USA > Tennessee > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod > Part 7
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Thirty-four delegates were present. Three applicants, preparing for the ministry,-Messrs. George A. Leopold, Ephraim Rudisill, and John Huggins, -after examination, were received under the care of Synod.
Rev. David Henkel was unanimously elected secretary, with Mr. Ephraim Rudisill as his assistant.
It was recommended, that the members of the Church, who are able to do so, read the Christian Book of Concord, or the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and that students of theology study it carefully. This clearly indicates the deep interest which this Synod felt re- lative to the true, fundamental doctrines of the Church, and how it desired to maintain and perpetuate these sound, Scriptural principles.
As 'the edition of the English hymn-book, used by the Synod, was about exhausted, it was resolved, that it be revised and improved, and that Rev. Ambrose Henkel pro- vide for another edition, and that he be assisted in this work by Revs. Paul Henkel, N. Bonham, G. Easterly, D. Henkel, and Adam Miller, Sr.
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With a view to the edification of the members of the Church, it was resolved, that an article or a treatise on some doctrinal subject be annually printed in connection with the Minutes of the Synod, if the matter meet with sufficient encouragement.
This course, it seems, had an excellent effect. It made the people better acquainted with the more important doc- trines of the Church, and caused them to take more interest in its promotion.
The Secretary, Rev. David Henkel, was requested to write a treatise on the subject of Prayer, and that it be printed in connection with the proceedings of Synod. This was done, and it is worthy of re-publication at this time. It covers twenty-three pages. Rev. David Henkel reported
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that the work which he was requested to prepare on the Person and Incarnation of Christ, was completed.
Twenty-six petitions were received from congregations situated in the following States: Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio,-returning thanks for services rendered during the past,, and praying for a continuation of such services. Arrangements were made to supply the petitioners. After examination, David Fores- ter was ordained to the office of Pastor. No parochial report appears in these Minutes. 1
Tenth Session.
The tenth session was held in Salem Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, from the 7th to the roth of Sep- tember, 1829.
The following ministers were absent: Revs. Riemen- schneider, Bonham, Miller, Sr., Easterly, and Forester, and Deacon Costner. Twenty-three delegates were present. The absent ministers, having rendered satisfactory reasons . for absence, were excused. Only eight of the ministers presented parochial reports. These were for two years, and show that by them 1, 198 infants, 87 adults, and 31 slaves were baptized, and 511 persons were confirmed.
Twenty-seven petitions from congregations representing five States were presented, returning thanks for services rendered, and praying for a continuation of similar services.
Deacon John N. Stirewalt was ordained as pastor.
The persons, appointed at the last session, to revise, amend, and publish the Church hymn-book, having de- clined the undertaking of that work, for various reasons, Rev. David Henkel was appointed to compile a suitable hymn-book, and present the manuscript to some future session of Synod for examination.
Rev. David Henkel was requested to prepare an article on Regeneration, and have it published in connection with the proceedings of Synod.
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In view of intervening circumstances which occurred since the session of 1827, it was deemed unnecessary to publish the pastoral letter, ordered to be published, at that session.
The Secretary was requested to send copies of the Minutes of this session to the German Reformed Synod of Pennsylvania, which had sent ten copies of its proceedings to this Synod, and also to East Pennsylvania Synod and the Ohio Synod, -each ten copies.
At his request, Mr. John Huggins, theological stu- dent, was placed under the special care of Rev. David Henkel.
On motion of Miles Abernathy, Esq., the sincere thanks of this body were tendered to Dr. Solomon Henkel, of New Market, Virginia, for the kindness and liberality manifested towards this Synod in printing and publishing its Minutes and other matter from time to time.
Revs. John L. Markert and Nehemiah Bonham were appointed to visit all the congregations in connection with Synod, and look after their interests, and report to the next meeting of Synod. This course, it appears, had a good effect on the congregations and ministers.
Synod adjourned to meet in Cove Creek Church, Green County, Tennessee, on the second Sunday of Septem- ber, 1830.
During the first decade the number of ministers, which was six, who entered it at its organization, was increased to seventeen, and five theological students,-an increase of nearly two hundred per cent. During this time one minis- ter, Rev. Jacob Zink, died, and the name of one, for good and sufficient reasons, was dropped from the clerical roll of the Synod.
The number of baptisms reported, -not more than two- thirds of the ministers reported regularly, -was 5,517 infants, 443 adults, and 205 slaves, -total, 6,165. . The number confirmed was 1,902. The number of congregations, though no regular catalogue of them appears in the Minutes,
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as near as can be approximated from the applications for reception in connection with the Synod, was more than thribbled during that period. The labors of the Synod ex- tended into nine States,-Tennessee, North Carolina, Ken- tucky, Missouri, Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio,-sowing the seeds of sound Gospel doctrine. Perhaps there was no Synod at that time which did as much work, in proportion to the number of laborers, as this Synod did.
SECOND DECADE. Eleventh Session.
The eleventh session of this Synod was held in Em- manuel Church, Green County, Tennessee, beginning Sep- tember 13, 1830.
It seems, that only four of the pastors, with seventeen lay-delegates, were present at this session. The others, having rendered satisfactory excuses for their absence, were excused. Rev. Philip Henkel was elected secretary. Very . little business was transacted. Six petitions, four of which were from the State of Indiana, were received, praying for ministerial services. Their requests were answered as far as it was possible to do at that time. Mr. Eusebius Henkel was received as a student of theology, and put under the special care of his father Rev. Philip Henkel and Rev. George Easterly. Synod adjourned to meet in Buehler's Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee, on the second Sunday of September, 1831.
Twelfth Session.
The twelfth session of this Synod was held in Buehler's Church, Sullivan County, Tennessee, commencing Septem- ber 12th, and continued to Friday, the 16th, 1831.
Nine ministers were present, and twenty-five lay-dele- gates. The absentees were excused. Rev. Ambrose Henkel was elected secretary. The committee on letters and peti- tions consisted of Revs. Philip Henkel, Ambrose Henkel, and Mr. Irenius N. Henkel. On hearing the sad intelli-
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gence of the death of Rev. David Henkel, the following persons were appointed a committee to prepare an obituary on his death : Revs. Daniel Moser and Adam Miller, Jr., and Messrs. Philip Rudisill and Henry Goodman.
The applicants for the ministry were Mr. William C. Rankin, of Green County, Tennessee, and Mr. Henry Goodman, of Rowan County, North Carolina.
Petitions asking, that Mr. W. C. Rankin, formerly a licentiate of the Presbyterian Church, be ordained to the office of Pastor, being submitted, after examination and confirmation, Mr. Rankin was ordained to that office.
Mr. John Huggins, of Lincoln County, North Carolina, an applicant for the ministry, applied for license to preach and baptize, but as he had no call from congregations to that effect, his request was not granted.
At the request of Mr. John Easterly, a former applicant for the ministry, he was placed under the care of Rev. Philip Henkel, as a student of theology.
After examination, Mr. Henry Goodinan was ordained to the office of Deacon.
Thirty-three petitions, returning thanks for past serv- ices and praying for a continuance of the same, were received, and their requests granted. Among these, there were several new congregations.
Rev. Philip Henkel reported that he had organized / five congregations in Indiana,-the first in Clear Creek township, Monroe County; the second in Beanblossom township, Monroe County ; the third in Park County; the fourth in Whiteriver township, Morgan County, and the fifth on Whiteriver Bluff, Johnson County, Indiana.
The Synod being informed that Greenville College, Tennessee, was not under the control of any denomination, but a State institution, it was recommended to those who wished to take a regular literary course.
Rev. David Henkel, who had been appointed to com- pile a hymn-book, having departed this life, Rev. Ambrose Henkel was appointed to attend to that matter, with the privi-
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lege of selecting such person as he deemed proper to assist him ; and so, too, in regard to securing a translation of the Augsburg Confession, and submit it to Synod for exami- nation.
The Parochial Report,-only six of the ministers report- ing,-shows that during this and the past year 876 infants, 65 adults, and 37 slaves were baptized, and 320 persons were confirmed.
It was resolved, that the Synod meet, in its next session, in or near Organ Church, Rowan County, North Carolina, on the second Sunday of September, 1832.
The committee on obituary, submitted the following, which was received, adopted, and ordered to be printed in connection with the Minutes :
Obituary of Rev. David Henkel .- We, the members of the com- mittee, appointed to report the particulars relative to the last illness, death, &c., of our worthy and highly esteemed brother in Christ, the Rev. David Henkel (son of the Rev. Paul Henkel), a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, beg leave to submit the following :
This much esteemed and venerable fellow-laborer, having finished the work assigned him by Divine Providence, departed this life, June 15, 1831, at 9 o'clock in the morning, to the great grief of his friends and relatives ; aged thirty-six years, one month, and eleven days. He was born in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, May 4, 1795. His last illness was Dyspepsia, which disabled him from officiating in a public capacity for the term of nine months. He bore his afflictions with a perfect resignation to the will of his Divine Redeemer. He embarked in the cause of his blessed Savior when a youth (A. D. IS12). And we are happy to say, to the praise of this worthy servant of Christ, that his assiduity and vigilance to study and deep researches into they truth of Divine Revelation have seldom been equaled by any. He remained immovable in the doctrines he promulgated to the end of liis life. This venerable servant of the Lord had to endure many trials, crosses, and temptations, but he maintained his integrity through them all, trusting to the promises of his Redeemer ; and notwithstand- ing the difficulties he had to encounter, he left a bright example to succeeding pilgrims. His ardent desire for the promotion of his Re- deemer's Kingdom, and his love of truth, caused him to submit cheer- fully to the difficulties connected with his official labors. When on his death-bed, being interrogated by his friends, whether he still
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remained steadfast in the doctrines which he had taught, he confidently answered in the affirmative. Being again asked, whether he feared death, he replied in the negative. The last words which he was heard to utter, were : " O Lord Jesus, thou Son of God, receive my spirit !" and in a few moments expired.
He entered into the holy estate of matrimony with Miss Catharine Heyl (Hoyle), daughter of Hon. Peter Heyl (Hoyle), of near Lincoln1- ton, Lincoln County, North Carolina.
The perishable remains of this worthy brother were followed to the grave by his loving companion and seven children, together with a numerous train of mourners, who were left, to lament the loss of a kind father, an affectionate husband, a friend and benefactor. The body is deposited at St. John's Church, Lincoln County, North Caro- lina. The funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev. Daniel Moser, from Phil. 1, 21-"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Lord so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom !
The committee, appointed to draught the obituary uotice of the Rev. David Henkel, requested the Secretary to add any particulars relative to his ministerial labors and writings which he may be able to obtain.
In conformity with the above request, I am enabled, from notes made by my lamented brother during his life time and other sources of information, to which I have had access, to give the following par- ticulars, viz .:
He commenced his Gospel labors at St. Peter's Church, in South Carolina, where he preached his first sermon, November the Ist, 1812, from which period up to the time he preached his last sermon at Philadelphia Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, on Sunday, the 12th of August, 1830, where he administered the Lord's Supper,- which concluded upwards of three thousand and two hundred sermons ; delivered generally to crowded and attentive cougregations. He bap- tized two thousand nine hundred and uinety-seven infants, and two hundred and forty-three adults, and he confirmed one thousand one hundred and five persons.
During the whole course of liis ministry, which was distinguished for industry and perseverance, in the cause of his Divine Master, he traveled in all seasous, even the most inclement, and frequently preached two and three times in a day, iu the German and English languages. Besides which he maintained an extensive correspondence with many individuals, distinguished for piety and learning, and wrote the following works :
His first work, containing a sermon, entitled, "The Essence of
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the Christian Religion, and Reflections on Futurity," was published in 1817.
His second, called "The Carolinian Herald of Liberty, Religious - and Political," published in 1821.
His third, "Objections to the Constitution of the General Synod," made its appearance, annexed to the Minutes of the Tennessee Synod, held in 1821.
His fourth, entitled "The Heavenly Flood of Regeneration, or Treatise on Holy Baptism," published in 1822.
His fifth, " An Answer to Joseph Moore," who wrote in opposition to the doctrines contained in his Heavenly Flood, published in 1825.
He then draughted 6thly the Constitution, together with the remarks thereon, of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, in 182S: and annexed to the Minutes of the same year, liis Treatise on Prayer appeared.
His seventh, A Translation from the German of Luther's Small Catechism, with Preliminary Observations by the translator, published in 1829.
His eighth, "An Essay on Regeneration," published in 1830.
His ninth, "A Treatise on the Person and Incarnation of Jesus Christ, in which some of the principal arguments of the Unitarians are examined," which has just left the press.
Thirteenth Session.
The thirteenth session of this Synod was held in Phan- uel's Church, Rowan County, North Carolina, from the tenth to the fifteenth of September, 1832.
On Saturday and Sunday, the usual services were held. Only four ministers were in attendance, and twenty-four lay-delegates. None of the absentees, except Rev. Philip Henkel and Deacon Costner, having sent in sufficient reasons for their absence, were excused for their non- attendance. Rev. J. N. Stirewalt was appointed secretary.
Charges having been preferred, by Rev. N. Bonham and others, against Rev. W. C. Rankin, of deviation, from the Augsburg Confession of Faith, both in regard to doc- trine and practice, Mr. Rankin was notified to attend the next session, and answer the charges.
Twenty-two petitions of the usual import, relative to services, &c., were presented, and received such action as
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they deserved. Among these, there were petitions for the examination and ordination of Deacon Henry Goodman. Having sustained his examination, he was ordained to the office of Pastor.
The place and time for the next meeting, resulted in favor of St. John's Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, as the place, and the second Sunday of September, 1833, as the time.
The Parochial Report, only five ministers reporting,- one, however, Rev. Adam Miller, Sr., for three years, -- shows 808 infants, 69 adults, and 41 slaves, baptized, and 253 confirmed.
Fourteenth Session.
Pursuant to previous appointment, Synod met in St. John's Church, Lincoln County, North Carolina, Monday,. September 9th, and continued till the 12th, 1833.
Saturday and Sunday previous were occupied with services suitable to these days.
The ministers, with applicant Eusebius S. Henkel, and thirty-three lay-delegates, representing forty-three congre- gations, were all present, except Revs. Forester, Bonham, Adam Miller, Jr., Moretz, Markert, and Deacon Costner.
A president and a secretary were elected,-Secretary, Rev. Ambrose Henkel.
In view of satisfactory reasons rendered for absence, all the absentees, except Rev. C. Moretz, were excused.
Relative to the charges preferred against Rev. W. C. Rankin by Rev. N. Bonham, at the previous session, Rev. Bonham being unable to be present during this meeting, and Rev. Rankin desiring to withdraw from this body, in a friendly manner, the matter was not investigated, and the name of Rev. Rankin was dropped from the clerical roll.
With respect to the translation of the Augsburg Con- fession, which Rev. Ambrose Henkel was requested, at the session of 1831, to procure, he submitted to Synod a trans- lation, made by his brother Rev. Charles Henkel, of Ohio,
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with proof-sheets, for examination. But a press of urgent business being before Synod, it could not devote time enough for a careful examination. Hence, each member having a copy in proof-sheet form, was requested to exam- ine it carefully, as soon as possible, and send him such suggestions as each deemed proper.
Twenty-seven petitions from different States were pre- sented, classified, and acted on. They expressed satisfaction with the services they had received from Synod, and a desire for further services. Some of these asked for the publication of a good article or a sermon in connection with the Minutes, and others, for the ordination of Eusebius S. Henkel and Irenius Henkel to the office of Deacon. In regard to the latter, as he was absent, no action could be taken at this meeting. The former, having sustained his examination, was ordained to that office.
A letter having been received from Mr. Ephraim Con- rad, of Wayne County, Missouri, asking to be received under the care of Synod, as an applicant for the ministry, his request was granted.
It was ordered, that a sermon on the Lord's Supper, translated from the German of Arndt's Postil, be connected with the Minutes, and that they be printed in the German and English. Frederick Hoke, Esq., of Lincoln County, North Carolina, was appointed to contract for the printing of the Minutes.
Rev. Philip Henkel was appointed to prepare the trans- , lation of the aforesaid sermon. It was resolved, that the next session of Synod be held in Rader's Church, Rocking- ham County, Virginia, commencing on the second Sunday of September, 1834 .*
Rev. Philip Henkel was also requested to prepare for publication a Dissertation on the Person of Jesus Christ, as
*NOTE .- It appears, that, in consequence of high waters and other causes, scarcely any ministers were able to reach the place of meeting ; and, hence, no regular session of Synod was held there ; nor were there any proceedings printed for that year.
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extant in the Christian Book of Concord, and submit it to the next session.
During the past year, nine ministers reporting,-one for several years,-801 infants, 56 adults, and 17 slaves, were baptized, and 399 persons confirmed.
The death of Rev. Philip Henkel being announced, be- fore the Minutes had passed through the press, the follow- ing obituary, prepared by the Secretary, was appended to the Minutes :
Obituary of Rev. Philip Henkel .- Before these Minutes could be put to press, the sad and heartbreaking news was received, that our much beloved brother and fellow-laborer, in the Lord's vineyard, the Rev. Philip Henkel, departed this life, October 9, 1833.
For the satisfaction of his friends and relatives, we subjoin the fol- lowing brief account :
The deceased was a son of the Rev. Paul Henkel, and a fellow- niember of the Lutheran Tennessee Synod, of which he also was one of the first framers. He was born on the 23d September, 1779, in Pendle- ton County, Virginia.
In early life he imbibed the principles of the Christian religion, and in a short time became a zealous defender of the same. In 1800, he commenced his Gospel labors in the Lord's vineyard, in whose service he continued with undaunted zeal, for 38 years and 3 months, during which time he preached upwards of four thousand three hun- dred and fifty sermons, of which one hundred and twenty-five were funeral sermons. He baptized four thousand one hundred and fifteen infants, and three hundred and twenty-five adults ; and confirmed to the Christian Church one thousand six hundred and fifty persons.
At the present session of our Synod, we frequently had the pleasure of hearing him proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here he was also, (but alas, for the last time ! ) nominated President of our Synod. And after the close of the Synod, he proceeded, in good health, to visit the .congregations in Guilford and the adjacent counties. After he had arrived in Randolph County, North Carolina, he preached in Richland Church, on September 2Ist, from Col. 3, 1-5. (His last sermon on this earthly stage !) Being invited by a neighboring friend, he retired to his house, where he was at the same evening attacked with the bilious fever, to which, after a short illness, he fell a victim. He departed this life on Wednesday, the 9th of October, 1833. On the day following, he was buried at Richland Church.
His eartlily abode was 54 years and 17 days. A short time before he expired, he said : " If it is the will of the Lord, to take me to rest,
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I am willing." And then repeated the following lines (which also were the last words that were heard from his lips):
"Christ is my life alone, To die is gain for me ; I give myself to be his own : O may I ever with him be."
Fifteenth Session.
Synod met in its fifteenth session, in Blue Spring Church, Green County, Tennessee, on September 14th, and continued to the 17th, 1835.
Appropriate services were held on Saturday and Sun- day previous, and the Lord's Supper administered to a large number of devout communicants.
About one-half of the ministers, with five applicants for the ministry,-Messrs. Daniel L. Schoolfield, Henry Wetzel, Christian G. Reitzel, Samuel C. Parmer, and Wm. Hancher,-and twenty lay-delegates, representing twenty- nine congregations, were present.
After the election of a president, Rev. Adam Miller was appointed secretary.
The Minutes of 1833 were read, as well as a printed letter from Rev. A. Henkel, in which he informed Synod, that very few members had attended the appointment for the meeting of Synod in Rader's Church, Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1834, and that consequently very little business was transacted, except the reading of the letters addressed to Synod, which letters were left in his care, to be forwarded to the next meeting of Synod. The usual committees were appointed. The absentees, on proper reasons, were excused for their non-attendance.
A letter was received from Rev. Eusebius S. Henkel, of Indiana. that they. intend to organize a Synod in that State, -a move which this Synod heartily approved, asking the blessing of God to rest upon their labors.
A large number of petitions, expressing thanks for serv- ices received, asking the blessing of God on the work of
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the Synod, requesting a continuance of services, suggesting that suitable articles be appended to the Minutes, &c., were received, and properly acted upon.
Among these is a petition from Wythe, Smyth, and Washington Counties, Virginia, in which the petitioners state their withdrawal from the North Carolina Synod, together with their pastor, Rev. Andrew Sechrist, whose name, for sufficient reasons, had been dropped from the clerical roll of this Synod, and desire to be received with their pastor into this Synod. Rev. Sechrist, having con- fessed, that experience had taught him, that, in withdraw- ing from Synod, he had committed an error, for which he was sorry, and solemnly pledged himself to teach and prac- tice according to the Holy Scriptures and the Augsburg Confession of Faith, he and his congregations were received in connection with Synod.
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