USA > Ohio > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other states from the earliest beginnings to 1919 > Part 2
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I lived when at home, in a cabin three years and one- half entirely alone, no living creature about me but my horse. My kind neighbors did my washing and baking of bread. I was joined in matrimony to Miss Catherine Troutman in 1796 and continued traveling as extensively as before. I had now been traveling and preaching five years as faithfully as I could and I began to doubt the reality of my call to preach. I could see there was not so much loud talk and laughter before and after the religious services as when we first engaged to preach to this people. But I seriously determined to abandon the ministry unless I had some good evidence on next round of having accom- plished some lasting good. As I went I talked about my temptations and determinations. During the round I found four reliable men who said I was the honored instrument in the hand of God in their conversion. The first was con- verted on my preaching on self-deception, the second by my religious conversation in his father's family, the third
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
by my catechetical instruction and the fourth was converted while I was in the act of confirming him. Two of these became useful ministers in the Lutheran church.
NOTE. - I Suppose he alludes to H. Huett and H. Weygand. S. S.
The tempter departed from me. I was resolved to sow the seed in the morning and not withhold my hand in the evening, until the grave shall hide me from the world and leave the event to God. My only trouble now was, how I could best instruct mourners for God, and awaken sinners to come to Christ. Young ministers will, perhaps, be at a loss to know how we contrived to study our ser- mons and travel so extensively. God has made provision in my situation. He bestows upon us both gifts and graces, and permits us to preach the same sermon repeatedly. And I believe this custom will uniformly hold good, and will benefit all who will go to church to serve God. But those who serve God by going to church perhaps will not be so well suited. Some are willing to hear it said they preach their sermons twice. But I repeatedly used a good sermon or discourse delivered by some good minister before, or preaching it four weeks in succession every day and night as we traveled and as I thought, to good effect to my hearers. They would often travel in company with me in numbers from 10 to 30 from one appointment to another, to hear the same discourse repeated. Constantly affirming they could get more meaning and comfort the second time of delivery than the first. As we were traveling along on one of these occasions, they would ask many questions about religion, heaven, hell and the resurrection of the dead and of the soul. Among other strange questions a black man asked me where a man got his soul? I thought or rather studied while my horse was following out a wind-
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
ing path which led me over some lofty hill to some lone hovel in the mountain or wilderness to kneel and pray by the bedside of the afflicted or dying and sing and talk to them before their eyes closed in death. If young ministers would thus go from house to house to visit and imitate Him that went about doing good and expound the Scriptures ac- cording to primitive apostolic custom, of taking a book or chapter for a lesson and after a clear exposition enforce its precepts on the mind and conscience of their hearers, and pray instead of always preaching from text in the ordinary way of sermonizing, they would doubtless be more useful. The faithful minister is not conformed to fashions of men and is not of the world, "even as Christ was not of the world." The first preachers of righteous- ness willingly suffered the loss of all things, and counted them but dross, that they might win Christ. They counted not their lives dear unto themselves in the fulfillment of their ministry. Many preachers in our day are but poorly qualified for the noble and sublime work of the ministry which is in itself the most glorious work to which mortals can be called in this life. May the Master give us more of the spirit of Luther and Christ than we now possess. Amen !
NOTE. - He would some days ride 25 miles and preach twice, and some days 3 sermons in 24 hours, and baptize from 3 to 10 children. As his private church book shows which he kept for himself from the beginning of his ministry. He has the names, ages and sex of all he confirmed, on record, also text, day and dates of sermons. S. S.
The Redstone country improved and settlers came rapidly until the price of land became too high for them. This induced emigrants to go west into the wilderness. In 1798 and 1799 vast numbers emigrated to the territory of
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
Ohio, which was at that time nearly an impenetrable forest. The first settlement in the territory was at Marietta at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers, in 1788. In A. D. 1799 the territory legislators met in Cincinnati and organized the civil government of the country and promoted the safety of pioneers by putting a check to the hostilities of the Indians. Among the first settlers in the territory of Ohio were many pious Germans from beyond the waters and eastern states. A large number bore the honorable name of Lutheran. Vast numbers of them were baptized and confirmed to membership in the Lutheran communion. But through the neglect of the use of the means of grace some had fallen into rationalism and all manner of sin. Others were pious and daily hungering after righteousness and continued in their daily devotions morning and evening in their cabins, kneeling in the dust upon their earthen floors, prayed fervently to the Great Shepherd to send them spiritual guides, to visit their families and baptize their babes and catechise and confirm their children, visit them in their affliction and speak com- fortable words of promise to them in their dying moments and perform burial services at their graves. I heard their Macedonian call for help and read and understood the clause in my license, "Als weiter" (still farther). And also the command of the Divine Master, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." I had already an extensive field. But this evil destitution that prevailed in our church induced me to travel in thinly settled parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Western Virginia and Pennsylvania.
NOTE .- I think he only went into the state of Kentucky one time and that was in A. D. 1800. S. S.
And this I did for twelve years in succession. The first two I traveled 1430 miles before I returned home.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
During these visits the people would come a long way, and especially the Lutherans, who had had the privilege in the east and in Germany to hear the preached Word almost every Sabbath, to our meetings, and hear the Word with deep attention and after a service would be loath to leave the place. In one instance, in the northern part of Tus-
REV. JOHN STAUCH.
carawas County, Ohio, after a long service in an open barn, after we had closed the service and pronounced the benedic- tion, the people sat down and asked for another discourse. We gave them a discourse on keeping the Sabbath day holy. They also embraced these opportunities of having their children baptized. We baptized twenty-three children in one day under the green trees where we worshipped, with
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
our Great Father's broad blue canopy stretched over our heads to show us how great and good He is.
During these excursions I was often exposed to great deprivations, inclemency of weather and peril of wilder- ness. Not infrequently the night found me in the woods, a long distance from any habitation, my only alternative was to tie my horse to a sapling for safe-keeping, and take my saddle and blanket for a bed, and like Jacob of old, who took a stone for his pillow, lie down in that place to sleep, so I would resign myself to the mercy of the night. And, like him, in the morning I would be refreshed and encouraged by visions of the night, if not like him to see the ladder and angelic visions. For any of us would be willing to take up with Jacob's pillow if we might but have Jacob's dreams. Yet I was permitted to appropriate the blessed promise made to him for my safety and comfort. For the Lord said, "Behold I will be with thee and will keep thee in this place and whithersoever thou goest, and bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee until I do that which I have spoken to thee of." And like Jacob I was kept and fed and clothed and like him was per- mitted to live and return to my home in safety. For neither myself nor horse were ever sick when duty required me to go. And this I considered a special providence as I was compelled to swim waters and climb hills in the new country, to encounter swamps that were often dangerous, so that I might reach my appointments in the settlements 12 to 30 miles distant.
In October, A. D. 1802, a meeting was held in Jacob's church, in German Township, Fayette County, Pa., by the assistance of Rev. H. Fremmer and Rev. H. Eddinger. During this meeting, which continued for one week, some twenty persons fell in their seats.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
NOTE. - Or while on the seats in some the whole muscular body seemed to be agitated like a child before a fever and in others resembled a faint. S. S.
While others left their seats and hurried out of the house, some with indignation and others from fear; the falling or jerking, as it was called, was a strange phenom- enon, indeed. Men and women in perfect health were involuntarily and often suddenly jerked about like persons afflicted with St. Vitus dance. While others fell down and appeared in a state of syncope. This falling work had been going on in the Presbyterian church previous to its appearing in my church. Kentucky and Tennessee was the seat or beginning of this religious mania, which the Presby- terian clergy called phastia. Be this as it may, the results of these exercises and this protracted meeting led to pain- ful divisions of the congregations. For a number of persons and a number of the congregations shortly after this separated themselves from the church and employed a Rev. Kittlebaugh to preach at M. G. Riffles in sight of my meeting house, at the same hour that I preached in the church. Under these circumstances the friends of Rev. Kittlebaugh preferred an accusation against me to the Pennsylvania Synod, which convened on the 30th of May, 1804. In this accusation, seven charges were named against me, viz .: Ist. That I had refused to give the order of the Ministerium when it was demanded. 2nd. That I had made my father-in-law and brother-in-law deacons of the church, so they could do nothing with me. 3rd. That I did not speak a word of German to my family. 4th. That I broke up the German schools. 5th. That I had communed with Rev. Fremmer, a German Reformed. 6th. That I had also taken the Lord's Supper with the Methodists. 7th. That I had stated from the
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
pulpit that no Lutheran should unite in singing at the time of holding the communion, who did not at the same time receive the sacrament. The charges were examined into and were considered by the ministerium unworthy of any notice.
NOTE. - This meeting house as mentioned above was built by a union of the Lutheran and German Reformed (but all Germans). But when father organized the congregation in A. D. 1793 the congregation elected an equal number of church officers on both sides of the two denominations. Father brought me to the glebe in 1795 and I remained there until 1806, and I have no recollection of seeing a German Reformed preacher until this one came in 1804. Fremmer was a man of strong mind, godly zeal, good singer, pleasant orator. I omit the names of these complainers, but they were nearly equally divided into four parts. S. S.
At this meeting of Synod I. was examined and ordained to preach the Gospel of reconciliation, after having been licensed ten years.
In June, 1806, a meeting was called for the purpose of trying to settle amicably the existing difficulty in the congregation. But nothing could be effected. On the 13th of next August I administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper the twelfth and last time in this congregation. I preached to this people in all 15 years, 13 of which I resided in the glebe with my family. In October I resigned the pastorate and removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, with my family. I was the first person (that we know of) who carried a Lutheran ministerial seal across the Allegheny Mountains into the state or territory of Ohio, where so many churches are now supplied by the best of preachers, and stand as monuments of Lutheranism, to the glory of God. The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Lutherans emigrated to Ohio from all parts of the civilized world, and especially from the
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
east of Pennsylvania. They came in vast numbers and settled sparsely in many divisions. The first Lutheran settlement was made in Jefferson county, in A. D. 1800, by emigrants from Washington County, Penn. The first year after my move into Ohio I organized twelve congrega- tions in the counties of Columbiana, Jefferson, Warren, Stark, Beaver and Mercer (the last two named in Pennsylvania), and continued to preach in Washington County, every four weeks, the first year and after, every eight weeks, as it was 70 miles distant and over bad roads. My heart sickens within me when I behold the wide waste in our beloved Zion. Children baptized within the pale of the church, crying for spiritual food, or instruction, and all for want of laborers in the harvest field. And many that were truly pious were spiritually starving and wan- dering in the wilderness of sin and lost to the church and to heaven. Men came as far as 30 miles and told me their deplorable condition, bade me come and preach the gospel in their houses.
In the midst of all eagerness for the Word of life, we were opposed and denounced by falsely so-called Lutherans. We preached too plainly and practically for their carnal minds. This was the secret of their opposi- tion. They thought it right and had no objection for a minister to denounce and decry gross violations of God's commandments, but small offenses, they said, might be innocently tolerated. Among other things they counted innocent and not sinful, was dancing at parties of young people, laughing and loud talking in church before and after divine service; formal visits on the Sabbath day and even working in harvest, traveling, hunting and fishing, dram drinking among the elders and deacons and the whole church at house-raisings. I raised not my hand against such nefarious practices, but I did raise my voice loud
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
and long against them. We tried to define the term "drunk" according to the notions of the people, but never could do it. For one thought one thing and said another, what drunkenness was. One thing was evident to me, as long as a drinker could keep up his head, he would not admit that he was drunk, and when he could no longer reel to and fro, but was compelled to lie down and sleep in filth like a hog in the sty, he had not sense enough then to know that he was drunk. Hence I preached that the only safe way was to refrain from it entirely. I taught them to believe if they would always abstain from the use of exhilarating drinks, they might be sure they never would be drunk. But without total abstinence it was extremely doubtful. But I met with strong opposition from many of my Lutheran members, by opposing and condemning these immoral practices. Lutherans also opposed the measures I used in my churches. I often appointed meet- ings in private houses for exhortation, prayer and religious conference. In these meetings we would speak freely, one to the other, of our hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, desires and good resolutions.
While some of the Lutherans approved these meet- ings and rejoiced greatly, praising the Lord for these rich blessings bestowed upon them; others considered them adiaphoristic, neither good nor bad, but held them as un- necessary meetings, while others held them as conventicles, denouncing them as the rankest kind of diabolical heresy and un-Lutheran in the extreme. Regardless of praise or censure, we pursued the even tenor of our way, for it was them, and not their's, I was after. I have always found these meetings to be true nurseries of a religious life among all Christians of every denomination and language. But especially are they beneficial among young converts,
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is there they are filled, there they find meat to eat, the world knoweth not of, and there they drink the water of life, the unspeak- able delight of their fainting and wearied souls. This kind of interchange of Christian feelings and sentiments uni- formly stimulates for more exalted spiritual attainment. Peace in the church, charity toward all men and firmness in the Christian faith and doctrines are the fruits of these conventions. Notwithstanding the ridicule and persecution which these meetings have met with, not only from our lay members, but from many accomplished clergy who uniformly gave their influence against them, I neverthe- less, feel it my duty to recommend them, most seriously and pressingly to the favorable notice of our churches and ministers.
And this I did from 50 years' experience in them; in different states and churches (or congregations). I met in Ohio, from time to time, pious and respectable and intelligent ministers, Lutheran brethren who were conge- nial spirits to me. Among them was the Rev. Steck. He first came out in A. D. 1796 and located in Westmoreland County, Penn. He was emphatically a Boanerges. By his thunders he has made his mark wherever he went, but he has so many living epistles both in heaven and on earth, that he needs not my imperfect writing to recommend him. He is known and honored by the great Master of assem- blies, and lives in the hearts of hundreds who were blest by his indefatigable labors. Rev. Foerster came out in A. D. 1807, and settled in New Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. He also was a man of God, zealous and full of good works and proved himself to be a faithful, diligent laborer. We are also strengthened and encouraged by brethren in sister churches. Among the number were the
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
Revs. Mannenschmidt and Sonnendecker of the German Reformed church, the first ministers of that church who preached the Gospel in Ohio.
The first meeting of a Lutheran Synod west of the mountains convened and formed in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in September A. D. 1817.
NOTE .- It seems that Pastor Stauch reckons the year in which the first steps were taken toward a general conference as the beginning of the Ohio Synod while we begin with the meet- ing in Somerset in 1818 when these steps were carried out.
C. V. S.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter continued to fol- low each other in quick succession, until the year 1829 had rolled around. The sun, rains and winds appeared as they did forty years before, when I first crossed the mountains on my way to the wilderness of the Mississippi Valley. But all else had greatly changed. The forest disappeared with its numerous inhabitants. The war-whoop, the death- song were no longer heard. The hatchet was laid aside, instruments of tlabor taken up and Indian battlements were used for the oxen and for the treading of lesser cattle.
The church had undergone many great vicissitudes. Numerous church edifices reared their walls where innum- erable Indian cabins had stood in A. D. 1730. The sound of church bells was heard to call the inhabitants to the worship of God instead of the din and clangor of war. Our beloved Zion had undergone many changes for the better. We have an able ministry in the western field, who hold regular conference and synodical meetings, and are preaching the Truth and speaking the Truth plainly and fervently with the best results. I too was greatly changed in body, but not in my soul; for my soul was changed in youth long before I crossed the winter mountains.
THE OLD CHURCH AT BRENTWOOD, (WERNER'S), ALLEGHENY Co., PA.
3
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
But now my hairs are as white as the mountain frosts. My long frame begins to bend under the weight of three score and ten years. ; My once strong step now begins to falter. My stentorious voice that had been my faithful servant for many years, began to fail, in both speaking and singing. I know this to be a sure presage of my speedy dissolution, and resigned my pas- torate in Columbiana and adjoining counties in the fall of 1829 and removed to Crawford County, intending to spend the remainder of my days in quiet retirement which is so much coveted by old age, and to meditate on the bright and eternal future. But here I was not permitted to remain long until I heard the Macedonian cry for me to come over and help to preach. I again consented to preach to some German brethren in connection with the well accom- plished and efficient Rev. Ruth, who won many souls to the cause of his ascended Master. When the English Evan- gelical Synod of Ohio and adjoining states of which I had been senior for some years, convened in the town of Woos- ter, Wayne County, Ohio, in A. D. 1840, I went to the meeting to take my final leave of my brethren of the Synod. At the close of the meeting I arose with an overflowing heart to say farewell to them, for I loved them. We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God together for many years. But now I expected to see them no more until we meet in the mansions of everlasting light, where God and His angels dwell. I was like God's ancient servant, Jacob, who could not stand only as he leaned on the bed to bestow a father's blessing upon his surviving children. Like him the time drew near when I must die and like him I leaned on my staff to take leave of my weeping brethren, which I did from my heart, and then parted to meet on earth no more.
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THE PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK.
NOTE. - He was senior in the German and English Synods of Ohio during his life. S. S.
1891673
I have lived on God's beautiful earth eighty-one years. More than fifty years of my life have been spent in preach- ing the Gospel. To do this I have traveled 100,000 miles, preached in 5 different states. I have tried to preach more than 10,000 times, confirmed in all 1516 persons, baptized more than double that many. Married 481 couples and at- tended nearly as many funerals.
In all my life God caused all things to work together for my good. I never missed an appointment in conse- quence of the lameness of my horse or self. I never saw a fight in my life nor a quarrel in a meeting. I never held a church session nor excommunicated a church member, in all my ministry. Money was never my object in preach- ing and consequently I have never been burdened with wealth. I always had an economical family and conse- quently I was never pressed with poverty. I always read political newspapers of all parties, which were generally furnished me by editors gratuitously and without solicita- tion. But never voted at an election but twice in my life, neither made known my political views. Not one day passed during seventy years without an acknowledgment to the eternal Jehovah of my own sins and the sins of others, attended by a prayer for pardon. I have enjoyed a thousand pleasures for one pain. I raised a family of six sons and seven daughters to the best of my ability in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. One of my sons (Samuel, first-born) I consecrated in early life to the work of the ministry, but he declined the calling of my choice, when he came to choose a profession, assigning as a reason that it was a choice of a man and not of God.
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NOTE. - He made a covenant with God before I was born, if he would relieve him of the duty of preaching the Gospel, the first son he should have born to him he would call his name Samuel and dedicate him to the ministry. But God's time and ways then and now are not man's ways. I often hope and pray with tears in my eyes, that I may not be judged for refusing to comply with a father's promise and contract. S. S.
But he chose rather to learn and practice the art of healing the body instead of the soul. I have often mourned over the golden time I lost from school in my youth which has caused me to labor under sore disadvantages all my long life for the liberal education which I might have ob- tained by proper encouragement and use of opportunity. My principal books for fifty years have been Starke's Com- mentary, Spener's Explanation of Luther's Five Principles, my catechism, hymn book and the Holy Bible. I am now a feeble old man only able to preach once in a great while and expect to die soon. If I have enemies I implore their forgiveness and tender my fellow-creatures my unfeigned thanks for their long and continued friendship, and for the many favors and accommodations I have received from them in my travels and pursuits in this world. To God's holy name be all the praise for all the good I have been the instrument of doing in all my long life in this world. May God, the Father, forgive my sins and save my soul! May God, the Holy Ghost, save my soul and forgive my sins ! May God, the Son, save my soul and forgive my sins. Amen ! "
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