The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-09
/ correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.

| Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatcli.I
STRAsBUIG, VA, August 5, 1876.
The Evangelical Lutheran Synod OF Fir-
gina assembled in their iorty-scventh con-
vocation in Strasburg yesterday. The at
tendance Of both clerical and lay delegates
is good.
After the report of the retiring president,
Rev. ID. VI. Gilbert. OF Winchester, the Sy-
nod proceeded to the election OF officers.
with the following result: President, Rev.
Webster Eichclbcrgcr, of Capon Springs !;
Secretary, Rev. J. Z. Obcnshain, Of LcNing-
ton; Treasurer, Rev. j. i. Campbell, OF
Strasburg.
| The following corresponding delegates
arc in attendance: From the Maryland Sy-
nod, Rev. III. q. Bowers; Southwest Fir-
| gina Synod, Rev S. y. RepasS, d. D. !;
| South Carolina Synod, Rev. w. S. Bowman,
| ID. ID. DR.. Bowman, who is native Of
shenandoah county, is pastor OF the Went
worth-Strcet Lutheran church in Charles
ton. :. c. He is accompanied by his wife
and iather-in-laW, Captain G. 5. uccker, OF
! Charleston.
| Yesterday afternoon the regular commit
tecS-thirtcen in numbcr-wcrc announced
bv the President and some routine bust
ness transacted. In another communica-
ton I shall give the points OF general inter-
est embraced in the reports OF these COM
mittccs.
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
On Yesterday morning Rev. D. NJ. Gill
bert, OF Winchester. delivered the first part
of 4 historical sermon based on Psalms
| lXxyii.,j: Il have considered the days OF
, old" To-day the discourse was finished.
| The speaker divided the history OF Luther
anSm in Virginia into two cpochs-thc first
dating from the planting OF the Church in
| the State up to the organization OF the Viz
| "inia synod in 1929, and the second from
| that time to ihe present. The speaker re-
| grcttcd that owing to negligence IN the pre-
| SerVation Of the early records OF the Church
! the development OF the first part OF his sub
! jcct could not be made as full rs was de-
! sirable.
OF the earliest Lutheran settlements,
! Strasburg and Woodstock were central and
| chief. Others extended into the counties
OF Frederick on the north and Rockingham
on the south The churches scattered over
| this large territory were under the pastoral
care OF one Young man, Rev. John Peter
! Gabriel Muhlenberg, the eldest son OF that
| Muhlenbcrg whose name Is so conspicuous
| in the religious history OF Pennsylvania.
At the solicitation OF Washington young
Muhlenbcrg accepted commission as colo
mel OF the Eighth Virginia regiment In the
Continental army. Upon receiving his COM
mission. he preached his farewell sermon to
very large congregation in Woodstock;
| and after eloqucntly depicting the wrongs
OF his country he closed with these words (:
..In the language OF Holy Writ there is q
time Tor all things-:s time to preach and Il
time to pray; but there is also time to
fight, and that time has nOoo come.
A CONTINENTAL COLONEL.
A. 1,o
deliberately put off his gown and stood be-
fore his audience in the full UNIFORM OF a
continental colonel. Proceeding to the
rlurch-door, he called for recl uits, when it
is said that nearly 300 men Of his congrcga-
ton Immediately enlisted under his banner.
I'm III he was promoted to the rank OF
brigadicr-ecneral, and held command in the
BATTLES OF Brandywinc and Germantown.
He was in the engagements ut Monmouth,
Stony Point, and Yorktown. where he COM
mandcd in storming the British rcdoubtS.
Upon the disbanding OF the army he re-
ceiyed the commission OF major-general'
General Muhlenberg afterwards served IN
Congress from Pennsylvania, in the House
and Senate.
During the seven years Of war and the
three succeeding there was no Lutheran
minister in Virginia.
i
in New Jersey in 1749, settled in Winches-
ter. OF him it is recorded that "hc com
nenced ut once to preach both in German
and English, and to act rs the true but un'
titled bishop OF all the Lutheran churches
in that portion of the Valley" His success.
full Iabors continued for twenty years
In 1857 Rev. William Carpenter, who ell.
tered the revolutionary army ut the age OF
sixteen years and served until the sur.
render at Yorktown, commenced his WORK
rs q minister near Madison Courthouse, in
his native county, where he labored twenty
six years. In 1913 he followed colony from
Madison to Kentucky, in which state NE
preached for twenty years.
In 1890 Rev. Paul Hcnkel began his minis
try at New Market. He extended his labors
into the counties OF Augusta, Madison,
Pcndlcton, and Wythe, and organized
number OF congregations. After al active
ministry OF thirty-tive years he dled III 1879
Rev. George D. Flohr, born in Germany
in 1859, student of medicine in Paris IN
1893, having changed. his plans for lie,
came to this country, and found his way to
Madison county, where he studied theology
under Rev. William Carpenter. In lI91
Rev. Flohr accepted call to Wythe county.
His charge consisted OF five congregations
living in three counties-four being nine,
TWENTY-FIVE, thirty, and forty-seYen miles
from his residence. His useful life closed
| triumphnntly in 1926.
THE PRESENT CENTURY.
/ In 1900 we tind Rev. John George Butler
located in Botetourt county, which then IN
Guided Roanoke. He was an interchangeable
missionary under the auspices Of the Synod
OF PENNSYLVANIA. appointments Tor his
annual tours through Western Virginia anc
Tennessee were made 4 year In advance,
and always punctually met. After laborins
five years in Yirginia and eleven IN Gum
ber!and, Md, he died in 1916
Having given sketches OF these ministers,
! the speaker said: "'These, my brethren,
were the fathers OF the Church, the pioneers
of Lutheranism in our State. Each with
his armor on fell at the post Of duty, over
come, indeed, Of death, yet only to go vic.
torious from the field Of conflict to the pre-
scnce OF the King. And as we call them
overwhelmingly STREET, Carpenter, Hen
KEEL, Flohr, Rutler--eYen at this distant day
the very sound OF their names thrills upon
our hearts as trumpet-call to battle"
In addition to these pioneers, about {
dozen other faithful shepherds cared fol
fiocks scattered over wide territories. They
were men OF clear heads and sound hearts,