# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S16
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

16 Proceedings of the 20th General or

After the organization was completed, the Reverend General President
read the following synodal address along with the presidential report.

Synodal Address.

Reverend fathers and brothers, beloved in the Lord!

Our second-to-last general synodal assembly fell in the middle of the
doctrinal controversy and contributed much to bringing it to its right
conclusion. The last meeting found the struggle already ended. We
could apply to ourselves what Acts 9:31 says of the apostolic church:
"So the church had peace throughout all Judea and Galilee and
Samaria." For we had peace throughout all the districts, in all the
congregations. Now it ought to be said of us too, as it further says
there: "and was built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in
the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied." That we desired, that
we hoped for, that we resolved to do. With that we wanted to pay the
vows we had made to God in great distress. Now that God had given
us peace again, we too wanted to build ourselves up in quietness, walk
in the fear of God, and wait upon the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

A proper beginning was made toward this. Preachers and teachers had
fresh courage. The congregations stirred. Our institutions filled to
overflowing. Confident and joyful, we looked forward to this year's
assembly.

But now that we are together, this joyful courage is much dampened.
Men have been taken from us on whom we had counted. Already among
the twenty-eight servants of the Word who have departed from our
midst since the last general Synod were workers who stood in the
foremost ranks. I name only the name: Sihler. But then, after last
year Professor Schaller too, struck by a stroke, had to lay down his
work, the heaviest blow of all struck us. It became clear and certain
that the bodily weakness that had befallen our dear Dr. Walther was
not a passing affliction, but, as far as human beings can see, would be
his last illness. Though hope has thus far still fought against fear, we
can now hardly look forward any longer to his recovery. We must
prepare ourselves for the moment when the next word brings us news
of his passing. — Oh, what a blow that will be! Though long foreseen,
it will strike us with the same weight — indeed, it will become only
heavier the more we dwell on it. Everyone knows what he was for our
Synod. How many hopes have fallen with him! He had