# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1862_S224
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

224    Church News of the Day.

encroachments of modern unbelief, which is indeed not content with claiming the teaching office for itself, but seeks, in the form of falsified hymnals, shallow catechisms, and unionistic service-books, to press ever further into the common people. Pastor Horning has also made the confession of the fathers dear once again to his congregation, and through his powerful preaching many have already come to the recognition of that which alone we poor sinners need: Christ in the Word, Christ in the Sacrament. A voice of the church has also risen against the appointment of Colani as instructor at the theological seminary. Pastor Hosemann of Paris, already known to the readers of the "Freimund" from his address, recently put out the following pamphlet: A Word on the Appointment of Mr. Colani. An excellent little pamphlet, in which the soul-endangering errors of Colani and his school are set forth with razor-sharp precision and telling proofs. So vigorous a testimony could not fail to arouse the wrath of its opponents. It also soon broke loose in full force. Colani answered in a lofty tone: he appeals to Luther's statements about individual books of the canon, says the Augsburg Confession properly never had any symbolic authority from the outset, and complains of the orthodox party's lust for dominance and want of charity. Colani's pamphlet was soon joined by a letter from a liberal-minded faction, whose leader in Strasbourg is a certain preacher named Leblois. Since the rain of pamphlets and libels against Pastor Hosemann did not let up, all the clergy of the Lutheran church in Paris published a declaration in which they testify that their colleague does not stand alone, but is supported by them in his attacks on Colani. This declaration by the Lutheran clergy of Paris provoked the wrath of their opponents to a high degree. Here too it was again the Leblois faction that entered the lists. This time they directed their shots against the ecclesiastical inspector and president of the Paris Consistory who had signed the declaration, Meyer. In a letter, "Now It Is Your Turn," they renewed their attacks against the existing confession as well as against Holy Scripture. And that was not enough. In a letter composed in the German language, "Bible and God's Word," they renewed, in the spirit of Voltaire, the old attacks on Holy Scripture, and circulated this writing on all sides among the Alsatian people. At the same time they armed themselves to carry off the victory at the next church elections (January 1862). For an organic decree of March 16, 1853, gave the Lutheran church of France a constitution partly consistorial (through the directory in Strasbourg that appoints the pastors), partly resting on universal suffrage, presbyterial. It is evident, then, that the elections are being exploited for intrigue. The unbelievers in Strasbourg had a support for their agitation in a society that had arisen within the bosom of the Reformed Church of France, bearing the name: Union protestante libérale. It pursues the same aim as the Palatinate Union of Protestant Men, that is, the overthrow of positive Christianity within the very bosom of the church. The Union protestante libérale commands considerable means, but nevertheless suffered a significant defeat in the last elections of the Reformed Church in Paris. So when, in September of last year, the danger threatened from every side, Inspector Meyer took up his pen and, with great force yet with great composure, hurled back all the attacks that had been directed against the Paris clergy and against the church in general. This writing of Meyer's has driven his opponents to silence. Since then nothing more has been published from their side. They continue, however, to undermine the church, and also carried off a victory at the elections in the New Church at Strasbourg (the old Dominican church, where Tauler preached). The church authority, too, has unfortunately not yet allowed itself to be instructed to take a better course. Colani has remained in his post, and the directory continues to deal harshly with the Lutherans in Alsace; only recently it removed a Lutheran assistant pastor, Ihme, of Obersteinbach near Weissenburg, from his post outright, on the accusation of some unbelievers, without hearing, without investigation. Such a proceeding cries out to heaven. But the Lord will hear the sighing of the brethren in Alsace."