# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1857_S114
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

...began under the chairmanship of the Privy Councilor of Justice, Professor Dr. Huschke. Very important, and meeting with general approval, was the urgent exhortation of a member of the Oberkirchencollegium, "that the synod should by no means regard itself merely as a body that has come together to make ecclesiastical regulations, but that its chief task is to contribute to the awakening and refreshment of Christian life." A refreshment of the inner life, of a peculiar kind, was also granted to the synod members through the funeral of the so deserving treasurer of the Oberkirchencollegium, Mr. Merchant Grempler, who was accompanied on September 24 in solemn procession by the whole synod to his final resting place.

*Among the communications made to the synod that stood in very close relation to the Lutheran Church in Prussia, we wish to mention only a few in particular. Pastor Meinel of Hamburg, minister of the Zion congregation there, which has separated from the Hamburg state church — a church that now bears only the name of a Lutheran one — set forth in brief, clear terms the relationship of his congregation to the Hamburg state church and to ours. They had been compelled to separate for conscience's sake, but had not yet been able to obtain recognition from the state, because his Zion congregation was regarded as one and the same with the remnants of the Huschmann faction, which the latter had formed in Hamburg but which had since emigrated to America. They did have a school, and he was also free to administer the Holy Supper in his congregation; but their children they had to have baptized in the state church. This they did without scruple, because necessity required it, and because there was a difference between baptism and the Lord's Supper: through baptism administered according to Scripture, as it is likewise administered in the Hamburg church, one enters only into the Christian church in general, whereas through participation in the Holy Supper one shows oneself to be a member of a particular church. He and his congregation wished henceforth to remain with us in sacramental and ordination fellowship, even though they could not regard our constitution and the composition of the Oberkirchencollegium as an adequate constitution.

Another interesting communication was that which Pastor Dr. Francke gave concerning his Lutheran Gymnasium at Rogasen in the province of Posen. He founded it, with God's help, together with his brother-in-law, Pastor Könnemann, and to this hour they have been allowed to perceive visibly the blessing of the Lord. He turned the hearts of the authorities toward granting the necessary rights; he turned the hearts of Christian friends and brothers toward giving and lending the necessary funds, which were required for the erection of buildings and their furnishing within. Francke, in this, was allowed to have, in many respects, faith-strengthening experiences similar to those once had by August Hermann Francke at Halle in the founding of his orphanage. Especially visible also was