RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Catechisms
de la Confession d' Augsbourg " Luther's Smaller Catechism has always been in use. The Petit catechisnie de Luther (Chateauroux) has added to Luther's text Bible texts and stories and renders the Ten Commandments exactly as they are found in Ex. xx. 1-17, combining the ninth and tenth commandments and treating the prohibition of the worship of images as a separate commandment.
As a result of the Evangelical movement in Italy, there originated about 1535 the " Christian Instruction for Children " by Juan de 15. Italy. Valdes, apparently first written in Spanish, but published first in Italian and then translated into various languages (cf. the polyglot edition of E. Bohmer under the title Instruction cristiana -para los nihos por Juan de Valdes, Bonn, 1883). To-day the " Free Church " uses II catechismo ossia sunto delta dottrina cristiana secondo la paroladi Dio, by G. P. Meille (Florence, 6th ed., 1895). Of a similar nature are the catechisms used by the Waldenses, Catechismo della Chiesa evangelica Valdese o Manuale d'istruzione cristiana ad uso dei catecumeni di detta Chiesa (1866) and Catechismo evangelico ossia sunto della dottrina cristiana (1895).
The Lutherans in the United States use Luther's Smaller Catechism, which exists in many German, English, and German-English editions. In the Synodical Conference the Dresden Kreuzkatechismus of 1688 has a large circulation, in the Missouri Synod Dr. M. Luthers Kleiner Katechismus in Frage und Antwort griindlich ausgelegt by J. K. Dietrich (St. Louis, Mo.) and a condensed edition of the same are much used; the former also in English. In the Ohio Synod originated Der Kleine Catechismus Dr. M. Luthers mit erklarenden und beweisenden Bibelstellen, also in English (Allentown, Pa.). It contains besides the Smaller Catechism the " Order of Salvation," that is, a survey of the whole contents of Christian doctrine, an analysis of the catechism formed like Spener's catechetical tables, and the Wurttemberg Konferenz-Examen , which is an epitome of the Kinderlehre introduced in 1682 in Wurttemberg. Prof. M. Loy, Prof. F. W- Stellhorn, and Rev. C. H. Rohe wrote an exposition of the Smaller Catechism on the basis of Dietrich's, under the title Dr. M. Luthers Kleiner Katechismus, in Frage und Antwort ausgelegt (Columbus, O., 1882). On the basis of Caspari's catechetical exposition, W. J. Mann and G. F. Krotel, of the Synod of Pennsylvania, published Luthers Kleiner Katechismus in Fragen und Antworten zum Gebrauch in Kirche, Schule und Haus (Allentown, 1863). The General Council uses also a catechism which contains the Wurttemberg Konferenz-Examen as an appendix. It appeared under the title Dr. M. Luthers Kleiner Katechismus mit Erklarung fur die evangelischlutherische Kirche in den Vereinigten Staaten, also in English (New York). A recent addition explains Luther's text by Bible texts and stories — • Luthers Kleiner Katechismus mit Bibelspriichen (Philadelphia). The German-Evangelical synod, which is akin to the Evangelical Union in Germany, has published its own official catechism, Kleiner
16. American Luther ■ an Catechisms.
evangelischer Katechismus, also an edition with German and English on parallel pages (St. Louis). It is a free revision of the Smaller Catechism, differing from it especially in the doctrine of the sacraments. The German-Reformed Church uses a catechism prepared in 1862 by Philip Schaff and entitled Christlicher Katechismus : ein Leitfaden zum Religionsunterricht in Schule und Haus (Philadelphia). These rather comprehensive books are intended for the school and especially for young people to be confirmed. In the numerous Sundayschools the children are frequently instructed only in Biblical stories. A catechism intended for that purpose is The Little Lamb's Catechism by J. R. Lauritzen (Knoxville, Tenn.). The same authorwrote another manual which has become very popular — Dr. M. Luther's Kleiner Katechismus, also in English (Knoxville, Tenn.). The German- Evangelical Synod possesses an excellent manual for the instruction of Sunday-schools in Kurze- Katechismuslehre (St. Louis, 1899), which extends its material over three grades and is considered a preparation for the catechism proper.
In the German Moravian congregations the
department for churches and schools under the
direction of the Unitas Fratrum has reserved to-
itself the right of selecting manuals to be used in
instruction. Luther's Smaller Cate-
17 The chism is chiefly used, in some places Moravians also Hauptinhalt der christlichen Heilsand Bohe- lehre zum Gebrauch bei dem Unterricht mian der Jugend in den evangelischen Bruder- Brethren. gemeinden (8th ed., Gnadau, 1891), compiled by Samuel Lieberkiihn in 1769. Among the Bohemian Brethren the Katechismus der christlichen Lehre zum Gebrauch bei dem Unterricht der Jugend in den evangelischen Brudergemeinden (Dauba) has become the standard. It is based upon a catechism written by L. T. Reichel for the American congregations of Brethren. Among the earlier catechisms which are out of use now may be mentioned Zinzendorf's works — his strange production Lautere Milch der Lehre von Jesu Christo (1723) and his Geivisser Grund christlicher Lehre. nach Anleitung des einfachen Catechismi seel. Herrn Dr. Luthers (1725).
Among the German-speaking Methodists of the United States the only books used are the manuals written at the order of the General Conference in 1868 by Wilhelm Nast in Cincinnati, especially with the aid of Schaff's catechism, Der grossere [kleinere] Katechismus fiir die deutschen Gemeinden der Bischof- 18. Meth- ncnen Methodistenkirche (Cincinnati). odist Cate- The Englisn Methodists use A Brief
chisms. CatecMsm for the Use 0f Methodists Compiled by Order of the Conference (London) and The Catechism of the Wesley an Methodists (ib.). The latter work consists really of three catechisms, arranged in gradation for pupils of different ages.
The manuals used among the Baptists in Germany are Rode's Christlicher Religionsunterricht fiir die reifere Jugend (Hamburg, 1882) and Kaiser's Leitfaden fiir den Religionsunterricht, which first appeared in English under the title of Prize Catechism. Besides these, Weert's Katechismus, ein'
Catechisms Catechumenate