# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1862_S157
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Church-Contemporary History. 157

separatist spread extends, and insofar as the extent of the church district requires it, in the adjoining districts, taking care, after communication with the district office concerned.

Obituary. We take the following from the Sächsische Kirchen- und Schulblatt: Died March 3 at Slagelse near Copenhagen, as pastor of the local St. Michael's congregation, Provost Dr. Rudelbach, born 1792 at Copenhagen. He belonged to us (as Consistorial Councillor and Superintendent at Glauchau from 1828 to 1845) for a good many years; his theological activity in Saxony forms the most important and most decisive epoch of his life, and in his old homeland too he has kept a faithful memory of us.

Psychography in Germany. In a large factory-village near Chemnitz, psychography has recently been running riot. Precisely the openly unbelieving — of whom there are not a few there — have taken a particular part in it. But behold! the spirits summoned declare that they are not in heaven, but either in hell, or in the fire of purgatory, or in the air, because they must still atone for the sins committed on earth — namely their unbelief, their contempt for church and Communion, their dissolute life — and they therefore preach repentance to those who conjure them up. This does make an immediate impression; they did not believe the Word of God, but they believe the ghost, and so the company suddenly, out of fear, goes to church and registers for Communion. The pastor — who, it seems, wants to gather figs from thistles — is highly delighted at this, and not only lets the matter take its course but even attends the conjurings himself. So little does the blind man know the story of Saul. How easy it now is for the devil to make fools of people! Yet we must not fail to note that the Sächsische Kirchen- und Schulblatt bears witness against such blindness.

Russia. Since the year 1859 a society has been at work in Russia under the name "Support Fund for Evangelical-Lutheran Congregations in Russia." It is modeled on the German Gustav-Adolf Society, without engaging in that society's mingling of faiths and churches. The Emperor has confirmed the statutes of the society. As patron he has appointed Prince Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. It stands under the control of the Evangelical-Lutheran General Consistory, and, as a last resort, under the Ministry of the Interior, as well as under its protection. There already exist 20 main societies with many branch societies under one central board in St. Petersburg, whose president is the Adjutant-General, Admiral Baron von Wrangel, and whose secretary is Pastor Nöltingk. The income in the second year (1860) amounted to 79,911 rubles 71¾ kopecks, the expenditure to 31,746 rubles 69¼ kopecks. The first and second paragraphs of the constitution read as follows: The Support Fund for Evangelical-Lutheran congregations in Russia is established in order to grant to the churches of this confession, and to the clergy belonging to them, assistance in cases where the congregation's own resources do not suffice and no other sources are to be found. Assistance is to be granted from the fund: a. For the building and maintenance of churches, houses of worship, schools, and dwellings for ministers and church officials, and for the rent of such premises. b. For the support of ministers to be appointed in newly formed congregations, and of ministerial assistants (adjuncts) assigned to extensive parish districts, as well as for ministers' official travel in large congregations. c. For poor, aged, and emeritus ministers, and, after their death, for their surviving families. d. For the training of ministers, sextons, and schoolteachers in educational institutions, as well as for the procurement of school necessities.

Brunswick. At Schöppenstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick, Mr. Wislizenus has succeeded in founding a "free congregation" of 18 members. First paragraph: Everyone may believe what he wishes. Second paragraph: Whoever fails to pay the quarterly contribution of 5 silver groschen is expelled. — No joke, but bitter Schöppenstedt truth. (Freimund.)