# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1861_S15
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On the Union. 15

1. The letter is dated October 14, 1824 (in Wangemann, vol. I,
p. 109) and reads as follows:

"Highly esteemed Reverend Brother!

You do me the honor of desiring (under date of October 8 last)
that I give you an account of how I, in the Regenwalde Synod entrusted to
me, brought about the general introduction of the Union rite, etc., for my
part? — Wholeheartedly devoted to the cause in my heart,
but before the eyes of the congregation, to all appearance,
quite indifferent toward it, so I proceeded; — and so
my synodical brethren likewise, in their earnest good will, observed that
same rule of prudence. So much by way of introduction.

Since the Reformation Jubilee, the congregations had been prepared by the
public catechizations for the fact that the evangelical Church, and at its
head its supreme bishop, the King, were intending to introduce the original
form in the distribution of the Holy Supper entirely according to the words
of Holy Scripture, since hitherto it had been distributed variously —
each land its own custom! — differently in the German-evangelical, differently
in the Swiss-evangelical, differently in the French-evangelical
Church, wherefore also the churches had borne the various names which
should now, as was only fitting, at last cease. This undertaking was said
to be reasonable and therefore also Christian and pleasing before God, etc.,
etc. — In this manner the preparation of the congregation took place. Since
we preachers of the Synod had resolved to commune each time at our
conventions, we did so for the first time toward the end of the year 1818, and
indeed according to the new rite. And that was the first sure and most
important step. At Christmas 1818 I was transferred from Stramehl to
Regenwalde; and here I held my first sermon and the first Communion
according to the new rite, without having consulted anyone
from the congregation. — For joyfulness in the confidence
of my righteous cause gave me also that very unaffectedness
which is altogether needful in order at once to win over all souls to the
cause and to quiet the weak, doubting hearts within themselves.
Immediately thereafter I installed my successor in Stramehl. He himself
communed with the congregation that for eleven years had been my own
charge. Here it was an easy thing to break the bread, and it could occur
to no one to make a matter of conscience out of accepting this bread,
since the old pastor administered it, and the new one was the first, with
the token of a heartfelt desire, to receive it. — These examples worked upon
the other synodical brethren in such wise that they, without any question
and without any hesitation, broke the bread in their congregations. — Only
two very aged preachers in the Synod still hesitate over it, though
without being opposed to it! — They themselves went on distributing the
wafer to their congregations as before, but themselves communed yearly
with the other brethren according to the new rite, and I saw to it that the
congregations