The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1913, Page 44

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44

The Lutheran Pioneer.

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the following reasons: he had acquired “book learn-
ing”; he could with some efforts read his text from
ihe Bible, and “book-learned” preachers were not
held in high esteem by the people. “Book learning,”
they said, “makes rascals.” ‘Then he was not a
“shouting preacher,” and, in the opinion of his
people, a preacher that could not shout and make
them feel happy was no preacher at all.

Now in ’88 the Lutheran North Carolina Synod
resolved to begin a mission among the colored people.
Rey. Koonts and three others, of which two could
neither read nor write, were ordained to the office
of the holy ministry in the Lutheran Church. The
only distinctive Lutheran doctrine of which these

Bev. David Koonts.

preachers had some knowledge was the doctrine of
the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in
the Lord’s Supper. ‘This doctrine they preached,
but did not put into practice as they admitted to
the Sacrament members of other churches “in good
standing.” Rev. Koonts had two preaching places,
one in his native county and the other at Concord,
to the latter of which he moved with his family
about a year before his death. Those who confessed
their faith in the real presence of the Lord’s body
and blood in the Holy Supper were confirmed and
received as members without any previous catechet-
ical instruction. They were not many. ‘There was
no congregational organization and consequently no
church discipline. ,

In 1890, these Lutheran preachers were advised
to organize their own Synod, which they did. They
assembled in Cabarrus Co. and named the Synod

the “Alpha,” and Rev. Koonts was elected president.
lis life was short and without any history. Shortly
after the Synod adjourned, the President suddenly
died, and the synod died with him.

The missionary activity of Rev. Koonts, from his
ordination to his death, was very short, but not
without fruits. He impressed all with whom he
came in contact, white and colored, as being a sin-
cere Christian. ‘Though his Biblical knowledge, and
his knowledge of Lutheran doctrine and practice was
very limited, his sermons were edifying. His de-
livery was modest and dignified, and he practiced
in his life what he preached to others. Surviving
him were five children, two sons and three daughters,
whom the writer added to the church at Concord.
His remains rest in the Lutheran cemetery at Con-
cord, but no stone marks his grave.

N. J. Bakke.

— eer

Immanuel Conference.

Immanuel Conference convened at Immanuel
College during Easter week, from March 24 to 26.
The pastors and teachers of North Carolina and
Virginia constitute this Conference.

Those who attended the conference were: ‘I'he
Faculty of Immanual College; Rev. J. Alston, of
Mount Pleasant, N. C.; Rev. J. McDavid, of Char-
lotte; Rev. F. Ford, of Gold Hill; Rev. C. P.
‘Thompson, of Charlotte; Rev. C. R. March, of
Southern Pines; Rev. W. H. Lash, of Salisbury ;
‘Teachers M. N. Carter, of Greensboro, N. C.; I". D.
Alston, of Charlotte; E. W. Reid, of Greensboro;
E. A. Buntrock, of Greensboro. Rev. Polzin, of
Meherrin, Va., was absent because of a trip he in-
tended to make to Iowa, in order to preach the
sermon at the 25th anniversary of his first congre-
gation. As visitors Rev. Lauterbach, of Ridgeway,
N. C., and Rev. Peters, of Greensboro, were present.

Conference opened Monday morning, March 24,
with all present excepting Rev. March, who arrived
in the afternoon. After the organization and other
business the program was begun, which consisted of
a catechisation on the Fourth Commandment, by
Teacher Carter, the Christian’s Relation to the Law,
by Rey. Alston, and a paper on Church Extension,
by Rev. Ford. ‘he catechisation by Teacher Carter
was an excellent piece of work, which showed that
the author had given his subject a thorough study,
and that he was master of it. Next was Rev. Al-
ston’s paper: The Christian’s Relation to the Law.
This was an able paper, and was widely discussed.