# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Dezember 1856_S376
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

376 Correction.

for which mission society he wished his contributions designated. Yet this proposal too seemed doubtful to many, so that no firm resolution has yet been reached. For the time being the "Sonntagsbote" offers to accept contributions for Leipzig.

Not yet 20 years ago the Weimar church authority forbade its pastors from taking part in mission work, and long afterward people still resisted the mission with all their might, thinking the land could be sealed off (as it was then viewed) against this enthusiasm. It has not succeeded; generally and publicly it is now recognized here in this land too, that bringing the message of salvation to the heathen is a Christian duty; indeed the church as such raises her voice and is no longer content with heathen mission in general, but wishes it built upon her own foundation, that is, upon the foundation of the confession. That she now does this publicly in Weimar too, and in the very sight of the authorities who would like to push the confessional question into the background as something disturbing the peace, is a gladdening testimony to how powerfully the impulse toward a thorough and firm building of the church, toward truth and decisiveness, moves through our time; and however small the confessional party in Weimar may still be, it stands on the ground of right and advances on the road to victory.

(Submitted.)
Correction.

The writer of this finds in the November issue of this year of "Lehre und Wehre" a communication from the "Freimund" concerning the mutual relationship of the Lutheran and Reformed congregation of the Consistory of Stade in Hanover. His exact knowledge of the two places expressly named, Lehe and Ringstedt, puts him in a position to correct those statements, and just piety makes it his duty to do so. Let those whom it concerns take the "Freimund" in Germany to task; "Lehre und Wehre" can only be glad to bring better news.

That the Lutheran and Reformed congregation in Lehe have the same church and school board; that the Reformed pastor on occasion presides at all church and school matters, even those of the Lutheran congregation; that the Reformed pastor assists the Lutheran one at Communion and hands the chalice; that the same assists at Confirmation — all of this is simply untrue. It is not, to be sure, meant to be claimed that ecclesiastical conditions in that region are faultless; but it is just as far from the truth to allow that awareness of the confessional distinction has vanished there to such a frightful degree. —

Here in the new and beloved homeland, where by God's grace one could build from the very outset on the uncovered foundation of the fathers, a heavy portion of the labor falls away entirely, namely the clearing away of the rubble of the departed apostate century. We must therefore not forget that even for the most faithful combatants over there, it is not at all so easy, given historically established conditions, to draw the right line of distinction.