REV. PAITI, HENKEL. HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD, EMBRACING An Account of the Causes, which gave Risk to Its Organization ; Its Organization and Name ; Its Position and Confessional Basis ; Object of Its Organization; Work, Development, and Various Sessions; Its Policy; And Its Future. BY SOCRATES 'HENKEL, D. D. NEW MARKET, VA.: Henkei, & Co., Printers and Publishers. 1890. Thb Library 09 Congress WAWIIiOTON 4>^ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by Henkel & Co., Publishers, New Market, Va., in the Office of the librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE Some years ago, the author was requested, by the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, to prepare, for publication, the history of this Synod. This seemed to be necessary, in order to present the Synod in its true light before the Church and the world. Some years were spent in securing proper data or material for that purpose. Re- course was had to different sources, as, the Minutes of this Synod and of other Synods, as well as to some of the most reliable and intelligent members of the Church, who were present during the trials and con- flicts which gave rise to its organization, and to other reliable sources. The object was to present the true, historical facts, in a fair, impartial manner, without any disposition to reflect unnecessarily on any one, or to perpetuate strife or contention. An honest, faithful statement seemed to be necessary in order to perpetuate the facts. Whatever discrepancies may appear in some portions of this his- tory, in regard to style, punctuation, &c, may be accounted for on the ground, that such portions were quoted in a general way, as they appeared on the records from which they were taken. The differences which appear in the elements and styles of the obituaries, result from the fact, that they are made up, with few exceptions, from the Minutes of Synod and church journals, nearly, in most instances, as their authors presented them. In the preparation of this work, care was taken to give such facts and matters as are best calculated to promote the highest interests of the Church, and to give them due prominence in a plain, simple way. Facts and sound principles should be maintained and perpetuated. Truth is what is needed. There is too much cant, prevarication, and hypocrisy. This work is now humbly submitted to an impartial public, to determine how well and faithfully its author has accomplished the object contemplated, with the hope, that it may prove a blessing in the department for which it is intended, and promote the best interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom. S. H. New Market, Va., i8go. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE CAUSES WHICH GAVE RISE TO ITS ORGANIZATION. PAGES. Doctrinal Position of the Church up to the Close of the Eighteenth Century — Divergencies from the Standards of the Church — Causes which Gave Rise to these Deviations from the Confes- sions — Pietism, Rationalism, Exaggerated Ideas of Liberty — Condition and Position about the Time of the Organization of the Tennessee Synod I CHAPTER II. THE ORGANIZATION AND NAME OF THE SYNOD. The Open Rupture — When, Where, and How — The Leaders — Organization — When, Where, and by Whom — The Name of the Synod — Basis — Regulations 24 CHAPTER III. ITS POSITION AND CONFESSIONAL BASIS. The Augsburg Confession and the Doctrines of the Church — The Constitution as Revised in 1866 — Its Adherence to the Confes- sions — The Printing Establishment — Its Publications 32 CHAPTER IV. THE OBJECT OF ITS ORGANIZATION. The Restoration of the Church to its Normal Condition in Doctrine and Practice — Its Positive Course — Prosperity of its Work — Its Extension in Various States = 40 CHAPTER V. ITS WORK AND DEVELOPMENT. Its Different Sessions — When and Where — Its Different Decades — Its Accessions — Baptisms, Confirmations for Each Decade — Ordinations — Dismissals — Communications — Reasons for Re- jecting the General Synod — Its Extension — Contacts with Other Synods — Position in Regard to Slavery — Organization of Other Synods out of its Members and Congregations — Refutation of Resolutions Passed Against it — Its Position Relative to Promis- CONTENTS. V cuous Communion and Pulpit Fellowship, Secret Societies, and Chiliasm — Its Connection with the United Synod — Its Total Number of Accessions — Baptisms, Confirmations, Ordinations, Applicants, Churches, Ministers — Theological Students — Liter- ary Institutions — Basis of United Synod and Constitution — Obituaries 43 CHAPTER VI. ITS POLICY. Its Opposition to Mingling of the State and Church — They Should be Kept Separate — Scriptures Present Sufficient Rules for the Church — Denial of the Right of a Majority to Decide Relative to Doctrine or Church Discipline — The Word of God the Only Standard — Synods only Advisory Bodies — The Purview of Syn- ods — Opposition to Incorporating Synod with Civil Authority — Congregational Treasuries — The Power in the People or Congre- gation — Synods Not Sovereign 262 CHAPTER VII. ITS FUTURE. The Indications Favorable — It Has a Future Mission — Prepared for it 266 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. CHAPTER I. THE CAUSES WHICH GAVE RISE TO ITS ORGANIZATION. The causes which gave rise to the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, in the year 1820, will be found chiefly in the position which the Church occupied, at that time, in regard to doctrine and practice. Hence, it will be necessary, in the outset, to take a brief view of the condition of the Church, in these respects, dur- ing that period. The mpst authentic records seem clearly to indicate that the Church generally adhered closely to the doctrines and principles of the Bible, as set forth and confessed in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and her other Symbolical Books, until towards the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century. They were Lutherans, — just what their name indicated. The first Swedish colonists even, who settled in this country, based themselves firmly on the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechism. For a number of years every effort to preserve these doctrines in their purity and simplicity, was made. The instructions to the Governor were: "Before all, the Governor must labor and watch, that he render, in all things, to Almighty God, the true worship which is his due, the glory, the praise, and the homage that belong to 2 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL him, and take good measures that the Divine service is performed according to the true Confession of Augsburg, the Council of Upsal, and the ceremonies of the Swedish Church, having care that all men, and especially the youth, be instructed in all parts of Christianity, and that a good ecclesiastical discipline be observed and maintained." — Schaeffer* s Early History, p. 15. In accepting the aid offered by the King of England and the English Society,. the Salzburg refugees made it a condition, "that the} T should be protected in the free exer- cise of their holy religion, as contained in the Augsburg Confession, and the other Symbolical Books of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, of which they professed to be members." — Dr. Mann' s Lutheranism in America, p. ny. Neither did Muhlenberg and his co-laborers teach any other doctrines, nor endeavor to establish, in this country, any other system of faith, than that inculcated in the Lu- theran Confessions and Catechisms. ' 'The Lutheran Church in America was, from the beginning, built upon the old foundation of the Gospel, as interpreted by the collective body of the Symbolical Books ; and ministers and parochial school-masters were required to preach and teach in accord- ance with them." — Dr. Mann' s Lutheranism i?i America, p. 112. "When St. Michael's Church, in Philadelphia, was founded, in 1743, it was publicly proclaimed : 'The corner- stone of this church has been laid, with the design that in it may be taught the Evangelical Lutheran doctrines, ac- cording to the apostles and prophets, as contained in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and all the other S} T mbol- ical Books.' " — Halle Nachrichten, p. 288. "In the year 1748, the ordination of Rev. N. Kurtz occurred, the Swedish pastors joining in the performance of the solemn rite ; but before it was performed, a declaration was exacted from the candidate 'that he would adhere to the pure doctrine of our Evangelical Church, according to the Word of God and our Confessions of Faith. ' The year LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 3 preceding, Brunnholz re-dedicated a church, as 'an Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, according to the foundation of the prophets and apostles, and our Symbolical Books.' " — Halle Nachrichten, p. 252. "In 1760, Paul D. Pryzelius was admitted into the Synod, after having made the following declaration : ' I sincerely promise, before God, the Searcher of^hearts, that I will teach nothing to my congregations, except what is well founded in the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, and to conform, in all my sermons, and in all my public and private instructions of the Holy Sacraments, to our Symbolical Books.' " — Halle Nachrichten, p. 856. "In 1 76 1, Muhlenberg gave direction for the form of the deeds for the newly begun church at Barren Hill, to the effect that they be ' prepared in such a way as forever to devote the church to the Evangelical Lutheran doctrine, according to the foundation of the Apostles, and the teach- ings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.' " — Halle Nach- richten, pp. 864. and T182. "In the Constitution for the Philadelphia congregation (1762,) which became the model for many others, the first article required the minister to teach according to the Un- altered Augsburg Confession." — Halle Nachrichten, p. 762. About the close of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth, the fathers who had immigra- ted to this country, and done the hard and difficult work of the pioneer, had passed from this realm to that beyond the skies, to enjoy their rest and their rewards. Their fidelity to the Confessions of the Church and her Scriptural services, their arduous, conscientious, energetic labors in establishing and building congregations, their faithful Gospel preaching and careful catechetical instruction, their zealous family devotion, and their pious walk and conduct, had passed, and well nigh escaped the memory of the survivors. Great political changes grew out of the results of the Revolutionary War. These, under the changed condition of things, together with other pernicious influences, which 4 HISTORY OF THK EVANGEUCAI. found their way into this country, proved disparaging to the Church and her work, leaving Christianity in a very precarious state, vacillating to and fro, with very little defi- nite or fixed policy or principles. Under this new and unsettled condition of things, Liberty, Freedom, the all- absorbing element of that day, exaggerated and carried beyond its proper sphere or domain, resulted in ignoring almost every thing that was definite, fixed, or established. It seems, in fact, that there was scarcely any positive Christian faith really recognized, and that almost every trace of a true and living churchliness was obliterated. Pietism and Rationalism prevailed to an alarming ex- tent in Germany and other countries. The former, inaugu- rated by Spener, — a man of distinguished talents and rare learning, — for the purpose of reviving, in the Church, greater zeal for vital piety and practical Christianity, was afterwards carried beyond its contemplated object by Franke, a very zealous and able minister, and thus, amidst the agitation, it finally resulted in fanaticism, as well as in a perversion of many of the leading doctrines of the Church, and in ignoring, to a greater or less extent, her true Con- fessions. — Kurtz's Church History, pp. 19S, ipp, 240. The controversy between the Orthodox and the Pietists concentrated especially around the doctrines of Regenera- tion, of Justification, of Sanctification, of the Church, and of the Millennium. Page 242. Some of the ministers who immigrated to this country were of the Halle, Frankean, Pietistic school, and they came imbued with that spirit, to some extent, and infused it in some parts of the Church ; and, hence, it is, that we still see it occasionally cropping out, in certain sections, in its heterodox, fanatical elements. The latter, Rationalism, in the language of Kurtz's Church History 7 , p. 276, crept into the Protestant theology of the continent, especially of Germany. The extremes of Pietism, it appears, prepared the way for Rationalism, the other extreme. One extreme usually results in another, in the opposite direction. Fanaticism generally ends in skep- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 5 ticism. This pernicious, disturbing element, Rationalism, also found its way to North America, and exerted a very baneful influence over the people in regard to the teachings of the Bible, as presented in the Confessions of the Church. The tendency was to yield or compromise nearly everything that was positive or definite, until, as Dr. Krauth said, in speaking of the condition of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century, "We had a weak, indecisive pulpit, feeble catechisms, vague hymns, and constitutions which reduced the minister to the position of a hireling talker, and made Synods disorganizations for the purpose of preventing anything from being done." Unionism fol- lowed in the wake. On the 13th day of November, 1787, "The Corpus Evangelicum, or Unio Ecclesiastica," was organized in South Carolina, "composed of Lutheran and German Re- formed ministers, together with lay-deputies from the churches belonging to both denominations." — Bernheirn? s History, <5fc, p. 289. But this organization did not long continue, as must be the case with any union not based on agreement in doctrine and principles. Failure and trouble are written on the face of any such attempt. A few years after the death of Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, which took place October 7, 1787, the Ministerium of Penn- sylvania changed its confessional basis, to the disparage- ment of the Confessions. In a paper "on the Lutheran Church in America," Dr. Mann says: "While the consti- tution of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, prepared under Muhlenberg's auspices, is based upon the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, in that published a few years after his death, they are entirely ignored ;" and Lutheranism continued to degenerate more and more, till a reaction was brought about. In the year 18 17, a new hymn-book, called Gemein- schaftliche Gesangbuch, intended for the Lutheran and Reformed Churches, published by SchaefFer & Maund, of 6 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Baltimore, Md., was introduced, and after examination by all the Lutheran and Reformed Synods in the United States of America, at that time, its use in all the congregations was authorized. See ''Comprehensive Account of the Rise and Progress of the Blessed Reformation of the Christian Church. By Dr. Martin Luther."* Prepared by Rev. G. Shober, of the North Carolina Synod. Pp. 146, 147. In speaking of this new hymn-book, Rev. Shober says: "This meritorious undertaking paves the way to universal harmony, union, and love among our Lutheran and Reformed Churches, removing all the obstacles which hitherto prevented that happy effect, and establishes a uni- formity in that part of divine worship which cannot fail to be highly gratifying to all those who consider brotherly love an indispensable attribute of Christianity." No doubt, this insidious course produced, to a consid- erable extent, for the time being, the effect which the author of those lines so much desired, — for the songs and services used in worship exert great influence. But whilst it was doing this, it was aiding in engendering and culti- vating a spirit which, as the child of an unjustifiable com- promise of principles, ultimately resulted in ignoring some of the most vital and fundamental doctrines and elements of the Church, leaving her in that latitudinarian state of indifference and laxness in regard to almost every thing that was regarded as positive and definite, in which she appeared about the beginning of the nineteenth century, without helm or rudder, — a deplorable wreck, requiring years for its restoration. It may not be inadmissible to call attention here to the great religious revival which swept over the United States in 1800 and 1801, not that the Evangelical Lutheran Church gave it any special countenance at that time, — at a *If occasions for referring to the above work, in writing this history, present themselves, we shall indicate that work by the title, Luther, as ' ' Luther ' ' is the name which appears on the back of the book. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 7 later period this delusive system or plan of operation was introduced in some portions of her territory, — but to show the unsettled, unehurchly state of religion, in general, in this country, at that time. In regard to it, Rev. Storch, of North Carolina, writes : "By the side of this pestilence (infidelity), there prevails now, for over a year, a something, I know not what to name it, and I should not like to say Fanaticism. Chris- tians of every denomination assemble themselves in the forest, numbering four, six and sometimes ten thousand persons ; they erect tents, sing, pray, and preach, day and night, for five, six, and eight days. I have been an eye- witness to scenes in such large assemblies, which I cannot explain. I beheld young and old, feeble and strong, white and black, in short, people of every age, position, and cir- cumstance, as though they were struck by lightning, speechless and motionless ; and, when they had somewhat recovered, they could be heard shrieking bitterly, and sup- plicating God for mercy and grace. "After they had thus spent three, and many even more, hours, they rose up, praised God, and commenced to pray in such a manner, as they never were wont to do, exhorting sinners to come to Jesus, &c. Many of those who were thus exercised, were ungodly persons before, and we can now discover a remarkable change in them. Even deists have been brought to confess Christ in this way. Thus this thing continues even to this hour. "Opinions are various in regard to it; many, even ministers, denominate it the work of the devil ; others again would explain it in a natural waj^, or in accordance with some physical law ; whilst others look upon it as the work of God." — Rev. Dr. Bernheim' s History of the Lutheran Church in the Caro/inas, pp. 351, 353. In the Minutes of a Conference, held in Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1806, Rev. Paul Henkel says relative to this revival : 8 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL "Towards the close of the year 1801, there occurred a mighty waking up of religion among the English people in Guilford and Orange Counties, N. C, which caused our German people to understand the true worth of the Gospel. Both the pastors and their people were surprised ; for it appeared exceedingly strange to those who were well ac- quainted with the order of salvation, that true conversion should consist in such a way as declared by these people ; that true faith should originate In such sermons, as caused such corporeal convulsions, such representations of the devil, death, and hell ; the fearful and awful expressions of lightning, thunder, hail, fire, and brimstone against the sinner, deprived many of their senses, and prostrated them in fainting fits. ' ' As the like proceedings were upheld and defended by so many English preachers, and as many had declared that by means of such workings they had received true and reliable witness of the pardon of their sins and of the new birth, many of us hesitated to contradict such proceedings, although they were thought to be so contrary to the doc- trines of the Gospel. Many passages of Scripture were pointed out as opposed to these outward manifestations ; but many good meaning persons defended them as Scriptu- ral, whereupon the important question arose among them : ' Must we not also experience the same thing in order to be saved?' The people became anxious and concerned, were much affected and distressed, and pressed upon their pas- tors to decide this matter for them, who were unwilling to do this without due consideration and the fullest assurance. "The German ministers were at first divided in their opinions on this subject ; nevertheless, it drove them to more intimate communion with each other in their official acts, and they have thus the opportunity to investigate this matter more closely." This course of procedure, that is, this revival theory, also had a tendency to divert the mind from the regular Means of Grace as set forth in the Word of God, as well as LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 9 from a reliance on the promises contained in Divine Reve- lation, to a dependence on the feelings or emotions, for salvation, thus disparaging, to a greater or less extent, the true doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, and leaving the Church in a state of distraction, in regard to some of the most vital features of sound Scriptural theology. In the year 1794, Robert Johnson Miller, — a licentiate of the Methodist Episcopal Conference, — was ordained, by Lutheran pastors, of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, North Carolina, on petition from White Haven Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, really as a minister of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church in America, under obligations always to obey the Rules, Ordinances, and Customs of that Society of Christians ; as his ordination certificate will show, — on the opposite side of which the Lutheran ministers give their reasons for ordaining a man who was attached to the Epis- copal Church, as a minister of that denomination. — See BernheinC s History of the Lutheran Church in the Carolina s, PP- 338, 339- As such, he labored in connection with the Lutherans of North Carolina, and after the organization of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod in that State, in 1803, he continued to labor in that Synod till 182 1, when he severed that con- nection, and was ordained in Raleigh, N. C, to deacon's and priest's orders in the Episcopal ministry. In his former connection, even as an Episcopalian, he labored for a period of twenty-seven years. According to the Journal of the Episcopal North Caro- lina Convention of 18 18, it seems that previous to the year 1 8 16, there was no Episcopal clergyman in that State, and but one congregation in which the worship of that church was performed. Hence it was, that the said Miller thought it his duty to form a temporary connection with the Lu- theran Church. He was a man of quite respectable attain- ments, energy, zeal, and perseverance, and did much missionary work among the Lutherans. But it is not unreasonable to conclude that such connection and policy IO HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL had a tendency to looseness in doctrine and practice, as well as to unionism. In 182 1, a move was made to effect a fraternal union between the North Carolina Synod and the Protestant Epis- copal Convention of North Carolina. At the Episcopal Convention, held in Raleigh, April 28, 182 1, which Rev. Robert J. Miller attended with a view to connect himself fully with the Episcopal Church, "to which he really be- longed, having been ordained by Lutheran ministers of North Carolina, as an Episcopal minister, and was the pastor of an Episcopal congregation, White Haven Church, in Lincoln County," he proposed the establishment of such a union. His proposition was accepted, and received the proper action on the part of the Episcopal Convention, to consummate the contemplated union. At its meeting in Lau's Church, Guilford County, North Carolina, June 17, 182 1, the Lutheran North Carolina Synod accepted the proposition, and the delegates of the Episcopal Convention being present, the union was completed. At the next Epis- copal Convention, held in Raleigh, April 18, 1822, the pro- ceedings were ratified. But it seems this union did not long continue. "For, after the year 1823, nothing more appears concerning the fraternal relations of these two bodies." — See Bernhehrt s History, &c, p. 4.57. In 18 10, Gottlieb Shober, a Moravian, was ordained by the Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, but it seems, that, in some wa}^, he also retained his connection with the Mo- ravians. He resided all his life in Salem, North Carolina, and labored in some Lutheran churches in its vicinity. — In regard to him, Bernheim's History, pp. 441, 442, says : "Rev. Shober was no Lutheran, he was a member of the Moravian Church, and never disconnected himself from com- munion with the same ; he lived and died as a member of that church. This information the writer received from his own daughter, the widow of Bishop Herrman. He merely served the Lutheran Church in the capacity of one of its ministers, being pastor of several neglected Lutheran con- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. II gregations in the vicinity of his place of residence." It is not unnatural to conclude, that such connection and labor would ultimately result, to some extent, in disintegration and disturbance. During the meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, in 1816, it was resolved that the Secre- tary, Rev. Shober, "compile all the rules adopted by this Synod, and publish them in the English language." In accordance with this resolution, the secretary prepared and laid before Synod in 18 17, a manuscript compilation en- titled : ' ' Comprehensive Account of the Rise and Progress of the blessed Reformation of the Christian Church, By Dr. Martin Luther, actually begun on the 31st day of October, A. D., 1517 ; interspersed with views of his character and doctrine, extracted from his books ; and how the Church, established by him, arrived and progressed in North Ameri- ca, — as also, the Constitution and Rules of that Church, in North Carolina and adjoining States, as existing in Octo- ber, 18 1 7." This work also contains a translation of twenty-two articles of the Augsburg Confession. The translation used, is, according to a statement made by Rev. Dr. Beale M. Schmucker, in a little work entitled, "English Translations of the Augsburg Confession," that of Dr. E. L. Hazelius, with all its omissions and notes. In the tenth article, the word true is omitted, and the article is accompanied with a foot-note, which perverts the true sense, and so modifies it, as to make it acceptable to the various denominations ; and so too, in regard to the eleventh article. Really, the trans- lation is very defective. According to the first article of the Constitution of the North Carolina Synod, as presented in that book, the first twenty-one articles of this translation of the Augsburg Con- fession, are made the point of union, and the ministers en- tering that Synod were pledged to the same. In that book, the Rules, made by that Synod in 18 17, for its government, appear. In the eleventh one of these 12 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Rules, page 172, the New York Liturgy is designated as one of the Symbolical Books of the North Carolina Synod. Whilst that work, compiled by Rev. G. Shober, ap- proved by the North Carolina Synod, and familiarly called "Luther," conforms in some respects to sound Lutheran principles, its general tone and tenor are compromising and unionistic, with a tendency to latitudinarianism and loose- ness in doctrine, rather ignoring the true Confessions of the Church, and disparaging her distinctive features, with a view to effect a kind of general, fraternal union with the different denominations. This is evident from the following remarks which the author, Rev. Shober, makes in the con- clusion of his book, called Luther, page 210: "I have attentively examined the doctrine of the Episcopalian church, and read many excellent authors of the Presbyterians, know the Methodist doctrine from their book, 'Portraiture of Methodism,' and am acquainted with the Baptist doctrine so far as they admit and adore Jesus the Savior. "Among all those classes who worship Jesus as a God, I see nothing of importance to prevent a cordial union ; and how happy would it be if all the churches could unite, and send deputies to a general meeting of all denominations, and there sink down upon the rock Jesus, and, at the same time, leaving to each their peculiar mode and form ; this would influence all the Christians to love one another when and whersoever they meet, and they would commune together. ' ' Again, pages 211, 212, he says : ' ' I think my sentiments and experiences are as ortho- dox and Calvinistical as need be, and yet I am a sort of speckled bird among my Calvinist brethren. I am a mighty good church man, but pass among such as a Dissenter in prunello. On the other hand, the Dissenters, many of them I mean, think me defective either in understanding or in conscience, for staying where I am. Well, there is a middle party, called Methodists, but neither do my dimensions LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 3 exactly fit them ; I am somehow disqualified for claiming a full brotherhood with any party ; but there are a few among all parties who bear with me, and love me, and with this I must be content at present. ' ' It requires no great acuteness to see how such loose, unguarded sentiments vitiated and corrupted the Church, and how they soon afterwards began to crop out everywhere, and still come to the surface in some sections. Now, in view of all these vitiating, corrupting, and disintegrating influences which were brought to bear on the Church during that period, it takes no very great stretch of mind to see the indefinite, unsettled, lax, disin- tegrated, and dilapidated condition of the Church in regard to doctrine and practice at the time of the rupture in the North Carolina Synod, in the year 1820. Nor is it any wonder that, in view of such influences, such a state of disintegration and dilapidation should exist, and result in the trials and troubles which followed. For, at that time, according to all the facts in the case, there was not a" Synod in North America that unreservedly recognized and ac- knowledged the full, Unaltered Augsburg Confession, much less the other Symbolical Books. In view of such compromising, unionistic proclivities and unchurchly deviations and divergencies, differences in regard to doctrine and practice arose among some of the ministers of the North Carolina Synod, and they were more and more agitated. There were conflicts in the pulpit, in the congregation, and in the family. One of the leading ministers charged Rev. David Henkel with teaching doc- trines contrary to the position of the Church. To defend himself against such unfounded charges, the latter appealed to a Latin copy of the Book of Concord, which he had in possession. That gave him a decided advantage, in some respects, in the estimation of many of the people, who were not willing to acquiesce in the extreme, latitudinarian views inculcated by the former. To counteract this increasing advantage, that minister called into question the correctness 14 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL of these translations from the Latin. This proved disparag- ing for a while, bnt soon afterwards Rev. David Henkel happened to come across a German copy of the Book of Con- cord, at the residence of a German in South Carolina, with whom he spent a night or two. After much persuasion, the German let him have the book. This he brought with him r rejoicing in his good fortune to get it, to North Carolina. — This he presented, to sustain the correctness of his transla- tions made from the Latin copy of his Book of Concord. For, this the people could read and understand for them- selves, and finding that his translations from the Latin copy referred to, were correct, man}' of the members of the Church took a decided stand in favor of him and his posi- tions, and faithfully defended him and his doctrines against the innovations and false charges of his opponents. The council of the congregation met, and after con- sidering the matter, one of the Elders, Capt. John Stire- walt, father of the late Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, presented the Book of Concord to the minister, sajdng, We want to know whether you intend to preach according to this book, in the future. The minister hesitated and evaded, but being pressed, he raised the book up and brought it down on the table, saying, From this day henceforth, I will not ; it is nothing but a controversial book. Mr. Stirewalt then raised the book up, and brought it down on the table, saying, From this day henceforth, you won't be our preacher. The differences in doctrine becoming more apparent, the controversies and conflicts assuming a wider range and more formidable aspects, effecting some of the more vital doctrines of the Church, and the authority of her Confes- sions being called into question, furnished occasion for rupture and schism, and gave rise to the chief causes or reasons which ultimately resulted in the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod ; and all that was wanting to bring about the final rupture was a suitable opportunity. The elements were at work, and the oppor- tunity for separation was not long delayed. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 5 In 1818, no Synod was held, in consequence of the fact, that as the Synod, at its session in October, 18 17, had, ac- cording to its constitution, adopted at that term, changed the time for its annual meetings from October to Trinity Sunday in each year, it was deemed unnecessary to meet in 18 18, so soon after the meeting in October, 18 17. Dr. Bernheim, in his History, p. 435, says: "This time of meeting was ' firmly fixed' (vest gesetzt)." Hence, on account of this change as to the time for the meeting of this Synod being firmly, unchangeably fixed, the Synod adjourned to meet on Trinity Sunday, 18 19. During the period of nineteen mpnths which intervened between the meeting in October, 18 17, and that appointed for Trinity Sunday, 18 19, there was no opportunity for any united, official efforts to calm the conflicting elements in regard to differences in doctrine ; and, hence, the breach grew wider and wider. But notwithstanding the Synod, in its constitution, adopted October, 18 17, had changed the time for its regu- lar annual meetings from October to Trinity Sunday in each year, and firmly fixed that as the time ; notwithstand- ing it had adjourned to meet on Trinity Sunday, 18 19 ; and notwithstanding the fact that on that day a considerable number of candidates for the ministry were, according to previous resolution of Synod, to be consecrated, the Synod was convened, without regard to the ordination of these candidates, five or six weeks sooner than the time designa- ted in the constitution for the meeting of the Synod, to which Synod had adjourned to meet. The reasons assigned for this unconstitutional change were, that a communication had been received by the Secre- tary of the North Carolina Synod from the Secretary of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, to the effect that there was a general desire among its ministers to effect a more general union, and that as the next meeting of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania was to convene in Baltimore, Md., on Trinity Sunday, 18 19, — the same day on which the North Carolina 1 6 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Synod was to meet, — it was necessary, — if the North Caro- lina Synod desired to take part, through a delegate or delegates, in considering the propriety of such a move, — to convene the North Carolina Synod sooner than the consti- tutional time. Hence it was, that a portion of the ministers of the North Carolina Synod, who were in favor of, possibly, a more general union than the ministers of the Pennsylvania Synod contemplated, even of the different Protestant de- nominations, according to Rev. Shober's ideas which have been already stated, after some consultation, requested the "President, with the consent of two or three ordained ministers residing in the vicinity," to convene the Synod before the time fixed in the constitution. The interval between the time when the call was made and that of the meeting, was too short to enable ministers at a distance to reach the place of meeting.* At this meeting, Rev. Shober was elected as a delegate to represent the North Carolina Synod in the meeting which took place in Baltimore in 1 8 19. This meeting of the North Carolina Synod was afterwards called the ' ' untimely ' ' or called meeting. When the time fixed in the constitution of the Synod for its regular meeting, to which the previous regular Synod had adjourned, namely, Trinity Sunday, 18 19, came, a minister of Tennessee and several of North Carolina, to- gether with a number of lay-delegates, met at the place appointed for the meeting of Synod, and not finding the President there, the minister from Tennessee sent one of his associates, accompanied by one of the elders of the congre- gation, to see the President, who was only several miles distant from the church, with a written request that he should come to the church, in order that everything might be arranged and done in a regular, orderly manner. The * In fact, some of the ministers knew nothing of this meeting, or "untimely" Synod, as it was afterwards called, until after it was all LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 7 President replied that he was not very well, and if he were, he would not go, remarking that the Synod had been already held, and that there was no need for holding it over, or again. He also commanded his Elders not to open the church ; yet after the messengers reasoned with him awhile relative to the matter, he agreed that the church might be opened for preaching, but not for any synodical business. At the appointed time the church was opened, and the regular services were conducted and a sermon was preached, after which the Synod met under several shade trees near by, and there being three petitions in due form from Rev. David Henkel's congregations presented, earnest- ly requesting his ordination to the office of pastor, his lay- delegates demanding it in accordance with the resolution passed at the previous meeting of the Synod, in wmich it was resolved or ordered, that he and a number of other can- didates for the office of the ministry, who had sustained their examinations and were approved, should be ordained at the next meeting of Synod, on Trinity Sunday, 1819. He and another one of that number of candidates who was present, were ordained, in a regular, orderly manner, ac- cording to the custom of the Church and the resolution of the Synod. But afterwards, it seems, some of the ministers who were so strongly in favor of a general union among all Protestant denominations, began to call into question the validity of Rev. David Henkel's ordination, and to invali- date it, whilst they recognized that of the other candidate who was ordained with him at the same time and under the same circumstances. But the other party sustained the ordination of the said David Henkel, asserting that it had taken place strictly in accordance with the act or resolution of the previous regular Synod, which provided for its per- formance on "next Trinity," 18 19, and according to the regulations of the Church. The opposite party, however, contended that the word "Trinity" did not stand in con- nection with that action or resolution of Synod which 1 8 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL appears in the book called "Luther," by Rev. G. Shober, but that the time for ordination was left blank. An exami- nation of the book was demanded, and when it was opened at the place, the word Trinity did not appear at first. But some of those who vindicated the validity of the ordination in question having previously detected the fact that a little piece of blank paper had been pasted over the word Trinity, by some one whom they knew not, after the book was printed and before it was distributed or circulated, as they presumed, took a knife and removed the little paper, and the word Trinity appeared at the right place, in connection with the act or resolution of Synod. After this occurrence, it is stated, that very little more was said about the validity of that ordination. Some of these books are still in exist- ence, with the paper on the word Trinity. Whilst it is unpleasant to make these statements rela- tive to that ordination, and whilst there is no disposition to reflect on any one, fidelity to the facts demands it. The controversies in regard to doctrinal differences grew more intense, and assumed a wider range. Strong opposition to the move for the organization of a general union, including different Protestant denominations, which failed in the meeting in Baltimore, Md., on Trinity Sunday, 1819, and resulted in the establishment of the Northern General Synod, at Hagerstown, Md., October 24, 1820, which also afterwards met with opposition on account of its failure to adopt a well defined Doctrinal or Confessional Basis, was worked up and prevailed to a considerable extent. The persons who became the leaders in these conflicts or differences in doctrine and policy, were Rev. Gottlieb Shober on the part of the unionists and Rev. David Henkel on that of the anti-unionists. The opportunity for the final rupture or separation was furnished during the meeting of the North Carolina Synod, which convened in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina, May 28, 1820. Rev. Dr. Bernheim gives the following description of LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 9 these men in his History of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas, pp. 441, 442, 443: " Rev. Shober was a man of decided opinions, unyield- ing in everything which he considered right, as may be seen from a sketch of his life in the Evangelical Review, vol. viii., pp. 412-414 ; ' with a mind that knew no dissimu- lation, a lofty independence, an ardent temper, and a character decidedly affirmative, he frequently experienced difficulties and encountered points other than pleasant in his pilgrimage through life, and which a disposition more pliant could have averted.' " 'The lineaments of his countenance gave indications of a strong and active mind. ' ' He was one of the most active defenders of (the) General Synod, as he had also been prominent among its early founders.' But Rev. Shober was no Lutheran, he was a member of the Moravian Church, and never disconnected himself from communion with the same ; he lived and died as a member of that Church. This information the writer received from his own daughter, the widow of Bishop Herrman. He merely served the Lutheran Church in the capacity of one of its ministers, being the pastor of several neglected Lutheran congregations in the vicinity of his place of residence, Salem, N. C. It may be readily perceived that no compro- mise could be expected on his part in the difficulties which distracted the Lutheran Church at that time. 1 ' Firm as was the Rev. G. Shober, he found his equal in that -respect in Rev. David Henkel, who, though a young man then, was equally as decided and unyielding in his opinions. He was a hard student and well educated, not only in the German and English languages, but also in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, all of which he had principally acquired by private study and close application. He was the best informed candidate for the ministry the North Carolina Synod had at that time, and wielded even then a considerable influence in the Church. It is not to be supposed that he would readily yield his opinions to 20 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL others, or permit himself to be led about at the will of even those who were older than himself, when he believed his cause to be just. In him the Tennessee Synod had a cham- pion who could not be easily overcome. He had a mind that was clear, active, and penetrating ; he was quick in discerning an advantage, and not slow in making use of it. These characteristics are gathered principally from his own writings. ' ' When the North Carolina Synod met in regular con- vention, in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina, May 28, 1820, well represented by ministers and lay-dele- gates, especially of that State, it seems, the occasion and causes for a rupture were fully matured, and the much lamented and deplored separation took place. The unionistic party, it appears, claiming that they had a majority, made no proposition to the other party, to investigate and adjust the difficulties and differences accord- ing to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, in a friendly, Christian manner, but before they approached the other party who were at the church, they sent one of their minis- ters to one of the ministers of that party, with two questions. The first one was : "Will you withdraw from the Synod?" The second one was : ' ' Will you submit to the decision of the majority of the ministers and lay-delegates, relative to the controversies and differences?" To these questions no decisive reply was made. He then went to the friends of his opponent and asked the same questions, which they answered in writing, stating: "We will not withdraw from the Synod, nor will we be ruled by a majority, but are ready and willing to investigate and decide every thing according to the teachings of the Augsburg Confession and the Constitution of the Synod, but not otherwise?" After all his opponents had gathered together, he again approached them, and demanded an oral or verbal answer to the same questions. The questions were answered according to his request. To this answer, he replied with a defiant mien, in a domineering tone: "That is not the LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 21 thing. I only ask, Will you, or will you not?" They replied, ' ' We will not. ' ' He then said : ' ' This is all I want to know," and quickly turned around, and briskly walked away. Then he and his friends came and presented the same questions, and received the same reply as that given before. Their leader then attempted to show, that the Synod was not bound to any fixed or definite regulation, according to which controversies or differences are to be decided, but that such things are to be decided only accord- ing to the majority of the votes of the ministers and lay- delegates, and claimed, that they had the majority, and that it is reasonable and just, that their opponents should be thus governed in these matters, but the other party con- tended, that the doctrines of the Augsburg Confession, w 7 hich they felt certain could be proved to be in accord with the teachings of the Bible, ought to be of greater considera- tion, than is the majority of the votes of persons, who are opposed to the doctrines and regulations of the Church. After a short interchange of words of a similar charac- ter, the unionistic party went into the church, and were followed by the other party. The President then delivered a long discourse in the German language, to show what he had heretofore sought to maintain. He was followed by the Secretary in a still longer one, in the English language, in which he endeavored to show, that the Synod was by no means bound, to act according to the Constitution or Reg- ulation of the Synod ; and, notwithstanding the fact, that he himself had compiled the work and had it printed, according to resolution and the approbation of the Synod, he still contended, that it was not the intention, that it should be a rule or standard, according to which the mem- bers of Synod should be governed in their transactions. He claimed, that it was only a kind of plan or form, which, in the course of time, if deemed necessary, in the future, might be formed or arranged into a rule of order, but for the present, no one needs any thing of the kind. But the other party showed from the Church Regula- 2 2 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL tion itself, that it was accepted as such a work, having been first examined by a committee of ministers appointed by Synod, and favorably recommended, and afterwards ap- proved by Synod, and handed over for publication. In regard to this, he replied, that it was not so intended, and, that, for the want of time, he had written it hurriedly and inconsiderately, without previously investigating it properly ; hence, every thing must now be regulated and determined by the majority. The other party regarded that construction of the mat- ter as very singular and unsatisfactory, in view of the fact, that the work was published, on the order and approbation of the Synod, and that an amount of money sufficient to pay for printing and binding 1,500 copies of the work, at a cost of 75 cents per copy, was taken out of the Treasury. The controversy now turned more directly to differences in doctrine. Some of the unionistic party called into ques- tion, and even denied, some of the doctrines clearly taught in the Augsburg Confession ; while on the other hand, the other party defended the teachings of said Confession with zeal and earnestness. In the midst of the discussion of these subjects, so vitally important, one of the officers of the Synod, who was so enthusiastic in regard to his idea of a general union, exclaimed: " Whoever is a right Lutheran, let him follow us out to ^. H.'s hotel," — this was John Harry's hotel, — "there we will begin our Synod !" A' reply came from the other side: "Whoever is a real fanatic" (Sch warmer), "let him follow ; for you are no true Lutheran preachers ; you are fanatics, and to such you belong." They then left the church and went to the hotel, leaving the other party in the church, and there commenced their Synod.* *It is hardly just to conclude that all those who followed out were in full sympathy with this move and the doctrines of the leader, but were carried along rather by the force of circumstances and their situations. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 23 Those who remained in the church, after some delib- eration and consultation, adjourned; and, on the 17th of July of the same year, they, with others, met again in Solomon's Church, Cove Creek, Green County, Tennessee, to organize a synod according to the teachings and doc- trines of the Church. These statements and historical facts are derived from the Minutes of the first meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, which were not printed till 182 1, and from intelligent men of irreproachable character and stand- ing, who were present and witnessed the whole procedure. The chief doctrines about which these conflicting par- ties differed were, first, in regard to Original Sin ; second, The Person and Nature of Christ ; third, Baptism ; fourth, The Lord's Supper ; and strange as it may seem, these very differences still occasionally crop out in some sections of the Church. So deeply was that Pietistical element infused, that it has required much time and patience, and still re- quires much vigilance, to keep it from coming to the surface too frequently. It is true, efforts have been made to make it appear that personal difficulties were among the first causes which gave rise to the rupture. The facts will not justify such a con- clusion. For these did not occur till after many of the conflicts in regard to differences in doctrine and practice had taken place and been agitated. The truth is, the per- sonal matters referred to by some were not between minis- ters, but between one minister and a member of the German Reformed Church. That idea seems rather to grow out of an after-thought, to palliate. 24 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL CHAPTER II. THE ORGANIZATION AND NAME OF. THE SYNOD. First Session. An open rupture having taken place, on account of dif- ferences in doctrine and practice, in the North Carolina Synod, at its meeting in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina, May 28, 1820, and those who advocated and favor- ed the new-measure, unionistic policy, having withdrawn from the church, as indicated in the preceding chapter of this work, the others, who had determined to adhere closely to the doctrines and principles of the Church, as set forth in her Confessional Writings, after some consultation and de- liberation, adjourned, and with others, afterwards, met in Solomon's Church, Cove Creek, Green County, Tennessee, July 17, 1820, to organize a conference or synod, in accord- ance with the teachings, doctrines, and policy of the Word of God, as set forth in the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This was a time for serious considera- tion, meditation, and prayer. / The following ministers and lay-delegates were present, on that occasion : Revs. Jacob Zink, of Washington County, Virginia ; Paul Henkel, of New Market, Shenandoah Coun- ty, Virginia ; Adam Miller, of Sullivan County, Tennessee ; Philip Henkel, of Green County, Tennessee ; George Est- erly (Easterly), of Green County, Tennessee ; and David Henkel, of Lincoln County, North Carolina, who, although he could not be present in person, acquiesced in the object of the meeting, and was recognized as a member. The lay- delegates representing congregations were, from Emmanuel Church, Washington County, Tennessee, John Keicher and Conrad Keicher ; from Union Church in the same County and State, Michael Kapp ; from Jacob's Church, Green County, Tennessee, John Nehs (Neas), John Ottinger, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 25 Philip Esterly, and John Renner ; from Sinking Spring Church, in the same County and State, John Bauer, Frederick Schaeffer, Peter Gabel, and Jacob Hermann ; from Solomon's Church, Cove Creek, same County and State, Frederick Gottschall, John Koch, Philip Ebert, and John Froschaur ; from three congregations in Sullivan County, Tennessee, Henry Herchelroth and Jacob Deck ; from Golden Spring Church, Green County, Tennessee, Nicholas Eley and George Boessinger. / The meeting was opened in a regular, churchly man- ner, with singing and praj^er. • After the adoption of the following basis and regula- tions, an organization was effected, under the name and title of the Evangelical German Lutheran Tennessee Con- ference or Synod : Basis and Regulations. 1. It is deemed proper and useful, that all the business and work, which may come before this Conference or Synod, shall be transacted in the German language ; and all the written proceedings in regard to its transactions, which pertain to the general interest, shall be published in the German language.* 2. All teachings relative to the faith, and all doctrines concerning Christian conduct, as well as all books publicly used in the Church in the service or worship of God, shall be arranged and kept, as nearly as it is possible to do, in accordance with the doctrines of the holy Scriptures and *The reason why we desire an entirely German Conference, is because we have learned from experience, that a conference, in which both languages, the German and the English, are used, the one or the other side will be dissatisfied. If the German is used, the English will understand little, and often nothing in regard to the matter ; and if the English is employed, many of the Germans will not understand more than the half of what is said, and hence know not how to act relative to the most weighty matters. Besides, at the present time, we find very few entirely English preachers who accept the doctrines of our Church, or desire to preach them. 26 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL the Augsburg Confession. And especially shall the young, and others who need it, be instructed in Luther's Small Catechism, according to the custom of our Church, hitherto. This said Catechism shall always be the chief catechism in our churches. But the Catechism styled the Christian Catechism, which was published in the German and En- glish languages, in New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, may also be used in connection, to explain Lu- ther's Catechism. 3. No one can be a teacher or otherwise an officer in the Church, who has not been received into the congrega- tion, according to the order of the Church, and does not lead a Christian life. Whoever desires to be a teacher, shall also take a solemn obligation, that he will teach according to the Word of God and the Augsburg Confession and the doctrines of our Church. Nor can any teacher in our Conference be allowed to stand in connection with an}' organization in connection with the so-called Central or Gen- eral Synod, for reasons which shall hereafter be indicated. 4. None shall be members of our churches, except such as have been baptized according^ to the command of Christ, and confirmed, by the imposition of hands, according to the order of the Christian Church, and participate in the celebration of the Holy Supper. * 5. As to the ranks and grades in the office of teaching, or the ministry, we acknowledge not more than two as nec- essary for the preservation and perpetuation of the Church ; namely, Pastor and Deacon. Pastor is an evangelical teacher, who executes that office fully in all its parts, or performs all the ministerial acts. Such person must be or- dained with prayer and the imposition of hands, by one or more pastors, to such office. Besides, he must then also * If. however, any one, who has been baptized according to the command of Christ, and confirmed to some Christian Church, and can make this appear, desires to commune with us, or to be received into connection with our Church, he shall be permitted to do so, without being re-baptized or re-confirmed. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 27 solemnly affirm, that he will faithfully, according to the Word of God and the doctrines of our Church, perform the duties of that office. 6. A Deacon is also indeed a servant in the Word of God ; but he is not fully invested with the ministerial office like the Pastor is. But he is to give instructions in the catechism, read sermons, attend to funerals, admonish, and, if desired, in the absence of the Pastor, to baptize children. He must be an orderly member of the Church, and have the evidence of a Christian conduct. He must, at the de- sire of the church council, be examined as to his fitness for office by the Synod, and if he is found qualified, he must be consecrated and ordained to that office with prayer and the imposition of hands, by one or more pastors, either at Conference or in one of the congregations in which he labors. Besides, he shall also make a solemn affirmation, in the presence of the whole congregation, that he will faithfully serve in that office according to the instructions given him. But if such Deacon prove so industrious or assiduous in his office as to reach the required attainments and qualifications to bear the office of Pastor, and secures a regular call from one or more vacant congregations, he can be consecrated and ordained to the office of Pastor in the same manner as already indicated. In regard to the offices in the congregations, the}' shall be as they were heretofore customary in our Church : Elders, Deacons, &c. 7. At each Conference, pastors shall be named or elect- ed who shall conduct the ordinations, and sign with their own hands all ordination certificates and affix their seals, and see that good order is maintained. They shall also sign all other proceedings of the Conference or Synod ; and if for any reason it is desired, all the other pastors and the lay-delegates may also sign them. The preachers and lay- delegates may find it good or useful to appoint or name one of the pastors as chairman, who shall read all that is neces- sary, make propositions, &c. In the same manner may 28 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL one be appointed as secretary. But it is not to be under- stood that these must serve in these positions throughout all the sessions. Changes can be made, and others can serve, as circumstances require. 8. It was resolved, that annually, on the third Sunday of the month, October, a meeting of Conference shall be held, in the State of Tennessee, or in the western part cf Virginia, at such place as the majority of the preachers and laj^-delegates indicate. But if it should be deemed neces- sary 4 that the said Conference should meet in an adjoining State, it may be held in such State. But the Conference or S}'nod shall always retain the name Tennessee Confer- ence or Synod ; although it may have ministers and lay- delegates also in other States. 9. The Conference shall be composed of preachers and lay- delegates elected by their congregations, as has been the order heretofore, in similar cases ; but there shall not be more votes cast by the lay-delegates, than the number of preachers present is. The surplus delegates may be pres- ent, and consult and advise with the others. 10. The necessity for each congregation to have a treasury for itself, in which to deposit all the money that each member or other person may freely give, will manifest itself to all. Such moneys shall be used to defray the cost of printing the minutes of the Conference, to aid traveling ministers, and for other purposes which will best enhance the interests of the churches or congregations. The way and manner, in which these treasuries are to be kept, and the disbursements, are to be made, are to be left to the good judgment of the church councils and the ministers acquies- cing. The moneys may be gathered at every meeting, each month, or every three months. At every meeting of Con- ference, the council of each church shall make a report of the amounts thus collected. A treasury for the Conference, is, at this time, deemed unnecessary. 11. It will be found useful for every minister to keep a LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 29 record of the number he baptizes, the number of confirma- tions, and of communicants and funerals, as well as of the German schools in his congregations, so that they may ap- pear in the proceedings of the Conference each year. 12. We also deem it of the highest importance to use all possible diligence to make our children acquainted with all our doctrines in faith, in the German language ; so that we may the more easily give them instruction therein ; and so that the parents especially may be careful to teach their children in regard to these things. 13. None of the teachers of our Conference can take a seat and vote in the present Synod of the State of North Carolina, because we cannot regard it as a true Lutheran Synod. 14. The propriety of preserving and maintaining these principles and regulations of Conference, as here set forth, and of acting according to them, must be apparent to all. — But if, at any meeting in the future, anything may be nec- essary to be added, it may be done, by a majority of the votes, but in such a manner as not to come in conflict with the design and intention of the foregoing principles. The name Tennessee was not intended to indicate boundary, but to distinguish this Conference or Synod from other Synods already in existence ; as, the Pennsylva- nia Synod, the New York, the Maryland, the North Caro- lina, and the Ohio Synods, and especially the North Carolina Synod. This is evident from statements in its own proceedings, where it is said, " If it become necessary, this Conference or Synod may be held in adjoining States. Again, in the proceedings of its eighth session, in 1827, during which its basis was revised and improved, to make it more clear and simple, it is stated, "This body shall continue to bear the title Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. But this title shall not be so construed as to give the members who reside in Tennessee any prerogatives or advantages over others ; for this body consists for the most part of members in other States ; but it shall bear this title 30 HISTORY OF THK EVANGELICAL simply to distinguish it from the North Carolina Synod, which belongs to the General Synod." See Minutes of 1827, page 22. At first the German language alone was used in the transactions of the Synod, in view of the fact that nearly all the ministers, as well as a large portion of the lay-members, at that time, used that language. At a later date the English language was introduced. Thus, after agreeing on a basis and regulations, the Conference proceeded to the transaction of such other busi- ness as was deemed necessary. It then set forth its reasons for organizing this Synod. These reasons are based chiefly on the differences in doc- trine, as already indicated in the first chapter of this work. Then follows a Dissertation on Holy Baptism, relative to the differences between the conflicting parties, in regard to that subject. In its proceedings, appears also the constitution or plan of the General Synod, accompanied with objections to, and criticisms on, every article. Then follows a paper, signed by several Evangelical Lutheran ministers, of the State of Ohio, and others, showing why they cannot endorse or adopt the plan or constitution of the General Synod. And finally, appears the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, in its twenty-eight articles, in the German, — perhaps, among the first editions, if not the first edition, ever printed in the United States, in the German language, in its twenty-eight articles. Among the proceedings of this meeting, we note the following : 1. A resolution, making it the duty of one of the older ministers of that body, annually to visit all the congrega- tions in its connection, in order to look into their condition, and to give wholesome instructions to the younger teachers or ministers, and their congregations, as well as cordial ad- monitions, and to report the result of his visits to the next meeting of Synod. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 3 1 2. In regard to a petition from a number of persons residing in Cape Cheredo, Missouri, asking a visit on the part of one of the ministers, it was resolved, that Rev. Jacob Zink visit that section as soon as possible and administer to their spiritual wants. 3. That the next meeting of this Conference be held in one of Rev. Adam Miller's congregations, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, beginning on the third Sunday of Oc- tober, 182 1. 4. Jacob Zink and Adam Miller were ordained by the imposition of hands and with prayer. After regular services and preaching, the Conference adjourned to meet at the time and place indicated. Thus, among great trials, difficulties, and anxieties, this Synod was organized, and took its position in the Church, depending on its great Head, to guide it in its efforts to maintain, promulgate, and perpetuate the Scriptural, churchly principles and doctrines it so earnestly loved, and to enable it to fill its mission with honor and abiding success. 32 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL CHAPTER III. ITS POSITION AND CONFESSIONAL BASIS. Notwithstanding the fact that at the time this Synod was organized, there was probably not a Synod in the United States of America that unreservedly received and acknowledged the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as its confessional basis, nevertheless this Synod laid down the following basis, requiring its ministers or officials in the Church, to make a sacred affirmation, to teach. in accord- ance with it : i. All doctrines of faith and teachings in regard to Christian conduct, as well as all books used in the public services of the Church, shall be so formulated and arranged as to conform, as nearly as possible, to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession of Faith. 2. The young and others who need instruction, shall be taught from Luther's Small Catechism, according to the custom of our Church. And this Catechism shall always be the chief catechism in our Church. The Christian Catechism, printed at New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, may, however, be used for the purpose of explain- ing Luther's Catechism. 3. No one shall be a teacher or an officer in the Church who has not been received into the congregation according to the order of the Church, and does not bear a Christian character. 4. Whoever desires to be a teacher, shall make a sacred affirmation or promise that he will teach according to the Word of God, the Augsburg Confession, and the doctrines of our Church. 5. No one who has not been baptized according to the command of Christ, and confirmed by the imposition of hands, according to the order of the Christian Church, and LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 33 partaken of the Lord's Supper, shall be a full member of our Church. This Synod recognized, in its constitution, two grades in the ministry, —Pastor and Deacon. The pastor is author- ized to perform every ministerial act ; whilst the deacon is allowed only to catechise, preach, and baptize. In 1827, its constitution was revised, but there were no material changes made in regard to its confessional basis, or in any other respect, except as to arrangement. In 1828, the constitution appears, in the proceedings, with explanatory remarks, by Rev. David Henkel, but with- out material changes. In its revised constitution of 1866, the confessional basis is more fully presented, so as to express more clearly its doctrinal position, as follows : 1. The Holy Scriptures, the inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments, shall be the only rule and stand- ard of doctrine and church discipline. 2. As a true and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures in regard to matters of faith and prac- tice, this Synod receives the three Ancient Symbols : the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, and the Unal- tered Augsburg Confession of Faith. It receives also the other Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, viz. : The Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Smaller and Larger Catechisms of Luther, and the Formula of Concord, as true Scriptural developments of the doctrines taught in the Augsburg Confession. — Minutes of 1866 , p. 19. Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. (As Revised in 1866.) Article I. The name of this Synod shall be The Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. Article II. The Holy Scriptures, the inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments, shall be the only rule and standard of doctrine and church discipline. As a true and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of 34 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL the Holy Scriptures, in regard to matters of faith and prac- tice, this Synod receives the three Ancient Symbols : the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds ; and the Unal- tered Augsburg Confession of Faith. It receives also the other Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, viz. : The Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Smaller and Larger Catechisms of Luther, and the Formula* of Concord — as true Scriptural developments of the doctrines taught in the Augsburg Confession. Article III. This Synod shall be composed of regu- larly ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and lay-delegates. The la3 T -delegates shall be appointed by the congregations in connection with this Synod to represent them in the Synodical Meetings. Each one of these congregations shall have the right to appoint one such delegate who shall have equal rights and privileges with the ministers in transacting the business of Synod. Every minister desiring to be received into connection with this Synod, shall, on his reception, be required to sub- scribe this Constitution. Xo minister in connection with this Synod, shall be allowed to teach any thing, nor shall Synod transact any business contrary to the confessional basis as set forth in Article II. No business shall be transacted secretly or under closed doors, unless an unhappy period should arrive, in which the Church would be liable to persecution, except such as relates to the moral character of a minister, and to the ex- amination of candidates for the ministerial office. Cases of this kind, if deemed necessary and expedient, may be attended to in a private session of Synod. Article IV. The business of this Synod shall be to employ the proper means for the promulgation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to impart its advice in matters of Christian faith and life, to detect and expose erroneous doctrines and false teachers, and to investigate charges of false doctrines, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 35 wrong practice, and immoralities of life, preferred against any of its ministers, and finding them guilty, to expel and depose from the Synod and holy office of the ministry, such as refuse after due admonition to repent of their wrong. It shall be the duty of Synod, as soon as the wants of the church shall demand, and its resources will justify, to engage in the work of Missions, both domestic and foreign ; and also in the work of Beneficiary Education, for the pur- pose of preparing indigent young men of talents and piety for the work of the ministry in connection with the Luther- an Church, according to such regulations as it may adopt, and consider best calculated to promote these great objects. Upon application to examine candidates for the minis- try, this Synod shall make the necessary provisions to attend to such application, and after due approval by a majority of two- thirds of the members voting, appointing one or more Pastors to consecrate such candidate to the office of the ministry at some suitable time and place by the laying on of hands and -prayer. Synod shall require a probationary period of not less than one 3^ear, during which time all candidates for the ministerial office shall be taken on trial. Upon application, this Synod may receive congrega- tions who may desire to be connected with it, provided they subscribe this Constitution. Article V. The officers of this Synod shall be a Presi- dent, Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer. A majority of all votes cast will be required to constitute an election to any office. The duties of these officers shall be such as usually devolves upon the same in other public bodies, or as may be made obligatory upon them from time to time, by Synod. They shall be elected by ballot, at the regular session, annually, and hold their offices until their successors are elected. Article VI. Synod shall meet from time to time upon its own adjournments. Extra sessions may be called by the President, when requested for good and sufficient rea- 36 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL sons, to do so, by two ministers and two laymen in its connection. Article VII. Synod may at any regular meeting, by a concurrence of two- thirds of all the members present, make such regulations and by-laws as may be deemed nec- essary, not inconsistent with this Constitution. Article VIII. If anything contained in these articles should hereafter be deemed contrary to the Confessional Basis of this Synod, oppressive, or inexpedient, it may be altered or amended. But nothing contained in this Consti- tution shall be altered or amended unless a proposition for alteration or amendment shall have been laid before one of the sessions of Synod, in writing, and agreed to by two- thirds of all the members voting. The proposition thus agreed to, shall then be laid, in due form, by the Synod in its Minutes before the congregations in its connection, for ratification or rejection by them ; and the ministers or ves- tries of these congregations shall, at some suitable time, before the next succeeding session of Synod, take the vote of these congregations, on the Constitution as amended, allowing the members to vote for its ratification or rejection and send a statement of the vote to that session of Synod. If, then, it shall be ascertained by Synod that a majority of these congregations have voted in favor of ratification, the amendment shall become and be declared by Synod on the face of its Minutes a valid part of said Constitution, and the parts thereof repugnant to such alteration, void. Thus, it seems, this Synod, after accepting and adopt- ing the true Scriptural basis, as set forth in the Confessions and authorized writings of the Church, adhered to it, and maintained it, in all its transactions and operations ; whilst a large number of those who bore the Lutheran name, as- sumed rather a loose, vacillating, indefinite, compromising policy, ignoring, to a greater or less degree, some of the more important doctrines and teachings of the Church, and rather conniving at the loose, unsettled, unionistic senti- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 37 merits, which prevailed to such an alarming extent, at that time. This sound, Scriptural position gave this Synod decided advantages, having something fixed and positive, on which to build, and on which the mind could rely with certainty. The mind really requires something fixed, definite, and positive, on which it may rely and build up. No institu- tion or society can be successfully built up, and long main- tained, and perpetuated, on mere negatives and indefinite, unsettled principles. Even, in the structure of a material edifice, a good, solid, settled foundation is required, if the building is to stand properly, and be perpetuated. It was positiveness and definiteness, that gave Luther so much force and success in the days of the Reformation of the six- teenth century. One of the greatest evils of the present age, in regard to the Church, the Family, and the State, is the ignoring of the grand, fundamental principles, on which these divine institutions are really founded and constructed, and the loose, latitudinarian sentiments which now prevail, regardless of fixed, definite principles which underlie our ecclesiastic, civil, and social institutions. The more this Synod was assailed, abused, and perse- cuted on account of its doctrinal position, to which it so closely adhered, and which it so fearlessly maintained, the closer it was driven to it, and the more necessary it became for it to investigate, promulgate, proclaim, maintain, and perpetuate the sound, Scriptural doctrines of the Church, from the pulpit, in the family, and through the printing press, assured, that, if these fundamental, Scriptural princi- ples had power and vitality enough in them, to effect the grand and glorious Reformation in the Church, in the be- ginning of the sixteenth century, they might have a similar effect in the Church in this century. The printing establishment, founded in 1806, at New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, — the fourth, if not the third, one established in that State, was brought into requisition. In speaking of this establishment, Rev. G. D. 38 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Bernheim, D. D., says, in his History of the German Set- tlements and the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas : ' ' The Lutheran Church in America has had its publication boards and societies in abundance, which have doubtless accom- plished a good work ; but the oldest establishment of the kind is the one in New Market, Virginia, which dates its existence as far back, at least, as 1810; for the minutes of the North Carolina Synod were printed there, at that time. It was established by the Henkel family, and has continued under their management to this day ; at the time of the division in the Lutheran Church in North Carolina, it came at once into the service of the Tennessee Synod, and has issued more truly Lutheran theological works in an English dress than any similar institution in the world. ' We may well say, What hath God wrought? How imperceptible have been his purposes ! How brightly they shine forth now.'" Pages 445, 446. In regard to this same matter the Herold und Zeitschrift, of January, i888 r a German Lu- theran paper, published in Allen town, Pa., says, relative to this family, "For sixty or seventy years, it has done more than any other to arouse its brethren in the faith, in America, to a Lutheran consciousness." Numerous publications of a doctrinal, devotional, and admonitory character began to issue from that printing establishment, among which were the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, both in a German and in an English dress. At a later date, the Christian Book of Concord, or Symbol- ical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, first edition in 1851, second, revised edition in 1854; Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, together with an Historical Intro- duction, to which are added Hymns and Prayers, adapted to Catechetical Instruction and to Family Devotion, trans- lated from the German, in 1852 ; Luther on the Sacraments, or the Distinctive Doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, respecting Baptism and the Lord's Supper, &c, in 1853; and Luther's Church-Postil, Sermons on the Epis- tles for the Different Sundays and Festivals in the Year, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 39 translated from the German, in 1869, made their appear- ance in the English. Thus, this little, determined, positive move, though puny and insignificant in the eyes of men, called more and more attention to the importance of restor- ing the Church to her normal condition in doctrine, prac- tice, and churchliness. Men, learned, and honest in their relations to the Church, and having her true interest at heart, began to take position in the right direction, and other good, solid, churchly works were issued from other presses, in other sections. The result is before us. It is not extravagant, to say, that three-fourths of those, bearing the name Lutheran, now recognize and accept the Confes- sional Basis of the Church. The great Head of the Church often brings into use or action, weak and simple means or instrumentalities, to accomplish great and important results, so that the world may see, that the moving power is from God, and not of man. The Gospel "is the power of God unto salvation," Rom. 1, 16. "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." — 1 Cor. 1, 26, 27. 40 HISTORY OF THE EVANGEUCAI, CHAPTER IV. THE OBJECT OF ITS ORGANIZATION. The chief object of the organization of this Synod, was the restoration of the Church to its normal condition, in re- gard to doctrine, practice, and churchliness. This is evi- dent from the position it took, the basis it adopted, and the course it pursued in promulgating, circulating, and main- taining the pure, Scriptural doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, according to her Confessional Writings, in the family, in the catechetical class, from the pulpit, and through the printing press, from the time of its organi- zation to the present period. There was need for such a movement. This appears from the condition of the Church at that time, in respect to doctrine and practice,. In the language of Rev. G. D. Bernheim, D. D., in his History of the German Settlements and the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas, so gradual and yet so sure were the departures from the confessed faith of the Church, as well as the assimilation to the teachings and practices of the various denominations, that for a long time it awakened no alarm, and but a learned few had any idea of what the faith of the Lutheran Church was ; ad- mirers of Luther there were in abundance, even among the different denominations, but very few knew anything of the secret which made Luther the conscientious, fearless, and zealous man that he was. Multitudes admired Luther's energy and labors, but they knew little of the faith which actuated his efforts, and of the doctrines upon which that faith was based. Had they known it, and experienced it themselves, more would have been accomplished at that time in the Lutheran Church in America, and divisions would not have occurred; then, also, there would have been less manifest desire to unite all denominations into LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 4 1 one Church, but a stronger desire to advance the interests of that Church, to which God has given a peculiar field of labor. Pp. 444, 445. God made use of this division in the Church, in ac- complishing a special purpose for the welfare of the Luther- an Church in America. P. 444. By means of this division the Symbols of the Lutheran Church were translated into the English language. This was a want that had long been felt, but before that time no one possessed the patience and energy to apply himself to the task. There was an abundance of anxious desire mani- fested by some to make the Lutheran Church in America an English as well as a German Church, but no anxiety manifested itself to anglicize the faith of the Lutheran Church ; that is, to translate its Confessions and theology into the English language. All honor then to the Tennes- see Synod for undertaking this work, which has accom- plished more in- preserving the faith of our fathers in this country than any similar undertaking in the English language. Page 445. But as the sad and deplorable condition of the Church at that time, in these respects, has been already fully presented in the first chapter of this work, there is no necessity for a fuller description of it in this connection. With a view to the accomplishment of this desirable and much needed object, every minister and teacher was required to take an obligation not to teach anything that is in conflict with the confessed doctrines and practices of the Church, and all the books used in the Church were required to conform to these doctrines and practices. And, for its further promotion, quite a number of pamphlets and books, as well as articles in connection with the Minutes of the proceedings of the Synod, of a doctrinal, admonitory, and devotional character, were printed and circulated. This firm, positive course attracted attention, revived investigation, and thus exerted a healthful, effective influ- 42 HISTORY OP THE EVANGELICAL ence in the accomplishment of this much needed and im- portant end. Notwithstanding the conflicts it had to encounter, the obstacles it had to surmount, the taunts it had to hear, and the abuse and persecution it had to endure, on account of its position in regard to doctrine and practice, it still perse- vered and went forward with a zeal, an earnestness, energy, and fidelity worthy of the cause it had espoused. The leaven had been infused, and the true Lutheran spirit re- vived. Its work soon prospered, and extended into North Carolina, then to Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri, and afterwards to South Carolina, thence to Alabama, &c. . Dormant energies were aroused, the number of ministers was increased, provision was made to supply the wants of many long-neglected congregations, ministers and laymen became more zealous, energetic, and faithful in the dis- charge of their respective duties, and the Church was thus increased, strengthened, and edified. The evils and dis- asters which were predicted and deplored by many who preferred to connive at deviations from the pure doctrines and usages, rather than contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, were over-ruled by the great Head of the Church for good, in the promotion of His Kingdom. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 43 CHAPTER V. ITS WORK AND DEVELOPMENT. FIRST DECADE. The most natural, easy, and simple way to present the work and development of this Synod, is, perhaps, to bring into requisition the proceedings as they appear in its Min- utes from its organization down to the present period. Second Session. Having already stated the more important work of its first meeting, we proceed to call attention to its second con- vention which took place in Zion's Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee, October 22, 182 1, Rev. Adam Miller, pastor. On Saturday previous, October 20, services, preparatory to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, were held, Rev. David Henkel preaching in the German language from Mark 16, 15, 16. On Sunday, October 21, a large audience having as- sembled, Rev. Adam Miller delivered a short sermon in the German language, from Matt. 22, 14. He was followed by Rev. David Henkel, in the English language, on Col. 2,14. Rev. Philip Henkel then preached in the German, on I^uke 22, 15-20. The lord's Supper was then administered to more than one hundred communicants. Deep solemnity pervaded the whole congregation. The following are the names of the members who con- stituted this meeting of Synod : Revs. Paul Henkel, of Shenandoah County, Virginia, Adam Miller, of Sullivan County, Philip Henkel, of Green County, Tennessee, and David Henkel, of Lincoln County, North Carolina. Rev. Jacob Zink was absent. Deacon George Easterly, of Green County, Tennessee, and Mr. Joseph Harr, of Sullivan Coun- ty, Tennessee, were present; the latter as an applicant for the ministry. 44 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL The lay-delegates were Mr. John Smith and Daniel Lutz, Esq., of Lincoln County, and Mr. Peter Boger, of Cabarrus County, North Carolina ; Messrs. Nicholas Uely, Martin Lintz, Jacob Leinbach, Frederick Schaeffer, Jacob Heyl (Hoyle), Philip Easterly, of Green County, Michael Brenner, of Sevier County, John Santer, Jacob Deck, H. Herchelroth, of Sullivan County, and Conrad Keicher, of Washington County, Tennessee ; and Ambrose Henkel, of Shenandoah County, Virginia. In the Minutes of this meeting, the following described letters and petitions appear : i. A letter from Rev. Jacob Larros, of Ohio, in which he vindicates the doctrine of Holy Baptism, according to the Augsburg Confession of Faith, supported by passages from the Holy Scriptures. In it he also speaks of the Kingdom of Antichrist, and presents his objections to the plan or position of the General Synod. 2. A letter from Rev. Antonius Weyer, a member of the Lutheran Synod of Ohio and adjacent States, in which he freely presents his views in regard to the General Synod's system, and the general union of all sects and parties. 3. A letter from Rev. Jacob Grieson, of Guilford County, North Carolina, in which he manifests his regret, that he voted in favor of the General Synod, indicating, that he did not properly understand the matter ; and that the result is not what he expected it would be. 4. Is a letter from Rev. Henry A. Kurtz, of Kentucky, in which he states that he had been a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania, but had tendered his resignation, and asks for assistance to aid him in the formation of a synod, on the plan of the Tennessee Synod, deploring the innovations which prevail in some synods. 5. A letter from Messrs. John Beck, Charles Greim, Henry Conrad, George Greim, Daniel Conrad, Philip Hed- rich, and Jacob Conrad, elders and members of several Lutheran congregations in Rowan County, North Carolina, in which they manifest their steadfastness in our Evangel- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 45 ical doctrines, and petition for a minister to serve them, as they are not satisfied with the one they had. In regard to this, it was resolved that Rev. David Henkel visit them. 6. A letter from Rev. Daniel Moser, of Lincoln County, North Carolina, in which he expresses his regret that he cannot attend this meeting of Synod, but hopes to be able to be present at some other time, indicating that he cannot continue in connection with the North Carolina Synod unless it take a better position. Then follow petitions from seven congregations in North Carolina and Tennessee, asking for ministerial serv- ices, advice, &c. The petitions were answered as far as it was possible to do at that time. One of these congrega- tions, Philadelphia, Lincoln County, North Carolina, peti- tioned for the examination and ordination of Mr. Jacob Cassner (Costner,) to the office of Deacon, but as Mr. Cassner was not present, the matter was deferred till the next meet- ing of Synod. Rev. Adam Miller was then appointed to visit, during the synodical year, the different petitioners and congrega- tions in North Carolina and Virginia, and all other congre- gations belonging to the Synod, and report to the next meeting. Under the head, ' ' General Transactions of the Synod, ' ' appear resolutions, the substance of which we present here : 1. That the objections to the General Synod be com- piled and printed. The committee, appointed to attend to this matter, consisted of Adam Miller, David Henkel, Con- rad Keicher, Ambrose Henkel, Daniel Lutz, John Smith, and Peter Boger. 2. That a circular letter be addressed to the brethren, of Ohio, to inform them of the intentions of Synod. 3. On motion of Rev. Adam Miller, it was resolved, that a Liturgy be arranged according to the Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession, that Rev. Paul Henkel be ap- pointed to attend to this matter, for the use of Synod, as soon as practicable, that between two and. three hundred 46 HISTORY OF THE EVANGKUCAI, copies be printed, and that the expenses be defrayed by the several treasuries. 4. On the request of some of the brethren in North Carolina, it was resolved, that an English session be an- nually held in North Carolina or an adjacent State, 5. On motion of Rev. Philip Henkel, it was resolved, that it shall be the duty of every pastor and deacon, to reg- ister the names of all the baptized in his charge, and to admonish them to continue faithful in their baptismal cove- nant, and to urge them to attend the catechetical instructions. 6. On motion of Peter Boger, it was resolved, that a copy of the Augsburg Confession, as well as of the Minutes of Synod, be deposited in every church. 7. On motion of Rev. David Henkel, a suggestion was made, that every person applying for ordination to the office of Pastor, shall be required to understand the Greek lan- guage well enough to be able to translate the Greek New Testament into the English. This suggestion was deferred till next meeting of Synod. 8. A petition from St. Paul's School at St. James' Church, Green County, Tennessee, was presented, asking Synod to make regulations for its conduct and government. Conrad Keicher, Paul Henkel, and Philip Easterly, were appointed a committee to give that matter attention, and report to the next meeting of Synod. 9. It was resolved, that the next meeting of Synod shall be held fourteen miles south of Green Courthouse, Tennessee, commencing on the third Sunday of October, 1822. 10. On petition of fifteen members of St. James' Church, it was resolved, that next Maundy-Thursday be set apart as a day of prayer and humiliation, to implore Almighty God, to have mercy upon his Church, in these perilous times. n. Revs. Paul Henkel and Adam Miller were appointed to examine Mr. Joseph Harr. Having sustained the exami- nation, he was ordained to the office of Deacon, by the imposition of hands and with prayer. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD, 47 The Synod was then dismissed with singing and prayer. The following is the Parochial Report : Since 1819, Rev. Adam Miller baptized 188 infants and 24 adults, and confirmed 32 ; Rev. Philip Henkel, since January, 1821, 119 infants and 10 adults, and confirmed 27; Rev. David Henkel, since July, 18 19, 444 infants and 56 adults, and confirmed 69 slaves and 156 white persons; Rev. Paul Henkel, since 1820, 50 infants and 2 adults, and confirmed 20. Revs. George Easterly and Jacob Zink made no reports. In conclusion follows a long report of the committee appointed to compile the objections against the General Synod, covering 23 pages. It is able, plain, and critical. Third Session, This Synod met, in its third session, in St. James' Church, Green County, Tennessee, October 21, 1822. On Saturday previous, the congregation having assem- bled, Rev. Paul Henkel preached the preparatory sermon. He was followed by Rev. David Henkel, on Gal. 3, 15-24. On Sunday, Rev. Adam Miller preached on the Gospel for that day. He was followed by Rev. Paul Henkel, on Matt. 6, 33. The Lord's Supper was then administered to about 140 communicants. After a short recess, Rev. David Henkel preached an English sermon from Titus 3, 4-7. During these services the house was filled to overflowing with attentive hearers. ■ Monday, the 21st, the Synod was opened with singing and prayer. The following members were present : Pastors — Revs. Paul Henkel, New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, Adam Miller, Sullivan County, Tennessee, Philip Henkel, pastor loci, David Henkel, Lincoln County, North Carolina. Jacob Zink was absent. Deacons — George Easterly, Green County, Tennessee, and Joseph Harr, Sullivan County, Tennessee, were absent, on account of indisposition. 4-S HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Applicants — Christian Moretz, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Richard Blalock, Burke County, and Jacob Cassner (Costner), Lincoln County, North Carolina. Lay-delegates — Michael Brenner, St. Jacob's Church, Sevier County, Jacob Hatzepiller, Union Church, Washing- ton County, Conrad Keicher, Emmanuel Church, same County, John Froschauer, Solomon's Church, Green County, Abraham Bock, St. Paul's, Monroe County, George Nehs, from the same County, Henry Herchelroth, Bueler's Church, Sullivan County, John Santer and Jacob Deck, Zion's Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee; Ambrose Henkel, from three congregations in Virginia ; Peter C. Boger, Rocky River Church, Cabarrus County, Jacob Best, Phila- delphia Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina; Joseph Hauf, Golden Spring Church, and John Olinger, Lick Creek Church, Green County, Tennessee ; Peter Greim, three congregations, Rowan County, Conrad Kramm, Rocky Spring Church, Burke County, North Carolina. Rev. Philip Henkel called attention to the ministrations of Mr. Moretz, asking whether they should be recognized, and placed on record in the Minutes. The response was in the affirmative. The following are, in substance, the petitions presented to the Synod : i. A petition from Cape Girardeau, Wayne, and Perry Counties, Missouri, signed by seventy petitioners, asking for a minister, certifying to the good moral character of Mr. Christian Moretz, and requesting his ordination. In regard to this petition, it was resolved that said Moretz be examined. 2. A petition from Rocky Spring Church, Burke County, North Carolina, commending the character of Rev. Richard Blalock, formerly a minister of the Sepa- rate Baptist Order, requesting Synod to receive him as a minister. In regard to this, it was resolved that Revs. Paul Henkel and David Henkel, as individual ministers, ordain him as a Lutheran minister, if found qualified, and that as soon as he acquires a better knowledge of the Ger- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 49 man language, he be received into connection with the Synod. 3. A petition from three congregations, Pilgrim's, Beck's, and Emmanuel's, Rowan County, North Carolina, expressing their disapproval of the General Synod, pre- senting their withdrawal, signed by 142 persons, and re- questing ministerial services from this Synod. With respect to this petition, it was resolved, that Rev. Paul Henkel visit them during the fall, and that either Rev. Adam Miller or Rev. George Easterly visit them in the spring, and that in the event the congregations can agree with one or the other of the two latter, he shall become their pastor. 4. A communication from Mr. Jacob Aderhold, Lincoln County, North Carolina, suggesting the appointment of a suitable person in each congregation to attend to funeral services, in the absence of the pastor or deacon, and that some change be made in regard to the rules relative to sponsors in baptism. Relative to this, it was resolved that each congregation use its Christian liberty in respect to these matters, keeping within the teachings of the Augsburg Confession. 5. A petition from Mr. George Risch, now living in Tennessee Valley, Hayw T ood County, North Carolina, in which he indicates his constant adherence to our Church, and solicits a visit from one of our ministers in his commu- nity. It was resolved that Christian Moretz visit that section. 6. A petition from fourteen lay-delegates and one minister, representing congregations in Indiana and Ken- tucky, w T ho had met in Harrison's Church, Nelson County, Kentucky, September 28, 1822, in which they solicit Synod to hold a session in their community, and to transact such business as might promote the interests of the Church, and in which they appointed Rev. Philip Henkel, who had visited them during the summer, to represent their interests in reference to this matter. 50 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL In regard to these petitioners, it was resolved, that Rev. Philip Henkel be recognized as their representative in ref- erence to their requests ; that Revs. Paul Henkel and David Henkel, and Captain John Bible, as a lay-delegate, visit the petitioners, to render the services desired ; that such session be held in Brunnerstown Church, Jefferson County, Kentucky, commencing on the third Sunday in June, 1823; that all congregations interested in that meeting have the privilege of sending delegates ; that Rev. David Henkel inform the petitioners of this action of Synod ; and that, during the absence of Rev. David Henkel and that of Rev. Paul Henkel, on that mission, Rev. Adam Miller shall visit the congregations of the former, and Rev. Philip Henkel those of the latter. 7. A petition from the congregation at Coldwater, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, signed by fifteen persons, asking to be served by a minister of this Synod, and stating that they do not wish to stand in connection with the General Synod, nor to be served by any of its ministers. In regard to this, it was resolved, that Rev. Adam Miller visit them during his. next journey to North Caro- lina, and that Rev. David Henkel visit them as often as possible, till Synod shall be able to make better arrange- ments to supply them. 8. A petition for the examination of Mr. Jacob Costner for the office of Deacon. It was resolved, that Revs. Paul Henkel and Adam Miller examine him and report to Synod. Letters and Communications Received. The following is the substance of letters and communi- cations received, read, and acted on : 1. A letter from Rev. Daniel Moser, in which he states his inability to be present, his desire that the next session of Synod be held in North Carolina, giving assurance that it would prove satisfactory to the people, that it might tend to healing the breach hitherto existing, and that Rev. Philip Henkel be requested to visit the congregations. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 5 1 With respect to this letter, it was resolved, that if Rev. Mr. Moser had given some positive information as to whether he has absented himself from the General Synod, Synod could give him a more satisfactory answer, but in view of the present aspect of things, it can make no definite reply, further than that it desires him to come to some decisive conclusion as soon as possible. 2. A communication, signed by three elders and eight church members, from St. Peter's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia, in which they indicate their adherence to this Synod, and certify the election of Mr. Ambrose Henkel as their delegate. 3. A letter from Rev. Jacob Zink, in which he states that he baptized twenty-eight adults and sixty-nine infants in the State of Louisiana, but many more in the State of Indiana, — the exact number of which he cannot give at this time ; that the congregations are all united in opposi- tion to the General Synod ; that the General Synod is not Lutheran; that the most of the people in Kentucky, — Lutherans and German Reformed, — are opposed to the General Synod, and that he heartily desires to be present at the meeting -of Synod, but is deprived of this privilege. Rev. Zink's absence was excused. 4. A letter from Mr. George Goodman, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, stating, that he much desired to be in attendance at the meeting of Synod, but was prevented by important circumstances from so doing, and that he wished to have a statement inserted in the Minutes in what respects Synod is governed by a majority. In reply, the following is the gist of the answer: Re- solved, that, as the Bible is the only rule and standard of doctrine and church discipline, and as the Augsburg Con- fession is a clear and correct presentation of the more im- portant doctrines and principles of the Bible, a majority have no right to decide in these matters, in opposition to these teachings, but in other matters, such as deciding the time and place for meetings, and matters that do not come 52 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL in conflict with the aforenamed standard, the majority have a right to decide. On the report of the examining committee, it was re- solved, that Mr. Jacob Costner be ordained to the office of Deacon in his congregation, by Revs. Paul Henkel and David Henkel, or by one or the other of them, — which was done. It was also unanimousry resolved that examinations of candidates for the office of Pastor, shall be publicry before the Synod. According to the petition from Missouri, Mr. Christian Moretz was publicly examined, and sustained a favorable examination. He was then ordained as a Deacon. Mr. Conrad Keicher asked the question : Is slavery to be considered as an evil ? In reply, the Synod unanimously resolved, that it is to be regarded as a great evil in our land, and it desires the government, if it be possible, to devise some way by ,which this evil can be removed. Synod also advised every minister to admonish every master to treat his slaves properly, and to exercise his Christian duties towards them. This probably was the first move in that direction in the South. Deacon George Easter^ was publicly examined as to his qualifications for the office of Pastor, and having sus- tained a favorable examination, was ordained to that office, Rev. David Henkel preaching a suitable ordination sermon on the occasion. It was resolved, that Rev. Adam Miller's journal of his last summer's travels, be appended to the Minutes. Synod approved the objections compiled by the com- mittee, appointed at the last year's session, in opposition to the constitution of the General Synod. In regard to the suggestion made at the previous ses- sion, that every applicant for the office of Pastor must be acquainted with the Greek language, it was resolved, that, as the opportunities for acquiring such knowledge, are not always accessible, the Synod, whilst it regards such knowl- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 53 long as strength permitted, his place in the congregation was never vacant ; but for a number of years before his death, his strength so far failed as to prevent his regular attendance upon the public ministra- tions of the Gospel. His concern, however, for the prosperity of the Church continued unabated, and,, as he neared the grave, his prospects for heaven grew T brighter. The writer visited him during the somewhat protracted and painful sickness which terminated his earthly existence,. and had opportunities of hearing from him expressions of a well- grounded hope of acceptance with God. In all the relations of life, Mr. Costner was exemplary. He was an affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent father, and a useful citizen. Forty-third Session. Pursuant to adjournment, Synod assembled in St, John's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, October 17, 1863. The election for officers resulted in favor of Revs. J. R. Peterson, president; J. M. Smith, secretary; and M. J. Stirewalt, treasurer. Rev. H. Goodman gave notice, that, at a suitable time, he would call the attention of Synod to the importance of missionary work in the Confederate Army, during the War between the States, which commenced in the spring of 1 86 1, and ended in the spring of 1865, — four years. This matter being brought up, a committee of four, consisting of Revs. A. J. Fox, P. C. Henkel, H. Goodman, and Mr. J. F. Plonk, was appointed, to propose a plan for such work. After consideration, this committee submitted the following : Whereas, this Synod is fully aware of the great neces- sity of doing something to supply our own soldiers in the Confederate Army with the preaching of the Gospel by our ministers, Resolved 1. That we establish an Army Mission in the following manner: Let as many ministers in connection LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. l6l with this Synod as will subscribe this resolution, be obli- gated to perform missionary labors in the Confederate Army, for the period of one month in each year, if our funds and the situation of the army will permit. Resolved 2. That two ministers go at the same time, and that in rotation, being chosen by lot at each annual meeting of Synod. Resolved 3. That their expenses, at least, be defined by donations obtained from the congregations by solicitation. Resolved 4. That those ministers, having performed such missionary visits as herein required, shall make a re- turn of their traveling expenses to a treasurer hereinafter provided, w T ho shall pay said expenses out of the funds he may have in hands for said purpose. Resolved 5. That a treasurer be appointed whose duty it shall be to receive such money as may be collected for the purpose herein stated. Resolved 6. That it be the duty of the ministers, asso- ciated with this enterprise, to take up collections in their several congregations, semi-annually ; and that they for- ward said collections to the treasurer. This was received and adopted. Moses Harmon, Esq., New T ton, Catawba County, North Carolina, was elected treasurer of the mission funds, and Rev. P. C. Henkel as corresponding secretary with the army and ministers, to secure information as to the points and times best suited for such work. The committee to bring up the Revised Constitution for the consideration of this body, handed in the following : Whereas, it was made our duty to prepare and submit to Synod a suitable plan for the revision of the Constitution of Synod, we, your committee, beg leave to submit the following : That a session of S3 r nod convene at Zion Church, on Saturday before the 4th Sunday in March, 1864, at which time it is contemplated to consider the propriety or impro- priety of adopting the Constitution submitted to Synod at 1 62 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL her session in i860, with such suitable amendments as may be agreed upon, which shall then be printed and submitted to the different congregations, in connection with the Ten- nessee Synod, for their approval, amendment, or rejection. We, the ministers and lay-delegates of the present Synod, unanimously and most earnestly entreat the minis- ters and congregations, not represented in the present session of Synod, seriously to consider this matter, and such minis- ters to be present, and such congregations to be represented, each, by one lay-delegate. This report was received and adopted. Messrs. L. A. Fox and D. K. Fox were authorized, in special cases, to exercise the functions of a pastor. David S. Henkel and David A. Goodman were received as theological students. It was ordered, that 1,500 copies of the Minutes be printed, and that a work, entitled ' ' A Few Fragments on Regeneration," by the late Rev. David Henkel, be printed in connection with the Minutes for cir- culation in the Confederate Army. The Parochial Report, only seven reporting, shows 193 infant baptisms, 8 adult, and 14 slave, and 214 confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet in St. Mark's Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, on Saturday before the second Sunday in October, 1864. Forty -fo u rth Session . This session of Synod Was held in St. Mark's Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, commencing October 8, 1864. The officers elected were : Revs. J. M. Smith, president ; A. J. Fox, secretary; and M. J. Stirewalt, treasurer. Rev. J. R. Peterson introduced the following preamble and resolutions, w r hich, after a free interchange of opinions, were unanimously adopted. Feeling, as we do, the great want of a religious peri- odical in the families of our connection, and as the Southern LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 63 Lutheran is the only paper of Lutheran character now pub- lished in the Confederate States, be it, therefore, Resolved, That this Synod most cheerfully recommend the Southern Lutheran to the families composing our con- gregations, and that the ministers connected with this Synod be encouraged to introduce it into our families. Resolved, That a collection be taken immediately after the sermon to-day for the purpose of sending the Lutheran to the soldiers. The matter in regard to the adoption of the Revised Constitution being brought up, it was resolved, that final action on that matter be deferred till the next meeting. Licentiate L. A. Fox was ordained to the office of Pastor, and applicants D. S. Henkel and D. A. Goodman were licensed to perform the functions of the ministry. The Parochial Report for this year shows 2,187 infant baptisms, 13 adult, and 26 colored, and 261 confirmations. Ten ministers reported, and the presumption is, that some of them reported for several years. Synod decided to meet in its next convention, in St. Peter's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, October 21, 1865. Forty -fifth Session . This meeting assembled in St. Peter's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, October 21-24, T ^5- The following officers were elected: Revs. J. R. Peter- son, president ; C. Moretz, secretary; and J. M. Smith, treasurer. Philadelphia Church, Caldwell County, and Pizgah Church, Alexander County, North Carolina, were received into Synod. In regard to the Revised Constitution, final action was deferred till the next annual meeting of Synod. Rev. A. J. Fox gave notice, that he would, some time during this session of Synod, bring to its notice the subject of publicly licensing young men for the ministry. 164 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL When this subject was brought up, a committee, con- sisting of Revs. A. J. Fox, P. C. Henkel, and T. Moser, was appointed to draft a licensure. The form was submit- ted in due time, and ordered to be printed in connection with the Minutes. Previous to the year 1862, Synod did not practice the licensure policy, and it continued that policy for only a few years. The contingencies of the Civil War gave rise to that system, so far as this Synod is concerned. D. K. Fox was ordained to the office of Pastor, and David S. Henkel and David A. Goodman were licensed for one year. During the year, according to the report, only eight ministers reporting, 282 infants, 21 adults, and 2 colored, were baptized, and 156 confirmed. The time and place for the next meeting were, Thurs- day before the fourth Sunday in October, 1866, and Beck's Church, Davidson County, North Carolina. Forty- sixth Session. This session of Synod convened in Beck's Church, Davidson County, North Carolina, October 25, 1866. Revs. A. Efird was elected president ; L. A. Fox, sec- retary ; and J. M. Smith, treasurer. Rev. A. J. Fox suggested the propriety of organizing conferences in the Synod. The ministers and congregations in Virginia, in con- nection with the Tennessee S3mod, having already organized a conference in that State, called the Virginia .Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, the ministers and congregations in North Carolina were divided into three conferences, designated the Eastern, the Middle, and South- ern Conferences, and the ministers and congregations in South Carolina were formed into a conference, called the South Carolina Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. These conferences were not allowed to transact any business which property belonged to the Synod. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 65 Rev. A. J. Fox offered the following which was adopted : Commission to the General Synod of North America. Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Southern States, is, when compared with other branches of the great Christian family, but a very feeble body, and feeble as it is, is divided into nine or ten small synods, em- bracing in the aggregate not more than 200 ministers and 350 churches with about 35,000 communicant members ; and, Whereas, We firmly believe in union there is strength, but in division there is weakness ; and, Whereas, The central point in the Lutheran Church is her doctrinal standards, to which she must firmly cling or cease to exist, and five of these Southern synods having united themselves in a body known as the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America, and adopted as her doctrinal basis the Augsburg Confession of Faith ; and, Whereas, We, as a Synod, are anxious to do all we can to promote the interests of true Evangelical Lutheranism, and we think this can be done best by uniting the energies and resources of the Symbo!ical Lutheran Church in these States ; therefore, Resolved, That one of our most experienced and influ- ential ministers be appointed a commissioner to meet the next regular meeting of the "General Synod, &c," to con- vene in Staunton, Va., in May, 1867, and to confer with that body upon the practicability and possibility of uniting our Synod with said General Synod, and to report to the next session of this Synod the result of any conferences he may have with the General Synod or any of her authorized com- mittees. Afterward this Synod shall take such steps as she shall determine best. This commissioner shall observe the following instructions in all his intercourse with the General Synod : this Synod proposes a union with the General Synod upon these conditions, viz. : That the General Synod pledge 1 66 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL herself that no church journal or book shall be published,, or other publications shall ever be made by her order or un- der her sanction that contains anything contrar}^ to any article of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Faith, and that no professor shall be appointed in any Theological Seminary who will not solemnly promise to teach correctly all the doctrines of said Confession, and that no Synod shall ever be received into her connection who' does not without any reservation subscribe the said Confession ; and further, with this distinct understanding upon her part, that, if at any time in the judgment of the delegates who represent this Synod, the General Synod shall violate the above principles our delegates may withdraw from that session to report to the next session of this Synod whose action alone shall de- termine the future course of this Synod in relation to the General Synod. The Synod proceeded to ballot for the commissioner. — Rev. Dr. A. J. Fox was chosen principal and Rev. J. R. Peterson, alternate. The following action was taken in regard to a church paper, called Evangelical Lutheran : Inasmuch as we feel the great necessity of a good Lutheran Church journal cir- culating among our people, but not feeling ourselves able in the present crippled condition of pecuniary affairs to com- mence the publication of such a paper now, and as there is a weekly paper purporting to be strictly and symbolically Lutheran (at least in doctrinal features), published in Char- lotte, N. C, in which we find some things, it is true, of a practical character which we cannot endorse, yet in view of the above stated facts and some other things we, for the present, Resolve, To approve the circulation of the Evangelical Lutheran among our people. Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, having sent to Synod a copy of resolutions passed by the Virginia Special Conference, pray- ing for the advice of this S}mod in regard to the formation of a new synod in Virginia, based upon the "time-honor- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 67 ed and established doctrines and usages of the Lutheran Church;" the following action was taken : Whereas, The ministers and congregations, in connec- tion with this Synod who are located in the great Valley of Virginia, have expressed a desire to organize themselves into a separate synod, although we regret to separate from those with whom we have been for so many years associated, yet in view of the reasons presented by them, and the great distance that separates us from them and, consequently, the difficulty of meeting as often as the interest of the Church requires ; therefore, Resolved, That we approve, unanimously, the measure proposed hy these brethren, and advise them to organize as soon as possible with such constitution and other regula- tions as may not be inconsistent with the Word of God and the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, and promise them that as soon as the President shall be officially inform- ed that this has-been done, he will give them an honorable dismission from this Synod, with a distinct understanding, however, that a regular correspondence be maintained by the interchange of delegates or by the formation of some central organization. The death of Rev. D. E. Fox having been announced in the President's Report, a committee, consisting of Revs. I. Conder and J. M. Smith, was appointed to prepare suita- ble resolutions relative to him. The following was submitted : Memorial of Rev. D. E. Fox, who departed this life, September 4, 1866; aged 31 years. Whereas, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church, since our last session of Synod, to remove from our midst our beloved brother, Rev. D. E. Fox ; therefore, Resolved 1. That by this afflicting dispensation we have lost a wortlty young brother, who had labored but a short time in his Master's vineyard. Resolved 2. That, notwithstanding our deep regret for 1 68 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL liis removal and the loss to our Church, since it has resulted in his everlasting gain, we bow in humble resignation to the will of God. Resolved 3. That we deeply sympathize with his afflict- ed wife in her bereavement, and commend her to Him, who is the husband of the widow, and makes all things work together for good to them that love God. Resolved 4. That these resolutions be incorporated with the Minutes of this Synod, that a copy be sent to the Evan- gelical Lutheran for publication, and a copy, also, to the bereaved wife of the deceased. It was adopted by rising and standing in silence. M. L. Fox, M. D., was received under the care of Synod as an applicant for the ministry. Spanish Grove Church, Forsythe County, North Caro- lina, was received. Relative to the Revised Constitution and the Rules of Order and By-Laws, the following action was taken : Inas- much as the Revised Constitution, prepared by the Extra Session of this Synod convened in Zion Church, Catawba County, N. C, on the 26th day of March, 1864, upon which final action was postponed by the regular session in 1864, and again in 1865 to the present session, has been approved by a large majority of the congregations of our Synod ; be it, therefore, Resolved, That it is and shall be, until altered, amended, or disapproved by this Synod in the manner provided for in its last article, the organic law of this Synod. Resolved, That the Rules of Order and By-Laws, which have been read and approved, rule by rule, and section by section, be now adopted as a whole, and, henceforth, until altered or amended as provided for in the last article, be in full force and effect in the Synod. A delegate was appointed to the next convention of the Holston Synod. With respect to the Freedmen, the following action was taken : LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 69 Whereas, The colored people among us no longer sus- tain the vsame relation to the white man they did formerly, and that -change has transferred the individual obligations and responsibility of owners to the whole Church ; and, Whereas, Some of them were formerly members of our congregations and still claim membership in them, but ow- ing to the plainly marked distinctions which God has made between us and them, giving different colors, &c, it is felt by us, and them also, that there ought to be separate places of worship, and, also, separate ecclesiastical organizations, so that every one could worship God with the least possible embarrassment ; and Whereas, These colored people are considered firm ad- herents to our Church, and we feel it our imperative duty to assist them in adopting such measures as will meet best the necessities of their present condition ; be it, therefore, Resolved 1 . That whenever any of our colored brethren desire to preach, they may make application to some one of the ministers of our Synod, who shall inform the President, when it shall be the President's duty to appoint two or- dained ministers who, in connection with two laymen whom they may choose, shall constitute a committee to examine the candidate upon his motives and mental and moral qual- ification, and, if they are satisfied, to license him to preach, catechise, baptize, and celebrate the rites of matrimony among those of his own race, according to the usages of our Church, until the next regular session of Synod there- after, when said committee shall report. This license, however, does not authorize them to preach in our churches, or take part in our ecclesiastical meetings; nevertheless they are permitted to worship with us as heretofore, yet we advise them to erect houses for themselves in which they may worship. Resolved 2. That we will use every reasonable means to aid them in organizing and building up congregations. Thomas Fry, a freedman, having frequently expressed a desire to preach, the President, in compliance with the I70 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL resolution given above, appointed Rev. P. C. Henkel and Rev. J. M. Smith as the clerical half of a committee to ex- amine and, if found qualified, to license him. This year, only about half of the ministers reporting, 322 infants and 20 adults were baptized, and 217 confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet in Cedar Grove Church, Lexington District, South Carolina, on Thursday before the fourth Sunday in September, 1867. Forty-seventh Session. This meeting was held in Cedar Grove Church, Lex- ington District. South Carolina, commencing September 19, 1867. The officers elected were : Revs. A. J. Fox, president ; J. R. Peterson, secretary; Daniel Efird, corresponding secre- tary; and David S. Henkel, treasurer. Revs. J. H. Bailey, E. Kaughman, A. W. Lindler, and Prof. J. P. Smeltzer, of the South Carolina Synod, were received as advisory members. Sardis Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, was received in connection with Synod. Rev. Prof. Smeltzer addressed the Synod in regard to the interests of Newberry College and Theological Seminary, South Carolina. Synod took favorable action relative to these institutions. The President stated in his message, that he had ex- tended the license of D. S. Henkel, and that he had given Rev. J. M. Wagner an honorable dismissal to the Holston Synod. These acts were approved. The commissioner, appointed to attend the Southern Lutheran General Synod, which was held in Staunton, Virginia, in 1867, reported. It seems he fully carried out his mission, and kept within the limits of his instructions. He spoke in the highest terms of the manner in which he was received and treated by that body. He appeared to be well satisfied with the sentiments of that Synod, as ex- pressed during his sojourn among its members. He then LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 171 submitted the following report of a committee, appointed by said General Synod, to confer with the said commissioner : The committee, appointed to confer with the Rev. Dr. Fox, as a commissioner from the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, have advised with him in reference to a union of that Synod with this body. We, with pleasure, report that the interview afforded us satisfactory evidence of the truly Christian character of the Synod which Dr. Fox represents, and the high princi- ples of integrity and church love which animates them in the propositions made to this General Synod ; therefore, Resolved, That we will cordially receive said Synod as an integral part of this body on the truly Lutheran basis which we have adopted, and in accordance with which we feel bound as an ecclesiastical bod}' to withhold our sanction or imprimatur from any religious publication of whatever form, which shall inculcate principles opposed to the doc- trines of the Augsburg Confession as construed and defended by our Church in her Symbolical writings. Resolved, That we feel ourselves in like manner bound to appoint or employ no Professor in our Theological schools who shall teach doctrines at variance with our time honored Confession. In regard to this report, a committee was appointed to give an expression relative to it. The committee submitted the following : Inasmuch as the question of a union between this body and the General Synod in North America is one of very grave importance, and should be well and maturely consid- ered, your Committee upon the Report of the Commissioner to the General Synod have examined the matter in all its bearings ; and inasmuch as but a very small number of our ministers are present, and comparatively few congregations represented in this meeting ; and inasmuch as our brethren residing in Virginia may fail to effect an organization in that State, we would therefore recommend that a Committee of five, three ministers, of whom the President shall be one, 172 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL and two laymen, be appointed to collect all the facts they can in relation to this contemplated union, and report them to the next annual meeting of Synod, that decisive action may then be taken. The foregoing report was adopted, and the following committee appointed : Revs. J. R. Peterson, P. C. Henkel, A. J. Fox, and Messrs. A. Costner and M. L. Cline. Feeling the great necessity of making suitable religious impressions upon the minds of the children of our congre- gations ; therefore, it was Resolved, That the ministers of our connection be re- quested to endeavor to get up and encourage Sunday schools, in all their congregations, and report their success to the Committee on the State of the Church, some time previous to each annual meeting of Synod. License was granted M. L. Fox, M. D., to perform the functions of the ministry. The Parochial Report shows 340 infant and 14 adult baptisms and 257 confirmations. Synod adjourned to meet in Salem Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, September 24, 1868. Forty-eighth Session. Synod assembled, pursuant to adjournment, in Salem Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, September 24, 1868. The election of officers resulted in favor of Rev. J. M. Smith, president; Rev. C. Moretz, recording secretary; Rev. A. J. Fox, corresponding secretary; and Rev. T. Moser, treasurer. Rev. G. D. Bernheim, of the North Carolina Synod, w 7 as received as an advisory member. During the meeting of the Southern General Synod, at Newberry, South Carolina, in 1868, the Holston Synod was admitted. It appears from the proceedings of this session of the Tennessee Synod, that the Northern General Synod, at its LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 173 meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in its twenty-third session, adopted the Augsburg Confession. The committee of the Tennessee Synod, in reporting on the Minutes of the said General Synod, say the General Synod may have made advances in the right direction, but it does not yet seem to reach the sound Lutheran faith. Well, it may appear rather singular that a general body, claiming to be Lutheran, should have failed to adopt the Augsburg Confession till its twenty-third session. Is it any wonder that there was a continual conflict between it and the Tennessee Synod, which was and is strictly con- fessional ? Rev. Miles J. Stirewalt, Augusta Station, Indiana, re- ceived an honorable dismission to the English District of the Joint Synod of Ohio. The President, in his message, calls attention to the condition of the Church in the Valley of Virginia, caused by an attempt to organize a new synod in that section, called the Concordia Synod of Virginia, and recommends a suitable committee to be appointed to investigate that matter, and report the result of their investigation. The committee was appointed, and submitted the following report : We, the committee, appointed to take into consideration the relation sustained by the body claiming the title of "Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Synod of Virginia," to the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, and to give an expression of Synod in regard to this matter, beg leave to submit the following : Whereas, In the year 1866, application was made to our Synod by the brethren in the Valley of Virginia, to form a synod in that locality; and, whereas, such request was granted to these brethren, accompanied with a promise contained in a preamble and resolution passed by our Synod in regard to this matter, that, as soon as an organization should be effected in accordance with said preamble and resolution, an honorable dismission from our Synod would 174 HISTORY OF THE KVANGEIylCAI, be granted these brethren ; and, whereas, an effort was made to form a regularly constituted synod, but the object contemplated failed ; and, whereas, the Revs. H. Wetzel, G. Schmucker, and J. K. Seneker, with several congrega- tions, united themselves into a body, styled "The Evangel- ical Lutheran Concordia Synod of Virginia," thereby disturbing the peace and prosperity of the Church in that section of our Synod, the other brethren dissenting ; and, whereas, the Rev. H. Wetzel has denied the jurisdiction of our. Synod over him, and as no request has been made by the other brethren, who entered the said organization, for an honorable dismission from our Synod ; therefore, be it Resolved, That this Synod disapprove of the course pursued by these brethren in this matter, and that their names be retained in our clerical catalogue until they properly apply for an honorable dismission, or announce their withdrawal from it. This report w T as received and adopted. Several years afterwards, efforts were made to make an impression on the public mind, that a difference in doctrine between the ministers in the Valley of Virginia, in connec- tion with the Tennessee Synod, gave rise to the organization of the new synod formed in the Valley of Virginia, and called the Concordia Synod of Virginia. But these efforts failed. For the fact is, there was not, at the time of its organization, one word said about differences in doctrine, and all the ministers of the Tennessee Synod, in the Valley of Virginia, with delegates representing their congregations, were notified of the time and place agreed upon for such organization, and invited to be present and participate in its organization ; and when the time came for such organi- zation, and none of the ministers in Virginia, of the Ten- nessee Synod, except Revs. H. Wetzel, J. E. Seneker, and George Schmucker, appeared, Rev. H. Wetzel, be it said to his praise, opposed the contemplated organization, but was overruled. Since that time, all the churches in the Valley of Virginia, except two, which went into that organization, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 175 have returned to the Tennessee Synod, and now stand in its connection. One of the churches that did not return, now stands independent of any synod, and is served by a Missouri Synod preacher, whilst the other one stands in connection with what is called the Concordia District of Ohio. Rev. H. Wetzel was ultimately received again in connection with the Tennessee Synod, and Rev. J. E. Seneker, a year or so before his death, spoke of. returning to this Synod ; and even Rev. George Schmucker finally expressed a preference for this Synod, stating that he neither could conscientiously, nor would he, submit to some of the regulations of the new order of things. That Concordia Synod, having changed its tactics a time or two, finalty drifted into what is now called the Concordia District of Ohio, and so far as the material taken from the Tennessee Synod is concerned, it consists of several congregations in West Virginia, a few fragments in Vir- ginia, and a few, of the fragments in North Carolina which were broken off by the withdrawal of Rev. Adam Miller, Jr., who was resting under grave charges of immorality, and was in the very act of being suspended by the Synod when he withdrew. With respect to the President's recommendation, that an effort be made to reunite all the ministers and congrega- tions who have formerly been in her connection, with those now in it, with a view of forming the Synod into district synods, and out of these district synods, a joint synod, and that a committee be appointed to take this matter into immediate consideration, the committee on his message recommended, that such committee be appointed to give that matter proper attention. The committee suggested was appointed, and consisted of Revs. P. C. Henkel, A. J. Fox, and T. Moser, Messrs. A. Costner and F. 1^. Herman. Rev. N. Aldrich presented his credentials as a delegate from the North Carolina Synod, and was received as such. Rev. J. M. Smith was chosen as a delegate to the next con- vention of the North Carolina Synod. 176 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL On the reception of Rev. N. Aldrich, there were mutual, fraternal greetings, upon which Rev. G. D. Bernheim made some of the most eulogistic remarks respecting the charac- ter and high orthodox standing of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, and the indebtedness of Lutheranism in America to her. Revs. S. Henkel, J. Stirewalt, and J. Killian were ap- pointed a committee to report on the Book of Worship, at the next meeting of Synod. With respect to re-districting North Carolina into con- ferences, Synod voted unanimously, that the conference embrace all ministers and churches in North Carolina, be- longing to the Tennessee Synod, and that its name be the North Carolina Conference of the Tennessee Synod. The committee, on union with the General Synod of North America (Southern General Synod), not having had time to give the matter proper attention, were continued. Rev. L. A. Fox received an honorable dismission to the Southwestern Virginia Synod. Messrs. John S. Bennick and William H. Swaney were received as Licentiates. The Committee, appointed to prepare a plan for the reconstruction of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Syn- od, from the limited time they had to consider the matter, did not feel themselves fully prepared to mature a plan which would fully meet the necessity of the case, but respectfully submitted that it is the opinion of the Committee that a committee of one be appointed to open a correspond- ence with some of the most prominent members of the Holston Synod upon this subject, and that Synod be re- spectfully invited to consider this matter in her next annual convention ; and that this committee of one report the result of his correspondence to the next meeting of this Synod ; and that the Virginia Conference be requested to take up the subject of organizing themselves into a branch synod, and lay the same before the next meeting of this Synod. As recommended above, Synod appointed the Corres- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 177 ponding Secretary a committee of one to open the corres- pondence with prominent members of the Holston Synod. The committee, Rev. S. Henkel, Rev. T. Moser, and Mr. A. Costner, appointed to report in reference to the publi- cation of the Epistles, contained in Dr. Martin Luther's Church Postil, now in manuscript in the English language, and in the possession of parties at New Market, Virginia, submitted the following : In regard to this subject, we recommend, that a call be made by the Synod on those parties, to make arrangements for the publication of those sermons in what they may con- ceive to be the most judicious and practicable manner, at as early a period as possible, and that the Synod give such enterprise their heartfelt co-operation and support in the circulation of the work. The Parochial Report shows 454 infant and 29 adult baptisms, and 343 confirmations. The place and time for the next meeting were Emman- uel Church, New Market, Virginia, and Friday before the first full moon in October, 1869. Forty-ninth Session. Synod convened, in its forty-ninth session, in Emman- uel Church, New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia, October 15, 1869. The officers for this meeting were : Revs. T. Miller, president; S. Henkel, recording secretary; A. J. Fox, cor- responding secretary; and J. S. Bennick, treasurer. Rev. D. M. Henkel was received as delegate from the Pennsylvania Synod. On motion, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That this Synod hail with joy the appearance of Dr. Luther's Church Postil on the Epistles, in the English language, published by the New Market Evangelical Lu- theran Publishing Company, New Market, Virginia, and that each minister is hereby earnestly requested to recom- mend this work to his people. * 178 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL The Committee on Union with the General Synod South, was continued. The Committee on Joint Synod not being prepared to make a report, recommended that a committee of five, three ministers and two laymen, be appointed to take charge of the matter. A committee of two ministers and one lay man was ap- pointed, to report at some future session of this meeting in regard to that matter. The following is the report of this committee : Your committee, Revs. A. J. Fox and J. Killian, on the subject of a Joint Synod or Branch Synods, have ex- amined the matter, as far as we have had opportunity, and regard such an organization as very desirable, provided some safe ground of union can be traced out, and we regard this as at least possible. We regard the calling of a con- vention of all concerned, at as early a day as practicable, as the best plan, and would, therefore, propose to our brethren of the Evangelical Lutheran Holston Synod, to meet us, in convention, as soon after the rising of this Synod in the year 1870, as may be convenient, in Grace Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, as this is one of the most central points. And that they then enter into a free conference with us, upon this subject, and endeavor to agree upon some safe plan by which the end may be consummated. Resolved 1. Therefore, that a copy of this report be forwarded by the Corresponding Secretary of this Synod to the chairman of the committee appointed by that synod to correspond with us upon this subject. Resolved 2. That the committee of the Holston Synod, charged with this matter, be requested to furnish the Corre- sponding Secretary, as soon as possible after the rising of their Synod, with a copy of their proceedings. Resolved 3. That, if our proposition to call a convention is complied with, the time of the meeting of this convention be fixed upon at the next meeting of this Synod. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 79 A church paper, called the Lutheran and Missionary, was recommended. Rev. William H. Cone, delegate from the North Caro- lina Synod, was prevented from attending. The President having announced, in his report, the death of Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, and that of Rev. E. E. Smyre, the following was adopted by a rising vote : Resolved 1. That we have learned, with feelings of the deepest sorrow, of the death of our dear and well beloved brethren and fellow servants of our L,ord and Master, Jacob Stirewalt and E. E. Smyre. Resolved 2. That, in the death of these brethren, we have lost two of our most esteemed and worthy workmen in our Redeemer's cause upon earth; and that the Church has sustained a loss not easily repaired ; nevertheless, we feel ourselves fully resigned to this very painful dispensa- tion of Divine Providence, and earnestly pray God to speed- ily fill their places with others equally good and true. Resolved 3. That this Synod hereby expresses her deep and most sincere sympathy with the family of brother Stirewalt, and also the relations and other friends of brother Smyre. The committee, Revs. J. Killian and A. Efird, appointed to prepare a plan for Beneficiary Education, and submit it to this session of Synod, submitted the following : 1. That, owing to the want of sufficient time, we find it impossible to mature such a plan as we think would be necessary to enable us to operate successfully in this im- portant enterprise of the Church. We, therefore, respect- fully ask Synod to continue the committee to the next convention of Synod, so that we may have sufficient time to mature it. 2. That we respectfully recommend to Synod the im- portance and necessity of urging our ministers to take up collections, at an early day, to raise funds to enable J. Stirewalt and others to prosecute their studies for the Gospel Ministry. l8o HISTORY OF THE EV ANGELIC AI, 3. That whatever money may be raised by the Synod for beneficiary purposes, be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer of Synod, and that he pa}' out the mone}^, upon the order of the President of S5 T nod, countersigned by the Secretary. 4. That the Treasurer be requested to report, to the next meeting of Synod, the amount of money coming into his hands, and the amounts paid over by him to the bene- ficiaries of the S}- nod, with proper vouchers. 5. We further recommend, that the officers of the Synod be appointed an Executive Committee, to decide upon the merits of the applicants for aid from the funds of the Synod. 6. We jecommend further, that the beneficiaries of Synod be requested to report to Sjmod at her next meeting, a certificate from their teachers, of their moral standing and progress and proficiency in their studies. This report was adopted, and this seems to be the first direct formal action of this Synod in regard to beneficiary education. Mr. John N. Stirewalt, of New Market, Virginia, and Mr. M. A. Aderholt, of North Carolina, were received as students of theology. Rev. William H. Swaney was honorably dismissed to the English District of Ohio. The Parochial Report shows that during the year 408 infants and 39 adults were baptized, and 298 persons were confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet in St. Peter's Church, South Carolina, November 5, 1870. Obituary of Rev. Jacob Stirewalt. — Rev. Jacob Stirewalt was born near Salisbury, Rowan Count}', North Carolina, on Saturday, August 17, 1805, and departed this life, at his residence, in New Market, Shen- andoah County, Virginia, on Saturday the 21st of August, 1869, at the age of 64 years and 4 days. He was the second son, the third and youngest child of Capt. John and Elizabeth Stirewalt ; was baptized in infancy, and eventually con- firmed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. By his pious parents he was trained up and educated, and acquired that firmness of Christian LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. l8l character aud those habits of persevering and systematic labor which marked his entire life. In his day the advantages for acquiring an ed- ucation were not equal to what they are now, still by close study and personal application he attained an eminent degree of literary and theological knowledge. He was married to Henrietta Henkel, the daughter of Elias Henkel, at New Market, Virginia, on the 8th day of January, 1833. Two of his sons, John N. and Jerome Paul, are now actively engaged in the work of the Gospel ministry. He was ordained Deacon, September 14, 1837, and preached his first sermon at Mt. Calvary Church, Page County, Virginia. On Sep- tember 14, 1838, he was ordained Pastor, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. On the same day of his ordination to the office of Pastor, the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, of which he was a most faith- ful member, "Resolved, That Revs. A. Henkel, Jacob Killian, and Jacob Stirewalt, be requested to compile a Liturgy for the use of our church, and present it to the next session of the Synod for examina- tion." This duty was performed ; the Liturgy was adopted, publish- ed, and is yet extensively used in our church. As evidencing the energy and devotion, with which he discharged the duties of the office of Pastor, it may not be improper to state that, in the 32 years of his ministry, he preached 3132 sermons, of which 560 were funeral discourses ; he confirmed 708 persons, and baptized 1259, and united in marriage 171 couples in the same period. As if to complete the circle of his life, just three months before his death, he preached his last sermon in the same county and near the same place, at which he preached his jirst. A life of such protracted usefulness, and crowned with such fruits, may well lead us to ponder upon the character and habits of the man, and studying the means by which he accomplished so much, we may find in his example many useful hints to ourselves. His character, like his features, was clearly defined and individual. Regulating his own life, even in its minor details, by the sternest and most critical rules of the severest discipline, he always had a charitable word for the faults and errors of others. Proclaiming the enormity of sin and the eternal punishment of the ungodly with terrible distinct- ness, he delighted most in picturing the absolute perfection of the character of Christ, and wooing by the sweet inclinings of a Savior's boundless love. He never denounced the evil without presenting the remedy ; never threatened with punishment, that he did not more forcibly offer the rewards which attend the good. To him the Christian religion was an active, controlling principle — indispensable to man's happiness, not only in the world to come, but in the every day affairs of life. He did not merely preach in the pulpit ; he so lived in practice 1 82 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL that his whole life was but a continued application to his sermons. The Bible and the works of Luther were his almost daily study, and the churches to whom he ministered listened as he preached, with that confidence and inclination to belief which generally follow the knowl- edge that the preacher has given to his subject the full benefit of all his ability, energy, and research. His opinions and conclusions were firmly formed after he had thoroughly examined and carefully and prayerfully studied his subject. Just before his departure, the sainted subject of this notice called his son to his bedside and requested him to repeat the Lord's Prayer, — this being done, he quit this earthly habitation, to be present with the Lord. Rev. Ireneus Conder improved the visitation of Providence by preaching an eloquent discourse on the uncertainty of life and the cer- tainty of death. ' ' Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them." Fiftieth Session. This session met in St. Peter's Church, Lexington Count}-, South Carolina, November 5, 1870. The election of officers resulted in favor of Revs. A. J. Fox, president; S. Henkel, recording secretary ; J. R. Peter- son, corresponding secretary; and T. Miller, treasurer. Rev. A. R. Rude, D. D., Prof. J. P. Smeltzer, J. A. Sligh, and J. X. Derrick, of the South Carolina Sjmod, and Rev. Austin, of the Georgia Synod, were received as advi- sory members. Rev. C. H. Bernheim, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Sj T nod, expressed his desire, in a letter, to be present, and renders feebleness of health as his excuse for absence. ' The committee, appointed at the previous session, to prepare regulations for Beneficiary Education, submitted their report, which was adopted. The President having announced the death of Revs. Ambrose Henkel, Christian G. Reitzel, and Adam Efird, the following resolutions were unanimously passed by a rising vote : Resolved, That, bv the death of these, our beloved XTJTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 83 brethren in the ministry, their families and their relatives have lost most affectionate heads, who were examples of domestic, social, and moral virtues — sound in faith and doctrine ; the Church and the Synod, to which they be- longed, devout and faithful members. Resolved, That we humbly submit to the dispensations of God, "who does all things well," and be encouraged while we are spared to labor in our Master's vineyard, to be more faithful in the work before us. Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved families and relatives of our beloved co-laborers in the ministr3 T ; and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to them. The following is the report of the committee on union with the Southern General Synod, which was adopted : We, the committee, to whom was referred the subject of a anion of this S}mod with the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod m North America, have given the subject much study, and while we have found many things in con- nection with it which would make such union desirable, we have also found many other things which seem, to your committee, to indicate that union with that ecclesiastical body is, at present, of such doubtful propriety, that we are wholly unprepared to recommend such a connection, and therefore, most respectfully ask that your committee be excused from the further consideration of this matter. At the instance of Rev. S. Henkel, Junius S. Koiner, Waynesboro, Virginia, and J. Paul Stirewalt, New Market, Virginia, and at that of Rev. J. M. Smith, Adolphus Yount, Newton, North Carolina, and Wilburn T. Miller, of Newton, North Carolina, were received under the care of Synod, with a view to the ministry. The' Parochial Report, only nine ministers reporting, shows 29 adult baptisms, 417 infant baptisms, and 326 con- firmations. It was Resolved, That Synod adjourn to meet in Philadelphia 1 84 HISTORY OF THE KVANGKUCAI, Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, on Saturday be- fore the third Sunday in October, 1871. During this decade, there were 1 1 applicants for the ministry, 3 ordinations, 7 licentiates, 5 dismissions, 3 died, 8 churches received, 5,261 infant baptisms, 256 adult bap- tisms, 40 slaves, and 28 colored, and 2,735 confirmations. It is to be regretted, that not more than two-thirds of the ministers furnished reports, and frequently not that number. During this decade, there were many difficulties to encounter, obstacles to surmount, and disasters to overcome. The Civil War, of four years, between the States, North and South, which commenced in April, 1861, and continued till April, 1865, exerted a very depressing, disastrous, and demoralizing influence, not only over the country generally, but also over the Church. In the South, a large majority of the able-bodied men were in the army. Ministers were sometimes arrested, and others "refugeed," as the term went, when the Northern army invaded the country. Anxiety prevailed. Residences, mills, saw-mills, barns, &c, were burned by the hundreds. Horses, cattle, and other stock and property were driven up North by parties who followed the armies for the purpose of plunder. Churches were fre- quently occupied for weeks and months as hospitals and rendezvouses. The whole labor system was subverted and demoralized. The currency was vitiated and rendered worthless. Millions of slaves, that had been regarded as property, were set free, and required immediate care and attention, not having been trained during their state of slavery to provide for themselves. For five years, the ministers in Virginia and Missouri, belonging to the Tennessee Synod, were prevented from meeting in the synodical conventions with their brethren in North and South Carolina. But notwithstanding this con- dition of things, there never was a truer and more faithful set of men. They worked in season and out of season. They attended as faithfully as possible to the spiritual wants of their people ; they advised, encouraged, and cheered the LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 85 wives and children whose husbands and sons and brothers had entered the army, often performing manual labor. Nor were the people generally less faithful. Strong faith pre- vailed. The exclamation was, Christ will take care of His Church, and God will provide for His people, and ulti- mately overrule all things for the best. It is almost mirac- ulous how the- people passed through the war as well as they did, and how soon they emerged from its ruins and devastations, both as to spiritual and temporal matters. Surely no one who knows anything about the conditions of things in the South, during the war and a few years after its close, can doubt the intervention of the hand of Provi- dence. The lessons of faith, hope, and charity were learned. The people learned to depend on God, rather than on them- selves. It is easy to talk about faith when peace, plenty, and prosperity prevail, but it is quite different when all these are removed. Obituary of Rev. Ambrose Henkel. — Rev. Ambrose Henkel, the fourth son of Rev. Paul and Elizabeth Henkel, was born in Shenan- doah County, Virginia, near Solomon's Church, 8 miles northwest of New Market, on the nth day of July, 1786, and was initiated into the church through the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, in his infancy, and, at a more mature age, entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, through the ancient and solemn rite of Confirmation. In 1802 he started, on foot, to Hagerstown, to learn the printing business. After working with Mr. Gruber, of Almanac reputation, and at Reading and in Baltimore, for three or four years, he purchased the bed and irons of a Ramage press and some old type, and, in 1806, established the first printing office in New Market, Virginia. With these old type, and cuts made by himself, he published a pictorial Ger- man spelling-book of his own arrangement. In 1807, he commenced the publication of a weekly German paper, called the ' ' Virginia and New Market Popular Instructor and Weekly News,'" which continued for two years — and suspended for want of advertising patronage. The office was, however, continued as a Bpok and Job office by him, until he sold to his brother Solomon, about 1817. He entered the ministry in the year 1823, and preached his first sermon;in German, in Mt. Calvary (Hawksbill) Church, Page County, Virginia, on the 23d day of November, 1823, from 1 Corinthians 10, 1-12, and continued actively, faithfully, and successfully in the ministry till 1 86 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL i860. He preached his last sermon in Bethlehem Church, Augusta County, Virginia, in the year 1868. He was engaged in the office of the ministry 47 years. His labors in all the departments of his minis- terial office, were extensive. He preached 3,995 sermons, of which 402 were funeral discourses ; he baptized 1,625 persons, of whom 90 were adults ; he confirmed 1,952 persons in the Church, and united in the holy estate of matrimony 400 men and women. In 1838, under order of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, he prepared and published the Church Hymn-Book, which has now passed into its 4th edition. In 1833 he was appointed, by the same body, chairman of a com- mittee to prepare a Liturgy or Book of Forms and submit it to the Synod ; which was done, and it was approved and published in 1843. He also aided in the preparation of a purely literal translation of the Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Ap- pendix, and the Articles of Visitation, which appeared in print in the Christian Book of Concord, in the year 1851. In the years 1857-8, he prepared a similar translation of the first volume of Luther's Church Postil on the Epistles, as extant in Ploch- man's edition, which work, after having been carefully compared with the original German, revised, transcribed, and prepared for the press, was issued in serial numbers. He was, perhaps, the oldest practical printer and editor in the State — having edited a newspaper in New Market 62 years before his death. As a writer and translator, he was noted for the precision and accuracy of his style, rather than ornament. He was a profound thinker, an earnest student, and a forcible speaker. He was married three times. His first wife was Miss Catharine Hoke, daughter of Frederick Hoke, Esq., of Lincoln County, North Carolina. His second one was Miss Mary Kite, daughter of Mr. Martin Kite, of Page County, Virginia, and his third one was Miss Veronica F. Heyle (Hoyle), daughter of Peter Heyle, Esq., of Lincoln County, North Carolina. He departed this life on the 6th day of January, 1870, at 1 o'clock, A. M.; aged 83 years, 5 months, and 26 days. He left 6 children, a number of grand-children and great-grand-children. His funeral services were rendered by Rev. Jacob Killian, in the presence of an unusually large concourse of people, in Emmanuel Church, New Market, Va., near which his body awaits the resurrection. Obituary of Rev. Adam Efird. — And again another. The Rev. Adam Efird, of Lexington County, South Carolina, September 13, 1870. And all his days were forty-nine years, four months, and twentv-three davs. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 187 He was born in Stanley County, North Carolina, April 20, 1821, confirmed in St. Martin Church, by Rev. A. J. Fox, April 6, 1839, an d ordained to the ministerial office, in St. Peter Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee, in October, 1847. He removed to Lexington County, South Carolina, in October of 1854, and took charge of several churches in connection with the Tennessee Synod. Actively engaged in the work of his Lord, beloved by his people, and honored and respected by the community, he proved himself to be a workman that needed not to be ashamed. His health, however, failed, and he, unable from bodily infirmity to continue his labor in the sacred office, finally offered his resignation ; but his people would not give him up. He was unanimously re-elected, though unable to officiate. His five churches clung to him while he lived, and though his demise was not generally known, he was followed to his last resting place by a large multitude of mourning and attached people. He served, during the war, as a member of the Legislature for two years, and filled the office of Probate Judge for Lexington County, at the time of his death. He had held the office for nearly six years. He left a wife and six children to watch, wait, and follow in the narrow path. One son had gone before him, to the happy land on high. Rev. Dr. Rude, of Columbia, performed the funeral services. Obituary of Rev. Christian G. Reitzel. — Christian G. Reitzel was born March 30, 1805, in Guilford County, North Carolina. On the 15th day of November, 1827, he entered into the holy estate of matri- mony with Miss Delilah Ingold, with whom he had eleven children. September 17, 1835, he entered the ministry as a Deacon. Sep- tember 16, 1841, he was ordained to the office of Pastor, in Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia. In the year 1841, he located in Catawba County, North Carolina, and took charge of St. Peter's, Miller's, and Zion's congregations, in that county, and of Friendship Church, in Alexander County, and served them till 1849. On the 4th day of February, 1850, his first wife departed this life. A few years after this event, he married a second time. By this union he had six children. On the 25th day of October, 1870, he departed this life ; aged 65 years, 6 months, and 26 days. He was buried at St. Peter's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina. His funeral services were rendered and a sermon was preached by Rev. J. M. Smith, on 2 Tim. 4, 7, 8. Whilst he was a plain, humble, common man, he possessed excel- lent native talents and fine mental capacities and powers. He was well indoctrinated in the teachings of Divine Revelation and the sound principles of the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, de- 188 HISTORY OF THE EVANGEUCAI, rived from the Holy Scriptures. He was very exact and rather critical. He was a faithful, zealous preacher, a devout Christian, a good neigh- bor, a reliable citizen, an affectionate husband, and a kind father. SIXTH DECADE. Fifty -first Session. Sjmod met in its fifty-first session, in Philadelphia Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, October 14, 1871. The officers elected were, Revs. S. Henkel, president ; I. Conder, recording secretary; J. M. Smith, corresponding secretary; and A. J. Fox, treasurer. Rev. Prof. L. A. Bikle, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was received. On a letter of honorable dismission from the Pennsyl- vania Synod, Rev. L. A. Fox, who formerly had been a member of this Synod, was received into connection with it. With regard to union, Synod passed the following reso- lution ; be it Resolved, That it is the sense of this Synod, that, at the present time, union, in the form of a Joint Synod, or Branch Synods, is preferable to that of one by consolidation. The committee, appointed to meet with a similar com- mittee appointed by the North Carolina Synod, for the purpose of preparing a basis for union between the Tennes- see and North Carolina Synods, met in Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, April 25, 187 1, and, after due consideration and considerable discussion, agreed on a basis, which was afterwards adopted by the North Carolina Synod, and, during this session, by the Tennessee Synod, with slight explanations. This basis is appended to the Minutes of this meeting. It is too long for insertion here. The edition of the Hymn-Book, used by Synod, being exhausted, Revs. S. Henkel and A. J. Fox and A. Costner, Esq. , were appointed a committee to examine various hymn- books and liturgies, and report at the next session of Synod. M. Iy. Fox, M. D., and Mr. A. L- Crouse, having sus- tained examinations, were ordained to the pastoral office, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 89 and Mr. John N. Stirewalt was ordained to the same office by the Virginia Conference of this Synod, A church paper, called the Evangelical Lutheran, having been revived, and published by Rev. N. Aldrich, Charlotte, North Carolina, was recommended. The committee on the synod, called the Concordia Synod of Virginia, submitted the following, which was adopted : While we still regard the action of our misguided brethren, Revs. Wetzel, Seneker, and Schmucker, as irreg- ular and schismatic, yet, as we can see no advantages that can accrue to our Synod by the retention of their names in our clerical roll, we recommend that their names be stricken from our list of pastors. The committee, appointed to prepare resolutions on the death of Rev. Jacob Killian, submitted the following, which were unanimously adopted by a rising vote : Whereas, It hath pleased the Almighty Disposer of all events, in the righteous dispensation of an all-wise provi- dence, to call the Rev. Jacob Killian, a member of this Synod, from his labors on earth to his reward in heaven, be it, therefore, Resolved 1. That in this painful dispensation, we recog- nize the hand of our Heavenly Father, who doth all things well ; and bow with filial resignation to his chastening hand. 2. That we deeply lament the loss of a devoted friend, an earnest and efficient laborer in the work of the ministry, and of one manifesting the liveliest interest in the prosper- ity of our beloved Zion. 3. That we will ever cherish his memory, endeavor to imitate his man}' virtues, and emulate his bright examples, in an untiring devotion to the welfare and prosperity of the church, which he so much loved. 4. That we sincerely condole with the family of our deceased brother, in their sad bereavement and deep affliction, 5. That the Secretary of Synod forward a copy of these resolutions to the familv of the deceased. I90 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL According to the Parochial Report, 504 infants and 38 adults were baptized, and 271 confirmed. Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia, was agreed on as the place for the next meeting of Synod, and Saturday before the first Sunday of September, 1872, as the time. Obituary of Rev. William Hancher. — We make up the following in regard to this venerable minister, from an address delivered by Rev. A.J. Brown, D. D., before the Evangelical Lutheran Holston Synod of Tennessee : Rev. William Hancher, born in Frederick County, Virginia, Sep- tember 7, 1788, venerable alike for his years and his long and success- ful work in the ministry, is entitled to special mention and honor on this memorable occasion. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry in 1836, and died in 1870, at the advanced age of four score and two years, minus only two days. From the time he entered the ministry, till disabled by disease, embracing a period of nearly forty years, he labored constantly and assiduously in this calling. He occu- pied during this time, for much of it almost alone, an extensive, and an important and fertile field in the territory of the Holston Synod, and faithfully and successfully did he cultivate and develop its re- sources. His labors were confined principally to Sullivan County. He was for years the pastor of the principal churches now composing the charges of his son, brother J. K. Hancher, his grand-son, Rev. William G. Wolford, and Rev. A. J. Brown. It was at an' important and critical time in the history of the Lutheran Church in this country. It was in the midst of her transition state from German to the English language. At the time of his ordination, father Hancher was perhaps the only minister in the Tennessee Synod who could speak the English language only. Under the difficult circumstances by which he was surrounded, when so much valuable material was lost to the Lutheran Church in many other sections of country, he not only retained in the church in the field of his operations the old members, but also brought into it most of their children, and many others whose proclivities were by education and early associations anything else rather than Lutheran. To his labors are we largely indebted for the firm hold of Lutheranism in Sullivan Count}*, and for its prosperity in after years. Father Hancher was a man for whom nature had done much, and had he enjoyed in early life the advantages of thorough, mental culture, he might have attained distinction in any of the great depart- ments of human activity and interest. But such was not the case. His youth, his early manhood, and much of his riper years, were spent LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. I9I in manual labor. We speak of him now particularly as a minister of the Gospel. Much as we may regret his want of education, it may have been the best for the church at that particular juncture in its history . . . , . . . . . While it is important, if not absolutely necessary, for the minister to be in advance of his people generally in education and general intelligence, it is not best that he should be too far in advance of them in these respects. For if so, they will fail to appreciate his labors and to be benefited to the fullest extent by them. But I am wandering from the subject, and will return. For his work father Hancher had many fine, and some rare natural endowments. He was a ready speaker, and had a soft, mellow voice of sufficient volume and compass to address with ease to himself large audiences in the open air, and there was in his mental organism a deep, pathetic vein, which was clearly seen in his preaching, and sel- dom failed to be deeply felt by his hearers. We have witnessed moving scenes under the influence of his preaching. Father Hancher was not a systematic sermonizer. While he attached great importance to soundness in doctrine, and gave promi- nence in his preaching to the distinctive doctrines of the Lutheran Church, his preaching was mostly practical and hortatory, and looked to the immediate conversion of sinners. His themes were generally such as treat of the deep innate depravity of the human heart, of re- pentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the glories and felicities of heaven, the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and the importance and wisdom of making immediate and speedy preparation for death and judgment. He preached as a dying man to dying men, deeply impressed with the importance of his mission and the tremendous responsibility which it involves. And he was success- ful in bringing many souls to Christ, which shall adorn his crown when the Master comes to make up his jewels. During his life he received many evidences of the esteem and love of his brethren, and when he died, he died deeply lamented. Like a ripe sheaf, he has been gathered home into the heavenly garner, full of years and of honors. Obituary of Rev. Jacob Killian. — Rey. Jacob Killian was born of a well-known, influential, Christian family, in Lincoln County, North Carolina, June 8, 1818. He was dedicated to God in infancy, and, at a more mature age, he entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. After securing a respectable education, he commenced the study of theology, with a view to the ministry. May 11, 1836, he entered the ministry, in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee 192 HISTORY OF THE EV ANGELICAS Synod. In the year 1837, he located near Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia, where he took charge of Koiner's Church, and other congregations in that section, and lived and labored there, till he was called from time into eternity. He entered into the estate of holy matrimony with Miss Julia A. Koiner, daughter of George Koiner, Esq., of near Fishersville, Augusta County, Virginia. He was a large, portly man of commendable bearing and extensive influence, commanding general respect and esteem. He was possessed of fine native talents and excellent oratorical powers. He was an in- fluential speaker, and frequently grew quite eloquent in the delivery of his sermons. His voice was clear, strong, and forcible. He was a faithful and zealous laborer in the vineyard of his Lord and Master, true and faithful to the doctrines and usages of the Church, and strictly conservative. He made a good impression wherever he went. He was well acquainted with the history and doctrines of the Church, and always inculcated them in the best and most impressive manner. He was a good, reliable citizen, a kind neighbor, and an affection- ate husband and a loving father. After spending a useful, successful, Christian life, in the Church, the Family, and the State, he departed this life, July 5, 187 1 ; aged 53 years and 28 days, and entered his rest in the upper Sanctuary, leaving four children, — three sons and one daughter, with numerous relatives and friends to lament their irreparable loss. He was buried at Bethle- hem Church, near his residence, Revs. J. I. Miller, D. D., and I. Conder officiating, in the presence of an unusually large and sympa- thetic concourse of relatives and friends. ' ' At length released from many woes, How sweetly dost thou sleep ; How calm and peaceful thy repose, While Christ thy soul doth keep. ' ' Fifty- second Session. Synod assembled in Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia, on Saturday before the first Sunday in September, 1872. The election for officers resulted in favor of Revs. A. J. Fox, president; Iy. A. Fox, recording secretary; S. Henkel, corresponding secretary; and J. S. Bennick, treasurer. Revs. J. A. Snyder and Prof. J. I. Miller, of the Vir- ginia Synod, and J. P. Stirewalt and J. S. Koiner, theo- . logical students, were received as advisory members. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 93 A committee was appointed to prepare a fuller paro- chial table. The Staunton, Virginia, Female Seminary, Rev. Prof. J. I. Miller, president, was recommended. The committee of correspondence with members of the Evangelical Lutheran Holston Synod in regard to a union of that synod with this Synod, submitted the following : We have had some correspondence with the president of that synod, and from his letters learn that the synod is likely to sever her connection with the Southern General Synod at her next convention, and that she is favorably disposed towards a union with this Synod, with the ultimate design of uniting with the General Council. The committee recommended, that a delegate be ap- pointed to attend the next meeting of the Holston Synod, and, if possible, make arrangements for the union of these two synods in a joint synod. With a view of securing a higher degree of* attainment on the part of those who intend to enter the ministry in connection with this Synod, both in regard to literature and theology, a committee was appointed to prepare a course of studies for theological students, who do not take a regular course in a theological seminary. The committee, S. Henkel, A. J. Fox, and A. Costner, submitted, among other things, in their report, the following : After a careful and conscientious examination of differ- ent hymn-books and liturgies now; in use, (among them the Book of Worship — a work of decided merit) we would, under the circumstances and in view of the highest consid- erations, recommend to congregations in need of hymn- books- or books containing the service of the Church, ' ' The Church Book for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Congre- gations. By authority of the General Council of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church in America." This book we regard as a work of the highest merit, strictly churchly in all its features. The principles on which this was constituted were not 194 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL the taste of aity individual or committee, but the consensus of the Lutheran Church in its purest periods, in all countries. Great care and labor have .been bestowed on this work, in order to attain the highest degree of perfection. We are assured on the highest authority, that it is in its final shape as far as it goes — the forms for Baptism, &c. , (Actes Minis- teriales) remain to be added. The work will not be changed — the forms will simply be appended to later editions. The work is equally as cheap as the Church Hymn-Book. If any of our ministers should need a book containing the Actes Ministeriales before the later editions of the Church Book are published, we refer them to the "Book of Forms by Rev. J. A. Seiss, D. D.," published about fourteen years ago, and to the old Liturgy of the Pennsylvania Synod. The President having recommended in his report the propriety of reviving the ancient custom of installation, it w T as Resolved, That it be the duty of the President, with the consent of the pastor-elect and the congregation, to ap- point a committee of installation, in all succeeding changes in the pastoral relations in our Synod, to perform this ceremony. The Committee on the Revision of the Constitution of Beneficiary Association, was discharged, and another, con- sisting of Rev. S. Henkel and Mr. A. M. Bowman, was ap- pointed in place of the former. The corresponding delegate to the North Carolina Synod, presented, among other things, in his report, the following : The only thing done in which this Synod is directly interested, was in regard to the contemplated union of this Synod with that in a joint body. The subject elicited much discussion, was fully ventilated, and was disposed of by the adoption of resolutions referring the matter to the next convention of the Synod for further action. These resolu- tions were ordered to be forwarded by the Corresponding Secretary to the President of this Synod. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 95 In regard to this, Synod took the following action : Resolved 1. That we heartily endorse the sentiment of the North Carolina Synod, expressed in these resolutions, viz.: "That a union of the two Synods in a Joint Synod is both practicable and desirable." 2. That we entirely approve the action of the North Carolina Synod in reference to this union. 3. That this Synod is ready to meet the North Carolina Synod in a joint convention at any time and place, and on any basis of lay representation that may be agreed upon by the Presidents of the Synods interested. The following report was adopted : The committee, consisting of Revs. S. Henkel and I. Conder, appointed to reply to the communications of Revs. P. C. Henkel and J. R. Moser, of Missouri, to this Synod, submitted the following : Whereas, We learn from the communications of these brethren, that the prospects for building up the Church in the West are favorable, and that these brethren, in connec- tion with others, have taken preliminary steps for the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the State of Missouri ; be it, therefore, Resolved 1. That we hail with pleasure this information. 2. That their efforts put forth for the organization of a Synod, meet our approbation. 3. That, in order to aid them in publishing the pro- ceedings of their conference, and their proposed constitu- tion in connection with their discussion of "Doctrinal Theses selected from the Symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, showing the principal distinction between the Lutheran Church and other ecclesiastical Communions," we request our ministers at once to bring the matter before their respective congregations and secure subscriptions to said work, which your committee presumes will cost fifteen cents per copy, and send the amount to Rev. P. C. Henkel or Rev. J. R. Moser. 196 HISTORY OF THE KV ANGELICAL Appropriations were made for the benefit of four bene- ficiary students. Messrs. M. L. Little and W. C. Holler were received as applicants for the ministry. During this synodical year, 392 infants and 43 adults were baptized, and 284 confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet in Zion Church, Lexington County, South Carolina, on the third Sunday in October, 1873- Fifty-third Session. Synod met in Zion Church, Lexington County, South Carolina, October 16, 1873. Rev. J. M. Smith was elected president ; Rev. J. R. Peterson, recording secretary; Rev. L. A. Fox, corresponding secretary; and Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, treasurer. The following course of study, for private students in theology, was recommended: Home's Introduction, Hut- ter's Compend, Book of Concord, Krauth's Conservative Reformation, Knapp's Christian Theology, Mann's Schmidt's Christian Ethics, Kurtz's Sacred History, Kurtz's Church History, Ripley's Sacred Rhetoric, Vinet's Homiletics, Vinet's Pastoral Theology. Instruction must be given in Exegesis, Catechetics, Liturgies, and Ecclesiastical Polity. It is presumed that every minister who undertakes to give instructions, will be able to point out and guard his students against such things in any of the books given above that is un-Lutheran. The most objectionable one has important features not found elsewhere. Special attention is to be given to the study of the New Testament in Greek, and when the minister is able to teach Hebrew, to the study of the Old Testament in Hebrew. St. James Church, Summit, South Carolina, was received. The Virginia Conference of the Synod was requested to examine, and, if found qualified, to ordain J. Paul Stirewalt. M. L. Little and J. C. Moser, after examination, were •LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. I97 licensed as ministers. Mr. W. P. Cline and Mr. D. L. Crouse were received as theological students. Arrangements were made to establish a regular synod- ical fund. Heretofore, there was no such fund in this Synod. The amounts necessary for printing Minutes, traveling expenses, &c, were raised by voluntary contribu- tions from individuals and congregations, nearly every con- gregation having a treasury. The following action was taken relative to Our Church Paper: Resolved, That we hail with much pleasure the appear- ance of Our Church Paper, a religious journal, published at New Market, Virginia. The respectability of its appear- ance, the ability with which it is conducted, and the sound- ness of the doctrines and practices which it inculcates, are just what we think they ought to be, and we therefore regard it our duty, as far as possible, to encourage its circulation among the peopleof our congregations, and that we exert our- selves to introduce it into every family of our connection. The Constitution and By-Laws of Synod were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of this session. Messrs. J. F. Moser and A. B. Kfird were received as beneficiaries, with a view to the ministry. Appropriations were made for four beneficiaries. Corresponding delegates were appointed to different synods. The following action, taken by the North Carolina Synod, relative to union: "That all action in regard to union with all other ecclesiastical bodies be postponed for five years," — seems to have put that matter to rest for that period at least. According to the report, there were 599 infants and 34 adults baptized, and 447 confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet in Pilgrim's Church, David- son County, North Carolina, Thursday before the first Sunday in October, 1874. Ig8 HISTORY OF TTTK EVANGELICAL Fifty-fourth Session. This meeting was held in Pilgrim's Church, Davidson County, North Carolina, beginning October i, 1874. The officers elected were : Rev. L- A. Fox, president ; Rev. A. L. Crouse, recording secretary; Rev. J. M. Smith, corresponding secretary; and Maj. A. Koiner, treasurer. Rev. W. Kimball, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was received. Letters of honorable dismission were granted Revs. P. C. Henkel and J. R. Moser to the Missouri Conference of the Lutheran Church. Crouse' s Mission, Alabama, Morning Star, Page County,, and St. Jacob's Church, Shenandoah County, Virginia, were received. For sufficient reasons, the name of Christian Moretz,. Jr. , was erased from the clerical catalogue of Synod. Rev. C. H. Bernheim, of the North Carolina Synod,, was received as an advisory member. During its meeting in 1874, the Holston Synod resolved to unite with the General Council of the Lutheran Church in America. The Synod being notified of the fact, that the said General Council appointed a committee to co-operate with similar committees from other general bodies, and from synods not in connection with any general body, in arrang- ing for a general colloquium of all Lutherans in America, who accept unqualifiedly the Augsburg Confession, the following action was taken : Resolved, That we cordially approve this move of the General Council. During this year, there were 384 confirmed, and 39 adults and 497 infants baptized. Synod adjourned to meet in Mt. Calvary Church, Page County, Virginia, Thursday before the first Sunday in Sep- tember, 1875. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 1 99 Fifty-fifth Session. Synod assembled in Mt. Calvary Church, Page County, Virginia, September, 1875. Its officers were Rev. J. R. Peterson, president ; Rev. I. Conder, recording secretary; Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, corre- sponding secretary; and Rev. S. Henkel, treasurer. Rev. C, H. Bernheim, corresponding delegate of the North Carolina Synod, was received. Mr. J. W. Hausenfluck was received as an applicant for the ministry, and, at his request, placed under fhe direc- tion of Rev. S. Henkel. Rev. J. M. Smith, in a letter, informed Synod that the congregations in Catawba County, North Carolina, had de- cided to establish a high school of a strictly Lutheran character. Synod approved of that move and heartily com* mended the enterprise. Relative to the death of Rev. Godfrey Dreher, of Lex- ington County, South Carolina, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted by a rising vote : Whereas, God, in his all-wise Providence, has been pleased to call from time to eternity Rev. Godfrey Dreher, pastor of Lutheran congregations, Lexington County, South Carolina, hereby Resolved, That we express our high appreciation of his services and success ; that we bow in humble submission to the will of him that doth all things well, cherish the memory of Rev. Dreher, and pray the Master to send in his stead faithful and worthy ministers of the New Testament. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be published in Our Church Paper. On motion, the congregation in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, was received. A committee was appointed to prepare a constitution and regulations for Home Missionary operations, and report to the next meeting. On motion, Rev. S. Henkel was required to secure all 200 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL the minutes and pamphlets of the different sessions of our Synod, and have them bound, and also to collect such other material as may be of interest to the Church. Appropriations were made for the benefit of two bene- ficiaries. There were 484 infant and 48 adult baptisms, and 359 confirmations, reported at this convention. Synod adjourned to meet in St. John's Church, Lex- ington County, South Carolina, on Thursday before the second Sunday in October, 1876. Obituary of Rev. Godfrey Dreher. — Rev. Godfrey Dreher departed this life at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev. Daniel Efird, at Pine Ridge, Lexington County, South Carolina, July 28, 1875; aged 85 years, 7 months, and 24 days. Funeral services were rendered and a sermon preached at the said residence, by Rev. H. W. Kuhns, from 1 Thess. 4, 14, in the presence of a very large, sympathizing congrega- tion. His earthly remains were then conveyed, in solemn procession, to St. Michael's Church, twelve miles distant, where another sermon was preached by the same minister from Psalm 71, 9, at the request of a large assembly, which had gathered there, to pay the last tribute of respect to departed worth. His body was then placed in the grave, to await the final resurrection, in rear of the pulpit of St. Michael's, between the graves of Revs. Wingard and D. Dreher, the place which he had selected and which had been reserved for that purpose, — a pulpit which he had filled with so much acceptance. He entered the active services of the ministry in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, in the year 181 1, and confined his labors chiefly to ministerial services in Lexington County, South Carolina, in a community generally known as "Dutch Fork, ' ' where he labored with acceptance and success. He was one of the first ministers who preached in the English language in that community. He was present at the conference which met in St. Michael's Church, Lexington County, South Carolina, in 1824, where and when the Evangelical Lutheran South Carolina Synod was organ- ized, and elected as president of that synod. At that time the paro- chial reports show that he had six churches in his charge. From that time till 1835, he was elected treasurer of synod, successively each year. In that year, the constitution of the synod was so changed as to require a layman to fill that office. About the year 1834, some difficulties and differences arose in the synod which were not satisfac- torily adjusted. In 1837, he met a committee . appointed by the presi- dent of the synod, to meet at Lexington Court House, South Carolina, LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 201 to adjust the differences. After some consultation, he was, at his request, permitted to withdraw from the synod in an amicable manner. Eight congregations went with him. These congregations he faith- fully and zealously served, aided occasionally by visiting ministers and such other assistance as he could command, till 1851, preaching as many as two sermons on three of the Sundays in each month, although his congregations were situated a very considerable distance from his place of residence, and from five to eight miles distant from each other. From 1851 to 1854, he was permanently assisted by Rev. Daniel Efird. In 1854, he received an attack of paralysis. This ended his ministerial career. He was always regular and punctual in his attendance at his appointments. The inclemency of the weather never prevented him from filling his engagements and complying with his obligations. It seems he was prompt in all the relations of life, and strong in his con- victions. He was true and faithful, zealous and energetic in the performance of his duties. He was a man of excellent native powers a\id abilities, firm and indomitable. As a minister, he was earnest and effective, and often, and especially when he spoke on his theme in which he most delighted, "Justification by Faith," he grew most eloquent and pathetic. He wielded a very decided and beneficial influ- ence in the community in which he labored. He contributed liberally of his temporal means towards the establishment of the theological seminary of the South Carolina Synod, first erected at Lexington Court House, South Carolina. As a man, he was generous, liberal, just, kind, and affectionate in all the departments of life. "He now rests from his labors, and his works do follow him." Fifty- sixth Session. Synod convened in St. John's Church, Lexington County-, South Carolina, October 5, 1876. The officers chosen were : Revs. S. Henkel, president ;' J. M. Smith, recording secretary; J. R. Peterson, corre- sponding secretary; and A. J. Fox, treasurer. Rev. J. C. Moser and H. A. Meetze were received as advisory members. St. Matthew Church, King's Mountain, the church at Hickory, North Carolina, St. Thomas Church, South Caro- lina, and St. Mark's, Luray, Virginia, were received. A committee of three, consisting of Revs. J. M. Smith, J. R. Peterson, and A. J. Fox, was appointed to examine 202 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL A. L. Yount, and, if necessary, to ordain him. There was also a committee appointed to ordain J. W. Hausenfluck, if found qualified. Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., of the South Carolina Synod, was received as a corresponding delegate from that synod. The committee, appointed to prepare a paper relative to the death of Rev. Thomas Crouse, submitted the follow- ing, which was adopted by a rising vote : Whereas, God, in his wise Providence, has called from his labors on earth, Rev. T. Crouse, a faithful minister of our Synod, to his rest and reward on high ; therefore, Resolved, That we recognize the hand of God herein, and humbly bow to his righteous ways, that we cherish his memory, and pray God for grace, that we may meekly sub- mit to his dispensation. Resolved, That these resolutions be published in "Our Church Paper," and a copy be sent to the family of the de- ceased. The action of Synod in 1864, creating the license sys- tem, was rescinded, a committee of three was appointed to prepare and submit to the present convention of this Synod, a plan by which the requirements of our Constitution in regard to the candidates for the ministry in their period of probation, can be complied with. This committee, not being able to submit a plan, for the want of time, Revs. A. J. Fox, J. R. Peterson, and >S. Henkel, were appointed a committee to give this matter proper attention, and report at the next meeting. The license system having been rescinded, Messrs. J. A. Cromer and E. L. Lybrand, who applied for license, were requested to labor, for the time being, under some regular pastor or pastors. The committee appointed at the last session to prepare Regulations for Missionary Work, submitted the following : Article I. There shall be elected, annually, by Synod, an Executive Committee of three, or five, or more members, as the nature and extent of the work may require, who shall LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 203 hold office until their successors shall be appointed. Of this committee, the Committee on Vacancies shall be a member. Article II. This Executive Committee shall have charge of the Missionary work between the conventions of Synod. They shall elect one of their number Treasurer, who shall hold and disburse the missionary moneys accord- ing to the directions of the committee. The Executive Committee may establish or discontinue missions, may employ or dismiss missionaries, and shall have the super- intendence and control of all missionary operations during their time of office. Article III. This committee shall hold at least two meetings during the year. It shall keep a clear and correct account of all its transactions, and especially of all moneys received and disbursed, and report annually to Synod, and be prepared with vouchers to sustain the same, which re- port shall be recorded by the Secretary of Synod. Article IV. All moneys collected from congregations or otherwise, and donations for the purpose of missions, shall be paid over to the Chairman of the Executive Com- mittee, for which he shall give his receipt. Article V. Diligent and rigid inquiry shall be made as to the condition of every community, and the prospects of establishing a self-sustaining congregation or pastorate whenever application shall be made for aid, and where these are not favorable, no money shall be expended as a mere venture. Article VI. Every pastor in connection with this Synod shall be required to take up collections in each of his congregations, annually, in the most judicious manner, for missions. Article VII. These regulations shall be subject to amendment at any meeting of Synod after giving one day's notice of the proposed amendment, and with the concur- rence of two-thirds of the members present. 204 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Your committee, in submitting the above plan, would call the attention of the Synod to the importance of concen- trated effort. It is a lesson learned after a dear experience by other bodies, and they are now centering their labors upon a few places until they make them self-supporting. It is found to be far better to make large appropriations to one point and assist in building a church than to scatter a small fund among many. With respect to the Southern General Synod's sugges- tion, that this Synod reconsider its actions declining to unite with that synod, the .following action was taken : Resolved, That under existing circumstances, we regard it inexpedient to take any. steps either toward uniting with or in any way committing ourselves to any one of the General Lutheran Bodies in this country. The following preamble and resolution were passed : Whereas, Prof. Ben. Hyde Benton, President of Poly- technic Institute, at New Market, Virginia, has kindly tendered to this Synod three free scholarships in that Insti- tute, one for the congregation of this Synod in South Caro- lina, and two for our Churches in North Carolina, upon condition that the candidates are over 14 years of age, and come with a recommendation from one of the ministers of this Synod, Resolved, That we highly appreciate this kind offer and most cheerfully accept it, and tender our most sincere thanks to the kind donor. The baptisms reported were 544 infants and 56 adults, and 325 confirmations. Synod adjourned to meet in Coble's Church, Guilford County, North Carolina, November 8, 1877. Obituary of Rev. Thomas Crouse. — Rev. Thomas Crouse died April 11, 1876, at 12.30 P. M. He was born in Davidson County, North Carolina, June 6, 1822. His paternal ancestors came from Germany to Pennsylvania, thence to Forsyth County, North Carolina, where Andrew Crouse, the father of the deceased, was born. He married a Miss Daniels, whose LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 205 parents came from Ireland. They afterwards settled in Davidson County, North Carolina, where the subject of this sketch was born. He was baptized in infancy, in Beck's Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he afterwards received religious instruction, and was confirmed. He received his literary education at Prof. Dusenberry's school, Lexington, North Carolina, and his theological training under the direction of tutors. He entered the ministry in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, in 1845, and continued in its work until his death, having been engaged in the Master's service about 31 years. Soon after he began his work, he moved to Randolph Count}-, North Carolina, where he married Barbara Fox, a descendant, through her maternal line, from one of the Electors of Saxony. She died in about eight years, leaving four children. He afterwards married M. C. Fox, youngest sister of Rev. A. J. Fox, M. D., by whom one son was given him. As a theologian, he was a sound and firm defender of the doctrines and customs of the old type of Lutheranism. As a preacher, he was attractive, because of his earnestness of manner, clearness of thought, force of style, and persuasive voice. He labored in Guilford and Alamance, and organized Melanch- thon, the only Lutheran Church in Randolph County- In 1873, he moved to Davidson County, and rebuilt Beck's, the church of his youth, of which, with three other congregations, he was pastor until his death. His last sermon was preached in Beck's Church, ten days before he died. Surveying his work, we are convinced that he was a "workman that need not be ashamed," and that he has many jewels in his crown. Fifty- seventh Session. t Synod assembled in Coble's Church, Guilford County, North Carolina, November 8, 1877. The election for officers resulted in favor of Revs. S. Henkel, D. D., president; J. Paul Stirewalt, recording secretary; M. L. Little, corresponding secretary; and D, Efird, treasurer. Rev. P. C. Henkel, having been called back from Missouri to Conover, North Carolina, to lead in the perma- nent establishment of a school of a high grade, at the latter place, was unanimously received into Synod. Rev. C. H. Bernheim, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was received. zo6 HISTORY OF THE EVANGKXICAI, On Sunday, the new church erected to take the place of the old Coble Church, was dedicated, Rev. S. Henkel, D. D., preaching the sermon, and Rev. P. C. Henkel lead- ing in the dedicatory services. It was moved, that when Synod adjourn, it adjourn to meet in St. Matthew Church, Shenandoah County, Virginia,, on Thursday before the first Sunday in September, 1878. Rev. C. H. Bernheim, corresponding delegate of the North Carolina Synod, conveyed to this Synod in a few pertinent remarks, the fraternal greetings and kindly feel- ings of the North Carolina Synod, and was appropriately replied to by Rev. S. Henkel, D. D. Rev. A. L,. Yount, having left the bounds of this Synod, having received a call from a congregation at Murphysboro, Illinois, was requested to return to Synod the amount he had received from it as a beneficiary, not having labored in the bounds of the Synod anything like the length of time the regulations of the Beneficiary Society of Synod required from its beneficiaries. This he did ; that is, refunded it in due time. On motion, the President appointed a committee of three to prepare rules and regulations for the government of beneficiaries, to report at the next meeting of Synod. Committee — Revs. A. J. Fox, J. M. Smith, and Mr. M. L- Cline. The reports show that during this year 585 infants and 56 adults were baptized, and 471 persons were confirmed. Synod adjourned to meet at the time and place already indicated. Fifty -eighth Session. This meeting convened in St. Matthew Church, Shen- andoah County, Virginia, August 29, 1878. The officers of this convention were Revs. P. C. Henkel, president; L,. A. Fox, recording secretary; A. J. Fox, cor- responding secretary; and J. Paul Stirewalt, treasurer. The congregation at Conover, Catawba County, North Carolina, was received. XTJTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 207 A committee of three was appointed to prepare a plan for missionary work. A committee was appointed to ex- amine Mr. A. R. Yoder. Rev. V. R. Stickley, corresponding delegate of the North Carolina Synod, was received. Rev. A. J. Fox, M. D., read the Regulations for the 'Government of Synod in the work of Beneficiary Education. It is too long for insertion here. It may be found in Min- utes of 1878. The committee, appointed to prepare resolutions on the •death of Rev, Henry Goodman, presented the following, which was adopted, the Synod rising : Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God, in his wise Providence, to remove Rev. Henry Goodman from his labors on earth to his reward in heaven, Resolved 1. That in the death of Father Goodman, the Church has lost an earnest, faithful, and zealous laborer in his Master's vineyard ; Resolved 2. That we bow in humble submission to him who doth all things well ; Resolved 3. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to ate. Revs. C. A. Marks, Z. W. Bedenbaugh, M. J. Bpting, Prof. J. B. Fox, W. A. Julian, and J. A. Sligh were announced. Rev. Prof. A. G. Voigt, delegate from the South Carolina Synod, presented his credentials and was received. Rev. W. A. Lutz, delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was announced as present. A motion was made to receive him, and pending its consideration Synod adjourn- ed till the afternoon session. Synod resumed the consideration of the reception of the delegate of the North Carolina Synod. On motion, it was postponed till some subsequent session of this convention. The following was passed : Whereas, At its recent convention, the Evangelical Lutheran North Carolina Synod took certain action in re- gard to the course pursued by the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod relative to the application of Rev. B. S. Brown for admittance ; and Whereas, That action may, in the future, be construed as a reflection on the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod ; be it, therefore, Resolved 1 . That the Tennessee Synod pursued the same course in reference to the said B. S. Brown, as it has relative to other similar applicants, for more than three score years ; 244 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL 2. That this Synod can see no good reason for devi- ating from that policy, convinced that it is right and proper. At a later date, Synod resumed the consideration of the reception of the North Carolina Synod's delegate, and the following action was taken : Rev. W. A. Lutz having appeared as corresponding delegate of the Evangelical Lutheran North Carolina Synod, and presented his credentials as such, was received ; but it is to be regretted, that, in view of the following action taken by the North Carolina Synod at its late meeting, relative to the course pursued by our Synod in regard to the applica- tion of Rev. B. S. Brown, it would be incompatible for this Synod to continue such courtesy or correspondence in the future, without some modification or satisfactory explanation of the intention of that action, which, otherwise, is calcu- lated to reflect on our Synod : ' 'Resolved, That we have heard with pleasure the very excellent and able address of Rev. B. S. Brown, regarding his non-reception into our sister Synod, the Tennessee Synod, and that we rejoice to find that he stood so firmly on the confessions of the church and refused to go beyond them in accepting opinions or practices that are nowhere required or distinctly stated in the symbols of our church." The matter of establishing a mission at Asheville, North Carolina, was referred to the North Carolina Confer- ence of the Synod for consideration. A letter from Rev. L. K. Probst, Secretary of the Board of Missions of the United Synod, was read, in which atten- tion was called to the apportionment of this Synod, due the United Synod, of $800 for Home Missions and $400 for Foreign Missions, as approximated by the Board. The services of a pastor for the Alabama Mission were secured. The request, made at the previous meeting of Synod, for the publication of another edition of Luther's Small Catechism, was complied with, Henkel & Co., of New LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 245 Market, Virginia, having brought out the new publication, in its fifth edition, in due time. The committee on text-books for Sunday-schools rec- ommended the following : 1. The Bible, or portions of it, and Luther's Small Catechism. 2. As helps to learning the contents of Bible and Cate- chism, Little Children's Catechism, My First Book, The Child's Book, Stories from Bible History ; and for Song, The Little Children's Book. 3. For more advanced scholars, also, Biblical History ill the Words of Holy Scripture, Outlines of Church His- tory ; and for Song, The Sunday-school Book. Favorable action was taken in regard to the endowment of Concordia College, Conover, North Carolina. With respect to the relation which the Tennessee Synod sustains to the United Synod in the South, the following action was taken : Whereas, The relations of the different synods, com- posing the United Synod of the South, to each other, and to the United Synod, as defined in the Basis of Union and Constitution of the United Synod, are differently interpret- ed ; and Whereas, There is some difference of opinion as to what rights, privileges, and courtesies should be accorded to each individual synod by the other synods ; and Whereas, The principles involved in said Article III. are held by the Tennessee Synod ; and Whereas, Said Article III. has not been adopted by the United Synod, but action upon it postponed to its next meeting ; therefore, be it Resolved, That we, the ministers and delegates of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, do emphatically reiterate the principles set forth at Dallas, North Carolina, in 1886, as our position, viz.: ''That in adopting it (The Report of the Delegates to the Diet at Roanoke, Va.), as the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod rejects all eccle- 246 HISTORY OF THK KVAKGEWCAX^ siastical union and co-operation which is not based on the pure Lutheran teaching and faith ; as, the Exchange of Pulpits, Promiscuous Communion or Altar Fellowship , Secret Society Worship, and Chiliasm, we, the ministers and lay-delegates, in Synod assembled, do hereby recom- mend or advise the committee, or chairman of the committee, appointed by the United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South, to prepare By-laws for its government, in drafting such By-laws, so to formulate them as to require every teacher or professor who may be appointed as a teacher or professor in any theological seminary that she may establish or put into operation, to take an obligation not to teach, practice, or inculcate anything that comes in conflict with these principles, or the doctrines of the Church. ' ' That we trust the said United Synod will feel the importance of acquiescing in this precautionary request, with a view to the good of the church ; especially as this is desired only in work for which each Synod will be held responsible in its united efforts, and which it should be able to defend and maintain according to the pure doctrines and practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as over against sectarian innovations and corruptions, leaving each Synod in connection with the United Synod in its individual synodical transactions, so to shape its course as ultimately to attain that higher plain in doctrine and practice so charac- teristic of the true Church." Resolved, That until such position is taken by the United Synod, by adopting the principles contained in Article III. of proposed By-laws, the Tennessee Synod can- not co-operate with the United Synod in her work. J. P. Price having sustained a satisfactory examination in regard to his qualifications to bear the office of Pastor, was ordained. J. T. Miller was examined and ordained to the office of Pastor, by a special committee, during this synodical year. The President having called attention in his regular LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 247 report to the deaths of Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., and Rev. M. L,. Fox, M. D., the following action was taken : Whereas, In the providence of God, Revs. M. L,. Fox and J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., have been called from their labors in the Church militant to their rest in the Church triumphant : Resolved 1. That while the Tennessee Synod has lost able and efficient ministers of the Gospel, the families dear friends and kind husbands, and the States and communities honored citizens, we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doth all things well. Resolved 2. That we spread these resolutions upon the face of our Minutes as an humble tribute of respect to their memory, as an appreciation of their worth and merits, and as a token of esteem in which they were held. Resolved, That a page, containing the name, the date of the death, and the age, be devoted to the memory of the deceased brethren. Rev. S. Henkel having stated to Synod that there is a probability that another edition of the New Market, Va., edition of the Christian Book of Concord, or Symbolical Books, will be published in the near future, if the enterprise meet with proper encouragement, it was Resolved, That Synod hail with pleasure that announce- ment, and shall give it proper encouragement. So too, relative to the History of the Tennessee Synod, it was Moved, That we have heard the statement of Dr. S. Henkel with reference to the publication of his History of the Tennessee Synod, and that we make earnest efforts to introduce the work among our people. The report on the state of the Church is quite favorable and encouraging. The usual routine business was trans- acted in a regular way. The following delegates were elected to the next meet- ing of the United Synod : Principals — Revs. S. Henkel, D. D., A. L. Crouse, J. P. Stirewalt, J. C. Moser, J. S. Koiner, J. M. Smith, W. P. 2^.8 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL, Cline, J. A. Rudisill, J. K. Efird, E. L. L,y brand, and Messrs. Ambrose L. Henkel, Isaiah Printz, Philip Killian, A. M. Huit, Luther Hosteller, J. L. Yount, A. C. Lineber- ger, J. S. Lipe, C. M. Efird, Maj. H. A. Meetze. Alternates— Revs. I. Conder, John N. Stirewalt, P. C- Wike, P. C. Henkel, D. D., M. E. Little, C. H. Bernheim, R. A. Yoder, D. J. Settlemyre, D. Efird, J. A. Cromer, and Messrs. Wm. Coffman, A. Dodson, D. I. Offman, D. M. Wyant, Wm. Yoder, G. M. Yoder, H. F. McCaslin, D. A. Coon, W. Henry Hare, D. C. Boland. The reports on Literary Institutions were favorable. The Parochial Report shows 3 1 ministers, 101 churches, 89 adult baptisms, '889 infant baptisms, 662 confirmations, 9,392 communicants, and 14,120 souls. Synod adjourned to meet in Holly Grove Church, Ilex, Davidson County, North Carolina, November 8, 1889. Obituary of Rev. Michael L. Fox, M. D. — At his residence in Randolph County, North Carolina, July 22, 1888, Rev. Michael L. Fox, M. D., departed this life ; aged 63 years, 6 months, and 10 days. He was a son of Christian and Charity Fox. In his infancy he was dedicated to God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and at a more mature age he entered into full communion with the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, through the rite of Confirmation, Rev. Henry Goodman officiating. In early life he commenced the practice of medicine, and in that profession he proved most successful and efficient. His practice was extensive, not only in his own count}', but also in adjoining counties. He represented his county, one session, in the State Legislature, with satisfaction to his constituents. In 1871 he entered the office of the Gospel ministry, in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, and, in that capacity, proved zealous, faithful, and efficient. He served acceptably, during his ministry, three congregations ; one in Randolph County, one in Guilford County, and one in Alamance. Notwithstanding his practice as a physician was extensive and laborious, he never failed to meet his appointments, in an ecclesiastical point of view. His remains were placed to rest, till the resurrection mor-i, in Melanchthon church yard, Rev. B. W. Cronk rendering the burial service in the midst of an unusually large concourse of relatives and LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 249 sympathizing friends. In all the relations of life, he gained the highest esteem among all who knew him. On the second Sunday of November, 1888, his funeral was preach- ed at Melanchthon Church, Randolph County, N. C, by Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., from 1 Thess. 4, 13-18, in the presence of a very large congregation of relatives and affectionate friends, taking his position at the door of the church, as not more than one-third of the people could get room in the house. He leaves a widow, two daughters, and five sons, — two of whom are practicing physicians, — to lament their irreparable loss of a kind husband and an affectionate father. Thus another true soldier of the cross has been promoted to the triumphant army in that better country. Obituary of Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D. — Dr. Smeltzer was born in Frederick County, Maryland, September 10, 181 9. He received a liberal education, and about the time he reached manhood was or- dained a minister of the Lutheran Church. He was for several years principal of a well-known and popular educational institution at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and was at different times pastor of the churches at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and Salem, Virginia. In 1 861, so great had become his reputation as an instructor, that he was elected president of Newberry College, South Carolina. He removed to South Carolina, and conducted the affairs of this institution with signal ability when the college was located at Newberry, and after its removal to Walhalla until 1879, when the college was again taken back to Newberry. In that year he resigned the presidency of the institution, and established at his mountain home the Walhalla Female College, of which he was the head until 1885. During his labors as a teacher, Dr. Smeltzer did not discontinue his work in the pulpit. Last spring, his health having given way under the ceaseless toil of many years, Dr. Smeltzer came to Charles- ton, where he spent the last few months of his life. Dr. Smeltzer was a very forcible preacher. He was possessed of profound powers of analysis, and preached with great effectiveness. For his theological learning the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Erskine College. He was one of the oldest as well as one of the ablest and most impressive preachers of his age. Soon after the death of his wife, he resigned his position in Wal- halla Female Seminary, South Carolina, and having received a call, he took charge of the Springhill, South Carolina, charge, and this charge being in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, he received an honorable discharge from the Evangelical Lutheran South Carolina Synod, and was received into the said Ten- nessee Synod, October, 1886. 250 HISTORY OF THE KvANGKLICAI, He died at the residence of his son, Mr. John B. Smeltzer, of Charleston; South Carolina, October 31, 1887 ; aged 68 years, 1 month, and 21 days. His funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Muller and Rev. Dr. Horn. His remains were conveyed to Walhalla, and interred. Sixty- Ninth Session. This meeting convened in Holly Grove Church, Ilex, Davidson County, North Carolina, November 8, 1889. The officers elected were Rev. A. L. Crouse, president ; Rev. J. Paul Stirewalt, recording secretary ; Rev. Prof. W. P. Cline, corresponding secretary ; Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, treasurer ; Rev. J. M. Smith, treasurer beneficiary fund ; and Rev. S. Henkel, D. D., assistant treasurer beneficiary fund. During this session, on proper petitions from congrega- tions desiring ministerial services, and after sustaining satis- factory examinations, the following theological students were ordained to the office of Pastor, Rev. T. Moser preach- ing the ordination sermon : J. P. Miller, W. L. Darr, and David I. Offman. Rev. Prof. J. G. Schaid, having received a letter of honorable dismission from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, and sustained a satisfactory examination, was received into S}mod. Rev. J. F. Moser, who had been, according to resolu- tion, examined and ordained, at a convention of the North Carolina Conference of the Tennessee Synod, during the synodical year, was received into Synod. The following applicants for the ministerial office, were, after examination and approval, received under the care of the Synod : S. S. Keisler, J. T. Craps, G. E. Long, R. L. Fritz, D. F. Conrad, A. R. Beck, W. H. Roof, and A. V. Sherrill. Mt. Tabor, Richland County, South Carolina, Mt. Olive, Catawba County, North Carolina, St. Luke's, Union County, North Carolina, and Bethel, Prince William County, Vir- ginia, were received in connection with Synod. LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 25 1 The report of the committee on Missions, was quite favorable and encouraging, in regard to the work in Vir- ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. The reports of the committees on the state of the Church and Literary Institutions, were commendable and gratifying. Rev T . Prof. J. S. Koiner having resigned, Rev. Prof. R. A. Yoder was elected as theological professor in Concordia College. The President announced the following committee to- secure $10,000 for the purpose of erecting new college build- ings for Concordia College, Conover, North Carolina : Revs. Prof. W. P. Cline, Prof. J. F. Moser, P. C. Wike, Mr. A. M. Huit, and Mr. Jonas Hunsucker. In regard to an effort being made, to establish a first- class female college, to be located in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, which institution is to be conducted in accordance with the Confessional Basis of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as contained in the Book of Concord, and in which Luther's Catechism and Lutheran training are to constitute part of the college curriculum, commendable action was taken. Appropriations were made for three beneficiary students. The following report, relative to a formula of distribu- tion in the Lord's Supper, was ordered to be spread on the minutes, for consideration at the next meeting of Synod : Resolved 1. That it is the sense of this body that the elements in the Lord's Supper must be distributed with the unfailing use of Christ's words ; 2. That our pastors be, and they are hereby, instructed to use the formula of our Synod found in its liturgy, page 80, namely : "Take, and eat ; this is the body of your Savior, Jesus Christ, which is given for you ; this do in remembrance of him." ' 'Take, and drink ; this is the blood of your Savior, Jesus Christ, which is shed for you, for the remission of sins ; this do in [remembrance of him." 252 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL The words, "May it strengthen and preserve you in the true faith, unto life everlasting, Amen," may be used after the giving to the whole or any part of the communicants present at the altar, but never in the act of giving and re- ceiving either element. The committee, consisting of Revs. T. Moser, J. R. Peterson, and M. L. Little, appointed to report resolutions on the death of Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., submitted the following : Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God in his wise providence to remove our dear brother from his labors in the Church militant to his reward in the Church triumphant, be it Resolved i. That in the death of Brother Henkel the Church has lost an able and valiant defender of her time- honored doctrines, the Synod a most faithful and devoted member, society an excellent neighbor and loyal citizen, and the bereaved family an exemplary Christian husband and father. 2. That we humbly submit to this dispensation of our Heavenly Father, that we devoutly cherish the memory of our beloved brother and fellow-laborer, that we hereby ex- press our appreciation of his labors, toils, and sacrifices for the cause of Christ, and that we lay seriousl} 7 to heart the solemn lesson addressed to us. 3. That we tender the family of the deceased our sincere sympathy in their sad bereavement, and commend them to the care of the Good Shepherd and Bishop of souls. 4. That a copy of these resolutions be sent the afflicted family, and that a page of our Minutes be inscribed to the memory of our departed brother in Christ. Five churches were received. Three ministers were ordained to the office of Pastor, and two were received, and eight applicants for the ministry were taken under the care of Synod. In regard to the. History of the Tennessee Synod, it was, Resolved, That this Synod hails with delight the forth- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 253 coming History of the Tennessee Synod, by Rev. S. Henkel, D. D.; that it commends it to the hearty reception of its pastors and people ; and that it make earnest effort to sell it among our people. According to the Parochial Report, there were 35 min- isters, 105 churches, 660 infant baptisms, 70 adult baptisms, 462 confirmations, 9,426 communicants, and 14,323 souls. During this decade, which lacks one year of being full ; that is, nine years instead often, there were 6,040 infants baptized and 469 adults, and 3,653 confirmed, and 8 minis- ters received. Synod adjourned to meet in Mt. Calvary Church, Page County, Virginia, on Friday, 10 A. M., before the fourth Sunday in October, 1890. According to the Parochial Reports, which do not, as heretofore indicated, give much more than two-thirds of the actual numbers, there were, from the organization of the Synod down to, the close of its session in 1889, 42, 150 infant baptisms, 6,542 adults, and 795 slaves, and 20,712 confirmed. Obituary of Rev. Polycarp C. Henkel, D. D. — On the 20th of August, 1820, was born the oldest son of Rev. David and Catharine Henkel, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. That son was the Rev. Polycarp C. Henkel, D. D., who is a descendant of a long line of dis- tinguished Lutheran ministers. He inherited very great physical and mental powers from both his parents. He was early dedicated to God in Holy Baptism, and was received into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church with St. Peter's congregation, Catawba County, North Carolina, having been catechised by Rev. Daniel Moser and confirmed by Rev. Adam Miller. On the 5th day of September, 1843, he was married to Rebecca Fox, of Randolph County, North Carolina, daughter of David Fox. The issues of this union were two sons and one daughter. The youngest son preceded his father into the spirit world. The other son, Hon. David S. Henkel, of New Market, Virginia, and Mrs. Catharine C» Lail, of Conover, North Carolina, and his aged widow, survive him, to mourn their loss. He died at his late residence in Conover, North Carolina, on the 26th of September, 1889, after a few days of intense suffering, at the age of 69 years, 1 month, and 6 days, and was buried at St. Peter's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, September 28, 1889. Rev. 254 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL J. M. Smith preached the funeral from 2 Tim. 4, 6-8, in the presence of hundreds of people who came from far and near. He was followed in brief, appropriate addresses, by the pall-bearers, Revs. Yoder r Schaid, Koiner, Bernheim, Little, and Rudisill. Dr. P. C. Henkel was an extraordinary man, and unique in his character. He has been so long and so favorably known in this country, that anything like an attempt at a sketch of his life, would seem useless ; yet we offer these few lines as a tribute of respect to his memory. As a husband and father, he was kind and devoted to his. wife and children, anxious for their welfare, both temporal and spirit- ual, and supplied them with both precept and example. As a neighbor and citizen, he was kind and obliging, always ready to do a favor, if it were in his power, frequently disobliging himself and family to oblige others. Intellectually, he was a powerful man. He was an original thinker and a fine logician. He would clinch ever)' argument, and in debate and controversy was a formidable antagonist. He would consider well, make up his opinion deliberately, and when once made up, was very decided. He was immovable from an opinion which was the result of long and careful consideration. He would never, for any consideration, go back on his word. His word was as sacred to him as a most solemn oath. In his manners he was humble and unas- suming. Humility was manifest in all his intercourses with his fellow man. Integrity was also a salient point in his character. He was rigidly honest and truthful. As a minister, he was a power. His style of preaching was ex- pository, plain, and forciful. He entered the ministry of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of the Tennessee Synod in 1843, having been ordained in Green County, Tennessee. He preached for forty-six years without interruption, and wholly in the Tennessee Synod, except a few years, while in the State of Missouri, where he led in the organi- zation of the English District of the Missouri Synod. He labored exceedingly hard in the vineyard of the Lord. At one time he had pastoral charge of fifteen congregations. He did an immense amount of missionary work, traveled thousands of miles, in cold and heat, and rain and storm, in obedience to the call of the Master to this work. He never shirked from duty, but was always punctual, and ready to speak the word of encouragement to the weak, the word of comfort to the sorrowing, the word of life to those seeking a knowledge of the way of life. He was an uncompromising antagonist of error, and boldly and fearlessly denounced it wherever he met with it. As a theologian, he was very profound. His range of study was broad, and his investigations were intense and searching, and descend- ed into the very depths of theological problems, perhaps as far as LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 255 "human mind could go. His chief text-books were the Bible and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church. .On Dogmatic Theology he was an acknowledged authority, in the Lutheran Church in the South, at least. As a writer, he showed the same originality of character as in other fields. His ideas were original, and his style bold and vigorous. His writings are not numerous, but the treatment of the subjects he handled is exhaustive. It is to be regretted that he could not devote more of his time to writing, and thus transmit to generations to come, the results of his deep researches in theology. His influence in all the relations in which we have mentioned him, as husband and father, as neighbor and citizen, as a man and as a preacher, and as a theological writer, was very great. In the Lu- theran Church of the South, he was, _ perhaps, the greatest man in its history. He labored hard and made great sacrifices to establish our school, Concordia College, for the Tennessee Synod, in which the Word of God should be recognized as a factor in education, and in which the Bible and Luther's Catechism should be taught daily. His influence is felt far beyond the limits of his own Synod, even throughout the whole Southern Church. He was in the midst of his earnest labors, both writing and preaching, to raise the Lutheran Church of the South to a higher plain of doctrine and practice, when the Master called him to his reward. Thus ended his work. A good and great man has fallen. Obituary of Rev. Henry Wetzel. — At his residence, near Cal- vary, about two miles west of Woodstock, Shenandoah Count}', Vir- ginia, March 3, 1890, after a complicated illness of three or four months duration, Rev. Henry Wetzel departed this life ; aged 74 years, 2 months, and 20 days. His funeral services' took place from Mt. Calvary Church, March 5, at 10 A. M., Rev. P. C. Wike officiating. His remains were then conveyed to Zion's Church, a distance of six miles, and laid to rest by the side of his consort who preceded him to eternity. He was born in Southwest Virginia, near the Tennessee line, of Christian parents, who brought him up in the nurture and admonition of God. He prepared himself for the Gospel ministry, and was or- dained to the office of pastor, by the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, at its session held in Rader's Church, near Timberville, Rock- ingham County, Virginia, in the year 1841, and continued in the active services of the ministry until within a few months of his death, — a period of forty -nine } 7 ears. During his ministry, he served con- gregations in Augusta, Rockingham, and Shenandoah Counties, Vir- ginia, as well as congregations in West Virginia, doing much missionary 256 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL work. He also served a congregation in Baltimore, Maryland, for several years. He was a man of strong mind and indomitable energy, an able and impressive preacher, both in the German and English languages, sound in the faith, and ever ready to promulgate, maintain, defend, and perpetuate the true doctrines and usages of the church, in their purity and simplicity. He was an able, fearless, formidable debater, full of zeal and perseverance. By assiduous effort and close application to study and investiga- tion, he attained an eminent degree in literature and theology, as well as in church history and dogmatics. He was one of the ablest minis- ters in the Valley of Virginia. He possessed an extensive library, and he really used it. He took great delight in reading the Confessions of the Church and Luther's Entire Works. He was quite familiar with them, frequently making translations from them. When the translation of the Christian Book of Concord, or the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, into the English language, was undertaken, he was selected to make a purely literal translation of the Epitome ; so, too, when Luther's Church- Postil on the Epistles was translated for publication in the English, he was selected to prepare a similar translation of the third volume. He was a son of George and Margaret Wetzel. He entered into the estate of matrimony with Miss Mary C. Staubus, daughter of Christian and Mary E. Staubus, of Augusta County, Virginia, Decem- ber 5, 1839, with whom he had seven children, — six daughters and one son. He leaves two daughters and several grand-children, with numer- ous other relatives and friends, to lament his departure. Having fin- ished his course here, he has now gone to the spirit world, to enjoy, as we trust, that rest and those rewards prepared for the faithful. As the following papers were submitted to Synod for its action, it was deemed proper to give them a place here. Basis of Union of the United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in- the South. I. The Confessional Basis. 1. The Holy Scriptures, the Inspired Writings of the Old and New Testaments, the only standard of doctrine and church discipline. 2. As a true and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures in regard to matters of faith and prac- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 257 tice, the three ancient symbols, the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds, and the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Faith. Also the other Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, viz.: the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Small and Large Catechisms of Lu- ther, and the Formula of Concord, consisting of the Epitome and Full Declaration, as they are set forth, defined, and pub- lished in the Christian Book of Concord, or the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, published in the year 1580, (see Epitome of the Compendious Rule and Standard, and the Sol. Declaration — Preface), as true and Scriptural developments of the doctrines taught in the Augs- burg Confession, and in the perfect harmony of one and the same pure, Scriptural faith. II. The Object and Aim. Outward expression of the spiritual unity of the Synods concerned ; mutual strengthening in faith and confession ; unification of all Lutherans in one orthodox faith, and mutual co-operation in the promotion of the more general interests of the Church ; as, books of worship, liturgies, theological seminaries, charitable institutions, immigrant missions, foreign missions, and important home missionary operations. III. Its Powers. Its powers shall be only of an advisory and recommend- atory character in all matters, except such as pertain to the general interests or operations of the Church, as already indicated. In regard to these, it shall be invested with such powers as the Synods composing it may delegate to it. IV. Its Sphere. In its operations, it shall not interfere with the legiti- mate work of the Synods in its connections. V. Its Constitution. Its Constitution shall contain nothing that is in conflict with this basis of union. 258 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL Constitution of the United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. I. Name. The name of this body shall be The United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South. II. Doctrixal Basis. The Doctrinal Basis of the organization shall be, i. The Holy Scriptures, the Inspired Writings of the Old and New Testaments, the only standard of doctrine and church discipline. 2. As a true and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures in regard to matters of faith and prac- tice, the three Ancient Symbols, the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds, and the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Faith ; also, the other Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, viz.: The Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Small and Large Catechisms of Luther, and the Formula of Concord, consisting of the Epitome and Full Declaration, as they are set forth, defined, and published in the Christian Book of Concord, or the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church, published in the year 1580, (see the Epitome of the Compendious Rule and Sta?idard ) and the Sol. Declarations — Preface) as true and Scriptural developments of the doctrines taught in the Augs- burg Confession, and in the perfect harmony of one and the same pure, Scriptural faith. III. Object and Aim. The object and aim of this Synod shall be outward expression of the spiritual unit}- of the Synods concern- ed ; mutual strengthening in faith and confession; unifi- cation of all Lutherans in one orthodox faith, and mu- tual co-operation in the promotion of the more general interests of the Church ; as, books of worship, liturgies, theological seminaries, charitable institutions, immigrant LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 259 missions, foreign missions, and important home missionary operations. IV. Components of the Body. 1. This body shall consist of delegates from all Evan- gelical Lutheran Synods, having adopted this Constitution, who may present themselves properly accredited by the presiding officers of their Synods. 2. These delegates shall be chosen in the following ratio : one Minister and one Lay-Delegate for every one thousand communicants or fraction thereof. 3. A majority of the delegates elected, provided a ma- jority of the Synods are thereby represented, shall constitute a quorum. V. Officers. 1. The officers of this Synod shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. They shall be elected by ballot. Ministers alone shall be eligible to the offices of President and Vice-President, but both clerical and lay-delegates to those of Secretary and Treasurer. No one shaK be elected President for more than two conven- tions in succession. 2. The President shall act as chairman of the conven- tion. He may give his opinion, and, whenever the delegates shall be equally divided upon any question, he shall have the casting vote. He shall subscribe all letters, written advices, resolutions, and proceedings of the body. In ex- traordinary cases, and by request of any one of the Synods belonging to this organization, made known to him in the form of a Synodical resolution, he may call special conven- tions of the body, of which not less than six weeks' notice shall be given. 3. If, for any cause, the President is unable to dis- charge his duties, the Vice-President shall take his place. 4. The Secretary shall keep a journal of the proceed- ings of this Synod, and write, attest, and take care of all its documents. He shall also make known the time and place of meetings through the Church papers, published 260 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL within the bounds of the body, at least three months before- hand. In case of special conventions, such as provided for in Section 2 of this Article, he shall make known the time and place of meeting as soon as informed by the President. Should the duties of the Secretary become too burdensome for one person, the President, at his suggestion, may ap- point an assistant secretary. 5. The Treasurer shall keep an account of the receipts and expenditures of the body. He shall give receipts for all funds put into his hands. He shall make no disburse- ments except by resolution of the Synod and upon the written order of the President, attested by the Secretary. — At every convention he shall render an account. 6. Should any officer of this body, in the interim of its regular conventions, depart this life, resign his office, or become incapable of executing the same, then the other officers shall appoint some capable and faithful man to serve in his place until the next regular meeting — save in the case otherwise provided for in Section 3 of this Article. VI. Powers. The powers of the body shall be only of an advisory and recommendatory character in all matters, except such as pertain to the general interests or operations of the Church, as already indicated in Article III. In regard to these it shall be invested with such powers as the Synods composing it may delegate to it. In its operations it shall not interfere with the legitimate work of the Synods in its connection. VII. By-Laws. This body shall make such By-L,aws as it may deem necessary. No By-Law, however, shall be adopted which conflicts with any article of this Constitution. VIII. Amendments. 1. The Doctrinal Basis of this Constitution shall ever remain unaltered. 2. No alteration of other parts of this Constitution LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 26l shall be made except with the consent of two-thirds of the Synods connected with this organization. An exact copy of the intended alterations must be sent by the Secretary to the Presidents of the District Synods in connection with the body, with the request that they submit them to their re- spective Synods for decision. If, at the next convention, it shall appear that two-thirds of the District Synods are in favor of the alteration, it shall be declared adopted. 262 HISTORY OF THE EVANGELICAL CHAPTER VI. ITS POLICY. In view of the clear teachings of the Augsburg" Confession, article twenty-eight, in regard to church gov- ernment, that "the two governments, the civil and the ecclesiastical, ought not to be mingled and confounded,"' but kept distinct from each other, and in view of the posi- tion taken by our Revolutionary fathers, based on the prin- ciple evolved in the Reformation of the sixteenth century, in the establishment of our State governments, and dreading whatever savors of the union of Church and State, the Ten- nessee Synod pursued a cautious and judicious course in her policy, lest it might give occasion for some of the evils and calamities with which the church had been afflicted in different ages and in different countries, by a combination of civil and ecclesiastical powers. So cautious was the Synod in regard to this matter, that several writers have presumed to charge it with adhering too closely to ' ' the Jeffersonian principles of Democracy/' Be this as it may, its policy seems to be, in many respects, closely in accord with the teachings of the Bible, as set forth in the twenty- eighth article of the Augsburg Confession. And possibly there was great reason for caution at that time, from the fact, that none of the Synods then recognized that article, and that there was a move to effect a union of the different, principal Protestant denominations, and have that recog- nized as the State Church. i. In its policy, it took the position, in the outset, that the rules and principles of church government are contained in the Holy Scriptures, and that no Christian organization has the right to make any rules or regulations which are not strictly in accord with the Bible. It condemned and rejected all human traditions, or rules or regulations im- LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 263 posed on the Church as necessary to Christian fellowship, which are not well and clearly founded in the Holy Scrip- tures. It even denied the right of a majority to decide or control matters relative to doctrine and church discipline. The only standard by which such things can be decided, is the Word of God. The fact, that a majority might decide against a doctrine clearly taught in Divine Revelation, should be no sufficient reason that the minority should re- ject or denounce such doctrine. 2. Its position is, that synods are only advisory bodies, and that they have no right to receive appeals from the decisions of congregations, or to make rules or regulations which are absolutely binding on the congregations. Of course, synods may recommend certain regulations for the conduct of congregations, and advise them to adopt such rules, but they have no right to enforce them contrary to the will of the people. The chief business of synods, ac- cording to its position, is to impart useful advice, to employ the proper means for the promotion and perpetuation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to detect and expose erroneous doc- trines and false teachers, and, on application, to examine candidates for the ministry; and if they sustain a suitable examination, and there are applications for their services in a congregation or congregations, to ordain them to the office of the ministry, in a regular, churchly way. Synods* are composed of congregations, represented by ministers and lay-delegates ; and when persons representing these classes are present, the one class shall not transact business without the presence and co-operation of the other. The right to examine and ordain candidates to the ministerial office, does not, however, belong exclusively to synods. Congregations have the right to choose fit persons for the ministry, and individual pastors have authority to ordain them to such office. 3. It was opposed to the incorporation of synods b}^ civil government, or of their holding, as incorporated bodies, anj^ institutions. For this would be blending of civil and 264 HISTORY OF THK KVANGELICAI, ecclesiastical authority. It would give synods power to sue and be sued, and to levy taxes on their members, and to compel them to pay them, just the same as any civil incorporation. It. is amply sufficient for the best interests of the Church, for civil government to protect the property of the Church by its acts of legislation and incorporation of certain individuals as trustees, to hold its institutions, against damage and infringement, for the purposes for which they are intended. The incorporation of a synod, holding within its own corporate limits certain property, is one thing, and lending its influence and patronage in favor of colleges, or other institutions so incorporated and held by trustees, for certain purposes, without any legal claim on synods as incorporated bodies, is something very different, and can lead to no conflict between the Church and the State. 4. For the purpose of raising funds for the promotion of the Gospel and the extension of the Kingdom of Christ, the Synod suggested the propriety of each congregation having a treasury for itself, in which to deposit all the money that each member or other person might freely give. The moneys thus contributed were used to defray the cost of printing the -minutes of the Synod, to aid traveling min- isters, and for other purposes which would best enhance the interests of the churches or congregations. The manner, in which these treasuries were to be kept, and the disburse- ments, made, was left to the good judgment of the church councils and the ministers acquiescing. The moneys were to be gathered at every meeting, each month or every three months. At every meeting of Synod, the council of each church was expected to make a report of the amounts thus collected. The contributions were generally quite liberal, judging from the amount of printing that was done, and the extensive traveling expenses, and other matters, that were defrayed from such collections. It is true, there may not have been as much boasting about liberality during the for- mer period of the Synod, as there is at the present age, but LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 265 the probability is, that there were more real charity and free giving. Perhaps, it would not be wide of the fact to state, that possibly there is more time spent by the different denomi- nations in collecting their dimes, through their innumerable societies, treasuries, and manipulations, which must be rung "from Maine to Georgia," than there is in teaching, preaching, and admonishing. Money, money, is the con- tinual cry everywhere. Congregations are divided up into too many distinct societies or organizations, each one claim- ing a distinct organization. A house divided against itself cannot well stand long. Whither is the Church tending ? Is there not too much extravagance and too little economy ? The love of money is the root of all evil, and is not this evil cropping out in all directions ? Every church member was expected to contribute to the pastor's salary and to the other expenses of the church, in the promotion of the Gos- pel, and where people are taught the pure doctrines of the Gospel and earnestly admonished according to the Scrip- tures, they are most likely to become liberal and perform their duties in the different relations of life. 5. In tracing the policy of the Synod in all its aspects and bearings, it will be found that it held that the power of the Church is founded in the eternal nature and relation of things, having its lodgment in the congregations — for wherever the Gospel is preached in its purity and believed, and the Sacraments are administered and received according to the Gospel, there is the true Church, — and that synods or councils are only advisory bodies, having only such powers as the churches may invest them with. They are not sovereign. 266 HISTORY OF THE EVANGEUCAE CHAPTER VII. ITS FUTURE. It required much care, investigation, attention, and thoughtful consideration to trace and present fairly and honestly the history of the Synod, in all its aspects and bearings, and possibly it will require more insight, thought, and conception to formulate anything like proper views in regard to its future. But the past may be often taken as a somewhat reliable index of the future. If truth, fidelity, courage, boldness, and indomitable energy characterize the past, there are reasonable grounds to hope that similar ele- ments will manifest themselves in future efforts, and that a sound, churchly, positive policy will be maintained and perpetuated. A building that rests on a good and well arranged foundation, has a chief element of endurance, in- dicating, to a greater or less extent, its perpetuity in the future. A house built on a rock, is likely to stand against the forces of destruction, whilst one built on the sand, is most likely to fall, when ruinous forces come in contact with it. Matt. 7, 24-27. So, too, a synod based on the doctrines and principles of the Rock of Ages, as evolved from Divine Revelation, and set forth in the Scriptural Con- fessions of the Church during the sixteenth century, as they stand in the Symbolical Books of the Church, ought to be able to stand and perpetuate itself against all the storms of Pietism, Rationalism, fanaticism, and unionism. The Tennessee Synod, based on that foundation, and having withstood the fierce storms of fanaticism, unionism, and so-called liberalism, which prevailed during the nine- teenth century against it, cannot, in the future, deviate from its sound, tenable, Scriptural position in regard to doctrine and practice, without greatly and shamefully stulti- fying itself in the eyes of the Church and of the world. Notwithstanding the taunts, abuses, and persecutions it LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD. 267 had to bear on account of its fidelity to the doctrines and practices of the Church, it adhered most tenaciously to the time-honored Confessions, proclaiming, teaching, and main- taining them in the family, in the catechetical class, from the pulpit, and through the press ; yea, even anglicizing them, and thus leading the Church in North America in these churchly, Scriptural directions. This Synod having proved so faithful and courageous for nearly three quarters of a century, and established a most enviable reputation for orthodoxy, or fidelity to the faith of the Church, and having accomplished so much in restoring the Church to her normal condition in doctrine and practice, it is not unnatural to conclude, that it will require a most abnormal change to induce it to forsake its Scriptural principles and to ignore its well-merited history. All the indications are favorable to its pressing forward with greater vigor, if possible, in its well founded position, in fully restoring the Church to her true, confessional posi- tion, — one of the chief objects for which it was organized. It is now in a better condition for work than it has been in any previous period. It is well organized. It is a unit in doctrine and practice, — all speak the same thing. It has quite a number of able ministers, in literature and theology, who are true to the faith of the Church, — men of energy, zeal, and perseverance, with their hearts in the cause. Its congregations are generally in a prosperous condition, ad- hering to the Confessions of the Church. Harmony pre- vails among the ministers and their people or congregations. Every effort is made to indoctrinate the rising generations in the sound, Scriptural principles and usages of the Church. Its literary institutions are- being gradually built up. Its children are regularly dedicated to God, and instructed in the elementary principles of Christianity, as arranged in Luther's Catechism. Its prospects are brighter now than they were at any previous time. If it will, as all the as- pects and bearings indicate, maintain its present position and policy, it has an important, a glorious mission before 268 HISTORY OF THE EVANGEUCAI, it, in the future. Let it determine then to go forward, ac- cording to the command of God, and it will be able to stem the currents of fanaticism, and to over-ride the obstacles of unionism, cant, and hypocrisy, and to fill the sphere for. which it was designed, with honor and success. Who, that is honest in his investigation and observance of the work of this Synod, in view of the circumstances under which it was organized and labored, cannot see the hand of God in its work and accomplishments ! Mere human force could not have accomplished what it did. Let. us rejoice that God has brought us hither, and ask his guidance in the future. For, the true Church is built upon the Rock of Ages : "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." LUTHERAN TENNESSEE SYNOD.. 269 APPENDIX. Names and Addresses of Ministers Now in Connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. Rev. J. R. Peterson, Dallas, North Carolina. Rev. T. Moser, Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina. Rev. S. Henkee, D. D. , New Market, Virginia. Rev. C. H. Bernheim, Conover, North Carolina. Rev. D. Efird, Lexington, South Carolina. Rev. J. M. Smith, Conover, North Carolina. Rev. L. A. Bikxe, D. D., Dallas, North Carolina. Rev. J. I. MiEEER, D. D., Luray, Virginia. REV. I. Conder, McGaheysville, Virginia. Rev. J. N. Stirewaet, Stony Man, Virginia. REV. A. L. Crouse, Hickory, North Carolina. Rev. J. P. Stirewaet, New Market, Virginia. REV. Prof. M. L. Little, Dallas, North Carolina. Rev. J. C. Moser, Hickory, North Carolina. Rev. J. K. Efird, Rightwell, South Carolina. • Rev. J. A. Cromer, Columbia, South Carolina. Rev. E. L. Lybrand, Summit Point, South Carolina. Rev. Prof. R. A. Yoder, Conover, North Carolina. Rev. Prof. J. S. Koiner, Waynesboro, Virginia. Rev. D. A. Sox, Edwardsville, Alabama. Rev. D. A. Goodman, Happy Home, North Carolina. Rev. J. W. Hausenfeuck, Alma, Virginia. REV. Prof. W. P. Ceine, Ilex, North Carolina. REV. D. J. Setteemyre, New Sterling, North Carolina. RE^. J. A. Rudisiee, Henry, North Carolina. Rev. R. H. Ceine, Orkney Springs, Virginia. REV. P. C. Wike, Maurertown, Va. Rev. D. C. Huffman, Hickory, North Carolina. REV. Prof. J. G. Schaid, Conover, North Carolina. Rev. J. P. Price, Concord, North Carolina. Rev. J. F. Moser, Monroe, North Carolina. REV. W. L. Darr, Chapin, South Carolina. Rev. D. I. Offman, Julian, North Carolina. REV. J. P. MiEEER, Conover, North Carolina. List of Churches Now in Connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod.' Alabama. Cleburne County. — St. Michael's. Calhoun County. — Zion. South Carolina. Lexington County.— Zion, St. Peter's (M.), St. Paul's, Cedar Grove,. St. James's, Immanuel, St. Peter's (P. W.), St. John's, St. Jacob's,. Bethlehem, St. Thomas's. Richland County. — St. Andrew's, Mt. Tabor. North Carolina. Alamance County. — Mt. Pleasant. Alexander County. — Friendship, Salem, Shiloh. Burke County. — Luther, Lutheran Chapel. Caldwell County. — Philadelphia, Mt. Zion, Lutz's. Cabarrus County.— St. Martin's, Lutheran Union. Catawba County. — St. James's, Grace, Concordia, St. John's, St, Paul's, St. Peter's, St. Stephen's, Zion, Holy Trinity, Newton, Sardis, Bethel, St. Timothy's, Mt. Olive. Cleveland County.— St. Matthew's. Davidson County. — Pilgrim, Beck's, Emmanuel, New Jerusalem, Holly Grove. Gaston County.— St. Mark's, Philadelphia, Lutheran Chapel, St. John's, Antioch, Christ's, College Chapel, Mt. Holly. Guilford County. — Coble's. Iredell County.— Sharon, St. Martin's. Lincoln County. — Daniel's, Trinity, Salem, Bethphage, St. Luke's, Sharon. Mecklenburg County. — Morning Star. Randolph County. — Melanchthon. Rowan County. — Mt. Moriah, St. Mark's, Phanuel. Stanley County.— St. Martin's. Union County.— Emmanuel, St. Luke's. Watauga County. — Valle Crusis, Mt. Pleasant. Virginia. Augusta County.— Bethlehem, St. Paul's. Rockingham County. — Bethany (St. Jacob's), McGaheysville, Trin- ity, St. Peter's, Rader, St. John's, Bethel. Prince William County. — Bethel. Page County.— St. Paul's, St. William's (Fairview), Grace, Mt. Cal- vary, Morning Star, St. Mark's, Cedar Point. Shenandoah County. — Emmanuel, Mt. Zion, Solomon's, St. Mary's (Pine), Powder Springs, St. Paul's, St. Jacob's, Zion, St. Mat- thew's, St. Stephen's, St. David's, Mt. Calvary, Morning Star. Madison County.— Mt. Nebo. (270) INDEX. Augsburg Confession, i, n translation of, 73 Action relative to Doctrinal Dif- ferences, 66 Action of South Carolina Synod condemned, 94, 95 Attack of Rev. Dr. Hazelius, 118 Associate Council, 122, 123 Archives of Synod, 142 Advisory Members,; 149, 150, 158, 170, 172, 182, 192 Amendments to the Constitution, 211, 214 Action in regard to inter-lapping territory, 215, 219, 221 Action in regard to Rev. B. S. Brown's case, 243, 244 Brunnholz, Rev.,, 3 Book of Concord, Latin, 13 German, 14 English, in, 112, 126, 128, 132, 229, 237, 247 Basis and Regulations, 25, 29 Bonham, Rev. Nehemiah, 64, 77, 117, 120 Brown, Rev. Dr. A. J., 92 Biewend, Rev. A., Delegate of Missouri Synod, 137 Brohm, Rev. Theo., 138, 139, 140, 141 Beard, Rev. C, 151 By-Laws, 152, 157, 159 Book of Worship, 176, 188, 193 Beneficiary Education, 179, 180, 182, 194, 207 Beneficiary money, returned, 206 Bernheim, Rev. C. H., 211 Brown, Rev. B. S., 239, 244 Basis of United Synod, 256, 257 Causes which gave rise to its Or- ganization, 1 Constitution, as revised in 1866, 33, 163, as revised in 1883, 223 Constitution for Philadelphia con- gregation, 3 Controversy between the Ortho- dox and Pietists, 4 Corpus Evangelicum, 5 Change of Confessional Basis, 5 Comprehensive Account, &c, 11 Conflicts, 13 Called Session of Synod, 15 Chief doctrines in controversy, 23 Costner, Rev. Jacob, 54 Catechism, Luther's Small, trans- lation of, 70, 73 Constitution, remodeled, 73 Conrad, Rev. Ephraim R., 95 Case, Rev. Adam Miller's, jr., 110^ in, 112, 113, 115, 116, 122 Case, Rev. J. W. Hull's, in, 113, 114, 115 Crouse, Rev. Thomas, 122 Campbell, Rev. John F., 124 Church Postil, 143, 144, 177 Congregational treasuries, 146 Conder, Rev. L, 158 Convention, called, 158 Conferences, 164 Commission to Gen'al Synod, 165, 166, 170 Commissioner to General S}mod, 166, 172 Church Paper, 166 Concordia Synod of Va., 173, 174, 175, 189 Crouse, Rev. A. L., 188 Course of study, 196 Constitution of Home Missions, 199 Cromer, Rev. James A., 207 Cline, Rev. W. P., 214, 251 Concordia College, 222, 223, 229, 237, 242, 251 College, Gaston, 229, 232 Cline, Rev. R. H., 232, 233 Christian Greetings, a paper, 240, 241 Catechism, publication of, 241, 244, 245 Charlotte, Female College, 251 Constitution of United Synod, 258 272 INDEX. Directions for deeds, 3 Differences in doctrine, 14, 63, 64, 6 5 Day of prayer and humiliation, 46 Divinity of Christ, 71, 73 Duties of church officers, 107, no, 113 Districting Synod, 141, 143 Division of Synod, 146, 147 Delegates to other synods, 147, 149, 150, 175, 177, 188 Dismission of ministers in Ten- nessee, 153, 156 Dignity of Synod, 216 Diet, 226, 228 Diet, delegates to, 231, 232, 233, 234, 242 Delegates to United Synod, 247, 248 Darr, Rev. W. L-, 250 Easterly, Rev. G., 52, 121 Efird, Rev. Adam, 122 Efird, Rev. Daniel, 134 Emmert, Rev. J. B., 137 Examination of Applicants, 147, 148 Efird, Rev. Jacob K. , 207 Enrollment of churches, 217 Fidelity to the Confessions, 3 Fraternal Union, 10 Forester, Rev. David, 76, 122 Fox, Rev. Alfred J., 94 Firm of S. D. Henkel & Brothers, 126, 127 Fleenor, Rev. James, 137 Fleenor, Rev. A., 146 Fox, Mr. D. E., 159, 164, 167 Fox, Rev. L. A., 163, 176, 188, 233 Freedmen, 168, 169, 213 Fox, Rev. M. L., 188, 241 Formula of Distribution, 251 Gemeinschaftliche Gesangbuch, 5 General transactions, 45 Grieson, Rev. Jacob, 44 Greek language, 46, 52 Gock, Carl, of Pennsylvania, 63 Goodman, Rev. Henry, 79, 83, 207 Goodman, David 'A., 164, 214 Henkel, Rev. Paul, 7 Henkel, Rev. David, 13, 71, 73V 75, 79, 80 Henkel, Rev. Ambrose, 51, 62, 64, 73, 79, 83 Henkel, Rev. Philip, 46, 79, 85, 86 Henkel, Rev. Eusebius S., 84, 86 Henkel, Dr. S. G., no, 112, 117, 118, 125, 127, 128, 143, 144 Henkel, Rev. Socrates, 123, 130, 132 Harr, Rev. Joseph, 54 Hymn-book, English, 75, 76, 91, 92 Hancher, Rev. Wm., 90, 104 Henkel, Rev. P. C, 113, 198, 205, 232, 252 Hancher, Rev. James K., 116 Hull, Rev. Joseph, 117, 143 Hazelius, Rev. Dr., 118 Hawkins, Rev. E., 119 Henkel, Rev. D. M., 121, 143 Henkel, Rev. Andrew, 124 Hunton, Rev. J. H., 149, 158 Historical facts, 157 Henkel, David S., 164 Holston Synod, 172 Hausenfiuck, Rev. J. W., 202 History of Synod, 247, 252, 253 Instructions to the Governor, 1 Invitation to Pennsylvania, 71 Instruction, catechetical, 74 Installation, 194 Interest in beneficiary education, 213 Joint Synod, 178, 188 Joint Union, &c, 194, 195, 226, 228 Kurtz's, Rev. N., ordination, 2 Kurtz, Rev. H. A., 44 Killian, Rev. Jacob, 92 Koiner, Rev. J. S., 213, 251 Lax condition of the church, 13 Leaders in the conflict, 18, 19, 20 Larros, Rev. Jacob, 44 Liturgy, 45, 95, 97, 99 Luther's writings, 55 Letter, pastoral, 73 Literary training, 74 INDEX. 273 Luther's Commentary on Gala- tians, 89, 90 Link, Rev. Adam S., 96 Lutheran Standard, no, 125 Lutherische Kirchenzeitung, no Luther on the Sacraments, 117, 118, Lutheraner, 120 Literary Institution, 132, 134, 137 Licensure, 163, 164 Lutheran and Missionary, 179 Lutheran, Evangelical, 189 Lutheran High School, 199, 205, 213 Lybrand, Rev. Eli Lot, 207 Letter by Hunt and others, 221 Lutz, Rev. W. A., delegate, 243, 244 Muhlenberg, 2, 66 Miller, Rev. Robert Johnson, Episcopalian, 9 Moser, Rev. Daniel, 45, 50, 51, 61, 97 Moretz, Rev. C, 48, 52, 96 Majority, 51, 52 Miller, Rev. Adam, Sen., 52, 108, 109 Meeting in Kentucky, 54, 55 Miller, Rev. Adam, Jr., 66, 71, 92, no, III Meeting for discussion proclaim- ed, 70 Meeting, public, 72 Markert, Rev. John L., 77, 88 Moser, Rev. Jonathan R., 92, 137, 198 McGinnas, W. W., Esq., 112, 113 Moser, Rev. T., 116 Missouri Synod, &c, 120 Ministerial support, 132, 134, 145, ?5? Ministerial Education, 132 Moretz, Rev. Christian, Jr., 146, 198 Mission work in the Confederate Army, 160, 161 Missouri conference or synod, 195 Missionary Regulations, 202, 203 Miller, Rev. Thomas, 207 Mission Work transferred to Con- ferences, 209, 212 Monuments, 213, 232, 241 Miller, Rev. Dr. J. I., 229 Missionary work, 242, 244, 25] Miller, Rev. J. T., 246 Miller, Rev. J. P., 250 Moser, Rev. J. F., 250 New York Liturgy, 12 Name of Synod, 29, 30 New Measures, 101 New Synod, 166, 167 Newberry College, 170 Ordination of David Henkel, 17 Organization of the Northern General Synod, 18, 173 Opportunity for the final rupture, 18 Organization of Tenn. Synod, 24 Ordination of Jacob Zink and Adam Miller, 31 Object of its organization, 40-42 Objections to Gen. Synod, 52, 105 Obituary, Rev. Paul Henkel, 67-70 Rev. David Henkel, 80-82 Rev. Philip Henkel, 85-86 Organization of Indiana Synod, 88 Obituary, Rev. John N. Stirewalt, 9 2 -93 Rev. Daniel Moser, 98-99 Rev. John Rhodes, 106 Rev. Adam Miller, Sen., 108-109 Obituary, Rev. N. Bonham, 120 Deacon J. Costner, 159-160 Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, 180-182 Rev. A. Henkel, 185-186 Rev. C. G. Reitzel, 187-188 Rev. Wm. Hancher, 190-191 Rev. Jacob Killian, 92, 191- 192 Our Church Paper, 197 Obituary, Rev. Godfrey Dreher, 200-201 Obituary, Rev. T. Crouse, 204-205 Rev. H. Goodman, 208 Rev. J. S. Bennick, 217-218 Rev. A. J. Fox, 230-231 Mr. Thomas E. Armentrout, 238-239 Obituary, Rev. M. L. Fox, M. D., 248-249 Obituary, Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., 249-250 Offman, Rev. D. I,, 250 274 INDEX. Obituary, Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., 253-255 Obituary, Rev. H. Wetzel, 255- 256 Pryzelius, Paul D., admitted, 3 Political changes, 3 Pietism, 4 Point of Union, 11 Paper pasted on the word Trinity, 18 Personal difficulties, 23 Position and Basis, 32 Persecution, 37 Printing establishment, 37, 38 Publications, 38, 39 Pennsylvania Synod, 59 Publications, 87, 88 Petition from South Carolina, 99 Proceedings of General Synod, 102, 103 Peterson, Rev. J. R., 113 Plan for Missionary work, 207 Probst, Rev. L. K., 240, 244 Peschau, Rev. F. W. K., 240 Price, Rev. J. P., 246 Policy, 262-265 Rationalism, 4 Religious revival, 6-8 Revival theory, 8, 9 Rules, 11, 149 Rupture, 20 Riemenschneider, Rev. G. H., 60, 61 Regeneration, 76, 162 Rankin, Rev. Wm. C, 79, 82, 83 Riemenschneider, Rev. John J., Resolution of Virginia Synod con- demned, 95 Reply to Rev. Dr. Bachman's sermon, 96 Reply to the action of Virginia Synod, 97 Reitzel, Rev. C. G., 103 Religious journal, 103, 104' Rhodes, Rev. John, 105, 106 Reynolds, Rev. Prof, 124 Review, Evangelical, 125 Report of committee on resolution of the Pennsylvania Synod rela- tive to union with the General Synod, 135-136 Revision of Liturgy, 148, 150 Revision of constitution, 150, 151, 152, 156, 157, 161, 163, 168 Rules of order, 158 Re-union of all the Tennessee Synod members, 175, 193 Reconstruction, 176, 177 Rules for beneficiaries, 206 Reception of Concordia High School, 211, 212 Rudisill, Rev. J. A., 228 Regulations for United Synod, 235, 236 Relation of Tennessee Synod to United Synod, 245, 246 Swedish colonists, 1 Saltzburg refugees, 2 St. Michael's church, 2 Shober, Rev. G., 6, 10, 11, 12, 16 Storch, Rev., 7 Stirewalt, Capt. J. N., 14 Separation, 21, 22, 23 Session, second, 43-47 — third, 47-53 Slavery, 52 St. Paul's School, 46, 53 Session, fourth, 53-60 Sechrist, Rev. A., 57, 87, 89, 91 Session, fifth, 60-65 — sixth, 65-70 — seventh, 70-71 — eighth, 71-74 Stirewalt, Rev. John N., 74, 76, 90 Session, ninth, 74-76 Symbolical books, 75 Session, tenth, 76-78 — eleventh, 78 — twelfth, 78-82 — thirteenth, 82-83 — fourteenth, 83-86 — fifteenth, 86-88 — sixteenth, 88-90 — seventeenth, 90-93 Schoolfield, Rev. D. S., 92, 104, 109, no Stirewalt, Rev. Jacob, 95, 99 Session, eighteenth, 93-95 — nineteenth, 96-99 — twentieth, 99-100 — twenty -first, 100-104 — twenty-second, 104-106 — twenty-third, _io7 INDEX. 275 Session, twenty-fourth, 107-109 — twenty-fifth, 109-112 — twenty-sixth, 112-113 Shaver, Rev. J. M., 113 Session, twenty-seventh, 113-117 Sin against the Holy Ghost, 117 Session, twenty-eighth, 117-120 Swaney, Rev. Denis, 120, 124 Swaney, Rev. Wtn. H., 176, 180 Session, twenty -ninth, 120-121 — thirtieth, 121- 123 — thirty-first, 123-132 — thirty-second, 132-134 — thirty -third, 135-140 — thirty-fourth, 140-142 — thirty-fifth, 142-145 Spielmann, Rev., delegate, 142 Sondhaus, Rev. Martin, 142, 152 Swartz, Rev. Joel, 142, 149 Stirewalt, Rev. Paul J., 142 Session, thirty-sixth, 145-147 — thirty-seventh, 147-149 Seneker, Rev. J. B. , 149 Seneker, Rev. J. A., 149 Session, thirty-eighth, 149- 151 Schmucker, Rev. George, 149 Smith, Rev. J. M., 150 Stirewalt, Rev. J. D., 150 Session, thirty-ninth, 151-153 Stirewalt, Rev. M. J., 152, 173 Session, fortieth, 153-158 Smyre, Rev. E. B., 157 Session, forty-first, 158 — forty-second, 159-160 — forty-third, 160-162 — forty-fourth, 162-163 Southern Lutheran, 162-163 Session, forty-fifth, 163, 164 — forty-sixth, 164-170 Sunday-schools, 172, 233, 245 Session, forty -seventh, 170-172 — forty-eighth, 172-177 — forty-ninth, 177-182 — fiftieth, 182-188 — fifty-first, 188-192 Stirewalt, Rev. John N., 189 Session, fifty-second, 192-196 — fifty-third, 196-197 Stirewalt, Rev. J. Paul, 196 Sy nodical Fund, 197 Session, fifty-fourth, 198 — fifty-fifth, 199-201 — fifty-sixth, 201-205 — fifty-seventh, 205-206 Session, fifty-eighth, 206-208 — fifty -ninth, 208-210 Summit Rule, 209, 210 Session, sixtieth, 211-212 — sixty-first, 212-214 — sixty-second, 214-218 Sunday-school Work, 215 Session, sixty-third, 218-228 — sixty-fourth, 228-231 Souls, 221 Settlemyre, Rev. D. J., 228 Sox, Rev. D. A., 228 Session, sixty-fifth, 231-232 — sixty-sixth, 233-239 Smeltzer, Rev. J. P., D. D., 233 Session, sixty-seventh, 239-243 — sixty-eighth, 243-250 — sixty-ninth, 250-256 Schaid, Rev. Prof. J. G., 250 Time for holding Synod changed, 15 Time for the regular meeting of Synod, 16, 17 Treatise on prayer, 75 Thanks to Dr. Solomon Henkel, 77 Uniouistic proclivities, 13 Union, more general, 15, 16 Unionists withdraw from the church to a hotel, 22 Union, general, 101, 102, 178, 183 Union with Southern General Synod, 216, 217 Virginia Synod rescinds her reso- lutions against the Tennessee Synod, 138, 140 Work prospered and extended in different States, 42 Weyer Rev. Antonius, 44 Work of the different decades, 77, 78, 100, 123, 157, 184, 212, 252, 253 Wetzel, Rev. Henry, 103, 229 Wagner, Rev. James M., 116, 170 Western Virginia Synod, 118, 119 Yount, Rev. A. L., 202, 206 Yoder, Rev. Prof. R. A., 251 Zink, Rev. Jacob, 51 OFFICE ESTABLISHED 1806 BY REV. AMBROSE HENKEL. HENKEL & CO., Publishers, NEW MARKET, SHENANDOAH CO., VIRGINIA. PUBLISHERS OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS: Luther's Church Postil ; or, Sermons on the Epistles for the different Sundays and Festivals of the Church Year, complete, 550 large pages, bound in cloth, $1.75 The same, bound in sheep, $2.00 History of the Evangelic- al Lutheran Tennessee Syn- od, embracing an Account of the Causes which gave Rise to its Or- ganization ; Its Organization and Name ; Its Position and Confes- sional Basis ; Object of its Organi- zation ; Work, Development, and Various Sessions ; Its Policy ; and Its Future. By Rev. Socrates Henkel, D. D. 284 octavo pages. Bound in cloth $i-5Q Same, cloth, bevel edges, with pic- ture of Rev. Paul Henkel, $1.75 Infant Church Membership — Baptism and The Mode of Christian Baptism, by Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., 90 large pages, bound in paper 35 cts. Answer to Joseph Moore, the Methodist, with a few Frag- ments on the Doctrine of Justifica- tion, by Rev. David Henkel, 50 cts. Unitarian s — Rev. David Henkel against the Unitarians — a Treatise on the Person and Incar- nation of Jesus Christ ... 35 cts. Grades in the Ministry, with remarks on the Ministerial Office and Ordination, by Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, and a Sketch of the Author's Life . . . . . 75 cts. Christ's Descent Into Hell, by Rev. P. C. Henkel, D.D., 10 cts. A Sermon on Immortality, 2d edition, 32 pages, large type, by Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., 10 cts. The two bound together in cloth 40 cts. Memorial Address on Luther's Parents, Birth, and Education, and a Sermon on Justification, by Rev. A. L- Crouse, — price reduced to 15 cts. Enchiridion ; or, The Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther, for laymen and minis- ters, to which is appended a selec- tion of Hymns and Prayers, a- dapted to Catechetical Instruction and Family Devotion. Fifth edi- tion. An excellent book, 15 cts. Per doz. copies, well bound, $1.50 A Christian Catechism for Little Children — 3d edition — by Rev. A. L. Crouse, (single copy 5 cts.) per dozen 45 cts. Order of Conducting Sun- day-schools, by Rev. A. L. Crouse, price per dozen . .12 cts. The Ten Commandments, with explanations on heavy card board, per dozen 20 cts. Lutheran Confirmation Certificates, heavy paper, single copy, 5 cts., per doz., 36 cts. gf^All books sent postpaid on receipt of price. Stamps received. o Subscriptions for the " Book of Concord " Solicited. — Efforts are now being made to publish a cheap edition of the Christian Book of Concord, provided the under- taking will meet the necessary en- couragement. To subscribers the price is to be, postpaid : $2.25 in Cloth Binding; $2.50 in Leather Binding. The revised (New Market) edi- tion, published in the year 1854, is to be subjected to a searching revision, by competent persons, and the book presented in good form. Subscriptions are desired at an early date, to ascertain if a suffi- cient number is obtainable to in- sure the publication of the book. The amounts of subscriptions will not be required, until after the publication of the work, if published. Address above. Office Established in 1806 by Rev. Ambrose Henkel. SOCRHTES HENKEL. HMBROSE L. HENKEL. ELON O. HENKEL. ^-HENKEL & COMPANY'S^ STEAM PRIN TING HOUSE, New Market, Shenandoah Co., Va. «->*H^ NEM ••• TYPES, ••• PRESSES, ••• STEKM, ••■ SC. They have the pleasure of announcing that, having recently refitted their print- ing house with new types and improved machinery, propelled by steam, they are now better than ever before prepared to offer inducements for the execution of all kinds of Printing ; such as, Seto@@l ©afaliegmes, fZMwsoh lii&mfes, ©iffewliasa^ &@ e As to the character and excellence of their work, they take very great pleasure in referringto their patron sin North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, and other States. ORDERS SOLICITED. WORK SATISFACTORY. PRICES REASONABLE. They are the publishers and proprietors of the "Shenandoah Valley" and "Our Church Paper," and publishers of the "Seminarian," Lutherville, Md., the " Von Bora Messenger," Luray, Va., &c. SHENANDOAH VALLEY, $1.50 per year, is a reliable, Family, Local News- paper, giving especially the local news of Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Page Counties, Va., as well as the general news. OUR CHURCH PAPER— Price Reduced to $1.00 per year, cash in advance, placing it within the reach of all. It is a good, conservative, but positive Lutheran, Family Newspaper, striving for the upbuilding of the Church, especially in the South. Issues of vital importance to the church, are treated in a judicious and comprehensive manner, by its able and competent corps of Editors and Contributors. Our Church Paper, at $r.oo per year, is the cheapest weekly Lutheran newspa- per now published, and deserves the hearty support and co-operation of every Lutheran minister and layman, especially in the South. No pains will be spared to make it worthy of liberal and increased patronage and subscription, which the publishers indulge the hope it will receive. Every family should subscribe for and read a good church paper. Our Church Paper and the Shenandoah Valley will be sent one year, to the same address, for $2.25, cash in advance. Our Church Paper for one year, and "Luther's Church Postil, sent for $2.50. \