This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. The history of the Lutheran church in Jlmerica from the commencement of the 19th century to the establishment of the General Synod, from 1801--1821. The occurrences related in the preceding chapter, give the friends of the church much to deplore, and also much to hope for, at the commencement of the 19th century. Among the causes of grief we consider the indifference to vital religion, prevailing in many portions of our church as the principal. Inquiring into its causes, we discover the corruption of the human heart at the bottom of all others, a heart, which, instead of seeking first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and of believing, that then all other things shall be added unto us, seeks most selfishly first the things of this world, wealth, honor, fame, and the pleasures of life, considering those, that make for our eternal peace, objects of secondary consideration. As a subordinate cause, or as one springing from the former, we may mention the peculiar situation of the German emigrants. They chiefly consisted of the poorer classes of people. In their native country, the oppression of the wealthy and powerful on the one hand, and an overstocked population on the other. had suffered them to reap no reward of their industry and economy. Arriving in this country, and at once comprehending the advantages, which industry and economy held out to them, they would naturally Jend all the energies of mind and body to the acquirement of what they supposed would place them on an equal footing with the wealthiest, and would afford them that enjoyment, which they, erroneously enough, imgined to have been in the possession of the rich, whom they had envied. Success having crowned their efforts, in which they had persevered to...