# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1880 11 15_S174
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

174

...performance in English, tableaux, and a good time in general in the gymnasium hall for the public. It is to be hoped that the latter will turn out in large numbers." It is especially noted that the English piece is being performed as an attraction for the American public. Is this perhaps also a kind of mission? — Shame on a congregation that makes the "American public" acquainted with our church in no better way! The pastor of this congregation belongs to the Texas Synod. — G. Birkmann.

Episcopal Church.

A general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church was recently held in New York. The Episcopalians, too, increasingly recognize that parish schools are absolutely necessary for the flourishing of the church. All members of the fellowship were therefore urgently pressed to work zealously for the founding and maintenance of parish schools. In order to make it easier to persuade parents to send their children to the parish schools, care was to be taken that the children achieve at least as much in secular subjects as the public schools. Until now it had been the general practice among Episcopalians to rent out the pews and seats in their churches to the highest bidders. Objection was raised at this convention against this custom, or rather this abominable practice. A certain Dr. Hill said: "One danger we face is that we may become the church of fashionable society." A petition had been submitted proposing that the convention resolve that from now on no church be dedicated in which seats are rented, and that the renting of seats be prohibited altogether from now on. The committee charged with reporting on this point declared that renting seats in a house of God is unseemly. However, it was not yet prepared to enact definite rules on this point. On the committee's recommendation, the convention provisionally dropped further discussion of the question. Likewise, discussion of the permissibility of marriage to a deceased wife's sister was postponed until the next convention. The committee charged with reporting on this matter had been unable to reach agreement. The greater part of it favored retaining the existing rules, under which marriage to a "sister-in-law" is forbidden. A minority favored a change. F. P.

Methodism.

It is well known that it is nothing unusual for Methodist preachers to lend themselves to appearing as speakers at political elections. A Methodist newspaper, the "Methodist," finds nothing objectionable in this. It considers it troubling only that, among those belonging to the opposing party, trust in the preachers in question as truthful people is undermined, since political speakers as a rule take a very partisan stance and are not overly careful with the truth regarding the party they attack. In the political campaign just concluded, Methodist preachers too came forward as political speakers, and according to the Methodist newspaper's own account, they were very strongly partisan. A Methodist conference resolved that preachers' reassignments should take place only after the election, so that every preacher could still cast his vote.

How a Popish Bishop Handles "Church Discipline."

The "Lutherische Kirchenzeitung" of November 1 reports: "The Roman Catholic bishop Elder of Cincinnati, who has been given to the bankrupt archbishop as coadjutor, has issued an order that the names of all girls found at night on the streets or at places of amusement without adequate escort are to be read publicly from the pulpit on Sunday by the priest of the parish to which they belong." That is truly the height of what one could expect from a man who does not know Christian church discipline with its steps of admonition commanded by God (Matt. 18:15-17), and who is satisfied when sins are merely refrained from out of fear of men. F. P.

II. Abroad.

The Saxon Free Church.

From a letter from Saxony dated October 19, we learn that the congregation in Niederplanitz has finally, after a long wait, again obtained a teacher for its school, in the person of a son of Mr. Sterzel, who once emigrated to America with us Saxon Lutherans in the year 1838 but was compelled to return to Germany. According to the same letter, Candidate Hempfing was to be ordained and installed as pastor at Allendorf and Ulm on the 20th Sunday after Trinity. These are, to be sure, only small drops of grace with which the Lord sprinkles the little flock of our dear fellow confessors across the ocean. But may they not forget that even the smallest thing in Christ's kingdom is something great, for it concerns the salvation of immortal souls dearly bought. A single soul is worth more than the whole world; as the Lord Himself exclaims: "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and yet suffered loss of his soul?" (Matt. 16:26). May the brothers, then, in their modest circumstances take to heart what the Lord says through the prophet Zechariah at the time of the building of the second temple, in poverty, reproach, and struggle: "Who despises the day of small things?" (Zech. 4:10). W.

Sunday Observance.

While here in America the formerly so strict outward observance of Sunday is beginning to grow lax, in Germany the opposite is taking place. So writes the "Ev.-Luth. Friedensbote aus Elsass-Lothringen" of September 26: "Our high authorities continue to help Sunday come into its own. Throughout the whole extent of the Prussian state, hunting must now cease on Sundays and holidays. Offenders are subject to a fine of 20 to 100 marks or imprisonment of up to four weeks. — Railway officials whose place of residence has no church of their confession receive a free travel pass to the nearest place with a church of their confession."

Ordinations and Installations.

By order of the Reverend President of the Illinois District, Mr. Candidate C. Koch was ordained and installed on the 23rd Sunday after Trinity in the midst of his congregation in Wheaton, Ill., by Rev. Prof. A. Selle and the undersigned. Th. Brohm, Jr.
Address: Rev. C. Koch.
Box 621. Wheaton, Du Page Co., Ill.

Rev. H. A. E. Schaefer was installed on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, in accordance with the assignment received, within his congregation in Glasgow, Ill., by the undersigned. J. Nachtigall.
Address: Rev. H. A. E. Schaefer,
Renault, Monroe Co., Ills.

By order of the Reverend President of the Western District, Rev. C. Wuensch was installed in his new office at Clatonia Creek on the 21st Sunday after Trinity by the undersigned. L. Huber.
Address: Rev. C. Wuensch,
De Witte, Saline Co., Nebr.

Rev. C. Dreyer, formerly of Vallonia, Ind., called by the congregation in Lancaster, Ohio, was installed in his new office by the undersigned, by order of the Reverend Presidium of the Middle District, on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, with the assistance of Rev. P. C. Spielmann. C. Sallmann.
Address: Rev. C. Dreyer, Lancaster, Ohio.

Rev. G. Wangerin was installed, in accordance with the assignment received, on the 22nd Sunday after Trinity in his new congregation at Portage, Wis. J. Strasen.
Address: Rev. G. Wangerin,
Portage City, Wis.

On October 17, the 21st Sunday after Trinity, Pastor G. Rademacher was installed in his new office at Cambria and Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y., by the undersigned, by order of Rev. President Beyer. J. W. Weinbach.
Address: Rev. G. Rademacher,
Pekin, Niagara Co., N. Y.

Church Dedications.

On the 17th Sunday after Trinity, the Evangelical Lutheran Zion Congregation in Town Benton, Carver Co., Minn., dedicated its new church, built in Gothic style (a frame building, without a chancel apse, 36 by 60 feet in size, with a 90-foot tower), to the service of the triune God. The festival preachers were Pastors W. Friedrich, H. Raedeke, and J. Streckfuss. Th. Krumsieg.

On the 24th Sunday after Trinity, the newly built church of the Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's Congregation in Amherst, Portage Co., Wis., 24 by 36 feet, was dedicated to the service of the triune God. In the morning Pastor E. G. C. Markworth preached; in the afternoon (in English) the undersigned preached. Pastor W. C. Schilling spoke the dedicatory prayer and delivered the confessional address. Two collections covered the debt still remaining on the church down to $10.00. J. Schuette.

On the 21st Sunday after Trinity, the new church of the Evangelical Lutheran Salem Congregation at Spring Creek, Harris Co., Texas, was solemnly dedicated with numerous neighboring congregations taking part. The house of God, also pleasantly and appropriately furnished inside, is 60 feet long and 36 feet wide, has an 80-foot tower with bell, and a spacious sacristy. Active at the festivities were Pastors A. Wilder, C. Geyer, J. Maisch, Th. Stiemke, and G. Birkmann. P. Roesener.

Mission Festivals.

(Belated.)

On the 18th Sunday after Trinity, the congregations in and around Fort Wayne celebrated their annual mission festival. In the morning the undersigned preached; in the afternoon Dr. Sihler and Pastor Stock gave addresses on home and foreign missions. Despite the rain that had set in, attendance was large. The collection amounted to $200.00. H. G. Sauer.

On October 27, the congregation near Waterloo, Ill., celebrated its second mission festival. The festival preachers were Pastors Schieferdecker and Bergen. The collection amounted to $30.00. J. Nachtigall.

On the 22nd Sunday after Trinity (October 24), the congregation in South Litchfield, Ill., celebrated its second mission festival. Members of the congregations of Pastors Weisbrodt, B. Miessler, and Eisenbach took part. The festival preachers were Pastor B. Miessler and Pastor H. Eisenbach. The collection amounted to $107.00, of which $80.00 was designated for our four institutions and the rest for home and emigrant missions. C. Schroeder.

On October 23 and 24, the Lutheran congregation at Red Bud, Ill., celebrated its harvest and mission festival, at which its newly built schoolhouse was also dedicated. The festival preachers were Pastors F. Erdmann, Nachtigall, Ottmann, and Schrader. The collection amounted to $82.90. F. Schaller.

On the 24th Sunday after Trinity, the St. John's Congregation in and near Ruma, Randolph Co., Ill., celebrated its second mission festival, and the day before, its harvest thanksgiving festival. The conclusion was the dedication of the newly built parsonage. The festival preachers were Pastors C. C. E. Brandt and F. Erdmann. $21.00 was collected.

On the 18th Sunday after Trinity, the congregations in and near Cape Girardeau, Mo., celebrated a mission festival at which Pastors H. F. Grupe and C. F. W. Sapper served as festival preachers. The collection, after expenses, came to $36.55. B. Sievers.

The congregations of Bethlehem, Altamont, and Blue Point, Ill., celebrated their annual mission festival on the 22nd Sunday after Trinity at Blue Point. Pastors Kowert and G. Kuehn preached. Pastor Dunsing gave a historical address. Collection: $49.20. D. Graef.

On the 22nd Sunday after Trinity, October 17, the First Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation at Beardstown, Ill., celebrated its mission festival for the year. The festival preachers were Pastors J. Lochner, Th. Buszin, and J. Droegemueller. The collection taken amounted to $80.17. F. P. Merbitz.

Correction.

It was not the congregation in Mayville, Wis., but the congregation in Town Theresa, Wis., that held the mission festival reported in No. 20.

Request for Support.

The dear readers of the "Lutheraner" will no doubt recall that during the course of the past year several appeals for support went out from western Kansas. These appeals were, thank God, not without result; the faith that is active in love has proven itself here as well. But still...