# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 22 —

...this or that which makes the difference between us and the papacy,
as the unspiritual — whether learned or unlearned — masses suppose, but
the difference lies in the doctrine of justification. One cannot
rightly believe and practice this doctrine without hating and fighting
the pope as the true Antichrist. I close with the wish that Luther
left behind for his fellow combatants on departing from Schmalkalden:
God fill you with hatred of the pope. Amen.

Report.

In submitting to the Reverend Synod the report required by the
Constitution, I must first mention the heavy losses which we again, in
this year too, have had to mourn according to the Lord's unfathomable
counsel. I need only name the dear names of our faithful, so
beloved brothers Biewend and Kalb to renew in all of us the deep
pain over so great a loss. Ah, may the Lord look upon our distress and
stay His hand from further blows, so that, under the already
oppressive shortage of workers, we do not despair when the Lord, as
has so often happened before, calls away from our midst precisely
those who, by their gifts as well as by the faithfulness with which
they employed them in the service of the Church, seemed to us so
necessary for the work which the Lord has entrusted to us. Yet what
are we to say? Blessed be His glorious name in all that He does. Even
if we cannot discern His counsel in this, we still know that His
ways, since He Himself is nothing but goodness and truth, must also
work all things for the good of those who love Him. May He grant only,
in grace, that through such heavy losses we be led to right
self-knowledge and true repentance, and that we lament, with heartfelt
remorse and sorrow, the ingratitude toward His Gospel that makes such
hard blows of love necessary. But greater still is our sorrow when we
also no longer see in our midst another member, likewise adorned with
excellent gifts, who unfortunately had let himself be entangled by the
devil in the lust of the flesh, and who, as a consequence, immediately
laid down his office — though, as we hope before God, he has returned
to true repentance. A fourth has unfortunately fallen even deeper,
namely into false doctrine, and has joined the Buffalo Synod. May the
Lord open his eyes, that he recognize his fall in time and turn back.
Two others have laid down their office. Our dear Röbbelen has
unfortunately had to return to Germany with his family on account of
his health. Surely the active love of our congregations will continue
to come to the aid of his need. May it please the merciful God to
restore this dear man to health, and grant him anew to the Church!

Also from among the number of our brothers who work in the schools,
the Lord has called away three faithful helpers, Messrs. Koch,
Matthies, and v. Wedell. While we wish the departed joy that they are
now delivered from all affliction and have entered into everlasting
joy, their departure is nevertheless all the more painful for us, the
more difficult our