# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S87
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Fourth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1884.   87

"The same applies also to the 4th point of complaint. It is well known
that Dr. Walther's course of action was unanimously ratified by all the
district synods and consequently by the whole Synod. What great
impudence it is, then, for Pastor Döscher now to bring public complaint
about it!

    "As for, finally, the 3rd point — namely, that Pastor Döscher was
unlawfully suspended and removed on the pretext of an alleged mental
disturbance — the committee, after examining the very detailed minutes
concerned, can report the following:

    "That Pastor Döscher suffered from an overstraining of the nerves
and, as a result, was in a morbid state of mind when his congregation,
on the advice of the theological faculty at St. Louis, relieved him of all
ministerial duties until his overstrained nerves should, with God's help,
be restored through rest and travel — this no one can deny who reads
through the documents laid before us. These documents state, among
other things: 'Of Pastor Döscher's morbid state of mind, the following,
in the congregation's judgment, bore witness:

    a. the manner of his sermons was extremely striking and entirely
       different from before;
    b. his strange utterances, made partly in public and partly to
       individuals, a small sampling of which is appended here: "It
       shouldn't surprise me if next Sunday no one comes to church
       anymore — then I'll preach in the street." — "I am now, thank
       God, awake; the congregation must wake up too." — "The
       congregation must conduct itself toward its godless neighbors
       such that they either become its bitterest enemies or are
       converted." — "I challenge Pastor Heintz to a duel; he must be
       converted, or he is a dead man." — "It will yet come to this: that
       people will pelt me with filth and shoot at me with pistols." —
       "If I wanted to use my voice the way it has been given to me, I
       fear people would drop dead in church." — "If I am ever given the
       chance to speak in the congregational meeting again, I will first
       say that the unconverted should all leave, or else some would
       drop dead if I spoke." — "I am the king of St. Johannis
       congregation and will remain so." — "If I ever lack money, I'll
       turn stones into gold" — and so forth.'

    "On the 3rd Sunday of Advent he had, taking up the question of
John's disciples to Christ, preached on the theme: So too does the St.
Johannis congregation have a right to ask, 'Who are you?' (namely,
of Döscher): 1. who am I as a sinner? 2. who am I as a Christian? 3.
who am I as pastor of the St. Johannis congregation?