# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1850_S116
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 116 —

the present sessions, however, we begin not only with the feeling of the
hard blows of God's hand which we have had to suffer since our last
meeting, but also with the prospect of severe trials and decisive struggles
into which that same hand has led us.

To recall only the most important matter: it has pleased God, first,
according to His unsearchable counsel, to take from our ranks several of
our most vigorous and able fellow-combatants in the holy war which we
are called to wage against the kingdom of lies and sin. I name for you
here only the names Löber, Wolter, Buttermann, and Flessa, and you will
weigh with me the greatness of the loss which our Synod has suffered
since its convention last year. In our Löber the Synod has lost — I fear no
contradiction here — its crown, its father in Christ, its living example of
an experienced and upright servant of the Church in doctrine and life, in
shepherding and in contending, in kindly love and awe-inspiring earnestness,
its most fervent intercessor — in short, a man who made himself a wall for
her and stood in the breach. In our Wolter, further, our Synod has lost a
teacher at one of her seminaries for preachers, outstanding both in
faithfulness and zeal and in ability, and a brightly shining example
especially to her younger members. And with our Buttermann and Flessa,
finally, our Synod has had to carry to the grave no small hopes for the
advancement of the Kingdom of God, hopes to which the service of these
young and vigorous workers had also entitled her. Through the calling
home of these four dear members of our fellowship, at a time when the
Church must daily pour out her complaint before the LORD over the lack of
workers for the great harvest, God has chastened us as severely as He
could scarcely have chastened us more severely. Loud and clear this has
called out to us: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time." 1 Peter 5:6.

A second reason, however, why today we must look upon the past and the
future with a heavier heart than ever, is that in the past synodical year we
have had sad experiences also with regard to several congregations that
have been served by members of our synodical fellowship. Several of
these congregations did not receive as God's Word the word faithfully
preached to them, but, despite all instruction and despite all pleading and
admonition, stubbornly thrust it from themselves and compelled their
faithful pastors to turn away from them, as from people who did not
count themselves worthy of everlasting life, and to shake the dust from
their feet. And even where, here and there, through God's grace such a
sad outcome has not yet come to pass, I cannot conceal from you today
that a number of even our most faithful pastors still meet no little
resistance in their congregations and can therefore conduct their office
among them only with sighing. So many of the most distressing reports on
this matter have come in to the presidium of our Synod in the past
synodical year that I confess I could, in view at the same time of the loss
of able workers which we suffered in the same period, scarcely suppress
that word of little faith: "Lord, save us, we perish!"

However important and painful these experiences have been and still are
to us, reverend sirs and brothers, I cannot refrain from declaring before
you my conviction that our Synod, in