# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S567
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FOREWORD

LNUL

Hosts to the forty-second regular convention (the twenty-
seventh Delegate Synod) of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod were the hospitable congregations of Houston, Tex., where
the local Housing Committee had made preparations for months
to make provision that the business of the Church be expedited
and that the delegates be made comfortable.

Most of the delegates and guests were housed in the downtown
hotels, Sessions were held in the Music Hall, while the exhibits
of the various synodical departments and agencies were displayed
in the spacious Coliseum, adjoining the Music Hall.

Seventeen sessions were held, including two. evening sessions.
Generally the President of Synod, Dr. J. W. Behnken, presided,
but occasionally he turned over the chair to one of the Vice-
Presidents. Prof. Paul F. Bente was appointed Assistant Secretary.
A laymen’s meeting was held on Monday evening, June 22, at
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

The opening service was held in the Music Hall on Wednesday
morning, June 17, at 10:00 o’clock. Basing his sermon on Psalm
67:1, Vice-President Dr. W. F. Lichtsinn pointed out that the grace
of God which pardons, the goodness of God which blesses, and the
light of God’s countenance which alone can give courage, qualify
us to publish the name of the Lord and His saving health among
nations. The other official service of the convention was the
pastoral service with Holy Communion on Friday evening, June 19.
Dr. Arthur Brohm of San Francisco preached the confessional
sermon and the Rev. G. H. Raedeke of Ottawa, Canada, the pas-
toral sermon. The convention rally, which was held on Sunday
evening, June 21, at the Miller Memorial Theater, Hermann Park,
was attended by thousands. Dr. J. W. Behnken addressed this huge
mission rally. The convention choir sang under the direction of
Mr. Herbert Garske, as it did also at a convention concert on
Tuesday evening, June 23. Dr. Heinrich Fleischer of Valparaiso
played the organ.

In the opening session the Rev. Roland Wiederaenders, Pres-
ident of the Texas District, read the message of welcome from the
Honorable Roy Hofheinz, mayor of Houston. The response was
made by the Rev. Carl Fickenscher, President of the California and
Nevada District. Personal greetings were presented by the Rev.
Daniel for the President of the Slovak Synod; by President Gul-

Vv