USA > Tennessee > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod > Part 20
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His brother, C. F. Armentrout, arrived the second day before his death, but he was not conscious of his presence ; he took charge of his remains and brought it back to his father's; from thence it was re- moved to the cemetery in McGaheysville, Va., accompanied with an unusually large number of persons, where it is to rest until the morning of the resurrection.
His character was without reproach, his piety unquestionable, and his love for the Church highly commendatory. We feel that we have lost a precious jewel in his departure, but we bow in humble submis- sion to the dispensation of him who doth all things well, believing that our loss has resulted in his everlasting gain.
He pursued a regular collegiate course of studies in the New Market Polytechnic Institute, New Market, Virginia, and received the degree of A. B., and then pursued a post-graduate course, and received that of A. M. He was an excellent scholar and a close student.
Sixty-Seventh Session.
This meeting convened in Bethlehem Church, Augusta County, Virginia, August 27, 1887.
The officers elected were Revs. Prof. J. S. Koiner, president ; J. Paul Stirewalt, secretary; Prof. R. A. Yoder, corresponding secretary; and J. N. Stirewalt, treasurer.
Revs. Prof. J. A. Willis, C. Beard, J. H. Barb, G. W. Spiggle, of the Virginia Synod, B. S. Brown, of the North Carolina Synod, and L. K. Probst, Secretary of the Board
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of Missions of the United Synod, were received as advisory members.
The report of the President of Concordia College, and that of the President of the Board of Trustees, were very favorable, showing that church institution in a healthy and prosperous condition.
Rev. L. K. Probst, at the request of the President, ad- dressed the Synod and the congregation on the subject of Home and Foreign Missions.
The following is the substance of a paper submitted to Synod by Rev. F. W. E. Peschau, President and Corre- sponding Delegate of the North Carolina Synod, in which he conveys the fraternal greetings of that body, and asks prayerful and kind attention to an important petition which his Synod submits, as follows :
"The kind Christian greetings I bring you are the outgrowth of the kind and fraternal relations existing be- tween the worthy pastors and faithful members of your honorable body, residing in the 'Old North State,' as our ecclesiastical neighbors; yea, brethren, with us in the same household of faith.
The petition I present is an earnest request that your honorable body will, in view of the forming of 'the United Synod,' and in view of the pleasant relations thus made between us, as sister Synods, and in consonance with the whole movement to bring about more harmony, peace, unity, and strength, both local and general, in our dear Evangelical Lutheran Church, South, grant the members of the North Carolina Conference, both clerical and lay, letters of honorable dismissal to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, that they may be one with us, not only in point of a confessional basis, but also one with us in corporate organization.
Will your honorable body grant this request, and thus bring about a union of brethren long desired? May the Holy Spirit guide all in this important matter ?"
In regard to this the following action was taken :
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Resolved, That it is the sentiment of this body that such petition for transfer should proceed first from the North Carolina Conference of our Synod.
Resolved, That whilst we appreciate the cordial, fra- ternal spirit manifest in that action, it is the sentiment of this .Synod, that, in view of the present condition of the Church in the South, and the relations which this Synod sustains to it, it would be inexpedient, as well as inju- dicious, to form such a union; especially, as it would result in disintegrating the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod-a Synod which has done so much towards sustain- ing and perpetuating the doctrines of the Church, and which, it seems, still has a mission to fill, and a history to perpetu- ate,-and particularly as there is no necessity for such union, since the relations between the two Synods are so fraternal as to prevent any conflict in the respective and legitimate work or operations of the two Synods, under the happy regulations established by them in the year 1883.
The committee, Rev. M. L. Fox, M. D., appointed to collect funds to erect a monument at the grave of Rev. Philip Henkel, in Randolph County, North Carolina, reported that he had succeeded in erecting a suitable monument at that place.
In regard to the publication of Luther's Small Cate- chism, the following action was taken :
Whereas, We learn that the last edition of Luther's Small Catechism, published by S. P. C. & C. C. Henkel, New Market, Va., is exhausted ; and
Whereas, We need a good, reliable, Lutheran Cate- chism for our families, Sunday-schools, and catechumens ; be it, therefore,
Resolved 1. That we recommend to Henkel & Co., New Market, Va., the propriety of publishing another edition of that Catechism ;
2. That, in the event they publish such an edition, we advise our people, teachers, and ministers to use it in their
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families, Sunday-schools, and catechetical classes, and to give it such other circulation as it deserves.
Rev. D. A. Sox having resigned the mission work in Alabama, it was recommended :
First, That said work in Alabama be made a special mission field of this Synod.
Secondly, That this Synod put into said field, as early as possible, a missionary, and sustain him.
Thirdly, That by adopting this, Synod pledges herself to pay her missionary $300.00 per year.
Fourthly, That the mission be required to raise the other $200.00 of a salary of $500.00.
The following delegates were elected to the United Synod which met in Savannah, Georgia, November 24, 1887:
Principals-Revs. S. Henkel, D. D., A. L. Crouse, J. P. Stirewalt, J. C. Moser, R. A. Yoder, P. C. Henkel, D. D., W. P. Cline, J. K. Efird, J. A. Cromer, and Messrs. D. S. Henkel, Wm. Coffman, Philip Killian, James T. Miller, John F. Moser, A. M. Huit, D. P. Boger, Maj. Henry A. Meetze, Dr. J. W. Eargle.
Alternates-Revs. John N. Stirewalt, I. Conder, H. Wetzel, M. L. Fox, J. R. Peterson, J. S. Koiner, J. A. Rudisill, Dr. J. P. Smeltzer, E. L. Lybrand, and Messrs. Ambrose.L. Henkel, Isaiah Printz, Isaiah Bowman, C. T. Sigman, Tobias Barnes, F. L. Herman, D. M. Wyant, P. S. Fulmer, Lewis Shealey.
In regard to Theological Instruction at Concordia Col- lege, Conover, North Carolina, it was moved that Rev. Prof. J. S. Koiner continue to devote a portion of his time to such instruction, and that the College Board pay him in proportion to the labor he performs, out of the funds which have been or may be raised for such purpose, and paid into the hands of the Treasurer of College.
During this year, 49 adults and 453 infants were bap- tized, and 227 persons confirmed.
Synod adjourned to meet in St. Peter's (P. W.) Church,
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Lexington County, South Carolina, on Saturday before the first Sunday in October, 1888.
Sixty-eighth Session.
This convention met in St. Peter's (P. W.) Church, Lexington County, South Carolina, December 1, 1888, the time having been postponed.
The election for officers resulted in favor of Rev. J. C. Moser, president ; Rev. A. L. Crouse, secretary ; Rev. W. P. Cline, corresponding secretary ; and Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, treasurer.
All Lutheran ministers present were recognized and in- vited to seats within the bar of the Synod, with the ,privi- lege of debate. Revs. C. A. Marks, Z. W. Bedenbaugh, M. . J. Epting, Prof. J. B. Fox, W. A. Julian, and J. A. Sligh were announced. Rev. Prof. A. G. Voigt, delegate from the South Carolina Synod, presented his credentials and was received.
Rev. W. A. Lutz, delegate from the North Carolina Synod, was announced as present. A motion was made to receive him, and pending its consideration Synod adjourn- ed till the afternoon session.
Synod resumed the consideration of the reception of the delegate of the North Carolina Synod. On motion, it was postponed till some subsequent session of this convention.
The following was passed :
Whereas, At its recent convention, the Evangelical Lutheran North Carolina Synod took certain action in re- gard to the course pursued by the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod relative to the application of Rev. B. S. Brown for admittance; and
Whereas, That action may, in the future, be construed as a reflection on the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod ; be it, therefore,
Resolved I. That the Tennessee Synod pursued the same course in reference to the said B. S. Brown, as it has relative to other similar applicants, for more than three score years ;
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2. That this Synod can see no good reason for devi- ating from that policy, convinced that it is right and proper.
At a later date, Synod resumed the consideration of the reception of the North Carolina Synod's delegate, and the following action was taken :
Rev. W. A. Lutz having appeared as corresponding delegate of the Evangelical Lutheran North Carolina Synod, and presented his credentials as such, was received ; but it is to be regretted, that, in view of the following action taken by the North Carolina Synod at its late meeting, relative to the course pursued by our Synod in regard to the applica- tion of Rev. B. S. Brown, it would be incompatible for this Synod to continue such courtesy or correspondence in the future, without some modification or satisfactory explanation of the intention of that action, which, otherwise, is calcu- lated to reflect on our Synod :
"Resolved, That we have heard with pleasure the very excellent and able address of Rev. B. S. Brown, regarding his non-reception into our sister Synod, the Tennessee Synod, and that we rejoice to find that he stood so firmly on the confessions of the church and refused to go beyond them in accepting opinions or practices that are nowhere required or distinctly stated in the symbols of our church."
The matter of establishing a mission at Asheville, North Carolina, was referred to the North Carolina Confer- ence of the Synod for consideration.
A letter from Rev. L. K. Probst, Secretary of the Board of Missions of the United Synod, was read, in which atten- tion was called to the apportionment of this Synod, due the United Synod, of $800 for Home Missions and $400 for Foreign Missions, as approximated by the Board.
The services of a pastor for the Alabama Mission were secured.
The request, made at the previous meeting of Synod, for the publication of another edition of Luther's Small Catechism, was complied with, Henkel & Co., of New
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Market, Virginia, having brought out the new publication, in its fifth edition, in due time.
The committee on text-books for Sunday-schools rec- ommended the following :
I. The Bible, or portions of it, and Luther's Small Catechism.
2. As helps to learning the contents of Bible and Cate- chism, Little Children's Catechism, My First Book, The Child's Book, Stories from Bible History ; and for Song, The Little Children's Book.
3. For more advanced scholars, also, Biblical History in the Words of Holy Scripture, Outlines of Church His- tory ; and for Song, The Sunday-school Book.
Favorable action was taken in regard to the endowment of Concordia College, Conover, North Carolina.
With respect to the relation which the Tennessee Synod sustains to the United Synod in the South, the following action was taken :
Whereas, The relations of the different synods, com- posing the United Synod of the South, to each other, and to the United Synod, as defined in the Basis of Union and Constitution of the United Synod, are differently interpret- ed; and
Whereas, There is some difference of opinion as to what rights, privileges, and courtesies should be accorded to each individual synod by the other synods ; and
Whereas. The principles involved in said Article III. are held by the Tennessee Synod; and
Whereas, Said Article III. has not been adopted by the United Synod, but action upon it postponed to its next meeting ; therefore, be it
Resolved. That we, the ministers and delegates of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, do .emphatically reiterate the principles set forth at Dallas, North Carolina, in 1886, as our position, viz .: "That in adopting it (The Report of the Delegates to the Diet at Roanoke, Va.), as the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod rejects all eccle-
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siastical union and co-operation which is not based on the pure Lutheran teaching and faith; as, the Exchange of Pulpits, Promiscuous Communion or Altar Fellowship, Secret Society Worship, and Chiliasm, we, the ministers and lay-delegates, in Synod assembled, do hereby recom- mend or advise the committee, or chairman of the committee, appointed by the United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South, to prepare By-laws for its government, in drafting such By-laws, so to formulate them as to require every teacher or professor who may be appointed as a teacher or professor in any theological seminary that she may establish or put into operation, to take an obligation 11ot to teach, practice, or inculcate anything that comes in conflict with these principles, or the doctrines of the Church.
"That we trust the said United Synod will feel the importance of acquiescing in this precautionary request, with a view to the good of the church; especially as this is desired only in work for which each Synod will be held responsible in its united efforts, and which it should be able to defend and maintain according to the pure doctrines and practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as over against sectarian innovations and corruptions, leaving each Synod in connection with the United Synod in its individual synodical transactions, so to shape its course as ultimately to attain that higher plain in doctrine and practice so charac- teristic of the true Church."
Resolved, That until such position is taken by the United Synod, by adopting the principles contained in Article III. of proposed By-laws, the Tennessee Synod can- not co-operate with the United Synod in her work.
J. P. Price having sustained a satisfactory examination in regard to his qualifications to bear the office of Pastor, was ordained.
J. T. Miller was examined and ordained to the office of Pastor, by a special committee, during this synodical year.
The President having called attention in his regular
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report to the deaths of Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., and Rev. M. L. Fox, M. D., the following action was taken :
Whereas, In the providence of God, Revs. M. L. Fox and J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., have been called from their labors in the Church militant to their rest in the Church triumphant :
Resolved I. That while the Tennessee Synod has lost able and efficient ministers of the Gospel, the families dear friends and kind husbands, and the States and communities honored citizens, we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doth all things well.
Resolved 2. That we spread these resolutions upon the face of our Minutes as an humble tribute of respect to their memory, as an appreciation of their worth and merits, and as a token of esteem in which they were held.
Resolved, That a page, containing the name, the date of the death, and the age, be devoted to the memory of the deceased brethren.
Rev. S. Henkel having stated to Synod that there is a probability that another edition of the New Market, Va., edition of the Christian Book of Concord, or Symbolical Books, will be published in the near future, if the enterprise meet with proper encouragement, it was
Resolved, That Synod hail with pleasure that announce- ment, and shall give it proper encouragement.
So too, relative to the History of the Tennessee Synod, it was
Moved, That we have heard the statement of Dr. S. Henkel with reference to the publication of his History of the Tennessee Synod, and that we make earnest efforts to introduce the work among our people.
The report on the state of the Church is quite favorable and encouraging. The usual routine business was trans- acted in a regular way.
The following delegates were elected to the next meet- ing of the United Synod :
Principals-Revs. S. Henkel, D. D., A. L. Crouse, J. P. Stirewalt, J. C. Moser, J. S. Koiner, J. M. Smith, W. P.
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Cline, J. A. Rudisill, J. K. Efird, E. L. Lybrand, and Messrs. Ambrose L. Henkel, Isaiah Printz, Philip Killian, A. M. Huit, Luther Mosteller, J. L. Yount, A. C. Lineber- ger, J. S. Lipe, C. M. Efird, Maj. H. A. Meetze.
Alternates-Revs. I. Conder, John N. Stirewalt, P. C. Wike, P. C. Henkel, D. D., M. L. Little, C. H. Bernheim, R. A. Yoder, D. J. Settlemyre, D. Efird, J. A. Cromer, and Messrs. Wm. Coffman, A. Dodson, D. I. Offman, D. M. Wyant, Wm. Yoder, G. M. Yoder, H. F. McCaslin, D. A. Coon, W. Henry Hare, D. C. Boland.
The reports on Literary Institutions were favorable.
The Parochial Report shows 31 ministers, 101 churches, 89 adult baptisms, 889 infant baptisms, 662 confirmations, 9,392 communicants, and 14, 120 souls.
Synod adjourned to meet in Holly Grove Church, Ilex, Davidson County, North Carolina, November 8, 1889.
Obituary of Rev. Michael L. Fox, M. D .- At his residence in Randolph County, North Carolina, July 22, 1888, Rev. Michael L. Fox, M. D., departed this life ; aged 63 years, 6 months, and 10 days.
He was a son of Christiau and Charity Fox. In his infancy he was dedicated to God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and at a more mature age he entered into full communion with the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, through the rite of Confirmation, Rev. Henry Goodman officiating.
In early life he commenced the practice of medicine, and in that profession he proved most successful and efficient. His practice was extensive, not only in his own county, but also in adjoining counties. He represented his couuty, oue session, in the State Legislature, with satisfaction to his constitueuts.
In IS71 he entered the office of the Gospel ministry, in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tenuessee Synod, and, in that capacity, proved zealous, faithful, aud efficient. He served acceptably, during his ministry, three congregations ; one in Randolph County, one in Guilford County, and one in Alamance. Notwithstanding his practice as a physician was extensive and laborious, lie never failed to meet liis appointments, in an ecclesiastical point of view.
His remains were placed to rest, till the resurrection morn, in Melanchthon church yard, Rev. B. W. Cronk rendering the burial service in the midst of an unusually large concourse of relatives and
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sympathizing friends. In all the relations of life, he gained the highest esteem among all who knew him.
On the second Sunday of November, 1888, his funeral was preach- ed at Melanchthon Church, Randolph County, N. C., by Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., from I Thess. 4, 13-18, in the presence of a very large congregation of relatives and affectionate friends, taking his position at the door of the church, as not more than one-third of the people could get room in the house.
He leaves a widow, two daughters, and five sons,-two of whom are practicing physicians,-to lament their irreparable loss of a kind husband and an affectionate father. Thus another true soldier of the cross has been promoted to the triumphant army in that better country.
Obituary of Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D .- Dr. Smeltzer was born in Frederick County, Maryland, September 10, 1819. He received a liberal education, and about the time he reached manhood was or- dained a minister of the Lutheran Church. He was for several years principal of a well-known and popular educational institution at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and was at different times pastor of the churches at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and Salem, Virginia. In 1861, so great had become his reputation as an instructor, that he was elected president of Newberry College, South Carolina. He removed to South Carolina, and conducted the affairs of this institution with signal ability when the college was located at Newberry, and after its removal to Walhalla until 1879, when the college was again taken back to Newberry. In that year he resigned the presidency of the institution, and established at his mountain home the Walhalla Female College, of which he was the head until 1885.
During his labors as a teacher, Dr. Smeltzer did not discontinue his work in the pulpit. Last spring, his health having given way under the ceaseless toil of many years, Dr. Smeltzer came to Charles- ton, where he spent the last few mouths of his life. Dr. Smeltzer was a very forcible preacher. He was possessed of profound powers of analysis, and preached with great effectiveness. For his theological learning the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Erskine College.
He was one of the oldest as well as one of the ablest and most impressive preachers of his age.
Soon after the death of his wife, he resigned his position in Wal- halla Female Seminary, Soutlı Carolina, and having received a call, he took charge of the Springhill, South Carolina, charge, and this charge being in connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, he received an honorable discharge from the Evangelical Lutherau South Carolina Synod, and was received into the said Ten- nessee Synod, October, 1886.
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He died at the residence of his son, Mr. John B. Smeltzer, of Charleston, South Carolina, October 31, 1887 ; aged 68 years, I month, and 21 days His funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Muller and Rev. Dr. Horn. His remains were conveyed to Walhalla, and interred.
Sixty-Ninth Session.
This meeting convened in Holly Grove Church, Ilex, Davidson County, North Carolina, November 8, 1889.
The officers elected were Rev. A. L. Crouse, president ; Rev. J. Paul Stirewalt, recording secretary ; Rev. Prof. W. P. Cline, corresponding secretary ; Rev. J. N. Stirewalt, treasurer ; Rev. J. M. Smith, treasurer beneficiary fund ; and Rev. S. Henkel, D. D., assistant treasurer beneficiary fund.
During this session, on proper petitions from congrega- tions desiring ministerial services, and after sustaining satis- factory examinations, the following theological students were ordained to the office of Pastor, Rev. T. Moser preach- ing the ordination sermon : J. P. Miller, W. L. Darr, and David I. Offman.
Rev. Prof. J. G. Schaid, having received a letter of honorable dismission from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, and sustained a satisfactory examination, was received into Synod.
Rev. J. F. Moser, who had been, according to resolu- tion, examined and ordained, at a convention of the North Carolina Conference of the Tennessee Synod, during the synodical year, was received into Synod.
The following applicants for the ministerial office, were, after examination and approval, received under the care of the Synod : S. S. Keisler, J. T. Craps, G. E. Long, R. L. Fritz, D. F. Conrad, A. R. Beck, W. H. Roof, and A. V. Sherrill.
Mt. Tabor, Richland County, South Carolina, Mt. Olive, Catawba County, North Carolina, St. Luke's, Union County, North Carolina, and Bethel, Prince William County, Vir- ginia, were received in connection with Synod.
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The report of the committee on Missions, was quite favorable and encouraging, in regard to the work in Vir- ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama.
The reports of the committees on the state of the Church and Literary Institutions, were commendable and gratifying.
Rev. Prof. J. S. Koiner having resigned, Rev. Prof. R. A. Yoder was elected as theological professor in Concordia College.
The President announced the following committee to secure $10,000 for the purpose of erecting new college build- ings for Concordia College, Conover, North Carolina : Revs. Prof. W. P. Cline, Prof. J. F. Moser, P. C. Wike, Mr. A. M. Huit, and Mr. Jonas Hunsucker.
In regard to an effort being made, to establishı a first- class female college, to be located in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, which institution is to be conducted in accordance with the Confessional Basis of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as contained in the Book of Concord, and in which Luther's Catechism and Lutheran training are to constitute part of the college curriculum, commendable action was taken.
Appropriations were made for three beneficiary students.
The following report, relative to a formula of distribu- tion in the Lord's Supper, was ordered to be spread on the minutes, for consideration at the next meeting of Synod :
Resolved 1. That it is the sense of this body that the elements in the Lord's Supper must be distributed with the unfailing use of Christ's words ;
2. That our pastors be, and they are hereby, instructed to use the formula of our Synod found in its liturgy, page 80, namely :
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