Saint under trials and difficulties-to re-gyman of our communion. joice at each other's success and Paul's, a fine new church in Newprosperity-to review the occurren- berry, was dedicated on the third ces of the past year-to make provision for our destitute congregations, and to devise the best mode of placing our church upon such a footing as will, under the blessing of God, ensure its future prosperity. Sunday in June, by the Rev. Mess. Rauth and Schwartz. A revived state of religion has been visible in this congregation for some time past, and there were recently added 37 persons at one time, by confirmation. By a resolution of the Synod, I am I have received information that required to lay before you, such in- Shiloh Church, in the fork of the formation as I may possess, of the two Edistos, in the neighborhood of state of the churches under our su- Mr. Brandenburgh, has been finishperintendence. This duty is on the ed. This congregation (but recentpresent occasion rendered pleasant, ly organized) contains as yet but fifsince I have no events of a distress-teen communicants; but should this ing or discouraging nature to com- neighborhood be regularly supplied municate. We have abundant rea-with the means of grace, we have son to bless the great Head of the reason to expect a farther accession church, that a degree of harmony to the congregation. prevails among our churches, which has not been exceeded at any former period that our number has considerably increased, and that there is a revived state of religion in many of our congregations. I have the pleasure of communicating to the Synod, the following information respecting the new churches that have either been dedicated since our last meeting, or are in a state of forwardness. Since our last meeting, a neat brick church in Columbia has been completed, and it is intended to dedicate it to the service of Almighty God, on the 28th inst. This church, eligibly situated, in a flourishing town-the seat of government of the state, and also of the South Carolina college, (where the sons of members of our communion are educated) will probably require to be fostered by the funds of the Synod for a short time, till a sufficient congregation is formed to offer a support to a clergyman of our church. In the mean time, I recommend that one of our ministers be stationed at this church for the ensuing year. A church, 40 by 50 feet, is building at Lexington Court-House, and is in a considerable state of forwardness. On the 21st of February last, the new church called Mount Calvary, in Edgefield District, was dedicated by the Rev. Messrs. Schwartz and Strobel. The congregation worshipping in that church, is at present composed of 24 communicants. Service has been performed at this church at stated periods during the year; a Sunday school has been or- This, when completed, will ganized and attended to, and on those be the only church in that flourishSabbaths when the officiating minis- ing village. The location is favorater could not attend, a sermon has ble to the formation of a large conbeen read, and other services perfor-gregation, and we feel assured that med according to the forms and usa-a minister of our church would exges of our church, by a member of ert a highly beneficial influence upon the congregation. It becomes the the village and the neighborhood. duty of the Synod to make some pro- Provision is also making for the vision, in order that this church may erection of a new church in the lowbe regularly visited, either by a mis-er Hollow Creek Church, near sionary or by some neighboring cler- Rawl's, in Lexington District. Address of Rev. J. Bachman. Agreeable to a resolution of this Synod, at their last session, a meeting was held in St. John's Church, in the upper part of Lexington District, and another at St. Matthew's Church, Orangeburgh, on the fifth Sunday in May and October. On these occasions, most of our ministers (who were not too remotely sit uated) attended. Their meetings lasted three days. They preached in the churches during the day, and attended meetings for prayer among the different families in the neighborhoods, in the evenings. The congregations that attended were unusually large, and we have reason to believe that by these means many durable impressions have been made; our congregations have been strengthened, and the cause of vital religion has been promoted. 245 leges of a preached gospel, by ministers of our denomination, during the past year, with the exception of Long's Church, in Lexington District, in which our clergymen, from the variety of their other engagements, have been unable to attend. During the whole of the past year, our vacant congregations and destitute neighborhoods, have been favored with the services of two missionaries, the Rev. Mr. Schwartz and the Rev. Mr. Strobel. The former was engaged by "the Society for the promotion of religion in South Carolina and adjacent states," composed principally of members of the Lutheran church in Charleston. He has statedly attended the churches of Bethlehem, St. Luke's and St. Matthew's, in Newberry, and St. Mark's in Edgefield. The Rev. Mr. Strobel was engaged by this Synod, and has supplied the destitute congregations in Barnwell, Orangeburgh, Lexington and Edgefield Districts. As the report of his missionary labors will be laid before you, it will not be necessary for me to enter farther into detail on this subject. . These two missionaries have visited nearly all our congregations in this state and Georgia, and I have reason to believe that their labors of love among our people, have in several instances been signally blessed. As it is probable that these our young brethren will, under the di It affords me great pleasure to state that some of the good fruits attending our meeting in Savannah, during the last year, are visible in the formation of a Female Missionary Society in Savannah, which by their zeal and industry, is giving encouragement to a sister society in Charleston, and they will afford an earnest of their attachment to our cause, by a donation to our Synod, to be employed for missionary purposes in the state of Georgia. It is hoped that the time is not far distant, when we shall be able to send at least one missionary into that state. It must be gratifying to the mem-rection of this Synod, be placed in bers of our church, to be informed other situations of equal importance that Sunday schools exist in most of to the church, several of our congreour congregations, and that in those gations must remain vacant, unless districts where our denomination is our clergymen, settled in neighbormost numerous, the clergy and laitying places, will consent to make of our church have taken an active some sacrifices to supply them. part in the distribution of the scriptures, in reference to the special effort suggested by the American Bible Society, for the purpose of furnishing every family in the state with a bible in the space of two years. All our churches, in a greater or less degree, have enjoyed the privi A friendly communication from the Rev. Doct. Hazelius, formerly President of the Synod of New-York, and now Professor of Biblical and Oriental Literature in the Seminary at Gettysburgh, will be submitted for your consideration. A letter from Mr. Hope, a licen tiate of this Synod, and a student of be assured that they will profit by these advantages. And I come now to recommend with all the earnest ness I am capable of, and imploring Almighty God for his blessing on our humble exertions, the institution and support of a Theological Seminary. Hitherto I have had many anxieties on this subject, and great doubts of our success. I feared that in attempting too much, we might entirely fail. But providence seems to have removed the greatest obstacles to the establishment of such an institution. Theology at Gettysburgh, and a number of petitions from churches and individuals, will be laid before you. The printed minutes from the different Synods, so far as they have been received, are also presented for your inspection and examination. From all the information which is here detailed, you will perceive that great harmony exists among the Synods of the different states, and I am gratified with the belief, that at no former period has our beloved church in the United States, been in a more flourishing condition than it is at this present time. Our people have be come united and zealous in the cause, and evince a liberality which until now we had no reason to expect. A proposition has emanated from them to subscribe a hundred dollars each, payable in four or five years, which would enable persons even in moderate circumstances, to render their efficient aid to our contemplated institution. The success in obtaining subscriptions, thus far, is quite encouraging. The clergy of our deno they receive but a very inadequate support) express their views of the importance of such an institution to our southern church, in a desire to share with their people the burden of expense. Although by the blessing of God, our church under the direction of this Synod, is evidently on the increase, yet there still continues a lamentable want of ministers. Our congregations are enlarging, and new ones are forming from year to year; yet the number of our ministers is not proportionably on the increase; and such are the calls for their services, that althe gh some of our mi-mination (although in most instances nisters attend to from four to seven congregations, it is feared that there will be some churches left but very partially supplied during the coming year. There are also petitions from Georgia and Alabama, for missionaThis united zeal and ries, to which it is feared we can perseverance will, we confidently only respond by our wishes and our hope, enable us at the next meeting prayers. We have applied to our of our Synod, to report that ten sister Synods in vain for aid. So thousand dollars have been pledged wide a sphere is opened to them in -a sum sufficient to enable our inthe North and West, that they have stitution to go into successful operano ministers to send us; and it is be- tion; and although it will have but lieved that our only permanent de- a humble origin, yet fostered by our pendance, under the blessing of liberality, our watchfulness and our God, will be upon pious individuals who will hereafter be educated for our church-who are natives of the States within the bounds of our Sy-ings upon our church. nod, and who are attached to our in- May the whole of our deliberations stitutions and accustomed to our cli-at this time be conducted in harmomate. ny and love-May all selfish feelings Let us bring the means of a theolo-be banished-May we be actuated gical education within the reach of by a spirit of mutual forbearanceour pious young men, and we may May we have a single eye to the sincere and fervent prayers, we may, under the blessing of Heaven, look forward to a long train of signal bless Report of the Miss. Com. of the Evan. Luth. Synod of S. C. 247 church has been gradually improv glory of God and the good of His church, and may the blessing of Hea-ing for several years, and if we may ven attend all our labours. Amen. REPORT TO THE MISSIONARY COM MITTEE. Of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of S. Dear Brethren, It becomes my pleasing duty to submit to you the result of my missionary operations during the past year. As it would be uninteresting to give the particulars as they stand in my journal, I will only give you a brief view of the situation and prospects of that portion of the church in which I have been labouring. judge from what we have seen, we would be inclined to say, that many vices which but a few years since were openly practised in our settlements, are getting entirely into disrepute. We have endeavoured to keep up Sunday schools in all our churches, but from the distance at which the children reside, and the want of suitable persons to take charge of the schools, we have met with many difficulties. I have also encouraged the congregations to meet at their churches on the Lord's day, and have engaged their elders in reading sermons and other religious exercises. During the year we have succeeded in building a church at Brandenburg's, to be known by the name of Shiloh. A large church is in a state of forwardness at Lexington Court House, and that at Nazareth will soon be completed. From Immediately after receiving my appointment in Savannah, I made it my business to visit the congregations designated for my care in the minutes of the Synod, to wit:-St. Nicholas, and St. Bartholomew's, and Erwin's, at the Saltketchers; the vicinity of so many members of Mount Calvary, in Edgefield; Bran- our church, we expect that Lexingdenburg's, in Orangeburg. In addi-ton Court House will become one of tion to these, I took under my care, our most important stations. Nazareth, Lexington C. H., Platt I have not only preached in the Springs, all in Lexington District. above mentioned churches, but whenIn all these stations I have kept up ever occasion offered, I have had regular appointments during the year, appointments in the others, and I bewith the exception of Erwin's, where lieve, with one or two exceptions, I considered, after preaching some that I have preached in every Luthtime, that there was no prospect of eran church in the State, and have success. It is with pleasure that I occasionally enjoyed the privilege of have to report, that the state of reli- preaching for our brethren of other gion in my churches is such as to denominations. Wherever I have give the greatest encouragement. A been, I rejoice to say, that I have degree of marked attention to the been received with the greatest courpreached word has generally been tesies, and that but few circumstances manifested, and in many instances of an unpleasant character have tawe have witnessed the divine effica- ken place. We have reason to hope cy of the Gospel upon the human that the opportunities which have heart. The increase in point of num- been conferred by the Synod upon bers has not been so great as might the churches have been received in have been expected, but we have the most grateful manner, and that reason to hope that much seed has they have been calculated to promote been sown, which if properly culti-the welfare of our Zion, and the salvated, may hereafter produce abun-vation of immortal souls. During my dant fruit. It must be evident to ev-missionary engagement I have preaery one, that the character of our ched 162 sermons, baptized 2 adults and 42 children, confirmed 9; re-and our own duties as disciples of Je ceived $74,25 towards the funds of the Synod, which have been contributed as follows: Collections from sundry per sons, St. Bartholomew's St. Nicholas' Nazarath, Mount Calvary, $9 00 5 25 $74 25 sus Christ, at present command all our attention. The revolution which has just occurred, has placed religious liberty among realities. It opens a wide door for evangelical preaching in all our towns, in all our villages; the ill-will of a mayor or of a procurator of the king, will no longer suffice to dissolve religious assemblies, or to cause tribunals to pass condemnation on inoffensive men, guilty of The state of the particular church- having met together in numbers exes, Sunday schools, &c. will be giv-ceeding twenty, to read the Bible and en in my parochial reports to the to sing the praises of God. No lonSynod. I have handed over to the ger shall a priest, aided by law and President, petitions from all the supported by civil authority, attempt churches to be supplied with preach- to dissolve meetings for worship that ing during the forthcoming year.-belong not to his church. Wherever And now I would close my report by authority shall be found, the gospel recommending our church with all its can be publicly and freely proclaimconcerns to the care of Him who has ed-the bible distributed without regiven us the assurance, that he is with straint, among Catholics as among us always even to the end of time. Protestants-primary instruction no Respectfully submitted by longer opposed. Grand obstacles to the progress of the gospel are thus overthrown; the point is now for the evangelical church to profit by this position of things, with fidelity and zeal, as well as with prudence and charity; the barrier which shut the entrance to the field is broken down; the duty now is, to sow, to water, and to beg the increase of God, who alone can give it. Let us not, howA new era has commenced for ever, be unjust, nor regardless of France in general, and for Protestant what the government that has just France in particular; new hopes are fallen, has done for our churches; presented to our churches, new du- let us not forget the numbers of reties are imposed upon them. It is a paired or new temples constructed subject we propose treating succes- during the last fifteen years, nor of sively in all its aspects; we confine the many new openings made for ourselves at present to some general pastors, nor of the very important reflections. The Roman Catholic progress our churches have been religion is still that of the majority of able to make under that government. the French, if we are to credit the We cite facts, we refer not to monew Charter; but what will be, in tives and intentions. But on the a half a century, the religion of the other hand, what intrigues have we majority of the French? Will the had to detect, what conflicts to susdeclaration in the new article (6th)||tain, what gloomy and continued remain long true. We know not, vexations to endure, what hostile and it is not what ought to occupy trials to bear? Suffice to mention us at this time; our own position, the names of Nerac, Anieres, Sainte WM. D. STROBEL, PRESENT SITUATION OF PROTEST ANTS IN FRANCE. Translated from the "Archives du Christian isme," for September. |