Baptist Courier

[For the Baptist Courier.]

BAPTIST GROWTH IN GERMANY.—NO. 2.

As early as 1830 Oncken made the acquaintance of Gottfried Wilhelm Lehman, born in Hamburg October 23, 1799. Lehman, a steel engraver in Berlin, was a very active Christian, and wanted to secure cheap bibles for distribution among the poor. Oncken, by his connection with the English Bible Society, could supply him with these, and thus at an early period these two men were brought together. Lehman, hearing of Oncken's baptism, and reading in the Missionary Magazine published at Basle, Switzerland, of the remarkable work Judson was then carrying on in Burmah, and of his mode of administering baptism to the converted heathen, was brought to reflect on the true mode of baptism. After much prayer and hard study of the Word of God, he became convinced of the unscripturalness of pedo-baptism, and determined to be baptized by immersion. He wrote to Oncken to come and administer the ordinance to himself and five others who had reached the same conclusion by their study of the Scriptures. The 13th of May, 1837, was the significant day on which the baptism of the first Baptists in Berlin took place. Early in the morning, at 3 o'clock, the small number went out of the Stralauer Gate to the Rummelsburger Lake. The shores of this placid lake were studded with beautiful trees and bushes, which presented a good opportunity for undressing and the putting on of the white baptismal robes. The rising sun shed its golden light over the scene, while the lake, a perfect picture of peace, was lying tranquilly before them. There, after an earnest address and a fervent prayer, Lehman, his wife, and four others, were baptized in the death of our Lord.

This was the first beginning of the church at Berlin. Lehman became its pastor, and has continued in this office up to the present time. This little church was also persecuted by the officials of Berlin, but the persecution was not as severe as the one at Hamburg, and many other places. Lehman, who had been a very active member of several benevolent societies in the city, prior to his baptism, was expelled from their membership on account of his apostasy, and had much to suffer for Jesus' sake. But after many trials, this church has at least toleration, and is one of the largest and most influential in Germany.

The two churches at Hamburg and Berlin were at first the two principal mission centres, and from these the work of missions was superintended all over Germany. The mode of spreading evangelical truth was similar to that in the primitive church. Journeymen mechanics, travelling hither and thither, distributed tracts and preached in their work-shops to their fellow-workmen. In this way the seed was sown which by the grace of God has sprung up and borne much good fruit. Colporteurs, also, were sent out, who, by selling bibles and distributing tracts, disseminated the truth as held by Baptists. Churches have sprung up in all parts of Germany, and the good work is going on. God is crowning the work of our brethren in Germany with his blessings. Our denomination there is increasing in numbers and strength every year, notwithstanding the hatred and opposition of the State clergy. This vine, planted by God, is rapidly spreading its branches over all central and eastern Europe, extending even into Russia.

But while the troubles which the church had were, for the most part, external; yet it has had some very serious internal troubles. The worst of these was doubtless the dissension which arose in the Hamburg Church. A deacon had made himself obnoxious to Oncken, who, for this, desired the church to excommunicate him. This the church refused to do, because the deacon acknowledged to some extent his wrong, and asked Oncken's forgiveness. Oncken, however, persisted in his demand, while the church as persistently refused it. In consequence, about half the members left the mother church in Hamburg, and organized the church at Altona, a city immediately adjoining Hamburg. The trouble, however, did not end here, but spread over the country—some churches siding with Oncken, and some with the church at Altona. Thus began a schism which threatened to be a fruitful source of trouble. But fortunately for the church, this storm has passed over without much serious injury to the church. Although some of the evil effects of this schism still remain, and some churches are still suffering from it, yet harmony is beginning to reign supreme again. Brother Bickel, one of the Alumni of our Rochester Seminary, (N. Y.,) and formerly editor of the German Baptist organ of the United States, was one of the principal instruments in the hands of God in restoring harmony to the churches. He is at present in Germany, at the head of the publication work, which had heretofore been in the hands of Oncken.

But some good came out of this dissension. The church in Altona has become one of the strongest in Germany. In the report of the American Baptist Missionary Union for the year 1877, Mr. Brann, of Altona, says: "Our church in Altona has had a blessed year; to the Lord be all the thanks and praise! Our net gain was 97—so that our church numbers now 377 members. We have outside the city eight preaching stations, where many people hear the Gospel. Besides the support of our pastor and missionary, we help nine brethren to preach the Word. Our forty-two brethren, who are pioneers, have distributed 30,150 tracts and 77,150 invitation cards to divine service. These brethren have visited 260 families regularly every fourteen days, and exchanged larger tracts and books, and have often filled our chapel with strangers. The baptisms for the year 1877, were seventy, between April and September."

There is yet a great work to be done in Germany. The harvest is ripening, but the laborers are few. Great things have been achieved in less than fifty years. The number of Baptists in Germany today are estimated to be not less than 22,000. If we deduct those in Switzerland, Denmark and Russia, only fifteen or sixteen thousand remain. Surely this is but a little leaven in so great a lump! But if we consider that the eighty churches in Germany have over one thousand preaching stations, and that by their preaching tens of thousands are reached, we will get a more correct estimate of the influence which they exert. In order, however, to understand the extent of the field, and the immensity of the work to be accomplished, let me present some statistics of the present population of Germany. The population of the German Empire is nearly forty-three millions—being greater than in any other Kingdom of Europe, except Russia, which has seventy-two millions. The German Empire, however, is not to be confounded with Germany or the German nation. The German provinces of Austria, numbering about eight million inhabitants, claim to belong to Germany as well as to Austria. Besides, nearly two million of Germans live in Hungary; about the same number in Switzerland, and much over one million in Russia. The number of people of German nationality all over the world is estimated at sixty million. In the German Empire, there are over twenty-five million Protestants, and nearly fifteen million Roman Catholics. If we add to these the Germans in other countries of Europe, we may say that the nation is equally divided between Protestantism and Romanism—perhaps four-sevenths Protestants and three-sevenths Romish.

The Roman Catholics of Germany have more of the Christian element, which still lingers in the Romish Church, than the Roman Catholics of any other country. There is much religious susceptibility among them, but there are no organized efforts at all for their conversion by any Protestant body. They afford a fine field for evangelical labor, especially for Baptists. When a Roman Catholic is converted, and becomes thoroughly disgusted with the superstitious traditions and rites, he wishes to get as far from her as possible, and the Baptist Church offers him the freedom and relief he needs. In any one of the other churches, he meets with at least two of the evils (modified) he has left—infant baptism and an unconverted membership.

C. N. DONALDSON.

Hicksford, Va.