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 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
"The Rev. Daniel Dreher, son of Mr. John Dreher, of Lexington District, enjoyed the advan-
43
506
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
tages of the advice and instruction of pious parents during his childhood and years of his youth, and by that instrumentality the Lord directed him early to the knowledge of his sinful nature, the need of a Savior, and to Jesus, the friend of re- penting sinners, whose merits he embraced, through faith in application to his own soul. Having found Jesus precious, and the rock on which he had built the house of his hope, he be- . came anxious to recommend him also unto others. Having given some attention to the study of di- vinity under the direction of his elder brother, the Rev. Godfrey Dreher, he was received by Synod as licentiate. He was an acceptable and zealous preacher, and his remembrance is cher- ished by all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He departed in hope of eternal life."
Thus was the Synod of South Carolina sorely smitten at that time, and the Church bereft of some of its most promising laborers. In view of these severe afflictions, the President of Synod, Rev. John Bachman, in his address to Synod, thus expresses himself:
"Let our past afflictions teach us humility, an increase of zeal and an humble trust and confi- dence in the protection and mercy of God ; and as the hour of the night is darkest which precedes the rising morn, and as the day is often calmest which succeeds the violence of the tempest, so these visitations of heaven, like the calamities which befell the Church of old, may be followed by a long train of mercies and blessings to our
507
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
beloved Zion. But whilst we rely for future suc- cess and prosperity on the blessings of heaven, let us in the meantime do all that lies in our power to promote its best interests."
Section 11. Founding of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C., and Arrival of Rev. E. L. Hazelius, D.D., as Professor of Theology.
The fund necessary for the endowment of a professorship in the Theological Seminary was constantly increasing, and at the meeting of the South Carolina Synod of 1831, "liberal offers were made by several persons for the location of the Seminary in their respective neighborhoods.
" After much interesting discussion had been elicited, in which several, both of the clerical and lay members, took an animated part, the following resolutions were finally adopted :
" Resolved, That the location of our Theological Seminary be deferred till the next meeting of Synod; and that during the recess of the Synod the Board of Directors ascertain which of any two places selected will hold out the greatest induce- ments for the establishment of our Seminary in that place.
" Resolved, That Lexington Village and Sandy Run, the latter comprising a circuit of from one to two miles from the church, be the places desig- nated in the above resolution."
At the next meeting of Synod, held in St. Mat-
508
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
thew's Church, Orangeburg District, the question of locating the Seminary was finally disposed of by the reading of the proposals made by the above-mentioned two places, which were as fol- lows:
" Lexington Village, in money and other property, $5287 Sandy Run, 4000
Excess in favor of Lexington Village, . . $1287 "
And the passing of the following resolution :
" Resolved, That since Lexington Village holds out the greatest inducements, our Theological Seminary shall be located in that place."
In reference to the Seminary, it was also
" Resolved, That the sincere thanks of this Synod be returned to our friends and the members of our Church for their very generous subscriptions to our Theological Seminary.
" Resolved, That it be enjoined on all our min- isters to bring the subject of our Theological Seminary to the view of their respective congre- gations, and to impress upon them the necessity of using their most strenuous exertions to promote its best interests.
" Resolved, That the Rev. Godfrey Dreher and Mr. Henry Muller be appointed by this Synod as their agents, to solicit donations and subscriptions to our Theological Seminary, and that they report to this Synod at its next meeting."
Mrs. Mariana Chisolm, of Charleston, S. C., pre- sented to the Synod, for the use of the Seminary, a large Bible and hymnbook, "accompanied with
509
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
her earnest prayer that the institution may be in- strumental in furnishing the now destitute churches with many pious and able ministers of the Lu- theran faith." Whereupon the Synod
" Resolved, That the thanks of this Synod be re- turned to Mrs. Mariana Chisolm for her very ac- ceptable present of a valuable Bible and Lutheran hymn and prayer book for the use of our Semi- nary."
During the year 1833 the necessary buildings were erected near Lexington Court-House, both for recitation rooms and a dwelling for the theo- logical Professor; and at the same time the Board of Directors elected Rev. Dr. E. L. Hazelius, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Professor of Theology ; and the Rev. Washington Muller, a graduate of South Carolina College, Principal of the Classical Academy.
Rev. Dr. Hazelius was a native of Silesia, in the kingdom of Prussia ; in early life he was connected with the Moravian Church ; and, having " received his collegiate education in Saxony and Prussia, he subsequently graduated in the Moravian Theologi- cal Seminary at Niesky, in 1797. He arrived in America in 1800," and was for a time the classical teacher at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, a Moravian institution of learning, where one of his pupils was the future Bishop Van Vleck. In 1809 he was ordained by the New York Ministerium a minister of the Lutheran Church. In 1815 he was elected Professor of Theology at Hartwick Seminary, New York, "where he remained a.
510
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
faithful and successful instructor until 1830, when he removed to Gettysburg Seminary," as one of its professors.
In the fall of 1833, he became located at Lexing- ton, S. C., where he remained in the service of his Master for nearly twenty years, to the close of his life.
In the synodical address of Rev. J. Bachman, he was kindly and heartily welcomed as Professor of Theology and as a member of the South Caro- lina Synod in the following terms :
" It is a source of no small gratification to me to be permitted to welcome among us our brother and friend, the recently elected Professor of The- ology in our Seminary. He has come, we hope and believe, to spend the remainder of an active and a useful life in the midst of us. He has brought along with him those talents which God gave him-that learning which a life devoted to study has enabled him to acquire-and that expe- rience, zeal, and fidelity which caused him to be respected, and rendered him eminently useful, in all those valuable institutions over which he was heretofore called to preside. His unanimous elec- tion to this responsible office-the pleasure which we all felt on hearing of his acceptance of the ap- pointment-the sacrifices he has made to come among us-are all so many loud calls upon us to perform our part of the contract with liberal and cheerful hearts. Let us co-operate with him in all those regulations which are calculated to pro- mote the best interests of the institution, and let
511
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
us give to that institution our united efforts and our fervent prayers."
Both the Theological Seminary and the Clas- sical Academy went into operation on the first Monday of January, 1834, and both commenced with very favorable prospects ; a number of young men enrolled themselves as students of theology, whilst the local and other patrons of the classical department were quite numerous.
In the inaugural address of Rev. Dr. Hazelius, in which he impresses his audience with the ne- cessity of a theological training for ministers of the gospel, the following are the closing remarks : "Brethren ! Benefactors of this institution! I am aware your satisfaction at the success which has crowned your efforts, your labors, and your ex- pense, is great, and you regret not having at- tempted, though few in number, what in other sections of our country, large legacies, the contri- butions of strangers, and the united efforts of sev- eral Synods only could accomplish. To you the Lutheran Church of South Carolina and the adja- cent States is largely indebted; and though no monuments of marble may hereafter point out to posterity what you have done for the Church, your latest posterity will bless your memory, and the Searcher of the heart will reward you.
" We have the proud consciousness of knowing that we all have entertained and do now entertain no other view, no other aim in the establishment of this Seminary than the enlargement of the Re- deemer's kingdom, and there is no doubt, if our
512
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
institutions remain faithful to this principle, and faithful in the application of the means intrusted to us by our brethren for the benefit of the Semi- nary, and also in the instruction of our young brethren, if we never stoop to mean intrigue and management, but act with a single eye to the glory of God, and with candor towards man, the blessing of Almighty God will accompany this institution ; it will prove a benefit to the Church, and its blessings will descend to the latest genera- tions."
CHAPTER VI.
HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE CARO- LINAS CONTINUED, TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1850.
Section 1. Condition of the Lutheran Church in North and South Carolina in 1834.
DURING the three years which intervened be- tween 1831 and 1834, very few changes occurred in the North Carolina Synod; the Rev. John T. Tabler, a student from Gettysburg, became con- nected with the Synod, and labored as pastor in Salisbury, but he remained there only one year, after which he removed to Virginia.
513
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
In 1832, the Rev. Henry Graeber resigned his charge in Lincoln County, and became the pastor of St. John's and Organ Churches, which had be- come vacant by the removal of Revs. D. Scherer and J. Kaempfer. In 1833, the Rev. Samuel Rothrock, having completed his studies at Gettys- burg, returned to North Carolina, was licensed by Synod, and labored as missionary in several vacant churches for a short time, after which he became the pastor of Salisbury and Union Churches. The following year the Rev. Daniel Jenkins became connected with the North Carolina Synod; he came from " the State of Maryland, about the be- ginning of November, 1833, and expressing a de- sire to serve our Church in this Southern section as a missionary," was licensed by the President of Synod " to preach in our destitute churches until the next session of the Ministerium."
The congregations in Lincoln County, having had no regular pastor of the North Carolina Synod since the removal of Rev. Graeber from their midst, and having been only occasionally visited by missionaries and other members of Synod, be- came eventually connected with the Tennessee Synod.
Concerning the state of the Church in 1834, the President of Synod reports: "The events of the past synodical year have become, in some measure, more encouraging than they have been for several years before. Those churches in our connection that could be regularly supplied, had not only a considerable increase since our last annual meet-
514
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
ing, but are also generally in a prosperous condi- tion. The gospel has been faithfully preached, and the holy ordinances regularly administered. There are still a goodly number of small but re- spectable congregations that are vacant, which, if they could be supplied with ministers, would add considerable strength to this weak but evangelical member of the Lutheran household of faith. Prospects have also appeared during the last year, of forming several new congregations."
During the year 1834 the Tennessee Synod had no meeting, caused by the absence of so many ministers. The next year the Synod met at Blue Spring Church, Green County, Tennessee, at which meeting the Rev. William Hancher, Daniel S. Schulfeld, Christian G. Reitzel and Samuel C. Parmer, were ordained to the office of deacon. At that time the Revs. Daniel Moser, Adam Mil- ler, Jr., and Jacob Casner were laboring in Lin- coln County, N. C .; the Rev. H. Goodman, in Ire- dell County, N. C .; the Rev. C. G. Reitzel, in Guilford County, N. C .; and Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, in Rowan County, N. C. The other twelve min- isters of the Tennessee Synod had charges in other States outside of the Carolinas.
During this year, on the third Sunday in August, a new Lutheran Synod was organized in the State of Indiana, with which the three ministers of the Tennessee Synod, who resided in Indiana, doubt- less connected themselves. They besought their brethren of the parent Synod not to regard this
515
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
movement as " a separation or schism," but rather as a means of "strengthening" the Church.
In the South Carolina Synod no changes of im- portance occurred during the year 1834. "The Theological Seminary located at Lexington," says the President of Synod, in his annual report, " has thus far fully equalled our most sanguine expec- tations." Nine young men formed the first class of students of theology, namely, F. F. Harris, J. P. Ring, D. Bernhardt, E. A. Bolles, E. Hawkins, W. Berly, H. Stoudenmyre, L. Bedenbaugh and P. A. Strobel. Valuable additions to the library of the Seminary were presented by Messrs. Henry Muller, Sr., of Platt Springs, Thomas Purse, of Savannah, and the congregation of Ebenezer, Georgia.
In December, 1833, the Missionary Committee of the Synod employed the Rev. P. Rizer, " who arrived at Lexington, S. C., from the State and Synod of Maryland," as a traveling missionary in the States of Georgia and Alabama. "He met with a very cordial reception from many Lutherans who had emigrated from Carolina, and found them still attached to the doctrines and usages of our Church." In Monroeville, at Flatt Creek, and at Bogue-Chitto Creek, in the State of Alabama, the prospects for the immediate organization of Lutheran churches was so flattering, and the de- mand for a pastor so urgent, that on the return of Rev. Rizer, one of the theological students, Mr. F. F. Harris, was licensed, and sent at once to these people as their pastor. At the meeting of
516
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Synod in 1834, he was ordained as the pastor of this hopeful charge in Alabama, and remained in that State eight years, when he removed to Ohio. He was succeeded by Revs. Daily and Stouden- myre, but nothing is now known of these churches, and no Lutheran minister is at present laboring in that portion of Alabama.
The President of Synod, Rev. J. Bachman, in his annual report, urges upon the members of Synod the importance and necessity of catechetical instruction, stating: "The mind of man requires instruction as well as excitement, and in all our min- istrations we should be cautious to enlighten the understanding, and to enable our hearers to give a reason for the hope that is in them."
Section 2. Rev. Daniel Jenkins' Revivals in North Carolina-Commissioners sent by the South Caro- lina Synod to the North Carolina Synod, with Proposals in Behalf of the Lexington Theological Seminary-Death of Rev. Gottlieb Shober.
The revival system or "new measures," as it was then called, was not introduced into the North Carolina Synod to its full extent until the year 1835, when the Rev. Daniel Jenkins, from Mary- land, introduced it in his congregations. It created considerable opposition both among the clergy and laity of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina. The subject was debated at Synod, and the Min- isterium passed the following resolutions :
517
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
" Resolved, That we countenance no distinction between those Christians who are separately prayed for in public, and those who retire into their chambers for devotion.
" Resolved, That if any licentiate should depre- ciate religious instruction of youth by way of cate- chization, or otherwise, he can never be ordained."
At no period of time has the North Carolina Synod abandoned catechetical instruction, al- though in some few congregations this old-estab- lished "good rule of our Church" fell into dis- use. Frequently the "new measures" accom- plished more harm than good; and, to use a para- doxical expression often quoted, several churches were "revived to death." The system finally cul- minated into regular camp meetings; but from that time forward it commenced to decline, and the ruins of the temporary little cabins, denomi- nated "tents," and of the covered sheds for preach- ing to large assemblies, denominated "arbors," may still be seen in some places, but they are no longer used for the purpose originally intended.
In the year 1836, Rev. Dr. Hazelius and Mr. Henry Muller attended the meeting of the North Carolina Synod. They came as commissioners sent by the Synod of South Carolina for the pur- pose of conferring with the members of the North Carolina Synod, "as to the possibility and mutual advantage of a union of effort in the support and patronage of the Seminary at Lexington."
The commissioners made the following pro- posals :
518
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
"1. The Synod of South Carolina will allow that of North Carolina such share in the government of the institution established at Lexington, as their portion of the funds shall equitably entitle them to.
"2. The students from North Carolina that enter the Seminary, shall be entitled to free tui- tion, as well as the students from South Carolina. "3. The fund collected by our brethren from North Carolina shall remain under the control of the Synod of North Carolina, and only its yearly proceeds made over to the treasurer of our Semi- nary."
The Synod of North Carolina having "atten- tively heard" the proposition of the South Caro- lina Synod's commissioners, unanimously-
" Resolved, To appoint two delegates, one cleri- cal and one lay delegate, to meet the Synod of South Carolina at its next session in November, with instructions from this body to unite our efforts with our brethren in South Carolina, in the sup- port of their Seminary."
The delegates elected by ballot were Rev. Wm. Artz and Col. John Smith; alternates, Rev. H. Graeber and Moses L. Brown.
Arrangements were then made for the creation of a fund for the support of the Seminary at Lex- ington, S. C. The committee were also instructed "to adhere strictly to the propositions made by the commissioners of the South Carolina Synod, and to make no agreement to raise a larger sum of money than can be obtained."
At the succeeding meeting of the South -Caro-
519
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
lina Synod, Rev. Wm. Artz, delegate from the North Carolina Synod, being present, the above propositions were confirmed, with a few addi- tional provisos, one of which was, " That the right be conceded to the Synods respectively to rescind this agreement, and annul the obligations grow- ing out of it, whenever in the opinion of either body such a dissolution is advisable."
On the 27th of June, 1838, the Rev. Gottlieb Shober "departed this life, after being confined for one day only, although for some years past his bodily health and native vigor of mind had been rapidly declining. At his death he was in the eighty-second year of his age. His life was spent in untired activity and useful labors until old age admonished him to seek retirement." In memory of his death, the North Carolina Synod passed the following resolutions :
" Resolved, That this Synod has heard with deep regret of the death of the Rev. Gottlieb Shober, who has, for many years, been an efficient and useful member of this body.
" Resolved, That this Synod will ever cherish with grateful remembrance, the active zeal and eminent services of Father Shober."
A lengthy memoir of Rev. Shober is contained in the Evangelical Review, vol. viii, pp. 404-415, from which we learn that he was a native of Beth- lehem, Pennsylvania, and, "at the time of his death, was the only survivor of those who had com- menced the building of the town of Salem, N. C."
" In the spring of 1810, in company with Rev. Mr. Storch, he visited South Carolina, during
520
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
which occasion he preached his first sermon." He was a member of the North Carolina Synod for a period of twenty-eight years.
Section 3. Increase of Lutheran Ministers in the Carolinas-Establishment of New Congrega- tions- Visit of Rev. Dr. Bachman to Europe.
The influence of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C., was now beginning to be felt in the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas; both the North and South Carolina Synods received from it large additions to the number of their ministers, and in other Southern States a number of its graduates were called to labor. It supplied a greatly and long felt want of the Lutheran Church in the South.
During the five years preceding the meeting of the North Carolina Synod in 1840, the following additions were made to its clerical roll :
1. Rev. Edwin A. Bolles, a graduate of the Lexington, S. C., Theological Seminary, was licensed by the South Carolina Synod in 1835, and became the pastor of the Lutheran church in Salisbury, N. C., where he, however, remained but a short time, and removed to Ebenezer, Georgia. He is laboring at present in South Caro- lina, as State Agent for the American Bible So- ciety.
2. Rev. Benjamin Arey, from the Theological Seminary of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, licensed by the North Carolina Synod in 1836, became at
521
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
first located in Davidson County, and labored in various charges in the bounds of Synod, but finally located himself permanently in Iredell County, N. C.
3. Rev. John Swicegood, licensed at the same time, made his permanent home in Davidson County, but frequently labored in the counties adjoining. He departed this life September 9th, 1870, in the full triumphs of a Gospel faith.
4. Rev. Elijah Hawkins, a graduate of the Sem- inary at Lexington, S. C., became connected with the Synod in 1837, and labored in Wythe County, Virginia, to the close of a most useful life.
5. Rev. Philip A. Strobel, likewise connected himself with the North Carolina Synod in 1837, having graduated at Lexington, S. C., in 1836; he labored for a short time as agent for the Sem- inary, and then located himself in Concord, N. C. He did good service in the North Carolina Synod in establishing several new churches, and remained in Concord four years, when he returned to South Carolina.
6. Rev. Jacob Crim, from the Lexington Sem- inary, attached himself to the North Carolina Synod in 1838, and labored successively in David- son, Rowan and Davie Counties. In 1869 he removed to the State of Texas, where he shortly afterwards was called to his rest.
7. Rev. John J. Greever, a "student of the Gettysburg Theological Seminary," was licensed by the North Carolina Synod in 1840; he labors
44
522
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
still in Wythe County, Virginia, where he was first located.
8. Rev. N. Aldrich, a " student of divinity of the Episcopal Church at Bristol College, Pennsyl- vania," was licensed by the North Carolina Synod in 1840, remained only a few months at Concord, N. C., when he removed to Savannah, Georgia, and became the successor of Rev. S. A. Mealy, as pastor of the Lutheran church in that city. He is the present pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, in Charlotte, N. C.
9. Rev. Gideon Scherer, "a student of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, S. C.," was licensed by the North Carolina Synod in 1840, and located himself in Wythe County, Virginia.
In the South Carolina Synod the increase in the number of ministers was still greater, and it was not long before all the vacant charges were sup- plied with the regular ministrations of the word and sacraments.
In the year 1831, before the Theological Semi- nary went into full operation, four ministers were licensed by the South Carolina Synod, whose names have not yet been mentioned, namely : Revs. Herrman Aull, William Hotchkiss, George Haltiwanger, Sr., and Robert Cloy. Rev. Aull lived, labored and died in Newberry District, S. C. Rev. Haltiwanger became the pastor of St. Mat- thew's Church in Orangeburg District, S. C., and labored with great acceptance and usefulness in various parts of South Carolina to the close of his
523
IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
life, April 18th, 1849. Rev. Cloy labored in Barn- well District, S. C .; he died May 4th, 1853.
From 1835 to 1840, the following additional names were added to the ministerial roll of the South Carolina Synod :
1. Rev. James P. Ring, a graduate of the Lex- ington Theological Seminary, was licensed by the South Carolina Synod in 1835, and devoted his life to teaching. He was Professor of a classical institution in the city of Augusta, Georgia, at which place he died, April 12th, 1852.
2. Rev. David Bernhardt, was the son of Rev. C. E. Bernhardt, whose history has been given in a previous chapter. The son became a student and graduate of the Theological Seminary at Lex- ington, and was licensed by Synod, A.D. 1835. He had charge of St. Matthew's Church, Orange- burg District, and Sandy Run Church, Lexington District, S. C., up to the close of his life, April 13th, 1843.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.