USA > Tennessee > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod > Part 15
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The Committee on Union with the General Synod South, was continued.
The Committee on Joint Synod not being prepared to make a report, recommended that a committee of five, three ministers and two laymen, be appointed to take charge of the niatter.
A committee of two ministers and one layman was ap- pointed, to report at some future session of this meeting in regard to that matter. The following is the report of this committee :
Your committee, Revs. A. J .- Fox and J. Killian, on the subject of a Joint Synod or Branch Synods, have ex- amined the matter, as far as we have had opportunity, and regard such an organization as very desirable, provided some safe ground of union can be traced out, and we regard this as at least possible. We regard the calling of a con- vention of all concerned, at as early a day as practicable, as the best plan, and would, therefore, propose to our brethren of the Evangelical Lutheran Holston Synod, to meet us, in convention, as soon after the rising of this Synod in the year 1870, as may be convenient, in Grace Church, Catawba County, North Carolina, as this is one of the most central points. And that they then enter into a free conference with us, upon this subject, and endeavor to agree upon some safe plan by which the end may be consummated.
Resolved 1. Therefore, that a copy of this report be forwarded by the Corresponding Secretary of this Synod to the chairman of the committee appointed by that synod to correspond with us upon this subject.
Resolved 2. That the committee of the Holston Synod, charged with this matter, be requested to furnish the Corre- sponding Secretary, as soon as possible after the rising of tlieir Synod, with a copy of their proceedings.
Resolved 3. That, if our proposition to call a convention is complied with, the time of the meeting of this convention be fixed upon at the next meeting of this Synod.
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A church paper, called the Lutheran and Missionary, was recommended.
Rev. William H. Cone, delegate from the North Caro- lina Synod, was prevented from attending.
The President having announced, in his report, the death of Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, and that of Rev. E. E. Smyre, the following was adopted by a rising vote :
Resolved 1. That we have learned, with feelings of the deepest sorrow, of the death of our dear and well beloved brethren and fellow servants of our Lord and Master, Jacob Stirewalt and E. E. Smyre.
Resolved 2. That, in the death of these brethren, we have lost two of our most esteemed and worthy workmen in our Redeemer's cause upon earth; and that the Church has sustained a loss not easily repaired ; nevertheless, we feel ourselves fully resigned to this very painful dispensa- tion of Divine Providence, and earnestly pray God to speed- ily fill their places with others equally good and true.
Resolved 3. That this Synod hereby expresses her deep and most sincere sympathy with the family of brother Stirewalt, and also the relations and other friends of brother Smyre.
The committee, Revs. J. Killian and A. Efird, appointed to prepare a plan for Beneficiary Education, and submit it to this session of Synod, submitted the following :
I. That, owing to the want of sufficient time, we find it impossible to mature such a plan as we think would be necessary to enable us to operate successfully in this im- portant enterprise of the Church. We, therefore, respect- fully ask Synod to continue the committee to the next convention of Synod, so that we may have sufficient time to mature it.
2. That we respectfully recommend to Synod the im- portance and necessity of urging our ministers to take up collections, at an early day, to raise funds to enable J. Stirewalt and others to prosecute their studies for the Gospel Ministry.
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3. That whatever money may be raised by the Synod for beneficiary purposes, be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer of Synod, and that he pay out the money, upon the order of the President of Synod, countersigned by the Secretary.
4. That the Treasurer be requested to report, to the next meeting of Synod, the amount of money coming into his hands, and the amounts paid over by him to the bene- ficiaries of the Synod, with proper vouchers.
5. We further recommend, that the officers of the Synod be appointed an Executive Committee, to decide upon the merits of the applicants for aid from the funds of the Synod.
6. We recommend further, that the beneficiaries of Synod be requested to report to Synod at her next meeting, a certificate from their teachers, of their moral standing and progress and proficiency in their studies.
This report was adopted, and this seems to be the first direct formal action of this Synod in regard to beneficiary education.
Mr. John N. Stirewalt, of New Market, Virginia, and Mr. M. A. Aderholt, of North Carolina, were received as students of theology.
Rev. William H. Swaney was honorably dismissed to the English District of Ohio.
The Parochial Report shows that during the year 408 infants and 39 adults were baptized, and 298 persons were confirmed.
Synod adjourned to meet in St. Peter's Church, South Carolina, November 5, 1870.
Obituary of Rev. Jacob Stirewalt .- Rev. Jacob Stirewalt was born near Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, on Saturday, August 17, IS05, and departed this life, at his residence, in New Market, Shen- andoah County, Virginia, on Saturday the 21st of August, 1869, at the age of 64 years and 4 days.
He was the second son, the third and youngest child of Capt. John and Elizabeth Stirewalt ; was baptized in infancy, and eventually con- firmed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. By his pions parents he was trained up and educated, and acquired that firmness of Christian
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character and those habits of persevering and systematic labor which marked his entire life. In his day the advantages for acquiring au ed- ucation were not equal to what they are now, still by close study and personal application he attained an eminent degree of literary and theological knowledge.
He was married to Henrietta Henkel, the daughter of Elias Henkel, at New Market, Virginia, on the 8th day of Jauuary, 1833. Two of his sons, Johu N. aud Jerome Paul, are now actively engaged in the work of the Gospel ministry.
He was ordained Deacon, September 14, 1837, and preached his first sermon at Mt. Calvary Church, Page County, Virginia. On Sep- tember 14, 1838, he was ordained Pastor, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. On the same day of his ordination to the office of Pastor, the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, of which he was a most faith- ful member, "Resolved, That Revs. A. Henkel, Jacob Killian, and Jacob Stirewalt, be requested to compile a Liturgy for the use of our church, and present it to the next session of the Synod for examina- tion." This duty was performed ; the Liturgy was adopted, publish- ed, and is yet extensively used in our church.
As evidencing the energy and devotion, with which he discharged the duties of the office of Pastor, it may not be improper to state that, in the 32 years of his ministry, he preached 3132 sermous, of which 560 were funeral discourses ; he confirmed 708 persous, and baptized 1259, and united in marriage 171 couples in the same period.
As if to complete the circle of his life, just three months before his death, he preached his last sermou in the same county and near the same place, at which he preached his first. A life of such protracted usefulness, and crowned with such fruits, may well lead us to ponder upon the character and habits of the man, and studying the means by which he accomplished so much, we may find in his example many useful hints to ourselves.
His character, like his features, was clearly defined and individual. Regulating his own life, even in its minor details, by the sternest and most critical rules of the severest discipline, he always had a charitable word for the faults and errors of others. Proclaiming the enormity of siu and the eternal punishment of the ungodly with terrible distiuct- ness, he delighted most in picturing the absolute perfectiou of the character of Christ, and wooing by the sweet inclinings of a Savior's boundless love. He never denounced the evil without presenting the remedy ; uever threatened with puuishment, that he did not more forcibly offer the rewards which attend the good. To him the Christian religion was an active, controlling principle-indispensable to man's happiness, not only in the world to come, but in the every day affairs of life. He did not merely preach in the pulpit ; he so lived in practice
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that his whole life was but a continued application to his sermons.
The Bible and the works of Luther were his almost daily study, and the churches to whom he ministered listened as he preached, with that confidence and inclination to belief which generally follow the knowl- edge that the preacher has given to his subject the full benefit of all his ability, energy, and research. His opinions and conclusions were firmly formed after he had thoroughly examined and carefully and prayerfully studied his subject.
Just before his departure, the sainted subject of this notice called liis son to his bedside and requested him to repeat the Lord's Prayer,- this being done, he quit this earthly habitation, to be present with the Lord. Rev. Ireneus Conder improved the visitation of Providence by preaching an eloquent discourse on the uncertainty of life and the cer- tainty of death. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
· Fiftieth Session.
This session met in St. Peter's Church, Lexington County, South Carolina, November 5, 1870.
The election of officers resulted in favor of Revs. A. J. Fox, president; S. Henkel, recording secretary; J. R. Peter- son, corresponding secretary; and T. Miller, treasurer.
Rev. A. R. Rude, D. D., Prof. J. P. Smeltzer, J. A. Sligh, and J. N. Derrick, of the South Carolina Synod, and Rev. Austin, of the Georgia Synod, were received as advi- sory members.
Rev. C. H. Bernheim, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Synod, expressed his desire, in a letter, to be present, and renders feebleness of health as his excuse for absence.
The committee, appointed at the previous session, to prepare regulations for Beneficiary Education, submitted their report, which was adopted.
The President having announced the death of Revs. Ambrose Henkel, Christian G. Reitzel, and Adam Efird, the following resolutions were unanimously passed by a rising vote :
Resolved, That, by the death of these, our beloved
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brethren in the ministry, their families and their relatives have lost most affectionate heads, who were examples of domestic, social, and moral virtues-sound in faith and doctrine; the Church and the Synod, to which they be- longed, devout and faithful members. :
Resolved, That we humbly submit to the dispensations of God, "who does all things well," and be encouraged while we are spared to labor in our Master's vineyard, to be more faithful in the work before us.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved families and relatives of our beloved co-laborers in the ministry; and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to them.
The following is the report of the committee on union with the Southern General Synod, which was adopted :
We, the committee, to whom was referred the subject of a union of this Synod with the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod in North America, have given the subject much study, and while we have found many things in con- nection with it which would make such union desirable, we have also found many other things which seem, to your committee, to indicate that union with that ecclesiastical body is, at present, of such doubtful propriety, that we are wholly unprepared to recommend such a connection, and therefore, most respectfully ask that your committee be excused from the further consideration of this matter.
At the instance of Rev. S. Henkel, Junius S. Koiner, Waynesboro, Virginia, and J. Paul Stirewalt, New Market, Virginia, and at that of Rev. J. M. Smith, Adolphus Yount, Newton, North Carolina, and Wilburn T. Miller, of Newton, North Carolina, were received under the care of Synod, with a view to the ministry.
The Parochial Report, only nine ministers reporting, shows 29 adult baptisms, 417 infant baptisms, and 326 con- firmations. It was
Resolved, That Synod adjourn to meet in Philadelphia
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Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, on Saturday be- fore the third Sunday in October, 1871.
During this decade, there were Ir applicants for the ministry, 3 ordinations, 7 licentiates, 5 dismissions, 3 died, 8 churches received, 5,261 infant baptisms, 256 adult bap- tisms, 40 slaves, and 28 colored, and 2,735 confirmations. It is to be regretted, that not more than two-thirds of the ministers furnished reports, and frequently not that number.
During this decade, there were many difficulties to encounter, obstacles to surmount, and disasters to overcome. The Civil War, of four years, between the States, North and South, which commenced in April, 1861, and continued till April, 1865, exerted a very depressing, disastrous, and demoralizing influence, not only over the country generally, but also over the Church. In the South, a large majority of the able-bodied men were in the army. Ministers were sometimes arrested, and others "refugeed," as the term went, when the Northern army invaded the country. Anxiety prevailed. Residences, mills, saw-mills, barns, &c., were burned by the hundreds. Horses, cattle, and other stock and property were driven up North by parties who followed the armies for the purpose of plunder. Churches were fre- quently occupied for weeks and months as hospitals and rendezvouses. The whole labor system was subverted and demoralized. The currency was vitiated and rendered worthless. Millions of slaves, that had been regarded as property, were set free, and required immediate care and attention, not having been trained during their state of slavery to provide for themselves.
For five years, the ministers in Virginia and Missouri, belonging to the Tennessee Synod, were prevented from meeting in the synodical conventions with their brethren in North and South Carolina. But notwithstanding this con- dition of things, there never was a truer and more faithful set of men. They worked in season and out of season. They attended as faithfully as possible to the spiritual wants of their people ; they advised, encouraged, and cheered the
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wives and children whose husbands and sons and brothers had entered the army, often performing manual labor. Nor were the people generally less faithful. Strong faith pre- vailed. The exclamation was, Christ will take care of His Church, and God will provide for His people, and ulti- mately overrule all things for the best. It is almost mirac- ulous how the people passed through the war as well as they did, and how soon they emerged from its ruins and devastations, both as to spiritual and temporal matters. Surely no one who knows anything about the conditions of things in the South, during the war and a few years after its close, can doubt the intervention of the hand of Provi- dence. The lessons of faith, hope, and charity were learned. The people learned to depend on God, rather than on them- selves. It is easy to talk about faith when peace, plenty, and prosperity prevail, but it is quite different when all these are removed.
Obituary of Rev. Ambrose Henkel .- Rev. Ambrose Henkel, the fourth son of Rev. Paul and Elizabeth Henkel, was born in Shenan- doah County, Virginia, near Solomon's Church, 8 miles northwest of New Market, on the 11th day of July, 1786, and was initiated into the church through the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, in his infancy, and, at a more mature age, entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, through the ancient and solemn rite of Confirmation.
In 1802 he started, on foot, to Hagerstown, to learn the printing business. After working with Mr. Gruber, of Almanac reputation, and at Reading and in Baltimore, for three or four years, he purchased the bed and irons of a Ramage press and some old type, and, in 1806, established the first printing office in New Market, Virginia. With these old type, and cuts made by himself, he published a pictorial Ger- man spelling-book of his owu arrangement. In 1807, he commenced the publication of a weekly German paper, called the " Virginia and New Market Popular Instructor and Weekly News," which continued for two years-and suspended for want of advertising patronage. The office was, however, continued as a Book and Job office by him, until lie sold to his brother Solomon, about 1817.
He entered the ministry in the year 1823, and preached his first sermon;iu German, in Mt. Calvary (Hawksbill) Church, Page County, Virginia, on the 23d day of November, 1823, from 1 Corinthians 10, 1-12, and continued actively, faithfully, aud successfully in the uministry till
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1860. He preached his last sermon in Bethlehem Church, Augusta County, Virginia, in the year 1868. He was engaged in the office of the ministry 47 years. His labors in all the departments of his minis- terial office, were extensive. He preached 3,995 sermons, of which 402 were funeral discourses ; he baptized 1,625 persons, of whom 90 were adults ; he confirmed 1,952 persons in the Church, and united in the lioly estate of matrimony 400 men and women.
In 183S, under order of the Evangelical Luthieran Tennessee Syuod, he prepared and published the Church Hymn-Book, which has now passed into its 4th edition.
In 1833 he was appointed, by the same body, chairman of a com- mittee to prepare a Liturgy or Book of Forms aud submit it to the Syuod ; which was done, and it was approved and published in 1843.
He also aided in the preparation of a purely literal translation of the Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Ap- pendix, and the Articles of Visitation, which appeared in print iu the Christian Book of Concord, in the year 1851.
In the years 1857-8, he prepared a similar translation of the first volume of Luther's Church Postil on the Epistles, as extant in Ploch- nian's edition, which work, after having been carefully compared with the original German, revised, transcribed, and prepared for the press, was issued in serial numbers. He was, perhaps, the oldest practical priuter and editor in the State-having edited a newspaper in New Market 62 years before his death.
As a writer and translator, he was noted for the precision and accuracy of his style, rather than ornament. He was a profound thinker, an earnest student, and a forcible speaker.
He was married three times. His first wife was Miss Catharine Hoke, daughter of Frederick Hoke, Esq., of Lincoln County, North Carolina. His second one was Miss Mary Kite, daughter of Mr. Martin Kite, of Page County, Virginia, and his third one was Miss Veronica F. Heyle (Hoyle), daughter of Peter Heyle, Esq., of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
He departed this life on the 6th day of January, 1870, at I o'clock, A. M .; aged 83 years, 5 months, and 26 days. He left 6 children, a number of grand-children and great-grand-children.
His funeral services were rendered by Rev. Jacob Killian, in the presence of an unusually large concourse of people, in Emmanuel Church, New Market, Va., uear which his body awaits the resurrection.
Obituary of Rev. Adam Efird .- And again another. The Rev. Adain Efird, of Lexington County, South Carolina, September 13, IS70. Aud all his days were forty-nine years, four montlis, and twenty-three days.
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He was born in Stanley County, North Carolina, April 20, 1821, confirmed in St. Martin Church, by Rev. A. J. Fox, April 6, 1839, and ordained to the ministerial office, in St. Peter Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee, in October, 1847. Heremoved to Lexington County, South Carolina, in October of 1854, and took charge of several churches in connection with the Tennessee Synod. Actively engaged iu the work of his Lord, beloved by his people, and honored and respected by the community, he proved himself to be a workman that ueeded not to be ashamed. His health, however, failed, and he, unable from bodily iufirmity to continue his labor iu the sacred office, fiually offered his resignation ; but his people would not give him up. He was unanimously re-elected, though unable to officiate. His five churches clung to him while he lived, and though his demise was uot generally known, he was followed to his last resting place by a large multitude of mourning and attached people.
He served, during the war, as a member of the Legislature for two years, and filled the office of Probate Judge for Lexington Couuty, at the time of his death. He had held the office for nearly six years. He left a wife and six children to watch, wait, and follow in the narrow path. One son had gone before him, to the happy land on high. Rev. Dr. Rude, of Columbia, performed the funeral services.
Obituary of Rev. Christian G. Reitzel .- Christian G. Reitzel was born March 30, IS05, in Guilford County, North Carolina. On the 15th day of November, 1827; he entered into the holy estate of matri- mony with Miss Delilah Ingold, with whom he had eleven children.
September 17, 1835, he entered the ministry as a Deacon. Sep- tember 16, 1841, he was ordained to the office of Pastor, in Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia.
In the year 1841, he located in Catawba County, North Carolina, and took charge of St. Peter's, Miller's, and Zion's congregatious, iu that county, and of Friendship Church, in Alexander County, and served them till 1849.
On the 4th day of February, 1850, his first wife departed this life. A few years after this event, he married a second time. By this uuion he had six children.
On the 25th day of October, 1870, he departed this life ; aged 65 years, 6 months, and 26 days. He was buried at St. Peter's Church, Catawba County, North Carolina. His funeral services were reudered and a sermon was preached by Rev. J. M. Smitlı, on 2 Tim. 4, 7, 8.
Whilst he was a plaiu, humble, commou mau, he possessed excel- lent native talents and fine mental capacities and powers. He was well indoctrinated in the teachings of Divine Revelation and the sound principles of the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, de-
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rived from the Holy Scriptures. He was very exact and rather critical. He was a faithful, zealous preacher, a devout Christian, a good neigh- bor, a reliable citizen, an affectionate husband, and a kind father.
SIXTH DECADE.
Fifty-first Session. -
Synod met in its fifty-first session, in Philadelphia Church, Gaston County, North Carolina, October 14, 1871.
The officers elected were, Revs. S. Henkel, president ; I. Conder, recording secretary; J. M. Smith, corresponding secretary; and A. J. Fox, treasurer.
Rev. Prof. L. A. Bikle, corresponding delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was received.
On a letter of honorable dismission from the Pennsyl- vania Synod, Rev. L. A. Fox, who formerly had been a member of this Synod, was received into connection with it.
With regard to union, Synod passed the following reso- lution ; be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of this Synod, that, at the present time, union, in the form of a Joint Synod, or Branch Synods, is preferable to that of one by consolidation.
The committee, appointed to meet with a similar com- mittee appointed by the North Carolina Synod, for the purpose of preparing a basis for union between the Tennes- see and North Carolina Synods, met in Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, April 25, 1871, and, after due consideration and considerable discussion, agreed on a basis, which was afterwards adopted by the North Carolina Synod, and, during this session, by the Tennessee Synod, with slight explanations. This basis is appended to the Minutes of this meeting. It is too long for insertion here.
The edition of the Hymn-Book, used by Synod, being exhausted, Revs. S. Henkel and A. J. Fox and A. Costner, Esq., were appointed a committee to examine various hymn- books and liturgies, and report at the next session of Synod.
M. L. Fox, M. D., and Mr. A. L. Crouse, having sus- tained examinations, were ordained to the pastoral office,
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and Mr. John N. Stirewalt was ordained to the same office by the Virginia Conference of this Synod.
A church paper, called the Evangelical Lutheran, having been revived, and published by Rev. N. Aldrich, Charlotte, North Carolina, was recommended.
The committee on the synod, called the Concordia Synod of Virginia, submitted the following, which was adopted :
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