# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1858_S317
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Hungary. 317

...church path again astir after the second ringing of the bells, and the young people hasten to be catechized. Where the preacher is watchful, the whole unmarried youth presents itself, and the adults listen attentively. What a field for apostolic men!

Evangelical church discipline is in place, and the presbytery watches over public offenses. It also demands apology and reconciliation with the congregation, in return for which it protects those readmitted from insults and reproaches. The discipline serves a reconciling purpose.

Engaged couples must appear before the pastor at the hour he appoints, to pass a catechism examination and to be instructed in the conduct of a Christian household. It is a practice blessed by thousands.

Couples who have transgressed the commandment of chastity are married quietly, without maidenly adornment.

Every morning — and where the congregations are not too large for one preacher, or where there are two preachers, every evening as well — prayers are held in the church. They are especially well attended in wintertime, but are never empty. A morning hymn is sung, the preacher ascends the pulpit, prays the blessing, reads a portion of Scripture, adds a few edifying words of explanation, offers a short prayer, gives the blessing; a closing verse is sung. The whole lasts half an hour. The schoolchildren attend.

Religious instruction is given by the schoolmaster in catechism-history and Bible lessons. At least 6 hours a week are devoted to these. It is, in general, held as a principle that the whole of schooling and popular education should be biblical. The preacher gives confirmation instruction, and holds the catechetical lectures by which the young people are kept in constant practice until at least their twentieth year, and thereby become well grounded in the Bible.

Public worship follows the old form. The congregations have tolerated no abolitions. The rationalists must proceed cautiously, because otherwise cases have indeed occurred where the church keys were suddenly taken away. The congregations know that the churches and schools are their own property, and that the preachers and teachers are their employees. On Sundays a hymn is sung, the minister prays the morning prayer at the altar after greeting the congregation with "The Lord be with you," and the response ("And with your spirit"). Then follows the principal hymn, after which the Epistle is read, and in many congregations accompanied by a few words of explanation. Then follows a pulpit hymn, for example, "Blessed are they that hear God's Word," "Lord Jesus Christ," or "Dearest Jesus," during which the preacher mounts the pulpit and preaches on the pericope. General congregational prayer, the announcement of church matters, such as banns, festivals, conventions, and the like, closing hymn, blessing — here and there from the altar, or also from the pulpit. In the afternoon, prayer,