# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 11 16_S53
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

...has [omitted]; but whatever was either wholly unattested and irreconcilable with other credible reports, or at least seemed doubtful, the author has left out without further ado. All the more can the reader rely on the rest, for wherever there might still be some obscurity or unresolved contradiction, the author himself for the most part draws attention to it in the notes.

d.) The author has not disdained, where the sources gave him occasion to do so, to depict many a less important episode in Luther's life with great thoroughness down to the smallest detail, in the hope that such vivid scenes would heighten the vividness of the whole. Here belongs, for example, his encounter with the two Swiss men at the inn "Zum Bären" in Jena, several of his illness- and travel-narratives, and the like.

e.) Luther's last days, his death, and burial have perhaps been depicted somewhat too extensively in proportion to the whole; this would probably not have happened had the completion of the work not coincided precisely with the three-hundredth anniversary commemoration of Luther's day of death. This called for consideration.

In addition, it should further be noted:

3.) Where the sources were accessible to the author in the Latin language, he never contented himself with the existing translations, but translated independently, taking pains in doing so to capture the archaic color of the language. Often enough he will not have succeeded, but on a few occasions he has had the pleasure that even connoisseurs took the translation for the original.

To enable the reader to find his way about in the book, provision has as far as possible been made through the tables of contents and chronological overviews at each book, and through the double index (prepared with great care by Dr. Pasig) at the close of the work."

Note of the Editors. Should anyone wish to possess Pastor Meurer's work in the German language, we offer to have it sent to him from Germany by the cheapest possible route. The ordinary edition with one steel engraving costs 14 Thaler Prussian Courant; the deluxe edition with forty illustrations, 22 Thaler.

(Submitted.)
Report on the Fairfield District Pastors' Conference of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.

The above-named conference was held from October 11–13, 1847, on Hocking Hill, Fairfield Co., Ohio, at Pastor Richmann's. — Present were Pastor Richmann, Pastor Schneider of Marion, Ohio, Pastor Schürmann of Huntersville, Franklin Co., Indiana, Assistant Pastor Seidel of Neudettelsau, Union Co., Ohio, and Pastor Ernst of the same place.

Pastor Richmann was elected chairman, and the undersigned was elected secretary.

The proceedings of this conference may perhaps not appear important enough to many to be given over to the public; yet for good reasons, as well as to render an account of them, it shall nevertheless be done.

Already on the preceding Saturday the members of the conference assembled, and together with a large number of members of the local congregation they celebrated the Holy Supper on the following Sunday. Preaching took place several times in Pastor Richmann's three congregations. In one of them we attended the dedication of a new frame church, which received the name German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's Church. With regard to the sermons to be held during future conferences, it was determined that the local pastor must notify the conference members concerned six weeks before the conference is held, that and when they are desired to preach. Following the example of the brethren in Missouri, the conference kept the same practice in its proceedings, namely that the brethren, according to seniority in office, the younger ones first, should give their judgment on the subject under discussion. The sessions were opened and closed with singing and prayer. At the beginning of the conference the chairman communicated his view on the purpose of the conferences. The following were the proceedings:

Since the conference, in full agreement with the whole synod, recognizes the necessity of introducing the institution of private confession — hitherto entirely neglected, and yet so salutary — this was the first subject of deliberation. Because it cannot be denied that even many pastors have, along with their congregations, become estranged from this exalted practice, the question was in particular by what means one could most easily attain this goal here, and, once it were attained to some degree, how one ought to proceed in holding private confession. It was unanimously agreed that, above all, thorough instruction on the nature and benefit of private confession should be given to the congregations, and especially to the youth in confirmation instruction. If the confirmands were won over to private confession, this would be a fine beginning also for the adults in the congregations. But it should never come to pass that congregations might entirely rob their pastors of the freedom to hold private confession. For that would be wholly un-Lutheran, according to the forceful testimonies of Luther which have been cited by Pastor Keyl in the "Lutheraner" Nos. 2 and 3. Once a beginning had been made, the conference held that it would not be enough merely to confess individually and be absolved, as some might perhaps think, but that in doing so the necessary instruction must not be neglected, for the sake of which private confession first obtains its proper benefit. The place for this act would necessarily have to be chosen in a church such that the penitent could be well seen with his confessor, but not overheard. The former would forestall the possibly ill judgments of worldly people, the latter the false shame among the penitents.

Another subject of the conference was the exercise of church discipline. It is not entirely without cause that certain so-called Lutheran pastors and congregations are accused by sects of leaving manifest sinners — such as adulterers, drunkards, mockers of the divine Word, and others — untouched in their congregations, and of administering the Holy Supper to them again and again without further ado. This is unfortunately to be lamented and testifies to the sorry condition of many a Lutheran congregation and its pastors, who as hirelings seek only to maintain a false peace. The members of the conference, however, by God's grace wish to resist this evil, and they strengthened one another by sharing various experiences, resolving that, trusting in the Lord and according to His holy Word as it is found in Matthew 18:15–18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1ff., they will discharge their office as is fitting.

Since the members of the conference are so frequently assailed on account of the introduction of Lutheran church customs (ceremonies), they also conferred about this. The accusation is often made, even by so-called Lutheran pastors, that we impose such customs on the congregations and place too great a value on them, and can therefore do nothing but destroy the congregations. The conference therefore felt compelled to declare once again what the resolution of the Chicago Synod states: "The Synod also wills that in the introduction of any ceremony whatsoever, no compulsion of any kind be applied, but that, after thorough prior instruction of the consciences, everything be left to the Christian liberty of the congregations concerned."

Because it frequently happens in this country, given the precious but often much-abused liberty in church matters, that individual congregation members, when they are hostilely disposed toward their pastor, promptly have pastors of other congregations perform official acts for them; the conference held that such mischief must not be looked upon quietly, but that such members should be seriously called to account and, if after the orderly application of the steps of admonition prescribed in the Word of God they will not listen, should be formally excluded from the congregation. Likewise the members of the conference intend to watch strictly that, when members of other congregations come to them in such a manner, they shall not be received.

There also came up for discussion the mixed marriages that occur so frequently, which seldom turn out to the salvation of souls and often cause no small disturbance in the congregations as well. The conference unanimously held