spreading sects, regarding whom we are at a loss what to make of them. +However, all of them agree in their beautiful principles (si Dis +placet): Abolish all good order, and live for yourself as you see fit. +The Quakers are the most numerous because the Governor [William Penn] +belongs to them, so that one might call this land an anatomical +laboratory of Quakers. For much as our theologians have labored to +dissect this cadaver and discover its entrails, they, nevertheless, have +not been able to do it as well as the Quakers are now doing it +themselves in this country. It would fill a whole tract if, as could be +done easily, I were to describe how they, by transgressing their own +principles, make it apparent what kind of a spirit is moving them, while +they, by virtue of the foundation of such principles, are scoffers and +Ishmaels of all well-ordered church-life. _Hic Rhodus, hie saltant_ +(Here is Rhodes, here they dance)." "Also here" (as in Europe), Falckner +proceeds, "the Protestant Church is divided in three nations; for there +is here an English Protestant Church, a Swedish Protestant Lutheran +Church, and people of the German nation belonging to the Evangelical +Lutheran and the Reformed Churches. The Swedes have two +congregations.... But not without reason have I spoken of the Germans +merely as some Evangelical Lutheran Germans and not the German +Evangelical Lutheran Church, inasmuch as they are roaming about in this +desert without altar and the ministry (scilicet qui ara sacerdotuque +destituti vagantur hoc in deserto), a miserable condition, indeed. +Otherwise there is a great number of Germans here. But a part of them +have joined the other sects, who use the English language, which is +learned first by all who come here, and some of them are Quakers and +Anabaptists. Another part of them are freethinkers, uniting with nobody +and letting their children grow up in the same way. In brief, there are +Germans here, and probably the most of them, who despise God's Word and +all good outward order, blaspheme and frightfully and publicly desecrate +the Sacraments. Spiritus enim errorum et sectarum asylum sibi hic +constituit (For the spirit of errors and sects has here established his +asylum). And the chief fault and cause of this is the lack of provision +for an external visible church-communion. For since, as it were, the +first thesis of natural theology, inborn in all men, is 'Religiosum +quendam cultum observandum, A certain religious cult must be observed,' +it happens that these people, when they come here and find no better +external service, elect any one rather than none. For though they are +Libertinists, nevertheless also Libertinism is not without its outward +form, by which it makes itself a specific religion in none of them." +Falckner proceeds: "I and my brother [Daniel] attend the Swedish church, +although, as yet, we understand little of the language. And by our +example we have induced several Germans to come to their meetings +occasionally, even though they did not understand the language, and for +the purpose only of gradually drawing them out of barbarism and +accustoming them to outward order, especially as one of the Swedish +pastors, Mr. M. Rudman, for the sake of love and the glory of God, +offered to go to the trouble of learning the German language and +occasionally to deliver a German address in the Swedish church, until +the Germans could have a church of their own." In the following Falckner +dwells on the great help it would afford in attracting the Indians and +the children of the Quakers and drawing the young Swedes to the services +if an organ could be installed in the Swedish church. (G. Fritschel, +_Geschichte_, 35 ff.) The miserable condition spiritually of the +Lutherans in Pennsylvania appears from a letter of their representatives +to Dr. Ziegenhagen in London, dated October, 1739, in which they state: +"There is not one German Lutheran preacher in the whole land, except +Caspar Stoever, now sixty miles distant from Philadelphia." (Jacobs, +191.) + +38. New Hanover, Philadelphia, Providence.--It was a motley crowd of +Germans that gathered in the land of the Quakers. Indeed, Pastorius, the +first mayor of Germantown, was a rather moderate pietist from the +circles of Spener, but, as stated above, with him and after him came +Mennonites, Tunkers, Moravians, Gichtelians, Schwenkfeldians, disciples +of the cobbler of Goerlitz, Jacob Boehme, and enthusiasts who as yet had +no name. (G., 242.) Before long, however, the Lutherans outnumbered all +other German denominations (Moravians and German Reformed) and sects in +the Quaker State, to which they came in increasingly large numbers, +especially after the sad experiences of the Palatinates in New York. By +1750 the number of Germans in Pennsylvania was estimated at 60,000, of +whom about two-thirds were Lutherans by birth. Though imbued with +apocalyptical and mystical ideas, H. B. Koester, who arrived in 1694 +with forty families, is said to have conducted the first German Lutheran +services in Germantown. Before long he united with the Episcopalians and +founded Christ Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, but returned to Germany +in 1700. Daniel Falckner, who had emigrated with Koester, opposed the +Quakers in Germantown. In Falckner's Swamp (New Hanover), he organized +the first German Lutheran congregation in Pennsylvania, and is said to +have erected a log church as early as 1704. In his struggle against the +mismanagement of Pastorius, Falckner, in 1708, fell a prey to intrigues. +A disappointed man he went to New Jersey, where he served the +congregations at Raritan, Muehlstein, Rockaway, and other points, and +from 1724 to 1725 also the settlements which Kocherthal had served along +the Hudson. Owing to his increasing mental weakness, Daniel Falckner, in +1731, resigned his field in favor of J. A. Wolff. He died at Raritan ten +years later. In New Hanover Gerhard Henkel, the first Lutheran pastor in +Virginia, continued the work from 1717 to 1728. In Philadelphia J. C. +Schulz, of Wuerttemberg, was the first Lutheran pastor of whom we have +any knowledge. Educated in Strassburg, Schulz arrived in Philadelphia on +September 25, 1732. He also served New Hanover and New Providence. At +the latter place the first entries in the parish register date back to +1729, and the congregation numbered about one hundred communicant +members when Muhlenberg took charge. In 1732 Pastor Schulz, accompanied +by two lay delegates, left for Europe to collect money, and, above all, +to secure laborers from Halle, for the mission-work in Pennsylvania. +These efforts terminated when Schulz was arrested in Germany for +disorderly conduct. Before leaving Pennsylvania, Schulz had ordained +John Caspar Stoever, a relative of Pastor J. C. Stoever, Sr., in +Spottsylvania, Va., and placed him in charge of his congregations. +Stoever, Jr., had studied theology in Germany, and after his arrival in +America, 1728, had been active in mission-work among the Lutherans in +Pennsylvania, a labor which he zealously continued till his sudden death +in 1779, while confirming a class at Lebanon. Stoever's aversion to +Pietism at first kept him from uniting with Muhlenberg. It was 1763, +fifteen years after its organization, before he became a member of the +Pennsylvania Ministerium. Concerning Stoever and the Agenda of 1748, +Muhlenberg relates the following: "We were minded to employ the very +words of our Lord Jesus: Take and eat; this is the body of Jesus Christ, +etc. Take and drink, this cup is the New Testament in the blood of +Christ, etc. At the baptism of children it was our intention to ask the +sponsors, or godparents: Do you renounce in the name of this child, +etc.? To this the opponents [Stoever, Wagner, and their adherents] +objected strenuously before we had finished. We therefore made a change +immediately and used the words which their terrified consciences +desired, _viz_.: This is the _true body_, etc.; this is the _true +blood_, etc., and in the formula of baptism: Peter, Paul, or Maria, dost +thou renounce, etc.?" Graebner comments as follows: "If the Wagners and +Stoevers [whom Muhlenberg severely censured in 1748] had committed no +other crimes but that of compelling the 'united preachers' [from Halle] +to take a decided Lutheran position, one might wish that their influence +had extended still farther." In the following year, 1749, however, the +Pennsylvania Synod changed the formula of baptism so that the sponsors +were asked, "Do you renounce (believe) in the name of this child, etc.?" +(Graebner, 327.) + + +HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG. + +39. Self-sacrificing Halle Emissaries.--The help which Pastor Schulz +and his laymen had requested from Halle in 1734 arrived nine years +later. Francke's hesitation with regard to questions of salary, etc., +drew the matter out until Muhlenberg declared himself willing to accept +the call to America without further conditions. He was the instrument +whereby it pleased God to preserve the Lutheran Church in America from +complete deterioration and disintegration and from the imminent danger +of apostasy through Zinzendorf. Muhlenberg (Muehlenberg) was born at +Eimbeck, Hannover, September 6, 1711. In 1738 he graduated from +Goettingen. He spent one year teaching in the Orphan Home at Halle, and +served a congregation in Upper Lusatia from 1739 to 1741. In 1741 he +also published his only work, a defense of Pietism against B. Mentzer. +In the same year he accepted the call to the congregations in +Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Providence, and New Hanover. September 23, +1742, he landed at Charleston, visited Bolzius and the Salzburgers in +Ebenezer, and arrived in Philadelphia, November 25, 1742. From the very +beginning Muhlenberg was successful in his opposition to Zinzendorf, +who had come to America in 1741 to convert the Indians and to merge the +pious of all churches in the _Unitas Fratrum_. Pretending to be a +Lutheran, he had wormed his way into the Lutheran congregation at +Philadelphia, assuming the title and functions of Inspector-General of +all the Lutheran churches in America. However, unmasked by Muhlenberg, +he now, January, 1743, returned to Germany in disgrace. In spite of +many other difficulties, Muhlenberg rapidly won recognition from all +the congregations. In 1745 he dedicated his first church in +Philadelphia. The _Hallesche Nachrichten_ contain vivid pictures, from +the pens of Muhlenberg and his assistants, of their untiring, +self-sacrificing, blessed, and constantly increasing missionary +activity, which at the same time served the purpose of encouraging Halle +to send additional laborers. The close of January, 1745, saw the arrival +of Peter Brunnholtz (who took charge of Philadelphia and Germantown) and +of the two catechists Nicholaus Kurtz and J. H. Schaum, who at first +served as assistants and were later on ordained as pastors. Muhlenberg +wrote to Halle: "To be brief: the church which must be planted here is +at a very critical juncture (Hier ist ecclesia plantanda in einer recht +kritischen junctura). Hence we ought to have experienced and strong men, +able to stand in the breach and to dare with patience and self-denial. +You, highly venerable fathers, know full well that I am not the man. But +I regard my dear colleague Brunnholtz as such a man, and wish that he +had two or three colaborers like himself; that would help us. God would +easily direct me to some smaller corner." (290.) In 1743 Muhlenberg sent +Tobias Wagner to the Palatines in Tulpehocken Creek, where Gerhard +Henkel had already preached, and where, in 1745, Wagner solemnized the +marriage of Muhlenberg and the daughter of J. C. Weiser. Services were +conducted at this time also in Ohly, Cohenzi, Indianfield, Chester, and +Reading (where the Lutherans and the Reformed had erected a church +together). In 1745 Muhlenberg conducted a visitation at Raritan, induced +Wolff to resign, sent them Kurtz and 1747 Schaum as temporary +supply-pastors, and finally, in 1748, induced the congregation to call +J. A. Weygand. Following the track of the Moravian Nyberg, who created +confusion wherever he went, Muhlenberg secured a foothold also at +Lancaster in 1746, at York, and Conewago, in 1747, as well as in +Monocacy and Frederick, Md. J. F. Handschuh (Handschuch), who arrived +from Halle in 1748, was put in charge of Lancaster. L. H. Schrenck and +L. Raus arrived in 1749. The former was stationed in Upper Milford and +Saccum, the latter was appointed vicar in Rheinbeck and Camp. F. Schultz +and Heintzelmann came in 1751. The latter received an appointment in +Philadelphia and married Muhlenberg's daughter. Baugher (Bager) arrived +in 1752, and Gerock the year following.--Pastors and congregations +were imbued with one and the same spirit, and considered themselves +parts of one and the same church, consisting of the "Collegium Pastorum" +on the one hand and the "United Congregations" on the other. + +40. Organizing Pennsylvania Synod.--To stablish the congregations, +Muhlenberg, with five pastors and ten congregations, on August 26, 1748, +organized the Pennsylvania Synod, then generally called "The United +Congregations" or "The United Pastors." This event has been designated +by Dr. Graebner "the most important in the history of the American +Lutheran Church of the eighteenth century." From the very beginning +Muhlenberg's three original congregations were called "The United +Congregations." This name was extended also to the congregations +subsequently organized or served by Muhlenberg and his colaborers at +Germantown, Lancaster, Tulpehocken, York, etc. And pastors and +congregations being imbued, as they were, with one and the same spirit, +and considering themselves parts of one and the same church, consisting +of "The College of Pastors (Collegium Pastorum)" on the one hand and +"The United Congregations" on the other, it was but natural that they +should unite in a regular synod with regular meetings. The year 1748 +was most opportune and suggestive for such an organization. Pastor +Hartwick of Rhinebeck had come to Philadelphia. Nicholas Kurtz had +arrived in order to be ordained as pastor for the congregation at +Tulpehocken. The dedication of St. Michael's Church in Philadelphia +brought other representative Lutherans to the city. The Swedes were +represented by Provost Sandin and Peter Kock (Koch), a trustee of +Gloria Dei Church, who zealously advocated synodical connection between +the Germans and Swedes. Before the public services, Pastors Brunnholtz, +Handschuh, and Hartwick met to examine Kurtz. His answers were approved +of in Halle as creditable even to candidates in Germany. On the +following day, Sunday, St. Michael's was dedicated. Provost Sandin +headed the procession from Brunnholtz's parsonage to the new church. +"Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord," was sung. A letter from the Swedish +pastor Tranberg, regretting his absence and congratulating the +congregation in English, was then read. The address emphasized that "the +foundation of this church was laid with the intention that the +Evangelical Lutheran doctrine should be taught therein according to the +foundation of the prophets and apostles, and according to the Unaltered +Augsburg Confession and the other symbolical books." After singing +another hymn, six prayers were offered, two in Swedish by the Swedish +pastors, and four in German by Brunnholtz, Hartwick, Handschuh, and Mr. +Kock. After another hymn a child was baptized, and a sermon preached by +Handschuh. Hereupon the ministers, with a few of the congregation, +received the Lord's Supper. In the afternoon Hartwick preached the +ordination sermon. Then, the lay delegates standing in a semicircle +about the altar, Provost Sandin and the four German pastors ordained +Kurtz. Muhlenberg read the liturgical formula. On Monday, August 26 (15 +Old Style), 1748, the first session of Synod was held, N. Kurtz, the +newly ordained pastor, delivering the opening sermon. + +41. First Session of Synod.--According to the minutes, written by +Brunnholtz and signed by the four German pastors residing in +Pennsylvania and a number of lay delegates, the synod consisted of six +ministers (including Sandin and Hartwick) and twenty-four delegates, +exclusive of the church council of the Philadelphia congregation: four +lay delegates from Germantown, three from Providence, three from New +Hanover, two from Upper Milford, one from Saccum, three from +Tulpehocken, one from Nordkiel, six from Lancaster, and one from +Earlingtown. Peter Kock represented the Swedish laity. The congregation +at York, in a letter, regretted the absence of representatives. The +organization proceeded without the adoption of any formulated +constitution. Though not formally elected, Muhlenberg, by virtue of his +first call and commission by the authorities in Halle, was president of +the synod. When, at the second meeting of the synod, in 1749, +Brunnholtz, on motion of Muhlenberg, was elected overseer of all the +United Congregations, this was ignored by the authorities in Halle, and, +Brunnholtz's health failing, the office was soon transferred to +Muhlenberg, who exercised it for many years. At the first meeting, after +the hymn, "Du suesse Lieb', schenk' uns deine Gunst," was sung, +Muhlenberg addressed the assembly, saying, in part: This union was +desired for a long time. The effort made five years ago in the Swedish +church was frustrated by Nyberg. Unity among us is necessary. Every +member in the congregation has children. In their interest elders are +required to assist in making a good church order. For this purpose we +are here assembled, and, God willing, shall meet annually. "We +preachers, here present," Muhlenberg emphasized, "have not run of +ourselves, but have been called here and urged to go. We are bound to +render account to God and to our consciences. We maintain connection +with our fathers in Europe. We must not only care for ourselves, but +also for our descendants." In part, Muhlenberg's remarks reflected on +Stoever, Streit (Streiter, as he is called in the minutes), Andreae, +and Wagner. These ministers had not been invited to participate in the +organization of the synod, because, as a declaration put on record by +synod explains, "1. they, without reason, decry us [Muhlenberg and his +adherents] as Pietists; 2. are not sent and have neither an internal +nor an external call; 3. are unwilling to observe a uniform order of +service with us, each following the ceremonies of his country; 4. an +experience of six years had taught Muhlenberg that their object was +nothing but bread; 5. they were subject to no consistory and gave no +account of the exercise of their office." The lay delegates were +called upon to give a report concerning the efficiency of their +pastors, and their opinion concerning the new liturgy, which they +regarded as too long. Also the condition of the parochial schools was +inquired into. The conference with the laymen was adjourned Monday +afternoon, after which they dined together. The pastors then attended to +business generally regarded as belonging to them. Hartwick addressed the +elders, wishing their congregations every blessing. The Swedish provost +expressed his desire to be a member of the body. But Peter Kock having +died, no Swede attended the meeting in the following year. Seven annual +meetings were held by the United Congregations, the last at New Hanover +in 1754. Revived by Dr. Wrangel and Muhlenberg in 1760, this oldest +Lutheran synod in America exists to the present day as "The Evangelical +Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania." (Graebner, 301 ff.) + + +FURTHER ACTIVITY AND DEATH OF MUHLENBERG. + +42. Discouraging Conditions.--The joyous events of 1748 in +Philadelphia were followed by disappointments to such an extent that +after 1754 the synodical meetings were abandoned till 1760, when, as +stated, Provost Von Wrangel revived the synod in the interest of +establishing a German-Swedish organization. The failure was caused by +various discouragements: the deaths of Heintzelman and Brunnholtz; the +troubles in the congregations of Handschuh at Lancaster, Germantown, and +Philadelphia; the opposition of Stoever and other anti-Pietists, whom +the synod in 1748 marked as undesirables; charges against Muhlenberg and +his colaborers, that they were but secret agents of Zinzendorf, etc.; +and above all the entirely insufficient support in men and moneys from +Halle. The difficulties and discouraging conditions under which +Muhlenberg and his assistants were laboring, appear from the urgent +appeal, signed by Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, and Handschuh, adopted by the +synod in 1754, and sent to both London and Halle. Dr. Jacobs writes: "It +is one of the most important papers in the Halle 'Reports.' The entire +field is surveyed, the history of German immigration traced, and the +religious condition of the immigrants described. The manner in which +other denominations and the Swedish Lutherans are aided by foreign help +is shown, and a very discouraging contrast is drawn. The condition of +each parish is then candidly and at length set forth. Three great +dangers they see threatening the inner life of congregations, _viz_.: +the assumption, by the leading men of particular parishes, of the right +to dictate, as a compensation for the perhaps greater amount expected of +them for the pastor's support; the lawlessness of immigrants who abuse +the freedom of the country, want to break through all rules, and revile +all good order, the regular ministry, and divine service as papacy +itself; the introduction of worthless men into the country as pretended +ministers by the Newlanders, who sell their services from the ship to +Lutherans willing to be deceived in this way. The United Pastors, they +urge, are almost powerless to resist. The people are, as a rule, poor. +In a congregation of three hundred members scarcely fifteen can be found +able to contribute toward the building of churches; and the +responsibility for debts incurred must, therefore, as a rule, fall upon +the pastors themselves. Many thousands of Lutheran people are scattered +throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, +etc. No provision is made for the traveling expenses of the pastors or +supplies for their places, if these Lutherans are cared for. People come +often one and even two hundred miles to hear a sermon and receive the +Sacrament, and weep bitterly over the destitution, which no one +endeavors to remove. They [the signers of the appeal] contrast the +condition of a pastor in the New with that of one in the Old World. The +latter has the assurance of necessary support, of protection in his +office, of all needed buildings, of provision for the proper instruction +of his people. The former has none of these. Among ten families there is +scarcely one or two that contribute according to their promises. The +sects diffuse among the people the ideas, to which they lend too ready +assent, that the pastors as well as their hearers ought to work at a +trade, cut wood, sow and reap during the week, and then preach to them +gratuitously on Sunday. They hear such things wherever they go--in +papers, in company, on their journeys, and at the taverns. The picture +is a very dark one. The pastors feel that they do not see how it is +possible for them to advance; and yet to recede or even to be stationary +must be fatal." Jacobs continues: "Such representations probably had +something to do with the impression current for a while at Halle that +Muhlenberg was visionary and eccentric, so strange do his statements +seem to those incompetent from personal observation to appreciate the +urgency of the situation in Pennsylvania. If there was any time when, +even for a moment, Muhlenberg entertained the suggestion of transferring +the care of the Lutherans of Pennsylvania to the Church of England, it +was only at some such time when he and his associates in the synod were +allowed to struggle on under such burdens almost unaided, while union +with the Church of England would at once have provided all missionaries +sent thither with an appropriation almost sufficient for support, and +with far better protection against the prevalent disorder. If the +Lutherans in Europe could not meet the demands of the hour, we can +pardon the thought, which never became a fixed purpose, that, sooner +than have the thousands for whose care he felt himself responsible +neglected, some other mode of relief would have to be sought." (246 ff.) + +43. Further Activity and Death.--In May, 1751, as related above, +Muhlenberg became pastor of the Dutch congregation in New York. From +1753 to 1761 he once more labored in New Hanover and Providence. During +this period he made visits to Raritan (1757, 1758 for nine weeks, 1759 +with his family, again in October, 1759, and in January, 1760), his +assistant J. H. Schaum in the mean time representing him in Providence. +October 29, 1761 Muhlenberg returned to Philadelphia to allay the +strife which had broken out. Here he lived in his own home, and +maintained an intimate intercourse with Dr. Wrangel. By the new +congregational constitution, which his congregation subscribed to in +1762, and which, in the course of time, was adopted by nearly all the +congregations in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg's influence was extended far +and wide. In 1769 he dedicated the new Zion Church at Philadelphia. +(The national memorial services of Benjamin Franklin [1790], of +Washington [1799], and of Abraham Lincoln [1865] were held in this +church.) September 8, 1774, he arrived in Charleston, accompanied by +his wife and daughter, where the congregation had requested him to +settle their quarrel, which he did with skill and success. His real +goal, however, was Ebenezer, where he, by order of the authorities in +Europe, was to conduct a visitation and to repair the harm done by +Triebner. Here he drafted a new constitution, which was adopted by the +Salzburgers and resulted in a temporary peace. On February 6, 1775, he +began his journey back to Pennsylvania. When the vestry of his +congregation at Philadelphia in 1779, without further ado, elected Kunze +to be his successor, Muhlenberg conducted himself with dignity. The +congregation rescinded her action, whereupon Muhlenberg resigned, and +was given a pension of 100 Pounds annually and granted permission to +preach occasionally in the church. As early as 1748 Muhlenberg had +compiled an Agenda, which at first was circulated in manuscript, and was +printed in 1786 in a somewhat modified form. The only objection which, +in 1748, the congregations raised to the Agenda was that "public worship +would last too long, especially in the cold winter months"; wherefore +"they requested that it be abbreviated." In 1782 Muhlenberg also did the +chief work in preparing the hymnal, which was printed in 1784. In the +same year Pennsylvania Academy conferred upon him the degree of Doctor +of Divinity. Muhlenberg accepted the title, but requested his friends +not to make any use of it in their intercourse with him. Muhlenberg died +October 7, 1787. Taking leave of his friend for this life, he spoke of +the journey ahead to his true fatherland, repeating the words of the +hymn: "Ich hab' vor mir ein' schwere Reis' Zu dir in's Himmels Paradeis, +Das ist mein rechtes Vaterland, Darauf du hast dein Blut gewandt." +Shortly before his death he prayed the stanza: "Mach' End', o Herr, +mach' Ende An aller unsrer Not, Staerk' unsre Fuess' und Haende Und lass +bis in den Tod Uns allzeit deiner Pflege Und Treu' empfohlen sein, So +gehen unsre Wege Gewiss zum Himmel ein." Muhlenberg's funeral was +attended by eight Lutheran pastors, the Reformed minister Schlatter, and +a great concourse of people, so that Pastor J. L. Voigt was compelled to +deliver his oration in the open. Memorial services were conducted in New +York and in many other places, as well as in almost all congregations +belonging to the synod. In Muhlenberg the greatest man whom God had +given to the Lutheran Church of America in the eighteenth century, "the +patriarch of the American Lutheran Church," had passed away. His body +was interred just outside the walls of the church in Trappe. A marble +slab over his grave bears the inscription: "Qualis et quantus fuerit, +Non ignorabunt sine lapide Futura Saecula. (Future ages will know his +character and importance without a stone.)" (484. 521.) + +44. Tributes to, and Estimates of, Muhlenberg.--In his letter to Dr. +Freylinghausen in Halle, Muhlenberg himself reveals the pious and humble +frame of his mind as follows: "To-day, December 6, 1762, it is forty +years since I set foot in Philadelphia for the first time; and I believe +that my end is no longer removed very far. Had I during these forty +years served my Lord as faithfully as Jeremiah, I could look forward to +a more joyful end. But I must now account it grace and mercy +unparalleled if the gracious Redeemer, for the sake of His +all-sufficient merits, will not regard my mistakes and weaknesses, but +receive me graciously." Speaking of Muhlenberg's faithfulness, Dr. E. A. +W. Krauss remarks: "Muhlenberg continued faithful in things both small +and great, even after he had received assistance from Germany, and one +coworker after another began to labor at his side. Before long his +activity had exceeded the sphere of his three congregations. On request +he visited the scattered Lutherans in Germantown, Tulpehocken, +Lancaster, York, Raritan, Frederick. He was the counselor of poorly +served congregations, the judge in their quarrels. Confidence was +everywhere reposed in him. "By reason of his talent for organizing, his +erudition, but, above all, his unselfishness, his modesty, dignity, and +piety, he was in universal demand, and was compelled to take the lead, +which he also kept till his blessed departure from this world." +(_Lebensbilder_, 694.) Dr. H. E. Jacobs sketches Muhlenberg's character +as follows: "Depth of religious conviction, extraordinary inwardness of +character, apostolic zeal for the spiritual welfare of individuals, +absorbing devotion to his calling and all its details, were among his +most marked characteristics. These were combined with an intuitive +penetration and extended width of view, a statesmanlike grasp of every +situation in which he was placed, an almost prophetic foresight, +coolness, and discrimination of judgment, and peculiar gifts for +organization and administration." Dr. A. Graebner writes: "The task +which Muhlenberg found set before him when he entered upon the wild and +disordered field which had been allotted to him here, was such that, if +any one in Halle had been able to tell him and had told him what was +awaiting him in America, he would hardly have found the necessary +courage and cheerfulness to lay his hand to the plow which was to +convert this wild bramblepatch into an arable field. Still, where could +a second man have been found at that time who would have proven equal +to the task in the same measure as Henry Melchior Muhlenberg? Richly +endowed with a robust physique and a pious mind, with faithfulness in +matters great and small, with cheerful, but firm courage, with restless +activity and a spirit of progressive enterprise, with wisdom and +prudence, with the ability to inform himself quickly and to accommodate +himself to the circumstances, and, in addition to this, with the +necessary independence of volition and action,--characteristics +seldom found combined in one and the same person,--Muhlenberg was +splendidly equipped, both as to degree and variety, with the gifts +which a missionary and an organizer has need of. And from the very +first day of his planting and watering God gave a rich increase to his +labors, so rich, that Muhlenberg could say with a grateful heart: 'It +seems as though now the time had come that God would visit us with +special grace here in Pennsylvania.' Furthermore, self-exaltation was +utterly foreign to him. 'God does not need me,' he would say; 'He can +carry out His work also without me.' Likewise, he was ever content +although he never saw much money. During the first half-year of his +stay in Philadelphia he earned his board by giving music lessons." +(279.) Dr. A. Spaeth: "Though there were Lutheran congregations and +pastors among the Dutch on the Hudson, and among the Swedes on the +Delaware, as early as the first half of the seventeenth century, and, +later on, among the numerous German immigrants, still the real +organization of the Lutheran Church in America, on the foundation of the +fathers, only dates from the middle of the eighteenth century, and is +due to the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, by common consent the +patriarch of the Lutheran Church on this continent, through whose +efforts the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, 'The Mother Synod,' was +established in 1748. In missionary zeal, in pastoral tact and fidelity, +in organizing ability and personal piety, he had no superior." (_C.P. +Krauth_, 1, 316.) + + +MUHLENBERG'S CONFESSIONALISM. + +45. Unqualified Subscription to Entire Book of Concord.--Like the +"Fathers in Halle," Muhlenberg, self-evidently, desired to be a +Lutheran and to build a Lutheran Church in America. He himself says, in +a manner somewhat touchy: "I defy Satan and every lying spirit to lay at +my door anything which contradicts the teaching of our apostles or the +Symbolical Books. I have often said and written that I have found +neither error, nor mistake, nor any defect in our Evangelical doctrine, +based, as it is, on the apostles and prophets, and exhibited in our +Symbolical Books." _Dr. Spaeth:_ "The standards of the Lutheran Church +of the sixteenth century were accepted and endorsed by Muhlenberg +without reservation, and in his whole ministerial work he endeavored to +come up to this standard, as he had solemnly pledged himself in his +ordination vow before the theological faculty of the university at +Leipzig, on August 24, 1739, which committed to him the office of +'teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments according to the +rule given in the writings of the prophets and apostles, the sum of +which is contained in those three symbols, the Apostolic, Nicene, and +Athanasian, in the Augsburg Confession laid before Emperor Charles V, +A. D. 1530, in the Apology of the same, in Dr. Luther's Large and Small +Catechism, in the Articles subscribed to in the Smalcald Convention, +and in the Formula of Concord. He solemnly promised that he would +propose to his hearers what would be conformed and consentient to these +writings, and that he would never depart from the sense which they +give.' (Dr. W. J. Mann's _The Conservatism of Henry Melchior +Muehlenberg_, in the _Lutheran Church Review_, January, 1888.) And this +was the position not of the patriarch alone, but of his colaborers, of +the whole Synod of Pennsylvania, which he organized, and of the sister- +or daughter-synod of New York, during the lifetime of Muhlenberg and +Kunze. 'Those fathers were very far from giving the Lutheran Church, as +they organized it on this new field of labor, a form and character in +any essential point different from what the Lutheran Church was in the +Old World, and especially in Germany. They retained not only the old +doctrinal standards, but also the old traditional elements and forms of +worship; the church-year with its great festivals, its Gospel- and +Epistle-lessons, the Liturgy, the rite of Confirmation, preparatory +service for the Lord's Supper, connected with the confession of sins +and absolution. Their doctrinal position was unmistakably Lutheran, in +the sense in which Lutheranism is historically known, and is something +individual and distinct, and as such stands in opposition to Romanism on +the one hand, and to Zwingli, Calvin, and all other so-called Protestant +parties on the other. Those fathers were admitted to the ministry on +condition of their own declaration that they were in harmony with the +Confessio Augustana Invariata, and with all the other Symbolical Books +of the Lutheran Church. They demanded of those whom they admitted to the +sacred office the same condition. They allowed no organization or +constitutions of congregations without demanding the acknowledgment of +all the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church as the doctrinal +basis.'" (1,317.) In a letter dated June 14, 1774, and addressed to one +of the members of the Lutheran congregation at Charleston, S. C., some +of whose troubles and difficulties he had endeavored to adjust, +Muhlenberg stated the rule of his own personal course as follows: +"During the thirty-two years of my sojourning in America, time and again +occasions were given me to join the Episcopal Church, and to receive +four or live times more salary than my poor German fellow-members of the +Lutheran faith gave me; but I preferred reproach in and with my people +to the treasures in Egypt." (Jacobs, 298.) The confirmation form of the +Agenda contained the question: "Do you intend to remain true to the +truth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as you have learned to know it +and solemnly confessed it?" (G.,498.) + +46. Pledge of Pastors and Congregations.--In like manner as Muhlenberg +himself, all his colaborers and congregations were pledged to the +Lutheran confessions. The religious oath which Brunnholtz took reads, in +part, as follows: "I, Peter Brunnholtz, do solemnly swear and before God +Almighty do take an oath upon my soul . . . that I will abide by the +pure and unadulterated Word of God, as, according to the sense of the +Spirit, it has been diligently compiled from Holy Scripture against all +errorists in the three chief Symbols, and especially also in the true +Lutheran church-books, as the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, its +Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the two Catechisms of Luther, and in the +specific Formula of Concord, and that I will teach according to them." +(G., 283.) In similar fashion, Kurtz, Weygand, and all pastors solemnly +promised to discharge their office "according to the pure doctrine of +the apostles and prophets and all our Synodical Books." (_Lehre u. +Wehre_, 1856, 120.) According to the Agenda of 1748 the catechumens +promised faithfulness unto death "to the truth of the Evangelical +Lutheran Church which they had solemnly confessed." (488.) From the very +outset, Muhlenberg also had the congregations subscribe to articles in +which they confessed themselves to God's Word and the Lutheran Symbols. +(299.) The congregations, in agreement with the constitution of 1762, +pledged their pastors to preach "the Word of God according to the +foundation of the apostles and prophets and in conformity with the +Unaltered Augsburg Confession." True, the Pennsylvania Synod, at its +organization in 1748, did not draw up any special articles of +confession, yet, according to the Agenda which had been previously +adopted, it was regarded as self-evident that all pastors and +congregations subscribe to the Lutheran Symbols. The synodical +constitution of 1778, which was entered in the official book of record +begun in 1781, contained the following provisions: "As to his life and +teaching, every pastor is to be found in consonance with the Word of +God and our Symbolical Books." "In case complaints are lodged against +teachers, the investigation must concern itself with: 1. express errors +against the clear sense of Holy Writ and our Symbolical Books of +faith." (529.) Muhlenberg's devotion to the Lutheran doctrine appears +also from the interest and zeal which he showed in furthering the +institution of catechetical instruction and in establishing parochial +schools. One of the chief questions to engage the attention of the +first convention of Synod in 1748 was, "What is the condition of the +schools?" Yet, though Muhlenberg, in the manner described, stood for +confessional Lutheranism, it cannot be maintained convincingly that his +influence in this direction was sound and salubrious in every respect. +His was not the genuine Lutheranism of Luther, but the modified +Lutheranism, then advocated in Europe and Germany generally, notably in +Halle and the circles of the Pietists, a Lutheranism inoculated with +legalism, subjectivism, indifferentism, and unionism. Muhlenberg's +confessionalism was of the historic kind, that is to say, reverence for +the venerable Lutheran symbols rather than the living power of Lutheran +truth itself, directing, permeating, and shaping one's entire +ecclesiastical activity both as to teaching and practise. + + +MUHLENBBERG'S PIETISM. + +47. Subjectivism of Halle Pietists.--Following are some of the +aberrations of the Pietists in Halle: That doctrine was of minor +importance for, and as compared with, piety; that sanctification was not +contained in, but must be added to, faith; that repentance and +conversion were urged in such a manner as if man himself could force +them; that such Christians as could not tell of certain peculiar +penitential struggles and sensations of grace were regarded as +unconverted; that the assurance of salvation was not based on the +objective Word of God, but on subjective marks, notably such us were +found in those converted in the circles of the Pietists; that the +afflicted, instead of being comforted with the Gospel of the +unconditional pardon of the entire world, were bidden to feel the pulse +of their own piety; that such as did not manifest the symptoms of +conversion _a la_ Halle, were judged uncharitably and looked down upon +as not being truly converted; that the "revived" and "awakened" were +regarded as the real church in the Church, the _ecclesiolae in +ecclesia_. And what of the pietism of the Halle emissaries in +Pennsylvania? Dr. Mann declared concerning Muhlenberg and his + co-laborers: "Their pietism was truly Lutheran piety, a warm-hearted, +devout, practical Lutheranism." (Spaeth, 1, 318.) However, traces of the +morbid and infected Lutheranism cultivated by Pietists, were but too +apparent also in Muhlenberg and the associates carefully selected for +him by Francke and Freylinghausen in Halle. The piety for which they +strove so earnestly and zealously was, in more than one respect, neither +truly evangelical nor soundly Lutheran, but of a legalistic and +subjective nature. They delighted in evangelistic sermons designed to +convert men in the manner of Halle. They endeavored to ascertain who +were the truly converted in their congregations. As a standard they +applied their own experiences and as models the Halle converts. Instead +of immediately comforting terrified sinners with the full consolation of +the Gospel, they proved them "according to the marks of the state of +grace." _Graebner:_ "While Diaconus in Grosshennersdorf, Muhlenberg had +already published a polemical tract against Dr. Balthasar Mentzer, who +had attacked Pietism, and had pictured the time before the rise of +Pietism as a time of darkness, in which God had 'set up a true light +here and there, until at last the faithful servants of the Lord, the +sainted Spener, Francke, Breithaupt, Anton, and others arose' and 'again +brought forth the Bible.' At that time Muhlenberg advocated private +meetings for souls who had been 'awakened from the sleep of sin,' to +which the Burgomaster of Eimbeck referred when he sent word to +Muhlenberg 'to cease the pietistic conventicles, as they were against +the law of the land.'" (315.) + +48. Converts, Prayer-Meetings, Revivals.--Brunnholtz, whose work was +highly praised by Muhlenberg, says of his parishioners, whom, +nevertheless, he admitted to the Lord's Table, that, for the greater +part, they were "totally blind and dead," people who had not yet +experienced any "true change of heart"; that in present-day +congregations one must "be content with the gleanings while looking and +waiting for traces of divine activity, where, when, in whom, and +whether the Spirit can give a rich harvest." It is only too true, he +continues, "that the great multitude, both old and young, are still +buried in carnal-mindedness and in great ignorance, and stand in need +of a true conversion." "There are indeed a few, some also in my two +congregations, concerning whom I have the well-founded hope that they +have been awakened from the spiritual sleep of sin and are being drawn +to the Son by the Father." "With regard to my congregation here in +Philadelphia, I am not able to boast very much of the majority and of +the outwardly great number, since there is still much corruption among +them. The Lord, however, has granted me a small remnant, who have been +awakened by the Word, and who earnestly seek after the paths of peace, +permitting themselves quietly, but in earnestness, to be prepared for +the rest of God." Muhlenberg says: "True repentance and conversion +according to the Word of God is a difficult matter and a rare +occurrence." "We continued our labors upon the inner and outward +upbuilding of the Church, because a small, divinely sanctified seed was +noticed among them." What Brunnholtz and Muhlenberg looked for in the +communicant members of their congregations whom they regarded as +unconverted were, no doubt, the Halle symptoms. In 1748 submissiveness +to be guided by the pastor was numbered among these marks. When the +elders of the congregation in Lancaster opposed their pastor and +insisted upon their opinion, which was not wrong by any means, they were +admonished "to convert themselves with all their hearts, since otherwise +they could not properly wait on their office, and the pastor's trials in +the congregation would become too great." (319.) The "small remnant of +the converted" were nurtured by the pastors in "special prayer-meetings +in the houses." (320.) This was the practise of Brunnholtz in +Philadelphia. And Muhlenberg wrote from New York in 1751: "I have +learned that among the Reformed here there is a small body of awakened +souls who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is said that this +awakening was brought about by the younger of the two Reformed pastors. +My hostess also belongs to the Reformed congregation. Some years ago she +was so terrified by the opinion of the unconditional decree of God that +a hysterical malady set in with which she is still somewhat afflicted. I +searched for the marks of the state of grace. She answered sensibly, +which gave me hope that she is in a state of grace. My host desired me +to go into a private chamber with him and his weak spouse, and to pray +in secret, which we did." "At the close of the day my dear host again +desired that I pray with him and his wife in private, since she thereby +had experienced strength and relief on the former occasion. On the 30th +of July I was taken to the pious English merchant, who had some awakened +souls with him. They sang a psalm, read a chapter from a devotional +book, and urged me to pray at the close. After a time the dear souls +returned to their homes, and I remained with him till eleven o'clock and +employed the time in pleasant and edifying conversation with him and his +godly wife." "August 1, Saturday evening, I preached penitential sermons +both in the German and Dutch languages. . . . The church was well filled +on this occasion, and the parting seemed to touch and sadden the +awakened and well-meaning souls." Weygand continued the work in the +spirit of Muhlenberg, conducting "private hours" with the "awakened +souls," and finding particular delight in some souls who had been +awakened by Wesley. When Whitefield returned to Pennsylvania in 1702, +Dr. Wrangel entered into relations with him and began to conduct +prayer-meetings in a private house in the city, and when the room in +that house could no longer contain the people, Muhlenberg's congregation +granted him the use of their church. When not prevented by other duties, +Muhlenberg regularly attended these English devotional hours. The +congregational constitution of 1762 especially reserved for the pastor +the right to "conduct hours of edification, exhortation, and prayer in +churches and schools, on week-days or evenings, as necessity might +dictate, and as strength and circumstances might permit." (383. 425. +440. 485.) Dr. J. H. C. Helmuth was the first to report on a +revivalistic awakening in his congregation at Lancaster, in 1773. Later +on, 1811, Helmuth, in the name of the Pennsylvania Synod, wrote a +letter to Paul Henkel, then on his missionary tours in Ohio, warning +him not to participate in camp-meetings, "if he should come into contact +with similar aberrations from our Lutheran ways." But even at this time +Synod did not take a decided stand against revivalistic enthusiasm. +Already in the first decades of the nineteenth century reports, coming +out of the Synod, such as the following were heard: "Here the fire is +also burning." "Here we behold miracles of God's grace; everywhere we +find the wounded, the weeping, the moaning, and those who are praying. +Some cried out, 'My God, what shall I do that I may be saved?' Others +asked with tears, 'Can I still be saved?'" (549.) In 1810 the North +Carolina Synod resolved to have Philip Henkel try out a revival, since +such awakenings were also to be desired among Lutherans. During the +revival agitation from 1830 to 1850, the English Lutheran churches +caught the contagion in great numbers. They introduced emotional +preaching, the mourners' bench, protracted meetings, and, vying with the +fanatical sects, denounced as spiritually dead formalists all who +adhered to the old ways of Lutheranism. In its issue of March 21, 1862, +the _Lutheran Observer_ declared that the "Symbolism" of the Old +Lutherans in St. Louis meant the death of the Lutheran Church, which +nothing but revivals were able to save. (_L. u. W_. 1862, 152; 1917, +374.) Muhlenberg's Pietism had helped to prepare the way for this +Methodistic aberration. + + +MUHLENBERG'S HIERARCHICAL TENDENCIES. + +49. Government of and by the Ministers.--A clear conception of the +doctrines of the Church and of the holy ministry was something +Muhlenberg did not possess. Hence his congregations also were not +educated to true independence and to the proper knowledge and exercise +of their priestly rights and duties. Dr. Mann says of Muhlenberg and his +coworkers: "These fathers were very far from giving the Lutheran Church, +as they organized it on this new field of labor, a form and character in +any essential point different from what the Lutheran Church was in the +Old World, and especially in Germany." (Spaeth, _C. P. Krauth_, 1, 317.) +The pastor ruled the elders; the pastor and the elders ruled the +congregation; the synod ruled the pastor, the elders, and the +congregation; the College of Pastors ruled the synod and the local +pastor together with his elders and his congregation; and all of these +were subject to, and ruled by, the authorities in Europe. The local +congregations were taught to view themselves, not as independent, but as +parts of, and subject to, the body of United Congregations and Pastors. +The constitution for congregations simply presupposed that a +congregation was a member of, and subordinate to, Synod. (499.) This +appears also from a document signed by the elders of Tulpehocken and +Northkill (Nordkiel), August 24, 1748, two days before the organization +of the Pennsylvania Synod. In it the elders, in the name of the +congregations, state and promise: "In this it always remains presupposed +that we with the United Congregations constitute one whole Ev. Lutheran +congregation, which acknowledges and respects as her lawful pastors all +the pastors who constitute the College of Pastors (Collegium Pastorum) +and remains in the closest connection with them, as being our regular +teachers. . . . Accordingly, we have the desire to be embodied and +incorporated in the United Congregations in Pennsylvania, and to be +recognized and received by them as brethren and members of a special +congregation of the Ev. Lutheran Church, and consequently to share in +the pastoral care of the College of all the Rev. Pastors of the United +Congregations. In accordance herewith we most publicly and solemnly +desire, acknowledge and declare all the Rev. Pastors of the United +Church-Congregations to be our pastors and ministers (Seelsorger und +Hirten); we also give them complete authority to provide for the welfare +of our souls, how and through whom, also as long as, they choose. We +furthermore promise to regard the Rev. College of Pastors of the Ev. +Lutheran Congregations in Pennsylvania as a lawful and regular +presbyterium and ministerium and particularly as our pastors- and +ministers-in-chief, also to respect and regard, them as such, without +whose previously known advice and consent we do, order, resolve, or +change nothing; hence to have nothing to do with any [other] pastor, nor +even, without their previously known advice and consent, to undertake +anything in important church-matters with the pastor whom they have sent +to us; on the contrary, to approve of and with all our powers to observe +and execute whatever, in church-matters of our own and the +congregations, the whole Rev. College of Pastors will resolve, and +properly indicate and make known to us. Furthermore we promise to +recognize, receive, respect, honor and hear the teacher [minister] as +our lawful and divinely called teacher as long as the Rev. College of +Pastors will see fit to leave him with us; nor to make any opposition in +case they should be pleased for important reasons to call him away and +to put another in his place; moreover, to receive and regard his +successor with equal love and duty. We furthermore promise, if (which +God forfend) a misunderstanding or separation should arise between the +whole congregation or part of it and the teacher, or between members of +the congregation, to report this immediately to the Rev. College of +Pastors, and to await their decision, and to abide by it." (301 f.) +_Graebner:_ "One's indignation is roused when reading how the elders of +the Lancaster congregation were treated at the first synod. These men +defended the by no means improper demand of their congregation that such +as had fallen away to the sects and again returned should subscribe to +the constitution of the congregation before they once more were +recognized as members. In spite of the opinion of the assembly and the +utterly wrong admonition 'to leave it to their pastor,' the elders +'adhered to their opinion.' Immediately their conversion is questioned, +and 'all the elders who have not yet been thoroughly converted are +admonished to convert themselves with all their heart.' The remark of +the minutes, 'They kept silence,' conveys the impression that the rebuke +had been merited, and that the cut was felt." (320.) According to the +constitution for congregations, subscribed to October 18, 1762, by +Muhlenberg and Handschuh and 270 members of their congregations, the +grades of admonition and church discipline were: 1. admonition by the +preacher alone; 2. admonition by the preacher in the presence of the +elders and wardens; 3. expulsion before or by the whole church council. +(402.) The same constitution contains the provision: If any deacon or +elder who has been elected to perform this arduous duty refuses to +accept the office without sufficient reasons, "he is not to be excused +until he has made a considerable contribution to the church treasury." +(490.) At synod the pastors ruled supreme. The lay delegates, consisting +of the elders of the congregations, merely reported to Synod, when +asked, concerning the work, fidelity, and efficiency of their pastors, +the parochial schools, etc., and presented requests to Synod. But they +had no voice in her decisions. In the common assembly of the pastors and +laymen no vote was taken. The _Lutheran Cyclopedia_ says: "The +deliberations were exclusively those of the pastors, while the lay +delegates were present only to furnish the needed information concerning +local conditions and the fidelity of pastors." (493.) Furthermore, the +ministerium, the college of pastors, conferred the office and made +pastors through ordination, a rite considered essential to the ministry, +and without which no one was regarded a lawful and full-fledged pastor. +Thus, for instance, in the case of J. A. Weygand it was held that he was +given the right to perform all the functions pertaining to his office, +not by the call of the congregation which he had accepted, but by his +subsequent ordination. (432.) + +50. Obedience to Ministerium and Fathers in Halle.--In the ordination +the pastors were pledged to obey the Ministerium. In Weygand's call the +clause was embodied, "that he would submit to the investigation and +judgment of the United Pastors and the Venerable Fathers" in Halle. +(452.) The manner in which Kurtz was bound appears from the following +points of the "Revers" which he had to sign before his ordination in +1748: "2. To consider my congregation nothing but a part of the United +Congregations. ... 4. To introduce no ceremonies into the public worship +or into the administration of the Sacraments other than those which have +been introduced by the College of Pastors of the United Congregations, +also to use no other book of forms than the one which will be assigned +to me by them. 5. To undertake nothing of importance alone nor with the +assistance of the church-council, except it have been previously +communicated to the Reverend College of Pastors, and their opinion have +been obtained, as well as to abide by their good counsel and advice. 6. +To render a verbal or written account of my pastorate at the demand of +the Reverend College of Pastors. 7. To keep a diary and daybook and to +record therein official acts and remarkable occurrences. 8. Should they +call me hence, to accept the call, and not to resist." (305.) Before his +ordination Pastor J. H. Schaum had to sign a "Revers" and, with a +handclasp, seal the promise to the United Pastors that he as their +adjunct "would be faithful and obedient to them." To the congregations +the Ministerium did not only prescribe the liturgy, but appointed and +removed their pastors as they saw fit. Pastor Schaum's call to New York +was signed by the four pastors, Muhlenberg, Brunnholtz, Handschuh, and +Kurtz as their own vocation, in their own name, not in the name of the +congregation. (327.) The congregation at Lancaster desired Kurtz as +their pastor instead of Handschuh, whom the Ministerium was planning to +send to them. Muhlenberg, however, reports: "We bade them consider this +and demanded a short answer, giving them to understand that, if a single +one of them would be restive and dissatisfied with our advice and +arrangement, we would consent to give them neither the one nor the +other, but would turn to the other congregations still vacant and leave +the dust to them. They must consider it a special favor that we had come +to them first." Graebner comments on this as follows: "One can safely +say that there could be found to-day in all America not a single +Lutheran pastor or congregation who would consent to concede to a synod +such powers as Pastor Kurtz and the congregation at Tulpehocken yielded +to the 'United Pastors' in 1748." (321.) The superiors of the United +Pastors and their congregations were the "Fathers in Europe." They had +commissioned them, and to them they were responsible. All decisions of +Synod in doctrinal, liturgical, and governmental questions were subject +to the advice and approval of the authorities in Halle. When the church +council of the congregation in Philadelphia sent a humble petition to +the Synod in 1750, requesting permission to retain the services of +Pastor Brunnholtz for themselves, they received the answer: We have no +right to make changes without the previous knowledge and permission of +the "Fathers in Europe." (330.) In order to ordain Weygand, Muhlenberg +had to get permission from the "Fathers in Europe." (432.) Even such +pastors as Stoever and Wagner, who did not unite with the Ministerium, +were by Muhlenberg designated as "such as had run of themselves," as +"so-called pastors," who had "neither an inner nor an outward call," and +"who were concerned about nothing but their daily bread." And why? +Because, according to Muhlenberg, they had not "been sent" (by the +Ministerium or the Fathers); because they were not subject to a +consistory, did not render account of their pastorates, and would not +observe the same order with those who had come from Halle. (311.) +Concerning Weygand, who arrived in 1748, Muhlenberg reports: "I asked +him what he was now going to do in Pennsylvania, whether he intended to +be for us or against us; if he desired to be with us, it would be +necessary for us first to obtain permission from our Venerable Fathers. +If, however, he intended to be against us, he might come on, we +entertained no fear, as we had already encountered such as had run of +themselves. He answered, 'God forfend!' He would not side with the +Ministerium, to which men belonged like Valentine Kraft, Andrew Stoever, +Wagner, and the like, though they had requested him to join them; that, +on the other hand, he would not be in our way either, but rather go +elsewhere and begin a school at some place or another." (431. 322.) + +51. Constitution of 1792.--The new constitution, adopted by the +Pennsylvania Synod in 1792, though granting a modified suffrage to lay +delegates in all important questions, left the synod what it had been, a +body governed by the clergy. Dr. Graebner says: "It has been pointed out +how this [hierarchical] trait plainly appeared already when the +Pennsylvania Synod was founded; later on we meet it everywhere and in +all synods organized prior to the General Synod. According to the +conception generally prevailing a synod had its real foundation, its +essential part, not in the congregations, but in the preachers. This +idea governed their thinking and speaking. The 'preachers of the State +of Ohio united with some of the preachers in Pennsylvania living nearest +to them, and established a conference or synod of their own.' Some +'preachers west of the Susquehanna' were granted their petition of being +permitted to form a synod. In agreement herewith they preferred to speak +of a synod according to its chief and fundamental part, as a +'ministerium.' The constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod began: 'We +Evangelical Lutheran preachers in Pennsylvania and the neighboring +States, by our signatures to this constitution, acknowledging ourselves +as a body, name this union of ours The German Evangelical Lutheran +Ministerium in Pennsylvania and the neighboring States, and our +individual meetings A Ministerial Assembly.' Lay delegates of the +congregations, though admitted to the synodical conventions in +Pennsylvania and at other places, were nowhere recognized as members +having equal rights with the ministers. It was as late as 1792 that the +lay delegates obtained the right to vote in Pennsylvania, and even then +only with restrictions. In the affairs of greatest import (doctrinal +matters, admission of new members, etc.) they were privileged neither to +speak nor to vote. On this point the ministerial order of the +Pennsylvania Synod declared: 'Lay delegates who have a right to vote +shall sit together at one place in the assembly; they are privileged to +offer motions, and to give their opinion and cast their votes in all +questions submitted for decision and determination, except in matters +pertaining to the learning of a candidate or a catechist, to questions +of orthodoxy and heterodoxy, the admission to, and expulsion from, the +ministerium, and other, similar cases, for the ministerial assembly has +cognizance of such as these.' The constitution of the New York +Ministerium contained the same provision, chap. 7, Sec.4: 'Each lay +delegate shall have a right to take part in the debates of the House, to +offer resolutions, and to vote on all questions, except the examining, +licensing, or ordaining of candidates for the ministry, the admission of +ministers into the association or their exclusion from it, and the +discussion of weighty articles of faith or cases of conscience.' The +right of a layman to vote was regarded as grounded in that of the +minister, not the right of both in the congregation. When a minister +lost his vote, the delegate of the congregation lost his too." The +constitution of the Pennsylvania Synod provided: Such lay delegates only +"as have an ordained preacher or licensed candidate, and whose teacher +is himself present," shall have a right to vote. Accordingly, "no more +lay delegates can cast their votes than the number of ordained preachers +and licensed candidates present." Furthermore, the resolutions of Synod +were regarded as binding on the congregations. The constitution of the +Pennsylvania Ministerium provided, chap. 6, Sec.14: "Whereas the United +Congregations are represented in the synodical assembly by their +delegates and have a seat and vote in it, they accordingly are bound +willingly to observe the decisions and resolutions of the synodical +assembly and of the ministerium." Chap. 7, Sec.5 of the constitution of the +New York Ministerium read: "Every congregation which is represented by a +delegate in the synods of this body is bound to receive, and submit to, +the resolutions and recommendations of the ministerium, and to bear its +part of all expenses and services necessary for the welfare of the +associated churches generally and the advancement of the common cause. +And if any congregation perseveres in refusing such submission, it shall +no longer be entitled to a representation in this body." (693 ff.) + + +MUHLENBERG'S UNIONISM. + +52. Attitude toward Non-Lutherans.--In the _Lutheran Encyclopedia_ H. +E. Jacobs says in praise of Muhlenberg: "He knew how to combine width of +view and cordiality of friendship towards those of other communions, +with strict adherence to principle." (331.) Similar views had been +expressed by Dr. W. J. Mann at the First Free Lutheran Diet at +Philadelphia. In his "Theses on the Lutheranism of the Fathers of the +Church in This Country" he said: "Their Lutheranism did not differ from +the Lutheran orthodoxy of the preceding period, in the matter of +doctrine, but to an extent in the manner of applying it. It was +orthodoxy practically vitalized. They were less polemical and +theoretical. Whilst tolerant toward those of other convictions, they +were, however, neither indifferent nor unionistically inclined, and +never conformed Lutheranism to any other form of Christianity, though in +their days the pressure in this direction was heavy." (Spaeth, _C. P. +Krauth_, 1, 318.) However, though Muhlenberg's intentions undoubtedly +were to be and remain a Lutheran, his fraternal intercourse and intimate +fellowship with the Reformed, Episcopalians, Methodists, and other +denominations, was of a nature incompatible with true Lutheranism. He +evidently regarded the various Christian communions as sister churches, +who had practically the same divine right to exist and to propagate +their distinctive views as the Lutheran Church. Such was the principle +of indifferentism on which Muhlenberg based his practise of fraternal +recognition and fellowship. The natural and inevitable result of his +relations with the sects was that the free, open, and necessary +confession of Lutheran truth over against Reformed error was weakened +and muffled, and finally smothered and entirely silenced and omitted. +Nor can it be denied that Muhlenberg, by this unionism and +indifferentism, wasted and corrupted much of the rich blessings which +God bestowed, and purposed to bestow, on the American Lutheran Church +through him. Like Dr. Wrangel and the Swedes in Delaware generally, +Muhlenberg and his associates entertained the opinion that especially +the Lutherans and Episcopalians were not separated by any essential +doctrinal differences. Indeed, the Germans in Pennsylvania, like the +Swedes in Delaware, seem at times to have seriously considered a union +between the Episcopalians and the Lutherans. In brief, Muhlenberg's +attitude toward the Reformed and other sects was of a nature which +cannot be justified as Lutheran nor construed as non-unionistic in +character. + +53. The Facts in the Case.--From the very beginning to the end of his +activity in America the practise of Muhlenberg was not free from +indifferentism and unionism. Already on his voyage across the ocean he +had conducted services according to the Book of Common Prayer. (G., +322.) November 25, 1742, Muhlenberg had arrived in Philadelphia, and on +December 28th of the same year he wrote in his journal: "In the +afternoon I visited the English pastor of the Episcopal Church. He was +very cordial, and informed me that he had always been a good friend of +our Lutheran brethren, the Swedish missionaries, and desired to be on +friendly terms also with me." (267.) In 1743 Muhlenberg signified his +willingness to build a union church with the Reformed in case they were +willing to shoulder their part of the expenses. (272.) In 1751 he +reported from New York: "May 31, I visited Mr. Barclay, the most +prominent pastor of the Anglican Church, whom the Archbishop has +appointed commissioner of the province of New York. . . . The Dutch +Reformed have at present four pastors. I called on the oldest of them, +Mr. Du Bois, who received me cordially. Thereupon I visited the youngest +of the Dutch Reformed Ministerium. I visited also the third member of +this body, who, together with his wife, carried on a beautiful and +edifying conversation, so that I was truly delighted." (421.) "June 28, +I visited Mr. Pemberton, the pastor of the English Presbyterian +congregation, for the first time. He was much pleased with my short +call, and remarked that he had received a letter from Pastor Tennent in +Philadelphia, who had mentioned my name and advised him to cultivate my +company. Almost immediately he began to speak of the sainted Professor +Francke, saying that he had read several of his Latin works. Besides +this we had several other edifying conversations. Upon my departure he +asked me to visit him frequently." (422.) "July 22, my host and I drove +to the oldest Reformed pastor, who gave us a cordial reception. In the +afternoon we visited one of the elders of my congregation. In the +evening the younger Reformed pastor visited me." (425.) "On the 23d I +again preached in Dutch on the opening verses of the fifth chapter of +Matthew. The two Reformed pastors and a large number of people were +present." (425.) "August 17, I preached a penitential sermon and had +confession. The church was filled with Lutherans and Reformed, among +whom was also the younger pastor." (428.) "August 21, the members of +the congregation who live near by, several Reformed neighbors, and a +number of friends of New York assembled to hear my farewell sermon at +that place." (420.) "May 11, our Dutch congregation-members who live +near by, and some Reformed neighbors, were invited to attend an hour of +edification." (434.) "In the afternoon I bade farewell to the younger +Reformed pastor." (439.) "Early on Tuesday morning the Reformed Pastor +Schlatter came to my home and embraced me after the custom of our old +and unfeigned love." (439.) "In the evening I was called to the six +Reformed pastors who had arrived. I went and welcomed them with the +words: 'Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye +therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' July 30, I was taken +to the pious English merchant, as he had some awakened souls with him. +They sang a psalm, read a chapter from a devotional book, and in +conclusion urged me to pray. After the dear souls had returned to their +homes, I remained with him and had a very delightful and edifying +conversation with him and his pious wife." (440.) Muhlenberg praises the +Episcopalian Richard Peters as a "moderate theologian," possessed of a +"catholic spirit," and reports in 1760: "On the ninth and tenth of +August Mr. Richard Peters, secretary of the province and president of +the Academy in Philadelphia, visited me in Providence. In the morning he +attended our German service, with which, he said, he was greatly +delighted. In the afternoon he himself delivered a very solid and +edifying sermon to a large audience." (516.) After his removal to +Philadelphia, in 1761, Muhlenberg wrote: "On Monday, March 16, I +intended quietly to leave the city. However, Provost Wrangel as well as +some of the elders accompanied me, the former as far as the home of +Pastor Schlatter, where we were hospitably received and entertained for +the night." (380.) On the services conducted at Barren Hill on Easter +Monday, 1762, Muhlenberg reports as follows: "After my sermon Pastor +Schlatter added a short admonition, impressing upon them what they had +already heard." (517.) "On Monday, May 25, I went out in the forenoon to +visit some English friends. As I happened to pass by the English High +Church at eleven o'clock, I was called into the manse, where I found a +numerous assembly of the honorable English missionaries, who were +conducting their annual meeting. They took me to church with them, +showed me unmerited honor, and permitted me to attend their session as a +friend and witness." (380.) May 21, 1762, Muhlenberg noted in his diary: +"At noon I was with Mr. R., who related with joy how he, Mr. D., and +Provost Wrangel, together with the new Swedish pastor, Mr. Wicksel, and +the Reformed pastor, Schlatter, had yesterday, on Ascension Day, +attended the new church, where they had heard two splendid and edifying +sermons in German and English delivered to two large audiences." (383.) +October 16, 1763, he wrote: "Pastor Handschuh was called upon to bury a +Reformed woman who died in childbirth; he delivered the sermon in the +old Reformed church." On October 18, 1763, during the sessions of Synod, +and at its request, Whitefield preached in the pulpit of Muhlenberg. In +1767 J. S. Gerock dedicated his new church in New York, "assisted by +different High German and English Protestant pastors and teachers," H. +M. Muhlenberg and Hartwick also preaching. (444.) When Muhlenberg +dedicated his new Zion Church in Philadelphia, on June 25, 1769, the +professors of the Academy as well as the Episcopalian and Presbyterian +pastors were invited. The report says: "The second English pastor, Mr. +Duchee, opened the services by reading the English prayers, the +Prorector of the Academy offered an appropriate prayer, and Commissioner +Peters delivered a splendid sermon on the song of the angels, Luke 2, +whereupon Rector Muhlenberg, in the name of the corporation and +congregation, thanked the honorable assembly, in English, for their +favor and kindness in honoring this newly erected church and conducting +a service there." May 27, 1770, Whitefield, upon invitation, also +preached in the new church. (518.) Without a word of censure on the part +of his father, or of protest on the part of Synod, Peter Muhlenberg, in +1772, at London, subscribed to the Thirty-nine Articles and received +Episcopal ordination, in order to be able to perform legal marriage +ceremonies within his congregations in Virginia. Invited by the +Presbyterian pastor, W. Tennent, Muhlenberg, Sr., preached in his church +on two occasions while at Charleston, in 1774. (578.) At Savannah he +preached in the union church of the Reformed Pastor Zuebli, and in the +Lutheran church at Savannah he enjoyed the sermon of a Methodist pastor. +(518.) At the church dedication in Pikestown, in 1775, he preached in +German, and an Episcopalian, Mr. Currie, in English, etc. + +54. Whitefield in Muhlenberg's Pulpit.--"The pastors of the first +period of the Ministerium," says Dr. Jacobs, "were on friendly +relations with Whitefield. Dr. Wrangel interested himself in securing +for him an invitation to meet with the members of the Ministerium during +the sessions of 1763. In urging this proposition, Wrangel did not forget +the collections which Whitefield had made in Europe for the impoverished +Salzburgers. The presence of a man who had pleaded eloquently in English +pulpits for contributions to build Lutheran churches in Georgia, and +with that eminent success which Benjamin Franklin has noted in a +well-known passage in his autobiography, certainly deserved recognition, +even apart from Whitefield's services in awakening life in the Church of +England and in America. He was present at the examination of the +children of St. Michael's Church before the synod, made a fervent prayer +and an edifying address. On the next day he bade the synod farewell, and +requested the prayers of its members. The next year he was in attendance +at the funeral of Pastor Handschuh. In 1770 (May 27) he preached by +special invitation in Zion Church." (286.) In his report, dated October +15, 1763, on the synod of the same year, Muhlenberg himself says: "It +was also considered, whether we should not invite Mr. Whitefield and the +two well-disposed preachers of the Episcopal Church for Monday and +Tuesday, especially to the examination of the children. Among other +reasons Dr. Wrangel mentioned the fact that Whitefield had assisted our +poor suffering brethren in Georgia [Salzburgers] with collections. In +the evening Dr. Wrangel took me to Mr. Whitefield, and in the name of +the Ministerium we invited him together with the rector of the High +Church, who was present." October 16, Muhlenberg wrote: "After the +services Dr. Wrangel, Pastor Handschuh, and three trustees went to Mr. +Whitefield and asked him if on the morrow he would attend our +examination in the church, and speak a word of admonition to the +children. He answered: Yes, if his weakness permitted, and such were +God's gracious will." October 18, Muhlenberg wrote: "Mr. Whitefield +ascended the pulpit, and said a hearty and powerful prayer. Hereupon he +addressed himself to the children, delivering, with tears and deep +emotion, a condescending sermon about pious children of the Old and New +Testaments, together with some modern examples which he had himself +experienced, and finally enjoined upon parents their duties. After this +the children were examined by Dr. Wrangel, and then, in German, by me. +Whitefield, however, being very weak in body, and the church being very +crowded, we discontinued and closed with a piece of church music. The +pastors and other delegates, the elders and deacons took dinner in the +school, the old Mr. Tennent [Episcopalian], who was given the place of +honor, delighting us with edifying conversation." October 19, Muhlenberg +wrote: "At four o'clock Mr. George Whitefield visited our Ministerium in +the school, bidding us an affectionate farewell, and requesting us to +intercede for him before the throne of grace." Dr. Graebner remarks: "A +misstep as serious as this, admitting an errorist like Whitefield to the +pulpit of the local pastor and synodical president, such as was done at +this synodical meeting, had, at least, not been made before the time of +Wrangel." (383 ff.) Concerning his fellowship with Whitefield in 1770, +Muhlenberg made the following entries in his journal: "Friday, May 25... +Because I could not do otherwise, I wrote a few lines to Rev. Mr. +Whitefield, stating that if he would preach for me on next Sunday night +in Zion Church, it would be acceptable to me." "Sunday, May 27.... Early +in the evening Zion Church was filled with people of all sorts of +religion, both German and English. We two preachers went to Mr. +Whitefield's lodging and took him with us to the church, which was so +crowded that we had to take him in through the steeple-door.... He +complained of a cold contracted at the morning service, and consequent +hoarseness, but preached very acceptably from 2 Chron. 7, 1 on 'The +Outer and the Inner Glory of the House of God.' He introduced some +impressive remarks concerning our fathers--Francke and Ziegenhagen, +etc." (Jacobs, 287.) At the First Lutheran Diet, Dr. C. P. Krauth +explained: "Whitefield was an evangelist of forgotten or ignored +doctrines of the Gospel; a witness excluded from many pulpits of his own +church because of his earnestness in preaching the truth; in some sense +a martyr. This invested him with interest in the eyes of our fathers, +and his love to the Lutheran Church and his services to it made him very +dear." (287.) + +55. Experiencing the Consequences.--From what has been said it is +evident that Muhlenberg's relations with the sects was not without +reprehensible unionism. Even where, in such fellowship, syncretism was +not directly practised, the proper confession of Lutheran truth was +omitted. As with the Swedes in Delaware, fraternal intercourse proceeded +on the silent understanding that the sore spot of doctrinal differences +must be carefully avoided. For Lutherans, however, this was tantamount +to a denial of the truth. Muhlenberg set an example the influence of +which was all the more pernicious by reason of the high esteem in which +he was held by the members of Synod, who revered him as a father. As +late as 1866 the Pennsylvania Synod defended its intercourse with the +Reformed Synod "as a measure introduced by the fathers in the time of +Muhlenberg and Schlatter." And the unionistic practises indulged in by +the General Synod throughout its history cannot but be viewed as the +fruits of the tree first planted by the Halle emissaries. Nor could they +fail to see the abyss into which such unionism must finally lead, as it +was apparent already in the history of the Swedes. That Muhlenberg had a +presentiment whither things were drifting appears from his warning in +1783 to J. L. Voigt not to open his pulpit to Methodist preachers. +(516.) Indeed, Muhlenberg himself lived to see the first bitter fruits +of his dalliance with the sects. Four months before his end, June 6, +1787, Franklin College, at Lancaster, was solemnly opened as a German +High School and a union theological seminary for Lutherans, Reformed, +and a number of other sects. H. E. Muhlenberg delivered the sermon at +the opening exercises, which were attended by the entire synod. The name +of the institution was chosen in view of the virtues and merits of +Benjamin Franklin, who had contributed 200 Pounds. The College had +forty-five trustees, consisting of 15 Lutherans, 15 Reformed, and 15 +chosen from other communions. A director was to be chosen alternately +from the Lutheran and from the Reformed Church. Among the first trustees +were J. H. C. Helmuth and other Lutheran pastors. Two of the first four +teachers were Lutherans: Pastor H. E. Muhlenberg, the first director, +and Pastor F. W. Melsheimer. (515.) Dr. A. Spaeth, agreeing with W. J. +Mann, says: "Sooner or later the whole Lutheran Church of America should +and could unite on the position of Muhlenberg." (252.) We would not +detract from the merit of Muhlenberg. The slogan of the American +Lutheran Church, however, dare never be: "Back to Muhlenberg!" "Back to +Halle!" but "Back to Wittenberg!" "Back to Luther! Back to Lutheran +sincerity, determination, and consistency both in doctrine and +practise!" + + +TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND TEACHERS NEGLECTED. + +56. Parish Schools Cultivated.--One cannot possibly say too much in +praise of the missionary zeal on the part of Muhlenberg and his +associates and of their unceasing efforts to establish new mission-posts +and organize new congregations, and to obtain additional laborers from +Europe, notably from Halle. In a large measure this applies also to +their labors in the interest of establishing parochial schools. In fact, +wherever we read of early Lutherans in America, especially German +Lutherans, there we also hear the cry for schools and schoolteachers to +instruct the children. Comparatively weak efforts to establish schools +for their children were made by the Swedes in Delaware. At Christina a +teacher was employed in 1699; in Wicaco Teacher Hernboom began a school +in 1713. The minutes of the Pennsylvania Synod of 1762 record: "In the +Swedish congregations the Swedish schools have for several generations +been regrettably neglected; Dr. Wrangel, however, has started an English +school in one of his congregations in which the Lutheran Catechism is +read in an English translation." Acrelius, who had been provost of the +Swedes in Delaware, wrote in 1759: "Forty years back our people scarcely +knew what a school was. The first Swedish and Holland settlers were a +poor, weak, and ignorant people, who brought up their children in the +same ignorance." The result was great ignorance among the Swedes. +_Jacobs:_ "There seems to have been an entire dearth of laymen capable +of intelligently participating in the administration of the affairs of +the congregation until we come to Peter Kock. Eneberg found at Christina +that 'of the vestrymen and elders of the parish there was scarcely any +one who could write his own name.'" (104.) The Salzburgers had a school +in Ebenezer, and later a second school in the country. At the beginning +Bolzius and Gronau gave daily instruction in religion, the one four, the +other three hours daily. In 1741 Ortmann and an English teacher +instructed the youth at Ebenezer. The Palatinates in New York began +with the building, not only of a church, but also of a school in 1710, +the very year in which they had settled at West Camp. In New York there +was a schoolhouse as well as a church, and a "schoolkeeper" +(_Schulhalter_) was employed. When the teacher disappeared, the +schoolhouse was rented out, but Berkenmeyer taught the children in his +home for five months in a year, three times a week. Also in North +Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, etc., parish schools were established, +and the great need of them explained to and urged upon the people by the +conferences and ministers. In Pennsylvania there were several German +schools even before the arrival of Muhlenberg; as a rule, however, the +teachers were incompetent or immoral, or both. (247.) When, in 1734, +Daniel Weisiger, one of the representatives of the congregations at +Philadelphia, New Hanover, and Providence, made his appearance in Halle, +he asked for both an able and pious preacher and a schoolteacher. In the +beginning Muhlenberg himself took charge of the school. In January, +1743, he wrote: "Because there is a great ignorance among the youth of +this land and good schoolteachers are so very rare, I shall be compelled +to take hold of the work myself. Those who possibly could teach the +youth to read are lazy and drunken, compile a sermon from all manner of +books, run about, preach, and administer the Lord's Supper for hard +cash. Miserable and disgusting, indeed! I announced to the people [at +Providence] to send first their oldest children for instruction, as I +intended to remain with the congregation eight days at a time. On Monday +some of the parents brought their children. It certainly looks +depressing when children of seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty years +come with the Abc-Book. Yet I am delighted that they are possessed of so +great a desire to learn something," etc. "In Providence," Muhlenberg +wrote later on, "I have a splendid young man, who keeps school in +winter, and in summer earns his living by doing manual labor." In 1745 +J. N. Kurtz and J. H. Schaum were sent from Halle to take charge of the +youth. One of the chief questions to engage the attention of the first +convention of the Pennsylvania Synod, in 1748, was: "What is the +condition of the parish schools?" Brunnholtz reported: In his home at +Philadelphia, Schaum, whom he supported, had been keeping school for +three and a half years; since Easter there had been no school, as Schaum +was needed at another place; however, before winter would set in, he and +his elders would do their best in this matter. Germantown, continued +Brunnholtz, had two teachers, Doeling, a former Moravian, being one of +them, whose schools were attended by many children, some of them +non-Lutherans. Another school near Germantown with twenty children had +been closed for lack of a teacher. Muhlenberg stated: In Providence +there had been a small school in the past year. New Hanover had a fair +school, Jacob Loeser being teacher. Though a teacher could be had for +the filials Saccum and Upper Milford, there were no schools there. When +the elders hereupon explained that the distances were too great, Synod +advised to change off monthly with the teacher, and demanded an answer +in this matter in the near future. Kurtz promised to begin a school at +Tulpehocken in winter. Handschuh reported: In Lancaster the school was +flourishing; Teacher Schmidt and his assistant Vigera had instructed 70 +children. At the meeting of Synod in 1753 the pastors complained: "The +schools within our congregations are in a very poor state, since able +and faithful teachers are rare, salaries utterly insufficient, the +members too widely scattered and in most cases poor, roads too bad in +winter, and the children too urgently needed on the farms in summer." +(G., 496.) According to the report of the Synod held in 1762 there were +parochial schools in New Providence, one main school and several smaller +ones; in New Hanover; in Philadelphia, where a public examination during +the sessions of Synod exhibited the efficiency of the school; in Vincent +Township, a school with a good teacher and 60 children; in Reading, a +school with more than 80 children; in Tulpehocken, a school of 40 +children; in Heidelberg, a school of 30 children; in Northkeel, 30 +children, taught by Pastor Kurtz; in Lancaster, a school of 60 children +in summer and 90 in winter, etc. (495.) + +57. Dearth of Pastors and Schoolteachers.--From the very beginning one +of the greatest obstacles to the spread and healthy growth of the +Lutheran Church in America was the dearth of well-trained, able, and +truly Lutheran pastors and schoolteachers. And the greatest of all +mistakes of the early builders of the American Zion was the failure to +provide for the crying need of laborers by the only proper and effectual +means--the establishment of American seminaries for the training of +truly Lutheran pastors and teachers qualified to serve in American +surroundings. The growing indifferentism and deterioration of the +Lutheran ministry as well as of the Lutheran congregations was a +necessary consequence of this neglect, which resulted in an inadequate +service, rendered, to a large extent, by incompetent or heterodox +ministers. Dr. Mann was right when he maintained in his _Plea for the +Augsburg Confession_ of 1856, that the doctrinal aberrations of the +Definite Platform theologians were due, in part, to the fact that S. S. +Schmucker and other ministers had received their theological education +at Princeton and other non-Lutheran schools. The constantly increasing +need, coupled with the insufficient preparation of the men willing to +serve, led to the pernicious system of licensing, which for many decades +became a permanent institution in Pennsylvania and other States. In 1857 +the General Synod adopted the following report: "The committee on the +Licensure System respectfully report that the action of this body +requesting the several District Synods to take into consideration and +report their judgment on the proposed alteration or abolition of our +Licensure System has been responded to by fifteen synods. Out of this +number all the synods, excepting three, have decided against a change. +Your committee have to report the judgment of the Church to be decidedly +against any change of our long-established regulations on this subject, +and therefore deem it unnecessary to enter on the discussion of the +merits of the subject, in this report, and propose the adoption of the +following resolution: Resolved, That the great majority of our Synods +having expressed their judgment against any change in our Licensure +System, your committee be released from the further consideration of the +subject." (20.) The great dearth of ministers accounted for this action. +Even before 1727 there were in Pennsylvania more than 50,000 Germans. In +1751 Benjamin Franklin expressed his apprehension that "the Palatine +boors" would Germanize Pennsylvania. In 1749 more than 12,000 German +emigrants arrived. In 1750 the Germans in Pennsylvania numbered about +80,000, almost one-half of the inhabitants of the State. And more than +one-half of these were considered Lutherans. In 1811, however, when this +number had greatly increased, the Pennsylvania Synod reported only 64 +ministers, of whom 34 were ordained, 26 were licensed to preach, and 4 +were catechists. The number of ministers sent from Germany had been +augmented by such as had been tutored by pastors in America. Chr. Streit +and Peter Muhlenberg, for example, were instructed by Provost Wrangel +and Muhlenberg, Sr. Another pupil of Muhlenberg was Jacob van Buskirk. +H. Moeller, D. Lehman, and others had studied under J. C. Kunze. Jacob +Goering, J. Bachman, C. F. L. Endress, J. G. Schmucker, Miller, and +Baetis were pupils of J. H. Ch. Helmuth. H. A. Muhlenberg, who +subsequently became prominent in politics, and B. Keller were educated +in Franklin College. Later on some attended Princeton and other Reformed +schools to prepare themselves for the Lutheran ministry! To make matters +worse, the ministers who, toward the close of the eighteenth century, +came from Germany were no longer adapted for their surroundings, which +were rapidly becoming English. Besides, Halle and the other German +universities had grown rationalistic. According to the Report of the +General Synod in 1823 the Lutheran Church in America numbered 900 +churches with only 175 ministers. (9.) The same report states: "The +ancient and venerable Synod of Pennsylvania is rapidly increasing both +in members and in ministers, and we trust that much good is doing in the +name of our blessed Savior Jesus. From the minutes of the session of the +present year, which was held at Lebanon, it appears that the body +consists of 74 ministers, who have the pastoral charge of upwards of 278 +churches; that between the session of 1822 and 1823 they admitted to +membership by baptism 6,445, admitted to sacramental communion by +confirmation 2,750, that the whole number of communicants is 24,794, and +that there are under the superintendence of the different churches 208 +congregational schools." (11.) In 1843, according to the _Lutheran +Almanac_ for that year, the General Synod numbered 424 ordained and +licensed pastors and 1,374 congregations with 146,303 communicants. This +averaged three congregations for every pastor, some serving as many as +six, eight, or even twelve, giving the majority of the congregations one +service every four weeks, and to many only one service every eight +weeks. (_Kirchl. Mitt. 1843, No. 11.) In 1853 about 9,000 Lutheran +congregations in the United States were served by only 900 pastors. +(_Lutheraner,_ 10, 31.) Thus, as the years rolled on, the question +became increasingly pressing: "Where shall we find pastors for our +children?" Yet, while the Lutheran ministers, as a rule, were most +zealous and self-sacrificing in their labors to serve and gather the +scattered Lutherans, organize congregations, and establish parochial +schools, the early history of American Lutheranism does not record a +single determined effort anywhere to provide in a systematic way for the +training of preachers and teachers, such as were required by American +conditions and surroundings. We hear of an orphan home founded by the +Salzburgers in 1737 with three boys and eight girls, but nowhere of a +seminary turning out preachers and teachers for the maintenance and +upbuilding of the Church. It was in 1864, more than 120 years after the +first appearance of Muhlenberg in Pennsylvania, that the "Mother Synod" +of the Lutheran Church in America founded a seminary in Philadelphia. + +58. Hopeless Situation.--Several years after his arrival in America, +Muhlenberg realized the need and conceived the thought of founding an +orphan asylum with a preachers' seminary in connection; and in 1748 he +had acquired the ground for this purpose. In his letters to Halle he +repeatedly declared that it would be impossible to supply "the almost +innumerable multitude of German Lutherans" with pastors for any length +of time without a seminary in America. In one of these letters he says: +"An institution of this kind does not appear to be impossible. And it +seems to be necessary, because, as the past experience has taught us, +the calling of well-tried and able preachers from Germany, though +indeed of especial advantage, and needed also in the future, at least +for a considerable time, is connected with so many difficulties and +such great expense that it will be impossible to send over as many +from Germany as will be required in order to provide sufficiently for +all congregations." (504.) In 1769 Muhlenberg broached the matter to +the convention of the Ministerium, and Synod repeatedly considered the +question. But nothing materialized. Indeed, J. C. Kunze, who later +became Muhlenberg's son-in-law, finally did succeed in opening a +preparatory school; lack of funds, however, compelled him to close it +during the Revolutionary War. Kunze, Helmuth, and J. F. Schmidt now +pinned their hopes to the "German Institute" of the Pennsylvania +University, whose professors were Lutherans from 1779 to 1822. Helmuth +instructed every day from eight to twelve and from two to five o'clock. +But the "German Institute" did not turn out any Lutheran pastors, as +the curriculum contained no course in theology. Kunze writes: "It is +true, I was professor of Oriental languages in Philadelphia. However, I +had but six scholars, and I doubt if one of them will study theology. +And who would instruct them, in case they should desire to study +theology? We did not have time to devote a single hour to this subject +in Philadelphia." In 1785 Helmuth and Schmidt wrote: "There is nothing +we pastors desire more than a German educational institution, where +young men could be prepared directly for the service of the Church. To +be sure, we have part in the university located here, and also make use +of it. But languages and philosophy only are taught here, from which our +churches and schools derive no benefit." The hopelessness of the +situation is further revealed by the following letter which Helmuth +addressed to the synod assembled in Lancaster, Pa., 1784: "Brethren, we +are living in a sad time. My heart weeps over the awful decay of +Christendom. I readily acknowledge my share of the guilt that God seems +to hide His countenance from us, permitting the doors to stand wide +open, for the spirit of lies [rationalism] to enter and destroy the +vineyard of the Lord. You will learn from the report from Halle how the +swine are uprooting the garden of Christ in Germany. . . . Another +thing, dearest brethren, how shall we in the future supply our +congregations with pastors? Where shall we find ministers to meet our +need, which will increase from time to time! From Germany? Possibly a +secret Arian, Socinian, or Deist? For over there everything is full of +this vermin. God forbid! Under present circumstances, no one from +Germany! We ourselves must put our hands to the plow. God will call us +to account for it, and will let our children suffer for it, if we do not +wake up, and hazard something for the weal of immortal souls."--And +how did they now seek to provide help? Franklin College was founded in +conjunction with the German Reformed and other sects! Helmuth and other +Lutheran pastors were among the trustees of the institution. In an +appeal to the Lutheran congregations they say: "Where will you at last +find pastors and teachers if you do not send your children to college? +. . . Think you that your churches and schools can exist without them? +Either your children will have to content themselves with the poorest +kind of men, or else surrender language and religion, for which you have +laid the foundation, thus loading a great guilt upon yourselves. Dear +friends, German church-life can impossibly continue to exist as it has +hitherto existed in many places. In a few years the churches you already +have will be deserted. And what will then become of the increased number +of Germans dwelling in your midst? Are there not already a great number +of localities where the inhabitants hear no sermon for six to eight +weeks, and where the young grow up like the savages?" (515. 530.) The +Synod of 1818 also staked its hopes on Franklin College, which, however, +was eking out a pitiable existence, and finally became the exclusive +property of the Reformed. The dire need was apparent to all; the true +way out of the difficulty, however, no one saw nor wanted to see. And +the reason? Avarice on the part of the congregations, and a lack of +initiative and Lutheran earnestness and determination on the part of the +pastors. Nor did the seminaries founded in the first part of the +nineteenth century (Hartwick Seminary, established in 1815; Gettysburg +Seminary, in 1825; and the seminary of the South Carolina Synod, in +1829, at Lexington) meet the needs of the Church, either as to the +quantity or the quality of the candidates required for the Lutheran +ministry. In a letter addressed to the General Synod, assembled 1827 at +Gettysburg, Dr. Hazelius wrote: "Our [Hartwick] Seminary has been +established since the year 1815; during which time 11 young men have +received their theological education here, 10 of whom are now actively +engaged as laborers in the vineyard of our Lord; but one is prevented by +disease from participating in the labors of his brethren." (20.) All +told, 10 preachers produced by Lutheran seminaries in the United States +till 1827! Besides, in reality these seminaries were not Lutheran, but +unionistic and, in a degree, Reformed schools. + + +DETERIORATION OF MOTHER SYNOD. + +59. Descent Increasingly Swift.--The Lutheran Church has always held +that, as faith cannot and must not be coerced, the broadest tolerance as +to matters of conscience and religion should govern the policy of the +State everywhere. On the other hand, the Lutheran Church maintains that, +as truth is absolutely intolerant of error, and error is the direct +denial of truth, the Christian Church dare not in any shape or manner +give recognition to false teaching, but, on the contrary, is bound +always to reject it and to confess God's truth alone. Indifferentism as +to false doctrine and practise has ever proved to be the most deadly +foe of true Lutheranism, which, essentially, is but another name for +consistent Christianity. Lutheranism and doctrinal indifferentism are +just as destructive mutually as are truth and falsehood. Also the +history of the Pennsylvania Synod offers ample proof of this law. In the +days of Muhlenberg, Lutherans began to doubt that their doctrinal +position, as presented in the Lutheran Symbols, alone is of divine right +in the Christian Church, and alone in complete keeping with the +Scriptures. Then they began to defend themselves as also being in the +right and standing for truth; then, to apologize for their presence in +America; then, to be ashamed of themselves and publicly to deny the +distinctive tenets of Lutheranism; and, finally, to oppose its +doctrines, champion their counterpart, and practically embrace +sectarianism. Muhlenberg had lived to see the beginning of the end of +true Lutheranism when Franklin College was opened. The descent was +increasingly swift. In 1792 the confession of the Lutheran Symbols was +omitted in the new constitution of the Ministerium. And when, under the +influence of Quitman, the New York Ministerium became rationalistic, the +Pennsylvania Synod made no protest, administered no rebuke, and did not +sever its fraternal relations with it. Moreover, in a measure, they +opened their own doors to Rationalism; the German language was regarded +as being of greater import than faithful adherence to the Lutheran +Confessions; and refuge against the inroads of Rationalism and the +English language was sought in a union with the German Reformed and the +German Moravians. The utter degeneration of the Pennsylvania Synod +appears from the new Agenda, concerning which Synod resolved in 1818 +that it be introduced in all German congregations of the Ministerium. +In this Book there were embodied also forms designed to satisfy the +Rationalists. Two of the forms for administering the Sacrament of +Baptism contained no confession of faith. The confession to the +Lutheran Church was stricken from the form for Confirmation. In two of +the forms for the administration of the Lord's Supper the Union formula +of distribution was employed, _viz_., "Jesus says: Take and eat--Jesus +says: Take and drink ye all of it," etc. The second form contained the +following general invitation: "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and +Master, I say to all who acknowledge Him as their Savior, and are +determined to be His faithful followers: You are welcome at this Feast +of Love." (669.) The second formula for burials had a rationalistic +tang. And the formulas of ordination and licensure no longer demanded +adherence to the Lutheran Confessions. (669.) + +60. Intrenching behind the German Language.--The Christian Church, +hence also the Lutheran Church, views every language, Hebrew, Greek, and +Latin, as well as German and English, not as an end, but always as a +means only toward furthering her real end, the regeneration and +salvation of souls. According to Loehe's _Kirchliche Mitteilungen_ of +1845, No. 5, a German emigrant wrote shortly after his arrival in +America: "I cannot sufficiently thank God for the grace bestowed upon +me; for when I for the first time heard the language of Canaan +[English], the language of the New Jerusalem, I was immediately and +deeply moved by the Spirit of God and was caught like tinder." This was +certainly not the attitude of the German Lutheran ministers of the +Pennsylvania Synod, some of whom, going to the other extreme, were in +danger of viewing the English, as compared with the German, as +impregnated with the spirit of rationalism and infidelity. Riding, as it +were, on the language, rationalism had made its public entry into the +New York Ministerium. The real cause, however, was not the language, but +the indifferentism and unionism prevailing within this body, which long +ago had paved the way for, indeed, had itself bred, religious unbelief. +However, mistaking what was merely accidental and a concomitant for the +chief and real cause of the calamity in the New York Ministerium, +prominent German ministers of the Pennsylvania Synod, in order to guard +against a similar turn of events in their own midst, frantically opposed +the use of the English language in the Synod and her congregations, and +placed such emphasis on the German as made it an end _per se_ peculiar +to the Lutheran Church rather than a means employed wherever and +whenever the conditions call for it in order to attain her real and +supreme object--the saving of souls. Men like J. H. C. Helmuth and J. +F. Schmidt, in a way, identified English and Rationalism, German and +Lutheranism (that is to say, unionistic Evangelicalism). Lamenting the +inroads that Rationalism was making also in Lutheran congregations, they +wrote: "But now the Protestant churches are threatened by a terrible +storm, which is not the mere consequence of the natural course of +things, but a _sign of this time_, and it will soon despoil them of the +treasures of their Church together with all their happiness, unless +teachers and parents will counteract it with united strength. Almost +universally, especially in the cities and at the boundaries, they are +beginning to educate the children exclusively in the English language, +and, in a manner for which they will not be able to answer, to neglect +them as regards the German services. This is the consequence of the +indifference and the disregard of sound doctrine which, in the present +hour of great temptation, is spreading over the face of the earth." But +instead of stemming the tide of Rationalism by returning to Lutheran +faithfulness, they ignored the Lutheran Confessions and intrenched +themselves behind the German language and the "brethren" in the German +Reformed and German Moravian churches. The general church-prayer of the +Agenda of 1786, universally introduced in the congregations of the +Pennsylvania Synod, contained the passage: "And since it has pleased +Thee [God] to transform this State [Pennsylvania] into a blooming +garden, the deserts into delightful meadows, grant that we may not +forget our nation, but strive to have our dear youth educated in such a +manner that German churches and schools may not only be maintained, but +brought to a flourishing condition, ever increasing." (404.) In 1812 the +_Evangelisches Magazin_ appeared "under the auspices of the German +Evangelical Lutheran Synod," Pastors Helmuth and Schmidt being the +editors. Its avowed purpose, however, was not to represent Lutheranism, +but specifically to bolster up the cause of the German and to oppose the +introduction of the English language. The "Proposal to Synod" concerning +the new German paper states: "1. We want to aid the German language as +much as we can, because we are convinced that, with her language, our +Church will lose unspeakably much, and, finally, for the most part, even +her very existence under her [Lutheran] name. 2. We know the days of the +great apostasy in Europe. . . . Also this devouring monster could be +counteracted by a well-arranged _Evangelisches Magazin_." (544.) In 1813 +the _Magazin_ contained a series of articles urging the Reformed and +Lutherans to stand together against all attempts at introducing English. +The English language, it is said, is too poor to furnish an adequate +translation of the German prayers and hymns and books of devotion. +English congregations could not remain either Lutheran or Reformed, +because "our religious writings are all German." Revealing his Utopian +dreams, the writer continues: "What would Philadelphia be in forty years +if the Germans there were to remain German, and retain their language +and customs? It would not be forty years until Philadelphia would be a +German city, just as York and Lancaster are German counties. . . . What +would be the result throughout Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland in +forty or fifty years? An entirely German State, where, as formerly in +Germantown, the beautiful German language would be used in the +legislative halls and the courts of justice." (Jacobs, 330.) In 1805 the +Pennsylvania Synod resolved that "this Ministerium must remain a +German-speaking body"--a resolution which, especially in Philadelphia, +merely served to increase the humiliating and damaging language-strife +which had begun several decades before. + + +UNIONISM IN THE ASCENDENCY. + +61. Seeking Refuge with the Reformed.--In their struggle against +Rationalism and the English language the German Lutherans of +Pennsylvania sought help in an alliance with the German Reformed and the +Moravians. Fellowship between them became increasingly intimate. "Luther +and Zwingli," they boasted harmoniously, "opened the eyes of the world!" +"After all," they kept on saying, "there is but one faith, one Baptism, +one Supper, no matter how much the Lutheran and Reformed views on it may +be at variance." (539.) One of the objects of the German _Evangelical +Magazine_ evidently was to bring about a more intimate union between all +German Evangelical bodies. For this reason it was not called "Lutheran," +but "Evangelical." The preface to the first volume declared: "Our +undertaking would be greatly furthered if the brethren of other +communions would beautify it with their pious contributions, and also +solicit subscriptions. The brethren of the Moravian Unity have expressed +their satisfaction with this imperfect work, and assured us of their +abiding love in this point." (544.) In view of the celebration of the +Reformation Jubilee, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, at York, June 2, +1817, resolved that the German Reformed, Moravian, Episcopal, and +Presbyterian churches be invited by our President to take part with us +in the festival of the Reformation. In the following year the unionistic +and rationalistic Agenda characterized above was adopted by the +Ministerium. A committee was also appointed to confer with the German +Reformed, and to devise plans for utilizing Franklin College as a +theological seminary, in order to prepare ministers for both +denominations. In 1819, at Lancaster, Pa., Synod again considered the +proposition of founding a joint seminary at Lancaster, and appropriated +the sum of $100 for this purpose on condition that the Reformed Synod +set aside an equal amount. A committee was also appointed to confer with +a similar committee of the Reformed, and to draw up the necessary plans +for the seminary. During this time, especially in the period of 1817 to +1825, prominent men of the Pennsylvania Synod considered and advocated +plans for an organic "general union of our Church in this country with +the Evangelical Reformed Church." (685.) The Pennsylvania minutes of +1822 contain a notice according to which Endress and W. A. Muhlenberg +were among the chief advocates of this movement. Many, especially in the +Pennsylvania and North Carolina synods, regarded and zealously urged the +union of all Lutheran synods in a General Synod as a step in this +direction, _viz_., union with the Reformed. Graebner says: "When all +the Lutherans had been organized into one general body, and had grown +accustomed to marching together, one might also hope to experience that +when the command for the greater union would be given, the entire +Lutheran people, now freed from Lutheranism, would march in stately +procession to the goal of Schober's Morning Star [union of all +Evangelical churches]. This was evidently the policy and ulterior object +when, at Harrisburg, 1818, the Pennsylvania Synod resolved that 'the +officers of Synod be a standing correspondence committee to bring about, +if possible, a union with the other Lutheran synods.'" (685.) Viewed in +its historical context (the favorable deliberations and resolutions on +the union seminary, the union hymn-book, etc.), this resolution admits +of no other interpretation. When, therefore, the organization of the +General Synod seemed, in the opinion of many, to interfere with and +threaten the projected union with the Reformed, the Pennsylvania Synod +promptly withdrew from this body, in 1823. Says Jacobs: "The form of the +opposition [to the General Synod] was that the General Synod interfered +with the plans that had been projected for a closer union with the +Reformed, and the establishment of a Lutheran-Reformed theological +seminary. Congregations in Lehigh County petitioned the synod, for this +reason, to 'return to the old order of things'; and the synod, in the +spirit of charity [?] toward its congregations, in order that nothing +might interrupt the mutual fraternal love that subsisted between the +brethren, consented, by a vote of seventy-two to nine, to desert the +child which it had brought into being." (361.) + +62. Union Reformation Jubilee of 1817.--At York, June 2, 1817, the +Pennsylvania Synod resolved to celebrate the tercentenary of the +Reformation together with the Reformed, the Episcopalians, etc. +Invitations were extended accordingly. In his answer of October 14, +1817, Bishop William White of the Episcopal Church wrote to Pastor +Lochman, expressing his delight at the prospect of taking part in the +prospective celebration. He said: "I received the letter with which you +honored me, dated July 23, 1817. In answer I take occasion to inform you +that it will give me great satisfaction to join with the reverend +ministers and with the whole body of the Lutheran Church, in this city, +on the day appointed, in returning thanks to Almighty God for the +beginning of the blessed Reformation in the three-hundredth year +preceding, and in raising up for that purpose the great and good man who +has transmitted to your Church his name, and whose praise is in all the +churches of the Reformation. This occasion must, of course, be the more +welcome to me on account of the agreement in doctrine which has always +been considered as subsisting between the Lutheran churches and the +Church of England, the mother of that of which I am a minister." +(Jacobs, 356.) In his sermon at Frederick, Md., D. F. Schaeffer declared +that it is noteworthy that both Luther and Calvin "were agreed on all +points, with the exception of one which was of minor importance." The +congregation sang according to the tune of "Wie schoen leuchtet der +Morgenstern": "One hundred years, thrice told this day, By heavenly +grace truth's radiant ray Beamed through the Reformation; Yea, glorious +as Aurora's light Dispels the gloomy mists of night, Dawn'd on the world +salvation. Luther! Zwingli! Joined with Calvin! From error's sin The +church to free Restored religious liberty." In Yorktown a German cantata +was sung from which we quote, according to the original, as follows: +"Chor: Heute vor dreihundert Jahr, Strahlte Licht aus Gottesthron, Durch +die Reformation. Luther, Deutschlands hoechste Zier, Stund der Kirche +Jesu fuer. Solo: Aber welch ein Widerstand! Solo: Luther war mit Gott +verwandt. Duetto: Seiner Lehre heller Schein, Drang in tausend Herzen +ein, Drang in tausend Herzen ein. Pause: Zwingel kam Und Calvin, Traten +auf in Christi Sinn; Duetto: Und verbreiten Licht und Heil Segensvoll in +ihrem Teil. Ganzer Chor: Millionen feiern heut', Dankbar froh' im +hoeh'ren Ton, Dieses Fest dem Menschensohn." (G., 665.) + +63. Reformed and Lutheran Minutes on Lancaster Seminary.--From 1817 to +1825 the Synod of Pennsylvania and the German Reformed Church were +engaged in devising plans and adopting measures looking to the +establishment of a united theological seminary for the education of the +ministers of both the Reformed and Lutheran Churches. According to the +minutes of the two bodies the respective actions taken were as follows: +Minutes of the German Reformed Synod, 1817: "The committee on the +founding of a literary institution reported further, recommending that +two committees be appointed, consisting of three persons each, the one +to confer with a committee of the New York Synod [Dutch Reformed] and +the other with the Lutheran Synod. Resolved, That the Rev. Messrs. Pomp +and Saml. Helffenstein be the committee to the New York Synod, and the +Rev. Messrs. Hendel, Hoffmeier, and Wack, Sr., the committee to the +Lutheran Synod." (11.) Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, 1818: "At this +point, Revs. H. Hoffmeier, E. Wack, and W. Hendel appeared before the +synod as a committee from the Reformed Synod of this State, and +presented the following communication in writing, namely: An extract +from the minutes of the Reformed Synod held at York, September 9, 1817. +Mr. Hoffmeier having explained this whole subject more particularly to +Synod, it was thereupon resolved, That a committee be appointed to +confer with our esteemed brethren of the Reformed Synod in respect to +the subject under consideration. The Messrs. J. George Schmucker, +Conrad Jaeger, and H. A. Muhlenberg were named as this committee." "The +committee appointed yesterday to confer with the committee of the +Reformed Synod, and to make inquiry as to the way in which a union +seminary for the education of young men for the ministerial office in +both churches could be best established, presented the following report: +'1. That they have attended to the duty assigned them, and have had +under consideration the fact that in the city of Lancaster there is an +institution already in existence, known by the name of Franklin College. +... 2. That the committee greatly regret that this institution has +hitherto been neglected, and consequently the object to which it was +originally devoted by the State has altogether failed of attainment. 3. +That the committee has examined the charter of said institution with +care, and finds it necessary to recommend that the president thereof be +instructed to make arrangements for holding a meeting of all its +trustees. 4. That Messrs. Hoffmeier and Endress see to it that such a +meeting be held. 5. That a committee be appointed by both synods, who +shall conjointly prepare a plan setting forth how this institution can +be best adapted to the accomplishment of the purpose aforementioned.' +The above report was received with general favor, and Messrs. Schmucker, +Lochman, Geissenhainer, Sr., Endress, and Muhlenberg were appointed the +committee provided for in section five of the report." (7. 8.) Minutes +of German Reformed Synod, 1818: "The committee which was appointed to +confer with a committee of the Lutheran Synod in reference to the +founding of a theological school reported that they attended the +Lutheran Synod of last year, and were received in a very fraternal +manner; and that that Synod has appointed a committee to confer after +the present meeting with a committee of the Reformed Synod on any +subjects relating to the school, and to submit something definite; and +they proposed that a similar committee be appointed. The proposition of +the committee was accepted, and Revs. J. W. Hoffmeier, F. Herman, Sr., +Wm. Hendel, Thos. Pomp, and S. Helffenstein were appointed such +committee." At the same meeting a committee which had been appointed to +confer with a similar committee from the Reformed Dutch Church, in +reference to uniting with it in establishing a theological seminary, +reported, stating that, inasmuch as negotiations were in progress with +reference to uniting with other Germans in Pennsylvania, who have a +common interest in property voted to them by the State Legislature for +the support of a German institution [at Lancaster], nothing definite +could at present be done in the matter. (6.) Minutes of Pennsylvania +Synod, 1819: "Pastor Endress made a verbal report in behalf of the +committee appointed the previous year to confer with a committee of the +Reformed Synod in regard to the matter of Franklin College in Lancaster. +Resolved, That the sum of $100 be appropriated out of our synodical +treasury toward the support of the college in Lancaster, provided the +same be done by the Reformed Synod. Resolved, That a committee be +appointed on our part who shall, at the next meeting of the Reformed +Synod in Lancaster, in conjunction with a committee from this latter +body, draw up a plan for a theological seminary. Resolved, That the +Pastors Schmucker, Endress, Lochman, Muhlenberg, and Ernst constitute +said committee. Resolved, That, through Mr. Endress, fifty copies of the +minutes of synod of this year be forwarded to the Reformed Synod, +shortly to convene at Lancaster." (15.) Minutes of Reformed Synod, 1819: +"Proposed and resolved that a committee of five be appointed to confer +with a committee of the Lutheran Synod in reference to the founding of a +union theological institution, with authority to devise the plan +necessary for the purpose. The committee consists of Revs. Hoffmeier, +Hendel, Pomp, Becker, and Saml. Helffenstein." "The committee of the +Lutheran and Reformed Synods to consider the matter relating to a +theological seminary have prepared a plan for this purpose, and +carefully examined the same, and found that such a theological seminary +would be not only exceedingly useful for our youth preparing for the +ministerial office, but also can easily be established. The committee, +therefore, submit this plan to the Rev. Synod, and, at the same time, +request the Rev. Synod to have the plan printed, in order that it may be +circulated among the members of both synods, to afford each one an +opportunity to examine it carefully for himself, because the time for +this purpose is at present too short. The committee of the Rev. Lutheran +Synod proposes to pay half the expenses of printing, and recommended +that two hundred copies thereof be printed." "It was proposed and +resolved, that fifty copies of the proceedings of the present Synod be +transmitted to the Rev. Lutheran Synod as an evidence of our gratitude +and mutual respect." (7. 19.) Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, Lancaster, +May 28, 1820: "The president of synod made a verbal report in behalf of +the committee that had been appointed, in conjunction with a committee +of the Reformed Synod, last September at Lancaster to draw up and +publish a plan for a union seminary. From this report it appears that +the members of our committee were not all present; that the joint +committee did actually prepare a plan; that the printing of the same +was entrusted to Revs. Endress and Hoffmeier, but that this duty was not +attended to. Dr. Endress arose and made a long speech in defense of +himself, referring to a number of local reasons and certain +misunderstandings that influenced him to omit the publication of the +plan. To this it was replied that the reasons given by him were not +altogether satisfactory. Candidate Schnee arose and gave synod an +account of an institution located at Middletown, Pa., known as 'The +Fry's Orphans' Home.' He awakened the joyful hope that by the blessing +of the Lord it might be possible at some future time to establish at +that place a theological seminary for the Lutheran Church in this +country. Dr. Lochman arose and made a powerful speech in favor of +establishment of a theological seminary, and of supporting the college +at Lancaster. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to attend the +meeting of the Reformed Synod shortly to be held at Hagerstown; that +Revs. D. F. Schaeffer and B. Kurtz constitute said committee." (19. 20.) +Minutes of Pennsylvania Synod, Chambersburg, 1821: "Revs. Hoffman and +Rahausen, deputies of the German Reformed Synod, took seats as advisory +members. Resolved, That Rev. Mr. Denny, pastor of the Presbyterian +church at Chambersburg, be acknowledged as an advisory member of this +synodical assembly. The committee to examine the protocol of the German +Reformed General Synod reported that they examined said protocol, and +found the following items which may require to be considered at this +meeting: 1. That Messrs. Schaeffer and Kurtz, appointed as our delegates +to the Reformed Synod at our last year's meeting, were received as +advisory members by the Reformed Synod. Resolved, That this Synod sees +in this action evidence of the love of those whom we acknowledge as +brethren, and that it is prepared always, as heretofore, to reciprocate +this kindness. 2. That Revs. Hoffman and Rahausen were appointed +delegates by the Reformed Synod to attend our present synodical meeting. +Resolved, That Pastors Muhlenberg and Knoske attend the next meeting of +the Reformed Synod at Reading as delegates from this Synod." (6. 16 f.) +In 1820 the Pennsylvania Synod entered upon its wild scheme to found a +seminary at Frederick, Md., with Dr. Milledoller as professor, with +$2,000 salary. This stopped all other negotiations for the time being. +Dr. Milledoller held the call under consideration two years, and then +declined. He went to New Brunswick immediately after that, and Col. +Rutger's money went with him to that place, which, it was understood, +would go to whatever place Dr. Milledoller would go. (_Lutheran +Observer_, Sept., 1881.) The fact that nothing tangible resulted from +the movement of uniting the Lutheran and Reformed synods and of +establishing a union seminary was not due in the least to a growing +confessionalism on the part of the Pennsylvania Synod, for at that time +such was not in evidence anywhere. + + +TYPICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF SYNOD. + +64. C. F. L. Endress Denounces Form of Concord.--Among the better +class of Lutherans prominent in the Pennsylvania Synod during the +decades immediately preceding and following the year 1800 were such men +as J. B. Schmucker, H. A. Muhlenberg, Lochman, Probst, and Endress. In +the Proceedings of the General Synod, 1827, Lochman and Endress are +spoken of as belonging to "the Fathers of our General Synod, and able +ministers of the Lord Jesus," as the "oldest and most respected members" +of the Synod of East Pennsylvania, as "men who were among the brightest +ornaments of the Lutheran Church, and whose departure is lamented no +less by the synods in general than by that to which they more +immediately belonged." (12. 21.) Yet they, too, were absolutely +indifferent as to the Lutheran Symbols. Dr. C. F. Endress, a pupil of +Helmuth, a leading spirit in the Pennsylvania Ministerium and most +prominent in the unionistic transactions with the German Reformed +Church, declared his theological position as follows: "We have the +Formula Concordiae, in which expulsion, condemnation, anathema, were, +in the most liberal manner, pronounced and poured forth against all +those who were of a different opinion, which, however, thank God, was +never received universally by the Lutheran Church. I would suffer both +my hands to be burned off before I would subscribe that instrument." "As +we have hitherto received the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechism +and Melanchthon's Apology, so I have no objection that they should be +kept in reverence and respect as our peculiar documents, but not to +overrule the Bible. For by this shall the Lutheran Church forever +distinguish itself from all other religious connections, that the Bible, +the Bible alone, shall remain the only sun in Christ Jesus, and that we +rest upon human declarations of faith only in so far as they receive +their light more or less from that great light." "What shall I answer on +the question, What is the confession of faith of the Lutheran Church? +Answer: I will not dictate to you what you should say; but if I should +be asked, I would say, first, and principally, and solely, and alone: +The Holy Word of God contained in the writings of the prophets and +apostles. The confessions of faith by the Church of the first four +centuries we hold in conformity with the Bible, and receive them, as far +as I know, universally in the Lutheran Church. The confession of the +princes of the German Empire presented at the Diet of Augsburg is held +by all in honor and respect, and when we compare it with other human +confessions, we give it a decided preference. Luther's Catechism is used +in all Lutheran churches, and no catechism of other religious +denominations has that honor. The so-called Apology is in possession of +very few Lutheran ministers; but whether they have read it or not, they +consider it a good book. The Smalcald Articles I have often read. In +Germany they are taken up among the Symbols. I know not whether any +other divine in the Lutheran Church in America ever read it except +Muhlenberg and Lochman. In short, we hold firmly and steadfastly to our +beloved Bible, when the one holds to Calvin, the other to Zwingli, a +third to the Heidelberg Catechism, a fourth to the Confession of the +Synod of Dort, a fifth to the Westminster Catechism, a sixth to the +Common-prayer Book, a seventh to the Solemn League and Covenant, and the +eighth to the darkened and depraved reason per se, the ninth to reason +under the name of Holy Spirit, and the tenth to the devil himself in the +form of an angel of light. But I will cleave to my beloved Bible, and +hereby it shall remain. Amen." (_Luth. Observer_, Sept., 1881.) + +65. Rev. Probst Defending Union.--The _Lutheran Observer_, September, +1881, from whose columns we quoted the statements above concerning Dr. +Endress, continues: Rev. Probst, who was a member of the Pennsylvania +Synod from 1813 until his death, and well acquainted with the sentiments +of his brethren, in a work published in 1826 for the express purpose of +promoting a formal and complete union of the German Reformed and +Lutheran churches in America, entitled, _Reunion of the Lutherans and +Reformed_, says that there was no material difference of doctrinal views +between them, the Lutherans having relinquished the bodily presence, and +the Reformed unconditional election. Speaking of the supposed obstacles +to such union, he remarks: "The doctrine of unconditional election +cannot be in the way. This doctrine has long since been abandoned; for +there can scarcely be a single German Reformed preacher found who +regards it as his duty to defend this doctrine. Zwingli's more liberal, +rational, and Scriptural view of this doctrine, as well as of the Lord's +Supper, has become the prevailing one among Lutherans and Reformed, and +it has been deemed proper to abandon the view of both Luther and Calvin +on the subject of both these doctrines." (74.) "The whole mass of the +old Confessions, occasioned by the peculiar circumstances of those +troublous times, has become obsolete by the lapse of ages, and is yet +valuable only as matter of history. Those times and circumstances have +passed away, and our situation, both in regard to political and +ecclesiastical relations, is entirely changed. We are therefore not +bound to these books, but only to the Bible. For what do the unlearned +know of the Augsburg Confession, or the Form of Concord, or the Synod of +Dort?" (76.) "Both churches [the Lutheran and the Reformed] advocate the +evangelical liberty of judging for themselves, and have one and the same +ground of their faith--the Bible. Accordingly, both regard the Gospel +as their exclusive rule of faith and practise, and are forever opposed +to all violations of the liberty of conscience." (76.) "All enlightened +and intelligent preachers of both churches agree that there is much in +the former Symbolical Books that must be stricken out as antiquated and +contrary to common sense, and be made conformable with the Bible, and +that we have no right to pledge ourselves to the mere human opinions of +Luther, or Calvin, or Zwingli, and that we have but one Master, Christ. +Nor is any evangelical Christian bound to the interpretations which +Luther, or Calvin, or any other person may place on the words of Christ; +but each one has the right to interpret them according to the dictates +of his own conscience." (80.) "Inasmuch as all educated ministers of the +Lutheran and Reformed churches now entertain more reasonable and more +Scriptural views on those doctrines which were formerly the subjects of +controversy, what necessity is there of a continued separation?" (81.) + + +SYNOD'S UN-LUTHERAN ATTITUDE CONTINUED. + +66. Decades of Indifferentism.--After the abortive efforts at +establishing a union seminary and uniting with the Reformed organically, +and after her withdrawal from the General Synod in 1823, the +Pennsylvania Synod passed through a long period of indifferentism before +the spirit of Lutheran confessionalism once more began to manifest +itself, chiefly in consequence of influences from German Lutheran +immigrants and by the activity of such men as Drs. Krauth and Mann. +However, even till the middle of the nineteenth century the symptoms of +reviving Lutheranism in the Pennsylvania Synod were but relatively weak, +few, and far between. The Agenda of 1842 still contained the union +formula of distribution in the Lord's Supper and revealed a unionistic +and Reformed spirit everywhere. A form of Baptism savors of Pelagianism +and Rationalism. The Agenda does not contain a single clear and +unequivocal confession of the Lutheran doctrine of the real presence. +The second form for celebrating the Lord's Supper states: "As we are +sensual creatures, He [Christ] has appointed two external, visible +elements, bread and wine, as tokens (Pfaender), as it were, in order by +them to assure us that with, in, and under them (mit, bei und unter +denselben) we should become partakers of His body and blood, that is, +of His entire grace of atonement. As surely, therefore, as a penitent +communicant receives the blessed bread and the blessed cup, so surely +he, in a manner invisible, will also receive from his Savior a share in +His body and blood." (_Lutheraner_ 1844,47; 1846,61.81.) In 1848 Rev. +Weyl, of Baltimore, the arch-enemy of confessional Lutheranism and +unscrupulous slanderer of Wyneken, Reynolds, etc., declared in his +church-paper that within the whole Synod of Pennsylvania there were +hardly ten preachers who, in their faith and teaching regarding the +doctrine of the Lord's Supper, deviated from the views of the General +Synod. Dr. Walther remarked with respect to this statement, which he was +inclined to regard as mendacious: "Since the [Pennsylvania] Synod was +not ashamed to conclude its Centennial Jubilee by declaring this +miserable paper [of Weyl] its organ and thereby publishing to the world +its spiritual death [as a Lutheran Church], it serves her right to have +this man write her epitaph." (_L_. 1848, 31.) Concerning the new +hymn-book of the Pennsylvania Synod, Rev. Hoyer wrote in _Kirchliche +Mitteilungen:_ "After a closer inspection I found that this hymn-book +was compiled for three classes of people, Orthodox, Unionists, and +Supranaturalists. Here we find, besides 'Es ist das Heil uns kommen +her,' also 'Religion, von Gott gegeben,' as well as a hymn for the +national holiday, the 4th of July, imploring the Lord to give us the +spirit of Washington." (1850, 91; _L_. 7, 65.) _Der Lutherische Herold_, +which, edited by H. Ludwig, appeared since April, 1851, in New York, +represented the class of German Lutherans within the Ministeriums of +Pennsylvania and New York then most advanced in their protestations of +Lutheranism. But what kind of Lutheranism it was that Ludwig and his +paper advocated appears from the following quotation: "We expect little +sympathy from the Old Lutherans; yet, our endeavor shall always be to +banish from our columns everything that might increase the breach, _for +in doctrine we are one, we only differ in the form, of the dress_, that +is to say, in practise, and in the mode and manner of spreading the +doctrine." (_L._ 1, 151; 8, 143.) In January, 1855, the same paper was +complimented by the _Reformierte Kirchenzeitung_ as follows: "The +_Lutherische Herold_, published by H. Ludwig, endeavors to mediate +between the two extremes in the Lutheran Church of this country, and +represents the milder Melanchthonian conception of the Sacraments. We +read the _Herold_ with joy, and wish it a recognition and encouragement +commensurate with its services." (_L_. 11, 102.) As late as 1851 the +Pennsylvania Synod, according to the report of the convention in that +year, 51 ministers being present, maintained fraternal intercourse with +the Reformed, United, Methodists, and Moravians. She admitted Reformed +and Presbyterian preachers as advisory members. Synod had also received +a Reformed minister as such into her ministerium. She assembled in +Reformed and Presbyterian churches for union services, and attended the +service in a Methodist church. She also adopted the resolution to enter +into more intimate relations with the Moravians. (_L_. 1852, 138.) In +the following year Synod returned to its original confessional position +in the days of Muhlenberg, though in a somewhat equivocal manner. +(Spaeth, _W. J. Mann_, 171.) In 1853, however, at the same time +appealing to all Lutheran synods to follow her example, the Pennsylvania +Synod resolved, by a vote of 54 to 28, to reunite with the General +Synod, then rapidly approaching its lowest water-mark, doctrinally and +confessionally, its leading men openly and uninterruptedly denouncing +the doctrines distinctive of Lutheranism and zealously preparing the way +for the Definite Platform as a substitute for the Augsburg Confession. +Indeed, the Pennsylvania Synod added to its resolution on the reunion +that, "should the General Synod violate its constitution, and require of +our Synod assent to anything conflicting with the old and +long-established faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, then our +delegates are hereby required to protest against such action, to +withdraw from its sessions, and to report to this body." (Penn. Minutes +1853, 18.) However, the action as such was tantamount to a violation and +denial of the Lutheran Confession. Dr. Walther remarked with respect to +the union: "This event will be hailed by many with great joy, a joy, +however, that we are unable to share in in any measure. . . . For who +does not see that the Synod [of Pennsylvania], by entering into +ecclesiastical union with a body notoriously heterodox, has already +departed from, and actually denied, the good Confession of our Church?" +(_L_. 9, 122.) Confirming the correctness of this statement, the +Pennsylvania Synod, thirteen years later, when the ranks of her +conservatives had materially increased, severed her connection with the +General Synod. + +67. Dr. Sihler's Estimate.--In 1858 Dr. Sihler wrote concerning the +Pennsylvania Synod: "When the writer of this article, more than fourteen +years ago, came to this country and gradually informed himself on the +American conditions of the Lutheran Church, he had to observe with +heartfelt sorrow that the Pennsylvania Synod, then still undivided and +very numerous, in whose territory or vicinity the leaders of the +so-called Lutheran General Synod have their field of labor was so +completely indifferent toward the shameful apostasy of the latter from +the faith and the Confession of the Lutheran Church. For in vain one +looked for a strong and decided testimony in any of the synodical +reports of this church-body against the pseudo-Lutherans of the General +Synod. Nor was there to be found within the Pennsylvania Synod, or in +other synods not belonging to the General Synod, so much earnest zeal +and love for the truth of God's Word and of the Confessions of the +Church, nor did it have any men among its theologians who were able to +expose thoroughly in the English language the error, the hollowness and +shallowness of the miserable productions of a Schmucker and Kurtz, who +were made Doctors of Theology by God in His wrath and by Satan as a joke +and for the purpose of ridicule. On the contrary, they seemed to be not +a little impressed with the theological learning and dogmatical science +of these two so-called Doctors, who, in rare self-satisfaction, found +life and complete happiness in Reinhard's supernaturalism. In short, +these open counterfeiters, Calvinists, Methodists, and Unionists, these +base traitors and destroyers of the Lutheran Church, were and always +remained the dear brethren, who contributed not a little to the +prosperity and welfare of the dear 'Lutheran Zion.' Accordingly, it did +not require a gift of prophecy when the writer of this article, as early +as 1844, foretold in the _Lutherische Kirchenzeitung_ [edited by Schmidt +in Pittsburgh] that, in differently observing, as they did, the +anticonfessional, church-destroying activities of the so-called General +Synod, yea, fraternizing with their leaders, they would become their +prey, as was actually the case several years ago." (_Lehre u. Wehre_ +1858, 137.) + + +LUTHERANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. + +68. Pioneer Pastors in South Carolina.--In 1735 colonists from Germany +and Switzerland had settled in Orangeburg Co., S.C. Their first resident +pastor was J. U. Giessendanner, who arrived in 1737 with new emigrants, +but died the following year. He was succeeded by his son, who was +ordained first by the Presbyterians and then by the Bishop of London, in +1849. [tr. note: sic!] Orangeburg was thus lost to the Lutheran Church. +At Charleston, S.C., Bolzius conducted the first Lutheran services and +administered the Lord's Supper in 1734. Muhlenberg preached there in +1742. The first pastor who, in 1755, organized the Lutherans at +Charleston into a congregation (St. John's) was J. G. Friedrichs +(Friederichs). In 1759 he was succeeded by H. B. G. Wordman (Wartmann), +who had labored in Pennsylvania. In 1763 Wordman was succeeded by J. N. +Martin. He dedicated the church begun in 1759. J. S. Hahnbaum, who came +from Germany with his family in 1767, was, according to the church +records, forbidden to "be addicted to the English Articles" and to +attack the Church of England. The gown, wafers, festivals, gospels and +epistles, and the use of the litany on Sunday afternoons, are required. +(Jacobs, 297.) Hahnbaum died in 1770. His successor, who also married +his daughter, was Magister F. Daser. He had arrived in Charleston, sold +as a redemptioner, and had been redeemed by one of the elders of the +Lutheran congregation. (G., 574.) In 1774 H. M. Muhlenberg advised the +congregation and adjusted some of her difficulties. In the same year +Martin returned and served till 1778, when he was succeeded by Christian +Streit, who labored until he was driven away in the vicissitudes of the +Revolutionary War, there being a tradition of his arrest by the British +in 1780. (Jacobs, 297.) Pastor Martin served a third term in Charleston +from 1786 to 1787, when he was succeeded by J. C. Faber, who wrote to +Germany, from where he had arrived in 1787: His congregation was +growing; it was a model of Christian unity; it consisted of Lutherans, +German Reformed, and Catholics; they all lived together most peacefully, +attending the same services and sharing in the support of their pastor, +who had brought about such a union. No wonder that the congregation was +satisfied with the service of the Episcopalian Pogson when Faber had +resigned on account of ill health. (G., 582 f.) + +69. "Unio Ecclesiastica" in South Carolina.--In 1788 fifteen German +congregations were incorporated in the State of South Carolina, nine of +them being Lutheran and six Reformed or United. The Lutheran +congregations were served by F. Daser, J. G. Bamberg, F. A. Wallberg, +F. J. Wallern, and C. Binnicher; the rest, by the Reformed Pastors Theus +and Froelich. In 1787 these ministers and congregations had united as a +"corpus evangelicum" under the following title: "Unio Ecclesiastica of +the German Protestant Churches in the State of South Carolina." Pastor +Daser was chosen _Senior Ministerii_. At the following convention, +January 8, 1788, all Lutheran ministers present pledged themselves on +the Symbolical Books. A third meeting was held August 12, 1788; +President Daser presented a constitution, which was adopted. Among other +things it provided: 1. The intention of this union was not that any +member should deny his own confession. 2. A Directorium, composed of the +ministers and two laymen, should remain in power as long as a majority +of the 15 congregations would be in favor of it. 3. The Directorium +should be entrusted with all church affairs: the admission, dismissal, +election, examination, ordination, and induction of ministers; the +establishment of new churches and schools; the order of divine service, +collections, etc. 4. Any member of any of the congregations was bound to +appear before the Directorium when cited by this body. 5. Where the +majority of a congregation was Reformed, a Reformed Agenda and Catechism +were to be used. 6. The ministers should be faithful in the discharge of +their pastoral duties, . . . visiting the schools frequently, +admonishing the parents to give their children a Christian training, +etc. 7. A copy of this constitution should be deposited in every +congregation and subscribed by its members. 8. Complaints against the +pastor which the vestry failed to settle should be reported to the +President immediately. 9. The brethren in Europe should be petitioned to +provide the congregations with preachers and schoolteachers.--It is +self-evident that this anomalous union with a Directorium invested with +governing and judicial powers, to whose decisions Lutheran as well as +Reformed pastors and congregations had to submit, lacked vitality, and, +apart from flagrant denials of the truth, was bound to lead to +destructive frictions. After an existence of several years the "Unio +Ecclesiastica" died a natural death, the Directorium, as far as has been +traced, holding its last meeting in 1794. By 1804, the ministers who had +organized this union body, all save one, were dead. The congregations +eked out a miserable existence, becoming, in part, a prey to the +Methodists and Baptists. Thus also the promising Lutheran field of South +Carolina was finally turned into a desert, chiefly in consequence of the +dearth of Lutheran preachers, who really could have been produced from +this very field. (G., 601 ff.) + + +THE NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD. + +70. Unionistic from the Beginning.--Most of the Germans in North +Carolina came from Pennsylvania. In 1771 the congregation at Salisbury +(which was in existence as early as 1768, and soon thereafter erected a +church), together with the congregations in Rowan Co. and in Mecklenburg +Co., sent a delegation to England, Holland, and Germany, asking for +assistance. The result was that Pastor A. Ruessmann, who died in 1794, +and Teacher J. G. Arends (Ahrends), who soon officiated as pastor, were +sent in 1773. In 1787 Pastor Chr. E. Bernhardt arrived, followed by C. +A. G. Stork (Storch) in 1788, and A. Roschen, who returned to Germany in +1800. But it was not genuine Lutheranism which was cultivated by these +German emissaries. Many of the books coming from Helmstedt were of a +rationalistic character. Also the North Carolina Catechism +("Nordkarolingischer Katechismus . . ., entworfen von Johann Kaspar +Velthusen, Doktor und ordentlichem Lehrer der Theologie, erstem Prediger +in Helmstedt und Generalsuperintendent") savored of rationalism. The +confessional and doctrinal degeneration of the pastors in North Carolina +appears from, and is attested by, the fact that in his ordination, in +1794, R. J. Miller was pledged to the Thirty-nine Articles of the +Episcopalians. The Synod of North Carolina experienced a rapid growth, +receiving 19 congregations into membership in 1813. According to the +Report of 1815, twenty lay delegates were present at the meeting of that +year. In 1823, after the separation of the Tennessee Synod, the North +Carolina Synod reported 19 ministers with about 1,360 communicants. Its +first convention had been held in Salisbury, May 2, 1803. Besides the +lay delegates, this meeting was attended by Pastor Arends, Miller, +Stork, and Paul Henkel. From the very beginning the Articles of Synod +made no mention of the Lutheran Confessions. At the meeting of 1804 a +Reformed minister delivered the sermon. In 1810 a resolution was passed +permitting every pastor to administer communion to those of another +faith. It was furthermore resolved: "Whereas it is evident that +awakenings occur in our day by means of preaching for three consecutive +days, and whereas this is to be desired among our brethren in the faith, +it was resolved, on motion of Mr. Philip Henkel, to make a trial in all +our churches next spring." In the same year the North Carolina Synod +ordered the ordination of the Moravian G. Shober (Schober). The minutes +of 1815 record the following: "Since the church council of a newly built +Reformed church in Guilford County expressly desires that our next synod +be held in their church, it was resolved that synod shall be held in +said church on the third Sunday in October, 1816." As in the other +Lutheran bodies of that time, pulpit- and altar-fellowship, Reformed +teaching, and Methodistic enthusiasm became increasingly rampant in +Synod. In 1817 Synod declared that it would continue to bear the +Lutheran name, and became demonstrative over the Reformation +tercentenary. The same convention, however, passed a resolution with +regard to the joint hymn-book published by Schaeffer and Maund in +Baltimore, as follows: "We hereby tender the aforementioned gentlemen +our heartiest thanks, and rejoice that we are able to accede fully to +the aforementioned recommendations for its use both at church and in +private among all our congregations. At the same time we humbly +petition the God of love and unity to crown it with blessings in His +kingdom and temple. It was also resolved that the English Agenda which +Quitman had introduced in New York "be adopted as one of our symbolical +books, and as such be recommended for use." (G., 647.) + +71. Shober's Jubilee Book.--In 1817 Synod also approved of, and +resolved to publish, Shober's jubilee book, "A Comprehensive Account of +the Rise and Progress of the Blessed Reformation of the Christian +Church by Doctor Martin Luther, begun on the thirty-first of October, A. +D. 1517; interspersed with views of his character and doctrine, +extracted from his book; and how the Church established by him arrived +and progressed in North America, as also the Constitution and Rules of +that Church, in North Carolina and adjoining States, as existing in +October, 1817." In the Preface, Shober gives utterance to the hope that +all Protestant churches and their individual members would, by reading +his book, be moved "to pray to God that He would awaken the spirit of +love and union in all who believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the only +Mediator between God and men, in order to attain the happy time +prophesied, when we shall blissfully live as one flock under one +Shepherd." On page 208 ff. he says: "Why are we not all united in love +and union? Why these distances, controversies, disputes, mutual +condemnations, why these splittings of formulas? Why cannot the Church +of Christ be one flock under one Shepherd? My friends, at the proper +time the Lord will unite us all. Thank God, we see the morning star +rising; the Union approaches, in Europe through Bible-societies, in +America, too, through mission-societies, through the efforts of the rich +and poor in sending out religious tracts, through the hundred thousand +children who now learn to know their God and Savior in the +Sunday-schools. Through frequent revivals and many other signs it +becomes apparent that the earth will soon be filled with the knowledge +of the Lord. Among all classes of those who adore Jesus as God I see +nothing of importance which could prevent a cordial union; and what a +fortunate event would it be if all churches would unite and send +delegates to a general convention of all denominations and there could +settle down on Christ, the Rock, while at the same time each +denomination would be permitted to retain its peculiar ways and forms. +This would have the influence on all Christians that, wherever and +whenever they met each other, they would love one another and keep +fellowship with each other." Synod declared: This book "will give to our +fellow-Christians in other denominations a clear view of what the +Lutheran Church really is." Yet, in this jubilee-gift Shober practically +denied the Lutheran doctrines of the Lord's Supper and of Absolution, +and, as shown, enthusiastically advocated a universal union of all +Christian denominations. Previously Shober had written: "I have +carefully examined the doctrine of the Episcopal Church, have read many +excellent writers of the Presbyterians, know the doctrine of the +Methodists from their book _Portraiture of Methodism_, and am acquainted +with the doctrine of the Baptists, as far as they receive and adore +Jesus the Savior. Among all classes of those who adore Jesus as God, I +find nothing of importance which could prevent a cordial union." (647 f. +682.) + + +CRITICAL CONVENTIONS. + +72. "Untimely Synod" of 1819.--The leaders of the North Carolina +Synod, Stork, Shober, Jacob Scherer, Daniel Scherer, Miller, and others, +cherished a sanguine hope of uniting all churches into a national +American Church, despite doctrinal differences. What could be more +delightful, and what in all the world could be more desired, they +declared in 1820, than "to bring about a general union of all religious +parties throughout the entire land, that the glorious prophecy might be +fulfilled: that they might all be one flock who are all under one +Shepherd." (_Tennessee Report_ 1820, 25.) The scheme also of organizing +a Lutheran General Synod (for which purpose the Pennsylvania Synod had +invited all other Lutheran bodies to attend its meetings at Baltimore +in 1819 in order to discuss plans for this projected Pan-Lutheran +union) was exultantly hailed as a step in this direction by leaders of +the North Carolina Synod, notably by Shober. Accordingly, in order to +enable the North Carolina Synod to take part in the meeting at +Baltimore, the officers of Synod autocratically convened that body five +weeks before the time fixed by the constitution. Shober was sent to +Baltimore as delegate, and took a prominent part in drawing up the +"Planentwurf," the tentative constitution for the organization of a +General Synod. This irregular meeting of the North Carolina Synod was +later on known as the "Untimely Synod." It provoked much ill feeling and +led to the organization of the Tennessee Synod in 1820. (_Tenn. Rep_. +1820, 49.) At this "Untimely Synod" David Henkel was charged with +teaching transubstantiation, because he had preached the Lutheran +doctrine of the Lord's Supper to his congregations. Synod found him +guilty, and degraded him to the rank of catechist for a period of six +months. Says the Report of the Tennessee Synod, 1820: "David Henkel was +to be entitled to his former rank in office only when, after a period of +six months, sufficient written evidence should have been submitted to +the President that peace obtained in his congregations, and that no +important accusation was lodged against him by others, especially by the +Reformed [Presbyterians], whereupon the President would be empowered to +confer on him the privileges of a candidate until the next synod." (18.) +The following statement of the same Report characterizes the doctrinal +attitude of President Stork and other leaders of Synod: "We [the +Henkels] have written evidence that, when a paper was read at said +'Untimely Synod' containing the statement that the human nature of Jesus +Christ had been received into the divine nature (dass die Menschheit +Jesu Christi in die Gottheit sei aufgenommen worden), and that therefore +He possessed all the divine attributes, the President [Stork] declared +that he could not believe this. And when it was said that such was the +teaching of the Bible, he answered: 'Even if five hundred Bibles should +say so, he would not believe it!' And to our knowledge he was never +called to account for this statement." (20.) The autocratic actions of +the leaders of the North Carolina Synod and their adherents virtually +resulted in a rupture of Synod in the same year. For the dissatisfied +party held a synod of their own at Buffalo Creek, at the time specified +by the constitution, and ordained Bell and David Henkel. + +73. "Synod of Strife" (Streitsynode).--The meeting at Lincolnton, N. +C., 1820, which followed the "Untimely Synod," was marked by painful +scenes and altercations and the final breach between the majority, who +were resolved to unite with the General Synod, and the minority, who +opposed the union and accused the leader not only of high-handed, +autocratic procedure and usurpation of power in contravention of the +constitution, but also of false doctrine, and publicly refused to +recognize them as Lutherans. On Sunday, May 28, Synod was opened with a +service in which Stork preached German and Bell English. Monday morning +the preachers, delegates, and a great multitude of people from the +neighborhood returned to the church. They found it occupied by Pastors +Paul Henkel, Philip Henkel, David Henkel, and Bell, who refused +admission to the rest. After some parliamenteering, written and verbal, +both parties entered the church. The Henkels report as follows: "They +[the opponents] took their stand on the fact that the majority was on +their side and according to it everything should be decided. +Accordingly, before they came to us in the church, they first delegated +one of their preachers with two questions directed to one of our +preachers. The first was: 'Whether he intended to separate from the +North Carolina Synod?' The second: 'Whether he was willing to be +governed by a majority of preachers and delegates in the matters +disputed?' He, giving him no decisive answer, came to the rest of us and +told us. We answered in writing: 'That we neither intend to separate +ourselves from Synod, nor would suffer ourselves to be governed by a +majority; but that we wanted everything investigated and decided +according to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession and according to +the constitution or order of our church, nothing else.' In the mean time +the minister delegated came to us where we were gathered and demanded a +verbal answer to the same questions. We then gave this answer also +verbally, whereupon he said with an arrogant gesture and autocratic +tone: 'That is not the point; I only ask, Do you want to, or do you not +want to?' We answered: 'We did not want to.' He declared, 'That is all I +desire to know'; and saying which he rapidly turned about and hastily +ran away from us. In the mean time the multitude of our opponents moved +toward us, proposing the same questions. We answered as before. The +leaders among them endeavored to maintain that, in order to decide the +dispute, we were not bound to the constitution, but only to the majority +of the votes of the preachers and delegates, which majority they had; +and that it was reasonable and fair for us to act according to it in +this dispute. But we thought that the doctrine of the Augsburg +Confession (being assured, as we were, that it can be proved by the +doctrine of the Bible) should be of a greater weight to us than the +voice of a majority of men who are opposed to the doctrine and order of +our Church. After a brief altercation of this kind they went into the +church, and we followed. Here the President [Stork], in a long speech in +German, endeavored to prove what he had asserted before. The Secretary +[Shober] made a still longer speech in English, in which he endeavored +to prove that we were not at all bound to act according to the +constitution or order of our Church; although he himself, with the +approval of Synod, had written the constitution and had it printed, this +was not done with the intention of making it a rule or norm by which we, +as members of Synod, were to be guided in our transactions; it was +merely a sort of draft or model according to which, in course of time, +one might formulate a good constitution, if in the future such should +become necessary. However, it was proved [by the Henkels] from the +constitution itself that it had been received as just such an [official] +document, sanctioned, after previous examination and approval by several +ministers, by Synod and ordered to be printed. To this he [Shober] +answered that such had not been the intention of Synod. Haste and lack +of time had caused him to write it thus without previous careful +consideration; therefore, now everything had to be governed and judged +according to the majority. But we were of the opinion that it would +prove to be a very unreasonable action to reject a constitution which a +few years ago, according to a resolution of Synod, had been printed and +bound in 1,500 copies, the money being taken from the synodical +treasury, and sold at 75 cts. a copy." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1820, 24.) The +question concerning the violation of the constitution would, no doubt, +have been settled in favor of the Henkels, if they had not opposed the +leaders in their union schemes and charged them with false doctrine and +apostasy from the Lutheran Church. Says the aforementioned Tennessee +Report: "Even though the officers with their adherents (die alten Herrn +Beamten mit ihrem Zugehoer) could perhaps themselves have thought so far +[as to realize the arbitrariness of their procedure with reference to +the 'Untimely Synod'], yet the desire to organize the General Synod and +to bring about a union with all religious bodies, especially with the +Presbyterians, was so strong as to outweigh everything else" [even an +imminent breach]. The leaders finally admitted that both parties had +erred, and declared their willingness to pardon everything if the +minority would reunite with them. The Henkels, however, declared that +they could have no fellowship with people who were addicted to false +doctrines concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and rejected the +doctrine of the Augsburg Confession. They also declared their impatience +with the contemplated "general union of all religious denominations," +saying that such a union was no more possible than to bring together as +one peaceful flock into one fold "sheep, goats, lambs, cows, oxen, +horses, bears, wolves, wild cats, foxes, and swine." At this juncture +one of the officers, dissolving the meeting and leaving the church, +exclaimed: "Whoever is a _true Lutheran_, may he come with us to the +hotel of J. H.; there we will begin our Synod!" The minority answered: +"Whoever wants to be a true fanatic (Schwaermer), may he go along; for +you are no real Lutheran preachers: you are fanatics (Schwaermer) and +to them you belong!" A young teacher added: "According to the testimony +of Holy Scripture, it is impossible for us to regard you as anything but +false teachers." Then one of the old ministers, turning toward the +assembly, said: "Now you yourselves have heard the boldness and +impertinence of this young man, who charges us, old and respectable +ministers that we are, with false doctrine." Similar utterances were +made by others. The report concludes: "However, they left the church +without defending themselves against such accusations, except that one +of the old ministers said at the exit of the church that he was much +astonished. But we could not help that." (_Tenn. Report_ 1820, 27.) As +Bell joined the Shober party, his ordination at Buffalo Creek was +declared constitutional and ratified as valid. Shober now reported on +his cordial reception by the Pennsylvania Synod and on the transaction +which led to the adoption of the "Planentwurf" for the contemplated +organization of the General Synod. The document, after its individual +paragraphs had been read and discussed, was adopted by the North +Carolina Synod by a majority of 15 to 6--a result which Shober had +forestalled in a letter to the Pennsylvania Synod assembled at +Lancaster, stating "that the greatest part of the members of the North +Carolina Synod had adopted the so-called Planentwurf," and expressing +the hope that the General Synod might be established. After adopting the +"Planentwurf," the North Carolina Synod elected Pastors Shober and Peter +Schmucker delegates to the convention of the General Synod, which was to +convene at Hagerstown, Md., October 22, 1820. Only a few ministers from +Tennessee being present, the Henkels resolved not to transact any +business at this time. (27.) + +74. Doctrinal Dispute at Lincolnton.--The points disputed at +Lincolnton did not only refer to the autocratic actions of the leaders +of the Synod and their union schemes, but also to the doctrines of +Baptism and the Lord's Supper, regarding which the minority charged +Stork, Shober, and their followers with holding un-Lutheran and +anticonfessional views. The discussions on these doctrines caused James +Hill, a Methodist preacher who was present, to address a letter to +Synod in which he said: "For almost thirteen years which I have spent in +this county [Lincoln Co., N.C., where David Henkel preached], I have +understood that the greatest number of your preachers in the county have +taught that the baptism of water effects regeneration, and that the body +and blood of Christ is received bodily with the bread and wine in the +Lord's Supper, so that these doctrines, being so generally taught and +confessedly believed, confirmed me in the conviction that they are the +orthodox doctrines of the Lutheran Church. Last Monday [at the +discussion on floor of Synod], however, I discovered, or believed to +discover, that some members of your Rev. Synod entertained different +views. . . . Now, in order that I may know how to conduct myself in the +future toward so respectable a part of the Church of Christ [North +Carolina Synod], I request the opinion of your Synod on the above +points." The answer, formulated by R. J. Miller and Peter Schmucker, and +approved of by the ministerium, was: "We do not say that all who are +baptized with water are regenerated and converted to God, so that they +are saved without the operation of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, +without faith in Christ." "We do not believe and teach that the body and +blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are bodily received with the bread and +wine in the Holy Supper, but that the true believer receives and enjoys +it spiritually together with all saving gifts of His suffering and +death, by faith in Jesus Christ." (681.) According to the report of the +Henkels, the doctrine of predestination as taught by the Presbyterians +was also touched upon, for in it we read: "One of the members declared, +and sought to maintain, that it was impossible for a man to fall from +the grace of God after he had once been truly converted. Another denied +the doctrine of Baptism as laid down in our catechism and in the Second +and Ninth Articles of the Augsburg Confession. The offer was made to a +third to prove to him from his own handwriting that he denied the +doctrine of the Lord's Supper as set forth in the Tenth Article [of the +Augsburg Confession]. They offered to have the letter read; but our +opponents did not agree to this. A book was placed before him and a +passage was pointed out to him, in order that he might read what Luther, +of blessed memory, himself teaches on this question. He closed it +angrily and pushed it away. A fourth put the question: 'Can I not be a +[Presbyterian] predestinarian and also a Lutheran?' For he believed that +the [Presbyterian] doctrine of predestination could be proven from the +Bible. He received the answer: 'If he believed as the Predestinarians +believe, then he belonged to them, and might go to them, it did not +concern us.'--For these reasons we believed to be all the more certain +that they were not true Evangelical Lutheran preachers, and this we also +told them without reservation." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1820, 24 f.) In connection +with the doctrine of regeneration by Baptism, the Henkels also referred +to the error of the enthusiasts, gaining ground increasingly within the +North Carolina Synod, _viz_., that conversion and regeneration was +effected by anxious shrieking, united praying, and the exertion of all +powers of the body and soul. (32 f.) The rupture, then, was inevitable: +the doctrinal and spiritual gap between Shober and his compeers on the +one hand and the Henkels and their adherents on the other hand being +just as wide and insurmountable as that between Zwingli and Luther at +Marburg 1529. The leaders of the North Carolina Synod were not only +unionistic, but, in more than one respect, Reformed theologians. The +ministers who soon after united in organizing the Tennessee Synod +declared with respect to the North Carolina Synod: "If they would adopt +the name of what we believe they really are, and in this way withdraw +from us, then we and other people would know what our relation was +toward them. But if they intend to remain in our household, they shall +also submit to its authority [Augsburg Confession], or we will have +nothing to do with them." (31.) + + +GOTTLIEB SHOBER. + +75. Harbors Reformed Views on Lord's Supper.--The charges against +David Henkel as to his teaching the Romish doctrine of +transubstantiation, referred to above, had been lodged with Pastor +Shober, then secretary of the North Carolina Synod. When David Henkel +complained that his accusers were not named, Shober, who had never +forsaken his Moravian views, wrote him a letter, dated October 20, 1818, +which at the same time reveals that, as to the Lord's Supper, his were +the views of the Reformed. For here we read: "Your very long epistle, +proving that Christ is with His body every where present, is excellent +on paper, but not so in the pulpit, where seven-eighths of the hearers +will gaze at the profound erudition and one-eighth of such as reason +will shake heads at a thing to be believed, but not explainable, and to +none will it effect conviction of the necessity of spiritual +regeneration and of adopting Him as their God and Savior crucified." "I +must assure you that creditable people of our Church and the Reformed +have not only heard you advance that whosoever is baptized and partakes +of the Supper wants no other and further repentance, but also that +whosoever teaches other doctrine, he is a false teacher. This, my dear +sir, is making people secure in forms and not in realities. How easy is +it to go to heaven, for an adulterous heart to be absolved by Mr. +Henkel, and as a seal to receive from Mr. Henkel the Sacrament, who by +his few words made bread body and wine blood--and such a holy divine +body, without limitation of space, as is compelled to enter into all +substances and beings, whether they will or not, so that a Belial, when +he receives it, must thereby be made an heir of heaven. No, no, I cannot +believe in such theories, and as I told you once at my home when you +returned from Virginia and asked me on that subject, so I think yet, and +say that when Mr. Henkel consecrates bread and wine, it is the body and +blood of our Savior to such with whom He can unite; but to those who are +not of pure heart and yet partake, and that with reverence, the +spirituality of the true essence does not unite with their souls; they +eat bread and wine, for they have not such a faith, love, and humility +as enables them to possess the divine essence. And those that partake +without reverence, light-minded, and during the ceremony disdain the +simplicity of the institution, mock and deride it, they bring judgment +upon themselves for eating and drinking the consecrated elements, but +not for partaking [the] body and blood of Jesus, for they have not +partaken thereof. God and Belial cannot unite. Do, pray, reflect deeply +on the subject, and assure to all peace in heart, and those of contrite +spirit that the Lord in the Sacrament will unite with them spiritually +and seal their heavenly inheritance. But invite them all to come and +partake that revere the Savior as God, and assure them that, if they +approach with reverence, it may be made the means of viewing the +condescending love of God ready to unite with them, and their own +depravity, which will or may make them cry, and, if pure in heart, +obtain mercy." + +76. Slandering David Henkel.--What the Henkels, as early as 1809, had +taught on the Lord's Supper, appears from a pamphlet published in that +year at New Market, in the printery of Henkel. Here we read as follows: +"But Paul teaches us that the bread which we break in the Lord's Supper +is the communion of the body of Christ, and the cup of blessing with +which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ. If our bread +and wine has communion with the body and blood of Christ, then it also +must be what our dear Lord Himself calls it in the institution: His +body and His blood." (680.) This genuinely Lutheran doctrine it was +that also David Henkel had been preaching, and which his opponents who +charged him with Roman aberrations called transubstantiation, +impanation, or consubstantiation. And true to his Reformed traditions, +Shober continued in his endeavors to slander David Henkel as a +Crypto-Papist. This compelled Henkel to make the following explanation +in 1827: "The ministry of the North Carolina Synod are charged with +denying the most important doctrine of the Lutheran Church, and have +been requested to come to a reciprocal trial, which they have +obstinately refused. . . . Those ministers, as it plainly appears, +entertain a strong personal prejudice against me, and have asserted +many charges with respect to my personal conduct, as well as with +respect to my doctrines. What shall I say? Have I not heretofore +offered them a reciprocal trial, even as it respects personal conduct? +Why did they not accede to it? They are truly injuring their own +reputation when they speak many evil things of me, in order to render +me ridiculous, and an object of persecution, and yet are unwilling to +confront me and prove their accusations by legal testimony. . . . I wish +a reciprocal forgiveness. But as it respects the difference with respect +to doctrines, it is necessary to be discussed, as that respects the +Lutheran community. Mr. Shober has most confidently charged me with +teaching 'that if a man only is baptized and partakes of the Lord's +Supper, [he] is safe; and that I call those enthusiasts and bigots who +insist upon further repentance and conversion.' Again he charges me with +openly supporting the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation, and of +forgiving sins like the papists pretend to do. Now I positively deny +these charges as being true, and if Mr. Shober does not confront me and +prove these charges by a legal testimony or testimonies, what can I +otherwise, agreeably to the truth, call him but a calumniator, or one +who bears false witness against his neighbor? I do not believe that any +man in the United States (or, at least, I have never heard of any) +teaches that, if a person only is baptized and receives the Lord's +Supper, [he] is safe exclusive of repentance. What a puerile conduct +some men manifest in trying to prove that the doctrine with which Mr. +Shober has charged me is erroneous, when no man nor class of men contend +for it! They are all the while fighting their own shadows. If the reader +will take the trouble to read my book entitled, '_Answer to Mr. Joseph +Moore, the Methodist;_ with a Few Fragments on the Doctrine of +Justification,' he may readily see whether I maintain the doctrines with +which I am charged, or whether I deny regeneration and the influence of +the Holy Spirit. Again, as little as I believe the doctrine of +transubstantiation, so little do I believe that of consubstantiation. A +perusal of the book just now mentioned will also satisfy the reader on +this subject." (_Tenn. Rep_. 1827, 48.) + + +NORTH CAROLINA RUPTURE. + +77. Charges Preferred by Tennessee Synod.--The report of the committee +which the Tennessee Synod appointed in 1824 to discuss the doctrinal +differences with the North Carolina Synod charged them with the +following statements of un-Lutheran doctrine which they quoted from +their writings: "1. 'Jesus says, without being baptized; and furthermore +He says: He that believeth not shall be damned--hence, baptized or not +baptized, faith saves us.' See the committee's appendix to the +proceedings of said North Carolina connection of the year 1822, p.4, Sec.2. +The President of said connection [Stork] says in his _English Review_, +p.46, 'that none but idiots could believe that the body of Christ fills +all space.' See also their proceedings of 1820, p. 18." (_Tenn. Rep_. +1824, Appendix.) Accordingly the charges lodged by Tennessee against the +North Carolina Synod were that they rejected the distinctive doctrines +of Lutheranism. In keeping herewith Tennessee refused to acknowledge the +North Carolina Synod as Lutheran, and declined to grant her this title, +speaking of her as a connection "which _calls_ itself a Lutheran synod." +In 1825 the Tennessee Synod declared: "We must here observe that we +cannot consistently grant to the Synod of North Carolina this title +[Lutheran], because we maintain that they departed from the Lutheran +doctrine." (6.) The same convention headed a letter addressed to the +North Carolina Synod as follows: "To the Reverend Synod of North +Carolina, who assume the title Lutheran, but which we at this time, for +reason aforesaid, dispute. Well beloved in the Lord, according to your +persons!" etc. (7.) According to a letter of Ambrosius Henkel, March 24, +1824, Riemenschneider declared: "The North Carolina Synod must have +deviated not only from the Lutheran doctrine, but from the very words of +Christ as well, as I have lately, in one of their publications, read the +horrible words: Baptized or not baptized, faith saves us. What is that +except to declare Baptism unnecessary? One would think that these people +were crazy (man sollte denken, diese Menschen waeren verrueckt)." The +North Carolina Synod, however, in spite of their avowed unionistic and +essentially Reformed attitude, boldly insisted that they were the "true +Lutherans"--a bit of bravado imitated several decades later by +Benjamin Kurtz, one of the Reformed theologians of the General Synod, +over against Missouri and other synods loyal to the Lutheran Confessions. + +78. "Lutheraner" on Division of North Carolina Synod.--The first +unbiased Lutheran estimate and, in all essential points, correct +presentation of the division in the North Carolina Synod is found in the +_Lutheraner_ of June 5, 1855. Here Theo. Brohm, who attended the +thirty-fourth convention of the Tennessee Synod in 1854 as the +representative of the Missouri Synod, writes as follows: "German +Lutheran congregations had been organized in the State of North Carolina +as early as the middle of the preceding century. About 1798 the first +attempts were made to unite these congregations by a regulated synodical +bond. However, the removal of a number of pastors resulted in the decay +of the church life in this field. After a number of years the +congregations increased again, and so the foundation for the Ev. Luth. +Synod of North Carolina was laid in 1803. Paul Henkel was among the +charter members. The beginning was weak, but the good cause progressed. +Gradually Lutheran congregations were organized also in Virginia, South +Carolina, and in Tennessee, uniting with this synod. As most of the +pastors had come from Pennsylvania, cordial unity obtained between the +Pennsylvania Synod and the Synod of North Carolina. In the course of +time, however, Satan succeeded in sowing tares among the wheat. Two +opposing parties sprang up in the synod. The one, to which the great +majority belonged, found its expression and embodiment in the General +Synod, and is too well known to our readers to require further +characterization at this place. The other was the staunch and truly +Lutheran party, to which, indeed, but a small minority adhered. The +majority, in agreement with a number of influential men in the +Pennsylvania Synod, proposed the idea of a General Synod, which, +according to their view, was to embody not only the various Lutheran +synods of this country, but, if possible, all other religious bodies as +well. While the true Lutherans could see nothing but mischief arising +from this General Synod, the majority entered upon this unhappy scheme +with great enthusiasm. And, in order to carry out their plan, without +the let or hindrance of the staunch Lutherans, the friends of the +General Synod convened a meeting of synod in 1819 at an unlawful time, +and also without notifying all pastors, especially those of Tennessee. +Delegates were elected to the convention of the Pennsylvania Synod in +Baltimore, where the plan for the General Synod was to be matured. In +order to destroy the influence of one of the most decided opponents, the +young David Henkel, he was suspended from office for a period of six +months, ostensibly because he was spreading Roman Catholic doctrines, +which in reality, however, were none but pure Lutheran doctrines, +especially those of the power of Baptism and of the presence of the true +body and blood in the Lord's Supper. When the Synod met at Lincolnton, +N. C., in the following year, those members of Synod who were +dissatisfied with the resolutions of the previous year demanded a +thorough investigation of the mooted questions. In answer reference was +made to the majority vote, which decision was to be final. Hostility to +the Augsburg Confession and especially to the doctrines of Baptism and +of the Lord's Supper, as well as the tendency to unite with all +religious bodies, became more and more apparent. And when the plan of +the General Synod met with the determined opposition of the staunch +Lutherans, the other party dissolved the meeting and made the beginning +of the General Synod. Those pastors who remained faithful to the +Lutheran Confessions, six in number, now united and organized the +so-called Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod." (11, 165.) + + +LUTHERANS IN VIBGINIA. + +79. G. Henkel, Stoever, Klug at Spottsylvania.--In 1754 Muhlenberg and +the Pennsylvania Synod sent an appeal to both London and Halle in which +they state: "Many thousands of Lutheran people are scattered through +North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, etc." When the +Indians attacked New Bern, N. C., shortly after it had been founded in +1710 by 650 Palatines and Swiss, twelve Lutheran families escaped from +the massacre and sought refuge in Virginia. Here Governor Spottwood +allotted them homes in Spottsylvania County. Gerhard Henkel is said to +have been their first pastor; but he served them for a short time only. +Their number was increased by a colony of Alsatians and Palatinates. +They had started for Pennsylvania, but, after various hardships on the +voyage, in which many of their companions died, were purchased by +Governor Spottwood, and sent by him to his lands in the same locality, +on the upper Rappahannock, "twelve German miles from the sea." (Jacobs, +184.) In 1728, after a vacancy of sixteen years, Henkel was succeeded by +John Caspar Stoever, Sr., born in Frankenberg, Hesse, who came to +America with his younger relative of the same name, the latter being +active for many years as a missionary in Pennsylvania. Stoever's salary +in Virginia was three thousand pounds of tobacco a year. In 1734 he and +two members of his congregation, Michael Schmidt and Michael Holden, +went to Europe to collect a fund for the endowment of their church. +"Because the congregation," as an old report has it, "ardently desires +that the Evangelical truth should not be extinguished with his death, +but be preserved to them and their descendants, the said preacher, Rev. +Stoever, toward the close of the year 1734, . . . undertook a voyage to +Europe to collect a fund for the continuance of their service, the +building of a church and school, and the endowment of the ministry." +(G., 115.) In London they were cordially received by Ziegenhagen, and +recommended to Germany and Holland. Besides a large amount of money, +they procured a library of theological books. George Samuel Klug offered +his services as a pastor, and, after his ordination at Danzig, August 30, +1736, proceeded to Virginia with one of the laymen. After completing his +collections, Stoever returned, in 1838, but died at sea. The +contributions which Stoever had collected amounted to three thousand +pounds, one-third of which paid the expenses, and the rest the building +of a chapel (Hebron Church) and the purchase of farmlands and slaves. +Muhlenberg, Sr., wrote: "It is said to be a profitable plantation, and +owns several slaves to till the land." (G., 606.) Pastor Klug, who, in +order to relieve the monotony of his isolation, made occasional visits +to the Lutheran ministers in Pennsylvania, wrote in 1749 that "the +congregation was not in the least burdened by his support." However, the +endowment of the church seems to have been a hindrance rather than an +advantage. The congregation lost many members to the Dunkards. Klug +continued his ministry till 1761, when he was succeeded by Schwarbach, +and later by Frank, both of whom were licensed at Culpeper, the latter +for three years, beginning with 1775. Probably also Peter Muhlenberg +preached in the old Hebron Church. Later on Paul Henkel, when active as +a missionary in Virginia, had the congregation under his supervision. + +80. Peter Muhlenberg and J. N. Schmucker at Woodstock.--Many of the +more enterprising of the Germans in Pennsylvania, notably in Montgomery, +Berks, Lancaster, and York Counties, pressed toward the frontiers of +their State, and then followed the Cumberland Valley into Maryland and +far beyond into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, their number being +constantly increased by immigrants from Germany. To supply their needs, +Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, in 1772, was sent to Virginia, Woodstock +(Muellerstadt) being his home and the center of his field. Though +serving practically none but German Lutherans, he sought and secured +the ordination of the Episcopal Church in order to obtain legal +recognition of his marriages. In Virginia the Protestant Episcopal +Church was firmly established, and dissenters were compelled to pay an +annual tribute to the established preachers. Says Muhlenberg, Sr.: "If +dissenting parties were married by their own pastors, this was not +legal, and they could not get off any cheaper than by paying the +marriage dues to the established county preacher and obtaining a +marriage certificate from him." (G., 606.) Together with W. White, +afterward Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, +Peter Muhlenberg was ordained by the Bishop of London, after he had been +examined and had subscribed to the Thirty-nine Articles. By the +indifferentistic Germans and Swedes of those days such ordinations were +generally regarded as a favor and comity from the Episcopalians rather +than a humiliation and denial on the part of the Lutherans. Dr. Kunze +says: "The bishops of London have never made a difficulty to ordain +Lutheran divines, when called to congregations which, on account of +being connected with English Episcopalians, made this ordination +requisite. Thus by bishops of London the following Lutheran ministers +were ordained: Bryselius, Peter Muhlenberg, Illing, Houseal, and Wagner. +The last-mentioned was called, after having obtained this ordination, to +an Ev. Lutheran congregation in the Margraviate of Anspach in Germany." +(Jacobs, 285.) Peter Muhlenberg viewed his Episcopal ordination as a +purely civil affair, and, though claimed by the Episcopalians, he always +regarded himself as a Lutheran. He died (1807) with the conviction that +he had never been anything but a Lutheran. In a circular to the Lutheran +churches of Philadelphia, dated March 14, 1804, he said: "Brethren, we +have been born, baptized, and brought up in the Evangelical Lutheran +Church. Many of us have vowed before God and the congregation, at our +confirmation, to live and die by this doctrine of our Church. In the +doctrine of our Church we have our joy, our brightest joy; we prize it +the more highly since, in our opinion, it agrees most with the doctrine +of the faithful and true witness of our Savior Jesus Christ. We wish +nothing more than that we and our children and our children's children +and all our posterity may remain faithful to this doctrine." (284.) +Among the friends of Peter Muhlenberg at Woodstock were George +Washington and the orator of the Revolution, Patrick Henry. The story is +well known how, after preaching a sermon on the seriousness of the times +and pronouncing the benediction, he cast off his clerical robe, +appearing before his congregation in the glittering uniform of a colonel. +During the long vacancy which followed Wildbahn, Goering, and J. D. +Kurtz preached occasionally in the old church at Woodstock. In 1805 John +Nicholas Schmucker took charge of the field. He was a popular preacher, +using, almost exclusively, also in the pulpit, the Pennsylvania German. +"Zu so Kinner," he said, "muss mer so preddige." (G., 608.) + +81. Patriotic Activity of Peter Muhlenberg.--Peter was the oldest son +of H. M. Muhlenberg. He was sent to the University of Halle for his +theological training, where his independent spirit soon brought him into +trouble. At one occasion he resented an insult on the part of his +instructor with a blow. Forestalling expulsion, the young man enlisted +in a German regiment, in which he was known as "Teufel Piet." After two +years of military training he returned to America, and consented to +study theology under his father. After a short pastorate in New Jersey +he was transferred to Woodstock. He traveled extensively through the +Shenandoah Valley and the mountains to the west, preaching wherever +Lutherans could be found. When the Revolution began, Peter Muhlenberg +roused the patriotism of his fellow-Germans in Virginia, who were much +better established and in closer touch with their English neighbors than +those in North Carolina, many of them being acquainted with Lord Fairfax +and George Washington and holding civil offices in their communities. +Muhlenberg brought about, and was chairman of, the Woodstock Convention, +June 16, 1774, at which the Germans united with their Scotch-Irish +neighbors in a declaration against British tyranny, nearly a year before +the famous Mecklenburg Declaration in May, 1775. The resolutions adopted +at Woodstock were prepared by a committee, of which Muhlenberg was +chairman. They read, in part, as follows: "That we will pay due +submission to such acts of government as His Majesty has a right by law +to exercise over his subjects, and to such only." "That it is the +inherent right of British subjects to be governed and taxed by +representatives chosen by themselves only, and that every act of the +British Parliament respecting the internal policy of America is a +dangerous and unconstitutional invasion of our rights and privileges." +"That the enforcing of the execution of the said act of Parliament by +military power will have a necessary tendency to cause a civil war, +thereby dissolving that union which has so long happily subsisted +between the mother country and her colonies; and that we will most +heartily and unanimously concur with our suffering brethren of Boston +and every other part of North America that may be the immediate victim +of tyranny, as promoting all proper measures to avert such dreadful +calamities to procure a redress of our grievances and to secure our +common liberties." After the Woodstock meeting Muhlenberg was elected a +member of the House of Burgesses of Virginia and also of the State +Convention. He was appointed colonel of the Eighth regiment, afterwards +known as the German regiment, which he also raised. After receiving his +commission, Muhlenberg preached the famous war sermon which Colonel +Roosevelt, several years ago, repeated in _Collier's Weekly_, in his +plea for fair play for the Germans. Beneath his black pulpit robe, which +is to-day in the possession of the Henkel Brothers' Publishing House, +Peter Muhlenberg wore his uniform. In his sermon he spoke of the duties +citizens owe to their country. In closing he said: "There is a time for +preaching and praying; but there is also a time of fighting; now this +time has come!" The service ended, he retired to the sacristy and came +out the colonel. He made a speech from the front steps of his church and +began the enlistment, 300 signing. In the war he distinguished himself +at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown, and was advanced to +the rank of Major-General. The war over, Peter Muhlenberg served as +Speaker of the House in Congress and afterwards as United States +Senator. (_Luth. Church Review_ 1919, 160 ff.) + +82. Chr. Streit at Winchester, Henkel at New Market.--In 1785 +Christian Streit, who had been active in New Hanover, Pa., since 1782, +came to Winchester, Va., where he served till 1812. Here the foundations +for a church had been laid in 1704. According to a document found in the +cornerstone, the congregation, then numbering 33 members, declared: +"This temple is dedicated to the Triune God and the Lutheran religion; +all sects, whatsoever their names may be, departing from, or not fully +agreeing with, the Evangelical Lutheran religion, shall forever be +excluded from it." This document was signed by Caspar Kirchner, then +pastor of the congregation, L. Adams, secretary, and Anton Ludi, +schoolteacher. By the aid of a lottery the church was completed under +Chr. Streit in 1787. William Carpenter, a scholar of Streit, labored in +Madison Co., Va., from 1791 to 1813, when he removed to Kentucky. +Augusta County, in the Shenandoah Valley, was almost exclusively settled +by Germans, the Koiner (Coyner, Koyner, Coiner, Kiner, Cuyner) family, +hailing from Wuerttemberg, being especially numerous. New Market, +Shenandoah County, was the home of Paul Henkel (1754--1825), who had +studied German, Latin, Greek, and Theology under the direction of Pastor +Krug in Pennsylvania, and was ordained at Philadelphia in 1792. A most +zealous and energetic missionary, his journeys carried him into Virginia, +North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. +From 1800 to 1805 he was stationed in Rowan Co., N. C., and took part in +the organization of the Synod of North Carolina in 1803. Returning to +Virginia in 1805, he, together with his six sons, established a printery +at New Market, which loyally served the cause of true Lutheranism. As +the years rolled on, the Henkels became increasingly free from the +prevailing doctrinal indifferentism, and arrived at an ever clearer +understanding of Lutheran truth, and this at a time when all existing +Lutheran synods were moving in the opposite direction. The Lutheran +loyalty and determination of the Henkels over against the unionistic and +Reformed tendencies within the North Carolina Synod led to the +organization of the Tennessee Synod, July 17, 1820, a synod which +espoused the cause of pure Lutheranism, and zealously opposed the +enthusiastic, unionistic, and Reformed aberrations then prevalent in all +other Lutheran synods of America. Two years prior, September 14, 1818, +Paul Henkel had participated in the organization of the Ohio Synod, at +first called the General Conference of Evangelical Lutheran Pastors, etc. +On October 11, 1820, conferences, which had met since 1793, led to the +organization of the Synod of Maryland and Virginia at Winchester, Va., +by ten pastors and nine delegates. Nine years later the Virginia Synod +was organized; and the Southwest Virginia Synod, September 20, 1841. + + +SPECIAL CONFERENCE IN VIRGINIA. + +83. Minutes of 1805.--In the first decade of the nineteenth century a +Special Conference was organized in Virginia: "Specialkonferenz der +Evang.-Luth. Prediger (Lehrer) und Abgeordneten im Staat Virginien." At +the meeting held on Sunday, October 7, 1805, in the newly built church +at Millerstadt (Woodstock), five lay delegates (among them Doctor +Solomon Henkel) and the following ministers were present: Chr. Streit, +W. Carpenter, Paul Henkel, J. Foltz, A. Spintler. Streit delivered a +touching sermon (eine ruehrende Rede) in the Lutheran church on Matt. +28, 20. In the afternoon Paul Henkel preached in the Reformed church on +2 Cor. 4, 5; in the evening, Carpenter on 1 Cor. 1, 23, also in the +Reformed church. Monday morning they met in the schoolhouse. At 12 +o'clock Spintler preached in the Reformed church on Eph. 1, 7. In the +afternoon it was decided that an address to the congregations be added +to the minutes "on better bringing up of the children and better order +of the youth." On motion of Solomon Henkel it was resolved to add to the +minutes also the 21 articles of the Augsburg Confession. Furthermore it +was resolved that after the sermon the children should be instructed in +the catechism. It was also approved to abolish as far as possible the +custom of saying the individual lines of the hymns in public worship +(die Lieder zeilenweise vorzusprechen). The address added to the minutes +says, in part: "If children are to grow up well-bred and be reared to +the honor of God, then the teachers in the churches, the schoolteachers +in the school-houses, and the parents in their dwellings must perform +their various duties toward the young plants in the vineyard of the +Lord." "Generally men care for the bodily welfare of their children, +which in itself is not wrong; why, then, should we not also, and indeed +much more so, be concerned about their everlasting and eternal welfare?" +"O parents, parents! seek to save yourselves and, as much as is in you, +also your children! Do not spare any trouble or expenses to have your +children instructed in the fundamental truths of our holy religion. Send +them, according to your ability and the circumstances, to school +regularly, especially to such schools where they are trained, not only +for this world, but for heaven also, where they are instructed in song, +prayer, and the doctrine of the catechism." "In our corrupted times some +parents permit their children to waste the whole day of the holy Sabbath +in a disorderly and sinful manner rather than bring them to the teacher +in order to have them instructed for half an hour to their temporal and +eternal welfare. O parents, parents! is that the way to bring up your +children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? O remember that, who +knows how soon, you with your dear children will have to appear before +God's judgment! O ponder what a fearful and terrible thing it would be, +if at that great day your own children should have to accuse and condemn +you there before the throne of God!" With respect to the grown-up youth +the address complains: "We cannot, in truth, think of many of you +without shedding tears. Many of you do not only despise your mother +tongue, but with it your mother church. Many, at least among those of +our acquaintance, born of Evangelical Lutheran parents, neglect the +instruction which they could have so conveniently, neglect confirmation +and the Lord's Supper, and frequently behave in public worship in a +manner to make one feel almost ashamed of them, and thus they live in +the world without religion and without God." + +84. Minutes of 1807, etc.--To the minutes of 1807 a formula for burial, +furnished by Henkel, is added for the use of schoolteachers in the +absence of a minister. At the meeting in the schoolhouse at Winchester, +1808, it was resolved that the congregations elect devout men to conduct +reading-services and give catechetical instruction to the children on +Sundays when ministers are absent. It was furthermore resolved that +ministers should conduct, as often as possible, private meetings in +their congregations in order to edify the members by prayer, song, and +instruction. The admonition, written by Paul Henkel and Streit, and +added to the minutes, in a simple and earnest manner urges the +congregations to introduce the reading-services, the instruction of the +young, and to attend the private meetings. "Coldness and indifference in +religion," they say, "is so universal that we must employ all possible +means to awaken men to a true and living Christianity." A special and +fervent appeal is added not to abuse, but to keep, the Sabbath, the Day +of the Lord, "the good, useful, holy day, which God especially has +reserved for Himself for the furtherance of His honor and the welfare of +our immortal souls." The appeal concludes: "Do you love your country? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love civic rest? Then sanctify the +Sabbath. Do you love your neighbors? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you +love your children? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love your parents? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you love your preachers, your Savior, and +your souls? Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you desire to escape hell? +Then sanctify the Sabbath. Do you desire some day to celebrate the +eternal Sabbath with the saints and the perfected just before the throne +of God? Then sanctify the Sabbath here on earth, whereby you may be best +prepared for those blissful occupations." At the meeting of the Special +Conference in the school of Solomon's Church, Shenandoah County, 1809, +it was resolved that the admonition to be added to the minutes of this +year should take "special reference to the furtherance of the German +language and schools." The admonition, written by Paul Henkel and +Carpenter, complains that the ministers were not able to do their +mission-duty, partly because they were rich and unable to undergo the +hardships connected with traveling, partly because the congregations +supporting them refused to let them go. They admonish the congregations +to show their brotherly love in permitting their ministers to serve +their forsaken and needy brethren. Respecting the cultivation of the +German language, the admonition remarks, in part: "In the first place, +we know that the English language is not as easily understood as the +German. Even when the Germans are able to read and write it, they +understand very little of it aright. Their parents, themselves not +knowing the language, can hear their children read, and see them write, +but cannot show them where they err, nor correct them. And just as +little are they able to explain to them the contents of what they read; +for [even] the English understand very little of what they read in some +useful books, until they learn to understand it from their +dictionaries." "If parents were really concerned about training their +children for the general weal of the country, they would see to it that +their sons be taught the Christian religion in their mother-tongue as +well as be instructed in the English language to read, write, figure, +etc. Then they might become truly useful men for the general welfare of +their country. All the most useful men that one can point out in our +country are, as a rule, of this class. It cannot be expected that men +who, for reasons of selfishness and pride, despise their language and +church will stand for the welfare of their country." The admonition +concludes: "We know how much good and wholesome instruction for the +edification of our souls and for the comfort of our hearts we have +derived from our German books, which are so easily understood, and which +so plainly describe the simple way of life. From what we learned from +them ever since our youth, we have obtained our only hope of salvation +hereafter; why, then, should we, for any reason whatsoever, deprive our +children of it?" According to the statistical appendix of the minutes of +the Special Conference in 1809, there were, at that time, no less than +49 organized congregations in Virginia. It does not, however, appear +that the interest in the German language and the consciousness of true +Lutheranism made any marked progress in the following years. In 1817, at +Culpeper, Pastors G. Riemenschneider, A Reck, Nicholas and Peter +Schmucker, and Michael Meyerhoeffer, and five lay delegates were +present. Four German and three English sermons were delivered. Among the +resolutions is the following: "that only pious and, if possible, only +converted men be chosen as elders of the congregations, and that they +live piously both in their homes with family prayer in the evening and +morning, and before the world respectably and honorably, receive the +Lord's Supper frequently," etc. Instead of any reference to the +tercentenary of the Reformation we find in the minutes of 1817 a +resolution to the effect "that the proceedings of this year, together +with a _Letter of a Traveling Jew_ appended, be printed." + + +SYNOD OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. + +85. Always Prominent and Liberal.--The Synod of Maryland and Virginia, +organized October 11, 1820, has always been prominent in the General +Synod. "The _Lutheran Observer_, the Pastors' Fund, the Lutheran +Ministers' Insurance League, the Missionary Institute, now Susquehanna +University, were all born in this venerable Synod, which was also first +to suggest the observance of Reformation Day. Lutherville and Hagerstown +Female Seminaries are within its bounds. It has always been abreast of +the most advanced, evangelical, and catholic life of the Church, giving +no uncertain sound upon the divine obligation of the Lord's Day and the +saloon." (J. G. Butler in the _Luth. Cycl_., 482.) Among its noted +pastors were J. D. and B. Kurtz, J. G. Morris, F. W. Conrad, S. W. +Harkey, Theo. and C. A. Stork, D. F. Schaeffer, C. Philip and C. +Porterfield Krauth, S. S. Schmucker, H. L. Baugher, Sr., W. A. +Passavant, Sr., Ezra Keller. But men of this synod also led the van in +doctrinal and practical liberalism. Harkey and Kurtz were New-measurists +and enthusiastic revivalists. Harkey moved the publication of a monthly, +_The Revivalist_, which Synod, however, declared "inexpedient." Through +the endeavors of Kurtz a committee was appointed to bring in a report on +the "New Measures," which was referred back to the committee. In 1844 +Synod resolved to issue an "Abstract of the Doctrines and Practise of +the Ev. Luth. Synod of Maryland." Fourteen doctrinal articles were +prepared by H. L. Baugher, B. Kurtz, and S. W. Harkey, containing, among +other statements, also the following: "We believe that the Scriptures +teach that God has given to man, as a natural gift, the power of choice, +and that, whilst he is influenced in his volitions by motives, he always +possesses the ability to choose the opposite of that which was the +object of his choice. God, in His providence and grace, places before +man the evil and the good, urging him by the most powerful +considerations to choose the latter and reject the former. When the +sinner yields to God, that is regeneration." "We believe that the +Scriptures teach that there are but two Sacraments, _viz_., Baptism and +the Lord's Supper, in each of which truths essential to salvation are +symbolically represented. We do not believe that they exert any +influence _ex opere operato_, but only through the faith of the +believer. Neither do the Scriptures warrant the belief that Christ is +present in the Lord's Supper in any other than a spiritual manner." "We +regard them [the Lutheran Symbols] as good and useful exhibitions of +truth, but do not receive them as binding on the conscience, except so +far as they agree with the Word of God." Evidently these articles of the +Maryland "Abstract," as A. Spaeth puts it, "not only avoid or contradict +the distinctive features of the Lutheran Confession, but have a decided +savor of Arminianism and Pelagianism." (_C. P. Krauth_, 1, 111 f.) +October 17, 1856, the Maryland Synod declared that every one is at +liberty to accept or reject the doctrines of the Augsburg Confession +which the "Definite Platform" rejected as false, provided that thereby +the divine institution of the Sabbath be not rejected, nor the doctrinal +basis of the General Synod changed. (_L. u. W_. 1856, 382.) + +86. Maryland Abstract of Doctrines.--On the un-Lutheran, Reformed, and +Arminian articles of the Maryland "Abstract" we quote Dr. A. Spaeth as +follows: "This report was first recommitted, and, in 1846, was laid on +the table and indefinitely postponed. The _Lutheran Observer_ referred +to it in an extended editorial (November 27, 1846), and printed it in +full, with a few slight alterations and omissions. We quote from this +article as follows: 'When asked what Lutherans believe, the question is +not always so easily answered to the satisfaction of the inquirer. We +may refer him to books, confessions, catechisms, etc.; but the +proponent, most probably, has neither inclination nor time to hunt up +and examine such authorities. He desires to be told in a few words, +distinctly and definitely, what is the prevailing belief in the Lutheran +Church on all fundamental points of religious truth. A short tract, a +page or two comprehending an epitome of the doctrines and usages of the +mass of Lutheran Christians in the United States, is what would suit +him. Is there anything of this kind to be found in the Church? The want +of it has long been felt and expressed. From the North and the South, +the East and the West, we have been asked for something of this nature. +The question assumed such importance that it was finally agitated some +two years ago in the Synod of Maryland, and afterward in the General +Synod (1846), held in Philadelphia. In both instances committees were +appointed to draw up and report an abstract of our "doctrine and +practise." The committee appointed by the Maryland Synod complied; and +though the "Abstract" itself was approved, the Synod, for reasons which +we have not time at present to explain, did not think proper to adopt +the report and recommend it to the Church. The committee was composed of +some of our most intelligent and valued ministers; when they had +prepared it, they sent a copy to every minister of the Synod, soliciting +his emendations on the margin, and after its final return it was +reprinted with the benefit of these emendations; and it is in this +improved form that we now present it. We find no difficulty in +subscribing the document, and in presenting it as a fair, honest +exhibition of Lutheran doctrine and practise as understood in the +latitude in which we reside; and if we are not greatly mistaken, the +great mass of our American ministers throughout the land would not make +any material objection to it.'" Dr. Spaeth continues: "This attempt to +substitute such an 'abstract' for the full and precise language of the +Confession of the Church was a sort of forerunner of the famous +'Definite Platform,' which appeared about ten years afterward, and whose +principal author, Prof. S. S. Schmucker in Gettysburg, was so much +pleased with the 'abstract' that he referred to it again and again in +his lectures and articles, and even made his students commit to memory +its principal statements. In an article on the 'Vocation of the American +Lutheran Church' (_Evangelical Review_, Vol. II, p. 510) he says: 'With +the exception of several minor shades of doctrine, in which we are more +symbolic than Dr. Baugher, we could not ourselves, in so few words, give +a better description of the views taught in the Seminary [Gettysburg] +than that contained in his "Abstract of the Doctrines and Practise," etc. +No ground of apprehension as to our seminary, since the doctrines of our +Symbols and the prevailing doctrines of our American Church are here +faithfully taught.'" (112.) + + + +THE TENNESSEE SYNOD. + + +ORGANIZATION. + +87. "German Ev. Luth. Conference of Tennessee."--Although the +Tennessee Synod has always been and is now only one of the smaller +American Lutheran synods, its history reveals much that is gratifying, +instructive, edifying, and interesting. The first report is entitled: +"Report of the transactions of the first conference of the German Ev. +Luth. pastors and deputies held in the State of Tennessee, in Solomon's +Church, Cove Creek, Green Co., on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of July, +1820." The conference was organized by Pastors Jacob Zink of Virginia, +Paul Henkel of Virginia, Adam Miller of Tennessee, Philip Henkel of +Tennessee, George Esterly of Tennessee, and David Henkel of North +Carolina (who was unable to attend the first meeting), and 19 deputies +of congregations in Tennessee. (_Bericht_ 1820, 3.) By 1827 the number +of pastors had increased to 14, by 1856 to 32, and by 1900 to 40. At +present the Tennessee Synod numbers about 130 congregations and 14,500 +communicants. The name "Synod" appears for the first time in the English +Report of 1825, and is found in the constitution since 1827. In the +minutes of 1820 we read: "Firstly, it was deemed necessary and good that +all business and proceedings of this conference, or synod, shall be +conducted in the German language. All written reports of the proceedings +belonging to the whole shall also be published in the German language." +(4.) Synod also regarded it "as most necessary that we be as diligent as +possible to acquaint our children with all our doctrines of faith in our +German language, since in it we are able to instruct them in the easiest +way." (9.) A footnote makes the following comment: "The reason why we +desire a purely German-speaking conference: Experience has taught us +that where a conference is German-English, either the one or the other +party considers itself offended. When German is spoken, the English +brethren understand little, and very frequently nothing at all. When +English is spoken, many a German brother is unable to grasp the matter, +and accordingly unable to judge in questions of the greatest importance. +Besides, at the present time there are very few purely English pastors +who accept the doctrine of our Church and desire to preach it." (4.) The +same sentiments are voiced in the following statement of this report: +"False Lutherans prefer to seek entrance among the German church-people, +because they still contribute most to the support of the ministry. Some +Germans also of our day are of such a kind that if they are able to +preach a little English, no matter how broken and jargonlike it is +spoken, they are inflated with such senseless pride that they would no +longer preach a thing in their mother-tongue nor care the least for the +order of the Church, if it were not a question of bread and of keeping +the good will of some obdurate Germans. They preach because they take +pleasure in hearing themselves. Those who are really English and +understand their language do not care to hear such, except at times, and +then for their amusement only. The Germans therefore are under no +obligations to the good will of such sirs, when they serve them in their +language and according to their order." (31.) Originally, then, the +Tennessee Synod was determined to be and to remain a purely +German-speaking body. + +88. Attitude toward the English Language.--That the interest +manifested by the Tennessee Synod in the German language was not due to +any unreasonable prejudice or hatred toward the English language as +such, appears from the fact that since 1821 the minutes of Synod were +printed both in English and German. Moreover, in the minutes of the +second convention, 1821, we read: "At the request of some of our +brethren of North Carolina it was resolved that there be annually a +synod held in North Carolina, or in an adjoining State in the English +language. The members of the German Tennessee Synod may also help to +compose this Synod. It shall be governed agreeably to the same +constitution as that of the German Tennessee Synod (the language +excepted). Those who compose this Synod may appoint the place and time +of the meeting, when and where they may deem it expedient." (Report +1821, 7.) The Report of 1822 records: "Resolved: Because this Synod is +German-speaking, and Mr. Blalock not understanding this language, he +cannot therefore have a seat and vote in this body. Yet, the Revs. Paul +and David Henkel are allowed as individual ministers to examine him, and +in case he is qualified, to ordain him. It is to be understood that Mr. +Blalock is to be ordained a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; +but in case he should acquire a knowledge of the German language, which +he expects to do, he can then have a seat and vote in the German synod. +But whilst he understands the English language only, he may with other +ministers, who walk agreeably to the doctrines and rules of the German +synod, organize an English-speaking synod, in conformity to a resolution +passed last year." (5.) In 1826 the resolution was adopted: "Whereas +there are sundry members belonging to this Synod who do not understand +the German language, and yet do not wish to form a separate body, it was +resolved that the Secretary, during this session, shall act as an +interpreter between the German and English brethren. It was further +resolved that at the next session, during the three first days, all the +business shall be transacted in the German language, _i.e._, if so much +time shall be requisite; after which the business shall be resumed in +the English language." (3.) The anxiety caused by the language-question +appears from the following letter of Philip Henkel, dated October 19, +1826: "After my return from Synod, I found our German +congregation-members very much dissatisfied because they believed that +we had violated the constitution, and I am afraid that a separation will +be the result. For the old Germans will never suffer the Tennessee Synod +to become a German-English-speaking body. We must certainly act +carefully in this matter, otherwise our Synod will be ruined. . . . They +said that they were willing to sacrifice the constitution, provided that +we remain an exclusively German-speaking body. I also am willing to +relinquish the constitution, provided that the Augsburg Confession is +made the constitution of this synod. We shall find that we shall not be +able to keep the Germans and English together, even when we conduct +synod at the same place three days in the German and three days in the +English language, for the Germans will have to suffer the burden. The +English will always want to attend; then they are coarsely treated by +the Germans; the English complain; thus the matter will be ruined. My +advice, therefore, is: Let us always hold a German-speaking synod, and +afterwards an English-speaking one. In this way we shall be able to +exist. For my part, I am willing to attend both. Every constitution +except the Augsburg Confession may then be set aside. If the Germans +refuse to maintain their language, we can't help it, and we are not at +fault if they perish. If you approve the plan of holding first an +exclusively German-speaking synod and then an exclusively +English-speaking synod, and also of abolishing every constitution except +the Augsburg Confession, advise me at your earliest convenience. I will +then write to the rest of the preachers, and appoint the time and place +for synod. This seems to be the only means of keeping our people united, +for at present they are apart, and who knows how we may bring them +together. After the constitution has been transgressed, everybody feels +free. But if the Augsburg Confession were the constitution, every member +would readily agree to it. These are my thoughts. Write soon. Philip +Henkel." (_L. u. W_. 60, 63.) In the minutes of 1827 we read: "14. Some +members of this congregation alleged the following charge against Mr. +Adam Miller, Jr.: that he neglected to officiate in the German language, +and thus deprived those of religious instructions and edification who do +not understand the English. The Synod was convinced of the justice of +the complaint, and considered it highly necessary that these brethren +should be served in the German language. Mr. Miller, in defense of his +conduct, said that he did not understand the German language accurately +and therefore could not officiate in it, and that hitherto he has not +had an opportunity of learning it. But he promised to acquire a more +accurate knowledge of this language, provided his congregations were +willing to spare him from their service for one year. He intends to +study this language with David Henkel. The members of his congregations +who were present agreed for him to do so, but requested to be visited a +few times by some of the other ministers during the time they should be +vacant. The Synod highly approved Mr. Miller's resolution, and wished +him to persevere in this laudable undertaking." (12.) The Synod of 1827 +was confronted by conflicting petitions as to the language-question. The +following memorials were read: "1. A memorial from St. James's Church in +Greene County, Tenn., subscribed by 23 persons. They pray this Synod not +to alter the constitution. Further, that this body remain exclusively +German, and that some measures be taken to establish a separate English +Synod.... 4. In a letter in which the Rev. Adam Miller, Sr., states the +reasons of his absence, he prays this body to allow the English brethren +equal privileges, so that they may not be under the necessity of +establishing a separate Synod." (14.) The constitution, which was +proposed at this meeting and accepted in the following year, disposed of +this question as follows: "All debates shall first be held in the German +language, whereupon the same shall be resumed in the English; provided +there shall be both German and English members present. After the +debates on a subject shall have been ended, then the decision shall be +made." (R. 1827, 24; B. 1828, 28.) In the following years the English +language rapidly gained the ascendency, until finally the German +disappeared entirely. (R. 1831, 9; B. 1841, 8. 9.) Rev. Th. Brohm, after +visiting the Tennessee Synod, wrote in the _Lutheraner_ of January 2, +1855: "Though of German origin, the Tennessee Synod in the course of +time has lost its German element, and has become a purely English synod." + +89. Born of Lutheran Loyalty.--The organization of the Tennessee Synod +came as a protest against the projected General Synod, and especially +against existing conditions in the Synod of North Carolina, to which the +Tennessee pastors belonged until their secession in 1820. March 14, +1820, Philip Henkel had written to his brother: "If I am spared, I shall +attend synod. . . . If the old ministers will not act agreeably to the +Augsburg Confession, we will erect a synod in Tennessee." The "old +ministers" were Stork, Shober, Jacob and Daniel Sherer, and other +pastors of the North Carolina Synod who advocated a union with the sects +and the connection with the General Synod, and sought to suppress such +testimony on behalf of Lutheran truth and consistency as the Henkels had +begun to bear publicly. Aversion to faithful confessional Lutheranism +was the real reason why the Synod of North Carolina in 1816 refused to +ordain the young, but able David Henkel, which, even at that time, +almost resulted in a withdrawal of the Henkels and their delegates. The +tension was greatly increased when the Synod of 1819 degraded David +Henkel to the rank of catechist, on the false charge that he had +preached transubstantiation and other papistic heresies and thereby +given offense to the "Reformed brethren." As a matter of fact, he had +proclaimed the Lutheran doctrine of the Lord's Supper. The North +Carolina Synod made the entry into their minutes. "He [David Henkel] is +therefore no preacher of the Lutheran Church of North Carolina and +adjacent States." (G., 696.) A source of additional ill will was the +autocratic procedure of the officers in arbitrarily convening the Synod +of 1819, five weeks before the constitutional time (whence known as the +"Untimely Synod"), and that without sending out notices sufficiently +early, and for a purpose most odious to the Henkels and their adherents, +_viz_., to elect a delegate (Shober was chosen) to the convention of +the Pennsylvania Synod at Baltimore in order to participate in the +framing of a tentative constitution for the projected General Synod. +Resenting the arrogance and unconstitutional action of the officers as +well as the obnoxious resolutions of the "Untimely Synod," those members +of the North Carolina Synod who had been either unwilling or unable +(having been notified too late) to take part in the deliberations of the +"Untimely Synod," five weeks later, at the time prescribed by the +constitution, held a synod of their own at Buffalo Creek, in Stork's +congregation, where the "Untimely Synod" had been held, under the oaks, +near the church, Stork having refused them the use of the church for +this purpose. "The Synod," Stork declared, "has been held; and there is +no need of holding it again." He ordered his elders not to open the +church, but finally permitted them to hold services there, with the +express proviso, however, that no business was to be transacted in it. +(B. 1820, 21.) Philip Henkel was elected president, and Bell and David +Henkel were ordained. (21.) In the following year, a few months after +the so-called "Quarreling Synod" ("Streitsynode"), where the majority of +the North Carolina Synod decided in favor of a union with the General +Synod, the minority, as related above, organized the Tennessee Synod. +(15.) In the minutes (Bericht) of 1820, the members of the new synod +justify their withdrawal and organization as a separate body by calling +attention especially to the following points: 1. The officers and some +of the members of the North Carolina Synod had proven by their words +and actions that they "could no longer be regarded as truly Evangelical +Lutheran pastors." (12. 15.) 2. The "Untimely Synod" had declared the +excommunication of a member of David Henkel's congregation to be +invalid, without investigating the matter in that congregation, thereby +infringing upon the rights of the congregation. (20.) 3. The same synod +had not rebuked its president, Rev. Stork, when he made the statement +that he could not believe the Lutheran doctrine that Christ as man was +in possession of all divine attributes, and that he would not believe it +if 500 Bibles should say so. 4. The Synod of 1820 had declared David +Henkel's ordination "under the oaks" invalid, and had published a sort +of letter of excommunication against him. (22.) 5. Synod had refused to +settle the mooted questions according to the Augsburg Confession and the +synodical constitution, but, instead, had demanded that the minority +should yield to the majority. "We, however, thought," says the Report, +"that the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession (concerning which we were +convinced that it could be proven by the doctrine of the Bible) should +have greater weight with us than the voice of a majority of men who are +opposed to the doctrine and ordinance of our Church." (23.) 6. Synod had +permitted the un-Lutheran remarks made at the convention and elsewhere +on Baptism, the Eucharist, Election, Conversion, and the certainty of +the state of grace, as well as on union with all religious parties, to +pass unreproved.--Stating the causes of the deplorable schism, David +Henkel wrote in 1827: "A most unhappy difference exists between this +body and the North Carolina Synod. Previous to the year 1820 some +members of the former and some of the latter constituted one Synod. In +this year the North Carolina Synod entered into the connection of a +General Synod with some other synods. This is a connection and +institution which heretofore did not exist in the Lutheran community, +and to which the Tennessee Synod object as an institution calculated to +subvert ecclesiastical liberty, and to prepare the way for innovations. +This, together with the difference in regard to some of the fundamental +doctrines of the Christian religion, are the principal reasons of the +division." (R. 1827, 32.) In brief, the organization of the Tennessee +Synod was a solemn protest against synodical tyranny and +anticonfessional teaching then prevailing in the North Carolina Synod +and in all other Lutheran bodies in America. Accordingly, as compared +with her contemporaries, it remains the peculiar glory of the Tennessee +Synod that she was born of Lutheran loyalty. + +90. Back to Luther! Back to the Lutheran Symbols!--Such, in substance +and effect, was the slogan sounded by the Tennessee Synod, for the first +time in the history of the Lutheran Church in America, after long years +of confessional disloyalty and of doctrinal and practical deterioration. +By dint of earnest and conscientious study of the Lutheran Symbols and +of Luther's writings, the Tennessee pastors, in particular the Henkels, +had attained to a clear knowledge of Lutheran truth and practise, +thereby, at the same time, becoming fully convinced that of all +teachings in Christendom the Lutheran doctrine alone is in full accord +with Holy Writ. March 13, 1823, Solomon Henkel wrote: "A week ago Mr. +York was here, bringing with him Luther's Works. They are bound in 13 +folio volumes and cost $100. I purchased the books." To penetrate deeper +and deeper into the writings of Luther, to persuade others to do the +same, and to make this possible to them, such was the ardent desire and +earnest endeavor of the Tennessee pastors. Evidently with this purpose +in view, Paul Henkel had established a printery at New Market, Va., +where books and tracts breathing a Lutheran spirit were published. +Synodical colporteurs diligently canvassed them among the congregations. +Sound Lutheran works, _e.g._, the Augsburg Confession, sermons by Luther +and Arndt, the article on Good Works from the Formula of Concord, were +from time to time, by resolution of Synod, appended to the synodical +reports. (1831, 11.) Nor was their zeal satisfied with fostering true +Lutheranism in their own midst. In order to acquaint the +English-speaking public with the truths and treasures of our Church, +they issued translations of standard Lutheran works. Besides an agenda +and a hymnal, the New Market printery published in 1829 an English +translation of Luther's Small Catechism with notes by David Henkel; in +1834, a translation of the Augsburg Confession with a preface by Karl +Henkel (in 1827 David Henkel had already been commissioned to prepare a +correct translation); in 1851, an English version of the entire Book of +Concord, of which a second and improved edition appeared in 1854; in +1852, "Luther on the Sacraments," being translations of some writings of +Luther by Jos. Salyards and Solomon D. Henkel, 423 pages octavo; in +1869, Luther's Epistle Sermons, an English edition of which had been +determined upon in 1855. (Rep. 1826, 7; 1830, 17; 1841, 15; 1855, 14.) +On March 1, 1824, a certain Sam Blankenbecker wrote to David Henkel: +"There are two sorts of Lutherans: the one sort believes there is no +doctrine right and pure but the Lutheran; the other thinks that also the +Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists are equally right and pure; and +such Lutherans are very hurtful to others." The Tennessee Synod belonged +to the first class. They were conscious Lutherans, who knew what they +were and what they stood for. The fact is that in those days Tennessee +was the only synod with a true Lutheran heart and an honest Lutheran +face. + +91. Despised and Ostracized.--Their return to Luther and the Lutheran +Symbols brought the Henkels and the Tennessee Synod into direct +opposition to, and sharp conflict with, all other Lutheran synods of +that day. For, though still bearing, and priding themselves on, the +Lutheran name, they all had long ago begun to abandon the confessions +and distinctive doctrines of the Church which the cherished and coveted +name of Luther stood for. Their leaders had become indifferentists, +unionists, and Reformed and Methodistic enthusiasts. Over against this +lack of Lutheran faithfulness and apostasy from the Confessions the +Henkels gave no uncertain testimony. Being Lutherans in their hearts as +well as in their heads, they boldly confessed the truths, and most +energetically championed the cause of genuine Lutheranism. And they +squared their actions with their words and convictions. Consistent also +in their practise, they refused to fellowship and recognize the +errorists everywhere, even when found in Lutheran synods. No wonder, +then, that the Henkels and their uncompromising attitude met with no +sympathy on the part of the Lutheran synods then found in America. And, +being, as they were, a standing protest against the apostasy of these +synods, it was but natural, carnally, that the Tenneesee [tr. note: sic] +confessors were avoided, ignored, despised, hated, maligned, and +ostracized by their opponents. Tennessee was decried and stigmatized as +the "Quarreling Conference" ("Streitkonferenz"). The "Henkelites," it +was said, had been convicted of error at the "Quarreling Synod"; there +they had not been able to prove their doctrine; they were false +Lutherans; some of them had been excluded from Synod, therefore they had +no authority to officiate as ministers; their synod was not a lawful +synod; its transactions were invalid, etc. (1820, 22.30; 1824, App. 3; +1827, 43 f.) All endeavors on the part of the Tennessee Synod to bring +about an understanding and a unification in the truth were spurned by +the other synods "with silent contempt," says David Henkel. (1827, 6. +25.) In the Maryland Synod the prediction was heard: "This Tennessee +Synod will go to pieces finally." The Address of the General Synod of +1823 states: "Our Church, which was originally embraced in two +independent synods [Ministeriums of Pennsylvania and New York], has +spread over so extensive a portion of the United States that at present +we have _five_ synods [North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia, +Pennsylvania, and New York Synods], and shall shortly have several +more." (3. 9. 14.) The General Synod, then, refused to recognize +Tennessee as a Lutheran synod in America. In a letter, dated January 23, +1826, and addressed to Solomon Henkel, H. Muhlenberg remarked that the +Tennessee Synod "had as yet not been recognized as a synod by the other +Lutheran synods." In 1839 the General Synod censured both the Franckean +and Tennessee Synods as the two extremes "causing disturbances and +divisions in our churches" and standing in the way of a union of the +Lutheran Church in America--a resolution which was rescinded in 1864. +Thus universal contempt and proscription was the reward which Tennessee +received for her endeavors to lead the Lutheran Church out of the mire +of sectarian aberrations back to Luther and the Lutheran Symbols. Rev. +Brohm, after his visit with the Tennessee Synod, wrote in the +_Lutheraner_ of June 5, 1855: "In order to heal, if in any way possible, +the deplorable breach, the Tennessee Synod, in the course of seven +years, made repeated attempts to persuade her opponents [in the North +Carolina Synod] to discuss the mooted doctrines, offering them +conditions most just and most acceptable . . . . But with exasperating +indifference all these offers were stubbornly despised and rejected. +Tennessee directed various questions also to the Pennsylvania Synod in +order to learn their views on the pending doctrinal controversies. But +this body, too, did not even deign to answer. The Tennessee Synod, +however, though rebuffed on all sides and stigmatized as a fanatical +sect, quietly went its way, without suffering itself to be confused or +led astray. Unanimity and love reigned among its members. The number of +congregations which united with them and desired pastors from them +constantly increased, so that the Synod was not able to satisfy all +requests. The synodical resolutions offer ample evidence of the lively +interest and diligence of their pastors to appropriate more and more +fully the riches of the Reformation, and to make their congregations +partakers thereof." (11, 166.) The first request for a minister came +from Cape Girardeau, Mo. The minutes record: "At the earnest request and +desire of a number of German inhabitants in Cape Girardeau ("Cape +Cheredo"), Mo., through H. Johannes Schmidt and Georg Klemmer, who +earnestly pray that they might be visited, it was resolved that H. Jacob +Zink should make a journey thither, as soon as possible, to preach the +Gospel to them and to perform all other official acts that may be +required. For this laudable undertaking we wish him the rich blessing of +the Lord." (B. 1820, 10.) + + +OBJECTIONS TO GENERAL SYNOD. + +92. Critique of So-called "Planentwurf."--The formation of a Lutheran +General Synod, warmly advocated by the Synods of Pennsylvania and North +Carolina, met with the earnest and zealous, though not in every respect +judicious, opposition of the Tennessee Synod. Her Report of 1820 +contains a criticism of the _Planentwurf_, which in 1819 had been +proposed by the Pennsylvania Synod as a tentative constitution for the +projected General Synod. Among the objections enumerated are the +following: 1. Whosoever desired to be recognized as a pastor would be +compelled to pursue his studies at the proposed seminary of the General +Synod. 2. Of those entitled to cast a vote there were two pastors to +every lay delegate. "It would therefore be vain for a lay deputy to make +the journey, except he desired the honor of being a servant of two +masters." 3. The General Synod arrogated to itself the exclusive right +to introduce new books for public worship. 4. Luther's Catechism also +was to remain only _until_ the Synod would introduce other books. 5. +According to the _Planentwurf_, the General Synod could reject all +articles of faith or omit them entirely. 6. Neither the Augsburg +Confession nor the Bible was designated as the foundation of the General +Synod, nor even so much as mentioned in the _Planentwurf_. (52 f.) 7. The +General Synod was striving to establish a dominion over all Ministeriums, +as appeared from the statement: "Until the permission or approval of the +General Synod shall have been formally obtained, no newly established +body shall be regarded as a Ministerium, nor shall an ordination +conferred by them be considered valid." "Accordingly," they said, "one +had as much liberty as the rope permitted." (54 f.; 1822, 10.) 8. The +General Synod claimed the right to specify the "ranks universally valid +for the ministry." "Catechist," as the Report of 1820 has it, +"candidate, dean, and pastor will no longer suffice; who knows but +something higher will be required, such as bishop, archbishop, cardinal, +or even pope!" 9. Pastors were granted the right to appeal from the +decision of their synod to the General Synod. "Accordingly the case of a +pastor, be he ever so bad, may drag on for years; and if, owing to +extreme distances or other circumstances, the witnesses are not able to +attend, he may finally even win it. This provision renders the matter +similar to a temporal government, where appeals are commonly made from a +lower to a higher court." 10. "One cannot be sure that a spirit desiring +as much power as appears to be granted by this _Planentwurf_ will be +able to rest and not seek further power." 11. No one was able to +guarantee that this Lutheran General Synod would not later on unite with +the General Synods of the sects to form a National Synod, in which the +majority would then determine all articles of faith and all +church-customs. 12. Such a National Synod would be able also to change +the Constitution of the United States and compel every one to unite with +this National Synod, impose taxes, etc. (50 f.) By resolution of Synod +the reasons why some pastors in Ohio, influenced in their action by Paul +Henkel, rejected the _Planentwurf_ were also appended to the Report of +1820. Among them were: 1. The fear "of falling into the hands of a +strong hierarchy" by accepting this _Planentwurf_, since they knew from +church history that the Papacy had developed rapidly along similar +lines. (64.) 2. The General Synod would soon become English, whereas, +according to its ministerial order, the Ohio Synod "must remain a +German-speaking ministerium." (65.) 3. Every meeting of the General +Synod would mean for them a traveling expense of $168. 4. As the +_Planentwurf_ was subject to change, union with the General Synod would +be tantamount "'to buying the cat in the bag,' as the proverb has it." +These scruples reveal the fact that the Tennessee Synod viewed the +General Synod as a body which was hierarchical in its polity and +thoroughly un-Lutheran in its doctrinal position, an opinion well +founded, even though the objections advanced are not equally valid. + +93. General Synod's Constitution Criticized.--The critique of the +_Planentwurf_ was not devoid of fruit in every respect. Due to the +testimony of the Henkels, its hierarchical features were toned down +considerably in the constitution finally adopted at Hagerstown, Md., +1820. Thus, _e.g._, the odious passage regarding the establishment of +new ministeriums and the validity of their ordinations was omitted. +Still Tennessee was far from being satisfied with the constitution as +amended. Moreover, a committee was appointed to draw up their remaining +objections, and the report submitted was appended to the minutes of 1821 +and printed by order of Synod. It subjects the constitution to a severe +examination, and makes a number of important strictures. 1. The first +objection was raised against the words of the Preamble: "Whereas Jesus +Christ, the great Head of the Church, hath not given her any particular +prescriptions how church-government should be regulated, she therefore +enjoys the privilege in all her departments to make such regulations as +may appear best, agreeably to situation and circumstances." While +recognizing that Christ has given no prescriptions "for the regulation +of some things not essential to the Church," they objected to the +sweeping statement of the Preamble whereby the government of the Church +would be left to a majority of votes. Tennessee maintained that Matt. 18, +16 Christ prescribes to the Church how discipline is to be exercised; +that 1 Cor. 11, 4-11 sufficient rules with respect to public worship are +prescribed; that 1 Tim. 3, 1-3 the grades of ministers are described; +that 1 Tim. 5, 19-22 instructions are given how to receive an accusation +against an elder; and that 2 Tim. 2, 3-6 Paul shows that ministers +should not be entangled with the things of this world. "From these and +many more passages that might be quoted, it is evident that Christ and +His inspired apostles have given the Church sufficient prescriptions of +her government in all her various branches. They are general rules, and +yet applicable to every particular case that may occur, so that they are +also particular prescriptions. But that the constitution of the General +Synod saith, Christ has not left such particular prescriptions, appears +a strange, unwarranted, and arbitrary assertion." (14 f.) 2. The second +objection asserted that the General Synod was a yoke of commandments of +men, hence could not serve the purpose of true peace. According to the +constitution the purpose of the General Synod was "the exercise of +brotherly love, the furtherance of Christian harmony, and the +preservation of the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace." But the +Report maintained: "The attempt of the establishment of this General +Synod has not produced any brotherly love, nor harmony, nor peace; but +on the contrary, divisions, contentions, and confusion. This +establishment is nothing but self-invented rules and traditions of men, +and such as love Christian liberty cannot suffer themselves to be +brought into bondage; hence the confusion. O ye watchmen of Zion, pity +and spare the flock!" (17 f.) A "note" added by David Henkel, the "clerk +of the committee," explains: "That this institution of General Synod's +promotes unity in spirit is contrary to constant experience. The +Presbyterians, Methodists, and other churches are governed by General +Synods, and have many human rules and regulations; but yet from time to +time many disputes and factions have arisen among them, so that they are +split into many sects and parties. The Lutheran Church never heretofore +was governed by a General Synod, yet she never was divided until this +novel system was introduced. . . . The first Lutheran ministers +emigrated from Germany and Sweden. . . . Being few in number, no +particular synods were formed for many years; yet they were united. The +Augsburg Confession of Faith, containing the principal doctrines of the +Holy Scriptures, was their standard of union. It was unalterable; they +had no novel system, produced by a majority of votes, to expect. . . . +Each of these synods, before the General Constitution was formed, were +independent, and not amenable to any superior tribunal, except that of +Christ. Differences in local and temporary regulations, the formation of +new synods, etc., were not considered as divisions of the Church; their +standard of unity was far more noble, and exalted: the pure Scriptural +doctrines of the Augsburg Confession of Faith was their meridian sun, +which they viewed with united eyes; and anything less, such as local and +temporary regulations, never influenced their minds, even to think of +divisions. The Church proceeded peaceably, until the unhappy and fatal +period of 1819 arrived, when a meeting was called to Baltimore, +consisting of some of the Synod of Pennsylvania and an individual from +North Carolina, for the purpose of devising a plan for the establishment +of the General Synod, etc. (17 f.) Article III, Sec. V, which provided +that "the General Synod shall take good care not to burden the +consciences of ministers with human traditions," called forth the +following comment: "The General Synod shall not burden the consciences +of ministers with human traditions, yet at the same time the very +institution of the General Synod is nothing but human laws and +traditions! How vehemently our Savior upbraided the Pharisees for their +human laws and the traditions they imposed upon the common people! By +means of human laws and traditions popery was established.--Why are +preparations made now again to introduce that horrid beast? How careful +individual synods should be not to impose human traditions upon the +Church, but to remember that they do 'not assemble for the purpose of +making laws for the Church, but only to devise means to execute those +already made by Christ." (B. 1821, 26; R. 1821, 28. 29.) In an +additional "note" David Henkel remarks: "The unity of the Lutheran +Church doth not consist in any external forms or ceremonies, or +government established by men. It is independent of any general head +except Christ. The Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession of Faith +points out the true nature of her unity. . . . It is the same as if it +had said: the Church of Christ is but one united body, consisting of +innumerable members; but what unites them? All believers believe in one +invisible Lord, by whom they are governed, for He is their King; they +are anointed by the same Holy Ghost, for He is their Comforter and +Guide. This is an invisible, godlike union, not discerned by the carnal +eye, nor doth it imitate the unity of the kingdom of this world. Christ +is its polar star, the Bible its charter, ministers who proclaim sweet +words of peace, its heralds, Baptism and the Lord's Supper its seal, +bond, token, and security. This union is independent of all human +ceremonies, traditions, general synods, or anything of the kind, and has +existed ever since the promulgation of the Gospel in all realms and +climes. . . . A union which consists of human laws, ceremonies, and +discipline may be termed a political union--a union peculiar to civil +government of this world. Now, even were it the case that all who call +themselves Christians would be united in this manner, it would by no +means prove their spiritual unity. For many may conform to one external +rule, and yet be divided in heart, for they are not all Israelites that +are of Israel. It is evident, because the General Synod is but the +invention of men, that they make much more necessary to Christian unity +than the pure preaching of the Gospel and the proper administration of +the Sacraments, commanded by Christ. Thus, this establishment of the +General Synod must be contrary to the Seventh Article of our Confession +of Faith. True Christianity is thereby blended with human laws and +policy--the true lineaments of popery. . . . If no man is to judge +Christians in respect to meat and drink or of an holy day, or of the new +moon, or of the Sabbath-days, who, then, has a right to judge them in +respect of forming books for the public use in churches, or in respect +of meeting as a synod, without a formal permission, or in respect of +performing ordinations? The General Synod have arrogated this right of +judging and oppressing Christians in these respects. These are +prerogatives they claim, contrary to the doctrines of the apostle." +(R. 1821, 28.) + +94. Criticism of Constitution Continued.--3. The third objection +maintained that the General Synod was Lutheran in name only. Says the +Report: "This body, indeed, may call itself Evangelical Lutheran, and +yet not be such. The constitution does nowhere say that the Augsburg +Confession of Faith, or Luther's Catechism, or the Bible shall be the +foundation of doctrine and discipline of the General Synod. It is well +known that they always have been the standard of the Lutheran Church. +Why does the constitution not once name them?" "Had the framers of this +constitution been zealous advocates of Lutheran doctrine, they would +have been careful to insert a clause to compel the General Synod always +to act according to our standard books. It is an easy thing to prove +that some of the founders of this General Synod have openly denied some +of the important doctrines of the Augsburg Confession of Faith and of +Luther's Catechism." (B. 1821, 18; R. 1821, 19.) 4. The fourth objection +was based on the proposed membership of the new body, which, according +to Article II, was to consist "of deputies of the different Evangelical +Synodical and Ministerial Connections in the United States." Tennessee +commented: "This body [General Synod] may consist of deputies from the +different evangelical connections. It is not said of the several +Evangelical _Lutheran_ connections. If this body may consist of the +different connections, then it is evident that it may be composed of +_all_ denominations, such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc. +These all denominate themselves Evangelical, and are even recognized as +such by some who call themselves Lutherans. Thus it is manifest that all +denominations who call themselves Evangelical may have seats and votes +in this body, forasmuch as there is nothing to prohibit them from it." +(R. 1821, 22.) The German version adds the following: "The constitution +has opened a door where all manner of sects and parties may creep into +the Lutheran Church and extirpate her doctrine." (B. 1821, 20.) These +apprehensions of Tennessee were no mere products of their own +imagination, for just such a union of all Evangelical denominations +Shober and his compeers had been ardently advocating in the North +Carolina Synod, especially since 1817. 5. The fifth objection was that +the General Synod proposed to curtail the exercise of Christian liberty +in regard to ceremonies. Article III, Section II, provided that no synod +or ministry in connection with the General Synod shall publish any new +catechism, liturgy, compilation of hymns, or confession of faith +"without having first handed a complete copy thereof to the General +Synod, and having received their sentiments, or admonitions, or advice." +The Tennessee Synod held this to be against the Seventh Article of the +Augsburg Confession and said: "Why shall individual societies be robbed +of the liberty to introduce such books us suit them best, when our +Confession of Faith grants every person liberty in this case?" (23.) 6. +A further objection was raised against this article (III, 2) of the +constitution because its language permitted the introduction of a new +confession of faith. Tennessee remarked: "An opportunity is here given +to introduce a new confession of faith. This appears a conclusive proof +that the General Synod do not intend to be governed by (the Augsburg +Confession of Faith, nor vindicate the Lutheran doctrines contained +therein; for if they did, they would not by this clause have given +liberty to form other confessions of faith. Perhaps this may be one of +the reasons why they have nowhere promised in the constitution that +Luther's Catechism, the Augsburg Confession of Faith, nor the Bible +should be the guide of their body. They wish to have power to form a new +confession; perhaps more popular, and suited to the newfangled opinions +of this present age of infidelity. Were not the men such as Luther, +Melanchthon, etc., who formed the Augsburg Confession of Faith, as a +testimony against popery and other heresies, godly and enlightened men, +and to whose instrumentality we owe our light of the Gospel? Will any of +the votaries of the General Synod presume to say that this confession is +erroneous, heretical, and wicked? Can they form a better one? If they +answer in the affirmative, they are no Lutherans, as they call +themselves. If they answer in the negative, why, then, have they not +positively specified in the constitution that such should remain the +standard of the Church? Why have they given an opportunity to introduce +a new confession? It is known that all Lutheran ministers, when they are +ordained, are solemnly pledged as by an oath to maintain the doctrine of +the Augsburg Confession of Faith. But when there is an opportunity given +to propose and introduce other confessions, perhaps the very reverse, +what shall become of all the oaths made at the time of ordination?" +(24.) The German Report argues: "The Evangelical Lutheran Church already +has, for almost three hundred years, a confession of faith, to wit, the +Augsburg Confession. To this confession all Lutheran ministers are +pledged by an oath when they are ordained. Since the constitution +nowhere states that the Augsburg Confession shall be retained, and other +confessions of faith may be proposed, it is apparent that the General +Synod has the power to abrogate the Augsburg Confession entirely, and to +introduce a new and erroneous confession of faith, and consequently to +set aside the oath of ordination." (B. 1821, 22.) 7. A further objection +to the General Synod was based on Article III, Section V, which +provided, among other things, that the General Synod shall take good +care "not to oppress any person on account of differences in opinion." +After pointing out that this can only be understood as referring to +doctrinal differences, Tennessee made the following arraignment: "What +an opportunity is here given to introduce all manner of false doctrines! +If no person is to be afflicted in respect to difference in opinion, +then no person can be excommunicated for propagating any false or wicked +doctrine. One might deny the Holy Trinity, and encourage any system of +infidelity, and yet, agreeably to this constitution, no one could be +rebuked nor suspended. One might plead this article in defense, and say +the General Synod have no right to oppress me for my different opinion." +(R. 1821, 30; B. 1821, 25.) The German report concludes as follows: +"This is nourishment for the lukewarm spirit, where men are indifferent +whether true or false opinions are maintained." (27.) That also these +apprehensions were not purely imaginary appears from the fact that two +delegates of the Ministerium of New York, then identifying itself with +the rationalism of Quitman, were permitted to participate in the +organization of the General Synod. 8. Finally, Article III, Section +VIII, provided that the General Synod should "be sedulously and +incessantly regardful of the circumstances of the times, and of every +casual rise and progress of unity of opinions among Christians in +general, in order that the blessed opportunities to promote concord and +unity, and the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, may not pass by +neglected and unavailing." In this, too, Tennessee saw but "another +opportunity to extirpate the Lutheran doctrine." "For," said they, "how +is it possible that the opinions of Lutherans can ever become agreed +with those of Calvinists and other parties so long as they do not deny +their teachings?" (B. 1821, 30.) The English Report merely states: "All +that we can understand from this [Section VIII] is a desire to unite +with all denominations." (34.) Thus the Tennessee Synod, with the utmost +candor, exposed and rebuked the un-Lutheran features of the constitution +of the General Synod, which substituted external organization and union +for true internal Christian unity in the Spirit. David Henkel remarked: +"Is the General Synod a plant which has been planted by the heavenly +Father? No. It was planted by a majority of votes. . . . It is too +lamentable a fact that among the most denominations human laws, +discipline, and ceremonies are made the rallying point of unity!" (R. +1821, 30; 1832, 17.) It was in the spirit of truth and conscientiousness +that Tennessee had made her objections to the constitution of the +General Synod. "We conclude," they say, "hoping that the friends of the +General Synod will not view us as enemies. We would freely join in with +them if we could do it with a good conscience . . .; it is much easier +to swim with than against the current." (34.) + + +ATTITUDE AS TO CHURCH-FELLOWSHIP. + +95. Refusing to Join in with General Synod.--The practise of the +Tennessee Synod squared with her doctrinal position. Also +church-fellowship was regarded as a matter, not of expediency and +policy, but of conscience. In the conclusion to their "Objections +against the Constitution of the General Synod" the committee declared: +Since a general connection of all ministers in a General Synod would +exalt the clerical state to a high degree above the people; since +greater burdens might then be imposed on the people, and ministers could +thereby live more comfortably; since our widows and orphans also might +then live with much ease and our missionary services would be amply +remunerated; and since the union with the General Synod would increase +our popularity and decrease our burdensome labors,--"we, therefore, +would freely join in with them if we could do it with a good +conscience," and "if we could justify such conduct before the judgment +throne of Christ." (R. 34; B. 30.) In accordance herewith Tennessee, at +her first meeting, resolved: "It cannot be tolerated that a teacher of +our conference have any connection with the so-called Central or General +Synod, for the reason which will be adduced afterwards." (5.) The +minutes of 1826 record: "Whereas there is a report in circulation, both +verbally and in print, that some of us, members of the Tennessee +Conference, should have said that we now regard the General Synod as a +useful institution; that we disapprove the turbulent conduct of a +certain member of this body; that we (some of us) pledged ourselves to +leave this body if we cannot succeed in having said member expelled, we +deem it our duty hereby to inform the public that we are unanimously +agreed in viewing the General Synod as an anti-Lutheran institution, and +highly disapprove it, and are the longer, the more confirmed in this +opinion; and that we know of no member among us whose conduct is +turbulent or immoral, and hence have no desire either to expel any one, +nor do any of us intend to withdraw from this body. Neither do we know +of any member among us who is not legally ordained. We testify that we +live in brotherly love and harmony. September 5, 1826." (6.) In 1839 the +General Synod publicly denounced the Tennessee Synod, charging her with +un-Lutheran as well as unchristian doctrine and conduct. The matter, +brought to the attention of Tennessee by a petition from the +congregation at New Market and from Coiner's Church, was disposed of by +the following resolutions: "1. Resolved, That it is to us a matter of +small importance whether the General Synod recognizes us as an +Evangelical Lutheran Synod or not, since our orthodoxy and our existence +as a Lutheran body in no wise depends on their judgment. 2. Resolved, +That we cannot recognize the General Synod as an Evangelical Lutheran +body, forasmuch as they have departed from the doctrines and practises +of the Lutheran Church. 3. Resolved, That under present circumstances we +have no inclination whatsoever to unite with the General Synod, and can +never unite with them, except they return once more to the primitive +doctrine and usages of the Lutheran Church. 4. Resolved, That Pastor +Braun be appointed to draw up our objections to the General Synod, and +to show from its own publications wherein that body has departed from +the doctrine and usages of the Lutheran Church, and submit his +manuscript to this Synod at its next session for examination; and that, +if approved, it be printed." (B. 1841, 11; R. 1842, 8.) In this +connection the Tennessee Synod likewise resolved in no wise to take part +in the centenary of the Lutherans in America as recommended by the +General Synod. (15.) At the next session of Synod the committee reported +that they had examined the manuscript submitted by Rev. Braun, and that +it was "well calculated to place in their proper light the views and +practises of the General Synod and expose its corruptions and departures +from Lutheranism, as well as to evince the fact that the Tennessee Synod +still retain in their primitive purity the doctrines, and adhere to the +usages of the Lutheran Church." (10.) When, in 1853, the Pennsylvania +Synod called upon all Lutheran synods to follow their example and unite +with the General Synod, Tennessee took cognizance of this matter in the +following resolution: "Whereas we regard the Unaltered Augsburg +Confession as the authorized and universally acknowledged Symbol of the +Evangelical Lutheran Church, and consequently the belief and +acknowledgment of it, in its entireness, as essential to the existence +of Lutheranism in its integrity; and whereas we profess, in our +synodical constitution, to believe the doctrines of the Christian system +as exhibited in this symbol, and have pledged ourselves to teach +according to it; and whereas the doctrinal position of the General +Synod, as we understand it, is only a qualified acknowledgment of the +Augsburg Confession, as we think it evident, a) from the constitution of +this body, in which there is no clause binding its members to teach +according to the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and not even a distinct +mention of this instrument; b) from the constitution recommended by the +General Synod to the District Synods connected with it; c) from the form +of oath required of professors in its Theological Seminary, when +inducted into office; d) from the construction placed upon its +Constitution by the framer of that instrument, and other prominent +members of it; e) from the various publications made by distinguished +members of the General Synod, in which distinctive doctrines of our +Church confessions are openly assailed, and for doing which they have +never been called to account: be it therefore 1. Resolved, That we +cannot, under existing circumstances, take any steps toward a union with +the General Synod." (8.) + +96. Attitude toward North Carolina Synod.--In her relations with the +North Carolina Synod the practise of Tennessee was in perfect keeping +with her doctrine, her actions tallying with her words. In 1820 they +declared: "No teacher of our Conference may take seat and vote in the +present Synod of North Carolina, since we cannot look upon them as a +truly Evangelical Lutheran synod." (B. 1820, 9.) Neither was it +tolerated that a member of the Tennessee Synod at the same time be a +member of the North Carolina Synod; witness the case of Seechrist. (R. +1826, 4.) Furthermore, Tennessee declared that steps looking to a union +with the North Carolina Synod would be contemplated only if the +respective pastors of that synod were to "revoke their doctrine in print +as publicly as they had disseminated the same, and would give entire +assent to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession." (1824, 11; 1825, 6.) +At the sixth convention, 1825, the committee previously appointed to +negotiate with the North Carolina Synod reported that the ministers of +that connection had refused to deal with them, 1. Because this +"committee did not entitle them as a genuine Lutheran body; and 2. +because we appointed farmers to constitute the committee." (6.) With +respect to the first grievance Tennessee declared: "We must here observe +that we cannot consistently grant to the Synod of North Carolina this +title, because we maintain that they departed from the Lutheran +doctrine. This is the very design in preferring the questions, in order +to ascertain whether they adopted different views, since they published +their doctrines. We, therefore, entreat them not to be offended when at +this time we cannot grant the desired title, but to be contented until +a union with respect to doctrine shall have been effected." (R. 1825, +6.) Thus Tennessee was careful to avoid even the appearance of denying +her convictions. Dissimulation was not in her nature. True to her +convictions she formulated the address of her second petition for +negotiations as follows: "To the Rev. Synod of North Carolina, _who +assume the title Lutheran_, but which we, at this time, for the reason +aforesaid, dispute. Well-beloved in the Lord, according to your +persons," etc. (R. 1825, 6.) Similar language was employed in the +invitation of December, 1826, which the Tennessee committee (Daniel +Moser and David Henkel) sent to Pastors Stork, Shober, Sherer, and other +pastors of the North Carolina Synod to conduct a public debate, that +every one might be enabled to decide for himself "who are the genuine +and who the spurious Lutherans." The invitation reveals a spirit of +love, fairness, and willingness to yield in every point which was not a +matter of conscience, as well as true Lutheran conscientiousness and +determination not to yield a single point in violation of the Scriptures +and the Lutheran Symbols. Here Daniel Moser and David Henkel who wrote +the letter of invitation state with true Christian frankness: "You call +yourselves Lutherans, and we call ourselves the same; notwithstanding +there is a division. You have accused us with teaching erroneous +doctrines, and we, notwithstanding the appellation you give yourselves, +deny that your doctrines correspond with the same or with the Holy +Scriptures." (27.) "We are willing to forgive all private conduct which +we conceive erroneous and criminal in you. You ought also to be willing +to forgive what you conceive to be the same in us. But as we differ with +you in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, an +ecclesiastical union is impracticable, until the one or the other party +be clearly refuted and convinced." (29.) The following were mentioned as +the chief points of difference which ought to be discussed: "1. The +person and incarnation of Christ, etc. 2. Justification. 3. Repentance. +4. Good Works. 5. Holy Baptism. 6. The Lord's Supper. 7. Church +Government." (R. 1827, 26.) An offer of union made by the North Carolina +Synod, in 1847, was answered by Tennessee as follows: "Resolved, That we +accede to a union with the said Synod only on the platform of pure and +unadulterated Evangelical Lutheranism--a union which we shall heartily +rejoice to form, as is evident from the repeated overtures we made to +bring about such a desirable state of things." (R. 1847, 9.) + +97. Attitude toward Other Southern Synods.--Tennessee was conscious of +representing nothing but the pure truth of unadulterated Lutheranism +also over against the Synods of South Carolina, Virginia, and South West +Virginia. Despite enmity, contempt, and slander, they were unwilling to +enter into any unionistic compromise at the expense of the truth as they +saw it. As for the Synod of South Carolina (organized 1824), the +Tennessee Report of 1838 recorded the following protest: "Whereas the +Synod of South Carolina has recently employed various scandalous means +in order to bring the Ev. Luth. Tennessee Synod into disrepute, in +particular by the annotations contained in a sermon delivered by Pastor +Johannes Bachman, D. D., which was published with the approval and by +the support of said Synod (the aforementioned sermon, unless its evil +influence is hindered, is well calculated to make a false and unfavorable +impression upon otherwise honest minds, and to represent our doctrine, +synod, and pastors as being the objects of scorn, disdain, and constant +persecution); and whereas we believe that we stand on the primitive +ground of the Lutheran Church, and that the doctrine of the glorious and +memorable Reformation, which was wrought through the especial mediation +of the Saxon Reformers, Dr. Martin Luther and his immortal assistants, +exactly agrees with the Word of God, which we regard as the only +infallible norm of faith and life: 1. therefore be it Resolved, That we +regard the actions of the South Carolina Synod toward us as impolite, +ignoble, dishonest, and uncharitable. 2. Resolved, That we look upon the +assertions in Dr. Bachman's sermon as utterly unfounded and without the +slightest approach to the truth, but as base calumniations, well +calculated to insult (beschimpfen) our Synod." At the same time Pastors +Braun and Miller were appointed a committee to publish a refutation of +Bachman's sermon. (B. 1838, 11.) In his address delivered on November +12, 1837, Bachman, as President of the South Carolina Synod, had voiced, +with a squint toward Tennessee, among others, the following sentiments: +"We have never boasted of being an exclusive church, whose doctrines are +more Scriptural or whose confessors are purer than those of other +denominations round about us. . . . We will gladly unite with every +friend of the Gospel in producing the downfall of sectarianism, though +not the obliteration of sects. Our pulpits have ever been open to the +servants of every Christian communion, and we invite to our communion +tables the followers of Jesus regardless of what particular denomination +they may belong to." Dr. Bachman, in direct contravention to what the +Henkels had maintained over against Stork and Shober of the North +Carolina Synod, expressed his own indifferentistic and Reformed +doctrinal position as follows: "If Baptism is regeneration, why, then, +does not every one who has been baptized in infancy walk with God from +his Baptism? Why does not every one lead a pious life? Evidently, such +is not the case!" "As a matter of fact, for a hundred years the Lutheran +Church has abandoned the moot question of the body of Christ, etc., and +has left it to the consciences of its members to decide what they must +believe according to Holy Writ. This we may do without deviating from +the faith of our Church, since at our ordination, especially in this +country, we confess nothing more than that the fundamental articles of +the divine Word are, in a manner substantially correct, presented in the +doctrinal articles of the Augsburg Confession." (_Kirchl. Mitt_. 1846, +34 f.) In the same year (1838) the Tennessee Synod instructed its +secretary to inquire of the president of the Virginia Synod (organized +1829 at Woodstock) why, according to the resolution passed at their last +meeting, they do "not recognize the members of the Tennessee Conference +as Evangelical Lutheran pastors." (B. 1838 12.) And, when, in 1848, the +Western Virginia Synod (Southwest Virginia Synod, organized 1841) +requested an exchange of delegates, Tennessee answered: "Resolved, That, +although it would afford us the highest gratification, and we most +sincerely desire to see those who are one with us in name also united in +doctrine and practise, and in that case would most cheerfully unite and +cooperate with them in such measures as are calculated to advance and +promote the cause of truth, yet we wish it to be distinctly understood +that, however much a union is desired, it can only be effected upon the +assurance of a strict adherence to the doctrines and usages of our +Church as set forth in its Symbols; and until we can have this +assurance, we, on our part, can consent to no such union." (R. 1848, 8.) + + +EFFORTS AT UNITY AND PEACE. + +98. Attempts at Union with North Carolina.--Though universally decried +as the "Quarreling Conference," Tennessee enjoyed and cultivated unity +and harmony within, and zealously also sought peace and unity with other +Lutheran synods. In 1826 all of the Tennessee ministers signed a +document, denying a report circulated by their enemies, according to +which Tennessee was disagreed as to its attitude toward the General +Synod, and declaring: "We testify that we live in brotherly love and +harmony." The minutes add: "Thus it is evident that all the ministers of +this body live in brotherly love, and entertain uniform sentiments." +(7.) Nor did the staunch, unbending doctrinal position of Tennessee +prove to be a hindrance of, and a check upon, their efforts at unity and +peace, but rather a spur to most earnest endeavors in this direction. +Moreover, after having themselves fully realized that the Lutheran +Confessions contain nothing but God's eternal truth over against the +manifest errors of the Roman and other churches, it was, as shown above, +the ambition and prayer of the Henkels to lead the American Lutheran +synods out of the mire of sectarian aberrations back to the +unadulterated Lutheranism of Luther and the Lutheran Symbols. When, in +1824, some members of the North Carolina Synod made proposals for a +union of the two synods, Tennessee forthwith appointed a committee to +negotiate with them. (10.) This committee was instructed to compile the +controverted points of doctrine from the writings of the two parties, +"and to put into one column what the ministers of the North Carolina +Synod teach, and in an adjoining column what the Tennessee Synod +teaches, so that every one may immediately perceive the difference." In +this way they hoped to enable every one to decide for himself which +party taught according to the Augsburg Confession. In the interest of +truth the committee was also authorized to direct such questions to the +North Carolina Synod as they might see fit. (11.) It was, however, +resolved that any further arrangements for union were not to be made +until "said pastors, in case they would be convinced, recall their +doctrine in print as publicly as they had disseminated it, and fully +assent to the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession and to Lutheran order +as it obtained before the institution of the General Synod arose." (11.) +Following are the questions which were directed "to the Messrs. C. +Stork, G. Shober, Jacob Sherer, Daniel Sherer, Jacob Miller, Martin +Walter, and to all other men belonging to this connection" (North +Carolina Synod): "1. Do ye intend for the future to maintain what you +have asserted, _viz_.: 'Baptized or not baptized, faith saves us?' Or +upon mature deliberation, have ye concluded publicly to revoke the same +as erroneous? 2. Will ye also maintain that the Christian Church may +consist of twenty different opinions? 3. Do ye deny that the true body +and blood of Jesus Christ are really present in the Lord's Supper, and +administered and received under the external signs of bread and wine? +and that also the unbelieving communicants do eat and drink His body and +blood? Further, do ye deny that Jesus Christ, agreeably to both natures, +as God and man, inseparably connected in one person, is omnipresent, and +thus an object of supreme worship? 4. Do ye intend to relinquish the +General Synod, if in case ye cannot prove the same to be founded in the +Holy Scriptures?" (R. 1825, 8; B. 1824, Appendix, 2.) However, the +Carolina Synod declined to answer. The Tennessee committee reported +1825: "The ministers of said connection [Carolina Synod] refused to +answer the committee that was appointed last year to negotiate with +them. The reasons of their refusal shall here be inserted: Said +ministers assign the following reasons which we learn from Mr. J. +Sherer's letter and their minutes: 1. That the committee did not entitle +them as a genuine Lutheran body; and 2. because we appointed farmers to +constitute the committee." (R. 1825, 6.) David Henkel wrote in 1827: "In +the year 1822 I addressed a letter to them [North Carolina Synod]. . . . +But they refused to accept the letter because they got offended with the +address which was, 'The Lutheran Synod of North Carolina and adjoining +States, _so called_.' The Tennessee Synod have since, at several of +their sessions, made sundry propositions to them for a reciprocal trial, +and have proposed some questions to them which they were requested to +answer. But as they were not addressed in such manner as to recognize +them as genuine Lutherans, they rejected every proposition. It must, +however, be observed that they were not thus addressed through contempt, +but rather through, necessity. One of the charges against them is that +they deviated from the Lutheran doctrines; hence had we addressed them +in such manner as to have recognized them as genuine Lutherans, they +might easily have justified themselves under the covert of the address, +and have produced it as an evidence against our charge." (R. 1827, 35.) +However, though North Carolina had not even answered their letter, +Tennessee did not relinquish her efforts at peace and harmony. In the +following year, 1825, a memorial subscribed by nine persons was +submitted, requesting Synod "to make another attempt to effect a union +with the ministers of the North Carolina Synod; yet so that the genuine +Lutheran doctrine be not thereby suppressed." (R. 1825, 6.) Pursuant to +this request, "it was resolved that the questions again should be +preferred in a friendly manner; and provided their answer should prove +satisfactory, all the necessary regulations shall be made to effect +peace and harmony." (7.) At the same time Tennessee explained and +justified their action of withholding from the North Carolina Synod the +title Lutheran, and of appointing laymen, "farmers," as they were styled +by North Carolina, to constitute the committee. "It was believed," David +Henkel declared with respect to the latter point, "laymen would act more +impartially, since the ministers are more immediately concerned in this +controversy. Neither can I discover that all the farmers are so +contemptible a class of people that Mr. Sherer could possibly be +offended at the appointment!" (R. 1825, 7.) Regarding the first point +Synod declared: "We must here observe that we cannot consistently grant +to the Synod of North Carolina this title [Lutheran], because we +maintain that they departed from the Lutheran doctrine. . . . We +therefore entreat them not to be offended when at this time we cannot +grant the desired title, but to be contented until a union with respect +to doctrine shall have been effected." (R. 1825, 7.) In accordance +herewith the letter to the North Carolina Synod was addressed as +follows: "To the Rev. Synod of North Carolina who assume the title +Lutheran; but which we at this time, for the reason aforesaid, dispute. +Well-beloved in the Lord, according to your persons!" (R. 1825, 7.) + +99. Debates at Organ and St. Paul's Churches.--According to her +resolutions of 1825, Tennessee was ready to establish peace and harmony +with the North Carolina Synod. But one proviso had been added by +Tennessee, limiting this action as follows: "Provided their [North +Carolina's] answer should prove satisfactory." If such, however, should +not be the case, they proposed public discussions of the differences. +The minutes continue: "But if in case their answers should not prove +satisfactory, that we propose to them to appoint a certain time and +place, and that each party appoint a speaker, for the purpose of +exhibiting the disputed doctrines, so that the assembly, which may be +present, may discover the difference; and that also all the arguments, +on both sides, may afterwards be published." (R. 1825, 7.) In the +following year, when the questions preferred were still unanswered by +North Carolina, Tennessee resolved: "This Synod have made sundry +proposals to the North Carolina connection for the purpose of amicably +adjusting the difference which exists with respect to doctrine and other +differences, but said connection have hitherto refused to comply with +any of the proposals. Although it seems to be in vain to make any +further propositions, yet this Synod deem it their duty to adopt the +following resolutions: 1. That the Revs. Adam Miller, Daniel Moser, and +David Henkel be authorized to proclaim and hold a public meeting at or +near the Organ Church, Rowan Co., N.C. They shall continue said meeting +at least three days, and preach on the disputed points of doctrine. 2. +That they invite the Revs. C. A. Stork and Daniel Sherer, who reside +near said Organ Church, to attend said meeting, and give them an +opportunity of alleging their objections and proving their doctrines. +Further, that as many of the other ministers belonging to the North +Carolina connection as may be conveniently notified be also invited to +attend for the same purpose. This will afford an opportunity to a number +of people to ascertain which party have deviated from the Lutheran +doctrine. This meeting shall, if God permit, commence on the 4th day of +next November." (R. 1826, 5.) The public meeting was duly proclaimed at +Organ Church in Rowan Co., N.C., on the 4th of November. A notice was +inserted into the weekly paper, and some of the ministers were +individually requested to attend. However, not one of the North Carolina +Synod ministers put in his appearance, or made any official statement of +their reasons for not attending. Persons who had visited Rev. Stork +quoted him as having said: "Let them [the committee] come to our Synod, +which is the proper place to discuss these points." (R. 1827, 5.) +Stork's remark suggested the arrangement of a second debate in +connection with the prospective meeting of the North Carolina Synod in +St. Paul's Church, Lincoln Co., beginning May 7, 1827. The Tennessee +Report of 1827 records: "On the day appointed [November 4, 1826], +Messrs. Moser and Henkel attended [the meeting at the Organ Church]; but +none of the ministers whom they had invited. Whereupon sundry +respectable members of the Lutheran community [in Lincoln Co.] requested +the committee [of the Tennessee Synod, Moser and Henkel] to renew this +invitation, and to make another appointment. The same request was also +made by the Lutheran Joint Committee of this county [composed of members +of several Lutheran congregations in Lincoln County], at their session +on the 9th of last December [1826]. Accordingly, Messrs. Moser and +Henkel renewed the invitation, and proclaimed another meeting." (25.) +The request of the Lutheran Joint Committee reads as follows: "To +Lutherans. The Lutheran Tennessee Synod had appointed a committee for +the purpose of publicly debating some points of doctrine, which are in +dispute between the aforesaid Synod, and that which is commonly called +the Synod of North Carolina and adjoining States. Some members of the +latter were invited and notified by the committee to attend at Organ +Church, on the 4th ult., for the purpose of reciprocally discussing the +aforesaid points of doctrine. Two of the committee attended, but none of +the ministers of the North Carolina Synod. Whatever reasons they may +have had for not attending, we, the members of several Lutheran +congregations in this county, being assembled and constituting a joint +committee for the purpose of regulating the internal government of the +same, request said committee to proclaim another public meeting at a +convenient place for the aforesaid purpose, and to invite the members +of the North Carolina Synod to attend the same. We also hereby request +the members of the North Carolina Synod to meet the committee [of +Tennessee] in a friendly manner, in order to discuss the doctrines in +dispute." Moser and Henkel responded: "We . . . acquiesce in your +request, and deem it pertinent to the manifestation of the truth." (26.) +They also published a proclamation, inviting the ministers of the North +Carolina Synod to attend a public meeting to be held in St. Paul's +Church, Lincoln Co., "to commence on the day after you shall have +adjourned, and to continue at least three days." (R. 1827, 27.) Again +invitations and notices of the projected meeting were printed, and a +copy was sent to each of the ministers of the North Carolina Synod a +few months prior to their session. And when the North Carolina Synod was +convened, by special messenger, a letter was sent to the president for +presentation to Synod, inviting them to attend the proposed debate, at +the same time asking them to give their reasons in case they should +refuse to comply with the request. On the following day the messenger, +Mr. Rudisill, applied for an answer, and again on the day of +adjournment; but in vain. The Report of 1827 records: "Mr. Rudisill +handed this letter to the president, who, taking it, replied that it was +not properly directed to them; notwithstanding it should be given to a +committee appointed by this Synod, who should report on the same. On the +next day Mr. Rudisill applied for an answer, but he received none. On +Wednesday, the day of their adjournment, Mr. Rudisill again requested an +answer, but he again received none. Neither did the Synod assign any +reason for their refusal. Whereupon Mr. Rudisill publicly proclaimed +that Messrs. Moser and Henkel would attend on the next day, _i.e._, on +Thursday, and discourse upon these disputed topics, and invited all who +were present to attend. Accordingly, Messrs. Moser and Henkel attended, +but none of the ministerium of the North Carolina Synod appeared. The +most of them, or perhaps all, had started on their way home. The +members of the church who were present requested David Henkel to +discourse on a few of those disputed points, with which he complied. +After his discourse was ended, it was concluded that it was not +necessary then to pursue the subject any further. The congregation, who +were present, nominated a majority of the members of this committee to +draw up the above statements. It was resolved that this report shall be +laid before the next session of the Tennessee Synod and that the same +shall be requested to annex it to the report of their transactions. It +was further resolved that David Henkel be requested to write a treatise, +in order to show the propriety and Scriptural grounds for the debate on +the disputed points of doctrine, which was offered to the ministers of +the North Carolina Synod." (R. 1827, 31 f.) Thus the repeated and +cordial offers on the part of the Tennessee Synod to discuss and settle +the differences were ignored and spurned by the North Carolina Synod. +David Henkel wrote: "As the committee, who gave them the last invitation +to attend to public debate, knew from past experience that to address +the North Carolina Synod with the addition 'so called' was offensive, +and was made a plea to evade a public trial, they addressed some of the +principal ministers thereof agreeably to etiquette, by their personal +names, and including all the others, believing that no rational man +would be offended to be called by his own name. Neither did I hear that +any of them objected to the address as offensive, nor to any of the +propositions for the manner of conducting the debate. Notwithstanding +this, and although they accepted a letter directed to them also by the +committee, and promised the bearer to return an answer, yet they +treated both the invitation and letter with silent contempt." (35.) The +repeated endeavors of the Tennessee Synod to draw the false Lutherans +out of their holes failed. The Lutheran Church of America was destined +to sink even deeper into the mire of indifferentism, unionism, and +sectarianism. + +100. Characteristic Address of Moser and Henkel.--The truly Lutheran +spirit in which Tennessee endeavored to bring about unity and peace +with the North Carolina Synod appears from the following letter, +published in connection with the debates proposed in the interest of +union, and dated, "Lincoln Co., N.C., December 10, 1826": "To the Revs. +Charles A. Stork, G. Shober, Jacob Sherer, and Daniel Sherer, and all +other ministers belonging to their Synod.--Sirs! You call yourselves +Lutherans, and we call ourselves the same; notwithstanding there is a +division. You have accused us of teaching erroneous doctrines, and we, +notwithstanding the appellation you give yourselves, deny that your +doctrines correspond with the same or with the Holy Scriptures. It is +hence somewhat difficult for some professors of Lutheranism to determine +with which party to associate, as they have not sufficient information +on the subject. We know no method which would be better calculated to +afford the people information and an opportunity for both parties to +prove their accusations than to meet each other, and debate the points +in dispute publicly, according to the rules of decorum.--Whereas we +are informed that you intend to hold your next synod in St. Paul's +Church in this county, on the first Sunday in next May, why we wish to +try your doctrines, and why we wish you to try ours by the Augustan +Confession and the aforesaid symbolical books, is because the important +question in the dispute is, Who are the genuine and who the spurious +Lutherans? For it is known that Lutheran ministers are pledged to +maintain the Augustan Confession. But if you should at said meeting +declare that the Augustan Confession contains false doctrine, and that +Dr. Luther erred in any of the doctrines which are here proposed for +discussion, we shall then, in that case, be willing to appeal +exclusively to the Holy Scriptures.--Whatever private misunderstanding +may have existed between us heretofore, we notwithstanding intend to +meet you in a friendly manner, without attempting to wound your feelings +by personal reflections. That we intend publicly to contradict your +doctrines as erroneous we beg you not to consider as an insult, as we +expect and are willing for you to treat ours in the same manner. We pray +you as our former brethren, do not despise and reject those proposals, +as a compliance with them may have the salutary effect to convince +either the one or the other party of the truth, and we are confident it +will be beneficial to many of the hearers.--We are willing to forgive +all private conduct which we conceive erroneous and criminal in you. You +ought also to be willing to forgive what you consider the same in us. +But as we differ with you in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian +religion, an ecclesiastical union is impracticable until the one or the +other party be clearly refuted and convinced.--We remain yours, +respectfully, Daniel Moser. David Henkel." (R. 1827, 27.) + +101. Probing Orthodoxy of Pennsylvania Synod.--In the interest of +doctrinal clarity and Christian unity the Tennessee Synod, in 1823, +addressed to the Pennsylvania Synod the following questions: "1. Do ye +believe that Holy Baptism performed with water, in the name of the Holy +Trinity, effects remission for sins, delivers from death and Satan, and +gives admittance into everlasting life to all such as believe, according +to God's promises? 2. Do ye believe that the true body and blood of +Christ are present, administered, and received under the external signs +of bread and wine? Do ye believe that the unbelieving communicants also +eat and drink the body and blood of Christ? We do not ask whether they +receive remission for their sins, but simply, whether they also eat and +drink the body and blood of Christ. 3. Ought Jesus Christ to be +worshiped as true God and man in one person? 4. Ought the Evangelic +Lutheran Church, endeavor to be united with any religious denomination, +whose doctrines are contrary to the Augustan Confession of faith? Or, +is it proper for Lutherans to commune with such?" (R. 1825, 9.) The +Pennsylvania Synod, which immediately prior to that time had been +planning to establish a union seminary with the German Reformed and to +enter into organic union with that body, treated the request with silent +contempt. Two years later Tennessee, patiently and humbly, renewed the +questions with the following preamble: "In the year of our Lord 1823, a +few questions were preferred to your honorable body by this Synod, but +as no answers have been received, and as the reasons thereof are not +known, we [Daniel Moser, Ambrose Henkel, John Ramsauer, Peter Hoyle] +were appointed by our Synod to renew the request, and to solicit you to +comply with the same. We most humbly beseech you to make known the +reasons of your hope that is in you, because we believe if this be done, +it will contribute towards restoring peace and tranquillity [tr. note: +sic] among all genuine Lutherans. We, therefore, renew the following +questions," etc. (R. 1825, 8 f.) "It was also resolved," the Report of +1825 continues, "that the Secretary of this Synod be ordered to address +a friendly letter to the Rev. Muhlenberg, member of the Synod of +Pennsylvania, for the purpose of obtaining his counsel relative to the +present affairs of the Church." (9.) However, these letters also +remained unanswered. But, even this did not exasperate, nor exhaust the +patience of, Tennessee, as appears from the following entry in the +minutes of 1826: "At our last session a few theological questions were +submitted to the reverend Synod of East Pennsylvania, and a letter to +the Rev. Muhlenberg; but we received no answer, neither from the Synod +nor from Mr. Muhlenberg. The cause of this delay we do not know; but we +indulge the hope of receiving satisfactory answers before our next +session." (R. 1826, 6.) In the same Report we read: "Several letters +from Pennsylvania [not the Synod] were read in which David Henkel is +particularly requested to visit that State for the purpose of preaching, +and arguing the peculiar doctrines of the Lutheran Church. Resolved, +That this Synod also solicit him to undertake this task. He agreed to do +so, provided he can arrange his other business so as to be enabled." +(9.) In the following year, however, as no answer had arrived from the +Pennsylvania Synod, Tennessee made the following declaration, which was +directed also against the North Carolina Synod: "Whereas there are +sundry ministers who appear under the disguise of Lutherans, +notwithstanding [they] deny the Lutheran doctrines, and as they are +patronized by several synods, this body deemed it expedient and to have +a Scriptural privilege to demand of other bodies answers to some +theological questions, in order to ascertain whether they differ in +points of doctrine from this body. Accordingly, they submitted a few +theological questions to the reverend Synod of Pennsylvania (now East +Pennsylvania), and have waited patiently four years for an answer. But +no answer was received. The secretary was also ordered by the session +of 1825 to address a friendly letter on the subject to the Rev. +Muhlenberg. The secrtary [tr. note: sic] complied with this order; but +Mr. Muhlenberg has not as yet returned an answer. In order, therefore, +to ascertain the sentiments of the several synods, as well as of +individual ministers on sundry points of doctrine, it was resolved, 1. +That there shall be a pastoral address directed to the Lutheran +community, in which shall be shown what this body deem to be the +genuine Lutheran doctrines relative to such points as are in dispute. +2. That the several Synods, as well as individual ministers shall be +requested, in the preface of the aforesaid contemplated address, to +peruse and examine it; and then, in a formal manner, either justify it +as correct, or condemn it as erroneous. That every synod and minister +who shall be silent after having had an opportunity of perusing it shall +be considered as fully sanctioning all its contents as correct, although +they should teach or patronize a contrary doctrine. 3. That David Henkel +shall compile and prepare said book for publication, and that the other +ministers of this body shall assist him in it. . . . This address is +intended to be published both in the German and English languages." (R. +1827, 6 f.) Also from the Ohio Synod, which at that time practically +identified itself with the indifferentistic attitude of the Pennsylvania +Synod, Tennessee received but little encouragement in her efforts at +purifying the Lutheran Church from the leaven of sectarianism. Says +Sheatsley: "The minutes [of the Ohio Synod of 1825] report that David +Henkel of the Tennessee Synod placed several theological questions +before Synod. These were discussed in the ministerial meeting and +answered, but as many of the older heads were absent, the answers +should first be sent to them and then forwarded to Pastor Henkel. What +the questions were we have no means of determining [no doubt, they were +the same questions asked the Pennsylvania Synod], but, judging from the +ability and bent of the doughty David Henkel, we may surmise that the +questions involved some difficulties. In the following year Synod +resolved that it could not answer these questions, since it is not our +purpose at our meetings to discuss theological questions, but to +consider the general welfare of the Church. This did not betoken +indifference [?] [tr. note: sic] to doctrine, but it was then like it +is now a Joint Synod; there was little or no time for the discussion +of these matters." (_History_, 73.) + + +TENNESSEE JUSTIFYING HER PROCEDURE. + +102. Confession of Truth a Christian Duty.--It appears from the +procedure of the Tennessee Synod, as well as from the resolution of +1827, quoted in the preceding paragraph, that Tennessee felt justified +in demanding a showdown on the part of the American Lutheran synods, +which had persistently refused to reveal their colors. However, being +unionists, indifferentists, and masked or open Calvinists, these false +Lutherans resented such a demand as obtrusive, arrogant, and impudent. +Hence their contemptuous silence. However, also in this matter Tennessee +realized that they were only asking what, according to the Word of God, +it was their solemn duty to demand. For to confess the faith which is in +him is not only the privilege of a Christian, but also an obligation and +a debt which he owes his brethren. Accordingly, when, in 1827, the +committee reported how all efforts to induce the Carolina and +Pennsylvania Synods to reveal their colors and to give testimony of +their faith as to the doctrines of Baptism, the Lord's Supper, etc., had +been rebuked with silent contempt, Tennessee passed the resolutions +quoted in the preceding paragraph. They felt called upon publicly to +justify their procedure; and this all the more so because a member of +the North Carolina Synod had declared "that it was not only improper, +but also sinful to argue publicly on religious subjects." (R. 1827, 36.) +David Henkel, therefore, in a treatise appended to the Report of 1827, +endeavored to show the propriety and the Scriptural grounds for the +public debate proposed to the ministers of the North Carolina Synod. How +Tennessee justified her actions appears from the following quotations +culled from this treatise: "The members of the Lutheran Church," says +David Henkel, "are pledged by their confirmation vows to support and to +adhere to her doctrines and discipline. Now as it is not a matter of +little importance to break such vows, it is therefore highly interesting +for every member to know who of the ministers and which of the synods +have departed from the confession of faith they have vowed to maintain, +as a connection with such would be a partaking of their errors." (33.) +"Because all Lutherans are pledged to maintain the doctrines of their +confession of faith, it may therefore be legally required of any one to +stand an examination, if it be believed that he has deviated from the +same." (36.) "The members of the Lutheran Church at the time of their +confirmation declare that they believe the doctrines as held by the +same, and every minister is solemnly pledged to maintain the Augustan +Confession. Independently of Synods, the Augustan Confession of Faith is +the point of union of all Lutherans, and by which they are distinguished +from other denominations. As all bear the same name, and are pledged to +maintain the same creed, they are viewed as one body. Therefore one +member is accountable to another, and it is one minister's duty to watch +the other's official conduct, as the doctrines taught by one are +ascribed to the others, because they constitute one body. How does a man +become partaker of another's guilt but by being in connection with him, +and not reproving it? 1 Tim. 5, 22." (37.) "Now as one Lutheran +minister's doctrine is ascribed to another, why should the one not have +the right to bring the other to an account, provided he believes that he +deviates from the confession they are both pledged to maintain? The +ministers of the North Carolina Synod call themselves Lutherans, but as +we believe that they propagate doctrines contrary to the Augustan +Confession, we considered it necessary to require of them to stand an +examination. It is necessary to correct a wrong opinion, which is, that +Lutheran ministers are at liberty to deviate from the Augustan +Confession whereinsoever they conceive it as erroneous. Some ministers +have declared that they did not care what the Augustan Confession +teaches, that they simply taught the doctrines of the Scriptures; +further, that Luther was only a man, and was therefore liable to err. In +answer to this, I observe that Lutheran ministers have no right to +deviate from any article of this Confession because the whole of it is +viewed by the Lutheran community as true and Scriptural. Let them +remember their solemn vows! Such as think proper to deviate, infringe +upon the rights of the community. It must, however, be admitted that if +any one should discover that this confession is unscriptural, he would +be justifiable in renouncing it. By doing so no one would be deceived. +If there are errors in this confession, why should any man who has +discovered them yet pretend to preach under its covert? Such as believe +that this Confession contains errors practise a twofold fraud. The one +is, that they cause Lutherans to think that they hold the same doctrines +as they do themselves, when yet they do not. The other is (provided it +be true what they affirm), that they encourage the people in those +errors, because they pretend to support the very confession which +contains them. That the Bible is the proper rule of doctrine must be +confessed; yet the question is, Does the Augustan Confession contradict +it? That Luther was a man, and therefore liable to err, is not denied; +but that he did err with regard to the doctrines contained in the +Augustan Confession remains to be proven. But if he erred, why do such +as believe this call themselves Lutherans? Such practise a fraud by +being called Lutherans, when they affirm that Luther taught erroneous +doctrines; or else [they] must own that, by being called after him, they +sanction such errors." (37 f.) + +103. Truth Always Seeks the Light.--In his justification of the +procedure of the Tennessee Synod, David Henkel continues as follows: +"The intention of the public debate which was offered to the ministers +of the North Carolina Synod was to afford them an opportunity of +manifesting the doctrines we teach, and to prove them as erroneous. The +same [opportunity] we would also had to have treated theirs in like +manner. The propositions which were made were calculated to have brought +all these things to light. They would not only have offered the hearers +who might have been present the opportunity of knowing the difference, +and arguments on each side, but the debates might also have been +committed to paper and published, and thus the whole Lutheran community +might have been judges in this controversy. When a doctrine is in +dispute between two parties, how shall the public decide when they never +heard the opposite arguments? Is it rational to condemn either party +without a trial? Whilst the deeds of men are to be concealed, there are +just grounds for believing that they are evil. Our blessed Savior says, +'For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the +light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth +cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are +wrought in God.' John 3, 20. 21. No man who is confident that he has the +truth on his side will ever evade coming to the light; for he is not +ashamed to profess and vindicate the truth; and though it should be +scrutinized to the utmost, yet he knows that thereby, like gold passing +through the fire, it shall become more brilliant. Even the man who is +diffident with respect to his doctrines, yet having an honest +disposition, never objects to be brought to the light; for he considers +that no greater favor could be shown him than that his errors be +overthrown, and he be led into the paths of truth. But the man who knows +that he cannot defend his doctrines upon Scriptural grounds, and yet +possesses too high an estimation of himself, hates to be brought to the +light, for he knows that his errors will be unmasked; 'for every one +that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his +deeds should be reproved.' Why do men make so many shifts to evade a +public trial of the doctrines, but a consciousness of being in an error +which their pride does not suffer to be publicly exposed? Many a man in +a hasty ill humor condemns a doctrine merely because the man whom he +considers his enemy vindicates it; and though he should afterwards be +clearly convinced, yet he believes it to be beneath his dignity to make +a recantation, and thus throughout all his days he is tormented with a +guilty conscience. In the days of the Reformation public debates were +highly conducive to manifest the errors of the papists. When Luther +confronted his opponents in the presence of multitudes, it was that many +souls got convinced of the truth, which before were kept in ignorance. +Had he refused to appear, especially before the Diet at Worms, what +would have been the result? Though he knew that his life was in danger, +if he appeared, yet he also knew that the cause he had espoused would +have suffered, provided he evaded a public test of his doctrines. The +Papists having been taught by experience that the public debates with +Luther proved injurious to their party, they avoided them as much as +they could and employed various stratagems to destroy him and his cause. +Luther says: 'The court of Rome most horribly fears, and shamefully +flees from, a Christian council.' Had this principle been uniformly +followed in the days of Luther that it is sinful to dispute on points of +doctrine, the errors of the Papish Church could have been impregnable; +and those who bear the name of Christian might perhaps yet groan under +papal superstition and tyranny. . . . Thousands have joined churches +with whose peculiar doctrines they are not acquainted, and even do not +know whether their government is republican, aristocratical, or +monarchical. They are satisfied with what they hear from their +ministers, without even examining their creeds or forms of government. +Such being ignorant, they are already prepared for a state of slavery. +They who so easily submit to an ecclesiastical slavery may also by +degrees, by the same means, be led to sacrifice their civil liberty. How +is it possible that people can with any degree of safety be in +connection with such ministers as are publicly impeached with erroneous +doctrines, and yet are not willing to be brought to light? Ought not +every person conclude: If such ministers believed that they had nothing +but the truth on their side, they would freely embrace every opportunity +of coming to the light, so that they might show that their works are +wrought in God, and refute their opponents' calumnies? That a public +debate would create animosity is no reason that it should be omitted. +Would it offend real Christians? By no means. It indeed might offend +false teachers and their votaries, who for the want of argument would +substitute the ebullitions of their anger. But what Christian can +imagine that no error should be exposed, lest the persons who are guilty +might be offended?" (38 ff.) + +104. Arguments Continued.--David Henkel furthermore showed from Phil. +2, 15; 1 Pet. 2, 9; 1 Pet. 3, 15. 16, that it is the duty of Christians +to shine as lights in the world, to instruct the ignorant, to give an +answer to every man who asks them a reason of the hope that is in them, +and then proceeds to the following conclusion: "Now if it be every +Christian's duty to answer those who interrogate them respecting the +grounds of their faith, how contrary to the Word of God do such synods +and ministers act when they refuse answering some important theological +questions either by writing or public interview! Do they refuse because +they consider the persons who interrogate them too far beneath their +notice? Does not this (if it be the case) indicate that they are +possessed with the pride of the devil? What! poor sinful mortals, do +they exalt themselves above their fellowmen? Or are they ashamed to let +their sentiments be known? Are they sensible that they cannot +rationally defend their doctrines if they were scrutinized? Or, indeed, +have they the truth on their side, and yet fear to let it be known that +they believe it, lest they should become unpopular? Alas! there are too +many whose sentiments may be correct, yet through fear of getting the +ill will of some others will not answer the most important questions. +Let such men remember, that, whilst they wish to keep the truth in +darkness, with a view to please opposite parties, that they are vile +hypocrites; and let them tremble! St. Paul says: 'For if I yet pleased +men, I should not be the servant of Christ.' Gal. 1, 10. We have asked +the ministers of the North Carolina Synod for the reasons of the hope +that is in them, or properly, for the proofs of their doctrines; and, +agreeably to the last invitation given them, they might have had the +opportunity of showing the reasonableness of their doctrines. Now as +they have neglected to endeavor to convince us, why do they warn the +people against us, especially since they are not willing to confront us +in a public debate?" (42 f.) Henkel continues: "We, as it has been +already said, are represented by the ministers of the North Carolina +Synod as enemies of the promulgation of the Gospel. Particularly I am +charged with teaching the most dangerous heresies, as may be seen from +a scurrilous pamphlet written by their president, Mr. Shober. How is +such a dangerous man to be treated by Christian pastors? Is he to be at +liberty without reproof? Is he to be opposed behind his back, and +defeated by arguments, or rather invectives, to which he has no +opportunity of replying? No. For such treatment has rather a tendency to +strengthen him in his errors, and cause such as are led by him to +conclude that his doctrines are incontestable; otherwise the learned and +pious clergy would confront him in a public interview. St. Paul +describes the duty of a bishop in this respect: that he should 'hold +fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by +sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.' He adds: +'For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially +they of the circumcision, whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole +houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.' +Titus 1, 9. 11. As these show that it is the duty of a bishop to exhort +and convince the gainsayer, and to stop his mouth, the question may be +asked, How is this to be done? It cannot be done otherwise than to +propose to the gainsayer an interview, and if he attend to it, to refute +his arguments. But if he refuses to attend, the bishop has discharged +his duty; for the gainsayer thereby shows that he is, already convinced, +and his mouth stopped, because, if he believed that he could not be +refuted, he would by no means avoid the light. Again, when the gainsayer +in a public debate is closely pursued by the truth, he uses invectives +instead of arguments, which is a plain indication of his mouth being +stopped. A false teacher is said to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, which +signifies to be under the covert of a servant of God. . . . Now, indeed +is it possible that the ministers of the North Carolina Synod represent +me as the most dangerous wolf, and yet can see me come among their +congregations, and gain a goodly number of their people, without even +being willing to confront me in a public debate, which would be +calculated to show me in mine originality. Why do they flee? Do they not +feel for their flocks? To pronounce them hirelings would seem +uncharitable. How could I otherwise acquit them of such a charge, unless +I would suppose that they in reality do not consider me as a false +teacher? Otherwise they would not flee, but stand public test. But that +they have called me a false teacher is perhaps owing to the violence of +the old man in them, whom they have not yet crucified through the +Spirit." (44 ff.) Finally, in defending the propriety of the procedure +of the Tennessee Synod, David Henkel refers to the example of Christ, +who "answered the questions of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and +the devil. Now, as Christ debated with wicked men, yea, with the devil +himself, with what face can any man say, It is wrong to dispute on +doctrinal topics?" (45 f.) David Henkel concludes: "Whereas all +Lutherans are pledged to their creed by a solemn vow, it must be a +matter of great importance for every one to know the sentiments of the +ministers under whose care he may be; for whosoever supports such as are +inimical to the doctrines of the Church acts contrary to his vow. Every +Lutheran ought to be certain, and able to prove by texts of Scripture, +that his creed contains erroneous doctrine, before he adopts a contrary +one, lest he incur the crime of perjury. The ministry of the North +Carolina Synod are charged with denying the most important doctrine of +the Lutheran Church, and have been requested to come to a reciprocal +trial, which they have obstinately refused. Now, what is the duty of the +people under their care? Ought they not to urge them to come to a +reciprocal trial? How can they consider themselves safe under a ministry +who are not willing to come to the light!" (47.) + + +DOCTRINAL BASIS. + +105. Attitude toward the Scriptures.--Regarding the constitution of +the Tennessee Synod we read in the Report of 1827: "Whereas the +constitution [of 1820] of this Synod is blended with the transactions of +the session at which it was formed, and as the unalterable articles are +not distinguished from those that are local and of a temporary nature, +and as the language is not sufficiently explicit, it was deemed +necessary, in order to supply those defects, to supply another. +Consequently a committee was appointed to draw up one for examination." +The committee complied with the order, drew up a constitution, and laid +it before the body. Every one of its articles having been critically +examined, Synod resolved: "1. That this constitution shall be annexed +to this journal [Report]; but it shall not now be adopted nor ratified, +so that the absent ministers, as well as the congregations may have the +opportunity of alleging their probable objections, or of proposing +necessary amendments. This also affords an opportunity for the members +of the present session to reexamine it. 2. But that, if no objection of +importance shall be alleged, or necessary amendments proposed by any +member of this body, or by any congregation, and be laid before the next +session, it shall then be considered as the adopted and ratified +constitution of this Synod." (9.) In the following year the new +constitution was adopted and ratified in a somewhat revised form, and +appended to the minutes of the same year. The English version is found +also in the Report of 1853. The First Article of this constitution reads +as follows: "The Holy Scriptures, or the inspired writings of the Old +and New Testaments, shall be the only rule of doctrine and +church-discipline. The correctness or incorrectness of any translations +is to be judged according to the original tongues, in which the +Scriptures were first written." (B. 1828, 13; R. 1853, 20.) The +Introduction declared: "Nothing relative to doctrines and +church-discipline ought to be transacted according to the mere will of +the majority or minority, but in strict conformity with Holy Writ." (B. +1828, 12; R. 1853, 19.) According to the constitution of 1828, +therefore, Tennessee recognized the Holy Scriptures as the only norm and +rule of doctrine and life. This had been the position of the Tennessee +Synod from the very beginning. As early as 1822 they declared: +"Forasmuch as the Holy Bible is the only rule of matters respecting +faith and church-discipline, and because the Augsburg Confession of +Faith is a pure emanation from the Bible, and comprises the most +important doctrines of faith and discipline, hence it must always remain +valid. Therefore our Synod can neither be governed by a majority nor a +minority, now nor ever hereafter, with respect to doctrine and +discipline. This is the reason why nothing can be introduced among us, +now nor at any time hereafter, which may be repugnant to the Bible and +the Augsburg Confession of Faith. Neither the majority nor the minority +shall determine what our doctrine and discipline are, because they are +already determined in the above-named rule. But that we assemble from +time to time is neither to form new rules, doctrines, nor traditions, +but as united instruments in the hand of God we wish to promulgate the +doctrine of the Bible, and to execute the rules already laid down in the +Holy Scriptures. But with respect to local and temporary regulations, +such as the place and time of meeting, and such like things, which do +not interfere with matters of faith and discipline, the Synod suit +themselves to the conveniences of the most of their members. We refer +the reader to the Seventh, Fifteenth, and Twenty-eighth Articles of the +Augsburg Confession of Faith, where he may find more satisfactory +instructions with respect to these things." (R. 1822, 9 f.) + +106. Augsburg Confession Adopted with a "Quia."--From the very +beginning the Tennessee Synod regarded the Book of Concord as a correct +exhibition of the teachings of Holy Writ, although at first only the +Augsburg Confession was officially received into the constitution. At +its organization in 1820 Synod declared: "All doctrines of faith and the +doctrine of the Christian Life, as well as all books which are used for +public worship in the Church, shall, as far as possible, be arranged and +observed according to the Holy Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession. +Especially shall the youth and others who have need thereof in our +Church be instructed according to the Small Catechism of Dr. Luther, as +has been the custom hitherto. Said Catechism shall always be the chief +catechism of our Church." (4.) "Whoever will be a teacher shall solemnly +promise that he will teach according to the Word of God, and the +Augsburg Confession, and the doctrine of our Church." (5.) The minutes +of 1821 record: "On motion made by Mr. Peter Boger, it was resolved that +a copy of the Augsburg Confession of Faith, likewise a copy of the +minutes of the Synod, shall be deposited in every church." (8.) The +Second Article of the new constitution, adopted 1828, reads as follows: +"The Augustan Confession of Faith, comprised in twenty-eight articles, +as it is extant in the book entitled 'The Christian Concordia,' is +acknowledged and received by this body, _because_ it is a +true declaration of the principal doctrines of faith and of +church-discipline. Neither does it contain anything contrary to the +Scriptures. No minister shall therefore be allowed to teach anything, +nor shall this body transact anything that may be repugnant to any +article of this Confession. Luther's Smaller Catechism is also +acknowledged and received, because it contains a compendium of +Scriptural doctrines, and is of great utility in the catechising of +youth." (R. 1853, 21.) The "Remarks" appended to this article explain: +"Creeds fraught with human tradition and opinions are rejected by this +body. Neither is the authority of a general council considered as valid, +or sufficient to establish any point of doctrine. . . . Now there is a +considerable difference when a body of Christians receive a human +composition [symbol] as an unerring guide in addition to the Scriptures, +or when they receive it to show their views as respecting points of +doctrine. Lutherans acknowledge the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of +doctrine and discipline; nevertheless they receive the Augustan +Confession _because_ it exhibits the same views they have on the +Scriptures, and is a formal declaration of what they believe. But if it +were possible to prove that the views on the points of doctrine +contained in the Augustan Confession were erroneous, it would be the +duty of this body to renounce it; nevertheless, in that case they could +by no means be Lutherans, as they would have rejected the views of +Lutherans. As there have been various editions of the Augustan +Confession, this body have chosen the one which is extant in the book +entitled 'The Christian Concordia,' because they are well assured that +that is genuine." (22.) The revised constitution of 1866 recognized the +entire Book of Concord as being the doctrinal basis of the Tennessee +Synod, thereby merely giving expression to the position which the +Tennessee Synod had actually occupied from the very beginning. In their +letter of December 10, 1826, addressed to the pastors of the North +Carolina Synod, Daniel Moser and David Henkel declared: "We also wish to +appeal to the book called 'Concordia,' as it is one of the principal +symbolical books of the Lutheran Church." (R. 1827, 28.) The sixth of +the "Alterable Articles" of the proposed constitution submitted to synod +in 1827 reads: "The book entitled 'Concordia,' which contains the +Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, shall be viewed as a directory +in Theology." (24.) After visiting the Tennessee Synod in 1855, Brohm +wrote: "Creditable witnesses have given me the assurance that, as far as +their persons are concerned, all the pastors of the Synod adhere to the +entire Concordia." (_Lutheraner_ 11, 78.) When the Tennessee Synod was +organized, it was the only American Lutheran synod which was pledged to +the Lutheran Confession, not merely with a _quatenus, i.e._, as far as +it agrees with the Bible, but with an honest _quia, i.e._, because it +agrees with the Bible. + + +CONFESSION ENFORCED. + +107. Confession No Mere Dead Letter.--That Tennessee did not regard +the Lutheran Confession a mere dead document appears from her attitude +toward the Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and other unfaithful Lutheran +synods, as delineated above. The treatise appended to the Report of 1827 +declared: It is necessary to correct the wrong opinion that Lutheran +ministers are at liberty to deviate from the Augustan Confession +whereinsoever they conceive it as erroneous. As long as a minister +pretends to be a Lutheran minister, he has no right to deviate from any +article of this Confession. Let him remember his vows! If any one should +discover that the Augsburg Confession is unscriptural, he is justified +and bound to renounce it. But if he continues to preach under its cover, +he is guilty of a twofold fraud. He deceives the Church by causing +Lutherans to believe that he agrees with them. And he deceives the +Christians by failing to warn them against what he regards erroneous +teaching. If Luther and the Lutheran Confessions erred, "why do such as +believe this call themselves Lutherans? Such practise a fraud by being +called Lutherans, when they affirm that Luther taught erroneous +doctrines; or else must own that, by being called after him, they +sanction such errors." (38.) Tennessee was not satisfied with being +_called_ Lutheran. They were seriously determined to _be_ Lutherans. +The Lutheran Confessions were the living norm of both their preaching +and their practise. In publishing books, receiving pastors and teachers, +examining candidates, in negotiating with other synods, Tennessee was +scrupulously guided and governed by the Lutheran Symbols. In 1821 they +resolved on a Liturgy to be prepared by Paul Henkel "according to the +Augsburg Confession of Faith and the Bible." (7.) In 1826 it was +resolved that Luther's Smaller Catechism should be translated into the +English language, and that Ambrose Henkel was to provide both for an +_accurate translation_ and for the publication of the Catechism. (7.) +Numerous instances where pastors were carefully examined with respect to +doctrine before they were admitted to membership are recorded in the +synodical minutes. In the Report of 1831, _e.g._, we read: "Mr. Rankin +[who previously had been a member of the Presbyterian Church] presented +himself to the committee. He was first made a full member of the +Lutheran Church by confirmation. Then, having taken the most solemn +pledge, he was ordained a pastor of the same Church with prayer and +laying on of hands." (8.) The Report of 1832 records: "Whereas Mr. +Rankin, as appears from a letter of Mr. Bonham, addressed to Synod, and +from other trustworthy sources from Green County, Tenn., _has departed +from the Augsburg Confession_, both as to doctrine and discipline, it +was resolved that Mr. Rankin be requested to attend the next session of +our Synod, and there defend himself against the above-mentioned charges, +otherwise we can regard him as member of this Synod no longer." (9. 16.) +In the Report of 1827 we find the following entry: "It was considered +necessary that one of the pastors should visit all the other pastors, +and their congregations, and examine whether there be any who deviate +from the doctrines and rules of our Church. But as none of the pastors +who were present could undertake this visit, it was resolved that any of +the absent ministers who may volunteer his services shall hereby be +authorized to make this visit, and to reprove all errors that may come +within his knowledge. Whatever pastor may undertake this visit is +requested to inform the secretary of his intention, and to hand in a +report of his journey at the next session." (12.) + +108. Symbols Regarded as Necessary.--In the "Remarks," appended to the +Second Article of the constitution, adopted 1828, the necessity of +symbols in explained as follows: "Now the question may be put, Is not +the Augustan Confession a human composition? Why is it adopted by this +body? Answer: The Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to 'be ready always +to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope +that is in them,' etc. 1 Pet. 3, 15. 16. From the history of the +Reformation it is evident that the Protestants were called upon to +deliver their confession of faith before the diet assembled at Augsburg. +Every Christian is not only privileged, but also commanded to confess +what he believes. Although the Scriptures be a sufficient guide without +any other, and though there be but one explanation of them which can be +correct, yet not all who profess Christianity explain them alike, for +their views are widely different. Hence, as all do not explain the +Scriptures alike, it could but be known what each body of Christians +believed; consequently others could not know whether they should +fellowship them, provided they had not a formal declaration of their +views on the points of doctrine contained in the Scriptures. But when a +body of Christians make a formal declaration of their views on the Holy +Scriptures, others are enabled to judge whether they be correct, and +thus may know with whom to hold Christian fellowship. . . . Lutherans +acknowledge the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of doctrine and +discipline; nevertheless they receive the Augustan Confession because it +exhibits the same views they have on the Scriptures, and is a formal +declaration of what they believe." (22.) According to his own report of +a conversation with a pastor of the General Synod, dated December 2, +1824, Andrew Henkel answered as follows the objection that the +Scriptures are sufficient, and that for that reason symbols are +superfluous: "I told him then that he had departed from the Augsburg +Confession, and, of course, from the Lutheran Church. He then told me +that the Bible was his creed, and not the Augsburg Confession, and that +the said Confession contained things which were not in the Scriptures. +I then replied and said that every fanatic and sectarian said so, and +that Lutherans as much considered the Scriptures to be the only guide in +doctrines as he or any other person did, but that it was necessary to +have some standard by which men could know how the Scriptures were +understood by this or the other denominations, as men varied materially +in their explanations of the Scriptures. I then demanded of him to show +wherein the Confession did not correspond with the Scriptures. He +referred me to the word 'real' in the article of the Lord's Supper, and +added that that word was inserted by the hotheaded Luther." + + +ANTI-ROMANISTIC ATTITUDE. + +109. Church Governed by Word of God Alone.--The Tennessee Synod did +not only realize the importance of the Symbols for the Lutheran Church, +but had correctly apprehended also their spirit and doctrinal content. +This appears from her uncompromising attitude toward the Romanistic, +Reformed, Methodistic, and unionistic tendencies prevailing in the +Lutheran synods and congregations at the time of her organization. As to +polity, the cast of the first American Lutheran synods and congregations +was of the hierarchical type. The congregations were subordinate to +their pastors, the pastors and congregations to their respective synods, +as a rule called ministeriums, because, essentially, they were bodies +composed of ministers. David Henkel had experienced the tyranny to which +such an order would naturally lead and lend itself. The Tennessee Synod +must be credited with being the first, in a large measure, to recognize, +confess, and defend the inalienable rights of all Christians and +Christian congregations. The Henkels must be regarded as champions also +of the basic truth of all normal church-government, _viz._, that no one +is to govern the Christian Church, save Christ and His Word alone, not +the pastor, nor the ministerium, nor the synod, nor any sort of +majority. (1820, 23; 1828, 12.) In 1820, when the leaders of the North +Carolina Synod, in matters of right and wrong, demanded subjection to +the majority of votes, the Henkels maintained: "We thought the doctrine +of the Augsburg Confession, of which we were assured that it can be +proved by the doctrine of the Bible, ought to be of greater authority +to us than the voice of a majority of men who are opposed to the +doctrine and order of our Church." (1820, 23.) Nothing short of clear +proof and conviction from the Word of God and the Augsburg Confession +would satisfy the Henkels. In 1822 Tennessee declared: "Our Synod can +neither be governed by a majority nor a minority, now nor ever +hereafter, with respect to doctrine and discipline. . . . Neither the +majority nor the minority shall determine what our doctrine and +discipline are to be, because they are already determined in the +above-named rule. . . . But with respect to local and temporary +regulations, such as the place and time of meeting, and such like +things, which do not interfere with matters of faith and discipline, the +Synod suit themselves to the conveniences of the most of their members." +(R. 1822, 9.) In a "Note" appended to the above declaration, David +Henkel defines the position of Tennessee as follows: "Herein is the +difference between the government of the pure Evangelical Lutheran +Church and the government of the General Synod. The established rule of +the pure Christian Church is the Holy Scriptures and her supreme Head, +Jesus Christ. Christ, by His Word, governs the Church in the doctrines +of faith and discipline; there needeth no majority of votes to +determine. In such matters as do not immediately interfere with the +doctrines of faith and government of the Church, as, for instance, to +appoint the time and place for the meeting of a synod, or the erection +of a synod, and such like things, herein our Church doth not seek to +exercise any authority, but granteth liberty to each congregation and to +each of her ministers to act and do as they judge it most convenient for +themselves. No one is despised for not joining with us in our Synod; no +one is oppressed who is not in conformity with us in matters which are +not essential to the doctrine of faith. Nothing can separate our union +or break our peace with any, only when they deviate from the pure +doctrine of the Gospel, and when they compose traditions of their own +and impose them on others. A majority is not to have authority over any +one, because they have no power to impose traditions of men on others +with regard to religion. The government of the General Synod is +altogether otherwise. . . . It is plainly to be seen in her constitution +that her aim is to impose a number of human traditions on the Church, +as, for instance, that no synod shall be erected in any State, unless +there are six ordained ministers living therein, and not even then +unless they are authorized by the General Synod. The General Synod is to +be governed by a majority; if it were not so, she would admit that every +congregation and every minister should act agreeably to their own +advantage in matters not interfering with the doctrines of faith, and +not seek such universal power, by which they may compel men to act +according to the will of a majority. The Church of God on earth was +never constantly governed right by a majority. In the times of the +prophets the Church was oppressed by a majority. . . . How was it in the +time of Christ? How did the majority act against the Savior? Who was +right? The great council of Jerusalem and thousands of their adherents, +or Jesus of Nazareth, and the few of His disciples who were despised by +the world? How was it in the days of Luther? What was he against +millions of the Papist Church? And yet every Protestant will confess +that Luther's cause was just, and is thankful to God that the light of +the Gospel was set up by Luther. But supposing that Luther had yielded +to be governed by a majority as the advocates for a General Synod +insist, or wish that the Church should be governed by a majority, might +we not have remained in the ignorance of blind popery to the present +day? The government of the world is supported by a majority, and thus, +many imagine to themselves, it ought so to be in the Church; but they +are greatly mistaken! Jesus saith, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' +and consequently not His manner of government. . . . Jesus Himself hath +already prescribed all things respecting the doctrine and discipline of +His Church, therefore we need no General Synod to give us prescriptions! +As touching matters not essential, as appointing the time and place of a +convention or the like, whereof no prescription is given, no one is +justifiable to give any prescription or direction, much less to compel +any one thereto, whereas all are to enjoy Christian liberty. See Rom. +14; Col. 2. But those of the General Synod undertake to erect universal +directions in these matters, or else they would not name their Synod +Universal. Whosoever submits himself to be governed by a majority must +be such as trust to a majority. The Scripture saith: 'Cursed is the man +who putteth his trust in man.' Jer. 17." (R. 1822, 11 f.) These views +were embodied also in the constitution of 1828. In the explanatory +"Remarks" to the Fourth Article we read: "As the aforesaid duties [to +supply laborers, detect false teachers, examine and ordain ministerial +candidates, etc.] devolve on all churches and ministers, they +undoubtedly have the privilege to perform them jointly, _i.e._ they may +constitute a synod. But no Christian synod can have legislative powers, +consequently have no right to make rules for churches. All necessary +and salutary rules pertaining to the government of the Church are +prescribed in the Scriptures; therefore every body of men who make rules +for the Church are in opposition to Christ. To make rules for the Church +is one thing, but to execute these rules already made, and to employ the +proper means for the promulgation of the Gospel, is another. The latter, +but by no means the former, is the business of this body. That there +ought to be no appeals from the decisions of congregations is evident +from Matt. 18, 15-20." (B. 1828, 20; R. 1853, 25.) Of course, appeals +from the congregation to the synod as a higher authority, to which the +congregation is subordinated, were meant. The Introduction to the +constitution says: "The rules and principles of church-government are +contained in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore no body of Christians have +authority to dispense with, or alter or transact, anything contrary to +them. Human traditions or rules impressed upon the Church as necessary +for Christian fellowship, which have no foundation in the Scriptures, +are rejected by our Savior. Matt. 15, 9. 13. 14." Although, in executing +the rules of the Church, different times, persons, and local +circumstances intervene, as, for instance, in one age and country one +language is prevalent, but not in another age, and perhaps not in the +same country . . ., nevertheless, Christ being omniscient, and His +all-wise Spirit having inspired His apostles, they have provided the +Church with salutary rules, which are applicable to all persons in all +places, times, and circumstances. Nothing relative to doctrines and +church-discipline ought to be transacted according to mere will of the +majority or minority, but in strict conformity to the Scriptures. Local +and temporary regulations, such as the time and place of the meeting of +the synod, the ratio of representatives from congregations, etc., may be +varied for the sake of convenience, hence are subject to be altered, +amended, or abolished by the majority; yet they ought not to attempt to +make their decisions in such cases absolutely obligatory upon the whole +community, because such regulations are only subservient to the +execution of the rules which are founded upon the Scriptures." (19.) + +110. Antihierarchical Principles Practised.--The organization of, and +connection with, a synod was regarded by Tennessee as a matter not of +divine obligation, but of Christian wisdom and liberty. No congregation +was condemned or refused fellowship merely because it refused to unite +organically with their synod. In the "Remarks" to the Fourth Article of +her constitution Tennessee explains: "When ministers and lay-delegates +are assembled, they may have a more accurate knowledge of the exigencies +of the whole connection they represent, hence are the better enabled to +impart their counsel. By their simultaneous efforts, vacant churches may +be supplied with ministerial labors, and others formed and organized. +Indeed, the same end may also be obtained by individual ministers and +churches; nevertheless, as it frequently becomes necessary for such to +receive cooperation from their brethren, this end may be obtained with +more facility by the meeting of a Synod." (1853, 25.) According to +Tennessee, then, the organization of, and connection with, a synod is a +matter of Christian liberty, wisdom, and expediency. But, while not +opposed to synods as such, Tennessee most strenuously objected to any +kind of human autocracy within the synods and congregations. When, in a +letter, several members of the North Carolina Synod designated Paul +Henkel "the head" of the Tennessee Synod, the latter declared, and could +do so truthfully, that their Synod "confesses no man as its head save +the one and only God-man, Jesus Christ." (B. 1824, 10.) The fact is that, +in the beginning, Tennessee was even without standing officers. The +chairmen were elected and changed at pleasure even during the sessions +of the same convention. (B. 1820, 7.) Largely, her opposition to the +General Synod also was rooted in her determined hostility to every form +of Romanism. (R. 1820, 55; 1821, 17.) "If you will consider," they said +to the North Carolina Synod, which had joined the General Synod, "what +pertains to true Christianity, you certainly cannot reasonably desire +that a government, shall be forced upon the Church, of which no trace +can be found in the Bible." (B. 1824, Anhang 2.) Indeed, in their +aversion to any and every form of synodical dominion over the +congregations Tennessee frequently went so far as to create the +impression that they viewed with suspicion and as questionable, if +indeed not as directly objectionable and sinful, every form of +organization of synods into a _general_ body. On this point, also in +her criticism of the General Synod, Tennessee frequently ran riot. But, +though occasionally losing her balance and making a wrong application of +her antihierarchical doctrine, the principle as such was sound to the +core and truly Lutheran. When the North Carolina Synod, without further +investigation, annulled a ban of excommunication which David Henkel's +congregation had imposed, Tennessee repudiated the action as an +infringement on the rights of the congregation. "For," said they, "it +cannot be proven anywhere that a synod has authority to break the +decision made by the church council and the congregation. In such +matters a congregation has greater power than any synod." (B. 1820, 20.) +In agreement herewith the Fourth Article of the constitution submitted +in 1827 provided: "But this Synod shall have no power to receive appeals +from the decision of congregations, with respect to the excommunication +or receiving of members. For every congregation in this respect is +independent of the Synod." The German version adds: "Hence Synod cannot +change or annul a decision of any congregation pertaining to the +exclusion or the acceptance of a member." (R. 1827, 22; B., 21.) The +form in which this article was finally adopted (1828) reads: "But this +Synod shall have no power to receive appeals from the decisions of, nor +to make rules nor regulations for, congregations." (B. 1828, 19; R. +1853, 25.) Neither did the Tennessee Synod arrogate to itself the right +to appoint pastors to the congregations or to remove them. The Report of +1824 records concerning Adam Miller: "This young man displays strong +inclination for preaching; but since he has produced _no regular call +from a congregation_, he could not be ordained." (14.) The Tennessee +Synod claimed no power whatever over the individual congregations. The +minutes of 1825 record: "It is reported that this Synod, in 1821, +ordered all the congregations not to suffer any minister who is +connected with the General Synod to preach in their meeting-houses. Be +it therefore known to all whom it may concern that there was no such a +resolution adopted; although, there was a petition handed in, +subscribed by three congregations in Tennessee, in which they stated +that they had adopted a resolution among themselves not to suffer a +minister belonging to the General Synod to preach in their +meeting-houses, and also petitioned the Synod to admonish all the +congregations to concur with their resolution. But the Synod sanctioned +their resolution only in part, in so far as not to be connected with the +General Synod; yet the Synod do not arrogate to themselves any authority +to prescribe to any congregation, whom they shall suffer to preach in +their meeting-houses. All congregations in this respect are independent +of the Synod." (R. 1825, 11; 1821, 7.) The Report of 1832 declared: +"This body arrogates to itself no power to make laws and rules for the +congregations, because it is against their rights and liberties, as well +as also against the Fourth Article of our constitution." Indeed, such +was their care not to exceed their authority that, _e.g._, Synod, +superscrupulously, refrained even from making a declaration how to +further the instruction of the young, but contented itself with merely +advising "the diverse church councils and congregations to make such +rules and arrangements how they might most fittingly and conveniently +(wie es fuer sie am schicklichsten und bequemsten sei) instruct their +young." (B. 1832, 9.) According to the Fourth Article of the +constitution it was the business of Synod "to detect and expose false +doctrines and false teachers." But the "Remarks" appended to this +article are careful to explain: "That it shall be the duty of this body +to detect erroneous doctrines and false teachers does by no means +suppose that the same does not also devolve upon individual churches and +ministers, for this body does not claim it as their prerogative. But it +is believed that this duty may be performed more advantageously by a +synod." (R. 1853, 25; B. 1828, 19.) Even the right of examining and +ordaining ministers was not denied to the congregation. The draft of the +constitution published 1827 declared: "The business of this body shall +be . . . to examine (_if requested_) candidates for the ministry who may +be called by congregations, and, if they be found qualified, to +consecrate them with the imposition of hands and prayer." (R. 1827, 22.) +The reading adopted in 1828 ran thus: "The business of this body shall +be to impart their useful advice . . . and, _upon application_, to +examine candidates for the ministry." (1853, 24.) The "Remarks" appended +this explanation: "Neither does this body claim the exclusive right of +examining and ordaining candidates for the ministry. For every +congregation has the privilege of choosing fit persons for their +ministers, and individual pastors have the authority to perform their +ordination. This is evident from the practise of the primitive +Christians, as well as from the Scriptures. But when any congregation +shall _request_ this body to examine and ordain the person of their +choice, it then devolves on this body to perform this duty. As the +aforenamed duties devolve on all churches and ministers, they +undoubtedly have the privilege to perform them jointly, _i.e._, they may +constitute a synod. But no Christian synod can have legislative powers, +consequently have no right to make rules for churches." (1853, 25.) + +111. Rights of Laymen Recognized.--From the very beginning the +Tennessee Synod vindicated to the deputies of the congregations the +right not merely to listen, to witness, and to testify, when called upon +to do so by the ministers, as had been the custom in the Pennsylvania +Synod, but also, on equal terms with the pastors, to deliberate, decide, +and vote on all matters submitted to Synod. (_ Lutheraner_ 11, 166.) +Article Three of the Constitution declared: "It shall not be allowed +either for the ministers to transact any business exclusively of the lay +delegates, or for the lay delegates exclusively of the ministers; +provided there shall be both ministers and lay delegates present." (B. +1828, 16; R. 1853, 23.) The "Remarks" appended, add the following: "It +is not the privilege and duty of the clergy alone to impart their +counsel in ecclesiastical matters, and to employ means for the +promulgation of the Gospel, but also of other Christians. The first +Christian council was convened in Jerusalem, and consisted of the +apostles, the elders, and the other brethren. They decided the question +whether it was necessary to be circumcised. See Acts 15, 1-31. The +apostles were inspired, hence could have made the decision, without the +assistance of the lay brethren; but it appears they desired no such +prerogative. This precedent justifies the laity in being in council with +the clergy for the purpose of deliberating on the most important +ecclesiastical matters. Christians, in common, are called 'a chosen +generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,' and +they are 'to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of +darkness into His marvelous light.' 1 Pet. 2, 9. Now, since Christians +in common have such honorable titles, sustain such a high dignity, and +are to manifest the praises of God, it may be concluded that they have +the same rights in church-government as the clergy. St. Paul, in writing +to the Corinthians, said: 'Do ye not know that the saints shall judge +the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to +judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that ye shall judge angels? how +much more things that pertain to this life?' 1 Cor. 6, 2. 3. Not only +the believing ministers, but also the laity are saints. . . . Now, if +saints shall judge the world, even the angels, why should they not also +be capable and privileged to transact the most important matters +pertaining to the Church? That laymen should exercise equal rights with +clergymen in church-government, is not only Scriptural, but also +conducive to the preservation both of civil and ecclesiastical liberty. +. . . From the history of the Church it appears that whenever the clergy +governed without the laity, they enslaved the people, grasped civil +authority, and persecuted those who detected or opposed their aspiring +views. This not only has been the case under the reign of Popery, but +also some of the clergymen who called themselves Protestants have been +the most bloody persecutors." (B. 1828, 17; R. 1853, 23.) In accordance +with these principles, laymen in the Tennessee Synod were also +represented on, or even exclusively composed, most important committees. +Thus, in 1824, three laymen were elected members of the committee which +was to confer with the North Carolina Synod in an effort to remove the +doctrinal differences separating them. "They appointed farmers," Jacob +Sherer of the North Carolina Synod, in a letter, remarked contemptuously, +"to instruct us, who in public print have slandered us, and treated us +scornfully when it is known to them that the priests' lips are to +preserve the doctrine." David Henkel, then secretary of the Tennessee +Synod, however, in a "Note," recorded in the Report of 1825, justified +the action of Tennessee. Here he wrote: "I conceive it to be my duty to +observe that it is truly astonishing that farmers should not also, as +well as ministers, be capable of judging the Christian doctrine. +Whenever it shall be proved that farmers are not to read the Holy +Scriptures, then only ought they to be excluded from this important +business. It is well known that in the dark ages of Popery the layman +was not permitted to judge in religious controversies, and it seems very +alarming that Mr. Sherer has expressed a similar sentiment, inasmuch as +he considers himself much offended because the Synod appointed laymen +or, as he says, farmers to constitute the committee. That the priests' +lips are to preserve the doctrine does not prove that it is inexpedient +or wrong to appoint laymen to assist on deciding a dispute. It was +believed laymen would act more impartially, since the ministers are more +immediately concerned in this controversy. Neither can I discover that +all farmers are so contemptible a class of people (so niedertraechtige +Leute) that Mr. Sherer could possibly be offended at the appointment! If +in case the committee have published anything, which is contrary to +truth, Mr. Sherer is at liberty to make it appear." (R. 1825, 6.) + + +ANTI-METHODISTIC ATTITUDE. + +112. Fanatics Described.--At the time of the organization of the +Tennessee Synod the Lutheran Church of America generally was suffering +with a threefold malady: Unionism, Reformedism, and Methodism. Methodism +may be defined as a diseased condition of Christianity, causing +Christians to base their assurance of salvation not on the gracious +promises of God in the objective means of grace, the Word and +Sacraments, but on feelings and experiences produced by their own +efforts and according to their own methods. As the years rolled on, the +early Lutheran Church in America became increasingly infected with this +poison of subjectivism and enthusiasm, especially its English portions. +Rev. Larros of Eaton, 0., said in a letter to Paul Henkel, dated August +2, 1821: "I remember when eighteen or twenty years ago many among the +Germans in North Carolina were awakened as to their salvation, and we, +in joyful hope, spared no trouble teaching and instructing, in order to +make of them men for the kingdom of Jesus, preserving the Bible-religion, +that even then one could notice how some were flushed and puffed up with +pride. This was evident especially at the time of the great revival of +the English Church, when, at the large meetings, their novices +["Neulinge," young English preachers] admonished the people, and, to the +detriment of the Church and the depreciation of the older ministers, by +their bold and arrogant actions indicated, that they understood the +business of converting the people better than the old preachers, and +this without being called to order by their superiors. Since that time +impudence and lust of ruling have greatly increased, so that the fruit +of it appears at public synods." (B. 1821, 35.) The Methodistic doctrine +of conversion, as related above, was a point of dispute also between the +North Carolina and Tennessee Synods. The Tennessee Report of 1820 states +this difference as follows: "Since our opponents [of the North Carolina +Synod] refuse to admit that regeneration is wrought in the manner taught +by our Church, we infer that they believe it must be effected in an +altogether different way. For almost all religionists of this time teach +most frequently and diligently and urge most earnestly that one must +_experience_ regeneration, or be eternally lost. We are also accused by +many that we deny the doctrine of regeneration. Our answer is: We do not +deny the doctrine of regeneration at all; moreover, we teach it as well +as our opponents. But that regeneration is effected in the manner and by +the means such as they teach and pretend, this we cannot believe, nor do +we admit that it is possible in this way. Some of them teach and +maintain that regeneration cannot be wrought in any other way than by +fear and terror, when one, experiencing true contrition and sorrow of +sin, is moved to pray and cry anxiously, beseeching the Holy Ghost to +perform in him the work of regeneration. They hold that the Holy Ghost +can operate this in such only as are previously brought into this state +of fear and terror. As a natural birth cannot be effected without pain, +in like manner, they argue, no one could be born anew without +previously, through anguish and fear, having experienced pains of the +soul, more or less. Such teachers, however, fail to observe that by this +example they contradict themselves. For in a natural birth, as everybody +knows, only the mother has pain, not the child, while according to their +doctrine the child ought to have the pain. Who, therefore, does not see +that their teaching is most absurd and questionable? Now, in order to +bring about regeneration in the manner they teach, it is the rule to +preach the Law and its curse. To produce the required pangs of the soul, +the poor people are threatened with the devil, eternal death, and hell. +The intention is to cause a sinner to pray earnestly in order, by such +prayer, to receive the Holy Spirit. To produce this result, joint +prayers are said to contribute the most, _viz._, when a number of +people gather and strain every power of body and soul in crying and +screaming to move the Holy Spirit, or even to force Him, to finish the +work of regeneration. They imagine that, by their own exercises in +prayer, and especially by their joint prayers, they have advanced the +matter and earned and obtained the Holy Ghost, and that, He [the Holy +Ghost] having united with their exercises and labor, the work of +regeneration was finished through the combined operation of their +prayers and the gifts of the Holy Spirit acquired by them. They mistake +imaginations for divine revelations. And the sensation rising from such +imaginations they regard as effects of the Holy Spirit. They apply to +themselves what the Apostle Paul writes Rom. 8, 16: 'The Spirit itself +beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.' They +declare: We are born anew, and we know indeed that it is so, for the +Spirit of God has given testimony to our spirit. But if one desires to +learn how He had given this testimony, whether they had seen Him or +heard Him, or in what manner or whereby He had given such assurance, +they appeal to their imaginations and sensations, from which also +something peculiar, like an apparition, may come to them; but whatever +this is we do not know. One can be absolutely sure, however, that it is +not the Holy Spirit. For as soon as you let them understand that you +believe that they have been deceived and you endeavor to lead their +attention to the testimonies of Holy Scripture in order to obtain from +it reliable testimonies, immediately their anger begins to rise, their +countenance becomes disfigured, and, alas, with some already a fist is +clenching with which they strike the table or their knees and declare +defiantly: 'I don't care anything for what you say; it is none of your +business; I know that I am born of God, and will suffer it to be taken +away from me by nobody, by no learned man, nor by any devil; what I know +I do know.' There is a reason, why such a person will not suffer his +opinion to be taken from him by anybody, and he need not fear that any +devil will rob him of it, especially when he is ready to use his fist in +defense of his opinion." (B. 1820, 32 ff.) + +113. Sober Attitude of Tennessee Synod.--In opposition to the +subjectivism of the Methodistic enthusiasts within the Lutheran synods, +Tennessee based the certainty of salvation on the objective means of +grace, placing especial emphasis on the well-known comforting passages +of Holy Writ concerning Baptism, such as John 3, 5; Eph. 5, 23. 25. 26; +Titus 3, 5; 1 Pet. 3, 20. 21; Rom. 6, 3-5; Acts 2, 38; 22, 16; Gal. 3, +26. 27; Mark 16, 16. "These passages of the Bible," they said, "show us +that we are not to seek salvation in any work which we ourselves can +create or perform, no matter whatever its nature may be, but only +through faith on the Lord and Savior Christ, who alone has done +everything for us, and through the grace which He bestows and confers +on us in Holy Baptism, whereby we are regenerated." (B. 1820, 34.) +Again: "From the passages here quoted the attentive reader is able to +see and comprehend that regeneration is not effected in the manner as +some teach." It was evident from the Scriptures, they maintained, that +Christ referred to Baptism when He declared that no one can enter the +kingdom of God unless he was born again of the water and the Spirit. +They explained: Self-evidently it is not a natural power or effect of +the water to wash away sin. "Yet we see that the washing and cleansing +from sin is effected alone [?] [tr. note: sic!] through Baptism, and +that by faith alone such grace is appropriated. Accordingly, whoever +believes and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16, 16." (38.) In this +passage, Mark 16, 16, Tennessee declared, "Christ in a few and clear +words indicates the whole condition under which a man can be saved. It +consists in this, that he believes that, for the sake of Christ and what +He has done and suffered for us, God will forgive all our sins, and that +by faith, in Baptism, he appropriates such promises of all the gifts of +salvation which God imparts to man for Jesus' sake. This also shows us +that man cannot be saved by his own work or merit, but alone by what God +presents and imparts to him. He obtains faith through preaching, which +is by th. Word of God, as Paul writes, Rom. 10, 17. Baptism is +administered by the command of Jesus Christ, Matt. 28, 19, through the +service of the minister of the Church. In this way God, through means, +seeks man before man seeks Him. Accordingly, for having been translated +into the state of salvation, man is to thank God and His ordinances +alone, not himself, his merit, his own works, or his experiences." +"Because we understand and teach this matter in the manner indicated, we +are said to despise prayer, declare it unnecessary, and teach men that +it is sufficient for salvation if they are baptized and attend the +Lord's Supper, and that nothing else is needed. To this we answer: +Whoever is baptized and has _true faith_ in Christ, is in need of +nothing else in order to die a blessed death; if he should die thus, he +would be saved, for whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved. +And Paul writes to the Galatians: 'Ye are all children of God through +faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized into +Christ have put on Christ.' However, if they are possessed of the true +faith, they will also acknowledge the grace of God, for which they thank +Him heartily. Whoever truly believes, loves his neighbor; indeed, he +loves all men, he prays for all, being moved to do so by love and +compassion toward all. Such a one will also experience many temptations +and tribulations by the devil, the world, and his own flesh against +which he will have to fight and strive daily. This will cause him +trouble and teach him to pray of his own accord. Such people we advise +to pray heartily, and give them instruction therein. And this we do for +the reason that God in His Word promises to hear them, and that they may +be strengthened in faith, to continue faithfully to the end, but not in +order that thereby they may be born anew." (36 f.) The question, "How +does the Spirit give testimony?" was answered by David Henkel as +follows: "When an evil-doer condemned to death receives a document with +the name and seal of the Governor affixed, that his crime is pardoned, +and that he shall be set free, then he is in possession of something +upon which he may firmly rely. By it he cannot be deceived, as would be +the case when such a thing merely appeared to him in his thoughts, or he +had dreamt that he was set free. In like manner he cannot be deceived +who firmly believes the assurances given him in the Word of God that +God, for the sake of Christ, has forgiven all his sins. The Spirit is +then giving him, through the Word, firm assurance of the forgiveness of +his sins. And if he remains in faith, he always has this firm assurance +in the Gospel which proclaims the forgiveness of sins. All men could +have such an assurance if by faith they were obedient to the Gospel. +The Romans had it, but only for the reason that, in accordance with the +ordinance of Jesus Christ, they were baptized and believed in Him. That +this text [Rom. 8, 16] does not, though always misinterpreted in this +way, prove that one must have been favored with a certain heavenly +vision in order to know that one's sins are forgiven, every intelligent +man will see without further explanation. The Prince of Darkness always +endeavors to lead men away from the ordinances and promises of God, and +causes them to rely on all manner of works and merits of their own, in +order, finally, to make the poor creatures believe as all Deists do, +_viz._, that Christianity is nothing but a nursery-tale. There is +reason also to believe that wily Satan presents some illusion to such +as, in an overwrought frame of mind, are in great expectations of +seeing a vision, and that they regard it as sent from heaven, and build +on it their assurance of the forgiveness of their sins." (43.) In the +letter, appended to the Report of 1821, from which we quoted above, +Jacob Larros says: "If I can again, after falling from baptismal grace, +appropriate to myself from Holy Scripture the blessed marks of a state +of grace and of regeneration, then it truly is no new grace, produced by +the storming of men; but it most assuredly is the same grace promised in +Baptism which has been found once more. The grace secured by storm [die +gestuermte Gnade] may also have its marks, drawn from the air or out of +the head, not from the Bible, but from the majority of false voices." +(B. 1821, 35.) Concerning the "new measures" (die "neuen Massregeln") +the Report of 1841 records the following: "Now the 'new measures' were +taken under advisement [by Synod], and after a carefully considered +discussion it was unanimously Resolved, That we disapprove most strongly +of the 'new measures' which have been introduced into the Lutheran +Church by modern enthusiasts, because we believe that they are in +conflict with the Word of God, with the doctrine of the Augsburg +Confession, with the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, and with +the usages of the Church in her best and purest era, and are calculated +to arouse discord and contention between the members of the Church." (B. +1841, 10.) However, though strenuously opposed to Methodistic +enthusiasm, Tennessee, at the same time, was very considerate of +Christians who were pietistically inclined, and care fully avoided +judging their hearts. In the Report of 1820 we read: "It is indeed true +that some men of honest mind do err in this matter; they do not perceive +the difference and seek in their own exercise and experience what in +reality they have already received in Baptism. However, if they are but +faithful, they will advance in holiness by the thing wherein they seek +regeneration, and thus it cannot, harm their salvation. The harm, +however, is this, that the Price of Darkness misleads many who are in +such error to believe that, since they seek to be regenerated by their +own works and doings, Baptism is unnecessary; and, remaining unbaptized +themselves, they will not permit their children to be baptized." (43.) + + +ANTI-UNIONISTIC ATTITUDE. + +114. Refusing Fellowship to Non-Lutherans.--The purpose of the General +Synod was an external union of all bodies bearing the Lutheran name, +irrespective of their differences as to doctrine and practise, and to +cultivate intimate fraternal relations with other Evangelical +denominations. The Tennessee Synod, on the contrary, was not only +opposed to any kind of union with non-Lutheran churches, but also sought +to bring about a separation of the true Lutherans from the spurious +Lutherans, and to unite the former in defense of true Lutheranism +against Reformed and other corruptions then prevailing in the Lutheran +synods. Unity in the spirit, unity in doctrine, unity in faith and +confession, was viewed by Tennessee as the _sine qua non_, the +absolutely necessary condition, of all church-fellowship, church union, +and cooperation. This appears from their attitude toward the North +Carolina and other synods, as described above. While Stork, Shober, and +others advocated a union not only with the General Synod, but with all +religious bodies in America, the Henkels and their adherents declared at +the "Quarreling Synod," 1820: "The general union of the numerous +religious parties, though a very desirable matter, is not to be hoped +for, as we can clearly see that such a thing is impossible at this time. +How should it be possible? Some teach: Christ died on the cross for all +men to redeem all. Others teach: This is not true; He died only for the +small number of those who, according to the holy will and the wise +counsel of God, are elected from eternity and are compelled to be saved; +the rest of mankind, also according to His wise counsel, God, from +eternity, has ordained and elected unto damnation, and they must be +lost. Again, some teach: Baptism is necessary to salvation, because +Christ and His apostles teach thus. Others hold: This is not true; +Baptism is a mere outward sign indicating obedience toward the command +of the Lord and nothing more; Baptism is not at all necessary unto +regeneration, as regeneration is wrought by the Holy Spirit without any +means whatever. Some say: It is right to baptize children. Others +maintain: Infant Baptism is an institution of the Pope. Others: It is of +the devil. Some reject every kind of baptism. Such and similar are the +people who constitute the present so-called Christendom: opinions, +opposing one another, and that always will be opposed to each other! All +these are supposed to be united in one church, and to become one +congregation and one flock, all under the care of one shepherd. That +would be like stabling together sheep, goats, lambs, cows, oxen, horses, +bears, wolves, wildcats, foxes, and swine, and putting them under the +care of one shepherd, saying, 'Here you have a united flock which now +you may feed and pasture in peace; you have many heads under one hat, +take your place among them.' That some were much displeased by this +objection to the general union is not to be wondered at, for some of +that stripe were present. There were also some of almost all religious +parties in attendance." (B. 1820, 26.) It is apparent from these +statements that a general union of all denominations, irrespective of +their doctrinal differences, was certainly not relished by Tennessee in +1820. Twenty years later Synod still occupied the same position. In +1841, after discussing an appeal which had gone out to unite all the +different religious parties in one big body, Tennessee "resolved that +whereas the Church of Christ is a gathering of all true believers, and +is not now, nor ever has been, divided; and whereas it is impossible +that all the different, contradictory teachings should agree with the +Word of God; and whereas it is also impossible to bring about a +Christian union of all the different denominations without the unity of +opinions; and whereas the teachers do greatly differ in their views on +religion and the form of church-government: a union of all the various +denominations in one large body is both impossible and improper; and +even if brought about, instead of furthering the kingdom of our +Redeemer, it would harm the welfare thereof and jeopardize the religious +liberty of our happy land." (B. 1841, 11.) + +115. Refusing Fellowship to False Lutherans.--That the attitude of +Tennessee also over against those whom they regarded as false Lutherans +was of a most determined and consistent nature, and free from all +unionism, has been shown above. Nor did they regard this a mere matter +of policy, but of conscience. With respect to their public testimony +against the errorists of the North Carolina Synod the men of Tennessee +declared: "Should any one raise the accusation that it was unbecoming +for us as teachers of the Gospel to publish and reveal this matter here +[in the Report of 1820], to him we give the answer: The prophets in the +Old Testament did also contend against every erroneous doctrine, and the +Apostles Paul, Peter, and John marked all such as taught false doctrine, +and warned the Christians against them. If, however, it can be proven +from Holy Writ that we proclaim erroneous or false doctrine, we will +suffer ourselves to be corrected. We cannot, however, for the sake of +keeping the peace, let everything pass and approve of everything they +preach, for we know that it does not agree with the Holy Scriptures. It +is certainly our desire to be able to live and continue to work in peace +and union with all members of the entire Synod. We cannot, however, +unite with them at present [because they were not agreed doctrinally]. +We consider it our supreme duty and obligation to defend the doctrines +of our Church against all false teachings; and though they proceed from +such as call themselves Lutheran preachers, we cannot on that account +spare them nor keep silence in this matter, even if we could thereby win +their favor and the favor of all great men on earth." (1820, 31.) With +special reference to Shober, Stork, and their compeers Tennessee +declared: "Should we help them to cover such bold things as you have +here read [errors concerning Baptism, Lord's Supper, etc.], because they +belong to our organization and bear the name Lutheran? Can we do this +with a good conscience?" (1820, 31.) True, at the "Quarreling Synod," +1820, the Henkels were charged with having served all religious parties +with the Word and Sacrament. They admitted that this was true, and +expressed their confidence that it had not been without blessing, at +least, for some. But they added: "This, however, must also be taken into +consideration, that they [the Henkels] had always taught such people +what our Church teaches, and that they had never preached anything else +in deference to them, or to please them. Now, if any one was agreed with +our doctrine, and hence felt free to hear our doctrine and to commune +with us, we could not hinder him. We do not regard the name of such +people, but what they believe." (1820, 25.) However, one will admit that +the practise of Tennessee at this early date does not appear to have +been fully consistent. The Report of 1820, for example, records: "With +the Evangelical Reformed David Henkel had no quarrel that we know of, +for many of them, who are members in good standing, receive Communion +from him." (18.) The following remark of the same Report uncovers a +similar inconsistency: "Should any one who has been baptized according +to Christ's command, and who has been confirmed in another church, +desire to commune with us and to be in fellowship with our Church, it +shall be permitted him, and he may be looked upon as a member of the +Church without being baptized or confirmed for the second time." (5; +1831, 8.) These shortcomings, how ever, do not dispute the fact that the +Tennessee Synod, in a manner most energetic and persistent, endeavored +to steer clear of, and opposed every kind of, unionism with the sects, +as well as with unfaithful Lutherans. In 1886, however, Tennessee, +untrue to its noble traditions, participated in the unionistic +organization of the United Synod in the South, and in 1918 she joined +the Lutheran Merger, which brought her into complete fellowship with all +the unionistic synods that constituted the General Synod, opposition to +which having been the primary cause of her separate organization in 1820. + + +TENNESSEE AND MISSOURI. + +116. Mutual Attraction.--The doctrinal, confessional, and practical +position of the Tennessee Synod being such as described, it was but +natural that, as soon as Missouri and Tennessee became acquainted with +each other, both should sense their kindred spirits, and feel attracted +mutually. And such was the case in spite of the fact that Tennessee at +this time had practically sloughed off the German language, while +Missouri was thoroughly German, and continued so for many decades. +Immediately after the first contact with Tennessee, Missouri displayed a +lively interest in these early protagonists of genuine confessional +Lutheranism. They rejoiced in having found in the Tennessee confessors +flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone. With great satisfaction +they reported on the antiunionistic position which Tennessee held over +against the old, apostate synods. In Loehe's _Kirchliche Mitteilungen_ +of 1847 we find the following: "Several Virginians came to St. Louis to +the Lutheran Pastor Buenger, and asked him whether he still adhered to +the old Lutheran faith, which he affirmed to their joy. Thereupon they +told of Henkel. . . . They had protested against an edition of Luther's +Small Catechism in which, with reference to Baptism, the words 'who +believe _it_' (die _es_ glauben) had been made to read 'who believe' +(die _da_ glauben)." (94.) The _Lutheraner_ of February 22, 1848, +published the Tennessee resolution, stating that they could unite with +the Synod of North Carolina "only on the ground of pure and +unadulterated Evangelical Lutheranism," and added the comment: "We +confess that a closer acquaintance has filled us with the best +prepossessions for this Synod. As far as we can see from the Report, +they are earnestly striving to preserve the treasure of pure Lutheran +teaching." At the convention of the Missouri Synod at Fort Wayne, in +1849, Dr. Sihler was elected a delegate to the Tennessee Synod. He wrote +to Loehe that "according to its Reports and confessions, this Synod +maintains an upright churchly position." "It would be a great joy," +Sihler adds, "if we could enter into definite church-fellowship with +them, especially, as we, above all others, have been stigmatized as the +'exclusive Lutherans.'" (_Kirchl. Mitt._ 1849, 92.) Reviewing the +Tennessee Report of 1848, Walther remarked in the _Lutheraner_ of +January 23, 1849: "Like its predecessor, this Report proves that this +Synod belongs to the small number of those who are determined not only +to be _called_ Lutherans, but also to _be_ and to remain Lutherans." +After reporting their chief resolutions, including the one expressing +their delight over the organization of the Missouri Synod, and +recommending the _Lutheraner_ to their German-speaking members, Walther +continues as follows: "We close this extract with the sincere wish that +the Lord would continue to bless this Synod, which for almost thirty +years, in spite of much shame and persecution, has faithfully testified +and fought against the apostasy of the so-called American Lutheran +Church, especially against the General Synod, and which, as far as we +know, of all the older Lutheran synods, alone has preserved in this last +evil time the treasures of our Lutheran Church; and we also wish that +the Lord would make this Synod a salt of the earth to stay the growing +spiritual corruption in other synods." (5, 84.) At the meeting of the +Tennessee Synod in 1853, a letter dated October 6, 1853, and signed by +Theo. Brohm and A. Hoyer, delegates appointed by Missouri, but unable to +attend personally, was read, stating, in part: "We are highly rejoiced +in this vast desert and wilderness to meet a whole Lutheran synod +steadfastly holding to the precious Confession of our beloved Church, +and zealously engaged in divulging the unaltered doctrines and +principles of the Reformation among the English portion of Lutherans, by +translating the standard writings of the Fathers, at the same time +firmly resisting the allurements of those who say they are Lutherans and +are not. Our Synod extends, through our instrumentality, the hand of +fraternity to you, not fearing to be refused, and ardently desires, +however separated from you by a different language and local interests, +to cooperate with you, hand in hand, in rebuilding the walls of our +dilapidated Zion. We are authorized to beseech your venerable Synod to +delegate as many of your members as you may deem proper to our synodical +meeting to be held next year at St. Louis, promising hereby a friendly +and hospitable reception. Should your Synod next year assemble at a +place more easily accessible, and more convenient, to us, we, or they +whom our Synod may appoint, shall not fail to attend." (1853, 18.) With +special reference to a letter of Rev. A. Biewend, also a delegate +appointed by the Missouri Synod, but prevented from attending, in which +he expressed "the hope and desire that a more intimate acquaintance may +be formed between both synods," Tennessee adopted the resolution, "That +we duly appreciate the kind regard of the Missouri Synod, and that we +also desire a more intimate acquaintance with them, and that we appoint +Rev. J. R. Moser a delegate to the next session of that Synod." (1853, +13.) In the Tennessee minutes of 1854 we read: "The Rev. Theodore Brohm, +of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, was introduced to +Synod, and received as a corresponding member of this body." (5.) +"During recess, Rev. Th. Brohm preached from Rev. 14, 6. 7." (11.) "The +Rev. Theodore Brohm, of the Missouri Synod, being present, the following +preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas the Rev. +Theodore Brohm, of the city of New York, delegate of the Synod of +Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, has appeared amongst us, and we are +assured from personal interviews with him, as well as from other sources +of information, that the Synod which he represents adhere strictly to +the doctrines of the Ev. Lutheran Church, as exhibited in her +confessional standards, and are zealously and actively engaged in +promoting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, be it therefore 1. +Resolved, That we are highly gratified to see Brother Brohm in our +midst. 2. Resolved, That we fully and cheerfully reciprocate the kind +and fraternal feelings expressed and manifested towards us by the +Missouri Synod. 3. Resolved, That we endeavor to cultivate a more +intimate acquaintance and a closer union with the Missouri Synod. 4. +Resolved, That, for this purpose, Rev. Socrates Henkel be appointed a +delegate from this body to the Eastern division of the Missouri Synod, +to be holden in Baltimore; and that Rev. J. R. Moser be appointed our +delegate to the Western division of said Synod, at its next session." +(12; _Lutheraner_ 11, 77.) Moser attended and reported to his Synod in +the following year. (1856, 23.) Brohm, relating in the _Lutheraner_ his +visit to the Tennessee Synod, said, in part: "Let the assurance here +suffice that, among the pastors in attendance, I have found a faithful +adherence to our common Mother Church, and that I have not met with any +essential doctrinal differences. It gave me great pleasure to observe +how these men, in spite of the great dearth of English-Lutheran +literature, have preserved such a living consciousness of Lutheran +orthodoxy and such a firm Lutheran character." (11, 78.) + +117. Tributes from Dr. Walther.--When, in 1852, the book, _Luther on +the Sacraments_, published by the Tennessee Synod, came to Walther's +attention, he wrote: "We praise God that He has caused this glorious +work to succeed. The importance of the appearance of this work in this +country, where the great majority of the English-speaking Lutherans have +fallen into Reformed errors regarding the articles of the holy +Sacraments, and are ignorant of, yea, do not even suspect, the good +foundation on which the Lutheran doctrine of the Sacraments is built, +cannot be estimated at its true value. After the Book of Concord had +been presented to the English-speaking Lutherans in their own language, +no better selection could have been made for them than the +above-mentioned three writings [Sermon on Holy Baptism, of 1535; Letter +on Anabaptism, of 1528; Confession of the Lord's Supper, of 1528 of +Luther, the chosen vessel of God for the reformation of the Church. +These two books, now rendered into English, are gracious visitations +indeed for the English Lutheran Church of this country. May it know the +time of its visitation! . . . And the right reverend Tennessee Synod, +which has issued both works (the Book of Concord and Luther on the +Sacraments) in the English language, as well as the dear men who moved +by love for the truth and the Church of their fathers, have regarded +neither the unspeakable labor nor the great expense connected with this +undertaking--may God reward them by showering His blessings upon them +in abundant measure!" (9, 115.) When the second edition of the _Book of +Concord_ appeared, Walther wrote: "We thank God for the unspeakable +blessing which He has conferred upon the Church of our adopted +fatherland [through the publication of this book], and in our hearts we +bless the faithful publishers. It is surprising as well as +faith-strengthening to learn that already in the first year a second +edition has become necessary. May many hands reach out for it, and may a +third edition soon become necessary!" (L. 11, 63.) Walther's joy and +enthusiasm over these works published by Tennessee in the English +language will be understood when we remember that it was the time when +the Definite Platform was preparing, and Benjamin Kurtz and others, in +order to discredit the "Old Lutherans," who still adhered to the +Lutheran doctrine of the Lord's Supper, were boldly repeating the +Heidelberg Lie (die Heidelberger Landluege), according to which Luther, +shortly before his death, disavowed his doctrine regarding the Lord's +Supper. (L. 12, 31.) + + +PECULIARITIES OF TENNESSEE SYNOD. + +118. Opposed to Incorporation.--The peculiarities of the Tennessee +Synod, several of which have already been alluded to, may be accounted +for partly by the lack, on their part, of correct logical distinctions +and clear conceptions, partly by their fear of synodical tyranny over +the individual ministers and congregations. Conspicuous among these +abnormalities is the rejection of civil incorporation us a reprehensible +commingling of State and Church. Article 5 of the Constitution declares: +"This Synod shall never be incorporated by civil government, nor have +any incorporated Theological Seminary under their care." (B. 1828, 20; +1827, 22; 1853, 26.) The "Remarks" appended explain: "This article +prohibits this body ever from being incorporated by civil government. +That the government of the Church ought not to be blended (vereinbart) +with the State, is a tenet of the Augustan Confession, amply supported +by the Scriptures. See 28th Article. Our Lord declared that His kingdom +was not of this world. John 18, 36. That the Church ought not to be +blended with the State is also according to the Constitution of the +United States, whose spirit and design is to secure to every person full +liberty with respect to spiritual matters. The kingdom of Christ admits +of no bondage, for 'it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy +Ghost,' Rom. 14,17; 'and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is +liberty,' 2 Cor. 3, 17. But when the Church is identified with the +State, it is also fettered by human traditions, aspiring priests obtain +the power to tyrannize men's consciences. However, an ecclesiastical +body may be incorporated by civil authority, and yet not be the +established Church of the nation; and so far as I am acquainted with our +civil constitutions there is nothing contained in them to prohibit a +legislative body from incorporating any society. But when a Church is +incorporated, _it approximates to a State coalition_. The Church, by an +act of incorporation, if I am not greatly misinformed, would have power +to enact laws and regulations binding upon all their members, and could +recover by a civil suit at law any property, or its value, bequeathed to +them. Thus empowered, could they not also borrow money upon the credit +of their whole community for the establishment of any institution? An +incorporated Church may not only preserve their funds, but they may also +lend out their money on usury, and obtain a vast increase. The aspiring +priests of such a body, knowing that the wealth of the Church is their +interest, they invent many schemes to enlarge the so-called treasury of +God, lest it should ever get exhausted. They fetter the conscience of +some persons, by telling them that they ought to promote the cause of +God, by casting their donations into the sacred treasury, so that they +yield to their request, whilst they denounce those who refuse to comply +with their importunities as foes to Christ and His holy Gospel. They +contrive to obtain testamentary devices to the injury (in many cases) of +widows and orphans; they condescend to flatter the female sex until they +have begged all that they are able to bestow. Thus by the +instrumentality of those clerical beggars, and by the cause of Christ +being made a pander, the Church becomes wealthy; and wealth creates +power, and power, tyranny and oppression. That many of the clergymen of +the day possess an aspiring spirit is evident from the several attempts +they have made to get some of their institutions incorporated by civil +authority. If a few of the most numerous denominations in the United +States were to unite, join their funds, in one, and could succeed in +obtaining an incorporation act, they would not only be extremely wealthy +already; but they might also increase in wealth to such a degree as +would endanger our civil as well as ecclesiastical liberty. But if it be +asked in what manner this could be effected, I answer: In various ways, +as, for instance, such a gigantic body might by means of their wealth +establish so great a number of printing-offices as would enable them to +print and sell Bibles at so reduced a price that they would engross the +sales of all the Bibles wanted in America, which would be an annual +revenue of millions. They would be enabled to educate thousands for the +ministry who otherwise had no inclination to embark in that office; and +they, tutored in the principles of aristocracy, and the churches filled +with them, those principles might be disseminated among millions; they +could also supply the most of the common schools with their teachers, +and thus the rising generation would imbibe the same pernicious +principles, until at length persons of this description would occupy all +the civil offices in our country, which would ultimately effect the +destruction of civil liberty. In a similar manner the Roman Church +became elevated above the State. By testamentary devises from the +people, as well as from noblemen and kings, by the sales of indulgences +and other inventions, the Church became exceedingly wealthy; cloisters +were erected, and they occupied by friars and nuns supported at the +expense of the people, it was their interest to support the power and +dignity of the Roman pontiff. The same causes will produce the same +effects. If the Church should ever acquire great wealth, aspiring +priests will grasp great power. Whereas this body know these things, and +wish to preserve both spiritual and civil liberty, and to prevent their +successors from attempting to blend the Church with the State, they have +by this article prohibited an incorporation of this body, and of any +theological seminary under their care, and from accumulating funds for +the support of such a seminary and of missionaries." (1853, 27.) + +119. Establishment of Seminaries Discouraged.--Tennessee did not only +oppose the incorporation of seminaries, but, strangely enough, never did +encourage the establishment of any kind of theological school whatever. +According to their views, theological and literary schools, supported by +the Church, were superfluous, since the languages might be studied in +the secular academies of the country, and a course of theology could be +pursued with some able divine. The Fifth Article of the Tennessee +Constitution provides: "Neither shall they have any particular treasury +for the purpose of supporting . . . theological seminaries." (1853, 26.) +The "Remarks" appended to this article explain: "Although this body +shall have no incorporated theological seminary under their care, nor +any particular treasury for its support, nevertheless they consider it +highly beneficial to the Church for every minister to understand the +original tongues of the Scriptures, and to be well skilled in theology. +But such qualifications may be acquired without an incorporated +theological seminary. There are already a goodly number of academies +dispersed throughout our country which are not under the care of any +particular denomination, in which the student may acquire a classical +education. He, in like manner, may have the opportunity of studying +theology with some able divine." (1853, 26.) However, though Tennessee +in no way encouraged the establishment of a theological seminary, the +conclusion must not be drawn that they underestimated or despised a +well-educated ministry. The minutes of 1821 record: "A motion was made +by Rev. David Henkel that no person shall be ordained a pastor of our +Church unless he understands as much of the Greek language as will +enable him to translate the New Testament. But no resolution respecting +it was passed. It remains postponed until the next Synod, when it shall +be taken into contemplation." (1821, 8.) In 1827 Tennessee made the +following recommendations and declarations with, respect to the German, +Greek, and Hebrew languages: "Whereas the Symbolical Books of our +Church, particularly Luther's works, are extant in the German language, +and as sundry extracts have been made out of them, and most erroneously +translated into the English; and as it is probable that such frauds may +be practised in future, this body recommend the study of the German +language to all the members of the Church. This would enable them to +detect the glaring frauds practised by men under the garb of Lutherans. +It was resolved that a more strict attention shall be paid to the +literary qualifications of those who enter the ministry than has been +done heretofore. A deacon should at least understand the language in +which he officiates with some degree of accuracy, and be able to make +the logical compositions in writing. A pastor ought, in addition to +these qualifications, be acquainted with the Greek, the original tongue +of the New Testament. Also an acquaintance with the Hebrew, the original +tongue of the Old Testament, would the more amply qualify him for the +sacred ministry. The Synod, however, do not think that there are not +also useful men in the ministry who do not possess all those +qualifications. For there are men whose manifold experience supplies +some literary defects. But when a whole body of ministers are +illiterate, they are not able to defend the truth of the Gospel against +the subtile attacks of enemies. Suppose false teachers were to make a +spurious translation of the Scriptures, how could such an illiterate +body of ministers detect the forgery? If the knowledge of the original +tongues should ever become extinct, the Gospel might soon become forged +and corrupted. It is to be lamented that there are too many young men +who wish to be ministers; notwithstanding, they are too indolent to +acquire a knowledge of the original tongues. They are infatuated to +think that they are immediately inspired from heaven, and that, +therefore, they need no literary qualifications. In order to check this +growing evil, and to oppose this fanaticism, it was resolved that every +candidate for the ministry shall stand a literary as well as a +theological examination, and be promoted agreeably to his industry. This +resolution principally respects young men." (11.) + +120. General Mission Treasury Regarded Dangerous.--The Report of 1824 +records: "Synod has not, and does not want to have, a treasury to pay +traveling missionaries." (8.) The "Remarks" appended to the Fifth +Article of the constitution, rejecting "any particular treasury for the +purpose of supporting missionaries and theological seminaries," explain +as follows: "There are but few, if any, young men in our country who are +not able to defray the expenses of their education either by means of +their property or industry. Yet if there be such whose indolence is the +cause why they are not able to defray the expenses of their education, +they should by no means embark in the ministry, as the faithful +discharge of ministerial duties requires men of great industry. It must +also be observed that this article does not limit the charities of +liberal Christians who wish to encourage the promulgation of the Gospel; +for they may, if they deem it expedient, assist any student in getting +his education, or any indigent congregation in getting ministerial +labors. Nor does it prohibit individual congregations from having funds +under their own care, for the purpose of defraying their own expenses, +and assisting any of their indigent brethren. It would be expedient for +every congregation to have a fund, yet by no means to hold such under an +act of incorporation. Again, although this article prohibits this body +from having any particular treasury for the purpose of supporting +missionaries, yet some of the ministers of this body annually perform +missionary labors. Now if it be asked how they are supported, it may +again be asked, How were the apostles of Christ supported when they went +into all the world to preach the Gospel? Did Christ recommend the +establishment of a general fund by begging donations, and obtaining +testamentary devises from dying men to remunerate His apostles for +missionary labors? By no means. He said unto them that they should +'first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness,' and that 'all +these things should be added unto them.' Matt. 6, 33. See also vv. 25-31. +Thus they had the promise of being supported whilst they labored in the +Lord's vineyard. Every faithful minister may rely upon these promises. +If he be industrious in preaching the Gospel and instructing the +ignorant, he will turn many unto righteousness, who will consider it +their duty and privilege to manifest their gratitude in contributing +towards his support. But such people as manifest an avaricious +disposition, so that they will suffer faithful ministers to serve them +without contributing something towards their support, prove themselves +unworthy of the Gospel, and minister to others, who will receive them +with gratitude." (1853, 26.) In their "Objections" to the constitution +of the General Synod, Tennessee declared: "We cannot conceive the +propriety of paying missionaries out of a general fund. How many pious +ministers heretofore have preached the Gospel in remote parts, without +such a provision. Men who are commissioned by Christ to preach the +Gospel, 'take no thought, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we +drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed?' Matt. 6, 31-34. Their daily +employment is to teach and admonish the people--for their support +they depend on the faithful promise of our Lord who said: 'All these +things shall be added unto you.' Men who are sent of God shall profit +the people; the Lord, therefore, who feeds the winged songsters, though +they toil not, and arrays the lilies of the field, stirreth up the +hearts of the people, and fills them with gratitude, so that they +freely honor Him with their substance in supporting His ministers. Thus +the promise of Christ shall evermore be verified. But hirelings and +wolves do not believe this promise. They are either entangled with some +temporal employment to secure their support, or else must know what they +are to have from a general fund before they go forth to labor in the +Lord's vineyard. When men know what they shall get from a general fund, +before they preach, they have no need to exercise faith in the promise +of Christ, for their trust is in the general fund! The country is +already filled with such hired circuit-riders, whose trust for a support +is not in the promise of our Lord; because they first bargain with their +superiors or general synods what they are to have per month or year from +the general fund. Was the mission of the primitive apostles conducted in +this manner? Had Christ established a general treasury, out of which He +had hired His apostles by the month or year? No. Is it not degrading for +Christians to depart so far from the paths of Christ and His apostles? +Is it not enough that we have His promise? Genuine ministers have no +need of a general fund to support them; their mission is profitable to +the people, whose hearts, being moved by the Lord, will support their +teachers--but such men, who are not called of God do not profit the +people; they therefore do not expect to be be supported by the promise +of Christ, hence they must look to the general treasury. What is better +calculated to induce hirelings to enter into the holy orders than their +sure wages, by a general fund?" (1821, 31.) The German Report of 1821 +concludes these remarks as follows: "Give an itinerant preacher 40 to 50 +dollars a month, as some already receive, and it will prove to be a +veritable bait to lead all manner of evil men into the ministry, whether +they are called of God or not; for the salary calls them!" (28.) + +121. Funds for Widows and Orphans of Pastors Denounced.--Regarding +Christian benevolence and charity, Tennessee admonished the Christians +to be liberal, and also to establish a congregational treasury to meet +their needs. General treasuries, however, were denounced as leading to +synodical tyranny and worldly-mindedness. This was applied also to the +establishment of general funds for the support of widows and orphans of +pastors. In the Report of 1821 we read: "Why are ministers' widows and +orphans, and poor ministers only, to be supported by a general fund, and +not also the poor members of the church? Are the families of ministers a +nobler race than other people, so that extraordinary provisions must be +made for them in preference to others? Would it not be better if every +congregation had a fund of its own to support their needy at home? Each +congregation are best acquainted with their own poor, and know who +deserves help. Is it necessary that the congregations should send their +money several hundred miles from home, into the general fund, and that +the poor should receive it from thence? Pious ministers accustom their +families to honest labor, so that they may know how to support +themselves when they need it. Who supports the people's widows and +orphans? It is too lamentable a fact that too many ministers do not +accustom their children to labor, but indulge them in their pride, +vanity, indolence, and in the imitation of rich, proud, and pompous +people of the world. Behold how many ministers with their wives, in our +time, surpassing humility--how grand their attire, how lofty their +appearance, how great their association with the wealthy of this world! +With what contempt do they view the poor! How numerous their waiters, +and how little do they expose themselves to preach the Gospel unto the +poor! There is no similarity between them and Christ, whose ministers +they affect to be--for He was poor; He appeared lowly and in the form +of a servant. Such vain, arrogant, and indolent families truly cannot +support themselves in such style after their fathers' decease; a general +treasury indeed might be considered necessary to support such in their +vanity. The farmers and mechanics may labor hard to procure money to +fill this treasury, of which, though, their widows and orphans in their +straits could expect no assistance. Have we any nobility in America whom +the people must bear upon their hands? What a constant tax is hereby +imposed upon the congregations! How frequently the ministers or +church-council must admonish the people to cast their mites into the +general fund, lest it should be exhausted! There would be no end to +begging and expostulating with the people for money. Howbeit, it is said +that no person is compelled to contribute towards the general fund. We +grant it in one sense, but not in another; for such as did not freely +contribute would be viewed with a contemptible eye, and frequently +reproved as avaricious, hardened wretches, so that at last they would +find themselves obliged to contribute. Such widows and orphans who by +some misfortune are rendered unable to support themselves generally find +benefactors, in addition to those means civil government hath already +provided." (33.) The "Remarks" to the Third Article of the constitution +conclude as follows: "Can it be believed that the majority of the clergy +of the day are true shepherds? and that they do not cherish the most +aspiring views? Why are there so many attempts made to identify the +Church with the State? Why are so many petitions sent to legislative +bodies for incorporation? Why is there such an insatiable thirst for +creating funds of immense sums for churches under incorporation acts, if +the clergy of the day did not cherish the most aspiring views, and did +not wish to acquire a spiritual dominion blended with civil power?" +(1853, 24.) It was in keeping with these views on general funds when +Tennessee, in 1841, resolved not to participate in the Lutheran +centenary jubilee advocated by the General Synod, also for the reason +that they were opposed to the plan of collecting $150,000 as an +endowment fund for its literary and other institutions. (15.) + +122. Doctrinal Peculiarities.--Evidently at the time of its +organization, the views prevailing in the Tennessee Synod concerning +"The Last Things" were not as yet sufficiently clarified. They believed +that by the organization of the General Synod the way was prepared for +"the great falling away," spoken of in the Bible, when "the +_ Antichrist_ prophesied 2 Thess. 2 would set himself in the temple of +God." In the "Conclusion" of his "Objections" to the constitution of the +General Synod, David Henkel said: "We do not expect finally to prevent +the establishment of this General Synod by publishing our objections, +because we believe, agreeably to the divine predictions, that the great +falling away is approaching, so that Antichrist will set himself into +the temple of God. 2 Thess. 2 We also believe that the establishment of +General Synods are preparing the way for him. Antichrist will not, nor +cannot, get into power without a general union, which is not effected by +a divine harmony of godly doctrines, but by common temporal interests +and the power of a majority. Notwithstanding, we consider it our duty to +make the people attentive to those things, and to instruct such as are +not wilfully [tr. note: sic] blind. But should we be deceived in our +opinion, and clearly be convinced of it, we shall not be ashamed to +recant. In vain people dream of the Millennium before crosses and +tribulations shall have visited the Christian world by the rage of +Antichrist. His kingdom is reared under a good garb; if this were not +the case, no person would be deceived. Men who are notoriously immoral +and vicious cannot deceive, but they only who appear like innocent +lambs. May God preserve all His people against every temptation, for +Jesus' sake! Amen." (1821, 35.) In a letter of Jacob Larros, appended to +the German Report of 1821, we read: "O that our dear brethren in office +would recognize the prophecies of Holy Writ concerning the kingdom of +Antichrist which . . . soon will undergo a great change and appear in +its highest stage; for then they would be on their guard. Of him it is +written: 'And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to +overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and +nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.' He +desires a universal communion (Universalgemeinschaft) to reach his +purpose. This he neither can nor denies to attain by [bringing them all +into] agreement with the Scriptures, but by the majority of votes. Oh, +how it will grieve our brethren when they, having by their well-meant +_Planentwurf_ [constitution of the General Synod] organized a universal +communion, behold that, as forerunners, they have only prepared the way +for Antichrist to reach his goal and obtain his dominion. From this, +Lord God, preserve our Church and our dear brethren in the ministry! +Amen." (36.)--Concerning the _ministry_ the Sixth Article of the +constitution, adopted 1828, declares: "The grades of the ministry are +two: pastor and deacon, or, as St. Paul calls them, bishop and deacon. +They must possess the qualifications which are described by St. Paul 1 +Tim. 3, 1-14; Titus 1, 4-9." (1853, 25.) Both of these offices, as well +as ordination, were regarded as necessary. Says the Report of 1820: "As +concerning the states and grades of the ministry (des Lehramts), we do +not recognize more than two, to wit, pastor and deacon, as necessary for +the preservation and propagation of the Church. A pastor is an +evangelical teacher who discharges the office fully, in all its parts, +or who performs all ministerial acts. He must be ordained and +consecrated to this office by prayer and the imposition of hands by one +or more pastors, when he also solemnly promises faithfully to discharge +such office according to the Word of God and the doctrine of our Church. +A deacon is indeed also a minister of the Word of God, but he does not +discharge this office fully, like a pastor, but conducts catechetical +instruction, reads sermons, conducts funerals, exhorts and, in the +absence of a pastor, also baptizes children, where such is desired. He +must be a regular member of the church and possess the testimony of a +Christian conversation. At the request of the church-council he is to be +examined at the synod as to his qualifications. If he is found able, he +is dedicated [gewidmet] to such service by one or more pastors by prayer +and laying on of hands either at the conference or in one of the +congregations which he serves. And in the presence of the whole +congregation he is, at the same time, to make the solemn promise that he +will faithfully discharge his office according to his instructions. If +such a deacon proves to be diligent in his office and acquires the +knowledge and ability needed for the discharge of the office of a +pastor, and also receives a regular call from one or more congregations +who are without a minister, he may be consecrated and ordained a pastor +in the manner indicated before." (1820, 6.)--In the _celebration of +the Lord's Supper_ the Tennessee Synod adhered to the custom of +breaking the bread, instead of using wafers. When questioned by Missouri +concerning this practise, they appealed to 1 Cor. 10, 16 and to passages +of the Confessions which speak of a "breaking of the bread." In 1856 +Synod declared: "With all due deference to the learning and high +character of the Missouri Synod for orthodoxy, we have been unable to +see sufficient reason to make any change in our manner of administering +the Lord's Supper. We are influenced in our practise in this respect by +the authority of both the Holy Scriptures and the Symbolical Books of +the Lutheran Church. . . . For the present, therefore, we feel fully +justified in our present practise." (R. 1856, 23 f.) Self-evidently, +Tennessee did not adhere to this practise in the interest of Reformed or +unionistic views. + + +THE HENKELS. + +123. A Most Influential Family.--The Henkels were by far the most +prominent and influential of the men composing the Tennessee Synod. +Because of their bold and uncompromising attitude toward the sects as +well as all others deviating from the Christian doctrine, as taught by +the Lutheran Confessions, they, together with their adherents, were +universally, by false Lutherans as well as Methodists, Baptists, +Presbyterians, and other sects, hated and ostracized, and stigmatized as +"the Henkelites," Paul Henkel being designated as their "head." (B. +1824, 10.) The sire of the American branch of the Henkel family was +Gerhard Henkel. For a time he was court chaplain to the Duke Moritz of +Saxony. But when the duke turned Roman Catholic, Henkel was banished. He +left for America and served the first Lutherans in Virginia and later on +Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania, notably in New Hanover and +Germantown. James Henkel, the grandson of G. Henkel, was the father of +Moses, Paul, Isaac, and John Henkel. Thus Paul Henkel, born 1754, was +the great-grandson of Gerhard Henkel. He was educated by J. A. Krug and +ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium in 1702. For many years he +served as missionary, laboring especially in Virginia, North Carolina, +and Ohio. He was pastor at New Market, Va., at Salisbury, Va., and again +at New Market, where he died, November 17, 1825. He participated in the +organization of the North Carolina Synod, in 1803, of the Ohio Synod, in +1818, of the Tennessee Synod, in 1820. In New Market, Paul Henkel, +together with his sons, established a printery for the purpose of +supplying the Lutheran Church with the books, German and English, which +they were in need of so sorely: Luther's Catechism, the Augsburg +Confession, a Liturgy, hymn-books, etc. Paul Henkel was the father of +six sons: Solomon, Philip, Ambrose, Andrew, David, and Carl. Solomon was +a physician and manager of the printing-establishment. Philip was pastor +in Green County, Tenn., and a member of the North Carolina Synod. +Together with Bell, who was later ordained a minister, he opened a Union +Seminary which, however, soon passed out of existence. He was one of the +founders of the Tennessee Synod. Two of his sons, Irenaeus and Eusebius, +were Lutheran ministers. Ambrose was minister at New Market, and a +member of the New Market publishing firm. Under him the Book of Concord +and other important works were issued. He was joint translator of the +Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Appendix, +and the Articles of Visitation. Andrew, the fourth son, was pastor in +Ohio. David, the fifth son, was the most gifted of the Henkel family. A +clear, able, and undaunted theologian, he was preeminent in zealously +defending the Lutheran truth. He died 1831, at the early age of +thirty-six years. His two sons, Polycarp and Socrates, entered the +ministry. The latter was pastor in New Market for more than forty +years; he also assisted in the publication of the Book of Concord. +Charles, the youngest son, was pastor in Ohio and published a +translation of the Augsburg Confession in 1834. Dr. Graebner remarks +with respect to the publishing house established by the Henkels at New +Market: "From this printery, which is in existence today as the oldest +Lutheran publishing house in America, were issued numerous large and +mall publications in both the English and German languages, abc-books, +catechisms, hymnals, theological dissertations and polemical writings, +books for pastime and for instruction for young and old, Christmas +booklets, such as _Das Virginische Kinderbuch_ of 1809, a paper +entitled, _Der Virginische Volksberichter und NeuMarketer Wochenschrift_ +bearing the motto: '_Ich bring' das Neu's, So gut ich's weiss!_' The +Henkels were a busy and skilful [tr. note: sic] people. When in need of +manuscript for their press, they wrote it; when in need of verses, they +composed them; when in need of woodcuts, they cut in wood; after the +books were printed, they bound them; and when the bindings had dried, +they, in part themselves, canvassed the finished product throughout the +country." (611.) + +124. Paul Henkel.--"My father," says Andrew Henkel, "was a large man, +within half an inch of six feet in height, well developed, with a keen +black eye, as erect as an Indian; somewhat inclined to corpulency, and +yet athletic and rapid in his movements. Though his health was not +always good, yet he was almost constantly employed either in reading, +writing, preaching, or traveling; and when necessary he did not hesitate +to labor with his hands. He had no desire for this world's goods beyond +what was wanting for daily use; whatever savored of ostentation was +foreign to his nature. His manner of living was frugal, and his dress +plain, and yet in performing the services of the sanctuary, he uniformly +wore a gown of rich black silk. He had great equanimity and serenity of +temper, and his friendships were sincere and constant, and his friends +numerous. In the social circle he always rendered himself agreeable, and +often communicated important instruction by means of some pertinent and, +sometimes, humorous anecdote. As a preacher he possessed much more than +ordinary power. In the commencement of his discourse he was slow and +somewhat blundering, but, as his subject opened before him, he would +become animated and eloquent, with a full flow of appropriate thought +and glowing language. His illustrations were lucid and forceful, simple +and natural. He assisted in training a goodly number of young men for +the ministry, some of whom have occupied responsible stations with great +fidelity and usefulness." (Sheatsley, _History_, 40; _L. u. W._ 43, 106 +ff.) The obituary notice of "Father Paul Henkel of blessed memory," +appended to the Tennessee Report of 1826, says, in, part: "During his +illness his greatest concern was that we might all remain faithful to +the pure Evangelical Lutheran doctrine, and with meekness and patience, +yet manfully contend for the truth for which he had contended so +earnestly." (B. 1825, 16.) He expressed the same sentiments in a message +to Pastor Riemenschneider, by whom also desired to be buried. Ambrose +Henkel, in a letter, November 30, 1825, reports concerning the death of +his father: "I then asked him whether I should inform also all my +brothers to this effect concerning him. He said: 'O yes; write to all of +them, that by all means they should remain steadfast.' I furthermore +asked him whether he still stood on the faith which he had hitherto +defended. He said: 'Yes, indeed; on this faith I have lived, and on it I +will now die.' I was also careful to call in several neighbors to listen +to his words, fearing that enemies might contradict my report of his +statements." In his last letter, written to his son David, and dated +August 20, 1825, Paul Henkel wrote: "If the doctrine is right and it is +the will of the Lord that it should be taught publicly, He will also +find and show ways and means to do it. . . . How our mendax-priests +would rejoice if they could accuse some of us that we deviated in a +single article from the teaching of the Augsburg Confession of Faith." +(_L. u. W._ 60, 62.) + +125. David and Philip Henkel.--As for David Henkel, the Report of 1831 +enumerates his publications and speaks of him as "this much-esteemed and +venerable fellow-laborer." "His last illness," says the notice of his +death, "was dyspepsia, which disabled him from officiating in a public +capacity for the term of nine months. He bore his afflictions with a +perfect resignation to the will of his divine Redeemer. He embarked in +the cause of his blessed Savior when a youth (1812). And we are happy to +say, to the praise of this worthy servant of Christ, that his assiduity +and vigilance to study and deep researches into the truth of divine +revelation have seldom been equaled by any. He remained immovable in the +doctrines he promulgated to the end of his life. This venerable servant +of the Lord had to endure many trials, crosses, and temptations, but he +maintained his integrity through them all, trusting to the promises of +his Redeemer; and notwithstanding the difficulties he had to encounter, +he left a bright example to succeeding pilgrims. His ardent desire for +the promotion of his Redeemer's kingdom and his love of truth caused him +to submit cheerfully to the difficulties connected with his official +labors. When on his death-bed, being interrogated by his friends whether +he still remained steadfast in the doctrines which he had taught, he +confidently answered in the affirmative. Being again asked whether he +feared death, he replied in the negative. The last words which he was +heard to utter, were, 'O Lord Jesus, Thou Son of God, receive my +spirit!' and in a few moments expired." "The perishable remains of this +worthy brother were followed to the grave by his loving companion and +seven children, together with a numerous train of mourners, who were +left to lament the loss of a kind father, an affectionate husband, a +friend and benefactor. The body is deposited at St. John's Church, +Lincoln County, N.C. The funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev. Daniel +Moser, from Phil. 1, 21: 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is +gain.'" From 1812 to 1830 David Henkel preached 3,200 sermons, baptized +2,997 infants and 243 adults, and confirmed 1,105 persons. The whole +course of his ministry was distinguished for industry and perseverance. +He traveled in all seasons, even the most inclement, and frequently +preached two and three times in a day, in the German and English +languages. Besides, he maintained an extensive correspondence and was +quite active also in a literary way. (1831, 15.)--Concerning Philip +Henkel we read in the obituary notice, appended to the Tennessee Report +of 1833: "Already in his youth he was a confessor and defender of the +Christian religion, and began in 1800 to consecrate his services to the +Lord, in whose vineyard he labored incessantly for 33 years and 3 +months. During this time he preached 4,350 sermons, of which 125 were +funeral sermons. He baptized 4,115 children and 325 adults, and +confirmed 1,650 persons into the Christian Church. . . . Shortly before +his end he declared, if it were the will of God to take him home, he was +willing, and prayed the verse, which were also the last words he was +heard to utter: 'For me to live is Jesus, To die is gain for me, To Him +I gladly yield me, And die right cheerfully.'" (B. 1833, 24.) Philip +Henkel was the first to conceive the plan of organizing the Tennessee +Synod. In a letter to his brother David, dated December 9, 1819, he +wrote that he would do his utmost to induce Pastor Zink and Miller to +join them. "But," he added, "do not say a word of it to anybody, not +even to your best friend, lest they get wind of it. In a second letter, +dated March 14, 1820, Philip declared: "If the old ministers will not +act agreeably to the Augsburg Confession, we will erect a synod in +Tennessee." (_L. u. W._ 59, 481.) + +THE END OF VOLUME I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of American Lutheranism, by Friedrich Bente + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN LUTHERANISM *** + +***** This file should be named 20941.txt or 20941.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/9/4/20941/ + +Produced by (Rev.) Kurt A. T. Bodling Concordia Senior +College, Class of 1976 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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