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 29
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and that he had no fear of death. "His last words were: 'O Lord Jesus-thou Son of God-receive my spirit.'" He left a wife and seven children to mourn his loss.
During the years 1832 and 1833, nothing of any special interest was transacted at Synod, except the ordination of Rev. H. Goodman to the pastoral office, and the withdrawal of Rev. W. C. Rankin from Synod; whether he connected himself with some other ecclesiastical body is not stated.
Appended to the minutes there is an obituary notice of Rev. Philip Henkel, who departed this life October 9th, 1833, aged fifty-four years and seventeen days. His remains were interred at Richland Church, Randolph County, N. C. He was one of the first founders of the Lutheran Ten- nessee Synod, and was thirty-three years and three months in the ministerial office.
Section 9. Establishment of a Theological Seminary in South Carolina, under the Professorship of Rev. John G. Schwartz, A.D. 1830.
The first steps taken towards the establishment of a Theological Seminary by the South Carolina Synod, were sundry resolutions passed at the meet- ing of Synod held in Savannah, Georgia, Novem- ber 20th, 1829, and are as follows :
" The several resolutions already mentioned, as having reference to the establishment of a Theo- logical Seminary, within the bounds of this Synod,
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were now taken up, and after mature discussion, unanimously adopted.
" Resolved, That this Synod regard the establish- ment of a theological seminary under the auspices of this judicatory, and within its bounds, as highly calculated to advance the interests of our Church, and as an object worthy of attention.
" Resolved, therefore, That we direct our efforts forthwith to the erection of a fund, to be hereafter devoted to the establishment and support of such a seminary.
" Resolved, also, That a committee, to consist of twenty, be now appointed, who shall be authorized to receive any donations which may be presented or legacies which may be bequeathed towards the erection of such a fund.
(Here follow the names of the members of that committee.)
" Resolved, moreover, That this committee act until the ensuing session of this Synod. That the chairman of the committee report at the next an- nual meeting, whether any and what donations have been received, and that a similar committee be appointed from year to year."
The next year fully decided the fate of the pro- posed institution. The President of the Synod, Rev. J. Bachman, opened the subject in his annual address to Synod, as follows:
" Although by the blessing of God our Church under the direction of this Synod is evidently on the increase, yet there still continues a lamentable want of ministers. Our congregations are enlarg-
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ing, and new ones are forming from year to year, yet the number of our ministers is not propor- tionably on the increase; and such are the calls for their services, that although some of our min- isters attend to from four to seven congregations, it is feared that there will be some churches left but very partially supplied during the coming year. There are also petitions from Georgia and Alabama for missionaries, to which it is feared we can only respond by our wishes and our prayers. We have applied to our sister Synods in vain for aid. So wide a sphere is opened to them in the North and West, that they have no ministers to send us; and it is believed that our only perma- nent dependence, under the blessing of God, will be upon pious individuals who will hereafter be educated for our Church, who are natives of the States within the bounds of our Synod, and who are attached to our institutions, and accustomed to our climate.
"Let us bring the means of a theological edu- cation within the reach of our pious young men, and we may be assured that they will profit by these advantages. And I come now to recom- mend with all the earnestness I am capable of, and imploring Almighty God for his blessing on our humble exertions, the institution and support of a Theological Seminary. Hitherto I have had many anxieties on this subject, and great doubts of our success. I feared that in attempting too much we might entirely fail. But Providence seems to have removed the greatest obstacles to
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the establishment of such an institution. Our people have become united and zealous in the cause, and evince a liberality which, until now, we had no reason to expect. A proposition has emanated from them to subscribe a hundred dol- lars each, payable in four and five years, which would enable persons even in moderate circum- stances to render their efficient aid to our contem- plated institution. The success in obtaining sub- scriptions, thus far, is quite encouraging. The clergy of our denomination, although in most in- stances they receive but a very inadequate sup- port, express their views of the importance of such an institution to our Southern Church in a desire to share with their people the burden of expense. This united zeal and perseverance will, we confi- dently hope, enable us at the next meeting of our Synod to report that ten thousand dollars have been pledged-a sum sufficient to enable our in- stitution to go into successful operation ; and al- though it would have but an humble origin, yet fostered by our liberality, our watchfulness, and our sincere and fervent prayers, we may, under the blessing of heaven, look forward to a long train of signal blessings upon our Church."
In addition to this address, Rev. Bachman also brought the subject before Synod in his discourse, which is likewise appended to the minutes of that year, and although an exceedingly interesting document, it is much too lengthy to be inserted here. It had the good effect of awakening the minds of the people generally on the importance
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of establishing the proposed Theological Semi- nary, and it accomplished good results even after the adjournment of Synod.
The chairman of the committee to receive dona- tions, &c., for this object, reported that by the 1st of January next, "$3000 will have been sub- scribed."
The Synod then adopted the following series of resolutions :
" Whereas, The committee appointed at the last meeting of this Synod for the purpose of raising a fund for the support of a Theological Seminary, have made considerable progress in obtaining con- tributions; and whereas, there is a prospect of having a sufficient fund collected in a short time ;
" Resolved, That in humble reliance on the Di- vine blessing, we now establish a Theological Semi- nary, to be conducted under the auspices of this Synod, and that we, by this resolusion, do conse- crate our efforts to Him, who is the great Head of the Church, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls- God over all, blessed forever.
" Resolved, That as a course of preparatory study may be necessary for many theological students, and in order to the defraying of the expenses of a Theological Institution, we have connected with it a classical academy, under the superintendence of the Professor of Theology, and that this acad- emy be open to all males over ten years of age."
The other resolutions refer to the appointment of a board of ten directors, the election of a treas- urer, when the board is to be elected, the election of a Professor of Theology, &c.
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"Mr. Henry Muller was elected Treasurer, and the Rev. J. G. Schwartz was unanimously chosen Professor of Theology."
Concerning Rev. Schwartz's election, and his fitness for the office, Rev. Bachman says:
"It was necessary that a professor to the insti- tution should be elected, and that he should enter at once upon the discharge of his duties. Every eye among the clergy and laity was immediately directed to Mr. Schwartz. They knew his educa- tion, his talents and piety. Although but twenty- three years of age, he had made the best use of his short life. There were few better Greek and Latin scholars in our country; he had attended considerably to the Hebrew language; he was proficient in the French, and he was studiously directing his attention to the German, and read and translated that language with considerable ease. He had made an equal proficiency in the other sciences. In theology he was probably as well read as any young man of his age. He had attentively read all the most important writings on the subject; and although he preferred the doc- trines of our Church to all others, yet his soul was the seat of Christian liberality, and it should be spoken to his praise, that although surrounded by Christians of other denominations, yet he never gave them offence, and they generally attended with satisfaction and improvement on his minis- trations. The objections to his youth were every day removing. He received a unanimous vote as Professor of Theology. After the election there
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was a pause of many minutes, when he arose to address us. For a time his feelings almost pre- vented the power of utterance. He at length pro- ceeded to thank us for our favorable opinion ; stated his sense of his incapacity to discharge the duties of the station to which he had been ap- pointed; pointed out its difficulties, but signified his willingness to undertake it by the help of God, and entreated our prayers and intercessions, and those of all Christians in his behalf. The youth of the individual-the occasion-the importance of the subject, and the feeling and eloquent ad- dress, melted the whole audience into tears, and I am sure that few who were then present will ever forget that impressive scene.
"He had entered the Junior Class of the South Carolina College in the autumn of 1824, and gradu- ated in 1826, having throughout his collegiate course conducted himself with such propriety, that he was greatly beloved by the members of his class. He received a high honor when he graduated, and a letter from one of the professors stated-'He is not only among the best scholars, but one of the very best young men that graduated here for many years past.'"
The permanent location of the Theological Semi- nary was postponed to some future time; how- ever, as Professor Schwartz had taken charge of several congregations in Newberry District, which he was unwilling to resign until another year had expired, he gave notice "that for the year 1831 his residence will be in Newberry District, with
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Colonel John Eigleberger, about ten miles below Newberry Court-house, and that he will be pre- pared, by the first Monday in February, to receive as theological students such persons, as shall have been approved by the standing committee of the Board of Directors.
"Boarding, inclusive of washing, &c., will be furnished at seventy dollars per annum."
The Seminary of Theology opened with very flattering prospects; so many students became connected with it, that Professor Schwartz ex- pressed his fears in a letter to Rev. J. Bachman, that if many more would come, they could not be accommodated : and of their character he further states : " All the young men now with me are promising-and if their hearts be right in the sight of God, I have no doubt they will prove a blessing to our Church. The heart is known, however, only to God-we can judge only by the outward appearance; but did I think that any of these students were deficient in proper views of religion and of the ministerial office, I should feel it my bounden duty to advise them at once not to enter this institution. I dread the idea of being instrumental in educating any one for the holy office of the ministry, who through a want of per- sonal religion may bring disgrace upon our sacred calling."
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Section 10. New Churches erected in South Carolina ; and the early death of Revs. Wingard, Schwartz, Bergman, and Daniel Dreher.
1. Mount Calvary Church, Edgefield District, was dedicated by the Rev. Messrs. Schwartz and W. D. Strobel, on the 21st of February, 1830. The congregation at that time numbered twenty-four communicants.
2. St. Paul's, a fine new church in Newberry District, was dedicated on the third Sunday in June, 1830, by the Rev. Messrs. Rauch and Schwartz. A revived state of religion had been visible for some time past, and soon after the dedication of the church thirty-seven persons were added at one time by confirmation.
3. Shiloh Church, in the fork of the two Edisto Rivers, and in the neighborhood of Mr. Branden- burg, was completed this year, and on the second Sabbath in January, 1831, it was dedicated ; it con- tained at the time a membership of but fifteen com- municants.
4. Ebenezer Church, in the city of Columbia, a neat brick edifice, located in an extensive lot, with an ample God's-acre for the repose of the dead, was completed this year, and dedicated the 28th of November, 1830. This congregation was gath- ered together and organized by Rev. Jacob Win- gard, who manifested great zeal and good manage- ment in this laudable enterprise. The congregation being small, and the membership generally in lim-
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ited circumstances, the church edifice was erected principally through the munificence of Mr. Henry Muller, Sr., of Platt Springs, Lexington District, S. C. In February, 1865, it became a prey to the flames of the burning of Columbia by the Northern army, under General Sherman; but has since been rebuilt by funds, donated partly by Lutheran con- gregations and individuals at the North.
St. Stephen's Church, at Lexington Court-house, a frame building, with ample accommodations, was erected this year, but not completed until the fall of 1831, when on the fifth Sunday in October it was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. Being located in a town where the Lutheran ele- ment largely predominates, it has the prospect of becoming a flourishing church. It was likewise burnt down during the late war.
6. During the year 1831, "the Church in the Sandhills was also dedicated."
7. " The Church at Hollow Creek is said to be nearly completed, and will be opened for worship in the course of a month."
8. "A new church in Barnwell District, near the Saltketchers, is also being erected, and is in a considerable state of forwardness."
The above are quotations from the president's report to Synod in 1831.
God was visibly blessing the South Carolina Synod in enlarging its sphere of influence and usefulness, in the increase of its members and con- gregations; but there is also a shady side to that picture-God visited the Synod by the removal of
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a number of useful ministers of the Gospel by the strong hand of death; they were taken away when yet in their years of youthful strength and vigor, when the Church had centred great hopes in them, and they gave promise of a long life of service in the Lord's vineyard.
Rev. Jacob Wingard was the son of Samuel Wingard, and a young man of much promise; of him the Rev. J. Bachman, President of Synod, remarks in his report of 1831: " Mr. Wingard had but recently returned from the Theological Institu- tion at Gettysburg, where he had been highly re- spected for his talents, his piety, and worth. But his friends beheld with anxiety and sorrow that his constitution, which had never been strong, had been attacked by an insidious disease; but trust- ing to that heavenly physician, who is able to re- store health and vigor to the diseased frame and cheer the drooping hopes of man, we still looked forward to the time when his recovery would re- store him to usefulness in the Church, and by our advice he was solemnly ordained and set apart to the work of the ministry. But on the 14th day of January last, the God whom he loved to serve, and in whose cause he had spent the whole of his short
life, summoned him away. Mr. Wingard was a young man of uncommon attainments, considering the disadvantages under which he had labored in his youth, for the want of a systematic education. He was in most cases his own instructor; every leisure hour that could be spared from those occu- pations in which he was necessarily engaged was
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devoted to books; and all his reading and study had for its object the promotion of his Savior's re- ligion. For this object he left his peaceful home, and devoted himself to solitude and study in a distant part of our land. Here he was attacked by a disease, which he bore with Christian resig- nation. When he was summoned away, he ap- peared still at the post of duty, and meekly re- signed himself to the will of God, trusting through the mercy of his Savior for the salvation of his soul, and the joys of heaven."
With Rev. Prof. John G. Schwartz the reader is already well acquainted. He commenced his labors as the first regular Professor of Theology in connection with the Lutheran Church in the Caro- linas, early in February, 1831, under the most flattering prospects, and with the high hopes of the Church centred upon him; but these hopes were destined to a speedy disappointment; in less than seven months Prof. Schwartz was numbered with the dead.
The following brief sketch of his life is fur- nished by Rev. Dr. Hazelius in his " American Lutheran Church :"
"The Rev. John G. Schwartz was born in Charleston, S. C., in the year 1807, where he also received the preliminary part of his education. Afterwards he became an alumnus of the South Carolina College, at Columbia, where he gradu- ated with distinguished honor in December, 1826. On his return to Charleston he commenced the study of theology under the direction of the Rev.
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Mr. Bachman. In 1828 he was elected Junior Professor of Languages in the Charleston College. But desirous of serving the Lord as a minister of the Gospel, he freely surrendered his present ad- vantages, as well as his fair temporal prospects of the future, and engaged as a missionary among the destitute churches in the interior of South Carolina.
"His labors were eminently blessed, and our brother enjoyed the full confidence of the mem- bers of his churches. But his career was to be short; for wise purposes, to us unknown, the Lord called his young servant away in the midst of his useful labors. In the summer of 1831 he was seized with a violent fever, which at first appear- ance seemed to yield to the influence of medicine, but returning with increased severity, put relief beyond the power of human means, and on the 26th of August it terminated his valuable life, having just reached the 24th year of his age."
From a funeral discourse, occasioned by the death of Rev. J. G. Schwartz, and delivered by the Rev. Mr. Bachman, the following testimony of the character and worth of Prof. Schwartz is obtained :
"Should it be asked what was the peculiar trait in the character of Mr. Schwartz, I would say that it was a solemn determination conscientiously to discharge his duty to his God. For this he left his peaceful home and the friends of his youth, and retired into a sickly part of our county; and from thence he wrote: 'Here in the woods of
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Carolina I suspect my lot is cast-here I shall live, and here I shall die. To be instrumental in doing good and enlarging the Redeemer's kingdom is all I ask.'
" That a man who was so devoted to the duties of the Christian should possess the amiable graces of benevolence, we cannot wonder. He felt it his duty to exert all his powers to do good to the bodies and souls of men. The great maxim, no man liveth to himself, was engraven on his mind. Without profession or show, he engaged in and ardently devoted himself to every work of benevo- lence.
" The shock given to the people among whom he lived by this event was unusual, and the calam- ity was heightened by its bereaving them of their fondest hopes. A gentleman who attended the funeral writes: 'No tongue can express, no pen can describe the feelings of the people on this melancholy occasion. The remains of our dearly beloved friend were interred this morning in Beth- lehem churchyard; the largest concourse of people that were ever assembled in this country attended the funeral. The sad looks, the loud sobs and the tears shed on this mournful occasion, amply testi- fied the high esteem in which he was held by all, rich and poor, old and young, white and black- pardon me for introducing the word black, but I must say, that even the poor Africans sympathized and sorrowed, saying, "Dear Mr. Schwartz."' Three of the ministers of our Church officiated at his funeral, and all bore testimony, that never had
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an individual departed in that community who was more beloved, or whose loss was more sin- cerely lamented than was that of our departed friend."
The next victim in the ministerial ranks of the South Carolina Synod, which death claimed as his own, was the Rev. C. F. Bergman, who, though laboring in Ebenezer, Georgia, was ordained by, and labored in connection with, the South Caro- lina Synod, and maintained his official relationship with the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas to the close of his life. It is therefore proper that an account of his life, labors and death be here in- serted, which is furnished by Rev. S. A. Mealy in his funeral discourse, preached to Rev. Bergman's congregation at Ebenezer, occasioned by the death of their beloved pastor:
"The Rev. Christopher F. Bergman was born at Ebenezer, Georgia, on the 7th of January, 1793. His father, the Rev. John E. Bergman, a native of Germany, and the learned and exem- plary minister of this church for the long period of thirty-six years, had the exclusive care of the education of the subject of our present recollec- tions. He may, indeed, with the utmost truth, be said to have been trained up from youth to manhood in his own father's study.
"The general deportment of our friend was grave, and his very appearance forbade the rude approach of impertinent curiosity. One who saw him for the first time, would have thought him, perhaps, inaccessible and austere. But the same
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individual, upon a closer acquaintance, would have perceived his error, and found himself in the presence of gravity indeed, but a gravity most delicately softened by every generous virtue and amiable emotion. His outward bearing to others was affable, but unobtrusive. He was almost al- ways cheerful, but never trifling. I have often seen his countenance lighted up with a smile among his friends, but distorted with laughter, never. His feelings, though cautious in their dis- play, were constitutionally warm; and his affec- tion for those whom he loved, ardent. In all the social relations of life, as a man-as a citizen-a husband-a parent-a master-a neighbor, and a friend-those who best knew him will bear me out in the assertion that he reflected honor upon the age in which he lived, and may be safely imi- tated, without any qualification whatsoever, by those whom he has left behind him.
" And what he was to this people, as the affec- tionate pastor, there are none of you will ever for- get. How this 'good man, who was over you in the Lord,' preached to you-how he consoled you in the hour of sorrow-how he dried your tears in the season of affliction-how he prayed beside your sick-beds-how sincerely he loved you, and how faithfully he admonished you-is well known to all of this congregation, and shall be known to assembled worlds in the great day of judgment, when pastors and their charges shall meet again.
"I inquired whether, if it was the Divine will, he would not wish to be spared a little longer to
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his dear family and congregation. He said noth- ing for a considerable space, till I began to think he had not heard my question. At length he re- plied, 'If it is the divine will, I would rather go now. I feel that for me to depart and to be with Christ is far better. I think I can truly say, " for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."' I ob- served, ' Then you are not afraid to die?' He said, 'No!' ' You have no doubts of your acceptance with God, through our great Mediator?' He re- plied, 'None. Blessed be the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I have no doubts.'
" While I was engaged in prayer, he held one of my hands clasped in both his own, and distinctly though feebly repeated almost every word after me, and concluded the prayer for me with the usual Amen. He then lay composed for some time, when at length he warmly pressed my hand and said, louder than he had yet spoken, 'Fare- well.' He now repeated that triumphant hymn,
' Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.'
"These were among the last words he used. At a quarter before three, A.M., on the 26th of March, 1832, he ceased to breathe, and was gath- ered to his rest in peace."
On the 14th of August, 1832, God called another young laborer to his early rest. Of him, Dr. Ha- zelius writes :
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