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 27
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The condition of this church under Rev. Reck's ministry in 1827 is stated in the minutes of the North Carolina Synod, as follows : "In Salisbury, where eighteen months ago there was no regularly organized Lutheran congregation, there are now thirty members in full communion; and by the active measures of several respectable persons, a large and commodious church has been purchased, and a subscription raised to pay for it. In this place a lecture meeting is held once a week, which is generally well attended, and not unfrequently the utmost solemnity pervades the audience. The people are liberal and attentive to the cause of be- nevolence, and assist in supporting Bible, mission- ary, and other religious societies."
Thus might this church have been greatly in- creased in strength, energy, and usefulness, but Rev. J. Reck, after having been its pastor for five years, felt it his duty to resign and return to Mary- land, and after this time the congregation had such a continued and rapid succession of minis- ters, besides having been at times also unsupplied with the stated means of grace, as to be unable
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to command the influence which the regular ministrations of a permanent pastor might have given it.
St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, N. C .- In the last account of this church, it was seen that the Rev. C. A. G. Stork was the pastor of this congre- gation, but his health having become too feeble to attend to the wants of so many churches, he intro- duced the Rev. Daniel Scherer as his successor. During a communion season in the spring of 1821, when a large class of catechumens, numbering seventy-seven persons, were confirmed, their aged pastor being present, but too feeble to stand dur- ing the ceremony, called all his catechumens to him, and gave them and the other members and friends of the church his last farewell. So affect- ing was the scene, that the whole of that vast as- sembly were moved to tears, and long has the serious lesson been remembered, which their aged pastor addressed to them at that time, whilst he held out his hand to each, and gave them his part- ing blessing.
Rev. Daniel Scherer proved himself to have been likewise a faithful pastor. He was much beloved by his people, and remained nearly ten years among them ; however, during his ministry and for some time previous, a large number of persons from St. John's and other Lutheran churches in North Carolina settled themselves in Illinois Territory, and their pastor's heart followed them to the wild prairies of their newly-adopted country, and he soon cast his lot among them, and labored there for their spiritual good.
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Organ Church, Rowan County, North Carolina .- As Rev. Stork was the pastor of this congrega- tion as well as that of St. John's, it had much the same history at this time. Rev. Daniel Scherer also became his successor here some two years afterwards. Thirty-five years did Rev. Stork labor in this church, and with great success. It was the first congregation he served, and the last he resigned. He lived in favor with God and man; his example and usefulness are still felt, and his memory is cherished with affection by all who knew him. During this period he baptized 1500 children, and confirmed 1300 young people in Organ Church alone, and probably as many more in the other churches under his charge.
At length the feeble state of his health com- pelled him to resign this church also in 1823. His successor labored here likewise with much suc- cess, and had at one time probably the largest class of catechumens, numbering 83 persons, that were confirmed in this church, during a session of the North Carolina Synod at this place, in which ceremony their aged pastor took the deepest in- terest.
Rev. Scherer labored but six years in this con- gregation. As he had the oversight of so many churches, he thought it advisable to resign some portion of his charge into the hands of another minister, in order to do justice to the cause of Christ, and Rev. Jacob Kaempfer became his suc- cessor in 1829.
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Section 2. Fraternal Union of the North Carolina Synod with the Protestant Episcopal Convention of North Carolina.
The first step taken in this direction was Rev. Robert J. Miller's attendance upon the Episcopal Convention held in Raleigh, April 28th, 1821. His object was to connect himself fully with the Episcopal Church, to which he really belonged, having been ordained by the Lutheran ministers of North Carolina in 1794 as an Episcopal min- ister, and was the pastor of an Episcopal congre- gation, White Haven Church, in Lincoln County, but because there was no Episcopal diocese at that time in the State, he was admitted as a member of the Lutheran North Carolina Synod at its or- ganization in 1803.
From the journal of the Episcopal North Caro- lina Convention of 1818, the following item of in- telligence is taken: "Previously to November, 1816, there was no Episcopal clergyman in this State, and but one congregation in which the worship of our Church was performed." That having been the condition of the Episcopal Church at that period, Rev. Miller felt it his duty to form a temporary connection with the Lutheran Church, and continued to labor for her welfare twenty- seven years, when in 1821 he severed that con- nection, and was ordained in Raleigh to deacon's and priest's orders in the Episcopal ministry in one day, Whilst in attendance at said Conven-
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tion, Rev. Miller proposed to effect, "as far as practicable, intercourse and union between the Episcopalians and some of the Lutheran congre- gations." His proposition was referred to the Committee on the State of the Church, who after- wards reported as follows:
"A very interesting communication has this session been laid before the committee, on the subject of a union between that truly respectable denomination, the Lutherans, and our Church. To carry this measure into effect, the committee propose the following resolution :
" Resolved, That a committee, consisting of three persons, two clerical and one lay member, be ap- pointed to meet the Synod of the Lutheran Church, to consider and agree upon such terms of union as may tend to the mutual advantage and welfare of both Churches, not inconsistent with the con- stitution and canons of this Church, or the Protes- tant Episcopal Church in the United States.
"The Convention then proceeded to take into consideration the resolution proposed by the com- mittee, when it was adopted, and the Rev. Adam Empie, Rev. G. T. Bedell, and Duncan Cameron, Esq., were appointed a committee to attend the Lutheran Synod, and to carry the resolution into effect."
On the 17th of June, 1821, the Lutheran North Carolina Synod met in Lau's Church, Guilford County, and from its minutes the following is quoted :
" The President now reported that the Rev. R.
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J. Miller, who had labored for many years as one of our ministers, had been ordained by the Bishop of the Episcopal Church as a priest at a conven- tion of that Church. That he had always regarded himself as belonging to that Church, but because the Episcopal Church had no existence at that time in this State, he had himself ordained by our ministry, with the understanding that he still belonged to the Episcopal Church. But as the said Church had now reorganized itself (in this State), he had united himself with it, and thus disconnected himself from our Synod, as was allowed him at his ordination by our ministers. Rev. Miller then made a short address before Synod and the congregation then assembled, in which he distinctly explained his position, so that no one should be able to say that he had aposta- tized from our Synod, since he had been ordained by our Ministerium as a minister of the Episcopal Church. He then promised that he would still aid and stand by us as much and as far as lay in his power.
"With this explanation the whole matter was well understood by the entire assembly, and was deemed perfectly satisfactory. Whereupon it was resolved that the president tend to Rev. Miller our sincere thanks, in the name of the Synod, for the faithful services he had hitherto rendered our Church. This was immediately done in a feeling manner.
" After this a letter was read from Rev. Bishop Moore, addressed to our Synod, in which he re-
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ported to us, that a committee was appointed by their Convention to attend our Synod, with the view of making an effort towards a more intimate union between our respective bodies, whereupon the members of that committee presented them- selves, and submitted their credentials. Their names are, Revs. Adam Empie, G. T. Bedell, and Duncan Cameron, Esq. They were all affection- ately received, and the following committee was appointed by our Synod to confer with our visit- ing brethren what possibly might be done towards a more intimate union, namely : Revs. G. Shober, Michael Rauch, and Henry Ratz, Esq." The next day the following report was submitted and adopted :
"The committee of the Protestant Episcopal Church of North Carolina, and the committee on the part of the Lutheran Synod of North Caro- lina and adjacent States, having conferred on the subject of their respective appointments, have agreed on the following articles :
"I. Resolved, That we deem it expedient and desirable that the Lutheran Synod and the Protes- tant Episcopal Church of North Carolina should be united together in the closest bonds of friend- ship.
" II. Resolved, That for this purpose we will mutually make such concessions as may not be inconsistent with the rules and regulations of our respective Churches, for the purpose of promoting a friendly intercourse.
" III. Resolved, That the Convention of the Prot-
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estant Episcopal Church may send a delegation of one or more persons to the annual Synod of the Lutheran Church, which person or persons shall be entitled to an honorary seat in that body, and to the privilege of expressing their opinions and voting in all cases except when a division is called for; in which case they shall not vote.
"IV. Resolved, That the Lutheran Synod may, in like manner, send a deputation to the Conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, who in all respects shall be entitled to the same privileges.
" V. Resolved, That all the ministers of the Luth- eran Church in union with the Synod shall be en- titled to honorary seats in the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; and the clergymen of the said last-mentioned Church shall, in like manner, be entitled to honorary seats in the Synod of the Lutheran Church.
" The committee respectfully recommend to the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and to the Synod of the Lutheran Church the adoption of the foregoing resolutions.
" G. SHOBER,
" MICHAEL RAUCH,
" HENRY RATZ,
" Committee of the Lutheran Synod.
" A. EMPIE,
" DUNCAN CAMERON,
" Committee of the Protestant Episcopal Church."
The report was adopted by Synod, and the fol- lowing persons were elected to attend the next
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Convention of the Episcopal Church : Revs. G. Shober, Jacob Scherer, and Henry Ratz, Esq.
At the next Convention of the Episcopal Church, held in Raleigh, April 18th, 1822, the following action was taken in reference to this matter.
" The Rt. Rev. President of the Convention then read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Shober on the same subject, after which it was moved that the report be received, which was unanimously agreed to; it was then
" Resolved, that the Secretary be required to ad- dress a letter to the President of the Lutheran Synod, informing him of the unanimous adoption of the above report.
" The following delegation to the Lutheran Synod was then appointed : Rev. Messrs. Miller, Davis, and Wright, of the clergy; Messrs. Alex- ander Caldcleugh, Duncan Cameron, and Dr. F. J. Hill, of the laity."
At the next meeting of the North Carolina Synod, three of the above delegation, " the Rev. R. J. Miller, the Rev. R. Davis, and Alexander Caldcleugh, Esq., appeared, were welcomed, and took their seats with us.
" On information that the Protestant Episcopal Church will hold their next annual Convention for North Carolina in Salisbury, on the second Thurs- day after Easter, in the year 1823, the following persons were elected to attend the same, and there represent the Synod, namely : the Rev. G. Shober, the Rev. Daniel Scherer, General Paul Barringer, and Colonel Ratz." All of these delegates ap-
·
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peared at said Convention and attended its sessions.
After the year 1823 nothing more appears con- cerning the fraternal relations of these two eccle- siastical bodies, although this " bond of friend- ship" does not appear to have been revoked, nevertheless, the interchange of delegates, being attended with some difficulty in those days of traveling by private conveyance, fell practically into disuse.
Section 3. Rev. John Bachman's labors in Savannah and Ebenezer, Georgia.
Although a sketch of the Lutheran Church in the State of Georgia does not strictly belong to the history of the same Church in the Carolinas, nevertheless, as one of the Lutheran ministers of South Carolina visited Georgia, with the view of reorganizing and infusing new life into several long-established Lutheran congregations of that State, it is but proper that an account of his effi- cient labors in this direction should not be passed by unnoticed.
Rev. Bachman having been informed that at one time two Lutheran congregations had been established in Georgia, at Ebenezer and Savannah, by the Salzburgers, who commenced emigrating to Georgia in 1733, and arrived there in March, 1734, he felt a desire to become more intimately acquainted with the condition of those churches.
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During one of the winter months of 1823-4, Rev. Bachman journeyed to Savannah " as a pioneer in our holy cause," and discovered that a Lutheran church had been erected in that city some time before the Revolutionary War, but that it was burnt down in 1797. The congregation in Charles- ton, S. C., had contributed $500 towards rebuild- ing it, but nothing was done towards keeping up the congregation; it had no pastor, and became gradually disorganized; the small building, erected as a Lutheran church, " was occupied as a Sunday- school by another denomination," " and had been sequestered for many years." The prospects were certainly not bright, and a few more years of neg- lect would have extinguished the name of Lu- theranism in Savannah. Rev. Bachman's visit was not one moment too soon; by means of his well- directed and energetic labors "a congregation was organized from the materials which could be collected," and, " about a month after this event," Rev. S. A. Mealy " came to reside in Savannah," as the pastor of that congregation. He was "a clergyman who had been raised up in " the Lu- theran Church in Charleston, and received his theological training from Rev. Bachman, whom he acknowledged as his " spiritual father." From that time forward the Lutheran congregation in Savannah commenced to prosper, under the effi- cient labors of a succession of pastors, two of whom, Revs. Mealy and Karn, have been called to their rest.
Rev. Bachman having completed his labors in
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Savannah, now also "determined to extend his visit to Ebenezer," for he had learned that, though a Lutheran congregation still existed in that place, its " aged pastor was fast sinking into the grave." This pastor was "the Rev. John E. Bergman, a native of Germany, and the learned and exemplary minister of this church for the long period of thirty-six years." He had a son, who had devoted himself to the work of the Gospel ministry, named Rev. Christopher F. Bergman, " who had received a classical education, and had carefully attended to his theological studies, under the care of his re- vered and excellent parent, and was well qualified for the ministry ;" but not being "aware that Lu- theranism had any existence in the South," he had taken "license to preach the Gospel under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church."
"This was the source of the most unfeigned regret, both to his father and his father's congre- gation. The latter was fully aware, that from the increasing age and infirmities of their venerable and esteemed pastor, they would soon have to resign him to the grave, and their eyes were directed without hesitation to the son as his suc- cessor. This wish was extremely natural. The son had been educated for the ministry, and was possessed of the most exemplary piety ; and hav- ing been born and raised in their neighborhood, and under their own immediate eye, he would be as a son to the aged, and a brother to the younger parishioners. This fondly cherished hope, how- ever, was nearly crushed, when an event of Provi-
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dence occurred, which brightened the scene around them."
This event was the opportune arrival of Rev. John Bachman on a visit to Ebenezer. His dis- cerning mind soon penetrated the difficulty under which the younger Bergman labored, and " was made the instrument, in the hands of God, of giving a new direction to Rev. C. F. Bergman's theological views, of securing his belief in the doctrines, and his attachment to the institutions of our beloved Church, and of cheering the last hours of a venerable servant of Jesus Christ."
Too much cannot be said in praise of Rev. Bachman's judicious labors in Ebenezer. The elder Bergman had probably not seen the face of a Lutheran minister for a number of years; how it must have brightened his last hours of life to have Rev. Bachman standing at his bedside ere he departed this life, and to welcome him as God's instrument in leading his son back to the Church of his fathers. IIe could now die in peace, for his eyes had seen what he no longer expected to see on earth. And what a blessing was this visit to the Ebenezer congregation also; it was not only saved to the Lutheran Church, but it was also provided with a Lutheran pastor, and he the one whom the members preferred above all others.
It is necessary yet to add, that the Rev. C. F. Bergman attended the meeting of the newly organ- ized Synod of South Carolina, held in St. John's Church, Lexington District, November 18th, 1824, where he " was solemnly ordained to the Gospel
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ministry by the Rev. Messrs. Bachman, Hersher, and Dreher."
All these items of intelligence, concerning Rev. Bachman's labors in Georgia, have been mainly derived from Rev. Mealy's "Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Rev. C. F. Bergman," published in Savannah, A.D. 1832.
Section 4. Organization of the Lutheran Synod of South Carolina, A.D. 1824.
The time had now arrived, when the number of ministers made it possible, and the wants of the Church made it necessary, to organize a Lutheran Synod in South Carolina; accordingly, "on the 14th day of January, 1824, the following clergy- men of the Evangelical Lutheran Church met at St. Michael's Church, Lexington District, S. C., with the intention of organizing a Synod for South Carolina and adjacent States, namely : Revs. John P. Franklow, John Y. Meetze, Godfrey Dreher, Michael Rauch, Jacob Moser, all residing in Lex- ington District, and Rev. Samuel Hersher from Orangeburg District, S. C."
These ministers were members of the North . Carolina Synod; those residing in Lexington Dis- trict have already been introduced to the reader. The Rev. Samuel Hersher had become connected with that Synod only since 1822; he was a student of Rev. Mr. Meierhöffer, of Rockingham County, Virginia, and recommended by him as worthy to
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become a member of Synod. He was accordingly examined, licensed, and sent by the North Caro- lina Synod to labor in the vacant congregations of Orangeburg District, S. C.
After due consideration, the ministers present unanimously resolved, "that the situation and wants of the Evangelical Lutheran churches in 'South Carolina' require that a Synod be now organized."
Rev. G. Dreher was then elected President, and Rev. S. Hersher, Secretary. The first item of business was the ordination of Rev. S. Hersher. Five lay delegates now handed in their certificates, and were admitted as members of Synod.
Rev. John C. A. Schönberg, a licentiate of the Pennsylvania Synod, presented his license with the request to have it renewed, which was accord- ingly done on the next day.
" On motion, it was resolved, that the Augsburg Confession of Faith be the point of union in our Church.
" It was resolved, that the Revs. G. Dreher, S. Hersher, and M. Rauch be nominated a committee, for the purpose of entering into a friendly corres- pondence with the North Carolina Synod."
On the 18th of November of the same year, the South Carolina Synod met at St. John's Church, . Lexington District, at which meeting eight Lu- theran ministers were present, and two, Revs. Franklow and Mealy, were absent. Revs. Bach- man, Bergman, and Mealy were added to the list of members of Synod, and nine lay delegates were
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admitted as representatives from the various con- gregations.
It was reported to Synod that Rev. Jacob Moser had been ordained by the committee appointed by Synod, on the 4th of April; and that on the 20th of May, Revs. Dreher, Franklow, and Hersher had ordained the Rev. Stephen A. Mealy. Rev. C. F. Bergman was ordained at this meeting of Synod. The New York English Lutheran Hymn book was recommended to be introduced by the ministers into their churches.
The most interesting item of information, con- tained in the minutes of that synodical meeting, is the report of the committee on the "State of the Church," which is as follows :
"There are in the State of South Carolina twenty-four Evangelical Lutheran churches, and in the State of Georgia, two. Of those in South Carolina, one is in Charleston, under the care of Rev. J. Bachman, having 275 communicants. Three under the care of Rev. S. Hersher, having 380 members. Six under the care of Revs. J. Y. Meetze, J. P. Franklow, and G. Dreher, having 260 members. Four under the care of Rev. M. Rauch, having 380 members. Four under the care of Rev. J. Moser, having 136 members.
" Of those in the State of Georgia, one is in Savannah, under the care of Rev. S. A. Mealy, having 35 families. One at Ebenezer, under the care of Rev. C. F. Bergman, having 130 members. Six churches are vacant in South Carolina, and two or more congregations might be formed in the
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State, if Lutheran clergymen could be obtained. The number of communicants in our churches has considerably increased, and that, on the whole, there are some flattering prospects in our Church."
The committee lamented " that whilst the har- vest is plenteous, the laborers are few."
Section 5. Removals to the West, and Missionary Labors of the North Carolina Synod in Illinois and other States.
Allusion has already been made to the vast emi- gration from the State of North Carolina to other new States and Territories. This drain upon the strength of the Lutheran Church in North Caro- lina continued for many successive years; colo- nies from St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, and from the neighboring congregations, may be found in most of the Northwestern States, as well as in Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas. By means of this extensive colonizing in new coun- tries, the labors and influence of the early pastors in North Carolina are felt over a much greater extent of country than what is included in the boundaries of the congregations they served.
For a long time those Western colonies were destitute of the means of grace; they naturally looked to the Synod of North Carolina, under whose fostering care they had been brought up in the Church of their fathers, to be supplied with pastors.
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At a meeting of the Synod in 1825 an urgent call came from Union County, Illinois, signed by forty-three persons, for a pastor or missionary who would be able to preach in the German and Eng- lish languages, establish schools, and labor for the welfare of the Church. They furthermore de- clared, that if their spiritual wants be not soon sup- plied, the consequences to them and their children would be very injurious.
The letter was read in open Synod, and the Secretary was required to write to those congre- gations in Illinois. Rev. Wm. Jenkins was then requested to visit those people, and a resolution was passed to send a letter to Rev. Samuel Schmucker, beseeching him, if it be possible, to have a missionary sent to that State.
In the minutes of the Synod of 1827, the Com- mittee on Letters and Petitions presented the fol- lowing:
"No. 11 contains a petition from three congre- gations in Union County, Illinois, in which they give a mournful description of their destitute con- dition ; pray that they may be visited by the Rev. Jacob Scherer, and, if he cannot comply with this their request, that the Synod would send them another, and promise to give him an adequate sup- port. Your committee would recommend these congregations to the particular notice of this Synod, for if they are not soon supplied with a minister, they will be dispersed."
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