# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1858_S319
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Church and Contemporary History. 319

...the relevant chapters are read aloud, and, with ten interruptions, brought home to the congregation's heart through fitting verses of Passion hymns.

The holy sacraments are administered according to the Reformation rite. Everyone goes to the Lord's Table at least three times a year. Confessional address, confession of sins, and absolution by apostolic laying on of hands always precede it.

In families, visits from the clergy are gladly welcomed. Visits to the sick are strictly required. In many congregations the pastor is called to the dying for spiritual comfort and prayer. In general, the contact of the clergy with the congregation as a whole, as well as with individual members, is frequent, intimate, and influential. Of course, here the quality of the pastor is decisive, and he counts for much or for nothing depending on it. Without the convention the pastor can do nothing; with it, everything — without being hindered from above.

Every corpse — criminals and suicides excepted, who are buried quietly, though without further disgrace — is brought to the grave with singing and music, and mostly also with funeral orations.

From all these particulars, and from many other local peculiarities not touched upon, it is evident that the evangelical church in Hungary has, on the whole, saved its integrity from the fiery trial of rationalism.

This is the bright side of the Evangelical Church of Hungary. Its shadow side is grey, but behind the murky clouds the sun of the Gospel shines. Lord, let the breath of your Spirit scatter the shadows!

Church and Contemporary History.

I. America.

Benj. Kurtz, the well-known Doctor of Theology, has recently also been invested by Wittenberg College with the degree of Doctor Juris (of Laws).

The Mennonites. As we learn from the "Christliches Volksblatt," the organ of the local Mennonites, the council assembly of the Mennonite community of the eastern Pennsylvania district resolved in May of this year "that footwashing in their fellowship shall be interpreted, taught, and explained only in a spiritual sense, and that this understanding shall be established as a principle on this point of doctrine." This resolution is now submitted to all the congregations concerned for acceptance or rejection. Among the scattered members of this fellowship there seems to be an ever-growing longing to consolidate themselves again on the basis of a shared doctrine and constitution.

Presbyterians. They too are now casting their net toward the Germans here. For this purpose the Board of Publication has, at the order of the Assembly, first arranged for the translation of the Confession of Faith, the Catechism, and the Form of Government into the German language.

II. Abroad.

The Position of the So-Called Lutherans within the Prussian State Church toward the Union. In the course of the month of January a conference took place in Plathe, Pomerania, of twelve Pomeranian church patrons inclined toward the Lutheran faith