USA > South Carolina > History of the German settlements and of the Lutheran church in North and South Carolina : from the earliest period of the colonization of the Dutch, German, and Swiss settlers to the close of the first half of the present century > Part 16
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listened with tears of contrition," &c. Although the Symbolical Books are not mentioned in this extract of Rev. Bolzius' diary, yet the distinctive belief of the Lutheran Church in reference to the Lord's Supper is set forth, plainly indicating the faith of these Ebenezer pastors. It is also admitted that Rev. Bolzius did not reside in Carolina, but at that time he occasionally visited Charleston and Purysburg, and labored among the Germans re- siding there; and the extract, as above given, oc- curs in his diary of a journey made to Charleston for this very purpose.
The next testimony on this subject is given in the journal of Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg. During his visit to Charleston, a petition of the members of the vacant Lutheran congregation in that city for a pastor was sent to Europe, in which they describe the kind of pastor they were desirous to obtain, and in which description the following clause oc- curs : " Who is able and willing to administer the Holy Sacraments agreeably to the articles of our unaltered Augsburg Confession." Whilst it is ad- mitted that the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg is the author of that petition, it was nevertheless undersigned by all, or nearly all, of the members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina. After the Revolutionary War this congregation formed a union with Roman Catholics and Ger- man Reformed, as reported by Rev. Dr. Velthusen, " but from the beginning it was not so."
Another decided testimony is furnished from the first constitution of St. John's Church, Meck-
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lenburg (Cabarrus) County, North Carolina, writ- ten by the founder of the Lutheran Church in that Province, Rev. Adolph Nussmann, which reads as follows: "Every pastor of this church is bound to confess himself with heart and mouth to the Sym- bolical Books of our Evangelical Church." From the same constitution we also learn that the wor- ship in that congregation was liturgical, as it was, indeed, in all the Lutheran churches in the Caro- linas at that early period, conforming very closely to the usages of the Lutheran Church in Germany.
The early fathers of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas were conscientious and faithful in the discharge of their ministerial duties, perform- ing labors for the welfare of the Church even out- side of their own congregations, and were always ready in word and doctrine to lead souls to Christ. They generally devoted all their time to the work committed to their charge. Some of them had a very meagre support, especially in the rural dis- tricts, where the salary consisted principally in the productions of the soil, which the members of their congregations brought to them, and where this was insufficient for the support of themselves and families, they labored with their own hands on their farms, or on lands belonging to their churches.
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Section 16. Gradual Improvement of the Condition of the German Colonies and of their Churches in the Carolinas, and bright Prospects for the Fu- ture.
The German colonies of North and South Caro- lina were now firmly established. The people had nothing more to fear from the incursions of the Indians, who had mostly been driven beyond the Alleghany Mountains; the whole Atlantic slope, from New England to Georgia, was in the posses- sion of the white settlers, who could quietly and safely remain at home, and enrich themselves by the cultivation of the soil.
The peculiar adaptation of the German colonists to agricultural pursuits was soon rewarded by thrift and abundance. They became attached to their new homes, and their children intermarrying with each other, bound the settlers together in bonds of relationship, as well as of friendship. Their love for their former homes beyond the sea and in other American provinces was lost, in course of time, in the feeling of general prosperity, whilst those, who were "to the manor born," knew and loved no country so well, as the one in which they resided. The trials, want and hardships of early colonization were at an end, and bright prospects for the future appeared to greet every settler, who was willing to labor, and to manage his affairs prudently.
The Lutheran Church in the Carolinas likewise presented hopeful prospects for the future at this
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period immediately preceding the Revolutionary War. Congregations were being organized, and churches were erected wherever the number of settlers was sufficiently large to warrant them in taking these steps; often they did not always wait for the aid of ministerial counsel, but took the necessary steps themselves. The scarcity of min- isterial labor was still greatly felt, yet the German settlers who had no pastors, were occasionally vis- ited by the pastors of their own faith in more for- tunate congregations ; besides, the parent Church in the Fatherland had now become interested in their spiritually destitute condition, and the pros- pect was good that all the churches would shortly be supplied with either pastors or missionaries. This hope, or rather this dependence, whilst it promised the Germans in the Carolinas a speedy supply of the means of grace, exerted, nevertheless, an unwholesome influence upon them. No effort was made to organize a synod for the purpose of regulating their Church affairs; some of their min- isters labored in an independent and isolated sphere, whilst others were under the control of the parent Church in Germany, to which they re- ported regularly, and from which they received aid, direction and counsel. Nor did they feel the necessity of establishing an institution of learning to educate ministers of their own in America, and thus be enabled to fill the vacant churches with pastors, which, if properly managed, could have been done with but little outlay of money in those
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days of economy and thrift, had they not had the prospect of receiving more ministers from Europe.
Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg foresaw this evil and its consequent effects, but whilst he lamented the want of such a literary institution, he made no personal effort to accomplish the good work, or was prevented from so doing by the indifference of the Church in regard to this matter. Not long after that time the Revolutionary War commenced, when it was too late to make the attempt, for the mind, heart and wants of the colonists were set in another direction.
Section 17. The Effect of the Revolutionary War upon the German Settlements and their Churches.
War is one of the most destructive calamities with which any people can be afflicted, bearing many evils in its train, and seriously affecting all the affairs and interests of civil, social and ecclesi- astical life. Especially was this the case with the Revolutionary War in its effect upon the Ameri- can people, who had but recently emerged from all the evils and hardships of early colonization, and who had as yet no independent national exist- ence, no regular army and navy ; and although the war was not altogether an unexpected event, yet when it did break out, it found the Colonies but little prepared for it, and consequently must have been productive of much suffering and many evils.
The effect of the war upon the German settle- ments was the same as on all the other Colonies.
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It arrested all progress, it interrupted the pursuit of every peaceful art, except that which was nec- essary to support life. Many a plowshare rusted away in its unfinished furrow, many a field lay fallow for a long time, little improvement was made anywhere. The strength of manhood, which was needed at home for the development of the resources of the country, was more urgently re- quired to fill up the rank and file of the army; and the women of that period were obliged to per- form, to a certain extent, the hard labor that was needed to cultivate the soil, and to gather and prepare its productions for home consumption, whilst the long winter evenings were spent in making articles of clothing for the family and for the relatives in the army.
War had its sad effect also upon the faith and morals of the people. When it frequently occurs that brother is arrayed against brother, and one neighborhood known to be in open hostility to the other, when it was lawful for the adherents of royalty, called Tories, to rob and plunder, and even to destroy human life at pleasure, and re- prisals on the American or Whig side were like- wise not wanting, it can be readily imagined what the state of piety and morals must have been at such times of almost general anarchy. When law and order, in times of peace, can scarcely restrain the passions of men, what must have been the con- dition of society during the prevalence of a war for the establishment of a new government, which afflicted our country for so long a time, and con-
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cerning which, to a large extent, the opinions and feelings of the people were divided!
Upon the different churches the war had a most deleterious effect; it greatly reduced their number of membership; it caused those who remained at home to become careless and indifferent about their spiritual welfare; many of the churches in the cities were used as hospitals for the sick and wounded, and the congregations were more or less scattered to where the people were less ex- posed to the devastations of the hostile army; whilst in the country the danger of being robbed and plundered during absence from home, in attendance upon divine service, almost emptied the various churches of worshipers; all that the minister of the gospel could then do was to visit his flock as often as time and opportunity per- mitted, laboring only in hope of the dawn of a better day, and the speedy return of peace and prosperity. No congregations could think of making improvements on their churches and schools, or of building new houses of worship; it was even more than could be accomplished to hold their own, and "to strengthen the things which remained, that were ready to die." The close of the war witnessed churches in ruins, con- gregations dispersed; some of them so effectually died out that they were never again resuscitated, whilst others were so weakened and had grown so indifferent, that with the greatest difficulty they were revived into a new though lingering life. This was particularly the case with the Lutheran
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Church in the Carolinas; it had suffered much in the days of its early planting, but it suffered still more during the dark period of the Revolutionary War, and approached very near to becoming en- tirely extinct.
The ministers themselves were often harassed, persecuted, and at times in danger of their lives. Rev. Christian Streitt, pastor of St. John's Lu- theran Church, Charleston, South Carolina, was taken prisoner by the British soldiers, and was never again permitted to return, but found a field of labor elsewhere at the close of the war. "Rev. Mr. Martin, many of whose descendants are still living, on his refusal to pray for the king, was driven from his church, and his property was con- fiscated. He was for a time placed under arrest, and was afterwards compelled to leave the city, to which he did not return until the close of the war." "His house," writes his great-grand- daughter, "had twice, during the Revolutionary War, been burned by our own troops, fearing that the dwelling might furnish a cover to the enemy's approach." This was doubtless done before the British succeeded in occupying the city. Rev. Nussmann in North Carolina fared no better, although no regular army passed through the country where he resided; but he was pursued by Tories, who threatened to take his life. Aged and defenceless as he was, he could do nothing better than to seek refuge in fleeing to a retreat near his home, where he was hid from their view, and thus escaped. During all this dark period
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of time the German ministers struggled single- handed and alone, but all were as faithful in the discharge of their duties, as the times and circum- stances would permit. God also wonderfully pre- served their lives, for it is not positively known that a single Lutheran minister in the Carolinas died during the war. Rev. J. G. Friederichs passed from the stage of action. some time shortly pre- vious to, or during the Revolution, but it is not certainly known when God took him to his rest; and Rev. L. Hochheimer's name also disappears from the records of that period.
Another sad effect of the war upon the churches in the Carolinas was the impossibility of having any correspondence with the parent Church in Europe, owing to the interruption of all commer- cial intercourse with foreign nations. This de- prived the congregations of the sympathy and aid of their brethren in the Fatherland, and termi- nated the supply of ministers, books and dona- tions in money for the good of the Church in these two Provinces as long as the war lasted. In short, the removals, the deaths, the changes and the sufferings that were caused by this war of England with her colonies in America can never be fully described, and will never be known, in all their details, by any human being this side of eternity.
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CHAPTER III.
HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CARO- LINAS FROM THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, A.D. 1783, TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SYNOD OF NORTH CAROLINA, A.D. 1803, EMBRAC- ING A PERIOD OF TWENTY YEARS.
Section 1. State of the German Colonies and of the Lutheran Church at the Close of the Revolution.
THE conflict of arms had ceased; the smoke and din of battle were seen and heard no more; peace again spread its benign influence over our long-afflicted country; the independence of the American Colonies was at last achieved-acknowl- edged even by England, and civil and religious liberty was the well-earned reward of the people, who had patiently struggled and suffered for eight long years. Prosperity again commenced to dawn upon the land, when all the energies of the people were directed to the development of its resources, and industry and economy soon re- stored the healthy financial condition of its in- habitants.
But there is another side to that picture which is generally overlooked. War had left its deep
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traces of evil upon the virtues and morals of the people, who had become more or less degenerated by the evil influences which a long war and a change of government generally exert upon man- kind. The German people, especially in the rural districts, were not so greatly affected by these influences of the war as were others, owing to their isolated condition on account of lan- guage, and their temperate and industrious habits kept them more closely confined to their homes; nevertheless, a general indifference to all matters of religion prevailed almost everywhere, for the people were no longer hungry for the bread of life, but regarded the acquisition of wealth, or the repair of their former condition of competency, as of primary importance.
Old landmarks of government had been entirely overthrown, and the people were for five years politically unsettled in mind, ere a solid and stable government was formed and established. State governments existed, without which the whole land would have been subjected to all the terrors of anarchy; but one can easily imagine how little restraint these governments could enforce, and what protection they could warrant, as long as every political arrangement was regarded as merely provisional.
Foreign immigration, particularly into the Southern States, was, for a time, almost entirely arrested.
But the worst consequences of the success of the Revolutionary War were the almost deifica-
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tion of Liberty and the rapid rise of infidelity, rationalism and religious indifference. A proph- ecy was made by one of the wisest statesmen of that time or shortly afterwards, that in fifty years there would not a single copy of the Bible be found in this country. Nor was the influence of the success of the Revolution confined to America. France soon became dissatisfied with its monarch- ical government, and ran wild in its demands for liberty. It had its desire, but its reign of terror, which followed close upon the heels of American independence, became warning enough to all, that liberty, however excellent it is, when properly re- strained by the virtue of its possessors and whole- some laws, becomes a dangerous plaything in the hands of incompetent, selfish and wicked men. How significant is the cry of one of the victims under the guillotine: "O Liberty, Liberty, how many crimes are committed in thy name !"
With this period we may also date the beginning of rationalism in the Lutheran Church in America; old landmarks of the Lutheran faith were set aside, or formally confessed with a mental reservation, church discipline was not generally, properly and impartially enforced, ancient church usages were abandoned; our Church, thus despoiled of her glory and strength, was made to correspond with the spirit of American liberty, and to assimilate itself to other denominations, and an anxious seek- ing after temporal advantage became manifest even among some of those, who were the acknowl- edged shepherds of the flock.
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The spirit of the age was skeptical, selfish, and prone to deify a virtue and morality entirely disconnected from the religion of our Savior. Priestcraft, under which reproachful term the gospel ministry of all denominations was under- stood, was so generally dreaded and so frequently denounced, that it is a matter of surprise that ministers of the gospel could effect any good at all. But one extreme is usually followed by another, and generally by its opposite. The re- vival of 1800, which swept over the entire land, no doubt accomplished good in checking the grow- ing evil of infidelity and religious unconcern, for it taught men that there is a future retribution ; but its spirit was legal, and it became the parent of much fanaticism and Pharisaism, establishing an ethical kind of religion, which cut off some of the most tender cords of faith and love, that draw the human heart near to the Savior. An emo- tional religion became prevalent ; religious expe- rience exchanged places with Christ, and a subjec- tive faith was substituted for the objective; but as a more extended account of this great revival will be furnished in another section of this chapter, it is unnecessary to enlarge here.
The Lutheran ministers in the Carolinas, who survived all the vicissitudes of the Revolutionary War, as far as can be ascertained, were Revs. Nuss- mann and Arndt in North Carolina, and Revs. Martin and Daser in South Carolina; concerning Revs. Friederichs and Hochheimer nothing is known positively; their names do not occur in any
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of the extant records of that period; what became of them, and when they died, must now remain, as it is feared, a matter of mere conjecture. Rev. Theus, the German Reformed minister in South Carolina, still lived, and continued to labor faith- fully in his Master's vineyard. The names of four other German ministers in South Carolina appear in view four or five years later, but it is probable that they began to labor in that field only after peace was restored.
Section 2. Reorganization of Ecclesiastical affairs in the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas.
On the 26th of March, 1784, St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston, upon the application of its members, made in 1783, obtained a charter of incorporation, under the changed name and title of " The Lutheran Church of German Protestants," from the State legislature, which then held its sessions in Charleston. This appears to have been the first effort that was made at reorganization of ecclesiastical affairs in the Lutheran Church under the new form of civil government in the Carolinas.
Rev. Frederick Daser was still the pastor, and continued in charge of that congregation until July, 1786; there is undoubted testimony on that point, firstly, from the extract of the records of the church-book, published by Mr. Jacob F. Schir- mer, who states: " We find the name of Mr. F. Daser as pastor up to July, 1786, when he resigned
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his office;" secondly, from the Helmstaedt Reports, in which the author mentions having received a letter from Rev. Daser, and states : " We learn from his letter of the 20th of June, 1787, that he has now left Charleston since August, 1786, and has moved to another congregation, composed of English and German people, in Orangeburg Dis- trict, seventy miles further inland."
Rev. John Nicholas Martin was again recalled, and became the pastor of this church for the third time, but labored only one year, until the new minister from Germany arrived, when, on account of the infirmities of age, he withdrew from the active duties of the ministry. The family memoir, furnished by one of his descendants, states : " Al- though aged, and having lost his former physical vigor, his congregation still clung to him with warm affection. They urged him in 1783 (1786) to resume his pastoral relations, until a stated minister could be procured from Germany. Upon the arrival of his successor, Rev. John C. Faber, he was released from further service, with a vote of thanks from the church for the fidelity with which he had ministered to their spiritual interests. He lived several years, after his withdrawal from the active duties of the ministry, on the little farm with which there were so many associations con- nected." This farm was situated about a mile from Charleston, on which the revolutionary inci- dents occurred, which were noticed in one of the preceding sections.
Concerning the other Lutheran congregations
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in the interior of South Carolina, very little is known until 1787, excepting that the Orangeburg District charge was fortunate enough to have received Rev. F. Daser for their pastor in August, 1786, and who, doubtless, remained there to the close of his life.
In Rev. A. Nussmann's principal congregation, St. John's, Mecklenburg (Cabarrus) County, N. C., the want of a better house of worship was felt after the war, when the congregation had again become thoroughly organized. On the 6th of November, 1784, a beginning was made "for the purpose of rebuilding St. John's Church." It was resolved to erect the new church on the same site where the old one stood, in the inclosure of the present graveyard, near the upper part of it. The sub- scription list, taken in the currency of English money, and ranging from ten pounds to three shillings, is prefaced by the following pious wish : " May the good God help us, so that our under- taking may succeed well in peace and unanimity, and that every man may do his part as he would wish others to do towards himself." The whole subscription amounted to about £1722.
The church edifice was completed the following year, and was solemnly dedicated to the service of the triune God on the fourth of July, 1785, but with what ceremonies is not stated. Soon after another subscription was taken, for the purpose of purchasing a large gilt silver goblet from their pastor for communion service, which is still used for the same purpose.
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In the Organ and Salisbury Churches matters remained unimproved, and those congregations became vacant soon after the restoration of peace, by the removal of Rev. J. G. Arndt to Lincoln County, where a new and promising field awaited him, and where he accomplished much good. Concerning the other German Lutheran settle- ments in North Carolina nothing much can be said, inasmuch as they never enjoyed the regular services of their own pastor until 1788, but were visited by Revs. Nussmann and Arndt as frequently as the attendance upon the wants of their own regular congregations would permit them.
Section 3. Arrival of Rev. John Charles Faber-Re- union of the North Carolina Churches with the Parent Church in Germany-The North Caro- lina Catechism, published by Rev. Dr. Velthusen, and Rev. Daser's Report to the Helmstaedt Fa- thers.
In the year 1787, the Rev. John Charles Faber, having received and accepted a call from the Lu- theran Church in Charleston, South Carolina, "arrived from Germany and took charge of the church." He continued to labor there for thirteen years, when, during the year 1800, his health failed him, and he resigned his office as pastor of that con- gregation. "The Rev. Mr. Pogson," an Episcopal clergyman, "officiated on Sundays for a short time, and on his retiring Mr. Faber consented to serve the church as far as his strength would allow."
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According to the testimony of Rev. Dr. Velt- husen, in his preface to the North Carolina Cate- chism, Rev. J. C. Faber must have labored with great acceptance and success in Charleston, induc- ing many of the Germans of other religious per- suasions to unite with the Lutherans in building up their church. Dr. V. says, "This congrega- tion may be looked upon as an example of Chris- tian harmony, for it is composed of a union of Lutherans, German Reformed and Catholics, all of whom live, according to the testimony of their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Faber, very peaceably toge- ther, although they are educated in different prin- ciples of religion. They visit the house of God faithfully, and contribute equally for the support of divine worship."
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