# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 12 08_S70
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Answer to an Unknown [Correspondent].

A few days ago we received, by mail, from an unknown hand, a letter from St. Louis in which we are admonished not to refuse to visit also such sick and dying persons as do not belong to our congregation. We hereby assure our unknown friend that, although we are opposed to all backdoor scheming and proselytizing, we have not hitherto visited the sick outside our congregation unless we were expressly called at the wish of the sick person himself, but that, when called, we have gone willingly and gladly to every sick person without any distinction of religion. If, indeed, one were to demand of us that we quickly administer the holy Lord's Supper to a sick person of another faith merely because that person's own pastor happened not to be at home, it would be against our conscience to comply with such a demand.

"The German Church Friend."

It has, to be sure, hitherto been a principle we followed to announce, in the "Lutheraner," only such religious papers and other appearances in the field of literature as directly concern the interests of the Lutheran Church; we consider it our duty, however, to make an exception to the rule at this time. Dr. Ph. Schaff, professor at the theological seminary of the German Reformed Church in Mercersburg, Pa., has resolved to undertake the editorship of a periodical which, under the above title, is meant to serve as a central organ for the interests common to all the American-German churches that have not yet entirely surrendered themselves either to unbelief or to fanaticism. Now it does grieve us heartily that, like the eminent gifts and learning of the reverend editor in general, so also the announced periodical in particular does not stand in the immediate service of the full truth (that is, in fact, of the Truth), and that "The German Church Friend" too will work chiefly for the purposes of the Union. We rejoice nonetheless that a periodical such as the one announced is under way, and we hope for a blessing from it also for the American-German Lutheran Church. We hope, namely, that the "Kirchenfreund," under the editorship of a man like Dr. Schaff, will awaken more of a sense for true scholarship among the German preachers in our America — so impoverished in this respect — and will help bring the age of barbarism to an end in America as well, a barbarism which, unfortunately, is reflected all too clearly precisely in our religious periodicals, which their editors dish out in almost every issue like soured beer, and which are, for the most part, written in a German that would bring public disgrace upon a schoolboy in Germany before all his classmates, and which likewise, for the most part, serve up to their readers such gibberish of content that our poor Germans are thereby only methodically cheated of both spirit and money, and grow accustomed to measuring the quality of a periodical literally by the yard. If Dr. Schaff helps to put an end to this public scandal, we cannot thank him enough for his trouble on that account alone. In sum, we believe we are fulfilling a duty in hereby calling the earnest attention of our dear brethren in the ministry, in particular, to the projected publication of "The German Church Friend."

Here follows the prospectus published by the future editor.

* * *

"There have long existed in America various German church papers which serve the interest of a particular denomination and are calculated chiefly for the people. What is lacking, however, is a central organ which would equally represent the general interests of Lutherans, Reformed, and Evangelical United [Christians], which would give special consideration to the higher needs of the clergy and of educated laymen, and which would at the same time be suited to form a bond between the old homeland and the new.

The German Protestant Christians of this country are, to be sure, very much divided outwardly. Nevertheless they form, inwardly, through many common interests, a unity. They speak the same language, they have the same origin, they feel the same concern for the events and conditions of the old fatherland, and it must lie close to the heart of all that the faith of their fathers be kept pure and increased in the new homeland. This already existing unity ought first to be brought to clear consciousness, and then, upon such a foundation, worked upon with concentrated strength for the more flourishing spread of the Kingdom of God amid our gigantically increasing German population.

Perhaps the time has come to contribute toward this fine goal through the founding of a general church newspaper; at least the need for one has already been expressed to the undersigned from various quarters, together with the request that he undertake its publication. "The German Church Friend" therefore does not wish to be a party paper, nor to intrude upon the sphere of the indispensable denominational papers, but rather to fill the gap which these, by the nature of the case, leave open. Polemics are foreign to its purpose, except against the common enemy of unbelief, indifferentism, sectarianism, and fanaticism, and likewise against everything directly contrary to the original genius and the abiding welfare of the German churches. Standing on the historical basis of the Word of God and the positive fundamental truths of the Reformation, it wishes to become, for believing and churchly-minded clergy of Lutheran, Reformed, or Evangelical-United confession, a forum for the general concerns of the Kingdom of God among the Germans; to form a depository of the most important news from the church of the old world and the new; and to work toward the spread of theological education, a sound churchly piety, and a genuine union in spirit and truth. To this end it will make use of as clear and popular a presentation as possible, so that it may also be accessible and useful to educated laymen. For this purpose it will contain the following material:

1) Short theological essays and reviews of the most significant recent works, especially in the field of exegesis and church history, suited to support the clergy in their studies and to refresh them in their office.

2) Church news from Germany, drawn partly from the best theological journals, partly from the editor's private correspondence.

3) Church news from America, above all from the German churches.

4) A special space shall be devoted to discussion of the German mission, so that its friends may learn what is happening in this field, what still ought to happen, and how the great needs can be met most quickly and best.

5) Edifying material, whether drawn from tried and tested old books, or fresh blossoms from the realm of inner experience.

Everything political is excluded, except where it bears directly on the Kingdom of God. As to its outward form, it seems to us, at least for a beginning, most practical and easiest to carry out to let "Der deutsche Kirchenfreund" appear in monthly issues, each of 30 to 40 octavo pages together with a cover, at the modest price of $1.00 a year, on the condition of prepayment without exception.

The undersigned intends, in the hope of thereby accomplishing some good, to undertake the labor of publication as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers has come in to secure the undertaking. All German preachers, therefore, who stand in a regular church connection and take an interest in the matter are hereby respectfully requested to act as agents for the projected journal, and to let the undersigned know, as soon as possible, by direct or indirect means, how many responsible subscribers among their fellow ministers or congregation members they can guarantee under the above conditions.

Meanwhile he sends his brotherly greeting to all to whom the welfare of the German Church in this land of freedom and of the future is dear.

Mercersburg, Pa., November 18, 1847.

Philip Schaff."