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 22
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"About eighteen miles from Salisbury there is another church, which was built by the Germans as a joint house of worship, but as they are so much intermingled with English settlers, this German congregation will also become extinct. Many English residents had become members of this church. During the visits of Rev. Paul Henkel in the fall season, from 1785 to 1789, many adult and aged persons were baptized, instructed and confirmed, and thus a very strong congrega- tion was gathered. Much experimental Christi- anity was supposed to exist here; however, hope- ful as appearances were outwardly, they were never-
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theless of short duration; many tore themselves away from the church, and were divided into differ- ent singular persuasions. The Germans became degenerated, lead disorderly lives with these other settlers, so that at this time a perfect Babel exists; foolish pride and many vices prevail. The few remaining upright souls are constrained to weep in silence over this desolation.
"In Lincoln County there are eight or nine congregations, several of which are quite large. All these have erected joint houses of worship. The Lutheran congregations were served by the Rev. Gottfried Arndt for twenty years. Before that time he had labored in the vicinity of Salis- bury, and even at that time he often traveled among these churches, and performed official duties, as far as his circumstances would permit. He labored faithfully in his calling over the whole State, wherever he could find German brethren. For the last four years he became unfitted for his calling, as he met with the misfortune of losing his eyesight entirely. He is at present quite an aged man, and were it not for his misfortune, he might still serve in his holy calling. The greater number of his former congregations are now served by Rev. Philip Henkel.
"In Burke County there are also a number of Germans, among whom, as yet, no church has been built. Rev. Arndt preached there several times, so also did the Rev. Paul Henkel, in the German and English languages, during his visit through that county in 1787. In May, 1804, he
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made another visit among this people in company with the German Reformed minister, Rev. Jacob Laros. It was their intention to preach several days in each congregation, but in this they were hindered by the many rains and consequent high waters, so that each of them could preach but two sermons.
" In Wilkes County may be found a small Ger- man flock in the wilderness, surrounded by human beings, who know of nothing so little as of the true way of salvation, and who in their own opinions are wiser than the Bible itself. These often per- secuted the members of this little flock. Rev. Paul Henkel visited them twice whilst he was still living in North Carolina. During his last visit in 1805, he instructed and confirmed their youth, and administered the Lord's Supper. He informed them that he had reason to believe that the Lord was in their midst. As it concerns the spiritual condition of this church, it may be truly said that here, as elsewhere, many having neglected to em- brace their opportunity, are still strangers to that work of grace, which they should experience in their hearts; there are others again to be found, who are enlightened by something better than their own blind reason, who seek the salvation of their souls not in works, but in the merits of their Savior, and who strive with all their hearts to be- come the followers of Jesus. In this place not so many learned and feeling sermons have been preached as in other congregations, nevertheless, many became savingly acquainted with the doc-
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trines of the gospel from their own experience. The labors of traveling ministers had awakened attention to the word; serious impressions deeply affected their hearts, which resulted in much good, and enabled many to declare the things they had experienced in their own hearts.
"The two German Reformed preachers, Revs. Jacob Christman and Jacob Laros, who, for the last two years, had labored in the State of Ohio, were, at the time above mentioned, residing in Guilford County. As soon as Rev. J. Christman was ordained, he labored in various localities and performed many journeys. He was peculiarly fitted to impart private instruction in families, which duty he performed industriously. Rev. J. Laros, who did not labor so extensively, was more successful among children and youth in schools and catechetical instruction ; he was always very edifying in his sermons, and his exemplary walk was an ornament to his official duties." (Here fol- lows the lengthy report on the revival of 1801, which has been given in the 11th section of the preceding chapter.)
"The Evangelical Brethren, that is, the Mora- vians, have five German and one English church in this State. Their pastors preach the gospel with exemplary order and propriety; they are always friendly in their deportment towards all other orderly pastors. Among these brethren may be found many members, who are well acquainted with true godliness and experimental Christianity."
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Section 3. Extract from the First Minutes of the North Carolina Synod, from A.D. 1803 to 1810.
Immediately upon the organization of the Synod of North Carolina, a new life appears to have been infused into the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas; the various scattered congregations were now brought into a closer relationship with each other, a uniform church discipline was introduced with good and wholesome effect, arrangements were made to supply all the vacant congregations with the means of grace, and the scattered members were visited by missionaries appointed by Synod, who organized new congregations wherever it was practicable. However, the want of ministers of the Gospel was still very great, and in order to supply this demand, pious laymen were licensed as catechets, who afterwards became candidates for the ministry ; in this way originated the licen- sure system, and the preparation of pious young men for the ministry by receiving private instruc- tion from some of the older ministers; this arrange- ment afterwards received the name of "the home student system." The most urgent necessity de- manded this departure from the rule of the Lu- theran Church in the Fatherland, where an educa- tion at the University was necessary, before any one could be admitted to the gospel ministry, and where a candidate was ordained as soon as he had received a call as pastor of a church, without having to pass through a state of licensed probation.
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All the Lutheran ministers residing in South Carolina connected themselves with the newly or- ganized North Carolina Synod, with the excep- tion of Rev. Faber, in Charleston, who doubtless could not attend this or any other Synod, on ac- count of the want of public conveyances at that time, and the great distance from the place where the Synod usually met; also the Rev. F. J. Wal- lern, who continued to remain in an independent and isolated position as long as he lived; what his motives were for so doing is not stated in the re- ports of the Synod's missionary, who visited Rev. Wallern and his congregations in 1811.
Rev. C. E. Bernhardt, who labored in Lexing- ton District, connected himself at once with the North Carolina Synod, and labored in great har- mony with his brethren to the close of his life. Rev. J. P. Franklow also attended the meetings of Synod, and was licensed by that body at its spring session of 1812, and ordained the same year at its fall session. Rev. Godfrey Dreher was presented to that body as a candidate for the min- istry, October 23d, 1810, when he was licensed, and was afterwards ordained in South Carolina in 1812, by a committee appointed by Synod for that purpose. From all accounts he is still living, being now in the sixty-second year of his ministry, although no longer able to perform any official duty.
Revs. Michael Rauch and J. Y. Meetze appeared before Synod at a later date; they were both li- censed October 19th, 1812, at Lau's Church, Guil-
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ford County. Rev. Rauch was ordained April 28th, 1819, at St. John's Church, Cabarrus County; but Rev. Meetze was not ordained until 1822, when by the order of Synod he received his ordination in South Carolina. All these Lutheran ministers, residing in South Carolina, continued their connection with the North Carolina Synod until 1824, at which time the Synod of South Caro- lina was organized.
At the first session of the North Carolina Synod, held in Salisbury, May 2d, 1803, very little busi- ness was transacted. The Synod was then simply organized, and a resolution was passed, at the sug- gestion of Rev. Arndt, that Rev. Paul Henkel should visit Rev. Arndt's charge in Lincoln County the following August, in order to perform the necessary official duties, to which Rev. Arndt could not attend, owing to the loss of his eyesight and his feeble health. Rev. Henkel attended to this duty.
The second session of Synod was held at Lincolnton, N. C., October 17th, 1803, when a constitution was adopted, consisting of nine arti- cles. They are much the same as are generally adopted by all Lutheran Synods. The fourth arti- cle requires candidates of the ministry "to under- stand the order of the Latin language, and so much of Greek as to be able to understand the New Testament." Rev. J. G. Arndt was Presi- dent, and Rev. R. J. Miller was Secretary of this synodical convention.
The third session of Synod was held at Abbot's
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Creek Church, in Davidson County, October 21st, 1804. Rev. Paul Henkel was elected President, and Rev. Miller, Secretary. Very little business was transacted at this session of Synod, because nearly all the ministers were unfitted for duty on account of sickness. It was resolved that a special conference be held at Pine Church, Rowan County, the following April, for the pur- pose of ordaining Rev. Philip Henkel. John Michael Rueckert and Ludwig Markert were li- censed as catechets. The next session of Synod was held at Organ Church, Rowan County, Octo- ber 20th, 1806. Rev. Storch was chosen Presi- dent, and Rev. Bernhardt, Secretary.
There appears to have been no meeting of Synod during the years 1807 and 1808, doubtless pre- vented by the prevailing sickness during the fall season.
In the year 1809, August 7th, the Synod was convened in Guilford County, at which meeting some additional articles were added to the consti- tution. The officers of Synod were, Rev. Charles A. Storch, President, and Rev. Ludwig Markert, Secretary.
On the 22d of October, 1810, the Synod con- vened at Organ Church, at which time a consid- erable amount of business was transacted. The Rev. C. A. Storch was re-elected President, and Rev. Gottlieb Schober was elected Secretary. At this meeting there were ten ministers present, and the names of the lay delegates were published for the first time. Rev. G. Schober was ordained to
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the gospel ministry; he was a member of the Moravian Church, and continued in connection with that Church to the close of his life, neverthe- less, he became a Lutheran minister, and was pastor of several Lutheran congregations in the vicinity of Salem, N. C., where he resided, and served those congregations during his life. Revs. Storch, Miller and Philip Henkel officiated at his ordination.
"On motion of Rev. Philip Henkel, it was re- solved that, inasmuch as awakenings arise in our days by means of three days' preaching, and the like is to be wished among our brethren in the faith, a trial of such preaching be made, with the proviso, that three ministers of our connection hold those meetings, to which also ministers of the Moravian and Reformed Churches, whether Ger- man or English, be welcomed; at each of these meetings the communion is to be administered." The time was then appointed when these meetings were to be held in each pastoral charge.
Rev. R. J. Miller was appointed as a traveling missionary for the Synod, with the power to or- ganize new congregations, and to take up collec- tions for this object.
It was also resolved, that Revs. Storch and Schober prepare a pastoral letter to the various churches in connection with this Synod, and that it be appended to the minutes.
The candidates, Revs. Jacob Scherer and God- frey Dreher, were then licensed to the ministry,
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and the catechets, J. M. Rueckert and Jacob Krieson, had their limited licenses renewed.
The names of all the congregations belonging to the Synod, with their pastors, lay readers, elders and deacons, are appended to the minutes; the names of these churches are as follows :
Rev. Storch's pastorate : Zion's or Organ ; Buffalo Creek or St. John's; Irish Settlement, now Luther Chapel; Pine, now Union; Crooked Creek; and Bear Creek, now Bethel.
Rev. Markert's pastorate : Pilgrim's; Beck's; Schweiszguth (Swicegood), now Sandy Creek; Lau's; Frieden's ; Graves, now St. Paul's, Ala- mance County. Richland Church was supplied by Jacob Krieson as catechet or lay reader.
Rev. Schober's pastorate: Muddy Creek; and Dutchman's Creek.
Rev. Philip Henkel's pastorate : St. John's; Old Church; School-house Church; Kasner's; Leba- non ; Emanuel's ; Hebron ; and Zion's ; all in Lin- coln County.
" Various congregations in South Carolina, which connected themselves with our Synod :" Bethel Church, on High Hill Creek; St. Peter's ; Zion's; and a Reformed Church, of which Henry Kuhn, Samuel Bockman, and Henry Schull were the elders.
A synodial seal was also adopted with certain devices, bearing the words "Pax vobis" and "Sigil. Minist. Evang. Luth. in Carolia Sept. et Stat. vicin." A lengthy explanation of the de-
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vices and a translation of the Latin words as quoted above are given in the minutes.
Then follows the admonitory pastoral letter as adopted by the Synod, and prepared by Revs. Storch and Schober.
Section 4. Missionary tours of Revs. Miller, Frank- low and Scherer.
In order that a correct knowledge might be ob- tained concerning the condition of the scattered Lutheran congregations and settlements in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio, the Synod of North Carolina sent several exploring missionaries into these States, with instructions to preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, and otherwise to encourage and build up the dispersed members of the Lutheran Church in their most holy faith. From the published reports of these missionaries most valuable information is obtained, affording us a portraiture of the condition of the Lutheran Church in those States at that time.
The Rev. Robert Johnson Miller was the first one of these missionaries sent by Synod to explore the field ; he started upon his first tour June 18th, 1811, passing through Wilkes, Surry and Stokes Counties, N. C., into Virginia. And, although the State of Virginia is not embraced in the his- tory of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas, nevertheless, a few extracts from Rev. Miller's journal of his tour into Virginia and return through
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Tennessee may still be acceptable. Rev. Miller states : "I departed from my home in Burke County on the 18th day of June, 1811, in confi- dence of the protection of God, preached twice in Wilkes County, as often in Surry, four times in Stokes, and mostly to large, serious and attentive congregations, particularly in Germantown. In the first forty-two miles of my journey in Virginia, I found only one small Methodist meeting-house, and heard of no settled minister of any denomina- tion. From the 27th to the 30th I traveled through much spiritual wilderness, where all denominations live dispersed, their youth being without any re- ligious instruction, and found three families whose parents had been Lutherans.
" Sunday, July 2d. I met preacher Meyer with his numerous congregation, and preached to atten- tive and serious people; their teacher (pastor) is not appointed or ordained by the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ministerium, yet he administers all the sacraments; I warned him and his flock against such conduct. He informed me that he attended six congregations, each of which consisted of from 25 to 30 families.
"In New Market I preached three times to large and serious congregations, and at my de- parture Dr. Solomon Henkel, in whose house I baptized two children, and his brother Ambrose presented me with 200 small English catechisms to be given to the poor and ignorant, which order .I afterwards faithfully executed. After having crossed the Shenandoah Mountain, I met with
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Moses Henkel, who is a Methodist preacher, and a brother of our Rev. Paul Henkel.
" On the 2d of August, after having passed the rough Alleghany Mountain, I found in the neigh- borhood of Lewisburg a Lutheran congregation, who are attended by the Rev. Mr. Flohr, from Wythe County, three times a year. Excepting a small congregation on Jackson's Fork of James River, there are but few Lutheran families in Monroe County, and all are without Christian in- struction. In this whole territory, including the South Branch of the Potomac, and the counties of Pendleton, Bath, Greenbriar, Monroe, Mont- gomery and Wythe, there is but one Lutheran minister. Aug. 11th. I arrived at Rev. Mr. Flohr's in Wythe County ; he attends six congregations; further up New River there is another numerous but divided congregation, where, minister and jus- tice, Stanger resides.
"From here I went by way of Abingdon into Sullivan County, Tennessee, where I found some German congregations, who are attended by Rev. Mr. Smith; before his arrival here they were at- tended by Rev. Mr. Sink, now gone to Kentucky ; I preached in all congregations and in other places, particularly in Blountsville. Aug. 31st. I met with Rev. Smith, who has been now ordained by our Synod, and found him an honest, upright man ; both he and his congregations were glad of the opportunity to be connected with our Ministerium ; I visited as many of Mr. Smith's congregations as possible, partly accompanied by him, and on the
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11th of October, after having preached at Cove Creek to a large and attentive congregation, I separated from Rev. Mr. Smith and the good peo- ple, wishing them spirit, life, fidelity and zeal, es- pecially in the instruction of their youth, so that the future race might not be more bewildered, and departed on my homeward journey, where I ar- rived in safety, after an absence of three months."
The next tour the Rev. Mr. Miller made into the State of South Carolina. He says in his journal: "The second part of my journey I began on the 4th of November, 1811, and spent the first evening about twenty-five miles from home. When I came to Rutherfordton, my appointment to preach had not been made. From thence I rode, crossing Broad and Green Rivers, through a thinly settled country to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Saturday, 9th, I arrived at Mr. Robert Smith's, on Hard Labor Creek, where my appointments were to commence, and preached on Sunday in a German meeting-house." (This part of the jour- nal is omitted, having been given on a preceding page.)
" On the 13th I preached fourteen miles from Savannah River to a serious congregation, chiefly Presbyterians. Farther up on Little Saluda River, which I passed the next day at a dangerous ford, there is a considerable number of our people, whom I did not see. Throughout this whole country no attention is paid to the religious in- struction of youth, except among the Presby- terians. In such a condition of things there can,
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of course, be but very little vital religion among the people.
"On the 19th, after sermon in Hallow Creek Church, called Salem, I became acquainted with a poor man calling himself a preacher, but to all appearance destitute of the spirit and temper of a Christian, as well as of every qualification to preach. I gave him some advice, but received very little thanks. From hence I preached in all the German congregations throughout the neigh- borhood until the 28th. It is a pleasure to labor here; the people love the gospel of Jesus and his servants.
" About forty miles south of this place, I ar- rived at one of the first settled congregations in all these quarters (St. Matthew's, Orangeburg Dis- trict); visited their teacher, Mr. Franklow; found the congregation much decayed, but it might be revived and increased if it could be supplied with a minister of talents and grace. They have been attended for several years past by Mr. Franklow, who, as he says, had received license from the Bishop of the Church of England to baptize.
"On my return to the Saluda River I preached, December 1st, in the oldest German church in this vicinity to a large and very serious congrega- tion, and found the people very desirous to place themselves under the care of our Synod.
"On the 4th, after having preached, I arrived again at Brother John Dreher's. This man has exerted himself for some years past, in the absence of a settled minister, to keep the light of the
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gospel burning. He had divinely pious books printed at his own expense, spreads them for a low price among the people, and an evident bless- ing rests upon his exertions. On Friday, the 6th, I went to the Lutheran minister, Wallern, found him about his farming business, conversed that evening and the following day much with him on the state of the Church, of religion, and on other subjects, and found him a man acquainted with the world. Sunday, the 8th, I preached in his church. He accompanied me also the following day to a funeral, where I addressed the people on the subject of death and preparation; he preached from Ps. 37: 18. On the following day I preached to a small but, to all appearance, serious people, and therewith finished my missionary tour for this year.
"I have to observe that in the counties of Bo- tetourt, Augusta and Rockingham, in Virginia, an itinerant minister, qualified to preach both in the German and English, would be of great bene- fit, and I have no doubt that he would have great success in bringing back many of those, who have been obliged to leave the Church for the want of a minister qualified to administer her ordinances to them. The people there are much in want of such a minister, and a circuit could be formed on that plan, that would work beneficially. Another itinerant minister, qualified as above, to travel from Broad River westward near to the Savannah River, and southward near to Charleston, would be employed equally as useful, and there is no doubt
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but that the people would cheerfully contribute what would be sufficient for a decent support. Oh! that the Lord would give us three or four young ministers, endowed with grace and talents, and gifted to preach in both languages, much could then be done for his Church. The congre- gations there now are sensibly mouldering away for the want of such preachers. Among the old Germans there is a standing still; their youth learn and speak English; if a teacher speaks German, it is to them like the sound of the church-bell. But the affair is the Lord's.
" On my whole tour I have baptized this year two adults and sixty children, preached sixty-seven times, traveled three thousand miles, and received $70.44 for my support, without asking for a cent in any way, and arrived home in health and safety. Honor, thanks and praise be to the Lord."
On page 11 of the minutes of the North Caro- lina Synod for 1812, the following record may be found : "The Rev. Mr. Franklow was hereupon requested to make one or more visits in a part of South Carolina called Saltketcher, there to in- quire into the situation of the residue of our mem- bers, who formerly had a well-regulated congre- gation, and report the result of his inquiries to the next Synod."
This duty Rev. Franklow performed faithfully, and reported at length, which report was greatly abbreviated and inserted in the minutes; but the original document having been found some twelve years ago among Rev. G. Shober's papers, in a
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garret of one of his grandchildren in Salem, North Carolina, it is now presented, and reads as follows:
"Sunday, March 28th, 1813. I set out on my journey from my church after Divine service, and arrived in the evening at Mr. Moss', on Edisto River. Here I made an appointment to preach in a new Methodist meeting-house on my return on Thursday, April 8th. The next day I crossed the Little Saltketcher through a long swamp and deep water, and came in the evening to Mr. Shobert, a church-warden of St. Bartholomew's Church. I made my appointment to preach in this church on Friday, April 2d, and on Sunday and Monday following at St. Nicholas Church, and again at St. Bartholomew's on my return on Tuesday, April 6th.
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