# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Dezember 1856_S377
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Reports from and about South Australia. 377

On this occasion it may finally also be noted that the abolition of the Hanoverian territorial catechism has already been decided. Which older one will take its place has not yet been determined — perhaps the old Lüneburg one.

(From Pastor Ehlers' Kirchenblatt.)
Reports from and about South Australia

are once again to be made, which should not be without interest to the readers of the Kirchenblatt. First there is the appointment, made around Michaelmas of last year, of three new pastors of our confession, which is reported in a letter from Lyndoch Valley dated January 28, 1855. It states as follows: "Pastor Fritzsche is preacher in Lobethal; Pastor Meyer, formerly a missionary, is in Bethanien. In Blumberg is Pastor Hensel, in Hahndorf Pastor Strempel, and here with us in Hoffnungsthal is Pastor Oster, son of Pastor Oster formerly in Posen. The latter three are those trained by Pastor Fritzsche and have entered upon their offices since Michaelmas. For which we have God to praise, so that we now have 5 Lutheran preachers who hold to and defend the confession of the Lutheran Church firmly and faithfully. The feud with Pastor Kavel is settled as decided, namely, we are completely separated." —

With regard to internal conditions, the earlier reports are likewise and thoroughly confirmed. On this a weighty voice recently made itself heard in a letter dated February 25 of this year, as follows: "I would gladly communicate to you something concerning the Lutheran Church in South Australia, but time does not now permit it. — I need only remark this much, that if my brethren in the faith in Prussia care about the salvation of their souls and those of their children, they should not take it into their heads to emigrate here. Prosperity, civil as well as ecclesiastical liberty — which ought to lead our Lutheran Christians to repentance — leads instead to falling away, even if with many not directly a falling away from the church, yet a falling away from Christ. Many of the old Lutherans who, in the years of persecution in Prussia, were faithful disciples and followers of the Lord have here become children of the world. Worldly amusements and pleasures, the gratification of sinful desires, formerly abhorred and shunned in earnest, are now supposed to be no sin any longer; indeed, people set themselves quite deliberately to devising things and putting them into practice, purely to spite the godly and to the harm of piety. And now, above all, the young people, who have experienced nothing of that former distress, can now no longer be brought at all under the gentle yoke of Christ. May the Lord have mercy upon us!" —

Well then, may the Lord have mercy upon all of us who confess His name; may He heal the breaches of Zion and grant that we here and those yonder — may serve Him in holiness and righteousness that are well-pleasing to Him! Peace and mercy be upon the Israel of God! —

R.