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ORIGIN AND PROGRESS 
 
 THE GERMAN MISSIONS 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE OF S OME O F THE 
 CONVERTS FROM POPERY AND INFIDELI^I 
 FURNISHED BY THEMSELVES^ 
 
 REV. ADAM MIL 
 
 GERMAN MISSIONARY. 
 
 c 
 
 ! 
 
 CINCINNATI: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY J. F. WRIGHT AND L. SWORMSTEDT, 
 
 For the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the Book Concern, 
 311 Main-street. 
 
 R. P. Thompson, Printer. 
 
 1843. 
 

 
 
 Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1843, 
 by J. F. Wright and L. Swormstedt, in the Clerk's Office for 
 the District Court of Ohio. 
 
 Id Bxchang* 
 22 JetMr 
 
^?J 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 In arranging the materials for the present 
 work, the author has done the best he could, 
 for the limited time allowed him from his 
 ministerial and other pressing engagements. 
 Whether it should be favorably or unfavorably 
 received by the Christian public, he will have 
 tne satisfaction of having discharged, what, 
 after due reflection, he deemed a duty— that of 
 snatching from oblivion some important facts 
 calculated to strengthen the hands and encour- 
 age the hearts of the friends of missions. 
 
 When our German missions were commen- 
 ced, we had but one solitary missionary in the 
 field. Some of our brethren were in favor of 
 giving up this small beginning ; and concluded 
 that our operations and success could be but 
 very limited. Others, again, appeared to be 
 confident that new fields of usefulness would 
 open, and that the Lord of the harvest would 
 convert and send forth men competent to the 
 work. And such, to a wonderful extent, has 
 been the result. Some of the very first Ger- 
 man converts in Cincinnati, and other places, 
 have become devoted and successful missiona- 
 ries. Several ministers, too, who had previous- 
 ly been preaching in English, thought that a 
 larger sphere of operations presented itself in 
 
 3 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 the German work, and entered accordingly. 
 In this way the cause has been gradually in- 
 creased; and, from present indications, we may 
 safely say, we have but just entered on the 
 threshold. Much, under the blessing of God, 
 is destined yet to be accomplished. 
 
 It may indeed be thought out of the ordinary 
 course, to publish a history of these missions 
 at this early period of their existence. But 
 when we look at the extraordinary work of 
 grace which has been wrought, and at what re- 
 mains to be done ere the thousands of our Ger- 
 man population are brought under the influence 
 of the Gospel of Christ, we deem it, as before 
 remarked, our duty to give these accounts to 
 the Christian public, in order to excite them to 
 greater diligence and zeal in this glorious cause. 
 
 There are many persons who, although they 
 have frequently read of German missions, in 
 detached and scattered fragments, yet have very 
 incorrect views of their general character and 
 importance ; and who frequently ask the ques- 
 tion, " Can any thing be done, on an extensive 
 scale, for the Roman Catholic and infidel Ger- 
 mans ?" or, "Are many of them converted 
 under the labors of our missionaries?" Such 
 questions will be answered in the following 
 pages. 
 
 That the blessing of the great Head of the 
 Church may accompany the perusal of the fol- 
 lowing pages, is the author's sincere prayer. 
 Adam Miller. 
 
 Cincinnati, 0., July, 1843. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Preface .....Page 3 
 
 INTRODUCTION' • 7 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Observations on Germany- - 11 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Immigration of Germans to America ♦ 13 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Commencement of German missions 15 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Progress of the work during the first year in Cin- 
 cinnati ■ 26 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Establishment of a German mission within the 
 bounds of Columbus district, Ohio conference 31 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Re-appointment of a missionary at Cincinnati, and 
 commencement of the Christian Apologist 40 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Rev. Peter Schmucker's first appointment to Cin- 
 cinnati, 1838, and the establishment of the mis- 
 sion at Pittsburg 81 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Establishment of German missions in 1839 — com- 
 mencement of the German mission at Wheeling •-• 86 
 5 1* 
 
6 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 State of the German mission in 1840 Page 96 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 New missions established in the year 1841 118 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 State of the work in 3843 131 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Religious Experience 135 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Otterbein and other Methodistic Germans 234 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church has been 
 decidedly missionary in her character and oper- 
 ations through every period of her history; 
 and while it has been the 'constant aim of her 
 ministers to obey the injunction of the Savior, 
 " Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel 
 to every creature," they have uniformly de- 
 pended on the agency of the Holy Spirit for 
 the accomplishment of their great object — the 
 diffusion of " Scriptural holiness over these 
 lands." Encouraged by the declaration of the 
 great Head of the Church to his disciples, 
 " Lo, I am with you always," these self-deny- 
 ing and holy men have gone to " distant, bar- 
 barous climes," to publish "glad tidings of 
 great joy" to those who are "perishing for 
 lack of knowledge." Many of her early mis- 
 sionaries, whose memories we should cherish 
 with veneration, have, after successive years 
 of industrious toil, and a noble sacrifice of the 
 interests of this world, fallen at their posts; 
 and are now reaping the reward of their labors 
 in the Church triumphant. But notwithstand- 
 ing this, the missionary spirit continues to live 
 in our Church. The venerable M'Kendree, 
 while, by an eye of faith, he viewed the prom- 
 
 7 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ised rest, looked also on the marshaled host 
 following in the rear, and exclaimed with his 
 departing breath, " All is well." 
 
 It is to her missionary character that the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, under God, owes 
 her widely extended, and still extending, influ- 
 ence. Her sphere of operation has not been 
 confined within the borders of civilization. 
 Some of her ministers have gone to proclaim 
 the Gospel of the grace of God to the untu- 
 tored Indian in his wigwam, and others to the 
 shores of injured, insulted, and long neglected 
 Africa, offering precisely the same Gospel to 
 the sons of Ham. 
 
 While these missionaries were laboring in 
 distant fields, supported by the prayers and 
 contributions of their Christian friends at home, 
 the Church, watching the openings of Provi- 
 dence, so as to be able to make farther advances 
 into the territories of moral darkness, beheld 
 the situation of the thousands of Germans who 
 annually come to seek a home for themselves 
 and their families in this land of freedom. She 
 saw the hand of an all-wise Providence open- 
 ing the way; and, following this opening, she 
 sent her servants to preach to this people in 
 their own native language, to invite them to 
 come and partake of a full and free salvation 
 by faith in the atonement of Christ. Numbers 
 have already heard and obeyed the invitation ; 
 and, with humble joy, they now can testify 
 that " Christ has power on earth to forgive 
 sins;" and that they have " found redemption 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 in his blood, even the forgiveness of their sins." 
 Among those who have thus been brought to a 
 saving knowledge of the truth, are numbers 
 who were Roman Catholics ; and instead of 
 counting their beads, instead of paying a con- 
 siderable part of their income to be saved from 
 purgatory or to have their time therein short- 
 ened, instead of calling upon departed saints 
 to pray for them, they now come directly to a 
 throne of grace, in the name and through the 
 merits of Jesus Christ ; and in this, the only 
 right way, find "peace, and righteousness, and 
 joy in the Holy Ghost." 
 
 In the following pages the opportunity is 
 afforded to some of our German Methodists of 
 testifying to their English brethren, who have 
 taken such a deep interest in their welfare, that 
 the Gospel of Christ to them has been " the 
 power of God unto salvation." The writer 
 has often been delighted and edified in listening 
 to the religious experience of our German breth- 
 ren in love feast and class meeting; and he 
 thinks that others would be equally delighted 
 and edified to learn the " reason of the hope 
 which is in them." 
 
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS 
 
 or 
 
 THE GERMAN MISSIONS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON GERMANY. 
 
 In a history of our German missions in this 
 country, it may be proper, in the commence- 
 ment, to say a few things in reference to Ger- 
 many itself. It is situated in the heart of 
 Europe, and includes a large territory of coun- 
 try, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Alps, 
 and from the borders of Holland almost to the 
 Turkish dominions. In this vast extent of 
 country one common language is spoken, prop- 
 erly called the German. There is, however, 
 a considerable difference of dialect in the differ- 
 ent states, or provinces of Germany ; and this 
 difference is much greater than is generally 
 found among the American or foreign English. 
 This may be accounted for from the fact that 
 the Germans, in their own country, have not 
 contracted those migratory habits which char- 
 acterize the people of this country — their civil 
 regulations raising many barriers to their emi- 
 gration from one part of the country to another. 
 
 11 
 
12 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Hence most of them are brought up in the 
 immediate neighborhood in which they are 
 born, and live to old age without so much 
 as traveling beyond the borders of their own 
 state. This is especially the case with the 
 peasantry of Germany. Mechanics, however, 
 generally travel to perfect themselves in their 
 profession, yet uniformly retain the dialects 
 of their respective provinces. Owing to these 
 circumstances, the German language has be- 
 come greatly corrupted among many of the 
 uneducated class of community. Provincial- 
 isms have crept in, or have descended from 
 the original Germans which prevailed before 
 the language arrived at its present grammatical 
 accuracy. The language of the pulpit, the 
 bar, and the schools, however, is the same 
 throughout all Germany ; and continual efforts 
 are made to introduce a uniformity into the lan- 
 guage by instructing the youth at school in 
 pure German. There is a great difference be- 
 tween the German and the Dutch languages. 
 They are, in fact, two different and entirely 
 distinct languages. The former is spoken in 
 Germany, and the latter in Holland. This is 
 a distinction not generally known in this 
 country. All Germans, by most people, are 
 called German or Dutch indiscriminately ; while 
 there is in reality as much difference between 
 German and Dutch as between German and 
 English. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 IMMIGRATION OF GERMANS TO 
 AMERICA . 
 
 The tide of German immigration to Amer- 
 ica commenced with the early settlement of the 
 New World, and continued with a gradual but 
 small increase for a long time. Within a few 
 years past, however, there has been an aston- 
 ishing augmentation. Thousands on thousands 
 have recently come to seek a home in our 
 country. In 1842, the New York Sun re- 
 ported the arrival of upward of fourteen thou- 
 sand German immigrants at that port in the 
 short space of a few months, and stated that 
 nearly the whole of them without delay re- 
 moved to the west in order to settle down on 
 the lands purchased by them in the new states 
 and territories. Numerous extracts might be 
 made from public journals containing similar 
 statements, but the above is sufficient to show 
 the rapid influx of the Germans into our 
 country. 
 
 It is very difficult to ascertain the precise 
 number of Germans in the western states. 
 Various and widely differing statements have 
 been made, some undoubtedly too high, while 
 others have fallen much below the real number. 
 A man of extensive acquaintance with the his- 
 tory of the west, estimates the German inhab- 
 itants in Ohio alone, at four hundred thousand. 
 This I am inclined to think is much too high. 
 That the number is very great, however, is 
 2 
 
14 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 known to all who have paid any attention to 
 the subject. In some parts of Ohio, whole 
 villages have sprung up within a few years, 
 composed of an almost entire German popula- 
 tion. Here they have their own schools, and 
 the religious services are likewise all perform- 
 ed in their own language. By this means, in 
 these places, as well as in densely populated 
 German settlements, the language will he per- 
 petuated to generations yet to come. The 
 great majority of these immigrants are of the 
 laboring class, whose well known tiaits of char- 
 acter are industry and economy ; consequently, 
 a large proportion of them are not only tillers, 
 but actually owners of the soil. The oppres- 
 sion which they have endured in their father- 
 land, makes some of them the more sensi- 
 ble of the privileges they enjoy in this, their 
 adopted country, and leads them more readily 
 to appreciate the blessings of our free institu- 
 tions. Others again will doubtless abuse their 
 privileges and blessings. Multitudes of them, 
 not having been permitted, as a general thing, 
 to read the Scriptures, and to think for them- 
 selves in matters of religion, are enveloped in 
 that thick darkness which always has been, and 
 always will be, the result of the Papal system. 
 Many of the Protestants are Christians only in 
 name. The great truths of the Gospel have 
 never been urged upon them. Numbers of the 
 clergy in the old country are themselves stran- 
 gers to the power of the Gospel, having been 
 brought up to the ministry by the choice of 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 15 
 
 parents or guardians, as persons are brought up 
 to the other professions, merely for the sake of 
 emolument, while a Divine call to the ministry- 
 is lost sight of. "Like priests, like people," 
 is an old adage, and is generally a true one. 
 There are, however, evangelical Gospel minis- 
 ters in Germany, who stand up against the 
 darkness and corruptions that pervade the whole 
 community; but these are comparatively "few 
 and far between." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF GERMAN MISSIONS. 
 
 Sometime before the work of preaching to 
 the Germans in their own language was com- 
 menced by the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 the necessity and importance of it were seen 
 and felt by some, who freely expressed their 
 opinions on the subject. In the year 1835, 
 when the Rev. Thos. A. Morris, now Bishop 
 Morris, was editor of the Western Christian 
 Advocate, a letter was addressed to him, under 
 date of March 9th, 1835, in which some refer- 
 ence was made to the spiritual destitution of 
 many of the Germans, and the importance of 
 preaching to them in their own language. The 
 writer of the letter, having had a knowledge 
 of the German language from childhood, though 
 by that time having forgotten a great part of it, 
 declared his willingness to abandon some other 
 
16 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 favorite studies, and devote himself wholly to 
 the study of the German; and expressed a 
 readiness to go to any field of German labor to 
 which the Church might call him. In an arti- 
 cle, referring to this letter, the editor makes 
 the following remarks : 
 
 " The German immigrants are becoming nu- 
 merous at several prominent points in the west, 
 and will probably continue to increase for years 
 to come. From their general habits of indus- 
 try and simple modes of living, they will pro- 
 bably enjoy good health, and be a very fruitful 
 race, and accumulate much wealth, in this land 
 of peace and plenty. Most of them are said 
 to be Papists either by profession or education. 
 Those who belong to the Lutheran or other 
 Protestant sects, finding little or no provision 
 for their religious instructions here, except in 
 English, which they do not understand much, 
 and love less, are naturally led from the relig- 
 ion of their fathers, to seek places to worship 
 among those speaking their own dialect. Many 
 Christians feel concerned for the spiritual wel- 
 fare of these strangers in a strange land, and 
 ask the question, What can be done for the 
 Germans among us ? The plan too generally 
 pursued does not appear to answer the purpose. 
 The Protestants, who ought to be actively em- 
 ployed, by every suitable means, to bring these 
 strangers and sojourners among us to the saving 
 knowledge of the truth, seem to be too well 
 content with standing off, complaining of « His 
 Holiness, the Pope,' for sending them over to 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 17 
 
 us, and trying to excite alarm by vociferating, 
 6 Foreign conspiracy,' « Inquisition,' ' Mother 
 of harlots,' &c. And while all this well-meant, 
 but fruitless outcry is going on, the Papists are 
 laying a foundation deep and broad enough to 
 secure and perpetuate a general influence over 
 them and their children, by simply providing 
 for them the means of religious worship (such 
 as it is) in their own language. Who does not 
 see, that in this they are wiser than their Pro- 
 testant neighbors ? 
 
 " But what can be done toward saving the Ger- 
 man immigrant? On this subject our opinion 
 has been for sometime made up, which we will 
 venture to express in few words. We ought 
 to go to work and aim to excel our ' Catholic 
 neighbors ' in every good work ; but especially, 
 we should supply the Germans with Bibles, 
 tracts, Sunday schools, and a preached Gospel, 
 in their own language. This would be a much 
 more successful method of leading them from 
 Popery to the saving knowledge of the truth, 
 than that of newspaper war with the Jesuits. 
 
 "This subject, on which we have often re- 
 flected before, was called afresh recently by 
 reading a letter from one of our young preach- 
 ers of German descent, who thinks it his duty, 
 for the present, to study English and German, 
 rather than Latin and Greek. We approve his 
 decision ; for though it is highly commendable 
 in our young ministers who can, to study the 
 dead languages, the knowledge of English, 
 
18 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 German, and French, promises much more im- 
 mediate usefulness in our country." 
 
 From the above it will be seen, that this sub- 
 ject was viewed as one of great importance. 
 But, at this time, the question, Where shall we 
 get a suitable man to engage in this work ? re- 
 mained unanswered. The young man above 
 referred to, for want of reading and practice in 
 speaking, was not yet prepared ; and no other 
 one, in the west, was known of, as adequate to 
 the task. 
 
 It may be proper here to observe, that at the 
 conference in Cincinnati in the autumn of 1833, 
 the subject of a mission to the Germans in 
 Cincinnati was strongly talked of by the Book 
 Agents, the Rev. Messrs. C. Holliday and J. 
 F. Wright; and if a suitable man could then 
 have been obtained, it is probable a commence- 
 ment would have been made. 
 
 During the year 1835, Mr. Wm. Nast, now 
 favorably known as the editor of the Christian 
 Apologist, was converted to God, after having 
 passed through a long struggle with unbelief, 
 and many doubts and fears. The writer hav- 
 ing been acquainted with him previous to his 
 conversion, and learning his deep mental gloom 
 and anxiety, while under the awakening influ- 
 ence of the Spirit of God, could but feel a deep 
 interest in his welfare, and hope that the great 
 Head of the Church would lead him in a way 
 he had not known, and make him an instrument 
 in his hands of much good to his countrymen. 
 When his conversion took place, of course 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 19 
 
 those hopes were strengthened; and, blessed 
 be God, since then have been fully realized. 
 
 Mr. Nast having had the advantages of a 
 good university education in his own country, 
 was, in the year of his conversion, licensed as 
 a local preacher in our Church, and immediate- 
 ly commenced his ministerial work. 
 
 A short time before the session of the Ohio 
 conference, which was held in Springfield, 
 O., August 19th, 1835, a letter was pub- 
 lished in the Western Christian Advocate, over 
 the signature of John Glanville, of St. Louis 
 county, Mo., of which the following is an ex- 
 tract: 
 
 " Dear Brother Morris, — Your mention- 
 ing some weeks since the interest you felt in 
 the spiritual welfare of the German immigrants 
 in the west, and the letter you inserted over the 
 initials of 6 A. M.,' induce me to request you 
 to use your influence to get some one or more 
 preachers of that description transferred to this 
 conference. We have vast numbers of Ger- 
 mans in this and some of the adjoining coun- 
 ties. Many of them are Protestants, and all 
 are sheep without a shepherd. They cannot 
 understand our preaching, nor do they like 
 to attend our meetings ; but any thing in 
 German will call their attention. Could we 
 have a German missionary here, I am satisfied 
 good would be done among them." 
 
 In reference to this letter, the editor made 
 the following remarks : 
 
 " German missionaries are much needed, not 
 
20 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 only in Missouri, but in Cincinnati and various 
 other parts of the western country. The Ger- 
 mans desire something done ; our people are 
 willing, yea, anxious, to support such missions : 
 our General Superintendents, we are sure, feel 
 every disposition to act: God is willing to 
 crown the effort with success ; and now is the 
 time to strike. We have waited long enough, 
 too long, for Providence to do the work with- 
 out any co-operation on the part of the Church. 
 The only difficulty which appears to us, is in 
 the obtaining men of the peculiar qualifications 
 necessary for the work: they must not only 
 possess deep piety, a sound understanding of 
 the doctrines of the Gospel, and the spirit of 
 sacrifice in common with their brethren, but 
 must be able to speak the German language 
 fluently. There are, doubtless, a few min- 
 isters of our order who can speak it with suffi- 
 cient plainness to be understood ; and if the 
 work be only commenced in good earnest, the 
 Lord will raise up young Germans to carry it 
 on with success. Is it not, at least, our duty to 
 make the effort? To this question thousands 
 of pious hearts will respond an affirmative 
 answer." 
 
 From the following pages the reader will 
 learn that the above predictions were not fanci- 
 ful speculations indulged in from a momentary 
 impression ; but that they were uttered as the 
 result of mature reflection, and that they have 
 literally been fulfilled. 
 
 At the Ohio conference of 1835, the Kev. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 21 
 
 Wm. Nast came recommended from Mt. Ver- 
 non circuit, as a suitable person to be received 
 into the itinerant connection, and was accord- 
 ingly received, and, for the year, appointed 
 missionary to the Germans of Cincinnati. This 
 was the first regular appointment of the charac- 
 ter alluded to our Church ever made. Brother 
 Nast arrived at his post and commenced his 
 labors about the middle of September. In his 
 commencement he met with many discourage- 
 ments, arising from various sources. It may be 
 proper here to mention some of the difficulties 
 with which he had to contend ; and by which 
 his want of success, to the extent that was an- 
 ticipated by the friends of the enterprise, may 
 be accounted for. They are noticed not only 
 as historical facts ; but also for the purpose of 
 showing that commencements, apparently un- 
 successful, in matters of religion, often prove em- 
 inently prosperous when we are fully brought to 
 realize our own inefficiency, and consequently 
 that we should not hastily abandon a good 
 work because we do not meet with immediate 
 great success. 
 
 Brother Nast, though a native German, had 
 spent seven or eight years previous to his enter- 
 ing the ministry among the English. During 
 a great part of this time, he was engaged as 
 Professor of Ancient Languages in a college, 
 and of course had very little occasion to use 
 his native language. This want of practice, 
 for so long a time, made it difficult for him in 
 
22 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 the commencement of his work to preach in 
 his mother tongue. 
 
 Moreover this was his first year in the min- 
 istry ; and, as a matter of course, he lacked the 
 experience which is so essential to ministerial 
 success. The mentioning of this cannot be 
 viewed as undervaluing the talents and zeal of 
 our first German missionary ; for all are aware 
 that some of the qualifications requisite for the 
 ministerial work can only be obtained by per- 
 sonal observations and forming an extensive 
 acquaintance religiously with men and things. 
 
 There was also found to be great opposition 
 to the undertaking amongst the Germans them- 
 selves. A spirit of persecution arose, which, 
 had it not been for the excellent laws of our 
 country that guaranty to all persons the privi- 
 lege of worshiping God according to the dic- 
 tates of their own conscience, would frequently 
 have broken out in mob violence. 
 
 Amid all his discouragements, however, the 
 missionary persevered with untiring diligence. 
 He visited from house to house, as far as he 
 could gain access to the people. And after 
 laboring several months, under the embarrass- 
 ments just enumerated, with others besides, he 
 made a report to the Corresponding Secretary 
 of the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, from which we take the 
 following extract:-— 
 
 "I arrived at my post on the 15th of Sep- 
 tember. On taking a retrospective view of the 
 first quarter of my probationary ministry, I 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 23 
 
 mourn and tremble, when I reflect on what I 
 might and what I ought to have done. At the 
 same time, I thank and praise my God, that 
 though it seemed as if I had no liberty to speak 
 as I ought to speak, yet his Spirit found way 
 to some hearts. One young German rejoices 
 in the pardon of his sins,* and five others are 
 desirous to be taught the way of salvation. 
 When I look at myself, I am cast down ; but, 
 blessed be God, I am not in despair. What 
 should I fear, while power is given me to be- 
 lieve that I am engaged in the work of God. 
 I have met with a most violent opposition from 
 my countrymen. In the German paper printed 
 in this city, I have been repeatedly attacked in 
 the spirit of the most bitter contempt ; but it 
 had the good effect of drawing out a congre- 
 gation. On Sabbath I have hitherto preached 
 only in the evening, partly from the want of a 
 meeting-house, and partly because I could not 
 expect a congregation during the church hours 
 of the other German ministers. But I made 
 two appointments in the vicinity of Cincinnati, 
 one in the house of a converted Catholic. My 
 hearers there are a few Catholic families that 
 have been searching the Scriptures for some- 
 time. I feel as if the Lord had prepared the 
 way. For all these openings of a kind Provi- 
 dence, I desire to be thankful, and request the 
 people of God in their prayers to remember 
 the German mission at Cincinnati." 
 
 * This young man in a few years became a preacher, and has 
 ever since been one of our most successful German missionaries. 
 
24 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Here we see the dawn of a glorious work 
 among the Germans, which has gradually in- 
 creased, until hundreds have already been made 
 the subjects of the converting grace of God; 
 and still the work is deepening and widening — 
 spreading east, west, north and south ; and the 
 cry is heard in various directions, " Send us 
 German missionaries." Prejudice has been 
 removed from the minds of many ; and they 
 are no longer satisfied with the outward forms 
 of religion, but wish to enjoy it in ail its life 
 and power. Many who have been at ease in 
 Zion, and who have had a name to live, while 
 they were dead, have, through the preaching of 
 our missionaries, been brought to an experi- 
 mental knowledge of salvation. Among these 
 are some who were brought up in the Roman 
 Catholic Church, and others in the Lutheran 
 and German Reformed Churches. Others, 
 again, have come to us from the ranks of open 
 infidelity, and even several from the Jews. 
 Many of them have indeed been brought in at 
 the eleventh hour, their gray hairs and trem- 
 bling limbs telling, m language not to be mis- 
 understood, that they had well nigh finished 
 their earthly pilgrimage. They were brought 
 to see themselves sinners, and sought and ob- 
 tained the pardon of their sins. Several have 
 already died in the triumphs of living faith, and 
 have gone to reap their glorious reward in the 
 " house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens." Many heads of families have been 
 converted, and, in some instances, whole house- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 25 
 
 holds, including husband, wife and every child 
 old enough to know good from evil. The 
 writer is personally acquainted with a number 
 of such families ; and he is rejoiced to state that 
 in some cases, the husband, who was formerly 
 dissipated and intemperate, disagreeable and 
 abusive to his family, has now erected in his 
 domestic circle the altar of devotion. All the 
 members of the family live in harmony, and 
 dwell in a quiet and peaceful habitation. Instead 
 of contention and discord, the voice of prayer 
 and the songs of praise are heard. A happy 
 change, indeed! Many will thank God in 
 time and in eternity, that the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church ever sent her missionaries among 
 them. 
 
 From a small beginning in the latter end of 
 the year 1835, this glorious work has gradually 
 spread; and now we have a missionary in 
 nearly every principal town and city in the 
 west, in which the German population is nu- 
 merous. Having already referred to the origin 
 of this work, we shall now notice its progress 
 and extension up to the present time. And 
 while we record, with gratitude to the great 
 Head of the Church, the revivals of religion 
 among the native Germans, we will also give 
 an account of the personal experience of some 
 of them, by which it will be seen that the 
 effects of evangelical conversion are the same 
 among all classes of men, however varied their 
 language, education, habits and prejudices. 
 
 Of hundreds of Germans it may be said, 
 3 
 
26 ORIGIN AND FROGRESS OF 
 
 that they who were once not a people are now 
 the people of the Lord. They have been led 
 in a way which they knew not. The object 
 of many of them in immigrating to America, 
 was the accumulation of wealth — the laying up 
 of treasures on earth ; but now they have found 
 the pearl of great price, and are endeavoring to 
 "lay up treasures in heaven, where neither 
 moth nor rust doth corrupt, nor thieves break 
 through and steal." And the language of their 
 glad hearts is, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
 and forget not all his benefits." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE WORK DURING THE 
 FIRST YEAR IN CINCINNATI. 
 
 At the end of the second quarter, the mis- 
 sionary reported nine members received, and 
 says, " These, together with five old members 
 of the Church, who lend a helping hand, make 
 up a good class. Though little has been done, 
 none but the Lord could do it ; and he who has 
 commenced the good work is able to carry it 
 on. We will thank him for what he has done, 
 and trust him for what is to come ; but if I 
 should not succeed in winning my countrymen 
 to Christ, I would beseech my brethren not to 
 give up the German cause. The Germans, 
 generally speaking, are not like those who hear 
 the word, and anon, with joy receive it, but 
 having no root in themselves endure but for a 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 27 
 
 while. They will not lay their hands to the 
 Gospel plough until they have fully made up 
 their minds." With this little band the mis- 
 sionary continued to labor ; and some of those 
 who at first made great opposition, now began 
 to look on with indifference. 
 
 The number of members reported on the 
 class-book at the close of the third quarter, was 
 twelve. These, with their pastor, were looked 
 on with disdain by their enemies ; yet they 
 were firm to their purpose, offering up their 
 daily prayers for their countrymen. The Gen- 
 eral conference was in session at this time in 
 Cincinnati. The Corresponding Secretary of 
 the Missionary Society was in attendance as a 
 delegate ; and during his stay, he received the 
 missionary's third quarterly report, to which 
 he made the following preface, which was pub- 
 lished in the Western Christian Advocate : 
 " Cincinnati, May 24, 1836. 
 
 "Dear Brother, — Since my arrival in this 
 city, I have received the following communi- 
 cation on the state of the German population 
 in this country, containing also suggestions as 
 to the best means of doing them good. The 
 tide of immigration which is setting in so 
 strongly from Germany to this country, makes 
 it desirable that we should adopt some efficient 
 means for their enlightenment and salvation. 
 That there should be seven thousand German 
 Roman Catholics in the city of Cincinnati, and 
 three thousand Protestants, is a fact which 
 should awaken the serious inquiry in every pious 
 
28 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 mind, ; What shall I do for their spiritual bene- 
 fit?' N. Bangs." 
 
 In the report above referred to, the mission- 
 ary, after mentioning the disinclination of many 
 of the Germans to attend his public appoint- 
 ments, says, " Under such circumstances, my 
 ministry has been almost wholly confined to 
 visiting from house to house. Such a work 
 requires a combination of strong faith, lively 
 hope, and ardent love, with talent and expe- 
 rience, in each of which I feel myself very 
 deficient. Notwithstanding this, the Lord has 
 bestowed his blessing, which is more than all, 
 upon my labor; and I have no doubt that if 
 the Church continue to be 4 zealously affected 
 in this good thing,' of bringing wandering for- 
 eigners back to the Bishop and Shepherd of " 
 their souls, the Lord will show us, by greater 
 manifestations of his power and glory, that our 
 labor is not in vain. Since my arrival here 
 last September, about twenty-three Germans 
 have been brought under awakening influence ; 
 eight of them were Roman Catholics ; about 
 ten express a hope of heaven, and twelve have 
 their names on the class paper. But it is as 
 difficult to preserve, as to raise up a German 
 branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as 
 none of our doctrinal and devotional books, not 
 even our Discipline, are to be found in the Ger- 
 man language." 
 
 It will be seen from the above, that at the 
 earliest period of our operations among the 
 Germans, the necessity of some religious pub- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 29 
 
 lications was seen and felt. And there can be 
 no doubt but that much of the success which 
 has attended our efforts, under the blessing of 
 God, is attributable to the German publications 
 that have since been issued from our own press. 
 The religious condition of the Germans is 
 described, in the report above referred to, in 
 the following language : " Gross darkness cov- 
 ers the minds of these immigrants, who are 
 soon to be, in a most emphatic sense, bone of 
 our bone, and flesh of our flesh. The major- 
 ity of them are led captive by the Romish 
 priests, and most of the Protestants are very 
 far from believing to the saving of their souls.. 
 Pelagianism, and even simple Deism, has been 
 imposed upon them under the name of Chris- 
 tianity, by the Rationalistic clergy of Germany. 
 The most spiritual and comforting doctrines of 
 our holy religion have been flattened into a mere 
 system of outward morality, and have been 
 embodied, as such, in catechisms and other 
 school books ; so that the poison pervades the 
 whole system. About three successive gener- 
 ations have been brought up, not with the ' sin- 
 cere milk' of the Gospel of the grace of God, 
 but with the beggarly elements of human phi- 
 losophy. The writings of the venerable re- 
 formers, as well as the old hymn books, which 
 are calculated to diffuse abroad the life and 
 power of religion, are nearly out of print. In- 
 deed, the German divines seldom condescend 
 to give to the famishing multitude popular trea- 
 tises on theology. Religion is rarely presented 
 3* 
 
30 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 to the unlearned, other than as a dead skeleton 
 in the form of a catechism. Under these cir- 
 cumstances, should not some effort be made by 
 the press to prepare the way of German mis- 
 sionaries? The publication of a condensed 
 view of the evidences of Christianity, and an 
 introduction to the holy Scriptures, such as 
 ' Watson's Conversations' and ' Fletcher's Ap- 
 peal,' would doubtless produce a great revolu- 
 tion." 
 
 We shall see in the progress of this history, 
 that the above suggestions were not vague and 
 idle speculations ; but that the hopes which 
 were then entertained with regard to what might 
 be done through the instrumentality of German 
 publications, have since been realized to an en- 
 couraging extent. 
 
 Brother Nast continued his labors with una- 
 bating zeal to the close of the conference year ; 
 and while many refused to hear him in public, 
 he hesitated not to go to their houses; and 
 wherever he could find a few Germans togeth- 
 er, he fearlessly proclaimed to them the un- 
 searchable riches of Christ. No calumnies 
 nor persecutions from his enemies could damp 
 the ardor of his soul, for it burned with holy 
 zeal for the salvation of his countrymen. 
 
 During the year, he also visited several points 
 in the country some distance from the city, and 
 preached to the German congregations wherever 
 they could be collected. Those who are in 
 the least acquainted with the character of the 
 Germans, and especially the firmness of their 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 31 
 
 purpose in religious matters, be those matters 
 right or wrong, will not be astonished to learn 
 that it was an exceedingly difficult matter to in- 
 troduce Methodism among them. It was some- 
 thing entirely new for Germans in this country 
 to hear a Methodist minister preach; and in 
 many instances, self-interested and malicious 
 persons spared no pains to prejudice the minds 
 of such as might otherwise have been open to 
 conviction. 
 
 When all these things are taken into consid- 
 eration, we may view the labors of the first 
 year, as a triumph over prejudice, and as a pre- 
 paration of the way for future success. We 
 have reason to believe that many were awaken- 
 ed during the year, who never came under the 
 notice of the missionary. We have, in fact, 
 heard of some, who, having since become 
 converted, say that they received their first 
 serious impressions while standing at the door 
 of the church, or outside the windows, fearing 
 to go into the house while brother Nast was 
 preaching. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF A GERMAN MIS- 
 SION IN THE BOUNDS OF COLUMBUS 
 DISTRICT, OHIO CONFERENCE. 
 
 In the autumn of 1836, brother Nast was 
 appointed missionary to the Germans within 
 the bounds of the Columbus district, Ohio con- 
 
32 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ference. During this year, he traveled several 
 hundred miles over a large extent of country, 
 visiting the different German settlements within 
 the bounds of his circuit, every five weeks. 
 Though the number of conversions this year 
 was not great, yet it was sufficiently large to 
 encourage him to hope for the salvation of 
 many of his countrymen. Some of the fruits 
 of this year's labor remain shining lights unto 
 this day. After having regularly laid out his 
 work, he made the following report, which 
 contains a list of his appointments : 
 
 " Worthington, O., Jan. 10, 1837. 
 " Dear Brethren, — I have just returned 
 from my second missionary round. Having 
 been, through Divine mercy, saved from many 
 seen and unseen dangers, and finding my pros- 
 pects of doing good, far better than they were 
 at Cincinnati, my heart is filled with gratitude. 
 Though the difficulties with which I have to 
 contend, are great and many, I hope to find 
 verified the promise given to the Church of 
 Philadelphia : ' I know thy works ; behold, I 
 have set before thee an open door, and no man 
 can shut it — for thou hast a little strength and 
 hast kept my word and hast not denied my 
 name.' I find my hands often tied by the 
 strong prejudices of the Lutheran Church 
 against our name. But I have been comforted, 
 on the other hand, by seeing, in several instan- 
 ces, Divine Providence open my way in a 
 very remarkable manner. I found access to 
 settlements where those that came with me 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 33 
 
 over the sea, and others with whom I was ac- 
 quainted in the old country, live ; and I hope 
 the practical demonstration of what the grace 
 of God effected in me, will, through the bles- 
 sing of Heaven, not be lost upon their souls. 
 Though, in some places, my countrymen are 
 kept from attending my preaching, by the 
 combined powers of superstition and infidelity, 
 I can speak of a Savior's love and power on 
 the road, around the fireside, and at the sick 
 bed. My circuit is now formed. I travel in 
 five weeks through an extent of nearly three 
 hundred miles, and have about twenty-two 
 preaching places. Making Columbus my first 
 Sabbath appointment, I go through several 
 German. settlements to Basle, on the canal; 
 from there to Thornville, where I spend the 
 second Sabbath; then through Newark, Mt. 
 Vernon, to Danville, my third Sabbath appoint- 
 ment; from Danville, I go through Loudon- 
 ville, Mansfield, Gallion, to Bucyrus, where I 
 preach the fourth Sabbath ; then through Ma- 
 rion county, which is thickly settled with Ger- 
 mans, to a German settlement near Delaware, 
 where I preach the fifth Sabbath ; and return 
 through Delaware and Worthington, to Colum- 
 bus. Feeling painfully the need of help from 
 Zion, I beg an interest in the prayers of the 
 faithful, for the German mission. 
 
 " I remain yours in the bonds of the Gospel, 
 William Nast." 
 
 As we at this time had only one German 
 missionary, and as Cincinnati was a very im- 
 
34 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 portant point, the Germans there being very 
 numerous, and constantly increasing by immi- 
 gration, it was thought best, at the close of the 
 year, to give up the Columbus mission for 
 Cincinnati. Some of our brethren, indeed, 
 went so far as to give the opinion, that as the 
 Germans did not immediately embrace the 
 Gospel truths which were delivered to them, 
 it would be better to abandon the undertaking 
 entirely. Brother Nast, however, at the close 
 of the year, made a strong plea for the Ger- 
 mans, before the conference, of which the fol- 
 lowing is an extract. After some prelimina- 
 ries, he said: 
 
 "As I am the only one that is expected to 
 speak for the Germans, let me hope that my 
 obscurity will not act as a prejudice against the 
 cause I plead. Upon the most enlightened 
 part of Germans, a mere system of morality, 
 without Gospel principles and motives, has 
 been imposed under the name of rational Chris- 
 tianity. Whilst some have gathered up a few 
 of these moral truths, and mean to go to heav- 
 en by the merit of their works, the multitude 
 is feeding upon the husks for swine. ' The 
 original rectitude and subsequent depravity of 
 man, the incarnation and death of the Son of 
 God for our redemption, a free justification by 
 the grace of God, a regeneration of the whole 
 man, consistent with universal holiness, enfor- 
 ced on the ground that we are not our own, but 
 Christ's ; the supernatural succors of the Di- 
 vine Spirit, and the commanding doctrines of 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 35 
 
 eternal judgment,' are things of which the vast 
 majority of Germans have no conception. Be- 
 ing accustomed to look to their moral preachers 
 for nothing more than a mere beating of the 
 air, and having for a long time seen the clergy 
 in Germany contradicting the Gospel rule by 
 their lives and characters, they lost their confi- 
 dence in the Christian ministry. In short, the 
 German Church and nation needs as great a 
 work of reformation as the Church of England 
 did in the time of John Wesley. And unless 
 his doctrine bursts in floods upon the German 
 immigrants, enlightening, alarming and convert- 
 ing them by hundreds and thousands, and ex- 
 erting such a reaction upon Germany that the 
 pulpits, and colleges, and universities, and 
 common schools will all feel it, there is 
 reason to fear that the importation of German 
 literature and German people, will exercise as 
 demoralizing an influence upon the Americans 
 as the French once exercised upon the Ger- 
 mans. These are not imaginary apprehensions, 
 brethren. For the German immigrants, among 
 whom there have been of late, many well edu- 
 cated and wealthy men, are about to hold yearly 
 conventions, in order to perpetuate the German 
 language and literature, German sentiments, 
 manners and customs ; and if headed by some 
 infidels, they will form themselves into a party 
 strongly opposed to the religious observance of 
 the Sabbath, and the benevolent institutions of 
 this Gospel favored country. 
 
 " Let me then come to a conclusion, by brief- 
 
36 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ly stating, that we might exercise a saving in- 
 fluence upon the Germans through the press, 
 by publishing in the German language some of 
 our doctrinal tracts, the Wesley an Catechism, 
 Fletcher's Appeal, some of Wesley's sermons, 
 and, as soon as possible, a German Methodist 
 periodical. As reasons for publishing the lat- 
 ter, I would only mention, that the Roman 
 Catholics publish at present a German religious 
 paper at Cincinnati, and that nearly all the po- 
 litical papers in the German language are filled 
 with invectives against Christianity. As to the 
 other works, they are absolutely needed, if the 
 Germans are to be enlightened; for the sound 
 religious literature of Germany consists of 
 purely devotional books, of too large a size, 
 and written mostly in a dry, scholastic, or mys- 
 tical style ; and I know of no German work 
 treating of the evidences of Christianity, and 
 the doctrines of the Bible, in a popular, inter- 
 esting, and evangelical manner. That they 
 would buy and read them, might be concluded 
 from the fact, that I saw several small works, 
 for instance, < Merritt's Christian Manual', and 
 ' Lorenzo Dow's Chain of Reasoning,' publish- 
 ed by booksellers, though in a miserable trans- 
 lation. If private individuals undertake it for 
 the sake of making money, how could the 
 Church run any risk in doing it with an eye 
 single to the glory of God, assisted by the pa- 
 tronage of perhaps a thousand German mem- 
 bers within her pale, and by the agency of her 
 itinerant preachers throughout the Union ? The 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 37 
 
 spirited support of the traveling- connection, in 
 spreading either the paper or the other publica- 
 tions, would of course be indispensable to our 
 success. And I hope, that if we would only- 
 attempt the work, we should meet with more 
 support than we imagine. A few weeks ago 
 I was requested, through the Christian Advo- 
 cate and Journal, to give my post office address 
 to a brother in South Carolina, who promises 
 to communicate intelligence of advantage with 
 regard to the German publications, which I pro- 
 posed in my last report to the Corresponding 
 Secretary of the Missionary Society. But it 
 may be objected, will not the Albright Church 
 provide for the wants of the Germans ? I an- 
 swer, they try to do it to some degree, but their 
 resources in money and learning are limited ; 
 their arms cannot, at present, reach as far as 
 ours ; they are yet a small people, and princi- 
 pally confined to the country. Though it might 
 be of great use to make them officially acquaint- 
 ed with our design, in order to invite their co- 
 operation and patronage, prevent any feelings 
 of jealousy, and convince them of our disinter- 
 ested desire to lend them a helping hand in 
 spreading the Gospel among the Germans. For 
 I believe it would be highly desirable to bring 
 their Church, which is a genuine scion of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, into cordial fra- 
 ternal relationship with ours. 
 
 " Asking your indulgence for obtruding so 
 freely my views, and most respectfully submit- 
 ting all to the disposal of the conference, with 
 4 
 
38 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 the earnest prayer, that, if my suggestions are 
 'the work of my own mind, and not according 
 to the mind and will of Divine Providence, the 
 Lord would manifest his will to you ; lest the 
 Church should be involved in fruitless expense, 
 and myself in the inestimable injury of my 
 own soul." 
 
 The preceding remarks were published in 
 the Western Christian Advocate, to which the 
 following note was appended by brother Nast: 
 
 " Since my return from conference, I receiv- 
 ed a letter from the above-mentioned brother, 
 Rev. J. B. Anthony, of the South Carolina 
 conference, an extract of which I would beg 
 the editors to insert here : 
 
 " ' I was much pleased when I saw your ap- 
 pointment to the German people in Ohio ; for 
 I knew that unless they were more spiritual 
 than they are in the Carolinas, they much need- 
 ed the instructions of a Methodist minister. 
 My soul has long felt for the German popula- 
 tion, for they have been a neglected people, 
 though they enjoy the outward means of grace. 
 I would be very sorry should the mission be 
 discontinued. But to the matter immediately 
 before us : When I saw your report in the Ad- 
 vocate last summer, respecting your field of 
 labor, and your wish to publish some of our 
 works in the German language, or to publish 
 a German Methodist paper, I determined 
 (though a poor Methodist traveling preacher) 
 to give something for that purpose, if the work 
 went on. I immediately made inquiry of two 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 39 
 
 other brethren of this conference, who speak 
 the German language, and we agreed to give 
 ten dollars each, to be disposed of as :the pub- 
 lishers might think best. If, therefore, you, 
 or another brother, should undertake to publish 
 a German Methodist paper, we will give $30 ; 
 or if you determine to publish Methodist books, 
 (which probably will be the best for the pres- 
 ent,) we will take at least $50 worth. I think 
 if our brethren in the Baltimore and Philadel- 
 phia conferences would exert themselves a 
 little, they might do a good deal toward pub- 
 lishing our books in the German tongue. Cin- 
 cinnati, I suppose, should be the place where 
 our publications should be made, so as to get 
 them into the hands of the immigrants who are 
 settling in the west. When I saw your ap- 
 pointment, I was very strongly moved to take 
 a transfer to that conference. It is true, I can 
 preach much better in the English language 
 than in the German, yet I expected that I could 
 be more useful there, by visiting them and 
 speaking to them around the fire-side, in their 
 mother tongue.' 
 
 "If all our traveling brethren that speak the 
 German language, would volunteer to be Ger- 
 man missionaries, we could, with the blessing 
 of God, soon form German circuits." 
 
 As some suggestions were made by brother * 
 
 Nast in reference to German publications, a 
 committee of three was appointed by the con- 
 ference to take the matter into consideration, 
 and report thereon. The committee reported 
 
40 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 that it was not expedient to enter extensively 
 into German publications at that time, but re- 
 commended the publication of the three num- 
 bers of the Wesleyan Catechism, our Articles 
 of Faith, and the General Rules, which was ac- 
 cordingly soon afterward done. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 RE-APPOINTMENT OF AMISSIONARY AT 
 CINCINNATI, AND COMMENCEMENT 
 OF THE CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST. 
 
 In the autumn of 1837, brother Nast was re- 
 appointed to Cincinnati. This year his labors 
 were crowned with greater success than they 
 had heretofore been ; the prejudices against him 
 were not so strong ; his hearers gradually in- 
 creased, and at the close of the year, a consid- 
 erable number attended on his ministry : a Sab- 
 bath school, composed of German children, 
 was also organized ; and at the ensuing confer- 
 ence, he reported twenty-six members in so- 
 ciety. 
 
 During this year, a proposition was made to 
 raise funds for publishing a religious paper in 
 the German language, which was subsequently 
 carried into operation. As this publication has 
 excited considerable attention, and as we have 
 reason to believe that it has been productive of 
 much good, it may not be uninteresting to no- 
 tice its origin and progress. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 41 
 
 The proposition for publishing this paper, 
 was made by the Rev. Thomas Dunn, of the 
 North Ohio conference, through the medium 
 of the Western Christian Advocate. The fol- 
 lowing is the letter containing the proposition : 
 "Waynesburg, 0., Feb. 15, 1838. 
 
 " I wish to remark, that there are a number 
 of German families within the bounds of this 
 circuit. Some individuals among them have 
 embraced religion and joined our Church. 
 While looking over the fields already ripe for 
 the harvest among this numerous and interest- 
 ing people, and reading some things in the Ad- 
 vocate on the subject, I have most ardently de- 
 sired that some plan might be adopted to instruct 
 them in the doctrines and discipline of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. The commence- 
 ment of this work, I believe, should be by pub- 
 lishing a German Christian Advocate, in con- 
 nection with our Establishment at Cincinnati. 
 It is well known that the Germans are scattered 
 throughout our work in every direction. Such 
 a paper, freighted with Gospel truth, extracted 
 from our standard works, could be thrown 
 among them in all parts of the country by our 
 traveling preachers ; and the simple fact of its 
 coming to them in their own language, would 
 induce them to read. Their minds would there- 
 by be enlightened, their prejudices removed, 
 and as many of them as cannot read English, 
 would learn to understand it so as to be edified 
 under our ministry. They would come out to 
 hear us preach, and would be gathered into the 
 4* 
 
42 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Church. Further, I am confident I could get 
 a number of subscribers to such a paper in the 
 bounds of this circuit. I will not lengthen out 
 my broken remarks on this subject, but propose 
 to be one of three hundred who will donate 
 $10 each, to aid in commencing such an enter- 
 prise. Who will respond 1 or, rather, who will 
 not? T. Dunn." 
 
 No sooner was this subject laid before our 
 people, than a simultaneous waking up was 
 visible. All who gave the undertaking a pro- 
 per consideration, acknowledged its great im- 
 portance. Two weeks after Mr. Dunn's pro- 
 position appeared, the following letter, contain- 
 ing additional reasons for the prosecution of the 
 plan, was published through the same medium : 
 "Batavia, 0., March 14, 1838. 
 
 "Dear Brethren, — In the 46th number of 
 the Advocate, I saw a letter from brother T. 
 Dunn, in which he proposes to be one of three 
 hundred, to pay ten dollars each, to commence 
 the publication of a German Christian Advo- 
 cate, in connection with the Western Christian 
 Advocate, in Cincinnati. I would most hearti- 
 ly respond to this proposition ; and for doing 
 so, I have many reasons, some of which I will 
 here name. 
 
 " First, it is a thing much to be desired by us, 
 as a Church, that all who live among us and 
 mingle in our society, should have a knowledge 
 of our doctrines and disciplinary usages ; and 
 of these, by far the greater part of the German 
 population of this country are entirely ignorant ; 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 43 
 
 for what information they have about us, is 
 principally from those who are our opposers, 
 and who most shamefully misrepresent us : 
 consequently the thousands of our German 
 neighbors know as little about the doctrine of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, as many of 
 the untaught tribes of the forest. And when 
 we consider the great number of Germans now 
 filling up our cities and country (if the tide of 
 German immigration should continue in regular 
 ratio, for a few years to come, as it has for a 
 few years past, in many places, one-third, if 
 not more, of the population will be Germans ; 
 if I am correctly informed, it is about that now 
 in the city of Cincinnati,) it will, from this 
 view, be doubly important to introduce some 
 plan of operation, in which we will most likely 
 succeed, to diffuse among our neighbors that 
 knowledge which we believe so highly impor- 
 tant to man's happiness here, and his welfare 
 hereafter. I would not, however, be under- 
 stood to say, that the Germans who come to 
 this country are all unenlightened, with regard 
 to the all important doctrines of religion ; for 
 many of them are taught to read the Bible from 
 childhood, and are taken through a regular 
 course of religious instruction : but I do say, 
 that a great majority of those even who have 
 the name of Protestants, are in the dark with 
 regard to the doctrine of salvation by faith, a 
 present salvation from sin, regeneration, the 
 witness of the Spirit, &c, as taught and be- 
 lieved by us. Now, while they, through the 
 
44 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 German papers circulating through the country, 
 hear us misrepresented, they will stand aloof 
 from us, and our way to do them good will be 
 closed up, in a great degree, while those preju- 
 dices are retained against us. Therefore, after 
 viewing the attitude we are placed in to our 
 German neighbors, and feeling a great desire 
 that something might be done to correct wrong 
 impressions, and to instruct them in our doc- 
 trine and economy, I can think of no plan that 
 will be so likely to be successful as that of pub- 
 lishing a German paper, in which extracts from 
 our standard works might be inserted ; and in 
 a few years, by devoting several columns to the 
 work, the whole of Wesley's Sermons might 
 be translated, and read by many of the Germans, 
 who, without this method, never would read 
 them; and who can estimate the good that 
 might be done in this way ? And suppose the 
 Church should not realize much profit from 
 this paper at first, as many, no doubt, will be 
 ready to fear, is not the prospect of doing good 
 to the souls of our fellow men, sufficient to 
 rouse the zeal of the Church on this subject? 
 We view this matter with great anxiety and 
 solicitude, and we do hope that some of our 
 aged and influential brethren will bring this 
 subject properly before the Church. Much 
 has been done to enlighten the Indians, the 
 Africans, and indeed almost all heathens, in 
 every land. This is as it should be, and much 
 more should be done than has been done. But 
 are not souls in our own vicinity perishing for 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 45 
 
 the lack of knowledge, equally as precious as 
 those at a distance — and does not the future 
 prosperity of our country much depend upon 
 the course we pursue, in reference to the thou- 
 sands immigrating from other countries ? Will 
 not, then, my brethren wake up to this subject? 
 "Will the proposition to raise three thousand 
 dollars, be met by those who love the prosper- 
 ity of Zion? While we plead for this, we 
 feel that we are pleading the cause of precious 
 and immortal souls. While writing these 
 lines, I have a lively recollection of the time 
 when the faithful minister of Jesus first ex- 
 plained to my dark mind a free and full salva- 
 tion, though ten long years have rolled away 
 since the time. I can assure you, that three 
 thousand dollars are to me, an insignificant 
 consideration, when held in competition with 
 a blessed hope of immortality and eternal life. 
 Let our brethren, then, traveling in German 
 settlements, mention this subject to the people, 
 and ascertain, as far as possible, the prospect 
 of success in this contemplated enterprise, and 
 let us so talk, and think, and pray about it, as 
 finally to be brought to action. Finally, if the 
 editors of the Western Christian Advocate will 
 publish these remarks, and there be no strong 
 opposition from the proper authorities of the 
 Church, we may, in a subsequent communica- 
 tion, show other reasons why we so earnestly 
 wish this enterprise to succeed. 
 
 " Yours, in the vineyard of the Lord, 
 "Adam Miller." 
 
46 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 To give the public a still better idea of the 
 great importance of this publication, and of the 
 real condition of numbers of our German pop- 
 ulation, it will be necessary to insert other let- 
 ters, published in the Western Christian Advo- 
 cate, immediately after the appearance of Mr. 
 Dunn's proposition. It is cheering to reflect 
 that the expectations expressed in them have, 
 to so great an extent, been realized. The fol- 
 lowing is from brother Nast ; in it will be found 
 a report, from a German paper, of a dialogue, 
 in which the author gives an account of his 
 own religious experience, and then attempts to 
 account for the sudden conversions among the 
 Methodists. 
 
 " Cincinnati, March 19, 1838. 
 
 ' Dear Brethren, — Allow me to say a few 
 words upon brother Dunn's proposition, to pub- 
 lish a German Christian Advocate* — a project 
 which will furnish the only antidote against 
 the efforts of wicked and unreasonable men, to 
 quench the last strivings of the Holy Spirit in 
 the hearts of the misguided German immigrants. 
 The picture of almost impenetrable darkness 
 and reckless impiety, which is presented in the 
 following extracts from the last number of the 
 ' Protestant,' ought to nerve every lover of God 
 and man, to hasten to save what portion of im- 
 
 * Before a name had been given to the contemplated German 
 paper, it was, by general consent, called the German Advocate ; 
 but afterward it was changed to the Christian Apologist, which 
 conveys in German the same idea as the English word Advo- 
 cate. The phrase is the more proper, as the first defenders of 
 the Christian faith were called Apologists, and their writings 
 against Jews and heathens, apologies, i. e., defenses. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 47 
 
 mortal souls may yet be saved, from the venom 
 of the old serpent. There has been felt a great 
 deal of apprehension and sympathy,- with re- 
 gard to the increasing influx of Roman Catho- 
 lic immigrants ; but how much blacker appears 
 the cloud, when we see the majority of Protes- 
 tant German immigrants, miserably captured 
 by clerical pirates, who, under the flag of an 
 orthodox Christian Church, lay in wait for un- 
 wary souls, to make them scoffers of salvation, 
 and opposers to Cod ! Who can be more like 
 sheep without a shepherd, than the German 
 immigrants ? The one part, held in the iron 
 grasp of superstition ; the other, receiving the 
 deadly draught of infidelity, from the hand of 
 those who should administer to them the pure 
 word of God : both parties operated upon by 
 the unremitting influence of a weekly press, 
 the more fatal, as there is none to contradict — 
 no herald of salvation, no advocate of Bible 
 religion, 'no voice of wisdom crying in the 
 streets, in the chief place of concourse, in the 
 opening of the gates : How long, ye simple 
 ones, will ye love simplicity ? and the scorners 
 delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowl- 
 edge V Shall, then, error alone open its wide 
 mouth, and truth be dumb ? For it is to be re- 
 membered, that the Lutheran Observer, to which 
 the Protestant makes so loud and grave objec- 
 tions, on account of its "Revival Department, is 
 printed in the English language. Much might 
 be said, why this paper is not published in Ger- 
 man ; and the reason, if told, would point out 
 
48 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 our duty more clearly and forcibly. Now, will 
 American Christians hail these immigrants as 
 fellow citizens, and partakers of the same civil 
 liberty, and yet leave them under the thraldom 
 of spiritual ignorance and soul-destroying error 1 
 How much has the Church done, and is still 
 doing, for a far less number of neglected In- 
 dians ! How much money, how much labor 
 has been bestowed, how many lives have been 
 nobly sacrificed, to hold forth the word of life 
 to their perishing souls ? I am far from inti- 
 mating, that too much has been felt and done 
 for the small savage tribe in the lonely forest. 
 But permit me to ask, why shall we feel less 
 solicitude for the salvation of those, whom 
 Providence has made our nearest neighbors ; 
 whose interests are linked closely with ours ; 
 with whom we daily converse, and to whom 
 we can speak without an interpreter ? 
 "But if we desire them to be partakers of our 
 holy religion, what means, more adapted to the 
 nature of the case and spirit of the age ; what 
 more powerful instrument against false doc- 
 trines ; what speedier pioneer, to prepare the 
 way of the Lord for traveling preachers, could 
 we use, than the contemplated paper, exhibit- 
 ing the doctrines and discipline of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, by extracts from our 
 standard works ? It would be able to make its 
 way through all opposition, to every region of 
 country and every class of society. The ef- 
 fects which it might have upon the Roman 
 Catholics as well as Protestants, in this coun- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 49 
 
 try, and even upon Germany, are indeed incal- 
 culable. I am happy to say, that within a few 
 days, two German, and two English brethren, 
 gave me their names, to make part of the three 
 hundred. 
 
 " How much for the better have the prospects 
 of the German mission already changed ! In 
 answer to persevering prayer, a cloud of mercy 
 is seen rising. The congregations are growing 
 larger every Sabbath, and eighteen have been 
 received into the Church since conference. 
 Our Articles of Religion and General Rules, 
 and Catechisms, are being printed, and excite 
 much inquiry and interest. Another encour- 
 aging circumstance, is, that the Tract Society 
 of our Church, at New York, has authorized 
 me to translate such of our tracts as are best 
 adapted for the German population, and to send 
 them for publication to New York. Last Sa- 
 turday and Sabbath, brother A. Miller labored 
 with us at our two days' meeting. We admin- 
 istered, the first time in the German language, 
 the emblems of the dying love of Christ. Sev- 
 eral of the communicants felt the love of God 
 in a greater degree than they had ever before 
 realized at a sacramental occasion. We also 
 held the first German love feast ; and the Head 
 of the Church deigned to own and .bless the 
 little flock. Our English brethren, though not 
 understanding our language, felt the Divine 
 presence, and could not contain themselves. 
 The Sabbath evening meeting was peculiarly 
 interesting. Brother Hamline, constrained by 
 5 
 
50 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 the love of Christ, approached the altar, at the 
 close, and told his experience in English, which, 
 notwithstanding the disadvantages arising from 
 interpretation, was listened to with solemn at- 
 tention. 
 
 "For the purpose of informing your readers 
 respecting the misrepresentations, contained in 
 the German Protestant of this city, the follow- 
 ing is selected. Of the late revival at Dayton, 
 the editor speaks in the following manner: 
 
 " ' Soon we shall see the promise fulfilled, 
 "one flock and one Shepherd." Methodists, 
 Presbyterians, and Baptists, held, as we see 
 from a letter of one of our correspondents at 
 Dayton, meetings three times a day, since 
 Christmas, in the different churches. The 
 meetings lasted usually till midnight. Like 
 the frantic priests and priestesses at Delphi, 
 five preachers, one in the pulpit and four among 
 the crowd, tried to keep up the excitement, by 
 stamping, beating with the fist, hallooing, 
 preaching and praying, of course, in different 
 languages. What is most to be deplored, is, 
 that even some spurious Lutheran and German 
 Reformed preachers fell in with this mode of 
 worship, and denied their faith, in order to open 
 the floodgate of mysticism, with impunity, and 
 not to remain behind these fanatics in making 
 proselytes. This mysticism, which, like the 
 plague, has taken hold of the inhabitants of the 
 United States, and is still spreading, leads, un- 
 der the cloak of religion, away from all relig- 
 ion, confounds the faith of the weak, and, in- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 51 
 
 stead of convincing the understanding of the 
 truth, and making the heart susceptible for its 
 reception, excites only the animal man, and 
 produces a desire after mere forms, without 
 considering, that the form is nothing but the 
 shell without a kernel. This propensity for 
 forms and ceremonies, leads those Pseudo-Pro- 
 testants more and more back to Roman Cathol- 
 icism ; for Roman Catholicism originated in 
 the Talmud of the Jews, and borrowed from 
 Judaism all its ceremonies. We shall then 
 shortly see these nominal Protestants, who 
 are filled with heathenish frenzy, Presbyte- 
 rians, Methodists and Baptists, united with Ro- 
 man Catholics and Jews, into one great flock, 
 in order to build again the great tower of Babel, 
 if the undertaking does not fail on account of 
 the builders' madness.' 
 
 " Of his own religion he gives us a specimen 
 in the following dialogue between a captain 
 and a parson, respecting the other world : 
 
 " < C. What a pity it is, Mr. Parson, that 
 we know nothing of our state after death. Of 
 what avail is all our knowledge, if we remain 
 in the dark upon this point ? 
 
 " < P. It must not be dark, though we should 
 not know the certainty of it. But do you think 
 such knowledge would be a benefit to us ? 
 
 " ' C. How do you mean ? 
 
 " 'P. You, sir, are now captain. 
 
 " < C. Yes, sir. 
 
 " 'P. If I now should tell you, as soon as 
 
52 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 you open this room and go in, you will be ma- 
 jor, what would you do? 
 
 m «.ft The answer is plain — I would go in. 
 
 " ' P. And if man knew that he would pass, 
 immediately after death, into a better state of 
 existence, what, do you think, would he do, if 
 he met with any trouble or vexation? 
 
 " -* C, Um ! — In all probability, he would 
 blow out his brains. 
 
 " i P. I think so, too. By far the greater 
 part of mankind would leave their stations be- 
 fore their time. Judge, then, what dangerous 
 gift God would have bestowed, if he had given 
 us a certain knowledge upon this subject. He 
 would have destroyed his own work. 
 
 " 6 C. This is true. I will therefore not be 
 major before the time.' 
 
 " There is also in the last number, a long 
 article respecting the Methodists, which is full 
 of historical as well as moral misrepresenta- 
 tions. He says, for instance, that Mr. Wesley 
 and Mr. Whitefield were not ordained minis- 
 ters, and therefore not permitted to preach in 
 churches. To account for the wonderful effects 
 which followed Mr. Wesley's preaching, he 
 says, ' that he commenced his experiments of 
 conversion, with criminals in prison, and with 
 the rabble in public places of amusement — de- 
 scribing the natural corruption of man in the 
 blackest colors, and then suddenly raising up 
 again the minds, tortured by fear and anguish, 
 through the offering and praising of the alone 
 saving merit of Christ, which man can appro- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 53 
 
 priate to himself, without any merit or act of 
 his own, by mere faith. How great such an 
 excitement must be, especially if produced in 
 a criminal, who has lost the full and right use 
 of his intellect, and to whom, of all his feel- 
 ings, none other than that of guilt and death re- 
 maineth, is easily imagined. As one that is 
 near drowning, catches at a straw, in hope of 
 being saved, so the criminal, tormented by the 
 fear of approaching death, and the conscious- 
 ness of his crimes, trembling at the fate which 
 might befall him after death, catches at every 
 word of comfort ; but in the disorder of his 
 body and mind, every thing that affects him, 
 either powerfully or beneficially, produces spas- 
 modic convulsions, sighing and groaning. And 
 it is this observation, which led Wesley and 
 Whitefield to the enthusiastic belief of a sud- 
 den conversion, under sighing, groaning, and 
 convulsion, of a sudden consciousness of a 
 moral change in man — of a descent of the Holy 
 Ghost upon the enlightened or convicted — of 
 an intimate communion of God, with those who 
 are able to produce such effects by their dis- 
 courses, and of an especial presence of God at 
 their sermons.' Wm. Nast." 
 
 The foregoing letter presents a fair specimen 
 of the weapons with which Methodism was 
 assailed by its enemies among the Germans, at 
 its commencement. Without a periodical in 
 their own language, it was impossible to reply 
 to those false statements, or to correct the erro- 
 neous impressions that were made upon the 
 5* 
 
54 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 minds of the simple inquirers after truth. Those, 
 then, who advocated the publication of a Ger- 
 man religious paper, advocated the cause of 
 God, and the salvation of souls. This paper, 
 as the reader is already aware, was speedily- 
 commenced, and it has now arrived at its fifth 
 volume; and no one, viewing the extensive 
 good which it has been the means of accom- 
 plishing, can, for a moment, regret that he aided 
 in its establishment. 
 
 Relative to this contemplated publication, the 
 editor of the Pittsburg Conference Journal 
 spoke as follows: 
 
 "We perceive by the Western Christian 
 Advocate, that the brethren at the Western 
 Book Concern, are making a vigorous effort to 
 commence a German Methodist paper, to be 
 called the German Christian Advocate. There 
 is no doubt such a paper is much needed, and 
 if established, will do immense good. Several 
 German papers are published in this country, 
 professedly religious, but it is to be regretted, 
 that some of these are more favorable to infi- 
 delity than Christianity ; such, in particular, is 
 the character of one published in Cincinnati, if 
 we may judge from the extracts which we have 
 seen from its columns. The Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church has an able and devoted mission- 
 ary at work among the German population in 
 Cincinnati and vicinity. He is a man of more 
 than ordinary literary acquirements, and withal 
 a native German. Cincinnati is, on this ac- 
 count, as well as on others, the very place for 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 55 
 
 a German paper. Let our brethren there go 
 on — no doubt they will succeed ; and we shall 
 be much disappointed, if they do not receive 
 considerable encouragement from Pennsylva- 
 nia. We are acquainted with a number of 
 German Methodists in this state, who would 
 think it a great privilege to help on with so 
 good a work. Some of them are subscribers 
 to our paper, and we will give them the plan 
 which has been adopted to establish the Ger- 
 man Christian Advocate, that they may come 
 forward in behalf of their destitute brethren, 
 with a liberal hand ; and to some of those who 
 are not subscribers, but who, we are sure, will 
 not be backward in this good work, we will 
 take occasion to send a copy this week. 
 
 " The plan is this, to raise $3,000, by $10 
 subscriptions. . This will require three hundred 
 subscribers, and this amount will be required 
 to start the paper fairly, as the number of sub- 
 scribers, who take the paper, will of course, 
 be small at first. There is no doubt three hun- 
 dred will be found willing to give this amount 
 to so good an object, and some even more than 
 this. We will, very cheerfully, transmit the 
 names of any who are willing to become sub- 
 scribers, if it be more convenient to send in 
 their names to us, than to Wright and Sworm- 
 stedt, Cincinnati. Let us see what can be 
 done." 
 
 In the Western Christian Advocate, the an- 
 nexed letter was published, with the following 
 additional remarks, by the editor: "Brother 
 
56 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Nathaniel Callender, of the Pittsburg confer- 
 ence, who also speaks German, highly recom- 
 mends the proposed paper ; and he informs us, 
 that the late Bishop Emory took a very active 
 part in promoting the spiritual interests of our 
 German brethren, and had some plans of great 
 importance, in a state of considerable maturity 
 in reference to the matter; but his sudden 
 death prevented their development. It remains 
 with those who are yet spared, to plan and act 
 for the benefit of our race." 
 
 " Sharon circuit, Pittsburg conference, ] 
 March 21, 1838. 
 
 " The noble scheme, proposed by a brother, 
 T. Dunn, in your paper of March 9th, ought 
 by no means to be lost sight of ; even whilst 
 other noble plans for doing good are in pro- 
 gress. I do sincerely hope his call will be re- 
 sponded to in the west, as Theophilus' is an- 
 swered in the east, and the three hundred con- 
 tributors of $10 each, be forthcoming. A Ger- 
 man Christian Advocate will help our cause 
 much — much. In my labors amongst the 
 Germans, I have often felt the want of some 
 such assistant. Tracts, books, &c, in the 
 German language, ought, by all means, to be 
 issued from our press. And, perhaps, it would 
 be well to establish a German press exclusive- 
 ly. I wish I could subscribe three hundred 
 times ten dollars : you should have my name 
 for the whole amount called for. Come, breth- 
 ren, whilst our German friends are helping 
 us, in reference to the English population, let 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 57 
 
 us cheerfully reciprocate their kindness, by 
 meeting, at least, the present small demand for 
 three hundred subscribers of $10 each; espe- 
 cially let German descendants now take hold. 
 I am ready with my $10, as soon as you say, 
 send it on, &c. J. K. Miller." 
 
 In the same religious journal, the following 
 letter was also published : 
 
 "Dear Brethren, — I am very much de- 
 lighted to see a proposition to publish a Ger- 
 man Christian Advocate. Nothing in all our 
 country is more needed. It seems to me, that 
 if the means were properly applied, it would 
 not be long until the holy fire would be scatter- 
 ed from Dan even to Beersheba, and all the 
 different dialects would soon be employed in 
 the propagation of light and knowledge. Let 
 me say, through you, to the western world, 
 that we have, in the providence of God, for- 
 eigners thrown among us — many German for- 
 eigners, who are to be our future neighbors, 
 and to marry with our children, and to take 
 hold on the helm of our government, and to 
 bear a part in steering our political ship. But 
 many of these want the information necessary 
 to all these purposes. Now, my dear friends, 
 it remains no longer a question, whether it is 
 our duty to afford the means. Their present 
 relation to us and God himself, require that 
 they should have it, and it is our duty to send 
 help. I was delighted with the proposition to 
 publish a German Christian Advocate, and wish 
 you to consider me a subscriber of ten dollars, 
 
58 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 to meet the proposition, for that purpose. 
 This I conceive to be an enterprise of the first 
 importance, and do, through your paper, most 
 earnestly and respectfully request the preachers 
 on their circuits, and all the people, to take this 
 matter into consideration, and let us fill up the 
 amount proposed, by the first of June next ; so 
 that the work may be commenced immediately. 
 The interests of both worlds require it. Let 
 Zion rise and shake herself, and put on her 
 beautiful garments, and gird on the whole ar- 
 mor of God ; for the day is fast approaching 
 when there will be a mighty battle fought be- 
 tween infidelity and Christianity, between light 
 and darkness, Christ and Belial. There ought 
 to be no neutrals, there will be none, when all 
 the professing world are weighed in the bal- 
 ance. O, how many thousand Antinomian 
 professors now sleep in carnal security, and 
 dream of heaven with all its untold and immor- 
 tal pleasures, that will hear the eternal Judge 
 say, in that day, ' Depart, depart, ye cursed, 
 ye covetous, lovers of money more than of 
 God, and the salvation of souls ! ' Awake, 
 slumbering professor, and come up to our help 
 on this occasion. Send your names to the 
 Agents of the Book Concern, as subscribers to 
 the enterprise proposed, to enlighten your Ger- 
 man brethren. Take them by the hand, and 
 say, ' Be thou fed and clothed with the bread 
 of life, and the garments of righteousness, and 
 thou shalt hear, if thou art faithful until death, 
 " Come thou blessed of my Father, enter into 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 59 
 
 eternal life." ' God bless the world, and save 
 saints and sinners, is my prayer. 
 
 "J. B. FlNLEY." 
 
 In a subsequent number of the Western 
 Christian Advocate, the editors introduce other 
 letters, and an editorial notice, as follows : 
 " The German paper appears to receive week- 
 ly, new and increased attention. At our re- 
 quest, brother Nast has translated, for our col- 
 umns, the following letters, which will show 
 that God is raising a number of Germans to 
 take hold of this noble enterprise. We have 
 reason to believe that the paper will be the 
 means of enlisting and uniting the services of 
 a large number of native Germans, who will 
 be extensively useful to their countrymen in 
 America, and will also materially benefit Ger- 
 many. Below, also, we give the notice of the 
 Christian Advocate and Journal, which we 
 present to our readers as another strong testi- 
 mony in favor of the new paper. 
 
 " Wheeling, Va., April 26, 1838. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — Several communications from 
 you, which appeared in the religious papers of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, respecting 
 your labors, and the lively interest which you 
 manifested for the salvation of our German 
 countrymen, excited a desire in me to open a 
 correspondence with you, having no opportu- 
 nity, at present, to make your personal ac- 
 quaintance. 
 
 "I have resided about eighteen months in 
 the United States. My native country is the 
 
60 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 kingdom of Hanover. Why I was induced to 
 leave my fatherland, a loving mother and affec- 
 tionate friends, and go to a strange land, I be- 
 gin now to understand. I see in it the ringer 
 of God. It was his inscrutable providence 
 which inspired me with this thought, and help- 
 ed me to execute it. No earthly riches had 
 the Lord destined for me. No, something in- 
 finitely more valuable — the salvation of my 
 soul. The infinite grace of our Lord opened 
 my eyes, under the preaching of Methodist 
 ministers, to see the bottomless abyss, at the 
 edge of which I unconsciously stood ; and this 
 mercy pointed out the way and the means by 
 which I should escape the wrath to come — 
 faith in the Lamb ! 
 
 " The conviction that thousands of my Ger- 
 man countrymen are in the same danger of has- 
 tening to their everlasting ruin, blinded and led 
 astray by false teachers and guides, induces me 
 to give up my present mercantile business, and 
 to devote my life and faculties to the Lord, and 
 to my German brethren. In a few days I shall 
 leave this place for Meadville, in order to pre- 
 pare myself for this holy calling, for which I 
 pray the Lord to give me a pure heart and 
 strength from above. 
 
 "For a long tinie the German people and 
 the German heart have been neglected and mis- 
 apprehended in this country; but I rejoice that 
 our American brethren begin to feel more the 
 claims of the German population, and that their 
 salvation is now an object of lively interest with 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 61 
 
 them. To the intended German Christian Ad- 
 vocate, I wish all success, and I will cheerfully 
 contribute to it, by my pen, according to my 
 ability. Only through such means can the 
 eyes of our German brethren be opened, and 
 their prejudices against Methodism removed. 
 May the Lord bless this undertaking, and may 
 many Germans' hearts be added, through your 
 labors, to the flock of the Lord ! 
 " Respectfully, yours, 
 
 "C. H. Doering." 
 
 " Dear Brethren, — Your ' German Chris- 
 tian Advocate ' will be of more value to the 
 cause of truth, and to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, than mine, or any mind on earth, can 
 estimate. I make haste to send you my name, 
 and ten dollar subscription. I feel an indescri- 
 bable joy at this movement. I expect, in a few 
 weeks, to see this new star shine in our moral 
 heavens, beside our own Western Christian 
 Advocate. 
 
 " Yours, sincerely, A. W. Elliott." 
 
 The Christian Advocate and Journal says, 
 " It appears from the Western Christian Advo- 
 cate, that our brethren of the west are making 
 noble efforts to establish a religious paper in the 
 city of Cincinnati, to be entitled the German 
 Christian Advocate. A number of liberal con- 
 tributions are already pledged for the support 
 of such a paper. We were highly pleased with 
 this project when we first saw it announced, 
 and intended to notice it ; but the temporary 
 absence of the senior editor, and the subsequent 
 6 
 
62 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 failure of the Western Christian Advocate to 
 reach our table as usual, have occasioned a de- 
 lay of such notice. 
 
 " We are happy to learn that the enterprise 
 is likely to be sustained. There is more de- 
 pending upon having a well-conducted religious 
 paper in German, liberally sustained, in this 
 country, than strikes the mind at first thought. 
 Vast numbers are immigrating every year to 
 this country, with whom intercourse can be had 
 only through the medium of the German lan- 
 guage. There are about thirty thousand in this 
 city. But the great tide of this description of 
 population is setting in at the west. Large 
 agricultural districts are rilling up with them. 
 When we consider that they are broken of? from 
 their religious affiliations, and, with feelings 
 eminently inclined to venerate the institutions 
 of religion, they have a taste for perusing relig- 
 ious works in their own language, there is no 
 calculating the amount of good that may be 
 done among them, by furnishing them with a 
 well-conducted religious periodical, before they 
 shall be brought under the control of some other 
 influence. Occupying for several years past, 
 a position on the great western thoroughfare, 
 where we were almost constantly presented 
 with ocular evidence of the multitudes of this 
 class emigrating to the west, we have been deep- 
 ly impressed with the importance of establish- 
 ing missions among them, and otherwise labor- 
 ing for their spiritual benefit. We have ascer- 
 tained, however, that it is difficult to procure 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 63 
 
 suitable missionaries to supply this field — and 
 the prospect on this score is limited. It is also 
 difficult to instruct them by means of books and 
 tracts, as there are so few of the right kind 
 printed in their language. True, an arrange- 
 ment has been entered into for publishing a few 
 tracts in German, with a view of doing some- 
 thing toward meeting this demand. But what 
 are these among so many? It strikes us that 
 a suitable periodical is the very thing that is 
 needed — the desideratum. It was a happy 
 thought ; and we most sincerely hope that the 
 project will be liberally sustained, so that the 
 paper may have an extensive gratuitous circu- 
 lation, which, we doubt not, will result in great 
 good." 
 
 In a still later number of the Western Chris- 
 tian Advocate, the editors, in introducing anoth- 
 er letter, give the following cheering intelli- 
 gence: "We continue to receive encourage- 
 ment toward this noble project. Our standard 
 works are already commenced, both in refer- 
 ence to Germany and America. Our Articles, 
 General Rules, and Three Catechisms, are 
 already published ; and some copies have been 
 sent to Germany. Watson's Institutes, Tracts, 
 Discipline, &c, will soon follow. The Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church will not be negligent 
 in her official authorities, to do the great work 
 proposed by individual enterprise. Germany 
 must have the advantages of the Methodist doc- 
 trines, and she will have them before long, 
 
64 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 God favoring the attempt. Read the following 
 letter from our beloved brother Drake, of the 
 Mississippi conference : 
 
 " < Washington, Miss., May 4, 1838. 
 "'Brothers Elliott and Hamline, — I 
 have noticed the proposition in the Western 
 Christian Advocate, to publish a religious jour- 
 nal in the German language. I am pleased, 
 exceedingly delighted with the suggestion. To 
 the Germans we owe much. But for the zeal 
 and intrepidity of Luther and his associates, 
 we might all have been the slaves of Rome to 
 this day. The idea of having our standard 
 theology circulated in the heart of Germany, 
 is a bright vision to me. What may not God 
 work by its means ? That there should be 
 brought into our Church, at this time, and in 
 Cincinnati, a man so well qualified to conduct 
 such an enterprise, as I presume brother Nast 
 is, appears to me a most evident opening of 
 Providence. I sincerely hope the Book Com- 
 mittee of the Western Concern, will assume 
 the responsibility of issuing the paper, so soon 
 as the requisite sum is subscribed. I have only 
 seen a few brethren since the proposition came 
 under my notice, and with a very little effort, 
 I send you nine names, subscribers of ten dol- 
 lars each, to meet the proposition of brother 
 Dunn. I am at a loss to know how to send 
 you the money, as our currency would be of 
 little use to you. So soon as the paper is com- 
 menced, you may consider me as responsible 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 65 
 
 for the whole ; and call on me by draft or oth- 
 erwise. 
 
 " « Yours, very affectionately, 
 
 "<B. M. Drake."' 
 
 Subsequently, the two following letters ap- 
 peared in the Western Christian Advocate : 
 "Zanesville, 0., Aug. 14, 1838. 
 
 " Dear Brethren, — -Permit me to say a few 
 words in behalf of the contemplated German 
 Christian Advocate. I feel, with brother Wi- 
 nans of the south, deeply afflicted in spirit, to 
 think that an enterprise so glorious, and calcu- 
 lated to do good through all time, and bring 
 glory to God for ever, should languish as this 
 appears to do. O, tell it not west of the Rocky 
 mountains — publish it not in the streets of Mon- 
 rovia, that only $1500 have been pledged in six 
 months, to permanently establish a religious 
 newspaper for the benefit of the tens of thous- 
 ands of the children of Germany among us. 
 
 " This was the first thought that occupied 
 my mind when I awoke this morning ; and be- 
 fore I arose, my thoughts mounted fancy's 
 wings, and traveled from this to the Scioto, and 
 down that valley to Portsmouth ; thence down 
 the Ohio, sweeping the whole country for miles 
 north, till I arrived at the mouth of the Little 
 Miami; then up this river and its tributary 
 streams, till I got among the fine cattle farms 
 in the plains ; thence through the Mad River 
 country, then crossed over to the great Miami, 
 thence down this rich valley to the mouth. 
 This done, I had traveled over as good, if not 
 6* 
 
66 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 the best body of land the sun ever shone on. 
 Scattered over the above country, I know hun- 
 dreds who could give ten dollars to start this 
 paper, if their hearts were so disposed, and not 
 feel it. Among them, there are many descend- 
 ed from the German stock, and have become 
 rich in this land of plenty. 
 
 " Brethren, I call on you in the name of God, 
 whose stewards you are, not to close your eyes 
 this night, until you bow before your Maker, 
 and pray for the Germans, and about this paper, 
 for twenty-five minutes ; then I shall know what 
 you will do. God knows, and you know, that 
 you have been making money rapidly for a 
 few years. Just think of it for one minute — 
 from four to six dollars per hundred for pork 
 and beef, and every thing in proportion. You 
 have built houses and barns, and bought more 
 farms at from ten to forty dollars per acre, and 
 will you not pay ten dollars ? Your heavenly 
 Father can take it off your doctor's bill, or add 
 it to the price of a horse ; but you are not ac- 
 tuated by motives so sordid. You willingly 
 pay five or six dollars for a bushel of clover- 
 seed. Why? Because you expect thirty, six- 
 ty, or an hundred-fold. Give, O, give your 
 ten dollars to start the German Christian Ad- 
 vocate, in Cincinnati ; then look at the increase, 
 through time ; then cross over Jordan, and be- 
 - hold the golden harvest, waving and shouting 
 on the eternal plains of glory. Come, fathers 
 and brethren, wake up, pray over this matter, 
 and work while it is called day, and you will 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 67 
 
 have your reward in time and eternity. You 
 and I will soon die ; then who will inherit what 
 we have ? Let us do as the venerable Mr. 
 Wesley advised — get all you can in a proper 
 way — save all you can, then give all you can. 
 O that the Lord may dispose all our hearts to 
 do his will, and then receive us to glory, for 
 Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 "I am your unworthy brother in Christ, 
 "Wm. Simmons." 
 " Tarlton, Pickaway county, 0., > 
 Nov. 23, 1838. $ 
 
 " Messrs. Wright and Swormstedt, — I 
 was very glad when our Church determined to 
 publish a German religious periodical. In this 
 enterprise she should have embarked long 
 since ; for it may be, through her negligence 
 many souls will be lost for whom Christ died. 
 Through the medium of the press, she has it 
 in her power to send them the bread of life, 
 and the waters of salvation ; and, thank God, 
 she is resolved to exercise this ability, and 
 forthwith furnish them with the means of grace, 
 by using of which they may grow wise unto 
 salvation. Now, beloved brethren, if all your 
 agents would but take a deep interest in the 
 prosperity of the Apologist, and without delay 
 present its claims to the German public, your 
 subscription list would soon increase from tens 
 to hundreds, and from hundreds to thousands. 
 Can we do unto others as we would they 
 should do unto us, and not solicit our German 
 neighbors to take the Apologist? Surely we 
 
58 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 cannot. I have presented the prospectus to a 
 number of Germans, and have succeeded in 
 obtaining four subscribers ; and believe, when 
 the paper is published, so that they can see its 
 size, and read its contents, many more will 
 subscribe. May Heaven bless the enterprise, 
 and save the Germans of North America and 
 of the world. 
 
 "I remain yours, respectfully, 
 
 " James Boyd Austin." 
 
 After the importance of this publication had 
 been presented in so strong a light, and consid- 
 erable progress had been made in the collection 
 of funds, the question arose, Have the Agents 
 at Cincinnati, the right to commence it without 
 authority from the General conference? In 
 order to decide this, the Book Committee at 
 Cincinnati, recommended that the Eev. J. F. 
 Wright should attend a meeting of the Bishops 
 at New York, which he accordingly did. He 
 laid the whole matter before them, and solicited 
 their advice. They unanimously recommend- 
 ed the commencement of the publication, as 
 will be seen from the following remarks of the 
 editors of the Western Christian Advocate : 
 
 " We are happy to learn that the Bishops, at 
 their recent meeting at New York, unanimous- 
 ly recommended the Agents at Cincinnati, to 
 commence the publication of a paper in the 
 German language, provided this could be done 
 without loss to the Book Concern. We have 
 heretofore presented the claims of this publica- 
 tion, without being able to state definitely that 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 69 
 
 the official authorities of the Church would 
 fully enter into the proposed plan. We are 
 now happy to learn, that all, east and west, 
 north and south, cordially, indeed zealously, 
 encourage this undertaking. In order to give 
 confidence to the publishers, considering the 
 fewness of subscribers, and the losses unavoid- 
 ably arising from scattered and distant ones, it 
 will be necessary to make up the bonus of 
 three thousand dollars, a part of which only is 
 subscribed. Let those, therefore, who favor 
 this noble project, send in their names as do- 
 nors, for the purpose of making up this sum. 
 A prospectus, both in German and English, 
 will be prepared and circulated without delay ; 
 and no time will be lost by those concerned 
 here, to hasten the commencement of the Ger- 
 man paper." 
 
 It was now resolved that the Agents at Cin- 
 cinnati should proceed with the publication, as 
 soon as the necessary arrangements could be 
 made. The first number made its appearance 
 about the first of January, 1839. The amount 
 required, had not been entirely made up ; and 
 in order to urge its claims more forcibly upon 
 the Christian public, a committee was appoint- 
 ed to prepare an address to the members and 
 ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The address is inserted in this work on ac- 
 count of the valuable information it contains in 
 reference to the German population of this 
 country. 
 
 " No human mind, as we apprehend, can 
 
70 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 invent weightier or purer motives to benevolent 
 action, than those which have pressed a num- 
 ber of Christian philanthropists into the service 
 of this ' Christian Apologist.' We despair of 
 presenting the enterprise in a light as clear and 
 impressive as truth demands. Could we do it, 
 we are sure that every Christian who might 
 pause and survey it, would intensely desire to 
 do something for the Apologist at this juncture. 
 " The importance of this paper to the Ger- 
 mans, has not, we believe, been disputed. 
 This paper may be considered our German 
 ■ missionary bishop? (borrowing a phrase from 
 our Protestant Episcopal neighbors.) It is to 
 travel over the whole land, to teach and warn, 
 and by the blessing of God, to convert and 
 build up. It is to visit several thousand fami- 
 lies weekly, and discourse to men, women, 
 and children — to good and bad, pious and pro- 
 fane, on the subjects of sin — death — and the 
 judgment; and above all, to tell about Jesus, 
 the new birth, sanctification, and the felicity 
 and glory of the saved. You have often heard 
 by the Western Christian Advocate, what a 
 reading people these Germans are, and how 
 much this voiceless, yet persuasive missionary 
 will be likely to accomplish, if we can but fur- 
 nish it for its journeys, and keep it in the itin- 
 erant field, ceaselessly pressing along our high- 
 ways and river courses ; never tiring, never 
 sleeping, never checked by cold, sleet, or snow ; 
 and with a sort of ubiquity, pouring forth its 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 71 
 
 pathetic strains in a thousand cabins, at one 
 and the same moment. 
 
 "If you will yield to the Apologist these 
 important functions, (and surely you will,) you 
 cannot view its publication of secondary im- 
 portance ; or should you, permit us to urge on 
 your attention the following facts : 
 
 " There are hundreds of thousands of Ger- 
 mans now among us. In this great valley 
 they are become a large proportion of the in- 
 habitants. You may say of them as the Ro- 
 man said of the early Christians, ' Every place 
 is full of them.' We deem it safe to assume, 
 that there are more Germans in the Mississippi 
 valley than there are Indians beyond the Rocky 
 mountains ; indeed, we may say, there are 
 more Catholic, neologistic, and skeptical Ger- 
 mans in this great west, than there are heathens 
 in the whole Pacific territory of the United 
 States. Between the abused privileges and re- 
 ligious states of these and those, we leave you 
 to seek resemblances and differences, as the 
 Bible warrants. The office of judging requires 
 no skillful casuistry, or infallible prudence ; 
 inasmuch as the Bible teaches us that, ' to 
 whom much is given, of him much will be re- 
 quired.' Now, bethink you with what zeal 
 the Church is commissioning messengers to 
 pass over the deserts, and scale the mountains 
 of the remote west, to reach some eighty thous- 
 and Indians who know not God. In that good 
 work, gold and silver are offered almost with- 
 
72 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 out measure, and the whole land urges forward 
 the enterprise. 
 
 " And by what rule do we leave our country 
 and sail all the way by Cape Horn and the 
 Pacific islands ; or traverse the almost intermin- 
 able deserts for six long months, to preach 
 Jesus in the valley of the Multnomah, and 
 meanwhile refuse to open our hearts and our 
 purses to relieve the sufferers of our own 
 household. In the former work, shall we val- 
 ue no labor, nor peril, nor expense ; while in 
 the latter, fear and avarice dry up the fountains, 
 or check the current of our charities ? Shall 
 we urge the ministers of Jesus abroad, in the 
 face of toils and hazards of all sorts, and equip 
 them with thirty thousand a year, (which we 
 heartily approve,) and then refuse one-tenth of 
 that sum to bring moral relief to thousands of 
 strangers, who lie in our bosoms, so close to us 
 that we may feel the very beatings of their 
 hearts ? It is a fact, brethren, that a tithe of 
 the funds contributed for the salvation of eighty 
 thousand Indians abroad, will sustain this mes- 
 senger of Gospel tidings, among eighty thous- 
 and persons who stand at our thresholds, and 
 daily commune with us and with our children. 
 
 " We rejoice to see scores of missionaries 
 sent to Oregon, and to Liberia, and to South 
 America. We would rejoice to see scores 
 started, this year, to China, to Palestine, and 
 to ten other places which we might name, and 
 4 thirty thousand dollars ' demanded for each of 
 them, till a million were called for in the name 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 73 
 
 of the bleeding Lamb. And then we should 
 not fear but that the holy sympathies awakened 
 by this call, would be all-sufficient to add, if 
 need were, ten thousand dollars more, to purify 
 our own dwellings, and to preserve from dete- 
 rioration and death, the energies of our own 
 Church and country. For how could those 
 charities which would flow abroad so freely 
 and liberally, become stinted and scanty when 
 needed at home, 
 
 "Some have dreaded, to be sure, lest this 
 home effort should so absorb the sympathies 
 and resources of the Church, as to leave little 
 for missions abroad. But how greatly they 
 erred. While two thousand dollars were being 
 contributed last year, for the ' Christian Apolo- 
 gist,' fears were excited in many minds, lest 
 the general contributions of the Ohio confer- 
 ence should fall short of former precedents 
 Was this the result ? The Lord, who loveth a 
 cheerful giver, was with his people, and for 
 heathens abroad so moved their hearts, (which 
 had been overflowing with sympathy for the 
 Germans, till charity had become vehement 
 and needed vent,) that they laid eleven thous- 
 and dollars upon the altar, an offering of a 
 sweet smelling savor. 
 
 " The circumstances of each case are such, 
 that if we labor and contribute for foreigners, 
 much more should we feel bound to do it for 
 denizens, and for such as will soon be fellow 
 citizens. Self-preservation, which is the ' first 
 law of nature ,' as well as charity, which is the 
 7 
 
74 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 first law of grace, binds us to the latter. If 
 crude and contaminating elements are perpetu- 
 ally intermixing with the proper constituents 
 of the Church and the state, and borrow no 
 refinement nor purity from the intimate contact, 
 they will gradually impart their nature to the 
 bodies civil and ecclesiastical. And it is peri- 
 lous on our part to suffer such a process. What 
 will follow in due time ? The very fountains 
 which refreshed the distant regions of Africa, 
 and South America, and Oregon, will them- 
 selves at length become corrupt; and if they 
 flow at all, will send forth to the nations, not 
 healing, but poisonous waters. 
 
 " And mark this interesting fact : Immigration 
 from Europe, and especially from Germany, 
 ceases not, but increases constantly. Floods 
 of life, and mind, and moral energy, are setting 
 in upon us. A paragraph from a religious pa- 
 per just fell under our observation, which, like 
 many similar notices, admonishes us. It reads 
 as follows : 
 
 " ' German Emigrants. — A letter from Bre- 
 men, dated September 26, to a house in St. 
 Louis, says: "Fifteen vessels are up at this 
 port for New Orleans, with about 2000 emi- 
 grants, nearly ail of whom you may expect at 
 St. Louis; the majority of them are respecta- 
 ble and wealthy." ' 
 
 "This fleet of vessels, then, bears to our 
 shores more persons than constitute some of 
 the tribes to which we furnish missions at the 
 expense of thousands. Thus, while our In- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 75 
 
 dian population is diminishing, and perishing 
 by tribes, our immigrants are multiplying ra- 
 pidly. With those, the tide ebbs — with these, 
 it flows. Those are in the autumn of their 
 national existence, seared and fast fading away ; 
 these, blooming and aspiring like vernal plants, 
 come among us to renew their youth, and put 
 forth new-born energies in a land which effec- 
 tually solicits the avarice, ambition, and all the 
 earthly tempers of their hearts, by unfolding 
 to them the prospect of acquisition and indul- 
 gence." 
 
 " Now while we occupy the field which is 
 every year diminishing, shall we neglect that 
 which is so rapidly enlarging ? Shall we em- 
 ploy our energies to sow the seed of life on 
 soils, which time is wasting and threatens to 
 devour, yet refuse to cultivate a region which, 
 by the current of years, gains constant accre- 
 tions? Look forward half a century. Then 
 the descendants of the red man will be like the 
 leaves of the forest, when winter has finished 
 the desolations of autumn, and the savage eye 
 beholds no foliage, and the savage foot presses 
 upon the snows. The works of the Church 
 will indeed remain ; for if not on earth, yet in 
 heaven some of these sons of the wilderness 
 will be jewels in the diadem of Jesus. But 
 we can scarcely expect, judging from the past 
 and the present, that the Indians in successive 
 generations are to form a part of the militant 
 Church. Not so with the Germans. Their 
 conversion may be desired not only for them- 
 
76 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 selves, but for Zion's sake in all climes and 
 ages. There is strength in German character 
 which must inevitably give it influence. Their 
 mental aptitudes — their habits of secular dili- 
 gence and carefulness, should enlist concern, 
 as well as partial admiration. In their moral 
 and religious states, even where the influence 
 of early culture has been sinister, there is power, 
 if nothing more — there is virtue in the proper, 
 if not in a moral sense. Doubtless they will 
 hereafter bear much sway in constituting the 
 authorities which control this land — in molding 
 the nation's mind — in fashioning its morals — 
 and in making up the sum total of its weal or 
 its woe. Let them become a leaven of malice, 
 and unless saved by Omnipotence, the Church 
 and nation are undone. Let them become a 
 leaven of holiness, then liberty, and science, 
 and heaven-born religion, may concert their 
 holy and everlasting jubilee. Germany is 
 sparing us more elements of moral good or 
 evil, than any other nation of any continent can 
 furnish us, whether it be for peace or war. 
 What shall we render for this kindness ? Let 
 us receive her gifts ; but let us make them, by 
 reflex agency, subserve her own moral and 
 spiritual regeneration. This we hope to do. 
 This, with God's aid, we are now preparing to 
 accomplish. 
 
 " It may be queried, if for the Germans there 
 can be any hope? It may be judged, that, 
 like Chorazin and the cities of Gennesaret, a 
 ' woe ' has irrevocably gone out against them* 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 77 
 
 We have other demonstrations. They are not 
 reprobates, either from inveterate moral obdu- 
 racy, or from judicial blindness and necessity. 
 In their habits of thought and sentiment they 
 are proven not to be invincible to the power of 
 Gospel truth. Indeed, their condition is in 
 some respects peculiarly encouraging. Those 
 of the present generation may almost be con- 
 sidered as not personally derelict from piety 
 and orthodoxy. They rather inherit the liber- 
 alism with which they are contaminated. We 
 may assume in their favor more than this. 
 Neither they nor their ancestors, either Catho- 
 lic or Protestant, have ever enjoyed the oppor- 
 tunity to test the power of religion as inculca- 
 ted by Wesley, and by his sons in the Gospel. 
 This should not be forgotten. All that which 
 has been done for England and the United 
 States, and which has resulted in such mag- 
 nificent moral revolutions as to provoke the re- 
 luctant admiration of a Southey, and of thous- 
 ands like him, is yet to be wrought for neglect- 
 ed Germany. 
 
 " There is this exception. For a few months 
 past, a solitary German missionary, anointed 
 for the office as unexpectedly as David was 
 elected to the throne, has preached Jesus to the 
 Germans. Since the last sitting 1 of the Ohio 
 conference, another has joined him. What 
 are the fruits ? To go no farther, we have a 
 class of some thirty excellent members in Cin- 
 cinnati, another of thirty-five members in Pitts- 
 burg, another of eighteen or more in Wheeling, 
 
78 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 with prospects bright as unclouded sunrise still 
 opening upon us. No mission of our Church 
 can, in equal circumstances, display so rich a 
 harvest. Compare it with any of our foreign 
 missions, and you will perceive and acknowl- 
 edge this to be the fact. One short visit of 
 brother N. to Pittsburg, has resulted in an ad- 
 dition to the Church of twenty-five souls. An 
 exhorter, who started from this city a few days 
 since, reached Wheeling in his travels ; and be- 
 ginning to speak the word of life with no san- 
 guine expectations, the power of God came 
 down, and blessed, indeed, were the conse- 
 quences. 
 
 " But another thing is needed to extend the 
 sphere, and multiply the fruits of these prolific 
 Gospel labors. It is the support and circula- 
 tion of our German periodical. 
 
 "The 'Apologist' is abroad. The 'New 
 Year' gave it birth, and ere this, it has proba- 
 bly been cast a foundling at your thresholds. 
 We beseech you, brethren, receive it — nurse 
 it to maturity, that it may be employed, tbrough 
 a long and useful life, as an instrument of mer- 
 cy to open the eyes of the blind, and proclaim 
 liberty to a multitude of captives. Brethren, 
 can we appeal in vain for your aid to consum- 
 mate an enterprise so noble, so hopeful, so ev- 
 ery way desirable ? You ask, ' What is to be 
 done?' Much — very much. You must in 
 part contribute the very element to sustain the 
 being which you gave it. By your beneficence 
 it began to breathe, and move, and speak. By 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 79 
 
 your paternal watchfulness it must be cherish- 
 ed in its infancy, till it can, without your fos- 
 tering, look to its own concerns. You have 
 done a noble part, and so much the greater pity 
 that all your toil should go for nought — that 
 your works should begin to go to ruin while 
 not yet finished. We deprecate the shame. 
 You have laid out thousands to construct a 
 strong foundation, which now stands to be 
 gazed on by the world. Desert not the enter- 
 prise. Add a few hundreds more. Half a 
 thousand will complete the sum originally con- 
 templated, without which our plans are all de- 
 ranged, and our charities all periled. Thus do 
 we find fresh motives, arising from circum- 
 stances, to rouse our energies in this good work. 
 il We appeal to you, then, for five or six hun- 
 dred dollars, to make up the three thousand. 
 Furthermore, we want every possible effort to 
 be made, by every minister and every member, 
 to obtain subscribers for the Apologist. The 
 crisis has come at last. We must now briefly 
 sacrifice all, or save all by a little added labor 
 and benevolence. Shall we not, then, bestir 
 ourselves ? To think of a retreat from ground 
 so nobly won, so advantageous to the occu- 
 pants, so fortified and strengthened by past 
 diligence, gives us the heart-ache. We would 
 rather build the rising walls with the sword (of 
 the Spirit) in one hand, and the trowel in the 
 other. Rather than fail, we are resolved to 
 make some sacrifices. Help us, we entreat 
 you, in this labor of love and mercy. Do not 
 
80 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 fear that regard for this, will divert the sympa- 
 thies of Zion from other enterprises. It is meet 
 that our charities should be varied — that they 
 should flow in many channels, and be dispersed 
 abroad. Like the student of nature who would 
 frequent her whole immensity — who searches 
 ocean, earth, and heaven, converting the whole 
 creation into a volume of rich instruction, not 
 content until he has scanned each page and line ; 
 so the Christian philanthropist, with busy, pry- 
 ing charity, should fix his eye, and fasten his 
 warm affections on every interest of humanity, 
 of every age and clime — of time and of eter- 
 nity. The benevolence of a Christian cannot, 
 like that of Jesus, glow and spread as do the 
 splendors of the sun ; still it may be far-reach- 
 ing and diversified. Christian charity ema- 
 nates from God ; and to the streams, as to the 
 Fountain, belongs appropriate perfection. To 
 this pertains infinity, whose incident is, un- 
 ceasing, boundless affluence ; to that, the grace 
 of limited, but various beneficence. This is 
 a sun of blazing fires, lighting up immensity, 
 and binding worlds and systems in secure and 
 blissful concord ; that, is His mellowed beams, 
 reflecting rainbow charms, v^hose grace depends 
 on no single hue, but on a rich variety of shades, 
 and on the perfect harmony with which the 
 colors blend. L. L. Hamline, 
 
 Wm. H. Raper. 
 " Cincinnati, Jan. 4, 1839." 
 Having taken up much more space than was 
 at first intended, in giving an account of the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 81 
 
 commencement and progress of the Christian 
 Apologist, we will proceed in regular order to 
 notice the German missions, as they were es- 
 tablished from time to time, in the different 
 conferences. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 REV. PETER SCHMTJCKER's FIRST AP- 
 POINTMENT TO CINCINNATI, 1838* 
 AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 
 MISSION AT PITTSBURG. 
 
 In the autumn of 1838, brother Schmucker, 
 formerly a successful and experienced minister 
 in the Lutheran Church, was appointed mis- 
 sionary to Cincinnati, and brother Nast editor 
 of the Christian Apologist. Brother Schmuck- 
 er labored there two years, with great success. 
 At the close of the first year, he reported eighty 
 members in society; and at the close of the 
 second, one hundred ; and, but for the removal 
 of many of the members, the number would 
 have been considerably greater. 
 
 During the fall, brother Nast, by the invita- 
 tion of some of the stationed preachers, visited 
 Pittsburg, and after preaching to the Germans 
 several weeks, formed a society of thirty mem- 
 bers. The following report, published in the 
 Pittsburg Conference Journal, "gives an inter- 
 esting account," says the editor of the Western 
 
82 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Christian Advocate, " of the fruits of his visit 
 to Pittsburg." 
 
 ^Pittsburg, Oct. 23, 1838. 
 "Brother Hunter, — I cannot leave this 
 city without addressing, through your paper, a 
 few lines to my beloved English brethren. I 
 had been invited by your worthy preachers to 
 pay a missionary visit to my German country- 
 men in this city. I followed the Macedonian 
 cry, and would most devoutly acknowledge the 
 goodness of Almighty God, whose providence 
 brought me here, and whose gracious help was 
 afforded, to effect what my brethren in the min- 
 istry entreated the Lord so effectually for, even 
 to feed the little flock of German sheep who 
 sought shelter in your fold during the last sum- 
 mer. I found them about ten in number, most- 
 ly males — husbands without their wives. Their 
 number has increased to thirty-five, so that we 
 could form two classes. Several of the wives 
 have been baptized into one spirit with their 
 husbands ; about fifteen in all, have experienced 
 religion during my stay. I could not preach 
 to large congregations, as we had no means 
 of making the appointment generally known 
 among the German public. But as many as 
 came to hear the word of life, were made to 
 feel that God was present. Several told me 
 they would join as soon as the society would 
 get a regular preacher. The people are truly 
 craving the sincere milk of the Gospel ; no 
 where have I found it so easy to preach. I la- 
 bored a whole year at Cincinnati for twenty- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 83 
 
 four members. I trust the work will go on, 
 and prove like the leaven which a woman took 
 and mixed with three measures of meal. Sev- 
 eral of the members immediately entered upon 
 the right spirit of the work — they went home, 
 not only to pray for themselves, but to pray 
 with and for their friends and neighbors. To 
 give you some instances — I staid all night with 
 a family, where the husband was a member, 
 but had not a clear witness of his acceptance 
 with God. The Lord met us at the family 
 altar in the morning. The brother went then 
 to his work, but returned in a short time, sigh- 
 ing and heavy laden — he said he could not 
 work — he wanted to pray more. We called in 
 his wife. The Lord visited us in power ; and 
 whilst he was blessed, his wife began to cry 
 for mercy, and has also, since that time, expe- 
 rienced religion. I visited another family, of 
 which only the father was a member of the 
 German class. He was seeking religion. I 
 prayed with the family : the mother became 
 first affected, then her son, then her son-in-law, 
 then his wife, and even a Roman Catholic girl, 
 who lived in the family, fell under conviction. 
 The whole family joined the Church, and some 
 experienced religion. The son-in-law told us, 
 in love feast, that he never before had offered 
 up one prayer, or felt uneasy concerning his 
 future state ; he promises to become as stout a 
 champion in the good cause, as he was reckless 
 before. I cannot describe the affecting scenes 
 which I witnessed. But let me relate one 
 
84 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 more. A brother who was very zealous, al- 
 though opposed by his wife, had a meeting 
 appointed in his house. I preached on the third 
 and fourth verses of the fifth chapter of Matthew, 
 and opened the door of the Church. His wife 
 was the first that literally rushed forward, seiz- 
 ed my hand, confessed herself a great sinner, 
 and told the congregation, with a flood of tears, 
 how wickedly she had opposed her husband, 
 and how patiently he took it: he would not 
 cease to pray for her. She experienced relig- 
 ion the following morning, and will, no doubt, 
 be a helpmate to her precious husband. They 
 are an excellent couple, living by faith in the 
 Son of God, who has given himself for them. 
 In love feast, she sat in the middle of the con- 
 gregation, and when she rose to give her testi- 
 mony, she could not content herself to stay 
 where she was, but came out, walked up the 
 aisle to the pulpit, and then turning and facing 
 the congregation, she told, in language that 
 would have melted the hardest heart, what the 
 Lord Jesus had done for her poor soul. 
 
 " My dear brethren, the Germans whilst un- 
 converted, turn an entirely deaf ear to religion, 
 but when they hear the voice of the Son of 
 God, and find him to be the good Shepherd, 
 they become, generally, dead to the world, 
 and make religion their all-absorbing theme. 
 Thanks be to the good Lord, the friend of sin- 
 ners, that he has put it in the hearts of the 
 Pittsburg Methodists to feel for their German 
 brethren, and to provide a missionary for them. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 85 
 
 Divine Providence, which is ever waiting to 
 prosper every good desire and resolution, has 
 met you in this matter, and provided a man, to 
 whose instrumentality some of them ascribe 
 their awakening. Go on, my dear brethren — 
 be not weary in cultivating every inch of Im- 
 manuel's ground, and be sure that the German 
 population will yield a crop that will make you 
 rejoice through all eternity. 
 
 "I would also tender my sincere thanks to 
 the brethren for their kindness, and the interest 
 they manifested in behalf of our great and good 
 enterprise — I mean the Apologist. Had I 
 time, I would say much upon this subject. 
 Please take a copy of this paper, if you wish 
 to communicate the blessings of Methodism to 
 our German fellow citizens, and brethren in the 
 Lord ! They will, in all probability, pay you 
 the money at the end of the year, and perhaps, 
 thank you in heaven for it. 
 
 " Five years ago, I left Pittsburg with noth- 
 ing but blackness and darkness before me — I 
 went away weeping, and said, on the point of 
 despair, Though he slay me, yet will I trust 
 in him. Blessed be God, the Son of right- 
 eousness rose upon my hopeless soul with 
 healing in his wings. I returned to preach 
 that Jesus will not pass by any, else he would 
 have passed by me. Truly, those that go 
 weeping, bearing precious seed, shall surely 
 return with joy, bringing their sheaves with 
 them. The Lord keep us faithful to the end ! 
 " Youis, in the Gospel, Wm. Nast." 
 8 
 
86 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Brother Nast's duties, as editor, calling him 
 to Cincinnati, he soon had to leave the little 
 flock ; and the Eev. J. M. Hartman, who was 
 a fruit of the Wesleyan mission, in Germany, 
 was appointed to take charge of them. He 
 labored here for two years. At the close of 
 the first year, he reported one hundred mem- 
 bers. There was, however, a falling off, in 
 the second year, which was caused, partly, by 
 a man of strange and enthusiastic character, 
 who succeeded in getting some of the members 
 to follow him. In this place, our brethren 
 have labored under great embarrassments, for 
 want of a suitable house of worship ; and the 
 prospects of this mission have been rather dis- 
 couraging for the last few years. The arrival 
 of Rev. C. Doering, however, during the past 
 year, has been beneficial. His labors have 
 been blessed ; and he now reports that the 
 prospects are more encouraging. 
 
 At the close of the year 1838, we had, as 
 the reader will have observed, two missions, 
 supplied with preachers. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF GERMAN MISSIONS 
 
 IN 1839 COMMENCEMENT OF THE 
 
 GERMAN MISSION AT WHEELING. 
 
 In January, of this year, John Swahlen, who 
 was converted during the first year of brother 
 Nast's labors in Cincinnati, was sent out, as an 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 87 
 
 exhorter, and also as an obtainer of subscribers 
 for the Christian Apologist. When he arrived 
 at Wheeling, he found the Germans hungry for 
 the bread of life, and immediately commenced 
 exhorting them to seek the Lord. The word 
 took effect at once, and soon a society of twen- 
 ty-six members was formed. The following 
 extract from a letter to brother Nast, shows 
 how he commenced his labors : 
 
 " Wheeling, Dec. 26, 1838. 
 "Dear Brother, — Last Saturday evening 
 I arrived here, and was kindly received by the 
 brethren, both German and English. An ap- 
 pointment was immediately given out for Sab- 
 bath afternoon and evening. For Monday I 
 appointed a class meeting, and invited all that 
 were in earnest to save their souls. After class 
 meeting, I read the General Rules, and gave an 
 invitation to join the Church. Twelve came 
 forward, and gave me their hands. Christmas 
 morning, at six o'clock, I held a prayer meet- 
 ing — at ten and three o'clock, I tried to exhort 
 them from the word of God. The Lord was 
 with me — four joined, and a woman cried 
 aloud for mercy. In the afternoon, God work- 
 ed again to my astonishment. Several were 
 convicted, and cried aloud. Some professors 
 were stirred up to seek for more of the love of 
 God. One was brought into the liberty of the 
 children of God. Pray for us. It is the work 
 of the Lord. The brethren think I should stay 
 here till the river opens. I do not feel as if 
 I could do any thing myself; yet I believe that 
 
88 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 God makes use of instruments. Last night we 
 again had meeting, and three were converted. 
 To-morrow morning, at six o'clock, we will 
 have prayer meeting. Remember us earnestly 
 at a throne of grace. 
 
 " Your sincere brother in Christ, 
 
 "John Swahlen." 
 
 Brother Swahlen returned to Cincinnati, re- 
 ported his success, was licensed to preach, and 
 sent back to Wheeling as a missionary. After 
 laboring eighteen months, he reported eighty- 
 three members in society, and the erection of 
 a new meeting-house, 40 feet by 40, and two 
 stories high. This was the first German Meth- 
 odist Episcopal church ever built on earth. 
 This mission has been, in a good degree, pros- 
 perous ever since its commencement, and has 
 undoubtedly been the means of much good to 
 the German population of that place. It now 
 numbers one hundred and two members. 
 
 Monroe Mission. — This mission was es- 
 tablished by the Pittsburg conference, in the 
 year 1839. After a great many souls were 
 awakened and converted to God, through 
 the instrumentality of brother Swahlen, and 
 brother Riemenschneider, from Wheeling, then 
 a local preacher, Rev. C. C. Best, of the Erie 
 conference, an American German, was appoint- 
 ed to take charge of it ; with an aged brother, 
 by the name of Tuescher, a local preacher, as 
 his assistant. This mission then embraced 
 what is now called Marietta mission ; and its 
 territory was seventy miles in length, and forty 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 89 
 
 in breadth, and was one of the roughest parts 
 of the state of Ohio. At the close of the first 
 year the missionary reported, in society, one 
 hundred and sixty-five members, of whom one 
 hundred and fifteen fell the next year into the 
 Marietta mission. In July, 1840, brother J. 
 Dancker, formerly a Lutheran preacher, was 
 appointed to the Monroe mission, properly so 
 called. He labored there two years with great 
 success, receiving one hundred and three mem- 
 bers into the society, in spite of the violent op- 
 position and persecution of a Lutheran preach- 
 er, who spread among his people many false- 
 hoods concerning the Methodists. Once he 
 abused brother Dancker from the pulpit in 
 such a manner, that his elder became curious 
 to see and hear so bad a man. He accordingly 
 went to the house where brother Dancker was 
 preaching, and stood outside to hear the ser- 
 mon ; the result of which was, the conviction 
 and conversion of himself and his eldest son. 
 Many such instances might be related. Broth- 
 er Dancker mentions, also, in his last report 
 from that mission, an interesting circumstance, 
 in the following words : " There was one ap- 
 pointment on my circuit, where I had preached 
 for two years every four weeks ; but I saw no 
 fruit at all of my labor. I appointed a two 
 days' meeting, to bid them farewell. Sermons, 
 exhortations and prayers followed each other, 
 but all seemed in vain. On Sabbath evening I 
 gave them the last invitation to the mourners' 
 bench, but none came. With a deep sigh, I 
 
90 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 committed the souls of the people to God, and 
 spoke the benediction. After the benediction, 
 we sang a few verses in conclusion; during 
 which, five persons fell on their knees, and 
 cried for mercy : four of them were converted 
 the same evening. We then held on, and the 
 work of God spread in this neighborhood." 
 In July, 1842, brother H. Bahrenburg, a spir- 
 itual son of brother Dancker, was appointed to 
 this flourishing mission. He also labored with 
 success, and the society numbers now two hun- 
 dred members. They have built a large house 
 of worship. 
 
 German Mission within the bounds of Cin- 
 cinnati and Lebanon district, Ohio confer- 
 ence. — This mission was established in 1839, 
 and A. Miller was appointed missionary. Soon 
 after he arrived, he received a letter from Bishop 
 Soule, who has ever taken a deep interest in 
 these missions, in which he definitely pointed 
 out his field of labor. The following are the 
 closing remarks of the Bishop's letter: "It is 
 very desirable that you should obtain a knowl- 
 edge of any German settlements in the vicinity 
 of the above named places, and visit them as 
 time and opportunity will permit; and while 
 we would not neglect the American Germans, 
 foreigners should be considered as having a 
 paramount claim to our missionary labors. In 
 all your missionary visitations, you will take a 
 deep interest in obtaining patronage for the 
 6 Apologist,' and in circulating the German 
 hymn book, and such tracts as are published in 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 91 
 
 the German language. And may the grace of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ abide with you always, 
 and through your instrumentality, abound to 
 the salvation of the people you are appointed 
 to serve." 
 
 During this year, the missionary visited the 
 Scioto country, and other points ; and at the 
 ensuing conference, reported favorably to the 
 establishment of several new missions. His 
 report is as follows : 
 
 "Zanesville, O., October 1, 1840. 
 
 "Dear Brethren, — In performing my du- 
 ties as your missionary for the past year, I have 
 visited the different German settlements within 
 the bounds of the Cincinnati and Lebanon dis- 
 tricts ; and have also, according to the instruc- 
 tions of Bishop Soule, attended all the quarterly 
 meetings of the mission in Cincinnati ; besides 
 visiting, in the course of the year, the Germans 
 in different parts of Ohio, distributing religious 
 tracts, &c, and preaching to them where con- 
 gregations could be collected. The appoint- 
 ment of a missionary to this field was an ex- 
 periment; and the efforts of your missionary 
 have not been so generally successful as may 
 have been anticipated by the friends of mis- 
 sions; yet it is a matter of rejoicing, that the 
 efforts made, by the blessing of God, have not 
 been altogether unsuccessful. Many, it is be- 
 lieved, have been brought to serious reflection, 
 while a few have been happily converted to 
 God, and are now living stones in the spiritual 
 temple. There is also good reason to hope 
 
UZ ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 that the tracts, our Articles of Faith, and the 
 General Rules of our Discipline, which have 
 been distributed, will be as seed sown on good 
 ground. The Christian Apologist has also 
 been extensively distributed, and in this way 
 many who heretofore have been ignorant of our 
 doctrines and usages, have been enlightened 
 and instructed; and whether they all receive 
 the truth, and practice upon it, or not, we have 
 the satisfaction of knowing that we have en- 
 deavored to place it within their reach. 
 
 " It was also expected of your missionary that 
 he should make observations, and report in re- 
 ference to the prospect of our future operations 
 among the Germans in those regions. So far 
 as observation and inquiry have been made, we 
 see no reason for discouragement. However, 
 we cannot expect that all the Germans to whom 
 we preach will immediately embrace our doc- 
 trine, and conform to our usages. They all 
 have been educated in their own country to be- 
 lieve in some system or form of religion, and 
 will cleave, with a tenacity peculiar to them- 
 selves, to their respective creeds ; and nothing 
 but the force of truth, under the influence of 
 the Divine Spirit, will induce them to change 
 their opinions, and to embrace the doctrine of 
 a present salvation by faith, and the witness of 
 the Spirit, as taught by our Church. The ques- 
 tion, however, whether something can be done 
 toward the conversion of Germans who have 
 immigrated to this country, is no longer pro- 
 blematical; the hundreds that have already 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 93 
 
 been converted in different parts, through the 
 labors of our missionaries, give full proof that 
 much may be done in this interesting field. 
 But here, as in all our operations, a proper 
 method should be observed. And your mis- 
 sionary would beg leave to suggest, with defer- 
 ence and submission, the impracticability of 
 assigning to any one man as extensive a field 
 of labor as that which he occupied in the past 
 year, especially where the greater part of the 
 Germans are native Americans, and can under- 
 stand the English language. We believe that 
 the foreigners who have left the homes of their 
 youth, and have come to seek a permanent resi- 
 dence in our far-famed land of liberty, should 
 be the especial object of our sympathy: to this 
 class our attention should be first directed. 
 Among them our efforts, so far, have been most 
 successful ; and in reference to them we may 
 say truly, ' The harvest is great.' We find 
 this industrious class of our population by 
 thousands in the west: not only in the popu- 
 lous cities, but in the fertile valleys — on the 
 sterile hills, and through the dreary marshes ; 
 all struggling hard for the things of this life. 
 It is estimated that their number in the United 
 States is already 1,500,000, and that their an- 
 nual increase, by immigration, is from thirty to 
 forty thousand. Many of them are like sheep 
 without a shepherd ; their condition demands 
 the sympathy, prayers, and benevolent exer- 
 tions of a Christian community. And is it not 
 high time that the most efficient means should 
 
94 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 be in progress for their moral elevation and 
 spiritual improvement? One of the strongest 
 bonds that holds the different parts of our coun- 
 try together, is the religion of the Gospel ; and 
 one of the brightest ornaments of our Church 
 is her zeal in spreading the Gospel among the 
 poor and the destitute. And your missionary, 
 after a survey of the interesting field spread 
 before us, cannot too strongly recommend to 
 this conference the importance of occupying 
 this field, as far as our means will admit of our 
 doing so. We are aware that various objec- 
 tions will present themselves to any extended 
 exertions in behalf of the Germans. The most 
 important of all is, the scarcity of funds to 
 support missionaries among them until they 
 are able to support the Gospel among them- 
 selves. But we believe that the benevolence 
 and zeal of the Church will cause this objec- 
 tion to vanish like the morning cloud, and like 
 the early dew ; and that if this subject were pro- 
 perly brought before our friends, and a call was 
 made for the support of the Gospel among these 
 strangers that have come among us, there would 
 be many willing hearts and liberal hands to aid 
 in this important work. 
 
 " In Cincinnati the work is going on glorious- 
 ly, and will not be abandoned. In German- 
 town we have a small society, (eight in num- 
 ber, now attached to one of the English classes, 
 led by a man who speaks both languages,) 
 waiting with anxiety to know if they shall have 
 a preacher the ensuing year. At Dayton, and 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS, 95 
 
 its vicinity, we believe there is an important 
 opening. At Portsmouth, and along the mouth 
 of the Scioto River, including Piketon and 
 West Union, a missionary might be profitably 
 employed. Also, in Louisville, Ky., ' the field 
 is ripe unto harvest,' and many wait with anx- 
 iety to see the arrival of a missionary. Final- 
 ly, the door is now opened before us, and the 
 indications of Providence all appear favorable. 
 It now remains for us, as a Church, to say 
 whether this field shall be cultivated, until it 
 shall be as ' the garden of the Lord ;' or wheth- 
 er it shall remain a moral waste, and scores and 
 hundreds be lost for ever, when we, with but 
 small exertion, might be the means of their sal- 
 vation. The good work has commenced among 
 the Germans, and could our brethren, who have 
 manifested an interest in their behalf, hear and 
 understand the language of gratitude and praise 
 that flows from their lips, in their class and 
 love feast meetings, they would all say, so far 
 as the instrumentality of the Church is con- 
 cerned, the work shall go on. May it spread 
 and deepen and widen, until thousands of the 
 Germans shall have come to the knowledge of 
 the truth ! is the devout prayer of your servant 
 in the Gospel of Christ, 
 
 "Adam Miller." 
 In accordance with the suggestions in the 
 above report, several new missions were estab- 
 lished at this conference ; a German mission 
 district was also formed, and Adam Miller 
 
96 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 was appointed superintendent of the German 
 missions in the Ohio conference. 
 
 German Missions in the State of Indiana. 
 — In the spring of 1839, a society was formed 
 in Lawrenceburg, principally by the labors of 
 brother Nast, who frequently visited the place. 
 During the ensuing summer, J. M. Hofer, one 
 of the first converts of the Cincinnati mission, 
 removed to Lawrenceburg, and acted in the ca- 
 pacity of class-leader and exhorter, and a short 
 time afterward was licensed to preach. In the 
 fall of this year, an appropriation was made for 
 the support of a mission within the bounds of 
 the Indiana conference, and Rev. J. Kisling, an 
 American German, and local preacher in the 
 English Church, was appointed missionary, 
 who traveled extensively through the south- 
 eastern part of the state, but did not accomplish 
 much in forming societies the first year. The 
 second year, however, was more prosperous. 
 Brother Kisling, having been re-appointed, 
 formed a number of societies, and a regular 
 circuit. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 STATE OF THE GERMAN MISSIONS IN 
 
 1840. 
 
 We have already seen the work gradually 
 
 spreading ; and it is cheering to reflect, that as 
 
 the door was opened, a new supply of help was 
 
 furnished by the Lord of the harvest. At the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 97 
 
 latter part of this year, we had nine regular 
 missionaries in the field, besides an editor of a 
 religious paper. Brother Schmucker closed 
 his two years' labor in Cincinnati, in the fall of 
 this year. During his labors in this mission, 
 he preached frequently in the market house, 
 and did much in visiting the Germans from 
 house to house, and distributing Bibles, Testa- 
 ments and tracts, among the destitute. He 
 also made a practice of visiting the steamboats 
 at the river, distributing many tracts among the 
 German boatmen. The touching incidents 
 contained in the following articles, written by 
 him for the Western Christian Advocate, show 
 that his labors were not in vain. 
 
 " Dear Brethren, — Will you be so kind 
 as to let me speak a few words, through your 
 columns, to the friends of religious tracts and 
 tract societies. I have been engaged in the 
 distribution of religious tracts for many years, 
 and always looked upon this way of doing 
 good as bread cast upon the water ; some I 
 found in this life, and some I expect to find in 
 heaven. I have distributed about one thousand 
 or twelve hundred tracts in the city of Cincin- 
 nati, on the streets, in houses, and on steam- 
 boats. I have been refused by some — their 
 reasons I do not wish to make public ; but they 
 were polite refusals, such as need not cause ill 
 feelings at all. By nearly all, the tracts were 
 thankfully received, and I had interesting relig- 
 ious conversation with many, such as, I think, 
 we shall recollect, when we get home to our 
 9 
 
98 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Father's house. On steamboats, too, I have 
 met with most kind receptions, even by some 
 of the boat captains. On one boat, the captain 
 of which could speak the German language, 
 nearly all the hands were Germans, and could 
 read ; I gave them all tracts and religious peri- 
 odicals. They took their hats and caps off, 
 and thanked me, and asked me not to forget 
 them ; but on their return from New Orleans 
 to visit them again — and said they had not 
 heard a sermon in their language in three 
 years. They told me, without asking them, 
 they were all Protestants. I told them, in the 
 words of the poet, in the sailor's song, < My 
 German friends, " You are far from God, and 
 far from home;" but you have souls, try to 
 save them.' When I mentioned home, a young 
 man went away in tears. Now, friends of Je- 
 sus, what shall we do ? Ought we not to put 
 Bibles and tracts in their hands, to direct them 
 in the way, to comfort them in their sickness 
 and affliction ? Can we love Jesus, and not 
 love poor souls bought by his blood ? No mat- 
 ter how vile, miserable, wretched and degraded 
 sin may have made them, they have blood- 
 bought souls ; and this consideration alone, is 
 enough to make us concerned for them, and by 
 all means in our power, endeavor to save them 
 from their sins, and the awful consequences of 
 sin. But some will say, ' If we put Bibles 
 and tracts in their hands, they will not read 
 them — perhaps throw them away.' This is 
 taking a discouraging view of the case. Some 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 99 
 
 will not read them, but others will, which may- 
 be the means of their conversion to God, as in 
 the following instance: 
 
 " Some years ago, when traveling on one of 
 the highways to the west, I met a number of 
 German families, and gave each a religious 
 tract, that would receive it ; but, to my aston- 
 ishment, when looking back, I saw some of 
 them throw them aw r ay. Five or six years 
 afterward, I happened to be in a prayer meet- 
 ing, which was led by a young German ; after 
 the meeting was over, he came to me, and said, 
 6 Brother, I know your face, but don't know 
 your name. Are you not the man that met a 
 number of Germans on their way to the west, 
 near Cumberland, and gave each one a tract ? 
 Now, I bless God that I ever saw you, and 
 that you gave me a tract ; for I was taken sick, 
 and in my sickness had nothing to read but 
 that tract you gave me, which I read again and 
 again. God made it the means of my conver- 
 sion ; and, glory to God ! I now have a hope 
 that reaches beyond the grave.' Friends of 
 Bible and tract societies, I think our success, at 
 least in part, depends on ourselves. If our 
 motive be pure, our hearts filled with the love 
 of Jesus, we shall find an open door, and do 
 some good. P. Schmucker." 
 
 " Cincinnati, Ohio, June 1, 1840. 
 
 "Dear Brethren, — My chief object in 
 writing is, to say a few words on the subject 
 of religious tracts. Some very remarkable in- 
 stances have come under my notice, of their 
 
100 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 having been instrumental in the awakening and 
 conversion of souls, A few cases I wish to 
 relate, for the encouragement of the Tract So- 
 ciety, and all friends of tracts ; but especially 
 of those that are engaged in their distribution. 
 
 " Some years ago, I called at a public house 
 in North Carolina, to stay over night. The 
 landlord was a rich planter, and owned many 
 slaves ; a gentleman in appearance, but a deist 
 in principle. He asked me many questions ; 
 but as I could not hold a controversy with him 
 in the English language, I handed him a tract, 
 1 Salvation by Grace.'' He read in it till I re- 
 tired to bed, and was reading in the morning 
 when I left him. He invited me to stay for 
 breakfast, which I did, and would have nothing 
 for his bill but the tract. Several years elapsed, 
 when I called at the same house again, in com- 
 pany with two other clergymen. The same 
 gentleman came out, invited me into the house, 
 then took me by the hand, led me into a sepa- 
 rate apartment, showed me the tract, and, ac- 
 companied with many tears, related his conver- 
 sion to me, which he dated from the evening I 
 gave him the tract. He was then a member 
 of the Church. Next morning we prayed 
 together, and parted to meet again in heaven. 
 
 " Some years ago, I called at the house of a 
 gentleman in Virginia, to get some refreshment. 
 His son came into the room, and told me his 
 father was very sick, and wanted to see me. I 
 went into the room where he lay, and he said 
 to me, ' I am very sick, and I want you to pray 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 101 
 
 with me.' I told him I could not pray in En- 
 glish very well. 6 Well,' said he, ' pray as 
 well as you can.' I read the twenty-third 
 Psalm, and sung a hymn from his common 
 prayer-book, and then prayed for him. I then 
 handed him a tract, I think, on < Death and 
 Judgment. 7 While he was reading, I could 
 see the tear gather in his eye. The lady came 
 into the room, and told me I ought not to have 
 given him the tract, as he was too weak. She 
 left the room, I thought, dissatisfied. I com- 
 mitted him to the Lord, and left him. A few 
 years after, I called at a public house, in a vil- 
 lage not far off, to stay all night ; and asked 
 the landlady whether there was preaching, as 
 the church was lighted up. She told me, 
 4 No ; but we have a society meeting, and I 
 should be glad of your company.' We went, 
 and there I heard the same man relate his con- 
 version. He said, 'A Dutch preacher gave 
 me a tract, when lying on a bed of affliction, 
 some years ago, which powerfully awakened 
 me. I began to pray, and promised God if he 
 would spare my life once more, I would serve 
 him. He heard and answered my petition, 
 and converted my poor sin-sick soul.' Here 
 he gave vent to his feelings, and shouted glory 
 to God ; and the Dutch preacher ran up to 
 him and shook hands, in the midst of tears of 
 
 " Brethren, I need not tell you why I have 
 written the above. Our object is to save souls 
 — we leave no means untried — different means 
 9* 
 
102 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 may be applied under different circumstances. 
 When we go out in the highways, lanes and 
 hedges, or visit sinners in their houses, tracts 
 may be distributed to great advantage. They 
 should be accompanied with reproof, when ne- 
 cessary — -prayer and exhortation, as the oppor- 
 tunity may offer. They should be distributed 
 with a sparing hand, thereby showing that we 
 set value upon them ; and should one soul 
 among a thousand, by those means, be rescued 
 from destruction, we shall be well paid for our 
 trouble. And now, thou great Shepherd and 
 Bishop of souls, bless the Tract Society ; make 
 each tract instrumental to the salvation of a 
 soul ; bless each distributor with wisdom, faith 
 and patience, to bear all reproach; suffer all 
 contradiction meekly, and be faithful until 
 death ! We expect to meet many around the 
 dazzling throne of glory, in whose salvation 
 we have been instrumental ; and with them and 
 all the redeemed of the Lord, we will join in 
 singing the praises of God and the Lamb for 
 ever. 
 
 " To the American Tract Society, I would 
 beg leave to say, we have hundreds and thous- 
 ands of Germans in this western valley. They 
 have a claim on your charity. I have distribu- 
 ted not less than thirty thousand pages of Ger- 
 man tracts among them within eighteen months, 
 and could have done much more, but for the 
 want of means. 
 
 " P. Schmucker, 
 
 German Missionary" 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 103 
 
 From the above, it will be seen that success 
 often attends the efforts made to do good to the 
 souls of our fellow men, though it may be un- 
 known to us at the time. With regard to 
 many instances, eternity alone will be able to 
 tell the amount of good accomplished by the 
 distribution of tracts and Bibles. We should 
 not be " weary in well doing, for in due season 
 we shall reap if we faint not." We would 
 close these reflections with an expression of 
 gratitude to the American Bible and Tract soci- 
 eties, for their liberal donations, from time to 
 time, to these missions. 
 
 During this year, the old missions were gen- 
 erally in a state of prosperity. To them were 
 added the following new ones : Alleghany and 
 Marietta, in the Pittsburg conference; Allen 
 and Scioto, in the Ohio conference ; and Louis- 
 ville, in the Kentucky conference ; respecting 
 each of which, we will give a brief notice. 
 
 Alleghany Mission, — The foundation of . 
 this mission was laid by brother Hartman, 
 while he was a missionary in Pittsburg, in 
 1840. The Pittsburg conference, in the same 
 year, made an appropriation for a missionary, 
 and the Rev. J. Miller, an American German, 
 was appointed to it. 
 
 Marietta Mission was at first connected with 
 the Monroe mission; but in 1840 it became a 
 separate charge, and Rev. H. Koenecke, who 
 was one of the fruits of the Wheeling mission, 
 was appointed to take charge of it ; and at the 
 
104 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 close of the first year, he reported one hundred 
 and seventy members. 
 
 It is worthy of mentioning, that in the begin- 
 ning of the year 1840, Rev. J. Dancker, who 
 had charge of two Lutheran congregations in 
 and near Marietta, joined us with forty-two 
 members. The reason of his change was, that 
 his elders, and the majority of his congrega- 
 tion, were offended at his preaching so much 
 like the Methodists. He staid with them as 
 long as he could do them good ; but when they 
 resolved to shut the doors of the Church against 
 him, he told them that he must have full liber- 
 ty to preach what the Lord had bid him — that 
 he would now join the Methodists, and those 
 that were of his mind, he hoped, would follow 
 him. He accordingly left them, and forty-two 
 members of the congregation went with him. 
 
 Brother Koenecke was re-appointed, and a 
 part of his work set off into a separate charge. 
 Prosperity attended his labors, also, the second 
 year. The old Methodist church was purchas- 
 ed by the members, this year, for $800. There 
 was a society in the vicinity of Marietta, con- 
 nected with this mission, where they have 
 also erected a new church. Brother Koenecke, 
 in his second year, distributed among the desti- 
 tute twenty Bibles, some Testaments, and tracts, 
 and sold a considerable number of our hymn 
 books, Disciplines, and Fletcher's Appeal. 
 This, as well as all the other German missions, 
 within the bounds of the Pittsburg conference, 
 were, from the year 1839 to 1841, under the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 105 
 
 superintendence of Rev. N. Callender, to whose 
 judicious management and diligence much of 
 their prosperity may be attributed. 
 
 Allen Mission was established in 1840, and 
 included a part of the territory embraced the 
 previous year within the bounds of the Cincin- 
 nati and Lebanon districts. The Rev. Engel- 
 herdt Riemenschneider, who was one of the 
 first converts during brother Nast's first visit to 
 Pittsburg, was appointed to take the charge. 
 This mission bears the name of a benevolent 
 brother, who has for sometime contributed an- 
 nually one hundred dollars for its support. It 
 has been considered rather an unfruitful field ; 
 yet still, a degree of success has attended the 
 efforts that have been made, and, according to 
 brother Kisling's last report, the prospects are 
 more encouraging, and there have been, of late, 
 some gracious revivals within its bounds. 
 
 Scioto Mission, in its commencement, ex- 
 tended from the mouth of the Scioto River up 
 to Chillicothe, spreading in various directions, 
 embracing several populous German settle- 
 ments. 
 
 The Rev. G. A. Breunig, a convert from 
 Roman Catholicism, was appointed to this mis- 
 sion in the autumn of 1840. At the close of 
 his first year, he reported twenty-two members 
 in society. He was re- appointed, and the mis- 
 sion continued to prosper under his labors the 
 second year. He reported many interesting 
 facts, among which is the following: "A Ro- 
 man Catholic and his wife, who appeared to 
 
106 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 be much taken up with the vanities of this 
 world, came to hear me several times. The 
 woman became serious, and seemed inclined 
 to unite herself with our Church ; but her hus- 
 band forbade her taking such a step, and threat- 
 ened to leave her if she did. At our late pro- 
 tracted meeting, however, he became powerful- 
 ly awakened, and they both together sought 
 and found the pardon of their sins, and joined 
 the Church. After returning home from meet- 
 ing, this woman and another young sister, from 
 a deep feeling of aversion to all appearance of 
 pride, took off their artificials and cast them 
 into the fire." 
 
 Brother Breunig also reported about this 
 time, that he had visited a German settlement 
 of about fifty families ; and after having preach- 
 ed to them a few times, a great work broke 
 out, and twenty-eight joined society. In one 
 instance, at the commencement of his sermon, 
 the people were so affected, and the cries for 
 mercy so loud, that he was obliged to desist 
 from preaching, and enter immediately into the 
 work of a prayer meeting. The prospects 
 here are good : many attend the meetings, and 
 sometimes travel four or five miles over the 
 hills and in the night, with their torches, to 
 hear the word preached. In this field he dis- 
 tributed three thousand pages of tracts, a num- 
 ber of Bibles, Testaments, hymn books, Fletch- 
 er's Appeal, and catechisms. 
 
 Louisville Mission, Kentucky conference, 
 was established in the autumn of 1840, and 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 107 
 
 the Rev. P. Schmucker was appointed mission- 
 ary. At the commencement, he had much op- 
 position to contend with; but the Lord was 
 with him, and soon a great revival of religion 
 broke out among the Germans. A society was 
 formed, which gradually increased until the 
 close of the year, when he reported ninety- 
 three members. The following letters show 
 the state of this mission a few months after he 
 commenced his labors : 
 
 "Louisville, Ky., March 29, 1841. 
 " Dear Brother Miller, — Your letter of 
 December last was duly received, and should 
 have been answered long ago ; but I concluded 
 not to answer it until I saw your report of the 
 Cincinnati mission. Since New Year, I have 
 been sickly half the time ; but it was all in 
 consequence of excessive labor. I am now 
 well again, thanks be to God. I commenced 
 my labor in Louisville in the streets : after a 
 while I got the use of a little private school- 
 house ; and now I have the use of the Presby- 
 terian church. I have more hearers, on an 
 average, than I ever had in Cincinnati. For 
 four weeks past, we have been much disturbed 
 by the German rabble, during which time the 
 church has been stoned every night, excepting 
 the last. I have now seventy-three probation- 
 ers in society, all received in about two months. 
 We receive from live to ten every Sabbath. 
 Some have found the pearl of great price, and 
 others are seeking day and night. Few days 
 pass in which we have not to read, sing, and 
 
108 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 pray with seekers of religion, and sometimes 
 from morning till night. Here are more awa- 
 kened Germans than I ever saw in any one 
 place. I preached at the Bethel Chapel yes- 
 terday ; and after we left the chapel, two old 
 men, with their wives, came to me on the street, 
 asked me all about the German mission, and 
 offered themselves for membership, with the 
 penitential tear in their eyes. I told them to 
 come to my meeting next Sabbath. 
 
 This mission now embraces some who were 
 Lutherans, German Reformed, and Romanists ; 
 others, grog-sellers, and grog-drinkers ; and 
 others, again, musicians, publicans, and sin- 
 ners. We have both rich and poor, and high 
 and low. Some are converted, and others un- 
 converted. May the Lord bless and help us ! 
 The first German Methodist sacramental, quar- 
 terly, and love feast meeting ever held in Lou- 
 isville, we expect, will be next Easter. We 
 hope to see the King in the camp, and hear the 
 shout of new-born souls. May God fulfill our 
 hopes ! We have powerful enemies : a Ger- 
 man press, a host of Romanists, several hun- 
 dred grog-sellers, and two or three times as 
 many grog-drinkers : all these are out in battle 
 array against us, talking against Schmucker and 
 the Methodists every Sabbath, printing against 
 us every week, and slandering us, in short, at 
 all times and places. But still, the arrows of 
 the Lord have wounded many, and several 
 have enlisted under the banner of Jesus. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 109 
 
 Brothers A. and T. are with me, and send 
 their love to you. 
 
 " Yours in Christ, 
 
 " Peter Schmucker." 
 "Louisville, Xy., May 22, 1841. 
 "Dear Brother Miller, — I received your 
 lines, and Mrs. Schmucker also told me that 
 she saw you. I hope this will find you and 
 your family in health. I am well, excepting 
 sometimes I preach, sing and pray too much, 
 and then have to lay by a few days. The ark 
 of the Lord is moving, and the missionary fire 
 has reached B., twelve miles from this place. 
 In the absence of the Lutheran preacher, some 
 of his members came to hear us. They went 
 home, and told what they had heard, seen, and 
 felt; and commenced prayer meetings them- 
 selves. Those among them that spoke against 
 us, two months ago, are now for us, and want 
 me to come and preach to them. May the 
 Lord send them help ! The intolerable perse- 
 cution we have here, doubtless prevents many 
 from joining us, and will probably cause some 
 of my young recruits to break the ranks. 
 Some mechanics have lost their employment, 
 and some renters, also, have had to move. I 
 am frequently compelled to defend my doctrine 
 on the streets. All the German priests and 
 preachers in the city, have held forth against 
 
 me, and Mr. is slandering me and the 
 
 Methodists in his paper nearly every week ; 
 
 but still the people come to hear, several going 
 
 away convicted, and then coming back again 
 
 10 
 
110 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 to seek salvation ; and, blessed be God, they 
 find it too. 
 
 "Yours in Christ, P. Schmucker." 
 
 In the first of the above letters, the mission- 
 ary expressed strong hopes, in reference to the 
 first quarterly meeting for the mission; and 
 the following interesting report shows that his 
 hopes were not disappointed: 
 
 "April 28, 1841. 
 
 " Dear Brother, — The Lord in his great 
 goodness has been with us in our labors, and 
 the power of his glory has been made manifest 
 amongst this people. It is now about six 
 months since we unfurled our missionary ban- 
 ner in this city, displaying to the poor benight- 
 ed German the light of Gospel truth, and offer- 
 ing, in the name of our blessed Master, free 
 salvation to all who should enlist in the holy 
 war. Thank God, the powers of darkness 
 have been made to tremble, while the army 
 of the aliens have suffered a signal defeat. 
 Where, but a few months since, all was sterili- 
 ty and unproductive waste, now the wilderness 
 truly ' blossoms as the rose.' Where sin rioted 
 in corrupt luxury, producing naught, save ruin 
 and death, the pure stream of Gospel grace 
 waters the soil, giving forth rich promise of 
 salvation and eternal life. Ninety-four pre- 
 cious, immortal souls, have been, through 
 God's wonderful love, plucked, as it were, 
 from the very pit of ruin, and placed within 
 the blessed circle of hope's bright promise. 
 Our Sabbath school, consisting of some sixty 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 11] 
 
 scholars, with eight efficient teachers, is in a 
 prosperous condition: with it is connected a 
 small German and English library, well select- 
 ed, and much read. But how shall we speak 
 of our missionary collection? Language can 
 scarcely convey a proper idea of the scene. 
 Truly the days of old seemed to have returned, 
 when Israel's daughters so freely gave forth 
 their ornaments for the beautifying of the 
 Lord's tabernacle. In addition to $46 87 £ in 
 money, various articles of jewelry were brought 
 into the treasury of God — the donors testifying 
 both by word and deed, that since they had 
 found, through grace, that priceless jewel of 
 their souls, the love of God shed abroad in 
 their hearts, they had no longer any use or de- 
 sire for the tinsel-adorning of such outward 
 show. From brother Messer were received 
 three gold finger-rings, and from sister Messer 
 three gold breast-pins. May those better and 
 more lasting jewels, which now adorn them, 
 hope and faith, grow brighter and brighter, un- 
 til they shall commingle with eternally revealed 
 glory! From brother Barth was received, in 
 addition to a gold breast-pin and finger-ring, a 
 splendid and valuable trombone,* (worth $25,) 
 with a desire that it might be converted to a 
 Gospel trumpet, so that through the medium 
 with which sin so long had given forth its dis- 
 cordant notes, the reverberating blast of free 
 
 * The reader must not infer from this circumstance, that in- 
 strumental music is in itself sinful. Connection, however, with 
 a "band of music," often, almost invariably, leads to great and 
 ruinous evils. 
 
112 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 salvation might be blown to the perishing hea- 
 then. Truly the wrath of men shall praise 
 God, and the powers of darkness be constrain- 
 ed to acknowledge his glory. What may not 
 the arm of true faith look for and expect under 
 such bright and flattering circumstances ? When 
 the favorite gathering-places of immorality and 
 sin, the theatre and the ball-room, give their 
 performers, and they their musical instruments, 
 to the cause, may we not rejoice, indeed, that 
 6 God is with us ? ' 
 
 " Our sacramental meeting commenced on 
 the 8th inst., and continued until the 15th, du- 
 ring which time we had the assistance of broth- 
 er Kisling, from Indiana, and brother Jacoby, 
 from Cincinnati. The celebration of the holy 
 eucharist took place on the Sabbath. The em- 
 blems of the sacred remembrance of a crucified 
 Savior were dispensed to about one hundred 
 happy recipients. All felt the power of God, 
 and many rejoiced in his love, while the spirit- 
 ual presence of the great Head of the Church 
 seemed to pervade the whole assembly. On 
 Monday evening, we held our first love feast — 
 the first German love feast ever held in this 
 city. A pentecostal shower it proved to us all. 
 While believers were made strong, unbelievers 
 were convicted and converted to God. During 
 the space of thirty years spent in the service 
 of God, never have we looked upon such an 
 outpouring of his Spirit among the Germans. 
 May it still flow on, until throughout the land 
 its blessed influence shall be felt, and all learn 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 113 
 
 to know God, from the least to the greatest. 
 Are we not encouraged to go on in the good 
 work ? — but six months established, ^nd great 
 things, indeed, God has done for us. * Won- 
 derful are thy works, O Lord, and thy ways 
 past finding out.' 
 
 " For some time past, the house of the mis- 
 sionary has been, emphatically, a * Bethel '— 
 from morning till evening crowded with peni- 
 tent souls, inquiring the way to heaven, where 
 the song of praise and the fervent prayer have 
 been continually going up to God. Before we 
 close this letter, let us relate one incident more. 
 Our church has been, for some months past, 
 greatly annoyed, by wicked men casting stones 
 upon it, and at us, during divine service. On 
 one occasion, a young German knocked a win- 
 dow in — was discovered, arrested, and brought 
 before the court. Upon his giving sufficient 
 bail, the judge permitted him to remain at 
 large. During the course of our meeting, the 
 power of God fell upon him, and while the 
 tear of penitence glistened in his eye, in pres- 
 ence of the whole congregation he confessed 
 his fault, and implored the pardon of his crime. 
 May God convert his soul ! 
 
 " How glorious to behold the gray haired 
 veterans in the ranks of rebellion, kneeling be- 
 side the tender child, and both confessing the 
 love of God to their souls ; the one blossoming 
 for the tomb, roused upon the very verge of 
 time ; the other just beginning to live, and both 
 starting in an equal race for heaven and immor- 
 10* 
 
114 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 tal glory. Glory to God in the highest. He 
 permits us to be happy here — shall we not be 
 happy there ? 
 
 " Yours in the Lord, 
 
 "B. T. Crouch, P. E. 
 
 "P. Schmucker, German Miss ." 
 
 The missionary's last report for this year, 
 made to the Corresponding Secretary of the 
 Missionary Society of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, will show the state of the mission 
 at the close of the first year of its existence. 
 The report is as follows : 
 
 "Louisville, Ky., Aug. 23, 1841. 
 
 " Dear Brother, — I beg leave to transmit 
 to you my last report for this conference year. 
 This mission was commenced one year ago. 
 I labored from October to January 17, when I 
 opened the Church door for the first time ; and 
 since that time till now I have received on pro- 
 bation one hundred and eleven, many of whom 
 are happily converted to God. The mission is 
 divided into five classes. We have had three 
 sacramental and love feast meetings, all of which 
 were attended with the awakening and convert- 
 ing power of God. At those seasons of re- 
 freshing from the presence of the Lord, we had 
 the assistance of brothers Kisling, Hofer, and 
 Jacoby. We have now in full membership, 
 forty-five ; on probation, forty-eight ; laid aside 
 for neglect of duty, ten ; removed, six ; and 
 two died happy in the Lord. We have a Sab- 
 bath school, consisting of the regular officers, 
 twelve teachers, and about fifty scholars. We 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 115 
 
 collected for this institution $26 75 ; and the 
 Louisville Bible Society made a donation of 
 three Bibles and forty-eight Testaments. The 
 teachers are all happily converted to God, and 
 some of the scholars also. We have formed a 
 Tract Society, and have received of the Amer- 
 ican Tract Society forty thousand pages of 
 tracts, toward the payment of which we have 
 collected $16 75. We have collected for the 
 missionary treasury $60 ; and for superannua- 
 ted preachers, widows, and orphans, $10. We 
 would solicit conference to give us regular quar- 
 terly meetings the coming year. Although we 
 are Germans, we understand English well 
 enough to transact the business with the pre- 
 siding elder. 
 
 " And no w a few words in conclusion . Skep- 
 ticism, Neologianism, and Rationalism have 
 made fearful inroads among the Germans in 
 this, the western valley. Infidelity and disre- 
 gard of the Bible, of the Sabbath, and of mor- 
 ality, have full sway in many places. This 
 state of things calls loudly for vigorous efforts 
 of the Church, more especially as we have the 
 promise of God, and daily experience to con- 
 firm it, that our ' labor is not in vain in the 
 Lord.' If we cast our eyes over this western 
 valley, and behold the missionary efforts of our 
 Church among the Germans, we are constrain- 
 ed to say, Behold what the Lord has done for 
 us ! 
 
 " Yours in Christ, P. Schmucker, 
 " German Missionary" 
 
116 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 By the above it will be seen, that those Ger- 
 mans who had themselves partaken of the bles- 
 sings of the Gospel, were ready and willing to 
 support those institutions which had been made 
 the means of conveying spiritual life and salva- 
 tion to their souls. 
 
 The following letter to the editor of the 
 Western Christian Advocate, shows the happy 
 result of our missionary efforts in Louisville : 
 " Cincinnati, 0., December 7, 1841. 
 
 " Mr. Editor, — On last Saturday and Sab- 
 bath, I attended a quarterly meeting held for 
 the German mission in the city of Louisville, 
 Ky. ; and, with your permission, I will say a 
 few things in reference to the success of the 
 missionary, and the present prosperous state 
 of the mission. 
 
 " It is only a little over a year since brother 
 Schmucker commenced his labors among the 
 Germans in this place ; and, notwithstanding 
 the strong opposition he has met, and the 
 many prejudices with which he has had to con- 
 tend, he has, by the blessing of God, been instru- 
 mental in raising a society of upward of one 
 hundred, which for piety and zeal will compare 
 with any other of the same number in the 
 bounds of my acquaintance, either German or 
 English. Our love feast was peculiarly inter- 
 esting ; and it was truly delightful to hear these 
 new converts arise in quick succession, and 
 give an account of their awakening and con- 
 version. One man, with tearful eyes and a 
 glad heart, said, he thanked God that the Chris- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 117 
 
 tian Apologist had ever been circulated among 
 the Germans in Louisville. He told us, that 
 when he first received the Apologist, he com- 
 menced reading, and was soon constrained to 
 weep. His friends asked him, why he wept 
 while reading a newspaper? To which he 
 replied, that he could not help it. And this, 
 he said, was the means of leading him to seek 
 the salvation of his soul. Others told us, that 
 almost as soon as they entered the room and 
 heard the voice of the missionary, they were 
 brought under deep conviction, and found no 
 rest until they obtained peace with God. In- 
 deed, I scarcely ever heard more rational ac- 
 counts of deep conviction and powerful con- 
 version, than at this quarterly meeting, from 
 the aged father of three-score years, down to 
 the child of five years old ; all uniting in the 
 same testimony, and rejoicing together in the 
 great truth, that Christ has power on earth to 
 forgive sins. It has sometimes been said, that 
 reports of revivals are wont to be exaggerated ; 
 but no one who is acquainted with the condi- 
 tion of the German mission at Louisville, will 
 say, that the missionary has been exaggeratory 
 in his reports. Much as I had previously 
 heard, I was constrained to say on my arrival 
 there, 'The half has not been told.' Our En- 
 glish brethren in Louisville take a deep interest 
 in this work, and talk strongly of assisting the 
 Germans to build a church in the coming spring. 
 This is much needed ; and we have no doubt 
 but it will be accomplished in due time. Broth- 
 
118 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 er Schmucker will, of course, soon furnish his 
 quarterly report, and give a detailed account of 
 the mission. I will only say, in conclusion, 
 no one, with such demonstrations of success, 
 will ever be sorry that he has given to the sup- 
 port of missions, unless his own heart should 
 grow cold in the cause of Christ. May God 
 increase our zeal, and give success to our efforts ! 
 " Yours, affectionately, 
 
 "Adam Miller." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 NEW MISSIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE 
 YEAR 1841. 
 
 The German missions established in 1841 
 are as follows : Chester, in the Ohio confer- 
 ence ; Maysville, in Kentucky ; St. Louis and 
 Pinckney, in Missouri; Bellville, in Illinois; 
 New York, in New York ; and the North Ohio 
 conference mission. In order to follow a pro- 
 per order in tracing the work of God among 
 the Germans, we will briefly notice the com- 
 mencement of each of the above named mis- 
 sions. 
 
 The Chester Mission was commenced by 
 brother H. Koenecke, in 1841, while he was 
 missionary at Marietta ; and at the ensuing Ohio 
 conference, an appropriation was made for the 
 support of a missionary, and brother J. Geyer, 
 who had been converted under the labors of 
 brother Koenecke, was put in charge of it. In 
 
I THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 119 
 
 this mission, they have enjoyed a good degree 
 of prosperity from the commencement. They 
 have also built a new, commodious church. 
 From the first, this mission has done a great 
 deal toward supporting itself, and has received 
 comparatively little pecuniary aid from the mis- 
 sionary society. A number who belong to our 
 Church within the bounds of this mission, were 
 formerly Roman Catholics; but now rejoice in 
 having had their eyes opened, and in having 
 been brought from darkness to light, and from 
 the power of superstition to the liberty of the 
 Gospel. All the efforts of their former priest 
 were unavailing to bring them back to the Ro- 
 mish Church. They have also several Sab- 
 bath schools in a prosperous condition. 
 
 Maysville Mission was established in the 
 fall of 1841, by the labors of brother Schmuck- 
 er. During the session of the Kentucky con- 
 ference, in Maysville, he preached every day 
 to the Germans living in that place ; and the 
 result was, the formation of a society. This 
 encouraged him, and led him to promise them 
 regular visits. Brother Schmucker's charge 
 was then called the Louisville and Maysville 
 German mission, as he had both under his care. 
 Brother Bier, a young man who was one of the 
 first converts of the Pittsburg mission, was ap- 
 pointed to assist him, or rather, consented to 
 do so, as he was then a local preacher and sup- 
 ported himself. 
 
 St. Louis Mission was commenced by the 
 Rev. L. S. Jacoby, one of the fruits of the Cin- 
 
120 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 cinnati mission, in August, 1841. On his ar- 
 rival at St. Louis, he found a great door opened 
 before him, and forthwith commenced preach- 
 ing in a rented meeting-house, also in the mar- 
 ket-house, and, when the weather would permit 
 of it, in the street. He also formed a Bible 
 class, and a Sabbath school. He did not labor 
 long without seeing the fruits of his efforts . 
 Sinners were awakened, inquiring what they 
 should do to be saved. The same effects that 
 had been produced among the Germans in Cin- 
 cinnati, Louisville, and many other places, were 
 produced here also. Sinners were converted 
 to God by scores, many of whom had boen 
 brought up Roman Catholics. Brother Jacoby 
 was re-appointed the second year; and this 
 charge, under his labors and watchful care, has 
 been one of the most flourishing of all our 
 German missions. They have built a commo- 
 dious brick meeting-house, and have a flourish- 
 ing day school connected with the mission. 
 Many interesting things might be said about 
 this field of labor, but our limits do not allow 
 us to enter into much detail. Suffice it to say, 
 that many a destitute family has been supplied 
 with the word of God; thousands of religious 
 tracts have also been distributed, all of which 
 will undoubtedly have an important influence 
 on the German population of St. Louis The 
 society is now in a prosperous condition, and 
 promises to do much good. The same oppo- 
 sition with which we have had to contend in 
 other places, has also manifested itself here; 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 121 
 
 but truth is mighty, and will prevail. The 
 present number in society is one hundred and 
 fourteen. 
 
 Pinckney Mission, in Missouri conference, 
 was established in the fall of 1841. The Rev. 
 John Swahlen was transferred from the Pitts- 
 burg conference, and appointed to take charge 
 of it. It embraces some interesting German 
 settlements. A degree of success has attended 
 the labors of the missionary. Several classes 
 have been formed, and in some places the con- 
 gregations are uniformly large and attentive. 
 
 Belleville German Mission, in Illinois con- 
 ference. — This mission was established at the 
 Illinois conference of 1841. The Rev. J. M. 
 Hartman was transferred from the Ohio confer- 
 ence, and appointed thereto a missionary. Dur- 
 ing his first year, he preached three times each 
 Sabbath, and four or five times each week. 
 His circuit extended from two to three hundred 
 miles, and he had more calls for German preach- 
 ing than he could possibly supply. German 
 ministers in Illinois are very scarce : the Ger- 
 man population, however, is exceedingly large ; 
 and if men and means could but be obtained, a 
 great work might be accomplished. We sin- 
 cerely hope the day is not far distant, when all 
 the destitute German settlements in Illinois and 
 Missouri will be fully supplied. 
 
 New York German Mission. — The best 
 account we can give of this mission, is in the 
 language of the twenty-third Annual Report of 
 the Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis- 
 
 n 
 
122 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 copal Church, (1842,) which is as follows: 
 "The German mission in the city of New 
 York was decided upon at the late session of 
 the conference, in 1841. It was commenced 
 during the following summer, andEev. N. Cai- 
 lender and Rev. C. H. Doering were transfer- 
 red from the Pittsburg conference, and appoint- 
 ed to the charge of it. In a short time, how- 
 ever, brother Callender was removed to another 
 field of labor, and the entire charge of this mis- 
 sion devolved on brother Doering. The so- 
 ciety commenced with eight German brethren 
 and sisters, who zealously seconded the efforts 
 of the missionary, and by their sympathies and 
 prayers, encouraged his heart and strengthened 
 his hands. Owing to various causes, the pros- 
 pects at the commencement were rather dis- 
 couraging ; but by degrees they have continued 
 to brighten, and the united prayers of this little 
 band have been graciously answered, and the 
 labors of the missionaries crowned with suc- 
 cess. There are now connected with this 
 mission, seventy-two members; sixty-four of 
 whom have been received on probation. The 
 German attendants upon the ministry are con- 
 stantly increasing; so much so, that the place 
 they now occupy will soon become too strait 
 for them. They are, therefore, under the ne- 
 cessity of looking for a new and more conve- 
 nient place of worship. A Board of Trustees 
 have already been elected, and the incipient 
 measures are being taken for the erection of a 
 German Methodist Episcopal church, in this 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 123 
 
 city. The present prospects of the mission 
 are in a high degree encouraging ; and although 
 our brethren have been obliged to encounter 
 much opposition, arising out of long cherished 
 prejudices, and bigoted attachments, yet the 
 good work is still progressing, and the whiten- 
 ing field promises an abundant harvest. 
 
 " The charge of this mission is now in the 
 hands of Rev. J. C. Lyon, who has recently 
 been transferred from the Baltimore conference. 
 Brother Doering will still remain, and assist in 
 carrying on this blessed work ; and the Board 
 have good reason to believe, that the establish- 
 ment of this mission will result in great and 
 lasting good to the German population of this 
 city." 
 
 Soon after the above report was published, 
 brother Doering was removed to the Pittsburg 
 German mission, and brother Lyon was left 
 to labor alone in New York. We see, from 
 the preceding extract, that our brethren in New 
 York commenced the work in good earnest, 
 and, therefore, had good ground to hope for 
 success. The following report of the mission- 
 ary, shows that their hopes have not been dis- 
 appointed : 
 
 "New Fork, May 5, 1843. 
 
 "Dear Brother Pitman, — At the expira- 
 tion of a full year since my appointment to the 
 German mission in this city, having had a full 
 opportunity of testing the excellence of our 
 doctrines and discipline in their operation upon 
 the Germans, within my charge, I beg leave to 
 
124 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 transmit to you a report of the results. I am 
 free to confess, I entered upon this new field 
 of labor with fears and misgivings as to the 
 ultimate success. The strong and unaccounta- 
 ble prejudices of the Germans against Metho- 
 dism, the tenacity with which they cleave to 
 that system of religious externalism, in which 
 they have been trained from infancy, and their 
 consequent aversion to vital and experimental 
 godliness, led me to fear that the success among 
 them would be too limited to justify the ex- 
 pense and sacrifice required. But, blessed be 
 God ! my fears and misgivings are all scattered 
 to the winds, and my heart rejoices in the 
 great and glorious achievements of the cross. 
 Though I came among this people in much 
 weakness, and with trembling, yet ' I came 
 determined to know nothing among them but 
 Christ Jesus, and him crucified.' And even 
 here, as elsewhere, the Gospel has proved 
 itself to be ' the power of God unto salvation/ 
 " Owing to the want of a suitable place for 
 public worship, our congregation, during the 
 greater part of the year, has been comparative- 
 ly small, on account of which, our influence 
 was, necessarily, much circumscribed. Being 
 satisfied that the success of the mission greatly 
 depended upon our having a suitable house of 
 worship, we made the effort to build one ; and 
 "by the united exertions of a very efficient 
 Board of Trustees, with the benevolent aid of 
 many of our English friends, and especially, 
 with the blessing of God upon our labors* the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 125 
 
 enterprise succeeded. Our new church is 
 forty-four by seventy feet in size, and has a 
 good lecture room, with five class rooms, in 
 the basement. It was solemnly dedicated to 
 the worship of Almighty God on the 4th inst., 
 in the presence of an interesting assembly, 
 composed partly of foreign and native Ger- 
 mans, and partly of English friends, from the 
 different churches in this city. Bishops Hed- 
 ding and Morris officiated on the occasion, to 
 the great satisfaction and edification of all. 
 After the introductory and dedicatory services, 
 which were performed in German, Bishop 
 Hedding read 1 Cor. ii, and Bishop Morris 
 followed, with a very impressive sermon, on 
 Titus ii, 14 ; at the close of which, he related 
 some very interesting and encouraging facts 
 and incidents, connected with the German mis- 
 sions in the west. We had service again in 
 the evening, in German; and the collections 
 and pledges on the occasion amounted to up- 
 ward of $600. Nearly $3,000 have been 
 collected in various ways toward defraying the 
 expenses of the ground and building, and there 
 still rests upon our shoulders a debt of $10,000. 
 Under so heavy a responsibility we should cer- 
 tainly sink, were it not for a firm reliance upon 
 the unfailing promises of God, whose treasury 
 is in the hearts and pockets of his people. 
 
 "Since the commencement of this mission, 
 
 we have received one hundred and eighty-seven 
 
 into society, nearly all of whom professed to 
 
 enjoy an evidence of pardon, and a joyous 
 
 11* 
 
126 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 hope of heaven. The most of them, as to the 
 things of this world, are extremely poor, but 
 they are rich in faith, and heirs of the king- 
 dom. I visit a number of these poor families 
 every day, and generally find them rejoicing in 
 the Lord. During the severity of last winter, 
 I found some confined to their lonely garrets, 
 picking wool, for a shilling a day, without fire, 
 or any means to procure fuel ; their scanty 
 earnings being hardly sufficient to purchase the 
 food necessary to sustain nature. But, not- 
 withstanding all this, they were happy in God, 
 and the love of Christ in their hearts caused 
 them almost to forget their destitute circum- 
 stances. A vast improvement manifests itself 
 in their general deportment. Accustomed from 
 their youth, to Sabbath breaking, and to dissi- 
 pation of various kinds, they now flee from 
 these vices as from a destroying pestilence — 
 they emphatically reverence the Sabbath and 
 the sanctuary of the Lord. They are remark- 
 ably punctual to their family and private devo- 
 tions, and often speak in our class meetings 
 and love feasts of the sweetness of these ex- 
 ercises. 
 
 " The society now numbers about one hun- 
 dred and thirty, including probationers. Ow- 
 ing to the pressure of the times, and the diffi- 
 culty of obtaining employment, many of our 
 members have been driven from the city to 
 seek a livelihood elsewhere, and some of these 
 have returned to their own country ; but we 
 have good reason to believe they will prove a 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 127 
 
 blessing to their countrymen, where they have 
 gone. Our Sabbath school is large and flour- 
 ishing. It must number one hundred and sev- 
 enty-five scholars. The evidence of improve- 
 ment among the children, both in learning and 
 piety, is apparent to all. The officers and 
 teachers are punctual, diligent and persevering, 
 and the interest they take in the school cannot 
 fail to secure the most happy results. 
 
 "In conclusion, while I offer my grateful 
 acknowledgments to the Lord of the harvest, 
 for the spiritual consolation and success afford- 
 ed me in this laborious field, during the past 
 year; I give it as the firm conviction of my 
 mind, that there is no missionary field more 
 white for the harvest than this, and none that 
 promises a better remuneration to its friends. 
 
 " In the midst of a population of from fifty 
 to sixty thousand native Germans, composed 
 of the most heterogeneous mass of depravity, 
 we have raised the standard of the cross, and 
 nearly two hundred souls have fled for refuge 
 to the hope set before them. These have been 
 melted together, shaped in the Gospel mold, 
 sealed by the Holy Spirit, and now bear the 
 image and superscription of Christ. Our 
 ' watch-word ' is still, ' onward and upward ; ' 
 and we feel that through grace we shall be able 
 to go up and possess the land. We sincerely 
 and importunately beg an interest in the 
 prayers of all those who love our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, that this mission may be blessed with 
 still greater effusions of the Holy Spirit, and 
 
128 ORIGIN AND TROGRESS OF 
 
 that hundreds of the descendants of that land, 
 from which dawned the light of the blessed 
 Reformation, may receive the light of life. 
 " Affectionately yours, 
 
 "John C. Lyon." 
 
 German Mission in the North Ohio confer- 
 e?ice. — This was established at the session of 
 the North Ohio conference in 1841, and two 
 German missionaries were employed. Brother 
 E. Riemenschneider was transferred from the 
 Ohio conference, and Rev. D. Brickley, for- 
 merly of the Evangelical Association, was ap- 
 pointed to labor with him. They formed a 
 large circuit, extending from the middle of Ohio 
 to the shores of Lake Erie. The health of the 
 latter soon failed, and brother Riemenschneider 
 was left alone. During the first year, he trav- 
 eled extensively in search of German settle- 
 ments, through the northern part of Ohio, and 
 had the satisfaction of seeing some fruits of his 
 kbor in the awakening and conversion of souls. 
 He was re-appointed a second year ; and in his 
 report, under date of May 30th, 1842, says: 
 
 "Dear Brother Nast, — I have encour- 
 agement to trust in the Lord, and go on preach- 
 ing Jesus the crucified. I am daily permitted 
 to see that my labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
 Since my last report, I have formed a new 
 class, consisting of twenty members. Nearly 
 all of them profess to have obtained the pardon 
 of their sins. May God preserve them unto 
 everlasting life ! Among them are eight per- 
 sons who were formerly members of the Ro- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 129 
 
 man Catholic Church. They now rejoice in 
 having found a religion which consists, not in 
 the traditions of men, but in the saving power 
 of God. I have twelve regular appointments, 
 and am about taking up several more. I travel 
 around my circuit every three weeks, which is 
 upward of three hundred miles in circumfer- 
 ence. I have now in this mission thirty-eight 
 members, and the most flattering prospects for 
 the future. I also feel more encouraged to labor 
 in the vineyard of the Lord than ever. I ask 
 an interest in the prayers of all the friends of 
 missions, for your unworthy brother, 
 
 "E. RlEMENSCHNEIDER." 
 
 Later accounts inform us that this mission 
 has continued to prosper under the labors of 
 brother Riemenschneider. A large proportion 
 of those who have been converted of late, were 
 formerly Roman Catholics. This is a very 
 important field, and several more missionaries 
 could be profitably employed in it. 
 
 German Mission in New Orleans, — In the 
 spring of 1842, at the request of Rev. William 
 Winans, and of the Germans themselves, Bish- 
 op Roberts sent brother Schmucker to visit 
 New Orleans. He labored several weeks with 
 great success and encouragement. He formed 
 a society, and made arrangements to have a 
 meeting-house built. Through the influence 
 of some of our members from Cincinnati, who 
 frequently spend the spring and summer in 
 New Orleans, in trading, this society has been 
 kept up. They have already built a house of 
 
130 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 worship, and are now anxiously waiting the 
 arrival of a missionary. A young man, by the 
 name of Bremer, resides in New Orleans, who 
 is a licensed local preacher. He has regularly 
 kept up meetings among the Germans since 
 brother Schmucker left them. He wrote to 
 the editor of the Christian Apologist, under 
 date of October 9th, 1842, as follows : 
 
 "Dear Brother, — As I have a good oppor- 
 tunity, I wish to inform you of the work of 
 God among us. Since the departure of brother 
 Schmucker, we have kept our meetings up 
 pretty regularly in one place ; and although the 
 place is not very suitable, yet we thought regu- 
 larity should be observed. For sometime past, 
 I have generally exhorted the people from the 
 word of God, four times a week, as far as the 
 Divine Being gave me grace and ability. The 
 Lord blesses his word, so that we all feel en- 
 couraged and built up. Through the moving 
 of the Holy Spirit, sinners have been awaken- 
 ed from their slumbers. On one occasion, a 
 Catholic woman ventured to come to the door 
 of the house in which we were worshiping: 
 she was awakened, and soon afterward found 
 the pardon of her sins in the blood of Christ. 
 Her husband and two others are not far from 
 the kingdom of God. May God bless all these 
 precious souls for Jesus' sake ! Our two last 
 class meetings were the most interesting we 
 have ever had. 
 
 "Dear brethren, pray right earnestly for us, 
 that the work of the Lord may prosper in this 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 131 
 
 place; and especially pray for me, your un- 
 worthy brother, Charles Bremer." 
 
 Brother Bremer has had the yellow fever, 
 and is now acclimated to the south, and prom- 
 ises fair to make a successful German mission- 
 ary in that part of the work. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 STATE OF THE WORK IN 1843. 
 
 We have now a line of missionaries from 
 the shores of Lake Erie to New Orleans, in- 
 cluding most of the principal cities along the 
 western water-courses, where the Germans are 
 numerous. Twelve new houses of worship 
 have been built, and about twenty-five mission- 
 aries are employed. 
 
 In Cincinnati, there was a gracious work 
 during the last winter; and, according to recent 
 accounts from most of the other missions, they 
 are in a prosperous condition. It is difficult 
 now to tell the precise number in society, as 
 the conferences for this year have not been held. 
 The number will be published in the next an- 
 nual Minutes. 
 
 The society at Louisville has already been 
 erased from the list of missions, as the Germans 
 there support their own preacher. Others will 
 follow the example, so soon as they gain suffi- 
 cient strength. 
 
 At the last session of the Indiana conference, 
 
132 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 a new mission was also established at Evans- 
 ville, la. ; and at the Missouri conference, a 
 mission circuit around St. Louis. At the for- 
 mer place, the German population is numerous 
 both in town and in the country around, and 
 the call for more laborers is loud and impres- 
 sive. The fields are white unto harvest in both 
 places. 
 
 Upon a survey of the whole work, we have 
 the most encouraging prospects to go on and 
 continue laboring in this blessed cause. May 
 the Lord of the harvest send more laborers into 
 this interesting and promising field ! 
 
 We will close this chapter with the follow- 
 ing remarks from the pen of brother Jacoby. 
 They were published sometime ago in the 
 Western Christian Advocate. It must be borne 
 in mind that the writer is a converted German. 
 
 " When we take a survey of the work of the 
 Lord, as it is increasing and prospering among 
 us Germans; and when we recollect how 
 dreary our condition was, when our English 
 brethren first sent out some preachers to ex- 
 plain to the Germans in the west, the Gospel 
 in its purity, and to contend valiantly against 
 unbelief and superstition, we must heartily 
 confess, ' The Lord has done great things for 
 us.' ' What new doctrine do these men teach? 
 it is not proper for us to receive it,' was the 
 prevailing sentiment when our first preachers 
 commenced to preach repentance and conver- 
 sion to the only true God, and pointed to the 
 ' Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 133 
 
 world;' yet the Spirit of the Lord attended 
 their words. Souls were awakened, came out 
 from the world, took up their cross and follow- 
 ed the Savior; and not in vain! The Lord 
 manifested himself to them as a sin-pardoning 
 God, and they commenced to confess him as 
 such. As Jesus had foretold, (John xvi, 20,) 
 persecutions fell to their lot ; yet, as among the 
 primitive Christians, these persecutions only 
 served to unite them more closely in the bonds 
 of love, and to lead them nearer to Christ. 
 And as the love of God was shed abroad in 
 their hearts, they began to feel more sensibly 
 the sad condition of their countrymen, and a 
 number went out to publish to them that salva- 
 tion which is alone in Christ. In this way our 
 missions commenced, and from all of them we 
 receive the most cheering intelligence. The 
 prejudices of our German countrymen are giv- 
 ing way more and more ; they begin to discov- 
 er that we only intend to explain to them the 
 word of life, and to point them to the Savior. 
 Facts also convince them that conversion does 
 not merely consist in imagination ; but that it 
 is the power of God which effects a uniform 
 change, and that persons who formerly were 
 the servants of Satan and the lusts of this 
 world, now find their greatest joy and happi- 
 ness in the service of God, and through his 
 assistance, lead a life well pleasing to him. 
 It is true, many are pained at our prosperity : 
 however, the greater part of these are only 
 such as lose their temporal gain through the 
 12 
 
134 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 conversion of their fellow men. In the front 
 ranks of these, are the Catholic priest and 
 whisky-seller ; and, notwithstanding their ef- 
 forts in every possible way, by slander and 
 mockings, to impede the progress of this work, 
 they cannot retard it. The blessings of Heav- 
 en are everywhere manifest; souls are daily 
 converted, and unite with us, and the number 
 of hearers increases every week. Four of our 
 societies are now engaged in building meeting- 
 houses. The Christian Apologist is daily get- 
 ting new subscribers, and the editor is now 
 sent by our English brethren here, to the prin- 
 cipal cities in the east, in order to acquaint the 
 Germans there with our paper, and to enter 
 into a closer communion with Germany. Ger- 
 man books, for religious instruction and encour- 
 agement, are being published, and every thing 
 possible is done to extend the work. 
 
 "Dear brethren, should not this excite our 
 gratitude to God ? Now, let each of us con- 
 tribute our mite to this. Every true follower 
 of Christ can do something for the Captain of 
 his salvation ; 1st. Through an upright Chris- 
 tian course of conduct, by which the world 
 will see that he not only confesses his Master 
 with his lips, but also by his works. Through 
 this many have been awakened from their sleep 
 in sin, and have, through the aid of such faith- 
 ful souls, found the way of salvation. 2d. By 
 prayer. We know what power the prayer of 
 the righteous has, (James v, 16.) Have we 
 yet unconverted parents, relations, or children, 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 135 
 
 or friends, let us pray earnestly' and without 
 ceasing for them. The Lord will hear us. I 
 might produce many examples of answers to 
 prayer, but every Christian has an evidence of 
 this in himself; and this should encourage him 
 not to become weary in prayer, as long as one 
 soul remains for whose conversion he feels a 
 concern. And, 3d. By contribution. Let us, 
 so far as our means will allow us, contribute to 
 the spread of the Gospel. Yet let us bring 
 our offering, as once the widow brought her 
 mite, Mark xii, 42, freely, with love and 
 prayer. Let us remember that we too once 
 slumbered in the dark, and that through the 
 free gift of good people, preachers were sent 
 to us, who preached to us the word of God in 
 its purity, and through which we have been 
 brought to the light of the Gospel. May the 
 blessing of God continue with the German 
 work ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Having, in the preceding pages, given an 
 account of the commencement and progress of 
 the work of grace among the Germans, we 
 now come to notice more particularly its ope- 
 ration in the awakening and conversion of indi- 
 vidual cases, as evidence of the power of the 
 Gospel to change the heart. Such cases are 
 living proofs of the genuineness of our holy 
 
136 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 religion. A large number of these witnesses 
 for the truth might be brought forward, but the 
 limits of the present volume allow us to intro- 
 duce but a few. These are given to show that 
 Roman Catholics, infidels, drunkards, and self- 
 righteous professors, are all within the reach of 
 God's mercy, and may be brought under the 
 influence of the " Gospel of Christ, which is 
 the power of God unto salvation to every one 
 that believeth." 
 
 Rev. William NasVs Experience. — This 
 experience is extracted from his second edito- 
 rial article in the Christian Apologist : 
 
 I was born the 15th of June, 1807, in Stutt- 
 gardt, the capital of the kingdom of Wurtem- 
 berg ; and, in my childhood, was dedicated by 
 my parents for the ministry in the Lutheran 
 Church. The Spirit of God operated upon 
 my heart whilst I was a child, and convinced 
 me that, to use the words of the Lutheran Cat- 
 echism, I had, alas ! sinned against God, and 
 had offended and provoked my faithful Creator, 
 Redeemer, and Comforter, times without num- 
 ber, and frequently intentionally, and under ag- 
 gravating circumstances. Although I was taught 
 that I had received, in infant baptism, the prom- 
 ise of the Lord, that he would be a gracious 
 God to me, and forgive me all my sins by mere 
 grace, for the sake of Jesus Christ, I neverthe- 
 less understood well, that I could not trust in 
 this promise except I should heartily repent of 
 all my past sins, and obtain, through a true and 
 living faith in Jesus Christ, the remission of 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 137 
 
 my sins, and the renewal of the Holy Ghost, 
 so as to be able to call God, Abba, Father, and 
 to live according to his commandments. The 
 gracious Lord used especially my pious sisters, 
 and an evangelical minister, a brother-in-law, 
 as instruments to awaken these feelings in my 
 heart. When the period approached that I 
 should, by the rite of confirmation, renew my 
 baptismal vows ; that is, should renounce the 
 devil and all his works, the pomp and vanity 
 of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, and 
 obligate myself to serve God the Father, and 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, all the days of my life ; 
 then it was that I began fully to feel my great 
 danger, corruption, and misery ; for I was con- 
 scious that my heart was not inclined to pray, 
 and to love God and his commandments, but 
 was "carnal, sold under sin." The Spirit of 
 God taught me, that I was not able, by my own 
 strength, to fulfill the promise I should make, 
 inasmuch as in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelt 
 no good thing; and that, therefore, a total 
 change of my heart must take place through 
 the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Inasmuch 
 as I believed, on the one hand, that the wages 
 of sin is death ; and as I knew, on the other 
 hand, that there were some persons who were 
 in Christ Jesus, and walked not after the flesh, 
 but after the Spirit, I could no longer quiet my- 
 self in remaining carnally minded and sold un- 
 der sin. My heart, oppressed with sin and 
 guilt, sought light and comfort in the conversa- 
 tions and prayer meetings of the despised Pie- 
 12* 
 
138 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 tists. I humbled myself before God, and cried 
 often on my knees : " 0, Lord Jesus ! have 
 mercy upon me 1" My distress lasted several 
 weeks, until the evening of the confirmation 
 day, which I still remember vividly. It was a 
 rainy day : the sun was covered with clouds. 
 Trembling and weeping, I stood before the altar 
 and answered the questions. In the evening I 
 hastened with a heavy heart, notwithstanding 
 the rain, to a solitary place in the fields, in order 
 to find the Lord, whom my soul longed after. 
 He heard my cries in that hour, and sealed the 
 pardon of my sins upon my heart. The next 
 morning, the whole creation appeared to me as 
 it had never done before. Every thing looked 
 lovely and glorious. On every spire of grass 
 I saw the imprint of the goodness of God. 
 All about me and all within me praised the 
 Lord. My heart had peace with God, and love 
 to all men. 
 
 "Jesus all the day long, 
 
 Was my joy and my song; 
 O, that all his salvation might see ! 
 
 He has loved me, I cried, 
 
 He has suffered and died, 
 To redeem such a rebel as me. 
 
 " On the wings of his love, 
 
 I was carried above 
 All sin, and temptation, and pain ; 
 
 And I could not believe, 
 
 That I ever should grieve, 
 That I ever should suffer again." 
 
 But, alas! I was soon robbed of my child-like 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 139 
 
 faith. I was sent into a theological seminary, 
 which was under Rationalistic influence ; and, 
 as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtil- 
 ty, so my mind was corrupted from the sim- 
 plicity that is in Christ. Instead of being nour- 
 ished with the sincere milk of the word, that I 
 might grow up thereby to a man in Christ, I 
 was fed with heathenish nectar and ambrosia. 
 We read, indeed, in the original, Moses and 
 the prophets; who, as our Lord assures us, 
 testify of him. But according to the interpre- 
 tation of our professors, this was only accom- 
 modation, and the apostles were commonly 
 mistaken when they applied the prophecies of 
 the Old Testament. The sole object of my 
 class-mates was, not to become embassadors 
 for Christ, but heroes, poets, and philosophers. 
 Only one inquired after the Savior of sinners. 
 One year I continued to weep and pray in se- 
 cret, and I was often blessed, and strengthened, 
 and revived. I felt the need of a clean heart, 
 and tried to seek that blessing ; but when I cor- 
 responded upon this subject with my distant, 
 pious friends, they told me, that the expecta- 
 tion to be made free from all sin was spiritual 
 pride. I then sinned and repented, and sinned 
 again, until, after repeated backslidings, I cast 
 off my confidence, and was carried away by 
 the torrent of the spirit of the age. I fell into 
 the depths of mystical Pantheism, the most 
 modern form of atheism. Nevertheless, the 
 firm conviction remained in my heart, that, if 
 there was happiness to be enjoyed in another 
 
140 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 world by the poor soul of man, it could only 
 be found through faith in a crucified Redeemer. 
 
 After I had studied the ancient languages for 
 four years, and mental philosophy for two, 
 I withdrew, voluntarily, from the service of the 
 Church, and paid for the instruction which I 
 had received gratuitously from the Church, out 
 of my own means, and my intention was, to 
 devote myself exclusively to science and litera- 
 ture. My remaining in the service of the 
 Church would have secured to me wealth, hon- 
 or and ease ; but my conscience did not permit 
 me to profess and teach a doctrine which I did 
 not believe from the heart, or, at best, which I 
 interpreted in an entirely different sense from 
 the Church. I was not willing, for the sake 
 of a living, or to please friends, to make a sol- 
 emn promise of preaching according to the arti- 
 cles of religion in the Lutheran Church, which 
 Rationalism had taught me to reject, and which 
 I saw was rejected by most of the doctors of 
 divinity, and their scholars. I was conscious, 
 too, that, according to the holy Scriptures, I 
 was no Christian, and nothing appeared more 
 absurd to me, than, that a man, who is him- 
 self unreconciled to God, and resists his holy 
 Spirit, should dare to preach the word of recon- 
 ciliation. 
 
 I sought rest for my soul in the arts and sci- 
 ences, but could not find it. Then the God of 
 mercy stretched out his arm after the prodigal 
 son, and led him in a way which he did not 
 know. I heard much of the liberties of the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 141 
 
 United States, and was informed that there was 
 a scarcity of classical teachers. This inspired 
 me with a desire to see this country. I arrived 
 at New York in the fall of 1828 ; and four 
 years afterward, it pleased God to awaken me 
 thoroughly at a Methodist camp meeting, in 
 Tuscarawas valley, Pennsylvania, the second 
 time. The scales fell from my eyes. I saw 
 and felt that I had despised the atoning blood 
 of Jesus Christ — that I had been blinded by 
 Satan, and had heaped wrath upon wrath. I 
 did not harden myself against this call of God, 
 which I consideied the last, but wrestled, and, 
 with many tears, supplicated God to forgive 
 my sins, and renew my heart. For nearly 
 three years, however, it seemed as if the Lord 
 had cast me off for ever, and would be favora- 
 ble to me no more — as if his mercy was clean 
 gone for ever— as if God had forgotten to be 
 gracious — as if he had, in anger, shut up his 
 tender mercies. But, blessed be his holy 
 name ! I had now found a city of refuge in the 
 Methodist Church. One Methodist preacher 
 after another raised my spirits, from time to 
 time, and kept them from sinking into despair, 
 by pointing me to the Lamb of God that taketh 
 away the sins of the world. When I was on 
 the point of giving up the struggle, I was again 
 encouraged by the members of the Church, 
 who prayed fervently with me and for me. 
 And often did I hear, in class meetings and 
 love feasts, this people of God testify, from 
 blessed experience, that Jesus casts out none 
 
142 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 that come to him. Never can I forget the 
 gratitude which I owe to my Methodist breth- 
 ren. They will receive their reward in heaven. 
 Through their faith and love, the smoking flax 
 was kept from being quenched. I did not let 
 the Lord go until he blessed me. It was on 
 the 18th of January, 1835, that I was born 
 again, unto a lively hope, with joy unspeakable 
 and full of glory — to an inheritance incorrupti- 
 ble and undenled, and that fadeth not away, 
 reserved in heaven for those who are kept by 
 the power of God through faith unto salvation. 
 I gave myself to the Lord, without reserve. I 
 could not refrain from confessing publicly, 
 what great things the Lord had done for me, 
 and how merciful he was to me. I also warn- 
 ed and exhorted my fellow men. I became 
 convinced that now was the time to perform 
 the service in the Gospel, which my parents 
 promised to the Lord in my stead, and to be- 
 come a witness of the long continued patience of 
 our great Shepherd, in seeking that which was 
 lost. The Church, of which I had become a 
 member, also called me to the work, on which 
 account I left, in August, 1835, a situation as 
 teacher of ancient languages, at an English col- 
 lege, and was received by the Ohio conference 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church into the 
 traveling connection. 
 
 Will any of my readers find fault with me, 
 that I left the Church in which I was brought 
 up, and joined the Methodists? Do not the 
 providence of God, and the fact that it pleased 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 143 
 
 the Spirit of grace to make the Methodists the 
 instrument of my conversion, fully justify my 
 change ? If any should hesitate to answer this 
 question affirmatively, I beg him to examine 
 the doctrines of the Methodist Church, and he 
 will be convinced that she is built upon the 
 same unshaken rock as Luther built upon, 
 namely, " That a man is justified through 
 faith by grace alone." The differences which 
 exist between the Lutheran and Methodist de- 
 nominations, consist only in their present re- 
 spective state of spirituality, in their discipline, 
 and especially in the manner in which the min- 
 isters of the Gospel are called to their work. 
 With regard to these points, I freely confess 
 that a deliberate and prayerful comparison of 
 what I have seen with my own eye, heard 
 with my own ear, and felt in my own heart, 
 with what is contained in the holy Scriptures, 
 has induced me to prefer the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church to the Church of my fathers ; and 
 I have as yet found no reason to regret my 
 separation from it, but am, every day, more 
 thankful for the high privileges which I enjoy, 
 as a Methodist. 
 
 Rev* George A. Breunig's Experience. — 
 This experience is translated from the Chris- 
 tian Apologist : 
 
 I was born of Roman Catholic parents, in 
 Germany, who used their best endeavors to 
 have me instructed in every thing necessary to 
 my present and everlasting well being. I was 
 early made acquainted with the means of grace, 
 
144 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 or sacraments, of which the Roman Catholic 
 Church acknowledges seven, namely, 1. Bap- 
 tism. 2. Confirmation. 3. Sacrament of the 
 Altar. 4. Penance. 5. Extreme Unction. 6. 
 The consecration of the Priest. 7. Marriage. 
 Notwithstanding the Roman Catholic Church, 
 as she believes, is so rich in the means of grace, 
 and I had observed the most of them, yet I was 
 ungodly, and became more so from day to day. 
 I sought the pleasures of the world as much as 
 was in my power, and my disposition for these 
 increased daily. I was, however, not concern- 
 ed on that account, for I comforted myself with 
 the reflection that I was a Catholic Christian. 
 Often I heard from the pulpit, in the school, 
 and from my parents, how much better we 
 were off, than thousands of our fellow men, 
 who were not Roman Catholic Christians, and 
 on that account, could have no hope of salva- 
 tion. (May Cod have mercy upon the poor 
 people who have no hope of salvation, and 
 upon those who think they alone have a hope !) 
 When I thought of dying, it is true, I did not 
 expect that I could get to heaven, but to purga- 
 tory, of which I was not so much afraid, be- 
 cause it was only to last for a time. Yet, at 
 certain times, I felt very restless, on account of 
 my sins, and then would go to confession. 
 Confession was always a hard task for me; 
 because I was taught in the school, that no sins 
 dare be kept secret, but that each particular sin, 
 of whatever kind it might be, must be faithfully 
 related to the priest, who is himself a sinful 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 145 
 
 man. Of this I was very much ashamed. Re- 
 gardless of him, it, alas, often happened, that I 
 spent the afternoon of the holy Sabbath in 
 committing the same sins which I had confes- 
 sed in the forenoon, and for which I had taken 
 the sacrament. This was, to be sure, not the 
 preacher's fault, inasmuch as he had exhorted 
 me, in the confession chair, to do so no more. 
 Also, from time to time, my conscience re- 
 minded me of death and judgment. I endeav- 
 ored, however, to dismiss these thoughts from 
 my mind, by observing my fellow men, who 
 were, by almost every one, esteemed good 
 Christians. Even our school-teacher, who, 
 owing to his situation, should especially have 
 given a good example, and was considered a 
 good Christian, was, notwithstanding, a distin- 
 guished lover of card playing and dancing ; and 
 not till some years after, when an illegitimate 
 daughter sued him for her part of his inheri- 
 tance, and in that manner made manifest his 
 disgrace, were the eyes of the people opened 
 to the fact that he was not a Christian. By 
 this, I do not finally condemn this school- 
 teacher. May God grant him true repentance, 
 that he may obtain mercy, and stand in that 
 day ! Even my preacher was often seen at the 
 card table, and in the dancing room, and this, 
 withal, on the Lord's day ! May the Savior 
 open the eyes of the understanding of the de- 
 ceiver, as well as of the deceived! Teachers 
 teach in the school, and preachers from the 
 pulpit, and in the confession chair, that we 
 13 
 
146 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 must do no evil ; but in their conduct, many of 
 them are examples of wickedness, and manifest 
 their unrighteousness in all kinds of ways. In 
 Moses' seat the Scribes and Pharisees are seat- 
 ed, " All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you 
 observe, that observe and do." (If it is accord- 
 ing to the Scripture, the Savior means.) " But 
 do not ye after their works : for they say and 
 do not." The woe is pronounced upon them 
 by the Savior, "If the blind lead the blind, 
 both will fall into the ditch." But is there, as 
 I was taught, a nethermost hell, then it will be 
 for the false teachers. 0, what a dreadful con- 
 demnation will the false prophets finally have 
 to bear, because they have dragged so many 
 souls with them into everlasting destruction. I 
 will again speak of myself. Until the 23d 
 year of my age, I participated in all the pleas- 
 ures of the world, notwithstanding, I, as alrea- 
 dy remarked, from time to time, according to 
 custom, went to confession, and also frequently, 
 thank God, heard the voice speaking to my 
 heart. 
 
 About this time the Pope proclaimed a jubi- 
 lee throughout all Roman Christendom. Men 
 were to be released from all present and eternal 
 punishment by following certain precepts : 
 namely, to visit a certain number of particular 
 churches, to pray over a certain number of 
 beads each day, to abstain from certain meats, 
 go to confession and communion ; and should 
 one die during this time, he was not to go to 
 purgatory, but immediately to heaven. When 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 147 
 
 I heard this I believed that the Pope had known 
 my condition, because he suffered such a mer- 
 ciful jubilee. I now expected to be made free 
 from all the burden of my sins, and therefore 
 observed all the precepts punctiliously. But 
 my corroding conscience did not suffer itself 
 to be thus quieted. By grace we are saved 
 through faith, and not by the deeds of the law 
 neither will God give the honor of pardoning 
 the sinner to man, nor even to the Pope. My 
 soul would not be comforted, thirsting for some- 
 thing else. When God had so powerfully 
 called me, and I promised him to mend my 
 life, I felt an inward hatred to the sins I had 
 previously loved ; I kept myself from all vain 
 company, and became delighted with reading 
 and praying. Notwithstanding I had kept what 
 had passed in my mind a secret, and believed 
 that it was only known to God, yet my father 
 and the family soon observed that there was a 
 great change in me. They were rejoiced at 
 this, that I had become more virtuous ; but I 
 was often reminded of the hours when I had 
 felt the wrath of God abiding upon me, and 
 often doubted whether my sins were pardoned. 
 Pardoned they were not; yet, through the 
 mercy of God, the law became my schoolmas- 
 ter, until his grace in Christ appeared to me. 
 The Lord permitted me to see the nature of 
 sin ; and I found it insupportable to live with 
 ungodly people : I looked in vain for good peo- 
 ple. Then I thought if I should travel to Amer- 
 ica, I could there serve God in solitude as 1 
 
148 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 wished to do. But now I lacked means for 
 traveling, for I was poor. But God, my heaven- 
 ly Father, is rich ; with him there is no want 
 of ways and means, and he always helps those 
 that fear him. He inclined the heart of a very 
 wealthy neighbor to go to America. I disclosed 
 to him my desire to go with him, and wished 
 him to let me have the loan of money to take 
 me on my journey ; which he did. We came 
 in the year 1833; and, through the blessing of 
 God, in two years I was able to pay my bene- 
 factor. May God richly bless him for that 
 which he has done for me ! Through this 
 means I came to a country where religious liber- 
 ty exists, and where all may obtain and read the 
 Bible. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits to me ! 
 
 When I arrived in Baltimore, I embraced the 
 first opportunity to go to confession and to com- 
 munion, and renewed my determination to lead 
 a life well pleasing to God. Soon after this, I 
 became acquainted with a Lutheran, who was 
 a very friendly man. As often as we conversed 
 together on the subject of religion, deep sighs 
 would arise from my breast. He smiled, and 
 asked me why I sighed ? upon which I disclos- 
 ed to him the condition of my soul. He prais- 
 ed God, and said this was the new birth. I 
 was much astonished at that which he told me, 
 of which I had never heard before. I was re- 
 joiced to have found a man to whom I could 
 open my heart, and endeavored, accordingly, 
 to believe his instruction, that God had pardon- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 149 
 
 ed my sins; but I could only believe this at 
 certain times ; and at times again, my faith 
 would forsake me entirely, because I yet felt 
 the dominion of sin, and had a tormenting fear 
 of death. Not until three years afterward, did 
 I experience that this was not the new birth, 
 but only the commencement of the work of 
 grace — that the new-born soul feels peace with 
 God, through Jesus Christ, as a sick man feels 
 when he has obtained a remedy for his disease. 
 To tell, however, how I obtained this, I must 
 again return to my Lutheran friend. He ex- 
 horted me to read the Bible, and especially the 
 New Testament; and said when I prayed, I 
 should pray to no one but God, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ ; that I should not call upon the 
 saints, nor the mother of Christ, to make inter- 
 cession for me ; for Jesus Christ is the only 
 Mediator and Intercessor between God and 
 man. He told me that the Roman Catholic 
 Church held some injurious and gross errors. 
 This I did not love to hear ; and I answered 
 that the Roman Church commands nothing that 
 is unnecessary — that it was all good and whole- 
 some, if correctly used; yet scruples entered 
 my mind in reference to my answer. I asked 
 myself, have you not kept all things that the 
 Church commanded you, and are you not, after 
 all, a poor sinner, exposed to damnation? I 
 therefore followed the counsel of my friend, 
 and commenced to read the New Testament. 
 Wisely he pointed me to the following passa- 
 ges : "A bishop, then, must be the husband of 
 18* 
 
150 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 one wife — one that ruleth well his own house, 
 having his children in subjection with all grav- 
 ity," 1 Timothy iii, 1-5. Again, " Now the 
 Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter 
 times some shall depart from the faith, giving 
 heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils ; 
 speaking lies in hypocrisy ; having their con- 
 science seared with a hot iron; forbidding to 
 marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, 
 which God hath created to be received with 
 thanksgiving of them which believe and know 
 the truth. For every creature of God is good, 
 and nothing to be refused, if it be received with 
 thanksgiving : for it is sanctified by the word 
 of God and prayer," 1 Timothy iv, 1-5. These 
 passages brought me to reflection. Above all, 
 I wished to examine whether the Lutheran Bi- 
 ble agreed with the Catholic. I therefore bor- 
 rowed a Catholic Testament. The compari- 
 son of one with the other, convinced me that 
 these passages were the same in the Catholic 
 Testament. God gave me grace to believe that 
 it was his infallible word, and that men are fal- 
 lible, and liable to turn aside from his word. I 
 now visited my friend frequently, in order to 
 obtain an opportunity to read in his Bible. My 
 confidence increased, and I obtained more and 
 more light ; yet I did not think that I would 
 leave the Roman Catholic Church, and contin- 
 ued two years in this determination. I went 
 diligently to church, and embraced all oppor- 
 tunities to serve God. During this time, it also 
 happened that a Catholic offered to sell me a 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 151 
 
 New Testament. He said he had read enough 
 in it in his youth, and would have nothing more 
 to do with it. I gave him fifty cents for it, and 
 was now very much rejoiced that I, for myself, 
 had once obtained a New Testament. My de- 
 light in reading increased from day to day. 
 My conscience, likewise, became more and 
 more tender. I spent all my evening hours in 
 reading. My spiritual eyes were more and 
 more opened, and the light shone brighter and 
 brighter. The words of the Gospel shone into 
 my heart. The words of Jesus were to me 
 quickening, full of comfort and instruction. 
 Soon after this I bought myself a Bible, which 
 I read in my shop, in order to improve every 
 leisure moment I had in reading. I also some- 
 times went into the Lutheran church, not with 
 any intention to leave the Roman Catholic 
 Church, but only in order to prove the doctrine. 
 I must, however, confess, that soon I liked the 
 preaching and singing in the Lutheran church 
 much better than the Roman Catholic manner 
 of worship ; for I understood what was sung 
 and could join in singing; while from the mass 
 there was nothing for my understanding nor 
 heart ; and when it was over, it was to me like 
 an empty dream, from which one awaketh. 
 From the Lutheran sermons I likewise received 
 more benefit, because I heard more of Jesus, 
 and the word preached according to the teach- 
 ing of the Bible. I was now so far acquainted 
 with the doctrines of the Gospel, that I could 
 no more believe in the adoration of the saints 
 
152 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 and relics, and purgatory, and suchlike things. 
 I also no longer believed in mass, because I 
 never had obtained a benefit from it. It was 
 very objectionable to my mind, that worship 
 in mass and vesper were performed in the Latin 
 language, which I could not understand. I 
 could, truly, with many others, say them off, 
 but knew not the meaning of the words. How 
 foolish and sinful it is to approach God in prayer 
 without knowing what we say ! 
 
 A priest who heard of me, visited me during 
 this time, in order to warn me against falling 
 off. I told him that I intended to believe noth- 
 ing else but the Bible ; whereupon he answered 
 me that the primitive Christians had no Bibles, 
 and that we dare not, alone, follow the Bible. 
 I told him that the primitive Christians had the 
 Old Testament and the four Gospels, and be- 
 fore the apostles departed from this world, they 
 also had the Epistles in their possession. He 
 sought, by all kinds of artful persuasion, to 
 turn me from my simplicity and sincerity in the 
 faith of the Gospel, and recommended a book 
 to me which he would send me, and which I 
 had to promise to read. This book I found full 
 of pretended showings, that the Roman Catho- 
 lic was the only infallible and true Church; 
 but the most of the arguments were not taken 
 from the Bible, but from primitive fathers ; and 
 among those that were taken from the Bible, 
 the sense of the inspired writers was, in many 
 places, misrepresented. So, through the preach- 
 er and the book, I was brought to discover, that 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 153 
 
 if I would read and believe the Bible, I could 
 not remain a Roman Catholic ; and if I would 
 remain one, I must lay aside the Bible, and 
 content myself with what the priest would tell 
 me. I was now brought to an inward conflict. 
 The scoffs which I would have to endure from 
 my acquaintances, if I should go out from 
 among them ; the ill will of my father and my 
 relations, if they should hear of it ; the fearful 
 curse pronounced by the Romans upon those 
 who are disobedient to their Church; these 
 things, like great mountains, stood in my way. 
 On the other hand, it appeared impossible for 
 me to lay aside the word of God, for it was 
 sweeter to my soul than honey or the honey- 
 comb. It had drawn my heart, as the magnet 
 draws the metal. When I read it, I thought that 
 every word gave witness that the Bible contain- 
 ed nothing but God's truth. 
 
 Frequently, while reading, I would have to 
 involuntarily fall upon my knees, and with a 
 loud voice, praise God for his unspeakable gift. 
 However, after I had read the priest's book, 
 doubts and darkness came upon me : my heart 
 was broken down, and my eyes were filled with 
 tears. At a certain time, my inward conflict 
 rose so high, that I was on the borders of des- 
 pair. I did not regard the persecution of my 
 friends. My only concern was, to find the 
 right way. I felt that I could no longer live, 
 without certainty in religion. I could not de- 
 pend upon man. The Catholics could not take 
 from me the light that God had given to me. 
 
154 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Neither could the Lutherans, (notwithstanding 
 they did all they could-) give me that peace 
 which my soul desired. In this disposition of 
 mind, I went once, at midnight, under the open 
 sky, threw myself upon my knees, and called 
 upon God, in the name of Jesus, "O, God, 
 that hast said, ' If a child should ask bread of 
 a father, would he give him a stone ? and if he 
 should ask for a fish, would he give him a ser- 
 pent? If ye, then, being evil, can give good 
 gifts unto your children, how much more will 
 God give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.' 
 O, God, most merciful Savior, thou art not like 
 unto man; thou knowest what I desire. I 
 desire to get upon the right way, and walk 
 therein. O, teach thou me what I shall do." 
 In this manner I prayed for some length of 
 time, and then retired to my bed again. I 
 could, however, sleep but little, for my soul 
 was engaged for the one thing needful. As I 
 entered the work-shop in the morning, the first 
 thing I viewed was the Bible, which was lay- 
 ing by the side of the priest's book, upon a 
 bench. I felt an inexpressible drawing toward 
 the Bible. I took it, kissed it, and leaped for 
 joy. I opened and read, and every letter ap- 
 peared to say to me, this is the way to truth. 
 I looked at the priest's book with disapproba- 
 tion, and also soon sent it back to the priest. 
 Blessed be God, my Savior, who has establish- 
 ed my heart ! 
 
 From this time, I went no more to the Ko- 
 man Catholic Church. Now I was pointed at 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 155 
 
 by the finger of scorn. I, however, was not 
 concerned about it. My nearest friend, a rigid 
 Catholic, did all he could to win me back, and 
 said I would go where M. Luther is. " Yes," 
 replied I, "yes, dear brother, this is my ear- 
 nest desire. I firmly believe that he is in heav- 
 en," (when I said this, my friend turned pale, 
 and crossed himself,) "like Huss, and many 
 others, whom the Romish Church executed, 
 through her inquisitions ; and had they the 
 power this day, I too, would have been led to 
 the slaughter bench. Yet, I believe, that for 
 Jesus and the sake of his truth, I should be 
 willing to suffer all." Whereupon my friend 
 said I had drank whisky, and showed me the 
 room door. I remembered that they called my 
 Savior a wine-bibber, and said Peter was 
 drunken with new wine, and was glad to suffer 
 reproach for Jesus' sake. So far God had 
 enlightened me through his precious word, but 
 I lacked something yet of being a Christian. 
 I was acquainted with some Lutheran brethren, 
 who, like myself, were seeking the salvation 
 of their souls. We agreed to hold a prayer 
 meeting once a week, of which the Lutheran 
 preacher himself was the leader. He was an 
 honest man, who taught us the way as well as 
 he knew it himself; but as he was infirm, he 
 soon left as ; exhorting us, however, before his 
 departure, that we should continue to assemble 
 for prayer, and appointing me for the leader. 
 We obeyed his instruction, but found ourselves 
 much embarrassed, because none of us would 
 
156 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 venture to pray extemporaneously in public, 
 notwithstanding we could pray in secret ; but 
 God helped us in our extremity. In the house 
 where we held our meeting, I met a man whom 
 I heard speak with the landlord on the subject 
 of religion, and whom I loved, and in whom I 
 had confidence. I laid our case before him, 
 and asked him to become our leader, to which 
 he consented. He opened our meeting with 
 singing and prayer, read a portion of Scripture, 
 and exhorted us from it, and then called upon 
 us to pray. We all excused ourselves, where- 
 upon he concluded with prayer, himself, and 
 asked us whether we would meet again. We 
 met again the following Sabbath, as there was 
 no preaching in the Lutheran church, at that 
 time. After he had opened the meeting, as 
 before, he explained to us more clearly the na- 
 ture of evangelical repentance ; and that upon 
 repentance, faith must follow, through which 
 we receive the forgiveness of our sins ; and 
 that without it we could not inherit the kingdom 
 of God. While he was speaking, it pleased 
 God to baptize me with fire and with the Holy 
 Ghost. It appeared to me as if mountains lay 
 upon my heart. My buiden pressed me so 
 heavily that I cried aloud to God. I sought to 
 restrain myself, but could not. I then cast 
 myself into the arms of Jesus, who says, 
 " Come unto me, all ye that are weary and 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" and, 
 also, I obtained peace with God. Now my 
 mouth was opened, and I could pray and praise 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 157 
 
 God ; for I was made a partaker of the Spirit, 
 through which I could cry, " Abba, Father." 
 The Spirit of God gave witness to my spirit, 
 that I was a child of God. Old things had 
 passed away, and behold, all things had become 
 new. Every word in the Bible spoke peace 
 to my soul. Soon afterward, my wife and six- 
 teen of my brothers and sisters, received the 
 same blessing. 
 
 But now, new persecution commenced. The 
 Lutherans united with the Catholics in perse- 
 cuting us. Soon after, another Lutheran preach- 
 er came, who was a strict observer of the letter. 
 He became our enemy, and alas, offended many 
 of these little ones, who believed in Jesus. 
 
 This is the conclusion of my experience of 
 true Christianity. I will now add some 
 thoughts on the Roman Catholic Church. 
 
 I was often asked if I could not be a good 
 Christian in the Roman Catholic Church, and 
 if I believed that there were no good persons 
 in it? The latter I did not doubt in the least, 
 but the former I had to answer in the negative. 
 If I had remained in the Romish Church, I 
 would have gone against my conscience and 
 convictions ; and who can be well pleasing to 
 God who opposes his Spirit and his own con- 
 science? All who receive the Bible as the 
 word of God, and read it with attention, must 
 acknowledge that the teaching of the Romish 
 Church directly contradicts the holy Scrip- 
 tures, and, instead of leading the wanderer to 
 God, leads him still farther astray. 
 14 
 
158 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 The worship of saints is a leading away 
 from God. God says, "I will not give my 
 glory to another." But, say the Roman Cath- 
 olics, " We do not worship the saints, but only 
 call upon God through them ; and through their 
 intercession with God, we obtain that for which 
 we pray." This doctrine arose from the bot- 
 tomless pit, and came from the father of lies. 
 Jesus Christ is the only intercessor: "For 
 there is one God, and one Mediator between 
 God and man, the man Christ Jesus," 1 Tim. 
 ii, 5. It is also to be observed, that while some 
 Catholics believe that alone through the inter- 
 cession of the saints we are made worthy to 
 approach Jesus, the greater part, who have but 
 limited views of religion, expect their help en- 
 tirely and alone from the saints. But not alone 
 the command, "Thou shalt have no gods be- 
 side me," but also the command, " Thou shalt 
 not make unto thee any graven images, nor 
 likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 
 or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the 
 waters under the earth," has been violated by 
 the Romish Church. God well knew that the 
 making of images would lead to idolatry, and 
 notwithstanding the enlightened ones among 
 them are ashamed of the doctrine of their 
 Church on these points, and do not wish to be 
 counted simple enough to worship saints and 
 relics, yet it is known to the world that the 
 greater part of them bow and kneel to images. 
 
 Go to Austria and old Berne, and you will 
 find heathens kneeling before their images. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 159 
 
 Again, go to Asia and Africa, and you would 
 imagine you see Catholics kneeling before their 
 images. In the Bible we find nothing of the 
 worshiping of saints, but directly the contrary. 
 " Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I 
 will deliver you," saith God. " Whatsoever 
 ye shall ask the Father in my name, I will give 
 you," is the promise of the Savior. 
 
 I believe that the Roman Catholic Church 
 would be frightened, if she could see many 
 of the saints that she worships. Others that 
 may be in heaven, we should leave undisturbed. 
 As faithful followers of the Lamb, they are 
 truly worthy of honor ; yet they have to con- 
 fess of themselves, after they have done all, 
 "We are unprofitable servants," and are saved 
 by grace ; and the honor of the good we have 
 done through grace, all belongs to God, who 
 created us thereunto in Jesus Christ. If it were 
 the will of God that the saints should answer 
 when called upon, they would, undoubtedly, 
 say what the angel told John, Rev. xix, 10: 
 " See that thou do it not : I am thy fellow ser- 
 vant, and of thy brethren." They would do 
 like Peter, who, as Cornelius fell down to wor- 
 ship him, raised him up, &c, Acts x, 25, 26. 
 Jesus Christ is the only and all-sufficient inter- 
 cessor with God for us. O that my brethren 
 would acquaint themselves with the Bible ! then 
 they would become acquainted with the char- 
 acter of the Savior. Who is of so much love 
 and mercy, humility and friendship, as Jesus ? 
 No one who is sincere need be afraid of him. 
 
160 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 He says, " Whosoever will come unto me, I 
 will in no wise cast him off." How he calls 
 and invites us, " Come unto me, all ye that 
 are weary and heavy laden : I will give you 
 rest." Cast your eyes to Golgotha — there ever- 
 lasting love hangs upon the cross with out- 
 stretched arms, calling and thirsting for poor 
 sinners. The thief freely prayed to him, 
 " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy 
 kingdom ;" whereupon he immediately receiv- 
 ed the answer, " This day shalt thou be with 
 me in paradise." 
 
 The doctrine of purgatory is another great 
 error, the bad effects of which will only be 
 fully realized in eternity. How many quiet 
 their own souls with this in time, and will after- 
 ward wake up in hell, where there will be 
 nothing but endless lamentation and sorrow? 
 The doctrine of purgatory dishonors the merit 
 and power of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus 
 Christ. Jesus has purchased a full redemp- 
 tion — in his name is forgiveness of sins : " For 
 by one offering he hath perfected for ever them 
 that are sanctified," Heb. x, 14. God has 
 opened up a way of salvation to man through 
 Jesus Christ. He offers to all salvation through 
 free grace. But he who would be saved, must 
 become obedient to the Gospel, truly and evan- 
 gelically repent, and then put his whole trust 
 in the merits of Christ. Then will the prom- 
 ise be fulfilled in him, " Their sins and their 
 iniquities will I remember no more." But 
 when there is forgiveness, there is no more 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 161 
 
 offering for sin. Also, with the pardon of sin, 
 the person receives a new heart. So says the 
 prophet Ezekiel, xxxvi, 26, 27: " A new heart 
 also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
 within you ; and I will take away the stony 
 heart out of your flesh, and will give you a 
 heart of flesh ; and I will put my Spirit within 
 you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and 
 ye shall keep my judgments and do them." 
 This is the work of regeneration, in reference 
 to which the Old and New Testaments bear 
 an agreeing testimony; and in reference to 
 which our Lord positively assures us, that " ex- 
 cept a man be born again, he cannot see the 
 kingdom of God." "But there is, therefore, 
 now no condemnation to them which are in 
 Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but 
 after the Spirit." But is the question asked, 
 will the children of God who are born again 
 remain without sin? Then we will let the 
 apostle John answer in his 1st Epistle ii, 1 : 
 "My little children, these things write I unto 
 you, that ye sin not ; and if any man sin, we 
 have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ 
 the righteous." So long, therefore, as this Ad- 
 vocate is viewed as sufficient by the Father, we 
 need no purgatory. " If we confess our sins, 
 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
 " The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth 
 us from all sin." So long as the blood of Jesus 
 Christ retains its virtue, we need no purgatory. 
 Do we not clearly discover from this, that it is 
 14* 
 
162 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 an anti-christian doctrine? To suppose the 
 case of a moralist who has committed no out- 
 breaking crimes, but only " venial " sins ; who, 
 according to the doctrine of the Romish Church, 
 will not go to hell, but only to purgatory, where 
 he must do penance for his sins. Such a saint 
 could ascribe but a small part of his salvation 
 to the merits of Christ; namely, this, that by 
 his baptism he was washed from original sin — 
 the rest of his salvation he has wrought out 
 himself, in that, through his morality, he has 
 escaped hell, and for his " venial" sins he 
 has paid by his penance in purgatory. With 
 such as wish to be saved by their own merits, 
 God is not well pleased. The language of the 
 redeemed is, " While we were dead in trespas- 
 ses and sins, Christ has made us alive." " By 
 grace are ye saved through faith, and that not 
 of yourselves, it is the gift of God : not of 
 works, lest any man should boast." 
 
 I fear that if all the Roman Catholics would 
 get to heaven, there would then be nothing but 
 boasting, while they are seeking their salvation 
 through their own righteousness. Yet God, 
 who is merciful, has power sufficient to bring 
 many of those who are yet in error, to a saving 
 knowledge of the truth. 
 
 I also wish to make some remarks about 
 mass. In mass, I was instructed that Jesus 
 was offered without blood. Mass is called a 
 reconciliation, thank and intercession offering ; 
 but we can find nothing of it in the New Tes- 
 tument. Where do we find that the apostles 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 163 
 
 went about reading mass ? They preached the 
 Gospel, baptized, and showed forth the Lord's 
 death, in that they took bread and wine in 
 remembrance of him. Do the Roman Catho- 
 lics likewise? No. Since 1216, the priests 
 have acted directly contrary to the words of the 
 Savior, by denying the wine to the people. 
 For a number of centuries, mass offerings were 
 not known. After this, however, he of whom 
 the prophet Daniel spake, arose, see xi, 37, 38. 
 So also, the apostle Paul prophesied, 1 Tim. iv, 
 1-3. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 
 that in the latter times, some shall depart from 
 the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and 
 doctrines of devils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy ; 
 having their conscience seared with a hot iron." 
 As a Roman Catholic read the above verses to 
 me, and said, " This means you, because you 
 have fallen from the faith," I requested him to 
 read the following verse, and asked him if the 
 Romish priests were not meant by it ? to which 
 he could give no answer : " Forbidding to mar- 
 ry, and commanding to abstain from meats, 
 which God hath created to be received with 
 thanksgiving of them which believe and know 
 the truth." Again, whoever is acquainted with 
 Church history, knows how far the Romish 
 Church has departed from the teaching of Pe- 
 ter, 1 Peter v, 2, 3 : "Feed the flock of God 
 which is among you, taking the oversight there- 
 of, not by constraint, but willingly ; not for 
 filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as 
 being lords over God's heritage, but being en- 
 
164 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 samples to the flock." It appears that the 
 apostle had a revelation of the fall of the 
 Church. Who does not know to what extent 
 the Pope has usurped authority, not only over 
 the consciences of men, but also over worldly 
 rulers ? As says the apostle Paul, Acts xx, 29 : 
 " For I know this, that after my departing shall 
 grievous wolves enter in among you, not spar- 
 ing the flock." How mournfully has the Pa- 
 pal Church fulfilled this in herself, by shedding 
 the blood of thousands of the saints, who stead- 
 fastly refused to worship the beast, and to re- 
 ceive his mark ? "Beware," says the Savior 
 himself, " of the false prophets which come to 
 you in sheep's clothing; but inwardly they are 
 ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know 
 them." By their fruits false teachers always 
 could, and still can be known, let their name 
 be what it may. Here, also, a word concern- 
 ing the marriage state, which the priests are 
 forbidden to enter into. According to the 
 teaching of the apostle Peter, 1 Tim. iii, each 
 bishop, or preacher of the Gospel, can do ac- 
 cording to his own judgment; he can follow 
 the example of Peter, and marry, or, like Paul, 
 abstain from marriage — he can do either to the 
 glory of God ; but the Romish Church requires 
 of all who wish to devote themselves to the 
 priest's office, the presumptuous vow to abstain 
 from marriage all the days of their lives. From 
 all this, and much more that could be named, 
 it is manifest that the Romish Church has de- 
 parted from the word of God. This departure 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 165 
 
 Is clearly described, 2 Thess. ii, 3, 4: " For 
 that day shall not come, except there come a 
 falling away first, and that man of sin be re- 
 vealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth 
 and exalteth himself above all that is called 
 God, or that is worshiped : so that he, as God, 
 sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself, 
 that he is God." The Pope assumes the place 
 of God, by pretending to forgive sins, or to 
 have the power to condemn to hell, which God 
 alone can do. 
 
 Again — the Romish Church professes to be 
 infallible, while none but God can claim to be 
 infallible. If our first parents, who were cre- 
 ated in the image of God, holy, just and wise, 
 could be deceived, how much more could the 
 Pope, who is a fallen being, be led into sin and 
 fall into errors ? What a presumption it is in 
 the heads of the Church, to say they cannot 
 err. Nothing upon earth is without deception 
 but the word of God. This is to be our rule 
 of faith and practice. So says Paul, Gal. i, 8 : 
 " But though we, or an angel from heaven, 
 preach any other Gospel unto you than that 
 which we have preached unto you, let him be 
 accursed." The Lord Jesus himself, says, 
 Rev. xxii, 18, 19: "For I testify unto every 
 man that heareth the words of the prophecy of 
 this book, if any man shall add unto these 
 things, God shall add unto him the plagues that 
 are written in this book : and if any man shall 
 take away from the words of the book of this 
 prophecy, God shall take away his part out of 
 
166 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 the book of life, and out of the holy city, and 
 from the things which are written in this 
 book." 
 
 In conclusion, a word to my Roman Catholic 
 brethren after the flesh. My ardent desire is, 
 that they (priest and people) may be brought 
 to a true knowledge of Christ. This would 
 also soon come to pass, if they would allow 
 themselves to be moved to read the Bible with 
 attention and prayer. Quite lately a young 
 man was converted by the power of God, who 
 was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, 
 and who had intended to devote himself to the 
 priest's office. May God give him grace, that 
 he may win many of his brethren to Christ. 
 May God also grant his blessing upon this 
 communication. 
 
 Rev. L. S. Jacoby's Experience. — I never 
 belonged to those who doubt the existence of 
 God; for the deep impressions made by the 
 admonitions of my pious mother, were never 
 entirely erased from my mind. I had the name 
 of an evangelical Lutheran from Germany, (for 
 so testified my certificate of baptism, at least ;) 
 but I had no idea of true Christianity, although 
 a New Testament, which had been presented 
 to me, was my continual companion. Some 
 time before my conversion, particularly in Cin- 
 cinnati, (where I arrived in the beginning of 
 November, 1839, a year after my arrival in 
 America,) I frequently read in it ; but I often 
 cast it from me, exclaiming, this cannot possi- 
 bly be true. Every Sabbath day, I visited 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 167 
 
 some church; I attended worship sometimes 
 in German, and sometimes in English, for I 
 understood the latter tolerably well ; but must 
 confess that I usually went from church as I 
 had gone there. 
 
 Of a German Methodist church, I had never 
 heard. One evening, however, a young man, 
 to whom I gave instruction in English, asked 
 me if I would not go with him to the German 
 Methodist church, on Sabbath evening, as it 
 was a real theatre — a place of much amuse- 
 ment. At first, I had no especial desire to go; 
 but the following Sabbath, a number of young 
 persons came to my lodging, and urged me to 
 go. Brother B., at that time a local preacher, 
 made his first attempt to preach, on that even- 
 ing. His text was, the parable of the prodi- 
 gal son. I could find nothing to make sport of, 
 excepting his singular expressions and pronun- 
 ciation — he and I being from different parts of 
 Germany, he had, of course, peculiar provin- 
 cialisms. His preaching was, to me, a novelty, 
 as I never had had an idea that a plain, unedu- 
 cated man would attempt so great an underta- 
 king. I would have been glad to have gone to 
 pray er meeting on tbe following Thursday even- 
 ing : I had an especial anxiety to go ; but 
 could not find time, as I was then giving les- 
 sons in the evening. The following Sabbath 
 evening, I was one of the first in the church, 
 and took my seat not far from the pulpit. 
 Brother Nast preached from, " I am not asham- 
 ed of the Gospel of Christ." Satan suggested 
 
168 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 to me that I should look right earnestly at him. 
 to see if I could not make him laugh. I did 
 so ; and instead of making him laugh, became 
 myself an attentive hearer. Amongst other 
 remarks, he made the following: "There may 
 be a Saul among us, whom God will convert 
 into a Paul," which struck me, and went to my 
 heart. Hitherto, I had been immersed in the 
 vices of the world ; but now I was brought to 
 reflection. On the following Tuesday evening 
 I went to class meeting. The union and love 
 which I there found among the people, and the 
 happiness which appeared impressed on every 
 countenance, made me feel solitary and forsa- 
 ken ; and I stood absorbed in reflection, until 
 an aged sister asked me why I appeared so sor- 
 rowful. I could find no peace nor comfort at 
 home, and felt very unhappy wherever I was. 
 On the following Thursday evening, I attended 
 prayer meeting ; but my knees refused to bend, 
 until one of the brethren prayed that God would 
 grant that sinners might bend their stubborn 
 knees before it should be too late. 
 
 On Friday, I was invited to the house of our 
 dear brother Nast : I soon obtained such confi- 
 dence in him that I opened to him the whole 
 state of my mind. He directed me to the Lamb 
 of God that taketh away the sins of the world ; 
 and, after he had given me a most kind exhor- 
 tation, we bowed our knees together before a 
 throne of grace, and he offered up a fervent 
 prayer to God for me. After which I, for the 
 first time, raised my voice in earnest prayer to 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 169 
 
 God for the pardon of my sins, I then left 
 brother Nast, with the firm resolution that 
 henceforth I would forsake the world, and 
 wholly devote myself to God. At home, I 
 cast myself down to pray in the name of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ ; but as I had pronounced 
 this name, a voice within spoke to me, " Thou 
 hypocrite, how canst thou pray in the name of 
 Him on whom thou dost not believe?" but 1 
 did not suffer myself to be disturbed. It soon, 
 however, appeared to me as if the room was 
 filled with people charging me with hypocrisy ; 
 yet I continued, and from that moment I could 
 pray with confidence in the name of Jesus, be- 
 cause through his name alone we can be saved. 
 I now commenced tearing myself loose from 
 my former associates ; and, at the first oppor- 
 tunity on Monday before Christmas, 1839, I 
 joined the Church during love feast. As those 
 were called to approach the altar who wished 
 an interest in the prayers of the pious, I did 
 not confer with flesh and blood, and for eight 
 evenings went thither. Twelve days I sought 
 the Lord earnestly ; I attended the watch-night. 
 The new year was commenced with prayer, 
 and the children of God sang the songs of 
 Zion, and were filled with joy. I remained 
 in prayer on my knees. I thought that my 
 heart would break under the burden that lay 
 upon me. I sighed for deliverance ; and, bles- 
 sed be God, not in vain. The Lord visited 
 me, and I was blessed with peace and joy in 
 the Holy Ghost. I rose from my knees re- 
 15 
 
170 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 joicing, and embraced heartily my, till then, 
 almost unknown brethren, and joyfully declared 
 that the Lord had delivered me. Never shall 
 I forget that hour, neither here on earth, nor in 
 heaven. The Lord Jesus showed his mercy 
 to a great sinner, and his grace was the more 
 magnified. I had a happy New-Year's day. 
 In the afternoon, however, the former friend 
 who first took me to the Methodist church 
 came to see me : he mocked, and scoffed, and 
 called me strange names. I sought to quiet 
 him by giving him an account of my conver- 
 sion ; but he only became the more abusive, 
 and was actually about attempting to beat me. 
 I thereupon said to him, quite composedly, " If 
 you had treated me so before I was converted, 
 I would have put you out of doors ; but now I 
 will rather go myself." So I went away, sadly, 
 and I understood he quit my house in a rage. 
 This circumstance made me dejected, and in 
 the evening I went anew to the mourners' bench. 
 Brother Nast asked me, if I had not professed 
 to have found the Savior? I told him I had, 
 and related to him the reason of my mourning. 
 He exhorted me to earnest prayer ; and soon I 
 found the joy which I had experienced return 
 to my heart. 
 
 Now a new period in my life commenced. 
 My delight in the things of this world had come 
 to an end; and it was my greatest joy to be 
 united with the children of God, Our dear 
 father Schmucker, at the time alluded to, had 
 charge of the society; and to him, as well as 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 171 
 
 to brother Nast, under God, I owe many thanks, 
 for the encouragement they gave me to go on 
 in the service of the Lord. They took me by 
 the hand, and led me as parents lead a child 
 when it first attempts to walk. I ought to re- 
 mark, that brother Nast, in my first visit to him, 
 lent me Fletcher's Appeal. This book contri- 
 buted much to convince me of my lost estate ; 
 and after my conversion, it was of great advan- 
 tage to me in my growth in grace. 
 
 From the first moment of my conversion, I 
 felt a great desire to communicate to my coun- 
 trymen my own happiness, and the power of 
 God, as exhibited in the Gospel. But I was 
 yet weak myself. I therefore sought to strength- 
 en myself by the word of God, and the read- 
 ing of other religious books, but more espe- 
 cially in the exercise of prayer. I can honestly 
 say, that the first three months after my con- 
 version were the happiest in my life. I did 
 not leave my room, (which was in the upper 
 story of the Methodist Book Room,) except to 
 attend church. The Lord blessed me, and I 
 grew in the knowledge of things divine. One 
 evening, brother Schmucker took me into the 
 pulpit to exhort after him. I knew but little 
 of what he preached, for my whole frame trem- 
 bled, and I could scarcely collect myself for 
 prayer; yet when he closed, I arose in the 
 name of the Lord, and words were given to 
 speak to the congregation. I received license 
 to exhort, and commenced my labors, trusting 
 in the Lord. I especially visited the workmen 
 
172 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 on the canal \ but, alas ! saw but little fruit. 
 Yet I confided in my Savior, whose Spirit mov- 
 ed me to proclaim his holy Gospel. And I am 
 convinced that the seed which, by the grace of 
 God, I scattered in weakness at my appoint- 
 ments, (of which I filled one nearly every Sab- 
 bath,) has not remained entirely without fruit. 
 In March, 1841, Bishop Morris sent forme, 
 and asked me whether I was willing to go to 
 St. Louis, Mo., as missionary. I confessed to 
 him my spiritual weakness, my youth and inex- 
 perience, and especially my limited knowledge 
 of the holy word. He answered all my objec- 
 tions, and encouraged me to commence in the 
 name of the Lord, and to live close to him, and 
 confide in his promises. I arrived at St. Louis 
 in August, 1841, and the English brethren re- 
 ceived myself and wife in the most friendly 
 manner. I preached the first Sabbath after my 
 arrival, in a small church rented of our Pres- 
 byterian brethren. We continued to worship 
 there until, by the help of God, we dedicated 
 our own church. I had to contend with many 
 temptations. I not only often bowed before 
 the Lord on my knees, but also cast myself on 
 my face in the very dust, and wept and prayed 
 to my Savior. The Lord heard my anxious 
 cries. Soon souls were converted to God, and 
 a small society was formed. Since our last 
 camp meeting, God has blessed me with an 
 especial peace ; and my firm conviction is, that 
 he will lead me the few remaining days of my 
 life according to his will, and give me grace 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 173 
 
 and strength to walk in his holy ways, and then 
 at death I shall exchange this earthly pilgrimage 
 for a heavenly rest. May God grant this, for 
 his name and mercy's sake ! Amen. 
 
 In conclusion, I will say, that the Lord has 
 especially blessed us this year. Our society 
 consists of one hundred and fourteen members.* 
 Our Sunday school is in a good condition, and 
 the day school which I commenced last Octo- 
 ber is still increasing. Pray for your unworthy 
 brother in Christ. 
 
 Rev. H. Koenecke's Experience. — I was 
 born in Germany, in the kingdom of Hanover, 
 May 28, 1800. My father died in the prime 
 of life, leaving my mother with five children, 
 of which I was the oldest, being nine years of 
 age, and my brother Charles, now German 
 missionary in Illinois, was the youngest, being 
 eleven months old. My mother was a widow 
 twenty years, and endeavored to train us up in 
 the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The 
 impressions that were made on my youthful 
 mind, often followed me in my course of sin. 
 In the year 1824, I was married; but at this 
 time I was in a sad condition. I had given 
 myself to drinking and gambling ; yet for the 
 sake of making a living, I fully resolved, that 
 as I had taken a wife, I would break off from 
 all these vices. But, alas ! I had soon to learn 
 that I was no longer master of myself, and that 
 
 * This society would be much larger if it were not for the nu- 
 merous removals of members, which is more or less the case in 
 all our large cities ; but those who remove will exert a pious in- 
 fluence in other places. -i ,- .^ 
 
174 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 these contracted habits held a control over me. 
 What I now learned by experience, I could not 
 previously have believed ; for it was a favorite 
 maxim with me, that man was able to govern 
 himself. With my strongest resolutions, how- 
 ever, I was not able to resist sin. I often saw 
 clearly that unless a change took place, I should 
 not only plunge myself into an untimely grave, 
 but leave my wife and children in a most sor- 
 rowful condition. I did not like to think of 
 death and eternity, for these thoughts usually 
 disturbed my mind. In this vacillating condi- 
 tion, sometimes having pious resolutions, and 
 then, again, thoughtlessly transgressing, I spent 
 ten years of my married life. During this 
 time, my wife shed many a tear; but her prin- 
 cipal comfort, probably, consisted in the reflec- 
 tion, that most of the women in the place where 
 we lived, were not any better off than she was. 
 The village in which we lived, contained about 
 twenty houses, and in it were twelve taverns ! 
 all of which had a good run of custom. There 
 was also a Lutheran church, in which there 
 was worship every Sabbath morning, from 10 
 to 12 o'clock. Many of the members, how- 
 ever, would visit the taverns before going to 
 church, and a majority of the remainder would 
 take their dram at home ; so that I can most 
 confidently aver that there w r as scarcely ever 
 ten men in church who had not been drinking 
 whisky. As soon as worship was over, all 
 kinds of amusements were commenced in the 
 tavern. The dancing-floor was cleared off, 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 175 
 
 music struck up, and an invitation given to 
 dance. The nine-pin alley and card- table were 
 put in a state of readiness. Thus was Sabbath- 
 breaking set in motion, which often continued 
 till late in the night. Sometimes, however, 
 their hilarity was interrupted by quarrelings, 
 contentions, and blows. Many would go home 
 with wounded and bruised heads ; and others, 
 robbed of their senses, would stagger to their 
 dwellings. 
 
 From such a miserable life, God delivered 
 me in 1834. In the night, between the 26th 
 and 27th of December, I had been playing 
 cards from 2 o'clock, P. M., until 12 o'clock 
 at night, and lost considerable money. On my 
 way home, the thought came into my mind, 
 How wrong have I done ? All my money is 
 spent, and in the morning I shall much need it. 
 I have an industrious wife and five children at 
 home, and yet I spend every thing in a wrong 
 way. With this thought, it appeared as if 
 God, from heaven, spoke to my heart, saying, 
 "Also, against me hast thou sinned." While 
 these thoughts were passing in my mind, I 
 could not move a step. Many of my past sins 
 were brought to remembrance, and my heart 
 was so affected, that in the midnight hour, un- 
 der the open canopy, I was constrained to cry 
 aloud, while tears flowed from my eyes in 
 greater quantities than they had ever done be- 
 fore. How long this continued, I cannot tell. 
 I finally went home with a heavy heart, and 
 with a firm resolution to forsake my ungodly 
 
176 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 companions, and to regulate my life according 
 to the word of God. I had, also, received so 
 much light, as led me not to depend upon my 
 own strength, but to pray to God, that he might 
 aid me to put my good resolutions into practice. 
 I now believed, in the honesty of my heart, 
 that I ought not to express my feelings to any 
 one in our village, notwithstanding I would 
 gladly have done it, had I believed that I could 
 find one among them that was like minded with 
 myself. This brought me to think, that per- 
 haps the people in T and B , of whose 
 
 religion and piety so much was said, might be 
 of the same mind as myself, and consequently, 
 a desire was waked up within me to have some 
 conversation with them. I had often heard 
 that they severely condemned dancing, playing, 
 drunkenness, and such like things. This indu- 
 ced me to believe that I should agree with 
 them. They lived twenty miles from my 
 place of residence, and had been converted 
 through the instrumentality of Moravian mis- 
 sionaries. These missionaries, however, I at 
 that time did not know, for they were called by 
 different names, as mystics, pietists, &c. I 
 now, for the first time, made known to my 
 
 wife that I wished to visit the people in T -. 
 
 She, however, was not satisfied with my pur- 
 pose; and besides this, she had noticed, that in 
 the few weeks past, I had been industriously 
 reading the Bible, and she was afraid that I 
 should bring as great a reproach upon her and 
 myself as lay upon these people themselves. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 177 
 
 This threw me into a state of painful anxiety ; 
 and I secretly prayed to God, that he would 
 teach me the right way ; and he so ordered it, 
 that in about two or three weeks afterward, a 
 man met me on the street, from whose dress* 
 I judged came from that place. I spoke to 
 him, and asked him whether he came from 
 
 T or B ? " From B ," was the 
 
 answer. I then said, " Please tell me what 
 kind of people those are in your neighborhood, 
 who have all manner of nick-names, and hold 
 meetings out of the church?" "I am one of 
 them," was the reply, while he looked very 
 friendly at me. I was now, with an anxious 
 heart, already much taken with him. He com- 
 menced with an account of conversion, and the 
 new birth, and of the lost condition of the na- 
 tural man, &c. I then related to him how it 
 had lately been with me ; upon which he said 
 that God had awakened me, and that I should 
 seek, through Jesus, for the pardon of my sins. 
 He explained to me, as well as he could, the 
 way of salvation, and exhorted me not to be 
 ashamed of being a follower of Christ, but 
 willingly to take up and bear the cross, and 
 hunt up others, and meet together to read the 
 Bible and pray together. He then left me, and 
 I followed his advice. Often I engaged in 
 prayer, with deep penitential feelings, but 
 always in secret places. I wished to pray pub- 
 licly in my family, yet a false shame kept me 
 back. 
 
 * In Germany, eaah district has some peculiarity in dress. 
 
178 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 At this period of my repentance, my wife 
 noticed that I was really in earnest, and the 
 people soon began to scoff at me. My wife 
 then laid every thing in my way ; and when 
 she found she could not accomplish her object, 
 she commenced weeping and lamenting that I 
 had exposed her to so much reproach. She 
 had eleven brothers, and a large number of con- 
 nections. For two evenings in succession, she 
 was very much enraged. The third evening I 
 had some fearful forebodings ; but I continued 
 in prayer to God. On this evening I was in- 
 deed put upon the severest trial that I had ever 
 experienced in all my life. She urged me most 
 earnestly to give up my religious course entire- 
 ly, and told me that if I continued to live in 
 this way she would leave me. After various 
 threatenings, which I cannot describe, I finally 
 asked myself, what shall I do ? the peace of 
 my family will be certainly destroyed. I sprang 
 up, not being able any longer to endure it. I 
 got my Bible in order to read in it ; and as I 
 opened it, I read in the superscription to the 
 116th Psalm, "Comfort for the afflicted." 
 Then, thought I, with a sorrowful heart and 
 tears in mine eyes, this may be something for 
 me. As I read the first verses, I felt as if the 
 psalm had been written expressly for me. 
 When I had read it through, I had such com- 
 fort and such a strengthening of my faith, that 
 I resolved, with renewed courage, to take up 
 my cross, and concluded that the hand of the 
 Almighty could change my situation. I there- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 179 
 
 fore once more prayed to God with a stammer- 
 ing voice. I read the psalm through again, 
 and then retired to rest quietly, my wife hav- 
 ing by this time gone to sleep. But I could 
 not sleep the whole night through, being filled 
 with hope and confidence in the almighty power 
 of God. The next morning she would not 
 speak to me. I, however, addressed her as 
 follows : " Beloved wife, I have something to 
 say to you. If I had seven wives opposing 
 me; and if each of them were seven times 
 worse than you are, it would be out of their 
 power to turn me from my purpose; for in 
 my temptation, God has strengthened me. 
 Come and see this psalm." She would not, 
 however, read herself; so I commenced, and 
 she listened with patience. And from that hour 
 I had, by the grace of God, the victory. My 
 wife was changed, and never persecuted me 
 again. Here I must confess that I was not yet 
 converted ; but this was only a degree of pre- 
 venting grace, which God granted me in my 
 awakening ; for I well knew that I should have 
 to experience a greater change. I had no assur- 
 ance of God's favor, nor the pardon of my sins. 
 Many a day I went from four to eight times in 
 secret, fell upon my knees, and prayed to God, 
 and often received some comfort; but still I 
 lacked a living faith. Sometimes, however, I 
 had the assurance that in case I should die in 
 this penitent state, God, for Christ's sake, would 
 have mercy on me, and take me to heaven. 
 I now began to look around to see if I could 
 
180 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 not find some one to unite with me in seeking 
 salvation. One Sabbath afternoon, I went into 
 a house in which I knew there was a woman 
 who was in the habit of reading her Bible. I 
 met some others there. We continued meeting 
 from time to time to read the Scriptures, and 
 Arndt's Book of True Christianity, and also to 
 pray with each other. In a few weeks our 
 number increased, so that we had from ten to 
 twelve at our meetings, among whom also was 
 my wife. 
 
 This was in May, 1834. It was not long un- 
 til we were visited by the brethren from T 
 
 and B . We commenced our meetings with 
 
 singing and prayer. And how astonished we 
 were to hear one of them offer up a powerful 
 prayer from the heart ! Such a prayer I had 
 never heard in all my life. I viewed this as 
 the effect of divine grace, and resolved afresh 
 fully to make a surrender of myself to God ; 
 and I found, after persevering in prayer, the 
 pardon of my sins in the blood of the Lamb. 
 A living faith was begotten in my heart, and I 
 felt that I could praise the God of my salva- 
 tion. I now undertook to be the leader of this 
 society. The number so increased, that in two 
 years we had thirty persons. We were not 
 only exposed to persecution from the world, 
 but were so circumscribed in our privileges that 
 we could not serve God according to the dic- 
 tates of our conscience. This awakened in me 
 a strong desire to go to America, as I had often 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 181 
 
 heard much of the religious liberty enjoyed in 
 this country. 
 
 I, with my wife, and another family, agreed 
 to start for America ; and we landed safely in 
 Baltimore on the 11th January, 1836. We did 
 not remain there long, but moved to Wheeling, 
 Va. I was in high expectation of soon meet- 
 ing some German American brethren; but, 
 alas ! I found myself disappointed. I then 
 visited the Lutheran Church, which had hith- 
 erto been my Church ; but as I did not find 
 much of the spirit of religion there, I began 
 with the family above alluded to, and another 
 family, to hold meetings again. Our number 
 increased to twenty-five or thirty. Soon after- 
 ward, however, most of them removed to Ma- 
 rietta. Sometime after this, I heard that the 
 Methodists were going to send out missionaries 
 among the Germans, and that they were about 
 publishing a German religious paper. This 
 was in 1838. I had for sometime attended the 
 English Methodist church in Wheeling, and 
 after due reflection and examination, 1 was in- 
 duced to write a letter to Rev. Wm. Nast, who 
 was to be the editor of the paper, with a request 
 that he would use his influence to have a mis- 
 sionary sent to Wheeling. 
 
 On the 24th of December, of the same year, 
 brother John Swahlen came as an agent to 
 Wheeling, to obtain subscribers for the Apolo- 
 gist. We held a meeting the same evening, 
 rejoiced together, and the next day we united 
 with the Church on probation. Brother Swah- 
 16 
 
182 ORIGIN *ND PROGRESS OF 
 
 len was afterward sent to us as a missionary, 
 and I was appointed class-leader and exhorter. 
 God was with us during' the first year, and our 
 society increased to eighty- three members. 
 
 I was subsequently licensed to preach, and 
 am now a missionary to the Germans. I am 
 at present (March 23d, 1843) engaged in the 
 Chester mission, Meigs county, Ohio confer- 
 ence. To the glory of God I can say, that 
 this mission is in a prosperous condition. 
 
 Formerly these people were in the greatest 
 ignorance of God. Violating the Sabbath, 
 cursing, swearing and drunkenness, were their 
 chief employment. Many families, notwith- 
 standing they bore the name of Protestants, 
 had not the Bible in their houses : the children 
 had no school; and the outward ordinances of 
 religion, such as the sacrament of the Lord's 
 supper, &c, had not been attended to for six 
 years. But now, many a house where cursing 
 and swearing were once heard, has become a 
 house of prayer. We have three Sabbath 
 schools, which promise much good. Obedient 
 hearts have been implanted in many rebellious 
 children. Some of them have already been 
 converted, and have made a full surrender of 
 their hearts to God, of which their exemplary 
 lives furnish the most abundant testimony. 
 
 In this mission, we have now fifteen mem- 
 bers who were formerly Roman Catholics. 
 They rejoice together that they have been re- 
 deemed from the darkness and superstitions of 
 Popery. It is true, they are frequently severe- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 183 
 
 ly attacked by the Romish priests ; but hitherto 
 the priests have accomplished nothing : in fact, 
 their efforts have only made the converts more 
 firm and steadfast in the truth which they have 
 espoused. 
 
 The following well authenticated account of 
 an attack on one of our new converts, will show 
 the spirit of Roman priests. Should any per- 
 son doubt its truth, the location and names can 
 be given. * 
 
 On the 24th of November, 1842, a Papist 
 
 priest from S , twenty miles from A , 
 
 came here, and desired to see those members 
 who had gone from the Roman Catholic to the 
 Methodist Church, and especially one brother 
 by the name of M. W. At the request of the 
 priest, this brother, with some others, went to 
 the place appointed for worship. At the close 
 of his ceremonial services, in which the half 
 of the sacrament was administered to a few,* he 
 addressed himself to brother W. as follows: 
 the communications being made through an 
 interpreter, as the priest was English, and 
 brother W. could not understand the English 
 language : 
 
 "Priest. — Why did you leave the Catholic 
 Church? 
 
 " W. — Because I was no longer satisfied in it. 
 
 " Pr. — You have mistaken the right way 
 and fallen from the true faith. 
 
 * It may not be improper here to remark that the Roman Cath- 
 olics, in administering the sacrament, withhold the cup from the 
 communicant, and only distribute the bread ; the priest drinks 
 the wine himself. 
 
184 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ic W. — You cannot make me believe this, 
 notwithstanding you are a learned man. You 
 cannot rob me of that which I have experien- 
 ced in my heart." 
 
 Here the priest invited W. to sit with him 
 on the bench : he had a Bible, published by the 
 American Bible Society, in his hand: as he 
 opened to several passages, he told him to read. 
 
 " jy % — is thi s Bible correct? 
 
 "Pr. — Yes: there is, however, a slight dif- 
 ference between some verses in it and the Cath- 
 olic Bible, but the sense is the same." 
 
 W. turning himself to the other Catholics 
 present, said, " Either you or your priest has 
 told an untruth : for last Sabbath, as you return- 
 ed from his church, at A , you told me that 
 
 the priest had declared that our Bible was false, 
 and on that account, especially, all Methodists 
 would be lost." 
 
 All present were now silent, and cast an eye 
 at the double-tongued priest. 
 
 "Pr. — Read this passage, in John xx, 23. 
 
 " TV. — You will excuse me for refusing to 
 engage with you in a dispute on the word of 
 God; for you, as a priest, well know that a 
 common Catholic is not allowed to read the 
 Scriptures; moreover, it is but a short time 
 since I commenced reading the Bible. 
 
 " Pr. — That is a lie : every Catholic may 
 read the Bible ; " and turning to those present, 
 asked if this was not true ? They, however, 
 bore a negative testimony, This brought him 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 185 
 
 into great embarrassment. He then read, 
 " Whose sins ye forgive," &c. 
 
 " TV. — But can you, also, forgive sins ? 
 
 " Pr. — No, I cannot; this Jesus Christ alone 
 can do;" and with an air of importance, he 
 inquired, " Will you not become a Catholic 
 again?" 
 
 " W. — No, never ; and I have thanked my 
 God thousands of times that I have been deliv- 
 ered from darkness, and have come to the clear 
 light of the Gospel. 
 
 " Pr. — In the Methodist Church any country 
 farmer can be a preacher. 
 
 " W. — But they preach to us the pure word 
 of God, and have been the means of bringing 
 me to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, my only 
 mediator and high priest ; while you have the 
 Pope for your head, whom, perhaps, you have 
 never seen. I can now do without the Pope ; 
 and I believe that, according to the word of 
 God, I am now a true Catholic, if the word 
 catholic means true faith." 
 
 On saying this, the priest turned to some of 
 the converts, and asked if he should erase their 
 names from his book ? to which they respond- 
 ed with a hearty " Yes." The priest then told 
 them that they would now go to hell. 
 
 On the previous evening, this priest was in 
 a Catholic house, where the owner's wife had 
 joined us. After some fruitless attempts to 
 persuade her to return to the Catholic Church, 
 he advised the husband to take a hickory club, 
 and give her a good pounding ; and then sell 
 16* 
 
186 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 his land and move from the neighborhood : he 
 would tell him where he could find other good 
 land, <fec. He also told the husband to burn 
 his wife's hymn book. 
 
 This man, though yet unenlightened, saw 
 that the spirit which induced the priest to give 
 such advice, could not be the Spirit of God, 
 and, consequently, did not follow it. The 
 effect of the whole was, that on the following 
 Sabbath evening, I had the privilege of preach- 
 ing in a Catholic house, and had a number of 
 Catholic hearers. The priest had better spare 
 himself the pains of making another effort of 
 this kind ; for our sheep do not know his voice ; 
 and many who yet remain Catholics are no 
 longer completely in the dark, but have heard 
 many of the wholesome truths of the Gospel. 
 May God cause their prejudices entirely to van- 
 ish, so that they may speedily find Jesus, the 
 only mediator between God and man, and that 
 they may believe that he made a sufficient 
 atonement for the sins of the world, and that 
 consequently, the offerings of the mass and 
 prayers to the saints, are nothing but idolatry ! 
 O, may they all come to Him who is the only 
 refuge from the dreadful storm which will final- 
 ly fall upon the ungodly ! 
 
 Sometime after this, a Romish priest came 
 from Cincinnati : he also did his best to win 
 back converts ; but all was in vain. In the 
 spirit of a true Jesuit, he condemned all the 
 Methodists ; and said that the circulation of the 
 Bible was the work of the devil. The effect 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. ] 87 
 
 of his visit was only to unite those he sought 
 to lead off, more closely to us. 
 
 Shortly after this, three more persons joined 
 us ; and they now rejoice in their freedom from 
 the Romish yoke. 
 
 We have very good prospects on the Chester 
 mission. It is hard to persuade the Germans 
 that they must be converted. They have many 
 prejudices against us ; but when they are once 
 convinced of the truth, and make a commence- 
 ment, we may confidently calculate on their 
 perseverance. This mission now consists of 
 ninety-two members, and all of them have so 
 far remained steadfast, save one that we had 
 to expel. 
 
 In conclusion, I would express my gratitude 
 to God that I ever became acquainted with the 
 Methodist Church, and that this Church has 
 cared for the Germans of this country ; for they 
 are mostly like sheep going astray without a 
 shepherd. May God continue to prosper our 
 German Zion ! I feel much encouraged to go 
 on in the work of the Lord. My ardent prayer 
 is, that his blessing may crown our feeble 
 efforts, and that he may bring many thousands 
 more to see their lost condition, and to seek the 
 salvation of their souls. 
 
 Experience of Rev. Jos. E. Freygang. — 
 This experience is extracted from his "Life, 
 Experience, and Views," published in the 
 Christian Apologist. Brother Freygang was 
 formerly a Roman Catholic priest: 
 
 My observations in the Roman Catholic 
 
188 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Church, even from my youth, and the thought 
 that I might perish myself, whilst trying to 
 produce a reformation within the Church, indu- 
 ced me, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, 
 earnestly to secure the salvation of my own 
 soul. By reading and meditating upon the word 
 of God, I found that the Roman Catholic Church 
 does not point souls to that way which the holy 
 Scriptures designate as the only one that can 
 bring salvation. Besides, I had proofs upon 
 proofs that the perverse and vicious lives of the 
 bishops, priests, and nuns, were not the acci- 
 dental and occasional aberrations of individuals, 
 but had their foundation in the false and cor- 
 rupt principles of the Church. I became more 
 and more convinced that it would be impossible 
 to remain pure among the impure ; and I felt 
 it necessary that a total change of myself and 
 my relation to the world should take place, if 
 I would avoid falling, with the blind leaders of 
 the blind, into the bottomless pit of destruction, 
 from which there is no redemption. I exclaim- 
 ed, "Lord, what shall I do that I may be 
 saved?" Human doctrines, traditions and in- 
 ventions, had darkened to me the pure light of 
 truth, so that I had lost the way to the cross, 
 and my life had become one continued gloom. 
 About that time, the Rev. Dr. Thomson and 
 Rev. Thomas Dunn, ministers of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, came to see me. I was 
 rejoiced at the visit of these learned and pious 
 men, and conversed with them, not only re- 
 specting my situation and circumstances, but 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 189 
 
 also on the subject of experimental religion. 
 Their piety and exemplary lives had inspired 
 me with great confidence, and they poured balm 
 in the wounds of my souL My attention was 
 now directed to Methodism, of which I had 
 previously known little or nothing. I attended 
 their meetings, and found the sermons, to which 
 I listened very attentively, fully agreeing with 
 the word of God. Many a sleepless night I 
 spent during that period, meditating upon the 
 pure and unadulterated word of God; and I 
 came to the full resolution, not to rest until I 
 found the Lord in the remission of my sins. 
 The members of the Roman Catholic family 
 with whom I boarded, became angry at my 
 going so often to the Methodist church. Often 
 when I returned home, I found my papers and 
 books searched through. Soon after this, I re- 
 signed my charge as priest of St. Peter's church. 
 At this the Catholics became enraged; and the 
 trustees, in order to revenge themselves, pub- 
 lished the next week in the newspaper, that I 
 was dismissed by them. I could not labor 
 without distraction of mind for the salvation of 
 my soul. I joined the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and had no more to do with the Cath- 
 olics. The persecution then became great. 
 The German Catholics met daily to consult 
 how they could save the honor of the Catholic 
 Church, etc. They resolved to calumniate in 
 every possible way. I was also personally, in 
 open day-light, insulted as I passed through the 
 streets. All my former friends had become 
 
190 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 my bitter enemies. But I felt that the more I 
 was hated on account of my seeking that peace 
 which the world cannot give, the more I was 
 loved by my heavenly Friend. I felt a confi- 
 dence in remembering, that he counts the hairs 
 of our head, and careth for us; and I could 
 cheerfully sing: 
 
 "Though troubles assail, and dangers affright; 
 Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite ; 
 Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, 
 The promise assures us, the Lord will provide." 
 
 The meetings which I attended contributed 
 to increase my faith more and more. One Sab- 
 bath, after I returned from Church, I shut my- 
 self up in my closet, and fell on my knees, for 
 the purpose of supplicating a throne of grace, 
 until the Savior would speak peace to my soul ; 
 and in that hour, halleluiah ! praised be his 
 name ! pardoning mercy was poured upon my 
 burning soul like a refreshing brook. I was 
 now sure of the remission of my sins, and felt 
 my Savior in my heart. 
 
 What I formerly loved, I despise now ; and 
 what I formerly despised, I embrace with double, 
 ardent love. I feel no condemnation for past 
 sins, for the atoning blood of the Lamb has 
 washed my soul from the stain that sin made. 
 Halleluiah to Him that has mercy ! I feel no 
 condemnation in my breast ; for I have not re- 
 ceived the spirit of bondage unto fear, but the 
 Spirit of adoption, by which I cry in my heart, 
 Abba, Father! Halleluiah to Him that has 
 mercy ! With a heart overflowing with grati- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 191 
 
 tude to God, I can take up the expressive lan- 
 guage of the poet: 
 
 " Thee will I love, my strength, my tower ; 
 Thee will I love, my joy, my crown ; 
 Thee will I love with all my power, 
 In all thy works, and thee alone : 
 Thee will I love, till the pure fire 
 Fill my whole soul with chaste desire. 
 
 Ah ! why did I so late thee know, 
 Thee, lovelier than the sons of men ! 
 
 Ah ! why did I no sooner go 
 To thee, the only ease in pain ! 
 
 Ashamed I sigh, and only mourn, 
 
 That I so late to thee did turn." 
 
 Mrs. Jacoby's Experience. — I am too deep- 
 ly indebted to grace, and to the long suffering 
 and kindness of my Savior, in bearing with me 
 while I was a sinner, to refuse to confess what 
 he has done for me, especially if such a confes- 
 sion can in any degree promote the interests of 
 his cause. 
 
 I must first remark that we were enlightened 
 Catholics; that is, we did not attend to all that 
 unnecessary round of service which many of 
 the ignorant engage in. 
 
 My second brother, Joseph, who had been 
 sent to a school kept by a pious and converted 
 Lutheran, became converted himself, and was 
 afterward sent to a theological school, to pre- 
 pare himself for a missionary. 
 
 My oldest brother, who had started several 
 years before me to America, solicited me 
 strongly to visit him ; and as two of my broth- 
 ers had gone, I concluded to follow them. 
 
4 
 
 192 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 On the 10th of March, 1839, we left our 
 parents' house, and on the 27th of May arrived 
 safely in Cincinnati. My oldest brother came, 
 rejoicing, to the steamboat, and took me to his 
 house. Scarcely had the first salutations pass- 
 ed, till he said to me, " But, Amelia, I am a 
 Methodist!" I knew not, as yet, what a 
 Methodist was, but the thought struck me, that 
 the term indicated something similar to what 
 my second brother had become. I felt dissa- 
 tisfied, and blamed him that he did not suffer 
 me to remain at home. I felt very much griev- 
 ed, especially on account of my aged parents, 
 as I knew they would be much afflicted to hear 
 that my oldest brother had also fallen from the 
 faith. Of course my resolution was to remain 
 steadfast, and not to suffer myself to be persua- 
 ded to follow his example. 
 
 The first Sabbath after my arrival, my 
 brother took me in the morning to a female 
 neighbor, to accompany me to the Catholic 
 church ; and in the evening, I went with him 
 to the Methodist church. Brother Schmucker 
 preached from John iii, 5 : " Except a man be 
 born again," &c. ; and such a sermon I had 
 never heard. I was deeply affected, and the 
 fear came upon me that I might die that night, 
 and yet be unprepared for death. Although the 
 impression made by this sermon was so deep 
 on my mind, I was soon, by worldly persons, 
 drawn into the pleasures of the world. I also 
 heard so many strange stories about the Meth- 
 odists, and their art in deceiving people, that 1 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 193 
 
 became very much afraid of their class and 
 prayer meetings. A short time after this, I 
 attended a camp meeting, at which I was 
 brought deeply to feel the corruptions of my 
 unrenewed heart. On Sabbath day such a de- 
 gree of fear came upon me, that on seeing one 
 of my worldly friends, I requested him, if he 
 did not wish me to be one among the most un- 
 fortunate of creatures, to take me from the 
 place as soon as possible. He immediately 
 procured a carriage, and took me away ; and I 
 really felt myself quite fortunate when I saw 
 Cincinnati again. From that time, my mind 
 could not rest; and as my brother daily and 
 earnestly exhorted me, I commenced examining 
 his system of religion for myself. And I hon- 
 estly confess that the efficient preaching, as well 
 as the true and genuine spirit of charity, which 
 I found among the Methodists, led me to the 
 conclusion that they came far nearer the Chris- 
 tian standard than the professors of my former 
 acquaintance. A dreadful fear, however, came 
 upon me when I reflected that I might fall from 
 the faith in which I had been raised. The 
 priest said to me, when I left my home, that if 
 ever I became restless or dissatisfied, I should 
 select a priest in whom I could put confidence, 
 and should open my mind to him, and he would 
 soon convince me again, how good it was to be 
 in the Roman Catholic Church, and how nu- 
 merous were the means of grace she offered to 
 poor sinners. I resolved, therefore, one Sab- 
 bath morning to go to confession. By this 
 17 
 
194 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 means, I hoped to have my mind quieted again. 
 I commenced with the usual form of confession 
 I had been accustomed to in Germany, and 
 intended, after absolution, to speak more fully 
 of my uneasiness in reference to matters of 
 faith ; but scarcely had my confession ended, 
 before the priest put the most shameless ques- 
 tions to me. This so provoked me, that I ask- 
 ed him if he was destitute of sense and discre- 
 tion. He began to excuse himself by saying, 
 it was his duty to ask such questions! I re- 
 plied, that I believed the asking of such ques- 
 tions was not his duty. He then inquired if 
 I had eaten meat on Friday. I answered in 
 the affirmative. He then asked if I did not 
 know that I had committed a sin ? I replied, 
 that the New Testament informs us we are to 
 receive the gifts of God with thanksgiving. 
 He then remarked that this was a command of 
 the Church. I said the Church commands and 
 prohibits many things that do not agree with 
 the word of God. He then proceeded to ask 
 me where I came from ? and if the people of 
 the place were all Catholics ? I replied that 
 about half of the inhabitants were Catholics, 
 and the other half Lutherans. He said he did 
 not believe that I was a Catholic. I informed 
 him that my parents were Catholics, and that 
 I had always been sent to a Catholic school, 
 and had regularly attended the Catholic church ; 
 but I did not believe that I was so simple a 
 Catholic as some. He then declared that he 
 would not give me absolution. I told him I 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 195 
 
 wished to go to sacrament that day, and that if 
 he would not give me absolution, I would go to 
 some other German church, as there were sev- 
 eral in the city. At this, he stated that I might 
 go to the sacrament, if I would promise to 
 attend confession for three Sundays in succes- 
 sion. I objected to make such a promise, and 
 added, I only went to confession when I felt 
 the need of it, and had no intention of making 
 a business of it. He then gave me absolution, 
 and I went into the church filled with anger, 
 and received the sacrament. I wept the whole 
 of the afternoon, in consequence of having, in 
 such an unchristian state of mind, approached 
 the table of the Lord. I prayed to my heav- 
 enly Father that he would forgive me this great 
 sin. I found some peace for my conscience, 
 however, in the reflection that the priest was 
 more to blame than myself. From this time 
 forward, I did not enjoy much satisfaction in 
 going to the Catholic church ; and, to confess 
 the truth, I went more out of respect for my 
 parents, than on any other account. 
 
 As my brother expected to be married soon, 
 I found it necessary to seek a home for myself. 
 In the month of August, I went to live with 
 brother Nast. My intention was to make my- 
 self acquainted with the English language, and 
 then return to my parents in Germany. I was 
 very well pleased with my situation. I there 
 enjoyed that quiet which it is always desirable 
 to find in the domestic circle. I could not, 
 however, bear so much of their praying ; and 
 
196 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 although I invariably knelt down with them, 
 I did not engage in the exercises at all, during 
 the first part of my stay, but sought, as much 
 as possible, to scatter my thoughts. I felt a 
 peculiar attachment to their child ; and it was a 
 great grief to me when, in the dispensation of 
 God's providence, it was taken away. I was 
 somewhat astonished that brother and sister 
 Nast bore their loss with so much composure, 
 and regarded it as indifference in them, as I 
 was not aware at this time, that a Christian 
 could, under such circumstances, resign him- 
 self to the will of God. Although I was con- 
 sidered a member of this Protestant family, 
 yet I observed all the holy days of the Catholic 
 Church. On Ail Saints' Day, (November 2,) I 
 went to the church, and heard language from 
 the lips of the priest that provoked me so ex- 
 ceedingly, that I did not attend the German 
 Catholic church again until Easter; going, 
 however, in the mean time to the English. 
 The priest said, " Who among you, has not a 
 father or a mother, brother or sister, husband 
 or wife, or perhaps some other relation or ac- 
 quaintance in purgatory? and should you not 
 be willing to offer gifts for the ransom of their 
 souls?" 
 
 The exhortations of my brother, and of 
 brother and sister Nast, I had hitherto disre- 
 garded, notwithstanding their constantly re- 
 minding me of my unconverted state. In con- 
 sequence of these appeals, I spent, during this 
 winter, many a sorrowful hour; and often pray- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 197 
 
 ed in secret that the Lord would teach me the 
 way of salvation. At the watch-night I was 
 so deeply awakened, under the preaching of 
 brother Kisling, that when an invitation was 
 given to the penitents to go to the altar of 
 prayer, I went forward, and earnestly implored 
 God to pardon my sins. The following night, 
 an English sister, who had come on a visit to 
 brother Nast's, prayed with me till 2 o'clock, 
 A. M., and I thought that I enjoyed more rest in 
 my mind than I had previously, and that I was 
 nearer to God. The following night, however, 
 I dreamed that my mother met me, and that I 
 ran toward her, when she heartily embraced 
 me in her arms, and said, " Have, then, all 
 my children become Methodists ?" " O ! no !" 
 I answered, "I am not yet a Methodist, but 
 soon would have been." 
 
 From this time, I began again, through world- 
 ly amusements, to shake off my impressions ; 
 yet invariably on my return home, I felt that I 
 had done wrong. One of my friends lived ad- 
 joining the river. I went to his house one 
 Sabbath afternoon, sometime in the month of 
 June. I found a number of young people as- 
 sembled there, and it was proposed that we 
 should go over the river into Kentucky. We 
 accordingly went ; and after we had taken some 
 refreshments, we started back. One of the 
 young men in the second skiff tried to make 
 sport by running theirs against ours. We came 
 very near being drowned. As soon as we land- 
 ed on the Ohio side, I stated to a friend, that 
 17* 
 
198 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 this should be the last time that I would ever 
 take a pleasure trip across the Ohio River on 
 the Sabbath day. I left them immediately, 
 notwithstanding they scoffed and laughed at 
 me. This circumstance awakened me again 
 to reflection : it brought back to my mind the 
 wonderful deliverance God wrought out for me 
 on my journey from Baltimore to Little York, 
 when the cars, going over a cow, left the tracks, 
 and would have thrown us over an abyss, if the 
 chain had not happily broken. 
 
 From this time I sought the Savior earnestly. 
 I went more regularly to church, and became, 
 according to the wish of father Schmucker, a 
 teacher in the Sabbath school. I also visited 
 the classes from time to time, and often felt a 
 desire to join; but the fear of man still kept 
 me back. With gratitude I must acknowledge, 
 that all the members of the Church treated me 
 with the greatest love : father Schmucker, espe- 
 cially, exhorted and encouraged me with great 
 gentleness and patience. On the 12th of Au- 
 gust, camp meeting commenced. I felt no de- 
 sire to go, and therefore remained alone at home. 
 The following Sabbath I was sorely tempted. 
 I thought I had so long sought, what the Meth- 
 odists professed to have found, and had not yet 
 experienced it, I had better try the Catholic 
 Church again. I got my prayer book, and was 
 on my way to the church ; but I had scarcely 
 gone a few squares when reflection arrested 
 me, and I asked myself, if I was still a Roman 
 Catholic in faith ? All the errors and corrup- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 199 
 
 tions of Popery were presented to my mind, 
 and I had to confess that I could no longer be- 
 lieve what that Church taught, as it was against 
 the word of God. I returned home imme- 
 diately, locked myself up, and began earnestly 
 to pray that the Lord would show me the right 
 way, and give me a desire to go to camp meet- 
 ing, if it was my duty to go. I also opened 
 my Testament to get advice, and the first pas- 
 sage that met my eyes, was the text from which 
 I nrsft heard brother Schmucker preach. This, 
 of course, was decisive. I firmly resolved 
 to go to camp meeting, and there earnestly seek 
 the Lord, under the prayers of the brethren. 
 Our milk-man, with whom I was acquainted, 
 happened just then to be going that way, as 
 he lived near the camp-ground, and he took me. 
 He was a backslider, and on the way, he en- 
 deavored to convince me of the necessity of 
 conversion. He told me how sorry he was 
 that he had got back so far, but that he was de- 
 termined to seek the Lord again, and to give 
 up his business. My resolution was now 
 strong, not to return to the city until I had the 
 assurance that the Lord had forgiven my sins, 
 and adopted me as his child. On Sabbath even- 
 ing, Monday, and Tuesday, I went to the 
 mourners' bench; but self-righteousness still 
 reigned in my heart. On Wednesday morning 
 the camp meeting was to break up ; and as I 
 arose on Tuesday night from the mourners' 
 bench, the thought struck me, how wretched I 
 should be, if I had to return home as I came. 
 
200 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 I therefore fell again on my knees, and entreat- 
 ed God to show me my sins fully. It then ap- 
 peared as if a book was opened, in which all 
 my sins were written. A terrible load fell upon 
 my conscience. I began to cry aloud for mer- 
 cy. Brother Schmucker prayed earnestly with 
 me, and pointed me to the crucified Redeemer. 
 I looked up to Calvary, and my Savior smiled 
 at me. The intolerable burden fell ofT, and 
 tears of joy ran down my cheeks. With what 
 feelings of gratitude and love I embraced my 
 sisters and brethren now, I cannot describe. 
 My heart was full of joy, and I joined the 
 Methodist Church the same evening. The fol- 
 lowing morning I went to the table of the Lord, 
 and he blessed me with such a fullness as my 
 weak body could not bear. 
 
 O ye poor, blinded Romanists ! if you knew 
 how good it is to confess your sins to the Lord, 
 to be absolved by him, and by him alone, and 
 then to partake of his supper after his own in- 
 stitution, you would soon give up your dead 
 ceremonies and seek the living Fountain. 
 
 From this moment I served my Savior — that 
 Savior who purchased me so dearly. The rage 
 and mockings of my former companions ex- 
 cited only my pity, and when I saw that they 
 would not be convinced, I withdrew from them 
 as much as possible. 
 
 Not long after this, I married brother Jacoby, 
 with the determination to sacrifice my weak 
 powers in the service of the Lord. We were 
 sent to St. Louis. I there deeply felt the want 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 201 
 
 of class meeting. My daily prayer to God 
 was, " Give us soon a German class." The 
 Lord heard our prayers. Souls were convert- 
 ed, and the Lord gave us blessed seasons of 
 refreshment. My prayer also was, and still is 
 for my yet unconverted parents, brothers and 
 sister. I see the hand of God in their coming 
 to this country, and I hope he will convert 
 them all. May he keep me faithful unto death, 
 and help me to approach him nearer and nearer ! 
 
 Brother Xaver Lunemari's Experience.-— 
 With a joyful heart I confess the great things 
 that the Lord has done for me and my house. 
 Glory, praise and thanksgiving be to God, now 
 and for ever ! 
 
 I received my religious instruction in a Ro- 
 man Catholic school in Germany. I heard, 
 even there, that a man must be born again, in 
 order to enter the kingdom of God. But I was 
 taught that the new birth consisted in baptism, 
 and that conversion was the confession of sins 
 to the priest, and the promise of amendment; 
 and further, that by taking the holy sacrament 
 I should be finally saved. 
 
 I was in an agreeable situation in my native 
 country, and there was no need for my emigra- 
 tion; but suddenly the thought of going to 
 America struck my mind. I am fully satisfied 
 now, that I was led here by the invisible hand 
 of that God who had saved me three times from 
 evident danger of losing my natural life, and 
 who has recently put me in possession of the 
 highest good. 
 
202 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 About two years ago I heard that there was 
 an infidel preacher in our city, (St. Louis,) by 
 the name of Jacoby. Curiosity induced me 
 to go and hear him ; but to my great astonish- 
 ment, I found he preached the Gospel more 
 plainly and forcibly than I had ever before heard 
 it in all my life. From that time I went regu- 
 larly to his church. I also attended camp meet- 
 ing and love feasts, and began to pray with my 
 family ; but I still refused to kneel down in the 
 church, and confess myself a sinner before the 
 world: self-righteousness, pride, and the fear 
 of the world, had the mastery. 
 
 On the evening of the 16th of April, I at- 
 tended a prayer meeting in brother Jacoby's 
 house, and prayed earnestly on my knees to 
 my Savior, that he would forgive my sins. 
 In that hour I heard him say, " Arise, my son ; 
 thy sins are all forgiven: sin no more !" The 
 last words, "sin no more" are deeply engra- 
 ven on my heart. I shall not forget them as 
 long as I live. As for me and my house, we 
 are firmly resolved to serve God, according to 
 his holy will, until our latest breath. 
 
 I now experience that kind of peace which 
 our Savior gave to his disciples. Surely the 
 world, with all its pomp, wealth, and pleasure, 
 cannot give such peace. How transitory and 
 empty is all that the world bestows ! But to 
 have peace with God, and to walk in his ways, 
 makes even this earth a paradise, and is, more- 
 over, the sure pledge of perfect and everlasting 
 bliss beyond the grave. 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 203 
 
 My only prayer is, that God may grant me 
 at all times his divine strength and grace, so 
 that I may preserve this heavenly peace in my 
 heart; and that I may endure all the storms of 
 life, and patiently bear and finally overcome 
 the hardest temptations and persecutions. 
 
 From my own experience I can say, that it 
 is not hard for a truly converted man to go 
 through the severest trials, upheld by the power 
 of God. how joyful do I feel, when I look 
 up to my Savior, knowing that I am reconciled 
 to my God ! — that he is my leader and protector 
 in all my ways, and that not a hair falls from 
 my head without his will. The Lord is my 
 shepherd. I have no want. I am determined 
 to watch, and pray, and fight, until my life's 
 end, and then I shall surely receive a crown of 
 life. 
 
 Brother J. Hauctts Experience. — I was 
 brought up in the Roman Catholic Church. 
 My mother was pious, according to the light 
 and information she had. She early taught us 
 to pray, and prayed herself, every evening a 
 rosary to the five wounds, the Litany of the 
 Virgin Mary,* from thirty to forty Pater Nos- 
 
 * As many Protestants do not know what is meant by the Lit- 
 anies of the Catholic Church, we will insert one to the Virgin 
 Mary. It shows the superstition of the Koman Catholic Church : 
 
 " We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God 1 despise not 
 our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all our dan- 
 gers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin! 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. 
 
 Christ! hear us: Christ! graciously hear us. 
 
 God the Father of heaven ! Have mercy on us. 
 
 God the Son, Redeemer of the world ! Have mercy on us. 
 
204 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ters, and Ave Maria to the honor of the saints, 
 and for the poor souls in purgatory. 
 
 From a child, I had an inquiring mind, and 
 was always fond of reading books of various 
 kinds. In a visit to a Protestant neighbor, I 
 took up his Bible and commenced reading. 
 Among the first things I got my eyes upon was 
 a description of the character and qualifications 
 of a bishop, as given by St. Paul. I was much 
 interested in this book, got the loan of it, took 
 it home, and read it through. I was then 
 brought to reflection, and concluded if the Bible 
 was right, our Church was wrong. I was now 
 thrown into some embarrassment, as my eyes 
 
 God the Holy Ghost ! Have mercy on us. 
 
 Holy Trinity, one God ! Have mercy on us. 
 
 Holy Mary ! ") 
 
 Holy Mother of God ! 
 
 Holy virgin of virgins ! 
 
 Mother of Christ ! 
 
 Mother of Divine grace ! 
 
 Mother most pure ! 
 
 Mother most chaste ! 
 
 Mother undefiled! 
 
 Mother un violated ! 
 
 Mother most amiable ! 
 
 Mother most admirable ! 
 
 Mother of our Creator ! 
 
 Mother of our Redeemer ! 
 
 Virgin most prudent ! } ^ 
 
 Virgin most venerable ! 
 
 Virgin most renowned ! 
 
 Virgin most powerful ! 
 
 Virgin most merciful ! 
 
 Virgin most faithful ! 
 
 Mirror of justice ! 
 
 Seat of wisdom ! 
 
 Cause of our joy ! 
 
 Spiritual vessel ! 
 
 Vessel of honor! 
 
 Vessel of singular devotion ! 
 
 Mystical rose ! 
 
 Tower of David ! 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 205 
 
 were but partially opened. I continued to read 
 the Bible about a year, and finally thought it 
 might be wrong, as it was a Protestant Bible. 
 The owner wishing to have it again, I return- 
 ed it. 
 
 I now commenced reading historical works. 
 As religious books were scarce with us, of 
 course, I had but little access to them. I finally 
 went to B. to get some religious books. I 
 there obtained the loan of a Catholic Bible, 
 which consisted of fourteen volumes. I read 
 it entirely through. This Bible was full of 
 notes and explanations, in favor of the Roman 
 Catholic religion. I was now again confirmed 
 in my Catholicism. I had been fond of amuse- 
 
 Tower of ivory ! 
 
 House of gold ! 
 
 Ark of the covenant ! 
 
 Gate of heaven ! 
 
 Morning star ! 
 
 Health of the weak ! 
 
 Refuge of sinners ! 
 
 Comforter of the afflicted ! 
 
 Help of Christians ! ^S 
 
 Queen of angels ! 3 
 
 Queen of patriarchs ! 
 
 Queen of prophets ! 
 
 Queen of apostles ! 
 
 Queen of martyrs ! 
 
 Queen of confessors ! 
 
 Queen of virgins ! 
 
 Queen of all saints ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world ! Spare 
 us, O Lord ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world! Gra- 
 ciously hear us, Lord ! 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world ! Have 
 mercy on us I 
 
 Christ! hear us. Christ! graciously hear us. 
 
 Lord ! have mercy on us. Christ ! have mercy onus. Lord! 
 have mercy on us. 
 
 V. Pray for us, holy Mother of God ! 
 
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ." 
 
 18 
 
206 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ment ; and I frequented those places in which 
 worldly-minded men seek for happiness. After 
 having read this Bible, and meditated much on 
 my future state, I became more retiring in my 
 disposition, and had a wish to be associated 
 with pious people. 
 
 One day I was permitted to see a letter from 
 America, which had been sent to the pastor. 
 In it I read of the liberties which were enjoyed 
 by the people. This awakened in me a desire 
 to go to America. 
 
 At this time I was leading, according to the 
 rules of our Church, a strict life. I kept my- 
 self from all outbreaking sins ; and finally got 
 so far that I thought I had nothing more to con- 
 fess but the follies of my youth. On doing 
 this, the priest told me I could now do all 
 through the instrumentality of alms-giving. I 
 consequently kept a constant supply of change 
 in my pocket so as to embrace every possible 
 opportunity of giving something away, for I 
 believed that by this means my time in purga- 
 tory would be shortened. 
 
 After I had resolved to go to America, I gave 
 away a great part of my goods ; as I was afraid 
 that I might die on my way, and might go to 
 purgatory without having given sufficient alms. 
 In going to America, we had a very prosperous 
 voyage. We had, however, a very provoking, 
 contrary friend on board, who, notwithstanding 
 all my Catholic piety, made me swear much 
 during the voyage. Much as I had paid, and 
 was still willing to pay, in order to free my 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 207 
 
 soul from purgatory, I was not afraid to swear 
 profanely ! 
 
 On the 12th of June, 1841, I landed at New 
 Orleans, with my wife and one child. Here I 
 was, a stranger — a stranger among strangers, 
 and knew not what direction to take. My 
 wife and child sat down on the bank of the 
 river; and after we had had some consultation, 
 we concluded to start for Cincinnati. We arri- 
 ved there on the 27th of June, 1841. I now 
 laid my plans to accumulate wealth, but in con- 
 sequence of family affliction, they were thwart- 
 ed. I was still a constant attendant at church, 
 and went regularly to confession, and did all in 
 my power to aid in building the new German 
 church. In the performance of ail this, how- 
 ever, I had no peace of mind. My conscience 
 was disquieted. 
 
 I heard that the Methodists were also build- 
 ing a German church in Cincinnati. I went 
 one evening to see it, a friend going along with 
 me. When we arrived at the spot, the hands 
 were at work, and the preacher was among 
 them. My friend pointed him out to me. I 
 felt some anxiety to know what these German 
 Methodists would yet come to. 
 
 One day a Methodist, by the name of L. 
 R., came into my house, and seeing the Ger- 
 man Catholic paper, entitled, " The Friend of 
 Truth," laying on the shelf, he asked me if 
 I also read that misnomer; for he declared it 
 was the friend of lies. This affronted me ; for 
 I thought every thing published in the Catholic 
 
208 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 paper was true. Before leaving me, he asked 
 if I had a Bible. I told him I had a Catholic 
 Testament. This individual repeated his visits 
 to my house, and related to me his own expe- 
 rience. He stated that he himself had been a 
 Roman Catholic. This produced a powerful 
 impression on my mind. I commenced going 
 to the Methodist meetings, and became awa- 
 kened. I attended mass every morning, and 
 at night went to the Methodist prayer meet- 
 ing. I became convinced that I must be con- 
 verted ; but thought I could be converted and 
 remain in the Roman Catholic Church. My 
 wife now became dissatisfied, and wished to 
 return to Germany. I told her that we would 
 pray earnestly to God that he would open our 
 eyes, and teach us the right way of salvation. 
 One day a young woman, named Mary, be- 
 longing to the German Methodist Church, vis- 
 ited my wife, and talked to her about the sal- 
 vation of her soul, and prayed with her. This 
 made a deep impression on her mind. Mary's 
 prayer, pious conversation, and zeal for the sal- 
 vation of souls, together with her )^outh, so 
 affected my wife, that her mind became much 
 changed. At night, when I went home, she 
 told me what had passed. I asked her if she 
 now began to believe that the Methodists were 
 right ? She said she did. We wept together, 
 knelt down, and tried to pray ; but I could not 
 pray from the heart. I felt that I was a lost 
 sinner. I called on God to help me, and found 
 some liberty in my prayer. I continued half 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 209 
 
 the night on my knees, under great excitement 
 and fear. 
 
 One night, soon afterward, my wife obtained 
 peace while at prayer, and then exclaimed, 
 " Now I know what it is to have the pardon of 
 sins." She could then pray from the heart, 
 and could praise God with tears of joy. She 
 said to me, " See that you follow my example." 
 I went on, however, in my distress for some 
 months. It appeared as if I could not fully 
 give myself up to be saved by grace. The 
 principal difficulty was, that, in my prayers, I 
 always called upon the saints, and the Virgin 
 Mary too, and expected help from them. One 
 Sabbath, when I went to the church, hungry 
 for the word of life, the priest took up nearly 
 all the time in talking about money matters, 
 selling lots, &c. Although I had but a few 
 days previously rented my pew in the new 
 church, I resolved to attend the Methodist 
 meetings more regularly ; and soon afterward 
 I joined the society. 
 
 I heard of a quarterly meeting at Lawrence- 
 burg, and attended it. I there found a degree 
 of peace to my soul, but was not fully satisfied 
 with the evidence of my acceptance with God. 
 I continued to use the means of grace ; and 
 one day, during our protracted meeting in Cin- 
 cinnati, in the winter of 1843, while praying 
 with the mourners, I felt such joy as I had 
 never felt before. All my doubts were gone. 
 I seemed to be loosed from the world. Jesus 
 18* 
 
210 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 was my high priest, and I was reconciled to 
 God through him. 
 
 But now a spirit of persecution began to 
 manifest itself. Those who had been my 
 warmest friends became my bitterest enemies. 
 One day I went to the house of an old friend, 
 and soon had a crowd around me. Some told 
 me I was too bad for hell or the devil ; and 
 even my old friend told me that I must get out 
 of his house. I felt calm, putting my trust in 
 God. It made me happy to be counted worthy 
 to suffer reproach for his name's sake. To 
 enumerate all my persecutions, and all the 
 threatenings of my enemies, and all their at- 
 tempts to get me into their power for the pur- 
 pose of abusing me, would be tedious. 
 
 I thank God, that in some instances he has 
 given me the victory over my foes. On one 
 occasion I went into a house, and the inmates 
 soon told me I had fallen from the faith. I 
 asked them for a Bible, but they had none. I 
 then told them my experience, and left them 
 all in tears. Before leaving, some of them con- 
 fessed if what I said was true, I was far from 
 falling from the faith. On another occasion, 
 an old man of seventy years told me, it would 
 be no wonder if he should stab me for having 
 joined such people as the Methodists. His old 
 lady also stated, that it would not be strange if 
 children on the street should cast mud at me. 
 I let them rage on till they were done, and then 
 related my experience to them. They both 
 became calm, and before I left them were in 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 211 
 
 tears. The old man came to me the next day, 
 and confessed his astonishment that I did not 
 get angry at him, and appeared quite changed 
 toward me. I know, indeed, that I have incur- 
 red the displeasure of my former friends ; for 
 wherever I go, I am exposed to their scorn and 
 ridicule. One of my neighbors, whose pew 
 was near mine in the German Catholic church, 
 spat in my face soon after I had left them, for 
 having, as he said, disgraced the holy Catholic 
 Church. I thank God that 1 have been ena- 
 bled to bear all my persecutions with patience, 
 and I believe that he will give me grace to re- 
 main steadfast unto the end. 
 
 Since my conversion I have visited many of 
 the Catholics. My sphere of operations has 
 not, indeed, been confined to Cincinnati. Be- 
 ing employed by the American Tract Society 
 to distribute tracts and books among the desti- 
 tute, I have gone through a considerable part 
 of the state of Indiana. It is impossible for 
 any one to conceive of the superstitious attach- 
 ment of the people to the priesthood, unless he 
 has witnessed it himself. They will give near- 
 ly every thing they can raise by hard labor, for 
 the support of the priests. I hope and pray 
 to God that many more of them may be brought 
 to a saving knowledge of the truth. 
 
 I have good reason to believe that numbers 
 of my countrymen will yet renounce their su- 
 perstitions, and come to the light of the Gos- 
 pel. Since I have been engaged as tract dis- 
 tributor, I have seen much to encourage me. 
 
212 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 One day, in going to visit a family, I was told, 
 before I got there, not to go into the house, for 
 the head of the family was a very bad man, 
 and might only abuse me. I stated to my in- 
 formant that I would go if the devil himself 
 was there, and would talk with him, if he could 
 speak German. I went in, and prayed with 
 the man ; also gave him Baxter's Call, and left 
 him in tears. On another occasion I visited a 
 Catholic family, and prayed with them. The 
 head of the family prayed every word after 
 me. I believe he is sincere, and does the best 
 he can, according to the light he has. 
 
 I am willing to follow the openings of Prov- 
 idence, and give myself wholly to God and 
 the Church. My highest aim is, to be an hum- 
 ble instrument in doing something for the good 
 of my fellow men, and the promotion of the 
 cause of religion. No earthly remuneration 
 could induce me to leave my family in order to 
 engage as tract distributor. Blessed be God, 
 I feel happy in the change I have experienced, 
 and have an anxiety that all the world should 
 come to a saving knowledge of the truth. 
 
 Christian Brokmeir's Experience. — I came 
 to America on the 20th of July, 1839. During 
 my travels through the eastern cities, I heard 
 occasionally of the Methodists ; but as they 
 were all English I did not attend any of their 
 meetings. I was born and brought up a Ro- 
 man Catholic; and, of course, was strongly 
 prejudiced in favor of the religion of my ances- 
 tors. When I came to Wheeling, Va., I met 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 213 
 
 an old acquaintance, with whom I came over 
 the ocean. According to the custom of my 
 country, I thought I would treat him with 
 something to drink, and brought him a pint of 
 whisky, but he would not touch it. I did not 
 know at that time that he was a Methodist. I 
 then wished him to play for me ; but he refus- 
 ed, and said it was not for the glory of God to 
 play, as we had been in the habit of doing. 
 He then exhorted me to repentance, and took 
 me to some of his Methodist brethren. I was 
 very fond of talking about worldly matters, and 
 did not like to hear them converse so much 
 about religion. They were, however, very 
 kind to me. I was, by trade, a tailor, and my 
 friend got work for me. It so happened, that 
 the family for whom I worked were pious. I 
 went with them to church ; and soon after we 
 had entered, they commenced singing, 
 " How tedious and tasteless the hours," &c. 
 Their singing was very good, and struck me 
 very forcibly. From their appearance, I thought 
 they certainly must be good people. I was 
 much astonished, however, to see no crucifixes 
 in the church, as I had always been accustom- 
 ed to see them there in the old country. Every 
 thing appeared strange to me. After singing, 
 brother Swahlen, their preacher, commenced 
 praying. One woman appeared to be deeply 
 affected under the prayer. I could not tell 
 what it meant, and therefore kept peeping un- 
 der my arm, to see what was going on. After 
 prayer, brother Swahlen began his sermon. 
 
214 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 He observed that we must repent, and that no 
 one could obtain pardon without repentance. 
 He also remarked that the Pope could not par- 
 don sins. I at first got offended at him ; but 
 he continued earnestly to offer the Savior to 
 lost sinners, and said if our sins were red as 
 blood, Christ could make them white as snow. 
 I became deeply affected, and felt a strange 
 sensation running all through me. My heart 
 was now very tender, notwithstanding I had 
 been angry at the commencement. Subse- 
 quently I attended prayer meeting ; and com- 
 menced searching the Scriptures. I soon saw 
 that I must be converted. I was, also, blessed 
 with the privilege of reading the Christian 
 Apologist. This helped me very much. My 
 heart was heavy, and I was sorely tempted by 
 the enemy. Sometimes I feared if I left the 
 Roman Catholic Church, I should be guilty of 
 perjury, as I had an idea that I was sworn to 
 abide in that Church. The brethren told me 
 to pray over the matter, and God would make 
 my way plain before me. I was three weeks 
 in a deep mental conflict. I had no rest all 
 this time. 
 
 I went back to the Roman Catholic church, 
 and thought I would seek religion there ; and 
 strange as it first appeared to see a church 
 without pictures and images, it now appeared 
 still more strange to see them in the church. 
 I thought too on the solemn command, "Thou 
 shalt not make unto thee any graven image," 
 &c. During mass, I prayed earnestly to God 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 215 
 
 that he would teach me the right way ; and in 
 the midst of the service, while we were kneel- 
 ing, I looked at the altar, and thought all was 
 not right. Christ had once heen offered for the 
 sins of the world ; and yet the Catholics, in 
 the mass, profess to offer him again, and say 
 that the bread and wine are changed into his 
 real body and blood. While some gazed at 
 the altar, I turned my face to the wall, and con- 
 tinued praying to God, all the while having the 
 impression that I ought to go amongst praying 
 people. On the same day, it was published 
 there would be German preaching at night. I 
 went again, and the priest stated that all who 
 were not Roman Catholics would not be saved, 
 and loudly condemned Luther, Calvin, and the 
 other reformers ; adding, that they had all gone 
 to hell. After meeting, some of them asked 
 me if I did not now believe that the Roman 
 Catholic was the only true Church. I replied 
 that I began to see and feel that I must read the 
 Bible for myself; and from that time I contin- 
 ued faithfully to peruse and believe it. 
 
 On the following Sabbath I took a walk, and 
 was very much struck with finding none of 
 the praying people in the taverns. This con- 
 vinced me still more that there was a reality in 
 religion. I got among some wicked people, 
 and they offered me something to drink. I 
 refused, however, to take it ; because, in a ser- 
 mon, I had heard brother Swahlen declare, that 
 with one glass of whisky a man might quench 
 the operations of the Spirit of God. 
 
216 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 I was now ashamed to go to the Methodist 
 church again, as I had become so deeply affect- 
 ed when I was there before, and then had gone 
 back to the Catholic Church again. However, 
 when my friend went, one Sabbath evening, I 
 followed. As I went, I looked at the moon 
 and stars, and was deeply impressed with the 
 power and omnipresence of God, and the 
 thoughts of eternity. While I was several 
 hundred yards from the church, I heard the 
 preacher's voice. I thought I would go near, 
 and keep myself concealed. I went behind 
 the house, looked in at the window, and heard 
 every word the preacher said. His words 
 came with power to my heart, and I again felt 
 that if I did not sincerely repent, I should be 
 lost for ever. After preaching, brother S. in- 
 vited the mourners, and several went forward, 
 much affected. They commenced praying, and 
 every time they said amen at the close of a 
 prayer, I started and ran, thinking the meeting 
 was out, and fearing that they, in retiring, would 
 see me. When meeting terminated I hurried 
 home, so as to get there before my friend, in 
 order that he might not suspect me. My heart, 
 however, was deeply affected ; and on the fol- 
 lowing Thursday evening, I took courage and 
 went to the prayer meeting, and told the Meth- 
 odists I was now willing to go with them. 
 
 About four weeks after this, I heard of a two 
 days' meeting on the Monroe mission, about 
 twenty miles from Wheeling. I left my work 
 when the time arrived, and went with a deter- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 217 
 
 mination not to return until I was converted. 
 The meeting was protracted, and the brethren 
 prayed with me every night for nearly one 
 week. They were much engaged. Some of 
 t^em had come seven and eight miles to meet- 
 ing. In the day-time I went into the woods 
 and prayed, and at night the brethren prayed 
 for me at the altar. Through the whole week 
 I could scarcely eat or sleep. On Sabbath af- 
 ternoon, brother Koenecke preached a power- 
 ful sermon. I commenced praying as soon as 
 he was done ; many prayed with me, and I 
 continued until I obtained peace to my soul. 
 I, however, still felt doubts occasionally arising 
 in my heart. On the following Wednesday 
 evening, I attended prayer meeting again, when 
 all my doubts and fears left me. I shall never 
 forget that time. I could say, " The Lord hath 
 done great things for me, whereof I am glad." 
 I then went joyfully on my way back to Wheel- 
 ing. All things were new to me. My heart 
 was filled with joy, and I was anxious to tell 
 my brethren in Wheeling what the Lord had 
 done for me. The words of the apostle came 
 forcibly to my mind, "Our conversation is in 
 heaven," &c. I felt that my soul was lifted 
 up to God, in heavenly meditation. 
 
 I now daily thank my Maker that he has led 
 me from the darkness of Popery — the spiritual 
 Babel, and from the slough of sin and iniquity. 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and forget not all 
 his benefits to all eternity ! Amen. 
 19 
 
218 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Brother Leger Ritty's Experience.—! was 
 brought up by Roman Catholic parents. They 
 instructed me from a child, in the doctrines and 
 usages of the Church to which they belonged, 
 and I consequently became a firm believer in 
 the tenets and ceremonies of what I then be- 
 lieved to be the only true Church in the world. 
 From childhood I frequently had serious 
 thoughts in reference to the salvation of my 
 soul, bat more especially when I was about 
 nine years of age. I was deeply awakened, 
 and brought to see the danger I was exposed 
 to as a sinner. The thoughts of losing my 
 soul were indescribably awful to me. About 
 this time my parents died, and I was left an 
 orphan. Having in these, the early years of 
 my life, such serious impressions on my mind, 
 I was often induced, as well as I knew how, 
 to call upon God, that he would have mercy on 
 me and forgive my sins, and save me from eter- 
 nal death. Thus my juvenile years passed 
 away, with much mental anxiety in reference 
 to the future. 
 
 According to the laws and customs of my 
 country, at a proper age I entered the army, 
 and became a soldier. This was in the year 
 1819. I continued in the army eight years. 
 Here I was introduced into a class of society 
 who neither fear God nor regard his command- 
 ments; but on the contrary, give themselves 
 up to all manner of wickedness. In this situ- 
 ation, those good impressions that had been 
 made upon my mind in early life gradually left 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 219 
 
 me, until I, with my fellow soldiers, had given 
 myself up to the vices of the day, and become 
 a miserable drunkard. 
 
 In the year 1828 I emigrated to America, in 
 order to seek a home in the new world ; but 
 unfortunately for me, I brought with me those 
 habits of intemperance which I had contracted 
 in the army. As some of my associates came 
 with me, we commenced, as soon as we landed 
 in Philadelphia, our course of drunkenness and 
 revelry anew. I was naturally of a very strong 
 and robust constitution, and, consequently, could 
 endure much exposure to wet and cold ; and 
 could, also, drink much without being seriously 
 injured by it. One of my associates, who had 
 a feeble constitution, fell, in his attempts to fol- 
 low me in my course of dissipation, a victim 
 to his crimes, and ended his days in wretched- 
 ness ; finding, not long after his arrival in Amer- 
 ica, a drunkard's grave. 
 
 This, however, did not check me. I re- 
 mained a whole year in Philadelphia, continu- 
 ing my course of drunkenness. Although I 
 had thus given myself up to crime, and was 
 bringing destruction upon myself, I was not 
 left to go on without some monitions of con- 
 science. I knew and felt that I was doing 
 wrong ; but as I had been taught to believe that 
 in purgatory I should have to make up for my 
 delinquencies in this life, of course its refining 
 fires were my only ground of hope, and my 
 only consolation in reference to the future. 
 My convictions for sin, however, increased, 
 
220 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 and my health failed. I wished to reform and 
 be delivered from my iniquities, but knew not 
 how to commence. I had never read the Bible, 
 and did not know how to obtain deliverance 
 from my bondage. My passions had the con- 
 trol over me, and I appeared to be hurried with 
 the rapidity of a torrent in my career of mis- 
 ery, not having power to restrain myself. 
 
 On my health failing, I removed to Pitts- 
 burg with a view of improving it. Here I 
 laid sick for three years. After having tried 
 every remedy prescribed by my physician, 
 he gave me up as a hopeless case, and told 
 my wife to give me what I wanted to eat and 
 drink, while I did live, as I could not possibly 
 live long. 
 
 In this condition the Spirit of God affected 
 my heart, and I saw myself in a light in which 
 I had never seen myself before — a great sinner 
 in the sight of God, on the brink of eternity, 
 without any preparation to meet my final Judge. 
 T remained, however, so confirmed in the doc- 
 trines of the Roman Catholic Church, that I 
 thought the reading of a great many masses for 
 me might deliver me from my sins, and afford 
 relief to my troubled mind. But as the priest 
 in Pittsburg charged me fifty cents for each 
 mass he read for me, and as I was reduced to 
 poverty by my drunkenness and protracted 
 sickness, I could not raise the money to pay 
 him for the number of masses I thought neces- 
 sary. I had, however, in the meantime, a good 
 opportunity to send to Germany to have mass 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 221 
 
 read for me there ; and as I could get it done 
 much cheaper there, I of course readily em- 
 braced the opportunity. I wished to make my 
 little means go as far as possible, and therefore 
 sent on two different sums, the first time thirty 
 francs, and the second time fourteen. The 
 franc is a French coin, worth about twenty 
 cents of our money. For this amount I got 
 forty-four masses read, being more than twice 
 as many as I could have had in Pittsburg for 
 the same amount. I had also learned the pray- 
 ers of the Church, and frequently said them 
 over. But all this had not the desired effect. 
 I found that the priest could not deliver me 
 from my burden of guilt. I finally became so 
 deeply awakened and sensible of my lost con- 
 dition, that I sometimes feared the earth would 
 open and receive me, with my load of sins 
 upon me. 
 
 I now left off praying to the saints, and com- 
 menced praying from my heart to God, that he 
 would have mercy upon me, and forgive my 
 sins. During my three years' sickness, I was 
 three months in this awakened condition. When 
 my distress of mind became almost intolerable, 
 I resolved to get a Bible, and see if I could not 
 find something in it to comfort me. I conse- 
 quently went to the priest, and told him that I 
 must have a Bible, as I could live no longer in 
 this way. He, however, refused to let me 
 have one. I offered him $10 for a copy, but 
 still he refused ; and then, poor though I was, 
 I offered him $20 ; but he told me I could not 
 19* 
 
222 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 have one on any terms, stating that the Bible 
 was not for the common people. I replied to 
 him, that I must have a Bible, and that if he 
 would not let me have a copy, I would go to the 
 Protestants for one. He appeared angry at 
 me, opened the door, and drove me out of the 
 house ; telling me to go to church every Sab- 
 bath, and he would preach the Gospel to me. 
 I wanted to relate to him the sorrows of my 
 heart, and tell him how bad I felt ; but he would 
 not hear me. 
 
 After I had left the priest, I had my fears 
 that if I obtained a Protestant Bible, it might 
 not be genuine ; as I, from a child, had been 
 made to believe that the Protestant Bible was 
 an heretical book, and that it only deceived those 
 who read it. I, however, finally concluded 
 that my condition could not be made any worse 
 by its perusal, and resolved to embrace the first 
 opportunity to get one. God, in the order of 
 his providence, soon caused me to succeed in 
 my effort, which was in the following manner. 
 One morning, as I was walking out, I met a 
 woman with a Bible in her hand, which she 
 had obtained from the American Bible Society. 
 I asked her if she would sell it, to which she 
 replied that she would. I then asked if it con- 
 tained the whole of the word of God — the Old 
 and New Testament 1 She said it was all per- 
 fect, excepting that Martin Luther's name had 
 been torn out of the title-page: her husband 
 would not suffer a book to be in his house with 
 Luther's name in it. I did not object to it on 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 223 
 
 that account; for we had been taught to be- 
 lieve that Luther was an arch heretic — that 
 he had deceived a great number of people, and 
 was now chained in the bottom of hell for his 
 wickedness. In fact, I was rather glad that his 
 name had been torn out. After I had obtained 
 the Bible, I went to seek for Christians among 
 the German Protestants ; thinking that all Pro- 
 testants, who had the Bible, were good people. 
 But in this I was much mistaken. I found that 
 many of them cursed and swore as much as 
 any of the Roman Catholic Germans, with 
 whom I had previously been associated. 
 
 In 1833 I removed to Cincinnati, hoping to 
 find some one who could comfort me ; but no 
 sooner had I landed, than I was met by some 
 of my old Roman Catholic associates, and the 
 first thing they offered me was a bottle of whis- 
 ky. I refused to drink. This made them an- 
 gry, and they called me a Methodist. At this 
 time I had not become acquainted with the 
 Methodists, as it was before they had establish- 
 ed missions among the Germans. About this 
 period, Mr. H. came to Cincinnati, and profes- 
 sed to be a preacher sent of God to teach the 
 right way of salvation. I went to hear him 
 for some time, but soon found he was not the 
 man he professed to be, and, therefore, forsook 
 him. I, however, continued to read my Bible 
 by day and by night ; and went from house to 
 house, among the Catholics, telling them that 
 we all had been wrong, and that we must 
 change our manner of living, or we should all 
 
224 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 be lost. About five weeks after I came to the 
 city, I was one day talking with a family on 
 the subject of religion, and as I left the house, 
 I felt the burden of my sins roll away; and, 
 like the man that had been healed by Peter and 
 John, I could leap for joy and praise God for 
 his goodness and mercy to me. Thus, without 
 a friend to instruct me in the path of salvation, 
 God led me in a way I had not known, and 
 delivered my feet from the horrible pit and the 
 miry clay, and established my goings. I went 
 from house to house, praising God, and telling 
 what he had done for my soul. Some drove 
 me out of their houses, and abused me much ; 
 yet this did not discourage me. I was exceed- 
 ingly glad that I had been delivered from my 
 superstition ; for I had been brought up to be- 
 lieve that ours was the oldest, and, consequent- 
 ly, the only true Church in the world ; and so 
 strong were my prejudices, that I used to burn 
 and destroy all the religious tracts that were 
 given to me. But now, blessed be God, I felt 
 that a great change had passed upon me. My 
 blind eyes were opened, and I found the great- 
 est delight in reading the holy Scriptures. 
 
 About three weeks after I found peace, I was 
 impressed that it was my duty more publicly 
 and extensively to labor in the Lord's vineyard. 
 But I replied, "Lord, send another. I am not 
 learned. I cannot instruct my fellow men." 
 I disobeyed what I believed to be a call from 
 God, and soon lost my peace of mind, which 
 was followed by the most awful fears and pain- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 225 
 
 fill forebodings of the future. I finally remov- 
 ed to the country, hoping to find some comfort 
 for my soul in a more retired life ; but, instead 
 of this, I only felt worse. I could neither eat, 
 drink, nor sleep, with any satisfaction. I felt 
 that I was lost, and that by my disobedience I 
 had placed myself beyond the reach of God's 
 mercy. I retained, however, a great anxiety 
 for the salvation of my family ; for I thought 
 if I went to destruction myself, I should be 
 very sorry to have my family ruined with me. 
 My distress of mind finally became so great, 
 that I took to drinking again, in order to drown 
 my sorrow. In the lapse of time, however, 
 my mind became more calm : those tormenting 
 fears, in a degree, left me ; and I again felt that 
 I could take some interest in the cause of relig- 
 ion; and could rejoice in witnessing the pros- 
 perity of Zion. I had, by this time, joined 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and, although 
 I was in a good degree free from deep com- 
 punctions of soul, yet I had no peace in my 
 heart. I made known my situation to a 
 friend, a Methodist pieacher, and asked his ad- 
 vice. He told me to go forward and do my 
 duty. I immediately went to the house of a 
 neighbor who was not religious, and commen- 
 ced exhorting him to seek the salvation of his 
 soul. From this time I began to feel better. 
 That peace of mind which 1 had lost, returned, 
 as I went on in the work of exhorting people, 
 from house to house, to seek salvation. 
 
 Soon after this, I received a call from the 
 
226 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 officers of the Tract Society, to engage in the 
 distribution of tracts among the Germans. I 
 agreed to undertake it three months, in order 
 to make a trial ; and then, if no good appeared 
 to be done, I would give it up, and have noth- 
 ing for my time. Accordingly, I commenced, 
 and soon found that God gave me access to the 
 hearts of my countrymen. Many became deep- 
 ly affected, when I talked to them on the sub- 
 ject of religion, at their houses, and appeared 
 to receive the tracts and books with glad hearts. 
 These tokens for good, induced me to continue 
 in this work. I have already seen some of my 
 Catholic countrymen forsake their superstitions 
 and seek salvation by faith in Christ. Many 
 have received the Bible, and it is to be hoped 
 that the fruits of these labors will be seen in 
 days to come. 
 
 In conclusion, I would say to my English 
 brethren, pray that God, in great mercy, may 
 open the blind eyes of my countrymen, and 
 bring them to a saving knowledge of the truth. 
 I feel myself happy in the great change I have 
 experienced. While I was in my former state, 
 I was a poor miserable drunkard, and spent 
 nearly all I made by my intemperance; my 
 family often being left to suffer. But as soon 
 as I sought God, and became sober, I had 
 enough to make my family comfortable. I 
 would, therefore, exhort all who are living as I 
 lived, to turn to the Lord and seek salvation, 
 and secure to themselves peace on earth and 
 an everlasting inheritance in heaven. For god- 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 227 
 
 liness has the promise of the life that now is 
 and of that which is to come. 
 
 Mr. George Bottenstebi* s Experience. — 
 This experience was sent in a letter to a pri- 
 vate friend, and afterward published in the 
 Christian Apologist. The editor introduces it 
 with the following explanatory remarks : 
 
 "Brother R. was, a short time ago, editor of 
 a political paper in Philadelphia, and I exchan- 
 ged with him, as with all other German editors. 
 And although I did not receive his paper for a 
 while, I continued to send him the Apologist, 
 in hopes that it might be i bread cast upon the 
 waters, which will be seen after many days.' 
 But the Lord did far more than my faint hope 
 anticipated. He made it soon one of the means 
 by which this stranger was aroused to turn his 
 attention to religion. He left the tumultuous 
 political theatre as a seeker of the kingdom of 
 God, and was happily converted in a great revi- 
 val of our Church, at Charlotte Court-House, 
 Va., in which, he says, he was the hundredth 
 convert. No sooner did he experience the 
 love of Christ in his heart, than this love con- 
 strained him to tell his large circle of friends, 
 through the columns of the Apologist, what 
 the Lord had done for his soul. He is now a 
 teacher at Randolph Macon College. May 
 the Lord bless the warm appeal of our young 
 brother, to the conviction of many of his coun- 
 trymen ! And will our brethren in the eastern 
 cities, where there are thousands of unconvert- 
 ed Germans, by this witness from among them- 
 
228 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 selves, not be convinced of the importance and 
 necessity of patronizing our German mission 
 paper? We had not one subscriber in the 
 city of Philadelphia, when we sent the Apolo- 
 gist as exchange for a political paper, and now 
 we have but three copies circulating in that 
 great city ! Let me, in conclusion, remark, 
 that brother R. is not a solitary instance of con- 
 version from Roman Catholic superstition, or 
 infidelity. In every class, in our missions, we 
 hear some converts from Roman Catholicism, 
 and some former Rationalists, testify that Christ 
 has power on earth to forgive sin. At our late 
 camp meeting, not less than eight Roman Cath- 
 olics threw away their idolatrous beads, crosses, 
 and charms, and learnt to worship God in spirit 
 and in truth. And though it is but a few weeks 
 since conference, we can say that the Lord has 
 revived his work here, at Marietta, and Wheel- 
 ing. Four persons have been converted here, 
 one of whom was only one week from Ger- 
 many ; eighteen joined at Marietta; and fifteen 
 at Wheeling ; of whom the greater part obtained 
 the remission of their sins. We have reason 
 to say to the friends of our German missions, 
 and to the patrons of the Christian Apologist, 
 that their prayers for the Germans are heard in 
 heaven, and their benevolence produces fruit 
 unto eternal life. May they never cease to re- 
 member us, until among the German immigrants, 
 victory is turning on the side of the Lord ! " 
 
 To my friend D., — My intention in send- 
 ing you this open letter, is to call, not only 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 229 
 
 your attention, but that of my many very dear 
 friends, who are scattered through the United 
 States, to their religious condition, which, in 
 the nature of things, deserves their deepest 
 reflection. 
 
 Brought up in the Romish Church, you 
 know, that I have rejected, long ago, her idola- 
 trous practices ; that I could not believe the 
 dogma, that all who live out of her pale, are 
 lost ; that the priests have the power and right, 
 not only to remit, but even to retain sins. You 
 know that it appeared ridiculous to me, when 
 a priest, like a juggler, pretended to change 
 the wafer into the true body and true blood of 
 Christ, by the recital of a few Latin words. 
 You know that I despised the frauds, which 
 were practiced with images, in order to get 
 money out of the pockets of a credulous popu- 
 lace. You know that it was lothsome to me, 
 to hear the Pope proclaimed as the Vicar of 
 God, and that I never believed his pretended 
 infallibility. 
 
 But you know, also, that I pitied all other 
 professors of religion, as weak-minded, mis- 
 guided persons, and thought man could not fail 
 of future happiness, if he only performed the 
 moral duties toward his neighbor. But one 
 reason of my despising the Romish Church 
 and her pomp, with which she blinds the eyes 
 of the credulous, as well as of my indifference 
 toward the Protestant community, was this, 
 that I could not find that influence of religion 
 upon the social and civil life, which must be 
 20 
 
230 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 considered as the test of true Christianity. In 
 our fatherland, where religion depends upon, 
 and is paid by, the state, and where we were 
 not permitted to worship God according to our 
 own conscience, the heart took no part in the 
 divine service ; all our religious exercises were 
 cold, "like lava gathered at the foot of foreign 
 volcanoes." The sum of our religious instruc- 
 tion was, "Fear God, and love the king!" 
 You know, moreover, how many hypocritical 
 and immoral ministers of the Gospel we met, 
 who could not impart to us any reverence for 
 the doctrines they taught. With such views 
 of religion we came to America, the land of 
 religious and political liberty. 
 
 In accordance with my religious feelings, I 
 heard, at New York and Philadelphia, the dis- 
 courses of the so called Rationalists ; but I felt, 
 that this too could have no favorable influence 
 upon the morality of the citizens ; think, for 
 instance, only of that famous funeral address, 
 at the grave of a German. I left the grave 
 with the conviction, that "reason" cannot an- 
 swer "that question which so often obtrudes 
 itself on the worldling in his calmer hours, but 
 from which he turns away again and again, 
 until, on the last sick-bed of this life, it becomes 
 the yell of vengeance for his squandered days, 
 For what am I born?" I once heard the 
 preacher of the Rationalistic society exclaim, 
 " There is no God ! " To be sure, he was 
 intoxicated at the time ; but we know that an 
 intoxicated man tells all that is in his heart. It 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 231 
 
 was about that time, that I became more inter- 
 ested in religion, by reading the Christian 
 Apologist and Fletcher's Works. But I re- 
 member well, how angry I often became, when 
 I read so much about the total depravity of my 
 heart. I tried in vain to comfort myself with 
 the thought, that there are worse men than 
 myself in the world. I moved, then, to Vir- 
 ginia, where I saw, at last, the practical influ- 
 ence of religion ; where I discovered plainly 
 the difference between professors of religion 
 and unbelievers. I met with men who love 
 their neighbor, who are afraid to tell the least 
 untruth, who live in brotherly concord, and 
 find all their happiness in the name of Jesus. 
 I now became convinced that I must become a 
 Christian, in order to become a good man. I 
 read Wesley's sermon on Ephesians ii, 8, " By 
 grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not 
 of yourselves : it is the gift of God." I read 
 this sermon over and over. I doubted, yet felt 
 inclined to believe it, because I saw men happy 
 in this belief. I consulted with some preach- 
 ers ; they all said to me, " Read the Bible, and 
 pray ! " But this answer did not satisfy me ; 
 yet I thought, if it is "the gift of God" I 
 may pray to him, should my mind be ever so 
 unfit and unprepared for it : and praise, glory, 
 and thanksgiving be to the Lord ! he heard my 
 prayer, all my doubts are gone. I feel, for the 
 first time, that I am a Christian! 
 
 The 17th of this month, I heard of a great 
 revival at Charlotte Court-House. I went there 
 
232 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 from a conviction that I should place myself 
 within the reach of the means of conversion. 
 The first sermon which I heard affected me in 
 such a manner, that the tears burst from my 
 eyes. I saw the penitents hastening in crowds 
 to the altar. I heard their confessions, and 
 could hardly refrain myself from following 
 them. I asked the minister, if it was necessary 
 to go to the altar: if it was not rather against 
 Matthew vi, 5. He told me the outward form 
 was not essential, but that a true penitent felt 
 willing to humble himself. I read at home, 
 Luke xviii, 11-13, in order to excuse my pride 
 and false shame ; but upon reflection I was com- 
 pelled to confess to myself, that the open pro- 
 fessions of the Pharisees procured for them 
 worldly honors, while the publican cared for 
 nothing but the salvation of his soul. I saw, 
 that, unless I threw away all pride, I could not 
 become a partaker of the grace of Christ. 
 
 Sabbath, the 20th of this month, I entered, 
 tremblingly, the house of God, knelt down, 
 and reviewed my whole past life. I felt, for 
 the first time, through how many dangers my 
 Maker had protected me, how thankful I ought 
 to have been, and how criminally I had spent 
 my time. The greatest obstacle which I had 
 to overcome, was the hatred which I felt in my 
 heart against the aristocrats of Europe. I 
 thought of my brother, who had perished in 
 the fortresses of Prussia. I thought of my 
 second brother, who still suffers in an Austrian 
 prison. I thought of my oppressed native 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 233 
 
 country. I could not find peace, and returned 
 from the church without comfort. After I got 
 home, I read the New Testament, and prayed 
 the Lord's prayer. When I came to the peti- 
 tion, " Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive 
 those that trespass against us," I remembered 
 Jesus on the cross, and heard his dying voice, 
 " Lord, forgive them !" A sudden flash of light 
 burst into my soul. In a moment I could em- 
 brace all my enemies ; and feeling that the mir- 
 aculous work of regeneration, by the Holy 
 Ghost, was wrought in my heart, I exclaimed, 
 " Glory to God in the highest, and peace on 
 earth!" 
 
 My dear bosom friend, with anxiety I entreat 
 you, "Learn to know thyself!" You believe 
 in a God, a future world, and its rewards. If 
 there are future rewards, there must be also fu- 
 ture punishments : if the reward is eternal bliss 
 in heaven, the loss of this eternal bliss must be 
 eternal misery in hell. Is it not then of the 
 highest importance to know in what way we 
 can obtain the great reward? You say, " Ful- 
 fill your moral duties." But, my friend, look 
 within and inquire, how much wrong you have 
 done ; and examine the motives of your good 
 works, and you will shudder. Answer me but 
 one question : Would the laws of the country 
 not condemn a person who stole, though he 
 may not be a murderer ; nay, though he may 
 have saved many lives ? Can your giving alms 
 to somebody justify you for slandering another? 
 You cannot be saved but by the grace of our 
 20* 
 
234 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ. Do not think it foolish- 
 ness; you cannot know what we receive by 
 believing in the pardoning mercy of God, ex- 
 cept you have been thoroughly convicted of 
 sin. I therefore repeat my entreaties, take the 
 first step, learn to know thyself, and you will 
 assuredly meet Jesus full of grace and truth. 
 He died for all — for thee — and opened a way 
 of salvation by his precious blood. Hoping to 
 hear from you soon, I remain your friend. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 OTTERBEIN AND OTHER METHODISTIC 
 GERMANS. 
 
 Among the Germans who immigrated to the 
 United States during the former part of the 
 eighteenth century, there were several men of 
 great excellency. After the Methodists had 
 become numerous, they were more or less con- 
 nected with them ; if not in Church organiza- 
 tion, they were in Church fellowship, labors 
 and spirit. Had they become organized as a 
 German part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 much more good would have resulted from their 
 labors. The following account of them was 
 published in the Methodist Magazine, Vol. VI, 
 pp. 22, 249, and re-published in Bangs' Histo- 
 ry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Vol. 
 II, pp. 365-376. It was furnished at the re- 
 quest of Bishop Asbury, sometime before his 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 235 
 
 death, by his friend, F. Hollings worth, who 
 transcribed the Bishop's Journal, and prepared 
 it for the press : 
 
 "Jacob Boehm, the great-grandfather of one 
 of the distinguished subjects of the following 
 notices, was of a respectable family in Swit- 
 zerland ; and, as is presumed, a member of the 
 German Presbyterian Church. His son Jacob 
 was put to a trade ; and after faithfully serving 
 out his time, he, according to the custom of his 
 country, set out upon his three years' travels. 
 In his wanderings through Germany he fell in 
 with the Pietists ; a people in their faith, dis- 
 cipline, and worship, resembling, in a good de- 
 gree, the Methodists, but more closely the socie- 
 ties and congregations formed by William Ot- 
 terbein and Martin Boehm. Upon our traveler's 
 return to the parental roof, he talked in a style 
 that neither his father nor the parson could 
 comprehend ; they were natural men, and un- 
 derstood not the things of God. His evangel- 
 ical conversation, mingled, most probably, with 
 reproof of the vices and pharisaism of the day, 
 brought, by necessary consequence, persecu- 
 tion upon him ; and he was sent, guarded by 
 an elder brother, to prison. He escaped, how- 
 ever, from his confinement, and sought a refuge 
 in Germany, where he remained, having set- 
 tled near the Rhine, He shortly after attached 
 himself to the Menonists, became an honored 
 elder in that Church, and, we trust, died in the 
 Lord. His son Jacob, the third, was also a 
 member in the Menonist Church. He gave an 
 
236 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 example of sobriety, temperance, and industry 
 to his children and neighborhood before and 
 after his immigration to Pennsylvania, in 1716 
 or '17; and was honored in both countries. 
 As a professor of religion he lived up to the 
 light he had ; but it was under the ministry of 
 his better instructed son, Martin Boehm, that 
 he was blest with superior illumination. He 
 died in peace at the family plantation, on Peca- 
 way, Conestoga township, Lancaster county, 
 Pennsylvania, aged eighty-seven years. The 
 son of Jacob Boehm the third, Martin Boehm, 
 of whom we desire to speak more particularly, 
 was born in November, 1725. The labors and 
 experience of his life, as a professor of relig- 
 ion and minister of Christ, may be pretty justly 
 estimated by what we learn from himself, com- 
 municated in answer to certain questions pro- 
 pounded to him by his son Jacob, which we 
 here transcribe : 
 
 « Question. Father, when were you put into 
 the ministry ? 
 
 1 Answer. My ministerial labors began about 
 the year 1756. Three years afterward, by 
 nomination of the lot, 1 received full pastoral 
 orders. 
 
 1 Q. What had been your religious experi- 
 ence at that time ? 
 
 ' A. I was sincere and strict in the religious 
 duties of prayer in my family, in the congre- 
 gation, and in the closet. I lived and preached 
 according to the light I had. I was a servant, 
 and not a son ; nor did I know any one at that 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS, 237 
 
 time who could claim the birth-right by adop- 
 tion but Nancy Keagy, my mother's, sister ; 
 she was a woman of great piety and singular 
 devotion to God. 
 
 ' Q. By what means did you discover the 
 nature and necessity of a real change of heart? 
 
 6 A. By deep meditation upon the doctrines 
 which I myself preached of the fall of man, 
 his sinful state, and utter helplessness, I discov- 
 ered and felt the want of Christ within. About 
 the year 1761, hearing of a great work of God 
 in New Virginia, among the New Lights, as 
 they were called, I resolved to find the truth 
 more fully. I accordingly visited those parts, 
 and saw many gracious souls who could give a 
 rational and Scriptural account of their expe- 
 rience and acceptance with God; these assur- 
 ances roused me to greater efforts to obtain the 
 blessing. On my return, very large congrega- 
 tions assembled to hear the word, not only on 
 the Sabbaths, but on week days also. My zeal 
 displeased some of my brethren in the minis- 
 try ; but my heart was enlarged, and I had an 
 earnest travail of soul to extend the knowledge 
 of salvation to Jew and Gentile. I enlarged 
 the sphere of my labors as much as my situa- 
 tion in life would permit. 
 
 * Q. Were your labors owned of the Lord 
 in the awakening and conversion of souls ? 
 
 4 «/?. Yes : many were brought to the knowl- 
 edge of the truth. But it was a strange ivork; 
 and some of the Menonist meeting-houses were 
 closed against me. Nevertheless, I was receiv- 
 
238 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 ed in other places. I now preached the Gos- 
 pel spiritually and powerfully. Some years 
 afterward I was excommunicated from the Men- 
 onist Church on a charge, truly enough advan- 
 ced, of holding fellowship with other societies 
 of a different language. I had invited the 
 Menonites to my house, and they soon formed 
 the society in the neighborhood which exists 
 to this day: my beloved wife Eve, my chil- 
 dren, and my cousin Keagy's family, were 
 among the first of its members. For myself, 
 I felt my heart more greatly enlarged toward 
 all religious persons, and to all denominations 
 of Christians. Upward of thirty years ago I 
 became acquainted with my greatly beloved 
 brother, William Otterbein, and several other 
 ministers, who about this time had been eject- 
 ed from their Churches, as I had been from 
 mine, because of their zeal, which was looked 
 upon as an irregularity. We held many and 
 large meetings in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
 New Virginia, which generally lasted three 
 days : at these meetings hundreds were made 
 the subjects of penitence and pardon. Being 
 convinced of the necessity of order and disci- 
 pline in the Church of God, and having no 
 wish to be at the head of a separate body, I 
 advised serious persons to join the Methodists, 
 whose doctrine, discipline, and zeal suited, as 
 I thought, an unlearned, sincere, and simple- 
 hearted people. Several of the ministers with 
 whom I labored, continued to meet in a confer- 
 ence of the German United Brethren ; but we 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 239 
 
 felt the difficulties arising from the want of that 
 which the Methodists possessed. Age having 
 overtaken me, with some of its accompanying 
 infirmities, I could not travel as I had formerly- 
 done. In 1802 I enrolled my name on a Meth- 
 odist class-book, and I have found great com- 
 fort in meeting with my brethren. I can truly 
 say, my last days are my best days. My be- 
 loved Eve is traveling with me the same road 
 Zion-ward ; my children, and most of my grand- 
 children, are made the happy partakers of the 
 same grace. I am, this 12th of April, 1811, 
 in my eighty-sixth year. Through the bound- 
 less goodness of my God, I am still able to visit 
 the sick, and occasionally, to preach in the 
 neighborhood : to his name be all the glory in 
 Christ Jesus !' 
 
 44 Martin Boehm died on the 23d of March, 
 1812. His death was thought to have been 
 hastened by an imprudent change of dress. 
 Bishop Asbury, in a sermon preached upon the 
 occasion of the death of his long-known and 
 long-loved friend, improved the opportunity by 
 mentioning some further particulars of him, of 
 his friends, and of the work of God in which 
 he and they had labored. His observations are, 
 with the alteration and substitution of a few 
 sentences and words, as follows: 'Martin 
 Boehm had frequent and severe conflicts in his 
 own mind, produced by the necessity he felt 
 himself under of offending his Menonist breth- 
 ren by the zeal and doctrines of his ministry: 
 some he gained; but most of them opposed 
 
240 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OP 
 
 him. He had difficulties also with his United 
 Brethren. It was late in life that he joined the 
 Methodists, to whom, long before, his wife and 
 children had attached themselves : the head of 
 the house had two societies to pass through to 
 arrive at the Methodists, and his meek and 
 quiet spirit kept him back. Honest and unsus- 
 pecting, he had not a strange face for strange 
 people. He did not make the Gospel a charge 
 to any one ; his reward was souls and glory. 
 His conversation was in heaven. Plain in dress 
 and manners, when age had stamped its im- 
 press of reverence upon him, he filled the mind 
 with the noble idea of a patriarch. At the head 
 of a family, a father, a neighbor, a friend, a 
 companion, there was one prominent feature of 
 his character which distinguished him from 
 most men : it was goodness ; you felt that he 
 was good. His mind was strong and well 
 stored with the learning necessary for one whose 
 aim is to preach Christ with apostolic zeal and 
 simplicity. The virtue of hospitality was prac- 
 ticed by his family as a matter of course ; and 
 in following the impulse of their own generous 
 natures, the members of his household obeyed 
 the oft-repeated charge of their head to open 
 his doors to the houseless, that the weary might 
 be solaced and the hungry fed. And what a 
 family was here presented to an observant vis- 
 itor ! Here was order, quiet, occupation. The 
 father, if not absent on a journey of five hun- 
 dred miles in cold, hunger, privations, and labor, 
 proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation to his 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 241 
 
 dispersed German brethren, might, by his con- 
 duct under his own roof, explain to a careful 
 looker-on the secret of a parent's success in 
 rearing a family to the duties of piety, to the 
 diligent and useful occupation of time, and to 
 the uninterrupted exhibition of reflected and 
 reciprocated love, esteem, and kindness in word 
 and deed. If it is true, as is generally believ- 
 ed, that the mother does much toward forming 
 the character of their children, it will be readily 
 allowed that Martin Boehm had an able help- 
 mate in his pious wife. The offspring of this 
 noble pair have done them honor : the son Ja- 
 cob, immediately upon his marriage, took on 
 himself the management of the farm, that his 
 excellent father might, " without carefulness," 
 extend his labors more far and wide. A young- 
 er son, Henry, is a useful minister in the Meth- 
 odist connection, having the advantage of being 
 able to preach in English and German. We 
 are willing to hope that the children of Martin 
 Boehm, and his children's children to the third 
 and fourth and latest generations, will have 
 cause to thank God that his house, for fifty 
 years, has been a house for the welcome re- 
 ception of Gospel ministers, and one in which 
 the worship of God has been uninterruptedly 
 preserved and practiced ! O ye children and 
 grand-children ! , rising generation , who have 
 so often heard the prayers of this man of God 
 in the houses of your fathers ! O, ye Germans, 
 to whom he has long preached the word of 
 truth, Martin Boehm being dead yet speaketh ! 
 21 
 
2i2 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 O hear his voice from the grave, exhorting you 
 to repent, to believe, and to obey.' 
 
 " i But our beloved brother, who has gone to 
 his high reward, was not the only laborer in 
 the vineyard. Will it be hazarding too much 
 to say, that in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
 Virginia, there were one hundred preachers 
 and twenty thousand people in the communion 
 of the United Brethren ? Many of these faith- 
 ful men have gone to glory ; and many are yet 
 alive to preach to congregated thousands. Pre- 
 eminent among these is William Otterbein, who 
 assisted in the ordination which set apart your 
 speaker to the superintendency of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. William Otterbein 
 was regularly ordained to the ministry in the 
 German Presbyterian Church. He is one of 
 the best scholars and the greatest divines in 
 America. Why then is he not where he began ? 
 He was irregular. Alas, for us ! the zealous 
 are necessarily so to those whose cry has been, 
 put me into the priests' office, that I may eat 
 a morsel of bread. Ostervald has observed, 
 " Hell is paved with the skulls of unfaithful 
 ministers." Such was not Boehm. Such is 
 not Otterbein ; and now, his sun of life is set- 
 ting in brightness : behold the saint of God 
 leaning upon his staff, waiting for the chariots 
 of Israel ! 
 
 " I pause here to indulge in reflections upon 
 the past. Why was the German reformation 
 in the middle states, that sprang up with 
 Boehm, Otterbein, and their helpers, not more 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 243 
 
 perfect ? Was money, was labor made a con- 
 sideration with these primitive men ? No ; 
 they wanted not the one, and heeded not the 
 other. They all had had Church membership, 
 as Presbyterians, Lutherans, Moravians, Dun- 
 kers, Menonists. The spiritual men of these 
 societies generally united with the reformers ; 
 but they brought along with them the formali- 
 ties, superstitions, and peculiar opinions of 
 religious education. There was no master- 
 spirit to rise up, and organize, and lead them. 
 Some of the ministers located, and only added 
 to their charge, partial traveling labors ; and all 
 were independent. It remains to be proved, 
 whether a reformation, in any country, or un- 
 der any circumstances, can be perpetuated 
 without a well directed itinerancy. But these 
 faithful men of God were not the less zealous 
 in declaring the truth, because they failed to 
 erect a Church government. This was wished 
 for by many ; and among the first, perhaps, to 
 discover the necessity of discipline and ,„order, 
 was Benedict Swoape, of Pipe creek, Frede- 
 rick county: he became Otterbein's prompter 
 as early as 1772, and called upon him to trans- 
 late the General Rules of the Methodists, and 
 explain to their German brethren, wandering 
 as sheep without a shepherd, their nature, de- 
 sign, and efficacy. Otterbein, one of the wisest 
 and best of men, could only approve : when 
 urged to put himself forward as a leader, his 
 great modesty and diffidence of himself, forbade 
 his acceptance of so high a trust. His jour- 
 
244 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 neys, nevertheless, were long, his visits fre- 
 quent, his labors constant; so that, after he 
 came to Baltimore, he might be called a travel- 
 ing preacher, until age and infirmities compelled 
 him to be still. Surely I should not forget his 
 helpers. I may mention once more Benedict 
 Swoape : he removed to Kentucky, and preach- 
 ed until near his death, at eighty years of age. 
 There was the brother-in-law of Otterbein, and 
 his great friend, Doctor Hendel, a man of tal- 
 ents, lettered and pious, and a great preacher. 
 Hendel was first stationed, as a German Pres- 
 byterian minister, in Tulpahocking and Lancas- 
 ter, and his last labors were in Philadelphia, 
 where, late in life, he fell a victim to the yellow 
 fever of 1798. Wagner, a pupil of Otterbein's, 
 was stationed in Little York, Pennsylvania, and 
 permanently, thereafter, in Fredericktown, Ma- 
 ryland: he was, we have reason to hope, a 
 good and useful servant of his Lord. Henry 
 Widener, first a great sinner, and afterward a 
 great saint, was a native of Switzerland ; as is 
 usual with his educated countrymen, he spoke 
 in German and French with equal fluency. 
 His preaching was acceptable and useful; he 
 had for the companion of his itinerant labors, 
 John Hagerty; and the Gospel of our Lord 
 was preached by these men in German and 
 English, to thousands between the north and 
 south branches of the Potomac. Widener died 
 in peace, near Baltimore. Hagerty is still with 
 us. George Adam Gedding, a native of Ger- 
 many, has been a most acceptable man in the 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 245 
 
 work : he still lives near Sharpesburg, in Ma- 
 ryland. Christian Newcomer, near Hagers- 
 town, in Maryland, has labored and traveled 
 many years. His heart's desire has always 
 been to effect a union between his German 
 brethren and the Methodists. Are there many 
 that fear God who have passed by his house, 
 and have not heard of or witnessed the piety 
 and hospitality of these Newcomers ? Worthy 
 people ! 
 
 " I will not forget Abraham Traxall, now in 
 the west of Pennsylvania: a most acceptable 
 preacher of method and energy. Henry and 
 Christian Crumb, twin-brothers born, and twin- 
 souls in zeal and experience : these were holy, 
 good men, and members of both societies. 
 John Hersay, formerly a Menonist ; an Israel- 
 ite : he is gone to rest. Abraham and Chris- 
 tian Hersay ; occasional itinerants, good men ; 
 busy and zealous. David Snyder, possessing 
 gifts to make himself useful. Neisch W anger, 
 a good man and good preacher. Most of these 
 men were natives of Pennsylvania. May I 
 name Leonard Harburgh, once famous, gifted, 
 laborious, useful? He is now only a great 
 mechanic, alas ! The flame of German zeal 
 has moved westward with immigration. In 
 Ohio, we have Andrew Teller, and Benedem, 
 men of God, intrusted with a weighty charge, 
 subjecting them to great labors. But our Ger- 
 man fathers have lost many of their spiritual 
 children. Some have led away disciples after 
 them, and established independent Churches ; 
 21* 
 
246 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 some have returned whence they or their fath- 
 ers came; and some have joined the Dutch 
 Baptists. Our German reformers have left no 
 journal or record, that I have seen or heard of, 
 by which we might learn the extent of their 
 labors ; but from Tennessee, where the excel- 
 lent Baker labored and died, through Virginia 
 and Maryland, into Pennsylvania, as far east- 
 ward as Bucks and Berks counties, the effects 
 of their ministry were happily seen and felt. 
 We feel ourselves at liberty to believe that these 
 German heralds of grace congregated one hun- 
 dred thousand souls ; that they have had twenty 
 thousand in fellowship and communion, and 
 one hundred zealous and acceptable preachers. 
 " The following paper was found, in the 
 hand-writing of Bishop Asbury, and, as it is 
 believed, of the Rev. Wm. Otterbein: 
 
 ' To the Rev. William Otterbein, 
 
 1 Sir, — Where were you born ? 
 
 6 Answer. In Nassau, Dillenberg, in Ger- 
 many. 
 
 ' Question. How many years had you lived 
 in your native land ? 
 
 * A. Twenty-six years. 
 
 * Q. How many years have you resided in 
 America ? » 
 
 ' A. Sixty years, come next August. 
 
 * Q. Where were you educated ? 
 6 A. In Herborn, in an academy. 
 
 * Q. What languages and sciences were you 
 taught ? 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 247 
 
 6 A. Latin, Greek, Hebrew, philosophy, and 
 divinity. 
 
 6 Q. In what order were you set apart for 
 the ministry ? 
 
 ' A. The Presbyterian form and order. 
 
 ' Q. What ministers assisted in your ordina- 
 tion ? 
 
 6 A. Shrim and KlinghoafFer. 
 
 6 Q. Where have you had charge of congre- 
 gations in America ? 
 
 « A. First, in Lancaster ; in Tulpahocking, 
 in Fredericktown in Maryland, in Little York 
 in Pennsylvania, and in Baltimore. 
 
 « Q. In what parts of the United States have 
 you frequently traveled through, in the prose- 
 cution of your ministerial labors ? 
 
 ' A. In Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 8 Q. How many years of your life, since 
 you came to this country, were you in a great 
 measure an itinerant ? 
 
 6 A. The chief of the time, since my coming 
 to this continent, but more largely since coming 
 to Baltimore. 
 
 ' Q. By what means were you brought to the 
 Gospel knowledge of God and our Savior 1 
 
 6 A. By degrees was I brought to the knowl- 
 edge of the truth while in Lancaster. 
 
 6 Q. Have you an unshaken confidence in 
 God, through Christ, of your justification, sanc- 
 tification, and sure hope of glorification ? 
 
 6 A. The Lord has been good to me ; and no 
 doubt remains in my mind but he will be good; 
 
248 ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 and I can now praise him for the hope of a 
 better life. 
 
 ' Q. Have you ever kept any account of the 
 seals to your ministry ? 
 
 6 A. None. 
 
 6 Q. Have you ever taken an account of the 
 members in the societies of the United German 
 Brethren ? 
 
 ' A, Only what are in Baltimore. 
 
 6 Q. Have you taken any account of the 
 brethren introduced into the ministry immedi- 
 ately by yourself, and sent out by you ? Can 
 you give the names of the living and the dead ? 
 
 ' A. Henry Widener, Henry Becker, Simon 
 Herre, in Virginia; these are gone to their 
 reward. Newcomer can give the names of the 
 living. 
 
 * Q. What ministerial brethren, who have 
 been your helpers, can you speak of with pleas- 
 ure, and whose names are precious ? 
 
 4 A. Guedick, Widener, Herre, Newcomer, 
 and others. 
 
 ' Q. What is your mind concerning John 
 Wesley, and the order of Methodists in Amer- 
 ica? 
 
 « A. I think highly of John Wesley. I think 
 well of the Methodists in America. 
 
 i Q. What are your views of the present 
 state of the Church of Christ in Europe and 
 America, and of prophecy ? 
 
 ' A. In continental Europe the Church has 
 lost, in a great degree, the light of truth. In 
 
THE GERMAN MISSIONS. 249 
 
 England and America the light still shines. 
 Prophecy is hastening to its accomplishment. 
 
 ' Q. Will you give any commandment con- 
 cerning your bones, and the memoirs of your 
 life? your children in Christ will not suffer 
 you to die unnoticed.' 
 
 " No answer to this last question.' ' 
 
 In his Journal, Bishop Asbury makes the 
 following remarks respecting Mr. Otterbein : 
 
 " By request, I discoursed on the character 
 of the angel of the Church of Philadelphia, in 
 allusion to P. W. Otterbein — the holy, the 
 great Otterbein — whose funeral discourse it 
 was intended to be. Solemnity marked the 
 silent meeting in the German Church, where 
 were assembled the members of our confer- 
 ence and many of the clergy of the city. 
 Forty years have I known the retiring modesty 
 of this man of God — towering majestic above 
 his fellows in learning, wisdom, and grace, yet 
 seeking to be known only of God and the peo- 
 ple of God. He had been sixty years a min- 
 ister, fifty years a converted one." 
 
 THE END. 
 

 
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