# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FOREWORD

LN

The Centennial Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States was held at the Palmer House,
Chicago, Illinois, not far from the place where, one hundred years
before, a handful of loyal Lutherans had met to establish a synod
truly faithful to the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.

The opening service on Sunday evening, July 20, in which
Vice-President Dr. A. Brunn preached the sermon, based on
Rom. 11:12, was held in Orchestra Hall, which was filled to capacity.
’ An unforgettable feature of this service was the singing of some
of the great hymns of the Lutheran Church by the audience.
Liturgist at the service was the Rev. W. F. Lichtsinn, President of
the Central District. Other convention services were the Pastoral
Service at St. Paul’s Church, in which President F. Malinsky of
the Ontario District preached the confessional address, while Dr. G.
Chr. Barth, President of the Springfield Seminary, delivered the
sermon, and the Centennial Convention Service at Soldier Field
on Sunday afternoon, July 27, at which Dr. J. W. Behnken, Presi-
dent of Synod, was the speaker. A feature of this service, at-
tended by an estimated 50,000 Lutherans and guests, was the
singing of a double chorus of five thousand, not to mention the
rousing songs of the audience.

All sessions were held in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer
House and were opened with brief devotional services, in which
addresses were delivered by Dr. Behnken (see the opening address
on “Our Centennial Convention in the Light of the Lord's Prayer”),
Vice-President Dr. H. Harms, the Rev. E. T. Bernthal, the Rev. O.
H. Schmidt, President W. F. Lichtsinn, President A. Behnke, and
’ President A. Zeile.

At the opening of the afternoon session on Thursday, July 24,
a very impressive memorial service was held in remembrance of
the six chaplains of our Synod and the 3,738 servicemen who gave
their lives in the service of their country during World War II.
Chaplain Martin €. Poch delivered the memorial address, while
Commander Ray C. Hohenstein served as liturgist. After this
opening service Army Chief of Chaplains Major General Luther
D. Miller and Chief. of Chaplains of the Navy Rear Admiral Wil-
liam N. Thomas briefly addressed the convention and presented
citations in recognition of the services rendered by our Army
and Navy Commission.

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