The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-09-12
SKETCHES HISTORY
OF LUTHERAN BODY
Venerable John Bachman Guided
Helm Through Early Years.
Other Able Leaders.

Helm Through Early Years.
Other Able Leaders.
The Rev. John w. HORNE, D. D..
of Columbia, formerly editor of the
Lutheran Church Visitor, now a
member of the editorial staff Of the
Lutheran published in Philadelphia
has prepared the following interest
ing history of the South Carolina
synod and it's activities, the story be-
ing published in recent issue Of the
Lutheran publication:
There were five Southern States
among the 13 original States forming
the United States of America, but
there are six Southern synods among
the 13 oldest synods forming the
United Lutheran Church in America.
Of these six the fourth on the list is
the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of
South Carolina, which was organized
in St. Johns Church, Lexington coun-
ty, South Carolina, November Ia,
1924. In the sisterhood of States
and of synods, therefore, South Car
olina may claim to be one of the
"oldest families
The first president Of the South
Carolina Synod was John Bachman,
D. D., a pioneer and power in the
church. The synodical vessel was
launched under his skillful direction,
and in later years his guiding hand
was often on the helm. The seas the
good ship sailed were not always calm
and smooth, nor was it possible al
ways to steer a straight course (al-
though in principle the synod has al
ways been orthodoxy. But one course,
early mapped out by DR.. Bachman,
the synod has pursued without devi-
ation-the course of Christian educa-
ton. At the meeting of synod held
in November, 1929, the first step to
establish theological seminary were
taken, and at the November meeting
in 1882 such seminary was estab-
lished at Lexington, S. c.. The theo-
logical seminary of the former United
Synod in the South, now the property
of the eight Southern synods, is To-
Gated at Columbia, S. c., and in this
institution the South Carolina Synod
has peculiar proprietary interest.
There are three professors in the
faculty and 20 students enrolled.
At an early stage of the theologi-
cal seminary it was found advisable
to create a separate preparatory de-
partment, which in it's bud was known
as the Literary Department." and
in 1856 the bud flowered out into
Newberry college at Newberry, S. c..
Few colleges can boast Of surviving
more ,vicissitudes than this college.
Today it has faculty of ten profes-
sors and instructors, 200 students
and go alumni. But the education
al field was not yet entirely covered!
There rose demand for the higher
Christian education of the young wo-
men of the church, and to meet the
demand Summerland college was es-
tablished at Leesville, S. c., in 1912.
The college has had short but sue
.cessful history. At present it.has a
faculty of nine members and upwards
of 100 students. Indeed, the grow
ing number of students at these two
colleges has quite exhausted their
physical capacity to accommodate
them, and in October the synod will
rise and raise an educational fund
oe 100000 with which to enlarge
and endow these institutions.
At it's convention held in October,
1874, the synod fittingly celebrated
its 5Oth anniversary, and five years
hence, in 1924, its centennial will, no
doubt, be suitably observed. At the
time of its orgapization there were
in South Carolina "a Lutheran
churches and in Georgia two. At the
present time the synod of South Car
olina numbers 54 ministers, sc con-
gregations, 12,24s confirmed mem
bers, and the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Georgia and adjacent
States (organzed in 1S6O) numbers
% ministers, 81 congregations and
1851 confirmed members.
Veterans in Group.
The nestor of the synod may be
said to have been the late j. H. Will
son, D. D. The patriarch OF the
synod is the Rev. Jacob Austin, now
in his goth year, who was ordained
in 1854. Two veteran ministerial