# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1863_S219
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

An Example of the Church Discipline Exercised by the Ev.-Luth. Bohemian Exiles in Berlin. 219

remaining money was in her chest. Altogether, what she had stolen came to 8 Thaler 15 Groschen."

Asked by the brethren whether she confessed to all this, she answered, weeping bitterly before the congregation: I confess it. — She was further asked by the brethren whether she recognized that she had deserved the punishment. She answered that she had deserved it and that she was worthy of punishment. — She was asked again whether she was willing to bear the punishment. She answered yes. — Thereupon one of the brethren read the following words to the congregation:

"Since this wicked person, by her godless conduct, has dared to provoke God to anger and to cause great sorrow to the whole congregation, as well as to her mother, we brethren — although the gentlemen whom she robbed have forgiven her for it, yet, because she herself had asked for it beforehand in the assembly, have handed her over to the congregation for punishment — have considered and resolved that this wicked person, for her offense, shall receive from her own mother, in the presence of the whole assembly, 10 strokes of the whip, because she has sinned against the 10 Commandments of God. For whoever transgresses one commandment of the Law is guilty of the whole of it. Do you brethren all hold this to be right?"

They answered: We hold it to be just. — Thereupon she had to take off her dress, having already earlier been stripped of her corset. But her mother took the whip and struck her amid fervent prayer that God might bless this chastisement. After receiving the blows she thanked her mother heartily and kissed her.

Afterward the brother spoke: "She has received these blows from her mother because she would not accept her admonitions, and because she lied to her and caused her great sorrow. But she has also brought disgrace upon the whole congregation and caused it deep pain and great offense; and so we have resolved that she shall further suffer 20 blows from one of the brethren, so that among us and among our children there may be discipline and the fear of God, lest God, for the sake of one person, punish the whole congregation, as he did for the sake of Achan, who likewise became a thief, as we read in Joshua chapter 7."

Again it was said to the brethren: Do you brethren hold this to be right and fitting? The answer: Yes. — She was then asked whether she also recognized that she had deserved such chastisement. Although those gentlemen and the whole congregation pleaded for her, that since she recognized her offense, repented, and promised amendment, it might be remitted to her, a brother nevertheless still had to give her 5 blows. Thereupon she thanked them with hot tears for this punishment, asked everyone's forgiveness for having caused them so much sorrow, and asked that the congregation pray for her. The congregation then forgave her, and many wept and prayed for her.

At the close, a solemn admonition was given to all the parents and children, that they should draw warning from the present example to