# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S270
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 270 —

...and is therefore itself a debtor. The executor of the will, should
the Synod demand payment of its share of the inheritance, will
immediately take the necessary steps, render an exact account, and send
in a copy of the will certified by the congregation's elders. At the
same time the congregation asks whether the Synod demands interest until
the money is paid out, and how much; and, since some additional debts of
the testator have since come to light of which the executor knew
nothing — debts he received no instruction from the testator to pay,
but which will nevertheless probably have to be paid — whether the
Synod would be willing to help pay this debt, whose size is still to be
determined, in proportion to its share.

The Synod has resolved to leave the settlement of this matter to the
aforementioned congregation at Buffalo, and to bear the portion of the
debt falling on it. Treasurer Barthel is to receive the remaining share
of the legacy after deduction of this debt-portion; the congregation,
however, is not to be pressed regarding payment. The money in question
is to be set aside to form a fixed standing fund, out of which the
second professorship of theology at St. Louis, Mo., is to be
maintained, and is therefore not to be used for ordinary expenses.

Conference Reports.

Deliberation on these shall, since time was lacking at this year's
convention, be postponed to a more convenient occasion.

Secret Societies.

The Synod sees with pain that many Christians in this land have fallen,
and still keep falling, into secret societies such as the Odd Fellows,
Freemason lodges, and others. The Word of God plainly speaks against
this; for:

1) Ephesians 5:11-12 forbids fellowship with any works that are kept
secret;

2) John 3:20 testifies that whoever does not bring his works to the
light — that is, keeps any works secret — rightly falls under suspicion
of doing evil. Just as a family member who belongs to such secret
societies disturbs the trust between individual members so necessary
within a family, so too a church member who holds to secret societies
loses that quality so important for a church member — namely, that one
can trust him — and instead falls under the judgment of God's Word in
1 Thess. 5:22, bringing an evil appearance upon himself.

3) 2 Cor. 6:14 admonishes us in God's Word not to be unequally yoked
with unbelievers — that is, not to walk the same vain paths with them,
nor carry out their ungodly works. By these paths and works are, of
course, not meant the ordinary business dealings which we, under the
civil order, must carry out with our neighbor according to our earthly
calling or trade; for in these we must work together with our
neighbor — whether he is a Christian or not — according to God's will.
But whoever joins himself with secret societies does indeed pull in a
foreign yoke; for fellowship with them is not laid upon us by God, but
is entirely self-chosen, as are all these...