Missouri pastors in the South during Civil War

      A small blurb in the 1864 Der Lutheraner periodical gave a glimpse of what it was like for Missouri Synod pastors who were located in the Southern states during the time of the American Civil War.  From vol. 21 (Nov. 1, 1864), p. 37:

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Richmond in Virginia. The brethren of the Missouri Synod will be pleased to learn that Rev. Carl Gross in Richmond [Virginia], one of those members of our Synod who are officiating in the Southern States (the other being Rev. Kilian in Texas, of whom we have had no news at all since the outbreak of the [Civil] War), is still well. He writes by "flag of truce" under September 15 of this year to a friend here, among other things, as follows: “I am so happy to report to you that we are still well under all the trials and dangers that surround us, and are on the whole getting along well under the gracious guidance of our heavenly Father. On Sept. 5 we had the great joy of welcoming a small child. Mother and child are quite well. The little one was baptized the following Sunday, Sept. 11. I took the liberty of choosing your dear wife as godmother. I suffer greatly from the lack of communication with our Synod.”

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      This is one of the few places in Der Lutheraner that mentions the Civil War, demonstrating again that the Old (German) Missouri Synod did not mix politics with religion.  We notice that a "flag of truce" system allowed the pastor in Virginia to at least send some letters to the North. — We also see that Pastor Gross's church fellowship was very dear to him. He was a well known pastor who was active in Synod affairs and was the author of a few of its books.