# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1846 12 22_S52
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Mr. A. C.'s statement, by your approaching the table of the Lord together with us, publicly mocked the Lutheran character. — From this it follows that you yourselves are not agreed as to the correct understanding of our confessions. And therefore let it be known hereby, that I — if such consequences as have occurred among you are to be drawn from our confessional writings, and only that is to be called genuinely Lutheran which produces such conclusions — am willing, in accordance with the wish of Mr. A. C., gladly to lay aside the Lutheran name; and I greatly regret that I ever allowed myself to be bound to the confessions of our church; I also sigh longingly to God along with him: "God graciously save and preserve us from the false Lutherans!"
G. Cronenwett.
Member of the Synod of Michigan.
Woodville, Ohio, October 28, A.D. 1846.

Reply.

In the above article, Mr. Cronenwett charges the members who withdrew from the Synod of Michigan with not being agreed among themselves as to the correct understanding of the confessions, and proves this by the fact that three of them stayed away from a communion service, held on the occasion of the synodical proceedings, solely on account of the ceremonies, whereas a fourth, Mr. H., was able to take part in it with a good conscience. On this the undersigned, taking the opportunity of his present stay in the house of the editor, ventures to reply briefly as follows.

As for our staying away from that communion service, we do not deny that this happened on account of the ceremonies. Since at that service, instead of wafers, bread was used, and this same bread was broken both at the consecration and at the distribution, and this, together with the blessed cup, was given into the hands of the communicants, it is evident that here precisely the confessional ceremonies of the Lutheran Church were being abandoned, and that this communion service, in its ceremonies, appeared purely Reformed. Now we do indeed know well that the ceremonies in question are matters of indifference, and that they neither add to nor take away from the essence of the Lord's Supper; but we also know "that in time of persecution, when an unequivocal confession of faith is demanded of us, one ought not to yield to the enemies in such matters." But that we Lutherans are presently living in such a time is doubted by no one who knows the ecclesiastical conditions of this country, and who especially knows how, precisely for that reason, we must hold fast, as much as we possibly can, to the ceremonies peculiar to our church — because, on the one hand, these same ceremonies are again being attacked by false believers as contrary to Scripture and popish, and, on the other hand, wherever they are abandoned and one accommodates oneself to the Reformed manner, the false union can most easily and readily gain entrance.

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Considering this, and in order not to give offense to our own congregations, we felt ourselves compelled in conscience to bear testimony against the unchurchly character that prevailed at that communion service and against the laxity in confession — all the more so since, from a certain quarter, it was declared in response to our modest representations that they intended to persist in this (Reformed) manner. — Moreover, we were not the only ones who stayed away for these reasons, as Mr. Cronenwett knows very well, but which, for good reasons, he passed over in silence in his article.

That, notwithstanding this, one of the brethren who shared our views, Mr. H., did not bear the same testimony with us, but rather took part in that communion service, has grieved us deeply. We by no means wish to try to excuse his conduct, but rather confess that Mr. H. sinned in doing so, and that he himself wishes that he had not done it.

But if Mr. Cronenwett now reproaches us, on account of our differing conduct, with not being agreed among ourselves as to the correct understanding of the confessions, this is as groundless as it is unjust. Does Mr. Cronenwett, then, know no difference between doctrine and practice? Does he not know that one can understand the doctrine of our church, believe it with the heart, and yet, in its application, fail against it in this or that case out of weakness or other sinful causes? Or does Mr. Cronenwett wish also to accuse the holy apostles Peter and Paul of disagreement in the correct understanding of doctrine, because the one would not yield to the false teachers even in matters of indifference for the truth of the Gospel's sake, while the other, out of fear and hypocrisy, once lived like a Jew (Galatians 2:11–14)? Let Mr. Cronenwett apply this example to our case, and it will not be difficult for him to recognize the groundlessness and injustice of his accusation. "For it was not a lack of correct understanding of the confessions, but weakness and inattentiveness, that led Mr. H. to take part in that communion service."

So much in defense against the accusation made against us. The undersigned, however, brotherly advises Mr. Cronenwett not to seek to quiet his conscience by hunting up such accusations, but rather to examine impartially, according to God's Word and the confessions of our church, the reasons for our withdrawal from the Synod of Michigan. This is said out of the heartfelt wish that the differences that have arisen between us and the Synod of Michigan might rather decrease than increase.
F. Lochner.

A Word in Its Place.

The late Silberschlag had in his congregation a drunkard to whom he had, in vain, held up the danger of being eternally lost. One day he saw him again coming out of his accustomed tavern, and wanted to make one more attempt to bring him onto a better path. But the man staggered toward him, completely drunk, and said, "Yes, yes! Pastor, that's how it has to go every day!" Now Silberschlag clearly saw that any word to this man in such a state would be in vain; so, regretfully, he merely patted him on the shoulder and said only: "He is right. He cannot do otherwise!" — With that he let him go. "What?" thought the drunkard, "I could not do otherwise? We shall see about that!" — So, as if in defiance of his pastor, he resolved to reform himself; but instead he degraded himself through this vice more than ever. This humbled him. In tears he now came to Silberschlag himself and confessed everything to him. Silberschlag directed him to Christ, who transformed even this slave of sin into a free and blessed man.

"Where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation."
Luther's Catechism, Fourth Chief Part.

At Mirow, in the year 1675, Duke Johann Georg of Mecklenburg died, after, during an illness that was by no means dangerous, his death had been brought about by an oversight, in that an external medicine was mistaken for an internal one.

This pious and God-fearing prince spoke many Christian words on his deathbed; and when, after the absolution had been pronounced, the sixth verse of the beautiful hymn by Johann Rist was prayed before him:

Though I have indeed strayed from you,
yet I present myself again;
for your Son has reconciled me
through his anguish and death's agony.
I do not deny my guilt;
but your grace and favor
are far greater than the sin
that I ever find within me —,

he said: "Let me pray this beautiful verse alone!" This he then completed with hands folded fast, eyes turned toward heaven, many tears, and a fervent heart. After receiving the holy Sacrament, he said, among other things, to his confessor: "When I was still a boy, I learned my catechism; I have not yet forgotten it, and in it these words: Where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation! Now I have received from God, through you, forgiveness of sins; therefore I also have life and salvation, and on this I will die in blessedness!" — Which blessed end the Christian prince attained a few hours later, at forty-six years of age.

Paid:
First half of the third volume: Messrs. B. Bienz, G. Eckert, G. Reidenbach.
Third volume: Messrs. A. Bade, Pastor Döbken, Pastor Hengis, F. W. Hölke, Pastor Kunz.

For the mission on the Cass River, Mich., there has been sent in by Mr. J. Ungemach of Zanesville, O., $52.00. Gratefully acknowledged, W. H., pastor at Monroe, Mich.

Treasurer.

Printed by Weber and Olshausen.