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 28
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Whereupon it was
" Resolved, That, as it is impracticable for the
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Rev. J. Scherer to visit those petitioning congrega- tions in Illinois, the Rev. John C. A. Schönberg visit them immediately, and, if practicable, to locate among them; and that he receive ten dol- lars out of the synodical treasury to defray the necessary traveling expenses to Illinois."
The Rev. Mr. Schönberg accepted this appoint- ment of Synod, and moved to Illinois in 1827, and thus the North Carolina Synod has the honor of sending the pioneer missionary of the Lutheran Church to that State. Rev. Schönberg -labored there for several years, and continued his connec- tion with the North Carolina Synod, when, in 1829, he wrote a letter to Synod, stating "that in consequence of indisposition he has been necessi- tated to resign his churches in Illinois."
About the close of the year 1831, the Rev. Daniel Scherer, the successor of Rev. Storch as pastor of St. John's Church, Cabarrus County, N. C., felt it to be his duty to remove to Illinois, and succeeded Rev. Schönberg as pastor of the Lutheran congregations in Union County, Illinois. In 1833 he wrote a letter to Synod, "containing the pleasing information of his success in forming a congregation in Hillsboro, Illinois, consisting of thirty-five communing members."
Professor Haverstick, of Philadelphia, who vis- ited Rev. D. Scherer and his congregations in 1835, during his exploring missionary tour in the West, having been sent by the Pennsylvania Synod, speaks of the untiring labors of Rev. Scherer in the most exalted terms, mentions that
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he frequently travels 150 miles from home on horseback, in order to minister to the spiritual wants of such colonies as are not included in his own immediate charge, and this of necessity, in- asmuch as he was the only resident Lutheran min- ister at that time in the entire State of Illinois. Rev. Scherer labored faithfully in that State to the close of his life, April 4th, 1852, and may justly be considered the father of the Lutheran Church in Illinois.
Rev. Wm. Jenkins, who became connected with the North Carolina Synod in 1824, upon the rec- ommendation of Rev. D. F. Schäffer, President of the Maryland Synod, was sent the following September to the State of Tennessee, and labored in the Lutheran congregations at Duck River, "where he was received with joy, and kindly treated." He formed additional congregations in Franklin and Lincoln Counties, and reports hav- ing found a large settlement of Lutherans at Fau- gunder Creek, near Jackson, who were anxious to obtain a pastor. He further states: "Since last Synod I have traveled 3000 miles on horse- back, preached 175 times, baptized 84 children and 14 adults, admitted to church membership 34 persons, and had 8 funerals." All these con- gregations were admitted under the care of the North Carolina Synod in 1825, and Rev. Wm. Jenkins was acknowledged as their pastor, having located himself in Bedford County, Tennessee, serving ten congregations, where he was still laboring as a member of the North Carolina Synod
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as late as 1835, when he connected himself with some other Synod, but did not remove from Ten- nessee until 1854, when he became the pastor of the Lovettsville charge, in Loudon County, Vir- ginia.
Shortly after the year 1811, when Rev. R. J. Mil- ler was first sent on an exploring missionary tour through the State of Virginia, all those Lutheran congregations, situated in the southwestern part of Virginia, with their pastors, connected them- selves, with but few exceptions, with the North Carolina Synod ; so intimately were those churches united with that Synod, that five of its annual sessions were held in the State of Virginia.
Much missionary labor was devoted to that field and with good results. Originally this territory was connected with the Pennsylvania Synod, and the Rev. Mr. Flohr was the first regular minister who labored there, but its contiguity to North Carolina brought it under the influence of the Synod of that State, which arrangement was con- tinued until the year 1842, when the Synod of Western Virginia was formed.
Section 6. Rapid Progress of the South Carolina Synod, and the Missionary Labors of Revs. Scheck, Schwartz, and W. D. Strobel.
As soon as the South Carolina Synod was organ- ized it commenced to increase, and its influence was extended rapidly ; all the strength of the Lutheran
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Church in that State and Georgia became concen- trated, and the affairs of Synod were managed with wisdom and prudence. A desire was mani- fested at once to labor earnestly and faithfully for the welfare of the Church, and everywhere success attended the efforts of its ministers.
However, as there were still many vacant con- gregations in the bounds of Synod, at its second session, in 1825, it was --
" Resolved, That the Secretary of this Synod be requested to write to the different Northern Synods, and endeavor to ascertain whether it may not be practicable to obtain well-educated Lu- theran ministers to supply our vacant churches, or to labor as missionaries within the bounds of this Synod."
This appeal was not made in vain. The next year the Rev. C. B. Wessells, a licentiate from the State of New York, commenced his labors in South Caro- lina. He opened a school at Leesville, Lexington District, and preached occasionally; but "he soon gave evidence of mental derangement," and re- turned to the North. In 1827, the Rev. John D. Scheck arrived from Maryland, and labored as the first missionary in the bounds of the Synod.
From Rev. Bachman's congregation in Charles- ton, three useful and well-educated young men entered the ministerial ranks, the Revs. S. A. Mealy, J. G. Schwartz and W. D. Strobel, and from the interior congregations the Synod received three additional ministers in the Revs. J. Wingard,
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J. C. Hope and Daniel Dreher. In this manner was the Synod greatly increased.
The Rev. J. D. Scheck was employed by Synod to make a missionary tour through the State for the purpose of organizing new congregations, and also to visit the vacant churches as much as possi- ble. He commenced his labors June 2d, 1827, and the following extract from his journal was presented by the committee :
"He labored one week at Amelia, preaching every day : he represents those people as being wealthy and respectable, and possessing the largest church of any denomination in this part of the country. After having preached at Sandy Run and at Nazareth Churches, he labored at Lexing- ton Court-house. Near North Edisto River he found a number of Lutherans who are very desti- tute of spiritual privileges, and have not heard a sermon from any of our ministers for three years, yet none have left our Church, though solicited to do so. They are now building a house of worship.
"Mr. Scheck also visited Edgefield, where he found many of our people who have not been visited for many years by any of our ministers. He represents their condition as truly deplorable, but says that they are now building a church, and expect to hear preaching from some of our ministers. Sunday, July 1st, he preached in Long Church, where also the people were very desirous of ob- taining a Lutheran minister. On Monday, at Wise's school-house (Newberry); here he found the people very destitute; but there are many
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persons who would be members of our Church immediately, if supplied with preaching. They are both able and willing to build a place of wor- ship and support a minister.
"On Thursday, Mr. S. preached in the settle- ments of G. Egner to fine congregations, who hear the word but once in three weeks from any de- nomination. Many of our people here are wealthy, and desirous of obtaining a minister among them. They have already commenced the building of a church. On the 15th and 17th he preached in the two churches in Barnwell District, both of which are in a destitute condition, and have been so for five years. Some of the people have united them- selves to other societies; they have resolved to bring their destitute situation to our view, and request us to send our ministers to preach to them occasionally.
"The neighborhood of Myers, Rhinehardt's, Wise's, Peterbaugh and Egner's are entirely des- titute of the means of grace, and are loudly call- ing upon us in the words of the man of Macedonia, Come over and help us."
February 11th, 1828, the Rev. J. G. Schwartz was employed as a missionary, and the following interesting items are taken from his report :
"I first visited a few Lutherans east of Broad River, in the upper part of Richland District, who occasionally hear preaching from the Rev. Mr. Dreher. The people of this neighborhood are principally descendants of members of our Church. From this I passed over into Newberry, and
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preached twice in Mount Pleasant Church, owned in part by Lutherans. There is here a fine con- gregation, and the people appear favorably disposed towards our Church. A neat and commodious building was about to be erected for the exclusive use of Mr. Scheck. He can preach there, how- ever, but once a month.
"From this I passed into Spartanburg, and preached at the residence of a member of our Church; the house was full, and the people re- markably attentive. Some of the Lutherans here have attached themselves to other denominations, in consequence of the absence of their own. Six miles beyond the village I preached at the resi- dence of a gentleman who had been brought up to the Lutheran Church. He informed me of several families who, from similar circumstances with himself, had connected themselves with other societies. I next preached at Spartanburg Court-house, where also there is a great call for regular preaching. The day after, I preached at the house of a Lutheran family below the village.
"On Good Friday I preached at Sandy Run Church. This place is common as a house of worship to Lutherans, Baptists and Methodists. Rev. Mr. Wingard has the care of the Lutherans, and ministers to them once a month. I subse- quently passed through Chester, York, Lancaster, Chesterfield, Darlington, Sumter and Orange- burg, and preached wherever I had an opportu- nity. From all that has come to my knowledge, I have no hesitation in saying, that twelve or four-
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teen Lutheran ministers could find abundant em- ployment in this State. Descendants of Germans are to be found in almost every part of the coun- try, and here I might deplore that prejudice which has so fatally operated, and in some places does still operate upon the minds of those who con- tinue to minister to their people in the German language. I know it has been in part a matter of necessity; but had those who removed from Germany to this country endeavored to introduce the language of their adopted country, our Church might now, in all probability, nearly be equal to the united churches of other denominations."
During the greater part of the year 1830, the Rev. W. D. Strobel was engaged as a missionary, and his labors were blessed with practical results. Several important congregations were organized, and the vacant churches greatly revived and strengthened. He reports as follows :
"Immediately after receiving my appointment in Savannah, I made it my business to visit the congregations designated for my care in the min- utes of the Synod, to wit: St. Nicholas, St. Bar- tholomew's, and Erwin's, at the Saltketchers; Mount Calvary in Edgefield; Brandenburg's, in Orangeburg. In addition to these, I took under my care Nazareth, Lexington Court-house, Platt Springs, all in Lexington District. In all these stations I have kept up regular appointments during the year, with the exception of Erwin's, where I considered, after preaching some time, that there was no prospect of success.
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"I have encouraged the congregations to meet at their churches on the Lord's day, and have en- gaged their elders in reading sermons and other religious exercises. During the year we have suc- ceeded in building a church at Brandenburg's, to be known by the name of Shiloh. A large church is in a state of forwardness at Lexington Court- house, and that at Nazareth will soon be com- pleted. From the vicinity of so many members of our Church, we expect that Lexington Court- house will become one of the most important stations."
The above reports from Revs. Scheck, Schwartz and Strobel have been very much abbreviated, and only that much as has reference to the history of the Church has been given as literally as pos- sible.
Section 7. Death of Rev. Charles A. G. Storch, in 1831, and arrival of other Lutheran Ministers in North Carolina.
It is, as a matter of course, not expected to give a lengthy obituary notice of every departed Lu- theran minister who labored in North or South Carolina, but when such a prominent servant of God as the Rev. Charles Augustus Gottlieb Storch is called by death to his long rest, it creates a void that is not soon filled, and a wound so deep, how- ever long the event may be expected, which is not healed in a short period of time. The last link which bound the past with the present in the es-
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tablishment of Lutheranism in North Carolina was now broken, and Rev. Storch descended to his grave sadly lamented by all the members of his entire pastoral charge, and his loss was deeply de- plored by the whole Synod, of which he was one of the early founders. He went to his grave with the highest honors upon his hoary head, as one of the fathers of the Lutheran Church in North Caro- lina.
A notice of the funeral occasion of Rev. Storch, in one of the secular papers, says: "The deep and unrestrained emotions of the assembly of his spir- itual children at the grave of their departed friend evinced the magnitude of their loss, and the ex- tent of his worth."
From the minutes of the North Carolina Synod, giving a lengthy account of his life and labors, the following extract is made:
"He enjoyed the love of all his dear congrega- tions; he refused sundry lucrative situations to other cities out of love to his flock; and as soon as a Synod of the Lutheran Church was formed in North Carolina, he was annually elected Presi- dent, whenever he could be present, and his nearly thirty-seven years' service will remain in blessed memory. Since a few years his sickness, which often kept him in bed, compelled him to give up his congregations, but he always participated in the happiness and woe of the Church and his former flock by praises, prayer, sighing and tem- poral assistance. The last days of his life were very painful, until his friend, Jesus, whom he
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loved, took him to his eternal rest on the 27th of March, 1831, where all weakness and trouble are buried under his feet.
"Two funeral discourses were delivered at Synod in remembrance of our venerable and lately departed father, Charles A. Storch, to a numerous and attentive audience. The German discourse was on John 12: 36, by the Rev. G. Shober; the English by the Rev. D. P. Rosenmiller, on John 20 :17."
The following extract is taken from Dr. Hazelius' History of the American Lutheran Church, pp. 224-226:
"The Church suffered a great loss in the de- parture of Rev. C. A. G. Storch. His missionary tours in South Carolina are still held in grateful remembrance by many, who through his instru- mentality were first brought from darkness to light, and from the kingdom of Satan to the living God. As a man of science he was highly esteemed by all who knew him in that respect. As a min- ister of the Gospel, he richly possessed the rare talent to create a deep interest for his subject in the well-informed, while he was fully understood by persons of no education. As friend, husband, and father, his remembrance will be cherished, blessed, and honored, so long as one friend and one child lives, to feel what he was to them in these capacities in life.
"During the last six years of his earthly exist- ence, bodily infirmities prevented him from attend- ing the services of the house of God, but still he
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cheerfully embraced every opportunity to counsel and comfort the afflicted. His last illness con- tinued for nine weeks, and he frequently gave, both to his family and visiting friends, the assur- ance of his firm hope of eternal life, and of his desire that true piety and the religion of the heart might become general among mankind, and es- pecially that these blessings might be universal in the churches to whom he had administered the word of life. He departed full of faith and hope in his Redeemer."
In the Evangelical Review, vol. viii, pp. 402 and 403, the following additional facts are stated :
"He was familiar with the Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and it is said he could converse fluently in five or six different languages. Such was his thirst for knowledge that he kept pace with the improvements of the age, and was constantly add- ing to his stores of information. His mind was active and discriminating, and so well disciplined that he had no difficulty in grasping any subject that claimed his attention. It is said his library was large and valuable, embracing quite a number of distinguished German authors. Many of these he bequeathed to our Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, of which he was elected one of the first directors, and in whose prosperity he always manifested a deep interest. The most of his books are, however, in the possession of North Carolina College, at Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, N. C.
"Rev. Samuel Rothrock, who succeeded him in
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one of his churches, writes: 'Mr. Storch was truly a man of God! Many are yet living who formerly sat under his preaching, in whose hearts he is sacredly embalmed, and who still cherish for him the most profound respect.'"
The following inscription is engraved upon the tablet in the adjoining God's acre of Organ Church, which marks the spot where this useful servant of the Lord was laid down to rest: "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Charles A. G. Storch, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; who was born on the 16th day of June, A.D. 1764, and de- parted this life on the 27th day of March, 1831. Aged 66 years, 9 months and 11 days."
In addition to those pastors laboring in Virginia and retaining their connection with the North Carolina Synod, namely, Revs. Jacob Scherer and Daniel J. Hauer, who removed from North Caro- lina to that State, and Revs. Martin Walther, Andrew Seechrist and John P. Cline, the Synod received a considerable accession to its ministerial ranks in Revs. Henry Graeber, Jacob Kaempfer, William Artz and David P. Rosenmiller, all of whom became connected with the Synod in 1828.
"Rev. Henry Graeber was for a number of years a member of the Lutheran Synod of Maryland and Virginia, and lately accepted a call to Lincoln County, N. C., where he preaches to six congre- gations. The people there are generally liberal in supporting the Gospel. As an evidence of this, a certain individual made a donation of fifty acres of land to be appropriated as a parsonage, and a
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commodious house was built on it by the congre- gation, where Rev. Mr. Graeber now lives."
The Revs. Artz, Kaempfer, and Rosenmiller were three young men, who had completed their theological course of studies at the Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and came to labor in North Carolina upon the recommendation of Pro- fessor S. S. Schmucker. They were admitted at once as members of the Synod. Rev. Artz took charge of the vacant congregations in Guilford County ; their pastor, Rev. Jacob Scherer, having removed to Virginia. Rev. Rosenmiller located himself in Lexington, the seat of justice in David- son County, where he opened a classical school, and attended to the duties of pastor among several of the churches in the county, and the one lately established in the village. Rev. Kaempfer became the pastor of Organ Church and some of the other contiguous congregations, made vacant by the re- moval of their pastor, Rev. Daniel Scherer, to the State of Illinois.
Section 8. Principal Transactions of the Tennessee Synod, from 1820 to 1833.
The name of this Synod would indicate that its labors were confined to the State of Tennessee; such is, however, not the case, as that Synod, like some other Lutheran Synods in this country, has many congregations in the States adjoining. Some of these churches are located in North and South
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Carolina, and hence the history of the Tennessee Synod also belongs properly to the history of the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas.
As stated before, the Tennessee Synod was organized July 17th, 1820; at that meeting the German language was made the business language of Synod, and all its transactions were to be printed in German.
All articles of faith and practice, as well as all books used in public worship, are to be arranged according to the doctrines of the Holy Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession.
Two ranks of the ministerial office were ac- knowledged, namely, Pastor and Deacon, both of which requiring a separate ordination by the imposition of hands. Only the pastors had the right to perform all ministerial acts; the deacons could catechize, read a sermon to a congregation, bury the dead, exhort, and, in case of necessity, baptize, provided no pastor can be obtained.
Each congregation had the right to send a dele- gate to Synod, but the number of the lay-delegates' votes was limited to the number of ministers pres- ent at Synod.
At the fifth session of Synod, Rev. Nehemiah Bonham, of Tazewell County, Virginia, an English Lutheran minister, with his congregations, was admitted as a member of Synod. Rev. Bonham became an active worker in the Lord's vineyard, and accomplished much good.
In 1825 the minutes of Synod were printed also in the English language. At that same meeting
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"a memorial, subscribed by nine persons," was handed in, "in which the Synod is requested to make another attempt to effect a union with the ministers of the North Carolina Synod; yet so, that the genuine Lutheran doctrine be not thereby suppressed."
November 27th, 1825, Rev. Paul Henkel departed this life at New Market, Virginia. He had been in the ministry forty-four years, and, at the time of his decease, had arrived at an advanced age of life.
During the seventh session of the Synod, the following action was taken in reference to the difficulty respecting the English language. "As several members of this body do not understand the German language, and yet do not desire to form a separate Synod, it was, therefore,
" Resolved, that David Henkel should act as in- terpreter to them; furthermore, that the business of Synod shall be transacted in the German lan- guage during the first three days, afterwards the English language shall be used."
At the ninth session a new constitution was adopted, and appended to the printed minutes. Rev. David Forrester was ordained at this session to the office of a pastor, and several students of theology were received under the care of Synod.
From the minutes of 1829, it is manifest that the Synod was extending its bounds and influence, and through the labors of Rev. Bonham, Luther- anism became known in Habersham and Carroll Counties, Georgia. Rev. John L. Morkert, from
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Ohio, attached himself to the Synod, and Rev. John N. Stirewalt was ordained to the pastoral office. A vote of thanks was presented to Dr. Solomon Henkel " for his extra and benevolent services he has rendered this body from time to time, in printing " the transactions, &c., of Synod.
In 1831 the Rev. William C. Rankin, a licentiate of the Presbyterian Church, and in good standing, as seen from the records of Union Presbytery, East Tennessee, having adopted the principles of the Lutheran Church, and desiring to become one of its ministers, was examined by a committee, and recommended for ordination. "He was first admit- ted to full membership of the Lutheran Church by the rite of confirmation, and after having taken the solemn vows of a minister, he was ordained as pastor with prayer and imposition of hands."
The same day Rev. Henry Goodman was or- dained as deacon. During this year, on the 15th of June, Rev. David Henkel departed this life, aged thirty-six years, one month, and eleven days. His remains were interred at St. John's Church, Lincoln County, N. C. As a youth of seventeen years he commenced to preach the gospel; he delivered his first sermon, November 1, 1812, at St. Peter's Church, in South Carolina. "He was a diligent student, and searched deep into the truths of divine revelation." He was the author of nine different publications, the most of which are of a theological character. He was asked on his death- bed whether he remained steadfast in the doctrine he preached, to which he replied in the affirmative,
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