Page images
PDF
EPUB

In 1874 the Temple Society established four colonies in Palestine at Joppa, Sharon, Haifa, and Jerusalem. The cost of these colonies has been met in large part by voluntary contributions.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH.

THIS is a body of scattered congregations, with a center in Cincinnati. Some of its churches are a century old, and some are quite new. The German language is almost exclusively spoken. In theology it is very liberal, rationalistic views generally prevailing. It has no synodical organization, but there are non-ecclesiastical associations, or vereine, of ministers.

[blocks in formation]

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL SYNOD.

THE German Evangelical Synod of North America represents in this country the State church of Prussia, which is a union of Lutheran and Reformed elements. The first ecclesiastical organization was formed October 15, 1840, at a meeting held at Gravois Settlement, in Missouri, by six evangelical ministers. Out of the principles then agreed upon the constitution of the Synod has been gradually developed. In 1850 the Society formed in Missouri and the German Evangelical Society of Ohio, formed in 1850, united. To this union there was a further addition in 1860, when the United Evangelical Society of the East was consolidated with it. In 1872 two other bodies-the Evangelical Synod of the Northwest and the United Evangelical Synod of the East-entered and completed the union. All were kindred bodies, holding the same doctrines and governed by the same ecclesiastical principles.

The Synod accepts the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, holding to the Augsburg Confession, Luther's Catechism, and the Heidelberg Catechism, in so far as they agree with one another, as correct interpretations of it. Concerning those points on which these symbols do not agree the Synod stands upon the Scripture passages relating to them, and allows liberty of conscience.

The church is divided into districts, of which there are fifteen. They correspond as nearly as possible to synods in the Lutheran Church. A General Conference representing the whole church meets once every three years. It is composed of the presidents of the districts, and of delegates, clerical and lay, in the proportion of one for every nine ministers and one for every nine churches.

Since 1872, when the union of the various Evangelical Societies was completed, the church has grown rapidly. It had then 219 organizations and 8032 communicants. Now it has 870 organizations and 187,432 communicants -the organizations having been multiplied by 4 in this period of eighteen years, and the communicants by 23. It is represented in twenty-two States, being strongest in Illinois, 37, 138; Ohio, 31,617; Missouri, 25,676; and New York, 17,409.

The average seating capacity of its church edifices is 313, and the average value $5878. It also holds meetings in 83 halls, which have a seating capacity of 5970.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »